The Ship Of Theseus and Why I Can't Be Bothered To Put The Game On

I suppose I supported Chelsea, like many people do, because they were my dad's team. He'd supported them since the 70's. I was born in 1996 - my earliest memories were that we were good but United and Arsenal were better, our day was coming though. I was lucky enough that as my consciousness developed and my ability to understand football grew, Chelsea was also blossoming into the best team in the country. I remember Mourinho's reign vividly, the ecstasy of the back to back trophies, everything was perfect. I loved Stamford Bridge, I loved the colour blue, I loved Mourinho, I loved Lampard and Terry and Drogba and all the rest. Then comes the pain, Mourinho sacked, poor form. It's alright, let's see what happens.

A decade goes by - I still support Chelsea - in that 10 years we'd had probably gone through 10 or more new managers, and by 2017ish I don't think there is a single player in the starting line up that was starting in 2007. Through thick and thin in that 10 years my support was unwavering. I loved Chelsea, I loved Ancelotti, I loved Conte, I loved Costa, I loved Hazard etc. etc.

Nearly another decade has gone by now. Nothing is the same. I don't recognise the team, I don't recognise the players and I think its now become quite clear to me that I don't recognise the club.

Before all of those components like the manager and the players could change and it still felt somehow (just about) like a cohesive football club. The ownership has changed and now that isn't so. Being a fan of a football club is weird. What is it that we actually support? I had no idea that a change to the business structure and the ownership would influence how I feel about a club. Surely its more about the players? The crowd and our chants? The colour of the kit? All sorts of things but surely not from the corporate side? Mou was gone but I was still Chels, winning ways had gone but I was still Chels, no Drogba- still Chels, no Conte, no Hazard- still Chels. If in 2009 they'd made the home kit red I'd probably still be Chels. If we had a new stadium I would still have supported Chelsea in the new stadium. All the way up to Tuchel - good form or bad I was Chelsea through and through.

I think the last ~5 years has been so bad that my support is no longer there, call me a fair weather fan or whatever you want- it is not a logical decision- I literally don't feel it. If Chelsea win I don't care, if Chelsea lose I don't care. I guess I didn't support Chelsea, I guess I supported Chelsea from about 2002-2022, I guess in some capacity I supported Roman Abramovic. The ship of Theseus has ceased to be the ship that it was, not for the building materials, not for it's design, not for the crew, not for the captain, not for the shipmaster but I think to me, inexplicably - the owner of the ship.