WHAT WE HAVE WE HOLD

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Since the final whistle blew late Saturday tea time the magician that is Jose Mourinho has once again started a controversy raging that touches the whole football world.

Mourinho rallied defiantly in his post-match interview, more against the critics he surely anticipated after Chelsea’s stern rearguard performance than any negative punditry that was actually forthcoming as perhaps surprisingly, most TV aficionados acknowledged the acumen and fighting qualities that hallmarked yet another determined, counter-attacking triumph for the Premier League’s Champions-elect.

Jose maintained everything had gone exactly to plan. Tactically he claimed, he, his coaching staff and players had sucked in everything they had expected from onetime mentor, Louis Van Gaal and the reborn Manchester United had to offer and blown it back out in their faces. At such times the lately reticent, apparently wounded, once media-darling and master of footballing strategy can show a different set of teeth. Like the snarling and unwell Jose who pounded the sky after Chelsea broke Anfield hearts on another hit and run raid back last April.

Indeed, if anyone needs convincing that the Chelsea of the latter-half of season 2014~2015 are truly deserving of their 10 point lead it must be their long-suffering financier Roman Abramovich who we understand still longs to see a ‘Barca-type football’ played consistently on the grass of  Stamford Bridge and the equally long-suffering Chelsea fans who accepted a long way back they must always ‘walk alone’ but still secretly wonder what it must be like to see your club’s football adored.

Back in 1999 ‘the blues’ still awaited their 1st Premier title when they triumphed by 5 goals to nil to go top of the league in November against the team that would be eventually crowned champions the following May. Sir Alex Ferguson cites the humiliation of that resounding loss as the key motivation that drove Manchester United on to win their 6th Premier Title. Famously, straight after that historic demolishment, Gianluca Vialli, then Chelsea’s manager, rode on the back of a scooter to Heathrow to catch a plane to Italy for a family event rather than staying in London to prepare for their next important fixture.

No such distractions for Jose. Chelsea remain undefeated in the league since New Years Day when they were pulled and picked apart by a rampant Tottenham Hotspur and an inspired Harry Kane who put the magic 5 past Courtois. Was it that day and after that performance that Mourinho decided – ‘Enough and no further?’ Was it there and then he modified an outgoing, expansive tactic that had won a lot of admiring glances for one that would ‘get the job done’?

The early season game-plan had been found out and allowed 2 recent defeats. Jose recognised, as Sir Alex had back in 1999, something needed fixing and fast. At Stamford Bridge last Saturday night it was ‘the blues’ who had everything to lose, United who had everything to win. Now only the history books will truly show the importance of that win and not the manner of it.

writtenbyedenbray20.04.2015

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CHELSEA – ACTUALLY TOO NAIVE !! (Dark Arts?!* .. . Been Watching Too Much Game of Thrones)

Found BLOGGING on ‘the Blues’ a little tricky for a few months now. There hasn’t seemed much ‘fresh’ to say and really I hate to join in with the usual media-driven debates over this and that, which we all get far too taken up with anyway. I literally hate the media at present and agree wholeheartedly with all of Jose’s conspiracy theories.

My thoughts on ‘the blues’ would probably just seem like more negative mumblings from within, which for a team sitting on top of the most competitive ‘top’ league in the world just seems ungrateful and spiteful from yet another spoilt brat, plastic flag-waving, tourist supporter.

So I’ve kept relatively quiet, contenting myself with 140 character ramblings via my Twitter account : @edenbray https://twitter.com/edenbray8 : but today I’ve felt the general feeling around the Premier League, overwhelmed as it is, for once, by universal disappointment over failure in Europe and emerging sheepishly from a dark euro-tunnel with a feeling of abject resignation due to a prevailing depression shared by all football fans other than ‘blues’, is that Chelsea’s 5th Championship win is pretty much a formality.

So I’m roused from my slumber, to state categorically that there is no ‘true’, non-tourist, dyed-in-the-wool, ‘blues’ follower who does not know that even if we were 12 points clear right now – that the Premiership is definitely not yet in the bag!

I’m saying this before the media circus surround us like wild hyenas yelping and laughing hysterically while taunting and questioning us, because as we all know, we are NOT firing on all cylinders, otherwise we would be in the hat for Champions League 1/4’s and would be at least that other 4-6 points nearer to the Title we crave so much.

Fabregas, Costa, Ivanovic, Cahill, Matic, Oscar and even the mercurial Eden Hazard are not playing at their best. Week after week lately – JT, Coutinhos, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Ramires and even the waspish Willian (don’t even talk about the uninspiring Cuadrado) are having to make up the slack. We desperately need a good ‘team’ performance and that will not have gone unnoticed by our new brooding, wiser, more cautious and under-pressure boss. 

What concerns me is that we are consistently naive and walk into serious danger with our eyes wide open almost like ‘the blues’ under Luiz Felipe Scolari and so unlike the ‘nousy’ all-lads-together Chelsea who went all the way to Munich and won it.

The ironic thing is that before Ibrahimovic’s’ red card that wasn’t, I actually believe we were underplaying the gamesmanship card. We don’t take the ball into corners, waste time taking throw-ins or unduly surround referees, despite the general consensus, a popular myth perpetuated by Sky and the evil messrs. Carragher and Sounness. Not many surrounded the ref during the infamous Burnley game and look how that helped us.  How many times this season have Chelsea players, especially Hazard, just got up and got on with it?

When we do dive, we only illustrate how poor our players are at play-acting – consider Ivanovic, Cahill etc, proving for me at least, that the nasty ‘Mourinho dark arts’ accusation is the biggest pile of horse-shit since last years Grand National! Maybe this is why it is Chelsea who are top of the non-penalty league this year with just 2 given so far and maybe our naivety is simply down to too many Brazilian-type players in the squad.

Chelsea can win the title but we will still need to produce 2/3 good wins in games against ARSENAL, LIVERPOOL AND MAN. UNITED to make it sure and we need to show a lot more wily coyote ‘savvy’ to get over the line.

writtenbyedenbray19.03.2015

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PAUL CANOVILLE – BLUES LEGEND

. Paul Canoville .

 

Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Chelsea Feature - Stamford Bridge

 Paul Canoville played football as he wanted to live. Tall, proud, young, gifted and black.

If you were lucky enough to see any of the 103 appearances Paul made for his No.1 club, Chelsea FC you would have been left with an overwhelming picture of fitness and enthusiasm as he ran heads-up through defences or down the wing as a sprinter might run the 100 metres or as a hurdler dodging tackles with surprising agility and great ball-control. In his less impressive performances he could look a little like Bambi-on-ice but his skill and agility on the ball were never in question.

Paul scored 15 goals for ‘the blues’ in a Chelsea career that lasted just shy of 4 1/2 years before a private, training day bust-up with a team-mate made life awkward for the gentle giant and he cites that a  move was arranged for him.

He played in the 2nd Division Championship team of 83/84 making 2o appearances with 6 goals and went on to make 37 starts in the 1st Division before his move to Reading.

During Season 84/85 Paul starred in a man-of-the-match performance in a remarkable quarter-final Milk Cup match at Sheffield coming on as substitute at half-time with the team down by 0-3. He scored within 11 seconds and was the man to put Chelsea 4-3 up during extra-time although Wednesday took the game to a replay with a late equaliser.

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It was the beginning of the 80’s !

.

Different factions make varying

claims as to where the Chelsea

‘revolution’ all started.

The more cynical and green-eyed

like to claim it was purely down

to Roman Abramovich’s money.

The more purist among

Stamford Bridge’s faithful

will point back to Ted Drake

and his 1955 Champions

~ Ted Drake’s ‘Ducklings’ that

soon became Tommy Docherty’s

‘wee Diamonds’ and eventually

managed to shake off the

music-hall ‘ Pensioners’ tag and

start to challenge for real honours.

For me, as a Chelsea fan

through it all, the current

Chelsea renaissance began

somewhere between those two

notable landmarks, under the

inspired tutelage of the quiet man

John Neal and the ownership of that

real football ‘dictator’ – Ken Bates.

John Neal was appointed by Bates

in 1981. Later in the 82/83 season

John Neal helped to stave

off the threat of relegation to

the third tier of English football.

During the summer of 1983

Bates made the cash available to

Neal to re-build the team and in two

months he managed to build a

Championship winning team with

names as famous as Kerry Dixon,

Pat Nevin, Nigel Spackman

and Joey Jones.

One of Neal’s first signings had

been a striker from non-league

Hillingdon Borough. He introduced

the young man in a league match

at Crystal Palace in April, 1981.

As chance would have it I was

there on the terracing and

witnessed the terrible racist

taunts and booing that greeted

the young Paul Canoville as he

entered the pitch to make

his debut at half-time.

I left the ground that day and walked home

disappointed, disillusioned and

determined never to return. 

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A ONE-WAY TICKET FOR SS WINDRUSH FROM JAMAICA

After the terrors and hardships

of WWII began to subside

across the western world

and during the 1950’s,

 Britain’s stock and standing had

risen in the ‘free’ world creating

an ‘Eldorado’ aura around

the British Isles.

Loss of life and manpower and

the need to rebuild the nation, meant

there were now many job opportunities

and members of the commonwealth

were not only free to, but encouraged

to exploit the situation.

Irish, Indians and thousands of

Caribbean emigrants chose to

take the ‘big step’ and move to UK

shores in search of a better and

more prosperous life in Great Britain

– the United Kingdom

(much like many Eastern Europeans

have attempted in recent years

since changes to European Law).

What they actually found was quite

different as it became clear old colonial

attitudes and prejudices were still

deeply entrenched in British culture.

Post-war society was not quite ready

to embrace or accept other colours,

races or religions.

Government legislation introduced

in 1962 and designed to alleviate

racial tensions by vastly curbing

the ease of immigration access only

served to exacerbate negative social

attitudes toward those who were

already here.

In the same year that the British

Government drew up the drawbridge

to our Caribbean cousins the young

Paul Canoville let out his first cries.

Little did he know the part he

would soon play as a British

person, a footballer and a black man.

****

 

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The story of footballer Paul Canoville is sadly

not a long one as his career was cut

tragically short through injury

but his tale is intrinsically tied up

with the events and circumstances

that surround his life

and for this reason he makes

an appearance at No.7 in eb’s list of play-erzz.

Paul, more than many retiring footballershad good reason to experience difficulty in adapting to life without the thrill of the game he loved and played at the highest level.

Born at a key moment of Britain’s changing society and history and experiencing 1st hand racial prejudice while growing up and then surprising crowd hostility from his own teams fans on arriving at his debut performance. Paul then had to make his mark as CHELSEA FC’s 1st black player, a daunting task in view of a certain minority of right-wing extremists that have historically attached themselves to the club and made more difficult by the Club’s insensitivity and failure to back him when he needed it most.

These factors alone were challenging enough but to experience a career ending injury by the time he was just 24 and 2 subsequent bouts of cancer it is unsurprising perhaps that Paul suffered bouts of depression and wandered into alcohol and drug abuse problems. One of his eleven children also died in his arms due to illness.

Gladly the story of Paul Canoville does not stop there and he  is now able to look back on a life fraught with trouble and recognise the positives as well as the negatives.

He has been rehabilitated from both  drug and alcohol abuse and re-trained to bring the benefit of his experience into teaching and training others while he now is pleased to enjoy much better relations with Chelsea FC, ‘his’ club.

articleimage-PaulCanoville-1

writtenbyedenbray21.02.2015

edenbray says; IN VIEW OF THE MEDIA FRENZY OVER THE TREATMENT OF A YOUNG BLACK FRENCHMAN THIS PAST WEEK I DECIDED TO WRITE AN ARTICLE CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND PLAYING CAREER FOR A LARGELY UNRECOGNISED CHELSEA LEGEND & PERSONAL HERO WHO RECEIVED FAR WORSE TREATMENT FROM SO-CALLED CHELSEA FANS.

PAUL CANOVILLE’S PERSONAL WEBSITE = PLEASE VISIT

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE PLEASE SHARE BELOW ON TWITTER ETC.

THANK YOU!

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MACDONALDS ’55 BURGER REMINDS ME OF WHEN WE WERE DESTINED TO BE KiNGS

MaccyDees ’55 burger advert keeps reminding me of this earlier rant of mine

= CFC should have been 1st team to join the European Cup back in ’55

but the FA said NO and a year later YES to Man U

The same year Burger King was born

Here is the original rant =

Sep 6th 2011 @ 21:34

LONG LIVE THE KINGS!

STILL A BIG GRIPE ~ WHEN CHELSEA FC AND BURGER Co. WERE BOTH DESTINED TO BE KINGS …

For  The EX-planation Click on here …

Conspiracies gotta start somewhere! – The Lancastergate scandal

SERIOUS EVIDENCE THAT EVEN BACK IN 1954

THE F.A. HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA

WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND TO THIS DATE

THAT FACT REMAINS CURRENT!

CORRUPT, INEPT, BACKWARD LOOKING, BAD DECISION MAKERS, MONEY WASTERS, DONKEY BRAINS  … STOP ME WHEN YOU DISAGREE … !!!

PUT THEM ALL (AND THERES BEEN A LOT OVEM’) IN THAT PEA GREEN BOAT WITH MR SEPP SPLATTER

AND THAT FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S DAUGHTER OF A  – ONCELEGENDARYPLAYER-NOW VILLAGE IDIOT IMPERSONATOR AND BLATTERS BARNEYRUBBLE-MICHELLE (BIT OF A GIRLS NAME) PLATINI

(I REALLY HAVE PROBLUM BEING RUDE – DONT COME OUT RIGHT BUT AT LEAST I DONT CALL MYSELF AN F.A. OFFICIAL – DUMBASS THAT WOULD MAKE ME)

– HEY, NOW THIS IS A RANT AND SOME!

######

The owl and the frog went to sea,

In FIFA’s pee green boat,

They took footballs hunny,

into the slurry,

Wrapped up in a trousered five-pound note

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CHELSEA SQUAD NUMBERS SEASON 2013/14

CHELSEA SQUAD NUMBERS

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JIMMY G SHOULD BE A CHELSEA LEGEND!

JIMMY GREAVES

I was there on another of those baking hot days, standing just by the Bovril entrance with me’ mate. It was ’65 i think, we were playing Tottenham and the crowd was packed tighter than Gina Lollabridgada’s dress. So tight, small kids were passed over the crowd by a sea of hands, like a human conveyor belt till they reached the front and they were allowed to sit around the touch-line and watch the match safely…. Brilliant! Human ingenuity and common sense won the day! No boring bureaucracy or police intervention. Yep! Thems’ were the days!

jimmy scoresGreaves scoring record for Chelsea was nothing short of phenomenal!– 132 goals in 169 games

I think Greavsy scored again that day. I hated him scoring against us he was so good, the perfect striker! Always gave me a sinking feeling like a fisherman must feel when he sees a blue marlin or something really good swim past his boat having busted his line after a 2 hour struggle to land him…. The one who got away – ‘Jimmy Greaves’ should be a Chelsea LEGEND and isn’t it true we could have bought him back from AC Milan when he was desperate to get back to England and before Spurs got their evil hands on him? …What other REALLY big fish have we let go????

greaves milanIn Jimmy’s early days the maximum wage for footballers in England was £20 per week. Greavsy went to Milan to earn his fortune but was sold against his will and hated it, yet he still managed to notch 9 goals in only 12 games he played for the Serie A club.

Greaves scores in milan

Disillusioned, he returned mid-season to England and the Spurs, where in the remaining 4/5 months he scored 21 goals in 22 games. After 9 years at White Hart Lane he finished their record all-time goal scorer. In a career of 602 games Jimmy scored 422 goals but nowhere was his average higher than at ‘the Blues’ where he slotted an incredible 4 goals in every 5 games he played for us. Please tell me why he is not revered as a Chelsea legend especially when we had the chance to buy him back and ‘passed’???

greaves at spurs

Greavsy the complete striker!

– He had the early spark of a young Michael Owen, the killer instinct of a top form Rush or Fowler and the finesse of Bergkamp, Anelka or Van Basten – I have never seen a more exciting or lethal finisher – a true footballing genie – Alf shudda’ played him in ’66 instead of that dour cart horse Roger Hunt – He would not have let us down – In my opinion this was Sir Alf’s only mistake! And by the way, substitute Greavesy for Hunt and had he lived, Duncan Edwards, for the irrepressible Nobby Stiles and that England team of 1966 would have been totally and truly immense.

~ edenbray

Happy daze – kids were passed over the crowd by a sea of hands!

This post was first published on Facebook 25.07.10 re-posted as it has merit!  ~ edenbray 23.07.11 (by coincidence virtually 12 months later – bit wierd) and now re-edited and re-posted 0nWednesday 07.08.13 (not wierd!)

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gina lollabridgida’s dress

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‘I STILL HAVE’NT FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR’ – R.A.

“I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR”

~ Roman ABramovich

Pure Football for XBox360

The re-appointment of Jose Mourinho as coach/manager of Chelsea FC reaffirms to the football world in the strongest possible terms that Roman Abramovich genuinely does have the sincerest intentions for the future of the club.

Abramovich has consistently acknowledged his own personal errors of judgement in managerial choices at huge personal expense and in the face of continual personal criticism of his methods, as he continually wrestles in pursuit of the perfect manager to take this club to the next level.

The main criticisms up till now, have centred on his impatience with the coaches he hires. The clubs extraordinary hoard of trophies, gathered during his 10 years in charge, have somehow vindicated his trigger-happy firing technique, while the life-changing wealth his vanquished managers inherit has meant that none, up till now, have either been prepared to or wanted to openly join the doubters in their condemnation of the Russian oligarchy’s methods or perhaps more pertinently, his undoubted generosity.

He went out Jose but MOU has returnedn

The significance of the re-appointment of José Mourinho tells a lie to many of the suppositions made by journalists, commentators and football pundits about the perceived failings of the quiet millionaire, not least the assumptions that he will not allow a manager to make their own ultimate decisions or maintain control.

That was the point at which Roman and José divided nearly six years ago but it seems fairly certain that part of the newfound maturity José has found during his European adventure is down to his realisation that actually Mr Abramovich is a lot more easy going than he considered, especially when comparing him to the chief honchos at places like Milan and Madrid. I’m sure in many ways José has realised that at Stamford Bridge he had it a lot better than he realised during that last whirlwind 3 season sojourn in Englands capital city.

Mr A’s decision to buy back into José Mourinho must give hope to all the other guys that he has let go. Maybe Carlo, Claudio, Philipe, Raffa could feature again in Romans plans in the future if they continue to show the right appetite for success but more importantly José’s re-appointment shows to the fans that our owner CAN indeed admit he was wrong. José has already received one enormous compensation payment and here he is still picking up the biggest pay-check any manager has ever received. That shows Romans personal dedication to the task to make Chelsea great, commitment financially, a renewed trust in the guy to do it and the personal humility that overrules his own decision to let ‘Mou’ go in the first place. Never could the expression ‘It’s not personal, its business be more fitting’ or better exemplified.

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Roman Abramovich has confirmed through this seeming backtrack that he will do most anything to get Chelsea Football Club to the very top of the tree and this should encourage militant Chelsea flag-waving pitch owners and the like who doubt he has the best interests of the club at heart, to finally believe in the Russian and recognise that in the history of our club Roman is right up there alongside Gus Mears in importance. 

writtenbyedenbray04-05/06/2013

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MOU RETURNS

HE WENT OUT JOSÉ  He went out Jose but MOU has returnednHE CAME BACK MOU

1 x CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

2 x SCUDETTA’s

1 x LA LIGA

+ A FEW DOMESTIC CUPS

W.I.S.E.R

welcome back maestro

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IT’S ALRIGHT JOSÉ’S COMING BACK

AND I DON’T REALLY CARE WHERE HE’S BEEN !

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JOSÉ ~ IDEAL CHOICE TO LEAD COUNTER REVOLUTION!!!

JOSÉ’S NEXT BIG CHALLENGE

jose-mourinho-winker7

When José finally packs his bags, collects his Ikea boxes and exits Santiago Bernebéu for the last time as manager of the Merengues he might have excuse to glance over his shoulder with more than a twinge of regret over what he did not achieve. If so, it would only be the 2nd time in his illustrious, storming ‘Genghis Khan style’ raid and plunder of the treasures of the European Football world.

The first time of course would have followed the fall-out between Mourinho and Abramovich after the two squabbled over who was the true leader of the revolution down at Stamford Bridge and Roman was forced to remind José who paid the bills and consequently provided the impetus and fuel behind José’s determined assault during his UK campaign.

Mourinho’s march and myth continued on however as the special one and his chosen Portuguese ‘council of war’ rampaged on through Italy at Milan, to Spain and Madrid. Despite failing to collect Real’s tenth European title and become the 1st manager to win European Cups with 3 separate teams he has managed to desist any really damaging criticism of his super-analytical style of coaching and management. Indeed Mourinho’s men have managed to incorporate differing styles of play using varied tactics and playing squads while collecting two Serie A titles, one La Liga, several domestic cups and Inter’s 1st European Cup for 45 years. These achievements have no doubt continued to impress Gospodin Abramovich who was after all one of José’s earliest admirers and for this reason it is looking increasingly likely José will return to continue his self-confessed love affair with the English game.

jose-mourinho-2

Whether either of these supreme ego’s can score points over the other in assuming they have proved a point, only the future will reveal but I personally would rather inflect that both men will have learned they needed each other far more than they realised when they agreed to that separation back in 2007. Since, reportedly Mr A has continued to ply José with love-gifts, such as £1/4 million watches while reputedly José has returned the compliment by advising the silent Russian on football matters. Through José’s six-year sabbatical or exile, depending on your point of view, many of us have continued to bang the gong for José’s return on the grounds that he has ‘unfinished business’ at the south London club.

Like having lost an integral piece of the jigsaw, a long-lost and beloved son there is no doubt there will be no bigger party given, at least by Chelsea fans, if the prodigal should return for Season 2013/14 and while head honchos’ at all of England’s Premier League teams may feel a damp sweat glistening at the prospect of the controversial one’s return, generally I think the English game will welcome back this bad-boy especially with the recent loss of 2 major personalities from the Mancunian sector. Somewhat strangely though my feeling is, that should José make his long-awaited and expected ‘2nd coming’ return down the Fulham Road and in at the gates of Chelsea Football Club he will again surprise most everyone by making the biggest swerve in his sensational career and not in the way most people might imagine.

Mourinho’s romance with this country is not purely football related and he has made no secret in the past about his love of most things English and especially London. He has in fact retained a London home since he departed the club and his daughter is reported to have recently signed up for an Art Course in Camberwell. He always claimed that his wife and family had enjoyed their time living in London. It is very clear to me that only the managers position at Manchester United would have interested him more than returning home to his beloved ‘blues’.

That particular opportunity has passed him by for now with United’s new manager already announced but I would not expect José has given up believing that one day he might still add a trophy or two as top-man of the only distinct rival to Real Madrid’s claim that they are the biggest name in World football. A return to Stamford Bridge would keep that ‘Old Trafford’ option bubbling away on the back burner whereas a spell at Manchester City would certainly render that future possibility distinctly mute.

Spain Soccer Awards

José would no doubt have been stung by the open criticism from many quarters but chiefly from within the United club where famed stars such as Bobby Charlton and Peter Schmeichel have openly stated they did not feel Mourinho’s footprint would fit right in at a club steeped in in its own proud tradition. While other fans may be unable to hide a grin, which in turn betrays a school-boy giggle at such anal and indulgent self-appreciation, we might also concede they do have a point. It will not have been missed by José that despite his fawning, almost embarrassing appreciation of Sir Alex after the CL quarter-final that apparently emperor Ferguson must have given J.M. the thumbs down when it came to passing the mantel of responsibility for team affairs at Old Trafford. That would have hurt! 

Man United would definitely have found it hard to wear Mourinho’s hat it’s true but a lot of us are old enough to remember managerial choices at Old Trafford that were not particularly successful or indeed very refined. Frank O’Farrell, Tommy Doc, big Ron Atkinson were they such wholesome characters ?!? It sounds like Sir Alex  escaped by the skin of his teeth a few times early on in his United career so lets not proceed down the ‘divine right for United success route’, whoever they appoint.

David Moyes still has much to prove and maybe he will not be so lucky if results desert him either next season or 2/3 years down the line and that despite Sir Alex’s parting endorsement. Should the unthinkable occur then maybe United would still be ripe for a bit of Mourinho magic. I’m sure that’s how José might see it anyway.

So for now, should Josḗ Mourinho take up the challenge of raising Chelsea to the next rung on the ladder it is my view that he will want to do things very differently to the last time he arrived, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and very much ‘not of the bottle’. For no other reason than that he has looked recently a little like one of those disenchanted cherub pictures. Jealously aware and party to the many kind words floating over Old Trafford towards Sir Alex at what he has achieved. That longing for a deeper appreciation may well have been further fanned and flamed by stinging criticism he received from certain quarters during his time in Italy and even more personally at Real, as well as from the Manchester elect where there are more than a few who felt he was not quite worthy of the ‘Sir Alex’ kind of respect.

Jose+Mourinho-Real+Madrid+cropped

Jose has also looked recently not a little weary of ‘it all’. Could that phsycology suggest he might be considering the idea himself of ‘settling down’ and planning for a contented retirement like his revered father figure will soon enjoy. Some Chelsea fans might hold their hands up in horror at the thought that after six years of patiently waiting like Jacob in the famous bible story, they may not actually be getting ‘the special one’ they wanted or the  Josḗ they remember.

Contrary to those speculative misgivings I would suggest that what Josḗ may want to bring to the football club this time around is precisely what Chelsea FC require at this present time. Stability and the development of a more ‘holistic approach’ from grass-roots and youth level outward which actually has been in place at the club a lot longer than many may credit and what the owners apparently crave now at Manchester City where someone recently dreamed up that particular mission statement.

Whatever misgivings, admittedly only a minority at Chelsea might hold regarding the reappointment of Mr Mourinho and his coaching staff, there can surely be no one better qualified to fan the flames of loyalty and support again after the cold pragmatism of coach-supremo Rafa who definitely was not the peoples choice  but it should surprise no one if Josḗ comes this time with a brand new agenda for the future of the club which may on this occasion, independently match the aspirations of the owner.

Roman must have had such a long and settled future in mind when he selected the starlet AVB to manage us, unbelievably not 24 months ago. Andres Villas Boas, well versed in recent Chelsea history and Mourinho-style ways must have seemed the perfect choice to lead the club into a new calmer future and clear out the dead-wood of controversial and entrenched player personalities. Roman saw that plan was not going to work and had to review a lot of his ideas as his ageing Chelsea team went and won the Champions League in the most surprising way. Now it seems Roman can have his ‘original’ back and rid of a certain ‘wanderlust’ after Josḗ’s travels and once again to my mind he may have struck lucky and we could well be on the verge of a beautiful thing indeed.

Should Josḗ return to lead a ‘counter revolution’ at the South London club, maybe nursing a subliminal hope that he might still convince the hierarchy at Old Trafford  he can be responsible and grounded like Sir Alex, it is possible his first-love English club might prove charming enough to convince him that he could not earn the deeper respect he craves anywhere better than in England’s capital city and at the home of the ‘super-blues”

writtenbyedenbray16.05.2013

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