A Nightmare Scenario Unfolding

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Defeats a few weeks ago would have been bitter and I would end up being a body of anger, frustration. Nowadays, the ill feeling is short-lived and it’s back to business after a short while. I’ve become practically immune to Liverpool losing game upon game. A few days ago we were all oozing up there in cloud number nine following the news that the King was indeed back at the helm of – once – a big institution. Yesterday we all came tumbling down after witnessing, I must say, an abject display by, at least, half of the players Kenny fielded. Blackpool are no Barcelona. The team set up by Ian Holloway, a man who should be, without a shadow of a doubt, applauded and rewarded for his accomplishment at Blackpool, probably costs ten times less than the Liverpool eleven. The feeling after the 90 minutes was disgust and shame.

We’ve been fed the “lack of confidence” story for weeks on end now and I wonder how can a human being be devoid of confidence with a salary exceeding £50K a week, and idol to thousands if not millions of people, part of a club with a rich history. If someone out there has a plausible, down-to-earth explanation, kindly come forward. I believe players get a financial bonus for scoring goals so how’s about imposing a hefty fine when performances are simply sub-standard? It is high time players understand that playing for Liverpool means giving one’s maximum during every game. Failure to do so should lead to financial penalties instantly. Player inconsistency is nowadays a farce and nothing can be done about this – playing good or bad doesn’t have any leverage on the financial well-being of players. Such a hypocritical scenario is compounded with the notion that players will hand in transfer requests if the financial status is not good enough. In a nut shell, clubs are at the mercy of players in today’s football World. The only solution to such a quandary is dropping those who fail to live up to expectations. Relegate them to the reserves – fullstop. Players have no divine right to be in the first team at Liverpool and only putting in respectable performances should guarantee a constant selection.

The game against Blackpool couldn’t have started better for Liverpool. Torres was served on a plate by the improving young prospect Kelly and the Spaniard brilliantly finished from a tight angle. Dream start and I thought we were cruising. Cruising we were until Blackpool got a foot hold on the game and started to dominate the midfield. Blackpool were defending high up the field, trying to win the ball in midfield, a crucial area which direly missed the presence of Steven Gerrard. Blackpool’s enthusiasm inevitably meant that they were exposed in defense, and, on another day, with better service, Torres could have run havoc. Service was lacking worryingly yesterday with our only hope being Kelly who did his utmost to get the team forward.

Blackpool looked good because many of Liverpool’s players looked so awful. The only players that deserve recognition are Reina, Torres and Kelly. Torres was a different prospect to the frustrated sulking figure as of late, but he was terribly let down by poor passing. Lucas and Miereles, tried but trying is not enough if you’re wearing a Liverpool shirt. We lacked precision in our passing and how many times have I re-iterated that this chronic problem needs rectification. Johnson and Jovanovic were by far the worst performers, preferring to jog at times rather than run at defenders. Kuyt was rarely effective and seemed disinterested. I was surprised when Poulsen was given the nod and his performance was, at best, average. The center backs have to shoulder the responsibility for poor defending in both goals.

Kenny Dalglish has taken the reigns at a time when motivation is at a premium. He now has to prepare a team mentally for the Merseyside derby without two local and influential players, Carragher and Gerrard. Tough call indeed. Let’s be honest, we can only hope for a draw at Anfield on Sunday, can’t even, for one second, expect Liverpool to win. Moyes will be priming his players and will urge them to inflict a blow which would leave us perilously hanging in relegation quarters. I’m lost for words to be honest and it’s all gloom and doom at the moment. Still a big piece of the puzzle missing in the “new” Liverpool and that’s investment in new players who can inject excitement to Liverpool’s all round play. Many players have been underachieving for months now and it is time to show each of them the door.

That’s all from me for the time-being.

A depressed Liverpool fan …

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39 Comments

  1. Hi

    Take it easy.

    Everybody wants everything to be fixed in 5 days.
    This season is over. Need to plan for next.
    Lets try finish between 7th and 10th position.

    Maybe we can win the Europa League and participate in Europe again next season.

    Liverpool need 4-5 quality players and sorry we also have to sell Gerrard. It will also relieve the pressure off the whole clubs shoulders. Gerrard will get old one day and be replaced and that day is not so far. What will liverpool do then? Start crying and shut down the club.

    Time that all Liverpool fans learn to move on, including me. Gerrard is not bigger than Liverpool.

    If this was a business company half the people would be fired already.

    So, lets stick it out until the summer, hopefully buy good players and build for next season.

    YNWA

    Regards
    A Liverpool fan that is also hurting

  2. It has been make me frustration..Even while the games playing on,i imagined if i was the players. I think i would do leave the pitch and back home..
    No strength inside players heart…The King must filled it..And i think body building ( a little ) can make our defenders got the strong balance and body charge. Heard like a joke..but i think it will be works.

  3. ‘trying is not good enough when your wearing a Liverpool shirt’ I take it you have never played football reading this, to be honest I scanned through it because your talking complete bollox in most of it. We have got what we wanted now – new owners, Kenny in charge and hopefully some young quality players on the way. Yes this season is a write-off but GET OVER IT you can’t have everything your own way forever an to be honest if we lose a few moaning glory hunting fuck fans like you then i’ll happily have 2 shit seasons on the bounce!

    1. StevieG:
      a. We’ve never seen eye to eye and you can attack me as much as you want, couldn’t give a flying toss.
      b. This season is a write-off true, but I’m sure most fans don’t want to see us get relegated, cause that’s where we’re heading; but it seems you know it all.
      c. We’ve been not getting anything our way for a good twenty years now bar Istanbul.

  4. Fair in certain respects, unfair in other. My take on the last two matches: New manager in Dalglish wants to show the under performing players that everyone will get a look-in, even out of favour Poulsen. SO, last night a Liverpool side takes the field who in all honesty if they played to 40% of their potential would’ve had won! The sad fact is the following: GJ, Skrtl, Poulsen, Ivanovich only get 1/10! Kuyt and Raul 2/10! That’s more than 50% of the team scoring 1.3/10!!! 13%! I am sorry, but you get hard workers making things happen and then you get Kuyt who runs up and down, up and down, but does absolutely nothing for 90mins!

    Lucas – unfortunately for him – was given a midfield role however the defending and attacking support so poor that he had to fall back and attack leaving the poor guy all over the place! He however remains my man of the match! Kelly, Torres and Agger were my 50% players yesterday and did everything they could with the poor support surround them!

    Anyway, the frustrations continue!

  5. It doesnt matter how much passion the players play with the team is just not good enough.We need class players and until this happens this is how it always will be.I think this season we have to fight to stop in the premiership and then in the summer NESV put some money in and buy some class players because it sounds like they are not going to buy in this transfer window.

  6. Agree with Jonathan that we shouldn’t panic (yet). I think a lot of our problems stem from Roy’s naive (and desperate?) attempt to shift to 4-4-2, which has left a hole in the middle of our team. It looks like Kenny recognises this and is trying to switch back to a form of 4-5-1. This may take time. Of course, the big problem is down to personnel, Poulsen has been a depressingly bad replacement for Masch (one of the best DCMs in the world). Unfortunately, none of our other midfielders are naturals at DCM so (particularly away from home) we’re struggling badly and will continue to do so until either Poulsen finds some form (unlikely) or we find a suitable alternative. Whilst I’m happy to see us linked with the likes of Suarez, Elia, Coentrao etc (all would be great additions), what we really need in the short-term is someone who can play DCM. If we could get shot of Poulsen, would be happy to see Mo Sissoko back – he’s not as good as Masch but played well for us in this position the year before he left.

  7. Come on guys,I would do the same if given Kenny’s role. Give Jova, Poulsen, Johnson chances to prove. If they cant perform then sorry LFC is not your team. Kenny will put the best 11 against Everton and dictate the game he wants. Get on with our self belief as LFC supporters. How could the team win when the supporters are not highly confidence? LFC will survive and I will stick to my belief that Kenny will make it happens. I have been supporting LFC for 38 years and will always be. YNWA

  8. We can only hope for a draw in the derby? Mate, can you just stop and go and get a proper job please. We dont need ill informed ‘fans’ like you spouting off on the internet with nonsense views as though you’re some kind of official mouthpiece for Liverpool fans. Form doesn’t come into derby’s as you would know if you had any kind of experience of being a Liverpool fan. How old are you out of interest? And have you ever been to a Liverpool game?

    1. I have a proper job Kmd, mind your own bloody business. You can say what the hell you want; if some players don’t up their game considerably, we’ll be in serious trouble in a couple of weeks, probably by the end of January. Getting in Dalglish was great; the players have to prove their worth now and NESV need to get down to do their business.

      Useless being blind in such a situation. Be realistic and analytical for once, half of the team yesterday simply didn’t earn their wage packet. 4 points off relegation is no cause for optimism and I can only hope in Kenny and Clarke to put things right starting from Sunday’s clash.

  9. GREAT MENTALITY THAT IS NOT!!! DEAR GOD!!! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS;; DISGUSTING ATTITUDE, MAYBE THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE CLUB WITH FANS LIKE THIS; JUST DISGUSTING….

    Jonathan says:
    January 13, 2011 at 9:57 am
    Hi

    Take it easy.

    Everybody wants everything to be fixed in 5 days.
    This season is over. Need to plan for next.
    Lets try finish between 7th and 10th position

    No way is the season over, would Shankly, Kenny or even Rafa have said this, disgusting comments form a so called Liverpool fan.

    Season is over if we have a mentality like yours,,, and they we we are going if the players and fans like you carry on, then yes the season will be over and we will be out of the premier league and a new leeds utd, because like you unless the owners and the whole club get on with it and stop making up excuses to buy and add to the team and now! we are done for, but with the attitude at the club and the boards mentality towards transfers and along with pricks like you, yes the season will be over.

    BUT FOR ME; its a long way to go yet,, we add a couple of proven players at no matter what the cost, I am sorry but you have to pay out, why not…. until we pay out we aren’t going anywhere, but as I said couple of great deals and then we can at least look up and forwards.

    suarez and young for me;

  10. I HOPE HE HAD AGOOD REASON FOR PICKING THE TEAM HE DID IE IMJURIES OR SUCH .I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HE ALREADY HAD AN OPINION ON THE PPLAYERS HE PICKED ISTILL BELIEVE HE CAN IMROVE US SHORT TERM BUT IF HODSON HAD HAVE PICKED THAT TEAM THE PHONE LINES WOULD HAVE MELTED

    1. @JMCNULTY – agree about Hodgson, but Kenny had to work with was available, no Carra, Gerrard, Cole and Maxi has been poor lately. Having said that, at least Konchesky didn’t make it, although it didn’t change much.

  11. A. when raul mereles lost the bal… where was poulsen,,where did the “positioning sense” dissappear for the DM to take his place when the ball is being moved through the centre. Or is it really hard to understand that he is too slow to react!!

    The second goal -every one rightly rushed out of the box after the corner, Skrtl and Agger stayed back and Blackpool players could not be arked offside. Communication gap.

    B. Lucas looked good, controlled the pace to certain extent.

    C. we looked really nervous when takin the ball forward, there was that much needed sense of urgency, however we failed to retain possesion which is fundamental to a passing game.

    D. our wings are tootheless. Kuyt is not in form and jova is simply not good enough.

    E. The good news is that we are back to 4-2-3-1, so it would take a bit of time to get back to the new system.

    F.skrtl has let us down, big time. He is good on a odd day other than that he is just more than ordinary.Squad player.

    F. Relegation is an issue now if we fail to beat Everton.

    **********IMP***************
    People would not accept this, but playing Johnson on the left was a tactical blunder (at least after we were behind Blackpool). Kelly is not good going forward and placing him on the right just compromised our threat on the right side, on the left ,we have been poor since quiet a long. Bad call by Kenny.

  12. Seriously i don’t understand how it’s possible that there’s still a lot of people that doesn’t understand our problem, look at our midfield yesterday…ridiculous, few years ago it was: masch, xabi, stevie, kuyt and pennant, now what, take a look…the problem is that no one seems to understand that we simply need to buy quality and fast players for the midfield and on the wings, today there’s not a great team without a playmaker and without class & fast players, you can’t play with kuyt (i like his spirit but…) and maxi as support for torres and than criticize el nino, in fact he plays always alone, maxi and kuyt are too slow for today’s level, they’re not able to attack their defender, only turn back, we’ll play better with pacheco and babel, and than lucas and poulsen…i think that everybody can understand by himself, raul is a good player but he has always played in 4-3-3 teams so, maybe he needs time, however thanks woy to send aquilani like a gift to juve for poulsen…great deal…(what a joke)

  13. Nice article, I think your quite spot on, and it kind of annoyed me most of the time that woy was there that ppl overlooked it and wanted to blame him so quickly, I think if honest liverpool fans have been lulled into thinking our side was stronger than it was. Looking back from instanbul our team has changed alot, it got stronger our defense was really impressive all the way up to when we finished 2nd. but even at our peak in recent years we wasnt balanced, relied to heavily on a select group of players and now after some ill chosen transfers look at the position we’re in, glen cant defend as good as arbeloa, we havent had a good left back since riise and he was suspect, the midfield is one player whos a lot better than the rest,theres no pace other than ones that dont start, we have one quality forward and one young boy.. This isnt a new problem its been like this for 2 seasons now and it hasn’t been addressed, If honest I think our player transfers have been mismanaged for a while now and now the club is fully feeling the effects. I dont think this is kk, woys or the owners fault but something from the previous regime and until wholesale changes are made we will be an average team.

  14. @Anfield_toger

    If ever there was a time we needed aquilani its this season. Our midfield has no tempo, none we’re a better team wen we play jonjo which I’m thankfull kk is doing now, for me i think we need to play
    Reina
    Kelly skyrtel agger aurelio
    Babel shelvey lucas pacheco
    Gerrard torres
    If we dont bring players in which I’m not sure that we will I dont see how playing players like raul and lucas in the same team or playing poulsen at all or jovanovic or maxi will win us games.
    Can anyone remember them seeing the last balanced team we’ve had???

  15. Let’s break it down here :

    1) Johnson and Skrtel have to be removed from the defence full stop! They’ve cost us so many goals this season through lack of concentration and being too easily beat for the ball. Fabio and the greek have to come in until Carra’s back.
    2)As Pablo says Poulson is the only proper DM we have, Lucas was signed as a box-to-box midfielder who Rafa tried to convert to a DM. So unless Jay Spearing cud do a job we have to make do. Meirles has in my opinion gone backwards this season, probably due to the whole teams shocking form. He embodied the teams lack of confidence/nervousness when toe-poking the ball straight to the Blackpool player for their 1st goal. If he had only put his foot on it or even put it in the stand(god forbid!) we might have had a different outcome?
    3)Kuyt is having another poor season,poss due to world cup/losing final/2 serious injuries earlier in the season?
    4)Jovanovic – Headless chicken.
    Then as for the rest of the squad: Konchesky – woeful, Greek – limited, Fabio – injury prone, Babel – no heart, Cole – luxury player, N’gog – poor decision making.

    At best we have @ 6 players who are actually good enough….

  16. i said it before and i say it now all our players are not good enoughl. the only 2 players i keep are gerrad and riena all the others have to be replaced asap.we will never make with these over rated players .so dont blame the manager or selection or confidence or whatever they are simply not good enough for the epl let alone for our great club

  17. Sadly the season isnt over We have a very real fight on our hands to keep our premier status and this will be compounded if we dont beat the bittermen next up. If the worst case scenario happens the Championship is a very competitive league and the inadequacies of the squad will be even more exposed.Where is The NESV war chest ??

  18. i dont know how some of you can state this season is over already, for it to be over we need to be safe and away from the threat of relegation. Unfortunatly its not over by a long way. Last night was a poor performance but Kenny has been away for so long he needs time to impose himself on the team, 3 days training is not enough. You watch we will win the derby on Sunday and then things will start getting back to normal. Leave the bitching between fans to them tossers in Salford, lets rally together and get behind the players (even if most of them are shit) and show the world why we are known as the greatest set of supporters teh world has ever seen!!!! Come on people we are Liverpool and we will rise again!!

  19. Gerrard wouldn’t have made a difference – he plays for all intents and purposes as a forward, outside of the midfield battle. The problem is that our “ballwinners” are slow and weak, meaning that the centre circle is regularly conceded to the opposition, giving them free reign to run at our defence or pick passes out for the forwards.

    We need more energy and pace in the team, not only to win the ball back quicker, but also to force the opposition to worry about leaving space behind them as they push forwards. Kuyt and Maxi are passengers on the wings, and dropping Maxi was one step in the right direction but Babel also has to usurp Kuyt asap.

    Regardless of what people say, I refuse to accept that we are in a relegation scrap and fully expect us to coast clear as the season progresses and the team picks up a few more victories. I don’t want this to be the focus of the season though, and would much rather see the youngsters blooded in (e.g. Babel, Kelly, Wilson, Pacheco, Shelvey, Amoo) at the expense of the tried and tested Kuyt, Skrtel, Carragher, Maxi, Poulsen etc.

  20. IMO

    The following players need to be sent to the reserves or sold:

    Glen Johnstone, Martin Skrtel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Paul Konchesky, Raul Meireles, Milan Jovanovice, Dirk Kuyt, Christian Poulsen, Joe Cole

    The following youngster need to be given an extended run out as they can’t be any worse than the lot above:

    Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson, Daniel Ayala, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, Danny Pacheco, Tom Ince, Fernando Suso, Raheem Stirling

    Then play a 3-4-1-2

    Reina

    Wilson/Kelly
    Carragher (hoping for a speedy return)
    Agger

    Kelly/Stirling
    Spearing
    Shelvey
    Ince

    Gerrard

    Torres
    Pacheco

  21. Well said Jamie … come on people what do we sing week in week out ? we are in a strom and should hold our head high and dont be afraid of the dark at the end of this strom there will be golden sky.
    and how sweet that will be
    cheer up guys we are gona pass through this

  22. We need at least 5 new players, owners have to spend 40m to show that they are committed and willing to spend good money. Suarez, Fabio Coentrao, Maicon can be bought, I’m shore most of our supporters agree that on the peach we can’t see any improvements it looks like the club hasn’t been sold or H and G are the owners!! To my understanding the owners made some promises or as i remember Henry saying ‘we want to over deliver’, now is the time, with the current situation of the club i thought the owners and so called Director of football strategy will buy players when Transfer window opened?!! Oh i forgot, they have plans Mr Henry likes a young team they want to concentrate on the Academy!! perfect excuse ‘we need 5 years’ Mr Henry thinks, i don’t want to criticise him or get into a lose lose situation, what I’m trying to say is stop wasting time and buy players which can work with any manager and understand the urgency of the matter, we are loosing points, the damage caused by delays will se us loosing again and again, that 4th spot is ours to get can’t you see if we finish 6th, 5th or 7th the effect and negativity on the Club it self in terms of Class Prestige and the economic and advertisement?! If Suarez is signed at least you can sell his name like Torres.
    ,
    ,
    ,
    ..

    1. ….not to mention that we’re losing on the current crop of young football fans who regard Liverpool as not worth supporting. First is first, second is nothing a wise guy once said; I;m not expecting Liverpool to win the league, not even make the CL places given the re-emergence of Spurs, City but cannot accept high-profile players trying to avoid the drop!! I repeat, players underachieving need to be relegated to the reserves; if they want to leave, let them go.

      Let’s just hope that the Anfield atmosphere gives those on the pitch next Sunday the necessary lift to ease back our worries.

  23. You’ll Never Walk Alone and neither should they the players. Until Kenny decides to sell them they’re still part of the team and no matter how useless or underperforming they are we should show them why we’re the greatest motivators of men. We’re called the 12th man for the simple reason that there are no fans in the world who will get behind their team like we do. One word. Istanbul. We make the confidence. But I would love to see the youngsters getting a chance to give it a go. At least we know they’ll take their opportunity and give it their all.

  24. It is frustrating being a Liverpool supporters but what makes us great supporters is we stick by them through the good and the bad. We do have high expectations because it means so much wearing the Liverpool shirt some players i think dont no what its all about but Kenny will get things right. Sunday will be completely different we will stuff Everton it will be a better derby than the one at goodison. The atmosphere should be buzzing with kennys first home game back Anfield am looking forward to it and if we get a win that will kick start are fight back up there. the season is a write off but its a fight of pride now and the fans will do there bit on sunday as well!! ynwa

  25. Take a deep breath and then slowly let it out. Do it again,
    breath in….. and breath out. It’s going to be okay. For better or
    for worse we are where we are, and we have what we have. I know
    it’s bandied about a lot, but the expression we want is “keep the
    faith”. We’ve been through good times and we’ve been through bad
    times and throughout Liverpool Football Club, and us the fans have
    endured. The Derby game is the perfect game for us to play right
    now. Yes we’re in abysmal form, but one thing you can always
    guarantee from the derby is that the form book with will be getting
    lashed straight out of the window. Do I KNOW, we’re going to win?
    Of course not, but I honestly believe that in a 90 minute game of
    football anything is possible. CAN we win? We’ll have the roar of
    the Kop to our backs, a strong spiritual leader of the fans back on
    the touchline, and the best centre forward in the world leading the
    line, so why the hell not? Chin up matey. Go and brew a nice cup of
    tea, or maybe grab a beer (or whatever tickles yer fancy), turn off
    the lights and listen to You’ll Never Walk Alone. Remember Cardiff
    and Dortmund in 2001, remember Istanbul in 2005, Remember Rush,
    Fowler, Barnes and all those other great Red memories. Yep, we’re
    down now, but we know in our heart of hearts that form may be
    temporary, but class is permanent. Paul Machin YNWA The Redmen Is
    THE Independent Liverpool FC Show http://www.facebook.com/TheRedmenTV
    http://www.youtube.com/WeAreTheRedmen
    http://www.twitter.com/WeAreTheRedmen

  26. I think a: you are jumping on the popular bandwagon, and b: overreacting

    Kenny has had precisely 3 days to work with Hodgsons leftovers – t will be a couple of weeks before we start to see the Kenny Dalglish team emerge.

    And while some of the players were indeed poor on Wednesday, we lacked leadership, without Gerrard on th pitch, we dont have one. Reina IM sure is a good captain, but he’s in goal. we need somoene else who will impose themselves on both the game and the team and pick them up when they need it………

    It will come, give the man time.

  27. if we still had rafa, we would not be in this position now, useless players or not, at least we were not flirting with relegation

  28. @ehab – Why are people still bringing up Rafa? For God’s sake, let it go. He had a good spell, it ended poorly for a variety of reasons. Story over.

    Getting stuck in the past is a good way to not win a league title for 20 years.

  29. since when has the legendary 12th man become just a whiny girl?
    our current situation sucks, and it’s a terrible fate for a club that deserves so much more, but this continued crying isn’t like us. we’re LFC, and we don’t surrender, we walk on. there is no denying this season has been a disappointment, but let’s continue to walk through this storm with our head held up high, as we work towards reclaiming our throne. it might not be the best time to be a LFC supporter, but it still beats being a supporter for any other club, and never forget – YNWA.

  30. @ chris

    what i sad is that send aquilani to juve for poulsen was a joke, simply the first bright sign that woy is not a good manager…

  31. Reading these comments, it’s interesting how when times are tough, some people stay positive, hope for the best and only see things improving, whereas others’ succumb to negativity and depression and expect the worst. Each responds to a situation in his own way depending on his own mental strength. Now’s the time we need all those amazingly mentally tough, positive supporters to rally the troops, both players and fans, because unfortunately misery loves company and we really don’t want to go down that path – it’s not helpful to anyone including the players. Please let us see your positive comments all over the place – FB, Twitter & internet – and let us hear & see your amazing voices & banners at the games. Let’s support each other because it’s very easy to get caught up in a spiral of negativity as the players currently seem to be & poor ol’ Kenny has such a big job on his hands, he could probably do with a positive boost too! By the way, anyone know if they have team psychologists & motivational speakers in football as they do in rugby? If not, might be helpful.

    1. The word “depressed” in football discussion shouldn’t be taken literally. As I said, we’ve sorted out the ownership and manager issues; now it’s time to have a look at the squad. As Didi said:

      “They have to now (take responsibility). In the months leading up to Hodgson’s departure, the players were able to hide behind him because if things went wrong the manager took the stick.”
      There will be a change in the criticism of the club now, the players will not be able to take the easy way out”
      “This will not happen with Kenny Dalglish. He has the trust of the fans and will address the problems. Either players perform or they will not be there next season.”

      The performance at Blackpool was simply poor; too many passes astray and Torres, who was evidently up for it and trying to motivate those around him, was starved of any service bar for the first goal which was simply class. The question then is, why do we start off brilliantly and then fade away?! Blackpool could have scored one or two more weren’t it not for the brilliant Reina.

      Contrary to what people think, I’m all behind the King and will support him through and through. The players have to respond. I may have jumped the gun when stating that all we can expect is a draw against the toffees and will concede that form and tactics are thrown out of the window in a derby. But after Everton, whatever the result, it’s Wolves away and that’s a must win, and a convincing one too.

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