Analysis News and Analysis

Enzo Maresca is Chelsea’s only winner right now

18Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Enzo Maresca is Chelsea’s only winner right now

Enzo Maresca walked away from Chelsea in the middle of the season after realizing that the board had screwed him over with no intention to sign a defender despite his begging for a second straight transfer window. At the time, if some Chelsea fans had sour grapes, those same fans have likely seen the light after watching the Blues get dismantled a second time in the Champions League Round of 16 by reigning winners PSG, who are through to the quarterfinals on an 8-2 aggregate. Filip Jorgensen could be blamed for the first leg, but the second leg was on the defense. Right now, Chelsea's best healthy center back is Wesley Fofana, and, well, nobody would mistake him for world class. Malang Sarr is nowhere near Chelsea quality, Tosin Adarabioyo should have never been signed, Trevoh Cha...

Bruno Fernandes’ all-time great season is going overlooked

17Mar

By Cody AcevedaNo Comments

Analysis

Bruno Fernandes’ all-time great season is going overlooked

Most people know that Manchester United are over-performing expectations this season. The Red Devils are third in the table after Premier League Matchweek 30 and odds-on favorites to qualify for the Champions League. At the heart of this success is an all-time great season by Bruno Fernandes. On Sunday, the Portuguese international broke David Beckham’s Man Utd club record for most assists in a season. He has 16 in the EPL so far this campaign, double the second-ranked player (Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki). In case there was any doubt about whether Fernandes’ assists were flukes, you just have to look at his chance creation numbers. Per FotMob, the Man Utd captain has created 98 chances in the EPL. That’s 40 more than Declan Rice, who has created the second most chances this season...

2026 Champions League picks, score predictions for Round of 16 second leg

16Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

2026 Champions League picks, score predictions for Round of 16 second leg

The Champions League Round of 16 definitely delivered on the drama and the goals in the first leg, and the second leg promises to be even better. Here are the full score predictions for each of the eight games. Chelsea 2-2 PSG Chelsea will rue Liam Rosenior's decision to give Filip Jorgensen the nod, and the most laughable part of that whole ordeal is that the manager's reasoning was that Jorgensen would be better on the ball. Whoops. At home, Chelsea will have a point to prove and will go into this game with no fear, but they just do not have the quality to turn the tie around against a PSG side that is finally starting to play to its talent level when it matters most. Liverpool 2-1 Galatasaray Trips to Istanbul are never easy, and while Liverpool have major issues with their squad...

Arda Guler, 3 Real Madrid players who proved they deserve better in 4-1 win vs. Elche

14Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Arda Guler, 3 Real Madrid players who proved they deserve better in 4-1 win vs. Elche

Real Madrid dominated Elche despite resting some key players and having several more injured. Here are three stars who proved they either deserve better from their teams or from the fans in the 4-1 win. CM Arda Guler Real Madrid actually started Thiago Pitarch, but Arda Guler came in around the hour mark and proved why he is one of the finest playmakers in all the land. He created two chances in 30 minutes, scored a goal, and delivered a monstrous performance. But it was the ball winning that really stood out. He had an insane six tackles in that time span. Guler may not be the biggest, but he has so much heart. And we saw his competitive fire in this one, coming off the bench with an intensity we have not seen in a long time, especially when pressing and winning possession. CM Fede ...

Chelsea’s Reece James mistake has been horribly exposed

14Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Chelsea’s Reece James mistake has been horribly exposed

Chelsea started Reece James in the midfield again to get Malo Gusto a starting opportunity to overlap on the right hand side, and Chelsea fans could not help but think, coming out of the game, that this farce needs to end. James is a clearly superior player to Gusto, both defensively and, yes, offensively. He is more safe, more consistent, more intelligent, and better technically. So the only way Gusto and James can play together and the only way Gusto can play is for James to play in midfield. But all those things that make James so good at right back are not true in midfield. Look, it is true that James is versatile enough to be a passable midfielder, and he was far from the biggest problem in the team - actually, Gusto playing in his natural position was even worse than James, whi...

Chelsea fans are coming to a heartbreaking Cole Palmer conclusion

14Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Chelsea fans are coming to a heartbreaking Cole Palmer conclusion

It has been a rough 2025/26 season for former Premier League Player of the Season candidate Cole Palmer, and after watching him struggle yet again vs. Newcastle United, Chelsea fans can only come to the heartbreaking conclusion that he is himself to blame for his issues. Just as Arsenal fans are watching Bukayo Saka look a step off this season, the young Palmer is, likewise, playing below his level and genuinely looking both gassed and lacking sharpness in his decision making. Chelsea thought they would be skating with an in form Joao Pedro and Palmer together in the attack again, and just as Pedro had been improving under Liam Rosenior, there was a prevailing belief that Palmer would improve away from Enzo Maresca and with health on his side. But watching Palmer struggle to win o...

Chelsea fans are all thinking the same thing about Liam Delap

14Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Chelsea fans are all thinking the same thing about Liam Delap

Chelsea turned in a dreadful performance as a team against Newcastle United, losing 1-0 with even stars like Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer playing horrendously in letting the Blues down in a crucial game for Champions League places. But after the game, the player to earn the most vociferous criticism on social media from fans is striker Liam Delap. He has been terrible all season long, but these last few games have really reenforced the issue. Watching Delap up top is like watching a rugby player or a clumsy center back trying to play striker. He thinks and moves so slowly and spends more time tussling with defenders rather than making good runs or passes. Playing next to Delap as a forward is a death sentence, and all Chelsea fans think when he gets on the ball is, "How is he going ...

Joao Pedro, 3 players to blame for Chelsea’s lethargic loss to Newcastle in the Premier League

14Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Joao Pedro, 3 players to blame for Chelsea’s lethargic loss to Newcastle in the Premier League

Chelsea were unable to find any sort of quality against Newcastle United in the Premier League, losing 1-0 to drop more crucial points in a tight race for Champions League places. Here are three players to blame the most for the display. DM Moises Caicedo Moises Caicedo has probably been Chelsea's best player this season, but you would not have guessed it based on this game. He worked hard and won the ball a couple of times, but even his defensive work was below his standard as Chelsea spent the game chasing shadows. So much of his passing was lacking in creativity. While he was not sloppy, he was so plodding in possession and was a huge part of the problem, wastimg time on the ball and slowing the game down so Newcastle were always in control out of possession. RB Malo Gusto Both M...

Alvaro Arbeloa offers major Kylian Mbappe injury update

13Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

Alvaro Arbeloa offers major Kylian Mbappe injury update

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has missed the last few games with a left knee injury that he was previously playing through, but the Merengues had to stop trotting him out there due to the risk of aggravation. Mbappe is feeling better now, so Real are evaluating when he can return. Ahead of Saturday's game against Elche, which Mbappe obviously will not be playing, Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the Mbappe injury situation. He told reporters, via Fabrizio Romano, “Mbappé is getting better every day. The mission is to have him available for Man City game. He will not play tomorrow. On Sunday, we will decide about Man City”. Real Madrid face Manchester City on Tuesday, March 17, in the Champions League second leg with a 3-0 advantage after Fede Valverde cooked Marc Gueh...

12Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Season Picks, Score Predictions for every Matchday 30 fixture

Another week of action is coming up in the 2025/26 Premier League season. Here are the score predictions for every single Matchday 30 game this weekend. Burnley 0-1 Bournemouth Sunderland 1-1 Brighton Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle Chelsea are reeling after Filip Jorgensen gifted PSG a 5-2 win in the Champions League, while Newcastle could only draw Barcelona despite outplaying them. This matchup is going to be too close to call between these two top five contenders in the Premier League, and they will ultimately share the spoils. One of the biggest questions heading into this game is now Chelsea's goalkeeper. Liam Rosenior seems to be set on Jorgensen as the No. 1 despite a horrendous performance againt PSG. Can he bounce back? Arsenal 1-0 Everton Arsenal did not perform well against Baye...