WELL that was horrible wasn’t it! I am currently suffering from my self diagnosed ‘Kopitis’ (please see other articles) and at present we could be playing the Golden Lion pub on Wednesday and I couldn’t see us winning. Oh the joys of following football eh?
If only Moses had put his chance away it could have been quite different, although probably not, we didn’t deserve anything. Throw in the that wonderful Sturridge news and the start of December has really given us some Crimbo delights to look forward to…maybe not!
It is in fact in relation to the Sturridge news that I write today (anything to avoid putting fingers to keys on our performance).
There is no doubt that Sturridge being out for around 2 months, plus whatever time he needs to find his feet again, in terms of form not horrendous weight gain, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time with 3 of the hardest away fixtures in the league coming up in quick succession. What this does do however, is present a unique opportunity to a handful of players to stand up like Leonidas and shout ‘THIS IS ANFIELD’, although preferably avoiding a Nigel De Jong style assault, and show to Brendan what they are about, giving the Northern Irish man a headache when ankles heal.
Whether we agree with the team selection against Hull or not (different discussion to be had there), Raheem Sterling and Victor Moses were first up to audition, yet alas poor Yorrick, they failed miserably.
For Sterling, the early hype has left expectations that are hampering his development and in all honesty, looking at Suso, a loan in January could do him a world of good. As for Moses, not only is this chap fighting for a starting place at Anfield but in a way fighting for his a career at a big club and this could be his last chance for a while as even Tiresias could see with his/her own eyes (points if you get that!) he isn’t getting anywhere near the Chelsea team – if Juan Mata can’t start regularly then competition is tight.
In their defence, and there has to be some mitigating circumstances, even if they are as robust as papier mache, neither has had a bucket load of playing time so a lack of form and touch can be understandable. That’s where my defence ends however. It is at this point I introduce the ‘Kuyt Principle’.
This is the latest in my line of discovered LFC ailments and conditions that affect those on and off the pitch. The ‘Kuyt Principle’ relates to – drum roll please -Dirk Kuyt (bet you didn’t see that coming).
Now our favourite Dutchman was not always blessed with a good first touch and was rarely described as silky, yet this didn’t really matter! Yes he had that useful habit of scoring BIG goals but the common denominator of why he was so loved was because of the shift that he put in. He would, work, run, press, track back, harry and all this was the absolute minimum you got from him. Why do us fans appreciate this? Well, because given half the chance to grace the Anfield turf in red that is what we would do! We would give every ounce of blood, tears and sweat until we had to be carried off (after about 5 minutes for most I guess!). Form is a fickle beast, and the best players find a way of having consistency and a high performance level when not in form.
This was the most disappointing thing from both Sterling and Moses, personally speaking, when they departed I felt like I had been robbed of a shift. If the game isn’t going your way when you have the ball then you have to double your efforts when you don’t have it, especially when games against sides like Hull who are playing out of their skin. Particularly Mr Moses who was culpable for the first, which was Sunday league decision making.
I would imagine their chances in the coming weeks will be somewhat limited now their cards have been marked, and given the injury crisis we are apparently developing, offensive opportunities should be offered now to the likes of Allen, Aspas, Alberto and Ibe, and should they get the chance they should look no further than Jordan Henderson and Jon Flanagan both of whom have bought into my ‘Kuyt Principle’. Henderson struggled with his price tag and finding his feet at such an institution but he worked hard, and continues to work hard, each game running more than Mo Farrah will in a year. As for Flanagan, THAT Blackburn match still wakes me with a cold sweat, but credit to him, and to Rodgers, but the games he has had this year have been more like his initial introduction, and carry bags of promise.
As a fan all I ask is that those fortunate enough to wear red give their absolute all each time they cross the white line. I can forgive a pass that doesn’t quite make its mark or some skill that doesn’t quite come off more than I can forgive a lack of effort.
Anyways, what is done is done, lessons need to be learned by all after the KC debacle, onwards and upwards. Please leave a comment, please find me on Twitter @timdibs
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I will continue to say it Lucas is a complete crap why?Cos even if we are playing good Lucas still allows opposition players so many shots against sunland he allowed them 10 shots on target,against Arsenal,stoke,A’villa,Manu,Swansea uncountable and even draws unecessary set piece fouls when he knows we are not good at it,and that’s why Gerrard doesn’t have the confidence to move forward.Infact not sentimental but Gerrard remains our best AM bring Mvila or javi Martinez and u will confirm it.So Lucas remains our problem.No goal threat,no goals,no assist but the truth in all is our midfield is not good enough simple.
For those criticising Sterling and Rodgers although Moses played bad but support him with Enrique and he will do better,our greatest problems against Hull are Complacency,Lucas with his jolly movie sluggish and sideways passes,Johnson and pairing of Toure and Skrtel with fsg cos this yanks nani boy Ayre said in either June or July that it will take us 4 years to even have a sniff of top 4 and surely they knows our squad is not good enough.
And I don’t think anybody like mvila or martinez will want to come here because we are not in the champions league. We need the best scouting to find players nobody else is considering. Under the radar if you like. We will have to get in the champions league the hard way
Article makes no sense, just rambling rubbish.
I do what I do 😉
I can’t believe once we had a plethora of midfield generals roaming the pitch like Spartans.
Masch, Alonso, Cissokho and Gerrard.
Now a slow and clumsy Lucas who offers nothing going forward, an ageing Gerrard, Henderson, who as energetic as he is, offers too little going forward and everyone’s favourite whipping boy Joe Allen. Couts is good but can’t do it alone. No width.
January we need LB, RB, DM, AM, FWD 2X Wingers. We also need these at the beginning not the end.!
Not much to ask for then.