LIVERPOOL RATTLED, WILL IT MATTER?
ARNE 'ROT' HAS SET IN, CAN ARSENAL CAPITALISE?
What a crazy day we had.
One minute, I'm contemplating deleting my website. The next, I'm knee-sliding across the polished concrete floor and fist-pumping people in the carpark.
Liverpool had their first head loss of the season against Everton. In a game where everything went their way, as usual, they finally tasted the bitterness of a David Moyes FUCK YOU pie. The pie was hand-delivered by the sweet left-footed volley of James Tarkowski in the 97th minute.
The veil of Liverpool pleasantness fell. Doucoure was accosted by Curtis Jones. Arne Slot said something obnoxious to Michael Oliver. He was sent off along with his assistant. Their players all had a massive tear-up.
Looking forward to the condemnation in the media. We need to be seeing some aggressive charges leveled at the brawling players. I simply must get the scoop on why VAR spent so long trying to find reasons to disallow the Everton goal after the game.
PGMOL shouldn't get off lightly here either. Michael Oliver was put on another massive game just 2 weeks after a shocking decision disgusted the world. How can he be rewarded with another opportunity to interfere in the Premier League? Good job his lenient approach to players on second yellows didn't affect the outcome.
Liverpool players said the draw felt like a loss. The emotional impact of a result like that might not have consequences that'll be felt against a rested Wolves, but you wouldn't put it past them to drop points at Villa (A), City (A) or Newcastle (H).
Their lead is down to 7 points now, this is the first time we've seen them rattled, it did not go unnoticed that they were utterly shite all game.
The only problem I have with it all is it feels quite unlikely Arsenal is going to capitalise on this. Arteta didn't really give his players much time off on this Dubai trip. Sounds very much like the R&R positioning was not all it was cracked up to be. I still can't get over Kai Havertz overextending his hamstring to the extent he's having surgery to fix the accident. What the fuck happened? Was he hit by a golf cart?
… I've had my say on that. It's all on Arteta. This season will fail because of his insane decisions around fitness and if he continues to behave like Big Ange with his players health, he'll always be a bridesmaid.
Buuuuut… if you think I'm going to be typing here NOT gassing myself up over a makeshift forward line that could power us to glory like the makeshift defenses of 05/06 that had Flamini, Senderos, Sol Campbell, and Ashley Cole… then you'd be wrong.
Mikel Merino is the player who looks most like Kai physically, but also from a playing style. He'll give you space munching, good hold-up play, and a connective outlet for our wingers. His inclusion is a risk, because he's not a striker, but one that might be worth investigating.
The more likely option is Raheem Sterling taking up that false 9 role. He has done it 60 times in the past, and he has quite a good return from that role. He's good on the ball, he can do Jesus things, and his finishing has been world class in the past.
I'm not sure Ethan has the strength as a striker right now, and he's shown incredible form from the wide positions.
I'm not buying in to academy promotion stories. We have too much teenager in our setup at the moment.
The job to be done is 5 Premier League games and two Champions League games. Quite a tall order. But if we can get through to the end of March we'll be able to call on Martinelli, Saka, and Benny Blanco. That's some hope right there. Saka CAN play as a 9 and give us a much needed lift.
Question is, can the players we have right now give us enough availability and enough goals to get to the promised land of being in contention if Liverpool wobble?
The reality… I don't know. But that's sport. If you're sitting in the comments section here bitching and moaning about how upset you are to be in a title race because you didn't get Charles N'Zogbia in the window. I feel sorry for you. You've lost sight of the beautiful game. We did all the whinging 10 years ago so we could be in these moments, competing, pushing for the biggest trophies. Why not embrace it, see what happens, and vent when it's over?
Right, that's me done. Get the latest podcast. Some friends said they liked it and it made them feel warm inside. There's also a Therapy Sesh in the members zone, so sub up if you want that early. x
I don't know why people keep repeating things we already know. Are we likely to catch Liverpool, No. Have we fucked up in the window, absolutely. But the sea of negativity on here is just boring.
We still have the best defense in the league with White returning this week. All of them are finally fit apart from Tomiyasu. All our midfielders are fit too now. And I don't believe Liverpool's luck with injuries will continue because of the amount of football they are playing.
All we have to do is grind out 1 nil wins till April when Saka and Martinelli are back. The games that will be really difficult are Forrest and United away. I still feel we can beat those two on our day even with the injuries we have. And we will need creative solutions, Merino at 9 at times, Zinchenko/MLS in midfield or the wing. It isn't over mathematically. What have we got to lose? Might as well go for it.
I'd play Calafiori at the 9...before I'd play Merino.. He at least looks like a striker. Got the Cavani-like chiseled chin and can rock a leather strap head band. He hits the ball with force and is not scared to have a pop..at goal from distance. Can he do other 9 type stuff like hold up play and off the ball runs? no freakin idea.. That our season comes down to weird makeshift false 9's ...is killing the 7 points back vibe for sure. Sterling being a starter for what could be months in any position makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. What a bizarre season.