13 Dec 2025 17:08:16
The disparity in quality in our squad is worse than any i've ever seen. We have a mix of Champions League quality players being forced to pass to players who would be lucky to make it in League 2. We weren't great today, but could have score 4+ goals if our players were even competent.
Jake O'Brien making a series of genuinely good runs and putting in a cross that makes you question if he's ever kicked a ball before sums it up perfectly, and the fact the expectations of Barry are so low it wasn't even really commented on when he let a tap in go through his legs, says it all.
13 Dec 2025 17:21:37
That’s a very good post mate, sums us up perfectly.
13 Dec 2025 18:22:23
First of all the Club are well aware of our striker need. There are no League 2 standard players in our Squad. We came up against a side better in most positions on the day, that's it. This is a very high level League.
{Ed025's Note - i thought we done ok DMS, 2nd best on the day i would say but we tried hard without threatening too much even though we did have chances, KDH was a big miss and our strikers are still rubbish but i dont think we are miles away from being a really good team...but AFCON will kill us mate..
13 Dec 2025 18:26:13
O’Brien is not a full back, but he put one ball into Ndiaye who should have buried it. As a centre back playing full back he does a reasonable job. Before the game today I would have said keep Garner there, but his crossing today was bloody awful.
13 Dec 2025 19:22:22
Fans crying even though they know we are very much a work in progress sums it up perfectly!
We know our limitations, we know the positions that need strengthening, we also know that Chelsea isn't a happy hunting ground for us (haven't won there in the league since 1994) but you carry on bitching. Moan and groan all you like but if you can't see that a) we have a better team than we had this time of year and b) we always needed a few windows to sort out the mess that Moshiri had left then the problem lies with yourself and your inflated expectations.
DM has been in the job almost a year and the difference is chalk and cheese from the SD days.
{Ed025's Note - no complaints from me BP it is what it is mate, improvement but of course there will always be expectation mate..
13 Dec 2025 19:54:39
DMS. You're spot on there. Unfortunately we can't compete with the likes of Chelsea, etc, . in bringing in the "ready rolled, " or upcoming star/players"; we're moving fwd tho'. I expect us to get 2 stop gaps during the Jan window + retain Garner on a longer contract (deserved and needed) -quality utility player like we had in Harper, etc, .
We may just bring in an older CF from WH on a play per play contract.
13 Dec 2025 19:56:36
Some people accept mediocrity others dont. Plenty on here saying we were going to beat Chelsea prior to the game, and now saying we are not good enough. That is just how supporters are, they wear their heart on their sleeve.
If they want to voice their frustrations then they can, it's all part and parcel of being a football supporter.
But if we go with the attitude that oh well we never win there, then we never will. The past is just that, and we should not be using it as an excuse for future games.
13 Dec 2025 20:51:54
Optimism is fine Brassington but we also need a bit of realism and commonsense. I would have taken a draw if guaranteed today. Who goes to a game saying we never win? Nobody I know. Seen some bad performances but today was not one of them.
14 Dec 2025 02:51:38
I am more frustrated when we have performances like todays against teams that look much better than ours on paper. We done ok in periods but the 2 things that made the difference have been the same problems we have had for far too long now. We just don't seem to have any luck with strikers and our defensive mistakes always seem to cost us goals and games.
O'Brien is not a right back but is covering as best he can. Mykolenko is a left back but just not a good one. His defensive work was good for a season and his attacking play has never been of any real quality. But the past few seasons that role has reversed, he pops up with a decent cross into the box every so often but more games than not his defending has been terrible. He has cost us to many goals by being caught ball watching or completely out of position. I think he had a major part in both Chelsea goals today. A better defender would have prevented those goals. The Chelsea winger just ran in straight line to the by line, with Mykolenko running in quick sand next to him. Didn't try to shield him inside, didn't tackle and didn't block him from rolling the ball on a platter for Gusto to score. He needs replacing as much as we need a right back.
But we are definitely going in the right direction and we do have some quality players that do the hard defensive work. COYB!
14 Dec 2025 07:20:01
Now that was the sensible post we need joe Mc - EFC.
14 Dec 2025 09:00:52
We’ve been a work in progress for thirty years now ?.
14 Dec 2025 10:02:51
We have BMD, be honest though, we are beginning to look like Everton should and that after one window. This is what competent ownership looks like.