closed Chelsea 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

[OhForAGreavsie 6,088]

How can your team reach a European final and yet you leave the ground unhappy and worried?

On the one hand we have to be thankful for the remarkable resilience of this club. Clearly there are big problems on and off the pitch. Problems which dominate the discussions in this forum, yet here we are sitting in third place in the Premier League and heading for our second major final of the season. It really is remarkable but somehow manages not to feel like it. Instead it feels like we're in a long, dark tunnel with no glimmer of light anywhere. Our best player seems certain to leave, a transfer ban threatens our short term future and, even if it is overturned as I believe it will be, our reputation is such that the best players don't want to come here. This last point is controversial because many of you disagree with me every time I make it, but I'm convinced it's so.

I don't care about the game on Sunday, especially now I've learned that the returning loanees can't feature. Win or lose however, we could really, really do with a good performance in Baku. If that happens, and if it comes on the back of some encouraging appearances by a few youngsters in Massachusetts, then I might turn my head to the wonderful summer of cricket we have ahead of us in a better mood than the one I'm experiencing right now.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Think was resigned to going out.. And seeing that game dreading being like that against Arsenal.. Then somehow going through. Still not confident. 

Just hope we don't play like that in the final. We can't or be embarrassed 

[Special Juan 28,182]

We got it done, not sure quite how. Terrible performance, some really hideous decision making and individual performances.

We got it done, must up our game against Arsenal.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

You had to laugh though some moments were just awful comedy errors. 

Least it's done! 

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

10 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

10 hours ago, Jason said:

 

do we have more than 6000 loud away supporters anyway? no one wants to go to Baku. OUr fans got drowned out by eintracht support today it was shameful. In the end fans do not matter much.

All foreign teams coming to England always outsing the opposition it's the same at City, United, Arsenal and definitely Liverpool where there's only a good atmosphere for the really big games. This was Eintrachts biggest game in years a real occasion for them, In 95 we went to Bruges which was our biggest game in years thousands of us went most without tickets and completely swamped the place. 25 years on a Europa League semi final without trying to be smug is not a massive deal for Chelsea.

To say fans don't matter is pretty insulting to be honest football clubs are fuck all without the fans the clubs know it that's why we get ripped off all the time. If you saw the Croatia - England game that was played behind closed doors then you'd have seen how important fans are. There was a phone in on the BBC yesterday why do men cry at football but don't when a family member dies no question men hide their emotions but cry like babies when it comes to football. I was very close a few times myself Wembley 97, Bolton 2005 and Munich.

Going back to foreign fans the funniest thing I've heard at the Bridge recently was Genk fans singing in English '' Your support is fucking shit'' again it was a massive occasion for them for us it was just a humdrum game.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

They try to make more of a atmosphere at the Bridge. They did that whole back to the shed things year back.. Then bump up the prices. Which is part of the problem.

 

 

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

As a long standing Chelsea supporter, it has always grieved me about the lack of atmosphere at the bridge.

I'm big on vocal support but here there's more noise in the Brompton Cemetery than Stamford Bridge, it's even worse than the Arsenal Library.

I just don't know why the support don't want to create an intimidating atmosphere, is it 'cos of too many of the (Prawn Sandwich Brigade)?   

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Duno what it is.  Though don't think the way sound travels helps either. Even from Matthew harding to West nearest that end yesterday was like hearing something underwater. 

Dont think anywhere here does imitate. Liverpool sometimes but not all. Where guess abroad their fans are way way more vocal and bounce.. And like to produce the odd flares now and again. 

[milka 3,395]

 

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

One of the problems regarding atmosphere is the age of our support. Chelsea have the oldest support in the Premier League not sure what the average age is exactly but you only have to look round to see a lot of geezers like me in their 50's. So pre-match a 50 year old travels to the game has a few pints and something to eat believe me you want to sit down ha ha. We missed out on a whole generation of fans in the 80's because of our reputation plus we were shit and expensive to get in.

So my generation and our kids still go but young kids and teenagers in the 80's and remember you could still pay on the day would go unfortunately to Arsenal and Spurs and some to QPR. It's weird because the best atmosphere for me was in the 90's when first the Shed was getting built and then when the West Stand was uncovered. Soon as the roof on the West Stand was covered the atmosphere went a bit downhill plus we went unbeaten at home for ages so it was almost a case of we don't have to get behind the team we're going to win anyway.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

I don't think it helps the mental prices either. Know nothing can be done and other clubs charge more but the costs are crazy. Cup games not so bad at least but anything else. After the group stages of the champions league they double in price. Know not the sole reasons but got to count for something. 

[AndersonBLUE 819]

we will get steamrolled by arsenal in the final. they been pants in the league but look good in this competition. we've been bad across the board. 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

18 minutes ago, AndersonBLUE said:

we will get steamrolled by arsenal in the final. they been pants in the league but look good in this competition. we've been bad across the board. 

That would at least reveal the true level of this team compared to the current belief we are not that bad since we will play CL next year and managed to reach EL final. 

Still, I hope we destroy them. Losing to that lot would be disgrace. They have bigger reward if they win EL because they also play for CL qualification. But they have one of the worst defences out there and we definately have the chance. It certainly helps we get some break until final. Arse was playing easily yesterday while we look off for a while now with the hard schedule.  We just need to play at our best. Hazard knows that team inside out and hopefuly delivers (one last) great performance for us.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

That's the problem. Dodgy defence but not bad strikers atm.. Where as we seem to vary game to game. Hope we can win.. Bloody better win. Need Drogba back. 

[Fulham Broadway 17,347]

4 hours ago, Iggy Doonican said:

One of the problems regarding atmosphere is the age of our support. Chelsea have the oldest support in the Premier League not sure what the average age is exactly but you only have to look round to see a lot of geezers like me in their 50's. So pre-match a 50 year old travels to the game has a few pints and something to eat believe me you want to sit down ha ha. We missed out on a whole generation of fans in the 80's because of our reputation plus we were shit and expensive to get in.

So my generation and our kids still go but young kids and teenagers in the 80's and remember you could still pay on the day would go unfortunately to Arsenal and Spurs and some to QPR. It's weird because the best atmosphere for me was in the 90's when first the Shed was getting built and then when the West Stand was uncovered. Soon as the roof on the West Stand was covered the atmosphere went a bit downhill plus we went unbeaten at home for ages so it was almost a case of we don't have to get behind the team we're going to win anyway.

Very true. Also under Abramovich there was suddenly a huge influx of newbie fans. I remember there were loads of tourists and daytrippers, that for many Stamford Bridge was just another tick box after Madame Tussauds and Windsor Castle. I clearly remember a woman doing a Sudoku in front of me against Everton, and a bloke behind me against Newcastle saying ''Is Alan Crespo playing ?''. Chelsea Ultras.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Also think cause phones do so much more these days. All about look at me here I am at Stamford Bridge.. Here's a free kick being taken etc rather then enjoying the moment.. Or not as case may be

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

47 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Very true. Also under Abramovich there was suddenly a huge influx of newbie fans. I remember there were loads of tourists and daytrippers, that for many Stamford Bridge was just another tick box after Madame Tussauds and Windsor Castle. I clearly remember a woman doing a Sudoku in front of me against Everton, and a bloke behind me against Newcastle saying ''Is Alan Crespo playing ?''. Chelsea Ultras.

It's apt you mentioned Madame Tussauds FB because some of the people we get in the stands these days are very similar to waxworks no movement just staring into space a bit like Kovacic last night.

[Fulham Broadway 17,347]

48 minutes ago, Iggy Doonican said:

It's apt you mentioned Madame Tussauds FB because some of the people we get in the stands these days are very similar to waxworks no movement just staring into space a bit like Kovacic last night.

Lol I swear some of them just happened to be given a corporate ticket and didn't know what or where they are

[Fulham Broadway 17,347]

1 hour ago, Laylabelle said:

Also think cause phones do so much more these days. All about look at me here I am at Stamford Bridge.. Here's a free kick being taken etc rather then enjoying the moment.. Or not as case may be

Seen that so many times - too busy filming and missing the moment

[Henrique 9,133]

Im not defiant for this game against Arsenal. Their attacking power might be too good for us, while I don't think we have enough power to explore their weak defense. Imo the best tactics for this game is the same one used against City in League Cup final, minus the false 9 shit.