Firstly, I will elaborate on the views expressed in my immediate review of the Liverpool v Newcastle United match at Anfield. They were submitted about five minutes into the full workday, so not exactly the product of rumination and thought.
In the first half hour we made Liverpool look second best all over the pitch: movement, athleticism, territory, creativity. You name it, we were better than the Premier League champions.
Sadly, unlike Wembley last March, that was as good as it got.
Thanks in no small part to Ekitike and Wirtz, the megabucks to megabucks wages transfers, Merseyside’s second club undid us with alarming ease. Although their former star player Salah made almost no contribution, they were comfortable winners in the end.
Other factors in our defeat? A third tough game in seven days, a growing injury list and of course the absence of a Swedish striker who was at the forefront of our success last season.
The match became increasingly depressing from about 40 minutes on as we ran out of gas just as Liverpool belatedly found a way to deal with three wide attackers charging hard at their unwieldy defense.
Some fans wanted us to sit back from the start, form a low block and try to hit Liverpool on half-time. If everyone was fit and playing as best they could, it might have worked.
I prefer to take the game to the opponent, force them back and make them look plain normal. Too often at Anfield we have started with a passive approach that invites them to dominate proceedings. They don’t need an invitation.
If Barnes’ thundering shot at 0-0 had bounced off the post instead of back into the penalty area, or if Alisson hadn’t produced a superb save to deny Barnes in the second half with the score 2-1, the complaints wouldn’t be so strident.
We are losing in an area where we have not won this millennium and some fans want wholesale changes.
Who honestly expected an away win or a draw? For half an hour that was a realistic prospect.
We reportedly want a team to try. Well, we have one and I’m happy to enjoy the ride.
Newcastle United will play at least 55 competitive matches this season. Apart from the 38 bread-and-butter in the domestic league, we have at least five in the League Cup, two in the FA Cup and ten in the UEFA Champions League.
That is extremely pessimistic, which seems to be the default position of many supporters, despite the team’s impressive results and performances in these tournaments.
Beat Qarabag and we’ll be in the round of 16 of Europe’s elite club tournament. That would take United to 57th. In terms of form, we need to make progress. They were named as potential dark horses by Rory Smith of the New York Times last summer and they have reached the play-offs, but after a 6-0 defeat at Anfield they may not fancy a second leg at St James’ Park on February 24.
You win the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City (I know we’re two down at half-time, but stranger things have happened) and the total becomes 58.
Beat Villa in their backyard and we’re up to 59 and counting. No wonder some players who have been sidelined due to injuries are now showing signs of fatigue.
I wouldn’t have it any other way. Much prefer the busy schedule to, say, the trials and tribulations of the Salfords. No European campaign, out of the League Cup, out of the FA Cup, in the hope of securing a place in next season’s Champions League.
Football at the highest level is about money (as it has been for decades), but there is still room for dreams.
Ours have already achieved three goals under the current management: two Champions League runs and a League Cup in our Mother Hubbard.
Due to PSR and other limitations, we must take the road less traveled in recruitment and retention. Accusations of multiple failures at these tasks make me laugh when I compare our decisions to the likes of Liverpool.
Yes, I realize they beat us on Saturday night, but ask yourself: how much of that was down to Salah and Van Dijk?
Each of them, whose best years are behind them, will reportedly be paid £300,000-plus per week, with contracts running until the end of next season.
The abuse they received from Liverpool fans in my town of Worthing made the Mags criticizing Willock look like St Francis of Assisi.
The contract extensions given to these Liverpool greats were seen by many football followers as an overreaction to the loss of ‘call me Trent’ last summer.
Whether or not that’s an accurate perception, the deals look less than good a few months later.
Between February 4 and the end of the month we will play eight times in 25 days. Even if we lose every game, I won’t point the finger.
Eddie Howe, his assistants and the team compete on an uneven playing field.
The privileged six have vastly greater incomes. Clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton and Leeds have a much lighter workload. It’s a cliché. . . but there really are very few easy games in the Premier League. No one turns around and asks you to tickle their tummy (except Chelsea in the first half against West Ham on Saturday!).
United’s goal is to become a permanent fixture in the Champions League. Almost impossible under the current restrictions, but I know everyone at St James’ Park is doing their best.
So I am happy that I can still fight on several fronts in February with hope in my heart; or as wretched as sin because we may end the season without silverware?
I know my answer to that question.
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