Tuesday, 2 August 2011

I am officially an underdog

How the mighty fall...

If you've read my blog before, you'll know that when England and India face each other, I have quite a dilemma and can therefore be somewhat of a fence sitter.  This time though, things would be different.  I would choose a team at the start of the series and I would support them heart and soul.  I chose... India.  And then England decided to get their shit together.

Regarding this last test, in fairness, we were pretty evenly matched during the first innings.  Broad's hat-trick was a significant turning point and gave a glimpse of the coating that we would receive on Monday.  His destruction of our lower batting order was something that India just never recovered from.  Then in the second innings, England were actually magic.  An impressively skilful batting display (even with Bell's cock up, by the way aren't India nice?) set an almost impossible target.  Balls.



Then came the day I nearly cried.  One by one our batsmen fell in embarrassingly quick succession.  I was genuinely very shocked at how easy it was for England.  Thank goodness though for Super Sachin, who kept it together at least a little.  He was actually one of only three that managed to get into double figures.  I find that unacceptable.  They can and should be better.

Sehwag and Gambhir are being brought in for the 3rd test at Edgbaston, in an attempt to reinforce (or rather just enforce) our side.  Ever the optimist, I am encouraged by this; however the realist in me knows that it's too late.  To make things worse, I've bet money on it.  See people, this is why I don't gamble.

Pay no attention to our pre season

As if India's demise isn't enough, it would appear that Liverpool's pre season has turned out to be less than inspiring.  The result of which sees me getting more than my fair share of abuse.  Like most wannabe Scousers, I'm fairly happy with our new signings (our midfield is gonna rock) and from the clips I've seen, the newbies (Downing, who I wish we'd made number 10!) are looking pretty good.

That said, minus a few nifty bits of play we're still all over the shop.  And we seem to be relying on Daniel Agger, a defender, to score.  Again, not good enough.  Perhaps if our defenders were defending and our attackers were attacking, we'd stand a better chance?  Just a thought.

Now Fernando Torres may choose to disagree, but I think we all know that these matches are basically extended training sessions, which bear no significance to the season ahead.  At least I hope not.  Losing 3-0 to Hull, 3-0 to Galatasaray and drawing 3-3 with Valerenga are pretty harsh results.  Can Kenny bring everything together when it counts?  We're gonna have to wait and see.

In the theatre they say a bad dress rehearsal equals a good show.  Let's hope that applies to footy.

Quick well done to Phil Taylor.  You rock my world. 

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