Jane

Maverick Sabre has a great voice and his album is really good.

You know, I didn't know that before. I've changed my mind, JT is no longer my favourite ever player, no longer a Chelsea legend! Mind you, compared to any of the non blue badge carrying people I've ever caught parking in a disabled bay, they would have probably been grateful for a mere £60 fine. A tongue lashing from me is far worse! Seriously though guys, I'm not sure that all this examination of the minutiae of the case is very helpful. This is not a laugh, or a tennis match, it is JT's life and could have very serious consequences for his whole future, at Chelsea, at England and in football generally. I think as Chelsea supporters and as supporters oif our Captain, we should just be sending him messages of support. If you doubt him on this issue then go and post about it somewhere else. I 'm not saying don't post on here about anything, I love reading all your messages and I hate censorship. But, I would just hate it if JT was to read all the messages from the doubters on here, where he should feel our support. Just a thought.

For all his faults, I find it hard to judge him. He is a Chelsea legend and quite possibly, having seen a few over the years, my favourite ever player. Few players could equal his commitment to the club and I hope the club remember that if they give him a punishment. But as yet, we are all innocent until proven guilty. I do not in anyway condone racist language or behaviour, but I'm afraid, having read the latest reports, I do understand how he could have responded in the way his defence says he did. We could all argue till the cows come home that to repeat a racist word is unaccecptable, but in the heat of a football match I can see it happening. JT is not a nice middle class boy having been educated till he was 21/22, he's a working class lad who became a footballer and a great one at that. He may well not be a chap you'd invite to a dinner party, or to a student debate, but I'd want him in my Chelsea team for as long as he can play for.

Sometimes in business you have to cut your losses and £24m now might seem a poor return, but a year down the road with no improvement in his performance, the club might be lucky to get £10m. Oh, how good that £24m would seem then. It's a risk they have to consider.

I still have some pics from this event if anyone wants to see them? Jane

Goose, when I hear someone, like Jamie Oliver, refer to his wife in his affected "mockney" way as 'the missus', I often think his wife must want to give him a slap. But when I read someone like Ashley Cole do it, I just think he is what he is. It doesn't offend me. Only when someone refers to me in a way that I find offensive do I have a problem. For example, when I lived in London and I went to the market to buy my greengrocery and the seller said "Alright darlin' what can I get yer", or said to his mate "Serve that bird for me" I didn't have a problem at all. But if I was at work and a collegue spoke about me and referred to me in the same way, he would have been clutching his testicles for a very long time, likewise any man I was in a relationship with. Living in Lincolnshire now, I don't understand what most people say.

Tell me who they are Gem? I'll sort them out. I agree Val, I too have been dealing with funding cuts and think we all deserve a touch of JT's generosity. Mind you I'm not sure I should make too many jokes about him "digging deep" for me, it just might be misconstrued.

Sounds a little like the kind of excuse for racism as "don't get me wrong' date=' some of my best friends are black" to me.[/size']

Are you for real?!

It was reported in the press today. Although if they want to see him treated badly they only need to come on here. If they did report it then I am pleased and unreservedly apologise to the press for my foul slur. As for treating him badly, I didn't mean criticising him. I meant the anti semitic stuff that gets mentioned a lot. I don't see any of that on here. You didn't read the thread about Yom Kippur then?

Seconded... Thirded. Can you imagine anyone not wanting to play for Chelsea?

Just had to take a look at that

Can't wait for the answers! It is a really good list of questions. One thing Loz, Lofty, do you think it is worth asking Charlie if he knows of any other players - past or present, who would also do us such a favour? Something else to think about and it would have to be done with Charlie's agreement, that is to offer to sell the interview to one of the papers, in exchange for a donation to charity. Such as CLIC Sargant?

Don't know if you looked further down the list there are some others in there apart from the UEFA offer one. Some pretty basic, hostel types and guest houses, but you may be lucky. Hopefully, anything would be better than wondering the streets at night in Moscow. Don't mean to frighten you, but it's not the warmest of places. Of course if everybody had been given more time there are plenty of alternatives to expensive hotels, such as staying with a family, which I have in the past. Very cheap and very nice, but it needs to be booked well in advance. I wish you the very best of luck and hopefully something will come up.

Have you tried this connection, just checked and they are still showing rooms. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/ru ... ommodation