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This is going to sound patronising and maybe it's best to stay quiet, but I have to ask the question: Do Chelsea fans really hate Rafa Benitez?
It's clear that they think they do - why else would they go to the effort of making all those A4 signs - but the reasons for the collective outcry seem so ludicrous that it's hard to empathise in any way.
It's easy to be a hate figure in football - as Andi Thomas discussed in his profile of Luis Suarez - and Benitez has similarly become a pantomime villain at Stamford Bridge following his appointment in December. That the manager once criticised Chelsea's plastic flags is apparently unforgivable, and Blues supporters have made it clear they will never accept the former Liverpool boss.
But a week in which Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Swansea before pumping Stoke 4-0 at the Britannia highlights how detrimental the reception given to Benitez has become. In the defeat to Swansea, the Blues laboured against the backdrop of cries for Benitez's head; on Saturday Chelsea became the first opponent to score four goals at Stoke in the Premier League and embarrassed a team that went into the game with the third-best defensive record in the top flight.
The real target of Chelsea fans' ire should be Roman Abramovich, for it was the owner's decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo and replace the crowd favourite with a manager so despised by Blues supporters and, similarly, it's the owner's decision to let Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole leave on free transfers at the end of the season. But it's difficult to criticise a man whose investment (including £80million in the summer and £7million on a new striker this month) has changed the entire fabric of the club and brought the greatest prize of all in May last year.
However, that doesn't justify the treatment of Benitez, which a fans group recently said could soon get "really nasty". Presumably they'll hold back after the thrashing of Stoke, but it can't help the players nor Benitez to know that the vociferous abuse of the manager will worsen with the next poor result.
It appears that a siege mentality has taken hold at Stamford Bridge, with supporters reacting to criticism - and this article only continues the cycle - by stubbornly increasing the invective towards Benitez. It's almost as if the extent of the rage is an excuse to justify the reasons; how can we not appreciate their motives when they feel this wronged?
And, of course, the rule of mob mentality plays a part. At the moment, it's difficult to identify yourself as a Chelsea fan unless you also hate Benitez, and there will clearly be many fans happy to ride along for the sense of belonging.
But for one Chelsea fan who wrote into the F365 mailbox this week, the bubble burst when Aston Villa were walloped 8-0 on December 23. It wasn't the result that changed his attitude, but the Villa fans' chant of support in the 19th minute for club captain Stiliyan Petrov, who is currently in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia in March. In comparison, the ritual round of 'One Di Matteo' paled into insignificance.
Despite Di Matteo's superb achievement last season, it was the Italian's poor tactics in the current campaign that saw Chelsea become the first Champions League holders to exit at the group stage. Di Matteo also oversaw victories in only 12 of 23 Premier League games in charge, with Benitez having a marginally better win percentage at this stage as Chelsea remain on course to improve on their sixth-place finish from 2011/12.
Indeed, Blues supporters should be encouraged by the team's current standing in the league, while a recovery against Swansea is still possible and the Europa League and FA Cup also offer a chance of silverware. Those aims won't be achieved, though, if the fans continue to undermine Benitez, and by extension the team. But can Chelsea fans sacrifice scorn for success?
Matt Stanger - boo him on Twitter.
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