Behind all the furore and talk that surrounded the Liverpool takeover, the plain fact in sight for fans of the game on Sunday were clear. Except for Stevie G and Torres, the Toffees has, man for man, a better team, and a team is what wins games.
Roy Hodgson, speaking after wiping his Wengeresque glasses, claimed that Liverpool played their best football, the best their capable of, without disrupting Tim Howards' tea time snack of crumpet and scones. The fans, walking back dejectedly past Stanley Park to drown their sorrows, didn't know what was worse, the teams' performance or Hodgson's attempt of "keeping a stiif upper lip" in the face of adversity.
Liverpool were outplayed, out thought, out run and didn't deserve to play in a Derby match. The past few months have definitely taken their toll and the lies and deception they have been told shows on their body language.
It's interesting to note, that as far as I can remember, there is NO 1 player who played in the World Cup effectively, is performing right now. Messi, Ronaldo,Torres, Villa, Kaka, Gerrard, Lampard etc. Van de Vaart is an exception, but he played a bit part for Holland. These players are fatigued after a long spell of high level football and training. They've probably been at it for a straight 12 months with their respective leagues, Champions League, FA Cup, World Cup and now Euro Qualification and Champions League as well as their bread and butter leagues.
I'm not making any excuses for these mega bucks earning players, but they MUST be tired and full of knocks. Look at Torres. He was injured before the World Cup, came back for it and broke down in the Final. Injured again and again, lost his manager, lost games and finally lost the owners. Now here's a family surrounded guy who's suddenly lost the Spanish speaking contingent of Mascherano, Arbeloa, Reira and on top of that Benitez ( who had so much of belief and faith in him) a father figure.
Enter Hodgson, who sell Javier, gets Poulsen, Meireles (Portugal's best player in the World Cup), Konchesky (only God knows why), Joe Cole, benches Lucas and has Johnson, Agger and of all people Kuyt injured.
6 changes in a team of 11 and Jovanovic the joker in the pack. How would you manage such changes in your team and then have the owners squabbling in the background? Roy doesn't know his best 11 and that's a fact.
Moyes did and has been unlucky all season, almost winning games. A day off from football just relaxing by the Lake did a world of wonders for Everton. That's man management!
Roy needs time. Time to take off the Wengeresque glasses and see his team for what they are. A bunch of dejected, dispirited and tired professionals. A time for a new plan. Make training interesting and the players need to look forward to playing, not hating their moments on the field, because they certainly look it right now.
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