Bill Shankly once said: “A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best, and then make sure that you are.” Truer words have never been spoken, and every Liverpool player needs to take that philosophy on board before it's too late.
In my “The good, the bad and ugly” article I mentioned that the problem with Liverpool this season is not that they're losing, but how they're losing. Against Sunderland, the team played without any conviction or spirit, and therefore deserved to lose.
Reds fans lament the five losses Liverpool have conceded so far this season. At the end of those forgettable performances, some of us express our grief (and frustration) in different ways...
Some fans scream abuse and shout expletives that would make many a sailor proud. Others weep and gnash their teeth like toddlers whose candy has just been stolen. Yet, there are some supporters who refuse to recoil and choose instead to look on toward the next game because they know that one, two or four bad games do not define a team’s prospects, especially when it seems that “luck” is just not going their way.
Say what you want, but we’ve all seen those games before - the referee turns a blind eye to a malicious challenge or an obvious handball; or where clear goal opportunities are squandered; when key players get injured; or when foreign objects interfere with play.
It’s best not to whine too much about these things and accept that this is how life - and football - goes sometimes. There’s a time and season for everything and this seems to be our period of misfortune. No excuses.
But the tide must turn; luck does change, and history has a habit of repeating itself.
Form is temporary and class IS permanent. Yes, it's a cliché, but if some journalists and commentators are allowed to write and spout biased views about a team or person, then a contra, pro-Liverpool viewpoint should also be tolerated.
Liverpool FC is a club that thrives on writing and smashing records. For the 2009/ 2010 season, the odds are stacked against Liverpool FC once again (largely due to their own doing), but it’s best not to dwell in the past and get on with the matter of winning again. Another record is waiting to be claimed: number 19.
The current squad needs to believe in themselves, and prove that they are champion material; and if they’re still clueless about what to do on the pitch then they should just follow Bob Paisley's sage advice:
“If you're not sure what to do with the ball, just pop it in the net and we'll discuss your options afterwards.”
Jody Daniels
In my “The good, the bad and ugly” article I mentioned that the problem with Liverpool this season is not that they're losing, but how they're losing. Against Sunderland, the team played without any conviction or spirit, and therefore deserved to lose.
Reds fans lament the five losses Liverpool have conceded so far this season. At the end of those forgettable performances, some of us express our grief (and frustration) in different ways...
Some fans scream abuse and shout expletives that would make many a sailor proud. Others weep and gnash their teeth like toddlers whose candy has just been stolen. Yet, there are some supporters who refuse to recoil and choose instead to look on toward the next game because they know that one, two or four bad games do not define a team’s prospects, especially when it seems that “luck” is just not going their way.
Say what you want, but we’ve all seen those games before - the referee turns a blind eye to a malicious challenge or an obvious handball; or where clear goal opportunities are squandered; when key players get injured; or when foreign objects interfere with play.
It’s best not to whine too much about these things and accept that this is how life - and football - goes sometimes. There’s a time and season for everything and this seems to be our period of misfortune. No excuses.
But the tide must turn; luck does change, and history has a habit of repeating itself.
Form is temporary and class IS permanent. Yes, it's a cliché, but if some journalists and commentators are allowed to write and spout biased views about a team or person, then a contra, pro-Liverpool viewpoint should also be tolerated.
Liverpool FC is a club that thrives on writing and smashing records. For the 2009/ 2010 season, the odds are stacked against Liverpool FC once again (largely due to their own doing), but it’s best not to dwell in the past and get on with the matter of winning again. Another record is waiting to be claimed: number 19.
The current squad needs to believe in themselves, and prove that they are champion material; and if they’re still clueless about what to do on the pitch then they should just follow Bob Paisley's sage advice:
“If you're not sure what to do with the ball, just pop it in the net and we'll discuss your options afterwards.”
Jody Daniels
Good article and a welcomed glimmer of positivity from Liverpool Kop for a change. Hopefully some of it will rub off on Kanwar!
ReplyDeleteI agree, great article.
ReplyDeleteClearly you missed the two positive articles I posted after the Sunderland defeat:
How Liverpool WON the title after losing 4 of the first 9 league games: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/bravo-why-rafa-benitez-should-be.html
Bravo! Why Rafa Benitez should be applauded: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/10/bravo-why-rafa-benitez-should-be.html
But don't let that get in the way of telling the truth ;-)
It was Bob Paisley who made the comment
ReplyDelete<span>"If you're in the penalty area and don't know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we'll discuss the options later"</span>
You're right. Thank you. The article has been amended.
ReplyDeleteNo, I did read the Rafa one and felt there was still a veiled dig in there - but then you'll never please them all!
ReplyDeleteTime for these fringe player's to put a shift in for a change, no second chances from now on.
ReplyDeleteIts not just Liverpools players - the reason managers are paid so well is because they are the ones who get players playing. And its down to the manager to instill confidence. But can Liverpool players be confident when every loss has pretty much followed the same pattern - and Benitez the lover of analysis seems to ignore these patterns. Liverpool's draws last season and their losses this season have been quite easy to predict and also quite easy to fix.
ReplyDeleteThe solutions were:
1) Last season when playing against teams that want to defend, play with two strikers not 1 .And Benitez should of been more concerned with attacking instead of the usual negative 'stop them scoring mentality'
2) This season Liverpool havent got the luxury of an Alonso who can spread the play against the better sides so use the closest alternative - put Gerrard in the middle. And play Gerrard with a DEFENSIVE midfielder - not Lucas! So then Gerard can concentrate on dictating play and being creative rather than just defending and covering for Lucas' weaknesses.
Both these problems were obvious before they became problems. And once they became problems they could and should have been addressed. Instead Rafa stuck to the same team and formation that everyone could see was not working. And look what happend - 11 draws last season. 4 losses this season.
Rafa refuses to learn from his mistakes, pure and simple. And its hurting Liverpool
very stupid martin lipton
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/laptop-martin-lipton/Has-the-time-come-for-Kenny-Dalglish-to-replace-Rafa-Benitez-at-Liverpool-Martin-Lipton-s-lunchtime-read-article194737.html
Correct me if I am wrong but I remember Rafa saying that this season we would play attacking football the way we did the second half of last season. Hopefully it will start as of tonight.
ReplyDelete