Anthony McIntyre ⚽ watched Liverpool turn out against Manchester City this afternoon.

When I rolled out of bed this morning, after getting the obligatory A Morning Thought out – just to yank the puritanical chain – I began writing my weekly piece to fill the TPQ Sunday evening slot.

It amounted to nothing more than a few thoughts on science, which I planned to complete after this afternoon’s Liverpool – Manchester City game. Consistency not being my forte on a road paved with good intentions, I switched lanes during the game and mentally began penning one about the Anfield clash, perhaps stealing a march on Peter Anderson who will, no doubt, have something to say about today’s fixture in his Tuesday column. 

Earlier, I had carried out the monthly chapel gate SVP collection. Atheist at the Gates might for some invite thoughts of a horror movie.  Over coffee between stints I confided to my fellow bucket swinger, a devout Mayo GAA fan, that I would tog out - as is my wont - for the game. My wife even captured it on camera so there could be no backtracking or gainsaying. 


Given that I had slagged Mayo off in a piece I had earlier shared with my friend, telling her of my Liverpool passion might not have been a wise decision. Particularly given the first half hesitant, stuttering display by the Reds. I began to anticipate a wicked return of serve.

Despite the discipline of sports science, soccer is more of an art form. In the first half the thought occurred that if it were really a science, then Liverpool behaved like Young Earth Creationists in the physics class. Wholly bereft of ideas, it seemed that Mane and Salah’s occasional expressions of religiosity might well be all the team had to rely upon. Might as well shake a rainstick and mutter mumbo jumbo in the opposing side's six yard box. So poor was their performance that it must also reflect on Man City that Pep Guardiola’s side did not put at least a brace past the Liverpool keeper.

After a scoreless first half in which the men from Merseyside never looked liked scoring, the second half exploded into life. A brilliant assist from Salah followed by an even better goal from the Egyptian - no better way to honour Roger Hunt who died a few days ago - the Liverpool forwards gave the fans what they paid to see. A 2-2 draw was probably better than Liverpool deserved. James Milner was lucky to escape a second yellow card which would have meant an inevitable departure from the field, leaving his side a man down.

The weakest position is the right back slot where Milner played. A warrior, he does not have the stamina to give a full 90 minutes in the modern game. Both City goals came from the part of the park he patrolled but did not control. Just as the three from Brentford last week came from the same area, then patrolled but again not controlled by Trent Alexander Arnold. 

It was suggested today by the match pundits that it is the one area in the team for which there is no cover. That does not quite get it: it is the one area where there is no presence never mind cover. First choice TAA is a great player, a fine attacking right back but a mediocre defensive right back. He is not the king of his castle, the ramparts of which are all too frequently breached. When I think of the illustrious names that made the slot their own - Chris Lawler, Phil Neal, Stevie Nicol - the position needs badly filled by a player of their calibre, if the defensive line is not to leak goals on a weekly basis. Titles are not won by scoring alone. 

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

Wrong Back

Anthony McIntyre ⚽ watched Liverpool turn out against Manchester City this afternoon.

When I rolled out of bed this morning, after getting the obligatory A Morning Thought out – just to yank the puritanical chain – I began writing my weekly piece to fill the TPQ Sunday evening slot.

It amounted to nothing more than a few thoughts on science, which I planned to complete after this afternoon’s Liverpool – Manchester City game. Consistency not being my forte on a road paved with good intentions, I switched lanes during the game and mentally began penning one about the Anfield clash, perhaps stealing a march on Peter Anderson who will, no doubt, have something to say about today’s fixture in his Tuesday column. 

Earlier, I had carried out the monthly chapel gate SVP collection. Atheist at the Gates might for some invite thoughts of a horror movie.  Over coffee between stints I confided to my fellow bucket swinger, a devout Mayo GAA fan, that I would tog out - as is my wont - for the game. My wife even captured it on camera so there could be no backtracking or gainsaying. 


Given that I had slagged Mayo off in a piece I had earlier shared with my friend, telling her of my Liverpool passion might not have been a wise decision. Particularly given the first half hesitant, stuttering display by the Reds. I began to anticipate a wicked return of serve.

Despite the discipline of sports science, soccer is more of an art form. In the first half the thought occurred that if it were really a science, then Liverpool behaved like Young Earth Creationists in the physics class. Wholly bereft of ideas, it seemed that Mane and Salah’s occasional expressions of religiosity might well be all the team had to rely upon. Might as well shake a rainstick and mutter mumbo jumbo in the opposing side's six yard box. So poor was their performance that it must also reflect on Man City that Pep Guardiola’s side did not put at least a brace past the Liverpool keeper.

After a scoreless first half in which the men from Merseyside never looked liked scoring, the second half exploded into life. A brilliant assist from Salah followed by an even better goal from the Egyptian - no better way to honour Roger Hunt who died a few days ago - the Liverpool forwards gave the fans what they paid to see. A 2-2 draw was probably better than Liverpool deserved. James Milner was lucky to escape a second yellow card which would have meant an inevitable departure from the field, leaving his side a man down.

The weakest position is the right back slot where Milner played. A warrior, he does not have the stamina to give a full 90 minutes in the modern game. Both City goals came from the part of the park he patrolled but did not control. Just as the three from Brentford last week came from the same area, then patrolled but again not controlled by Trent Alexander Arnold. 

It was suggested today by the match pundits that it is the one area in the team for which there is no cover. That does not quite get it: it is the one area where there is no presence never mind cover. First choice TAA is a great player, a fine attacking right back but a mediocre defensive right back. He is not the king of his castle, the ramparts of which are all too frequently breached. When I think of the illustrious names that made the slot their own - Chris Lawler, Phil Neal, Stevie Nicol - the position needs badly filled by a player of their calibre, if the defensive line is not to leak goals on a weekly basis. Titles are not won by scoring alone. 

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

8 comments:

  1. Jesus....what is seen cannot be unseen....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - Steve, it is the art of not taking ourselves too seriously!

      Delete
    2. I bet he has a Liverpool bedspread and posters of wee Mo on the walls!

      Delete
    3. You look like you need adult supervision Anthony seriously!

      Delete
    4. the problem Peter is that many years ago the duvet cover was got for my daughter's bed. Doesn't cover ours!!
      Steve - as long as the adult supervisor is collar free, I will live with it!

      Delete
  2. Reds were dire in midfield. Gini needs replacing in January. Time to say adios to the 🐂 . Eight prem goals in five seasons is a woeful return for A O C . Thiago is too slow for the prem .
    Reds have lost the lead 4 times in the last two prem games . 😞
    Mo was as good yesterday as Maradona or Messi. Reds to fall short in the big 🏆 🏆 chase ,unless they buy a rb & cm in Jan .
    Love the fancy dress costume # Trick 🎩 or treat 🍎

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never rated Gini that highly - thought Henderson had a poor game. Ox has not delivered - that is for sure. Spot on about Thiago - has no pace and doesn't compensate for it with incisive forward passing.
      That is not fancy dress - that is how I go to job interviews. No wonder I never get the position!!

      Delete
  3. Rob Jones, Arbeloa, Steve Finnan were decent rbs .

    ReplyDelete