Couldnt give a sh*t about him at all, he was dreadful his final season, but I just completely gave up on him when he pulled out of a 70/30 (at worst) in his favour with a keeper on the edge of their box, the very least we want from our players is commitment, he just didnt care less. his Pr team then kicked in to try and paint him as some kind of victim when we wanted rid of him.

47 minutes ago, Nibs said:

No, his form has fallen off a cliff. Did you see any of his minutes at Arsenal?

Such a frustrating player too. So many wrong options. Sad that his time with CFC will mainly be remembered for THAT free-kick!!

Was thinking more if Enzo had given him the chance from the start rather than demoting him to the bum squad and freezing him out. I think his lack of desire and motivation is partly because of this. He's gone from being fit, fighting for his position in title races to kicking a ball against a wall. He was only 27 when we signed him so I don't think he was over the hill, but now at 30 having nearly 3 years of limited football he's at an age were a prolong period of time out is very hard to get it back from. Especially mentally.

I still think if we'd had played him over the average players we replaced him with we'd have got a better result. Be it not much better. Spending millions to replace him while spending millions on his wages seems like a massive waste of money, but then again if we'd have bought a proper left winger then this wouldn't be a conversation.

14 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

I mean it is, just not necessarily for a club. But in both instances you have a prodigious talent who ended up being mistreated by a club to some extent, and whatever professional loyalty they had is forever ruined. Footballers are employees like everyone else, legally and ethically.

Yeah I don't disagree about the bad read. I disagree that football is just like any other job. First of all they must be high-level athletes, and some aren't. The second part is the winning mentality, which can really hinder careers at this level. Intensity, work rate, is even more important in the modern game.

8 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Lack of ambition? You're talking about 2 players that between them have 26 major honours and countless individual awards over their career. Don't put someone on 300k a week then expect them to agree to leave most of it behind because you've had enough of them after a year. Not a single person in here would throw away £20m if we were in their position.

Well it depends how one rates Hazard's natural talent. I was very much disappointed with Hazard's career esp in the Champions League where he consistently failed to deliver; Mount (poor guy can't string 2 games without falling apart) has done a lot more than Hazard in the CL.
Agreed on the wages tho... It can indeed put players in the dreaded "comfort zone."

8 hours ago, abigsmurf said:

Hazard had some bad injuries and was brought back too early from one, causing another. He's talked about how he got injured during Covid and got almost no physio and training guidance from Madrid, just being left to himself with minimal training facilities. He'd always struggled with offseason weightgain so this basically doomed him.

I'm aware of the injuries, yes. And just like in Neymar case, I believe their lack of off-pitch dedication contributed to the injuries. So, ironically, I think both Neymar and Hazard, for very different reasons, weren't as dedicated to their careers as I'd like. Still great players in football, but neither had the dedication of a Messi, much less a CR7 (obviously).

Just to be clear, I don't think Sterling is comparable, talent wise, to Eden. I'm just comparing their dedication to football, and demands in terms of athleticism.

Edited September 2, 2025Sep 2 by acaeus

Bogarde pt 2.

50 minutes ago, chelseablueboy said:

Bogarde pt 2.

Agreed. But at least Bogarde probably did need the money.

Chelsea could offer Raheem Sterling a £10million payment to terminate his deal at Stamford Bridge.

Can’t see him settling for it when he can easily sit out and collect £35m. Should have sold him after the 1st season when he had 6 league goals, and taken the hit.

At this point, if you are a professional footballer, signing for us could literally be the end of your playing career.

On 02/09/2025 at 02:33, SydneyChelsea said:

I mean it is, just not necessarily for a club. But in both instances you have a prodigious talent who ended up being mistreated by a club to some extent, and whatever professional loyalty they had is forever ruined. Footballers are employees like everyone else, legally and ethically.

Sterling would have a different attitude had he not been consigned to a 'bomb squad' solely for financial reasons. Yes he was a mistake signing by Boehly, but the sporting directors decided on his treatment. Our best and most suited winger was removed from Maresca's squad and the coach was told to toe the line. The directors stuffed that up, couldn't sell him/move him on, they tried to play a game and lost. Now we bear the consequences. Sterling may have no interest in "career", he will just collect the money he is legally entitled to and we will have to suck it up.

As they say, phenomenal.

I dont think Sterling went into the bomb squad whilst he was delivering top notch performances for us. He was hardly able to command a starting place as i remember based on form. His form desire and confidence was on the decline from an early stage. Hes now done, it happens.

Not sure his team's memo to the club asking for clarification of his position was very successful, or a good idea. hey ho.

On 03/09/2025 at 22:49, just said:

Agreed. But at least Bogarde probably did need the money.

True. I recently read an article containing an interview with Bogarde, completely changed my opinion of the whole thing and could definitely understand his position on everything..

On 04/09/2025 at 04:58, bluelightening said:

At this point, if you are a professional footballer, signing for us could literally be the end of your playing career.

Agents.

Get that money Sterling!!!

Sterling has 30 million pounds left on his contract wants to stay in London because of his family so if he doesn't want to move out of town fair play to him

Todd Boehly signed him and put him on silly wages for 5 years (lucky for Clearfake Todd and his chums hadn't figured out the 9 year contracts by then) so why would RS walk away to another gig he doesn't fancy and won't suit his family for less dosh ? would anyone in any line of work but a mug do that ?

He'll probably never play for a top team again after deciding to trouser the dosh and stay in the bomb squad with 2 more of Todd's 2 bob acquisitions Desasi and D.Fofana

So imo this unsatisfactory bomb squad situation serves Todd and Clearfake right !

On 04/09/2025 at 02:31, markpitts said:

Chelsea could offer Raheem Sterling a £10million payment to terminate his deal at Stamford Bridge.

Can’t see him settling for it when he can easily sit out and collect £35m. Should have sold him after the 1st season when he had 6 league goals, and taken the hit.

I guess it depends on whether he wants to play or not. He could take the 10 mil & then sign for maybe Fulham,Wham or Brentford.

12 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

I guess it depends on whether he wants to play or not. He could take the 10 mil & then sign for maybe Fulham,Wham or Brentford.

Wham confused me for a second 😄

I can't believe some on here saying he could do a job

He was useless when we bought him. He makes the team worse.

1 hour ago, General said:

Sterling has 30 million pounds left on his contract wants to stay in London because of his family so if he doesn't want to move out of town fair play to him

Todd Boehly signed him and put him on silly wages for 5 years (lucky for Clearfake Todd and his chums hadn't figured out the 9 year contracts by then) so why would RS walk away to another gig he doesn't fancy and won't suit his family for less dosh ? would anyone in any line of work but a mug do that ?

He'll probably never play for a top team again after deciding to trouser the dosh and stay in the bomb squad with 2 more of Todd's 2 bob acquisitions Desasi and D.Fofana

So imo this unsatisfactory bomb squad situation serves Todd and Clearfake right !

Yeah sure, but Chelsea aren't the ones briefing the media on how hard done by they are.

Whole BBC article which is clearly full of Sterlings team fluffing it up

A problem for Sterling has been the people behind such a big deal are no longer in charge at the club.

In addition to Boehly's diminishing influence, Thomas Tuchel was the head coach who oversaw Sterling's arrival.

Then came Graham Potter, then Frank Lampard, and then Mauricio Pochettino, all within Sterling's first two seasons at the club, in which he played 81 times and scored 19 times as Chelsea finished 12th and then sixth.

But two years into his contract Chelsea effectively ended his role as a first-team player when new manager Enzo Maresca decided Sterling was not in his plans.

No, he was sidelined because he just wasn't good enough. And he proved it at arsenal. He just isn't an elite player and so he won't be in an elite squad.

We gave him options. He didn't want to take them because he wants to stay in London. No one else in London wanted him. So he's staying in the reserves. That's his choice.

Edited September 5, 2025Sep 5 by bisright1

14 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Wham confused me for a second 😄

It's one of my fave abbreviations !

Plenty London clubs he can join. But why kill yourself when you can put up your feet, lay back, enjoy all the luxuries of life and get handsomely paid for it. Never wanted him at Chelsea.

Edited September 5, 2025Sep 5 by Blueowner

1 hour ago, Blueowner said:

Plenty London clubs he can join. But why kill yourself when you can put up your feet, lay back, enjoy all the luxuries of life and get handsomely paid for it. Never wanted him at Chelsea.

you never did mate, but Todd Boehly and his backers clearly did (I've got no dog in RS fight just pointing out the hypocrisy of punters on here and outside)

4 hours ago, gurru991 said:

It's one of my fave abbreviations !

Embrace it!

5 hours ago, gurru991 said:

I guess it depends on whether he wants to play or not. He could take the 10 mil & then sign for maybe Fulham,Wham or Brentford.

The win win for both Sterling and Chelsea is he gets himself an offer from one of those teams, or perhaps palace, and whatever is the difference between what we are paying him and they will pay him over the next two years we give him as a pay off to terminate his contract.

He gets to stay in London, not lose any money and go and play, we save millions.

2 hours ago, Blueowner said:

Plenty London clubs he can join. But why kill yourself when you can put up your feet, lay back, enjoy all the luxuries of life and get handsomely paid for it. Never wanted him at Chelsea.

Club is clearly trying to nudge him and Disasi towards the exit, there seems to be too much media drops during this international break. They have tried the paying off a fraction of his contract, but he isn’t interested in leaving any money on the table.

Disasi might be leaving for Besiktas before their window closes, Sterling is clearly going to dig in till Jan.

Another player who is putting money and finances ahead of personal pride, career legacy and game time.

Done this to death on the Chilly thread - but we all seem to be in either one of 2 camps.

1) That a playing career is short and they should have some pride and try to actually play as many games as possible. They are already multi millionaires. They could still get paid eye watering amounts even if they took a wage cut. Do the right thing for your playing career and leave.

2) The club agreed to pay them x amount - it's not the players fault that he has not played well enough to get into the team. f**k the club - let him sit and collect more money .

Those are basically the 2 sides.... I am clearly in camp 1.

Albeit I accept it is his right to collect the wage cheque and chelsea honour the contract. It's just not particularly flattering and says more about his personality (basically money is more important that his football)

I dont think Sterling has the ability anymore it was fading when he arrived. Doubt he can make an impact at another club - he tried or was given an opportunity at Arsenal. Hes not the first footballer to take contracted money for minimal contribution. Hes done, theres nothing left in the tank. Its Clearlakes money im not losing any sleep for them. I think he will look back on a very successful career but not at his time at Chelsea. He wont have many / any highlights worth remembering here. I was optimistic when he arrived based on his reputation but it never translated into much on the pitch.

BBC Sport

Raheem Sterling & Chelsea: What is going on?

BBC Sport analyses Raheem Sterling's situation at Chelsea after he failed to find a new club before the transfer deadline.

Raheem is done. Must be hard to stay motivated with all that money having had the success he’s had in his career.

His main motivation now is probably not getting hurt… which we saw first hand when pulled out of many a tackle.

If I was any of the clubs mentioned as a possible destination for him I’d be looking elsewhere.