“And the situation will worsen, for as yet Sky have been unable to revel in it completely, having missed out to BT on the coverage of key games. Next Saturday’s game at Stoke is their chance to ramp up the regression and they are bound to grab it gleefully. Expect Sparky to back Jose to the hilt in the press conference, then prepare his side to tank into us under the tolerant gaze of a referee and his assistants specifically chosen for the task. All too predictable…”

 

Dorset (Shed End Forum, 2nd November, 2015)

 

Has it really come down to this - a sorry state of affairs in which I quote myself unashamedly and henceforth will doubtless lapse into that semi-conscionable state otherwise known as third person reference. Afraid so, yet while there is a small element of self indulgent concern for my own state of mind within this piece, it is as nothing compared to the hoped-for steady remedial flow filtering through from the more responsible media outlets since it became obvious to all [concerned] that this time Jose is not to be quite so easily ousted from the English game. Indeed, Dorset has chosen the word ’responsible’ carefully (oh hell, it’s started to happen already) because, as we all know, it was used by no lesser authority [on authority] than Jamie Redknapp in this, the most recent of his failed attempts to revenge jibe Jose Mourinho:- 

 

"Mourinho has to take a lot of responsibility for that [current team performance]; the club doctor [situation], taking John Terry off at half-time against Man City, subbing Nemanja Matic on and off - he's the best player you've got - Eden Hazard's form, a stadium ban, how many more things can there be?"

 

Well, Jamie, speaking Frankie-ly {jeez, now I’m in fourth person mode!] there is no real justification for  you talking complete b******s at any time, but when you do it repeatedly in front of a camera, and in this instance in presence of your more responsibly-minded cousin (knowing full well he cannot contradict you) it says more about your own reputation than it does about that of those you seek to discredit. However, putting personal vendetta to one side (be it Redknapp’s or his employer’s) I think most of us recognise that Sky are irretrievably stuck in the Jose stigma groove regardless of validity and the media outlet will never be moving with the times on this issue, whereas, in stark contrast, The Times proper has already begun to get a significant shift on, the following extracts from Matt Hughes latest article serving to emphasise the change of approach emerging from the [so-called] responsible press…

 

“José Mourinho has not received any assurances about his future after Chelsea’s defeat away to Stoke City on Saturday, their third successive Barclays Premier League loss, but he is expected to remain as manager when they return to action after the international break against Norwich City a week on Saturday…. Chelsea’s hierarchy have also detected signs of improvement in recent matches and have concluded that the spirit and effort produced by the players in defeat away to Stoke are indicative of a team still playing for their manager. Roman Abramovich, the owner, was not at the Britannia Stadium, but has received some positive reports from his advisers and is not thought to be preparing to sack Mourinho in the immediate future.”

 

Somewhat surprisingly and ignoring the mere business puff in other parts of the article, this appears to be a genuine, almost heartfelt, turnaround from the journalist who had previously given us such gems as ‘José Mourinho began dressing-room discontent with 'Mickey Mouse' jibe’ and the unbelievable and instantly forgettable ‘Chelsea would let José Mourinho stay in England’. However, perhaps of even greater significance was the fact that there was more like this to follow, constituting a broadening of the scope of the universal scales-from-eyes epiphany [seemingly] about to take place in media circles…

 

“Abramovich’s uncharacteristic patience reflects his acknowledgement that Mourinho is not the only one who has made mistakes this season, as well as his belief that the incumbent remains the man best equipped to turn things around. Senior figures at the club accept and have told Abramovich that their transfer dealings - in which Mourinho’s role was minimal - were unsatisfactory last summer and have left the manager with a squad that is far weaker and less balanced than he envisaged. 

 

There is also a widespread belief at Chelsea that the task awaiting any manager brought in to replace Mourinho would be far tougher than that undertaken by any of his recent predecessors, as the existing squad is less self-reliant and resilient than those of the past… the strong characters of that central axis, as well as others such as Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack, have not been adequately replaced and with the exception of Diego Costa, Chelsea’s best players are not natural leaders.”

 

Evidence of the Media s**t storm passing over us at last and the first signs of a reflective, rather than vindictive, mood taking hold in the wake of incessant criticism? Most certainly the club would like to think so, and especially the owner, despite him never likely to be afforded any deserved credit should he decide to persevere, under extreme provocation, with Jose at the helm. Still, Roman would settle for such settlement of the situation I’m sure, and the hope would be for more quiet[er] reflection from the tabloids in the future, faced as it has been by the noisiest rebuttal of their nonsense by the fans, the next body of opinion to receive a Matt Hughes Ultimate Acceptance Award. Okay, it may come with critical proviso attached, but at least it’s not as solemnly pinned on us as those newly-minted Jurgen Klopp Absentia Medals were on the (d)early departed at Anfield yesterday…        

 

“The strong support Mourinho has received from Chelsea fans, who sang his name after the defeat away to Stoke just as loudly as they had after the Champions League victory over Dynamo Kiev last week, also counts in his favour… although Chelsea would prefer Mourinho to curb his criticism of referees and the FA’s disciplinary department, there is sympathy with his view that they have been badly treated by officials this season, and their sense of injustice will have increased by events at Stoke. Mourinho is believed to have been engulfed in rage in his hotel room when Chelsea were not awarded a late penalty after Jack Butland made contact with Loïc Rémy when the France striker was through on goal.”

 

So, if you read The Times as Dorset does, it’s not a bad start to the week in terms of CFC portrayal and its effect on public perception. Whether such wisdom will turn out to be worldly-wise by the end of the International break remains to be seen, but Dorset believes it to be a decent enough beginning and, by the time his medication kicks in and the Norwich game kicks off, the hope is he’ll be back to normal soon and the team he supports will be well on the road to recovery too.  

.  

 

Always a pleasure to read your posts Dorset, cheers!

good post... and well done roman for sticking with the main man  .....onwards and upwards ....cfc together..

Maybe even the press are becoming bored, with the itchy trigger finger narrative. Jamie Redknapp is too thick to realise the band wagon might be headed in a different direction, so he continues to parrot the same clichéd old nonsense he always does.

 

I love the fact that our fans are so supportive, while the Scouse "faithful" have been shamed by their new Messiah. I will keep my powder dry until after the international break though, to see if there really is about to be a sea change in media reporting of Chelsea's woes.

Intresting read has usual Dorset....

Keep taking the medication Dorset.