Liverpool's Romanticization

In a week which saw Rafa Benitez fight with the Liverpool board over his new contract, and open a stream of fire against an unsuspecting Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool's on-pitch performance was not enough to quiet the critics. Having gone up 1-0 following a beautiful Gerrard missile, the Reds succumbed to a late Tim Cahill equaliser 3 minutes from time.

For those of you Americans who don't follow professional football (it's not soccer) abroad, it might be difficult to understand Liverpool. The best comparisson I can make is to say, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are a storied franchise with a number of World Series titles and substantial, although not superior, financial resources. Yet the Dodgers have underperformed consistently in recent years and it seems there is now a certain pessimism about the franchise. The same can be said for Liverpool. Liverpool are the winningest team in English football history, yet since England went to the Premier League format in the '91-'92 season, Liverpool have yet to win a title. How this is possible is anyone's guess.

Liverpool fans have become like Dodgers fans I think. It seems that as soon as the season starts to go downhill, Liverpool fans know that once again, this is not their year. Such is the mentality surrounding Merseyside now. Liverpool have the same number of points as league leaders Manchester United, but have played one more game. At worst, they could be considered three points off the league lead. Yet the game this weekend against local rivals Everton was considered by the fans a "must-win." The doom and gloom has returned.

I have wondered if the feelings about the club have been influenced by the significant Spanish presence at the club now. With Benitez, Reina, Arbeloa, Alonso, Riera, and Torres, the club boasts quite an accomplished Spanish contingent integral to its success. Reading Phil Ball's columns on Spanish football over the past several years, along with my other knowledge of Spain and Spanish football have helped me realize the significant "romanticization" that takes place in Spanish culture in general, and especially regarding their football. The idea that by being a potential three points off the title race, Liverpool's season is over is preposterous, yet it represents the Romantic thinking so ubiquitous in Spanish football.

May the Reds escape the illogical bounds of Romanticization and come back down to the logical world of mathematical calucations - At the end of next week, they could be top of the table again.