Short times between games, long distances to travel, would be handy to have a bigger squad so we don't have to use all the same players every game, when they are exhausted from playing and travelling....................

What our board would take from your post would probably be that it's a good idea to sell more players.

Ticket selling details for the CL games.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2017/08/home-champions-league-ticket-details-announced.html

 

Looking at the team we won the CL with under an interim manager, via Barca and Bayern, its a) Hard to believe and b) has to give us hope that we can do well this year with the team and manager we have. 

21 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Looking at the team we won the CL with under an interim manager, via Barca and Bayern, its a) Hard to believe and b) has to give us hope that we can do well this year with the team and manager we have. 

One might say that we don't have players with the character, determination and talent of Lampard, Drogba, Cole and Mata anymore... Although, since the game against spuds, our team seems to definitely have grit and character. And a bit of talent too 

Edited August 25, 20178 yr by Londonisblue

and if we're in trouble, we could still rely on Alonso's fabulous free kicks ! 

20 hours ago, DonAntonio said:

Priceless, you would imagine someone is trying to make life difficult for us, but football associations would never allow and form of corrupt behaviour so it can't be that.

I know what you mean yet most of the matches are at least at home or in London.

Don't think it is just us, I thought Utd had a few last season that on paper were tough calls. 

As a toral irrelevance, I'd like to state that Roma's are the only red shirts I can stomach.

8 hours ago, DonAntonio said:

Interesting....

 

I'm sorry but i just don't buy these conspiracies. All our groups have been relatively straight forward until now (bar 2012)

40 minutes ago, Londonisblue said:

One might say that we don't have players with the character, determination and talent of Lampard, Drogba, Cole and Mata anymore... Although, since the game against spuds, our team seems to definitely have grit and character. And a bit of talent too 

Whether they have the exact same extreme determination those lot did is another matter, but after certain games in our last two title winning season's plus the Spurs game (and 2nd half vs Burnley) this, there's simply no way that the character of this bunch can be put into question.

18 minutes ago, Argo said:

I'm sorry but i just don't buy these conspiracies. All our groups have been relatively straight forward until now (bar 2012)

That's alright no one is selling it just an observation, do you "buy" that Qatar bought the World Cup? Were all those arrests of officials theoretical, do our team always get the sh*t end of decisions, poor fixtures consistently?

Does it help football organisations if the most popular teams do well? My "theory" is only that it's burying your head in the sand to think football associstions don't try and manipulate favourable results, like us walking the leauge last season but it all of a sudden became competitive towards the end based on decisions not football merit....it happens, it's certainly happens to what extent no one can be sure and yes some exadurated.

 I know being sceptical is popular with some people they think it makes them more wise and sensible, a way to try and belittle anyone who questions any establishment, but we all have our opinions. 

Edited August 25, 20178 yr by DonAntonio

Just now, DonAntonio said:

That's alright no one is selling it just an observation, do you buy that Qatar bought the World Cup? Were all those arrests theoretical, do our team always get the sh*t end of decisions, poor fixtures consistently? Does it help football football organisations if the most popular teams do well? My theory is it's butting your head in the sand to think football associstions don't try and manipulate favourable results, like us walking the leauge last season but it all of a sudden became competitive towards the end based on decisions not football merit....it happens to what extent no one can be sure but it happens. 

We have had favourable decision's made for us in fixtures just as much as not. For example Everton come to Stamford Bridge this weekend, after the FA put their game at Man.City on a Monday night despite them having a Europa qualifier at the other side of Europe on the Thursday meaning they have played two energy sapping matches since we last kicked a ball. Another example was United at home last season. We had Saturday to the following Sunday to rest, United had to play at Anfield on Monday and the Europa league on Thursday.

Even in our run in last season that was supposedly stitching us up, only Southampton had a clear advantage in terms of match time preparation. Watford had the same Friday-Monday schedule we had and when we played Boro we had the same days rest before the game.

2 minutes ago, Argo said:

We have had favourable decision's made for us in fixtures just as much as not. For example Everton come to Stamford Bridge this weekend, after the FA put their game at Man.City on a Monday night despite them having a Europa qualifier at the other side of Europe on the Thursday meaning they have played two energy sapping matches since we last kicked a ball. Another example was United at home last season. We had Saturday to the following Sunday to rest, United had to play at Anfield on Monday and the Europa league on Thursday.

Even in our run in last season that was supposedly stitching us up, only Southampton had a clear advantage in terms of match time preparation. Watford had the same Friday-Monday schedule we had and when we played Boro we had the same days rest before the game.

What? Playing on Monday then Thursday? That's unusual to you? In any European game you expect to play on Saturday  or Sunday then play in Europe on Tuesday or Wednesday you've just given an example of the standard.

These people are not idiots they don't make things obvious, they tinker, it's commercially benifitial to all involved for Utd to do well again in the CL, it's a huge brand and it's expected after the recent down turn, a huge portion of world football fans support UTD, they finished 6th and got a loss easy group, no way on earth were they getting a tough group this year, not a chance, find me one team with 10 years of draws like that?   

On 24/08/2017 at 17:40, lukecfc said:

Spurs are f**ked LOL

hope this doesn't end up on any spurs forums

The spuds got more than one forum?

Considering the other 2 teams in the group, we got away with qualification pretty easily with a game to spare. We should have beaten Roma at home, and the return leg wouldn't even be an issue. Roma didn't return us the favor when leading 2:0. The top spot is not all that important, we will play against a pretty good team, Bayern, Juventus  or Madrid, don't have a preference. I'm happy to rest a few key players in the last group game.

So I know the draw is still up in the air but c'mon. Let's be real. We're drawing PSG or Barca

16 hours ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

So I know the draw is still up in the air but c'mon. Let's be real. We're drawing PSG or Barca

It's a bigger chance that we meet Barcelona then Besiktas and PSG apperantly, because of the draw restrictions for the other teams:

Atleast there is a very big chance for Real Madrid and Juventus to draw a English team..

Hope we get barca. Love that rivalry and the bragging rights we have over messi not scoring vs us. 

3 hours ago, comtrend said:

It's a bigger chance that we meet Barcelona then Besiktas and PSG apperantly, because of the draw restrictions for the other teams:

Atleast there is a very big chance for Real Madrid and Juventus to draw a English team..

4

I'm happy with UEFAlona, well as happy as you could be, but I feel like it's going to be PSG again. 

3 hours ago, comtrend said:

It's a bigger chance that we meet Barcelona then Besiktas and PSG apperantly, because of the draw restrictions for the other teams:

Atleast there is a very big chance for Real Madrid and Juventus to draw a English team..

 

If Carlsberg did last 16 CL draws...........

Bayern V Barcelona

Juventus V PSG

Real Madrid V Man City

Sevilla V Man Utd

Porto V Tottenham

Shaktar V Liverpool

Basil V Roma

Chelsea V Besiktas

 

Into the last 8.....

 

Bayern

Juventus

Man City

Man Utd

Tottenham

Liverpool

Roma

Chelsea

 

That would be epic.

Its got to the point i want Besiktas just so these ludicrous conspiracy theories being branded about here lately that everyone right down to the cast of Glee and Neighbours are plotting against Chelsea.

2 hours ago, coco said:

Into the last 8.....

 

Bayern

Juventus

Man City

Man Utd

Tottenham

Liverpool

Roma

Chelsea

 

That would be epic.

Would certainly put this 'English teams can't compete in europe' rhetoric to bed. I'd be ok with liverpool being dumped out early though. c**ts.

21 minutes ago, Argo said:

Its got to the point i want Besiktas just so these ludicrous conspiracy theories being branded about here lately that everyone right down to the cast of Glee and Neighbours are plotting against Chelsea.

Yes everything is well in the land of football......we are served in the same manner as your city's and utd's etc.......and no fifa and UEFA officials were ever caught doing dirty Work.......

if we are good enough to go through it won't matter who we face. the positive if we get knocked out early is we can concentrate on the league.