Chelsea Terrace Talk – Irish Examiner Article By Trizia

Well I can’t say it was one of the most convincing wins we have ever had but three points and a clean sheet ensured a happy car on our way home from Blackburn.

That said, the result papered over some substantial cracks and I’m not sure a scrappy one nil win against a current possible relegation team convinced anyone including the players themselves. The thing that struck me most as I was watching the game was how ordinary we looked. We looked like just another mid-table, done nothing for ages, average team.  Worse than that, in the first half it was like we were simply going through the motions – it was actually quite depressing.

Depressing is actually a word that is quite apt with all things Chelsea at the moment.

Let me start by saying that I do not believe that John terry is a racist – I equally do not believe he made a racist comment to Anton Ferdinand. Many will think I am viewing this whole episode with blue tinted glasses – that may be partially true. As someone who has met the man himself a number of times, who is aware of the many charitable acts he has performed quietly under the radar, and who has seen him remain calm and focussed despite being on the end of some quite revolting chants by opposition fans I think I am better placed to have an opinion on what kind of person he is than many people currently calling for his head & armband.

I may be being naive. I may eventually be proved wrong and if so – so be it, but I make no apology for assuming innocence until proven guilty. There have been others recently who have also been accused of racism – incidents where the slur was actually heard – incidents where those in the frame have actually got previous – I don’t see the same witch-hunt for these players.

John Terry has never stubbed out a lit cigar in someone’s eye, he has never beaten a team-mate with a golf club, he has never attacked a referee, nor a supporter, he has never missed a drugs test, he has never organised a no WAGS party just so he can invite dozens of “escorts”. Of course there are plenty of things he has done but few really reach anything as sordid as on the aforementioned list yet he was public enemy number one even before this latest accusation.

Today’s football fans are sheep – they have no minds or opinions of their own – they allow themselves to be led around by the nose by the tabloids. They have confused banter with a hateful mob mentality which is fanned by not only the red-tops but by the broad sheets too now sadly.

If JT is found guilty, then he should be punished – yet even if he isn’t found guilty, we know that mud sticks and he will not be permitted to shake himself clean of this one.

I have never advocated that John Terry should leave the England set up but I am beginning to change my mind on this one. To be so reviled as the captain of your country by so many of your own countrymen must wipe every ounce of pride and enjoyment from the honour.

The FA and police are not helping this whole situation – what precisely is taking so long? This should have been dealt with within days of the accusation – not permitted to fester and be fed in the best cases by drip fed innuendo & in the worst cases by some of the bile ridden vitriolic diatribes that pass for journalism in some papers. One thing is certain I am sick to death of hearing about it and want an end to this whole sorry affair – whichever way it goes.

Perhaps then we can properly concentrate on games like next weekend’s clash with Liverpool. Having read a few red message boards it seems that many Liverpool fans are less than happy with the way the season is going but are loath to criticise “King” Kenny. Of course this is always the sour side of a legend taking over at the helm of a club – invariably managers are sacked – very few leave of their own volition. If I am honest Liverpool look very much like us at the moment except that they have been out in the wilderness a little longer than we have.

In fact, their current plight should serve as a warning of where we could find ourselves should we not address some of the issues that we are currently witnessing. Those issues are – lack of stability at the back, lack of pace, blunt strike-force, and unsuitable tactics – doesn’t sound good does it?

We want to believe in AVB and we understand that it takes time to instil your idea into a team, but surely things should get better as the season goes on – not worse? I thought it was interesting when He was asked at the press conference whether Abramovich was fully on board with the style and whether the owner was happy. The manager looked distinctly uneasy and tugged at his ear – I am reliably informed by those that study body language that this is a sign that he was being less than truthful when affirming the owner’s positive reactions to the current state of affairs

It seems to me that he doesn’t have the kind of players for the kind of football he wants to play so he has two options – change the tactics or change the team – both difficult to do as the mid-point of the season approaches.  He needs to do something because if Blackburn can so easily get behind our high line as they did frequently on Saturday, then I hate to imagine what a team like City with its over abundance of striking talent could do to us. Sobering thought and one that will pray on our minds until we see some progress out there. Come on Chelsea

(You can see all of Trizia’s articles here)

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