Is Rafa's 'rant' right about time wasting fans?

In a post-match press conference last Wednesday after Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough, Chelsea’s ‘interim’ manager Rafa Benitez declared “They are singing and wasting time, preparing banners, and they are not making any favours to their club”

The former Liverpool managing mentioned the notion of ‘wasting time’ 6 times throughout his press conference along with the temporary title ‘Interim’ tag that he is ‘temporarily’ labelled. The question is, are these fans wasting their time? Are they simply creating a distraction for all those involved within the club? Or are they achieving their target of forcing Benitez out?

                                          Rafa's full press conference- does he have a point?  

Firstly, how strong is fan power? Well it depends who you’re asking. Ask Steve Bruce at Sunderland and he’ll explain how a Geordie in Sunderland is like a biscuit falling in a brew. But ask Steve Kean and he’ll ignore you, no matter how loud you shout, or boo.

Personally, having been to many live sports events in my time, a pet hate of mine is negativity against your own team. Boo’s do not help and can impede on success. No matter how bad the player is, or how stupid the manager is, he is a player and a manager of your team, and he’ll receive enough stick off the opposition fans without you joining in.

Some will think otherwise, it’s merely a matter of debate, but in seasons gone by, the running trend is that in the long-term, patience within football teams is rewarded with success. The inclusion of Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva in the first team is now a delight for Liverpool fans, but was once met with anguish as he was regularly criticised for his performances when he first came to Anfield.

Negativity is seen in every single football ground across the country, whether it be Old Trafford or Meadow lane the boos the woos and the moans and groans will be sounded out for everyone to hear by sections of fans if things aren’t going according to plan. But ask any player and they’ll say they’d rather hear stick from the fans they are playing against rather than the ones that are wearing the same shirt as them.

Surely there’s no one in the world naïve enough to think in all of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26 years in management that every single minute of that regime has been rosy. The banner below elegantly written in 1990 pretty much sums up the years in which Ferguson describes as the “darkest period he had ever suffered in his career,” 23 patient years on and under Ferguson Manchester United are one of the most dominant forces in Europe.

Roman may well listen what Chelsea fans say but...

It's a good job not all banners are listened too
(Directed towards Ferguson during Fergusons not so successful days at United

Courtesy of The BBC website, an article featuring the rise of Gareth Bale notes how one Journalist criticised Bale in his early days in 2008 by stating "One glance at the score and any Spurs fan will tell you without looking at the line-up that Gareth Bale must have played." Unfortunately for Mr Sheehan of the Sun, four years on that same player is being linked with a move to Real Madrid.

I’m not saying that Spurs fans got on the back of Gareth Bale when he first arrived as I simply wasn’t there to tell you. But what I do know is, is that a little patience and that player or of course manager that you’re giving stick too could be the next Gareth Bale or Alex Ferguson. You may be singing and dreaming about his left foot or cherishing fragments of chewing gum from him now but he’ll remember the days when you compared him to your dear old Grandmother.

Saints lack of cutting edge forces them to take a cut of the points

St Helens 22-22 Hull Fc

Attendance- 11,633

A stalemate of affairs meant both Hull Fc and Saint Helens added a point to their Super league tally after a thrilling 22-22 encounter at Langtree Park.

Both sides would have felt they'd done enough to secure their second victory of the season but neither team could clinch the final point at the final hurdle.

It was the black and whites that started the brighter after Jason Crookes went over early in the First half but only for it to be matched by Saints Anthony Laffranchi not long after.

The saints who under new coach Nathan Brown have endured a mixed start to the season soon got a grip of proceedings with veteran Francis Meli flying over the try line for his third of the season before youngster Jordan Turner shimmied his way through the Fc defence to continue to prove what all the fuss is all about of the 24 year old.

The Airlie birds finished the half as they started it as former Hull Kingston Rovers player Shannon McDonnell closed the gap with a try just before half time to send the sides 16-12 at the break.

The Saints struck again however 10 minutes into the second half through Josh Jones but an injury to Full back Paul Wellens hampered the Saints fluency. A forced reshuffle at the back meant they never recovered from the adjustments. A brace of tries from Tom Briscoe and Richard Whiting saw the game finishing all square.

There were times when it looked like the away side would pinch all two points. A strut of neat ball work from Hull ended with Tom Briscoe going through in the corner only for it to be deemed a forward pass, whilst the conversion for the black and white’s final try (below) was narrowly missed by up until that point the reliable Daniel Holdsworth. A couple of drop goal attempts by Hull FC also failed meaning by sides on equal points in the Super League this season.

Why Carragher was and still is the most important person at Melwood

When asked who has been Liverpool’s most important player over the last decade or so, whether they be English or Scouse, many will say Steven Gerrard. And to be fair there have been stranger statements in the world (most of those being from Prince Phillip but that’s irrelevant). 154 goals as a midfielder, not to mention the assists, tackles and kicks up the backside he’s given to players not pulling their weight over the years, is the work of a legend.

However, that is not a given. Step up (if you can you old timer!) Jamie Carragher. The man who made the number 23 iconic at Anfield.

The number 2 suggestive of consistency with  Phil Neal. The number 7, signifying creativity with Kenny Dalglish. The number nine, echoing the goals of Ian Rush. Admittedly, the 23 shirt less common to what defenders normally choose, will symbolise determination, and a one club man with Jamie Carragher. And if you’re foolish enough to ask why, the truth is in the pudding.

Loyalty

There is no doubt that Gerrard has been the best when it comes to quality. But when it came to when Liverpool needed someone the most. Carragher never shied away. His honesty with the Media. The fact that he always seemed like he wanted to be there, and there was never any link to Chelsea when the going got tough. How angry he became when a Talksport presenter questioned his loyalty and labeled him a bottler.  Carragher seems like a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. Not the Everton badge as some will dispute.

                                          Take note: Don't call him a bottler, Carragher 

                                           phoning talksport a few years in anger over 

                                                              what was said about him.

                                                         

700 appearances

 Making 700 appearances for any club is a rarity these days with the lack of loyalty between players. Only second to Ian Callaghan in the record outings for the reds along with producing partnerships with the likes of Henchoz, Hyppia and more recently Agger and Skrtel should not be under rated. Anyone who plays at the heart of the defence will know how important it is to form a partnership with the other centre-back. By being able to pretty much form a partnership with anyone shoe horned at the back over the years with him, oozes quality.

Versatility

 Many give the man from Bootle a reputation of being too slow. But if they witnessed performances in the last decade where he played at right-back occasionally left back, it showed he was no slouch. He was able to compete with the finest in the Premier League. Henry, Nistelrooy etc. Whether it was as a fullback or a centre back, those sliding tackles timed to perfection could have been mistaken for a Picasso masterpiece.

Captaincy

Over the years, Carragher molded into a captain without the armband. Although Gerrard was an excellent leader, captaining the team in the central of the pitch. Carragher was right behind him, literally. When Gerrard was injured, the fans were worried about what they would miss. His creativity, work ethic, tackling and his presence in the centre of the team. The captaincy however, was never a worry. Carragher was there whenever Gerrard wasn’t to lead the team out of the tunnel.

 At a time now however where his appearances are few and far between, it could be said, he is needed more than ever. Liverpool are in transition and youngsters such as Sterling, Wisdom and Robinson will take comfort in having someone as experienced as Carragher, in and around training every day.

Carraghers role for the club has changed, but his importancy hasn’t. He is no longer that key player in that back line commanding the line and ensuring they are fittingly organised. He is now playing the role of seeing players do the job he did for years on end. If he is willing to realise that he is a bit part player and willing to take a step back whilst ensuring the transition  of the youngsters in the squad from youth to first team runs as smoothly as possible, his importance to the club will remain.

Giggs and Scholes are examples of this at United. Lampard could potentially be another, if Chelsea decides to smell the coffee and offer him another contract. These types of players become figure heads at the club. They’re ones that no matter what will bleed their football club. The term ‘legend’ is knocked round far too often in modern terms, and some that are labelled this prestigious title are not. Legends are one-man clubs. Not one season sensations.

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