Fernando Who?

Interesting result on Sunday night, and not just because my team Liverpool embarrassed arch rival Manchester United.

The result was significant for two reasons:

1. The problem for Liverpool is that their best and their worst is too far apart, and until they address this they will not really challenge consistently. Having said that they are on the right track. Suarez is a gun and a player that you can build a team around (Fernando who?).

2. For Manchester United the result shows one thing - no matter who wins the title this year, and it will most likely be Man U, they will be the most vulnerable and perhaps weakest team in recent history to do it. This is great for the competition because for the first time in a long while the race for the title may involve more than two teams.

Finally I can’t finish without having one dig. For a man that has won so often you would think that he could lose gracefully. Well maybe not.

Sir Alex you are better than that.

Warren Diego

I Warren, with a heavy heart, concede the title to United

It has been a while since I have put my thoughts into words, but with the way Liverpool have been going it has been better to say nothing, and refuse to put on record the words "Carlos you were right - Uncle Roy was never the answer".

It is not with great news that I write this blog, as on this day we have seen Manchester United confirm that at the end of the season they will become the most successful team in English Football.

Despite the fact that they have been unbeaten so far this season, they have not been a convincing as in previous title runs, but to come from two goals down against Blackpool at Blackpool proves that this team is for real and a chance to match Arsenal's undefeated season.

As much as it pains me to admit it they (Man U) deserve the title and now Liverpool can go from the hunted to the hunter.

I just hope we see a real Liverpool response in the next few years.

I will now go back into Blog hypernation until I have something positive to write about the mighty Reds

Warren Diego

An Open Letter to Warren Diego 

Dear Warren,

Hope you are well.

I last saw you at Johannesburg Airport where South African customs were giving you a cavity search. Hope it all went well.

Did you manage to smuggle in the fruit fly infested Zulu artifacts? Nanna Diego is asking for you and wants to know when you are dropping over the Vuvuzela she gave you her last pension cheque to buy. She also asks that you bring some of those KFC chicken nuggets that you introduced her to. They make her regular.

Anyway the reason why I’m writing is that I’m worried for you and the fans of Liverpool FC around the world.

As you know the club announced in a blaze of publicity during the world cup (reported right next to deaths and obituaries in the English tabloids) that its new manager is Roy Hodgson.

Those who have been listening to the Diegos for the last 17 years would know that you have had a torrid love affair with the Liverpool FC all your life. I’m not talking about any old puppy love affection either. I’m talking a dysfunctional, twisted, weird interpretation of the karma sutra type sick love affair.

We know, as do our millions of weekly listeners, that you would ‘turn’ for Steven Gerrard. There is no question that you would leave your wife and kids in a heartbeat if ‘Stevie G’ came calling.

We also know that back in 2004 you acrimoniously divorced the club and shacked up with Bolton Wanderers in a one night stand that made the naked hairy man wrestling scene in Borat seem arousing.

In appointing Roy there’s no doubt that the mob running Anfield these days are trying to get in touch with the ‘Boot Room’ culture that brought the club so much success in the 1970’s and 80’s.

In those days the club was a powerhouse of world football winning First Division titles, FA CUPs (when they weren’t the Kissing Your Sister variety) and European Cups for fun.

The club was awash with legends of the game such as Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Ray Clemence and Kevin Keegan. The values of the club were clear to see and every player to a man knew what it meant to play for Liverpool. They did it for the shirt, excelling in front of the Kop and thriving on the Anfield roar.

Reality check Warren …..Roy Hodgson is not the man to bring Liverpool back to the glory days.

He has made his name transforming underperforming mediocre teams not expected to win things into over performing mediocre teams that are not expected to win things. He has coached the Fulham of international football - Switzerland - to successful mediocrity as he has 16 other teams achieving everything from pub team excellence in mediocrity (at Bristol City) to coaching the Fulham of the Premier League – Fulham to outstanding mediocrity in the EPL last season.

If there was a Champions League trophy for not winning things but performing bravely Roy Hodgson is the man for you. Unfortunately isn’t that what Rafa Benitez, and before him Gerrard Houllier, delivered for the club?

Roy Hodgson is like the favourite uncle who no one wants to disappoint. Average players play for him. Great players won’t. Players who live to win like Fernando Torres and Stevie G don’t need or want an uncle. They want a winner.

Warren we all know that you reside in your own football fantasyland – a land where Liverpool are still a ‘BIG’ club that expects to win trophies every year. A club that all the BIG players around the world die to to play for and that away teams are petrified of, fear and dread.

In the real world though Liverpool are a club that hopes to win not expects to win. In this respect they are a good fit for Uncle Roy.

My message to you Warren is to jump on the next train departing fantasyland – Liverpool will win trophies no more and Nanna wants her KFC nuggets.

Carlos Alberto Diego