1.) 06 Feb 2018
06 Feb 2018 23:43:20
Good read from a supporters perspective Ed.
Who is this Gola?

{Ed033's Note - Gola is a poster on our Chelsea rumours site.

2.) 07 Feb 2018
06 Feb 2018 22:25:24
Good read that and I agree that the human element often gets ignored by Many most or all supporters to a large extent.
It's a pretty fine line between being a great player and a good player and the ability to cope with the pressure of working in a goldfish bowl with the whole world watching in and analysing your every move is often the difference of becoming a great.
I can't agree with the analysis of the players when only their positives were written about and all the negative traits or points about the players were ignored.

3.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 08:16:49
Thanks Ed. Yeah I tend to agree with Ken as in an objective analysis both positive and negative will be a very good one. Even if from a supporter we should not be closed to objective negative comments. Of course that does not mean constantly dwelling in negative criticism and soaking in doom and gloom. 😉🤔
Too many a times people see and say what they want others to see or hear. But well, we are only human 😉🤔.

4.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 09:50:11
I'm not sure I agree with much of that to be honest.

From the outside looking in there appears to be a deeper more sinister problem developing at Chelsea over the last few years.

I think the human element of his argument is letting the players off the hook. Nobody expects the players to perform every single game but there's a difference between a bad day at the office and completely downing tools. In my opinion they know exactly what their doing and it's totally unacceptable. They have let themselves, the manager, the Club and more importantly the fans down and all this rubbish about pressure and self pity is exactly why their in this position.

For two successive managers the players have won the title they the same players have completely downed tools and surrendered their title as easily as they've won it. If that's not alarming then I don't know what it.

At Chelsea the manger is ultimately the one that pays the price and the players know this. There is no stability at the Club so if/ when the players get tired of the tactics, the training, the sound of his voice or any other reason they wish to come up with they decide they've had enough and don't want to play anymore. What happened to their character, pride, resilience and professionalism?

I do agree that they have a very talented squad 93 points last season is testimony to that. Even City might not surpass that figure this season so just let that sink in considering where they find themselves now. Under Jose they amassed an impressive 87 points.

I have no doubt with a new manager at the helm next season they'll be much improved such is the talent in their squad. How absurd and frustrating is that?

Chelsea have had great success in the last decade hiring and firing managers like confetti. I think this approach has ultimately led to the power shifting from the manger to the dressing room making any sustained period of dominance very difficult.

For some reason they have decided they no longer want to compete in the transfer market, possibly due to funding a new stadium but despite their talented squad and whatever new manager their care to appoint if they don't significant up their game and this includes competing for the best players again then whilst Pep and Jose remain at City and Utd respectively they may find themselves starved of any success for the foreseeable future.

{Ed002's Note - When was it they "decided they no longer want to compete in the transfer market"? Are you aware how much they have spent this season - I think it is the fourth highest in Europe? They have certainly spent more than Manchester United this season - is that what you find sinister? Perhaps you are also not aware of what has been going on in the past couple of months regarding future transfer and talks that took place last week? I guess not. Hopeless.}

5.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 11:59:36
Thank you Ed 2 for your constructive comments. What I find sinister is a group of Championship winning players grotesquely under performing the following year because they seemingly no longer like their manager! This has now happened twice under two of the most successful mangers in the game.

Whilst I don't profess to know the inner workings of the Chelsea dressing room this is the opinion I have formed for want of a better explanation. I disagree with the Chelsea fan Gola's explanation that the players are only human and the pressure is simply to much for them. These are multiple championship winning elite sportsmen. Whilst the post was well intended I just don't agree with that explanation! You don't have to agree with me that's just my worthless opinion I'm not even a Chelsea fan!

I have no idea about Chelsea's current transfer policy or who they attempted to sign in January. They had a net spend of about £90m compared to Utd and City's net spend of around £135m so their certainly not investing all their money generated through player sales back into the squad. Two consecutive mangers have now openly complained regarding their recruitment policy. After title winning seasons they failed to significantly improve their squad in order to take them to the next level and try to win the Champs League. Morata was signed to replace Costa, Babayoko to replace Matic so they've hardly improved on what they had in terms of both quality and numbers despite making significant sums through player sales.

I sorry if you find my post hopeless and I'm assuming you know all about Chelsea's transfer policy and exactly who they attempted to sign in January. Unless you work for the Club then I'll assume not! I get the distinct impression that you don't know half as much as you let on!

{Ed002's Note - I'll take it paragraph-by-paragraph. (1) You seem to be making this up, Chelsea are third or fourth in the table right behind Manchester United. You are seeing things because I guess social media are telling you that. I appreciate that they have lost a couple of games but clearly this is something you simply don't understand. (2) I have no idea what you mean by the "inner workings of the Chelsea dressing room". Is this some cliched football fan term? (3) Chelsea made considerable purchases in the past two windows - only behind Manchester City. The net sales figure is a complete red herring and simply reflects that players such as Costa sold for decent money. It is very good business and by the way, not in breach of any FFP regulations which two English siodes coming out of the Januray window are being asked to explain. By saying that Chelsea are "certainly not investing all their money generated through player sales back into the squad" is completely nonsensicle after you have just mentioned their "net sales" of £90M - perhaps you are like many struggling with the finances - and in this case very simple mathematics (that would be sums to you). Costa and Matic wanted to leave - it is your "opinion" whether Chelsea have improved or not, but they have players who want to be at the club (I understand it is rather irrelevant to you given your struggle with the subject matter). (4) I know perfectly well what the club have been planning to do and exactly what happened in the November to January window, and what has cointinued last week.

If you are not happy with what I have shared previously on the Manchester United pages because you think I know nothing - then fine. I have no problem not posting here any more.}

6.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 12:53:19
Ed 2 - I apologise if I've upset you and I certainly didn't wake up this morning looking for an argument.

Maybe I was over sensitive to the "hopeless" comment and shouldn't have replied!

Chelsea are fourth in the table 6 points behind Utd. Not a disaster by any means but for a Club that demands success Conte will undoubtedly lose his job so maybe he might think otherwise. They are now in real danger of finishing outside the top 4 which surely would be a disaster for Club of their stature.

I don't have the exact figures but they must have considerably less points than they did at this stage last season. How did you explain such a dramatic loss of form especially considering that they have invested so heavily in improving their squad as you have suggested.

I'm sorry but I don't think your correct in any of your response the fact is Chelsea are a shadow of the team they were last season. They haven't significantly invested in their squad merely replaced players that have already left the Club and the fact that they are in this position tells its own story. You obviously don't agree with me and that's fine but surely we can debate without dragging each other through the gutter.

I apologise on behalf of others posters that obviously respect and look forward to your insight I imagine a lot more than reading my drivel and I would hate to ruin that on their behalf. Maybe I should take an extended sabbatical to avoid you throwing your toys out of the pram.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware I said Chelsea are better or as good as last season - please provide the extract where I said that. I am perfectly aware that they won the league last season and won't this - my original comment was regarding your statement over transfers and then your failure to understand what "net" includes. Don't worry about apologising nor taking a sabbatical - I will throw my toys around as it suits me.}

7.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 14:22:03
Ed 2 - I figured as much but it was a heartfelt apology in any case.

You didn't say anything about Chelsea or engage in any football debate it's hard to argue with facts anyway, the table doesn't lie. You were more interested in making disparaging remarks about my understanding of the transfer market.

The point I was trying to illustrate with my "net" comment was that whilst Chelsea have obviously spent money in the transfer market they had merely replaced what they already had and not significantly improved the squad taking into consideration that they had also returned to the Champions League (This is merely my opinion, others may not agree) . I was trying to add some context and suggest that maybe their player recruitment could have been better. If I made this point badly without the prerequisite knowledge then I stand corrected.

The fact is that whatever the reason (s) Chelsea are struggling to make Champions League football after winning the title the season before for the second consecutive time under two of the best mangers in world football. I was simply trying to give my opinion on why this might be the case.

The irony of this debate is I couldn't care less about Chelsea, their procrastination and inner turmoil is very much to our advantage. I hope you enjoy the rest of your afternoon and I hope this is all water under the bridge now.

{Ed002's Note - Ok Danny.}

8.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 14:37:53
Please stop Danny!

9.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 14:44:26
I agree with Danny, top to bottom.

10.) 07 Feb 2018
07 Feb 2018 16:10:13
Apologies Ed002 if I had started any misunderstanding anywhere.

{Ed002's Note - No problem at all.}