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Not sure how this makes any difference as he retains ownership. If the oligarchs could save their assets from sanctions by simply transferring "stewardship" I'm sure they'd all be at it.

I did want to ask the opinion of some of you who I'm sure know more about finance than I do. Regarding this 1.5 billion "loan" that Chelski have, presumably this counts as an "asset" of Abramovich so presumably if action is taken against him then this could be part of that action. But how would it affect the loan?

The loan means he is on the company "creditors payable within N years" list.
The fact that a creditor is also the owner, is moot in the letter of the law.
Similarly if someone wants to be stupid on this front, he could simply
sell the debt to someone (another shareholder etc) for a nominal sum,
and do the converse once things have quietened down.

Chelsky is a Sugga Daddy plaything, not a business whose operation
is key to the size of Romans' final pension pot.
 
Sad that he has gone.

But as some have said here, Bielsa ball is not sustainable over 90 mins.
More so if you don't have PL squad depth and the injuries to
a few key players pile up (which seems to currently be the case) .

I think there is also a strong element of 'second season syndrome' at work. Saw similar with Sheff Utd last season. Often teams come up from the Championship with a pretty unique way of playing that catches a lot of PL sides by surprise and leads to an exceptionally strong 1st season. However, these teams tend to be one trick ponies and the systems they use often have pretty obvious weaknesses. It is only a matter of time before PL-level coaching teams and tacticians learn how to adapt and exploit it ruthlessly.
 
I think there is also a strong element of 'second season syndrome' at work. Saw similar with Sheff Utd last season. Often teams come up from the Championship with a pretty unique way of playing that catches a lot of PL sides by surprise and leads to an exceptionally strong 1st season. However, these teams tend to be one trick ponies and the systems they use often have pretty obvious weaknesses. It is only a matter of time before PL-level coaching teams and tacticians learn how to adapt and exploit it ruthlessly.

That but tbf the spine of the team has been put for most of the season. Cooper, phillips and bamford, especially when they like to throw crosses in bamfords a good target man. Everyone else in their team is about 5ft 2.

Imagine where you guys would be without kane (not sure you have key cms or cbs) but your form generally plummets
 
I think there is also a strong element of 'second season syndrome' at work. Saw similar with Sheff Utd last season. Often teams come up from the Championship with a pretty unique way of playing that catches a lot of PL sides by surprise and leads to an exceptionally strong 1st season. However, these teams tend to be one trick ponies and the systems they use often have pretty obvious weaknesses. It is only a matter of time before PL-level coaching teams and tacticians learn how to adapt and exploit it ruthlessly.

There is truth in that, but squad quality is still important.
Leeds had a Vardy type forward yesterday, yet alone a
Son or Kane, and they are probably not finishing games
with zero goals scored, nor conceding goals first.
 
That but tbf the spine of the team has been put for most of the season. Cooper, phillips and bamford, especially when they like to throw crosses in bamfords a good target man. Everyone else in their team is about 5ft 2.

Imagine where you guys would be without kane (not sure you have key cms or cbs) but your form generally plummets
Tottenham this season with Kane: 48% win percentage.
Tottenham this season without Kane: 67% win percentage.
Last season was 53 to 60 the same way.

Oliver Skipp has been our biggest positive influence statistically, IIRC.
64% wins with, 35% wins without.
Much like Leeds, they lose Philips or we lose Skipp and there's no holding midfielder in reserve.
You don't just lose a player, you lose a position.

Dier would probably be our Cooper equivalent. 60% wins with, 36% without.
I think that's also to do with moving people around when he's not there.
Romero shifts into the middle, instead of just replacing Dier with Rodon.
 
Bielsa has one way of playing and it’s naive to think you don’t need to adjust it.

I know a lot of managers look up to him and take bits of his style but they all change it because they know it’s not sustainable.
 
Bielsa has one way of playing and it’s naive to think you don’t need to adjust it.

I know a lot of managers look up to him and take bits of his style but they all change it because they know it’s not sustainable.

seems to me like Bielsa took his inspiration from watching me and my mates play football at break/lunch times at school tbh

so credit where credit is due mate
 
seems to me like Bielsa took his inspiration from watching me and my mates play football at break/lunch times at school tbh

so credit where credit is due mate

It is a bit like that isn’t it. Motd showed one highlight where it was 1-0 Spurs early on yet Leeds had every man in the final third, one pass and Spurs were 3 men against 1. You just can’t play like that all the time. The amount of goals they’ve conceded is ridiculous
 
Just watched Brentford-Newcastle. Desilva’s tackle on the Newcastle player not nearly as bad as Shelvey’s one on an Everton player e few weeks ago that only got a yellow. So much for consistency, eh. Or possibly a concerted effort to keep Newcastle in the PL
 
Not the worse result if Spam beat Wolves as they are doing now. At least our fate is kind of in our hands with them as we still have to play them.
 
Neville on Abramovich and Chelsea:
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Really don't appreciate other club owners being chucked in with this ****.
 
Really good final despite it being a 0-0. Huge chances for both sides and some good saves too. Penalty shootout also dramatic.
 
Really good final despite it being a 0-0. Huge chances for both sides and some good saves too. Penalty shootout also dramatic.

I just find it hilarious that they bought Kepa on to be their penalty hero, and not only does he not save a single penalty, he then misses the decisive one to give Liverpool the trophy <laugh> <laugh>