DEBATE: Is there now a divide between Chelsea and the supporters?

I was reading THIS article this afternoon and it has got me thinking. The article I am referring to is in The Mirror today, written by Martin Lipton and he claims that the relationship between Chelsea and the supporters is now a concern even after Rafa Benitez leaves the club before the end of the season (if not sooner!).

He says:

There is a phalanx of supporters who now seemingly want to believe the worst of the club in any circumstances, using the Benitez appointment as their point of departure.

Last week's claims that the club had deliberately replaced the pre-season team picture of Robbie Di Matteo and his squad with a Champions League shot which omitted the Italian, as part of what was described as “Stalinist air-brushing” by some fans, was all part of the madness.

The idea that one of the stand-out beneficiaries of Moscow-style liberal capitalism was actually taking his play-book from old Uncle Joe was quite funny.

Di Matteo's image still adorns the walls around the Bridge, in different places and it is a fact that when, in 2009 and again last year, the faces of the managers who had started the season were replaced on the bodies of the “dead” men it was used on both occasions as a stick with which to beat the club.

Then again, many of the same Blues supporters were convinced that the banning of one anti-Benitez banner at the Etihad Stadium was also proof of an unholy boardroom pact between Chelsea's money men and Manchester City.

Both clubs simply adopt the same safety policy – which require banners above a certain size to have a fire certificate.

And some of those fans doubtless, were among those who went loco a couple of weeks ago when, asked to pay tribute to Jamie Carragher and in reference to their shared time at Liverpool, Benitez dared to use the word “we”. The same word he uses when discussing Valencia, Inter Milan AND Chelsea.

Unquestionably, the day Benitez leaves Chelsea cannot come soon enough for some fans. You suspect the Spaniard himself might, in truth, feel the same way.

But even when he does depart, the bigger problem is whether the fractures between Chelsea and the supporters can be repaired. It is an issue both sides will have to address. For the good of the club as a whole.

So I just wonder what YOU the Chelsea fans thinks about what he is saying. Do you agree or disagree?

I personally disagree that there is a divide but it's still a concern as to what has been happening at the club. Yes we have seen a more chopping and changing of managers than we have seen Wigan fans on average supporting their team at the Bridge and, that has led to the most successful period of our history but it doesn't mean we can't be concerned at the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and appointment of Rafa Benitez.

We aren't stupid and understand that when you put it in the amount of money into our football club that Roman has, you can pretty much run the club in anyway you want to. For the most part as I say it's been successful and fair play to Roman Abramovich.

The thing is, there has been a picture painted of the Chelsea fans and with what has happened at the club and the press and media have been trying to cause a divide between us and Abramovich. We keep being told that one day he will pack up and leave but I can't see it.

You have to look at Roman Abramovich's record at our club from the moment he walked into the corridor at Stamford Bridge. He has turned us into a nearly something club into one of Europe's giants (and that isn't an understatement) and has delivered on every promise he has ever made when Peter Kenyon stated his and the clubs intentions.

No matter what happens down the line, I will be forever grateful for Roman Abramovich at Chelsea Football Club. It's important to remember that he was in London to meet Daniel Levy at White Hart Lane and shook hands on a deal to take over Tottenham. Thank god for the helicopter pilot who chose to fly over Stamford Bridge that day to show Roman that we were another viable option!.

I don't want Roman out and never will but I am also not saying that I am happy with every single decision he has taken. I blame his "advisers" over the last two seasons because apart from FA Cup and Champions League success and a summer of significant investment in the playing staff once again, we are hardly any further forward from where we ended up in the Premier League last term.

In addition to that, we have someone at the club who isn't wanted and has come out and had a pop at both the supporters AND the board but is still taking training sessions at Cobham this morning!

So in response to the article written by Martin Lipton I disagree that there is a divide but just unhappy supporters who want nothing but the best for our football club.

You see, we a breed that has been through it all over, land, sea and Leicester. We have seen the good, the bad, the ugly, Benitez and the best night of our lives in Munich so very little fazes us these days.

We know we have a team that can achieve great things, win trophies and become Premier League Champions once again but have become frustrated when it seems that people interfere!

We love our club, we're just a bit miffed that's all. No divide!.

Carefree & KTBFFH

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