Are we the new Bolton?

So part 1 of our trilogy of games against the scouser's in red is over. So what can we learn from this performance?

First - we are by no means out of the running. Sure Liverpool have an away goal, but if they want to sit on that and put 10 men behind the ball then good luck to them. Although away from home things are always different, we showed once again that when we are motivated and step up a gear we are capable of hoarding the possession of the football regardless of who we are
playing. And surely, even if it is another corner (more of which in a moment) we will crack their resistance if they try that for 90 mins.

Secondly, it seems Manu Adebayor's hair is not cursed. It looks silly on him sure, but it got him a goal so hopefully that is his drought and any psychological haircut trauma out of the way.

But beyond that I'm feeling a bit..well..Allardyced. The smell of Big Sam is not a pleasant one, but there is something distinctly whiffing like a fat walrus in the way we play. A deflected, bundled goal aside, we seem to have found it hard to score from open play lately. Last nights game saw us score from a corner, Van Injury and Gallas Le Mohawk got their goals from a
penalty and another corner respectively in the recent Bolton game. And generally we only look threatening when long balls go through over the top to a lunging Adebayor. So is the next logical step to sign Kevin Davies? The whole thought makes me want to vomit.

So what is the problem here? I guess it is back to what i'm harping on about every week.. we need Hleb and Eboue (and possibly Walcott if he ever gets a start out wide) to start shooting. And Cesc and Flamini, for all their great work, need to shoot from distance occasionally. If the opposition know we are back to trying to walk the ball into the net, it makes defending us a whole lot easier.

But at least Hleb looked back to his dangerous self against Liverpool. The pivotal moment occurred when he floppy haired his way by several gormless scouse defenders (Skrtel - isn't that some sort of Eastern Bloc car manufacturer?) but ruined it by recklessly coat hangering himself on Dirk Kuyt's arm. At least that seems to be how the referee read it.

But what did the Ivorians do to Super Kolo Touré while he was at the African Cup of Player Stealing? He looks half the player he was before Christmas. Sure he attacked well enough but was left waving his arm in the air, out of desperate hope more than anything genuine, as Gerrard stole past him to set up the equaliser. The Touré of old wouldn't have been so easily beaten.

So next up its.. Liverpool. Oh joy. Who could grow sick of looking at Dirk Kuyt and his mangled features. With looks like that I'm sure he'll make a great Bolton manager someday.. I just hope Arsene is aware that his team is heading in that direction lately.

By Paul Wright

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