Liverpool FC

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The Justice Bell

by Dave Kirby

A schoolboy holds a leather ball
in a photograph on a bedroom wall
the bed is made, the curtains drawn
as silence greets the break of dawn.

The dusk gives way to morning light
revealing shades of red and white
which hang from posters locked in time
of the Liverpool team of 89.

Upon a pale white quilted sheet
a football kit is folded neat
with a yellow scarf, trimmed with red
and some football boots beside the bed.

In hope, the room awakes each day
to see the boy who used to play
but once again it wakes alone
for this young boy's not coming home.

Outside, the springtime fills the air
the smell of life is everywhere
viola's bloom and tulips grow
while daffodils dance heel to toe.

These should have been such special times
for a boy who'd now be in his prime
but spring forever turned to grey
in theYorkshire sun, one April day.

The clock was locked on 3.06
as sun shone down upon the pitch
lighting up faces etched in pain
as death descended on Leppings Lane.

Between the bars an arm is raised
amidst a human tidal wave
a young hand yearning to be saved
grows weak inside this deathly cage.

A boy not barely in his teens
is lost amongst the dying screams
a body too frail to fight for breath
is drowned below a sea of death

His outstretched arm then disappears
to signal fourteen years of tears
as 96 souls of those who fell
await the toll of the justice bell.

Ever since that disastrous day
a vision often comes my way
I reach and grab his outstretched arm
then pull him up away from harm.

We both embrace with tear-filled eyes
I then awake to realise
its the same old dream I have each week
as I quietly cry myself to sleep.

On April the 15th every year
when all is calm and skies are clear
beneath a glowing Yorkshire moon
a lone scots piper plays a tune.

The tune rings out the justice cause
then blows due west across the moors
it passes by the eternal flame
then engulfs a young boys picture frame.

His room is as it was that day
for twenty-two years its stayed that way
untouched and frozen forever in time
since that tragic day in 89.

And as it plays its haunting sound
tears are heard from miles around
they're tears from families of those who fell
awaiting the toll of the justice bell.

Very sad day for all those involved with LFC and football as a whole. Just watched the memorial service on LFC.tv there, very moving. There isn't a lot that will bring me close to tears but tragedies like this are always tough to take. While I've vowed to myself to get back to Anfield for more matches before/if we move, I'd also like to attend one of the memorial services in the coming years and pay my respects.
Just a quick mention of how great it was to see Rafa at the service, and his work acknowledged by the fans. People can question Rafa the manager but there can be no doubts about Rafa the man, top class. He's done tremendous work with the families and support groups.

Justice for the 96. Y.N.W.A

It was a great team performance form Liverpool today. Flanagan and Robinson were great and Spearing was man of the match. Lets hope Carragher is o.k.

Two top quality performances at different ends of the scale in the space of a week & once again the young lads were top class. When we lost Xabi Alonso I was gutted & it's been well documented that we've never replaced his passing quality, I was similarly gutted when Javier Mascherano left but it looks like we've always had our own replacment ready & waiting in the ever impressive Jay Spearing who put in another man of the match performance & is a possible future Liverpool captain, a player I've been wanting to be given his first team chance for about the past 18 months, the kids a little terror & never stops working & tracking his man, if the England manager was close to calling up Martin Kelly then I'm pretty sure Jay will be in the next squad or at least the next friendly squad.

John Flanagan looked assured against a tricky side as did Jack Robinson. I know its only been 2 games for 1 & 3 quarters of a game for the other but there's no doubt they will both make the first team on a regular basis at some point which gives us some good options in the summer transfer market, yes we will go for 2 wingers & probably a left back but we could use Fabio Aurellio in the same way as Tottenham use Ledly King in selecting what games to play him in whilst using Flanagan in the others giving us the opportunity to do whats been suggested, giving the young players their chance & just bringing in 1 big signing, if we're gonna do this & as mush as I can't see it I wouldn't mind us going big on Adam Johnson from Man City as he can play both right & left.
With both John Flanagan & Martin Kelly as the 2 right backs Glen Johnson could then be pushed to the right wing & with Johnson or the more likely Ashley Young or Stewart Downing on the left & the option of Luis Suarez & either Andy Carrol or Dirk Kuyt up top we'll be in a good position especially if (& I hope) we haven't got the Thursday cup to worry about.

Whatever happens & whoever comes in I think we've seen enough to suggest that...... "Next season will be our year"!!!.... Aslong as we don't get beat by Blackpool, West Ham, Wolves & draw at Wigan

^^^A few good points in there mitchell mate. I also think it's time a guy started getting a bit of the credit he deserves. I've been guilty in the past of slating him as much as anybody and the LFC fans have given him plenty of stick since he came to the club but he has never complained and has consistently improved to the point where, in my opinion, he's been our best player this season. That guy is Lucas Leiva. Another great peformance from him yesterday. He has really grown this season as the months have gone on and i actually cant imagine our midfield without him right now. I saw a stat somewhere the other day that he made 139 tackles this season which was 50 or 60 more than whoever was in second place. His workrate is fantastic and his passing range has improved hugely this year. If he continues to improve at the rate he has, then we'll have a class player on our hands very soon. He's still only 24 remember and has just been deservedly rewarded with a new long-term contract.

On another lucky note for myself i've just scored a ticket for the Birmingham game next week. The 2 drawbacks are (a)i'm flying over and back on the Saturday so i wont get to visit the city centre establishments on Saturday night and (b)i've got to look after my 13 year old spotty cousin coz his dad couldnt make the trip . Still, it's worth a free Centenary Stand ticket. I hadnt been expecting to get over again before the end of this season. I'm looking forward to seeing the young lads in defence and Carroll & Suarez up top

The lads were brilliant yesterday.The effort put in was immense.Spearing and Lucas were top class.Solid from Flanno again.The young lads are gonna save us a packet over the next few years.Spearing,Shelvey,Flanagan,Robinson,Sterling,Coady,Wisdom,A​moo,Morgan.We've got some boss prospects there.

Jack Robinson looks a brilliant prospect at left back.Walcott couldn't go bye him.The lad can shift and looks a good defender.Thought Mereiles was good yesterday aswell.Classy player.

Lucas for me is our player of the season.No doubt Yoda.I'll be stunned if he dont win it.

Nice one on the ticket Yoda.You shouldn't be too hard to spot mate.

(18-04-2011 12:42 )groundnpound Wrote:  The lads were brilliant yesterday.The effort put in was immense.Spearing and Lucas were top class.Solid from Flanno again.The young lads are gonna save us a packet over the next few years.Spearing,Shelvey,Flanagan,Robinson,Sterling,Coady,Wisdom,A​moo,Morgan.We've got some boss prospects there.

No Pacheco? Was one of the players of the U19s European tournament last year, has he gone off the rails or something? Or did you just forgot about him?

Anyway, cheers for nicking pts from the teams above and below us

Yeah well said on Lucas Master Yoda I was gonna mention him in my post but forgot, I agree with you on him being the player of the season, I've been on his side from the begining when people were saying he was shit especially the none Liverpool fans who didn't realise he was still young yet was asked to change his style of play by Rafa at a crucial stage of his development when he was still in his early 20's beginning to play every week in the first team in the Premier League, not easy by any means. Here's some stats I found.

Tacklers Team Tackles Success rate
Lucas Leiva Liverpool 139 63%
Vaughan Blackpool 121 77%
Holden Bolton 117 69%
Parker West Ham 116 77%
Murphy Fulham 108 71%

Note Danny Murphy's in there, a player who was unfairly shown the door by Rafa after having an injury hit season the season before Rafa arrived, albeit his replacment was Xabi Alonso. Here's Danny again.

Passers Team Passes Accuracy
Murphy Fulham 2050 80%
Essien Chelsea 1835 87%
Ferguson Birmingham 1815 81%
Adam Blackpool 1624 73%
Barry Man City 1602 85%

I wouldn't mind seeing Andre Wisdom groundnpound I've heard about him but never managed to see him play.

As for Dani Pacheco Phoenix he's gonna be a very good player but personally I'm not sure if he's gonna make it at Liverpool as I thought he'd get his chance under Kenny but he seems to go with David N'gog instead, hopefully he'll come back next season & be given a chance but N'gog will probably have to leave for that to happen & to be honest I can see N'gog bringing us £2m in the summer???