29 mars 2011

Black or White - The Matchday Moments!

Tidigare publicerad på ChelseaVital

I have for some time now thought about writing about that great idea of Olasal`s (before one of our CL-games last fall I think) - The Matchday Moments and say thank you.

Like an instruction for new members to our brother-sisterhood here at ChelseaVital…

• I absolutely love Matchday Moments.

• I hate Matchday Moments.

• Matchday Moments frustrates the beejezus out of me.

• And I want to be there every matchday.

• But do not take Matchday Moments too serious, it is very much a thing of the moment.

I had a period where I got superstitious and dared not to be there as Chelsea kept losing. But I simply missed it too much. And now my real Chelsea is back.

The fighters, the team that wants to win more than they are afraid of losing. Despite our forwards not scoring and some players making us cringe for playing.

Too late…. I think so, as the luckiest team in the world is going on strong with taking their points the last minutes of every game, with or without the help of Howard Webb and Mark Clattenburg.

A month earlier would have made a world of difference. But at least we will now end up second in the league, because we are Chelsea and if we are not winners, then we are at least runners-ups or….?

And the Champions League is there for our taking, we have the team and squad to win it and for the first time this season we have almost no injuries. And whenever Carlo can do substitions in time… But at least you can set your clock after him, in the 70th minute they come on.

The Matchday Moments is the substitute for us that can not get to Stamford Bridge and live and breathe Chelsea. We are as good and true Chelsea supporters as anyone being able to be there, we just have some tiny things, like geography against us.

It is a substitute for how we behave when we are at the Stamford Bridge. As honestly, people there complain and bitch just as much as we do at the Matchday Moments. They are however singing in beteween and that is not done at the Matchday Moments for natural reasons.

Football is not just a game, it is also an outlet, especially for frustration and with today`s Chelsea with a lot of joy too. It is sharing the experience.
It is just that as it is not written down there, it is forgotten the next second when we are there. But we are no better there than we are at MM. I have myself, I admit, posted some comments in the heat of frustration that I am not proud of, or that really reflects my real views.

It does not really reflect what we think, it is a measure of how we react. I myself got so mad at Carlo last, that does not at all mean I think he should be fired. Or anything like that. Not at all. (Though I do reiterate that he really needs an assistant manager he trusts). I was just reacting as I wanted other, or just some, things done. And he infuriates me at times almost as much as my mother does because he does not listen to me.

Like I ever would get to tell Carlo that! And I have serious doubts that he bothers to read the Matchday Moments, despite many pieces of good advice being posted there at times.

It is not fair, it is not thought out. Is is instinctive and biased and alive. So alive.
And so biased many times. It represents the same kind of comments you hear when you are at the Bridge. The frustration, the disgust, the need to vent and even "hate" is the same.

As is the joy when things finally get together and we get that oh so deserved win. Like against City, a team I admire as one of the best defending teams in football. Still, after three embarrassing losses we turned the table. It was trully good win, and the best was to see the heart the new players showed for Chelsea in it.

It is the fingers doing the talking, and sometimes the head is left way too far behind. Yes, it is. It is multitasking at its best, and worst.

It is also so much fun.

Except when some people make things personal. It has gotten much better as many have reacted against people like that. Some had to be chucked out by the authorities to be. After all, just because you support Chelsea you are not automatically a decent person. There are and have been many poor excuses of human beings claiming to support Chelsea both here and in history. Sadly, even Chelsea has vermin that claim to support our club. It is unavoidable. The good thing is that more and more people refuse to accept such creatures.

Some persevered despite the haters that always pop up whether is is religon, politics or supporting a red team. (and two white teams). I have to kind of admire that. There is at least one that never hesitates saying things that make me choke at times, but he (or she) has never ever been personal and that makes me respect that poster much more than others that might think a little bit more like myself, but who are abusive.

People that disrespect others and their opinions are not worth anything more than contempt. We do not all think the same. Others are not as admirable to say the least. There has always been a few ready to poison everything, but they have all had to crawl back into their caves. Sadly not without turning some great people away from our site before the slimeballs was ousted. But then, new ones keep coming here as it is the best Chelsea site. (With my own of course!)

The Matchday Moments is pure black or white. Which is a problem for me as I do not think life is pure black or white. I believe a player can be really poor in the first half to go out and reinvent himself and be a hero in the second half, and I say so - hopefully without being painted as an idiot for not seeing things purely black and white. But it is ok. I know I am right!

Some of you really try my patience. But then, hopefully I really try yours too.

I am what I am, you are what you are. One of us is probably right and that is me. Or….

I really think the atmoshere at Matchday Moments has gotten better lately. Maybe it reflects the fact that Chelsea are getting back to being Chelsea again instead of that shadow that played in blue between October and February.

I love the Matchday Moments. Not all the comments, not all the ignorance, not all of the opinions, but it is really the closest thing to being at Stamford Bridge that there is.

But please, be a tiny bit more non-categorical and ope-nminded..and keep any abuse to yourself !

I do love The Matchday Moments. Despite the frustration at times. Because it is shared moments, shared joy, shared pride in our blues and an opportunity to vent some things.

See ya next time.