So, what are we to make of the last two games? I wrote a pretty scathing piece after the Villa game but I felt it was the truth and needed saying after ages of defending both the manager and players. Yes, I was pretty pissed off and I can tell you it takes a lot to get me that way. Not many people agreed with me but I felt the performance against Tottenham was a one hundred per cent improvement on the Villa debacle. Okay, still no goals but there did seem to be a few more ideas floating around and also a more attacking look about the formation of the side Le Boss picked. Then, lo and behold, an unchanged team for the Derby. Attacking from the start and peppering the Street End goal with shots even if they were from distance and miles high and wide was encouraging.
Diouf seems to have settled nicely now and is a workaholic (can’t understand the people who call him lazy) although that position might still not be his best. I feel the best from Hadji is yet to come.
Kewell also improves with every game; his pass to give little Mikey the opportunity to score the first goal was intuitive, just the type of service Owen has been looking for and short of for a long time.
Hats off to Carra. I gave him (although I wasn’t alone) a bit of stick in my last article but fair dos to the lad; he was superb in defence. Still doesn’t give us a lot going forward but his tackling is first class and at the moment is making up for his attacking shortcomings. I know the theory that defenders should defend and attackers attack but just a bit more from Jamie on the offensive side and we really would indeed have a gem on our hands.
The Evo hat also comes off to Igor and the Manager for picking him at centre-half despite many people’s, including my own, misgivings about the Croatian even in his own position, never mind a strange one. Igor was good against Spurs on their few forays forward and even managed an Alan Hansen type run at one point but he was absolutely superb against the Toffs. Speaking of Alan Hansen; what was Sami doing up near the Park End goal in the second-half and not even at a corner? Now that IS taking the piss!
Mikey could not complain of lack of service in this game. Milan’s pass to him for the second goal might have been just a simple five yard square ball but the work that Milan put in to get into position to give Owen the ball was tremendous. Good also to see Milan looking up and picking out Michael rather than his usual head down, let’s run at them and shoot ethos. Maybe Rushie’s had a word with him!
Harry’s goal was just the icing on a particularly sweet cake. Very appropriate for me seeing as the game was played on my 50th birthday! The celebration on his knees in front of the assembled Reds was great too!
Okay, one swallow does not a summer make but after the dross we have been putting up with let’s get positive and believe that this new attacking policy of Gerard’s will be maintained and not thrown aside after a couple of leads have been thrown away like it was after Newcastle and Brum at home last season.
What are we looking for in the next few games then? Well, I’d be happy with a point at Blackburn. I’m not contradicting myself and going all negative again, it’s just that Blackburn can be such a mad side to predict. They’re very good on their day, which, as at Chelsea, comes sometimes most unexpectedly but can also be very ordinary. If they’re on blob against us then expect a very tough game, which is why I say I’d settle for a point. Three would be nice though! Nothing other than a thumping good win against Leicester should be acceptable. Floyd Road, Charlton saw one of our worst (and remember there were some terrible ones) displays of last season so another point here I think would be acceptable. Charlton are a bit like Blackburn in their unpredictability and if they have the King of that particular trait, Paolo Di Canio, playing then we could be in for a torrid time, especially if he’s in the mood. If he’s in the mood he was the last time he played against us though, when he was totally disinterested, in our 3-0 win at West Ham last season then we should be okay.
If those Evo predictions come to fruition we’ll have ten points from our first seven games. Okay, not the greatest of starts but certainly not the worst either. That would all set us up nicely then for the big test against the Arse. Not gonna predict that one yet!
Altogether now (to the tune of Waltzing Matilda)!
Ozzie Harry Kewell
Ozzie Harry Kewell
Slid on his knees when he scored at the pit
And we sang and we danced
And we shook the ground that’s made of wood
Ozzie Harry Kewell scored against the shit!