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NO HOLDS BARRED 21-3-06
Because of the timing of this article, every week I seem to be reeling out information and opinion that's as outdated as the very first mobile phone would be in today's communications market. In some respects, Tuesday is an awkward day to write.
It's almost too late to be talking about Roma and too soon to be talking about Charlton and Bolton at the weekend. However, with the transfer window closed, matches coming at a rate of three a week and not much else to discuss, you're going to have to suffer yet more analysis and opinion on covered ground. So there.
It's at this point that I must say that when we made it past Stuttgart and drew Roma, I never thought I would be sitting here writing about a quarter-final tie. Even with the blindest optimism, I just couldn't picture us seeing off our Roman rivals.
But see them off we did. To say it was tense is the biggest understatement imaginable. From the moment Mancini scored from the spot to make it 2-1 on the night, the beads of sweat ran constantly down my forehead until the full-time whistle was blown.
A sick irony is that while we beat their TEAM on the pitch, they literally beat our FANS in the streets. The actions of the so called 'Ultras' has already been well documented in both the local and national press, and it's probably best that we try and put the matter to rest for the time being. But I will say one thing. What kind of low life scum would resort to using a knife to attack a group of football fans consisting of women and children? The scum of the earth - that's who.
I share the same view as those who say that the game in Rome was one of the biggest in the club's history - if not the biggest. The result over ninety minutes was in the end irrelevant. The fact that we made it past Roma indicates just how far we've come in the last year. At the same stage of the competition against Lisbon last season, we were 0-3 down and as good as out after sixty minutes of the first leg.
F.C. Basle will be our next European victim (we hope), as this seemingly never-ending fairy tale goes on. I recall them having given Manchester United, Liverpool and Celtic tough games in recent years and they will be no pushover. At this moment in time, we are in a fantastic position to win the Uefa Cup, but our name isn't on the trophy just yet. Any fan expecting us to go and put three or four past them in Switzerland will be in for a shock.
Another cause for concern is our current run of form. It is not inconceivable that we could turn up in Basle having not won since beating Roma at the Riverside. A remarkable stat is that we have lost two out of our last three European games and are still in the competition. Taking on Basle while in a rich vein of form would be tough enough, but to have to play them on the back of a few defeats makes things even harder.
That said, statistics are like mini-skirts, as they look good but hide what's important. We may have lost to Stuttgart and Roma, but at the end of each of those games it felt like a win, so the recent European defeats shouldn't have affected us too badly. But three losses in three is still a worry, and that run will, I'm sure, end at the Valley on Thursday night, but more on that later.
The defeat to Blackburn on Saturday was almost to be expected, as is any defeat following a European game. Just like at Charlton the week before we once more had clawed ourselves level, only to conceded what would be a winner. Only at Blackburn we did it twice, and they even played most of the second half with ten men. Our inability to hang on for a draw could cost us if we want to progress in the cups and rise further up the league table.
Mark Schwarzer received some criticism following the defeat to Rovers. Most of this I suspect is based on the fact he wanted to leave, and that any mistake he makes is now due to his age. I'm a big Schwarzer fan and while he lost some of my respect when he handed in his transfer request, I'm glad he stayed.
He makes mistakes, I'll readily accept that, but find me a keeper who doesn't. Peter Cech, voted the best keeper in Europe recently, made a horrible mistake against Fulham at the weekend by letting the ball beat him so comfortably at the near post which cost Chelsea the game. Van Der Saar made one at Blackburn involving Rio Ferdinand - a game they lost. I could go on.
As long as Schwarzer is still making important, world class saves like at home to Chelsea (v Crespo), away at Man City last season (v Fowler) and against Roma (v De Rossi) then he's still a good bet for me. Replacing him will prove to be very, very tough when he decides to move on.
Charlton won't fancy playing our first team after making such hard work of our reserves last time round. Cup competitions are the only thing either side have got left to play for this season, so a no-holds barred contest should ensue for a place in the semi-final.
In fact, our season from here on should be no-holds bared. In the league we have nothing to lose, we won't go down but won't get into Europe, so why not go for it and see if we can play some more attacking football to try and lure some fans back for next season? The league can also work as a training ground for the cup competitions, to build confidence before crucial European or F.A. Cup games.
Looking ahead to possible fixtures, and without wanting to tempt fate, if we join West Ham in the next round and draw each other, we'll play them twice in the space of five days. The draw for the next round will have already taken place before I can bore you with my ramblings again, so I thought I'd mention it now.
By the time you next read the Rockcliffe Files, we will have beaten Charlton and Bolton and probably drawn West Ham at home in the Cup. If only our beloved game of football was that predictable.
Same time next week. UP THE BORO!!
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