Liverpool v Benfica

[Artie Fufkin]

Inter on the other hand probably will go for Sven...suckers

with his reputation coming from winning the World Cup with England

 

[Sunray]

Thing is - Harry Kewell has arguably been our best player of 2006. Think Liverpool baulked at a price tag of £13m for Simao... but that could have been paper talk? Not sure.

It's obvious what Liverpool need. Strikers who will threaten the goal. Owen would have been signed if he was cheaper but it made no sense selling him for little then buying him at double the price a few months later.

Nando is a class act imo. I like watching him play, he has good skills and a great touch, he works hard but hasn't got the greatest pace and he struggles a little in the English game against a big centre half etc.

Crouch - great touch - can win knock ons with his head - he's got good skills, but looks a bit like a wet lettuce in front of the goal.

Both strikers won't give the ball away too much - like Baros used to - but don't really have that goal threat. That could be why Liverpool are dominating most games in terms of possession but not the end result.

Cisse - should be in the French Olympic 100m sprint relay side. I don't rate him - sure he'll bag a hat trick for France v the Faroes or whoever.....

The right sided midfield gap was solved when Momo was fit. Simply put Gerrard there. When that happened we went on a winning streak. Momo got injured and look what's happened....

We are now in the Luis Garcia/Ciise on the right territory. Both are shite there.

I would agree with Kewell being one of the best players this season. Gerrard is playing like a badly tuned engine, great in fits and spurts but lacks the consistency he had. He can't be expected to win them all single handedly.

I totally disagree with the strikers being that shit. The problem we have is entirely to do with service. The team isn't getting behind the opposition. They can keep the ball, they can pass it about brilliantly but they really struggle to get in behind the team infront of them. Doing this makes teams crumble. Currently they are flattering to deceive.

This is born out of our corners won stat. We are getting about 20 corners a game. Thats generally from crosses that hit the defender as we didn't go past them. When was the last time Liverpool scored from a corner? In 5 games we have won about 100 corners. With a striker as tall as Crouch who's known for his heading ability, you really expect he'd get 1 from those 100 corners. I think the service they been getting has been poor.

 

[g force]

It's true that Morientes can't go from world-class to shite over night, same deal with Cisse....you can see why LFC bought him - great first touch, pace to spare and amazing strength. Now he looks like Diouf! He's obviously unhappy with being played out on the wing

But, where will the supply come from? Kewell, for all his recent good form is either injured over inconsistent. everything has to come through Gerrard, Alonso or Riise.

Mark Gonzalez has been having a storming couple of games in La Liga. He's still not the finished article by any means, but he's got pace and should complement Gerrard and Alonso. Whether he can adopt to the English game is the only potential problem.

 

[Relahni]

I would agree with Kewell being one of the best players this season. Gerrard is playing like a badly tuned engine, great in fits and spurts but lacks the consistency he had. He can't be expected to win them all single handedly.

I totally disagree with the strikers being that shit. The problem we have is entirely to do with service. The team isn't getting behind the opposition. They can keep the ball, they can pass it about brilliantly but they really struggle to get in behind the team infront of them. Doing this makes teams crumble. Currently they are flattering to deceive.

This is born out of our corners won stat. We are getting about 20 corners a game. Thats generally from crosses that hit the defender as we didn't go past them. When was the last time Liverpool scored from a corner? In 5 games we have won about 100 corners. With a striker as tall as Crouch who's known for his heading ability, you really expect he'd get 1 from those 100 corners. I think the service they been getting has been poor.

I totally disagree with your point about the service.

Take last night for example. Crouch is handed a glorious opportunity by Gerrard - it's one on one with the keeper - no defenders around - it's take your pick - left right - either is a goal. What does Crouch do? Pass it back to the keeper...........

It would be fickle just to use one match to back up an argument.

Let's look at how many shots Liverpool have had in the Premiership

411 - no other team has had as many shots. So don't tell me that we aren't creating chances. Not even Chelsea have had as many shots this season.

Let's now look at the conversion rate - 8%!!!!!!!! And only two other teams in the Premiership are worse than that!!

Says it all really.

 

[Biffo]

Shit fuck bollocks. Although well played Benfica - they were much better than in the first leg.

I console myself with the fact that no team has retained the European Cup since the Champions League format was introduced.

3rd place and an FA Cup would do me fine now.

 

[Relahni]

Shit fuck bollocks. Although well played Benfica - they were much better than in the first leg.

I console myself with the fact that no team has retained the European Cup since the Champions League format was introduced.

3rd place and an FA Cup would do me fine now.

FA cup.

The Milenium....

Chelsea the opposition.

Moriniho has nervous breakdown on the touchline and pretends he is a soldier with a machine gun. Turns up in camoflage outfit for the second half....

He is escorted from the stadium by St Johns ambulance folk.

Liverpool win 6-0 Carragher, Fowler, Morientes, Crouch, Cisse, Garcia all score

 

[Auster]

There's a defintie shortage of top strikers right now. LFC are going to have to spend big if they want to challenge for honours consistently.

That's why Rafa's come out today demanding big money for new players in the summer. He's fed up of buying prospects and wants to get in some proven talent.

What I'm afraid of is that he'll walk if he doesn't get the finance he needs. With Real Madrid & Inter knocking on his door with bags of cash it's not as if he has to put up with managing a skint club.

Of course, this is the problem with emplying a foreign manager and letting him bring in all his own staff. Rafa's a top manager and seems an honest guy, but his true passion is for Real Madrid and if he goes this summer it will mean massive upheaval at Anfield.

 

[g force]

Yeah, he wants £30m, but that will get one great player and one average one now. He needs 3 or 4.

Villa would cost about £10m maybe, Torres £20m plus, Joaquin £15m plus. doesn't leave much room for changing the team unless he can sell players, but right now Cisse is hardly a bankable asset! Could go in for Defoe or Robbie Keane - maybe £10m for either andf then £15m for Simao.

 

[corporate whore]

Let's look at how many shots Liverpool have had in the Premiership

No, let's not. That was always Houllier's fallback argument, and it sticks in my craw (wherever the fuck that is) to see the boggle-eyed spendthrift still in the Champions League this morning.

Morientes has been a massive disappointment. Cisse last night - and for a good long while now - stank the place out. Can't see either of them at Anfield next season.

I never expected loads of goals from Crouch, and still don't think that's why he's in the team. And Fowler.. well I was happy to see him back, 'cos he was such a big hero of mine way back when, but listening to the noise that went up when he came on last night, I began to feel a bit embarassed by the situation.

Interesting to hear gforce's little report on Gonzales, though. Can he play for Liverpool next season?

Still, Champions of Europe! Champions of Europe! Champions of Europe! for a couple more months..

 

[g force]

All depends on his passport doesn't it?

Barca had the same deal with Messi - he couldn't play until he got a spanish passport because we alreayd played 3 brazilians (non-EU players). Also the reason why Rustu never really played for us.

Gonzalez would provide options, but he ain't going to bang in 15-20 goals a season, which is what LFC need.

 

[Relahni]

Could go in for Defoe or Robbie Keane - .

No! and No!

 

[Auster]

I don't think it's rocket science really. It was obvious back in August we didn't have a decent finisher or a proper right winger. I don't think we need £15m to improve those areas. We could get Jermaine Pennant for a start, for £5m, maybe less if Brum go down.

But Rafa asking for £30m is a separate issue, really. He's got the board by the bollocks because having won the CL, against all the odds, all the top, rich clubs of europe have got a hard-on for him. I reckon he'll go to Real Madrid in the summer. The galacticos era is over and after years of underachieving they're ready for a more pragmatic approach. If they offer him the job I really can't see Rafa turning them down.

 

[Relahni]

We could get Jermaine Pennant for a start, for £5m, maybe less if Brum go down.
.

So Defoe, Keane and Pennant........

, and

We are not that bad are we?

 

[Relahni]

But Rafa asking for £30m is a separate issue, really. He's got the board by the bollocks because having won the CL, against all the odds, all the top, rich clubs of europe have got a hard-on for him. I reckon he'll go to Real Madrid in the summer. The galacticos era is over and after years of underachieving they're ready for a more pragmatic approach. If they offer him the job I really can't see Rafa turning them down.

Doom and gloom...

He'll take Alonso and Stevie G with him.

I hope he stays...

 

[sleaterkinney]

I don't think it's rocket science really. It was obvious back in August we didn't have a decent finisher or a proper right winger. I don't think we need £15m to improve those areas. We could get Jermaine Pennant for a start, for £5m, maybe less if Brum go down.

But Rafa asking for £30m is a separate issue, really. He's got the board by the bollocks because having won the CL, against all the odds, all the top, rich clubs of europe have got a hard-on for him. I reckon he'll go to Real Madrid in the summer. The galacticos era is over and after years of underachieving they're ready for a more pragmatic approach. If they offer him the job I really can't see Rafa turning them down.

Pennant isn't worth the risk, although he's got talent - no doubt about that.

I don't believe all these "Rafa asks for 30 mil" stories, it's just journos trying to sell papers. But we have to back him a bit more - get in a good forward and a couple of right wingers, I can't see him going off this season but if we're still in the same shape next season then maybe...

 

[g force]

So Defoe, Keane and Pennant........

, and

We are not that bad are we?

Your goals ratio suggests you can't finish...Defoe, given a decent run in a team will score goals - 10-15 i'd imagine. Him, paired with Crouch might work. But your reaction was entirely my point - i was using those two as an example of the dearth of top striking talent that's available and within LFC's supposed budget.

Lets say Inter make it know they'll listen to offers for Adriano, you think LFC will sign him? I don't. He'll go to Juve or Chelsea.

Oliver Kapo wants to move, but is another french-based striker too much of a risk?

 

[OriginalSinner]

Doom and gloom.

Oh woe is us.

There's improvement all over the park... they've obviously taken a huge step forwrad this year... lasy year we were a little lucky to get this far.. this year we're unlucky not to go further.

There was NO chance of us retaining the Cup... we're not good enough. Barca/Chelsea/AC are all clearly ahead of us.. maybe also even Real and Inter.

So a quarters place would have done me. Ah well.

But the strikers? Jeez. One fucking game... that's all it needs. One fucking game where a couple of the buggers score and we'll see a much improved output.

There's no denying crouch should've finished his chance... but he 'megged the keeper... it's as good an option as any. There's no guaranteed way of scoring otherwise we'd all be premiership strikers.

Fowlers now had 3 disallowed from about 5 chances total... crouch has hit the bar so many times it's not funny... Cisse's barly had a sniff.

Morientes.. I take issue with. He has the rhetoric... but the fight seems to have gone.

He needs benching for a month. End of the season he'll come roaring back and maybe pick up a few late goals.

The fact is we ARE creating chances... good ones. But It's not going for us.

Blame the strikers all you want but it was Stevie G who missed the last decent chance of the game... and Carra who put over the simplest header.

It's a malaise... remember when Man City had it?

 

[Biffo]

Can't remember the last time Cisse started a game up front. I would give him and Crouch the next 6 games up front together and see what happens. Fowler can come off the bench for the last 20-30 if needed (which he probably will be) and Morientes can go and get another haircut by the slowest barber in the world.