The biggest result of the week was our fans getting back safely from Mad Max’s Thunderdome. How long will it take before something is done about Italian Ultras? A logic of ‘let them cause havoc and give them European finals and a dinky fine’ isn’t really working, Michel. What next? Immediate cessation of chocolate rations?
Following whatever that was supposed to be at the Derby we’ve now clocked up a good away draw (which could have been better had Babel been awake) and a home win against someone who would dearly, dearly like to be an enemy (Sorry Fatso, you’re nothing but a fat kid who bullies the smaller kids. You roll over like a puppy when the bigger kids corner you) so maybe this is the corner we’ve been looking for.
A new era? Well, we’ve had a few of those but it would be churlish not to recognise an upswing since the Blackpool debacle. Meireles and Cole finally provided something other than their reputations while the big Greek is rightly getting the plaudits. Torres and Gerrard put in good shifts and that Brazilian no-mark was, erm, not bad at all. The defence still needs looking at but that will come once we have a right back.
Much is made about blood and guts players who just shout a lot to cover their shortcomings but sometimes they’re necessary. Colin Hendry won the League with Blackburn despite his limited ability and it could be said that Carra is loved because of his need to scream at anyone near him before his game vastly improved (2005). Soto has much more to him – shouting, cajoling, heading, sprinting, complimenting and, erm, marksmanship. Now ‘Rafa’s latest panic buy’ as he was last summer is our joint top goal-scorer. Personally I’d give him the captaincy as we need his constant motivating. It’ll never happen but I like the idea of him running around the players when things aren’t going well. However, a regular first team place is a must. If I were Martin Skrtel I might start thinking about buying a long book once Johnson or a proper full back returns.
The first half could have been a cricket score but the equaliser was always going to come given our luck. It was encouraging to see how we attacked for the second and then went flat out for the third. As much as the last twenty minutes looked desperate it was largely due to exhaustion than mental weakness. Poor Meireles was hoofing the ball anywhere come the end just so he didn’t have to run. Torres is now definitely, definitely off having scored and celebrated like a lunatic. How long will it be before the story becomes ‘Torres only jumps nine foot into the air after scoring’? Sulking, snot nosed, misanthrope Pepe Reina managed a mere fifteen feet for the first goal. He’s definitely an Arsenal player in January.
The phone-ins were wonderful again. This time it was Carragher who had a decent game at right back who should call it a day. They’re right too. He should pack in playing at right back as it’s, y’know, not his position. Hodgson clearly doesn’t fancy Kelly which is odd given that he was given ninety minutes in Naples.
Also, why did we buy back Aurelio?
There was a lovely moment in the first half when the ball went out for a corner at the Anfield Road end. As the ball trickled towards the advertising hoardings a child tried to grab it to throw to Gerrard but a steward got there first. David Dunn took the ball and threw it back to the kid who gleefully lobbed it to the captain. Nice to see that. It was also nice to see Blackburn giggle at Salgado’s slow stumble to the ground when Meireles had smacked the ball at his head. It was like Ming’s death scene in Flash Gordon. Maybe this is a new age after all if the players are starting to enjoy the game too.
Oh, by the way. Gerry Marsden singing You’ll Never Walk Alone on the pitch? Please don’t do that again.
Much, much better. It was nice to leave Anfield with a smile and a sun tan.