My post Summer resolution is to go to the gym everyday (trying to reverse the effects of a few months of Spanish cuisine). Yesterday afternoon, whilst mind numbingly bobbing up and down on the cross trainer, I tuned into Chelsea TV, which was showing a replay of the second leg of the 2005 Champion's League game between Chelsea and Barcelona, at the Bridge. It was good to see the likes of Joe Cole and Damien Duff in Chelsea Blue and a little weird to see Samuel Eto'o playing for the opposition. As John Terry headed in Chelsea's fourth and subsequently winning goal, the commentator referred to him as 'Captain Fantastic'.The last few years have not been great for JT:
January 2010 - revelations of Terry's alleged affair with his team mate's fiance led to Fabio Capello removing Terry as England's Captain.
November 2011 - Terry was placed under police investigation following an allegation of racist abuse made at Anton Ferdinand during a West London Derby against QPR
April 2012 - The Blues skipper was dismissed in the first half of the Champion's League semi-final at the Nou Camp for an off-the-ball knee in the back of Alexis Sanchez. His ban meant he could not take part in the final in Munich.
July 2012 - Although Terry was acquitted by the Magistrates of the racism charges, the FA charged the Chelsea defender for using "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" which "included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Ferdinand". He received a four match ban and was fined. Terry subsequently announced his retirement from England's national footballl team.
November 2012 - During his first game back after serving his ban, Terry picked up a knee injury which ruled him out of the first team until the end of January 2013 by which time the newly appointed Manager Rafa Benitez had decided Terry was no longer his first choice centre back.
None of this makes for comfortable reading. I don't think who Terry chooses to have a physical relationship with should in anyway impact his performance as a footballer, nor do I think it should be in the public arena. I agree footballers more than ever are role models and have a responsibility to set an example by refraining from abusive language and behaviour. If Terry had insulted the former first team Spurs goal keeper by calling him a 'F****** BALD C***', (as I heard a few thousand supporters chanting in the shed end of Stamford Bridge during a Tottenham game), would he have been placed under police investigation or banned and fined by the FA? Or perhaps if the adjective used was GINGER? Would that have led to such recrimination? I think we all know the answer to that. When does competitive banter turn into racist slander? Don't get me wrong, I am all for an end to racism (I myself was labelled as 'black' in my twenties - this label alone did not offend me, it was the fact that it was used as a means of trying to insult and demean me which did the damage). I don't want to get into a long debate about it all - I do think PC is going a bit far and I also think the footballer should be separated from the man (after all Liverpool FC have managed to overlook their striker's cannibalism!).
I am not asking anyone to 'like' or 'respect' John Terry as a man, but I do think he deserves respect as a great footballer and perhaps even one of the greatest defenders in Europe at his peak. As a Chelsea supporter I am more than happy to see JT reinstated into the team where he belongs and I share Jose Mourinho's faith in him.I can't finish without remarking on some of the amazing happenings of the last couple of months:
Frank Lampard became England's eighth Centurion.
Arsenal and Liverpool are top of the Premier league.
Arsene Wenger went shopping!
Gareth Bale went on an all inclusive Spanish holiday.
Joe Hart lost his mojo.
The first Premiership manager was sacked after just five weeks (Fascism doesn't pay after all!).
West Ham beat Tottenham 3-0!
Jack Wilshere got caught smoking.
Jose Mourinho had his worst start to a season - the 'Happy One' looked positively miserable.
Juan Mata got the Iker Casillas treatment.
John Obi Mikel scored his first Premier League goal in 185 appearances and subsequently Roman Abramovich was seen to smile publicly!!
And yes there is so much I could say about Manchester United, but I would never stoop so low!!
