AS I suspected, the international break has proved a period for calm reflection on the current state of Liverpool FC.
Freed from having to deal with the daily bulletins over the condition of Gerrard’s groin and Fernando’s hernia, and the fevered speculation over the identity of Rafa’s pending replacement, I’ve felt able to bring a little perspective to our predicament, and take a more considered view as to our season’s prospects.
And the inevitable conclusion from this period of meditation is this: we’re stuffed.
Our two declared priorities for the season are no more than the dust on Ryan Babel’s left boot. And I need someone, or something, to blame.
The Fans. Nope, can’t pin any of the blame on us. We didn’t ask for this, we didn’t bring it upon ourselves. We’re not Geordies. We’re not baying for blood; we’re not booing our own team (with a couple of minor exceptions). Relative blame: 0%
The Owners. First bit of controversy. I know many of you would have them out on their own at the top of this particular chart, but you can’t blame the hideous leveraged debt or the lack of a new stadium for our current predicament, it goes deeper than that. And haven’t Torres, Mascherano, Johnson and Aquilani arrived under their stewardship? That’s £75m of anyone’s money. But they should still have coughed up a bit more in the close season. Relative blame: 15%
The Fates. Normally I’m a great believer in making your own luck. But occasionally things conspire against you so determinedly that you feel powerless in the face of their unpredictable might. The beach balls, the dodgy sendings-off, the inevitable punishment of isolated mistakes, would all have you doubting the continuing effectiveness of your lucky pants, or the scarf you haven’t washed since 1965. But the injuries, oh sweet Lord, the injuries. So many, and to key players to boot. And the most critical incurred while away on international duty. It’d try the faith of a St John. Relative blame: 20%.
The Players. Yep, we’re starting to get serious now. Whether it’s the collective sulk they indulged in after the sale of Alonso (read Steven Gerrard in Four-Four-Two if you doubt this); the poor form of those we normally look to for strength in adversity (yes defence I’m talking about you); or the failure of our fringe players to grasp the opportunity handed to them, there’s not much to be proud of so far. Relative blame: 25%.
The Manager. Whichever way you look at it, Rafa’s failure to compile a strong squad, rather than just a first team, over five years has to be the chief reason for our predicament: it may have taken a perverse combination of the previous contributors to expose it, but now it’s there for all to see. Rafa has to up his game, and use his undoubted tactical acumen to get us through this difficult period before next season’s a write-off as well. Relative blame: 40%.
Calm reflection? Who needs it.
