Tuesday, October 27

Stamford Bridge is falling down…

Good news that Chelsea are being charged by the FA after their disgraceful behaviour on Saturday. Though I'm not sure why West Ham are also being charged with failing to control their players, unless it's to prevent another Mourinho tirade. Chelsea appears to be a club that has lost all sense of discipline. They had six players booked, a coach sent off and their manager sent to the stands after entering the referee's room at half-time. Then Mourinho refused to give a TV interview after the game, despite being obliged to do so, and left poor Gary Cahill to speak to the press. Despite looking a little embarrassed, Cahill made a decent job of it and didn't whinge like his manager.

You'd like to think West Ham learnt a little about how to lose with good grace in the days of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, and what was striking about Chelsea's attitude was a complete lack of sporting behaviour. Matic deserved his two yellow cards, Zouma's header was nearly over the line but not quite and the goaline technology proved it, while Fabregas's goal was a close call but he was offside by an elbow. Some refs would have allowed it, others wouldn't. And Adrian had already stopped moving having heard the whistle. No huge conspiracy there, yet Jose Mourinho continues to talk himself out of a job. He deserved to be sent to the stands and taunted by Danny Dyer, who quipped, "all right sunshine?" before being ushered away by a steward.

2 comments:

PT said...

I seem to remember Kevin Nolan getting an almost identical goal chalked off at Old Trafford after Rooney was sent off, so it's not just an anti Chelsea conspiracy.

Pete May said...

Yes, those decisions can go either way but by letter of law the ref and lingo were right...