Odds and Sods

The BBC, as well as other media outlets, have reported that manager Jose Mourinho has “severed” all ties with Chelsea Football Club by “mutual consent” over his differences with owner Roman Abramovich.  He reportedly informed senior players at the squad via text message that he would be leaving the club the following morning

A rift became readily apparent between the two last season, with Abramovich becoming increasingly frustrated by Chelsea’s effective, though often cynical and uninspiring, style of play.  The two had a very public feud, which came to a head in January 2006, when Abramovich denied Mourinho’s request for further transfer funds to supplement the squad.  This, a power struggle with Frank Arnesen, and discord among the players over the Michael Ballack and Andiry Shevchenko signings left tensions at the club extraordinarily high, and clouded over what was a moderately successful season.

Mourinho returned for this season, though it was widely speculated to be his last.  Chelsea performed well on paper, sitting 5th in the Premier League with 11 pts from 6 matches.  However, their performances were often sub-par and unconvincing, and the club struggled mightily without prolific goal scorers Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.  The club’s recent poor results at home against Blackburn and Rosenborg as well as Abramovich’s frustration at the inability to add a marquee name after the sale of Arjen Robben to Real Madrid were thought to be the tipping point that caused Mourinho to leave.

The “Special One” was the most successful manager in Chelsea history over his three seasons, winning two domestic titles (2005,2006), two league cups (2005,2007), and an FA Cup (2007).  He was instrumental in transforming Chelsea into an elite European side, though the elusive Champions’ League title remained outside their reach.

The future should be bright for Mourinho.  Coming off two extraordinarily successful stints with Porto and Chelsea, and being still a young man at 44, he will be the hottest name linked with every high profile managerial job that comes available.  The savvy pick would be for him to replace Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona next summer.

Chelsea, however, has a far more uncertain destiny.  The club was already mired in discord.  Mourinho leaving will only exacerbate the tension rather than alleviating it.  In the short term, they will need to find a replacement to stabilize the situation and prevent this season from spiraling out of control.  In the long term, they may be forced to rebuild their squad, with many high profile players (notably Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba) having their Stamford Bridge future tied to Mourinho’s presence.

We here at Odds and Sods would never be so callous as to name and shame a specific player for this most minor of crimes, particularly if he happened to play for the greatest club with the most ardent fans in the whole wide world.  However, a general message to strikers and the occasional frisky winger needs to be sent.

Obviously, embellishing a foul should not be endowed with the same moral opprobrium as diving.  The former involves making extra sure the referee is aware of something that actually did happen, the later is lying and pretending something happened that, in fact, did not occur.

However, if one is going to embellish a foul, it should at least be believable.  The most flagrant violation of this maxim is when a player is clipped from behind.

The player cannot help but go down in this situation, but often the player will grab his leg and grimace to alert the ref that he has been fouled.  But, most of the time, the player, feigning an injury, will grab his shin.  If you were clipped in the back of the ankle. your shin cannot possibly be where the injury occurred.  In the future, please grab the back of the ankle to make it look at least somewhat believable.  That way the rest of us who love the beautiful game can maintain our splendid delusions that everything occurring on the pitch is above board.

Sincerely,

Odds and Sods Staff

Arsenal 3 - Sevilla 0

The Gunners looked both poised and confident, delivering perhaps their best performance of the season.  Cesc opened the scoring with a “Lampard” in the 28th minute.  Van Persie put through another on 59, and Eduardo put the cherry on top in injury time.  They still looked a bit weak at the back, but played a dominant match from start to finish.  The New Arsenal has finally begun to resemble the old.

Sporting Lisbon 0 - Manchester United 1

It was another consistent performance from the Red Devils, consistent in the sense that they looked impotent up front and sneaked a result on a late header.  The tough away win will do a lot toward qualifying out of the group, but this looks like a shell of the team that decisively won the Premier League last season.

Porto 1 - Liverpool 1

Pundits expected Liverpool to play a boring and negative draw away from Anfield.  They obliged.  This was one of the more dismal performances that Liverpool have had in Europe in a while, though they got the result and that is all that Rafa the Gaffer will care about, paying supporters be damned.  Peter Crouch was notably absent from the squad, even as a substitute to try to steal a late goal.  Does Jermaine Pennant do anything besides antagonize people and pick up unnecessary cards?

Chelsea 1 - Rosenborg 1

This was the season that Chelsea were supposed to concentrate on the Champions League.  Apparently, neither the fans nor the players agreed.  In a noticeabley not full Stamford Bridge, Chelsea limped to a disappointing result against a vastly inferior opponent.  Shevchenko proved he could score, against weak opposition and when set up perfectly.  If they do not get Drogba and Lampard back soon, they will be in trouble.

Marseille 2 - Besiktas 0

L’OM finally got their first home win in all competitions with late goals from Julien Rodriguez and the Lord of the Manor of Frodsham.  Marseille will hope that this result can jump start their faltering League Un campaign.  Expected to compete for the title, they reside in 15th place, with a mere 7 pts from 8 matches.

Shaktar 2 - Celtic o

Celtic continued their putrid away form in Europe with a 2-0 defeat (they have never had an away win in the group stages).  They have done decently in the SPL (How could one not?)  However, they haven’t looked convincing in pre-season play, in qualifying, and now in the Champions League itself.  Will a poor performance in the Group Stages spell the end for Gordon Strachan?