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Kean - Lost It, & Other Hair Related Choices
The heat may well have got to one chap, who has come up with a few players/managers whose hair reflects their playing style. That, and the man who tamed Drogba...
Paying Tribute To Didier 'Beast' Drogba
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Not A Superbowl Fan
I was totally pumped for SuperAnfieldbowl 20 between the Liverpool Reds and North London Tots.
Liverpool needed a win because they were 1 in 3 going into the game but the Tots had other ideas
Everyone was real excited about the 'hafftime' commercials and they didn't disappoint and we'll all be going to buy those beers and cars tomorrow.
The best moment of the first two quarters came when Gareth Bale got a yellow card for a thoracic shove on Daniel Agger. But the highlight of the night came in the pre-'hafftime' show from the Jersey Shore star and cat Ethan "Z-Cattt" Ditalionami.
On the pitch Scott Parker was working hard on defense but he paid for it on 70 when he got hurt by Suarez.
It was all getting very exciting and tactical, Tots was lucky to avoid a penalty kick when a hand-fumble wasn't called after Stevie Gerrard's hail mary near to overtime, then Gareth Bale missed when he made it into the end zone untouched.
I'm sorry but I thought this is how you make something sh*t sound better. I want my two hours back.
Tom Creasey
Liverpool v Spurs Conclusions
1) Liverpool dominated possession and dominated the game, but to say they were profligate is a lazy assessment. Yes, the conversion rate this season is poor, but that takes into the account the whole season and games against United, City, Norwich and Sunderland where we were at our wasteful best. We had 2 glorious chances with Carroll and Suarez(his chance being easier), but other than that we failed to create more.
2) The creative aspect of the team is still suffering from the loss of Mereiles. Adam is a good solid player and he has stats to prove his contribution, but tight games like these are where we miss Raul the most. He looks wasted at Chelsea playing as a holding midfielder.
3) Downing probably heads the worst transfer of the season list right now. Dropped for the last 2 games, he looks clueless when he has the ball. And like F365 pointed out earlier, why does he hammer every shot/cross? As much as Mereiles is missed, I really thought that this man would be a key player for us this season. As everyone should know by now: Wingers win you the league. This is our absolute priority buy this summer.
4) Suarez looked very rusty when he came on. And I really believe that he did not mean to kick Parker intentionally. His eyes were on the ball the whole time as he tried to bring it down and control it and his reaction after the kick showed remorse. If Parker had done the same, it would be classified as 'putting your body on the line'.
5) A word on the England right backs: Spurs fans have written in praising Walker, Micah is the neutrals' favorite while Liverpool fans love Kelly more than Johnson. While Kelly is too young to make the senior squad and with Walker just breaking into the squad, Micah and Glen should battle it out for the spot. The only problem I have with Richards is his tendency to lose his head at times though he has matured considerably over the last year. Johnson has more experience and I expect him to start at the Euros.
6) Glad to see Carroll getting the praise he deserves. The next step for Kenny is to find a team and formation to support both Carroll and Suarez which does not include Hendo/Stevie shifted to the right flank. Another tough selection choice for Kenny at Old Trafford awaits.
Sid V, LFC
Get Giggs To Teach Liverpool How To Cross
I cannot believe that a group of professional footballers can consistently cross the ball as badly as Liverpool's players have all season, and did again last night. They never beat the first man, and it's no wonder we have scored so few goals this season.
It really is starting to get embarrassing - Kenny and Steve, if you're reading this, get a video of Giggs highlights over the years, tie our players down, and make them watch it!
That said, to get a point at home to Spurs was a good effort, although it was disappointing because they were there for the taking. Although Spurs were missing a few key men, we once again proved that we can shut out the most creative forces in the Premiership. Once we have beaten Utd and Arsenal, the point will look even better.
Mike #LFC #YNWA Marks
Not Happy With Kenny
What is Kenny Dalglish's problem?
I ask that in all seriousness because his inability to share post match comments last night without drawing reference to LFC's stance on the Suarez ban is simply astonishing.
After he himself made personal calls for both sets of fans to concentrate on the football ahead of the Pool vs Utd FA cup tie he then goes and puts his foot in it yet again with what can only be described as a somewhat inflammatory remark. Can he not be done for bringing the game into disrepute or something? How can he get away with saying "It's fantastic to have him back. He should never have been out in the first place" "Luis Suarez doesn't have anything to prove to anyone at Liverpool FC".
I appreciate the interviewer wanted to draw an answer from him regarding having Suarez available again for selection but why not just leave it at "It's fantastic to have him back"? Why go that extra mile and remind everyone why LFC have been so heavily criticised and have lost so much goodwill over the whole sorry affair.
When he's been found guilty of making a racist comment, when the public eye & media focus is so acutely focused on that very subject right now, why continue to deny any wrong doing?
Nick Salt (MUFC)
...What has happened to that once proud good natured club that used to play its football at Anfield?
It wasn't that long ago that opposition fans would mingle in the kop and the ready wit couldn't help but have you smiling. The anger and vitriol that continually cascades onto the pitch now is as shocking as it is depressing.
And I'm holding one man responsible for this. And no it's not Suarez, although he seems incapable of controlling his inner animal, I'm going to cut him some slack due to age and upbringing - although he must sort it out and quick or pariah status awaits.
No, I'm looking at you Kenny. A man old enough and experienced enough to know much, much better. You have come back to manage this club a truculent, belligerent, deeply unpleasant individual - and are tarnishing your legacy and the fantastic reputation of a club that has taken decades to build.
Graham Souness is held up as the man that ruined LFC, I suggest when we look back on this sorry episode Dalglish may just be looked upon in a similar fashion unless he gets, and takes, some good advice quickly.
Gerard
Meow
Nothing like an adorable, fluffy, fat, feline to repair the club's reputation. Excellent PR move until Dalglish decided to undo the good work in the post-match press conference...
Dominic Neo, LFC, Singapore
Liverpool Should Ditch Suarez
There's no denying that Luis Suarez is a quality player. Being a Liverpool supporter, I've enjoyed his creativity, dribbling (that goal vs United...) and work ethic since he arrived at Anfield even though he hasn't been the prolific goalscorer we hoped for. However, I wouldn't shed many tears if he disappeared during the summer.
There's just too much negativity surrounding him, and it's tarnishing both the club and Kenny's reputation due to the perceived need to stand behind their man. The goal-line handball during the World Cup, biting a player in Holland, the Evra debacle, kicking Parker in the guts, incessantly flopping to the ground way too easily, dirty tricks galore etc. He has become more of a liability to the team than a resource. If we can recoup what we paid for him, I say let him go. We've actually played better as a team during his suspension. I'm sure he'll find a home in Italy.
Trygve, Norway
Praising The Ref
I'd just like to offer a word of praise for referee, young Michael Oliver. He was superb last night, once again. Every game I have seen him ref he has demonstrated huge levels of common sense in almost every situation and without pandering to the baying home crowd.
He has no massive ego or acts all matey with the likes of "Wazza" (Clattenberg, Webb), he's not OTT with penalties or red cards (Dean, Atkinson) and most of all he isn't a dribbling buffoon like Foy.
Someone clone him 9 times please.
Dan G, THFC
Want Play-Offs? Get Relegated
So Bannister9's favourite part of some other sport played elsewhere in the world is the playoffs? Who cares?! The NFL is incredibly boring at the best of times, but regardless of that, it's the way THEY do it. The Premier League title goes to the team who has been the most consistent points-grabber over a 38-game season. Isn't that enough for you?
What if Newcastle finished on top one year, and were clear at the top by 11 points? Then you have (for argument's sake) Man U, Man City and Chelsea rounding out the Top 4. Would you, Mr Newcastle fan, be stoked to lose the title to Chelsea after they beat you in a simple playoff series, despite your team obviously being the best in the league?
Besides, what's the friggin F.A. Cup for (and league cup too)? You don't want playoffs to make things more exciting. You want them because it's probably your team's only realistic chance of ever winning it this century. You want play-off's? Get relegated.
Glen (no idea's a bad idea in a brainstorm ... yeah right) Stuart, unimpressed.
...What on earth is Banister9 putting in his tea? The main reasons the playoff system works in the NFL are a) because the competition is made up of a number of different very small leagues, b) the teams are spread across large geographical distances, and c) because of the physicality of the sport, teams can only play about a dozen games a year. So, the teams that get to the Superbowl have not played every other team in the overall competition during the season (as they do in the Premier League) and it is far from clear which team is the deserved champion until the playoffs and Superbowl sort this question out.
Plus, he suggests: "The Champions League is a cup competition so anyone can drop out at any stage, but does anyone argue that the eventual winner are the best team in Europe for that season? Very, very rarely." Really? What about, off the top of my head, Porto? Or Liverpool? Or Borussia Dortmund?
Anyway, the Champions' League is a cup, not a league, so it is not a useful comparison for institutional reform of the Premier League. And, also unlike the NFL, there's absolutely no ambiguity in the Premier League about who the best team is: after 38 games, the team that finishes top really has proved themselves the best.
Where the playoff system could work, though, in my view, would be in selecting the teams that enter the Champions' League. If the teams that finished 4th to 7th in the Premier League (and the other European leagues) had a playoff, just like in the lower leagues, to see who won the fourth Champions' League place, things would be much more interesting and competitive at the end of the season, and could have lots of positive knock-on effects, such as bringing some sanity to the spending of many of the challenging clubs.
Matt (why don't football pundits understand the laws of the game?) Bishop
Ashley Cole It Is Then
Who is England Captain really does matter, but the reason it matters is nothing to do with leadership, shouting, or bleeding heads. It matters because the captain always plays. By selecting a player as captain, the ties himself to a player and effectively makes him undroppable. We had this with Beckham at the end of the Eriksson era, when he was miles past his best but still picked for every game when all he could contribute was free kicks. Picking the wrong captain can require us to be playing at less than full strength, and Lord knows we have enough trouble in tournaments, let alone if we make it worse for ourselves.
The undroppability of the Captain is why it's a problem for England now. It's why people in the press are shouting for Scot Parker; not because they think he should be captain, but because they have man-crushes on him and want him to play every game. It's why it can't be Lampard or Gerrard; because that ties us to either one, when we may be better off with neither. It's only one of the reasons why it can't be Glen Johnson, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott, Darren Bent or Gareth Barry; because we'd drop any one of them like a stone if only we had a decent alternative. It's why it can't be Rio, because it'll only mean he comes back from injury too early and gets hurt, meaning that the whole problem is shifted on to whoever the vice-captain is. It's why it shouldn't have been John Terry; because he's not really good enough anymore.
The next England Captain needs to be someone who is a) the best we have b) actually good and c) usually fit. So it's basically Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart or Ashley Cole. And I don't give two hoots which it is, so long as it's one of them.
Rob Phillips LFC
My Word
Has anyone else found themselves saying "my word" instead of swearing ... Ray Wilkins cleaning up the English language!
Flevill MUFC
