Monday, December 03, 2007
Rampant Liverpool
Liverpool's failing over the last few years has been an inability to put together a good run on a consistent basis. Time and time again they would raise the hopes of the Kop with a spectacular performance only to bring them down to earth with a poor performance next time round.
Now Rafa looks back on five straight wins married with 21 goals and just one conceded. Unbeaten in the league this season, six points behind the Arsenal and a miserly defence have Liverpool finally found the perfect formation for their team of all stars or will the wheels come off like so often in the past?
You might argue that beating the likes of Fulham, Newcastle and Bolton should be a given for the Reds but you can only beat the team up that line up opposite. If Rafa continues putting the points on the board then the Anfield massed ranks will be the happiest bunnies in the north west and perhaps that marathon wait for the Premier League may soon be coming to a close.
The only downside in the Spaniards' bed of roses could be transfer funds in January. If they keep winning and rattling in the goals the owners might well wonder why he needs more money when the current bunch seem to be doing fine and dandy?
A mixed December lies ahead for the Reds with gentle games against the likes of Reading and Derby with Manchester United and Manchester City adding spice.
Let's talk about Spurs! OK, let's not...
Chelsea went route one and best West Ham in a London Derby on Saturday which begs a question. Would Roman have been happy with expansive beautiful football and a 0-0? As a fan I want the win and only the win. Playing ugly has its place.
Good to see David Bentley score a couple for Blackburn against Newcastle. Paper talk has it that walrus Sam will be chopped if results don't pick up and soon which I hope is just hyperbole. I suggest the Toon Army and the board sit down and have a look at what makes Manchester United and Arsenal the two most successful sides in the Premier League and wonder what they need to do to match that. Of course you could say that Sam was never the man to lead the Barcodes to glory but having given him the job at least give him the time to do the job.
You've got Titus Bramble. Rather than follow the herd I would like to point out that when Wigan played at Arsenal recently Bramble had a very good game. I'll leave every other Tom, Dick and Blogger to go the easy toute and slag him off.
Everton's recent good run continued with a useful 0-0 at Portsmouth. With Cahill and Carsely back in the middle and Arteta adding guile Everton are strong in the middle but I still wonder about Yakubu and Johnson up front. They get plenty from midfield but to get into the mix for Europe they need 20 goals + from someone up top.
Great last gasp win for new Alex McLeish who exchanged the blue of Scotland for the blue of Birmingham then went to White Hart Lane and gave Spurs the blues when Seb Larsson, ex Arsenal lad, gave the Blues a last minute victory.
Another ex Arsenal lad, Anthony Stokes, also delighted his new manager, well Roy Keane, with a last minute winner in Sunderland's clash with Derby, also parading a new manager in Paul Jewell. Thanks to Stokes (a famous name on Wearside, check Google lah) Sunderland get vertigo in 15th spot but Keane would have looked at this game and expected the home victory. Jewell, to continue a cliche ridden paragraph, would have been gutted to have seen Derby's first away point of the season so cruelly snatched at the death. But hey, you play to the final whistle. It's a game of 90 minutes you know.
Irish Stokes, English Bentley and Swede Larsson, who says Arsenal have no youth policy? Add Muamba at Birmingham, Aliadiere at Middlesbrough...sorry, just joking.
But another three points for the Arse, coming from behind at Villa. Goals from midfield, goals from the forwards. And for any numpties out there who think the Arsenal won't get any better, yesterday this result was without Fabregas and van Persie. I would like a stronger keeper though. By stronger I mean a Schmichel. Someone whose mere presence scares the shit out of opponents. Almunia looks like the hapless cafe owner in 'All 'Allo with that daft moustache.
Now Rafa looks back on five straight wins married with 21 goals and just one conceded. Unbeaten in the league this season, six points behind the Arsenal and a miserly defence have Liverpool finally found the perfect formation for their team of all stars or will the wheels come off like so often in the past?
You might argue that beating the likes of Fulham, Newcastle and Bolton should be a given for the Reds but you can only beat the team up that line up opposite. If Rafa continues putting the points on the board then the Anfield massed ranks will be the happiest bunnies in the north west and perhaps that marathon wait for the Premier League may soon be coming to a close.
The only downside in the Spaniards' bed of roses could be transfer funds in January. If they keep winning and rattling in the goals the owners might well wonder why he needs more money when the current bunch seem to be doing fine and dandy?
A mixed December lies ahead for the Reds with gentle games against the likes of Reading and Derby with Manchester United and Manchester City adding spice.
Let's talk about Spurs! OK, let's not...
Chelsea went route one and best West Ham in a London Derby on Saturday which begs a question. Would Roman have been happy with expansive beautiful football and a 0-0? As a fan I want the win and only the win. Playing ugly has its place.
Good to see David Bentley score a couple for Blackburn against Newcastle. Paper talk has it that walrus Sam will be chopped if results don't pick up and soon which I hope is just hyperbole. I suggest the Toon Army and the board sit down and have a look at what makes Manchester United and Arsenal the two most successful sides in the Premier League and wonder what they need to do to match that. Of course you could say that Sam was never the man to lead the Barcodes to glory but having given him the job at least give him the time to do the job.
You've got Titus Bramble. Rather than follow the herd I would like to point out that when Wigan played at Arsenal recently Bramble had a very good game. I'll leave every other Tom, Dick and Blogger to go the easy toute and slag him off.
Everton's recent good run continued with a useful 0-0 at Portsmouth. With Cahill and Carsely back in the middle and Arteta adding guile Everton are strong in the middle but I still wonder about Yakubu and Johnson up front. They get plenty from midfield but to get into the mix for Europe they need 20 goals + from someone up top.
Great last gasp win for new Alex McLeish who exchanged the blue of Scotland for the blue of Birmingham then went to White Hart Lane and gave Spurs the blues when Seb Larsson, ex Arsenal lad, gave the Blues a last minute victory.
Another ex Arsenal lad, Anthony Stokes, also delighted his new manager, well Roy Keane, with a last minute winner in Sunderland's clash with Derby, also parading a new manager in Paul Jewell. Thanks to Stokes (a famous name on Wearside, check Google lah) Sunderland get vertigo in 15th spot but Keane would have looked at this game and expected the home victory. Jewell, to continue a cliche ridden paragraph, would have been gutted to have seen Derby's first away point of the season so cruelly snatched at the death. But hey, you play to the final whistle. It's a game of 90 minutes you know.
Irish Stokes, English Bentley and Swede Larsson, who says Arsenal have no youth policy? Add Muamba at Birmingham, Aliadiere at Middlesbrough...sorry, just joking.
But another three points for the Arse, coming from behind at Villa. Goals from midfield, goals from the forwards. And for any numpties out there who think the Arsenal won't get any better, yesterday this result was without Fabregas and van Persie. I would like a stronger keeper though. By stronger I mean a Schmichel. Someone whose mere presence scares the shit out of opponents. Almunia looks like the hapless cafe owner in 'All 'Allo with that daft moustache.
# posted by Me @ 7:51 AM 
