First off, if anyone's paying attention, I'm sure it seems awfully odd I've mentioned not one word about the DIC takeover of Liverpool Football Club. That's because I just haven't quite wrapped my head around this whole thing just yet. There's so much to consider. A new stadium in Stanley Park is assured, as is a massive transfer budget, but on the flip side, there's decidedly "foreign" ownership mixing with The Most Successful Team in English History™ and - this really gives me an unexplained case of the heebie jeebies - Maktoum's bank accounts actually tower over those of Abramovich(!!!).
I'm waiting for it all to play out a bit more. I just can't quite make up my mind. Meanwhile, there's Europe to consider, and that 1 in 8 chance that Liverpool will end up winning its group only to be rewarded with a home-and-home knockout set of ties against Barcelona.
Hey, to use my local slang, I got nuthin' against Barcelona. Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho. Fun as hell to watch, just don't want to play 'em when there's something serious on the line - at least not until the final. There's two whole months for Messi and Eto'o to get healthy. Even without them, Deco, Giuly, Saviola, Ronaldinho? No thanks.
I know Xabi Alonso came out and said LFC fears no one and would welcome any draw, but come on. Who is he kidding? As a Liverpool fan, is there anyone out there that would prefer a round of 16 matchup against Barcelona over Lille or Celtic? I'd actually really get a kick out of playing Celtic. That'd be a blast. I remember the UEFA Cup a few years back when, in Glasgow, the Celtic fans joined the traveling Kop-ites in singing "You'll Never Walk Alone." That'd be nice to see again.
A few years back, there was Barca in the UEFA Cup, too. Don't want to see that again. At least, not just yet.