So sad and you're so bad for me

Should Liverpool fans give up on their team?

Um. Maybe? I mean, I'm as bitter as anyone after that horrible, horrible performance yesterday. But. Has fandom ever been rational? Perennial losers like Newcastle still have full houses, and I don't know why you'd expect any more logic from Liverpool fans. If success were the only criterion from fandom, everyone would be Chelsea supporters. And then get criticized for being glory-hunters. I tend to think that your team is your team regardless. In practical terms, the average fan doesn't have any control at all over how their team performs, or even who they buy. If the options are stay with the team even though they're underperforming, start supporting the most successful team, or give up soccer entirely, I know I'll stick with them. It's irrational, yeah, but come on. Devoting all that time and energy to watching 22 people in shorts kick a ball around for an hour or two isn't exactly the definition of logic itself. Love is irrational, and that applies to sports just as much as anything else.

Not that there's nothing to criticize from that game. Far from it.

Mistakes:

1. Playing Dudek again. All credit from Istanbul is gone, sir. Also, saving a penalty doesn't do you any good if you almost immediately concede a goal from open play.
2. OFFSIDE TRAPS ARE NO GOOD IF THEY DON'T WORK.
3. After Baptista scores on you once, maybe try marking him.
4. Yes, I know y'all came back from 3-0 down in Istanbul, 3-1 down against Luton, and 2-0 and 3-2 down against West Ham. However, if you learned nothing from the FA Cup game Saturday, you should have learned that you are no longer that team. You can't do that anymore, and it's sloppy, sloppy play to concede weak goals and hope to fight back later. You've relied on that for way too long, and now it's coming back. You can't rely on defenses slipping; Milan was a fluke, and come on. Luton and West Ham were both effectively lower-tier sides punching above their weight. Those should have been easy games.
5. You clearly learned nothing from playing Arsenal Saturday. Even if Arsenal were fielding a weaker side, this was your only real chance for a trophy this season -- come on, Barcelona? No way, kids -- so might as well play your best team and stand a chance of getting to the semis. But no. The season is effectively over, and check the calendar. It's January. For a team that thinks they're contenders for the league, that's embarrassing. For anyone, that's embarrassing.

Liverpool, from the players to Rafa to the board, underestimated Arsenal twice. They overestimated their own abilities, and god. Get serious, get humble, and get back in this. The objective has to be getting to the Champions League next season. It won't be a successful season, but it's the best we can hope for.

Postponed due to fog.

Yeah, yeah, I know playing in fog is dangerous and all. But really, it doesn't look all that foggy, and you can clearly see from one side of the pitch to the other. Just crank up the lights a bit and it's all good. And it seems like both teams wanted to play, too. Bah. I can't entertain myself all break, guys. (But if they play in snow, which they do, I don't get how fog is more dangerous, really. Silly refs.)

In the tie that actually happened, Charlton went down against Wycombe Wanderers, currently in League Two. I don't have anything against Charlton, really, but man, I love the Cinderella stories. I just finished The Far Corner last weekend, too. It's sort of a cross between sports writing and travel writing -- the author goes around the Northeast of England attending soccer matches. It's hilarious, and he goes to several Wycombe matches, so now I know a very little about them (but more than I did before). Anyway. As long as they don't get drawn against Liverpool in the next round, go Wycombe! (And if anyone is looking for a good holiday read, The Far Corner is it. Really good, and probably one of the best soccer books I've read. Better than How Soccer Explains the World, at least.)