I've always stressed how important it is to have class and dignity in defeat. Fergie is now saying that he thought the better team lost. Fact is that we usually play a good game against the Mancs only to be let down by poor finishing and sucker punched by late goals from their defenders i.e. Silvestre, O'Shea & Ferdinand. This time though we got what we deserved. Mancs will point to the fact that they had the better of the 2nd half but it was only because we sat back having taken the lead. The onus was on them to come get a goal so why risk playing to far up the park where our lack of pace at the back could be exposed? WTF did Rooney say again? Fans leaving before the final whistle? It's why I'm so proud of our fans. The same fans that stayed behind to applaud our team as they went up to claim the runnersup medals in the 2007 Champions League Final and more importantly, the same group of fans that applauded AC Milan as they went up to claim their winners medals. That is what you call class!

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Added on March 15, 2009, 9:45 amMate they may stil be no.1 but it doesn't change the fact that they suffered their heaviest defeat at home in just over 15 years. I already said that they will try to play it down by saying that they are still ahead but nonetheless, it was a blow.

Dude, were you the guy with the really cool "hate Man U" jersey?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 15 2009, 09:45 AM

It's as I keep saying, I'm not just a fan of Liverpool, I am a fan of Liverpool fans. We have a lot to live up to.

What Gerrard had to say basically sums up how I feel. After years of anti-Liverpool songs and being abused by their fans, it was a great feeling for Gerrard to have scored @ Old Trafford. I can't remember the Kop singing any anti-Man Utd songs. Mostly, they sing our songs.

He wasn't mocking him mate. If you look at Corez's avatar it does indeed say, "glory hunter".

The Geordies are a pretty loyal and vocal bunch as well.

That thought did cross my mind mate. I mean I wear my kit even a day after a loss but I'm sure people who see me out today will think I'm only wearing my kit because we won. Then again I'm inked which means I don't have a choice actually

Anyway it was great to see such a fantastic turnout @ Breakers last night. I think we managed to get in as many people as we did during the first leg at Anfield. Props to Ryan (our very own Torres) for winning the handphone. How many would have predicted a 4-1 win to us? Well, he did. My freaking throat hurts man...

Anyone who claims we were lucky to have won knowns nothing about football. "Lucky" is when you get battered for 90 mins, only to score a goal of the refs nut in the 91st minute. We have always played rather well against the Mancs only to be sucker punched and last night, we finally got what we deserved. How they conveniently forget the number of times when luck was on their side. Once again though, it defies logic how anyone can claim we were lucky. Sour grapes is what it is.

Aurelio had played for Rafa before during their time together at Valencia and this season, it's becoming obvious why he was signed for Liverpool. His first game was a disaster as he was caught out of position which resulted in us conceding a goal. His defensive game has always been suspect but I have to give him the credit he deserves because he has stepped it up a notch. The departure of John Arne Riise meant that Aurelio looked to have moved up the pecking order. The signing of Andrea Dossena however coupled with the emergence of an improving Emiliano Insua meant that it looked like Aurelio would remain a bit part player, coming on late in the game to slot into the left side of midfield to defend a lead. I honestly thought his days were numbered but like a true winner, he stepped up his game and has been consistent in every game this season thus far. If Rafa didn't sign him for his talent, he must have signed him for his winning mentality. Not blessed with a cannon on his left foot like Riise is, he has a more delicate approach to striking a ball in a manner which allows for a higher probablity of scoring, and also presents forwards with those in-swinging balls that they love to attack. He may not be sending any defenders to the hospital with a concussion anytime soon but as evident at Old Trafford, he can leave goalkeepers rooted to the spot, or have them diving in vain at full stretch as the ball continues to spin beyond their graps. Anyone remember the game against Galatasaray when Crouchie scored an overhead kick? Remember who swung in the first cross that lead to our goal? Remember who kept Arjen Robben in his back pocket so much so that the Dutchman had to be relegated to the bench at the start of the 2nd half? Yup, the answer to those questions is "Fabio Aurelio".

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 16 2009, 09:56 AM

I stole this comment from Teeque's post over at the MyRAWK forum:



A little biased perhaps but if there is one thing I agree with, it's that Liverpool has indeed won my heart. I don't think there is any denying that it was Liverpool indeed which first put British football on the map (well... maybe Celtic did to a lesser extent).

Wish I could dig up the survey I came across two season ago which showed that Liverpool were the fans favourite 2nd team in England, behind West Ham. Younger fans today won't understand why though because we have been a spent force for sometime now, and also because they don't read. How did Shankly's Reds gain the hearts of the people? You just need to look at those heart warming Disney movies where they pit a team of underdogs against a team of arrogant elites i.e. Mighty Ducks. Back then Shankly inherited a side languishing near the bottom of the old 2nd Division, with crumbling facilities and a rugby field like pitch. In just a few short seasons, he laid the foundations for us to go on to become one of the most feared sides in Europe. The only similarities I see between him and Ferguson is that they are both arrogant in their own right. The thing that sets Shankly apart though is that while he was arrogant, he was extremely humurous and witty. Also, he had the people clost to his heart. He was one of them, a blue collared worker from a coal mining town. He invited strangers into his house, stopped for a game of footy with the local kids on the way home for work, bought tickets for fans and after retiring, even bought a ticket like any other fan and stood at the Kop to watch his beloved team play. His only response to this? He felt is was where he belonged. From that day onwards he ensured that Liverpool FC won the hearts of it's fans. Do I really need to cite examples? The half-time @ Istanbul, staying back till the end in Athens, our amazing away support, etc. How many times have you heard the Torres song or YNWA being sung during an away game? He truly did and still does "make the people happy".

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Added on March 16, 2009, 10:18 amNothing wrong with believing mate. It's belief that keeps us going, no? If we have to always be afraid of making statements that may come back to bite us in the ass, why make statements at all? I think it's more important that a person admit it when they get something wrong, rather than not dare to say anything at all

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 16 2009, 10:25 AM

Indeed but you know the part about me saying how fans today don't read because they don't care too much about history? How many even heard about the Munich Air Disaster? How many even know what happened? History is only important if you read about it.

For obvious reasons I'm not going to talk up Man Utd but am going to instead focus on talking us up The impact we've made all around Europe will not be undone quite so easily. Fans from Besiktas, AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Barcelona, Real Madrid just to name a few have come to Anfield and have had a good time, sometimes singing YNWA with our fans. AC Milan once stopped their game at the exact hour of Hillsbrough and sang YNWA in honour of the tragedy. These stories will echo in the halls of eternity. I don't want to be long-winded and go into every story I've come across though. Just wanted to make a point.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 16 2009, 10:32 AM

Yes and Busby used to play for Livepool. I realise his signifance to Man Utd, I just don't think many of your posters do. How many talk about him?



It has everything to do with winning the hearts of fans, Liverpool ones or otherwise. Reporters loved him for it and would frequently show up at his doorstep only for him to invite them in for a chat. The thing you don't seem to understand is that to me, what you do off the pitch is equally if not more imporant in winning the hearts of fans. Stories about the man behind the football player or manager is what gets to me. When we met Phil Neal, he told us stories about how he felt when taking the penalty against Roma and how Bob Paisley, a man who was known to be quiet was actually a humorous fellow himself. He told us stories you cannot read about. Stories involving the players and managers away from football. You are quite right to point out that it may have little to do with the game itself, but if you ask me it has a lot to do with "winning the hearts" of fans.

Celtic were and even then, what does that have to do with our dominance in Europe during the 70's and 80's?

What gate crash incident? Assumption? Go back and ask your fans then.

Which is why I did mention Celtic in my post

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 16 2009, 10:41 AM

The thing is you will never really know how long you'll stay in the heart of supporters (even rival ones if any) until you do go on a barren run. The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" comes to mind. When we say, "we are the best club in England", it doesn't have to be taken literally. It doesn't even have to be true. What's important is that we believe we are whether it be because of tangible stuff like tropies, or intangible ones like the stories we've been telling our fans. When we jumped up and down in Breakers that night, it wasn't because we genuinely think you've lost the title, it's because we believe we now have a chance, however slim. It is this same belief that kept me going through the 90's.

It's weird when people come up to me and ask me why I support Liverpool when we aren't even the best club again now. I kid you not, I get asked this question a lot, probably because I talk about Liverpool all the time. To me, Liverpool is the best club though they may not understand how this is so. I just can't be arsed to explain why because that will take a whole day. I just feel sorry for this people that they have yet to develop the same sort of affinity for their club.

On the issue of fans leaving before the end, I really have nothing to say. It's like you abandoning your mate when he's feeling down. I would like to think it is my responsibility to pick him back up.

Especially by em bluenoses. Was the only time they were close to playing in Europe

Is right and it wasn't even a league game!

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Mar 16 2009, 11:01 AM

Well let's wait and see then.

Wasn't referring to your fans in particular. Was making reference to fans in general. Some left during half-time @ Istanbul but most chose to stay and sung YNWA.

Di Matteo played for Chelsea mate, Dominique Matteo played for us We also had who I consider to be one of our best rightbacks, Rob Jones. Phil Babb may have played for us but in no way will I consider him to be "legendary". David May on the other hand won titles after signing from Blackburn.

Your sarcasm is unjustified as he posted it tongue-in-cheek.

I have to echo on of popsoul's sentiments that if anything, this may serve as motivation to other visiting sides, that Man Utd can be beaten at Old Trafford. Am hoping to have the same impact as our win at Stamford Bridge had.

Very little and I think we all know that. However we have to keep the faith and continue to believe. The lads have to keep pushing with some conviction if we are to stand any chance. We should forget about keeping one eye on the Mancs for now and concentrate on winning all our games regardless of what they do.

Sorry but I need to be an arse again. It's "dissing", as in "don't diss me man!".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissing