Another Time, Similar Place

Fans of Liverpool are commonly accused of forever looking backwards at our history, and not to the future. Probably a true accusation, but who can blame us with such a unique, fabulous, and sometimes very dark history. Sometimes you can draw parallels at points in history that strike a chord with what’s happening now.

I started watching on a regular basis 71/72 season. Shanklys great teams of the 60s had been broken up, and a new team was being assembled. A young team of great promise had just lost the 71 cup final to Arsenal, I was devastated, but remember my uncle Willie telling me "this team are the bees knees, mark my words".

I started taking me every game from them on. Keegan's debut against Forest, his emergence with Toshack.  Hughes, Clemence ,Heighway, a young team was challenging for the title . A buzz of anticipation gathered amongst the fans as we just missed out on the title.

Having to win at Arsenal we only drew 0-0. I recall a screamer of a goal from Toshack being wrongly disallowed by the ref (kirkpatrick, ugly fat baldy git). Derby were crowned champs sitting on a beach in Majorca. Disappointment yes, but a feeling of impending greatness was in the air. Everyone but everyone sensed this team would be champions and indeed they were, again and again. 

I can now feel the same anticipation of greatness in Rafa's squad. We have held our own against the very best and now we feel ready to move on. My old uncle Willie was dead right, that team were "the bees knees". Mark my words this team is at the same stage.