For over ten years, Chelsea FC were my muse. My bedroom walls were hung with golden-framed images of champion squads from seasons past.
Blue scarves commemorating the Champion’s League win in Munich were strung from dusty bookshelf to bookshelf. Tacky vinyl banners took preference over family photos if I didn’t have space for both.
Not only was I a bachelor with appalling taste in interior design, I was in love. In love with a team that in all likelihood I might only get to see play once (if I was lucky) in my life.
I’ll be the first to admit it – I started following Chelsea around the time the cash started flowing in. I really started getting keen on the Blues when the paragons of sportsmanship (others might even say humanity), Frankie, JT and Didier started bringing the attitude, the panache, to Stamford Bridge. Even Mr. Mourinho was a figure I identified with; his win at all costs approach was respectable, if not inspiring.
When Mourinho moved on following a clash with the Russian Godfather, closely followed by a succession of able-but-underperforming managers, I kept the faith.
“Roman, you know what you’re doing. I trust you. You’ve bought brought me mountains of joy through beautiful football and a cabinet full of trophies,” I would say, brushing off the comments from bitter nay-sayers.
Cue the rise and inexplicable fall of Carlo Ancelotti.
“You must have your reasons, Roman. Far be it from me to question you,” I would whisper to my Abramovic portrait screen-printed pillow.
The head-scratching decision to dump the manager that wrenched the Premier League from the red half of Manchester left a bad taste in my mouth, but still I persevered. I was, after all, a Chelsea fan, and they’re not known for their fickle, fair-weather support.
Di Matteo, Benitez and a string of noteworthy finishes followed, but then, Christmas morning. Every Christmas morning combined.
The return of the king.
Jose was coming home. Surely we would once again be the inspiring, loveable rascals from West London with a point to prove, nothing but a pocketful of loose change and a tactical approach like a Brazilian youth squad.
This time, he had the support of the club’s upper-management, and a brilliant, if not world-class, squad to carry out his game plans.
Some of the early exchanges between the midfield trio of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar left me rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn’t imagining things, and the form of defenders like Branislav Ivanovic was scintillating. Jose’s press conferences were entertaining, and his tactics were more often than not spot-on.
Why then, was I not enjoying watching the team I’d followed so closely for so long?
Put simply, they’re just not a likeable club any more.
The club has no spirit, no soul, and the only personalities to be found anywhere near Stamford Bridge are not personalities I’d model mine after.
Jose is arrogant and an extremely poor loser. His tactics, while effective, bore me to the point of flicking the channel over to Fox Sports News.
Admittedly, the opening game of this season provided a few entertaining moments. Cesc Fabregas’ cheeky first-time through ball the Andre Schurrle was magic. I think they’ll score plenty of nice goals this season.
But so they bloody well should! They’ve spent over a billion – yes, billion – pounds on inward player transfers since ‘96/97.
In comparison, they’ve made a paltry £379,275,000 from selling players over the same period, if you’re happy to trust transferleague.co.uk as a source.
And if you watched Tuesday morning’s game, you’ll remember that in the second half, Chelsea parked the same bus they’d just rolled right through the Burnley clubhouse in the first.
Classic Mourinho. Tactical genius? Yes. Effective tactician? Clearly.
He’s basically a more arrogant Tony Pulis, but with a much, much more expensive squad.
I just can’t bring myself to support a team with no supportable qualities in them besides a probability of winning a trophy each season.
So who to attach my allegiance to? For me that was a pretty easy one.
Southampton FC. The Saints. The underdogs with a youth development system (think Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) to make the top six green with envy. The battlers from the south coast, who play with more character than Chelsea, Tottenham, and the Manchester clubs combined.
Their opening round effort against Liverpool was typically gutsy. After going down to a tidy Raheem Sterling finish (never thought I’d write those words), The Saints showed the grit that earned them so much respect from every neutral fan last season.
Yes, they’ve been ravaged by the bigger clubs. Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert going to Liverpool certainly hurt. Losing young defenders Luke Shaw to Manchester United and Callum Chambers to Arsenal is a kick-while-they’re-down type affair.
On top of that, Mauricio Pochettino, the manager who brought expansive football to the solid team he inherited from Nigel Adkins, has been lured to big-spending, perennial underperformers Tottenham.
But I don’t mind that. The Saints are up against it once again. Their squad is a shadow of what it was last year, but it’s being filled out again with clever transfers. Dusan Tadic looks impressive, and Shane Long is always good for a couple of goals per season.
Most of all, I’m most pleased with the Saints holding on to Nathaniel Clyne and James Ward-Prowse. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they popped up in the England squad regularly over the next few seasons.
Southampton’s qualities are all of the Chelsea’s shortcomings. The fact that a soulless club, with effectively no care for football as a spectacle can win (read: buy) trophies, leaves a really bitter taste in my mouth, so I’ll spend my time watching the underdog fight for every point instead.
I hope Chelsea do really well this season – not because I harbour feelings for them still, but because I just really, really hate to see that much money wasted.
Oggsworth
Guest
Pete, Gavin is referring to the West Ham side in the nineties, managed by none other than 'Arry Rednapp. Sam Allerdyce is an abomination that most West Ham fans are just trying to endure for the moment.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
I suspect you are not a true fan because everybody knows the unwritten rule that you cannot ever change the club you support. Once you're in in, you're in for life. It's not like the wife or girlfriend, who can be changed on a whim. Your football club is a lifelong affair. Doesn't matter how awful they are, you cant ever leave them. Trust me when I say most of us despise Chelsea for all the reasons you mention, but we are hypocrites. If an insane billionaire bought my Hammers and we spent several years winning a heap of trophies with cashed up greedy players and grinding the rest of you into the dirt - I would lap it up and revel in it, chomping on a giant stogie and reminding you how great we are and how insignificant the rest of you are. Christ, if John Terry played for us (and he was on our books as a youth incidentally) I'd believe he was a wonderful human being instead of a complete tosser.
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
I'm just stunned that anyone would be drawn to supporting a team by the fact they had John Terry playing for them, possibly the most unlikable sportsperson in the history of the universe. Stunned I tell you.
Nicko
Guest
Absolutely spot on ! There's been times when as a Saints fan I became dismayed that there was big money available to us. I have alwYs loved watching Saints since 1962, and the joy of winning a game cannot be beaten when you are a small home town team. It's all about the next game to me and the joy of winning it. I don't want to wait a whole season to win the league or the Champions League to feel that joy. Big team supporters can enjoy arrogant banter but that doesn't compare to the absolute joy of being a winning "smaller" club. Welcome to the Joy of Saints.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
picking on one club for "buying" trophies in an era where it is almost the only method able to succeed, and practiced by every single "big club" is akin to hating only one cyclist for being a drug cheat while still admiring the others.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
The kind of article that leave you perplexed and think 'did I just read what I think I did?". Awkward indeed. Harry, I give you credit for admitting that you are now shopping for a new team to 'love' and support though. It takes courage to admit that on a sports website, no question. My advice would be not to publish that on an English (or non Australian actually) website though, as most people may not 'understand' you.
Javier Garcia
Guest
Yes I would I actually am in love with the club as opposed to certain manager and players (ranieri etc) After going to fratton park on a few occasions and drinking with the Portsmouth lads, I have a connection to the club. So regardless of what happened I would follow. And as nice as a Russian billionare would be, Im happy that the fans own the club. Its my club - I have bought shares in Portsmouth and donated to the academy project. I feel a strong part of it and am going back this season. Btw - I think we will get promoted this year. Keep your eye on Portsmouth mate, the club is getting back on its feet. We were in a "Coma" and nearly lost our life. We are awake now, and making baby steps. Soon we will be running, and back to where we belong
magila cutty
Guest
I understand supporters want success but i am not possessed of unbridled enthusiasm for billionaire owners. I don't know the answer but billionaire owners may yet be fickle and where to then? Very likely bankruptcies . It may be a low probability this year it remains a significant risk. For me it's hard to buy into the success of of a billionaire in what was the working mans game.
Lazza
Guest
UEFA agreed not to penalise clubs where these things happened in the past. From now on it won't be possible to buy a club and put a massive amount of debt on the club's balance sheet. This is the first year of FFP and is still being phased in but all indications are that clubs now realise that it's serious and have to comply. I agree with the last bit though as it won't be possible for small clubs to buy a trophy with a rich 'sugar daddy'. Is financial doping okay for small clubs?
Rodger K
Guest
I've been following my Chelsea since the mid 50's, been through all the tough times of relegation, almost being bankrupt, stood by them when others wouldn't or couldn't and now we're reaping the rewards for 60 years of being patient. Yes we go out and buy players [because we can] because to play against the best and win, you need to have better players than they have. I can no more divorce myself from Chelsea nor can I divorce myself from my wife, we are ONE together. Blue is the Colour, Football is the game.
Rodger K
Guest
Javier, would you follow them forever if they were bought by a Russian Billionaire who wanted to win the UCL at all costs?
HarryBalding
Roar Guru
That's great to see. Bayern Munich (although they've always had that philosophy) have been throwing mountains of cash at their facilities and developmental programs. I put their success down in no small part to their grass-roots philosophy!
Jim
Guest
City's massive new academy, built on what was pretty much industrial wasteland near the Etihad, is almost finished. There was a recent article in the british press which had pictures from the air showing the new facilities - amazing stuff! For all the criticism City's owners are getting over spending a lot on players, at least they are also spending a hell of a lot on facilities to develop the club and the community.
Jim
Guest
But the FFP do absolutely nothing in order to actually ensure football clubs are sustainable - especially ones where the owners rape the club (i.e. Man utd, Blackpool, Cardiff). FFP is a misnomer - its only designed to keep the big boys at the table and close off the hopes of everyone else.
Lazza
Guest
Read why PSG can't buy Angel Di Maria? They've got the money but can't fit him in under FFP.
Doug Graves
Guest
I kind of agree in that something has to be better than nothing but if they're going to all the trouble of implementing the FFP, why make it so ineffectual? Unless of course it's a ruse to give the impression of fairness.
Pete
Guest
I think Barcelona are a team that shows you can be big "business" and still have a connection with your community. Even visit their website at the moment, it is about "run by people", "what we're doing in the community", etc. etc. The Manchester City owners are apparently investing heavily in local football talent, and local infrastructure too.
Pete
Guest
We did have Dwight Yorke when I started following them ... and they've managed to keep the wolves at bay over Benteke for now. Let's hope some of the other youngsters step up this season, and more defensive support for Vlaar.
Pete
Guest
Expect for West Ham are coached by Sam ...
Javier Garcia
Guest
Was a Chelsea fan in the rainieri days After abramovich took over and he cleaned out my ranieri and other players, I could not identify with the club anymore went through a phase of non epl following . then fell in love with Portsmouth. Follow them passionately now. Had the chance to go to fratton park two seasons ago (league one) and absolutely loved it. In league 2 now but ill support forever