I'm probably more interested in the reaction to this match than the match itself. The match itself can be seen as the result of the Chelsea game, over-reaching to try and get a big tally and getting caught cold. The match itself hardly deserves the acres of print and legions of despairing posters that it has generated. It was a shit or bust move by Rodgers and eventhough it wasn't quite bust, they are barely hanging in.
No, what interests me was the outpouring of grief and heartache that followed the result both in the stands and on the pitch. There is a sense I feel (and no one can deny I also believe) that many view this season as one last shot at redemption for Gerrard, that somehow, next year, all the good work of this year will somehow disappear into the ether and Liverpool will be 'found out'.
Even in the media, what was a month ago being described as scintillating attack football is now being seen as hubris and arrogance. Naive is the word I have seen bandied about most, with unfavourable comparisons being drawn with Keegan's Newcastle, i.e. a flash in the pan. Apprently the limitations of Rodgers approach has been found out after an 11 match unbeaten run was stopped by the best defence in the league parking two buses and then followed by a tricky draw to a difficult venue that left Liverpool on top of the table.
However, I have also seen this attitude amongst the Liverpool supporters. Understandable in some ways, since the influx of monied Chelsea in the early 2000s (and latterly Man city) the stakes have risen higher than ever before. In the last 6 years 4 teams finished 2nd with 84 points or more (a total Liverpool can still achieve). Before that you have to go back to the early 90s when money bags Blackburn were doing the same thing. Before that again it was 1985 when the two best teams in Europe were duking it out. Its clear, since petrodollars have skewed the top of the league, winning it has become harder and harder.
I think then its worth reiterating the immensity of the achievement this year. Liverpool are currently jammed between the team that spent 1/2 billion on its squad over the last decade and the team that has spent 1 billion its squad in less than that (and is currently being censured for financial fairplay). Liverpool are no spending slouches themselves, but this is on a whole different (and unfair it seems) level. I would hate to lose sight of that eventhough the likely second place finish is so hard to take (especially after taking 34 points from 39 over the last 13 games).
What interests me more is the total breakdown of some fans and team players alike (a sobbing Suarez is not a sight I wish to see again). It stems, I feel, from the fear that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that the team will be unable to replicate next year. Having come so close to the summit and seeing how difficult it was it would appear such an opinion has some founding. Throw into the equation the clear deficiencies in the side and the added challenge of CL next season (as good as it is to be back) and it will clearly be harder to achieve the same momentum again. But pause for a moment and consider;
a] Liverpool are not Newcastle. For a start their economic base is much stronger than Newcastle's, getting better all the time and will doubtless be augmented by a redeveloped stadium in the next few years. The added lure of CL will also entice better sponsorship, as will the swashbuckling style of the team. Liverpool are still one of the richest clubs in Europe and doesn't need petrodollar injections to artificially boost that.
b] The rest of the competing clubs are also meeting their natural limitations. Chelsea are second partially down to their decision to try to meet FFP requirements. City thought they had a tremendous whizz (namely they thought everyone else was too stupid to see through their transparent lie) and despite the best efforts of Manchesterblue have been pinged by UEFA. Though the penalty wasn't great, they can't keep re-offending or risk even greater censure. United, for all the talk of Moyes, need serious surgery and have already blown a substantial amount of money in an hilariously inept manner. Arsenal and Spurs could still be challengers, but no more so than Liverpool, while Everton are just too limited in their base to ever compete for a full season at the top.
c] The squad is young and has tremendous growth potential. Anyone who watched the reserves (and I do) know there is a tremendous amount of talent in the pipeline. Additionally, the likes of Cody, Ibe, Ilori, Sinclair, Alberto, Kelly etc are all coming through the squad, while its easy forget how young the likes of Sterling, Henderson, Allen, Sturridge, Sahko, Coutinhio, and Flanagan actually are. All of those 7 are first team starters. All of those are 24 or less. We also have Borini and Assaidi coming back after very succesful loan spells, both young players.
D] Our transfers and transfer targets are getting better all the time. Not just the players that have been brought in (Sahko, Sturridge, Coutinhio etc) in the last year and a half have proven excellent value; but also the ones brought previously are starting to mature and show their true potential (Allen, Henderson, perhaps even Borini). Sure, not all have been successful, but now the committee is more often right than wrong. Additionally, it is gratifying and irritating in equal parts to see the ones that just got away last summer and in the winter are now performing to a very high level, albeit elsewhere. The hope is with the added lure of CL and exciting attacking football, a la Arsenal in the 90s, perhaps Liverpool can attract similar quality players and potentially land them this time, e.g. Pjanic at Roma.
To sum up then, I was more surprised by the post match reaction to the Palace game, than the actual game itself. From one perspective a draw or a win was incidental, it still required an unlikely performance from City. The alternative was an all out attack that subsequently fell short. No shame in that, though there was some shame in the gnashing and wailing of some fans post match. But I understand that, so near, so far. But I believe that an optimistic appraisal of the situation contextualizes that performances. Sure, you could take the lead of United fans and say 'that was our best chance in a generation and it will be another one before we get a chance again' or alternatively, cross your fingers, hope for the best, but see this season as the start of a bright new dawn rather than a sputtering candle at the fading of the light.
