Liverpool Preview: Focus to Replace Euphoria Please
By dixon9
February 6 2011
What a week it has been! Two world class players signed in spectacular style during the dying minutes of the transfer window! Fans numb with excitement. Memories conjured up of the initial Mourinho era signings – or indeed, that time that Ruud Gullit sat grinning amidst camera flashes next to Colin Hutchinson. It’s all done isn’t it? We’ll win games with consummate ease now won’t we?! Think again…
We know the players themselves have been feeling a tremendous boost after events of the last few days, and it is them after all that affect the result on the pitch. But hopefully their professionalism will ensure that the (understandable) euphoria felt by the Stamford Bridge faithful and fans worldwide is put to one side, and is replaced by focus and concentration.
Team Talk
Dalglish’s team-talk has already been done for him. Some of his players may well feel an extra, steely determination to make a point after all that has happened recently. The mawkish victim culture that tends to pervade through some sections of fans from the red side of Merseyside (who conveniently forget the huge swathes of top players they purloined from other clubs over the years - and even tearful youngsters left with football shirts bearing the name of the sold player) will only accentuate a rabious demand for their team to emerge victorious.
The consequent “Whose got egg on their face now?!” post-match smugness in squawky scouse accents emanating from the dusty bass tones of post-match car radios must be avoided at all costs . (Actually not all scouse accents are squawky. I once had a thing with a scouser whose tones were much softer…she was very nice…but I digress)….Er…Thanks for that! Ed. So less of the euphoria. The consequences of lack of concentration are just too terrible to contemplate.
Nevertheless, scoring first could well signal the crumbling of the Liverpool foundations. The initial rage of their frantic play would subside and more goals could follow as the confidence saps from a patched-up yet wounded Dalglish team. Should THEY score first it will be an incredible uphill struggle.
Will they start?
Trying to gauge if Luiz and Torres will start is taxing to say the least. Ancelotti can be either direct and honest in revealing his team selection - even days before a match - or notoriously playful with his “revelations” which can turn out to be quite different to his previous indications. My initial conclusions after Thursday’s press conference was that Luiz would play and Torres would begin the encounter on the bench…but who knows, it could be the other way round …or both could start (incisive analysis or what?!).
Inside every man...(and some women!)
It is refreshing that (even at my age) after so many world class signings during our more recent, contemporary history, that a new player can still cause the sensation of surrealism…as if you’re witnessing the mirage of that player warming up on the pitch rather than the real article.
….and I’m off to the Bridge very soon, I’ll be leaving earlier today, meeting mates at eateries and pubs…pre-match ”wisdom” and analysis will puncture the babbling, beery air. In my minds eye I will already be able to see the floodlights bathing the green pitch, contrasting against the royal blue of Chelsea as we beat an extra special hasty walk to the Bridge today for some reason – ...not that I’m euphoric at all you see.
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What a shambolic performance from the guys
A totally different performance from the game on Tuesday
We are becoming a Jeckle and Hyde side.
