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Title: Preview: Liverpool FC vs Swansea City (Sun 17th Feb, 3pm)
Post by: Harinder on February 12, 2013, 01:17:22 pm
  vs 


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Swansea City. The place where a little less conversation and a little more action on the last day of last season led to an Elvis tribute instigated by our now manager Brendan Rodgers. This season’s sweepstake on what he’ll ask for at Anfield against QPR is yet to happen but I’m staking my claim on Ziggy Stardust.

Some say he may be Rossipersempre in disguise. Others say he’s goals were crispier than the finest Danish bacon. All we know is that he’s called the Stig. Sorry I meant Michael Laudrup. As a player his accolades stretch from Juventus to Barcelona and Real Madrid and not forgetting good old Ajax of Amsterdam. He’s a winner and there’s no doubting that. As a manager he’s been in Denmark and Spain and even had a bit of Russia courtesy of Spartak Moscow. Where else then to lay your hat when clocking up the air miles than Swansea City? :D

What should we expect? Well head to head this season it’s been a draw at theirs in the league and a loss at ours in the league cup. They aren’t an easy team to beat and we’ve seen this from our own interactions. Well organised and a team capable of working together to beat what is put in front of them. Just ask Rafa at Chelsea! They’ll also be on a high from spanking ‘Arry’s QPR at the weekend gone. Given their league position which is now above us they’ve had a good season so far to date. League form ok and winning again post a few draws and a loss, in their first ever major final for the League Cup and having a striker coveted by many teams who are wondering why their scouts missed him.

Before we cover Michu lets kill Monday Night Football. I’ve hated it since 1998. I can’t blame Ged for this though even if it was his first season in sole charge with us. For all the boo boys regarding Brendan Rodgers go check out that season as far as new managers go in respect to results and performances. Although my cementing of this hatred for MNF didn’t happen until Monday 27th September 1999. In Manchester at the Queen of Hearts pub in Fallowfield whilst at university. Can’t recall if it was Richard Keys pre or post his waxed/shaved hands but one thing is certain – we had 3 players sent off and lost 1-0 at home. My money was on Westerveld ripping Jeffers ears off for the record. At the end of it I even had my mate’s girlfriends flatmate trying to convince me Titi Camara would be our revelation. So I guess it’s historical and in our system to be off our game on a Monday night. Roll on Thursday. Roll on the weekend.

Back to Swansea. They aren’t a one man Michu band though and anyone mistaking them for that would be doing Swansea City a disservice. That doesn’t mean we extend them too much courtesy on the pitch mind you as that mistake is one we’re still reeling from. Pablo Hernandez has been bright for them and as he proved at Anfield, Nathan Dyer can be a tricky customer too. His mum and dad may have been having a laugh at his expense but Angel Rangel is probably the only defender who’s first name rhymes with his second!

And what about us? Well. The week has begun with a loss and the last time we travelled to Russia we lost. Upon return we played Chelsea away and drew 1-1 and the next home match was about a week later against Wigan which we won 3-0. Much like the last preview this also is a bit of a matchday programme special where I write this before we travel to Zenit St Petersburg and know we are hurting from the loss against West Bromwich Albion but we are a resilient bunch and…

…We as fans aren’t stupid. We have shorter memories than goldfish at times it seems but we aren’t stupid. We play well and don’t get what we deserve, we play ok and don’t get what we deserve. We play badly and we will be punished. That happens with every team without fail. It just seems to me that we have some way to go in order to get rid of not getting what we deserve. We don’t play badly as often as we think. I’m not sure we should ever expect instant overnight success sweeping over us when change is the order of the day. Truck loads of money doesn’t change that – Manchester City showed us that. Lest we forget our own league form in 2004-2005 and losing to the likes of Southampton, Birmingham and Crystal bloody Palace! What changes as time progresses is how a unit works together. It’s not delusional to expect time to work its magic and it’s not idiotic to be annoyed when we are below par. It is a mugs game though to think changing managers or spending as much money as possible will mean success immediately or a change of fortune… as Harry Redknapp will soon be telling everyone out of a Range Rover in a summer near you. Oh. Fans. Cheer up. We haven’t lost two on trot yet so I’m expecting a more resilient Liverpool Football Club come Sunday!

Normally I end these with Mascot Wars. I can’t this time for a really good reason. It wouldn’t seem right to have a mocking/jokey element when asking for a pause for reflection and remembrance. We don’t just have their ex-manager in common with Swansea City…


Rest in peace Besian Idrizaj. Taken whilst so young. Gone but never forgotten. The below is a poem taken from Swansea City’s own club site. Originally by Henry Scott-Holland.

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before


As with all our previews, please note that RAWK will mute anyone posting just a formation in a Preview thread until the day after the match is over. This is to improve the quality of preview replies. Formations posted alongside rational comments and debate are exempt. Thanks, RAWK


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