Tweet
Another holiday season leads to January bloating.It’s been two full weeks since the last Liverpool match. Is your body ready? Because on the back of this unexpected winter break, and with the two postponed matches scheduled for January (Blackpool willing), we’re looking at some scheduling backlog and two matches a week to hold our attention for the next little while.
Which is all well and good because football. But might not be so good because an extreme aversion to squad rotation could mean multiple appearances by the “b team” or Gerrard and Torres breaking down as they are wont to do when overplayed because hamstrings and groins and two games a week on rock hard pitches in sub-zero temperatures*. Of course, that they both just unexpectedly got a few oddly low-key weeks for a Premier League player mid-season might let them survive this stretch and not break down until it catches up with them when the weather starts to get warmer.
In any case, seven top flight fixtures and that FA Cup draw at Old Trafford loom, and it might be enough to sort out just where Liverpool’s final resting place is under Hodgson. On paper, at least, despite the frequency of the games, there are a great deal of points ahead that any Liverpool side should expect to take–twice against lowly Wolves, worst in the league on current form; the rescheduled Blackpool and Fulham matches, even if the home showing against the Seasiders wasn’t an acceptable display from a side loaded with internationals; not to mention Bolton and Blackburn lining up for their second go rounds, again offering examples of games that in theory should see Liverpool gunning for three with a high probability of success. That just leaves a tricky local derby in the league and United in the cup as matches one might not reasonably expect Liverpool to take all the points from, even if they’re likely the matches one would want to see won the most.
And of course all that ignores that what we can “reasonably expect” has been driven hard into the ground by Hodgson & co. in an attempt to lower our expectations to levels that are, quite frankly, unrealistically pathetic for this club and, perhaps more importantly, the actual squad in question.
How long he feels he needs to be given before people can properly judge him has kept accordioning out as he keeps failing to pass muster at each mile marker he’s set, and I think we’re mostly all in agreement that the sooner we get a good, long-term replacement the better. Still, this next packed month, with so many winnable matches, may settle once and for all Liverpool’s ambitions for the year, because if January ends with more draws than wins it will all but guarantee the mid-table finish we’ve been wobbling towards all season. If there is a chance of Hodgson “steadying the ship” and giving us a chance at Champions League football, then as cliched as it sounds, this next stretch will either make it or break it:
Dec 29 – League – Liverpool v. Wolverhampton
Jan 1 – League – Liverpool v. Bolton
Jan 5 – League – Blackburn v. Liverpool
Jan 9 – FA Cup – United v. Liverpool
Jan 12 – League – Blackpool v. Liverpool
Jan 16 – League – Liverpool v. Everton
Jan 22 – League – Wolverhampton v. Liverpool
Jan 26 – League – Liverpool v. Fulham
So, are you ready for some football?
*Yes, I said “rock hard,” “groin,” and “Fernando Torres” in one sentence there. You’re welcome.
Some Related Liverpool Posts:Match Preview: Liverpool v. Sunderland, 09.25.10Matchday: Liverpool v. SteauaSquad Announced; Fernando Torres Has Been Paying AttentionMatchday: Liverpool v. West BromTorres Hurt, Aquilani’s Not, and More Transferish Stuff
Category: Team News
Tags: Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Fernando Torres, Fixture List, Fulham, Groin Grabbingly Transcendent, Manchester United, Steven Gerrard, Team News, WolverhamptonTweet « Roy Blames Babel and Jovanovic, Plus Some Rafa | Home | rachellenoel, your word play has made my day.Red2deathRoy's future excuse circa 3 weeks from now: Fixture CongestionKaiIt's tragic because it's true.blog comments powered by Disqus
Follow Us
Russia and Qatar (!) To host World Cups Gary Lineker's World Cup Accident England vs France liveblog! more news... 
Search The Offside
Related LinksLiverpool TicketsLiverpool Football ShirtsLiverpool Betting OddsHotels near Anfield Stadium, LiverpoolFernando TorresDirk KuytFantasy Premier League
Categories Champions LeagueEuro 2012Europa LeagueHillsboroughInternational DutyLeague CupMatch PreviewsMatch RecapsMatchday PostsMiscellaneousPremier LeagueSeason ReviewSpecial FeaturesTeam NewsTransfer NewsWorld CupWorld Cup 2010
Send Your Tips! Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email liverpool[at]theoffside[dot]com
Archives Select Archive Month December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006
About The Offside | Advertise on The Offside | Privacy Policy
Top Content: England Team Blog | The Hillsborough 96 | Joe Cole to Liverpool | EPL Match Tickets | Anfield Moments | 2009-10 Liverpool Goals
Related information: EPL Store | England Kits | Manchester United | Chelsea FC | Arsenal | England Travel Guide | Liverpool Night Life and Hotels | London Airfare | Champions League Prize Money
© BootsnAll Travel Network - All rights reserved
EuropeEngland: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League One England: League Two FranceGermanyGreeceHollandItalyPolandPortugalRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyAfricaEgyptTunisiaAustraliaSouth AmericaArgentinaBrazilColombia North AmericaMexicoMLSNPSLUSLWomen's SoccerCup CompetitionsChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueCopa LibertadoresCopa SudamericanaPlayersDidier DrogbaLionel MessiMesut OzilArjen RobbenCristiano RonaldoLigue 1 ProspectsSoccer Betting | World Cup 2010
Plan Your Soccer Travels | Soccer TicketsClose X
Home 
World 
Europe English Premier League 
Liverpool 
StoreTravelScores 
England: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League OneEngland: League TwoEngland: ConferenceFranceGermanyGreeceHollandItaly PolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyUkraineChampions League | Europa LeagueClose X
No comments:
Post a Comment