This is gutting. With the club in its worst position for a decade who is better than Terry to guide it through to better times, under a new manager? No one, for me. This is a sad decision, and in my opinion the wrong one.

Martin Samuel hits the nail on the head:

“So what part of it did they object to: the captain, the leader, or the legend? At a time when there would appear to be no direction at Chelsea, no philosophy, no standard to rally around, how can the club dispense with the services of the one constant across two decades?

“Leaving aside that Terry remains, even now, the best defender at the club, exemplary against Arsenal, still the first pick in any match that Chelsea have to win, how can he be considered to have nothing to offer in the way of example, or inspiration?”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3425646/Chelsea-s-decision-let-John-Terry-leave-makes-little-sense-MARTIN-SAMUEL.html

Scott I don't often disagree with you but do on this occasion yes JT is a good CB but as he has lost all pace we have to play a very very deep back line which is hurting us . We cannot play a high back line as we do not have the pace at the back to cover a through or over ball . As such we are stretched accommodating the lack of pace in the back line and the fact we are unable to pin the opposition into there half is what is causing us problem.

 

I'm sorry, but that's just a load of rubbish.

 

Absolutely sick of this 'he's lost his pace' bollocks. He has NEVER been a quick defender. It's an utterly ridiculous argument. 

 

Are you saying when we cantered to the league last season he was a fast defender? It's just what sh*t pundits like Robbie Savage use as a stick to beat him with. 

 

If anything, Zouma replacing Cahill at the back, has made our defence is quicker than it was last season. It's just not a factor at all.

Can't believe i am agreeing with this guy

https://twitter.com/Charlie26Adam/status/693870641200627714

Edited January 31, 201610 yr by Scott Harris

Can't believe i am agreeing with this guy

https://twitter.com/Charlie26Adam/status/693870641200627714

The grammar and spelling in that tweet hurts me.

It was always going to happen, it's just the timing of the decision and announcement that concerns me. Why now, why not wait until the end of the season ?

The grammar and spelling in that tweet hurts me.

 

Yeah me to

The grammar and spelling in that tweet hurts me.

He's not Charlie Adam if he ain't doing it one way or another

(Assuming this rumour is true)

 

Besides being a shoddy way to treat a legend, I don't really understand this decision. Why give Ivanovic a year more while discarding JT? Even at CB, I would prefer JT, especially in games against good opposition in which his experience will come in useful if we sit deep and counter. Not to mention he'll have a hand in propping up dressing room morale and providing experience to the younger players. 

 

He's seen it all and now he'll have seen his last here at the end of the season.

 

Very sad day for us all. 

Edited February 1, 201610 yr by DaRick

Was looking forward to the end of the season and starting fresh next year hopefully with some summer help. Now I don't want this season to end at all. Terrible news.

I've stayed away from this forum recently ranging from personal matters I've been dealing with in my life but also the fact that I needed a break from the Jose saga and discussing it non-stop everyday but today's decision only reaffirms my resentment and bitterness towards those in charge of running the club.

 

John Terry is the heart and soul of the club and rather than allowing his exit to be dignified and to be on his own terms we're throwing him out as if he's like any other player who's been here a few years and provided minimal contribution to the club.

 

Players like Terry are what makes football clubs special and I think his eventual departure will severely hurt us in the long-run until we see new leaders emerge and step up to the plate. 

 

His leadership and passion for the club will leave a huge void in the club and I can't see it being matched ever again considering football is all about money rather than passion for most players.

 

This board never ceases to amaze me with the way it conducts itself. Sacking Jose was bad enough especially after he won the title 7 months before but giving Terry the flick but allegedly keeping Ivanovic is going to leave supporters up in arms and rightly so.

 

It's true that this was going to be inevitable at some point of JT's career but I didn't think it would be this soon and the circumstances surrounding it make me upset.

 

I always envisaged a farewell similar to the mould of Paolo Maldini from AC Milan who retired a one-club player and left on his own terms without the club forcing his hand.

 

I'm sure JT would have been intelligent enough to realise when his time was up so the club's need to force his hand is just insulting. However, knowing the personality of JT, he'll conduct himself elegantly in the next months in the lead up to his departure.

 

It truly is an end of an era

Edited February 1, 201610 yr by Jezz

Drogba left, Lampard left too soon, Cech allowed to go (although I agree with that decision out of respect for a great player), JT going, Jose sacked... 

Is there anyone left who genuinely cares for the club anymore? At least with JT still there we had a sense of connection. Now I feel we are turning into a new 'Galacticos' type side. No real feeling for the club, just the lure of money and fame to attract players. I dont think ive ever felt less connected to Chelsea than I do right now. I have no affection for any of the players really after they downed tools earlier in the season. Might as well just bring back Benitez and have done with it!

Drogba left, Lampard left too soon, Cech allowed to go (although I agree with that decision out of respect for a great player), JT going, Jose sacked... 

Is there anyone left who genuinely cares for the club anymore? At least with JT still there we had a sense of connection. Now I feel we are turning into a new 'Galacticos' type side. No real feeling for the club, just the lure of money and fame to attract players. I dont think ive ever felt less connected to Chelsea than I do right now. I have no affection for any of the players really after they downed tools earlier in the season. Might as well just bring back Benitez and have done with it!

And that my friend is the reason why Roman and his friends will never properly understand football apart from it being a money-making exercise for themselves.

 

Like yourself, I've never felt less connected and disillusioned with the club and I thought that wasn't possible after the Benitez saga in 2012-2013 but this club has managed to outdo itself. I love Chelsea but I resent those who are in charge of running it.

Edited February 1, 201610 yr by Jezz

I've stayed away from this forum recently ranging from personal matters I've been dealing with in my life but also the fact that I needed a break from the Jose saga and discussing it non-stop everyday but today's decision only reaffirms my resentment and bitterness towards those in charge of running the club.

 

John Terry is the heart and soul of the club and rather than allowing his exit to be dignified and to be on his own terms we're throwing him out as if he's like any other player who's been here a few years and provided minimal contribution to the club.

 

Players like Terry are what makes football clubs special and I think his eventual departure will severely hurt us in the long-run until we see new leaders emerge and step up to the plate. 

 

His leadership and passion for the club will leave a huge void in the club and I can't see it being matched ever again considering football is all about money rather than passion for most players.

 

This board never ceases to amaze me with the way it conducts itself. Sacking Jose was bad enough especially after he won the title 7 months before but giving Terry the flick but allegedly keeping Ivanovic is going to leave supporters up in arms and rightly so.

 

It's true that this was going to be inevitable at some point of JT's career but I didn't think it would be this soon and the circumstances surrounding it make me upset.

 

I always envisaged a farewell similar to the mould of Paolo Maldini from AC Milan who retired a one-club player and left on his own terms without the club forcing his hand.

 

I'm sure JT would have been intelligent enough to realise when his time was up so the club's need to force his hand is just insulting. However, knowing the personality of JT, he'll be conduct elegantly in the next months in the lead up to his departure.

 

It truly is an end of an era

 

Well said Jezz, you got the point across better than i could. 

what is ridiculous is that there is not 1 single premiership team that would not snap him up and play him every game, man u would kill to have a cb like him, same with arsenal, liverpool, even man city, and he's f**king 35!! give him another year and then maybe he retires.

and once JT, Lamps, Cech and DD all retire let's do what's right and give them all testimonials for everything they have done for this club, f**king legends every single one of them!

maybe he was eyeing up abramovich's daughter! seriously though this is just an appalling decision by the those who live around abramovich's colon! i fear this will destabalise us even more!

Sturridge being sold to Liverpool. Yes, he was injury prone but who knows how he would have turned out had he stayed with us. He was looking like he was going to turn into a top quality player. If he could stay fit i am sure he would be Liverpool's most important player right now.

 

Di Matteo, fired less than half a season after winning the one competition Roman Abramovich wanted.

 

Benitez, bringing him in was a massive kick in the teeth to the fans. The guy couldn't even apologise for the comments he made about the fans. He never liked us and we never liked him, the club let him use us so he could try and rebuild his career. They gave no thought to what the fans wanted.

 

Mata, our 2 times player of the season and one of the fan favourites, sold to United, one of our biggest rivals in the league.

 

Lampard. At first, i was annoyed with Lampard, i thought he was offered a new deal here and he rejected it and signed for City. With the way the club makes their decision's now though i am sure he wasn't offered a new deal at all and was left to join City. 

 

Cech, sold to Arsenal, a club the fans cannot stand one bit. A rival and enemy of the club.

 

Terry, no new contract after spending over 20 years at the club. A player who understands what it means to be part of Chelsea just waved away like he is nothing.

 

This has all happened in the last 4 years, you wouldn't see this at any other club.

 

Can someone print this on something and take it to our next game? Add sacking Mourinho too, unbelievable 

Do you all act this irrationally in your daily lives??

 

Can we clear one thing up, there has been no decision made to release JT by the club or anybody else.

 

What has happened is that the club have not yet committed themselves to re.signing him, that's a big difference.

 

This interview is probably one of JT's best performances of the season. It is a complete powerplay by him to give the club a taste of the reaction should they eventually arrive at the decision to release him. He has no doubt done this because he doesn't want it to go down the Lampard and Cole route where the season ends and he's still none the wiser.

 

I am almost certain the club have always been fully expecting to renew his deal at some point. I am now almost certain that it will now happen earlier because of this.

 

For those questioning why Cahill and Ivanovic already have new deals it is because they are valuable assets that needed protecting. Even though Ivanovic only signed for another year it still probably puts a £10m price on his head in the summer should the new manager not fancy him. The same does not apply to JT simply because of his age.

 

The media have an excuse for overreacting and overhyping and dramatising everything, fans should apply a bit more common sense but to me it seems like mass hysteria has been rampant on here this season.

Sturridge being sold to Liverpool. Yes, he was injury prone but who knows how he would have turned out had he stayed with us. He was looking like he was going to turn into a top quality player. If he could stay fit i am sure he would be Liverpool's most important player right now.

 

Di Matteo, fired less than half a season after winning the one competition Roman Abramovich wanted.

 

Benitez, bringing him in was a massive kick in the teeth to the fans. The guy couldn't even apologise for the comments he made about the fans. He never liked us and we never liked him, the club let him use us so he could try and rebuild his career. They gave no thought to what the fans wanted.

 

Mata, our 2 times player of the season and one of the fan favourites, sold to United, one of our biggest rivals in the league.

 

Lampard. At first, i was annoyed with Lampard, i thought he was offered a new deal here and he rejected it and signed for City. With the way the club makes their decision's now though i am sure he wasn't offered a new deal at all and was left to join City. 

 

Cech, sold to Arsenal, a club the fans cannot stand one bit. A rival and enemy of the club.

 

Terry, no new contract after spending over 20 years at the club. A player who understands what it means to be part of Chelsea just waved away like he is nothing.

 

This has all happened in the last 4 years, you wouldn't see this at any other club.

 

Every actual decision here was correct in one way or another.

 

I am not including Lampard because there are differing stories as to whether he was or wasn't offered a new deal or what the terms were. I'm also not including JT because as I said above, no decision has been made by the club.

Do you all act this irrationally in your daily lives??

 

Can we clear one thing up, there has been no decision made to release JT by the club or anybody else.

 

What has happened is that the club have not yet committed themselves to re.signing him, that's a big difference.

 

This interview is probably one of JT's best performances of the season. It is a complete powerplay by him to give the club a taste of the reaction should they eventually arrive at the decision to release him. He has no doubt done this because he doesn't want it to go down the Lampard and Cole route where the season ends and he's still none the wiser.

 

I am almost certain the club have always been fully expecting to renew his deal at some point. I am now almost certain that it will now happen earlier because of this.

 

For those questioning why Cahill and Ivanovic already have new deals it is because they are valuable assets that needed protecting. Even though Ivanovic only signed for another year it still probably puts a £10m price on his head in the summer should the new manager not fancy him. The same does not apply to JT simply because of his age.

 

The media have an excuse for overreacting and overhyping and dramatising everything, fans should apply a bit more common sense but to me it seems like mass hysteria has been rampant on here this season.

A well thought out post. However i'm not looking forward to the prospect of ivanovic possibly being our steadying influence on the pitch when in my eyes he shouldnt even be in the team. Hopefully the new coach will be allowed to pick the team he wants.

Why?

 

He's still easily our best defender...sure...he hasn't been great this year...but we don't have anyone better. We don't have another true leader, or anyone else with the same club identity as him.

 

This is baffling.

Best defender, best leader, has tons of experience and knows everything about the club.

 

If he leaves, it is a complete and utter disgrace

Do you all act this irrationally in your daily lives??

 

Can we clear one thing up, there has been no decision made to release JT by the club or anybody else.

 

What has happened is that the club have not yet committed themselves to re.signing him, that's a big difference.

 

This interview is probably one of JT's best performances of the season. It is a complete powerplay by him to give the club a taste of the reaction should they eventually arrive at the decision to release him. He has no doubt done this because he doesn't want it to go down the Lampard and Cole route where the season ends and he's still none the wiser.

 

I am almost certain the club have always been fully expecting to renew his deal at some point. I am now almost certain that it will now happen earlier because of this.

 

For those questioning why Cahill and Ivanovic already have new deals it is because they are valuable assets that needed protecting. Even though Ivanovic only signed for another year it still probably puts a £10m price on his head in the summer should the new manager not fancy him. The same does not apply to JT simply because of his age.

 

The media have an excuse for overreacting and overhyping and dramatising everything, fans should apply a bit more common sense but to me it seems like mass hysteria has been rampant on here this season.

I dont believe for one second that JT would release a statement confirming he is leaving at the end of the season if he had not been told there was no way of staying.

Every other season he has kept quiet and let his agent thrash out contract negotiations behind the scenes until it was done. This is different. I think he has been told a definite no. Maybe that definite no will change when the club start talking to potential managers for next season, but right now i think theyve said no and they mean no. Just gotta hope whoever comes in wants JT to help them in their first season at least. 

But in short, i think he will be off so we've gotta appreciate the short time he has left with us

Poor Decision. Should be allowed to retire at club and move into the coaching staff. You cannot underestimate the amount he brings to the dressing room, to the young players and also new players. He is Chelsea. I thought we would of learnt after letting Drogs/lamps go. However there are a few buts to this:

 

1. Purely looking from a playing point of view, it is time to move on. To get the best out of JT, he needs to be in a low block with the game in front of him. Its clear we are going to try and move away form this style and any manager coming in (maybe its already decided and been spoken about) will no doubt enforce a higher line etc. 

 

2. People are slating the board to high heaven and it doesnt sit right with me. I dont like Emenalo and he deserves criticism. But other than him, Marina has done lots of good business, especially selling wise. And as for Roman, he has single handeldly transformed our Club and by slamming the board, you are slamming him. Imagine this club without him. I dread the thought. 

 

3. The board have made controversial decisions before that have worked out well. Benitez won the Europa League after recieving a torrent of abuse and although i hate to say it,  the JM sacking looks to be the correct call now we are unbeaten since.

I'm sorry, but that's just a load of rubbish.

 

Absolutely sick of this 'he's lost his pace' bollocks. He has NEVER been a quick defender. It's an utterly ridiculous argument. 

 

Are you saying when we cantered to the league last season he was a fast defender? It's just what sh*t pundits like Robbie Savage use as a stick to beat him with. 

 

If anything, Zouma replacing Cahill at the back, has made our defence is quicker than it was last season. It's just not a factor at all.

 

Hasnt lost his pace but to get the best out of him he does need to play in a deeper block with the game in front of him. Majority of last season, at least after Xmas, we sat back and played on the counter which suited him. I assume we are trying to move in a new direction.

 

That said I dont agree with the decision as his stature and assets off the field merits a new deal.