Mike O

From the 90's, I love this one... and this one... ...although it looks better with shorts.

Just had the misfortune to sit through Sky's programme on the best ever CL goals and you really would think that we have had no part in the competition over the last 10 years or so... Now I only saw the top 20 and Essien's classic vs Barca was no. 3 but that was our only mention. Including being the 'recipients' of the goal... So that means 1. No place for Frankie's goal vs Barca 2. No place for Frankie's goal vs Munich The top goal went to ZZ's ok effort in the most boring game of all time. I still feel we should boycott the competition this year and embarrass the f**k out of Platini.

It's been happening to me for years...

Oi! Nothing made me laugh louder than one of his brand values being 'Fragrant'. Genius

Luca is my god so obviously I also agree with his sentiments. But he implies in the last seconds that JT is letting this run because he needs to feel loved. Again, all this nonsense could be put to bed with a statement from JT. Otherwise we're looking at '"Mr Chelsea",captain of his team and his country, adored by millions of Blues the world over, earning £125,000 a week... doesn't feel appreciated enough'. Arse

Glad you've got it all sorted out mate. All I'll say from the point of view of someone whose job it is to define 'reputation', is that the JT brand is currently all over the shop with many of the 'faithful' scared sh*tless that he's going, and many more already thinking he's a tosser for looking like he could even consider it. If I was his brand manager, and he was definitely staying, then I'd get him to say it out loud to try and win back some standing. Please note that that isn't Chelsea's job, it's John's.

In which case the mighty JT should throw a press conference of his own and say: 1. I'm not going anywhere 2. I am and will always be Chelsea 3. I have not stayed deliberately quiet up to now in order to get a pay rise from Roman Can't be that difficult, can it? Unless...

I'll take you on mate - my insider couldn't wrestle his way out of a paper bag...

Boys, I've kept out of this thread until now but have just heard from my inside sources that JT is definitely off. You don't get any of this rubbish in non-league... Frankly, I find it absolutely unbelievable, but there you go. Tying into another thread on the go at the moment, can any of you imagine Dennis giving it all up to join another Prem club? No, me neither. How many matches before we have to suffer him kissing the MC badge?

Ditto

You are very, very on my friend...

Just to add that the mighty Kingstonian FC, who share a ground with AFC, were also promoted last season and are now in the Ryman Premier, a mere 2 divisions below Wimbledon. Next season we can look forward to resuming the mutual loathe-fest against Sutton FC.

Here is where I will forever differ from 99% of other Chelsea fans. I too believe that our goal is to be one of the world's most successful clubs, but that has to (in my world) be done through being run profitably and not being able to win trophies primarily because a £billion free loan lets us buy whoever we want etc etc etc. The only way a club can perform profitably is ultimately to 'grow your own'. Without that, any club - and I mean ANY club - can quite easily 'do a Leeds' very quickly indeed. Which is why, gentlemen, I am now very firmly a 'non-leaguer'

Years ago I posted an idea on here (or the old CSR, forget which) which I think cracks a whole bunch of problems including those cited above. In a nutshell... 1. The EPL takes a winter break for all of December. Everyone goes 'yeah!' 2. In its place, for four weeks, is a tournament for the youth sides of the 20 EPL teams 3. Teams are drawn into 4 groups of 5. 4. Round one group matches take up the first 3 weeks of the month, semi finals on Boxing day, final on New Year's day 5. All matches played in club's stadia, ticket prices heavily discounted to attract families (I'm talking £10 adult, £5 kid). 6. Matches to be televised, tournament to get major sponsorship, heavy FA involvement, stars of tomorrow etc etc blah blah blah. At the end of it, we can all see which clubs are doing their bit in terms of development, we can get behind the kids and our overpaid superstars can piss off back to their castles for 'much needed R&R'. Oh, and loads of new fans can be attracted into the stadia. It's a win, win, win....

Very good point indeed. Maybe one day we'll have that sort of stability, maybe... It does lead me to another point on all this, though. I live in the Chelsea catchment area and know a load of kids who have reached the point in their football where they are getting sniffed at by professional clubs. The consensus amongst parents, and even some of the kids themselves, is that although Chelsea have all the glamour credentials, signing for them is effectively a waste of time. A move to Chelsea is seen to invariably lead to no real progress and inevitable disappointment, whilst a move to, say, Fulham or Brentford or West Ham or even AFC Wimbledon (who have a brilliant academy) will be more fulfilling and umpteen times more likely to lead to a professional career. Now none of the youngsters I know are anywhere near world class, but that cynicism has to be shared by top drawer prospects as well when they see the evidence of the last 7 years, which leads me to the conclusion.... If you want to attract world class youth prospects into your academy, you have to prove that they can progress into the first team. As such there is no proof. My view is you can expect no real progress from the Academy proteges until that reality changes. Vicious circle or what?

I know I'm a very infrequent visitor to these boards nowadays but here are my two pennies. I am amazed, nay stunned, at how readily most of you seem to have accepted that Cobham can't easily produce world class players, or premiership class players, or even 'on-loan-to-Blackpool' class players. Leaving aside JT (who was developed waaaaay before Cobham) what other player have we 'home-grown' in the last 7 years who has been a regular in our squad? I believe the answer may be 'none'. Forgive me if I'm wrong and maybe next season the likes of Mancienne will turn the tide, but that is one sh*t return on investment. If a 'world class' team like CFC can't develop one first class player out of the most heavily invested-in academy / scouting team / training facilities in the world (probably), then what's the point of it? I've no doubt most of you won't give a toss and will be happy to carry on playing championship manager and puttiing every world star in a blue shirt for any price, but where's the fun in that? My preference would be no more buys, play Di Santo, Stoch et al, and learn to depend on the investment of Cobham. Build something truly Chelsea that no-on else can touch. This would also help stop us looking like twats every year in the transfer market.

Born 1965. My defining albums would be... London Calling - The Clash Sound Affects - The Jam Get Happy - Elvis Costello & The Attractions The Specials - The Specials All from 1979-80, and when you're 15 music really matters...

I'd put a shout in for Jacob Kjeldberg - he was class. And he could play classical piano...

I think he had a Gerard-like 'I can play anywhere I bloody well like' card so in my formation, he's on the wing, right?

That would probably be the sort of cocaine that actually had cocaine in it, as opposed to cockroach powder, dog de-worming powder or ketamin. Just say 'no' kids

Here's my top Premiership CFC team of players who once had it all and then decided to f**k it away... ................................Bosnich.............................. Bogarde.........Duberry................Huth...........Gallas Laudrup.........Morris...............Diarra..............Poyet .....................Mutu...............Knight..................... Bosnich - Top world keeper who trades it in for a quick toot and a couple of Nazi salutes (not in that order) Bogarde - International star sacrifices career for a life cleaning boots at Harlington Duberry - Once England contender and Man U target sees a better life with Leeds scum Huth - Chelsea bench or Boro first team? Only one option Rob...(I know this one's a bit harsh) Gallas - Leaves Premiership winners for ignomy and useless career path Laudrup - Joins and then realises he doesn't like footie any more Morris - Most promising youth prospect ever ends up becoming a total tosser Diarra - In quest for recognition, leaves perennial Euro top 4 side (us) for useless Portsmouth / Arse / Madrid. D'oh! Poyet - Took the weekly adoration of 40,000 grown men and spat it back in our faces for a bunch of twats Mutu - See Bosnich Leon Knight - A huge talent matched only by an ego the size of the milky way. Allegedly one of the biggest tossers to ever wear a blue shirt. I'd be delighted to see this matched with a pre-92 XI. Bluebeard?

.................................Schwarzer.................................. Baines...............Vidic................Jagielka..............A Cole (he's still a git, though) Ronaldo..........Lampard............Arteta..............Abonglahor ........................Anelka............Torres............................ Manager: David Moyes

Guys, we haven't 'made the draw' so we aren't competing this year in the tournament. They had a load of teams apply this year around and we seem to have been unlucky. I'll put a plea in for being on the preferred list next year. The competing teams are: cfc.uk Blue and White Army Cfc.net Chelsea Supporters Group Chelsea Bristol and Bath Hastings Chelsea Chelsea Italia Ryan Collings team ( no name yet)

I've told the organisers we're up for it and wait to hear whether there's a space for us. Can I reiterate that someone needs to volunteer to be manager as I can't do it and there's a load of organisation to be done for the day (pick your half-time songs, decide on hat to wear etc etc) Come on someone...

Yes but no but yes but etc... You could put a team together consisting of a bunch of players who achieved loads whilst not at CFC but for me that's a different debate - you'd have to incorporate people who came here to retire, for instance. The list would be impressive (on paper): Gullit / Vialli / Deschamps / Weah / Hughes / Laudrup / Casiraghi / Sutton (!) / Ferrer / Panucci etc