Thanks Craige for great article - although qualified thanks for the reminder about the near relegation to Div 3. I was at the Bridge for final game of that season - dreadful 0-0 draw vs Middlesboro (I think! - I am old too....) but no one cared!
I am coming round to being more open-minded on the youth policy adopted by Chelsea - although I do have worries that we will simply become a trading club and cash in on the likes of Palmer, Estevao, Santos and Enzo when they can command giant fees.
This worry continues because of the elephant in the room which this ownership (and Roman's ownership) has failed to address - a much smaller stadium than our rivals - this is a tricky nettle the current ownership need to grasp (and yes it will sting where it hurts when you consider Chelsea's prime location where a house would buy you a street or two in Tottenham). But it is essential if the owners want to make real money when they come to sell the club.
I went to Bolton (83-84) and remember it like it was yesterday. Clive Walker scored the only goal with about only 15 minutes to go. Imagine those nerves. The next time I went to Bolton we won our first Premier League. Chalk and cheese as they say.
To date there is no evidence of the Owners seeking to sell the crown jewels but using the philosophy for those they identify and don’t make it at CFC. Time will tell on this one.
The Stadium is an issue a significant one and as I have shared here I know that in the background there are serious ongoing discussions, but it is massively complex - way more complex than people realise and will take more time.
Yes Craige I remember that match - very important goal! I had switched off the radio as I couldn't bear the tension waiting for the words like "and news of an important goal/update from Burnden Park etc" (it's worse on radio). Before that win it was looking very bad for Chelsea's chances of avoiding relegation. I think I remember Ken Bates subsequently stating that he would never allow such a position to arise again and a couple of players would never play for Chelsea after the current season. I think Phil Driver was one of them but can't remember the other - bad attitudes.
Thank you Craige that was a great read and like you I remember when we really were not very good to say the least. All we know in life and that includes football is that things change. The jury is still out on this ownership but we have to be patient because it does often take time to get things right. There seems to be progress and last nights game was a sign of that.
Thank you Nick, glad you enjoyed it and it creates discussion - got to be honesy I was excited but nervous befor the match and could not see the performance or result happening but it gives me faith that we are moving in the correct direction. Cheers again.
Yes it does create discussion which is great but doesn’t happen enough today as everything seems to be so black and white and things are much more nuanced than that. I have come off nearly all social media because of that.
I 100% get that I am much like you in staying away from most SM. This enviroment is mostly a more thoughtful and open minded arena allowing all to have a view and there being a more adult (if that is the right word) discussion. That was and will be the background to any articles I share via Si and SPTC.
Wel written Craige - pretty much agree with all of it. When you look at some of the signings we were in the running for but didnt get (both managers and players) you have to say the SD's have done well.
So pleased that you mentioned that the Roman years and Tuchel times were not all wonderful, lots of rose coloured glasses around.
Folks, as I have advised @Si - and it is 100% my fault - schoolboy error on my part. I sent him the final version of an article that was shared by Si earlier this year. I have sent Si the correct article and hopefully this will be replaced soon whislt acknowldging that Si is celebrating his wife's birthday
Well, thanks to @Si for now posting the correct article following my stupidity earlier on. I hope this is well received by all of you and has not been missed through my own debacle of providing the wrong information to start with to Si
Nice piece Craig, reasonable and accurate. I do get horribly frustrated by a base style that I believe even Pep has now moved on from, and that doesnt suit us (in my view) but the manager is only 2 years into his career, and hopefully learns that pragmatism ultimately succeeds where ideology often fails.
The sds have made some good, and some dreadful purchases, and I'd love to see one person given overall authority. A CEO of scouting if you like, who ultimately signs off on what's best for Chelsea, and is less reliant on raiding past clubs.
As a Chelsea fan of 42 years I'd agree, people have been spoiled by the roman years. But the end of those had some clear red flag warnings ahead, and that model isn't possible in the age of psr/uefa squad coefficient etc.
Let's hope Enzo and the sds ultimately find a path that works for this new eta Chelsea too.
Just shared link with a bunch of friends on my EPL text group.. always busting my chops on how young CHELS is ..
Great article.. just wondering where you were able to get all the data on the other teams and ages ?
Thanks Craige for great article - although qualified thanks for the reminder about the near relegation to Div 3. I was at the Bridge for final game of that season - dreadful 0-0 draw vs Middlesboro (I think! - I am old too....) but no one cared!
I am coming round to being more open-minded on the youth policy adopted by Chelsea - although I do have worries that we will simply become a trading club and cash in on the likes of Palmer, Estevao, Santos and Enzo when they can command giant fees.
This worry continues because of the elephant in the room which this ownership (and Roman's ownership) has failed to address - a much smaller stadium than our rivals - this is a tricky nettle the current ownership need to grasp (and yes it will sting where it hurts when you consider Chelsea's prime location where a house would buy you a street or two in Tottenham). But it is essential if the owners want to make real money when they come to sell the club.
I went to Bolton (83-84) and remember it like it was yesterday. Clive Walker scored the only goal with about only 15 minutes to go. Imagine those nerves. The next time I went to Bolton we won our first Premier League. Chalk and cheese as they say.
To date there is no evidence of the Owners seeking to sell the crown jewels but using the philosophy for those they identify and don’t make it at CFC. Time will tell on this one.
The Stadium is an issue a significant one and as I have shared here I know that in the background there are serious ongoing discussions, but it is massively complex - way more complex than people realise and will take more time.
Yes Craige I remember that match - very important goal! I had switched off the radio as I couldn't bear the tension waiting for the words like "and news of an important goal/update from Burnden Park etc" (it's worse on radio). Before that win it was looking very bad for Chelsea's chances of avoiding relegation. I think I remember Ken Bates subsequently stating that he would never allow such a position to arise again and a couple of players would never play for Chelsea after the current season. I think Phil Driver was one of them but can't remember the other - bad attitudes.
Thank you Craige that was a great read and like you I remember when we really were not very good to say the least. All we know in life and that includes football is that things change. The jury is still out on this ownership but we have to be patient because it does often take time to get things right. There seems to be progress and last nights game was a sign of that.
Thank you Nick, glad you enjoyed it and it creates discussion - got to be honesy I was excited but nervous befor the match and could not see the performance or result happening but it gives me faith that we are moving in the correct direction. Cheers again.
Yes it does create discussion which is great but doesn’t happen enough today as everything seems to be so black and white and things are much more nuanced than that. I have come off nearly all social media because of that.
I 100% get that I am much like you in staying away from most SM. This enviroment is mostly a more thoughtful and open minded arena allowing all to have a view and there being a more adult (if that is the right word) discussion. That was and will be the background to any articles I share via Si and SPTC.
Wel written Craige - pretty much agree with all of it. When you look at some of the signings we were in the running for but didnt get (both managers and players) you have to say the SD's have done well.
So pleased that you mentioned that the Roman years and Tuchel times were not all wonderful, lots of rose coloured glasses around.
Folks, as I have advised @Si - and it is 100% my fault - schoolboy error on my part. I sent him the final version of an article that was shared by Si earlier this year. I have sent Si the correct article and hopefully this will be replaced soon whislt acknowldging that Si is celebrating his wife's birthday
#IAmAnIdiot
Well, thanks to @Si for now posting the correct article following my stupidity earlier on. I hope this is well received by all of you and has not been missed through my own debacle of providing the wrong information to start with to Si
Craige One player in the table appearances wrong way round Buonatto the lad on loan to us..
Just proving I read the whole article cover to cover.
Always good to hear your latest views and btw there is nothing wrong about being a grumpy old man.
Thanks. I would like to say I did it on purpose to see how many spotted but I did not :-). Thanks for your feedback.
Nice piece Craig, reasonable and accurate. I do get horribly frustrated by a base style that I believe even Pep has now moved on from, and that doesnt suit us (in my view) but the manager is only 2 years into his career, and hopefully learns that pragmatism ultimately succeeds where ideology often fails.
The sds have made some good, and some dreadful purchases, and I'd love to see one person given overall authority. A CEO of scouting if you like, who ultimately signs off on what's best for Chelsea, and is less reliant on raiding past clubs.
As a Chelsea fan of 42 years I'd agree, people have been spoiled by the roman years. But the end of those had some clear red flag warnings ahead, and that model isn't possible in the age of psr/uefa squad coefficient etc.
Let's hope Enzo and the sds ultimately find a path that works for this new eta Chelsea too.
#ktbffh