DESPITE the fact that Manchester United are the newly crowned CHAMPIONS, the circus around the Stamford Bridge team is once again making it all about them. It borders on ridiculous actually and for the sake of previewing let us debate. Chelsea may or may not be considering making an offer to Jose Mourinho, the man they decided wasn’t the man for them now apparently is. You have to think that Roman has been made aware of the almighty fuck up he made in Chelsea fans eyes when he appointed Mr Benitez, he will probably look at engineering Jose’s return to make them happy again. Chelsea are a soap opera in their own training ground, chasing European glory to the detriment of everything else and sacking the man who achieves it, scrambling around for cash to offer a manager they booted out?
Do we get another guard of honour tomorrow? The sight of Arsenal doing it last week was fun but the sight of sour faced John Terry having to do it this week on United’s home soil is just too tasty. Maybe I’m too ahead of myself here, I mean, is John Terry starting for Chelsea again? He might be on the bench. It just gets more delicious.
Football wise, Chelsea gave United a game in the FA Cup, or more specifically, Rafa was booed for making a substitution right up until the substitute swung the game their way. United took their collective feet off the pedals that day and with the title already won maybe it’s in us to play like the first half of the Arsenal game, I don’t think we will though because we are playing at Old Trafford.
Rafael Benitez deserves credit; for milking Chelsea and wandering off into the sunset. As much as he is filling a gap until a more worthy manager can be found, Rafa is using the club to serve his own needs too. He is milking their name and their trophy potential for his own CV and his own employment future, you have to say it’s a cold clever move but it’s the only card he had to play given the way it has turned out for him there. Anyone they bring in will inevitably be treated the same way, the new man will never be given control from top to bottom as Sir Alex or even Arsene Whinger has at their desks. Heads have rolled, they will in the future, whoever takes over should not kid themselves that it will be different.
Football wise, Chelsea gave United a game in the FA Cup, or more specifically, Rafa was booed for making a substitution right up until the substitute swung the game their way. United took their collective feet off the pedals that day and with the title already won maybe it’s in us to play like the first half of the Arsenal game, I don’t think we will though because we are playing at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile United carry on, there has been uproar about Season Ticket holders being asked to relocate for next season. The move is to accommodate new 3D television cameras in the stadium. The club will apparently shoulder the difference between current ticket prices and the more expensive new seats elsewhere. This story will run for a while yet we imagine but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the story goes the way it appears to be. United are under the impression they do listen to fans, they probably have a list of times when they have, but big plans are often made with the supporter as an afterthought. After all, this is important and it’s about money and it’s probably a clause in the new television deal recently signed. All things considered, the grumbling will fade and if people do not relocate, there is a great long line of people who will sit anywhere they can in that stadium to see that team play.
Just like the fans who stand and block the view of those in the Disabled stand, sit when they are told and then wait until the stewards are gone to again stand and block the view… there’s not much that can be done outside of non attendance. I imagine that route hurts the fan who chooses it more than the football club.
GTS
Special thanks to www.sportcartoons.co.uk and Rafa for years and years of entertainment.
Given to Score 