Media impact

[Madmax 9,219]

I just think that the UK media has really impacted upon our season. Call me delusional if you will but that's what I reckon. After Wilkins' sacking, we copped a huge amount of bad press. Admittedly it's the board's fault for giving the media an opportunity to have a pop when everything was going well on the field. But they were given a chance, and they lapped it up. Reading and hearing about the saga every day for the next fortnight or so would have definitely affected the players and team management in some manner. I maintain his exit has nothing to do with the downward spiral - we were playing poorly much before he left (though still getting results) - but a psychological impact would have been a certainty. Then again as soon as the results started to flounder, the crisis talk picked up speed. All it takes is one hack to term it a crisis and everyone else picks it up and recycles it, over and over and over, magnifying the situation. The boss and the players get asked questions about it and though they make all the right noises, I assume in the back of their heads, doubts would start to creep in. The third front came in the transfer window - first with the clamour of names, then the last day frenzy and after that - the widespread criticism of the performances against Liverpool and Fulham. The £50 million tag is bandied about at every conceivable opportunity and it's sure to have an effect.

Thoughts?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea have always had bad press, or at least since Abramovich came to town. I don't think that's the reason, but I can certainly see where you're coming from. I especially agree about the pressure put on Torres; its exactly the same as it was under Shevchenko (the difference being Shevchenko scored twice in his first three games... just saying).

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Media bias against us is nothing new. Fact is, they've been against us for so long now, it's just a normal part of being a part of the club. That's why I think it hasn't impacted our season, because the players should be used to being slated on a constant basis.