A Banquet Without Wine - Book Review
A Banquet Without Wine by Anthony Stanley
Book Review by Shane Clancy for AnfieldIndex.com
This was a monumental undertaking for Anthony Stanley. The book provides a fast-moving, yet brilliantly detailed history of our great club in the Premier League era.
First things first - there is only one specific requirement to guarantee your love of this book; you must be a Liverpool fan. Jeez, even if you’re just a football fan that should do it.
Anthony has made a pretty …
The Importance of Keeping Coutinho
In recent years, Liverpool have acted too much like a small club in the transfer market. The club has developed a reputation for signing high potential players to eventually sell-on for higher fees once those players reach close to their maximum output. Since 2009, Liverpool have lost Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Sterling, Torres and Luis Suarez for a total of around £235m after signing those players for around £72.2m. This may be considered by some to be good business, as Liverpool …
10 Years Since Torres
July 4th will always have a place in Liverpool fan’s hearts. Back in 2007, Rafael Benitez smashed the club’s record transfer fee to bring Fernando Torres to Anfield for £20.2 million.
During his three-and-a-half-year spell, Torres established himself as one of the best No.9’s the club had ever seen. Much like Bonny and Clyde, Batman and Robin or Harvey and Mike from TV series Suits (yes, I’m a huge fan), El Nino and Liverpool were perfect partners in crime.
A …
The Rise and Fall of Rafa Benitez
With Lucas Leiva set to leave Liverpool FC for Lazio there will no longer by any players left at the club, who were managed by Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard is a beloved figure at Anfield but the state in which he left the club, even though not entirely his fault, has left a bitter taste in some supporters. The fans saw Benitez build a finely tuned football machine over 4 years only to see it fail to win any silverware and …
The Cult of Lucas Leiva
Liverpool fans are an emotional and nostalgic bunch. We feel the need to eulogise our players to the point where there always needs to be someone at the club who can be considered a legend. With Lucas Leiva the longest standing player at the club and the only member of the first team who was around the last time we won a trophy except for our captain (and God knows our fan-base will refuse to acknowledge Hendo as a good …
The Seven Year Itch | FSG - A Review
In October of 2010, Fenway Sports Group purchased Liverpool FC for £300 million. In his first statement as owner, John Henry claimed,
'We're here to win and we'll do whatever is necessary.'Fast-forward almost seven years later, and fans are still divided as to whether FSG have been good owners for the club, and whether the club has progressed, regressed, or simply remained stationary for this period. Under FSG, Liverpool FC have had four managers: Roy Hodgson (sacked January 2011), Kenny …
Booing and Fan Hypocrisy
Football fans are hypocrites. Downright hypocrites.
Yes, you! I’m talking about you. Specifically you. You more than most.
Not me though. I’m pure as the driven snow.
What has driven me to this tirade? It’s this.
On Sunday afternoon, in the hammering rain of the Etihad, Liverpool’s left-back was booed. People actually contorted their faces and made a sound they probably haven’t used since the last time they watched a pantomime. His crime? Touching the ball. Booed.
Just think about …
The January Transfer Window - A Time For Trust
And so the time is upon us once again.
As December draws to a close, the sense of excitement and anticipation increases with the prospect of the of the January transfer window opening once more. Twitter is abuzz as the rumour mill goes into overdrive, irritating clickbait articles spread like a common cold and everyone throws in their two pennies worth as to who their club should or shouldn’t be signing.
As a Liverpool fan, transfer windows are as exhausting …
Liverpool's Late Winners
Learning to Love the Fat Lady’s Tune
When Sadio Mané reacted fastest to the rebound, breaking Everton hearts on Monday night, he unleashed the most primal act in all of us. If you weren’t at Goodison, then, like me, you were up off the couch, fists clenched with the most guttural of roars leaving your throat.
Relief, coupled with mild disbelief, takes over. You watch the players celebrate, dreading the linesman’s flag, then you hear Mike Dean’s whistle during the …
Gerrard and Torres... Can their feats be reproduced?
So, it has been well documented amongst commentators and fans alike that this Liverpool side, charged by the wizardry of Philippe Coutinho and the heavy mental approach of manager Jurgen Klopp, look the real deal.
The reds so far this season have scored 40 goals, and after the 14 games we have had, this is the highest amount of goals at this stage we as supporters have experienced in 121 years.
The swashbuckling and sometimes (always) samba dancing front three …