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EP 34 - The Mashup
11 Plays1 day ago
Jake and Matt are back from the daily Chelsea team! We rate every player so far in our season, discuss the influence of Maresca, and preview the upcoming run of fixtures after the international break.
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Transcript
00:00:10
officialgspn
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Daily Chelsea podcast. We have had a couple of days break, but not to worry, we are back today. And it is your co-hosts, me, Jake, and of course, I'm joined by the marvellous Matt. Matt, how are you doing today?
00:00:27
Matt
Yeah, really well thanks Jay. Great to be here as always.
00:00:30
officialgspn
Of course, and we've got a little bit of catching up to do, but um we've got a few interesting talking points today. Yes, guys, we're going a bit wildcard, a little bit forecast. It's a mashup episode, isn't that right, Matt? um And yes, we've we've got quite a few interesting talking points. But we're going to start off with... ah Player ratings for the season, Matt.
00:00:53
officialgspn
We're on our set and second international break now. ah Definitely a few games in. We've seen a few players get the run out. um And we thought make it a little bit more interesting to go from the highest, the player with the highest chance at market value, sorry, highest is market value.
00:01:12
officialgspn
I got downwards from there. Obviously, you can take a quick guess at who is top of the market value list for Chelsea at the moment.
00:01:19
Matt
cool I'm feeling a little bit cold, Jake.
00:01:19
officialgspn
here
00:01:21
Matt
Is that right? It's a bit at the top, isn't it?
00:01:22
officialgspn
A bit chilly, definitely.
00:01:24
Matt
you know
00:01:24
officialgspn
It's a bit chilly this time of year, Matt, isn't it? Certainly. I mean, let's start off, obviously, with the one, the only, Karl Palmer. According to Transfer Markt, very trusted site.
00:01:38
officialgspn
His microphone, he was currently at 90 million, so obviously doing quite well. Karl Palmer, incredible player, Matt. you know yeah there's there's
00:01:49
Matt
You know?
00:01:49
officialgspn
A lot has been said about about him. There's not much more to say about him but you know when it comes to his quality, but how have you rated his season for us so far? Obviously, players are a bit more aware, managers are a bit more aware of what Cole Palmer can do. um Not that that's stopped him at all. um Yeah, what do you think of Cole Palmer so
00:02:06
Matt
Oh, absolutely. I mean, he is absolutely our talisman and you know, last season we bought him for about 42 million. He's already doubled that in value in terms of transfer market. So. It'd be a hefty profit if you know if the owners wanted to sell them now, which they kind of love to do. They love to make money from our players. But I think they can they've got the wisdom to see that he's actually worth a lot more than the 90 million that he's he's valued at. And he's our talisman. He's the one that makes everything tick. I mean, he's played seven games in the prem, six goals, four assists.
00:02:40
Matt
I mean, that's a stellar, stellar start. And I don't think anyone really expected that because last season was such a breakout season, such a wonder season. You know, only Erling Harland, the gold robot that he is, only he outscored Palmer last season.
00:02:50
officialgspn
and always there.
00:02:55
Matt
And that is incredible when you think that, you know, even Saka is not getting close to that. and how highly rated he is and how crucial he is for Arsenal. um You know, Palmer really showing a lot of swagger, he's not showing like he's gonna...
00:03:12
Matt
dip at all um and I think we just need to be wary about that as Chelsea fans that when Palmer might have you know a string of games where he is maybe a little bit wondering or doesn't get an assist or doesn't a get get a goal um we can't expect him to be on fire at all or maybe you know he'll just keep proving us wrong and keep um getting on the stats But, you know, what can I say? Everyone's saying raving about him at the moment. He's probably the standout player still at the air for the season, um even though Harlan's, you know, the top goalscorer. So all I can say is to to the medical team, keep him wrapped up and Enzo Maruska, keep doing what you're doing with Palmer.
00:03:53
officialgspn
Yeah, 100%. And, you know, this, like, as you say, Matt, you know, what a player who's, you know, just the stats for us this season, you know, if you're going those sort of stats instantly from the start of the season, um, completely energized still, even after being like away with the England squad this summer, um, three weeks pre-season coming back and, you know, going off the mark.
00:04:13
officialgspn
That's co-op armor. That's, that's, you know, sort of instant quality, um, averaging a goal or assist every 56 minutes this season, which is just incredible.
00:04:20
Matt
Yeah, that's crazy. I mean, just on that as well is that everyone's kind of lambasting Southgate for not playing Palmer more of the Euros, you know, sort of what could have been if he had a bit few more minutes, but we'll never know.
00:04:22
officialgspn
Um,
00:04:32
Matt
We'll never know.
00:04:35
officialgspn
yeah yeah it's not only if he didn't show it you know he came on and scored you know important goals as well with you know it's just a bit of a shame but um not as if i don't i think it'd be very doubtful to say uh he won't be a big part of England's future at the very least um
00:04:49
Matt
Yeah, definitely.
00:04:51
officialgspn
We'll move on to, we'll do the next two in a bit of a double, Matt.
00:04:53
Matt
Yep.
00:04:54
officialgspn
As they're both sort of, the market value is 575 million and this season, they seem to be starting to get quite frequently. Enzo Fernandez and Mois Cosado, probably a bit of variation between the two in terms of how well they've done this season.
00:05:10
officialgspn
What do you think of Cosado and Enzo?
00:05:14
Matt
Yeah, it's a bit contrasting, as in they obviously played a lot. They played last season a lot together. But when Enzo was dropped and then Galaga came in with Kaiseido, the team's look looked a lot stronger and a lot more fluid. And then this season, Galaga's left. And so Enzo and Kaiseido have been the default pairing, mainly because, you know, Lavi has been injured as well, which has been really frustrating. And I think Kaiseido has been top notch. He's been amazing at breaking up play.
00:05:42
Matt
playing some killer balls in and getting involved with the whole team and really progressing play um obviously assisting Jackson in the in the West Ham win um with that great through ball to him and looking a lot more settled it was reported that he felt really under pressure from the big price tag last summer, but I think Enzo Marusca, like he's done with many players, he's got his arm around him, he's given him clear instructions, and Calcedo's now just really thriving, you know, sort of arguably behind Palmer, he's the next person on the team sheet, he's that crucial to this starting XI. Although with Enzo,
00:06:15
Matt
There is weirdly this debate about, does he fit into the team? Some Chelsea fans love him, some Chelsea fans really don't think he fits into the system. And some people think he's even just playing on because of his price tag and on merit on that alone.
00:06:30
Matt
um There is an argument for that because I don't think anyone really knows his best position because he's not a number 10. We tried him in that role against Man City, which definitely didn't work. And he's had a couple of off games throughout the season. ah But then you know against Wolves and against Nottingham Forest, he actually does have that middle quality in between a 10 and a 6, having that number 8 role. I think he just really needs to work on his his athleticism and his defensive capabilities. um I think if he really mastered those two, he'd be brilliant. But I'd give him still a solid 7 out of 10 so far this season. Moises Carcedo, probably more like an 8. And then Palmer, definitely a 9 out of 10.
00:07:16
officialgspn
Yeah, 100%. We've definitely got a solid spine in the team at the moment and um hopefully that continues because it's it's been quite important for us and especially under Mareska's style, you know, having having Kiseido and Enzo perform as frequently as you've just mentioned is has been quite important for us. A player who doesn't start as much, Matt, Christopher Nkunku, who still has quite a good market value of 65 million and of course When he's appeared, he's scored. um he's done but he's He's done quite well in the games he's been featured in so far. I suppose, what do you think of his season so far and do you think he should be maybe, you know, starting those Premier League games now?
00:07:54
Matt
It's such a big debate at the moment. You know, he's doing everything he can to to knock on that door and to push forward for that starting 11 place. I mean, he's got a goal every 96 minutes now, which is a fantastic record, albeit, you know, maybe it's against lesser size like Barrow and Civet. And he's he hasn't been playing against the top top teams.
00:08:16
Matt
But regardless, he's putting goals away and not every striker can do that. um So yeah, 65 mil, he's definitely worth that. And he came to Chelsea with a lot of expectation ah from Germany, but he's just been riddled with injuries, which has been really frustrating and has hampshire handt has hampered his developments, his opportunities. And I think that's why Mareska is just not uh put him into the Premier League's uh games as much just because just to keep feeding him back into the team and you know but he is getting substitution appearances onto onto Premier League team uh games when we need him and and when we need to switch things up uh and when Jackson's done his job essentially
00:08:59
Matt
He's got that killer instincts. I just, I think he could do a bit more in terms of, in terms of his work rates. I think that's what really keeps Jackson in the, in the starting 11, the way he hustles defenses, the way he's so willing to just put his body on the line in order to give the ball to Palmer or someone else to make that killer pass or to, or to score the goal. I think in Cuckoo is a little bit too focused on him scoring the goal at the moment for him to really get his place in the team.
00:09:29
officialgspn
Yeah. it And he's, he's definitely pushing. And just quickly before break, we'll move on to another player who is, who is also, you know, he's, the he's had a couple of more Premier Leagues, uh, you know, appearances the than, than in Cuckoo, um, Pedro Netto, he's of a similar similar market value. And again, he's a player who's sort of on the fringes, but we know just, just has that quality that if we see his name on the team sheet, you know, it's this, we're not worried at all. Um, what'd you think about Netto as well?
00:09:57
Matt
Yeah, 55 million, you know, where we got, we we which we pretty much bought him for at that price. So I think that from a business side, we've done it spot on. I don't think we've overpaid for him at all for his price point and for his ability. We just need to manage his fitness and make sure he doesn't get injured again. But he's been great. He's been chipping in with assists and a couple of goals throughout the season. But I think it's predominantly his energy and his attitudes. He clearly really buys into the team and what Mariska is asking for him.
00:10:28
Matt
he's really happy to start if he's on the bench he's not going to sulk he's not that sort of character and i think he's really uplifted the fans as well in terms of people get really excited when they see him on the team sheet or when they see him coming on as a sub because he's got that electric pace and he's got He's got that intelligence in terms of and an awareness on the pitch of what what the right pass is to do. um We definitely saw that against Wolves when he cut it back for Felix to score that absolute beauty of a goal. And I think the only way really is up for Neto and he can really push Madaweike for the right wing spot as well.
00:11:05
officialgspn
Yeah, and that's unless that's that's kind of why we've got him in. And there's, again, something we've spoken about so often this season, that it's just our attacking quality when it comes to the wingers is just, take your pick.
00:11:16
officialgspn
We're probably getting a sister, a goal from others.
00:11:17
Matt
Yeah.
00:11:19
officialgspn
It's the lucky positions being at Chelsea. and We'll keep discussing Chelsea players' ratings and also discuss our manager rating so far this season after this quick break.
00:11:31
officialgspn
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00:12:00
officialgspn
Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. And we are back on the Daily Chelsea Podcast. ah We have been discussing player ratings so far. and We've changed it up a little bit by going um in order of market value for us. So obviously we started with Cole Palmer and just before the break we were speaking about Pedro Netto.
00:12:21
officialgspn
Uh, now the person who comes next, uh, market value of 50 million, which is of course is quite good for us with, uh, Academy product, uh, 21 year old Levi Colwell, um, who has started, uh, he's played every single minute of our Premier League games this season, Matt. Um, how have you rated Colwell so far this season?
00:12:41
Matt
absolutely brilliant. He's really molding into that John Terry-esque kind of player that we need. We need that leader at the back. We need someone who's vocal, who's passionate, who's ready to really put his body on the line for Chelsea and almost go to war for us. um Yeah, he's been great at the back, has made very, very few errors, if at all, during the season, and has been there to cover up other players when they've made a mistake. I mean, even in in in the England game against Greece, he's cleared a ball off the line because um Pickford was messing about with the ball. And so, you know, he's got the tactical awareness. He's got the pace. um He's got the passion. um He's really molding into that player that we thought he could be. um You know, so Brighton tried to buy him off us a couple of seasons ago for 30 million. um That would have been an absolute steal if they did that. So I'm glad they said ah the boards had noted that.
00:13:36
Matt
Yeah, we I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years he's club captain once he's matured a bit. The only little nigger with him is that his passion can almost get the better of him sometimes. He's almost ah really susceptible to a booking or maybe a slight rash challenge if he gets riled up the wrong way. If he controls his mentality and his temperaments, he's world class.
00:13:59
officialgspn
yeah Yeah, and it's it's nice to see sometimes for the the passion and stuff, but then it has also got him a couple of silly bookings this season. I think, um like we discussed on our podcast very early on, Matt, you know, that first incident in the Rexton game, was it?
00:14:07
Matt
Yeah.
00:14:13
Matt
yeah Yeah.
00:14:14
officialgspn
where Was it a minute in even? Then he just sort of, yeah, put on with someone.
00:14:17
Matt
Yeah, literally.
00:14:19
officialgspn
and Yeah, if we sort of saw how Colwell was going to maybe act this season, which which which is also maybe going to help us in some of these these big games that are coming up, that you know, that fire and that passion, which we'll discuss on the on the last part of the podcast. And we'll move on to. um Or is is is it a Marmite player? I say some people love him, some people hate him. But he's I think he's done quite well this season. um Nicholas Jackson has, you know, it
00:14:50
officialgspn
He's always tried hard for us, but this season in the Premier League alone, he's made seven appearances. He's got four goals and three assists. He's contributed in every game he's appeared in. um On average, what would you say about Nicholas Jackson so far?
00:15:04
Matt
i think he's delivering you know what else can you say you said it there he's got a goal or assist in the seven games that he's played that's exactly what you want from your center forwards that's exactly what you pay for that's why you know the big club spends so much money on the on the strikers or the attackers or the forwards because they want that level of contribution ah to every game um i think the problem is is chelsea's we we had this such a huge expectation of our forwards and I think unfairly he was compared to Drogba when he came in and when you compare new players to club legends that is really setting them up for failure or just putting way too much pressure on them because Drogba was you know questioned when he came in
00:15:50
Matt
And he came in for about 25 million. um You know, Mourinho famously said, don't judge him about him now, but judge him when he leaves the club. And I think we need to take a similar approach to some of these players because.
00:16:03
Matt
you know This is Chelsea and we do expect to be winning all the time, but that's taking Chelsea out of context. We're we're living in 2024. We almost went you know out of business and and into administration with the whole takeover from Roman. So you know we need to give these time these players time.
00:16:20
Matt
And the Premier League's a really tough league. And I think Jackson's adapted really well to it. You know, he got 14 goals last season for a first season. you take You take that. I think any striker would really take that in the top half of the table. And since we came six, I think that's about right. You know, as well as that with his link up play and everything, I think he's bringing everything that we want to the Chelsea team. It is frustrating, though, because he does seem to just be consistently inconsistent in terms of he'll he'll score two brilliant goals against West Ham and it's like oh he's got his instinct back yeah he's got his striker form back but then against Brighton when he set up Cole Palmer for the assists it's still a great assist but he seems to overrun the ball when he's dropped when he's dribbling and just seems to be out of control so there just seems to be a slight weird inconsistency with him
00:17:12
Matt
Um, but he brings a lot of energy. He brings everything that we need right now and he's working well into the system. So I'd give him a solid eight out of 10 at the moment, actually.
00:17:23
officialgspn
Yeah, fair enough. hard I think I'd agree with you there, 100%. It's definitely been an excellent contribution to us so far. And maybe maybe um living to the fact that we we we shouldn't have we shouldn't have bought Striker in the summer, I think that's maybe gonna pay off for us, you know um especially if the attacking quality that we did buy on the wings and you know people like Jael Felix and stuff, if if they do end up producing for us, maybe it will end up looking like
00:17:41
Matt
Hmm.
00:17:51
officialgspn
very good decision for our board. and We won't go too much over Axel Disasi because he's only paid he's only made four appearances for us so far and we want to try and get down this list and but I think Axel Disasi has been pretty good for us in the appearances made so far. ah Matt obviously you filled in right back on game for us, would you agree?
00:18:09
Matt
Yeah, he's been fine. He's not been, he's not made any disaster decisions like he did last season, um most notably against Leicester and that 4-2 win. He's been fine. And I think that's all we need really from our players that are clearly in the second 11. We just need them to be fine. um Obviously we'd love them to be stellar and pushing for the first team, but in the lead cup and in the conference ah games, we just need them to be fine. No silly mistakes and we'll get the result that we want.
00:18:38
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, 100%. And then and if we move on to the next player, who's ah of a similar value of actual as Aussie 35 million, Noni Madaweike, who again, I think most of us are starting to like what we see from Madaweike now, but Is it, you know, it's it's it's starting to get a little bit frustrating at times. um The last couple of games, although he did score against Forrest and he really took his goal, is his goal quite well. But then there's another chance where he really should have set someone else up for other than shooting. What's your opinion on Manaweiko so far? Is he, is he living up to that starting spot that he's had pretty much all season in the Premier League?
00:19:19
Matt
Living up to it is an interesting question. um I would say he's still earning the starting spot at the moment from his contributions. I just think he needs to get out of his own head and he needs to realize that it's not all about the stats.
00:19:38
Matt
It's not all about the stats. It's about working in the team and helping the team win. That's ultimately what keeps you in the starting 11.
00:19:48
Matt
You know, so if it was all about stats, then if Quesada or Enzo got less than, you know, 100 or 90% pass completion rate, you know, we'd be like, well, we need to get them off.
00:19:51
officialgspn
Thank you.
00:19:59
Matt
We need to sub them off. You can't play them. But it's not about that. And some of those stats just really aren't worth, you know, going through. um ah it's It's clear with Noni Madagweke that he believes he's the best player in the team. And it's great to have the arrogance and that confidence for your development as a player.
00:20:19
Matt
But that needs to be held in tandem with humility that I need to grow and I need to get better. And if he can't see that when he's playing alongside someone like Cole Palmer, I'm not sure when he's going to see that. i said You know, it's um it's ah it's one of those where I think he's still great and we need to keep pushing him in the team, because I think if he's dropped, then that could knock his confidence. He does seem quite sensitive around that. I think Marusca really just needs to drill into him. Hey, Nonny, look.
00:20:47
Matt
We love you. We're going to support you. You're going to play. Just play for the team. Don't play for here yourself. And then I think you'll thrive.
00:20:56
officialgspn
Yeah I agree with that agree with that and it's is's hopefully what we start to see a bit from him because otherwise if not then definitely at risk of dropping out the team, really. you know there's There's players who are going to come up there and perform and maybe maybe link up with the team a little bit better.
00:21:10
Matt
Hmm.
00:21:10
officialgspn
um Someone who has really performed for us so far, Matt, is Marla Gusto, especially filling in for, you know, we we saw Bruce James having a pre-season. we hope to be back after the first international break and now we've seen him and now we're into the session in second international break and it's also likely we won't be back for first game after that um against Liverpool.
00:21:30
Matt
Yeah.
00:21:31
officialgspn
and What have you made of Gusto, who's personally I think he's done really, really well for us this season, especially in that um that right back spot that also when he's had to be inverted to midfield as well, um what have you thought about him?
00:21:45
Matt
Yeah, i thought we I think he's adapted to Maresco's system so well and almost like a duck to water really. ah You know, it seems that when Cucarella played that he was the go-to inversion fullback, but Maresco's clearly tinkering with both fullbacks and able for both of them to do that.
00:22:02
Matt
And I think that's great because that makes it more difficult to play against us because yeah the other team doesn't quite know which players to pick up in that area ah when they do in Burt and last season he was one of the standout players I think he was right behind Cole Palmer just because of like you say he came in for Reece James no one really knew what he was going to bring but for 30 million does seem like a bloody good a bit of business really because he's super young as well and there's only so much that you know there's sorry there's so far that he can go with it he's had a little bit of injury Rory's um so far this season but seems to be able to you know bounce back quite quickly he got 45 minutes against Barrow to you know kind of just get him up to speed and then we're straight into the Brighton game after that so yeah I think he's gonna manage his body really well and
00:22:54
Matt
He's going to get a lot more sister Susan, I think.
00:22:58
officialgspn
I agree with that, 100%. And it'll be interesting to see when Reece James does come back, if he is sort of brought instantly back into the starting lineup or if Kosto has really earned his stripes, which I think that's probably the situation we're looking at. um There's a player you mentioned there, Matt, Marta Kuka-Rea, obviously euros winner in the summer and has been starting most games for us. What have you thought of him so far?
00:23:23
Matt
Yeah brilliant as well. um Inverted really well. I thought he was particularly brilliant against West Ham. and Yeah, he's definitely similar to like Kaiseido. I think he's really settled um now at Chelsea. I think in when we first signed him, he had a lot of poor performances and I think that was contributed just by, there was a lot of chaos happening at the club at that time and we had Potter at the manager and I don't think Potter's tactics were really that helpful um to the players at the time.
00:23:56
Matt
Uh, but at that time, Kookarela looks like he just couldn't defend. And it almost looked like we had been done over by Brighton by paying 60 million for him. Um, and just getting this kind of slab of a player, but.
00:24:09
officialgspn
right But, you know, it's definitely great.
00:24:11
Matt
You know, he's definitely grown into it obviously getting into the first team for the spanish national side. That is huge uh, because uh, the spanish always have a lot of talent and then to To assist the winning goal as well. Um, or not not the winning goal But one of the goals for spain in the final is you know testament to he's not just great defensively But great on the attack as well and it's just really versatile, you know, he can invert for us but he's very happy to go up on the wing and to get across in as well and I think that's where the game's going in the sense that everyone needs their position, but also every player needs to be able to do everything. um And I think we've got a lot of players that can do that. So a little bit surprised he's now market valued at 30 million. ah Maybe we overpaid for him at Brighton, um but maybe that's just because left backs and right backs, you know, sort of how much are people really going to pay for that sort of position? Who knows? But yeah, very good so far. I'd give him a solid eight out of 10.
00:25:10
officialgspn
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm in agreement with you there. And i I think one of the things I like about him is he's a bit of a wind up player as well. And we we really need that.
00:25:18
Matt
Yeah.
00:25:19
officialgspn
We've not had that for a while. I've i've said that a couple of times. that We need to just annoy the opponents a little bit. And it it it will be important, especially you know in the big games that are coming up.
00:25:30
officialgspn
um Speaking of, that's that's the the topic we need to discuss. So we'll we'll rush through a few more of these players before we take our next break and then discuss. the manager so far and I run a fixtures facing us after the international break. and So we'll we'll combine a couple of these, Jaden Sancho and Jael Felix, both valued at 30 million, um both very talented attackers for us and have both contributed to our season so far. and What have you thought of Jael Felix and Jael Sancho?
00:25:57
Matt
ah Sancho, firstly, you know, three games, three assists. Amazing, you know just utterly brilliant business that we've actually done there. um If Sancho continues the form that he's shown already, um because for 20 million plus 5 million of add-ons,
00:26:15
Matt
A player of his quality, that's an absolute steal of the buy. That is, you know, caveat to that. We need to see this for a good couple of seasons, really. um I mean, Three Assist, ironically, is the most the assist he got in any season with United. And he's done that before we've, you know, even got halfway um with this season. So I think that's a reflection of how poor United used him. um And he's one of those players that just needs a great system around him to really flourish.
00:26:41
Matt
So, great timing. I just hope that, yeah, he's he stays bought into the project and that Mareska gets the best out of him. Xiao Felix, it's been hard because his best position is basically taken up by Cole Palmer and no one's going to replace him at the moment. I do think he's going to be great um from now until Christmas, particularly just because we've got so many games and he's going to get a lot of game time.
00:27:04
Matt
and you know little I mean brilliance against wolves that finish that what that first time finish absolutely wonderful we want to see more and more of that and that's the quality that he possesses really frustrating that he missed that header against Forrest. You know, you do have to take those chances, but I somewhat do forgive him and sort of understand that he kind of missed it just because he's not in that match fit form right now. And that is going to take time. So, but both, uh, players have a lot of promise and I actually do expect them to get, uh, into double figures for Golden Assist this season.
00:27:41
officialgspn
Yeah, they're going to agree there, especially if we, if we, yeah, if we're talking about all competitions, I think Santa and Felix are 100%. Um, hopefully because we go further in all competition as well.
00:27:50
Matt
yeah
00:27:51
officialgspn
Um, so obviously there's quite a lot of players to discuss with the, uh, with the Chelsea squad. So we'll finish a couple off, uh, in the ferd third, uh, third third of the podcast. Uh, we'll have a quick ad break just before then.
00:28:03
officialgspn
And we'll see you in a second.
00:28:05
officialgspn
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00:28:10
Matt
Hmm. Yeah.
00:28:14
officialgspn
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officialgspn
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00:28:50
officialgspn
and we are back on the Daily Chelsea Podcast. It's a bit of a mash-up episode today and so we've started with discussing sort of Chelsea player ratings and we are getting near very close to the bottom of that list, Matt. and So we just finished discussing Jen, Sancho and Zhao Felix.
00:29:08
officialgspn
and We'll move on to obviously Madrid can do before a sort of feature for us a bit this season But I think a player that we we sort of need to talk about before we move on to our next topic is Wesley Fafana Unfortunately banned for our next game against Liverpool because of too many yellow cards But he has been starting with with Colwell this season What have you thought for Fafana on his his first season back for us already?
00:29:33
Matt
Yeah, I think it's his first season in total, really.
00:29:36
officialgspn
and but Yeah, for us, yeah.
00:29:36
Matt
i mean yeah
00:29:38
officialgspn
Sorry, ah yeah okay
00:29:39
Matt
yeah yeah as in I think we signed him in the in the summer just before the 22-23 season. We're now in the 24-25 season. So he's kind of been out of action for two seasons, um which is not great.
00:29:49
officialgspn
yeah
00:29:55
Matt
ah But unfortunately, you do get unlucky sometimes with these big signings. We did sign him for 70 million. So, a lot of investments and thankfully we're now sort of reaping the rewards of that investment. um I think he's got the pace and the dynam dynamism that we really need in that centre-back pairing with him and Colwill.
00:30:14
Matt
um he's ah He can also do a job at right back as well as we saw against West Ham and fill in when that's needed. ah So that's really useful. He does have a little niggle of a mistake in him and sometimes I think he does dive into a challenge a little bit too eagerly.
00:30:30
Matt
um I think we did see he got slightly lucky against West Ham as well when he when he pulled Somerville ah by the arm, but there's no penalty. um Slightly, you know, one up for debate, but I think that's one where he's let a player get away from him when he we when he should have read the runner play a bit better.
00:30:50
Matt
But still, ah he is a top quality center back and I do think he's going to get better. it Again, it is just managing his injuries. You know, if we can just keep him in cotton wool and get him back to health when he does get injured or anything like we did with Gusto, then I think we'll be great. um But like you say, you know, he's out against Liverpool. He's one of those that.
00:31:12
Matt
is maybe just also a wider issue with Chelsea that we do need to watch our temperament. I think we've picked up quite a few just silly bookings. I think we are a little bit unlucky though that just just one when we have Anthony Taylor referring it's like 12 men against us just because so especially in that Bournemouth game the amount of bookings that he gave out were just ridiculous and way too quick.
00:31:37
officialgspn
ruined our record.
00:31:38
Matt
Who was that?
00:31:39
officialgspn
It just ruined our record completely, hasn't it?
00:31:41
Matt
I know, he literally has an, like...
00:31:43
officialgspn
ah many painting does yellow like yeah yeah
00:31:47
Matt
ah He loves it, he loves it. I mean, what's hi ah ironic as well is that he got taken off refing the next week's fixtures after that Bournemouth game. It's just like the FA's refs being like, sorry, mate.
00:31:59
Matt
I think you've been a bit too trigger happy with the yellow cards, you know? um But yeah, we do need to work on that. um But for Fauna, it brings a lot of energy, just needs to stay fit.
00:32:09
Matt
And I think we'll get um a lot of good out of him.
00:32:13
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you there. And it's, he's starting to show his potential, his potential a bit. And what I'm happy with is obviously that Kowal and Pavan have been starting frequently together. And I think that's allowing them to build that partnership. um we're we're We're still quite early in the season, although we are starting to, you know, get a few games in now. and as but as long as they keep sort of building and and and keep improving, which is what I think they have done together, just as I said about parents together, you know, but we're going to be doing all right, really. and There's a place behind them, and I think this is who we'll finish off with, Matt. um
00:32:49
officialgspn
Some people don't even want to say his name. Robert Sanchez.
00:32:54
officialgspn
The game of four last story where there was a few mistakes, let's say.
00:32:58
Matt
yeah
00:32:59
officialgspn
and But he has he has also sort of improved since the last time he was you know starting a few games consistently for us. um But then, you know does that mean these are start he should be our starting goalkeeper?
00:33:10
officialgspn
I don't know. What what do you think about Sanchez so far?
00:33:14
Matt
Yeah, similarly to to Jackson kind of being consistently inconsistent. One player that really divides opinion. ah But I do think he is the best goalie that we have on offer at the moment, just because we haven't seen much of Jorgensen and Jorgensen is incredibly young.
00:33:31
Matt
and I think he needs a lot more game time in in the league games and in the conference league to to just build up her confidence and and cohesion with the players as well. Sanchez, you know, obviously stellar performance against Bournemouth, saving the penalty, ah great performance against Forrest as well with those big, big saves from Nico Williams um and other players that really kept us in the game. And even though we should have taken our chances, you know, if Forrest had taken theirs, we could have lost that 3-1 quite easily.
00:34:00
Matt
um So he saved us points um in big moments there. But then also against Brighton, he made just two ridiculous errors that really could have cost us the game if we didn't have Cole Palmer. um ah That's the sort of reality that if we didn't have Cole Palmer in that game, then we lose that game 2-0. Now and maybe that's a bit too... trite because we do have other players that could have stepped in but you never know and so he does have that slightly erratic nature that can come out in just poor decision making. I mean last season as well when we were playing out from the back and we played at home against Arsenal you know just kicks the ball right to straight to Declan Rice for him to just to slot a goal in and
00:34:47
Matt
That kind of, but that kind of mistake is just totally unacceptable. There's no other way for it. Um, and so the ironic thing with that is that I understand we're trying to play it from the bag, but it's better if he just kicks out out for a throw in, you know, sort of just, just lose possession is better to do that than give away a goal.
00:35:01
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:35:04
Matt
Um, so definitely sticking between the sticks for now. Um, but yeah, he needs to, he needs to get up on his decision-making for sure.
00:35:13
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, it's it's hopefully we can maybe improve in the future. But I think probably, yeah, as you said, starting between six for the moment is is our best option. um The man who makes the decisions, Matt will quickly discuss, obviously, it's this very early for him. But I think we've seen quite a good identity from him and in terms of our team. um He's I think he's made good decisions in game as well in terms of substitutions and tactically he seems to have set up for most games quite well. Maresca might be, you know, the the the manager we stick with for a while at the very least, but what do you think of of the first few games under Maresca? What would you like from what you've seen from him?
00:35:57
Matt
I think Mariska has been absolutely brilliant. I think he is the kind of manager that we've needed ever since the takeover with BlueCo because He is brought into what the board want to do and he has a clear identity, a clear system. And he's learned from the best manager in the world under Pep Guardiola. So he knows how to set up a team. He knows how to read the other team and how to tinker with the tactics and with the players in order to to overcome the our opponent's strengths.
00:36:27
Matt
I have been you know surprised how well we've done, to be honest. I didn't think the players would have adapted to the system um this quickly. I definitely thought there was going to we were going to need more betting in time. But we've only lost two games this season. That's one to mans Man City, which is pretty much expected being the first game of the season, and then one to Savette, which I think is just because we put out a weaker team. um And so the fact that those are are only two losses so far, I think is brilliant.
00:36:55
Matt
yeah it's been frustrating to draw against palace and forest but it's a marathon not a sprint and i think he's really building on what poch tino built in in terms of a really good culture and cohesion amongst the players i think that's what poch really won at and did really well because there was such a good harmony amongst the players. I just think his decision making with subs and tactics went up to the same level as Maresco and that's what we've really leveled up. um You know, you talk about in-game substitutions, you know, against wolves, take mudrakoff at halftime finetto, impact.
00:37:28
Matt
against Bournemouth, Neto starts, but he's not doing anything at half-time, take him off for Sancho, Impact. um It's clear with Maresco, he's not afraid to make big decisions and that's great because that runs through the whole culture of the club. Players understand the system, they understand the the politics, so to speak, and that, you know, no one's undroppable. That's clearly what Maruska is like, staying to the players. And you you said it many times as well, is that with our front forwards, we can chop and change. You know, if if you're not delivering, someone's gonna take your plays. So the players know that. they They're not really arrogant enough to think, ah, I can give a, you know, five out of 10 and be fine and play next week. They know that's not gonna happen. um And so I think that's why, yeah, Maruska's great. um I hope.
00:38:15
Matt
He, you know, sort of he he lasts his five years because that would mean he's been in a positive time and that we will ah win trophies over the next five years.
00:38:25
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I i think he's really instilling that mentality into us. And like you said, it's the culture and it's starting to, you're getting in that feeling in every part of the club now.
00:38:35
officialgspn
And and it's the first time we feel like I think a manager is is it's like coming top down from the manager rather than.
00:38:40
Matt
Yeah.
00:38:42
officialgspn
this group of players who was sort of, you know, yeah, yeah. And they combined squad with this coach who was just sort of managing, you know, allowing players to play sort of thing and putting a bit of tactics in there. Whereas this feels like a Maresca team, which we've not really had.
00:38:54
Matt
Yeah.
00:38:55
officialgspn
We've not really felt like a potter team. We've not really felt like a Pochettino team too much, you know, but we feel like a Maresca team very early on. ah And hopefully that really lends to us in the next few games, Matt, because this this will be our last talking point before we finish today.
00:39:10
officialgspn
um It's not as if we've got tough fixtures after this, but I'm going to keep this limited to sort of like, we're on October 10th today. I'll keep it to october November the 10th, sorry, but you know, there are fixtures like Aston Villa away and stuff like that coming up after that.
00:39:21
Matt
Okay.
00:39:25
officialgspn
But um next you our next few fixtures read, first game back from the international break is Liverpool away. um a conference league game against Panoff and Eikos away which is again not the easiest but hopefully we should be winning there and then we play Newcastle at home Newcastle away in the AFL Cup we're then away to Manchester United um there's another conference league game thrown in there against FC Noah and then we play Arsenal at home that is in the space of the of the next month um it's tough what do you think how do you think this little run is going to go for us
00:40:02
Matt
It's going to be the real big test. Like this is the first real big test Mariska is going to face and us as Chelsea, because there's some really tough games. If we just look at the prem, that's Liverpool, Newcastle, Man United and Arsenal. That's a really tough run.
00:40:16
Matt
um But then again, as Chelsea have been over the last couple of seasons, we seem to do better against the better teams. You know, the season where we've already dropped points against Palace and Forest who are so to speak, the lower teams within the prem. And we have been better away than at home so far this season. And so you know out of those four games, potential 12 points, I think if we get six points from those twelve those four games, I think we can be happy.
00:40:43
Matt
um You know, sort of where I so see us really dropping points is probably against Arsenal annoyingly, just because they are really strong defensively. um And even though, you know, they've had a few slip ups by conceding goals, you know, most notably against Leicester and even Southampton, like they're not fully shut up shop by having this like clean sheet defense. They do sort of find a way to win at the moment.
00:41:09
Matt
And there was a sense that, you know, maybe this is really their year because City are considerably be weaker with De Bruyne and Rodri being out. So I think that'll be a really tough game and we probably will drop points there. But I expect us to beat Man United just because of the way they are and in tatters. And I don't think Ted Hogg's the man for the job. So United, please keep him there for as long as possible um because that's great for everyone else.
00:41:38
Matt
um and And Newcastle at home, I actually think it's going to be really tricky because of our home form. And I think they'll do, they'll set up for a low block as well, and then to counter on us. um So I can see that being a draw as well. But then also Liverpool.
00:41:56
Matt
I can actually see us going away and getting a result there. A bit like Forrest, I can actually see us winning because we have been better away from home this season.
00:42:01
officialgspn
That was good.
00:42:03
Matt
And I think Maruska is going to just tap into some of the slight weaknesses of Liverpool at the moment.
00:42:03
officialgspn
That was good.
00:42:11
Matt
um and just really frustrate them you know sort of Alison's going to be out of that game and that's a huge loss for them you know as much as their backup coallies have been you know normally really steady no one's like Alison and so that's a big loss for them and Sal has been fine but he's not at his high height um top you know delivering Nunez very inconsistent very wayward not really sure about him Um, and I just think we've got a better, better midfield than them. And I think we can play them off the park. We really can. We've just got to really frustrate them and keep the ball off them. Um, so yeah, if we get six points, I think we can be happy with that. And I think that will help us stay in the top four, which is where we're aiming. But, um, yeah, it's definitely gonna be tricky for sure. And then, uh, on the conference league and the league cup.
00:43:03
Matt
They're tough games, but really, we should be winning them. Really, with our even ah our second 11, we should be winning them. I mean, that end of October scheduling of playing Newcastle on the Sunday in the league, and then um in the league cup on the Wednesday, that's going to be quite tense, depending on the first result. um And yeah, we'll see what happens with that. We may have to play two very strong sides for that though both of those games, because it is Newcastle.
00:43:31
Matt
um And this is really where we're going to see the test of the strength and depth. And we're going to, you know, sort of all these people saying we've got 40 players, this, that and the other. Well, you know, it probably is going to be a great um asset to have in this run of fixtures. We're playing a game pretty much every three and a half days up until the next international break. And then after the international break, we're playing a game every three and a half days again. So the players are going to be tired. Yeah, it's going to be a tough, tough time.
00:44:00
officialgspn
Yeah, definitely. And it's, I mean, it's nice that that that we can sort of talk about these fixtures and think, you know, we we're able to get a result, you know, in some of these considering the tough, tough issues, the tough fixtures we've got, you know, I don't think we would have fought the same last season. um And, you know, so far we've been a top four team really, you know, we've got the same form as all the other top four teams. We have three wins in the last ah five games as the other top four teams do.
00:44:27
officialgspn
um And this is our test now to see if we can we can stay up there. And I yeah i agree with you, Matt, I think we will. i think i I think we've shown enough quality so far that I think we're quite unlucky to to walk away with losses in quite a few of these fixtures. And I think the mentality that Mariska has instilled, that Ali just discussed, I think it is probably going to carry us through even if the quality of the players doesn't. Although, hopefully it's a combination of both.
00:44:52
officialgspn
and So this has been a Daily Chills, we've had a bit of a mash-up episode today. Of course we are on the build-up to a massive game this season, Liverpool, we play them in 10 days time, we're just in the midst of an international break at the moment, but that doesn't mean the content stops, of course we will be speaking to you again soon. ah Matt, it's been fantastic to speak to you today and discuss and rate all of these players.
00:45:16
Matt
Pleasure as always Jake. Thanks so much.
00:45:18
officialgspn
No worries, man. thank you to Thank you for joining us. And of course, Daily Charles, who will be back with you soon. And thank you very much for joining us. We'll speak to you soon. See you later.