11 Aug 2023 18:45:26
I will be going to The Bridge on Sunday.

I expressed my concerns for this football year but as the season draws closer I have become more optimistic

The new owners made some overdue stadium upgrades last season and I'm hopeful that investment in that area continues. They have kept my season ticket at the same price including the OAP concessions.

In just one year of ownership we have seen a huge change in playing staff. I think that change was overdue although I haven't agreed with all the changes.

The potential MC deal would be fantastic in my opinion and if we added Lavia and allied to existing players I think we will have a very deep and strong midfield.

The Nkunku injury was a big blow and he look to be out until January. I'm not convinced we need to sign cover but as Poch said today maybe the club can find a short term solution.

Top six would be massive progress given that our rivals have strengthened but obviously we should have a target of Champions league. My minimum points target is always 76 pts.

Anyway as always let's hope for a happier season.

COME on MY MIGHTY BLUES.

1.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 19:55:08
Hey Tom

Hope the day is good for you at the bridge.

I think the owners have done ok they admitted making mistakes at the start and are new looking to get it right, most of the new additions back room and players have been great and with good heart i believe.

I agree if we do get MC would be a great addition if not onward to the next target. we do already have some great player who maybe able to slot in.

The nkunku situation is frustrating and a real shame for the lad but we have enough talent with maybe a poss addition to last until he returns, but when he does it will be like a new signing .

As long as we massively improve position at the finish would be a brilliant season. top 6 great, top absolutely fantastic, but this team is for now and future. it really is a good time to be a blues fan

let the season commence IM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

2.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 19:58:29
Nice Post Tom mate enjoy Sunday.

3.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 08:41:30
I Big Time worry about the lad Caicedo if he comes. Seems a troublesome character from what I have seen. Hope to be proven wrong as his quality is obvious but I can see down the line trouble - maybe with a 'Spanish Giant' expectation ultimately in him he'll throw toys out of our pram ultimately (if you believe what you hear) . I will accept him in if club think it is right but won't be crying heavy tears if he don't come.

4.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 10:03:09
Enjoy being back at the Bridge Tom and much hope the new, young CFC side can do us all proud by winning this big and important first game of the new season.

As I think I've said before though, since the new ownership it has become extremely difficult for those like me who are only club ticket members to get tickets. It used to be relatively mfar, far easier under previous owner.

Last season you could though still usually get a ticket if willing to pay 120 pounds for ordinary EPL games and 240 for the big ones in Westview (ie West stand) . The cheaper tickets had almost always already gone. Though most of us could hardly do that very often (some of us not at all? ) . Yet now even that option seems remote given my attempts to get tickets for Luton and Notts Forest. When I do get put through after some time in virtual queue there's sometimes supposedly tickets left - usually only in Westview - but when trying to get them they have also disappeared. I could have got two tickets for LFC in East Stand but they would have been 600 pounds each although with 'hospitality' (how many bottles of JD? ) .

I am not sure what the ratio is now of available seats to ticket members, and perhaps number of seats available to non-season holders is getting smaller. But I also can only think that some of those non-season tickets available must being bought up by syndicates and possibly some by members who do illegally sell some on (are touts in other words) and do think the club may have to look at some system of ensuring only genuine members come to the games. When I did get there last season there did seem to be a lot of 'tourists'. Perhaps things could be made more secure in terms of limiting to proper members by way of sending tickets direct to our phones anfd/ or by using the kind of security device used by some big concert sales in recent times.

Sorry for the gripe but do think that those lifelong CFC supporters who aren't able or lucky enough to be season ticket holders are fnding it really tough to get tickets to the Bridge now. Though I will keep trying on those on sale date days.

5.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 13:46:37
JBS, I’ve never been a fan of the points system for members but I can’t think of another way the club could allocate the tickets.

Getting a season ticket, home or away, is almost impossible.

I will be going into hospital for my treatments soon and I will be putting my ticket in the MH upper up for sale on the clubs resale site. I know it’s a pain but I would constantly look on that site for availability. At least you won’t be paying a premium for any ticket you get.

6.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 14:31:33
Thanks for this Tom. Much hope your treatment goes very well amd yes I will be checking! But will trust that you won't be having to do this too often, the lads need your support at the Bridge too!

Would just add that I seem to remember it only costing about 10 shillings to get in to stand in the Shed end when I first went. which gives you some idea of how long ago that was!

7.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 14:52:50
JBS, I’m not sure if my memory is playing tricks but I seem to remember going to the Bridge from Dulwich, jumping on and off countless routemasters to dodge paying the fare. Going into the children’s entrance at the Shed end, getting a Bovril at half time from some old caravan at the back of the stand, doing the same on the buses trick to get home, while we were in the old second division.

Total cost approx 2/ - 6d (half a crown) or about 13p in todays money.

That was what I got paid for my evening paper round.

I would say they were happy days but they were tough old times.

8.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 15:56:55
Nice memories Tom, thanks for sharing them. I reckon it's safe now to confess your historical fare dodging, Met shouldn't be too interested! You must have got to the Bridge a fair few years before I first did as I think I recall you saw Jimmy Greaves playing for us? Wish I had!

Yes but it is easy to get nostalgic about times long past forgetting the toughness of them, tough in many ways.

9.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 16:41:36
JBS, yes I was very fortunate to see Jimmy, the player I consider to be the best ever Chelsea player.

Also saw Sir Stanley Mathews at The Bridge, I think he was playing for Stoke.