96 Reasons to Remember 15/04

On April 15 1989, Thousands of Liverpool fans travelled to a Sheffield to support their beloved club in an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough.

96 never came home.

They will never be forgotten.

I am not from Liverpool. I have no story to tell. But as a life long Liverpool fan I have 96 reasons to remember that fateful day and at 15:06 on 15th April I will pay my respects to the fans who lost their lives.

You'll Never Walk Alone.

John Alfred Anderson (62) YNWA
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19) YNWA
James Gary Aspinall (18) YNWA
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16) YNWA
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67) YNWA
Simon Bell (17) YNWA
Barry Sidney Bennett (26) YNWA
David John Benson (22) YNWA
David William Birtle (22) YNWA
Tony Bland (22) YNWA
Paul David Brady (21) YNWA
Andrew Mark Brookes (26) YNWA
Carl Brown (18) YNWA
David Steven Brown (25) YNWA
Henry Thomas Burke (47) YNWA
Peter Andrew Burkett (24) YNWA
Paul William Carlile (19) YNWA
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50) YNWA
Gary Christopher Church (19) YNWA
Joseph Clark (29) YNWA
Paul Clark (18) YNWA
Gary Collins (22) YNWA
Stephen Paul Copoc (20) YNWA
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23) YNWA
James Philip Delaney (19) YNWA
Christopher Barry Devonside (18) YNWA
Christopher Edwards (29) YNWA
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34) YNWA
Thomas Steven Fox (21) YNWA
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10) YNWA
Barry Glover (27) YNWA
Ian Thomas Glover (20) YNWA
Derrick George Godwin (24) YNWA
Roy Harry Hamilton (34) YNWA
Philip Hammond (14) YNWA
Eric Hankin (33) YNWA
Gary Harrison (27) YNWA
Stephen Francis Harrison (31) YNWA
Peter Andrew Harrison (15) YNWA
David Hawley (39) YNWA
James Robert Hennessy (29) YNWA
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26) YNWA
Carl Darren Hewitt (17) YNWA
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16) YNWA
Sarah Louise Hicks (19) YNWA
Victoria Jane Hicks (15) YNWA
Gordon Rodney Horn (20) YNWA
Arthur Horrocks (41) YNWA
Thomas Howard (39) YNWA
Thomas Anthony Howard (14) YNWA
Eric George Hughes (42) YNWA
Alan Johnston (29) YNWA
Christine Anne Jones (27) YNWA
Gary Philip Jones (18) YNWA
Richard Jones (25) YNWA
Nicholas Peter Joynes (27) YNWA
Anthony Peter Kelly (29) YNWA
Michael David Kelly (38) YNWA
Carl David Lewis (18) YNWA
David William Mather (19) YNWA
Brian Christopher Mathews (38) YNWA
Francis Joseph McAllister (27) YNWA
John McBrien (18) YNWA
Marion Hazel McCabe (21) YNWA
Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21) YNWA
Peter McDonnell (21) YNWA
Alan McGlone (28) YNWA
Keith McGrath (17) YNWA
Paul Brian Murray (14) YNWA
Lee Nicol (14) YNWA
Stephen Francis O’Neill (17) YNWA
Jonathon Owens (18) YNWA
William Roy Pemberton (23) YNWA
Carl William Rimmer (21) YNWA
David George Rimmer (38) YNWA
Graham John Roberts (24) YNWA
Steven Joseph Robinson (17) YNWA
Henry Charles Rogers (17) YNWA
Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23) YNWA
Inger Shah (38) YNWA
Paula Ann Smith (26) YNWA
Adam Edward Spearritt (14) YNWA
Philip John Steele (15) YNWA
David Leonard Thomas (23) YNWA
Patrik John Thompson (35) YNWA
Peter Reuben Thompson (30) YNWA
Stuart Paul William Thompson (17) YNWA
Peter Francis Tootle (21) YNWA
Christopher James Traynor (26) YNWA
Martin Kevin Traynor (16) YNWA
Kevin Tyrrell (15) YNWA
Colin Wafer (19) YNWA
Ian David Whelan (19) YNWA
Martin Kenneth Wild (29) YNWA
Kevin Daniel Williams (15) YNWA
Graham John Wright (17) YNWA

To this day, justice has never been done. If ever anyone needed reminding of the lies told in a certain tabloid then please click this link: Don't Buy The S*n

There are many stories of what happened on that day but I was touched by this story posted by a fan who was there on that day. I cannot begin to imagine the horror or the fear at the time and pain and heartache that followed, thank you Ian for sharing it. Read it here

R.I.P.

 J.F.T.96.

Y.N.W.A.

Rafa: The Cause of Much Discussion

I prefer to listen to reasoned arguments and debates than to people making simple statements that they cannot back up. This post is not an attempt to change the minds of the anti-Rafa brigade but perhaps to provoke discussion and ask for further thought into why you want him out.

There are many arguments about whether or not Rafa is the right man to lead Liverpool. I feel frustrated by the seemingly blinkered perspective some fans have of the situation. From some sections of the fan base are cries of "Sack the Manager", "Get Rafa Out" and similar calls for Rafa to be axed from the club but, without disagreeing with these calls for now, I would ask, "Why?".

Why do you want Rafa out? Is it because he hasn't won the Champions League since 2005? Is it because he hasn't won the FA Cup since 2006? Is it because he hasn't won the Premier League since... forever? Maybe it is because he hasn't brought in an amazing array of star players? Or perhaps it is a combination or indeed an accumulation of all of the above?

I agree he cannot dine out any more on the amazing night in Istanbul but the fact remains that we got to 2 Champions League Finals under Rafa and last season we came very close to a much coveted Premier League title with what turned out to be our best points tally and a record of only 2 defeats through the entire season. Let's not forget that in several other seasons that points total would have won the title.

You may then argue if that is the best we can do and it wasn't good enough then Rafa should go.

But let me just ask this...

Who do you think could have done better with the squad we had and the circumstances surrounding the clubs ownership?

Who do you think could have done better this season with the financial constraints imposed on the manager and the unrest in the boardroom?

Do you have an answer?

If you do then I'd like to know what makes you think this new person could have done, and is going to do, a better job?

I have had conversations with people in recent weeks about the likes of Mourinho taking over and how he has the required passion and how he could get the best out of the players, but we come back to the question of the boardroom - would HE really want to come to US with our current ownership?

Now let me pose one more question...

When Hicks and Gillett finally step aside (which it seems they will, but this is a completely different conversation) and a transfer fund becomes available (and a proper one this time, not just a few quid plus whatever we get from selling current players) do we still want to get rid of Rafa or should he be given more time under different financial circumstances and ownership to prove he is the right man for the job?

Now to give you my opinion...

I believe that we should back the manager because he is in charge of our team. What is the point of getting on his back and boo-ing or hurling abuse at him during games? Whether you think he is the right man for the job or not, he is the manager and we have to support him whilst he is in charge. After all, what are you going to do the next time his decision pays off - call him a genius or say it was just luck!

If other factors have an impact on the overall performance of the club (and I believe they are) then I don't think it is fair to blame the manager. There are 11 players on that pitch and Rafa is trying to make the best of them that he can. Given a bigger purse he may be able to achieve greater things... just a thought.

Now, I haven't actually given my opinion on whether Rafa should stay or go but if you ask me to stand on one side of the fence it would be this...

I don't believe Rafa should go... yet. I just don't think anyone else in the circumstances the club is in could have done, or could do any better. I am not talking about a 'flash-in-the-pan-for-one-season-and-complete-turn-around-of-fortune' like we see so often when a new manager comes in, I mean consistently delivering the goods over several years.

A new manager gives the club new impetus, new hope, a clean slate etc. and sometimes results start to improve and everyone thinks that was the right thing to do. But after the first season things start to go a bit sideways, perhaps downward and in reality things are not really that much better. Sound familiar?

I honestly believe that given a transfer kitty akin to that of Man City or Chelsea in recent years then we could compete under Rafa. Afterall, he was the one to get us to 2 Champions League Finals in 3 years. He was the one to get us to 2nd in the Premier League with a record points tally. Why can't he be the one to lead us to glory again under new ownership?

Is getting rid of him now really the best way forward? New owners AND new manager - wouldn't we be starting from scratch again? It is going to take several years to get back to where we want to be and we may just have to resign ourselves to that fact.

The building blocks are there we just need to add to it. Take a look at Pepe Reina (some have recently argued as being one of, if not the, best goalkeeper in the Premier League), he has recently signed a 6 year contract. If he thought there was no hope do you think he would have put pen to paper?

I don't have the time to collate statistics and analyse to the 'n'th degree every one of Rafa's decisions and to be fair there are people out there who do this for us. Paul Tomkins, for one, provides reasoned arguments which, for me, is far better reading material than the unsubstantiated 'Rafa Out' argument.

There are many 'what-if's' and 'maybe's' and I don't have the answers, I just think it might be worth giving Rafa a little bit of slack - 'one last chance' if you like!

Still in the Rafa out brigade? That's fine, I said at the start it wasn't an attempt to change your mind but I hope I've encouraged you to think a little deeper.

My first taste of a European Night at Anfield

We have the best fans in the World - FACT!

Liverpool v Benfica: Are we up for this?

Thursday 8th April 2010
Quarter Finals of the UEFA Europa League
Liverpool v Benfica kick off time 20:05

2-1 down from the 1st leg, Liverpool need to score and either keep a clean sheet or win by a 2 goal margin if Benfica score to progress to the semi-finals.

So, the stage is set, another amazing European night at Anfield looms, the 12th man will play their part and be vociferous as ever, the mighty red men will take to the battlefield as they aim to pour cold water on the burning media bias against the club and manager that is raging out of control.

Quite simply, only a win will do or the headlines will be so anti-Rafa, anti-Liverpool they would lead you to believe that Liverpool football club are nowhere near good enough to grace the Blue Square Premier League let alone the top league in club football.

So how to silence the critics? Win, and win big.

This day marks a significant point in my life as tonight will be my first visit to Anfield for a European game.

This season my record at Anfield has been 3 wins and 1 draw so putting the dire 2-2 with Birmingham out of my head for a second I was there to witness 2 magnificent and passionate victories over our nearest and 'dearest' rivals, namely the 2-0 over the scumbags and the 1-0 over the bluenoses. The atmosphere at these games was immense, intense and to say it was like a cauldron would be an understatement. However, the atmosphere of a European night I am told will be something different, and frankly I can't wait - as may be evident in the fact that I am writing this!

I am literally full of expectation, hope, anticipation and excitement.

Much has been said over the past couple of days about Rafa's tactics, team formation, who will be in and who will be on the bench. The fact is, we don't have Ryan Babel following the debacle from last week but in that moment we saw a spark of passion that brought Liverpool fans together to say "Well done Ryan lad" because he showed emotion, passion and camaraderie by sticking up for his team mate after he was blatantly scythed down by Luisao. The rest of the team will do well to take a leaf out of Ryans book tonight.

The message in the dressing room should be;

Pull together as a team, it doesn't matter who is on the pitch, it doesn't matter what the formation will be. All that matters is that we play as a team, we fight as a team and the 12th man will play their part.

The message around the ground should be;

We must roar the team to victory and we will hush the critics, the anti-Rafa and anti-Liverpool media, for tonight will be our night and we will prevail.

I believe...
I hope...
I hope you do too...

Come on Redmen!!

YNWA

4th is still possible

Call me mad and call me deluded but having revisited the run-in I still think it is possible to finish 4th. We are of course heavily reliant on the results in the games of the other teams battling for 4th.

City have to play ManUre, Villa & Spurs at home plus Arsenal away

Spurs have to play Arsenal and Chelsea at home plus ManUre and City away

Villa have tough games against the Bluenoses, Birmingham and City

Of our last 5 games 3 are at home (albeit 1 of them is against Chelsea) and the 2 away games are against Burnley and Hull. Our away form has been terrible this season but surely Burnley and Hull won't stand in our way? (No offence to Burnley and Hull!)

I am a believer in "it ain't over til it's over" and whichever way you look at it, IT AIN'T OVER YET!

Villa and Spurs will give City a good fight, ManUre, Chelsea and Arsenal will no doubt take points off City and Spurs so let's not give up just yet. I agree it's an uphill battle, we've played one game more and are 4 points off 4th but come on look at the run-in. It is still possible.

If City go on to beat ManUre, Arsenal and Spurs and Spurs go on to beat Arsenal, ManUre and Chelsea then fair play to them but as there's currently a 3 way battle for the PL title I very much doubt it.

If in a couple of weeks I am proved wrong then I will concede that 4th has gone but until then I am not giving up hope and the next couple of games are at home which hopefully will do our confidence a power of good.

That said, 4th is not the be all and end all for the club. In fact missing out on 4th may serve as the wake up call that is possibly needed to demonstrate to Hick and Gillett that either they sell the club to someone that IS interested in football or they stand by their words when the first arrived in L4 and invest their own money, not continue to rack up debt!

Whether you believe Rafa should stay or go is not going to change the fact that whoever is in charge of the team next season and beyond needs financial backing. Oh, and a bigger stadium perhaps!

We need to regroup and fight as a team.

Keep the faith.

Come on Redmen!

YNWA