Let's hear it for the Reds and a Happy New Year
Dec 29 2007
by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
AMIDST the takeovers, the acrimony, the in-fighting, the politics and the speculation which has threatened to turn Liverpool into football's version of Big Brother, it has perhaps been easy to lose track of the fact that 2007 wasn't a bad year for the Reds.
The reasons to be cheerful are aplenty – a second European Cup Final in just three years; the first English club to beat Barcelona in the Nou Camp; Chelsea knocked out at the semi-final stage again; the 4-0 win over Marseille which was simply one of the most complete away performances by an English club in Europe; Besiktas beaten 8-0 at Anfield, a record scoreline in the Champions League – and these were just in Europe.
Throw in the signing of the truly wonderful Fernando Torres, a last minute derby win at Goodison Park, a second successive Youth Cup win and it's clear that the last 12 months have been anything but a failure at Anfield.
At many clubs such a list of successes would be enough for an open top bus parade and there are even some clubs where DVD production lines would have gone into overdrive.
But, and this is a big but, success at Liverpool has always been measured in trophies and, apart from that Youth Cup win, the Reds failed to register in that department.
The biggest prize of all could and, perhaps should, have been won in Athens in May. AC Milan were there for the taking that night and their performances in Serie A so far this season have simply confirmed what everyone at the European Cup Final knew – they are a team in decline, the mercurial Kaka apart.
Liverpool failed to take advantage of Milan's relative weakness and a chance to win a sixth European Cup went begging.
Never mind the seemingly never-ending quest for the league title, if it's regrets you're looking for from 2007 then look no further than the European Cup Final because chances to win football's biggest trophy don't come any bigger.
In the Premiership, the Reds finished last season in third place and are there or thereabouts this time around as well.
Currently, Liverpool look like a third placed team. No better, no worse. They can boast several top class players who can be relied upon to perform week in, week out and, as individuals, they are certainly good enough to challenge for the title.
But a team title challenge is being undermined by a supporting cast which fails to deliver far too often.
Unless and until this situation is rectified, either by means of a vast improvement by those players be devilled by a lack of consistency or quality, or by better players being recruited, then dreams of title number 19 being won at Anfield this season will remain just that.
The challenge at Liverpool is always the same: If you've had a good year make sure the next one is even better.
And that is the challenge which everyone at Anfield has to embrace if 2008 is to result in special moments and great performances producing silverware.
If the 2005 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea was Anfield's greatest night for atmosphere then last weekend's Premiership home game against Portsmouth was surely the worst.
A wall of silence is no way to greet a 4-1 home win and there were times when the players’ shouts could be heard loud and clear because of the lack of noise.
If the Portsmouth game taught us anything it is that the club has to do something to help the fans create an atmosphere otherwise Anfield will soon resound only to the noise of away fans singing "Where's your famous atmosphere?"
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/l...name_page.html
Dec 29 2007
by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
AMIDST the takeovers, the acrimony, the in-fighting, the politics and the speculation which has threatened to turn Liverpool into football's version of Big Brother, it has perhaps been easy to lose track of the fact that 2007 wasn't a bad year for the Reds.
The reasons to be cheerful are aplenty – a second European Cup Final in just three years; the first English club to beat Barcelona in the Nou Camp; Chelsea knocked out at the semi-final stage again; the 4-0 win over Marseille which was simply one of the most complete away performances by an English club in Europe; Besiktas beaten 8-0 at Anfield, a record scoreline in the Champions League – and these were just in Europe.
Throw in the signing of the truly wonderful Fernando Torres, a last minute derby win at Goodison Park, a second successive Youth Cup win and it's clear that the last 12 months have been anything but a failure at Anfield.
At many clubs such a list of successes would be enough for an open top bus parade and there are even some clubs where DVD production lines would have gone into overdrive.
But, and this is a big but, success at Liverpool has always been measured in trophies and, apart from that Youth Cup win, the Reds failed to register in that department.
The biggest prize of all could and, perhaps should, have been won in Athens in May. AC Milan were there for the taking that night and their performances in Serie A so far this season have simply confirmed what everyone at the European Cup Final knew – they are a team in decline, the mercurial Kaka apart.
Liverpool failed to take advantage of Milan's relative weakness and a chance to win a sixth European Cup went begging.
Never mind the seemingly never-ending quest for the league title, if it's regrets you're looking for from 2007 then look no further than the European Cup Final because chances to win football's biggest trophy don't come any bigger.
In the Premiership, the Reds finished last season in third place and are there or thereabouts this time around as well.
Currently, Liverpool look like a third placed team. No better, no worse. They can boast several top class players who can be relied upon to perform week in, week out and, as individuals, they are certainly good enough to challenge for the title.
But a team title challenge is being undermined by a supporting cast which fails to deliver far too often.
Unless and until this situation is rectified, either by means of a vast improvement by those players be devilled by a lack of consistency or quality, or by better players being recruited, then dreams of title number 19 being won at Anfield this season will remain just that.
The challenge at Liverpool is always the same: If you've had a good year make sure the next one is even better.
And that is the challenge which everyone at Anfield has to embrace if 2008 is to result in special moments and great performances producing silverware.
If the 2005 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea was Anfield's greatest night for atmosphere then last weekend's Premiership home game against Portsmouth was surely the worst.
A wall of silence is no way to greet a 4-1 home win and there were times when the players’ shouts could be heard loud and clear because of the lack of noise.
If the Portsmouth game taught us anything it is that the club has to do something to help the fans create an atmosphere otherwise Anfield will soon resound only to the noise of away fans singing "Where's your famous atmosphere?"
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/l...name_page.html
I wonder who he's talking about.
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