(Ocean's Eleven)
Linus: Smash and grab job, huh?
Rusty: Slightly more complicated than that.
Linus: Well, yeah.
Daniel Ocean: Okay, Bad news first. This place houses a security system rivalling most nuclear silos. First, we have to get in the casino cage, which takes more than a smile. Next, through these doors, each one requiring a different code changed every 12 hours. Past those, is the elevator. Here's where it gets tricky. It won't move without authorized fingerprint I.D.
Rusty: Which we can't fake.
Daniel Ocean: And vocal confirmation between the Belagio & the vault.
Rusty: Which we can't get.
Daniel Ocean: Furthermore, the elevator shaft is rigged with sensors. Once we get down the shaft, it's a piece of cake. Just two more guards with Uzi's & most elaborate vault ever conceived by man.
I can quite relate this scene in Ocean's to Liverpool's season this year. They have been that tough. Make no mistake, Liverpool are the best team in the country & stand second in the Premier league at the time of writing & are in a fantastic run of form just at the right moment. Unbeaten in their last 10 games; not many know that they have lost just once at home. 2014 has been a year to recon for Liverpool as they are unbeaten so far in 2014. As the season unfolds Liverpool look more & more settled, energetic & determined than any other club at the top flight. As others have stumbled, an excellent season has transformed into a take-able opportunity to win a first Premier league title.
Watching Liverpool thrashing the big guns in a sensational fashion, you think that they are on the right track to glory. If they were to win the league this season the following factors would play a crucial role in the process:
Linus: Smash and grab job, huh?
Rusty: Slightly more complicated than that.
Linus: Well, yeah.
Daniel Ocean: Okay, Bad news first. This place houses a security system rivalling most nuclear silos. First, we have to get in the casino cage, which takes more than a smile. Next, through these doors, each one requiring a different code changed every 12 hours. Past those, is the elevator. Here's where it gets tricky. It won't move without authorized fingerprint I.D.
Rusty: Which we can't fake.
Daniel Ocean: And vocal confirmation between the Belagio & the vault.
Rusty: Which we can't get.
Daniel Ocean: Furthermore, the elevator shaft is rigged with sensors. Once we get down the shaft, it's a piece of cake. Just two more guards with Uzi's & most elaborate vault ever conceived by man.
I can quite relate this scene in Ocean's to Liverpool's season this year. They have been that tough. Make no mistake, Liverpool are the best team in the country & stand second in the Premier league at the time of writing & are in a fantastic run of form just at the right moment. Unbeaten in their last 10 games; not many know that they have lost just once at home. 2014 has been a year to recon for Liverpool as they are unbeaten so far in 2014. As the season unfolds Liverpool look more & more settled, energetic & determined than any other club at the top flight. As others have stumbled, an excellent season has transformed into a take-able opportunity to win a first Premier league title.
Watching Liverpool thrashing the big guns in a sensational fashion, you think that they are on the right track to glory. If they were to win the league this season the following factors would play a crucial role in the process:
Factors:
1) Brendan Rodgers:
If successful football management boils down to inspiring and coaching players to play to height of their potential, then there are fewer doing a better job in Europe than Rodgers right now. He has totally transformed Liverpool individually & collectively. The astute tactics, spot on substitutions, hunting the ball in packs, relentless working for a cause, for a distant dream, tracking back of forward players, that is the Rodger's way. The man has totally transformed young players like Flanagan, Sterling, Henderson, Sturridge, Skrtel & Coutinho into top top-flight footballers. These players have enjoyed their best form in their careers under the Irishman. Coaches make mistakes, but Rodgers has shown brilliant tactical versatility this year & he would be the maestro if Liverpool goes on to win the title.
2) Routinely Irresistible Suarez:
The distinct factor because of which Liverpool have been so fluent in their attack is none other than Luis Suarez. He has alone terrorized Premier League defenses all over the season; he has been a defender's nightmare this season. Such has been the level of performance that he is out on his own as the Premier League top scorer despite serving a 10-game ban at the start of the season & also is all set to break the best goals to games ratio in a single season in the history of the league. With 25 goals & 10 assists in 24 games he is "THE MAN" for Liverpool. A PFA award for the best player would be complementary to the efforts of the Uruguayan though a Balon D'Or would be an overstatement as of now.
3) Ruthless attack, Blitz Krieg:
Blitz Krieg was a war strategy deployed by the Nazi's in World War II. It was characterized by intensive & sudden military attack. It is very similar to the pace & nature of the counter attack implied by Rodgers. No other team has an attack to match the pace of the front four of Liverpool (Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling & Countinho). The cutting edge these players give to the squad and with quick distribution from the central midfielders, defenders & even the goalkeepers just adds more thrust & blitz to the pace of Liverpool's attacking module.
4) Renaissance of Steven Gerrard:
You can take Gerrard out of Liverpool, but you can’t take Liverpool out of Gerrard!
The man who was born to be a red & will die as a red; their knight, their leader, Liverpool's inspiration for years is the man who has only a piece less to complete the puzzle i.e. Premier League Title. Above all the Liverpool players he is the man who completely deserves this accolade. After 2 quiet years of adversity with whatever the reasons he has experienced some sort of renaissance this season. Gerrard has provided the much needed solidity to the central area of the park. He has been crucial in the absence of Lucas Leiva in the deep lying play-maker role. The man has given so much to the club that if Liverpool wins the title he would certainly be a decisive factor behind it.
5) Homeland:
Liverpool has a pretty favourable fixture list ahead. Out of the nine games left they play five times at home. With two being against their direct title rivals at home where they have been unstoppable. The games against City & Chelsea at Anfield, in the current scenario look more like an opportunity rather than obstacle. Other games (Cardiff, Sunderland, Tottenham, Norwich, Crystal Palace & Newcastle) look virtually winnable. The fixtures offer a perfect opportunity for the club to snatch the title from the carbon-rich giants.
6) Game a Week:
Fatigue is an important factor that affects every team at a stage. Liverpool's not being in the Champions League this season might work for them as they only play one game/week on an average. Whereas Man City, Arsenal & Chelsea have played more games this season. (Due to UCL). And though City & Arsenal have been knocked out, the players must surely be feeling the tired legs. And Chelsea is still in the Champion's League which makes them focus on two competitions instead of one. Although they have Mourinho at their helm, it should certainly be considered as an advantage to Liverpool.
7) Historical window of opportunity:
Actually speaking, Liverpool have no time to lose. If there is any time for glory, it is now. A historical window of opportunity has presented itself due to instabilities elsewhere. Six of the seven teams at the top have had a managerial change. All of them have their problems. Really, Brendan Rodgers superbly built Liverpool in a saner world deserves & should be allowed to succeed.
By next season, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal & even Man Utd will strengthen their respective squads. In the past few years the Premier League has all been a Billionaire-only affair divided between the carbon rich owners & the commercial juggernaut that Man Utd is. Thus, it is a perfect storm of opportunity for Liverpool to snatch from the forces of billionaires an entirely deserved Premier League Title.
At the moment, we have 7 weeks to analyze & discuss one of the most exciting ends to a Premier League season in recent years.
You Will Never Walk Alone.
At the moment, we have 7 weeks to analyze & discuss one of the most exciting ends to a Premier League season in recent years.
You Will Never Walk Alone.
- By Anurag Bhagwat
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