I MADE myself really miserable the other day, writes PHIL BLUNDELL. In the midst of that charity game at Anfield on Saturday, I decided to go back and watch what was – for me – Fernando Torres’s best strike in a Liverpool shirt.
The goal in question was our second in a 4-2 victory over Arsenal in the quarter final of the 2008 Champions League – a long ball was won by Peter Crouch, Torres gathered the flick on, turned Kolo Toure and blammed it into the top corner past a hapless Manuel Almunia. The Spanish keeper didn’t even bother moving.
It’s about four minutes and 15 seconds into this:
You’re probably reading this thinking the reason for my misery is related to Fernando Torres. Well, you’d be wrong, he was rubbish after he left us so there’s nothing to be miserable about.
There were plenty of big European nights in that spell and the Arsenal game stands out above all of them — I’ve no real reason for this; it was a quarter final. We got knocked out in the semi-final and after Arsenal went 1-0 up through Abou Diaby I stormed out to the toilet, punched a wall and went on a long rant about the stupidity of playing Steven Gerrard on the left of midfield to fit Peter Crouch in.
So I spent a quarter of my favourite Anfield European night fuming. Bit odd that.
But then, you’ve got a Sami Hyypia bullet, THAT Torres goal, a 10-second spell where the whole of the ground was urging Mascherano to take a yellow when Walcott was running through, Emmanuel Adebayor’s victory dance, Ryan Babel just deciding that running straight at goal was the way to go and winning a penalty, Gerrard cool as; picking out a spot Almunia couldn’t reach, and then finally Cesc Fabgreas treading water as Manuel Almunia decided to give Babel three quarters of the goal to side foot the ball into to seal the victory.
Simply put, it’s my favourite night in Anfield after the Chelsea semi in 2005. But in 2005, we were David playing Goliath. Over the next few years we’d evolve into Goliath; and what a journey that was. Some would say the peak was Real Madrid the season after the aforementioned game, and they would be spot on. But 1-0 up from the first leg and 2-0 up at half time, we were never in trouble.
Against Arsenal we were 10 minutes from going out.
Under Rafa Benitez we went on a journey from being a bang average Premier League team to one of the top sides in Europe — and we didn’t half have some fun along the way. In 2007 we’d win in the Camp Nou, be so cosily up in a quarter final first leg that Dirk Kuyt could take an injury-time booking for refusing to go 10 yards for a PSV free kick so he missed the irrelevant second leg, win a penalty shootout against Chelsea and then lose a final against Milan that we probably shouldn’t have.
2008? The Champions of Italy disposed with 3-0 on aggregate, the Arsenal game, and then an extra-time defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals, which is something I’ll never ever forgive that Ginger Norwegian Tit for. I don’t refer to him by name. Ever.
2009 would be the end of it. A 5-0 aggregate victory against Real Madrid followed by an absolute tactical dismantling in the first leg by Hiddink’s Chelsea, an early 1-0 Torres lead was turned in to a 3-1 deficit. We had a good crack at turning it round with a mental 4-4 in the second leg but it was a bridge too far. That’s the last Champions League knockout game we played. April 2009. Nearly six years ago. That’s two years more than that spell in the big time lasted.
In that time we had some absolutely brilliant nights — memories we’ll cherish forever, stories we will tell the kids and the grandkids. Since then, we’ve been ravaged by those two shysters and we’re still in the process of trying to build back up towards getting those sorts of nights back to Anfield on a regular basis.
And this is where I became depressed. I started to question everything; thinking too much about things. We were one of Europe’s top clubs and that’s what we want to be again, if you’re one of Europe’s top clubs then — by definition — you will go well in the League given that all four of this country’s representatives were knocked out by mid-March. To be one of these top teams then you need two things: a top manager and the best players.
I believe we’ve got a manager who has showed himself as being able to go on to be someone worthy of a side of that level. And playing wise we’ve got a young, progressive squad that could develop with him. Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Jordon Ibe, and Raheem Sterling are supplemented by the slightly older players, like Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho. That’s a very strong set of players with their best days ahead of them — a set of players we should strive to keep together.
Thinking about that was the problem. Keeping them together. The papers have been full of a back and forth between Raheem Sterling’s people and Liverpool’s in the last few days and it’s not pretty.
It doesn’t really put either in a particularly good light if we’re being honest; a 20 year old wants wages befitting an experienced international footballer who’s consistently performed at the top level for years. Liverpool look as if they don’t really mind about letting one of football’s top players leave because they’ll get a big bag of money.
Liverpool might not mind. But I mind. I mind that the ambition of the club doesn’t stretch to wanting to keep a frankly scary prospect. There are probably some people reading this right now going: “He’s not that good.” People seem to be doing that of late. Sorry, he is.
Have a look around all of the 20-year-old footballers in the world and name me three better. In fact, no, scrap that, give me a better one. You aren’t getting one. And he’s going to get better.
What does losing that player say to the wider world? It says we aren’t really that interested in being the best. We can go out and get another footballer who will do a job but won’t be as good. He’ll probably be a young prospect. And then eventually you lead yourself to a position where footballers look at Liverpool and think: “Well, they’re selling their good players, why would I want to go there?”
The best footballers don’t sign for clubs who routinely sell their best footballers. Because then you become Arsenal and develop their inertia. If I’d had to endure what Arsenal’s fans have had to put up with for the last 10 years — being so close yet so far — I think I’d have gone on a murderous rampage by now, never mind punching walls.
Hopefully it’s just a big game of brinkmanship, the player signs and he’s here for years to come. Because losing Sterling could send out a horrible signal about what we are as a club. I really, really hope that that isn’t what we are.
Be ambitious. Be Liverpool. FSG, give us back what we had only a short period ago. Ultimately, we want to be Goliath again. And you know what? We’re considerably better today than we were in March 2005. It won’t take much, just want it. Please, want it.
Give Sterling what he wants — and send a message to everyone that we’re Liverpool and we’re going back to the top. The alternative is too grim to consider.
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Pic: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo.
Just a minute! How much of the “Liverpool couldn’t give a shite if he doesn’t sign the deal in front of him” is purely media driven and how much is true? I maybe wrong as I don’t read the tabloid press but my understanding is that the contract negotiations are on hold until the end of the season.
TBH it winds me up more that we just can’t let the club and Raheem get on with it.
Sure, I want to see him stay with us but not if it means a blank cheque. That way leads to disaster.
sure, and what does letting him go lead to? can you EVER imagine shanks or even arsehole fergie letting a kid dictate to them? Rodgers is too nice actually, once in awhile he needs to kick something or someone, just t let them know THIS IS ANFIELD. You let too many go (for whatver reasn) that sign becomes a joke, a museum where people come to touch the sign and what is once stood for but not any more.
It’s a balancing act, though. Sure, Fergie wouldn’t allow himself to be dictated to by any player, but that was after he’d established himself as the Don of one of the best teams in the world.
He could afford to say “I’m the boss, and if you don’t like it you can leave” for two reasons. Firstly, the player he said it to was unlikely to be able to move to a club that was any bigger or more successful, and secondly, he had the financial resources to replace any player with another of equal or greater quality.
Brendan Rodgers doesn’t have either of those luxuries. I agree that we can’t allow Sterling to hold the club to ransom, but I also agree that he is one of the best players of his age in the world and we should keep him if we possibly can, and that that may involve a demonstration of the club’s ambition. As the article points out, the alternative will probably be buying another promising player with potential whom, if he realises that potential, will also be sold on, and if he doesn’t will be lost in the pantheon of ‘promising players’ who didn’t make it.
I wonder how much of the prevarication is down to Sterling’s mob wanting to see where LFC finish in the league? I’m not sure 180 grand a week keeps “one of the world’s best 20 year olds” at a club that isn’t playing Champions League football next season (and possibly isn’t for the majority of the 5 years a new contract keeps him at Liverpool).
By 2009, we weren’t just “one of the top sides in Europe”. We *were* the top side in Europe. We topped UEFA’s coefficient standings that year.
Good points Brownie. My heart sank when I saw the BBC interview this morning. It’s an “off the shelf” topic now for lazy journos who have run out of things to say about the Surez / Sturridge “holes” at the start of the season. It’s going to ominously hang over us like a black cloud for the rest of this season.
I feel more than ever now we will lose him. What happened to the times when all this went on behind closed doors in smokey boardrooms?
the crazy thing is FSG have paid top dollar with the Red Sox on wages, 3rd out of 30 teams. Not sure why they view lfc so differently.
Because baseball’s their passion and they see football as a business? Sounds cynical and although I’m sure they would like to see Liverpool win leagues under their watch, they simply aren’t fans. Why would there be the same will to win here as there is for them in Boston.
It’s because baseball – like all other American sports – is a closed shop. There’s no international competition and nothing to play for other than the national championship. This makes it much easier to forecast where money is coming from. The Red Sox don’t need to speculate if they’re going to qualify for the Champions League.
And soccer is about as boring as watching paint dry. the bore draw, so what else you got ?
Many reasons really, they own the station which broadcasts the Red Sox’s games and therefore get to keep all the TV revenue, something which isn’t possible in the Premier League. They don’t have to worry about FFP in Major League Baseball. As you put it they pay the third highest wage bill in the MLB. I don’t know the figires off the top of my head but I’m pretty sure we oay somewhere around the fifth highest wage bill in the premier league. Not much of a difference there. I’m sure the revenue from playing upward of 50 home gamea a season helps too.
I’m fairly certain they wouldn’t be pumping money into the red sox that wasn’t being earnt by the club. They may be passionate about baseball but first and foremost FSG are business men and very good ones at that.
Its clobbering time!
While you’re technically right the Red Sox still had to compete with the Yankees. And Steinbrenner hated losing to the Red Sox. Basically, the Red Sox and Yankees were the two highest payrolls there for a while. How come? Because they wanted to one-up each other. Steinbrenner wanted to be King of the Hill. Did he spend a lot of money foolishly? Damn right he did. But no one could deny his commitment to winning. Is John Henry willing to do with that, with in the dumb FFL limits, for Liverpool?
probably has something to do with the red sox having more revenue than 27 other teams.
Quite simply, we aren’t where we were then and that’s the issue.
It’s obvious LFC are financially outgunned by 4 clubs in England and we are not good enough yet to be a consistent top 4 club which is a minimum requirement to attract “big” players on a regular basis.
Having lost Luis, Sturridge’s injury was an absolute hammer blow to this season.
Although it is fair to blame the club for not realising the gaping hole that would leave and being pre-emptive in signing a replacement forward who wasn’t just a big target man.
Great article this. Such a fine line though isn’t it? Giving the player what he wants whilst also not setting a precedent that every player knocks on the door wanting a pay rise. I suppose it is like any negotiations, you want everyone to walk away feeling like they have a gained a good deal. The Sterling situation is interesting as if reports are believed and he is currently on £30k – £35k a week, every week that goes by he is missing out on the contract offer that was made (I think) back in December. So if he’d taken the contract offer then (reported £90k a week) he’d be nearly £800k better off by now. With contracts the way they are he could have signed that, gained an extra million or so and then still made it clear that he wanted to leave come the summer. I suppose waiting until the summer (as long as this is sorted early) suits the club well too as they can base their offer on whether they are in the Champions league or not. Obviously I imagine this would have been looked at but I would have thought the club could have offered £90k a week for the first year rising to £200k by the final year as way of a compromise and also likely to be in line with his development into an established high class player. And let’s be honest, if he sets the world alight come next season then his agent will be demanding a renegotiated contract anyway. I hope they sort it out as he seems to combine creativity with graft on the pitch and (at least publically) hasn’t complained about being moved position. All traits that we often cry out for as fans.
Agree, btw, that this match is right up there. I was more nervous about Gerrard’s penalty in this game than I was Alonso’s in Istanbul.
I think the absence through injury of Diaby is the reason Arsenal haven’t added to their title haul in recent years. When you think of how brittle they’ve appeared at times – despite some wonderful football – you realize just what a big miss he has been for them.
Diaby has become somewhat of a ‘what could have been’ player through his injuries. If he’d have stayed fit he probably would have gone City anyway but he really did look like the new Vieira against us at Anfield early on in Rodgers’ first season.
I remember Arsenal were fantastic at Anfield leading up to Diaby’s goal in 2008. That team they had then seemed destined to actually win things and they lost most of that squad to teams who were interested in paying players who could help them win things market worth. Flamini’s my favourite of those Arsenal departures because he fucked off to give Milan five of his prime years only to go back to Arsenal. Say what you want about us under H&G, at least our nearly era wasn’t seemingly self-imposed. That’s why I can understand the hypothetical rampage in the article.
Ha, yeah, that 0-2 loss was my daughters’ first visit to Anfield. 3 x 48 quid tickets to watch that dross.
Of course, they still loved it.
Let’s look at another hypothetical – perhaps FSG isn’t this terrible spectre of turning the club we love into a balance sheet.
Raheem came to LFC because we were willing to pay the highest price back when he was fifteen. Now he is doing exactly the same thing.
If indeed Manchester City is the other bidder – driving up the asking price, doesn’t Raheem need to examine what has happened to other young players who have signed for them? They. Never. Play.
Man City has one of the highest average ages in their starting xi and bench. They have purchased many talented young british players and left them far from first team football. Not a bad strategy for a club with buckets of money (taking away young talented players from your rivals), but a terrible situation for the player (if indeed playing football is what they are interested in – they are all paid exceedingly well).
So – if Raheem simply wants a big payday (as shown by joining LFC five years ago), then sell him on to MCFC where he won’t play many games but will be paid max wages, or stay at LFC on lower wages and continue to develop under a manager who clearly rates him.
No matter who runs LFC, we can’t, won’t, and -in my opinion- shouldn’t pay players what either Manchester club can.
His choice. Let’s not put this on LFC. It’s Raheem’s choice.
Those were the days, thanks for reminding me! I miss them so. For the record my fav Torres goal was blackburn at home. The chest down & half volley across his body.
It’s not relevant but I need to get it out there. I don’t like Rodgers. I’ve tried but I just don’t like him. I do like his team though.
As for Sterling, well you’d hope we can hang on to him. The problem for me is when Torres left I decided I’d never give too much of a shit about a football player again. So perhaps I’m kind of resigned to him going. Because like anyone who’s been jilted a few times might say – they all leave you eventually.
He’s brilliant – but at 20 years old I don’t think we should be held to ransom by him. The little shit.
I agree with your comments. The difference is that Torres seemed to be an honorary Scouser, and his betrayal – because that is what it was – was as hurtful as a shattering family dispute. Sterling is just another Mascherano or even Suarez, driven by money (he denies it, but that’s why he came here in the first place). If he wants to be another Owen or Wright-Phillips, well, …’so long, and thanks for all the fish.’ We have had the soul ripped out of us before, and flourished: Keegan out, Dalglish in: Torres out, Suarez in (not quite but you know what I mean). I rate Ibe above Sterling as a longterm prospect anyway.
This makes no sense on so many levels
1 LFC should pay him 150 – 200k a week and secure him for 5 years, what is the point of finding talent paying top dollar and taking the risk only then to not get the best 5 years or more and the maybe another 5 or sell him on for 50-100 million.
2 If he was at another PL club we would have to pay 20 mil+ for him and at least 100,000 in wages, if we sell him he could go to a rival and we would need to replace him
3 FSG have a policy of buying young to compete, what message does it send to other young players about going to Liverpool apart from play for us for a pittance when you make it, when it should be come to us and we will look after you for ever and ever,
How about everyone stop the speculation bullshit? None of us know what’s really going on with FSG and Sterling’s agent.
He has over two years left on his current contract of around £30k/week.
FSG aren’t interested in winning the league, that’s a dream for the fans. If the owners can buy a decent kid and flip them for a fortune, they’ll be more than happy. That’s part of their business model, get used to it. If he’s not sold, he’s an asset on the books as they look for a buyer for the club.
There’s no point turning on Sterling when he’s giving his all and being played anywhere he’s told. Compare that to Carra, eh? Wait until he’s done an Owen or McManaman before getting the knives out.
How about everyone stop the speculation bullshit? That’s a fair point mate. The problem for me is you follow it up with
“FSG aren’t interested in winning the league, that’s a dream for the fans. If the owners can buy a decent kid and flip them for a fortune, they’ll be more than happy. That’s part of their business model, get used to it. If he’s not sold, he’s an asset on the books as they look for a buyer for the club”.
My question would be is this speculative bullshit or based on fact?
For example, can you name me a decent kid we flipped for a fortune?
Also, what part of their business model shows they’re looking to sell and make a fortune?
For the record I’m not naïve enough to deny that’s their long term goal. Of course is it. The 5 year loan and almost everything they do suggests to me they’re planning for the long term.
Regarding Sterling, I think the club could rue this risky strategy of playing hardball. I can understand negotiating for the best deal for the club but we’ve lost out on transfers in the past for this exact reason. I don’t think it’s a lack of ambition per se. I think it’s down to an obsession with getting value. They don’t want success at any cost they want success in an environment that’s sustainable. It’s probably a better long term goal but by definition you can’t do it over night. It requires foundations. There’s a lot of fans who just want success and will never agree with a policy like that.
Talking of speculative bullshit I’ve got a different theory to the club playing hard ball. I haven’t listened to Sterling’s interview yet but I heard snippets on the BBC news and my immediate reaction was Sterling will leave primarily because of not getting CL football (presuming we don’t). The club will try everything to keep him but the horse may have bolted. “I’m waiting for the summer” “It’s not about money” (which I think has truth in it). Then there’s the fans. The way they’ve treated him at the ground and on the internet is fuckin pathetic so loyalty towards them is not gonna be high on his deciding factors. If it was me I’d say fuck them I’m off to the bright lights. I think his reluctance to sign may even have been down to this all along. We didn’t look like getting top 4 whilst these talks were going on earlier in the season. Maybe he has no intention of signing for a club that’s not in the CL
I dont buy into the issue of paying whatever the kid wants but i suppose they make for him a contract with a lot of bonuses and make it in such a way that the pay rises every season even with out review, mean while take messi as an example of how to handle exeptionary talented players.
this is an outstanding article that says everything I feel about this situation.
Our club is a shambles. Raheem just gave an interview with the BBC in which he said he is ‘flattered’ by interest from Arsenal.
The ‘flattered’comment, was just a yes, after being led by the interviewer, it is then reported out of context, he did not mention Arsenal or any teams prior to that point was careful not to.
Happened the last time Sterlings contract needed to be renewed. Not sure what yall think but I dont think Sterling is one of those players that will stay with us very long in anyway, so if he leaves now, wouldnt be too gutted.
Agree with Rogers, 100K is already a generous amount, Coutinho is on 80K, if I remember correctly Suarez was on 40k up untill recently, where he too was on 120K, Ozil and Sanchez are on less than 150K.
He is being a greedy little shite, or maybe its his agents. Take the 100k if its not about the money. Anything beyond that is pure greed, no matter what anyone says. For f’s sake, he is only 20 years old with the potential to earn 100k in a club environment that favours him tremendously. Presumably a new wage would tie him down for 5 years, that mean he would be good to go anywhere when he is 25. Earn your pay rise you little shite stain. You haven’t earned enough, he is nothing but an ungrateful robber. Hope his career tanks after he goes. And that’s exactly my standpoint, I hope he disappears into the fart vapour that he is.
Sterling is only 20 and has no need to run out on Liverpool so early in this career. He is clearly being advised by a greedy no-mark.
However, FSG have lost Torres and Suarez since they arrived. Both players went to clubs they deemed more likely to win things.
If it goes on like this, the Yanks out banners will become widespread again.
Great article but “Ginger Norwegian Tit ” is too harsh for a former player of ours.
Met him en route to the Charity match on a plane from Dublin -he posed for photos with anyone who wanted and even made a short speech wishing everyone a good time at the game
Adebayor rubbing our noses in it………..want to die as I’m taking stick from a room full of cockney wankers. Football hell.
Babel runs through……heart attack material.
Babel knocks it in………pure ecstasy. Football heaven.
My favourite champions league moment bar several that happened in Istanbul.
I think he’s off if we fail to get top four, at a push an FA cup win might keep him another year. Having read his BBC interview this is not about money (he’s going to make a fortune regardless), but a young talents ambition to succeed and win trophies and like it or not but he’s more likely going to do that elsewhere.
99% of footballers don’t win anything. And even when they do, they end up selling them years later. Having a drawerful of trophies doesn’t mean anything – I won medals and trophies years ago and don’t even know where they are.
Raheem is not a ‘naice and misled kid’. He knows what he is doing, and what he is doing is waiting to see if we get into the CL. If not, he’s off.
If our performances in Europe this season are any guide he might as well sod off now. Get 40 or 50mil for him and wave him goodbye.
I agree most players never win anything but those who have and later sell them are from a less lucrative time, I doubt Gerrard/Lampard will ever have to sell medals to get by! As for Sterling, I think I was pretty clear with saying no top four and he’s off. The boy might genuinely want to win titles, then again he might be happy playing Champions League every year, (enter Arsenal).
I don’t recall saying Sterling is nice or misled, and I agree this is a very calculated move on his part but one I fear will alienate him further from the support.
Naive, not ‘Naice’. He is certainly not ‘naive’, not like poor Ince, whose glittering future is now just a promising past. ‘Thanks, dad!’
Harsh, very harsh on Riise!! Really think that over the top. Christ mistakes, misjudgements happen.
Plus we could do worse than be ‘Arsenal’ for a few seasons. Taking out last season’s close call out of nowhere you need to build towards a title challenge and ultimate success. Consolidate top four a la arsenal then make your title move. That will involve not completely busting your wage structure – because you can’t do it for one, its sets the precedent going forward then Coutinho, Ibe etc will be (understandably) demanding parity.
Personally I don’t think it would be the disaster portrayed to cash him in. Sell for 80m get Walcott (for example) for 30/40m or so with leftover for further strengthening. Sterling is good but not a Suarez. We can move on without him
So if the club were to bend and give him £180k per week, we can kiss goodbye to any hope of reducing ticket prices owing to the new TV deal money sloshing around. Players are already on way too much dosh and salaries such as those being quoted here are only going to make that situation worse.
You and I could be able to retire after 1 year on his current wages of a measley £35 k a week.
Do we seriously want to see change in ticket prices or are we moaning for moanings sake ?
Make a stand FSG, refuse to pay him the extra £150k per week which would equate to about £25mill and slam it off ticket prices.
Make an example of him! No way does he deserve that much money. If he wants more than established senior international pros then he is either greedy or really ill advised or both. If we cave and agree to pay him that much what’s to say next it will be Henderson (captain and all), Can, Markovic etc demanding more. It’s about the entire wage structure not just one player. If neither Sterling nor his advisors realise that Liverpool is the best place for him to grow as a player then he can leave. Simple!
This isn’t about FSG’s ambitions, it’s about long term sustainability. Anyone complaining about FSG not being ambitious enough needs to wise up, we are not in a financial mess anymore, the stadium rebuilding has begun, we got rid of players on insane contracts with high wages. We are financially stable and building on a model that is sustainable in the long run. When will people realise FSG’s pockets aren’t as deep as the Arabs at City or Abramovich at Chelsea and cannot be expected to run the club the same way.
Perfect example of everything that is wrong with the EPL, and society in general where money is the sole motivator leading to greed and moral bankruptcy. Sterling cannot be blamed however he is just a product of society he lives in. For him to justify his stance by saying he would have accepted less a year ago is a barefaced lie, and for a kid to be so, cynical and hardened and seasoned in the art of spin, there is something wrong with the entire system. It is no more the beautiful game, nor is it the game of the people. ITs just a few power hungry greedy clubs enjoying themselves at the expense of another 1000 or so clubs. say what u may about americans sports but i love their regulation and fair play actually still exists, where any team can make a final thanks to salary caps, luxury taxes/penalties and draft picks to ensure everyone gets a level playing field to some degree. These things are alien in ALL european sports. Soccer is now the same as Formula One, same teams, going round in a parade years after year simply because they have the most cash. BORING. And this kind of business model wont last, it will collapse in on itself.
FSG made a calculated play that the kid would be gassed up on double wages. They know his love for BR. But love wont play when money is involved. Agents read stats and valuations. The kid is the best 20 year old in the soccer world full stop, top 10 under 24. Should have paid him 100-110, months ago. LFC rode a 20yo back for weeks, with Sturridge out. Now his value is more. People will pay to see that kid run with the ball.
FSG got played on this. They BS’d around and low balled him, when they should have offered 100k months ago and deal would have been done. Now the market sets the price and it’s north of 120k. And Sterling and agent have a boatload of stats to prove his worth. FSG is effed, they know it, its a matter of ego now.
we have him until 2018 ,so calm down calm down. But I believe it very disrespectful of him to be doing what he’s doing ,so let him walk alone with his 6 pack of goal’s so far this season