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Do fans really need to be asked for their support?
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Writing in his programme notes before their Champions League semi-final this week, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson called on fans to “reproduce the volume of noise that has accompanied us in recent matches”.
He went on to say that support in recent games had been “out of this world” and recalled how before the 7-1 home win over AS Roma “I asked particularly for your backing…”
Now this is not to say anything against United fans, who created a decent amount of noise on Tuesday and kept the prawn-sandwich munching to an absolute minimum, but surely the manager of Manchester United Football Club shouldn’t have to actually ask fans at Old Trafford for their support?
Will Rafa Benitez ask fans chant Liverpool’s name a few times at Anfield next week? Will the Spaniard plead with the Kop to sing a song or two? I think not.
Of course, not everywhere can generate such deafening noise as Anfield. Despite the high stakes at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Chelsea fans did not make that much of a din during their first leg with Liverpool.
Arsenal’s home ground capacity has soared from 38,500 to 60,000 with the move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium, but there is still no ‘wall of noise’ to lift their team and shatter the nerve of opponents.
It all begs a simple question. They may not have the best team in the Premier League, but do Liverpool have the best supporters?
* Everton apparently have a different problem with some of their fans, with grown men passing themselves off as kids. A sobering statement on the club’s Web site says: “At recent games the club has made stringent efforts to detect the misuse of junior tickets by adult supporters.”
It warned would-be tricksters that stewards will be extra vigilant for Saturday’s home game with Manchester United. In other words, any plump, balding 50-year-old thinking of trying to squeeze into their old school uniform can forget it.
Trevor Huggins is Reuters sports correspondent based in London
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The Wall
Yes Liverpool has the best supporters, but of course I’m biased
Although I’ve noticed crowd support of some EPL matches at anfield have been a tad subdued. Frustrated at Pool’s EPL form I suppose…
I wonder if they might be making a big mistake in leaving Anfield. They run the risk of succumbing to the curse of the new stadium. And they’ll be hard pushed to generate a similar atmosphere at a newer, much bigger venue.
Another club willing to give up their history in pursuit of more cash.
I prefer to think that it’s the fans rather than the stadium that creates the atmosphere. The stadium design, acoustics etc are obviously a factor but not an overwhelming one.
The biggest mistake Liverpool can make is to move to a new stadium and then increase ticket prices, pricing out the regular loyal masses, allowing in the irregular avocado sandwich brigade.
I think the Everton fans are simply trying to reduce the number of grown men their team reduces to tears. What a disappointing end to their Saturday clash with Man U! Of course, it wasn’t helped by the referee allowing play to continue until Manchester scored just one more goal ;-}