I’m sorry this blog has become a Craig Bellamy Appreciation Blog™ at the expense of most other things.
- WEMBLEY!
- Sorry, that deserved its own point. Despite the collective gnashing of teeth done by fans after the Bolton match last weekend, Stevie gave an interview earlier this week that did a good job in reminding fans that the team is not actually that far off what they said their goals were at the start of the season. They wanted Champions League qualification; we’re six points off fourth, with both Arsenal and Chelsea finding just as many ways to lose as we do, so that’s not an inconceivable point difference to climb. They wanted to get into the deep rounds of the two cup tournaments; even if we lose to Man United on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup, I’d take that and a Carling Cup final over deep rounds in both but no finals. So, really, things are not as bad as they seem? Perspective. Thank you, captain. Still. The switch from extreme failure to extreme brilliance is giving me whiplash.
- CRAIG BELLAMY, YOU BEAST. I say this every game, I know, but oh my god. Everything about him in this match and then the next provides for such a great narrative: spurned by City and released on a free transfer to Liverpool, he provides the aggregate winning goal that leads the team to a cup final against his hometown team, Cardiff, who he spent last season on loan with in an ultimately failed attempt to get them promoted to the Premier League. THESE ARE THE STORIES LEGENDS ARE MADE OF! Etc.
- Although let’s give Stevie credit for hitting his third penalty in a row. Yay!
- David Silva was completely anonymous. I love it when that happens.
- Joe Hart is brilliant. I loved in the post-match interview when Stevie was like “I’m glad he’s English.” I just wish he didn’t play so well at Anfield.
- Literally everyone played well. I don’t know that this has happened at any other point this season? I have zero complaints, because even little mistakes are vastly outweighed by the collective competency shown by the team.
- I keep forgetting that you can secure European play by winning the Carling Cup.
- Also, we only just noticed that the Carling Cup itself has three handles, which is a ridiculous number of handles for a trophy to have thus we love the idea of winning it even more now.
- Linda Pizzuti is my favourite WAG, bar none. Her stylish hat yesterday was fantastic. I’m always depressed when the opposing team scores because it means she won’t be able to Tweet excitedly about LFC keeping a clean sheet.
- Teary-eyed Kenny is a sight to behold. He’s had a hard few months so this must be a very welcome relief.
- I keep feeling like Colin Firth in Fever Pitch, your team in a very optimistic position to do something great but that nagging feeling that they’ll find a way to fuck it up.
Steve: We’re doing okay, aren’t we?
Paul: Well what’s the use of okay? We might as well be losing 8-nil.
Steve: I don’t think that’s really true, Paul, now is it? If you want to win a game 2-nil, you’ve got more of a chance if it’s nil-nil at half time then you have if you’re eight goals down. Do you see where I’m coming from?
Paul: You’re living in cloud cuckoo land — join the real world!
Steve: In the real world it’s nil-nil at half time!
Paul (quite voice): Might as well be 8-nil.
Steve: Jesus, Paul, you need medical help. You’ve got some kind of disease that turns people into miserable bastards.This is how I regularly feel.
- I demand that the team show up at Wembley dressed like this:
This sport does not do the whole throwback uniform thing as well as North American sports teams, so the least they could do is do an entertaining throwback to Macca & Co’s amazing sartorial choices from the 1990s.
In summary: I cried.