youlots

Mod has made a good point. For me and based solely on results and until such time as we either win/lose against the filth in the semis and win/lose the CL final its a wee bit premature. If we lose to the filth/or in the final then I'd agree with Ethical that its very disappointing; if we do win the CL, which would be great of course and somewhat remarkable given everything that has taken place off the paddock, I'd probably plump for somewhere between "slightly disappointing" and "very disappointing" (ie. just "disappointing")simply because of the results in the Carling & the FA on the basis that us getting to the CL semis again for the 4th time in 5 years is surely now expected of us given our squad/players. To win the bloody thing would be bonus but the manner in which we have seemingly now surrendered the title and the results in the Carling and the FA will not be forgotten for some time. At boardroom level it has clearly been for me a very disappointing season.

London - Spuds for sure Out of London - the filth (by a country mile) & that ain't manure. But then again perhaps I'm overstating the case; Lofty? ....anyone?

Star...can we sit down now...getting a bit tired etc....just have to say the word...thanks in advance

Yeah, and like you Qaz, I'm sure that Milan will believe everything Grant says about sheva at Chels next year. Maybe that explains why he brought on Sheva with 20 seconds to go to show the Milanese that poor old sheva can still technically run - that ought to add millions to the transfer fee!

How can one suggest Deschamps and Petit as possibles for the worst player ever ?!? Ridiculous comment.

Well that's that. If there's any silver lining for this forum then maybe from hereon we can be spared having to read all the long, increasingly turgid, overblown and utterly meaningless posts from Chippy and the rest of the Grant apologists. The Panda will be gone at the end of the season (probably pushed upstairs to put out the cones prior to board meetings)irrespective of our upcoming performances against the filth.

so much discounting qaz, so little time...

Kenyon: We really want to collar the market with the new design. Designer: (thinking to him/herself whilst listening to bad 80s music on ipod) if its a collar he wants, its a collar he gets.

Perhaps Mr (that's entertainment) Kenyon could get the players to start start wearing clown/jester costumes both home and away...in a range of different colours...available at your local Chels franchise shop right now...buy them all....

But Abramovich this information has not been sold to anyone has it. It's come to us for free. Secondly, and given McGarry's close relationship with certain senior players at Chels (which is public knowledge) has it not occurred to you that he would seriously undermine that relationship with those players were he to write a story along the same lines? But hey, attack the "hack" anyway because he writes for a tabloid. And sack Frank and co while we're at it because they shouldn't be allowed to associate much less talk from time to time with a journalist. Hell, and why we're at it, why not ban all tabloids anyway, kill all the journalists and imprison all players or employees who dare to speak to anyone (including their wives, family and friends) regarding what happens from day to day in their working lives.

Lofty you're obviously mellowing when it comes to the filth.

1. If Chelsea didn't exist (oh what a horrible world we'd live in) which team would you support? Everton 2. Who is your favourite player outside of Chelsea FC? Guddy/Arteta 3. Which manager do you rate the most in the league outside the top 3? Hughes 4. Which UEFA cup challenging team do you think can push on next season and try to crack the CL positions? I'd say the generous shortlist consists of Everton, Aston Villa, Man City, Blackburn and Pompey. Guess we can't rule out the Spuddie bottlers either. Pompey 5. On the same subject, who do you think has over achieved this season? Derby! 6. Out of all our Premiership rivals, who do you secretly have a soft spot for? Any one who beats the filth/Liverpool

Read somewhere today that Essien hurt his back during the last training seesion (that also claimed Cech) and that he won't even be on the bench. Has anyone heard the same or can anyone confirm this?

This is terrible news. Hasn't been a good year from BH has it. I'm sorry for both of them though because BH will be tarred with this for a long time and some won't let him forget it ever.

No brainer - win the league obviously & Grant can stay (until after the parade that is).

4-1. Still I trust that there is penalty practise today & tomorrow cos 2-1 is a possibility.

Autobahn. Let's do train songs next.

Shot was he?

But Lauren you speculated in your original post that Clarkey may have been doing this (ie. putting the feelers out/letting it be known that he was available) in order to have himself sacked. Why would Clarke want to be sacked? What point would it serve either him or the club? And I don't credit Clarke with the idea of having any political motive behind "stirring" things up at the club either in his own right or as an accomplice of Jose with some slow burn retributive/revenge theory. And I don't see what Clarke's present or future intentions have to so with Grant being given a four year contract either. That to me is an entirely a separate issue unless you are of the view that Clarke has now decided (some 6 months or so after Grant signed that four year deal) that his chances of managing Chels in the near future are not going to be realized. I don't think any of us have ever entertained that possibility have we? And I don't think Clarkey has probably entertained it either except in a possible caretaker capacity to the end of the season. As for Clarkey going with Jose to Jose's new club whether that be Barca or Inter or whereever, well I suppose that's always possible but I think it's more than likely that Clarkey realizes that he's probably at the stage where he needs to have a go a management in his own right. I mean he's ideally placed to take that step don't you think. He's learnt from one of the best and had an initmate view for the last 6 of 7 months of what not to do. And lastly, even if it were expensive to sack Grant (if that indeed takes place) do any of us care how much it costs. And any payout in that regard would be chickenfeed compared to the amount that is paid to players. Therefore, how could it be said that it would be bad business to sack Grant? I would have thought that it is always good business to get rid of someone who is clearly not up to the task.

This is great news. Can only hope they tour down here.

Lauren; the same prescriptive rules (be it from FIFA or the FA) that apply to players' contracts don't apply to managerial contracts. Hence, and save for the existence or otherwise (that I seriously doubt) of an attempt at a form of restraint of trade clause in Clarkey's present contract prohibiting him or his agent from sounding out future possibilities with other clubs whilst under contract with us (such clause in any event being unenforceable at law) there is absolutely no prohibition on Clarke (or any one else for that matter save for footballers because of the prescriptive association rules) testing the market as it were. Accordingly, if the club were to sack Clarke on the basis that either he or his agent were in talkies about possible postions elsewhere, the dismissal would be unlawful. So I don't really understand your point. If Clarke wants to leave or signs a contract with another club in the near furture to manage that other club next year or even from next week (subject to the notice provisions in his present contract) there is nothing to stop him doing so. And if he, more than likely, given the present circumstances, is just on a month to month or year to year contract and chooses to sign a contract with another club now to go to that other club from the end of this season/start of next, Chelsea would have to pay him up until he leaves. Moreover, given the antipathy (that remains) regarding the club's handling of Jose and the ever increasing transperency of the folly of installing Grant, surely our beloved owner and his cohorts are not so obtuse that they would risk sacking Clarke. To do so to such a respected, loyal and loved figure at the club would destroy any remaining respect that any supporters would have for the owner and his cohorts.

Well those bionic legs that were grafted on (but didn't take) might be worth a bob or two. Maybe we should sell him in bits - might get more in the end.

Obviously a form of leadership that doesn't require you to lead by example.

Much better article by McCarra on Le Arse/Wenger's present woes in today's Guardian. Too much of a ludite however to know how to paste it in here.