Fulham Broadway

No we're not spoilt. That accusation could be levelled if we were moaning because teams were beating us fair and square, and we were playing to our full potential. As it is we're not, due to the players having no respect for the manager -well maybe Joe Cole is the exception, genius player, but not the brightest star in the galaxy. Under that fat clown he's managed to fuck up the FA cup, the Carling Cup and now the League. Wigan, Aston villa, The Yids, and Everton, all in all 8 points dropped in the last minute, that a competent manager wouldn't have let happen.

Yeah living in Liverpool has one advantage seeing as we play them every year. Is it true the women are all orange from fake tans ?

If I owned the club I'd put the club before gash, or at least have a bed in the directors box at a strategic angle.

HA HA HA priceless

Defiant Grant says his future lies at Chelsea · Manager planning transfer targets with Abramovich · Insists he has worked wonders to be in title race David Hytner Thursday April 17, 2008 The Guardian Avram Grant insists he will still be Chelsea's manager next season and is even planning his summer transfers. Photograph by Steven Paston/Action Images. Gordon Brown is not synonymous with sporting predictions but when Avram Grant claimed yesterday that nobody, "including the prime minister of England, could have seen us in the position we are in [now] when I received the team" he had got his point across, and with uncharacteristic hyperbole too. The under-fire Chelsea manager was in fighting mood before tonight's crucial Premier League fixture at Everton and he did not stop with an outspoken defence of his record. He felt sufficiently confident to declare that he had started talks with the owner, Roman Abramovich, and scouting director, Frank Arnesen, about transfer targets and he suggested that the summer would give him the opportunity to shape the team in the desired image. Although Grant signed Nicolas Anelka in January and the Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, who has yet to feature, the team and the playing style remain largely those of his predecessor, Jose Mourinho. Abramovich has demanded greater fantasy and Grant believes he will be entrusted with the close-season alterations. "We are already speaking about this all the time, planning for the short- and the long-term," he said. "It's not about how many [new signings] but which ones you can bring. We want to play a certain type of football and if they can help us with that we will want to take them. "The advantage we had three years ago was that the other big clubs didn't have the money, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona, so we could show the money and get the player. Now it has changed. For example, I don't think Barcelona would give you [Lionel] Messi even if you showed them big money." At present only Joe Cole consistently quickens the pulse at Chelsea. The club will be in the market for players who are capable of moments of magic and there will be spaces freed up by sales. Didier Drogba is expected to be the highest-profile departure and his fellow strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro do not feature in any long-term plans. Florent Malouda, the winger signed for £13.5m from Lyon last summer, is another the club would like to move on. He left the French champions to play for Mourinho, not Grant, and his performances have been hugely disappointing. Frank Lampard, meanwhile, must attempt to broker a new contract at the end of the season. His existing deal runs out in the summer of 2009. "I think players will want to join Chelsea," said Grant. "We are a big club, we want to be bigger. Only one team can take the title or the Champions League so you think all the good players will just want to join that one club?" The level of hostility from Chelsea's fans towards Grant was illustrated yesterday by Pat Nevin, the club's former winger. He was as horrified as they were at the concession of a late equaliser to Wigan Athletic on Monday, which left Grant's side five points behind the leaders, Manchester United, with four games to play. "I write for the Chelsea website every Tuesday and usually ask a little question at the end," said Nevin, who would not be "devastated or all that surprised if Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard turns up as the Chelsea manager" next season. "My emails went into meltdown because the only way you can contact the club is through my email address. I've got over 1,000 emails sitting there and they are not answers to the question." Grant bristled with defiance. "Every week there is another coach connected to Chelsea; it was also true last year," he said. "There is no news." He also laid down the law to the defender Tal Ben-Haim, who reportedly said he "knew nothing good would come with Grant as Chelsea coach". Ben-Haim may be on his way. "If a player was wrong, we need to deal with it in our way, my way," said Grant. Grant took over in September with the team sixth in the league, five points behind the leaders, Arsenal. They had also drawn their opening Champions League game against Rosenborg. "Realistically, we did not have a chance from day one that I was here," said Grant. "There was always a team above us with more points. [but] we have made good developments in the Champions League and the Premier League and now we want to finish it. Anyone who is reasonable will say that we have done a very good job. I don't expect 100% of people to think the same, though." Six set to depart Didier Drogba Bought July 2004, Cost £24m Finally set on the move he has considered since the day he signed Florent Malouda July 2007, £13.5m Upset by Jose Mourinho's departure and has not lived up to expectations Andriy Shevchenko May 2006, £30m Peripheral even under Avram Grant and Milan are keen to re-sign him Claudio Pizarro June 2007, Free Few games since joining from Bayern Munich and not in Grant's plans Tal Ben-Haim June 2007, Free Has not played for two months and reportedly criticised the coach Steve Sidwell May 2007, Free Another free signing from last summer who has made no impact Horrific if true -though Grant knew Arnesen before he came to Portsmouth, one of the reasons he greased himself into SW 6, so could be some mileage in the article.

What we dont want is some figurehead like we have now. We're hanging on to that winning mentality that Mourinho instilled in the players. That will fade unless the hollow charlatan is removed and replaced with someone they respect, and wins the fans over.

Cant beleive hes that shallow . Unless he's sending them to kids in the Ivory Coast.

Abramovich hasn't been seen at games recently I saw on a Chelsea blog, he's too busy hanging out the back of that model. Allegedly.

Lol was going to ask if you went BB . Sounded like a good atmosphere. I cant believe we're at Anfield next Tuesday -come round so quickly. You going to that one or will it be in the restaurant ?

Surely by giving that 'Rain Man' performance he's a media liability now just as Mourinho was seen to be ?

Grant ingratiated himself to Abramovich when he was in Israel. Abramovich was 'impressed' with his football 'knowledge'. Israeli sources at the time said this was what Grant was good at - sucking up to the rich and powerful. Gaydemark at Pompey was another Russian jew that siphoned of Russias assets as communsim collapsed and as a favour to Abramovich ''parked'' Grant at Pompey till the ''Director of Football'' position miraculously appeared. Grant had also sucked up to Arnesen a couple of years previous, and it's quite obvious a conspiracy was there to oust Mourinho, and this suited Abramovich. There was also thespat that resulted in the three freebies Haim, Pizarro, and Sidwell arriving. This is how I see it. Could be wrong, but thats how I see it. The club should be just that , a club. If Grant goes it will be because a groundswell of unpopulatity has finally penetrated Abramovichs ivory tower.

Yeah they egg him on to be 'funny'. He actually knows his football when talking unprodded

But it's not rocket surgery. Everywhere Abramovich goes -whether its to the most prestigous luxury yacht makers in the World, for his fouth luxury £400 million ship, to people catering to his every champange lifestyle whim, he's going to receive unmitigated deference only paralleled by Royalty. When this happens you get used to it. Doesnt matter if his toy team is doing exceedingly well, he won't take kindly to some gobby Portuguese upstart running HIS club and having charisma. Chelsea FC has come along way from being bought by Bates for a quid and Eddie McCreadie leaving because he cant have a Ford Escort company car, but not neccesarily for the good. Its less of a team and more of a pyramid structure

Really unfair to compare Wenger with Grant. Grant can only be compared with the creepy caretaker in Scooby Doo. If Grant is here next season with his £100 m to spend, less real Chelsea fans will be going. My nephew is not renewing his season ticket (£855) as it is.

You'd think Alan Green would be a bit more benign though seeing as we just increased the chances of his beloved Liverpool qualifying for next seasons CL. There are some who have a good understanding - Cascarino and ian Wright spring to mind. Ian Wrights now leaving the BBC -said he's fed up with being the 'Court Jester' to Alan ' boring as fuck' Shearer, and Lineker.

Glad you've come round to that way of thinking. The longer he stays the greater the waste of talent and disjointed performances. As a supporters group we should sue the fucker for misappropriation of funds.

I'm convinced. You just have to look and listen to Buck, Greenberg, Grant, kenyon -all stating endless mundane platitudes - just for the filthy lucre. Abramovich gets used to this unconfrontational approach -you get someone with balls like Mourinho -and billionaire boy dont like it.

I think that 's the problem - Abramovich will want a semi-yes man in there, or someone that Buck, Kenyon, Arnesen recommend. They won't want someone who can stand on their own two feet. For all the Glaziers parasitical greedy intentions, they know not to rock the ManUtd boat when Ferguson and the brand is successful. Bottom line Abramovich doesnt need to worry about Chelsea FC making money, so he has the luxury of interfering with his toy if he wants to.

They really are fuckwits. Watched it on True Sports not sure who the commentators were. Alan Green on Radio 5 later was saying how shit we were -he rarely disguises his dislike of Chelsea. You'd think the bastard would be pleased , us having done his beloved Liverpool a favour by beating the toffees.

I read Hiddink had fallen out with Abramovich because he wanted an extended contract with Russia, and Abramovich was paying him ...whatever. This season will be looked upon as wasteful - when you think players careers are short enough, and the potential has been wasted this season because of the Gormless One in charge. Not only that, players are potentially leaving that wouldnt be, had Abramovichs ego not been bruised by Mourinho. Arnesen is a dark force within CFC and wouldn't surprtise me to see his fellow countryman, Laudrup appear in June. They're very matey.

Agree. Kalou SWP amongst others were average, even Joe Cole. Anelka seems to have settled into his doing the barest minimum -I know players have bad patches. but this season is one of the first that I havent been that excited really. Seasons languishing in mid table Div 2 were more entertaining.

And now he's being 'controversial' with the media. Isn't that the main reason Mourinho was bombed out ? Hopefully his days are numbered. I bet he doesnt get a managerial job when he leaves. The dour faced toad would have to go to Man Utd or Barca to sit there and get adequate results. Anywhere else and he'll be found out for what he is immediately.

Laudrup is great friends with Arnesen. Hiddink though has recently fallen out with Abramovich, if the media are to be believed , over money. So it'll probably be Rijkaard or Laudrup. I'd like Mark Hughes or the Roma boss or Sven. In fact anyone with a bit of a football brain.

Bizarre if true. Can imagine him doing it though, he may be sending them to kids in Africa.

Hes just trying to be controversial because he knows he cant do anything else. Its a mirror image of his wife drinking piss. Cunt.