THE WONDERBLOG

Star Date: 22-01-2008 : Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa (Anfield, Liverpool)

Another home game, another draw, another two points thrown away needlessly. Quite a horrible night all-round, really. Thanks to Setanta, yet another game was moved from Saturday afternoon to an 8pm evening kick off - always a delight (why don't games ever kick off at 7:30pm anymore?). The weather before the match was disgusting - blowing a hoolie and hoicking it down, so it was with some relief that the game kicked off with neither in effect.

There followed the current, usual Liverpool home game pattern. First half: plenty of possession but little penetration. Yossi's goal on 19 minutes was a pleasant surprise and an oasis of excitement in a pretty uninspiring 45 minutes - the only other noteworthy facts being Hyppia's imperious form in central defence, Aurelio having the mare of all mares at left-back (to be capped by an own-goal in the second half) and Villa's much-vaunted away form not materialising whatsoever.

The second half panned-out as expected in an almost mirror-image of the last home game against Wigan: conceding late-on to the team who was second-best. Liverpool charged out of the blocks at kick off and peppered the Villa goal, winning every challenge and putting the visitors under extreme pressure in the first 15 minutes - only to squander every gilt-edged chance that came their way. Mascherano was particularly dominant, chasing and harrying and winning back balls he had no right to win. We then had the subsequent regrouping/sitting-back phase of "inability to retain possession", leading to Villa's resurgence and two (quite honestly) undeserved goals out of the blue in a mad three-minute spell. Crouch's equaliser at the death was greeted more with relief than any belief we could push on and get a winner in injury time - but was pleased for Crouchy who has been treated appallingly this season. Kuyt, it seems, can do no wrong in Benitez' eyes and plays regularly. Yet he is an expensive striker who was bought to deliver goals. Put him on the pitch and he will run his backside off for 90 minutes - you can't fault his commitment - but goals? Maybe one every ten games. Crouch on the other hand - put him on for ten or fifteen minutes and he will deliver - probably score but at least get a chance or two on target.

The worst aspect of the evening was the protest against American co-owners Gillett and Hicks, instigated by the self-appointed voice of the fans "Reclaim The Kop". There were some really unpleasant chants and I was disappointed that almost to a man/woman everyone in the kop stood and joined in (myself and no doubt a few level-headed others excepted). What is this pseudo-fascistic phenomenon amongst football crowds? There are 40,000+ people in the stadium and therefore 40,000+ different opinions on what's going on at the club. Why on earth does everyone get embroiled in the chanting of a single, polarised viewpoint of an individual or small group of fans? And what precisely have Gillett and Hicks done wrong exactly? As far as I can see, they have admitted approaching Klinsmann regards the manager's position (which I agree was injudicious and undermines the role of Benitez) - but they accounted for it with a believable explanation. I don't necessarily agree with it but I can understand it. But think it through - what would replacing Benitez achieve personally for the American duo? Benitez' contract certainly has a pay-off clause and any subsequent appointment would no doubt command a salary comparable with, if not greater than, Rafa's. It would not be in Gillett & Hicks' financial interest to impede the club's success. The only way they are going to make money out of the situation is for the club to be more successful. There is certainly no prestige for the Americans' to gain simply from the club's ownership. From a US standpoint I sincerely doubt any of their friends or the circles they move in have any knowledge-of or interest-in English football. No, this is purely a business concern and like any businessman - they need the business to flourish to make any profit.

Unfortunately, since the takeover, the world economy has taken a nosedive, which will be weighing heavily on the co-owners, having borrowed extensively to make the purchase in the first place. This is not a situation they asked for, or one that anyone could predict or control. So they now face financial uncertainty, a team that is under-performing and to top things off, hostility from the fans. I honestly never thought I see the day when Liverpool fans would protest against the board. It was bad enough when the Kop voiced it's opinion about Rick Parry last year - and last night was as bad, if not worse.

So let's take a step back and evaluate the position objectively shall we? Liverpool have lost only two league games so far all season - at home to the current league leaders (in a game that could have gone either way) - and a real hum-dinger of a freak result away at Reading. The team appears to have stopped the rot of losing most away matches - and has conceded fewer goals than any other Premiership side except, again, the league leaders.

Rafa was supported handsomely over the summer in the transfer market and Torres finally appears to be the real deal striker we have been waiting for. During the first half of the season, some of our most influential players have had spells of injury - some for long periods - Agger (who gives us an extra dimension going forward), Alonso (who is one of more creative midfielders), Pennant (who has improved hugely and works his socks off), Torres, Finnan, Kewell, Aurelio - and so on. Rafa has rarely had a fully-fit, entire squad to choose from, to determine his best side. Hence, at least to some degree, the amount of squad rotation. Benitez certainly is a cautious manager (in the style of Houllier) - but then he inherited a side seemingly incapable of keeping a clean sheet and has certainly turned that situation around.

The only way Liverpool are ever going to be able to compete consistently with the remainder of the big four is to increase revenue and buy better players. United have a squad full of 10-to-20 million pound players, as do Chelsea, as do Arsenal - funded either by club success, larger grounds/higher ticket prices (to the tune of an extra million profit per home game) - or (in Chelsea's case) the seemingly bottomless pockets of their owner. Liverpool have none of these yet are the only other team in the Premiership remotely equipped to present a realistic challenge to the current order. The club has the fan base but the weight of expectation is becoming unbearable. Benitez needs to be given time to figure out and groom his best, most balanced side. I would argue that once he has done this, he needs to play the same eleven regularly, to enable the players to obtain that other unquantifiable benefit of "tuning into each other's game". Rafa also needs new players. Liverpool have a number of undoubtedly world-beating players (Gerrard, Torres, Carragher, Alonso, Mascherano, etc) and a number of allegedly world-beating players (Kuyt, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Pennant, Kewell, Sissoko, Voronin, etc). The problem at present is that in any one game only a handful of these players reach anything like their potential. Watch United, Chelsea or Arsenal and the majority of the team does so.

Personally, I think the reason for this is that Liverpool do not have the buying power of the other big clubs. Yes, they can buy more expensive players than anyone else below them in the Premiership - but they can rarely afford the best. As a result they settle for the next-best - i.e. players who possess a subset of the attributes necessary - but not all of them (i.e. they have a good football brain and skill but no pace - or they have pace but no football brain - or they are brilliant at holding the ball up or poaching goals but can't head for toffee - or they are superb tacklers with engines that can go on for 120 minutes but can't pass the ball to save their lives).

So, as churlish as it may seem the fault lies not with the owners, or the manager or even the players (who are doing their best - but are limited to their best - which is not always good enough). The club needs its new ground - and fast - to generate extra revenue and facilitate attracting the best players. However in the current financial climate this is a Catch 22 situation. I am certain the intention is there, from everyone involved at the club, to invest, improve and work to regain lasting greatness. Unfortunately good intentions are hamstrung by circumstance and the fans need to learn some patience while we ride out the storm. I feel the frustration the same as any other LFC fan but we are more fortunate than most, even in our hour of frustration. A little perspective might do us all good.

Star Date: 15-01-2007 : Scottish Chamber Orchestra, St. Cuthbert's Parish Church, Edinburgh

A totally unexpected and utterly magical performance. My musical tastes cover most genres, to the the extent that "I like what I like" and will never apologise for it - and classical music is no different. I've always recognised Mozart's genius but always found his works a bit too clever, a bit too twiddly and a little to 'floral'. Well, this concert changed my opinion entirely.

The circumstances/setting helped, attending with some colleagues from Edinburgh and our engaging course tutor from the U.S.A., Ezriel. The venue was superb - a wonderfully atmospheric church set in the sunken grounds at the foot of Edinburgh Castle. The SCO has established a regular season of 1hr-long, 6pm classical concerts in this wonderful city-centre venue, aimed at making classical music accessible to everyone - particularly as a de-stressing agent after work. The idea is genius, the execution both passionate and flawless and the only way you will ever appreciate how good the experience is, is to attend in person.

So - 15th January - cue mad dash from course venue to concert venue to find the only seats available were in the (rather excellent) multi-tier 'horseshoe' gallery above the orchestra. No sooner had we settled than conductor Nicholas Kraemer strode out to command the performance, which he did with effervescent assurity and great panache. The orchestra rose to the occasion and performed three symphonies I had never previously heard - but am subsequently addicted-to:

1) Mozart's Symphony No 5 in B flat, The Hague (Composed at 10 years old. Blimey. Bloody show-off.)
2) Haydn's 1789 Symphony No 92 in G, Oxford.
3) Mozart's Paris Symphony No 31 in D Major.

The review of the concert in the Scotsman labelled it 'thrilling'. That doesn't do the performance justice. the memory of this night will stay with me for a very long time indeed.

Star Date: 30-12-2007 : Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool (TV, our house)

Feh. Started watching with the annual festive trepidation (i.e. LFC playing like a pub team due to too much Plum Duff, etc.) only to be pleasantly surprised at the way the Reds bossed the second half (to no effect, naturally, but hey - it beats an away loss).

And with that I shall dispense another nugget of wisdom that recently occurred to me. Cue preachy soapbox moment No 2:

The trick to a happy life: Never apologise or be ashamed of anything you like, provided the things you like do not harm or upset anyone else. You like it more because of who you are than what it is.

Star Date: 28-12-2007 : Kakusi - Ashtead Village Social Club

F*-me ragged, what a great night. First time I'd got to see Luke's band 'Kakuzi' in the flesh and I would PAY to see these guys again. If they can perform such a great set (and their own material to-boot) at this stage (18 years old, to the man) then they are going to have a bloody great career ahead of them. More please. And soon.

Check out the band's website for info of live dates, then do yourself a favour and order their debut EP, 'Senses'. The best fiver you ever spent.

On a separate subject, here beginneth ye 7 Wonders preachy soapbox lessons for life:

You fall in love with someone because of their qualities. You stay in love with them despite their faults.