River Plate Offside 2009: A Fresh Start For A New Year

By: Christian | January 5th, 2009

River Plate 2009 Clausura

It’s time to start believing again.

After suffering through the worst ever season in our glorious team’s history, which included among other embarrassments a 2-8-9 record, good enough for dead last in the Primera table, an early exit in the Copa Sudamericana, the resignation of coach Diego Simeone, and the added horror at seeing our hated rivals voka winning the Apertura title, River are now set to put that miserable experience behind them as they begin to prepare for the upcoming 2009 Clausura.

There’s a new head coach, Néstor Gorosito, who will attempt to take a battered millo from worst to first in the upcoming campaign, and with the ever prestigious Copa Libertadores group stage looming, now is the time to yet again count down the days to the start of what will hopefully be an exciting, and winning, year of football.

But first, let me acknowledge that yes, this blog was on hiatus for much of last season, and while it was mainly due to personal reasons, I admit that River’s poor form was partly to blame for my absence. I never stopped being a fan, but I can’t deny the difficulty, not to mention the embarrassment, of coming to this site every week to detail yet another loss. For that, I am sorry.

Last year, I got to experience both ends of the spectrum; the pride of seeing our 33rd league title, and the embarrassment of finishing at the end of the table only a few months later. Certainly, the Clausura was the more memorable event. But experiencing both highs and lows in one year has again reminded me about what being a River fan should be.

For us, River Plate symbolizes more than just wins and losses. Sure, we all want to defeat our rivals every Sunday and scream at the top of our lungs, “River Campeon!” at the end of each season. And it’s easier to feel confident when your team is doing la vuelta olimpica in your own stadium. But to live through the worst season in your club’s 100-plus history? How can any fan get through that?

We do it because above all those titles and trophies, losses and heartaches, what remains true is the heart of the hincha, that faith that next season all will be better, that one miserable campaign does not define a team. At the end of the day, what matters most above all is la gente y la camiseta – the fans and the shirt.

So I say let the past stay in the past. For now, my thoughts are solely on the Clausura. All I want to see now is for River to appear from the tunnel at the Monumental, with a crowd of thousands jumping and singing in the air, carrying their team to victory and glory. I want the league. I want the Copa. And goddammit, I want to beat those bastards voka. But win or lose, en las buenas y en las malas, I promise to support this team all the way, and I hope you join me for the experience.

Vamo’ River… EL MAS GRANDE LEJOS!!!!!!!