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Villa Success Down To Sensible Hair
I see there has been some comment recently in the press about the Villa, good morals, mostly English team, and managed well etc.
However, whilst discussing the tw*tty hair style of David Bentley with a colleague today, I realised another reason to admire the Villa. No nonsense haircuts.
With the exception of Laursen, with his Scott Robinson from Neighbours look, and Petrov, with his living in a box 80's style, all the other players all have either buzzed heads, or a good short back and sides,
None of this styled, 'saloon' haircuts, no stupid band around the forehead to keep the hair out your eye, no dreadlocks or ponytails. Just good team with sensible hair.
Bet you never though of that did you, Conor Byrne, eh?
Phil, AVFC
(You didn't put in my letter linking Villa performance direclty to Melberg's beard, so I'll keep going until you put a hair related letter in the mailbox)
Why Not Let Rafa Just Manage?
In response to Gussy's mail about Rafa letting Liverpool off the leash (2nd Oct). As a Liverpool fan I am fed up with constant sideline commentary on what Rafa should and shouldn't be doing. Our best ever start to a Champions League campaign and unbeaten in the league, that Rafa fella might know a thing or two about football.
Why don't we focus on actually doing what it takes to win the league and then we can look at screwing with a working system.
And, regarding his comment on Gerrard ('On a side note when Gerrard gets the ball in midfield and has space in front of him he is unstoppable - speed and strength and a great eye for a pass sums him up') - great spot! A future England star in the making, perhaps? Capello should send his scouts down to see him.
Dan 'insert stock reverse psychology quote about publishing email here' Leach
...On behalf of Liverpool fans who actually have a inkling of tactical awareness, and can appreciate Benitez's effforts to create a team greater than the sum of its parts, I would like to apologise for the inane rabble from one of our own that topped this morning's Mailbox. Gussy.. you is a fool, bruv.
Dirk Kuyt was immense against Everton, kept his place and was again effective last night against an experienced CL side (albeit weakened over the past few seasons). No, he doesn't do stepovers or nutmegs, but his horrible poor first touch of last season has almost vanished, his huge efforts in many areas of the pitch are helping out his team mates (a team game remember!) and he is starting to look like he can score a few goals again. I predict by the end of this season he will be earning many plaudits from all quarters.
And stop w***ing over Gerrard as well - a great goal and some fantastic probing passes at times, but last night we saw a lot of the type of play which has made so many 'tactical' managers - Cappello, Eriksson as well as Benitez - decide he is a liberty in the centre midfield role. He gives the ball away and fails to chase after it, walking back to a defensive position while the other team, and his own teammates, are running towards our goal; at one point in the first half he tried a nutmeg on the edge of his own area when we were caught out at the back. He was also guilty of attempting awkward forward passes when a simple side option of back pass was required. Benitez plays possession football and sometimes Gerrard completely disobeys him at times and I won't even bother pointing out your blindness and going into how good a footballer Mascherano is...
There are far too many 'Youtube Football' fans out there...
Chris, West London
...Does anyone else think Gussy rather invalidated the rest of his email after he suggested the solution to the much-maligned Dirk Kuyt and his giveaway antics was to play Ryan Babel, yes Ryan Babel the talisman of possession football. I must admit I skim read the rest of the email and it followed in the same vague, nonsensical tone of a panicked rival team supporter who may have just woken up and noticed that this side Benitez has been building for the past five years might not be half bad.
What incenses me even more was that his email was the first one, top, ie. The best in the mailbox compilers eyes. I can only fathom that its appearance there is too encourage some actual Liverpool supporters to contribute to a mailbox once in a while, I haven't read one in ages. Oh and as a match going supporter I feel obliged to say I'm sorry but the views of Rashid from India and Raul from Venezuela don't count.
Chris 'Rafa has his Dirk Kuyt' Davidson, Liverpool
...Gussy; wind your neck in mate. Everybody's got an opinion and you're fully entitled to yours, but you're contradicting yourself - you say Rafa should change his approach and be more attacking, but in the next breath you say Rafa keeping things stable has given us an edge and facilitated the best start to the season in years. So what do you want?
If you're a Pool fan (and if you are, why are you slating your own players when they are doing so well?) presumably you want Liverpool to keep winning. This needs Rafa to keep the ship steady - if we go gung ho we will start leaking goals, and that's the beginning of the end. Look what has happened to Newcastle since they prioritised an attacking approach!
I agree Kuyt can be frustrating, but he is involved in everything we do, good or bad, and I for one think a player who ALWAYS stands up to be counted is invaluable to the team. Yes, Babel is a very good player, but Kuyt's contribution is too important to ignore, so I don't know why so many people ignore it. Even when he scores you say it was more about the keeper than Kuyt?! That is ridiculous! Cut the guy some slack! Babel is doing just fine coming off the bench when opposition defences are tired, including scoring some important goals, so why rock the boat?
Similarly, why is Arbeloa so underrated? Remember his debut in the Champions League against Messi, one of the best attacking players in the game? Arbeloa kept him in his pocket all night, so give him some credit please, especially since he is now a key part of our currently very strong defence. Who would you play instead of him anyway? Finnan maybe, but he's left the club, so let's make the best of what we have got and have faith in Arbeloa - he has earned it.
Rafa was only asking Riera to tuck in when the opposition had the ball, because a compact team is harder to break down - this is standard defending and something you really should be aware of. When Liverpool had the ball we did play much wider - the second goal was from a Torres cross from out wide, so clearly we have width and it's paying dividends. Since his arrival Riera has done really well and given Liverpool the genuine left winger they have been craving for years, so again give him the credit he deserves.
Are you a Liverpool fan Gussy? If so, enjoy our current form and get behind the team so that we can keep moving forward. If you're not, and I suspect you're not, don't comment on Liverpool. It is a fact that Premierships are won by defences - only Chelsea and United have won it recently because they have the best defences, Arsenal have not won it recently because they are dodgy at the back and can't defend set pieces. That is why Rafa prioritises defending - he understands the importance of it.
Morgan (sick and tired of Kuyt-bashing - football is a team game and Kuyt is the ultimate team player) Goford
Dirk: D'oh
Dirk Kuyt is to football what Homer Simpson was to boxing.
Jarlath Challoner, Ireland
The Champions League Is Fine, Thanks
I've been reading all the Champions League bashing this week and feel some of the criticism is unfair...well, s***e actually!
For the traditionalists who say it should be a tournament for Champions only, that is a perfectly valid point. Don't be fooled though, there were at least as many s**t games back then as everyone says there is in the group stages now. I personally don't go in for that argument as I want to see the best teams play each other rather than just the champions. It would be very handy if every champion was a good side but unfortunately the 4th best team in England is much better than the champions from just about anywhere in Europe except maybe the biggest leagues. The competition has evolved into the European Super League that everyone talks about rather than a champions tournament, with a bit of knock out excitement at the end (a name change would probably be in order).
The group stages have added to the competition in making the games more exciting. Back in the old days where you just played a straight two-leg knock-out it was perfectly acceptable if you went 1-0 down to shut up shop and get them back to your own ground, even though they knew they were playing inferior opposition and would give them a tonking in the return. The games were s**t and some of the dullest football you could ever see. The mini league system has got rid of that because a 1-0 loss away means you now get f*** all. Last night was a perfect example of this in the Shakhtar v Barca game. Barca were 1 0 down with a couple of minutes to go and they risked losing a 2nd to try and get a point and then even went on to win it. I guarantee you this would not have happened without the introduction of the league phase.
In the knock-out phase now the teams are the best around and you can't guarantee giving any of them a hiding at your own ground and so the away goal has become like gold dust and worth chasing (2 1 defeat is significantly better than 1 0 in the knock out phase).
Tim (the old selective memory comes out when people talk about 'the good old days') Collins
...To anyone suggesting that the champions from each European country be allowed into the group stages of the Champions League, I think you need a reality check. The debate has arisen because people are moaning about it being boring seeing all the English teams progress with little real opposition. However, many of these teams that would supposedly make the group stages more competitive and interesting - the champions from Europe's minor leagues - failed to even reach the group stages. They had a chance! Do you honestly think that the inclusion of the Estonian champions (for example) is going to make it less predictable? All you end up with is an even greater lack of competition, with a likely last eight comprised of two each from English, Spain and Italy plus another couple split between Holland, France and Germany.
The biggest teams in Europe are the best. They should be playing together, against each other. I refuse to believe that the top four teams in England are there purely because of wealth, the top teams from the other best European nations have comparable squads and aren't adverse to spending plenty of money. I'd suggest Man Utd's victory over Barcelona last season had very little to do with money. Arsenal's victory over AC Milan? Nope. Liverpool didn't beat Inter Milan because they spent more on players either. Then there's the fact that the current European Champions, Spain, have a squad made largely of players that play in the Spanish league. And how many World Champion Italians do you see playing in England?
On a side note, if someone has time, it would be interesting to see the comparisons between the top 10 clubs in Europe; how much they paid for their squad, and what their wage bill is.
Joel 'RULE BRITANNIA!' Bradley
Crisis Clubs Taking Heat Off Everton
I have to admit I am really enjoying the fact that Spurs and Newcastle have had a sh*t start to the season. This is because
i) I spent the whole summer working with a Spurs fan that was adamant this was their year, 'Magic Juande' was going to propel them into a Premiership-winning superpower, and Luca Modric (Is he not just Yossi Benayoun in a blonde wig?) was going to destroy everyone.
ii) I just hate Newcastle.
But because these clubs are so sh*t, everyone seems to have forgotten that Everton are in a right mess this season as well - not only have we lost all three of our league home games this season, we're out of the Carling Cup, on the brink of being knocked out of the UEFA, only have seven points from the first six Prem games, and a manager that looks like he'd rather be somewhere else.
To add to this our ground is a bonfire waiting to happen, and any hopes of a new one being built are disappearing quick. We also have a chairman who is absolutely skint trying to sell us off to anyone who wants us. We're a shambles at the moment, even Lescott has had a poor start to the season, and this must be somewhat caused by the unrest behind closed doors.
Don't be suprised if Moyes walks or is sacked after tonight's defeat in Belgium. That is if you even find out about it, it'll probably be reported about 20 to the hour on SSN, just after they have a chat with ex-Spurs player Justin Edinburgh on what he thinks of Jermain Jenas going to IKEA to buy a new sofa.
Euros (Slighlty Bitter) Rees EFC
The Key To Bolton's Success
Has anyone ever had a really s**t player in your squad who for some unknown reason kept getting into the team despite the fact that he could barely kick a ball? For Bolton it was Henrik Pedersen. I don't think there was a single fan who was happy to see him in the squad, especially when Big Sam decided to try to turn him into a left-back (the logic was he was left footed I think...) Anyway, last night I realised that he, not Phil Brown was the real brains behind the logic. Don't believe me? (and if you're a Bolton fan I'm sure you'll be on the floor laughing at this). Well, Henrik spent his first five seasons as a professional at Silkeborg in Denmark, where they finished 6th, 2nd, 9th, 6th and 3rd (out of 12) before he joined Bolton in 2001. He returned at the end of the 2001-2002 season on loan and helped them avoid relegation. However, the next season, without him, they got relegated. Meanwhile, Bolton survived relegation twice before going on to get four consecutive top ten finishes. At the end of the 2006-2007 season Henrik left for Hull City, who as everyone knows got promoted last season, meanwhile Bolton struggled and only survived relegation on the last day of the season. He then left for Silkeborg who came within four points of promotion back to the top flight. All is well for Hull at the moment, but without Henrik things are only going to get worse!!!
Chris (I feel dirty now) BWFC
Gunners: Rubbish At Attacking Corners Too
I am not sad enough to spend the time researching this accurately, so forgive me if the 'statistics' are largely anecdotal. But quite apart from Arsenal's poor defending of corners, how crap are the Gunners at taking them?
We must have conceded three goals in about the last 30 corners against us, but it would be easier to take if we balanced this notching goals from corners at the other end.
Before Adeybayor finally got one on Tuesday we must have gone at least 70 corners since the last time it happened? Some of the drought is due to Van Persie's long-term absences (he takes wicked corners), but Fabregas is astonishingly ineffective for a player of such class. Indeed, he has only two options in his corner-taking portfolio: the inswinging six-yard-liner invariably claimed by the keeper; and the unerring short corner onto the first defender's head - Porto nearly scored from that one!
With the sheer volume of corners Arsenal win, Fabregas inevitably gets one or two assists from corners in a season, but his ratio must be near 100 corners to each goal? If anyone can confirm this, please can they e mail Mr. Wenger before Saturday. Ta.
Lawrence Tipping
Trying To Make Sense Of Kinnear
I am beginning to start to understand the appointment of Joe Kinnear. After the latest 'leak' of a buy out story from the mouth of JK this morning, it would seem that he is being used as a spokesman, purely to be a face to keep the press pack at bay, (JK was well known for being media-friendly back in the day). I have a media background myself, and I would have thought that a PR consultant has been appointed and has cleverly (maybe not) advised that in order to adhere to Ashley's low profile policy, than who better than the manager to become the media Wh**e that will help the sale go through, and keep the bloodthirsty fans at bay.
Of course, appointing an interim manger to change the fortunes of the team should also be a requirement????????
Josh Hull, 'Sky Blues'
Some Striker Corrections
I have to pull Tom Middleton up on his assertion that Andy Cole started great at Man United. Although he scored an impressive 12 goals in 17 games for United after joining from Newcastle mid season it doesn't tell the full story. five of these were against a shockingly poor Ipswich side in a 9-0 victory. That was around the same amount of opportunities he squandered in the last game of the season (against an inspired Ludek Miklosko admittedly) which resulted in Blackburn winning that year's title.
The next season (his first full season at United) was arguably his leanest spell at the club. He managed only 13 goals in all competitions in nearly 40 games and was so out of sorts that Ferguson preferred a novice by the name of Paul Scholes in his place. United did win the double that season but only as a result of Cantona's genius in procuring 1-0 victories when Cole went missing.
In the end Andy did indeed turn into a United legend but only after very suspect beginnings.
Robert Melia
...I was just reading today's mailbox regarding impact of strikers in their first seasons with new clubs in the Premiership, which included Tristan 'Thesis after the Parenthesis' Kilkenny mail. As much as I can't disagree with most of the players he listed, the inclusion of Tino Asprilla baffled me somewhat.
Admittedly he did score 20 goals for Newcastle, it took him two-and-a-half injury-hit seasons to do it mind. And a fair percentage of them goals came in European competitions. His own very unique style, as entertaining as it was, never really cut out for likes of Wimbledon or Southampton away on a cold December night and his goalscoring record in the Premiership games reflects this somewhat. His greatest nights in the Black 'n' White shirt and the reason he is remembered with such fondness and affection on Tyneside came against Metz and of course 'that game' v Barcelona in the Champions League where he got the memorable hat-trick.
If you want to ask anyone a Tino's 'real' impact in his first season in England ask Keith Curle - he probably still has the bruises.
Forum Willy
...Tristan Kilkenny - check your facts, Bergkamp took over a year to settle at Arsenal (under Rioch), he only scored seven in his first season, hardly awe-inspiring for a British transfer record at the time.
Richard White, NFFC
A Recipe For Success
Take the DNA of Sergio Aguero. Add in the DNA of Maradona - if that kid is a boy its gonna be some player and I'd like to purchase the ownership rights!!
Barry Walsh
