Here we are off to the good ol US of A for a friendly when we are totally knackered and need a rest before a major final.
I normally stick up for the club in general but this is utterly unfathomable, WTF are we doing, this should have been cancelled the moment we qualified for the final, end of.
The manager had no say in it that's apparent after his post match when he came out against it, how can we be so stupid as a club, all for a few extra quid.
I understand our various commitments but surely not a couple of weeks before a final when the squad NEEDS the rest.

1 minute ago, chelseablueboy said:

Here we are off to the good ol US of A for a friendly when we are totally knackered and need a rest before a major final.
I normally stick up for the club in general but this is utterly unfathomable, WTF are we doing, this should have been cancelled the moment we qualified for the final, end of.
The manager had no say in it that's apparent after his post match when he came out against it, how can we be so stupid as a club, all for a few extra quid.
I understand our various commitments but surely not a couple of weeks before a final when the squad NEEDS the rest.

What baffles me most is someone at the club must have agreed this day. I don't know when this friendly was arranged, if it was the start of this season or mid way through but in both cases you should consider the possibility that Chelsea might qualify for a major final to be played at the end of May (Which in itself is going to take a fair amount of travelling to get to). I get the need for this friendly to be played but for crying out loud why not do it a few days after the EL final. 

Imagine if we had go to the FA cup final and had this game booked in three days before hand.. 

The first team don't have to play significant minutes right? We should just field the youth team. With the final being 17 days after our last match I wonder if it would be good for the players to have a little run out.

3 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

The first team don't have to play significant minutes right? We should just field the youth team. With the final being 17 days after our last match I wonder if it would be good for the players to have a little run out.

It might be an agreement that certain players have to play at least a half or something like that. I know when we have played in the states there have been clauses like "Player A must complete at least x amount of minutes".

3 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

It might be an agreement that certain players have to play at least a half or something like that. I know when we have played in the states there have been clauses like "Player A must complete at least x amount of minutes".

They can go on a jog on the pitch. I think the bigger issue is sitting on a plane for hours and dealing with 2 way jet lag.

If we're physically knackered with two weeks to prepare, we've got bigger problems than travel. 

This is far less work than the international break. 

This is madness. We need to rest the squad and not be flying off to the USA. I'm hoping we can just play a second team. We are signing Christian Pulisic in a week or so why not wait until then? The sponsors would get a much bigger audience if he was playing so I really don't get it.

30 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

What baffles me most is someone at the club must have agreed this day. I don't know when this friendly was arranged, if it was the start of this season or mid way through but in both cases you should consider the possibility that Chelsea might qualify for a major final to be played at the end of May (Which in itself is going to take a fair amount of travelling to get to). I get the need for this friendly to be played but for crying out loud why not do it a few days after the EL final. 

Imagine if we had go to the FA cup final and had this game booked in three days before hand.. 

I know it took a while after the match was announced to settle on a date.  

No, the timing isn't great.  It's important to Roman and it's important to the Revs owner.  I applaud their charitable efforts on this one.  

And yeah, maybe I'm a little biased in my opinion because I live 30 miles from the venue and I'll be there.  It's a chance to see the team.  I'm sure youth players will play, maybe some established players will get a little run out.  

6 minutes ago, Boston Blue said:

 And yeah, maybe I'm a little biased in my opinion because I live 30 miles from the venue and I'll be there.  It's a chance to see the team.  I'm sure youth players will play, maybe some established players will get a little run out. ? 

Fair enough mate. Hope you enjoy"

Have you seen us live before?

Just now, drjonesy1994 said:

Fair enough mate. Hope you enjoy"

Have you seen us live before?

Yes.  A few times at the Bridge when I lived in Soton, and the last few times they've been over here:  Philadelphia, DC, Charlotte.  

What makes this even more ridiculous is that if we had made it to the F.A cup final, we would have played this game 2 days before.

I think the timing of this friendly is an absolute joke, there is no reason why it couldn't have waited until pre-season. It's needlessly risking injury. I know players can pick up injuries at any point, but why add an extra risk? New England will not play this game like a friendly, they will want to win. I also don't think I like the idea of our players mentally checking out before a European Cup final. All focus should be on that final, we don't need a distraction like this.

When a stupid Russian woman who has no footballing background runs your club things like this happen, we need a director of football sharpish 

Yeah not like we had a DOF last time we had friendly's post season.

17 hours ago, drjonesy1994 said:

Imagine if we had go to the FA cup final and had this game booked in three days before hand.. 

14 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

What makes this even more ridiculous is that if we had made it to the F.A cup final, we would have played this game 2 days before.

I'm pretty sure the date was settled long after we were knocked out. You can't think THAT lowly of the people in charge. We were out of the competition in February already.

17 hours ago, Skinnedy said:

If we're physically knackered with two weeks to prepare, we've got bigger problems than travel. 

This is far less work than the international break. 

Agreed. 13 days between the two matches is a bigger break than any player will have gotten during the season. Much ado about nothing.

7 minutes ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

When a stupid Russian woman who has no footballing background runs your club things like this happen, we need a director of football sharpish 

She is far from stupid to suggest that a Russian or indeed a woman has no skills to run a football club is nothing short of bigotry.

Irrespective you clearly haven’t grasped that she doesn’t make the final decision she implements, she facilitated, she negotiates. Chelsea have a separated football board of which she is a member. If you think she identifies likely players or indeed would overule RA for it was he that advocated  the game then sorry you are naive in the extreme 

As for a director of football that’s a title that bounded around as if it’s a magical solution. We had someone in situ who had many of the responsibilities that normally associated with that role yet many couldn’t wait to see the back of him.

 

5 minutes ago, Stim said:

I'm pretty sure the date was settled long after we were knocked out. You can't think THAT lowly of the people in charge. We were out of the competition in February already.

Hence why I said “I don’t know when this friendly was arranged”. 

4 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

Hence why I said “I don’t know when this friendly was arranged”. 

It was agreed that we would play the game in November 2018. The date wasn’t announced until 5 March 2019

This isn’t a money making game for Chelsea it’s a game that will benefit Anti - Semitic charities with both club owners also donating $1 million.RA is passionate about this matter and we should all support both him and this cause.

 

11 minutes ago, terraloon said:

It was agreed that we would play the game in November 2018. The date wasn’t announced until 5 March 2019

This isn’t a money making game for Chelsea it’s a game that will benefit Anti - Semitic charities with both club owners also donating $1 million.RA is passionate about this matter and we should all support both him and this cause.

 

Yes I fully understand that but my point remains it should have been set for the first week in June, after the EL final. 

Or in July as a pre-season friendly. If they can fly to the US for a one off game when we have a cup final to prepare for then I’m sure they could fly there for a one off game in July.

i fully understand why it’s going ahead and what it’s for but the timing just seems off to me. 

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by drjonesy1994

Just now, drjonesy1994 said:

Yes I fully understand that but my point remains it should have been set for the first week in June, after the EL final. 

Not feasible due to player contract obligations, and international commitments

1 hour ago, terraloon said:

She is far from stupid to suggest that?? a Russian or indeed a woman has no skills to run a football club is nothing short of bigotry.

 

 

I’m sure some feminist somewhere applauds you she is Russian and is a woman and knows f**k all about football the latter of which renders her incapable if facts are bigoted I suggest you look up the word.

Now back to football, Emanuel left she took over his duties, so she is head negotiator AND does make final decisions on players bar Roman it’s you that doesn’t have a clue. 

Here’s a quote from Forbes “

Up until late 2017 when technical director Michael Emenalo resigned the position, it was clear that he, at least, was responsible for “soccer input” on any transfer decision.

However, over the last 15 months, how Chelsea make transfer decisions has been far from clear. The only thing that is clear that the final decision is made by Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.”

 

 

1 hour ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

When a stupid Russian woman who has no footballing background runs your club things like this happen, we need a director of football sharpish 

I bet she's smarter than you! 

If reports are to be believed it was our Jewish owner Roman Abramovic who pushed for this game to be played. Frustrated with the club's continued antisemetic association the club set up a "Say No to Antisemitism" campaign. The game we are playing will "raise money and awareness for a number of initiatives that tackle discrimination, persecution and hatred, including the World Jewish Congress, the Tree of Life synagogue, the Anti-Defamation League and the Holocaust Educational Trust."

So maybe direct your ire at the "stupid Russian man" instead? 

1 hour ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

I’m sure some feminist somewhere applauds you she is Russian and is a woman and knows f**k all about football the latter of which renders her incapable if facts are bigoted I suggest you look up the word.

Now back to football, Emanuel left she took over his duties, so she is head negotiator AND does make final decisions on players bar Roman it’s you that doesn’t have a clue. 

Here’s a quote from Forbes “

Up until late 2017 when technical director Michael Emenalo resigned the position, it was clear that he, at least, was responsible for “soccer input” on any transfer decision.

However, over the last 15 months, how Chelsea make transfer decisions has been far from clear. The only thing that is clear that the final decision is made by Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.”

 

 

I thought you only cooked crystal meth Walter seems you've been smoking it.

3 hours ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

I’m sure some feminist somewhere applauds you she is Russian and is a woman and knows f**k all about football the latter of which renders her incapable if facts are bigoted I suggest you look up the word.

Now back to football, Emanuel left she took over his duties, so she is head negotiator AND does make final decisions on players bar Roman it’s you that doesn’t have a clue. 

Here’s a quote from Forbes “

Up until late 2017 when technical director Michael Emenalo resigned the position, it was clear that he, at least, was responsible for “soccer input” on any transfer decision.

However, over the last 15 months, how Chelsea make transfer decisions has been far from clear. The only thing that is clear that the final decision is made by Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.”

 

 

It’s not a question of  being a feminist. You stated

 

“When? a stupid Russian woman who has no footballing background runs your club things like this happen, we need a director? of football sharpish “

So to suggest that she is stupid is your belief, then you suggest that being a Russian  and or Woman is reason enough not to be able to run a football club is nonsense. As for knowing nothing about football again that’s your belief but where are the facts to support that comment? The answer is nowhere for it’s your belief as opposed to a fact.

I find your quote from Forbes amusing for it suggests that is unclear how Chelsea make transfer decisions  and that the final decision is made by her yet you suggest that falls to RA . Which one is it then?

 

So what  is a bigot “ When someone is acting in a bigoted way, he believes his beliefs, culture, or background is superior to others.

 

 

It's not ideal, but it's pretty much an exhibition match. The players don't need to go full competitive in this game, and it's likely a few young players will play also. Excited to see James perform with some of the senior players. 

8 hours ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

When a stupid Russian woman who has no footballing background runs your club things like this happen, we need a director of football sharpish 

This game was arranged directly by Roman Abramovich and Revs owner Bob Kraft to raise awareness and benefit charities that are important to them.

Is using a term like "Stupid Russian woman" really necessary?  I came here looking for more mature intelligent discussion than this sort of thing that permeates Twitter.  I'd be interested to get the opinions of any player, agent, or official from another club about whether they share your opinion about her.  I assure you that Roman does not consider her to be "stupid" since he trusts her to run his football club.

Edited May 14, 20197 yr by Boston Blue

On 13/05/2019 at 08:18, Boston Blue said:

Yes.  A few times at the Bridge when I lived in Soton, and the last few times they've been over here:  Philadelphia, DC, Charlotte.  

Enjoy the match, Boston! Hopefully we will get to see everyone play this match.