Atmosphere at Anfield (cut from R.Madrid post-match thread)

[Guest]

No sweat. Now let's get back to the important business. Craig just called you a bogey. What do you say to that?

Craig just calls everyone a bogey just because his argument has to be the better one. And I think I'm finished on that front because I'm repeating myself and it won't be long before this discussion makes a full loop. Well, it's already endlessly repetitive, so I'm out of it.

[Kenneth]

Syd will always argue that it's entirely down to the players. His 'behind closed doors' argument is laughable really, as if professional football can be played without some form of advantage for the home team.

But it's not as though there is no support for home games against dross, there is. Our support for league games is no worse than our main rivals, even if it's less than our big CL games. The advantage should still be there, if not as great as a rocking European night. Add to that the advantage of having much better players than the Stoke's of this world, the excuses run out.

Let's ask UEFA / FIFA to put up new rules; let all football matches be played with a 50/50 representation of supporters for both teams, even during home games. Maybe that will spur some supporters, knowing they don't have that safety net in terms of numbers.

Our away support is magnificent week in week out, because they are the hard core ones. I've seen **** teams playing at home being defensive, still we managed to beat them. Maybe there's an urgency in our play away from home, knowing that our supporters are right behind us, explains why we've got a better away record.

It's an indisputable element but we know that Syd wants us to play like Barca and wipe off the floor each time we play. That's maybe why he wants Mourihno in charge?

Childish. Wanting a team pushing at the top of the league to beat Hull, Stoke, West Ham etc at home is not too much to ask.

[Craig_H]

I have to say it does seem that we are out sung week in week out at Anfield, it really takes a lot to get the normal match day fans going who give out about the players not being able to get up for lesser sides yet they cant be arsed to sing 2 verses on Walk on

The people who dont sing the 2nd verse usually dont know about it, happens pretty much all over the ground except on the Kop where it's rare.

As for being out sung at home, that happens to virtually every PL club, home support is always weaker than the veciferous away following.

It also strikes me that the people who have these opinions about home crowds at Anfield are people that havent really got there to see it for themselves.

[Guest]

But it's not as though there is no support for home games against dross, there is. And There's certainly more vocal support for Liverpool than almost any away fans. Our support for league games is no worse than our main rivals, even if it's less than our big CL games. The advantage should still be there, if not as great as a rocking European night. Add to that the advantage of having much better players than the Stoke's of this world, the excuses run out.


Childish. Wanting a team pushing at the top of the league to beat Hull, Stoke, West Ham etc at home is not too much to ask.

I don't think you have much of a point dismissing the advantage our home support gives us, no matter the opposition, but it's your opinion.

It's not a question of having 'better players' because players don't perform to the best of their abilities 100% of the time. If that argument had to hold, there wouldn't have existed any competitive edge to the Premier League, and the outcome would have been known from the off.

[Craig_H]

No it doesn't! Chelsea have the same problems at home; dull atmosphere. It's just that Man.Utd have that little bit more quality upfront and also the consistency to go with it, plus their experience managing these types of games.

Of course the atmosphere plays a part, how can't it be!! If it can play a part in Europe, why can't it be when we play league matches with lower opposition. It's a fact that these type of matches don't excite the fans and makes it harder for the team to motivate themselves.

Nobody said the atmosphere doesnt play a part.

There's no blame on the fans though, if the players play ****. That's the issue you insist on, which i totally disagree with.

The manc example is the key point - their fans are **** but they still win - because they have more quality upfront and consistency plus experience. So as you say yourself, it's down to quality, consistency and experience - not the fans.

[Craig_H]

No, it's not the "crowd's fault"

but the crowd is at fault

So it's not the crowd's fault, but the crowd is at fault?

[Craig_H]

Syd will always argue that it's entirely down to the players.

Nonsense.

It's an indisputable element but we know that Syd wants us to play like Barca and wipe off the floor each time we play. That's maybe why he wants Mourihno in charge?

Nonsense.

[Guest]

The people who dont sing the 2nd verse usually dont know about it, happens pretty much all over the ground except on the Kop where it's rare.

As for being out sung at home, that happens to virtually every PL club, home support is always weaker than the veciferous away following.

It also strikes me that the people who have these opinions about home crowds at Anfield are people that havent really got there to see it for themselves.

Ok Sydney, that will be my last one. Your arguments are as thin as a straw but hey, you'll keep at it true to yourself.

Do you think it's normal to be out sung by 3000 away supporters when we have 42000 of our own!? (It happens at other clubs but we love to say that we're the best supporters).

And lastly, re: your second point concerning me (and others) having never been to Anfield on a match day, this argument is contradicted by your first one. Own goal dude.

[Guest]

Nobody said the atmosphere doesnt play a part.

There's no blame on the fans though, if the players play ****. That's the issue you insist on, which i totally disagree with.

The manc example is the key point - their fans are **** but they still win - because they have more quality upfront and consistency plus experience. So as you say yourself, it's down to quality, consistency and experience - not the fans.

Who said that it's entirely down to the fans!?????

Clutching at 'straws' Sydney, you're disintegrating like never before by your own standards.

[Pacman]

This thread is a ****ing car crash.

DJS no-one has said the fans are to blame but surely even you can see we don't help the situation.

We expect the players to get up for Stoke, Fulham and City at home but we can't be arsed.

Yes the players get paid **** loads of money but by the same token Liverpool is our religion our passion yet we sit on our arses and moan and groan in between bites of our heart burn pies.

[Craig_H]

Ok Sydney, that will be my last one. Your arguments are as thin as a straw but hey, you'll keep at it true to yourself.

Do you think it's normal to be out sung by 3000 away supporters when we have 42000 of our own!? (It happens at other clubs but we love to say that we're the best supporters).

And lastly, re: your second point concerning me (and others) having never been to Anfield on a match day, this argument is contradicted by your first one. Own goal dude.

It happens at every PL ground in the country - so yes, it's normal.

The whole 'best supporters' thing is something every group of fans think themselves as being. Ours included. To be blunt, in this day and age, our fans are mostly very similar to most other sets of fans, barring the odd exception. The halcyon days of yore are long gone, sadly.

Not sure how you concluded that i contradicted myself.

Nobody can dispute that it plays a part, but ultimately, if the players play rubbish, it's pretty much down to them.

[Guest]

This thread is a ****ing car crash.

DJS no-one has said the fans are to blame but surely even you can see we don't help the situation.

We expect the players to get up for Stoke, Fulham and City at home but we can't be arsed.

Yes the players get paid **** loads of money but by the same token Liverpool is our religion our passion yet we sit on our arses and moan and groan in between bites of our heart burn pies.

[Guest]

But you've said it yourself (being one of the many who goes to home matches). Then you argue that I don't have a valid argument because I've never been there.

As for being out sung at home, that happens to virtually every PL club, home support is always weaker than the veciferous away following.

[Kenneth]

I don't think you have much of a point dismissing the advantage our home support gives us, no matter the opposition, but it's your opinion.

I didn't. In fact, quite the opposite. We have enough home support that it should give us as much of an advantage as home support gives our rivals.

It's not a question of having 'better players' because players don't perform to the best of their abilities 100% of the time. If that argument had to hold, there wouldn't have existed any competitive edge to the Premier League, and the outcome would have been known from the off.

Isn't that exactly what people say about the PL. Who couldn't have predicted the top 3 this year at the off. Anyway, why drag out such inane arguments? Rubbish performances at home can be explained because players don't always perform at 100% all the time. If you say so.

I don't accept that the crowd is a rational explanation for our poor home performances. I also don't accept that 'players always have off days' is good enough either.

[Craig_H]

But you've said it yourself (being one of the many who goes to home matches). Then you argue that I don't have a valid argument because I've never been there.

Said what myself?

I never said you dont have a valid argument because you've never been there.