Premier League 2010-2011

[PeteC]

There's this crap about Wenger making 8 changes to his starting team as normal rotation , as well as BaaBaa's complaints about coaching. Perhaps all these Puyais have been sucked down into the hell of the bookmakers.

What's the history of corruption in the Premiere League? Sorry BaaBaa but the only one I can remember is the semi-bald goal keeper who got caught a few years ago. Pete

[caller]

I watched the L'pool game whilst keeping an eye on the Chelsea score and it has to be said that L'pool were poor. The problem still is, as it has been for a season or so, the over-reliance on Gerrard (lacking match fitness) and Torres and to a lesser degree, Kuyt.

Attacks were slow and often there was no support from midfield for the forwards who were very isolated. It seems to me as a team that they need to play further up the pitch.

At the end of the day, this is still largely Benitez's team and it ain't good enough.

BaaBaa mentions Hodgsons tactics, but Benitez's weren't much better in his last season either. So will Hodgson be allowed to buy in the transfer window? Will he still be around to do so? There's no magic wand that will fix this if the bucks ain't there, just time.

Pete, that corruption story feautured Liverpools old SA/Zimbabwe keeper, a game-keeper mate of his who was the informant/sting, John Fashanu and Hans Segar, another keeper, I have the book of it somewhere, its an eye-opener. But at the end of the day they were cleared, although Grobs was awarded something like a pound in damages/costs. He was less than honest in his evidence and clearly the judge took a dislike to him.

[PeteC]

......I go back to a comment I made about Liverpool playing better when Gerrard was out all those weeks. Perhaps not a foolish statement. He's a great player, but I wonder if his presence and style upsets the balance? Pete

[Arcadian]

I Pete, that corruption story feautured Liverpools old SA/Zimbabwe keeper, awarded something like a pound in damages/costs. He was less than honest in his evidence and clearly the judge took a dislike to him.

Could have been because he did hand stands in the witness box.

[redzonerocker]

There's this crap about Wenger making 8 changes to his starting team as normal rotation ( Pete

it was crap!!
2 or 3 changes, maybe even 4, . . . but 8 for a premiership game, unbelievable!
it's not as if all the incoming players were up to the mark

poor judgement by wenger & i hope it isn't to costly

[Zidane]

To me Liverpool are at their most effective when Gerrard plays just behind Torres.
Meireles should be in the centre of midfield not stuck on the right......either Maxi or Kuyt could take on that role.
Also,I think Arbeloa is a far superior player to Konchesky.He's fit now so why is he not a regular starter ?
Liverpool seem to invite teams to attack them instead of going on the offensive themselves,as well.

Yes,Arsenal shot themselves in the foot by making 8 changes against Wigan.They do the hard work beating Chelsea but are now back to square one.....crazy decision by Wenger.

The overall standard of the Premiership this season has been pretty poor but its made for a very exciting season.Any 1 of 5 teams could lift the title and perm any 3 out of 10 to be relegated.
Villa coud be a big club to go.They are in freefall and Houllier has told several players their contracts will not be renewed in the summer.....never a wise move with half the season still to go.

Anyway,Happy New Year everyone !

[BaaBaa.]

BaaBaa mentions Hodgsons tactics, but Benitez's weren't much better in his last season either. So will Hodgson be allowed to buy in the transfer window? Will he still be around to do so?

Hopefully not, the clown will buy more players of the caliber of Poulsen and Konchesky. And it was never this bad under Benitez, we have lost to Northampton, Blackpool and Wolves AT HOME. It wouldn't be this bad if Benitez was still here.

......I go back to a comment I made about Liverpool playing better when Gerrard was out all those weeks. Perhaps not a foolish statement. He's a great player, but I wonder if his presence and style upsets the balance? Pete

It upsets the balance when he's played in centre mid, Lucas and Meireles were building up a nice partnership in midfield recently, Gerrard is too Roy of the Rovers to keep possession, his best work is done in behind Torres.

He's one of the best players of his generation but Roy has bowed to Andy Grays superior knowledge, "Gerrard in the middle, 442" Blah blah blah. Little Englander idiots. He suggested the other day that Barca couldn't beat Stoke and Messi would struggle in the Premier League. Jesus Christ. Potentially the best Football team and potentially the best player of all time would struggle against Stoke City.

Gerrard should be behind Torres.

To me Liverpool are at their most effective when Gerrard plays just behind Torres.
Meireles should be in the centre of midfield not stuck on the right......either Maxi or Kuyt could take on that role.
Also,I think Arbeloa is a far superior player to Konchesky.He's fit now so why is he not a regular starter ?
Liverpool seem to invite teams to attack them instead of going on the offensive themselves,as well.

Agree with everything you say, I presume you mean Aurelio though. Great player when fit.

The answer to all of the above though is that Roy Hodgson is a shit manager.

At the end of the day, this is still largely Benitez's team and it ain't good enough.

90% of it finished above Chelsea and Arsenal not to long ago and finished with the same points total that Chelsea won the league with last season, also thrashed Real Madrid and Manchester United in the space of a week.

Hodgson can't even work out how to use Fernando Torres, we may as well put in a bid for Emile Heskey or what's big Duncan Ferguson doing these days?

[E-Dork]

My memory aint as good as it used to be so forgive me if I'm wrong but...

didn't the 'great' Benetiz have Liverpool at the bottom of the table at the start of the season. Hodgsen has managed to do somewhat better with the cards he was dealt. Hodgsen is a far superior manager than Benitez.

[caller]

90% of it finished above Chelsea not to long ago

In the last 10 years, Liverpol have finished above Chelsea only twice. In 2001/2 and then in 2008/9, by 3 points and finished 2nd. The next season, there were widespread predictions that Liverpools time had finally come and they would kick on and win the league. They finished 7th.

A mystery to many of us, is how that same team that finished 2nd, became so poor and negative the following season.

I know you don't accept it, and blame the owners et al, but many, including me, look at Benitez. Maybe the team had peaked and there was nothing left to push on with? But hindsight is beginning to tell us that it was the manager that had peaked and he didn't have anything left to take the team forward.

[BaaBaa.]

A mystery to many of us, is how that same team that finished 2nd, became so poor and negative the following season.

I know you don't accept it, and blame the owners et al, but many, including me, look at Benitez. Maybe the team had peaked and there was nothing left to push on with? But hindsight is beginning to tell us that it was the manager that had peaked and he didn't have anything left to take the team forward.

The loss of Alonso was absolutely massive, fair enough if you don't rate Benitez but you have to consider that I followed things a little bit closer than you did.

The club was absolutely toxic behind the scenes in Benitez last season. The guy was fighting on more than one front.

We've been over it a few times, but as a Liverpool fan, I wish he was back at the club tomorrow. He completely overhauled us and just "got" Liverpool.

Hodgsen is a far superior manager than Benitez.

Priceless. Comedy gold that mate.

[BaaBaa.]

My memory aint as good as it used to be.

Clearly, I'd actually say it's completely gone.

Hodgsen is a far superior manager than Benitez.

Just need to highlight that again, I don't even think Mrs Hodgson would agree with you.

I hope you're in charge of employing Mr Alex Fergusons replacement though.

[redzonerocker]

The loss of Alonso was absolutely massive . . .

have to agree.
he was a top player & one of the most consistent performers, not just for liverpool but in the premiership as a whole.

but wasn't his departure down to benitez?

[PeteC]

Uggggh! Carroll is out for a month. Watch them now make a fast slide to the relegation zone. Pete

[BaaBaa.]

The loss of Alonso was absolutely massive . . .

have to agree.
he was a top player & one of the most consistent performers, not just for liverpool but in the premiership as a whole.

but wasn't his departure down to benitez?

It's a long story that one.

Xabi had been under par for two years, Rafa tried to sign Barry, some try to peddle the myth that it was to replace Alonso but it wasn't.

The owners told Benitez that we didn't have the funds for Barry so Rafa was open to bids for Alonso as he hadn't been in top form for two years, Arsenal wouldn't even pay £10 mill.

They'd also had a tiff about Alonso not wanting to travel to the Inter away game because he wanted to be at the birth of his kid, Benitez missed his fathers funeral because we were playing the world club championship in Japan.

Alonso then went on to have the season of his life, then the biggest club in the world, from his home country, bid £30 mill for him and that was that.

Still comes back to Anfield though, was there a few weeks back, top man.

[E-Dork]

Okay then... this post is one to look back on in the future.

Let's see where Beneitez goes next and lets see what he does to the club. Unfortunately I don't think we will be able to examine this as, apart from a handful of Liverpool fans, I don't see anyone wanting the guy. The guy has gone well past his sell by date, completely lost the plot with regards to management.