No excuse for overly negative approach
THERE ARE many ways of sending yourself into a deeper slumber than Sleeping Beauty after pulling an all-nighter.
Watching back-to-back episodes of Eastenders is one way, listening to Coldplay on a loop is another, but a pretty fool-proof method would certainly be viewing the latest instalment of the overhyped Liverpool versus Manchester United so-called clash of the titans.
We’re all well aware that many of these battles of the big boys fail to deliver and fall flatter than a flimsy pancake that attached itself to the rear of Neil Ruddock’s shorts.
Thankfully my services were needed elsewhere on Saturday afternoon and I was forced to exit stage left shortly after half-time, so I didn’t have to endure the game in its entirety, but from perusing the brief highlights package later that evening I can safely say watching Daniel O’Donnell recite the rosary would have provided more edge of the seat moments.
The princely portion of the game I missed was worth about 30 seconds on the highlights reel, with Liverpool incapable of breaking down a stubborn rearguard, and United unwilling to offer any semblance of a threat going forward.
It’s no secret that Jose Mourinho is more cautious than a nervous kid trying to negotiate the monkey bars when it comes to away days against the other challengers, and although he may have been delighted to come away from Anfield with a point at the weekend, I reckon that approach will ultimately be his undoing and they’ll fall short in their title bid.
Liverpool have been haemorrhaging goals against sides with far less talent at their disposal than the Red Devils, and even Accrington Stanley would fancy their chances of nicking one or two at Anfield, so why can’t United with all their multi-million buys at least have a go?
You won’t see Pep Guardiola setting up his side with his focus solely on nullifying their opponents, completely curbing their own attacking threat as a consequence.
Manchester City may have flattered to deceive in the early months of last season, before spectacularly derailing, but they look a completely different animal this time around and seem capable of scoring goals from all angles, with the irrepressible Kevin de Bruyne in the form of his life.
Following Chelsea’s shock defeat to Crystal Palace it does really look like a two-horse race between the Manchester clubs, with a better-balanced City firmly holding the aces at present due to their greater depth and more positive approach.
Closer to home, the Bohemians versus Cork City clash on Friday night was another game with about as much excitement as an episode of Oireachtas Report and was as far away from a great advertisement for our national league as you can get, but in reality it was no worse than what was served up in Anfield the following day.
Speaking of a negative approach, Martin O’Neill and the Irish squad managed to plunder a place in the play-offs despite being up to their necks and coming close to being completely submerged by quicksand-like negativity through- out their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Don’t get me wrong, I was as overjoyed as any with the win in Wales and even the manner in which it was achieved.
The Irish perfectly soaked up the pressure, blunted the Wales attack, and the doggedness and brilliance of Jeff Hendrick combined with the cool head and unflappable technique of James McClean saw them bag a priceless winner.
Sometimes the end does justify the means and that memorable night in Cardiff was a case in point.
If things go according to the Irish script in the play-off we could again see something similar, but my biggest concern would be what will happen if we are left chasing the game as we would struggle to implement any sort of Plan B?
I guess we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it, but in Martin O’Neill’s defence he’s not exactly blessed with the sort of attacking talent that lets us go all gung-ho in search of goals.
What’s Jose Mourinho’s excuse?