youlots

C5 Loz: entered

Can't believe this deal at all and find it hard to imagine Henry & ZI playing together. Get the distinct feeling that this will either turn out as pure genius or a very expensive failure. Either way it'll be well worth watching as to how it all pans out on the paddock.

Read somewhere today (forget where) that City are now in for Lescott. Possibly good news on the Terry front??? Hope so.

Well bluemoon the issue as to Chels providing permission for Terry to formally talk to you lot is to a large extent irrelevant to the main issues now isn't it? I mean if the figures that have been bandied about as to what you would pay him are in the ballpark, then surely the only real intertwined issues are whether he wants to leave us and, if so, what figure Chels may be willing to accept from you lot as a transfer fee. Shammy's mentioned 40 million odd. I would've thought transfer fee wise he might be worth a bit more than that. And given the sort of sums you lot are expending at the mpment then the heirarchy at Chels may just feel that, and in the event that John firstly informs Chels that he wants out, that he's say worth at least 50 million. In that sense, and no matter how much you look at it, and no matter how much Sparky tries to dress it up by carefully worded statements, the club, and not Terry, and not your lot, hold the upper hand. I've said above that I think it may happen. But at the end of the day it won't happen unless and until John comes forward firstly, and secondly, you lot pay are made to pay a fair price for a inspirational captain of club and country and one of the best CBs going around. On second thoughts maybe 50 million is to low to wade into battle, our opening asking price should be 60.

That statement on the chels site is dated 2 July 2009. Almost 2 weeks ago & less relevant by the day I would have thought. Unfortunately we have no idea about the supposed outcome as yet of any talks he was meant to have had this week or last with the owner. On the speculative basis that he had those talks and on the further speculative basis that the press got it right and the owner only offered to pay him another 35,000 a week (to become our highest paid player) and no more and, on the basis that the offer from City is in reality 280,000 a week thereabouts (plus a one off 5 million sign on fee apparently) then, on my reckoning and, say for a 3 year deal with City on those terms (I've used 3 years as a period on the basis of his current contract with Chels for the purposes of the maths), Terry would be about 120,000 a week richer than any new deal proposed by our owner on say 160,000 a week: or some 18,720,000 richer after 3 years (not including the alleged 5 million one off sign fee). Now, and with, again, the rider that the above is mere speculation on my part, and notwithstanding that the figures used may be less than what has been reported, is it any wonder that Terry is seriously tempted? As for Hughes comments (and leaving aside the issue of tapping up/non-tapping up etc), the most significant thing he said in my view was not "the new challenge etc" stuff (mere window dressing/guff) but the statement by Hughes that Terry wants to find the most dignified way to leave Chels in alll the circumstances. Now Hughes in my recollection has always been a straight-shooter & is not the kind who opens his trap for the hell of it or when he has nothing really significant to say. And he's not the sort of bloke unlike a lot of managers who prevaricate/dieemble or tell porkies if and when it suits 'em. If what Hughes has said about Terry wanting the most dignity possible on any exit is true, it means that Terry has already made up his mind and the slow notification (as to when it is announced) is merely proactive damage control by Terry (together with his agent) in an attemp to try and contain the magnitude of the fallout that no doubt will occur & in order to preserve, as much as possible, his standing with the club and long term faithful. It is for these reasons that I agree with those on here who suspect the worse the longer that the saga goes on without any word from Terry and I've become more and more resigned to Terry packing his bags after he gets back from the states. I hope I'm wrong on my reading about all of this because it will be a very sad day for chels if he does leave.

F5 Loz: entered

The brief: Marquee creative player.....mmmm... well if we miss out (which knowing us we probably will) we've still got Shev: just send him to art school during the week & then watch him paint it black on game days. Sorted.

D4

Where's Wes Montgomery, Tommy Emmanuel, John Williams, Leo Kottke... Joan Jett?!? And above Angus Young! WTF Some great guitarists there though.

The constant pressure of silverware (especially for the top four) vs youth development. I really think the FA should do us all a favour and solve this connundrum and bring in a policy where at least, say up to the semis of the Carling and say the 6th round of the FA Cup, each of the top four on the previous season's standings have to play at least 3 or 4 kids in their squads in every one of those games. Like some I want to see the kids given a chance.

Just goes to show either how naive or out of depth Scolari really was. To trot out the timeworn and rather hackneyed "player power" scenario and player coup d'etat theme as the reason for his downfall & to be effecting surprise and/or concern that this state of affairs exists or, by implication, is allowed to exist in the first place in circumstances where he was coming to Chelsea for godsakes and post Mourinho & Grant. What did he expect - untold years at the helm like Wenger! And to suggest that some of the players didn't ever accept his training methods or demands. That's not true. They certainly did for the first three to four months & as apparently instructed by Scolari and even had a go at zonal defence. No mention of this by Scolari of course - he makes it sound as if Cech, Drogs & the Tank never accepted his training methods/approach from Day 1. No Scolari they gave you a good shot but pretty soon realized that you were not the business. And it would seem that your name has rarely if ever come up regarding new management in Europe over the last 3 to 4 months. What does that silence spell? Uzbekistan.

Also find it hard to believe that they want to sell him. He had such a good season too - probably the best since he's been there. Remember when they sold Garcia? Couldn't believe that either at the time. Agree that nobody, even Real, will pay that sort of money. Anyway, for obvious reasons I hope that he does leave. Benitez is a fool or already suffering from hubris - finally gets 2nd & thinks he can improve on it next season through a major re-arrangement of his midfield. Dream on.

G10 too

Great news about the appeal. I can't for the life of me understand how some think we should just digest the penalties handed out on the basis that more was expected?!? Because we're Chels and everyone supposedly hates us? As some have rightly pointed out the severity of the penalties measured against some other examples whether violence based, racist based etc. is very heavy handed in circumstances where there has not been one word from UEFA about the appalling refereeing by Ovrebo. Had UEFA at least publicly sanctioned/demoted Ovrebo and made a statement of regret etc concerning the refereeing standard in that game & handed out the same penalties to us then I for one could stomach it and move on (albeit never forgeting the blatant injustice of it all). If UEFA want respect shown to referees by players and their clubs then they could at least apply a consistent, transparent & moreover public policy/grading of the refs they use and have the f**kin candour and grace once in awhile to state the bleedin obvious: that the refeering performance in a particular game was not of the required standard.

From memory wasn't there a similar story doing the rounds 12 months ago about us making a similar bid for Torres? Had about as much credence then as it does now: ie none. Journalists must love this time of year - you can pretty much get away with inventing anything.

Very much doubt that Real would let him go for anything less than 18 million.

C6

Only if he changes his name to Robber.

Tim: Amazingly pointless theft! Must have known he'd end up at Liverpool.

Paulo - Re THX1138 Yes. Great Film.

A few other goodies: 1984 Remains of the Day Secrets & Lies Dr No and my choice and winner of the 53' Lafite (Sensational Cellar Monty) Award goes to: Kind Hearts & Coronets Ps

Sith Uffrika nixt ya

Whilst Kenyon's influence is probably waning - which is probably not a bad thing - I think the media may been overstating the case that he's on his way out shortly. Our owner is now obviously taking a much greater interest in transfer dealings and has learnt a fair bit about the cat & mouse of it all. To be fair to Kenyon - it must have, at times, been difficult for him in the last 3 years or so to cope with some of the owner's somewhat contradictory demands: balancing the demand for beautiful football (hence the experiment with Scolari) with the stated objective of being self-funded/debt free by 2010 and in circumstances where the Owner is himself buying the likes of Shev. Don't get me wrong - I'm no apologist for Kenyon (I'll never forget him of all people gracing the podium at Moscow) but at the same time his job must be one of the harder jobs in football. No doubt his difficulties in this regard will be a major thread/chapter in Kenyon's biography in the future when he retires or is sacked etc. And not doubt he'll be painting himself through the Chels years as having to face a herculean/impossible task.

Fun & games. To me its pretty obvious as to who planted our alleged 73m bid. Milan. In an attempt to get Real to pay more. Simple as. And Chels have now done Real a massive favour in denying the alleged bid as quickly as it has. After the Shev fiasco, I think Roman has learnt a thing or two about our transfer policy: See other thread about Kenyon's waning influence.

Gracious comments. Best of luck for the toffees next season.