The Light From an Oncoming Train
The light at the end of the tunnel is the light from an oncoming train.
(Nigel Blackwell)
I've been a Blue for over 40 years now. My first match against Notts Forest in August '77, a 3-1 home defeat. I never quite forgot the utter despair and gut-wrenching nature of that, which made the joy of the mid 80s all the sweeter.
I've not lived in Liverpool since the mid 90s and as time has gone one I have watched the infrequent high's and more frequent lows from down south. I injected the Blue pathogen into both of my kids and they are true Blues, despite the general albatross around the neck that that has been since 2000. I took my daughter to a couple of games, notably a 4-1 win against Fulham in the Moyes era which was Chris Coleman's last game in charge. She's a passive Blue university student now.
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My son is a different matter. He has watched the anger, swearing, rage and joy etched onto his arl fella's face when watching the game over the last few years; slowly coming to the conclusion that he fancied a bit of that for himself. So earlier on this season, when I was offered two tickets to watch the Blues at the Amex, we headed down for his first match.
I don't need to reopen the festering Lee Mason VAR-based agony of that pissing-down afternoon in Sussex by the sea. Needless to say, we were cheated out of it. When Digne put the own goal in during injury time I watched the machinations of my son's face, experiencing something that is a rite of passage for any Blue. Best described by Bart Simpson in the episode where Lisa tells Ralph she doesn't want him as her Valentine. Bart slow-mo's the incident to the point where you can see Little Ralphy's heart break. Fuck it, never mind. Onwards and upwards.
So, I thought we will put this one to bed and go to the return at Goodison. Got tickets sorted, the excitement begins to build and he's probably humming himself to sleep with Z-Cars this week. And then we have the most embarrassing pile of crap performance that I have witnessed in many a year against the Liverpool Youth team. All of a sudden, what is his big day out at the Grand Old Lady gonna be like? Toxic? Too right.
Needless to say, a high level of reaction is required against what I consider to be a bang average Brighton team. Delph should not play for the team again. If the millions he earns isn't enough to thicken his skin against rightly given dog's abuse on social media, he should leave now.
It'll be an interesting time for his first visit. After the euphoria of Duncan's time and Carlo's appointment has last Sunday broken the relationship between this group of lazy, overpaid wasters and the fans? I've heard talk of white hankies and silence as they run out. You pays your money, and all that.
I hope the management have the balls to listen to the fans, realize who the main shirkers were, and play a side that embodies the values and spirit of the club far better than the second half team at Anfield did. And, most important of all, I hope we stuff them 5-0. NSNO
Reader Comments (17)
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2 Posted 10/01/2020 at 14:24:44
P.s I will be bringing a white Pillowcase, just to make sure they see it. ha ha...
Have a Great Day Roy, regardless.
3 Posted 10/01/2020 at 19:07:58
4 Posted 10/01/2020 at 20:39:45
Plus ca change, of almost everyone ever since.
5 Posted 10/01/2020 at 20:50:09
These players have to realise you cannot con the Goodison crowd. In my experience (dating back to 1970) They'll get behind any blue shirt 👕 that is trying. Those who are not And those who are hiding can expect to be singled out for criticism- and the white hankie treatment.
6 Posted 10/01/2020 at 21:02:34
7 Posted 10/01/2020 at 21:10:56
8 Posted 10/01/2020 at 21:17:35
9 Posted 10/01/2020 at 21:31:54
10 Posted 10/01/2020 at 21:48:03
All in all mid eighties aside, and 1995, that's the spoils of football for EFC.
But hope eternal and tomorrow, let's hope literally out with the old, and in with the. Ew, in terms of Carlos Way.
After last Sunday a good hiding to the Seagulls would be great, but let's get a win, without conceding.
Crowd will be positive and up for it, the players surely will atone for last Sunday.
Spare bench place, now Cenks on loan, is up for grabs, perhaps now Anthony Gordon, will be introduced. Let's see.
11 Posted 10/01/2020 at 22:15:13
Let's think back to the 5-1 Atlanta humiliation. We followed that up by getting stuffed 4-1 by Southampton. Roll on the next home game and Sam Allardyce is announced before the game, a manager most of us do not want. Yet the atmosphere in the stadium was good. It was probably helped by West Ham bringing Davie Moyes to town and our anger was directed towards him. But once the goals started to flow, it dissipated. By the end the atmosphere was superb, and Rhino was sent off in style.
So tomorrow. I expect mild applause, with silence from those angry. And then it'll be up to the players to win the fans on side. All they need to do is to put the effort in. First big chance we get the roar will be back. You can't help it.
As long as we go ahead, it'll all be fine!
12 Posted 10/01/2020 at 22:27:05
I for one have not forgiven the gobshites for last Sunday and I never will. I've stolen the main sail off a sloop and will hoist it up when they come out - the skiving cowardly gits that they are.
13 Posted 11/01/2020 at 08:09:14
I remember a game against Brighton when both teams came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt. It was 2-2 after a few minutes. We were sitting up in the corner of the TB so you couldnt see the scoreboard.
This fella from Brighton came running in late with his lad. He turned around and asked had they missed any decent action. We told him it was two each and he looked at us and sadi "fucking Scousers. You all think your comedians". He wouldnt talk to us after that.
The game went downhill rapidly after that and this poor fucker wouldnt have know until he got back to his car that he hadnt just watched a tedious 0-0 draw.
Dont be late Roy ffs
Dont worry about the atmosphere mate, Being at the old lady in proper kick off mode is a kinda rite of passage... and make sure your treat that lad of yours to a proper Goodison road chippy dinner.
14 Posted 11/01/2020 at 13:20:36
Would I go that way, never in a million years!
15 Posted 11/01/2020 at 21:46:36
16 Posted 11/01/2020 at 21:57:20
17 Posted 11/01/2020 at 22:08:40
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1 Posted 10/01/2020 at 09:28:04
Roy, I can almost guarantee that whatever the reaction is to the team's appearance, once the game starts the crowd will be positive,very positive to try and ensure that a vital victory is ensured. As long as the effort and will to win comes from the team there will no problems with the crowd.
P.S. I'm not bringing a hankie on Saturday.