Thetownend.com

Thought we might as well mention it !!!

Mention what?

The fact that they are  bound to be a bit bit rattled by that result tonight and just who knows. We might have half a chance If we can stuff City at the weekend and keep the momentum going. OK, I know we lost at Wolves last weekend for those who say what momentum but It didn't feel like we lost. To pretty much all that were there and the players must have gone in thinking how have we got nothing from that performance.

But we will be playing a whole different 11 men and bench next week so pretty much irrelevant i know :-(

The likes of Torres, Mata, Ba who can't get a game normally will probably have a point to prove if they start.

A wounded Chelsea is probably more dangerous than one who might take the game for granted

 :girlgiggle:

My guess is 4-0

Generous of you. I'd have thought you'd be going for 0-4.

 :D
 :beers:

Chelsea lost on Saturday too. You might find a surprisingly strong team out next Tuesday....

The special one has a chance to win the first piece of silverware with the league cup and he has a point to prove he may well surprise us.

This is Chelsea's worst start to a season under abramovich apparently. Although that's from the bbc sporf twitter feed, so not sure if true or just more hilarious lad bantaaaaaaa

Good start to Chelsea's attempt to defend the Europa League!

I think I'd have trouble concentrating if I knew I was up against Yaser Kasim shortly. They must be quivering!

Hate everything Chelsea. Owner, Manager, Players and Fans.
Arrogance of the highest order and taking away the recent injection of money a real "small" team in London.
Let the battle begin.

Shit heads first though and far more important. Then we can play the equivalent of Leyton Orient on Tuesday with no pressure.

Totally agree Duke. For some reason most I've come across have always been pretty arrogant too. They've obviously forgotten everything before Abramovich!

I particularly liked Salomon Kalu's interview from a season or two ago bemoaning Man City trying to buy the league. Oh the irony!

Oh and their treatment of Benitez was comical in that most of the wrath should have been directed at Abramovich but they were too scared to do that in case he pulled the plug.

They were always a bit of a music hall club, bit like Man City - occasional good teams but mainly seen as a bit of a joke by other supporters as they drifted up and down the divisions.

The current version is purely because Ken Bates managed to persuade the Russian to waste his ill-gotten gains on a bankrupt club. Could easily have been QPR, Brentford, Palace etc instead.

There is one sad connection we have with them though. When the Arkells was first opened, fans had the chance to sit in the new stand (for free? Can't remember) at a reserves match v Chelsea. If I remember correctly, Ian Hutchinson, he of the long throw, broke his leg during the match and that was the end of his career. Never played again and later died at a relatively young age.

He was always known as the player who introduced the long throw. We of course know better. Stand up Bobby Woodruff, one of Bert Head's babes.

We take on the premier league leaders on Tuesday, what a week  :nod:

MAta to start?

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-chelsea-fc/2013/09/21/mourinho-sets-challenge-to-axed-chelsea-star-mata-82029-33871149/

Wrong, they take on us....

Good luck defence! One of the best attacking players on earth with a point to prove.

Not that bothered about this game,  :sofa:

Did you read it Batch? Affirmative

No pressure on us at the end of the day, whatever the side they put out.

The big game of the two was today, and we got the three points.

How much time are they giving to Jose on SSN ??   :zzz:

we'll see if he does what he says..

According to twitter Jose has confirmed Luiz and Mata will start. Looking at the bench today I expect Torres, Willian and possibly Lampard to start as well.

Kasim will have him in his pocket.

Hope that Mikel bloke plays. If he's a footballer, then I'm a pole dancer.

Thanks.  That's one image that isn't going to shift in a hurry.

I've a special one saved for you..

What's happening tomorrow :hmmm:

Apparently Essien will also be playing, and he was on loan at Real Madrid last season.

You're working

Tuesday not tomorrow
IT IS SUNDAY

Oops, my bad....Tuesday!!

Although it is my birthday tomorrow, so that should be fun  8)

Not working tomorrow then  :hmmm:

Well yes  :headhurts:

This could be a good game to showcase how far we've come as we'll probably get more time on the ball, certainly more so than yesterday. I'm not for a second suggesting or expecting we will come away with anything other than a cracking experience and a nice bit of cash in our pockets...

Mata, Luiz, Essien, Bertrand and Azpilicueta confirmed by Mourihno - All internationals. Should be fun.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mourinho-offers-mata-swindon-challenge

I think we can assume Schwarzer will be in goal. I wonder if Chelsea will give Islam Feruz his first senior chance? He's been highly regarded for years. I don't think Mourinho will select too many rookies for the starting XI, if any.

My guess:

Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Luiz, Terry; Essien, Mata, van Ginkel, Willian; Ba, Torres

I've no idea whether that works as a formation.

One of the London boys has said the side is almost that with  De Brune , Lampard and Ivanovic for van ginkel, torres and terry, the rest are right.

We can't argue with that.

We knew it would be a strong team, his ego couldn't cope with us winning, I think he's probably done his homework and know we've only lost 4 at home in 50 odd games. 19 times out of 20 they should win, maybe this might be the odd one...

And we've beaten Wigan and Stoke from the Prem in the last few years, so not to be taken too lightly, especially on live TV.

Already Looking forward to the match day thread predictions for this one, absolutely anything could and probably will happen.

Anything less than a thrashing is OK be me, a morale victory if not an actual one.

Chelsea fan in peace here.  I would be interested to know what criteria you use to determine what is a "'small' team in London" or anywhere else for that matter.  Fanbase,  the laughingly 'history' angle or trophies won and lack of? I'm quite sure as Town fans you're acquainted with your own past. So many of you must know of one of, if not the biggest crowd outside of a Wembley appearance that Swindon have ever played in front of is the 77,952 that turned up at Stamford Bridge for a cup tie way back in 1911.  In terms of trophies, Chelsea fans of a certain age are well aware that we won not nearly enough over the majority of the clubs existence although even before Roman our haul was comparative to the likes of Newcastle, Wolves, Leeds, etc.  I emphasise 'not nearly enough' because the club has the 5th highest all-time average crowds in England and on 10 separate seasons were the biggest supported club in the country between 1908 and 1955. They didn't build a 80,000 capacity stadium because they didn't think they could fill it. People can cherry pick rubbish attendances we had back in the '80's when Bates hiked the prices even though we were a struggling (old) second division club at the time, a crumbling, intimidating ground and bedevilled with an appalling hooligan image. You'll find others, what you may call 'big clubs', also were not getting anything like the sort of attendances they are now. Back to tomorrow night and one thing that has remained consistent, our away following and loving domestic cup competitions (we're not all above this,  you know?  :))  Should be a cracking atmosphere. Haven't been to the County Ground for many years (recall a couple of wins including a testimonial and rather not recall that 4-0 shellacking we got). When the draw was made was looking forward to being on a proper terrace again till I heard about the Stratton End now.  Oh well,  all standing anyway.  You can be sure that Jose, although will make changes, will still give Town utmost respect and field a very strong side. He kicked off his first Chelsea pot haul with the League Cup and I'm sure he's keen for a repeat.  Best of luck for the rest of the season.

Don't know about the 70 odd thousand, but I can remember us losing 2-1 at Stamford bridge in the 80's in front of about 8 or 9 k :) I'm pretty sure Speedie and Dixon scored for you, but have no recollection of our scorer. Better check before the internet police respond.

Internet police help. I can only find a 2-3 with 17k. Am I  a drink befuddled moron. Or did I actually go to a 1-2?

Jimmy Allen's Testimonial in May '86? My first ever Swindon match that was.

I think we did the double over you in 93/94. That would've been Hoddles return matches against you. The 3-2 was in 1989 and all I can find at the moment is Durie got one and the our other two were OG's. Don't know who the guilty men were though.

I like Chelsea, best mate supports them and used to go up a fair bit. Shed is a great laugh and their fans aren't too bad for the rubbish the Prem is.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19890127

That's the testimonial me and a mate attended.  He was a goalie and I shouldn't laugh but didn't he let in a OG on the night? As most friendlies there were a host of subs so forgive me if it wasn't him. Was back in the days when we were 'lounge lizarding' and we managed to blag our way up to the players bar after the game.  Expect the security will be a tad tighter tomorrow.  :)

See former Don Dave Beasant was playing for you - don't think Wimbledon would be quite so touchy about being called "a small club in London"

Our trophy cabinet may not compare with your recent haul but at least the Wiltshire Shields in our cabinet are testament to us ruling our own manor.

Thanks for the post however STFC are what i would call a real football club and to me the Prem league has become everything that is wrong with English football that is not a pop at Chelsea just the Anti Christ league in General
Apart from you and the 2 manchester clubs no one will else win the league success is seen as being in the European comps or lower down staying in the league

Hey,  I'm more pedantic than touchy    :)  I too am immensely proud that I witnessed first hand our first European trophy in a long time, the Cross Channel Cup vs Le Havre.  They'll never take that one away from us.

Hi Bovis
Would really like to know
How long have you followed Chelsea ?

Isn't the 'you've got no history' goading you hear about Chelsea's relative lack of success pre-Abramovich mainly a Premier League thing?  I can't honestly say I know much about Chelsea's history/past, and care even less.  We're not rivals in any sense.

As Bassett Boy says, it's a different sport practically; a different world.  Tomorrow's game is a novelty game: fun if we were to make a contest of it, but very quickly forgotten if we don't.  The derby win on Saturday was much more important in the scheme of things, to me at any rate.  Certainly the game I was focussing on more during the last week.

Interesting stat about the 1911 game, by the way.  And verified by our very own unofficial club archive:

Chelsea vs STFC, March 1911 (http://swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19110604)

Charlie Cooke was an ace winger...had him on my wall as a young lad....Typhoo Tea pictures.

1910, we beat Barnsley in Paris in the invitational Dubonnet Cup - but I can only think of one poster on here who would remember that adventure.

Used to live in west London in the great days of Osgood, Hudson and Chopper Harris and recall a Euro Cup Winners cup semi final v Spurs (which competition Chelsea, rarely in those days, went on to win I think)

Lounge lizarding at the County Ground must have been pretty low key compared to the Kings Road back in the day.

Remember him too at Chelsea - and also the Don's team at Palace.

Dave Geddes on the bench......sheesh...

Hazard and Mitchell for them....

Word...I would take a win over city any time...

I do understand what you mean as would most of our more senior support.  I don't agree on what is perceived as a "real football club".  As a Chelsea fan we get it in the ear a lot more than most. It seems that when your club is bought by a Russian billionaire who pumps money into the game that club somehow becomes 'soulless' and we sold out as if we as supporters had any say in the matter.  Bizzarely other clubs who equally have mega rich owners who are basically in it for personal profit are not tainted with the same slur. It's all bowlarks anyway, the real 'soul' of a club isn't to be found in a boardroom but in the characters who've worked around the place for donkeys years, often not for money but love of the club. The familiar faces in the pubs around the stadium on matchday. The old and much loved past players that come back as Bobby Tambling did on Saturday when there were genuine worries if he would still be with us last year. Hardly a dry eye in the house. These are amongst the constants and even proper fans of PL clubs recognise them.  I miss quite a lot of things about football before all seater stadiums,  Sky and the Premier League and part of me would like to see it all crumble. Also you'd find a great swathe of our support backs the 'Safe Standing' campaign and follow the german example of cheaper tickets as well as closer,  more pro-active relationship between clubs and their supporters.  Other aspects I don't miss at all.

I think I started to take an interest in them about 1966 when I was a nipper.  My old man wasn't into football at all so I must have nagged him to death for him to take me to The Bridge. My first match was early 1971 vs Huddersfield.

Ok thanks for that hope you enjoy tomorrow but not too much :)

 I once met an old Town fan who cycled up for the 1911 game with his mates....Town were a pretty big draw back then for the neutral, having won the Southern League and fielding Harold Fleming.

A more accurate reflection of the status of the 2 clubs was in 1915, when in a cup game at the CG the crowd for the 1-1 home tie was 22,944 and replay 18,610. Bit like when we played them in the Prem.

:clap:

http://www.11v11.com/teams/swindon-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Chelsea

Sure there was about 70,000 for the 1911 match.

The 'no history' stuff was started by Liverpool and quickly aped by other fans.  I dunno, it shouldn't wind me up because it's a ridiculous jibe and should be laughed off.  Because it's basically saying that 'only winning titles and cups = history'.   It's the sort of nonsense the worst type of gloryhunter would come out with when you think about it. If Chelsea has no history what do these people think of all those clubs that have won less than us even before Roman? If I get truly riled I will counter that we were competing in European competition some four years before Liverpool and won our first euro trophy before them too.  Should be above it really.  :)

Hmmm.  My 'Full Statistical History 1905-1985' book on CFC says it was the CG game was the replay and the crowd was 18,.610. The first game at SB attracted 28,000. We went on to reach the final that year getting stuffed by Sheffield Utd.  There was understandably a fall off in general attendances as there was a slightly bigger theatre of conflict well underway on the continent although  we got close on 60,000 for the visit of Newcastle in the quarters.

There's only one team on who the "no history" jibe carries any weight and it certainly isn't Chelsea.

What about the game in 1904 at the County Ground when there were 200,000 town fans and only 92 Chelsea?

The only thing that irritates me about Chelsea is the fact that when I moved here, all you saw were Palace shirts, Since the Russian bought in, everywhere is Chelsea, and do any of the fuckers go to watch? Well a few do, but the centres of Croydon, Sutton, Banstead and wallington are thick with Chelsea shirts when they are playing, but none of them seem to know who against if asked. Petty I know, But it gets my goat. Couldn't watch them now on tv, but did enjoy the old 70's side, and even the 80's side when you were pretty rubbish by your standards.

Same everywhere I think
More than a few around the town these last few years

Dont bother me either way Chelsea,
Personally would have thought with all the investment ploughed in the league would have been won more ( would like to know how much has been paid out in compo for management sackings  :eek: )
Aside from buying every available player they can and loaning most out ( 33 on loan last year IIRC ) they just seem too inconsistent.
You cant argue with the quality players they have tho - even those well down the pecking order.

Expect nothing from tomorrow so am prepared to be proven wrong  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

It's the same with anyone who has an era of success.  Bleedin' Tottenham 'Holsten' shirts all over the place when they were winning those back to back cups in '81 and '82. And that was in West London.  Places like Sutton and Banstead have always been pretty solid Chelsea supporting areas, just that back then probably not so proud to wear the colours. What I could say is that when we played at places like Selhurst Park and Loftus Road even back then, we made a good fist of taking their grounds over, numbers wise.

Wouldn't be so bad if you didn't copy us with the main sponsors ;)  Bet Samsung will be creaming it tomorrow :)

They're even the match sponsor...

And the 92 were all Swindon cabbies (I swear all taxi drivers in Swindon are Chelsea fans).

See, I kinda did the opposite.

When I was at primary school, having a Prem team was pretty much compulsory unless your dad kept you thoroughly on the straight and narrow and mine doesn't really care about football other than a passing affiliation for Tottenham.

As a result 8 year old me picked Chelsea, pretty much on the ground of Gianfranco Zola and liking the colour blue. Abramovich took over about the time I went to senior school and one season later, got shot of Zola. That was the end of my brief flirtation with Chelsea and it's been pure Town ever since.

Clearly I just like suffering.

It's all bollocks. If a Russian ogliarch bought Swindon, got us promoted twice and challenging for the premier league title, as well as European glory, 99% of us would be jizzing in our pants. At the same time,  we'd all be fucking moaning about the johnny come lately's and fans of every other club would be calling every Swindon fan a plastic cunt.
We all hate the big, successful clubs purely because they're, well,  bigger than us and more successful. We also hate small, unfashionable clubs that achieve promotion to the top flight, because they're not traditionally big clubs (think Wigan etc). We mock teams that are historically bigger clubs than ourselves,  who find themselves in the lower leagues and finally we patronise those clubs who are smaller than us.
That's what fans do isn't it? Have I missed any categories out?

Oh shut up and let me Meldrew :)

Dirty, dirty franchise.  I was thinking the same thing.

The other night on the old telly box one of the commentators said Petr Cech (didn't Yeovil Red ring him up once?) was Mourinho's best signing.

Ranieri agree the deal to sign Cech, right?

Yeah, you have.

Oxford are dirty, fucking, piss-drinking cunts

Did he give you a farthing to look after his bike Reg?  :)

A penny too!

Got in one the other day and asked for the Abbey Stadium, he said "where", I said the speedway and greyhound track (was off greyhound racing) and he asked me to show him where it was!!  Wouldn't have been so bad but his English was so bad I don't think he could even say "Chelsea"!