I watched the game on television last night with someone who works for Chelsea and was enjoying his first night off for a month; I don't want to put him in the sh*t so I can't reveal what he does but his job entails him being on the bench for games. His comments about Chelsea are interesting indeed and confirm what most of us have been saying on this forum regarding the club. Here are some of them...

JOSE MOURINHO

He was the most brilliant man he has ever worked for. Had a personal relationship with every single one of the staff. Was the only person in football with whom you could have a conversation about just about anything. His arrogance was for the cameras, away from the game he is mild-mannered, quite and respectful.

He loved everything about the club and wanted to stay for ten years. The reason relations broke down was because Chelsea were becoming Jose's club not Roman's and that wouldn't do. When he said goodbye every single person formed a guard of honour for him to walk through. There wasn't a dry eye amongst them.

All of the players and the backroom staff are in constant contact with the man who always replies to any of their texts almost immediately.

AVRAM GRANT

Avram really does absolutely nothing, he just stands around with his hands in his pockets and - as he did in his Pompey days - seems obsessed with setting out the cones. The training schedules are exactly as they were under Jose except that there is none of the analysis of the next opposition with which Jose would furnish the players.

JT's comments about AV half-time talks is all so much bullsh*t said for the benefit of the club's PR. The truth is that AV's half-time team talks are a joke. He just cannot do angry and when he tries it still comes out as a confused mumble which has seen players snigger at him rather than react. It is only Stevie and Ten Cate who have ears of the players.

When on the bench, he goes through the motions but really has no idea what it going on during games. My contact related one alarming story during the Boro game when AV was at the edge of the pitch gesticulating wildly as we make a substitution. AV turns round to the bench and asks: "what's going on?" where upon Clarke had to tell him that they had put on SWP for Ballack.

Not one player wants to see him as manager next season with many intimating that they would seek a transfer if that was the case.

In fairness to the man, it seems that he also knows he is not up to the job.

The good news is that - as far as my contact is concerned - AV is definitely to be moved upstairs at the end of the season regardless of whether or not we win the Premiership or Champions League.

COACHING STAFF

Stevie Clarke is one of the boys and takes most of the training schedules. Ten Cate does have a lot of input as well but his man role is the bad cop to Stevie's good cop.

PLAYERS

Drogba is definitely leaving at the end of the season.

Kalou is very religious and one of the nicest people you could meet.

Ballack is one of the most awesome players my contact has ever worked with. According to the club's own stats he covers more ground than any other player (I know, that really does sound strange!).

In training Riccie looks absolutely dreadful, a pub team player. However during actual games he shows himself to be one of the best centre-backs in the world.

Of all our youth, Gael Kakuta looks the most likely and is, at 16, the best player he has ever seen.

THE FUTURE

Frank Arnesen has all the influence. Roman loves Dutch football and wants Chelsea to fashioned in the Dutch style. We can expect an influx of Dutch players and management. It seems that Rijkaard already has one foot in the door and my contact fully expects him to be our manager next year. We can also expect Huntelaar and Van de Vaart to be signed.

THE PRESS

According to my man, believe what you read in The Sun (yes, The Sun!!) as they get so much right including stuff that goes on behind closed doors that they must have a mole in the Chelsea set-up.

For the record, he is not Chelsea fan but says that the club's set up is now second to none and is the best club he has ever worked for.

I will attempt to keep in touch with this man and see what further information I can garner from him.

blimey, thats very, very interesting. and confirms a hell of a lot. keep this bloke on your side, and keep the info coming if possible.

Kalou is religeous - blimey I never knew that.

How accurate or credible is any of that? Who can say?

It's just re-iterating what most Chelsea fans feel and what many want to hear. Jose was great - Avram is clueless etc etc etc.......................

Pinch of salt stuff if you ask me. Bit like going to one of those people who reckon they can contact the dead - "I'm getting something. Is there someone here called David or Peter who may have lost a grandparent?"

How accurate or credible is any of that? Who can say?

It's just re-iterating what most Chelsea fans feel and what many want to hear. Jose was great - Avram is clueless etc etc etc.......................

Pinch of salt stuff if you ask me. Bit like going to one of those people who reckon they can contact the dead - "I'm getting something. Is there someone here called David or Peter who may have lost a grandparent?"

The thing is - it may be what Chelsea fans want to hear - but it also the truth. Jose was great and Avram is clueless. All evidence points to that.

Regarding my contact, all I can say is that this guy does work for Chelsea, sits on the bench for every game and is present at every training session. The story about Avram are first hand. Ok, he may not know for a fact details regarding the future and what he told me was probably the same kind of water-cooler gossip that everyone hears at work. However, he is credible source. I have no compunction to post up a load of porkies or present myself as some kind of Chelsea medium (neither rare nor well done?!).

is it Stamford The Lion?

The reason relations broke down was because Chelsea were becoming Jose's club not Roman's and that wouldn't do.

Some things never change at Chelsea

Whenever we get a popular manager with the supporters he's fired.

What's to say it won't happen if we get another top manager?

sits on the bench for every game and is present at every training session

Kevin Hitchcock .......oh wait a minute......wrong era!

really interesting post. Thanks.

He's not a player but a member of the backroom staff.

If he sits on the bench every game, why was he not there last night?

It was his first day off for over a month.

Oh my god, you mean he worked a month without a day off.

Let me see........what's a day off, last time i was off was over xmas.

Thought he if was so important member of the backroom staff to give us this 'information', i am surprised he was not at the game, considering it was a important game from our CL campaign.

Taken this with the Huge Barrel of Salt I have got next to me.

you're dying to tell us aint'cha.

Word of advise - don't.

If the 'internet police' get hold of it he'll be out of work or gagged by the club!

Why do you think Chelsea got rid of 'Spy' at the training ground.

They want to keep all of this 'in house' regardless of what we pick up on matchdays by body languange and wavey-armness. The club made a massive mistake and don't want to admit it, or rather Roman's ego won't let 'em, at least until we've taken stock of the situation at the end of the season.

I posted something along these lines when Jose was sacked and was told I was rehashing stuff in the papers! There was a bit more unrest then, players pulling in different directions etc....seems not a great deal has changed but while there are still trophies to contend with, lets hope they pull in the right direction for now, and don't all f*ck off in the summer!

Insightful post though....thanks JM!

you're dying to tell us aint'cha.

Word of advise - don't.

If the 'internet police' get hold of it he'll be out of work or gagged by the club!

How many club employees sit on the bench every match but had their first day off for a month last night I wonder?

Oh my god, you mean he worked a month without a day off.

Let me see........what's a day off, last time i was off was over xmas.

Thought he if was so important member of the backroom staff to give us this 'information', i am surprised he was not at the game, considering it was a important game from our CL campaign.

Taken this with the Huge Barrel of Salt I have got next to me.

I didn't say he was an "important" member of the backroom staff. Your conclusions are of course your prerogative but: Do you really think this guy was lying to me? Or do you think that I am lying to all of you?

Thanks Bluenut - I am dying to tell but won't for my man's sake.

is it Stamford The Lion?

you're dying to tell us aint'cha.

Word of advise - don't.

If the 'internet police' get hold of it he'll be out of work or gagged by the club!

How many club employees sit on the bench every match but had their first day off for a month last night I wonder?

Roman loves Dutch football and wants Chelsea to fashioned in the Dutch style. We can expect an influx of Dutch players and management. It seems that Rijkaard already has one foot in the door and my contact fully expects him to be our manager next year. We can also expect Huntelaar and Van de Vaart to be signed.

Anything on free travel and match tickets for Dutch supporters? No?

Anything on free travel and match tickets for Dutch supporters? No?

Sorry only for Chelsea supports going to Everton

Cheers J'sMs - it all sounds very much the inner workings of what we see week-in week-out this season. I will be interested to see if your contact's notion about Dutch style comes to pass - certainly something I would relish.

Also Carv I can completely see that being the case, talk about portugeezer.

Not that any of it sounded like gospel but "believe what you read in The Sun (yes, The Sun!!)" fully crowed it for me

Glad were all enjoying the surprising ammount of success were having so far though

AVRAM GRANT

Avram really does absolutely nothing, he just stands around with his hands in his pockets and - as he did in his Pompey days - seems obsessed with setting out the cones. The training schedules are exactly as they were under Jose except that there is none of the analysis of the next opposition with which Jose would furnish the players.

JT's comments about AV half-time talks is all so much sh*t said for the benefit of the club's PR. The truth is that AV's half-time team talks are a joke. He just cannot do angry and when he tries it still comes out as a confused mumble which has seen players snigger at him rather than react. It is only Stevie and Ten Cate who have ears of the players.

When on the bench, he goes through the motions but really has no idea what it going on during games. My contact related one alarming story during the Boro game when AV was at the edge of the pitch gesticulating wildly as we make a substitution. AV turns round to the bench and asks: "what's going on?" where upon Clarke had to tell him that they had put on SWP for Ballack.

Not one player wants to see him as manager next season with many intimating that they would seek a transfer if that was the case.

In fairness to the man, it seems that he also knows he is not up to the job.

The good news is that - as far as my contact is concerned - AV is definitely to be moved upstairs at the end of the season regardless of whether or not we win the Premiership or Champions League.

.

i knew it all along

waht a very good interesting read

Watched Chelsea Tv last night with Tommy Langley on not exactly speaking highly of Av Grant; considering Chelsea Tv is a propaganda machine what do you think?

Its a bit like fox/sky news announcing America is keeping up the struggle in Iraq when they suddenly announce breaking news "insurgants" have attacked an ally compound north of Basra (whatever that means)

cech once said in an interview ricky is the worst player in training - that was when he said duff moaned the most...