Okay so this is going to be a weird one but stay with me.

It’s actually part of a bigger project, a University Masters level research topic would you believe. It was inspired by a 1980s Twilight Zone episode featuring Elliot Gould, playing a restaurant critic whose life is transformed by fortune cookies, and by a visit to a Karaoke Chinese here in Liverpool with the prospective in-laws, when I opened my own fortune cookie which read “Help, I’m stuck in a fortune cookie factory”. This was only the beginning of a long project questioning whether or not what the oracular strips of printed paper say, do come true.

Do fortune cookies really work? You should try them sometime

Last weekend’s fixtures offered the ideal opportunity to check the theory in terms of football, and not just because Liverpool were top of the league after a frankly convincing win at Chelsea – indeed, Everton’s luck already seemed to be turning after Fellaini had swooped twice in four days.

Anyhow, never one for orthodoxy, on Saturday 1st November at 11 am exactly, I opened eight fortune cookies, already assigned (at random) to the teams I cover in the north west. They read, looked and tasted as follows:

Liverpool (Silk road, red wrapper)
Keep me and fortune will always be with you

Everton (Tiger Tiger, Blue wrapper)
You will be lucky in love (tasted orangey too)

Blackburn (Beijing Gold – looked slightly burnt)
You will be successful in your work (this tasted of coconut)

Wigan (Silk road, red again)
Your mind is filled with ideas, use them (unfortunately, slightly burnt)

Carlisle (Tiger Tiger, green wrapper)
There is a time to be practical - now

Preston (Beijing Gold – not a great taste)
Someone is speaking well of you

Blackpool (Silk Road)
You will travel far and wide on both business and pleasure

Morecambe (Tiger Tiger, red wrapper this time)
You will travel far and wide, both pleasure and business

Now through all this, I really want to discover what percentage of fortune cookies come true, but there are many traditions people have as to what makes them come true in the first place – for example, some believe that if you recount out loud what the sooth says it won’t come true, whilst others are adamant that you have to eat the cookie for any chance of it proving correct. Therefore, to maximise the chance of anything positive happening, I did both – that is, told no-one, but ate each in turn, what a breakfast.

Rooney nearly mares my day by slobbering all over his United badge

Soon after, I set off for old lady Goodison. On the train I was thinking, we hadn’t won at home yet this season (or pre-season), in fact apart from the second half against Man Utd the week previous, things were pretty dire and I’d begun to regret renewing my season ticket – indeed, for that match marred by Rooney slobbering over the yellow and red crest on his breast, fate had decreed once again I was to endure a stressful half hour in the pub, when I should have been conducting a separate fortune cookie experiment, sipping a brandy or two to soothe the cold rain outside instead of being in the ground watching it live, but that’s another story for an article I’ll never write.

I stared out of the window as we approached Kirkdale, the sun was shining, and after kick-off the mood was quite bright, almost optimistic, but the multiple missed chances meant that a sense of impending doom grew large throughout the match, especially as the wood work was struck twice following hapless Fulham finishing. Kenwright was coming in for stick, the crowd was our lowest under Moyes, and thoughts turned to what my love life had in store for me to overcome this minor let down. However, with three minutes remaining, Louis leapt like a proverbial sahalmon and our luck seemed to be back in.

I’ve written many times before about the differences between our loves and lives, and I was actually already in the midst of a pretty romantic weekend as it happens, but as I have to remind myself on a seemingly monthly basis, this article should be about football. Let’s just say in this instance, the cookie was right – both personally and in terms of the match, I really was lucky in love (or Louis) and the experiment had got off to a great start.

Other results, however, were mixed.

Carlisle for example, lost 3-0, a result that apparently resulted in John Ward losing his job after a series of defeats left them teetering above the relegation zone. Clearly the board took heed of the cookie’s message then, and were practical – a battle against the drop meant drastic action needed to be taken and a managerial casualty ensues. Two nil to the cookies.

Carlisle think practical and sack John Ward - cookies right again

Blackpool however won 4-3, with a last minute winner. Again, this had an effect, as the amicable Aidy Boothroyd’s position became untenable following this defeat. However, the Tangerines are our citric concern here – and they clearly travelled far, did the business, and it brought them pleasure.

At this point, Jeff Stelling’s excited squeals as the panel approached the final whistles suggested I should think about conducting this experiment every week…

But, then we watched for the result from P P PNE, the club that as previously discussed, ignited the spark of interest in the beautiful game. They chose to upset the theories on Saturday, losing 2-3 at home to Southampton, thus maintaining mid-table ignominy. Here a cookie suggested Larry Folger*-like misfortune – without even realising it, someone is not speaking well of Preston here, see I’ve just typed damning words about them, simply because they’re upsetting the biscuit cart. Still, the cookies are three one up at halfway point.

Back to the ‘Prem’ and once again I brush over the less well-supported teams of my region. I feel bad about it, I really do, but Wigan and Blackburn just can’t get me excited enough to type more than a paragraph on their exploits – sorry if this offends, and with a trip to the stadium** that shall not be named coming up soon there’s a plate with words on it and a knife and fork available to EAT MY WORDS but once again I’ll pay (chapped) lip service to the blue and white Lancashire boys and just say that Emile Heskey’s and (the strangely funnily appearanced) Keith Andrews’ last minute goals merely added weight to the theory that fortune cookies come true… Ideas were used to overcome the conditions at Fratton Park, and there was success in their work at West Brom for Rovers.

Only Morecambe left then, and as we saw their fortune was very similar to Blackpool’s, even though the cookies’ manufacturers were different. Morecambe won 2-0 last Saturday, and although they were at home, that’s yet another pleasurable outcome for the Shrimps.

Which leaves us with one more result. Liverpool have been rewarded far more column inches by this author than one might expect recently, largely complimentary too. It was perhaps not surprising that the ‘Arry effect would influence their result in the tea time game, read Jordan Lister’s contribution for a better comment on Spurs’ exploits though. However, I did think they would win that game, and it certainly seems that fortune is always with them.

It was a little disappointing then, even for me, that against Tottenham their luck seemed not to be in, what with chances galore going begging and the squeaky-voiced restaurateur’s og before a last minute winner. But then I remembered twenty three years of regular disappointment and shock at the lucky breaks they’d had, dodgy decisions they’d been given, an even longer history of fortune favouring Liverpool than that wot I could recall***. And lest we forget, only three nights previous, Papa Boupa Diop’s inexplicable Limpar-like handball had given them an undeserved victory.

The message was right, I accepted long ago - FORTUNE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THEM (they really might never walk alone)

Fortune favours Gerrard & Liverpool (again), anyone for chinese?

Normal service was then resumed this week when Captain Marvel won that dubious penalty and the rest, as they say, is history. Soon it will be beyond self-parody and I’ll have little to write about. Thankfully, though, all is not lost - that same evening, across the Atlanticthe colour blue (the people’s choice) was defeating the (seemingly evil) red in a much more important event than my silly little experiment. Hope springs eternal.

Superstition plays a part in football, I’ve said it before. The origins of fortune cookies are debatable, as are the merits of reading too much into them. But, the next time you wash your lucky undergarments, walk under that ladder, or step out of your usual pre-match routine, just think to yourself, could I determine the outcome of today’s fixtures? My breakfast last week suggests you could.

Roll on Saturday morning!****

*Larry Folger was the guy in the Twilight Zone. After many a cryptic cookies coming true, the last message he read read ‘You’re dead’.

**Long story

*** This sentence was a show of support for my mum’s cousin’s nephew, who goes by the name of Russell Brand.

**** To celebrate the end of my longest and most elaborate article for efp yet, I opened a fortune cookie for anyone who reads this to the end. But, if I tell you what it said, it won’t come true. Don’t worry, it’s good.

In May this year Tottenham Hotspur beat off the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United to sign Crystal Palace’s 16 year old prodigy, John Bostock.  Outside the Championship (or, more accurately perhaps, South East London), Bostock was hardly a household name.  Indeed, for many, this has remained unchanged - unsurprising, given that Bostock has yet to feature even at reserve level for his new club, instead finding himself in the relative obscurity of the Academy.

Yet the transfer was far from insignificant for a number of reasons. 

Spurs beat off everyone to sign talented prodigy John Bostock

First of all, it drew attention to the inadequate framework currently in place to compensate clubs outside of the top flight who cannot hold on to their home grown talent.  Whilst £700,000 (a fee deemed appropriate by a football league tribunal) might sound a sizeable amount for a 16 year old sans Greek first name, for Crystal Palace it was a bitter blow. 

If we were to consider the transfer in isolation, Palace would doubtless struggle to convince a soul that such a figure had been invested in the youngster’s development.  However, as with much in life, taking things in isolation can often be outrageously misleading.  For Palace, the question of remuneration hinged not so much on the individual ability of the player in question, greatly valued though he was, but on the value of the club’s overall infrastructure for developing young footballers.  And, essentially, raised the question: why the f**k do we bother?!  Because whilst Palace do stand to potentially earn quadruple the initial sum through various clauses, right now that is of scant consolation. 

Surely a more measured approach to transfers of this nature would be to land the financial burden at the feet of the clubs that can afford it!  Why should the smaller clubs be left hungering after fees that may or may not materialize when, let’s face it, Spurs and the likes have the capacity to pay those fees outright.  The frequent false dawns of the England national team has, in recent years, brought the issue of grass roots football to the fore and, in the case of Bostock it is perhaps easy to see why.

Crystal Palace’s infamous chairman, Simon Jordan, was so outraged with the transfer that he questioned why he bothered with football, suggesting this might be the final straw in his fractious relationship with the beautiful game.  The scale of his disillusionment only highlights the significance of the Bostock transfer.  Jordan himself was quick to latch on to the wider implications of the transfer, drawing a clear line between the tribunal’s decision and England’s failure to qualify for this summer’s European Championships.

Simon Jordan - business as usual at Palace

Personally, this isn’t an argument I can whole heartedly subscribe to.  Not wanting to get drawn into the swampy tangent that is the recent shortcomings of the England team, recent failures have, in my view, more to do with the here and the now.  However, Jordan’s apocalyptic view of the national game could ring far truer in the coming decades.  Provided someone kidnaps Fabio Capello in the near future of course.

The problem is two-fold.  First, clubs such as Palace will increasingly turn their back on youth development if it becomes a fiscal imperative to do so.  Second, even if the crucial role played by ‘the Palace’ et al is recognized, and a suitable reward system put in place, to what end if the precocious kids in question are blinkered (read utterly blind-sighted) by the calling of the big boys.  Fighting the urge to defend my beloved Spurs’ reputation as a Premier League power house, let us instead turn to the second major significance of Bostock’s transfer – the lack of loyalty and, worse, given the player’s tender years, the apparent lack of good counsel.

In October last year, Bostock made his first team debut at the incredible if not unprecedented age of 15 years and 287 days.  And although he only went on to make only four further first team appearances that season, as a close ‘Palace’ friend of mine frequently laments (and Simon Jordan eulogized), he was likely to play a much increased part in the side this year.  The club wanted desperately to hold on to their prized asset and Jordan’s argument that the player’s long-term future development would be better executed at Palace did not ring hollow.  And, indeed, as flash as I’m sure Spurs training facilities are, are they likely to prove a learning curve equal to the Oblivion-esque (I heard a rumour that Alton Towers are planning to tear Oblivion down, surely not!) gradient provided by the rough and tumble of the Championship. 

The Oblivion, Alton Towers - A frightening experience

While there is undoubtedly a debate to be had about the merits of both, as a Spurs fan no less, I would rather see Bostock flourishing in Palace’s first team than decelerating in the youth vault at Tottenham.  A cursory glance at Tottenham’s recent track record of nurturing young talent reinforces this point.  But first let me finish this strand: with the club powerless to make themselves heard through Bostock’s inevitably oversized walkman headphones, who could they turn to?  Nobody, is the answer.  Least of all the player’s step-father who, last we heard, was to have his season ticket at Selhurst Park refunded …

So what of Tottenham’s youth set-up?

To my mind, only three players, one idolized, one reviled and one largely forgotten, have truly come through the youth system at Spurs in recent years: Ledley King,  Sol Campbell and Stephen Carr.  Peter Crouch was on the books for a short while before being deemed surplus to requirements, Dean Marney was sent to the lower leagues (and no, the irony of Hull’s current position has been lost on the author) after doing little wrong besides score two screamers on his debut against Everton and … I’m struggling. 

In fairness, Luke Young has built a decent career for himself but he was never more than a fringe player in his years at White Hart Lane.  So, prolific, the development coaches at Spurs haven’t been.  In Tottenham’s defence, few other Premier League clubs are pumping out babes at any enviable rate of knots, bar perhaps Everton and Middlesbrough.  Even a quick glance across to our dear neighbours doesn’t tell a more encouraging story.  Sure, Arsenal do have a youth set up to cause even the most ardent Spurs fan to salivate into their cereal but home grown it most certainly isn’t.  Which is all very well for the immediate future – few would bet against Arsenal getting back amongst the titles in the coming years – but what about the bigger picture?

Dean Marney - another let go, despite early promise at Spurs

One of two things needs to happen to protect that bigger picture.  Either the coffers of the likes of Simon Jordan need to be suitably indemnified for the riches of their precious production lines or, one of the step-father, the agent, the ex-professional or the pet freaking dog needs to sit the young lad down and say, calm down little guy, patience is a virtue.

Or, and here’s an exciting thought for us flagging but ever-hopeful Spurs fans, ‘arry will rediscover the sort of form he displayed at West Ham, that saw the likes of Lampard, Ferdinand, Carrick, Defoe and Joe Cole emerge during his tenure.   And who knows, maybe Bostock will become a household name sooner than expected …

Hope you were on midweek, as all tips came in at 11-2 correct score, 4-1 treble ,9-5 single and a 1-2 single.  Lets hope we can carry it on…..

Manchester United v Hull

After their reality check in midweek, the tigers face the league champions and i expect a similar result here. They were guilty of errors against Chelsea and they were punished, though Chelsea could and should have had more. United may rotate and rest players again like midweek, but they should easily come out on top. Ferguson wasn’t happy that more goals weren’t added after the break against West Ham, so i expect to see a reaction.

United to win (-1) = 4-7 @ Sportingbet

United to win (-2) = 7-5 @ Paddypower

United to win 3-0 (15-2 @ VCBet) and 4-0 (10-1 Bluesquare, Betfred, Skybet, Boylsports)

Chelsea v Sunderland

The Mackems had a poor result on Wednesday at Stoke and it won’t get much better for them here. Chelsea showed their class on Wednesday and i expect them to be too strong here, despite the absence of Carvalho due to injury. The returning Joe Cole only adds to the strength of the bet.

Chelsea to win -1 = 8-13 @ Bet365

Chelsea to win -2 = 13-8 @ Paddypower

Chelsea to win 2-0 (11-2) and 3-0 (7-1) @ Skybet, Boylesports, Coral, Stan James, Bet Direct

-2 Handicap win Double (United, Chelsea) @ Paadypower = 5.3-1

More to follow tomorrow…..

Bolton v Everton

Buoyed by their result on Saturday, I expect Moyes’s men to follow it up with a win at the Reebok. Everton’s form on the road has been good this season with a 2-1-1 record, and they looked tighter at the back at the weekend, while they are boosted by the return of Tim Cahill. Bolton, however, look short of ideas up front, and any team not scoring against Spurs this season, rings the alarm bells. They are a difficult side to break down, but the Toffees can nick one and win this.

Everton to win = 9-5 @ Ladbrokes and Boylesports

Hull v Chelsea

This run has to come to an end sometime doesn’t it?… and their next two fixtures are as tough as it gets. Chelsea simply don’t lose two on the bounce nowadays and i expect them to take the 3 points here. Hull will afford them more room than Liverpool did at the weekend, and despite the Tigers winning at Arsenal and Tottenham, they were second best on the day and they will be again but the result will be different this time.

Chelsea to win = 1-2 @ Boylesport & VC Bet

Manchester United V West Ham

The Hammers arrive at Old Trafford on the back of 3 straight defeats and without their main striker in Carlton Cole. United will be looking to bounce back after dropping points at the weekend and this looks like a routine home win.

United to win 2-0 (11-2) and 3-0 (7-1) @ Boylesports, Skybet, Coral and others

Treble Chance

Everton, Chelsea, United to win = 4-1 @ Boylesports

Good Luck!

Man Utd V Celtic

Celtic are without both strikers who hold up the ball in Vennegoor of Hesselink and Samaras, while 2 of there better defenders in Hinkel and Caldwell are very doubtful. United on the other hand have all their attacking options at full fitness.

United -1 @ 4-6 Bet 365

United to Win to Nil @ 11-10 Blue Square

Chelsea v Roma

The Italians come to Stamford Bridge on the back of a 4-0 home defeat to Inter, despite the talismanic Totti returning from Injury. They are struggling in Serie A this season, currently 14th, and i don’t expect there season to turn around here. Chelsea, despite some injuries to key players, are in winning mode right now, nothing but a home win here.

Chelsea -1 @ 5-4 Bet 365

Chelsea to win to Nil @ 6-5 Paddy Power

Villareal V Aalborg

The Danes look a very weak side for Champions League standards, and don’t pose much of an attacking threat.  Villareal have 2 clean sheets (one at Old Trafford) and know that this is a must win for them if they are to progress. They have won all 3 La liga games at home, conceding once, while they also beat Celtic 1-0 last round.

Villareal -1 @ 4-6 Bet 365

Villareal to win to Nil @ 4-6 Blue Square

Treble on -1 Handicap @  5.24-1 @ Bet 365

Treble on win to nil @ 6.70-1 @ Blue Square

“Back Where We Belong”
By James Knowles

About the Book
‘Back Where We Belong’ is a supporter’s unique view of the promotion winning season of English football club Stoke City. Starting off in the depths of Austria merely to see his beloved team, James tells his account of the historic season through his eyes, ending with the celebrations of Stoke moving up to the Premier League.

Littered with memorable photographs, there are tales of meeting other supporters- some strange, some normal- goals, misses, laughs and of course, the celebrations! Getting wrapped up in the emotion, you re-live every kick of the season all over again- slowly culminating in the most important match in Stoke City?s history- Leicester City at home. Remember all the joys of invading the pitch yourself, or simply watching it on TV and read defender Andy Wilkinson?s views of what promotion meant to him. ‘Back Where We Belong’ is a must for every Stoke City supporter.

It is a season never to be forgotten so remember it in the best way possible with ‘Back Where We Belong’

Buy it here: http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~53702.aspx

 Brazil v Colombia

The Seleção were back to their attacking best on Sunday night. The combination play of Kaka, Robinho, Adriano (suspended) and Elano posed too many questions for Venezuala, and i expect the same will be true for Colombia. Despite drawing 4 matches so far, Brazil have scored 15 and conceded only 4, meaning when they win they win convincingly (5-0, 3-0, 3-0 in  3 of the 4 games). While Colombia have scored just 4 times while conceding 8, though that stat is slightly off kilter due to them losing v Chile 4-0.  A year to the date, Colombia held Brazil to a 0-0 at home, since then they have change coach and are short on confidence, while the boys from Brazil look like they are improving.

 Paraguay v Peru

On a high and top of the group the home side will be looking to cement there 1st place, knowing Argentina and Brazil are coming back to form. Peru are bottom and can’t buy a win away from home (tempting fate, i know). They are unbeaten at home with 1 win and 4 draws, but away they have lost all four by more than 2 goals (0-2, 1-5, 0-6, 0-3). Paraguay meanwhile have won 4 from 4 at home, 3 of them by a 2 goal margin (2-1, 5-1, 2-0, 2-0).

Main Bet: Handicap Double, Brazil -1.5 + Paraguay -1.5 = Roughly 5-2 with most firms

Side Bet: Brazil to win 2-0 (6-1) and Paraguay to win 2-0 (6-1) Back 2 singles and a double (49-1)

Value Bet: Pato 5-1 First goalscorer Each Way (1-2-3) - Adriano is suspended (though most bookies have him as favourite!) and Pato is most likely to get the nod ahead of Jo.

 England V Belerus

Two out of the three qualifiers have seen England drawing at half time and win at full time, but for a fortunate ricochet in Croatia it probably would be three out of three. I believe there’s still value in it at 7-2 with a number of firms.

Draw HT - Eng FT = 7-2 with Coral, Ladbrokes, Skybet, VC and Totesport

England to win 1-0 (11-2), 2-0 (11-2) with Ladbrokes

If like me, you suffer from a paranoid disposition, think the majority of newspapers have it in for Liverpool (emanating from growing up in a time when the Reds dominated), or echo thoughts of conspiracy theorists and wonder whether that whole missing piece of the jigsaw thing wasn’t just another contrived ideology by the media to keep Liverpool’s hands off what was once ‘their’ trophy, then you’ll most probably agree that our most recent tag as ‘bona fide title contenders’ is just the latest ploy to derail an unusually auspicious start to our season.

I know we are not meant to say these things as they do usually come back to haunt us, but when I examine the attributes of this current Liverpool team, I am sure that come the end of the season, if we don’t win it, we will be closer than we’ve been since that killer ‘Fever Pitch’ Michael Thomas moment, and the opposition will have to be nearly faultless to stop us fulfilling our destiny. I just hope I haven’t jinxed us.

Michael Thomas scores 'THAT' goal for Arsenal against Liverpool 1989

You see, Benitez seems to have solved the riddle which has been niggling everyone for almost twenty years, and in the process, he is liberating Liverpool FC from the shackles of such self-defeating pursuits as searching for missing links. Think how predestination kept servile Catholics in their places for hundreds of years and you’re close to discovering the crux of what has been stunting this football club since they last won the title in 1990.

What seems astonishing to me, yet so utterly ingenious at the same time, is how Benitez has allowed such contrived notions to pervade during his tenure, as though to create a smokescreen, allowing him to sedulously chip away at his master-plan. Like say, how a master conjurer uses subterfuge in his act, allowing the person who is supposed to be chopped in-two, to slip away unnoticed.

Now, it is no great secret that it takes two major things to be successful in the Premier League, however, whereas a great wad of cash is painfully obvious, the other is less so, and it’s the amalgamation of both the money and the right contingency which is a modern day requirement for all the serious challengers. Having worked all this out in his heady days at Valencia, where local heroes Canizaires, Albelda, Vicente and Mista were pivotal to his success, it is a formula Benitez is only too familiar with, and there’s evidence to suggest he’s been working towards achieving this synthesis since his arrival on Merseyside. Now the Rafalution looks to be in its final stages.

Albelda - Homegrown talent, one of two reasons for Benitez's success at Valencia

Often accused of relying too heavily on ‘Roy of the Rovers’ Gerrard, Liverpool now look like a team filled with match-winners who are adequately supported by the doggedness of Mascherano, Carragher and the steal of Skertel (prior to his injury). I just hope the latter’s injury does not prove decisive and he’s back on his feet for the business end of the season, as he has become indispensable to this new blend of worthy title contenders.

It’s funny, watching Guy Ritchie’s ‘Rocknrolla’ the other evening, bizarrely offered me an unexpected ray of optimism, when in its best moments, for which there weren’t too many (though I’d give it an entertaining ***’s), this Russian ex-military bloke who bore an uncanny resemblance to our Slovak (same difference) warhorse Skertel, wouldn’t stay down no matter what they threw at him, unremittingly chasing the cockney protagonist. I’m not sure Ritchie intended to insinuate that Eastern Europeans are like machines, or it was playing on my own scandalous prejudices (for which I sincerely apologise), but it evoked such assumptions in me and left me hopeful of Skertel’s speedy recovery.

Skertel - The Indestructible Russian (sorry, I mean Slovak)

Then there’s been the reinvigorating resurgence of the bellicose Kuyt; the growing understanding between the irrepressible Torres and the now monkeyless Robbie Keane (who has the credentials to become yet another Kop icon); and let’s not forget Steven Gerrard, the heartbeat of Rafa’s title hopefuls.

On route to approaching this threshold of building a squad that is there or thereabouts, there have arguably been three key moments for Benitez which have laid the foundations for what seems like imminent success. And I don’t mean his gargantuan achievements in Europe. His biggest achievements to date were: 

• 1) Persuading Steven Gerrard to stay at Liverpool, where he would become the lynchpin and captain of a side, which Rafa would build around him, that would be challenging for the coveted title (Thankfully Gerrard saw this his destiny and displayed venerable ambition in his decision)
• 2) Converting Jamie Carragher to centre back, where he has become one of the most revered defenders in Europe and central to this side’s cause.
• 3) And finally his unanimous public backing during the exasperating Yankee feud which must’ve give Rafa the assurances he was looking for, or he could’ve left us in limbo.

These will prove the most significant and preparatory events in Liverpool’s most serious assault on the title for decades. These three events also confirmed for Benitez, if for no one else, that everything is in place for his master plan to finally come into fruition.

His plan hasn’t been solely to emulate other successful teams in England, whose conjugations of cash injections and an insertion of talented locals coming through the ranks (though there is a lot to be said for the premise that if you have a player who supported his team since boyhood, he will work his absolute balls off to see that they win, even on freezing cold afternoons in the northeast, ahmmm…Arsenal!)led to continued success, but there has been a deliberate and sustained vision by Benitez to create a team of like-minded individuals with one team mentality.

Sammy Lee's return has given Benitez more focus

Of course, the Spaniard hasn’t always got it right and the importance of Sammy Lee’s return cannot be underestimated. Nevertheless, you have to admire Benitez for his ability to correct his own mistakes insuring nothing and no one gets in the way of his vision. Not one for sentiments, he unceremoniously gets rid of unsuitables, drops star players to the bench and changes systems if things aren’t going to plan. This is a sign of a great manager.

I think it all boils down to ambition. Much is made of Benitez the tactician, the strategist, the tinkerer, yet rarely do people commend him on his judicious insight and perspicuous talent scouting. Simon Cowell has nothing on Benitez.

He often seeks out players with an appetite for success and destiny, particularly players who want this for the team, and not for individual recognition, as an Owen or a Kewell might stand accused. Players of fortitude and burning ambitions; of immense character and desire, whom he will infuse into his formula for success of the highest order. This was integral to his achievements at Valencia and this has been key to his successes at Liverpool in Europe and in Cup competition. Now he’s achieving a level of consistency so that these methods can be applied to the league.

Now, many cite Robbie Keane’s signature, who as the song testifies (Robbie Keane - \’Fiesta\’) has always dreamed of playing for Liverpool, and that of Torres, who indubitably adds the gloss, as final pieces to a jigsaw which is nigh on completion, but for me that theory has already transpired and it is last-gasp goal hero Dirk Kuyt who best personifies what this Liverpool team is about. And his goal at City and the reaction it received from his team-mates only demonstrates further how Kuyt’s infectious spirit typifies a new found belief at the club.

Dirk Kuyt's Herculean work-rate personifies new belief at Liverpool

The only thing proving elusive to me, are those stats that tell us how far a player has ran during a game. If we had them, then I’m sure it would be much easier to fathom why this team is successful. I am in no doubt that Liverpool players, Kuyt in particular, figure high up on these tables (please enlighten us if you have access to them!), and the results would prove conclusively, that this team work their bloody socks off for the cause.

It is this importunate and ambitious character, coupled with the vision of Benitez which makes me certain that this team has what it takes. I just hope to God (cri de coeur!) this inclination materialises and Liverpool win the league, and that I haven’t just played straight into the hands of those who despise us. In Rafa we trust…

The following is a letter I wrote but never sent, to a gentleman I sat with on the 10.22 Liverpool Lime Street - Scarborough train, one Saturday last month. If you think you might know him, please add a comment below or get in touch with efp direct…

October 9^th 2008

Dear Huddersfield fan

I’m sorry to address you like that, but I never got your name. You may or may not remember our recent conversation as you travelled to Huddersfield for the match (I was on the way to York for my folks’ anniversary). Our discussion made me think, a lot, inspiring me to write this letter, and to post it on that website I was telling you about.

So, thank you.

We talked at length about many things, didn’t we - and you predicted some events which have since occurred. I was so glad to see the 3-2 victory over Northampton Town that day, especially as your parting words when you disembarked were “if they don’t win today, that’s it…” Therefore I hope you’ve made it back since, even if results haven’t been great.

So many times I’ve said the same - none more so than recently. On the way back to Liverpool the day after our acquaintance, I was embarrassed to cheer Osman’s equaliser away at Hull, as I listened to poor reception commentary whilst the train yawned its way across the Pennines. That journey was made all the tougher by having to spend at least a portion ‘enjoying’ Manchester City’s demolition of Portsmouth. Since I wrote my last article, I honestly agree with you when you say that football might have changed somewhat.

Jury's still out on Fellaini

 Like I told you, transfer deadline day was one of the strangest events of recent times. Sky Sports News was my companion for most of the day and became more and more ludicrous as the clock ticked down. Like I said, I went to sleep that night at twenty to twelve not just amazed at the goings on at Eastlands but with the genuine fear that Everton had missed their chance. When I got up the following day I was pleased we’d broken our transfer record - but for who exactly?

Having preferred a romantic meal to watching Fellaini’s apparently majestic performance at Anfield, I was more than a little dubious that Moyes had spent so much - panic on the streets of Walton, you could say. And so far, the jury’s out, though I was quite impressed with his performance and goal last weekend.

However, your Everton for relegation tip (14-1 I believe?) is looking a bit sounder after the last few weeks. Defensively questionable, things don’t exactly look set to improve given our next couple of fixtures, and without a UEFA Cup adventure to look forward to this time around, you might just have pulled off a coup.

If you recall, our discussion started with your noticing my t-shirt. Well I’ll be honest with you here, I sat opposite from you that day as I had noticed your centenary shirt and I hoped to comment on it at some point during the journey. I was a little taken aback that you thought me brave (or stupid) to be wearing such a slogan but given the behaviour of some of our fans at the derby I’d have to agree that sometimes ‘One Evertonian equals Twenty Liverpudlians’ might not be the case.

Torres proves two good in the Derby

Now I wasn’t at the derby, I was celebrating my birthday in another church witnessing a more friendly match, but from what I’ve heard and read the old ‘Murdererers’ / ‘The Baby’s Not Yours’ ad nauseum chants were resurrected, despite the plea for Merseyside to reunite in honour of Rhys Jones. When I heard about the bottle being thrown at Gerrard, I was disappointed, though not very surprised. I’ve written about all these issues, plus Torres’ claims for Footballer of the Year, before in greater detail, so will just say my lack of faith in LFC has been restored by the recent behaviour of a couple of their fans I know. Let’s leave it at that, other than to say they do look bloody impressive at the minute.

I’d also missed the admittedly exciting Standard Liege home game, my ticket went unused as more important events came to light. Given Shankly’s links to your hometown club, there’s a nice symmetry there. However, the away leg was hugely anti-climactic, and something will need to be done soon.

The Northern Landscape of Hudderfield as depicted by L.S.Lowry in 1965

I’ve been looking out for results from the Galpharm Stadium since our meeting, and have even found myself recounting your tale about that bar in Bangkok. In fact, that reminded me a little of yet another article I wrote about wearing football shirts abroad, though was much funnier. Please don’t think I’m an obsessed stalker, but there were some strange coincidences that came out of that hour and a half, and it left a lasting impression on me. Indeed, your tales of travelling also left me with a desire to see some of the world you described. India, New Orleans and those other places all sounded wonderful and inspired me to start saving up for a long-distance trip.

Meeting you also made me wish I supported someone else. Not that I regret picking Everton, you must understand, but it reignited an interest in football outside of the Premiership and Champions League and Match of the Day. Your tales of travelling that distance every other Saturday, and of discounted season tickets, and the overweight journeymen that fill the blue and white striped shirts. Other things in my little life have meant that I haven’t yet followed up this moment of inspiration, but I haven’t forgotten it. One Sunday soon, I might even get up in time to watch the Championship.

Best wishes to your family, I hope your son’s decided what he wants to do in the near future. I’ll look out for you next time I’m in your neck of the woods, when Stan Ternent’s on TV or David Unsworth misses a penalty.

Yours Sincerely

The Everton fan

Well, the column is back, and hopefully it will be here for the remainder of the season.  A multitude of time and personal circumstances, led to it being absent for the opening few months, so apologies for that.  Anyway .. enough of the chit chat, lets get stuck into this week’s international games!

Banker Bet

Germany V Russia 

What a game we have in prospect here! The Russians were the neutral’s favourites in the later stages of the Euro’s, where they won many off with their attacking brand of football, sadly they fell flat in the semi’s against the Spanish, but they showed the rest of europe they are a force. Last time out they beat Wales in Moscow 2-1, who were unlucky not to come away with a point, while the German’s showed their defence frailties in a 3-3 draw with Finland. The injured Pavlyuchenko will be replaced upfront by Pogbreynak, the Zenit forward, who scored the winner against the Welsh, while Germany have been dealt a blow with their new No 1, Robert Enke,  breaking his hand in training, so, either Rene Adler or Tim Wiese will earn their first cap in goal. With both sides looking better at going forward than defending, the preference is for goals, and while the over 2.5 market is normally the route i would take (17/20 @ Bet365), the 4-5 on both teams to score looks a better bet, as it gives you the cushion of the game throwing up a 1-1 draw.

Tip = Both teams to score 4-5 @ Bet 365

England V Kazakhstan

Last time out we were treated to the Theo show in Zagreb and that performance has the nation on the team’s side again, this has been reflected with Saturdays game being a sell out.

However, i believe a more straight forward victory will occur on Saturday, as Kazakhstan will be more or less 10 men behind the ball, in stark contrast to the Croatians who set up to win the game and were exposed through Walcotts pace getting behind the full back. His pace will be a danger no doubt, but the room will not be there this time.

Kazakhstan have lost 3-0 to Croatia (a) and suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Ukraine last time out at home, and I expect a similar scoreline here, with England looking to keep something in reserve for Wednesday’s difficult trip to Belarus.

Tip = England to win 3-0 @ 5-1 with most firms

More to follow………….