AFTER a whole week of discussion in the national media about the actions of the gobshite that is Jose Mourinho — and a fresh delivery of camera-facing crap from the mouth of the Portuguese yesterday (‘fake result’ my arse) — it’s worth remembering that the Chelsea manager doesn’t always talk shite.
Back in January, after a side that would go on to be Premier League champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, Mourinho said: “If Stamford Bridge can give us 25 per cent of the emotion Anfield gives Liverpool, I think we can do it.”
It’s not the first time Mourinho has recognised the power of a pumped-up Anfield but finding a voice for Chelsea at home in the last four of a cup competition is easy. They’re the pantomime villains in Liverpool’s recent history, with the manager repeatedly playing up to his role as chief baddie, from the shushing of fans in Cardiff to keeping the ball to charging down the Anfield touchline — what’s not to hate? As my old fella always used to say, he could start a fight in an empty room.
Tonight though, we don’t have all that. No nemesis to stoke the fires, no set of fans to make the blood boil. How can you get wound up by a team Liverpool have only faced six times in the club’s history and never in the league? Eddie Howe and Bournemouth is a rags to riches story that most footie fans have enjoyed so there’s no malevolent motivation to draw on for making a din come 8pm.
It’s not a semi-final with silverware within touching distance, either. Instead, it’s a game Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to win. A televised home game against a club playing its first season in the Premier League. A match where anything less than a comfortable victory will spark criticism.
And there’s the key bit. We’ve waited 93 days for this. It’s three months and a day since the last home game — the woeful 1-3 against Crystal Palace on May 16. So what’s the mood going to be? Happy to be back and determined to fire up the players on the pitch? Full of hope and dreaming of the title? Shouting to the rafters and singing your heart out? Or watching arms folded and waiting to be impressed? Carrying a load of baggage into the ground because you thought the manager should be sacked last season or that he should pick Mamadou Sakho over Dejan Lovren?
It might not be the biggest occasion Anfield will have witnessed tonight, it’s not going to be a re-run of St Etienne, but it remains an occasion nevertheless. An opportunity for those that fill the ground to show the players we support them and we mean business. A chance to set the tone for the season ahead.
Adam Lallana spoke over the weekend of the influence of the Anfield crowd saying: “It’s important we start fast and get the crowd behind us because that’s such an important asset for us. When Anfield is loud and noisy, it’s a great atmosphere and can help us in our performances and in picking up wins.”
What about the crowd starting fast? What about our performance? What will we get out of 10 for tonight’s showing? And how about Anfield showing Bournemouth’s travelling fans what we’re about? When they ask where our famous atmosphere is, show them. When they politely enquire if this is a library point out in no uncertain terms that there are no fucking books. Crystal Palace fans have managed to sort out a way of showing their support that has had old heads nodding approval so what’s stopping us?
The unspoken words from Lallana are that when Anfield is quiet and broody it can also be a terrible atmosphere. One that has been the undoing of many a man in red (exhibit A, see Downing, Stewart). It shouldn’t be that way. Good football teams win more than they lose at home because playing on your own turf is a huge advantage. We have it in our power to keep it that way. Anyone who says how the fans behave on the day doesn’t really matter should be instructed to watch a match played behind closed doors. It’s a glorified training session. Eerie, weird and wrong — because a key part of what makes it what it is has been stripped away.
History says the odds are stacked in the home side’s favour — studies have traditionally suggested a 60-40 swing to be exact. Psychologically, logistically and historically, the team at home has the upper hand.
There’s even evidence of a deep-rooted physiological advantage for home players. This study noted “…we showed that salivary testosterone levels in soccer players were significantly higher before a home game than an away game.”
It’s because you’re defending what’s yours. You’re comfortable in your surroundings and you’re sticking it to those that dare to suggest they can take away what is rightfully yours — the three points, the win, the victory.
The team at home wears its first-choice kit, runs out in front of stands filled mainly with their own supporters and research has even suggested the home side is more likely to get favourable decisions from match officials.
That research was based on a noisy passionate crowd though. One berating the officials. One calling for everything to be Liverpool’s. One winding up the opposition and outsinging the travelling support.
Too often what should be home advantage has felt like anything but at Anfield. And too often when the subject is discussed it is met with excuses: the team should inspire the crowd. It’s the type of fan in the ground these days. It’s modern football. It’s this, it’s that, it’s the other…
Bollocks.
Everyone knows what to do. You sing You’ll Never Walk Alone. Loud. All the way through. You scream “Come on Red Men” just before the first whistle sounds. You make your players feel 10 foot tall and show the opposition that this isn’t A N Other football ground.
Whatever it takes you to get up for a match, do it. Have a pint. Have a short. Watch your Istanbul video. Whatever it takes.
And for 90 minutes — enjoy it. Play a part. Support. See where it gets us.
Does a crowd calling the manager things that would have a libel lawyer booking a round-the-world cruise help matters? Does a crowd going ‘oooooh’ to point out a penalty AGAINST Liverpool (this, bizarrely has happened recently at Anfield) help? Does a crowd that screams abuse at the players it should be supporting should they put a foot wrong help? Does a crowd more interested in phones, Facebook and selfies rather than the action unfolding in front of them help?
It’s not hard is it? It’s common sense. So do it.
It’s not likely to be a season-defining, tell the grandkids kind of game tonight, but think again about one that was. Chelsea 05. When the Kop rocked and London Bridge was falling down.
Lubos Michel, the referee on that night, said: “Roman [Slysco – the linesman who gave Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost’ goal] beeped me to signal the foul by Cech, but I didn’t know that till later. It was the noise from the crowd that stopped me hearing it. I have refereed at places like Barcelona, Ibrox, Manchester United and Arsenal. But I’ve never in my life been involved in such an atmosphere. It was incredible.”
Expecting something similar tonight is fanciful, but it’s in the power of every person who clicks through a turnstile tonight to get close. To at least try. Start a song. Tell your mate to join in. Shout “Come on you, Reds”, clap your hands, scream at the ref. Whatever. What’s the worst that could happen? What are you worried about?
It’s not hard. So let’s keep the home fires burning. The atmosphere in 2013-14 was superb. But the team inspired it to be superb. How about we try it the other way round? It might just work. What else are you doing on a Monday night?
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
I’ve been banging the drum for ages now about getting some sort of singing section on the go at the ground. The atmosphere has been so bad that this imo is the only way to try and get some of it back. Instead of pushing the lads to the back they should be right in the middle…! It’s the Kop ffs, if you don’t eat to get involved fuck off.
I also think we should try and get the banter going between the Annie rd and Kop again, get the two sides singing.. The Annie rd was noisier at a few games last season anyway..!!
Here’s hoping Robbo. Good write up.
I’ll do my bit, but I can’t guarantee that the guys near me in suits who arrive late and leave early will want to. They do sometimes join in by asking which player is which, but other than that their ‘phones occupy them a lot.
I wonder who the people behind me will pick on for being lazy tonight as their usual targets won’t be on the pitch, Sturridge, Sterling, & Balotelli.
Having a few pints with my mate last night, he’s a big Celtic fan, and he was telling me he’s going to the CL game v Malmo midweek. He’s bought 4 tickets, all seated together for him, his Da and his 2 girls and it costs less than £100!!!! His Da gets a cheaper ticket as he’s over 60 and the girls get cheaper tickets too as they are kids (£19 each). I’m not sure how much the equivalent would cost at Anfield but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t get 4 seated together. Celtic have a fantastic atmosphere at their games and will be introducing safe standing soon too.
if they sold the tickets to the right fans more to locals the atmosphere would be a lot better we have to many fans in the stadium nowadays that cant even speak english, its got on be on a joke now since 2007 the atmosphere has got boring and quite. the fans expect them to get us going instead of us getting the players going it need to change.
…”can’t even speak English.” Then spells ‘quiet’ as ‘quite’. Nice one.
The thing is with this attitude though Ryan is that it makes things divisive. There are indeed a lot of nationalities represented these days at Anfield. It is a different make-up. But there are also lots and lots of scousers and other regulars too. When I’m at the game it’s not these foreign accents that I generally hear slating and abusing our players and manager. In fact on more than one occasion I’ve witnessed locals spend most of the match making snide remarks about others in the ground.
If the reason why we now have just about the worst atmosphere around at most games is simply about the people in the stadium, then where does all the noise come from if we take a late lead? More than once last year after eerie quiet for 80-odd minutes, a late winner gave way to a loud, bouncing Anfield. It seems we have become the ultimate sing-when-we’re-winning supporters.
I’m not into this obsession with recording the game on a phone at all. Not my bag. We definitely have too much of that, but it does go on everywhere and our atmosphere is worse than most.
My own observation is that many of the OOTs join in when we get songs going but most aren’t likely to try and start something up (and sometimes get flak if they do).
There are half-half types, there are families, there are tourists and there are plenty of stale regulars; but there are also plenty of core, passionate locals and regulars as well as ‘occasionals’ and OOts who want to make noise for the club and players.
Perhaps they’re too scattered at the moment. But there’s still enough to get things going and I think it’s a matter of setting the tone. If we have another of the sort of miserable atmospheres tonight that Robbo alludes to above then it gets harder to reinvigorate the place.
It’s a fresh season. Let’s give the place a little fire again and show others the way.
I agree completely that support shouldn’t be a product of good football but ultimately that’s how it is. When the team start well, go forward, the crowd usually respond.
In a classic European away, it’s vital to silence the crowd. In recent times we’re amazing at doing this to ourselves passing the ball between Skrtel, Mignolet and Lovren. As an OOT standing up on the Kop getting songs going isn’t exactly easy. In fact, I’d get abuse, I know I would. “fucking wool”. Before “that” mentality changes, the atmosphere won’t improve.
Spot on Gareth,just a shame it needs to be said instead of being second nature. Palace have a singing corner which might sound naff but it works and seems to spur the rest of their fans on as well. I reckon if we could do similar in the Rd End it would have the same effect on the Kop and bring the atmosphere to at least 2 sides of the ground. Phase 2 of getting the Main Stand and Centenary to join in will take far greater minds than mine to sort.
Anfield is the last hope for the EPL. Take a look at the atmospheres in other stadiums all across Europe during Champions League and Europa. The experience in EPL stadiums feels like we are in Disneyland Paris. The atmospheres are soft and tame. Every now and then there is a good song, but there is a distinct lack of tribalism. Its embarrassing.
Anfield and Liverpool supporters have a duty to change this. Its time to show the power of Anfield. Its time to make its presence felt. Liverpool and Anfield are the last hope for England. With Liverpool on the upswing and now building, its time for us to go all out once again and show the world what we are made of. Its time to remind everyone what makes Anfield so sacred and holy. We have a duty. And I hope everyone passes on the word. Step up.
SAFE STANDING
-more people in the stadium
-the stale nature of the regulars is negated by new ticket holders and more day to day fans
-you’re allocated a section not a seat so more likely to be with your pals
-increased supply reduces cost (in theory) hence more locals and kids
-on your feet and bouncing!
What are the differences between “safe standing” and the old-style terraces we used to have? I would agree that it would 100% make for a better atmosphere but we all known all too well the dangers involved the way things were.
I wrote a comment the size of a novel which was a rousing appeal to all fans… then it was deleted after I entered the wrong captcha code. F**k that then.
Without a beery, leery, swaying, surging, dancing, singing section of the crowd none of our ideas will work. Safe standing is the answer. Bring in a brass band and a cheer leader if you must but please bring back the camaraderie of the old Kop or our famed atmosphere will be consigned to the history books.
Amen to that.
Don’t know if the Sky microphones were focussing more on the away fans for their first prem away day but they never stopped singing and supporting their team.
Gareth joked about the famous atmosphere and library taunts but our crowd barely got going and unfortunately that’s how it sounds all too often on tv. Apologies to the regular matchgoers if that’s wide of the mark but can some of the posters who went tonight give some feedback?
I’ll take 6 hard fought scrappy points so far though. Pleasantly surprised at how Benteke fits into our team, the lad is a beast…
It was exactly the same as last season mate. No real atmosphere other than the away end – and they sang a load is the usual crap.
Nothing will change unless they get something I place to put those of a similar mindset together.
Take nothin away from the lads with the flags and waivers though. Without them the kop would be a dull affair..
Sat on right side of kop half way up looking out on pitch. Rest of kip was standing but we had to sit then stand then sit. Not that I minded that but the atmosphere is so shit. We should be belting out tunes with full verses for the duration of the game. As for Liv-er-pool, liv-er-pool, it’s such a shit song we should be ashamed to sing it – other clubs rip us for it. We need a corner you’re right. That way the songs will keep on coming and encourage others to sing along. Anfield was dead quiet at points because we were on the back foot. This is when we need to sing loudest!
Even in the days of the standing Kop the atmosphere could be lousy. Those who think so called safe standing will see a return to Beatles suits and a carnival atmosphere never stood on the Kop or have very selective memories