mjcreswick

As much as I don't think finishing 5th will be the worst thing to happen in regards to the squad, however I don't think we should just accept it. It must be noted that this is a failure in terms of Premier League success - if we accept it like Liverpool have done then this is wrong. We want to win things and if we don't then the reasons why need to be improved. Why didn't we win the league this year? If next year we bring in top quality wingers, while bringing some youth players through and developing our core than I don't think finishing 5th is too much of an issue. If we buy the likes of Henderson, Downing, Carroll and Charlie Adam then were going in the wrong direction for sure

Don't think we will get in the top 4 now. Needed to win on saturday which hopefully would of given us momentum going into the end of the season. However I don't think it will be the worst thing to happen to the club, I think if we do make 4th it will once again paper over some cracks to do with the squad. However, its important that the re-build of the squad is done properly, not like Liverpool.

Just a quick thought, if the club and council decide the solution is to rebuild on the original site, where will the club play in the meantime?

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has targeted Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp as a possible replacement for Andre Villas-Boas who was sacked earlier this month. The 44-year-old led the German side to their first Bundesliga title since 2002. Full story: Daily Mail

Only just seen the highlights ... appears he applauded the fans after each of his goals. My mistake, must of been to caught up in the moment of seeing him AND Kalou score in the same game. Fair play

Was at the game today and thought he was fantastic, made good, determined runs and players were always looking to play him in behind. This caused a threat with Torres going in behind and Mata and Sturridge dropping deep to pick and create. Need a 'scuffed' goal, think if he had caught it perfectly it would have prob gone straight at the keeper just his luck Both assists also pleased me, kept his head well. Being really really picky now BUT ... anyone else in the MHL a tad disheartened that he didn't come over and applaud the fans at the end? The support he received not only today but many other matches has been nothing short of superb

Interesting points. One of my housemates I currently live with at Uni goes home and away with Brighton, who says he is fearless and competitive, but also a little naive at times as well, my mate has no doubt he's a fantastic coach but not sure if he would cut it at the top in man management - similarities with AVB. Will be interesting to see what happens in the summer, if RDM gets us into the top 4 then I guess he deserves a shot at it next term, but then if he starts badly he'l be out. Cant help but think RDM might have a better chance of getting the job if we finish 5th - less pressure and expectations.

An amazing game, the amount of detail that goes into that game is fantastic. I used to play LMA and championship manager and now FM2012, half way through first season with Chelsea and top of the league, Torres and Sturridge are tearing it up as a front two (if only irl). On the last game Roman built a new stadium and called the 'Chelsea Arena' My housemate downloaded it off steam the other day as they're doing a deal for £7.99, not sure if thats still going on but thats a bargain.

Will this actually happen? Would of thought ticket's would be priced pretty much the same in order to increase the revenue from more seats. Correct me if I am wrong however I cant see league tickets being much under £50.

What next? Jose? Pep? They seem the two candidates. I of course couldn't say no to Jose, however I cant help but feel that Guardiola would be the better option. He took over at Barca and moved them from a team full of Deco's, Ronaldinho's, Eto's etc and maybe that's what we need with our current squad.

Time for Roman to come out and explain a decision?

So we replace inexperience with more inexperience? Brilliant The weird thing is when AVB came in I think we had a plan, the so called 'project', Im sure AVB knew it would be hard but nowhere near as hard as it has been. Who would want to take over here now? Pressure of quick success Pressure of good football Pressure of player power etc etc etc

I cant decide on this one, one day I've had enough and the next I want to support him. I think Matt Le Tissier made a comment that I couldn't disagree with on saturday, stating that if it wasn't for the huge amount of money we'd paid for him he'd be sacked already. Can't help but think if we had brought him in as a free agent he wouldn't be here right now. However, Roman made the decision to pay the fee, and fair play it 'seems' he's backing his man. I want to back him and want him to succeed, but then I see another dreadful performance with no guts and no progress and I change my mind. Another season in the life of chelsea fan ...

I like

With so much negativity with recent performances and the club on this board. Lets look at the positives of the club at the moment, things aren't that bad. We have a young coach, and although the league he managed in last season is not the biggest in the world, he absolutely dominated it like never before. He needs to learn, and with some more experience I am sure he will learn with each game. We have a chance of finishing 3rd or 4th, the last few years we have put a good run together in and after Feb. 3rd is still possible. We have a good squad, with good young players, yes players are needed in the summer, but if Torres hits form, at the same time Mata and Sturridge are playing well we will be a force in the Champions League. Keep the faith - Up the Chels

Hilario - No doubt

There is a harsh reality in football that when the team are doing well its the players who are responsible, but when things are going badly its the managers responsibility.

I cant disagree with your point that if he cant get into the Fulham or Bolton team, however I think he is just an example of someone that we have spent a fair amount of money on, who clearly has potential, of which has no chance of getting into the Chelsea team due to a obsession with playing the likes of Kalou and Malouda.

With respect, can a judgement really be made on the amount of playing time he had? Senior career* Years Team Apps†(Gls)†2009- Chelsea 1 (0) 2011 → Fulham (loan) 7 (1) 2011 → Bolton (loan) 4 (0) 2012 → Dijon (loan) 2 (1) Winning player of the tournament at the Euro under 19's must say something?

I don't think there's a problem of them not being very good, I think there's more of a problem of never knowing if they ARE any good. Superb example would be McClean at Sunderland, not one performance under Steve Bruce but now he is being given a chance he looks fantastic. Why not have kept Kakuta this season and played him instead of Malouda, if he didn't play well that at least you can say at least youve given the lad a chance

How would I turn the club's fortunes around? 1.Keep AVB. - However I fear that even if he is the man who brings transition, he wont be here to come out the other side of it. 2. New Assistant - Experience is needed, I love RDM as much as anyone else but cant help but think things would be different this season had Steve Clarke still been here. 3. Sell Deadwood - Bosingwa, Malouda, Paulo, Meireles, Kalou, Drogba. 4. Bring in competition for places, youth and signings; gk; Cech, Cortouis, Delac rb; Urgently needed, Hutch lb; Cole, Bertrand, PVH cb; Terry Cahill Luiz Ivanavic cm; Lamps, Essien, Romeu, Mikel, Josh, Piazon wingers/strikers; sturridge, mata, De Bryne + urgently needed Strikers; Torres Lukaku + urgently needed

Dont think that finishing 5th would be the worst thing to happen to the club, would bring a number of our fans back down to earth, would mean we cant afford to spend 50 million on players and that's good in the long run. However, if we are going to finish 5th, I would much rather us finish 5th while trying new things, playing new players, new formations. Against Everton between their goal and Malouda coming on in the 70th minute we were so predictable. I like AVB but he looks afraid to change things, and when he does they are strange strange decisions, bringing Mata off when we need a goal? Would love to have seen us go 442 with Torres and Sturridge up front at half time yesterday, if we lose playing differently with youngsters I dont think many fans would be so negative. Its when we lose playing the same old predictable crap that brings the negativity.