Van Butsen

Formidable

Thought it was quite ironic that in our toughest game of the season with so much on the line (for the other club) we resorted back to the 11 that under performed so badly at the start of the season... with an entirely different performance given. There's some life in the old guard yet

If Bayern had scored again last night it could have been a real Keyser Soze moment "..and just like that, he's gone" Nevertheless, the pen didn't matter, they won the tie and he's got a big chance of getting another champions league win.

I'm not suggesting it was an accident chelsbear.. I'm saying it's not his job to tell Mark whether it was intentional or not. Players are there to play football. I'm also not interested in comparing how we look compared to the Spanish sides, I'm interested in how we look to me while I'm watching with my friends and family. I hate the act of trying to get a player booked or sent off and I've noticed Cesc do it a couple of times now.

Not at all, i haven't a hatred for Cesc if that's what your suggesting. Quite the opposite really. He and other senior players are the biggest culprits, but it's been on my mind this week because of the Monday night game. In answer to your question, i do think Drogba damaged the image of the club and him personally with non Chelsea fans with the way he carried on a little.

Well personally I'd get on with the game and not worry about what the referee is doing.. that is the least of your priorities as a player and it infuriates me in general how much interaction they have with him in general, but more so what seems like referee influencing from our boys. It's highly possible that your hand gets stepped on accidentally so showing him the stud marks isn't going to help, but it shouldn't be up to the player to help anyway. I'm criticising Cesc because he does it a lot and it affects the image of the club, I sat there watching him carry on Monday night and hated every second of it.

I really don't like the way the players and in particular Cesc' try and influence referees to get a player sent off. The stepping on the hand incident was hard to watch, whining to both referees repeatedly whist showing them his hand. Not the first time he has done it either. I might be more critical of Chelsea than other teams, but I've seen it a number of times when some of the senior players try and do this. I don't like it one bit and even if we are behind, I hate games that are influenced by red cards.

Squad needs to be added to and strengthened, not weakened.

As did I! Though it would be good if they're never mentioned in other threads and if people really want to make a point about them, they can come in here.

Almost looks to be a mini movement from the youth players, maybe trying to force the clubs hand in offering more money to try and at least hold onto 1 or 2. I really don't mind if we lost our whole youth team. That may sound like I don't want to see youth progression, I do, but as good as they are I think it would be nearly impossible to replicate a class of 92 situation. If a player wants to stay and earns the right to play first team then that's all I'm worried about. A lot of talk about not seeing any youth progression at Chelsea, but there haven't many we've produced that have gone on to make it big at another club. Having talent doesn't make you a champion and with our supporters desire and expectation for success, we often can't guarantee the minutes young players need to develop. If Solanke moves on, gets first team football and turns into a premierleague weapon, there is a great chance he'll want to return one day to the club he grew up with to win the grand prize.

Can't help but think in another universe, Jamie Vardy of Leicester City getting a one mach ban for improper conduct would barely even make the news

I'd give the season a pass mark if this happened.

Then he doesn't want to play for the club and I'm fine with that. The club would have done all they could to sell the prospect of playing for Chelsea to the lad and if he wants big bucks and first team football immediately he may as well go for that. If he wants success, he should stay.

Saw that as well as Ola Aina doing the same. If true, people will be angry that these players are trying to jump ship and hold the club to ransom but to be honest this was always going to happen with a world class academy. I don't mind it, we either keep him and pay the ridiculous sum and use him in the first team. Or we sell the player, he's had world class training and first team experience in Holland and the club benefits from a youth sold for more than they're really worth.

We'd struggle for top four with that defense, I think it's a world class player or two short. Two injuries and we could be lining up like this before Christmas (presuming four at the back) Kane Ivanovic Miazga Ake Not sure where Cahill has gone? Kane could do with a premier league loan like Ake has had.

I'm not making anything up nor am I backtracking. Conversation like this are built on interpreting what the other person is saying (as it is purely digital) and my interpretation is that the way people have carried on about this particular topic leads me to believe they think the player is bigger than the club. I don't see how it's absurd at all. If the club have to bend over to appease someone then they aren't the biggest entity.

Christ does everything have to be so literal? Noted that there is no room for interpretation when it comes to you If someone says the club aren't doing right by JT, there is a chance that they may think JT is bigger than the club. Is that an unfair statement to you?

When posters start saying things along the lines of "The club doesn't treat our legends with respect, he should be given a new contract"... I think they are implying that they do think he is bigger than the club. That somehow their decision is incorrect because John terry.

Many a time on here, I'll try and flag it to your attention next time I see it.

I don't think you need a set in stone philosophy on football. The game and style of the game changes all the time. You only have to look at highlights from 10 years ago to see there was a difference then even to now. I think it's important to adapt to the way the game changes and change with it. If we have the same success we've had in the last 12 years for the next 12 years, and then the next 12 after than and then the 12 after that.. people may say we have a philosophy. But the fact is we would have had to adapt fairly regularly to counter the threat of other clubs. If we get anywhere near that kind of success, there may not be a moment to stop and think what the philosophical ramifications of buying a couple of quicker centre backs may be, but we need them to stop the threat of teams playing counter attack football and so that's what we'll do. Those first three teams you've mentioned are in the same position as us right now and that is not vying for the league title. They can have their philosophy. Older fans could probably talk about the swagger in which we used to play with, predominantly a cup team with a bit of west end flair. That was the Chelsea way, but to win the league we had to change a little but that's still there, and it makes up part of who we are today.

It exists entirely in the history the clubs has, the large and loyal supporter base, the thousands of people who work for Chelsea in a footballing and not footballing aspect, the players (it's not always about the seniors, RLC has been at the club for 12 years), the owner (not many clubs have a boss who's relationship with the club extends beyond a business deal). These remain, in part, long after a manager has left. It's everywhere. The anomalies I mentioned would be the Fergie Man United, the Jerry Sloan Utah Jazz, the Arbour New York ice hockey team.. I can't think of any others at the moment, but my point is they are rare. I would love to have one, but I'm not worried if we don't.

He's one of the poorest starting central defenders in the league this year.

So many supporters are fixated on this Fergie-like managerial stability. I just don't understand it. Any club from any sport in the world will basically show you that that is an anomaly. I'm of the opinion that the best clubs should almost have a consistent managerial turnover, because those associated with the club or the sport want to have a part in the success. Of course, you will get the anomaly which I'm fine with, but I'm not too worried about having a new manager every three years.. I'm fairly sure that would exceed the league average? i don't really like the ruckus caused when the manager is sacked however, so I'm not saying I support the that whole media driven agenda. I'm happy with our direction, we've lost a little swagger but I'm confident we'll get it back.

Their current state being top of the league, unbeaten in 8 with a fresh Vardy to face by the time we play them?

Spurs don't scare me what so ever, bunch of pussies if you ask me. I'm confident