Genuine Question

For the Chelsea faithful.

Rick Broadbent writes in The Times today:

"Chelsea appear to be nearing the end of the road. It has been a giggle, what with hiding Jose Mourinho in a laundry basket, but it seems the glory years are over and it's back to the days of Robert Fleck and Winston Borgarde."

In the same paper there's a full page article from Patrick Barclay commenting on life after Mourinho, the 'Special One's' successes post-Abramovich, his current achievements with Real and the present Chelsea incumbent's chances of survival.

One, presumably, slightly tongue-in-cheek. The other a more serious and thoughtful piece examining the direction Abramovic has taken, and may take, the club.

What, if anything, do you make of this? Is there a genuine sense of decline surrounding the club.

What are the positives amongst all the negative media coverage?

On balance of evidence, it certainly appears that Chelsea are in some sort of transitional crisis - regardless of the result today.

A win at over-achieving Newcastle would just be a case of dried wood pulp covering a rather large fissure.