OhForAGreavsie

If I guessed this is a BLM protest would I be wrong?

A year later an even nicer highlights vid featuring Mando. He's beefed up a bit, still showing good physical and technical attributes, and on this evidence at least, has not lost his knack for good decision making. He's achieved a passing grade at every level he's played so far. Onward and upward.

Yes that's exactly why the final could not be played in the UK. I'm not totally against this stance. If the game went ahead at Wembley without covid incident the government would get no credit. If it went wrong, and there was an outbreak, they would be blasted. Whether it went well or went badly they would be accused of double standards. I despise Boris Johnson and his crew but I don't think we could reasonably expect them to make any other decision on this issue.

I confess I haven't bothered to look up which other finals TT has coached in but I think it's fair to say that most managers would have a terrible record in finals against 2020 Bayern Munich.

What do we make of the fact that we have sent 800 tickets back? Chelsea return more than 800 unsold Champions League final tickets - BBC Sport

I know how you feel but I think of this as a free hit. We should have no chance so we have nothing to lose. We didn't expect to be anywhere near the final. Being there is way ahead of schedule. Of course we'll take stick from media bods and fans of other clubs if we loose but we've got something to build on whatever the result.

This is a tough place because neither of us, you nor me, are unbiased. I do believe that uefa, or individuals of influence within the organisation, treated us incorrectly. I also believe that fifa, specifically blatter, hated Chelsea. I do believe that we have suffered appalling decisions by official bodies. Three points however: - City fans believe the same in respect of their club. They are convinced that their club has it worse than we do, worse than anyone else does. Just because they think it does not make it true and the same must apply to us. I have read hundreds of assessments on here which I think are just outright pro Chelsea bias. Maybe you have too, I don't know but this is the root of my comment that we do this too and we do. I did say 'us'. I did not attempt to exclude myself. Everybody knows that the media influences opinion but almost everyone believes that it doesn't influence them personally. Individuals generally consider themselves far too clever to be manipulated by the media they consume. They think it's only 'other people' who are susceptible. They are wrong. We all are influenced and we all have biases.

Absolutely. Exactly this. Those delusional people actually believe that Chelsea had a much easier time with media and other fans after our takeover than City did after theirs.

I have to confess that I don't read Spurs fan sites. One step WAY beyond. 🙂I'll take your word for it and take back what I said about City fans.

Just out of interest, visit Bluemoon and you will see that City fans think the world hates them, especially referees, the BBC and uefa. All sets of fans are stupidly one eyed in their assessments, including I'm sorry to say us here, but I think City are the absolute worst. Even worse than some of you and that's saying something. 🙂

I'm trying. Really trying to be happy about this. It's hard to change the habit of a lifetime.

I want to keep him on. He's the most likely to do something magical around the edge of the box.

Just as well there are no away fans or else there would be a few thousand more roaring Leicester on.

Chillwell once again demonstrating the vital, VITAL, importance of two footed full backs. Turns a chance into a goal kick with his left when there were good options with his right.

Eden said that he would have gone to Madrid, who made an offer for him, but they were not ready to play him; they were basically intending to park him for a season or two. That allowed us to move up the pecking order. He thought he may as well play somewhere else for a couple of seasons and then go to Madrid. It didn't work out that way but that was his plan. All of the factors you mention obviously play a part but the overall point made above stands. A number of players have turned Chelsea down in the past then announced that they could have made more money at Stamford Bridge but they made a different choice even so.

The point we've been discussing is that genuinely top level players have options when seeking a transfer. Such players generally prefer some other clubs over Chelsea so if they end up here it is a sure sign that none of the preferred clubs were interested. When the list of usual suspects pass on a player it's a good clue that he is not genuinely top level. The example I gave was Havertz. When I first saw him I thought every club in the world would want him so there was no chance we'd get him. As soon as I realised that in fact we had a strong chance of getting him, I also realised that I must have been overrating him and lowered my expectations accordingly. There was a lot of excitement when Hakim signed but he could never have been as good as his reviews. If he was he probably would not have been at Ajax, and he certainly would not have moved from there to here.

His agent would certainly have investigated if there was any interest from other clubs. If, say, Bayern had been interested and they offered him a realistic prospect of being in the regular rotation, Hakim wouldn't be here.

On Hakim, did that stop clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain wanting to take him? Stories like these are publicised but I do not believe them. If there was a player a top club genuinely wanted they would have thrown their hats into the ring.

I'm really surprised by this because that is not what I found. Anyway, I'm on record as saying that I do not think Ethan will make it as a Chelsea player. Hopefully for the lad I will be wrong.

This is not what everyone was saying when we signed him It's a buyer beware warning. Anytime a supposedly top level player is available to Chelsea it is because none of the more immediately attractive clubs is interested. One 'big' club might misjudge a player and pass because they fail to recognise his level or perhaps because they don't have a need. When every club ahead of Chelsea pass however, there is always a reason for that. This brings us back to Sancho. I'm not saying you refuse to buy a player because the clubs players generally prefer to join don't want him. I am saying though that you accurately calibrate the footballer you are chasing and avoid being suckered into overpaying. Havertz is a good example. I'm glad we have him but as soon as it became clear that we might actually get Kai I realised that I had been overrating him and toned down my expectations. This may also bring us back to Sancho.

By who? I don't think the club regard him as such.

It's desperately depressing. The lunatics feel they are running the asylum now so it's party time for the morons. This particular glimpse into the minds of the crazies is just a slice of the mania which is abroad in the world currently. There will be an upturn again but for now it feels like the world is headed into a long, steep and deep decline. And I thought that the football itself was depressing enough.

Turn the chat off. 🙂

With that kind of contribution from a mod, that's somewhere not worth being. Wherever it is.

You know the answer. We all do. 🙁