34 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

For sure number 2. Unless Roman accepts a huge loss on Rom. Our best hope is Inter actually would take him back and would swap a couple of players, I.e. a defender and midfielder thst are good players, to get him back.

They can’t afford his wages. That is the key point, and the reason he moved here. Hypothetically if the move happened, we will still be financing about half of his wages while he is out there. It is a mess.

5 minutes ago, abramovich said:

I don't think you can have an internal solution for this. It's only possible when you control the narrative but the way the whole interview disaster unfolded and because apparently the club was kept in the dark about it, we were forced to play catch-up since the moment it was released.

I understand what you're trying to say about the dangers of a strong responce and how we might be better off handling it quietly. I get it. But I'm afraid you only see the short term gain and completely ignore the long term consequences of 'taking it easy' approach. The club cannot afford to let it slide, we can't back down. Here in this very forum we have been vehemently criticizing the player power problems that plagued this club for years and cost jobs to some of our past managers. This is the worst example of it, because it didn't happen behind closed doors, it's out there for everyone to see, and everyone is looking at us and waiting for the reaction. If it's non-reaction, then it's an open invitation to treat us like banter club.

Can this hurt us in terms of results? Absolutely. But this is the right move under the circumstances, the only move. We should back our manager, I don't see any other way.

I understand the view you have on this, I don't agree with it 

You might be right about the catch-up part, however if club people involved had put their heads together the moment the story broke, to actually listen to what Lukaku said - which isn't really all that harmful, just not very wise - and then come out with an agreed upon way of responding, for instance "we understand he was happy at Inter, we all have a club that will always be special, but he's now focusing on Chelsea" blah-blah, etcetera etcetera. That as a damage limitation exercise (for club AND player) would have taken the wind out of any sail. If the club felt the need to have a firm talk about interviews and their timing, it could have done so out of the spotlight. 

This would in my opinion have been the best strategy in this case. That has nothing to do with any lack of insight of long term consequences you perceive in me. Players know they shouldn't shoot their mouths off, some are just not very good at putting theory into practice. Saying the club can't afford this, the club can't back down: that kind of tough talk may work in the schoolyard, but not in a multi-million business with innumerable factors to consider, and eventually revolves around money and silverware.

Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) Tweeted:

The difference between Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku. https://t.co/oiAvhlRB7e

 

2 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I understand the view you have on this, I don't agree with it 

You might be right about the catch-up part, however if club people involved had put their heads together the moment the story broke, to actually listen to what Lukaku said - which isn't really all that harmful, just not very wise - and then come out with an agreed upon way of responding, for instance "we understand he was happy at Inter, we all have a club that will always be special, but he's now focusing on Chelsea" blah-blah, etcetera etcetera. That as a damage limitation exercise (for club AND player) would have taken the wind out of any sail. If the club felt the need to have a firm talk about interviews and their timing, it could have done so out of the spotlight. 

This would in my opinion have been the best strategy in this case. That has nothing to do with any lack of insight of long term consequences you perceive in me. Players know they shouldn't shoot their mouths off, some are just not very good at putting theory into practice. Saying the club can't afford this, the club can't back down: that kind of tough talk may work in the schoolyard, but not in a multi-million business with innumerable factors to consider, and eventually revolves around money and silverware.

I agree with this actually. Everyone got pulled into the heat of the moment but either way dropping him was the way to go for this instance. 

The club can't afford showing double standards considering players like Kepa, Timo, Havertz etc all kept quiet and maintained professionalism even when they went through tough times. 

1 hour ago, evissy said:

This is apparently the interview.

So he said he is not happy because he is not playing. That is fine by me.

He said he wants to go back to Inter at one point of his career. He liked it back there. This is a bit touchy after we paid almost 100m for him.

Anyway he should have just been quiet about things but nothing major in my mind.

 

Not the full interview or the other quotes from the incident, this was established a few pages back. 

What happened here is the downside of the Roman ownership. Liverpool/City have a much more cerebral patient approach. How often have we heard Liverpool needs this or City needs that from fans, experts and the press. They don´t care. The whole summer we heard: if City/Chelsea added a goalscorer they´d be unbeatable. Well who is looking unbeatable now?

Chelsea are a lot more impatient and reactive like United. Only Chelsea are generally very smart about it with a great academy, while United are retarded. That´s why Liverpool and City probably saved their money for an all-out assault on Mbappe/Haaland next summer, while Chelsea overpaid out of their a** for Lukaku and United did the same for Ronaldo.

I don´t know whether Tuchel pushed for Lukaku, but I´m sure he has already realized it was a huge mistake and will be more than happy to oblige and punish Lukaku on the way out of the door. In a way Lukaku wins, too. He got his huge wages and probably returns to Italy. 

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

CHO was angling to leave, until we massively overpaid him. 

No bullsh*t though, unlike Lukaku who dragged tuchel’s name through the mud, questioning tactics and who literally said he wants to be elsewhere. Honestly, the Lukaku defenders on here are getting ridiculous now, these comparisons to Cho etc 😅 reaching so much

1 minute ago, Valerie said:

I understand the view you have on this, I don't agree with it 

You might be right about the catch-up part, however if club people involved had put their heads together the moment the story broke, to actually listen to what Lukaku said - which isn't really all that harmful, just not very wise - and then come out with an agreed upon way of responding, for instance "we understand he was happy at Inter, we all have a club that will always be special, but he's now focusing on Chelsea" blah-blah, etcetera etcetera. That as a damage limitation exercise (for club AND player) would have taken the wind out of any sail. If the club felt the need to have a firm talk about interviews and their timing, it could have done so out of the spotlight. 

This would in my opinion have been the best strategy in this case. That has nothing to do with any lack of insight of long term consequences you perceive in me. Players know they shouldn't shoot their mouths off, some are just not very good at putting theory into practice. Saying the club can't afford this, the club can't back down: that kind of tough talk may work in the schoolyard, but not in a multi-million business with innumerable factors to consider, and eventually revolves around money and silverware.

I'm afraid my command of English might not be good enough to explain what I meant by not backing down. This is not some tough talk in a schoolyard or posturing, what I meant was there are situations where you have to draw the line and make some tough decisions because otherwise you risk more by just staying put. Doing what you've suggested may keep things civil on the suface but it would damage our reputation and set a very dangerous precedent. Long term we would have to deal with more players acting in the same manner because we've allowed that in a past. If Lukaku realized he f**ked up and issued a public apology, at least I could see us taking it easy and not leave him out of the squad but even that would be up to Tuchel. But he didn't even bother say he's sorry and in this situation the diplomatic approach you proposed would be the wrong option, imo. The player basically defies the club and does it publicly and them refuses to apologize. He leaves the club no other option.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Rom may want to go back to Inter but they cannot afford him and they don't likely want him anyways.

Even of they did they would need to exchange a couple of players or sell some players to make it work. No way Roman will let him go back to Inter on the cheap, he would sooner cause him more problems and eat the cost like he did with Conte.

I'd take lautaro martinez + money for him tbh, he suits our playstyle better

2 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

I'd take lautaro martinez + money for him tbh, he suits our playstyle better

Much better profile of signing in the first place.

• Better technique. 
• The right age.
• Not earning silly money, so he wouldn't have wrecked our pay structure
• Re-sale potential after a 5 year contract
• Fits our system (contributes defensively)

Absolutely no chance we'd get him now ... 

Message sent.  See how he reacts and they reintegrate.  Too early to give up on him, but no one is bigger than the club.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10362893/Chelsea-Romelu-Lukaku-changes-social-media-bio-list-former-club-Inter-Milan.html

Lukaku has changed his bio from Chelsea FC to Inter Milan, what a weirdo.. 

Sounds like tomorrows meeting will decide his future here.

Tuchel said he's involving the players in the decisions that will be made.

Think he better apologize or it's curtains for him.

16 minutes ago, Term_X said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10362893/Chelsea-Romelu-Lukaku-changes-social-media-bio-list-former-club-Inter-Milan.html

Lukaku has changed his bio from Chelsea FC to Inter Milan, what a weirdo.. 

Utterly bizarre - is he having a mental breakdown ?

https://www.facebook.com/Romelulukaku 

Stopped short of changing to an old photo, but all the same ... his agent must be tearing his hair out trying to get some control of the situation ... the man himself clearly hasn't finished digging yet ...

 

Well, no matter what happens from here, he’s lost the support of the fans. Aside from the fact he’s a literal millionaire footballer.. what a disappointing career, to be disliked by every club you’ve been at bar Anderlecht. One significant title in 28 years, laughing stock and the ‘meme clown’ of the football community.

We're going to miss him this season, it's sad how things turned out because with him we could have done something special.

Probably going to end up as our worst signing ever, I thought that nothing can come close to Drinkwater but here we are, 1 meeting away from total disaster.

Is it me or us he basically saying if we don't accept whatever deal Inter offer (if they offer anything) he won't go anywhere else?

It seems like utter lunacy or has he spoken to Inter people and knows they would take him back for a certain deal?

Cause I have seen no suggestion anywhere that Inter want him back.

Roman may just be spiteful enough to Bogarde him.

Edited January 2, 20224 yr by axman2526

There are some possibilities that he isn't commiting career suicide in that, that page was never properly updated and always had Inter Milan on it, or the page was hacked and somebody changed it, or someone in his team changed it on his behalf without him knowing.

Or we have already agreed a deal with Inter and he’s heading there tomorrow to sign the papers!

Hopefully this meeting comes out with a clear path forward.

Even if it is as bad as Rom saying he does not want to be here, play for TT and only wants to go to Inter.

We will know that means he will sulk if he stays here or we lose big money on him but at least we know where things stand. We as fans deserve the full truth of the matter and I hope we get it.

11 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Or we have already agreed a deal with Inter and he’s heading there tomorrow to sign the papers!

Romans laid on a private jet to Verkoyansk

38 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Utterly bizarre - is he having a mental breakdown ?

https://www.facebook.com/Romelulukaku 

Stopped short of changing to an old photo, but all the same ... his agent must be tearing his hair out trying to get some control of the situation ... the man himself clearly hasn't finished digging yet ...

 

He's like a spoilt child. I don't see anyway back for him to be honest, he's just being a dick now.

4 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He's like a spoilt child. I don't see anyway back for him to be honest, he's just being a dick now.

If he did that himself or had his team do it is so petulant.

1 hour ago, Term_X said:

Well, no matter what happens from here, he’s lost the support of the fans. Aside from the fact he’s a literal millionaire footballer.. what a disappointing career, to be disliked by every club you’ve been at bar Anderlecht. One significant title in 28 years, laughing stock and the ‘meme clown’ of the football community.

What I'm struggling with is, will Inter even want him back? 

Dzeko is objectively the better forward. I fear we're stuck with him unless Newcastle or Juve bail us out.

Reckon the gobsh*te just didn’t update it to be honest, even he’s not that stupid. I didn’t want him back, really hoped he would make me eat my words, but he’s only reaffirmed my stance. He has a History of making comments about his current clubs, he’s a petulant child and at 29 he’ll never mature. So glad Tuchel dropped him, correct decision.