Dave’s Weekly Thought; John Terry, Sponsored By The Letter R.
This week the letter R dominated the Beautiful Game.
It started at the Theatre of Dreams where the Noisy Neighbors routed The Other Manchester Club leaving Sir Alex red-faced and rummaging around for an answer. Having only decided this season to start speaking to the BBC again, he must have been so happy to face them after what was an astonishing display by The Manchesters.
City were rampant, United were rubbish and the manner of victory suggested that the power balance may be shifting from the Red to the Light Blue. Entirely possible, but too early to start making any assumptions along those lines.
We have to face some facts.
Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited didn’t pump millions into the club out of the goodness of their hearts; they weren’t a group of fans that came into money and decided that they would support their local team. They did it because they could see the Rewards that come from a successful football club – notably recognition and everlasting respect from the fans who have followed the club through thick and (mainly) thin.
And because Manchester City were available to buy. At a Reasonable price.
When Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League in 1994/95, they were criticized for “buying the title” after Jack Walker invested a considerable slice of his personal fortune into players and improving the stadium. The big difference is that Uncle Jack was from Blackburn, had supported the club all his life and finally got the chance to give something back to the community.
I would bet that if you asked the Board of ADUGI&DL where Maine Road is or who beat City in the 100th FA Cup Final, they would have to Google the answer. Or failing that, they could ask a fan.
But the result was a significant pointer as to the way the season may now go. Citeh are the team to beat and will certainly not be thinking about relegation for many years to come.
We have also heard a lot this week about Racism.
King Kenny believes that the subject doesn’t need to be discussed. Unlike some other European countries where players have to listen to primate noises and the offering of yellow fruit, the FA have made a huge song and dance about kicking racism out of football and (somewhat naively) think that the door has been shut on this contentious subject.
“I do not think racism is prevalent in the game here and it certainly isn’t at this football club” said Kop King Kenny and defended Luis Suarez – accused of racially abusing Patrice Evra – by saying that “He is just a fantastic person as well as a fantastic footballer.” Which means that he couldn’t possibly be racist.
Down in West London, Anton Ferdinand has accused resident Chelsea Choirboy John Terry of racist comments during the game at Loftus Road last weekend. Which Chelsea lost – but that has no bearing on this.
On their official site, the Football Association has made it very clear that racial abuse to other players just isn’t cricket. A statement reads:
“The FA can confirm it has received a complaint relating to an alleged incident of racist abuse in the QPR versus Chelsea fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011. The FA will now begin to make enquiries into this matter. The FA takes seriously any allegations of discrimination and abuse of this type.”
On the un-official site, the FA have hidden their heads in the sand yet again by pretending that this subject doesn’t really exist and that everything in the English Football garden is lovely. There is no racism, no homophobia, no problems with any British Asian players that want to play football professionally, no anti-Semitic chanting and no sexist behavior of any sort. All the food served at grounds up and down the country is healthy and nutritious, there are no hooligans any more and ticket prices are reasonable in the current economy.
The most disturbing part of this is the involvement of John Terry in yet another “scandal.” Last week, Super Mario Balotelli revealed a message on his undershirt which asked ‘Why Always Me’ but, to be fair, JT has blotted his reputation so many times that Mario has a long way to go before he can even measure up.
Setting off fireworks in your bathroom is stupid but (as far as I know) Mario hasn’t slept with various teammates girlfriends, smashed a bottle on a nightclub bouncer, parked in a handicapped zone, urinated in public, mocked victims of 9/11, have a Dad who deals coke, a Mum who is a shoplifter and want to charge £10,000 for a guided tour of Chelsea’s training ground (cash in hand, don’t tell the Club).
I am not a huge fan of John Terry. But is he racist? Did he call Anton Ferdinand an abusive word during the heated battle of a West London derby? Has the FA done the right thing in promising an investigation into this “isolated incident”?
Only JT knows what happened and naturally he wants to come across as a jolly nice bloke; he can’t be racist because he is mates with Drogba and Ashley Cole, he listens to rap, he admires Spike Lee and he knows every member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Probably.
Racism is ingrained in the English game. The FA may claim that the situation has got better – and it has improved dramatically since the Time Before The Premier League – but the cold truth is that it is still there. It may be under the surface and hiding in the shadows but it exists. And there are footballers or fans who can publically claim that they don’t have a prejudiced bone in their body but behind closed doors they are setting fire to crosses and deciding which pillow case can be sacrificed for a new hood.
I am not saying that John Terry is one of those people. He might be on the level on this one but there is no smoke without fire. JT has gone on the offensive on the matter by saying “I welcome the FA enquiry and look forward to clearing my name as soon as possible. Until then I have no further comment.”
Perhaps if he scores against Arsenal this weekend, he might expose his under-shirt to further hammer home his point. And I know exactly where he can get a used garment with the right message.
Provided, of course, that he has no problem with the previous owner.
EPL Round 10; Predictions
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal Confidence takes a backseat
Everton 1-3 Manchester United Toffees feel The Backlash
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves Business as usual
Norwich City 1-o Blackburn Rovers Steve not so Kean on job anymore
Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa Bent Out of Shape
Swansea City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers 30 seconds of highlights worth waiting for
WBA 0-1 Liverpool Gloom For Roy, Joy For Kenny
Wigan 2-1 Fulham It Could Happen…
Spurs 3-2 QPR Because ‘Arry The Badger is down to the bare bones in defense
Stoke City 2-0 Newcastle United Back to reality for Geordies