DoubleHelix74

FFS, we gave this one away!

Fock all of them! Complete travesty, period! There is not one club or team that does not want JT on their backline! Let's here the praise at the Bridge tomorrow regardless of him not playing! And as for the FA and the English squad, go piss off! f**king rubbish anyway! Hope this gives us momentum and we send United home with nothing! Come on you BLUES! Torres for a hat trick, 3-1 Chelsea! Let's rise to the occasion boys and turn it around! We want third place this year! Next season is ours under AVB!

...And before I get ripped to shreds for being an equites trader because here Stateside we are as popular as the journo's in the Motherland, I want to point out that I am as middle class as they come... Sadly, our illustrious leader or I should correctly say "current punching bag" has alluded that us traders are all posh citizens, driving around in Rovers and consuming daily lunches at Tavern on the Green, which is for some and truth be told wish for me but not exactly the truth...

Football studies? Biology thesis on dog urination? My lord what are they teaching you people across the pond? I LOVE IT! Wish I did my studies in merry ol because I was stuck in a lab for 5 years studying molecular bio / bio chemistry, ran up a tuition loan bill of $100k, and now trade equities for a living. In fact the closest to the lab I get nowadays is my doxtors office... And to add insult to injury, the guy on the desk next to me has a $2500 2 year degree from a local community college. Oh, if I could do it over, it would surely be in Football Studies in England! Cheers and good luck Matt!

Believe me Chels2, I am all for winning and keeping AVB is a huge unknown. If RA has that conversation with Jose and its agreed upon that he will stay out of the daily affairs than absolutely bring him back. Personally, I think Jose and Chelsea are made for each other but my fear is having the carousel of coaches again, if it does not work out. Bottomline is he should never have been sacked in the first place! At the rate the club was going we'd have a CL, maybe 2 and certainly more than one Premiership too. I am just trying to look at both sides and be cautious... Perhaps too analytical, I don't know...

The club will definitely be dropping a lot of revenue off the books this summer in players wages alone and if the club decides to sell Torres that would help alleviate some of his burdensome wages. Gonna have to eat a lot it because no club will take it on. A new larger stadium is simply a must have nowadays. Hopefully something can get done and as much as I hate it, they will have to sell the naming rights to profit even further. Have to be smart with how Chelsea spends the cash nowadays and paying ex managers wages is not a viable option

@fasteddie, that's the unknown, can AVB do this? We clearly thought he could last summer and now something potentially better comes along, we should just drop everything? We've done this ever since Jose was sacked.... I am not opposed to Jose return as originally stated but at what cost? And more importantly at what outcome. It's a difficult decision and not so cut and dry like some make it out to be...

@ Chels2, perhaps you should look at the entire sentence there and read the first part where I clearly wrote about if AVB can achieve what're wants its a win win situation for us all... AVB wants us to be a Barca style club, if he achieves that I am happy, if Jose is giving fits to United supporters, fine with me too. What I don't want to see is Jose wind up some place else like United! So yeah, for most (I would think) Chelsea supporters playing with a Barca quality is obviously we all desire and IF we have to see Jose in the Prem City is more suitable more United! As I stated I'm original post I have mixed feelings on Jose coming back because we should be giving AVB more time. And how long before a clash with RA and Jose over running the club? It's inevitable and then we are right back where we started from. City or any other team getting Jose does not automatically qualify them to win every trophy either. Like I said either way whether it Jose comes next season (which we don't even know if this even true to begin with) or we give AVB more time to build on what he envisions at Chelsea! Of course we need him to do that but I am confident he can achieve what he wants with his squad, not an aging on hand picked by Jose. It's a gamble but we already know the eventual outcome on the other side of the equation.

Those points are very true Wax... FFP is not going only affect Chelsea but all the clubs. Jose wants to return to any club in the Premier League he's going to have to deal with and utilize younger players. Can't see him going to Spurs or Arsenal because they both do not have the capital reserves to even pay his salary let alone add a few players. City shouldn't unload Mancini and frankly can't see it unless they maybe slip up in the stretch here. United are fairly young but also broke. That shoddy debt offering in Asia last year wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. Even Jim O'Neil, Red Knights leader and Chief Economist for Goldman Sachs said so. Will Glazers family give Jose the funds and power he desires? Plus SAF doesn't appear to be stepping down this year anyway. Chelsea is really the only club I see him coming to with City next in line... I have mixes feelings on him coming back, part of me wants to see AVB forge his way through the shyte storm and have a squad playing beautiful football on the other side but also having Jose back in the coaches box and hearing the Stamford Bridge faithful sing his name once more would also be very enticing. If not and we stick with AVB, I would rather see Jose sign with City more so than anybody else. Just because he would truly give those United supporters nightmares from the other side of town. IMO, if AVB can get where he wants, Jose signing on with City is a win-win for us all, lol...

Chelsea should not simply fire AVB and I think the clubs supporters shouldn't be calling for his head either... Maybe Carlo should have been giving one more season, maybe Ray should still be his assistant, who knows? Maybe Chelsea should never have fired Jose? It doesn't really matter at this point because it happened and is now behind in the history of the club... None of us here want to see a revolving door and while I personally think AVB may be a bit beyond his depth at the moment, let's not forget how inexperienced and at such a young age he really is... We know he has the knowledge but perhaps this was a little more than he could chew. Chelsea and us supporters have to give him the confidence and allow him a few years to grow the squad and play the style he wants. He has inherited a smorgasboard of players signed by 4 different coaches. I think he could and perhaps should do better at the moment and is not but we have to give the man time. He came highly regarded and that's including inside the club as well. Give the guy a few seasons because really he is just a kid if you think about it. I'm sure he'd like to play the younger guys but when you're pulled and tugged in every direction to win now, you have to go with experience. Bottom line is this, most of the squad were shyte and lazy under Carlo and most of these guys are going to be gone this summer. Let's see what AVB can do with a squad built more around his philosophy. Sure DeBruyne wasn't a priority but show me where AVB said he's rubbish and has no chance. This kid is 20 and when I was that age I was in pubs dreaming about how to end poverty and hunger.... You're naive is my point and for all we know this kid could be the super sub we thought Kalou would've been... Who knows? However if we want to see a club grow and play a Barca style brand, AVB may be just the man to do it. In his third season and we're still having this conversation, we will strongly need to re-evaluate but not now. It's too soon, man needs time to accomplish what his initial goals are to be...

...And I am quite apologetic about my atrocity-like spelling... I post from my phone and it can be somewhat horrible with its spellcheck that I always fail to get a grip on...

...And I am quite apologetic about my atrocity-like spelling... I post from my phone and it can be somewhat horrible with its spellcheck that I always fail to get a grip on...

You guys all bring every valuable points that I didn't explore much into. For instance the initial purchase of the club and what he has built and for what he can sell it for today. Let's hope he doesn't realize that but I am sure enough positive that he does. A guy who came from nothing and amassed an empire is obviously bright (it didn't just happen on luck, like a lottery ticket) and he knows what he is doing. And this may and probably is his proverbial "baby" and knows its a longterm investment and eventually the profits will stream in. I guess what I was trying to show is that the average person invests on emotion all too much and then when the "inkling" doesn't work they finally come to terms and cashed out. Sadly, in my line of work I see it all too often but I should've never compares it to a guy with a fraction of what RA is worth. Great conversation though and appreciate the humane comments that were addressed to my original comments. I think once Chelsea can clear some of the books by letting go of some purchases that aren't as profitable as they were originally, we will all see Chelsea splurge. Let's hope we have that coveted 4th spot so it won't cost an ARM and a leg because Chelsea can dangle Champions League Football as an incentive...

@ Andy, actually that figure is more... I originally used the 630M pound sterling figure which if converted over the past decade to USD would be about $1B.. Article above states it could be even 970M pound sterling. While RA is worth a lot about $13.4B losing about a tenth of his current wealth on a sports team is a bit crazy! It's basically the same as an investor holding a dog in his portfolio because he's emotionally attached to it... Obviously, RA can do whatever he wants and who am I to say sitting on the complete opposite side of the spectm, I am just thinking rational... Its a bit of lunacy, even for a billionaire. I do appreciate the rewards that RA has bestowed on us all though and certainly not ungrateful of his borderline insane generosity...

Sorry, RA has lost close to a billion USD in less than a decade just alone on investing in Chelsea alone... This does not include the millions in other investments since the credit crisis that hit the globe a few years back. If it were me, I'd be running for the door looking to sell to someone else who's willing to pay a handsome price for the club. He shouldn't have trouble finding somebody, considering the club is in posh West London and now a global brand to buy the club and could more than double his initial investment... Hate to say it but as a trader I've been taught that one needs to learn to walk away even if its their love (or baby) and this big if a loss is screaming to get out! Not sure if he will but the truth is he should! I am sure I will be flogged with this post but reality is reality... The spark and love has gone and when you've lost a good 15% or so of your wealth on a football team, resentment comes creeping in. Its only human! Any rational person investing their hard earned money (whether it be 100K or $1B) would be feeling the same way... His money managers would be doing a dis-service and not their fiduciary duty.... Be a lunatic to hold onto an investment like this in the real world... Flog on but its areality!

Well in Sturridge's defense, he is playing out of position... Think he is more fitted into being the loan man up top. But I do admit he shone a bit brightly before the injury and now has hit a bit of a rough patch. We shall see how this season winds up but the schedule isn't going to get any easier with United, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, and City. And I will even go as far and say Everton, Newcastle, Villa will all give us fits as well... More than likely going to drop a lot of points IF we continue down this path...

Can I vote for Neil Taylor?

@ Eggy, agree completely except for the bit about this year... There is in no doubt in my mind we are setting the stage for things to come and I think its being done right. With that said though we do need something to light a candle under the current squads arse and whether that is a sure panic down the stretch or AVB getting out the hair dryer for once, I'd feel a bit more comfortable with a signing like a Honda, Hoillet, Dempsey, or whoever to light a spark under these guy's arses! The current squad lacks motivation and let's face it if you know you're gone this summer, what fire do you really have? We are lacking bigtime in the home stretch and with Ramires (who imo is really the only one offensively showing anything) out, its a bit of a crap-shoot right now... We either going to crash and burn or pick up the pace and get it done! Bit worrisome at the moment and I think we're all just wondering which Chelsea is going to show up nowadays... My take anyway...

Didn't mean to spark a controversial undertone because when I commented I had not watched the match yet and only score the sheet. Now seeing it I have to agree it wasn't exactly something we planned or a deflection but it earned us a point so can't complain. What I can complain about was that we are arguing over this... With the caliber of players we have on the pitch it should not have come down to that. Sure, some matches you scrape out for a point it even a win (United makes a living out of it this time of year) but we are constantly doing it and holding on... Or now just getting lucky to nick a point like today... My take anyway...

@ Time to waste, but that was w/o Gerrard no? Perhaps I am panicking too much or giving LFC too much credit but regardless we should be worried...

Definitely here you Spiller on the wages we have on the books but surely we could've picked up somebody that wouldn't cost that much. I keep going back to Honda going to Lazio for 11M... He could've been the spark we need... I understand that we spent lavishly in the past and its biting us in the arse now but if we can't make the CL next season its going to be way worse. Don't think they needed a superstar but a Honda or Dempsey could've made the difference. I sure hope we can get 4th...

State of free fall here... We may not even get 5th playing like we are currently... Liverpool is looking stronger and stronger with Gerrard back and Caroll seems to be reaping all the awards of Gerrard back in the line up too... Really surprised with the state Chelsea is in now and nobody added to the squad. What's the point of signing Cahill when he doesn't even play? It's dumbfounding, really!

MOTM, Taylor! Didn't watch the match live due to work but followed it on ESPN gamecast, not even sure I want to see it on the dvr either. If we have to nick a point on an own-goal to Swansea, we're in worse shape than I ever imagined...

Sure be nice but its probably a reach. Especially with the other clubs in Europe in the running. With that said, I would love to see a Brazilian/Belgian influence for Chelsea, as Star mentioned. Both countries have some young and exciting players that could make Chelsea dominant for years to come. I wonder what kind of money will it take to pry this kid away and that is if he even wants to play in England?

I don't think people here or most of them anyway are saying KDB is not good enough. Frankly, he is a 20 year old kid from Belgium that really nobody has seen much of so jury is still out. And if I am not mistaken I believe Genk last summer were looking for a lot more from him. I seem to remember 15M but could be completely wrong... I think the point of criticism is that he is not improving our squad now, as in this season... Has nothing to do with KDB from what I am reading. But if everyone wants to throw around insults, so be it...