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15 Nov 2025 15:47:00
New sponsor Oracle to be announced. One year deal, and for significantly less than what chelsea were expecting.
This entire debacle has been embarrassing. Egbalis first words once the takeover happened was 'this club was not terribly well managed on the football side, sporting side or promotional side'.
Many on here having been saying for a couple years now (lol) that it was somehow a good thing that we hadn't got a new sponsor, as we'd be making way more money by holding firm and waiting. Just want to see if those posters can eat there words as I said many times the beginning of this new regime will be a case study in failure on how to takeover a club. I don't suppose they will though.
anyway, not all bad, but glad this debacle is finally coming to an end.
1.) 15 Nov 2025 19:43:12
Welcome back. Always good to have different views on this site.
2.) 15 Nov 2025 22:38:35
I don’t always have the best things to say about the current ownership, but, in this case, a big issue with the club not getting what they viewed as good / expected value from sponsorship has been the ongoing investigation - with companies reluctant to go big until that’s resolved. I’m sure the current regime would have hoped that it would have been resolved by now, but they can’t wait forever.
That investigation is down to problems with / mistakes by the previous ownership, which the current lot could have brushed under the carpet. In the long term they did the right thing, highlighting it at the earliest opportunity.
Is this whole debacle embarrassing? Yes, it absolutely is. Is it the current ownerships fault? No, the blame sits with RA and his ownership.
3.) 16 Nov 2025 03:32:50
J, we have all had reason to be critical of the current owners.
Like all fans to a certain extent we are guessing about our respective club’s commercial negotiations.
If it is true that potential sponsors have been reluctant to enter into a long term sponsorship deal because of a potential club sanction then I guess your assertion holds water.
The fact that our current owners self reported the issue and have co-operated fully with the relevant regulatory bodies made me personally believed we would receive a fine and maybe a one window transfer ban at the most. I suppose there is little upside to a sponsor making a longer than one year deal without knowing the outcome of the investigation.
I seem to remember we recently got a very substantial long term shirt sleeve sponsorship deal and I guess last season we did have a sponsor for about our last fifteen games.
4.) 16 Nov 2025 06:47:54
I think it’ll be the club deciding on the deal till the end of the season, rather than a long-term one right now.
Just as an example, the sponsorship companies are saying, we’ll give you £40m per season, because of the outstanding charges, otherwise we’d give you £60m. You wouldn’t want to sign a 4-6 year deal, knowing those charges should be resolved with the first of those years. Get the £40m this season, pay the fine during that period, then get a better long-term deal after that.
Additionally, get top four this season and we’re repositioning ourselves as regulars in the UCL, rather than being back in as a one off. That won’t hurt either.
5.) 16 Nov 2025 08:05:05
J, you are using the same mathematical logic that I was using for last season.
I except your point about any potential punishment effecting negotiations. This was an issue that I had personally dismissed because I believed any sanction would be relatively minor.
6.) 16 Nov 2025 08:47:56
Charges, it's not stopping Man city obtaining sponsorships, this is red herring, let's stop making excuses for our incompetent ownership and commercial dept.
7.) 16 Nov 2025 09:36:43
Who owns Man City and who is their sponsor?
8.) 16 Nov 2025 10:25:08
J we have multi billionaire owners who are brilliant business people yet they have no clue on moving us forward whether it's to do with sponsorships ir the so called Bridge development.
9.) 16 Nov 2025 10:38:54
J, very good point.
Bill, we understandably don’t know the facts, so we are all left guessing but to accuse the owners of “incompetence” on this issue seems harsh to me.
When I look back upon my time as a supporter I have always found a topic that I could criticise all our past owners for. Some of that criticism is and was probably unfair but my guess is all supporters of virtually every club are the same. Can I just add, I did have some criticisms of RA as well.
10.) 16 Nov 2025 11:23:44
Bill, The SB development or move to another location will probably cost about £2bn, I would rather they got it right than wrong and on that I’m sure we can agree. I have been critical of our owners for poor communication either directly or via the FAB and this is an area, in my opinion, where they have over promised and under delivered.
They were due to make an internal report public before the start of the season. There may well be good reasons why this hasn’t happened but a very short press release would have updated all the fans.
11.) 16 Nov 2025 11:38:44
Tom
That is the ussue, we don't know what's hoing on because us fans get told absolutely nothing.
Thats one thing about this ownership, they live in their ivory tower, doing nothing, saying nothing.
They just seem to like owners of a large nursery company.
12.) 16 Nov 2025 14:05:22
Bill, I assume our owners are worse than some and better than others when it comes to fan communication.
I personally would bring back CTV and the old monthly Q&A that used to a good opportunity for us fans to ask questions.
13.) 16 Nov 2025 16:41:56
I think some of you are over optimistic about the potential sanctions. There are two seperate investigations one by the FA and the other by the PL. We would be lucky to get away with a financial sanction; there is a real possibility of a points deduction.
14.) 16 Nov 2025 16:56:01
I agree Tom but this crowd would never let it happen, like the Glaziers, they are in it for the money and prestige, they could not care less about the fan base, they have made that quite clear with their total lack of communication.
15.) 16 Nov 2025 17:34:32
Bill, I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have said we are a business. I have also said many times there is very little wrong with our club being run as a business. I see no comparison, so far, between our owners and the Utd owners.
Over the years we have had many different owners. The Mears family didn’t say anything and the Bates - Harding partnership ended up being a war of words against each other. I can’t remember Roman saying much directly to anyone but his Chairman Bruce Buck was iften good for a self promoting quote.
My point is silence from owners seems like a common theme at our club and probably the vast majority of other clubs.
16.) 17 Nov 2025 09:27:35
Tom
As you are probably aware I agree with you about being run as a business albeit a badly run business losing huge amounts of money due yo no FOS for goodness knows how long now and having no plans for extra revenue with a larger stadium, all the owners can do is keep putting ticket prices up to help mediate the problem if losing money.
17.) 17 Nov 2025 12:28:51
Bill, I would only be guessing again but just maybe the threat of a club sanction has been the major problem in stopping us getting a FOS sponsor.
I’m not a fan of the “blame” society we live in and without knowing the facts on this particular issue maybe we should defer our judgement.
The SB development was always going to take ages but I will continue to be critical but only about poor communication.
I can’t say I’m an expert on our gross revenues over the last five years and I’m not sure how they compare to our peers. Obviously a larger ground with extra capacity would be good but does that come with huge debt? I assume these are the sort of issues our previous owner and present owner have to consider as well as the potential loss in revenue if we move to a temporary home. I think I will just leave it to them (not going to happen in my lifetime) it gives me a headache!
11 Sep 2024 11:55:55
Datro fofana on loan for Athens. 20m buy option.
He had a good spell at Burnley, but I'm not surprised we struggled to find a better loan for him.
1.) 12 Sep 2024 10:32:51
Nope, another deal that's off. Christ, we really are a mess.
2.) 12 Sep 2024 11:54:02
Why is the deal not going through a reflection of CFC and require the comment “we are a mess? ”
I have no idea why an agreement couldn’t be reached so therefore I can’t say if any side is to blame but it’s hardly unusual that clubs can’t agree on a transfer or loan deal.
Every club must have loads of transfers deals that fell through because an agreement couldn’t be reached, they must all be “a mess. ” All very sad.
{Ed002's Note - AEK are responsible for it falling through.}
3.) 12 Sep 2024 11:59:35
Ed, brilliant mate thanks.
4.) 12 Sep 2024 12:31:00
He is trolling again Tom.
5.) 12 Sep 2024 12:48:12
It’s just non stop criticism of the owners without knowing any facts.
Be critical when it’s deserved.
6.) 12 Sep 2024 22:23:27
Thanks for that info Ed.
And we're a mess because we have copious players we're unable to find clubs for. We still have chilwell, Washington, fofana, kellyman
and chukwuemeka and casadaei at the club, none who will see the pitch.
I personally think that's a fair criticism, as I've said before we simply have too many players.
7.) 12 Sep 2024 22:56:16
Your criticism was about a player not getting a loan with an option to buy. You jumped to a conclusion because you believed it worked for your continuous narrative against the owners.
Your very pointed criticism on this particular issue was wide of the mark and now you bring up a different topic to try and justify it.
As I posted “be critical when it’s deserved. ”.
8.) 13 Sep 2024 11:49:17
I see he has secured a loan now. I think the bigger question regarding DDF is whether he is a better player and therefore more useful to Chelsea than Guiu?
Personally I would have said yes.
9.) 13 Sep 2024 12:15:03
I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of Fofana or Guiu but if had to choose, I would go for Guiu.
How amazing our owners must be to find a club for Fofana on agreeable terms. ?.
10.) 13 Sep 2024 12:32:46
Tom lad it had nothing to do about an option. It was the fact that another deal fell through.
Looks like we were swift to get him another loan, but I think even the club will be dissapointed to not sell him on for a profit this year after a decent loan spell at Burnley. Though, as I said, I believe it's complete naivety to believe we can flip these players after a year for a profit. A belief that maybe true depending on your outlook. We have copious players we have been unable to find a move for.
11.) 13 Sep 2024 15:44:25
You said in reference to the failed loan of Fofana “Christ, WE really are a mess. ” Your comment had zero to do with any other player but you couldn’t wait to have a dig at the owners. That is just a plain fact.
As I understand it we have sold, loaned or released 41 players so far in this window. Of course it would have been good to sell or loan a few more but 41 seems an above average number to me but then again I’m not a transfer expert.
Anyone can “hunt” out a reason to be critical. I guess the reverse must be true.
12.) 13 Sep 2024 22:15:29
Mate, getting really tired of you telling other posters what they're thinking and the reason behind there posts. You have no idea what my reasoning was and if you want to make up a reason, go for it. It's getting very tiresome though.
It is literally very obvious by reading the reasoning behind we are a mess and that is because the players we've been unable to offload or have paid to offload.
And further, part of my post was actually edited out. So again, please stop assuming you know other people's reasonings and get off your high horse.
13.) 14 Sep 2024 02:54:21
Maybe stop coming on here and talking rubbish then. The eds have said numerous times that it wasn't chelsea that was the issue.
Re Gallagher "he didn't want to sign a contract"
Fofana "it was Athens issue"
You come on here like a petulant child as soon as you here some bad news. Then change your mind in what you actually said.
Re calling caicedo a "donkey" so in my eyes your the one getting tiresome.
14.) 14 Sep 2024 06:28:41
No problem jsfinchy. If you don't want to have a discussion with people that disagree with you, interesting choice to go onto a forum discussing a football club. In the real world people disagree, you should maybe get better at talking to those who disagree.
And to reiterate my point as you clearly misunderstood, I'm criticising chelsea buying 100's of players and struggling to offload them. It's completely irrelevant whether it's an issue with us or the other party. We wouldn't be having issues offloading players if we had a clear and concise plan in place.
15.) 14 Sep 2024 06:58:27
I wouldn’t have a clue what you are thinking and response was clearly about and only what was writing your post.
I repeat. Supposedly Chelsea have sold, loaned or released 41 players in the last window. Yes it would have nice to find playing homes for just a few more but there is another window in a few months and I’m sure some more transfer business will be completed.
16.) 15 Sep 2024 07:28:29
Which is a big feat tom so well done to them for them sales/ loans.
However, if we didn't buy so many players in the first place, we could have spent more energy building cohesion and chasing targets who improve the team.
17.) 15 Sep 2024 08:36:58
I’ve lost count of the times I have said to many signings done to quickly but generally I think our old squad looked tired or maybe to comfortable.
18.) 15 Sep 2024 10:49:07
You are correct Tom. The old squad needed a refresh and with the sanctions it was also a very difficult time. Yes, too many signings in too few windows but that will now slow down. Players will come and go and these owners are not shy to spend their money and I fully expect 2 more windows of activity. They are winners and highly motivated by success and won't stop until we return to the top table.
19.) 16 Sep 2024 09:23:56
WSOTS, I think the signings might well slow down but I still think we will be selling a few with the likes of Noni, Disasi, Chilly, Sterling and maybe Mudryk all likely to be sold or loaned over the next two windows in my opinion.
20.) 18 Sep 2024 07:48:34
FFS Standard, " buying 100's of players " as per your quote on here, get real mate, the club and the people they have employed are much more aware than you or i could ever wish to be!
27 Aug 2024 14:28:37
Chelsea making a move for Toney! If osimhen is demanding wages too excessive toney will be an excellent option! Him and Jackson can compete and after Jackson's performance against wolves, toney will have to be at his best.
Hope this one happens!
1.) 27 Aug 2024 16:02:49
Perhaps Saudi Arabia is a more probable destination.
Is there any truth to Calwert Lewin rumours? Wouldn't be a bad back up striker although I like Guiu for that role too.
2.) 27 Aug 2024 18:51:29
Toney would be way down my list of CF options. Mind you there is a gap between Osimhen and the rest in my opinion.
3.) 27 Aug 2024 22:50:49
I’d be happy enough with Toney within the wage structure - if we have to buy someone! I’m still a fan of Jackson, but I think Toney has a good all round game.
4.) 28 Aug 2024 02:01:51
Not sure Toneys wage demands are any less than Osimhens.
5.) 28 Aug 2024 16:57:39
Tom, Toney wouldn’t even be on my list. His numbers aren’t that good particularly if you strip away penalties. His first touch is poor; he is not an 18 yard box striker he goes deep and would clutter up our midfield. He has averaged 1.3 headed goals a season over the last 4 years. If Oshimen is out of reach stick with what we have and look again next summer.
6.) 28 Aug 2024 17:43:28
Jimbo, I agree. Plus It’s early stages but Guiu loooks ok to me.
7.) 28 Aug 2024 20:55:55
400k a week is on offer for Toney in Saudi. He can have a lot of fun gambling with that kind of money.
26 Aug 2024 23:39:27
Hey Ed around last week you said there would be plenty of departures and about one a day. Since then, it looks like a couple have been agreed but nothing concrete. Now, it looks Iike broja has fell through.
Are we still confident in selling over 10 players before the window shuts?
{Ed002's Note - Players will continue to depart.}
1.) 27 Aug 2024 13:13:37
Three players out the door already today . Kepa, Anjorin and Lukaku.
2.) 28 Aug 2024 09:28:30
And Gallagher gone too of course.
22 May 2024 09:31:09
Again, seeing many links to tuchel. Surely not true.
I've calmed down a bit, but still massively dissapointed. They have to get this appointment bang on.
1.) 22 May 2024 13:00:25
Young manager they said.
Ruben Amorim --- the club must have met with him?
Hansi Flick --- nope
Vincent Kompany --- nope
Kieran McKenna – yes, but I hope he stays with the tractor boys
Jose Mourinho – Turkey
Julian Nagelsmann ---- His contract with the German team expires after the Euros
Michel Sanchez – meh
Thomas Tuchel – yes, but I cannot see it
Roberto de Zerbi -- nope
Massimiliano Allegri --- has been lurning English for years, but nope
Carlo Ancelotti -- extended his contract with Real Madrid to June 2026.
2.) 22 May 2024 13:21:25
Pretty sure nagelsmann extended his contract with Germany celery.
3.) 22 May 2024 14:07:46
I wonder if the Amorim flight to the UK was linked to Chelsea - the club were very quick to deny it at the time.
Another name in the frame could be Porto boss Sergio Conceicao.
I would like Flick, but that's because I think he has the experience.
I'm also disappointed that they chose not to continue with Poch, I was looking forward to a summer of stability while other big clubs chopped and changed, now I feel we're a bit back to square one.
4.) 22 May 2024 14:15:41
How does TT fit into the remit of a young progressive coach? Plus he plays the most boring football ever.
Mind you hecdid great things at Bayern, never finished so low in their league, marvelous achievement from TT.
5.) 22 May 2024 14:45:02
Same Standard i've just about managed to calm myself down, lol.
Standard's banter posts with other poster's replies to Standard's banter posts
26 Apr 2026 19:41:11
Doesn't matter how s*** a season we may have, we always get to finals and out ourselves in with a chance. CWC and FA Cup would be a nice couple additions to the trophy cabinet. Tough test against City but I'm sure we'll be up for it (as long as that terrible winger isn't playing lol).
25 Apr 2026 13:18:03
'Those in charge wanted to do business differently from Abramovich. They've certainly managed that, spending over £1.5B to make Chelsea less successful, less feared, less respected and less profitable. A trophy-winning machine transformed into an expensive, failed football experiment'. Source: The Telegraph
Harsh words but hard to argue with at present.
1.) 25 Apr 2026 17:25:52
I wonder if the same reporter made a similar statement last season? I assumed, after making progress last season, we would kick on this season, but we haven't, and that is very disappointing. But I expect the majority of this squad to show huge improvements next season.
2.) 25 Apr 2026 17:45:47
Depends what coach we have, Tom, and what top players we sell.
3.) 25 Apr 2026 18:35:18
Bill, a good coach would help, and don't forget we need to sign a few as well.
4.) 25 Apr 2026 19:31:24
Agreed, Tom, so many variables.
5.) 25 Apr 2026 22:42:10
Tom, we won the Conference League and a summer friendly comp, beating one decent side, who then put 8 past us recently... Talk about overrating achievements, gosh.
6.) 26 Apr 2026 04:45:35
Kazblue, it's up to you how you see last season. As I said, my expectations were met and maybe surpassed, as I didn't think we would win the CWC. Unfortunately, this season my expectations haven't been met.
I think most sports media people, at the end of last season, were in agreement that the club was moving, albeit slowly, in the right direction. Sadly, that progress has stopped, and we are now having a disappointing season.
These things/seasons have happened in the past, and will no doubt happen again in the future. I think fans' expectations for this season (including mine) have made it so difficult to accept.
I also believe that, with the right management appointment and a decent transfer window next season, we will be back on track.
7.) 26 Apr 2026 10:01:13
Tom,
Your last paragraph, I agree with, but with the people running the club (and I don't mean owners), can you see that happening?
8.) 26 Apr 2026 11:56:12
Bill, I have very little faith in these owners, even though they may be contractually obliged to see out the course.
I keep saying I am not a fan of "fund" ownership. I really hope my concerns about them are totally unfounded.
This leads me to how crucial a good management appointment can be.
I honestly believe my view of our owners would be completely different if we had brought a manager who achieved success. This next manager appointment has to be spot on, otherwise I fear we will do a Leeds, Leicester and Spuds (I hope).
22 Apr 2026 18:13:52
The special one.
{Ed025's Note - can you really see him coming with this set up Standard?..
1.) 22 Apr 2026 18:56:31
His experience would help the young players, but there is no way he would want to be part of a sporting board with five SD's.
2.) 22 Apr 2026 19:23:45
Definitely not Tom.
3.) 22 Apr 2026 20:11:01
It would be entertaining, that's for sure!
19 Apr 2026 17:53:31
A sign last night at the game read £1.4 billion and I miss Victor Moses.
1.) 19 Apr 2026 18:13:41
I miss Bovril and sherry from the little hut/caravan in the corner of the shed.
2.) 19 Apr 2026 18:37:43
Blimey, Tom, you paid £1.4 bil for Novril and sherry?
3.) 19 Apr 2026 18:41:00
Looks like top 5 places in the PL are settled. Not sure if 6th place will qualify for the CL, but frankly, I doubt we will end up in the top 6. In any event, we are not good enough to be in the competition. At least the title race is still open.
4.) 19 Apr 2026 19:00:42
Anyone who qualifies for the competition is good enough in my book.
I seem to remember a Bovril and sherry from under the counter was 3d (about 1.5 pence). I also seem to remember admission for kids was 10d (about 5p). It truly was a working class game in those days!!
5.) 19 Apr 2026 19:24:26
Tom, you are obviously reading the wrong books. I was waiting for your typical response.
6.) 19 Apr 2026 19:39:46
Don't wait for me. I just have zero problems in how we qualify for any competition.
The last time we won the Champions League, I think, we finished 4th in the Premiership to qualify. They don't put the previous year's league position on the trophy.
7.) 19 Apr 2026 21:34:04
The World Cup and Champions League have been extended (diluted) for political purposes by the corrupt officials to obtain votes, to ensure they retain their seats on the gravy train paid by football lovers around the globe. If anyone thinks qualifying for the CL in sixth place in an extremely poor Premier League is an achievement, well...
8.) 19 Apr 2026 21:57:56
Tom, I remember paying 50p to move from the shed to the benches in the west stand and the peanut sellers, they were the days.
9.) 19 Apr 2026 22:02:07
I don't care how we qualify for a competition. I do care that, if we qualify on a technicality, it isn't used to dilute the manner in which a clearly unacceptable season is reviewed.
10.) 19 Apr 2026 22:11:28
Greenaway, the worst thing about the old West Stand was the toilets, or, to be more accurate, the toilet. ?
11.) 20 Apr 2026 06:59:13
J, I couldn't agree more, mate. Like you, I couldn't care less how we qualify for a competition, but no way should qualification be used to paper over some significant shortcomings.
12.) 20 Apr 2026 09:00:38
We have several teams breathing down our necks. Now is not the best time to talk about European qualification. Currently, our form is probably near the bottom 3 if not in it.
13.) 20 Apr 2026 09:08:36
Bill, now is the time for everyone to support the team and manager in getting the best league position possible.
14.) 20 Apr 2026 10:04:30
Bill, mate, when you wanted Maresca out, I told you what might well happen.
15.) 20 Apr 2026 10:24:19
Greenway, Maresca out because he started behaving like a spoilt child. Regardless, the morons in charge of the process decided Liam was the answer, but then it was most likely decided by the same people who have signed an endless list of comedy signings in the past few years, so it's not a massive surprise.
16.) 20 Apr 2026 14:25:15
I have not generally been a fan of our current owners' and manager's decisions, but then when I look back over the last 20+ years I have only been ok with about three manager signings.
In fact, I'm always happy with the rumours of us signing someone I rate, but I'm very rarely happy with the players the club eventually sign for the last 60 years ish.
I guess I've always been a miserable old git.
17.) 20 Apr 2026 17:53:51
Maybe Tom, but as long as I can remember, the decision making has never been worse. We are on the verge of an absolute disaster, being led by people that are clearly massively incompetent.
18.) 20 Apr 2026 18:48:58
The present owners certainly made many initial mistakes. From the outside it looked as if they came up with a plan to sign young players with potential. Those players were put on very long contracts but on PRP. I can sort of understand that plan, but there are two parts I question. 1) Why act so quickly, and why not use young academy players throughout that process. 2) I am not as obsessed with age as some fans, as I am not sure age is necessarily a barrier to leadership. So, why not sign leaders, particularly in key areas.
Outside of the so called plan, I have two further issues. 1) Ticket prices and availability to members. 2) Away fans in The Shed should be stopped.
Your post uses words such as "massively incompetent," I see it as mistakes, but mistakes that were avoidable. I hope they will acknowledge their errors and "slightly" change course. We are not "on the verge of an absolute disaster." I was happy enough with last season, and although I expected a lot more from this season, we can still win a trophy and may just manage a CL spot, but it will depend on other teams.
I always said that next season was the one that we will find out if this approach has been good or bad. People will make their judgement based on this season, and that's up to them, but I will (as usual) stick to my own measurements and timetable.
19.) 20 Apr 2026 19:03:50
I'm so sorry, I should have also added that I strongly believe the decision makers (maybe the SD's) made a massive mistake when allowing Em to leave mid-season. Whatever the issues were, they should have been papered over until the completion of this season.
I have no way of proving this, but I am personally convinced we would now comfortably be secure in a CL spot.
Anyway, he has now left, so as far as I'm concerned "The King is dead; long live the King."
20.) 20 Apr 2026 20:34:40
Tom, your criticisms of the club are what many people on here have been saying for a couple of years. It is sad how we went from a Champions League-winning team to battling for 6th, after spending a monstrous 1.4billion.
21.) 20 Apr 2026 21:22:10
Standard, my criticism isn't about the amount of money spent. My point is there was no rush, and taking our time would have meant giving more opportunities to academy players.
I am definitely not obsessed about the amount of money invested. Or the money recovered on sales.
I was not a fan of football under Tt, but I will always be grateful for our CL success.
In my opinion, the squad investment prior to the takeover had been poor, and a rebuild was required.
Like a lot of clubs who have new owners, I anticipated it taking a few seasons for any new owner to be seen as successful.
I cannot understand why fans expect immediate success, and I can't understand why some fans are so eager to criticise. Sometimes these things take time.
22.) 21 Apr 2026 07:57:19
Kazblue, if you choose to believe the club's PR people, who put the blame on Maresca for leaving, that is entirely up to you. I have said on here repeatedly that he wanted to stay, but also wanted to have a bigger influence on recruitment, something the sporting directors didn't like, hence their interference and him walking away.
{Ed001's Note - Green, it was not the club's PR people, he was spotted in talks with City's people months before he left. It was reported to the club, they spoke to him and he said then he was looking to move on as he felt Chelsea's ambitions did not match his own. They initially tried to convince him to stay, but he became increasingly vocal in public and he was not attending to his coaching (in the belief of people that I know anyway) correctly.}
23.) 21 Apr 2026 09:27:34
Greenway, Maresca created his own problems by speaking to another club, shouldve been sacked the day that was found out. However, the board has definitely not helped, and my opinion on them is clear.
Tom, you keep saying judge next year, same as you said last year and the year before...
theyve been here long enough for me to judge that theyre clueless... billion+ and a few years in... theyre not showing any signs of improving... Rosenior and signing Garnacho are a perfect example of the issues within the club... sack all 5 sporting directors and the manager asap.
24.) 21 Apr 2026 09:00:10
Ed, as always mate brilliant information. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}
25.) 21 Apr 2026 09:22:31
Thanks ED01, pretty much exactly what I have been saying and it goes back to last smmer when Maresca asked for an experienced centre back who could play out from the back to replace Levi Colwill, their refusal to back him and him not accepting that decision lightly after delivering 2 trophies and a top 4 finish.
It is done now but could and should of been managed better.
{Ed001's Note - it could and should have been, but they were caught by surprise by the City talks.}
26.) 21 Apr 2026 10:37:44
Kazblue, you are correct I have always been consistent with my assessments. I will repeat my thought process.
I will praise and criticise managers and players performances from game to game. I will then make an end of season assessment on that season's general performance. I rarely give up on a player after one season.
I have no idea what job the SD's have been asked to do. I personally think they have made some good signings and like all SD's in my opinion they have made some questionable signings. My assessment of those signings will be different from other fans. My guess is the owners judge the SD's performance based on all signings and not just one or a few.
I have made my views very clear several times on our current owners. They would not have been my choice but as I understand it we were caught between a rock and a hard place with our choices. I also made it vey clear that I believed the club needed a squad rebuild. I also highlighted my concerns that a new owner might choose to make "statement signings, " sadly that was the case. I also think the owner went about the rebuild to quickly and without making an assessment of our academy talent.
Unlike some I did not believe it would be a quick fix and that is the reason my first season guess of our league position was I think 8th-10th My second season league position guess was 3rd-5th. This season was 2nd-4th. Obviously I am bitterly disappointed with this seasons league performance and it has fallen way below my expectations. For me next season was always the season I expected us to challenge for the premiership title. I will wait until after this next window before making my prediction for next season.
Other fans/posters are obviously entitled to make their judgement on players, managers, SD's and owners whenever they want.
My view is that players should be judged after a substantial amount of games, Cucarella was slagged off by many in his first season but came good and is a classic example of fans rushing to Judge. SD's should also be judged over a period of time particularly because of the age of players they have been asked to recruit and how long it might take for those signings to develop their talents. I am also aware that not all signings will be successful.
I repeat, I did want these owners. They created a BP put in place the structure and hired the personal to fit that structure. If it does not work after a period of several seasons, if it fails my focus for criticism will be 100% be on them but that will not happen until the end of next season. I hope I am singing their praises.
27.) 21 Apr 2026 18:44:25
Great Tom, you now share the same opinion as the many. It was extremely rushed, they were naive, thought it was going to be easy, and made a real pigs ear of it. Doesn't mean they can't turn it around, though, and I'm hoping they do, because they clearly do want success.
28.) 21 Apr 2026 18:58:54
Pigs ear is a massive understatement... It's been embarrassing start to finish.
29.) 21 Apr 2026 19:42:11
Standard, I expressed my concerns when the new owners "took over" that they may well make "statement" signings.
I did want a major rebuild of a squad that I believed had run its course. My point then and now was, with the exception of a couple of positions, there was no need to rush into so "many" signings.
Unlike some, and obviously Kazblue, I am now "generally happy with the majority of our signings." My guess is players I rate or see potential in will be different from other fans, but that is never going to change.
I remember very well posters slagging off players after one or a couple of bad performances, Hato being the most recent.
My point remains, there is no need to rush to judge, especially in football.
Many years ago I stupidly compared Morata with Ossie, how stupid was I.
13 Apr 2026 22:38:00
Chelsea's financial reports were released today. From the people I have spoken to at work it is not an overly healthy read. Things aren't going too well but the real measuring point will be next year at the refinancing stage. Apparently this is when we will be able to accurately understand whether financially things are going okay and it will be visible only at this point, though indications now don't show it to be a return on investment for Clearlake.
Also, for anyone seriously worried, don't be, the club has enough assets in players to sell off to generate principal.
Just thought I'd share. Could be worse, we could be Spurs.
1.) 14 Apr 2026 09:00:50
And, people said that the owners knew what they were doing by losing circa £40mil a season through a lack of FOS. They seem to be brilliant businessmen.
2.) 14 Apr 2026 09:14:33
I may well be wrong, but I don’t think the owners have dropped £40m per season from FOS sponsorship.
The first season a solution was found with a book value of approx £40m, the second season, they eventually got an end-of-season sponsor, supposedly £20m, and we have had another late entry this season, again rumour says £20m for this season. They have also picked up other very lucrative shirt sponsor deals.
As I posted some time ago, my mate, the accountant, when telling me about the 2027 loan negotiations, said if we take £40m per season as a benchmark we are about £10m down on that number over the three seasons.
Of course, we could have been well in front of that number if we had shirt sponsors for complete seasons.
I have zero way of knowing how accurate his assessment was, but we certainly are "not" £120m down.
3.) 14 Apr 2026 10:15:24
Not £120mil down, Tom, but certainly not £120mil up.
4.) 14 Apr 2026 10:16:42
I also think ticket prices will continue to rocket and ordinary young fans will be priced out of the Bridge.
5.) 14 Apr 2026 11:54:19
It highlights just how much Roman carried us for all those years, losing £150 to £200 million of his own money each season in pursuit of glory and trophies. We really were punching way above our weight. The new owners are working hard to stay within the new financial regulations, and these things take time.
6.) 14 Apr 2026 12:15:57
Bill, my guess is we are about £40m down on FOS sponsor deals over the three year period.
I have no idea if ticket prices will go up for next season, but I think it would be outrageous if they do, as mine went up by 15% last season.
7.) 14 Apr 2026 13:18:20
They have to find money from somewhere, Tom, and if they could not get long term sponsors after qualifying for the CL, they have no chance once we are not in it. Ticket prices rising will be the way they recoup funds.
8.) 14 Apr 2026 13:54:31
I'm not sure a further rise in ticket prices achieves that much revenue, but I am sure it will cause more disquiet from fans.
9.) 14 Apr 2026 13:56:08
You can argue the toss about how much money that has been lost, but failing to secure a long term FOS deal is just another indication of how badly run this club is. I see a bad moon rising.
10.) 14 Apr 2026 14:50:17
Could not agree more, Jimbo, and they call themselves businessmen. They might be in other industries, but definitely not football.
11.) 14 Apr 2026 15:06:55
Bill, would you describe the Spurs owners as good football businessmen?
12.) 14 Apr 2026 16:44:05
From a fans' perspective, not having a FOS for long periods of any season is bizarre, and I have long since run out of reasons as to why this has happened. It makes so little sense that I'm left feeling there must be a valid reason.
Maybe one day the club ownership may choose to communicate with the fans.
13.) 14 Apr 2026 18:34:28
Greenaway, the Spurs owners have screwed up on the football side of things, but they built a top-class stadium, increased revenue considerably, and have FOS sponsorship. Our owners have screwed up on everything!
Strangely, I don't think Spurs will get relegated.
14.) 14 Apr 2026 19:01:17
I may well be wrong, but aren't the Spuds also carrying a huge debt that may well be difficult to service if they do (I hope so), get relegated.
23 Apr 2026 16:53:55
I'm in the wrong profession, J!
22 Apr 2026 20:10:17
He was never going to receive the full 6 year payout, but he will still get a healthy payout, id imagine. Lighting money on fire.
11 Feb 2026 17:02:28
Too hot, atleast for me JBS :)
10 Feb 2026 21:57:50
I'm in the north west of england and i really don't understand the weather thing. I got more rainfall a year in Brisbane Australia. Plus when it rained in aus, it actually rained. Here I can walk to work in the 'rain' and ill be dry. Makes no sense to me lol.
24 Jan 2026 09:21:14
No brainer for me.
25 Apr 2026 10:38:10
I think it's telling we've gone from underdogs against teams like Barcelona, Munich, PSG and City and hoping for the 'impossible to happen' to being up against Leeds and saying 'can we do the impossible'. It is, frankly, absurd.
24 Apr 2026 16:46:00
Yeah ed you're correct. I believe you're speaking of the mavericks. Massive downfall.
I understood tom and co defending the club last year and a couple years ago saying 'have some patience they're building something' but I truly cannot understand how people are still defending the project. Baffles me.
{Ed001's Note - yes that's it, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.}
22 Apr 2026 22:41:25
Some paragraphs would be nice, rather than a huge wall of text, but yeah, it's not been good, as many have mentioned. Onwards and upwards, though.
22 Apr 2026 20:11:01
It would be entertaining, that's for sure!
21 Apr 2026 18:44:25
Great Tom, you now share the same opinion as the many. It was extremely rushed, they were naive, thought it was going to be easy, and made a real pigs ear of it. Doesn't mean they can't turn it around, though, and I'm hoping they do, because they clearly do want success.