One thing stands out for me in the 2013/14 season, and that
is the media witch-hunt that focuses on whichever manager happens to go about
three games without winning. No manager is immune to the frenzied attacks of
the press and the ridiculous rants of football phone-ins. The problem is of
course the 24hour news culture which creates a story and a drama when there is
none. And so much of this is caused by fake fans via twitter or other forms of
social media. Does anyone really think Piers Morgan either gives a shit or
knows fuck all about football, for example? Yet comments from celebrities and
the like are lapped up by football phone-ins and websites and previously reputable
outlets, like the BBC. It always amuses me that every so called expert on the
game, is in fact anything but. The real experts, been there and done it, never
air their agendas in public. They are too busy doing their job and focussed on
that.
I am not pretending that managers should be immune to
criticism – that would be ridiculous too – but they deserve some respect and
reasoned coverage. Alas, that is a thing of the past. This season has once and
for all confirmed this to me.
Let’s go back to game one, Arsenal’s “disgusting” 1-3 defeat
to Aston Villa. Arsene Wenger can go. What does he know? Past his sell-by date.
Au Revoir. Now, I am no Arsenal fan – indeed for the record my team is QPR –
but only a total fool could deny the job Wenger has done at Arsenal. Surely
only an idiot must realise he has kept Arsenal in the top four, in the
Champions League, year on year, against the odds. He’s sold a conveyer belt of
world class talent, most recently Van Persie, Fabregas, Nasri – and still he
keeps his team fighting amongst, or maybe just behind, the rich kings of
Chelsea, Man City and until this season, United. So what do these fans really
expect? I like most reasonable football fans, was pleased for Arsene that his
team won the FA Cup at the end of the season. I am sure that will give him some
respite, until they have the temerity to lose a game to another mid-table team!
Another manager, less likeable than Wenger, Alan Pardew. Now
I hear Alan Shearer saying “Newcastle fans just want hope”. Hope of what exactly.
Hope they win the league, hope they get to the Champions League, hope they win
the Cup. I hope QPR do all of that too, and we have spent some ridiculous sums
of money, but it’s not going to happen. Reality. Up until the sale of their prized
asset in January, Newcastle had been over-performing brilliantly. Yohan
Cabaye’s departure, along with Loic Remy’s untimely injury, hit them hard. Okay
maybe Newcastle should have been more resilient at this point, but over the
season, they did okay – probably better than okay. 10th at the end
of the campaign – and for the majority of the season they were steady in about
8th spot.
So my point is this. Real fans know the score. Real fans are
not given over to hype. And real fans do not feel the need to prove their support,
by demanding the manager’s sacking, unless it is a properly considered decision
that will improve the fortunes of the football club. It is fake fans, failed
managers turned pundits, or pundits who never braved management, who dominate
the media, and generate this whirlpool of criticism, negativity and irrational
rants and demands. The silent majority get on with it – and the media ignore
us. I’m happy being ignored by the way, but it would be nice if there was some
balance in the media world today.
On the flip side of this, Manchester United fans
demonstrated genuine support this season. They got behind David Moyes as best
they could, as indeed the outgoing Sir Alex Ferguson had told them to. For the
most part of the season they supported their stricken manager. And that was
noble and worthy, and in the end, the results and performances were just too consistently
bad, and he really did have to go. And yet United fans – real United fans that
is – did not feel the need to persecute their struggling new manager. They
recognised he needed support and basically that is what he got, until it became
very clear, that this job, at this time, was too much for Moyes.
How long will it be until the likes of Steve Bruce or
Brendan Rodgers come under severe pressure next season from hysterical
ex-footballers, fake fans and nutters on phone-ins. I pick out these two,
because both have clearly done wonderful jobs this season. Yet nobody is
immune. If Hull find themselves on the edge of relegation, or Rodgers outside
of the Champions League places, just you watch! The ridiculous witch-hunt –
from the margins of fandom, will begin. If you’re not convinced, look at the
case of Michael Laudrup. Swansea playing inspired football, win the first
trophy in their history, take apart Valencia away from home in the Europa
League – and yet one sticky run and bang, job gone. Who would be a manager?! I
mean a real manager, not fantasy fucking football.
