The only place to be

Because Courtois, Chalobah, McEachran, Van Aanholt, Kalas, Kakuta, Lukaku and Piazon are all young guys in need of regular playing time for them to become good footballers who can serve the club over a long period of time. De Bruyne is probably a bit further along. Young players need to be developed otherwise there's no point in having an academy or scouting system.

The first point has some merit. Our midfield should be better without question. We're unfortunate to be without both Romeu and Mikel at the moment though and that has some bearing on what's going wrong at the moment. In terms of strikers, we're still paying the price for signing Torres. The second point about our players on loan is a little unfair though. The club, Emenalo in particular, will be the point man for dealing with these guys. We've actually done remarkably well to arrange worthwhile loans for many of them, and it was actually AVB who fucked up the progress of Josh and Romelu by keeping them in the squad and then not using them. You may reckon that he's had little contact with them, but I know he looked at bringing Josh back (who asked to stay at Boro) and has also spoken to Chalobah at least twice. Neil Bath and Dermot Drummy are also in contact with these players on a semi-regular basis so I'm not quite sure what you're basing these concerns on. The final point is fair, but no manager on Earth can manage the entire scouting program of a top football club. I agree with the overall point that we need stability, but it needs to be with the right person and apart from Jose and maybe Carlo, we haven't sacked anyone unfairly (maybe Robbie, but he was always a goner).

Is it me, or are they making a much bigger deal of signing him than you'd expect??

I just posted in the 'next manager thread' that Jose might not be the worst shout in the world, and if that's the case then I think Frank should perhaps be given an extension. His contract isn't up until the summer, and we won't have a new manager until then. I think so much of Frank's future is based on that.

Here's the highlights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-xAAECB8c Hunte's winner is sublime.

My heart says yes, my head says no. And then my head says but maybe we could put Steve Holland in temporary...sorry, interim charge. And my heart gets all excited but then my head reminds me that I actually like Steve and don't want him to get sacked. So ultimately I have to say no. This is our punishment for years of ignoring the warning signs and Roman needs to learn a lesson. We all do in life and it's part of growing up. Roman has been in charge for a decade almost and he's had great success, but also done some rather boneheaded things that I'm fairly certain he regrets. Hiring Rafa might have been arrogance, it might have simply been desperation. But he's missed out on the guy he wanted and you've got to hope that such a humbling experience changes him for the better. So I don't think we can sack him, but I think we'll come out of it better.

And they can have their share of the blame, but are you saying that Rafa isn't the cause in any way, shape or form?

I'm starting to come round to the idea of Mourinho as new coach. Partly it's because we're running out of options, partly it's because he felt like a proper Chelsea manager when he was in charge and no-one has since, but it's mostly because I'm not sure he's the same Mourinho anymore. People have suggested that this whole Guardiola-chase might be a humbling experience for Roman, or at least a reality-check. I'm not sure that the experience in Madrid (which could be a rather big failure this season) won't be a humbling experience for a man who probably needs it. Unabashed success for the best part of a decade isn't the best thing for those who are susceptible to inflated opinions of self-worth. Where the first marriage of Roman and Jose was the perfect combination of limitless ambition and seemingly limitless coaching ability, the second one might be two people, older, wiser and more weary together finding something even better and more importantly, more sustainable. Guardiola's three year contract at Bayern seems to fit well with Fergie's retirement plans. Whisky-nose is building another team there so one could easily plot a career path of Barcelona-Bayern-Man United for Pep. That leaves Mourinho with maybe 2 options in English football. There are plenty of stumbling blocks that make this risky and unlikely to happen, but for the romantic there's enough there to give them hope and that's something that is lacking at Chelsea Football Club at the moment. There are also plenty of posts where I've questioned this on the grounds that they're human beings with a fractious relationship. But I think I forgot that they are human beings, capable of growth and self-reflection in periods of quite desperation. And I'll be honest - I miss the swagger. I miss the arrogance. I miss the bravado although I don't miss some of the more unsavoury aspects of Jose. My main point of criticism is that I assumed some people thought we'd just get the old Jose back. I think the main attraction in his appointment is that he won't be the old Jose - he'll be better.

Quite simply I think we missed him last night. I'm not his biggest fan but he's good enough to come on against Southampton and steady the ship. I know I shouldn't be angry at him for being on international duty whilst his club and his teammates are in dire straits, but I'm not a perfect human being by any stretch of the imagination.

The bench isn't as strong as it could be, but we were 2-0 at half-time against a weak team. Benitez sends them out for the second-half and we give that performance and he isn't at least partly to blame?

FInally, a suggestion for who should be on the board. It's not a very good one, but still it's progress. The criticism of the board is once again baseless in my opinion though. Bruce Buck is a Chelsea fan. Eugene Tenenbaum isn't going anywhere but that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Ron Gourlay is doing a decent job, especially on the commercial side of things. I will say that both Buck and Gourlay took a lot of stick from the 'football world' when they stuck by Terry after he was found (probably) guilty of racist abuse. Ultimately all three answer to the big man. I do think this is a watershed moment in the tenure of Abramovich though. He's clearly learnt lessons in his time here, but I think he underestimated the difficulty of finding the right coach. I think the appointment of AVB showed that he does want a long-term guy in, but AVB fucked up and other matters conspired against him (player power is something Roman knows he has to address and he's doing that). The next guy on the list was Pep and the pursuit of him fucked us up. Now we have to completely change the way we do things. Fortunately (in a perverse way) I think Benitez is doing so badly that he will put himself out of the running, and hopefully Madrid come calling. I'll get plenty of stick on here but if getting knocked out of all three cups and scraping a top four finish sees that cunt go, I'd happily take it.

Course. They're all perfectly valid points. Part of me thinks that a fifth place finish and a chance to re-evaluate everything might be what we need in some ways. The CL win papered over a lot of cracks, partly because we had important players having one last hurrah before falling off a cliff performance-wise, or simply leaving. What's clear is that we need to change how we do things. There are plenty of things we're doing right, mainly financially and the youth team, but what's on the pitch is suffering. I actually wouldn't mind giving Steve Holland a go. He's respected, knows the club and he has got a decent pedigree. But he's massively inexperienced and it would look desperate. Last night, the fans were in better voice than they have been for a while and it was a fucking awful night. But what came out on the pitch in the second-half was simply disgraceful and that is all down to the manager in my opinion. He may well be a scapegoat, but he's also symptomatic of everything Roman has done wrong (amongst a whole heap of good) in a long time. In context (previous home capitulations, the Pep issue, Torres) the fan's response was not surprising. Me personally, I don't like booing but I'll be honest and say I was absolutely sickened at the final whistle and looking over and seeing Rafa going down the tunnel did not help in the slightest.

It's very rare you find 17 year olds with bags of experience, but I think people who want us to buy this kid are thinking a bit further than this season. Not sure what you're on about with a lack of mental strength - he's done well at a young age in a tough situation. I'd take him in a heartbeat not just because he's looked very accomplished when I've seen him, but because he's English and he's also a Chelsea supporter. We are going to need a new left-back if Ashley leaves. Personally I'd like to see him stay and get this kid as backup. No offence to Bertrand but he's going to be 24 before the start of next season and he's still not exactly shown a huge amount in his time here. The best compliment I can give him is that most of the time he looks dependable. Shaw looks exciting.

I don't know. The media tends to run far fewer stories about how we're stupid to let him go when he plays like he did last night, or like he did against QPR.

So were the fans a contributing factor in the first-half when we were winning but not the second-half? Did the atmosphere play a part in their first goal? Was it one of the fans giving a dirty look to Ramires that affected his ability to get back and defend? Did someone in the crowd fart and put both Luiz and Cahill off, giving Lambert a chance? It seems strange having to explain this, but fans aren't robots. They have feelings and they have fears. When a shit team starts coming back just a couple of weeks after a 1-0 home loss to another shit team, people remember. They get worried and they get frustrated. But if people really want to criticise the support, maybe they could do with this link. http://www.chelseafc.com/tickets

Why do we all want him to break the record? I've met Bobby Tambling on a number of occasions and he's a gentleman as well as being a great servant to the club. Personally I couldn't give a shit about the goalscoring record. It's fairly meaningless in all honesty. It doesn't make Lampard any greater or lesser of a player whether he gets it or not. But I agree with you about Lampard's lack of presence. He just didn't look like the old Frank last night.

They were fit last night? I know you don't like the idea of Luiz playing in midfield, but he's arguably been our best player in the last couple of months. That includes some very good midfield performances.

My view of the team is based on me actually following them and trying to educate myself about what they're trying to do. I don't boo my own team but I'm not going to call the people who support this club around the country, even when it wasn't popular to do so, stupid. Most likely you're one of those 'new fans' who doesn't have a fucking clue what this club is.

Played better when he was put in the middle (although had no pressure on him) but the game simply passed him by then he was on the wing. We either play him centrally or we get rid of him.

So who do we play in midfield instead? If Terry is fit he partners Ivanovic in the middle and we go with Luiz and someone else in the midfield. I honestly don't care who. I'd love for Oscar to get a shot but he won't. We're so weak in that position it's fucking untrue.

As a Chelsea fan, I feel he'd be good for us. But I honestly don't think we've got a chance of getting him.

Let's just get this cunt out of the club whatever. He offers nothing to the team and the fans (who have supported him for almost two years when it's been pretty fucking hard sometimes) simply don't want him here anymore. He wasn't to blame for what happened when he was on the bench, but he was fucking garbage when he came on.

No, I didn't boo. I saw one guy who I've know for about 15 years boo though. He was there in the shitty 80s and he helped save this club when it was in trouble. I think I'm going to say that this bloke has earned the right to voice his disgust at a disgusting performance. Go for it. You've criticised pretty much every aspect of the club from what appears to be an unrealistically uninformed position. You might not be on the wind-up but surely if you read some of the dribble you post, you'd be suspicious wouldn't you?

I don't know if you know much about our fans, but you'll not find a more supportive bunch in the country if they're on your side. You're very quick to criticise the club, the board and now the fans. You can understand why I maintain that you're a wind-up merchant can't you?

Surprised no-one has already posted this - a great bit of news on a shit day. FA YOUTH CUP REPORT: CHARLTON 2 CHELSEA 3 (AET)Posted on: Wed 16 Jan 2013Summary The youth side completed an impressive comeback at The Valley on Wednesday night, coming from two goals down to book a place in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. Chelsea had fallen two goals behind in a poor first-half display where the home side were the better team, first taking advantage of our sloppiness in possession and then working a smart goal from a quick counter-attack, leaving our defence of this title hanging by a thread. Stern words at half-time clearly did the trick though and Chelsea showed an increased desire and urgency in the second half, pulling a goal back through defender Andreas Christensen before substitute Alex Kiwomya raced through to level eight minutes from time. After looking down and out, the reigning champions were not going to let this lifeline go, and sure enough, three minutes into the second half of extra-time, sub Connor Hunte slotted into the bottom corner to complete the turnaround and send Chelsea through to the last 16. First half The early stages saw either side struggling to get to grips with the conditions on a hard and bobbly Valley playing surface.There was little of the fluid passing Adi Viveash and his staff have worked hard to cultivate in the Chelsea squad, but there were still opportunities. First Nathan Ake drove over from outside the area and then striker Islam Feruz saw his shot blocked, either side of a Diego Poyet effort that flew off target for the home side. The Blues were orchestrators off our own downfall when Charlton took the lead 12 minutes in, as John Swift surrendered possession inside his own half, and Harry Gerard was allowed to cross, picking out Tom Derry whose close-range header back across Mitchell Beeney was too much for the goalkeeper. Only a foul on Beeney by striker Tobi Sho-Silva prevented Charlton going two to the good shortly afterwards, but at the other end Chelsea threatened once more through captain Lewis Baker, whose left-footed drive was beaten away by Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips. Dominant in possession, Chelsea were caught cold again when Charlton launched a quick counter-attack before a tidy interchange on the edge of the box brought the ball to the feet of Oliver Muldoon, and the midfielder made no mistake in placing his finish and doubling his side's advantage. Baker slipped in Feruz almost immediately as Chelsea looked to hit back quickly, but the striker was just off target as he shot across goal, and then Ake drove off target again after patient build-up from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Baker. Charlton almost put the game beyond reach just after the half-hour following more good work from Muldoon, whose cross found Sho-Silva, and when he unselfishly headed down, Derry forced a superb reflex stop from Beeney to keep Chelsea in the game. Sho-Silva smashed the follow-up into the side netting, another let-off that would leave Chelsea believing we could find a way back into the game after the break. Second half Viveash made an attacking change at the break, with Kiwomya replacing right-back Fankaty Dabo. That shifted Ake back into central defence, Christensen to the right and Kiwomya onto the right flank as Jeremie Boga tucked inside, and Loftus-Cheek dropped into the midfield anchor role. It took 11 second-half minutes for the Blues to find a chance, when Baker's low drive brought a decent stop from Phillips. This punctuated moments of frustration where first Baker's clever free-kick was not anticipated by Boga, and then when his headed through ball was accidentally handled by Feruz, who would otherwise have been in on goal. With the ball at his feet Feruz always looks dangerous, and he danced around his man brilliantly on the left, picking out Swift could who steered his shot just wide. Baker saw his header cleared off the line after a Boga corner as the Blues began to exert more and more pressure, and a goal would not be far off. It came from Christensen, who gambled in possession and advanced from his right-back slot, skipping round tackle after tackle before playing in Feruz. The Scotsman's low shot was partially dealt with by the goalkeeper, allowing the Dane to continue his run and knock the loose ball home. Twenty-five minutes remained in which to force an equaliser, but for a while it looked like it wouldn't come, as Feruz shot wildly over and then miskicked, but a Chelsea second finally arrived inside the final 10 minutes through Kiwomya, who was released down the middle and showed his electric pace to burst pass the Charlton defence and finish confidently from just inside the box. Three minutes later Alex Davey must have thought he had put us in front when he headed another Baker corner towards the top corner, but Phillips was just able to get across his goal-line and tip over. That was the last chance of the 90 minutes, and so the game moved into 30 minutes of extra-time. After such a poor start, Chelsea had done well to force the extra period. Now, they would want to ensure they finished the job. Extra-time The opening 15 minutes brought no clear-cut chances with both sides visibly tiring after a hard night's graft in freezing conditions. Phillips in the Charlton net had to pad down a fierce Ake drive to make the half's only save, but three minutes after the restart he would be beaten once more. Substitute and schoolboy Connor Hunte broke through down the left and into the Charlton box was able to guide the ball past the goalkeeper and into the far corner, putting his side in front for the first time in the game. Beeney had to save from Gerard low to his left as Charlton desperately sought a way back in, but having gained control, Chelsea would not let it slip, and held on to secure a home draw in the fifth round. Reaction Coach Adi Viveash was pleased with his side's response after the break. 'At half-time I asked a question of them,' he said. We were going out with a bit of a whimper and that wasn't us. I asked how much belief they had, because it means a lot to everybody and they weren't displaying that. We had a lot of possession in the first half but it never looked as though we were going to hurt them. 'In the end I was disappointed we didn't win it in 90 minutes because we were dominant after getting one goal, and showed more quality on the ball. Players who had struggled started to have good games. Lewis Baker has the ability to dictate the pace of the game, and did that well tonight with a captain's performance. 'It was nice for the two substitutes to score, we've a lot of good players and the character they all showed is what I know about them. They fought and scrapped and scored three goals. Now we're in the next round with a home tie against Barnsley or Stevenage, which we'll look forward to with momentum building.' Chelsea team: Mitchell Beeney; Fankaty Dabo (sub Alex Kiwomya h-t), Alex Davey, Andreas Christensen, Adam Nditi (sub Charlie Colkett 81); John Swift (Connor Hunte 68), Nathan Ake, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Jeremie Boga, Islam Feruz, Lewis Baker ©. Unused subs: Ben Killip, Dion Conroy. http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3043770/title/fa-youth-cup-report-charlton-2-chelsea-3-(aet)