ZAPHOD2319

Marina Granovskaia is set to speak publicly about Chelsea for the first time during the trial of football agent Saif Alrubie. Alrubie was charged with sending Granovskaia, who was in charge of the day-to-day running of Chelsea under former owner Roman Abramovich, an email that conveyed a threat with the purpose of causing distress on May 22, 2022, just over a month before the club was sold to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The email is reported to have been related to defender Kurt Zouma’s transfer to West Ham United from Chelsea for just under £30 million the previous summer and Alrubie has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Granovskaia attended Southwark Crown Court on Monday and was named by judge David Tomlinson among a list of witnesses in the case, which also included former Chelsea and West Ham United manager Avram Grant, agents Kia Joorabchian, Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman, and Brentford owner Matthew Benham. Described by judge Tomlinson as ‘holding an executive role at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich from 2012’ and ‘being in charge of the buying and selling of players’, Granvoskaia was not required to speak on Monday but is expected to do so this week. Granovskaia, credited with being one of the most powerful figures in football during her time at Stamford Bridge, has not been seen by Chelsea supporters since leaving the club in the summer of 2022 and has never given an interview or spoken publicly on her time at the club. Judge Tomlinson ruled that, because of the nature of the case and those people involved, that anybody with a personal connection to Chelsea or West Ham, including season ticket holders, could not take a place on the jury. He also disclosed that he had once been a Chelsea member in order to buy tickets for his son, but that did not raise any objection from Alrubie’s defence barrister Matthew Radstone. The jury was told that anybody who had a connection, either personally or through family or friends, with Zouma or former Chelsea players Antonio Rudiger and Tammy Abraham should declare it. The case continues on Tuesday, when Granovskaia is expected to be in attendance and speak as a witness, and could run into the early part of next week.

I have my standard FB avatar bet on this game. sigh

PRE/POST-MATCH DISCUSSION, LIVE CHAT AND ANALYSIS Tuesday 23th April 2024 Premier League Emirates Stadium 8pm UK

Get Sterling in. He knows how to turn these guys

That was really wank in attack and Jackson in s being a coward

COYB KTBFFH

Haaland and Du Bruyne are doubtful for tomorrow.

Lets just hope it is one where Pep overthinks an exotic way to stop Palmer.

Two games ago Poch was asked directly if he has set penalty kicker in Palmer, his reply was, "I let the lads decide who takes the penalties". So as of two games ago, he didn't have a set player. Only after the bad optics is he now saying he does. I am not impressed at all by Poch.

I believe what Palmer says much much more than what Poch says. After the game Palmer was interviewed by the crew at USA network. They wanted to know if the players knew before the game that he was the designated penalty kicker? Palmer's reply was..."Well we all know now." I do not think for a second that Poch laid down that there is a designated penalty kicker and now that he is recieving heat from the press, he is scrambling with his story.

Not really sure why Matt Law has become so toxic towards Chelsea. I know he often got inside information when Roman owned the team, but he has kept getting more negative since the team was sold.

They voted it in at the end of 2023.

PRE/POST-MATCH DISCUSSION, LIVE CHAT AND ANALYSIS Saturday 20th April 2024 FA Cup Wembley Stadium 5:15pm UK

The destroyer makes it 6-0

Fucking terrible leadership by Poch lead to that stupidity about the penalty

I will feel comfortable at 90'

oh my!! 4-0

Cold is bombing them from every where. Fast hat trick

Did not see this happening, but will take it

Cold!!!! 1-0