Is there a Fire Drill…???

For my reflection on the Swansea game I’m not going to focus on the football, I said it, KD said it, and everyone on the internet has said it.  Not good enough, the level of desire and want has to be greater.  That is the Swansea match report.

Instead I’m going to use this opportunity to reflect on a growing issue, one that is not helping the team, not helping us as the 12^th man.  The ‘too cool for school’ attitude and the growing problem of the ‘day-tripper’.  Now I use the word day-tripper to describe an attitude.  It’s not an OOT v Scouse issue, in fact some of the worst ‘day-trippers’ are season ticket holders from the Merseyside area, however the majority are single match attendees.   I posted on twitter last Saturday that it doesn’t matter where in the country or world you are from, if you come to Anfield you need to be vocal and contribute, day-trippers aren’t welcome.  Some people got it; others just read half a line and thought I was ‘wool bashing’, which I’m not.  Also I’m not professing to be Liverpool’s Number 1 supporter.

So what is the ‘too cool for school’ fan..? It’s the fan who comes in, bit of a jack the lad, man about town, wears all the latest gear, is well known around the area, well respected.  Normally very knowledgeable about the game, everything a Liverpool fan should be, apart from they’re too cool to be caught singing.  You won’t catch them belting out “Every Other Saturday”, “Fields of Anfield Road”, “Poor Scouser Tommy” or any of the player’s songs.  Why..? I don’t know, but it normally leads to an answer of “behave lad.” when I ask the question.  The response of “behave lad” is only one step below “do you know who I am.?” And the answer to that is, “yes mate I do, you’re the fella who paid £42 for a match ticket to sit there and contribute nothing apart from looking good for the visiting ESPN / Sky cameras”

Who is the “day-tripper” then, well let’s get this one nailed down early.  It’s not a ‘where do you live in relation to the stadium’ issue.  It’s an attitude, and a very bad one.  We all have seen them.  They turn up 2 minutes after kick off, go for a pie and bevy on 41 minutes (to avoid the queue), get back to their seat on 48 minutes, then leave on 86 minutes  grumbling about how bad the team are.   Once again this fan wont sing, generally has the answer “I’ve been coming here XX years, this shower of shite are not worth singing to”.  Bear in mind they’ve been saying this since 1991, probably had an off season in 2005, but straight back on it after that.  That’s your first “day-tripper”, more arsed about being in the pub before kickoff and getting back to the bus stop / boozer / car before the final whistle to avoid queuing again.

Your second “day-tripper” is potentially the worst.  They bring a picnic, know only Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina (some may even be surprised Torres has gone to Chelsea) and YNWA.  This supporter can be found taking pictures of themselves holding up a scarf when the game is in progress, blocking the row with 15 bags from the club shop and then clapping when a goal is scored. They know, no songs, don’t sing and without opening Pandora’s box, they are generally on holiday and just wanted to visit Anfield as they have seen it on TV back home.

Finally we come to the Season Ticket holder who can’t be bothered with the lesser teams, sells their ticket on for all games bar: Man Utd, Everton, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea & Man City.  This practice cannot continue.  See above for where their tickets end up. 

My first game at Anfield was 28 Sep 1983, Liverpool v Odense in the old European Cup.  I can remember like it was yesterday.  My Dad and I were seated in the Main Stand.  The noise was overpowering, I can’t remember this bit but, my Dad said I was terrified when the crowd roared.  All I remember is from that day on my life was never the same again.  Liverpool won 5-0 by the way. 

My dad took me on the old standing Kop for the first time in 1987, Ian Rush’s last game before he went to Juventus.  Now I can remember this even more vividly.  What an atmosphere, the noise, Christ it was deafening.  From that day on, from the moment my Dad knew I ‘got’ it we never went anywhere else until the old Kop was knocked down.

I know we’ll never get those days back, but I also know we CAN get near it.  The Champions League Semi Final v Chelsea in 2005 & 07 at Anfield took me back to that very first game versus Odense.  The Kop was on form, so were the other 3 stands.  On both nights the 12^th man made Chelsea freeze, you could hear the noise 4 MILES AWAY.

Every game should be like this, every game should be treated like a cup final.  We don’t need gimmicks; we don’t need plastic flags, tannoy shouts and Led Zeppelin when we score.  We just need the Liverpool fan to think, remember where they are and act accordingly. 

If the crowd inside the Atatürk responded like the crowd I’ve seen at home this season the Miracle of Istanbul would have never happened.   Visitors to Anfield are right to ask “Where’s your famous atmosphere..?”, “Is this a library..?” and, when so many people leave on 86 minutes: “Is there a Fire Drill..?”

When Liverpool play well, we sing: when we sing Liverpool play well, raise their game. When this happens we win things.

If the circle is broken, ask yourself this.  Is it always up to the players to mend it.  Or, in fact, when you enter those turnstiles do you actually have a job to do, a job as big as any player or manager.  The answer is YES you do.  If you don’t want to do that job, then like any player, maybe it’s time for you to sit on the substitute’s bench and rediscover your passion.