Football Writer's Perspective: Interview with Chelsea forum, The Shed End

If you visit chelseafc.com, you’ll realize there is a site dedicated hosting links to dedicated Chelsea blogs. Each blog is rated up to 5 stars. Who is number 1? It’s The Shed End forum, a site where Chelsea members converge to post forum comments about matches, transfers and Thanks to the gossip.

Thanks to the site owners, we interviewed three members of the site: Wolfy, Hutch and Backbiter.

When and why did you start to support Chelsea?

Wolfy

In the mid 90?s when I was about 7 I decided I needed to pick a team to support. I looked at the premier league table in the paper saw Chelsea in about 11th or 12th and thought that’ll do me!

Hutch

Well I don’t come from a traditional Chelsea family, but I did grow up in West London, and one of my uncles was a regular match-goer, so the influence was there. I can still clearly remember watching the 1967 FA Cup Final on TV when I was 10, and my mother who very rarely took the slightest interest in football, telling me that she wanted Chelsea to win but she thought Tottenham would win. Her reasons as far as I recall being that Chelsea had the better looking players (Tottenham’s players were all ugly and looked like thugs!) and that nice Peter Osgood was out injured.

So although I was already calling myself a Chelsea supporter in 1967, the first time I went to the Bridge was in 1971, when I went along with my uncle to the 3-3 draw against Coventry. From that moment on I was hooked and it wasn’t long at all till I moved round to The Shed. The rest, as they say, is history.

Backbiter

1968. I was 6. I know it was that year because I have vivid memories of watching the FAC final (WBA v Everton) and Euro Cup final (Manure v Benfica), and being gutted that Chelsea were never on live telly. I have no recollection of the 67 final, so I know it must have been after that. Why Chelsea? I have no connection with London, but my older brother was/ is a Chelsea fan, and he persuaded me. I also liked the kit.

What are your thoughts on the latest transfer signings for Chelsea and out main competitors?

Wolfy

Delighted with the signings of Lukaku and Mata. They look top quality and Luka will hopefully lead the line for the next decade. Raul Meireles I’m disappointed about as I felt we should have made a bid for Goetze at Dortmund before everyone else goes for him.

Hutch

Aguero is the player most Chelsea fans will tell you they’ve wanted us to sign for sometime. Many will tell you we lost out. I disagree. Of course he would have been a fantastic acquisition, the thing is that until this season he was content to stay at Atletico, acting partly on the advice of his father in law. It was evident that he felt it was time to move on when he asked for his buy out clause to be decreased. The problem for us then became Man City. As soon as it was known they were in for Aguero that was it. No way could we match what they were willing to pay.

As for our signings, the emphasis is on youth and very much for the future. Mata at only 23 looks like the player we’ve needed for some time. Meireles is a little older again but adds enormously to our options.

Backbiter

Generally pleased with our signings, but would have loved to land Modric. Delighted we took a punt on Lukaku, thrilled that we have the younger blood we need, which can gradually replace our older stars like Drogs and Lamps.Mata looks a great signing, but I was bemused we let Benayoun go on loan, as I like him as a player. Meireles? Decent signing, nothing more. Manure and Man C have made some great signings. I always hoped we’d get Phil Jones and Aguero. I’m not sure about Liverpool’s signings. Adam was great for Blackpool but I have doubts about his mobility, Henderson has potential but he’s a bit of a gamble, Suarez has been a great buy, Downing is decent but not top class, Carrol – who knows?

I have pretty much given up on Torres.

Goetze. The next Frank?

What are your thoughts on the Carlo Ancelotti era, and the stories surrounding his sacking after the Everton game?

Wolfy

While I appreciated the work Carlo did for us I never really felt comfortable with him as the manager. If we didn’t batter a team we would struggle and it always felt like all or nothing under him. We were either brilliant or laboured.

Hutch

More mythology, this time that he was “sacked in a corridor at Goodison”. I remember at the time that people were up in arms, appalled that the announcement wasn’t left until after the weekend, forgetting that Ancelotti himself had requested a quick decision, that he didn’t want to be left hanging around. The previous week, there were similar howls of protest (often from the same supporters) that he’d been made to wait so long for a decision.

I don’t believe that he was sacked for finishing second, or for the failure to win the Champions League. It had more to do with the extended “bad moment” for which Ancelotti had no answer. While it’s true that there were mitigating factors, post World Cup year, injuries, illness etc, I believe it was Ancelotti’s persistence in selecting players who were clearly unfit and/or out of form that ultimately led to his dismissal.

Backbiter

Enjoyed the first season hugely – who didn’t, apart from the CL – but I think we were justified in changing things as he didn’t have the ability to turn things around, and our football was pretty dismal last year. We lost nearly all the big games. He’s a good guy but not the man to take the club forward.

The stories about his sacking? Wild exaggeration designed to paint the club in the worst possible light. The media despise us, so there’s no objectivity or credibility in 90% of what you read.

According to some, Carlo’s sacking was all smoke and mirrors

How do you feel about Chelsea players like Ashley Cole, who have through their own actions, brought the club into disrepute? Does you it bother you as a fan and you care, does it affect your support of the club? Which players stand out as the trouble makers?

Wolfy

As long as they perform on the pitch I don’t care what they do off it so long as it’s not illegal. They can have a drink and have sex as much as they like for me but I’d rather it was consensual.

Hutch

I take it you mean actions such as getting divorced from the nation’s sweetheart, the geordie superslag herself. I couldn’t give a monkey’s about any of that stuff.

Backbiter

I’ve never liked Ashley Cole. Seems a bit of a pillock. The business with the air gun? See my answer above.

The way our players are portrayed in the media – JT especially – is outrageous. I don’t think we have any troublemakers. The vast majority of our players are committed professionals who are depicted as mercenaries. Of course they are here for the money, but they seem very happy at Chelsea and don’t agitate to move.

Modern Warfare 4: English Footballers

How do you feel the club will perform this season and why?

Wolfy

I feel we may drop points around the christmas period this year and take ourselves out of the title race as we adapt to our new manager but come March we’ll settle down and will steamroll teams till the end of the season. I fancy us for the FA cup but I’m sorry to say I don’t care how we do in Europe. It’s never been a priority for me and I’d be quite happy if the premier league pulled all the English clubs out of it.

Hutch

This is very much a transitional season and so I don’t think we’re exactly favourites for the title. Qualification for the Champions League has to be the priority. Anything else will be a bonus.

Backbiter

Not too thrilled with our start. Not many players in form, unconvincing style of play, injuries to Drogs, Cech and Sturridge’s ban haven’t helped. Decent results so far but I’m not that confident about the next two games (Leverkusen and ManU). I’m pessimistic about Chelsea by nature so never expect much from us.

Who are the players to watch this season at Chelsea or abroad?

Wolfy

Mata will be awesome and this will be the season Sturridge comes good. Outside of Chelsea Eden Hazard will be playing Champions League football this season and I expect him to be the Alexis Sanchez of next summer (everyone will be trying to sign him).

Hutch

At Chelsea? Mata obviously. Sturridge possibly if he continues his goalscoring form from last season’s loan spell at Bolton. It would be nice for Josh McEachran to get a few starts, or even a few more appearances from the subs bench. I think that’ll come, it’s just a matter of time.

Backbiter

Looking for a great season from Drogs, Sturridge, Mata, JT, Josh Mac (who’s a fabulous prospect), Luiz, Ramires and Ivan. If they all play consistently well we’ll be fine.

Abroad? I watch the Bundesliga on ESPN and am a big fan of Schürrle at Leverkusen and Müller at Bayern. I’ll be watching the progress of Arnesen and the ex-Chelsea boys at Hamburg, but I don’t expect much. I’d love to see Bruma develop into the world-class CB we need, but I’m not convinced.