By LFC Vancouver member Keith Perkins, 28 September 06.

If nothing else can be said for the past week, then at least we can silence those critics who were saying that we just couldn’t score. After a run of three matches with zeroes on our end of the score line, we had two against Newcastle last week and now three each against Tottenham and Galatasaray. That’s eight goals in three games, or 2.67 per game, which is a gazillion percent increase over the previous three. Enough about statistics, what about the games themselves?

Another case of feeling confident before a match, following a convincing win against Newcastle. Spurs were a few players short, and even with a full squad haven’t had much joy at Anfield since some time way back in the Shankly era. It may not be that long ago but it must seem like it to the Spurs, who actually haven’t beaten us in a League match at home since 1993.

This was another early start, which meant getting up early for me to ensure that the VCR was recording properly. After that it was a trip down to LSPH to watch the tape at 11:00AM with those who had managed to avoid knowing the score until then. A good crowd turned up and we had a good time watching an outcome that was completely different to our last get-together down there (two weeks ago). It was good to see some new faces, and to get a few more people signed up.

As for the match itself, it was a bit of work all through the first half, with a tight battle from both sides. Former Liverpool player Danny Murphy made a bit of a nuisance of himself, but the best chance came to Bellamy when he picked up the ball on the left of the box and quickly fired a shot goalward. That was a test for England ‘keeper Paul Robinson who somehow managed to fly across to keep it out.

As the second half started, Liverpool were looking a bit faster paced and we should have been in front early. Lots of chances but no goals. Glenn said to me “if they score one, they’ll score three.” I offered him a bet on that but he didn’t take it (neither would I, as I already knew the final score, but he didn’t know that!).

Sometimes it’s a funny old game and with all the attacking that we were doing, it was Spurs who came closest to scoring after Davids came on after 61 minutes. No sooner was he on than he was charging down the left flank and put in an excellent cross to a wide open Jermaine Jenas, who somehow missed a tap-in to an open net. Sometimes it’s a cruel game, and that was demonstrated a minute later when Alonso tackled Murphy to give us possession, and then fed the ball to Gerrard who crossed it in perfectly to Bellamy who hit the post. Luckily for us, the rebound fell to the feet of the inrushing Gonzalez who fired it in for the opening goal. That appeared to take all of the energy out of Spurs, who seemed content to hang back and try to absorb more pressure. That pressure paid off for us ten minutes later when Garcia side-footed the ball for a precision pass through the flat footed Spurs defence, right into Kuyt’s reach. Somehow (and it’s more impressive in the slow motion replay) he picked it out of the air with his foot, turned and hammered it home all in one motion. Robinson had no chance.

Game over, or not? It was good to see us continue to attack and push Spurs back even more. We have to have that killer instinct and finish the opposition off if we have any aspirations to compete for the title. The match was almost over and looked as if it was just a matter of protecting the lead, when Riise took a page out of Alonso’s book just before the 90 minutes was up and fired in a screamer from about 35 yards. Smiles all around at LSPH as the final whistle blew, especially for me as I told Glenn that he should have taken that bet with me! Now he caught on to the fact that I’d already seen the match earlier in the morning. A 3-0 result is no better than 1-0 in terms of points but it’s worth a lot in terms of confidence, and that’s what we need plenty of as we settle into a routine of two matches per week for the immediate future.

Another midweek match at LSPH to watch the Setanta satellite broadcast of our second Champions League group stage match. Rafa’s rotation left Bellamy on the bench in favour of Crouch, Gerrard in the middle with Alonso leaving Sissoko on the bench, Garcia and Pennant on the wings, and Carragher back in place of Hyypia. Other than that, there were no changes from four days ago!

Crouch looked like he was out to prove a point, i.e. that he’s worthy of a starting place in the squad. If anyone wondered if he would still have the confidence to score after being left on the bench for a few games, then he answered that after 9 minutes. Aurelio picked up the ball from a midfield pass, way over on the left touchline. A beautiful curving cross found Crouch at the far post, where the length of his legs allowed him to reach the ball around his marker and volley it into the net.

Five minutes later, it was Luis Garcia’s turn. A poor clearance from a Steve Finnan cross allowed Pennant to lift it across for Garcia to head into a nearly empty net. Two up after less than fifteen minutes and we could have had more. As the first half wore on we continued to attack and barely allowed Galatasaray to move out of their half. Time after time we carved open spaces to push through and leave them stranded.

It was a different story in the second half, as is so often the case lately. The Turks came out trying to get back into the game and must have thought that it was all over for them when Crouch scored his second, only seven minutes after the restart, with a flailing kick from another Finnan cross. Three goals scored for the second game in a row. Would this be the chance to open the floodgates and go for five or six? Probably not as Rafa’s method is to ease off and save the energy for another day when it might be needed more. It was no surprise to me that the pace dropped off, but it was disappointing to say the least when Galatasaray pulled one back within seven minutes, and then another just six minutes after that. From 3-0 to 3-2 in less than fifteen minutes, and we still have almost half an hour left to play. Fortunately we held on and took the three points, which is once again what really counts in the end.

Two very entertaining games, with two good results. From the criticism of not scoring goals, we’re back to the earlier problem of giving away goals too easily. The rotation system continues to be debated but what can you say when you see the results? We’re suddenly back in contention in the Premiership, and find ourselves on top of our Champions League group after playing one-third of our matches. The positive signs are all there, including improvements from players such as Kuyt, Aurelio, and Pennant; all of whom took a little time to settle in. Bellamy is still looking for his first goal after the Champions League qualifier against Macaabi Haifa, and now I’m starting to wonder if he’ll have the same luck as Crouch did last season. Let’s hope not, and that we’ll see the goals he’s capable of sooner rather than later. As I always say, it’s not how you start that matters it’s how you finish. We still have a long way to go, but the ride to the end is going to be exciting.

What do you think? Give Keith your comments at Keith [at] lfcvancouver.com.

By LFC Vancouver member Keith Perkins, 28 September 06.

I don’t think you’ll ever find another case of where one man, or just the mention of the man’s name, can mean so much to so many - Shankly. The man who always had something to say, and was always worth listening to, laid down the foundations upon which Liverpool FC. has been built. From a mediocre second division club where he arrived in 1959, to five time Champions of Europe, it all started with that one man.

Bill Shankly was the youngest of five brothers born in the most humble of surroundings in Glenbuck, Scotland, in 1913. At the age of nineteen he signed professionally for Carlisle United, and the following year transferred to Preston North End for the astounding fee of £500. During his time with Preston, he won an FA Cup with the club, and was capped for Scotland seven times.

His managerial career began at Carlisle, then Grimsby, Workington, Huddersfield, and finally Liverpool. He made it clear that changes had to be made in the way everything was done if Liverpool had any ambition to return to the First Division. The ground and the training facilities were brought up to his standard, older players were sent on their way while new, young and hungry players were brought in. Hungry for success that is, which they began to see very quickly. Ron Yeats and Ian St. John were brought in from Scotland, Gordon Milne was signed from Preston, and young promising players like Chris Lawler, Ian Callaghan, and Tommy Smith were signed as apprentices. It took just over three years to gain promotion, but only two years after that to become First Division champions. Thus began the modern era for Liverpool Football Club.

The methods of training, the routines in practice sessions, and the simple strategy of pass to the nearest red shirt and then move into a position to be passed to, became part of “The Liverpool Way”. He made it clear that this was a team, and no player would ever be bigger than the club. He emphasised strength, as well as skill, and pushed the players to their limits to be able to withstand the most gruelling of matches without breaking down.

He wasn’t bluffing either. Only two years after returning to Division One, Liverpool were Champions. A year later the club won their first ever FA Cup. The following year, they won the League again. Meanwhile, the domestic success led to entry into Europe’s elite competitions. Although results were disappointing at first, there was always a lot to be proud of. A few years of runner-up places followed with “almosts” in the League, the European Cup Winners Cup, the Inter-City Fairs Cup, and in the European Champions Cup.

As the decade of the 1960’s came to an end, the club suffered some humiliating defeats, including the famous loss to Watford in the FA Cup. One of the great qualities of Bill Shankly was that he would not dwell on mistakes but would take action to rectify any problems. Out went many of the great players of the previous years, and in came players to build Shankly’s second great squad. Relative unknowns like Kevin Keegan and Ray Clemence from Scunthorpe, former semi-professionals Steve Heighway and Brian Hall, and John Toshack from Cardiff City. With this new group of players (only Peter Thompson, Tommy Smith, and Ian Callaghan remained from the previous squad) Liverpool won the League and UEFA Cup in 1973, and then their second FA Cup in 1974. Shankly was not content to live on past glories; he wanted to show that he could achieve success all over again and wouldn’t rest until he had.

That 1974 FA Cup final is remembered for several outstanding reasons. Partly for the one-sidedness of the play with Liverpool winning 3-0, and also for the images of Shankly giving hand signals from the bench as if he was conducting an orchestra out on the Wembley turf. Then, shortly after that second cup final win, he shocked the world with the announcement of his resignation/retirement. The man of whom it was said that he couldn’t live without football had suddenly and unexpectedly given it all up. For me, at that time, I just couldn’t see how Liverpool could ever be successful again. There was only one Shanks, and there could never be another manager as good as he was at bringing in players, motivating them, and then driving them on to success. How wrong I was, and how wrong we all were. His assistant, Bob Paisley, took over and continued with the same methods – The Liverpool Way – and went on to greater success than ever. Success continued even after Bob Paisley’s retirement with Joe Fagan, and then under the management of Kenny Dalglish. It was all because of those solid foundations laid down by Bill Shankly starting in the late 1950’s.

In recognition for his services to football, Bill Shankly was awarded the OBE in 1974, shortly after his retirement. Sadly, retirement didn’t suit the man who found that he really couldn’t live without football. It was a sometimes lonely retirement, and it’s well documented that Shankly often admitted that perhaps he had retired too early. He did find, though, that looking at football from the outside after all the years on the inside, gave him a new insight into the game, which he shared with anyone willing to listen. Unfortunately, it was decided that he would not be made welcome at Melwood because of his causing a distraction for the players who should be following Bob Paisley and no one else. It was also decided that a place on the board of directors would not be appropriate because of his past comments about directors and his many disputes with them over the years.

In his later years, he was often consulted on football matters by other clubs. They may ask his opinion on team formations, dealing with problem players, or asking him to act as an informal talent scout for a player that they may be interested in signing. In the end, he was spending almost as much time travelling up and down the country as he used to spend as manager of Liverpool FC. Of course it was actually a lot less time than when he was manager, and he was able to spend a lot more time with his family.

The above quote was made during the taping of an interview for a Granada television show in 1981. Tragically it was only a short time later that a heart attack claimed his life. Bill Shankly passed away on September 29th, 1981. This coming Friday marks the 25th anniversary not of the end of his life, but the beginning of his immortality. At the first home game after his funeral, a huge banner was unfurled on The Kop that read “Shankly Lives Forever.” The bond between the man and the people of Liverpool could not have been stronger. He was adored, revered, and virtually sanctified among Liverpool supporters. The club recognised his contributions and his success over the years that he was manager, and commemorated his life with the installation of the Shankly Gates which were formally opened by his wife Nessie.

In 1997, a bronze statue of the great man was unveiled outside the new visitor centre at Anfield. The statue stands roughly eight feet tall on a four sided plinth. The sculptor, Tom Murphy, describes it this way:

“I wanted to make the statue look like a living thing. The pose I chose is one people will immediately recognise – arms straight out and triumphant, saluting victory before his adoring fans.”

The inscription on the base simply reads: Bill Shankly – He made the people happy. And I for one can think of no more fitting tribute to the legendary man than that.

What do you think? Give Keith your comments at Keith [at] lfcvancouver.com.