Chelsea Banter

06 Apr 2026 13:50:16
I have been reading about the truly colossal amount of debt in the whole football pyramind within the UK and how clubs would literally be going to the wall if it wasn't for sugar daddy owners propping them up. I thought FFP or whatever it is now called was supposed to prevent this? to take one club as an example purely because we have a very loose connection with them in as much as our former manager Enzo Maresca managed to take them up from the championship to the premiership Leicester are over £300 million in debt, surely they are close to administration? even the Premier League is awash with debt at record highs exceeding £5 billion and driven by stadium developments and transfer spending, high-debt clubs include Tottenham Hotspur at 1.2 billion, Everton £580 million and Manchester United £1.2 billion. Most clubs operate at a loss, with wages and transfer fees absorbing 90% of revenue.

Some clubs like Bouremouth have huge debts with banks whilst others like Newcastle have huge debts with their owners (as we did with Roman).

With the rise in the cost of living together with an uncertain world and a declining spectacle being offered up in the Premier League it makes you wonder if prudence is now the best approach.

ED01, I always enjoy your views on such matters if you have time.

{Ed001's Note - it doesn't deal with debt at all, which is one of the main reasons it is such a waste of time as a regulation.}

06 Apr 2026 15:51:30
I sent a complete proposal to all the governing bodies some time ago. This included an insurance policy (bond) that owners had to have in place to secure the future of the clubs they supposedly own.

I didn't even get an acknowledgment of receipt from any regulator. They probably thought I was a crank. I am.

{Ed001's Note - I think it is a very good idea.}

06 Apr 2026 16:12:13
You are not Tom. It's an ideal solution.

06 Apr 2026 16:30:52
Any chance you could share your proposal on here Tom so we can have a look please?
ED01, do you think the governing bodies are at all concerned about the spiralling debt running through football in the UK?

{Ed001's Note - they must be concerned, but I think they see it as a chance to cut down on the number of clubs and make it easier to control the leagues. And, most importantly of all, require them to share less of the wealth around and enable the FA and Premier League to hoard more to themselves.}

06 Apr 2026 18:17:56
RBD, a bond is placed into an escrow account. This is to cover one year's salary for Every member of staff, plus any debt.

Any club can spend whatever it wants, but then also has to increase the value of its bond by an equivalent value.



It's simple. It allows clubs to spend, but other clubs could benefit from any trickle-down transfers. It's simple, and it also guarantees a club's existence if the owner goes strange ways!!

06 Apr 2026 19:10:11
Tom, although I have serious misgivings about the owners' direction and understanding of football culture, I don't have concerns about their financial stewardship of the club. I don't see them jumping ship. As for the future of football finance, the attempted European Super League is an indication of what might happen.

I can foresee issues, first with the Premier League. The so-called big clubs will eventually want to have a bigger share of the broadcasting revenue, as happens in Spain with Madrid and Barca. The goose has only so many golden eggs.

06 Apr 2026 19:35:08
Jimbo, I have always had serious misgivings about our current owners' financial stewardship of our club. I didn't want them as our owners, but then it became a needs must situation.
I understand there is a restrictive covenant stopping the resale of our club for several years.

I think that clause may well end up being tested.
I have no inside knowledge, this is just me guessing.

07 Apr 2026 08:26:37
Tom, my comments were based on an impression. Obviously, I have no knowledge of the ins and outs of the financial operation, and perhaps your concerns may well be right. As for the covenant and other conditions of sale, I have always wondered how, and by whom, they could be enforced, and whether they are legally enforceable at all.

07 Apr 2026 09:35:07
You are correct, Tom, the new (not so new now) owners could not sell for 10 years and were down to Roman's wishes to protect the club, although in hindsight, it may trap owners who do not want to be there and have no further interest in moving us forward.

06 Apr 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - LFC-S MANGO has posted a new article entitled, Slot Cannot Be the Only One Blamed

05 Apr 2026 12:51:59
As much as I can criticise what I think is not a well thought out project, we've been to Wembley 3 times in 3 years and won the CWC. I'm glad we haven't lost that winning mentality. Now we just need to win back our FA Cup.

05 Apr 2026 18:00:57
It becomes easy to forget that we have been in these semi-finals and the final, especially when on a run of poor results.

It's a young side, with still a few frailties. Listening to Liam's press conference, it seems that may change with a slight change in transfer strategy. But until it happens, the owner, sporting director, and manager will be criticised.

I won't say praised, as I don't think most fans like them.

My opinion is, they deserve to be criticised but also praised.

Yesterday could have been a banana skin, but they went about their business professionally.

You have to look at Man United when they played Grimsby; these results aren't always a given.

05 Apr 2026 19:12:02
Finchy, I agree with your post, mate.

05 Apr 2026 21:40:30
Good post, Finchy.

05 Apr 2026 21:43:43
I think you make some good points, Finchy86.

05 Apr 2026 08:33:58
Always good to bang 7 and that second half performance was decent but first half we looked so nervous, the boys were lacking confidence and some of the passing was more sunday league than Premier League and the atmosphere was just drained bar the vale supporters who were brilliant.

The decision to give Palmer the captaincy was a bit like being back at school where the best player gets in over others who might just do a better job but that was fine, the stand out players were the 3 boys from Brazil, we must hang on to them next season with others likely on their way, Hato as well looks more and more comfortable on that left side and after a tricky start to his chelsea career is starting to look a real gem of a find.

And then to get home and watch Aresnal do a Spursy was a lovely bonus.

Happy Easter fellow posters, moaners and ED's.

05 Apr 2026 08:50:56
Greenaway, I'm sure this is not a reflection of all fans at the Bridge yesterday. My mate said pre-match, in the surrounding bars, the atmosphere was borderline toxic. At half-time and at full-time, he said that some fans sounded miffed they didn't have anything to moan about, continually saying "it was only Port Vale.".

05 Apr 2026 09:53:35
Yom

That performance yesterday would have meant at best a draw against Premier League opposition.

The few times Vale threatened, our backline looked dodgy.

05 Apr 2026 10:03:03
Bill, I'm sorry, mate, I have no idea what that win equates to in terms of comparison.

We are through to a semi at Wembley, is all I know.

05 Apr 2026 10:27:15
Atmosphere where I was in West Stand Lower Block 4 Row 13 was ok yesterday, mainly as the win looked pretty certain within 2 minutes. Neto was the player who impressed me most in the first half, partly as he was below me, and his performance was skilful and incisive for the most part, though his runs were quite often missed by midfielders. Palmer played one great pass that set him away. I was a bit miffed that Estevao played on the left for the whole of the first half, though his increasingly good performance in the second half was at some distance from me.

Agree about Hato, who is looking more consistent and confident, and has good speed when needed. Santos is also looking good. Pedro's skill set is wonderful, though Delap, when on again as replacement, again failed to impress, likewise much of Garnacho when on for Neto, though he netted that late penalty, but after I'd already headed home cos train to catch.



But yes, our defence still looked fragile in the first half, and we will never be given so much room in the opposition penalty box v EPL opposition as we were yesterday. Port Vale are bottom of League 1 for a reason.

Shame that the Port Vale fans were tremendous and loved their singing after we'd gone 5-0 up of "You're going to Wembley, We're going to York" (reference to a future fixture they have v York City). They also sang "You're nothing special, we lose every week".

All told, a nice enough day out, and one in which some of our players had a reasonable confidence-regaining run out, but hardly a test of how we will perform in the rest of the season's fixtures. But we are going to Wembley, and if we avoid City in the semis - great that Arsenal exited - with a good chance of being in another cup final.

05 Apr 2026 11:03:35
We will take the win, guys, and happily move on. Hopefully a nice confidence booster for the team, and Arsenal dumped out. Beat City is the big task now if we get them in the final or semi.

05 Apr 2026 13:13:29
You can only beat what's in front of you, Bill.

05 Apr 2026 14:21:14
I agree, you can only beat what is in front of you, and yesterday could have been a banana skin.

All I'm saying is that if we played a PL side on that performance, we would struggle.

I liked it when Estavo moved wings, and he made a lot of difference.

Hato, I'm pleased he had another good game, and it just shows what happens when people are given a proper chance, which brings me to Josh. Does the club not want him, because the chances he is getting are slim?

06 Apr 2026 23:15:45
I cannot understand the decision to basically freeze out Josh. He's got everything it takes to make it big, just needs some guidance, experience, and confidence. He isn't getting any of that currently.

04 Apr 2026 20:59:29
Gittens out with yet another hamstring injury. I assume he will now miss the remainder of the season.
This is a lad I rate highly, but he hasn’t started his Chelsea career well. Let’s hope he makes a positive impression next season.

05 Apr 2026 07:36:50
Unfortunate. I haven't seen anything of him this season to make me think he has a bright future, but very hard to judge as he hasn't had a consistent run of games.

Hopefully you're right about him and he can come back stronger next season.

05 Apr 2026 08:46:45
Melbourne, there were some who criticised the SDs over the Hato signing, but those who had seen him play knew he could play a bit. In my opinion, it’s the same with Gittens. He is a good player who, in my opinion, just had one issue (too often plays with his head down), and that is something he can work on with the coaches.

It sometimes takes time for players to settle into a club and the Premiership.

05 Apr 2026 09:57:22
Hopefully he will have a full pre-season and come back stronger next season.