25th May 1977- the footballing world was submerged in fear. That night sent shock waves around the world. Liverpool Football Club had risen. Paisley’s men had won the European Cup. A first for this illustrious club. A club had risen, and was going to takeover the footballing world. Those scenes will always be remembered in the hearts of many.
It was a terrific night, a night that changed the course of England’s most famous football club.
And then the club went into a slumber. A dormant period. But 28 years after the first, on 25th May 2005 a fifth arrived
The glory days were on the horizon, nostalgia kicked in, scenes of Paisley’s men transpired into scenes of Rafa’s men. Liverpool Football Club had risen once again. Like a sleeping giant woken, Liverpool Football Club was back.
7 years to this day we were celebrating our victory of the previous night, a 5th European Cup.
The joy, the happiness, the excitement. It all seemed right, it all seemed perfect. But was this a false dawn? Was this just another case of false hope?
Look where we are now. A third season in a row without the Champions League. an 8th place finish to add to our 7th and 6th place finishes in the previous two seasons. This is not the Liverpool Football Club that rose that night of 1977 in Rome, and this is not the same Liverpool Football Club that returned that night in Istanbul.
We fans need a reality check. We are guilty of living in our past glories. Its one thing to admire the past, its another to live in it. Our past is no more of an excuse for us. This is the reality, this is it. We are not the giants we once were, far from it. We are not the best in England anymore. Not even close. We are once again that club that is looking to rise once more.
A new dawn is upon Liverpool, a new era. Fenway Sports Group are trying to put in a brand new footballing structure into the club. A more modern approach. King Kenny has gone, and Rafael Benitez is not going to return. We are completely leaving behind our past as we look forward. Its a bit sad, we are a club of tradition, values, principles and make no mistake not a single Red around the World will ever forget this but we are on the brink of a new modern era that doesnt involves the same approach that Shankly and Paisley had employed. Thats the harsh reality isnt it? We need modernity to move forward. One might even argue the club’s past has held us back.
When Kenny was removed last week it angered many. One of our own had gone. Calls of “this is not the Liverpool Way” rang out. It was a brave decision from the owners but one which had to be made. Liverpool had to move forward, and leave behind its past. We needed to move forward with a new manager, and as sad as it is, Kenny Dalglish had to be left behind. It was my dream to once again see King Kenny in the Anfield dugout, but some dreams are better left as that- just dreams. Make no mistake, Kenny saved this club, stability returned, a trophy was here and the more than anything else, there was hope. Dalglish made us dream once more. But the price of a poor league campaign was too much in the modern era.
Now as we await the announcement of a new manager, one who will work under a Sporting Director, a new era begins, a new era of hope, excitement and expectation (realistic expectation I hope). Traditionally a manager had full control of LFC, but with this new modern approach, if reports are to be believed the manager wont have full control. Its a bold move, but one that is needed. As stated, the club needs to move forward into a new era.
All we can do as fans is get behind the new man, whoever it is. Get behind the players, get behind the club and have faith in the ownership. It is going to take some time, it is going to take some effort, but Liverpool Football Club will rise once more. We have the best fans in the world and we will continue to do so, that is something no one can take away from us. We have our principles, ethics and traditions, and no one will take that away from us. But with all the backlash occurring against the owners, the sacking of the King, the rumours of Martinez, we as Liverpool fans need to remember our traditions, even if the club goes modern. We get behind the team no matter what, we support them no matter what. If Liverpool Football Club needs to rise, it needs its fans.
You see the resemblance there? The passion is exactly the same decades apart.
Thats what we need.
Keep the Faith
YNWA
@sami_lfc96