Newsletter #008: To Go Down, You Must Be Able To Go Up...
Joy & Despair. Two stories in today's edition that sum up the good and the bad in a footballers career. Plus Gareth Southgate is replaced for the day by Ömer as he chooses his 26 man England squad.
#008
The number 8 plays an important role in my life as a football fan. It is the number of my footballing hero, Steven Gerrard. Described as one of the finest player’s of his generation and arguably Liverpool FC’s greatest ever player, Gerrard lived a footballing career you could only ever dare imagine in the realm of fictional story telling. For all the simply unbelievable moments of magic, came devastatingly crushing blows.
Balance…
Football, like life, is about balance. We can only have good if we have bad, we can only have up if we have down and Gerrard’s career typifies this more than anybody else. Henceforth, the theme and number go hand in hand in today’s edition.
Chris talks about the sudden decline of Fabinho & Liverpool, a team 2 games away from being considered the best ever, to now being serial underachievers and ‘washed’. Moreover, Ben gives us an insight into the joy and despair of a relegation playoff in the K-League.
‘It’s the energy between all things, a tension, a balance, that binds the universe together.’ - Luke Skywalker, on the force.
Football is no different, we just have to learn to enjoy it when the going goes good and understand that this joy will return when the going gets tough.
Ömer Çayir
The Lighthouse is dimmed to the point of darkness - how can Liverpool solve Fabinho’s pitiful decline?
Chris Stonadge
A Lost Lighthouse...
16 points from 12. Ninth. Liverpool fans are in an entitled place to be examining their teams’ form of late.
Questions have been, are and will continue to be asked of many institutions associated with the Reds. The owners, manager, staff. The players. The more pertinent and high-profile of these questions are in some way directed at one player in particular in the current moment. Fabinho - a once so consistent performer in a team who faltered in his absence.
The former Monaco man’s 2022/23 season has showcased a decline akin to the Great British Pound this Autumn. No undulation, no perks, no real prospect or direction. Ironic for a man once dubbed the ‘lighthouse’.
So why has a footballer widely recognised as one of the worlds’ elite in his position so suddenly and drastically waned? And why is even his greatest supporter, his manager, starting to lose faith?
Mentally And Physically Drained…
Before inspecting the true specifics of the wider problem, more macro analysis is required. Liverpool have systemic problems which have exposed Fabinho.
The club is on the back of 81 competitive fixtures since the beginning of last season, more than any other side in the same time period. The Reds reached three cup finals, won two (via extra time and penalties) and lost one amidst a potential disaster in Paris which clearly affected some players. The Reds were within 20 minutes of an unexpected Premier League title win too, after Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa took a 2-0 lead at Manchester City.
Despite not being an ever-present due to injury, Fabinho played 3,693 minutes across 48 appearances.
The Reds have also only signed one senior midfielder since the Brazilian’s arrival in 2018 - in Thiago Alcantara, with whom he struck a great relationship almost immediately. The lack of investment in the area has seen the side garner a peculiar collection of players either too old or too unreliable.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain barely gets a kick even when fit these days, whilst the future of Naby Keita is almost a foregone conclusion after his inconsistent half-decade at Anfield. Alcantara himself is unreliable fitness wise despite his immense ability.
James Milner, despite his obvious upsides, is no longer of any use in midfield or in the starting lineup on a regular basis at 36. Jordan Henderson, 32, should be his replacement in the ‘sure up for the final ten’ role.
That then leaves you with players still developing, with scrutiny highest on 21-year-old Curtis Jones. Again, injuries have stunted his development having suffered strange setbacks across the last two seasons - but he hasn’t shown levels enough to be considered an elite prospect.
Harvey Elliott is a top talent, and has been one of the Reds’ bright sparks of a poor season. He has accrued the third most offensive sequence involvements in the Premier League this campaign, behind Kevin de Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes. Fabio Carvalho has had his moments too but is not a natural Klopp midfielder.
What Liverpool are left with is an age and experience crisis. You have players too old, or players too unreliable - whether that be due to injury, or to youth/inexperience.
System, Player, Or Both?
This leaves Fabinho, in his position of exposure…well, exposed. To a heightened degree.
The 4-3-3 formation has been swiftly ditched this season in favour of a more compact 4-4-2, but even in this formation he has looked sluggish despite the added protection. There, inlies the issue - that sentence - why should the team’s natural protector be protected?
The formation is not solitary in its blame. There’s clearly a concocted cauldron of reasons why Fabinho and this Liverpool team are playing so poorly, so how can the Reds solve this particular issue?
Is simply buying a replacement the panacea to Fabinho’s woes? It can certainly be argued.
Look at the left full-back position, in which Kostas Tsimikas has provided true competition and even overtaken Andrew Robertson in some aspects. He cost a little over £11m. In similar fashion, the arrival of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, and the impact their form had on the traditional front three knowing full well they have to perform at elite level to maintain selection.
It can also be put forward that buying a refreshed, hungry 22-25 year-old defensive midfielder could reignite a true passion in Fabinho. He cannot simply have lost his ability - or at least not as easily as he could have his mentality tarnished.
Having an opportunity to rest and recover will aid him in recovering his best form - much like Robertson’s revival on his return from injury recently.
Not All Hope Is Lost…
We’ve bashed the Brazilian throughout this piece, but one thing is for certain. Liverpool are a much more structured, organised and effective threat with a fit and firing Fabinho.
Not only was he crucial in the Reds winning all six of their trophies under Klopp, but crucial in ensuring their Champions League place in 2020/21, arguably his greatest period as a Reds player.
Many attribute the passion and desire of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams, with Alisson’s incredible header added in, to the Reds’ stupendous third-placed finish in a season with so many crises.
When he returned to a defensive midfield role after a defeat to Fulham at Anfield, the Reds went on a ten game unbeaten run which included eight wins.
He was the standout performer, and at his age he can get back to, even exceed those levels. It is pitiful viewing at the current moment, but with a World Cup ahead and a potential reinvigoration of the Reds’ midfield on the horizon, he will need to return to his normal self - and fast.
Chris Stonadge
The Emotions of a Relegation Playoff Victory
Ben Griffis
End Of Season Drama…
The K League 1 and K League 2 seasons came to a close this past weekend with the promotion/relegation playoff second legs. And what an ending it was! K League 2 side Daejeon Hana Citizen beat top-flight (and military) side Gimcheon Sangmu 6-1 on aggregate to claim their spot in the 2023 edition of K League 1, sending Gimcheon straight back to K League 2 after one season in the top tier.
The subject of this article, however, is K League 1’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings’ 120th minute winner over FC Anyang, after the two legs ended 1-1 on aggregate, sending the match into extra time. The Bluewings have never been relegated from the top tier of Korean football since 1996, their founding season.
The incredible scenes, both of players and fans alike, coupled with the sheer volume of the cheers from the crowd when 21-year-old Oh Hyeon-gyu’s header hit the back (or rather, side) of the net is enough to give anyone chills.
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_pcNVUyZ0mngl26_mizfCYIhmS0Ey8h4
(Above clip of the goal)
The release of emotion from the players is visible. Oh Hyeon-gyu sprints away, ripping off both his shirt and his tracking sports bra, hitting the ground and flailing as his teammates swarm him. Kang Hyun-muk, who provided the assist, simply crouches, arms out, not moving. An Byong-jun and Park Hyung-jin both come over to Oh Hyeon-gyu on the ground, visibly emotional.
The crowd’s release of emotion is almost haunting, sending immediate chills through the air, as a fanbase who has never had to deal with relegation playoffs can finally ensure they’ll see their team in the highest level of competition yet again next season. Fans who have seen their club lift four K League trophies, five FA Cups, and two Asian Champions Leagues, yet have had to endure four straight seasons of mid-table mediocrity and this season in which Suwon were never higher than 8th place. You can see emotions in the crowd coming to a head, and even neutrals in the stadium appreciated what they saw.
Emotions of course were not restricted to the players and fans. Manager Lee Byung-keun was also misty-eyed as he celebrated with his coaching staff, turning into visible tears as he asked the fourth official how much time they would add after the goal.
(Suwon manager Lee Byung-keun hunched over on all fours from the emotion of Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winner)
After the final whistle, several Suwon almost needed consoling from their teammates as they were overcome with the mixed emotions of the season: the indescribable bliss of a last-minute winner to secure their safety, but the feeling of having gotten into that position in the first place.
(Suwon players consoling a teammate in tears after the final whistle)
Suwon’s saviour, Oh Hyeong-gyu, could hardly string together two words in his post-match interview as the Bluewings’ faithful sang loudly. After a few attempts to speak, he rightfully gave up and gave into the weight of the emotion, crying on live TV, much like how many of the fans were in the stands.
(Oh Hyeong-gyu breaking down during his post-match interview)
(Suwon Bluewings players and staff stand around the centre-circle as manager Lee Byung-keun addresses the fans after the match)
Relegation playoffs have an odd air about them for teams in the higher division. Teams often enter the matches surrounded by questions of how they got into this position in the first place, who is to blame, what needs to be fixed and changed ahead of the new season… but if safety is finally secured, especially in the final minute of extra time like in Suwon’s case, everything’s forgotten in that moment and a season’s-worth of pent-up emotion pours out from fans, players, and staff alike. It begs the question of if the team just above Suwon in the table narrowly avoiding this playoff, arch-rivals FC Seoul, would have preferred to be in Suwon’s situation, knowing that they would win and end the season on such a high note.
There’s also the possibility that winning the relegation playoffs tightens the bonds between players and supporters, perhaps even bringing momentum into the next season. In the era of promotion/relegation playoffs in the K League, three K League 1 sides have won their playoffs before this season. Gangwon in 2021, FC Seoul in 2018, and Gimcheon in 2017.
Both Gangwon and FC Seoul immediately bounced back the following season and finished in the top half. Gimcheon were the only team unable to do so, but perhaps not a great comparison as they are a military team which churn a squad’s-worth of players every several months.
Turning Sour Into Sweet…
This emotional win for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, despite being in this position because of a season of poor performances, will undoubtedly keep the players and fans on a high for some amount of time. There are still issues to sort out ahead of 2023 so that this historic club doesn’t find themselves in this situation again. They could look to Gangwon this season, or FC Seoul’s 2019 season for examples of how to maintain form after an emotional playoff win the previous season.
Relegation playoffs carry with them both the weight of a poor season and the possible elation of survival. The ability to turn negative emotions into positive ones for even a short amount of time adds an interesting layer to the emotional landscape of supporting a relegation-threatened side. The onus is now on the players and staff of Suwon Bluewings to carry this momentum with them into the next season, allowing the fans to cheer on their historic club at the top end of the table instead of the bottom.
Ben Griffis
Ömer’s Outro…
My 26 Man England Squad…
Ömer Çayir
Before we commence, a massive thank you to Chris for this horrifying, yet hilarious image of Gareth Southgate’s face merged with mine. I know it was halloween on Monday but blimey, that’s the scariest thing i’ve seen all week. In all seriousness, I would just like to quickly shoutout Chris Stonadge, who not only writes for us but also chalks up the much fun graphics used in each edition. Moreover, as a Co-Founder, it would not have been possible for the brand to have such success within the first two months of launch without the expertise of Chris.
Gracias Chris.
The Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope.
Defenders:
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben White, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw
Midfielders:
Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, James Ward-Prowse, James Maddison
Forwards:
Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford.
Thought Process:
I have tried to maintain a thought process of realism but also personal want in this squad. For this, I put myself into the mind of Gareth Southgate and understood that England are likely to play a 3 at the back system but also with the potential to change into a 4-3-3.
Straight away, Reece James and Kalvin Phillips are out of my squad due to the fact that both men are injured for the tournament. Even if Phillips does recover, he has played no football all season and would be a waste of a spot within my squad due to a lack of match fitness.
Surprisingly, the three goalkeepers speak for themselves, Pickford, Ramsdale and Pope are the standout and only choices for me.
Now, as I tend to approach such situations when building a squad, I look to have at least two players in each position. The beauty of having a 26-man squad is that you are able to throw in three ‘wildcards’ amongst your picks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier occupy my RWB spot. Trent is perhaps fortunate to earn himself a spot on the plane to Qatar due to Reece James’ injury but quite frankly whether James was fit or not, Southgate would be silly not to call upon the immense game-changing qualities that lie within Alexander-Arnold’s two feet. Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are reliable and experienced enough to maintain the LWB spots, with both, like their RWB counterparts equally as comfortable in a back four.
Kyle Walker and Ben White are my two choices for the RCB spot and whilst there remains doubt around Walker’s fitness levels, he is worth the risk to bring to Qatar. Walker’s speed and defensive quality will be vital. White has also excelled this season and would be a natural replacement for Walker should his fitness levels not be up to scratch come the World Cup. Eric Dier is a specialist CB in a back three. He has proved it for Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur and his passing range will be called upon this tournament. John Stones, arguable England’s best centre-back is a no brainer. Harry Maguire whilst in a bad run of club form, is a different player for his national team, especially in big tournaments and on the left of a back three, he has to go. Fikayo Tomori has also proved his worth for the last two seasons with AC Milan.
Onto the midfield and I believe Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jordan Henderson are absolute certainties. A tremendous mix of youth, technical quality and experience should bode well for England. Amongst this, i feel England could do with a couple of midfield ‘wildcards’. James Maddison and James Ward-Prowse most definitely fit this bill. Whilst they both are regarded highly for their set-piece and ball striking ability, I would like to highlight Maddison’s knack of scoring goals as a potential game-changer for England in the tournament.
Finally, the forward line. Again, I feel with six players occupying three positions and the likes of Mount and Foden able to fill in, we have a great balance of ‘footballer’ to play in England’s front three. Ivan Toney is selected ahead of the likes of Callum Wilson and Tammy Abraham due to his more unique style of play that would compliment Harry Kane better than the rest. Moreover, his penalty record will likely by useful in a World Cup…(Touches Wood). Jack Grealish, again adds an element of surprise whilst Marcus Rashford’s explosiveness and return to goalscoring form could prove valuable in the latter stages of matches. The rest of the forwards speak for themselves.
Whatever Gareth Southgate decides next Thursday, I hope he chooses a squad with game winning capability. I understand the need to be secure in such momentous matches however, an element of bravery and magic must also be available to win a World Cup.
I will be posting my England Starting XI closer to the World Cup, but for now I hope you enjoyed this edition of Revamp The Game. Have a safe week and see you next week :)