I've posted before about my history with both clubs I support. I'm not ashamed to say I started supporting because of Mourinho's squad. They exhibited the game play traits of a team I would love to be part of as a defensive minded person. Since most of my family that watches the sport and many friends are Arsenal fans, I'm still getting into the Chelsea history and such myself since I didn't grow up with it. I'm generally not a huge history buff with things like sports. Squads change, managers change, etc. I like the now and the future. I like seeing the strategy. I was a football fan way before I was a Chelsea or a Charlton fan because I played and liked watching it from a neutral standpoint. A lot of this lack of bias allows me to be civil with other fans as well as be able to question things in the teams I support.
When I started supporting Chelsea, the Roman era was fresh. This was one of the beginnings of apparently when money came into football (because it wasn't before apparently). Over the years, the revolving door that is the Chelsea managerial spot has been a point of ridicule for other supporters. Initially, after RDM's sacking I was disillusioned about the way Roman is running things because of what RDM has done for the club. But after some time I can really see it from both sides. It is still not really what I like in a team and I think some of the criticism of Chelsea as a football organization is warranted. I will put both the good and the bad into sections titled "bad Roman" and "good Roman."
Bad Roman:
I think the biggest pet peeve for me and what may get a lot of people is the dissonance between Roman and the fans. He doesn't even give the impression that he cares about anything but anything fan related but their money. This is a big no in the English game as most people who make themselves a name in a team generally at least act like they appreciate the fans. To be fair, these people are rarely owners because owners rarely draw attention to themselves. Roman has clear agendas and will do everything in his power to get it. The problem is now it is beginning to disrupt the team. Tabloids have talked of a rift developing in the locker room because the team thinks that Roman is making major decisions based on what is best for some ideal Torres form rather than the well-being of the team or making use of the loaded midfield available to him. His agendas also show when Chelsea has transfer rumors despite not having a manager. I do not like the revolving door and would love to have a manager to attribute to an era that lasts more than two years. A manager would also be nice because transfers without a strategy or direction are pretty pointless. A player like Torres wasn't meant for a set up like Chelsea that devalues and striker that isn't a target man in favor of a strong midfield.
Good Roman:
As many old school fans will remind you, without Roman there would probably be no Chelsea. He has put a lot of personal money into the club. I'm sure many fans would prefer to be annoyed by an owner in the Premier League than suffer the fate of Rangers and have to start from a low league. Also, as a business man he is not actually being too crazy in some aspects. Roman has had a goal of Champion's League, wins and great-looking football. He has already decided he wants a top manager that has shown they can win and play good football. The tools are in place in this current squad (bar maybe a striker) and frankly Di Matteo did not cut it in either end of the pitch. We would have loved to see him finish up the season but realistically he may not have had a great season and he was headed out as soon as someone like Pep or Mourinho are available. Benitez, like RDM, knows he will not have a long stay. In Roman's eyes, he may have saved Chelsea a trophy or two but at the same time his end goal is beyond either men.
With both sides in mind I can only hope that in a few seasons Roman can resolve the Torres problem and find a permanent manager as what is currently happening goes against what I like about football. I can understand treating it as a business and you need to to a large degree but I think he needs to give the fans some assurance that they are even remotely involved in the club. If that will never be the case then I find it hard to be more interested in the club (call me a plastic if you will but I don't like the idea of putting money into a billionaires own real life football manager game when he is not a former player but makes decisions that the manager should be making). Chelsea was earning respect with RDM and that is the biggest shame of seeing him go. The brutal and abrupt ending of his Chelsea managing career was representative of the lack of respect for the fans as he is considered one of us. Only time will tell though. If all goes according to plan, next season or so should be the start of the first consistent managerial era under Roman. Maybe the return of the special one. Whoever it is must be ready to live with Roman breathing down there neck unless he has a change of heart. But he'd have to use his heart once for the club for that to happen.
Daniel
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