I started to shout at myself to track back!
THERE is some great stuff on social media to help us stay sane through these troubled times. Has anyone managed the loo roll keepy-uppy challenge?
Jamie Carragher and Matty Briggs requested I post my two favourite goals. Old Trafford was a bit obvious so I went for a top-corner rocket against Leeds in front of the Kop and a winner against Everton.
That’s when the ego took over. Selecting my goals whetted my appetite and I sat down to watch the full 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Alaves — the first time I’ve done that for one of my games since retiring.
It was a cracking game, 5-4, but I did struggle to stop being a TV pundit. I found myself shouting at players to tuck in and track back — usually me.
That game is nearly 20 years old but I don’t think football has changed too much. Today’s players are fit and powerful but one burst from Steven Gerrard to close space and crunch into a tackle was as athletic as anything I’ve seen this year.
For our second goal, we let Alaves play from the back, then squeezed the space and won the ball back, allowing Stevie to score from Michael Owen’s through-ball. It was pressing even if that term wasn’t widely used at the time.
The one difference I did notice was the goalkeepers opting to kick long. I kept wanting Sander Westerveld to play out from the back. I had to remind myself, we are winning, we’ve got Emile Heskey up front and this final isn’t in 2020!
I’d always resisted the temptation to watch old footage, so this current period has given me an excuse to do that.
I’m also fortunate to have friends whose job it is to raise spirits. We’ve kept a WhatsApp group from the Soccer Aid game I played in 2016. Paddy McGuinness, John Bishop and Bradley Walsh are on there, so you can imagine the jokes and mickeytaking that goes on.
Jamie Redknapp, Mark Wright, Olly Murs and our manager Sam Allardyce are also in the group. We are talking about having a quiz on there too.
Of course I’m aware there is a privileged side to my lockdown. But for the most part, I’m going through the same fears, frustrations, boredom and experiences as everyone else.
My son is staying with me and my daughter lives close by. At home this week, I’ve been a football coach, a maths teacher, English teacher, chef and gardener. But I’m unable to see my mum who is in Chester. She’s has underlying health issues so I’m concerned about her and it’s hard to restrict our communication to the telephone. One of my cousins also rang to say she’s lost her job in the legal world. We had a long conversation which I am sure many families across the country are having.
It has been a strange week but, between reviewing old games, banter with John Bishop, home schooling and running, I’m doing fine — and I hope you are too.