HELLO my good football people, I trust all is well with you!
Never a fully satisfying weekend without football, but perhaps it was a good time for a break and reset for some (fans and clubs).
Definitely for Liverpool, out-drunk, out-numbered, out-sung, and out-played firstly by 3 000 Frenchmen, then the Toon Army.
Seems like we say the same thing to them (and Gooners) every year, “hold it down” wait until the silver is in the cabinet before going on like you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Is this season a success for Liverpool? Of course it bloody is, they’re about to win the Premier League title.
But because they’ve been wallowing in their own smug arrogance, “best team in Europe” the thought of a single trophy, not a double, let alone a f******g treble or a “quadruple” isn’t great.
They’ve set themselves up for another depressing end, similar to Jurgen Klopp’s farewell at Anfield parading a single League Cup.
Despite the obvious disappointment of the other competitions, Scousers should be walking with a skip in their step, chest in the air, and a good hard inhale through the nozzle!
I mean have you checked the scenes across Newcastle? Fans drunk and falling around the streets for days, grandads jumping out of their wheelchairs and kids at school with faces painted black and white!
A stark difference to lots of Reds fans I know, who are going on like they’ve just been relegated. I understand the anxiety as well of key players (reportedly) wanting out.
But for f***s sake, if you are a real fan and winning a major trophy actually means something in your life, cheer the f**k up!
Okay, no doubt there’ll be huge celebrations come the end of the season when the league title is wrapped up, followed by a parade.
I’m just seriously worried about the current mental health of those who (a month ago) appeared to be floating on some kind of football drug!
Confident, smiling, full of conversation, sleeves rolled, liver bird tattoos exposed... guys, come on, it’s an historical season.
Okay, it’s been the worst quality Premier League I can remember and you Liverpool aren’t playing that well, and some players might leave, but let some joy be upon you!
Meanwhile, some of us had some hope of tuning into something different when it comes to the English national team!
Okay, let’s be real here, Thomas Tuchel has only just arrived and it will of course take some time for him to inculcate his methods and tactics into the squad.
But FFS, it was exactly the same as watching them under Gareth Southgate. This pedestrian football, which we need to blame Pep Guardiola for, is spoiling the game.
Pass, pass, pass, pass the f**k out with boredom. And as we all know, this England squad is littered with very capable players.
The conservative approach is partly directed by the enormous pressure club and national teams are under to get results.
Good results mean more TV, prize ad sponsor money. So playing with a bit more freedom and taking a few risks isn’t part of the story.
There were a couple of good performances... you have to admire the sudden emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly, his confidence is incredible.
Jude Bellingham also showed his class and Marcus Rashford had some bright moments, but all-in-all it was typical England.
The hope is of course that Tuchel moulds this group into a team that not only grinds results, but brings excitement and entertainment.
He has the players to do that. Unfortunately having experienced the German week-in-week-out at Stamford Bridge, I can’t say I have a lot of faith.
Yes, Chelsea won a Champions League while he was in charge (somehow?) and he has a couple of top level honours under his belt with top clubs (league wins with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
But did I enjoy the football when he was at Chelsea? Not really… did I see players improve? Can’t say I did. I do hope I’m proved wrong.
Ladies and gents, it's another Premier League-free weekend ahead as the weather really starts to cool down! Get out there, enjoy beautiful Cape Town. Chat next week… bye bye.