You'll Never Walk Alone

England is playing Brazil in an international friendly in Qatar. All bets are off for this weekend's EPL as the games are postponed till 21 Nov. Club managers will cry foul again if players returned injured like what Arsene Wenger once said: "Gerard Houllier's thoughts on the matter [international football] echo mine. He thinks that what the national coaches are doing is like taking the car from his garage without even asking permission. They will then use the car for ten days and abandon it in a field without any petrol left in the tank. We then have to recover it, but it is broken down. Then a month later they will come to take your car again, and for good measure you're expected to be nice about it." Playing Brazil is always special but England will be without Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, David James, Theo Walcott, Glen Johnson, Emile Heskey, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Aaron Lennon and is left with the second stringers. We should be able to catch the game "ive"here tomorrow.

Meantime, our Singapore Lions will be doing battle at Kallang against Thailand to have a really good chance to go to the Asian Cup. Go support them if you have the time or at least catch it "live' on 5. It is a game they must win as the return leg at Bangkok on Wednesday will be much tougher. The Thais plays with the ball to the ground and are very fast especially the wingers but Singapore has beatne them before. The Lions will probably play long balls and target Alexander Duric the S-League top scorer who is 1.92m tall and Alam Shah both superior in the air especially at set pieces. The Singapore team has never been more successful having won two regional tournaments and crowned champions and also did better at World Cup qualifiers. Thai coach is former Man Utd great Bryan Robson. Sawadi Krab Mister Robson, welcome to Singapore (say it Thai style, accent included). When we played China, more Chinese turned up then Singaporeans. When we played Liverpool, more Singaporeans think that they are from Liverpool and worn Liverpool red than Singapore. Why is the most successful Singapore team ever having the least support from fans? Hope there is not more Thais at Kallang than Singaporeans on Saturday.

Today, I leave you with a beautiful story. Every story starts from somewhere. Start yours now or are you feeling like a car abandoned in a field with no petrol left in the tank?

Bill Shankly (1959-1974)

Bill Shankly has this famous line: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm really disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much more important than that." From here on, the legend began with stuffs that dreams are made of. Bill Shankly's career took him to Carlisle, Grimsby, Huddersfield and finally to Liverpool in 1959. Liverpool was in the old Second Division and struggling. He has two assistants in Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan, trainers who looked like everyone's favourite uncles. He later took in Ron Yeats, Ian St. John and with Roger Hunt won their place back in the old First Division in 1961-62 season. In 1963-64 Liverpool won the League. In 1967, they signed Emlyn Hughes who would later captain the club for some years. Later with Hughes, he added goalkeeper Ray Clemence, striker John Toshack, winger Steve Heighway, defender Tommy Smith (whom Shankly rated the best in Europe), Chris Lawler, midfielder Ian Callaghan, striker Kevin Keegan who became the Kop's cult hero in 1971-72. The following season, they won the Championship and the UEFA Cup and began to dominate the domestic League and mastered the art of Continental football.

Ian St. John

St John was certainly one of Shankly's favourite players - if not the favourite and will always be remembered as the man who scored the winning goal when Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in 1965. Bill Shankly on Ian St John: "My first great buy. St. John and Ronnie Yeats started it all. Clever, canny, bags of skill, made things happen. Liked a scrap too. Sometimes wanted to tie his fists behind his back. Great player though. Gave you everything on the pitch. Mind you, a lazy bugger at training. He hated it. Always trying to pull one on us. But what a player." Ian St John played as a striker (attacking goal scorer) for Liverpool. Around that time a Methodist church in Liverpool put up an advertisement on a board outside the church: JESUS SAVES! By the next morning, there was a piece of graffiti added to the notice by an anonymous Liverpool supporter: St. John Scores On The Rebound! On another occasion, there was another sign that asked: What would you do when Jesus comes to Liverpool? Another supporter scribbled: Move Ian St. John to inside left. Soccer-crazy? You are telling me.

1974

It was from 1974 that my eyes became wide open about the world of soccer. I was at a soccer- crazy school that has winning soccer teams in each division. I started following the Singapore National team. I went to Kallang and later witnessed the Kallang Roar! I lapped up every soccer magazine I could lay my hands on till I was broke - "Shoot! Match, World Soccer" among others. The World Cup was held in the then West Germany. I fell in love with the Liverpool story. I didn't pick them to support. I just picked up the story and the rest is history. Even today, I never really walked alone. Maybe some Man U fans are trying to ambush me. But I'm a little disillusioned with Liverpool these days. They were like a great family club not as commercial as the others who developed very special talents of their own.

The Liverpool Way

Bill Shankly devised a simple style and system of play to minimize injuries due to the long season and made the team play in sections intelligently and making the ball do the work and not running wildly all over the field. Individualism was allowed but the work load was always shared. During his time, many players played more than 300 matches. Ian Callaghan - 502, Chris Lawler - 396, Roger Hunt - 384, Peter Thompson, Tommy Smith, Ron Yeats, Ian St. John, Emlyn Hughes, Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway too. They didn't rest players like today, go for rotation or just put in a new or young player as any player not familiar with their system of play will only affect the quality of the entire team. It was also in the 1974 F.A. Cup Final that Liverpool demolished Newcastle United 3-0 with such a clinical performance of "Total Football" that had the football world talking. It was a team where every player was comfortable with the ball with one touch play and are always passing and moving. Shankly retired shortly and left the club to Bob Paisley.

Bob Paisley (1974-1983)


Bob Paisley with Liverpool skipper "Crazy Horse" Emlyn Hughes.

Bob Paisley was at Liverpool even much longer and his knowledge of players and the game was unsurpassed. There seemed to be no equal to his management and winning ways. Bob Paisley lifted 19 trophies in 9 seasons at Anfield and he was the most successful Liverpool manager of all time. It was Bob's team that I am most familiar with as I followed that Liverpool team during my time. While Shankly loved talking to the press, Paisley was the opposite, he just let his team do the talking on the pitch. He brought so much success to an English club that has never been achieved before. Changes made to the team were always gradual with new players integrated carefully. Ray Kenny joined in 1974 from Arsenal, Terry McDermott came in 1975 from Newcastle and David Johnson (Ipswich) in 1976. Kenny Dalglish was bought from Glasgow Celtic in 1977 to replace Kevin Keegan who became the most expensive British transfer record at 500,000 pounds (haha, that's peanuts now) when he joined German side Hamburg where he went on to help them win the German Bundesliga and helped himself to two European Footballer of the Year. Soon after, Greame Souness joined (from Middlesborough) in 1978 followed closely by Alan Kennedy. Liverpool scored a record 85 goals in 42 fixtures and Clemence and his defence conceded only 16 goals.
Keegan popularised the "poodle perm" hairstyle.
















Remember, we were still close to the days of the Beatles from Liverpool and even Georgie Best had the Beatles haircut during the time. I know you wouldn't admit it now but at the time you wanted the Beatles or Keegan's hairstyle too. You go to the chinese barber and said "Keegan" and he thought you asked him to go to sleep - Kee koon (in Hokkien). Only the Malay barbers knew how to do it but some chinese ones were doing the style too but we just didn't know what they called it. You dare to reset the trend now? Those were the times where we can get all hyped about young stars like David Cassidy (think of his hair again). do you remember the Patridge Family?

Liverpool bought players who were largely unknown and even from the Fourth Division and very often on a shoestring budget. Ray Clemence (from 4th division Scunthorpe), Phil Neal (Northampton), Emlyn Hughes (Blackpool), Joey Jones (Wrexham), Kevin Keegan (Scunthorpe), Ian Callaghan and Tommy Smith were their own products while Jimmy Case and Steve Heighway were amateurs signed. Only Ray Kennedy and David Johnson cost some money! Bob Paisley the reluctant genius surpassed the achievements of every manager in the entire history of English football.

1977 & The European Cup
Keegan with his poodle perm Mark II




















During the 1977 European Cup Final where Liverpool met German Champions Borussia Moenchengladbach (note that those days only the champions of each country qualified to play), there was a popular tribute seen on a flag/banner to full back Joey Jones in reference to the games played vs St. Etienne, Zurich and Borussia Moenchengladbach: Joey ate the Frog's Legs, Made the Swiss Roll and now he's Munching Gladbach. Joey was a galloping left full back who endeared himself to the Kops.

Borussia Moenchengladbach was a very strong team that has Berti Vogts, Rainer Bonhof, Jupp Heynckes, Wolfgang Kneib and one of Europe's finest player in Denmark's Allan Simonsen (who went on to become European Footballer of the Year). I remembered Terry McDermott drawing first blood off a pass from Steve Heighway as he quickly hit a shot to avoid the giant Kneib getting near him as his floating shot sailed into goal. Allan Simonsen levelled early on in the second half to ask questions of Liverpool.

Iron man Tommy Smith rose above all to score with a scorching header from a corner. Kevin Keegan was outstanding as he played as if his life depended on it and was to become a true contender to the European crown as the best player. He picked up the ball at the half way line and left his shadow throughout the night - Berti Vogts, the world's best man-marking machine trailing in his wake but his surging run ended when Vogts sent him sprawling to the ground in the penalty box for a clear-cut penalty. Phil Neal stepped out and calmly placed the ball to the goalie's right for Liverpool's great and significant 3-1 victory! I could never forget this match because it was the first time I have watched a European Cup Final "live".

The team than won the European Cup in 1978 was built on the strength of Ray Clemence, Phil Neal, Ray Kennedy, Emlyn Hughes, Jimmy Case and Terry McDermott that had taken Liverpool to their first European Cup triumph in 1977. Despite the fact that Kevin Keegan had left for Hamburg, Paisley produced an even stronger team adding Scottish imports Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness, and with the return of Phil Thompson from injury. All of these players were crucial to Liverpool's progression through the tournament.

David Fairclough joined the starting line-up in the final at Wembley against FC Brugge, where Liverpool repeated Manchester United's feat of ten years before to win the European Cup on home soil, with a memorable goal by Dalglish. This team went on to be the strongest force in English and European football through much of the eighties. Hansen was signed from Scottish side Patrick Thistle and together with Souness and Dalglish, the three Scotsman were class acts. Liverpool won the European Cup in 1977, 1978 and 1981. The team of each European Cup was: 1977 - Clemence, Defence: Neal, Jones, Hughes, Smith. Midfield: Case, Callaghan, Heighway, Kennedy. Forward: McDermott, Keegam. 1978 - Clemence, Defence: Neal, Hansen, Thompson, Hughes. Midfield: Case, Souness, McDermott, Kennedy. Forward: Dalglish, Fairclough. 1981: Clemence, Defence: Neal, Hansen, Thompson, A. Kennedy. Midfield: Lee, Souness, McDermott, R. Kennedy. Forward: Dalglish, Johnson.

Joe Fagan (1983-1985)

Ian Rush, Steve Nicols, Jan Molby, Paul Walsh, Ronnie Whelan and John Wark were introduced during Fagan's time. Wark was an amazing goal-scoring midfielder. Rush needs no introduction. He signed for Liverpool at 18 after a spell at third division Chester and became a super goal-scoring sensation and legend at Anfield. Joe Fagan became the first manager to win the treble in 1984. He sadly retired in tears when many fans died at Brussels in the European Cup Final v Juventus.

Kenny Dalglish (1985-1991)

Dalglish was already a legend as a player at Liverpool. Craig Johnston was inducted. John Aldridge's services was secured from Oxford to replace Ian Rush who would be going to Juventus in 1986-87. The exciting talents of Peter Beardsley from Newcastle and John Barnes from Watford were added. Ray Houghton came in shortly. So did Bruce Grobelaar. In 1989, the Hillsborough disaster where many lives were lost changed Dalglish forever. He attended many funerals and counsel bereaved families which endeared him to the people of Liverpool. Dalglish achieved the rare feat of winning the double in 1986. Later he came back to football to take unfashinonable Blackburn Rovers to the championship with a key signing of Alan Shearer from Southampton. Dalglish was an intelligent and special player and a great manager and above all a very humble man. Towards the end of 1990-91, winger Steve McManaman, midfielder Jamie Redknapp and striker Dean Saunderst joined.

Graeme Souness (1991-1994)

The ex Liverpool captain who went to Sampdoria as a player and Glasgow Rangers as a manager returned to manage Liverpool. At this time the massively influential captain and defender Alan Hansen has retired and John Barnes was injured. The new Premiership kicked off in 1992 and Liverpool's long suffering began after such illustrious achievements. There were hardly any new young players coming in through the ranks. Souness spent recklessly on players like Mark Wright, Michael Thomas and Paul Stewart while Robbie Fowler and Dominic Matteo rose from the ranks. Bruce Grobbelaar was kept out by the young goalie David James. Nigel Clough (son of Brian Clough) and Neil Ruddock were signed. The rise of Robbie Fowler came when he scored all goals in the 5-0 rout of Fulham in a cup match. Julian Dicks and David Burrows were added to the squad. Robbie Fowler is such a natural goal-scorer like Jimmy Greaves.

Robbie Fowler

While Keegan was such a successful and great player, Dalglish was very accomplised too in all those important Liverpool years. But to mention Liverpool without talking about Robbie Fowler would be an injustice. Despite all his true abilities and great goals, I always thought that Robbie never fulfilled his full potential at Liverpool or for England. Robbie Fowler scored on his debut against Fulham in a 3-1 League Cup win. In the returned leg two weeks later, he bagged all five goals and the world took notice and was an instant hit and idol for the Kops. Statistics which are often boring make for interesting reading when they were his. He broke every socring records there were. He scored his first hattrick v Southampton on his fifth game and his first 13 games for Liverpool yielded 12 goals.

He was out injured after an ankle fracture but yet finished top scorer with 18 goals. In the 1994/95 season, Fowler scored the Premiership's fastest hattrick vs Arsenal in 4 minutes 32 seconds. This was against the meanest defence in England and Europe comprising David Seaman at goal protected by Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn. He finished as leading scorer with 31 goals the first time some one at Anfield has topped 30 goals in six years.

The following season Rush and Stan Collymore were preferred and he was left out much of the time yet he finished the season as top scorer with 36 goals in all competition. The season after this, he once again aced 31 goals but suffered constant injuries in the following year. If you caught that certain game where Liverpool beat Manchester United with Peter Schmeichel at goal and Robbier Fowler scored a brace, you would know why I rated him the best striker in the world. Nobody could do such things to Peter Schmeichel except Robbie. Nobody except perhaps one - Marco van Basten.

Roy Evans (1994-1998)

Liverpool came in 8th but Robbie Fowler confirmed his arrival and cult status when he bagged 29 goals and won the PFA Young Player of the Year! Evans added Phil Babb to the defence. In 1995, they paid a then British record transfer fee of 8.5 million punds for Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore. Collymore formed an incredible and exciting partnership with Robbie Fowler and Collymore would score some of the most unbelievable goals in the League. The emergence of young stars like Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, David James and Steve McManaman saw them being dubbed the Spice Boys. In 1996, he signed Czech Patrick Berger. 1997-98 saw Liverpool finishing third for the second time in four years but saw the emergence of Michael Owen who would later take the world by storm. In 1998, Owen became the youngest England international ever and won the PFA Young Player of the Year. The squad's off field culture and excesses saw them under achieving.

Gerard Houlier (1998-2004)

Houlier was the former French National Coach. In 2001, with the backbone of the side made of Owen, Fowler, another home-grown boy Steven Gerrard and the signing of FInnish captain Sammi Hyppia, Pool came in as runners-up. Jerzy Dudek and Emile Heskey were added. Liverpool continued to under achieve under Houlier. However they won the Cup treble in 2001 - League Cup, F A Cup and the UEFA Cup and actually a quadruple if you include the UEFA Super Cup plus the Charity Shield and the League Cup again in 2003. This would have been a major success anywhere else but at Anfield it is not enough for the long suffering Kops. Only the League and the European Crown matter. Gerard was dismissed in May 2004.
Rafa Benitez (2004-??)
Benitez took over arriving from Spanish club Valencia. It rekindled the stuffs that legends and dreams are made of. They finished a disappointg fifth in the League but had a great fairy tale ending. They defeated hot favourites Juventus in the quarter-finals of the European Champions League and beat rivals Chelsea in the semis. They met another favourites Itlay's famed A C Milan in the final at Istanbul. Trailing to a shocking 0-3 scoreline at half-time, Liverpool made a dramatic comeback never seen before in history inspired by captain Steven Gerrad they hit back three times to force extra-time and won on penalty kicks. Other players like John Arne Riise, Pepe Raina and Luis Garcia were added and later Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and the sensational Fernando Torres. Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane would join later. I'll probably leave it right here to continue another time. Hey, the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" is solid. Go on sing it. Just be sure you're not walking right into the Devils' Den.

Today, I do not follow any particular team in certain manners. It would be futile. The jerseys are too expensive anyway and to make matter worse, some of us are gaining weight and may frequently go back to the shop to upsize like you would at McDonald's for a Coke or fry. Imagine going up to the shop and when the sales assistant enquired: "Sir, how may I help you?" and your reply is: "Er, I would like to upsize my jersey" and the guy replies aloud: "Sorry, XXL also no more in stock".

I like the way Newcastle played under Kevin Keegan - cavalier, swashbuckling and breathtaking attacking soccer. I like the old Brazil, Barcelona and how Arsenal is doing it. Liverpool need to go back to their roots and have an examination on how Shankly and Paisley did it. Of course the modern world today is different but if Liverpool dig deep enough, they willl find the answer. The answer as Bob Dylan has said is blowing in the wind.

"How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove fly, before she sleeps in the sand? And how many times must a cannon ball fly, before they're forever banned? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. How many years can a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea?How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free? And how many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesn't see? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. How many times must a man look up, before he sees the sky?And how many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry? And how many deaths will it take till we know, that too many people have died? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind."

Such simplicity, such fluidity and yet so profound in truth.

We have to go back to simplicity. Old school simplicity.