Liverpool, probably the best club in the world...
When i was small, i was always fascinated about the green pitch, with 22 players playing with a ball. I used to ask which team my father supported, and i will always cheer for that team.
When i started to know more about this world and football, Liverpool came into my life. Young and ignorant, i only knew Michael Owen, then the most exciting prospect in English football. The goal against Argentina was, well pure inspiration.
I guess i was only considered an official hardcore fan in the days of Gerard Houllier, Before the treble in 2000-2001. Closely following Michael Owen in his days as a red. Then i started to realise that football is not a one man game, without all the assists, can owen have scored so many? Then new idols started coming out. Hyypia, Jari Litamen, Gary Mcallister. Then there was the young gerrard, who seriously didn't looked like the footballer he now was.
The year of the treble, actually its a 5 bagger. FA cup, UEFA cup, European Super Cup, Charity Shield, and the league cup. I could still remember clearly the Uefa cup against alaves. It was an exciting game of football, 5-4 the final score, and the joy you felt when the team won it, you can't describe it.
Things were starting to look up, and the next season was crucial for us if we wanted to win the EPL title, which eluded us for 15 years. However, due to alot of poor buys by houllier, he just lost it. They started losing, and Houllier got criticise for his boring game, even when it was his style all along, and the media only pointing it out when they were losing.
Finally, he got the sack, and a few weeks of speculation who our next manager would be. In came Rafael Benitez, and immediately, we could see the changes in the liverpool team. Owen went to Real Madrid for 8m, actually its not because of liverpool not wanting him, its because of him wanting to go to Real, and with 1 year left in his contract, there was no choice.
The transformation of the young gerrard into a midfield general was incredible, you could see how much he loved the club and played like a ferrari every match, week in week out. Another local star was jamie carragher. especially when Benitez came in in his first season. That is why local talents are so important to the club. They give their life for the club, and i mean literally give it. The tackles that carragher had made, only pure determination and perseverance could see him clear it before the ball ends up in the back of the net.
Hyypia was as dependable as always, and due to his consistent performance, he is sort of an unsung hero, because people will only talk about him if he makes a mistake. Then came in the spanish imports, Luis garcia, Xabi Alonso, josemi, etc etc.
A lot of long term injuries in that 2004-2005 season, which is why liverpool struggled so much in the premiership.
European football wise, the last min goal by gerrard in the olympiakos game, let everyone believed that anything is possible. Then from there on, i did my part, and watched the games against, juventus and chelsea. It was really spectacular, the 2 goals against juventus was pure class, especially the 30 yarder by garcia, even the no.1 keeper buffon can't save it.
Then came that day, 25th of may 2005. In instanbul, i watched as Liverpool crumpled to AC Milan and was down by 3-0 at halftime. I was upset of course, but i never gave up. Then i heard the song. At halftime, 3-0 down, and the stadium was rocking with the song "you'll never walk along". I was crazy, as i sang along too, in my own house! Hahaha, then came the 2nd half, Dietmar Hamann came in and it became a diffferent team. A header by gerrard, into the top corner, and i shouted. My father was out by then. The liverpool captain led by example, and from his eyes, i knew we will win it.
Then came Smicer goal minutes later, it was quite emotional, because he was kissing the badge after scoring, and we knew it was his last game, and how he left in such spectacular fashion. After being plagued with injuries, he couldn't secure a first team place. I wasn't a big fan of him, but i believed that as a supporter, we should support the players who puts on the liverpool shirt wholeheartedly.
Liverpool was on a roll then, and then came the penalty, alonso took it, dida saved, and xabi alonso scored from the rebound.
It was not history, it was destiny.
The extra time saved by dudek, from 6 yards out from one of the world's top goalscorer, it was just unbelievable. My heart skipped a beat when dudek kept that out. Then came the penalties, and the best goalscorer in the world, not only missed from 6 yards, but also from 12 yards, it was Liverpool's day, and on that day, nobody, and i mean nobody can beat us.
It was party time, I celebrated like hell, and when i saw gerrard lifted the trophy, i almost cried. The passion, the love for the club, so many many things. It's just so magnificent. After that i couldn't sleep at all, and ended up sleeping during lectures.
Then was i believed the best signing Rafael benitez made in the summer, the signing of Steven Gerrard. I was quite sad really, affected by it for the whole week, couldn't do my work. Then when he said he was staying, i was very very relieved. He was so important to Liverpool, actually when you think of Liverpool the first that springs into your mind is steven gerrard. I remembered not being so sad when owen left.
Now things are really and truly looking up. Exciting times ahead, for the club and us fans. I really believed that Benitez will bring us back to the days of Sir bob and Sir Bill. I'm damn excited by the january transfer window, theo walcott? I even heard rumours of a bidding war with newcastle for joaquin. Anyway, things are just looking up.
Yeah, think i'm destined to be a liverpool fan forever. I will definitely go to Anfield at least once in my life, and i still want the Liverpool European shirt.
I shall stop here now, or everyone out there, whenever you're feeling down, remember this:
"At the end of the storm, there's a golden sky."
When i started to know more about this world and football, Liverpool came into my life. Young and ignorant, i only knew Michael Owen, then the most exciting prospect in English football. The goal against Argentina was, well pure inspiration.
I guess i was only considered an official hardcore fan in the days of Gerard Houllier, Before the treble in 2000-2001. Closely following Michael Owen in his days as a red. Then i started to realise that football is not a one man game, without all the assists, can owen have scored so many? Then new idols started coming out. Hyypia, Jari Litamen, Gary Mcallister. Then there was the young gerrard, who seriously didn't looked like the footballer he now was.
The year of the treble, actually its a 5 bagger. FA cup, UEFA cup, European Super Cup, Charity Shield, and the league cup. I could still remember clearly the Uefa cup against alaves. It was an exciting game of football, 5-4 the final score, and the joy you felt when the team won it, you can't describe it.
Things were starting to look up, and the next season was crucial for us if we wanted to win the EPL title, which eluded us for 15 years. However, due to alot of poor buys by houllier, he just lost it. They started losing, and Houllier got criticise for his boring game, even when it was his style all along, and the media only pointing it out when they were losing.
Finally, he got the sack, and a few weeks of speculation who our next manager would be. In came Rafael Benitez, and immediately, we could see the changes in the liverpool team. Owen went to Real Madrid for 8m, actually its not because of liverpool not wanting him, its because of him wanting to go to Real, and with 1 year left in his contract, there was no choice.
The transformation of the young gerrard into a midfield general was incredible, you could see how much he loved the club and played like a ferrari every match, week in week out. Another local star was jamie carragher. especially when Benitez came in in his first season. That is why local talents are so important to the club. They give their life for the club, and i mean literally give it. The tackles that carragher had made, only pure determination and perseverance could see him clear it before the ball ends up in the back of the net.
Hyypia was as dependable as always, and due to his consistent performance, he is sort of an unsung hero, because people will only talk about him if he makes a mistake. Then came in the spanish imports, Luis garcia, Xabi Alonso, josemi, etc etc.
A lot of long term injuries in that 2004-2005 season, which is why liverpool struggled so much in the premiership.
European football wise, the last min goal by gerrard in the olympiakos game, let everyone believed that anything is possible. Then from there on, i did my part, and watched the games against, juventus and chelsea. It was really spectacular, the 2 goals against juventus was pure class, especially the 30 yarder by garcia, even the no.1 keeper buffon can't save it.
Then came that day, 25th of may 2005. In instanbul, i watched as Liverpool crumpled to AC Milan and was down by 3-0 at halftime. I was upset of course, but i never gave up. Then i heard the song. At halftime, 3-0 down, and the stadium was rocking with the song "you'll never walk along". I was crazy, as i sang along too, in my own house! Hahaha, then came the 2nd half, Dietmar Hamann came in and it became a diffferent team. A header by gerrard, into the top corner, and i shouted. My father was out by then. The liverpool captain led by example, and from his eyes, i knew we will win it.
Then came Smicer goal minutes later, it was quite emotional, because he was kissing the badge after scoring, and we knew it was his last game, and how he left in such spectacular fashion. After being plagued with injuries, he couldn't secure a first team place. I wasn't a big fan of him, but i believed that as a supporter, we should support the players who puts on the liverpool shirt wholeheartedly.
Liverpool was on a roll then, and then came the penalty, alonso took it, dida saved, and xabi alonso scored from the rebound.
It was not history, it was destiny.
The extra time saved by dudek, from 6 yards out from one of the world's top goalscorer, it was just unbelievable. My heart skipped a beat when dudek kept that out. Then came the penalties, and the best goalscorer in the world, not only missed from 6 yards, but also from 12 yards, it was Liverpool's day, and on that day, nobody, and i mean nobody can beat us.
It was party time, I celebrated like hell, and when i saw gerrard lifted the trophy, i almost cried. The passion, the love for the club, so many many things. It's just so magnificent. After that i couldn't sleep at all, and ended up sleeping during lectures.
Then was i believed the best signing Rafael benitez made in the summer, the signing of Steven Gerrard. I was quite sad really, affected by it for the whole week, couldn't do my work. Then when he said he was staying, i was very very relieved. He was so important to Liverpool, actually when you think of Liverpool the first that springs into your mind is steven gerrard. I remembered not being so sad when owen left.
Now things are really and truly looking up. Exciting times ahead, for the club and us fans. I really believed that Benitez will bring us back to the days of Sir bob and Sir Bill. I'm damn excited by the january transfer window, theo walcott? I even heard rumours of a bidding war with newcastle for joaquin. Anyway, things are just looking up.
Yeah, think i'm destined to be a liverpool fan forever. I will definitely go to Anfield at least once in my life, and i still want the Liverpool European shirt.
I shall stop here now, or everyone out there, whenever you're feeling down, remember this:
"At the end of the storm, there's a golden sky."
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