5 minutes ago, Kev56 said:

I don't remember Torres moping around, whinging and bitching about being here, praising the liverpool supporters, keeping in touch throughout the farce with his previous club and generally being a total c**t.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2194015/Roberto-Di-Matteo-reveals-persuaded-Fernando-Torres-stay-Chelsea.html

He was unhappy and making playing demands on the night of Munich.

After the 18 months he had he should have been on his knees begging not to go the same way as Malouda.

9 minutes ago, Kantesmini said:

No way! Torres's one goal was all he needed to do to easily trump a lukaku card! Torres paid all his fee back for that goal!

Lukaku did absolutely nowt for years at the club ever, Best he ever did was at everton yet torres was world class just on the way out

We were already going through and he nearly blew the tie twice. If there's a hero of that moment it's Bosingwa as his interception that prevented a 2 vs 1 on Cech.

10 minutes ago, Argo said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2194015/Roberto-Di-Matteo-reveals-persuaded-Fernando-Torres-stay-Chelsea.html

He was unhappy and making playing demands on the night of Munich.

After the 18 months he had he should have been on his knees begging not to go the same way as Malouda.

We were already going through and he nearly blew the tie twice. If there's a hero of that moment it's Bosingwa as his interception that prevented a 2 vs 1 on Cech.

Clutching at straws and being incredibly harsh IMO, Torres even on the price at the time contributed way more regardless of geting into the weeds about every little touch, Torres as a player will always be seen as a world class player...Lukaku wont

Sheva was also a better buy lol

 

8 minutes ago, Kantesmini said:

Clutching at straws and being incredibly harsh IMO, Torres even on the price at the time contributed way more regardless of geting into the weeds about every little touch, Torres as a player will always be seen as a world class player...Lukaku wont

Sheva was also a better buy lol

 

I'll give him his dues for the Europa run but him getting the most credit for that night is Barca is cringeworthy.

But this is more about how long he held the club back. As tragically sh*t as Lukaku has been we've sorted it pretty quickly (all be it at great expense) and got shot of him, Torres held us back for the best part of 4 years.

3 minutes ago, Argo said:

I'll give him his dues for the Europa run but him getting the most credit for that night is Barca is cringeworthy.

But this is more about how long he held the club back. As tragically sh*t as Lukaku has been we've sorted it pretty quickly (all be it at great expense) and got shot of him, Torres held us back for the best part of 4 years.

Lukaku held us back in the same sense for 10yrs!

Also to me in my mid 30's I dont care how the goal was scored its the fact that he did that matters, No doubts torres turned into a reet donkey for us but on paper helped the club leaps and bounds and scored the key goal in us winning the CL

Lukaku is the most expensive fraud in top tier football, Torres could of been in a wheelchair and still had more class and professionalism all day long, Not to mention the extra 25% boost power up we got from making dippers burn shirts and froth at the mouth!

Its been a slow window for Chelsea fans, but it is starting to come together.  On one hand, Sterling and Koulibaly don't carry the marquee like hype that other players create (Havertz, Hazard, or outside, Mbappe, dare I say De Ligt).  But practically speaking, what great business.  We are not paying over the odds for talent - hard to know what is really true, but this is some astute business on very established players.

Beyond that, those two bring a level of personality, leadership and bravery to the team that is much needed.  I like these moves a lot.  What's next Todd! 

Edited July 14, 20224 yr by PhilH930

44 minutes ago, Argo said:

I'll give him his dues for the Europa run but him getting the most credit for that night is Barca is cringeworthy.

But this is more about how long he held the club back. As tragically sh*t as Lukaku has been we've sorted it pretty quickly (all be it at great expense) and got shot of him, Torres held us back for the best part of 4 years.

I'll never forget his miss at Old Trafford.

knew we had another dud that very day.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

As much as i can't stand the guy i'd still rank it as Torres given the sheer length of time and the lengths we went to to try and make it work.

Because of him we put ourselves out of the market for Falcao, Aguero, Cavani, signed players and even appointed a manager with atleast half an eye on unlocking him and even sold off competition for his place and handed it to him for months on end.

Torres, for all his flaws, played a keep part in the 2012 CL win and the Europa league win. Lukaku deserves his own personal hall of shame.

Todd set to give up his CEO hat:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2022/7/14/23218606/chelsea-to-appoint-former-manchester-city-executive-tom-glick-as-new-ceo-reports

Leaves the chairman still looking for a director of football with Glick taking over the none football business related matters.

Wonder if we are waiting for the guy who left Liverpool.

I think Todd has been off to a good start. Decent fees for players in their prime. 

It's way more exciting than the 2016 fiasco.

1 hour ago, Deino said:

I think Todd has been off to a good start. Decent fees for players in their prime. 

It's way more exciting than the 2016 fiasco.

When we signed Kante and David Luiz and walked to the title? Lol 

2 hours ago, drjonesy1994 said:

When we signed Kante and David Luiz and walked to the title? Lol 

My mistake, I meant the one after, the 2017 window

Edited July 15, 20224 yr by Deino

Honestly the way things are going Todd could be an upgrade on 2012-22 Abramovich (obviously not 2000's Abramovich). We've signed 2 top players at very decent fees. Compared to recruitment under Marina this is looking really good 

After weeks of wailing and complaining about the club's dismal failures in the transfer market, the praise and optimism are almost unsettling 

8 minutes ago, Valerie said:

After weeks of wailing and complaining about the club's dismal failures in the transfer market, the praise and optimism are almost unsettling 

On 14/07/2022 at 16:37, Argo said:

As much as i can't stand the guy i'd still rank it as Torres given the sheer length of time and the lengths we went to to try and make it work.

Because of him we put ourselves out of the market for Falcao, Aguero, Cavani, signed players and even appointed a manager with atleast half an eye on unlocking him and even sold off competition for his place and handed it to him for months on end.

Torres set us back years and signing him over Aguero really paved the way for City to become the dominant club in the country.

But we spent more money on Lukaku, Kepa, Morata and Pulisic all of whom have been worse for us than Nando was.

It probably says a lot that Torres was a better player for us than the majority we spent higher fees on.

Torres was incredibly disappointing due to how highly he was hyped and how different he was from the player most thought we were getting but we've signed much worse players than the goal shy version of Nando we got

Torres even managed a 22 goal season here.

Edited July 15, 20224 yr by HazardousChoice

48 minutes ago, HazardousChoice said:

Torres set us back years and signing him over Aguero really paved the way for City to become the dominant club in the country.

But we spent more money on Lukaku, Kepa, Morata and Pulisic all of whom have been worse for us than Nando was.

It probably says a lot that Torres was a better player for us than the majority we spent higher fees on.

Torres was incredibly disappointing due to how highly he was hyped and how different he was from the player most thought we were getting but we've signed much worse players than the goal shy version of Nando we got

Torres even managed a 22 goal season here.

Lukaku despite everything still got 15 and would have probably pushed 30 if he was the spot kick taker. Torres was given the full minutes (bar the ones he got himself suspended for) for the entire first half of that season, had Mata and Hazard serving him and we played Europa in the second half of the season, a 20 goal plus season would have been achieved by any striker who could tie their shoelaces with those privileges.

I like to factor in net negatives. I mean if Lukaku stayed much longer (or god for bid comes back) there's every chance he'd have gazumped him but I just cannot look past Torres right now for the reasons I've stated. The Lukaku nightmare was ultimately two months (after the interview) then Tuchel said enough, we spent three and a half years trying out multiple ways to make Torres work (very much to our detriment) even though it was obvious after 10 games he was done.

And it wasn't just Aguero. Falcao and Cavani were attainable at reasonable prices aswell. A once in a lifetime striker market and we couldn't get involved because of Torres. Not to mention losing Sturridge who went on to produce a world class 18 months at Liverpool.

Edited July 15, 20224 yr by Argo

30 minutes ago, Argo said:

Lukaku despite everything still got 15 and would have probably pushed 30 if he was the spot kick taker. Torres was given the full minutes (bar the ones he got himself suspended for) for the entire first half of that season, had Mata and Hazard serving him and we played Europa in the second half of the season, a 20 goal plus season would have been achieved by any striker who could tie their shoelaces with those privileges.

I like to factor in net negatives. I mean if Lukaku stayed much longer (or god for bid comes back) there's every chance he'd have gazumped him but I just cannot look past Torres right now for the reasons I've stated. The Lukaku nightmare was ultimately two months (after the interview) then Tuchel said enough, we spent three and a half years trying out multiple ways to make Torres work (very much to our detriment) even though it was obvious after 10 games he was done.

And it wasn't just Aguero. Falcao and Cavani were attainable at reasonable prices aswell. A once in a lifetime striker market and we couldn't get involved because of Torres. Not to mention losing Sturridge who went on to produce a world class 18 months at Liverpool.

I remember by 2010 there was so many fan photoshops of Augero in Chelsea shirts, it felt like we had already signed him and this was a whole year before city signed him, there were even rumours in 2009. According to the Athletic Terry ‘apparently’ advised hierarchy against Aguero in 2009 and instead advocated for David Villa. 

I’d like to give Boehly (and his advisors) the benefit of the doubt in giving them potential credit for referencing the Torres fiasco and doing it the opposite way with Lukaku because despite all the posturing Marina and co could have definitely tried to make it work, sacking Tuchel would have been the first step or at the very least giving Lukaku assurances. We’ll never know I guess but nonetheless, credit where credit is due to the American for giving it the green light. 

 

3 minutes ago, Term_X said:

I remember by 2010 there was so many fan photoshops of Augero in Chelsea shirts, it felt like we had already signed him and this was a whole year before city signed him, there were even rumours in 2009. According to the Athletic Terry ‘apparently’ advised hierarchy against Aguero in 2009 and instead advocated for David Villa. 

I’d like to give Boehly (and his advisors) the benefit of the doubt in giving them potential credit for referencing the Torres fiasco and doing it the opposite way with Lukaku because despite all the posturing Marina and co could have definitely tried to make it work, sacking Tuchel would have been the first step or at the very least giving Lukaku assurances. We’ll never know I guess but nonetheless, credit where credit is due to the American for giving it the green light. 

 

Oh wow I didn't even hear that about Terry (although in his defense David Villa was certainly in the upper elechons when it came to alternatives even if a lot more short term).

As much as I appreciate JT for his career with us, gut instinct is telling me he'd be an absolute disaster if he ever becomes a manager.

16 hours ago, Valerie said:

After weeks of wailing and complaining about the club's dismal failures in the transfer market, the praise and optimism are almost unsettling 

Fickle "fans" who probably would go support City or PSG if we stopped spending money....not that it would be a bad thing if they f**ked off....

16 hours ago, HazardousChoice said:

Torres set us back years and signing him over Aguero really paved the way for City to become the dominant club in the country.

But we spent more money on Lukaku, Kepa, Morata and Pulisic all of whom have been worse for us than Nando was.

It probably says a lot that Torres was a better player for us than the majority we spent higher fees on.

Torres was incredibly disappointing due to how highly he was hyped and how different he was from the player most thought we were getting but we've signed much worse players than the goal shy version of Nando we got

Torres even managed a 22 goal season here.

22 goals in 64 appearances is nothing much to write home about though when you are the main man as a striker ... but fair point that we've had several worse transfers ... 

 

From the international meetings for players to photoshoots and establishing a connection between Chelsea and Dodgers + Dodgers' affiliates, this Todd bloke has worked really hard to get us going. 

I respect the effort he's put in for us 

On 14/07/2022 at 16:37, Argo said:

As much as i can't stand the guy i'd still rank it as Torres given the sheer length of time and the lengths we went to to try and make it work.

Because of him we put ourselves out of the market for Falcao, Aguero, Cavani, signed players and even appointed a manager with atleast half an eye on unlocking him and even sold off competition for his place and handed it to him for months on end.

Completely agree Argo. I don't think any football club has ever given a single player as much time and resources in a bid to spark them into life. There is no doubt to me that the continued persistence with the Torres experiment, when other options were available, held us back as a team. A current analogy would be giving Werner a guaranteed starting spot for the next 4 years regardless of form.

On 16/07/2022 at 11:40, dkw said:

Fickle "fans" who probably would go support City or PSG if we stopped spending money....not that it would be a bad thing if they f**ked off....

When the sanctions hit, I know a lot tried to keep away from all the Chelsea gloom, but I bet there was a percentage that were 'oh sh*t, who do I 'support' now' if it gets too bad. The forum was like a ghost town and makes me wonder if Bluemoon had some new registrations in that time! The way some things are these days, it wouldn't of surprised me.

Just imagine if we got the Ricketts as owners. Todd seems so far to have taken the right approach on everything. 

Edited July 17, 20224 yr by JM7

2 hours ago, JM7 said:

Just imagine if we got the Ricketts as owners. Todd seems so far to have taken the right approach on everything. 

I like everything I read about what Dodgers fans on The Athletic said apart from one thing.

He seems to be oversentimental with his managers. For the foreseeable that won't be a problem but if/when he makes his first major cock up of an appointment it could be a very frustrating period.