Leeds United, Carling Cup And Are We Gaining Momentum?

This week will be an interesting one with the match of the midweek against Leeds United in the Carling Cup. Many fans like me are getting excited about it since we don’t get to play Leeds that often nowadays with them sinking to League One. Sometimes you wonder if we might end up like them with the current state of our financial affairs. One bad season, out of the Champions League and we could see our debts landing us the boot from the FA or even worse, now that UEFA have decided to be financial authorities as well. But we did ask for it by giving the soul of our club to those Americans and can only hope that either they find some new gold chest or they cannot resist a big money offer from a group or person who has the best interests of the club at heart.

But back to the game. News is that it is sold out at Elland Road. All 37,000 tickets. The fans are turning out in force to see their red hot side take on us mighty Scousers. Unfortunately (or fortunately) depending whose side you are on, there won’t be anything mighty about Liverpool because you can be sure Rafa will field mostly second stringers like Dossena, Babel (yes I consider him a second stringer until he actually learns how to play the game), Voronin and some of the local lads which I hope will happen because they really need to be given a chance. Still waiting for Nemeth to make the grade – the boy is good and just needs to be shown some faith. I expect Lucas to feature again as well since Rafa is obviously intent on giving him the limelight and every chance to get better. Whether that happens in the eyes of the majority of us remains to be seen, but I do reckon he is not that bad a player and still remember him spraying passes around just like Alonso when he first arrived. What has happened since I am not sure, but I do get the inkling that his style has changed under Rafa (now a destroyer).

So with mostly the reserves in action, I don’t look forward to it. Leeds are a team on fire right now – they keep winning and it’s about time I guess. They missed out on promotion the last two seasons and it looks like their year this time. Still a long way to go though but if they boot us out of it, it would probably give them a massive lift. But such a result could hurt our momentum and that is something Rafa should really take into consideration. Playing our best 11 might risk injuries and less I forget, fatigue. But maybe the gaffer could let them play for at least a half or when the result is a certainty whichever comes first. You can be sure that with the media always on our back and painting a constant picture of doom and gloom and Rafa going bonkers, losing to Leeds could send the result on to the back page headlines and putting the first team under pressure again in the next Premiership game. Even though they were not involved in that game. But that’s just how the widespread negativity towards the club is at the moment, or perhaps the ridicule we are receiving due to the mess Hicks and Gillett have caused.

I do believe we are gaining momentum, if not with our defending, at least with the results. We’ve never been the best of sides, and if fans are still comparing us unfavourably to last season with Alonso in the team, then just look at the games and results recently – we’re still having to come back from lost causes quite often. The one thing that is still there (or at least returning) is the spirit in the team. That was really what made us tick last season and if we can go at it again, we should still be in the title stakes. That doesn’t mean I think we have a great chance of winning it – but I’ll keep the faith. One thing is for sure, Aquilani must work well for the team and has to stay injury free once he’s back. Or maybe we should have gone for Cassano instead.

The win at Upton Park was fantastic. Quite a game and it was great to see Torres enjoying himself again. He cut a frustrated figure ever since returning from the Confed Cup and even sounded like he was tired of the Premiership. Rafa probably gave him a good clip on the ear and now he’s showing hunger again. Benayoun is also starting to show that he can play from the start and do it well, which is what Rafa claimed he wanted before he gave him that spot. The question now is what happens once Aquilani is back. Knowing Rafa, the Italian would probably have to fight for his place like the rest. Interesting though to see that the two natural wingers in the squad are not given starts even though the gaffer wants to play a wider and more expansive game. Babbel might not deserve a start but I’m still of the opinion that Riera has done relatively well each time he’s played.

So on to Elland Road and hopefully whoever gets to play, does well. Important game no matter what others might say, in or outside the club. The boys need to win and I hope they do. Rafa has already sounded out the warning that Leeds play a direct game quite often and that could mean trouble with our zonal system again. Maybe the replacements might actually be good at that.

Upton Park Beckons

Not quite sure how all this works since I tried before but failed. But now I just need to write about everything come what may as we try to find a way to the elusive 19th title. Last season was the closest we’ve come since a long while and it still hurts no matter how positive a spin you may try to put on it. And naturally our hopes were raised for this season. Things haven’t quite gone as we hoped. You could already see it coming once Alonso wanted to move and the whole situation dragged on too long for new signings to be made and coming in earlier to settle. I do feel that Aquilani might be a good signing but with his injury record and not fit till October by then our title hopes would probably be gone. Some have already written us off but it might actually have been good for the team to start this way. Who knows it might have been enough to get the players started again and this is why tonight would be really important.

We’ve done relatively well at Upton Park in recent years but last season was one of our worst displays there. Ended up winning but with them Hammers struggling so far, we must seize the opportunity and come away with the three points. Don’t care if we do it the ugly way. Sometimes you yearn for the old Benitez sides that just grinded out the results. Now we’re one of the most entertaining because shots keep flying at goal but don’t hit the net quite as often. That’s exciting because you always wonder when the goals will come and when they finally do, it’s a great burst of joy that you can feel in your gut just exploding.

Other than Chelsea (and now Utd) doing what they do best (win), they still haven’t quite run away with things yet. We’ve usually done well after returning from Europe, but having to do so at Upton Park makes it much tougher. The return of Benayoun to his old hunting ground is making the headlines but I expect Noble to keep him relatively quiet (if he gets to start that is). Well he is starting it appears. The lineup looks quite compact but all the big names are in it so if we don’t win, you can expect the daggers to come out flying at Benitez again.

Well keeping my fingers crossed that we finish with three points. Arsenal were back in their groove and with the two big games tomorrow, if we win and they don’t, things could get really interesting again. Back later.