"All the staff at Virgin Rail we hope that you have a pleasant and relaxing Saturday." Yes, once again the trains were running to schedule. Yes, I managed to meet the lads ok at Kings Cross, despite the guards in uniform being as inept as a Gary Mac set piece. We were enjoying that 'pleasant and relaxing Saturday' in the Lower Centenary Stand's rear concourse when a sudden message was relayed around Upton Park, swirling like a bat out of hell. No Victoria Beckham hadn't graced us with her sultry and emaciated presence much, much worse.
Following the confidence boosting victory at Villa Park, a great opportunity had arisen itself to continue the feelgood factor by attempting to make up those points dropped in the previous three encounters. Spraying the ball around the park to feet = players showing defining movement. Players showing defining movement = chances being created. Chances being created = goalscoring opportunities. Goalscoring opportunities = the ball nestling in the back of the net. The ball nestling in the back of the net installs confidence in the back 'five' as it eases the pressure, knowing that they wonˇt be relied upon to continually display that now legendary galvanised rearguard = End product = THREE POINTS.
Therefore I'm sure you can all share in our anger when the starting line up was announced. Didi absent. Stevie G relegated to the bench. Michael relegated to the bench. Jari relegated to the bench (no one really expected that, DID THEY???)
Replaced by Emile and Nicolas along with Pinky and Perky, aka 'Super' Dan and Gary Mac. Unnecessary changes = lost momentum. Lost momentum = having to revert back to aimless punts being hoisted towards Emile. Aimless punts = hardly any goalscoring opportunities being conjured. Lack of goalscoring = no goals. No goals = more points being dropped.
Without sounding disparaging to those who were selected, you don't need a Fifa coaching badge logged against your name to realise that we were in for an afternoon of yet more monotonous drudgery, fought in sub-zero temperatures. A midfield consisting of Pinky and P... sorry Danny and Gary isn't going to contribute towards many victories. Instead we're once again relying on set pieces, indifferent defending or a moment of genius.
Emile has had a great deal of vitriol hurled in his direction this season, mainly due to his abominable goal return. What needs addressing here is that his obviously been instructed to play with his back to goal, holding up the play as well as winning as many high balls as possible. That's all very well and nice if the midfield support him by giving him an option to lay the ball off to. With all due respect, Danny and Gary are too slow to react to such a situation. He wins his fair share of high balls, but the majority of the time we're hoping and praying the ball ends up in Michael's path, and thus the back of the net. Simultaneously his confidence has suffered, resulting in him becoming goal shy. I'd like to see him being giving the ball to his feet, when he is facing the opposition's goal. At least he'll have the option of running at the defence, which he carried out to good affect for the best part of last season.
Quite frankly this is a suicidal game Gerard has implemented. Nothing disparaging towards him but using Jari forces us to drastically alter the style. He demands the ball to his feet and his magic box of ingenious tricks brings out the best in those around him (Vladi, anyone?). We seem more comfortable playing this way, and it's been proven more effective. Not all of us have a problem that the management have decided to deploy no natural width. However, that being the case, it's even more imperative that Jari is used, preferably in a diamond formation, to help break the opposition down.
Predictably our severe lack of creativity stood out like Mike Tyson at a midgets convention. We struggled to string more than three passes together. The lack of cohesion in the middle of the park was nothing short of egregious. My consternation was sending palpitations racing around my body faster than Maurice Greene over 100 metres. It transpired that Didi succumbed to a stomach upset. What didn't appear to transpire was the player filling in his position! Danny and Gary were behaving as if it was a sunny day out in the country. All that was missing were two roughnecks from the Grafton along with a picnic hamper.
No surprise then that when a guilt-edged chance was presented to us, gift wrapped, it escaped our clutches. 'Nicola' was selected alongside Emile and for twenty-five minutes or so was chasing shadows due to the Christmas leftovers he was being fed. Following a defensive calamity, he found himself baring down on Jameo. Striking the ball tamely at his large frame, Jameo could still only parry the effort. Rebounding back to Nicola, he repeated his previous act, this time with his left peg, with Jameo safely gathering the second time. Given a few more games to adjust to the pace then I'm sure the goals will start flowing. Obviously I'm more alarmed with the lack of decent service he was receiving. And judging by the reaction of those around me, they were also taking Nicola's side.
Even more exasperating was the fact that West Ham weren't any better. Their midfield, led by the sublime Cole, was playing some exquisite football without really carving out any genuine chances. Jerzy was called upon just the once, requiring to push a downward header from Hutchison around his near post. Perhaps with Paulo Di Canio gracing us with his overwhelming presence, he could have produced those defining openings.
Defining openings...defining openings. Ah, me and my motormouth. Around the half-hour mark, a spell of claret and blue pocession led to the reposte. The exuberant DeFoe was allowed to cut in from the right and try out the shooting boots Santa kindly presented to him, three days previous. After resolute defending, the ball broke to the impressive Sinclair, who was giving Carra a torrid time, and from twenty yards out he sent an unstoppable shot past Jerzy's trailing right arm.
The anxiety was written all over our faces. Those now obligatory ramblings were echoing all around the visitors enclosure, which was a great pity because the atmosphere was reasonably good. Especially when you consider what was being served up!
Reaching half-time only trailing by one goal was looking somewhat perilous. West Ham sensing our unsettled sense of deja vu piled forward as the defence started to look uneasy. Thankfully their pressure didn't result in us falling further behind, which gave Thommo a good chance to start amending the error of his ways.
Not before even more anger was dissolved in the shape of the latest scores. Those sides around us weren't having the rub of the green, most notably Arsenal, whom were trailing at home to Boro. Not very useful if you're struggling to get your own house in some kind of order though!
At least the restart saw the emergence of Stevie G (obviously not injured) replacing the ineffective Gary Mac. Still no sign of Jari and Danny left on, fresh-legged after his peaceful rest in the first half.
West Ham continued from where they left off. Knocking the ball around with the panache we displayed at Villa Park, keeping Jerzy busy with the odd effort every now and then. Stevie G, once again filling in Didi's role, looks much better in a more advanced position. With still no fluency to the play, changes were imminent.
Danny was replaced with Michael, to a rather callous chorus of ironic cheers. What fans' opinions of him may be, there was really no need to resort to that. Personally speaking, I don't think he can cut it at a top club and he does frustrate me immensely. Fans from other clubs may like to publicly chastise various players, not us though. Hopefully this was only an isolated incident.
Not long after, Jari entered the frame. A sign of how desperate the situation had become. Four strikers now deployed to rescue the game. At least the creative one's presence lifted those around him. Such an inspiration, and it's about time he was utilised fully.
Time was fast running out when a moment arrived that would be recorded in Anfield folklore. In years to come, the question will be asked, "Where you there the day Michael Owen netted his 100th goal for Liverpool?" From a personal perspective, it took me back to May '97, when he netted his opening strike at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon. What a legend he's turning into!
A thoroughly memorable moment for the lad, and who would begrudge him such an honour. Once again he'd unearthed us out of one deep black hole, just as the clock was beating us into submission, rescuing a point that was vital as the full time results would later stipulate. Also makes you wonder how many more goals he'd bag if he was playing in a side such as Barcelona who create chances by the dozen? The mind boggles!
Despite this pessimistic report, we could once again be top of the pile if we take maximum points from our next two outings. Where the rest of the campaign is concerned we need to start scoring more goals. Those around us have a stronger goal difference, which could prove vital when the final reckoning is carried out. Perhaps if Jari was slotted in behind the front two, that could alter a few things, eh Thommo and Gerard?
To end, I'd like to wish everyone whose contributed towards the Liverpool Way in 2001 a Happy New Year. That also includes our blue nosed racist friends who have such a fixation with this fanzine. Perhaps we could arrange to meet you all on Cup final day? You know, Saturday Feb 23rd.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, John Arne Riise; Gary McAllister (Steven Gerrard), Danny Murphy (Michael Owen), Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer (Jari Litmanen); Nicolas Anelka, Emile Heskey:
