You can’t beat the concept of light and shade. Whether it’s a piece of music, a film or indeed an MFW article it is an essential part of the creative’s repertoire – and for good reason.
Think Pink Floyd, Hammer Horror or even some of my garbage on MFW if you will.
And if ever a forthcoming fixture illustrates this succinctly it’s our meeting with champions-elect Liverpool at Carrow Road on Saturday, February 15, with kick-off time naturally rearranged to suit Sky TV but not the supporters.
What time will the Scouse lads and lasses get into Liverpool Lime Street that evening? The early hours of Sunday would be my guess and the drive is just as painful.
When we meet, Liverpool will be 22 points clear of the Premier League pack in their almost completed quest for the title while we are languishing in rock bottom 20th place on a miserly 18 points and still seven [it’s really eight because of goal difference] from safety.
David and Goliath doesn’t come into this one.
The entire infrastructures and histories of both clubs are a mismatch too. Lord knows how many titles and trophies Liverpool have won but I know it makes one League Cup in the embryonic days of the competition in the 1960s and a Milk Cup triumph in 1985 followed by immediate relegation look exactly what it seems: relatively insignificant. Okay, entirely irrelevant to those within the Top Six.
We all love Carrow Road but it’s hardly Anfield. Sorry folks, but I’ve been there and that place is something else.
First off it’s Jurgen Klopp v Daniel Farke. As much as we love Daniel, and so we should, that doesn’t look too good on paper to the neutral, now does it?
I haven’t even mentioned the respective players yet. Disparity is at its highest point here of course. The veritable zenith.
Tim Krul has been excellent for us but I think Alisson is better. Sorry Tim, but I do.
Let’s have a gander at the respective back fours.
Well, there’s Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been recognised recently by our very own Max Aarons as the best right back in the business.
As opposed to them we have the gift of Max, Zimbo, Grant Hanley, and Sam Byram.
Moving seamlessly on to midfield, it’s Jordan Henderson and Fabinho up against, erm, Alex Tettey and Kenny McLean.
With all allowances made for the fluidity of systems, we now progress to the “front four” which I realise doesn’t work exactly like that but basically it means a mixture between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the holy trinity that is Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
Or there’s Emi, Duda, Todd, and Teemu.
On the bench? Well, there’s Origi and Lovren plus their mates or Vrancic and Drmic alongside theirs.
I’m not talking up an impending defeat as such but when regarded in these terms it’s really quite frightening. Isn’t it?
To end with, I will add that the Klopp strop over the FA Cup replay dates is in some ways understandable but does he not realise that to field the kids and not turn up in person for the fixture shows respect to nobody?
With reduced ticket prices and other factors, it’s estimated his stance cost Shrewsbury half a million quid. That is something Norwich City would never do. We didn’t send a reduced squad to Paulton Rovers and played a full first-team at home to Sutton United.
Given Liverpool’s current supremacy and incredible history, I really thought they were better than that.
As much as I admire their style I hope we produce a miracle and become the first club to beat them this season.
Even if only for the sake of Shrewsbury.
11 v 11, on the day, anyone can beat anyone and various other clichés. The fact is, the team that, by all available measurements, is the best in the world are going to play the team ranked worst in the Prem. A game that clearly we should have no chance in, but along come Norwich….
Hi Don.
As I hinted at in the article an Along Come Norwich moment would indeed be wonderful.
The players will be more than up for this one and I’m sure we’re all hoping for a great game.
And I bet we won’t disappointed. I’m really looking forward to it.
Cheers.
Very well written Mr P and it truly is ‘David V Goliath’ – I’m certain that Sky will have a MASSIVE TV audience around the world for this particular fixture and since when were travelling TRUE fans ever considered once money dictated football fixtures??
Naturally, we’ll ALL miss seeing the likes of Liverpool, Citeh etc playing at CR next season, but for me, it will be nice to be able to cheer a goal knowing that a particular muppet at Stockley Park isn’t going to rule it out for a player’s shoulder/toe/armpit being offside and hopefully by the time we return to the rarified heights of the PL, the issues with VAR will have been resolved.
I’m certain that CR will be THE place to be next Saturday evening and I wouldn’t want to miss being there for ANYTHING!!!!
Hi Ed.
I genuinely feel sorry for the Liverpool fans as it’s a hideous KO time for them but I’m sure they’ll take up every last ticket of their allocation.
To my mind the absence of VAR is the ONLY thing to look forward to about being in the Championship, tempered by the fact that every team in that league, whoever they might be, will see us as a scalp. A kind of compliment I guess.
It’s definitely the home fixture of the season and I too wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Thanks as always.
Hi Martin
A good read and as you say ACN moment would be good and it is about time we had another good result.
I am and never will be a LIVARPOOL supporter yes I like good football but it seem this season all the football god have deserted city for the scouse gits.
During there so called hay days in the late 60’s up to the 90’s not too many teams challenged them Lerds and Arse-nal but it wasn’t a really competitive league then it all changed and the Premiership came along.
Man U Arse-nal, Chelsea, Man C, Blackburn and Leicester all won the title and yet LIVARPOOL still spent big and couldn’t achieve it falling at the last fence on a couple of occasions.
Now we have 2019/20 season and possibly since the premiership began the best football we have seen but also the weakest in teams challenging for the title.
Man C no defence since Kompany left and missing so many chances.
Man U just can’t seem to put a run of games together and no defence or strikers.
Chelsea transfer ban, young side with a little experience and a younger manager.
Spurs could get over the CL loss and too many players wanted out.
Arse-nal just a poor team that needs to be rebuilt and living on Wenger memories
Leicester gave it a good try but just like a Brendan premiership side had no staying power.
So my conclusion the goods have been with the Scouse gits but most of all the Ref’s seem scared to give any team that plays LIVARPOOL a decision and that is now compounded by VAR so far not one 50/50 decision has gone against them.
More than winning the title it has been given to them by a circumstance all falling in their favor and yes you can only beat what is in front of you but this will go down to a poor premiership not for the football but the strength if the teams.
City will have a chance to prove that LIVARPOOL are not unbeatable and to kick start their survival chances.
Sky should be renamed the LIVARPOOL appreciation club as that is all you hear, they keep saying the Micky mouse title world club champions but till they won it they never mentioned it.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Hi Alex.
I kind of get the impression you’re not exactly a Liverpool fan!
Me neither but this current squad are truly amazing and such a joy to watch that I’ll forgive them anything [apart from their “luck” with VAR and disrespect to Shrewsbury of course].
Kompany left Citeh a season too early and they have really missed Laporte.
I completely agree with your comments about Sky and the WWC.
And this is MFW not another type of media outlet – the word ARSEnal is quite acceptable to us:-).
Cheers mate.
Thank Martin
Question how can Sky sack Rodney Marsh for a tasteless joke about the tsunami yet keep a scouce git on tv that spits at kids for taking fun of his team wgen they lost agame.
I don’t have Sky Alex but what I can say is that in these pc days it’s very rare that anybody in the media dare ever say on air what they really think about most given situations.
In my book as long as it isn’t racist, homophobic or a statement by sectarian bigots everything is fine by me.
And I’m sure I’m not alone in holding that view.
Excellent early preview Mr P.
Yes, I agree that we shouldn’t stand a chance……however, given what we managed with what was (at least on paper), a weaker team against Man Citeh then surely anything is possible??
Klopp was ultra disrespectful to both Shrewsbury AND the FA Cup, and, once again, if it hadn’t been for the Stockley Park Ultras, LiVARpool would quite probably have lost their replay.
Curious that next Saturday the team which has lost the most points to VAR hosts that which has gained most.
Along Come Norwich??? I sincerely hope so!
O T B C
Hi John.
Yes the Shrewsbury lad failed the “VAR test” by about half a heel I think.
I at least must thank Alex B for LiVARpool – I’d never heard the term until he used it here a couple of weeks ago.
I didn’t know the comparative VAR data regarding us and Liverpool but I’ll tell you one thing you already know – not much will go in our favour on Saturday.
Thank you.
It is about time we had some good fortune this season and conversely Liverpool had some misfortune. Remember in the past how many sides have been on poor runs they then come up against NCFC and we charitably give them a win.
In my dreams this game will go as follows. Straight from the kickoff Pukki is one on one with their goalie, who pulls him down. Sending off and penalty to City scored by Pukki. Klopp goes mad and is sent to the stands. On the stroke of half time Van Dyke fouls Cantwell just outside the penalty area and is sent off for a second yellow card. Vrancic scores the free kick.
City manage the game and win 2-0 with 75% second half possession. Tettey has a 99% pass success rate and he outruns Henderson. He is offered a new one year contract after the game.
Tim Krul has no shots on target to save. The crowd adapt the song “Leaning on a Lamp Post” to “Timmy’s leaning on his goalpost”.
I then wake up to the news that city have won 1-0.
Hi Colin!
Sometimes when I’m sitting on the front garden bench watching the world go by and having a smoke I drift off into dreams like that too.
Over the years their accuracy would struggle to reach five per cent, let alone ten!
I like the bit about Tettey’s new 12-monther. That would be good indeed.
Thank you.
‘‘Tis life Marty, I remember as a wee lad playing marbles, those of us with cheap marbles were never allowed to play in the games with those lucky kids who had the latest clear glass marbles shot through with fancy colours. Money made a big difference, but we were happy living in our cardboard boxes and paper bags. Even when I acquire two or three nice marbles those with bags full would quickly win them and I never had enough to carry on, just like poker really, you need plenty of dosh to see you through a losing streak.
Hi Cutty.
Have yer lost yer marbles?
I suspect Delia’s old set are as much blue and white as yellow and green.
A great comment and analogy – and at least you didn’t mention conkers, whether frozen, oven baked or au naturel.
Cheers mate.
Hi Martin, an enjoyable read as always.
I was at Anfield for the opening fixture this season, it was strangely subdued and we sang ‘where’s your famous atmosphere…’
However… I was fortunate enough to get hold of a ticket for Liv v Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi final 2001. Gary McAllister scored a penalty at our end. I was a ‘Liverpool fan’ for the day, which involved a coach trip from Norwich to Liverpool (ardous) and then pre-match beers in the Albert pub. The atmosphere in the pub was absolutely Incredible. I snuck my NCFC scarf under my coat and tied it to the Shankly gates.
I didn’t sit down all game and we sang and sang. Even singing in the urinals.
It blew me away.
Back to Carrow Road and games in Div 1 just couldn’t compete.
Although I take my hat to the supporters groups who are slowly but surely turning Carra into a flag waving cauldron of noise. Well done, Sirs.
Hi Martin.
That must have been quite some experience. As I’ve said before on MFW I stood on the Kop with the Liverpool fans for the last standing experience. Fergie, a mate from work in Huyton gave me his pal’s ticket as said friend was unwell.
If that wasn’t an Along Come Norwich moment I don’t know what was.
Good old Gossy.
I’ll send you a couple of pics next week when I get to Mundesley.
Cheers.