by Rob Gutmann | Nov 5, 2016 | Footie
THE Brazilians have a football aphorism: “Quem nao faz toma.” If you don’t score when you’re on top you will lose. Kind of. Stating the obvious? Well, yes, but there’s nuance to it. There’s implication that the reverse is also true....
by Rob Gutmann | Oct 28, 2016 | Footie
IT’S a poor league this year. You hear that a lot. Or you hear that it was a poor competition a few years back, perhaps. A highly subjective relativism often delivered as if pure fact. I admit, the call always baffles me. I never understand the starting point. A poor...
by Rob Gutmann | Oct 24, 2016 | Footie
NOTHING like a free game when the heat is on. Spurs at home under all those new lights in the League Cup. A Tuesday night too. No tortuous wait ‘til Wednesday. And all in the name of what? Not the league title race, that’s for sure. Everyone wants to win this game, to...
by Rob Gutmann | Oct 21, 2016 | Footie
HERE we are the other side of Manchester United. Slightly confused by events, but unbowed, unbeaten. Normal life can begin again. West Brom at home on a Saturday at tea time is normal life. In a sense, these are my favourite type of games. In a sense they are also the...
by Rob Gutmann | Oct 14, 2016 | Footie
THERE’S this line in a Lennon track – ‘Life is something that happens to you while you’re busy making plans’ – that is too often apposite. Usually in an entirely dispiriting and negative way. Another ‘meme’ in a similar vein would be the adage – ‘the...
by Rob Gutmann | Sep 30, 2016 | Footie
IT’S funny how you go through phases with other teams and their people and their grounds. Our away game destinations seem to be getting more testing each passing year, in terms of both distance and frequency. I’ve always broken aways down into three...
by Rob Gutmann | Sep 23, 2016 | Footie
THIS is the moment where this happens. Right here, right now. Liverpool FC win the league if they beat Hull at home. Hull at home is the most important game Liverpool FC will play in 26 years. Crazy? Yes. Ridiculous hyperbole? Why not. Ludicrous aggrandisement of a...
by Rob Gutmann | Sep 19, 2016 | Footie
IT’S a good time to be playing Derby. The mighty Rams have scored just two goals all season and are not quite their usual indomitable selves. Excellent. We smell sheep’s blood. We will feast on their lambs. I’m bang up for a game like this. Feel’s like a nice little...
by Rob Gutmann | Sep 15, 2016 | Footie
“CHELSEA. Are a bunch of wankers.” My oldest best mate, from my days growing up in London, Giulio, always used to be very clear about this. “We’ve got Chelsea. Ah, yeah. Chelsea. Bunch o’ wankers.” I’d nod approvingly. Silently. No words....
by Rob Gutmann | Sep 9, 2016 | Footie
ANFIELD is bigger now. Lopsided, but in a good way. Like a protective friendly giant with its arms round The Kop and the Anny Road. Like a minecraft mollusc, spiralling geometrically towards the heavens. Did you like that? I’m very pleased with it. I’d do a smug...
