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

[The only place to be 11,313]

Agreed. We wouldn't of had the pleasure of listening to your wise and quality posts if it wasn't. Lucky us

[bushman 2,043]

So in that case, Nottingham Forest is bigger than us and we are as big as Aston Villa?

Do you know how much money Chelsea pulled in for CL title ?

[Muzchap 8,966]

I get what the @the only is saying

I get what @Romper and @Blue Lyon are saying

But I honesty think we need a radical wake up call. We have to stop thinking we can hire/fire our way to success....

I also agree with @the only - we're a few players away from a really good team. Those players could be KdB, Lukaku and Chalobah.

I also do think we need a DLM and CB - I'm also confused about Luiz - suddenly he's not being played in the pivot when I thought he did good work there... What happened? I could really see him there - if we had a great player next to him

I also agree we need to clear the dead wood - in the summer we need to get rid of anybody not good enough, fuck what it costs in compensation, having them hanging around is a cancer eating away at the club - we need motivated, professionals - not whiners!

So whatever happens as long as its fixed in the summer I don't mind and if that means no CL so be it....

As for Jose, he will come back if we miss CL - you telling me he wouldn't look at our squad and think fuck me I could dominate with this, couple of tweaks, bit of self belief - back in CL first season and maybe a domestic cup - now he would be up for that!!!

[Santiago. 1,500]

Do you know how much money Chelsea pulled in for CL title ?

Yes but you were also referencing the Prestige that comes along winning the CL. It's not just that because if that was the case, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest are just as big as us on the European Stage. IT's the fact we continue to participate in Europe as well as our continuing domestic reign this past decade that has made this club an Icon and attracted fans like yourself. Being out of the CL can work both positively and negatively but IMHO i think it would benefit us in terms of stabilizing our managerial aspects, introducing youth, and creating new talents that will adapt to the game and truly become our new generation. But that is only an assumption.

[Leif 6,006]

Yeah I toyed with this idea last season when I first signed up here for some reason (not too sure what triggered it). The thing is right... even if we miss out on the CL spots, there'll still be all that pressure for the next manager to get us back into the top 4 - maybe even more pressure than trying to stay in the top 4. Meaning the idea of youth being used more could unfortunately be void. That is, unless we lose some of our gems which would put a lump in my throat. (By Gems I do mean Hazard, Oscar etc. Mata seems loyal enough to stay regardless... hopefully.)

You know when you eat loads of junk food, stuff you really shouldn't be indulging in, and then you finally do that great poo which just seems to clean out your system? Us missing out on the top 4 could be that great big poo. Hopefully that makes some sense. (I'm saying that as a positive thing.)

Again, although it's even perhaps logical on a few levels to miss out on the CL for a season, it would really deflate me going from "CHELSEA TO SIGN MOURINHO AND RONALDO IN A PACKAGE DEAL!" (yeah, i know we aint getting Ronaldo) to "CHELSEA TO SIGN ALLEGRI TO GET THEM INTO THE TOP 4! OH, BUT WAIT, HE'S ALSO TAKING MILAN'S RIGHT-BACK ABATE WITH HIM! WOOO!!!" etc.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

Once you are out of the competition, it's difficult to get back in. Look at Liverpool. We need to finish in the Top 4. For all of Wegner's moaning, he is right. It's kind of a trophy on it's own. I'd rather finish in the top 4 than win EL or the FA Cup.

[Stingray 9,441]

Yeah I toyed with this idea last season when I first signed up here for some reason (not too sure what triggered it). The thing is right... even if we miss out on the CL spots, there'll still be all that pressure for the next manager to get us back into the top 4 - maybe even more pressure than trying to stay in the top 4. Meaning the idea of youth being used more could unfortunately be void. That is, unless we lose some of our gems which would put a lump in my throat. (By Gems I do mean Hazard, Oscar etc. Mata seems loyal enough to stay regardless... hopefully.)

You know when you eat loads of junk food, stuff you really shouldn't be indulging in, and then you finally do that great poo which just seems to clean out your system? Us missing out on the top 4 could be that great big poo. Hopefully that makes some sense. (I'm saying that as a positive thing.)

Exactly .... It can generate perverse effects and heighten the pressure on the manager and youngsters next year even more.

Ps: interesting metaphor you used :-) again!

[bushman 2,043]

Yes but you were also referencing the Prestige that comes along winning the CL. It's not just that because if that was the case, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest are just as big as us on the European Stage. IT's the fact we continue to participate in Europe as well as our continuing domestic reign this past decade that has made this club an Icon and attracted fans like yourself. Being out of the CL can work both positively and negatively but IMHO i think it would benefit us in terms of stabilizing our managerial aspects, introducing youth, and creating new talents that will adapt to the game and truly become our new generation. But that is only an assumption.

Let me educate you a bit. I have been watching football for years. Became inclined to root for Chelsea since 2001.

Being out of CL is not desired. As a matter of fact it´s limited thinking. As a Chelsea fan, I do not want to see the team competing for secondary trophies only. I want Chelsea to play against Barca, Real, Bayern, Atletico...etc.

I certainly can avoid the likes of Branford on some muddy pitch.

[Santiago. 1,500]

Let me educate you a bit. I have been watching football for years. Became inclined to root for Chelsea since 2001.

Being out of CL is not desired. As a matter of fact it´s limited thinking. As a Chelsea fan, I do not want to see the team competing for secondary trophies only. I want Chelsea to play against Barca, Real, Bayern, Atletico...etc.

I certainly can avoid the likes of Branford on some muddy pitch.

So coming out of your mother's womb in 2001, you were already wearing a Chelsea Kit?

[bushman 2,043]

So coming out of your mother's womb in 2001, you were already wearing a Chelsea Kit?

As I already told you here. You need to see a shrink soon. Book yourself asap.

[Santiago. 1,500]

As I already told you here. You need to see a shrink soon. Book yourself asap.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

So they just leave? You realise they have contracts and aren't massive cunts don't you?

Well with that type of support from loyal fans like you it's definitely not going to work. I'm not asking for a whole team of homegrown players, but I would like to see Chalobah, Courtois, Lukaku, De Bruyne and a couple of others given a shot.

Because you'll never win anything with kids right?

How the fuck is that a 'best case scenario'? :lol2:

Who said we shouldnt give chance to youth? All I saying that youth cant be our leaders and we need to buy two players. Period. You keep mixing this two things..one is to give kids chance, something else is to place them in starting team and not buy anyone and then just watch what happens...

Sure we wont be in top 4 next year with such squad and no one here or at Chelsea board wants that except you. You cant sacrafice the CL for youth project at club like Chelsea. Thats it. You wont see it anytime soon.

[manpe 10,861]

CL is the only competition televized here, I definitely don't want to miss out seeing a few Chelsea games on TV instead of some crappy streams

All of the hypothetical scenarios aside (e.g. doing a Juve/Bayern or Liverpool, going all rational and steady or panicking and running amok), I would actually prefer us to concentrate on the league. It's nice to compete in Europe, but now I would prefer us to do everything in our power to mount a serious title challenge.

Missing out on CL would definitely have many cons, while the pros mentioned here are far from certain. So taking into consideration that cons - guaranteed, pros - not guaranteed, I would say that missing out wouldn't be a good thing. Would it be the worst thing to happen? No, the worst thing would be Benitez being given a long term contract. But imo it wouldn't be the best thing either.

[bushman 2,043]

Any astute Chelsea fan wants to see the Blues compete against the top clubs in Europe.

Where else can one see it if not playing in CL ?

I want Chelsea to go forward, playing, being tested against the Barcas, Reals & not some second tier team from boon-locks in FA Cup.

[Mundaka 243]

About some of our loaned out players,

I do think some will be able to make it into our staring 11 instantly already, their stats/how they are playing at their clubs prove so.

Youth players,

We should add some in our first 25, those that are proving themselfs in the next gen tournament fe, who knows, some could already be ready to sub, play in cups...

Signings

I only see 1 must here, thats at least one allround high quality CM (24-26 years would be perfect) that can pass, has creativity, is strong, wins a lot of duels, can tackle or makes a lot of interceptions. Someone established with experience at high level $$, the central midfield and central defence are the most important area's to have experienced players in anyways,... i dont even mind us using our whole transferbudget for this. (but well we should have more than that anyways i guess )

All other positions we have loaned out/youth players that have a good chance on succeeding.

Perhaps also a quality/talented central defender (preferably one that can also play as a back) & striker that will not cost "much" can also be considered since that would lower the risk of us lacking one in case someone flops/loses form/gets injured. If possible, english.

Even without signings you can already see we should make it atleast in top 2/3 with a bit more luck / better manager / a team that will get more used to eachother, especially in the attacking area but to make us one of europe's finest again certainly a quality CM suited for or pivot is needed.

And a board that has patience would also help here... so we can work on our position/linkup play, a great manager can still combine both (winning and building squads) but it might take some time before we get a balanced/attractive playing team.