The absolute joy of football, in England in particular, is its wonderful, unending capacity to surprise us. None of the other top leagues in Europe boasts teams right throughout the division who can bloody the noses of the celebrated elite when they least expect it.
Writing in the lead up to Q.P.R’s visit to play a resurgent Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this week, I discussed the current disparity between the performances of the two sides. Acutely aware as I am of the potential for a shock, this was one match in which I have to admit I believed the outcome was a formality. As it was, Shaun Wright-Phillips, only on the field due to an early Junior Hoilett injury, and having experienced an enduring chronic lack of form, struck the only goal of the game to spring the surprise of this season so far.
That is some achievement when, in the previous five months, Norwich City have toppled Manchester United and Arsenal, a stuttering and incohesive Sunderland somehow overcame Manchester City, and Wigan Athletic, fresh from their remarkable March and April surge which saved their Premier League lives – most notable for putting a sizeable dent in United’s title aspirations when beating the then champions 1-0 at the DW Stadium – have taken three points at White Hart Lane.
Reading’s first win on their return to the big time was secured against a skilful and obdurate Everton. Aston Villa’s swaggering 3-1 triumph at Anfield offered no hint of the horror run that was to follow for the Midlanders.
The timing of the R’s staggering storming of the Bridge couldn’t have been more apt, coming days before the greatest day on the domestic football calendar, the F.A. Cup 3rd round. Indeed, Rangers’ triumph bore many of the hallmarks of an underdog having their moment in the sun as a result of producing a cup upset. Chelsea fielded a slightly weakened side, with Rafa Benitez opting to rest Eden Hazard, Ashley Cole, and the sublime Juan Mata to the bench.
That was all the encouragement Harry Redknapp’s side needed. They set-out to frustrate their eminent opponents in the hope that one of their few superbly gifted players might find a chink in the Blues armour on a rare sortie forward. The plan worked to perfection, as Adel Taarabt showed the awareness and technique which we are beginning to witness on a consistent basis to play a fine first-time ball which Wright-Phillips expertly flashed in.
In hindsight, it would be easy to say that Benitez’s changes were ill-thought and offered the visitors hope where there should have been none. How many observers however, genuinely believed that the introduction of ‘reserves’ ; Victor Moses, Oscar, and Marko Marin would weaken their team to the extent that a side with one win in twenty previous league games would stand even the remotest chance of pulling off such a result.
The wild celebrations from hordes of travelling fans evoked more F.A. Cup memories. Ticketing rules in that competition allow for far greater travelling support, and in recent years watching thousands erupt in an away section has been as joyous as some of the on-field drama.
On an early January Sunday afternoon three years ago, 9,000 Yorkshire folk celebrated with abandoned glee as Leeds United, then incredibly in League One, earned the most unlikely victory at Old Trafford. The solitary goal that day was scored by Jermaine Beckford, a man who has subsequently struggled at both Everton and Leicester City. He is nevertheless a living embodiment of what is possible on a football pitch.
It is of course not only teams that can prove us wrong. A video has surfaced today which was filmed at a West Ham United fans forum in 1996, during which a supporter expresses his view that the team’s young midfielder, Frank Lampard, isn’t of sufficient quality to warrant a place in the Hammers’ starting eleven. Then manager, Harry Redknapp, forcefully defends his nephew, and goes on to state that Lampard will not only enjoy a successful career, but that he will reach the very top of his profession.
While the clip makes for entertaining viewing, and allows for a certain amount of schadenfreude at the expense of the disillusioned agitator, is there any supporter who can honestly say that they have never been forced to re-assess their opinion of a player?