IT truly is the end of an era.
The last of Rafa’s Spanish conquistadors has set sail and departed these shores. Undeniably clouded by the ongoing farce surrounding Luis Suarez, the departure of the greatest last guardian of Liverpool’s defence for a generation has been greeted by deafening silence.
Pepe deserves more than this.
He’s seen it all from his vantage point in goal; the corrosion of a burgeoning European force into mid-table mediocrity. How indeed would you react to seeing a central midfield of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano degrade into Christian Poulsen and then Charlie Adam within a matter of 24 months?
I’d be on the first plane home. That Pepe has lasted four years since the watershed moment of Alonso’s departure speaks volumes of not solely his loyalty, but his affection for this football club.
However, his displacement and departure has been met with more acclaim than condemnation.
Past it, they say. Not punching his weight. Not economically viable. The cold statistical analysis may well point to a decent bit of long-term business from the club; but I know that I will miss the sight of Pepe pounding towards the Kop and the sound of his boot kicking against the foot of the post.
It’s only natural to be so attached to someone who inspired such consistency and played a significant part in the club’s most recent halcyon days; he was a totemic figure, both between the sticks and in the dressing room.
Sentimentality is a dangerous by-product of club football; it can distort both memories and expectations.
But, I for one am optimistic about Simon Mignolet, and believe he can have a similarly rejuvenating effect on Liverpool’s defence as Reina did in 2005.
And that’s the point – this is a cyclical process, and football is a cyclical sport.
Reina set such a high standard with three consecutive Golden Glove awards between 2006 and 2008, one that was always improbably maintainable.
It had always felt in the past that he would choose his own time to leave, indeed he nearly did during the darkest of days in the 2010-11 season, but he hung tight. And now he has been pushed, after his unwillingness to jump.
He showed more loyalty to the football club than any of his compatriots, and for that he deserves major credit. He is a self-proclaimed adopted scouser, in the same vein as Dirk Kuyt. He took the club to heart more than that Torres. More than even Saint Alonso.
He put faith in FSG and Kenny Dalglish, that they could restore the club to its pre-2009 position, as many of us supporters did. That promise failed to materialise then, and is still as unattainable now. But you won’t hear him hark on about broken promises, or a desire for the whole truth to come out.
He was not merely a goalkeeper, but an ebullient character and personality; one whose sheer unbridled joy which met a goal has been captured and emblazoned across many an iconic image of the club’s recent heyday.
Who could forget his pitch long sprint to embrace David N’gog after he secured what seemed, at the time, a momentous victory over Manchester United? Or better yet, his faux throttle on Arjen Robben’s face in February 2006? – I sure hope Simon Mignolet is just as photogenic and dynamic.
In amongst them, though, the clangers – the misjudgement at Manchester City last season, the last minute fumble on the first day of the 2010-11 season against Arsenal and most comically the Andy Johnson save at Goodison in 2006, which he decided to drop on his head.
But the inspirational outshone the embarrassing, and will define how he is remembered in years to come.
The penalty shoot-out saves against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final, and against Chelsea in the Champions League semi final, would be the pinnacle of any goalkeeper’s career.
He should have won more. You’d be forgiven for doing a double take when you scroll down his honours list. He’s won more trophies with Spain as a substitute goalkeeper than he racked up in 394 appearances for Liverpool – the Super Cup and Community Shield really don’t count.
Pepe deserved more for his loyalty to the club. But it would be fickle to bemoan the club for jettisoning a hero, when we are so ready to hound out a traitor.
Vamos a echar de menos, Pepe.
Gracias, amigo.
Hear, hear. I’ll be honest, this looks shabby, grubby, and more than a little dishonest. I’d have to check the cuttings to be sure I am quoting him accurately but didn’t Brendan effectively say that Pepe wanted/needed to go because of the Barca speculation and LFC not wanting to be caught short? On one hand it’s credible, but on the other, it could also have acted as a smokescreen for moving him along, particularly in light of his ‘my dinner with Pepe’ routine of a few months ago: if Pepe and the club were happy to have big name competition for the No 1 jersey then, what changed? Why has he effectively been exported for the year? Are we really that short of cash?
It leaves a bad taste in the mouth and as an undeniably key part of the team, and a perma-smiling emblem of the club, it’s a sad way for him to move on. That, plus our limited net spend and the club for sale stories are doing nothing to aid my disposition toward the owners….
“…and the sound of his boot kicking against the foot of the post.”
Always reassuring, wasn’t it. I’ll miss him greatly as well, all the best Pepe. You’re always welcome to join in on The Kop. Like Dirk, you’re one of us.
His statement on his personal website puts a lump in the throat, it’s not clear-cut it seems. At a time when certain players are questioned about loyalty by the fans as much as the media, let’s give Pepe the respect he deserves. I feel we owe him more.
Being back with Rafa and Xavi Valero is great for him, but I can’t help feeling it’s a missed opportunity for us.
http://pepereina25.com/en/2013/07/29/carta-de-despedida-para-los-aficionados-del-liverpool-gracias-por-todo-os-vere-pronto/
shame on fsg for doing this to king kenny and now reina
–a central midfield of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano degrade into Christian Poulsen and then Charlie Adam within a matter of 24 months?–
Get a grip on yourself Sargonid, that quote above is the stark reality of it and puts it exactly into focus. FSG inherited that, not the CL team of 2005/06 they took over a near insolvent mess run by a clown manager with Adam, poulson, konchesky and a want away superstar striker.
They have been trying to sort that mess out and tough decisions have to be made KK was given a chance and messed it up. The owners are far from perfect and have made mistakes but they are not repeating them and there are signs of improvement. I too wish a magic wand could be waved and H&G had never got their rabid teeth into the club…but there is no magic wand and they did and that is the mess that is still being corrected.
what a player. and just as his form is picking up again….
Pepe’s gone, Suarez is surely going, Gerrard marking time in his career. It really is the end of a era and the final snuffing out of the romantic idea of football as justifiable escape from the humdrum to a glimpse of “Roy of the Rovers” fantasy.
We are consumers. Footballers are paid employees. Club owners are investors. That’s the sad, bald state of affairs in modern football.
No more heroes. No more glory. It’s qualification. Qualified success is Europa League/Champions League call it what you want. FA Cup/ League Cup – dead in the water TV exposure any day of the week. It’s means money and money is everything these days.
Kenneth Williams was right. What is the bloody point?
Ahhh Neu. Here you are… Sorely missed on the old TTT mate.
Money does rule the roost these days, but sadly, that’s the reality of FFP.
It is really sad to see him go, great player and a big personality. Sadly i feel his open letter is a little bit of a PR exercise on his behalf to remain on side with the fans. He will definately have known that Napoli were interested in him. I’m also not sure what he expected from Rodgers when he said i’ll stay as long as i don’t get a better offer from Barca. As fans we often moan that the club is too soft with players or we always get done over in transfers, well this was Rodgers taking no messing and being proactive. I wish Reina all the best and will certainly take some getting used to not seeing him there but i am happy with Mignolet as a replacement and am looking forward to the new season. I imagine if we had kept Reina and he didn’t play all the games he would have been unhappy that we didn’t accept an offer for him. And lest we forget, he could have said no to the move.
Well where to start.
I really admired Pepe as a player and a man. He came in as one of the best keepers in the world and when some of our favourite sons said nothing about H+G, and were basically cowards over the sacking of Rafa, Pepe stuck his head above the parapet and spoke his mind. The club repaid him by employing one of the worst goalkeeping coaches in the world. He watched the rest of the Spanish contingent get sold or flounce off in a huff whilst he stayed loyal, but…..
The thing is this summer his actions have been, in my opinion, unacceptable. Imagine your wife coming up to you and saying ‘Look as much as I like you and as much as I’ve enjoyed our eight years together you just haven’t given me the highs I was after. Now that bloke down the road at number seven, well, he’s better looking than you, his house is nicer and he wants to take me on holidays all over Europe. If he knocks at the door I’m off.’ You would be justifiably upset, and who could blame you for looking elsewhere.
Now if your wife came home one night to find all her stuff at the end of the drive with a note attached saying ‘No news from the bloke at number seven, but the guy you were friends with at number thirty-eight has agreed to take you in for a bit. As for me I’ve got a new girl who’s younger, cooks better, and shags like a rabbit on heat’, would the ex be justified in feeling agrieved?
I realise it’s more fashionable to put the club down and pick holes in everything we do but in this case the clubs actions are totally justified no matter how much we love Pepe.
Hi Jake,just have a word with your Wife!The next thing you know she’ll be off with Skirtel!
Just don’t let her anywhere near Gerrard!
Joking apart Reina’s letter seems quite sincere.We signed another keeper who was supposed to be back-up.Next thing he’s first choice and Reina is out.
Why would he want to publish a letter like he published? What’s he got to lose? What’s he got to gain?
Apart from the fact that he felt part of the Club; just like Benitez and a few others.
You know sometimes despite all the money there are some people who I believe do have a spiritual connection with this Club and this City.
One of us. Going to miss this fella.
We’ve loaned out a youngish-in-goalie-years keeper with a world-reknowned reputation? Say it with me folks, ‘resale value!’ And so much for needing proven winners and big leaders in light of Carra’s retirement. The financial sense in ‘getting half his wages of the books for a year’ would float with me if we didn’t pay out our biggest fee of the summer on a keeper when Reina was still here. Don’t know why the club/manager felt the need to lie to the player and fans with the competition for places line.