Proud of the Kop and the REAL fans

[Andy @ Allerton]

The way that even with defeat being obvious the Kop sang it's heart out (And the same all around the ground) made me feel very proud of Liverpool. The applause for their second goal and the clapping of the Benfica fans also was great.

 

There is NO other club in England - possibly even the world - that would have done that.

 

Brilliant stuff. Almost made up for being knocked out of the competition.

 

 

Saying that - ANYONE who left before the end - including the usual '75 minute' crowd - you are utter w*****s. Never darken the doors of Anfield again - you part time glory hunting a******s.

[Guest ziggystardust]

i dont see what was wrong with leaving early, its peoples money they made the effort to go and shouldnt have to endure any more of that sh!te. i stayed by the way

[Buttles]

Probably mentioned yesterday, but there was a great shot of some of our fans throwing scarfs, giving thumbs up etc. to the Benfica fans, prompting comments from the Sky presenter.

[Bailo]

The way that even with defeat being obvious the Kop sang it's heart out (And the same all around the ground) made me feel very proud of Liverpool. The applause for their second goal and the clapping of the Benfica fans also was great.

 

There is NO other club in England - possibly even the world - that would have done that.

 

Brilliant stuff. Almost made up for being knocked out of the competition.

Saying that - ANYONE who left before the end - including the usual '75 minute' crowd - you are utter w*****s. Never darken the doors of Anfield again - you part time glory hunting a******s.

100% agree. How can you leave a football game? Ever? Just don't get it, especially not last night.

 

Probably mentioned yesterday, but there was a great shot of some of our fans throwing scarfs, giving thumbs up etc. to the Benfica fans, prompting comments from the Sky presenter.

That was class, made me proud.

[Spoone]

yes, made me feel proud that a large portion of the crowd stayed behind and applauded Benefica. It hasn't gone unnoticed that it is completely the opposite reaction to that given by the classless chavs.

[Barnesy_10]

sniipit in the mirror today about our fans applauding the Benfica fans and swapping scarves, and also our fans applauding Arsenals progress to the next round...

saying about it being classy

 

which we are.. what other team would do that?

[Guy_Incognito]

There's an article in the Guardian mentioning it...

 

Toothless attack leaves the Kop grappling with the sound of silence

 

'Most of the time it is footballers' left feet that are described as "educated". Here was a player whose right boot presumably has a Master's degree'

 

Daniel Taylor at Anfield

Thursday March 9, 2006

The Guardian

 

 

A few weeks ago, at Liverpool's AGM, the first proposal from the floor was that the club should "retire" the No12 shirt in honour of the Kop and its reputation as "the team's 12th man". It was a fanciful and, dare one say it, rather cheesy idea but they are entitled to their sentimentality. Liverpool's fans are proud of the noise that Anfield generates on these European nights, and rightly so judging by the racket they kicked up trying to inspire a comeback last night.

 

Article continues

 

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Sometimes, however, there is nothing quite so deafening as the sound of silence. When Simao Sabrosa picked up the ball, 36 minutes into a pulsating evening, the decibel levels inside Anfield were lowered by a hush of trepidation. Simao has the ability to turn the volume up and down wherever he plays and as his shot soared into the top corner it was as if the sound had gone dead. Most of the time it is footballers' left feet that are described as "educated". Here was a player whose right boot presumably has a Masters degree.

In that moment most of the Liverpool fans probably knew the game was up. They could remind themselves of the comeback against Olympiakos last season and how they scored three second-half goals against Milan in the final. One fact they could not get away from, though, was the overwhelming flaw in Rafael Benítez's team: scoring goals.

 

Benítez has placed such emphasis on constructing a watertight defence the suspicion has grown that Liverpool's attack has stagnated as a result. And as chance after chance went begging, the residents of the Kop must have been overcome by an uneasy sense of déjà-vu. The lack of goals is becoming an old story and when the dust settles on a chastening conclusion to Liverpool's defence of the old trophy it will be the focus for their inquest. Legitimate questions will be asked about whether their strikers are equipped to trouble Europe's most accomplished defences and the answer, undeniably, will be no.

 

When the Kop serenades Fernando Morientes these days it feels like a chord of sympathy. The former Real Madrid striker took to the field last night knowing another unproductive evening would take him beyond 1,000 minutes without a goal. Alongside him, Peter Crouch's solitary effort since New Year's Eve meant that Benítez had selected two players with one goal between them in 29 hours of football.

 

Crouch, in fairness, is still contributing heavily to Liverpool's methodical build-up, his confidence bolstered by his goal for England last week, but Morientes crossed the boundary into personal crisis several weeks ago. The peripheral, hesitant player who shuffled through long spells of this match was barely recognisable to the exhilarating centre-forward whose demotion at Madrid led to a wave of mutiny from fans at the Bernabéu.

 

Every so often Morientes would supply a deft little touch here and there to remind us of the player he once was. Yet there were other times when he would go AWOL just as Liverpool were working up a head of steam. What they desperately needed was a striker who could add an incisive edge to all their attacks. Sadly for them, Michael Owen was watching on television. Instead, we had the enduring image of Crouch, clean through on goal, failing to get any lift on his shot as he advanced towards the hopelessly exposed Benfica goalkeeper.

 

Uefa's number-crunchers later handed out statistics showing Liverpool had managed 10 shots inside the opening 25 minutes. They pressed to the end, never giving up, but when the Kop saluted the next goal it was a standing ovation for Fabrizio Miccoli's overhead kick. Another followed for Benfica after the final whistle. Ultimately, Liverpool's 12th man was in better form than any of the front players

 

From here

[Chili Palmer]

Likewise I was very proud of our fans last night - our European crowd is genuinely the best in the world.

 

The Benfica players were astonished by the reception they were getting - I think it was Karagounis who was saying to the rest of them 'look their supporters are clapping us off' and led the other players in applauding back.

 

We need to take that kind of passion into more of our 'run of the mill' Premier League games.

 

Totally agree though that I can't stand people who leave before the end - who are those w@nkers? If any of you are on this forum please feel free to try and explain why it is you do it.

 

Imagine if everyone decided to p1ss off before the final whistle and the stadium was empty at the end, we'd look f*ckin great then wouldn't we...

 

I would never leave before the end of a game because I support the team as much in the last minute as I do in the first, but I also don't care if people leave before the end, maybe they have reasons. I hate this 'real' fans against the rest nonsense that raises its head now and then.

[Guest ziggystardust]

Likewise I was very proud of our fans last night - our European crowd is genuinely the best in the world.

 

The Benfica players were astonished by the reception they were getting - I think it was Karagounis who was saying to the rest of them 'look their supporters are clapping us off' and led the other players in applauding back.

 

We need to take that kind of passion into more of our 'run of the mill' Premier League games.

 

Totally agree though that I can't stand people who leave before the end - who are those w@nkers? If any of you are on this forum please feel free to try and explain why it is you do it.

 

Imagine if everyone decided to p1ss off before the final whistle and the stadium was empty at the end, we'd look f*ckin great then wouldn't we...

 

 

because it was cold wet and we were getting beat. and i missed 5 a side for that sh!te and turned down 150 quid for my ticket oh hindsight. so get off your high horse people pay to go the game and can leave when they want.

Edited March 9, 2006 by ziggystardust

[CarraLegend]

i missed 5 a side for that sh!te.

 

I'm sure the players will all be devastated today that you missed your highly important kickabout. I'm sure they're sorry to have troubled you last night. A refund is apparently being sent by Stevie.

[Guest ziggystardust]

I'm sure the players will all be devastated today that you missed your highly important kickabout. I'm sure they're sorry to have troubled you last night. A refund is apparently being sent by Stevie.

 

 

so i sound be receiving a cheque for 4 quid through the post by monday?

[Guest Si]

I left early, 86 mins gone to be exact.

 

Had to walk home, takes me an hour to do that. Was gutted, cold and up at half 6 the next morning.

 

I sang my heart out from 20 mins before kick off till the minute I left, I dont feel the slightest bit guilty for knocking off early.

[DazzlaJ]

because it was cold wet and we were getting beat. and i missed 5 a side for that sh!te and turned down 150 quid for my ticket oh hindsight. so get off your high horse people pay to go the game and can leave when they want.

 

lol, well sell your f***ing ticket next time.

[smicer07]

"It was cold and wet"?? For f***'s sake, go to the theatre then.

[Leo No.8]

I'm not on my high horse at all - I just don't feel its right to leave early. I've left one game early in 20 years going to the match. I was sat in the Everton end at Goodison Park when Graeme Stuart made it 2-0 to them in injury time in the 90s; the schite fans went mad, and I did one.

 

I've had places to go after the game, long trips home and the weather has been bad. I've seen some shocking performances as well, but at the end of the day, however well the players perform I feel I should be there at the end purely out of respect to them and the club.

 

Sorry if it offends you, but thats the way I feel about it, simple as that.

[Guest Si]

I'm not on my high horse at all - I just don't feel its right to leave early. I've left one game early in 20 years going to the match. I was sat in the Everton end at Goodison Park when Graeme Stuart made it 2-0 to them in injury time in the 90s; the schite fans went mad, and I did one.

 

I've had places to go after the game, long trips home and the weather has been bad. I've seen some shocking performances as well, but at the end of the day, however well the players perform I feel I should be there at the end purely out of respect to them and the club.

 

Sorry if it offends you, but thats the way I feel about it, simple as that.

 

Doesnt offend me really, just dont think fans committment should be questioned bcos they leave a few mins early. They still payed the money, sang the songs, cheered the team on.

[Guest Red Flame]

Doesnt offend me really, just dont think fans committment should be questioned bcos they leave a few mins early. They still payed the money, sang the songs, cheered the team on.

When it suited them

 

I really don't understand people leaving the ground early ..... unless, of course, there was an emergency or mitigating circumstances that require it. That should account for only a handful, I would think. Anymore than 50 people leaving the ground smells of part-time supporters, lack of loyalty and disrespect.

[Leo No.8]

Doesnt offend me really, just dont think fans committment should be questioned bcos they leave a few mins early. They still payed the money, sang the songs, cheered the team on.

 

My reply was directed more at Ziggy to be honest Si, who told me to get off my high horse...

[Guest Si]

When it suited them

 

I really don't understand people leaving the ground early ..... unless, of course, there was an emergency or mitigating circumstances that require it. That should account for only a handful, I would think. Anymore than 50 people leaving the ground smells of part-time supporters, lack of loyalty and disrespect.

 

You need games on the fancard to get tickets for last night, you still had to pay your money, the atmoshpere was incredble, everyone was singing I dont think anyone can be accused of a lack of loyalty.

 

I dont understand this mentality to hammer anyone who doesnt fit in with the "perfect fan" criteria? Bar the result, last night was fantastic and I dont think anyone can be accused of a lack of loyalty

[Eskimo]

Benítez has placed such emphasis on constructing a watertight defence the suspicion has grown that Liverpool's attack has stagnated as a result. And as chance after chance went begging, the residents of the Kop must have been overcome by an uneasy sense of déjà-vu.

From here

 

So our attack has stagnated yet we created chance after chance.....

[Guest Sabre]

What I found a little annoying was that there were people singing YNWA whilst leaving early...

[Woodsyla]

the atmoshpere was incredble, everyone was singing

 

Well you weren't because you were halfway down Breck road ...

 

You can defend it all you like but staying behind to the end and applauding the opposition off after they have ground out a hard fought victory shows class. Singing YNWA at the top of your lungs when the game has gone shows class. Singing Rafa's name when the game has gone shows class, leving early, in my book, doesn't.

[Guest Si]

Well you weren't because you were halfway down Breck road ...

 

You can defend it all you like but staying behind to the end and applauding the opposition off after they have ground out a hard fought victory shows class. Singing YNWA at the top of your lungs when the game has gone shows class. Singing Rafa's name when the game has gone shows class, leving early, in my book, doesn't.

 

I agree, it shows a lot of class. Well done and hats off to those who stayed and did that.

 

But I cant be critical of those who didnt.

[Guest Red Flame]

You need games on the fancard to get tickets for last night, you still had to pay your money, the atmoshpere was incredble, everyone was singing I dont think anyone can be accused of a lack of loyalty.

 

I dont understand this mentality to hammer anyone who doesnt fit in with the "perfect fan" criteria? Bar the result, last night was fantastic and I dont think anyone can be accused of a lack of loyalty

Up to a point you are right. The support was good last night. I am not speaking of last night in particular although it is part of my contention that football fans should stay till the end. I am of the old school. I have supported Liverpool since 1962. My dad brought me up in to believe in some points of protocol that may or may not be part of the "Liverpool Way" (or stereotype, you may want to call it). I think it is important and provides the club with an identity.

 

Such points of protocol include (off the top of my head);

1. singing YNWA like you mean it

2. chant as loud as you can as often as you can

3. applaud the opposition goalie to his position

4. never boo your own team

5. always try to be positive and encourage the side

6. applaud good play from either side

7. appreciate sportsmanship

8. applaud both teams off AT THE END

9. applaud the opposing team especially if they win at Anfield

10. have standards

 

These of course were never written down. Other people may have other points of protocol that they hold dear. They weren't passed on like the Commandments. They were referred to over the years and years of talking about football. It is part of our verbal history. It defines what makes us what we are.

 

I don't want to sound if I've "gone off on one". But I genuinely believe these things are important.

[Guest Kev]

Up to a point you are right. The support was good last night. I am not speaking of last night in particular although it is part of my contention that football fans should stay till the end. I am of the old school. I have supported Liverpool since 1962. My dad brought me up in to believe in some points of protocol that may or may not be part of the "Liverpool Way" (or stereotype, you may want to call it). I think it is important and provides the club with an identity.

 

Such points of protocol include (off the top of my head);

1. singing YNWA like you mean it

2. chant as loud as you can as often as you can

3. applaud the opposition goalie to his position

4. never boo your own team

5. always try to be positive and encourage the side

6. applaud good play from either side

7. appreciate sportsmanship

8. applaud both teams off AT THE END

9. applaud the opposing team especially if they win at Anfield

10. have standards

 

These of course were never written down. Other people may have other points of protocol that they hold dear. They weren't passed on like the Commandments. They were referred to over the years and years of talking about football. It is part of our verbal history. It defines what makes us what we are.

 

I don't want to sound if I've "gone off on one". But I genuinely believe these things are important.

 

:nodsintotalagreement: