2 minutes ago, evissy said:

I have to take a listen on that. Thank you!

Outstanding podcast for analysis of football behind-the-scenes - finances, football politics, takeovers, PL -v- EFL - and all very clearly explained.

4 hours ago, Clown Lake said:

A large majority of posters here are only really here for a moan, irrespective of the trajectory of club. We are finally hitting our goals and people are still having a moan.

Im off now, not sure if I’ll log back here again. The echo chambers of negativity are tiresome and quite frankly, disgusting and delusional.

I wont let the door hit me on the backside, yes I’ll kindly go f* myself, and whatever abuse I’ll have thrown my way. To the minority, thank you for having me on here; Wish you the best in your future chats with the negativity herd.

Sorry to see you go, I think different opinions are important. Yes I come here to moan sometimes as I’m sure many others do. I try and be more positive, I mean I hope Meresca ball wins us the CWC but do I have to pretend to like the style of play?

What’s season 2 maresca like? Hope he takes off the handbrake a bit, speeds up the play. Sends us out with energy from the off.

Nobody here is anti maresca or CFC, is it negative to point out things that the club are doing wrong, or can improve on? Criticism can be constructive if you listen.

They have openly admitted they are new to this and made/making mistakes themselves why is it so bad when we do it?

I’m not delusional, I feel if the club tweaked its strategy with the money spent/spending we could be right up there challenging now, isn’t this the goal?

4 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

It's still not a loophole. It's a rule thats available to all. We benefitted because of the intrinsic value of our dominant women's team. Villa similarly but to a much lesser extent. The same could possibly be said for Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs. After that I would say the majority of WSL teams are worth fck all squared financially, but they could all do it theoretically

Saudis paid 300m for Newcastle.

Blue co paid 200m for Chelsea woman

Selling assets being either home grown players or teams or hotels or the like is not the invention of our owners. It is basically the invention of the governing bodies. The competition among clubs is so fierce every angle and loophole is used and found.

We saw now Aston Villa cook the books with their ladies team. We are constantly criticized of selling homegrown talent such as Gallagher. Now Liverpool is selling 2 of their homegrown boys in Quansah and Elliot to the highest bidder. This will go on and on until every hole is plucked. The system itself and the lack of organization between clubs is such a mess that we should go back to the drawing board.

No wonder big clubs jumped to Super League where the picture is pretty clear.

Like it or not but European football itself needs to look into a mirror.

We wouldn't do that if we thought mid-table mediocrity is enough. We want to compete with City and Liverpool and the rest of European powerhouses.

27 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Saudis paid 300m for Newcastle.

Blue co paid 200m for Chelsea woman

That's the key. And the Reddit founder guy has paid £20m for a 10% share in the women's team which props up the £200m fantasy. "Fair value" comes into play with the authorities. The PL is probably unlikely to object because its stakeholders - the other clubs - aren't going to want to close the door on the option. UEFA will be less forgiving.

3 minutes ago, evissy said:

We wouldn't do that if we thought mid-table mediocrity is enough. We want to compete with City and Liverpool and the rest of European powerhouses.

The owners want to compete with those teams but with average players that do not cost much in terms of wages. It's like Poundland trying to compete with Selfridges.

5 minutes ago, RMH said:

The owners want to compete with those teams but with average players that do not cost much in terms of wages. It's like Poundland trying to compete with Selfridges.

If they trust this core of young players are to be top they are not. And I think they are putting a heavy stake on young players like Enzo, Caicedo, Colwill, James, Palmer and so on to be the core for a long time. Never said it is a sure thing as nothing in this business is but to me it is better and more interesting to do it like so. I am really interested to see these lads grow into their massive boots. All will certainly not.

7 minutes ago, evissy said:

If they trust this core of young players are to be top they are not. And I think they are putting a heavy stake on young players like Enzo, Caicedo, Colwill, James, Palmer and so on to be the core for a long time. Never said it is a sure thing as nothing in this business is but to me it is better and more interesting to do it like so. I am really interested to see these lads grow into their massive boots. All will certainly not.

It doesn't matter if not all will grow to become top players, we've got 50 players in the team to choose from. And if we keep buying, chances are we'll hit the jackpot.

6 minutes ago, RMH said:

It doesn't matter if not all will grow to become top players, we've got 50 players in the team to choose from. And if we keep buying, chances are we'll hit the jackpot.

There you go! Finding silver linings 😃

3 hours ago, dermott said:

That's the key. And the Reddit founder guy has paid £20m for a 10% share in the women's team which props up the £200m fantasy. "Fair value" comes into play with the authorities. The PL is probably unlikely to object because its stakeholders - the other clubs - aren't going to want to close the door on the option. UEFA will be less forgiving.

😂😂😂

The number is clearly some magical number and as you said the only reason it really stand is that most probably think about doing the same when needed.

3 hours ago, RMH said:

It doesn't matter if not all will grow to become top players, we've got 50 players in the team to choose from. And if we keep buying, chances are we'll hit the jackpot.

And even then those 2 or 3 top players may not want to stay at Chelsea. I'm not putting any money on Palmer still being with us in 2 years' time for instance.

4 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Saudis paid 300m for Newcastle.

Blue co paid 200m for Chelsea woman

That is such a travesty. Clearly the numbers should be the other way around.

10 hours ago, Clown Lake said:

A large majority of posters here are only really here for a moan, irrespective of the trajectory of club. We are finally hitting our goals and people are still having a moan.

Im off now, not sure if I’ll log back here again. The echo chambers of negativity are tiresome and quite frankly, disgusting and delusional.

I wont let the door hit me on the backside, yes I’ll kindly go f* myself, and whatever abuse I’ll have thrown my way. To the minority, thank you for having me on here; Wish you the best in your future chats with the negativity herd.

Conference league are our goals omg what has happened to my beautiful club and why do so many losers now follow us

2 hours ago, Valerie said:

And even then those 2 or 3 top players may not want to stay at Chelsea. I'm not putting any money on Palmer still being with us in 2 years' time for instance.

Don't you worry, the board and directors will sign 50 more players in the hope that we get the next Palmer.

5 minutes ago, RMH said:

Don't you worry, the board and directors will sign 50 more players in the hope that we get the next Palmer.

Oh god...

How much longer, before they sell us to the next dodgy set of people, 7 years?

8 hours ago, RMH said:

It doesn't matter if not all will grow to become top players, we've got 50 players in the team to choose from. And if we keep buying, chances are we'll hit the jackpot.

I kept buying lottery tickets for decades using the strategy that the club is using now with it's policy of buying youngsters.. The Idea being the more you buy , chances are that we hit the jackpot.. Well, it's cost me loads of money , and I haven't hit the jackpot yet,.

9 hours ago, evissy said:

Selling assets being either home grown players or teams or hotels or the like is not the invention of our owners. It is basically the invention of the governing bodies. The competition among clubs is so fierce every angle and loophole is used and found.

We saw now Aston Villa cook the books with their ladies team. We are constantly criticized of selling homegrown talent such as Gallagher. Now Liverpool is selling 2 of their homegrown boys in Quansah and Elliot to the highest bidder. This will go on and on until every hole is plucked. The system itself and the lack of organization between clubs is such a mess that we should go back to the drawing board.

No wonder big clubs jumped to Super League where the picture is pretty clear.

Like it or not but European football itself needs to look into a mirror.

We wouldn't do that if we thought mid-table mediocrity is enough. We want to compete with City and Liverpool and the rest of European powerhouses.

I don’t think we do want to compete I think ur right about a European super League our lot would jump at that. Not so that they could compete with the best but that they wouldn’t have to compete with others.

Locked in at the top table, no relegation….. of course they want that. It’s not to compete though it’s so they don’t have to.

13 hours ago, C3blue said:

I don’t think we do want to compete I think ur right about a European super League our lot would jump at that. Not so that they could compete with the best but that they wouldn’t have to compete with others.

Locked in at the top table, no relegation….. of course they want that. It’s not to compete though it’s so they don’t have to.

I don't agree at all. I don't view the owners or their aims with such cynicism.

I agree they want to make money of their business venture but not with the lazy or dismissive manner you describe it.

Forget who we have signed. If we can offload 10 deadwood players including Jackson, Noni, KDH, Felix and the French chuckle brothers in defence, I will be very happy.

Sad state of affairs that im thinking mostly about player sells.

Is it cynical or negative to basically say what you see.

It’s clear from their transfer strategy what they care about.

I’m not saying buying good young players is a bad thing and is certainly better business than older ones and if it makes money for the club great. But older players improve the team and help the young players, their value goes beyond resale if your interested in success on the pitch.

I’m not here for good business though, being PSR champions doesn’t interest me. This mind shift involves no extra investment by the way just a slight strategy shift.

We have handicapped ourselves with 2 first team policies, not signing players over 25 and a salary cap.(I think the players are all over paid by the way).

Both policies have nothing to do with football and are financially motivated. Potentially good business of course but terrible news for the first team manager which is why most top managers aren’t interested.

As fans we are far more forgiving of mistakes made in the quest of glory (managerial mistakes, transfer flops etc) than we are when we see the club cheapskating the first team while trying to flip players for profit.

I actually feel we will have a stronger squad at the start of the season , mainly because the players being replaced had little to no impact in the team or were loaned out somewhere and probably should never have been bought in the first place however we may find ourselves further away from the top based on recruitment so far.

3 hours ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Forget who we have signed. If we can offload 10 deadwood players including Jackson, Noni, KDH, Felix and the French chuckle brothers in defence, I will be very happy.

Sad state of affairs that im thinking mostly about player sells.

We can't forget who we have signed when we actually want to get rid of players who we have signed !

8 hours ago, evissy said:

I don't agree at all. I don't view the owners or their aims with such cynicism.

I agree they want to make money of their business venture but not with the lazy or dismissive manner you describe it.

You do know we actually signed up to join the Super League a while ago ?This lot would as well, especially as Boehly thought we didn't have to qualify for the CL each season.

See AI for confirmation

Sanchez - 23M

RJ - FREE

Fofana - 80.40M

Colwill - FREE

Cucurella - 65.30M

Enzo - 121M

Caicedo - 116M

Palmer - 47M

J.Pedro - 63.70M

Neto - 60M

Delap - 35.50M

Total - 611.90M

Surely with a starting XI of this value we have to be challenging for the title this season?

39 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Sanchez - 23M

RJ - FREE

Fofana - 80.40M

Colwill - FREE

Cucurella - 65.30M

Enzo - 121M

Caicedo - 116M

Palmer - 47M

J.Pedro - 63.70M

Neto - 60M

Delap - 35.50M

Total - 611.90M

Surely with a starting XI of this value we have to be challenging for the title this season?

Prime JM would have got that lot believing they could walk through walls. He would have convinced them they are winners.

We have self relegated ourselves mentally from top to bottom.

Bettinelli’s lack of a winning mentality comments spring to mind.

In runs through the veins of the club when ur there to win from boardroom down.

All we get is future this, and not ready yet that bo**ocks. i.e loser talk.