On being a Judas

I was vaguely watching Match of the Day 2 this weekend. It was on in the background more than anything. I lifted my head for goals and ‘moments’ that such shows thrive and listened to the monotone of Danny Murphy explain tactics to me. If Calm do need a new voice for helping us get to sleep by the way….just a thought but they could do worse than give Murphy a call.

One moment did make me sit up and pay attention. The introduction of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Sunday’s game against Arsenal. It was the chorus of boos that made me pay attention. I think because I didn’t expect Anfield to provide such a vociferous response.

Having announced his planned departure from Liverpool earlier in the week, on one of these videos that players must now feel either obliged to do or encouraged to by their ‘people’, it appeared that all this served to do was divide a fan base. Appreciation vs venom, thanks met with disgust. So Sundays boos vs cheers should not have been that surprising.

In fact none of this should have been surprising. Two out of three winding down contracts renewed in Salah and Van Dijk and arguably two stars more vital to the cause, keeping all three was never that likely and in truth if the query arose as to which was more replaceable all fans regardless of allegiance probably had the same answer.

Excuse my local biases, but Conor Bradley seems more than ready for the role and is a better out and out defender than perhaps Alexander-Arnold. Where he lacks may be in the passing range of Alexander-Arnold which at times while sublime but often left a large gap at the back that required others to cover.

Regardless of all this, the real issue I take with all of this is the short term memory of football fans and their ease at crying ‘Judas’ when these circumstances arrive.

Trent was indeed ‘one of their own’ and to be so central to a team having come through the ranks is a feat all of its own in today’s modern football world. The percentage chance of this for young players is so small that the fact that he made it should be impressive enough. And yet they still cry ‘Judas’.

The corner against Barcelona, possibly his most iconic moment? And yet they still cry Judas.

The winning of leagues, cups, European trophies. And still they cry ‘Judas’.

The desire to expand his horizons beyond the English borders and the acknowledgement that it leaves really only one destination to head towards in the ‘top of the game’ category. Being still young in footballing terms and having a desire for more. And still they cry ‘Judas’.

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Judas, Judas, Judas!

A term applied to any person performing an act of treachery.

So what exactly is the crime? Leaving for a team of stars that has always been viewed as at the top of the footballing mega structure? Ask any Arsenal fan how it felt to knock them out of Champions League contention and their response will tell you it’s almost like winning a trophy itself.

What player wouldn’t want to wear that iconic white shirt?

Is the crime wanting fresh competition? Widening their football experience to outside of English shores?

Or is the crime simply becoming part of a team that Liverpool may not be able to conquer themselves should the time come.

What of Judas by the way, the betrayer from the old biblical tale.

A kiss on the cheek that seen by many as an act of betrayal was in fact the catalysing event for something greater. There is no resurrection in that story without the betrayal in the garden. Nothing new comes without that action taking place.

I've called players many things over the years. In recent times I’ve even referred to one locally as a snake (not without its own biblical interpretation) for abandoning my team for his old one when the cash came to call.

I’ve never called anyone a Judas though.

Without Judas there is nothing new to experience and whether it is in Madrid or at Anfield something new may develop and it might just be something greater for all parties involved.

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