Well what an end to an absolutely mammoth, absolutely SUPERB, week of Liverpool football that was!
Now I've finally had some sleep, I've a few things to get off my chest. Apologies for the extra length today.
Today's/ Yesterday's Admin-
Current Unbeaten Run All Comps-
8 games: W 6 D 2 F 18 A 8 CS: 4
First, the good-
You just run out of superlatives for this gang of Reds. We've just come through two gigantic games of football in a week against the only other side in World football remotely on our level, with a big European game in between, where the quadruple charge could have been well and truly finished across each of the thee competitions left to win. But they've come through, yet again, with flying colours to come out the other side, with a second domestic cup final boxed. A superb point away at City that kept the title race perfectly poised. And through in Europe, to set up a semi final there that will probably lead to a third Cup final out of three competitions entered this year. Absolutely ridiculous the levels they are putting out game after game after game. To what could still be not only the greatest ever season in LFC's storied history. But the greatest by any English club. Ever.
And yesterday, on the pitch, capped off an absolutely superb week with as dominant performance across 90 mins as I think we've had yet against Guardiola's equally awesome outfit. If you just saw the final scoreline, you'd have thought that was another epic contest between us both. But the reality was the furthest thing from that. Yes, switching off momentarily at the beginning and end of the second half made that far closer and a tad nervy than it ever should have been. But lest we forget, this is Manchester City. Like ourselves, they are going to keep fighting to the very last whistle regardless. And, like ourselves, that leads to many late goals for them. When the two clear best in the World go at it, that's just the absolute elite levels they both bring. They'll score goals. We'll score goals. Sometimes we'll edge it. Sometimes they will. And yesterday, when everything was on the line, it was our turn to come out on top again. 10/10 for every last player in Red on that pitch and our magnificent manager and his staff for a ridiculously awesome performance and reaching yet another final. And the same for ourselves off it for the showing the City what a PROPER support, who knows how to conduct themselves, is all about as we embarrassed them as a fanbase on every conceivable level. From filling our allocation (73 thousand was a pitiful attendance for a massive cup semi between us. Down solely to the City no-shows.). The colour and inventiveness of our flags. And the proper, constant support we gave our team without singing absolute ***** about the opposition.
Talking of .....
The bad-
Friday is always the hardest day of the year for me. I can never work on the 15th as my head will invariably be in bits. But I get through, thanks to the support of the best friends anyone could ever wish to have, all fellow survivors, as we support each other through. Remembering those less fortunate to not be here afforded that right. Briefly, it's weird how you won't think about Sheffield for months and then the most innocuous of things triggers a memory and knocks you flat on your backside. HARD. Friday, on top of everything else, was one of those occasions. And it was nothing more than a car radio, on the walk over to the HJC service, that triggered that. The Bangles 'Eternal Flame' was riding high in the charts back in 1989, and was the last song I remember in the ground that day before, well, things we won't talk about here. And hearing Susanna Hoffs mesmerising voice belting that out from a car radio ..... I was gone. So Friday afternoon this year was a particular hard and long one. Side note- Special shout out, as always, to Sheila Coleman for finding the perfect words to encompass everything we stand for as a community in this City, and everything we've fought against the past 33 years. I hold her in as high esteem as her great friend Anne Williams as one of the greatest ladies to ever come from Liverpool. If she was ever inclined to go into that World and run, our community's would be in a lot better state than the Torries have them. Everything Aspinall and Hicks, who I don't won't to get into as they've done absolutely ridiculous in their own right in our fight over the years and who I could never even begin to comprehend there loss, aren't and never were for many survivors. But you'd have to understand the differences between the HJC and the HFSG, and how that split all came about, to understand the reason behind my sentiment there. But this isn't the place.
So this years 15th turned into an even harder one than normal personally. But as always, we got each through.
And then you get to the fans of Manchester City Football Club yesterday.
It was bad enough being called a murderer on Wembley Way. But, and this is no excuse for them, it was mainly groups of younger lads singing that and worse. Who don't have a F clue what they are singing about as they weren't even born at the time of Heysel and Hillsborough. But to then have the silence before the game disrupted to the LEVELS it was, that the ref had to cut it well short ..... That's Chelsea levels of scum. And it was the MAJORITY of them. United, who are and always will be our ONLY rivals from Manchester, whatever these plastic ***** try to manufacture (Lads, you're a rival of 'circumstance.' If you didn't have Arab blood money making you the fantastic team you are, we wouldn't give you a second thought), wouldn't have behaved as despicably as that. Like most clubs now, they'd have been silent and respected it perfectly. As all decent human beings would. But not the inbred mongrel ***** from Stockport and Oldham. Fair F's to City for releasing a statement condemning them almost immediately. And for Guardiola for doubling down on that after. But sincerely, the low life meffs that follow that football club can absolutely go F themselves! Again. that was Chelsea levels of disgrace and on this, of All weekends, left a seriously horrible taste in the mouth. I'd say I'd hope they'd be ashamed in reflection this AM. But I doubt many would. And lest we forget this comes just a week after we received similar, low life attacks about Sheffield from them before, during and after the game at the Council House.
Think about that lads when you want to call us bus wreckers, or murderers, or whatever petty little slur you can throw. For you are NO better than anything you can throw our way after THAT!
Absolute *****!!!!! The lot of them!
And the train back to Leeds was packed out with the ****** who were singing some despicable things about Utd/ Munich, and generally being absolute ******. Thankfully, not having a go at us. Or else things would have turned real ugly, real quick. But just generally disrupting the journey that was full of normal family's returning from whatever they'd be doing in London. Stay classy lads aye?
Which leads to my second bad. The FA can proper do one too. To be getting up for an FA Cup semi at half 4 in the morning, to have a drive over to Leeds, to get a train at just past 7, and to not be getting back in the house until pushing midnight, for your marquee competition's semi-final. After being mad to jump through hoops to find a train to get there..... Yeah, thank you SO much for that! But you are ALL about the fans right? BASTARDS!!!!!
And finally Michael Oliver.
Just what the bleep was he doing yesterday? If anyone can explain to me how both Fabinho and David Silva stayed on the park for their repeated assaults I'd love to know? He started poorly letting horrific challenges go and just got worse all game. There's letting things flow. And there's endangering player safety. Shockingly poor mate. And you're probably the best official there is! Really disappointing to get from you in such a game.
So all in all, after the fume, and no less hurt, of the City ***** antics had passed, yesterday was another belter day out in the glorious sun, following Jurgen historic Reds as they continue to steamroll toward the mythical quadruple. With the battering they gave City absolute perfect Karma for their followers despicable behaviour.
Roll on Tuesday for the other mob from down the East Lancs and going back top of the league.
*Sings 'Jurgen said to me you know
We'll win the FA Cup you know
He said so.
I'm in love with him and I feel fine .....'
Up the Cup King Reds! FTT!!!!! JFT97.