Fun and emotion. They are the two words that I think have resonated most with me having seen what Jürgen Klopp has to say about football and how he views it. Two words that I totally believe go hand in hand with following footie.
We're yet to even see his football in his first game, let alone what it looks like in 4-5 months down the line. I'm delighted with how he has acted so far though. Excited, buzzing and overjoyed with the appointment. This is a guy we just weren't supposed to have. And he's in the hot seat, our hot seat. So far he's done everything you could have asked of him and more in terms of representing himself and the way he speaks about moving us forwards. I'm so much looking forward to seeing it in action now and the days can't pass fast enough until Spurs away. He'll need some bedding in and we all know that, but fuck me doesn't it get your heart fluttering again? That's what it's all about.
He's right as well. Football is about fun and emotion. They are the two words I think of when I consider why I put myself through it all. Whether it's Flanagan scoring on the volley at White Hart Lane and going delirious or sitting saddened on the Kop at the end of the games on my seat with my head in my hands in a crowd of 100 as most have filtered out after Forlan scored for Atletico Madrid and they stole Rafa's and our Europa League final off us, or seeing us go out to Benfica and Zenit St Petersburg. Dare I mention Gerrard's slip? Sitting there gutted by it all is part of the dance (to steal a Brendan quote), because those moments of emotion make the eventual fun when it happens all the more satisfying.
Singing You'll Never Walk Alone at games when it really means something as opposed to a celebratory version when we've won a match. Fun and emotion. Emotion comes as well when you win. The pain of missing the first two penalties against Cardiff in the Carling Cup final while watching in the Golden Egg in West Hampstead and having my brother pull me up from the floor to force me to watch the rest of it (like I would have done to him if he had done the same) because I felt we had lost it, to the high of Anthony Gerrard missing and beer flying everywhere and drinking a lot more than is healthy. That was fun right there. Emotional too as we celebrated Stevie lifting the cup. And there are plenty of other moments like that over the years that make it all worthwhile.
That too, my brother. We live a two hour train journey apart now but are brought together by our love of our team and Liverpool matches when we both have tickets, or meeting to watch it in a pub with fellow reds which means catching up with him, down to just messaging each other over the fortunes of the team. Having fun, experiencing emotion together. I'm sure many of you feel the same with friends and relatives when it comes to following the reds.
The car, train and coach journeys all over the country just for the 90 minutes. The flights out to Europe when it's within budget. Begging for away spares, getting them occasionally. Trying to build your cup credits up in the hope that if we make a final we could be there to experience it. The camaraderie of it all, the like minded people we have met that will be friends for life just through supporting this wonderful football club.
It's not just about winning for me, though of course it is excellent when we do. Football is something that correlates with my life. For some that's pathetic, or misguided but it's just how it is for me. It's why I never miss a game online or attending if I can make it/afford it, I'm sure it's the same for most people who spend their time on here. Football runs for 9 and a bit months parallel to our lives (besides shitty international breaks). No matter what's happening with us all, there's always a game on the the horizon. Forget yourself for the 90 minutes and invest yourself in the dizzying emotional rollercoaster that is supporting the reds. Sometimes emotion, sometimes fun and at it's best, both.
I don't expect miracles and Jürgen says himself that he can't work them but what he can do is work hard and have the team working hard too. Teach them what it means to us. It's an eye opener that he spoke eloquently about the players having fun as well and enjoying their football. It also feels like he can sense the disconnect between fans and players and wants at a minimum to correct it. And I believe him when he says he will work on this and that is a fantastic starting point isn't it? And if he can bring the fun back for us, bring the emotion back for us (good as well as bad as nothing is ever perfect) and can take us on an adventure and on an indescribable journey over the coming season and ones in future, then I'm damn well strapped in for it and hope you are as well.
Doubters? Nah, we are believers aren't we? What is the point otherwise?
The reds are coming up the hill boys and you fucking try and stop us. Because if you think you can, we'll bring you down to our level and we'll kill you.
