I quite like having a quick look at rival's forums before we play them, just to get a glimpse of their thoughts into a game. And wow, I wasn't expecting that much vitriol from Bluemoon regarding us, our success this season seems to have really wound them up. I know you can't really expect everyone on a forum to be rational, especially before a big game like this.
Sure, there are always rival teams that you hate to see doing well, but when they do you have to begrudgingly give them some credit. How United have managed to relentlessly clinch games, and therefore titles under Ferguson is quite amazing, given that their squad always seemed to be declining in quality in recent seasons. Arsenal's style of play under Wenger has always been easy on the eye, and I have no shame in admitting I used to really look forward to watching the likes of Henry and Pires on MOTD. Chelsea and City have had a lot of money pumped into their clubs, sure, but City especially have brought some world class players to the Premiership, whether you agree with how they've done it or not. City play some fantastic attacking football, and we'll do well to hold them off this weekend.
So I find it quite funny to see some numpties get irate at how much fanfare we're getting in the media, how 'deluded' we are, we're nothing without Suarez, too many penalties etc.etc.etc. We are where we are in the league on merit, and the same applies to City. Both teams have played amazing football this season, and are the the two most exciting attacking sides in the league to watch. City are in a great position to win the title, so are we. Whatever the outcome, you have to say fair play to whoever holds their nerve come the final matchday. We're now seeing a lot of opposing fans that are terrified at the prospect of us winning it, with statements such as 'we'll never hear the end of it', 'anybody but the scousers', 'it's only because they're not in Europe'. Well, if we do win it, we have every right to celebrate the achievement. I think that City and Chelsea fans will obviously be miffed because we'd have done it without splashing the cash to the same extent they have, Arsenal fans because only a few months ago they were seen bigger title challengers than us, and United fans, well they're not exactly going to wish us all the best are they?
Sunday will be a fantastic, and emotional occasion. We can all pay our tributes to those who lost their lives at Hillsborough, with the knowledge that justice for those responsible seems to be on its way. And we can get behind Rodgers and our team, who against the odds have given us a real season to remember, and propelled us back into Europe in style. I'm constantly switching between fear, excitement and joy at the prospect of Sunday. I really hope we just play to near our full potential, as I think we'll certainly ruffle the feathers of our detractors. I've not looked forward to a game of football this much for a long time. Come on you beautiful Reds.
