Accidentally caught the BBC News this morning as they discussed the situation for the club...but the manner of the reporter had me holding an onion to my eyes to make me cry, he seemed genuinely miffed that fathers can’t take their sons into the club shop to buy them a shirt etc, etc, it’s as though it was an affront to the Premiership, which should be above mere mortals.
Talking to fans seemed to revolve around “Yes it’s terrible in Ukraine, but.......”
Some people just don’t get it, till it hits them.

Yes Snowy, I agree. Some of these Chelsea fans are just moronic. They are so blinded by football that they can't see anything else at all, these fans are an utter embarrassment to any sport.

Over the years multiple clubs have hit the buffers because their owners have misbehaved (for want of a better word) and this thing with R.A. is the most extreme example of this imaginable, and I really hope some pathetic "poor suffering Chelsea players/fans" narrative doesn't emerge - you know, they could have been shut down completely.

On the internet yesterday it hinted that AB bank account and the club were one and the same and that investigations into money laundering were ongoing.

I’m still shocked at talk of £3 billion for a football club, in fact it’s obscene.

If £3 billion goes to the Ukraine that would be good.

All this money that has been locked should be sent straight to the Ukrainian people to help in anyway they decide.

Started yesterday able to afford Declan Rice, ended today not able to afford Egg Fried Rice.


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I'm genuinely shocked some people out there have sympathy to Chelsea and their "fans" (all 15 people who supported them before 2003). And Chelsea fans in towns like Darlington, Macclesfield, Bury and even Hartlepool should be ashamed of themselves.

EFL and gov should make a statement, kick them out the league and put Bury back in.

If the meathead fans do anymore unsavoury chanting the players should walk off. That would make an interesting stand off.

Nowt like a 'bit' of hyperbole where hated Premiership clubs are concerned eh? Chelsea have been a good top division side for most of the time I've been following football. Pre-Abramovich they'd won the league title, league cup, FA cup and UEFA cup. Some of their fans were horrible, the biggest thugs in the entire football league, but they were a well-supported English club long before they became Chelski.

Showing my age here but a couple of times when I was 14 we travelled up to Chelsea to watch them playing in Div 2. It was 70p to get in!

When we discovered that going to QPR was so much better we stopped.

I'd rather win the top prize on the thunderball than be an oilgarch.

Who's going to pay the petrol on their away day to Boro in the fa cup?

They have been limited to spending £20,000 on away game travel.
They have requested more allowance. A bus and petrol for 25 odd people should be attainable for 20k.

Why don’t they hitchhike, then they can share the Ukrainian experience minus the shelling and empathise with them.

Russia starts war & bombs Ukraine. Government reacts and sanctions Abramovich, football world, rightly wants best for Ukraine, but does little , as they say give it a lick of paint.Fans fly flags if every player was to give 1%of their monthly wage to the Red Cross for medical. clothing food supplies , If PL was to reduce prize money by same 1% for every position in the league that would create massive anount of money to actually do something that actually help.

Saudi Arabia been bombing Yemen for 7 years(could be longer) yet the PL let them take over one of their teams, Will the government sanction them or is it a case of double standards, The humanitarian crisis has been described as among the worst in the world. Will the government stop supplying arms to Saudi Arabia or just like the Russian money that gets tory MP's elected will nothing be done against them. AS of last I read none of the Russian who had donated to the Tory party had been sanctioned

I’m rather more interested in what’s happening in Ukraine than exploring the other eternal conflicts that NONE of the major powers have shown the slightest interest in.
The reason is startlingly simple, he’s getting too near to NATO territory and that could be naughty for us. People get surprisingly focused when it affects them.
The domestic self obsession of the Premiership and it’s self importance means Jack shit to me, it’s a self inflated maggot eating itself.

its not just the premier league where this obsession lies. just looking at televised championship games its usually all the ex prem name clubs that are televised. doubt you,ll see much of rotherham on the box next season or a few others that may go up.

its not just the premier league where this obsession lies. just looking at televised championship games its usually all the ex prem name clubs that are televised. doubt you,ll see much of rotherham on the box next season or a few others that may go up.

There’s a cosy knitting circle of top clubs and they have their own Premier League clique of ‘acceptables’......and those considered ‘resting’ in the Championship are always welcomed back with open arms.... some teams fit the profile ......and some will never fit in a month of Sundays.

For the first time in a while I didn't watch MOTD or MOTD2 this weekend. Ive been bored with it for a while but the lack of nights out and being stuck in kept up a mild interest, however the thought of having anything to do with Chelsea V Newcastle (or should that be "Chelsea" V "Newcastle" ?) left me feeling 100% detached.

It's an odious pairing,

think the gap of interest between the top league and for supporters of teams like pools is growing year on year. we do not get millionaire football and i doubt they think of pools and others with any interest whatsoever. there are the odd good guys like burnley and palace but they are the exception.

Agree, they could be a fantasy league on a screen somewhere. Match of the Day once a regular feature I now ignore, Smug Lineker and his chums floating in an alternative reality where the Premiership is up there with the Gods.
Funny old world, what would Cloughie make of it?

Chelsea now want their cup game V Mbro played behind closed doors. WTF.

You dirty Cockney bastards! Oops, you dirty Russian bastards!

I could not believe it when I read it.
That cements my view of them as shit bags (what's the technical term I am looking for?)

In nearly any other business they would have been properly sanctioned i.e. closed down. Yet they moan on and on and now propose that M'bro should miss out on their big day. Normally I have little interest in Premier League football, but in some ways this isn't really a football story - I suppose what I mean is this, if they can't accept graciously the special status they've been given to carry on - then close them down.

So the impact of sanctions on the Russian sponsored team that is basically bankrupt (has no income and owes £1.5 billion) should be that fans of another non-sanctioned, non Russian team would have to miss their right to attend a match they have already bought tickets for Clearly the government should withdraw their special licence that allows the oligarks plaything to continue. Now does anyone in Middlesborough have the ear of the government? Over to you Mayor.

If it's "unfair" for poor old hard done by Chelsea to play in front of no fans at M'bro, then what about the teams who have yet to play at Stamford bridge until the end of the season? For "sporting integrity" should they be played behind closed doors too?

In any other business on some distant trading estate making bits n bobs they’d have been shoved out the door ant told to sign on, these over privileged individuals are apparently still getting paid to perform yet still they make demands.

Correction......You dirty filthy cockney russian fucking bastard twats . I refuse to spell russia with a capital r.

2 of my grandsons have been training with their u8 & u11 academies, although the younger has also played for Charlton and they both also train with Bromley.
I suppose at that age there are many opportunities, especially around South London for talented youngsters.

it must be really hard to find standout kids at under 8 and 11 age that have not matured quicker than some of their own age. when they eventually get caught up many get lost from the game at any level. feel sorry for these acadany kids if they do not make the grade. its hard enough when you are in your late teens to take it never mind a football loving kid.

I take Cloughie’s attitude to academy kids just off their bottles spending their early years on the treadmill..... he said by the time they’re any use they’re generally pissed off and interested in other things like girls.
I wonder how many of the driven parents see their offspring as an insurance policy for themselves if they succeed...?

I hate Chelsea with a passion, started long before RA but has certainly got worse since he took over. The fans are beyond arrogant but at least we have Gallagher for a season!
Anyone get the chance Google Chelsea v Palace 1976 Cup tie, some of the worst violence I have seen at football. We were 3rd division ( now Div 1) and they were top division, we beat them 3-2 on the way to being, I believe first 3rd division team to reach semi final (beat Sunderland in quarter final at Roker).

It's made them a laughing stock.
Boro are putting another 3000 return seats on sale.

its was a real eye opener to me to see the cars these kids got out of when i reffed the youth teams of the midlands teams in the mid to late 90,s. they certainly were not vehicles you,d expect to see from parents of inner city kids. my citroen cx estate was the oldest vehicle in the car park by far unless a lino turned up in something inferior.