The only place to be

I don't know what your sources are, but this is complete bollocks. People have clearly defined roles and there is a hierarchical structure in place in terms of the playing, administrative and commercial aspects of the club. You're providing analysis that implies you have a fucking clue about how the club is run - you don't. I actually know people who work at the club and the things you're saying are fucking laughable. As for the manager situation, you're not saying anything that people at the club don't already know. They want to get a guy they can stick with long-term but NONE of the options has panned out. Look at the AVB situation. He was given as much support as anyone could ask for, but HE lost the players. Not just the senior ones like Spurs cunts like to suggest, but literally everyone from the first team to the reserves to the youth team. Even the staff came to despise him because he's just not a good people person. After he went, Roman had eyes for one person only - Guardiola. People think I've got some man crush on him, and as a coach i do like him. But it's what he represents to Roman that I think is most important. He's the only guy he'll give his unconditional support to. He's the only guy who could suffer through some bad results whilst implementing a new style that would get time. It's why he's so important to us. So much rests on his appointment that it is un-fucking-true. People don't seem to realise how important the next few years is to Chelsea Football Club. People who just want to sack Rafa without having a plan C really don't seem to have the best interests for this club at heart. I'm of the belief he can get us a top-four finish and that's all he needs to do. When he was first appointed I said I didn't want his name in our record books more than it needed to and that appears to be what will happen. But we need top four and whilst he's still the guy leading us, he'll get my support. As for 4231, part of it is down to the way Emenalo sees football and it's partly down to it being the formation de jour. It offers defensive solidiity whilst providing more attacking options if done right, whilst placing a premium on possession which minimises fatigue and maximising opposition exertion.

It's not propaganda and I'm not a club insider - you're confusing me with someone who actually goes INSIDE the GROUND which seems to be rather anomalous around these parts. I'll be honest because that's what I've always done. I hate Rafa, but he's the manager and he's here until summer so I want him to do a good job so we can bring in Guardiola in the summer and start rebuilding. I cheer myself up by thinking of a future midfield of McEachran and Chalobah. I go on youtube and look at videos of Islam Feruz and think 'this kid has got something'. We just need the guy who has the job security to take a chance and build something new. In the meantime, I'll be at Elland Road supporting MY team whilst people on here look forward to a chance to bitch and moan about Benitez. If that's what makes them happy then fine, but they can fuck right off calling me some stooge for the board.

I don't care if the board love Chelsea - their job isn't to do that. Their job is to attract income and reduce expenditure whilst trying to provide the tools for the coach to win games. Were you so anti-Gourlay and Buck in Munich in May? I don't remember many people mentioning they should be sacked when Drogba's penalty went in. As for the rest, if you're so pessimistic about the club why are you sticking around? I look at my club and I see a bright future with all of the young talent we have. But we simply haven't replaced Mourinho as the figurehead of the club and that's what Roman sees Guardiola as. Like I said the amount of people throwing this club and some of it's players and achievements under the bus because of a few rough results is astounding.

What the board has done in terms of getting us prepared for FFP is pretty impressive. But it's not just that. I think they've done well in changing us from an 'ageing team' and focussing on acquiring some truly exciting youth products. That to me shows that they've learnt from the mistakes of 7 years ago when we were very focussed on the short-term. Then there's the attempts to find a new stadium which I know some fans don't like, but I honestly think we need to do to kick on. I don't know if they've alienated me. They've been part of some of the greatest moments of my life, but I've had to say goodbye to some people I revered. But I disagree with the notion that Guardiola would be definitely sacked within a year. I think Roman sees him as our next great manager, after Jose. The truth is Jose has never been replaced. The team that won last year was still his team. They're the ones who carried themselves to the trophy through sheer force of will, and they (Cech, Cole, Terry, Lamps, Drogba) almost got there at least three times previously. That's why I call it year 7 of Mourinho's 5 year plan. Now we need an equally forceful personality to build something new and I do believe that is Guardiola. It is not Benitez. I don't want him here beyond June. So whilst I am pissed off at what's happening, it was somewhat inevitable when we peaked last year and then didn't get the right manager in (sorry Robbie). But I console myself with looking at the performances of youngsters like De Bruyne, Chalobah, McEachran etc. because I honestly believe in 12 months time we'll be at the beginning of something even better than what happened in Roman's first decade in charge. I believe it'll be more sustainable, more consistent and take us from Stamford Bridge to somewhere new.

I agree. Anyone can see that this squad has been designed for a certain person in June 2013. The way we loaned players out to get experience, the way we trimmed a lot of fat (some of which we needed) from the wage bill and the players we signed all pointed to this season being nothing but a holding season. Robbie was never the long-term guy, but simply someone to get us through the season and into next season's Champions League. But the board got cold feet and dumped him for Rafa. Now I actually think he can do the job and then fuck off, but I don't for a minute think it will be pretty. Last season was essentially the 7th year of Mourinho's 5 year plan for Chelsea. The team was still his. I honestly think we're going to see almost all of it go next year and I think anyone who thought this process would be painless was kidding themselves.

Are you a plant sent by Eugene and Michael to defend Rafa and the board?

Because I've asked questions like who would do better? Fucking hell. Like I've said in another post, coming on this site has introduced me to a type of supporter I really haven't seen in over 20 years of going to the Bridge. I seriously sit there. I started in the West Stand when it had Wooden seats (with the occassional game in the Shed STANDING), then moved to the East stand, then to the new Family Enclosure in the Shed and now I tend to stick to the MHL. If you think I'm a plant to defend Rafa then you're pretty delusional considering the amount I go on about hiring a certain Catalonian bloke, and probably duty bound to ban me from this site.

Couldn't agree more. I've got to be honest and say that since registering on this site my eyes have been opened to a whole swathe of Chelsea supporters I wasn't particularly aware of. For more than 20 years, the Chelsea fans I've interacted with have been at matches, on the way to matches, in pubs etc. and I've got to say I don't recognise a lot of the people on this site based on those experiences. Throwing shit at players who have worked their bollocks off for the club because they have one poor game (which wasn't strictly their fault) is complete bullshit.

Fine. I'll be brave and offer you a bet. Rafa Benitez will lead us to fourth spot. If he doesn't, I'll leave this forum. If he does, you leave this forum. As for the rest of your ignorant drivel, is it as painful to write as it is to read?

Thank fuck I'll be at the game. Having seen some of the hysterical responses on here from some 'fans' I think I'll take my chances getting a kicking from some Leeds scum.

I agree that Torres is a liability as a player, but in business terms he's an asset. As for Roman, this whole discussion came from the idea that he didn't care about what a person meant to Chelsea Football Club. It's untrue and I pointed it out. My last response came from your absurd statement that he puts money before the club. It's one of the stupidest things I've heard in a while. Actually, having read a fair few things on here today I take that back. Actually Buck and Gourlay's performance has been pretty good in financial terms as well as the Champions League win (remember they sacked AVB and turned around our season - does that not earn them any credit)?

Then why wouldn't we look to promote someone like Steve Holland? If you want a cheerleader why not get someone like Harry Redknapp in? Or Kevin Keegan? I don't particularly like Rafa, but right now I think he's probably the only option we have. We've got a lot of youngsters who have put their faith in this club to help them develop and if we keep chopping and changing I think we lose them a little. I think we've got enough (and other teams haven't) to make top four with what we've got and what we'll have after January. Then we can start afresh having reached rock bottom. Sometimes you have to do that to build something anew and we've got enough young talent to do that, in my opinion. As for the Guardiola hiring, I've stated before that I think he's the ideal man for us based on everything I've seen, read and heard. I'm not going to tell other people how to express their support, but when I'm at the Bridge I will support the players on the pitch as long as they're putting their heart and soul into it. Others who go to the games can do what they want.

The rumour about buying the club is probably a little bit exaggerated, but Roman was (and is) a massive fan of Zola. Drogba knew the deal we have with players over the age of 30 and we had to stick by that. We are also a business. The Torres thing might show he puts money before the club, but um.... EVERY FUCKING THING HE HAS DONE IN THE LEAST 9 YEARS OF OWNING THIS CLUB WOULD SUGGEST THAT IS COMPLETE, UNADULTERATED BOLLOCKS. We all know the Torres transfer is a massive trainwreck, but he's still a £50 million asset (closer to £100 million with wages although he does bring in a lot) that a business (Chelsea are a business) need to maximise. There's plenty of rumours that he's ready to rectify it in January too, so I think we can give Roman a bit of a break because he's done a fuck load for this club and he's looking to do a lot more. If it wasn't for Roman, we probably wouldn't have out 'member of the month' and then where would we be?

It's not fucking stupid in the slightest. :banghead: By the way, you didn't mention a single thing about JT that would make him a good manager in your opinion.

I've never quite understood the idea that John Terry could ever be a half-decent coach. A great leader on the pitch but to me he simply doesn't have the intelligence or tactical nous to be one. If we're seriously looking at promoting a player to the top job then my preference would be Lampard. But it's still a fucking stupid idea.

Yes it does. It's one of the reasons I asked the question ' who would replace him' and 'how would that affect our long-term hiring strategy'. I actually think Benitez can get us a top-four position and then I'll wish him farewell. But in all that somewhat confusing/confused diatribe against me, you didn't actually mention a single name who would replace him.

Zola had agreed to join Cagliari, Roman tried to change his mind but Zola wouldn't. The rumour was that Roman was prepared to buy Cagliari but I suspect that's a little bit untrue. As for our history, Roman does respect it but the club couldn't give Drogs everything he wanted and both parties felt it was the perfect time to part. The thinking was that it was time to put the club on Torres's shoulders but it clearly hasn't worked.

To be fair, you only asked for one instance. The first player Roman tried to buy was Zola. I believe he cares about the club and it's history, as well as it's future. In fact I know he does. Torres is a £50 million investment. It's hard to just right that type of asset off without trying everything, and letting DD go was the right decision all round in my opinion. He's a Chelsea legend who went out in the best way possible.

The first player he tried to sign. The hiring of Di Matteo as assistant. His relationship with Bobby Campbell.

Bollocks.

Ah, that explains a lot. So you're on here casing the joint then?

I don't know if I'm messing with 'the wrong guy' but I'm definitely talking to a bit of a wrong'un. You just came on and called the club that many people on here love, 'fucking shit'. What the fuck type of reaction are you going to get? Tell you what, go down the Bridge in a couple of weeks and say that and see what happens okay.

See, some people like to think about the future of this club. Some of us support this club. So when people say we should sack someone, they actually then think who should replace the guy we're sacking. We also have to think about the ramifications that might have further down the line. Understand my little legend chum?

What rep? You're a legend of what exactly? I admit, you're a funny little character but come on.... :lol2:

It's fine people wanting him out, but who do we get in instead and how does that affect how hiring process 6 months down the line?