Fickle Football

Why are we, the British public, so fickle? Why can we just not accept the fact that there is a new dominating force in football and it is no longer the usual suspects who win the league? For years we wanted one team to step up to the stage and decide to break up the dominance of Manchester United and Arsenal, and as the hypocrites we are we all turn on the teams back and jump on the hate wagon when someone finally does.

If you do not know by now what and who I am talking about, then it's obvious you have watched the premier league with your eyes closed for the last two seasons. However if you need clarification, I am talking about Chelsea Football Club and how they have had a stroke of luck which has turned their status from continental to world-wide.

The little bit of luck I am referring to is the fact that whilst Chelsea and Ken Bates was in their worst hours and days away from bankruptcy, they stumbled upon a Russian billionaire called Roman Abramovich. Since then they have gone on to buy some of the best players in the game today and have won the Premiership Trophy two years running. So what is everyone's problem?

Now that this has happened all of the football pundits and everyone related to football has thrown accusation after accusation at the team in shear jealousy just because their team were not the lucky ones. Why can not the football world just be happy their prayers have been answered and there is a new team on the block who are here to stay and are not just one year wonders like Dalgleish's Blackburn or Keegan's Newcastle?

Instead of support, we have fans constantly telling TV shows how "Chelsea have bought the league" and that they "Bought the dominance" they now have. I am sure Manchester United has dominated all these years and has not spent a penny on world class talent. Let me remind you about the £30 million pound Rio Ferdinand and the £29 million pound Juan Veron, oh yes and the £20 million pound Wayne Rooney! I think you will all agree with my point now, football is a business and affairs off the pitch are now just as important as goals on it. Unfortunately football clubs do not succeed without money.

Furthermore, what happened to the English nation getting behind the English clubs in European competitions? It seems recently every game Chelsea play the whole world wants them to loose and be made to look embarrassed. The nation supports Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in Europe, but, as soon as Chelsea are playing it all turns round and there is a part of every football fan - except Blues fans obviously - that want Chelsea to fail . Maybe it is just me but I can not help but notice even the commentators on the game favour the opposition. Clearly only faithful ex-players stand by Chelsea, two weeks ago when Chelsea played in Spain, at the Nou Camp against the worlds best team, Barcelona, Chelsea played the better football throughout and also had a bias referee to contend with, every pundit and reporter accused Chelsea of more luck and that the players did not deserve the draw they dramatically got.

I just can not figure out why the football nation despises Chelsea so much. Is it because of the money? The manager? Roman Abramovich? The players? The dominance? Or is it just down to jealousy? I believe it is the latter, and that we should not despise Chelsea and aim all our hatred at their success, we should encourage Manchester United and all the other teams that have been flattened by Chelsea's new dominance to step up and be counted for. Chelsea raised the bar for the premiership and made it the most exciting league in the world and I for one can only thank Mr Abramovich.