I live a long way from Anfield and only venture up 2 or 3 times a year these days....always bringing my son if possible.
I have, as any good dad, brainwashed him into following my team.....something he has never argued with......he still doesn't.
However, I have noticed that he is very disenfranchised with LFC of late. When asked if he wanted to come to a game over the next few weeks, he declined.....he's simply losing interest in the club.....and there's a limit to the level of brain washing that I'll stoop to!! Is this just a phase or is it driven by lack of results; I'd guess the latter...
My point, there is one; how many other ten year olds with avid LFC supporting dads feel the same way? Or how many kids with non supporting parents would choose LFC? How many choose City, Chelsea, Utd, Spurs even....or Madrid, or Barca.....
LFC once had a very strong brand.....massive in fact. Loyalty towards the LFC brand withstood two decades of relative failure (give or take a couple of decent seasons).....and this is what really matters in football today. Without the global support that we currently have, we would be nothing but a well supported regional team; I say 'currently' because competition for the next generation of fans is fierce.....ultra fierce in fact....and it's a competition that we are losing......and in my opinion, losing badly. If we are to ever get back to the heights of the 70's and 80's, we need to invest....and quickly......or risk losing a generation or four of global fans that will brainwash their kids in similar fashion to us.....only it won't be LFC that they'll follow.....
Make no mistake; the game is truly global now; we need the income from overseas more than we need a bigger stadium.......and we can only expect that, or even demand that with a strong brand.....something that is not guaranteed right now.
I, for one, won't hold my breath. While I wouldn't want an Abramovich character at Anfield, I'd welcome the investment! Otherwise, I fear, that the writing is on the wall for us as a global footballing brand; it won't happen overnight but the brand will slowly die on the vine, with no new global supporters to feed it.....in fact, I'd wager that it already is......
I have, as any good dad, brainwashed him into following my team.....something he has never argued with......he still doesn't.
However, I have noticed that he is very disenfranchised with LFC of late. When asked if he wanted to come to a game over the next few weeks, he declined.....he's simply losing interest in the club.....and there's a limit to the level of brain washing that I'll stoop to!! Is this just a phase or is it driven by lack of results; I'd guess the latter...
My point, there is one; how many other ten year olds with avid LFC supporting dads feel the same way? Or how many kids with non supporting parents would choose LFC? How many choose City, Chelsea, Utd, Spurs even....or Madrid, or Barca.....
LFC once had a very strong brand.....massive in fact. Loyalty towards the LFC brand withstood two decades of relative failure (give or take a couple of decent seasons).....and this is what really matters in football today. Without the global support that we currently have, we would be nothing but a well supported regional team; I say 'currently' because competition for the next generation of fans is fierce.....ultra fierce in fact....and it's a competition that we are losing......and in my opinion, losing badly. If we are to ever get back to the heights of the 70's and 80's, we need to invest....and quickly......or risk losing a generation or four of global fans that will brainwash their kids in similar fashion to us.....only it won't be LFC that they'll follow.....
Make no mistake; the game is truly global now; we need the income from overseas more than we need a bigger stadium.......and we can only expect that, or even demand that with a strong brand.....something that is not guaranteed right now.
I, for one, won't hold my breath. While I wouldn't want an Abramovich character at Anfield, I'd welcome the investment! Otherwise, I fear, that the writing is on the wall for us as a global footballing brand; it won't happen overnight but the brand will slowly die on the vine, with no new global supporters to feed it.....in fact, I'd wager that it already is......


