Make up your own mind
Tuesday, 14 November 06, 10:13 PM · Comments (11)
It took a bit of time but the few Spurs supporters I am able to call friends have finally succumbed to what must have been an unbearable temptation and started crowing about last week’s result. I know, I know, we’ve moved on. But it got me thinking again about this universal antipathy to all things Chelsea. You know how it goes, Chelsea lose and the nation back their conquerors. In this case Spurs, who would now launch their assault on the so-called ‘big four’. Thus far, this launch pad for the next phase in Martin Jol’s plan for a resurgent Spurs involved losing at newly promoted Reading. Funny, but that’s not my point.
What I find most frustrating is the inference that Jose Mourinho invented and now monopolises gracelessness in defeat, media manipulation and arrogance. It appears that most observers failed to see Frank Rijkaard berate the referee in the Nou Camp two weeks ago? They also failed to hear comments from the serial moaner that is Samuel (what's with the apostrophe) Eto'o. In case you didn’t know, the lovable Sam yelled 'puta' - among other things - during the commentary on Spanish TV when Drogba scored his last minute equaliser. Puta is whore in Spanish. Where's the class in that?
And how much further does Arsene Wenger need to go to merit the opprobrium extended to Mourinho and Chelsea? Punch an opposition manager in the face? A measure of the extent to which we’re disliked is that Spurs fans are choosing to unite with the team next door, in spite of generations of near hatred, and actually defend the red bit of north London in any debate involving Chelsea. I am not saying I care about that - it’s mainly envy after all. It’s illuminating though that it’s happened so quickly.
It is evident to all but the most one-eyed fans that Mourinho is immeasurably more popular among his peers than his counterpart at Ashtray Grove. It is clear - as much after as before the defeat last week - who Jol prefers. I must say though, that Rafael Benitez is the cliché that proves the rule.
Look, all top teams adopt a siege mentality, mainly because it works. Liverpool did it in the 80s, Man United did it in the 90s, Arsenal have and still do it. And like it or not, roubles or not, lasting or not, Champions League or not, we are a top team. Even Alan Shearer thinks so and he can't stand us, in fact he hates all southerners. I doubt that’s actually true but you see what I’m getting at.
Mourinho has a big mouth and a bigger ego. I may not actually like or agree with everything he or the club do or say. That's because though I'm fiercely loyal I am not one-eyed. Mourinho's peers see all the ref baiting, double speak and bluster for what it is. The media naturally choose the most controversial angle.
It’s down to the fans to interpret and it appears few seem capable of making up their own minds. Anyone out there?
Class in defeat? Show some class in victory.
Contribution by Ian Chandler
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Nick, excellent quote.
It'll be interesting to see whether this mentality holds as the quality of Chelsea's football improves. (Although I've already been told, in all seriousness, that the reason the games against Barcelona and Spurs were so good was all down to the opposition.)
Good article and it's a fair assessment on the way we're treated by the media.
I agree Jose is no saint, but he plays the game like the majority of managers when it comes to the press, but he's not in the same league as Arsehole Wenger in press manipulation.
I felt extremely sorry for the guy when he explained that his reaction was due to provocation from the West Ham manager
Then I felt humbled on how magnanimous he was to accept Pardew's apology. I'm sure Mr Pardew feels extremely relieved that the darling of the press has done so.
I have sneaky feeling he would like the apology returned, but I wouldn't hold my breath Mr Pardew!
Well, it is definitely true that press treats Chelsea like bunch of "shysters from Siberia". However, what can we can do except of winning everything we can? Nothing!!! This is our only way and as long as we win I do not give a f...... word what people say. And if, I say IF we lose. I am on my clubs side and still not interested what people say.
Although on the surface Jose does appear to be a wind-up merchant and psychological manipulator - no more so than Ferguson though - I do believe the evidence is clear that he is a more sensisitve and repsectful manager than most.
He is always praising other managers and their teams. He pays great respect to even the lowliest clubs, preparing for games against them in the same manner as for the big. Further, I believe the reason we do not habitually thrash smaller teams when it appears we could, stems from respect. There has been a suggestion that Jose thinks it is disrespectful, and this filters down to the players. They do not showboat against professionals with lesser skills and resources than themselves. This is not what you find with the graceless Arsenal or Man Utd, both of whom love to humiliate weaker opponents and delight to their unbearably smug fans. I'm proud of the fact we do not that. The last two 4-0 wins notwithstanding (these were due to the need for the players to assert themselves after a defeat, and even then they did their best to ease off in both games).
I have a similar view of Roman. Of course he's hated... he chose Chelsea and not them. Of course it must feel so unfair to other fans. But for me this just exposes them and their true motives for supporting a club. Greedy glory hunters denied the trophies that will surely keep coming our way. But Roman is not bad for the game. His money for transfers goes back into football, often giving a huge boost to the finances of clubs who need it most...Man City must still be laughing. And don't forget, he payed for a youth academy for Scarborough Town when we played them in the cup the first season he was here. He didn't need to do that. I'm sure they don't hate him.
Dannybrod,
im not sure i agree with everything you said. i think i'd rather see chelsea go out there and put a few more 4-0's on the board, thereby killing off the games nice and early.
god knows we would have a few more points over the years if we did...
tottenham immediately springs to mind..a few more 4-0's would put the fear of god into other teams, and i think that's what we need to start doing.
Danny, this excellent website makes a similar point. Nick, worth adding to the blogroll - very good, thoughtful writer.
www.morethanmindgames.co.uk/?p=125
11 Comments · Add yours
As you say, the fact Jose's peers have a great deal of time for him speaks volumes. The Rijkaard stuff is breathtaking. If you put a list of Barca's words and deeds alongside ours, it would show that this is hardly a case of innocence v persecutors. But that's not the narrative the media have chosen to pursue. I mean, have you ever tried to explain to a Chelsea-hater what actually happened at the Nou Camp in 2005? They simply don't want to know cos it doesn't fit in with their preconceived notion.
As for the other managers, Wenger could shoot a man and still be called the professor, Ferguson has bizarrely mutated to avuncular elder statesman status, until he actually achieves anything Jol is just a funny fat Dutchman and Benitez has absolutely no personality to speak of. I mean, at least Ranieri was bonkers.
I'm re-reading Bret Easton Ellis's Lunar Park at the moment. Printed in the front is an apt quote by John O'Hara:
People who have made up their minds about a man do not like to have their opinions changed, to reverse their judgements on account of some new evidence or new arguments, and the man who tries to compel them to change their minds is at least wasting his time, and may be asking for trouble.
It's evident that the majority of rival fans have made up their minds about Jose Mourinho, mostly based on what's been written in the British media.
The same is true of Rijkaard and Wenger, except the British media thinks Rijkaard and Wenger can do no wrong because of the style of football their respective teams play (it seems to be that simple).
As the John O'Hara quote says, we waste our time trying to persuade rival fans that Mourinho isn't half as bad as the media makes him out to be.