The reason I followed Liverpool was tradition. At first it was my own family tradition, the club was passed down to me by one of the only two staunch football fans in my family, my Gran. To see what Liverpool meant to her rubbed off on me and she taught me all she knew. It wasn't long till I was speaking to people I probably would have had nothing else in common with other than football and gathering more and more knowledge about the club, its players but most importantly its beliefs. This didn't just stop at the club though. I used to love hearing about what Liverpool was like in the old days and how it had changed and invariably sooner or later the football club would be linked in with this change.
Liverpool is not just a football club to me, it is part of my life, my heritage and my city and as such I want the right man to lead us and represent us. We have had great leaders over the years both on and off the pitch and I won't name names as we all know who they are. Part of what made these men great was their personality but also the fact we could relate to them, they were genuine people.
Players and managers alike were embraced by the fans and in turn they embraced the fans, the city and the club. I have always said that what makes Liverpool so special is despite the fact we can go and mix it with Europe's elite we have never lost the kind of closeness between fans and players that you really only get from smaller clubs, in this respect Celtic are very similar.
When I see a player like Fernando Torres who if he is not the best (and he is) is close to the best striker in the world and I hear him speaking about this club with such understanding and pride that you could honestly believe it was someone who grew up in Liverpool supporting the club it all but brings a tear to my eye. It is all well and good Carragher doing so and we love him for it but for someone from outside to come into the club and understand so completely who and what we are, well that gives me hope yet!
If you read my posts about Benitez it might seem that I show him a lot of disrespect and I probably do but that is just an overspill of passion on my part of how I believe he could get it right but he doesn't. I am desperate for the man to succede because like our players he understands what this club means to the fans, he does seem to be a very genuine likable man and he has deserved everything he has ever earned in the game.
Before he came to Liverpool I used to wax lyrical about him as those of you who were around will know. Valencia were the side I most wanted Liverpool to play like and when they overhauled Real Madrid I was as happy as anyone outside of Spain both for Rafa and his side.
Anyway all of that aside he is certainly a man who we can take pride in having as our manager for his commitment to both the game and the club.
I don't care who owns us, I want to know as little about them as possible and I want to speak about them even less. I don't remember saying much about David Moores untill he was about to leave. All I really want is someone who allows the club to move forward at an acceptable rate.
Rick Parry once said that "Liverpool exist to win trophies", I used to agree up until recently when I actually sat down and really thought about it.
Liverpool's briefing may well to be to win trophies and of course we were always brought up on the idea that 1st is everything but I think if you really want to know why Liverpool exists you only have to look at Bill Shankly's epitath.
"He made the people happy"
Liverpool exists to make the PEOPLE happy.
My Liverpool always made me happy and proud. So I am forced to conclude, this is no longer my Liverpool nor by the same token is it our Liverpool, we now share it with those who do not deserve it and have no right to be here and have proven that. One day it will be our Liverpool again but until that day I walk on, with hope in my heart.
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