Where is the rationale amongst football fans?
There is a need to bring more perspective and balance to opinions as Chelsea fans
I think Thomas Tuchel has done a great job since taking the reigns in January, but I also think he has made some pretty costly mistakes, especially in the FA Cup final at the weekend.
What is this you ask? You like Tuchel, but you’ve just criticised him? I know right, madness. But the thing is, as a football fan, it is totally fine to have a rationale opinion when supporting your club. Nobody is perfect, everyone will make mistakes.
I tweeted my disgruntlement that Tammy Abraham was not in the squad at all on Saturday, yet Tuchel selected two left backs instead. This is bizarre for me, to leave your top scorer from the last two seasons and top scorer in the FA Cup, watching from the side. I’ve got views on that and don’t want to digress too much, but you can read those here.
I had some dude comment on my post, saying ‘where was this energy for Tomori when Lampard wasn’t playing him?’ This is the kind of mindset fans have, like they automatically think my concern of our leading goal scorer not playing, means I have an agenda against Tuchel. Why can you not just express an opinion without it being ‘an agenda’? It’s madness.
As I told this lovely chap, I DID voice my concerns when Tomori wasn’t playing, and I was vocal about that as well. And guess what, I LOVE Frank Lampard, but I still criticised many of his decisions, because that is what being a football fan should be all about.
So although Tuchel made some mistakes this weekend, I also revert back to how good we were the week before at the same time. We have beaten Manchester City twice, and beaten Real Madrid twice, that is some achievement under the circumstances.
Tuchel should have started Ben Chilwell on Saturday, and should not have switched Reece James with Cesar Azpilicueta, his subs were too little, too late, and he should have started with our very strongest line up.
In those last two paragraphs, I have criticised Tuchel for what I believe to be valid reasons, but I’ve also noted how good he has been since he arrived - Imagine that.
People’s opinions always seem to be heavily in one direction, or the other, and if you post an opinion that differs from one, you are jumped on, often abused, accused of having an agenda, and it is just very unpleasant.
Open your minds, be more balanced. Look at things with perspective and stop being so narrow-minded.
I’m always amazed at the level of entrenchment exhibited on social media platforms and, indeed, how widespread it is. Back when these discussions played out in the pub, there was always someone who’s opinion was so calcified (and usually extreme) that we all just listened, smiled and nodded, then imperviously carried on. Now, it seems, that this “someone” sets the agenda! Those with balanced opinions now have to include a disclaimer to ward off the folks that will inevitably see an unintended slight (as you do at the end of your article on Tammy). That should be the exception. My reason for following you is to learn, and to do that, you have to see the many sides of an issue. Otherwise, I guess, you know it all.