Yesterday we went to (what can be a very difficult place) Palace during a very dismal run of form and came away with all three points. The win means that even if the skip rats on Merseyside win all of their last three games, all we have to do is draw at home to Arsenal and away to relegation threatened Hull to secure a top four finish. So what did we learn from yesterday's performance?
- Blind is not the answer to replacing Carrick. As good as a first season he has had he does seem more comfortable at left back with a fast tracking winger ahead of him, he lacks pace but you rarely see him where he leaves his position exposed during an attack. Carrick has a beautiful footballing mind and can launch an attack in an instant and never has too much time on the ball or feels the need to take an extra touch. Blind does and it does stifle the possibility of fast counter attacks at times.
- Liverpool won't be getting Champions League football next season. I know, I know but it needed to be mentioned again as it is just delicious. Twelve months ago they were singing before the home game against Chelsea that they were Champions, shirts were sold proclaiming this. It was their year and the Anfield PA system genuinely belted out the Queen classic - We are the Champions....welcome back to Thursday night football lads.
- Falcao is still not a solution. You urge the lad on, will him to score because he really does want to succeed with us...and then he falls on his arse by his own accord. With alarming regularity he falls down like an old man encountering a patch of ice on a winters morn, only this isn't funny. For the first twenty five minutes he played no part other than checking the texture of the grass with his arse cheeks twice, and after forty five minutes his major contribution was a subtle shove on a defender that made him collide with their keeper that gave us our second goal, this so easily could have got our winning goal ruled out don't forget. He did manage a couple of nice touches during a fast counter late on but for a quarter of a million a week you kind of expect more from your striker.
- Van Gaal must think our players are excellent lovers because apparently he considers them able to do every position. Picture the scene, Shaw is stretchered off with a head injury, Evans warms up for his first appearance after his six game ban for spitting on the floor and someone put a Newcastle player there instead...Hmmm who plays on the left? Evans played left back for United before and that only leaves Valencia (a right winger) Jones and Smalling (both played centre and right backs with United), yes of course...Jones at left back and Evans at centre back. It makes perfect sense. Luckily Jones is on a damned good run of form at the minute and he handled himself brilliantly. I'm probably wrong but isn't it always the best option to play players in positions they know and are used to or can we expect to see De Gea warming up for a chance as a right winger soon?
- De Gea is world class. Didn't need to be said again but sod it, the guy again secured us three points yesterday with some spell binding saves and fantastic positioning. You can guarantee the club is doing everything in their power to keep him, but if he does decide to go I hope we bleed those bastards at Madrid dry for every penny because they will be getting a young player who is the best in the world in his position. I really hate Madrid.
- Young deserves his new contract. Sure he can be hit and miss and the majority of his crosses need a psychic to second guess where they will end up but on his day he can be the difference. He runs his heart out to make up for his indifference of form and he does cover back more than Di Maria, which was vital in games away to the bin dippers especially where he helped cover for Blind's lack of pace. With Champions League football beckoning we need a big squad and Young can play a vital part next season.