Gee Bee

Was proud to have met some of the guys in a Legends Tournament last year and had a Chelsea shirt signed. Hope to do the same on this weekend again. Met players such as Frank (The Beef) Leboeuf, Gianfranco (Franco) Zola, Roberto (Champions League Champion Manager) Di Matteo, J.F. Hasselbaink, Gus Poyet, Scott Minto, Ken Monkou. These lads are really friendly and came over freely and had a chat and snapped a few photos. Never in my life would I have thought of chatting to a future Champions League Manager. Robbie comes over as a really great but humble guy. Hope he comes again this weekend and I am sure he will be a massive crowd puller.

To all those turkeys (and you all know who you are) who lambasted me during pre season for my opinions, I wish you luck. My words concerning AVB have not fallen to the ground. Some "fans" deal more with emotion than foresight and can only see their point of view. I saw the sack coming from long time ago and never thought AVB could last for the season. Now it has happened and it's nothing I'm proud about but he was clearly out of his depth to start with. He did some things right but majority would not have seen the club going forward. We have gone from a club which would secure Champions League by December to a club which now embarrisingly hoping to play in the Europa League. Roman is the owner and knows what's best for his club. As I said during the pre season the club is bigger than fans, players, managers or even the owner. We will all go and club will still be there. If Ancelotti who had more experience and did fantastic during his first season in charge was sacked after his second season by the same line of logic AVB had to go regardless of whether or not he was young, if he had won four or six trophies somewhere else or what promises he made to inject youth. Clearly, he failed and had to face the consequences. We became the laughing stock of many of the supporters of other clubs. Whoever takes over now (after Roberto) faces an uphill task to rebuild what was destroyed. Again, I wish those "know it alls" luck and wish they will start to see matters in a clearer perspective and learn to respect divergent opinions. That's what the world is all about.

In addition, when Anelka was withdrawn from the starting lineup of the Champions League team he was one of the top scorers with seven goals to his credit. It was really unfortunate that who he was dropped for did not produce anything of note neither was the one who dropped him justified in making such a decision. Anelka has been the fall guy/scapegoat on too many occasions when persons find it difficult to understand his personality.

I know all the other Premiership must be licking their lips and jumping with glee now they won't have to face this "hulk" week in and week out. Imagine having Rajkovic and Lakaku as your opponents each week.

Excellent post as always. I think Gourlay has to step up to the plate to be a top level CEO. One of the tasks of a very good CEO would be to sell the club to a player who is wavering with a decision to join your club and another. Last summer there were no other brand name clubs in at the time for Neymar. A matter of another three to five million quid was the matter (as reported) to decide the Neymar deal. Too much time was allowed to pass and other factors then came into the picture. Now if we are to get him we must pay an additional ten to fifteen more. Not a sensible decision, I would say. The three names mentioned would indeed give us a much stronger hand in all competitions. Beside needing players for the future we need to strike a happy balance with players who can go into contention now and yet have sufficient time on their side to be at the club for another eight years. For example, Ramires and David Luis are names that come immediately to mind. They fit in immediately and have a great future. To my mind it is less of a good investment to buy players (like how we did with Kakuta) and then having to weigh the situation of whether we would keep him or not. To be frank (no pun intended) I don't see much of a future for him if we bring in a winger who is versatile on either flank. I hope we can get in at least two excellent players within the next two weeks to strengthen our season or we may find ourselves fighting only to win the Carling Cup. There are so many other clubs who had good pre season campaigns that will be there or there about this season. Names which immediately come to mind are Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich to name a few. I don't know how many of these we will be able to beat over two legs with our current form and squad. We need to improve our squad with players who can fit in immediately and give the current players a push.

I thought we would have followed up on Aguero after he had two beautiful games against us in the Champions League two seasons ago. He had loads of good qualities although he was not a permanent fixture for Argentina. He will be though in the not too distant future. He is strong, a prolific scorer of goals and has the determination to win. I even thought that linking him again with Torres would have been marvellous. The splendid thing is that he has youth on his side and I think he may return to make our lives miserable in the EPL. He may have commanded high wages but since when do good players come on the cheap now. He is not as highly prone to injury as some other strikers I know but has a great production rate. He can be another Franco Zola in the EPL. I am sorry we let this one slip but all that is now his-story.

Your first paragraph is my point.

Totally agree we shouldn't put all the emphasis on "very" young players . Why should we follow the tried and failed "Wenger method"? A mixture of youth and experience is always good. Monsieur Wenger has won absolutely nowt by signing up a clutch of untried youngsters. They are very stylish in their approach to the game but produce nothing of substance at the end of the season. Now that bunch are skating out from that club in haste. At Chelsea we need to have a useful blend because the end is drawing nigh for Drogba, Lampard, Anelka and a few others. At the same time Mr. AVB does not have the next six years to bring trophies to the club.

The biggest thing we could possibly get now is Neymar. We missed the bus with Aguero. I can't see any other world class players out now that have not been taken by other top European clubs.

If he is so eager to play in England the cut may not be that huge. He will be in the top bracket with earners like Rio and Rooney etc. They saved a whole lot when they parted with Cristiano and have only raised Wayne's salary to that level in recent times. I think they may be able to accomodate one more [s

AVB has his decisions to make but something just tells me that Roman is going to throw in one more big bid one transfer deadline day for who else but Neymar.

Again you have made quite pertinent comments. Ole fergie has again outwitted us. There are comments about manure not being able to pay 200,000 per week but that it utter rubbish. The old trafford people did not extensively splash out when CR7 was sold. The report was that there was always money for fergie to spend. He strengthens at crucial times.

Well said and I agree entirely!

Give him a chance. Allow him the first season to assess the players in the squad. Then he can plan properly and buy players accordingly.

Brazil is definitely not the power house it once was. There is quite a lot of work to be done if they are to even make it to quarter final stage in the next World Cup. The Copa America has brought this into sharp focus. Three years is still time enough that with much fine tuning they could be near ready to step up to the plate. Thing is they usually don't peak too early but the Copa should give them an indication of what deficiencies there are.

No problem withj you, mate. I have been accustomed to taking lashes. As I said I never stopped following the forum but have reasons for occasionnal inputs. I never expect every or anyone to agree but it's just a way it's sometimes done but I have learnt that either i follow my beliefs or let comments which I disagree with go. I just decided to pursue this one but there are times when I will just ignore.

Who the cap fits will draw the string. So far I have stayed away from names. I will not be forced or coerced into calling any manes. If you feel agrieved, then it's you. If you do not, then it's not you.

I have been accustomed to being ridiculed for my opinions from the days of Claudio Ranieri so this is no phenomenon. Since the advent of the newlook forum an air of unprecedented arrogance, mistrust and intolerance has descended. Many of those who now blow hot and cold are ignorant of the period of "highs and lows" which the Chelsea Football Club experienced. Many of those "older posters" that I had some contact with decided to stop contributing because of the beligerant attitude of many of the "newer boys". It is sad when it has come to this. I thought this forum was supposed to be a place of freedom of speech while at the same time being non abusive or non destructive. The pride and haughtiness which has pervaded this vehicle has ahown the immaturity and intolerance of a few. My opinion is that the forum should be a highly competitive place where contributors share friendly banter with freeom of speech in a non destructive atmosphere. I, for one, will allow noone but noone to scare or deter me from expressing myself regardless of how my words are twisted to suit some purpose of self agrandisement. I shall not cower to any bullies/cowards who hide behind opinions with no solid base. Many of these posters are hollow and devoid of substance. I continue to respect many of those names from before who continue to soldier on and hold the torch of the Shed End. I have avoided mentioning any names for the sake of not wanting anyone to undergo useless ridicule. It is a great feeling to see that there are still those here who continue to honourably hold the fort which makes me proud. I may not be posting as often as former years but I still visit on a regular basis and enjoy the work of those who are behind the scenes. I remember the days when posters were asked to make contributions. How many of those who are now screaming made a monetary contribution at that time or do they know about that time? Many of the current crop of posters need to do some research on the background of this forum when it bore another name and when it was moderated by the original moderator all on his own without any sponsorship or monetary aid. Usually, it is the ignorant, uninformed who walk the road which is already paved for them who go about digging up the foundations of the said road and abusing privileges which have been created for them. I finally wish to say that this forum, I know, will long outlive many of us and will always be a medium for the informed, the interested, the eager and the ignorant.

( My friend, you are still not understanding me. I am not saying for one moment that players do not have fitness. What I am saying is that players will have some degree of fitness (which cannot be maximum) because they are expected to carry out a reduced programme during their break. How can a player return to training with zero fitness; highly impossible! You are either misquoting or misunderstanding or doing both. I am saying the Portuguese top clubs and English top clubs have had varying results in the past 4 years or so, is that not so? How many times have Portuguese clubs reached the quarter finals of the CL for example? How many times have the English clubs done that during the same time? Winning everything there in one season does not necessarily make him a giant. Does it? Carlo did the double here in one season; the next he is history. Many people have unfairly compared AVB with Mourinho already when Jose had a bit more time to prove himself. AVB has potential to be a very good or great coach but in my opinion he has a long way to go to prove himself. If he proves himself a winner in England I can credit him with evidence of getting there. Mourinho and Ancelotti won in their first season here after winning previously in their home country. Has AVB done this yet? AVB has no long history. Where did I ever indicate or even hint about sending out a best eleven for the first match or so? I never did. What I was trying to establish was that he does not have much time to get things together before start of season. My impatience came with the fact that one will not have more than six weeks before start of season to do preparations, transfers, warmup games and start of the season. I am also saying that the sooner things are put into place as a newcomer, the more time he has to work with a near complete squad since David Luiz and Ramirez will still have to be given additional time to rest when they return. You continue to purposely twist whatever I say for one reason or other to make your points. If Zhirkov is sensational why is there so much doubt about his place in the squad? Why is there so much talk of needing another left sided player? Makes no sense to me to want a replacement for someone so good. I am not saying he is no good (before you again misquote me) but if he is sensational why would there be talk of wanting a replacement when there are Ashley, Malouda and Zhirhov on the left side? I have a few simple questions for you. Who, in your opinion, are our creative players at present? If we do have creative players why do we not open up teams at will? Why are we so predictable in our approach? I am hoping for an improvement in such aspects with the players we now have. Why have previous coaches we have achieved CL honours with other clubs/squads and have not been able to do it with ours in the time which they had? I hope our new coach can do it and please, for heaven's sake stop twisting what I said to score cheap points.

Why can't you allow Castiel to conduct his own defence? You seem rather agitated and eager to jump in to what you think is his defence. I say what I want to elicit certain responses. Seems like you get wound up rather easily.

I know the purpose of pre season. I can't reasonably expect to see players operating in third gear but I feel a lot better seeing a push to get into a higher gear since six matches may appear to be a short time but it is not. I don't expect that players will return from their break at peak fitness but I think they will be doing their exercises and seeing a little of a ball during the time off. I don't expect any professional to be returning on a first day with no levelk of fitness under his belt. He must have a reasonable level of fitness that's why I guess they are on the ball from first day, nowadays. I would personally prefer for Carlo to be here agin but I have passed on and will support whoever is in charge. Point is if something appears not to be right to me I shall say something. I don't expect everyone to agree but I think this forum is for divergent views and in the end we support one cause even though in different ways. I expected Carlo to do well because of what he had achieved before he came to us. I can't say the same about our untried coach. He may be able to lose ground and recapture it more easily in the Portuguese league than in the Premiership. Here it is incumbent upon him round that he hits the ground running. There is zero room for error. We now know Mr. Abramovich has zero tolerance for seconds. The bar is so much higher now. I am willing to wait and see but the jury will be out and with little pity. I wish Mr. AVB success.

May seem that way to you because we differ somewhat in our beliefrs but I shall wait as I said. I am willing to give you and AVB and everyone a chance. Maybe I appear as wanting too much too soon but I see nothing wrong with wanting a lot in a short time. I know and you know who wants a lot in a short time for the money invested. That's all

I will relax and so will Mr. Abramovich thiis time next season. I am willing to give Mr. AVB all the time from here on in. I just hope that you won't get on his case when things don't go your way. Preparation is always crucial to any season and the way one prepares determines how one's season goes. Unlike many of you my season does not begin with the Community Shield. It begins from the first day the manager and players meet. WHo would have thought that Essien's misfortune would have overtaken him?

Much as I have een representing Chelsea for a long period of time I can't go into any discussion like a blinkered donkey seeing things only from a Chelsea perspective. Reason, more than Chelsea make up the Premiership. Why do you see observations as complaints? Do you think I should see things only from one angle? How do you compare other clubs who are having preseason against stronger teams? What are the so called "reasonable fees" which players come at in the past two years? . . . And we are said to still be in recession. Are we waitng for the good apples to fall. Maybe it is the idea to go into another season with 19 registered senior players. There are clubs who have rapidly caught up with us and may be in a position to do as well as we were doing. I am not satisfied with a second position in anything. Who ever remembers the second. Who remembers who placed second to Bolt at the Olympics? According to you our targets are stationary and we will get them "whenever we are ready". It never works that way in the real world my friend so wake up and smell the roast. I have no quarrel with AVB's comments or policy but if he is found wanting his ass is grass and you will be here at this time next year saying look at the replacement manager's policy. At the end of the day Roman is not going to ask how long he had to get things in order. Roman wants results and he wants them NOW. Many of you seem to forget the targets we had last season too who came either on deadline day or never. May of you seem really to miss the MAIN point of what I am driving at. I am saying the earlier deals are tied up the better for the club. I am not saying that deals are going to be tied up easily. I hear the same bleating each year about giving the manager more time to do this or do that. Go tell that to Mr. Abramovich to give them more time. I wish AVB all the best but he certainly does not have the luxury of time that many of you are affording him. I know he is sensible enough to stste that the swtakes are extremely high and he won't have the second chance many of you are giving him. It is left to be seen how we move in the market and if we are able to improve the squad. I swhould really ask do you think the squad needs any improvements or should it be retained if we don't get the first choice candidates?

Firstly, I won't be moaning come Sept.1 because it would really would make no sense since ALL decisions would have been made by then. By that same time we would have known who the REAL targets would have been. I still think that making the moves for players earlier rather than later makes the world of difference. It is left to be seen whether or not it will be proven after the season gets underway. Can you say if you know of another club at this time last year who was solidly interested in Neymar? I shall be pleased if you say. I don't know of any. What I know from reading was that after a very long time many influential stakeholders in Brazil were given sufficient time to persuade Neymar to stay. You had former Santos players (who may have had axes to grind for one reason or other), the current nto national coach, the country's president to name but a few. It is only natural that some transfers would not be concluded swiftly but when last did we swiftly conclude any of ours? Please remind me. Do you think we are trailing the Premiership champions or not? Be honest with your assessment of that. I am willing to see how many creative players we have on Sept.1. I observe with bated breath. We shouldn't fall into the same mess as when we parted company with Ballack, Deco, Beletti, Carvallho etc. We seem headed in the same direction again full speed ahead. Will we wait and shed Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole, Malouda in one fell swoop? I thought one reason for drafting Torres was to be the main man instead of Drogba. I think the names I mentioned there are more likely to be on a downward curve at this time than improving the squad. Do you think Sturridge is sufficiently ready to play more often than Drogba and Anelka. Is Kakuta or Kalou sufficiently skilled to become creative players? Is Josh at the stage to be given more starts? I have no inside information, maybe you do but for one thing I am sure. Many of those hacks have information whick you and I are not privy to. I am not saying that they don't sesationalise stories for effect but don't you think they are players who have their friends or in some cases relatives in the media to whom they would leak inside info? Is this realistic or am I making this up? Many of us know that quite a few stories are rehashed with only the date changed but in verymany cases stories are leaked. Mr. Hutchinsom may have left the club for that period of time but has the policy changed so rapidly that we buy players for a new season days after a season begins. As you know the summer transfer window closes days after the start of the season. Are you suggesting that we have made solid progress by way of our timing of tying up deals? I don't agree. We certainly have not gone forward. I know the manager main role in the finer scheme of things is to identify who he wants/needs and there is a negotiating team in place to do his bidding. This team we have seem less skilful than some of our opponents' negotiating teams. I hope things work out favourably for us. In conclusion, I should not be unfairly accused of having a "pop". I only stated a few observations. What are you hopes and dreams for this pre season? I can say to you that I hope we are able to at least catch up with the leaders in terms of organization. I still think that manchester united are way ahead of us in decision making and this is clear enough for the blind man on the trotting horse to see. I welcome your comments and look forward to your response.