I Haven't Got The Foggiest

All my thoughts are with the Arsenal fans who were either already in Liverpool, or who were sitting in traffic jams worrying about getting to the ground in time. The late postponement (6.45pm) of the Carling Cup quarter-final at Anfield has generated much anguish. I remember travelling to Bolton once for a League Cup semi-final (It wasn't even Arsenal playing!) and suffering a similar fate. We discussed having a night in Blackpool, had a pie and a pint, and drove all the way back again.

Both managers, it would appear, wanted the game to proceed with Rafa Benitez moaning 'this morning we were training in worse conditions'. Wenger added 'Benitez and myself tried to play but he (the ref) thought it was too dangerous.' To rub salt into the wound it appeared that the fog started lifting shortly after the decision to postpone was taken. In fairness the referee felt that his assistants may have had problems doing their job, given the reduction in visibility.

Now both clubs face a January rematch that both would sooner avoid, the Anfield stadium manager confirming that the Merseyside Police require ten days notice of the rescheduled date. The third round FA Cup tie will now take place first, and the possibility of that resulting in a replay is complicating matters.

It's not just the visiting fans who will be bitterly disappointed. Lauren was due to feature at some stage, and Julio Baptista was also in line for an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place. Aliadiere, following a poor showing on Saturday, would also have been relishing a chance to prove his worth.

So the sense of anti-climax is widespread. The mischievous may suggest that the vanquished team in the FA Cup meeting will have the opportunity to strengthen their line-up when this quarter-final is eventually played. They would surely be reading to much into the situation. For sure I can tell you, I haven't got the foggiest.