It is 2:30 in the afternoon and I am still not able to lift myself to do anything worthwhile. It has been one of those days. It would be simple to classify the feeling as monday morning blues. Unfortunately, that term has no real significance to the life I am leading.

It is at times like this that I go back and think of the life that sportsmen lead these days. To motivate oneself to go through the grind of travel and the monotony of playing the sport that one used to enjoy at some point must really take some doing. Can the money that they earn compensate for the rigidity and inflexbility of modern sport. It is again very simplistic to assume so. It may explain the motivation of some of the journeymen sportsmen. But that of a top notch performer like Federer, Woods or Tendulkar. Hardly.

The media has once again gone overboard in celebrating Tendulkar’s 20th anniversary of international cricket. Most of the articles are more like a narration of his journey over the last couple of decades and some have had long interviews with Sachin himself. Beyond Sachin himself revealing that it is the love for the game and the pride that he takes in representing the country which has made him carry on for so long, there is nothing much more that explains his long innings. Maybe it is not for us plebians to understand such phenomenon. Yet that does not stop us from trying.

Could it be that people who appreciate their shelf life on this planet consign everything else, but the joy of living out their dreams on a given day (which in the case of sports performers is every day), to the back of their minds and carry on with their lives. After all, most sportsmen do understand that their days under the sun are limited to a few years or a decade at the most and are keen to make the most of it as long as it lasts. Particularly in terms of maximising their potential. In terms of performance. What happens in the case of lesser mortals when we come to appreciate our own mortality is very different till such time that this appreciation sinks in. Maybe these chaps understand this much better than most of us.

Or could it be the paranoia of not knowing how the world would treat them in case they stopped plying their craft. McEnroe refers to this in his “Serious”. The fact that most of the tennis players live in oyster, especially during their heydays blindsides them to the “real world”, so much so, that they continue well past their prime wondering how they would survive if they stepped out of this cocoon. What would Sachin, for instance, do once he quits the game. I am not sure that some of the conventional choices that exist for ordinary cricketers (ie everyone other than him) are not applicable to him at all, either because of the sheer enormity of his stature or his lesser capability than the rest in assuming these roles (yes, there are areas outside of the cricket field where Sachin’s records on the field will not count for much). I cannot think of Sachin, for one, getting into cricket administration. Too small a playing field for him and he has not shown the same felicity in getting people to go along with him as, for instance, a Sourav. He is also not going to fit very well into the commentary box. A coach, forget it. All one needs to do is to rewind back to Kapil’s stint as the Indian coach. It is almost like Ramanujam being asked to teach in a college. Very rarely have genius and tutoring been good bedfellows. When it comes to successful coaches, history has time and again shown that it is the mediocre or the average player who has come up trumps as a team coach. Their ability to understand the minds of lesser players (relatively that is) and help them exorcise their ghosts is so much more critical than technical knowledge. So, could it be for this reason that he is unwilling to hang up his boots. By no means am I suggesting or implying that he should be.

Or could it even be the nagging fear that in a team game, irrespective of everything else, history will measure a player in the context of his team’s achievements that keeps spurring him on. How many, with the possible exception of Liverpool supporters, remember Ian Rush. Maybe the fact that he has not been part of an Indian world cup winning team ?. Especially since over the last decade India has always gone into a World Cup with a team which, on paper, was capable of going the distance. Sachin himself has alluded to this a few times. If that is at least part of the reason for him continuing to embellish the game, we can breathe easy till calendar 2011, comfortable in the knowledge that he will continue for at least another 2 years.

Whatever the reasons maybe, I, like millions around the world, am grateful that Sachin continues to carry on. It is just that I would like to understand what is it that motivates him to wake up on a Sunday morning at 5 AM and set out to practice with the rest of his teammates, be it those from India Indians or Mumbai Indians. Carry on, Sachin and let the rest of us wonder.

One of the best clubs in the English premier league, Liverpool is a talking point now days with the reds not upto the mark in the premiership or the champions league… doubts are they may bow out of Europe’s premier competition if they don’t win their remaining matches of the tournament.

The club once at the top of every completion was not like this before. In the times when Ian Rush was in the team the club won six league titles, three league cup,FA cup and a European cup among others. Also, it was nearly the same team which won the European Cup in 2004-05 season. Coming to the current situation, everything seems to be out of place. The same club now is struggling to be in the top four in this season’s premier league.

Another blow has struck the Mercy side team as Fernando Torres underwent tests after Reds’ 1-1 Champions League draw in Lyon on Wednesday and on the problem at a Liverpool hospital upon his return to Merseyside. He has now heading back to Spain to seek further medical advice amid concerns the striker will eventually need an operation. This can be a further twists in the wounds of the club who have won only three of their last 10 games in all competitions.

Currently at 6th position in the premier league, a clean sheet victory will be expected from them when they host Birmingham City on Monday night. Steven Gerrard will be expected to play the role of a quick thinker in the absence of Jamie Carragher and Phillippe Degan who are suspended following their sending off in the defeat to Fulham last week but considering the history, Birmingham needs to put extra as their last win at Anfield was way back in may 2004. As history backs Liverpool, they need to win and continue the winning form to get out of this unusual phase. They are expected to win but the need of the hour is to win. C’mon reds… win and win everything.

In another super sunday, Chelsea take on Liverpool at home on Sunday. Rafa and Ancelotti have had some great Champions League clashes, but this is their first meeting in the premier league. Both teams are coming under some kind of disappointment in the League or from their European journey.

Chelsea vs Liverpool is the tie of the weekend. Liverpool lost their last match, which was played in Italy against Fiorentina in the Champions League and Chelsea though beat the Cyprus club in the Champions League by a goal, it made heavy weather in getting there. Coming on the back of a loss to Wigan, Ancelotti had a lot to say about the team and how he expects them to play. This has a draw written all over it with both clubs most probably looking at not letting the 0ther team score. Liverpool’s defence has been a cause for concern, Chelsea has Hilario under the bars, Lampard has had a barren run so far this season, Torres is the league’s top scorer. Well a loss will not be the end to their Championship hopes, as this year there could be a few losses to the contenders.

Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea

Manchester United vs Sunderland has 3 points written all over it for United. It would be a surprise if Sunderland even manage to salvage a point. But having said that Kwenyone Jones and Darren Bent will look to trouble the United back four.

Prediction: 2-1 to United

Arsenal play Blackburn Rovers at home in a match which should again be 3 easy point for the Gunners. Blackburn and Bolton were the thorns of physical play whenever they played against the Gunners and now the ex-Bolton boss is the current Blackburn boss, so expect more physical clash. These kind of matches require an early goal for Arsenal to ease the pressure and open up play for some wonderful flow from the home side. Wenger supervises the first match after becoming the longest serving manager of Arsenal, thats 13 years and counting for you!!! Lets hope the team wins the match in style as a tribute for this man.

Prediction: 3-0 to Arsenal

Other tibits

Tottenham are trailing by a goal against Bolton, after 10 mins of play as I type this. I would love to see Spurs start losing form now on. Can’t see them sitting above Arsenal after 7 matches.

Torres has scored 46 league goals in 64 games(!!!, wishe he played for Arsenal, that would have been 128!!!) for Liverpool and would most probably be the fastest to reach 50 goals. To give you an idea of how the others fared for Liverpool;

Roger Hunt – 50 in 78 league games (current fastest), Ian Rush – 84 games, Robbie Fowler – 88 games,  Owen – 98 games

«Per un raddoppio di 120 milioni ci devi dire la sequenza completa dei rigori di Roma-Liverpool». Al quesito della vita, stretto tra le cuffie in cabina di un quiz, Chicco della serie tv I Ragazzi della Terza C non aveva dubbi: «Roma-Liverpool non l’hanno mai giocata». Come non dargli torto? Per i giallorossi l’esito della loro prima finale europea, giocata in casa, la prima della storia della Coppa dei Campioni (all’epoca accessibile solo ai primi classificati) finita ai rigori, quella partita fu un incubo.

«Il grande mercoledì è dunque arrivato» dice Bruno Pizzul in diretta Rai. Non c’è Sky, non esistono cellulari, il web è lontano. Ma il pallone è sempre uguale, è il 30 maggio del 1984, si gioca nel vecchio stadio del complesso del Foro Italico, aperto al verde della collina di Monte Mario, senza la gigantesca copertura, prima dello scempio di Italia 90. Per i tifosi della Roma, un salotto di casa. Dei 63.856 biglietti a disposizione, l’Uefa ne tiene 3550, la Roma ne avrà 43mila, 17mila il Liverpool. La gestione della vendita dei biglietti da parte della società romana è pessima: ressa, disordini, nessuna vigilanza, intervento della polizia, feriti, denunce e arresti. Il sindaco Pci Vetere e Dino Viola sono chiamati davanti a un giudice a renderne conto.

Per la A. S. Roma si tratta della prima volta. Per arrivare qui ha battuto il Dundee United, la Dinamo Berlino, il Cska Sofia, il Goteborg. Scende in campo con Tancredi, Nela, Nappi, Bonetti, Falcao, Righetti, Conti, Cereo, Pruzzo, Di Bartolomei e Graziani. Una Roma che arriva stanca nelle gambe e nella testa, perderà lo scudetto per due punti sulla Juve, inseguita da molte voci di mercato: dal migliore giocatore del mondiale spagnolo Conti al “divino” ma malconcio Falcao (un ginocchio poco generoso), persino il “barone” Liedholm è dato per partente.
Per i Reds è la quarta finale in pochi anni, hanno già vinto nel ‘77, ‘78 e ‘81. Complessivamente il calcio inglese tra il 1976 e il 1984 vince 8 volte. Il Liverpool sbarca a Fiumicino già nel ‘77 e vince contro il Borussia Mönchengladbach. Roma assiste silenziosa, non ancora protagonista. «La Roma beffata» come titoleranno i giornali nel 1984, è la beffa di un’Italia che non vince la coppa da 15 anni.

Il tifo italiano non ha ancora scelto la via all’inglese, “solo cori e sciarpe”. Ancora non sono banditi i tamburi come da prassi ultrà. Quello inglese invece è già noto per i suoi hooligan. Alla fine della partita, tra la metà della capitale delusa, ci sarà una caccia all’inglese. Ma già nel ‘77 gli inglesi si erano comportati da lanzichenecchi. «Più che farli ubriacare di alcol, ci penseranno Conti e Falcao» si dice, mentre la città vive in sospeso le ore che la dividono dalla partita.

In tribuna c’è Sandro Pertini, in veste di portafortuna. La partita è tesa, poche occasioni, ci prova due volte Graziani, una Ian Rush. Il Liverpool va in vantaggio con un gol fortunoso di Neal: lo scontro tra Whelan e Tancredi in uscita, poi la carambola su Nela finito a terra. Per i Reds comanda Souness, per i giallorossi l’ansia. Quando poi su cross di Conti il bomber Pruzzo pareggia di testa allo scadere del primo tempo, è una liberazione. Nella ripresa occasioni per Dalglish e Nicol, poi i supplementari, quindi i rigori. Fuori Pruzzo per colica e Cerezo per crampi, si consuma il gran rifiuto di Falcao, mai digerito.

In porta per i Reds c’è Bruce Grobbelaar, un africano dello Zimbabwe, ex combattente in Rodhesia, ex giocatore in Canada. Ai limiti del regolamento, Grobbelaar farà di tutto per disorientare i giocatori. Inizia Nicol e sono “bad news”: alto. Ago, il capitano, la piazza alla destra del portiere. Anche Neal spiazza alla sua sinistra Tancredi. Poi è il turno di Conti. Grobbelaar, movenze disordinate da burattino, sotto ai baffi se la ride, parla tra sé, pantaloncini verdi tirati su esageratamente, chiede l’arrivo dell’arbitro, poi si ferma. E Conti manda alle stelle. Souness fradicio di sudore mira sotto all’incrocio sinistro mentre Tancredi vola altrove. Ubaldo Righetti, il marcatore di Rush, copia Souness, e spiazza Grobbelaar.

Il rigore di Rush è l’unico rasoterra debole ma efficace. Poi arriva Ciccio Graziani, ma all’appuntamento trova la “scimmia” di Grobbelaar: barcolla da ubriaco, lingua in fuori, fa finta di cedere sulle ginocchia mentre Graziani, calzerotti tirati giù da ultima spiaggia, si affida al segno della croce. Ma è la testa quella sera che non appartiene ai giallorossi, tiro centrale che tocca la traversa e se ne va mentre Grobbelaar schizza via felice da una porta che comincia a scottare. Tocca al numero 3, Alan Kennedy. Tancredi appena si inginocchia. «È il giustiziere mancino, il suo è l’ unico rigore della serata realizzato alla destra del portiere», racconta Gianni Brera. Finisce 5 a 3, il Liverpool è campione.

Passano 12 anni. Arriva il 22 maggio del 1996 e Roma, dopo la parentesi della finale mondiale Argentina-Germania, torna ad ospitare una finalissima: Ajax contro Juventus. La prima è favorita, non solo perché è campione uscente. La sua quarta coppa campioni vinta nel ‘95 ai danni del Milan, ha dimostrato che l’Ajax già campione d’Olanda è tornato ai fasti di Cruijff. Giocando con i ragazzi del suo vivaio, Kluivert e Davids, Van Gaal ha battuto il poco coraggioso Capello e gli usurati senatori rossoneri. C’è il prezioso cannoniere finlandese Litmanen, i gemelli De Boer, i 25 anni e il metro e 97 di Van der Sar (oggi in porta col Manchester), la futura bandiera bianconera Edgar Davids, il nigeriano Kanu (poi all’Inter).

La Juventus è una squadra che cerca di vincere senza ombre la Coppa Campioni, che nel frattempo, dal 1992 è diventata Champions League, con formula rivoluzionata: entrano anche le seconde. In campionato la Juve ha lasciato lo scudetto al Milan, ma è l’unica italiana arrivata in fondo alle competizioni europee, fin qui ha battuto Borussia Dortmund, Steaua Bucarest, Glasgow Rangers, Real Madrid e Nantes. In precedenza Zoff e Trapattoni hanno messo in bacheca due Coppe Uefa ma non basta, perché Lippi nel 94 ha perso la sua prima chanche europea perdendo contro il Parma in Coppa Uefa. Ma soprattutto sono passati undici anni dalla vittoria contro il Liverpool dell’Heysel, e la ferita è ancora aperta. Nel frattempo il calcio è cambiato. Le follie dei bagarini di Roma-Liverpool sono un ricordo, ancora più speculazione, anche stavolta i biglietti finiranno in procura: per la Juve ci sono solo 19.783 biglietti, da dare in esclusiva ai club sparsi in Italia, ma molti saranno venduti con pacchetti viaggio onerosi. I club dei tifosi bianconeri arriveranno alla denuncia.

«Loro sono i pittori fiamminghi, noi i tosti piemontesi» dice l’Avvocato. La Juventus della triade Moggi-Giraudo-Bettega è una squadra molto muscolare, che aggredisce il campo, con soli tre stranieri, ma di grande esperienza internazionale: il portoghese Sousa, Jugovic, già vincitore in CL con la Stella Rossa e Deschamps, anche lui vincitore con l’Olympique Marsiglia. Il resto sono gregari alla loro grande occasione: Di Livio, preso a 27 anni dal Padova in serie B, Torricelli, prelevato dalla Carratese nel ‘92 tra i dilettanti e Pessotto. Poi ci sono i futuri senatori Ferrara e Conte, l’eterno Vierchowood, il giovane Del Piero che insieme a l’ex sampdoriano Vialli (in cerca di rivincite internazionali) e Fabrizio Ravanelli forma l’attacco a tre punte. Ma è anche la Juventus di un giovane terzino sinistro, Andrea Fortunato, 23 anni, colpito nel ‘94 dalla leucemia e morto un mese prima della partita. A lui la Juventus dedicherà una partita che rovescerà da sparring partner a protagonista, spiazzando la presunzione del professor Louis van Gaal.

Dopo 12 minuti Frank De Boer sbaglia un disimpegno da scuola calcio, Ravanelli ne approfitta e dalla linea di fondo segna il gol della vita. La partita è a senso unico, la Juventus va più volte al tiro. Il solo Musampa e un guizzo di Litmanen impensieriscono Peruzzi e alla fine del primo tempo nasce il pareggio. Poi i rigori: Davids incerto tira centrale e Peruzzi para. Poi Ferrara tira angolatissimo e forte. Litmanen capocannoniere di CL con 9 reti, spiazza Peruzzi, Pessotto ancora più angolato. Scholten segna. Idem Padovano che però rischia grosso. Ma poi Peruzzi si supera, perché il 33enne Silooy sbaglia. Jugovic no. Finisce ancora una volta 5 a 3.

La Roma, due anni dopo il Liverpool, perse di nuovo in casa una partita fondamentale, lo scudetto contro il Lecce. Dopo Roma, per la Juve arriveranno le brucianti sconfitte con Borussia, Real e Milan. Non solo per l’Ajax, arriverà nel ‘96 il primo calcio mercato dopo la sentenza Bosman. Sono passati altri 13 anni, ora tocca al nuovo calcio di Manchester e Barcellona.

Liverpool muhteşem tarihiyle paralel olarak piyasaya sürdüğü cep telefonunu basına Ian Rush ile tanıttı. Galentia tarafından tasarlanan ve sadece 250 tane üretilen “Liverpool FC Legends Edition” cep telefonunu satın alabilmek derin bir cep istiyor, fiyatı tam £14,490!!

Europakvällar på Anfield som den i går är svårslagna. Rafa Benitez taktisk magnifika lag, på planen anförda av giganten Steven Gerrard, spelade så vackert att det för en stund inte existerade något annat än de 22 spelarna på den där strålkastarupplysta gröna planen ett stenkast från Stanley park i utkanten av centrala Liverpool.

Den magiska stämningen och elektriciteten i luften kombinerat med det underbara spelet och de vackra målen bidrar till att matchen drar sig upp på topp fem över matcher att minnas med Liverpool. Bland de andra märks min första match på plats i Liverpool (Pool-Newcastle 3-0, målskyttar Danny Murphy och Didi Hamann) samt så klart finalen i Istanbul.

Det gäller att passa på också. När väl den nya arenan står färdig kommer den där stämningen aldrig någonsin komma tillbaka. Då blir det som på Emirates eller Old Trafford. Arenor som är till för konsumenter och inte för fans.

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Jag har hållit på Liverpool så länge jag kan minnas. Vi pratar sen tidigt 90-tal här. De röda dräkterna och profilerna (Ian Rush, John Barnes, Robbie Fowler och Steve McManaman) fick mig att fastna. De dök upp där i rutan i Tipsextra med Oldsberg, telefonkiosken och Thylin och spelade fotboll som – i mina drygt 10-åriga ögon – var något alldeles extra.

De vann inte ett skit under hela min uppväxt bortsett från en FA-cup 1992 och en ligacup 1995. De var egentligen urusla med platser som 8:a och 7:a i tabellen vissa år. Men jag kunde helt enkelt inte motstå Jamie Redknapp (som olikt sin kusin gick sönder om man tittade på honom), Steve McManaman (som var precis lika vek i kroppen som jag, därmed också min största förebild) och Robbie Fowler (90-talets bästa engelska forward..) och de andra ändå.

Och eftersom jag växte upp i de jämtländska skogarna fanns det inget svenskt lag som kunde konkurrera om uppmärksamheten. Det visades mer engelsk än svensk fotboll på tvn och närmsta allsvenska lag var lika långt bort som de brittiska öarna. Så det var väl inte så konstigt egentligen att jag utvecklade grav anglofili där i de meingslösa norrländska skogarna som jag hatade innerligt när jag bodde där.

Macca i högform:

´Arrys son och Fat Franks kusin briljerar:

God visar varför han är störst:

Neste domingo, o jornal inglês “Times” divulgou a lista dos 50 melhores  jogadores da história dos Reds. Constam na lista quatro atletas do atual elenco. Confira:

1. Kenny Dalglish
2. Steven Gerrard
3. John Barnes
4. Graeme Souness
5. Tommy Smith
6. Kevin Keegan
7. Alan Hansen
8. Billy Liddell
9. Jamie Carragher
10. Roger Hunt
11. Ian Rush
12. Ian St John
13. Ron Yeats
14. Robbie Fowler
15. Alan Kennedy
16. Phil Thompson
17. Emlyn Hughes
18. Jimmy Case
19. Michael Owen
20. Ian Callaghan
21. Terry McDermott
22. Ray Kennedy
23. Joey Jones
24. Mark Lawrenson
25. Steve Heighway
26. Dietmar Hamann
27. John Aldridge
28. John Toshack
29. Ronnie Whelan
30. Gerry Byrne
31. Sammy Lee
32. Steve Nicol
33. Steve McMahon
34. Chris Lawler
35. Albert Stubbins
36. Tommy Lawrence
37. Phil Neal
38. Jan Molby
39. Ray Clemence
40. David Fairclough
41. Bob Paisley
42. Jerzy Dudek
43. Elisha Scott
44. Peter Beardsley
45. Matt Busby 
46. Sami Hyypia
47. Jackie Balmer 
48. Peter Thompson 
49. Rob Jones
50. Fernando Torres

Apesar de alguns nomes e posições questionáveis, cada um tem sua opinião. Particularmente, a minha é um pouco diferente…

During the summer, Mark was awarded the Welsh Football Trust’s National Coach of the Year award, for those operating in grassroots football.  The award was presented by Ian Rush during a presentation evening held at the Cardiff Hilton on 8 May 2008.  (To see a picture of Mark receiving his award from Ian Rush click this link)

David Beckham jugará en el Milan entre enero y marzo del próximo año. El ‘Spice Boy’ tiene ante si la posibilidad de regresar, aunque sea durante un breve período de tiempo, al fútbol de máximo nivel tras el desastre de su aventura americana en los Galaxy. El conjunto de Los Angeles es colista de su Conferencia y no levanta cabeza pese a haber recurrido a Bruce Arena tras la destitución de Ruud Gullit. Pero no está claro si ‘Becks’ se enfundará la camiseta ‘rossonera’ o sólo entrenará con el conjunto de Carlo Ancelotti igual que hiciera durante el anterior parón de la Major League Soccer con el Arsenal. De momento, el técnico milanista ha dejado la puerta abierta a la opción de contar con el jugador en algún partido si se encuentra en buenas condiciones…Beckham probará fortuna en un nuevo fútbol, tras su paso por España, y parece no tener miedo a la historia, que no está del lado de los jugadores británicos en sus aventuras italianas.

Históricamente han sido muchos los jugadores procedentes de las islas que han militado en equipos transalpinos, especialmente en los primeros años del siglo XX, durante los primeros años del fútbol en Italia. Pero en las últimas décadas, en lo que puede considerarse como fútbol “moderno”, las apariciones se han reducido y en rendimiento de estos jugadores ha dado mucho que desear.

Uno de los que mejor recuerdo ha dajado fue el galés John Charles que militó en la Juventus durante cinco temporadas entre 1957 y 1962, y en la Roma en la campaña 62-63. Con la ‘Vecchia Signora’ se proclamó Capo Cannoniero al anotar 28 tantos en 34 partidos en su primer año. Nacido en Swansea, destacó en el Leeds United de la mano del histórico manager Fank Buckley que lo consideraba el mejor jugador en su posición. Tras Charles otros también tuvieron un paso más o menos certero por Italia como Trevor Francis, que jugó en la Sampdoria entre 1982 y 1988 y Mark Heteley y Ray Wilikins en el Milan entre 1984 y 1987.

Pero en la gran mayoría de casos los jugadores británicos no han dado el nivel espero en un fútbol italiano completamente opuesto al habitual en las islas. Ian Rush tuvo un discreto paso por la Juventus en la temporada 87-88. Pero el paso del galés por Turín puede considerarse una operación para reestablecer las relaciones estables entre el Liverpool y el conjunto italiano tras el desastre de la final de Heysel en 1985. Rush, un mito en Anfield, emprendió el camino de regreso al santurio ‘red’ en el que triunfó en sus dos etapas que se prolongaron desde 1980 hasta 1996, con excepción del break en el calcio.

Tampoco triunfó en Italia el gran Paul Gascoige. El ‘bad boy’ más talentoso tras el George Best firmó por la Lazio procedente del Tottenham en 1992, pero sus continuos problemas con las lesiones le impidieron rendir como se esperaba en Roma. ‘Gazza’ llegó al calcio tras romperse la rótula en la final de la FA Cup de 1991 ante el Nottingham Forest que los ‘Spurs’ vencieron 2-1 y recaer de la lesión en una trifulca en el barrio de Dunston en Newcastle. Sólo jugó 47 partidos, en los que anotó 6 goles, en tres temporadas marcadas por continuas peleas con los ‘paparazzi’ y por romperle la tibia a su joven compañero Alessandro Nesta en 1994. Un año después firmaría por el Glasgow Rangers.

El actual manager del Blackburn Rovers, Paul Ince, vistió la camiseta del Inter de Milán durante dos temporadas, entre 1995 y 1997. El de Ilford llegó al cuadro milanés de la mano de Roy Hodgson y junto a jugadores como Ciriaco Sforza, Youri Djorkaeff o Iván Zamorano sólo pudo llevar a un equipo necesitado de éxitos a la final de la Copa de la UEFA de 1997, que perdió ante el Schalke 04. La destitución del actual técnico del Fulham fue decisiva para su regreso a la Premier. Ince dejó el Manchester United y volvió para enfundarse la camiseta del Liverpool. Tampoco tuvo un afortunado paso por la capital lombarda el irlandés Robbie Keane, que llegó al cuadro milanés después de despuntar en el Coventry durante la temporada 1999-2000, la de su debut en la máxima categoría, en la que anotó 12 goles con apenas 18 años. Pero tras unos pocos meses en Inter, la llegada de Marco Tardelli al banquillo, en sustitución de Marcello Lippi, le cerró definitivamente las puertas y el actual delantero del Liverpool emprendió el camino de vuelta para fichar por el Leeds United.

El último caso de un paso más que discreto por Italia es el de Lee Sharpe. Aquel jugador que tenía enamorado a Johan Cruyff cuando militaba en el Manchester United y que nunca recaló en el Camp Nou pese a los intentos del holandés, fichó por la Sampdoria en noviembre de 1999 procedente del Leeds United. David Platt, técnico genovés, fue el artífice del fichaje del centrocampista que sólo vistió la camiseta de la Samp en tres partidos. Sharpe decidió volver a Inglaterra en enero y fichó por el Bradford City de la First Division, con el que logró el ascenso a la Premier League 77 años después. Platt, que como jugador ya había militado en el equipo entre 1993 y 1995, se encontró con la oposición de los técnicos italianos que consideraban que no tenía la calificación suficiente para dirigir al máximo nivel. El ex del Arsenal, entre otros, dejó la Sampdoria antes de que el conjunto perdiera la categoría a finales de temporada.

Reina’s Heroics

LFC Goalkeeper Pepe Reina had to be in top form (because none of his team-mates were) during the first-leg match of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Standard Liege in Belgium. He made some exquisite saves and even stopped a penalty, and saved the day. Because of his heroics, Liverpool go into the second leg with no disadvantage, when actually they probably deserved to lose 2-0 at least. But still….Reina will not admit to being a hero and says that it was “a part of the job”

Reina has forged a reputation as a master penalty saver but he played down his heroics in Belgium.

“I am not a hero for the penalty in the first match,” said Reina to www.setantasports.com. “I have just done my job. For me, the penalty was just a part of it.”

Lets hope that Reina does his job in the 2nd leg too….especially if there’s another Standard Liege penalty….

Rush Wants Pretty Wins

Reds legend Ian Rush has admitted that it is a quality of champions to be able to win even when playing badly, but has said that it must stop, because sooner or later…ugly wins are gonna turn into ugly draws or losses.

{OFFICIAL SITE} – Rush admits developing a habit of ‘winning ugly’ is essential if the Reds are to challenge for the title but believes it would be unwise to suggest they don’t need to raise their game in the weeks ahead.

“Winning when you are not playing well is something you have to be able to do if you are going to challenge for the title but it isn’t something that can be sustained too long,” he said.

“If you’re sloppy in possession and not creating many chances then it is inevitably winning matches is difficult.

The last game in which Liverpool won ugly was at home against Middlesborough…where Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard scored in the last 10 minutes of the game to turn a 0-1 loss to a 2-1 win. That game saw Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane begin to understand each other…with some beautiful passing movements between them. Ian Rush also spoke about that.

“There were welcome signs against Middlesbrough that Fernando Torres is beginning to strike up an understanding with new strike partner Robbie Keane,” he said.

“You could see that they were starting to get used to each other’s movement and were picking up their running off the ball.

“There was one moment in the first half when Keane went on a little run and picked Torres out with a perfect pass with the outside of his right foot.

“Torres wasn’t able to take the chance on this occasion but at least it showed that they are getting to know one another better and that bodes well for the future.

“If these two hit it off, and I’ve got no reason to doubt that they will, then it will really benefit the team as a whole and I’m sure they’re both working really hard to make it happen.”

So now, Liverpool are gonna have to start winning non-ugly or prettily, and they are gonna have to start against Standard Liege tonight…

Carra Claiming The Goal

Carragher has said that the goal he scored against Middlesborough to equalize and cancel out Mido’s opening goal should be his, even though most media agenices credited it as the opposition’s defender’s own goal (Emanuel Pogatetz). The goal did take a wicked deflection off Pogatetz arm (i think…or his knee), forcing the ball to go the totally opposite way of Carragher’s intended shot (and the Goalkeeper’s lunge). It is hard to tell if the ball was on its way to the goal before the deflection, or on its way out, But Carra doesn’t care…

Carragher said to lfc.tv: “I want to claim it but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get it. I’m hardly going to break any goalscoring records, am I?

Now to end the post…here are some pics from the Melwood training ground, as the players get ready before their match against Standard Liege

Gerrard Kicking The Ball During Training

Torres Controls Ball During Training

Gerrard(L) And Keane(R) Having Pleasant Conversation During Traning

Football has too many risk takers.

While clubs spend millions on proven players, the focus should be on those who don’t – and it is often those risk-takers who seem to lose the most.

Premier League clubs spent more than £300m in 2007, Manchester United leading the pack with £51m, Liverpool with £50m, Tottenham with £40m and Sunderland with £35m. Of these three clubs, only Tottenham and Manchester United won silverware – Tottenham failing to reach their target of Champions League qualification. Sunderland led perhaps the worst return for their spending, although it could be argued that their continued stint in the Premier League is reward enough for such high expenditure.

Tottenham spent much of their budget on Darren Bent – £16.5m – with a return of only six goals in more than twenty appearances.

It seems that the Premier League’s days of bargain-basement signings are gone, with even the likes of Wigan needing to spend 15m or more to stay up. Gone or the days when Ian Rush or Ian Wright made great strides in the old first division. Rush, signed from Chester City for a paltry £300,000 went on to be one of Liverpool’s greatest ever buys – scoring in every other game in more than 300 appearances.

Ian Wright also proved to be no risk when he was signed for free by Crystal Palace. Having spent much of his time as a builder, he played part-time football for Greenwich Borough and had failed to impress any of the clubs he had been on trial with. It was only when Steve Coppell showed some faith in his ability that the goals and performances started to materialise. Wright scored more than a hundred goals for Palace in more than 200 appearances and went on to become Arsenal’s all time leading scorer. Not bad for a player that initially cost nothing.

So where does that leave football and the bargains now? While the Premier League may take increasingly bigger risks, clubs in the lower leagues have seen an opportunity to take advantage of the talent overlooked by the ‘world’s best league.’

Peterborough spent £150,000 on Aaron McLean – a player who had failed to impress at Leyton Orient and dropped down a couple of divisions to play for Grays Athletic. It was there that his goalscoring got him attention, and Peterborough – despite McLean’s failure to impress in the same division – went on to score more 37 goals in 58 games – a tally that helped the Posh get promoted.

Equally, Michael Kightly at Wolverhamtpon Wanderers was considered an inexpensive option when they signed him at the start of this season. Despite being immensely talented, Kightly had failed to cement a place at Southend and – like McLean – moved to Grays to get regular football. It was there that the scouts began to take notice, and Wolves secured him for a nominal fee.

While such a move may not be a risk, there are no guarantees that Kightly or McLean would perform at a higher level. The perfect example in this case is Izale McLeod, who had failed to prove himself at Derby County and Sheffield United – but then scored for fun at MK Dons. Three seasons and 60 goals later, Charlton signed him for £1.1m – a fee that – when compared to Premier League expenditure – was minimal. McLeod struggled for form and only made two starts for his new club – returning only a single goal in 23 appearances.

So while clubs in the top divisions are spending millions for ultimately very little return (it’ll be highly unlikely that the millions spent by Liverpool every season will ever see them get anything other than Champions League football [since all the clubs situated around them in the League seem to be spending the same amount) it is the clubs who don’t spend millions that should be kept an eye on.

My club, Crystal Palace, spent very little on Simon Thomas or Calvin Andrews – and while neither may be prolific next season, it’ll certainly be more intesting to see how they get on.

Grandes goles de dos mitos que escribieron con letras de oro la historia del Liverpool: Kenny dalglish o “King Kenny” y Ian Rush. Dos de los mejores jugadores de la historia de los Reds. Tremendo equipo el que formaban esta pareja de delanteros junto con Graeme Souness, Michael Robinson o Kevin Keegan. Es un adelanto de una pequeña biografía de Dalglish, para ir saboreándolo…

Alfredo Di Stéfano:“Ningún jugador es tan bueno como todos juntos.”

Diego Maradona:“Llegar al área y no poder patear al arco es como bailar con tu hermana.”

Ronaldo:“Pelé es muy conocido por las tonterías que dice, es gracioso, no hay que hacerle caso. Romario dijo que Pelé es un poeta callado. Yo le he respetado. Pido a Dios que cuando deje el fútbol no quiero ser una persona amargada que comenta y dice tonterías de la actualidad. Quiero ser recordado por lo que he hecho.”

Pelé:“Voy a decirles algo aparentemente blasfemo, pero con una lógica. ¿Saben que en cualquier encuesta soy más conocido que Jesucristo?”

Roberto Perfumo:“De pibe, yo era ‘morfón’, individualista. Mi maestro Duchini un día paró la práctica: ‘¿Querés jugar solo? Bueno’… Sacó a mis compañeros y me dijo. ‘Ahora corré’. Claro, los rivales me hicieron 15 goles y terminé ahogado, boca arriba. Y entendí que jugar para el equipo es la única forma de seguir vivo.”

Hugo Gatti :“Maradona es un gordito.” (antes de un partido en el que Boca se enfrentaba al Argentinos Juniors de Maradona, el gordito le terminó haciendo cuatro).

Diego Maradona:“Si me muriera y en el cielo se pudiera jugar al fútbol, no me gustaría hacerlo con Pelé.”

Nereo Rocco:“Péguenle a todo lo que se mueva, si es la pelota, mejor.”

Carlos Bilardo:“La mujer es como un jugador: si no quiere en determinada posición, no hay que insistirle.”

Jorge Valdano:“Ganar queremos todos, pero sólo los mediocres no aspiran a la belleza. Es como pretender elegir entre un imbécil bueno o un inteligente malo.”

Diego Maradona:“La pelota no se mancha.”

Johan Cruyff: “Mis delanteros sólo deben correr 15 metros, a no ser que sean estúpidos o estén durmiendo”.

Néstor Fabri (previo a un Platense – G. Jujuy): “Señora, si su hijo no quiere tomar la sopa, hágale ver este partido”.

Ian Rush (tras su paso por la Juventus): “No pude acostumbrarme a vivir en Italia. Era como vivir en un país extranjero”.

Alfredo Di Stéfano: “Jugamos como nunca y perdimos como siempre”.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo (explicando el sistema de juego del Real Madrid): “El cuadrado mágico nace de los ángulos mágicos”.

Negro Enrique (Argentina – Inglaterra 1986): “Con el pase que le di a Maradona, si no hacía gol era para matarlo”.
(El Negro Enrique fue quien tocó en corto sobre Maradona, en su propio campo, antes de que el Pelusa recorriese 53 metros, regateando a quien se le ponía por delante, para marcar el gol más bonito de la historia).

J.B. Toshack (Tras un Rayo – Real Madrid): “Mis jugadores han corrido hoy por el campo como pollos sin cabeza. Es difícil hacerlo peor”.

Steve Lomas: “Alemania es un equipo muy difícil. Juegan con once internacionales a la vez”.

Thierry Henry: “A veces, en el fútbol, hay que marcar goles”.

Mauro Bellugi (Ex Inter.): “Trapattoni no se discute. Es el mejor de Europa, y puede que de Italia”.

Luis Chavarria: “Estoy contento por mi debut, lo hice bien y por suerte lesioné a Francescolli”.

Vinnie Jones (selección Inglaterra): “Ganar no es lo importante siempre y cuando ganes”.

Bill Shankly (Ex entrenador del Liverpool): “El fútbol no es una cuestión de vida o muerte, es mucho más que eso”.

Bill Shankly: “También pasamos malos momentos: un año acabamos segundos”.

Romario: “Si no salgo por la noches no marco goles”.

Collymore (Ex Leicester): “He remitido al club una solicitud para ser traspasado. Pero déjenme decir que no quiero dejar el Leicester”.

Bobby Robson (Ex seleccionador de Inglaterra): “No los subestimamos. Simplemente eran mucho mejores de lo que pensábamos”; después del Inglaterra – Camerún del Mundial 86.

R. Atkinson (Ex del Atlético de Madrid): “Voy a dar un pronóstico: puede pasar cualquier cosa”.

Steve McMahon: “Yo pegaría a mi hermano si fuera necesario, eso significa ser un profesional de verdad”.

David Beckham (en su etapa en el Manchester United): “Alex Ferguson es el mejor técnico que he tenido a este nivel. Bueno, realmente es el único entrenador que he tenido a este nivel”.

Jorge D’Alessandro (entrenador): “Ese penalti lo debe tirar al palo corto”.

Hodgson (Ex del Inter): “Estoy confiado. Nunca he perdido en Parma. Nunca he jugado allí”.

Brian Horton (entrenador del Oxford): “Ha sido un partido de dos partes y hemos estado fatal en las dos”.

Brambati (entrenador): “¡Corran en parejas de tres!”.

Fran Clark (ex-entrenador del Nottingham Forest): “Todo lo que podía salir mal ha salido mal. Espero que podamos llegar a casa sin que nos pase nada…”; después de perder 7-0 con el Blackburn Rovers.

Carlos Bilardo (entrenador): “¡Los de colorao, los tuyos son los de colorao!”.

Mark Viduka (jugador del Middlesbrough): “No me importaría perder todos los partidos, siempre y cuando ganemos la liga”.

John Lambie (Ex del Patrick Thistle): Cuando el masajista le comunicó que un delantero que había chocado con un rival no recordaba quién era en ese momento, le respondió: “¡Perfecto! Dile rápido que es Pelé y que vuelva al campo de inmediato”.

Will Hunting – 31.01.08