The Liege Stadium Mystery

Well, where to start on the shambolic performance last night against Standard Liege? Was that 3-points and move on? Or a disastrous reflection of the weaknesses of our squad?

I'm not sure on the answer just yet, but it really was an exercise in bizarre football. The first 5 minutes was just a shocker. No complaints about their first goal - a stupid mistake by Eduardo and then a good finish. However, I wouldn't have given the penalty - at the time it looked like no contact was made and despite countless replays, I still couldn't see it. Still, I guess we had it coming after Eduardo's dubious penalty against Celtic.

That said, I almost broke the TV at half time listening to Jamie Rednapp's 'punditry'. The man who never won anything reckoned that it was a stonewall penalty and that he had no doubts whatsoever. For once, I found myself warming to John Collins, who clearly thinks Rednapp is a prick, and Graeme Souness, who thought Arsenal would go on and win second half.

I really don't know why Sky employ Jamie Rednapp. He played for Bournemouth (for his dad), Liverpool (where he won the League Cup in 1995), Spurs (nuff said), and Southampton (for his dad). He somehow managed 17 caps for England, but thats it.

Now, I am not saying that John Collins is a legend, but he won the French league with Monaco, played in a semi-final of the Champions League for them, and has made a start at being a professional manager for Hibs. Plus, he doesn't just shoot his mouth off every five seconds and actually has something interesting to say.

Graeme Souness is a legend. And I bet he would love to smash Jamie Rednapp's face in. Because Graeme thinks he is a cunt.

Anyway, I digress.

I sat dumb-founded through most of the first half, wandering just what Abou Diaby and Gael Clichy were doing. We could not string two passes together. Eventually, after about 25 minutes, we had a shot at their goal. Unfortunately, the player who took it was Diaby with his left foot and it was a weak, feeble effort that missed by miles.

However, we seemed to grow a bit more confidence as the half drew on, Tomas Rosicky looked better and better and eventually Diaby slotted a nice ball to Bennnnnndnter, who actually had made a run towards goal for a change, and finished beautifully. 2-1 at half time and we looked all right. I have already told you about half time.

The second half was a continuation of the same. Cesc continued to play as if he was stuck in treacle, Clichy continued to dive in and miss the ball, but Diaby looked less shite and most of the good stuff we did continued to come from Rosicky.

I don't really remember us having many shots before we scored the equaliser. A couple of lame long rangers from Cesc was about it. But we had tons of possession. That said, Eboue had to make an outrageous clearance virtually a yard out of the goal to stop Liege going 3-1 up. It was about the best thing he did all night.

And then is all happened in the last 10 minutes. Our equaliser was a shocker. Song and Vermaelen might have been offside, Song definitely hand-balled it, but the goal stood. Absolutely shocking from the ref and linesman.

And before the dust had even settled, we almost scored again from a corner, an outrageous back-heel by Vermaelen, and then we did score from a corner when Eduardo kneed it in in a shambolic goal mouth scramble.

So, 3 points it was. I still don't know what to make of it.