As much as being a football fan is about achievement and glory and success, it’s also about hope. To win on a Saturday afternoon is good, but what really matters is next Saturday, and the Saturday after that; stretching far into the distance. It’s why we put so much store in young players: not so much for their novelty or enthusiasm (although they are important), but the hope that they will evolve into something else.
Hope is what keeps Arsene Wenger in a job. Trophyless since 2005, Wenger is slowly building a new team of youngsters who will be able to compete in the future. Arsenal fans are sustained by the hope that, with time, Fabregas, Walcott, Adebayor et al will become as good as the Adams/Petit/Overmars team or even The Invincibles. Even Manchester United fans, soon to win a magnificent double, know that as good as Rooney and Ronaldo are now, they will be better in two or four or six years time.
And I have never felt so much hope for a City team as I had this season. Yes, we played well. But not to the extent of deserving anything higher than the eighth place we will probably take. I enjoyed some wins immensely: 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground, both derbies, both Newcastle win and the 3-1 against Pompey. What I really loved though, was the anticipation of what this team would become. Hart, Richards, Corluka, Onuoha, Fernandes, Johnson, Ireland, Sturridge, Caicedo: all born in 1986 or later. Over the course of his three year contract, Eriksson would mould them into something special. Not only that: our FA Youth Cup winning side would revitalise the squad when necessary. Eriksson and Tord Grips’ contacts in European football would find 1989’s Gelson, or 1991’s Corluka. In five or ten years time I saw us playing in the Champions’ League. ‘Sven’s Boys’ would be feared across the continent.
Hope, and not the extra dozen points, was the real difference between this team and Pearce’s. There was a real sense in the last two seasons that this team was going nowhere. We were never more than a composite side of teenagers and bosman signings. Dabo, Corradi, Hamann, Trabelsi: aging millionaires signed to keep us up. No real money to spend. We did have the Academy, but could not expect miracles as they grew up on the rocky ground of a 43 point team. When Pearce left I hoped for Graeme Souness or George Graham, a few free transfers and £2m on David Healy. Hopefully we could postpone relegation by a year or two.
But this year was different. The club had been reset; it was the start of something new. I loved watching us play, but not as much as I loved thinking about how well Richards and Corluka would play together in four years time, or Fernandes and Johnson in front of them, or Sturridge and Bozhinov up front. And, for no legitimate or even stated reason, it’s been snatched away. This is the death of hope.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
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3 comments:
There is, I think, a certain hubris in the revelations about Sven's future. City fans who not just excused, but revelled in Thaksin's murkier past and questionable human rights record, are now quick to denounce him. JPB, who proudly owns a 'Thaksin' t-shirt, is finally willing to refer to him as a 'thug.' Shame on you. And shame on all City fans, whose views on Thaksin the man have shifted so violently because of a footballing decision rather than a humanitarian one. City, like Liverpool, are finally getting what they deserved. Whilst football may ultimately be about hope and the long term, two great footballing institutions have made desperate short term decisions and been punished for that.
I realise that City were a PLC; but Thaksin was courted by the board and welcomed by the fans. Now those same hypocrites, who joked and sang his name, have the gaul to wallow in self pity and cry, "Why me?" Grow up-Sven's blood is on your hands too.
I would agree, tejm, but I can't help but feel that the gloating, self-righteous nature of your post is an indication that you are a rag. I bet you're the sort of rag (United fan, in case you're not from Manchester) who bewailed the Glazer takeover, but now loves them because they brought you a few trophies. Tit. Plus, you can't spell "gall" correctly.
Say what you want, but a takeover by a billionaire is a cause for jubilation. I bet QPR fans are hardly irate at the takeover of their club, because when they look at other clubs around them, such as Sheff Wed, they breathe a sigh of relief that they aren't going down the shitter. What happened in Frank's past is irrelevant, he came to our club as a saviour. I bet if someone similar came to Salford United and pledged to wipe out your £765m debt, you'd jump for joy, human rights record or no human rights record.
To say that Liverpool and City are getting what they deserve is fucking shite. We're family clubs, unlike the United corporate machine, and our supporters don't all come from Cheshire, London and the Far East; they're proper Manchester lads and lasses. Taking on owners who pledged to improve the clubs' fortunes was not a short term decision, it was anything but that, you little cock nosher. Let's see who's saying that when the rags are reforming in the Ryman League or whatever.
Sven's blood isn't on our hands. Say what you will, but Frank's team should be matching the Portsmouths, Villas and Evertons of this world. We have failed and, while I don't agree with sacking Sven, I see Frank's logic. Hopefully this won't signal a downturn in fortunes.
"I would agree, tejm, but I can't help but feel that the gloating, self-righteous nature of your post is an indication that you are a rag."
Well, in that case I don't feel a need to add much at all. If your only argument against my post is a personal attack, then obviously you've got no substantive objections to anything I've said.
Furthermore, this pitiful argument that 'I would definitely do the same' is completely irrelevant. First of all, don't presume that I would. Secondly, whilst the Glazers have not been the disaster many expected, Utd fans do not love them. We were winning trophies before the Glazers; and, regardless of the takeover, Fergie had always been backed by the board.
Finally, to say "our supporters don't all come from Cheshire, London and the Far East" is probably your most moronic comment of all. Where's your owner from, again? Where are you touring next week? Buy an Atlas and I'll point out Thailand for you.
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