Blue Ram

and there he is lol - Brilliant!!

Don't - Gives me bad childhood memories all that pocket money spent on Panini stickers at Martins the newsagents. I remember the one player that haunts me I just could not get was Teofilo Cubillas , although on second thoughts I probably got a lot nearer to him than Scotland ever did lol.

Didn't Mourinho aim some criticism at Enzo during the flirting with Madrid stuff and subsequent ban?

Inherited an elite CL club and just needed to employ the right people (or retain even) to fill the few holes in the squad to keep us competitive at that level. Leaving new owners to concentrate on the two most pressing issues off the pitch namely the stadium rebuild and, the thing that these guys were I was led to understand were good at, - Commercial revenue generation. Instead we find ourselves where we are and as you say zero accountability from anybody above coach level. Actually really pssed me off the way they rewarded them after the Conference League and World Club Cup Wins. I think the World Club Cup win although nice to win, had a negative flip side in that it actually embolded these clowns and thinking it actually meant something gave them justification for how things were being handled. 12 months later the so called "world champions" aren't even in Europe, and we are stuck with that fcking horrible badge graffitiing our shirt for the next 3 years, honestly I absolutely detest it it is just like something that I used to find hidden in my box of Sugar Smacks in the 70s era of cereal free gifts. .

I think also gives the opportunity for a nice spin on the song - " We know what your not, we know what your not"

Have to say that "Rise" was always one of my favourite Gabrielle songs

Had the misfortune to have already booked a holiday in Italy with a group of mates in the Heysel year, did consider whether to cancel but went ahead. Probably one of the worst weeks of my life as far as holidays go lol, Groups of some very angry Italians looking for revenge, if they identified or thought you were English you were targeted. Staff in the apartments were as good as gold but literally had to be constantly aware watch each others backs for much of the time if ventured outside in many areas.

Yep and a wall chart that actually fitted on the fkg wall!! Remember the qualifying groups were also more exciting, 4 teams max groups (usually at least two very strong) and only one team qualifying. Remember watching an Italy v England qualifier at school in the science lab lol, no idea why it was being played in the afternoon but remember we lost 2-0 was absolutely gutted back in those days.

Apologies if his name is hidden here somewhere already but isn't the lesser spotted Dujon Richards also one of ours to return. I thought the situation squad wise in numbers was bad at the end of the Potter/Lampard season but these lists make that end of season look healthy lol. I just can't see how we are going to shift so many players, particularly on oner way tickets. My worry is a big knock on effect for any promising youth that we do have where do they go? - No game time apart from League cup probably and likely to be even less meaningful loan opportunities with our loan system increasingly nothing more than a glorified storage facility for deadwood that we can't get rid of. Call me old fashioned but I used to quite enjoy the times when our loan system was top heavy with players who were given the opportunity to further develop with regards to a possible pathway to the first team if successful, or at least the chance to see whether they are at least possible in that respect.

Such a disappointment watching this absolute shower of sh*te this afternoon. More fool me I suppose given the number of times that's been the case this season. Was reading an old program as I do to when not at a game and watching on TV to fill in the time between adverts and boring chat and saw a few names on the team sheet such as Gary Chivers, Mickey Nutton, Peter Rhodes Brown etc etc , honest lads who were probably way out of their depth but all we had to turn to. Whatever their lack of football ability could never fault their effort or commitment and ,even those guys, put some of our present players to shame in fact can safely say that I connected more with the players at that dark time than some of todays absolute wnkers. Cucurella for me today was just abhorrent, jogging back (when he could be bothered) to, and I use the words very loosely, "Chase" back his man. Then that moment late in the game when we won the ball back progressing into a dangerous position deep inside the final third down their left and Cucurella running up inside in support chooses to drag the defender back rather than the easier option of putting in some effort and running around him. Apologies to my wife and kids for being in such a foul mood tonight. Just so glad the seasons over.

Have to admit his contribution had more in keeping with a "pitch invader" than a Chelsea Substitute. Takes me back to my youth though as every time I watch Delap all I can think about is that classic - Mike Reid's Runaround.

Yep poor old Todd, his proud first Marque signing turned out to be more of a pop up tent. Had a couple of good games on that USA tour that impressed everyone it seemed but that turned out to be table tennis unfortunately.

"We'll just call him Dorothy"

Have always given my support to every new Chelsea manager (bar Benitez), wish Rosenior the best of luck and really hope he is successful. Whilst my excitement levels are probably bordering on "Ken Shellito" levels I am actually looking forward to games based on what LR has said. If he can transfer that optimism to the pitch and performances then will be a happy bunny. Intrigued to see what he produces.

Use of the loan system has bugged me for a while, cal me old fashioned but used to enjoy the days when it was primarily used for the development of future Chelsea players rather than what these days seems to be predominantly or largely a storage facility for players that are either seen as dead wood or wanted off the books. I understand they need to be put in the shop window so to speak but seem to take up a fair number of places. I guess a consequence of signing so many.

More frightening is that in the few games I've seen so does Penders lol

First, it was important to understand where this strategy comes from and why Chelsea believe it is necessary. The club recognises that there are around five European teams that are effectively impossible to compete with directly on a financial level, due to differences in overall revenue, stadium income, and state ownership - PSG, Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid and Man City. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So Revenue as we all know too well a major issue but surprise surprise no answers given (or for that point no question even asked) as to where our stadium redevelopment plans currently are and why we have been unable to at least generate the realistic minimum amount of revenue that a front of shirt sponsor could deliver (40m a season?) rather than F-all. Remember reading somewhere that commercial was the thing that these guys were good at lol.

Tend to agree with those sentiments, was cautiously optimistic when TB first took over but have increasingly become more and more disillusioned with the ownership it seems the more Clearlake have become involved. At the point now it seems where us supporters support the Team sheet but our owners in effect just support the Spreadsheet, never felt further apart in a connection. My twopenneth for what its worth maybe be total crap but the way I view the decline: Was ok with TB when he first took over , we were a CL Elite Club that needed a few positions enhanced following the fallout from the forced sale of the club (for example the loss of 2 CB's). I genuinely believe that the new ownership were willing to do that and actually tried to make those small adjustments or enhancements that would keep us competitive at that level. They identified players they thought were needed and payed big wages to accommodate those signings. For me that first window was absolutely crucial to the future, the building blocks to ensure that the new era would be based on solid foundations to ensure a seamless or as seamless as possible transition. For me the first error was being turned down by Edwards in the SD role and failing to have an alternative in place prior to that first window. Maybe alternative were not available at the time but negative effect was that TB naively or arrogantly assumed that he could fulfil the role along with Tuchel. Tuchel for me not going through the best of times personally at the time and the friction caused by TB insisting or involving him in the SD and transfers role just added to the problems for him. I also think that an absolutely massive fault was the failure to retain Petr Cech in the Role he was fulfilling at the time, was a key link with Tuchel and may have helped the situation should he have been persuaded to stay on, even if only for that all important first window. All went rapidly Pete Tong from that point imo culminating in the Tuchel sacking, the disaster appointment of Potter adding fuel to the decline (no idea if it was at this point that Clearlake and TB began to fracture) but then a total 360 degree turn about in strategy with the sudden switch to long term , limited salary young player/potential recruitment policy. The appointment of Lampard for me was done purely on the fact that he was a club legend and basically in effect no more than a "tin hat" to try and deflect the anger and unhappiness of supporters during what was a shambolic period whilst they worked out which direction to go in order to try and get the club out of the depths it had sunk to. Maybe with a club legend in charge the fans would be less like to give as much negative flack as they would with somebody else, dunno can't really see any other reason for the appointment at that time. and we are where we currently are, no idea where we are going but personally don't see how we can go in any positive direction whilst you have a fractured ownership and that includes off the field sadly as well as on.

Poor from me, would probably translate to a 3/10 which in itself imo probably represents the ratio of successes/signings or maybe I'm being over generous.

Agree 100% and mirrors my own feelings on the Maresca Experience. If I had to think of one word to sum up the Maresca tenure then "Frustrating" would probably be it (athough "boring" was pushing that hard). Tried so hard to like him but just when I was beginning to warm he would do something to really p1ss me off again. I think particularly the stubborness to try something new when the same thing wasn't working for weeks on end, and then when seemingly finally "stumbling on a solution still then going back to what had previously not worked. Also the fitting of a "mute button" on our most creative players and the constant inability to seemingly get two decent 45 minutes out of a game. Add to that the above mentioned in the post quoted and don't get me started on the lame excuses "we had 24 hours less time to prepare " (didn't hinder the mighty Ipswich when they rolled us over I seem to remember). and the "we worked all week on a specific plan to play against todays opposition, I have watched them 300 times over the last few days but they changed their tactics and played a different way against us", well well surprise surprise how dare they. A premier league manager without a plan B sorry but....... Maresca to me just never seemed to want to change, in my humble opinion was never going to be a "10 steps forward" type of manager, always 7 steps forwards 3 steps back (that maybe a tad generous on reflection. Enjoyed some of the moments that he did give us but frustrating and underwhelming in the main for me. No idea who will replace him and beyond caring at this exact moment, I guess the smart money and the fact that the owners persist with buying embryos and youngsters the best match would be Liam NoSenior. After that in true Maresca style I'll get my coat, knew I should never have pulled that last xmas cracker.

Didn't this actually happen at Leicester where they went on a bad run and in the lead up to their crunch game with Southampton the senior players (Vardy ,Albrighton) called a players only meeting to try and arrest the situation. When asked for the specifics of what was discussed, Marc continued: “We felt sometimes over the course of, especially the second half of the season, the lads seemed to not want to take certain risks [in possession]. Quote from Albrighton below just seems so familiar to what we are or have been witnessing during Maresca's tenure. “We've got some incredible players in the squad. We've got some real talent, especially the wingers. Their strength is running at players, getting past them, and getting balls into the box. “So we told them to go and do that. Don't turn out, make sure you express that freedom – I think maybe they lost a little bit of confidence during the season, with the defeats and stuff, but they've been absolutely brilliant for us, so it was just getting back to that.”

Wasn't this the same story at Leicester ...even though he won them the Championship big % of fans wanted him gone ? I've always tried to always initially support every manager that the club has ever employed (with the exception of Benitez) or at least give them a chance to show what they can do. Been difficult at times with some of the guys I've seen masquerading as Managers in my 58 years or whatever of supporting the Club but have always tried to give them a chance (with the exception of Benitez) before that support has waned for reasons I could hopefully then justify. Personally I find Maresca extremely hard work, always seems to be that just when try to like him he goes and does something immediately that really annoys me, kind of one step forward .. 2 steps back, the latest for example finally playing a real striker up front (which worked) and then defaulting back to playing TG up there again even though two forwards available and needing minutes. Along with the most mundane and boring football I have had to witness between most of December to March last year and at times this season, my other biggest gripe with Maresca in that he perseveres with something that doesn't work time and time again , and then when we finally fond (or stumble upon) a solution that has an impact, he seems to always go back to trying what failed to work previously for some totally bizarre reason. Maybe its a stubbornness or a desire to be proved right , its kind of banging your head against a brick wall style of management which just infuriates. Just seems to me like he doesn't seem capable from learning from his mistakes previously, just seems like a lot of the problems that were evident at Leicester have been repeated here rather than using them to evolve his management style, maybe because he won the Championship with Leicester that gives him the right to do as he pleases. Don't know how true this is but Leicester supporter was telling me that during their bad run it was the two most senior players (Vardy and Albrighton) who called a playersONLY meeting before their crunch game with Southampton and basically set up and played more or less in the way that they would best suit the team to get a result? Trying my hardest to support the guy but for very positive that appears (such as the less-a-spotted fast transition) there rapidly always seems to follow a hair pulling out negative. A little bit personal maybe for which I apologise for but please sort the clobber out , no more exposure to Salmon jumpers and WTF is that latest fawn beige silvery padded ensemble that he is constantly wearing on the touchline? Seriously .. when I first saw it on the touchline against Liverpool just preying my missus wasn't noting it as a potential xmas present for me. I was staring my eyes to see what the badge was on the font of the Jacket....NASA was my guess, when he started on his run down the touchline I wasn't quite sure whether he was going to embrace his players or plant a flag into the ground! Anyway as ever I look forward to our next game hoping that we kick on and go with a set up and line up that makes the most of the players we have, but also with the fear that the few remaining hairs on my head are at risk.

Have also been pleasantly surprised by his ability to stay injury free given that he appeared to have a lot of problems with games missed with Wolves in the season or two before joining us.

Personally was happy with the acquisition of Delap at the time but was kind of maybe stupidly expecting that he would be supplementing the squad with another more experienced recognised striker to give us options up front. No idea what he was doing last night, I get that he's young but seriously Liam have a word with yourself, not rocket science. Was trying find a way of describing his little "cameo" and kind of took me back to my childhood days and a game I used to have (which some of you if like me in your 60's might remember) ....... called "Battling Tops" You used to pull the string to propel your top into the playing arena/surface and for the next few minutes your piece would cavort randomly around the playing area smashing into as many other pieces as possible until last piece standing wins. Just a really bizarre night from the moment he came on.

Remember being absolutely chuffed when parents bought me a pair of Green Peter Bonetti GK Gloves for my birthday, however, seeing this picture I suspect that they did actually wrap up a pair of oversized gardening gloves instead. Could never quite work out why so many of the other kids took the p1ss when I volunteered to go in goal.