Not only did we win, I successfully predicted the correct score and one of the scorers. Shame I didn’t put a bet on really as I’d have done rather well out of it.
If there is one thing that Rafa has done over the last 2 seasons, he’s given us a mental strength which was probably missing under Gerard Houllier. Previously, when a mid-table team such as Villa scored against us, it would almost have been the affect of someone dying on the pitch, as was the Ultra-defensive football we played under him.
Rafa though has got the team playing with such confidence that it almost doesn’t matter if we concede; the way the team plays, chances are never far to follow. I’ve no idea of the statistics of how many shots we’ve had this season (something that I will hunt down in the next week or so) but surely we have to up there. Though is was always high under Houllier, so something clearly has changed under Rafa’s stewardship.
A Bitter Aftertaste
When Alan Green almost proudly stated after our game against Bolton in January that Bolton play “Ugly Football”, I just dismissed it as Greeny being Greeny, not only saying what he thinks (as he is paid to do) but also somehow “apologising” for the fact that Liverpool could only draw against them. However, after seeing Bolton play this weekend, it’s not difficult to understand what Mr Green was talking about.
Say the phrase Ugly Football and images of Non-League style long balls, scrappy goals and the sort of tackles that make Roy Keane look like Elton John all spring to mind. However, Bolton appear to be putting an entirely new spin on this well worn football phrase. While their football is not Ugly in the traditional sense, they are Ugly in the way that they wish to play as little football as possible.