KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Collymore & Bascombe

I received a lot of messages overnight asking if I'd tuned into Stan Collymore's radio show on talkSPORT last night. Sadly I hadn't. I was unaware that the former Liverpool FC striker was going to host such an in-depth and enjoyable debate about the Reds.

When I woke up this morning, I found some of our members engaging in discussions about what was said so I knew I had to try and locate a recording of the show and finally I did. I would urge you to listen to it because I agreed with just about everything.

I even found myself agreeing with Chris Bascombe, a football journalist who was turned on by his own when he dared to leave the Liverpool Echo to work for the News of the World many moons ago. Today he works for The Telegraph or The Torygraph as it's better known.

Bascombe commented on how dated our stadium was when compared to the likes of The Emirates and The Etihad. He said it's only after you've visited such stadiums and then walk back into Anfield that you realise how many miles ahead the other clubs are.

Another interesting point that Bascombe made was how some of our supporters seem to think that they have a right to influence decisions at Anfield. Because the supporters contributed heavily towards the fall of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, he suggested that maybe supporters feel that they're able to do this time and time again and that maybe the club need to start ignoring them. References to the The anti-Glazer movement at Old Trafford were made and how United officials make it clear that theyre running the show and not the supporters, no matter how much they protest.

Collymore also mentioned this 'militant' fan base that has emerged. Personally I prefer to call it the 'clique'. While not everyone who is actively campaigning for 'better things' is an internet terrorist, there are some right numpties floating around, especially on Twitter, who have made themselves the collective 'judge, jury and executioner' on all matters LFC. Now that the Gillett & Hicks ownership is over, the quicker these groups fall by the side the better as I find them an embarrassment. Petitions here, petitions there... it does my trolley in. Petitions relating to Justice and so on, great, fantastic, I'll always sign them, I'm talking about non-sensical petitions. 'Someone wrote something very bad about Liverpool, let's petition to have them sacked!'. You'll have seen them.

There's nothing wrong with having a single supporters union or committee that represents all fans from across the world that the club can engage with but when you see people issuing ultimatums and stuff it makes me wonder if their press releases are written with crayons. Some of these groups are a bit 'cliquey' and if you're face doesn't fit then it's likely that your opinion doesn't either which is why a single group for everyone with a regular change in leadership via elections is essential. The Liverpool Supporters' Committee was a step in the right direction. At least all fans are now represented.

Personally, I prefer to watch the football and talk about the football. I'm selfish like that. At least I'm honest. I simply don't have the time to get upset and stressed out about most things. Following full-time on a Saturday I just want a pint out with my significant other or an evening in with my kids.

Some fans are a little unhealthy with their obsession. Fans in the Far East are often labelled as obsessed and wacky with their support but at least it's always funny and happy where as their obsessive counterparts closer to home are just sociopathic clowns. Fortunately the 'clique' is a minority as the overwhelming majority of our supporters are good people. It is always good to stand up for what you believe in but it's when people cross the lines of decency that I get concerned.

Now I know what you're thinking LOL ... but that editorial when I suggested we don ski masks, sneak into Tom Hicks' bedroom and rise up from the bottom of his bed waving baseball bats was only for comedy value... honest - well the police believed me so you should too

Collymore said that if Liverpool fans dare to speak out or question things, that these militant types pounce. He said when you're not allowed to debate or question then it becomes a cult and I agree.

These supporters, who obviously claim to be die-hard match-goers, should channel their energy into lifting the roof at Anfield on match-days instead of targeting people who refuse to accept blind faith, because the place is like a morgue. There might not be much to shout about but if you can shout your mouth off so much online, then surely you can do the same at Anfield and get behind the lads? That's far more positive than CAPS-LOCKING someone to death online.

During last night's show Collymore insisted that Liverpool should go after a Mourinho type. He said Liverpool's owners must break the bank and sell the club and their project to the best candidates in the game. He believes Mourinho would jump at the chance to knock Fergie off his perch by managing a club like Liverpool but that it all depended on how serious John Henry's FSG are about making Liverpool a force again.

I listened to all of the show for you today and have made notes below about how to listen and which bits to skip. This will save you a lot of time.

I honestly think you should listen to what was discussed. I didn't agree with everything but it got me thinking and it inspired me to write again. Even if you're not a Collymore fan I would urge you to listen because it's important to take on board lots of opinion. Plenty of supporters phoned-in too so you can't claim an agenda.

Note that during the show they refer to this article by Chris Bascombe several times so you may want to read it first.

====

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/73121

1830 > 1900 segment - nothing on LFC

1900 > 1930 segment - Listen between 05:43 > 15:29

1900 > 1930 segment - Listen between 20:48 > 30:00

1930 > 2000 segment - Listen between 00:00 > 04:15

1930 > 2000 segment - Listen between 07:31 > 16:15

1930 > 2000 segment - Listen between 23:23 > 29:10

2000 > 2030 segment - Listen between 06:09 > 17:05

2000 > 2030 segment - Listen between 20:23 > 30:00

2030 > 2100 segment - Listen between 00:00 > 04:31

2030 > 2100 segment - Listen between 07:32 > 13:19

2030 > 2100 segment - Listen between 14:02 > 16:15

2030 > 2100 segment - Listen between 20:11 > 27:57

Change to :

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/71805

2100 > 2130 segment - Listen between 04:16 > 14:26

2100 > 2130 segment - Listen between 17:56 > 30:00

2130 > 2200 segment - Listen between 00:00 > 01:44

2130 > 2200 segment - Listen between 07:56 > 17:32

2130 > 2200 segment - Listen between 20:54 > 23:04

2130 > 2200 segment - Listen between 27:21 > 27:35

====

I welcome your comments below or in our free forums.

YNWA

 

Duncan Oldham
KopTalk.com

 

 

You can follow me on Twitter @DuncanOldham and my team & myself @KopTalk. I would also advise that you follow us on Facebook and YouTube for additional coverage. Got an iPhone/iPod? Get the KopTalk app!

 

* You don't need to be a member to enjoy KOPTALK but your support by becoming a member really helps. A membership costs 10p or less a day and gives you access to an advertising-free website, free worldwide Liverpool FC SMS alerts and more news, snippets of info and video content that you won't find on this non-members website. More details

There is a big upside to fans voicing their opinions and being 'militant' as such.

Man United are still in debt, the loans used to buy the club still incur massive amounts of interest (which could be spent on players). Those supporters are furious that the club that got itself in to such a sound financial position is being used as a cash cow, and was bought on borrowed money.

Look at Wimbledon. They didn’t have enough of a militant fan base and their club was robbed from them. Sitting back and watching isn’t something football fans like to do when something is seriously wrong with their club.

Football clubs have a shared history, when Liverpool were beaten by Wimbledon in ’88, even though it was big disappointment in our history, it was also a shared history with Wimbeldon. A club which no longer exsists.

I actually wish clubs would combine their efforts more to support teams and supporters who are getting shafted up and down the country.

personally i agreed with collymore and bascombe 100% especially about the flawed S.O.S. who think they now run the club and are militant and i have told it to there faces, who tell reds who have gone all over europe home and away following the reds for decades they were not real reds because they were not in there flawed committee , as i say realism is the way forward not sentiment or militancy , and not the spirit of shankly .

I read it all, good read, but I want to reply to some snippets.





To be honest, I expect any "in the know" Liverpool fan to turn on someone who does that. News international owned News of the World (and that other rag) so I think it's expected for people to turn on someone who was local, wrote local, who then "sold out" for the bigger fish.

Not to mention all the corruption and lies that have come out of it in recent times, with Murdoch and his very very very small circle.

What I do agree on is that this "clique" within our fan base, need to be destroyed. It causes a divide and conflict whichever way you look at it.....and we should all be as ONE, if we all have Liverpool FC in our heart.

However we can't disguise the fact that there are also media "cliques"...as I touched on a bit earlier. talkSPORT is also another branch of this, for me anyway. Stan is sound, I respect Stan's opinion, the media tried to destroy him, I won't say "I know Stan"....because I don't know him like that, but put it this way, he's been around....as he's from the area.

But there are other people at that specific station, still with the news international mentality (that I'm told, it apparently doesn't have now) It also pushes *that rag* we so proudly stand against to....and I can't have any affiliation with something that obviously does.

You mention Twitter, which I personally think is one of the worst creations ever made through the internet. Cling on to all the positives about getting "closer" all you want, it causes trouble, end of.....and it should receive no credit whatsoever, and when you see news channels "quoting" what's been said on Twitter about something, I think that answers many questions about why it was allowed to be created in the first place.

Stan touches on a few things I agree with, like the need to bring in a Mourinho figure, but like you say it depends on how serious FSG are about taking this club.

The stadium is important, but it comes secondary, we need to get the team together and stable. I'm seeing it with my local club down here, Wolves. Where they have all the plans in the world to change the stadium (and they are doing) yet face going down this season.....it means nothing....and the temple will remain, regrettably, when the going gets tough. It could end up destroying Wolves.

Stan is worth the listen and worth the time, but as far as I'm concerned Mr. Saggers (from the same sort of Adrian Durham school) should not be given any time, at all, his opinion is given to him, it's not his voice.

Punch and Judy springs to mind!

Mr Henry has not made a statement abt our recent poor poor form.

Very very quite.

I hope henry and his team is talking, taking advice from.people that no and understand the game from top to.bottom .

A quite man is a very dangerous man, especially wen kd, comolli have wasted the clubs/owners 100m, on.average, poor players.

I hope Henry shows his business side and removes kd, comolli from.their jobs at the club.

i think stan was spot on regarding most things he said. thanks for sharing this dunk.

Funny you should mention that - I've just had a missed call from a US phone number.

The owners aren't stupid. The will give the next manager more time because they realise they he will have to work with some of these comically poor players recently signed before he can refresh the squad. The intelligent fans will realise this too and be patient as long as there are signs of improvement.

Oi you,were is your sick note?

hahaha

how u doin mate?