Chelsea shame, government blame and Benzema versus Kane

One Chelsea fan reflects wonderfully on his support for the club in the context of Roman Abramovich. Others just say the sanctions are unfair.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

Lampard and Abramovich
A couple of thoughts about what has happened at Chelsea these last two weeks.

It’s strange to think back, but pre-Abramovic I actually kind of liked Chelsea. Hoddle’s team, Gullit, Vialli, fun in the cups…they were like Harlequins, not necessarily much cop but a little bit glamorous and certainly entertaining. Talk about a world away.

Will Frankie boy be asked about current events? OK, he manages another club, but he’s a symbol of the era, a favourite of the sanctioned one, and someone who has written in awe-struck terms about visiting the owner’s mega yacht. He must have thoughts. He deserves to be part of the collateral damage.

Chelsea fans, even allowing for the usual tribalism and stupidity that afflicts all of us fans, are disgracing themselves. Hope it’s worth it lads. Maybe just say nothing? That’s an option? You don’t have to defend the oligarch and the financially doped decade of success he enabled.

Finally, I’m reminded of the immortal Clough quote to his new Leeds charges: “The first thing you can do for me is throw your medals in the bin because you’ve never won anything fairly; you’ve done it by cheating.”
Ian, Dublin

Chelsea fans, show your support for Roman by painting a big Z on your shirts where the sponsors logo was.. Alternatively stop bleating, show some class and accept that you have had a great 2 decades as winners of the owners lottery and lets face it a sugar daddy is never going to be forever and end well. Chelsea fans on moan ins love to establish their credentials about watching them when they were sh*t so chances are familiarity will return to you. Best keep those famous blue plastic flags in mint condition in case they become valuable .
Ted Bythesea

Gratitude and shame
There has been a lot of emails about Chelsea the last few days since the sanctions were announced so just wanted to add in my perspective…

Obviously, the invasion in Ukraine is terrible, and the human cost is devasting; the most important thing is that it is stopped before any more destruction and lives are lost.  But as this is a football site, I wanted to try and give a balanced view of situation from a Chelsea fan, as it has highlighted the double-thought I – and probably a lot of Chelsea fans – have instilled in themselves over the past 20 years.

I’ve been a Chelsea fan since as long as I can remember (the late 80s), and attended a lot of home matches during the 90s with my Dad, culminating in that fantastic day at Wembley in 1997 when we won our first cup for over 25 years.  He passed away 10 years ago now, but watching Chelsea is something I always relate to him, and as a new father myself, would hope to pass down to my kids as well.

However, the past few days and weeks have been hard to get my head around as a fan.  As many people point out, we knew Abramovich was shady to say the least when he bought the club, and the full extent of his ties with Putin was uncovered pretty earlier on.  However, the success he allowed us to achieve made me turn a blind eye to it – as did the fact he saved the club after it was on the brink of going bust under Ken Bates.  After all, what could I do?  The fans have no say in who owns their club so why not enjoy it?  And if it wasn’t us, it would be someone else, right?  And the money he earnt – that was all in the past now.

But even then, as my mates would tell me we bought the success, or it was paid with the blood of dead Russian babies, at the back of my mind, I would think that it would’ve been nice to achieve it another way.  But it was easy to just bat this away and say that was then, he’s changed now.  Nothing can be done, who cares.

So, watching the last few weeks unfold has shown the hypocrisy I have instilled in myself – I knew he was a bad man but who cares?  Especially when you have nights like that in Munich in 2012.  But it has taken the shine off those nights, off those trophies and probably will for the future.  He did great things for Chelsea, and even now, I can’t help but feel grateful for that, but it was at a cost; we were willing to accept that cost while it was hidden from view.  Do I feel guilty for that?  No, guilt is not the right word, but maybe shame.  Shame I was happy to go with the status quo.

The fans that chant his name are wrong – they are simply fans without shame, and do not represent the whole fanbase.  Chanting his name through the minute’s appreciation for Ukraine was especially disgusting.

Just to be clear, I’m not looking for sympathy or pity – just trying to explain my point of view, and probably other like-minded Chelsea fans.  But I do take issue with the glee some of the contributors seem to be taking in the situation at Chelsea – people will lose their jobs, the charity work it does locally will be lost, and the majority of normal Chelsea fans will potentially lose something of great value to them (and of personal value to me).  I would also point out that if Usmanov had taken control of Arsenal instead of Kroenke, they would be in the same position; if Abramovich had bought Spurs instead back in the day it would be them under sanctions – it really could happen to your club too.  It is luck of the draw.  There is nothing to be happy about it at all.

As a final note, the Chelsea Supporters Trust are asking all Chelsea fans to write to their MP to ask for the relevant recommendations of the Fan-led Review of Football Governance to be implemented ASAP amongst other things, and if some good – footballing-wise – can come of this, it may be that the government might finally be convinced to do something to put a stop to these owners leaving our clubs in this state.  Don’t do it for Chelsea but do it for your own club before it’s too late.

If the worst happens, and we do go the way of Bury, then so be it – there will be a new Chelsea to replace them at the bottom of the pyramid.   We were sold for a £1 in the early 80s, we were sold on the brink of going bust in 2003 – Chelsea will always exist in some form, and I will always support them, successful or not.

Blue will always be the colour.
JDC

Roman swings and roundabouts
A correspondent asked yesterday whether Chelsea fans would still chant Abramovich’s name.

The prompt answer at the Norwich game is that yes they would.

That’s a man who’s just been sanctioned for his close links to the perpetrators of what’s going on in Ukraine, and his personal role in subverting Ukranian independence and providing the war machines currently being used to shell children’s hospitals – but, you know, he spent some of that blood money on buying good footballers, so it’s swings and roundabouts.

That’s a really powerful reminder of just how potent a tool sportswashing is, and always has been. Those people chanting Abramovich’s name love Chelsea, I get that, but there are frankly more important things that they have been completely blinded to – its honestly unnerving that with everything that has happened in the last few weeks, the lure of football can get thousands of people to gather in central London and chant in support of one of the aggressors.
Andy (MUFC)

Ridiculous sanctions
I’m not sure where to start with the ridiculous restrictions the UK Government has placed on Chelsea Football Club. It is so petty and goes so much against the spirit of competitive sports that I wonder why the English FA, the Premier League, (they should be independent of government’s influence, right?) UEFA and FIFA have not kicked against this.

First, I get the whole sanctions on Russian oligarchs and so. But why not limit it to preventing Abramovich’s sale of the club? Why attempt to cripple the football club and their ability to compete?

It is common knowledge that Abramovich is not profiting financially from the club – he has forfeited his own money loaned to the club. So how does preventing the club from buying and selling players affect Abramovich and in the long run, Putin? How does preventing the club from renewing players contract upset Russia’s military operations?

And the most annoying part for me is limiting the club away day expenses to £20,000. How on earth does UEFA and FIFA overlook this?

I think the UK Government is forgetting that Chelsea Football Club is a 117-year old English institution. Roman did not bring this club from Russia! All the successes that Chelsea has gotten in Europe has enhanced the English game not the Russian one.

I really doubt that the extent of this sanction was well thought out and the only people looking ridiculous in this unnecessary drama are the UK Government.
Franklin, obviously CFC, Lagos

PS: Kudos to the Chelsea fans who keep chanting Roman Abramovich’s name. I will do the same in their position – only not during the time dedicated to pay tribute to the Ukrainians. Balance is needed.

Abramovich fake news
Lee, Thayden and the others – Stop spreading the fake information and fear mongering! There’s absolutely no evidence that Abramovich is funding the war in Ukraine. The best the government could do was link a steel plant with russian tanks, which is frankly ridiculous. Many of you have no clue on how business works in neo communist countries like Russia where the state has absolute control. Your capitalist western ideals are non starters in a dictatorship, you’ve lived in a bubble too long your view of the world is naive and skewed.

Football sites like this one help your likes to sensationalize information to keep you frothing in the mouth with sheer glee. No Chelsea fan wants your sentiments nor cares about what you think about us. I will continue to reiterate that none of you are that bothered about Ukraine. It’s just an excuse to spew your two decades worth of penned up vitriol born out of jealousy and hate. Also shame on you Jamie Carragher! Your comments on Utd making a move for Tuchel at this time is just distasteful, what an awful, awful person you are!

Every true Chelsea fan knows all this is propaganda campaign by the press to help the British government. They are prepared to make an example of Chelsea even if it hurts the ordinary briton. Every sentence is being overanalyzed and sensationalized to milk all the attention and for clickbait to keep the get government sponsored rhetoric going. Even over at the guardian the often cringe worthy Barney Ronay wrote a terrible excuse for a match report that didn’t allow comments, while all the other match reports did. He’s just another one in the long line of gutter journalists sticking the boot in. The press aren’t reporting what’s really going on behind the scenes. Interested buyers are still submitting their bids to takeover which will happen before the month ends. Abramovich loves the club too much to put it through a period of unconcertainty, the deal will be completed as soon as possible. It’s all a storm in a teacup, I’m not buying all the doom and gloom narrative from the press.
Double Eph.

Tuchel to Man United
So United have spent the last number of months undergoing a “thorough process” to make sure they appoint the right manager this summer.

Now at the drop of a hat, we’re ready to throw all of that work away – even though it was probably about as thorough as writing “1. Poch, 2. Ten Hag” on a napkin in the Director’s Box – and spend the next few months chasing a manager who only became “available” (using that term very loosely) about 12 hours ago.

This is symptomatic of the massive issues at United these days.

They’ve changed the game on the revenue side of things. They’re only competition for most corporate sponsors is Krusty the Clown. But they have no idea how to run the football side of the business.

It’s time to accept it now so it hurts less in May. It’ll be Rangnick on a one-year deal, new contracts for Juan Mata and Phil Jones, and a rejected £12m bid for James Ward-Prowse.
James, MUFC

Benzema revisionism
This revisionism surrounding Karim Benzema is absolutely bizarre to me. I’ve seen Micah Richards receive pelters from his opinion that he think Benzema is now on the level of Kane and Lewandowski after Benzema’s improvement over the last 6 months? What’s wrong with this? I’ve always been a massive Benzema fan and I knew what he did for Madrid. His goal tally during arguably Kane’s peak was brutal. He got 11 and 5 goals in 16-17 & 17-18 whereas Kane got 29 and 30 goals respectively.

I’m very well aware that goals don’t mean everything and that’s why I loved Benzema. His work up front was crucial for people like Ronaldo and Bale, similar to Firmino does for Liverpool, or what City’s false 9’s do. And to a lesser extent Lacazette’s new role at Arsenal which allows others around him to excel.

Anyways, I was quite sure that Benzema was very capable of getting 20 goals a season and he’s done that quite comfortably every season since Ronaldo left. What my issue is though is that we are changing history here. Very few people rated Benzema highly around this era. He was never in the conversations regarding the best strikers in the world. He was rarely talked about in general as his teammates took the plaudits. Kane on the other hand was discussed alongside Lewandowski and Suarez as the best in the world because his numbers were insane. Kane was also relevant on the international scene.

It’s only in the last 12 months or so that suggesting Kane is better than Benzema is something to be laughed at. Benzema is currently having the best season of his career while Kane is having arguably his worst in a decade. Kane scored 4 goals as his side got to the Euro Finals and was considered a flop. Benzema scored 4 goals as his side crashed out in the last 16 and was considered a baller. Kane was the best player in the PL in 20-21, likewise Benzema in Spain (not counting Messi). So why is it so hard for people to accept that these players are as good as each other? Is it the moronic outlook on how many trophies each has won? Of course Benzema has more trophies, he plays for Real Madrid! Do you think a side containing Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Ronaldo etc is going to go trophyless. It’s not Kane’s fault he’s won nothing.

I’m not really saying Kane is better or Benzema is better, but if you asked people from 2015-2021, I’d imagine most people would have said Kane. That doesn’t mean he is, it just means people have shifted their opinions based on recency bias. You’ll hear people say “Oh Benzema was underrated in that Madrid team with Ronaldo, he did so much for the team”… Ok fair enough, but you’re saying that now. Very few people are hyping up Benzema to this extent back then. I feel bad for Richards because he’s saying something that is perfectly reasonable but is being torn apart for it because everyones changed their opinions.
Dion, Arsenal.

Coutinho arousal
Watching Coutinho in a Villa shirt is mildly arousing. That’s it.
Gary (AVFC).