Chelsea’s Social Media Mafia Is Achieving Nothing by Abusing Gary Cahill

Chelsea have a problem, and it isn’t just a porous defence or soft underbelly in Antonio Conte’s squad.

Instead it’s a social media mafia that seems intent on targeting players and abusing them. It has to stop.

Since Conte’s Stamford Bridge reign took a nose-dive in recent weeks, players have become targets and the noise has been just as unwanted as the goals Chelsea are conceding. It’s been amplified more and more with every defeat or dropped point since September’s international break.

Two players in particular have been subjected to some particularly vile abuse: Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic.

The latter’s form has been a subject of divided opinion for close to 18 months now. From the back end of Chelsea’s title-winning campaign of 2014/15, right through to the present, Ivanovic’s performances have raised big concerns.

“Ivanovic is a cancer of the club,” read one recent tweet, while another described him as being “pure AIDS.” Yes, they’re real comments from real people. We’re not making it up.

My last tweet till Cahill and Ivanovic are out of the teamChelsea Football Club are officially finished to me.Goodbye. #CFC

— ConteTweets (@ConteTweets) September 24, 2016

That early criticism of the Serb has transformed into a nasty movement. Now Ivanovic is being lynched every week on various social media platforms. Any real critique is being lost among a deluge of keyboard warriors calling for his head and simply out to offend.

That alone has created an undercurrent of negativity that is now spreading across the Chelsea team. Pandora’s box has been well and truly opened and Cahill now finds himself in the same category as Ivanovic. He’s been labelled a “pillock,” with one fan going so far as to suggest Cahill is “out of touch” with supporters on the back of his own poor form.

It’s not criticism; it’s outright abuse.

@garryhayes he is clearly completely out of touch with what is the reality for fans.

— Jamie (@ParkedTheBus) September 27, 2016

What purpose does this all actually serve? Other than very minor victories for those purporting as Chelsea supporters, what is being achieved by targeting football players on the back of bad performances?

The concern is how fans are using social media to drive home the very agendas the media are accused of plotting themselves.

It’s not just Chelsea supporters, ask any fan about how their club is portrayed by the media and the response will be negative. There will be mention of players being targeted and treated unfairly, that the club doesn’t get a fair deal.

I’d also like to give a big shout out to Gary Cahill who’s clearance was more like a through ball pass which …

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