Roman Abramovich Thread

[Muzchap 8,966]

Good luck with the next team you 'support'...

Big Overreaction - RDM wasn't that great a manager, almost out of Europe, down to 4th place, WBA above us (RDMs previous club)

You think that's where we should be?

No we should be miles ahead of the rest of the stuttering teams. Utd are poor, Mancini is trying to change a winning formula and failing - the rest ...

That's what pissed off RA, so RDM had to go...

[Muzchap 8,966]

For the love of God - PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD

It's ridiculous, same old stuff, people saying they will no longer support CFC.

We don't need this shit right now - main focus is WINNING AGAIN

Get behind the TEAM FFS!

If your pride is injured, deal with it like a man and move on....!!!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Everyone else sack their managers for a reason. There was no need to sack di Matteo as far as i'm concerned. It's ok to say everyone else does it but Real Madrid did it because they were having really bad UCL campaigns. Tottenham did it because they were doing genuinely shit in the league, 'arry took over when they had 2 points from their first 8 games and most or all the teams who have changed managers willy nilly changed because they weren't doing so well. This was a season for us where we we doing really well, we weren't expecting to win everything but we were in a good position. Drogba leaving, Lampard getting older and almost ready to call it a day and JT being banned/injured along with us signing many young players suggested to me that we were now building for the future and not the present. Our target was simply to get into the top 4 which we were on course for.

I don't think anyone is expecting someone to be here for 10-20 years but 3-5 would be nice just to get a settled feel. We win trophies because we have money and a rich owner, not because we change managers. When a manager comes, he changes things, he works on his methods, plays his formations and uses his players. It may not work straight away but it can worked on or changed. If you change the manager, you're starting again and learning something different again and suddenly you might find yourself in matches or situations that you don't know how to win because you haven't worked on it yet.

We have dropped points because of bad luck. We've won at WHL and the Emirates, we were outstanding against Man Utd after going 2-0 down. I just get the feel that if Robbie had stayed for say 3 years, in that time, this team would've been fantastic. We've been better than i anticipated anyway for me, we shouldn't be this good with Hazard and Oscar in their first season playing every game and Mata who's the longest servant of the trio being a Chelsea player for about a year! Some of the football we have played has been breathtaking and in my honest opinion, sacking Robbie for Rafa has halted the progress and put us back a step when we were heading very much in the right direction.

Although i do agree with much of the first post, i do believe that Robbie would've been an outstanding manager for us given time and Roman, regardless of how much he has done for us, is making horrible decisions. If we had kept our managers for longer, especially Jose, we would've won just as many trophies that we have anyway, maybe even more. I know we would've won fucking everything in 2008 if Jose had stayed, i'm convinced by that.

Look for the right manager and fucking well keep him.

The reason he sacked him relates exactly to the last point you make - Roman didn't think he was the right manager going forward. He wanted Guardiola but he wasn't available, and the only real option was Robbie. He was always going to take the first chance he had to get rid of Robbie and install a better manager (in his opinion).

The only managerial change I think he really made a mistake on (and now regrets) is the Mourinho one, but by all accounts their working relationship (which does matter in any workplace) was at rock bottom. We have this reputation for sacking managers without thinking, but each change after Jose can be justified when you understand Roman's perspective. Funnily enough the successful businessman has the mentality of a successful businessman.

You can argue that Robbie would have been a long-term success, but we'll never know. He did an amazing job galvanising the squad last season after AVB's disastrous run (I'm sure someone was making a case we should've stuck with him too), but the job he was being asked to do this season was completely different. Unfortunately there are not many jobs in the world that pay millions of pounds and afford you the chance to 'learn on the job' and get away with unacceptable results (brink of elimination from the Champions League group stage).

And I guarantee the one person who knows that and agrees with what I'm saying is Roberto Di Matteo.

[Strike 7,493]

Why because he slagged us off in the past? you really think Lampard, Terry and Cole didn't slagg us off at any point growing up as West Ham, United and Arsenal fans respectively?

Roman always does what he thinks is best for the club, as an interim appointment Benitez is as good as we are going to get.

any criticism against roman is quite understandable now. Another hasty sacking. i'm not saying di Matteo was the best man for the job but once he made the decision to go with di Matteo in the summer, he should have given Robbie time. Pointless giving the job to Robbie if he was always going to sack him at the slightest twitch.

yes, he has done lots for us and brought us up as a club but at a time like this, criticism is justified

[The only place to be 11,313]

any criticism against roman is quite understandable now. Another hasty sacking. i'm not saying di Matteo was the best man for the job but once he made the decision to go with di Matteo in the summer, he should have given Robbie time. Pointless giving the job to Robbie if he was always going to sack him at the slightest twitch.

yes, he has done lots for us and brought us up as a club but at a time like this, criticism is justified

Robbie probably earned his chance with the Champions League win and the fans wanted him in. If he hadn't then we would have probably had Benitez installed in the summer for a year, until he could have a run at Guardiola.

Getting eliminated from the Champions League group stages isn't a little twitch in Roman's view. It also doesn't show up as a little twitch in the accounts - I believe the accounting term is 'major fuck up'.

[unclezillion 23]

Good luck with the next team you 'support'...

Big Overreaction - RDM wasn't that great a manager, almost out of Europe, down to 4th place, WBA above us (RDMs previous club)

You think that's where we should be?

No we should be miles ahead of the rest of the stuttering teams. Utd are poor, Mancini is trying to change a winning formula and failing - the rest ...

That's what pissed off RA, so RDM had to go...

Who says it is about RDM perhaps it is about the way the club is run and the personalities involved! RDM should have never got the job imo but seeing he did he deserved a fair crack. Benitez on the other hand should not be allowed in the door at Chelsea!

[Strike 7,493]

Robbie probably earned his chance with the Champions League win and the fans wanted him in. If he hadn't then we would have probably had Benitez installed in the summer for a year, until he could have a run at Guardiola.

Getting eliminated from the Champions League group stages isn't a little twitch in Roman's view. It also doesn't show up as a little twitch in the accounts - I believe the accounting term is 'major fuck up'.

since when does Roman care about the fans now?

Also, Robbie was as good as sacked before the juventus game. rdm went for a crazy formation against juve to get a point and save his job. should have trusted rdm with more time or gone for benitez in the summer itself

[The only place to be 11,313]

since when does Roman care about the fans now?

I can't even be bothered if this is the position you're starting from.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

The string of poor results was the perfect chance for Roman to get rid of Robbie.Quite honestly,its better than sacking him at the end of the season with a top 3 finish or even with a trophy.

Roman never wanted RDM and the delay in appointing him as the first team manager proved that.The Chelsea Legend never really had a future here as a manager as the owner always had eyes for Pep.

I personally hope Pep joins some other club and we get The Special One back at the Bridge.

[BlueJewel 56]

Roman is as much a fan of the club as anyone out there, he's been attending matches since he bought the team and shows so much emotions in the stands. To say he does not care after investing a substantial amount of his fortune and time into the club, is very absurd. The club has made a decision, it's up to the fans to get behind the team, the season is far from over. Rafa could be another RDM v2. I'll gladly be his fan if he wins us at least the league this season.

[Strike 7,493]

I can't even be bothered if this is the position you're starting from.

. it's clear that roman cares only about objectives. while it's good in one way that we are competing for the titles and none of the "top 4 is enough" Nonsense but the line has to be drawn somewhere. on the managerial scene, di matteo and probably carlo ancelotti were hasty decisions. clearly should have hired benitez from the start of the season if he wasn't going to trust di matteo enough to give him time till christmas at the least

[badenblue 21]

Maybe he was referring to the other Cole...but I can't remember him slagging Chelsea off as an Arsenal player or fan...if any of them thought ill of Chelsea and didn't express it we can't grudge them that....

Growing up at West Ham gives the game away for me, do not think Ashley grew up at WH, do you? maybe Charlton, but again he was Chelsea youth.

[The only place to be 11,313]

. it's clear that roman cares only about objectives. while it's good in one way that we are competing for the titles and none of the "top 4 is enough" Nonsense but the line has to be drawn somewhere. on the managerial scene, di matteo and probably carlo ancelotti were hasty decisions. clearly should have hired benitez from the start of the season if he wasn't going to trust di matteo enough to give him time till christmas at the least

In the past couple of years, Ancelotti's second season has been rewritten by a number of fans. It wasn't hasty in my opinion. The football in that season, especially after Christmas, was appalling at times. He was getting plenty of stick for it in the crowd and it was fairly apparent a change was in the offing.

With Robbie, it was always going to happen if there were any major problems.

I just get fed up with this notion that Roman doesn't care about fans. He is a fan. I love the sight of him awkwardly convulsing in his seat when we get close to goal. I don't know many other owners who attend as many games as him, apart from Dave Whelan and a couple of others. People call this club his plaything, but that to me implies a sense of fun in owning a club. Why the fuck would you spend a billion quid on something that isn't fun????

He listened to the fans in the summer when we appointed Robbie. It wasn't his first choice.

[Strike 7,493]

In the past couple of years, Ancelotti's second season has been rewritten by a number of fans. It wasn't hasty in my opinion. The football in that season, especially after Christmas, was appalling at times. He was getting plenty of stick for it in the crowd and it was fairly apparent a change was in the offing.

With Robbie, it was always going to happen if there were any major problems.

I just get fed up with this notion that Roman doesn't care about fans. He is a fan. I love the sight of him awkwardly convulsing in his seat when we get close to goal. I don't know many other owners who attend as many games as him, apart from Dave Whelan and a couple of others. People call this club his plaything, but that to me implies a sense of fun in owning a club. Why the fuck would you spend a billion quid on something that isn't fun????

He listened to the fans in the summer when we appointed Robbie. It wasn't his first choice.

fair enough. he loves the club but my point is, the decision to sack robbie is obviously going to infuriate the fans. no point defending roman when he has clearly made another mess at the club. if he was going to be ruthless hire, benitez in the summer itself. once he appointed di matteo, he should have given rdm time. you say "it was always going to happen" but it doesn't change the fact that he has made another mess at the club.

taking nothing away from roman and what he has done to the club, at a time like this, criticism against him is justified.if he really listened to the fans, he wouldn't have appointed benitez. remember birmingham away last season - "Fuck off, we don't want you here"

[Muzchap 8,966]

fair enough. he loves the club but my point is, the decision to sack robbie is obviously going to infuriate the fans. no point defending roman when he has clearly made another mess at the club. if he was going to be ruthless hire, benitez in the summer itself. once he appointed di matteo, he should have given rdm time. you say "it was always going to happen" but it doesn't change the fact that he has made another mess at the club.

taking nothing away from roman and what he has done to the club, at a time like this, criticism against him is justified.if he really listened to the fans, he wouldn't have appointed benitez. remember birmingham away last season - "Fuck off, we don't want you here"

It's done...

End of story, move along, nothing to see here...

You've made your point, those that agree will agree, those that don't wont.

Mods AGAIN can we please close these threads? It's just cyclical and fractitious.

Lets just concentrate on the matchday thread

[badenblue 21]

For the love of God - PLEASE CLOSE THIS THREAD

It's ridiculous, same old stuff, people saying they will no longer support CFC.

We don't need this shit right now - main focus is WINNING AGAIN

Get behind the TEAM FFS!

If your pride is injured, deal with it like a man and move on....!!!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought a forum is where people exchanged views, just because they do not correspound to your outlook/views you want to close this thread, seems a wee bit dictatorial, perhaps other people need to grow up and learn to debate issues correctly.

[nullabletype 987]

fair enough. he loves the club but my point is, the decision to sack robbie is obviously going to infuriate the fans. no point defending roman when he has clearly made another mess at the club. if he was going to be ruthless hire, benitez in the summer itself. once he appointed di matteo, he should have given rdm time. you say "it was always going to happen" but it doesn't change the fact that he has made another mess at the club.

taking nothing away from roman and what he has done to the club, at a time like this, criticism against him is justified.if he really listened to the fans, he wouldn't have appointed benitez. remember birmingham away last season - "Fuck off, we don't want you here"

This is what frustrates me. I'm not bothered about RDMs sacking because I genuinely didn't think RDM had what it takes. For a while I hoped he did, but I think if we're to be honest the writing was on the wall from the day we played Atletico.

What bothers me is that he was hired to begin with. I don't see the point in hiring somebody just to fire them a few months down the line. Particularly when it was glaringly obvious for everybody to see that Roman never really wanted to give RDM the job in the first place.

This is were I disagree with most though. A lot of people talk about Roman not caring about the fans. I think his investment in the club speaks volumes about how much he cares (not that I'm overly bothered about whether he cares or not, personally). The very fact he even give RDM the job when he didn't want to suggests to me that Roman and the board gave in to the pressure of the fans.

But to say he's made a mess at the club, how? Yes it's not ideal, but it's not really a mess. And somehow Roman always manages to back up his decisions and the club gets hauled out of these "messes", if you want to call them that.

And to the people who complain about club becoming a laughing stock. Well that really only applies if you place any value on the vast majority of football fans opinions. The objective fans can appreciate what goes on. Why would you worry about what a bunch of people are thinking in regard to our hiring and firing of managers? particularly when these people blissfully ignore the string of other top clubs, like those Tomo mentioned, who continually do it too.

[unclezillion 23]

It's done...

End of story, move along, nothing to see here...

You've made your point, those that agree will agree, those that don't wont.

Mods AGAIN can we please close these threads? It's just cyclical and fractitious.

Lets just concentrate on the matchday thread

so you are suggesting we should not have freedom to discuss what we like? No wonder you like the Russian! Perhaps you should change your name to Stalin!

[Strike 7,493]

This is what frustrates me. I'm not bothered about RDMs sacking because I genuinely didn't think RDM had what it takes. For a while I hoped he did, but I think if we're to be honest the writing was on the wall from the day we played Atletico.

What bothers me is that he was hired to begin with. I don't see the point in hiring somebody just to fire them a few months down the line. Particularly when it was glaringly obvious for everybody to see that Roman never really wanted to give RDM the job in the first place.

This is were I disagree with most though. A lot of people talk about Roman not caring about the fans. I think his investment in the club speaks volumes about how much he cares (not that I'm overly bothered about whether he cares or not, personally). The very fact he even give RDM the job when he didn't want to suggests to me that Roman and the board gave in to the pressure of the fans.

But to say he's made a mess at the club, how? Yes it's not ideal, but it's not really a mess. And somehow Roman always manages to back up his decisions and the club gets hauled out of these "messes", if you want to call them that.

And to the people who complain about club becoming a laughing stock. Well that really only applies if you place any value on the vast majority of football fans opinions. The objective fans can appreciate what goes on. Why would you worry about what a bunch of people are thinking in regard to our hiring and firing of managers? particularly when these people blissfully ignore the string of other top clubs, like those Tomo mentioned, who continually do it too.

couldn't really care less about PR. the clattenburg issue has done the damage anyway

the issue is that yet again, we are going into a crucial crucial part of the season in turmoil with a bit of an unbalanced squad. but thankfully, our players have experience in these situations

[Muzchap 8,966]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought a forum is where people exchanged views, just because they do not correspound to your outlook/views you want to close this thread, seems a wee bit dictatorial, perhaps other people need to grow up and learn to debate issues correctly.

I think debate is great.

But regurgitating the same old shite is just plain boring...

Fact: RDM is gone! Will bleating about it change anything? NO.

It's just stupid to have such a polarising thread in the immediate aftermath...

It's not going to change opinions and only leads to conflict.

The subject is too emotive to be pragmatic...

Edit: And people claiming they no longer support CFC is madness. Fine, if you're going to do it, do it - but don't then come back to a CFC forum and try to divide the forum...