John Barnes must have been smoking whatever they were smoking over at the Emirates before that interview. The fans are to blame? The fans suffer because of theese utter ****s.
I disagree with you about JH's supposed statement. He is just not the kind of guy to just sound-off and paint himself into a hole. What he has done however is ensure that if Arsenal do wish to pursue their interest then they are going to have to bid a figure even higher than what they believe Liverpool would normally have valued the player. If Arsenal don't do that then he is prepared to hold on to Suarez and then shift him out in either January or the Summer. In the interim JH will have to be prepared to fund even more purchases which are now likely to cost him a premium.
Shankly admitted he regretted retiring but felt he was backed into it. Banned from Melwood, his first invitation to away game nearly two years after he retired but told to make his own arrangements and stay in a different hotel was shabby treatment. The club for me is a living unit. Similar to the word family, a collective unit. I will always support the club no matter who the owners/manager etc are. I don't have blind faith in any individuals that make up that unit but at one and the same time, want to feel free to do whatever the adult version of the childlike hero-worship is, however in the celebrity cult era we live in that's being taken away bit by bit as too few 'humble' players seem to be around. Barnes said fans have made players believe they are better than a) team-mates and b) the club I think he's onto something - it started with Best in the late 60's.
While I agree in general I think removing the fan equation altogether doesn't help either. You skipped the bit about HOW they became millionaires in the first place. Call it exploitation rather than blame if you will but for example Ronaldo and Beckhams fees over the years weren't solely for what they could do on the pitch it was what they could sell in the superstores or what people would buy because they were attached to it. And when that runs into millions that's when they demand millions. And when a player is worth millions its impossible to just dump a troublesome player which means there is no check on their behaviour. Which lead to demands for their rights as employees (not slaves) while still exploiting the fact they are still assets, objects to be owned which lead to the Bosman ruling.... But tell me if we all didn't buy the name with a shirt (rather than the shirt with a name) in our thousands, if we didn't buy the aftershaves etc etc do you think the clubs would value the assets as much money wise? Now as you say the CL etc is what the big sponsors pay millions for but again it's circular why? Because the CL has all those players that sell the shirts and aftershaves and they want to hang on the coat tails. But who buys it all? We do. We continue to idolise them but worse continue to prove to the cold hearted businessmen that we'll buy anything they're selling. But it is US that controls the buying. We do have a choice. It's us that makes the match day ticket the least important part of a clubs finances. Which yes fits into your reasonable dislike for the non local supporter. For many of them their only way to show their support, to prove their love for the club is to buy the merchandise. I'd suggest being told they're not real supporters doesn't help lol. Perfect example: it's been obvious to anyone that Suarez doesn't give a stuff about us even before the interview but he sulks into Gerard's testimonial and what does he get? Silence, boos? No he gets cheers, no response, no recognition of the fans? he gets more cheers....and why? Fear: the club will be less without him, translated? Individual above club. You even have people ok person (i can only assume he's representative of a section of us) who is posting that its everybody else's fault but the players because he can't help who he is but everybody else is a calculating evil empire? Please. Suarez epitomises how it is the fan who forgives any behaviour, we defended him for two years against everything and anything and now Arsenal fans will do the same or Madrid fans or whoever and if we forgive and put no pressure on the business men why would they not keep the cash cow? So no we aren't to blame for nasty business men and their cunning plans but we are to blame for falling for it.
Agree he was trying to push up Suarez price, very sensible in business, but disagree he won't look silly when we sell Suarez. Remember Fergie with RM? And I'm paraphrasing: 'Wouldn't sell that lot a virus!' Yes they then got £80m for Ronaldo...but they still sold him!
This Shankly discussion is going a bit off topic but! The character that Shankly developed was ultimately too big for the club and too big for Shankly himself. Shankly couldn't let go and the club could not afford to have him interfering - hence the harsh separation.
After Brendan Rodgers' comments last night and the pfa and premier league confirming Suarez's contract does not have a buyout clause, and LFC stating they will 100% not sell to Arsenal. Luis Suarez today gave an interview to marca in which he said "I am still defending the liverpool shirt...I will until the last minute. Real never came in for me and never got in touch with me or Liverpool over a move. It's not as if I'm desperate to leave." Sorry ****o too little too late. Enjoy playing in the ressies.
