Friday 1 March 2013

You're not wanted here




Is it right or wrong for the Chelsea fans to be driving Benitez out?






Rafa Benitez – where do you start? The man no one in South West London wants. A manager with a decent CV, but one that’s not quite good enough to justify his remarkable arrogance.

Aside from whether Benitez should have been appointed at Stamford Bridge in the first place, and what the damage of “interim” in his job title has been, the Benitez saga this week has brought up an interesting question of fan behaviour.

Most experts in the media and particularly from the BBC (certainly the objectionable ones that they push forward relentlessly – Alan Green, Robbie Savage, Mark Lawrenson) have all come out and quite clearly criticised the Chelsea fans. Booing Benitez is wrong. Booing Benitez is not helping the team. The fans should get behind him and the players.

I couldn’t agree less with these statements. Why should football fans – the lifeblood of the sport who pay money to watch their side and who’ll be around long after all the current players and managers have gone – be such subservient, servile sycophants? Why do they have to take everything thrown at them lying down, and come back for more each week, morosely cheering on the team no matter what? Why shouldn’t fans have a right to protest, to stand up for what they believe in?

I simply cannot understand this misguided view that fans should support the team, the manager and the chairman no questions asked. So if Chelsea appointed a convicted rapist and paedophile as their next manager, should the fans back him unreservedly because “booing doesn’t help the team”. If 11 murderers are selected in the starting line-up should the crowd happily cheer them to the end just in the name of getting three points? Obviously these examples are exaggerated to make a point, but surely fans have a right to protest?

The theory is that Chelsea fans should get behind Benitez if they want the team to finish the season well. Now although it’s clear and obvious that banners and booing are unlikely to drive the team forward, I maintain that it’s vital for fans to keep their principles and express their opinions. It may sound petty and stubborn, but I for one fully support those fans expressing their dislike for the appointment of Benitez.

Let’s not forget some of his previous comments…

Benitez: “Drogba is a coward, a diver and a cheat”


Benitez: “Lampard is overrated”

Benitez: “Chelsea is a soulless club”

Benitez: “Liverpool fans do not need plastic flags to support their club. They show true passion. Chelsea fans are passionless”

As a Chelaea fan, why would you not want this man to leave?
 
The other argument cited is that these protests are pointless and only serve to be disruptive. I think this is untrue. Benitez has this week revealed he will definitely be leaving at the end of the season. I’m not sure that was always the case, and I’m convinced that by continuing to voice their unhappiness, the fans have made any permanent appointment impossible. Good job I say.  
 
Also, and this comes at the issue from a slightly different angle, it’s pretty obvious that Benitez has not done a particularly inspiring job so far. Now the man himself is already lining up his excuses, blaming his job title and the fans. The fact is though that if Benitez had won the World Club Cup and League Cup by now (Chelsea were ideally placed to do both) and won enough league games to still be in the title race (again, eminently possible) the unrest would have probably been quieter. I’d like to think the fans would have maintained their stance, but if trophies are stacking up and points being accumulated, everyone tends to feel a bit less angry. The simple fact is that Benitez has so far performed to a very mediocre level.
 
Ultimately, it’s sometimes important to keep your principles. To stand up for what you believe in. To not just support something or someone blindly because that’s what you’re meant to do. I applaud the Chelsea fans for keeping up the fight. For a set of supposedly “passionless” supporters, Chelsea are showing Benitez that when there’s something they feel strongly about, they can certainly make themselves heard.

1 comment:

  1. You can definitely feel your frustrations...

    As you say, does booing your own team ever help the team on the pitch? Perhaps not, but that really isn't the point. Not that I ever want to be accused of taking football too seriously (hmm...) but it always amazes me just how eager the media are to point out that debate should be stifled and we as fans should just follow our team without question or debate. As you say, your examples are extreme, but I couldn't agree more that you should be able to air your views, even if that goes bigger picture than qualifying for the Champions League.

    Eliminating dissent and blindly following something no matter your opinion because it might 'upset the ship' (all backed by the media) are the principles totalitarian dictatorships are built on.

    ReplyDelete