So another promising start descended into pallid play with a familiar sinking of the spirit. What had hinted at a new found inventive vigour became a trudging dross against a hardly inspiring opposition. The equaliser came via a deflection as if to confirm the cosmic pattern and we almost waited for the losing goal. That Portsmouth's second didn't come is a small mercy, for defeat to the likes of that team (and I say that with due note of their current superior league position) would really start to see us in trouble. As it is we're still more likely to be caught taking increasingly worried glances over the shoulder and down the table towards the unthinkable bottom three than we are looking up to europe. That is where this slide is taking us.
That the misfiring is most of the team has to be hugely concerning. Not too long ago it was felt that we could get away with a dodgy defence, at least against the not so top opponents, thanks to our attacking prowess. Now, admittedly without Shearer (and the not so missed Kluivert) we wonder if we're going to get lucky enough to secure a goal---two is something of a rarity. The transfer window was seen as off loading the make weights and deadwood while crafting some form of back line. Now one is left wondering just what is to be done. We are a better team than we are playing as -- and should be able to refind some sort of ability in most areas -- but that knowledge doesn't get any points.
Europe approaches and it begins to seem like avoiding Champion's League drop outs might be a really good idea---the only way of actually having a european adventure next year is looking like it's to win it this. Then the seasonal joy of Liverpool. A 4-3 would be welcome there, either way, as it would at least represent an ability to produce goals at a high level. The race to the transfer lifeboat doesn't get any easier either. Souness will return to the only club with which he achieved before meeting a possibly reviving Arsenal. Ah, the new year can't come quick enough. A passion wouldn't go amiss in the meantime. Let's hope the only christmas spirit isn't the one used to drown our sorrows.
(@15:12)
