Ben

Objective Chelsea fan

[Ben @objective_cfc]

All this civil war shit online isn’t necessary imo because in the cold light of day I think the majority of Chelsea fans probably agree with the bigger picture right now. (Even those that have huge concerns)

Hopefully we can all agree that being BOTH fucking furious with what happened on Saturday

…AND not even slightly entertaining any noise of sacking Xabi Alonso at this moment in time is probably the healthiest state you can be in right now as a Chelsea fan imo.

I personally can’t resonate with anyone who’s too calm, downplaying or overly defensive about what we saw

…OR already in the state of ‘Xabi out’.

I get it, especially those that are very concerned, but I think both aren’t healthy at the min tbh.

Interested to see the set up and response for Liverpool and more importantly United.

We are where we are, very damaging defeat but let’s continue to fail forward and see where we’re at come May.

For me, more continued emphasis on developing structure, control, possession, being more horizontal, patterns and build with time would be energising and drive more personal optimism tbh - progress not perfection and all that.

CL imperative and priority imo - again, I think everyone can agree with that. Squad more than good enough to achieve it too and when you add the context of one game a week, for me, there isn’t really a valid excuse for us not to get it.
🔵

[Ben @objective_cfc]

For me, when looking at foundational principles….

Rightly or wrongly;
Maresca was too horizontal early on.

Too much early emphasis on structure.
Too much early emphasis control.
Too much early emphasis possession.
Too much early emphasis on the build.
Too much early emphasis on the collective unit.

Too little early emphasis on individuality
Too little early emphasis freedom.
Too little early emphasis uncertainty.
Too little early emphasis on energy

The majority of the fan base (and the bridge) let him know very quickly that the balance was off and he slowly started to evolve…

As he evolved, on pitch fortunes changed, the noise lessened, silverware followed and the haters even began to turn.

He almost make it though…

For me, Alonso is the polar opposite in philosophy and principles.

He’s almost too vertical early on.

Too little early emphasis on structure.
Too little early emphasis control.
Too little early emphasis possession.
Too little early emphasis on the build.
Too little early emphasis on the collective unit.

Too much early emphasis on individuality
Too much early emphasis freedom.
Too much early emphasis uncertainty.
Too much early emphasis on energy

Those who were more naturally patient with maresca through the early days, weeks and months (culturally = the minority) will likely be very agitated right now watching alonso’s approach

In contrast, vice versa, those that were maybe less patient with Maresca will likely be more patient now. (Culturally = the majority)

It’s all to do with personal preference, there are many ways to skin a cat.

For me, the objective of the managers was the SAME though - to create a balanced successful football team.

The prioritisation on foundations are just different.

The speed of progress under Maresca meant he almost didn’t make it through the early fan resistance of the majority.

All eyes now are on the speed of progress under Alonso, I personally think it will be quicker than maresca’s journey mainly because of what the majority of the fan base resonate more with him.

Due to his status, Alonso is also benefitting from a MUCH much higher patience gap than any Clearlake manager has had so far.

This is my logical big picture overview of what’s happening.

Personally, I was in the minority with Maresca. I backed him through the darkness because I understood the logic and his approach resonated more with my personality.

With this in mind, is only natural that the current approach doesn’t resonate as much with me personally and is therefore causing me a lot stress

…but that doesn’t make it wrong.

What’s more, despite being personally painful for me, taking into account the culture of the club and the majority of the fan base - i can logically see why this could end up being the right path to take.

In spite of these early road bumps, my current expectation is still that we’ll be more than fine.

My body is telling me opposite though, I’m getting triggered like a mother fucker tbh 😅

Being a Chelsea fan isn’t for the faint hearted.

Win or lose
🔵

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@AllsRedLfc Holy fuck, you went away all day to find one clip where klopp wasn’t insufferable when Liverpool lost.

Let it go man. Move on with your life…

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@SamCFC_footy Agree 💯

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Huge huge talent.

But talent isn’t always enough to make it in this sport, you need to have the right mentality imo

…and after such a massive mistake against spurs he could have easily crumbled tonight under the pressure. But with critical eyes on him he showed what he’s about. Top performance, especially second half.

Deserved to win the game and get the MOTM too imo.

2-3 Years and this kid will be the best in the world.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@carefree_2209 At some point the club need to double down on someone and I think Alonso is Behdad’s guy tbh… he’ll be given more than enough time imo, he looks very calm in himself at the min and that’s probably why - its on XA now to move the team forward.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

He’ll learn quite quickly from this interview…

People are understandably sensitive tonight after two straight losses so are jumping on this (and maybe rightly so)

Objectively though he’s not wrong but yes, he should have read the room and shouldn’t have said it imo.

For me, I’d focus more on his actions here than his words here tbh…

Did he field a semi strong side against both Leeds and tonight? Yes.

He took both games and the competition seriously, wanted to win and played to win. We were unlucky tonight.
🔵

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨 Xabi Alonso on getting eliminated from Carabao Cup: “This is the least important competition for us”.

“The Premier League is the main focus.”

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@CFCSnowy Spurs was a kidney punch man, so we’re in abit of a spiral. Need a win to shift the energy. Unlucky not to get one tonight tbh.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Moi ‘small problems’ and lacroix (long term hammy) has made tonight a very expensive evening sadly… especially when you add in the loss.

Hopefully Moi is fine. 🙏🏻

[Chels Zone @TheChelsZoneX]

🚨🔵 Alonso on the fans singing for Estevao:

🗣️ "The fans were saying a lot of things. Well, we have started with Pedro [Neto], with Danny [Welbeck] and with Morgan [Rogers] up front. The game had very intense moments. We knew that it was going to be physical. And after we had to deal with Moi [Caicedo], he had little problems. Malo [Gusto], as well, he had cramps. So we were a little bit forced with substitutions.

And now we know that the season is going to be long. And there will be moments for everyone."

📰 @BobbyVincentFL

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Alonso didn’t praise him nearly enough in his post match interviews for his second half saves imo. They were top draw.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Huge huge talent.

But talent isn’t always enough to make it in this sport, you need to have the right mentality imo

…and after such a massive mistake against spurs he could have easily crumbled tonight under the pressure. But with critical eyes on him he showed what he’s about. Top performance, especially second half.

Deserved to win the game and get the MOTM too imo.

2-3 Years and this kid will be the best in the world.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Fallout from the Roman era sadly…

Everything is fine imo, we are where we are and the club, Alonso and players seem pretty unified.

Next two/three transfer windows will be progressive and the team will develop imo

A win against United will take the fan heat off too. Team will be focused on that

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@Criss_Crossv2 Yeah, Alonso didn’t really praise him enough in the interview for the second half saves imo

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@MadMontana Also don’t mention the word arsenal

Also insane

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@CFCTruestBlue @_Reece_SZN At Villa that’s the way they play, it’s basketball but at Chelsea I think he’ll soon learn that he can’t freely give up the ball as often as he does…

He’ll learn imo

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Seen Emegha miss a few pens for Strasbourg tbh - wasn’t overly surprised

Real missed opportunity for him to kickstart his Chelsea career. Energy lift in the club after spurs loss heading into United would have been nice too so a real shame man.

Mike deserved better, if we won he would have probably got MOTM & the flowers (and confident lift) he deserved after spurs.

That aside, should have won it in normal time. Ok performance in the whole, poor and very very indecisive in key attacking moments cost us. Rogers especially. Needed more from him tonight with Cole and JP imo.

Mike, Levi, Josh and lavia can hold their heads up imo and Lavia and Levi’s pens were unreal.

Onto United
🔵

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Should have won this in normal time imo.
Massive lack of quality from key players in key moments…. Especially Morgan imo.

When we did finally put something together Palestra should have buried it - great save tbf.

Colwill was great second half & Penders incredible.

Chance now for Mike to be the hero and make up for spurs
🔵

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Chavarria

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Reece
Palestra
Lacroix
Martinez
Moi
JP
Emegha

Been super unlucky with injuries so far this season…

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@fofo_pineda Sounds great, but they finished the game with Isak; Wirtz, Barcola, Gravenberch, Jacquet and gakpo all on the pitch man.

The same was even - the quality was generally poor on both sides

But it was even - we should have won it in normal time imo

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@CFCTruestBlue @_Reece_SZN It’s great: my fear with him is he’s seemingly always turning the ball over though… looks great when it comes off but it doesn’t come off as often as it needs to imo. Needs to get better with his decision making.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@JamesC11237380 He’ll sign now imo

He wanted to play, now he is…

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Josh has really cemented himself in this side and key player now under Alonso - he’s an ever present.

…must be buzzing.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@kiwi_heath Bad hammy.
Will be months

[Ben @objective_cfc]

The general trajectory of Wes and Gusto in a Chelsea shirts isn’t good at all…

From memory they had an absolute mare at Sunderland away last game of last season and it cost us EL football (think Wes was sent off and gusto OG no?)

…and tonight, it just felt like more of the same.

The loss tonight falls mainly in the lap of Wes tbh, you just can’t make a mistake like that at such a pivotal moment at a club like this

…and gusto was just super super frustrating as usual.

In their defense, they haven’t played much in recent weeks and months but their errors and mistakes aren’t down to that. They’re just not good enough imo.

With reference to leaving, it very much feels like ‘when’ and not ‘if’ for both of them imo.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Reece
Palestra
Lacroix
Martinez
Moi
JP
Emegha

Been super unlucky with injuries so far this season…

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@kiwi_heath Let’s see how it plays out with Steve man. I think it’ll be fine

[Ben @objective_cfc]

@LewisMarks44452 Rio from memory.

[Ben @objective_cfc]

Huge talent but I didn’t think Rio did anything tonight tbh. Josh was even on a yellow second half and him (and Neto) locked him down really well.

[Premier League Panel @PremLeaguePanel]

That Rio vs Acheampong battle was an insight into England’s future. Rio had some great moments in 1v1s and even when he drifted more central too. But Acheampong also looked rock solid defensively. You don’t often see quality shining through in the same game for both the winger and the opposition full-back, but that shows the talent level of these two.