LET’S be honest, it hurts. And it’s going to for a while. There’s no enjoyable way to lose a final, and particularly one built up as a shortcut back to the big time.
It felt like we’d cracked it. Back in a European final for the first time in nine years. The chance to add a major trophy to a cabinet that hasn’t needed any rearrangement since the League Cup was added to it in 2012. And the opportunity to bat away another disappointing league finish with a lift up into next year’s Champions League.
The build up on the day had been a good one, at least from our experience. Worries of an Athens-style air of disorder policed by over-zealous officers didn’t play out. There was some well-documented trouble in the ground before the match but it was, by and large, a party atmosphere with the police, although tooled up to the nines, seemingly happy to adopt a leave-it-alone approach.
UEFA were about surveying people about their experience and hopefully the message was clear from those answering on the day as it was from most in the lead up to the trip to Basel. Both the ground and the city remained unsuitable for a game of this stature. Everyone seemed to have a tale of woe centred around either transport, accommodation, or both. Including me.
Mulhouse, where we ended up, was miles away over the border in France and on arrival in Basel, a trusty policeman informed us there was no way to get there by public transport. Incorrectly. Transport links were poor. Three buses a week! And industrial action from French train drivers further increased the chaos with no-one across the various organisations involved — on either side of the border — having the forethought to arrange suitable alternative transport. Instead, that was left to the fans, many opting for — and encouraged to do so by police — a 100 euros taxi, others battling to get on a single coach to replace the cancelled last train out of Basel. That got interesting by all accounts with coppers called to keep the peace as a stand off over seats ensued.
For many other Reds the plan was simply to hang around. Wait until it gets light and everything starts up again. For a supposed showpiece event it’s not really good enough. It’s not unreasonable to expect UEFA to pick a ground that can at least get close to satisfying demand for tickets and a city that can actually accommodate that crowd, is it? And it’s not asking for too much that some consideration is given to those who travel, either. The hope would be that someone somewhere learns some lessons. But given UEFA’s track record, and how they seemingly rate ordinary match-going fans on their list of priorities, maybe we shouldn’t hold our breath.
But that’s gone now. Searching for tickets, accommodation and travel for a European final isn’t a problem we’ll face next season. And that’s the sad thing, isn’t it? Now we’re seeing headlines about the Klopp honeymoon period being over. Suddenly, every aspect of the club is under the microscope again, from how and when the manager encourages Liverpool supporters to get behind the team, to which players should go, who should stay and how much should be in the transfer kitty.
Meanwhile, players that remain in the squad, players that Liverpool may have to rely on in the future, are abused online, criticised at every turn. I don’t rate some of them, either. But until they are sold or bombed out of the side due to the recruitment of a more suitable replacement, they’re Liverpool. And part of the Liverpool that made the second half of this last season a joy. Don’t think they have taken defeat lightly. There were no smiles on show at the team hotel post-match (we blagged in briefly…). Apparently Klopp got them geed up later. Good.
Distraction techniques from the heartache are in full effect from fans, from randomly turning attention to Everton and Evertonians to griping about where our supporters are from and who is the best. This again? It’s the online equivalent of a toddler’s supermarket aisle hissy fit. Understandable, there’s frustration. But not enjoyable, and such a contrast to the excitement of the build up, when, as so many sang, we thought every little thing was gonna be alright. It still might be. Just not right now.
Right now, from scanning the media, mainstream and social, and listening into post-match conversations, it’s like a light has gone out. All the facts and figures that were lighting up our Liverpool lives plunged into darkness. We’ve got a great manager in Jürgen Klopp, one who was linked with jobs worldwide before choosing Liverpool. The Anfield atmosphere isn’t a thing of the past, we’ve proved it. The team everyone is now turning on was performing better than it was in the dark days at the end of Brendan Rodgers’ reign. It knocked out Manchester United. And Dortmund. And Villarreal. Beat Chelsea, and Manchester City. Battered Everton (they hardly touched the ball…the ball…the ball…). Yet the good performances, the big wins, the moments that made you proud to be a Red again — all were ripped up and scattered into the stands of St Jakob Park judging by the reaction of some.
Do we really need now to take the route of starting to undress the manager’s record? Talking of his record in finals, of him ‘freezing’ in this one and so on? Klopp needs backing, not sacking. No-one would surely say different. So why the over-analytic negativity now? It’s not a squad of his choosing. He hasn’t influenced recruitment over a sustained period of time. He hasn’t had a pre-season to hammer home what he expects (and encourage the necessary fitness levels). All that could (should?) mean sustained success to come. But every other club will be plotting similar, to varying degrees.
It’s still raw, of course. And it’s an excruciating wait now until August 13, when the real football involving Liverpool starts again and the summer practice sessions that will follow Euro 2016 are over. But if post-match anger and frustration evolves into something more, and the cycle of building our managers up then knocking them down begins again long term, then fuck our lives.
Let’s hope it isn’t that. Let’s hope as a collective the vibe is soon one of realising we’re not in the worst place in the world as a club. For a football fan, losing a final on foreign shores has to be right up there among the hardest metaphorical kicks in the bollocks you can receive. Suddenly, home is a long, long way away. Suddenly, the beer doesn’t taste quite so sweet. Losing a final, the second one in a season, is tough to take. It doesn’t feel like any sort of achievement. Yet all that was said before Sevilla deservedly won the trophy still stands. Liverpool now and Liverpool then feels like a different beast. Black marks hang over many of the squad but equally others look like they can now serve the club; that they like Klopp and Klopp likes them and we’re seeing players with a performance in them now.
Summer recruitment remains massive, and perhaps that job has become more difficult without the lure of any European football. Can you keep a big squad happy with less football? Maybe, maybe not. My guess is you can if you’re winning. And while some players may not be tempted to Liverpool because there isn’t an immediate offer of Champions League, others might see the bigger picture. They might want to play for Liverpool, and for Klopp. They might realise first-team chances are better here than there, wherever that may be. And they might note, too, how many of Klopp’s current inherited crop speak so highly of the man in the dug out. They’ve enjoyed the transformation, they’ve enjoyed their football, enjoyed training. Klopp has made it fun for them, and fun for us. It’s been something we recognise, and wanted, from Liverpool FC. Liverpool with balls, Liverpool with fight. Liverpool with something about them, on and off the pitch.
Sevilla was hard to take. A period of what if will follow. But part of that what if is what if Liverpool improve the squad, which they surely will. What if Liverpool buy quality in the right areas? What if less games means better league results, like it did last time Liverpool challenged for the title? What if some of the players involved become richer for the experience of the second half in Basel? What if the nous and awareness we so often talk of now becomes closer to being a reality for some of the more naïve players in the squad?
Ultimately, it feels better to think of a bright side. Because replaying what can’t be changed achieves little. Buy the best, Liverpool. Come flying out the traps in August, Liverpool. Let’s get back in Europe and next time, let’s win it.
Up the Reds.
Ah back. Yes a nod and a tear it’s inevitable I’ll be back. In the long short and long of it kinda upside down way my hourglass’ sand is ticking over surely and slowly the grains of yesterday’s pains melt away. Slowly now and easy, if you can’t forgive your child’s failure for God’s sake forgive your club’s and hopefully that’s the only hyperbole I’ll need to let it out. I’m not worried about the names right now, Klopp will sort it better than I ever could and in the same way Miles Davis assurance of the defiant blasts of So What from Kind of Blue it’s the music and the Merseybeat I’ll miss this silky smooth silly season to come, indeed mates. Good run, good show by all, we’ll all be starting again sooner than we will realize. The cycle of supporting Liverpool ensures there’s always a new heart waiting to break! Cheers for the season boys!
Matthew from Washington DC
It hurts more now than it did 24 hours ago. So close, yet on the day, so far.
No doubt it was the last match for a few of the squad (Kolo?, Moreno?, Migs?), and the pain will motivate those that remain.
I think we’ll give the league a good shake next season, put Jeez I’d love a trophy sooner than later.
Roll on next season.
I’ve had a rollercoater of emotions but I’m content now.
On the travel
I flew with Lufthansa. Whereas in England I’m used to ‘you’re too drunk to travel’ or generally being treated like a leper, the Germans gave us free cakes and free beers. When we asked if we could buy another round they said ‘no, just help yourself and drink what you like, it’s on us’. Being a customer is a two way thing. In England they don’t seem to get that. The Germans couldn’t have done more for us.
At the airport in Basel we just jumped on a coach and it took us to the coach park. I took a few trams here and there and as far as I’m aware they were free too. Then after the game I saw some coaches in the tunnel and jumped on one of them. Took me to the airport no problem. To be honest, I’m not actually sure whether everything was supposed to be free (think they were chartered buses by Sports Choice) but you don’t get that in England. Some of my mates paid £100 back to Mulhouse though, and others in their hotel had paid 170 Euro’s. For me, it was a pleasant experience all round.
On the centre.
I lost my buzz pretty soon after arriving in the centre. I thought it was shit. The place the Liverpool fans were gathered was wank. I stayed 5 mins, left my mates nearby and went for a walk over the river. The Sevilla area was quite nice actually. When I returned the square with the Liverpool fans was blaring out ‘I love rock n roll’ by Joan Jet and the Blackhearts. It was awful. Ruined everyones buzz. Shambolic decision to have that PA system and I can’t help think it was a deliberate attempt to keep the Liverpool fans from being buoyed by singing. I passed the area a few times during the course of the day and it was fairly subdued (to an extent) because of the music.
On the police
I didn’t really see or experience any negativity from them. By the first cordon on the railway bridge i went over to the police who were lined up and told a stormtrooper policewomen she was the prettiest girl I’d seen in Switzerland. She quite physically pushed me 15 yards back onto the pavement. I probably deserved worse the state I was in and the stupidity of the comment and how I become when I’m that wrecked but the policemen didn’t react. They let her deal with me. In hindsight I was quite grateful for their stance. About half an hour later by the ground I had my second encounter. I was talking to a old bloke from Switzerland, a Liverpool fan. Suddenly, his ticket was snatched and I chased the bloke and retrieved it. There was a bit of an incident and the police grabbed me but when I told them the story (speaking in French even though they spoke German) they were sound and let me go. No issues at all.
In the ground
I was absolutely wrecked in there. Think it was the adrenaline but I fronted our fans (and fell down the steps in the process). I was saying my mates couldn’t go because of you bearded cunts (I meant trendy beards) got all the tickets and you can’t even get behind the team. I was probably being embarrassing but I think they were worse and at half time numerous people approached me in the snack place and said ‘well in lad, keep it up second half. I was in that upper tier in line with the 18 yard box on the side. It left a sour taste. Maybe, people have a right to go to a game and just watch it in silence. Maybe it was me in the wrong. I’m undecided on that. It left me questioning a lot of things about watching football. I’ve concluded, the reason is they’re just like me in that they go to home games but ultimately, they’re glory hunters who turn up for finals but then at least I turn up to support in the final. Klopp certainly wanted us to sing, especially at 2-1.
On the match
I was livid after the game. Well, absolutely dejected but seething internally over some of the performances. When I got home though and charged my phone I saw I had loads of fb notifications from diickheads trying to wind me up. I immediately changed tact. I became not only defensive but realistic. I just ignored them all except to say I was proud of the team. They’ve given us some great moments and great memories. Yeah, we can improve in places but Klopp will do that. There’s clearly an advantage of not being in Europe next season and I think next season will be really exciting. We just concentrate on the 3 domestic competitions.
Overall
The city was the wrong choice for a Liverpool final and quite possibly for any final due to accommodation. That square was an appalling place but overall, I think we were treated well. I felt we were given a fair bit of respect. Personally, had I not been, it would have probably been justified because I lost it between 8 and 9.30. Adrenaline on top of being done in does that to me. The team choked after the equaliser but Sevilla played well. There are definitely good times ahead for our club and they’ll be ups and downs along the way.
A quick p.s
I had to get the train back from Mancs airport. I nipped outside for a quick smoke. When I approached the train there was still 30 seconds until departure. The doors were locked though and the driver wouldn’t open them. My mate was on the train. I walked up the platform in full view of the conductor trying each door but after waiting 30 seconds to a minute it drove off. To me, it summed up everything I despise about this country and why Europe is such a better place to live.
Robin if only Google would of given you a pair of google glass specs I’m sure you would of had a few million hits on YouTube.
Mate. We do live in Europe.
Our island is part of Europe, granted, but we don’t live in Europe in the same way Hawaiians don’t live in America. Completely different culture to the mainland.
‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat’
Mate, it’s a great speech which I’ve not heard before. I’ve just read it all. I feel slightly aggrieved though. It’s ironic it’s about how good France is and how that’s the model the U.S should take because that’s my point exactly. I lived in France for years and I’ve seen how they do things. It’s the same way I do things. Have you seen what’s going on there this week. Believe it or not I’ve always put my neck on the line and always stand up for what I believe. Do you mate? Do you get in the arena and have sweat and blood on your face? I ask because from what I can see this country is full of bummers and there’s not many that do.
I was criticising the fact that everything in this country is geared towards fleecing us at any opportunity. We’re not citizens like the French, we’re a revenue source. You pay to have a piss in this country and funnily enough, I had one the other day and some cunt tried to charge me for handing me some soap to wash my hands afterwards. I was talking about the surprise of being treated as a valuable customer on the German flight rather than a menace as it is here. Did you read John Gibbons piece on German football? I was talking about the fact that I paid £22 to get a train for a 45 minute journey and the cunt of a conductor thought it was ok to make me wait an hour for the next one rather than lean over and press a button to open the door whilst he sat there for a minute waiting for his departure time.
I didn’t mention how our civil liberties are being eroded or our quality of life. Or how if we protest on the streets against it we get our teeth knocked out. Or how if we protest on social media we get sent to prison. We’ve got to this point because we’re a weak, pathetic and docile nation. It’s one of the things I admire most about the people of Liverpool. They seem to be the only people here who are prepared to stand up. What you failed to anticipate though is I’ve no desire to fight for this country. I’m waiting for my kids to get to an age where I feel ok to fuck off. So, spare me the bullshit that I can’t criticise please.
“The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naive and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair”.
Thanks Robin. I really enjoyed that account of your trip. You’re dead right about the customer service. These companies miss the point. Exciting times ahead.
BT (tv) said that in the ground Seville fans from their section set about and crossed into liverpool fans’ section and started a load of trouble.
I’m sure it’ll just be lfc fans getting in trouble.
Well said, Gareth. Another excellent article from you guys.
The future is bright. It remains bright. Disappointment even despair after the match is understandable. The over analysis and harsh criticism, though, is in my opinion, moronic.
Klopp’s been here just seven months. I can still remember acutely what things were like before he arrived. We are night and day better off. And we’ve enjoyed some wonderful moments since he’s arrived. Yes, it bears repeating: with the same squad we all flagged off under BR.
The biggest win of this season is the man in charge. Let’s not forget it.
Huge disappointment but who would have dreamed that what is Roger’s team of last September would have given us the thrill of the Cup run and reached the final. Beating a team of Sevilla’s quality was a step too far with this squad.
As for all the stupid criticism of Klopp then I suggest these are not real supporters but glory hunters.
Whilst we remain desperate for a trophy and in particular the Premiership supporting the Reds is about more than just trophies.
Here’s to next season,full of hope
Onwards and Upwards.M6 ,,>O
No doubt we have a great manager
But the sqaud is mediocre.
The worst league finish in 60 years and the humiliation suffered in the second half are testament to that.
We lack quality and depth, and changing managers is a cost effective way of distracting the support of this, which probably explains Klopps 3 year contract.
Getting as far as we did is further testament to Klopps ability to bring out the best in what he has.
Feel free to insult and call me a manc/bitter for be realistic. I couldn’t give fuck.
This season for me will always be about justice, a victory that outshines anything that could be achieved by millionaires on a football pitch.
A great year.
Pretty sure 11-12 was our worst league finish in 60 years (8th with only 52 points) but that’s by the by.
The league finish is skewed by the fact that we’ve been pretty much playing u21 teams in the league since April because klopp gambled on winning the europa, but unfortunately the gamble didn’t pay off.
Pretty sure we would have finished higher had we played our strongest 11 in all the league games, and don’t forget, we still only ended up 6 points off 4th so not as disastrous as people might think.
All in all, the future looks brighter under this manager than the previous manager, onwards and upwards
Mushy, you make some very good points. I agree, we are very light and unbalanced. No need to be defensive mate.
VOTE “IN” TO REMAIN IN THE EU OR THE TORY CUNTS AND BANKERS WILL HAVE FREE REIGN
VOTE ‘IN’ IF YOU WANT UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS GOVERNING US, IF YOU DONT LIKE THE TORIES AT LEAST YOU GET A CHANCE TO VOTE THEM OUT
GERMANY CONTROL THE EU…. JUST ASK THE GREEKS AND THE ITALIANS
VOTE ‘INN IF YOU IF YOU WANT UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION, I LOVE FOREIGNERS, EVEN MARRIED ONE BUT UNCONTROLLED ACCESS TO OUR COUNTRY IS RIDICULOUS
THE EU DON’T PAY FOR NEW SCHOOLS, BENEFITS OR WORKING TAX CREDIT, YOU DO
VOTE ‘IN’ IF YOU IF YOU WANT BIG CORPORATIONS TO ENJOY FREE EU TRADE WHILST KEEPING WAGES LOW
THE BUREAUCRATS ARE ELECTED. MEPS ARE ELECTED HENCE FUCKWIT FARAGE GETTING HIS OPPORTUNITY SPEAK HIS MIND IN BRUSSELS
UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION AHS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EU, AS MOST OF THE IMMIGRATION IS FROM CHINA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE EU DID PAY FOR ALOT OF THE REGENERATION OF LIVERPOOL.
THE BIG CORPORATIONS WILL BE ON THE FIRST BOAT OUT OF WE LEAVE THE EU
THE GREEKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST ABOUT THEIR FINANCES WHEN APPLYING FOR ENTRY
THE ITALIANS NEED TO SORT OUT THEIR TAX RECEIPTS.
SCOUSE NOT ENGLISH. FUCK ENGLAND.
Well said. If the Tories et al sorted the Corporations at home out we would be sweet.
There needs to be a third way. Stay with reform, Agree the E.U has become one big corporation and the things we initially thought were good about it like workers rights being protected, have been eroded. Looks like TTIP will be scrapped though. Personally, I’m ok with being controlled by Germany. They know a lot more than Britain about how to run things. One question though Tony, do you live in London? If so, I can see your point. For those outside it makes no sense to leave.
The world had become one big corporation.
Our club is an American franchise for fucks sake.
That’s exactly why we need to stay in the EU. The UK is fuck all on the global stage. Wholly dependant on imports.
We even have to go begging to the French and Chinese to get a power station built.
I’m fully aware of that and agree. Doesn’t mean we have to accept it wholeheartedly. I want us to stay but whether you think it or not Britain is important for the E.U. Now would be a good time to get some concessions that are more meaningful than the ones Cameron got a few months ago.
What about all the brits working across Europe and throughout the world. Your argument has no weight. and… WHY HERE?
Why here? Because it’s the only thing about Europe supporters of this club have a right to talk about because we were fucking battered in the Europa Final.
There a plenty of Brits working across Europe, there are Australians and Americans too, if we vote out, they won’t have to leave, migrants here, won’t have to leave either!
We need immigration to cope with our growing economy, certainly the service sector.
You make the common mistake of thinking Brexit means no one can work in another country.
It’s ‘uncontrolled’ immigration that is the issue, you have NO option to stem the flow, until we can gear up for the new arrivals, translators in schools, more medical centers, new schools, more affordable housing etc
If, for example, 4 million people wanted to come to the UK this year, they could.
why here? – well Mushroomscouser started it :-) …and I’m still really pissed off about Weds, so looking for a row.
I like what you say here. I don’t want to get drawn I to a political discussion, I’m a historian and from that angle I can appreciate that you are right. Being out of Europe does not mean we will suddenly have no dealings with it and that everyone working abroad will have to immediately come back. From a historical perspective Britain’s most successful period on the world stage began by rejecting utterly a European super state. The Concert of Europe and it’s aftermath saw Britain withdraw from Europe to forge it’s own way. The hundred years that followed saw the country deal with Europe many times successfully, whilst also arbitrating European problems without becoming embroiled in them. Of course Hungary and Germany changed all that but still that hundred years possibly defined British identity as well as any other period.
I’m not saying for a second that this would happen again, moreso, I’m echoing your point that we can, and have existed, perfectly well before 1973? (not sure if it was ’73, haven’t checked). Anyway, sorry to go on, I find these structural changes very interesting, especially as opposed to the usual economic reductionism that is always trotted out in leu of an actual argument. :)
I’m a Liverpool fan from America who selfishly wants the UK to stay in Europe because 1) the UK has a moderating influence on Europe, and 2) a unified, strong Europe has a moderating influence on the US and Russia. A single EU is also a better ally in tracking terrorists.
But I do sympathize with people who are frustrated by the power given by the EU to corporations and the super-rich. Unfortunately, that same situation will exist at a national level, but it probably feels more crippling when it is happening in Brussels, not in London.
I think that illegal immigration will be a problem no matter what bloc a country belongs to or doesn’t belong to. It is a function of war in the Middle East and climate change. Mass migration will only get worse, regardless of the EU, because climate change will cause greater and greater disruption, and people will do anything for food. I think we would do better on these big, trans-border issues if we worked together as blocs, with compatible environmental and refugee laws. But that is too utopian, I fear.
Anyway, it has been a long, dark 48 hours, but I have confidence that Liverpool will become a more consistently good and resilient side as they get more time in practice. A lot of what we are calling a lack of leadership on the pitch is probably more a lack of organization and confidence in where everyone will be at any given moment. That problem can be solved with practice, practice, practice. We will have plenty of time for that this year (sadly). I have loved this European run and will miss the frequency of matches, but I think we will see something special on the weekends and in cup runs. There is a lot to look forward to.
I’m IN as I worry about my job if we’re out.
Can’t remember the name of the fella, but he’s a leading economist for the OUT brigade, even he admitted within the last few weeks that manufacturing will probably be the one area that will suffer more than any other. And then said something like “we’ll just have to focus on other areas of this is the case” or words to that effect. Not good enough for me.
There are many, many wrongs with EU membership, but there are also many benefits. The North West in particular I feel owes a lot of its regeneration to the EU.
It says everything about the team’s performance when our best player was a 35 year old central defender. We can argue about people going missing ( Coutinho, Firmino), being ineffective ( Lallana, Milne, Can) or just rubbish ( Moreno) but it’s indisputable that we lack leaders. In second half we should have just closed it down, we were like a rabbit in the headlights and just froze.
This lack of leadership nend to be addressed
The Swiss / French boarder / travel thing is not by accident, they hate each other, what you think is common sense is to them but they decide against it. That’s said this goes back to UEFA & the stadium choice and the city not being able to cater for a fan influx.
The whole UEFA , ” you never know who will get to the final.” Thing is just ridiculous given that next yr its in a 50k seater stadium and much bigger city, are they expecting that to be half empty?
I’ve calmed down a bit now but as RG said yesterday “who do you go to see about this”
Stiffs and wools came for a party and are pissed off they didn’t get one. Boo hoo I paid full whack for my Taksim Square moment and it didn’t happen. Biggest game of all time was played in Warrington and Justice won
The inquest wasn’t a game mate. Biggest game of the season was on Wednesday. Fans who went are entitled to make their own fun without being drowned out by 80’s pop music. Following football is supposed to be fun. If you don’t like that then stay in your room and keep your bitterness to yourself.
To be fair to the above poster (not withstanding his comments about the inquiry being a ‘game’) I watched Granada news on Tuesday and was cringing like fuck.
I also did this at Wembley for the League Cup final. I don’t know what it was but the amount of people who follow us on the big occasion embarrass me. It’s not a Scouse v Wool thing either, as both sets are involved. Maybe it’s just over excitement but they strike me as the kind of people who hardly go the game but will gladly travel here and there for finals (I know this happens as I’ve known particular people to do this). Factor in ale, tele cameras filming them and the occasion they lose the ability to not act like a fucking whopper and embarrass themselves and the rest of us.
*Also the kind of people who think YNWA starts from “Walk on, walk on”. Almost forgot this, which just reinforces my belief they go to games as and when and will turn in out en masse for a final.
I was left absolutely heartbroken and deflated, feeling like joining my 9 year son in crying and throwing stuff around the room. But gradually, over the course of the last day or so I’ve started to be more pragmatic about it.
The old saying ‘it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all’, well that’s true in this case. At least we’re back in a European final, our second final of the season. Yes we lost, yes it hurts, but wasn’t the journey there the most fun we’ve had in years? Would anyone really swap the nights against Utd, Dortmund and Villareal, for a boring non-event of a season like Arsenal had despite them finishing 2nd? Where’s the fun in their season?
Losing in a final, especially in the manner we did, is in football terms one of the hardest things to take. It hurts big time. But without the massive lows like this, the massive highs don’t feel so high right? If we want those highs, then we have to accept that we take the rough as well.
At the moment we are losing finals far too often, but like any striker going through a drought, at least we’re in the place to be missing the chances.
We’ll come through this, and the next time we win one of these trophies it’s going to feel fucking amazing!
YNWA
Well said, ridiculous article by Ian Doyle yesterday, just knife twisting. Snidely insulting to the fans too, for liking Klopp, as if we’ve all be conned! We’re not idiots, and we can decide for ourselves what to think of the manager.
It sucks that we didn’t win the EL. It sucks that we lost our heads for 45 minutes.
Beyond that, I would rather like to win the Prem next season. I have no idea whether we are now more or less likely to do that than we were on Wednesday morning.
I am however, about more clear that anyone trying to make judgements about our “first team” based on where the under 21s finished in the league is really really really fucking stupid. Can we set Helen onto them?
Win the prem next season?
Seriously?
I would rather like to be an astronaut flying around in spaceships fucking loads of fit berds in between missions.
We can’t even beat relegation fodder
You should get out more.
:)
Still devvoed. Completely lost our bottle send half. The players went from believers into doubters at the drop of a hat. After the run we had to the final as well… Urgh.
Tell you what though, the opposition we had in front of us don’t half know their way around a Europa league final. Better team won as it said in the echo. Could’ve done with the first half momentum turning into another goal like.
Also as an aside I love dan Sturridge. Don’t think it can mentioned enough tbh.
Second half obviously. I wanted to send that second half straight into a skip.
This was a really good article. I wish I knew more about what exactly was going on in Liverpool players’ heads at 46 minutes. Certainly, giving up a goal just 17 seconds into the second half was a sharp smack up the side of the head. But there was time for a collective few words about staying organized and a sober walk back to the center circle. Being level is not the end of the world. It’s just nil-nil again with a whole half to organize a win–no tragedy. Why did it seem so to our side? Sevilla came out hard in the second half, but our guys have dealt with that before–worse, even, with Dortmund. I just wonder why this time was different and the team lost it mentally. Just saying they don’t have leaders or they are a bunch of bottlers doesn’t explain what exactly happened during this 45 minutes. Maybe it’s just that Sevilla targeted Moreno so hard, attacking down their right, or the cross-field passes from Sevilla’s right to their left. I don’t know. Somehow, they made our side feel excessively vulnerable, psychologically as well as tactically.
One thing that’s struck me since Wednesday is how Klopp appears to have taken the defeat personally. By that I mean, it’s as if he feels he’s let us fans down.
That’s just the impression I get and I’ll be honest, I feel sorry for him more than I do for us as fans. We’ll get over it a lot quicker.
He was right to insinuate our fans our pretty shit too. We all go on about the lack of leaders in the side but the crowd lacked leaders on Wednesday. I’m not taking any responsibility for that whatsoever but when they equalised we all crumbled. The players knew we’d stopped singing because we didn’t believe and I’m sure it rubbed off on them. They probably had similar thoughts. Had we shown massive defiance and got behind them then they may have believed more. The only person who actually clocked onto this at the time was Klopp. When he turned to the fans after the Sevilla 2nd I sensed he was screaming “are you all fucking mental, can’t you see the effect your giving up is having”. He was right too.
I never criticise our crowd but we did seem quiet on wednesday night from the TV, don’t know if the microphones were nearer the Sevilla fans? How did it sound in the stadium?
It is up to the players to lift the crowd in my opinion and unfortunately I don’t think we have enough magic at the moment.
Some people are overly positive, some are overly negative. For me the future is bright. People are down about wednesday because despite any other results, we ultimately had a shocking 45 minutes in our biggest game of the season. We have lost 4 finals out of 5 across 3 different managers and various players, it seems to be a bit of a psychological issue right now. Even our 3 most recent wins were on penalties, we haven’t won a final outright since 2003.
Re Jurgen losing 5 finals in a row, this will be used against him until the run ends but 2 of those were to Bayern & 1 was to Manchester City. Sevilla was 60-40 to them due to experience no matter what Jurgen said so you can argue the only outright winnable final was Dortmund losing to Hamburg after Dortmund’s nightmare last season.
Leadership and Midfield remain my concern. In my opinion we haven’t had a proper leader since Carra retired. Stevie wasn’t that type of Captain. Lucas has his moments but he was left out. Some of Sevilla’s goal kicks, throw ins and free kicks were taking up to a minute each time. It’s ugly but it’s game management that we don’t do enough of yet (Didi was a master of this). What irritated me is that we let Sevilla do it to us, very little seemed to be said or done by our players on the pitch to the ref about it, I was going mad.Get a few gnarly bastards in!
Our midfield shape for me is a constant problem. I won’t talk about the keeper or defence as thats all on record but I don’t think our midfield helps the situation at all.
Over to you Herr Klopp.
YNWA
For the record mate, it’s true the Sevilla fans made more noise than us. The lads behind the goal had a go but that was about it.
It’s always an interesting question who’s job is it to get the fans up for it. I’ve got mixed views. I see both sides of the story. On the one hand if Liverpool are in a European final I’d expect the fans to be buoyed no matter what and to an extent a lot were in the first half.
On the other side of the coin when it gets to that stage where it’s really tense it can be hard to sing more than a few chants. Also, like Wednesday when you feel it slipping away like in the second half its hard not to feel thoroughly dejected and to slump into your seat.
I think the fact that we sing YNWA a few minutes from the end before a defeat is evidence we could get behind them if we tried. They’re young kids on the pitch. Some of them are only a few years older than my daughter and she’s very young. It works both ways but Klopp wants us to lose the mentality we showed in the crowd second half and I agree with him.
Fair enough then. I can definitely see both sides too of the coin too. I can’t or won’t criticise our fans as I no longer get to Anfield every game and certainly wasn’t in Basle.
That said, I agree with your Klopp point on the crowd. Hope he enjoys his small break as he’ll be soon putting some massive hours in I’m sure of it
I think back to the Chelsea semi-final last season and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that there is a core of talented players that has been around even in those dark days. And has those young players have developed and we’ve made to some key additions, there is all the makings of very strong side. A few key additions and a bit more time on the training pitch to develop understandings and we’ve got every right to put ourselves in the conversation.
You do get a different demographic at finals . By virtue of the freebie corporate tickets or those that are priced around the level of a second hand car. The square was ace . The people without tickets in the square were right up for it . Athens might have been a bit dark before the game, but the after party was wonderful . Congas around the square , fans writing and testing new songs. It went on until the early hours. Yes, the manner in which we lost was different, and losing to Milan with the back story of 2005, made the loss easier . After the game this time , it was pissing down, the walk from the stadium was a twat. We got to a bar by the station and despite one rousing chorus of tommy the scouser, everyone was spent . And we all had to get back on them trains that were so good going in daylight and sober, but were now more Heart of Darkness than Heidi .My journey was longer than most , though no more harduous, flying in from Tokyo. I’ve done it for Athens and Basel . Arsenal and other fans have said i must be gutted about the expense and effort after a loss. I never fly for the 90minites and truth be told, both times I’ve been that blooted I’ve not really known exactly what’s happening on the pitch . I fly to be part of something special. These other fans have very different experiences of European finals . I’ll take this every time . The odyssian tales, the banners ,oh the banners , bob Marley, there she goes . Seville were louder , just like Dortmund were louder, with their orchestrated songs and actions . I’ll take the feral screams and chants any day …it just seems it’s not that feral come final day
Eh listen! The Holy Trinity is a 3 way deal. We all feed off and lift each other when necessary. At 1-1 initially it’s the Teams responsibility to lift the crowd by looking interested and showing the determination resolve and enthusiasm to compete, then the crowd kicks in. I watched it on TV so was it just me or did the crowd sing immediately after they scored?? I can’t take the pain of re watching it just yet, maybe tomorrow
Just before he was subbed lallana started sobbing with his head literally down buried and sunken into Klopp’s chest. A shamefully embarrassing moment which showed him for what he is. Yes I’m afraid this squad does indeed lack character within certain positions at critical moments within a game which results in too many capitulations during the season for it to be ignored. Klopp will know it already and will act accordingly. Keep The Faith.
was impressed with the EU Remain comments responding to this article — whether u r for staying or leaving, Liverpool is a port for trade and communication — we talk to the world including Europe and we are inclusive, and i think we get on better with the EU and the World, than we do with the London establishment. I am deeply concerned that many of that establishment and landed gentry wants out so that they can regain even more control and power, and i suspect their reasons are not entirely altruistic, there being many vested interests. As a former Bishop of Liverpool once said, it is important to vote for those that will help others and to vote for policies that help others maybe even at one’s own expense, and while there is much wrong with the EEC and i would dearly love to see a better British Fishing deal, i know that our beaches and water are cleaner and better off because of that said EEC, that our politicians dragged their heels for years on this and that any future non EEC bound Conservative government would probably sell off the sand from our shores if they could make a buck from it..