9/11 will take on a completely different connotation for both winners and losers in next week’s All Ireland football final. The last time Tyrone featured in it, I managed to obtain tickets from a friend in Cork for my son and daughter. Typical siblings, one rooted for Tyrone, the other for Dublin.
Whilst I enjoy reading Padraic Mac Coitir’s knowledgeable musings on GAA life, and will be roaring for Mayo next Saturday, my sporting passion has always lain elsewhere.
I am a life-long soccer fan whose primary interest lies in the English Premier League. It is an ingrained trait, inherited from childhood when as a four-year-old I was taken by my father to my first live game. The North lost 1-3 at Windsor to England. Soccer got into the DNA that day and the genes have been transmitted to my son. He is in the US these days and when we talk on the phone, soccer always features, much of it about the EPL which has recently got underway. Much too early to predict with any degree of confidence, nevertheless, Manchester City despite a poor opening first game, hard on the heels of a Community Shield defeat, have stepped up a gear and must be favourites by a country mile.
Of more interest to me is Liverpool who I first saw live at the same Windsor Park against Linfield six years after my first outing there. By now I was going with my friends and getting the customary “lift over” the turnstiles from an obliging older fan. The score was the same as the first time round – the visitors winning 3-1.
Three games in, the title of a Charles Dickens book is not the first thought to spring to mind. Great Expectations, I have none. After a good start albeit against lesser quality sides, the tide had gone out by the time Chelsea sailed up the Mersey. And in that memorable Warren Buffet phrase, when the tide recedes spectators get to see who is naked. Despite playing the second half a man down, the Londoners were the better side, who but for the red card waved in the face of Reece James, looked likely to complete the game with all three points in their deep blue pockets.
As proved so often last season, the Liverpool front three lack penetration. Chelsea will not be the only well organised defence the Reds come up against throughout the course of this season and it is hard to see where the decisive goals might come from. Lacking anything like the beautiful passing style of the once brilliant Barcelona, Liverpool's own high press often leaves them marooned as Seán Ó'Faoláin would have observed without “a spare sixpence of an idea to fumble for." Effectively constrained to shooting from outside the box against Chelsea, it might look good but ultimately adds nothing to the goal tally. Quality keepers only rarely will be beaten from range if the shot manages to make its way through a packed defence. The defenders patrolling the EPL backlines are unlikely to emulate the Ireland defence against Azerbaijan, who stood marvelling as the opposing forward kept signalling his intent before unleashing a masterful strike, putting the Irish men on the back foot.
Liverpool were lucky to emerge with a point from Chelsea. The decision to red card Reece James for hand ball seemed harsh even though the Scousers deserved and converted the resulting spot kick. A goal is a goal but anybody at that level should be able to hit the back of the net from the 12 yard spot. No titles will be won by penalties alone.
Having bought a quality defender, Ibrahima Konate, the move has been devalued somewhat by the return to match fitness of key back four players absent from last year. Money invested in a quality midfielder with an ability to create clear goal scoring assists for the front three would have been money well spent as well as being strategically prudent. One player of the quality of Kingsley Coman could be bought from the proceeds accrued were Liverpool to sell Nabi Kieta, who does absolutely nothing, Oxlade Chamberlain, consistency dogged by persistent and at times prolonged injuries, and Thiago. The latter is a silky passer, across the field and down it, just not up it. He was brought into unlock defences and up to now has been as unsuccessful as Keita. The left and right backs of Liverpool seem more integrated into the attack than the midfielders.
I am a life-long soccer fan whose primary interest lies in the English Premier League. It is an ingrained trait, inherited from childhood when as a four-year-old I was taken by my father to my first live game. The North lost 1-3 at Windsor to England. Soccer got into the DNA that day and the genes have been transmitted to my son. He is in the US these days and when we talk on the phone, soccer always features, much of it about the EPL which has recently got underway. Much too early to predict with any degree of confidence, nevertheless, Manchester City despite a poor opening first game, hard on the heels of a Community Shield defeat, have stepped up a gear and must be favourites by a country mile.
Of more interest to me is Liverpool who I first saw live at the same Windsor Park against Linfield six years after my first outing there. By now I was going with my friends and getting the customary “lift over” the turnstiles from an obliging older fan. The score was the same as the first time round – the visitors winning 3-1.
Three games in, the title of a Charles Dickens book is not the first thought to spring to mind. Great Expectations, I have none. After a good start albeit against lesser quality sides, the tide had gone out by the time Chelsea sailed up the Mersey. And in that memorable Warren Buffet phrase, when the tide recedes spectators get to see who is naked. Despite playing the second half a man down, the Londoners were the better side, who but for the red card waved in the face of Reece James, looked likely to complete the game with all three points in their deep blue pockets.
As proved so often last season, the Liverpool front three lack penetration. Chelsea will not be the only well organised defence the Reds come up against throughout the course of this season and it is hard to see where the decisive goals might come from. Lacking anything like the beautiful passing style of the once brilliant Barcelona, Liverpool's own high press often leaves them marooned as Seán Ó'Faoláin would have observed without “a spare sixpence of an idea to fumble for." Effectively constrained to shooting from outside the box against Chelsea, it might look good but ultimately adds nothing to the goal tally. Quality keepers only rarely will be beaten from range if the shot manages to make its way through a packed defence. The defenders patrolling the EPL backlines are unlikely to emulate the Ireland defence against Azerbaijan, who stood marvelling as the opposing forward kept signalling his intent before unleashing a masterful strike, putting the Irish men on the back foot.
Liverpool were lucky to emerge with a point from Chelsea. The decision to red card Reece James for hand ball seemed harsh even though the Scousers deserved and converted the resulting spot kick. A goal is a goal but anybody at that level should be able to hit the back of the net from the 12 yard spot. No titles will be won by penalties alone.
Having bought a quality defender, Ibrahima Konate, the move has been devalued somewhat by the return to match fitness of key back four players absent from last year. Money invested in a quality midfielder with an ability to create clear goal scoring assists for the front three would have been money well spent as well as being strategically prudent. One player of the quality of Kingsley Coman could be bought from the proceeds accrued were Liverpool to sell Nabi Kieta, who does absolutely nothing, Oxlade Chamberlain, consistency dogged by persistent and at times prolonged injuries, and Thiago. The latter is a silky passer, across the field and down it, just not up it. He was brought into unlock defences and up to now has been as unsuccessful as Keita. The left and right backs of Liverpool seem more integrated into the attack than the midfielders.
Take it game for game, enjoy the moment, but expect no silverware at the season's end. A top four finish is a strong possibility but there is nothing inevitable about it.
⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.
Norn Iron won two away matches on the run, I'd fancy our chances against Pool if we played them next week!
ReplyDeletethey scored a peach this evening
DeleteFenway are playing for fourth. No club was willing to waste money on the likes of Keita ( more interested in playing for coup ridden Guinea ) & Mr " 8 prem goals in 5 seasons " 🐂 .
ReplyDeleteLfc have too many circa 30 yr olds on their books ; they will take a lot of shifting next summer . Covid is a boon for the ⛽ clubs , who will again win the big 🏆 🏆.
Klopp deserves better from the stingy Yanks . Paisley, Shanks, Klopp - the only Reds bosses to win the Prem and European cup.
Documentary series on BBC 2 starts tonight at 9 pm about the formation of the Premier league.
Typo error in the above. Substitute Fagan for Shanks. 🙏
ReplyDelete