For owners, top 4 probably given the windfall that brings. For fans, I think there’s more that needs to be taken into account. Ultimately, fans don’t win anything, all they get is enjoyment from watching their team. Cup finals and watching your team lift a trophy is a great experience, but if you’ve had a season of being frustrated by either the results or football on show, then the overriding feeling for most of the year isn’t a positive one.

I’ve had seasons I’ve enjoyed more as a fan than I have some seasons where we’ve won something. It’s not as if as a fan, you get a replica trophy yourself. All that you get is the emotion you experience. Well, unless it’s a self reflective glory kind of fandom, but that’s not something Ive ever been able to relate to!

Funny thing is, in our trophyless decade when we still finished top 4 under Wenger, we became the laughing stock of rival fans who even mockingly coined the term Top 4 Trophy and told us to do a balance sheet open top bus parade. Now the same fans think top 4 is the real deal.

comment by Grand Cannon (U18697)
posted 12 seconds ago
Funny thing is, in our trophyless decade when we still finished top 4 under Wenger, we became the laughing stock of rival fans who even mockingly coined the term Top 4 Trophy and told us to do a balance sheet open top bus parade. Now the same fans think top 4 is the real deal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think many arsenal fans also bought into that mindset and took for granted what Wenger was doing during that period.

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.

comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What would you know about it you silly plastic?

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory

and Sizzle is still a class A bell

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nah even pre Abramovich, the only way Chelsea won those trophies was to borrow money they didn`t have, and they nearly went bust because of it. Any club could have done what they did to win trophies. Pre Abramovich they tried to cheat the system and they nearly went under.

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea nearly went under pre Abramovich, because they tried to mix it with the big boys by spending money they did not have. Even back then their trophies were tainted. They tried to gain an unfair advantage over other clubs by spending money they could not possibly pay back. Hence they had to get bailed out.

I have a very good memory thankyou very much.

comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nah even pre Abramovich, the only way Chelsea won those trophies was to borrow money they didn`t have, and they nearly went bust because of it. Any club could have done what they did to win trophies. Pre Abramovich they tried to cheat the system and they nearly went under.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If my memory serves me correctly the first thing Roman did at Chelsea was write a cheque for 80 mil to keep them out of administration.

So its not just what they've won under his ownership but the years leading up to it thats meaningless.

comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea nearly went under pre Abramovich, because they tried to mix it with the big boys by spending money they did not have. Even back then their trophies were tainted. They tried to gain an unfair advantage over other clubs by spending money they could not possibly pay back. Hence they had to get bailed out.

I have a very good memory thankyou very much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shame you talk such bolloxcc all the time

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

By spending money that didn't have. It nearly cost them the Football Club.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

By spending money that didn't have. It nearly cost them the Football Club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearly every company and every person spends money they don't have but borrow, its called leverage and for companies it is their way to increase ROI. Were Chelsea over leveraged yes? Yes

Has that happened to other businesses? Yes, it happens all the time.

Does such a situation lead to a takeover? If the business still has future potential, then yes

and that sequence of events happens all the time

Bitter Spurs fans still crying about it still... Jesus you club and fans have such a chip on your shoulder and a losing mentality. Is it any wonder your club wins feck all?

These Spurs fans are so 'kin thick and bitter.
They bore the ass of everyone,and should be banned from all forms of social media !

But they do have comedy value !

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

By spending money that didn't have. It nearly cost them the Football Club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearly every company and every person spends money they don't have but borrow, its called leverage and for companies it is their way to increase ROI. Were Chelsea over leveraged yes? Yes

Has that happened to other businesses? Yes, it happens all the time.

Does such a situation lead to a takeover? If the business still has future potential, then yes

and that sequence of events happens all the time

Bitter Spurs fans still crying about it still... Jesus you club and fans have such a chip on your shoulder and a losing mentality. Is it any wonder your club wins feck all?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There's no chip on my shoulder, I'm hugely frustrated that we haven't even won a small fraction of what you have in recent years.

I'm just saying that Chelsea massively played with fire with their strategy pre-Abramovich. Yes other businesses do it but not on the scale that Chelsea did.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

By spending money that didn't have. It nearly cost them the Football Club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearly every company and every person spends money they don't have but borrow, its called leverage and for companies it is their way to increase ROI. Were Chelsea over leveraged yes? Yes

Has that happened to other businesses? Yes, it happens all the time.

Does such a situation lead to a takeover? If the business still has future potential, then yes

and that sequence of events happens all the time

Bitter Spurs fans still crying about it still... Jesus you club and fans have such a chip on your shoulder and a losing mentality. Is it any wonder your club wins feck all?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There's no chip on my shoulder, I'm hugely frustrated that we haven't even won a small fraction of what you have in recent years.

I'm just saying that Chelsea massively played with fire with their strategy pre-Abramovich. Yes other businesses do it but not on the scale that Chelsea did.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So Chelsea were bought for £140m of which £80 was debt

Based on that valuation the debt to equity was 133%. Its not good, ideally companies would want it to be no more than 60%, but such debt levels are more frequent than you think and as i said before, when companies are in such a position they will be taken over if they offer future potential or they will fail.

Happens all the time

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea nearly went under pre Abramovich, because they tried to mix it with the big boys by spending money they did not have. Even back then their trophies were tainted. They tried to gain an unfair advantage over other clubs by spending money they could not possibly pay back. Hence they had to get bailed out.

I have a very good memory thankyou very much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shame you talk such bolloxcc all the time
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Truth always hurts fella. Never forget Chelsea had to get bailed out from going under.

comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 2 hours, 17 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

By spending money that didn't have. It nearly cost them the Football Club.
----------------------------------------------------------------------



Spot on.

comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea nearly went under pre Abramovich, because they tried to mix it with the big boys by spending money they did not have. Even back then their trophies were tainted. They tried to gain an unfair advantage over other clubs by spending money they could not possibly pay back. Hence they had to get bailed out.

I have a very good memory thankyou very much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shame you talk such bolloxcc all the time
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Truth always hurts fella. Never forget Chelsea had to get bailed out from going under.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would that be a stigma when we have been such a successful club si ce the late 90s? This why you have a reputation for spouting nonsense

Oh dear, a leading blue-chip FTSE 100 company was upon a time in a tough financual spot.... Oh the shame of it

Spurs fans - livid since 1961...

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 10 hours, 37 minutes ago
Spurs fans would go for the cup ! but no way would they let Arsenal fans know that !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs fans would take two relegations and the FA Trophy if you offered it...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Without the lottery win, Chelsea would have gone bust, and probably be a mid table championship club now. Stop being so arrogant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
chelsea were winning stuff you could only dream of pre abramovich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
this...

Sandy has a short memory
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea nearly went under pre Abramovich, because they tried to mix it with the big boys by spending money they did not have. Even back then their trophies were tainted. They tried to gain an unfair advantage over other clubs by spending money they could not possibly pay back. Hence they had to get bailed out.

I have a very good memory thankyou very much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shame you talk such bolloxcc all the time
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Truth always hurts fella. Never forget Chelsea had to get bailed out from going under.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would that be a stigma when we have been such a successful club si ce the late 90s? This why you have a reputation for spouting nonsense
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Always remember fella you will always for evermore still only be recognised as the 3rd biggest club in London, outside the big two. You haven't even got a meaningful derby, unless you call your match ups with Fulham big.

London derbies are things for sides not winning stuff to look forward to...

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 10 minutes ago
London derbies are things for sides not winning stuff to look forward to...
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeh right, just because you are feeling left out. There are two big matches every year in London, and neither involves Chelsea.