No way we beat man city.

Benfica up first anyway.

Semi final is a realistic target, then anything can happen.

24 minutes ago, TokyoBlue said:

Semi final is a realistic target, then anything can happen.

I'm quite glad we didn't win the group looking at that LOL

For Flamengo to win the trophy they'll probably have to get past Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid in their half and then perhaps Manchester City in the Final !

47 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

No way we beat man city.

Benfica up first anyway.

Agree. Clearly they have recovered from whatever happened to them through much of last season. They’ve bought good players and rest look to be returning to normal. Maybe even Pepe has seen need to change things a little.

Between them and Liverpool’s decent looking recruitment, we again look absolutely miles and miles behind with our collection of teenage signings that look a million miles from even threatening a place in the first team. More likely most of them will end up in France.

But as long as we’re the PSR champions, that’s what matters, to Clearlake at least.

I'd concentrate on Benfica first. Massive task in itself. I'd say their side is pretty close to being the level of Palmeiras. It is a coin toss really.

32 minutes ago, evissy said:

I'd concentrate on Benfica first. Massive task in itself. I'd say their side is pretty close to being the level of Palmeiras. It is a coin toss really.

Agreed. I would actually be surprised if we beat Benfica. I still feel that we have stumbled our way through to this point. They look a far more cohesive unit thus far.

Benfica are ass

17 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Agreed. I would actually be surprised if we beat Benfica. I still feel that we have stumbled our way through to this point. They look a far more cohesive unit thus far.

Winning Bayern in their last game is a good indicator of their level. Okay the game itself wasn't a must win for either but I am pretty sure Bayern went in that to win it.

We haven't won any major side under Boehly to my recollection at least with the core we have. Newcastle and Aston Villa we've beaten in a competitive game and that is basically the level we are at. I think Benfica is around the level of those two.

We need to step up as a squad and this is perfect opportunity.

I think deep down we all know where we are as a team and a club.

We don’t operate or shop top tier anymore, top four and money spinning cup runs while horse trading kids is the clear objective.

If we win the odd minor trophy (cos we’re miles off threatening the big teams) then bonus that will keep the punters happy otherwise cha ching$$$.

Still hope they prove me wrong, still feel some at the club see success on the pitch as the priority and the key to making money . Still feel with a few key signings and a decent manager we could still challenge just feeling less and less like the club are all that bothered about 1st or 3rd if they’re making money. The semi finals will do that’s enough money then fingers crossed and pray. What a winning mentality we have cultured at the club. Perhaps Bettenilli was right?

26 minutes ago, C3blue said:

I think deep down we all know where we are as a team and a club.

We don’t operate or shop top tier anymore, top four and money spinning cup runs while horse trading kids is the clear objective.

If we win the odd minor trophy (cos we’re miles off threatening the big teams) then bonus that will keep the punters happy otherwise cha ching$$$.

Still hope they prove me wrong, still feel some at the club see success on the pitch as the priority and the key to making money . Still feel with a few key signings and a decent manager we could still challenge just feeling less and less like the club are all that bothered about 1st or 3rd if they’re making money. The semi finals will do that’s enough money then fingers crossed and pray. What a winning mentality we have cultured at the club. Perhaps Bettenilli was right?

Not the thread to really talk about it but I reiterate:

Much easier to make money off Chelsea is to be a top dog/one of the top dogs in footballing world. More doors open, more revenue opportunities rise, much more interest towards everything we sell and so on.

London is the best footballing city in the world in most ways. Smallish Stamford Bridge is a stumbling block but hopefully resolved in some way.

I actually think the revenue that we talk about all the time could be chump change and only in media focus because of the FFP which relates directly to the sport itself. The big invisible money is hidden behind joint ventures and opportunities opening because of Chelsea and the brand.

A side hassle to make money and appease the PSR gods is one thing, making it ur clubs M.O is another.

It would be easier to adjust to this small club mindset if we wasn’t still spending billions. Why not adjust the spending instead?

We could have a smaller squad with a slightly higher salary that wouldn’t price us out of a certain calibre of player. Quality over quantity.

Is it a Brighton mindset. I hate the fact they have got us talking about how much money we make each round the whole PSR thing is a joke anyway but as fan of CFC with all the money and player turn over to not be there right now in it to win it is just sad and until they change their mindset eventually all topics wind up coming back to this point.

5 hours ago, evissy said:

Not the thread to really talk about it but I reiterate:

Much easier to make money off Chelsea is to be a top dog/one of the top dogs in footballing world. More doors open, more revenue opportunities rise, much more interest towards everything we sell and so on.

London is the best footballing city in the world in most ways. Smallish Stamford Bridge is a stumbling block but hopefully resolved in some way.

I actually think the revenue that we talk about all the time could be chump change and only in media focus because of the FFP which relates directly to the sport itself. The big invisible money is hidden behind joint ventures and opportunities opening because of Chelsea and the brand.

I am not sure I agree with you to be honest. Being of a certain age i often cited Tom Kite as a perfect example of being in the Pelton and still making bundles of cash. I remember when Tom Kite was one of the richest golfers in the world without winning a major at that time. He was consistently in the top 3 or 4 in each tournament so always got decent prize money. He didn't need the trophies to be successful.

Similar principle here could be applied. They can still reap healthy profits without the ultimate sporting success on the pitch.

49 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I am not sure I agree with you to be honest. Being of a certain age i often cited Tom Kite as a perfect example of being in the Pelton and still making bundles of cash. I remember when Tom Kite was one of the richest golfers in the world without winning a major at that time. He was consistently in the top 3 or 4 in each tournament so always got decent prize money. He didn't need the trophies to be successful.

Similar principle here could be applied. They can still reap healthy profits without the ultimate sporting success on the pitch.

Exactly this, they want to sit at the top table of course that’s where the money is and they will do enough to stay there but nothing they have done so far this summer suggests they want to really challenge LFC, City, Real etc.

Largely underwhelming first half for the Palmeiras/ Botafogo match. Judging on that half I think we may need to temper our expectations for Estevao being an immediate starter for us. Admittedly he’s playing on the left, his contribution though was mainly a couple of quality set piece deliveries.

12 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Just now, charierre said:

Largely underwhelming first half for the Palmeiras/ Botafogo match. Judging on that half I think we may need to temper our expectations for Estevao being an immediate starter for us. Admittedly he’s playing on the left, his contribution though was mainly a couple of quality set piece deliveries.

Can clearly see that he is not strong enough for the PL at the moment. We'll need to manage his minutes and use him strategically, when the opposition is more tired. Just until he has bulked up a bit.

I have been try to tell the kids on the internet that Estevao will need a season or TWO to be able to handle English Man football. Will he be happy playing for the youth team? Doubt it. Defenders like Branthwaite will eat this kid for tea.

3 minutes ago, Scott said:

I have been try to tell the kids on the internet that Estevao will need a season or TWO to be able to handle English Man football. Will he be happy playing for the youth team? Doubt it. Defenders like Branthwaite will eat this kid for tea.

Hopefully he is patient and sensible enough to appreciate he will need a period of acclimatisation. He is skilled but still only 18 and has a lot to learn.

He’s had a decent start to the second half as I type.

And substituted on 62mins.

The Botafogo keeper looks decent.

6 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I am not sure I agree with you to be honest. Being of a certain age i often cited Tom Kite as a perfect example of being in the Pelton and still making bundles of cash. I remember when Tom Kite was one of the richest golfers in the world without winning a major at that time. He was consistently in the top 3 or 4 in each tournament so always got decent prize money. He didn't need the trophies to be successful.

Similar principle here could be applied. They can still reap healthy profits without the ultimate sporting success on the pitch.

That is just a pretty cynical viewpoint of Todd Boehly for example. He's been sighted in games often. If he was just in for the money why would he bother...

If you look up at how many things he is in it is weird he has time to go to games even as much as he does.

Football is pretty contagious sport for a good reason. I am sure even he is feeling similar feelings watching games what an average fan does.

He has enough of money but that is also his job so to say. He knows money like greengrocer knows lettuce. That is what he does in a simplistic view.

Neither if us know him so we can't know if he is emotionally Invested but I personally don't

56 minutes ago, Scott said:

I have been try to tell the kids on the internet that Estevao will need a season or TWO to be able to handle English Man football. Will he be happy playing for the youth team? Doubt it. Defenders like Branthwaite will eat this kid for tea.

And this is the same with most of our younger players. Can't expect them to just storm into premier league and go past seasoned defenders. What would it tell about Premier League and its level...?

Quality goal looking like it might put Palmeiras through.

One thing we need to watch tonight is picking up yellows. Quite a few Palmeiras players are going to miss the quarter final due to picking up a second card.

4 minutes ago, evissy said:

That is just a pretty cynical viewpoint of Todd Boehly for example. He's been sighted in games often. If he was just in for the money why would he bother...

If you look up at how many things he is in it is weird he has time to go to games even as much as he does.

Football is pretty contagious sport for a good reason. I am sure even he is feeling similar feelings watching games what an average fan does.

He has enough of money but that is also his job so to say. He knows money like greengrocer knows lettuce. That is what he does in a simplistic view.

Neither if us know him so we can't know if he is emotionally Invested but I personally don't

And this is the same with most of our younger players. Can't expect them to just storm into premier league and go past seasoned defenders. What would it tell about Premier League and its level...?

Why do you insist on making these wild, unsubstantiated assumptions and attribute these to the ownership just because you feel that way yourself. Where have you seen evidence of this contagion affecting Boehly when all of the rhetoric, all of the press excerpts, all of the interviews have illustrated Boehly and Clearlake's position as venture capitalists. As has been highlighted by those concerned that Chelsea is an investment, part of a stable of investments that the group have made. The reason they are here is because they see massive financial opportunities in the media and marketing opportunities in football here and Chelsea is a vehicle to be used in tapping into that market.

I'm not sure how recognising this from press reports and interviews is taking a cynical view because you have some notion that Boehly has suddenly got the football bug. I'll be cheering on Dubois to win the fight but that doesn't mean I'm suddenly a boxing fan.

1 hour ago, charierre said:

Hopefully he is patient and sensible enough to appreciate he will need a period of acclimatisation. He is skilled but still only 18 and has a lot to learn.

He’s had a decent start to the second half as I type

1 hour ago, charierre said:

And substituted on 62mins.

Any idea why he was booked ?

Probably as he ran on the pitch when they scored?

22 minutes ago, charierre said:

Quality goal looking like it might put Palmeiras through.

One thing we need to watch tonight is picking up yellows. Quite a few Palmeiras players are going to miss the quarter final due to picking up a second card.

I think we need to watch Benfica a bit closely tonight and make sure that we improve our own standard of football. I am still not seeing anything developing yet, we just seem to have done just enough when it has mattered.

He needs to go all in tonight cos if we carry on with this passive bollox these kids will get overwhelmed at some point.