When Cech was sold, Roman had every reason to believe that it wouldn't matter in terms of results.

 

Now that I think about it more, it hasn't really mattered in terms of results. They're not nine places above us because we sold Cech. They're nine places above us because our field players have been sh*t.

 

Would keeping Cech have made a substantive difference? Unlikely.

 

1. We beat them both times with Cech in their goal, so no points lost directly.

 

2. The matches Thibaut has played, he would have played if we hadn't sold Cech, so no difference there.

 

3. When Courtois was out, Begovic was one of our best players. Maybe Cech could have occasionally turned a loss into a draw, but we'd still be well outside the top 4, well outside the top 6 for that matter. Begovic had a spectacular match against Manchester City, yet we still lost 3-0. When the rest of the team is so massively sh*t, a goalkeeper at his best still isn't good enough.

 

4. I can see the argument about Cech adding leadership to the team, but I don't think it would have made a big difference. If our captain leader legend couldn't compel the players to stop sh*tting and flush the toilet, how much could an introverted second choice goalkeeper have done?

 

Anyway, this is Eden's thread, so I'll stop there.

To those who say Roman was stupid or inconsiderate of fans by selling Cech to Arsenal, consider this.

When Cech was sold, Roman had every reason to believe that it wouldn't matter in terms of results. We had just won the league with Cech on the bench. We finished 12 points ahead of them. It didn't matter if we were "strengthening the rival" because we were so much stronger than them regardless.

At the time it was a benevolent innocuous gesture. Cech wins because he gets to keep his family in London and become the first choice again. Roman wins because Cech's transfer value would decrease as he got older. The fans wouldn't win, but they wouldn't lose either.

No one could have predicted the disaster this season, no one.

 

Not true. There were a lot of people I knew who were worried that we took our foot off the pedal around January and then simply stopped doing anything to build momentum again in the summer. Sure in hindsight everything is clearer and you see the perfect storm for a bad season forming, but to say we all thought things were sunshine and roses is maybe a bit wrong.

 

Strengthening a direct rival in areas they've been lacking for years undermines the coach in such a way that it's tantamount to betrayal. This isn't just any rival either, it's Wenger. The man who pushed Jose once, and you're indulging in a 'benevolent innocuous gesture'? There are many gestures we should indulge in with that man, benevolent ones aren't on the list.

 

If they win the league this year then Cech will have been a massive influence on that, and Chelsea supporters have to deal with gloating from some of the worst fans going. That is what this board doesn't understand. They simply don't get what supporting a club is about because, apart from Buck allegedly, there's not an ounce of Chelsea amongst them and that's been shown time and time again.

 

The board of a club are supposed to reflect the fanbase, they're custodians and nothing more. But it seems to be the other way around in a lot of people's minds, where because of Roman's money we should be subservient, docile and unquestioning of what the club does. That is not what these clubs were set up to be.

2 assists and a goal today, i'm sure that will help get his confidence back up. The 2nd half was more like the Hazard of last season. He was running at players, dribbling and moving well.

I was not that impressed with Eden Hazard today. He was facing a weakened Man City team with an absolutely sub par defender. I was expecting to have more shots on goals but he just did not do enough to make me satisfied. Also towards the end on a counter attack when he was faced only with a defender and the goaley to get past, HE chose to slow down and pass it to Oscar who was at a more difficult angle. That lack of confidence is disappointing. I dont mind him failing, but not even attempting is disappointing, especially in that circumstance.

he looked genuinely happy when he scored and so did the team. Walking off the pitch he is covering his mouth making a joke with baba i think, would be interesting to know what he was saying

Must be he wants to leave,right?

Wasn't it 3 assists? Costa, Pedro, and the Cahill one?

Wasn't it 3 assists? Costa, Pedro, and the Cahill one?

Yes it should be

He had a good game. Well, to be completely honest, he probably offered more in this game than the rest of the season combined. Despite being capable of playing like this every game.

It's a shame the fans aren't chanting his name after calling him out as a "snake" after the debacle with mourinho. i think the fans need to get behind him so we can at least sway his mind a little if it is in madrid. 

It's a shame the fans aren't chanting his name after calling him out as a "snake" after the debacle with mourinho. i think the fans need to get behind him so we can at least sway his mind a little if it is in madrid.

Needs to string a few performances together first for the fans to get back on his side, he's given us six months of w**k so far this season.

Edited February 21, 201610 yr by ForeverCarefree

It's a shame the fans aren't chanting his name after calling him out as a "snake" after the debacle with mourinho. i think the fans need to get behind him so we can at least sway his mind a little if it is in madrid. 

You're assuming the fans want to 'sway his mind' from Madrid... If he has eyes on another club then he is welcome to f**k off. We shouldnt be begging players to stay. We should demand players that give their all for our club and want to wear our shirt with pride. 

We're missing a psychpath in other words?

I think it's clear what I'm saying. And that's not it, no.

Just read an article of Eden. He is a huge admirer of Zizou. Hope we can keep him.

Thought he was okay yesterday but still nowhere near his best.

 

Looks de-motivated and dis interested to me. Not to the point where he is letting teammates and fans down. But he is just doing enough. Hasnt got the desire to take the game by the balls and be MOM. Saying that, thats always been his problem unfortunately.

Just saw BBC coverage back and it was very interesting post match interview with Cesc and hazard on the pitch..hazard was asked why he didn't take the pen and Cesc admonished him for it, saying you scored one, you should have taken opportunity to get another..he was right of course and not just cos Oscar missed it....Cesc has played with Messi and seen his hunger for goals...if hazard has any real ambition to get close to that level (think this season has shown that will never happen), then he has to be more ruthless..taking his spot kick duty role back is just for starters

Just saw BBC coverage back and it was very interesting post match interview with Cesc and hazard on the pitch..hazard was asked why he didn't take the pen and Cesc admonished him for it, saying you scored one, you should have taken opportunity to get another..he was right of course and not just cos Oscar missed it....Cesc has played with Messi and seen his hunger for goals...if hazard has any real ambition to get close to that level (think this season has shown that will never happen), then he has to be more ruthless..taking his spot kick duty role back is just for starters

 

 

Just seen it too, Brit.  Agreed, you could see that it kind of struck a nerve with Eden.  Not in a bad way, but in a contemplative way.

 

If Cesc does stick around, maybe he will be captain?

Yes, eden look kind of stung by Cesc saying it in front of cameras, but Cesc was spot on

Eden's English improved. I'm actually quite surprised, good for him.

Cesc has played with the best players in the world in the past decade in Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.

He obviously see's Hazard has the ability but lacks the desire and drive to become a player who can reach that level.

The Madrid fans would eat him alive if he does get his move and doesn't take Cesc's advice.

Cesc has played with the best players in the world in the past decade in Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.

He obviously see's Hazard has the ability but lacks the desire and drive to become a player who can reach that level.

The Madrid fans would eat him alive if he does get his move and doesn't take Cesc's advice.

I think that too. Madrid fans slaughtered bale after a few bad performances, and that was after he scored a good number of goals in his first season. Hazard obviously isn't a player focused on goals and instead would prefer to assist his team mates, but he has many off games and is rendered almost useless when he's being double marked. If Ronaldo leaves madrid in summer then i don't see how hazard will replace ronaldos presence in that team.

Bale is getting injured regularly too, and if bale gets injured opposition will just mark hazard out the game and have little impact in games for real. It is hypothetical sure, but i think hazard is better staying here than going to a club like madrid where it's unlikely he'll be appreciated even when things don't go well. He doesn't seem to have the mentality to prove people wrong like the best players out there, and his urgency in games can be very poor. There are so many times when the ball comes to eden and he slows the play down instead of continuing the counter more urgently.

Edited February 23, 201610 yr by enigma

It didn't take a particularly long period of disappointing performances for quite a large section of the Chelsea fanbase to turn on him either if we're being completely honest...

It didn't take a particularly long period of disappointing performances for quite a large section of the Chelsea fanbase to turn on him either if we're being completely honest...

Well if he had kept his mouth shut and showed the fans he wants to play well and be at this club then no one would have turned on him. It's only about 50% his performances, the other 50% is his attitude. People didn't turn on JT at the beginning of the season even though he was well below par, same could be said for Ivanovic, and Willian until this season, and numerous other players. It's when they roll over without a fight and start talking about how great it would be to move to another club that people start to turn on him

I'm still a fan of his btw, just wish he had the attitude to be a top 10 player in the world, because the ability and talent are there, but not the drive.

Not really sure if you should judge Eden on his mental abilities just yet.

It didn't take a particularly long period of disappointing performances for quite a large section of the Chelsea fanbase to turn on him either if we're being completely honest...

It wasn't about his form, effort and attitude yes...eg don't flirt with other clubs when your below par performances played a part in chelsea struggling in the first place