Although in that time Ranerie also bought a lot of donkies. Who can forget Winston Bogarde, paid 40 mill for him and ended up paying I think 2 games in 4 years.
A lot has been said about what Jose done in regard of building the current team, but if you remember back to when Ranerie took over he made a statement that he would rebuild the Chelsea team on an English base.
At the time he had John Terry at the club, he then went and bought Lampard, Cole & Glen Johnson, plus Wayne Bridge. If you look at todays side other than Glen Johnson all of those players are still in the squad, plus the addition of Ashley Cole & Shaun Wright Phillips.
Even back then, that is a decision that I think made the basis of Chelsea building a solid team.
You need those sort of strong characters in the side to instill the passion that the club needs to perform at the highest level.
I have read some comments from overseas players that they never have nights out with team mates like they do overhere, and despite what people think, it goes a hell of a long way to build spirtit and passion into a team.
You only have to look at the teams that are going to come up from the Championship, everyone who survives this year in the premiership must be heaving a sigh of relief with the prospect of Bristol City or Hull being in the EPL as they will do what Derby have done this year and with probably less points, meaning they can plan for another year of being in the EPL.
I must admit when Grant took over at Chelsea I had never heard of him, but did listen to an interview that Harry Redknap gave, and he gave him a really glowing reference from his time he spent with him at Pompy. Ok some of the football this year has not been the greatest, but he started the job in the worst of circumstances. Following on from Jose (who was like god to the fans at that time), 1st game at Old Trafford, things could not have been worst.
But to his credit, whatever he has done there in the last few months, has got us to a Chapmions League Final, equal top in the EPL, to Wembley in the League Cup final and late rounds of the FA CUP. There is a lot of managers that would die to have a record like that.
He had players wanting to leave, people saying this and that about his lack of coaching skills, but in all of that he has maintained a very big belief in what he wanted to achieve and how he wanted to achieve it.
I think that in all the troubles that have been at Chelsea managerwise over the last few years, the one person other than Avran that can hold his head high is Steve Clarke. I think he would have been a big influence in holding the dressing room together in all of those times, and if he ever does go his own way, it will be a sad day for Chelsea.
If Avran is not to continue next year, I would like to see Chelsea go for Harry Redknap, I think he would be able to handle the players egos & keep the team playing in the way that they have over the last few years. He has always shown whereever he has gone that he can get the best out of whoever he signs. You only have to look at Kanu and David James for proof of that.
I really hope they do give Avran a chance, and I think there were some good signs after the game with an interview from John Terry giving Grant his and the teams backing, that sort of thing could go a long way to helping him keep his job.
Anyway, we can only keep winning games now and hope that Man Utd slip up in one of the last two to help us secure the title.
It doesnt suck, it blows. Definetly not the LOS. 
