A Season In Review; Or: Things We Lost in the Fire
It’s not even when things go terribly wrong that it gets that much harder to churn out words; those same words you always write, again and again. You know how this season review ends. There’s no mystery left here. It’s easy to tap it all out when you’re doing the double over Chelsea or watching Kenny celebrate the first away win at Arsenal since your Grandfather was just a Father. There’s no hesitation when Stevie scores a hat-trick against Everton. You don’t stutter when a injury time header from Andy Carroll seals the points at Ewood Park.
Then you take a second to count out each of those 52 points.
It’s when walk haphazardly into quick sand — quickshit? — and you’re slowly sinking into the abrasive brown goo that the words fall off your finger tips. The cursor burns into your retinas after you’re humbled at home by Swansea or a pair of shambolic displays against Sunderland leaves the gap too wide to paddle across. When giving up a comfortable 2-0 lead and going home with nowt from relegation battling QPR feels like closure, now, you’re starting to struggle. It may not be that hard to expand on our shortcomings — and our triumphs — one at a time over a period of months, but to relive it all again in one sitting? Blink, blink, blink goes the cursor. Drink, drink, drink goes the whiskey.
Let’s be honest though, that’s not entirely true.
A summer with enormous promise bled into a campaign with even more surprises. A season ending injury to Lucas, an 8 match ban for Suarez, ultimatums from across the Atlantic and the wood-work doubling in size; nothing was going to script. Misfiring attackers, narcoleptic defenders and a chewy in the center mid-field; what exactly is going on, or wrong — or even right? Clamoring together explanations and shouting accusations is all too easy when you’re knee deep in bottles, but what happens when you go back to work on Monday? Blink, blink; the cursor keeps winking. Drink, drink; my liver keeps hurting.
Then all of sudden, is it Tottenham or Tuesday? Check your watch, it’s Friday night. Let your eyes rest for a minute — somehow you’re watching Dirk Kuyt knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup only eight days after suffering through a 3-1 loss to Bolton Wanderers. Only last month you were discussing a bunch of kids, weren’t you? It all get’s jumbled up too quick and memories — and managers — get lost in the fire. We’ve all been here before. Trying to remember what we had, or were building towards, fighting the speed of silence tick-tock of the clock. Henderson hits the post, Charlie misses from the spot, Carragher gets beat on the turn.
Did I forget? Or am I trying too hard to remember?
It’s not easy to do this. When all you wished for at the start of it all was to never have to say “next year is ours” ever again, it’s hard to talk about a promise, or a plan, or a future. I know it’s there and it’s Red; rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated, but it’s going to take more than a few signings and a Carling Cup to make those dreams reality. It might take a while longer before we even sleep again. Sifting through the ashes of a nightmare season isn’t a simple process — Liverpool does things the hard way — but rest assured there’s something at the bottom of that burnt out heap. Put on another pot of coffee and pass the flask around. There’s work to be done.
–steven.
Thank you to everyone — even the haters — for sharing this confuzzling season with us. It’s going to be a long summer. Give us a follow on Twitter or like us on Facebookistan for updates of the postage variety.
Yeah, forget this summer time shit. Bring on the next season!
Most painful season I’ve endured since pre-Houllier. To be so far off in the league, and to have some of our best players from the season before sold off (Raul Meireles) to Chelsea no less, for the mid-table drab we brought in was real pain. Our season ended with the Lucas injury. How that midfield justified sending Aquilani on loan is a mystery only KD could answer. I’m willing to bet that if someone is good enough to loan to Milan, they would probably have a spot on most squads. Despite all that, its how Kenny was so creative second half of the Hodgson season, including 3-4-3s, then seemingly completely inept at changing things once he got the job which annoyed me the most. Why did Maxi, who finished the season prior, scoring hatricks bearly get any starts? When did it become sensible to buy average players for £20 million each? Like every other Liverpool fan I loved KD, but he left FSG no choice at all, in my opinion. To be so accepting of mediocrity is shocking for any Liverpool manager…
good piece, very enjoyable and can’t wait for next season, ynwa
i’m just as baffled as you…thanks for the read.
in regards to Aquilani: i think it’s time we fess up and understand that he doesn’t want to play in England. believe that’s the long and short of it…disappointing, but it’s the only reasonable explanation right now.
cheers David…
Im not sure sure Aquilani has had much of a choice in the matter. I think since Rafa left, everyone coming in has made it very clear they dont want him is all. Thing is I have a sneaking suspicion he could be a ‘Modric type’ player for us if he was given a go. Who ever comes in, I hope there is at least an attempt to find out what he can give us. – I always have time for an article on Liverpool FC that isn’t all doom and gloom, but exudes hope instead.. YNWA