In this week's column, former Chelsea favouritePat Nevin looks enviously at modern attitudes to playing at the top level that would have suited him down to the ground…
So the lads are off for a little break in Mallorca. After only drawing 0-0 against Norwich on Saturday some might think they scarcely deserve it. Personally I think that would be a harsh judgement, they dominated the game in terms of possession after all and were very unlucky to be playing against a keeper who understandably picked up the man of the match award.
It was of course a great opportunity to take advantage of Man U playing at Arsenal and Spurs visiting Man City, points had to be dropped and they duly were by our London neighbours. So yes there is some disappointment but on a wider viewpoint that is one defeat in the last 10 games, a slightly more consistent run of form even if there have been a few too many draws in that spell.
Those 10 games have come in just 44 days and maybe the hectic schedule has begun to take its toll on some of the players and not just those at Chelsea. Frank Lampard obviously picked up an infuriating muscle injury and all the top teams have had games when they have looked jaded lately.
The Mallorca trip will be all about a good few training sessions, as well as rest and recovery,rather thanthe chance for a bit of bonding.
Nowadays that word bonding has taken on a whole new meaning in football generally since it became a byword for organised drinking sessions with all the attendant questionable behaviour.
People often ask me if the behaviour from footballers these days is better or worse than it was when I was playing. To be honest it really hasn't changed a great deal other than when footballers do let their standards drop these days it is in a higher class of nightclub, in a better hotel or in a more expensive set of wheels.
I suspect if I was playing today I would find myself doing exactly the same as I did 20 years ago, behaving sensibly and trying to curb the worst excesses of the odd player who had overindulged. There is one thing that has certainly changed and that is the attitude of the coaches and the managers. They are acutely aware of the press and their ability to sniff out a good story, so they always have to be on their guard.
There is also the fact there was no such thing as a camera phone when I was playing and now anyone anywhere can take a picture of a player when he is shall we say, not looking in prime match-fit condition. Anything players do