I hope that this page will become an archive for my various articles relating to events in the sporting world. The posts on this page are in no way connected to any media organisation.
Thursday 28 April 2011
Messi Emerges From The Mayhem To Remind Us That Football Can Be Beautiful
It was supposed to be the greatest show on earth. The two finest clubs in world football meeting to compete for a place in the final of Europe's premier club competition. The world looked on, anticipating a spectacle befitting of the stage upon which it was to be performed.
Unfortunately, those who were to tread the boards hadn't received the message. Rather than marvelling at the finest protagonists our game has to offer, we were subject to ninety minutes of Spanish farce.
From the opening exchanges to the post-match press conference, this was pure melodrama, writhing, collapsing and squealing its way into the game at regular intervals. Where we were expecting gladiators, we saw pantomime dames.
The names in the cast who will receive critical reviews are plentiful. Busquets, Pedro, Di Maria and Alves all have a black mark next to their name for over-acting their part. Marcelo, Pinto, Adebayor and Arbeloa each discredited by their pitiful, stamping and slapping attempts at violent conduct. Ronaldo, guilty of missing his cue and only making an appearance after the main event had been concluded. Puyol, Valdes, Ramos and Mascherano, amongst others, guilty of regular blocking whilst trying to influence the referee's handling of the sordid affair.
We should not try to convince ourselves that the British game is perfect. The Premier League witnesses the same diving, whining and petty handbags that we saw in Madrid. However, if one positive has come from the shenanigans, it is the comfort that our game remains intact. When we see events in the Premier League that we don't like, we declare ourselves ashamed to be a part of it and wish we could go back to the mud, thunderous tackling and limited shorts of a bygone era. The reaction to the prima-donna antics in Spain was one of disgust. If our own players needed a reminder to get back to basics in order to halt the decline of football, this was it.
For every failed production, we have a director deserving of criticism. Josè Mourinho's 'Scandal of the Bernebau' speech has stolen many of the headlines after the semi-final, but it has not been the successful diversionary tactic that we have seen in the past. Josè has been the darling of the world's media for years. His arrogance, charisma and love of the extraordinary have made him a journalist's dream. Wherever Mourinho goes, there is a story waiting to be written. It is premature to claim that this love affair is over, but there are signs that the 'Special One' is being deciphered.
Against Barcelona, Mourinho got his tactics wrong. Whilst he claims that there were plans to increase Madrid's attacking intent at certain intervals throughout the game, the Inter Milan masterplan is not compatible in Madrid. Mourinho has an expensive squad at his disposal and one that conquers opponents each week by playing the attacking football that it was built for. Real Madrid is a club that prides itself upon attacking football. It values successful football, but the manner in which it plays the game is of vital importance.
The dramatic flailing of arms by Cristiano Ronaldo as he witnessed his teammates sitting deep in their own half, weakly surrendering possession to Barcelona, told a story. Ronaldo may be the ultimate diva. He may not be the individual to buy into a team strategy. However, he is also the prize asset in Madrid, the £80 million jewel in the crown. When Ronaldo questions the manager's strategy, the Real Madrid hierarchy listen.
Although success in the Copa del Rey acted as some justification for Mourinho's style, the Bernabeu faithful must surely be uneasy at the sight of their team allowing the old enemy to dictate the play on Madrid's patch. While they understand that caution is needed against this fine Barcelona side, they will also know that this was an opportunity. This was a Barcelona side without their maestro, Iniesta, and nursing a blow to their confidence in midweek. If ever there was a day to go on the offensive, this was it.
Returning to the theme of grand theatre, Mourinho had a world class cast at his disposal, and yet limited them to mime. Whilst some may buy the theory that Pepe's harsh sending off was the spanner in the works of the Mourinho masterplan, many will remember this as the day that Josè was broken.
Despite all of the tantrums, the tumbles and the torture, the audience was rewarded with one hero. As the Bernabeu was silenced, the world rejoiced. Amidst the mayhem, one man was not compromised. When he was knocked over, he got up. When he disagreed with the referee, he smiled. When others were swinging their handbags, he was nowhere to be seen. As people hacked at his ankles, while he could, he remained upright. If there was any justice in this match, it was that a genius was able to exhibit his incredible talents.
It is this memory that we must take from the match. Rather than remembering the events that embarrassed our game, we must cherish the moment that a little wizard from Argentina provided a moment of beauty to which we can cling. Without Messi, the world would have been cheated by a spectacle dominated by con-artists. As it is, we can look back on this as a night where Lionel Messi cemented his place as the world's finest footballer.
Why Liverpool Are Forcing Outdated Critics To Reassess Their Opinions
There are certain beliefs surrounding Liverpool Football Club in recent times that are very difficult to shift.
Two years ago, very few people would have accepted that Lucas and Jay Spearing could form a successful midfield partnership in the Premier League. As Northampton Town celebrated their shock Carling Cup victory, you would have been hard-pressed to find anybody who believed that Liverpool’s Academy was anywhere near producing players who could add depth to the current squad. Furthermore, many would have been keen to tell you that Liverpool have become a club who would rather play a fading senior player than give a youngster the chance to impress.
At the end of a week in which Liverpool have taken four points from games against Manchester City and Arsenal, there are strong signs that each of these widespread theories will need to be rewritten.
Whilst Lucas’ improvement has been significant over the past two seasons, there is still a myth that he should not be a part of Liverpool’s future. For his outstanding performances against Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, Manchester City and now Arsenal, there is a knee-jerk reaction to place blame on the Brazilian after a defeat with willing disregard of everything that has gone before. Fortunately, Lucas has won over many fans since a troublesome start to his career at Anfield. As such, those who understand his contribution have greeted a new contract with approval.
One thing that no fan can criticise Lucas for is a lack of resilience. The frequent public tantrums of professional footballers on Twitter has highlighted the delicate nature of some who view themselves as beyond criticism, Danny Gabbidon being the latest example. By no means should abuse of players be accepted, but Liverpool’s own serial ‘Tweeter’ has put up with more than his share of keyboard critics. The determination shown by Lucas to overcome his detractors on the pitch is reflected in his game. Whereby the now established Brazil international used to look like a boy amongst men, his work-rate and destructive qualities have annoyed many top quality midfielders over the past two seasons.
If Lucas’ rise has been gradual and seen adversity, Jay Spearing’s progression has been the total opposite. Liverpool fans have known about Spearing for a long time and to a man, have been willing him to succeed. It has been alleged that Rafael Benitez believed the Wirral youngster to be a Championship quality player, but kept Spearing at the club to maintain the view that local youngsters were a part of the squad. It is difficult to suggest the true accuracy of this story, but the diminutive midfielder has certainly proved people wrong since being given his opportunity by Kenny Dalglish in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield.
You can not fail to be impressed by Spearing’s application whenever he takes to the field. Whatever he lacks in build, he more than makes up for in energy and a fierce determination. Liverpool’s improved tempo in recent weeks has been in no small part down to the frantic work-rate of their new midfield duo and the ability to win the ball further up the pitch has allowed the likes of Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt to thrive.
Dalglish’s faith in his younger players has been fully justified in the last week. John Flanagan’s superb debut against Manchester City provided the youth system with a boost and showed the talented youngsters in the Academy that they can not only play in the first team, but impress there too.
I was fortunate enough to play a football match at Manchester City’s Academy last season. I managed to walk into the wrong reception area and as I was being informed that the changing rooms in question were for ‘elite players’ (I still can’t understand why I was asked to leave), a six-foot something ‘boy’ strolled past. Whilst my immediate attention was taken by his diamond earrings, incorrectly placed baseball cap and outrageously coloured trainers, on reflection I was taken aback by the sheer size of the player.
I am certain that this partly explains why Flanagan and Jack Robinson were able to settle into first team football so quickly. As football has become more reliant upon physical fine-tuning and science, the nature of the youth team has changed significantly. Whereas it used to be a league populated by boys learning their trade, six-foot walls of muscle now challenge defenders from an earlier stage in their development. Anybody who has seen Michael Ngoo play for Liverpool’s youth team will understand that young footballers are getting bigger and as such, defenders are more adept at dealing with the physical challenges posed by first team football.
Dalglish’s confidence in his youngsters was shown by the manner in which he dealt with the loss of Fabio Aurelio towards the end of the first half. It would have been easy for the manager to shift Jamie Carragher to full-back, whilst bringing Kyrgiakos into the middle of defence. Dalglish deserves credit for this. Placing Jamie Carragher on Theo Walcott would have been a suicidal mismatch of pace and the combination of Skrtel and Kyrgiakos has been weak throughout the season. Rather than taking this risk, Dalglish backed his youngster to match Walcott, whilst leaving Carragher to marshal the back four.
Robinson’s performance repaid every bit of his manager’s faith. Far more experienced players have struggled to contain Walcott’s pace over the past few seasons and Robinson gave him few opportunities to threaten the Liverpool box. He matched him for pace and whenever the England international thought he had got half a yard, Robinson would be recover to block his cross. There were one or two errors within Robinson’s performance, but Walcott’s desire to pass the ball early rather than running at his man was testament to the youngster’s efforts. The sight of Walcott leaving the field early without inflicting serious damage should be the first achievement of many for the Warrington born left-back.
Another string to the Dalglish bow is man-management. If you ever needed an example of this, it was clear in the Glaswegian’s handling of two difficult moments for his young full-backs on Sunday.
As Robinson approached the touchline for a moment he would not have been expecting at kick-off, the nervous expression was replaced by a grin as his manager chuckled. We do not know what Dalglish said to Robinson as he contemplated a full-back combination with three senior appearances between them, but it clearly relaxed the 17 year old ahead of his most daunting challenge to date.
This calming presence was replaced by a reassuring one later in the game when Flanagan collided with Carragher. Having knocked your captain and fans’ hero out cold in only your second appearance, it would be easy to lose focus and worry about what you had done. Dalglish immediately called Flanagan over and eased his concerns. Not only are Liverpool’s youngsters being trusted to play for the first team, they are doing it in the knowledge that their manager has their best interests at heart.
Every Liverpool player on the Emirates pitch put everything into helping the club gain a point, but the younger members of the squad were particularly impressive in their approach. Robinson and Flanagan kept the flanks reasonably quiet, Spearing tore around the midfield biting at Arsenal heels all afternoon and Jonjo Shelvey played a key role in winning the crucial free-kick at the end of the game. None of Liverpool’s youngsters showed any fear in the match and made the most of the opportunities given to them. The latest of late equalisers was celebrated wildly by the younger players and was a deserved reward for their performances. This no fear approach must now feed through to the youth and reserve teams, both of whom must now know that their performances will be rewarded with faith from those at the top of the club.
The disappointment from the Arsenal game must be the lack of cohesion in attack for large periods of the match. However, the Manchester City performance showed that a threat does exist and strengthening work in the summer, as well as developing on-field relationships, will only enhance this. It is much easier to add flair to an ethos of work-rate and organisation than it is to instil the mentality into players that don’t possess those qualities. This Liverpool squad have developed a strong bond under Dalglish, Lee and Clarke’s stewardship and any player coming into the club will know that this is the minimum requirement if they are to succeed at the club.
Rather than being meaningless fixtures, the past week has shown that the foundations are very much in place for a successful future. The club has an ethos of commitment and endeavour starting from the top, the first team is no longer an unreachable target and the mentality of looking after Liverpool’s business before worrying about others has been reinstalled.
Those who have criticised individuals, structures and beliefs within the club need to reassess their criticisms. As we approach a key summer in Liverpool’s future, the club is very much working as one.
Why Liverpool’s Summer Transfer Activity Will Be A Challenge, But Should Not Consist Of Total Overhaul
If you have ever suffered from an addiction to Football Manager (or Championship Manager if you were a child of the nineties), you will understand the situation that Kenny Dalglish will find himself in this summer.
Having taken over as manager of the club, you peruse the squad and identify some areas that require strengthening. Within 12 months, you’ve attained a ‘wheeler-dealer’ status that would make Harry Redknapp fume and your squad is unrecognisable.
Although Dalglish and Comolli will have significant financial backing, they should avoid a complete overhaul of this Liverpool squad.
The Europa League acted as a clear indicator of the areas in which Liverpool’s squad is lacking. Although victories over Chelsea and Manchester United have shown that the strongest eleven is not as weak as many would have you believe, the defeat to Braga has exposed the limitations of the squad as a whole.
Foremost, the two fixtures against Braga highlighted the severe lack of pace within the squad. Without the injured Steven Gerrard and the ineligible Luis Suarez, the only attacking outlet with any pace was Glen Johnson. Whilst Meireles, Kuyt and Lucas all have a role to play in Liverpool’s future, they are players that need to be surrounded by pace. Endeavour, technique and cunning are all vital components in a Premier League footballer, but the trait that defenders fear the most is pace.
Everything in football works best when it happens quickly. Taking Barcelona as the model for a successful team, everything happens at pace. They move the ball quickly to stretch defences, they press the ball quickly to recover lost possession and any runs they make happen at full pace. A lack of pace will not ultimately limit one player’s career, but it can limit an entire team.
Luis Suarez is doing a fine job of proving the point. The Uruguayan international is making key contributions in each game he plays due to his pace, trickery and footwork. It isn’t easy to find players of Suarez’s quality but Liverpool desperately need players with similar attributes to support him. If Suarez were to be injured, Liverpool’s attacking impetus would be severely reduced.
An accusation frequently aimed in Liverpool’s direction is that this squad doesn’t have any depth. Although Jay Spearing’s performance against Sunderland has put a significant grain of doubt into the minds of those who thought he was a Championship level player (admittedly, myself included), the area between the first eleven and the developing youngsters in the reserves is still not populated by players of the necessary quality.
During his time at the club, Rafa Benitez repeatedly tried to plug this gap with affordable players who could act as back-up to the first team. By the end of his reign, the sum total invested in poor squad players would have been enough to buy at least one top quality player. Although Dalglish is expected to have more funds than Benitez did at the end of his spell as manager, he must adopt a different strategy for strengthening the depth of the squad.
Rather than shopping for players to act as back-up, Dalglish must target players who are better than those who are already in the first eleven. As players are displaced, the subs bench and squad roles will be filled by those who Dalglish knows can hold their own in the first eleven at this moment in time. This is the way that managers create depth to their squad.
There is plenty of dead wood to be shifted from the squad and some of it receives an unfeasibly high wage in proportion to their contribution. If Dalglish can build an impressive eighteen man match-day squad, players with no long-term potential can be sold rather than acting as substitutes. These players are an obstruction to the progression of talented youngsters and also soak up money that would be better invested in other areas.
The key question for this summer will be whether Dalglish can attract the necessary quality to Liverpool. At this moment in time, European football looks unlikely, although not impossible. Whilst many will believe that the reduction in fixtures could benefit next season’s domestic campaign, the impact on the willingness of players to join the club is yet to be seen.
Damien Comolli believes that the Liverpool name still acts as a major attraction to top players. Although accepting that the club should be involved in European competition, Comolli was confident that a failure to qualify for Europe would not hamper the long-term strategy. It is difficult to speculate on the individual demands of players, but if Liverpool need a manager to sell the club to prospective signings, there is nobody better than Kenny Dalglish.
A further obstacle in the transfer window will be other clubs, each of whom will have European competition as a selling point. If Liverpool are in for the top talents in European football as has been suggested, there will undeniably be competitors.
I recently asked Liverpool fans for the names of the players they expected to sign in the summer. It was interesting to see the calibre of player that was mentioned. For each of the names mentioned, whether it be Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez, Ashley Young, Gary Cahill or Yann M’Vila, there will be other clubs chasing their signature. Whilst fans will cite the signing of Suarez as proof that Liverpool can sign the best players on offer, it is important to remember that business was conducted in the January transfer market. Very few clubs have £20 million available mid-season and as such, Liverpool’s only opposition was Ajax’s demands over the transfer fee. Deals in the summer will be more difficult with selling clubs keen to spark bidding wars and a lengthy period in which to hold out for offers.
One response emphasised the significance of the age of targets, stressing that they didn’t believe a player over the age of 27 would join the club in the summer. Buying for the future is a major part of the long-term club’s strategy. However, Europe’s top clubs have scouts scouring the leagues for the top young talent due to the benefits of buying young. Players who are still developing are easily moulded into a team’s playing style and can be acquired for a sum significantly less than their potential will eventually lead them to be worth. Like any of Liverpool’s targets, these will not be straightforward deals. It is vitally important that FSG, Dalglish and Comolli act quickly and concisely if they are to secure targets of the quality desired.
Despite a lengthy list of potential targets, Dalglish should be wary of a total overhaul of his squad. As Manchester City’s have shown, all the money in the world can not buy you guaranteed success and importantly, the necessary team spirit and understanding to succeed. Dalglish’s Liverpool have developed a formidable spirit in recent weeks and thanks to Steve Clarke, have also become a well organised unit. Rather than tearing this squad apart, Dalglish must attempt to add quality in the areas that have been identified and remove the players that do not form a part of the club’s long-term future, whilst maintaining the core of the squad.
Nobody believes that this summer is going to be easy but it will certainly be a hugely important transfer window in regard to Liverpool’s future. The first step in the rebuilding process must be finishing in the top four next season. If Dalglish is successful in the transfer market, there is nothing to suggest that Liverpool can not mount a challenge for a Champions League place, at the very least. Having seen the manner in which Dalglish has conducted himself thus far, there is little doubt that he has everything under control.
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Joe Cole?
Following the defeat against West Ham, the growing expectations of Liverpool fans have been hit with a dose of reality.
The improvement under Kenny Dalglish has, in the most part, been considerable. However, the previous two fixtures have reinforced the belief that key aspects of the squad will need strengthening in the summer. Whilst this team is not as bad as was claimed in the first half of the season, the development has perhaps been less substantial than victory at Stamford Bridge had suggested.
The immediate challenge for Dalglish remains getting the most from the players at his disposal. One of the greatest challenges in this squad is the enigmatic Joe Cole.
Although Cole’s arrival was greeted with optimism, the subsequent months have been a struggle for the former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder. Early suspension and injury – as well as a less than enthusiastic mentor – ruined the first part of Cole’s career in a red shirt.
However, Dalglish’s arrival signaled a new opportunity for the summer signing. With the Europa League acting as a foothold for Cole to show what he has to offer, the door is far from closed. As has been the story of Cole’s recent seasons, the key question remains where he should be played in order to obtain maximum results.
Cole’s finest seasons in a Chelsea shirt came early in his time at Stamford Bridge, before a serious knee injury away to Southend stopped him in his tracks. In this period, Cole was offered a roving role in a balanced Chelsea side, offered the freedom to search for space between the lines.
Problematically for Cole, this is an area in which Liverpool have strength in depth. Raul Meireles’ increasing goal threat has justified his selection as the most advanced midfielder in Dalglish’s 5-3-2 formation. We also know that Steven Gerrard is capable of filling the role, although his presence is more urgently required in the middle of the pitch.
With Cole at the back of the line for his preferred position, he has found himself deployed from the left side of midfield – a position that he has previously expressed his displeasure towards. Whatever his starting position, he is naturally inclined to move inside with the ball.
Joe Cole is not the kind of winger to hug the touchline before beating his marker for pace to reach the byline on his weaker foot. Nobody expects Cole to play the role of a Gareth Bale but his desire to move centrally leaves Liverpool lacking width on that side of the field, especially without a natural left back. When both Cole and Glen Johnson are attempting to cut inside, the pitch becomes narrower and Liverpool are forced to attack a congested central third. The return to fitness of Andy Carroll should help to an extent, allowing Luis Suarez to roam the flanks before attacking isolated defenders one against one.
Joe Cole’s greatest problem is that he remains a man without a clearly defined role in the team. At present, he is a bit-part utility man who slots into the side when he is needed. Wherever Dalglish chooses to play Cole, he must stick by his decision and allow his player to develop an understanding of how he contributes to the team’s strategy rather than changing his job from week to week.
There is a myth that has appeared in several national newspapers that Joe Cole will struggle at Liverpool due to the fact that he is a Londoner. Whilst a simplistic few may hold this against him, from my own experiences it is clear that the vast majority of Liverpool fans would love to see Cole do well. Furthermore, it is clear that the player is desperate to live up to their expectations.
If the Europa League game against Sparta Prague revealed anything, it was that Cole is giving his all to succeed, putting his hands to his head after misplacing a pass and busting a gut to get on the end of last minute counter attacks. If anything, Cole is guilty of trying a little too hard and allowing himself to be overwhelmed by the expectations placed upon him.
Joe Cole’s game relies upon natural instinct and ability. It is when the player tries to force the issue that his performance becomes erratic. Although Cole’s early years at Chelsea were hugely successful, we should not imagine that he was a lone-ranger winning matches left, right and centre. At Chelsea, Cole was one important cog in a highly efficient machine.
This is a player that is not judged on his overall involvement in the game, but his key contributions. Whilst many of his actions will be unspectacular, it is the goals, assists and interplay in the final third that have defined his career. This can be seen by looking at the chalkboards below (click to see in full-size), contrasting Cole at Liverpool and Chelsea.
In Chelsea’s fixture against Derby County in 2008, all six of the home side’s goals came during Cole’s 74 minutes on the pitch. However, over the entire game, Cole’s pass completion rate (76%) was only one percent superior to that against West Ham on Sunday. It is the arrows in and around the opposition penalty area that determine how successful Cole’s performance was. Despite a somewhat erratic end product in the Derby County fixture, Cole contributed heavily with two assists and six successful passes to teammates in the final third of the field, allowing his team to attack the area. Unfortunately, against West Ham Cole failed to complete a single pass into the penalty area. Furthermore, the area around the penalty area is fairly empty; illustrating Cole’s failure to get into the game in the areas where Liverpool needed him most.
So what do all these arrows and percentages tell us about Joe Cole’s future in a Liverpool shirt?
Despite being a free signing, Cole’s large wage packet dictates that we should not be dismissing him as an immediate failure. While Joe Cole remains a Liverpool player, there is no point in giving up and ultimately writing him off as a hugely expensive mistake. The only way Dalglish will get any value for money is by finding a way to rediscover and utilise Cole’s talents. Fortunately for Cole, Dalglish is not the kind of man to shirk a challenge.
If Cole’s audition is to be in the Europa League, initially at least, his teammates must learn how to get him into the game. Primarily, this means discovering where Cole wants to receive the ball. As we can see, Cole struggles to force the play from deep. The vast majority of his passes in the central third maintain possession by moving short distances from side to side. Furthermore, any attempts to hit more direct passes tend to fail to reach their intended target.
Cole is not the sort of player who will provide a 100% pass completion rate so it is important to make sure that the passes that are completed make a difference. He needs to be looking for space in and around the area where his natural instincts can dictate how he plays the game. It is when Cole has to force the play through two organised lines of defence that he will struggle.
Although his form has dipped significantly, we must assume that Cole still knows how to unlock a defence. Unless Liverpool can get him into areas where he can create opportunities for like-minded players like Suarez and Meireles, we will be left remembering Joe Cole as a player that tried hard but never managed to make a difference. Liverpool have a squad full of players that will work hard. It is the players with a streak of quality that are needed to step forward. Potentially, Cole is one of these.
We can’t portray Cole as a victim and nobody will be keener than the player to stress that he hasn’t performed to his maximum this season. In terms of his performance, a lot of improvement is needed on Cole’s part. However, if Liverpool and Cole can’t learn how to work as a cohesive combination, it is inevitable that the former England international will continue to live life at Anfield on the periphery.
An Oxford Boy in Liverpool - The Anfield Experience
In recent weeks, the trend of football fans abusing journalists via Twitter for reporting facts or merely presenting their opinion has become more prominent. Having seen Guillem Balague and Rory Smith on the receiving end of fan fury, I’ve taken it as a compliment that I have been the recipient of similar treatment.
As this website continues to expand and attract new readers, it is worth reiterating that I am an Oxford United fan. Always seeking to be the minority, I’m the only Yellow in a family of Reds. I’ve grown up in Oxford and it was the natural thing to do. However, family connections assure an affinity with Liverpool and 9 of my first 10 football matches were Liverpool games.
Oxford fans are not overly keen on my tendency to ‘Tweet’ about events on Merseyside and would be tempted to disown me if I were to attend a game. Bearing in mind my appetite for aggravation, in January I purchased a ticket for the Stoke game.
My last visit to Anfield was in 2002 for the 5-0 victory over Ipswich Town. Considering the time that had elapsed since my last visit, it is impossible to deny that I was ridiculously excited about the trip. Writing for this website is an enjoyable experience but I always feel slightly guilty that I preach about events that I don’t witness first hand. It’s a little like road-testing a car by looking at a picture of it and I was glad to have the opportunity to address the issue. Train tickets and a bed in a city backpacker’s hostel were organised well in advance and on Wednesday lunch time, I left university for Cardiff Central, checking my pocket every ten yards for reassurance that I’d remembered my ticket.
The journey from Cardiff to Liverpool takes you through mile upon mile of deserted countryside before a change at Crewe. Much of the journey was spent moping about Oxford’s inability to defend the previous night and wasn’t helped by an inadvertent game of League Two bingo. After stops at Hereford, Shrewsbury and eventually Crewe, I’d completed a row and had moved on to newspapers to forget about the previous night’s events.
The newspaper in question had a large feature on Liverpool’s transfer activity and helpfully focussed the mind on the task in hand. I found some Liverpool fans at Crewe station and sought to discover their thoughts on the events of the previous week. As expected, there was a deep-lying disappointment at Fernando Torres’ decision to cut ties with the club but also a real sense of optimism at the purchase of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. We quickly established that Carroll was overpriced but as we agreed, when making an offer to a club who know you have £50 million to play with and only a day to do business, it’s very difficult to achieve value for money.
At Lime Street we parted ways and I located the hostel with surprising efficiency. I’m not sure exactly what I’d envisaged but I was pleasantly surprised to find a friendly establishment with good facilities. If any fans are searching for affordable accommodation in Liverpool after a game, you could do far worse than giving the International Inn a call.
From conversations with travelling Reds in the hostel, it is clear that the new era at Liverpool is being greeted with optimism. However, my favourite conversation of the day was with the taxi driver who described himself as a “lifelong Red married to a Blue…but not a bitter one”. Whilst topics covered Benitez, Hodgson, Dalglish, Torres and even Bruno Cheyrou, one theme was prevalent throughout. Across the city, football is a massive part of Liverpool life. Very rarely do you see a community in which the vibrancy can be affected so greatly by the fortunes of the football club. That is not to overlook the considerable Evertonian presence but this is a city that deserves a successful football club, if not two.
The first time I visited Anfield was in 1999 at the age of 9. Understandably at this age, having only been to Oxford United’s Manor Ground once before, I was blown away by the Anfield experience. The aura surrounding the stadium didn’t diminish by the time of my most recent visit at the age of 11 and that left me wondering whether I’d still feel the same way at the age of 19. Nothing had changed.
I arrived at the ground two hours before kick off and spent the first hour walking around the stadium taking in my surroundings. I was greeted by a large cheer as I walked past the club reception and before I could turn to thank the Scouse public for being so welcoming, the vertically blessed Andy Carroll dashed into the ground for the first time. After taking the necessary photos of Anfield’s exterior features, including a sobering moment at the Hillsborough memorial, I made my way onto the Kop.
With an hour to go before the match began, I had plenty of time to speak to a London based fan in the row behind me. It was his first visit to Anfield and he reiterated many of the thoughts that were going through my head. The old ground remains a very special place to watch football and if Liverpool Football Club ever move to a new home, it will be a sad day. The financial power of modern football demands that ticket revenue is maximised and eventually, this will prove to be crucial. However, it will be impossible to replicate the history and unique qualities that Anfield possesses.
When looking onto the pitch, especially from the Kop, it is impossible not to be taken in by the past. Generations of Liverpool fans have watched great players become heroes and history made on the turf below.
Returning to my own club, I saw one Oxford game at the Manor before moving to the three-sided Kassam Stadium. Granted, the new Anfield will be fully-constructed but the theory remains the same. I can’t relate to my club’s past and the formidable atmosphere that used to be generated at a small ground with a sloping pitch. When Liverpool leave Anfield, there will be future generations who will be unable to relate to everything that has gone before. I feel immense sympathy for these fans. The loss of Anfield would be a great loss for football.
One thing that Liverpool will never lose is the anthem that has tingled the spines of so many. Like Ian Holloway earlier in the season, without ever intending to, I found myself singing along to Gerry Marsden. Very few clubs possess an anthem of such heartfelt magnitude and a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ will always be one of the greatest sounds in football.
The Kop itself has seen more raucous days but joining the heart of the Liverpool fan base was a privilege. I was surprised to discover that the crowd are seated during games and horrified to discover that the Kop is not the place to sit if you happen to have legs. Cramp, however, would not spoil the experience.
The first half became more exciting as the interval approached and only a brilliant save from Begovic allowed the visitors to reach half time on level terms. Raul Meireles’ goal early in the second was deserved and allowed Luis Suarez to enter the field with Liverpool in the ascendancy.
Before getting his first touch on the ball, Andy Wilkinson kicked the Uruguayan into the air. As a fan near me said, “Welcome to England”. If Suarez was desperate to impress, the crowd were equally desperate for a new hero. 16 minutes into his debut, Suarez provided. Although the finish won’t make it into any textbooks, the pace, movement and skill to break clear and round the goalkeeper suggest that the new signing has the qualities needed to succeed in the Premier League.
The game moved to a fairly uneventful conclusion and as the stadium emptied, I found myself thinking about how the Anfield experience compares to what I enjoy week in week out with Oxford.
Watching football with another set of fans was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Whilst you can only have a true love for one football club, I found myself taken in by every aspect of Liverpool Football Club. Whatever snide comments come in from fans of other clubs, I truly hope Liverpool fans realise how fortunate they are to have a club that emphasises tradition as a fundamental principle. Liverpool Football Club is a special institution and, as shown previously, the day that this is taken for granted is the day that substantial damage will be done.
I won’t be swapping away days in Lincoln and Torquay for Premier League football any time soon but having enjoyed interacting with knowledgeable and passionate Liverpool fans, you’d be more than welcome to try League Two football in Oxford at any time.
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