RTE Panel and the Champions League

[Dodge]

I'd have lampard ahead of Gerrard but only slightly (Lampard was superb v Barca this season, Gerrard anonymous twice). The media hype on both of them is disgusting.

[OwlsFan]

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard
"It is necessary to congratulate Liverpool," said the Dutchman.
"They have played, forcefully, very hard, direct and with a lot of mental strength.
"They have made a great team, organised well at the back and with a lot of depth.
"The result was correct. We gained 0-1, but with some luck. They had chances and were a team with a lot of emotion and at a superior level."

That was a good summary of the game. ITV were correct. Liverpool created more chances and were the better team. Not beautiful to watch but more effective.

Brady is a begrudger and Dunphy just tries to jeer and mock just for the sake of it because it's controversial and attracts those people who like that sort of thing. Why could he not praise an average Liverpool side for deservedly knocking out the holders made up of a team of superstars. No, he prefers to mock Gerrard and Liverpool, ignoring the fact that they overall were the better team on the night. Giles for a change disagreed with him.

Some people thinking sneering makes for a good pundit and "speaking the truth". I don't.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd have Lampard as number 1 but Gerrard a close 2nd in the most hyped/over rated players of the modern era!

[wws]

Gerrard is a nothing player who just happens to score amazing goals - ie he doesnt excel at the meat and drink of a midfielder - making play for his team with consistent passing to the right areas and retaining the ball etc etc

but he does score great goals, undeniably so


ps Alonso was equally merdre last night - woefully over rated as well in my opinion - its a real Irish thing to carp at Gerrard's anonymity in a game whilst letting Alonso off the hook

I can only presume its the old minnowistic anti-english attitude which persists to this day among the self hating leprechaun army


pps barca's utter woefulness has been flagged up weeks in advance - Seville did them with 9 men ffs - useless at the back and with several superstars who havent given a t'upeeny fck after winning the CL last season - in that context Giles was right - they were there for the taking - Liverpool taking the game on its merits would have hammered them off the park - yet Liverpool and benitez played as if they were facing LAST SEASONS Barcelona team!

[jebus]

I'd have Lampard as number 1 but Gerrard a close 2nd in the most hyped/over rated players of the modern era!

Rooney would be pushing on there too. I mean he's a very good player and all, but he isn't in the same league as the Zidanes and Bergkamps of this world, two players I've heard him being compared to

[Schumi]

I hadn't watched RTE's football coverage in ages, did someone melt Dunphy's face in the meantime?

[Dodge]

I hadn't watched RTE's football coverage in ages, did someone melt Dunphy's face in the meantime?

He took the wrong sort of Acid

[jebus]

ps Alonso was equally merdre last night - woefully over rated as well in my opinion - its a real Irish thing to carp at Gerrard's anonymity in a game whilst letting Alonso off the hook

I can only presume its the old minnowistic anti-english attitude which persists to this day among the self hating leprechaun army

On the contrary, I rate Alonso as a better player than Gerrard, but will admit he's having an indifferant season. That said the real reason we're flagging up Gerrard is that we are constantly told by the British media that he is probably the best player in the world, well either himself, Rooney or Lampard anyway, so hence when there is a game that shows him up for the mediocre player he is we jump on it. Bet the papers go on about him being immense this morning too

[WeAreRovers]

I've seen plenty of world class performances from Gerrard. I can honestly and truely say I've never seen Frank Lampard put in a world class performance.

Jon Obi Mikel's performance last night put both Gerrard and Lampard to shame. He turned the game in the second half and the kid is only 19. He's a proper box-to-box midfielder, always looking for the ball. Gerrard and Lampard spend most of their time hiding.

KOH

[Roadend]

Giles said Liverpool can't attack to save their lives. This is correct.

I think the stats would say otherwise, but what are stats only stupid factual tidbits anyway.

[Roadend]

Jon Obi Mikel's performance last night put both Gerrard and Lampard to shame. He turned the game in the second half and the kid is only 19. He's a proper box-to-box midfielder, always looking for the ball. Gerrard and Lampard spend most of their time hiding.

KOH

1 performance against the mighty Porto. You've sure given your comment much needed credibility. Well done you.

[pete]

The Premiership is the most entertaining league in Europe but it is not the best. The ability to pass the ball & retain possession is almost non-existent in the Premiership which is partially why England not good enough at International level.

Liverpool deserved to win as they are effective team.

I could not listen to Ray Houghton on RTE so listened to ITV instead. He may always be correct but David Pleat is the best "summariser" on football commentary.

[disko]

The Premiership is the most entertaining league in Europe???

Are you having a laugh?
You should watch some Bundesliga. Real competition over here.

[WeAreRovers]

1 performance against the mighty Porto. You've sure given your comment much needed credibility. Well done you.

My credibility is shot just because I had a pop at Stevie Me? Christ but Liverpool fans are something else.

Fact is I saw a complete midfield performance from a 19-year-old last night, I'm still waiting for one from Gerrard.

KOH

[gustavo]

I could not listen to Ray Houghton on RTE so listened to ITV instead. He may always be correct but David Pleat is the best "summariser" on football commentary.

Same here , its coming to something when you have to switch from an Irish station to an English station to get a balanced view on a game involving an English team.

[Roadend]

My credibility is shot just because I had a pop at Stevie Me? Christ but Liverpool fans are something else.

Fact is I saw a complete midfield performance from a 19-year-old last night, I'm still waiting for one from Gerrard.

KOH

No, you're example of one game by a kid against the poorest side left in the competition does nothing to suggest he's better or more complete than Gerrard or Lampard. I'm not sure how to make that any plainer for you.

[dfx-]

Fact is I saw a complete midfield performance from a 19-year-old last night, I'm still waiting for one from Gerrard.

And has he played well against Wigan too?

[mypost]

if you enjoy free flowing attacking football than you would have wanted Barcelona to go through. This is correct.

This is the "free-flowing attacking football" that produced less than 50% of the shots at goal against us at Anfield. This is the shower of would be world-beaters, that would wipe the floor off everyone this season, yet when they had 20 minutes to save rescue their European Cup hopes, couldn't even manage a shot on target to do it.

The "great" Barcelona side, have failed to get stuck in when the chips were down at Seville, Valencia, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Says a lot for World football that that bunch of gutless, hopeless, spineless showponies are European champions. They only turn on the free-flowing attacking football when 3-0 up at home to Malaga, Mallorca, and Getafe.

The RTE panel meanwhile, are a bunch of Man-Ure lovers, who were whinging that the hated Liverpool had the temerity to beat the Nou Camp blokes, again.

And yes, Stevie G is one of the best players in the world. He'd walk into any other side's first team. Would John Obi Mikel??

[WeAreRovers]

No, you're example of one game by a kid against the poorest side left in the competition does nothing to suggest he's better or more complete than Gerrard or Lampard. I'm not sure how to make that any plainer for you.

I said 1 game. My point is that I've never seen Gerrard or Fat Frank do that in any game.

I don't speak Scouse Whinge so I can't make it any simpler for you.

KOH

[Dodge]

BTW Fabregas is yonger than Mikel and is already the best midfielder in England. His performance against real madrid last year was the best seen by any midfielder in years

Oh and Gerrard wouldn't get into Barcelona's midfield ahead of Deco, Xavi or Iniesta.