[align=center] Sound The Alarm?!
WHOOOOOOOOOP WHOOOOOOOOOOOP WHOOOOOOOOOP”
That’s the sound of the alarm ringing around all the “pundits” at our lack of goals and now that we are soooooooooo far into the season we all must panic!!!
Maybe that could be a little harsh on the “pundits” but the Premiership has quickly become boring. If I am totally honest so was the first half at St. Andrews. As per usual though the Premiership delivered a mad second half.
It sounds a bit strange seen as we have just trebled our tally with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham down at St. Andrews. Now all we will get is 4 games in and 3 draws. To be honest its all my big fat round backside. Take these first four games into con based on last season (with the exception of Sunderland). 1 point at the Riverside this season, 0 last. 1 point at White Hart Lane, 1 last. 1 point at St. Andrews, 0 last. It doesn’t take Stephen Hawking to work out we are 2 points better off than we were having played those games last season.
Omen wise (and I am probably clutching at straws here) in one of Benitez’s title winning seasons with Valencia, he actually drew most of his first 12 games. Lets all get down on our knees and pray!
Why panic? Why scream and shout? Why slate Benitez (and some fans are!)?
For gods sake we are only at the end of September and we are doing OK, we have not lost yet and our performances away are much better so far than last. Birmingham if you remember was last seasons low. Whilst hardly enthralling in the first 45 minutes, this season was much better. It does beg the question “why did Rafa not start with 4-4-2?” He is the main man and he knows what he is doing and he is learning and appears to have got it right so far with us being 2 points better off.
We also have to remember that Crouch is still learning how our midfield play and vice versa. Garcia came on and changed a game (not very often we say that!) and I agree with Rafa who said in his after match interview that Garcia has some neat touches and is a good player. My opinion is he just needs to get a bit stronger and he will be an even better player.
Next job in hand is Chelsea TWICE! If I am totally honest I would take 2 draws but they are not infallible and they struggled against Anderlecht (and us twice last season!). What the players must remember is (and I am sure they will be reminded by both Rafa and Mourinho) is that Wednesday will be different to Sunday based on referee’s. What you will get away with on Sunday WILL NOT HAPPEN on Sunday. That is a hard and straight fact.
(OOOOH! quick scoreflash, JOHN WELSH has just scored for HULL CITY!, well done John)
Now back to what I was on about! I honestly cannot see too many goals in those 2 games. A 1-0 either was or maybe a low scoring draw. Based on tactics from last season, I would be happy for a draw in the league and a win in the Champions League. That I reckon will pretty much guarantee qualification. Benitez in Europe gets it spot on all the time in Europe when it is needed. I am happy that we are so lowly rated again in the CL. No one cares for us (Again!), and to see this whilst somewhat annoying is not a bad thing. They treat us like the “flukey freaks” but none of the Milans, Barca’s, etc etc etc will look forward to playing us in a knockout game.
Time will tell but for know lets save the slagging off and remember now…..
4 games played 3 goals scored. If I am going to go the whole hog, so far in all the competitive games so far this season we are averaging 2.15 goals per game. 14 games, 30 goals. So lets lay off for now.
Anyway that’s it other than one last point regarding some books!! Fowlers is well worth a read, it really opens up on Liverpool Football Club under Souness, Evans and Houllier (As well as the England Camp). Thommo’s memoirs are due soon so no doubt we will get a different slant on THAT training ground incident. Also an already available biography on Benitez is currently undergoing translation and will be here soon.
That’s all for now. Pidge[/align] |