Right On Time, Here’s the Other Shoe

Kenny feels it too...
You have to wonder exactly what’s going on at Anfield. A 2-1 reversal to Wigan doesn’t quite push the Latics out of the relegation zone, but it does heap the misery on the Merseysiders after a shock midweek defeat at the hands of QPR left the Kop faithful on what might be their lowest ebb this season. Even the introduction of 17 year old Raheem Sterling couldn’t paper over the dour display as Shawn Maloney and Gary Caldwell gave Wigan’s charge to push themselves out of the relegation zone and into safety some serious momentum. That sickening feeling of inadequacy is only getting worse as the boos rang out instead of the standard You’ll Never Walk Alone. Anyone who was looking for a response after the QPR fiasco is going to have to wait a little longer.

Wigan used to have the worst chance conversion rate in the league, but after today, their numbers are on the ups. A minimal amount of chances created, but  they convert two and we don’t even get to read the same old story. Usually, I get to say “we controlled the match” or “we ran them to the end”. Not today. I’m not even sure if the Reds knew what sport they were playing, let alone how to play it like professionals.

Who exactly was playing at home? The Wigan fans were making more noise than the entire assemblage of the combined stands and I can’t say who influenced who since I don’t know for sure, but either the off field noise effected the on field play or the other way around. Either way, we were all sleeping by the time  Shawn Maloney put the visitors ahead from the spot after a poor challenge from Martin Skrtel left Victor Moses KO’d on the pitch for no less than 5 minutes. Down by one in front of your own fans? You’d expect an immediate response, but a goal, or any real effort at all, wouldn’t come until after the break.

With Andy Carroll coming on for the anonymous Jordan Henderson, the impact was immediate as we pushed up the field and applied the kind of pressure we were lacking in the first half. Only 2 minutes after the restart, Luis Suarez leveled the playing field with a lovely sidefooted goal after some beautiful interplay with Steven Gerrard. Pressing a team that’s piss poor at the back always seemed like a good tactic to me and soon after a second for Suarez would be ruled out for a handball as the striker half crashed into, half shoved a Wigan defender off the goal line when Skrtel bounced in a header towards goal.

With us back on level terms and grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck once again, it was time for the other shoe to drop. We saw the first get unlaced and ceremoniously drop to the floor when Djibril Cisse leveled up for QPR on Wednesday. The second shoe was more or less already on the floor by the time Gary Caldwell put Wigan ahead with a shock strike, but the unmistakable clunk of the other echoed around Anfield and with that, all remaining oxygen was sucked out of the air.

Although the usual fightback would ensue, it seemed almost routine by this point; nothing more than a show put on so no one could say the squad didn’t give it a go. Except, we didn’t believe it. The lack of even the faintest hint of desperation in our faces was contrasted by the jubilation in those of the travelling support. They’re not used to winning and we’re getting used to losing. Old hat? I’m growing tired.

Roberto Martinez was ecstatic, smile beaming from ear to ear. Kenny Dalglish was deflated; that sour look of resignation has become an all too familiar sight. Sixth place? Seventh place? Our league position doesn’t really matter at this point. Putting in an effort, having some pride, remembering who you play for? That’s what matters now. We didn’t get that today.

When’s the semi-final again? I need a drink.

-steven.

Need some cheering up? Head on over to the contest page and win yourself a brand spanking new Liverpool Home Kit from our friends at Soccerpro.com

Steven McMillan

Can’t find up from down or tell black from white, but doesn't care cause it’s all Red to him. When he's not pissing and moaning about all things Liverpool, he’s chatting nonsense with his multiple personalities — or his “entourage” as he likes to call them.

7 thoughts on “Right On Time, Here’s the Other Shoe

  • March 25, 2012 at 9:07 am
    Permalink

    After the
    today’s defeat the team emits an SOS signal to John W. Henry, Thomas Werner,
    Ian Ayre, and Damien Comolli.  The fourth
    of them can no longer be watching impassively the struggling humiliation of one
    of the most historic teams and do nothing! 
    We all pay tribute to Kenny Dalglish and we classify him in our memories
    and hearts as a real legend but that doesn’t necessarily mean we should keep
    him as LFC’s manager from the moment we observe that under him we do not see
    the light of hope for recovery at the end of the tunnel.  This is a responsibility and meditation time
    for all of us.  The emotional factor
    should be waived and with the only protractor which should be the best interest
    of our beloved team we ask the four to ask kindly Kenny Dalglish for the sake
    of the team to step down as LFC’s manager!                

    Another dark day of absolute humiliation and embarrassement by Kenny
    Dalglish and his squad, the squad he has personally chosen and set up for the
    current season. Kenny Dalglish and his squad tarnish the heritage that Bill
    Shankly and Bob Paisley left for this historic club. Kenny Dalglish and his
    squad are committing the biggest crime in this club’s history by molesting on
    this heritage. Everybody is feeling fed up by listening and reading all the
    time different irrational statements by the side of Kenny Dalglish as he can
    persuade first and above all himself that under him the team is progressing!
    Everytime he leads this team to another humiliating and embarrassing defeat he needs
    to realize that he places a gravestone to LFC fans’ dreams and expectations in
    all over the world to see their beloved team returning back to where it really
    deserves to be! I personally can’t explain it otherwise; Kenny Dalglish is on a
    denial stage! He doesn’t realize that by not seeing the raw reality, that he is
    not a capable manager for the modernized football and the manager who can turn
    the fortunes of this club around and as long as he behaves in a selfish manner
    he causes a serious damage! Back in 1991 he stepped down as LFC manager in a
    period which that was unnecessary and now that it is imperative to do so, why
    doesn’t him? ISN’T THAT A REAL PROOF OF A SELFISH, EGOISTIC, AND ARROGANT
    BEHAVIOR?

  • March 25, 2012 at 10:10 am
    Permalink

    You obviously don’t know anything about Kenny Dalglish or his history with the club, so why don’t you go research that and maybe you can come back and have a conversation without appearing to be a horse’s ass.

  • March 25, 2012 at 11:35 am
    Permalink

    garbled nonsense…you may believe that you know something but sadly you are gravely mistaken/misguided/misinformed….please step away from your computer, then pick it up and smash it on the ground so you can’t type any more of this shite.  Many thanks…(I appreciate you won’t be able to respond to this after you’ve smashed your computer)

  • March 26, 2012 at 11:08 am
    Permalink

    The only molestation happening around here took place between you and Google Translate.

    That’s a real proof that you are on a denial stage during a period that was unnecessary. I place a gravestone to this comment, as I do not see
    the light of hope for recovery at the end of the tunnel that hopefully contains your point.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *