NEIL ATKINSON was joined by Adam Smith, Gareth Roberts and Ben Johnson for Monday’s regular Anfield Wrap podcast. The lads talk about Steven Gerrard’s LFC Foundation match on Sunday and the return to Anfield of some past heroes, including the crowd’s reaction to Fernando Torres.
The lads also chat about the Liverpool home crowd and the atmosphere at games, the ongoing contract situation surrounding Raheem Sterling and some Duckmarine revelations.
Regarding how fans are more critical during matches, here is my theory.
I really think a lot of it comes down to how social media, especially twitter, has transpired. Twitter has given people a podium where they think they are important and that everyone is listening to them. It has led to more people who are happy with letting their negative feelings known. I could write pages on this theory.
Sons of Shankly made a brilliant video some years ago that I think applies to us now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfpn_xsKhE
In the same way that worrying does not add a day to your life, yelling at players to tell them they are crap does not add an extra skip in their step or crisper passing. LFC fans need to view themselves as the parents of the players – encourage them, lift them, guide them, and they will reach the heavens.
YNWA
I agree the Torres return was cathartic for all concerned. I also agree that we need to remember how horrible things were when he left, so maybe in truth we can’t blame him for going. BUT, let’s not forget that he said some pretty petulant stuff when he got to Chelsea (finally moving to a big club etc) — I think he contributed quite a bit to the inevitable bad taste after he left.
He put his body on the line for the club (the injury in the home match against Benfica was what finally did for him) only to be lied to; then watched the manager who had brought him to the club undermined and dismissed. That whole period seemed to leave him disillusioned not just with Liverpool (the club not the fans) but football itself … hence some uncharacteristic remarks when he first moved to Chelsea. Also, remember that he stayed on to see the club sold when he could have moved in the summer, which would have worked out much better for him and been far less messy.
I live in London and belong to the London Supporters Club. They are only allocated tickets for mid week matches, which requires a half day off work and getting home at 2am.
I’m not from Liverpool. I don’t have the accent. I often feel ashamed to speak out loud because of this at Anfield. The vast majority of “For fuck sakes…” “He’s fucking shite” “What’s that idiot doing” are Scouse voices. Maybe being born in the City gives them the right?! I don’t think so.
Knocking fans who make the effort to support the club, the players and local economy because they don’t live in Liverpool is ludicrous.
Also, when Gerrard announced his retirement (in effect) there was a feeling not after that of posivitey, hope and a bright future. Sterling, Henderson, Lucas, Sacko, Can etc all seemed like “our lads” again. There was a team spirit and it felt like they were playing for the club and the city. I think if you’d posed the question then who would come back and play in a charity match in 10 years? You might have said all of them. I think we all felt it. Even Mario was in on it and we all took him in, as one of our lads. Even Mario!
How can things change so drastically and swiftly?!
Maybe that’s all bollocks. What would I know. I’m a Londoner.
I’ve been going for years and one thing has remained constant throughout those years, the Main Stand is full of blokes who have done their time on the Kop or Anny Road and retired to the moaning community that thrives there. Having said that there is a growing collection of day trippers and corporates now who reflect an uninterested view.
However the discussion raised in the podcast revolved around the atmosphere in the ground as a whole. To me the polarisation over Rodgers is key. He has a song, he has a large number of followers who forgive his mistakes both major and minor. Unfortunately there is another large number who don’t like the guy, no matter what he does. I feel that the cause of this is not his constant media verbiage or his strange makeover which accompanied his estrangement from his wife. To me the reason is simple – he’s not Rafa.
The way Rafa was idolised by a huge number of the supporters, (remember the Rafatollah?), and his appallingly savage dismissal, means that he is mourned. Many thought he might be reinstated after the Hodgson debacle, but he wasn’t even interviewed. Rodgers is seen by a fair number as having Rafa’s job and they want him out and Rafa back.
I will admit that I would like Rafa back, but I’m realistic enough to accept that FSG might not share my opinion. To me the Club is everything and whether I like the manager or not is irrelevant to my longing for Liverpool to be champions of England and Europe. If Rodgers can supply that, great. If not get him out and get in someone who can achieve it.
Perhaps success (trophies not near misses) will unite the crowd? I hope so, but a Rafa shaped shadow stands behind Rodgers in the meantime.
Excellent that. Really fascinating debate and subjects.
Regarding the fans, it’s not rocket science. Some people are miserable by nature. The way you watch football is characterised by your personality. Look at people you know. It’s energy stealing. These miserable fucks can scream at and belittle a multi-millionaire who can have any girl he wants, any car etc, all the things the beaut in the crowd can’t even dream about. It makes them feel better on the surface but unknowingly corrosive on the inside. Like the ugly school bully picking on the fit girl. It only takes one in 50 to be miserable and you’ve got a fair few dissenting voices in earshot. It brings me down. I like unity.
One thing that’s always surprised me is, I know (in some form) over 200 season ticket holders. I think you’d be surprised if you met a lot of them. I immediately start talking to them the way I do with a few of my mates who are really into the team. They don’t have a clue what I’m on about. They keep it simple. I think this is valid. They enjoy coming to the game. I meet up with some for a drink but they’re not as into it as you’d think. A lot of these season tickets are staying in families as a tradition. It’s easy to assume season ticket holders are all passionate. They’re not. There’s the full spectrum.
The main reason for the bile from some of the fans is Rodgers. He’ll never win some over. He’s not Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish or Rafa enough for them.
People give 101 reasons for the atmosphere yet the way to solve this is so simple. You invite all the season ticket holders to come to Anfield with their tickets and you invite anyone who hasn’t got one but wants one to come to. You set them on each other and last men standing keep the tickets. The young beat the old and the passionate ones beat the not arsed. Why has no one at the club considered this?
Easter Sunday was better than most Christmases last year. Norwich game, back home for dinner, back out.
Got to admit to a twinge of regret seeing the picture of Benitez’s ’07/’08/’09 lads from the weekend sans Mascherano and Aurelio (was he there?) with Suarez and Garcia gegging in there as bookmarks either side of that late 2000s time. Not gonna be happy if I’m looking at a get together of last season’s team in 2020 having still not won the league. If Brendan can somehow get it boxed soonish that’d be great.
Rodgers comes across as a shit talker. He hasn’t won anything yet talks like he’s Ferguson or Mourinho. That’s why many people don’t like his false personality.
My own belief is that he’s a good manager, but won’t be good enough for what Liverpool require long term.