Fans behavior last night...

[King Gheedorah]

The "easy easy" chant made me feel uncomfortable. Like it wasn't enough with the freezing temperature...

[andyfm]

Originally Posted by Stu Monty I think fans that boo they're own side are, on the whole, knobs. Unless they all decide they don't give a fuck and don't try you support them. I understand that we all see things differently to the manager sometimes but to take it as far as booing his decision...it's so very, very 2006.

But it isn't so 2006. There have been loads of examples of the same thing at Anfield over the years. Absolutely loads. I have no idea why people are thinking this is a new thing.

As someone mentioned on a similar thread on TTWAR, it happened when Ronnie Whelan was subbed for Kevin McDonald. That was 20 years ago when I started going. It has happened numerous times since.

Let me repeat, a player is playing very well, has already scored and created chances for others. In fact, he is a major goal threat. The game is finely balanced and our defence is having an off day with the opposition counter attacking well. He is substituted.The crowd objects in the only way possible as is their right. I'd have booed and it would have been out of frustration as we could easily have slipped up at that point. The crowd then applauded Cisse onto the pitch.

It is not booing your own side, it is registering disapproval of a tactical decision. Booing your own side is deplorable unless they are gutless. Lack of effort deserves disapproval, playing badly does not.

[Stu Monty]

Originally Posted by andyfm But it isn't so 2006. There have been loads of examples of the same thing at Anfield over the years. Absolutely loads. I have no idea why people are thinking this is a new thing. As someone mentioned on a similar thread on TTWAR, it happened when Ronnie Whelan was subbed for Kevin McDonald. That was 20 years ago when I started going. It has happened numerous times since. Let me repeat, a player is playing very well, has already scored and created chances for others. In fact, he is a major goal threat. The game is finely balanced and our defence is having an off day with the opposition counter attacking well. He is substituted.The crowd objects in the only way possible as is their right. I'd have booed and it would have been out of frustration as we could easily have slipped up at that point. The crowd then applauded Cisse onto the pitch. It is not booing your own side, it is registering disapproval of a tactical decision. Booing your own side is deplorable unless they are gutless. Lack of effort deserves disapproval, playing badly does not.

Why register your disaproval though?

Your manager had made a decision and you are calling it shit. That's booing your team mate. Or is Rafa not part of team then?

I'm not saying it's punishable by death but I think you have to be a bit of a tool to boo. Even when Houllier was at his worst I'd still have reservations let alone with a competent man like Benitez.

[Dirk]

I booed Souness when I was 14, he was at his worst. I wouldn't do it now, though. I agree with Stu, MLB and the lad who started the thread.

[andyfm]

Originally Posted by Stu Monty Why register your disaproval though? Your manager had made a decision and you are calling it shit. That's booing your team mate. Or is Rafa not part of team then? I'm not saying it's punishable by death but I think you have to be a bit of a tool to boo. Even when Houllier was at his worst I'd still have reservations let alone with a competent man like Benitez.

I would view it as healthy constructive criticism! Like the booing when Crouch was having a blinder against Man City the other week and got taken off. You'd think Rafa would have learnt by now...

[andyfm]

Originally Posted by You Knows It I booed Souness when I was 14, he was at his worst. I wouldn't do it now, though. I agree with Stu, MLB and the lad who started the thread.

So why agree with those condemning the people who are doing it now? It was done under Kenny too and maybe before. Booing a substitution, not a person, that is. Kenny was a good manager as well. Therefore it is far more part of our culture and heritage than the "easy easy" chants which are the real crime. Whatever Stu says, most of the people wouldn't have been booing to have a real go at Rafa. More frustration and disappointment at seeing Robbie go off when the game was in the balance. It wouldn't have happened if we were 2 or 3 goals up.

It isn't a big deal is my viewpoint. Certainly nothing for anyone booing to feel ashamed about, which is what this thread is all about.

My real question is, why do we feel the need to psychoanalyze absolutely everything the crowd does every game now? Anyone reading LFC websites would think that everyone who goes the game is a knobjockey. Odd, eh? It is very easy to criticise from a nice relaxing armchair, but it is often different at the game, there is far more tension and people release it by singing daft stuff, shouting abuse and moaning about stuff, including our own players and manager.

This isn't a go at anyone in particular, and certainly not you YKI, but just the general tenor of how everyone has a go at those who actually go on a regular basis. Usually people who don't go are the ones doing it.

[Stu Monty]

Originally Posted by andyfm So why agree with those condemning the people who are doing it now? It was done under Kenny too and maybe before. Booing a substitution, not a person, that is. Kenny was a good manager as well. Therefore it is far more part of our culture and heritage than the "easy easy" chants which are the real crime. Whatever Stu says, most of the people wouldn't have been booing to have a real go at Rafa. More frustration and disappointment at seeing Robbie go off when the game was in the balance. It wouldn't have happened if we were 2 or 3 goals up. It isn't a big deal is my viewpoint. Certainly nothing for anyone booing to feel ashamed about, which is what this thread is all about. My real question is, why do we feel the need to psychoanalyze absolutely everything the crowd does every game now? Anyone reading LFC websites would think that everyone who goes the game is a knobjockey. Odd, eh? It is very easy to criticise from a nice relaxing armchair, but it is often different at the game, there is far more tension and people release it by singing daft stuff, shouting abuse and moaning about stuff, including our own players and manager. This isn't a go at anyone in particular, and certainly not you YKI, but just the general tenor of how everyone has a go at those who actually go on a regular basis. Usually people who don't go are the ones doing it.

Fair points but 2006 or 1956 you're still a bit of a tool if you boo in my opinion.

I can see what you are saying about the over-analysis but I think it's brought on by people being concerned that their following is being assimilated into Soccer-AM clones and there is little they can do about it.

[andyfm]

Originally Posted by Stu Monty Fair points but 2006 or 1956 you're still a bit of a tool if you boo in my opinion.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I actually stopped going for a while after the Souness Loverpool thing once the board bottled out of sacking him. That was simply because I despised him so much I felt I could no longer support the team properly. So I stopped going rather than get tempted into not supporting the manager and therefore the team during the game. I don't put booing a substitution out of frustration in the same bracket.

Originally Posted by Stu Monty I can see what you are saying about the over-analysis but I think it's brought on by people being concerned that their following is being assimilated into Soccer-AM clones and there is little they can do about it.

I agree. But that will only stop if and when blanket tv coverage goes away. Which it won't. It is sad, but the only other way to stop it is to smack all the tossers, a philosophy I don't subscribe too. So we're stuck with it and we may as well deal with that rather than moan about it every week.

[Salte]

Originally Posted by andyfm Let me repeat, a player is playing very well, has already scored and created chances for others. In fact, he is a major goal threat. The game is finely balanced and our defence is having an off day with the opposition counter attacking well. He is substituted.The crowd objects in the only way possible as is their right. I'd have booed and it would have been out of frustration as we could easily have slipped up at that point. The crowd then applauded Cisse onto the pitch.

I might have been the only one, but to me it looked like Robbie had started to tire. He had reverted to trying fancy one touch passes and speculative shots. That is usually signs of a player running on empty. I thought Robbie was very promising, but i had no problem with him being withdrawn, especially with the game at the weekend in mind.

[andyfm]

Originally Posted by Salte I might have been the only one, but to me it looked like Robbie had started to tire. He had reverted to trying fancy one touch passes and speculative shots. That is usually signs of a player running on empty. I thought Robbie was very promising, but i had no problem with him being withdrawn, especially with the game at the weekend in mind.

I agree with that. Rafa always subs the strikers if he can to try and keep them fresh.

The great thing about Robbie's performance was that it was a superb all round game he had. Some lovely link play and passing with a bit of poaching thrown in. If he carries on like that, he will be here next year.

[Big Ig]

Robbie was dynamite for the first 25 mins of the game... after that he declined a bit, and fumbled a ball rather badly on the left wing after being put through by Kewell, just before he was subbed, which probably showed Rafa he was getting tired...