by KennyisGod....still » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:17 pm
I put the blame on our commercial naivety. Take even the small things, like the club shop..... For how long was it just a small venture, not attempting to cash in on the glory the team had achieved? I know Liverpool has never been a 'rich' city financially (no offence to any scousers, but by rich I'm talkin london chelsea type money) but its always had followers with cash to spend. The board never took to being a business, always preferring the Anfield way, the Liverpool way.
Unfortunately it's bitin our a$Ses off rite now. The stadium was needed financially 5 years ago or more, not in a few years time. We could sell 60,000+ seats a week no bother, but have to rely on 44,000. The shirt deals..... never got what we deserve I feel when you bear in mind our heritage. Were we able to sell more shirts abroad, that would'v changed considerably, as would the money.
Look at branded goods on sale now......walk into cardshops and you're confronted by rows of Manx or Chelski stuff.......why not Liverpool? Cuz it aint the Liverpool way. All this has to stop, we have to make what we can financially, not relyin on the ticket sales and the club shop.
We lost our way when Kenny went. I know it's a sensitive subject, but Hillsborough hit the club harder than some would believe in my opinion. The fact so many players and officials were personally involved showed they cared for fans and club, but then who did they turn to? Players and management aint trained grief councillors and despite best efforts I don't believe it's an easily self-taught discipline.
Successive managers tried to put their mark on the club, Souness tryin to do what he did at Rangers, but learnin that it wernt quite so easy down here. Don't get me wrong, I love Souness, and spent all last month hopin he'd get the Jock job, but this club wernt for his style of management. Not that quick anyhow. Roy Evans tried, and from what I see was as near to being a Paisley type character as could be. He had bad luck, was then (for me anyhow) dis-respected by the club bringin him a helpin hand and makin a two-man management team. Destroyed a fine man, turned him into a shell. He was never too keen on the cameras and Houllier comin in thrust him further into the spot light.
Houlliers reign wasn't bad really. With all that had gone on before, the team wasn't in good shape despite Roys attempts to bolster it. GH came in and will always hold sway as he put us before his own health, had that amazin season where if it was a cup it was ours but then lost the plot. And now we know where we are currently.
Not one single reason for it, lotsa little ones addin up. But look at one major difference where the scum are concerned....... since Kenny left us, they've had - I think I'm rite, but will stand corrected if needs be - one manager. 1. So maybe theres another little reason to throw in..... consistency. Not rafa's favourite word I admit, but its up there as a reason for why they're where they are now.
We need to get to that point. We need to bite that bullet and accept we're not the Liverpool of old. Jesus I know we say it week in week out, but how many of us accept it? How many of us go into every game expectin us to win, regardless of opposition? I know I did satdy. That needs to come to a big stop, the new owners, once these parasites do the decent thing, need to lay down a marker, a plan along with their management team, whoever it is,and STICK to it. Make it realistic, not an impossible dream, and STICK with it.
Then maybe we can drag this club from its illustrious silver laden past, into a future so bright it'll make the trophy room look dull.
Stu Averill, a wannabe Scouse/Scot. I remember the good times & have faith in them comin back
Beside the Hillsborough Flame, I heard a Koppite mournin, "Why so many taken on that day?" Justice has never been done. But their memory we'll carry on. There'll be Glory Round The Fields Of Anfield Road