News, views and opinion on Liverpool FC
Wenger looks pre-historic, post-Fergie; Moyes – leave Everton players alone; Newcastle need leader in Kevin Nolan mould
The last-straw loss of our best player in the summer left us with the most mediocre outfit during Arsène Wenger’s long tenure but, having been 10th in December, with mid-table obscurity looking far more likely than a top-four finish, we somehow managed a minor resurrection. (Albeit somewhat deceptive, with ponderous and impotent performances briefly lit up by all too rare cameo moments of genuine quality.)
Star man Jack Wilshere remains the great white hope and we appear far too dependent on Santi Cazorla as the one class act blessed with sufficient guile to slice doughty defences. But, for his consistent displays of commitment, Laurent Koscielny gets my vote.
The flops Bacary Sagna’s dip in form has only been so blatant because he’s previously been Mr Reliable; I can’t fathom why Wenger didn’t stick with a far hungrier Carl Jenkinson. Unable to maintain concentration levels, Thomas Vermaelen hasn’t proved to be the leader we longed for. Up front, Lucas Podolski lacks the drive and determination of a genuine goal poacher.
The gaffer 5/10 (or 7/10 if Sunday goes well) Looks slightly pre-historic in his post-Fergie role as elder statesman. A 16th successive Champions League qualification would be a miraculous feat in the circumstances. But, if there’s no trophy next season, I won’t be surprised to see Le Prof ride into the sunset.
Who should he sign? “Who” is not nearly so significant as “if”. With the club’s coffers soon to be full to bursting, there are no more excuses.
Best visiting fans Bayern Munich. Worst Wigan.
Bernard Azulay, GoonersDiary.blogpspot.com
What a rollercoaster. I’ve spent most of the journey barely able to look, feeling sick and praying for survival. Now it’s over, all I’m remembering is how exciting it was. Our form in the last three months has been very good, beating the rubbish and troubling the monied sides. We’re now playing some skilful, high-tempo stuff, vindicating Paul Lambert’s decision to ditch the old sweats. Our January form was so bad that the crowd could have lost the faith (mine definitely wavered). Not a bit of it: Villa Park has been noisier of late than for many, many years.
Star man Christian Benteke richly deserves all the headlines and a pay rise, and Brad Guzan has barely made a mistake all year. Gabby Agbonlahor stepped up just when we needed him most. The less high‑profile Ashley Westwood, Andreas Weimann and Matthew Lowton are terrific prospects.
The flops Darren Bent and Barry Bannan must never wear the claret and blue again.
The gaffer 8/10 A lot of credit for sticking with young guns under pressure. His “must do better” area is second-half tactics/substitutions: we’ve leaked loads of points after the break this season.
Who should he sign? Getting Benteke and Weimann on new contracts is as crucial as bringing anyone in. A solid centre-half or two would be nice, though: we’ll go a calendar year without a clean sheet if we don’t strengthen here.
Best visiting fans Everton. Worst Wigan (no, actually, you won’t be missed).
Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader
An odd season even by our own eccentric standards. Considering the number of games and the managerial upheaval it turned out better than anticipated when Roberto Di Matteo left. Rafael Benítez may be unpopular with fans but the players seem to respect him. But we blew too many competitions because of the timing of manager change. Being “in transition” is not a good enough excuse. Grudgingly, I’d say Benítez held the squad together and unified it.
Star man Eden Hazard. We saw the continuation of Juan Mata’s brilliance, but add in Eden Hazard, Oscar and David Luiz and things look exciting for the future. Honourable mention to the legend that is Frank Lampard. 203 goals is phenomenal for any player – let alone a midfielder.
The flops Marko Marin seemed rather lightweight for the league we’re in.
The gaffer Rafa Benítez is not my favourite coach simply because he’s too cautious and negative. However I’ll give him 6/10 for keeping us in contention.
Who should he sign? A striker like Edinson Cavani or Robert Lewandowski. Or maybe bring Romelu Lukaku back from loan. He shows real promise in the Drogba mould.
Best visiting fans Stoke: always loud and fun. Worst QPR: too many reasons to list here.
Tony Glover, ChelseaFCblog.com
I’ve seen some of the best football ever played by Everton this season. In games such as the ones away to Villa and Swansea and at home to Spurs and Man Utd we have turned it on big time. These matches were all in 2012. With no big signings in the January transfer window, the small squad couldn’t maintain that level of performance. To finish 6th was OK, but we’re disappointed not to finish in a European spot.
Star man Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar have all been outstanding. Whereas Seamus Coleman has improved no end, while Kevin Mirallas has become a crowd favourite with his goals.
The flops No flops, but we have been lacking up front. Nikica Jelavic has not continued with his goals from last season and although Victor Anichebe has had a few great games, he still doesn’t look like a 20-goals-a-season striker.
The gaffer 7/10 David Moyes has done well this season, but didn’t bring in the players we needed in January. He’s been a class act at Everton over the 11 seasons and goes with the good wishes of the fans. Just don’t come back for any of our players.
Who should we sign? A manager, who can sign a 20-goal-a-season striker.
Best visiting fans Oldham in the FA Cup. Worst Fulham. The half-a-coach load of them.
Steve Jones, @bluekipper.com
Can’t imagine this season’s highlights package will be overlong. But we stayed up.
Star man Loanee Sascha Riether was consistently good at right-back – sign him up! Mark Schwarzer, a few dips (and his kicking) apart, had several astonishing games; his penalty saves were vital. Dimitar Berbatov’s skill is incredible but he shows his frustrations readily. In his defence he came from a setup famed for giving it all right to the end. We could do with a bit of that.
The flops A long list of players falling below their high standards. John Arne Riise was average, as was Mladen Petric. Bryan Ruiz too often flattered to deceive and even Brede Hangeland had a “dip”.
The gaffer 6/10 Martin Jol gave some exceptional interviews to club publications but they did not translate into great performances. Mitigating circumstances were the quality of the players to depart last autumn, injuries and the apparent lack of funding, but win, lose or draw there should be a semblance of determination out on the pitch.
Who should he sign? A proper shakeup is required, to fashion a squad capable of winning a few more matches (and put a smile on Berba’s face). It seems we’re already in the hunt for Stekelenburg, Boateng, Amorebieta, Sako …
Best visiting fans Blackpool (Cup) and Sunderland. Worst Liverpool fans setting off flares on the 38th anniversary of the Bradford fire was as insensitive as it was dangerous.
David Lloyd, There’s Only One F In Fulham
Another frustrating one. Some great displays, good football and wins, but we can’t shake off the inconsistency – an obvious result of lack of quality. I keep reading the signs of progress are here, but we’re no better off than we were last time around. We don’t even have a cup for our efforts and have missed out on Europe.
Star man Luis Suárez has been phenomenal, from dribbles to wonder goals to swinging on the crossbar. Daniel Sturridge has looked good with some stunning goals (now lose the celebration dance). Philippe Coutinho has been brilliant since he arrived. Must mention Carra on his last day, who got himself back in the team and stayed there.
The flops No one abysmal, just inconsistent. The underperfomers know who they are.
The gaffer 6/10 I like the way we’re playing, when we do it well, and that’s down to Brendan Rodgers. Not all of his signings have worked out yet (Borini and Allen) and he blundered big in the FA Cup, but he bought well in January. Sometimes wish he wouldn’t talk so much.
Who should he sign? Ashley Williams, Neven Subotic, Raúl Albiol, Callum McManaman, Romelu Lukaku (if Chelsea are mad enough to let him go), Demba Ba, Gonzalo Higuaín and Michu.
Best visiting fans Bayer Leverkusen in the friendly. Worst Usual suspects, with their witless chants.
Steph Jones, Observer reader
A strange season has come to a bizarre anticlimax. Second place has been secured, however the loss to Wigan in the Cup final was demoralising – we were totally outplayed. Our expectations and targets set at the beginning of the season have not been met.
Star man Pablo Zabaleta was a revelation, his commitment and desire is remarkable. Matija Nastasic has proved one of the best young defenders in world football.
The flops All of last season’s core players have underperformed.
The gaffer 6/10 Roberto Mancini did a fantastic job and achieved things many City fans have never had the privilege to experience. However, his failure to get on with many of the players and his trouble with tackling European football cost him. The players’ silence after his sacking is poignant, and while it may be necessary the manner in which we’ve treated Mancini is embarrassing. We will always adore him, and rightly so.
Who should we sign? Manuel Pellegrini will hopefully be followed by his Málaga protege Isco. I’d imagine we’ll target a clinical striker like Edinson Cavani, a winger, a Champions League-quality central midfielder and a centre-half.
Best visiting fans Dortmund. Worst Fulham.
Lloyd Scragg, @lloyd_scragg
A great season. The gung-ho attitude early on, gifting teams leads only to claw back victory, and latterly the consistency of the team to grind result after result, showing City a blank chequebook isn’t everything.
Star man Robin van Persie endeared himself with goals, assists, attitude, work-rate, last-minute winners and team ethos. He seems to have it all.
The flops No one flopped but Rooney put in his second transfer request in three years after RVP has spent the season reminding Reds what a world-class striker looks like. Ta-ra Rooney.
The gaffer 10/10 We all knew it was coming but I was quite choked by news of his retirement. Fergie is the greatest manager of our lifetime. He knocked Liverpool off their perch and saw off challenges from Chelsea, Arsenal and most recently City. His legacy won’t be just the great teams he produced but for making United a world force again.
Who should he sign? With Paul Scholes retiring and Darren Fletcher recovering we are threadbare in midfield. I would like David Moyes to go for PSV’s Kevin Strootman, he is young, combative and free-moving. I expect to see Anderson, Nani, Rooney to go pre-season. Luka Modric, Cesc Fábregas and Robert Lewandowski would be good.
Best visiting fans It pains me to say it but both Mersey teams create a great atmosphere, with good numbers of “working-class” fans rather than identikit modern fans. Worst QPR, who glorified how they lost to City in the last game of the season.
Shaun O’Donnell, Observer reader
To go from fifth last year to a relegation battle was desperately disappointing. Failure to strengthen in the summer meant that the Europa League and a succession of injuries stretched a thin squad to breaking point. We were ill-equipped to fight on four fronts, and home defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool, plus our timid showing against Brighton in the FA Cup, were simply embarrassing. The January influx of French players was a welcome boost, but they needed time to adjust to the Premier League – time we didn’t have.
Star man Papiss Cissé scored some crucial goals and worked his socks off, often with little support, while Fabricio Coloccini brought a calmness to the defence (when he actually played). Sylvain Marveaux started to show what he was capable of too.
The flops Nile Ranger blew his last chance – he’ll never get a better opportunity to make it – and Gabriel Obertan again failed to make an impression.
The gaffer 5/10 Alan Pardew must be feeling as battered and bruised as some of his players: he was dealt a poor hand last summer. He showed tactical nous to guide us to the Europe League quarter-final, but must shoulder some blame for our poor run-in.
Who should he sign? Andy Carroll would be a great start, plus another quality centre-half or two. Crucially, we need a leader in the Kevin Nolan mould who’ll drag us back into games and prevent the kind of home capitulations we’ve seen this season.
Best visiting fans Sunderland (but they only sing when they’re winning!). Worst Man United (arrogant).
Richard and David Holmes, Observer reader
Despite a poor second half of the season City achieved what they set out to do – preserve their Premier League status. While the road to getting there may have been rockier than hoped – expected even – it was achieved with a game to spare.
Star man The mainstay of the side has been the back four, at the heart of which has been Sébastien Bassong. Since his summer arrival he has solidified a leaky defence and inspired those alongside him. Robert Snodgrass has also been excellent.
The flops Through little fault of his own – injuries, loan moves etc – Jacob Butterfield has been a disappointment. His much heralded arrival from Barnsley turned into something of a damp squib; his first-team appearances virtually nonexistent.
The gaffer 7/10 Despite being on the receiving end of brickbats aplenty as the season neared its finale, Chris Hughton remained calm and dignified. Even when some fans started to doubt his philosophy he trusted his judgment and was rewarded. A minor criticism could be his natural tendency for caution, but it served as a means to a successful end.
Who should he sign? We’ve already signed Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon, which goes at least part of the way to addressing the lack of goals. Hopefully a creative midfielder will be Hughton’s shopping list; someone who’ll add a little extra invention to a squad of honest grafters.
Best visiting fans Luton in their shock FA Cup win. Worst Arsenal hardly made a murmur.
Gary Gowers, NorwichCity.myfootballwriter.com
A news article on 2013-05-18 22:20:00 from: The Guardian
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Retiring defender faces an emotional day against QPR but he is looking forward to experiencing life outside football
Quitting while ahead is en vogue but Jamie Carragher has never been one for fashion. The decision to join the Premier League’s passing-out parade after 16 years, 11 honours and, as of Sunday , 737 games with Liverpool was taken privately last summer and he has refused to dwell on the ramifications since. That is, until looking at his phone in the away changing room at Craven Cottage last Sunday.
“It sounds stupid but I haven’t thought about this being the end at all; it’s been more like, ‘We’ve got QPR at the weekend’ or whoever,” the 35-year-old explains. “But before the Fulham game someone sent me a text that said, ‘Don’t get sent off’ and I thought, ‘Imagine missing your last game at Anfield through suspension’. So before we went out I had a word with Mark Halsey. I said to him that if I’m misbehaving or whatever, just get the bench to bring me off. He said, ‘Don’t handball it on the line or commit a professional foul and you’ll be all right’. I hadn’t thought about it before then but I was thinking about it throughout the Fulham game. I just kept thinking, ‘Don’t do anything stupid’.”
Stupidity could not have elevated Carragher from emerging midfielder at Liverpool to put-upon full-back to one of the finest central defenders in Europe at his peak. Intelligence and an instinctive awareness of danger did. The defender knew this would be his last campaign from the outset, having lost his regular first-team place the previous season under the former manager Kenny Dalglish.
Nothing in the first half of Brendan Rodgers’ debut campaign challenged that decision but, courtesy of the single-mindedness that made the best, and more, of his talent, when Carragher bids farewell to Anfield on Sunday he will leave them wanting more.
A pundit’s role on Sky awaits instead of the move into coaching or management frequently predicted. Steven Gerrard is adamant the Liverpool vice-captain’s experience will not be lost to the game for good and that he will eventually return. More surprising, perhaps, is the relish with which Carragher is approaching his curtain call.
“I’m looking forward to the end now,” he admits. “I have for a while. My missus and family have known for a while, so we are looking forward to doing different things. In 12 months’ time I might think, ‘I haven’t missed anything’. I want to go and do something else, so that I either will or won’t miss it. And if I do miss it, it will give me that buzz again to try and get back in. But perhaps it won’t and I’ll think, ‘This is great, I love doing what I’m doing, great life, bit more time, going out doing different things’. I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out.”
Where to channel that undiluted passion, however, remains an unknown. “I’ve been thinking about that and I don’t know what to do,” adds Carragher. “All of that running around and shouting every day gets it out of your system. I’ll have to see if there are any five-a-side teams, although I actually fancy having a go at squash.” He has put plenty back into Bootle, providing vital financial support for the Brunswick Youth Club for example and receiving the freedom of the borough of Sefton for his charity work, to merit an invitation.
If there is regret at leaving a Liverpool team that have been cut adrift from the leading pack in the Premier League then Carragher disguises it well. He faced a crowded press conference at Melwood on Wednesday when the number of questions about not winning the title seemed disproportionate to a career yielding Champions League, Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup success, but seventh in the table and second-best on Merseyside is not how he wanted to go. Carragher sees only reasons for optimism at Anfield.
“The manager,” he states, “he’s really good and I think he will take it up again next season. And I’d imagine financial fair play will help us, although I don’t know much about it. Even the [Sir Alex] Ferguson situation will help in some respects, not just Liverpool but maybe it will give everyone an opportunity.
“Then there’s the form we have showed since Christmas, January time. In the first half of the season we had a lot of kids in the team and it’s not easy, not for the manager either. He lost a lot of experience in the summer in Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Maxi [Rodríguez], and he was replacing them with Raheem Sterling and Suso at the start. With the signing of Sturridge and [Philippe] Coutinho, the second half of the season has given us a positive to take into the next one. But I think we should be looking for the top four – we’ve got to get into the top four. We can’t be having it where we’ve not even been close enough to put a challenge in throughout the season.”
One name is missing from Carragher’s list of the reasons for Liverpool’s post-January improvement: his own. Even Rodgers conceded the team lacked “men” and “a voice” after defeat at Manchester United on 13 January and the subsequent return of Carragher rectified that weakness at a stroke.
The clamour for the veteran to reconsider his retirement plans, which involved Liverpool’s owners at one point, soon gathered pace and the flaw in Carragher’s optimism is that a huge void will be created at Anfield when his desire, drive and formidable will-to-win disappear. He does not recognise the characteristics to fill that void in those coming through.
“It’s becoming less and less, I must say,” Carragher laments. “It’s just different generations. I’m sure my dad will say he had more than me. It’s just society in general now. You don’t see it as much. You could talk of all other reasons why it is, but you don’t see as many kids with it as you should. It’s a worry for football, not just Liverpool.
“It’s not just an excuse for Liverpool kids. If anyone is going to have that character it’s going to be Liverpool kids, so maybe they should all be worried. In general you hear stories of kids coming through, from other clubs and different things, and you do sometimes wonder if they have got that bit of something about them.”
It is for that reason Carragher has only admiration for Ferguson, the man who knocked Liverpool off their perch (though Carragher will tell you it was Graeme Souness) and with whom he shares retirement day. He admits: “I like him because I find it remarkable to see someone who is a bit like yourself in terms of passion but at that age. It’s brilliant to have that passion to win at 71. He’s been a great manager and it would be stupid to say anything else.”
Carragher plans to keep a respectful distance from Liverpool once the game with Queens Park Rangers, the guard of honour and a planned address to the Anfield crowd are over. “You have to be careful,” he says, though he cannot go too far with a son at the club’s academy and a job in the television studio next season.
“When you have a good point to make or a valid one I have always respected that,” he adds. “Players like people saying good things about them and, of course, no one is ever wrong when they do that, but they always are when they say bad stuff. That winds me up a bit. But I’m ready for it. I’ve told the lads if they’re not performing they will be getting it.”
Liverpool’s No23 insists he would decline the opportunity to increase his goal haul of five even if the team are winning 3-0 and awarded a last-minute penalty against QPR. “I wouldn’t take one. Imagine missing that on your last game. You’d go for a pint after and they’d be saying, ‘You missed a penalty in your last game!’”
After Istanbul, Turin, Dortmund and Cardiff, to select just a few highlights, how would the veteran of 150 European appearances and countless rescue acts for Liverpool like to be remembered? “Nothing special,” says Carragher. “Just someone who was always there, home and away, and gave his all.”
A news article on 2013-05-17 21:30:00 from: The Guardian
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Brendan Rodgers believes his first season at Anfield will leave him in good stead for a top-four push in 2013-14.
A news article on 2013-05-14 09:17:00 from: Football 365
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed young striker Daniel Sturridge as a future force of the European game.
A news article on 2013-05-13 01:06:00 from: ESPN
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PSV Eindhoven boss Dick Advocaat believes Kevin Strootman needs to leave Holland this summer to progress his career.
A news article on 2013-05-11 11:40:00 from: Football 365
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The odds on David Moyes becoming the next Manchester United manager have been slashed after bookmakers took a flurry overnight bets on the Everton boss moving to Old Trafford.
A news article on 2013-05-07 13:08:00 from: The Metro
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits the Merseyside derby highlighted why he needs reinforcements this summer.
A news article on 2013-05-06 08:13:00 from: Football 365
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Carra says farewell at the end of the season…Image: guardian.co.uk Sunday marks the day for the 220th Merseyside Derby. It’s quite hard to believe there’s been so many clashes between the red and blue side of Liverpool but any fan will tell you that this game means the world, it means even more when you realise Liverpool could close the gap on Everton with 2 league games left to go this season. Liverpool are in a decent position injury wise with no new real worries. Suarez is obviously still unavailable but Fabio Borini who scored in the last fixture is expected to be on the bench again for this one. Everton are also in a relatively strong position although Phil Neville will miss out due to a knee injury. Everton are currently sitting pretty in 6th place holding on to a Europa League spot. Liverpool are in 7th behind them which wouldn’t be good enough for Europe this season due to Swansea winning the cup. An interesting debate was spurred up on Twitter this week after the club suggested they would turn down a place in the Europa League through the fair play league due to their commitments in Asia and Australia for summer friendlies. I personally thought this was ridiculous, if you’d rather play friendlies than competitive football matches then in my book something is wrong. Luckily Brendan appears to have spoken out yesterday saying that the club would of course accept the place. It doesn’t seem hard to fulfil both commitments really, we have a squad for a reason, utilise all of it. Anyway, back to the match preview… The last time the two sides met was in October last year. It was an exciting fixture as always and the Reds lost their 2-0 lead meaning the game ended 2-2. Luis Suarez was on the score sheet that day. Suarez was also on the score sheet for the last meeting at Anfield and so too was on loan striker Andy Carroll. The last time Everton won at Anfield, most football fans will remember because the game in 1999 saw 2 Liverpool players and 1 Everton player sent off in the fixture where Kevin Campbell scored after 4 minutes. Stat Sandwich Liverpool V Everton is the fixture in the league with the most ever red cards shown. Everton have only lost 1 out of their last 8 matches in the league. Steven Gerrard is 2 goals away from 100 in the league. I’m pretty excited for this fixture, you have to hand it to Everton they’ve had a pretty good season and have been playing well but if Liverpool can portray some of the magic they showed against Newcastle then Everton could find themselves under pressure immediately. Players have been talking down the derby this week but we all know it means everything to them, losing is not an option! Enjoy the match folks! Like “The Liver Bird” on Facebook – www.facebook.com/TheLiverBirdsBlog
A news article on 2013-05-04 16:09:00 from: The Liver Bird
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Brendan Rodgers feels Sunday’s 220th Merseyside derby does not represent a significant landmark in the fortunes of both Liverpool and Everton.
A news article on 2013-05-04 09:24:00 from: Football 365
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