This seasons running title objective will be thus-
As utterly mad as it now is, the average points to win the PL over the last 5 years has been 92. Such has been the outer-Worldly standards City and L’pool have raised the bar to. In fact, over the past 5 years, they are the only two sides to remotely come close to that points total or higher. (L’pool twice. City once.). For perspective, only THREE teams have topped 80 points the last 5 years. (City 5 times. Liverpool 3 times. Arsenal twice: 84 and 89 the last two seasons.). The average # of wins from the last 5 PL winning seasons is 29.
So, for the purposes of this, the season’s win target is 29. With a points target of 92.
Yesterday’s admin-
Title Countdown:
1 win down/ 28 to go.
3 points down/ 89 to go.
Current PL unbeaten run:
P 5 W 3 D 2 F 13 A 7 CS: 2
2 Straight Wins/ 2 Straight CS.
Current unbeaten away PL run:
P 3 W 1 D 2 F 7 A 5 CS: 1
1 Straight Win/ 1 Straight CS.
As opening day games go, that was exactly how you want it. As first games under a new coaching regime go, that couldn’t have gone much better in context. Made all the more impressive by the fact that 10 out of the 11 that started the second half hadn't had a full pre-season under Slot. Some back only a week. Some only had two. A second half whereupon when they did step it up after tactical tweaks from the HC, they played some absolutely sumptuous football that if the final score line had read 5/6 in their favour, nobody watching could have complained. Leaving you safe in the knowledge that there's so much more to come and so many more levels they have to go up through.
I loved that we got to see that progression through the game in live action. First half, in boiling hot temperatures that were bad enough to stand through the lower without having to play through it, Liverpool never at any point looked genuinely vulnerable. Without ever looking genuinely good. They stayed compact, won most of their battles, and kept a vibrant, as you’d expect, Ipswich comfortably at arms length without really showing much themselves. Leaving you mixed at HT that as frustrating as it had been, you knew at some point the second period Ipswich’s legs would go as they had run themselves into the ground on momentum through the opening half. L’pools individual performances were solid. But the team one overall was a little ‘meh.’ And so that proved the second half where, coupled with L’pool stepping up the intensity, they were comfortably dispatched in what could have been 4/5/6 as noted. The movement was great to get them clean though between the lines on four or five occasions. The Ipswich goalie being his sides MOTM for me. Pretty much picture perfect, in the context of a new coaching regimes fist game after just a fortnight to work with the big hitters, of how you’d want a tricky first away to go with all the visible progression through game.
Individually. I thought no player was less than a 7 across the board. With particular standouts being Gravenberch, who was just what we want back there. Disciplined and understanding of the position staying in and protecting the ball and his teammates first half. With an even better understanding the second to really showcase his all-round talents when the game opened up and he could stride forward to break lines. Mo being Mo doing what Mo does. Breaking records. Poor Leif Davis’ head must still be spinning from the amount of times Mo’s excellent movement had him twisting and turning to try keep up at left full. And if anyone can guarantee me now Diogo will play even 20 of the 38 league games, I’m snapping your hand off. Constant menace. Superb movement. Brings everyone else into play. As clinical a finisher as anyone out there. Never stops harassing his opponent. Mad how under appreciated he is Nationally when the top strikers are discussed. Vital that he stays healthy the majority of the season.
I’ll finish on the inherent difference between supporters actually being at the match. To the loudest nonsense spouted on-line. Really good few days in Ipswich which is a really nice, friendly, quaint place. If a little strange as to how quiet it was on a Friday night. With loads of lads down for the weekend. New season. Same old familiar faces. And the general tone from everyone was that although we hope they add a body or two before the deadline, nobody is worried if they don’t as Jurgen has left us with as strong and as deep a squad as anyone to have a serious go this season. The complete converse to all the Fenway narking and 'Slot being hung out to dry' wham that's incessant on-line. And then the match that was just doubled down on with the best song of the day both mocking the narking, and showing the belief in the team-
‘The Reds ‘aint got no money, but we’ll still win the League!’
Jurgen’s gone and we still miss him terribly. But Arne’s not a half bad replacement yanno’.
We may be just on the same march again.
UTR! FTT!!!!!
