You say you want a revolution!
First league game of the season and a new manager to boot .... if you can’t get excited over this then you’re in the wrong game. I’d been looking forward to this match all week and even my 5.30 am alarm call couldn’t spoil my mood. The timing of the game was perfect as far as I’m concerned, Owen has gone, that’s life, but the game coming hot on the heals of his departure gave us all something to focus on. There was no way I was going to dwell on his leaving when the Reds were about to kick off our league campaign – you know how it goes ... the king is dead, long live the king.
I’d decided to do a simple day trip for this one rather than my normal stop over down in that there London, I hardly ever go the game by coach, the last being Chelsea the last game of the season the other year (not good). This was going to be different ... in and out with Happy Al’s, three points in the bag and back to Liverpool in plenty of time for a few scoops - sounds like a plan to me!
The journey down was pretty uneventful. The normal banter on the coach, some funny and only slightly crass songs, but I was more impressed with being dropped at WHL in time to walk to The Park pub and get there dot on 11.00 for opening time. Now that’s timing.
Met the usual gang in the pub and the jugs of beer were flowing - 2...4...6...jugs later (only a few pints for me I hasten to add) and the excitement was building - it’s only a 10 minute walk to WHL from The Park pub and normally, or should I say of late, I would stay in the pub and stroll into WHL just on time. But today was different, still 30 minutes till kick off and I was heading off, couldn’t wait to get in the ground and take my position. In fact I felt like a bit of a kid, like my first game all over again.
Bunked in the line for the away fans as the line seemed a bit too long to me. We were hanging about outside with all the Spurs fans filing past us and that’s when I heard it for the first time. We would hear it many more times during the day but that was the first ... “where’s your Owen gone? ... where’s your Owen gone?” taunted the Spurs fans. Made me feel sad for like a split second and then I remembered the last time I had to sit through that or stand as the case was back then. I’ll tell you something, you don’t want to be stood in the Gladwys Street (yes their end) only days after King Kenny has quit, right in the middle of a fucking cup run – broken hearted because your idol has walked and listening to thousands of Bitters singing “where’s your Kenny gone?” If I can get through that with me head held high, lose the game and still come out in one piece then there’s no fucking way some Spurs fans would be able to get on my tits (pardon the French) with their taunting.
Climbing the steps to the upper tier and I actually confess to Kirsty how excited I’m feeling. It wasn’t just about this game, it was the whole thing. Thankfully she agreed (was it a girl thing?).
The boys take to the field and do the whole shake ye hand thing and the Premier League music plays. All seems a little ra ra ra to me but don’t really care as long as it doesn’t interfere with YNWA at Anfield. The prodigal gets his name sang first (predictably so) followed by Carra. Not sure if any other names followed and if they did I don’t recall them.
Rafa had his name sang almost immediately, but it wasn't until around the 15 minute mark when it was belted out good style as he was standing up on the touch line (like he does a lot) that he acknowledged the fans immediately with a wave. Now for anyone who was at Wrexham that was a significant little action in itself. Was funny as fuck when Rafa never acknowledged the fans at Wrexham last month (until right at the end) even after the constant singing of his name for near on 90 minutes. Don’t get me wrong, we all knew it was a language thing, and that he probably hadn’t recognised his name (sung to the super Dan tune) but it was funny as the whole thing dragged on and some of the local scallies started giving him stick. Not this time though – makes me wonder was it pointed out to him or did he eventually just pick up on it?
And to the football? Think I’ll go for a football cliché, “it’s a game of two halves” or maybe “it’s a funny old game”, take ye pick.
Talking points from the first half (I’ve seen nothing on TV as yet):
Liverpool had a very good first half, felt we controlled the game well and to be honest Spurs weren’t much of a threat. A great saving tackle from Hyypia stopped Defoe having a crack on goal and was followed almost immediately down the other end with what looked like a good shout for a penalty, Stevie went to ground after a challenge by one of their youngsters and without the benefit of a replay looked to me like a pen.
Thought the Spurs players tried to put them selves about a bit and as a result we saw a few of them booked,
our Redder’s being one of them. I’m not sure why but I didn’t recognise Gallagher as the ref, only found that out after the event, think he’s a good ref but not today (mainly due to a few second half incidents).
Kewell’s cross from the left was cleared well but only minutes later that man Cisse gets his first and it’s no more than Liverpool deserve – timing couldn’t have been better. Think it was Carra who got the ball to him and all the Liverpool fans go mental, it was celebrated well, a lad a couple of rows in front of me starts belting out a cracking Cisse song to Kirsty and my approval, and by the time the half time whistle comes we’re all well happy if not bloody hot and needing a cold drink.
And now for the second half, it’s worth mentioning (not an excuse) but it was a bloody hot day at WHL and some of our lads on the bench had t-shirts on that were soaking wet due to the heat and they had only been farting about on the touch line.
The game's about to start and the first song I hear is the Spurs fans singing England’s number one to the lad in goal. I’m not sure if I was suffering from heat exhaustion at this point because the first thing I do is look to the goal in bemusement. Why take Dudek off me thinks? Realise it’s the Spurs goal and rather than the penny drop I think why haven’t we changed ends ... fucking hell, I’m beginning to wonder now how many pints I did have and maybe next time a breakfast will help. Obviously it’s Robinson in goal and nothing to do with Kirks at all - clueless Spurs fans methinks.
There was one bit of midfield action that had me up off my feet screaming, not because it was a sublime ball from Stevie or a great little flick from Pongo, but it was actually a bit of a scrap in the middle of the park. Stevie was in there in the middle of it all like you would expect but it was pleasing to see a couple of other Liverpool players close by, all wanting the ball. Think it may have been Didi and another but showing this commitment and desire for all to see had the whole travelling red army up on their feet, cheering them on. I love seeing things like that, even if you ain't the best player on the park (of course Stevie was
). Give us that fighting attitude and work ye socks off for the reds and the noise level rockets in support.
I don’t want to moan too much about the second half but I will say that at the time I wasn’t too happy (stay with me on this). I felt frustrated. I really didn’t see Baros as a threat at all and, not just on today’s performance, I’m far from convinced from watching his CLUB football that he’s gonna be up for the job. Also disappointed to see the two main strikers off the field with just Pongo up as the main outlet when as far as I’m concerned the game was still there to be won. Saw Rafa actually wave our players back at one point ... what the hell ... I’m looking for signs of a revolution but thinking shit I’ve been here before. I couldn’t decide whether he was thinking right we have this one lets hold on to it or if he was thinking even a draw would be a good result ? It was no surprise when the goal eventually came.
Hmmm the goal, first impressions for me was, shit he’s been beaten at his near post AGAIN. Now I haven’t seen it on TV so if I’m been overly critical then I’ll admit it once I’ve watched it, but from my angle I was disappointed to see us concede from there. I’ll say no more till I’ve seen it.
So the game finishes and I leave WHL feeling despondent and a little downbeat. Those that know me will vouch for the fact that I sulk anyway if we don’t win but in particular if I’m feeling frustrated with certain decisions. It always takes me a bit of time to come round and mull things over, kinda assess things, so it’s back to the Happy Al’s coach (lovely air con ...) for the trip back to Liverpool and a bit of thinking.
Conclusions?
I started thinking about who impressed me most today (hmm Redders as always
). The player that came to mind immediately was Josemi. I thought he had a great game – solid in defence and looked comfortable on the ball, the only player on the field that Rafa has brought in (I don’t count Cisse) and I definitely liked what I saw. Then I find myself mulling over the time factor. He’s been in charge a few months, only had the players a few weeks, not yet been able to bring in his own players although one or two of ours have left, and add to all that the fact that’s its all new to the players and I realised how short sighted I’ve been not to mention bloody unrealistic. I’m letting past football cloud today’s game, me who couldn’t wait for the NEW era to start was still feeling the affects of the last one – how stupid.
I’m glad of a few things that came about today, I don’t look back in anger so pleased to see the Ged banner (Merci Gérard 1998-2004) and as he was there no doubt he saw it also. Delighted to see Cisse’s first league goal for us. I was lucky enough to see both The Midget's first and last goals for Liverpool and I can only hope Cisse scores as many goals over the forthcoming seasons, but I’m more pleased with the fact that the future's bright and I can see that. I liked Rafa’s comments post match, of course the strikers would be tired at this stage of the season and playing in them conditions. It’s a point away at a ground that we don’t traditionally have a good track record on and the initial signs were good. Time for another cliché ... “Rome wasn’t built in a day” or how about “no one ever said it was easy”.
All in all a bloody good day!
© Christine 2004