East of Anfield

And I feel fine........not sure Nostradamus or the Mayans played football so what do they know about events in 2012?  A happy new year to one and all.

So the Suarez debacle is finally over. He gets fined the equivalent of about 2 days wages (big deal to him...) but why an 8 game ban? Am not going to rehash what everyone else has already said, but at a fundamental level, and irrespective of guilt or not, racism is a crime. If someone is racist in the street, they get fined (hopefully more than 2 days wages), but I don't think their employer is told they can't  come to work for the next 6 weeks. On the other hand, we'd hope it doesn't take 18 years to prosecute genuine racists who did a bit more that a "sticks and stones" routine.  But both have happened in the UK in the last 2 weeks. How bizarre, how bizarre..... the UK laws appear to be enshrined in the doctrine of Monty Python.

Well, that's all over, back to the footy. We've had our usual problems against teams who will finish bottom 6......again. I was at the Blackburn game and we didn't even bother playing in the first half. It's not difficult. If you don't win these games, you don't win anything. The League is won by beating Wigan away on a wet Tuesday night, not by beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Will they ever wake up?

Slithered past Oldham apparently, but we can now look forward to a run in the FA Cup. Semi Final of the League Cup coming up against City and I fancy our chances as they have players out, and the games are sandwiched between Man U and Spurs games for them. It won't be their priority.  

Gerrard appears to be on the way back and that's good news. Gives everyone a lift. He also scores goals.  And the transfer window is open, so let's see what we come up with. A striker seems likely.

We have a good squad. We just lack one or two quality players. A striker and a central midfielder would do. Even if we don't finish top 4, but do well in the Cups, it's a good start by Kenny and the boys. Think where we were just over 12 months ago.......we almost lost the club altogether with the 2 unmentionables destroying our club, 3 of our best players left, Rafa left, and we endured the most horrible of times under Hodgson. It's not a bad turnaround. New owners, money being spent, Kenny steadying the ship, Suarez arriving, and 3 or 4 decent squad players joining. 

Let's hope we have a bit of good luck in 2012. We certainly didn't get much in the first half of this season.

EAST OF ANFIELD 

All together now, what a line up this is: Mick Jones (The Clash), Peter Hooton (The Farm), Ian Brown & John Squire (The Stone Roses), and Peter Wylie (The Mighty Wah!) and not a bad subs bench with James Dean Bradfield (Manics Street Preachers) and a host of others. The Justice Tonight Tour is going around the UK right to promote awareness of Hillsborough. This week it went to Manchester, and from those I know who went along it was a massive night. The Stone Roses chose this event to play for the first time in 15 years, and they are staunch Man Utd fans, so what a tribute that is to the 96.  

'It's not about where you're from, it's about where you're at'. Ian Brown.

"That's rock and roll and it was all for the 96. It means so much to us that what happened in 1989, why it happened and what has happened since is never forgotten. To see a great crowd from Manchester and lots of fans from Liverpool turn out to support the cause together says a lot about both cities". Peter Wylie

As I love all these bands, what a brilliant thing to do. Wish I'd been there, maybe even gatecrashed with my old bass guitar!!

"I'm a QPR fan but I feel like an honorary Scouser at times as I've got so many good friends from Liverpool. Music unites people but injustice unites even more people". Mick Jones. 

These gigs are another great push forward in the families quest for Justice. Well done Peter Hooton and Peter Wylie for getting this on. Let's keep the pressure on until we win.

As the song goes, "A lot of people won't get no justice tonight. Remember to kick it over".....JTF 96

EAST OF ANFIELD 

Great win at Chelsea in the League Cup quater final, and off the back of some good performances recently. Starting to look like we're getting some consistency, and with the games we have coming up in the League (all winnable) it's coming at the right time. The only drawback is the injury to Lucas and the situation with Gerrard who seems to have disappeared off the planet, leaving a bit of a gap in midfield.

Shelvey is recalled from his load spell at Blackpool and Spearing will probably be first choice for the next few weeks. Does Maxi deserve a run ahead of Downing? Does Bellamy need to be starting? I think so. Both score goals and Downing and Carroll......well......they don't. If we've got those 2 playing, plus Suarez, Kuyt and Adam, we've got more chance of closing games out against lesser teams. We're playing ok, but we are conceding goals in most games. We need to score more goals than the opposition, it's as simple as that. So let's hope Kenny plays those players who can give us an edge. The next 10 games will determine if we have a chance of top 4 or not. It's a great opportunity to put a run together. Let's take it.

EAST OF ANFIELD 

I had 1-1 in my mind before the game, so that's the last 2 results I've got right. Should have put a bet on!  Overall a fair result. City dominated the first half hour and we dominated the last half hour. A good few chances for both teams but if anyone deserved to sneak it, it was us. Remember City put 5 past Spurs and 6 past Utd away so we've not done too badly. We are probably the best team they have faced this season which as Kenny says is a good indicator we're moving forward.

We are coming up against a mix of brilliant goalkeeper performances from the opposition, not much luck (thanks Joleon!!), and we make too many soft errors at the back. Luckily City blew them all in this game. But I still feel the main problem is we lack a real striker. Can you imagine in any seasons gone by us not winning most of the games we've drawn?  I'm pretty confident this is being looked at, and if the right player is available in January, we may well splash the cash. It's ok having young players who are learning, but we need the players who can do it whilst they're learning. You wouldn't put a learner driver in a Mercedes. Well I wouldn't. Mainly because I haven't got one!

So it's back to Che$ea in a hurry for the League Cup game. Not sure how this one will go. No idea what sort of side Kenny may play......he may just play a reserve team.....who knows..... I'm not making any prediction but will be surprising if we get a win. Fingers crossed, but the Fulham game is more important.

Finally, we should have new T-Shirts available soon if Raj gets his finger out of his ass. $20 and a total snip. Limited Editions so get in the queue fast.

And finally finally, Gary Speed........what the feck??? Hope he's scoring a few upstairs.

EAST OF ANFIELD