The nouveau Chelsea fans who vote with their feet
Published: 18 November, 2010
OH my, did you see Stamford Bridge with 10 minutes to go against Sunderland on Sunday?
Even before Ashley Cole’s awful boo boo sealed Chelsea’s humiliating 3-0 defeat, home fans were dashing for the exit doors. There was a sea of empty blue seats. I honestly thought we were watching rerun footage of White Hart Lane with 25 minutes left in the Carling Cup match between Arsenal and Spurs earlier this season, such was the desertion.
First sign of trouble and what do the Chelsea fans do? Scarper. They left in droves before the peep of the final whistle, knowing their team had failed in such spectacular fashion. Should we be surprised? Not really. After all, you can split the Chelsea support in two. There is the good half that have always turned out week in, week out, rain or shine. These hardy supporters remember The Shed, a greyhound track around the pitch and players like David Speedie, Pat Nevin and John Bumstead, the best surname in football ever.
No doubt this lot stayed to the final whistle against Sunderland.
But there is the other half of the Chelsea support. The fans who started showing up simply because the club could buy more players than anybody else and on the back of their hollow championship wins. The nouveau Chelsea fan isn’t used to losing. Don’t expect them to stay to the final whistle when the chips are down.
RICHARD OSLEY
WHAT change of fortune has besmirched those up on high?
With Ray Wilkins seemingly sacked, talisman John Terry on a growing long-term injury list and a 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland, many Chelski fans have already conceded the title. In contrast with key players coming back, those Gooners look rampant and set to give this year’s Premier League competition a much-overdue challenge.
Though fans should hope that Arsene Wenger doesn’t take his eyes off the prize. With his alleged affair with a French model luring him away from the training ground and seemingly his partner, the chants on the terraces this weekend could be ripe as the old foe prepare to do battle against Tottenham at The Emirates this Saturday.
Here’s an interesting question. Does Arsene’s alleged behaviour endear him any less to his supporters?
Spurs 4-2 home win against Blackburn was soured by goals conceded late and until we stop that hemorrhaging games are always going to be difficult.
After Harry’s rant about referees a few weeks ago and the FA’s high-profile failure not to discipline him seems to have started a trend; with other managers and players now openly criticising decisions. I think it’s a good thing. The FA has a ‘Respect the Ref’ campaign and although I agree in principle, its implementation is fundamentally flawed and until a ref comes out and explains those awful decisions, it always will be.
TONY DALLAS