Di Davidson-Amadi writes...
Earlier today, I woke up and engaged in the usual ritual of first checking my emails, then my Twitter account and, finally, the Liverpool Football Club Official Website for any new developments regarding the team or possible signings.
I did indeed find one – a Skysports.com cited article linking Olympiacos and Belgian striker, Kevin Mirallas, with the club.
I have seen the young man play; he is very good with the ball at his feet and has an undeniable eye for goal having scored 34 league goals in 49 starts for the Greek outfit. With only a £6.4 million buy-out clause on his contract, we are looking at a veritable bargain in the offing.
What you have just seen, in the context of what we are attempting to gauge from this article, was digression; effortlessly executed and utterly pointless.
Yet, I stand within the confines of rookie status when it comes to the shameless diversionary commenting by some Liverpool fans regarding the Mirallas story.
Whilst surveying the comments of the fandom to gain an understanding of their feelings toward the news and the player, I noticed a preponderance of opinions regarding the likelihood of Carroll’s departure: for the most part, negative sneers toward the Anfield hierarchy for letting such a ‘talent’ go.
Here are some of the extracts I uncovered:
"DONT SELL ANDY CARROLL HES STILL SO YOUNG AND BRENDAN HASNT TRIED HIM YET. HE DESERVES A CHANCE"
"I'm sorry but clint Dempsey is not the answer and neither is Walcott that lad been at arsenal how many years 3-4 and has one good game a season Carroll has the potential to be an awesome player for LFC we are gonna become the clowns of the epl"
"If we sell Andy to Newcastle and they line up with Ba, Carrol, and Cisse. Looks a bit meatier than what we can muster"
"How can anyone say that borini Dempsey or mirallas and saurez well scare any team, maybe in the championship yeah, saurez is the only top striker were gonna have once we have sold carroll"
And it went on and on as I scrolled. I could not comprehend this behaviour.
That is until I read one particular reply resistant to the assemblage of the sallow, carefully analysing this peculiarity from the comfort of a swivel desk chair then imparting somewhat unemotional wisdom to proceedings by saying:
Ron23:
"You know what really frustrates me? I supported Andy Carroll all the way because I had faith and most others slated him. Now nearly everyone wants him to stay and are using it as an excuse to have a pop at Brendan. It adds weight to my theory that some people are not happy unless they have something to moan about and a problem at Liverpool to fabricate!”
Genius! This is somebody who employs their intelligence with the club’s interests in mind and sound knowledge of what the word ‘support’ means.
Let me just point out that this is not an isolated incident; this phenomenon is nationalised and across the board in football. Often, teams of fans, maybe in an attempt to drown their sorrows partake in feats of mass hysteria.
This happened recently with the Robin Van Persie transfer debate in which his magnificent season was overlooked by fans who only sought to highlight his numerous seasons struggling on the medical bed.
Fans have always had a knack for ignoring the talents of players in favour of remembering their shortcomings, or vice versa, as they see convenient.
However, this latest bout is quite possibly the most baffling that I have ever witnessed as it involves a player - almost entirely - widely criticised and vilified by the very voices that now defend him.
Granted there is a possibility that the comments were posted by pockets of LFC and Carroll devotees but it was not long ago that I was on the same forum, scrolling these walls, wide-eyed to the vitriol of the negative remarks toward Carroll; his price, his lack of mobility, his all-round ineffectiveness.
Why have these emotions transformed so dramatically for a player who, let’s face it, only showed up fleetingly within the last two months of the previous season?
Could it be, as many argue, that he is still a young player who will improve? A fairly viable reason based on experience; the consensus being that a football player matures as he ages, adapting to the rigours of the game more aptly. Still, it is not certain that he will improve – this is largely just a theory.
Or could it be that there is a sense of dented hubris? Many believe that he should be given every conceivable opportunity to be forcibly integrated into plans already identified as not being suited to his style of play simply because of the £35 million price tag and the stick Liverpool have taken over the transfer.
Or could it just be pure worry that he may go to a rival team, re-establish his talents then return to bite the hand that once fed him perhaps?
If you would permit me another opinion to already dense pool, I would suggest that all these reasons begin by coalescing as one three-headed Cerberus that has been unleashed by the growing possibility of Carroll’s departure – this time, precipitated by a Sky Sports link (which, in many circles, breeds integrity) about a possible replacement striker, and more – despondence just to be despondent.
Whatever the reasons, the griping serves no productive purpose to anybody involved with the club.
Football fans are an extremely fickle bunch of know-it-alls offering their must-hear views on why they are better at the jobs of the seasoned professionals.
Even in the good times, this self-destructive habit can rear its ugly head as an entire association hope and strive for perfection but everybody has their own personal acuity of what that perfection is.
That is why this is always a lose/lose situation – supporters know this but they carry on regardless.
Attend a football match in which your team has been dominating from kick off, wait till about the ten minute mark then listen to the moans of anxiety as the good play has yet to herald a goal.
Subsequently, once your team has taken the lead, beware of the underlying discontent, as the game goes on, that your boys are not thrashing the so-called “easy team” 358-0.
What’s next – being linked with the signing of Lionel Messi whilst questioning his lack of composure because he missed that Champion’s League penalty against Chelsea? It is like it is intrinsically within the nature of the modern day football enthusiast to be pessimistic no matter the situation.
What needs to be established is that in football, as in life, there are specific issues beyond our comprehension or control; issues that do not invariably go the way that we want them to.
But what helps us sleep better at night is the acceptance that those who do have some control and a clearer perspective are plying their craft effectively for the benefit of their respective teams.
Comments may last years on the databases of these sites but they only last mere minutes in the thoughts of those who actually read them so you may as well make them constructively critical rather than critical for the sake of.
Too often fans present like the proverbial spoilt kid who cries for a toy, finally gets the toy, realise that it is not as great as once believed but won’t give it to the younger brother ‘just cause’.
It’s time to change this philosophy and lighten up.
image: © nathan17
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