The Impotence of being Liverpool

OK, I have to ask a question that is on the minds of many Liverpudlian's and their supporters.

What is the problem with the Reds?

What has happened when they leave Anfield? What' the deal? To quote Marvin Gaye: "What's goin' on?"

It like Spears and Federline, for what has happened to Liverpool between last season and this season.

7 away matches for 2 draws, 5 losses and 1 goal.

That goal came from a lucky (others would say dubious) penalty to the new kids of the block - Sheffield Whonited which resulted in us snatching a draw. The other draw came last night against a Middlesboro team that we outplayed. 16-1 shots at goal, 10-2 corners, 60% possession.

Liverpool we supposed to come to this season and challenge Chelsea for the title ahead of MU and Arsenal. They would defend wholeheartedly and keep the ball limiting opportunities for their opponents to score goals. They were going to play hard and play tough.

A lot of people picked them to challenge for #1 and finish in the top 3 easily. A lot of people.

So what has happened?

Some have said that the away record is a result of having to play some of the biggest teams in the EPL. Against Chelsea we played well and thanks to a superb bit of skill from Didier Drogba they got the 3 points. We were unlucky we kept on hitting the woodwork.

Suffice to say when playing at Old Trafford, Emirates and the Toffees we were outplayed and outclassed. There was the game at the Reebok where a bunch of old guys scored against us one dubiously and the other shamed last years defensive warriors. They are 3 tough venues to go and play against (not so Everton but we should have played better).

Yet when Liverpool play at home they are a different team. 6 matches for 5 wins and a draw. Most wins came from some superb play where the goals came.

This is Jekyll and Hyde-esque.

Is this an aberration or an indication for the season? Is this a serious situation that needs to be addressed.

So what is wrong?

• Steven Gerrard is definitely not 100%. Mentally and physically. If you look at what he has done the last 2 years you can see there are signs of mental exhaustion. The previous season he started in august and finished with lifting the Champs League trophy in May. However due to the poor local form Liverpool had to start in July 2005 and he played in the world cup finishing in July 2006. one month later he was back at training. So in the space of 2 years he has had about 6 weeks off.
  

• A few of his team mates are also in the same situation. So physically they are exhausted.

• There are a number of new players so time is needed for players to establish their roles. Usually a team with a number of players at each position results in competitiveness for spots, like Chelsea. Yet this does not seem to be transposed on to the pitch. Are the players trying too hard at training to get a game yet when it comes to the match, hey are too tired of god forbid, to lazy to play as hard!

• Rotation works but it does not help with the chemistry in some instances. As a football manager I am loathe to change the defensive structure and players a lot because a goalkeeper develops an understanding with his back men and chopping and changing can have bad effects.
  

• Collectively, they are playing without pride and therein, I believe likes the issue. NO PRIDE in the jersey!

See they have allowed a lot of goals this season. A lot more than this time last year. At least this time last year we were either drawing with nil all scores or losing against good teams by a goal. No pride!

Could it be that things are bigger than that. When breaking things down further, it is not really pride. Maybe its fate. I look at teams in other sports where this has happened like Sydney FC in the A-League here are struggling now after being last seasons champs and may miss the final series this year. The Chicago White Sox who won the world series in 2005 yet failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2006. The Miami Heat, won the NBA title last year and are now winning as much as they are losing, their latest defeat coming at the hands on the inept and overpaid New York Knicks.

Is this a case of teams being supreme one season only to fall into a level of mediocrity the following season? Are the players getting ahead of themselves, feeling that the effort they put in last season will cut it this year?

See Liverpool are now in need to be panicked over, they were a team touted to finally make the challenge to finally win the EPL title, what all Red supporters want, the holy grail! Some people are not panicking like Rafa and, in Rafa I trust, but I am worried now. It does not look too promising.

So the question is what can save Liverpool? I trust Rafa as he has delivered and will give him time but he can only do so much. A manager can give his team the tools to succeed but the players have to execute the plan and that is what is missing. The guys just do not seem to execute well.

So who will save them? I think it has to be Jamie Carragher. He knows of Liverpool and their history and he knows how much it means to put on that red jersey and play in front of the Kop, as much as Stevvie or Robbie.

I do not mean give him the ball and all that, I am talking about his soul. He has to become the soul of Liverpool FC.

Stevvie G is the leader, best player and heart of the team. Lord knows he has proven it a lot in the past. But he is going though a slump and time will bring him back.

But right now the team needs someone to inject the passion and desire when playing for Liverpool. That man is Carra. He can give his team mates a sense of what it means to be in Liverpool and keep them in check. Stevvie did a lot and drove them to work well. But now to take the net step they need the soul!

They need someone who will make sure the team this good, this talented will not go on losing and not scoring away from home. A person who will pull the lever when the noose has been placed over the opposition neck.

Someone has to give the players faith in themselves, someone on the pitch not on the sidelines because a manager can only get you so far.

Some have said to give them time and that Liverpool are out of whack. But there is a difference being out of whack and being straight whack.