A tv program that I have had to endure on occasion is Take Me Out, a dating show hosted by Paddy McGuinness that she enjoys.
The scenario of a poor bloke presenting himself to 20 or 30 women who don't fancy going on a date with him, is that they'll turn their lectern lights off accompanied with a synthesized 'doh' sound.
The moment our team sheet was announced yesterday, all I could hear was that sound, like a thousand gooners one after the other impersonating Homer Simpson.
Whilst we haven't become oblivious to our midfield deficiencies, that we have been Xhaka/Ozil*/Elneny free and seen the baby shoots of a more effective midfield set up, made us feel like maybe we were at last moving forward.
An hour or so into the game put me in mind of the film Perfect Storm, and the moment they thought they had managed to escape the treacherous conditions due to calming waters and bursts of sunlight, only to realise that they were just in the eye of the storm.
I understand the thinking of having Xhaka play his quarterback type role in pinging balls over the top and into the channels to exploit Pepe and Auba's pace, but 2 seconds after that thought, logic told me that Liverpool wont give him the time and space to execute the role effectively when considering his own lack of pace and mobility and the likelihood of becoming just a bystander was probably 70/30 against him.
The one midfield player we know can handle being Red Adair for the day and have a positive effect on the midfield by helping his partners and keeping the ball is Torreira.
Swapping out AMN for Chambers would qualify as a sound tactical defensive manoeuvre to most, especially if both our full backs were instructed not to venture beyond our half but play balls down the line to turn the opposing fullbacks around initially and have them worry about Pepe and Auba pressing them would have been interesting, especially with Laca in the middle waiting for them to use van Djyk and Matip as out balls.
This match was effectively having a fight with a bad man in his own house. Not just because I think he is more suitable to a left wide midfield role than left back/wing back, but I think Kolasinac played forward of Monreal instead of Willock was the way to go in this instance. Having Willock and Ceballos coming on with 15 to go of a close game, yes please.
I am of the opinion that in having a possible front 3 of Auba, Laca and Pepe, we have a potent attack capable of being as good if not better than Liverpool's fabled front line.
Liverpool have a deadly weapon, they recognise that fact and use it at every given opportunity resulting in an incredible last 3 years and champions league winners no less.
We have Dirty Harry's magnum .57 fully loaded. It currently appears that Emery intends to use it as a rolling pin or baseball bat to club people with.
* I am not a Ozil hater