We've become Arsenal 10 years ago. An absolute joke of a club

We talk serious, and act like clowns

Well its pretty crap right now from a Chelsea perspective. There’s almost no point in writing about what the problems are. I mean although some fans disagree on elements of it - as in the talent in our squad, on Enzo Maresca, overall I think most fans now see the Sporting Directors and squad building as probably the biggest issue at the club.

I maintain the strategy itself is not the issue. We’ve seen our strategy executed perfectly at PSG, by arguably the best Sporting Director in the game, Luis Campos. So it can work, but the execution has been completely useless.

Yes, we’ve signed some top young talents and our scouting, medical department are all much better. But on the pitch is where fans look first, and its very clear that although we have a talented core of players, we simply don’t have the squad to compete right at the top end. And whilst you can argue it takes time, when you look back there’s money we’ve spent which could and should have been directed elsewhere.

There’s players who actually fit the age profile Behdad Eghbali and the Sporting Directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart want in the squad, but are proven, established players who would have provided instant and long term impact. Yet we never go for them or can’t persuade them to join.

The likes of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo, for example. If we sold Tosin in the summer, and signed Guehi and Semenyo (who may have demanded lower wages than he is now), maybe not signing Jamie Gittens, there’s no doubt in my mind we’d be in a far stronger position now, and still compliant with all the UEFA punishments. Now you can argue on semantics and whether we’d have got it done, but this is really an example more than anything.

Look at Manchester City. They signed Mamoush a year ago, and its not worked out. But instead of saying “we have faith in the players we have” as a pathetic excuse, they are now ready to ruthlessly move him and others on and sign Semenyo to help their title charge.

There’s even links to man City for Marc Guehi too. They’re 2nd in the PL right now and this is what they’re doing. Being completely ruthless in their pursuit of success, making big decisions, accepting Ls on signings and getting rid.

Meanwhile you have Chelsea sliding down the table, in awful form, with only 3 fit midfielders and Tosin and Badiashile as CB options, saying we’re totally fine, have faith in what we have and can wait till the summer. It’s absolutely embarrassing, its a literal joke, and frankly no fan is buying this absolute waffle.

Don’t tell us you’re ambitious and then act like you’re content with scrapping for a top 5 place. Don’t tell us you’re ambitious and not at least add a couple of established top players within the age bracket we’re looking for. It’s an absolute joke.

I’m all for signing elite young talents like Estevao, go for it, its a positive thing. I AGREE with the long term strategy of the club. But surround them with established players 25 or under who can still be long term investments for the club, who still fit the long term strategy but can deliver more immediately as well as long term.

Still even if we do that, I have no faith in our Sporting Directors persuading more established players to join us. They have no gravitas, no authority, and established players see through their bullshit. They failed to convince Michael Olise when he was handed to us on a plate by Joe Shields. They failed with Semenyo too. We’re nowhere near Semenyo or Guehi’s first choice when they move.

And this is Chelsea Football Club. With all our history, especially of the last 25 years.

Its a disgraceful set of affairs. The three amigos - Eghbali, Winstanley and Stewart - are becoming a consistent embarrassment to our club.

Needless to say, if we had a truly elite SD with a track record at elite level, respected in the game, we’d be able to attract these players more easily. David Fallows who we actually employ, is someone of this ilk. He was a big part in building the Liverpool team which won everything under Klopp. He’s a serious operator and well respected. I’m almost certain if he were the number one at Chelsea we’d be better off.

What would I do? I’d get some players out in January first. Sell Disasi, Tosin and possibly George.

Then I’d sign Mainoo on loan with an option to buy, and go for a proper CB. If City signed Guehi I’d even take a look at John Stones, who’d be a perfect fit for our system and has worked with Maresca, as well has having a ton of experience and a World Cup place to play for. If not him, I’d get Toni Rudiger. Even if he couldn’t play every game he adds some experience and quality with Fofana not able to play every game.

You could do all this and still be compliant with the UEFA punishments. It would give us more options in midfield so Enzo Fernandez can get a proper rest, and mean we had more quality and experience in defence.

But we won’t, because we’re not competent or ambitious enough, and have no clue how to build a title challenging squad.

This is why its so frustrating. The answers are so obvious for people to see, apart from the people in charge. It’s clear they don’t have a clue, and have a vastly over inflated opinion of themselves, which my guess is literally no one else shares.

Even if we fail to achieve our targets this year the people in charge will keep their jobs, quite frankly it seems like they’d probably keep their jobs if we got relegated. There’s no accountability at the top of Chelsea Football Club, the manager is always scapegoated.

They take credit easily and then dish out blame when things get tough, because that’s who they are. No sense of responsibility, no cajones, no respect for fans or the club. They’ll scapegoat Maresca and bring in a manager who isn’t fit for the Chelsea job, and the cycle will repeat. It’s an absolute shambles.

I’m not even a cynic, but this is just the reality at this point.

Chelsea FC aren’t acting or being run like a serious, high performance, elite football club anymore. Just acting like they’re happy to get top 4 and have some cup runs. Basically Arsenal ten years ago. An absolute joke.

Four years in, after spending £1.6 billion, to be where we are is, frankly, an embarrassing state of affairs.

The Score