So of course, the knee-jerks start. "Why is he playing anyway, where’s Carra and Babbel?" is the cry. OK, well lets analyse it. Carragher first. He’s not quite at full fitness yet but is very close, thats why he’s not in the team. Also, when he is in the team, he gets barracked anyway by fans in the Paddock (Fulham last year was a disgrace!). And yet these same "fans" want a not-fully-fit Carra in NOW. Babbel had a lengthier & a much more serious reason for absence as we all know, and he is further from full fitness despite an impressive pre-season contribution.
And whether you agree with it or not, Stephen Wright has gone, the clock cannot be turned back. So at this moment in time, Xavier gets the nod. Deal with it, and support the man like you do with (most) of the others.
Anyway, we all know what will happen. The next player to have a shocking game will be the fans target for abuse and Xavier will be spared. Thats how it works, and its pathetic.
On a more positive note, my personal favourite Dietmar Hamann has been nothing short of sensational so far in these 4 games. Cue him NOT winning the Player of the Month Award for August, as his valued work is never recognised by external bodies. Danny Murphy too has had the boo-boys from the Southampton game in January running for their ovens to take out their humble pie. Murphy was the target then, Heskey and Smicer have had it since, Xavier is getting it now, pathetic.
Michael Owen too looks sharp, and once he gets an open-play goal, the floodgates will open I’m sure. He’s getting into positions to miss the chances and if that carries on, common sense tells you that one or two will go in sooner rather than later. His all-round play was brilliant v Newcastle, and he’s getting back to full fitness quickly, only good news.
The Champions League draw is fascinating. I always like meeting teams that we’ve never met, or haven’t met in a few years. A group containing Barcelona for example woul have been boring. Its been 4 years since Valencia and 10 since Spartak so its a much more interesting scenario. Personally I wouldn’t mind being at the Group G games either, its a very impressive array of teams in there in terms of name.
Back to the Newcastle game, and has anyone seen a more one-sided draw than that? We were amazing for 80 minutes. I didn’t think Hamann could better his Blackburn performance but he did, he was the complete midfielder and topped it off with the well-taken opener. At 2-0 we were cruising, and the ovation given to Michael Owen at his goal was tremendous. This is how it should be ALL the time, the lack of vocal support for our only ever European Footballer of the Year (at the age of 22!!!) is scandalous. Hopefully that will now change.
I was in my normal Kop seat for the game so haven’t seen the goals on TV yet. You get the angles on TV that a Row 12 Kop seat can’t give you!! Whoever was at fault (and sometimes you know, the opposition can score goals without a Liverpool player being at fault!), both goals were a shock, and walking out of Anfield, it felt like a defeat.
We’ll dust ourselves down, get back from international duty and take it out on someone I’m sure. And who better than our Manc friend Mr Bruce?