Just saying that it wasn't all down to Roman. Hoddle signing Gullit changed Chelsea.

Optimistic as ever

To be fair you haven't. My grammar wasnt the best. The second paragraph was referring generally to some on this site who have.

Hardly think the HUGE amount of investment that has gone on in our academy is a waste of time.
I think CPFC should be rightly proud of their academy. But I think our academy doesnt get the credit it deserves from other clubs.

Correct me if im wrong but isnt the only player to come through your academy in past 10 years thats gone on to be a proven player is JT? Mceachran and Bertrand obviously have the talent to succeed but atm dont think can be classed as a very good product yet. Im not saying chelseas academy isnt good but just saying that the reason it may not get the credit it deserves because lately it hasnt really produced anyone of note?

Also on a note to what you were saying about profit. Doesnt your profit include the winnings from the champions league?
'The figure is a significant improvement on the £67.7 million loss recorded in the 2010-11 season, and while full accounts are yet to be published, the profit reflects the financial upside of the club’s Champions League and FA Cup wins'
Not just the winnings of the champs league will come from that you would probably have made around the £1.4 million profit just on ticket sales of the first leg semi final?
With this not happening this year (granted you may go far or win the europa) surely the profit levels/turnover will go down. Especially now incorporating the huge wages of new players like Hazard. I know youve let some players go to try and make up for it but cant see the outgoing wages/transfer fees of players coming close to the wages/transfer fees of the players that have come in?

Correct me if im wrong but isnt the only player to come through your academy in past 10 years thats gone on to be a proven player is JT? Mceachran and Bertrand obviously have the talent to succeed but atm dont think can be classed as a very good product yet. Im not saying chelseas academy isnt good but just saying that the reason it may not get the credit it deserves because lately it hasnt really produced anyone of note?

Also on a note to what you were saying about profit. Doesnt your profit include the winnings from the champions league?
'The figure is a significant improvement on the £67.7 million loss recorded in the 2010-11 season, and while full accounts are yet to be published, the profit reflects the financial upside of the club’s Champions League and FA Cup wins'
Not just the winnings of the champs league will come from that you would probably have made around the £1.4 million profit just on ticket sales of the first leg semi final?
With this not happening this year (granted you may go far or win the europa) surely the profit levels/turnover will go down. Especially now incorporating the huge wages of new players like Hazard. I know youve let some players go to try and make up for it but cant see the outgoing wages/transfer fees of players coming close to the wages/transfer fees of the players that have come in?

Listed academy products earlier, but Jack Cork (Southampton) and Carlton Cole (West Ham). However accepted it could have been better BUT as I stated the players coming through now are beginning to show great promise and in large numbers (check our players on loan)

In terms of profit.Yes in those figures they incluse the Champions League TV money BUT they dont include the massive increase in sales of merchandise and the projected increased revenues from sponsors and companies. Additonally the increased TV revenue will ofset loses from Champions League early exit.

Bertrand was nicked from Gillingham.

It was my dream to play for Palace and to make my debut. I've always played for the club so if I'm playing here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

- John Bostock (Nov 2007)

Listed academy products earlier, but Jack Cork (Southampton) and Carlton Cole (West Ham). However accepted it could have been better BUT as I stated the players coming through now are beginning to show great promise and in large numbers (check our players on loan)

In terms of profit.Yes in those figures they incluse the Champions League TV money BUT they dont include the massive increase in sales of merchandise and the projected increased revenues from sponsors and companies. Additonally the increased TV revenue will ofset loses from Champions League early exit.

Cant believe i forgot about Cork, seeing as I used to play against him when I was at school!! (he went to Glynn if i remember correctly). How old is carlton cole now, surely he came through nearly 15 years ago?
Ah k, tbh I dont know many of the academy players. Are they actually home grown youngsters or they ones bought in like you did a few years ago like di santo, rajkovic, piazon, kakuta, mitrovic......? Not a dig or anything but just curious? The ones above set you back a few million didnt they? (i know you sold di santo and Rajkovic for quite decent amounts btw) Any on loan in the championship (im probably being thick and not realised them other than Chalobah)

Yeah good shout with the sponsorship/merchandise etc, hadnt taken that into account. Be interested to see how the books balance with the increase in transfer spend/wages and losses of champs league money compared to the money you get in like you say with sponsorship/TV etc.