[1]If Beneath-Us needed any confirmation of how the Chelsea fans felt about his appointment, he was left with no question when his name was read out just before kick off – the booing was loud and vitriolic and went on for some time; Neil Barnett tried & failed several times to stop the deafening outpouring of anger from the stands. In the end, it was only the fact that there was to be a minutes applause for the passing of Dave Sexton (a proper manager) that finally silenced the cat-calls and the jeers. Several banners too had made it past the stewards and were displayed around the ground. In almost all cases they were quickly removed by the stewards – so much for free speech.
Several elements of this whole sorry episode has angered the fans – starting with the treatment of Di Matteo. Beneath-Us claims he was contacted about the job eight days before RDM’s sacking – so that is before Juventus away, but also before the West Brom game – which means that they were looking to sack him after losing just one league game – just ludicrous!
Then there was the way it was done – allegedly at 4am at the training ground after returning from Turin – seriously? After everything he has done for the club, didn’t he deserve better? Not that I am surprised of course – sentiment is something Roman doesn’t do and his puppets simply carry out his orders to maintain their exorbitant salaraies. It has left a very bad taste in the mouth. The difference in class between Di Matteo and his former employers was only emphasised when the Italian released his own statement – it was eloquent, dignified and emotional without being mawkish and it easily demonstrated to the world how an honourable man conducts himself – what a contrast to the clowns that run our club.
Then of course there is the whole matter of Benitez….where to start? Chelsea fans would have probably accepted anyone but two individuals – Grant & Benitez…..
Abramovich showed total disregard for the supporters – in fact it was almost as if the owner took the opportunity to say a massive “F**K YOU – I RUN THIS CLUB” to the fans. We don’t expect to pick and choose the managers, but to get someone in who has previously insulted the supporters, has been out of work for two years and who effectively destroyed a Mourinho treble winning side – never mind being at the helm of Liverpool when the relationship between Chelsea and the scousers was at its most toxic, smacks of an almost childish act of spitefulness. Either that or Abramovich has actually gone insane….
Benitez’s claim that he was simply defending his incumbent club when he made those derogatory comments about Chelsea fans just doesn’t wash. The fact that he wasn’t man enough to simply put his hands up and apologise also tells you what you need to know about this busted flush. He is stubborn, aloof, self important and mentally weak. Who could forget the cringeworthy “FACT” episode? During his tenure at Anfield Ferguson & Mourinho toyed with him mentally as a cat does with a mouse before biting it’s head off – they effectively reduced him to what looked like a jibbering wreck, more on the edge than he would care to admit to.
Oh – and by the way – I know you scousers love him & are outraged by our refusal to accept the chump – spare me the moral outrage – let’s agree to differ on this one.
His post match denial of the strength of feeling against him again demonstrated his refusal to even try and understand our stance on his appointment. Perhaps if he showed a little more empathy there could be some sort of detente until the end of the season and his exit.
On this point – I personally believe this “interim” business is a bit of a Trojan horse. What happens if Guardiola doesn’t agree to come to us in the summer – which could quite easily happen – what then?
Also, as if Beneath-Us becoming our manager wasn’t bad enough we also discover that Cole & Lampard will almost certainly leave in January. If ever you wanted a demonstration of exactly how stupid the people that run our club are, then this is it. Cole continues to be the best left back in the country if not the world and Lampard could still play a part. Make him a coach – if they would have had any brains they would have perhaps offered the assistant manager’s job to him instead of Bolo Zenden – they have the same amount of experience. But then would Frank want to be associated with such a set up – I doubt it.
[2]Whose idea was the Zenden appointment anyway? What exactly is he going to bring to the table? There are certainly more questions than answers at the moment and although the antipathy towards the current set up will naturally diminish somewhat, it won’t go away completely.
I do wonder if this episode will cause an unbridgeable rift between owner & supporters. Roman has been largely exempt from criticism throughout his tenure but the sacking of RDM & hiring of Beneath-Us was definitely one that was down to the organ grinder and not the monkeys.
We, the supporters of course have no say – there will be those that tell us we have a choice as to whether to go to games or not – well they don’t understand football fans – not this one anyway. Chelsea is my club – I have supported them all my life – I have every right to show my displeasure at a decision which I think is fundamentally wrong for MY club. It is entirely possible to support the club but not the manager.
I haven’t felt disillusionment like this since Avram Grant’s mercifully short tenure – I feel that as a club we will simply be treading water until the end of the season- which as far as I am concerned cannot come soon enough. Let’s hope that by the time that comes around he won’t have done too much damage and we can all move on.
Still one league loss and he should be out – right?
Posted by Trizia
(You can see all of Trizia’s articles here) [3]