2010 Review

In all it’s been a truly lousy year on the pitch. The most rewarding games were probably Tottenham (h) on 20 January when we broke our January jinx and won a League game against Champions League rivals despite missing our so-called big players; Everton (h) on 6 February when we battled to a 1-0 win despite having the Greek sent off early on; Benfica (h) on 8 April when we reversed a harsh away defeat by thrashing the cynical cheats with Fernando Torres looking like the player of a couple of seasons ago (before succumbing to injury yet again).

The most disappointing games were Atletico (h) on 29 April when we were denied a third European Final appearance under Rafa by a late away goal in extra time; Wigan (a) on 8 March when we put in one of the most abject performances under Benitez’s tenure with Steven Gerrard proving indisputably that he is a liability in central midfield; Man City (a) on 23 August when Hodgson’s limitations were laid bare and every game since.

The biggest achievement of the year was undeniably the sensational ousting of Gillett and Hicks. This also wins the Most Bizarre Football-Related Experience Award as I could never have envisaged following a court case by text updates online.

The biggest disappointments of the year have to be the sacking of Rafa Benitez closely followed by the appointment of Roy Hodgson and on numerous occasions the absence of reports of Hodgson’s dismissal. Also contenders in this category are the signings and subsequent performances of Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky.

The best players were undoubtedly Pepe Reina and then probably Lucas Leiva who – while far from being the most talented, at least put in a shift in every game and has improved throughout the year. After that it has to be cult hero Sotirios Kyrgiakos and then maybe Ngog and Meireles who have shown promise but as yet remain players with potential. Those players aside, everyone else has disappointed in some way or other.

The biggest disappointments were Steven Gerrard who has lived off his reputation for the entire year; Fernando Torres who for a variety of reasons just hasn’t been the player that excited us so much in 2008; Jamie Carragher whose reputation exceeds his capability now that age has robbed him of what little pace he had before; Ryan Babel who is a joke of a footballer, and finally both Yossi Benayoun and Javier Mascherano simply for the fact that they sought pastures new despite being amongst our better performers in the first half of the year – not that I personally blame either.

It’s been a year in which my passion for football has been severely diluted. Whereas in years gone by, I would watch virtually any game, this year I’ve tended to stick to my own team. It’s hard to stomach others playing well when your own team is continually frustrating. Likewise, I haven’t been able to bear watching the majority of the Champions League games knowing that we no longer belong in Europe’s elite competition.

As a fan, I want to get back to talking in positive terms about team selections, formations, transfers, goals, assists and players’ form without needing to think about the motives or capability of the suits behind the team or about the suitability of the manager. All those so-called fans who slated Rafa for “throwing away” the Premiership title in 2008-09 would do well to remember that we hadn’t had it so good since the Premiership began and may not have it that good for some time to come. They weren’t happy with their lot then and now look at the mess we’re in. For those supporters, this is deserved but for the rest of us it feels like being the victim of theft.

My hopes for 2011 are that Hodgson goes as soon as possible; that we appoint a manager appropriate for Liverpool FC who will unite the fans, restore our belief that the team is progressing towards the level we expect, get us playing watchable football and bring about a significant revival in our fortunes; that the board will back the new man with funds to enable him to improve the standard of playing staff at the club; that Real Madrid pay us an obscene amount of cash for Steven Gerrard that is subsequently reinvested in an adequate long-term replacement; that Reina and Torres stay and rediscover their best form; that Carra rejoins “the best manager [he] has ever worked with”, Gerard Houllier, at Aston Villa just in time to see the Frenchman sacked, and finally, that I see games and results that enable me to fall in love with the sport all over again.