9 hours ago, Argo said:

Carvalho was awful in that last year, Ballack would have been out for the season and Deco never handled English football well, fair enough Belletti playing the games Bosingwa did would have come in handy. In general i don't think them staying would have changed much, the cracks were already there in 09/10 and there were signs we were stagnating and declining, whenever we played more than once a week we were dead on our feet in the 2nd half (remember the WHL farce and how much sharper City were opposed to us in that 4-2) and Carlo's tactics and unableness to react hindered us, ironically Jose doing us with Inter probably won it us. 

As for 2015 partly it was that reason but also it was because all our players except the two Belgians fell of a cliff form wise and Jose had no clue how to change things, i think most of us at the time gave him the benefit of the doubt that he went cautious to get the job done, but as it turned out it was the start of a full blown crisis.

Regarding Carvalho, I don't think he was awful but he wasn't as consistent, still we needed to replace him and we didn't. Deco actually dud quite well in the 09-10 season, I also forgot we lost Joe Cole. Sure Cole was on the decline but again you still gave to replace these players. Ballack did get injured yes but he came back for Leverkeusen in October the sane year. Sure he then got injured again for them but who knows if that would have happened if Ted stayed. He was certainly worth giving a new two year go tract too after his he'd been in 09-10. You also cannot underestimate losing all that experience aswell as losing all that squad depth.

22 minutes ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Regarding Carvalho, I don't think he was awful but he wasn't as consistent, still we needed to replace him and we didn't. Deco actually dud quite well in the 09-10 season, I also forgot we lost Joe Cole. Sure Cole was on the decline but again you still gave to replace these players. Ballack did get injured yes but he came back for Leverkeusen in October the sane year. Sure he then got injured again for them but who knows if that would have happened if Ted stayed. He was certainly worth giving a new two year go tract too after his he'd been in 09-10. You also cannot underestimate losing all that experience aswell as losing all that squad depth.

I have always felt that Ballack was the biggest miss after the 09/10 season. 

Add essien and lamps'injuries (no one could have predicted that though) and not giving ballack the contract seems a massive mistake (in hidnsight)

1 minute ago, didierforever said:

I have always felt that Ballack was the biggest miss after the 09/10 season. 

Add essien and lamps'injuries (no one could have predicted that though) and not giving ballack the contract seems a massive mistake (in hidnsight)

Yeah forgetting those too. We have made some mistakes in transfer windows for sure, not strengthening when we should and not replacing certain leaders. I just hope we don't do the same this Summer we should have already learned from past windows.

5 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Regarding Carvalho, I don't think he was awful but he wasn't as consistent, still we needed to replace him and we didn't. Deco actually dud quite well in the 09-10 season, I also forgot we lost Joe Cole. Sure Cole was on the decline but again you still gave to replace these players. Ballack did get injured yes but he came back for Leverkeusen in October the sane year. Sure he then got injured again for them but who knows if that would have happened if Ted stayed. He was certainly worth giving a new two year go tract too after his he'd been in 09-10. You also cannot underestimate losing all that experience aswell as losing all that squad depth.

The following summer United also let go of a similar number of experienced players (VDS, Brown, O Shea, Scholes) yet they didn't totally crumble, infact this January we let 3 experienced players go and we have survived allright. It wasn't as if lack of experience was the problem in that team, it was hunger (our whole starting 11 were atleast 27, its not like we did a Arsenal circa Emirates move and dismantled a title winning side in one fled swoop), after the double they had done everything domestically and there was just no hunger anymore, that bunch staying would have likely added to that particular problem not helped solve it.

Edited May 10, 20179 yr by Argo

4 hours ago, Argo said:

The following summer United also let go of a similar number of experienced players (VDS, Brown, O Shea, Scholes) yet they didn't totally crumble, infact this January we let 3 experienced players go and we have survived allright. It wasn't as if lack of experience was the problem in that team, it was hunger (our whole starting 11 were atleast 27, its not like we did a Arsenal circa Emirates move and dismantled a title winning side in one fled swoop), after the double they had done everything domestically and there was just no hunger anymore, that bunch staying would have likely added to that particular problem not helped solve it.

Maybe it was hunger but experience helps, United brought back Paul Scholes in the season they last won the league lets not forget and they signed the leagues top scorer in Van Persie. I don't necessarily disagree there was a lack of hunger but our loss of experience and failure to improve the player losses is the big reason why we failed in 10/11 and subsequently in 15/16 IMO.

I enjoyed the 09/10 one the most. 

Edited May 10, 20179 yr by stevo

The first one under José will be the greatest sporting win I have and will ever witnessed. Followed closely by the Champions league win.

This season would be second and Carlos double would be third for me.

They're all special, but like a few have already said you cannot top the first time.

I will say though that our 97 cup final win was an incredible feeling, the first major trophy in my lifetime and the FA Cup was held in much higher regard then than it is now.

For me title wins feel different to the first time you win cups, there is an immense feeling of satisfaction after a title win knowing you're the best after a long 38 game season, but the special cup wins top them for euphoria though.

19th May 2012 was pure sporting ecstasy, and won't ever, ever be bettered.

Edited May 11, 20179 yr by Blue Exile

35 minutes ago, Blue Exile said:

They're all special, but like a few have already said you cannot top the first time.

I will say though that our 97 cup final win was an incredible feeling, the first major trophy in my lifetime and the FA Cup was held in much higher regard then than it is now.

For me title wins feel different to the first time you win cups, there is an immense feeling of satisfaction after a title win knowing you're the best after a long 38 game season, but the special cup wins top them for euphoria though.

19th May 2012 was pure sporting ecstasy, and won't ever, ever be bettered.

This season will be very sweet if we do it, (not done yet though) because of it not being expected, beating the over hyped mancs, run by bitter has been managers, beating the y*ds, and also us having a proper manager and man. 97 fa cup takes a lot of beating as does 2012 munich. 

2009/10 was certainly my favourite.

That season just had everything. Our 3-0 win I think it was at home to Spurs, the 7-1 vs Villa and the victory against Arsenal away were special alongside all the other big games we won.

Seeing Arsenal crumble to Wigan was also a joy to watch. Fantastic season.

On 5/8/2017 at 22:47, RIP Mourinho said:

Okay now we really are tempting fate!

It is not unforeseeable that Tony Pulis gets a result this Friday and Watford surprise everyone and we are left to stop Borini from bagging a hat trick against us on the final day.
 

Just now, Van Butsen said:

It is not unforeseeable that Tony Pulis gets a result this Friday and Watford surprise everyone and we are left to stop Borini from bagging a hat trick against us on the final day.
 

I'm calling it, Chelsea to lose the next game then draw and again draw on the final day of the season with Spurs winning the league on goal difference. *shudders*

4 hours ago, Van Butsen said:

It is not unforeseeable that Tony Pulis gets a result this Friday and Watford surprise everyone and we are left to stop Borini from bagging a hat trick against us on the final day.
 

There I was feeling a little relaxed, and you gone and spoilt it!! 

There is no most special as every one has been the most special to me. Hope that makes sense

They're all special in their own way, but here are my thoughts:

1. 2004/2005 = This is the most special for mine. It was 50 years since our last title, most of us had never seen us win a title in our lifetime and it was only ever a dream once upon a time, so to see it happen was exhilarating. Mourinho was at his peak as manager, our squad was brilliant and we dominated the competition!

2. 2016/2017 = This was a remarkable title victory. Go back 12 months to 18 months ago and the dream of winning a title so soon was a pipe dream so no one expected this at the start of the season. Conte reminded me of Mourinho from his first stint, we just kept winning even when the pressure was on and the squad was a powerful unit.

3. 2014/2015 = The return of Mourinho. The first half of the season was as good as I'd seen us play for many years and JT was still playing terrific football at this stage. The next season went sour very quickly, but still a great title victory.

4. 2005/2006 = Back-to-back! Blitzed the competition again, especially at the start of the season and finishing off Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 29 2006 was a fitting way to win the title.

5. 2009/2010 = The most nervy title victory with it coming down to the last day. Had a strong start to the season, then a decline in form at the middle of the season, but finished it off very strongly. If you love goals and entertaining football, this is one of the best titles you could wish for.

Edited May 13, 20179 yr by Jezz

Well, they've all been special but in order for me:

2004/05: We won the league for the first time in 50 years, plus IMO this Chelsea side was the best ever. 95 PL points is a phenomenal effort.

2016/17: What can I say? From 10th last season to this. This one will live long in the memory - from losing 3-0 to winning 13 in a row is a momentous achievement. Conte has been worth every cent.

2009/10: A rollercoaster of a season. This was not a particularly great or consistent Chelsea side relative to the other title winning sides, but it was definitely the most entertaining. Pipping SAF is always satisfying. 

2005/06: Suffers in comparison to 2004/05, but we still obtained 91 points plus we capped it off by thumping Man U at Stamford Bridge. 

2014/15: IMO a better side than the 2009/10 edition, but our football during the second half season was often dirge-like after playing some somewhat stylish stuff during the first half. We did what we had to do, but after Man City drew level in January it all felt a little prosaic as they faded away afterwards. Probably my favourite game was the 0-1 at QPR, if only to recall their reactions when Cesc scored!

I know people here want to talk about the EPL Title, but for me the European Cup was the most special - many people gave us no chance - losing the first match @ Napoli - drawing Barcelona in the Semis then having to win the UCL playing Bayern in the Allianz Arena

This year feels very special, after last year we came into this as underdogs and to pip spurs to it is even more special.

I personally think this thread will be better done in a few years. I think it's easy to get caught up in the emotion of the current one sometimes.

04/05 will always be the most special for me, the first title win in my lifetime. In terms of accomplishment however this year ranks as the best simply because for me we exceeded expectation. When we lost to Liverpool and Arsenal admittedly I'd lost hope we'd even make top 4.

Barney Ronay at the Guardian sums it up for me;

"Where to rank this Chelsea team, even among recent versions at the same club, is another question. Six months old, a half-season project, they are already more watchable and more coherent than the second phase of the title-winning team of two years ago; but not at the level of the luminous, steamrollering Mourinho Mk1 team, a rare concurrence of prime-cut talent and a manager in the sweet spot of his own powers."

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/may/13/antonio-conte-chelsea-champions-manager

All of them were special, but 04/05 has to just because of how frighteningly relentless we were -an absolute machine.

On another note, we should just relish this win and having such a period of success in the past 15 years. Liverpool fans would kill to be in our position, they've waited decades for a title. Arsenal have had 2 FA Cups in 10 years. Spurs have won nothing except for the most-points-in-two-seasons-moral trophy, brought to you by Jermaine Jenas. We don't like these teams, but they are huge teams who are rightly envious of us. Let's enjoy this title, and hopefully the Double to come!

Edited May 13, 20179 yr by gojo_ed

For me, it gets better every time. 

I've seen the not so good times but my love this club never dies.

Tears in my eyes last night. The older you get, the more it means.

This one has to be, since we were 10th last year, at the verge of relegation at one point, and won the league during not only Conte's first season at Chelsea, but in the Premier League period. Now we're on the verge of the double, which is amazing. What a difference a year makes, indeed.

I'd echo what many have said that 2004-2005 was the most special given that it was the first I'd ever seen. Having started supporting Chelsea as a young kid in the mid-to-late 90's, winning the Title was only something we could dream of and to see it materialise in such dominant fashion was something to behold. 

For me, 2005-2006 would follow in that I believe the mark of a truly great side is being able to retain a Title; Not many have ever been able to do that in the Premier League era. I was also completely spellbound by Mourinho at the time and relished every moment of success we had with him.

3rd for me would be Ancelotti's 2009-2010 vintage, probably the best Chelsea side to watch since Abramovich came in. Winning the title on the last day with a thumping 8-0 win was pretty special, especially as we had to win at Old Trafford and Anfield in previous weeks to set it up. I remember beating Arsenal at the Emirates that season 3-0 and also Spurs at home on my birthday by the same scoreline. 

The last of those 4 would have to be 2014-2015. We were electric in the first half of the season but became ultra-pragmatic in the 2nd half of the season as certain players lost form. Being at Loftus Road to see us nick it 1-0 in the dying minutes was a particular highlight. Also the 0-0 at the Emirates was memorable, listening to the deluded Arsenal fans sing 'Boring Boring Chelsea' at the end of the game when a draw effectively ended their Title aspirations. I didn't appreciate Mourinho's constant criticism of us, referees, the media etc. and to be honest it was during this season that my opinion of him started to sour a little for the first time. 

So where do I rank 2016-2017? It's very difficult to say, because in all the other years that we've won the Title we were either favourites or close 2nd heading into the season. This year I'd have been happy with top 4, and having left the Emirates after a 3-0 defeat, and 8 points behind Man City, I thought we'd do well to make the top 6. The transformation since then has been staggering, Conte has tactically revolutionised English Football and has been a breath of fresh air. Just like with Ancelotti, there are no protestations, no controversy, but simply an infectious, dignified character who goes about his work with ruthless decorum. We're very lucky to have him and hopefully he stays for many more years. 

Edited May 14, 20179 yr by Celery1989

As many have said, the 2004/2005 title will obviously be special; I remember thinking how crazy it was that we'd won the league, as growing up I'd never even really considered it. I didn't support Chelsea because they were always top of the league, I just liked watching them play and guys like Zola (and my dad is a fan too), so it was extra special to get such a huge prize! I still remember that game against Bolton and celebrating Lampard's goal like crazy. 

Second time was kind of an extension of the 04/05 win to me, and secured our place at the 'top table' of English football. Being at school with loads of United, Arsenal and Liverpool fans, it was nice to get the chance to be the one doing all the gloating! 

During Ancelotti's time I was just starting university, so I'll admit that whole period is a little hazy and obviously could never live up to the first time, but it was nice to be back on top.

I enjoyed the 2015 title; the return of Jose, the football we played in the first half of the season, but limping across the line and the disastrous title defence that followed soured it for me. I have a 'Champions 2014/15' pint glass that didn't turn up until almost the start of the new season, so it's seen very little use!

As for this years title win, I am absolutely LOVING it, and it has to be one of my favourite so far, second only to that first time. The way Conte turned things around from the incredible lows of last season, the return of David Luiz as a key member of the team, the togetherness and team spirit, turning United over at the Bridge and finally putting Jose in the past, and of course all the great football we've played and goals we've scored. I know a lot of people focus on the defensive aspect, but no-one can deny how breathtaking the likes of Hazard, Pedro and Costa have been at times this season. Michy coming on to get the goal that sealed it feels like peak 'Conte's Chelsea' to me, and summed up the whole season and the way that pretty much everyone in the squad has contributed to this seasons success in some way.