Culture Shift - Am I Getting Old?

[deedodatderdodontdeedo]

First of all let me just say that I really enjoyed the match today. I thought the team showed superb spirit and no shortage of talent coming back from that early blow. Thoroughly enjoyed what went on out on the pitch.

I also thought the crowd were on pretty good form too and got behind the lads and I think there was a collective sense that we could really get something as the game wore on. How right we were.....

Now to the two nobs who were sat next to me.......................

I'm lucky enough to have a season ticket in the Paddock, row D. Great seat with pretty good "neighbours" with whom I can have a good chat. Same people year in year out that I "entertain" with my quips and vast selection of profanities (but only if appropriate and child free within earshot).

The seat next to me and the one in front of that are free so I get lots of different people next to me as the season wears on and I've met some very interesting people who travel from far and wide to come and see the mighty Reds play. People who have ensured that I don't have any knee-jerk anti-out of towner attitude. Today though, I had two lads of indeterminate origin (lets just say middle englanders) who spent the entire 90 mins of the game trying to ruin a great day. They failed of course but now is the time to have a rant.

As I sit near to the press / directors box, we get to see who is in there pretty clearly and over years have sort of got bored of it or take it for granted if you like. Today, all sorts of people were in there including Queiroz, Gary Neville and what looked like a group of Mormon preachers near Gillet. Unfortunately, Nob 1 and Nob 2 took every opportunity before, during and after the game to try and attract "Gary's" attention. For some reason they insisted on calling him by his first name, like they were mates They further attempted to intimidate him by standing on the seats and taking pictures of him on their mobile phones while blocking my view of the match. They also constantly referred to the rather overrated and immobile Bulgarian No.9 for Manure as "Berba" and Ryan Giggs (who I have always rated highly but will dish out stick to during any games against us) as "Giggsy". They sang the wrong words to Fields of Anfield Road and even got parts of YNWA wrong while singing in some other key to the rest of the ground.

I'm not even sure what point I'm trying to make really, but these two kind of epitomised the whole "Sky" culture that gets me down. People who are more interested in the cult of celebrity and doing what they think is trendy rather than really supporting their team. Anyway rant over, there is too much fun to be had tonight celebrating a fantastic, thoroughly deserved and long overdue win over the poorer of the two Manc clubs.

Still wondering who the Mormon preachers were in the directors box but if the Osmonds take us over rather than someone from Dubai, remember where you heard it first.

Oh finally, to Nob 1 and Nob 2 in case you are reading. Its "Heighway on the wing", not "get by way on the wing" or whatever it was you were singing! He was quite a decent winger for us in the seventies, used to wear number 9 don't you know.

All right, I'm getting old. Now where's me Old Spice?

[Shanks]

Now to the two nobs who were sat next to me.......................

I'm lucky enough to have a season ticket in the Paddock, row D. Great seat with pretty good "neighbours" with whom I can have a good chat. Same people year in year out that I "entertain" with my quips and vast selection of profanities (but only if appropriate and child free within earshot).

The seat next to me and the one in front of that are free so I get lots of different people next to me as the season wears on and I've met some very interesting people who travel from far and wide to come and see the mighty Reds play. People who have ensured that I don't have any knee-jerk anti-out of towner attitude. Today though, I had two lads of indeterminate origin (lets just say middle englanders) who spent the entire 90 mins of the game trying to ruin a great day. They failed of course but now is the time to have a rant.

As I sit near to the press / directors box, we get to see who is in there pretty clearly and over years have sort of got bored of it or take it for granted if you like. Today, all sorts of people were in there including Queiroz, Gary Neville and what looked like a group of Mormon preachers near Gillet. Unfortunately, Nob 1 and Nob 2 took every opportunity before, during and after the game to try and attract "Gary's" attention. For some reason they insisted on calling him by his first name, like they were mates They further attempted to intimidate him by standing on the seats and taking pictures of him on their mobile phones while blocking my view of the match. They also constantly referred to the rather overrated and immobile Bulgarian No.9 for Manure as "Berba" and Ryan Giggs (who I have always rated highly but will dish out stick to during any games against us) as "Giggsy". They sang the wrong words to Fields of Anfield Road and even got parts of YNWA wrong while singing in some other key to the rest of the ground.

I'm not even sure what point I'm trying to make really, but these two kind of epitomised the whole "Sky" culture that gets me down. People who are more interested in the cult of celebrity and doing what they think is trendy rather than really supporting their team. Anyway rant over, there is too much fun to be had tonight celebrating a fantastic, thoroughly deserved and long overdue win over the poorer of the two Manc clubs.

Still wondering who the Mormon preachers were in the directors box but if the Osmonds take us over rather than someone from Dubai, remember where you heard it first.

Oh finally, to Nob 1 and Nob 2 in case you are reading. Its "Heighway on the wing", not "get by way on the wing" or whatever it was you were singing! He was quite a decent winger for us in the seventies, used to wear number 9 don't you know.

All right, I'm getting old. Now where's me Old Spice?

I often sit in the paddock mate and note a distinct difference to Premiership v Champs League games.

I can only guess that the lads sat next to you were competition winners or paid a lot of money for their tickets and it's their first game.

I could also have a pop and the regulars in the paddock who never bring any atmosphere to the game and pull out a flask at half time.

They also have a tendency to have a turn around and look which VIP is at the game and get a few cameras out.

You regulars in the paddock need to get some life into you as there will always be someone who will take that ticket

[deedodatderdodontdeedo]

Plenty of life in me at the match 007! Too much according to some (my sister in law, the stewards and the miserable, miserable sod of a copper who patrols our patch

Why do you sit in the Paddock so often if its so ****e?

I'm not going to start generalising about different sections of the ground. Its not like I even chose to sit there. My seat came available and I grabbed it. I'm lucky I guess.

I can put up with sitting next to a couple of Talksport phone-in knobheads occasionally.

Anyone notice how many people clapped half way through YNWA today?

[Cormack74]

You sure you weren't sitting next to 2 manc fans trying to pretend otherwise ?

[Liverpool]

Anyone notice how many people clapped half way through YNWA today?

I was shocked at this and so many of the Kop, The football culture has changed lots of foriegn people in the ground which i have no problem with as long as there behind the reds, 2 asian people behind me today seemed baffled when everyone was singing before the game and didnt react at all when either team scored just sat there.

The fella next to me kept standing up to take pictures of Torres warming up while the match was on blocking my view.

Football has changed for the worse since the commercial sky days, i felt i was watching the electronic boards half the time today.

Maybe im an old fashioned romantic about football being about ordinary people supporting their team with friends follwed by a post match pint. Where the working men can watch and take their kids.

Will the next generation fall in love with game behind the televison screen?

[Parm]

actually there was an interesting bit on the news about Fulham and the prices they charge for their matches and their great attempts to get kids involved in the game. (was bascially if it was not a cat A game like Arsenal last time out was then adult tickes are £25 and kids are about £5-10) they seem to reaching the next gen of kids, which is difficulty enough for them with the attraction of the chavs, aresnal and spurs to compete with.

As for the fans you sat with mate, I feel for you, I can only imagine that they are just glory hunters who just wanted to have a brag with their mates about how they larged it at Anfield, gave stacks to the mancs and had a good old sing along to that "You'll never sit along song"

[Darth Marty]

I think its already happened. The vast majority of people under say 25 will have watched a handful or less matches in real life. Quite sad really, nothing beats the atmosphere of actually being there.

[wiw]

Plenty of life in me at the match 007! Too much according to some (my sister in law, the stewards and the miserable, miserable sod of a copper who patrols our patch

Why do you sit in the Paddock so often if its so ****e?

I'm not going to start generalising about different sections of the ground. Its not like I even chose to sit there. My seat came available and I grabbed it. I'm lucky I guess.

I can put up with sitting next to a couple of Talksport phone-in knobheads occasionally.

Anyone notice how many people clapped half way through YNWA today?

How many seats away from the tunnel are you? We're row E I think, about 5 seats in..we must be near each other

[Certacito]

actually there was an interesting bit on the news about Fulham and the prices they charge for their matches and their great attempts to get kids involved in the game. (was bascially if it was not a cat A game like Arsenal last time out was then adult tickes are £25 and kids are about £5-10) they seem to reaching the next gen of kids, which is difficulty enough for them with the attraction of the chavs, aresnal and spurs to compete with.

As for the fans you sat with mate, I feel for you, I can only imagine that they are just glory hunters who just wanted to have a brag with their mates about how they larged it at Anfield, gave stacks to the mancs and had a good old sing along to that "You'll never sit along song"

It may sound a bit daft but if (and it's a big if) they ever do build a new ground why not have some kind of "boys pen" again? Obviously you couldn't charge a shilling as when I first started but a fiver wouldn't be unreasonable and would ensure our future fan base.

Cue loads of thirty somethings trying to look younger to get into a big match!

[Exiled_red]

I know what you mean, it is typical of like you say the Sky generation, due to my age I'm probably on the edge of it, but I remember before the sky and premier league era. I hate things like that people taking photos of players especially opposition players, I was watching the game on sky (Due to living away and expense I don't get to many games these days), and was embarrassed by a couple of Liverpool fans sat in the Lower Centenary trying to take photos of Evra at a throw in. On my trips to Anfield I notice more and more of these people, I guess the way things are going with the real fans are being priced out.

[Vermilion]

You sure you weren't sitting next to 2 manc fans trying to pretend otherwise ?

My thoughts.

[Exiled_red]

You sure you weren't sitting next to 2 manc fans trying to pretend otherwise ?

My thoughts.

How did they react when we scored and at full time, surely that would give them away

Also I wouldn't be able to do that, for one thing I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut and secondly I'd feel dirty pretending to be one of them (assuming I made it out alive obviously)

[Liverpool]

I guess the way things are going with the real fans are being priced out.

The one thing that saddens me, im lucky to go to game but lots of my mates, have been to the game less than 10 times but talk about Liverpool 24-7.

Would be interesting to see average age of attendance for the last 20 years.

[Shanks]

Why do you sit in the Paddock so often if its so ****e?

I've sat everywhere in Anfield and for me,
I like to watch and analyze, get close to the game and the Paddock on the halfway is the only place to do that.
Not much atmosphere but great view.

The Kop is full of wools and Irish lads who just want a sing song.

The Lower Cent is even worse, for every week knobheads who have nothing to offer but criticism and read a programme the whole game.

[slimbimjim]

If I ever get to Anfield it will be my first time. I wouldn't take photos of the opposition specifically as I only care about Liverpool!