Would missing out on the top four be the worst thing in the world?

[Rmpr 8,977]

Yes. [2]

[Ollie 4,400]

If we do fail to make top 4, and tbh it is getting increasingly likely, then we must focus purely on the league next season. Play the kids in the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. Forget them cups for a season entirely. Focus purely and solely on a title challenge and make 10000% sure that we make the top 4 next season. We may be ok for one season but we can't make a habit of it.

[remains of the day 564]

Ollie pretty much took the words out of my mouth. I can understand the argument that losing out champions league football isn't the be all and end all, and to a certain extent I agree that it shouldn't but if we think that doing so will force some kind of organizational culture change in the club.....then we're kidding ourselves. My fear with not qualifying for CL is not so much the risk of not being able to keep our top players or bring in new ones, my fear is that the board, Abramovich & co will become even more desperate to ensure that we don't fail to qualify again. That desperation alone worries me. To me, a desperate Chelsea hierarchy translates to more panic decision making and more managerial turnovers.

Yes ideally we would use our 'hiatus' from the champions league to reform our practices, integrate our youth, allow the manager time to embed his philosophy and come back the next season a better and stronger force.....but we all know that's not gonna happen.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yes.

Yes. [2]

Amazing level of discourse.

If we do fail to make top 4, and tbh it is getting increasingly likely, then we must focus purely on the league next season. Play the kids in the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. Forget them cups for a season entirely. Focus purely and solely on a title challenge and make 10000% sure that we make the top 4 next season. We may be ok for one season but we can't make a habit of it.

Whatever happens this season, I think we're going to be making a title push next season. Look at the players we have on loan, look at the players we have in the squad and we're only a couple of players away from being contenders. We need the right manager but for a while now we've been doing the right thing as a club.

What we need is that impetus or push to put it into practice. But because we've been in the CL people have been satisfied.

Ollie pretty much took the words out of my mouth. I can understand the argument that losing out champions league football isn't the be all and end all, and to a certain extent I agree that it shouldn't but if we think that doing so will force some kind of organizational culture change in the club.....then we're kidding ourselves. My fear with not qualifying for CL is not so much the risk of not being able to keep our top players or bring in new ones, my fear is that the boad, Abramowich & co will become even more desperate to ensure that we don't fail to qualify again. That desperation alone worries me. To me, a desperate Chelsea hiearchy translates to more panic decision making and more managerial turnovers.

Yes ideally we would use our 'hiatus' from the champions league to reform our practices, integrate our youth, allow the manager time to embed his philosophy and come back the next season a better and stronger force.....but we all know that's not gonna happen.

So what changes this summer? You actually make some good points, but I actually think missing out on the CL gives us all some breathing room. It becomes a true period of reassessment when we can look at everything we've done and examine what we can do better going forward.

If we qualify then everyone breathes a sigh of relief and gears up to do the same again. We look at players like Fellaini rather than taking the time to ask whether players like Chalobah could be integrated. We sign Falcao rather than take a risk on Lukaku.

The most frustrating thing about our NextGen success was seeing Arsenal fans who know their stuff admit they we have real quality in our academy but that we'll never see them in the first team.....and they've got a point.

[Melanicus 5,208]

@The only place to be, What should we discuss? It's the worst thing that can happen to our club on so many levels.

[The only place to be 11,313]

@The only place to be, What should we discuss? It's the worst thing that can happen to our club on so many levels.

It's not in my opinion. I think it could be the start of something great where we do things properly and build a sustainable future for the club.

If we don't qualify for the CL, we can still make a push for the league next season and that is the most important thing isn't it? To be the best team in your country? That to me is the measure of success next season, not just being able to go to CL matches.

People keep moaning (incorrectly) that we could become like Arsenal - that to me is the attitude that caused Arsenal's troubles.

[Rmpr 8,977]

It's not in my opinion. I think it could be the start of something great where we do things properly and build a sustainable future for the club.

If we don't qualify for the CL, we can still make a push for the league next season and that is the most important thing isn't it? To be the best team in your country? That to me is the measure of success next season, not just being able to go to CL matches.

People keep moaning (incorrectly) that we could become like Arsenal - that to me is the attitude that caused Arsenal's troubles.

Your points are totally stupid because all you argue that would happen with we miss it can happen with UCL football...

So you prefer us to just lose a hell lot of money, media coverage, players, managers, etc; basically because you want us to. Smart!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Your points are totally stupid because all you argue that would happen with we miss it can happen with UCL football...

There's no need to be rude. Focus less on the insulting and more on making cogent points.

[Rmpr 8,977]

There's no need to be rude. Focus less on the insulting and more on making cogent points.

I didnt insult you nor was I being rude, touchy. Are you going to create another PM so you dont even answer it afterwards?

Your points are stupid and that is the truth, I even explained why, there is no need to do a big discussion out of it.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I didnt insult you nor was I being rude, touchy. Are you going to create another PM so you not even answer it afterwards?

Your points are stupid and that is the true, I even explained why, there is no need to do a big post saying shit.

I don't think the points I've made have been stupid. They come from a place of caring about the club I've supported for a long time and looking at what the future could bring. If you want to discuss these points then I'm happy to do that but dismissing them as stupid without explanation isn't the men discuss things.

Other people have managed that - if you can't then don't respond.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I don't think the points I've made have been stupid.

Of course you dont, you were the one who made them. I have all the right to think they are stupid and you have to accept it.

They come from a place of caring about the club I've supported for a long time and looking at what the future could bring. If you want to discuss these points then I'm happy to do that but dismissing them as stupid without explanation isn't the men discuss things.

I explained why FFS!

The problem is not what you want to happen, because I agree with it all. I just find it stupid to say they are connected to UCL and if we qualify those things wont occur.

The issues you posted have to be resolved no matter if we finish top4 or not and UCL must have no effect on it. The problems will be solved with or without European competition!

The only thing a 5th place will do is fuck us. Money, media, players (ours and transfers), fatigue for shit UEL, José (because we all know he wont put his love above a City offer), etc.

Other people have managed that - if you can't then don't respond.

You seriously must learn to let go, you dont need to quote every single post someone does in your thread.

[The only place to be 11,313]

The problem is not what you want to happen, because I agree with it all. I just find it stupid to say they are connected to UCL and if we qualify those things wont occur.

The issues you posted have to be resolved no matter if we finish top4 or not and UCL must have no effect on it. The problems will be solved with or without European competition!

The only thing a 5th place will do is fuck us. Money, media, players (ours and transfers), fatigue for shit UEL, José (because we all know he wont put his love above a City offer), etc.

These are actually pertinent points. Whatever happens, we need to make changes but I don't know if we do that if we maintain the status quo.

Make no mistake, the ideal situation is that we qualify for the CL and make the right adjustments but I have reservations whether we'll do that. Missing out on the CL for a year would force us to do that whilst also giving us some breathing space to do so.

If we can continue the progress we've made whilst achieving a top four finish then that would be ideal. Ultimately though, I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world if we missed out. The club would still be there, the loyal supporters would still turn up and every other week we'd get to go to see the greatest team in the world play. That's what football is to supporters and as long as that still exists, then we're very lucky fans.

[remains of the day 564]

Your points are totally stupid because all you argue that would happen with we miss it can happen with UCL football... So you prefer us to just lose a hell lot of money, media coverage, players, managers, etc; basically because you want us to. Smart!

Don't think it's stupid at all. From the way things are looking, it's a big possibility that we might not make top 4, I agree that the implications would be dire. However, I think it's refreshing that some supporters are trying to find some positives, in the event that we don't qualify for CL.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Depends.We finished outside last year and were lucky to make it into the CL...not that mattered anyway as we still ended up in Europa.Just dont want to be a Liverpool where top 4 is the aim rather then the title/2nd etc...just fallen quite far...then again get rid of no doubt a fair portion of glory hunters maybe but still.....

[Santiago. 1,500]

In comparison to Bayern and other clubs as well, it gave their club a chance to rebuild as well as sign a manager that would give the club a new image by introducing youth mixing in with top talents/experience. I honestly think missing out on the top 4 would in fact lead this club to a new direction, but to a positive one IDK considering if Roman will ever put aside his trigger happy finger.

If Hypothetically we were to miss out on the Top 4, it would give us the chance to introduce our youth as well as rebuild imo. What does NOT need to happen, is end up like Arsenal and Liverpool by spending the money we have unwisely.