One Russian, His Chequebook and an Asbestos Pen

Believe
By Chris O'Brien
November 6 2005

Everton's delight at a point against the "unbeatable" Chelsea summed up the demise of the beautiful game. We can now only be second best, so they'd have us believe, whilst the West Londoners continue their unrivalled dominance of the Premeir League. Let's dispell this myth before it's too late.

The media are proclaiming that Everton's draw with Chelsea in Sunday's Goodison Park clash has saved the Premiership. The Toffees were dogged and spirited and battled to a home point that ended the 100% league record boasted by the awesome title favourites and revealed the odd chink possessed in the largely faultless armour of the Champions.

For me, it was a sad indictment of what football has become. Everton fans and players alike looked like they had won the F.A Cup as referee Mark Clattenburg brought Sunday's proceedings to an end. David Moyes hailed his men, the phone-ins were full of praise and Evertonians are smiling despite last season's Champions League qualifiers propping up the table with a dismal four points and no wins. Was this really something to be so happy about?

The fact we are simply willing to accept Chelsea's dominance of the domestic game is extremely worrying and is contributing to the rapid decline in popularity of Premiership football. Commentators have shown mammoth shock if the star-studded West Londoners dare concede a goal, with Aston Villa and Bolton joining Everton as recent teams to break the backline of the seemingly invincible Blues.

Many bookmakers have paid out on Chelsea already. Others are preparing to do so. They'd have us believe second-place is all we're playing for, maybe a cup run until we face Chelsea. The European Cup is bound to go to Stamford Bridge, and the same will supposedly happen next year. No, no and no again!

Where has the belief gone from the beautiful game? With the title apparently out of reach already, United are playing without a cutting edge and teams are now coming to Old Trafford expecting to pick up points. Chelsea will falter, they will concede goals and dare I suggest they are capable of losing games?

Teams should not go to the Bridge, or even host Abramovich and company, with damage limitations tactics. The Chelsea boys are threatening to ruin the game that we all love, and it has to stop. One Russian, a cheque book and an asbestos pen should not have eroded the competitive nature of the Premier League. I for one have belief it will not. Keep the faith.

MUFC - The Religion.