Hansen on Anfield's atmosphere

[lfc_michael]

Reading his column in today's Telegraph, the main content of which will probably polarise opinions on here and elsewhere, I was struck by a couple of comments he made regarding the atmosphere at Anfield.

However bad their form at Anfield has been, no Liverpool player can blame the crowd. They have received unbelievable backing and patience from their supporters. They have deeper, better and more animated support than when I played.

and

As we saw against Barcelona and Chelsea last year and against Juventus and Chelsea in 2005, there is not a ground in the country that can touch Anfield for passion and atmosphere.

In my 14 years at Liverpool I experienced nothing like the sounds of those nights because the supporters are now so hungry for success.

Does anyone agree with him? I think that, while it's well-known that we generate a fearsome noise on a big European night, it can be and often is a morgue for the majority of Premiership games, hence the formation of RTK.

I've sat through a few matches where the away support have taunted us with, 'Where's your famous atmosphere?', with barely a chance of a witty riposte from the Kop.

Is it really better now than in the 1980s? I don't believe so in general. We might still have what it takes on the big occasion; but are we, as much as the players, motivated more by the glamour ties than the bread and butter? Thoughts?

[Imy]

Reading his column in today's Telegraph, the main content of which will probably polarise opinions on here and elsewhere, I was struck by a couple of comments he made regarding the atmosphere at Anfield.



and



Does anyone agree with him? I think that, while it's well-known that we generate a fearsome noise on a big European night, it can be and often is a morgue for the majority of Premiership games, hence the formation of RTK.

I've sat through a few matches where the away support have taunted us with, 'Where's your famous atmosphere?', with barely a chance of a witty riposte from the Kop.

Is it really better now than in the 1980s? I don't believe so in general. We might still have what it takes on the big occasion; but are we, as much as the players, motivated more by the glamour ties than the bread and butter? Thoughts?

The atmosphere is dead due to the onfield problems, the team has to inspire and currently and for a LONG time they haven't.

[lfc_michael]

I'm talking about the atmosphere in general, over the past 10 or so years, not in recent matches. In fact, against Luton and Havant, it was often better than usual.

[sonsofthedesert]

The atmosphere is dead due to the onfield problems, the team has to inspire and currently and for a LONG time they haven't.

I sit in the KOP and have to agree with this, it is like a morgue for most of the game.

[Skillz]

I sit in the KOP and have to agree with this, it is like a morgue for most of the game.

I'm in Australia and made comments after the 2 booing incidents early in the season, well before the troubles that something has changed this year. IMO the level of expectation had risen above the reality.

BTW I felt bad about posting it at the time and said as much because I fully understand I really have no right to complain about the support at the ground which has been one of my greatest joys supporting LFC.

[PLY]

He's wrong. The crowds were smaller in the 80's but the atmosphere was miles better. However I think we do look back with rose tinted specs where some of the performances are concerned we won a lot of games ibn the last ten minutes of the match back then.

[lfc_michael]

I don't like the booing myself and it is a puzzling phenomenon. You can almost feel the tension building at some matches and sense that booing will ensue. Even in Houllier's darkest days, sitting through some dire performances and results, I honestly don't recall anything like that. Things have changed somehow.

But I wasn't really questioning recent atmospheres. In fact, though some might take issue with me, I do think that the 1892 block at the rear of the Kop has done a credible job of upping the atmosphere to an extent, and some of their singing does ripple out across the stand.

However, I've seen comments like this one before from Alan Hansen. He truly seems to believe that the atmosphere at Anfield in the Premiership era is better than it was in his playing days. While I can believe that the big nights are better than he experienced, I do wonder how many league games he's been to in the last few years, particularly the past 5 or 6 years, if that's his sincere opinion.

[Joe King]

The crowd are anxious due to our inability to kill off games. As a crowd we are very wary we could concede a cheap goal.

[carlton]

On a more pleasant note I was rapt to see on Sky Sport those LFC youngsters applauding Barnesleys effort at the end of the game. Lots of supporters still have class.