Title Run In Begins

Long time no post. It has been a while since my last post but there have been valid reasons for the delay. Anyway, moving on. What’s happening to the mighty Reds at the moment is probably about to get so very exciting. I am, of course, talking about the chase for the league title. In case it hadn’t already been obvious, it would seem that last night heralded the time in the season when the title run in begins.

Title Run In Begins

Initially let’s be clear that it is just great to be involved at this stage of the season when the title run in begins. We have so often been left on the outside looking in.

Yes, we are definitely involved in the title run in. Will we win? Of course, only time will tell. But, to quote an old cliche, it’s in our hands. Quite simply, win all our games and we are champions. Both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur would love to swap places with us. Make no bones about that.

Yes, I include Spurs in the mix. Why wouldn’t they be? It’s amazing how many pundits have written them off, simply because “no one wins the title losing six games”

What are their stats so far – played 24; won 18; lost 6 is it? A total of 54 points. Very impressive. Would the pundits say they were in the title run in if they lost fewer games?

Of course they would if they had only lost, say, 3 games. But what if their stats were won 15; drawn 6; lost 3? Fewer defeats, so the pundits would tell you it was doable. However, their points tally in the 2nd scenario would be 51 points. They’d be actually 3 points worse off with 3 fewer defeats.

This not only highlights the obvious significance draws have on proceedings. But it also highlights that we shouldn’t be too reliant on the ‘expert’ pundits.

What About The “Experts” On The Forums?

Another thing so many fans get wrapped up about is what “expert” fans are saying on the forums. Quite often I read our own LFC official website forum. I stress read. I never contribute. But it is mind boggling at times to see what drivel some writers post. So, for entertainment value, it’s sometimes worth a sneak peek.

It was crazy on Monday night after the City defeat to read some of the posts on there. Apparently to so many, that win for Newcastle ensured we had won the title. Some even suggested that both Jurgen and Rafa should lift the Premiership trophy between them. Tongue in cheek maybe, but the hype on the forum on Monday night was laughable quite honestly.

Maybe it was being at the heady heights of being involved in the title run in was clouding posters judgement. Let’s be clear, City have the quality and the potential to win their last 14 games. One advantage we have in that respect is that winning all their 14 games will not affect us in that they do not play us in those 14 games. So, they can’t be taking any points off us.

How Many Horses?

However, Spurs can. We still have to play them. That’s another reason why we can’t discount them in the title run in. I would imagine Spurs fans are more than happy that everyone seems to be talking about only ourselves and City being involved in the title run in. It certainly takes the pressure off them. A reverse if you like of their 2015/16 season when they were involved in a “Two Horse Race” title run in with Leicester. Maybe the pressure got to them more than everyone realised as they actually finished third in that particular two horse race.

In short, by all means have a read of the forums, but don’t rely on them. So much crap gets posted.

So What Can We Fans Do To Really Help?

This is something I have always said and it is something I will always stick by. The fans in the stadium can help. And I mean really help. Quite often fans you speak to in the pubs often say, “why do you bother going when you can watch it in the pub or at home? In real comfort”

My response is that I always feel that the fans can always contribute to the team’s performance. It may sound crazy to some but I do firmly believe that. I always have.

I remember coming out of the ground after the Newcastle game and saying to my pal that from now on in the fans should play their part. We should be treating every home league game as if it was one of those special European nights.

Anyone who has been to any of those special European nights fixtures will know what I am talking about. We do influence games. Of that there is no doubt. Deep down we all know that.

We’re A Team

We are a team aren’t we? It’s all very well for fans to say things like Jurgen should pick Fabinho instead of someone that Jurgen has actually picked. Or, why didn’t so and so player go for that ball. As fans we are so often very quick to criticise the team of Jurgen and his players. Or just the players themselves. But aren’t we part of the overall team as well? Aren’t we supposed to be doing our bit? Are we beyond criticism when we don’t “perform”

Of course we are part of the team and we should act as such. I must admit I was yelling things like “move the ball quicker” last night at the Leicester game.

And yelling to Allison in the first half to “clear your f****** lines” when he was unnecessarily farting about with the ball at his feet. So yes, I felt I was contributing, in that I offered my humble opinion to our goalkeeper and to the team in general. I also know that I joined in the songs of encouragement when the atmosphere was good as well.

Ratings

But let’s be honest, if we were to include the fans in the team ratings in all matches, last night would have seen us rated as a 5 or a 6 out of 10. Not good enough. Nowhere near good enough. There were good fans moments and some good performances by the collective masses at times, but as I say, not enough.

We want Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino et al to be 10/10 in every game don’t we? So why don’t we strive to be a 10/10, or a 9/10 at worse.

Fans Tension

I know there is a big prize at stake. After all we are involved in a title run in. And it is tense. It is no doubt even more tense for the players. Last night the tension from the fans was so evident at times. Particularly in the second half when quite honestly we huffed and puffed and generally looked out of sorts.

We looked leggy and second best for long periods. In fact, on reflection I thought Leicester were the better side. Did the week in Dubai really do us that much good? Or, was the break in action more of a distraction after all. Cue all critics of not playing your strongest team in the FA Cup to step forward.

Mind you the conditions did not help. You could see the ball holding up on the surface, so the pitch was not ideal for fast, zippy football. Poor performance by the team (fans included) apart, there are also factors that massively influence games out of the team’s control. Yes we may have all played badly and Leicester were a very impressive opponent, but all that could have been not so significant if it wasn’t for the officials.

Poor Officials

There is no two ways about it, there is a strong possibility that the title could be decided by an all too regular bad decision by a referee. Sorry, I correct myself. Not necessarily a bad referee’s decision but a preferred decision by a referee.

Case in point, Martin Atkinson’s preferred decision to not award Liverpool a nailed on penalty when Naby Keita was clearly taken down. Was Atkinson’s view obstructed? Not at all.

From where I was in The Kop he had a perfect unobstructed view.

Did Keita dive? No, otherwise Atkinson would have booked him for simulation.

Did the Leicester defender make contact with the player? Most definitely. If Atkinson did not see that from the position he was on the pitch then quite frankly he shouldn’t be on the pitch. There is no way that Atkinson did not see that Keita was fouled. So, why no penalty? Quite simply I believe it’s because he didn’t want to. Pure and simple.

That in itself is a bigger reason why he shouldn’t be on the pitch. Am I right in my assumption? I believe I am. Has Atkinson got another view on the situation? Maybe so, but that is where an even bigger problem rears its head. Referees are not accountable.

Accountability

Like so many other fans, I have been advocating for years that referees should be accountable. They are, like it or not, an influential as they are part of the 3rd team on the pitch and are now paid a lot of money for their now full-time roles.

The prizes are huge and so is the money involved. One of the reasons to make refereeing a full-time well paid job was to improve the quality wasn’t it? If anything the quality is getting worse and worse not only by the season but also during the season.

I have always said that the referees, with their key role in football matches, should be accountable. They should be interviewed after the game so that they can explain controversial decisions. Why aren’t they accountable? I’m amazed that this particular point hasn’t been addressed.

So, am I right in my assumption about Atkinson’s decision last night? It may be that if he had to explain why he didn’t award what looked like a nailed on penalty, then fans may be able to understand more and, as a result, be more lenient in slating a referee for such decisions.

As it stands though, as they are can continue to be aloof and stay in their heavily protected “Ivory Tower”, assumptions like mine – rightly or wrongly – will continue to be made. He didn’t give the penalty because he didn’t want to.

It’s A Problem For All Teams

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not jut saying we are the only team to suffer from referee’s preferred decisions.

Accrington manager, John Coleman, for instance said last week that he was considering jacking football in. He is sick of the incompetence of referee’s apparently. Or, should I say, sick of referee’s preferred decisions. This has no doubt built up over time.

Even TV commentators are adding to their untouchability. In the Millwall v Everton game last weekend, the Millwall full-back wiped out Everton’s Richarlison close to the touchline. You would struggle to see a more blatant yellow card when you consider some of the yellow cards that do get doled out.

The Media Don’t Help

What does the commentator say? His thoughts were that if the game was a Premier League game then Michael Oliver would have undoubtedly brandished a yellow card. But seeing it was an FA Cup tie (no doubt intimating it was a blood and thunder lower league team against a Premier League team), the yellow card was kept in his pocket.

What absolute tosh!!! If it’s a booking, it’s a booking irrespective of the occasion. Or maybe, the referee saw something differently? But we’ll never know that will we. Note as well I haven’t even touched on the blatant handball for Millwall’s equaliser. Please explain referee? Yes, we as Liverpool fans were happy that Everton went out. But in that manner?

There are so many instances of these poor (to the fans at least) decisions. I believe that Wolves centre forward was booked for going into the crowd after scoring last night.

For the life of me, I can’t remember which team it was (they played in all white) that scored a goal in the last World Cup and virtually all the team went into the crowd to celebrate. How many booked for that? None. Please explain referee?

And So On

And so on. In no way am I saying referees preferred decisions only affect our games. Clearly not. Watching Match Of The Day last night there were two other seemingly nailed on penalties not given.

Unfortunately the referees will have a say in the title run in.

As will also the media. Was Atkinson’s preferred decision influenced by the media? (I don’t know, he won’t say!!). On the way to the match last night, Mike Hughes on Radio Merseyside, quite unnecessarily I thought, brought up a subject of speculation surrounding the possibility of Mo Salah diving.

Why? When I say why, to elaborate what I mean is why only mention Salah? We were playing Leicester last night and the subject of potential diving was brought up. And no mention of Englishmen Jamie Vardy or James Maddison?

England’s Finest?

Did England captain Harry Kane get a mention? Or fellow England international Dele Alli? No. Hang on, I can possibly see a pattern here. Maddison, Vardy and Kane are all…….I’m not even going to go there!!

Diving speculation apart, whatever the reason to include or exclude certain players in the media spotlight only adds to the mix during a title run in. Maybe Atkinson did not want to be the one to award Liverpool a penalty no matter what the circumstances were. Media pressure causes this type of situation. And of course it can happen both for and against us.

As sure as I am writing this, I did say before the game that a Liverpool player will need to be shot in the penalty box for us to get a penalty now after the media spotlight. Let’s see what happens the next time Harry Kane spectacularly stumbles over a goalkeeper’s arms. I think we may know what the referees would prefer to do.

Moving Forward

There are so many factors to consider during a title run in. I haven’t touched on injuries or boosting the squad during the transfer window. I think the people who run our club are in the best position to deal with these variables.

We as fans can’t influence a referee’s preferred decision making. But we can influence the atmosphere of a game we are involved in. And in doing that make ourselves very much an integral part of the team.

This is where I also believe this part of our collective LFC team is better than our challengers. We are recognised by the team on the pitch and the bench as the 12th Man. So, let’s start acting like the 12th Man!!

Let’s Do Our Bit

To a man we should get to our feet and create the type of atmosphere that scares the pants off the opposition.

Can they do the same at City and Spurs? Maybe so, but let’s make sure we also do our job – but only better.

Yes the title run in has well and truly started. As my mate reminded me after the game last night, there will be many more twists and turns. Ignore those on the forums who were so euphoric on Monday night. Equally, ignore those from last night who were all doom and gloom in the forum match thread and other threads. The title run in has not been decided either way yet despite what these posters say.

Also, I firmly believe (I’m pointing an imaginary finger at match going fans) that we can influence the title run in. Hugely so. Let’s embrace the situation. And let’s enjoy it. The title is there for us to win it or lose it. Don’t let’s get to the end of the season and look back and say, “if only”. The players needed us last night and for long periods we let them down (me and my mates and most around us included).

If I May Make A Request

If you’re reading this Jurgen may I make a request. Can you sort out our corner taking please. We must take the worst corners in the league. Or maybe not? If the intention is for each and every corner taker to hit the first defender more often than not then BINGO!! – the corners are brilliant.

Oh, and another request. It seemed that we could finally feel comfortable watching set pieces against us. The last two games suggests that we are getting wobbly defending set pieces again.

Not as bad as a couple of seasons ago and beyond….yet!! Let’s nip that particular problem in the bud please Jurgen. I thought the sight of my mate next to me burying his head in his hands at every opponents set pieces were consigned to the memory banks. Not so on last night’s evidence.

And Finally

And finally (honest), my last request. We have CCTV at the ground don’t we. Do we have such a thing as an “Awful Smell Detector”?

Wow, the smell from around us on Row 55, Block 203 was awful. Not sure what he had for his tea, but whatever it was caused that type of smell that could choke you in mid verse when belting out “Fields Of Anfield Road”.

Get it sorted!!!

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