Back to some real football

Sep 15 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

View From The Stands

SO WE’RE back in business again, after another not-so-brief hiatus.

One has to ask, is all this international football really necessary? I mean, who really gets off on it, apart from the odd Scot and radio stations like talkSport? How long can they make that Gerrard v Lampard thing run?

I reckon it’s becoming an anachronism, to file alongside your rattle and Football Echo.

In practical terms, at best your players return knackered. At worst, crocked. Remember John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp? To say of nothing of losing momentum, which in our case was building up nicely all those weeks ago.

Plus, of course, we’re not just concerned with England these days. Arguably, Spain’s fortunes are more important now. Speak-ing of which, did you know the average Span-ish fan couldn’t give a two peseta castanet for their national team? Down to stronger regional allegiances, apparently. Not that we Scousers would know anything about that.

Anyway, the upshot of it all is, I recommend a break for our skipper. He covered every blade of grass on Wednesday, and practically crawled off the pitch at the end.

So logic dictates he won’t be able to repeat the performance on Saturday. I’m also keen to see a little less of the ‘GerrardPool’ thing anyway, especially as now it’s no longer necessary. After all, can you name a really successful team whose fortunes hinged on just one player? Even 1970 Brazil were not all Pele.

So why not another run-out for the side that knocked Derby for six? Yes, I know that was horses for courses, for a home game against a weak team. But hey, we’re Liverpool again.

So perhaps we should just put out a team that we know can play, and let the opposition worry about us. Just like in the good old days. And look what used to happen then.