1 minute ago, The Rising Sun said:

Henry looked like he was playing basketball.

I think the Irish FA accepted some financial payout as compensation ?

Sounds unlikely now I've written it , but I believe it's true ?

Just checked.

The FAI accepted £3 million to halt legal action over the incident.

 

4 hours ago, abister1 said:

Agree with most of what you say however this bit......

I'm sure if you asked millions of Irish folk on their thoughts of stopping play for 5 mins to check if Thierry Henry had cheated them out of a world cup spot you'd get responses heavily tilted to stopping play.

Too much at stake in football and whilst we all enjoy the spontaneity, sometimes there's too much at stake in a game, money included, to not try to at least have a second look. It's annoying that sometimes they get it wrong on second look but that's not because the tools weren't there to put it right.

Maybe they decided to use it only in important games but who decides what's important in relation to the game or teams involved. Best to be a blanket rule change.

As understandably aggrieved as Irish fans were about Henry's cheating, ultimately they had 103 mins up until that point to create ample chances and win the game. They didn't, and they lost. Similarly, I can scarcely bring myself to watch the CL Semi vs Barcelona in 2009, not because of the injustice of Iniesta's late strike or Ovrebo's incompetence but the fact that we had 8 gilt-edged chances to put the game beyond Barcelona before it even got to 90 minutes. It's a logical fallacy to blame a single incident or factor as the driving reason a team won or lost a game.

Ultimately this is the issue with VAR, in that it's a big fuss with very little point. It's shifting deck chairs on the Titanic. The fundamental issue is that fans and players can't abide by referee's decisions and will happily focus on that as the sole reason for their team's fortunes while quite ignoring there was plenty of time for their team to create chances and win the game. 

 

This makes me think whether we are going to succeed in this thing we are trying if ex-players even can't grasp of the idea we are going for. 

For me this is simple:

A) Ensemble a squad of young and arguably best talent around. ("Best" is naturally tested in time. If our scouting team is good, they might be successful here. A ton of emphasis on their work.)

B) Find a coach that is happy to coach young crop.

C) Work, work, work and work

D) Improve every day

= some day (not this or next season) something might stick and we win things.

Counter force here is first of all the media that talks about "1bn spent this and it used to be that". Those stories are for fans of other football clubs. We should be mature enough to ignore that. If we don't, we might do the worst rats work by biting into the morale of the side. 

Roman's era is over, this is the new era.

16 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

As understandably aggrieved as Irish fans were about Henry's cheating, ultimately they had 103 mins up until that point to create ample chances and win the game. They didn't, and they lost. Similarly, I can scarcely bring myself to watch the CL Semi vs Barcelona in 2009, not because of the injustice of Iniesta's late strike or Ovrebo's incompetence but the fact that we had 8 gilt-edged chances to put the game beyond Barcelona before it even got to 90 minutes. It's a logical fallacy to blame a single incident or factor as the driving reason a team won or lost a game.

Ultimately this is the issue with VAR, in that it's a big fuss with very little point. It's shifting deck chairs on the Titanic. The fundamental issue is that fans and players can't abide by referee's decisions and will happily focus on that as the sole reason for their team's fortunes while quite ignoring there was plenty of time for their team to create chances and win the game. 

 

Mind you we got away with Carvalhio  holding their keeper back when Terry scored in the 4-2 win at the Bridge 👍👍

15 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Mind you we got away with Carvalhio  holding their keeper back when Terry scored in the 4-2 win at the Bridge 👍👍

Carvaiho was octopus arms. Constantly prodding and enveloping opponents, but sly enough not to get carded too often. A master of the dark arts

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

16 minutes ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

We’ve won everything under the sun. , Take results as they come. Wouldn’t be over fussed if things went really bandy and we got relegated. If so would see the departure of Jonny Come Lately glory hunters, who only attached themselves for reflected success. Make this club real again. Btw guarantee if we did get relegated the atmosphere- or non atmosphere we have atm- would improve. In terms of fan power, this club is a shell of what it used to be.

 

3 hours ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

Well to be fair the scope of a fan is very wide. We have the 'hardcore every game in the stands fan' and the 'Chelsea is my team from Premier League when I happen to catch them' and everyone between. Everyone of them might spend time and money to Chelsea and you can't really say they are not all important. Would be very selfish or ignorant to suggest that.

Boehly wants this to be a global megaforce and global megaforces have that scope of fans. Like it or not. 

4 hours ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

Overeaction ,poison, and vitriol towards Chelsea from our own fans when things aren't going well is f**king unbelievable.

It's much worse than anything from the media, rivals etc etc etc.

37 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

Overeaction ,poison, and vitriol towards Chelsea from our own fans when things aren't going well is f**king unbelievable.

It's much worse than anything from the media, rivals etc etc etc.

The child-like tantrums some people have thrown because we're not amazing instantly has been pretty embarrassing.

5 hours ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

Spending 1billion in a year while giving out long contracts to players says otherwise.

3 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Overeaction ,poison, and vitriol towards Chelsea from our own fans when things aren't going well is f**king unbelievable.

It's much worse than anything from the media, rivals etc etc etc.

The other thing that annoys me is how every match week is now treated like it is the final match week in the history of football. Oh we lost to Forest? That's it then, this is who we are, forever... Until next week. There are so many people talking about football all the time on every possible medium that you need to say the most dramatic, sensationalist things to stay relevant and get clicks and likes and whatnot.

I try to avoid these things but they're everywhere on the internet it's hard to filter all the drivel out.

8 hours ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

I believe the owners have a plan to turn us in to a profitable business, and the steps we have seen so far are leading to that.

I think we will see a new stadium. Either at the Bridge or at somewhere like Earls court. A state of the art modern stadium that is so much more than a football stadium, an entertainment venue you may call it.

And finally I believe on the pitch success will not be required for this project to achieve the goal of making money. It would add more money to the return, and certainly the ownership, specifically people like Todd and Eghbali, want it, but is not needed for us to grant them returns on their investment imo.

28 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I believe the owners have a plan to turn us in to a profitable business, and the steps we have seen so far are leading to that.

I think we will see a new stadium. Either at the Bridge or at somewhere like Earls court. A state of the art modern stadium that is so much more than a football stadium, an entertainment venue you may call it.

And finally I believe on the pitch success will not be required for this project to achieve the goal of making money. It would add more money to the return, and certainly the ownership, specifically people like Todd and Eghbali, want it, but is not needed for us to grant them returns on their investment imo.

I'm sure the deal is that the club can't be sold for 10 years.

It's value will increase regardless of success . That's when our investors get their profits. Our 20 years of success left the club with nearly every  season with  financial losses and with a massive debt anyway.

Even if they don't sell us, 10 years is when they can take dividends, trade shares , and pay themselves management fees.

 

 

Everton lost north of 300 million over last 5 years yet US investment fund willing to plug in. Premiership is South Sea Bubble

11 hours ago, Fruit Bat said:

We’ve won everything under the sun. , Take results as they come. Wouldn’t be over fussed if things went really bandy and we got relegated. If so would see the departure of Jonny Come Lately glory hunters, who only attached themselves for reflected success. Make this club real again. Btw guarantee if we did get relegated the atmosphere- or non atmosphere we have atm- would improve. In terms of fan power, this club is a shell of what it used to be.

 

I have never seen a set of fans in my entire life say "I wouldn't be fussed if we got relegated" under any scenario. Every now and then I see this from Chelsea fans and I find it to be utterly bizarre. "It will get rid of the glory hunters" and we'll be left with what? Empty stadiums and dead atmosphere with fans like you having zero ambition and not giving a sh*t. It's delusional that you think the atmosphere would suddenly change if we got relegated. It's based on nothing. I'll tell you why the atmosphere around the club is so bad, it's because the football has been dire for years, seeing a ton of players stink up the place looking like they couldn't give a sh*t most weeks. Fans feel like they have lost that connection they once had with the club, that is why atmosphere is so bad. All of the sudden changes has made things feel alien. Or maybe it's the so called "true fans" like yourself having zero ambition and being content with relegation.

I would rather a glory hunter follow Chelsea than a fan that says "I would be okay with relegation" Every successful side ends up with glory fans. Do you think Liverpool, City or United are suddenly saying "oh, I wouldn't mind getting relegated if it means we get rid of those lot"? I see some fans get stick for "being negative" but you lot are worse. Being content with relegation just because you're bitter and spiteful towards fans is the most negative thing around.

6 hours ago, timetowaste said:

The child-like tantrums some people have thrown because we're not amazing instantly has been pretty embarrassing.

Who's doing this though? Why should fans not feel annoyed and angry watching their side play like one of the worst teams in the league? I'm not the one asking for top 4 or even top 6, but is it really so much to ask us get results that look a bit better than the bottom 5?

 

11 hours ago, dkw said:

Of course it's a different Chelsea, it's an entirely different era of the sport, were no longer the top dog when it comes to finances, wages etc. We're no longer an incredibly rich man's toy, we're now a business same as other clubs.

The sooner people get with that the better, maybe, just maybe the moronic element of "fans" we gathered while winning everything will calm the hell down. 

The owners spent 100m for one player in January. They broke the transfer record for one player a month ago. The aim is to be top dog again. If it's not, why bother spending this kind of crazy money at all? It may not be the immediate aim, but do you think the plan is to finish outside the top 10 every season? That would be a colossal failure in their eyes. They will be banking on regular European football to pay off the money they owe clubs over the next 7-8 years.

Edited September 16, 20232 yr by Scott Harris

It's funny that, after barely over 12 month of ownership, some fans already settled for bottom half finish or even relegation, because it's a different era or the some kind of long term project 🤫 We need to do a lot better on the field NOW especially now are  run via a hedgefund, we all know what happened to failed business run via them.

10 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I have never seen a set of fans in my entire life say "I wouldn't be fussed if we got relegated" under any scenario. Every now and then I see this from Chelsea fans and I find it to be utterly bizarre. "It will get rid of the glory hunters" and we'll be left with what? Empty stadiums and dead atmosphere with fans like you having zero ambition and not giving a sh*t. It's delusional that you think the atmosphere would suddenly change if we got relegated. It's based on nothing. I'll tell you why the atmosphere around the club is so bad, it's because the football has been dire for years, seeing a ton of players stink up the place looking like they couldn't give a sh*t most weeks. Fans feel like they have lost that connection they once had with the club, that is why atmosphere is so bad. All of the sudden changes has made things feel alien. Or maybe it's the so called "true fans" like yourself having zero ambition and being content with relegation.

I would rather a glory hunter follow Chelsea than a fan that says "I would be okay with relegation" Every successful side ends up with glory fans. Do you think Liverpool, City or United are suddenly saying "oh, I wouldn't mind getting relegated if it means we get rid of those lot"? I see some fans get stick for "being negative" but you lot are worse. Being content with relegation just because you're bitter and spiteful towards fans is the most negative thing around.

Who's doing this though? Why should fans not feel annoyed and angry watching their side play like one of the worst teams in the league? I'm not the one asking for top 4 or even top 6, but is it really so much to ask us get results that look a bit better than the bottom 5?

 

The owners spent 100m for one player in January. They broke the transfer record for one player a month ago. The aim is to be top dog again. If it's not, why bother spending this kind of crazy money at all? It may not be the immediate aim, but do you think the plan is to finish outside the top 10 every season? That would be a colossal failure in their eyes. They will be banking on regular European football to pay off the money they owe clubs over the next 7-8 years.

Keep you hair on your chest ffs. Disagree with pretty much everything. I know of legions of old school Chelsea fans who are bored with their match day experience. They are put off from attending precisely because of the glory hunters and tourists with selfie sticks, watching Facebook during the game. Adversity- relegation would sort the wheat from the chaff supporter wise. The purpose of supporting Chelsea, is to support Chelsea. Rain or shine.

A mate of mine, been going home and away for donkeys. Takes it all very serious. He’s got a flag which he takes to Europe. Specialists in trophy’s it says. Its a piss take but personally find that attitude a bit naff. 

Just out of interest, how did you end up a Chelsea fan? 

In addition to above, in case it comes across as some late middle aged rant from a an old school fan- they’re are legions of CFC kids- use that term loosely- from South London and the burbs- early 20’s, just bringing home decent dough, can afford season tickets but are disconnected with the new breed of tag along supporters two  of my nephews included. They go to the Bridge for a pre   match drink with their mates, and watch the game on dodgy beam backs pubs in Wandsworth and Kingston. Population of London, 8’Million or so. Loads of Chelsea young chaps who would go if the tourists departed. Further away the better

 

14 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

"I wouldn't be fussed if we got relegated" under any scenario. Every now and then I see this from Chelsea fans and I find it to be utterly bizarre. "It will get rid of the glory hunters"

But it would. Chelsea's fanbase will change in the next few years if the current trend prevails. I've seen young kids wearing City tops in London and the Midlands recently unheard of a few years ago. Everyone has the right to support the team of their choice but support them in the right way when going to the ground don't sit there bored taking selfies and pictures off your food.  Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, City and United it's noticeable how bad the atmosphere is on matchday the best atmospheres are at clubs like Leeds, Forest, Newcastle where it's mainly still the local fanbase not tourists.

22 minutes ago, MOTS66 said:

But it would. Chelsea's fanbase will change in the next few years if the current trend prevails. I've seen young kids wearing City tops in London and the Midlands recently unheard of a few years ago. Everyone has the right to support the team of their choice but support them in the right way when going to the ground don't sit there bored taking selfies and pictures off your food.  Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, City and United it's noticeable how bad the atmosphere is on matchday the best atmospheres are at clubs like Leeds, Forest, Newcastle where it's mainly still the local fanbase not tourists.

Plus Palace. Lack of noise  late 70’s, early 80’s. Embarrassing..Loudest club in Premiership now. Through adversity. No tag along glory hunter twits

15 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I have never seen a set of fans in my entire life say "I wouldn't be fussed if we got relegated" under any scenario. Every now and then I see this from Chelsea fans and I find it to be utterly bizarre. "It will get rid of the glory hunters" and we'll be left with what? Empty stadiums and dead atmosphere with fans like you having zero ambition and not giving a sh*t. It's delusional that you think the atmosphere would suddenly change if we got relegated. It's based on nothing. I'll tell you why the atmosphere around the club is so bad, it's because the football has been dire for years, seeing a ton of players stink up the place looking like they couldn't give a sh*t most weeks. Fans feel like they have lost that connection they once had with the club, that is why atmosphere is so bad. All of the sudden changes has made things feel alien. Or maybe it's the so called "true fans" like yourself having zero ambition and being content with relegation.

I would rather a glory hunter follow Chelsea than a fan that says "I would be okay with relegation" Every successful side ends up with glory fans. Do you think Liverpool, City or United are suddenly saying "oh, I wouldn't mind getting relegated if it means we get rid of those lot"? I see some fans get stick for "being negative" but you lot are worse. Being content with relegation just because you're bitter and spiteful towards fans is the most negative thing around.

Who's doing this though? Why should fans not feel annoyed and angry watching their side play like one of the worst teams in the league? I'm not the one asking for top 4 or even top 6, but is it really so much to ask us get results that look a bit better than the bottom 5?

 

The owners spent 100m for one player in January. They broke the transfer record for one player a month ago. The aim is to be top dog again. If it's not, why bother spending this kind of crazy money at all? It may not be the immediate aim, but do you think the plan is to finish outside the top 10 every season? That would be a colossal failure in their eyes. They will be banking on regular European football to pay off the money they owe clubs over the next 7-8 years.

Btw. you always come across as an angry correspondent. Roll a bifter, listen to Pink Floyd, pull it in  a notch.

15 minutes ago, Fruit Bat said:

Btw. you always come across as an angry correspondent. Roll a bifter, listen to Pink Floyd, pull it in  a notch.

Maybe because people keep saying stupid sh*t like "I would be okay with getting relegated" and questioning how and when fans started supporting the club.

16 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I have never seen a set of fans in my entire life say "I wouldn't be fussed if we got relegated" under any scenario. Every now and then I see this from Chelsea fans and I find it to be utterly bizarre. "It will get rid of the glory hunters" and we'll be left with what? Empty stadiums and dead atmosphere with fans like you having zero ambition and not giving a sh*t. It's delusional that you think the atmosphere would suddenly change if we got relegated. It's based on nothing. I'll tell you why the atmosphere around the club is so bad, it's because the football has been dire for years, seeing a ton of players stink up the place looking like they couldn't give a sh*t most weeks. Fans feel like they have lost that connection they once had with the club, that is why atmosphere is so bad. All of the sudden changes has made things feel alien. Or maybe it's the so called "true fans" like yourself having zero ambition and being content with relegation.

I would rather a glory hunter follow Chelsea than a fan that says "I would be okay with relegation" Every successful side ends up with glory fans. Do you think Liverpool, City or United are suddenly saying "oh, I wouldn't mind getting relegated if it means we get rid of those lot"? I see some fans get stick for "being negative" but you lot are worse. Being content with relegation just because you're bitter and spiteful towards fans is the most negative thing around.

Who's doing this though? Why should fans not feel annoyed and angry watching their side play like one of the worst teams in the league? I'm not the one asking for top 4 or even top 6, but is it really so much to ask us get results that look a bit better than the bottom 5?

 

The owners spent 100m for one player in January. They broke the transfer record for one player a month ago. The aim is to be top dog again. If it's not, why bother spending this kind of crazy money at all? It may not be the immediate aim, but do you think the plan is to finish outside the top 10 every season? That would be a colossal failure in their eyes. They will be banking on regular European football to pay off the money they owe clubs over the next 7-8 years.

Btw. you always come across as an angry correspondent. Roll a bifter, listen to Pink Floyd, pull it in  a notch.

Well were both grown men with different options. Btw know you’ve got your head bolted on looking at previous messages.  Let us know next time your at The Bridge and we have a beer and chat. Come on Chelsea