Love how all these other clubs say "We don't need to play our best side in this competition, it's shite, we've got bigger fish to fry".
Funny that, we like to win everything at the same time. League Cups in the same years as League titles and European Cups.
But you know, each to their own.
This is the thing that irks me the most about modern football. It's an attitude that is creeping into our fanbase. I attribute it to football media again. It's main reason of course is to big up the *elite* competitions, but all i see it do is (regarding many fans i know), is instil a defeatist attitude, and even cowardice.
Prioritising competitions will get you fucking nowhere. What does it even mean exactly? Sending out some kids in the early rounds? Yeah fair enough, but our kids should be better than Brightons kids, or Exeters kids, so what.
Since getting to the final a few weeks ago, i've been pulling my hair out trying to reason with some of our fanbase when they bring out the old "well it's only the league cup, priority is 4th, need to fight for fourth". Well Jack, they aint gonna give you a commemorative plate for fourth mate.
"But getting a champions league spot, means higher revenue streams, being amongst Europes elite, and attracting big money players". Yes true, fine of course, this point can't be ignored, all the economics make sense. But y'know, fuck that attitude, go ahead and be Tottenham.
Because i was under the impression Liverpool Football Clubs prime motive was to win trophies, lots of them, be it the European Cup or the Wirral dinky doo under sevens after school League. Because being a part of LFC is about the collective determination and arrogant streak that demands us to be the best. Our role as fans is to do our part, sing till your throat is sore, turn up in our thousands, wave our banners and scarves, support our team better than anyone else can.
The players role is to fight for every ball, tackle hard, close down any space, be ruthless with the opposition, encompass a winning mentality. They have to demand that they be the best on the field. Being knocked out of these competitions shouldn't make a Liverpool player think "well it's only the league/FA/UEFA cup". Bollocks to that, he should be thinking "fuck, there is another twatting team better than us, fucking hell that should be us having our day out, running around with a tin pot".
And as we saw (well i didn't i'm only 24) time and time again through the 60s-70s-80s, was this mentality pay for itself. Because if the attitude is there the rewards will come. So we don't get fourth, but grab two cups come May, what does that tell us? Ok not quite there yet for 4th, but we have a winning attitude, we've contributed to the cabinet. Let's go out there next season and do it all again, but aim higher this time.
What will it do for us fans? Get that taste in our mouth, the taste of being at Wembley again, the taste of our endless support leading to success, especially as it has been taken to the brink with off and on field matters over the last 2/3 years. It will make us again feel like winners (especially the younger generations).
Sure maybe we wont get the marquee wonderkid that everyone is salivating over. But maybe we will be attractive to other types of players, players with something to prove, who have the determination to do their very best whatever their ability, real men who engrain themselves in our ethos. Men like Reina, Skirtel, Bellamy, Agger, Lucas, Kuyt. One of my proudest moments in recent years was the 4-4 away against Chelsea when we got knocked out of Europe. 20th Anniversary of Hillsborough was that week, we had it all to do at Stamford Bridge, it was emotional all round. We didn't have enough on the night, but by god i was proud of every single one of them that night. Tried and tried and tried, and pushed and pushed. It was almost a hopeless situation, but they carried on digging. A lot of those players are still with us, a reward of a Trophy can take them to the next level. And hell there is always bargains out there, and players who get missed out by the champions league lot as they fight over Goetze. Modric went to Spurs when they weren't a CL side, Suarez came to us when we weren't a CL side.
Liverpool will be winning trophies again, the drought will be over. This i think can be a huge psychological turning point for the club. We will be winning again, and then what next we wonder? A Shankly attitude running through the squad, King Kenny at the helm, and ready to go at it again next year, while Chelsea or Arsenal qualify for the champions league and do sweet feck all.
Prioritise this, grow a backbone and expect the team to give it their all in EVERY competition, and the rewards will come
Yes, i'm quite excited for the final as you can tell (but please rest Suarez and Gerrard for Arsenal
)
