After the doom and gloom of yesterdays performance it is now becoming obvious thats we'll end up in the europa league next year. As much as I enjoy the big game encounters, a return to channel 5 is a home coming for me.

I startes supporting chelsea around 96, and the only time I got to watch a full 90 minute match was the f.a. cup and the cup winners cup on a grainy channel 5. Couldnt get to many games as I was around 9/10 yrs old, and lived up north from very working class background.

We played in my all time favourite kits, (the 1st autoglass sponsored kits) and jonathan pierce was providing legendary commentary before he had the bbc shackles put on him.

here's my top reasons why channel 5 will be exactly what we need:

1). we will still be able to attract a top manager, maybe not mourinho or guardiola, but someone like bielsa or klopp would love to be here, and for the first time in the abramovic era our manager will have a realistic goal of a top 4 finish. less pressure from the press, the fans and hopefully the board. The job should easily be more tenable.

2). we can still attract top players, maybe we cant get neymar, cavani, modric, but theres still a whole host of players that we can bring to ensure champions league football. hazard, eriksen, mvila, remy, willian, lucas, jovetic, muniain, martinez, tiote, coleman, hoilett, ilicic, montolivo, rossi, martins, etc. loads of talent available.

3). with less pressure on the manager he'l be able to give some of the younger boys more opportunities especially against some of the lesser opponents like the tromso's of this world. hopefully players like piazon, chabolah, bertrand, mceachran, lukaku can get some european expierience under their belt.

4). we might get rid of some of the glory hunting fans weve accumulated since 05', and the win at all cost spoilt brattish attitude that they bring to these forums and the club as a whole. ( not saying all new fans are twats, but some are)

5). we need a season like this before ffp does kick in so the board can have a little reality check, and get our house in order and functioning like a top football club. I'm really not worried about the whole ban from europe threat, as realistically we'd get a warning going into the 14/15 season, and then if we didnt improve we could face a ban for 15/16.

However uefa has already stated that they looking to work with clubs, not against them, as long as there showing signs of improvement, which with terry, lampard, cole, drogba, torres, essien no longer picking up over a million pounds in wages between, im certain we can comply. granted there will other big earners but no longer will players be earning club crippling wages at any club. even city will have review there 250k wage structure.

6). this is a fantatic opportunity to win european silverware! we will still have a face some top teams in the later stages, there'l be liverpool, inter milan, athletico madrid, and maybe a few big teams that get knocked out of the champions league group stages, but i thin we will be favourites at the start of season. Who knows a change of scenary might be what we need to change of fortune in europe.

All in all exciting times ahead, sometimes a slap to the face (and the odd 90 minutes on channel 5) is just what the doctor ordered!

Ha thanks big blue! Channel 5 brings back the same kind of memories for me too!

I was only 9 years old at the time and had just started supporting Chelsea. Those European Cup Winners Cup matches in the snow are unforgettable (along with those Autoglass kits!).

I seem to remember Vialli scoring with his bottom. Someone booted the ball at him and he swiftly turned round in mid air, the ball ricocheting off his bottom and flying into the net.

And since we are definitely heading to Channel 5 next season i am sure that we will stand a good chance of winning it like you said.

A reality check for the fans, and more importantly, the club. We are not the squad we were in 05/06, that's for sure. I just hope we have a clear-out of the dead wood and Mourinho pre-madonnas this summer and strengthen our squad.

Edited March 25, 201214 yr by Mod
Removed full quoted message from the post before, no need.

Thank you!

I'm glad it's not just me!

The Cup Winners cup win was just before I started getting into football, I remember the season when Lazio won it, I think we went out to Real Majorca? I was absolutely gutted.

I find myself watching Europa League football far more than the Champions League, some obscure but decent teams about, I hope we take it seriously, because five time European

Cup winners Liverpool always seem to be up for it, so why shouldn't we?

I dont even want to think about playing on channel 5.

I think we have all become a bit spoilt since the expectations have grown & grown in the Abramovich era, could be just what we need.

I remember the excitement I felt when we played and got knocked out by Real Zaragoza in the semis of the cup winners cup in 95. Just playing any European football was so exciting and at the time it felt like we were going toe to toe with Eurpoean heavy weights when we were playing Zaragoza, I felt no shame when we went out.

Will be hard to get that excited about it these days as the expectations have changed and champions league football has become the norm.

If it happens I just hope we use it as a way to really see the transition of the squad and club as a whole take place- youth players introduced, older players moved on and silly wages got off the books. Rebuild and go again...

I sort of agree with some of your points. I have very happy memories of Cup Winners' Cup games on Channel 5. I particularly enjoyed the snow, which seemed to appear on screen irrespective of the actual weather.

I like your optimism in finding the good in finishing 5th. But can we stop all this 'definitely' stuff please? It's not over yet!

I dont even want to think about playing on channel 5.

Don't worry, we'll be given the same treatment as Manure and Citeh and we'll be on ITV1 a few times, I'm sure of it......

Channel 5? Channel FIVE??? We've not descended to the level of Australian soap operas yet, I'll have you know!

Channel 5? Channel FIVE??? We've not descended to the level of Australian soap operas yet, I'll have you know!

You are lucky that you don't get Mexican soap operas in Europe.

Its no gimme that we will qualify for the Europa League,that may not be a bad thing though as we wouldnt have to juggle excessive number of games around in trying to regain the covetted top 4 place.

Fond memories -- actually, incredulous memories -- of winning our first Cup Winner's Cup. A European trophy? A first for the club. Be still my heart! Things are different for Chelsea these days, so it wouldn't feel the same. But if that's where we play, I hope we play to win.

Edited March 25, 201214 yr by wxwax

Love that Vialli pic btw.

Couldn't give a **** if we descend to channel 5, Europe is Europe and although it's a lot less special than Tues/Weds eve's, I'll still love it because I'll be watching Chelsea!

Personally,in its current format,I think the Europa league is a millstone around the neck of any club with title ambitions.

19 games to win the thing,with matches played 2-3 days before league fixtures?,sod that.

The competition needs to be trimmed to make it more attractive,not only to the top clubs but also to the fans who, judging by the attendances,give the group stages a wide berth.

At the moment,if it can't be the Champions League (& they won't bring back the Cup winners Cup),then thanks, but no thanks.

Personally,in its current format,I think the Europa league is a millstone around the neck of any club with title ambitions.

I think that a club finishing 5th, and changing manager and hopefully a fair few personnel, a top 4 place should be a realistic target. Its this sort of mentality which will lead to our next manager being sacked if he's out the title race by february.

19 games to win the thing,with matches played 2-3 days before league fixtures?,sod that.

Alot of the early fixtures will be a great chance to give the younger players european experience without the being in the spotlight of the champions league. We can easily have 9 fresh players for the weekend fixtures. The squad players will be sharper and the youth players will be getting blooded.

At the moment,if it can't be the Champions League (& they won't bring back the Cup winners Cup),then thanks, but no thanks.

Its sounds as if your saying were to good for the europa league, a european trophy is fantastic the club, fans and players even if its not the holy grail.

Also winning the europa league will give you around £7m prize money including tv money. we averaged £2.4m from our home games in 2010/11 so if we only made 10m from 9 home fixtures that would bring us up to £17m.

If we were to get into the champions league and get knocked out at the group stage we'd earn around £30m. if we were eliminated in round of 16 we'd have earned around £36m, plus matchday revenue.

losing £25-30m, and gaining a european trophy will hardly be the disaster some people are making out.

weve spent more than that firing carlo, hiring avb, then firing avb!

Plus, (and yes, I'm probably clutching at straws here), it would mean we are playing more of our games on a

Sunday, so playing on a Sunday surely increases our changes of being televised on a weekend?

On another note, how much do you make for winning the Super Cup?

Plus, (and yes, I'm probably clutching at straws here), it would mean we are playing more of our games on a

Sunday, so playing on a Sunday surely increases our changes of being televised on a weekend?

On another note, how much do you make for winning the Super Cup?

I fear it would mean playing many of a games on a Monday night which is a nightmate for fans attending games.

In fact that is the thing I fear most out of the whole scenario...

Monday night games will still be on TV. that will suit me fine as i wont be renewing my season ticket.

Monday night games will still be on TV. that will suit me fine as i wont be renewing my season ticket.

That is a view that is shared by many that sit around me.

I do wonder how season ticket sales and indeed ticket sales in general will be effected should we finish outside the top 4...

we may become a less popular team to watch the the day tripping tourist, which is a good thing, but unless the cost of tickets is reduced this will just mean an empty seat instead.....

I'm not quite sure what point you're making mate but,Chelsea F.C. in it's current format,with the vast investment that has been made by RA, should not be out of the title race by February,(IMO).

Regarding the Europa League:

Playing young players in the competition will give those lads good experience that's for sure,but as they ply their trade in the Premiership, I'm not to sure they will benefit to much in the long term from it.Or in fact, that they will be able to perform to their full potential in these tough envirouments without more 'senior' heads around them!.

The Champions League is what it is,the competition for the top achieving domestic clubs in Europe,just what is the Europa League trying to be?.

What is wrong with a straight forward knock-out competition?,for the second level clubs, with non-seeded teams in the draw?.

The games will probably be better,the quality higher & I suspect, the fan interest will be greater to.

The CL has it's place,so what's wrong with a second tier European competition that encourages the good 'ol fashioned spirit of 'knock out' cup football?.

(plus,it won't drag on unless you're good enough)!

If some fans decide not to renew their season ticket (for whatever reason) then I'll be in there like a heartbeat! Unless there's a poxy waiting list.

I have to say that memoires from my childhood would come back, I started supporting chelsea when I was four, wise, Gullit, and vialli. However it would be a bad thing for the club to go backwards considering we have come to expect to play champions league, although i agree with some of your points, I think it would be silly to embrace it and settle for less than we can achieve

I really don't care about the EL. It'll never have the prestige of the CWC. A meaningless trophy with no financial gain and with 19 matches to play. Only a hinderance to the PL campaign. It should be the last priority, behind the League Cup.

I'm not a fan of the europa league but if we were in it of course I'd want us to win it, its another trophy in the cabinet if we won. The one plus would be we would get rid of some glory hunters but the ticket prices are still the same as they have been frozen. Also its more likely if we finish out of the top 4 we are more likely to stay at the bridge in the near future at least.

I'm not quite sure what point you're making mate but,Chelsea F.C. in it's current format,with the vast investment that has been made by RA, should not be out of the title race by February,(IMO).

Regarding the Europa League:

Playing young players in the competition will give those lads good experience that's for sure,but as they ply their trade in the Premiership, I'm not to sure they will benefit to much in the long term from it.Or in fact, that they will be able to perform to their full potential in these tough envirouments without more 'senior' heads around them!.

The Champions League is what it is,the competition for the top achieving domestic clubs in Europe,just what is the Europa League trying to be?.

What is wrong with a straight forward knock-out competition?,for the second level clubs, with non-seeded teams in the draw?.

The games will probably be better,the quality higher & I suspect, the fan interest will be greater to.

The CL has it's place,so what's wrong with a second tier European competition that encourages the good 'ol fashioned spirit of 'knock out' cup football?.

(plus,it won't drag on unless you're good enough)!

my point is we cant keep sacking managers, whoever takes over next season should have a target of a top four finish, especially if were bringing in loads of fresh faces. when mourinho took over most of the title winning side already had a year together, and look at man city, theyve gradually mounted a serious title contending side over 2 seasons. its the craving for instant success that will be the reason for us playing in the europa league.

on your point about the format. i totally agree it could be better, but a straight knock out tournament would generate even less mney than it does already.

to say the youngsters wont get any long term benefits from playing first team football is ridiculous. thats like saying theres no point playing the younger players against lower league teams in the cup because ultimately they'll be playing in the premiership.

with regards to them not playing to there full potential, i never said to put 11 u21s out. we would be playing at least 6 senior squad players,

can u honestly say you dont dont think mceachran would benefit from playing next to lampard in competitive matches? or even chalobah learning some things off cahill.

at the very least it'l get these boys more comfortable playing in front of large crowds, and on the tv, and maybe the bruma's and kakuta wont look so much like a rabbit in a head light when they do get a chance in the premier league.

of course id rather be in the cl, but if you look at the bigger picture, a year out could make us a stronger club in the future.

Edited April 3, 201214 yr by big blue