Chelsea other posts

17 Apr 2025 21:33:34
I would just like to congratulate Egbhali, Boehly, Stewart and Winstanley on absolutely killing our football club.

What might even be a bigger achievement is they have managed to rip the soul out of it as well.

17 Apr 2025 23:00:28
It has been impressive, and fast. I've said before there will be case studies on the failure (or atleast, hopefully early failure) of this ownership. It's been incredible (in a bad way) .

18 Apr 2025 09:41:58
I really don't know what they could have said to the CST and CPO to get them on board.

Whatever they were told, they were well and truly conned and have had their pants pulled down.

18 Apr 2025 11:17:24
Not sure what the CST or CPO have got to do with anything but hey ho.

I wonder if there is a case study of how long it takes new owners of any club to get there strategy right. My guess is we were spoilt rotten with the instant success under RA.

18 Apr 2025 14:33:22
Chelsea has been completely different to other ownership projects. They didn't take there time or analyse anything. They blew a billion by thinking it would be like baseball

A billion tom. That is just a ridiculous sum for us to still hang on to the claim of 'oh it just takes some time, maybe in 4 years and another 700million pounds we will compete' it's just ridiculous and I cannot understand how anyone can still support it and not call it out for what it is.

18 Apr 2025 16:20:58
I will repeat yet again. I believe the owners have made mistakes but I also believe that the squad needed changing and just for the record at the time of there takeover I predicted “statement signings” rather than logical signings.

Factually the owners have not “blown” or “blew” a billion. That could only be judged if a when the investments were sold.

I have no idea how much money the new owners will spend but if it is a sum of £700m that’s up to them.

Getting back to my original point about a study about on other clubs owners strategy being successful I guess it would also depend on what constitutes success. Now that would be subjective.

18 Apr 2025 18:18:12
Apparently the spuds haven’t won a trophy since 2008 (who cares) and spent over a £1bn on transfer fess. They also apparently carry a club debt of £1bn. Against that they probably have one of the best stadiums in world club football and make a very healthy annual trading profit. So, on some levels they will be seen as successful.

As I’ve said many times I think the club owners would have been better advised to take there time over building a new squad.

As far as what I would call the experiment of heavily investing in young global talent is concerned I have no idea if that investment will bring about playing success, financial success or if it will end in failure. It would appear that other clubs are replicating the same BP. The last window was a massive example of this buy youth policy from most clubs. I can’t remember many if any permanent transfers of a player over 27 years of age in the premiership. I assume there must have been some but my guess is not many.

18 Apr 2025 19:42:19
There's buy youth and then there's buy stupid. Unfortunately we've done the latter.

18 Apr 2025 20:50:33
Another ridiculous generalisation. Some will work and some will not. It’s the risk that every club has always taken when signing any age group of player. I think the signings of Noni, Neto, Jackson, Palmer, Caicedo, Gusto, Fernandez (at long last) Cucarella and I hope at least one keeper have been good. I am not going to judge the players on loan but some seem to be getting good reviews and some are still struggling.

I’ve mentioned this before but I was told by a young lady who works for the Bloom gaming company who seem to analyse football stats to death that according to there assessment about 20% of all signings end in some sort of failure. The problem with stats is it could mean you have “X” amount of years of 100% transfer failure or “X” amount of years with a 100% success rate.

18 Apr 2025 21:40:59
If anyone wants a deep dive, this article from January is worth a read, I think. The writing is abysmal, so it's a little hard to get through at times, but I think the guy has it pretty nailed on with comments on BlueCo/ SDs for what I've been seeing.

seb4stien.substack.com/p/exploring-the-chelsea-masquerade

He also wrote an article in March about Shim Mheuka against Copenhagen, and the way in which Maresca threw both him and Tyrique George under the proverbial bus after the game for lack of chances in the first half when the issue was really the way the team were set up to play (Maresca), plus conservatism of some of the senior B-team players (and not Mheuka's movement, which was class) .

18 Apr 2025 21:59:33
Edw, thanks for info. I will try and work my through the article you have suggested.

I will have to look back on an old article from either Matt Law or Simon Johnson on how other clubs are trying to evaluate our new owners business approach.

18 Apr 2025 22:13:49
Edw, tried to quickly find the substack article you mentioned in your above post. Is it a Simon Phillips article?

Also while looking at that site I found an article, I assume also by SP about us being just a couple of players away from greatness.

18 Apr 2025 22:19:53
Pedantic again saying 'some will work, some wont', that is obvious. We've had may more misses than hits though, and that's the problem, and that little fact of blowing 1.2 BILLION POUNDS.

18 Apr 2025 22:48:51
Yes at last you understand some will be successful signings and some will not. Therefore we haven’t blown £1.2 BILLION POUNDS.

18 Apr 2025 22:54:55
Edw, I am trying to find the article you referenced and I see Simon Phillips has also written articles on the 16th, 17th and 19th of this month.

He seems to be still supporting EM albeit for just wanting “stability” but he doesn’t hold back on his criticism of the SD’s. He also makes a very good comparison between us and Newcastle under there new ownership.

19 Apr 2025 13:20:39
Again, If you don't want to call it a disaster you don't have to. You'd struggle to find many football fans who would agree with you though I would think.

19 Apr 2025 14:58:04
Standard, I haven’t called it a disaster and I haven’t said it’s a success but I would have thought most football fans or members of the general public would understand the difference between “spend/ Invest” and “blown” but obviously not.

19 Apr 2025 21:32:39
Tom, the substack article I linked to isn't by Simon Phillips, no. It's a guy called Sebastian (seb4stien) . The link was in the post, but perhaps doesn't show for you. Including again below, just copy and paste into your browser:

seb4stien. substack. com/ p/ exploring-the-chelsea-masquerade.

19 Apr 2025 23:41:31
Thanks EdW, so far the only articles and podcasts I can find on substack are from SP but I will try again. Thanks again for the info.

22 Apr 2025 13:45:39
Tom, if you just copy and paste the link above into your browser, but delete the extra spaces it should work.

22 Apr 2025 21:03:52
Edw, thanks I did eventually find it and like some other articles and podcasts I found myself agreeing with some of it but as usual it’s just people guessing.

I personally find the tactics of EM lacking in flexibility and very rarely is he proactive. The big question for me is can he or will he change?

I’m not sure us fans or commentators can be certain about anything Chelsea.

29 Mar 2025 21:31:59
What is happening on here? people calling our manager Leicester? All doom and gloom? Nothing good to say? Only Tom B saying anything worth reading. Tom, I like your posts and as a fellow Chelsea fan long may they carry on. let's beat Spurs on Thursday.

30 Mar 2025 17:55:20
Anna it's how people deal with things. Some blame players, some blame the manager, some blame the sd's and some the owners.

I personally like the direction we are going. I am frustrated with the results lately but EM did say we aren't ready.

I have been watching videos of Santos, willian and just recently the 2 lads from sporting. I have to admit if they come and light you chelsea like they have with the videos I have watched then I think the model will work eventually.

31 Mar 2025 10:09:55
Anna, fingers crossed for Thursday.

I’m only guessing but I think a lot of the negativity is about expectations and an understandable belief that with the amount of money invested we would challenging at the top table. If it were only that simple.!

It’s impossible for any owner of any club to make football fans happy all of the time. We all have different preferences for signings, we all have biased views about players, managers and nowadays SD’s.

As fans we make guesses and assumptions a huge percentage of which are wide of the mark. Also and unfortunately, we live in a world where we have to find blame. In my opinion we have to find blame because it’s the only way we can make sense of it all.

CFC, some of the young players we have made do look exceptionally talented. I’m looking forward to them being given a chance in the first team and maybe that can happen in the WCC. If the rules allow.

01 Apr 2025 17:41:45
Anna sorry I have mot replied sooner but to be honest, I hardly ever go to the discussing page as there is hardly any postings these days.

I'm the one who has nicknamed him LeicesterMaresca and the reason I have done that is because he had a knack at Leicester of dropping numerous points during the second half of last season and he is doing the same with us this season.

I have previously posted saying that I do not believe the coach is experienced enough to run a club such as ours.

You mention negativity on the site apart from yourself and Tom. Please advise why we should be positive when we were second just before Xmas and now are in a fight just to make 5th. We have no FOS sponser for this season losing us circa £40mil. we have owners who seem to be parting their ways soon.

The SD"s buy players then sell them or loan them out either during the season or at season"s end.

Indeed I read that we will ve a future case as to how not run a football club.

That's why there is negativity on the CFC forum Anna.

03 Apr 2025 22:06:38
Bill I do think it'll be a university case study on how to blow a billion. It's been a disaster but tye good thing about spending that much money is its almost impossible to not unearth some gems. Palmer has been the one gem for the price we bought him for. Everyone else has lost value though some of them are great players like cucurella, caicedo and a few others I can't think of.

I don't think being positive for the sake of it is worth it. I think this regime has a lot to be criticised for. Just my 2 cents.

04 Apr 2025 09:06:13
This will obviously sound pedantic but the owners haven’t “blown” a billion. Also not “everyone else has lost value. ”

For the record, this “regime” does deserve criticism in certain issues.

04 Apr 2025 09:49:09
We can agree to disagree tom. I don't think you'll find a player that we could definitely sell for mote than we paid for them. Lavia? Caicedo, enzo, sanchez, mudryk, neto, nkunku, cucurella, disasi, fofana. All no. While some good players, we paid a premium.

04 Apr 2025 14:01:21
That is your opinion about premium. and we only be known if we decide to sell but you could have said Noni, Jackson, Veiga, Petrovich and Tosin. Of course that would be my opinion of there value.

The market can some times dictate values as it did with the well publicised transfers of Mudryk, Caicedo and Lavia, they were supposedly wanted by several clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool.

Also, player valuations can fluctuate with individual and team performance. Caicedo now looks a total snip to me but then I generally only look at performance rather than transfer fee.

05 Apr 2025 09:05:08
You are correct about Caicedo Tom and I remover you championing him at the time. Lavia would be equally as good if he could jusrstay fit.

05 Apr 2025 21:14:24
Caicedo is greatness of the ball. To call him a 'snip' at £115 million pounds is a bit crazy to me, but I do know what you mean.

06 Apr 2025 05:06:30
Bill, I get as many wrong as I get right but I like to give them all a chance playing in Chelsea blue.

I am gutted that we haven’t seen more of Lavia because I think this lad will prove himself a top talent and another snip.

07 Apr 2025 23:00:40
Someone did call caicedo a donkey before he even really kicked a ball tomb.
Imagine that am sure who ever that was must be thinking how wrong they was now.

08 Apr 2025 20:50:52
That's strange blue-blood as he did pretty well at Brighton. Who said that?

08 Apr 2025 21:21:57
Standard, let’s not rewrite history. You judged him as a “donkey” based on what you said you had seen of him at Brighton.

It’s ok we all make bad calls about players!

08 Apr 2025 22:53:20
I've made my fair share that's for sure. Though the only time I said caicedo was playing like a donkey was after 3 games for us when he assisted for the other team and had a very poor start.

I also called Jackson a donkey after he tried to shoot and kicked his other leg, taking himself out in the process.

I never called him a donkey before he played for chelsea I hadn't even seen him play for brighton other than a few occasions.

09 Apr 2025 05:16:34
Standard, that’s not how I remember it but I’m not that bothered.

09 Apr 2025 09:39:49
That's fine but rather strange to put words in my mouth if it was me the other person was insinuating. Maybe you misread.

09 Apr 2025 10:46:56
Standard, I remember it very clearly and we had a daily long and sometimes heated debate on the subject. Also, if I remember correctly another poster (maybe Finchy or Kiwi Pete) found your historic posts and put them up on the site again.

It was before he had even kicked a ball for the club and when I asked how you had reached a conclusion of him being a “donkey” you said it was based on his performances for Brighton. You later said that the term “donkey” was a term used in cards.

I’m not sure why you want to bring this up again as a debate We all make stupid judgements on players but most at least give a player a chance to succeed or fail while playing in Chelsea blue.

09 Apr 2025 15:27:16
You'll have to point me to that tom. Donkey is a term for someone that looks like they hadn't played football before. Caicedo had a torrid start and couldn't pass the ball a foot unless it was to the other team. I think that term was absolutely correct based on his early performances.

And I called Jackson a donkey too (and praised him also) when he miskicked the football so badly he took himself out in the process. Two statements I absolutely stand by.

I wasn't the one who brought it up tom. I genuinely don't care if you think I said that before he kicked a ball or not. You can trust me or not, but it was after a few starts where he started terribly. I remember the debate vecahse you said he was excellent and I had no idea how you came to that conclusion. Maybe it was the west ham game where he gave away two goals.

Regardless, he's playing well now.

09 Apr 2025 15:43:55
I’m sorry it was you who suggested I was “putting words in your mouth. ”

We had this who said what debate before and another poster put your old posts back up on this site. If can’t be bothered checking your old posts that’s up to you but I couldn’t really give a monkeys shi£e.

10 Apr 2025 19:12:47
"That's strange blue-blood as he did pretty well at Brighton. Who said that? "

3rd Sept 2023 Standard.
Caicedo looks like a donkey and mudryk looks like a Sunday league player. Shambles top to bottom. "

This was 4 games in

I watched caicedo plenty last year, was not overly impressed at all. A good pick up for 35-40m Max, 115 though, is laughable. Doucoure is a better player.

You also just stated you never watch him play for Brighton but this second statement from 3rd Sept 2023 says otherwise

"Tom, mudryk has played many more games than 4. He's been here for 6 months. Caicedo, I've never been overly impressed with so my opinion Is not just based on the 4 games, but if I was to judge him on the 4 games, goodness me. I'd be worried. "

One thing I can't stand is a liar. Just admit you was wrong fgs.

10 Apr 2025 19:43:33
Blueblood, we all make stupid statements and I’ve certainly misjudged a few players over the years. FGS I said in one post that Morata reminded me of Ossie.

Most recently I’ve said that KDH is underrated (still think he is) and Lavia will become a Chelsea legend. I even had a charity bet on Sterling to score 15 goals last season.

It’s all just a bit of fun.

10 Apr 2025 20:04:33
Not may problem tomb people can say as they like but at least stick to what you say don't deny it and change your story. Or just admit you was wrong

Obviously that's not aimed at you.

10 Apr 2025 20:16:49
As I say Blueblood, it’s all just a bit of fun. We are all just guessing, we are generally all biased and we all haven’t got a clue what’s really going on.

We all miss the Ed002 insights but Ed001 is doing a very good job of filling in some gaps and giving his unbiased opinions.

10 Apr 2025 20:35:23
Blueblood just as a footnote and hopefully the end of this saga.

I did chuckle when it was suggested that the term “donkey” wasn’t a derogatory comment but referred to card game terminology. ??.

11 Apr 2025 11:38:31
Thanks cfc blueblood. You've confirmed I hadn't called caicedo a donkey before he played for the club. Appreciate you finding that for me.

As you said, my comment 'caicedo looks like a donkey' was 4 games in, his player ratings for those games was as follows 4/ 10 (debut) 5/ 10, 6/ 10 and 4/ 10. He had an absolute shocker.

My criticisms were based on the fact that i wanted rice. Everyone on here knows I'm a bit of a rice fan boy so I was very upset lol.

Not sure why I said I'd watched him plenty for brighton, It was Max 4 or 5 times. But I stand by everything I said.

He's been immense recently for chelsea, though I want him to improve on the ball. Though that's not his strong point, he has improved in that area this season.

I am very glad to have been proven wrong by caicedo. He has been fantastic. I'm also glad that you've posted the comments as it clearly shows I hadn't criticised caicedo before he'd kicked a ball as it was suggested.

So thanks all. (And Tom once again google the definition, and notice the phrasing 'looks like a donkey', not is one) . Thanks all.

11 Apr 2025 12:18:02
Standard, if you think that’s ok then fine. I would just add that finchey and I think Kiwi and maybe Anna have all found your post about Caicedo being a “donkey” prior to him kicking a ball. If you didn’t and I imagined it I would. Just apologise for having a poor memory.

As if you meant the term “donkey” as anything other than a word to describe in your opinion anything other than his ability is “total bull” and that is a gaming term.

11 Apr 2025 12:28:10
So your statement of my opinion is not based on the 4 games played for chelsea it's based on his time at Brighton as you watched him plenty.

That is as everyone has said. That he was a donkey before he even played for chelsea.

11 Apr 2025 15:45:50
You are both entitled to think what you want. I've explained myself, and admitted I was wrong to write him off as I was with cucurella. I've admitted to that. I stand by my early criticisms of caicedo early on because he had a poor start.

I definitely hadn't watched him plenty, that was a lie from me I have no problem admitting lol. But no blueblood, your last comment is wrong. Never did I call him a donkey before he played. I said he looked like a donkey, as you have reposted, and he did. If he played like that on the weekend I would use the exact same terminology. It is completely up to you if don't want to listen to my reasoning. If you want to perceive it as a derogatory term, go ahead, but i will reitterate it was a criticism against what i thought was a very rookie performance. Cheers guys.

11 Apr 2025 16:37:30
Whatever works for you.

11 Apr 2025 17:00:27
If that's what you want to tell yourself buddy.

22 Feb 2025 19:52:31
Is g8 about to tell me I was wrong about this squad build and manager and I'm negative and we will finish 3rd?

22 Feb 2025 20:32:47
I get not being negative for the point of it but I left the site for a bit because my opinion seemed like it wasn't allowed by a couple people on here. All things deserve criticism if criticism is deserved and in the sake of chelsea criticism is absolutely required. Everyone at the club has done a very poor job and with the amount spent it's been more than poor.

If we were in this state because we were struggling financially, sure, that's okay and completely acceptable.

But completely breaking apart a team that one the biggest club trophy the year prior, and replacing with poor players (my opinion is these players are poor) deserves a lot of criticism.

There was a poster on here who's disappeared now who was given it the biggen. My reply then was the same as it is now. Don't think things have changed because a few good months. And don't think things are terrible because a few poor months. The truth is often in-between. The fact is we're better than our results have been recently but we're not as good as the results were when we were In second.

23 Feb 2025 10:13:06
There were also posters on here who disappeared when we were doing well. It works both ways!

I’m not why people think anything other than the vast majority of the stuff we post is crap or at best guesswork.

26 Feb 2025 14:22:40
Where we finish is guesswork but I see us going in the right direction, Liverpool are different class to anyone else we could be anywhere below there

Think we will be above Forest Villa and Brighton if it's top 5 could do with a city having a points deduction.

26 Feb 2025 15:47:17
Seymns, I am assuming that City will get a points deduction. What I don’t know is when it will be applied, this season or next season? Also how long will the appeal against the points deduction take?

27 Feb 2025 08:47:21
Not sure if i remember this correctly thoughtI read somewhere that the sanctions would be applied this season, and any appeal had to be in that timeframe, having said that they will probably get off.

27 Dec 2024 05:02:29
We are reaching the halfway mark of the season. These are my mid term successes and failures.

My three misses are Son, Watkins and Foden. My three hits are VVD, Isak and Caicedo.

13 Jan 2025 09:46:38
sons form in particular is a really worry for spurs fans, he's been such a fantastic likeable player even if we dislike spurs so much, I think son is 1 of those guys you just can't hate, but his drop off is insane he looks over the hill,

I never rated foden as much as the english fan base personally and watkins has done really well the last few years I do see his form returning, villas squad has suffered a but with the demands of CL football

Foden on the other hand was suppose to be Man citys new messiah with KDB slowing down but he just can't do it when the pressure is on him.

13 Jan 2025 10:51:05
Poch, form can be effected by so many things. I remember thinking that Giggs was overrated after a poor season only for him to come back with a vengeance.

One of the worst drops in form I have seen was our very Iva. One minute he was outstanding the next he was a total liability.

14 Jan 2025 11:37:44
My three misses Grealish, Hoijlland, Anthony

I also would of had Foden Son there or thereabouts

My three hits, Chris Wood, Salah, Delap honourable mention to Kulusevski.

17 Jan 2025 18:44:08
Too many misses to mention Three hits:Notts Forest keeper and their two centre backs.

18 Jan 2025 16:21:08
The annoying g thing is that the GK came from Strasbourg, a Blueco club, bearing in mind the issues we have with our GK situation, you could not make it up.

13 Dec 2024 18:28:46
With the transfer window coming up this page will no longer be the same without ED02, may the good man RIP.
I, for one, only really came on here for the transfer news and indeed all factual news reference the club which ED would provide us with. The banter is ok but only 2 or 3 posters nowadays and I get plenty of banter in the boozer. Anyway, all the best to ED's and posters and I shall look in from time to time.

13 Dec 2024 22:12:18
Merry Christmas wsotb.

15 Dec 2024 18:51:41
The trouble is that if posters continue to leave as they have done then there won't be a site to pop in and out to.

15 Dec 2024 21:20:21
Bill, I agree with you. TBH the transfer windows get on my nerves: so much BS being circulated.

15 Dec 2024 21:54:56
Exactly Jimbo, hence why I and others loved the input from ED02, no BS just pure fact. Bill, this page has been dominated by King Frank and all his many different names for a long time and now we are winning and have our Chelsea back he has gone as do all the trolls.

15 Dec 2024 22:22:13
Surely it should just be e about fans giving there opinions and the Eds putting us right. Hopefully Ed18 will give us his opinion a regular basis.

16 Dec 2024 13:16:11
We need to stick together ti keep the site going, look what happened to the Spurs page.

16 Dec 2024 14:33:54
Absolutely Bill.

17 Dec 2024 08:30:38
I am with you Tom Bill it would be a shame if people dropped off the the site. Perhaps because we are doing well people have nothing to moan about. Yes we are in the title race but I doubt we will win it, we still need to strengthen the squad. Plenty to take about, apparently close to announcing a new FOS sponsor, rumours circulating that Mudryk has failed a drug test. Always something going on at Chelsea.

01 Dec 2024 21:22:40
Well done Enzo Maresca and our Chelsea on another 3 points, this time with a clean sheet. I love the way he tweaks the team and keeps everyone fresh and on their toes. We beat both the low block and high line now with ease. Moises was my MOM but stand outs all over the pitch. I remember a poster once saying books and films would be made about just how well managed we are, how well the new owners have transformed our fortunes, another poster saying what a brilliant striker Jackson would become and others saying please give Marc C, Moises, Lavia, Enzo F and the rest time and you will see just how good they are. I gest of course but where are these peeps now. Lol. we are the Chelsea and onwards and upwards.

01 Dec 2024 21:57:38
I will stick with my prediction of a 3rd - 5th place finish.

I’m happy with the way we are performing by we are about 1/ 3rd of the way through this season and I’m not getting carried away.

I will try not to rush to judgement, positive or negative and I will try my best to justify my views and likewise welcome any debate with those with different views.

02 Dec 2024 07:49:41
West side. I too am wondering where all the negativity has gone.
The people calling ciacedo and jackson donkeys.
But let's not get carried away. We are still short of man city, arsenal, Liverpool.
We will lose more games this season and I predicted a top 4 finish this season with a trophy. And am still fingers and toes crossed. I don't think we create enough chances still in the league as well as conceding plenty of chances at the other end.

02 Dec 2024 09:03:55
If we carry on winning they will be silent for a while but I genuinely hope not as I like the banter/ debate. I think Ed once said that all sites become quieter when a team is doing well.

02 Dec 2024 16:33:11
Why would people call for negativity when Villa were well beaten.

The team are playing g well and Maresca seems to have have them geling.

If you want negativity, we are terrible from corners and I still have no faith in the GK.

I also believe in the summer we will have several transfer requests from our 'B' team which at the moment is one of our strong points.

We still have no FOS and absolutely no movement on the SB development.

On the plus side, the ownership issues seem to have gone quiet.

02 Dec 2024 19:52:53
Not that we want negativity bill. But the same people that was negative have disappeared. And should be here expressing how we have improved and probably wrong on some counts (caicedo and jackson are donkeys and shouldn't be in the team. We should of got rice instead)

You are correct tho there are somethings that are worrying. The gk position is one that needs addressing.

And the front of shirt sponsor of course.

But come on credit where credit is due. We are looking a far better team. With these very young players.

02 Dec 2024 20:32:47
Totally agree JS, we are playing attractive football and more importantly, playing as a team.

03 Dec 2024 13:33:33
I’m probably alone in not being that bothered about not having a FOS sponsor. Although I’m sure I will moan if us not having one effects our ability to sign a player. If I remember correctly September mins of the FAB board meeting did bring up the issue of SB development but obviously there were no conclusions just a promise to keep the FAB informed.

03 Dec 2024 16:12:37
Tom

No FOS sponser should worry us fans as at the moment it means we are down approx £40mn so maybe the shortfall will have to be found elsewhere.

With regards to your 'update' on SB, it does not surprise me in the slightest.

03 Dec 2024 17:02:52
Bill, in my opinion there isn’t going to be a decision on the SB development in my lifetime. There is obviously a reason why the MH, Shed and East stand can’t be redeveloped and I think it would be helpful if the club explained the practicalities of redeveloping the bridge.

As we get closer to the CWC I can see us doing a very good deal with a FOS sponsor and that’s the real reason why I’m not that bothered.

04 Dec 2024 10:06:33
Agree on th SB situation which annoys me even further why nobody comes out and tells the truth.

With regards to the FOS we might get a really good deal as you say Tom but thar still won't make up for the £40mn we have list this season.

Would you be happy if ticket prices went up next season to partly compensate?

04 Dec 2024 12:59:51
Bill, I’m sure it’s not about telling a “truth. ” I think it’s probably just complicated but I think summary would be welcomed by fans who are interested.

As far as the FOS sponsor for this season is concerned I’m just treating as water under the bridge.

Of course I won’t be happy if ticket prices go up next season for any reason. As I always freely admit i want my cake and eat it.

04 Dec 2024 16:56:09
Tom

All the club have to do is come put and say where we are with the SB project.

Personally if it was my decision I would relocate to another area if it's that problematic to develop the bridge.

Secondly, I think £40mn is a little more than water under the bridge. We cannot afford to lose that amount of money, I don't believe there is anymore silverware to sell back to Blue Co.

04 Dec 2024 17:27:21
Bill, the mins for the FAB are in the public domain, so my guess is the club feels it is keeping the fans updated. I personally think it could be in more detail but again I’m guessing that different options that are being considered.

My water under the bridge comment is me just seeing it as a history lesson and now not worth me worrying about it.

I never saw the hotels as anything but a mistake. We have plenty of more assets we can sell. They are called players and naming rights.

04 Dec 2024 19:03:45
Tom,

Agreed we can sell players naming rights not si sure bearing in mind the FOS issue we are having.

04 Dec 2024 21:06:59
The so called FOS “issue” if the reports are to be believed are more about an existing airline sponsor. Apparently that deal finishes at the end of this season at the latest.

05 Dec 2024 16:13:54
Whether your correct or not Tom, it looks like this season with regards to an FOS is a total wipe out meaning a loss to our finances of some £40mn.

05 Dec 2024 16:49:07
Bill, I’m only reporting what I have read. I was told ages ago that would be getting a boost to our finances and stupidly assumed it was going to be a sponsor when in fact it was the sale of our hotels.

When I have asked the same guy about a FOS sponsor he just said, negotiations are ongoing and not to worry about it. That response was very similar to a reply the much missed Ed002 gave some time before my mate told me anything.

If just shows how much information Ed002 had at his disposal and how much we will miss his guidance.

11 Dec 2024 16:40:56
I missed this thread. As far as SB is concerned I have always said that building a new stadium or significant redevelopment on this site is not feasible. The club should look for a new site and if the CPO don’t accept it, so be it and we stay put as we are. Obviously finance will have to come from elsewhere. Yes we can sell players but there is a limit to that if we want success on the field. I doubt if there would be many takers for naming rights which are generally deals done for new or redeveloped stadia.
As for FOS sponsorship, I am with Bill, the failure to secure a sponsor has lost us income which must be made up elsewhere and is a failure by whoever is in charge of our commercial department.

12 Dec 2024 15:00:19
I have zero idea what any FOS sponsor deal would have looked like and just maybe a sponsor this season would have wanted a more than one year deal, something I can’t imagine any management would agree to as it could be a higher value I seasons to come. It’s easy to criticise but we don’t know the details.

SB, I would prefer to move away and I cannot see the CPO being a problem as long as any such move is practicable and in the best interest of all concerned. The club would have to persuade the CPO that it makes sense. I have no idea what finance would be required for SB upgrade or a new build.

12 Dec 2024 17:35:55
Tom, obviously we don’t know the details about potential sponsorship deals but on the face of it the commercial department has failed. If I find out what the details were that led to no FOS sponsor, I will happily eat my words.
As for SB the RA scheme that received planning permission was estimated at a billion: we can speculate what that would cost if we ever got shovels in the ground. I suspect planning permission would be a lot more difficult now and could go on for years.

12 Dec 2024 18:46:15
I have said in a previous post I do not expect the SB issue to be resolved in my lifetime.

The FOS sponsor issue and negotiation could consist of so many unknowns. This would be me guessing but to a certain extent understandable but I can see a sponsor only wanting to pay a fee as the club stands today.

It makes sense to me to attract a top fee for sponsorship for the WCC and hopefully champions league rather than agreeing a deal based on the last two season’s performances.

I guess what I’m saying is a five year FOS sponsor deal from next season could well be substantially more than a five year deal that could have been agreed at the start of this season.

It sounded as if an airline was interested but that created a conflict. I’m still hopeful of BOA and I’m happy for the stadium to be call the BOA stadium.

07 Nov 2024 16:37:56
Sad to hear of the passing of John Dempsey- an underrated player RIP.

07 Nov 2024 16:53:02
Jimbo, it was very sad news and I agree he was a very underrated player.

24 Nov 2024 10:10:28
Lets hope he makespeace were ever he is now.

29 Nov 2024 14:21:19
Given his life after football and I would like to think he will be sitting in a seat upstairs!

04 Nov 2024 13:45:18
It's now being reported that Palmer is having a scan today on his knee.

Injuries can happen in lots of ways and they aren't all as a result of bad tackles but this potential injury was in my opinion a direct result of a RED card tackle.

VAR let's itself down in so many ways this is just another instance. I doubt a red card would have changed the result but it could effect Chelsea's results many games to come and it could effect the outcome of Utd's next three games.

06 Nov 2024 10:07:01
Totally agreed Tom, this is no where near the first time he has done this, he has a nasty attitude and I dint know why referees are letting him get away with hurting players who embarrass him. I know why VAR let's him get away with it, they are worse than rubbish and we should do away with VAR.

03 Nov 2024 18:00:03
Like enzo said when he makes mistakes it's on me we'll get taxi take him with.

03 Nov 2024 17:22:48
I thought the first 45 mins was bang average from both teams. Very dissatisfied we aren't taking advantage of the room Utd are allowing Palmer.

Both teams offering opportunities from stupid mistakes.

27 Oct 2024 08:19:07
Conversations ongoing between Josh Acheampong and Chelsea over a new long-term deal. Nothing agreed as yet but all parties working to a positive conclusion. 18 months left on his current deal.