Nothing in the way of articles caught my eye this weekend.
Liverpool's performance against Arsenal has just poured more fuel on the fire that is "Should Steven Gerrard be playing in central midfield?" With Sissoko out for up to three months it was surprising to see Zenden lining up in midfield along side Xabi Alonso at Emirates Stadium. It seems to me that there are a lot of parallels with the ongoing debate surrounding Gerrard and Lampard in the England set up. Alonso generally plays deeper than Lampard but both play better with a defensive midfield player beside them – as does Gerrard. Cast your mind back to the Champions League Final in 2005 when Milan cut through a Alonso/Gerrard central midfield in the first half. It was the introduction of Hamann at half time that helped turn the tide.
Perhaps the debate is better framed around Gerrard or Lampard (England) and Gerrard or Alonso (Liverpool). If you look at it from that prospective then I think you can see how Gerrard is often played on the right side of midfield.
The Liverpool situation is magnified because I don’t think Gerrard or Alonso has played particularly well this season. I think the assumption is being made in many quarters that Gerrard is playing badly because he is supposedly being played out of position. Maybe he is just playing poorly period. In past seasons he has been very productive from the right side and he has been given latitude to roam as well.
And some other thoughts on yesterday’s game from a Liverpool perspective. When Benitez took off Sami Hyypia it was an act of mercy. Poor Sami just could not handle the pace and movement from Arsenal.
Mark Gonzalez – has Jose Antonio Reyes just changed his name and place of business? Gonzalez seems to have pace to burn but he seems to be content to slow the game down when he gets the ball.
I think if I was a liverpool fun I would be worried and frustrated. Liverpool don't seem to show up in this big games. They have made it look easy for both Arsenal and Man U. Their mid looks out-classed and when I look at the players they have they shouldn't be. Gerrald and Alonso are struggling and people need to recognize that and stop blaming Benitez for everything, although I was suprised he played Zenden in the middle against Arsenal that worring for liverpool. Arsenal though played well too and I was happy with the performance. It was a team performance. The return of Eboue is key to arsenal, the guy is amazing and totally love him.Toure had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt in my opinion, Henry was up to it and Helb and Cesc just did what they do best create, while Gilberto was again the unsung hero with another great performance, Van P. set up two goals and tried the Maradona hand of God techinque and Flamini hustled for the team.Though we missed the movement and mobilty of Rosisky hopes he gets back soon.Good win for Arsenal we have beaten Man U and Liverpool so thats good and it shows that teams that come out and play against Arsenal can't beat them. Hope we can build on this.
Also what do you think will happen to Barca now that they don't have Messi or Eto? Will they struggle or will it not affect them? I think Ronaldhino will now have to prove why he is in deed the best in the world coz his team desperatly needs him. Also what do you think of Totti's perfomance so far and do think he can win something for Roma this season?
Last edited by Gunner44 on November 13th at 10:13 AM.
Bobby l have to say as a gunners fan the result was good but l thought arsenal did not particularilly pass the ball well , but what got my mind was that liverpool seemed to be more corncened about losing rather than winning, risse and finnan can forward in the 90th minute.they had to push forward and did not do well as in attack, secondly carrigher was as bad as hypia, he was even dispossesed by adebayor.If you go back to when liverpool played well they had less width and gerrard would play in the middle with hamman or sisoko shielding the diffence, he is paying the price for extra width something that can be a luxury., l feel that the whole gerrard central player is #### because in the last two games when they were winning and he was hitting post and the like no one talked of it, l just thought liverpool did not attack and gerrard is stronger attacking, l do not think there was going to be much of a differnce had he played centrally.gerrard was not on form and so was many liverpool players on the day period.Bobby remember l promised a rout
Last edited by henry14 on November 13th at 10:23 AM.
Bobby what do you make of freddy adu, l personally feelthat he does not make the manu grade because he did not set the less phyiscal less faster us leauge on fire,do you feel he can make the grade
I've seen most of the Liverpool games this year and I was surprised to see Hyppia in the game. I thought Benitez would have prefered the younger more athletic Agger.
I wonder if Gerrard isnt suffering a bit from all of matches hes played in the past 2 yrs. He hasnt looked good for awhile, and after the hour mark he went from the right to the center and was still missing in action.
Seemed to me the same arsenal side weve been admirerring, applauding, and aggravated at all year, the only difference, the ball went into the net. The back four of eboue, toure, gallas and clichy is amazaing and hope they have a run of play together for awhile. Its a much more potent side when they each confidently present themselves in the attacking 3rd.
I think Stevie Gerrard is a great player who's just playing okay this season. I would like to see Liverpool atop the Prem., but they havn't earned it. Given their team, however, I'd not pile the entire blame on Gerrard.
Freddy Adu? I won't miss him. I prefer the Revs anyway (sigh), but his comment (when interviewed during the World Cup) about being unsure whether he wants to play internationally for the USA or Ghana really caught me the wrong way. I don't mind if he plays in the Prem. or not, I wish him the best and hope he makes a great living, nothing more. I have seen him play and he does not look like Premiership material at this point in his career, to me, anyway.
England: my team. I thought Gerrard and Lampard would be unstoppable together. Oooops. That's why I'm not a top-flight manager. Lampard is playing very well this season, give him the nod, have Gerrard stay at home, for now. If things turn around for Gerrard, mix it up, but don't bother playing them both together. I'd honestly like to pick up a couple of creative dribblers and finishers.
I would agree that Gerrard has lost some of his form. It happens. Someone pointed out that he has played an enormous amount of games/matches lately and I would agree. I tought we were going to be in for a treat because during the first couple of minutes Stevie was very visible.
I do have a couple of thoughts--pass it through the truth meter and let me know what you think: I have noticed that when my (the team I coach)central midfielder (who can score and pushes like the Stevie G of old) doesn't feel confident with the back 3-4 he plays deeper and more defensively. This affects the whole team since he is the playmaker, similar to what Liverpool is doing. 2nd--If Gerrard could take a break from international duties and just rest a bit I think he would be better off. How could you do this and still play all the political games and stop the rumors etc..
The only plausible reason that Benitez could give for putting Zenden in the middle and leaving Stevie out wide would be to give him added time to adapt to being a wide player. If that was the reason, it backfired horribly. Now he has 2 players playing out of position. Consequently, Liverpool had no clue as to how to break Arsenal down, and I don't believe not having Gerrard in the middle had too much to do with that.
Last edited by Alan_V on November 14th at 11:59 AM.
Call me ARROGANT...but i know my stuff. arsenal are not a great team, they are just about a good team who played a very very poor liverpool team on the night. Yes, Rafa gets to see Bolo and the other guys on a daily basis, but i'm enough of a football genius to know that Bolo is an outstanding winger and NOT central midfield player!!! I followed Bolo's career from the '97/'98 period and was SHOCKED to see him there. Assanal don't deserve to be as high up...they are a bunch of whiny, and unsportsmanlike sissies.
Anyways, I can't wait till we wipe the bathroom stalls at Old Trafford week from Sunday with the Chelski players...can I hear you all say: UNITED...UNITED...UNITED!!!
If Liverpool don't make the champs league do you see Gerrard moving on? What about Benitez? Where might they go?
Seems like Gerrard would be just what Madrid are lacking right now, or (dare I say?) Man U as a replacement for Scholes. Inter are always turning over managers, and Ancelotti must be in the pits at Milan, so maybe Benitez would go to one of those?
MrRedDevil - I just pulled the story up a couple of minutes ago while watching the FA Cup game. A further statement will be made tomorrow. Unitl then we can speculate - Alex McLeish, David O'Leary (I hope not), Bryan Robson (he could get a third team relegated), someone from the Championship perhaps?
I have the sound down on the FA Cup game and Falkirk / Hearts on internet radio. 0-0 into the second half with Falkirk maybe having the slightest of edges.
Gerrard has played well? Gerrard has been pants. Liverpool have been pants. And I picked them to win the League! All the blabbering about where Gerrard should play is just nonsense. He can't play in the center w/o a strong defensive MF'er to compensate for his glaring lack of technical ability. ... What's wrong with Scousers, especially away from Anfield, is that they are constitutionally incapable of scoring. There's nothing in the way of decent service to the forwards, and these forwards -- Crouch & Kuyt especially -- are nowhere near gifted enough to create anything for themselves (or each other). ... As for 'Tinkerman' Benitez, squad rotation is nice -- and necessary when you're fighting for silverware on four fronts -- but the League has to be his highest priority, or he'll be managing somewhere else next season. Why not figure a Best XI for the EPL and play 'em? Then mix and match for the Cups. ... Here, Rafa, this is for free: Reina; Riise, Carragher, Agger, Finnan; Aurelio, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Pennant; Bellamy, Kuyt. Play them @ the Riverside next Saturday; the points are already in the bag
LOL @ the protest by Macclesfield fans at the FA cup game today. For anyone who didn't watch, people outside the stadium kicked 30-odd balls over the stands and onto the pitch, interrupting the game for a few mins.
Now that Wenger had a week to cool down from his bust up with Pardew and he's talking to the media again (thank goodness!), was an apology too much to ask!? A good old "I'm sorry".
Pardew apologized. Wenger expressed regret but is not sorry. (Funny because Zidane was sorry but had no regrets. Maybe it's the translation!)
When asked whether he feels he will be punished by the FA for the incident, Wenger responded: "It depends - found guilty of what? Of having reacted? Of course I feel I'm adult enough and long enough on the bench and responsible in football to know when I'm right and wrong. That's it."
Whats the over/under on the number of injuries and withdrawals for beckham to get a shot at his 100 caps?
VVV,
Man Ill be glad when milan start to win again and you can leave the best manager in football alone! Hes standing their frustrated in his box and that lunatic bum rushed him, what would you have him do? Perhaps a Zizou?
Last edited by riocharlie on November 13th at 4:16 PM.
Bobby if you were arsene wenger how would you fit in senderos and djouro into the team when you have gallas and toure who are some of the most injury free players around, how would you cater for their improvement
Wenger should've done a Zizou on Pardew - that would've been priceless !!!
I'd be a lot less bitter and angry if Milan weren't making a mess of their Serie A season - Galliani promised they'd have almost caught Inter by now!!! At this point I'll be thrilled if they qualify for the Intertoto.
I'm starting to wish I grew up a fan of a smaller club. Most wins are expected and any loss is a disaster. Is it the same for fans of Chelsea, ManU, Barca, Arsenal !!?? Anything short of major trophies is failure. Are Chelsea fans happy with last season, or was it satisfactory at best? Can Barca fans possibly be happy with anything short of a repeat double? Fans of smaller clubs just seem to have more highs, and every single win is a victory and every single trophy is memorable?
Sorry Rio, I just don't like Wenger, and I'm having a bad week.
1. What do you think of the new "designated player" rule by MLS? do you think it will be a good thing for MLS or do you think that it will begin the same fate as the NASL, for which they signed big name stars and within a few years folded up shop?
2. What about the new MLS-Mexican "Champions League"? Will this prove that MLS can compete with one of the top leagues in the world (or at least in the Americas?)
3. After two months of Spain's La Liga, who do you think have been the biggest surprise and disapointment are? My biggest surprise has got to be Sevilla at number two and are continuing on last year's fine form that won them the UEFA Cup. My biggest disapointment has to be Villareal. The form that got them a UEFA Champions League spot in the 2004/05 season has disapeared.
I couldnt tell you what it liketo follow a smaller club, Ive only followed Arsenal and Flamengo. You know Flamengo, they are practicaly a feeder club to Milan. But as a supporter we have to go thru the valleys in order for the feelings of victory are that much sweeter. This has been a frustrating start fo gunners, theyve looked and played great in almost every match, and even with that they pass too much dont score etc so it can be frustrating. Thats why i was glad to see wenger react the way he did, the squad need more of a killer streak, take no prisoners, no guff from anyone attitude and it mostly needs to come from wenger. Vierra, Pires, Bergkamp have provided it, but its beyond Henry to do s. Thswhy I was happy to see Gallas come over he can provide it, Ljundberg too, I am waiting to see Julio Baptista but Im sure that will be a majot role for him.
Like most elite sports, what seperates the top teams is their mental approach to the season-competition, and that is where arsenal are weakest right now. BUt gettin better and I hope your week gets better 2
You have to love the FA Cup with all these small clubs playing and the strange occurances that ensue. From the coin throwing incidents to the 20 soccer balls kicked onto the pitch to the 35K pound loss accrued from playing at an empty Fratton Park. All unfortunate, to be sure. What is the strangest small club cup incident you've seen?
The MLS and USL seem to operate within both the US and Canada in contrast to football leagues in other countries. What are the implications from a governing body point of view and do you think it a wise idea overall with Vancouver and Toronto FC playing with the American teams? I know there's sometimes a debate over Celtic jumping ship and joining the Premiership.
For lack of some other coherent explanation, it seems Barcelona have everyone right where they want them: Down 3 forwards and seemingly a double-digit booking threat everytime they take the pitch. Is there something they can do with the players they have to 1. Qualify for the CL knockout round and 2. weather the next few months?
Rio:
Wenger's done an amazing job at Arsenal. Turned what was a boring team into one of the most exciting in Europe, and if he can keep the core group together will have a great team in a couple of years. It seems like everytime I hear his interviews he is whining and crying about something, so I guess it's more personal!!
The way Milan is losing these games is maddening. I don't believe in luck in sport, so I'll say that they are just not doing the little things which make the difference (meaningless cliche'). They dominated Roma, had 21 shots, hit a couple of posts, a disallowed goal, and go on to lose. They are starting to score goals and are playing some great football, but also have so many injuries so early in the season. It's going to be a long season for Milan, but I guess it was always going to be!
ManU4life I have just onething to tell you, Remember that sunday at old T. 1-0 you know to who, outplayed by that team that made scholes look like he's 40 and rooney & Ronaldo look like average players. Anyway can't wait till you play chelski, I'm betting on Drogba to get another hat-rick. But I hope Ronaldo takes Cole for a ride like Lennon did, Gosh I hate that traiter called Cole.
VVV, hope AC get back to winning ways I'll like their playing style alot especially Kaka and Pirlo big fun of those two guys and it would be a dream come true to see them both or at least one of them in an Arsenal shirt.
Last edited by Gunner44 on November 13th at 10:24 PM.
I'll ask 2 questions and try to keep it short so you can please answer both =)
1. Bobby what do you think about rooney's form lately? Didn't look that sharp against blackburn even tho he had 2 gifts.
2. What did you think about the RVN show this weekend? NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT KILLS ME! Real are only 1 game behind Barca and with the many players missing up front Real look like they have a good chance of ending the years drought. I don't know how far they can challenge into the champs league but I would love to see the New Real clash with an EPL or Italian Giant. Those are the kind of matches we live for. Thoughts???
Last edited by djnima on November 14th at 1:04 AM.
3 points I'd like to make. 1) They're like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde with their home form versus their away form, having played better at home than any other team that I've seen this season. 2) Gerrard, Alonso and just about everyone else on the team have been inconsistent...perhaps due to the fact that they've been playing 2+ years straight without much of a break. 3) bad luck of the draw. Before a third of the season gone, they've played all 4 of their toughest opposition, all away, not to mention Bolton away and a promoted team in the first game of the season. Can you imagine what Mourinho or Wenger would've said if they had that draw???
Now that I've vented, I do actually have a question. I'm surprised that nobody has brought up Mike Newell's comments. I think he's a good manager, based on overachieving (up until a month ago) with a team that should be no more than a team fighting relegation. I thought he would probably be offered a job in the premiership this upcoming summer if not sooner.
Now, he's almost definitely going to be fired, although the REAL veiled reason is his lashing at the team's directors. When (rather than if) fired, what will become of Mike Newell?
Question about the fox soccer top 25 ... top 35 clubs.
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/stor y/3412562
I know this list is old and came out before the Revs loss this weekend and the, the ... well, whatever it was that Liverpool pulled ... but do you really see the Revs and Houston as being better teams than half the Prem?
My Manchester City seem unable to score this season; I'd love to see them play the Revolution in a friendly. But, to put either of these MLS teams above Bolton seems ... not right.
What is it exactly that Van Basten sees wrong in Seedorf?
I can maybe understand that Seedorf has a bit of an ego, and being older than most of the Dutch team has some authority to argue with the coach, but he's never come off as a self-obsessed superstar like Basten claims he is.
As for his play.. certainly always looks like a scoring threat and hard worker for Milan. Compare him with hrm.. Landzaat who is now languishing on the bench at Wigan, Van der Vaart who has been injured most of the season, and Sneijder who still plays in a lower tier league. That's not to say Seedorf is better than all of them, but he certainly isn't out of the running. And damn he's just so polite in interviews!!
AM- I've asked myself that same question about Seedorf the last time I watched Milan play. Maybe he and Ruud have figured it out: give your country the best you've got for a few years then move on. Except for the "slavery" (-mourinho) mentality most of the national programs have you keep getting sucked back into intenational duty. It has to tire the poor lads out and they now where the bread is buttered (club not country) so why not get a little cranky and make some demands if you're going to play so many ridiculous matches. Watch for more "older" pro's to follow suite.
Last edited by neophyte on November 14th at 11:40 AM.
This is a very frustrating Liverpool team. LFC needs a 25 - 30 goal a season striker. Bellamy, Crouch, and Kuyt will get maybe 15 each. The Reds lose the ball too easily and are too fond of passing backwards. A ball winnner like Ronnie Whelan (who can also score) is badly needed.The Reds were successful when Rushie and King Kenny were ####ing in 40-50 goals a year and the midfielders McDermott, Souness, Whelan were each getting into double figures. Reina makes mistakes but so did every Liverpool keeper. Just the mistakes are amplified by lack of goals at the other end. Finally, Rafa has to understand that football is a team game, not a squad game. Gallas' goal was a prime example of a team not accustomed to playing together.
L just saw some comments from maclaren, and terry and they seem to underestimate the dutch and l feel that , that is a big blunder because holland are quite capable of deeating enland home and away.Bobby you tried to make face for enland on the show by sayimg van basten is under fire, but , if you look at their group and the points they have taken from the tricky places , the same can not be said of england,.l was seeing the pick the england squad thing that was at bbc and you do not have a good team with a lot of injuries flying, and l doubt that with the french, who can afford to leave guily nd some really good players, it time you bobby and and others stop to overhype england and for once say they are not that great a side, at their best l do not fancy them anywhere on earth against a decent spanish side.they do not even have a striker who can score 20+ goals and those are many with the dutch,french and spanish, and the world champions, germans.l would put them in the ukraine kind of group and nothing more
Last edited by henry14 on November 14th at 4:48 PM.
Remember lesson from World Cup. It's just a friendly, it doesn't really matter, it's a glorified training session on TV with fans in a real stadium. There is no pressure on the players, except for maybe the fringe guys who will be keen to impress, but who will nonetheless be on the bench, if they're lucky, when it does matter.
Was that Spurs playing or was it an FA cup game Reading vs. UPS....why dont spurs just go back to wearing black away. I know teams change kits all the time to sell more Jerseys but are people really fighting over UPS uniforms in the street and teal was great in 82 but it has not aged well?
Bobby
With the transfer window approaching do you see any big players moving and are US players able to be signed by EPL sides now? I have also been having a fight with friend about which is the bigger collapse forrest or leeds and is there any other comperable to them?
England have the individual players but lack the team play to win the big competitions. Mclaren dropped Becks and is playing andy johnson but whaty else has he done different from sven. The teams with the best individuals does not always win....Brazil in the world cup. It then falls to the manager to put the right team on the pitch. For example Lampard and Gerrard are both great players but maybe not together. That is the big problem for international managers, two great players that play the same role as much as the lack of a player to fill a position . Is is better to have great players out of there natural position or play a lesser player in that position. Its early and Mclaren deserves more time but I think he needs to get much more creative. There is more than one way to get far in international competions take the WC for example. France played the same side for much of the WC whereas Italy was constantly changing.
Is England boss the toughest mangerial position in football from a pressure stand point?
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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