TGW89
Player Valuation: £35m
As you have probably guessed, I am far too much of a football geek for my own good.
Yesterday I took the liberty of looking at our head to head against the dark side and was shocked to learn that if Liverpool win three more Goodison derbies without reply they will better OUR OWN record against them at Goodison!
These days the derby, while a obviously very important match to me, is no longer the season-defining cup final I once saw it as. However, I think it would be a disgrace if the reds were to ever overtake our home record against them.
On the 23rd February 1998, we played a derby at Anfield in front of the Sky cameras and the whole world expected them to tear us a new poophole. At the start of the match, the commentator states quite clearly that Liverpool are "only 3 wins ahead". The 1-1 draw which ensued stretched our unbeaten run against them to eight games.
Of course in that season we survived on goal difference, with possibly the worst, most lethargic squad ever to stink out our great club in the last century - yet we still managed to take four points of the reds that season. This was however, the pivot point for a complete reversal of fortune in the coming years.
Aside from a small oasis in 1995/96, the 90s were a period of decline and despair. As far as derbies are concerned though, the 90s conjures glorious images of triumph against all odds - Beagrie slotting home at the old park end, Mark Ward's thunderous drive leading Grobelaar to altercate with McManaman, Ferguson rising head and shoulders above the defence to head home in Royle's first match, Kanchelskis' double strike at the Kop End, Cadamarteri's jink and shot past Kwame and James and Campbell's decisive strike 14 years ago for our most recent Anfield triumph....
Throughout the 00s, largely a Moyes-led "renaissance", Liverpool subjected us to near constant pain and humiliation. While we were unlucky on some occasions, we simply didn't turn up for others like we used to and the emergence of Steven Gerrard also seems to have heralded such a change in derby day fortunes.
This brings us to the 10s and our Goodison record stands at 1 win 1 loss and 1 draw. While our loss in October 2011 was hugely unfortunate, there can be no doubt that we were the better side in the other two games. Even in general, with the exception of March 2012, our games with them this decade have been a tale of two evenly matched sides.
So ultimately my question is, why can we not seem to get our 90s derby day mojo back? What, in your opinion, heralded the change and has seen red dominance since? Stevie G? Weak refs? Respective financial resources? DAVID MOYES!??
Yesterday I took the liberty of looking at our head to head against the dark side and was shocked to learn that if Liverpool win three more Goodison derbies without reply they will better OUR OWN record against them at Goodison!
These days the derby, while a obviously very important match to me, is no longer the season-defining cup final I once saw it as. However, I think it would be a disgrace if the reds were to ever overtake our home record against them.
On the 23rd February 1998, we played a derby at Anfield in front of the Sky cameras and the whole world expected them to tear us a new poophole. At the start of the match, the commentator states quite clearly that Liverpool are "only 3 wins ahead". The 1-1 draw which ensued stretched our unbeaten run against them to eight games.
Of course in that season we survived on goal difference, with possibly the worst, most lethargic squad ever to stink out our great club in the last century - yet we still managed to take four points of the reds that season. This was however, the pivot point for a complete reversal of fortune in the coming years.
Aside from a small oasis in 1995/96, the 90s were a period of decline and despair. As far as derbies are concerned though, the 90s conjures glorious images of triumph against all odds - Beagrie slotting home at the old park end, Mark Ward's thunderous drive leading Grobelaar to altercate with McManaman, Ferguson rising head and shoulders above the defence to head home in Royle's first match, Kanchelskis' double strike at the Kop End, Cadamarteri's jink and shot past Kwame and James and Campbell's decisive strike 14 years ago for our most recent Anfield triumph....
Throughout the 00s, largely a Moyes-led "renaissance", Liverpool subjected us to near constant pain and humiliation. While we were unlucky on some occasions, we simply didn't turn up for others like we used to and the emergence of Steven Gerrard also seems to have heralded such a change in derby day fortunes.
This brings us to the 10s and our Goodison record stands at 1 win 1 loss and 1 draw. While our loss in October 2011 was hugely unfortunate, there can be no doubt that we were the better side in the other two games. Even in general, with the exception of March 2012, our games with them this decade have been a tale of two evenly matched sides.
So ultimately my question is, why can we not seem to get our 90s derby day mojo back? What, in your opinion, heralded the change and has seen red dominance since? Stevie G? Weak refs? Respective financial resources? DAVID MOYES!??