Well, this was an interesting weekend for me.
I didn’t get any sleep on Friday, mainly because me and the missus got into a long talk about things..we’ve been having problems for a while, but I didn’t know they’d gotten so bad..guess I’d blinded myself..
It’s not over yet, but it’s going to take a lot of work to fix this.
Anyway, it wasn’t the ideal start for me..she gave me a lift at 5.30am since my train was at 5.52..i guess I wasn’t thinking too clearly since I managed to board the 5.50 train to Lowestoft by mistake and only realized it once it started moving..luckily I noticed that we’d left early and that it couldn’t have been my train..the conductor told me to get off at Brundell which was 10 minutes away, take the train back to Norwich at 6.37 which would reach at 6.47 and run for the Lime Street Train at 6.52..which luckily I did with minutes to spare..after hearing my explanation I wasn’t penalized anything..the train was a mess though with delays and stoppages. Though I wasn’t really paying attention to anything. Mind was a million miles away.
I knew this was the last time I’d be going to Liverpool for a long time, if not ever..so I did look at the countryside again around Yorkshire, one last look at the Chesterfield crooked spire and so on..it was a wet cold morning though..
I reached Liverpool at nearly 1 and was starving, so a quick bite at Wetherspoons and I was off..luckily the stadium tour was at 3pm so my delays didn’t screw things up..it had been pretty warm in Norwich, and I refused to bring a thick jacket, I just had a thin sweater (only at the behest of the missus).
I regretted that soon enough, it was quite chilly on Merseyside.
I reached Anfield soon enough and thought I’d better leave my rucksack at the King Harry in case they got anal about it at the stadium, so I left it there and had a quick pint by myself. Chatted a bit with the owner and she showed me a new flag hanging on the wall which someone had done up which I thought was OK.
There were a few people there, in Liverpool tops watching the Manc game..i had just finished my pint when that fucking moron Robinson gave the flimsiest of excuses for a penalty..i decided to leave because Cuntarito’s face made mi sick..i wouldn’t be too upset to find that someone had caved that face of his in but that wasn’t likely to happen..
The tour wasn’t bad, though the highlight was supposedly sitting in the Kop and it was funny since I’d never sat in it when it was empty..the tour guides were ok but my favourite was of course the tunnel and the sign..i did get a few pictures in, but my favourite was doing the Kenny double palm touch of the sign before going out onto the pitch (we couldn’t get onto the grass unfortunately)
To be honest I wouldn’t do it again, going for the game is much more important and far better for you than going on the tour..but it was an experience which I felt I needed.
The Musuem was much better than the tour, and it was nice to see all the exhibits and pictures and trophies, though everyone made a beeline for the video room, which had the Istanbul win as reported on Sky One..it’s still so hard to imagine how we’d won it when everything was stacked up against us..it truly was a miracle, punctuated by the power of belief...how we’ve missed that over the years with all the bullshit of the Yanks and the politics and debt..what a fucking nightmare that was.
I’d known by this time that the scum had beaten our record, but I was surprised to find that I wasn’t as upset as I thought I’d be..after all that’s happened to us over the past 3-4 years, losing the record wasn’t such a big deal..the pathetic deal the Mancs made about it just made their actions more laughable.
Hopefully they’re not as obsessed about us now as they usually are, but seeing as they’re a bunch of fucking sad morons who think football began in 1992 and can’t name one Scum manager besides Horsefucker to save their lives, I wouldn’t bet on it.I finished the museum and rang Sean up who told me he’d be there in 20 minutes..i headed back to the Harry to wait for Sean and get my bag..there’s just one other guy there having a drink and I acknowledge him with a smile and sit down..i decide to wait before another bevy as I’s starting to feel tired..Sean’s along in a bit and I get us a pint..His face changes when he sees the flag and says to the owner that it has to come down else it would incite some trouble, he explains that it had religious significance and many might cause problems and who needs that shit.I agree obviously. It’s a Liverpool pub and people are there from all over because it’s a Red pub..so he takes it down and puts up another..if anyone has seen how high the King Harry walls are you’d know why it was a job for Super Sean. Though I did help hold the stool.
Edit : um yeah I was holding a stoll perched on the bar so Sean could climb on; I wasn’t holding Sean’s stool .We finish our bevy and head for his place..i’d always assumed his place was nearby, and it wasn’t..sorry to put you out, Sean..if I’d known you were that far off I’d have insisted on staying at the hostel.
I really needed to sit down and rest and Sean was as good as gold, getting us some takeaway and some beers..though I think I was too exhausted to be very good company….though the missus and the kid was grand..if you ever visit make sure you likes Snakes and Ladders..Eventually I cant stay awake and crash…I’m a tually glad Saturday was restful, I’d a lot on my mind.
Next day was much better, Sean fixed a great brekkie and we set off for the King Harry (after insisting I borrow one of his jackets)..then things turned a bit shitty.Sean had been spot on to worry about the flag, the pub was filled with Rangers supporters screaming and shouting at the telly which was split screen with the Rangers and Celtics games, Rangers won of course..but I just felt sick hearing some of these chants and abuse, and many from supporters with Liverpool tops..one of whom was jumping around with that flag draped around him.
The King Harry pub is a Red pub; its not a place for “Liverpool supporters†to chant the name of El Hadji Diouf (probably the most hated cretin to ever wear our shirt) or to sing fucking ‘Campione’ after the title went to Rangers the day AFTER the Scum won the league.
Why don’t they go up to fucking Salford and sing Campione then?
One of them wearing our home top said hello to me in the toilet and said he’d seen me yesterday in the Harry, this was the guy who I’d smiled at and he told me he was from NI.
It’s fine to support another team, but not in a pub 10 minutes from Anfield an hour before our last home game, MY LAST EVER GAME , he then later proceeded to sing ‘ten german bombers’ with his flag draping friend after a while.
FUCK ME what fucking match have you come to watch?..i was really really disgusted for a while.
I remember Dougie staring at them and shaking his head a few times, Sean wasn’t happy either, and he said this was why he didn’t like that flag.
I ignored them once the forum lads showed up; it was great to meet everyone…Del, FFF, Rosco, Fabio – who didn’t say much as he’s already said, Stu (and friends), God23, ILD, some sound lads Sean knew, and of course Dougie and Bobby (my karaoke nemesis)..i think Vladders came later but my memory is a little hazy..i really had a great time chatting to so many on here, most of whom I hadn’t met before..i think I got some rounds in but I cant remember (I know I did get some after the game I think)..i think Pete was supposed to come but im not sure if he did, I know we saw him later though..
Apologies if I’ve mixed things up, im having trouble remembering who arrived before or after the game..we all chat a bit, it was great meeting Ross Dave and Aidan for the first time, thanks again for everything, lads.. I wouldn’t have been able to see so many games if it hadn’t been for so many on here; Sean, Spion Kop. Ross, Dave, Darkstar, The Count, edit : KRUMP!...HOW COULD I FORGET KRUMP…the list is fucking endless….A big thank you to Stu as well..i know some think I need to be less wordy and work on my paragraphs (looks at Del) but ive enjoyed writing these as it reminds me of how lucky ive been, and to appreciate what Im about to lose.
Eventually its time to leave, after a quick slash we’re all off..the Kop was up for it initially but I think the game killed that off..though we were nowhere as bad as Molbystwin has suggested..
It was just a very very frustrating day, and I think anyone would agree that different things might have worked; playing Shelvey from the start perhaps…I thought his introduction made a big impression, but too little too late..Maxi was anonymous (as was Cole later) which is a definite when our midfield was overrun, which it was.
Lucas and Spearing were not good at all, and this just serves to emphasise that a very strong midfield is going to blow right through them.Carroll was not match fit and I think Kenny just played him out of a lack of options.We weren’t performing at all, and worst of all was our passing…which was very poor across the board..Suarez’s tricks didn’t come off, and he had little support to be honest, we really did miss Ming (as Vladders has suggested)
Still, there were some positives…we weren’t playing like soulless morons like we did against Blackpool or Utrecht..and things have improved..I just think we need a bit of time and some more quality in the squad…if we had better penetration in the final third I think we’d have gotten the points.
Spurs wasn’t any great shakes by the way, they just had a little better finishing and Fergie’s Rent Boy on their side, a chant which was lustily sung together with ‘You Manc Bastard’..i doubt he bothered though, he was probably still thinking of the taste of Fergies cock the night before.
I think the fans were disappointed to lose, but it was more of a bad day at the office..there wasn’t any of the gloom that accompanied previous defeats..there was a lot of hunger in the team, just poor movement and little creativity.. if im honest id admit we probably deserved to lose, but there wasn’t a lot in it.
Final whistle goes and we all stay for the lap of honour which was nice, ive never been there for one..the loudest cheers were reserved for Gerrard, Maxi,Suarez…all of whom had their songs song and of course Kenny..you could see he wasn’t happy at the defeat, but cheer up Kenny…theres a long road ahead and we’re on the right path now. Kuyt also got a big cheer when he cam to the Kop End again to say his own personal thanks..Kuyt and Reina used to be 2 of my favourites as I thought they got the club.
Least Dirk still does.
Finally I leave..it’s a bit hard to accept its my last time here, I don’t know if I’ll be back again…but it hasn’t sunk in yet..i think it’ll sink in once ive gone home and realise I don’t have a game waiting for me..but I knew what the deal was and I cant complain now.
I realised the culmination of a dream 10 times over, literally.
It was my dream to see Anfield just once, and yesterday marked my tenth and final game. Ten games, if you’d told me 10 years ago I’d get ten games at Anfield I’d think you were on crack.
So im sad to leave, but happy as well..look at the grass one last time, and make my way down the stairs..i leave the ground and look back one last time, then make my way to the pub..I did stop for a while since the Winkball people wanted to talk to me again, my second interview since the Stoke game…guess im a Star now, I was also slightly more lucid since I wasn’t as drunk as I was then.
