Star

In responce to Abramovich and dkw, Guys, please don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying I would welcome a Man Utd or Liverpool style "Roman Out" cry from the Shed End or indeed a yank or Arab style takeover. Like any Club it moves in cycles. Between 1980 and 1982 I never missed a Chelsea game home or away, even pre-season, even as fans when we were banned. When Ken Bates came in and tarnished all our fans with the same hooligan brush, then dismantled my Chelsea team to that of relative unknowns I took my one and only step of boycotting Stamford Bridge for the start of the 83-84 season. As Pat Nevin, Kerry Dixon, Nigel Spackman, Joe McClauglin etc arrived - I just couldn't face the season ahead without 'My Chelsea' Alas, my self exile didn't last long, I was back in the shed to watch an exciting Chelsea team play some of the best football I've seen in my life. There are a lot of comparisons that could be made to that of Roman's arrival here team wise, the difference was the cost of players, cheap gems as they were and the fact that Clive Walker had saved us the previous season from the 3rd Division at Bolton whilst Jesper Gronkjaer put us in the Champions League before Roman's arrival. Love or loath Ken Bates and I have plenty of reasons to loath him "Bates threw away half our history and players at one time only for Roman to re-assert ..." has got to be one of the most controversial and challenging statement of this particular thread ! Blimey, the bloke fought tooth and nail by himself to secure Stamford Bridge and keep it away from the developing sharks, we would be playing in eye brook common park now if it wasn't for him !! John Neal probably along with Jose the best appointment of a manager since I started supporting Chelsea, but for a heart attack and continued ill

I wouldn't be worried a bit in the slightest if Roman sold up now, providing like Ken Bates he handed over the club to a suitor with all the best intentions in the world and the ambition to make us the dominant force in both domestic and European football. I know Roman wouldn't like to leave before we won the Champions League, but after all the missed opportunities I guess reality will kick in that the likes of Terry, Drogba and Lampard for all their passion and commitment to the cause are destined never to win it with our beloved blues. Roman would leave us with great memories and a training ground and academy right up there with the best in England if not Europe. I sometimes wonder what more Roman can do for us, with the Workd Cup being in Russia and Putin wanting his cash input combined with our self efficient failings to be sufficient if the truth is known - We cannot deny in any shape or form that there are things going on behind the scenes that are out of our managers control, then again under Romans reign that could be said of every manager we have had. I was suspicious of Romans intent when he arrived, he quickly removed that from my thoughts, however the way people like Jose, Butch and countless others have been treated, together with the lack of squad refreshment in the close season, means in my mind the time is as good as any for an ownership change.

I remember the days when Anelka played off the shoulder of the Centre Half and used his pace to get behind and score one on one's. Arsenal, Bolton and Man City spring to mind. For the past two seasons, when Drogba and he have been in the line up, he has played this game of dropping into midfield and has lived off the right wing cross that made us progress in the Champions League. Funny, when I played and managed football teams, we had players called midfielders and wingers who do the jobs Anelka is now doing. It's 'kin simple to me, we buy a right winger - and choose between Anelka and Drogba as Centre Forward. Or we play 4-4-2 and play Drogba and Anelka up top. Personally I would buy a right winger and play Drogba and not Anelka. As I've said before Adam Johnson from Boro' as a homegrown and a quality back up keeper from anywhere would have done me. Who that right winger is, well there is someone out there. Kin' ell when I was a kid thousands were right wingers and right sided, good left wingers and left backs were goldust ! I'd also play Sturridge and Drogba in a 4-4-2, which means I'd have Anelka on the bench to make a late impact.

Hutch, I have a lot of times for your posts mate. Let me tell you that you have every right to let off steam, if you think Carlo is to blame for this go for it ! I went the same way with Ranieri and Grant and got slaughtered on here as well as limited praise. I was amazed what Carlo did last season after we lost to Inter, I blasted away on Chelsea TV to Gi GI and Tommy Langley , they never had the chance to speak ! Getting things off your chest when things go wrong is an act of passion, some think it's bombing off when you lose and not appearing when you win but it's all bollix ! When things go wrong you shoot from the heart, nothing wrong with that, more opinions are cast when things are bad, it prompts discussion and action ! Personally I'd keep Carlo, let him manage as he see fits, pick and choose his own backroom team and make the squad changes that we obviously need to compliment our youth players. Until that happens we have to realise last season was our glory finale, that or if we end up 5th and out of the champions league in March, Roman either has a knee jerk spending spree as in the past or sells up in the summer to rich Arab !

Mate, I have bin saying this for ages. When we will ever address the fact in a 4-3-3 Anelka was always a stop gap ? Bad decision again not having faith in our kids, by that I mean Ferreira playing as a solid right back to the right of Bruma, instead of going for the forward thinking Bosingwa. Bruma in the main, played well, had he been given more playing time earlier in our campaign I'm sure he would have Handled Heskey better at times. The kid will do for me, as for Ferreira well, Jose seemed to finish his Chelsea career, he's been a great servant but he is past it - absolutely end of discussion. We are out of the title race, we have been in my mind for a while. The big challenge is to get 4th, our current squad is just that, we are 5th on merit in my opinion and will stay there unless we act in The current transfer window. I'm cool about this, I don't expect us to challenge at the top unless a little cash is spent, I can take defeat these days much better than when we had a squad good enough to dominate everyone. us old school will still be about, wonder where the corporate and prawnies will be ? Maybe if Spuds get the Olympic stadium is my guess. We have our Chelsea back lads, Like today it will be an up and down season, innit great 2-1 down and playing sh*te, pulling level and captain fantastic getting a last minute winner then a calamaty of a goal to kick us in the bollarks ! hate I'm saying it - but I love it !!!!! Much better than dicking teams 6-0 week in week out ! Would I would add is when Ramires starts getting into games in the last 20 mins, when his lungs keep going, do we sub him ???? Sturridge must start against Wolves as well as Bosingwas !

This again puts pressure on our wafer thin squad. I'm over the moon Carlo has put faith in Bruma for the Villa game, maybe it is too much putting another youngster in for the fixture, but with Ivanovic back for Wolves I'd put Josh in. On current form, Mikel with a fully fit squad would not be in my starting eleven, in fact I am not convinced he has a long term future at Chelsea, how long does a player need to become consistent and live up to the early hype ? Yes he has improved under Carlo, but those silly lacks in concentration still remain and at the very top level of football it will restrict his chances of being the World Class player I always thought he was destined to be. Hand on heart I believe he isn't quite going to be the answer in his role in our team. Josh, Essien and Ramires are our hopes for the next four years, somehow we have to find *that* player to replace Lampard if not Mikel. History tells us we have to break the bank to do just that, as we will to replace Drogba, but Man City have all the cards and we will pick up the scraps unless we have the nouse to pick up a gem along the way. As I've said before the Russia World Cup winning bid might just determine our future more than people think. I'm not confident at all Roman will put us first, with Arneson gone, development in the future has still to be addressed, plus the future of Stamford Bridge, we cannot expect to survive on 40.000 gates, Spurs are a huge threat to the top four as Man City's money has them nailed on like us in the past. Not qualifying for the Champions League would be a disaster, these days to compete you have to spend money, can anyone be confident we will ? I'd be gutted if we did, my dad's ashes are in the Shed Goal, but logically a move to Earls Court would have to be the answer. The sale of land right next to the Kings Road would be a goldmine even in todays climate. If Roman was to put that in the self sufficient pot and think of the design of a new ground to outshine the Emirates and bring more revenue together with higher gate receipts at a place that would still be considered home and Chelsea for sure. But as I've said is Roman the man to take us forward, all the signs at the moment are not. I wish England had won that poxy bid!

Well the prawn sandwich band of Chelsea johnny come lately's nearly had their wish last night, booing us off at half time. These muppets should walk up the motorway to Man City and leave true Chelsea fans to support the boys when we are struggling. A 0-0 draw yesterday and Carlo would have been looking down the barrel, because when fans speak the board usually listens. I loved the passion from the bench and players yesterday when we scored, the morons who booed I suppose politely clapped and others sipped champers in their poxy boxes. I hope I never sit next to one, I've never smacked a Chelsea fan in my life, but these pricks are no good for the club, the players or Carlo if it is to be believed his job is under threat. The press hate us, they are spammers in the main, always have bin always will be. Sky TV have shown nothing but Chelsea being booed off at ht - it's down to the prawnies / kin stuck up jerks. I'll moan like anyone about things to let off steam, but at a game never ! If we ever get where Liverpool are at the moment our crowds will drop to the levels of the bad old ( good old days ! ) Bring on Villa and Wolves .... The boys will save Carlo, no-one else will !!!!!!

It's pretty clear from Carlo's press conferences that he will only buy a Centre Half in January if Alex's return from injury is delayed. Other than that despite what anyone says who we need or what the consequences are, the dreaded cut backs will ensure our Manager has to battle on with what he has got. We can bang on what difference it would have made buying Van Der Vaart rather than Beneyoun, Keeping Carvalho, or even buying Adam Johnson from 'Boro' as the homegrown rather than Turnbull and invested in a quality back up keeper - all that is clear is cock up's galore have been made and it hasn't helped our cause. So who will be that Centre Half, things could have been much worse if Ivanovic had been booked in recent games. Phil Jones was the man Carlo wanted, he already has stated he wants a player currently playing in the Premiership. Jonesy's injury has put paid to that deal, both Cahill and Samba have been mentioned in the press, but for me there is only one candidate. Yet again Roger Johnson before the Sky camera's pre the Birmingham v Man Utd game said he wanted to keep a clean sheet as much for Birmingham as for his beloved Chelsea. He said his brother rang him to push the point home. What we need is a player who will give 110 per cent to the cause and above all can defend and is injury free. Johnson ticks all the boxes, at 27 will do us well, he hasn't missed a Premiership game for Brum since he signed from Cardiff and as a fan will bleed blue for our cause. He has played Drogba vey well when he has faced him and like Jonesy has picked up a couple of man of the match performance awards against us. Brum have Ridgewell who can play Centre back alongside Dann and we could even give them Ferreira as part of the deal !

God forbid Roman doesn't do it, if he does who comes in ? Zola and Clarke Super Dan Petrescu Robbie Di Matteo and Eddie Newton Martin O'Neill .......... cannot resist a bit of debating Christmas fun !

Firstly, Roman has to use a bit of common sense here. Carlo has a proven track record in the Champions League and won us the double last season for the first time in our history. He doesn't suddenly become a bad manager so Roman has to look at the team this time around rather than swing the axe toward the Manager. I really home the departure of Wilkins hasn't brought them toward a Jose type communication barrier between the two, but it has to be said the timing of Ray's departure has had an immense effect on our season. The squad as personally I always have said, is thin on quality and needs refreshing in more ways than one. We rely too much on Drogba, Lampard and Terry and until that is addressed we will struggle to keep in the top four. The club, rightly in my opinion, even with hindsight, let go the right people in the summer. What they didn't do was add quality to the youth talent in our squad. Quite who is making squad decisions is anyone's guess, but whoever they are they haven't a clue, for the record I am pretty sure it's not Carlo. We need a right sided player with pace, we need a Centre Back and a world class striker. Young Josh needs more games and Sturridge needs a run in the team in expense of Kalou, but we need to act in January or our season and future will be in doubt. Make no mistake if things fail to improve we won't be in the Champions League next season and all the cost cutting will be in vain, Roman then will have to go back to square one, with the World Cup in Russia we all know where his priority will lay. I will say one controversial thing, It wouldn't be me if I didn't. If Roman sacks Carlo he should sell up in the summer and let someone else have a go, lets all hope he acts in the best interests of the club as Ken Bates did and gives us someone with ambition and money!

He sure knows how to get into the right positions, his lack of composure in front of goal is staggering considering the nerveless way he slotted home his penalty in Moscow and in the Charity Shield. The goal in Milan is something again that leads me to think he has the big game mentality. But like a lot of people say, more often than not he flatters to deceive. For me, I'd like to see Daniel Sturridge alongside Drogba in a 442. His pace with Drogba's experience and power could bring a new dimension to our game.

At half time my sentiments entirely, what summed everything up was JT making another brilliant interception at the back, spreading the ball wide, charging past our midfield and forwards and nearly connecting with Malouda's cross for the goal of our season. We sort of went 4-4-2 in the second half, suddenly we had bodies in the box and with Essien far more effective in having a positive vibe about our team than Obi Mikel. We really dealt with the pace of Bale and Lennon well, but for me, that was the difference with their play to ours, they looked really dangerous on the break, while we still took a long time to build things up. Saying that, we deserved a point and it was a bit like the old Chelsea, gutted Drog missed the late pen but Hey I wasn't calling for anyone else to take it, rather harsh he was left out in my opinion. Great to see Lamps return late on, onwards and upward .... bring on the Salford scum!

I think we may have dodged a bullet here, much in the same way we did Robinho. Offensive Brazilian players both mentality and ability wise worry me. Ramires even not like a Brazilian, he plays like someone from the Ivory coast to me, will take a season or two to settle. It works for them as history will show in Italy and Spain. For me we should be looking at young Argies, French, Italians and Africans with the odd eastern Europeans thrown in.

We can take positive vibes about our recent run and use it in our plans for the future, it's clear we miss the goals and class of Lampard in midfield and with Drogba not firing on all cylinders after illness even more goals have dried up. Throw the absence of Terry in the mix, take his injuries into play and the average ages of those mentioned along with the fact Malouda and Anelka as senior pro's have failed to step up to the plate in difficult times - it's clear as daylight we need to bring youth through and purchase ready made replacements for such key personnel players like Drogba, Lampard and Terry - the spine of our team. For the last couple of seasons Chelsea fans have been crying out for a number ten, that player that can change a game in an instant, I can't quite work out why Josh is playing in a holding role at the moment but I am certain in my mind that I have seen enough to predict he will be that player to play the 10 role for years to come. The question will arise if Josh becomes world class, if we should change our system to accommodate his play, as only great players can demand, that would compensate for the loss of Lampard. On the other hand if Josh doesn't progress we have to splash the cash to buy a ready made Lampard and that will be short of impossible if financial restraints remain in place. I'd say Bruma could be the next JT - priority must be therefore to given to getting Alex fit and Ivanovic on a new contract. In other posts I've mentioned Phil Jones and him along with Lukulu would be my absolute crucial signings, with Bastian Sweinsteiger the other.

My thoughts are no different whether we win or lose, if you bothered to read my posts in a constructive way you might understand me differently. To be honest you are a lost cause in that department because all you do on here is nit pick at people and the content of your posts are both sarcastic and too defensive of everything about the club. If you are ok with the moves above Carlo's head and believe that we gained anything from our team selection in a nothing game last night, that's up to you. All I can say is Josh gained great experience last night and again was our best player on the night and to the post you replied child like, Sturridge, Bruma and PVA gained zilch and Bos who didn't need to play picked up an injury.

That's the sort of reply I expect from a child.

Because I believe in our youth teams players Moii and this is the Youth forum.

I'm finding it hard to get to grips with tonight's team selection. Why on earth would Carlo leave Ashley Cole and Anelka at home, then not start tonight with Van Arnault and Sturridge? Bruma also is overlooked (again!) Ferreira gets the nod at left back after his nightmare performance at Centre Back against Sunderland? Now correct me if I am wrong, against Zilina we needed a result to win the group and all our kids start, its a dead rubber tonight and only Josh starts?? I am a little angry here, we have kids, they need experience, why put out this team tonight? Carlo is under pressure that's why, if John Obi was not a booking from a ban Josh would be on the bench as well. Perhaps the idiots from above are picking the team now as well, or the idiots in the boardroom have given Carlo the news he is one defeat from the sack. What a 'kin stupid situation we are in, no logic, no balance, no common sense. I say sack the 'kin board and let Roman put men in charge that let the manager manage and put his own coaches in place.

Latest is he is in Newcastle today, appears they want him in a coaching capacity, Butch wants the managers job but that not on the table ?

Could be installed as manager by weekend

It's no secret Chelsea want the kid, there is also no doubt Drogba is his idol and his education would come complete under the wing of Didier. It's the easiest bit of business we are ever likely to pull off. It boils down to money and absolutely nothing else. Drogba never came to notice until he was 25, It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that it's a no lose situation and as gambles go like knowing the result before the event! Everything though is stacked against us, we never seem to pull off deals for young players likely to be world class, we have restricted budgets widespread throughout the club. In my opinion we should buy him in January and loan him back to Anderlect for the rest of the season otherwise others will pounce for the new Drogba, his type are goldust, as Jose will testify.

Thus .... Ivan Terry Jones Cole ....

I think we need to wheel and deal a bit, I'd keep Bos until the summer then offload him to the highest bidder, we must shore up the centre of defence and use Ivanovic as cover along with Bruma in my opinion. I am quite amazed that the Club and Carlo failed to use the Ricky to Real deal to sort out our squad issues pre-season - knowing JT had back issues and Alex was playing with a problem for much of last season, it has to be a money issue why we never went into the transfer market , otherwise Bruma as stated would have played instead of being ignored. Cost cutting is a delicate situation, I really believe that throughout the club everyone are looking over their shoulders and that is a huge worry. Cahill nah, not for me, Phil Jones maybe, he is very adaptable and able to play full back and as a holding midfielder comfortably. It makes him a true squad player very much like Ivan and in cost cutting eyes a cushion for Carlo and the board. It still bugs me why we never had the nous to get VDV in the Ricky deal, sometimes when cost cutting comes in to play common sense goes out of the window as in the way we dealt with the Butch Wilkins episode and other backroom changes.

A wicked thought Hutch, and I am leaving everyone to read what they will in deciding the term of ' wicked ' to that I refer! Has Roman bunged them both and a sell out is in the oil filled pipeline?