34 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Discussing a player's finances is one of the biggest waste of time arguments.

We don't know what goes on in their life. Stop pretending you do.

When did anyone say they knows what goes on in his life. Nobody is pretending anything. Stop making sh*t up.

If Chilly chooses to stay at Chelsea collect extra money, as opposed to leaving to play more (whilst earning less) - then that is up to him. That is his prerogative.

My view is that career pride and game time is better than a few extra 000's in the bank account - particularly when that person is already. earning more per week than most can only dream of. That is my prerogative.

You seem to argue that it is better for Chilly to rot in the reserves but earn more money, rather than leave. I dont agree - but that is your prerogative. Money is more important to you than career pride.

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

As I say, if he chooses to put money before his playing time and career pride, thats his right. Good for him - its a nice decision to have.

Fairly sure grandchildren don't differentiate, or experience much difference between a grandparent who earns £60k per week or £100k. They simply dont think in that manner. They will when they are older however and it comes out in the wash how grandpa choose money over professional pride.

Will they bollox

Just now, nonotnowjim said:

When did anyone say they knows what goes on in his life. Nobody is pretending anything. Stop making sh*t up.

If Chilly chooses to stay at Chelsea collect extra money, as opposed to leaving to play more (whilst earning less) - then that is up to him. That is his prerogative.

My view is that career pride and game time is better than a few extra 000's in the bank account - particularly when that person is already. earning more per week than most can only dream of. That is my prerogative.

You seem to argue that it is better for Chilly to rot in the reserves but earn more money, rather than leave. I dont agree - but that is your prerogative. Money is more important to you than career pride.

Jim - "I'm not pretending I know what goes on in his life!"

Also Jim - "He needs to choose career pride over saving a few extra 000's"

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Jim - "I'm not pretending I know what goes on in his life!"

Also Jim - "He needs to choose career pride over saving a few extra 000's"

Yes - I made a statement about what I think he should do. Very different from me saying I know what goes on in his life.

16 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I hope he is reintegrated and can contribute in a meaningful way. If this happens, then I fear it will likely be 15 mins against lower league oppo in the carabao cup (think he played against Barrow last year?) rather than a sustained run.

If I were a betting man, I would gamble it is likely to be another wasted year of his short career, with minimal game time.

In the event that he is reintegrated, how about we have a new thread to generate some money for the forum (much like we did last year with Wacko).

I will give £10 for every game Chilly starts for us, and £2 for every game he comes on as sub. You give £1 for every game he doesnt feature.

Are you confident enough to put your money where your mouth is?

5 minutes ago, OneTommyLangley said:

Will they bollox

OTL - I'll put you down for £1 for every game Chilly plays for us yeah? Get involved in the fun!... or will you just be doing your usual thing and coming on here to swear and mouth off?

1 minute ago, nonotnowjim said:

When did anyone say they knows what goes on in his life. Nobody is pretending anything. Stop making sh*t up.

If Chilly chooses to stay at Chelsea collect extra money, as opposed to leaving to play more (whilst earning less) - then that is up to him. That is his prerogative.

My view is that career pride and game time is better than a few extra 000's in the bank account - particularly when that person is already. earning more per week than most can only dream of. That is my prerogative.

You seem to argue that it is better for Chilly to rot in the reserves but earn more money, rather than leave. I dont agree - but that is your prerogative. Money is more important to you than career pride.

It is a weird contradiction. Bogarde is one of the most hated players in our history, and he did exactly what Chilwell and other players are doing now. Again, I will say they are perfectly entitled to do so, but it's odd seeing such pushback against any criticism of Chilwell doing the same thing.

7 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Yes - I made a statement about what I think he should do. Very different from me saying I know what goes on in his life.

You have zero idea why he is choosing the latter.

That's my point.

The Silent Pianist:

There once was a young pianist who played with great pride. His music wasn’t perfect, but it was bold, and people came to hear him.

One day a wealthy patron offered him a bargain:

“Come sit in my grand hall. I’ll pay you handsomely. You won’t need to play — just rest your hands on the keys so it looks like the piano has an owner.”

The pianist agreed. The pay was sweet, and the chair was soft.

But soon, no one spoke of his music. Other pianists took the stage, their names on posters, their melodies remembered. The young man had gold in his pockets, yet when people asked, ‘What do you play?’ he had no answer.

He still called himself a pianist, but in truth, he was only a man sitting at a silent piano.

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

You have zero idea why he is choosing the latter.

That's my point.

He doesnt need a reason - it is his right to do so. That doesn't change my view that he is wasting his short career.

3 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

He doesnt need a reason - it is his right to do so. That doesn't change my view that he is wasting his short career.

And you're view would be very wrong considering you aren't Ben Chilwell.

6 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

It is a weird contradiction. Bogarde is one of the most hated players in our history, and he did exactly what Chilwell and other players are doing now. Again, I will say they are perfectly entitled to do so, but it's odd seeing such pushback against any criticism of Chilwell doing the same thing.

I think with some - and the names of those arguing so strongly will be familiar from the Jackson thread - they will literally argue against anything I say. If I was now here saying that Chillwell should be a mercenary and rinse Chelsea of every last penny and stay for the lentgh of the contract, then they would all be saying the opposite and arguing that he should leave...

...the cartel lives on.

Edited August 29, 2025Aug 29 by nonotnowjim

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

And you're view would be very wrong considering you aren't Ben Chilwell.

What a nonsense line of thinking. By that logic, nobody could ever comment on anything unless it happened directly to them. You couldn’t talk about a political view unless you were that specific politician, you couldn’t comment on a film unless you were the director.... you couldn’t discuss the weather unless you were a cloud.

Of course we don’t know every private detail of a player’s life — but we can still look at the facts that are visible: his form, his playing time, his career trajectory. If we only spoke about our own lives, there would be nothing to discuss beyond what we had for breakfast.

I’m not pretending to be Chilwell or claiming to know his bank balance — I’m saying that in my opinion, for the sake of his career he should leave, even if that means earning less. You are free to disagree - but stop with the absurd nonsense.

Just now, nonotnowjim said:

What a nonsense line of thinking. By that logic, nobody could ever comment on anything unless it happened directly to them. You couldn’t talk about a political view unless you were that specific politician, you couldn’t comment on a film unless you were the director.... you couldn’t discuss the weather unless you were a cloud.

Of course we don’t know every private detail of a player’s life — but we can still look at the facts that are visible: his form, his playing time, his career trajectory. If we only spoke about our own lives, there would be nothing to discuss beyond what we had for breakfast.

I’m not pretending to be Chilwell or claiming to know his bank balance — I’m saying that in my opinion, for the sake of his career he should leave, even if that means earning less. You are free to disagree - but stop with the absurd nonsense.

You are 100% right. We can look at the facts that are visible.

• If Chilwell were to leave he'd be giving up £10.4m in additional wages. Roman Abramovich, a f**king billionaire, was dancing around selling over a few million. So don't give me any nonsense regarding Chilwell should just simply leave that on the table.

• Like you said, he's on the decline. Wherever he goes, he won't be earning anything close to what he is right now. So why would he leave? Career pride? Doesn't matter if he's 28 or 30 when he is a free agent. He can still have a decent career in Italy or mid table in the Prem.

Edited August 29, 2025Aug 29 by Sconnie Blue

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

You are 100% right. We can look at the facts that are visible.

• If Chilwell were to leave he'd be giving up £10.4m in additional wages. Roman Abramovich, a f**king billionaire, was dancing around selling over a few million. So don't give me any nonsense regarding Chilwell should just simply leave that on the table.

• Like you said, he's on the decline. Wherever he goes, he won't be earning anything close to what he is right now. So why would he leave? Career pride? Doesn't matter if he's 28 or 30 when he is a free agent. He can still have a decent career in Italy or mid table in the Prem.

We have done this to death.

You agree that Chilly should stay for the extra money. That's your opinion. If the extra millions make an already handsomely paid player happy - then that's his right.

I disagree and think he should leave - for career pride or whatever you want to call it. To be proud to be a professional football player, going out week in week out and playing competitive football, for the short career you have.... not sitting rotting in the reserves.

I wonder when young Ben was 9 or 10 years old, if he dreamed of playing week in week out in competitive games, or if he instead dreamed of being sat in the bomb squad with very little chance of playing....I wonder which he would have longed for?

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I hope he is reintegrated and can contribute in a meaningful way. If this happens, then I fear it will likely be 15 mins against lower league oppo in the carabao cup (think he played against Barrow last year?) rather than a sustained run.

If I were a betting man, I would gamble it is likely to be another wasted year of his short career, with minimal game time.

In the event that he is reintegrated, how about we have a new thread to generate some money for the forum (much like we did last year with Wacko).

I will give £10 for every game Chilly starts for us, and £2 for every game he comes on as sub. You give £1 for every game he doesnt feature.

Are you confident enough to put your money where your mouth is?

BINGO !!! Chilly it is !

That didn't take long then, despite the earlier denial LOL

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

BINGO !!! Chilly it is !

That didn't take long then, despite the earlier denial LOL

It doesn't work, because of 1 key difference. I like Chilly. He was one of my fav's for a long time. Don't like seeing him rot though....

4 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

It doesn't work, because of 1 key difference. I like Chilly. He was one of my fav's for a long time. Don't like seeing him rot though....

I actually see sense in both arguments. For his career, and despite what the majority of these pre pubescent fkign idiots that abound nowadays 28 isn't old, even in football or financial sell on terms, he still has a lot to give i agree that it would be good for him to move on. The bloke in charge here is clearly playing to the tune set by the band leader, simply due to the fact that he stated that Chilly couldn't play in his system and yet he has operate with a flat back four and with a wing back system upon occasion last season.

But then i also see it from the point of Chilly. That is a lot of money to leave on the table and to have gone from Champions League winner to being publicly discarded shows a level of disrespect that would probably make me feel fck you as well.

In truth i don't think he necessarily has to throw his dough away. Possibly a loan with the club still having to contribute to wards his salary might be the way to go here, a la Sterling.

16 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Hopefully for Ben something happens. As is kinda sad the most action we have seen on his thread in years is another forum tiff

28 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Hopefully for Ben something happens. As is kinda sad the most action we have seen on his thread in years is another forum tiff

If there's a tiff you can almost guarantee who's gonna be involved 😂. But yeah, hope a move happens for him.

49 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

If there's a tiff you can almost guarantee who's gonna be involved 😂. But yeah, hope a move happens for him.

Aye in most cases.

Unless iT is about Trev. Then it's you and me brother!

3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Aye in most cases.

Unless iT is about Trev. Then it's you and me brother!

The previous comments in this thread show there is no correct answer.

Some just want to play and will happily leave with a nice payoff.

Others are simply happy to collect their wage for the duration of his contract.

I get the feeling it could be an issue of principal with Ben. There’s no doubt he’s been treated poorly by some in the club.

Whatever the actuality of the situation I’m not going to judge the man. Happy for him if he’s happy.

In the Telegraph today is an article about the top 10 worst signings in the EPL. Chelsea have Mudryk and Bogarde in the list.

If he goes to Strasbourg at least he gets some momentum going on his reputation as a player. He's not been that eager to push himself to clubs.