Great to wake up in a heck of a lot better mood than Wednesday morning when I couldn’t even be bothered with a missive for the first time this season.
Yesterday’s admin-
FA Cup Quarter-Final.
The much maligned A.Slott Esq,, equalling a certain K.Dalglish Esq as having the most wins his first 100 games as any L’pool manager in history. Which he could break next Tuesday. Currently sat at 62 wins from 99 games. #baldfraud
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We’re on the march with Arne’s Army ….. ‘ I
LOVE that song. Nottin’ to do with the ‘
Arne’ bit. He’s just the current guardian of our hopes and dreams. It could be any manager. I just love the simplicity of it when we’re on a serious Wembley run. It always takes me back to Kenny’s time in charge. And r end belting it out second half last night was a joyous thing.
We need to do it more. Took us until the last few years of Jurgen to bring it back. Now Slot has it like we sang the LC run last season.
Confidence is a funny thing isn’t it in sport?
It’s totally unquantifiable. Yet it’s one of the most important factors to it all. Even at the very, very top level we operate at, when it goes, and you start to doubt yourself, bad things happen. You’ve only to look at both halves last night ….. The first half was, albeit slightly better, a continuation from Tuesday and a really turgid affair. But all the while, being so high up last night, as opposed to low down the opposite side of the pitch Tuesday, I was watching the bench with interest. And Slotts constantly waving them forward/ twirling his hands in a ‘speed it up’ motion. But the play was slow paced and controlling ….. nay,
safe, as they were all taking that extra touch, making sure, and playing safety first football to not be the one to gamble and make a mistake. What happens when you are as bereft of confidence as we’ve been. Then Mo does absolutely fantastic in holding the ball and taking it past 4 players, cutting in, and finding Curtis. Who in turn feeds AndyRobbo, who unleashes that belter! And suddenly they are pinging the ball one touch, at pace, attacking at will and making Wolves look what they are. A Championship team. The Reds looking like L’pool again. Looking like what the manager wanted to transition us into, what he did at Feyenoord, before tragedy struck and this seasons plans went out of the window before we could even begin. Because confidence flipped on that one Robbo moment and was soaring through them.
Never ceases to intrigue me how big a factor confidence plays in top level sport. And how fragile a thing it is even with the most mentally tough of athletes and teams.
And that goes for the stands too. Mad how, at half-time, you can go to wondering what time you’d be home with extra-time and penos? And just why you’d stood through another half of utterly sterile S in F Wolverhampton for the second time this week?!!!!
To then having a super enjoyable, joyous second half with great vocal that had everyone bouncing out of the ground at the end. The extremes through two separate halves this mad, mad sport can oft put you through.
As opposed to Tuesday, when not one player bar Rio, who was super again last night, got over a 5, that was much improved across the board from every player and manager alike. Rio gave us that constant out ball we’ve been missing most of this season. Like Darwin and Diaz gave us last season. Pace to just hit it over the top and leg them. I thought Gakpo had a sound game upfront yesterday holding it up, and bringing others into play. And winning it back when they had possession. But man alive his lack of pace has shown wide this year. And now Mo’s legs have gone, with the same Chiesa, there’s been nothing across that front free for an out ball bar Ekitike. Who has looked goosed after 60 every game with no Isak, another with pace, to interchange with and relieve each other. Frimpong and Kerkez add to that pace wide over the top. But man has it been a big difference this year not having that as opposed to last season. And Rio gives you that in spades. Just a pity we’ve had the season we’ve had where the situational opportunity’s haven’t been there or else he’d doubtless of got a lot more minutes than what he has already. So unlucky not to score both games against them this week but that will come. Loved Trey and Morrison when they came on too. Nyoni continues to impress every chance he gets. He’s really bulked out as well this year which is helping him massively against older men. And the NI kid showed just why he’s been bumped to regular first-team training of late. Curtis was vying with AndyRobbo for MOTM. With both adding super finishes. And the manager was markedly better all game too both tactically, as much as the aforementioned confidence detracted from that first-half. Loved that we kept our foot on Wolves neck even at 2 and went for the third constantly rather than sitting on it. And in his subs.
And there were no M6 issues so back a good hour or so earlier than Tuesday which was another massive bonus. All to turn around and drive down to Stanny this avvy for tomorrows next leg in following these frustrating champions around this season.
Much, MUCH better Redmen. Keep the smiles on our faces this coming week please. Still lots to achieve out of this horribly trying season.
*Sings …..
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We’re on the march with Arne’s army ……’
Up the Reds!
WTRWWAW!
