LIVERPOOLS SEASON 2013-14 REVIEW

 As one bet is binned another one is written YNWA JFT96  

you know it makes sense 

Well it’s been a roller coaster ride from start to finish and its true to say Liverpool gave me a run for my money. The bet was Liverpool to win the league £20 at 33-1 it was binned last night. But it was the 1^st time I had bet on Liverpool to win the League for a decade…Having been going to Anfield since the age of 8 the football gods must have told me it was not money wasted. Though the slip was not handed over the counter the money was not in the wallet. The slip was still valid on the last game of the season. For Gerrard it came in the statement “at the age of 33 for the 1^st time I can truly say I been involve in a true title showdown” .

For most of the season Liverpool were firing on all cylinders. With goals galore from a slick attack from Suarez and Sturridge after Suarez had missed the part of the season due to suspension. All this was being fed by a very mobile midfield of Coutinho Henderson and Sterling. With Gerrard dropping off into a Pirlo roll just in front of the 2 central defenders with his ball distribution being probably the best of his career. For me in this role he has a couple of good seasons ahead.

But with that role comes danger it encourages the opponents to push through midfield so the defence has got to be on their game. The defence was always the cylinder miss firing as Liverpool went into the mode we will just score more goals than you.  You score 3 we will score 5 …Great for the neutral but along with the Chelsea game cost Liverpool the league. Also for me Mignolet suffered from this phase.

As for the Chelsea game we just needed a draw so that was down to the manager ….For Chelsea a draw was no good it was not rocket science Brendon . But I am sure he will admit that in time. So Liverpool aimed for top 4 they nearly Koped the lot. So all in all a success it was just a bit of a downer Liverpool had one hand on the trophy ….

So next season Liverpool go shopping …..The difference is now Liverpool has more bargaining power …..Not just Champions League football but title contenders also regeneration of the ground the club is going places. Liverpool’s bargaining power has been based on promises. Which many top players have not bought into …hence losing out to Liverpool’s main rivals …But it also gives us the chance to be more care full with money getting good deals like Suarez and Sturridge….

 Which will fall into the owner’s cautious strategy. After this season there will be a lot of top players wanting to come to Liverpool. So all that has to be built into showing how much of a success this season has been. The future looks good…. but if this season was important ……It is nothing like how important next season is going to be ……The Football World needs to watch this space.

NORM YNWA JFT96 

Which Bands Will Fill… The Glasto…Football Death Slot ???

Watching England at Glasto 

One thing is always the same about Glasto over the years is it clashes with another world famous festival. Yes I am talking about the festival of football known as the World Cup. Six weeks of football mayhem with all terrestrial T.V stations giving it the up most coverage. More so in this country when England qualify. ….Its flags out of the windows on cars as we live in hope… That we will not be knocked out again on penalties by the Germans.

As I have been working at Glasto for over 30 years. The clashing of the two events is not strange. As well as the Euro’s so it happens with regularity. The festival has accommodated with the open air cinema field up by the John Peel Stage showing the games. Which drew huge crowds for the England games that fell in the 3 days of entertainment. This however this has disappeared over the last 3 years to be replaced by the cinema tent in the Acoustic field. Which brings me to the conclusion if that stays the same …….In true movie tradition …”THEY ARE GOING NEED A BIGGER TENT “. In the event of England getting out of the group stages this year.

So all though the majority of people going to Glasto come for the music and other great entertainment. There is a huge amount of people follow football. As can be seen by the amount of flags and shirts that are football orientated you can see moving round the site. This love of the game as an entertainment has and I am sure will be catered for. So it would be no surprise to me if this year would see the return of the outside cinema field. Over the years it has been a great spectacle of 20.000 plus people watching a footie game in a Somerset field.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq5283n4H2I

But who will take the hit…  In other words which bands will get the… Football Death Slot. Over the years I cannot remember the bands that had this slot in the past ….Which in its self says a lot…. forgettable. But if memory serves me right they always seem to be American bands. Maybe someone can spread more light on this????......But considering the crowds where not tiny there was a considerable drop in attendance for that slot. But this year with the World Cup being in Brazil the slot falls in prime time so a big name could take a hit. This could create a lot of schedule headaches as band management try to avoid this slot on the 3 main stages ….

So what are the key times ………..Well if England get to the knock-out stages. The both slots will fall at 9.00pm. If they win their group it will be on the Sunday the 29^th. But more likely considering the strength of the group runners up will play on the Saturday 28^th. So both of the slots are major affecting 3 top bands. It would be interesting to hear the views of people on who they would be before the line-up comes out officially. Most people would have a good idea who the main acts will be by now. Who like or not it will affect number of people watching their slot. So after those acts are put in the dreaded slots they will be cheering on.  Costa Rica’ Uruguay ‘Italy. If England get knocked out in the group stages none of this will matter as it is a very strong group . But in the past the harder the group the better England plays. Good to hear your thoughts on this.

NORM

Flexibility the Key

I made a statement to my mates before the Arsenal game last Saturday……”If we won at Arsenal then Liverpool  would win the League” ……Well I am not saying  that we will not but managerial naiveties have doubted my certainty . The fact that Cissokho was thrown in at the deep end…… With the pull out of Johnson due to illness. Leaving…. arguably are best defender Agger on the bench  . So BR went with the 3 center back we have been playing over the last few weeks . It played right into Wenger's hands as the instructions must have been lean on Cissokho   . They did and Liverpool never looked like winning the game. With the late pull out of Johnson maybe we should of put Sturridge on the bench with a start for Coutinho . We looked a lot more inventive after he was introduced ….After all we were playing Arsenal away . With only playing one striker up front  that would of sewn up mid-field frustrating Arsenal  . After all how many times last Season did Suarez fill that role

So I think BR still has a lot to learn about how to set up in different situations ……..He did get it wrong for the Arsenal game . As for the game on Saturday against Fulham we should have a full squad available …..The 3 center back situation needs looking at it can be undone …So I would like to see a bit more flexibility in BR’s selection for Saturdays Fulham game . So we can bounce back right away.
YNWA
Norm
  POSSIBLE  LIVEPOOL LINE UP V FULHAM Make yours free at http://www.yourtactics.com/ and share on all platforms 

 tuition VIDEO at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca2-_Ut2gsc

Glastonbury Crew Picks (pt4)

Miles has been working J.F & K Markets for 6 years now always smiling and he has defo got the Glastonbury bug. Puts a lot of hours in but always finds time to party and take in the bands/entertainment taking it all in his stride.

MILES       

AND MILES PICK IS……https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik8j0qUIBSU

This is Chris his 1^st year crewing Glastonbury and took it all in his stride. First time I had met Chris his music Knowledge was top notch with the get up and go to match. Sort of thing that stands high for future festivals.

CHRIS

AND CHRIS’S PICK IS…….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQnwvSxJkMo

Norm Ist Glastonbury Festival 1985 nearly impaled by a bull getting in cross country. Never stopped raining did not have a tent. By Monday all you could see was the whites of my eyes. Took a month to get over it . But I had a ball ….leaving me wanting more more more.

NORM

AND NORMS PICK IS……. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5IoDYCzXdk GOING TO HAVE A 2ND PICK BECAUSE I CAN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBK-FyK6jM 

CHEERS ITS BEEN GREAT 

ALL CREW PICKS 2013 WILL BE IN MEMORY OF STEVE WATSON. ONE OF THE BEST SOUND ENGINEERS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED . WHO SADLY DIED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL ....RIP MATE 

   

Glastonbury Crew picks (PT3)

Going to start pt 3 crew picks with Leo… he started crewing Glastonbury at about 15 as fire montor . Looking after the fire and making benches for the rest of the crew to chill out on after work . Going on to the peg out of stalls for years . Now works on the meet and greet taking on the main mantel at the bottom of Muddy Lane…Nice one Lee.

LEO  

AND LEO’S PICK IS……..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C3BHRoAWpM

Next up is Robbo ……He is a legend nearly on par at Glastonbury as the farmer is . Always there to help the new crew settle in .  Will always stop for a chat one of the true great spirits of Glastonbury Festival.

ROBBO 

AND ROBBOS PICK IS……https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtQ9ABoOmOE

Last but not least for pt 3 is Lisa going to Glastonbury for quite a while now 2^nd year on the meet and greet ace laugh lovely with it. From the land of my fathers through and through .

LISA  

AND LISA’S PICK IS…….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiwa82RXlqM

Well there is my Glastonbury Crew Picks pt 3 part 4 tomorrow

CHEERS NORM 

ALL CREW PICKS 2013 WILL BE IN MEMORY OF STEVE WATSON. ONE OF THE BEST SOUND ENGINEERS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED . WHO SADLY DIED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL ....RIP MATE

Glastonbury Crew Picks (PT 2)

Right here we go (PT 2) (The Yeoman)… Stevie Yeoman’s has been part of Mary Macs meet and greet crew for quite a few years now. He combines his job with playing gigs around the site and entertains us round our crew camp fire on a regular basis. As I have noted in an earlier blog Stevie hosts open mikes and gigs at least 4 times a week. So his music is of high quality catch him if you can. For more info on Stevie https://www.facebook.com/stevieyeomansmusic?ref=ts&fref=ts

STEVIE YEOMAN'S

AND STEVIES PICK  IS........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sww3CHaTfQI  SORTED FOR NEXT YEAR MATE 

Danger Kate she also has 4 languages under her belt always handy working in a Glastonbury market office. Kate has worked the market gates a few times in the past but she worked in the office this year. Also a Graduate from Liverpool Uni. Kate originally from Lincoln….. She defo has that Lincoln way about her which I always like… loads of fun. You can find more about Kate at her translation web site  claritylanguagesolutions.com

DANGER KATE

 AND KATES PICK IS..... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b036pjjy/Glastonbury_2013_The_Rolling_Stones/

Johns  1^st year at crewing Glastonbury he worked on the market gates this year which takes a cool and calm head especially on the night shift. With so many people off their heads at 4 in morning having a good time. John took to it like a duck to water. I am sure we will be seeing a lot more of John a welcome addition.

JOHN  

AND JOHNS PICK IS....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBK-FyK6jM  SHE IS GOING TO BE A STAR nice one John 

Well there is my Glastonbury Crew Picks pt 2 part 3 tomorrow

CHEERS NORM 

ALL CREW PICKS 2013 WILL BE IN MEMORY OF STEVE WATSON. ONE OF THE BEST SOUND ENGINEERS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED . WHO SADLY DIED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL ....RIP MATE  

Glastonbury Crew Picks (PT 1)

Well I did not get this together do it live on site. The computer speed was far too slow it would have taken forever. I would have missed every think I am sure you would not have wished that on me.  Any way home now so let see some choices.

Going to start with Robbie Swang ……. Swang is a part of Mary Macs… Meet and Greet Crew…….A crew ran by Mary for 15 years . As a link between the arriving traders and their market managers. But as you can imagine this crew deal with every think Circus’ Stages ‘Theatre’ Cabaret ‘ it is to stop the site turning into a sugar cube with ants swarming all over it . In other words utter chaos . Every one to get where they need to be as quick as poss so we can start the party . Had the pleasure of managing Swangs band SWANG PARTY IN LATE 80S still one of the best bands I have ever seen will try and dig some stuff up and put it up  

Robbie Swang  

AND HERE IS SWANGS PICK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-kMzxA-Ovw

Next in line is Charlie Miller……Charlie was my old crew boss on the Pyramid throughout the 90s …..He is now running music production at the Green Rooms. Charlie also does a lot of stuff for Children’s World a Glastonbury based children's  charity . Who do shows all over the country in inner city schools. He informed one year that they had do a series of shows in my old school in Walton Liverpool . He also plays gigs around the site with his band the Soul Agents.

Charlie Miller

AND HERE IS CHARLIES PICK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LjZk7XaFrE

My lovely step daughter Roxy has never missed a festival from birth. She is now is fluent in 4 language’s which must come handy with the many traders that come to the festival from all over the world. She is one of the main cogs in J’F & K market office. Graduate from Liverpool Uni just returned from translating roles at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Roxy Dumble 

  

 AND HERE IS ROXY PICK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-TYKsfR2r4

 Well there is my Glastonbury Crew Picks pt 1 part 2 tomorrow

CHEERS NORM 

ALL CREW PICKS 2013 WILL BE IN MEMORY OF STEVE WATSON. ONE OF THE BEST SOUND ENGINEERS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED . WHO SADLY DIED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL ....RIP MATE