Chelsea Blue Realist

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

@eurofootcom Imagine Anthony Taylor - “right I know that’s a Chelsea penalty but hear me out”

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Ken Bates saved Chelsea. Not only back in 1982 when Bates rescued the club from potential oblivion. But still now, even following the sad news of his passing aged 94, Bates’ legacy continues to protect Chelsea. He created the CPO, Chelsea Pitch Owners, which safeguards the future of the stadium.

Bates achieved much in an extraordinary life. He fought to protect the FA Cup, fought for the new Wembley to be built, stabilised Leeds United and fought for smaller clubs but his greatest legacy revolves around Chelsea. Combative, controversial, loyal and principled in his way, Bates was driven by a desire to prove himself, to make something of himself, to take on the establishment in its varied forms.

Much of this drive stemmed from memories of growing up without parents (his mother died, his father disappeared and he was raised by his grandparents) and frustration at a childhood disability destroying his dream of making it as a footballer at Arsenal. He'd been a good attacker.

It was April 2 1982, when Bates rescued Chelsea. He spoke to the club bankers who’d run out of patience. “We have two cheques here,” the bank told Bates. “One is for the share of the (FA Cup) gate which has to go to the FA. And one is the players’ wages. Which one can we bounce?”

He came in, invested money to tide the club over and started cutting costs. Entering the Bridge boardroom for the first time pre-match, Bates was shocked to see the number of guests, the feast laid on, even a cigar box being passed around at a club losing £12,000 a week. Chelsea even had a club chauffeur. Not for long.

Bates’ cost-cutting was brutal but vital. Chelsea recovered, fought off property developers through Bates’ strength of personality, established themselves as a force in the Premier League and became more involved in European competition. Bates loved Chelsea. He loved entertainers. His favourite was Gianfranco Zola because the Italian played with a smile, dribbled and lit up stadiums and fans’ lives.

Even after selling to Roman Abramovich in 2003, taking over Leeds where his cost-cutting (and Chelsea past) alienated many fans, and then living in retirement with his beloved Suzannah in Monaco, Bates would try and return to watch matches at the Bridge. He kept a flat full of mementos nearby.

On the sideboard was a framed copy of Bates’ CPO share. One day while Chelsea chairman, a fan shouted about the possibility of “your grandson sells the land for houses”. Bates’ initial reaction was, typically, “You ungrateful bastard”.

But he realised that was a very real threat – the Bridge was prime London land. Developers craved it. So Bates created the CPO; it now numbers 13,000 fans owning 23,000 individual shares (Thomas Tuchel has one) and a large majority would be required to vote for any change in use of the pitch. And they aren’t for change. As Bates intended.

We last spoke on May 18. Ken sounded frail but was typically opinionated on the footballing issues of the day. Bates had his difficult side, vendettas and views, but he was passionate about family, football and Chelsea FC. RIP, Ken.

[Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC]

Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐️

[Geronimo Morgans @GeronimoMorgans]

“Arsenal have been blocking the opponent’s goalkeeper all season long, they would NEVER be on top of the league if we disallow these goals!”

Peter Schmeichel thank you for calling them out. have your cheating title VARSENAL. 👏

[Steve G ⭐️⭐️ 🇩🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @SW6Steve]

I said earlier Boycott the games and stop buying merch and got hate for it, I even got hate for stating Forest will win with ease

GET THESE BASTARD OWNERS OUT

BLUECO are SCUM

[THE CHELSEA FORUM @TheChelseaForum]

The problem with Chelsea ❌

[Louis Beneventi 🤌🏻 @Louis_Beneventi]

Get them all gone.

[THE CHELSEA FORUM @TheChelseaForum]

No surrender ☠️ 💙

[NotAProjectCFC @NotAProjectCFC]

The first couple of images are coming in!

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

Another Tosin and we know how that one went….

[MatchdayHQ @TheMatchdayHQ]

🚨🇦🇷 | 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Chelsea are PLOTTING a move to sign Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

[@caughtoffside]

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

Remember we bought gittens and Garnacho over Semenyo who was there for 65m

[Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC]

Working hard. 👊

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

@TheBlueDodger Joe Cole must be seeing something different, Garnacho has a bit of talent but talent alone isn’t enough. He can’t beat a man, shooting very poor - misses a lot of goal scoring chances and the moment when drives towards goal he just stops passing it back or sideways….

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

Back in the PL within 12 months

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🔴⚪️ Ademola Lookman to Atlético Madrid, here we go! The agreement is in place on every detail.

€35m fixed fee, €5m add-ons to Atalanta and long term deal agreed by Lookman after decision last night.

Atlético, planning now for travel and medical next for the Nigerian. 🇳🇬

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

Come again? Hazard stayed on with Chelsea for another season to help us get into Champions League that season when easily could of gone sooner & ensured we got £115 + add ons which took the fee to 132m rather than leave on free transfer. Carried us 4 of 7 seasons, strong ties……

[Ceejay @Sir_jaay01]

Eden Hazard is the most talented player to ever played for Chelsea and a legend but I will say he doesn’t have strong tie with Chelsea.

He spent about 2 years twerking for Real Madrid and finally got his move, got treated like a shit and finally pushed out but he still choosing them over Chelsea that gave him every thing.

You all are defending him cuz it’s Eden Hazard but hell would be let loose if another ex Chelsea player said that.

Yes, we all know that Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world but you will never see Messi, Suarez or Neymar admit that. You will never see any Man U legend or even Arsenal legend admit that.

You may not like this but Hazard will never be in Drogba, Terry, Lampard or Cech category in terms of Chelsea through and through.

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

Been watching this guy for years…

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🔵 Chelsea agree deal to sign talented 17 year old fullback Yisa Alao from Sheffield Wednesday, here we go!

Initial fee over £500k plus heavy add-ons.

Chelsea beat 3 more PL top clubs to the signing.

[Rob Pizzola @robpizzola]

Maybe I’m just old school, but I hate the new Champions League format.

The old group stage... home and away vs the same 3 teams... built some actual rivalry, especially if you got drawn with the same team in back-to-back years. You learned the matchups, you dreaded the away trip, you circled the “must win” spots.

Now it just feels so random. You get an epic match between two teams and you can't look forward to another one. 24 of 36 teams moving on from the Group Stage feels like you can still get rewarded for playing like trash. I'm not a fan.

Am I alone?

[Peter Bolster @peter_bolster]

Delusional Arsenal fans are even coming up with that question. Just Rooney, Tevez, and one of the greatest players to ever play the game in that front 3, but Theo Walcott thinks Saka, Martinelli, Victor fucking Gyökeres and 16 centre backs can compete with any of the PL best.

[Rubin Weston @RubinWeston]

Chelsea is Terry and Lampard; Roman and Batesy; Munich and Mourinho; Osgood and Vialli and the pursuit of glory. Chelsea isn’t Private Equity trading players like commodities; shitty goal music, Vivid Seats, 5 SDs, Yes Man managers and prioritising cash over trophies.

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

@CFCPys No it’s micro managing in a football managerial sense. The owners want to keep tabs on everything that is going on unnecessarily by having coming into changing rooms after each game which undermines the manager. Rosenior is a yes man pure and simple.

[Chelsea Blue Realist @CFCBlueRealist]

@FabrizioRomano Anyone excited about Chelsea signings these days?