Thank The Lord / Chris Hughton / Cardiff City / Crystal Palace (delete as you see fit) that the Albion were confirmed as safe last week, and we were able to relax and enjoy the drama. The alternative would have been gut-wrenchingly horrific.
The Albion enjoyed decent early possession against a nervous City, with so very much more to lose. A couple of half-chances came and went, before Glenn Murray nodded home his 13th goal of the season, from Pascal Groß' wicked corner to send shock-waves around the football world. The Amex erupted - with Anfield following suit seconds later as the news filtered through. We'd given hope to the worldwide legions of Liverpool fans - delirious hope that they got to savour for fully a minute, before City, jolted awake from their lethargy, bit immediately back.
That hope then crushed, as Laporte rose to head home an irritatingly simple goal, to turn things around before half time, and ground into the dirt with two excellent late strikes as the Albion's excellent high energy first half efforts started to tell.
Before proceedings came to a close, and City could celebrate successive title wins, another, more emotional narrative. Bruno substituted, to receive the deserved acclaim of all 30,600 people in the stadium - every fan of both clubs - every player on the field - the staff on both benches - even the match officials - all stood applauding an Albion hero, and consummate football professional. Our bearded hero made his lengthy departure via the heartfelt embrace of team-mates and opponents alike, as his song boomed around the ground, and many an eye was wiped dry.
City celebrated their latest prize on the Amex pitch, as Liverpool fans worldwide deleted their temporary Glenn Murray profile pictures, and Albion fans breathed a sigh of relief that a less than fulfilling season had limped to a close, with the club's status intact.
From @The Tactician and myself, some further words for our departing LLEGENDA...
Bruno Saltor Grau: a true captain, a fabulous leader both in his words, and by supreme example. Truly an Albion legend. Over his time at the club, spanning two distinct eras, Bruno has been such an influential, monumental figure, and here was his last ever game for the Albion.
And not just his last.
Of course we all knew the great man couldn’t continue forever - in fact many expected him to falter at a much earlier hurdle. Watching such a brilliant servant to the club in tears on the Amex pitch after the devastating 2016 play-off defeat was so painful to watch...for surely it was his last chance to reach the highest level of the English game with the team he’d grown to love so dearly. For anyone else, it would have been simply too much to play at the very highest level, in one of the most demanding positions on the pitch. The modern fullback has evolved rapidly, such that you’d expect a 38-year-old with a tremendous beard to be squeezed out. Sadly, there’s no room for players like Bruno anymore.
Or so many thought. Thinking back to the last time we played City at home, such a landmark occasion in the history of our club. There was some expectation that he would be swiftly replaced before a ball had been kicked; too old, too slow, a liability at this level. Our first ever Premier League game, and without a trace of nerves, Bruno completely owned ex-Real Madrid full-back Danilo, before treating his second-half replacement Leroy Sane to a footballing lesson.
Every season since his arrival from Valencia, El Capitan has effortlessly combined defensive solidity and attacking flair. Oft rampaging down the right, collecting the ball via a cross-field pass from Dunk or Stephens - plucking the ball out of the sky with absurd ease. Flair, passion, vision, heart, effortless technique...there has rarely been a player to pull on the stripes who has been as enjoyable to watch as Bruno. To today - a final chance to laugh and exclaim “He’s SO GOOD!” as he cooly nutmegs the opposition winger, or finds a pass not obvious from the heights of the West Upper.
To focus solely on his contribution on the field is of course to do him a huge disservice. Generous with his time in the community, both via the club's charity arm, and also in general. On Sunday's as 'just' another father of a little lad playing football in the parks of Brighton and Hove, he's unfailingly happy to give of his time. Around the club he's been nothing short of a shining example - sadly not always followed - to his fellow pros, on the commitment and sacrifices required to wring the absolute most from your ability. A magnificent individual, and an absolute gentleman.
Gracias, Bruno. Gracias.
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