I have been a Liverpool Fan ever since my uncle gave me a
Liverpool jersey when i was 7. Since then i have become a die hard
Liverpool supporter, and after i read the articles on The Newpaper
today, I decided that i would like to share my views regarding the
online petition.
Firstly, it has been 8 years since Liverpool has landed on our
shores. Thanks to Profitable Group, Singapore fans now have a
chance to see their idols. I've read some comments that some fans
have spoken that since PG should have known that Stevie G could not
make it, they should not have used Gerrard's photos on any form of
advertisements or marketing for this trip. While i am vastly
disappointed that Stevie G is not coming, we should also understand
that Liverpool FC is not about one person, its the whole team that
matters. If you really support Liverpool, i would believe that it
is as good to be able to watch the rest of the players here as
well.
Secondly, some have put forward the fact that $88 or $188 is so
much expensive compared to Manchester United's match in Malaysia,
and that if Manchester United can play their stars, so can
Liverpool. However, i hope that fans can understand that we're
alreadying comparing in different circumstances. Do anyone know
what price Man U will charge if they are playing in Singapore
instead? Comparing to prices across the border is totally
different, considering the differences in our exchange rates as
such. And also, when fans bought the tickets, i believe at
least half of you knew that Rafa would definitely play his
youngsters, but you fans decided that love for Liverpool is what
matters and decided to go ahead with it. In addition, he did not
play a Full team of youngsters, he gave players like Babel, Kuyt,
Carragher a run out too. How can you complain when you guys knew
that this was going to happen? One fan complained in the paper that
he could have watched a match in England for $70, does the trip
there not cost anything? Why not let Rafa choose who he wants to
play instead? He's the manager isn't he? Do you want to see Torres
getting injured by Precious or Noh Rahman, and end up missing for
Liverpool the whole season?
In conclusion, to Liverpool fans who loves Liverpool and have not
complained, continue to show Liverpool your unwavering support and
loyalty. To those who have complained, think rationale and decide
if you still think that Liverpool should play their 1st XI. Think
again, and stop complaining.
Die Hard Pool Fan
I think you are greatly mistaken here... Pool fans definitely
won't be disappointed by their club coming to our island... I
believed they will welcome them with open arms. Its the organizers
that will lose its credibility in the long run... They made used of
Gerrard's picture in their promo and never mentioned at any time he
won't be on this tour when they knew long ago he wouldn't
be making it... I think the proper way was the organizers
shouldn't have mislead the masses...
The next time this same organizers decided to promote another
match here, fans will question if the players on their
advertisements will actually come to play... Your loyalty to the
club is commendable but I don't think any one would like to be
taken for a ride or taken advantage off by anyone or by any
entity... be it even a 'die hard fan'... If a club continue to
exploit its fans then I think its not a worthy club to
support...
Like you have mentioned it yourself, you are vastly disappointed
that Stevie G is not coming... I bet thousands of Pool fans will
feel the same way... And had the organizers made known this fact
before tickets went on sale, I am afraid the respond might be a
whole lot of difference...
I hardly read the Newpaper so what's the online petition
you mentioned about?
That one fan you mentioned complained that he could have
watched a match in England for $70, where all their stars will be
playing... Here he is paying more but get reserved players and
lesser quality football... Who is talking about making a trip
there?
Indeed, Rafa choose who he wants to play, he is the
manager... So being the manager it is alright to short
changed the local fans who are paying more than their EPL
counterparts? Is this the way to repay the loyal fans? If
he is as you mentioned so worried to see Torres getting
injured by Precious or Noh Rahman, then why even bother to
turn up for the tour? He should kept him at Anfield in cotton wool,
no need to do pre-season also what...
Like I have said, perhaps you are different and may not be one
of those young guys who earn very little therefore $88 or $188
isn't much to you... But there are a lot of youth out there or NS
boys making very little but saved and fork out to see their idols
in the flash only to watch the club parade a bunch of
second string and youth players on the pitch... You
still think they knew that this was going to happen?
In conclusion, those Liverpool fans who have complained being
cheated are not any lesser a fan than yourself... They just don't
wish to be cheated and con by the club they love... Unwavering
support and loyalty is a two way thing... Clubs should appreciate
their fans just as they want the fans to support them
wholeheartly... Blind support will only be used and
exploited...
I believed what the Newpaper has done is good... Maybe
Rafa might have read it in his hotel room or might
be told of the fans sentiment here and start with better quality
players rather than second string and youth players again...
Here are what I have just read in the Newpaper Online by Pool
fans...
Mark Allan, 43, a Liverpool fan of 36 years, sums it up best:
'After watching them struggle against Thailand, it's difficult to
justify spending $88 for the ticket, just to watch them experiment
with substitutes, go for river cruises, shop at Marina Square or
Suntec City, party at the top nightspots in Singapore. And to think
we are paying for all these?'
Mark Allan, 43, a Liverpool fan of 36 years
'I'm just disappointed that I won't see Steven Gerrard. I think
it's a poor attempt to lure people into buying the tickets. It's
unethical to just use his picture as a gimmick for promotion.
'The fans have spent their hard-earned money and the least they
can do is field a full-strength team to repay their support. A team
is nothing without its fans.'
Robert Ho, 20, NSF
'The fans would expect the stars to play and parade themselves,
because they are the what fans pay to see.
'I feel a bit hard done. It's disappointing that Gerrard is not
here, and if the rest of the stars don't play or only play for a
short while, then definitely the fans will be very
disappointed.
'They owe it to the fans. Understandably, they will be a bit
cautious to avoid injury, but they should put the majority of the
main players in.
'They don't have to go all out but the fans would be happy
enough to see the stars.'
Jeffrey Chong, 49, IT manager
'As a long-term Liverpool fan, I would be definitely
disappointed. I do expect that they can't play all the players, but
there is a commitment to bring them all down.
'The worst thing is having Steven Gerrard feature as one of the
prominent people in the advertising, but the last thing we heard is
that he is not coming.
'I'll be there to support them but at the same time I feel
cheated. They definitely owe it to the fans to play their best
team.
Loyal fans
'Are they really here to repay the loyal fans? When I heard that
they were coming down, I booked tickets without a second's
consideration.
'I will still be there to support them, but they still owe an
answer to the fans if the commitment is not there when we have the
loyalty.'
Clarence Goh, 48, bank executive
'I'll be disappointed, $88 and if you only get to see the
reserves. It's not very fair. The Manchester United game in KL was
cheaper and most of the stars were on show, but Liverpool are
charging more and the stars must play from the start.'
Derek Scully, 51, bank officer
'For the majority of us it will be quite disappointing, because
we have paid a huge amount for the chance to catch a glimpse of the
big players.'
Muhammad Haziq Sulaiman, 18, Meridian JC
student
'When you're talking about the Kop coming out to Asia, they're
going to put in all the reserve players. Rafa's gonna play all the
younger guys rather than risk injury to the main stars.
'But this is expected. In the case of Steven Gerrard, I don't
know. You're looking at advertisements and promotions with Gerrard,
and I don't know what to say about the Profitable Group because
they must have known.
'In a way, the fans will be disappointed. If you're paying that
kind of money, you'll definitely be a bit disappointed if the
quality is not there.
'If I was in England, I could probably pay £30 ($71) to get a
ticket to watch a real game, here you pay $88 and $188 to watch the
stars play a couple of minutes?'
Kevin D'Rozario, 47, sales executive
