It's coming to the end of the fasting month in 2012 now. Highlights of the fasting month this year would be:
- First time fasting with the kid this year.
- Have not gone for a buffet buka puasa this year yet.
- Although I've had Japanese for buka, which was good.
- Ooh, actually company event was a buffet buka puasa. But that buffet wasn't great though.
- Olympics, where the highlights of the olympics this year has been:
1) The Dato Lee Chong Wei final. He tried his best. We are proud of you.
2) Didn't watch Pandelela get her bronze, but proud of you too.
3) Awesome Usain Bolt in the 100m, 200m and definitely how the Jamaican's destroyed the 4 by 100m's
4) How Brazil lost the football finals to the Mexicans. I just love it when an underdog wins.
Anyway, the end of the fasting month tonight coincides with the start of the Premier League again.
Watched Gomel game and it was a good performance (2nd leg) where we destroyed them. I know, I know, it's just Gomel, but you can only play against the team in front of you. Looking forward to the start of the Rodgers revolution tonight.
But been reading some of the blogs and forums lately and I have to say some sections of the Liverpool supporters are just a bunch of delusional fools. It's like their not thankful of what they have but are more interested in what they don't have.
Almost 2 years back, we were on the brink of bankruptcy. It does happen. To even the most historically inclined and large teams. Just ask Rangers. In comes FSG, paid their cash to wipe out our debt. Took out Hodgson, and put in the fans choice, King Kenny in charge, gave him and Commolli > 100m to spend (although most of that came from the Torres sales). And it all blew up in their faces. I mean, looking at it from their point of view, I myself would be a wee bit peeved and pissed off by how it all ended up.
So they are now doing it their way. They have appointed their choice of manager now. A young and upcoming manager with his own ideas on how to play football. We aren't gonna be spending outside of our means. Seems we are spending wisely with Borini, Allen and Assaidi. And it seems we are going for the cheaper, less risky refurbishing Anfield option for the stadium issue (oh I just hope we sort that one out soon!). Things seem to be looking relatively positive.
Yes, I am upset Kenny got sacked, but he blew it himself. Ideally, I would have given him until Christmas, but then again, looking from FSG's perspective, do you really want to give him even more money to spend? Really? We just need a fresh start.
But yeah. It is FSG's man in place now. We are planning to run the club FSG's way now. Let's see whether it works now. FSG and Rodgers, and all the LFC players. You will always have my support a long as you are Liverpool. I will question and criticize if I don't agree with anything. But support you always.
You will never walk alone.
Selamat Hari Raya.Eid Mubarak. Maaf Zahir dan Batin to all.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
The golden generation ends with a whimper
Managed to wake up for the England game last night . Really didn't feel too good yesterday evening, so really was contemplating not waking up at all. But in the end I did. The little kiddo and wife was sound asleep as I quietly sneaked out of the room and turned on the telly. The second half just started.
Let me get this out of the way first. England were rubbish. However, what Roy has managed to do is lower down expectations. England this time did not expect to go do well. And they didn't. They topped their group and lost to the first decent team they encountered in the play off stage. But they were rubbish. Roy has made England play, well, like a Roy Hodgson team. 442. Two banks of four. People call it highly disciplined. Rigid. Players just did know how to play with the ball at their feet.
Italy on the other hand. They were not great. But they were better than England. Much better. Pirlo was extraordinary at the center of the pitch. They had twice the amount of possession compared to England. And around more than 30 shots on goal compared to England's less than ten (if I remember correctly). It just shows the gulf in difference. Pirlo's penalty as well was out of this world. With all the pressure he managed to stay cool and calmly floated the ball into the net, in the middle.
But what now of the English? Where do they move from here? Its the end of the so called "golden generation" who has not brought any success. Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Parker, Rio and all should just retire from the international scene I think what they should do is scrap the entire team and work with the youngsters now. . Building around with players like your Wilshires, Walcotts, Kellys, Hart, Henderson (maybe??).
All in all, England got what they deserved. At least they saved themselves from the experience of being humiliated by the Germans in the Semis. Can't wait for the semis now. Germany v Italy and Spain v Portugal. More sleepness nights ahead this week!
Let me get this out of the way first. England were rubbish. However, what Roy has managed to do is lower down expectations. England this time did not expect to go do well. And they didn't. They topped their group and lost to the first decent team they encountered in the play off stage. But they were rubbish. Roy has made England play, well, like a Roy Hodgson team. 442. Two banks of four. People call it highly disciplined. Rigid. Players just did know how to play with the ball at their feet.
Italy on the other hand. They were not great. But they were better than England. Much better. Pirlo was extraordinary at the center of the pitch. They had twice the amount of possession compared to England. And around more than 30 shots on goal compared to England's less than ten (if I remember correctly). It just shows the gulf in difference. Pirlo's penalty as well was out of this world. With all the pressure he managed to stay cool and calmly floated the ball into the net, in the middle.
But what now of the English? Where do they move from here? Its the end of the so called "golden generation" who has not brought any success. Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Parker, Rio and all should just retire from the international scene I think what they should do is scrap the entire team and work with the youngsters now. . Building around with players like your Wilshires, Walcotts, Kellys, Hart, Henderson (maybe??).
All in all, England got what they deserved. At least they saved themselves from the experience of being humiliated by the Germans in the Semis. Can't wait for the semis now. Germany v Italy and Spain v Portugal. More sleepness nights ahead this week!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
My Predictions for Euro 2012 Quarter Finals
Czech Republic v Portugal - Portuguese Czech-mated: 2-1 to the Czechs
Ho-Hum. Not the most
interesting game in my honest opinion.
Don’t really follow these two teams closely myself, but judging from the
players that I do know between both teams, and judging from some absolutely made
up, sticking my thumb in the air assessment, I’d go for a Czech win. Just
because I like the underdogs. And I am
not particularly fond of Cronaldo.
Germany v Greece – No recovery in sight for
the Greece just yet: 2-0 to ze-Germans
I would love to see
the Greek win this one. But I just don’t see it happening. Heard on BFM on
Monday that the German guest was complaining that his team aren’t performing to
his expectations, and they need to up their game and he has been so far
disappointed. These Germans can be a very demanding bunch. They are the only
team that won ALL their group games. Although if the Danes actually won the
last game, there was *a* chance that they may have been kicked out. May. But no
way. I am not buying that. The Germans have an efficient, precise engine
running there. With Schweinsteiger (is that how you spell it?) pulling the
strings, and Muller, Khedira and Ozil in midfield, I just don’t see the Greek
winning this one. Stranger things have happened. Euro 2004 anyone?
Spain v France – No repeat of the French
invasion of Spain: 1-0 to the Spanish
Now it gets more
interesting. Will tiki-taka football triumph? Will the false 9 approach show
the rest of the world how it’s done? I think the Spanish national team are not
performing to the same tiki taka awesomeness level as Barcelona as they have a
massive “Messi”-sized hole right at the heart of the team. Still, I think they
will still be able to pass the French to death and probably get a goal. My guess
would be a more than 60% possession for the Spanish with the winning goal to
not come from a striker or a False 9.
England v Italy – Expecting the double decker
bus to be firmly parked again: 1-0 to the English
I am expecting this
game to bore me to the brink of death. England parking the double decker bus
again. Italy being Italians. Goal to come from a Stevie G cross to Andy Carroll’s
head and into the net. Either that or Downing to come on as a sub and score the
winning goal in the 91st minute from an assist from Henderson. Ok.
Probably not.
Now, bring on the
lack of sleep!
Heroic defending by John Terry who was caught under the high ball, outpaced and then failed to stop it going over the line!
For once I managed to get back home early yesterday. Well, went out with some friends for dinner before heading back home to the wife and kid. Yes. Kid. The little bundle of joy. Haven't really been going back that early lately mainly since work has been hectic. But it was nice to be able to leave the office while the sun was still up. Actually some times, I do wait until it is a bit later, to wait for traffic to settle down first. So went back home after dinner and managed to get some proper sleep until the morning. Sleep which I haven't been able to get for the last week or so. Yeap. The Euro's are here.
The thing about the Euro's is that, almost all matches is a going to be a good match. This is not like the World Cup, where the early rounds are filled with dead rubbers (like your Spain v Ireland match). Most matches are close. Decent teams against decent teams. The teams that I have been following are England (of course), Germany and the Netherlands. Am a sucker for underdogs as well, hence I do have a keen interest in teams like Ireland, the Danes and Greece as well.
I was up late for the England match 2 nights ago. I must say it was one of the most atrocious matches of football I have ever seen being played by England. They snatched a goal, and then parked the double decker bus. But I must say, Roy at least has England playing to a game plan. And there "seems" to be some team spirit and a sense of togetherness in the team. Gerrard has been good. Not great. He assisted 3 goals already, but hasn't really been able to control the center of the park. But then again, it also could be due to the way Roy has them playing. And yes. Ukraine DID score. It was a goal. Just makes you wonder what the f*ck the match official sitting on the goal line is doing. If you can't make those calls, might as well just don't be there.
Luckily, the workshop I was supposed to run the next day got moved to another day. So was able to waltz into the office at a semi-decent time of half past ten. I could see that most of the guys in the office had their eye bags as well themselves, so I wasn't the only sucker who watched the match that night.
So looking forward to some more nights without sleep.
Note: The title of the post is credited to a tweet I saw on that night. Don't remember who it was, but can't be asked to look for it. So there.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Picture of the day
All I can say is, damn this woman is cute.
Anyway, haven't really been updating this for quite a while. Been really really busy. With work that is.
Work's been so busy that I haven't had much time to do anything much else.
I do have been able to watch some football though.
It does seem we are finally getting some results here and there.
It's all not looking totally positive, but at least it is getting better.
People have been complaining, but they tend to forget that a couple of months back it was really really bad.
Losing to Northampton and all that rubbish.
But now, other than the absolute dross served at Stoke, we do look pretty mediocre-ishly decent.
And god-damn! Roy play Raul in the middle you basterd. I mean. What the hell?? In the MIDDLE!
Come to think of it, it's almost the end of the year already. Where did the whole year go?
God knows.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Now that's more like it? Right...?
Liverpool 2 - Blackburn 1
If only we played like that the whole season so far, I honestly wouldn't be complaining even if we were still at the bottom end of the table. I must say, that was an absolute peach of a performance. Well, the first 70 minutes or so I must say. Somehow, with Merieles and Lucas in the middle, Maxi, Gerrard and Cole up front supporting Torres, we were so much better. Closing down the opposition high up the pitch. Good passing play. Looked confident. If only Robinson wasn't having such a spectacular game, the score line would have been much much much better for us. One point to note though. I have to say that Merieles looks absolute class in the center of the pitch.
I know, it is only Blackburn. And they had like a gazillion people injured, or to some extent like that. But that's how we should be playing.
Let's have more of that Roy!
If only we played like that the whole season so far, I honestly wouldn't be complaining even if we were still at the bottom end of the table. I must say, that was an absolute peach of a performance. Well, the first 70 minutes or so I must say. Somehow, with Merieles and Lucas in the middle, Maxi, Gerrard and Cole up front supporting Torres, we were so much better. Closing down the opposition high up the pitch. Good passing play. Looked confident. If only Robinson wasn't having such a spectacular game, the score line would have been much much much better for us. One point to note though. I have to say that Merieles looks absolute class in the center of the pitch.
I know, it is only Blackburn. And they had like a gazillion people injured, or to some extent like that. But that's how we should be playing.
Let's have more of that Roy!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
What a week it has been
I don't wanna write much here, but there has been so many things to talk about.
First of all, welcome NESV, John Henry and all. Here's to hoping for a better period of ownership in the future. So far they have been sending the right signals and saying the same things. But then again, every one, including me, is cautiously optimistic I would say. Yes, there's a lot of work to do, and the very first thing to think about is...
... whether to keep uncle Woy on board. I mean, I said before that I would give him until Christmas to prove himself, and he himself said "give me 10 games" or something some what like that. But things are not really looking that great to be honest.
I mean, if he can't motivate the team to play in the Merseyside derby, after the club has just gotten rid of the old owners, and to top it all of, in front of the new owners for the first time, then something MUST be wrong somewhere there.
Even his post match comments saying, "this was the best we've played under my reign so far" or something like that just says it all. And that's the problem, it may be good enough for him, but not good enough for us.
Oh well, at least I can still get a smile on the face thinking that John Henry and team did what we all wanted, gotten rid of the 2 old owners, AND made sure they made a loss as well.
It is also interesting to note that when they first got hold of the Red Sox, the sacked the current coach after 9 days. Interesting.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
A slap in the face
The match with Blackpool at Anfield was just a tight slap in the face with the harsh reality of how bad we are. There are just no excuses any more. Losing to the Mancs were considered "OK" cos they were good teams. Drawing against the likes of Utrecht, Birmingham and Sunderland were "OK" cos they were "difficult" matches to negotiate. Losing to Northampton was "OK" cos it was the League Cup and we played a so called "B team". So losing to Blackpool at Anfield, a team which, no disrespect to Blackpool, we should be winning. With a full strength squad. So what's the excuse now?
Somehow I just don't know what's going through Roy's mind when it comes to tactics and formations and such. I mean, I just do not understand why he insists on playing Raul Merieles on the right flank, when it is just so obvious that he should be playing in the center of mid field. He is an established central midfielder, and we bought him, I assume, to replace Aqualani, to play in the center. We looked so much better once he was in the center in the second half. If you insist on playing Poulsen in the middle, why not push Gerrard to the right instead of Merieles, since Stevie can actually play on the right, and has actually played there before this?
I just do not know what's going on with the team. It is a decent team and strong enough to get away with *something*, at least, from that game. Why couldn't we play like we did in the second half, from the start of the game. Is it because Roy's instruction from the start of the game is to contain and not attack from the start? And only once we were down 2 goals, *two* goals, did he say at half time, "OK chaps, scrap the defensive approach, lets just get a goal now"?
There was just too much to complain about the game. Joe Cole was mediocre, Jova was worse than mediocre (can't even cross properly. So many chances wasted with him not doing anything proper with the ball). Somehow our defence is such a shambles. Glen Johnson was again at the heart of giving away our first goal. He is such a liability.
Like I have said before, I am willing to give Roy until Christmas to bed in properly with his "experience" and "training methods". But from the look of it, we are an utter shambles and look in complete disarray.
Well done Blackpool. Liverpool, you need to buck up, and buck up SOON.
Somehow I just don't know what's going through Roy's mind when it comes to tactics and formations and such. I mean, I just do not understand why he insists on playing Raul Merieles on the right flank, when it is just so obvious that he should be playing in the center of mid field. He is an established central midfielder, and we bought him, I assume, to replace Aqualani, to play in the center. We looked so much better once he was in the center in the second half. If you insist on playing Poulsen in the middle, why not push Gerrard to the right instead of Merieles, since Stevie can actually play on the right, and has actually played there before this?
I just do not know what's going on with the team. It is a decent team and strong enough to get away with *something*, at least, from that game. Why couldn't we play like we did in the second half, from the start of the game. Is it because Roy's instruction from the start of the game is to contain and not attack from the start? And only once we were down 2 goals, *two* goals, did he say at half time, "OK chaps, scrap the defensive approach, lets just get a goal now"?
There was just too much to complain about the game. Joe Cole was mediocre, Jova was worse than mediocre (can't even cross properly. So many chances wasted with him not doing anything proper with the ball). Somehow our defence is such a shambles. Glen Johnson was again at the heart of giving away our first goal. He is such a liability.
Like I have said before, I am willing to give Roy until Christmas to bed in properly with his "experience" and "training methods". But from the look of it, we are an utter shambles and look in complete disarray.
Well done Blackpool. Liverpool, you need to buck up, and buck up SOON.
Monday, September 27, 2010
What was that all about roy???
Absolute rubbish first half. Absolute rubbish. Lucky goal from Kuyt there. Can't believe we have to resort to unsportmanship-like behaviour to get goals like that. Penalty was unlucky. Don't think we can fault Poulsen for that. Just "one of those things" that happen I guess. Unlucky. But the second Sunderland goal was absolute rubbish. Glen Johnson you are rubbish. The fact that Darrent Bent had more desire to get to the ball than you, and how he could have gotten goalside of you shows just how inept you are at defending. You are an absolute liability to our defence.
Honestly, we looked so much better once we moved to a 442 formation. Gerrard and Merieles in the center. I think from now on, for all matches which we *should* be winning against lower level teams, we should be playing those two in the center. Kuyt at right, and Cole at left. Stick Torres up front with Ngog / Babel / Pacheco / whoever (doesn't make a difference, the first two are rubbish anyway, a pick from a bad bunch, whilst Pacheco is untried so just give him a go).
Back four, if Kochensky is injured, play Carragher at left back, Agger & Skrtel in the center, and maybe Kelly or Carragher at right back. And bloody hell, how the fuck did Agger manage to miss THAAT chance at the end.
Rubbish! Absolute rubbish!
Honestly, we looked so much better once we moved to a 442 formation. Gerrard and Merieles in the center. I think from now on, for all matches which we *should* be winning against lower level teams, we should be playing those two in the center. Kuyt at right, and Cole at left. Stick Torres up front with Ngog / Babel / Pacheco / whoever (doesn't make a difference, the first two are rubbish anyway, a pick from a bad bunch, whilst Pacheco is untried so just give him a go).
Back four, if Kochensky is injured, play Carragher at left back, Agger & Skrtel in the center, and maybe Kelly or Carragher at right back. And bloody hell, how the fuck did Agger manage to miss THAAT chance at the end.
Rubbish! Absolute rubbish!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
How low can you go?
Just read that we lost to Northampton Town. A team languishing in the second division. Didn't (couldn't, since it wasn't shown here in KL) watch the game so I can't really comment about how badly we played.
Other than the fact that our highly paid second stringers lost to, no disrespect to them, a team that we should have won against. I mean, with a team of international players, with European experience and all that, we could manage to lose against them. Agger, Soto, Babel, Jova, Lucas, Ngog.
I am in agreement with what Roy Hodgson has to say about all this.
"We have 12 players, or 13 players if you include Fabio Aurelio, who didn't play tonight and are the more famous names. But outside of them, the players we had out tonight are the ones we have and I thought it was a good opportunity for them to show what they can do at Anfield."
"The fact is these players have to accept responsibility. I have to accept responsibility for changing a lot of players in the team, but I did it because I thought the players I put on the field would be good enough to go out and win the game."
Honestly i agree with him there. Looking at the starting line up, I would have thought myself that, there's a team that could do a job for us. Waiting on the wings with a chance to impress the manager to give them more playing time in the first team. Motivation enough for all of them to play their hearts out there.
So my thoughts are, these people are the ones who have something to prove. The ones that should be taking this opportunity to shine. Show 'em what you got and all that. And in the end, they lost to a 2nd division team (again, no disrespect to them).
Simply not good enough, I would say.
Other than the fact that our highly paid second stringers lost to, no disrespect to them, a team that we should have won against. I mean, with a team of international players, with European experience and all that, we could manage to lose against them. Agger, Soto, Babel, Jova, Lucas, Ngog.
I am in agreement with what Roy Hodgson has to say about all this.
"We have 12 players, or 13 players if you include Fabio Aurelio, who didn't play tonight and are the more famous names. But outside of them, the players we had out tonight are the ones we have and I thought it was a good opportunity for them to show what they can do at Anfield."
"The fact is these players have to accept responsibility. I have to accept responsibility for changing a lot of players in the team, but I did it because I thought the players I put on the field would be good enough to go out and win the game."
Honestly i agree with him there. Looking at the starting line up, I would have thought myself that, there's a team that could do a job for us. Waiting on the wings with a chance to impress the manager to give them more playing time in the first team. Motivation enough for all of them to play their hearts out there.
So my thoughts are, these people are the ones who have something to prove. The ones that should be taking this opportunity to shine. Show 'em what you got and all that. And in the end, they lost to a 2nd division team (again, no disrespect to them).
Simply not good enough, I would say.
Monday, September 20, 2010
If thats the best, then we should be worried
Watching last night's match against the Manyoo got me thinking. Looking back, it would have been the lineup that I would have chosen.Reina, Johnson, Carra, Skrtel, Kochensky, Poulsen, Gerrard, Cole, Meireles, Maxi and Torres. With the exception of probably Maxi (maybe if Kuyt wasn't injured he would be in there), that, I think, would be our strongest line up. And what worries me was that even with that starting line up, we never looked even close to getting a result from the match. Sure, we came back from a goal down. But, other than that we offered almost nothing going forward.
It was plain obvious that Torres is not just out of form, frustrated, but he is also so lacking of service up front. The 2 of the limited times he actually got the ball to his feet, actually resulted in our 2 goals. But other than that. Nothing. From anyone.
Of our new signings, Poulsen looked tidy, a poor man's Mascherano, but he does a job for us. Meireles looks tidy as well, and looked much more alive when we changed to a 442 formation, and can't wait until he beds in. Kochensky however, sadly, looks out of his depth. Playing in a familiar position in a familiar league, he shouldn't need any bedding in time. But he just looks like a poor player out of his depth to be honest. Cole, similarly to Maxi was just invisible most of the game. Can't remember much of what they contributed. Cole looks like what I remember of John Barnes in his twighlight years with us. Just being around the center of the field, gets the ball, and a short pass to a team mate. And repeat throughout the game.
All in all. Disappointing. Getting back on level terms did give me a glimmer of hope. But Manyoo deserved the three points. And my hats off to Berba. That second goal. Amazing!
It was plain obvious that Torres is not just out of form, frustrated, but he is also so lacking of service up front. The 2 of the limited times he actually got the ball to his feet, actually resulted in our 2 goals. But other than that. Nothing. From anyone.
Of our new signings, Poulsen looked tidy, a poor man's Mascherano, but he does a job for us. Meireles looks tidy as well, and looked much more alive when we changed to a 442 formation, and can't wait until he beds in. Kochensky however, sadly, looks out of his depth. Playing in a familiar position in a familiar league, he shouldn't need any bedding in time. But he just looks like a poor player out of his depth to be honest. Cole, similarly to Maxi was just invisible most of the game. Can't remember much of what they contributed. Cole looks like what I remember of John Barnes in his twighlight years with us. Just being around the center of the field, gets the ball, and a short pass to a team mate. And repeat throughout the game.
All in all. Disappointing. Getting back on level terms did give me a glimmer of hope. But Manyoo deserved the three points. And my hats off to Berba. That second goal. Amazing!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I think he just needs some time
Liverpool supporters are just a funny, fickle bunch of supporters.
We have a new manager in, and its only been just 4 games or so into the season. Four games. And some of them are already calling for his head. He doesn't know what he is doing. Biting off a bit more than he can chew. Out of his depth. Benitez mark two. Too defensive. I read somewhere (can't be arsed to remember where) that someone mentioned that he is treating Merieles like how Rafa was treating Aquilani by not starting him against Birmingham.
I mean, come on! It's only been four games! Four games!
And in those four games, we played Arsenal, Manchester City, Birmingham and West Brom. We got a point against the Arse (good result considering we were down to 10 men), we lost against Citeh (who spent a gazillion dollars this summer), we drew against Birm (which they haven't lost at home for god knows how long) and we won against West Brom.
Just being realistic here, but that to me sounds like a decent return, in the position that we are in now. What did you really expect? Of course my heart tells me we should have bulldozed all of them. Ten Nil. Torres bagging five or six, Gerrard a couple and maybe Reina a hattrick or two.
But come on, lets be a bit realistic here.
I'll reserve my judgement until, hmm... say Christmas time.
We have a new manager in, and its only been just 4 games or so into the season. Four games. And some of them are already calling for his head. He doesn't know what he is doing. Biting off a bit more than he can chew. Out of his depth. Benitez mark two. Too defensive. I read somewhere (can't be arsed to remember where) that someone mentioned that he is treating Merieles like how Rafa was treating Aquilani by not starting him against Birmingham.
I mean, come on! It's only been four games! Four games!
And in those four games, we played Arsenal, Manchester City, Birmingham and West Brom. We got a point against the Arse (good result considering we were down to 10 men), we lost against Citeh (who spent a gazillion dollars this summer), we drew against Birm (which they haven't lost at home for god knows how long) and we won against West Brom.
Just being realistic here, but that to me sounds like a decent return, in the position that we are in now. What did you really expect? Of course my heart tells me we should have bulldozed all of them. Ten Nil. Torres bagging five or six, Gerrard a couple and maybe Reina a hattrick or two.
But come on, lets be a bit realistic here.
I'll reserve my judgement until, hmm... say Christmas time.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Disappointing again
That's all I can say about the performance of Liverpool on Sunday.
Well, at least from what I watched, which was the last 30 minutes of the game. From the reviews I read, Torres looks like he can't be arsed. Probably from the lack of support or any decent service from the rest.
Looking at the starting team line up, with Lucas and Poulsen starting in central midfield, I am not surprised. Such a negative choice of team. But then again, who else was there to play. Cole suspended and Kuyt injured.
On a positive note, Mereiles looked extremely encouraging from what I saw when he came in. I think he should be starting the next game.With Cole coming back, and with Mereiles starting, I would think the team may look better. But then again, the next game would be against the Mancs. Definitely need a win against them to kick start our season.
And how many times will we be hearing that this year?
Well, at least from what I watched, which was the last 30 minutes of the game. From the reviews I read, Torres looks like he can't be arsed. Probably from the lack of support or any decent service from the rest.
Looking at the starting team line up, with Lucas and Poulsen starting in central midfield, I am not surprised. Such a negative choice of team. But then again, who else was there to play. Cole suspended and Kuyt injured.
On a positive note, Mereiles looked extremely encouraging from what I saw when he came in. I think he should be starting the next game.With Cole coming back, and with Mereiles starting, I would think the team may look better. But then again, the next game would be against the Mancs. Definitely need a win against them to kick start our season.
And how many times will we be hearing that this year?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Outclassed...
That's all I can say from watching the match last night.
So that's the end of the hype and optimism for the new era under Roy? Not really. I don't really think we should get too carried away with the result. Yes it was abysmal. Yes, I was annoyed by the fact that I had to wake up at 3 in the morning and be subjected to utter dross and watch my team getting creamed by City. But it is still early days. I mean, come on, it's only the second game in the league. And we haven't had the best of fixtures to start off with, Arsenal and Man City.
So let's look at the positives shall we? Honestly speaking, I can't really find any positives from this match. Up front, both Torres and Ngog looked starved off service. Torres looked sharp and had a few decent moves here and there, and had a point blank effort superbly saved by Hart. Ngog, somehow still doesn't impress me.
In midfield, we were totally over-run by the City midfield. Lucas, still has yet to impress me as well. Something that I don't understand is, people keep on saying that he is a potentially good player. I didn't see that from last night's match. Gerrard was OK. Kuyt was his normal hardworking self, albeit not that effective. Milan, on the other hand somehow hasn't impressed me yet. I didn't think much of him from the Arsenal match, nor this one. People keep on saying that his touch and movement and whatever was impressive, but I have yet to see that. If you want to see impressive, I'll tell you have a look at Adam Johnson from Man City. Now thats what I would call a proper winger. I feel envious thinking they got him for only 7m pounds last year. Looks like a snip now.
In defence, we looked an absolute shambles. Agger is not a left back, and got run ragged by Johnson, Reina was partly to blame for the second goal, and somehow Glen Johnson looks a shadow of the person we bought. I remember the first 3-4 games he played for us and he looked absolutely brilliant. Nowadays he looks way short of confidence.
Overall, I think we lost the game in midfield. Our 442 lost to their 433 / 451. Its a shame as just a couple of years back, we had arguably the strongest central midfield in the league with Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano. Alonso's long gone, it seems Mascherano's almost gone as well (with the news of the offer from Barcelona), and the player who could have provided some playmaking abilities for us (Aquilani) is no longer with us for the season. That leaves us with Gerrard, Lucas and Poulsen for the central midfield births, and maybe Joe Cole (who's out for another 2 games). Somehow our central midfield doesn't provide much sense of optimism.
Alonso, Masch and Gerrard. Sigh, those were the days.
So that's the end of the hype and optimism for the new era under Roy? Not really. I don't really think we should get too carried away with the result. Yes it was abysmal. Yes, I was annoyed by the fact that I had to wake up at 3 in the morning and be subjected to utter dross and watch my team getting creamed by City. But it is still early days. I mean, come on, it's only the second game in the league. And we haven't had the best of fixtures to start off with, Arsenal and Man City.
So let's look at the positives shall we? Honestly speaking, I can't really find any positives from this match. Up front, both Torres and Ngog looked starved off service. Torres looked sharp and had a few decent moves here and there, and had a point blank effort superbly saved by Hart. Ngog, somehow still doesn't impress me.
In midfield, we were totally over-run by the City midfield. Lucas, still has yet to impress me as well. Something that I don't understand is, people keep on saying that he is a potentially good player. I didn't see that from last night's match. Gerrard was OK. Kuyt was his normal hardworking self, albeit not that effective. Milan, on the other hand somehow hasn't impressed me yet. I didn't think much of him from the Arsenal match, nor this one. People keep on saying that his touch and movement and whatever was impressive, but I have yet to see that. If you want to see impressive, I'll tell you have a look at Adam Johnson from Man City. Now thats what I would call a proper winger. I feel envious thinking they got him for only 7m pounds last year. Looks like a snip now.
In defence, we looked an absolute shambles. Agger is not a left back, and got run ragged by Johnson, Reina was partly to blame for the second goal, and somehow Glen Johnson looks a shadow of the person we bought. I remember the first 3-4 games he played for us and he looked absolutely brilliant. Nowadays he looks way short of confidence.
Overall, I think we lost the game in midfield. Our 442 lost to their 433 / 451. Its a shame as just a couple of years back, we had arguably the strongest central midfield in the league with Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano. Alonso's long gone, it seems Mascherano's almost gone as well (with the news of the offer from Barcelona), and the player who could have provided some playmaking abilities for us (Aquilani) is no longer with us for the season. That leaves us with Gerrard, Lucas and Poulsen for the central midfield births, and maybe Joe Cole (who's out for another 2 games). Somehow our central midfield doesn't provide much sense of optimism.
Alonso, Masch and Gerrard. Sigh, those were the days.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Comments on the new players
Yeah, pre-season friendlies aren't really a good way of judging how a player would really perform during the season, f*ck, i thought Cheryou was a quality signing from his pre-season form last time! But it does give you an early glimpse into what sort of players we have, so here we go.
Of course, i would HAVE start with..
Peter Crouch
Shit, he looks tall as hell. Awkward as well. Funny though, although i have been reading about it a lot, but you have to see it to believe it, that he DOES have a decent touch and CAN play on the ground. He did set up, well semi-set up, Garcia for the first goal against Olympiakos after a mazy run which looked, well, awkward. He had a good shot from outside the box and looked pretty much decent, if unspectacular for the whole first half, considering that he only joined us like 2 days before. All in all, looks OK, and, THANK GOD, we didnt resort to the "Lump it to Heskey" tactics.
Sissoko
OK, he seems to have the energy to run around, but it was more like a headless chicken if you asked me. Late challenges here and there. Heck, if he can get booked within 45 minutes of a half paced pre season friendly, I am dreading to see what would happen in a full blooded premiership match! Scary though, he does look like a Djimi Traore playing in midfield.
Bolo Zenden
OK, wasn't expecting him to light up games, but he did look pretty decent. He was one of Boro's better players last year and we did get him on a free, so a bit of pretty good business there if u ask me. Looks useful and can send in some pretty decent deliveries into the box as well. Now can only hope that Moro and Crouchie gets on the end of them.
Reina
Can't say much about him, since he hasn't really been tested in the games that he has played, but he does look a like a solid commanding keeper. He actually went out for some crosses and cleared / punched them out solidly. Looks promising, and i hope he does live up to his billing as a top quality keeper.
All in all, we look to have a pretty solid team already. Probably we would need another quality defender and that should be it, since we looked pretty vulnerable at the back against Olympiakos. I mean, we were quite lucky to get away with a LOT of offside decisions!
Anyway, here's to the start of the season!
Of course, i would HAVE start with..
Peter Crouch
Shit, he looks tall as hell. Awkward as well. Funny though, although i have been reading about it a lot, but you have to see it to believe it, that he DOES have a decent touch and CAN play on the ground. He did set up, well semi-set up, Garcia for the first goal against Olympiakos after a mazy run which looked, well, awkward. He had a good shot from outside the box and looked pretty much decent, if unspectacular for the whole first half, considering that he only joined us like 2 days before. All in all, looks OK, and, THANK GOD, we didnt resort to the "Lump it to Heskey" tactics.
Sissoko
OK, he seems to have the energy to run around, but it was more like a headless chicken if you asked me. Late challenges here and there. Heck, if he can get booked within 45 minutes of a half paced pre season friendly, I am dreading to see what would happen in a full blooded premiership match! Scary though, he does look like a Djimi Traore playing in midfield.
Bolo Zenden
OK, wasn't expecting him to light up games, but he did look pretty decent. He was one of Boro's better players last year and we did get him on a free, so a bit of pretty good business there if u ask me. Looks useful and can send in some pretty decent deliveries into the box as well. Now can only hope that Moro and Crouchie gets on the end of them.
Reina
Can't say much about him, since he hasn't really been tested in the games that he has played, but he does look a like a solid commanding keeper. He actually went out for some crosses and cleared / punched them out solidly. Looks promising, and i hope he does live up to his billing as a top quality keeper.
All in all, we look to have a pretty solid team already. Probably we would need another quality defender and that should be it, since we looked pretty vulnerable at the back against Olympiakos. I mean, we were quite lucky to get away with a LOT of offside decisions!
Anyway, here's to the start of the season!
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Goodbye, and close the door on the way out please.
"How can i leave after this?" That was
supposedly what the fans wanted to hear after that absolutely magical night in Instabul. I, actually, was more looking forward to the headlines on soccernet saying "Gerrard signs contract extension".
Good bye stevie G. Thanks for the memories and all the best, but please close the door on your way OUT! This is such a major kick in the balls for us supporters, it's not funny. After ANOTHER year of constant "will he or wont he go" saga, this is where it has boiled down to. What else is the club to do? Offer you fecking 100 thousand quid a week to captain the team you supposedly supported ever since you were a small lil kiddo. Bring in one genius of a manager. Friggin WIN the bloody European Cup. And then publicly state (although we don't really know what is happening in the background, so we have to just take it at face value) that the manager and management want you to stay on until you retire? I am thinking that either he was always going to move away anyway (he was the one who stalled on contract talks to the end of the year), OR it is something that is being engineered by his agents, SFX. Imagine what sort of comission THEY would get for a 40 million quid move to Real Madrid!
At the end of the day, he can just go if he wants to. Imagine your club captain saying that he would only start considering the contract at the end of the year, IF there's improvement! In my opinion, he has just grown too big for his own shoes, and now has a major ego-induced chip on his shoulder thinking he is larger than the club.
So, Stevie G. If you don't think 100k quid a week, captaining the Champions of Europe (that you help become) who are also the team your were supporting since you were a kid (supposedly) is good enough for you, then by all means, FUCK OFF. I've had enough of this shit. Just go off soon so that we can start spending the 30-40 million quid we *should* be getting. Liverpool Football Club is bigger than one player and we would definitely get over *another* player leaving.
Am looking forward to a year of not worring about another player who will or will not go. At least until after ANOTHER fantastic season and a World Cup campaign, and Real Madrid will be sniffing around our next captain, step forward, Jamie Carragher.
supposedly what the fans wanted to hear after that absolutely magical night in Instabul. I, actually, was more looking forward to the headlines on soccernet saying "Gerrard signs contract extension".
Good bye stevie G. Thanks for the memories and all the best, but please close the door on your way OUT! This is such a major kick in the balls for us supporters, it's not funny. After ANOTHER year of constant "will he or wont he go" saga, this is where it has boiled down to. What else is the club to do? Offer you fecking 100 thousand quid a week to captain the team you supposedly supported ever since you were a small lil kiddo. Bring in one genius of a manager. Friggin WIN the bloody European Cup. And then publicly state (although we don't really know what is happening in the background, so we have to just take it at face value) that the manager and management want you to stay on until you retire? I am thinking that either he was always going to move away anyway (he was the one who stalled on contract talks to the end of the year), OR it is something that is being engineered by his agents, SFX. Imagine what sort of comission THEY would get for a 40 million quid move to Real Madrid!
At the end of the day, he can just go if he wants to. Imagine your club captain saying that he would only start considering the contract at the end of the year, IF there's improvement! In my opinion, he has just grown too big for his own shoes, and now has a major ego-induced chip on his shoulder thinking he is larger than the club.
So, Stevie G. If you don't think 100k quid a week, captaining the Champions of Europe (that you help become) who are also the team your were supporting since you were a kid (supposedly) is good enough for you, then by all means, FUCK OFF. I've had enough of this shit. Just go off soon so that we can start spending the 30-40 million quid we *should* be getting. Liverpool Football Club is bigger than one player and we would definitely get over *another* player leaving.
Am looking forward to a year of not worring about another player who will or will not go. At least until after ANOTHER fantastic season and a World Cup campaign, and Real Madrid will be sniffing around our next captain, step forward, Jamie Carragher.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Welcome BOLO!
So the rumours are true. We are getting Bolo Zenden. World Class player? Feck no. Good premiership player? Quite so. Better than Smicer / Diao / Cheryou? Bloody hayle yeah!! We have gotten ourselves a proven, quality premiership player, and to top it all, for FREE. Good bit of business there, if you ask me. It seems next week will be pretty exciting in the transfer market for us Reds. Reina seems to be on the way and to be confirmed next week, and the rumours about THAT bean-pole striker are resurfacing again. Looking forward to the coming week!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Who the hell are we signing?
Ok, so while i wait here in the office for 830, when i'll be heading off to meet up with some mates for dinner, let me give a rant about the lack of, shall we say, action, by Liverpool to sign any players so far. I mean it's friggin end of June already, Rafa / Parry / whoever, and the Champs League qualifiers are just 2 weeks away. It seems Didi has signed a new deal, Biscan, sadly has been allowed to leave, as too Smicer. Milan Baros wants to leave, then wants to stay, then wants to leave and now wants to stay, after it seems rejecting Houllier and Lyon, and Valencia now prefering that fuckwit Kluivert instead. A few of the fringe players have also been given the boot, along with Ritchie Partridge, admittedly, one of my few favourite Championship Manager-ish players, who i was hoping would actually make the cut. Oh yeah, and it looks like Sicknote Kirkland could, no should, be on his way to the Baggies for a year now.
So, who are we buying, Rafa?
Well, it seems we are / should be getting Jose Reina from, suprise surprise, Spain. Seems like a quality keeper, who even Arsenal seemed interested in. Haven't actually seen a lot of him to pass any worthwhile mention, but if Rafa wants him, I guess he should be quality.
The more interesting, and juicy rumours would be on the striking department, where we have been linked to almost every single god damned striker there is. First, there was Raul, who, just the thought of him joining would be what wet dreams are made of. Imagine, Raul and Morientes. Linking up with each other. Banging in the goals. Like 'em 'ol days. Sadly, like fuck is that going to happen. Like fuck. Another player who has been strongly linked with us has been Dirk Kuyt, the so called Dutch Wayne Rooney. I just hope that its more of the footballing skill side of Rooney they are comparing to, rather than the fat arsed, over weight prick I would gladly put my foot into his face. Again, haven't seen, so can't comment, but his record in the Dutch league seems to be absolutely astonishing. But, then again, so was Mateja Kezman.
Then, it brings us to Peter Crouch. Gangly, beanpole, unorthodox, Peter Crouch. If you ask me, actually I would NOT mind if we were to get him for around 5 million pounds. He is tall, so must be good with headers, and amazingly, he is pretty decent on the ground as well. I did see him play a few times last year, including THAT game against Liverpool, and I must say, I was pretty impressed. He would definitely offer something different to the team other than the lighting speed of Ciise, and the Brains of Morientes, or the blind alley running of Baros.
But thats the thing as well. Striking options is definitely what we are desperately in need of. I mean, other than those three, we still have Ponggole who i think seems to be developing pretty well, and also Mellor, and there's even le Tallec and Garcia who can play "in the hole".
For me, if we were to get only ONE player this summer, it definitely has to be a winger cum creative attacking midfielder. Oh yeah, and dump that fucking Aussie back to Leeds, or where ever.
So, Rafa, who are we getting this summer? I can't wait.
So, who are we buying, Rafa?
Well, it seems we are / should be getting Jose Reina from, suprise surprise, Spain. Seems like a quality keeper, who even Arsenal seemed interested in. Haven't actually seen a lot of him to pass any worthwhile mention, but if Rafa wants him, I guess he should be quality.
The more interesting, and juicy rumours would be on the striking department, where we have been linked to almost every single god damned striker there is. First, there was Raul, who, just the thought of him joining would be what wet dreams are made of. Imagine, Raul and Morientes. Linking up with each other. Banging in the goals. Like 'em 'ol days. Sadly, like fuck is that going to happen. Like fuck. Another player who has been strongly linked with us has been Dirk Kuyt, the so called Dutch Wayne Rooney. I just hope that its more of the footballing skill side of Rooney they are comparing to, rather than the fat arsed, over weight prick I would gladly put my foot into his face. Again, haven't seen, so can't comment, but his record in the Dutch league seems to be absolutely astonishing. But, then again, so was Mateja Kezman.
Then, it brings us to Peter Crouch. Gangly, beanpole, unorthodox, Peter Crouch. If you ask me, actually I would NOT mind if we were to get him for around 5 million pounds. He is tall, so must be good with headers, and amazingly, he is pretty decent on the ground as well. I did see him play a few times last year, including THAT game against Liverpool, and I must say, I was pretty impressed. He would definitely offer something different to the team other than the lighting speed of Ciise, and the Brains of Morientes, or the blind alley running of Baros.
But thats the thing as well. Striking options is definitely what we are desperately in need of. I mean, other than those three, we still have Ponggole who i think seems to be developing pretty well, and also Mellor, and there's even le Tallec and Garcia who can play "in the hole".
For me, if we were to get only ONE player this summer, it definitely has to be a winger cum creative attacking midfielder. Oh yeah, and dump that fucking Aussie back to Leeds, or where ever.
So, Rafa, who are we getting this summer? I can't wait.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Do we want Kezman?
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