TONIGHT. HALF TIME. IT ENDS NOW

[Spirit Of Shankly]

15 minutes of solid protest from the minute the half time whistle goes. Wherever you are in the ground, make your voice heard.

 

Every single one of you has to share the responsibility to join in. Don't wait for others to take the lead, don't feel self conscious. Get involved, get rowdy. Let's stand together.

 

Those of you who feel that it's hard to get the message out, those of you who feel it's hard to educate people, well have another go now, be emphatic:

• They said they wouldn't do a Glazer and buy the club with its own money. They have. We'll be paying off 30m a year for them to own our club.
  
• They said there would be a spade in the ground within 60 days of taking over. Still no start date for the stadium. And they still haven't secured the money to buy it.
  
• They said they'd back our traditions and way of doing things. They offered the manager's job to Jurgen Klinsmann and then discussed it publicly
  
• They haven't spent a penny of their own money – all the signings are on the never never. When does the never never end?
  
• For this investment of theirs to work they need us to finish fourth year in, year out and get the stadium built. Success for Kop Holdings and success for LFC are not the same thing.
  

If you feel people need educating, people in your work, your school, your boozer, your house, print that out and give it to them. Talk to them. Tell them why you are so angry, tell them why we need change. No one is saying DIC will be perfect but it'll be fresh start, a chance to move this football club which we all love forward.

 

Hicks and Gillett dragged this club through the mud and have wasted a year of our time. It ends now. They should go now.

 

Tonight. Half time. Tell Hicks and Gillett exactly that.

[johngibo YPC]

Great idea that.

I am in favour of continuing it right through the second half if we are 3-0 up as well (serious wishful thinking!!)

[Chili Palmer]

and sing what?

 

just make noise?

[Guest Ant]

Spread the f***ing word guys, we are facing one of the most crucial moments in Liverpool Football Club's history.

[johngibo YPC]

and sing what?

 

just make noise?

 

There are a few songs knocking about already

 

They don't care about Rafa

They don't care about fans

Liverpool Football club

Its in the wrong hands

 

Get out of our club

get out of our club

You lying b******s

Get out of our club

 

for example

May be some new ones tonight too

Edited March 5, 2008 by johngibo YPC

[Guest Ant]

Focus on Hicks, get this t*** out.

 

Hicks Out

 

(Clap, Clap, Clap)

 

Hicks Out

 

(Clap, Clap, Clap)

[Chili Palmer]

There are a few songs knocking about already

 

They don't care about Rafa

They don't care about fans

Liverpool Football club

Its in the wrong hands

 

Get out of our club

get out of our club

You lying b******s

Get out of our club

 

for example

May be some new ones tonight too

 

Yeah, but if the SOS are putting that on all the forums, they should have 1 song, the whole crowd sing it for 15 minutes, better impact than leaving it up to anyone. imo anyway.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Kieran

[Andy @ Allerton]

Not personally convinced by any of this. The Manager and Players have alread said (Hinted?) that off the field tensions have affected their game - and the fortunes of the club - especially in the league.

 

Lets say we're doing OK at half time - we do this mass protest (Which the players will hear in the dressing room) and they come out - play like a bag of s**** and we end up losing the game - leaving Everton above us in fourth.

 

Protesting is fine - but when it could potentially affect the game being played on the pitch?

[liveabiglife]

Why in the middle of a match we need to win? How will this help the team tonight? And what evidence is there that Hicks could care what people shout at him? Noise and bluster is generally an ineffective strategy unless you are up against weak-minded, weak-willed people, and while H&G have showed themselves to be many things, weak is not among them.

 

Ever since this approach started I have believed it is doomed to fail. It's not a good negotiating strategy, it doesn't persuade and it shows absolutelhy no awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent. I honestly believe match days should be about the football, not the politics, and all this is simply making me disillusioned about Liverpool.

 

I want to see them gone, but this isn't the way, in my opinion, and by following this path, the entire fan base has lost any room for manoeuvre. We have presented ourselves as a militant and unsophisticated opponent, and, perhaps more worryingly a one-shot gun. Our only bullet is anger, and that is easily dodged by someone who thinks like Hicks.

 

I don't mean to sound like I'm being critical, so I'm sorry if it comes over that way. I know how deep this issue goes and I understand where the need to protest is coming from, and I don't feel any different. The whole thing is a big big mess, but we are in danger of making the mess worse, not better. I just feel we've missed a trick: we started with teh approach of last resort, and now we have no-where left to go, and will end up damaging the team more than we help it if we carry on down this path.

 

I read these calls for protest, and my heart sinks. This is a short-term strategy in a long-term game. H&G may go quickly, but I suspect they may not, too, but we'll be out of ammunition with a war still to fight. It's like the parent who shouts all teh time - there comes a point when people say "they're at it again, roll their eyes and carry on regardless. It's time to take a step back, regroup and find another way - a pragmatic, strategic way that is grounded in humility and devoid of anger.

[Romario]

What about a dirty protest

[johngibo YPC]

I don't mean to sound like I'm being critical

 

Well come up with a f***ing alternative then

[Gunga Din]

Well come up with a f***ing alternative then

 

 

i've said this before, but the most visable protest to the owners, teh media, the sponsors, will be the boycott of a televised game

[Guest Ant]

I think recent developments have made such actions both unwise and unrealistic.

 

It's a crucial time in the history of this club, Hicks is almost out the door, lets kick him out the rest of the way.

[johngibo YPC]

i've said this before, but the most visable protest to the owners, teh media, the sponsors, will be the boycott of a televised game

 

But how do you go about organising this? How many people actively come on this forum? About 100? And how many of those actually go the match? And this is one of the main 4 or 5 forums.

I think the protest will be a great way of showing everyone we are standing together. If the majority join in our voices will be heard. This will show Hicks we are not to be f***ed around. It will be reported in the media that we are not f***ing around and they will show more interest in groups like SOS. It will also hopefully bring more attention to SOS from Liverpool fans who have not heard about them, and then hopefully more people will get involved.

If we can prove we are a united front then tactics that you talk about can be explored. If people won't even sing at half time then its never going to happen. I don't think anyone is saying that this protest is going to do anything in itself. But its a bloody great start in my opinion

[liveabiglife]

Well come up with a f***ing alternative then

 

I have already hinted at what I think, several times; I haven't been specific because I have had teh impression that the more vocal elements on the forums woudl rather protest than take a step back, so I didn't see the point. But, since you explicitly asked...

 

We need a dispassionate, strategic, multi-faceted approach. We need to be sophisticated in our use of teh media, we need to start applying the principles of the six degrees of separation and see who we can access in places of influence. We need a co-ordinated body to lead it with a broad skill-base - legal, financial, marketing, PR etc - set it up as a legal entity and have a structure. DO everything possible to present a credible, professional face and take the battle off the stands and into the board room. Incorporate SoS, set up a proper board structure, put forward a business plan and utilise links with ShareLFC to raise some seed funding. Then use viral campaigns, press releases, editorials and advertising to begin to undermine G&H.

 

It's not that difficult, but it needs people to accept that this is unlikely to be a war won quickly, but if we play it right, it's one we wont only win, but will come out of with zero casualties - no lost credibility, no lost honour and be applauded.

 

The purpose of the Company (required for the objects) could be to create active and meaningful links between LFC and the communities it serves, establishing initiatives to benefit those communities through sport. That way, the Company has longevity as that is something that could stand teh test of time, but in teh meantime could legitimately attempt to bring about ownership change as this could be seen as a blockage to it achieving it's aims. There are loads of purposes that could be used, that was just one example.

 

I'd ceratinly be up for getting involved in somethig that was put together with real purpose and direction.

[Guest Ant]

I have already hinted at what I think, several times; I haven't been specific because I have had teh impression that the more vocal elements on the forums woudl rather protest than take a step back, so I didn't see the point. But, since you explicitly asked...

 

We need a dispassionate, strategic, multi-faceted approach. We need to be sophisticated in our use of teh media, we need to start applying the principles of the six degrees of separation and see who we can access in places of influence. We need a co-ordinated body to lead it with a broad skill-base - legal, financial, marketing, PR etc - set it up as a legal entity and have a structure. DO everything possible to present a credible, professional face and take the battle off the stands and into the board room. Incorporate SoS, set up a proper board structure, put forward a business plan and utilise links with ShareLFC to raise some seed funding. Then use viral campaigns, press releases, editorials and advertising to begin to undermine G&H.

 

It's not that difficult, but it needs people to accept that this is unlikely to be a war won quickly, but if we play it right, it's one we wont only win, but will come out of with zero casualties - no lost credibility, no lost honour and be applauded.

 

The purpose of the Company (required for the objects) could be to create active and meaningful links between LFC and the communities it serves, establishing initiatives to benefit those communities through sport. That way, the Company has longevity as that is something that could stand teh test of time, but in teh meantime could legitimately attempt to bring about ownership change as this could be seen as a blockage to it achieving it's aims. There are loads of purposes that could be used, that was just one example.

 

I'd ceratinly be up for getting involved in somethig that was put together with real purpose and direction.

 

To cut my reply short.

 

We are doing all of the above.

[Frosty Jack]

I'd ceratinly be up for getting involved in somethig that was put together with real purpose and direction.

 

In that case, contact Knox and get involved with your suggestions.

[Gunga Din]

But how do you go about organising this? How many people actively come on this forum? About 100? And how many of those actually go the match? And this is one of the main 4 or 5 forums.

I think the protest will be a great way of showing everyone we are standing together. If the majority join in our voices will be heard. This will show Hicks we are not to be f***ed around. It will be reported in the media that we are not f***ing around and they will show more interest in groups like SOS. It will also hopefully bring more attention to SOS from Liverpool fans who have not heard about them, and then hopefully more people will get involved.

If we can prove we are a united front then tactics that you talk about can be explored. If people won't even sing at half time then its never going to happen. I don't think anyone is saying that this protest is going to do anything in itself. But its a bloody great start in my opinion

 

if organised right, if we leaflet a few matched in the run up to a boycotted game, the media coverage would be huge, as its never really been done before, and it would escalate from there.

[johngibo YPC]

To cut my reply short.

 

We are doing all of the above.

 

Thats what i thought

You are just using less w***y words

[Tones]

I have already hinted at what I think, several times; I haven't been specific because I have had teh impression that the more vocal elements on the forums woudl rather protest than take a step back, so I didn't see the point. But, since you explicitly asked...

 

We need a dispassionate, strategic, multi-faceted approach. We need to be sophisticated in our use of teh media, we need to start applying the principles of the six degrees of separation and see who we can access in places of influence. We need a co-ordinated body to lead it with a broad skill-base - legal, financial, marketing, PR etc - set it up as a legal entity and have a structure. DO everything possible to present a credible, professional face and take the battle off the stands and into the board room. Incorporate SoS, set up a proper board structure, put forward a business plan and utilise links with ShareLFC to raise some seed funding. Then use viral campaigns, press releases, editorials and advertising to begin to undermine G&H.

 

It's not that difficult, but it needs people to accept that this is unlikely to be a war won quickly, but if we play it right, it's one we wont only win, but will come out of with zero casualties - no lost credibility, no lost honour and be applauded.

 

The purpose of the Company (required for the objects) could be to create active and meaningful links between LFC and the communities it serves, establishing initiatives to benefit those communities through sport. That way, the Company has longevity as that is something that could stand teh test of time, but in teh meantime could legitimately attempt to bring about ownership change as this could be seen as a blockage to it achieving it's aims. There are loads of purposes that could be used, that was just one example.

 

I'd ceratinly be up for getting involved in somethig that was put together with real purpose and direction.

 

Nonsense. We need a witch hunt followed by a burning!

Edited March 5, 2008 by t1971

[Guest Ant]

Seriously though

 

You don't realise the amount of work that the likes of Neil have put into this BennyBobo, it's being organised as well as it possibly can.

 

If you have any ideas come to the public meetings, but at the moment we are making split second decisons such as the change of the state of play at the club.

 

We are doing the best we can and we wlecome ANY input, and that includes yours mate.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Ant

[Knox_Harrington]

I have already hinted at what I think, several times; I haven't been specific because I have had teh impression that the more vocal elements on the forums woudl rather protest than take a step back, so I didn't see the point. But, since you explicitly asked...

 

We need a dispassionate, strategic, multi-faceted approach. We need to be sophisticated in our use of teh media, we need to start applying the principles of the six degrees of separation and see who we can access in places of influence. We need a co-ordinated body to lead it with a broad skill-base - legal, financial, marketing, PR etc - set it up as a legal entity and have a structure. DO everything possible to present a credible, professional face and take the battle off the stands and into the board room. Incorporate SoS, set up a proper board structure, put forward a business plan and utilise links with ShareLFC to raise some seed funding. Then use viral campaigns, press releases, editorials and advertising to begin to undermine G&H.

 

It's not that difficult, but it needs people to accept that this is unlikely to be a war won quickly, but if we play it right, it's one we wont only win, but will come out of with zero casualties - no lost credibility, no lost honour and be applauded.

 

The purpose of the Company (required for the objects) could be to create active and meaningful links between LFC and the communities it serves, establishing initiatives to benefit those communities through sport. That way, the Company has longevity as that is something that could stand teh test of time, but in teh meantime could legitimately attempt to bring about ownership change as this could be seen as a blockage to it achieving it's aims. There are loads of purposes that could be used, that was just one example.

 

I'd ceratinly be up for getting involved in somethig that was put together with real purpose and direction.

As Ant has said, we are already essentially doing that.

 

www.spiritofshankly.com

 

But the point is that while this very hard work goes on in the background we are buffetted by the reality of day to day events. You are more than welcome to come to our meeting on Saturday 15th March and voice these views publicly. You'll find they are are already accepted.

[liveabiglife]

To cut my reply short.

 

We are doing all of the above.

 

OK, but so far, all I see from SoS is talk of organising more protests. There's been no endorsement of the use of the name Shankly by the family - were they even approached to see if they were OK with it? A question I asked in the SoS forum area. If there is a more co-ordinated strategy taking shape, then to front it with voal demonstartion and a militant face will damage its credibility. I'm not doubting what you say, I'm just not seeing the evidence. That could be because I'm not based in Liverpool, or it could be because it's happening behind the scenes and isn't ready yet. If it is the latter, then SoS being lined up with protesting will, imo, damage the implementation of that strategy as the org will become known as vocal and militant.

 

This is a long-term thing we are in, and we are just at the beginning. Even if DIC do get in, I'm still not convinced they'll be much better, and we would do well to be set up to ensure we have a constructive presence with them right from the beginning - a presence that is credible in the board room situations we shoudl be striving to be involved in (I'm not meaning exec meetings, I'm talking about wider forums within the club structure where a fan-based voice could be influential). We need to make DIC, or even G&H in the immediate - want to have us involved. How we conduct ourselves will determine how likely that is to happen. The more professional we are, the more objective we are seen to be, the more chance we will have of getting a foothold in shaping the future of our club.

 

For lots of reasons, I don't have the history with LFC that many on this forum have, so I perhaps find it easier to be dispassionate. Dispassionate and strategic is also my natural state, much to my wife's annoyance, so I appreciate that much of what I'm saying may just come across as annoying: it isn't meant to. It's just the way I think, and in the same way as others will argue protest is the way ahead, I would argue that this is. Both have their merits, and there is a time and a place for both. I just think we got to the place of protest too soon.

[Molby]

prime minister Macmillan was asked what the hardest thing about govt. was

 

his reply "events"

 

so Mr Bobo, all you suggest is being implemented, including a new, and viable alternative to Share Liverpool

 

but meanwhile, stuff happens and we need to react

Edited March 5, 2008 by Molby

[Gunga Din]

one thing that does concern me though is this. if DIC buy the club, and load debt onto it, just as G&H are trying to do, and i genuinely belive that they will fwiw. (both buy it and load the debt onto the club) then what? are we again protesting to get rid of DIC? if they do buy it and load the club with debt, we are all going to look a bit silly.