Is He Man Enough To Break His Rotation Policy?
After a weekend of silence, I've gotten over the disappointment of another 2 points dropped over the weekend playing to Birmingham [Birmingham?] at fortress Anfield.
Fine, we did not concede a goal.
We hardly called their goalie into action either!
Why would you pay 20 million pounds and seat your million dollar man on the bench for some key games like Portsmouth away?
I'm convinced had he started playing from the first minute, he would have run Distin [who?] and Sol Campbell ragged.
Sol and Syl must have been thanking Rafa for putting in Voronin and Kuyt there - they knew it was going to be an afternoon of nudging the Liverpool attack to the ground every encounter they had.
Reading tried that with Torres yesterday - even helped him get a sprained ankle in the first minute.
At half time, Nando looked like he was a child who was playing in freshly cut grass:
- bedraggled hair
- grass chips covering his face and in his mouth
Did that make him coy:
Heck no ... just note that he won the match ball - even the ref could not hold that away from him.
Boy did the referee do his best to help Liverpool lose.
No penalty? You've got to be kidding me! What do you want to happen to the striker? Mugging?
Despite the ref and Rafa's rotation of our best striker - Liverpool won with a Torres hat trick.
Next on, can Rafa keep him on the team sheet for the visit to Wigan please!!!
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Creative Cesc and the Arsenal Axis
Him Again!
You cannot get away from Cesc Fabregas.
I'm beginning to sound like his personal praiser. Crikey.
Another excellent performance - he's chomping at that PFA player of the year award already ... its early days though and he's gotten 5 goals, created another 7 and by jove gotten Arsenal to a fantastic position in both the Premiership and Champions league.
However, let's not forget the ...
Arsenal Axis
Right now, the fantastic play of Fabregas is being complemented by the sturdy Kolo Toure, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy who have made the positions at the back theirs.
Whomever Kolo plays with, he makes them better.
Just look how he saved Senderos twice during their game against Seville. This is no pushover team Seville, but they hardly got a shot on goal.
Gael and Bacary have effectively helped Arses forget about cAshley Cole and Emmanuel Eboue ... Eboue may be out injured, but he's going to fight to get back to his position.
Next up ... poor Derby ... let us pray for them.
Verdict: This group stage should be a breeze for the Arses
Off the hook: Notable mention of another 'great' in the making from Barcelona coming on to make the record of the youngest player to be in the Champions League - Bojan Krkic - just 17 years and 1 month.
Just not that he was playing with Giovanni Dos Santos [18] and Lionel Messi [19] on the same pitch. Where do Barca get these people? The nursery of the Las Ramblas Hospital?
You cannot get away from Cesc Fabregas.
I'm beginning to sound like his personal praiser. Crikey.
Another excellent performance - he's chomping at that PFA player of the year award already ... its early days though and he's gotten 5 goals, created another 7 and by jove gotten Arsenal to a fantastic position in both the Premiership and Champions league.
However, let's not forget the ...
Arsenal Axis
Right now, the fantastic play of Fabregas is being complemented by the sturdy Kolo Toure, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy who have made the positions at the back theirs.
Whomever Kolo plays with, he makes them better.
Just look how he saved Senderos twice during their game against Seville. This is no pushover team Seville, but they hardly got a shot on goal.
Gael and Bacary have effectively helped Arses forget about cAshley Cole and Emmanuel Eboue ... Eboue may be out injured, but he's going to fight to get back to his position.
Next up ... poor Derby ... let us pray for them.
Verdict: This group stage should be a breeze for the Arses
Off the hook: Notable mention of another 'great' in the making from Barcelona coming on to make the record of the youngest player to be in the Champions League - Bojan Krkic - just 17 years and 1 month.
Just not that he was playing with Giovanni Dos Santos [18] and Lionel Messi [19] on the same pitch. Where do Barca get these people? The nursery of the Las Ramblas Hospital?
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Lapland, Flan and Ru$$ians alongside players with Quaresma
Flan, Grade 3 Eggs and Ru$$ians
So, Jose likened his team with a bunch of grade 3 eggs.
Why would a team consisting of:
a) UEFA's top goalie last season - Cech
b) UEFA CLs top 5 all time leading scorer - Shevchenko
c) England captain - JT
d) Some England, France internationals
not be able to beat a team from Lapland, hardly known to their opponents?
Why would they suffer so much to just score one goal, let alone equalise?
Is Jose getting tired of being sat on by Roman?
Was that disgust on his face when Sheva put one in the back of the net?
What was he getting mad about? His team had just equalised?
With ManU coming on Sunday, do you think Chel$ea will be fighting for an Intertoto Cup position by 1700 hrs on the 23rd of September?
Think about it.
Verdict: Chelsea need Lampard and Drogba much more than they think.
Charisma, Penalties and Flying Dutchmen
Ricardo Quaresma - every time we miss out on signing a great lad, we end up getting grouped with Portuguese opposition from whom the player is signed.
Why? Why? Why?
Quaresma has some fantastic touches and confidence on the ball. Great with both legs, fantastic on the crosses - imagine him taking Liverpool's corners?
Crouch would have a field day wouldn't he?
Liverpool just are like honey to a bee when it comes to penalties aren't they?
What that's like 4 penalties in 6 games?
Of course some debatable, some controversial and some we just had to take it on the chin.
One more penalty, one more goal scored against Pepe ... [great save against Portsmouth though!]
Go Dirk Kuyt - good anticipation for Big Sami Hyppia's header.
Sami Hyppia had an eventful day didn't he? Let the player go by him for Porto's penalty, set up Dirky Dirk for the equaliser and kept Liverpool in the game with his goal clearance after Pepe had gone for some nachos!
Verdict: Liverpool looked tired, weren't the players rotated over the weekend?
Off the Hook: Djibril Cisse scored for Marseille
So, Jose likened his team with a bunch of grade 3 eggs.
Why would a team consisting of:
a) UEFA's top goalie last season - Cech
b) UEFA CLs top 5 all time leading scorer - Shevchenko
c) England captain - JT
d) Some England, France internationals
not be able to beat a team from Lapland, hardly known to their opponents?
Why would they suffer so much to just score one goal, let alone equalise?
Is Jose getting tired of being sat on by Roman?
Was that disgust on his face when Sheva put one in the back of the net?
What was he getting mad about? His team had just equalised?
With ManU coming on Sunday, do you think Chel$ea will be fighting for an Intertoto Cup position by 1700 hrs on the 23rd of September?
Think about it.
Verdict: Chelsea need Lampard and Drogba much more than they think.
Charisma, Penalties and Flying Dutchmen
Ricardo Quaresma - every time we miss out on signing a great lad, we end up getting grouped with Portuguese opposition from whom the player is signed.
Why? Why? Why?
Quaresma has some fantastic touches and confidence on the ball. Great with both legs, fantastic on the crosses - imagine him taking Liverpool's corners?
Crouch would have a field day wouldn't he?
Liverpool just are like honey to a bee when it comes to penalties aren't they?
What that's like 4 penalties in 6 games?
Of course some debatable, some controversial and some we just had to take it on the chin.
One more penalty, one more goal scored against Pepe ... [great save against Portsmouth though!]
Go Dirk Kuyt - good anticipation for Big Sami Hyppia's header.
Sami Hyppia had an eventful day didn't he? Let the player go by him for Porto's penalty, set up Dirky Dirk for the equaliser and kept Liverpool in the game with his goal clearance after Pepe had gone for some nachos!
Verdict: Liverpool looked tired, weren't the players rotated over the weekend?
Off the Hook: Djibril Cisse scored for Marseille
Sunday, 16 September 2007
The Little Wizard and his Class Act
Cesc Fabregas
Is this boy a little wizard?
He is definitely coming of age at only age 20. What a fantastic showing against cross borough rivals Tottenham.
Now Tottenham have just got to be the most psychologically deficient team when it comes to derbies. Not this side of the century will they believe that they can actually beat Arsenal.
Not to take much away from Cesc.
Good thing he is not going to Madrid, what a waste that would be. The Professor has conjured up a miracle worker from the centre of the midfield.
Cesc has VISION.
The Barcelona factory definitely does churn out some mega stars.
Cesc could not get into the team there ... Giovanni dos Santos is just getting there, Iniesta, despite his excess skill, still only command coming in from the bench. Messi, until recently was also a bench warmer.
How The Professor managed to pry Cesc from this factory at such a reasonable investment - amazing!
Goals from Adebayor were off the hook, Fabregas' goal? What more needs to be said? You have to bow down to the class.
Darn it all in the end, the Arses are top of the Premiership, this means Anfield has moved from our 'dizzy' heights.
We'll get there again!!
Winners - Man United? You gotta be kidding me!
As usual, all the Mancs could think of is how much their luck could have gotten them.
I agree, they're darn lucky.
As usual my friend Big Ben was quick to text me after Chel$ki's draw that the winners of the weekend were ManU.
Still struggling to understand how he came to that conclusion.
Everton away is an extreme task, just ask any Scouser. We were praying that our cross park rivals would help our situation.
ManU definitely took advantage, but the winners of the weekend? Doubt it.
Man City and Arsenal - top the table against some solid opposition. They were definitely the winners on this weekend!
ManU, Liverpool and Chel$ki will still be looking up.
Rafa the Rotater
Rafa, Rafa, Rafa ... as much as the world will complain about you rotating the stars - Valencia, Istanbul and Cardiff are testaments that your policy does work.
They will always speak about the zonal marking system, but Reina's - Barclays Goalkeeper of the Season 2006/7 will be testament that the zonal marking system will work. [Still not sure how P.Cech who let in all those penalties and goals last champions league outing managed to get the UEFA Most Valuable Goalie award!]
Up until now only 2 penalties have constituted the goals conceded. And what a stop by Pepe Reina. I think he's going to drive fear into a load of the Premiership players just like the Portugal goalie does.
Hah Hah.
Walk On Through The Rain.
Is this boy a little wizard?
He is definitely coming of age at only age 20. What a fantastic showing against cross borough rivals Tottenham.
Now Tottenham have just got to be the most psychologically deficient team when it comes to derbies. Not this side of the century will they believe that they can actually beat Arsenal.
Not to take much away from Cesc.
Good thing he is not going to Madrid, what a waste that would be. The Professor has conjured up a miracle worker from the centre of the midfield.
Cesc has VISION.
The Barcelona factory definitely does churn out some mega stars.
Cesc could not get into the team there ... Giovanni dos Santos is just getting there, Iniesta, despite his excess skill, still only command coming in from the bench. Messi, until recently was also a bench warmer.
How The Professor managed to pry Cesc from this factory at such a reasonable investment - amazing!
Goals from Adebayor were off the hook, Fabregas' goal? What more needs to be said? You have to bow down to the class.
Darn it all in the end, the Arses are top of the Premiership, this means Anfield has moved from our 'dizzy' heights.
We'll get there again!!
Winners - Man United? You gotta be kidding me!
As usual, all the Mancs could think of is how much their luck could have gotten them.
I agree, they're darn lucky.
As usual my friend Big Ben was quick to text me after Chel$ki's draw that the winners of the weekend were ManU.
Still struggling to understand how he came to that conclusion.
Everton away is an extreme task, just ask any Scouser. We were praying that our cross park rivals would help our situation.
ManU definitely took advantage, but the winners of the weekend? Doubt it.
Man City and Arsenal - top the table against some solid opposition. They were definitely the winners on this weekend!
ManU, Liverpool and Chel$ki will still be looking up.
Rafa the Rotater
Rafa, Rafa, Rafa ... as much as the world will complain about you rotating the stars - Valencia, Istanbul and Cardiff are testaments that your policy does work.
They will always speak about the zonal marking system, but Reina's - Barclays Goalkeeper of the Season 2006/7 will be testament that the zonal marking system will work. [Still not sure how P.Cech who let in all those penalties and goals last champions league outing managed to get the UEFA Most Valuable Goalie award!]
Up until now only 2 penalties have constituted the goals conceded. And what a stop by Pepe Reina. I think he's going to drive fear into a load of the Premiership players just like the Portugal goalie does.
Hah Hah.
Walk On Through The Rain.
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Four Weeks In, The Cream Rises To The Top
So, It Is What It Is
Did we start seeing things going this way?
3 weeks into the season, and we are going in the way the Premiership may shape out at the end of the season.
Early day jitters: ManU drew, Chelsea won, Liverpool limped and Arsenal limped
3 weeks in and the top four positions have the usual 3 clubs you will expect to be there at the beginning.
Here are some of the performances of the week.
ManUre
Now that is what I call the heart of a champion.
As much as it pains me to say it that they are putting the kind of results that champions are supposed to put in there.
With their most valuable player is out - they are churning out what needs to be done - the one nil wins that will keep them getting the 3 points and keep them somewhere there ... when the time comes.
Arses
Fabregas is definitely not on the sleeping tip this side of the century.
Boy! Has he has take the boys by the scruff of the neck and told them, "Hey, we need to show that we own this here trophy! We need to step up and grab what is ours!"
Fantastic goals, fantastic passes, hard tackles.
If you want the model football player - that is he. No diving, no stupidity - just love for the game.
Great example.
Liverpool
Well, you can say they have played the bottom 2 teams - this was definitely good for the goal difference. [Thank you Derby]
Ryan Babel, Nando Torres, Andriy Voronin and Youssi Benayoun are doing their thing.
It is however refreshing to see Momo and Mascherano, Agger and Alonso still giving it their all like they are going to be benched the next game.
Rafa is definitely happy every morning when he has to decide who's going to play that day!
Aston Villa
Hah! You thought it was going to be Chel$ki there didn't you?
Well, if Fabregas epitomises the heart of a football player at the moment, this weekend no team showed heart for the game like Aston Villa did against Ru$$ia.
The performances of Laursen, Knight and Reo-Coker [Choker] were like they were auditioning for a place in McLaren's line up!
Reo has never chased and tackled as much as he did.
Laursen - talk about a tall order?
I still think Drogba is a first class striker, that's why I doff my hat to Laursen for the exemplary way he took his defensive tasks.
Fighting for every header to counter Chel$ki's long ball tactics. Is that Chel$ki lacking any bite when Frank [I ate all the Pies] is not manning the centre of the park?
Zat Knight - cleaver goal, period.
With a 2 week break at our hands - Liverpool is going to enjoy top spot for 2 weeks.
GET IN THERE!!
Did we start seeing things going this way?
3 weeks into the season, and we are going in the way the Premiership may shape out at the end of the season.
Early day jitters: ManU drew, Chelsea won, Liverpool limped and Arsenal limped
3 weeks in and the top four positions have the usual 3 clubs you will expect to be there at the beginning.
Here are some of the performances of the week.
ManUre
Now that is what I call the heart of a champion.
As much as it pains me to say it that they are putting the kind of results that champions are supposed to put in there.
With their most valuable player is out - they are churning out what needs to be done - the one nil wins that will keep them getting the 3 points and keep them somewhere there ... when the time comes.
Arses
Fabregas is definitely not on the sleeping tip this side of the century.
Boy! Has he has take the boys by the scruff of the neck and told them, "Hey, we need to show that we own this here trophy! We need to step up and grab what is ours!"
Fantastic goals, fantastic passes, hard tackles.
If you want the model football player - that is he. No diving, no stupidity - just love for the game.
Great example.
Liverpool
Well, you can say they have played the bottom 2 teams - this was definitely good for the goal difference. [Thank you Derby]
Ryan Babel, Nando Torres, Andriy Voronin and Youssi Benayoun are doing their thing.
It is however refreshing to see Momo and Mascherano, Agger and Alonso still giving it their all like they are going to be benched the next game.
Rafa is definitely happy every morning when he has to decide who's going to play that day!
Aston Villa
Hah! You thought it was going to be Chel$ki there didn't you?
Well, if Fabregas epitomises the heart of a football player at the moment, this weekend no team showed heart for the game like Aston Villa did against Ru$$ia.
The performances of Laursen, Knight and Reo-Coker [Choker] were like they were auditioning for a place in McLaren's line up!
Reo has never chased and tackled as much as he did.
Laursen - talk about a tall order?
I still think Drogba is a first class striker, that's why I doff my hat to Laursen for the exemplary way he took his defensive tasks.
Fighting for every header to counter Chel$ki's long ball tactics. Is that Chel$ki lacking any bite when Frank [I ate all the Pies] is not manning the centre of the park?
Zat Knight - cleaver goal, period.
With a 2 week break at our hands - Liverpool is going to enjoy top spot for 2 weeks.
GET IN THERE!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
