Issue 61 - Change At Chelsea

New Years Day, new Chelsea manager on the way. A surprise for many as it is all change at Stamford Bridge. Who comes in? What does this mean in terms of recruitment? Who is Calum McFarlane? All this and another busy Premier League weekend. Issue 61. Go.

Talking The Sack

If you had Enzo Maresca down as the next Premier League manager to leave their post, then congratulations. Truth be told, all the signs were there, the only thing missing was the Italian literally telling you he was off.

A manager who recently said he had “the worst 48 hours”, a manager reportedly touting himself to a Manchester City vacancy that is not even open, a manager failing to do post-match press conferences because he says he is unwell.

Add wearing your own uniform to work and the freedom to say what you want - even if it is not encouraged by the club’s owners and the writing was always going to be on the wall. The slight surprise is that the writing appeared at the start of 2026.

With all the evidence stacking up but Chelsea still in the mix to earn a Champions League berth next season (working on the assumption that fifth place pays out an additional invite again), then Maresca getting the boot at the end of the campaign seemed logical.

However, it seems as if the Italian was absolutely hellbent on speeding up the exit process and after the recent 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth, the combustible atmosphere was finally lit.

No coming back after the Cherries got themselves back in the game. Thanks for your Europa Conference League and Club World Cup success of just a few months ago, but this is not working.

Begs The Question

Which makes you wonder if Chelsea do want a world-class manager to oversee what can only be described as a player trading platform with a bit of football on the side. The higher the stature, the more questions the coach will ask. Questions that seemingly are not welcome.

No longer is the stature of coach someone in the mould of Carlo Ancelotti or Jose Mourinho, the stature is now a man who can keep the assets at a high enough value to trade from. Yes, no problem, thanks for the new players.

Who will the next man be in the Stamford Bridge hot seat? (Or should that be poisioned chalice?) All the signs point to Liam Rosenior and with his BlueCo connections as manager of Strasbourg, there seems little reason to look elsewhere.

A in-house replacement who knows and understands the Chelsea modus operandi, not someone who would you envisage as tempremental or ready to rock the boat but not someone who does not deserve a crack at Premier League management either.

Previous stints at both Derby and Hull had seen Rosenior touted as one for the future, part of the reason he then bagged the Strasbourg role. Was this always with a view to eventually being an eventual Chelsea manager?

In And Out

While the timing of any managerial switch can also be considered curious due to the transfer window currently being open. Does a new face at the helm mean another raft of ins and outs. What really is the end game for Chelsea when you look at their player recruitment model.

If we take a look at their summer signings, was there any really any joined up thinking?

Did they really need Jamie Gittins and Alejandro Garnacho?

No player over the age of 23 says it all really. Everything seems to be viewed with a resale in mind.

Chelsea now the club that acts as the bridge between the elite and the havenots. If you can make it there, you may be able to make it anywhere in good time.

Is it a strategy that sits well with their support? It seems it does not and although the club may have won two trophies within the past six or months or so, they are not the trinkets that the Blues should really be collecting.

The Supply Teacher

With no permanent replacement named in time for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City, it means Calum McFarlane will be tasked with taking the team to the Etihad. The club’s under-21 coach seemingly given the duties by default because there is nobody left.

How quickly Chelsea can draft in someone such as Liam Rosenior remains to be seen. Whoever comes in will have to work within the remains of this season, knowing this club they will still win some silverware by the end of it.

Midweek Insight Blitz

Some quickfire musing as the football is everywhere

• Arsenal are winning it aren’t they - do I have a foreign passport I can get my hands on before May?

• Aston Villa folded like a deckchair at the Emirates, their title race interest was a nice subplot for a month or so.

• Thursday’s Match of the Day was an incredibly tough watch. Three 0-0 draws out of four games. Insane.

• Tottenham will be the death of me. That death will be boredom.

• That Manchester United fan is never getting his haircut is he.

• Liverpool are definitely not in the title race after getting Daniel Farke’d once again.

Dan The Statman

The main stats before another round of Premier League action

Tottenham have been drawing at half time and winning at full time in their last 6 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions.

Wolves have failed to win their last 23 matches

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 10 of Newcastle's last 12 games (Premier League).

Ten Quick Tackles

A look at the main talking points as we head into the upcoming Premier League weekend schedule.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

After their resounding defeat at Arsenal in midweek, Aston Villa now need to embark on another lengthy winning streak. They could have been level with the league leaders on Tuesday night, they go into Saturday six points off the pace - a margin that might be too big to reel in.

Standing in their way of that winning feeling are a team that could do it with themselves and with Nottingham Forest slipping up at Everton in midweek, Sean Dyche’s men recorded a third successive league defeat. Has the sheen of Sean warn off at the City Ground? Not quite but that four point gap to West Ham will not last forever.

Brighton vs Burnley

Everyone focussing on Bournemouth’s run of games without a win, nobody talking about Brighton’s. Or at least they weren’t before they failed to beat West Ham in midweek. Now six league games without a win for Fabien Hurzeler’s side, they have slipped down to 14th in the table before the visit of Burnley on Saturday.

The Clarets make the long journey south having failed to win any of their last 10. Back-to-back draws were derailed in midweek after their 3-1 home loss to Newcastle. Six points from safety, this clash at The Amex almost has an air of six-pointer about it. A huge game towards the bottom, not a phrase that Brighton fans will be keen to hear.

Wolves vs West Ham

When Wolves went 1-0 down to Manchester United in midweek, I suggested Rob Edwards should be sacked. I still am not too far removed from that feeling even though he picked up his first point in charge of the Molineux men on Tuesday. A 1-1 draw recorded but the record without a league win is still the millstone round their neck.

If Wolves are to have absolutely any chance of staying up, they must beat West Ham on Saturday. Should they lose, the Hammers would be 14 points clear of their upcoming hosts. Then again, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have not won any of their last eight league outings, you would not be in a rush to back them either.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal

A spirited comeback against Chelsea on Tuesday but still Bournemouth’s search for a league win continues. Andoni Iraola’s men have not won any of their last 10 - that in itself has probably kept the Spainard at the Vitality Stadium rather than be coverted by the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Iraola’s stock dipping these past couple of months, compatriot Mikel Arteta’s arguably the highest its ever been as Arsenal are the highest they have ever been under his tenure. It really is the Gunners’ to lose when it comes to 2026 Premier League honours. Do what they did in the first half of the season and they will be absolutely fine.

Leeds vs Manchester United

Leeds’ unbeaten run continues. Daniel Farke must be approaching Manager of the Month territory for December. It is now six unbeaten for the Elland Road outfit. The way they have been playing lately, you would expect them to pick a point up regardless of their opponents.

Their next set of opponents are Manchester United and with Chelsea getting rid of their manager after a set of substandard results, supporters of the Red Devils may be thinking; why can we not have a period of change ourselves. Just when you think this team is blowing hot, it blows cold. Will take a brave man to predict the outcome of this game.

Everton vs Brentford

Everton may have only scored 20 goals in the Premier League this season. They have only conceded 20 at the other end. A fundamental reason as to why the Toffees find themselves sitting eighth in the table at present. Can they return to Europe next season? They may just need an uptick in goals to make that leap.

They welcome another side with European hopes on Sunday and with Brentford earning a share of the points with Tottenham on Thursday, it is now four games unbeaten for Keith Andrews’ men. The Bees start the weekend lying ninth in the table, but have only won two of their nine league outings this season. That needs to change if they want to be on the continent.

Fulham vs Liverpool

Marco Silva being linked with the Tottenham job? Understandable considering the uptick in form that he has overseen with Fulham these past few weeks. The Cottagers salvaged a point at Crystal Palace on Thursday, it is now 10 points from the last 12 on offer - one of seven clubs to have been unbeaten in their last four league games.

Another of that group of seven is Liverpool, although the 0-0 draw with Leeds on Thursday will be of little comfort to their support. Any chance of making serious roads on Aston Villa or profiting from Manchester City’s stalemate later that same evening wasted. You cannot see them getting anything at the Emirates next week.

Newcastle vs Crystal Palace

Even in victory, you will never keep everyone happy. It is just the way football goes. That was exactly the way it went after Newcastle got the better of Burnley on Tuesday. It may not have been the prettiest of wins at Turf Moor but picking up an away win was the most important task of all. A task that lessens the pressure on Eddie Howe for a few days.

They return to St James’ Park on Sunday as they welcome a Crystal Palace side who have failed to win any of their last four league outings. Their run of defeats at least ended with a point at home to Fulham but it does seem as if the post-Cup winning sheen has now been removed in South London. These next few months will be pivtotal to the club’s future.

Tottenham vs Sunderland

If we are being brutally honest, Tottenham needed to have won at Brentford on Thursday. Then again, they have absolutely no right to with the way they have been playing under Thomas Frank, 12th in the table offers hope that places can be vaccumed up quickly but it is also a fair representation of where the club is right now.

They welcome Sunderland to North London on Sunday, with the Black Cats being five places better off before the weekend’s action gets underway. Much has been made of their ‘AFCON Tax’ - the only thing it has really done has made them even more difficult to beat. Three successive draws before the weekend, another would be no surprise this weekend.

Manchester City vs Chelsea

The title race is not over but Manchester City were definitely punctured after their draw at Sunderland. With that said, they cannot dwell on two points dropped, they simply have to create further anguish for a team that finds itself operating in a post-Maresca void. All the signs point to a home win on Sunday, City need to start 2026 better then how 2025 ended.

As for Chelsea, this fixture represents a free-hit but I think it is too early to start talking about ‘new manager bounce’ - that will only come into effect once Maresca’s replacement is named. Caretaker Calum McFarlane knows he does not have to worry about this being a long-term job interview but he may also wish the game was not as long as 90 minutes.

One Late Tackle

Just wanted to say something quickly about Brennan Johnson’s transfer to Crystal Palace. It’s as if Tottenham have done their absolute best to remove any memory of that win in Bilbao.

Manager who oversaw the success. Gone.

Player who scored the winning goal. Gone.

Success, not at Tottenham please.

Admin

Right, that’s the end of issue 61 as word continues to spread around the football world.

This isn’t a newsletter that follows the crowd. It sets the lens through which you see the game.

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Issue 62 drops Tuesday, and I’ll be back with another week of insight, analysis and trends that matter.

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