Dealing with chaos is something most Chelsea supporters are well accustomed to. Even if that chaos may only be related to frequent changes in the dugout, the predictability of unpredictability is an in-joke amongst those who love the club.
But 2022 has tested that humour given its serious turns and seismic change in the space of three months at the beginning of the year with the change in ownership. The sanctions briefly caused speculation over the club's entire future, with consistent reports about the takeover and whether it would go through in time.
Then a summer of upheaval behind the scenes and on the pitch, followed by the shock sacking of Thomas Tuchel. The final change was probably to most ordinary thing to happen at the club this year.
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Although Graham Potter has started well, winning six of his first nine games, qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League and having the Blues inside the top four, some supporters are struggling to feel connected with the current team.
I noticed after the draw with Manchester United, a shared expression of discontent or just frustration over the current state of things. Notably a thread from @Bassman_93 on the match-going experience and some early concerns surrounding the new ownership.
"I think the madness of this year has definitely been a big factor, coupled with the way the media and government were constantly catastrophising about the club, it didn't help anyone. It was very draining." Bassman, who is a club member and regular match goer tells football.london.
"I'm a member so we sit all around the ground, mostly Matthew Harding Upper though when I can get tickets, which is mostly for Champions League group games. I was at the first COVID game against Leicester which was incredible, but since I'd say it's gone back to normal-ish, I was in Westview for Salzburg which was an awful atmosphere."
There were clear signs of irritation in the draw against Salzburg last month which coincided with Graham Potter's first game in charge. A smattering of boos were heard at the final whistle, along with the slamming of some chairs after Chelsea had squandered a lead and missed several good chances, an irritatingly frequent trend in a challenging year.
"When sanctions were imposed there was a great deal of uncertainty and I do think in some sections of the media there was not only scaremongering about the future of the club but also a sense of openly inviting an attack on Chelsea and it’s supporters as public enemy number one." Nick Williams, who is also a member and runs That Chelsea Podcast.
"We became the lightning rod and subsequent scapegoat for one madman’s actions. The UK government have been a shambles, but there seemed to be more attention from then on us while this was going on to almost be seen to be doing something, I guess you could say a common trend of them. Let’s be real, with the exception of the Champions League campaign going on during this time, the football was very much secondary to the actual future of the club and hoping we got the right owners, which thankfully we did."
Even if the brief suggestion of the administration loomed in supporters' minds following the sanctions, the uniquely condensed nature of a very public takeover process only heightened previous stress.
"When you think in 2020 we had the pandemic, 2021 the proposed rise and fall of the European Super League and then the 2022 sanctions, it’s been a chaotic few years for lots of people." Williams says. "When you go through hard times you look for something to look forward to but unfortunately in 2022, Chelsea have not been that enjoyable on the pitch."
Tuchel losing his job was a shock, but it is not unreasonable to suggest results and performances had been sliding since the turn of the year. Chelsea were not a free-flowing attacking team under the German, usually only winning by one or two goals, and when they did win there were few victories that felt convincing or filled with flair.
"I think the intersection of sports and politics has also become more of a thing," Bassman says when asked to reflect if these frustrations are a symbol of a sport continuing to lose touch with its supporters and not just a Chelsea issue.
"Newcastle stuff, the Qatar World Cup and obviously the sale of the club. Ideally, the Chelsea situation should've been a wake-up call to do more, but alas. And the World Cup is clearly just damaging the players and making problems this season."
"I think it’s an issue for both." Williams adds. "Some of what I said before was obviously exclusive to Chelsea but it does feel the sport we love is becoming less of a sport and more of an entertainment product. You certainly can have too much of a good thing."
Although there was relief in the takeover being completed in early June with the Boehly and Clearlake consortium, not every decision implemented has been widely greeted with praise, and with change comes uncertainty over the future of a club that has been ridiculously successful over the past 20 years.
"I do think I just don't have much of a touchpoint with the club." Bassman says ."Lots of usual public faces have gone, even if they weren't exactly communicative, they were familiar. We don't really know Todd or the others and I'm not sure they're making the effort with fans."
The Chelsea Supporters Trust were at the forefront of putting fan interest front and centre during the takeover process, meeting with all the prospective owners and advocating a Golden Share that aims the protect the fundamental parts that make Chelsea what it is: the badge, kit and local community. Whilst also continuing to reject the idea of a Super League, something Boehly did not rule out when asked at the Salt Conference in New York last month.
"Generally football feels detached from normality." Bassman finishes with. "The Super League is still about, no independent regulator or increase in fan involvement has sprung from that so we're sliding back towards it.
"From an emotional energy point, it's been a hard year for Chelsea and a difficult year for like the cost of living. Chelsea just isn't really the same retreat. It's supposed to be a comfortable old friend."
"I had lots of fun following Chelsea home, away and in Europe last season meeting people I’d met online in the pandemic as well as new people I just met at games," Williams adds. "However, by end of the season the sanctions were a blessing to me to stop me from going final five home league games and the lack of enthusiasm for going to games hasn’t gone away.
"It’s not even to do with what is going on on the pitch because I actually feel fairly positive about the state Chelsea is in on the pitch. In October, Chelsea play nine times and at the time of saying this, they’ve played seven times. They’re playing every three days and I find myself either at a game or switching between various broadcasters to watch us. I feel like I’m consuming Chelsea like a Netflix series rather than as a football team."
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