Eagle Owl

This sounds like East Germany. Way to go, Chelsea FC... Freedom of speech is overrated anyway.

This didn't really work, did it? It seemed to be something of a sell out yesterday with 38 000 in the stands. Was the atmosphere any good, or just tourists who managed to get a hold of tickets due to regulars boycotting?

Hooliganism and the EPL don't really go hand in hand these days. If fights occur, I reckon they take place far away from the match venue. Some may see it as an extremely good thing, but it's of course mostly because of expensive tickets that this has become the case. The ticket pricesetting is something not many are fond of, so keeping the top flight clean from this sort of activity has its downside as well.

No, but you might be able to see her on telly. People arriving with aiport buses and meal vouchers would take care of the visiting part for you.

Basically, the only way I can see a move as acceptable is if - the stadium is built keeping the Bridge and Chelsea feel - fans are taken into account with proper stands behind the nets - ticket prices don't rise, preferrably are lowered. Otherwise it would seem like a very bad idea. e. But like said here too, one needs to figure out which sacrifices are worth making for success. I wouldn't sell my mom for a million quid, some people would.

Maybe it would be time for football to change. Get healthy again, at least healthier. Cut the salaries heavily and go back to basics. I know it won't happen, but personally I couldn't care less about losing millions to Arsenal and Man Utd, if that enables a great club to keep its soul intact. e. A 60 000 stadium isn't repaying itself just by being built. It has to be sold out, as well. If the reality is going to be a new, bigger stadium with even more expensive tickets than now, it won't be anything else than a crap copy of the Emirates. An amusement park for tourists, soulless, cold... Like a football version of Disney Land. That would be the end of Chelsea, just like the Emirates killed that Arsenal feel.

Standing sections are prohibited, so that's not going to happen unless The FA and UEFA change their legislation regarding them. This is not the case in Germany, which is why they're able to build non-all seater stadia there. Even as a foreign fan, I'd hate to see Chelsea leave the Bridge. If it's inevitable, a stadium similar to SB in an SW location would be the only option, but I fear people are looking to ruin football with another soulless pice of s*** stadium like the Emirates. Things were better back in the day...

Really cool to hear that! I'm sure your son had the time of his life. Can't wait to get back to the Bridge myself.

Is really no one a fan of this beautiful game?

Absolutely. I think Germany is the best example of this right now, since they've been able to keep the intensity and atmosphere in the stands, without having to sacrifice the quality of the game. This is obviously due to healthy finances and not spending loads more than you make, which has kept the ticket prices affordable as well. You can e.g. attend a game in Berlin for approximately £10 against any opposition. I love the English game, but it's sad to see that some aspects of it are being destroyed.

I watched the game online, and what a thriller it turned out to be! I know it's ridiculous to analyse something over the telly, but the atmosphere seemed truly great yesterday. Am I totally wrong, or was it better than at most league fixtures? I reckon the cheaper tickets are the main reason for this, e.g. during the shootout it was awesome to see the MHL do the bouncy whenever a cottager turned up for his kick. We're thinking of making a trip over to London in the near future, and catching a cup match while at it would be great. We're actually going up to Scotland as well to see if it's a place we could think of moving to to study, but we'd fly down to London. Should I be able to get tickets for the next Carling round without probs?

This is something that has been debated quite a bit since the commercialization of football began, but I didn't find an accurate topic about it here. It's a simple question, really, which I reckon the majority of fans think about frequently. If you had to make a choice, which one would you prefer, a world class league with most of the biggest stars, or simply a league of a lower standard with a great atmosphere? Some countries are able to combine these two and some match ups in England are truly amazing, as well. However, when watching a game from England (and having seen football in reasonably many countries) and comparing it to one in e.g. Germany, I always wonder how things managed to become so f****d up.

I guess I'll have to say Liverpool, even though I'm no fan of Arsenal's plastic feel nowadays. Liverpool fans are arrogant, irritating and think too much of themselves, while Spurs are... well, I just can't seem to like them. In other words, keep Liverpool out (because I actually can put my finger on why I don't like them) of the Big Four. I don't mind harmless Arsenal.

Mata. I'm starting to fall in love with this guy already.

Hah, you know what I was looking for.

Having said this, I do however hope he'll be given a fair chance. The whole situation is a pain in the ass, really, which both sides (the club and Torres) have contributed too. He's a perfect exaple of what can happen, if someone who thinks he knows football but really doesn't, gets too much power to decide about transfers.

Anyone else around here with an interest in Hattrick? Hattrick is the first online football manager game, and it has got its roots in Sweden. For those of you who aren't familiar with Hattrick, it's a free-of-charge management game where one creates a football club in a fictional world with national leagues, cups, national teams, youth leagues etc. It's basically a simplified world of football with everything that's essential for a nice manager experience. I play in the lowest possible league in Finland right now. I first played Hattrick back in 2004, but quit after some years and made a comeback last year. It's good fun and isn't too time consuming, either.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Torres is the one who needs to adapt, not Chelsea. He looks completely lost on the pitch, his first touch is terrible and there's no joy what so ever in his game. It's a pity, but there's not much you can do about it. It almost seemed as if his teammates weren't too keen to pass him the ball, as the result would more than likely be a loss of posession. For Torres's and CFC's sake, the best thing to do would probably be a move back to Spain. I can't imagine him being very fond of the situation either, so a move home would probably do a trick or two for his form.

Useless for me to comment as an overseas supporter, but I still will (too boring of a time at work). I absolutely support this boycott, £40 is pure madness. But this is unfortunately the way things will be more and more in years to come. I don't see a turningpoint coming anytime soon, which will leave Chelsea Football Club as nothing but another tourist attraction. That will be the case with most - if not all - major clubs in London, Manchester and Liverpool. Money talks, and that's a bleeding disgrace. e. The only way I can see this not happening, is if the FA or the league start regulating the ticket prices with an upper limit. Another way would be a full scale boycott of all games, but this can't be seen as very likely, mostly due to tourists who are willing to pay anything for a ticket.

Hmm, the match isn't until Tuesday, which is when you leave for London to watch the game? I can't say with a 100 % certainty, but I do believe they will arrive in time. They did so when I ordered tickets to Finland, in just one or two working days. Isn't there an option not to pay for the shipping and pick up the tickets at the box office to start with?

Wow, that's amazing! There's pictures from Chelsea's tour of Sweden and Finland, even from the ground of the team I support at home. IFK Mariehamn. 1982

This is something I definetely would've wanted to experience. The old fashioned stand looks great. Can't believe it has changed that much in just a few years, doesn't look like the same ground anymore, even though I enjoy the modern day Bridge too!

I still don't think we need him, at least not for that kind of money. It became too much of a circus this summer, and I'm glad the club finally can concentrate of what's most important: the football itself. We have such a strong squad right now, that "losing" the race for Modric is nothing to worry about. It wasn't that smart of a move by Spurs though, but that's their problem.

Agreed. The second one isn't that great, but you get some of that Jurassic Park feel back in the third movie. I guess it's because of Sam Neill, who's basically Mr. Jurassic Park himself. The fourth one should be on its way in a year or two, and both Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum will be in it. Can't wait!

Did the good old Jurassic Park marathon this week. The first one is by far the best - the theme music gives me goosebumps.