Liverpool

[Pike B]

Xavi and Iniesta.
Not a central two, iniesta plays wide.

[Pike B]

Because Alonso had two awful seasons before this one.


Not in my opinion.

[Pike B]

Fletcher and park!
Park is not bad, Fletcher, is.

[bennocelt]

Park is not bad, Fletcher, is.

i think Park is rubbish, very much a lightweight

[Pike B]

i think Park is rubbish, very much a lightweight
I know several United fans who say the same, but he works very hard, chips in with a few goals and is incredibly unselfish. Plus he has an attitude and honesty that lady boy Ronaldo could only dream about. I'd rate Park.

[reder]

i think Park is rubbish, very much a lightweight

I'd say he generates a small fortune in terms of revenue for United in Asia though. I always thought that was part of the reason they signed him.

[John83]

I'd say he generates a small fortune in terms of revenue for United in Asia though. I always thought that was part of the reason they signed him.
He was a key part of the PSV (? one of the Dutch teams anyway) that Hiddink built. I remember him tearing Milan a new arsehole in the CL knockouts. He's not a key player for Man Utd, but it's not fair to write him off as a commercial buy.

[stojkovic]

Not a central two, iniesta plays wide.

No he doesnt.

[Pike B]

No he doesnt.
Yes he does.

[gaiscíoch]

Yes he does.


I'm afraid he doesn't?:ball:

[Pike B]

I'm afraid he doesn't?:ball:
Does too..

[bennocelt]

I'd say he generates a small fortune in terms of revenue for United in Asia though. I always thought that was part of the reason they signed him.

yeah thats what i think too - i mean any time i see him play he is a stop gap, and when things get serious he is hauled off - and he is very weak (typical of asian players), he doesnt like the hard tackles

[frog-gufc]

Carragher and Alonso would not get near the team and I dont think Mascherano would either Gerrard and Torres would and thats about it.

my logic is that centre backs are all about partnerships so Carragher and Vidic together would not work as there would be a lack of pace. As a result Carragher would be competing with Vidic and he is not as good as him.

Seconly Alonso would be competing with Scholes and Carrick and I do not think he is as good as either. He is a good player but not quite as good as Scholes or Carrick.

Mascherano is one dimensional and only works in a 3 man central midfielder where he can do the defensive job to perfection but is lacking when it comes to creating. As a result he gets found out when playing as a two in central midfield.

Gerrard and Torres would be good enough though.
alonso not as good as scholes or carrick:D ah cop onto yourself hes twice the player carrick is and scholes is well over the hill

[Angus]

Liverpool like a man on speed this evening - irresistible going forward and all at a hundred miles an hour but when the buzz wears off, they are awful and a quivering mess.

It is probably over now - hard to see Man U drop enough points - however the big thing this evening is that Liverpool can afford to drop nothing else because Chelsea are within touching distance

Great entertainment but some dodgy defending

Arsenal are the best users of space I have seen in ages and I dont think I have ever seen as good a striker as Torres

[old git]

Liverpool like a man on speed this evening - irresistible going forward and all at a hundred miles an hour but when the buzz wears off, they are awful and a quivering mess.

It is probably over now - hard to see Man U drop enough points - however the big thing this evening is that Liverpool can afford to drop nothing else because Chelsea are within touching distance

Great entertainment but some dodgy defending

Arsenal are the best users of space I have seen in ages and I dont think I have ever seen as good a striker as Torres

have to give credit to liverpool all the same equalised very late once again to keep title hopes alive.. can still see utd dropping points a lot of tough games left yet and utd still not playing well ,, plus utd & chelsea still have to play arsenal who seem to be on a good run of form & also more of there first choice players due back from injury shortly :ball:

[shakermaker1982]

thank you Arshavin. You made my evening. His second goal was a thing of beauty.

[reder]

Some performance by Arshavin. His second was a cracker.

However, the league aint over by a long shot. Liverpool must win all their remaining games and the result last night will probably bring Chelsea back into the picture.

I am relieved at the thought that Liverpool can make the same mistakes in all of the remaining games and get away with it because none of the teams are good enough to take advantage.

Hull at the weekend will be a walkover. They are woeful and wouldnt beat the Liverpool academy team.

Arsenal didnt look too bothered last night, they were never really in the game. I suspect that they have more than one eye on the CL.

[Stuttgart88]

Arsenal should disguise Arshavin, make him look like Jack Wilshere or someone, and play him in the CL. Lovely to see a player so comfortable with both feet. I know it's a different standard but it's something I've not seen since Moravcik. Watching Luca Modric at the weekend, another small gifted "number 10", I was amazed at how totally one footed he is. Everything had to go on his right foot.

Torres is an amazing player.

[old git]

Some performance by Arshavin. His second was a cracker.

However, the league aint over by a long shot. Liverpool must win all their remaining games and the result last night will probably bring Chelsea back into the picture.

I am relieved at the thought that Liverpool can make the same mistakes in all of the remaining games and get away with it because none of the teams are good enough to take advantage.

Hull at the weekend will be a walkover. They are woeful and wouldnt beat the Liverpool academy team.

Arsenal didnt look too bothered last night, they were never really in the game. I suspect that they have more than one eye on the CL.

dont be getting carried away with yourself ... liverpool have conceded 8 goals in last 2 games .. and they cannot afford any more mistakes in any remaining games hull may be woeful but they have nothing to lose ... as for academy pool team how many acadamey players have came through to first team in last year or 2 . good job arsenal were not to bothered last night as they might have tried to win game in stead of only drawing 4-4 .:p

[old git]

Arsenal should disguise Arshavin, make him look like Jack Wilshere or someone, and play him in the CL. Lovely to see a player so comfortable with both feet. I know it's a different standard but it's something I've not seen since Moravcik. Watching Luca Modric at the weekend, another small gifted "number 10", I was amazed at how totally one footed he is. Everything had to go on his right foot.

Torres is an amazing player.


even harder to understand now why wegner never played arshavin in f a cup semi final at weekend against chelsea ... :mad:

[eamo1]

Agger didnt cover himself in glory last night.The guy is moaning about not getting a new contract and then he plays like he did last night.Great finishes from Arshavin but how much space had he???
I think thats the title gone now to Man Utd.

[Roadend]

Eh, Mascherno mistake, Arbeloa mistake, Aurelio mistake, break from a corner. How exactly was Agger at fault here?

[DeLorean]

Ya I didn't see much at fault with Agger's performance to be honest. It would be no different than blaming Skertel for Chelsea scoring 4 last week. Liverpool pretty much made 3 individual errors and were punished 4 times!!

What did ye think of Gerrard being in the Sky Sports studio last night? I might be overreacting but I can't help thinking it was a bit of a disgrace. Club captain more interested in making a few bucks instead of watching the match from the stands and being in the dressing room offering words of wisdom before the match and at half time, and even after the match seems a bit off to me.

[Roadend]

He was a disgrace, sitting there with his legs spread and a pair of skin tight shiny slacks on, hello camel toe.

[old git]

Ya I didn't see much at fault with Agger's performance to be honest. It would be no different than blaming Skertel for Chelsea scoring 4 last week. Liverpool pretty much made 3 individual errors and were punished 4 times!!

What did ye think of Gerrard being in the Sky Sports studio last night? I might be overreacting but I can't help thinking it was a bit of a disgrace. Club captain more interested in making a few bucks instead of watching the match from the stands and being in the dressing room offering words of wisdom before the match and at half time, and even after the match seems a bit off to me.

very strange to have captain of club in sky sports studio instead of anfield for such an important game he would have been better off at anfield urging on his teamates :ball: on the other hand manager must have gave him the ok to miss match also another strange decision

[reder]

Selling Agger would be an awful decision. He has great potential and JC isnt getting any younger. I dont see what he did wrong last night. Plenty are going off on one at Ryan Babel but I really dont know what he was supposed to do when he came on or what he did wrong.

[KK77]

Ya I didn't see much at fault with Agger's performance to be honest. It would be no different than blaming Skertel for Chelsea scoring 4 last week. Liverpool pretty much made 3 individual errors and were punished 4 times!!

What did ye think of Gerrard being in the Sky Sports studio last night? I might be overreacting but I can't help thinking it was a bit of a disgrace. Club captain more interested in making a few bucks instead of watching the match from the stands and being in the dressing room offering words of wisdom before the match and at half time, and even after the match seems a bit off to me.

Yeah bit of a disgrace alright chasing the few bucks. They seem to be all at it now Phil Neville Everton captain been on and Gary Neville Man U captain on for a few games as well.

[old git]

Selling Agger would be an awful decision. He has great potential and JC isnt getting any younger. I dont see what he did wrong last night. Plenty are going off on one at Ryan Babel but I really dont know what he was supposed to do when he came on or what he did wrong.

seems agger has just rejected a new four year contract :confused:
maybe he is looking to leave ..:ball:

[reder]

seems agger has just rejected a new four year contract :confused:
maybe he is looking to leave ..:ball:

I'd say so. I will be disappointed to see him go.

I havent been overly impressed by Skrtel over the past few games. Yesterday in the Folan incident, he went down like a sack of ____ holding his head after he'd hardly been touched. He also needs to put a stop to the needless obstruction, he is going to get pulled up for it by a ref for it, sooner or later.

[old git]

I'd say so. I will be disappointed to see him go.

I havent been overly impressed by Skrtel over the past few games. Yesterday in the Folan incident, he went down like a sack of ____ holding his head after he'd hardly been touched. He also needs to put a stop to the needless obstruction, he is going to get pulled up for it by a ref for it, sooner or later.

would agree as first reaction watching game was free kick to hull for a blatent obstruction by skrtel

[purplemonkeydis]

Agger will be a huge loss.but we have torres and gerrard..luks like dats al we need:cool::cool:

[reder]

Juventus plot return for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/5237488/Juventus-plot-return-for-Liverpools-Xabi-Alonso.html)

Juventus are believed to be considering returning to Liverpool for the second successive summer in an effort to tempt midfield playmaker Xabi Alonso to swap the Premier League for Serie A.

By Rory Smith
Last Updated: 7:47PM BST 28 Apr 2009

Summer sales: Juventus are poised to bid for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso Photo: PA
The Turin side's manager Claudio Ranieri tried to sign the Spanish international last summer but failed to match Rafa Benitez's asking price, believed to be in the region of £16 million, as his Anfield counterpart tried to raise funds to sign Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.
Alonso has arguably been Liverpool's most consistent player this season and last week Benitez insisted he wanted to keep hold of the midfielder, one of his first signings upon arriving in England in the summer of 2004.

But Juventus have been alerted by Benitez's confession he will have to offload players if he is to swell his coffers sufficiently to land the reinforcements he needs to keep pace with Chelsea, Manchester United and a resurgent Arsenal next season.
While Benitez would be loath to part with Alonso, one of his most trusted on-pitch lieutenants, he has admitted he cannot guarantee he would not be tempted to part with the former Real Sociedad player if the club received the right offer.

Asked if he would reject an increased bid from Alonso's former suitors, Benitez simply said: "I don't know if Juventus would have that amount of money this summer because there is a crisis all around the world. We will have to wait and see. We didn't want to sell him last summer but in football everybody has a price."

Ernesto Bronzetti, the Italian superagent who advises many of Serie A's top clubs on transfers, admitted on Tuesday he still sees Alonso as the ideal foil for another former Liverpool midfielder, Momo Sissoko, in Ranieri's midfield.
He said: "I would try to bring in Alonso. There was a long chase last summer for his signature, of course, so it is a road we know. Pairing him with Sissoko would be a title-winning midfield. The problem is that it would be very hard and expensive to take such an important player away from Liverpool."
Alonso's long-time suitors, Real Madrid, are also thought to be tracking his progress, with presidential candidate Florentino Perez especially keen on landing him, should he win the Spanish club's forthcoming elections.


Well the line in bold is a big fat stinking lie, ain't it Rafa?

Also, would "everybody have a price" if this was about Gerrard or Torres.

The pure lies that man comes out with at times is just incredible.

[old git]

Well the line in bold is a big fat stinking lie, ain't it Rafa?

Also, would "everybody have a price" if this was about Gerrard or Torres.

The pure lies that man comes out with at times is just incredible.

rafa could not wait to offload alonso last year in his pursuit of barry and if fairness to alonso played some great football this season after all the s**T at start of season with benitiz trying to show him the door... don't also forget gerrard handed in transfer request and was also on way out to chelsea not so long ago:confused: before he changed his mind at the last moment

[KK77]

rafa could not wait to offload alonso last year in his pursuit of barry and if fairness to alonso played some great football this season after all the s**T at start of season with benitiz trying to show him the door... don't also forget gerrard handed in transfer request and was also on way out to chelsea not so long ago:confused: before he changed his mind at the last moment

Gerrard situation happened a few seasons back now don't see what that's got to do with the Alonso situation:rolleyes:

[Roadend]

Gerrard situation was to do with Parry's incompitence.
Alonso had played quite poorly the two season's prior to this, certainly nowhere near how he's played this year. So all this waffling on about why on earth he was going to sell him is fwell and good with the benefit of hindsight

[DeLorean]

Gerrard situation was to do with Parry's incompitence.
Alonso had played quite poorly the two season's prior to this, certainly nowhere near how he's played this year. So all this waffling on about why on earth he was going to sell him is fwell and good with the benefit of hindsight

Any Pool fan I know didn't need the benefit of hindsight ie. none of them wanted Alonso to leave. Some wouldn't have minded the arrival of Barry but not at the expense of Alonso. The big reason Alonso had been "poor" in the previous seasons is because he was being criminally under used by Rafa. He had him playing almost as a second holding midfielder whereas he seems to be playing with a bit more freedom these days, like the first month or two when he arrived at the club when he was outstanding.

[Stuttgart88]

It seems to take a while, sometimes even a few seasons, for the penny to drop with Benitez just how certain players are used best and even which of his players are actually any good.

I have to say I've been impressed by Kuyt recently and Benayoun is really only now showing how talented he is.

[jmurphyc]

It seems to take a while, sometimes even a few seasons, for the penny to drop with Benitez just how certain players are used best and even which of his players are actually any good.

I have to say I've been impressed by Kuyt recently and Benayoun is really only now showing how talented he is.

Yeah, I remember a while ago he said that it took him a while to realise just how good Finnan was.

[reder]

Gerrard situation was to do with Parry's incompitence.

And who handed in that transfer request for him? I suppose Parry did that as well. It could never have been, Mr. Steven "England superstar/scouser born and bred/How can I leave after Istanbul" Gerrard.

Strange that according to all Rafa lovers, Parry managed to mess up Gerrard's contract and _____ (insert your superstar of choice) 's signing, yet he miraculously managed to put through a £20m signing in Robbie Keane behind the back of the ever vigilant Mr Benitez.

[reder]

Yeah, I remember a while ago he said that it took him a while to realise just how good Finnan was.

And he treated him like dirt in the end.

[KK77]

And who handed in that transfer request for him? I suppose Parry did that as well. It could never have been, Mr. Steven "England superstar/scouser born and bred/How can I leave after Istanbul" Gerrard.

Strange that according to all Rafa lovers, Parry managed to mess up Gerrard's contract and _____ (insert your superstar of choice) 's signing, yet he miraculously managed to put through a £20m signing in Robbie Keane behind the back of the ever vigilant Mr Benitez.

He's not denying it anyway!

"I can guarantee today that we are not thinking about selling anyone. All we are thinking about is to do our job and to try and win the Premier League title, if possible.

"After that you never know what can happen in the market. Clearly, at this moment, we are just preparing for winning games."

[Roadend]

And who handed in that transfer request for him? I suppose Parry did that as well. It could never have been, Mr. Steven "England superstar/scouser born and bred/How can I leave after Istanbul" Gerrard.

Strange that according to all Rafa lovers, Parry managed to mess up Gerrard's contract and _____ (insert your superstar of choice) 's signing, yet he miraculously managed to put through a £20m signing in Robbie Keane behind the back of the ever vigilant Mr Benitez.

Parry admitted he'd f'ed up the Gerrard Situation, and do you really think RB would have sold Keane after 6 months if he really was the driving force behind buying him. Why on earth do you think he had over 10 drafts of a new contract before he signed:confused:

I'm not an RB apologist either

[reder]

and do you really think RB would have sold Keane after 6 months if he really was the driving force behind buying him. Why on earth do you think he had over 10 drafts of a new contract before he signed.

Both fall under the heading of boardroom games. As does the countless times that he brought his contract talks into the public forum.

[DeLorean]

Not that it makes any difference but I think it was Ronaldo that supported him and not Rooney. It has been absolute madness on United's part. He's been a crucial part of his success since he arrived, not to mention the illicit miracles he produced at West Ham.

Why is this in the Pool section? would they even be able to afford him?

[KK77]

[QUOTE=BarelyLegal;1153040]Not that it makes any difference but I think it was Ronaldo that supported him and not Rooney. It has been absolute madness on United's part. He's been a crucial part of his success since he arrived, not to mention the illicit miracles he produced at West Ham.

Why is this in the Pool section? would they even be able to afford him?[/QUOTE

Being linked with Liverpool for months now. They won't buy him it will be another 2 year loan if they did hence they could afford him.

[DeLorean]

Being linked with Liverpool for months now. They won't buy him it will be another 2 year loan if they did hence they could afford him.

Ya I have heard it being mentioned alright just wasn't sure how realistic it was. If it's true about his family not settling, Merseyside would hardly be the ideal destination. I'm hopeful enough that United will pin him down, could be blind optimism though.

[DeLorean]

Is there no end to this guy letting himself down?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5423619,00.html

Funny how he was talking about the ridiculous money being spent whilst unveiling Glen Johnson.

This is my favourite bit - "I won't say too much but clearly it was 100 per cent for money". Way to bite your tongue Rafa!!

[KK77]

Is there no end to this guy letting himself down?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5423619,00.html

Funny how he was talking about the ridiculous money being spent whilst unveiling Glen Johnson.

This is my favourite bit - "I won't say too much but clearly it was 100 per cent for money". Way to bite your tongue Rafa!!

What's wrong with speaking the truth? My favourite bit is -

"He is like the president of England"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smasher]

Reckon its Rafa upping the ante, you know, raising the price and feigning interest

[DeLorean]

What's wrong with speaking the truth? My favourite bit is -

"He is like the president of England"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd a feeling it'd turn into a Pool v United discussion alright. I genuinely had time for Benitez before last season. Thought he just focused on Liverpool and didn't get to the petty stuff like Ferguson, Winger or Mourinho. I think he actually after surpassing those guys in the last year though. In fairness Barry was pretty much messed around by Liverpool last summer (although not by Rafa) so you could hardly blame him for cashing in this summer and avoid all the agro. I don't think it's any of Rafa's business why Barry chose City and he definitely shouldn't be cutting him up to the press just cos he's bitter.