TOMKINS: WHAT DO I KNOW?

TOMKINS: WHAT DO I KNOW? Paul Tomkins 20 August 2009
	I honestly don't think I can remember a greater overreaction to a result than the weekend's defeat at Spurs. So bouncing back was doubly vital.
Perhaps Burnley in 2005 was the last time things went this OTT, but that was an FA Cup exit. Liverpool still had the Champions League to contest (what happened there, I forget?), but it was the end to that competition. So it was conclusive in that sense, even if its significance was massively overplayed. By comparison, in terms of the title, losing to Spurs was like going a goal behind in the third minute of a match: not ideal, but why would you panic with so much time left? Games are never over that early, just as seasons are never over that early. Liverpool went a goal down in the third minute at home to Manchester United around this time last year, and that didn't work out so bad, did it? They also went behind to an early goal at Old Trafford, and that was even better. It's the same principle. It just needed victory over Stoke to make it feel like 1-1 in the fifth minute: game on. Except now you have momentum on your side. Especially if you get a good win. (Of course, with perfect timing for this piece, Burnley and Man United met each other last night as well.) Things change quickly in football. That was always going to be apparent this week. But part of the reason they change so dramatically is that the starting point is an extreme, and the fluctuation is like a pendulum. We all have those crazy emotions, it's just a case of taking a deep breath and thinking clearly. Yesterday, Liverpool's 'season was finished' yada yada yada, and United were not missing Ronaldo and in tip-top shape. A few hours later, Liverpool, despite more injuries and tougher fixtures than their rivals, were suddenly above United in the table, with five different players opening their scoring account, including almost all of the main goal hopes getting off the mark. Suddenly it was United failing to score against a newly-promoted side. Liverpool had ended their Stoke hoodoo, and Glen Johnson had helped do what he was bought to do: beat such teams at Anfield. Two games, three outstanding contributions to goals from the lad: one to win a penalty, one a great finish, and the other a cross after some great stepovers. I read some nonsense this summer about how he's 'only a full-back', but that misses the point. He's not some bog-standard defender, but a quasi-right winger, who can make use of the space Dirk Kuyt creates. Even today I read a newspaper article that said 'full-backs don't win you titles'. Well, not on their own they don't, but read Jonathan Wilson's excellent tactical disseminations on how the attacking full-back has become a key tactical weapon for the best teams, and gain some insight. But then he studies the game, rather than just blurting out nonsense. However, even I didn't expect Johnson to make such a massive impact so immediately. He has added a spark of creativity that many wingers can't even supply. Of course, it's still very, very early days, for Johnson and for the season. But this result gave me more satisfaction than many I can remember for a long time. Extreme reactions lead to an intensification of pressure, when there really should be more equilibrium. I didn't think failure to beat Stoke would signal the end of Liverpool's season, but I did expect to face a barrage of such proclamations had it come to pass. I know a lot of older Reds, and while not all of them are free of jerking knees (and creaking ones for that matter), many can't believe the change in reactions to results. At 38, I'm old enough to remember the pre-digital era, and when newspapers had no mention of pre-season friendlies, let alone there being the chance of seeing a sniff of them on TV. Nowadays it's at saturation point. Every little thing is made to mean more. In many ways it's great: a greater amount of football is accessible (although it's often not free), and information is everywhere. Interest in football, and Liverpool, has never been greater. The game has also improved in many ways, despite a few negatives on the pitch (such as diving and play acting). But with progress of any kind there will always be drawbacks. The internet is a great resource for football, but it gives voices to some who might be better off biting their tongue, figuratively speaking. Blogs and news sites encourage outlandish opinion, and the pot gets stirred in ever more fervent circles. So this is not a case of nostalgically pining for the way things were. I don't miss pitches like bogs and games played five yards either side of the halfway line. I don't miss the back-pass, or the proliferation of cloggers. But I do miss the days when a defeat was a disappointment, a setback, but not the end of the world. After the Spurs game I spoke with Chris Rowland, a veteran of all 10 of Liverpool's European finals, and who has a book on his experiences at Heysel coming out later in the year. He said solemnly, 'It never used to be like this.' And I spoke with Vic Gill, son-in-law of Bill Shankly, and former LFC trainee under the great man. He couldn't believe the impatience either, and thanked me for my efforts in trying to reintroduce some knee-stability to the debate. (I have seen a few other articles along these lines to: kudos to Hesbighesred on RAWK, and Rory Smith in The Telegraph.) Both Chris and Vic are internet users, so it's not the medium. And it's given me a platform, so I can't complain too much. But just as players need apprenticeships, young fans do too. There are some very astute young folk out there, but there are those who, as is par for the course at that age, think they know it all. I had some pretty daft views myself some 20 years ago, but the internet wasn't there for people to gather in packs of negativity and doom, and I had no outlet to make a fool of myself, bar a couple of mates to moan to. Younger fans are not helped by a media that has gone berserk, and in many ways they know no different. To them this is the norm. My greatest worry is that hysteria makes it even harder for Liverpool to win the title. It's not about points scoring between pundits, but trying to have fans keep their heads. The pressure on Liverpool is immense because of the historical situation and the long wait for the title, and that has to be managed, not stoked. And I often admit that I do not have all the answers. Far from it. A lot of the time I'm proving heavily-critical arguments wrong, because they are too definitive, or they are factually wayward. Theories are fine, it's the certainty of these people that irritates me. And that goes for pundits, too. Why did Liverpool lose at Spurs? I can only guess, but I didn't conclude that 'the personnel aren't good enough' or 'the formation is all wrong' or 'there aren't enough goals in the side'. Common sense told me that these players can score enough goals: they did so last season. Common sense told me the front two didn't look sharp, but not to panic. Class is permanent. Lo and behold, much better four days later. Why Liverpool didn't pass well at White Hart Lane was never clear-cut; the same players, plus Benayoun, passed brilliantly against a dogged and defensive Stoke. So it was never going to be down to the absence of one player, or the inclusion of another. Benítez was mocked in one article (cum-character-assassination) for talking about certain oft-criticised players being good in training. I remember about eight years ago, doing the same to someone who said, 'Igor Biscan is apparently excellent in training'. 'What good's that?' I answered, in my naïveté, as if it had no relevance to the debate. Admittedly, it doesn't mean that a player who excels in training will translate that into the first team. But we have to respect that a manager, through training with these players several hours each and every day, knows what his charges are capable of, and what they have the potential to achieve. It's moronic to ignore the fact that very, very few players enter the first team as the finished article. This is of course even more apposite with youngsters and imports. It's a manager's job to get them to translate that into the first team, but it can take time. Impressing in training is often the first step in development, because it's far harder with the pressure of a proper game. Some players may never overcome their anxiety, but it can take time to adapt to the expectations. If he doesn't get the chances, he'll never blossom, but it has to be the manager's decision if he's worth that chance in the first place. Allow him the benefit of the doubt before spouting off. At times I forget that I'm not 25 anymore. But then I see some teenager walking with his trousers halfway down to his knees, his boxers on display, and like some retired army major I tut at his scruffiness. So maybe I'm just getting old. However, I just wish more fans and journalists, if they don't have the facts to hand, would stop and think, 'Well, what do I know?'

LIVERPOOL 4-0 STOKE CITY

LIVERPOOL 4-0 STOKE CITY Wednesday 19 August 2009 20:00 , Barclays Premier League

LFC 4-0 STOKE: THE VERDICT Here's the pick of the post-match reaction following Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield on Wednesday. The local paper Stoke were chasing their first win at Anfield for 50 years and Liverpool were looking to avoid starting a season with two straight defeats for the first time since 1924. In truth neither ever looked likely after an opening period in which the Reds flew out of the blocks in the same fashion which left the likes of Real Madrid and Aston Villa gasping for air in the closing months of last season. James Pearce, Liverpool Echo The tabloid Benitez bought England full back Johnson to provide attacking verve down the flanks and a surprise extra man in attack, especially here at Anfield and especially against sides like Stoke given that their draw here last season provided the template of how to steal points from Anfield. A year on, and the Reds have passed their first big test, because they demolished Stoke and in the process posted warning that they may be a different proposition at home. David Maddock, Daily Mirror The broadsheet A year ago, Stoke held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield, a result that owed a much to a Steven Gerrard effort being ruled out for no apparent reason after just two minutes. This time there was to be no such reprieve for the visiting team. Gerrard helped to tee up Torres's first goal of the season, Johnson's acrobatics effectively ended the game as a meaningful contest, and in the second period Liverpool simply kept up the pressure, with Lucas Leiva controlling play in midfield. Dirk Kuyt scored the third goal with 12 minutes remaining after a moment of inspiration from Gerrard, who produced a graceful pirouette that was too much for Danny Higginbotham, the defender ending up on the seat of his pants watching Kuyt finish the move. David Ngog, a substitute, completed the rout, leaving a content Benitez to enjoy not only the spoils of victory but also the knowledge that his team had carried out his orders. Tony Barrett, The Times The tabloid Many judge Pepe Reina to be the best goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League and that number can only have increased after the way he launched himself to his left and tipped Delap's effort around the post at full stretch. It was to be Stoke's only genuine threat on goal and their fate was sealed by a flash of brilliance from Gerrard in the 78th minute. The England midfielder is renowned for his surging runs, but it was close control and inspired vision that allowed him to bring down Mascherano's chipped pass and turn past Etherington in one movement before rolling the ball along the six-yard line for Kuyt to force home. John Edwards, Daily Mail The broadsheet Johnson's principal rival for the man-of-the-match award was Steven Gerrard, who was behind each of the first three goals. If he had done nothing else, the England midfielder's high-speed "Cruyff turn" in the build-up to Kuyt's goal deserved the thunderous acclaim on his substitution. Phil Shaw, Independent The manager The first goal was important and the second was a big difference because they had to go forward, we had more space. We were patient, played well on the ball and took our chances. Rafa Benitez The player Obviously it was brilliant to score my first for Liverpool and to do it on my home debut was amazing, but the win was more important to get us out of the starting blocks. Glen Johnson The opposition manager I think when they have their tails up they are a great team and I thought Johnson and Kuyt on the right and Benayoun on the left were excellent, and then Torres up front as well, he was fantastic. Tony Pulis, Stoke City The fan Johnson deserved his goal for an excellent performance. He was always a threat and you can see why Rafa brought him in. He will be very useful against park the bus teams as he has trickery and skill going forward. Mascherano was tigerish but Lucas was the main man in midfield tonight with good distribution and some excellent tackling. Benayoun and Kuyt were lively and Gerrard and Torres did their bit too - lovely skill from Stevie for the third. Dousty, Liverpoolfc.tv forums

TNB Online

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《马来西亚前锋报》的受害者

【乱石崩云／唐南发专栏】纳吉就任首相之时，信誓旦旦推动“一个马来西亚”为其施政之最高“指导思想”，但四个月下来，与此相关的相应措施，除了1Malaysia信托基金引发全民投入抢购之外，丝毫激不起一丝涟漪。

尤有甚者，巫统的喉舌《马来西亚前锋报》自2008年3月8日全国大选以来就不时打出耸动的标题，试图制造族群关系紧张的假象，并且见缝插针，一旦民联成员党之间出现矛盾，则加大力度煽风点火，试图使争论升温，字里行间充斥着种族与宗教情绪，不在话下。

有人问：如果纳吉真心诚意要推动“一个马来西亚”，何以任由以《马来西亚前锋报》为首的马来文报章肆意扭曲读者的焦点，凡事种族化和宗教化？

事 实是，巫统素来习惯玩弄两面手法。当马哈迪领导的政府在1990年代初期提出“2020宏愿”和“马来西亚国族”的同时，马来文主流媒体－从报章、杂志、 电台和电视－亦营造“新马来人”论述。当时保守的马来民族研究重镇国民大学就曾主办研讨会，公然鼓吹把马来人的定义扩大到涵盖中南半岛的土著及台湾的南岛 语系族群，以显示这个民族并不弱小，而且历史悠久，足以同其他民族抗衡。

这 种论述和大中华思维一样具有保守性质，于促进多元族群社会的和谐毫无裨益；但类似舆论在1993年的巫统党大会前一再出现，而无视其他族群的感受。如果要 追究，当时逼退嘉化巴巴的宏愿队伍要员：安华、纳吉和慕尤丁等都不能推脱责任。而他们的目标也很清楚：马来民族永远必须在马来西亚国族之上，因为那才是权 力基础的来源。

因 此，纳吉在塑造本身是“全民首相”之时，也不能放弃他身为马来人领袖的地位。巫统是国阵最大党，也是纳吉延续政治实力的命脉，默许《马来西亚前锋报》之流 继续愚弄草根阶层是必须的。相反的，无论是翁诗杰、蔡细历、许子根、卡维斯或三美威鲁，他们充其量只能是族群领袖，没有几个马来人－无论巫统或民联的支持 者－会认真把他们看作“国家领导”；他们的存在，不过是为了点缀国阵的彩衣而已。

纳吉慕尤丁

一黑一白脸

我们且回顾纳吉出任首相后，对新闻自由的首次重要谈话：

“马来西亚需要的是世界级，且以事实为根据的报道。媒体在报道中必须公平与负责。至关重要的是，我们在关乎国家未来方面应打造一个具建设性的论争。至于提供阴谋论和谣言的新闻事业，我相信我们可以超越之。”（纳吉，2009年4月6日）

纳 吉（左图右）这番话一出街，主流报章纷纷转载，趁机为其涂脂抹粉者亦大有人在。但身为巫统的最高领袖，掌握多家平面和电子媒体的纳吉不可能不知道，《马来 西亚前锋报》近日的所作所为同“世界级媒体”的目标完全背道而驰。他选择沉默，是为了扮白脸；而副首相慕尤丁（左图左）敢于挡关，对记者的提问嗤之以鼻， 一句媒体“有评论时事的自由”轻轻带过，是黑脸。

巫 统主席有权决定《马来西亚前锋报》的舆论方向，是不争的事实。反殖民斗士Shamsiah Fakeh在其回忆录《Dari AWAS Ke Rejimen Ke-10》中，数次谈到被巫统强行收编后的《马来西亚前锋报》如何把她和其他革命同志诬蔑为恐怖分子。不过，当马哈迪于1994年初亲自指示内政部和外 交部准许Shamsiah一家回国定居以后，马来文报章的文风立改，甚至刊登退休军人和警察呼吁马来人社会莫与前革命份子为敌的谈话。与陈平欲回国所引发 的争议作比较，谁是《马来西亚前锋报》的后台，难道还不够清楚？

熟悉马来西亚政治历史的媒体工作者，不会连这点都不了解；缺乏这方面的认知，就不配担任报业高职。

事 实上，巫统垄断马来人的资讯管道已经长达将近半个世纪，期间无所不用其极地控制马来人社会，同时也把回教党逼到另一个极端，在两个马来人政党保守角力之间 的马来人社会才是最大的受害者。这些年来，国家经历了一次又一次的政治危机，而每次《马来西亚前锋报》妖魔化反对巫统当权派的马来人时，非马来文的主流报 章媒体何尝不是置身事外？

如今《马来西亚前锋报》炒作种族课题过了火，《星洲日报》等“大报”忽然正义地反击，不过是出于维护华人市场的考量而已。然它们之前吹捧纳吉过了头，骑虎难下，最终只敢批判《马来西亚前锋报》，而不敢把矛头指向当初所推崇的纳吉，这也是中文报的悲哀和无奈。