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Liverpool 2 Newcastle 1 "So far yet so near. " the Screacher Feature Just got back home from Anfield feeling a bit deflated. After a morning spent in the barbers getting my own personal "Beckham", I expected a bit more than nil points from the second game on Merkeyside in six days. Miraculously, Dougal managed to get the right train from Lahndaan and she turned up at Runcorn as on-time as Branston Pickles Railways would allow. A quick trip across the Tyne Bridge look-alike and we were retracing steps made last weekend on the way to Stanley Park. We parked the Stealth Astra on Arkles Road, and immediately were surrounded by the usual bunch of kids "Mind ya caaer Mista". But hang on. Instead of the typical street urchins you find up Barrack Road (slight artistic licence), these guys looked like they were on a day-release from a YTS scheme in car minding at the John Moores University, as likely as not under the tutelage of a certin Rogan Josh. The asking price was £4. Four f***in' quid! I pretended not to understand them and gave slightly over the odds for what you'd give at SJP and waved the car farewell - or was it goodbye? Being slightly earlier than expected, we decided to go to the Arkles to see who had turned up. From what I could see, every b*gg*r from Tyneside was inside, so we decided to make straight for The Cabbage Hall, scene of battles in the past between the infamous Lancaster Red (man U blerk) and the equally infamous Dancin' Dave.(pool fan) As we crossed the car park, strangely devoid of cars (sorry, I forgot it's Liverpool - stupid boy) a cab pulled up and a cry of "Screacher" was heard to ring out. Greetings were exchanged and it turned oot to be none other than Bill Foster. Who's that? True I tell you. It's True. Once inside, we were accosted by one of the many Toon Army and was introduced to Scratchy and his lass. Hey - he's not that bad. particularly when you consider he's a mate of ITK. Pleasantries were exchanged, phone calls from Susie Brown Ale (missing but not in action) and finally from Min, who was lost somewhere in Liverpool. Eventually, he was spotted in the car park on his mobile phone to yours truly. A short while later, we were joined by the afforementioned Dancin' Dave and mates. Perhaps it's becasue he was on his own patch, but he was in good spirit and in a genial mood. I mean, he even asked fondly after Lancaster Red! . The Cabbage was a pleasant surprise, having been led to believe it was worse than a battle ground after the wars between DD and LR. Plenty of banter and no anymosity between fans from both sides. I even think I saw Young MO sitting on the bar with his dad. About 3'6" and wearing a red shirt with Owen on the back. Kickoff approached and we made our way back along Anfield Road and into the ground. It's the first time I've been inside Anfield since my student days. They've got roofs on the place now, which was a big surprise to me. They obviously can't be made of lead or copper! The starting line up was...
The match started with Toon attacking wor end, The first minute saw Thompson getting a goal., luckily he was adjudged to have fowled Dabizas, after that although they had much of the possesion we never looked really under threat and the game settled down with us prepared to sit back and take all they could throw at us, which to be honest, wasn't a lot. It was a good first half, with Toon coming into the game more as it progressed, and it was a measure of how enjoyable the first half was that the halftime whislte blew when it seemed like the game had only just started. Although 'pool played the more attacking football, our defence stood resolute in front of the Kop. The Toon Army were awesome - or at least that's the way it sounded in the Lower Anfield stand. We could hardly hear a thing from Mickey and his mates and the singing was non-stop from the Geordies. Well, at least we couldn't until 'pool scored. The ball was played out wide to the right, and the cross found the Camara man unmarked at the far post. He calmly side-footed the ball past a helpless Given. 1-0 and Mickey woke up. But, to be honest, I still didn't feel we would lose this one. The red tide surged forward, but the only threat came from Camara. Heskey was conspicuous almost by his absence - or at least non-involvement. Defensively, we played well, with 5 at the back until YBR replaced Goma with Domi to give us some width and the toon reverted to a 4 - 4 - 2 .. We didn't let up, and the goal came from a cross from Hughes on the left which found Shearer beyond the far post and his header back across the goal went in off the far upright. We were level and deserved it - not for the balance of attacking, but our overall performance. Midfield was a bit of a disappointment, with Speed and Dyer not playing particularly well. It wasn't the right type of game for Keiron "caught with his pants down" Dyer who looked lost in a midfield that had to battle. Yet, to my surprise, it was Rob Lee who made way for Gallacher. I suppose the thinking was that Speed poses more of a threat from set pieces than Rob Lee. Shearer and Ferguson didn't pose much threat up front, tho Shearer took his goal well. It looked like we were going to survive when Houlier made his final substitution, but with the 3 minute board already shown, 'pool got a corner on their right side. The ball flew across the box, only to find Redknapp who headed strongly towards the goal. Barton was on the line, but he could climb high enough to keep the ball out and he only succeeded in heading into the roof of the net. Whether Given might have claimed the ball, I can't really say, tho' I do feel he was impeded (or at least surrounded) in his six yard box and maybe he couldn't get across in time. It was a bitter blow, so close to the end of the game. But that's Anfield for you. I feel I can't end without commenting on the "thing" occupying the seat behind me. Or at least he would have, had he found the time to place his @rse on it. Instead, he hurled constant, racial abuse at the 'pool team. Bad language and the like I can stand - it's all part of the atmosphere in a ground. But outright hatred and racial abuse has no place in this day and age. Quite what colour this guy thinks Domi, Goma, Helder and Dyer are, not to mention such heroes as Sir Les and Tino. It sickened me, but there was no stopping him. Even his "mates" (or were they primates?) with him couldn't calm him down. It continued outside the ground as we were unfortunate to bump into him as we left. Not only was his abuse aimed at coloureds, but to all Scousers who are apparently all Irish. No doubt he's too thick to realise that our Goalie is the current Ireland keeper and Aaron Hughes comes from that side of the water too. Despite the result, that was the one downer on the whole day. But, had someone said to me 8 days ago that we would come away from 2 games on Merkeyside with 3 points, I'd have taken it there and then. Let's face it, a defeat at Anfield coupled with the win last week at Goodison is better than two draws. -- Screacher (screacher@genie.co.uk), March 25, 2000
Hey Screacer, enjoyed ya company mate, the best team won!! Lousy game, but ya can't have a 4-3 everytime. Nice to put faces to names, we'll do it again hopefully......hope ya car was in one piece....unless ya took ya trailer. DD -- Dancing Dave (dancingdave52@hotmail.com), March 25, 2000.
Thanks Screach. Very nice report. Toon Army came over loud and clear on the old Crystal Set. Sounds like you had the cnut who was stood somewhere behind me last week for company. He's a total @rsehole! I feel guilty for not pointing him out to the stewards last week. He wouldnt't be hard to spot! But you think- "Shouldn't do that - he's one of ours" - WRONG! If I hear him again I'll get him! -- Pilgrim (pilgrim@enterprise.net), March 25, 2000.
Aye Pilgrim, short-@rsed guy. Reminded me of that guy who got burned in the Sir Gallahad/ I don't mean that in a nasty way. I mean before he had his terrible accident. Short, fat, 'tache and spat every sullable. Yep - I felt guilty too. Shuuda reported him. The guy who was hoyed oot last week for showing his Arsenal was bland compared with this Wenger. -- Screacher (screacher@genie.co.uk), March 25, 2000.
Dave, Good to see you again. It wasn't a classic in the 4-3 mould, but a thoroughly entertaining game nevertheless. Obviously we didn't come out of the tunnel expecting to win from the off, but as the game wore on, 'pool were looking more frustrated with YBR's tactics. Not sure you really did enough to deserve all 3 points and I don't think you did at SJP, but hey, that's football. Typical that Redface should score his forst heeded PL goal today. And yes, the YTS trainee looked after the car just fine. Mind you, he might have washed it! report from Screacher, taken from The Unofficial NUFC BBS, Yet yersells logged on.... |
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