Times reporters view.

THERE is something about the prospect of imminent annihilation that quickens the pulse. Perhaps with the notion that there is nothing left to lose any more, sportsmen play like men possessed, or maybe repossessed. Look at Cardiff yesterday, fighting their way back to parity against a Chelsea side too busy, it seemed, taking pictures of themselves to bother with such things as the FA Cup.

Cardiff lost, of course, and now face another High Court appearance, possible administration, a 10-point deduction and a consequent relegation battle. Even if they avoid all that, they still have Peter Ridsdale squatting over them, like the black angel of death. This is the way it is for Cardiff, and seems to have been for several years now. Yesterday’s game was a handy metaphor for Cardiff’s plight off the field. They believed they had a right to live with the big boys, and they would bust a gut to do so. For a while it looked promising, but in the end money, real liquidity, won out — pretty easily, if we’re honest.

Cardiff can’t live with Chelsea, not while Roman Abramovich is there; and there is no point in killing yourself trying to do so. The Bluebirds are in that most vulnerable tranche of Football League sides, the ones with aspiration to greatness, with a sense of history that slightly outweighs their real past; the ones who listen to the clamouring of the fans and will not, therefore, settle for second-best. The clubs whose attendances can reach the late 20,000s when things are going well, and dip to the early teens when they are not; the real backbone, you might argue, of British football. Portsmouth, Cardiff, Southampton, Coventry, Hull City — even, towards the upper end of that group, West Ham and Leeds.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 026198.ece

THERE is something about the prospect of imminent annihilation that quickens the pulse. Perhaps with the notion that there is nothing left to lose any more, sportsmen play like men possessed, or maybe repossessed. Look at Cardiff yesterday, fighting their way back to parity against a Chelsea side too busy, it seemed, taking pictures of themselves to bother with such things as the FA Cup.

Cardiff lost, of course, and now face another High Court appearance, possible administration, a 10-point deduction and a consequent relegation battle. Even if they avoid all that, they still have Peter Ridsdale squatting over them, like the black angel of death. This is the way it is for Cardiff, and seems to have been for several years now. Yesterday’s game was a handy metaphor for Cardiff’s plight off the field. They believed they had a right to live with the big boys, and they would bust a gut to do so. For a while it looked promising, but in the end money, real liquidity, won out — pretty easily, if we’re honest.

Cardiff can’t live with Chelsea, not while Roman Abramovich is there; and there is no point in killing yourself trying to do so. The Bluebirds are in that most vulnerable tranche of Football League sides, the ones with aspiration to greatness, with a sense of history that slightly outweighs their real past; the ones who listen to the clamouring of the fans and will not, therefore, settle for second-best. The clubs whose attendances can reach the late 20,000s when things are going well, and dip to the early teens when they are not; the real backbone, you might argue, of British football. Portsmouth, Cardiff, Southampton, Coventry, Hull City — even, towards the upper end of that group, West Ham and Leeds.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 026198.ece

All PR's lucky breaks with the Cup run and Money are over, now he is really up against it Corky.

THERE is something about the prospect of imminent annihilation that quickens the pulse. Perhaps with the notion that there is nothing left to lose any more, sportsmen play like men possessed, or maybe repossessed. Look at Cardiff yesterday, fighting their way back to parity against a Chelsea side too busy, it seemed, taking pictures of themselves to bother with such things as the FA Cup.

Cardiff lost, of course, and now face another High Court appearance, possible administration, a 10-point deduction and a consequent relegation battle. Even if they avoid all that, they still have Peter Ridsdale squatting over them, like the black angel of death. This is the way it is for Cardiff, and seems to have been for several years now. Yesterday’s game was a handy metaphor for Cardiff’s plight off the field. They believed they had a right to live with the big boys, and they would bust a gut to do so. For a while it looked promising, but in the end money, real liquidity, won out — pretty easily, if we’re honest.

Cardiff can’t live with Chelsea, not while Roman Abramovich is there; and there is no point in killing yourself trying to do so. The Bluebirds are in that most vulnerable tranche of Football League sides, the ones with aspiration to greatness, with a sense of history that slightly outweighs their real past; the ones who listen to the clamouring of the fans and will not, therefore, settle for second-best. The clubs whose attendances can reach the late 20,000s when things are going well, and dip to the early teens when they are not; the real backbone, you might argue, of British football. Portsmouth, Cardiff, Southampton, Coventry, Hull City — even, towards the upper end of that group, West Ham and Leeds.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 026198.ece

If Abramovich had gone to another club, Chelsea were one of these teams. Ironic, really

If only Abramovich was so impressed with our fans yesterday he put one of his Russian mates on to us.

If only Abramovich was so impressed with our fans yesterday he put one of his Russian mates on to us.

Perhaps we could have a word to see if he knows any Chechens and he could tell him how Ridsdale hates Chechens

THERE is something about the prospect of imminent annihilation that quickens the pulse. Perhaps with the notion that there is nothing left to lose any more, sportsmen play like men possessed, or maybe repossessed. Look at Cardiff yesterday, fighting their way back to parity against a Chelsea side too busy, it seemed, taking pictures of themselves to bother with such things as the FA Cup.

Cardiff lost, of course, and now face another High Court appearance, possible administration, a 10-point deduction and a consequent relegation battle. Even if they avoid all that, they still have Peter Ridsdale squatting over them, like the black angel of death. This is the way it is for Cardiff, and seems to have been for several years now. Yesterday’s game was a handy metaphor for Cardiff’s plight off the field. They believed they had a right to live with the big boys, and they would bust a gut to do so. For a while it looked promising, but in the end money, real liquidity, won out — pretty easily, if we’re honest.

Cardiff can’t live with Chelsea, not while Roman Abramovich is there; and there is no point in killing yourself trying to do so. The Bluebirds are in that most vulnerable tranche of Football League sides, the ones with aspiration to greatness, with a sense of history that slightly outweighs their real past; the ones who listen to the clamouring of the fans and will not, therefore, settle for second-best. The clubs whose attendances can reach the late 20,000s when things are going well, and dip to the early teens when they are not; the real backbone, you might argue, of British football. Portsmouth, Cardiff, Southampton, Coventry, Hull City — even, towards the upper end of that group, West Ham and Leeds.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 026198.ece

If Abramovich had gone to another club, Chelsea were one of these teams. Ironic, really

Chelsea still are one of those teams. Debts dramatically higher than when Bates nearly put them out of business, Abramovich rather cleverly has convoluted the money into the club so if he goes, all debts are liable to the club.

He goes, Chelsea are deader than Ridsdale's credibility.

Have Chelsea actually got debts though? I thought they just had losses rather than debts. Maybe a different thing seeing as Abramovich has just thrown money at them.

Have Chelsea actually got debts though? I thought they just had losses rather than debts. Maybe a different thing seeing as Abramovich has just thrown money at them.

Abramovich's investment is mainly in the form of loans. He gets bored, wants out, wants his money back... even selling all players won't help.

Have Chelsea actually got debts though? I thought they just had losses rather than debts. Maybe a different thing seeing as Abramovich has just thrown money at them.

Abramovich's investment is mainly in the form of loans. He gets bored, wants out, wants his money back... even selling all players won't help.

And property, too. That Chelsea Village is a prime bit of land, I'm sure.

As the song goes "40,000 rent boys stood at Stamford Bridge, and if one Chechen bullet should accidentally stray, there'll be no f*cking rent boys and no Stamford Bridge"