Seriously though, just as Gates’ Microsoft rolls out a brand new piece of software onto an eager and expectant public and the inevitable reports of bugs, anomalies and glitches sound out from disgruntled users – a newly built football team also demonstrates the same glitches and teething problems as it strives for optimum efficiency in the attainment of points.
While Microsoft work feverishly to get software patches and enhancements out into the public domain to fix the problems – in much the same way, football fans wait for the manager and coaching staff to come up with ‘fixes’ and ‘patches’ for their misfiring team on the training ground.
This has never been truer than of Liverpool this season. Just like a piece of software code that keeps failing to initiate vital command prompts, Liverpool began the current campaign slowly, with bugs preventing it from performing important tasks – as it was designed to do.
Yet by October, after the defeat by Chelsea, Benitez’s programming formula finally added up and it all clicked into place.
The Redmen have risen surprisingly, yet majestically and now sit pretty in second place of the Premiership, albeit until Monday when Manchester United lock horns with Wigan once again, looking for a second win against their Lancashire rivals in eight days.
Liverpool have truly grown in strength and stature since the 4-1 reverse to Chelsea in October, and the team is now a shining beacon of Benitez’s supreme influence.
The squad is stronger and the way the team operates is infinitely more assured than last season. Indeed it wouldn’t be far from the truth to say that the current side is maybe 15-20 % further on in its development when compared to the side that was so heroic in the Champions League last term.
More organised, with more tactical awareness and technical ability, the Liverpool team can further boast a miserly rearguard marshalled by the imperious duo of Jamie Carragher and Hyypia. They have come a long way and are true contenders.
So far so good.
But the flaw in the programme that had been evident at the commencement of the season has resurfaced to a greater intensity. The failure of the strike force to score a regular stream of goals and to help push the team onwards and kill the opposition off has become a concern.
Fowler will doubtless do well eventually, but Cisse is certainly seen by Benitez as not of the right calibre and will be out of the door at the end of the season. In all truth the same thing is likely to befall Morientes, he just hasn’t adapted to the pace of the English game.
The summer will be a busy time and will see Benitez able to assemble the compliment of strikers he has always wanted ever since he took charge at Anfield. After all, Peter Crouch is really the only striker he has bought in his near two years in the hot seat who was actually part of his overall ‘long-term’ plan for Liverpool.
Crouch was never meant to be a 20-25 goal a season player, but as just a part of the bigger, overall picture.
While we are on the subject, Liverpool’s current striking problem is examined well by John Roache in his latest edition of All Things Red on this very site. Like Roach explains, Liverpool haven’t got an out-and-out goal scorer – this is simply because Benitez hasn’t had the chance to get one. Something he will finally get round to doing this summer.
As Rafa looks to the final pieces of the jigsaw in the construction of his squad, Liverpool’s development continues a pace, moulding into a side very reminiscent of his excellent Valencia side that decimated just about all before it.
But this new Liverpool, with powerful athletes across the pitch, combined with the scouse grit of Carragher and Gerrard has been instilled with that extra combativeness and heart so needed for the Premiership – something that Benitez’s Valencia didn’t possess or really require to conquer its own domestic league.
Benitez’s Liverpool, already European Champions have the potential of becoming much more than the two-time La Liga champions and UEFA cup winners. It is something that Benitez himself realises – it’s just a matter of time.
It is this notion that should fill every Liverpool fan with excitement and delight.
Liverpool will be ok for the rest of the season, they have enough in the locker, despite the current problems of scoring, to push on and consolidate a second or third place finish. To perhaps also win the FA Cup and go as far as possible in the Champions League. That will prove to be an exceptional season, and a significant step up the ladder.
But next season, Chelsea and the rest of the Premier League should prepare for a full-frontal assault from a Liverpool that will have a re-focused and sharper strike force manned by new personnel ensuring Liverpool evolve into a new, super charged version of Valencia – but with added bite and scouse endeavour. Now that really is a formidable prospect.
Next year will be the time to load Valencia v2.0 into the EPL mainframe.
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