Fulham Broadway

Not sure Pat Nevin 'adores' Mourinho, though perhaps you know better. Hes been fairly neutral in his assessments of the manager and club, rather than the black and white childish hate\love Mourinho inrerpretations here. One thing he doesnt hide from though is the cold reality that Chelsea FC is a business.

I think most at the club would dispute that, but I understand why some fans are bitter atm.

Nothing to do with your nationality pal. Pat Nevin is closer to the club than any of us and is more of a respected commentator than any of us. He might make the odd wrong call, but who hasnt, especially on here.

With all due respect barca and bayern are not chelsea, and not being funny but I would rather take the word of a Chelsea stalwart legend than a bloke in India

Its that time in the evening, a coffin lid creaks open. Yawn.

Run along and be a good pussy

There are countless articles about Abramovich, all speculative I am afraid. He owns the club, leaves the running of the business to staff. Theres no doubt he likes his football, all the large screen TVs on his yachts have matches being shown by all accounts, so it would not be unusual for him to attend a youth match of the club he owns. To say he 'always attends the youth matches' is a bit far fetched

No and no. The academy makes a profit, it is if you like a production line. If youre lucky you may get 1% of loanees ever considered good enough to play for Chelseas first team, but the bottom line is that the factory is profitable. Abramovich leaves the running of his business to directors and the board. How do we know Abramovich wants to see the youth play ? This is mere media speculation, as he never speaks to the press.

Am sure a lot of fans have the same romantic notion of youth development and maybe forfeit silverware for a while. The bitter reality is that this would never happen. Chelsea Football Club is first and foremost a business to make profit. Everything else is secondary and periphery. I wish people would understand this instead of the 'mourinho is such a 'orrible git for not playing josh, ruben, insert any youth player here[............]

Wee Pat Nevin was on R5 saying such is the demand of owners of top clubs, Chelsea in particular, there is never a chance to nurture and play 'da yoof'. Its nothing to do with Mourinho he said, just the demands of instant success of big business

Can we drop him off at the Emirates in January. I'll chuck in an old Panini album and PS2 to sweeten the deal

Thats getting on for 40 000 bullets then. Got a deserved standing ovation when he came off.

Same team that beat Porto would be good

Great all round team performance. Hunger and urgency was back, and we didnt lose the ball 20 times this match because a certain someone was benched

What, you mean the wall ? Lol probably.it was the sheer number of fans. What amazes me looking back is the blase way the authorities, cops, dealt with it. Dust themselves down , get up and back on with the game Nowdays theyd have questions in Parliament, a Public Enquiry and close the ground for 6 months

Here we go chaps. Gorilla mask and the 'walls come tumbling down' https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F1nKg5Tb5w4

But we got used to it iggy, as we have to now

Scarf round the wrist, lionel blairs, it will all come back. Harringtons are trendy again

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times - no wonder we were always fighting. Now its cyber wars

You wouldnt get many games now abandoned because of a downfall -not a good baptism into the Bridge then Starman, then again it can make the first victory sweeter I think Kitchen scored for the Orient

Being in europe next year could be a disaster, we need to finish around mid table, shift out some of the over paid dross and go about rebuilding with a young hungry passionate side with a homegrown spine

The underperforming players strangely raise their game in European ties. We would see a different approach in the europa, and tomorrow as well.

You'll have to check hes got any first !

I do find it funny that several posters have suddenly appeared since Bournemouth to stick the boot in. What did Cantona say about 'seagulls following the trawler'. Yes, I get football nowadays is about instant gratification, but all this ' burn the witch' stuff just reeks of people on the internet and social media, who have 'supported' Chelsea since 2004-5, and who couldnt give a fuck until then. As it stands it doesnt reflect the owner, the board or the fans that go to games. They want to work with what we have. Mourinhos decisions have been questionable, players committment has been dire at times. Bottom line -Abramovich=money=Mourinho=success and this attracts people who understandably want to bathe in that success and then immediately look for a scapegoat when it goes tits up. I think a lot of people at the club have got questions to answer including Maria, Emanalo, Mourinho, Buck amongst others. Its a shame that Essien19 has got to breaking point, he has made some excellent, positive views.

Welcome ! - look forward to your contributions