Ranger sums up Goodison Cup-tie

Match of the Season May Be Decided By The Odd Goal

Salutations to all followers of Everton and Liverpool on the eve of the tussle between their favourites. Soccer enthusiasm reaches boiling point tomorrow with the meeting of these ancient rivals in the fourth round of the F.A Cup at Goodison Park. One team’s “head” must roll in the dust 24 hours hence, though it could be that the losers will extract as much honour in defeat as the winners in victory. We shall soon know. Last week I tipped Everton as likely winners, based upon the logical indications to be drawn from what I have seen of both sides this season. But logic and Cup-ties do not always go hand in hand and I realize the strong possibilities that Liverpool may spring a surprise. That was always on the cards, of course but it is a much more likely happening now after the splendid performance the Reds but up against Blackburn Rovers last week. Liverpool that day looked more like the team of five years or so ago than they have at any time in the past couple of years. They had speed, skill combination fighting spirit ball-on-the-ground mastery, and almost everything else and the Everton players who were watching must have realized then, if inclined to be a little cocksure before that they are in for a tremendously hard fight tomorrow. This game can go either way and I doubt whether there will be more than a goal in it at the finish even if that. A replay is quite a possibility –though I shoulder o think of the ticket problems that if will bring in its train, even though it will not be an all-ticket match. In many respects, no matter which club is victorious or what their further progress in the cup competitions this Goodison pairing could go down in history as the greatest game of the season. Ever since the draw was made and Liverpool ensued this attractive match for us by winning the Lincoln City replay the red-hot enthusiasts have been talking of nothing else.

Even lukewarm Soccer followers have been gradually worked up to a pitch of eager anticipation. Old and young Blues and Reds and everybody who succeeded in getting a ticket has been swept into the mounting stream of excitement and growing tide of tension which will culminate in a terrific roar of welcome when the sides take the field at 2.45 tomorrow. If the bewhiskered and top-batted sportsmen who first inaugurated this competition 84 years ago could be present at Goodison Park tomorrow to see the vast crowd and its infectious enthusiasm the rosettes, the rattles and the mascots they would surely be thunderstruck. I should imagine that in their wildest dreams none of them even remotely envisaged that their modest ideas which began with only 16 entires would lay such a hold on the British public. From time to time we read of certain clubs playing “typical cup-tie football” This is generally interpreted as meaning a dour determined style of play in which brawn is preferred to brain and unceremonious tackling is the hall-mark of “do or die” efforts. While fighting spirit is a useful asset indeed, an almost vital qualification for any side which desires to make Cup progress the “typical Cup-tie” business is a snare and a delusion. To my mind, the side which endeavours to play in these games just as it does in ordinary League matches is the one most likely to succeed.

The style which comes naturally because it is the one they are thoroughly accustomed to should pay the best dividends. Take Everton, for instance. For some years now they have been coached and trained on stylish and constructive lines, the basis of which has been a well-knit and “quick-covering defence attack-conscious wing halves, and a forward line which, sinks individuality in favour of sound combination and all-round teamwork. To suggest that Everton should jettison these ideas which they have got to a high pitch of perfection, in favour of “typical Cup-tie football,” strikes me both as a retrograde step and a risky one. In the old days, it used to be said that a scientific side was not much good in the hurly-burly of Cup-ties. The contention was that such a team was usually too delicately balanced and could be too easily knocked off its perch. That may have been true of sides which had science and skill but lacked courage and fighting. But give me any time a side in which all those qualities are blended and balanced and I would prefer them to exponents of typical Cup-tie football.

In the realization that I am sticking my neck out as far as it will go I adhere to my original view that Everton will win, though with the reservations mentioned from time to time since the draw was made. Originally the main one of these was that anything can happen in a cup-tie and against their traditional enemies Liverpool are sure to fight to the last ounce. Since then the Reds showing of last week has rather shaken my opinion, though I still feel that Everton’s superior play over the whole season as compared with Liverpool’s sudden and almost isolated return to their most sparkling form will enable the Blues to carry the day. It would be easy to sit on the fence and make no prophesy, but those, who read this column should know I don’t shirk any issue, I’, ready to suffer the slings and arrows of all outraged Liverpooilan for expressing a view which may not be patatable to them. At the same time I shall be just as happy should Liverpool win as if the boot was on the other leg and equally as keen as the staunches Anfielder to see them make further progress I am serious in saying that I haven’t the slightest leaning one way or the other.

The argumentive queries about tomorrow’s game are legion. Can Hughes hold Hickson? Will Lambert be nonplussion by Eglington’s speed.” How will Jones fare against Liddell now in such brilliant form at centre forward? Will Everton’s wing halves be able to give their usual assistance to their forwards, or will a Liverpool attack playing like it did last week keep them so much on the defensive that the Blues forwards will need to do most of their own foraging? Will Acourt’s body swerve catch Moore in the wrong leg? Can Rankin limit the potentialities of Jackson? But why go on? You have been arguing these self –same questions yourselves all week and nobody can give the answer today. Only the game itself will provide them.

Copyright - Liverpool Post and Mercury - Transcribed by http://www.bluecorrespondent.co.nr