Andrew Arnold
It is with a great deal of sadness that you feel compelled to write an article with such a chastening title about a club you love.
Having witnessed our biggest league defeat in over one hundred years earlier in the season, even the sturdiest of hearts must have withered somewhat at the manner of last night's loss. For ours is a club to be proud of, one with an illustrious and glorious history, which has spawned both the battle-hardened and the majestic. Among the few glimmers, this has undoubtedly been shadowed by darkness.
It was unfair on one of the club's most rightly-revered and honoured players that it should end like this. It was unfair on the fans who give their all to support the club.
History teaches us that sometimes you must endure the toughest of times before revelling in victory and overcoming your enemies. While many will argue, including our manager, that harder times have befallen us, it is difficult to find a comparison in modern times.
Some will say we are ungrateful - that consistently appearing in the Champions League, and on occasion challenging for domestic trophies, is simply beyond the reach of the majority. That being over demanding and enticing fiscal mismanagement may lead us to ruin. Let us not forget Portsmouth and Rangers.
It is perhaps easy at such low points to lose sight of this and to remove yourself from true perspective. However, to those who do not follow the club as religiously, and do not share the same pain, I have but two words - "mental strength".
There are often accepted mantras in life which are questioned only by the philosophically blind. Just as when a country includes the word "Democratic" in its name, you immediately know that it has the electoral system of a FTSE 100 boardroom. It is this analogy which best suits our current hierarchy. Such countries may:
- Erect statues of leaders and generals past to instil fear and loyalty
- Celebrate each success as if it is the latest, and greatest advance, when others around them have achieved the same feat or bettered it
- Invent slogans and chants to indoctrinate the masses
- Censor and control the country's media so that realities are spun for their purpose
- Quell and suppress protest
- Tax the citizens without investing in infrastructure
This is evidently tongue-in-cheek, and should not be misconstrued as an attempt to compare our plight to the appalling atrocities which people of such countries suffer. It does, however, seem remarkably apt.
We have a right to ask questions, and to bring about change. If we do not, any remaining pride, which - based on Wednesday night's performance - appears minimal, will exit with our world-class Dutch striker. It is this that, despite the consistency, raises our ire and is easily misunderstood by the outsider. It is this which means you can't help but be left with a bitter taste, and a feeling that you deserve more.
