Platini, Drogba, the Fourth Estate – just who is the fucking disgrace?
Thursday, 14 May 09, 06:11 PM · Comments (65)
I often wonder what you can actually see from up on the moral high ground. Asylum seekers eating swans, MP’s rolling around in piles of ill-gotten cash?
Whatever it is, you clearly can’t see a football pitch – that much is evident.
The nation’s hacks, long-time residents in such rarified air, have worked themselves into a frenzy in recent days at the myriad opportunities to lecture and moralise about the behaviour of everyone from The Less Than Honourable Member for Bumfucknowhere to Didier Drogba.
There has never been a better time to be a self-appointed guardian of the common good. Corralling a largely gullible public towards a sense of pre-determined moral outrage is their business, and business is booming.
It’s not that some of the brickbats aren’t justified; throwing a rock in the air and hitting someone dirty these days is easy. But hitting the right target for the right reason is another matter.
On reflection, I have concluded that I’m also pretty pissed off with Messrs Drogba and Ballack for their actions last week. Not because of the way their behaved towards Tom Henning Ovrebo, though.
Unimpressive their conduct may have been, it was understandable. If I’d had a lifelong dream to lift one of football’s biggest prizes, seeing it snatched away by a man whose inadequacies were obvious to all but himself and his masters would have given rise to blood-letting violence, let alone a few barked obscenities.
No, Drogba and Ballack’s biggest crime was to make themselves the centre of attention when the world should have been focused solely on the woefully poor officiating on display that night.
They gave the hacks a convenient escape route; yes lads, unlucky, bad referee and all that, but I have a tired narrative to lead me far away from that point, moralising and prevaricating about your unsporting awfulness, how justice was done because the beautiful game triumphed over anti-football.
The irresistible magnetic pull of sensationalism and self-righteousness certainly has a strange effect on the moral compass of the Fourth Estate. We might also suggest that a black man and a German have received less favourable treatment than others may have done in the circumstances.
Should England fall victim to similarly poor refereeing in South Africa next summer, I’m sure that our laptop wielding friends will be equally even-handed in their criticism of any player who chooses to point out the errors of the officials in no uncertain terms.
We all appreciate that referees have a difficult enough job. Difficult enough without having seen your boss warbling along to the anthem of one of the teams involved, or hearing him profess his lack of enthusiasm for a showpiece final involving two teams of the same nationality.
The gentle art of persuasion has come a long way since the days of George Graham and the brown envelope, but the dark arts of the power of suggestion are no match for human weakness and plain, old-fashioned incompetence.
Both sides created one meaningful chance each away from their home turf over the two legs. One made it count, the other didn’t. Were life that simple, we could all go away and be happy in the knowledge that the best team won, I suppose.
Consider this – it is now almost thirty years since John McEnroe burst onto Centre Court howling like a banshee at umpires for their poor line calls. Part psychological warfare, but part based on the belief that the human eye alone couldn’t cope with the pace of the game. Obnoxious he may have been, but he was also right.
Technology and the authorities took time to catch up, but similar disputes are now almost a thing of the past. The game hasn’t been weakened or devalued. The fallible (positively polite in the case of Tom H.O.) human being has been supplemented with cutting edge gadgetry which generally works well for all concerned. Much the same is true for many other sports.
The technicalities are for another blog, but surely the time has come for similar measures in football? Wouldn’t it be something if the complaints of some hard-done-by footballer actually gave rise to some positive action in this area, rather than just the usual moral brouhaha and ya-boo tribalism?
Which leads me to my final point; what the likes of Platini seem to have forgotten is that despite their own perceived importance, they are simply transient figures in a brilliant, complex game that has existed for more than a century and will continue long after they have departed.
Yes, punish Chelsea, Drogba and Ballack as you see fit – even-handedly, of course: the six month ban suggested by many quarters for Drogba’s finger-pointing outburst seems excessive against the seven month suspension for David Navarro’s violent physical assault on Inter Milan’s Nicolas Burdisso two seasons ago.
But they should remember this – it is their duty to do what is ultimately best for the game and nothing else. Choosing to ignore perfectly legitimate complaints because it suits their own personal narrative to do so, however badly such grievances may have been put across in the heat of the moment, and they do a huge disservice to the game – our game – that they purport to love and protect.
A fucking disgrace, as some might say.
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65 Comments · Add yours
Nail on the head my friend. The only thing I beg to differ on is the issue of some level of racism/xenophobia having informed the reaction from the hacks. The truth is much less complex. . .they hate Chelsea!I think if Terry had been the one the obscenities the reaction would have been pretty much the same. It doesn't help that Ballack and Drogba in particular embody why Chelsea have been succesful over the years. . .gifted football players who work are adept at mixing it up and working with a single mindedness that is matched only by some of the Untited players (Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Evra, Vidic and Neville would not be lost in the CFC dressing room)
Thank you. I am a chelsea fan and I understand that anything that I say will be dismissed as bias whining, but thank you so much for saying what desperately needs to be said. Brilliant. Up until I went to the top of this page I thought this was a neutral blog! Very well written. Carefree TILL I DIE
Be careful what you wish for. Technology may have helped you in the Barcelona game but what about numerous occasions where Chelsea cheated to progress, think Carvalho taking out goalkeepers to allow Terry to score - that's not football that's Gridiron
As usual a typical one sided Chelsea view, like when you still moan about the Ghost goal against Liverpool which robbed you. I dont remember Chelsea scoring so I can't see how it robbed you. Similarly you had your own bad play and missed chances to blame for not progressing. If you want the ref to score for you then perhaps you should stop getting some of them to resign from football following your antics
Ged
One sided Chelsea view, smell the fucking coffee will you. Go look at the nonesense that's been written this week by the press. One sided you say, I think you'll find this blog to be pretty even handed at times, and afterall it is a Chelsea blog.
Again your comments are misinformed, and it's quite obvious you like to believe what the press spout about us.
drogba or ballack should not get a ban as week in week out you see players abusing the ref so whats the difference. oh yes i forgot theyre chelsea players
take it all as you win some you lose some... thats all it boils down to. if we introduce technology to rule on the most decisive element of football we will see far more infuriating instances of improper calls (relatively) and far more wasted time as on field judges turn increasingly to the man upstairs in the hope that HE may have been paying attention to the precedings... watch any rugby league game these days and you will understand. no, for me it's still win some lose some... nearly forgot- CAREFREE!!! unless its dodgey adjudicating keepin us out of the final of Europes finest football competition...
Reply to Ged:
You are just an example of one sided mediocre pathetic plebs. The fact that you have access to computer and internet does not give a right to come over and pollute this blog with your pub level pathetic thoughts.
...And now about something completely different. I find these rumours about Adeboyor seriously disturbing. First we take this Italian failure as our manager and now, which is even worse, we take this Arsen's Anal failure??!!! It is ridiculous, if it is true.
Drogba is doing some shit every single year...last year the red card in the finals, and we forgave him because the things he did before for us. This year THIS CRAP...
He should really go... he is getting older and older every year, getting worse and worse and more egocentrical than ever...
I agree with the author - instead of putting the limelight on the poor referee (in normal and polite way ) they attracted attention to us and we turned out bitchy , not the ref...So now, we will have even less protection than before.
I read that Ancelotti is comin 90 % and Adebayor probably. i don't like the way adebayor plays, i think he is overrated just like Ancelotti.
Our future doesn't look really bright...
I remember everybody going on and on about Carvalho's 'foul' on Valdes in 2005 and then being astonished when I finally got round to watching a replay. There was nothing to it. Valdes was going to get nowhere near the ball and knew it.
But that is by-the-by, with video technology you live and die by the truth, rather than some arbitary idiot of an official, and that's fine by me.
So maybe we'd have gone out in 2005, but we'd have gone through in 2009. And Liverpool wouldn't have won the CL in 2005, not because of the ghost goal, but because Gerrard's disgraceful dive in the final would have been exposed.
All's fair and myths are squashed.
The prospect of Ancelloti and Adeyboyer do not fill with me delight.
Reply to Ged:
Ged
Firstly if the goal that was proven never crossed the line had not been given the game would have gone into extra time and penalties meaning that at least Chelsea would have had an even chance to going through.
Secondly you argument that Chelsea should have taken their chances is a repetition of all the tabloid hacks view and totally missing the point. If the opposing team cheat you out of goal scoring opertunities by foul means and the ref allows them to do it, It doesn't matter how many other chances you don't take advantage of. The 2 clear goal scoring chances stopped by a shirt pull and trip and a handball when both prolific strikers were through with only the keeper to beat would have ended in at least one of them scoring.
It's quite ironic you mention Liverpool as they are the kings of self pity not to mention the 10-15 times a game their crowd all call for a handball !
Reply to PeteW:
Me either.
But then I only thought good things of the 'Scolari and Deco' double act at the start of this season. And we all know how that ended - making the Chuckle Brothers look like a better prospect as Manager and Playmaker.
Rijkaard and Villa - now there's a thought.....
Bilic and Benzema.
Bilic and Benzema would be vary nice.
Interesting case put forward in the Metro this morning (hey, it's a dull journey and I didn't have a book with me) for Roy Hodgson. Actually not quite as daft as it sounds.
I would answer Ged's earlier point, but it's Friday and I really can't be arsed.
Doh - or even very nice...
Hodgson? Carshalton scum. *spits*
Great pic of Hiddink pretending to be a nun in the Metro this morning it has to be said.
It would have done strange things to BlueBayou.
Reply to PeteW:
Saw that - had that slightly avuncular drunk dancing at a wedding feel to it. Guus - legend.
These will go down as classics in five years time.
LINK
Location, location, location.
Tend to agree with #6 about the rugby effect which would be magnified in footy where disputing calls would give even greater scope for time-wasting than already exists.
Not sure either if video evidence would always help with deciding if x or y were intentional etc.
But the use of line cameras to adjudicate whether the ball crosses a line or not is absolutely valid.
JD mentions tennis where these systems seem to work faultlessly.
If you'll forgive the pun and consider that night, then only one decision would change.
Once given, the foul on Flo couldn't then be shifted outside the box unless the ref really did think he saw some ghost challenge.
Even then, when the call was questioned (which it surely would) he'd at least have time to think about it and would hopefully receive some help from whoever was working the machine.
How things would've gone from there, who knows, but it would be one less grievance and would've set a different tone for the rest of the game.
The point is that a ref should keep his prerogative to interpret incidents by humans, but not on where the ball is or where an incident happens.
Similarly with 'time added on'.
Most sports employ a separate timekeeper who must be notified by the official when a stoppage occurs.
This would also prevent lots of other strange goings on in matches.
Refs may feel that they control time and space while on the pitch, but should be reminded that they have only whistles and not sonic screwdrivers at their disposal.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Morning FSTS
There certainly needs to be a balance between anything that aids the referee and what could be used to delay, of course; restrict any video-based call to one per team per half, for example - your 'lives' won't be carried over if not used and so forth.
Personally, I've been against the use of technology in refereeing calls in football for a long time, but last week really made me think, irrespective of the fact it was Chelsea - I was genuinely appalled at THO's performance and would have been whoever was on the receiving end - Liverpool, United, Barcelona - anyone.
UEFA and FIFA certainly need to look at professional referees but I feel very strongly that whilst the human element of the game needs to be protected, there is now too much at stake to leave every decision in a 90 minute match played at speed, often in a highly pressurised environment, to a group of individuals who are reliant on their own powers of concentration and the naked eye to cover everything. I don't think it is fair on anyone - the officials, players or the fans - something really has to be done about it.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Hi, KJ.
I guess it is still morning with you, coffee and donuts anyone?
Take your point but that match really was exceptional and let's hope it stays that way.
Maybe I'm suggesting that we start with the line calls and see how that works before risking total chaos and giving the spoilers another way of interfering with the flow of a game.
btw. I feel a little sympathy for the next CL match officials.
United are probably right now working out how to put the squeeze on them, knowing that they won't want to appear pro-barca.
Can't say I buy this "interfering with the flow of the game" argument against using video technology.
I think you'll find if you add up all the current dead time from goal kicks, free kicks, throw-ins, referees issuing cards/giving lectures to offenders and moving walls back 10 yards that the addition of a limited number of challenges where the referee reviews his decision with video evidence on the touchline would make precious little difference to total delays.
UEFA [or was it FIFA's?] recent suggestion of 1 extra official behind the goals to help out seems feeble beyond words - not to mention almost physically impossible on many grounds.
As much as I can see almost everybody on this board is against Carlo, Adebaior move. Now I have to ask myself is it the case that this board is much clever than Chelsea board, or it is one more time groundless, baseless gossip spread by useless press?! What do you think guys?
Reply to blueboydave:
I think it'd take longer because there would need to be shots from different angles and probably slow motion.
The ref would still adjudicate using his own interpretation too.
But agree that given what's at stake, we need to start somewhere.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Gotta go, but I'm not against Carlo, just got reservations.
Particularly about his ability with the language but many reports say he's learning, so he could be just what we need.
Especially now that Berlusconi has given him some real incentive to prove himself with us.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
I disturbed by the fact that we have to pick up the other clubs rejects and thoughts of having this Adebaior make me feel really bad.
I know you can't buy history etc. but the Guardian are reporting that Carlsberg want naming rights for Liverpool's new stadium. I would put a link but that would be way beyond my limited IT skills.
It's easy to do Agh57, just copy and paste the link by right clicking your mouse button. LINK
Reply to blueboydave:
Pretty much how I feel as well. A pedantic non-technology assisted referee in game full of fakers is not an uncommon site these days and I think the use for truly contentious decisions would be valid. It certainly wouldn't interrup the flow or speed of the game. It's an incredibly arrogant viewpoint to say football is 'different' to other sports in terms of flow and dynamism.
It would also aid the whole respect the ref campaign. The sports in which technology is used and referred to on occasions are the ones that seemingly have total umpire or referee respect.
Of course limits are required in order to prevent the fakers from constantly calling for the technology intervention, and maybe it should only be the managers call in conjunction with the captain, with anyone else being carded for suggesting the ref uses it. I would also introduce a rugby rule in which during the game, the only person who can speak to or approach the referee is the team captain. Again, the punishment for anyone breaking this rule is a card (or sin bin if ever introduced).
FIFA have argued that they won't introduce it because it isn't viable at grass roots level, but again, tennis, rugby of both codes and cricket seem to survive the technology deprivation at lower levels of the game. So, FIFA don't have an argument there really. I find it amazing that FIFA/UEFA/FA (well all sports governing bodies really) can be so indecisive on major issues such as this, but seem willing to pursue daft laws such as bookings for players removing shirts (surely the single most laughable and petty football law ever)......
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
I share your reservations. There is a rumor that we may be interested in Edin Džeko. I am pretty impressed by his heading ability, but I am not too sure I want to get rid of Drogba as yet.
LINK
I am glad most of us agree about Ancelotti and Adebayor...
I really respect and like BILIC but he never managed a club ... however, he would be my first pick since Zola and Clarke are staying in west ham 95 %...
and Deschamps signed for Marseille...
Dzeko is pretty good player and very young ...
This guy is wanted by Real Madrid according to the press,(he is also Bosnian and plays in Bundesliga) LINK ...
I think he is going to be great player, just like Dzeko
KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLY HIGH
KEEP ANCELOTTI OUT OF STAMFORD BRIDGE :)
LINK
yes, i know its not in english
for your info, its about ancelotti and it writes tommorrow he will be announced as our new manager and his first move will be buying Edin Dzeko )thats the good part)
Reply to Sarah:
Not tomorrow Sarah, unless it is tomorrow after the Udinese game. Milan has to win in otder to qualify without problems to CL. Even, if and I stress this point even, if Carlo is going to be appointed as our manager it will not happen before that game.
Well done JD. There's a big debate to be had about the use of technology, how widespread, what areas, who is making the judgement calls etc. Let's forget about the "we can't have anything they don't have on "Hackney Marshes" bollocks. Once you're televising and capturing images for slo-mo replay you've changed the nature of the game at that level.
I'm not sure where I stand on the various aspects. But a mature discussion would be nice.
On a lighter note, there will be a small prize for the first person to name the former Chelsea player who must spring to mind as you scroll down the attached.
LINK
He would have played in the same team as steady Eddie Newton if my memory faileth not.
Commiserations to Eddie and Roberto as MK Dons failed on penalties in the play-off. Oh penalties.
Reply to PeteW:
As you can see from one of the items in the link for my quiz question in the post above, I'm never too far from a bit of nun related nonsense ;-)
Just a point on the video technology there was a case lasr nught in the Aussie Rugby League where the video ref got it completely wrong. So they can be just as hopeless as the one on the field. Also they could also be swayed by the powers that be innuendos. I 'm all in favour of goal line technology as that can't be influenced.
Maybe they should do what the Aossie RL and AFL do and have a post match review committee and then when you have incidents of diving etc(like Stevie Me) it can reported on and a a fine or match ban be imposed.
On the subject of Adebayor, it could be a case of Arse Winger paying us back for Gallas
LINK
Try it.
Reply to geefer:
In what exactly way?
Reply to geefer:
Certainly don't want Adebayor...... He has just said in an interview tat he doesn't like playing the lone striker role, and finds it difficult!
Hardly a great replacement for Didier, then is he?
Almost certainly means our incompetent board will break the bank to get him to sign!
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
! reckon we got a great deal with Ashley Cole, but Wegner got a lemon with Gallas
What I find more unbelievable than anything is that the ref has two assistants (linesmen) and a fourth official. If the four of them combined managed to miss four stonewall penalty appeals, what would the difference be with a video replay?!
Why do the refs have mics and earpieces nowadays to communicate with their assistants?
It's a load of bollocks. I've seen plenty of times the ref make a decision and instead of the lino correcting him, they think it better to stay quiet so as not to embarrass their colleague. It's pathetic.
Found this comment under one of the Barclay article bollocks:
NO "hand to ball" contact was involved at all. In the first incident, the Barca player actually reached out and patted the ball down to his own feet. In the second, the Barca player turned his back on Ballack's shot, and extended his arms sideways in an effort to make himself wider. If he had been merely trying to protect himself, he would have put his hands behind his head to lessen any contact.
Malouda was not fouled OUTSIDE the area. Only the normal minimal contact of two players trying to control the ball occurred there. It was the two-handed drag down of the Chelsea winger, well inside the area, that should have been called.
The fourth incident was a clear hackdown, well inside the area, and well within the referee's field of vision, and that of millions of fans watching.
All four of these incidents could easily be incorporated into a training video to show student referees what a valid penalty call is. Student "journalists" might learn from them too!
I'm 75 years old, and have seen, and been subjected to, some pretty bad refereeing in my time, but that was, without doubt, the most incompetent display of refereeing I have EVER witnessed. Chelsea had FOUR absolutely textbook penalty shouts, and were awarded none of them. It boggles the mind to find that this official is actually on FIFA's short list to referee in the upcoming World Cup Finals. Had the calls been correctly made, Barcelona's added time goal would merely have changed a well-deserved 5-0 defeat into 5-1.
Hiddink, whose usual comments on poor officiating amount to "win some-lose some", has said several times since the match that Chelsea were "victims of injustice". This is a masterpiece of Dutch understatement; Chelsea were robbed blind!
What really annoys me about everyone bashing some of our players is it's got nothing to do with the fact that we were cheated out of winning that game. Can't wait for the same to happen to the mancs or scousers and show them absolutely no sympathy. Normally I do, but the reaction I've had from mancs I know has been awful. It's because they were extremely happy they wouldn't have to face us in the final.
I'm off to the match today and am on report duty. Does anyone else feel its all a bit of an anticlimax?
I'm wondering whether I should wear beach gear because it has that end of season feel....
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Sort of Tony, but I still would like an emphatic win, just in case West Brom kick the crap out of the scousers so we can finish runners up. Small consolation I admit.
Reply to Clive:
Agreed it would be nice if only to keep the momentum up before the FA Cup Final. But it just feels like going through the motions.....
Reply to ChelseaTony:
It's handy that poo go first.
We should have a good idea what's needed: if poo win then there's not much we can do, just enjoy the ride.
Also hope to see a few under 30's some time soon, just for a change.
Going back to video evidence: I don't watch much rugby but it seems to be used to validate scores more than in disputed fouls, so the game's already stopped and there's always an outcome +/-.
Even then there's time lost and disquiet with it's use.
With football many calls would be for fouls NOT called when the game would otherwise continue, which a whole new ball game, so to speak.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
or even "...which would be a whole new ball game"
i ALSO THINK adebayor is a bad replacement for Drogba... but here are some good news- LINK
Its writes that Dzeko said to the press we are negotiating with him, what would be great!
Hididnk just said our squad is too old...thank God somebody realised that !
KTBFFH
Reply to Sarah:
Good news, hopefully common sense will prevail I hope!
I don't like the man but I'll give him an "A" for this:
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he's a huge fan of Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
He told the Sunday Times: “He is an exceptional player, a huge asset to his team. Every time he plays he goes from box to box and he hardly misses a game. You pay attention to players who can get goals from midfield and he’s been averaging 20 a season.
"You don’t see him getting into stupid tackles or making a habit of becoming involved in silly rows. When he was sent off against Liverpool two or three months back he walked from the pitch straight away, without fuss. He stayed restrained in the middle of all that bother after Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona and made a point of swapping shirts with Iniesta.
"As I say, Frank Lampard is exceptional.”
Funny....when Chelsea won the Prem twice in 50 years all of a sudden the establishment gets up in arms and basically does everything to disrupt the manager, owner, has a go at the club through friends in the media etc to stop Chelsesa "dominating" english football if you all remmeber the headlines. Even in the second CL semi-final against Liverpool after the first leg at the bridge when jose had a go at Liverpool, Man-U and fergie literally in unison come out with us disrespecting their clubs.. yet when Man-U wins three in a row and equals Liverpools record, absolutley no-one bats an eyelid. Not the media, the FA nobody..Now thats' what I call "A FUCKING DISGRACE" and some people have the gall to say there is no etsbalishment consipracy to stop other teams outside of Liverpool and Man-U from competing to become the new order as it were....a least Dick Turpin wore a mask......but as the old saying goes....who is the worse, a fool or th eone who follows...maybe our own board should take a long hard look at the capitulation with which they have been a party to....
Reply to Dio:
I was thinking the same thing myself yesterday.
And here's a prediction, (one moment while I put on my headscarf, large hoop ear rings, heavy eye make up and stare into a crystal ball), if we win the FA Cup it will be about 30 seconds after the final whistle that you will get the first comment to the effect that it is a small return for a club that has spent £40 billion to try and win the Champions League.
While I'm at it I also see a tall greying Italian, smiling and carrying a large suitcase full of money........
Reply to Dio:
You're spot on Dio, I've mentioned it along with others on this blog many times. All is well with the footballing world when Utd are dominating, heaven forbid should any other team attempt to gatecrash the exclusive party.
The media have a lot to answer for, both written and broadcast.
Morning all,
All very true re the dominance thing - must have a dig around on the interweb for the interview but Richard Scudamore stated clearly that one team (Chelsea at the time) winning the league for 5 years on the bounce would be unhealthy; can't recall exactly when he said this, but I don't think we'd even wrapped up title number 2 at that point.
And Blue Bayou's point about the inevitable "don't get much for £500 million these days" comments should we win on May 30 is spot on.
Alright, where's the Blackburn report then?!
*drums fingers impatiently*
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Patience is a virtue Sir!
Report filed and sent to esteemed Editor about 5 mins ago.
I have also noticed the lack of hand wringing from the press and media about Manchester United domination.
Mixed feelings about United's title. Three in a row is a great achievement, but they've been massively unimpressive this season, really just winning the title on the strength of their bench which overpowers weaker sides. Liverpool have been the better side and Hiddink's Chelsea the best team, but United have a stunning squad.
All that said, they've spent a lot of money to play some real yawn-inducing football. Funny how a couple of years ago this signalled the 'death of football'.
Reply to Clive:
I like this Clive because of this brightness and the brilliance of his comments and articles.
I think it is fair to say that people tend to associate Chelsea with foreign things, so they think other clubs with foreign ownership and players are so british.
It is also fair to say there is a conspiracy within the press that destroyed the recent supremcay of Chelsea FC. This was threefold:
1.That Chelsea bought success.What about Man Utd that bought youngster (Rooney), defender (Ferdinand) at just less than £30millions. Even a lazy forward with few world class quality and not established at more than £30million (Berbatov), they even loan players for £10 million..I could go on and on but they don't buy success by the press standard.huh????
2.Chelsea do not play attractiv football.May be they don't play like Barcelona but it is also beautifull on eyes.Which teams scored the most goals during Mourinho era, the most pass accuracy and so on.Statistics are there to answer it: Chelsea but there is only a press that is blind not to say so
3.Chelsea has a bad public image and is arrogant.This was epitomised by the Andrew Johnson incident to force Mourinho to apologise.What about Ferguson that showed disrespect to fellow managers and lot of referees.It goes unnoticed!
There is a smell of conspiracy there and it is vindicated!The problem is that people were jealous of Chelsea and its owner because o their success.Look at Manchester City, they got money but they are not successful yet.People don't call them failure and don't put pression on them.As soon as they will start winning things, you will see the warth of the press starting saying money oil and so on...
It is horrible but I don't really know who lead the press agenda...That's terrible being a Chelsea fan. The frustration and so on.Fortunately, Chelsea still win trophies not like many other teams...Don't need to name them.You all know them!
Clive, is "Visitor" your nom de plume?
Reply to Dezmond:
LOL :-) Nice one
Reply to Dezmond:
I'm afraid not, and I'll take any sort of praise, warranted or not. ;-)