Reflections...

[CFCCAN]

For many of us I think the hopes and dreams at the start of the campaign was that this team would play well during a rebuilding process and the transition from old to young. I for one was perhaps over optimistic and believed that we were good enough to win the PL, because no one team was outstanding the previous year. I thought we would make the last 16 of the CL and had a shot at the FA Cup if we could avoid the stronger teams. AVB was a highly sought after manager who could bring entertaining and winning football to the Bridge, my reservations at the time was his age and how he would interact with the older players, although I thought that there was no need to worry as he knew many of the players when he was here with Jose. I was sceptical with the appointment of RDM, an excellent player in his time at the Bridge but hardly a resume worth considering for this club, after all former players had come and gone before. I was disappointed with the procrastination during pre season training surely some of the middle of the road players had to move on, Malouda, Kalou, Ferreria, Anelka etc and young Josh and co brought in. A reasonable start to the campaign started to become undone in November as the team began to struggle and the indifference between senior players and AVB was evident for everyone to see. While I like many wanted to ‘old guard’ removed, as I felt we needed to move on, after all wasn’t that the idea at the start, AVB was swiftly making changes, perhaps too quickly for some players. The indifferent form of Torres and Drogba was once again becoming a headache for the manager and the poor results continued, ultimately leading to his dismissal…the transition project was now lying in tatters on the boardroom floor and Roman’s dream had all but disappeared. Who then would rise from the ashes following the defeats at Napoli and WBA? Surprisingly RDM had not been shown the door as is normally the case when a manager leaves his staff go with him…somehow Robbie hung on, (thank God Eva didn’t leave!). I didn’t hold out much hope, perhaps a cup Final but the priority was surely the league position. I thought that we had a chance of 3^rd maybe 4^th , the spuds hadn’t had their season collapse yet and Arsenal were surely going to choke. Newcastle became an annoying ex wife and just wouldn’t go away. I thought we were fortunate in the FA Cup draw and avoided the stronger teams, so we had a chance. The league form IMO was still indifferent we were still dropping points and not taking the opportunities that were handed to us…our season in terms of qualifying for the CL was beginning to hang in the balance. After the Napoli result Benfica was another tough challenge, the team spirit rose and we got through. My heart sank we drew Barca, after all they were by far the best team in Europe, with the squad we had surely we had little chance of progressing any further. I could see a good fight being put up but could not see us prevailing….who knew. The CFC spirit and belief by the players was exceptional, beyond imagination and had the press in turmoil, how could Chelsea have spoiled Platini’s dream, after all the CL Cup Final was destined to be an El Classico final..how dare Chelsea crash the party! Well we got to the party and stole the prize from under Plantin’s nose…how he must hate us now. And for Roman what does this mean, the quest for the chalice is over. If he has learned anything it maybe that ‘entertaining’ beautiful football doesn’t win trophies, ask Arsenal fans. It is the heart and soul and belief in team spirit that wins trophies, it is believing in the players both old and new and the individual willingness to sacrifice their bodies for this team. and their dream also.

I posted many negatives during the season, mainly out of frustration. I may have pissed many of you off…I apologise. I said it may be time for Cech to leave…at the time he was fragile and I believed had like Torres lost his confidence…Petr I am sorry I doubted you. I am still in the belief that the old guard has to go for the overall long term strategy of this club, or at the very least let them choose to warm the bench, playing them every game because of yesterdays win is putting the progress of this team on hold if we continue to played the aged. As for Drogba, he has become one of the most feared strikers in the World and will go down in both club and world football history but despite the euphoria he has to take a back seat. He has now won everything possible with this club and perhaps it is the right time for him to ride off into the sunset….. I will always support this club as I have done so since the late 60’s and I will get angry, sad, happy, mad, frustrated and any other emotion you can think of…I have seen great players come and go, witnessed great matches and cup final victories but if I die tomorrow I will never witnessed what I witnessed this year…..it makes you want to come back for more…….roll on 2012/13!!!! ktbff

Edited May 20, 2012 by CFCCAN

[evissy]

Not sure if this is the topic to post it but looking at Roman celebrating in the bus with the lads it brings again the talk (from rival fans) about Chelsea with Roman being something negative. Could you please list the other teams in the world that have the owners celebrating with the players.

The more I see Roman in these occasions the more I feel people are just envious. Plain and simple. Nothing more. As far as I know L*verpool and ManU have owners, in plural. Americans. Hope no one gets offended but Americans know money and they make decisions based on money at least for these two clubs. For them this is just a business. We have an owner who clearly is in with more heart. I don't see Glazers crying after in trophy ceremony. The way Roman have used his own money to build the club is far beyond sensible. It has not been smart, good business all the time. Just by looking at how we spend on managers is plain crazy. There is heart there.

Our board is the calculating brain with Buck and Gourlay. They want to make money.

I know the way he came in and started to splash the money was something unheard of but I have a sense that some rival fans are giving us more slack in that sense. Probably City is a good distraction for that but...in the end my point is that people are envious by nature. We've seen what has happened to City fans who were shouting "Chelsea is buying the league" years back.

Edited May 21, 2012 by evissy