I like his moxy, fuck it I said it. I am the worlds worst when it comes to knee jerk reactions. I have read many an anti Rafa and Pro Rafa thread on here in the last few months, and you know what I am not ashamed to say it, but I honestly still can’t decide how I feel.
I should imagine most of us feel that way at the moment, part of us feel so angry and gutted that we honestly thought we would push on this season and we are devastated not only by the fact this hasn’t come to fruition but also the fact we are struggling so much. Most of us I think still want to believe in Rafa, not just for bringing us the 5th euro, but also for the fact that he is a fan of this great club, he loves it likes us, so we want to see him succeed, because if he doesn’t then it starts to feel like we don’t really matter..what I mean by that is that we have a gentleman here in charge of our club, he honestly believes that he can influence things to “guarantee a top 4 slot” the minute he stops believing that then we are fucked.
As a fan I feel I have always "mattered", now I am not going to start to go into the whole ..how many games have you been too? bollocks, because the truth be known I have travelled up from Wales on many a pissed soaking night to watch the Red's play in a league cup or a qualifying euro match, only to get back 3am and be up at 6 to go to work. Does it make me more of a fan as to someone who can’t make it to the game or less of a fan to someone who is there week in week out and grew up in the history of the club, does it fuck. Those of us with just 1 club all hurt just as bad when we lose or feel just as euphoric when we win.
What I really mean when I say “mattered” is that I have always felt that by screaming at the TV, defending our corner whether it be in school or in work, reminding people as to why we are a different breed of fans, and yes even praying to the powers that be..”Please help us turn this around” (thank you big man for the Portsmouth FA cup and Istanbul games by the way)..that we have always had an influence, now that may seem sentimental bullshit. If so then I’ll take the relative negs and shit that will ensue, personally I don’t give a fuck, as I post far too little to give a shit, However I honestly believe Rafa is a fan and he feels he can “matter” he has to, hence him saying this ballsy statement. Is he the right man to take us there?? I don’t fucking know, shit I can’t decide if marmite is the devils work or is it only okay when there is fucking nothing left to bolster a slice of bread. All I know is that I would rather hear this and hope it rallies the troops, than be a pussy.