Two wins Granted but gloom lingers after José

IT’S been an interesting week — superficially a successful one, But what is really going on?

A sense of doom had descended on the Chelsea support who made the trip over to Valencia. Most of us would have been ecstatic with a draw and many of us were just praying that we would avoid a hammering.

I felt better when I saw Carvalho was playing and Shevchenko was not but I still didn’t hold out much hope. But it looks as though we’ve got our (old) Chelsea back — the only predictable thing about them then, was that they were totally unpredictable.

Having gone loopy at both of our goals, I was totally unaware of the team’s lack of celebrations. It certainly isn’t a new “protest” (if that is what it was); we witnessed exactly the same thing against United under Vialli’s reign. But whatever it was for, it isn’t a sign that everything in the garden is rosy.

During the Bolton game we looked like a mid-table side — which, if the sides below us win their game in hand, is effectively where we will be. I know there is a long way to go but many of the senior players don’t look as if they are doing anything except biding their time. Again, as the players have refused to speak (or have been gagged), we do not know exactly their feelings, but there seems to be more stories leaked to the press than ever, that could have only come from players. This is not the sign of a happy camp.

What was even more depressing was that on the way home in the car last Sunday, all talk of whether we will win the league was replaced with pontification on whether we will finish in the top four. The general opinion was no.

We hear that Grant too has now fallen out with Shevchenko for leaving the Ukrainian on the bench — I don’t believe any of this — yet another contrived situation to try and persuade the fans (and players) that the Normal One is his own man. He is not fooling anyone.

With total predictability, apparently Zola was approached to join the coaching team at Stamford Bridge. Do they really think we are that easily appeased? I am pleased that following discussions, the little magic man turned down the role. It would have been a travesty to see a man who represents all the good things in football associate himself with Grant. Zola can come back to us in happier times.

In this week’s publicity stunt, Abramovich allegedly sent his minders out to snatch “ordinary” supporters off the streets (you can take the boy out of Russia…) to discuss with them the current situation and why he sacked the most successful manager in the history of Chelsea. When is he going to finish with these completely pointless stunts? If he wants us to hear his version of events, then tell us all — make a statement — it’s hardly rocket science, is it? It does seem that our owner is desperate to be loved which is all a bit sad really. Is it a coincidence that the problems with Mourinho coincided with the period when the supporters stopped singing Abramovich’s name and started chanting for the Special One at almost every game? Has ego played a part in all these shenanigans? As you can see, I am finding it very difficult to “move on”.

This seems to be the current phrase bandied about amongst the Chelsea support and on the various message boards. It is interesting that the fans do seem to have split into two very distinct factions. There are those that have just accepted what has happened and now just want to progress. And there are those who can’t do so while we have Avram Grant as manager. You don’t need to be a member of MENSA to guess which camp I am in.

Under Mourinho, we had a manager that players wanted to play for.

Drogba has described recently that despite being offered huge sums of money he did not want to play for us. Eventually Chelsea persuaded him to speak to Mourinho. He agreed to join us following this conversation.

Who can honestly say that players of other teams want to play for Grant? The players that we get under him will be here for the money and the money alone. Mercenaries. That may sit well with some, but not with me.

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