The Real Deal?

Seven wins out of nine – two against Big Four teams – has put Liverpool on top of the world (ok the Premiership) for the first time under Benitez. But should we be worried?

Sunday’s historic 1-0 victory over Chelsea seems to have convinced most scousers that ‘this is their year’. For the few undecideds the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough will almost certainly convince them that title number 19 will be paraded around Anfield this May.

It seems a little early in the league title marathon to start proclaiming Liverpool’s start as definitive while it would also be churlish to denigrate 23 points out of a possible 27 as a flash in the pan. Liverpool have won games coming from behind and from out in front. They are clearly the form team in the Premiership so far along with new boys Hull. They’ve also laid a few bogeys to rest, finding late goals and making inspired comebacks as and when required – their start to the season feels like an insired cup-run at the moment.

Yet for all their victories there are still signs of the old failings. At City they were abject until a sending off got them off the hook. They looked stodgy at best in several home victories and almost scared to take the game by the scruff of the neck away to Villa, a team Chelsea royally stuffed before the last round of internationals. The same could be said of their fortuitous win over us.

Perhaps the most significant result wasn’t the wins against United or Chelsea but the draw with Stoke. Liverpool have always had the capacity to beat a member of the Big Four it’s just that they’ve generally done it when it doesn’t matter. On many occasions big decisions have gone against them – for whatever reason they’ve been coming from behind from the start of the season. This time they’ve showed the two richest clubs in the league they mean business and Torres was hardly a factor in either game.

Yet what will dictate their final league position will be their ability to break teams down at home. The 0-0 draw with Stoke was the sole example this season of Liverpool’s failure to deal with the added pressure of favouritism. Faced by a massed defence Liverpool carved out chance after chance but contrived to miss the lot. Scousers will point to Gerrard’s disallowed goal, but champions don’t tend to be denied by one decision now do they?

Looking at the runners and riders it’s hard to look beyond home form as they key to this season’s title race. Chelsea have only won two of their five home games (even drawing with Ramos’ Spurs, an achievement in itself), Arsenal (now the rank outsiders) have lost to Hull and traditionally suffer when up against the 10 man defence while United tend to steamroller opposition – with Berba now added to the Holy Trinity they should be even less likely to drop points at home.

The proof will be in Liverpool’s easier fixtures at home, after all the title is now theirs to lose.

Can Ronaldo ever win us over?

Your dinner's in the dog...

 

Back in June I was fairly dismissive of the view that Ronaldo owed  us anything. Later, I regarded the summer long transfer saga with Madrid as unfortunate yet inevitable following Ronny’s recent success. What I hadn’t counted on was how far from my affections for our no.7 would fall and it seems I’m not alone. I am now at the point where watching him trick and feint is becoming nauseating…

 

 

There’s a definite unease among supporters regarding Ronaldo. There were a lot of emotional wrecks last summer but I wasn’t one of them. I’m older you see, seen them come seen them go and they always fare worst when they’ve gone – this is the United rule, the only way is down when you leave, Sir Matt knew this, Sir Alex knows it, the fans know it.

What happened next was strange – with Ronnie’s change of heart I assumed it would be business as usual and that I’d just accept his return to the team with good grace but it seems I was wrong. I have now gone from having mixed feelings to openly wishing he’d left for Madrid to begin the long journey endured by every former United player that always ends in oblivion or not representing United as it is more widely known.

It’s a shame really. Ronaldo was such a dominant figure last season, he took centre stage in virtually every match (large or small) and became a source of pride for all of a red persuasion from his ability to take the piss on the pitch to his barely guarded contempt for the press off it. 43 goals, dozens of assists and a mountain of fawning press cuttings – if ever a player single-handedly won a double it was the Portuguese. He played so well that outstanding footballers such as Rooney and Tevez were demoted to the role of mere assistants. We forgot all about our lack of a ‘hold-it-up’ striker or the absence of a proper right-back, we didn’t need either with Ronnie out there.

Which is why it’s all the more frustrating watching the soon to be crowned ‘Best Player in the World’ wear a United shirt. Why do my guts turn over (and not in a good way) when he gets the ball? Why do his feints and tricks leave me cold? Am I just being a petulant bastard for wanting him away? Am I female? I know I should be Christian about it, forgive the fucker and get on with the season, except we all know it’s his last. Not only that but he’s playing in place of someone who could be a 100% proof red legend (Tevez, Nani) or already is (Giggs) or maybe somone we could have signed as replacement (Messi!).

So is there any way back for us and Ronnie or is it separate beds until next summer’s window re-opens?

I’ll admit now that this has nothing to do with his effort on the pitch, his fitness is returning and goals will inevitably flow and there’s no doubt that he’ll be our best player again this season. But that’s not nearly enough. I need an act of contrition, perhaps a few sweet nothings sprinkled with humility and a few portions of humble pie consumed before my eyes before I’ll think about being alright about it.

As far as I’m concerned he has done the footballing equivalent of wandering home at breakfast time with a nose full of Columbian Marching Powder having clearly stated that he’d be back after last orders. It’s tricky ‘cos he hasn’t been caught balls deep in the next door neighbour so it’s not a straight red – but a simple ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t cover it either. He needs to do the washing-up for a week to convince me he’s sorry, either that or take all that shit to Stretford Tip before I feel like forgiving him.

I’m still not sure whether I can (sob)…

a laid back hero in a fevered age

Not a tracksuit in sight

 

So, United are beginning to find a little form and have a lengthy run of more than fixtures it seems we may be in for a treat, last night’s injury to Paul Scholes not withstanding.

Dimitar Berbatov’s brace on his European debut was really a gift, both goals came as a result of poor Danish defending, but the nonchalance with which the Bulgarian accepted the chances and the restrained nature of his celebrations underlined his potential as a natural successor to you know who.

Berbatov has been slow off the mark. His first two games at Chelsea and Liverpool didn’t help, although he did set up Tevez’s goal in front of the Kop – the game at Stamford Bridge was far too fast for anyone of skill to really influence the game.

Yet in the second half against Bolton there were signs that he’d finally settled into some kind of form, a delightful over the shoulder cross being a particular highlight. Last night he missed a sitter in the opening five minutes but later, after he’d opened his account following a Danish defensive howler, his touches were reminiscent of Cantona at his best, a back heel flick for Nani and another perfectly weighted ball for Ronaldo should have added to United’s tally in Denmark.

Not only that but amid the overgrown teenagers in United’s squad Dimitar lends an air of sophistication, a contrast to Anderson’s endless hair experiments, Cristiano’s acne and Wayne’s puppy fat. His arrival at Old Trafford on transfer deadline day dressed in sober yet stylish attire was a good sign. His cool utterances since have conveyed the kind of maturity United sometimes lack, typical of this was his reference to his scissor-kick second goal as a ‘tap-in’. Berba is definetely not a member of Wayne’s posse.

Some have claimed that Berba’s unwillingness to track back or close down counter-attacks is a weakness. They have also accused the Bulgar of a lack of energy. One over-paid football columnist derided him as ’static’, ‘it certainly makes him easier to dust’ he opined. This is so obviously an ABU wind-up that it’s not worthy of a response.

On a more general note it has to be said that ‘working your bollocks off’ remains one of the most overrated abilities a footballer can have. It is a typically British response to claim, after a defeat or a disappointment, that at least such and such a player ’sweated blood for the cause’. I don’t think they say that in Italy or Brazil – but what do they know, they only have the 9 World Cups between them…

The beauty of Berba’s performances so far have been the cameo pieces of control and the understanding he is establishing with his youthful colleagues. Amid the strain and commitment of Tevez and Rooney and the multiple stepovers and Drama Queen behavior of the Portuguese contingent, Berba’s laid back attitude to the art of goalscoring is a cause for celebration not scorn. A star has most defintely been born.