Credit to Mansfield Town

Photo by Flawka on Flickr

To get us in the mood for the United - Liverpool derby, Correspondent Scott takes us back to Liverpool's FA Cup game against Mansfield Town:

Fresh from a 3-0 thrashing of Sunderland, Liverpool FC traveled to Mansfield Town of the 5^th-tier Conference National league for a game that ultimately almost lived up to its giant-killer potential.  The stadium, designed for 10,000 but currently only able to accommodate a little over 7,000, housed a pitch in about the same shape as the one my 6-year-old daughter played on last weekend – soggy, choppy and barren in spots.  The pitch, combined with the ambiance of the Stags’ home, only served to increase the romantic notion that a humble mining town team from the 5^th level of English football could slay the 18-time first division champions visiting from Liverpool.  This was the very essence of what the FA Cup is all about.

But only 7 minutes into the game, Jonjo Shelvey’s excellent through ball allowed new Liverpool signing Daniel Sturridge to calmly slip the ball past the onrushing Mansfield ‘keeper, ensuring all parties were abundantly clear as to their position in the football caste system.  However, in true FA Cup fashion, the underdog Stags continued to fight hard, scrappy and, yes, rough and dirty at times, despite the Reds’ overwhelming dominance of possession and multiple chances on goal.  The Mansfield ‘keeper, who I now know is named Alan Marriott, singlehandedly kept his team in the fight with a  series of brave and spectacular saves.  Such was his effectiveness that, at halftime, Sturridge had only managed to convert that one goal out of 4 clear opportunities, including a 1v1.  But with 70% of the possession and all but one of the shots in the first half, it seemed only a matter of time before Liverpool hunted down the Stags for good.

Mansfield Town, however, was of a different mind.  As if having shot up with adrenaline during halftime, they ran rampant in the second half right from the whistle, with their first real scoring chance coming within the first minute.  Was this the same team that had worn the blue and gold uniforms in the first half?  Looking far more likely to score with relentless pressure, they tested Brad Jones several times within the first 10 minutes.  Shortly after Sturridge put another chance wide, this time from a COUNTER attack after a melee in front of the Liverpool goal, he was replaced by Luis Suarez in the 56^th minute (and Suso was replaced by Jordan Henderson).  Clearly Brendan Rodgers was taking no chances.

Thoughts from a Cup-filled Weekend: FA Cup Round Three

photo by Matthew Wilkinson	via PhotoRee

Thoughts from a Cup-filled weekend:

o If you dropped in from outerspace, or were watching, say, from the United States, it may have been difficult to tell which was the top flight team when Newcastle fell to Gus Poyet's Brighton Hove and Albion on Saturday. Then again, if the Magpies keep up their current form, the two squads may be playing each other again next year -- twice -- in the Championship.

o Somehow the all-Premier League ties just don't carry the same type of "magic" as the David vs. Goliath contests.  No doubt West Ham vs. United was an excellent game -- how could you not admire Joe Cole's inspiring return to where his career began, and Robin Van Persie's artful catch and release in stoppage time -- but for our money we'd much rather be watching Liverpool vs Mansfield Town any day of the week, especially when the "bigger" team has to travel to the smaller side's ground.

o And speaking of Liverpool vs Mansfield Town, did you take a look at that pitch?  That's what this FA Cup thing is all about.  That pitch was pure goat patch, and Liverpool had to go in there and make the best of it.  Tiny Mansfield almost pulled off the upset of the round, but a helping hand from Liverpool's Uruguayan superstar was enough to see off the Stags and put the Reds through to the next round.

o Of all the parties involved in the latest Suarez brouhaha, however, it was ESPN which managed to embarass themselves the most -- quite a feat, this, given that both Luis Suarez and the Liverpool FC press office were involved.  After ESPN commentator Jon Champion  branded Suarez' latest piece of handiwork "illegal," "nefarious," and the "work of a cheat," the political correctness police pressured ESPN into disciplining their announcer for offering his forthright opinion on the matter.  Compounding their error, ESPN then went on to extol their right to free speech, as follows: 

"We take our responsibility to deliver the highest standards of coverage to our viewers," said an ESPN spokesman. "ESPN's editorial policy is for commentators to be unbiased and honest, to call things as they see them (italics added). Inevitably this can involve treading a fine line on occasion, especially in the heat of the moment."

o To which we say, we guess you can call 'em as you see 'em, as long as you're not being critical of Liverpool FC.