I’m sure that for some, seeing me posting here is about as welcome as Martin Atkinson or Jordan Pickford.
I’ve enjoyed reading the forum (and TIA) the last year or so, in fact its been much more enjoyable than getting embroiled in what comes with posting.
I return now, albeit briefly, and don’t worry very occasionally, because I have been reeling over the past few days about Saturday’s events, waking up in the early hours with that awful hurt one feels when a family member is suffering, and the anger when they have been wronged.
I needed an outlet for it.
Whilst what happened, and has happened since, is no surprise, I have been shocked by what seems to me to be a step up in what LFC has always suffered.
Let me first speak of VVD. This man’s decision to join us was - without question in my humble opinion - the point at which we stepped up from a thereabouts club, to a club that had a realistic chance of winning the major prizes.
The man is a gentleman, a man who suffered a difficult upbringing, but who worked his way to becoming for me the best defender our club has ever had.
I am gutted to my core that he has suffered a career threatening injury, and that we - and the Dutch national side - may never see the same player again as walked onto that pitch on Saturday. Having read about this injury, it’s possible it will take two years for him to get anywhere near to whatever his new ceiling is, although I have faith in his mental outlook and physical prowess to make that timescale the shortest and ceiling the highest possible.
He was our most reliable defender, rarely injured, it took an all out assault to take him out of the side for a considerable period. He would have been our rock for five more years without serious injury, a major club asset, nearly cut in two by a cocky, narcissistic, simpleton.
Carragher’s rage at Souness for calling this out was additionally sickening. I’m finding Carra very irritating of late and can barely listen to him.
IMO all Everton’s actions on Saturday were deliberate. It’s been going on for years. From Funes Mori taking out Origi, who himself has never been the same again, to Ross Barkley regularly leaving his foot in after the ball has gone, to these two incidents of thuggery on Saturday.
I’m not sure when Duncan Fergusson rejoined the coaching staff there, and whether any of this correlates with that, but he did seem to be sitting there quite smug towards the end of the match. Ancelloti’s failure to condemn either tackle afterwards shows that even if he didn’t direct it, he certainly isn’t the gentleman people say he is and isn’t even half the man Klopp is.
As to the officials and VAR, I do not believe that this is ineptitude. I believe that they are not impartial, I believe that there is bias and prejudice at play (regional and club related), and in the case of a certain referee, I believe he is corrupt. I always comforted myself that he was nearing retirement, as he looks nearer to 60 to me, but alas a Wiki check revealed to my horror that he is only late 40s.
Clearly the failure of the media to major on something like this, nor the authorities to deal with this, is nothing new. If it had been Alisson on Calvert Lewin they’d have banned him for a year.
The offside decision seems minor in the context of VVD, but it is nonetheless disgusting.
There is regional prejudice in this country towards Liverpool as a city - in the media, general population and establishment. It’s partly because the city is anti-establishment, non conformist and irreverent. It’s also because of jealousy.
The clamour for the season to be cancelled last spring was not just the vested interests of smaller clubs, it was the absolute hysteria that was quite rife about the prospect of us winning the title.
That Everton Football Club are willing participants in the aspects of this that are directed at Liverpool Football Club, is their own folly, when they as city residents suffer from the same stereotyping in other ways.
I really do hope that Jurgen sees this and is more determined than ever to stay at the helm and help our club fight it, rather than be ground down by it and leave.
Those who do this to us would love him to do so, just as they’d love players to think twice about joining us, as doing so clearly leaves them fair game for thuggery.
A quick word before I go about how we cope with this.
I said to myself over the summer that we were taking a huge gamble by not replacing Lovren.
I’m a big believer in not tempting fate, and we really were testing lady luck’s devotion to us.
Matip is a class defender, but is too injury prone, and whilst Gomez has qualities, for me he is just not top class. He switches off too often, and the reason this isn’t noticed is because his recovery pace gets him out of trouble a lot. His switching off is mostly exploited when he’s outmaneuvered and wrong sided in the box.
Personally I didn’t want to see Fabinho in defence, as whilst well stocked in midfield, the trio of him, Thiago and Hendo is our best midfield, wonderful on Saturday and a midfield we really need against top sides.
Let’s just hope that we manage to compete for prizes regardless, though right now I mainly just want us to finish top 4.
I really do hope that we sign a top class centre back in January, an heir apparent to VVD, who hopefully will keep the defence at the right level until VVD’s return, and ideally then form an impenetrable defence if VVD comes back anywhere near what he was.
At the very least, the next two and a bit months will demonstrate whether Matip and Gomez are truly what we need, in fitness terms and level.
My best wishes to VVD, and to all of you.