Anyone surprised Chelsea turned it on?

Clearly I didn’t see the second of the weekend’s s/f’s because I was revelling with 32,000 other Super Sky Blues in our title winning celebrations. What a day. What memories.

I used to think they should’ve stood that fabulous EFL trophy down when the PL was formed and everything changed. Somehow it didn’t seem right the team winning the second tier of English football should get their hands on something so many legends had in the past. It won’t surprise you to learn I’ve changed my mind. 😂.

I hope I never see scenes like it again - because obviously I want us to survive in the big league. I’d take 17th now. I think we’ve got some good players, bit are they all good enough for the PL? Who knows? That’s part of the puzzle. I’d break the bank to keep the ‘keeper Rushworth, but you’ve got to be realistic.

Owner Doug King’s choice is very simple - either spend £100m like Sunderland or nothing like Burnley. The outcome would likely be the same as it is for those two teams this season. 

Anyway, back to the Chelsea/Leeds game. When I saw the score I couldn’t help but wonder what Liam Rosenior was doing Sunday afternoon? I don’t believe Chelsea - as daft as they are - didn’t have a three month break clause in his contract, so he might not have been counting the millions some have suggested he left with.

Perhaps he was evaluating how stupid he’s been pissing away the biggest (and luckiest) break of his life? And what an irony Fernandez settled the tie. Rosenior’s press conferences when Chelsea banned their captain recently, for being honest with the media in Argentina, were toe curlingly embarrassing.

I learned this week the Chelsea players used to refer to Rosenior as ‘the supply teacher’. You can see why. And I wish I’d put a couple of bob on the outcome Sunday. It was nailed on Chelsea would win.

I don’t want to waste time talking about Rosenior any further - I did enough of that last week. But, again, I couldn’t help but give him a thought when I read the following promoting an upcoming event….

‘Russell Martin will return to the FAW National Coaches Conference to deliver a Tactical Masterclass session with Coaches Voice.

Coaches can revalidate UEFA qualifications and learn from industry expert at the two-day event’.

You fucking what? Seriously? It’s an event being held this summer - one of the speakers is Martin and he’s going to deliver a ‘tactical masterclass’.  Based on what? 

If he was hosting an event based on talking nonsense I’d understand that better and I’d expect to see Rosenior making an appearance.

I don’t have an issue with licences, coaching courses, or a whole lot more of what players can learn in the classroom when they decide they want a career in the dug out, but keep it real.

Both Martin and Rosenior should take time away and reflect on their last few jobs - especially Martin. Talking gobeldy-gook and as though you’ve swallowed a dictionary doesn’t make up for a lack of common sense. Preaching to others soothes their egos when they should’ve been burst.

There’s something odd about West Ham’s decision to part company with Karen Brady. Why the rush? It was a brutal exit. Resigning a job usually leads to a process of winding down. Brady was out of the door before the lights went out in her office. I don’t think we’ve got the whole story yet.

I was hoping the legacy media might tell us more - then I remembered most of the sports guys are West Ham fans, none more so than Martin Samuel, so they’ll toe the party line. I like Martin. I think he’s a brilliant writer. I worked with him when we were both babies.

He wrote in The Times Brady’s departure ‘was a loss for the whole of football’ I couldn’t disagree more. I’m with Sam Wallace, who made this point in The Telegraph - that Brady’s legacy ‘is a stadium hated by fans’. I’d go further and say it’s a stadium not fit for purpose. It’s a shame she profited, through legal bonuses, so richly when she did the deal to base West Ham in an athletics arena.  I don’t think Brady will be missed one jot.

The Mirror’s Andy Dunn has been getting all uptight about the upcoming WC. He’s been pointing out the outrageous costs that fans travelling the US will likely incur - let alone the cost of tickets. And he’s right 

For example, he points out getting from Penn Station in Manhattan to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey - just 18 miles - costs the equivalent of £12.50 right now. During WC weeks the cost will rise to £110. 

FIFA can’t sell tickets - not just because of the cost of travel - but because people don’t want to visit America whilst that orange baby (I could’ve gone stronger) is in the White House. I’m one of them. I won’t be there.

The Guardian report prize money will be raised at a meeting of the FIFA council in Vancouver this week, because countries are concerned about the costs of taking part. Oh for the simplicity of a WC in Qatar eh?

Also in The Guardian today news the head of referees for Serie A and Serie B, Gianluca Rocchi, has been suspended and placed under investigation for ‘sporting fraud’. He’s accused of arranging for Andrea Colombo to referee Inter’s game at Bologna last April as he was ‘liked by Inter’. Happily Bologna won 1-0.

He’s also accused of pressuring a VAR official in Udinese’s 1-0 win over Parma last March. Totally unrelated to this - how often have I said VAR is the best way to fix a match if you have intent? It’s a good job our officials aren’t corrupt - they’re just not very good. Why wasn’t Calvert-Lewin sent-off for hair pulling? United fans were right to point this out. And why didn’t Everton get a pen at West Ham for a nailed on handball? 

I’ve got to give Football Focus a quick mention. I repeat what I said on Twitter last week - of course it’s not Alex Scott’s fault it’s failed. It’s simply a programme that’s not needed nor watched anymore. It’s a victim of changing viewing habits.

MotD will go the same way. And so will pre and post game shows. Few watch highlights and viewers don’t watch the sort of programming I’ve done most of my life anymore. 

I saw a stat last week that most under-30s have never bought a newspaper. That same group don’t watch football as we did and they’re tired of hearing from the same pundits saying the same things across every channel they might switch on. 

The multi-nationals that own the sports broadcasts companies know the costs of highly paid pundits are unsustainable. They haven’t quite killed the golden goose, but it’s in intensive care.