Late Summer in the ‘Pool

So the season ended pretty much without a whimper with Robbie Keane   scoring at Anfield ! So it was yet another one sided match in which ‘Pool scored 3 or more goals. (the count being 10 out of the last 13) .  So, in the league we won 10 of the last 11 matches and finished with a ‘Pool  record 86 points which would have been enough to win it on 12 of the 18 seasons. So, we scored the highest number of league goals (77) and had the highest goal difference too (50).  So, it was one of those seasons in which Manu and Chelski, in the league,  and RMad, in the Champions league, were humbled home and away (to put it lightly). So the club captain scored 24 goals and walked away with “Footballer of the year” award.  But what is the bottom line of it all. No trophy to add to the prize cabinet at Melwood come the end of the season.  Well no trophy at all since three seasons. This poses the thought,  “Is the bittersweet season a success or failure? “

Purists would say ‘Pool played scintillating football at times this season with a marked departure from the cautious earlier seasons under Benitez. Optimists would say that a genuine title attempt was finally registered and this will only help the club stand in good stead for further seasons. Pessimists would say ‘Pool got lucky on more than occasion and this was the best they could achieve and Manu and such will only get better next season on. Cynicists would laugh at the squad strength and the manager and ask, “Rafa and the league title?? ” Rafa himself would say, “Manu spent £ aa.bb  on transfers this season. We could spend only £ cc.dd  . That δ £ xx.yy  is necessary to win the title. And all the referees are under the controlling, dominating, voodoo practising United manager “.  The United manager he was targeting for mind games , Sir Squeaky Bum would say, ” Who the fuck is Rafa? That man who shows no respect to my big pal, Big Sam. He should have atleast apologized after every goal against Blackburn. Anyway he doesn’t bother me in the least . In the end we won the title didn’t we? . We just had a minor blip on the way. A home match we deserved to win ended in a narrow defeat to ‘Pool “  And RamC,  your humble author would say, “Screw you all guys. “Nuff said.  Lets bring home the 19th next season. For the sake of the departing legend Hyypia who tried 10 yrs, for the sake of Gerrard who has  been waiting forever for that last medal, for the sake of Carragher who has been losing it on fellow defenders. For the sake of millions of ‘Pool fans across the globe who value the league more than anything else.”

How well did the players perform this season ? What went wrong and what ought to be done next season for a better finish (read league title) ? Who would be good additions to the present squad and who should be dispatched immedialtely ? What exactly is Rafa doing other than growing a new goatee? ‘Pool fans, bashers and neutrals alike can look forward to that and more in a series of weekly articles (starting shortly)  under the moniker “ ‘Pool-side view” running up to the pre season friendlies and the dawn of the new season.

But tonight I would be donning my Blaugrana jersey and chanting “Visca Barca”. Not because no scouser can stand Manu take home  consecutive champions league titles. Not because Liverpool is a mini-Spain in England and Xabi Alonso and his Spanish amigos want Barca to win. Not because I wouldnt fancy seeing  Anderson running naked on the pitch. But because of the same reason every non-Manu football fan in the world wants Barca to win. Because Barca play their beautiful game everytime, everywhere, every match. Because even Didier Drogba wouldnt think a Barca triumph is  a fucking disgrace.

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