Champions League Thread 2011

[Mr. Pink]

People just see CHelsea as a plastic, souless, club with loveable people like John Terry, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogbar. No matter how hard they try, I don't think any club actually sees them as a 'rival'. They're just... there.

Excellent post.

[Treva ★]

And yet the sods managed to win the European Cup when clubs with far better teams, more consistent followings, larger fanbases, sustainable development models, and a history have failed to win it or, like Celtic, have only won it once.

[Erebus Pasha]

I think it's a bit pointless arguing that Chelsea have no history because, as I recall some hack pointing out, they won a European trophy before Liverpool did. Granted it was the Cup-Winners Cup but those were the days when it was taken seriously (Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the final). They would've been the first entrants in the European Cup too but the FA prevented their entry (Chelsea were league champions in 1955).

[pchalk]

i think its great when a club comes out of no where and does well even if it is because of a billionaire investor. in that regard, chelsea's history doesnt bother me. but i do dislike them for some of the other reasons mentioned

[Everything's Dandy]

I think it's a bit pointless arguing that Chelsea have no history because, as I recall some hack pointing out, they won a European trophy before Liverpool did. Granted it was the Cup-Winners Cup but those were the days when it was taken seriously (Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the final). They would've been the first entrants in the European Cup too but the FA prevented their entry (Chelsea were league champions in 1955).

Bob Paisley, in 9 seasons, has three less major honours than Chelsea in their entire existence.

[Azog 150]

From my own experience, the only team 'hated' by more people than the Red Mancs is Liverpool. People just see CHelsea as a plastic, souless, club with loveable people like John Terry, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogbar. No matter how hard they try, I don't think any club actually sees them as a 'rival'. They're just... there.

I most definitely see them as a rival. After Everton and Man U, it is games against Chelsea that I am always the most excited about, and the atmosphere at games reflects that.

[Everything's Dandy]

I most definitely see them as a rival. After Everton and Man U, it is games against Chelsea that I am always the most excited about, and the atmosphere at games reflects that.

Unless it's at Stamford Bridge, then the atmosphere is crap.

I don't get excited about playing Chelsea, I enjoy it because we usually beat them, and most people I know (from various clubs too) don't see them as a major rival. I don't check the fixture list looking for Chelsea. I don't say, on FA Cup draw day, "Hope we get Chelsea". They're just a club which we fight for league places with, well used to anyway. They're league rivals but they aren't natural rivals, for me. The only rivalry I ever saw with Chelsea was when Mourinho was there, but even that was more Rafa v Mourinho IMO.

[Ishoss]

I think it's a bit pointless arguing that Chelsea have no history because, as I recall some hack pointing out, they won a European trophy before Liverpool did. Granted it was the Cup-Winners Cup but those were the days when it was taken seriously (Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the final). They would've been the first entrants in the European Cup too but the FA prevented their entry (Chelsea were league champions in 1955).

Everyone has a history.

By the way, the CL final was viewed by fewer in England than the FA Cup was. Slightly strange, isn't it?

[=Bright=]

By the way, the CL final was viewed by fewer in England than the FA Cup was. Slightly strange, isn't it?

Well, it combined two things the english hate: Chelsea and germans.

[Everything's Dandy]

Well, it combined two things the english hate: Chelsea and germans.

Bah. Only non-football fans would 'hate' the Germans. Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, M'gladbach (majority of the time anyway) and the national team are all ace to watch!

But, yeah, Chelsea would put most off. Crap football and a whole host of insufferable eejits.

[=Bright=]

You know I was joking with stereotypes, right?

Anyways, still almost 3 months to go and I'm already excited as about who's gonna face Udinese in the CL qualifiers.

[Azog 150]

Bah. Only non-football fans would 'hate' the Germans. Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, M'gladbach (majority of the time anyway) and the national team are all ace to watch!

Not to mention that the German system of requiring a significant portion of fan ownership is something I (and I am sure most other footy fans) find very admirable indeed. I dare anyone to look at ticket prices in German football and not be jealous.

[=Bright=]

Not to mention that the German system of requiring fans to own at least 40% of the shares in their club is something I (and I am sure most other footy fans) find very admirable indeed.

This rule is not applied to all clubs, though. Wolfsburg and Leverkusen for example are 100% owned by the Volkswagen AG and the Bayer AG respectively.

You're right about the ticket prices. If the prices were the same as in Italy I doubt there'd be any sold-out stadiums.

[Ishoss]

This rule is not adapted to all clubs, though. Wolfsburg and Leverkusen for example are 100% owned by the Volkswagen AG and the Bayer AG respectively.

You're right about the ticket prices. If the prices were the same as in Italy I doubt there'd be any sold-out stadiums.

They (at least Leverkusen) started out as the company's club though, right?

[Everything's Dandy]

You know I was joking with stereotypes, right?

Aye. I hear enough people say Club football outside of the Prem is crap/boring, so thought I'd put that out there anyway.

[snuggans]

all this gelatinous hate.

all im going to say is.. lol carling cup.
lol europa league

[Everything's Dandy]

all im going to say is.. lol carling cup.

Out of the all the things you could 'lol' at in regards to Liverpool, it's winning a trophy? You can do better than that.

[snuggans]

it's not a trophy. it's the carling cup.

[Everything's Dandy]

Which, last time I checked, was a major domestic honour.

[Ishoss]

it's not a trophy. it's the carling cup.

It's all right Snuggans, Chelsea can have their five seconds of fame. Chelsea is the Jordan of the football world.