The future of Chelsea FC. "foresight discussion"

[Pottertons]

So, Chelsea FC......Out of nowhere become a massive dominance on the football front.

Do you think that Chelsea can maintain there dominance for years to come?

For some reason, I think they'll falter quickly. I mean, with all the ups they've had, look at the lows already.

Tapping up and such, Mourinho's over-confidence and such. Paying silly-money to get certain players. Fair enough, if you have the money, go for it, but it sort of ruin's it for other teams that wish to bolster there squads with quality signings due to the rediculous price tags that players can now confidently place on their heads, knowing that "hey, if you can't pay that much, I'll just go to Chelsea." LOL.

Anyway, I don't mean to knock them cause it's very good team @ the mo. I just don't really see the type of unison and heart within the team and club that can take them on to continuous success.

[quentinc]

I think they will do well, and possibly turn into a Real Madrid. They could win a CL, and then see all their superstars age.

[NickSaints]

Although they have all that money at their disposal, it must be a bit of a worry for Mourinho that there is a little nucleus of players that, if missing, would greatly harm their aspirations. Frank Lampard and John Terry are the obvious ones, but Eidur Gudjohnsson is another who has become almost indispensable, whether it be as a main striker or advanced midfielder. These 3, plus the goalkeeper, Cech, are massive to Chelsea's fortune's, the heartbeat of the whole club, if you like and no matter how much money they splash this summer, if they were to lose one or more of these, I think they'd be looking over their shoulder pretty quickly

[Alan_V]

Although they have all that money at their disposal, it must be a bit of a worry for Mourinho that there is a little nucleus of players that, if missing, would greatly harm their aspirations. Frank Lampard and John Terry are the obvious ones, but Eidur Gudjohnsson is another who has become almost indispensable, whether it be as a main striker or advanced midfielder. These 3, plus the goalkeeper, Cech, are massive to Chelsea's fortune's, the heartbeat of the whole club, if you like and no matter how much money they splash this summer, if they were to lose one or more of these, I think they'd be looking over their shoulder pretty quickly

Let's not forget Joe Cole and Cech.

I think that Chelsea's fortunes are in the hands of Abramovich and the stability of his money.

He's proven he can buy a championship and I think that until he wins everything in sight, the same season, he'll be interested. If the source of his money dries up or if the Russian gov't goes after him and his businesses, drying up the source of funds, Chelsea could be in for rough times. That said, if Kenyon can market them as successfully as he did Man Utd., they could end up supporting themselves.

[NickSaints]

I listed Cech, but didnt include Joe Cole, as his value to the team was only apparent over a part of the season. Also, take him out and you can put in, Duff or Robben, but take any of the others out and their influence on the team will be sorely missed. It aint that Cole is a bad player, he's class, but I think the soul of the team lay in the others mentioned. Yes, he'll fill the rest of the team with a galaxy of "stars", but god help him if he thinks replacing any of the aforementioned with whatever fat fee'd superstar is gonna make Chelsea more effective, cos it wont. It'd take the heart out of the club. Much like what happened at Anfield under Souness and they still haven't recovered

[Teso Dos Bichos]

They will eventually implode.

[Alan_V]

I listed Cech, but didnt include Joe Cole, as his value to the team was only apparent over a part of the season. Also, take him out and you can put in, Duff or Robben, but take any of the others out and their influence on the team will be sorely missed. It aint that Cole is a bad player, he's class, but I think the soul of the team lay in the others mentioned. Yes, he'll fill the rest of the team with a galaxy of "stars", but god help him if he thinks replacing any of the aforementioned with whatever fat fee'd superstar is gonna make Chelsea more effective, cos it wont. It'd take the heart out of the club. Much like what happened at Anfield under Souness and they still haven't recovered
Ooopps. It'd help if I paid attn to what I read. Sorry.

[BaaBaaBlackSheep]

Chelsea were very strong this season, but I feel they might start a fall in the up-coming season. Mourinho is getting more cockier by the season, and he'll be having Cole rub his feet and Drogba feeding him grapes by 2006. Roman will spend, spend, spend. Get another crap striker, but a good mid. Tap up a couple of players, just for the sake of it. Have half a couple of millions new fans, thinking they;re fantastic since of course, they won the premier league just after 50 years. Good job lads! One hit wonders my friends, one hit wonders. Each of the players will get an ego, and, as Newcastle has done before, have a battle on the field as to who is the better passer. This be my prediction :cool: .

[Walter3000]

Have half a couple of millions new fans

Says the United fan from canada.

[BaaBaaBlackSheep]

Thanks for pointing that out actually. I am sorry- that sentence didn't make sense all that much. Don't get me wrong now, there are plenty of true Chelsea supporters out there. I have talked to some, and they are very loyal. But, you have to admit there are some people out there who just glory hunt. :p And nah, I ain;t calling you one lol. I just wanted to clear that up. I don't want a fight on my 5th day here haha.

[Clan]

They will eventually implode.

...or dominate for the next decade (and beyond).

5 years.
Thats what Chelsea need from Abramovich.

After that, the youth policy that Chels are now putting in place, snatching up all the best up and coming players, will negate the need for massive spending on the transfer market.Continued success will sell the market brand itself, regardless (despite?) of what Kenyon does.

If the ground can be enlarged in the time frame, paid for of course by his royal roubleness, all the glory hunters will be paying fans, Chels will make a killing on pre season tours, rake it in England by winning the title and deep runs into the Champs league will expand the coffers all the more.

The club is debt free (except to his royal roubleness himself), the ground is paid for, the state of the art new academy/training ground is paid for and all the players transfer fees are paid for - as will ( I guess) any and all others coming in.

Thats a bit rosy i know, but it's also the way it is.

5 years.

[Flash2]

Hopefully they'll do a leeds.

[king_saladin]

Hopefully they'll do a leeds.

How do you suppose that could happen?

[schafer]

Although they have all that money at their disposal, it must be a bit of a worry for Mourinho that there is a little nucleus of players that, if missing, would greatly harm their aspirations. Frank Lampard and John Terry are the obvious ones, but Eidur Gudjohnsson is another who has become almost indispensable, whether it be as a main striker or advanced midfielder. These 3, plus the goalkeeper, Cech, are massive to Chelsea's fortune's, the heartbeat of the whole club, if you like and no matter how much money they splash this summer, if they were to lose one or more of these, I think they'd be looking over their shoulder pretty quickly


I don't think there is anything wrong with having a group of players that you rely on. You could take any team that has won any championship in Europe over the past several years and say that. What if Arsenal were to lose Henry, Viera, or Campbell? Look at what happened at ManU when they lost Ferdinand. It is an inevitable part of football, and a team needs leaders like the aforementioned that they can rely on.

[Alan_V]

...or dominate for the next decade (and beyond).

If the ground can be enlarged in the time frame, ........


I've been to Stamford Bridge, outside it anyway, and my recollection is that it's pretty well locked in as far as expansion. Then again, obtaining property is only a matter of money.

[Matt Clark]

Actually, there is a limit on the extent to which the Bridge can realistically be expanded - and it's not a big limit. It's not just a case of knocking down some houses and building a bigger stand - in order to get your licence you have to ensure the safe and orderly assembly and dispersal of the match day crowd, which is something measured in a variety of arcane ways. Access to the Bridge is not brilliant because of its inner city location and the rail links nearby are in and of themselves only licensed for a certain number of passengers per hour.

It could cost Abramovich the sort of money to make even his eyes water.

Above and beyond that, the five year plan is to break even. As in, not to make a single penny profit. And the club is not debt free, it's debt is just underwritten by the owner. Abramovich moved money from one of his companies to Chelsea in the form of a loan in order to cover the operating losses of the last financial year - he was forced to by the auditors, who were refusing to sign the club's solvency certificate at the end of the annual audit without additional working capital entering the books for the current financial year. The club is therefore £80m in debt - the only reason this is not considered an issue is because ultimately it is the left hand owing the right hand.

But if Abramovich tires of Chelsea and decides to cash in his chips ...

FWIW though, I don't think he will tire of them. Most of the prognostications on that eventuality are rooted in wishful thinking by jealous fans of other clubs. He genuinely loves being owner and chairman of a global football club and he's excited by the potential for turning what is a considerable but by no means restrictive investment into something that not only provides glamour, glory and excitement but may eventually actually turn a quid or two.

[Pottertons]

Goodness mate! All of that huh???

good response though. I think a lot of people are misunderstanding the whole "debt" thing with Chelsea.

Although they are in good hands @ the mo, It's only one pair of hands that really counts. If Roman is'nt happy, then Chelsea will most probably have to go into administration.

It's a risky path. Maybe even more risky than the whole Glazer ordeal, simply because the repercussions are well clouded.

it's like Tony Montana with his money laundering.

[Clan]

I would think something could be done over the Brompton cemetary to aid with leaving the ground, leading out to Brompton park and then to Cres Road/Seagrove Road - although i'll freely admit it's been many yeras since i've set foot in those places and don't know what it's like today.

Supposedly stadium expansion is the next big thing he's going to take on, Chelsea aiding in the building/revamping of that kids football ground (forget it's name) in the borough being the first step in getting them buttered up - although, as they always have, the residents will be the biggest stumbling block on any capacity increase.

Officially, yes, Chelsea are £80m in debt, likely to increase too, but, as was pointed out, in reality it's a non issue.If I remember right, the Eurobond still has payment due in -07, I remember reading at the time Bates took it out, a specific line in it, was that it could not be paid off early.

[nicephoras]

But if Abramovich tires of Chelsea and decides to cash in his chips ...

While I agreed with your point, this deserves a qualification. Roman's entity has lent Chelsea 80M. If he does a "runner", he'll leave the club with 80M in debt, which isn't really that big a deal (look at ManUtd!) considering our income. Whoever he'd sell the club to would simply pay 80M less for it. He can't take the 80M loan back and then sell his shares in the club for full price. That's the disdvantage of being your own creditor.
Given that Roman has already spent a lot of money up front on Chelsea (transfers, training facility, marketing, etc.), if he left, we wouldn't be an unattractive investment opportunity.

[nicephoras]

Although they are in good hands @ the mo, It's only one pair of hands that really counts. If Roman is'nt happy, then Chelsea will most probably have to go into administration.

Would you care to explain how that would happen?