Dead man walking
Tue Apr 15 08:53AM
Yesterday, Early Doors mentioned Justin Hoyte as one of those people whose presence on or near the pitch increases his team's chances of failure by about 300 percent.
We can probably add to the list the names of Alex, Wayne Bridge, John Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda and Chelsea's dead man walking Avram Grant.
The Israeli's decision to leave out Joseph and Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho against Wigan was compounded by Frank Lampard's last-minute withdrawal due to his mother's illness.
Meanwhile Petr Cech appeared with a chinstrap possibly borrowed from a royal guardsman. Had he also loaned a bearskin hat, to create a deluxe version of the David James afro, he might also have headed Emile Heskey's equaliser off the line.
Chelsea were clueless in the first half. So completely and hopelessly inept the notion that they were in contention to win 'The Best League In The WorldTM' seemed not just fanciful but borderline insane.
Joey Cole perked them up after the break, but it was inevitable that their inability to finish teams off would eventually haunt them, as the prolific Heskey popped up to snaffle his third goal of the season.
Grant's team selection was dodgy at best but, as always in football, you only get pilloried when you fail to win.
Had Manchester United lost to Arsenal on Sunday, more questions might be asked about why Park Ji-Sung played instead of Ryan Giggs or Carlos Tevez. But United won, so nobody cared.
- - -
However bad the Chelsea players were, they paled in comparison with the crowd, who exceeded their fickle, complacent, pampered reputation.
You don't have to like Grant, but when he has led your team to the brink of the title, playing much the same football as Jose Mourinho, it's probably time to cut him some slack.
But instead of getting behind their team as they laboured through the first half, the audience (a better word than crowd, as it reflects their passivity) chose only to show their displeasure, booing them off at the break.
Had Manchester United, Liverpool or even Arsenal conceded a 90th-minute equaliser, their fans would have whipped up a three-minute cauldron of noise, hoping to inspire a dramatic injury time winner.
The only sound at Stamford Bridge was that of plastic seats flipping back to their upright position as a mass exodus ensued.
The few who stayed jeered the introduction of Andriy Shevchenko, booed at the final whistle and booed again as the players left the field.
These players have not been vanquished in a league game in front of their ungrateful 'supporters' for over 80 games, and yet Heather Mills would have got a better reception at a Beatles gig.
As well as remaining unbeaten at home since something like 1963, Chelsea have 75 points from 34 games.
If they won their three games against Everton, Newcastle and Bolton, and draw against United, they would end the season with 85 points.
While less than they managed in each of their two title-winning seasons, it would still have been enough to win the championship both times (the runners-up had 83 in both 2004-05 and 05-06).
And 85 points would have won the title in the first four years after the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams.
All of which statistical mumbo jumbo goes to show - you'd have to be an idiot to boo Chelsea off after a draw.
- - -
Amazingly, Chelsea do not have the worst fans in the world (they are equal second with Groningen supporters, who carried out an arson attack on their own stadium at the weekend).
That honour goes to Beitar Jerusalem, who may lose their league title after a pitch invasion forced the abandonment of their game on Sunday.
Four minutes from time Beitar led 1-0, a result that would have given them an unassailable 15-point lead. But as jubilant fans poured onto the field, the referee had no choice but to abandon the game.
Beitar now face a possible points deduction and owner Arkady Gaydamak (daddy of Pompey big cheese Alexandre) prepared a superb rant to put the club's errant followers in their place.
"It's my team, not their team. They should go out from the stadium, they should go out from Beitar, they should go out from our lives. Those people are hopeless, they are insolent...and stupid," he stormed.
So you see: Avram Grant is actually having a whale of a time in England.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I know all about Gazza and I feel I can help him. A lot of top sportsmen have suffered in their private lives, including me, and that is why I want to help. I still see him as a superstar and would like to meet him if he feels up for it. Back in 2005, Wayne Rooney was on a downer and I met him and lifted his spirits. I am sure I can do the same for Paul Gascoigne." Aren't you the same Mike Tyson who once gnawed a guy's ear off and promised to eat Lennox Lewis's children?
FOREIGN VIEW: Ronaldinho won't even arrive in Milan until July, and yet the backlash has already started. Marco van Basten says the rossoneri don't need him, while Clarence Seedorf tells Corriere dello Sport the transfer is "not a priority".
TALKING POINT: Harbingers of football doom: Djimi Traore, Andriy Voronin, John O'Shea, Andy van der Meyde, Zinedine Kilbane, Lasagna (sic) Diarra and, er, Emile Heskey. Want to reconsider, gossagemartin?
Today: Who has the worst fans in the world?
COMING UP: Bums in the Championship have been squeaking for some time. There is action at both ends of the table as Wolves play West Brom and Barnsley take on Hull. Follow those live from 7.45pm.
Chelsea came from nowhere to win 2 Premier League titles thanks to Russian millions and Mourinho and their arroagnt and vile supporters thought they were as untouchable as their team. They have never acted with the grace of champions and now they're getting what they deserve - nothing. To quote their song "We are the Chelsea, we are the best, we are the Chelsea and f*** all the rest" . That lack of respect has now filtered through thotheir own team and manager. Just desserts
From grahamnpotter on Tue Apr 15 12:03PMFans most likely to throw their toys out of the pram: Chelsea. I only know one Chelsea fan, but he is a grumpy so-and-so who said about 6 weeks ago that he hopes Chelsea win nothing so that Grant gets the boot. What a load of rubbish, if you had won the league (and you could still win the CL, let's not forget), then he would be your man.
I would be more worried about the short-term approach to buying expensive players. Surely Abramovich will get bored if Chelsea don't win enough, and who will pay the salaries then? Sacking Grant would be a great move - just ask Newcastle fans how manager rotation has helped them transform the club. Looking to return to the "heady" days of the late 70s/early 80s? Thought not!
From garethcoletranslations on Tue Apr 15 12:14PMAnd just as I thought things were calming down..........
From barny1158 on Tue Apr 15 12:14PMAnyone with half an eye (and half a brain to use it) can see the players hate Avram Grant. The only reason we're doing half as well as we are is because of players like Terry and Lampard (Yes, Lampard) lifting the side. Grant doesn't have a clue tactically - as proven by his constant mistakes in selection and tactics. Why Saloman Kalou is playing football is anyones guess. He is so bad it's untrue, yet Wright-Phillips is never given a chance. And yes, he got it right against Arsenal, but that was an anomaly. One good subsitution doesn't make up for a season of mediocraty, especially in light of the shambles against Wigan. There also seems to be some notion that Grant is a nice guy so we shouldn't lambast him - where is this coming from? His interviews are so boring and predicable I could script them. Just because Harry "Put the money in the briefcase" Redknapp likes him doesn't mean we have to.
From rjclooney on Tue Apr 15 12:15PMWho are the worst fans in the league? well for a team that will come second in the greatest league in the world with a manager who as only been in the job for one season and are jeering their team....Chelsea fans are without doubt the worst. Most of you came with Abramovichies money and the trophies and most of you will leave as the trophies become fewer. You are like the man united fans of London, supporting the winning team only when its winning. How many of you will be wearing Surs or Arsenal shirts next season? Pathetic is the word for Chelsea fans.
From mark4photo2004 on Tue Apr 15 12:15PMFor once i have to agree with simondenham; there are a lot of ridiculous posts on here today about the same thing. Ok, you may want to debate which team is better blah blah but write something a bit different every time, it's sounding like a broken record!
Then again, i think simondenham is a very bitter person and for the life of me cannot understand why he comes on here just to get annoyed with everyone. Also you were f u cki ng out of order the other day. Like i said, get a facebook, get some friends.
From the_kop2003 on Tue Apr 15 12:16PMThe worst fans?
The people who write stupid, illegible and pointless messages on EDs board which have no relevance or constructive points which are just used as inflammatory comments to try and score cheap points against supporters of a rival club.From jjss.rm on Tue Apr 15 12:18PMTo all!!!
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/15042008/58/premi
er-league-fans-call-time-grant.html
Do you need more???From al_pachino666 on Tue Apr 15 12:25PMIt's possible that u Chelsea fans watch more Man United games than I do, but never in my life have I seen a majority of United fans leaving the game after 70 or even 90min. Forget majority...I haven't even noticed a sizeable number of people getting off their seats (ok let's ignore the fact that we don't really like sitting during games anyway). Not even when City disgraced us at home some weeks ago. We waited till the end. We hoped till the end. We cried silently at the end. U Chelsea fans don't have to start pointing fingers just because c**p is overflooding ur drainage...have the courtesy and gentlemanliness of accepting ur fault and errors...U JUST AREN'T VERY GOOD AT SUPPORTING.I've never heard a United team or player being booed (alright alright we seldom have reason to do so). U guys haven't lost at home since the 2nd World War...but I'd rather United be first than keep an unbeaten home record (no one gets prizes for that...we've still got the best defense this season). I swear at my team when they play badly. Anger is still a human emotion. But after every game I still feel my heart beat when I see those young men in Red with the Devil on it...and I know that next week (or next Wednesday) I'll back to sing The United Calypso. To the fella or lady who said most Man United fans are not from Manchester: 1) when u've got a stadium that sits (or stands) 76,000, u're opt to get a few folks from Liverpool or even London visiting 2) is it possible that everyone that supports Chelsea lives in West London? 3) people don't have to live in Manchester to support, love and cheer The Red Devils...that's why we were, are and will always be a bigger team than Chelsea. I'm getting my bottle of Chgampagne for the Chelsea game. The league is ours. But I will drink a toast to u Chelsea fans...for a battle well fought.
From tosinsbox on Tue Apr 15 12:27PMJust to shift away from the hatred in here...I'd like to officially praise the Derby fans who still go to watch their matches. That's what u call supporting. That's what u call love. Keep it up. Your team needs u.
Worst fans: Real Madrid fans. Those white hankies go up almost every week
From tosinsbox on Tue Apr 15 12:31PMHi Barny, what about Wenger's dark mutterings on MOTD2, implying that there is a dark conspiracy out there to prevent Arsenal from winning the league with their brand of beautiful football? In all seriousness, genuine good/bad luck usually evens itself out, and as you pointed out, the best team over the course of a season usually wins. Any calls among Arsenal fans for a fresh face in charge?
From garethcoletranslations on Tue Apr 15 12:32PMTo barny1158.
Don't worry
Let them spit.
They are the worst fans.
You have to have a respect for other clubs if you love football. Simple as that. That is why we love our clubs. Because they play football. The game we love and cherish. Credit to ManU by the way. If they win the title (and now after draw with Wigan I think they will) congratulations to them. They deserved it, they showed more attacking and entertaining football this year.From al_pachino666 on Tue Apr 15 12:33PMspot on jjss.rm
this has turned into a full blown arguement, every1 is entitled to their own opinion but sum of the comments are getting abusive. Man utd an chelsea are both quality teams who wouldnt look out of place in any league in the world. chelsea fans have a right to want to win the league an cl altho the league looks unlikely, an it doesnt matter that abramovich took them to where they are, the fact is they are there. instead of judgin avram grant now, judge him at the end of the season
From marcgrant7 on Tue Apr 15 12:40PMIsn't modern football amazing? 2nd in the league, semi-final of the CL, final of the League Cup....and this is failure? Yes, Chelski has pots of cash and expectations are high, but I think the track record hardly makes Grant a bad manager, and Chelsea are not a bad team. I think a certain persepctive is needed. I haven't been bothered reading the 70 or so previous posts so I don't know if someone has already said this, but did anyone stop to think why Grant rested so many first choice players? Simple. Chelski face the Mighty EFC on Thursday!!!
Actually, with Everton's already thin and now depleted and exhausted squad struggling to finish every game at the moment, I don't think Chelsea have a lot to fear from us - Chelsea Reserves could probably take us at the moment - the gas tank is empty sad to say. Great season though - 5th place, decent cup runs, great manager...just need a stronger squad if we are going to make that step up.
From andywalker269 on Tue Apr 15 12:43PMWell once again it seems everyone is ganging up on Chelsea fans. Tickets to Premier League games at Stamford Bridge start at about £50 a seat. If you'd paid £50 to watch your team come out and play like THAT when they know they have to win to stay in the title race, then you would boo. As soon as he was appointed I said that Avram Grant was not the man for the job, and I stand by that. He cannot handle a match with any pressure at all. He proved it in the Carling Cup final against Tottenham, in the FA Cup against Barnsley (We lost to Barnsley!?) and again against Wigan. Under Mourinho we would've won the Carling Cup, with the teams left in there we'd probably win the FA Cup, and we could even have been going on for the Premier League. If Avram Grant doesn't achieve in the Champions' League this season (if he remains manager) then Abramovich's plan for 'attractive football' has well and truly backfired. Grant's unpredictable sides play the same football as Mourinho's did, just without the success.
From matthew1905 on Tue Apr 15 12:44PMTo people who criticise a big club like ManU for attracting what they perceive as fairweather supporters: I love football, but I don't really have a proper team as I always support a local team and have always moved around a bit. This season I will have seen just 3 matches at Sheffield Wed, Mansfield and Chesterfield. The point is, if I had the opportunity to go to a match at Old Trafford, the Emirates, Anfield or wherever, then I would jump at it. You don't have to be a diehard loyal fan to enjoy football at any level, but especially not at the highest. It pleases me no end though when I see a little boy in my son's class go to every Derby match - such a nice contrast to all the ManU and Chelsea pencil cases - so well said Tosinbox ;o)
While we are on the subject of actually going to matches though, the tickets are just ridiculously expensive. Money corrupts football at all levels, including by stopping lots of people from going. Great fans go week-in-week out, not just because their company got a corporate box or because they are loaded. Think how much the prices could go down if Ferdinand had just signed a contract for 30k a week (still a small fortune) instead of 130k...times that by all the others...From garethcoletranslations on Tue Apr 15 12:48PMAnd something I forgot to mention...
Has anybody else noticed that Avram Grant seems to have no motivational skills whatsoever? It first came to my attention at half time in extra time in the Carling Cup final when it was John Terry, not Avram Grant, trying to motivate the players, and this trend has carried on...
From matthew1905 on Tue Apr 15 12:51PMTo matthew1905
Well said!!! The rest is missing the point here. we don't talk about bad or good team, we talk about manager.From al_pachino666 on Tue Apr 15 12:53PMMatthew, your frustration is evident in your posts. My question would be to ask what Abramovich is doing interfering with Mourinho so much that he walked, and then appointing Grant, who according to some people posting today, is clueless, hopeless, devoid of talent, motivational ability etc etc etc. Seems to me it is Abramovich who is to blame - I would think Grant is just doing his best, even though some think his best is not very good. It is worth remembering that Chelsea were a nothing team a few years ago before Roman came along with his dodgy blllions, and if he pulled out, I wonder what the future would hold. Don't be too downhearted by everything as they stand.
From andywalker269 on Tue Apr 15 01:00PMmatthew1905, I wouldn't want to second-guess what happens in the dressing room, but a great manager will always have great stature and a tremendous presence - how else could he/she be a great motivator. I agree with you that Grant does seem to be lacking in that department, but a combination of being a quieter type and possibly lacking in the lingo department doesn't help.
From garethcoletranslations on Tue Apr 15 01:00PMTo everyone who thinks that we shouldn't play on club rivalry and "score cheap points" against opponents: surely that's a part of why football is so enjoyable. I dont get upset when people take cheap shots at my team - it's part of the banter! I have friends who support so many different clubs, and if we didnt rubbish each others teams, managers, fans and achievements, then it would be a much duller world. If you dont like the banter, stay away from the football media.
tosinsbox - great point, well made. Derby's fans have supported their team amazingly over recent years and that has continued this season even though things have gone terribly for them. I was there earlier in the season and although they were already in trouble in the league, and were well beaten by us on the day, they never stopped singing.
From northern_hamster on Tue Apr 15 01:00PMthe best obviously sunderland fans!
when i was young i had no sense
i bought a flute for 50 pence
the only tune that i could play
was fk the mags and the toon armynanana
nanana
nanananaananana
nanana
nanana
nananan
aananana
From h_micallef26 on Tue Apr 15 01:04PMGarethcole,
About the MOD2 comments regarding Wenger. I must admit, did indeed seem over the top, yes a few bad decisions have gone against the team, but as I have stated already, Arsenal were lacking in the final third. Wenger has whinged a lot this year, and as a gooner it pains me to say that, but he surely must recognise the fact that a young team needs leadership and encouragement when things go against them , and agree with Lee Dixon, not sure Gallas is the right man for the job. If there is money to spend, (supposedly there is,) then he has to spend I'm afraid .From barny1158 on Tue Apr 15 01:05PMI haven't had time to read all of the comments as I am busy at work but I do disagree with ED's report about last night. Actually, there was quite a lot of singing and support from the crowd - especially in the first quarter - more than usual, it seemed to me. Ok, so we're not the loudest crowd in the world every match. So what? The prooblem was that the team played really badly for most of the game. They were negative and dull and din't press for a second goal. Anelka played really deep and malouda might as well have not been there. The team selected (especially if Lampard had played) should have been good enough and it wasn't. Cole did ok when he came on but after we scored we sat back again. I don't know where Grant gets his chance count from but if he means every time we managed to push the ball vaguly in the direction of the goal, he could be right. But how many decent shots/headrs did we execute? Hardly any. Finally, we did not boo Sheva - he always gets laods of support. We booed the ridiculous decsion to bring him on at the end. fans around me were saying we should have bought him on half an hour earlier and gone 4-4-2. By the way ED, I have been going to Chelsea since 1968 and most of the people who sit around me are pretty long term supporters. Funny isn't it how clubs get criticsised for attracting fans when they are successful. What's that all about Isn't that rather the point???
From michelangeloindeed on Tue Apr 15 01:06PMquite simply chelsea should have had no issues beating wigan at home but they did.....and they should pay for their performance. Sometimes you can't do anything and this seasons seems to be heading that direction. We would be having this discussion 2 weeks back if middlesbrough would have not been so unlucky against chelsea and not scored. I'm a chelsea fan and seeing that middlesbrough match u knew somethings not right. This was inevitable. Chelsea need to dispatch these teams convincingly and its not happening.
From rohit0110 on Tue Apr 15 01:08PMTo northern_hamster, I totally agree. Explaining some tasty new expletives to my sons at the Mansfield v. Boro game is surely just part of the whole growing up thing...;o) Actually, the atmosphere at that game turned pretty nasty afterwards, as do the comments so often on this site. Shame a lot of people don't understand the difference between light-hearted rib-poking and being an a***e!
From garethcoletranslations on Tue Apr 15 01:10PMLet's be frank: football has never been a gentleman's game.
From tosinsbox on Tue Apr 15 01:19PMPompey fans for their Judas/Saviour rants at Harry when he came back. barny1158 is right though, we're all a fickle bunch and i know ManU fans who have slated SAF at times but he seems to have done alright for them. I'm a CFC fan and have been for many years, booing you own team is not on and it does pee me off when the crowd do it. My guess is it's TV fans copying what they see/ hear when they watch 'boro or NUFC matches on SKY. But, to be fair, Avram why not play Drogba??!! I'm sure he could manage 2 matches in 1 week. They've all just had 6 days off!!!
From chris.prior2 on Tue Apr 15 01:21PMIn agreement with you garethcole,
And sorry if my womanly opinion upsets certain individuals, but there is indeed a cut off point between light hearted banter and full scale rantings between footballs fans. Some people do not understand that and things indeed get ridiculous. I live with a spurs supporter, and we rib each others teams constantly, but the one thing we also do is acknowledge each others teams ability when it comes down to the game. Banter is part and parcel, as long as its kept in good humour.From barny1158 on Tue Apr 15 01:27PMAvram Grant should be asked to face the wrath if Chelsea fail to win the league cos his poor team selection has always been the resultant bad results to the team. it is a pity for a team like Wigan to come to Stamford bridge and held them to a one-one draw. In fact this match has inevitably call for an outcry for the replacement of Avram Grant as a coach at the end of the season. i simply believe that Grant does not believe in seriousness.
From sakhienle on Tue Apr 15 01:29PM
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