Bazza 12

We shouldn't be writing things about HATING people. We support our team, and opponents try to stop us. Some do that fairly, some not - but it's a game, and our players do the same things. What's the point of Hating them? Are we allowed to appreciate players in other teams? Presumably some of us used to hate Ashley Cole - maybe some of us still do! All a bit silly really.

I think all talk of "the biggest club" is only a discussion for losers. If you don't win on the pitch you have to make yourself feel better by looking for other measues (see also Arsenal, "club managed in the right way", "fantastic kids", etc.) Who cares? Size doesn't matter anyway, or so my girlfriend says...

I suspect that we may be forced to promote more youth players due to financial presures. A couple of points, though:- 1. We can't just assume that the players are good enough - many players look good at 16 and then don't make it. Youth players have to be very sensitively managed - they are just boys after all. A bad experience or two can wreck their confidence. I remember both Jody Morris and Mark Nicholls being hailed as great prospects in their time......and they did get some first team action too. 2. If we continue the line of thinking that says "use the cups as training projects" we further devalue those competitions. In my opinion, Arsenal should already be banned from them, as they clearly don't think they matter - and as this goes further, we'll soon find that nobody bothers to attend - admission prices are already reduced massively. The Carling Cup will become the Youth Cup, and the FA Cup - the reserves cup - lacks some appeal, doesn't it? Although I want the best outcome for Chelsea, I really think the whole system around youth football is bad - for the players and for the game. Clubs should not "own" boys at all. What hapens to all the rejects each year - do we ever hear about them - do we care, even? I would if it were my son.

Simple fact is we'll never know for sure what his plans are - he probably changes his mind too, as we all do. The club is massively stronger now than when he arrived, and he won't write off £700m - so, if he is to leave, it will be sold, or pass to his family. I hope he stays, largely because his support for the team is so obvious - unlike the faceless owners of so many other clubs.