Football Fuckeries - Rafael Benitez

- The Musings of a Failed Football Fan...

Should I stay or should you go now?

If I was in a relationship with a person and they kept on threatening to leave me, I reckon that would be considered a pretty toxic relationship. So why on earth does Rafael Benitez keep-on doing it to us?

The story so far: “Rafa threatens to quit if he doesn’t get control over transfer policy” and “Rafa threatens to quit after not being able to sign Gareth Barry” and “Rafa threatens to quit if Torres is sold” and “Rafa threatens to quit over salary demands.” I could go on, but to be honest, I ain’t got enough good years left in me. The sad truth is, if you Google: ‘Alex Ferguson threatens to quit’ – it’s Benitez’s name that comes up (just below Arsene Wenger’s).

I don’t doubt that he’s motivated by a desire for success, and that Liverpool has done wellish while under his charge (in Europe anyway). And I don’t doubt for one nano-second that it appears that our newish owners are complete and utter FUCKERIES! – I believe it was them that pushed Rick Parry out. But here’s the thing, why does Rafa keep on threatening to quit? – What about us? Don’t we count? I’m not quitting…no-matter what.

Anyone who reads this column regularly will know – I’m a self-confessed “armchair” supporter. I still have an opinion though, even if I am in the conference league of supporters. I just wonder if we – the fans, and Liverpool – the football club, don’t deserve a bit better than someone who keeps on threatening to leave us. And it’s not that I particularly want him to stay, or go. I just want him to stop with the threats.

Look, I worked for that club for two seasons and I never took a penny from ‘em. Not one single penny. Not one single free ticket. I didn't even claim expenses. Don’t get me wrong, the subject of remuneration was discussed with Rick – but I didn’t want a penny – I’m “old skool” like that. And you know why, cos it was a fucking honour to be associated with the club, let alone get to write for it. It was, it is, it will always be. So please Rafa, either put up or shut-up…cos it’s not all about you.

A Footnote.

A couple of years back, I recall being in the Anfield boardroom with Rick Parry again. I had just presented my case, for why he should grant me a second season at the club. The meeting (which had been pretty uneventful and basically consisted of me trying my hardest to keep my job) was winding up. And I said to Rick, in the naïve way that a failed football fan would do, and sensing he was about to usher me out anyway, “So, how’s things going with the new stadium, will it be built on top of the old one?” For a man that possessed a fairly consistent mono-expression every time I’d met him, his face positively lit up. “Oh no” he said, “It’ll be moved to Stanley Park. It’ll mean the regeneration of a large area of north Liverpool, and much more investment in the local community.” It stuck with me because, it was one of the few times I’d ever witnessed someone (who worked in football) ever display, a genuine “off the record” desire for something other than glory and success for themselves. What he revealed, to me at least, in that off-the-cuff response was not only a commitment to the club’s continued and long term success (which his track record proved). But also an aspiration that the club’s wealth and triumph was shared, and directly benefited us – the community – the believers – the eternal last ‘man’ standing.

I suppose managers will come and go – the great ones will become part of the legend. Legends that we will tell our children, who in turn, will tell their children – and so on. The players (the good ones), like shooting stars, will illuminate our darkest hours and in doing so, leave an indelible trail on our hearts and minds. We will always have owners, and they will, all eventually sell us on. But when you check-it, the future of our football clubs will always belong to the last man standing. And that, will always be us.

-A failed football fan


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