At the end of a storm...

I love the analogy AK used in his previous post. The idea of returning to a place of familiarity, regardless of a change in circumstances, is a great framework for beginning this rather downtrodden post. Unlike the other lads who post here, I get the vast majority of my sporting news from across the pond and often take the temperature of average Scousers through a number of the Liverpool F.C. fan sites, my favorite being redandwhitekop.com. This forum has innumerable songs, contributors, and constantly evolving topics. In fact, this site even has a cat who goes by the tag Another Spanish Fan and constantly translates (in full) text from Spanish newspapers regarding the Reds. In short, it is a main cog in the perpetuation of Liverpool F.C. across the globe, with an emphasis on the Scouse contingent. For a while now, I have found this site to be infinitely enjoyable, especially because the fervor and dedication of the supporters appears in nearly every thread (as does the very distinct Scouse humor). Even during runs of poor form (as has happened on and off since the second month of this campaign) and times of crisis (something very familiar this season) the commitment and passion for the club exploded out of every post, until more recently. I’m not insinuating that every Liverpool supporter exhibits some kind of pragmatic zealousness. In fact this season, just the opposite could be said, especially regarding the last two months. The bilious tone of so many posts leads me to believe that even the Scouse supporters have finally been infected by the over-dramatization of the media’s coverage of Liverpool F.C. And who could blame them. So much of the national coverage aims arrows (more like cruise missiles) at the most decorated club in English football and their upper management. I can only assume this stems from the fact that in the last 19 years, other clubs have finally begun to challenge Liverpool’s unquestioned dominance in the English game.

After falling ass-over-teakettle out of the F.A. Cup, Liverpool’s shattered hopes for a domestic title traumatized the Kop end. But this is the beauty of the competition. I was wholly disappointed (as the Bowler can attest) but, again I will restate, THIS IS WHY THE F.A. CUP IS SO GREAT. In the last three rounds, a lower division team has pushed hard against a supposedly superior squad, but only last week did that superior squad buckle under the pressure. A slew of missed chances and bad luck sealed the Reds’ exit from a competition which was their best chance for glory this season. I did not react well, especially in light of some managerial decisions made on the day. But in the end, all three of the previous squads proved just what this competition is all about. When a lower division squad makes it to the fourth and fifth rounds of the F.A. Cup, they play with a passion and commitment that is usually reserved for the finals, because for them, this is the final. Barnsley (now known as David – Slayer of Goliath) proved just that. They will continue to languish in the bottom half of the Championship, but they will play in the sixth round of the F.A. Cup, yet another “final”. However, the sentiment of the redandwhitekop.com contributors manifested itself in contempt for all those involved in the defeat. I can’t say that I blame them, but after letting off some steam by whacking some golf balls against the back of an enclosed dome, I began to think more coherently on the result. It was awful and embarrassing, but certainly not the only one in the history of English football (see Winners outside the Top Flight and Giant-Killers). Also, the nature of cup competitions has always been used by bitters to detract from Liverpool’s recent successes in both domestic and continental tournaments, because these titles require equal parts of good fortune and one-off displays. These same people will use this defeat as “proof” of Liverpool’s ineptitude, which directly contradicts the argument that the Reds only won the F.A. and European (Champions League) Cups because there is a certain amount of luck involved with winning such a tourney.

I will be the first to admit that this manner of thinking is only slightly consoling after such a massive disappointment. But the season continues, and a passionate and whole-hearted display is necessary today against the giants of the Serie A, Internazionale. Similarly confident responses were evident in a few of the posts on the supporters’ sites. For this reason alone, I, like AK, will continue to peruse that familiar and fond place searching for those pockets of comfort in knowledge (though seemingly more so in my circumstance, in his, its more for derision and ridicule). Probably the best post I read called for the Reclaim the Kop crew to bring back a classic song from the old days. Remember the history, create some history, and sing your hearts out for the man who first brought the Redmen to the grandeur of the European stage – Shankly, Shankly, Shankly, Shankly, Shankly, Shankly, Shankly (sung to Amazing Grace). We shall not be moved, regardless of the situation. We are the best supporters in the world and support the best club. Just look at the records, look at the victories and - Walk on, Walk on, With hope, In your heart, and You’ll Never Walk Alone, You’ll Never Walk Alone. LIVERPOOL! LIVERPOOL! LIVERPOOL!