Pointing out Momo's fault drove me to drink

Sep 28 2006 Red Watch by Andy Proudfoot, Daily Post

SAY what you like about 12.45pm kick-offs, but they do give you longer in the pub afterwards.

Not to imbibe ridiculous amounts of alcohol you understand, but to pore over the minutiae of the match just seen, single out successes and failures, and generally put the Liverpool world to rights while watching the scores come in from other games, interesting only for their impact on the Reds' league placing.

There's no better forum for pontificating on the pros and cons of rotation, our ideal forward combination and whether Igor Biscan really did play for Liverpool or did we just dream it?

Now I confess that I have been known to offer an opinion to anyone who'll listen, which probably explains why I write this column; and of course I expect these pearls of wisdom to be eagerly digested and greeted by sage nods, indicating once again that I've put my finger on the button, hit the nail on the head and pinned the tail on the donkey.

So imagine my surprise when, having spent several minutes eulogising the performance of Momo Sissoko on Saturday, one of my mates offered the unwanted opinion that he "couldn't pass".

Momentarily stunned by this lack of respect, I spluttered that this was akin to criticising Michelangelo for not washing his brushes, or Paula Ratcliffe because she 'runs funny'.

Sure, Momo isn't going to rival Xabi Alonso in the 50-yard passing stakes, or even Jamie Redknapp for that matter (yes I do know he couldn't tackle).

But this is not what he's there to do.

For me, Momo has been the biggest single reason for us shifting up a gear in the last 12 months.

Pinched from under the nose of David Moyes, he took to the Premiership instantly, his boundless energy strengthening our resilience and denying midfield opponents time on the ball to pick out marauding forwards.

As Luis Garcia said last year, he gives Xabi time to 'manage the game' and Stevie G the confidence to pile forward knowing there won't be huge gaps behind him if he loses the ball.

Granted, he won't win too many points for presentation, his leggy style reminding you of an octopus falling out of a tree, but his amazing range and combative tackling make everybody else's job so much easier.

All he needs to do is add a few goals to his repertoire, and slim down his collection of yellow cards, and we'll have an international star on our hands.

Get your bets on now for Footballer of the Year.

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