The RTK

[psl]

Is it just me that finds this all a bit cringe worthy? I mean, if only someone had written this before the Chelsea semi, maybe the crowd would have made a half decent noise then hey?

 

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...070227-1146.htm

 

RTK: BARCA TIMEBOMB NIGHT

Kevin Sampson 27 February 2007

 

In a legacy of great Anfield European nights, next Tuesday?s second leg tie against Barcelona could be up there with the most memorable nights of all.

 

Even at 2-1 up, the game is delicately poised. Anything, literally anything could happen - and it's down to us, the 'Original 12th Man' to play a massive part in making sure things go in our favour. The players have done their part in the first leg, now it's our turn.

 

Whether we like it or not, the time bomb is ticking on Anfield. At most, we have two seasons left after this, so every single European night is, from now on, a precious, treasured experience to store in the memory bank. Let's make sure that this, and every Anfield European night we have left, goes off like a nuclear bomb.

 

Here are some of the things that football's most respected old heads have been saying about our support recently:

 

David Pleat

 

"Anfield is the only stadium in Britain where the crowd is truly the 12th Man. It's a cascade of noise thundering all round the ground and I doubt Barcelona's players will have ever experienced anything like it..."

 

Bobby Robson

 

"I think that playing at Liverpool's stadium is one of the most memorable experiences you can have as a footballer," claimed the 73-year-old. "The fans are incredible. It is different. The team belongs to the supporters; it is the team of the city and because of this, they create a very special atmosphere.

 

"They sing, scream, are noisy and they generate an infernal atmosphere but, at the same time, it is very sporting. Barca can expect to have a bad time in Liverpool. If they go there and do not lose, they will have done well for themselves. The atmosphere that the players will encounter is one of the most stimulating that they could see right now in a stadium. The players will love it."

 

And they're right. On nights like these, it's not just The Kop that rocks - it's the whole Anfield crowd. Anfield. Say it slowly, because we need to relish every last taste of these electric, deafening, spine-tingling, nerve-shredding, world-famous, tumults of noise and colour that has spread the name of Liverpool Football Club far and wide.

 

Liverpool versus Barcelona at Anfield - the sudden death, clash of the titans between the last two winners of the world's greatest club competition. It doesn't get any bigger than that. This is the sort of world-stage occasion that has made Liverpool, and our Anfield cauldron, into a worldwide phenomenon. So let's make it a night to remember.

 

Not just The Kop - wherever you are in the ground, make sure you're seen and heard. Bring your scarves, rosettes, flags old and new. All those classic old banners - from 'Here We Go Gathering Cups In May' to 'What's Up Doc' to 'Wine For My Men' - this is our history, and every flag tells a marvellous story. Let's have them all out on Tuesday and raise them proudly, a living, vivid testament to our glorious Anfield past.

 

This is one night when we have to get in there early and let the Barca players know what they're in for. When those teams finally walk out onto the pitch, let's hit them with a wall of noise and colour like they haven't known before, and let's drive the Redmen on, all the way to Athens.

 

1. Get in the ground as early as you can, let?s have it rocking as the players warm up.

 

2. Bring those banners, old and new and hold them up with pride, turn Anfield into a cauldron of passion, colour and noise.

 

The time bomb is ticking. Let's give Anfield the mother of all blitzkriegs - while we still can.

[Mike]

i think its a fair point though to the match going fans amongst us, that we should be consious that the clock is ticking on the demolition of anfield - and every european night should be savoured accordingly...cos when its gone, its gone.

[Falconhoof]

No harm in adding encouragement to fans to make it a special night, of course it will be anyway but it helps to keep stoking the fires.

 

I was a skeptic of RTK at first but that protest against KM was breathtaking, brought a lump to my throught (throat even ffs!)and there was a note of respect from even usually cynical journalists and pundits.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Cardinal Fang

[allez les rouges]

No harm in adding encouragement to fans to make it a special night, of course it will be anyway but it helps to keep stoking the fires.

 

I was a skeptic of RTK at first but that protest against KM was breathtaking, brought a lump to my throught and there was a note of respect from even usually cynical journalists and pundits.

 

i agree. nowt wrong with it all.

 

How many times have our managers gave encouragement to the crowd before a huge game?

[Gomez]

Here are some of the things that football's most respected old heads have been saying about our support recently:

 

David Pleat

 

Stopped reading there.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

You argue that nobody needs to say anything for the Barca game - but IMHO the aim of the group was to draw attention to the essence of what made Anfield so special. Its special enough for the CL games but something was obviously getting lost over the years such that silly chants were deemed acceptable such as "Who are ye" and "You're not singing anymore"

[cymrococh]

I found the concept of giving Anfield 'the mother of all blitzkreigs' really confusing.

[Cobs]

You argue that nobody needs to say anything for the Barca game - but IMHO the aim of the group was to draw attention to the essence of what made Anfield so special. Its special enough for the CL games but something was obviously getting lost over the years such that silly chants were deemed acceptable such as "Who are ye" and "You're not singing anymore"

which when you watch ESPN Classic and see the old Anfield/Kop you remember were sung back in the good old days anyway....

[Rory Fitzgerald]

which when you watch ESPN Classic and see the old Anfield/Kop you remember were sung back in the good old days anyway....

 

Quite possibly the best channel in the world..........

[Mike]

I found the concept of giving Anfield 'the mother of all blitzkreigs' really confusing.

[liverbird04]

Its not the european nights that need this treatment

[berdoing]

The whole RTK thing is well-meaning but very, very badly executed.

[Guest Yozza]

I understand the mativation behind the article and the whole RTK, but do we really need to be told what to do and how to do it.

The big European nights at Anfield have always been something to savour and will continue to be with or without someone "telling" us how to enjoy them.

[Cunny]

it's hard to criticise lads trying to do something about the atmosphere but games against Barca, Everton and Arsenal are hardly the games that require the atmosphere boosting.

It's games like Sheff Utd on Saturday, when the atmosphere is back to it's morgue like worst.

[johngibo YPC]

I don't see anything wrong with that article. I admit the RTK lads can be a bit condecending but they are not in this article IMO. They are just trying to get people in early and singing.

[Gray - YPC]

The whole RTK idea seems to be getting quite a bit of criticism, but the way I see it is that it's just trying to highlight the things that make The Kop special, trying to get away from the crap that dilutes The Kop.

 

Much has been written about the atmosphere not being like it was - at least those involved with RTK have got of thier arses and decided to pro-actively do something about it!!

[Rushian]

It's a rallying call. We have them before most big European games. It's also a call for a flag day, something which has always been advertised like this.

 

It's a call to get in the ground early and really make this one of the great nights.

 

Is there really anything wrong with that?

[Ombudsam]

I didn't like the idea too much of RTK when it first started but that article is a good one

[Koller49]

Fair article if you ask me...

 

Same stuff is usually said in some form or other before every big game.

 

Saturday then Tuesday.. gonna be a good few days for Anfield I hope.

[Jarg Armani]

if you don't like it, do something about it or shut up. in the nicest possible sense.

[Guest L4 Lad]

at the risk of being cyber-lynched, i'm all for RTK and their aims.

 

they have opened a can of worms with that forum of their because users from all sorts of LFC forums (e.g. the offal and others) are converging and there's a conflict of opinion amongst the forumites.

 

i'll be honest the cilla banner in barcelona was the blue touch paper to the entire shenanegans on there but the RTK committee are still working hard to recreate the atmosphere of the old days which is a big ask in the all-seater era.

 

timebomb night sounds like the billing for a student club. i would've made it a flagday as with all great european nights at anfield

[Tetti]

It's a rallying call. We have them before most big European games. It's also a call for a flag day, something which has always been advertised like this.

 

It's a call to get in the ground early and really make this one of the great nights.

 

Is there really anything wrong with that?

 

 

Not a thing. I got a shiver reading that earlier. Just a call to arms and other waving things

 

Pissed off with the late comers at several European games already, in fact if I was not already planning on being in early I would stop them at the gate

 

And as I am not helping with the banner this time for a change I might get to see kick off.

[Cunny]

I thought the Cilla banner was crap but why did that "light the blue touch paper"?

[L19red]

I thought the Cilla banner was crap but why did that "light the blue touch paper"?

like so much of the RTK stuff, its all web/written and so all the nuance of tone of voice is lost and people interpret comments in whichever way they choose. Banter is much easier when you can see facial expressions and hear tone of voice. I think the cilla banner is crap as well, but if i made a comment to the lads that made it, it would be half serious half mickey taking and certainly I wouldnt be aggressive about it, for me thats the essence of banter. Reading the words on the page though you cant really convey that, it just looks like a snidey dig.

[johngibo YPC]

at the risk of being cyber-lynched, i'm all for RTK and their aims.

 

 

I don't think anyone on here would object to an atmosphere similar to the old days (although some of the old fellas on here say it wasn't as good as people make out anyway) and they should be applauded for trying to do something about it.

However a few on here dislike there language and there arrogance. There is also a contradiction between what they say the problem is (day trippers who don't know the songs) and what we can see with our own eyes (season ticket holders who can't be arsed)