lewlian Posted August 10, 2007 Posted August 10, 2007 PAUL TOMKINS: ROTATION TALK IS A MYTH GUILLEM BALAGUE ON OUR TITLE CHANCES
Spunky Posted September 21, 2007 Posted September 21, 2007 RAFA HITS BACK AT ALLARDYCE CLAIMS Rafael Benitez has hit back at Sam Allardyce after his ludicrous claims that the Liverpool manager is lucky to still have a job. Speaking in Zoo Magazine, the Newcastle boss insisted Benitez would have lost his job by now for his failure to win the Premier League had he not guided the Reds to two Champions League finals. But Benitez has hit back and told Allardyce to mind his own business and concentrate on his own club. He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I want to say two things. Firstly, I think he should be more worried about his own business because he must have more problems than to waste time talking about other managers. "Secondly, has he forgotten Liverpool winning the Super Cup, FA Cup and Champions League as well as reaching another Champions League final, a Carling Cup final and twice finishing third in the Premier League? Maybe he doesn't have a great memory."
armoury Posted December 4, 2007 Posted December 4, 2007 RAFA HITS BACK AT ALLARDYCE CLAIMS Rafael Benitez has hit back at Sam Allardyce after his ludicrous claims that the Liverpool manager is lucky to still have a job. In contrast, what has Big Fat Sam won? F**k all, I think. So it's weird for Sam to criticize Rafa, who has I think earned the right to have some time to deliver the title, earning it with his ECL win and second final in three seasons (and the cups, but those are peripheral these days). The whole problem is the "right here, right now" mentality that boards all seem to have these days. If ManYoo's board had that mindset back then, Fergie wouldn't have lasted the four years it took before he delivered the FA Cup (not even the title!), and the further three he needed before he finally won the title -- but look at them since!
Spunky Posted December 5, 2007 Posted December 5, 2007 LUCAS IMPRESSED BY DYNAMIC DUO Liverpool's young Brazilian star Lucas Leiva is relishing the chance to play alongside two colleagues he rates among the best in the world. Lucas has been drafted into Liverpool's midfield in recent games late alongside skipper Steven Gerrard, and with record signing Fernando Torres in front of him. The 20 year-old, who signed in the summer for £5million from Gremio, is rated in South America as the best Brazilian of his age group and he has adapted to the English game remarkably quickly. And having Gerrard and Torres around to help him has been a key factor, he claims. Lucas said: "It is fantastic playing alongside Steven Gerrard, he is among the best in the world. And to have Fernando up front - he too is one of the best in the game - as well is a dream for me." Lucas has impressed in Liverpool's last two Premier League games against Newcastle and Bolton. He said: "Stevie and I are obviously different players. I am younger and I am still learning and he is helping me a lot. "When I play in midfield with him I have to play more of a holding role because he can go forward, create chances and score goals himself. "Hopefully, when I have played more games and got more confidence I can go forward more myself. "But I am happy just to be playing because I can learn from players like Steven. "It is fantastic to play alongside him because he is one of the best players in the world. "Hopefully, one day, I will be as good as he is but that is a long way away." And Lucas is revelling in the fact that Torres, with 11 goals in 17 games, is proving already to be a success at Anfield. Lucas added: "Fernando is a fantastic player and he can score a lot of goals. He is a very good striker and he can be the best striker in the world." Lucas had proved to be a more than adequate understudy for Javier Mascherano, and has recently been given the chance to shine. Liverpool are still trying desperately to tie down the Argentinian on a permanent contract, but if that proves to be too difficult Lucas could comfortably step into the role. With that deal on hold until the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have their much heralded meeting with boss Rafael Benitez later this month, there are concerns that Mascherano could slip through the net. Both Barcelona and Juventus are monitoring the situation, and Liverpool know they must come up with £17million to make the loan deal permanent. Whether the Americans will sanction that deal remains to be seen, and has been one of the main fears for Benitez as he has expressed his concerns about the club's transfer policy. Lucas could end up as the beneficiary of any delays in that move, or even the loss of the player altogether. For now he is just happy to be making his mark at his new club. He said: "We are scoring a lot of goals at the moment and we have to keep that going. "It is hard to say why it is happening at this time but the team is playing really well and we are creating plenty of chances. "We have played really well in the last five or six games and the confidence is much better because we are scoring goals and winning but now we have to look forward to the next game." With Benitez struggling to buy another player, I'm not sure if they can even keep Mascherano who now has a price tag of [glow=red,2,300]£17million[/glow] !! >:( Even if there's taker for Sissoko, they will prob only raise a fraction of the amt! As for Lucas, how is this boy? Is he gonna be a bargain find?
vieri Posted December 7, 2007 Posted December 7, 2007 With Benitez struggling to buy another player, I'm not sure if they can even keep Mascherano who now has a price tag of [glow=red,2,300]£17million[/glow] !! >:( Even if there's taker for Sissoko, they will prob only raise a fraction of the amt! As for Lucas, how is this boy? Is he gonna be a bargain find? Lucas is brilliant though he has to work on his situation awareness. I would rate him as high as Javier (my opinion) on the grounds that he's a better passer than Javier or even Momo.He can tackle, he can trap the ball pretty well & his distribution is not wasteful. Give him another few more years to "English-nized" him, he can be a valuable asset to his country, possessing both English physical strength & South American flair.
SiriuslyCold Posted April 8, 2008 Posted April 8, 2008 I like this one too Why Torres Could be Best RED Ever ... Due to Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning form, Torres' achievements in his debut season have been criminally overlooked. Compare his 21 League goals (with six games left) against four of the most successful foreign attackers to have moved to the Premiership. In Ronaldo's first season at United he scored four League goals. The following season it was five. Didier Drogba's first two League totals at Chelsea were 10 and 12. Denis Bergkamp hit 11 in his first season for Arsenal and 12 in his second. And the great Thierry Henry managed 17 and 17, more than a few of which were penalties. All of those players except Bergkamp were arguably playing in better teams than Torres currently is. As were Keegan (whose first season haul at Anfield was nine), Dalglish (20) and Ian Rush (17). . . (full article)
THFCPM Posted April 8, 2008 Posted April 8, 2008 ahem ahem... Berbatov scored 12 league goals in his 1st season, and has already equalled that tally in the current season..... while playing in 'arguably' :P a weaker team at that.
Guest francis woo Posted April 8, 2008 Posted April 8, 2008 Bro, wud like to remind you that all the people you mentioned are strikers whereas CR is a winger. For a winger who can score 36 scores and counting this season is already an achievement and a place in the history book............. :D
SiriuslyCold Posted April 8, 2008 Posted April 8, 2008 ahem ahem... Berbatov scored 12 league goals in his 1st season tell that to Brian Reade - he wrote the above article :P ;) aduh.. we're not denying CR's achievement... or place in MU's history books. just that his exploits have overshadowed Torres' achievements. however CR is nowhere near polishing PeteGeorge Best's boots. not least because of his pouty face and childish attitude Perhaps I erred in pasting a portion of the whole article - I would ask people to read the full thing before commenting
Spunky Posted April 8, 2008 Posted April 8, 2008 ahem ahem... Berbatov scored 12 league goals in his 1st season, and has already equalled that tally in the current season..... while playing in 'arguably' :P a weaker team at that. he'll probably be in a different and stronger team next season!! ;D
lewlian Posted April 8, 2008 Author Posted April 8, 2008 Good read indeed. Cheers for sharing. It has been a wonderful season just seeing Torres play (even for the pre-season game against Portsmouth in HK).
lewlian Posted May 2, 2008 Author Posted May 2, 2008 To put things in perspective... Silver linings abound
armoury Posted May 2, 2008 Posted May 2, 2008 To put things in perspective... Silver linings abound From the article:- Regardless of who wins this year's final, no team in Europe has a better Champions League record than the Liverpool manager in Benítez's four years –– the Reds are joint-best with AC Milan, who have also won one of two finals, reached one further semi-final, and fallen at the last-16 stage since Benítez took charge. If that's not progress for a club ailing in the UEFA Cup in 2003/04, I am utterly at a loss to suggest what is. IMHO, a real challenge for the EPL. I'm no Scouser, but for the club with the most titles, to not win one for 18 years is, well, unacceptable. Sure, per the article, the number of points that Pool have finished behind the winners has reduced, but I'd be hard pressed to say that Rafa has ever seriously challenged for the title. The writer notes that Pool have totalled more points in the last three seasons than Arsenal have, but that's a rather disingenuous way of arguing that Pool have moved forward -- it's more a sign of how Arsenal slipped the past few years, after the Invincibles season. And this season Arsenal were in fact serious contenders for the title, until they imploded in March -- I don't think Pool can say the same. Once upon a time that record of 18 titles looked unassailable. Not any more : if ManYoo win it this season -- and they are narrow favourites to do so -- they go to 17 titles...
SiriuslyCold Posted May 3, 2008 Posted May 3, 2008 we had a poooooooor run after that trashing of Derby - drawing against "lower" opposition. its typical of the malaise we've had in the last couple of years - dominating some games but unable to translate that into wins. hopefully we can improve on that score and not drop so many points. Portsmouth (A) Birmingham (H) Wigan (H) Boro (A) Why Gareth Barry though? I thought we had trouble fitting in all those midfielders. what we need is a goalscorer - and they're asking for Crouch
yellowhandman Posted May 3, 2008 Posted May 3, 2008 Why Gareth Barry though? I thought we had trouble fitting in all those midfielders. what we need is a goalscorer - and they're asking for Crouch Barry would be cheaper than completing the Mascherano transfer, I think. And Mascherano just seems to be trouble - it isn't just his foolish sending off against United, he was up to the same sarcastic whining against Chelski in the second leg.
liverpudian Posted May 3, 2008 Posted May 3, 2008 Barry would be cheaper than completing the Mascherano transfer, I think. And Mascherano just seems to be trouble - it isn't just his foolish sending off against United, he was up to the same sarcastic whining against Chelski in the second leg. we can't buy Masch twice He! He! Ya we already bought him in Feb this year iirc. Unlike torres, yet to be fully proven if it is money well spent though. But i'll say he's the best defensive midfielder in the current pool's squad. Like kuyt, can be relied on to give his 100% on the field (but like kuyt might not get the desired outcome though. ;)) Think barry is meant to replace alonso whose best spell in pool is clearly over & will likely be off-loaded next season. Given his good partnership with SG during the last few england matches in the euro qualifying round, guess rafa is hoping it'll be great to replicate that partnership at club level. Btw wonder why is alonso considered a defensive midfielder? The guy cannot tackle for nuts & is always giving away free kicks with his clumsy/ill-timed tackles in dangerous area. IMO with his superb vision & ability to pick up a long-range pass, he is more a play-maker ie a defensive midfielder (eg masch) give alonso the ball after breaking up an attack & let him pick up a teammate with a defence-splitting/cross-field pass. What do you guys think? What kind of player would you classify him as?
yellowhandman Posted May 3, 2008 Posted May 3, 2008 we can't buy Masch twice my mistake...thought you hadn't completed the purchase. in that case, hope you're happy with him ;D
SiriuslyCold Posted May 4, 2008 Posted May 4, 2008 when he matures a bit he will be more than awesome; right now he's a bit hotheaded, but he's probably the best defensive midfielder in the league right now
lewlian Posted May 4, 2008 Author Posted May 4, 2008 From the article:- IMHO, a real challenge for the EPL. I'm no Scouser, but for the club with the most titles, to not win one for 18 years is, well, unacceptable. Sure, per the article, the number of points that Pool have finished behind the winners has reduced, but I'd be hard pressed to say that Rafa has ever seriously challenged for the title. The writer notes that Pool have totalled more points in the last three seasons than Arsenal have, but that's a rather disingenuous way of arguing that Pool have moved forward -- it's more a sign of how Arsenal slipped the past few years, after the Invincibles season. And this season Arsenal were in fact serious contenders for the title, until they imploded in March -- I don't think Pool can say the same. Once upon a time that record of 18 titles looked unassailable. Not any more : if ManYoo win it this season -- and they are narrow favourites to do so -- they go to 17 titles... Club form over a season or more is just like the financial markets. There'll be ups and downs so in a nutshell if Liverpool can 'close' the gap on the top 3 year on year, it can be considered an improvement irrespective if any one club implodes or otherwise. It doesn't matter. It is nevertheless true and frustrating with regards to being static on 18 titles and not one EPL to boot but cest la vie. The past couple of years is definitely a much better improvement in terms of progress than before, qualitatively or quantitatively, no one can argue that.
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