by RED BEERGOGGLES » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:08 pm
Liverpool Echo .... 21/10/2010
VEDI Napoli e poi muori’ so the saying goes in these parts – loosely translated, it means ‘see Naples and die’.
It is a statement that can be taken one of two ways; firstly, thanks to the history, the colour, the energy and the atmosphere, coupled with its proximity to Capri and Pompeii, you can deduce that a trip to the South West coast of Italy is one that you will never, ever forget.
There is, though, another dark connotation; Il Camorra – the Neapolitan Mafia – still operate here, the city’s main train station is the epitome of sinister, while tourists are strongly advised not to walk around on their own at night due to high levels of street crime.
Either way, it is not a city for the faint-hearted. Nor, for that matter, is it a city where the football-mad locals are known to extend a warm welcome; Liverpool can expect to walk out into a blizzard of hostility this evening when their Europa League adventure recommences.
One man, however, who will not flinch in such an environment is Jamie Carragher. If there is one thing that 643 games playing for Liverpool at the highest level teaches, it is to develop a thick skin and remain calm when the going gets tough.
In the absence of the rested Steven Gerrard, Carragher will lead Liverpool out into the cauldron that is Estadio San Paulo this evening but, typically, the game will be played out against the backdrop of more boardroom subterfuge.
Christian Purslow’s departure from his role of managing director yesterday has sparked more chatter – most of it relating to Hodgson’s position, given it was Purslow who led the search to bring him to Anfield – but Carragher is not allowing such topics to prove distracting.
His only thoughts are centred on helping Liverpool dig themselves out of the current hole in which they find themselves but while performances have been poor and results even more so, Carragher is not panicking. Experience at such times is invaluable.
“Playing for Liverpool it isn’t always rosy,” said Carragher. “Last season wasn’t that great and I remember going 12 games under Gerard Houllier without a win. But we have got new owners, a new manager and maybe a sense of things getting better, so I hope that can impact on performances.
“The pressure is the same as it has been for the last 15 years I’ve been here. We are not getting results we would like but there are plenty of times I’ve been at the club when it’s been like that. You are playing for a top club and with that comes pressure.
“You have to accept that is the way it is. There has been a lot of trouble off the pitch. Time will tell but hopefully it will now be more settled and things will now improve on the pitch. Getting new owners I hope will settle things down and impact on the players.
“We have experience of European nights at Anfield. Sure Napoli fans are passionate and we will have to show mental strength on the pitch. It is something we will have to deal with. The feeling in the dressing room is fine.
“But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise that winning games would make it better. It’s the same at every club. Roy is the top man. He selects the team and it is up to us to impress him not the other way around.
“It’s not fair to talk about us supporting him and showing that, because he is the boss and we have to do that – it goes without saying. I will try and lead and get the team forward, no matter who is playing.”
Inevitably, the fact Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles did not board the flight to Naples which was captained by former Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson – honestly – has led some to claim the white flag has been hoisted already.
“You have to realise it is a long season, a massive season if Stevie and Fernando play every week when they will eventually break down and people will complain about that,” Carragher, fresh from signing a new two-year contract extension, countered.
“You have to try and look at it in the way that the club is looking after them. They are doing it in the right way so that they can play a long season. They’ve both had international commitments in the summer, and it makes sense to look after them.”
Once kick-off comes around, the absentees will be forgotten about and the task of securing a morale boosting win going into a crucial Anfield date with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday will, Carragher promises, be attacked with relish.
Napoli’s home conjures memories of Diego Maradona and while this team might not be of the same calibre of when one of the game’s true greats dominated, they are more than holding their own in Serie A, having only lost once this season.
The goalscoring exploits of the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani have been behind Napoli’s renaissance but Carragher’s laid-back, fluster-free approach can provide an antidote to the chaos that has been swirling of late and, all being well, rub off on his team-mates.
“We don’t want to be in this position it isn’t nice but it is early days in the season, and we have time to put it right on the pitch,” said Carragher, who will make his 136th appearance for Liverpool in Europe.
“This is a very significant game but every game I’ve played with Liverpool is very significant. We want to be in the Champions League, but we didn’t do well enough last season, we are in this now and we want to do well now.
“They are at the top end of the table in Italy so obviously they are a very good team.”
Maybe your words Carra Lad would have held considerably more weight last season .... "Things aren't always Rosy " well I bet they are a damn sight rosier in your garden fella ..... have you by any chance borrowed Roys notebook ?
But we have got new owners, a new manager and maybe a sense of things getting better, so I hope that can impact on performances.
Can someone please tell me what is happening at our club , because Jamie used to be the one who would tell it like it is ....now he just comes out with equally ridiculous sound bites as the manager ..... BETTER .....BETTER the fans will tell you when its getting fucking BETTER .....
and 
don't take up too much space. 
by Zi-Dan Agger » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:49 pm
