Well actually I don't,but neither does anyone at Chelsea so it seams.Forget the teams performance for a minute,the second worst aspect for me from season 2010/11,is the at times, shambolic nature of the decision making at the Bridge these days.

It started to go t*ts-up at the start of the season when the decision to release senior players to save money/lower squad age/make room for the youngsters,(take your pick),left the squad thin,Ballack was a big miss,yet,we spent £70 million in january,gave big contracts,(but not to J.Cole) and still didn't use the young lads.

The injury to Lampard seams to have been mishandled with him aggrevating the problem causing weeks of avoidable delays and the problem with Benayoun was miss-diagnosed in the first place.

Wasn't Carlo Roman's choice?,to give his team an 'identity',look at how that went and how can sacking his assistant midseason, halfway through a resevere match going to help with that?,what the hell did he do?.

Put the money to one side for a moment,Romans passion for Chelsea is there for all to see,which is fantastic,but what the hell is the grand plan for the club?,at the momment it just seams like a scatter gun approach with a hope that some ideas may just work out.

Take a look at the spammers if you want a example of what clueless decision making, (from the three stooges),will get you,at least the arse have a plan................(to fleece their fans till they bleed from the cash cow that is the Emerates).

Come on Roman,we all love yer,but fan to fan how about a word from you on the decisions you make about Chels,not from that tw*t Gourlay,but from you.

It would make a welcome change,just for once, to hear from the Boss about our clubs future plans,(if in deed,we have any),rather than the ENDLESS bullsh*t from the usual media sources.

I hear yah but it was time for ballack to go. I was also sad to see Joe cole go but really has he done anything at Liverpool, Granted this season has had it share of cock ups something I think Guus will help to minimize next season.

Al

I hear yah but it was time for ballack to go. I was also sad to see Joe cole go but really has he done anything at Liverpool, Granted this season has had it share of cock ups something I think Guus will help to minimize next season.

Al

Yes you're right about Ballack,his legs had started go,but as I uderstand it,he was willing to take a big hit to his wages,(maybe a pay as you play deal) to stay at Chelsea and as for Joe, I thought that the money just wasn't there anymore,but the big deals in January proved otherwise.

It just seams like the 'Benson & Hedges' part of the Mike Bassett,England Manager film, type of team management to me.

Yes you're right about Ballack,his legs had started go,but as I uderstand it,he was willing to take a big hit to his wages,(maybe a pay as you play deal) to stay at Chelsea and as for Joe, I thought that the money just wasn't there anymore,but the big deals in January proved otherwise.

It just seams like the 'Benson & Hedges' part of the Mike Bassett,England Manager film, type of team management to me.

Problem for Cole s that he was going to be a squad player at best - you can't pay a man the sort of money he wanted to sit on the bench every week. He would have been a nice luxury to have, but better to spend that money on a couple of guys you think will be starters for the next few years. Even if Torres and Luiz don't pan out, letting Cole go was the right move.

Problem for Cole s that he was going to be a squad player at best - you can't pay a man the sort of money he wanted to sit on the bench every week. He would have been a nice luxury to have, but better to spend that money on a couple of guys you think will be starters for the next few years. Even if Torres and Luiz don't pan out, letting Cole go was the right move.

Yep,that's a fair point mate,I wish Joe could have been a bit more realistic with his wage demands because, like Ballack, I reckon last season would have ended different if we had those two players to call on at the time when the team was struggling most,but hey,I guess we'll never know now.

Well actually I don't,but neither does anyone at Chelsea so it seams.Forget the teams performance for a minute,the second worst aspect for me from season 2010/11,is the at times, shambolic nature of the decision making at the Bridge these days.

It started to go t*ts-up at the start of the season when the decision to release senior players to save money/lower squad age/make room for the youngsters,(take your pick),left the squad thin,Ballack was a big miss,yet,we spent £70 million in january,gave big contracts,(but not to J.Cole) and still didn't use the young lads.

The injury to Lampard seams to have been mishandled with him aggrevating the problem causing weeks of avoidable delays and the problem with Benayoun was miss-diagnosed in the first place.

Wasn't Carlo Roman's choice?,to give his team an 'identity',look at how that went and how can sacking his assistant midseason, halfway through a resevere match going to help with that?,what the hell did he do?.

Put the money to one side for a moment,Romans passion for Chelsea is there for all to see,which is fantastic,but what the hell is the grand plan for the club?,at the momment it just seams like a scatter gun approach with a hope that some ideas may just work out.

Take a look at the spammers if you want a example of what clueless decision making, (from the three stooges),will get you,at least the arse have a plan................(to fleece their fans till they bleed from the cash cow that is the Emerates).

Come on Roman,we all love yer,but fan to fan how about a word from you on the decisions you make about Chels,not from that tw*t Gourlay,but from you.

It would make a welcome change,just for once, to hear from the Boss about our clubs future plans,(if in deed,we have any),rather than the ENDLESS bullsh*t from the usual media sources.

Agree with all of this,

I think Ballack would have been a huge asset in the worst times this season and never really thought his legs were gone, he had a way of playing that always looked like he was doing less than he actually was and I'm sure he had enough left to do it well in the times we would have needed hi, add to that Belletti who could have filled in in the midfield and I wonder why they were let go.

Carvalho I think wanted the move (shame) but we could have done with him as well.

To be honest chippy,Ballack did 'puff' a bit and to be fair to the guy,with the career & the knocks he's had that's only to be expected.But,half the season's games for half the money sounds o.k. to me,he is a very experienced player at club and country level and I'm sure we would'nt have been so out played against Man Utd in the CL if he'd been in the centre of the pitch.

But the main point still remains,who & why are decision's like this made?,what's the plan,is there a plan?,because for the first time in many a long year,I think the powers that be at CFC,are really clueless as what to do next.

But the main point still remains,who & why are decision's like this made?,what's the plan,is there a plan?,because for the first time in many a long year,I think the powers that be at CFC,are really clueless as what to do next.

I think that at the beginning of this season, the 'powers that be' were under the impression that we would still be able to compete without those players, which, to be fair to them, we managed to do, off and on, throughout the season. The problems arose when we suffered injuries to key players and just didn't have the depth to replace them; a situation which really ought to have been planned for, but I think had we lost only 1 or 2 from Drogba, Lampard and Terry at any given time then we would have been a lot better through our bad patch - we were just unlucky that all of our injuries hit at the same time.

I feel that, ultimately, the decision to release the players that left last summer was made in order to reduce the overall age of the squad and to free up some wage budget so that we are able to replace them with younger players and build for the future. I also wonder whether we were intending to bring in more people last summer but came unstuck on the transfer market which left us short. Remember that we were linked with the likes of Neymar, Aguero and Torres last summer (and probably many more that I've forgotten). If we had managed to sign a few more players back in June, arguably we wouldn't be having this discussion now; but for whatever reason those deals didn't go ahead.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I don't believe that our front office staff and the powers that be let those players leave without a plan. It may not be clear to us what it was and it may not have worked out entirely as they had intended this season, but at this point in time we can only hope that they have learned from their mistakes and can act accordingly to rectify them. If the rumours of transfer dealings this summer come off in the way that we all hope and our positions of need are addressed, then I think the best thing to do, for all of us, is to draw a line under this season, chalk it up to experience and look to the future.

As for the vacant manager position, we have been linked to a large number of candidates with varying back catalogues of achievements, but it is difficult to judge just how good a job somebody will do until they get in here and start working with our players. We will obviously all have our favourites and those that we expect to do better than others if given the opportunity, but I don't think we have been linked with any manager that doesn't have at least a small chance of bringing something new to the team. And that, at the end of the day, is what I think we have been lacking; innovation. We have looked very stale at times and it has been difficult to see what path we are going to take going forward. I don't know whether that has been down to the players themselves, the tactics employed or the motivational attributes of the manager (although I suspect a combination of the three) but a new manager has the ability to change at least the last two of those things. I feel that any manager that comes in and shakes things up a bit should be given the benefit of the doubt and not crucified (either by Roman or by us) as soon as he tries something that doesn't work - these things take time.

I would like to think that Roman has come to understand these things during his time with us, after all, you don't get to be as wealthy as he is without correcting things that aren't working. Whether or not he has actually taken this on board remains to be seen, and I am sure all will become a little clearer as the new season approaches, but until then, I am going to have faith in the decision making bodies to make the right decisions, because there is little else that I can do.

Re-read your post,and your will find that yes you are naive,we let midfielders go & the weakest link in the team this season has been the midfield!.How is that an example of a forward thinking regime?.

Roman has come to understand what in his time with us?,cos i'm fu*ked if I know, because he never says anything!.

I'm tired of the bullsh*t,I want to know what the ideas are at this club,who makes them and why,I like so many others followed this club in the 'dark' ages of English football,I think it only right to know what the f*ck is the plan to take this club forward,I don't think that's asking to much.

Sounds like the 7 P's to me.......'Piss Poor Planning Promotes Piss Poor Performance'

Ballack did have a way of playing that got him called lazy. But he caused a stir in the defense of whatever team he was playing against, Maybe cause he was a big f**king german that nobody wanted to mess with.

F.A Cup Semi Final last year was the perfect example, Ballack on, 2 goals within moments.

He was and is a animal, and he should still be at the Bridge.

My 0.2c.

Re-read your post,and your will find that yes you are naive,we let midfielders go & the weakest link in the team this season has been the midfield!.How is that an example of a forward thinking regime?.

Roman has come to understand what in his time with us?,cos i'm fu*ked if I know, because he never says anything!.

I'm tired of the bullsh*t,I want to know what the ideas are at this club,who makes them and why,I like so many others followed this club in the 'dark' ages of English football,I think it only right to know what the f*ck is the plan to take this club forward,I don't think that's asking to much.

Yes we were weak in midfield, and arguably letting Ballack go was a mistake, but it may not necessarily have been through any fault of the club. If they intended, for example, to replace him with Yaya Toure but got f**ked over by City at the last minute it wouldn't be the first time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think you're overstating this perceived 'lack of planning' involved with the club, it's just that they have chosen not to be vocal about what that plan is. I for one, actually think that coming out and saying "this is our plan" would just make it easier for other clubs to screw us over.

At ballacks age, past history of ankle injuries it was time for him to go. Yes he had some great goals but his age and injuries were against him in the long run. He had played his part for CFC. I don't feel he was that dominating of presence in the midfield anymore. I agree with other posters here that injuries played a major role (Ray Wilkins leaving also was a catalyst for the down turn) in CFC performance but guys we came in second, I know it is hard to swallow after first place last year but still.....! Also I love Drogba brilliant player but moody. if he doesn't like the manager then my feeling is he will not only stop playing but he would be poison in the dressing room. Time for him to go to France. You don't need players like that,

Finally get a manager ( Hiddink) stay with him for at least 3 years and let the team evolve. Okay I will shut my mouth now and back to ice hockey.

Al

This is my main problem at chelsea at the moment, we are looking backwards to solve our problems not forward =(

Yes we were weak in midfield, and arguably letting Ballack go was a mistake, but it may not necessarily have been through any fault of the club. If they intended, for example, to replace him with Yaya Toure but got f**ked over by City at the last minute it wouldn't be the first time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think you're overstating this perceived 'lack of planning' involved with the club, it's just that they have chosen not to be vocal about what that plan is. I for one, actually think that coming out and saying "this is our plan" would just make it easier for other clubs to screw us over.

Agree to most of it and would like to add that we got Ramires as replacement and he has grown into a fine midfielder and should continue to be a regular feature in the coming season. Would Ballack have been handy and did we make a mistake? Well he managed just 14 starts all season for Leverkusen which is an indication that his fitness might not be at its best and given his wages he was a luxury which the club did not believe was worth.

I suspect the cut backs were aimed at getting the club into a break even position and that these plans were abandoned in January in favour of new signings.

Agree to most of it and would like to add that we got Ramires as replacement and he has grown into a fine midfielder and should continue to be a regular feature in the coming season. Would Ballack have been handy and did we make a mistake? Well he managed just 14 starts all season for Leverkusen which is an indication that his fitness might not be at its best and given his wages he was a luxury which the club did not believe was worth.

Also now that benayoun is fit again he will hopefully developed into an important player in the mid field.

Al

roman started his reign with a proper & successful strategy.....................but since jose left, decisions have all been tactical

this season, the plan was to get rid of £6m wages and seed in younger players - but that backfired cos 2 of the key midfielders (in that plan) missed half the season

so next step, go bonkers in Jan in gamble on buying' the CL or PL - that backfired too

carlo was on 3 year deal (only) which is bit tactical - and he was brought in to win the CL - last year was a bonus!

so what next - I hope a 5year plan - guus plus younger manager he can groom, a balanced squad with some younger players and some sensible rotations

roman, please get this decision right