It's been pointed out that I've made very few posts but being economical with my words doesn't mean I don't care!

Following an unpredictably successful season, we've found ourselves in another unpredictable situation.

The club has been appointed a manager who is probably the most unsuitable candidate possible...historically his previous affiliations, controversial comments and confrontations with the club and management have resulted in unfavourable reception...which still persists. Wearing a red tie doesn't help and losing games is also not acceptable. 

This is a real opportunity for the fans to influence decisions and make their voice heard....

I'm sure this forum is looked at by more than the fans...so please make some valid points and lets back these up with strong evidence.

The opportunity to make a difference is available ...lets take advantage!

Twas I, myself, moi, who commented on the paucity of your posts.  This was in the context of the fact that in the Groundhog thread, you demanded that the thread be put to bed.  I found this rather peremptory coming from someone who had only made 13 posts, and I therefore asked if you were Wee Willie Winkie.  

 

Still, thank you for giving me the chance to speak directly to Mr Abramovich - in the unlikely event that he be whiling away his time by surfing quality internet sites.

 

It is frequently said, Mr A, that you "own" Chelsea, the corollary seeming to be that this entitles you to do what you want with it.

 

In Scotland there are rivers with salmon which swim up them.  On the banks of these rivers live rich men who consider that they "own" the stretch of river and hence the salmon that swim in it.  The river and salmon thus pass from one rich man to another as they journey through space.

 

Consider Chelsea as a river journeying through time. You may have guardianship of it now, but it was not always so, nor will it always be so.  The fans are the salmon who stay with the river throughout the journey.  

 

Some of us feel that lately you have been poisoning our river.

In the unlikely event that Abramovic or anyone from the club with his ear are browsing the site I'd like to reiterate some points that I have made in previous posts and pose the question as to why Mr Abramovic feels it unnecessary at times like these to give an interview explaining to fans of the club his reasoning in events as big as the dismisal of the Manager?

 

1: Roberto Di Matteo had been a well loved player at the Club and made history here before his career ending injury forced him into retirement, it was well known that his

heart was always at Chelsea and his presence in the team was a big loss.

 

2: The dismissal of Carlo Ancellotti, a good Manager that came in and won the FA Cup and League Double in his first season, was hard to understand, a slump in form the team seems to go through around November, in fact a slump that happened in his first season that given time was turned into the best season to date (before last season) was all that was needed for another unnecessary change, The way he was sacked, the timing, the place, all of it seemed plainly disrespectful and for me was a real embarrassment and a lot of pride that I had in the club died that day.

 

The huge fear when Carlos dismissal had sunk in was that the media had linked one R Benitez with our Club, that same R Benitez that had accused us fans of having a lack of passion, told us that we need plastic flags for our flagging support, mentioned that our success was only down to Money and said in no uncertain terms he would never Manage our Club, Most Chelsea fans were sure he would never darken our door, the betting sites had him as one of the favourites but we knew it couldn't be, it just wouldn't be right and the powers that be couldn't show such little respect for the fans wishes even if they thought he was the right man wich he blatently wasn't.

 

 There had been a new name getting attention in an inferier league and not one I would have thought up to the task but The arrival of Andre Villas Boas was a relief after the Benitez scare, what made it much easier to swallow for me was the appointment of his number two...step up one Roberto Di Matteo, the bad taste still in my mouth after the Carlo sacking had been sweetened by feeling that a well respected ex player had been brought in, a man with Chelsea in his veins had the opportunity

to add to his manageral experience working with top class players at the Club he loved, it could only be good for him and who knows what the future would bring under AVB with Robbie at his side.

 

3: The sacking of Villas Boas, Again no explanation from the board and again around the time the team often fall into a slump in form, far more understandable as although the task he was given had the main agenda being to lower the age of the squad, Anelka and Alex soon depart,  he did seem to lack man management skills and though this was partly bravado as his instructions gave him full authority to make a transition, he did put a lot of noses out of joint along the way, losing the support of some key players and

strugling to put a stamp on the style of play, the fear again and even more talked about was that Benitez could be lined up to take over.

 

4: Robbie takes over as interim and the task of steadying the ship and getting a Champions league place is a big one, even to stay in the CL would be a huge task but the drubbing of Napoli sees us go on to win the Champions league against all the odds, the will to win is something akin to the Mourinho days and when necessary some of the tactics have had to be very defensive but that just shows how well Di Matteo can get a team to defend. League results suffered with Robbie targetting the FA Cup and CL, both trophes end up in the Cabinet and the unbelievble turnaround is complete wth the icing on the cake of Tottenham forgoing there CL spot for the European Champions...Robbie Di Matteos European Champions.

the prize the owner had craved had actually been won.

 

The new season gets underway and as we are European Champions we have been able to attract some great players that we would not have had a sniff at and the transition needs to start again, Drogba, Kalou, Meireles, are let go and we wonder how we will do without Didier Drogba the main man in everything thats been good about Chelsea in abramovics time (not to take anything away from anelka under Carlo).

 

5:Flying at the start of the season and the new players are bedding in well, a loss at WBA and a Referees performance to rival obrevo mean the game with Juventus is a must win, Torres has been underperforming for two years and Robbie sees Danny do more in thirty minutes than Torres has in three games so I feel he plans to play him at Juve...too simple and Dannys injury leaves Robbie in a dilemma, he knows if he drops Torres hes likely out of a job but he knows a loss at Juventus means the same thing, he shows the balls we all know he has and he tries Hazard up front as a false nine, a couple of lucky deflections help the Juve pressure pay off and though some decent chances come our way its not to be and the last Goal, a bit of a mare for Cech as he commits too early spells the end for Robbie.

 

Unbelievable after what hes achieved here and the least the owner or his yes men could do would be to give an in depth interview outlining their thoughts and plans and explaining why they would sack a classy and up and coming Manager for a man who has insulted the Club and fans and whose teams usual style of fottball is as hardly the style he was asking Robbie to have Chelsea playing.

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by Chippy

Both great posts. I love that analogy moi!

Chippy, I despair sometimes that there is no "Double Like" button, just for posts like that!

Bang on Chippy.

 

For me its simple. We just want an explanation. It wont make amends but it will be a start and we deserve it.

 

The lack of noise coming from the club this past month has been deafening and i find it complely disgusting and insulting, compleley summed up in the last offical chelsea magazine where there was simply no mention of (let alone thanks) RDM.

 

Whatever happens moving forward I will never forgive or forget that.

In Scotland there are rivers with salmon which swim up them.  On the banks of these rivers live rich men who consider that they "own" the stretch of river and hence the salmon that swim in it.  The river and salmon thus pass from one rich man to another as they journey through space.

 

Consider Chelsea as a river journeying through time. You may have guardianship of it now, but it was not always so, nor will it always be so.  The fans are the salmon who stay with the river throughout the journey.  

Beautifully put Madam.

Twas I, myself, moi, who commented on the paucity of your posts.  This was in the context of the fact that in the Groundhog thread, you demanded that the thread be put to bed.  I found this rather peremptory coming from someone who had only made 13 posts, and I therefore asked if you were Wee Willie Winkie.  

 

Still, thank you for giving me the chance to speak directly to Mr Abramovich - in the unlikely event that he be whiling away his time by surfing quality internet sites.

 

It is frequently said, Mr A, that you "own" Chelsea, the corollary seeming to be that this entitles you to do what you want with it.

 

In Scotland there are rivers with salmon which swim up them.  On the banks of these rivers live rich men who consider that they "own" the stretch of river and hence the salmon that swim in it.  The river and salmon thus pass from one rich man to another as they journey through space.

 

Consider Chelsea as a river journeying through time. You may have guardianship of it now, but it was not always so, nor will it always be so.  The fans are the salmon who stay with the river throughout the journey.  

 

Some of us feel that lately you have been poisoning our river.

Generally not a fan of your posts, but that is excellently put, well done 

Generally not a fan of your posts, but that is excellently put, well done 

So there Moi...that told you :)

 

Liking the new profile pic by the way, I could do with some of that anti ageing cream!

So, is VinnyGee going to tell us what he thinks?

Great posts by Moi and Chippy. Spot on.

 

If there really is someone high up looking at the forum, then here's what I think (based on since Robbie came).

 

We're all feeling pretty down at the moment, as fans. We respect what you've done for the club but it's unacceptable that we've been left in the dark like this, for so long. Robbie Di Matteo's sacking was the tip of the iceberg for most of us. A man, who turned our season around, and guided us to the FA Cup and dug us out of the hole that was almost certain defeat by Napoli, and then goes on to win us the whole tournament? To beat Barcelona, at the Nou Camp, with 10 men and from 2 goals behind? To beat Bayern Munich the Champions League final at their own stadium? We simply cannot understand. The odds he overcame were incredible. With it all stacked against us, we pulled it off. 

 

We have a problem understanding why. It seems in recent years that every November has become a burden. Nobody knows why, but it happens. Managers are getting sacked for it, when it is simply not fair. People like Sir Alex Ferguson haven't been successful over all of 26 years, but the club's top people have had faith in him to do the job. And if we're all being fair (Chelsea loyalties aside), he has done the job pretty damn well. We've had about about 9 or 10 managers in the last 10 years or so. Yes, we have been successful, but we could perhaps be more successful if we put and kept that faith in someone. For many of us those people could have been Jose or Robbie. Stability might just be the key to success for us, but most of us still feel that the stability would have come from Mourinho, or maybe even Robbie if he'd been given more time.

 

Robbie is a man who loves Chelsea. Everything he did was for the good of the club, but with Benitez we can't be so sure. As fans we cannot simply let go what he said about us in the past. That's why we boo. That's why we protest. Because we don't want him here. We want someone who we know will do things in the best interests of the club. 

 

You also need to accept that Torres will not be the player he once was. The combination of pressure from his transfer fee and injuries have done him no favours. This recent run of form (5 goals in 3 games) might just be a fluke, and the goals were all against weak opposition. It's tough to put faith in him, because although you might say he's 'in form' at the moment, 95% of the time he's out of form. Time to move on, and you must accept that it was a mistake, especially with Mata, Hazard and Oscar behind him, creating chances for fun, and him still struggling to score consistently.

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by omnidroid70

Great analogy, moi, so you can imagine my reluctance to swim against the tide of emotion that your post was bound to generate. Nevertheless, here I go, upstream and unabashed and, if I may, with a slight alteration to those fishing rights [you believe to be] so wronged…

 

Chelsea is indeed a river journeying through time, but we are not the salmon therein. We are mere watchers on a riverbank acquired by a Russian who not only ‘considers’ he has ownership of this stretch of water (of that there is no doubt) but also its contents, purchased at great cost and moulded into a continual moveable feast under his financial stewardship. You might go so far as to say he owns it all, lock, fish stock and probably barrel, should anyone want to go downstream in one for a lark. No, in this analogy we are not the salmon - the players are, and so too anyone connected with the club in any capacity deemed high profile enough to be ’watched’ from the sidelines.

 

My first tale of the riverbank was viewed over half a century ago, when a young salmon called Jimmy Greaves swam into view, then out again very quickly, off downstream to Italy because we didn’t have a rich man who could have got his hooks into him and reeled him back into what was then a [far from] well-stocked tributary of a perilously poor Football League fishing community. Of course, since way back then we, the fans, have looked on with a mixture of admiration and frustration, cloaked in total dedication, at fish that have swum through our stream of consciousness for decades. There they’ve been, shoals of them leaping about for our entertainment, a legendary few lasting longer than the vast majority. Some have even returned in a different guise to manage or coach, still swimming in the same direction with varying degrees of success and all having a lifespan too short to contemplate, lest we start thinking about what’s actually happening and instinctively stop casting our lines out, saying daft things like ’salmon are for life, not just until they can get a Bosman’ or ’people forget that managers have feelings too, you know.’

 

But believe me, in this day and age that is the way it works on Planet Football. Like it or not, right here, right now, often to music provided by Sky that’s about as tuned in with public opinion as the music hall jokiness that was our accompaniment when my hero got gaffed for next to nothing all those years ago. Put bluntly, salmon are stocked, they then look to leap higher than the rest in pursuit of fame and fortune, they’re sold, more arrive, and so it goes on ad infinitum. Same goes for managers too, a bigger breed of fish in the pool, admittedly, but nonetheless it’s an identical process and it has endured for as long as they‘ve had full backings from boards.. We’ve also had our own particular river choc-a-bloc with beer cans, hotdogs and onions, the odd invalid car and buckets strewn around after the cash collected in them had been removed (gone God knows where) although now that’s all long-forgotten under the present regime, as we peer through the sentimental haze that is currently hanging over our [perceived] troubled waters at the classy pool of players reaching for a FIFA Club World Cup over in, of all places, sushi-loving Japan.

 

And talk about waters running deep! Heaven knows our emotions run deeper still and if ever there was a fish wished out of it, it’s not called Wenger, but Benitez is its name and battered is its reputation. Then again, who can blame him for swimming in our direction, the sprat to catch a mackerel that he [so obviously] is? Well, we can and we do, although there are many who want to take matters even further, citing Roman, that fisher of men who is always frying tonight (and almost every other time of the day) as some sort of serial Poison-Poisoner, a bearer of so much Piscean bad news over these last eight years it is a mercy they don’t feel any pain…. or do they? Who knows, because our current backwater brouhaha seems to be beyond a joke and nobody sees the funny side of it anymore.

 

Many, like Chippy, never did in the first place and although he didn’t make Claudio his fish starter in the post on this thread, I think he should have done, because if I recall correctly he mourned Ranieri’s removal more than Mou’s and thereafter Avram’s going was an even graver injustice in his eyes. Not sure about Big Phil though, but doubtless there was much sadness at his passing too, as there was for the ‘temps’, Ray and Guus, who for me were merely fulfilling tread water tenures. So, unsurprisingly, Carlo was selected as an opening point of reference - and who can blame a poster for that choice - nice guy, sadly missed. Indeed, as it happened, very quickly missed after we witnessed the swimming against the tide that was AVB’s period in office. Still, similarly scathing of his dismissal and partially calmed by an Abramovich-sanctioned interim appointment of Robbie, the rest of that season proved, yet again, that this type of Russian fish farming wins trophies whilst at the same time failing to impress those purists who want to see the managerial salmon a-leaping for longer than half a season.

 

And through it all fans like Chippy remain true to each and every one of those bigger fish as they struggle to survive in choppy waters and then, often more so in memoriam, when they’ve been taken out of the Premiership tank by our fryer-in-chief. Don’t get my wrong, I have nothing but admiration for such all-embracing loyalty and often wish that I could find it in my heart to feel the same way - even towards Benitez, especially when he, without a shadow of doubt, becomes the first Premiership big fish supper of next summer. Instead, perhaps soured by my early introduction into what it actually takes to scale the heights in football, I’m destined to be forever doused in far too much vinegary cynicism to cry too many salty tears for the oft-departed at Chelsea. Though having said that, maybe I wont be the only one come summer, when bouncing Benny sees our Chippy swallow a Roman sacking whole for the first time in his life.

　

I am humbled, and at the same time proud to have provided the metaphor that sent you leaping up the salmon run!

 

Love the fact that you compared Benitez to a mackerel - which in French means a PIMP!  

Many, like Chippy, never did in the first place and although he didn’t make Claudio his fish starter in the post on this thread, I think he should have done, because if I recall correctly he mourned Ranieri’s removal more than Mou’s and thereafter Avram’s going was an even graver injustice in his eyes. Not sure about Big Phil though, but doubtless there was much sadness at his passing too, as there was for the ‘temps’, Ray and Guus, who for me were merely fulfilling tread water tenures. So, unsurprisingly, Carlo was selected as an opening point of reference - and who can blame a poster for that choice - nice guy, sadly missed. Indeed, as it happened, very quickly missed after we witnessed the swimming against the tide that was AVB’s period in office. Still, similarly scathing of his dismissal and partially calmed by an Abramovich-sanctioned interim appointment of Robbie, the rest of that season proved, yet again, that this type of Russian fish farming wins trophies whilst at the same time failing to impress those purists who want to see the managerial salmon a-leaping for longer than half a season.

 

And through it all fans like Chippy remain true to each and every one of those bigger fish as they struggle to survive in choppy waters and then, often more so in memoriam, when they’ve been taken out of the Premiership tank by our fryer-in-chief. Don’t get my wrong, I have nothing but admiration for such all-embracing loyalty and often wish that I could find it in my heart to feel the same way - even towards Benitez, especially when he, without a shadow of doubt, becomes the first Premiership big fish supper of next summer. Instead, perhaps soured by my early introduction into what it actually takes to scale the heights in football, I’m destined to be forever doused in far too much vinegary cynicism to cry too many salty tears for the oft-departed at Chelsea. Though having said that, maybe I wont be the only one come summer, when bouncing Benny sees our Chippy swallow a Roman sacking whole for the first time in his life.

　

 

 

Well written as usual and wholly opposite of my view, again as usual.

 

I quoted the part that refers to me and thought I'd point out that although my post above started with the dismisal of Carlo, I had explained in another post that mentioned my reasons for feeling the managers had been wronged (reasons you've doubtless seen me post many times) and I listed back from Claudio also mentioning my reasons for defending some more than Mourinho.

 

Football is all about the money and you can be happy in your belief that the Roman way is the right way, that sacking managers has brought trophies and must be the winning way, I'll keep to my view that had any of the better equipped Managers (Mourinho, Carlo and Robbie)  been allowed to sort out the problems that inevitably crop up, we would have a better trophy haul, a more stable club, be less hated by the media, be less split as a fanbase and have a stability that gives fans and players far more respect for the Manager than the revolving door we now have.

 

There is more to it for me and my love for the club has nothing to do with league position, Trophy haul or ability to attract top players, its a deep routed sense of belonging that is slowly but surely ebbing away.

 

I don't care who the owner of this analogical stream is I think its got sewage flowing into it and the longer Benitez is here, the smellier it will get.

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by Chippy

Great analogy, moi, so you can imagine my reluctance to swim against the tide of emotion that your post was bound to generate. Nevertheless, here I go, upstream and unabashed and, if I may, with a slight alteration to those fishing rights [you believe to be] so wronged…

 

Chelsea is indeed a river journeying through time, but we are not the salmon therein. We are mere watchers on a riverbank acquired by a Russian who not only ‘considers’ he has ownership of this stretch of water (of that there is no doubt) but also its contents, purchased at great cost and moulded into a continual moveable feast under his financial stewardship. You might go so far as to say he owns it all, lock, fish stock and probably barrel, should anyone want to go downstream in one for a lark. No, in this analogy we are not the salmon - the players are, and so too anyone connected with the club in any capacity deemed high profile enough to be ’watched’ from the sidelines.

 

It has taken me all day to pluck up the courage to express disagreement with the Doughty Dorset.  I can't agree that it is the players who are the salmon.  Players are free to change teams, and frequently do, turning up in different livery playing for ex-enemies, to whom they now owe allegiance.  It is the fans who stick with the team for life, going upriver to spawn, then in the fullness of time bringing their offspring to introduce them to the river where they were bred. How many posters on here talk about going to matches with fathers and grandfathers and in their turn taking their own kids to matches? My own grandson is a fourth generation Chelsea supporter.   When do you ever hear of a fan abandoning the blue river to swim in the red?  Unthinkable! 

 

I rest my case!!     or maybe    (only because I've always wanted to use that one)

In the 16 years I've been a CFC fan I've never felt so out of touch with the club. I just can't get myself excited about a team with FSW at the helm. They've still got my full support and all, but never have I felt so close to indifference when we've lost games as I have recently. 

 

:(

I have to say that since Rafa out!!!! has arrived i have decided not to attend or watch any game that he has been in charge of untill today.

I believe that we have gone backwards at a vast rate of knots since the disgraceful sacking of RDM if todays game is anything to go by. Rafa out!!!! is a one trick pony who as someone stated earlier had the audacity to wear a red tie in a postmatch interview. He is not welcome!!!!!!!!

Thing is when you are owned by someone like Roman Abramovich is your club becomes his toy, he doesn't seem to care what any Chelsea fan thinks or wants, he will do what he wants, whenever he wants.

And united's owners dont?

And united's owners dont?

 

no not really, they pretty much stay in the background and let Fergie run the club how he sees fit.

no not really, they pretty much stay in the background and let Fergie run the club how he sees fit.

 

And what about the financial side of things, you happy with them on that front?!

 

If so the big question is why your fans insisted on waving those silly Norwich scarves for a couple of years?

He's  been banned pal

I know, just in case he returns or views as a guest....

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Moscow2008" data-cid="574134" data-time="1355741112"><p>

Thing is when you are owned by someone like Roman Abramovich is your club becomes his toy, he doesn't seem to care what any Chelsea fan thinks or wants, he will do what he wants, whenever he wants.</p></blockquote>

Are you happy with the glazers running your club? Considering you protest everyweek with your yellow and green scarfs. The glazers put debt on man utd Roman cleared ours. Roman also goes to watch Chelsea I rarely see your owners at old Trafford.

If anyone from the club does happen across this site and perchance this topic and by gods hand eyeball my post ...........then here it is.

 

I've thought long and hard about it , mulled and mused at it all , mainly so that my post wasn't seen as a knee jerk reaction and so I feel like I've maintained a certain credibility and come up with the following....

 

Get him out and give me back my club.

 

I thank you 

 

(and bring back the crab)