Are we about to see some very barren years at Stamford Bridge?
*They just got thumped by Arsenal.
*They ended the season badly last year, being humiliated by Brentford along the way amongst other things.
*New owner already taking on debt for the club. Is that a good sign for a club where the ground needs massive investment, or investment to move somewhere else?
*They have gathered themselves a large amount of glory hunting fans who expect success. That is often the biggest issue. The former success can be a blight for years. Fans should lower their expectations a little, but don't (and the negativity continues to feed back into itself as things decline). The obvious example being Liverpool (for almost 3 decades) and Man Utd, post Ferguson. You can even include us in that after the Fayed years. We had raced from being a Tier 3 club, on average, to a mid table Tier 1 club in 5 years. Despite our success for over a decade, a season or two in the Championship shouldn't have been that unexpected with new owners, but it has felt like the end of the world to quite a few. The players at clubs in decline are surrounded by negativity from the stands, or, nowadays, social media too (see Harry Maguire).
*They have always had a sugar daddy to throw limitless amounts of money at a problem whenever it went wrong before. Including chopping managers. A manager would do well and then the next season the players would get him fired (with the angry, unreasonable, usual-suspect, mob of fans being placated). Al Fayed was no stranger to sacking managers, but no way near as bad as Abramovich. Is Tuchel about to find out that loyalty doesn't pay at Chelsea?
*Their reputation has taken a hit. It must feel like they are waking up with a hangover from the night before, after getting into bed with a Russian. Most are still defending their former owner, but its really not that clear cut how they should now celebrate this most successful period in their history. Continuing to celebrate doesn't look great to patriots of these isles (and Chelsea are definitely known to be patriotic). They will no doubt be torn. And also concerned for how it effects how others see them. Even if to the outsider they look as if they've never cared before :005:
*The rise of Newcastle, Spurs and Arsenal bringing more competition for Champions league.
Anyway, fingers crossed. The end of the Roman Empire... And who knows, we may just win a game against them! 049:gif
No. They are a very established club nowadays and from what I gather the new owner is very good as a sports owner. They will likely spread the debt quite common in US.
Abramovich was trying to lend money to redevelopment the bridge? So he was feeling the pinch if Oligarchs ever feel the pinch? The new owner is very much about making it a fans experience and attracting new fans so that has a knock on effect to us.
It will be interesting to see when a more leaner period arrives if they are as ruthless?
Good question
One never knows how a change of ownership may affect the club. Abramovitch instantly galvanised the place, decline may take a little longer to work through, but it may be better. Will be interesting to watch.... my uniformed gut reaction is decline.
Hope so but doubt it.Think our new stand will outshine anything they've got by a long chalk.
Think their biggest problem might be going from a sole owner to consortium when the members of it have a difference of opinion. These mega wealthy people like to have their own way & that might not always be possible.
Quote from: JimmyConway on July 26, 2022, 01:10:34 PM
No. They are a very established club nowadays and from what I gather the new owner is very good as a sports owner. They will likely spread the debt quite common in US.
Isn't this the issue though? Penny pinching in any way (at Chelsea) is a massive downgrade on what they are used to. They used to make losses year after year despite them being set up well as a business. Or am i mistaken?
Newcastle are after top 4.....so, somebody has to move out of the way
I see no reason why it should be gradual....but I am biased
At least the new financial structure is simple and transparent.
At the back of this week's Private Eye, the Planet Football has a (far from) straightforward statement of how the finances have been put together.
Competely baffles a financial ignoramus like me.
It involves at least a dozen different companies in many layers. One company has just 2 issued shares. Another had 244million new shares issued at a total cost of £20!
All totally above board I am sure and designed to ensure that the public at large benefits as far as possible...sorry, I mean,...to minimize tax liabilities and scrutiny.
Quote from: H4usuallysitting on July 26, 2022, 06:28:32 PM
Newcastle are after top 4.....so, somebody has to move out of the way
Spot On.
Quote from: cmg on July 26, 2022, 08:57:10 PM
At least the new financial structure is simple and transparent.
At the back of this week's Private Eye, the Planet Football has a (far from) straightforward statement of how the finances have been put together.
Competely baffles a financial ignoramus like me.
It involves at least a dozen different companies in many layers. One company has just 2 issued shares. Another had 244million new shares issued at a total cost of £20!
All totally above board I am sure and designed to ensure that the public at large benefits as far as possible...sorry, I mean,...to minimize tax liabilities and scrutiny.
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Quote from: Cambridge Away on July 26, 2022, 12:56:32 PM
Are we about to see some very barren years at Stamford Bridge?
*They just got thumped by Arsenal.
*They ended the season badly last year, being humiliated by Brentford along the way amongst other things.
*New owner already taking on debt for the club. Is that a good sign for a club where the ground needs massive investment, or investment to move somewhere else?
*They have gathered themselves a large amount of glory hunting fans who expect success. That is often the biggest issue. The former success can be a blight for years. Fans should lower their expectations a little, but don't (and the negativity continues to feed back into itself as things decline). The obvious example being Liverpool (for almost 3 decades) and Man Utd, post Ferguson. You can even include us in that after the Fayed years. We had raced from being a Tier 3 club, on average, to a mid table Tier 1 club in 5 years. Despite our success for over a decade, a season or two in the Championship shouldn't have been that unexpected with new owners, but it has felt like the end of the world to quite a few. The players at clubs in decline are surrounded by negativity from the stands, or, nowadays, social media too (see Harry Maguire).
*They have always had a sugar daddy to throw limitless amounts of money at a problem whenever it went wrong before. Including chopping managers. A manager would do well and then the next season the players would get him fired (with the angry, unreasonable, usual-suspect, mob of fans being placated). Al Fayed was no stranger to sacking managers, but no way near as bad as Abramovich. Is Tuchel about to find out that loyalty doesn't pay at Chelsea?
*Their reputation has taken a hit. It must feel like they are waking up with a hangover from the night before, after getting into bed with a Russian. Most are still defending their former owner, but its really not that clear cut how they should now celebrate this most successful period in their history. Continuing to celebrate doesn't look great to patriots of these isles (and Chelsea are definitely known to be patriotic). They will no doubt be torn. And also concerned for how it effects how others see them. Even if to the outsider they look as if they've never cared before :005:
*The rise of Newcastle, Spurs and Arsenal bringing more competition for Champions league.
Anyway, fingers crossed. The end of the Roman Empire... And who knows, we may just win a game against them! 049:gif
They might struggle in the short term as the new owners get their bearings, but they will be as competent as the Americans running Liverpool. These are smart folks.
Quote from: Lyle from Hangeland on July 28, 2022, 12:29:57 AM
Quote from: Cambridge Away on July 26, 2022, 12:56:32 PM
Are we about to see some very barren years at Stamford Bridge?
*They just got thumped by Arsenal.
*They ended the season badly last year, being humiliated by Brentford along the way amongst other things.
*New owner already taking on debt for the club. Is that a good sign for a club where the ground needs massive investment, or investment to move somewhere else?
*They have gathered themselves a large amount of glory hunting fans who expect success. That is often the biggest issue. The former success can be a blight for years. Fans should lower their expectations a little, but don't (and the negativity continues to feed back into itself as things decline). The obvious example being Liverpool (for almost 3 decades) and Man Utd, post Ferguson. You can even include us in that after the Fayed years. We had raced from being a Tier 3 club, on average, to a mid table Tier 1 club in 5 years. Despite our success for over a decade, a season or two in the Championship shouldn't have been that unexpected with new owners, but it has felt like the end of the world to quite a few. The players at clubs in decline are surrounded by negativity from the stands, or, nowadays, social media too (see Harry Maguire).
*They have always had a sugar daddy to throw limitless amounts of money at a problem whenever it went wrong before. Including chopping managers. A manager would do well and then the next season the players would get him fired (with the angry, unreasonable, usual-suspect, mob of fans being placated). Al Fayed was no stranger to sacking managers, but no way near as bad as Abramovich. Is Tuchel about to find out that loyalty doesn't pay at Chelsea?
*Their reputation has taken a hit. It must feel like they are waking up with a hangover from the night before, after getting into bed with a Russian. Most are still defending their former owner, but its really not that clear cut how they should now celebrate this most successful period in their history. Continuing to celebrate doesn't look great to patriots of these isles (and Chelsea are definitely known to be patriotic). They will no doubt be torn. And also concerned for how it effects how others see them. Even if to the outsider they look as if they've never cared before :005:
*The rise of Newcastle, Spurs and Arsenal bringing more competition for Champions league.
Anyway, fingers crossed. The end of the Roman Empire... And who knows, we may just win a game against them! 049:gif
They might struggle in the short term as the new owners get their bearings, but they will be as competent as the Americans running Liverpool. These are smart folks.
Don't burst our bubble! They could just end up being like the Glazers. They have the worse conundrum with Stamford Bridge than the Glazers have with Old Trafford. Why spend billions on a club that still only has an outside chance of making the Champions League. They just about scraped through at the end of last season. That was without the Saudis involved. It would be ironic if the former Russians were pushed aside (for the next couple of decades) by the Saudis.
I'd like to think it's a very steep and swift decline but regrettably I don't think that will happen
Quote from: SG on July 28, 2022, 07:30:07 PM
I'd like to think it's a very steep and swift decline but regrettably I don't think that will happen
My thoughts exactly Unfortunately.
When Al Fayed bought Fulham, for a very short period we were poised to be in the ascendency over them for the first time. Then along came the oligarch.
It's another "what if" - like if we'd not turned down Stamford Bridge they wouldn't exist at all.
Trouble is, during their years of success they've built up a strong fan base and, like an oil tanker, it takes a long time to turn that around. So, a gradual decline - hopefully, rapid - I very much doubt.
I like the oil tanker analogy - perfectly made point.
:bump:
A half season reflection on Chelsea and their new owners. Seems most of us predicted their trouble in transition. Could they have a decade like Man U though? I mean, won't it be as difficult for them changing everything from under the total grip of Abramovich as it was for Man U completely ridding themselves of the ghost of Ferguson? Or Arsenal switching to the Emirates?
They will buy their way out of problems... they are about to potentially drop over £200m this winter (if they get Mudryk) and that will massively help them. The thing Ive noticed is that the signings seem very scattergun without a real strategy...
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-chelsea/transfers/verein/631
They're going to struggle to get top 4 so could lose CL monies. That's a good start 😂
Then players who want CL don't join...
It's a slippery slope from that point - hopefully 😂
They need to buy a player that can bang in goals and get rid of Potter.
Newcastle look likely to be top 4....with Man C & Arsenal.... that's one place left
Thought i'd give this an end of season ::bump:: . It's been a rapid descent so far. The gap between where they are currently and getting back into the Champions league seems vast. I mentioned them as perhaps the next Glazers, but maybe a better comparison would be Fernadez at QPR? Spend vast amounts of money at first and then sit back and regret it. At least QPR had some success at first!
Unfortunately it looks as though Poch is going to go there and they are only a proper centre forward shy of being decent again.
Quote from: Somerset Fulham on April 24, 2023, 08:28:33 PMUnfortunately it looks as though Poch is going to go there and they are only a proper centre forward shy of being decent again.
Define "decent"?
The next of a long line of unimaginative moves by their owners. It's almost as though they are playing the 'Football Chairman' computer game series. It'll be Sam Allardyce by the end of next season ::ahah::
I honestly do hope so! ::ahah::
But I think he's already said that their spending is done other than a forward, plus there is a chance of that big old lump Lukaku coming back. Add in that Poch is good with youngsters and I think that they will improve next season, unfortunately.
Still doesn't mean they'll be as good as us though. ::tongue::
The influence Abramovich had over the favourable officiating they received is diminished although still prevelant - Premier League looks after whom they deem as "big" clubs.
But Todd Boehly's and Egg-Baddie's scattergun approach to the transfer market has weakened them financially while they ignored FFP with lengthy multi-million contracts that will eventually bite them in the rump!
Pochettino has a very un-Chelsea-like approach to how football should be played and one wonders if it's a good fit. Chelsea has always been a team that plays on the edge, bordering on fair or foul. Can a more pleasant, sporting style of a coach change Chelsea into playing more positively rather than relying on a 'bent' official to give Raheem Sterling his dives??
One shall see.
Quote from: Nick Bateman on April 24, 2023, 11:58:36 PMThe influence Abramovich had over the favourable officiating they received is diminished although still prevelant - Premier League looks after whom they deem as "big" clubs.
All the football authorities are corrupt and have been shown to be so regardless of clean up measures. Follow the money and you will find it is like tilting a pin ball machine with the tilt control turned off.
It is almost but not quite subtle since you can still observe the bad habits generated through poor standard setting. And of course members only private clubs can do just about anything they like unless individuals are cancelled for whatever reason a warped society may believe it has for cancelling them. Abramovich may have done a few things better than the worse offenders in commerce globally especially when looking at events in the human health and comfort environment but still he is stigmatised.
I just cannot imagine why society generally thinks that stigmatising people can prevent bad things happening when our history books tell us what disasters they always are. A purge might help a little but in reality a return to honest to goodness football is what is required and the fans can only make that happen by turning away from football as it currently is. Perhaps the real fight will happen when the poorer parts of the league start looking for someone/something better to run them.
::bump::
Worth bumping this when considering the predicament at Chelsea. They are probably even further away from success than when i wrote this.
They need to do a Man Utd and bring in a Chelsea Carick type (like Makelele), and even then it's likely they'll more likely be another Solskjaer (till that club rebuilds from the bottom up).
Quote from: SG on July 28, 2022, 07:30:07 PMI'd like to think it's a very steep and swift decline but regrettably I don't think that will happen
Hope springs eternal in the human breast....
In the short to medium term (3 - 5 year's) yes...long term, I'm not sure - I'm guessing the new owners will eventually want an exit strategy...
So, they're probably having to spend an awful lot more money to compete....
They're simply treating the football club as a commodity and the supporter's will eventually turn if the trophy cabinet isn't getting full
Quote from: H4usuallysitting on April 28, 2026, 11:31:44 PMIn the short to medium term (3 - 5 year's) yes...long term, I'm not sure - I'm guessing the new owners will eventually want an exit strategy...
So, they're probably having to spend an awful lot more money to compete....
They're simply treating the football club as a commodity and the supporter's will eventually turn if the trophy cabinet isn't getting full
That's the thing about the "decline of Chelsea and Man Utd" - they've still carried on picking up trophies in their decline, even if not PL and CL. I wouldn't mind a decline like that.
Make football a part of your life and you soon realise that there will be highs and lows, hope and despair and that's all part of the deal.
That works for me and we currently have an owner who treats the club as an enjoyable way to dispose of surplus funds to maximise the outcome of the most unbending commodity of all - remaining time and what to do with it. Good for him, good for us.
Chelsea are in the hedge fund spiral of joyless calculation. Their owners don't love football and whilst they will maintain a facade, butching it out, it's plain to see that their only strategy now is to continue in the hope that a bigger mug will take it off their hands, which seems recedingly unlikely. Someone's going to lose a lot of money and the Chelsea players have worked out it won't be them.
I'm mindful that Chelsea fans will be getting a Wembley final next month, but nevertheless, they will be lucky to avoid a miserable trudge in the next few years.
We always sung it: 'when the Russian goes to prison you'll be f*cked'
They bought success with Ambramovich and his ill gotten wealth, and their current owners, whoever they are, seem pretty clueless.
Just reading that the Saudis are withdrawing their sport financing, thinking it's not such a good idea after all- they've done it with golf, so will this extend to football?
A few 'top' clubs could be losing sleep over this!
When Fayed came in we were on the point of overhauling them - until the Russian arrived. Let's hope it happens this time.
Quote from: RaySmith on April 29, 2026, 08:51:45 AMThey bought success with Ambramovich and his ill gotten wealth, and their current owners, whoever they are, seem pretty clueless.
Just reading that the Saudis are withdrawing their sport financing, thinking it's not such a good idea after all- they've done it with golf, so will this extend to football?
A few 'top' clubs could be losing sleep over this!
Don't all football clubs buy success if they are lucky, look how much MAF and now Khan have put into this club, many teams below us could equally say we have bought our limited success
Quote from: Cambridge Away on April 28, 2026, 03:45:12 PM::bump::
Worth bumping this when considering the predicament at Chelsea. They are probably even further away from success than when i wrote this.
They need to do a Man Utd and bring in a Chelsea Carick type (like Makelele), and even then it's likely they'll more likely be another Solskjaer (till that club rebuilds from the bottom up).
I mean all well and good us trying to gloat, but for all their problems they're in the final of a major cup competition this season whereas we're still the biggest club in England without a major trophy...
I've thought since the takeover they're at risk of painting themselves into a corner financially
On the books, those huge amortised contracts basically commits their future spending for years to come
That might be fine if they can sell them on for profit - but look at those big signings, are they going to recoup the cost on Garnacho, Gittens, Delap, Neto, Lavia etc? That's before you factor in disasters like Mudryk
It might also work revenue-wise if they're consistently successful - decent run in the Champions League every season - but when you look at that dressing room they're miles off doing that
I don't know how long they can cover the losses by selling assets to themselves, but it doesn't feel long-term to me
I am not sure i see anyone gloating. Just stating facts. Fulham fans have never been ones to punch down anyway, and we're clearly better than them at the moment. My observations are that they are a rotten club, with a rotting stadium and slightly entitled fans.
They need a massive injection of funds to build a stadium, with options running out. London's growth made for the success of project 'London FC' (what they considered as a name before Chelsea) but with London's own growth they've now found themselves boxed into a tiny space (for a club their current size) and less and less options by the year. Even if they did a West Ham and moved out of their historic home, the fans aren't going to be happy. And they're not the happiest bunch at the best of times.
The history of Chelsea FC weighs heavy and the club is eating itself right now. The fans will have to be a lot more patient and humble before they get back to where they think they deserve to be. In the short to medium to term they are surely likely to be more like a post Harry Kane Spurs. So, yes, maybe a Europa league trophy (or FA cup) along the way, but a relegation isn't out of the question with how strong the Premier League is these days.
I don't understand how they can keep spending millions and millions and ridiculous wages and Ali Mac is constantly trying to save a quid here and there.
Quote from: Super Mick on April 30, 2026, 06:10:20 PMI don't understand how they can keep spending millions and millions and ridiculous wages and Ali Mac is constantly trying to save a quid here and there.
Because they are infringing the rules and we are not.
Quote from: Super Mick on April 30, 2026, 06:10:20 PMI don't understand how they can keep spending millions and millions and ridiculous wages and Ali Mac is constantly trying to save a quid here and there.
Champions League revenues, very big commercial income etc. Have you noticed how hard it is to buy a Fulham kit anywhere but via the club? Go to sports shops in Westfield (as I did recently), a couple of miles from Craven Cottage, and you won't find a single Fulham item for sale in the sports shops. Easier to find Real Madrid and Bayern Munich than to find Fulham stuff within a short distance of the stadium. Obviously you can easily find Chelsea merch all over.