Liverpool are top of the league with the very real chance of going points clear if Arsenal can get something against Chelsea next week. It's our best start in eighteen seasons and we've only lost one game. All of this has been achieved without the best striker in the world scoring at home. So what do we do? We boo one of our players/manager for the crime of a 0-0 against a team who are enjoying a good run of form. The nay-saying even begins pre-kick off when George says the word "Lucas". I'm not slating fans for criticising the team, hell I've been doing it for years, but booing them off the pitch? Really? Liverpool FC? Jesus, it's a frustrating point at home, not the sight of the iceberg in the distance.
Clearly, a lot of this stems from nerves as we could go close this year and we're not used to that but we need to look at the bigger picture. Now every bad pass is yelled at and every hoof up the pitch is accompanied by shrieks of agony, or at least it does in the lower Annie Road. There's nothing wrong with a bit of moaning. After all, like fans of all clubs we like to moan that the food is terrible but we keep coming back for the small portions just the same, but actually booing off the league leaders..?
I've never understood the term "United/Chelsea/Arsenal know how to win the League as it seems pretty obvious - get more points than everyone else - but there may be something more to it. Obviously out of the four clubs we're not use to being in with a shout in late April so our collective arses could go (see Liverpool v Coventry 1997) but surely as a club and support we should have more maturity. Saturday reeked of fear rather than a calm regiment going about their work and a hostile crowd does not a crack unit make. We're in this together after all remember. If we're going to be like this in November then there'll be valium on sale in the Albert before the games in April.
Lucas' inclusion raised eyebrows but he's hardly Salif Diao. Yes, Rafa was wrong to drop Alonso but that side should have been good enough to beat Fulham. I may have to whisper this but the Brazilian wasn't the worst player on the pitch. Step forward Messrs Mascherano and Keane. The first is forgiven as he's usually dynamic but the second needs to use his brain more. Apparently we've bought a clever player but all I see are his endless headless chicken impersonations. It will come for him but I'm starting to look at my watch and thinking about playing Dirk up front. He is our top scorer after all.
Once again the lack of urgency cost us. I can't help but think back to Arsenal's 2004 team who used to wrap up games in the first fifteen minutes and then just enjoy themselves. We have the ability to do that (see league position) but we like to wrench ninety minutes of heartache. Our method seems to be to get an early one and then let them back in. On Saturday, without Gerrard's determination, we strolled around and looked a bit taken aback when they tried. There were times when a draw looked like a good result.
Back to Annie Hall again. At the end of the film Woody speaks of a man visiting his psychiatrist, saying "Doc, my brother's crazy. He thinks he's a chicken." The doctor replies, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The man says, "I would, but I need the eggs." We complain but we love it. We're still top of the league and we got out of jail thanks to Newcastle, Villa and City but we still complain when other teams try to stop us playing. Well, la-di-dah.
Marseille next and then Zola's lot on Monday night. This represents a 500 mile trip and four hours sleep before work on Tuesday for me. I wouldn't bother with it but I need the eggs.