LMAO. But really, I still miss him. He'll forever be a part of Liverpool legend. At least for me...

sorry to ask noob question

why liverpool not in europa league this season?

isnt they got 6th place in last season..

owh i see...
no wonder...i tot qualifiers comes from 5 6 7 place..
thx btw

Liverpool fans are once again being criticised for living in the past. I disagree. If anything we know about our past which is more than I can say for the majority of Man Utd fans I know. Before I continue, I need to add that I've been a Liverpool fan for 22 years now and I am still guilty of reminiscing. I still talk about Shankly and how he laid the foundations for our great club turning us from 2nd division fodder to European champions. I still support the fight for justice on behalf of the families of the victims of Hillsborough as do former managers like Rafa Benitez who attended the last anniversary at Anfield, shedding a few tears in the process. I continue to read biographies of former legends like Phil Thompson and Tommy Smith. More recently, I still recall every second of Istanbul and how despite being 3-0 down at half-time to the mighty AC Milan, our fans never gave up and instead of sulking, they banded together to give us a haunting rendition of YNWA which sent shivers down the spine of Johan Cruyff and converted Maradona  into a Kopite. Yes, maybe we do live in the past but it's better than not knowing we have a past. How many Man Utd fans today even know about Busby or the Munich Air Disaster where the promising Duncan Edwards was lost?

I do not know where anyone got the idea that Liverpool fans are deluded into thinking we'll win the Premiership this season. Level headed fans like me know that the process will be a slow but steady one and challenging for the Premiership will be a bonus, not an expectation. King Kenny has not even been in charge for a whole season and Man Utd fans criticising his outburst after the Stoke game need to note that unlike a certain red nosed Scot, Kenny didn't pick on a specific referee which is why the FA didn't punish him. Also, he didn't just complain and whine. He spoke to our new owners before meeting with referees chief, Mike Riley to have a discussion over decisions that have gone against us over 4 games, not just one. He has also said in his interview that more dialogues between clubs and referees need to be encouraged. I find it hard for anyone to disagree. There are other positives like our massive new sponsorship deals with Standard Chartered and Warrior Sports, plans for a stadium expansion/relocation, commercial deals especially in Asia, an academy which is finally churning out fine players like Martin Kelly, John Flanagan, Jack Robinson and Jay Spearing, thanks to Rafa Benitez. Also, we're debt free now and although we've been accused of splurging, few note that we've recouped a huge chunk of what we've spent through the sale of players like Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles. Our nett spent this season is abour $30 million which is the amount most Premiership clubs spend. It may not happen in the next couple of seasons but happy days aren't too far away as John Henry and Fenway group have just started building a strong foundation on which we can build success on.

Finally, we may talk about our past but it is this past that defines why we are fans of Liverpool. Some may say that we are deluded for even daring to think that we'll match the mighty Man Utd. Well guess what, our faith is the weapon most feared by our enemies. The lyrics to our anthem, YNWA, tell us to have hope and to walk on in the face of adversity and even though we may be living in the shadow of our more illustrious rivals, it makes my support that much stronger. Man Utd fans sing about glory but what when the period of success stops? Liverpool fans are organised despite the lack of "glory". In Malaysia alone we have splinter groups like MyRAWK (Malaysian Red and White Kopites) based in the Klang Valley, Liverbird Supporters Club Malaysia down south and the official Malaysian branch of the SOS (Spirit of Shankly), not to mention the LSCM. Why did we even bother with all this? Having met fans from these groups I can tell you that it's because of our past and so be it if we are criticised for living in it. Shankly, Paisley, Fagan - these are names that we will continue to talk about. Hillsborough is a plight we'll continue to highlight until the truth is out and justice is done. Istanbul is an occasion we'll continue to mention because it has gone down in history as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. Forgive us for having a meaningful past.

Going through the sports section of the Star each day has proved to be a frustrating experience. Day after day I read mancs having a go at us which I guess should be expected. I held back my urge to respond to the SMS entries until I came across and article today written by a seasoned 37 yr old manc. I sent this in response. Hope it gets published.

All i know is the majority of those fans basically resort to heckling or ridiculing history of other clubs, either saying they have none or they still live in it.

It's normal I guess when they are still up there in the clouds, but woe the time when they come back down to earth, what then? they too will be living in their history of saying that they were winners of "insert your choice here" over how many years, etc etc.

History is what defines us, if they are too shallow to understand that, then too bad. it means their progress is baseless because they have no history worth looking back from 

I embarassed a few manc fans at a drink session the other day becos they was a just a glorified digweed becos i seem to know more of their club than the 3 of them combined. LOL,hence plenty who jumped on the bandwagon over the last 5 years, so you can't blame them for not wanting to know the history of their clubs as they actually don't, not bothered or just there as long as they are winning it. 

Going through the sports section of the Star each day has proved to be a frustrating experience. Day after day I read mancs having a go at us which I guess should be expected. I held back my urge to respond to the SMS entries until I came across and article today written by a seasoned 37 yr old manc. I sent this in response. Hope it gets published.

I read with much amusement your column in The Star (Sept 14). Let me be clear: I have been a Manchester United fan for the past 28 years (I’m 37 now).

I wouldn’t claim to be a hardcore Red Devil fan. For me, those who claim to be hardcore fans simply imply that they are not.

First of all, hats off for taking the defeat on the chin. Unlike the so-called “King” Kenny, you chose to accept the defeat at Stoke gracefully. I’m sure you have lost some fans in the process.

But I also read with much more amusement the jibes aimed squarely at Alex Ferguson. I mean, which Liverpool fan won’t envy the fact that their fiercest rival have been doing so great for the past decade or so.

Especially since they have knocked Liverpool off their perch.

If aiming jibes at Alex will heal the pains and sufferings, by all means, please do so. We’ll be more than happy to help. We know it’s a hard pill to swallow, but true fans will accept it as it is and give their full backing to their beloved team.

In change-management, they are five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Most (if not all) Liverpool fans, unfortunately, are still living in denial. This is evident from reading their fans’ letters, SMS messages, blogs and so much more. They believe that Liverpool are still a powerhouse in the English Premier League.

They believe that Liverpool still belong in the elite group of Champions League. They believe Liverpool will finally win the league “next season”. They believe that beating Manchester United at Anfield is enough to make their season glitter. They just “believe”.

After 20 years, most Liverpool fans are almost a sorry sight. Deeply bruised and living in the past.

Some have accepted the fact and have carried on with their lives. The big majority, however, continue to “believe”.

I doubt this letter will make it to any of The Star’s column or even mentioned by you in your “Sport-Light” column, but I do sincerely wish Liverpool all the best in their ever-lasting quest to win back the coveted league title.

Now, it is time to wake up. It’s just a bad dream. A really, really bad dream.

Mohd Farouk Abu Salihu

Nice write up, Duke. IMHO, living in the past is different from reminiscing/cherishing the past. I agree the history defines what a club could become today, but is that all? Liverpool won 18 championships before the 90’s and where do they go after that. Most people here keep talking about the past like a gazillion of time, until it becoming like a comfort pillow for them when thing not going the way it should. Rafa brought Liverpool to 2nd place, but how did Liverpool fare the season after? There’s nothing wrong reminiscing about the past especially incident like the Hillsborough incident because it’s different. Different because it involved lives, different because it’s a tragedy. Man Utd still mourning the lost the Busby Babes.

When you said you still recall every second of Istanbul, it’s normal. Same goes for me when we played Munich at Nou Camp, but many people here keep talking about it on and on and on as though it just happened yesterday. It was rewinded time after time until it became plain, nothing but just a plain talk. Another example is, when Liverpool beat us 4-1. Everytime when there’s argument, the same point being talk about. 18-5? Every freaking season when Man Utd won the league, the answer to that from Liverpool fan is 18-5? And it stops when we won the 19. Where do you go from there?

Past is something you should not forget, but it is not something that you should cling to. No offence, but I see a lot of forumer here tend to do the former. Good write up, keep it up and I hope my replies do not invite any flames here.

this is the article that Duke replied

Liverpool fans need to stop living on past glories
http://football.thestar.com.my/story.asp?f...football_latest

Hope you took what I wrote in context of the article that was published in the Star. Normeck has posted it up.

I can't speak on behalf of all Liverpool fans but I feel that it is because of our past that certain standards have been set. Expectations from the media at least have always been high. Each season you'd see the media building up our chances and unfairly so. As much as we can except that we are no longer a "top four" side, we can still believe. Just to digress a little, I don't buy that there is a "big four" in England. It is only really the "big two" until either Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City or whoever have their own era of dominance.

If indeed we're using the past as a comfort pillow, is it really all that bad? From our perspective, it keeps us believing and I don't see this as a bad thing. I agree however that using this as an offensive weapon can get tiresome but I use it primarily to remind myself why I support Liverpool and to help share with new fans why they should continue to do so. I've always advocated the importance of reading up about the club and I'm glad that some fans here have done so.

Istanbul has come and gone and yes, it does seem like yesterday to someone like me. It's the first time I've seen Liverpool life the European Cup with my own eyes and I continue to recount each moment, each tale that's told and I do search for it over youtube. I can understand how it seems like plain talk to anyone else as you don't have a sentimental attachment to the occasion but when I recount especially how the fans got behind the team, it gives me strength to face the criticism and stick we get from our rivals. It also fills me with pride and reminds me to get behind the team especially when they are down. We've not won anything in 5 seasons but I really don't feel it. It makes me admire the passion of Liverpool fans even more and inspires me to be a better fan. This is why I talk about Istanbul, not because we won a football game or a shiny silver trophy.

Like you say, the past is something we should never forget but also something we should seek to discover as fans. I look to the past for inspiration and hope as I think some do. Forget the achievements. Reading, knowing and talking about the past reminds us why we support the club and I talk about it all the time in hope that newer fans will be increasingly loyal because of it.
Correct. He's right about one thing though. We do believe.

But some of our fans comments dont help either.''This year the kops will be champion''  etc but i would like to think that the majority of liverpool fans are intelligent and realistic in aiming for top 4 not the league title.As for manchester utd fans post on the star,try to talk some sense and stop embarassing the genuine fans of your club.

Going through the sports section of the Star each day has proved to be a frustrating experience. Day after day I read mancs having a go at us which I guess should be expected. I held back my urge to respond to the SMS entries until I came across and article today written by a seasoned 37 yr old manc. I sent this in response. Hope it gets published.

Nice write up, Duke. IMHO, living in the past is different from reminiscing/cherishing the past. I agree the history defines what a club could become today, but is that all? Liverpool won 18 championships before the 90’s and where do they go after that. Most people here keep talking about the past like a gazillion of time, until it becoming like a comfort pillow for them when thing not going the way it should. Rafa brought Liverpool to 2nd place, but how did Liverpool fare the season after? There’s nothing wrong reminiscing about the past especially incident like the Hillsborough incident because it’s different. Different because it involved lives, different because it’s a tragedy. Man Utd still mourning the lost the Busby Babes.

When you said you still recall every second of Istanbul, it’s normal. Same goes for me when we played Munich at Nou Camp, but many people here keep talking about it on and on and on as though it just happened yesterday. It was rewinded time after time until it became plain, nothing but just a plain talk. Another example is, when Liverpool beat us 4-1. Everytime when there’s argument, the same point being talk about. 18-5? Every freaking season when Man Utd won the league, the answer to that from Liverpool fan is 18-5? And it stops when we won the 19. Where do you go from there?

Past is something you should not forget, but it is not something that you should cling to. No offence, but I see a lot of forumer here tend to do the former. Good write up, keep it up and I hope my replies do not invite any flames here.