Not sure what the outcome of all of this will end up being, and I'm sure most of you are sick and tired of reading all the identical media articles about Gerrards supposed bar brawl (although he has now been charged with ABH and affray).
So why not check out The Run of Play [click here] for a humourous take on the proceedings, it certainly makes a break from the norm.
Archives for December 2008
December 30, 2008
December 27, 2008
Probably our best performance this season
In recent home games, teams have been willing to sit back and defend against us, and we've lacked the requisite creativity to break them down. The next time a team comes to Anfield to defend, I hope we can see the lads recreate the kind of form which saw them pick apart Bolton (3-0).
For the first hour, we completely dominated possession while also playing some beautiful attacking football. Alonso & Gerrard were masterful in midfield, spreading play throughout the pitch. Riera & Benayoun were constant attacking threats who were well supported by Insua & Carragher throughout. As for Keane he's looking back to his confident best, with his well taken brace of goals.
It looks like we're about to enter the new year top of the league despite not playing great football for most of the season so far. We've got the right players for playing beautiful attacking football, hopefully they now have the confidence to play that particular brand of football for the rest of the season.
For the first hour, we completely dominated possession while also playing some beautiful attacking football. Alonso & Gerrard were masterful in midfield, spreading play throughout the pitch. Riera & Benayoun were constant attacking threats who were well supported by Insua & Carragher throughout. As for Keane he's looking back to his confident best, with his well taken brace of goals.
It looks like we're about to enter the new year top of the league despite not playing great football for most of the season so far. We've got the right players for playing beautiful attacking football, hopefully they now have the confidence to play that particular brand of football for the rest of the season.
Insua could become our first choice left back
It has become clear that Insua has the potential to be so much more than an understudy to Aurelio. His accomplished performances against Blackburn, Arsenal and Bolton have shown that he's well on his way to becoming our first choice left back. At the very least his performances merit many more games.
He's got both an acute defending & attacking nous, which is complemented by his pace, skill, passing and shooting abilities. Even against Arsenal, he didn't look out of place, fitting in perfectly (man of the match performance). If he continues in this vein of form, Aurelio could well see himself sitting on the bench when he returns from injury.
He's got both an acute defending & attacking nous, which is complemented by his pace, skill, passing and shooting abilities. Even against Arsenal, he didn't look out of place, fitting in perfectly (man of the match performance). If he continues in this vein of form, Aurelio could well see himself sitting on the bench when he returns from injury.
December 19, 2008
The atmosphere at Anfield is set to explode
We've landed an absolutely mouth watering tie against Real Madrid in the next round of the Champions League. This is what the Champions League is all about, 2 giants of football facing off against each other in the knockout stages.
The atmosphere around Anfield can be disappointingly quiet at times, unless of course we're facing a big team or even our neighbours on derby day. But we can forget all about that with Real Madrid. The return leg at Anfield is virtually guaranteed to result in there being an awesome atmosphere amongst the fans. February & March can't come soon enough !
The atmosphere around Anfield can be disappointingly quiet at times, unless of course we're facing a big team or even our neighbours on derby day. But we can forget all about that with Real Madrid. The return leg at Anfield is virtually guaranteed to result in there being an awesome atmosphere amongst the fans. February & March can't come soon enough !
December 17, 2008
Happy news for the cult of Skrtel
Agger and Hyypia have been taking turns to partner Carragher over the last couple of months while Skrtel has been out injured. I had hoped Agger would make the most of Skrtels absence to cement his place in the side and earn a new contract. Sadly that didn't happen.
Skrtel has started training again, and will probably [sensibly] be eased back into the side (forget about him making the Arsenal game). Skrtel and Agger remain our 2 best defenders (when on form) and hopefully represent the future of our central defence.
For now though, it appears that Skrtel & Agger are merely competing with each other for the right to play alongside Carragher. If Skrtel does get the nod ahead of Agger, hopefully Agger will get a shot at left back so he can find some consistent form and earn a new contract.
Skrtel has started training again, and will probably [sensibly] be eased back into the side (forget about him making the Arsenal game). Skrtel and Agger remain our 2 best defenders (when on form) and hopefully represent the future of our central defence.
For now though, it appears that Skrtel & Agger are merely competing with each other for the right to play alongside Carragher. If Skrtel does get the nod ahead of Agger, hopefully Agger will get a shot at left back so he can find some consistent form and earn a new contract.
December 16, 2008
Keane is a fighter, not a quitter
Picture the scene, Mark Lawrence is having a drink with Steven Gerrard last Saturday night. Gerrard informs him that he has the same agent as Robbie Keane, and confides in him that he 'fears' Keane could be on the move in January. Lawro then decides to disclose that 'information' [embellishes it a little] on the radio, in the papers etc.
Looking at this logically, their agent would not have the slightest clue as to what Rafas intentions are in the transfer market. The truth of the matter is likely to be either the player just expressing his displeasure at his lack of playing time, or perhaps it's just the ramblings of a controversial media pundit.
It would be fair to say that Keane has yet to settle with Liverpool, but with his proven history, I doubt Rafa would really consider shipping him out so soon. Plus I doubt Keane wants to leave his dream club so soon either.
Looking at this logically, their agent would not have the slightest clue as to what Rafas intentions are in the transfer market. The truth of the matter is likely to be either the player just expressing his displeasure at his lack of playing time, or perhaps it's just the ramblings of a controversial media pundit.
It would be fair to say that Keane has yet to settle with Liverpool, but with his proven history, I doubt Rafa would really consider shipping him out so soon. Plus I doubt Keane wants to leave his dream club so soon either.
December 15, 2008
Thankful to be in the title race
The fact that we're after drawing 3 home league games in a row, hurts, it hurts alot. We're in a nice position, top of the league, and bemoaning the fact that we should be at least several points clear of our rivals.
That we're still at the top of the league is a minor miracle based on Chelsea not capitalising on our slip ups. Manchester United on the other hand have been closing the gap a little too quickly for my liking. Fortunately for us, they've got the distraction of the World Club Cup to contend with right now.
Whoever ends up winning the league this season, will likely do so with the lowest points tally in years. The problem for us though is that if we can't start performing & winning games, how much longer can we rely on our rivals dropping points to compensate for our inadequacies ?
That we're still at the top of the league is a minor miracle based on Chelsea not capitalising on our slip ups. Manchester United on the other hand have been closing the gap a little too quickly for my liking. Fortunately for us, they've got the distraction of the World Club Cup to contend with right now.
Whoever ends up winning the league this season, will likely do so with the lowest points tally in years. The problem for us though is that if we can't start performing & winning games, how much longer can we rely on our rivals dropping points to compensate for our inadequacies ?
December 12, 2008
Mean, lean, stubble machine is the pass master
Rating players has always been a somewhat subjective thing. Which abilities should you focus on ? Is it their passing, tackling, goals, assists, intelligence, teamwork, or how driven they are ? In the case of some Opta stats recently released, they focused on his passing ability (the first player to top 1000 successful passes this season, plus 26 chances created).
I'm sure many Reds fans will agree that overall, Alonso has been our best player so far this season. Considering the way he was treated during the summer, he has bounced back incredibly well. Which just goes to show the strength of character he possesses, or perhaps his new stubble look is an indication of the renewed fire in his belly as a result of last summer.
I'm sure many Reds fans will agree that overall, Alonso has been our best player so far this season. Considering the way he was treated during the summer, he has bounced back incredibly well. Which just goes to show the strength of character he possesses, or perhaps his new stubble look is an indication of the renewed fire in his belly as a result of last summer.
December 07, 2008
Alonso & Hyypia standout against Blackburn
For the first hour of the match it looked a case of deja vu, with the lads dominating possession but failing to break the opposing team down. With Blackburn in the relegation zone, they looked content to park the bus in front of their goal and settle for a draw.
Alonso has been having an excellent season for us, his range of passing and overall play is invaluable to us. But it was his opener that forced them to start attacking, at which point we had no problems carving them up with more goals from midfield. It's just a shame that our strikers continue to fire blanks.
Our defense was as solid as ever, with Hyypia having an excellent game, even his passing was good. Also young Insua made a very good league debut, and could soon find himself standing in for Aurelio more often. But the most important thing is that the team has bounced back from recent poor results.
Alonso has been having an excellent season for us, his range of passing and overall play is invaluable to us. But it was his opener that forced them to start attacking, at which point we had no problems carving them up with more goals from midfield. It's just a shame that our strikers continue to fire blanks.
Our defense was as solid as ever, with Hyypia having an excellent game, even his passing was good. Also young Insua made a very good league debut, and could soon find himself standing in for Aurelio more often. But the most important thing is that the team has bounced back from recent poor results.
December 04, 2008
Gerrard gives Lucas the cold shoulder
For someone so young and inexperienced, last season Lucas showed many glimpses of his talent with excellent composure against even the bigger teams. His simple style of play involved giving the team options through intelligent passing and movement.
Despite not really impressing so far this season, there's undoubted potential there. It takes times for all players to mature and even then they still go through rough patches (same for Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso).
Unfortunately Gerrard clattered into the kid yesterday on a frosted training ground pitch, which left him grasping his shoulder in agony. There's still no word on how long he'll be out for. Which is a shame as he makes a more than credible 4th choice midfielder [for the time being]. Who knows, maybe in another year or two, we'll all be drooling over his performances.
Despite not really impressing so far this season, there's undoubted potential there. It takes times for all players to mature and even then they still go through rough patches (same for Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso).
Unfortunately Gerrard clattered into the kid yesterday on a frosted training ground pitch, which left him grasping his shoulder in agony. There's still no word on how long he'll be out for. Which is a shame as he makes a more than credible 4th choice midfielder [for the time being]. Who knows, maybe in another year or two, we'll all be drooling over his performances.
December 02, 2008
How cool is it to be top of the league ?
Normally being top of the table in December should be cause for celebration but the boos which rang around Anfield last night painted a different picture. Frustrating 0-0 draws against Stoke, Fulham and now West Ham at home have obviously take their toll on the Anfield faithful.
The main reason most people might be fed up is because they look at games like those and think we should have won those. But what about the games we did win or draw when we didn't really deserve to ? Those kinds of games generally balance out over the course of a season.
We're top of the Premier League, despite not even playing our best football yet this season, how cool is that ? Hopefully the lads can cope with the pressure of being the league leaders, as it's a new experience for them. The important thing is to ensure we remain title contenders, until we do start playing good football.
The main reason most people might be fed up is because they look at games like those and think we should have won those. But what about the games we did win or draw when we didn't really deserve to ? Those kinds of games generally balance out over the course of a season.
We're top of the Premier League, despite not even playing our best football yet this season, how cool is that ? Hopefully the lads can cope with the pressure of being the league leaders, as it's a new experience for them. The important thing is to ensure we remain title contenders, until we do start playing good football.
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