That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it

The modern footballer comes in for sizeable criticism in todays mass money-orientated game and understandably so.

Gone are the days when players will get their hands dirty in their spare time as the late Emlyn Hughes did during the close season in the 1970s at his father's tarmac laying business in Barrow-in-Furness.

Instead, most top flight players' leisure time is consumed by living the lifestyle of an international Playboy with the traditional quiet evenings in being replaced with evenings stood on the red carpet at showbiz award ceremonies and 3am fracas in nightclubs.

Despite developments in the past few days, Steven Gerrard is not the focus of this piece. Instead it is his Liverpool team mate Jermaine Pennant who will bear the brunt of a traditionalist’s view.

Pennant arrived at Anfield from Birmingham City in July 2006, a transfer which was deemed risky given his conviction for drink driving whilst on loan at the St Andrews club. On 23 January 2005 he was arrested and charged after crashing his Mercedes into a lamppost in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire whilst he was serving a 16-month driving ban. The midfielder spent 30 days of a 90-day sentence inside and was ordered to wear an electronic tag at all times, including during games for Birmingham.

When Pennant moved to Anfield two and a half years ago, he could not speak highly enough of his love for his boyhood heroes. “I'm over the moon. I've dreamt about this since I was a little boy so to actually be here and to be able to wear a Liverpool shirt and play at Anfield is a dream come true,” he said.

“My family have always supported Liverpool and I grew up watching videos of them on the television. My grandad and grandma came here in the seventies and I think Liverpool must have caught their eyes. The love of the club has spread through the family ever since.

“I actually got my first Liverpool kit when I was about four years of age. John Barnes was my idol when I first started watching Liverpool but then as I got older I loved Robbie Fowler.”

The Arsenal graduate was also very clear about his motivation for moving to Merseyside by adding: “I've come here to be successful and it'd be a great feeling if I can win trophies as a Liverpool player. He added,“Moving to Liverpool will only help me. Playing with players of the quality at this club can only be good for my career. I couldn't be more excited."

However it has been the bright lights of Liverpool’s upmarket bars and clubs in which Pennant has been seen plying his trade rather than under the floodlights of Anfield. The winger has appeared only 55 times for the Reds during his two-and-a-half years at the club and has acted every inch an unprofessional footballer. Aside from a highly-acclaimed performance in the 2007 Champions League final, he has failed to match the expectations laid down by his £6.7 million price tag.

In late 2006 he was in the media spotlight for appearing to have a profile on social networking website MySpace which contained several personal pictures of the midfielder as well as a quote saying "I love women I think they are a fanatsic [sic] specimen!!!"

Pennant was again in the headlines in July 2007 when he was was arrested for a Section 5 public order offence relating to threatening behaviour and forced to pay a fixed penalty fine and appeared regularly in the daily tabloids in stories referring to his relationship with Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe, which ended in January 2008. In October of that year he announced his engagement to Page Three model Amii Groves who later sold her story to the Sun newspaper which is still reviled by Liverpool supporters following their reporting of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. At the beginning of last month the four-bedroom house he shares with Groves in Hale was targeted by burglars who ram-raided the gates to the player’s home but left empty-handed.

A shock move to Real Madrid was on the cards up until the last few days of 2008 when the Spanish giants ended talks following reports that Pennant was refusing to compromise his £60,000 per week salary to meet Real’s offer of £30,000. It is also believed that Madrid manager Juande Ramos did not rate the midfielder’s chances of making the grade in La Liga.Speaking prior to talks ending, Pennant said: I cannot imagine playing for another Premier League team after Liverpool.

He said: "I know Real Madrid made an offer for me. Real Madrid is a great club, so is Liverpool.

"I am not sure of the situation now; I am flattered that a club as huge as Real has shown interest in me, so we will have to see.

"I just want to play regular football and one of my dreams is to be able to do it in Spain one day. I love the way teams like Sevilla, Barcelona, Valencia or Real play.

"I think my style of football will suit La Liga."

Despite this the midfielder is still a wanted man amongst the Premiership’s lesser clubs with Wigan Athletic and Stoke City reported to be interested as well an admittance from Hull City boss Phil Brown that he intends to make a move for the player.

"I would be very interested in Jermaine Pennant if he was available at the right price,” said Brown.

“We will be making enquiries."

The behaviour of Pennant throughout his career in the top flight is highly typical of the new breed of modern day footballer. It would be anything but harsh to rank him amongst Liverpool’s class of 1996, nicknamed the Spice Boys by the national press for their off field antics.

Similarly, Chelsea’s Ashley Cole also possesses all the hallmarks of a spoiled brat as he proved when he responded to Arsenal’s offer of a new contract with an additional £5,000 per week wage.

"When I heard Jonathan [Cole’s agent Jonathan Barnett] repeat the figure of £55,000," Cole wrote in his autobiography.

"I nearly swerved off the road. 'He is taking the **** Jonathan!' I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn't believe what I'd heard."

Perhaps these players should hire the officer in the film Top Gun to shock them into shape with the immortal words, "Son, your ego's writing cheques your body can't cash". Similarly Dire Strait’s Mark Knopfler once sang, “That ain’t workin,’ that’s the way you do it - get your money for nothin’ get your chicks for free”.

Surely there has never been a truer word said about the modern day footballer.

Justice at last

‘Justice’ is a term that hangs around the city of Liverpool like a bad smell, probably owing to the fact that the word has been used and overused in reference to the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster being failed by the British judicial system (and rightly so in this author’s opinion). Hillsborough was not the only miscarriage of justice that happened to the city of Liverpool as other natives found to their cost.

In February 1993, two-year-old James Bulger was taken from The Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle and murdered in the most horrific of circumstances.

Bulger’s killers, Robert Thompson and John Venables, were released in 2001. Former Home Secretary Michael Howard had announced that the pair would remain in custody for a minimum of 15 years – a decision which was overruled by the Court of Appeal. The then Lord Chief Justice had ruled that Thompson and Venables should serve 10 years minimum with them eligible for parole on the tenth anniversary of them being charged with James’s murder. Since their release they have been given new identities and lifetime immunity despite countless media reports as to their whereabouts.

Fourteen years later 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth. The murder brought the anger and hatred back to the surface as another young life was tragically cut short by another juvenile delinquent, only this one was infatuated with gang culture.

Sean Mercer was so obsessed with a turf war between his home neighbourhood of Croxteth and nearby Norris Green that he went out on a Wednesday evening in August last year to fire three bullets across a the car park of The Fir Tree pub as a warning to members of the rival Strand Gang who had encroached on his turf. One of those bullets hit an innocent bystander – Rhys Jones.

As we all know, Rhys did not survive the attack and Mercer has been given a life sentence and Mr Justice Irwin, presiding over the case, told Mercer a few home truths as he sentenced the now 18-year-old:

“There is only one sentence for murder, in your case detention for life, in formal language detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure, and that is the sentence I shall pass upon you.

“This offence arose from stupid, brutal gang conflict which has struck this part of Liverpool. You were caught up in that from a young age, but it is clear you gloried in it.

“It is wrong to let anyone glorify or romanticise this kind of gang conflict. You are not soldiers. You have no discipline, no training, no honour.

“You do not command respect. You may think you do, but that it because you cannot tell the difference between respect and fear.

“You are selfish, shallow criminals, remarkable only by the danger you pose to others.

“You were told that Brady and others from Norris Green had been seen on the Croxteth Park Estate, and you took that as an invasion of your territory, or to occupation of it.

“Or it may be you saw this as an opportunity. And so you armed yourself and set off.

“Your aggression became alloyed with cowardice. You stopped by that wall, and fired at your intended victims from 70 yards across a pub car park, with bystanders all round.

“Your second shot cut down Rhys Jones. He died because of your brutality and because you are a coward.

“You gave no evidence in your trial. In my view it is absolutely clear that you had no answer to the case against you. You proved you were a coward again.

“Rhys Jones’s life is gone. We do not take a life for a life, although even if you are released, you will be under licence and supervised for as long as you live.

“However, the proper punishment here will have the effect that you will not emerge from prison, even at earliest, for a very long time.

“Take him down.”

Brutal, true but a summing up that was too pleasant for Mercer. Unfortunately judges have not been given the rubber stamp to use the term ‘scum’ in court.

Reporters have said that throughout the trial Mercer, from a history of showed no remorse whatsoever and acted as if he were prowling the streets of Croxteth and not in a courtroom being accused of murder. One said that he treated the case as if it were ‘nothing more than a maths lesson he wishes he could have bunked off’. Apparently laughing and joking with his fellow Croxteth Crew members who were also in the dock, past caring about the repercussions of his actions. Claims backed up by footage taken by ITV News of him roaming the streets of his ‘turf’ in the months after the murder, still walking round with a proud swagger.

What was equally astounding was the comments from Kelly Marshall, Mercer’s girlfriend, who claimed that he was ‘a hero’.

“Sean is a lovely lad. He wouldn't harm anyone. It wasn't him,” she said.

'It was the bizzies' fault. They saw it coming. The shootings had been building up for years. But they didn't do anything to stop it. They just let it carry on and then Rhys Jones was killed.

'My head is wrecked. My fella's in court every day and they're saying he did this and that. And it wasn't him.”

You really have to feel for the girl don’t you? Her ‘fella’ was in court and going down for at least 22 years for killing a kid and it is Merseyside Police’s fault. The fact that she uses the scally ritual cry of “'it was the bizzies' fault” gives you an indication as to what type of people associate themselves with these petty gang feuds.

A national paper has criticised Merseyside Police for ‘allowing’ Mercer and his gang to run riot on the streets of north Liverpool in the run up to Rhys’ murder.

According to the Daily Mail, Mercer was stopped 80 times by the force prior to and after the murde which allowed him to embark on a 'trial run' two months before the murder, riding a motorbike through rival gang territory and waving a gun.

That is all well and good with hindsight but Merseyside Police should be commended for their efforts in bringing the culprit of this heinous crime to account for his actions. Despite Mercer being named as the killer in graffiti around Croxteth shortly after the shooting, detectives did not have substantial evidence to convict the then 16-year-old.

Their persistence in tracking down and charging all six gang members involved in not only the murder, but also perverting the course of justice as Mercer evaded prosecution.

Yesterday’s ruling will serve as some form of comfort to Rhys’ parents Melanie and Steve who, like Denise Bulger 15 years previous, have conducted themselves with dignity throughout the trial which saw them relive every element of their son’s horrific ordeal for previous two months. The way they have behaved since Rhys’ murder is a credit to them and to the city of Liverpool.

Finally, justice has finally been done for one of Liverpool’s fallen sons.

 

We're not like the Everton, no, no...

Liverpool supporters often regard themselves as the best in the country and indeed Europe. However since the heady days of Shankly, Paisley and Dalglish, the Reds’ support has fallen somewhat by the wayside.

After failing to take maximum points at home to Hull City, the Reds were hoping that West Ham could hold, or even beat, Chelsea yesterday.

Despite my prediction of a home win, the visitors took an early lead and were pulled back by a Nicolas Anelka goal. As with Manchester United on Saturday, Chelsea failed to capitalise on Liverpool’s short falling.

However after the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool supporters swarmed on internet message boards revelling the one-all draw. That's revelling, not showing relief that for the second time this season Liverpool have been given a reprieve after slipping up at home.

The following comment summed up the thoughts of the people enjoying the result at Stamford Bridge:

"absolutely chuffed with this, can't believe Chelsea didn't win, got out of work and checked the radio and when it said i was absolutely buzzing."

Liverpool fans ridicule their Evertonian counterparts for their celebrating their rare Merseyside derby victories against the Reds yet seasoned Liverpool supporters reduced to tactics below even the Blues’ standards.

Some would suggest that those celebrating Chelsea's draw should start to watch their football at Goodison Park, I wouldn’t. A nice cold seat in the stands at a lower league club would be more apt.

Celebrating one of their title rivals dropping points after they themselves squandered the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership with poor finishing shows why certain factors of Liverpool supporters have well and truly lost their way.

Another home game, another two points

When the fixtures for the forthcoming season are released there is one game that all the newly promoted sides look forward to.

But it isn’t the prospect of visiting Old Trafford or the lure of Stamford Bridge and the Emirates that excites them. It is the opportunity to run out at Anfield and come away with at least a point that attracts them more than other away games against the top four.

Since the Premier League was founded in 1992, 20 newly-promoted teams have taken points off Liverpool at Anfield in their first season after coming up from the old Division 1. The combined total of the points gained by the new boys in 30 and two of them came against the Reds this season and Hull City became that 20th side with a 2-2 draw against a misfiring and defensively frail Liverpool side.

The Tigers have been something of a surprise package this season with a wins over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur as wel as a high scoring defeat away to Manchester United but they will be more pleased with the point gained at Anfield than their heroics against these three sides combined.

Liverpool are supposed to be a team challenging for the title but based on the performance you could be forgiven for thinking that they were still a side complacent with finishing the season in fourth place.

£20 million Robbie Keane was left on the subs’ bench for the second league game running as the Reds drew their third home game on the bounce against a team that they should have really beaten despite the visitors’ success story.

After goalless draws against West Ham and Fulham it was refreshing to see Liverpool find the net in a league game at Anfield. It’s just a pity that the two goals that were scored served only as equalisers and not match-winners.

Rafael Benitez’s team selection contained changes that puzzled supporters with Keane’s exile on the bench extended after a full 90 minutes in the same position against Blackburn last weekend and despite a gutsy and encouraging performance against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Yossi Benayoun retained his place on the right wing as Benitez deployed Dirk Kuyt as a lone star of Liverpool’s attack.

The striker, who has made the right wing position his own in recent times, drew similarities with Keane in his performance during a game that saw him fail to convert basic chances through taking too many touches of the ball – something the Irishman has been doing a lot since his arrival at Anfield.

Yet again it was up to Steven Gerrard to carry the team by the scruff of their neck and get them out of what would’ve been an embarrassing defeat given their predicted title credentials. Gerrard has been the driving force behind the team as far back as 2003 and you have to wonder what Benitez will do if the captain is sidelined with a serious injury.

Fortunately, as with the draw against Fulham, Liverpool's title rivals failed to capitalise on their failure to take maximum points with both Arsenal and Manchester United drawing their games against Middlesbrough and Spurs respectively. However when Chelsea face West Ham later today, Scolari's team are dead certs to turn over the Hammers at Stamford Bridge. Despite a goalless draw against Newcastle on the weekend when Fulham frustrated the Reds at home, West Ham - another side to come away from Anfield this season with a point - are the least formidable team in the league at present and the short trip across London will serve as nothing more than a city derby with a home win pretty much a given.

Yet the blind optimists amongst Liverpool's support are still bleating on about being top of the league despite the fact that their team underperformed and dropped points that will be costly come May. They are refusing to look at the negatives or even accept the reality that Chelsea are likely to go two points clear of them at the top of the table later today. They are still pedalling the 'in Rafa we trust' mantra and will not hear him criticised. I wonder how loud and proud those voices will be when Chelsea or, God forbid, Manchester United have their hands around the title.

United currently have 17 league titles and they are determined to not only match Liverpool's record of 18, but to overtake it. This has increased the expectancy and added urgency to the Reds' title challenge this term as opposed to previous seasons.

The boos that rang around Anfield after the West Ham match seemed a bit quieter after this result. Perhaps they were still ringing around the Emirates stadium for Emmanuel Eboue from last week or maybe the supporters are becoming apathetic to Liverpool’s title bid.

The voices inside Anfield yesterday were the same that were heard during the previous two league games and drew similiarities with the voices that eventually called for Gerard Houllier to be removed after a gradual decline following the 2001 treble and a 2nd placed finish in 01-02.

Whilst kneejerk reactors vented their frustrations on the local post match phone-ins with some calling for the manager’s head, others are still maintaining their beatification of Benitez. This blind faith has left the manager’s decisions and the team’s results exempt from scrutiny in the eyes of some who liken the slagging of the players by seasoned supporters to the fickle booing shown by Arsenal fans towards Eboue last week that reared its ugly head five days previous after Liverpool drew with West Ham.

The misfortune of Benitez’s position at Liverpool is that he became a victim of his own success by winning the Champions League in his first season with an inherited team. Since then the expectancy placed upon him to deliver club’s first league title for 1990 and the tactically stubborn manager is now struggling to meet expectations, four seasons after the miracle of Istanbul.

With a faltering title challenge starting to seriously derail, where Liverpool go from here remains to be seen.

Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league

After consecutive back-to-back draws at home, Liverpool got back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

The decision to start the inexperienced Emiliano Insua was a brave one by Rafael Benitez. His choice to start Yossi Benayoun looked to be a borderline suicidal one in terms of tactical decisions. What could a player of Benayoun’s ability bring to a relatively full strength Liverpool side?

Those voices of doubts coming from Reds’ supporters, including myself, were silenced when the Israeli scored in the 79th minute, ten minutes after Liverpool had broken the deadlock through Xabi Alonso.

Up until that point Liverpool’s performance had been very reminiscent of the games with Fulham and West Ham – a scrappy performance where chances weren’t converted.

As with their previous two opponents, Liverpool allowed Blackburn the space and freedom to attack Pepe Reina’s goal. The Spanish stopper was called into action a few times in the first half, most notably to tip Pedersen’s goal-bound shot onto the bar. The second half was a little bit different but the Reds’ defence were caught napping late on when Santa Cruz headed home as Rovers trailed 2-0.

It was nice to see Steven Gerrard score the third goal at the club he made his debut against in November 1998. Whilst he has been our best player in those ten years he will need to adapt to life on the right to accommodate the team’s style of play. The central midfield pairing of Alonso and Mascherano has worked to Liverpool’s advantage this season but such is the impact of Gerrard on the team that Benitez has been unable to omit him from his preferred position.

Dirk Kuyt is once again proving his worth with a tireless work rate which would be better utilised in a second striker role behind Fernando Torres as opposed to the right wing. This would solve the problem of where to put Gerrard but it would not solve the problem of Robbie Keane.

The former Spurs striker was an unused sub on Saturday and there have been strong rumours linking him with a move back to White Hart Lane for as little as £5 million after a poor start to his Anfield career.

Whether the rumours are true or not, Keane is going to struggle to fit into a side where Benitez has every position pretty much covered. His lack of confidence is plain for all to see as he fails to reproduce the form that saw him gain such cult hero status at Tottenham and at £20.3 million it could prove to be a signing Benitez, who claimed Keane was Liverpool’s ‘missing link’, will regret.