55 replies to this topic

[Juan Mata Dor]

I think we actually need to face this as a real possibility. What would it mean to the fans/supporters, and for the club itself?

The big one, money! The clubs financial structure has been based on basically guaranteeing CL qualification, I assume? Unless some sort of thing in the background can come in to place for such an eventuality? I mean I don't know much about the finances and what the club does, (does anyone?!) but what I do think is missing out on the CL for this reason would be a serious blow. And how would that affect players coming in, would money be available for our 'big changes' and would we even attract the big names?

[Layne87]

the consequences would be just dire. we wouldnt be able to attract big names, not even with money since FFP is in place. also, a lot of players would leave so we would really struggle to get back into top 4

[OfWolfAndBiggs]

No money, all the top players would leave, attendances would fall, Roman would get fed up and sell us on, major financial trouble, relegation, liquidation, AFC Chelsea.


Or we would just qualify next year.

[MikeChelsea8]

If it happens, it will be the start of a downfall of Chelsea FC...:/

[Siven]

Layne87, on 02 February 2012 - 12:14 AM, said:

the consequences would be just dire. we wouldnt be able to attract big names, not even with money since FFP is in place. also, a lot of players would leave so we would really struggle to get back into top 4

With the shocking performances some of our players have been putting in, I actually think I'd quite like that.

[todongo]

in this world, I wonder if it might pay off to be run in the same way as Real Madrid.

given the way things are in this world, we can only hope that Roman doesn't give up on the club. I agree with what people have said on the first page of this thread: falling out of the top four is ominous and dreadful for Chelsea's budget and for its worldwide appeal.

Personally, I think that Drogba and the Champions League have kept this club just above mediocrity on the international stage.

Chelsea fans/supporters should be ready to admit that it was Roman who bought the club its success but also, I believe, he is very much to blame for the fact that Chelsea's needs have gone unaddressed since Arjen Robben left and Shevchenko was brought in. Who the f8#$ plays 4-3-3 with only real winger on the roster and no prospects coming up to the first team with significant playtime? and, I'm sorry, but even though Malouda was once a productive player in Ligue 1, he was never going to boost Chelsea on his own. This from a Champions League club?

Well, 4.5 years after we got Malouda and no one else but another 50 million pound striker, what exactly do you expect?

[Sciatika]

I don't think we should go over the top about this. It would be a problem, but on its own its not terminal as long as we get straight back in. In financial terms, Europa League is a breakeven game so we would lose about £30m. In squad terms, Europa League is a major cost because it involves so many fixtures compared to Champions League. The consequence of this is that it makes it harder to get back into the Champions League. Part of the reason Spurs are doing alright in the prem is that they made a concious decision not to bother about Europa League despite qualifying for it. UEFA must be worried about the implications of that. Anyway, I assume we would do the same.

Although it is true that if we were to keep missing out then it becomes harder to attract the top players, that misses a findamental point about football which is that the margins of success are VERY small. There is not much difference between a £50m striker and a £15m one (ignoring merchandising and so on). In footballing terms, it may actually be good for us not to be able to attract the most expensive players.

[thevelourfog]

Juan Mata Dor, on 02 February 2012 - 12:07 AM, said:

The big one, money! The clubs financial structure has been based on basically guaranteeing CL qualification, I assume?

It's been structured on a Russian billionaire giving us money, which is why our record turnover still resulted in a huge loss. I'm not going to claim to be too hot on how our finances work, but I think it'd be a stretch to suggest that our entire dynasty would collapse with one season outside of the Champion's League.

I can't imagine that failing to qualify for the Champion's League for one season wold make nearly as much difference to us and the posters above are claiming- all the evidence suggests that quality players don't mind a little while without Champion's League football, so why people cling to the mantra that top players won't go to a side not playing in Europe's premier competition is beyond me. I can only imagine it's because enough people say or write that and it's comforting to agree with the majority.

It would be a blow to our collective pride, and a footballing disaster given the players and resources we have, but not the end of Chelsea as a footballing force.

[Shelly]

Spurs, Newcastle and Liverpool all seem to be doing alright, in fact 2 from those 3 could get CL spots at the end of the season, as could we.

[jangz]

hmm according to me it is more of a mental thing.. one season out doesnt kill a club.. I mean if you go out in the group stages it is similar according to me... people say they want to test themselves against the best in europe .. they see this as the charm of the cup.. but IMO you hardly get to play one or two good teams.. unless u are semi finalist or finalist..

[Curtis Brand]

MikeChelsea8, on 02 February 2012 - 12:30 AM, said:

If it happens, it will be the start of a downfall of Chelsea FC...:/

Tottenham have found their way into the top 4 without splashing the cash, and were able to hold onto Modric despite all the massive bids. One of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle will make up the fourth place.

It's far easier to break the 4 than it was going back a couple of seasons ago, and none of our direct rivals are particularly stronger than us... I wouldn't say it would be the start of a downfall, rather we'd just have to continue to rebuild. FFP comes in? We'll have to look closer to home and take a more practical approach. Maybe it's the shake up we need to get rid of some deadwood, both in the team and in the fanbase (not a dig at you in particular).

[Blue_Fever]

We go on about our season in the manner of City and United. The mentality that "We have to buy to be successful" is false. If players want to leave cause of no Champions League let them, just means they never really cared about the club. We bring players in who want to play for playing sake and not for money and I guarantee you will see a whole lot more drive in the squad than you currently do. In a sense it could be a good thing. We kill two birds in one stone, eliminate the glory hunting fans and the money deluded players and start playing and being presented as a united club. At the moment it seems like its player vs club vs manager vs fan vs supporter vs glory hunter.

"Either we heal now as a team(as a club), or we will crumble, inch by inch play by play. We're in hell right now.... But either we heal now as a club, or we will die as individuals."

Missing out on the Champions league shouldn't be our concern. Looking like Blackburn that cry Kean out (AVB out) and then looking like fools later when they jump out of the re.egation battle, looking like arsenal fans that are losing 0-2 at half time despite playing well the entire half and booing your team then looking like fools later when that same team goes on to win 3-2 should be our concern. We're forgetting who we are, where we came from and what we stand for. We miss out on the Championd league and play in the Europa, is it really that bad?

[Bison]

Layne87, on 02 February 2012 - 12:14 AM, said:

the consequences would be just dire. we wouldnt be able to attract big names, not even with money since FFP is in place. also, a lot of players would leave so we would really struggle to get back into top 4

Who are these players that will leave if we don't get Champions League football? If missing out meant there would be a mass exodus then I would love it if we finished outside of the Champions League places. Can you imagine getting rid of underperforming players and off the wage bill?! Sounds too good to be true.

[The Bouncy]

It wouldn't effect us in the long term. We wouldn't be able to attract the big names this summer (but that's not our transfer policy now anyway) but we wouldn't lose any important players because either the players are too commited to Chelsea (eg, Cech, Terry and Lampard), the players aren't CL level anyway (Malouda, arguably Cole, Meireles) or the players are too new to the squad to have a moan about no CL football (Ramires, Torres, Luiz, Mata). Essien wouldn't leave because of no CL football simply because of how we stuck with him through his injury.

The only players that I would be afraid of losing are Ivanovic and Sturridge.

In the long-term, I don't see how we can't be challenging for the league next season. Improvements here and there (not necesarily world class improvements).

Look at the standard of teams around us. Currently it's only Sp*rs and City who are improving and looking forward but Sp*rs won't be the same next season when Redknapp f*cks off. City will still be powerful, United are slowly deteriorating and are only keeping pace with City due to their manager. Dalglish's Liverpool are no threat, Arsenal will be stronger after their injured players return next season.

Even if we don't get CL this season, next season I can easily see a top 4 of being City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea - in any order.

Also, who says we won't get CL this season? I think we will, simply because we're the best out of a poor bunch.

[bootlaces]

for me it would mean that I wont get moved from my seat whenever we get this far in the competition just so they can park tv wagons behind the mh stand to satisfy a tv audience who dont like us anyway. After what happened against farcalona it would not bother me at all, the competition has been tainted ever since that dark night in my eyes.