Clough, I've had enough

Over the past fortnight, the mass media have been eulogising themselves blind over two colourful and disliked characters who are no longer of this world. The first is Jade Goody whose death from cervical cancer transformed her from a reality television nobody into a beacon of strength for women in the UK fighting the disease. The second is the focus of a part fact/part fiction film about 44 days he spent in the managerial hot seat at Leeds United – Brian Clough.

 

With the release of The Damned United very much the talk of the British cinema scene at present, a lot of journalists are embarking on a beatification of Clough that both historically and morally he is not worthy of possessing. BBC Radio 4, London Lite and the Liverpool Echo are just three forms of media - both audio and print - who have claimed that Clough is the only English manager to win the European Cup in consecutive years. It is either hysteria that surrounds the film and Clough's legacy or it is lazy journalism that has seen Bob Paisley's feat two seasons previous to 'Old Big Head' overlooked. Paisley's Liverpool side retained the European crown in the 1977-78 season, 12 months after their first triumph at Rome's Stadio Olimpico - the venue for this season's Champions League final.

Larry Lloyd - who played under Clough at Nottingham Forest during those back-to-back European triumphs in 1979 and 1980 - still believes the outspoken manager is the greatest of all-time, ahead of his former boss Bill Shankly. “I played for Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley but, without doubt, Cloughie was the best,” he said. “It's close, because Shankly was a genius too, but Cloughie did it with two much smaller clubs.” What Lloyd fails to realise is that Liverpool were not a big club when Shankly arrived there half a century ago. The gruff-voiced Scot one remarked, "If you'd seen Anfield when I came it was the biggest toilet in Liverpool. I had to bring water in from Oakfield Road. It cost 3,000 pounds. There was no water to flush the toilets." For someone who spent five years under Shanks at Anfield, Lloyd seems to have allowed the success he enjoyed at the City Ground to deflect from the fact that anything Clough could do, Shanks had already done better.

This Clough mania is very wide of the mark and akin to crowning Jose Mourinho the greatest manager of the current generation of football devotees. Even Liverpool supporters will begrudgingly admit that, over the past 15 years, only Sir Alex Ferguson can take that title. Ferguson has won 35 major trophies in a managerial career that that is equal in years. Clough's paltry nine in 28 years pales insignificantly. Yes, Clough was a good manager but there were far better and less arrogant ones out there who won less and are overlooked. Don Revie, hIs predecessor to those ill-fated 44 days at Elland Road, was just one of them who treated his players like sons and knew the value of family life and team unity. Bertie Mee of Arsenal, Bill Nicholson at Spurs and Liverpool's Bob Paisley are three more to add to that list, although the latter overshadowed Clough's honours roll but his  modesty at all times was equal to that of Mee and Nicholson.

There is one enduring image of Brian Clough that really did sum up his legacy to those in the modern era and that is the image of his last game in charge of Forest. His now well-documented battle with alcoholism was clear for all to see as he stood in the City Ground, minutes after he had condemned the club to relegation, fists clenched and raised aloft. His face tells the story of a man who had drunk heavily for over thirty years. At the age of 58, the same age that Kenny Dalglish is currently, Clough looked far older than he was and gravely ill; his face blotchy and with red liver spots. But there was no sympathy with this fallen idol coming from Anfield following his comments that the Hillsborough disaster was caused by Liverpool supporters - comments which were only retracted in 2001 - 12 years after the tragedy.

The film is based on a book released in 2006 of the same title and the Clough family have said that they will boycott it for this reason, a ringing endorsement for anti-Clough merchants. Clough may have thought he was the greatest but great managers do not liken themselves to the likes of Muhammad Ali and get sacked a month and a half into, what was at the time, one of the top jobs in English football. The journalists who continue to place him on a pedestal in light of the release of The Damned United should listen to the words uttered by Ali in one of the film's scenes - "Now Clough I've had enough. Stop it."

Forest '88 revisited

Say what you like about Rafael Benitez, and let’s be fair I’ve stuck the boot into him a fair few times this season, but for every frustrating game where points are dropped and players undeserving of the red shirt are picked he will make up for it by sending a team out that will outclass even the most ardent of opposition.

The steamrolling of Real Madrid over two legs in the Champions League could be argued to be an indication of the standards gulf between La Liga and the Premiership. The same cannot be said of the 4-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford just four days later in the league. Liverpool really were a force to be reckoned with that day. It was very reminiscent of the football that was played by the Redmen under the likes of Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish and last Sunday’s 5-0 thumping of Aston Villa was somewhat nostalgic of the same performance and result against Nottingham Forest at Anfield in the 1987/88 season.

Benitez’s side were out of the blocks from the start and Europe-chasing Villa seemingly rolled over and accepted defeat as soon as Dirk Kuyt’s opener hit the net. Fernando Torres could not make it three goals in three games and despite winning the penalty in the second half for Steven Gerrard to make it a hat-trick for himself and 5-0 for the home side, the Spaniard seemed to be lacking in confidence but given his performances in the two games prior to the visit of Martin O’Neil’s side he was more than forgiven.

There were very few criticisms of the squad as a whole but a special mention should go to Pepe Reina who not only broke Ray Clemence’s long-standing record of 100 clean sheets for the club but also continued to endear the Kop with his goal celebrations. The Spain reserve stopper gained notoriety as he led the celebrations of his country’s Euro 2008 triumph last summer and his passion for both club and country are not a party trick akin to the handstands Bruce Grobbelaar, one of his predecessors in the Anfield goalmouth, used to perform. His precision goal kicks have not only proved Fabio Cannavaro’s comments about Liverpool being a long-ball team correct, but they have also been the catalyst for goals against the likes of Real, United and Villa.

The international break has come at an inconvenient time with the Reds playing their best football under Benitez to date. Scoring four goals or more against three teams that have previously won the European Cup is not the sole indicator of, to use a famous Rafa-ism, the quality of the squad. United will welcome the rest from domestic matters after their unexpected defeat away to Fulham. With the Reds set to visit Craven Cottage on Saturday evening they will be looking to avoid a repeat of previous results against the home side and take the title challenge down to the wire.

Respect the 96

Wednesday 15th April 2009 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and with that in mind I'm posting this up ahead of the event because it's no good having a rant and moan about it once the event has passed.

The eyes of the world will be on Anfield for the anniversary as they were on Old Trafford for the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster last year and I believe that with such a landmark anniversary approaching that the word respect should be at the forefront.

By respect I mean that it shouldn't be as it has been for the past few years.  I didn't attend the service in the ground last year, as I didn't the year before that.  This all stemmed from what I witnessed in the ground on the 17th anniversary in 2006 when I felt that the meaning of the service was seriously devalued by several who attended.  People's cameras flashing during the minute's silence, when the players and ex-players were doing a reading, standing ovation for the players as they arrived and left their seats, etc.  A lad I know walked out of last year's one as soon as the fans applauded the players because that's not what the service is about.  The players sit on the Kop amongst the fans because on the anniversary of Hillsborough we all unite as community.  Players, families, survivors and fans all unite in memory of the 96 who died in Sheffield.  It's not an excuse to go with flags, scarves and cameras.  I'm not talking about replica shirts because some people feel that is how they wish to show their support as the club badge contains the justice flame.  I haven't got a problem with that.  I wore black out of choice and I wouldn't impose that on anyone because we do live in a free society so far be it for me to tell people what to wear.

I do feel, however, that a growing number need to be told how to act at the service because as I said before an increasing number are treating it like a day at the match.  That's not what the anniversary is about.  On the 11th anniversary in 2000, the service was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral.  The players in our squad at the time were in attendance as were supporters.  Did any get out their flags and scarves?  Did any take cameras and start snapping away during the minute's silence?  No they didn't and the reason for that is that they were paying tribute to the ninety six people who perished at Hillsborough.  The players weren't the centre of attention and weren't there to be photographed en masse by fans, they were there like the rest of us to pay their respects.  Why has this been lost on several who attend the service since 15th April 2000?

It is a memorial service, not an excuse for a photo opportunity of the players.  They shouldn't be the focus of attention on a day such as the anniversary but people make them so.  It's not just embarrassing for those of us there to pay our respects but you can see that the players are uncomfortable about it as well.  This isn't what a memorial service takes place for.

I believe that this needs addressing ahead of the 20th anniversary because grumbling and groaning about it after it has passed is no good so that's why it needs discussing and tackling in the build up to it because it is not an excuse to just turn up and take photos of Gerrard and Rafa.  Let's make sure that the memories of the ninety six who are commemorated at the service are remembered properly and not make the players the focal point.  Saturday afternoons are where they become the centre of attention.  A memorial service for 96 fellow supporters isn't and shouldn't be.

Regardless of the new generation that follow our club, everyone has a connection to Hillsborough.  I had uncles there that day and my dad drove to Sheffield to pick them up as soon as they phoned home.  I was only a baby when it happened so I don't remember anything about that day but I, along with thousands in this city, grew up in the shadow of Hillsborough and it's not something that is in your mind every April 15th and then forgotten until the next year.

The phrase 'Justice for the 96' is constantly used, sometimes over used in my opinion but given the way that things have been going in the ground over the past few years on April 15th, I feel that using the term justice is very apt in terms of respect for those who died at HIllsborough.

We might not be able to do much about the day trippers that come to Anfield of a matchday but we sure as hell can make sure they don't devalue the memorial service that honours those  who died watching the team they loved most.  This needs to go beyond small talk on websites.  The message needs to be spread far and wide as early as possible. This issue needs to be addressed and the club itself can help with this.  After all it's their ground that is being opened up for the service.  I know it's interdenominal and all that but an increasing number are just using it as an excuse for a day out at Anfield.

How can respect come from an individual who travels up from the likes of Bristol and Brighton with their matchday itinerary (not just replica tops which I have no issue with) and have no respect for those who lost their lives or those who survived?  They want their picture of 'Stevie G' and Rafa and two fingers to the rest of us.  As long as they get their fill they don't care abuot the rest of us who go and pay our respects.  The message of respect needs to be spread far and wide as early as possible which means speaking to the HFSG and the club because it is becoming something of an embarrassment when players are being applauded arriving at and leaving their seats.  When Phil Hammond made his speech people are going to applaud him for having the strength to stand up and speak at such an emotional time but they shouldn't be giving standing ovations to the players for reading off a sheet like Fowler and Gerrard received in 2006.

Think back to September 11th this year and the memorial service for those who died that day seven years ago. I don't remember there being chants of 'USA! USA! USA!' ringing round the site of the World Trade Centre. Granted, the UK and America are two different countries who do things differently but something as sombre as the anniversary of Hillsborough should be treated with proper respect.

The respect message won't just apply to the 20th anniversary, it will continue every year that passes after that as well.  April 15th should be a time of remembrance, not an excuse to turn up at Anfield in your replica gear, camera and all to get a snapshot of your favourite player.

Bring your scarves if you want, wear a replica shirt if you think it is your way of showing support but DO NOT turn a memorial service into a day out at Anfield where you can do as you please.

A picture paints a thousand words

Back on our f*****g perch?

A spanner in the works, a statement of intent or just starting as they mean to go on: whatever way you look at Liverpool's demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford this afternoon, it is a landmark day for the club and indeed the Premier League.

Prior to today, United have not been beaten that heavily since a 4-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers on New Years Day 1992. The fact that it has taken over 17 years for such a result to be repeated is testiment to what a fortress Sir Alex Ferguson has made Old Trafford but so is the performance of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool side with their comprehensive win over the reigning league champions, gifting the Spaniard his 100th victory as manager of the Anfield club.

In truth there was no real turning point in the game, even after the dismissal of Nemanja Vidic in the second half. Some would argue that referee Alan Wiley's decision to award the home side a penalty on 23 minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo's due conversion would have dictated the direction of the game but, as they showed in the corresponding fixture at Anfield in September, the Reds responded with an in-form Fernando Torres giving Vidic all sorts of problems and getting the better of the defender five minutes after the home side took the lead. From there on in it was one-way traffic. Chances were few and far between but Liverpool took theirs and, with the exception of Steven Gerrard's close-range sitter, hit the back of the net three more times.

Defeating United at Old Trafford was one hoodoo Benitez had yet to accomplish but now the Liverpool manager can boast comprehensively defeating both Manchester United and Real Madrid at full strength in the space of a week. But, as was stated on this blog earlier this week, the Red machine must march onwards and upwards to the next game. Aston Villa provide a more than worthy opposition at Anfield next Sunday. Whether or not Benitez's troops can rise to the occasion for the third game running remains to be seen but if the past seven days have are an indicator of what the remainder of the season then carry on regardless.

Once a Blue, always a tw*t

For the second time this week, paper talk dominates the blog following Wayne Rooney's comments about his hatred of Liverpool Football Club.

His own club Manchester United pulled the comments from their official website claiming, "The comments are open to wilful mis-reporting and neither the club, nor Wayne wanted that to happen."

However, the quotes were given to the club's in-house TV channel MUTV as part of an interview but were not broadcast. In the interview following United's victory over Inter Milan, Rooney said: "I'm very excited about the game because I grew up as an Everton fan hating Liverpool, that hasn't changed." Sir Alex Ferguson tried to defend Rooney's comments further by saying, "Hate's an easy word to say, easier than dislike. Maybe it is not the right word. He's had lots of stick from their fans over the years so it's understandable."

Whilst some Evertonians may revel in their former hero's comments, it has painted the tabloid darling in an even poorer light. Rooney has not won many fans on Merseyside following his decision to take a big-money move to Old Trafford despite having the ideal place to ply his trade at Goodison under the guidance of David Moyes. The 'hating' of Liverpool is understandable but not really for the public eyes and ears.

That said, Jamie Carragher was clearly seen shouting "Manc tw*ts" after the final whistle of the game between the two sides at Anfield in September so it is not as if the Red half of Merseyside is wholly innocent in the whole war of words but it could be argued that at least Carragher's comments were only lip-readable by the TV cameras and not published by the club's official website. If the veteran defender had said to LFC TV, "I cannot wait for Saturday cos I hate those f*****g Mancs", there would have been absolute outrage. It seems that England's glamour club are exempt from scrutiny and mischievous stirring ahead of this big game. Likewise with certain chanting that goes on between both sets of fans but that is another subject for another time.

If past events are anything to go by, pre-match talk usually comes back to bite those who make the comments well and truly on the backside. Mourinho's 99.99% comments about Liverpool fans, Clinton Morrison's taunts to the Reds' strikeforce in 2001, even Benitez's scathing attack on 'diving' Didier Drogba last season, those words have all come back to haunt them. Hopefully Rooney will be eating his words come 3pm tomorrow afternoon.

A win is a win - nothing more

Liverpool supporters know better than anyone about both sides of sensationalist headlines but the ones written in the past 24 hours by Spanish newspaper MARCA will have afforded a good number of Kopites a wry smile.

Yesterday their front page adorned a picture of Real Madrid's players warming up at Anfield on the eve of last night's game accompanied by the headline that translated as 'This is Anfield...AND WHAT?' Juande Ramos added his voice to the Spanish war of words by saying, “Coincidentally I never took Spurs to Anfield so it will be my first time on the bench there. But Anfield just isn’t a bigger deal than the Bernabeu, the San Siro or the Camp Nou - and I’ve seen all those before.” This morning that image and headline has been replaced with another sensationalist headline: 'LIVERPOOL 4-0 R. MADRID. TOTAL HUMILIATION FOR MADRID.'

The heavyweights of European football, well and truly humbled. Mission accomplished for Rafael Benitez and his Liverpool side, or so some would believe. The Reds' manager's trademark detractors are taking the result with a very large pinch of salt and you cannot blame them. Some would argue that Real are a spent force who are, like Liverpool used used to be, living off their illustrious past and breaking even in a sub-standard La Liga. A club who make the doubts over the Benitez's future look minor with three managers arriving at the Bernabeu in this and the previous two seasons.

Others would point to the Spaniard's obsession with conquering the Champions League again and again to the point that he has neglected the task he was brought to Anfield for - to end a 19-year wait for the league championship. Benitez may be a tactical mastermind in European competitions but he is faltering domestically and the games either side of the the away leg showed where Liverpool's priorities appear to lie. A lacklustre one-all draw at home to Manchester City and an embarrasingly poor performance in the 2-0 defeat away to Middlesbrough shows that there is still work to be done and fast as Manchester United appear to be sweeping all before them both domestically and on the continent.

Last night's should be taken at face value - a win is a win, regardless of the scoreline. Admittedly it did make the headlines on the back pages but, to quote a Benitez-ism, "I am focused on the next game". That is the mentality Liverpool as a whole need to have. Supporters and fans should not bask in the limelight of what took place at Anfield less than 24 hours too much. The next round and the next game are the priority so, in the words of the famous Kop ditty, "Bring on yer Manchester United..."

A tribute to two-tonne Xabi

If he is picked tomorrow night, Xabi Alonso will make his 200th appearance for Liverpool. Few could have predicted how much this highly-rated midfielder would contribute to the team following his arrival in the summer of 2004.

Defence-splitting passes, an eye for goal from any distance and all round commitment to the cause makes the £10.7 million paid to Real Sociedad look like money well spent.

With all the talk of Gareth Barry arriving at Anfield last summer, Alonso looked to be heading for the exit at L4 but following Villa's refusal to budge on the price for the midfielder, the Spaniard stayed at the club and has shown the form that won him a legion of followers on Merseyside.

A European champion at both club and international level and one of the best holding midfielders in the game. Some would say that Alonso is lucky to be playing for Liverpool but I believe that there is an arguement to be had that Liverpool are lucky to have a player of Xabi Alonso's calibre.

Disgraceful

There are really few words to describe what took place on 70 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday than the title of this posting. The words 'small-time', 'despicable' and 'pathetic' are the other words that can be used to label the booing of Lucas Leiva as he took to the field as a second half substitute.

Chris Norman, one of my colleagues at FootballFanCast, wrote an excellent article about why Chelsea need to nurture the atmosphere supporters like him try to create instead of stifling it for the benefit of the Marmadukes and Arabellas that have pranced their way through the doors at Stamford Bridge. It seems that this problem is starting to rear its ugly head at Anfield now.

Emmanuel Eboue was booed vociferously by Arsenal supporters in a game against Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium in December. Three months on and Lucas Leiva has fallen victim of the boo boys. Thankfully it was not as vocal as the barracking that Eboue received but it signalled a new low for the support of Liverpool Football Club. Constantly-changing views on what should or shouldn't be boycotted pale insignificantly to what could be heard at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Admittedly Lucas is not the most popular person at the club this season but no player deserves to be booed, regardless of the standard of their performance. Give opposition players the same treatment by all means but not a player who represents your club. The 22-year-old Brazilan's crime that warranted the pitchside boos was simply replacing David N'gog. Claims have also surfaced that Ryan Babel was verbally abused as he warmed up on the touchline before his introduction to the game.

Booing is nothing new at Anfield. I remember games during the times of Roy Evans where the team were booed off at the final whistle. They made the ones that greeted the end of the West Ham and Fulham games this season seem very muted. However those boos were borne out of frustration and downright hatred of the way the club had fallen from grace post-Dalglish. Whilst some performances this season have been highly reminiscent of those dark days when achievements were few and far between, it appears that the boo boys really are booing for the sake of booing. The "I'm entitled to boo because I've paid my money" argument carries little weight at Anfield amongst those supporters who remember embarrassing defeats to relegation dead certs such as Barnsley and Watford.

It is worth mentioning that the club signed a sponsorship deal with the Bank of America this week which entitles the financial giant to corporate tickets for games. What effect this will have on the volume of boos remains to be seen but if what happened on Tuesday night is a sign of things to come then I fear for the future of Anfield's Twelfth Man.