Ever since Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in the summer of 2003, and even before that, there has been more and more talk of players only being motivated by money. Even the poorest Premiership footballer probably earning upwards of £500,000 per annum, up to players earning over £5 million per year (in wages alone). In comparison, 10 years ago the top players only earned around £1 million a year, and 20 years ago wages were even less. What I want to discuss here is the argument that big players only move to Chelsea for money and that some, if not all, top players are only motivated by money. Personally I don’t believe that is the case.
The accusation goes that all the top players who move to clubs on big salaries only move for the money. The Bosman ruling has allowed players at the end of their contracts to move clubs for a big signing on fee and high wages. On top of this clubs, of which Chelsea is a prime example, without the track record of success of a ‘big’ club like Real Madrid, Liverpool or Man Utd, and have been perceived by some not to be able to attract these type of players on merit. Therefore any big players, who move to these clubs on big salaries, are by definition only going there for the money. Money is their only motivating factor, and they will go to the club which offers them the highest salary. Many have levelled this accusation against Chelsea’s big three summer acquisitions, Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole. Also, because these types of players are at their peak and have won most trophies going in football, there is a perceived lack of hunger or ambition, so the only motivating factor must have been money. People say these players move for 'one final big pay day'..
To me, this argument is very simplistic and to a certain extent judgemental. It tarnishes all players that move on big salaries with the same brush, and makes big assumptions. I prefer the other argument.
To a certain extent money is important to all of us. We need it to live and provide for ourselves and our families. If we are good at a job we want to get paid what we’re worth, or rather the going rate. If another company offers us a similar position at their company, on a higher salary with more opportunities for promotion, then a lot of us would be tempted to accept. Most top international footballers in their prime, as the three players in question are, are already millionaires several times over. In fact, these top players don't need a big final pay day, so that idea is ridiculous. As long as they are paid the market value for their services - which I believe is fair enough, and not greedy - in recognition of their marketability off the pitch and ability on it, and what they could be paid by most other clubs, they will be happy to sign. That is not being motivated by money. It’s getting paid the market value for their services. They probably bring in a substantial amount of what they get paid into the club in terms of merchandise, and that value is recognised in their pay packets. Top players by definition are surely ones whose motivation is to play football at the highest level for as long as possible and to win as many trophies as possible. If they are only motivated by money their commitment and hunger on the pitch will be much less surely. This argument says that to top players, although they want to be paid a fair wage in comparison to other top players, that they go to big clubs just as much to win trophies as anything else. This is the argument that I tend to agree with.
Frank Lampard and John Terry both earn £5 million a year and allegedly have clauses in their contracts saying they will always be the highest paid players at Chelsea Football Club. Yet no one questions their motivation or loyalty. Why should it be the same with any other players? Gianfranco Zola took a pay cut when leaving Chelsea, but only decided to leave when Chelsea didn’t offer him a sufficient contract, which was ironically more than he earnt at Cagliari. Even though the salary offered by Chelsea even pre-Abramovich was more, because the amount was not what he felt he was worth in terms of his experience and contribution to the club, he decided to leave to his hometown club. Even when offered what he wanted post-Abramovich he declined, having giving his word already to Cagliari. A big-name player, clearly not motivated by money, but still wanting to be paid what he was worth. An example which demonstrates this argument.
In the case of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, both were offered contracts by other clubs of equal value to the ones they signed with Chelsea. Hardly the actions of people motivated by money. Ashley Cole publicly fell out with Arsenal, his boyhood club, because they allegedly verbally offered him one contract only to withdraw it, and failed to support him at all when he was in trouble with the FA. Indeed, he would probably have earnt more going to Real Madrid than he does now at Chelsea. Factor in that Chelsea are clearly the best team in England at the moment and have a better chance of winning major trophies than Arsenal, then the argument about money falls down even more.
In fact that applies to all players in relation to Chelsea now. Chelsea are the best side in England, back-to-back title winners and one of the top teams in Europe. They have one of the best squads and best managers in Europe, are now regualr qualifiers and are among on the favourites for the Champions League every season. Why wouldn't any top player want to come to Stamford Bridge?
There are exceptions of course. Players who demand a certain salary, or else threaten to walk out on their club. Or refuse to play unless their wage demands are met. Players like Winston Bogarde who happily collected £8 million from Chelsea and was happy not to play. That is a clear example of a player being motivated by money. But to me that is the exception rather than the rule.
Yes, the sheer amounts are staggering, and I’m not in any way saying that the high wages are justified. Nobody is worth that much money per year in reality. But the amount of money in football now means that comparatively the wages and fees for top players is increasing
It is up to you to decide which side of the argument you fall down on, but I would argue that players do not move just for money or just for the glory. They move to big clubs to achieve success and win trophies, and want to be paid what they’re worth in comparison to other big players - in rare exceptions, some are even willing to pay cuts. Let's make sure we don't assume too much.
For the money or the glory? You decide.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Chelsea Managers: Jose Mourinho - The Special One
Now the start of a new series on this site, profiling some of Chelsea's best managers. Of course there's no better place to start than with a profile of the man largely responsible for their recent successes, Jose Mourinho.
José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, to give him his full name, was born 26 Jan 1963 in Setubal, Portugal. Football was in his blood right from the beginning, as he was the son of Portugal goalkeeper Felix Mourinho. As the years passed it quickly became apparent that Jose was not the most gifted of footballers, but still had a great passion for the game. Management is where he would achieve greatness.
Looking back Jose’s path to management arguably began at the tender age of 15. His father was a manager at the time and asked Jose to go on scouting missions and prepare dossiers on players, a skill he has now brought into management. Jose studied Physical Education at University, specialising in sports methodology. He then began work as a PE teacher. To put this in context, at around the same time Sir Alex Ferguson was winning the FA and Cup Winners Cups at Man Utd.
Jose was ambitious and determined to make a name for himself in management. But he was wise enough to know he had much to learn. He got his big break in 1994 when Bobby Robson took over as Sporting Lisbon manager. Jose, being able to speak Portuguese and English, had the opportunity to work with him as his interpreter. Bobby Robson famously asked him to tell him everything Luis Figo was saying about him which he couldn’t understand. Mourinho quickly impressed Robson with his commitment and work rate and was slowly given more and more responsibility. Indeed, he impressed Robson so much that when went to Porto the next year he took Jose with him. There he assisted Robson as he took Porto to two league titles, amongst other successes.
When Bobby Robson was asked to take over as manager of Barcelona, he insisted on Jose coming with him as one of the terms of his employment. There Jose honed his coaching skills even more. When Louis Van Gaal took over from Robson in 1997 Jose continued as his assistant. Jose said that working with two very different styles of coach helped him in his development. As he said in his book, “Bobby Robson isn’t interested in study or planning the training practice; he’s about training and having direct contact with players…..with Van Gaal all that was left for me to do was training on the pitch”.
Working with two different styles of manager had allowed Mourinho to develop his skills both in terms of preparing a training session and studying opposition, and in running a coaching session. He watched and learnt from two great managers. In 1999 when Bobby Robson went to Newcastle, he invited Jose again to go with him, but Jose this time declined, despite the promise of the managers’ job when Bobby retired. Jose was his own man and knew his own mind. He would do things his way. He stayed at Barcelona for another year, but was now becoming restless. He was ready to go into management in his own right. He quit his well paid assistant’s job at Barcelona in the summer of 2000 and waited for the right opportunity.
Benfica were the first club to give the untried Mourinho his chance, in 2000. However this was short lived. A fall out with the clubs’ new owners let to him quitting after just 9 games in charge. Jose proved he was nothing if not strong minded. In 2001 he took over at unfashionable Uniao de Leiria and started to show his true qualities as a manager. He took the side into fourth position, even above Porto, arguably the biggest club in Portugal. They needed a new manager and Mourinho, who knew the club president from his time there with Bobby Robson, was appointed in January 2002. He finally had a platform to make his name.
When Jose took over at Porto he announced that not only were they the worst Porto side in 26 years, but that the next season they would be champions. His supreme confidence already showing itself. He was proved right. In 2003, on a budget Jose has since described as ‘the same as Sunderland’s’, Porto completed an unprecedented treble of league title, domestic cup and UEFA Cup. Jose was already getting offers to move, but stayed. He wanted experience in the Champions League. Little did he know what would happen next.
In 2004 Porto retained their league title, only losing one game. They lost in the Portuguese Cup final to Benfica. But it was in the Champions League they made the biggest impression. In the group stages they held Madrid to a 1-1 draw, and then the tie that made him famous in this country. Porto were drawn against Man Utd. In Porto they beat them 2-1, Ferguson furious with Porto and Mourinho and showing it at the handshake at the final whistle. But it was at Old Trafford it all came to a head. Porto going through with a last minute Costinha goal, causing Mourinho to famously jump out of his seat and run down the touchline in celebration. From then there was no going back. Now his name was starting to get linked to clubs all over Europe. Inter and Liverpool at first, and then of course Chelsea. By the time Porto played Monaco in the Champions League final it had become the most open secret in football that Mourinho was off to Stamford Bridge. After the whistle blew on his teams’ 3-0 triumph he immediately announced he was leaving Porto. Most football fans knew where his destination was.
On June 3 2004 Jose Mourinho was officially confirmed as the new manager of Chelsea FC. He wasted no time on his arrival in proclaiming himself as “a special one” (not THE special one as has been commonly misquoted since) and a ‘top manager’. At the start of that season Chelsea were among the favourites to win the title, and Mourinho wasn’t afraid to admit his ambitions. The first test came on opening day against Man Utd. Chelsea may have only won 1-0, but the confidence that came from that victory, combined with a rock-solid defence marshalled by new captain John Terry, a midfield run by Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard combined with the flair and creativity flying wingers Damien Duff, Arjen Robben and latterly Joe Cole, finally becoming under Mourinho the player he had always promised to be, drove Chelsea firstly to the Carling Cup, their first trophy for 5 years, but then to their first league title in 50 years. Only one defeat and the least goals conceded of any team in league history. A record number of points in Premier League history. Some good performances were also served up in Europe, including 4-2 demolitions of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and only some poor luck against Liverpool denied Chelsea their first Champions League final.
Mourinho had changed the whole culture of the club. From being a club that hoped for success, they were now one expecting it and demanding it. Winning was now to become the norm. Chelsea swept to their second successive league title the next season, and the most that can be said about it is that it almost seemed inevitable from day 1.
Mourinho has proved himself to be a manager who reads and understands football and players perfectly. He prepares his teams to win, and trains them in a variety of tactics so they are perfectly prepared. He prepares his team to play either with or against 10 men, is not afraid to make big decisions during games and leaves absolutely nothing to chance. Every training session is planned right to the last minute in meticulous detail. Players get dossiers on their direct opponents in games and occasionally DVD’s to study in preparation. He’s also a brilliant man-manager, knowing how different players respond to different treatment. The obvious example of this being Joe Cole.
He’s often outspoken and accused of being arrogant. But he knows how to play the media. He himself has said that he sees press conferences as part of the game and everything he says is planned and thought through. He is supremely confident both in his own ability and in the ability of his team. He has proven he can handle pressure. At the age of 43, after only six years in management, he has already won all but one of the competitions he has contested as a manager. In the last four years he has won the UEFA Cup and Champions League – on a small budget, as well four league titles, two domestic cups, the Portuguese Supercup and Community Shield. A better record than any other manager during that time. He has committed himself to Chelsea until 2010 and Chelsea have said they want to keep him beyond that. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but what is without doubt is that not only is Mourinho the greatest manager in Chelsea’s history but arguably the finest manager in Europe at the current time.
Chelsea are truly lucky to have such a great manager in charge of their club. Long may it continue.
José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, to give him his full name, was born 26 Jan 1963 in Setubal, Portugal. Football was in his blood right from the beginning, as he was the son of Portugal goalkeeper Felix Mourinho. As the years passed it quickly became apparent that Jose was not the most gifted of footballers, but still had a great passion for the game. Management is where he would achieve greatness.
Looking back Jose’s path to management arguably began at the tender age of 15. His father was a manager at the time and asked Jose to go on scouting missions and prepare dossiers on players, a skill he has now brought into management. Jose studied Physical Education at University, specialising in sports methodology. He then began work as a PE teacher. To put this in context, at around the same time Sir Alex Ferguson was winning the FA and Cup Winners Cups at Man Utd.
Jose was ambitious and determined to make a name for himself in management. But he was wise enough to know he had much to learn. He got his big break in 1994 when Bobby Robson took over as Sporting Lisbon manager. Jose, being able to speak Portuguese and English, had the opportunity to work with him as his interpreter. Bobby Robson famously asked him to tell him everything Luis Figo was saying about him which he couldn’t understand. Mourinho quickly impressed Robson with his commitment and work rate and was slowly given more and more responsibility. Indeed, he impressed Robson so much that when went to Porto the next year he took Jose with him. There he assisted Robson as he took Porto to two league titles, amongst other successes.
When Bobby Robson was asked to take over as manager of Barcelona, he insisted on Jose coming with him as one of the terms of his employment. There Jose honed his coaching skills even more. When Louis Van Gaal took over from Robson in 1997 Jose continued as his assistant. Jose said that working with two very different styles of coach helped him in his development. As he said in his book, “Bobby Robson isn’t interested in study or planning the training practice; he’s about training and having direct contact with players…..with Van Gaal all that was left for me to do was training on the pitch”.
Working with two different styles of manager had allowed Mourinho to develop his skills both in terms of preparing a training session and studying opposition, and in running a coaching session. He watched and learnt from two great managers. In 1999 when Bobby Robson went to Newcastle, he invited Jose again to go with him, but Jose this time declined, despite the promise of the managers’ job when Bobby retired. Jose was his own man and knew his own mind. He would do things his way. He stayed at Barcelona for another year, but was now becoming restless. He was ready to go into management in his own right. He quit his well paid assistant’s job at Barcelona in the summer of 2000 and waited for the right opportunity.
Benfica were the first club to give the untried Mourinho his chance, in 2000. However this was short lived. A fall out with the clubs’ new owners let to him quitting after just 9 games in charge. Jose proved he was nothing if not strong minded. In 2001 he took over at unfashionable Uniao de Leiria and started to show his true qualities as a manager. He took the side into fourth position, even above Porto, arguably the biggest club in Portugal. They needed a new manager and Mourinho, who knew the club president from his time there with Bobby Robson, was appointed in January 2002. He finally had a platform to make his name.
When Jose took over at Porto he announced that not only were they the worst Porto side in 26 years, but that the next season they would be champions. His supreme confidence already showing itself. He was proved right. In 2003, on a budget Jose has since described as ‘the same as Sunderland’s’, Porto completed an unprecedented treble of league title, domestic cup and UEFA Cup. Jose was already getting offers to move, but stayed. He wanted experience in the Champions League. Little did he know what would happen next.
In 2004 Porto retained their league title, only losing one game. They lost in the Portuguese Cup final to Benfica. But it was in the Champions League they made the biggest impression. In the group stages they held Madrid to a 1-1 draw, and then the tie that made him famous in this country. Porto were drawn against Man Utd. In Porto they beat them 2-1, Ferguson furious with Porto and Mourinho and showing it at the handshake at the final whistle. But it was at Old Trafford it all came to a head. Porto going through with a last minute Costinha goal, causing Mourinho to famously jump out of his seat and run down the touchline in celebration. From then there was no going back. Now his name was starting to get linked to clubs all over Europe. Inter and Liverpool at first, and then of course Chelsea. By the time Porto played Monaco in the Champions League final it had become the most open secret in football that Mourinho was off to Stamford Bridge. After the whistle blew on his teams’ 3-0 triumph he immediately announced he was leaving Porto. Most football fans knew where his destination was.
On June 3 2004 Jose Mourinho was officially confirmed as the new manager of Chelsea FC. He wasted no time on his arrival in proclaiming himself as “a special one” (not THE special one as has been commonly misquoted since) and a ‘top manager’. At the start of that season Chelsea were among the favourites to win the title, and Mourinho wasn’t afraid to admit his ambitions. The first test came on opening day against Man Utd. Chelsea may have only won 1-0, but the confidence that came from that victory, combined with a rock-solid defence marshalled by new captain John Terry, a midfield run by Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard combined with the flair and creativity flying wingers Damien Duff, Arjen Robben and latterly Joe Cole, finally becoming under Mourinho the player he had always promised to be, drove Chelsea firstly to the Carling Cup, their first trophy for 5 years, but then to their first league title in 50 years. Only one defeat and the least goals conceded of any team in league history. A record number of points in Premier League history. Some good performances were also served up in Europe, including 4-2 demolitions of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and only some poor luck against Liverpool denied Chelsea their first Champions League final.
Mourinho had changed the whole culture of the club. From being a club that hoped for success, they were now one expecting it and demanding it. Winning was now to become the norm. Chelsea swept to their second successive league title the next season, and the most that can be said about it is that it almost seemed inevitable from day 1.
Mourinho has proved himself to be a manager who reads and understands football and players perfectly. He prepares his teams to win, and trains them in a variety of tactics so they are perfectly prepared. He prepares his team to play either with or against 10 men, is not afraid to make big decisions during games and leaves absolutely nothing to chance. Every training session is planned right to the last minute in meticulous detail. Players get dossiers on their direct opponents in games and occasionally DVD’s to study in preparation. He’s also a brilliant man-manager, knowing how different players respond to different treatment. The obvious example of this being Joe Cole.
He’s often outspoken and accused of being arrogant. But he knows how to play the media. He himself has said that he sees press conferences as part of the game and everything he says is planned and thought through. He is supremely confident both in his own ability and in the ability of his team. He has proven he can handle pressure. At the age of 43, after only six years in management, he has already won all but one of the competitions he has contested as a manager. In the last four years he has won the UEFA Cup and Champions League – on a small budget, as well four league titles, two domestic cups, the Portuguese Supercup and Community Shield. A better record than any other manager during that time. He has committed himself to Chelsea until 2010 and Chelsea have said they want to keep him beyond that. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but what is without doubt is that not only is Mourinho the greatest manager in Chelsea’s history but arguably the finest manager in Europe at the current time.
Chelsea are truly lucky to have such a great manager in charge of their club. Long may it continue.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Coming soon on this site...
Thought I'd chat briefly about what's coming up on this site in the near future. It's just to keep people informed and to give you an idea of the sort of issues and areas I'll be writing about over the coming months.
I'll be continuing with my features on Chelsea FC, including features on how money does or doesn't motivate players, a discussion on the merits of both Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack and their compatability. There'll be Chelsea Retro, a few articles I wrote last season that never got on this site. Also there'll two new series. Firstly Chelsea Managers, profiling the great Chelsea managers beginning with Jose Mourinho, and also including Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli. Then there'll be Chelsea Player Profiles where I'll be profiling the best Chelsea players of recent years, starting with Joe Cole. Finally I'll be looking back at how Chelsea have performed in October and writing a preview of what lies ahead for them in November.
However, I'll also be taking a more in-depth look at another of my main interests, British politics. This will include a comparison between Tony Blair and David Cameron, their leadership styles, similarities, differences and their respective impacts on their parties. I'll also be examining how potentially successful David Cameron can be and whether he and his new-look Conservative party have the substance and qualities necessary for Government. I'll be talking about the issue of the next Labour leader and discussing not just who it will be, but who it should be. On top of this I'll be arguing how and why I think the Conservatives should take a long-term view should be they lose the next General Election.
Finally I'll be sharing a bit more about my expriences at the New Wine, Soul Survivor and Momentum Christian conferences last summer, and talking about how God spoke to me and how He changed both my life and the lives of others. I'll also be taking an in-depth look at prayer. I also intend to write a short response to Richard Dawkins new book 'The God Delusion' from a Christian perspective.
So as you can see, there's a lot to come over the next few months -and that's just what I already know! Keep checking up on the site to keep right up to date!
I'll be continuing with my features on Chelsea FC, including features on how money does or doesn't motivate players, a discussion on the merits of both Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack and their compatability. There'll be Chelsea Retro, a few articles I wrote last season that never got on this site. Also there'll two new series. Firstly Chelsea Managers, profiling the great Chelsea managers beginning with Jose Mourinho, and also including Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli. Then there'll be Chelsea Player Profiles where I'll be profiling the best Chelsea players of recent years, starting with Joe Cole. Finally I'll be looking back at how Chelsea have performed in October and writing a preview of what lies ahead for them in November.
However, I'll also be taking a more in-depth look at another of my main interests, British politics. This will include a comparison between Tony Blair and David Cameron, their leadership styles, similarities, differences and their respective impacts on their parties. I'll also be examining how potentially successful David Cameron can be and whether he and his new-look Conservative party have the substance and qualities necessary for Government. I'll be talking about the issue of the next Labour leader and discussing not just who it will be, but who it should be. On top of this I'll be arguing how and why I think the Conservatives should take a long-term view should be they lose the next General Election.
Finally I'll be sharing a bit more about my expriences at the New Wine, Soul Survivor and Momentum Christian conferences last summer, and talking about how God spoke to me and how He changed both my life and the lives of others. I'll also be taking an in-depth look at prayer. I also intend to write a short response to Richard Dawkins new book 'The God Delusion' from a Christian perspective.
So as you can see, there's a lot to come over the next few months -and that's just what I already know! Keep checking up on the site to keep right up to date!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The rain and the Spirit falling
Wow it's wet in Shepton Mallet. I'm sitting in a cowshed and working on the internet and it's raining so hard the water is coming through the metal sheeting roof. Apart from that this week has been awesome. God's spirit is falling heavier than the rain. People are becoming Christians, people are being healed and God is moving in amazing ways. There's a real challenge and a call going out to thousands of young Christians to get out and serve and be witnesses all over the world, both in this country, in their own towns and in the most needy places. I've certainly been changed and inspired this week. Hopefully I'll be able to cobble something of what I've leant over the three weeks I've been here this summer and post it on here soon. But where do I begin...?
Sunday, August 13, 2006
What a summer....
Just had to write here about my amazing experiences at Shepton Mallet so far this summer. At both the New Wine and Soul Survivor conferences I have seen God move in so many ways. Hundreds of people becoming Christians, people being healed - including two deaf people whose hearing was completely restored - and an amazing movement of the Holy Spirit. I also happened to see a few shooting stars along the way too, which were truly awesome. God has been changing me too, from the inside out. A lot of issues I'm dealing with have been taken a stage further and the direction of my life is becoming much more clear to me. My priority really is now to be obedient to God in every area of my life and really put Him first. This applies in particular to my calling and ministry in prayer. No time to discuss it futher now, but when I have time I will expand a bit more. Suffice to say, it's very exciting!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Changing Face of Chelsea FC
Chelsea Football Club has changed very much in the last decade, especially, of course since Roman Abramovich bought the club in July 2003. At time of writing, Chelsea are closing in on a second successive league title under Jose Mourinho and the ownership of Roman Abramovich. The recent passing of The King of Stamford Bridge Peter Osgood, still fresh in the memory brings back memories of how Chelsea FC has always been throughout its history. If ever one man epitomised a club, Ossie did. Yet the Chelsea Osgood represented and which longstanding fans of Chelsea began supporting is fading fast. The Chelsea supporters of 20-30 years standing born today will be of a different breed, and have far different histories and expectations than long-standing fans of today have ever had before.
For many fans Chelsea has always represented good football, but always played with a smile on the face. Inconsistency was a byword for Chelsea until very recently. They were a good cup side, content to enjoy the cup runs yet never seriously challenging for major trophies. Players made their name at our club and then moved on, rather than the other way round. They were pretenders who never quite achieved our ambitions. A club who bordered on greatness, like in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, but never really hit the real heights by winning the league and being up there where we always felt we belonged – as champions of England and competing at top level European competition.
The strange thing is that now they are champions (and set to be so again) and for me, as a fan, it still feels like it hasn’t happened. It’s like it’s a dream and we're all going to wake up any second. Chelsea doesn’t do domination of a league. Chelsea doesn’t do successive league titles. Chelsea doesn’t do consistency. Chelsea are the team who beat Man Utd at home then lose to Watford away. We’re the team that knock Liverpool out of the cup then go out to a team like Sunderland. We flatter to deceive. We’re the nearly men, the club that never quite makes it.
What is ironic almost is that Chelsea fans have always said as a club that we belong with the big boys, but they have never quite made it there. But now they are there it feels strange, like the natural order has been disturbed. This Chelsea team beats teams it should beat, with only rare exceptions. We are the best team in the country. Everyone wants to beat them. These are things now commonly associated with Chelsea. They are favourites for the league next season and the team to beat, and we as fans now expect us to make a serious challenge on all fronts every season. Chelsea have arguably the best manager in Europe and are attracting some of the best young talent in Europe to our club. The big players in Europe like Michael Ballack are looking at us rather than Arsenal, Liverpool or Man Utd when they decide to come to England.
This is very un-Chelsea like. However, there is one thing now certain. What is currently regarded as very un-Chelsea like will soon become known as Chelsea-like. In decades to come fans will look at our history and although they will see our first century of under-achievement, they will look at the beginning of the second century as when the real Chelsea began. Every season fans will expect Chelsea to challenge. If they don’t, a manager will instantly be seen as under pressure. Three seasons without a major trophy will be seen as a major drought. This is because Roman Abramovich, his money and his ambition are not going away. Peter Kenyon is marketing Chelsea as a big club across the globe and this new brand of supporter, even the London boy growing up now supporting Chelsea, will expect and demand more from Chelsea than we ever have. Relegation and mid-table mediocrity will be an alien phrases to a Chelsea fan of the future.
However, will the club at its heart change? The family club whose supporters stick by it and by each other through thick and thin and keep singing ‘Blue is the Colour’ “through the sun and rain”. Whose supporters currently are genuinely enjoying success as much as any other team and savouring success I believe more than any title-winning club for a long time, because it’s been so long coming. In future will this happen? Will expectations and a track-record of success be so high and so long that the success will be taken more for granted and expected, like at so many of the ‘traditional’ big clubs. Will supporters of the future brag about our history like supporters of a certain red-shirted club do now? Will future supporters enjoy future success as much as we are enjoying it now?
I’m not sure of the answer to that. All I know is that last season’s title win felt like the old Chelsea at last winning the trophy we’ve wanted for so long. A smaller club, achieving major glory at last. This season it feels like we’re a big club chasing glory and seeking dominance over all the rest. Now I feel like we’re a big club on a par with the other big-guns, certainly in terms of expectations. Last season felt different. For me I know the feeling I had when we won the league last season won’t be repeated no matter how many times we win the league. And maybe that’s a sign of how this club is moving onwards and upwards, and evolving very quickly into something different to what it’s ever been before. Things will never be the same ever again...
For many fans Chelsea has always represented good football, but always played with a smile on the face. Inconsistency was a byword for Chelsea until very recently. They were a good cup side, content to enjoy the cup runs yet never seriously challenging for major trophies. Players made their name at our club and then moved on, rather than the other way round. They were pretenders who never quite achieved our ambitions. A club who bordered on greatness, like in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, but never really hit the real heights by winning the league and being up there where we always felt we belonged – as champions of England and competing at top level European competition.
The strange thing is that now they are champions (and set to be so again) and for me, as a fan, it still feels like it hasn’t happened. It’s like it’s a dream and we're all going to wake up any second. Chelsea doesn’t do domination of a league. Chelsea doesn’t do successive league titles. Chelsea doesn’t do consistency. Chelsea are the team who beat Man Utd at home then lose to Watford away. We’re the team that knock Liverpool out of the cup then go out to a team like Sunderland. We flatter to deceive. We’re the nearly men, the club that never quite makes it.
What is ironic almost is that Chelsea fans have always said as a club that we belong with the big boys, but they have never quite made it there. But now they are there it feels strange, like the natural order has been disturbed. This Chelsea team beats teams it should beat, with only rare exceptions. We are the best team in the country. Everyone wants to beat them. These are things now commonly associated with Chelsea. They are favourites for the league next season and the team to beat, and we as fans now expect us to make a serious challenge on all fronts every season. Chelsea have arguably the best manager in Europe and are attracting some of the best young talent in Europe to our club. The big players in Europe like Michael Ballack are looking at us rather than Arsenal, Liverpool or Man Utd when they decide to come to England.
This is very un-Chelsea like. However, there is one thing now certain. What is currently regarded as very un-Chelsea like will soon become known as Chelsea-like. In decades to come fans will look at our history and although they will see our first century of under-achievement, they will look at the beginning of the second century as when the real Chelsea began. Every season fans will expect Chelsea to challenge. If they don’t, a manager will instantly be seen as under pressure. Three seasons without a major trophy will be seen as a major drought. This is because Roman Abramovich, his money and his ambition are not going away. Peter Kenyon is marketing Chelsea as a big club across the globe and this new brand of supporter, even the London boy growing up now supporting Chelsea, will expect and demand more from Chelsea than we ever have. Relegation and mid-table mediocrity will be an alien phrases to a Chelsea fan of the future.
However, will the club at its heart change? The family club whose supporters stick by it and by each other through thick and thin and keep singing ‘Blue is the Colour’ “through the sun and rain”. Whose supporters currently are genuinely enjoying success as much as any other team and savouring success I believe more than any title-winning club for a long time, because it’s been so long coming. In future will this happen? Will expectations and a track-record of success be so high and so long that the success will be taken more for granted and expected, like at so many of the ‘traditional’ big clubs. Will supporters of the future brag about our history like supporters of a certain red-shirted club do now? Will future supporters enjoy future success as much as we are enjoying it now?
I’m not sure of the answer to that. All I know is that last season’s title win felt like the old Chelsea at last winning the trophy we’ve wanted for so long. A smaller club, achieving major glory at last. This season it feels like we’re a big club chasing glory and seeking dominance over all the rest. Now I feel like we’re a big club on a par with the other big-guns, certainly in terms of expectations. Last season felt different. For me I know the feeling I had when we won the league last season won’t be repeated no matter how many times we win the league. And maybe that’s a sign of how this club is moving onwards and upwards, and evolving very quickly into something different to what it’s ever been before. Things will never be the same ever again...
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