Liverpool FC Forum

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:45 am

Have you ever entered an empty stadium? Try it. Stand in the middle of the field and listen. There is nothing less empty than an empty stadium. There is nothing less mute than stands bereft of people.

At Wembley, shouts from the ‘66 World Cup which England won still resound, and if you listen very closely you can hear groans from 1953 when England fell to the Hungarians. Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium sighs with nostalgia for the glory days of Uruguayan football. Maracana is still crying over Brazil’s 1950 World Cup defeat.

At Bombonera in Buenos Aires, drums boom from half a century ago. From the depths of Azteca Stadium, you can hear the ceremonial chants of the ancient Mexican ball game. The concrete terraces of the Nou Camp in Barcelona speak Catalan, and the stands of San Mames in Bilbao talk in Euskera.

In Milan, the ghost of Giuseppe Meazza scores goals that shake the stadium bearing his name. The final of the ‘74 World Cup, won by Germany, is played day after day and night after night at Munich’s Olympic Stadium.

The stadium of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia has marble and gold boxes and carpeted stands, but it has no memory or much of anything to say.

Eduardo Galeano, Football in Sun and Shadow, 1995

On Monday evening Chelsea will train in an empty stadium. The loudest empty stadium in the world. It’ll whisper to them of Liverpool’s five glorious European Cup victories. Kopites now long departed will take up their specs again and invoke visions in the Chelsea minds of St. Etienne, Inter Milan, Auxerre, Roma, Barcelona, Olympiakos and Juventus.

The stands will echo to songs of triumph and glory, of the dignity of Elisha Scott and Billy Liddell, the heart of Ian St John and Emlyn Hughes, the strength of Tommy Smith and Graeme Souness, and the brilliance of John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish.

And when the Chelsea players look around, nervously, to see where these evocations are coming from they’ll see no one there. They’ll return to their hotel and struggle to sleep as their minds are filled with thoughts of Reds coming up that hill once more, victorious and glorious. They’ll toss and turn to painful memories from two years ago.

And on Tuesday evening it is up to us, today’s fans, to do our footballing ancestors proud at Anfield once again. Tuesday night is a chance for Glory, both on and off the pitch.

Do your best Reds, for there’s nothing more you can do, and Rafa’s team will have the chance to emulate the great teams of yore in Athens.

This can and will be OUR year.

Shamelessly nicked from the Rushian

by **Mikz** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:15 pm

Enjoyed that Leon!
This can be our year!! GO ON YOU REDMEN!!!

Anyone else feeling ...nervous :oops:

by **babu** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:30 pm

brilliant. :nod

by **Dundalk** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:46 pm

Leonmc0708 wrote:Tuesday night is a chance for Glory, both on and off the pitch.

A good read.

Cheers Leon

by **grayghost** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:15 pm

Before i read that i was fine now am shiting myself again

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:28 pm

LOVE IT!

My nerves have been tingling since last Wednesday. Its a big ask to score 2 goals against Chelsea, but when Liverpool are attacking the KOP we all know miracles can and do happen. The 12th man will definately be on its game on Wednesday, lets hope the other 11 are too.

A chelsea "fan" in our office said last Thursday to me.. "you've got no chance, When was the last time Chelsea conceded 2 goals". My reply was "Sat 20th January - Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0".. His face was a picture!

by **Zi-Dan Agger** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:54 pm

And more recently Sat 28th April - Bolton 2 Chelsea 2. If Bolton can score twice at the bridge then we can definately score 2 at Anifield!

by **Forever_Red** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:33 pm

We can score two, if Essiens in defence again we'll be fine!

COME ON THE REDS, ANOTHER GREAT EUROPEAN NIGHT AHEAD!

:cool:

Good read Leon!

by **zarababe** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:00 pm

Inspiring and tingling I BELIEVE !!!

We can do it

by **jonnymac1979** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:25 pm

Mikz wrote:Anyone else feeling ...nervous

Yes. Bricking it.

And the flies in my belly are too after reading that top post.

by **zarababe** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:45 pm

jonnymac1979 wrote:
Mikz wrote:Anyone else feeling ...nervous

Yes. Bricking it.

And the flies in my belly are too after reading that top post.

where did u eat last night

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