When Garry Monk walked away from Leeds United in the summer, fans of the Whites were not happy. Many terms were bandied around, chief amongst those was one word – Judas.
Football fans of any club are often the most parochial of thinkers that you can expect to find, blinkered as they are by an unconditional love for their team. Any act against one’s team is seen as a betrayal most heinous – and is quickly felt by the offended side.
Monk’s departure from Elland Road ranks in that category quite easily. It was a departure quite unexpected, what with Monk having led Leeds United for a complete season and to a more-than-respectable finishing position of seventh in the league.
Monk, for his part, said that his vision and that of the club were not aligned so he declined the offer of an extension to his year-long contract. Mere weeks later he was installed as the manager of newly relegated Middlesbrough, much to the chagrin of Leeds United fans who feel that Monk is a traitor – the footballing version of the Biblical Judas.
However, in an article from today’s Gazette Live, reporter Philip Tallentire says that this hate is not justified. In the article, a Monk-led Middlesbrough return to Elland Road on Sunday with reporter Tallentire saying that any hate directed at Monk by vitriolic Leeds United fans is, in his words, “nonsense.”
Tallentire cites a Telegraph article written by James Ducker on May 23 where Ducker says, “Monk wants and expects a longer-term deal,” rather than the one-year extension said to have been offered him.
After going through the official announcement from Leeds United, and stating a timeline of events, Tallentire closes his article with a very robust doublet of “Monk left Leeds because he didn’t get the assurances he was looking for” and “that’s really all there is to it.”
Not that this ebullience matters one jot to Leeds United fans – Monk will still be the Judas to their minds.
Leeds United fans comment and react to impending return of pariah Monk to Elland Road
If vehemence against Monk gives #lufc an advantage, so be it. Hope it's cranked but fans must stay off backs of Leeds. Could hit us.
— Dr.T (@DoctorT1992) November 14, 2017
can’t wait to give Monk shit loads of abuse on Sunday #lufc
— Armo☀️🌙 #GrazieVale (@Jordan_Armo) November 14, 2017
@WACCOE Monk gave us a bit of pride back, but his conservative approach and style of play never made him someone to miss massively. #lufc
— ColD (@colrad78) November 14, 2017
Yawn who cares but u lot 🐟
— Paul Burnett (@goldsize) November 14, 2017
We don’t like snakes at leeds wether owner wanted him or not,biggest club he will EVER be part of.i won’t be giving him time of day.
— #del wright (@delwright21) November 14, 2017
Garry Monk didn’t want to be at #lufc long term, looked after himself and let players take the wrap. Used us as a stepping stone even though they’re a smaller club (say what you want Boro). In my eyes he deserves some good Elland Road banter on Sunday. Fuck him. #SideBeforeSelf
— Parma (@Parma_Official) November 14, 2017
I didn’t believe all the spin at the time and one thing I will never forgive Monk for. He could have given one of the youngsters a chance but chose Charlie to take the flak rather than getting it himself
— Follow Me And LUFC (@FollowMeAndLUFC) November 14, 2017