When I was growing up I was taught that supporting Liverpool Football Club was unique. I was joining a family. It was clear from an early age that football brings people from all walks of life together, for a common cause: the love of their club. Liverpool fans always had a reputation within football circles of being a passionate, knowledgeable and patient fan base that were often described as the 12th man from players and managers alike.
Unfortunately, of late, this appears to have changed. There seem to be many contributing factors that are changing football’s landscape for its supporters. Whether it’s the ever-increasing ticket prices, dwindling atmospheres, histrionics from over priced and over-privileged players, or even that the game seems to have lost its big characters that we, as fans, have become accustomed to over the years. The last few years have also seen the emergence of something that has had a huge, irreversible impact on how fans not only support their team but also how they interact with other fans…Twitter.
At this point I should probably mention that I work for a social media company, so I, more than most, am exposed to the power that social media can have, not only in breaking down the barriers of communication across the different levels of society but also in exposing us, as users, to real-time information and content that we could have only dreamed of accessing previously. Twitter has brought so many positives to modern football, specifically in how it allows fans unrivaled access to club news, players, staff and journalists, as well as connecting them to millions of fellow fans from around the globe. It really has changed the way fans can now follow a football club but specifically shifted the dynamic in how football is talked about and debated amongst its supporters.
Let’s go back, way back, before the evolution of Twitter – fans would go to the match, watch it in the pub or at home with family or friends. They would have the usual discussion around starting line-ups, recent form, predictions, screaming and shouting as any normal fan would during a game. Afterwards, there would be a full dissection of performances and tactics with those around you. It would usually consist of a good debate, a bit of ‘banter’, even the odd nod of approval from the lads in the pub as you throw about your two pence worth. Finally when all was said and done, they would stew on the results for a few hours (days if it was the derby) then switch off, press reset and get ready for the next game.
Today’s football fans have it different. They aren’t confined to football discussions a few days before or after a match, for them, it’s 24 hours a day, sharing views with fans from all over the world on Twitter. If they really want it, there is a debate to be had at any time of the day, seven days a week.
This has driven a huge shift in how fans share their views on football. Approval no longer comes in the form of a nodding head, popping up above a pint glass in the boozer, it comes in the form of Favourites, Retweets and Follows from strangers across the globe. Now for some it appears that this approval has become so important, it’s forced them to lose the sense of realism that’s needed as a football fan otherwise they would be exhausted from the constant overreaction to the smallest detail. On Twitter right this second, fans now have hundreds or even thousands of new people agreeing with them, following them, even praising them on their views – surely that must mean something, right? If they can see things that the manager can’t and have all these people agreeing with them then they must have this football lark well and truly sussed out?
As the followers keep pouring in, some fans now feel the need to go deeper and deeper into the analysis of the manager, team, players, systems or even body language, anything that seems to make them stand out, to get that next follower or favourite. The quest for favorites and the resulting lack of realism amongst some fans on Twitter means if you state an opinion online then you’re either in one camp or another. That’s the way it is now, right? There can simply be no middle ground? No voice of reason?
So let’s apply this theory specifically to Liverpool, as our fan base seems one of the most divided on Twitter. If I share a view on our manager, which every fan is entitled to do, for some, my opinion will either make me a deluded Brendan apologist, or that I have a clear agenda against the manager. No middle ground. These divisions don’t just stop at the manager; let’s look at our 25-year-old French defender Mamadou Sakho: some quarters of our fan base will have you believe ‘Mama’ is a world-class defender, a leader amongst men, whilst others will tell you he is an accident waiting to happen, an overrated Djimi Traore on steroids. Again, there is no middle ground.
Now most Liverpool-related topics now have this same extreme divide online, whether it’s transfer committees, coaching staff or owners. Reasonable debate and discussion now seem a thing of the past. Can I as a fan really not apply the same patriotic support that I was taught when growing up, without being typecast as a specific type of blinkered supporter? Can I not still be the type of supporter that wants to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” louder than ever before, when 0-3 down to the best team in Europe? Imagine if on that famous night back in ‘05 in the Ataturk Stadium, it was filled with the type of Liverpool fans that exist on Twitter! The stadium would have been empty at half-time, we would have lost the game comfortably and millions of fans would have never lived, what for many, was the best night of their life. Now I know that’s an extreme example but hopefully you see my point?
Now I have to admit, supporting Liverpool in recent months has become hard work. It’s been tough to watch a team that was on the verge of winning a famous league title, in a style that brought about some of the best attacking play I’ve seen in my lifetime as a Liverpool fan (I’m 30 for those wondering) transform, in little over a season, into a team that looks devoid of identify, fluidity, tempo or creativity. Fans are absolutely right to ask questions and be disappointed at our fall from grace but where it stops for me is the constant negativity and abuse of the manager, players or their families. I have even seen that some ‘fans’ would rather see Liverpool lose the derby in order to see the manager relieved of his duties. For me all that goes against what I was taught it meant to be a Liverpool supporter.
For what its worth – here is how I see things at the moment. We currently sit two points away from a top four place and although we’ve seen some disappointing performances, it isn’t too bad considering some of the teams we’ve already played. Yes, shape and style of play has been frustrating but luckily we now appear to have shifted to two up top, which allows us to be much more creative and dynamic. Our fluidity looked better against Villa and we scored three goals for the first time in I don’t know how long. I enjoyed watching my team score goals and win a game of football again, that’s all I want.
There are things that concern me; our defence still doesn’t look right and we seem to lack genuine leaders in the back line. We also have a tough run of fixtures coming up that will give us a much clearer indication as to exactly where we are at once navigated. I don’t personally buy into the hysteria often whipped up online. Our manager has faults that he should certainly be made accountable but he also has strengths and be the catalyst for things that he should be equally given credit for. If results get worse then a new manager will come in. I don’t care who that manager is, as long as my team starts to win. Football is a game often decided by fine lines and now, more than ever, you are only as good as your last game. I try not to over react and see the positives where I can but also realistic enough to know that this squad should be performing better than it is and for that the book stops with the manager. So now I’ll as you a question: Now that I have shared my views does that make me clueless, an apologist or have an agenda because my views perhaps don’t match yours? Or does it just make me a fan that likes to share his views, debate and support my club like we did back in the good auld days?
JH.
