https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldGlory/status/511972310530928640
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldGlory/status/510859691770273792
I’M sorry, but you’ve driven me to this. I don’t want to shout but I’ve really got to say something. Something about Liverpool fans. Something about you. Yes, you.
See, your hackles are already up, aren’t they? Mine would be after that opening paragraph. Metaphorical shoulders would be rolling and collars would be plucked from necks a la Fulton MacKay from 1970s prison sitcom Porridge. “Oh yeah. Having a go, are you?”
Well, yes I am. I’m pointing the finger. Here goes.
I would say that Liverpool fans frustrate me more than any other football supporters in the land.
Seriously. No-one comes close. There are so many things about us that used to infuriate me, make me shake my head like a wet dog and attack fans with such force that I’d be typing with my elbows. But that’s gone now. Now it’s merely a sad acceptance. I can’t be arsed arguing any more but today it’s reached crisis point and I have to speak out.
It’s this. Liverpool fans are the most bipolar collective fan base in the game. I apologise for using that term but it sums it up perfectly. We’re either swinging high above the clouds in an optimistic soar or we’re plumbing the depths of Hades with nothing to give us the tiniest light. There’s no middle ground, no “happy with a point”, no “yeah, that seems about right”. It’s glory or fumin’.
Take the last three games. We go to Tottenham. We look for a decent point or a narrow win. Liverpool, being Liverpool, defy expectation and run them ragged, so much so that our manager laughs his arse off at a 45-yard missed sitter. Alberto Moreno, and it’s difficult to write his name without surrounding it with love hearts, scores a wonderful goal and we’re on our way. Liverpool are buoyant again. Liverpool have gelled and are going places. Those niggling little doubts that got among us at Southampton and City are flung off to the four corners of the earth. We’re up. Nothing can stop us. Suarez or not, we have enough to fight on all fronts and the world had better watch out.
And so to Villa.
My Twitter went insane. Lallana was already written off, Balotelli, two games into his Anfield career, classed as a mistake and Sakho is now ‘Sakho-sh*t’. The manager too came in for criticism with his continued selection of his favourites. This was ONE game after we’ve battered Spurs on their own midden and with a side that lacked Sterling and Sturridge. From what I can gather, as the fans streamed out of the ground, the colour drained from the skies and all became a faded monochrome. Barber’s Adagio for Strings sounded quietly in the distance to provide a soundtrack.
https://twitter.com/FergusMorris1/status/512125720395800576
https://twitter.com/Brookland92/status/510863504585527296
Sort of thing on twitter tonight 'Balotelli is shit,Balotelli is a lazy so and so, Goaaaaaal Mario, what a goal' what a fickle lot some are
— Ken Koi LFC (@kenkoi_lfc) September 16, 2014
And then Ludogerets.
We’re up again! We’re back in the European Cup! This is where we should be and the first tentative steps towards the inevitable sixth trophy starts now. I love all that. The pomp, the expectation and the feeling that we’ve passed a massive test to get here. We’re back again. The sleeping giant has twitched its legs.
Twenty minutes in and the self-harming begins. Sterling shouldn’t be on the left, Coutinho shouldn’t be on the pitch and Lovren should remember that pushing players over in the box is never a good thing.
We go one up. We go one-one down (draws are defeats) and we’re the worst side in Europe. Madrid are going to go ballistic here. If we can’t beat a side of farmers and postmen/Bulgarian double winners we might as well pack it in and think about the League Cup.
https://twitter.com/welshdave85/status/512245757806907392
@DejanLovrenLFC6 you are very stupid to think @liverpool is a place to win trophies. A legend of shit you will be #CarlsbergTalk
— Nana Kwantwi (@Geba321) September 17, 2014
Then we win. The others might as well not bother. Basel are shaking, Ronaldo is working on a forged sick note purportedly from this Mum. We’re back in it.
Let me tell you about one man. He was furious all the way through the game, furious that we’re not three up at half time. He’s bet on a 5-0 home win and on Gerrard scoring two AND three goals. But as Coutinho gradually became the extra man in Ludo’s midfield he kicked and swore and sighed at the news coming in from Madrid – 4-1 at half time. “We should be doing that! This is a club whose goalkeeper has spent more time at Anfield than on his own training pitch!” Even at 1-0 he wasn’t happy. The equaliser robbed him of his voice. The winner was greeted with a sigh and the final whistle with a “You jammy bastards!” We won and he’s still not happy! This man is a moron.
That man was me.
And every time I read, “Yeah, we won so it doesn’t matter” I was reaching for the blood pressure tablets. It. Does. Matter. We’re not playing well. We haven’t played well for a while. This system isn’t working. The goalkeeper never comes off his line and when he does it’s at the most idiotic of times. He never talks to his centre backs. I’m amazed he has the courage to get off the coach.
So the problem is me. I include myself in all of this criticism. I lack patience, reason and rationale.
We want the world today. Never mind the sale of Suarez or the new faces at Melwood, we nearly won the League last year and it’s an encumbrance that we haven’t won this year’s already. We have no room for transition or a bedding- in process.
If the majority of us are like this, and I can only speak for the people I know or follow, it is at least an improvement from the dark days of civil war under the carpetbaggers and the 2012 fallout when you were either pro or anti Rafa and Kenny. We at least seem to have united behind Brendan Rodgers and can sing together. I just wish we’d find an even ground and acknowledge some light and shade. Losing to Man City isn’t the end of the world and nor is playing poorly at Villa. It’s also alright to point out failings in narrow home wins and not be labelled a ‘hater’. The middle ground has much to offer.
This is only the opening scene of this season. Let’s not label tragedy or drama just yet. Let’s just wait and see without addressing every variable with opposing histrionics.
Thanks. And sorry.
This is true of all fans . We just look at ourselves, because that’s only natural
To be fair that Berimah guy you tweeted is a Chelsea fan.
I know. Did it for the lolz.
I turned the game off after 30 minutes because it was frustrating and annoying to watch. I was getting angry and I don’t like being angry. I don’t know what that says about me as a fan. My reaction confuses me!
turning the game off after 30 minutes! what that says about you as a fan is that you are not one.
this is every fanbase ever you mook.
Is your screen name really “The Rapist”? AND you’re calling someone a mook? You sir have made my day!
As for the article; 7th to 2nd brought with it springs of hope and euphoria for what will come! Spurs reinforced those feelings. Then losing to Villa at home brought with it gut wrenching anger. Anger that, and I’m not proud to say it, was often misdirected at small children and farm animals. I’m personally surprised that bi-polar disorder is the only mental deficiency that I am being accused of.
All this and United are a point behind us. Go ahead and lock me in a padded room if we end up behind them at the end of the season. A summer of listening to united fans gloat would definitely drive me insane!!
that’s the problem with twitter and social media in general, people see them one was collective voice and opinion for an entire way of life. every voice is different the most annoying ones ring louder in the ears and just stand out
Remember how fun it was to watch Liverpool last season? Remember how we (or at least I) never expected half of those things to ever occur? Everton, Arsenal, Suarez v Norwich; nobody in their right mind expected those things. Now we do, yet their very implausibility makes them unrepeatable, at least to the sane individual (i.e. not one of us). This compounds our nascent irrationality and leads to us (or at least me) wanting to shut the telly off after 30 minutes, because we’ve not scored four goals yet. Although like last season, I think this one will be a slow burner, and the writer is right, we’ll need to be patient. My frustration on European nights is and will be exacerbated by it being a 2:45pm KO where I live and having to sneakily ‘watch’ via Twitter at the office.
The club is built on success, that is what we are always told. Therefore, when success is removed (even for just 90 minutes) there is a great big hole for fans to shovel sh*te into.
This is the problem with sites like this. They’re agenda driven and don’t like different opinions. My evidence ? Glasses, always going on about how he wants to see a crazy game. And shouting anyone down who disagrees. LFC to win 10-9. Fans read this shite and treat it as gospel.
No. I repeat No, LFC team has ever won a European cup (or any cup) playing like that. Keagans Newcastle won feck all playing like that.
Me? I never wanted BR. Who did? But he’s pissing in the right direction. We can’t afford players in their peak like Man City and Chelsea, but so far I like the signings and their football.
Now feck off
Agenda-driven. Arf. What’s the agenda, ‘Bob’?
I suppose we all have the same agenda – the absolute success of LFC.
However you feckers are slowly trying to crawl up the club’s arse (which I understand, as the club is ace. But I don’t like buttkissers).
No real issues ever discussed. Shame.
Bollocks.
Not bollocks. I agree. You lot are like an anfield Taliban. Youve got to admitt its pretty frustratin. Brilliant one game shite the next
‘Tis true.
Here’s one for you then: get rid of season tickets. More fans could go and club would make more money. Discuss.
But you won’t because you’re #corporatebuttkissers
It fucking isn’t bollocks, unfortunately everything had its use by date.
Nice one, ‘Steve’. That’s just your opinion. More people are listening to the show and reading the site than ever before. So it fucking is bollocks x
I don’t mind people getting pissed off about us not playing well but the “lallana is shit”, “markovic is shit”, “sakho is shit” twitter avalanche really grates, not exactly the way to make them feel welcome is it. Not that anyone should ever take anything on twitter seriously ever, but still. If these people had their way then Henderson would have been packed off after six months, as would Lucas, as would Sterling (remember first half of last season?)
That said I thought Iago Aspas looked alright after the opening game last season in a poor man’s Kuyt way so what do I know…I reckon we’ll get better through the season though.
“Barber’s ‘Adagio For Strings’sounded quietly in the distance to provide a soundtrack.”
Fucking luv it!
I didn’t mean that to sound/read aggressive.
#corporatebuttkissers
Spot on robert
Yeah, we’re just like a terrorist organisation because after a win we’re made up and after a defeat we look at what went wrong. Good logic. As for the season ticket idea, sounds like something someone in the boardroom would come up with ‘Bob’. #corporatebuttkisser
Pha! TAW! Knew it. Bunch of arl arses!
You’re the one’s watching the game in the corporate seats courtesy of a fecking online casino !
#corporatebuttkissers !!
Incorrect, but don’t let the facts get in the way and all that.
I watched the game on the telly.And even fromthere I could see and hear the difference.Never mind when I witnessed it at first hand.
I can’t help remembering when this type of team came here a few years ago.Their knees would be knocking every time the ball came near them.They would be completely unnervered and start making mistakes.
The noise would start to crank up and the opposition would start to crumble.It was generally referred to as the 12th man at Anfield.
Today? Well it’s only a matter of time before the present generation of supporters start bringing handkerchiefs to wave when the going gets tough.
So,maybe there is something to be said for elephants doing back-flips,Simon Cowell saying “Good pass.you’ve got 4 yeses.”
At least they’ll know when to to cheer!
Interesting post. Minor quibble though – Tom Hicks is Southern meaning he can’t be a carpetbagger…although this gets us back around to the point that not all Americans are yankees. But I’ll never be able to make that argument firmly enough to convince any of the Scouse crowd.
Ah well. The negativity is surprising to me. We’ve got incredible talent at nearly every position and just won our first European match in 5 years. Without Allen, Sturridge, et al. Life’s good boys. YNWA.
Ah, didn’t realise it was a geographical insult. I’ve made a note as I like the word.
Yea, it’s got massive historical context. Carpetbaggers are a particularly loathsome subset of yankees. It’s a pretty pejorative term in the South.
Sadly twitter and other social media platforms has given every dickhead their own soap box. Having said that it is at times a little frustrating to see us starting with Ballotelli as a lone striker when he appears not to be the man for that job. Or can Brendan see something we don’t see?
Great bit of writing and so true! I hate ‘us’ too, everyday I feel the need to tell someone to ahut the f**k up and be realistic! “Alberto Moreno and its difficult to write his name without surrounding it with love hearts” – brilliant!
2 things annoy me in football. Liverpool not winning and fans moaning about the behaviour of other fans. If it’s not too disrespectful then I really don’t have a problem if some 17 year old wants to air an opinion I think is a load of bollocks.
What has been annoying me most of all is the utter contempt most fans (twitter idiot as well as respected podcast contributors) now have for Glen Johnson. I think it’s absolutely disrespectful.
On another note, I have a question. Why do The Anfield Wrap hate Pele?
^ A more pertinent question is surely “Why do The Anfield Wrap hate Brendan Rodgers?”
Eh!! Do you actually listen to the podcasts , they clearly don’t hate BR . Why would they he’s doing a bloody job .
Listen to Jim spit “Rodgers” everytime he talks about him, or have a look at his tweets and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
So that’s one person involved then, not ‘The Anfield Wrap’.
Why’s he never on anymore?
Getting some young bird on to talk about her knickers! (I don’t mind like but come on…)
He was on two weeks ago. http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2014/09/podcast-unwelcome-break/
Pha!
Wouldn’t be surprised if one of your illuminati hitmen leaves his corporate seat and boardman ‘disappears’.
Anyway, one last thing, on the theme of this ‘piece’, watch the panorama documentary about the Kop 1960’s. You think any of them (my dad, no doubt your dad) had a fecking season ticket ?!!!!
FAO Crazyrobert. Dear Bob, I’m sure you’re the sort of Red I’d agree with on just every point of consequence regarding our club and the general corporatisation of our game. However, it’s clear to me, and will no doubt be absolutely clear to just about everyone who reads this site, that YOU for whatever personal reasons have a clear, seemingly obsessive axe to grind about The Anfield Wrap. Maybe you feel they rejected your input at some point? It certainly reads that way to me.
I don’t know anybody involved, but I have to say that as an exiled Liverpoolian who used to stand on the Kop with my copy of NME in one hand and Smash Hits in the other, I absolutely love TAW. The warmth, the intelligence, the humour- everything special and unique about our city, and indeed about our club is TAW encapsualed, so please, Bob, lay your personal anger to one side and appreciate what we have here, please. Thanks.
Er yeah. I regularly say ‘I hate them’. Its not a secret. …..
I rarely read a full article on here. Let alone the comments section.
Firstly, the article is brilliant. Well done Karl. I’ve enjoyed your stuff for many a year when I was knee high to a grasshopper and you were writing in TTWAR.
Secondly, virtually everything in the comments section is a nonsesne and the lot of you need to get out the house more.
Carry on.
I totally agree.
I wrote my shite in the pub. People should get out more.
Cheers mate. I appreciate that.
Got to disagree.
Most Liverpool fans i come into contact with are some of the most understanding, well informed set of fans i know.
Not sure if you’ve just been unlucky or you concentrate on social media too much. But when you sit down and talk to the proper fans, the ones i know anyways, there is always rational thinking.
Sure we have bad days, but social media just magnifies the idiots.
For me the frustration comes from knowing what the team is capable of (we saw it plenty of times last season), and then watching them perform like a pub side once every few weeks, it’s infuriating. Opposition and tactics aside, we’re supposed to have a team full of intelligent technicians yet there are times when half the squad look like Bambi on Crack.
Karl, you say as fans we’re bipolar, never happy to take the middle ground, but our players play that way, too. We’re either buzzing and tearing teams a new arsehole or acting like we’re suffering from social anxiety and panic attacks. Where’s the middle ground from the players? Where’s the sensible draw coming from? We’re all as bad as each other, I just wish the meds would kick in… there’s still another 40 odd games to go, arrrrgh.
Jesus, Bob’s crazied all over this comments section.
Anyway, “legend of shit you will be” had me in stitches.