I think I’m safe in saying that all Liverpool supporters have real concerns about the future of the club from finances, player commitment & talent, ownership and management style. One of the key questions is do we have the right manager to lead us out of the current slump and get us back to competing at the top level this season and in seasons to come.

There seem to be two main camps when it comes to Rafa:

Camp 1) Support & have faith in him and let him do his job.

Camp 2) Rafa’s no longer the man to lead the team and it’s time to make a change.

So are you in Camp 1 or Camp 2?

It’s going to be interesting.

If you have comments about this poll make sure you post them on Liverpool Banter as well!

No not the Premier League, the Superleague Formula, and let’s face it – it’s the only title they are likely to win this year!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Superleague Formula, some big name football teams (and some not so big) have put some money in to race teams baring their colours and name all in the sake of motorsport glory. By the way if you can see the point of this then please let us know!

These teams have raced across the globe for several months and following the season finale Liverpool have been declared champions, edging out English rivals Tottenham Hotspur, without the need for extra time or penalties!

Oh yes, forgot to mention, there are drivers inside these cars. For Liverpool the predictably Spanish driver was Adrian Valles.

desde liverpoolfc.tv

Este es el último post que escribo con respecto al Liverpool en la UEFA Champions League de este año, a pesar de la victoria en cancha del Debreceni nos quedamos con las ganas de llevarnos la 6ta Orejona a las vitrinas del club. Ha sido -según yo-  una temporada desastroza, en la liga realmente vamos del nabo y en la Champions… pues, eliminados, y ahora la vista de los Reds se enfoca hacia la Europa League (antes conocida como UEFA Cup).

La Fiorentina le hizo la maldad al Lyon y nos mandaron a volar, las esperanzas de ganar algún trofeo se ven cada vez mas lejos.

Una Champions sin el Liverpool… ¿como iba esa frase?

Esperemos que se pueda ganar la Europa League, ya es hora de que algo bueno pase.

• After Liverpool got K.O-ed of the Champions league last night, Rafa Benitez came out and said that had Torres been fit, Liverpool would’ve qualified. Also, he maintained that the focus of the rest of the season will be on securing a top 4 finish, as well as winning the Europa League.
• Staying with Liverpool, rumour has it that former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy is ready to make a move to Anfield. The Dutchman wants to secure a place is  in Holland’s World Cup squad, and to do so he needs regular playing time, something he is not getting at Real Madrid. Arsenal have also shown interest in him, but if reports are to be believed, he will make a move to Liverpool during the January Transfer window.
• Meanwhile, Sir Alex has found a replacement for unsettled Nemanja Vidic. Simon Kjaer has been earmarked to replace Vidic. The Serbian has 18 months till his contract runs out and Ferigie would like to sell him before losing him for nothing.
• Robinho is set to make his Manchester City comeback. He has been out since August (it’s been forever!) with an ankle fracture. During his time in the treatment room, he has been flirting with the idea of a move to Barcelona. Hughes will be hoping to play him against Hull on Saturday.
• Portsmouth have pulled out of the running to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup. The reason of their withdrawal is that funds were required to redevelop Fratton Park and their city council is unwilling to provide the money required.

Rafa Benitez, will have woken up this morning worried about his job but more importantly worried about what he’s going to do come January.  With the Champion’s League cash flow over for this season he is facing a transfer window in which he will be under pressure to make money, not buy a new injury free striker as he may have hoped.  In fact, Liverpool have earned very little from the group stages itself.  Money is distributed by UEFA according to results and the late concession of goals against Lyon could have cost the club over €300,000 each time*!  While Steven Gerrard is keen to encourage both fans and players that Liverpool will now win the Europa League, financially it is not even a second prize.  In 2007 when Liverpool lost the Champion’s League final to AC Milan they came away with a bonus of €4 million.  Sevilla FC won €2.5 million for winning the UEFA Cup the same year.   That competition may have a new name but its financial reward is considerably lower than the Champion’s League.

So a club which is trying to find a buyer is effectively in financial crisis.  However, the problem at Liverpool is not just financial.  Any football fan will tell you that luck always has a part to play and it would seem that the players of Merseyside (both Everton and Liverpool) have been hanging horse shoes upside down and walking under ladders.  Injuries have been coming thick and fast and well there is no point even talking about Darren Bent and the infamous beach ball.  A run of bad luck breeds a sense of disheartenment.   Maybe they were lucky to equalise in the seventieth minute against Manchester City or Birmingham but a draw is not the result any of the team would have hoped for at the start.  Blaming bad luck may be a bit dubious but the lack of confidence which it has produced amongst the players has become a tangible problem.

Then there is the manager.  But more importantly the manager’s crazy decisions.  Taking Benayoun off when he is the best player on the pitch.  Playing Torres in a crucial game when he is far from fit enough and thus risking a more serious and prolonged injury.  Acting as if a draw against Manchester City was a positive result.   Benitez has been notorious for his strange decisions, his inability to stick with a winning team but right now there is clearly a spark missing.  Liverpool need a Harry Redknapp, someone who can take a team from the relegation zone and have them beating teams 9-1 less than a year later.  Has he delivered anything?  Fernando Torres?   The Champion’s League?  The first was an obvious target.   The team that won the Champions League was without doubt the team of Gerard Houllier.  There have certainly been good days and he has achieved very positive results but the lack of trophies is without doubt hanging over his head.

Which brings us to perhaps the biggest problem of all.  The Liverpool Football Club which has been playing in the Premiership since 1992 is effectively the younger brother of the club which preceded it.  It has had to live up to the achievements of the beloved son, eighteen league victories, four European cups.  The younger son wins a lot of badges for effort, is runner up very often, is leading for two thirds of a race and then loses in the last mile.  When he does achieve something, it is always compared to the achievements of his elder brother, a reminder that he has more to do and to achieve.  The teams of old haunt the Liverpool team of today when in fact it should encourage it.  Nobody wants to become Notts Forest, the forgotten team who actually won the European Cup – twice.

There are certainly other problems and this is just the tip of the iceberg but it would seem that for another year Liverpool supporters will continue what has become their mantra – maybe next year.

*These figures are not exact.  They were correct when I wrote my dissertation in 2007.  We can assume they are similar this season.

“Sorry old boy, washing my hair that night”. Am I talking here about Fiorentina’s fans not being bothered to travel to Anfield for a meaningless game with Liverpool but saving their cash for a more cheerful Christmas? No, not really.

What a difference two months can make. When UEFA Champions League group stage caravan was ready to go, at the end of september, there were inevitable mass-media comments based on false assumptions that the “predictability of outcomes” and “the same sense of inertia enveloping the bloated early rounds” will generate a lack of interest and subsequently empty seats around the grounds, “as there is no obvious reason to desert the shampoo anywhere on the continent” in these autumn evenings apart from some big old clashes such as Juventus – Bayern, AC Milan – Real Madrid or Barcelona – Inter. I’ve cited from an oppinion going on the lines of Michel Platini’s alleged misjudgement to mix Europe’s finest, the cream of the elite, with some no-hopers.

Never mind the sarcasm which peppered the comment, “You can imagine the look on Jose Mourinho’s face when Inter were drawn in the same group as Rubin Kazan”, but some might argue that the chance itself for lesser clubs to face giants of the game is a step up on the ladder. The minnows can improve only by playing against the best in the trade.

And others might not be so imaginative yet they’ve noticed Pep Guardiola’s face when the current UEFA Champions League holders were defeated on Camp Nou by Gokdeniz Karadeniz 73rd minute strike. It was 2-1 for Rubin in Barcelona. Actually, not that much of a shock, after a 0-0 draw in Kazan, when the Russian champion was already sprinting towards back to back domestic titles.

It’s well documented the fact that Russian clubs take advantage on their day from the unusual spring-autumn format of the season. Only on this basis and the champions of the EURO 2008 semifinalist shouldn’t have been taken for granted. Not to mention their clubs resurgence in UEFA Cup, which was won by CSKA Moscow and Zenit Sankt Petersburg in 2005 and 2008 respectivelly. That’s a harvest double the amount of England’s, triumphant in UEFA Cup in the last 25 years only through Liverpool, in 2001, but this record can be adjusted in may, in Hamburg, with The Reds derailed from glamorous  UEFA Champions League to its poorer renamed cousin, UEFA Europa League. 

The shampoo will be deserted on wednesday the 9th of december in favour of a journey to San Siro for an exciting Inter – Rubin Kazan decider, with Jose Mourinho’s men and Karadeniz et co equal on points. What can you ask for more? Goliath hosting David and not the other way round, another inconvenience for Europe’s finest, through the eyes of western commentators, to have to pull their alike extraterestrial buses in some “Eastern European backwater”. Although there are human beings living and buying football tickets even there, apparently it seems a stage not glitzy enough for the uber-entities.

It was often the case – and a repeat scenario won’t be any surprise - that the bigger clubs prevailed despite a stuttering start or a poor form altogether in the group stage. The smart money will be on Jose Mourinho’s coat and hairstyle to be admired on the glamorous stage as well in spring but it has to be pointed out that no team is by any means qualified yet from this supposedly inbalanced group. And that says a lot about minnows’ progress. A 2-2 draw as Inter made in Milano against Dinamo Kiyv will do though for the Italian champions.   

 And who would have imagined that Fiorentina Firenze will go through the group stage for the first time in its history at the expense of a seasoned Liverpool side? Or who would have thought that unknown Unirea Urziceni will shatter Glasgow Rangers on Ibrox Park with a 4-1 which contributed to the elimination of Scotland’s champions before the last group games were played?

These are some questions to ponder about. The shampoo will be in use in Glasgow when Gers will travel to Seville for an academic outing against the top of the group Andalucians. Full credit to Dan Petrescu, once a versatile player not only for Chelsea, now a capable manager providing an answer in his own way to another ironic arrow targeting Michel Platini. The commentator was asking if the name of Urziceni is the acceptable contraction…

Well, it’s just a name and nothing else, no better or worse than Stuttgart. Urzica is a plant, a stinging nettle, and has therapeutic values. While Platini’s ideals, to evolve the game on the virtues of solidarity and universality, mentioned when he took helm of UEFA in january 2007, seem already to bear fruit. Or may be some observers discomfort is coming from the president’s suggestion that 4 representatives for England or Spain might be a bit too much and that indebted clubs might end one day thrown out of the competition.

Some might say that I’m very harsh and punitive on some wrong predictions. But I’ll argue that it’s not about some wild results that unexpectedly occured, say AC Milan – Zurich 0-1, Atletico Madrid – Apoel Nicosia 0-0, Bayern Munich – Bordeaux 0-2 or even Manchester United – CSKA Moscow 3-3, given that just an owngoal in the 93rd minute have undone the 2005 UEFA Cup winners at Old Trafford, where Besiktas has won as well, but it’s about the concept of rightly mixing in the group stage the mighty and powerful with some new faces.

Enough knock-out stages will then follow for the big clubs to grace the loftier stratospheres of the competition. But as New Zealand, Honduras or North Korea sneaked through in the group stages of 2010 World Cup final, so UEFA Champions League can do with a few underdogs. No harm but – as it was proved – some excitement.

And isn’t it ironic that it went full circle, if it is to quote again the commentary: “[...] another fixture to get hearts pumping; Unirea Urziceni, of Romania, versus, VFB Stuttgart”. You bet it is. Nothing else than a win will do for Die Schwaben to go through. And by the way, the club’s name is correctly spelled with f and not F. Verein fur Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e.V.

Some minnows proved that Platini’s competition format has its merits and it’s just fair to point out that a former European champion both at club and national level, with Juventus Torino and France, who won as well both domestic competitions in Italy and his native country, winning Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Supercup and Intercontinental Cup among other trophees, might be more of a visionary with the game’s best interests at heart than some pundits can imagine.

Will Jose Mourinho succeed against Rubin? Or will he find the going as tough as Rafael Benitez did with Liverpool?

While being here and casting an eye on the backwater of Eastern Europe, just one more point to make. It’s surprising to say and admit that for all their travel, some football writers must lack some geography knowledge.  Why I’m saying this? The same error is repeated for decades, mistakingly including footballing nations as say Czech Republic or Hungary, you name them, in… Eastern Europe.

Well, it’s a well known fact even at kindergarten in mainland Europe that the continent’s eastern border consists of Ural Mountains, at meridian 60 E, which splits the Russian Federation into two: the European Russia and the Asian Russia. Take any map and you’ll notice that European Russian Federation is extremely wide, occupying the whole eastern front of the continent. That’s Eastern Europe…

Which leaves the lot, Czech Republic et all, nowhere else but in Central Europe. The meridians are giving an even more accurate view of what’s what in terms of positioning on our continent’s map, be it a footballing one or not. The 60 degrees E meridian is roughly where Urals are stretching from north to south, while the 30 degrees E meridian cuts across eastern Finland, Belarus and Ukraine. Meridian O passes Greenwich.

So how comes that Slavia or Sparta Prague, bang on the western side of 15 degrees E meridian, so much closer to London than to Moscow, are… eastern European clubs? It defies everything: maps, geography, logic, truth…

To emphasise the aforementioned point about the imbalance of power in the elitist Champions League, the columnist choose poor Unirea Urziceni as a perfect “example”, comparing David with mighty Real Madrid. Well, geographically wise, the same error… Urziceni, the town surprisingly holding the current domestic national title in Romania, even being in eastern Romania, is actually bang in central Europe, whichever way you want to study the map of real Europe, known at kindergarten. Somewhere at mid distance between the western points of say Ireland and Portugal and the Urals.

Unirea Urziceni, this unknown quantity with an unpronouncable name, was deemed as an unworthy opponent for the big and powerful, with the stroke of a keyboard. It took decades for minor Romanian outfits to break the horrendous state controlled hijacking of national football, with Steaua and Dinamo the big bullies on the scene. CFR Cluj made history last year by winning the title, despite all the machinations of Steaua. Cluj-Napoca, a provincial city from Transylvania, have defied the structures of power.

Unirea Urziceni followed the trend and, from nowhere, finished on top, due to Dan Petrescu’s managerial knowhow. His skills honed in Poland, at Wisla Krakow, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea London full back hit the jackpot by bringing the title in a place the size of Slough. Actually, I’m exaggerating, as Slough is quite big.

Instead of recognizing the amazing shift of power in Romanian football, where it seems that truth starts to prevail and Steaua and Dinamo find it harder and harder to control through corruption, sleaze and influence, some are questioning, placing in imaginary boxes and taking the mickey out of the newborn stars. And I say stars but they might be only comets, shining just for a while. It’s their moment, so why to pick them as “examples” in this infinite talk about the Champions League format moulded by Platini!? Because it’s convenient for some…

The simple truth is that Urziceni is not in eastern Europe, whateversome Western Europeans want to believe, and that Unirea did a wonderful job in following the footsteps of another minnow, CFR Cluj Napoca. A few more like them and we’ll escape the plague of associating Romanian football with the names of Steaua and Dinamo. 

I just assume that if Steaua would have won the title and represent Romania in Champions League, it wouldn’t have been picked as an “example” in the explanation about the imbalance of power in the group stages of the European elite.  Just because Steaua won the old European Cup in ‘86 with players cherrypicked from various minnows, some are assuming that it must be a powerful enough entity to be worthy of a home and away double with Real Madrid. Well, Olympique Lyonnais visited Bucharest recently and showed the real difference in power.

And if one day Steaua will pay even without interest the unpaid transfer sums for players… recruited in those days in the Army, then the mighty and powerful of the Iron Curtain block will be bankrupt and buried, while the “minnows” derided now will empower themselves at least for the merit of bringing talents to the footballing world.

And please don’t show to anybody at Steaua or Dinamo the UEFA Champions League group table with Urziceni in second place, with 8 points. Spare them of blushing for the 5 points gathered all together, with 3 goals scored and 12 conceded, in the eight games played in UEFA Europa League groups, scratching the bottom…

Disappointment, sadness, grievances and regrets might be associated at the wake, pun intended, of Liverpool’s Champions League exit, but in my eyes it is actually more of a boon than a bane.

I welcome the exit with welcome arms, not because I harbour no reservations of being the Champions of the UCL again ( I do want them to win, next year perhaps~), but mostly due to the fact that I get to see the Liverpool players as mere humans again.

This exit did not turn Rafa Benitez into a bad manager or the Liverpool players into bad footballers, and if anything it goes to show how beautifullly unexpected the beautiful game can be, and how magnificient and feet-firmly-rooted -to-the-grounds Liverpudlians can be.

Nothing can be taken for granted, and certainly in Liverpool’s case, their entry into the Europa league cannot be regarded as a misadventure, but instead as an opportunity to put in the right foot at the right time.

Blessed (thankfully) with the sudden lack of boardroom drama this season, the teamsheet for Liverpool is suddenly blighted with injuries and the sudden bountyful visits of lady luck to opposing teams, where non other than the beach ball incident comes to mind.

There are plenty more games of football to be played and we’re not even halfway into a season and shoddy calls of a disaster / crisis period looms over Anfield, and I strongly disagree.

If a team plays badly without conviction nor determination, and where the Manager goes into a press conference with his hands held up surrendering and spouting weakness in his every words, and when the Board of Directors starts praising other Managers, and until then, there is nothing remotely resembling a crisis at Anfield.

Imagine Manchester United without Rooney or Berbatov, Giggs or Scholes, and Vidic or Ferdinand.

Imagine Chelsea without Drogba or Anelka, Essien or Lampard, and Terry or Carvalho.

Imagine Arsenal without Van Persie or Arshavin, Fabregas or Denilson, and Vermaelan or Gallas.

Then imagine Liverpool without Torres or Gerrard, Riera or Aquilani, and Johnson or Agger, except for the fact that there are games when all of them have not featured at all.

It’s not as if the players aren’t trying as you can see how they grimace and despair over loss oppportunities and inexplicable setbacks such as a mistimed injury.

The severity of injuries to key first team players have affected the results and until everyone plays together on the same field at the same time, it’s an unfair judgement that’s being passed around the walls of Anfield at this moment.

Remember the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover?

Well, perhaps for now, try not to judge a team by a 4 monthed scorecard.

———-

Author Bio: Check out Blog.mar.sg for more information regarding this author.

Liverpool er i krise. Fullstendig krise. Klubben som fulgte Man Utd til døra i kampen om Premier League i fjor. Så var klubben dumme nok til å selge en av de beste midtbanespillerne i ligaen, Alonso, og dermed er krisen et faktum. Liverpool FC er en legendarisk klubb med et middelmådig mannskap. I hvertfall hvis klubben har som mål å vinne trofeer. Det er kun Torres, Gerrard og Pepe Reina som holder høy internasjonal klasse.

Som City-supporter fryder jeg meg når andre klubber gjør det dårlig, ikke fordi jeg håper at den konkrete klubben skal gjøre det dårlig, men fordi det blir bedre plass til de fremadstårmende blaa fra Manchester. Men vi City-supportere er vant til det meste, og klager mer enn vi har godt av. Derfor er det litt forfriskende å se at Benitez ikke umiddelbart få¨r sparken. Men at det satses på kontiunitet. Det er viktig i enhver klubb.

Men det er flere av kjøpene og salgene til Benitez som har vært så dårlige, at man kan begynne å lure. Robbie Keane, Degen, Han grekern, Alonso +++ Hadde jeg vært LFC-fan, så ville jeg byttet ut hele ledelsen i klubben, fra de sjarmerende eierne til manager.

It’s a fun-filled week after that excruciatingly long (in my mind) and pointless (ditto) International break. I won’t spoil too much (up here) because there are a few matches to take joy from today and I wouldn’t want to steal my own thunder by spilling the beans right away. So I’m just gonna take it slow and leave the best posts to la -

ACF Fiorentina 1-0 Olympique Lyonnais – Well, La Viola have sealed their Group of 16 qualification! Fiorentina will be joining their French compatriots (ha!), having defeated said Frenchmen by a single goal at the Stadio Artemio Franchi this evening. It would be Juan Manuel Vargas who provided the difference for the home side, with a spot kick on 27′ after AC Milan almost-signing Aly Cissokho downed Marco Marchionni in Les Gones’ area. However, I think the true credit for the victory belongs to Sebastien Frey, whose stellar display between the sticks saved Cesare Prandelli’s men’s collective behinds time and time again – their defense simply is not the same without Alessandro Gamberini marshalling the back line. Oh, one other minor detail regarding their match: it eliminated Liverpool  from the Champions League. Humble Fiorentina move on, while the Scousers are sent home to cry in their… scouse. Beating up on a French team and an English team with the same result? Two birds with one stone, I say. All that’s left to do is seal first place with a victory at Anfield – normally a tall order, but hell, I’m feeling good about it right now.

Your clock is ticking, Rafa!

Liverpool 1-0 Debrecen – Need I even bother? Does it matter? Liverpool have been knocked out of the Champions League as a result of La Viola’s win over Lyon (for those of you who may have skipped the above paragraph) David Ngog put the Reds ahead early in a game which they started confidently – the Frenchmen was first to the ball within the box on 4′ to poke home and give his side an early 1-0 lead. Rafa Benitez’s men put in a spirited performance in the first half, but by the second they were well away what the score was in Firenze and, with their destiny out of their hands, seemed content to simply boot the ball around. Now completely out of Champions League running despite tonight’s victory, the only heart that the Merseysiders can take is in the fact that they can get their revenge on Fiorentina by spoiling their 1st place hopes at Anfield in 2 weeks time. It seems strange after a victory, but Rafa Benitez unemployment watch, anyone?

Rubin Kazan 0-0 Dynamo Kiev – Rubin Kazan were crowned Russian champions earlier this week, but were unable to work any magic in snowy Tatarstan tonight to bolster their European hopes. Both the Russians and Ukrainians seemed aware of the importance of the match, which could have seen either rise to within grasping distance of Round of 16 qualification, and both sides started the match with tense and tentative play, unwilling to give ground but unwilling to push too far forward as well. The visitors actually dominated the play for much of the match, carrying possession and keeping the Rubinovye on their heels. However, it would be the Russians who came closest to scoring in the 90 minutes, with Oleksander Shovkovski being forced to swat away an acrobatic attempt from Alejandro Dominguez just before the halftime interval. In the end, neither side would get ahead, but both still have a chance of qualification thanks to the result that Barcelona and Inter achieved at the Camp Nou this evening.

Xavi will haunt Jose's nightmares for weeks.

Barcelona 2-0 Inter – Ah, the European Inter we know and hate – and the European Barcelona that we know and (some people) love. Italy’s most dominant team domestically once again failed to show up on the European stage, and were beaten black and blue (get it?) all over the match by a dominant Blaugrana side in Catalonia. It was all Barcelona from the very start, as the home side started early and didn’t really slow it down until the match was more than won. I Nerazzurri were reminded of their own glaring deficiencies as they found themselves unable to deal with Barca’s more technically proficient midfield (Xavi, anyone?) and perhaps the more forward-thinking tactics of Pep Guardiola. Barcelona struck twice early in the match, with Gerard Piqué side-footing in a corner on 10′ and Pedro volleying into the top corner after some beautiful team build-up on 27′. To illustrate the point of Catalan dominance, Inter didn’t even get their first shot off until 35′, and Victor Valdés wasn’t called into action until almost halftime to make a routine save on Diego Milito, who wasn’t looking very princely tonight. The scoreline could have been a lot higher if not for the world-class netminding of Julio Cesar, who proved a strong last line of defense against Barcelona’s constant onslaught. Though not exactly a blowout, Inter’s match has shown once again that Jose Mourinho’s men simply do not have the quality or the mentality to succeed in European football. Mourinho himself spoke of the large gap in quality after the match, citing individual talent as a key area in which La Beneamata simply could not compete. I tend to agree, and with creative genius Wesley Sneijder sidelined that gap becomes even more apparent, but I also think it comes down to tactics. Barcelona always play football on their own terms, with brilliant passing and constant movement, while Mourinho’s men play a more tentative game, content to simply grind out wins while expressing only momentary flashes of genius. Regardless of this result, it seems that both these sides will be advancing to the next round (unless Inter lose at home to Rubin Kazan in a fortnight), but to be swatted out of the Camp Nou so easily is surely a blow to i Nerazzurri and especially their loudmouthed tecnico.

Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege – A run of the mill match for Arsenal – a Beer and Waffles speedbump, if you will. The Londoners cruised past their visitors at the Emirates Stadium on the strength of 2 first-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson on 35′ and 45′ respectively. Manuel Almunia was saved his blushes once by the grace of the woodwork, but other than that it was mostly smooth sailing for the Gunners, who have apparently bounced back nicely after a half-arsed defeat to Sunderland on the weekend. As predicted/warned waaay back when, Arsene Wenger’s men have topped Group H with ease.

Unirea Urziceni 1-0 Sevilla – This one’s just up here for its comic value. Sevilla have looked strong all season, both domestically and in European competition, but have fallen for the first time in these group stages after the Romanians were gifted a win through an Ivica Dragutinovic own-goal and the help of the woodwork. The match’s only goal came just before the interval, with the Serbian defender heading an incoming long ball directly into the back of his own net. Comic gold, that (when it’s not happening to you, anyways). Though the Andalusians continued to dominate much of the play throughout the second half, they were unable to overcome that deficit and ultimately fell to the home side in Bucharest. Dragutinovic’s own-goal may have helped the Romanian side to qualify, as they now sit second in the group behind Los Rojiblancos with 8 points. Interestingly, Urziceni have only score 6 goals in this competition, and 3 of those have been own-goals gifted to them by their opponents! If these guys make it through, they’ve definitely earned it.

These are th- Well, you get the point.

Ngog scored, Liverpool won, Fiorentina won, Liverpool go out of the Champions League.

I’m afraid that that’s about as detailed as I can muster tonight; it’s all very depressing.  Luckily I spent most of the match recording a podcast, so I was at least distracted from the utter hopelessness of football.

On the plus side, they did actually win a match and I was beginning to wonder whether I’d ever see that again.  Hooray.

Liverpool FC have beat Debrecen in the Champions League, in an average performance for The Reds. The main point is they won, but Liverpool could have played better. But the thing you’ll be more bothered about is getting through to the knockout stages. We didn’t make it, so we just have to try and look forward to playing in the Europa League.

Liverpool took the lead in the 4th minute, through David N’gog, scoring from close range. From then up to half time, it was all Liverpool. Debrecen were playing poorley, allowing Liverpool to push, and Liverpool had numerous chances, but didn’t take them. N’gog also was slightly injured about half way through the first half, but he seemed to be okay. At Half time Liverpool were leading away from home by one goal to nil.

In the second half, it was slightly more Debrecen, but Liverpool were still dominating. Liverpool had more chances they didn’t take, including Dirk Kuyt heading wide. Debrecen had chances to score, and Rudolph had a great shot on goal which Pepe Reina had to make a great save. In stoppage time Debrecen had a brilliant chance, but once again couldn’t take it. About midway through the second half Benayoun came on for N’gog, and Aquilani only played 90 seconds, something Liverpool fans won’t be happy about.

But wether we won 1-0 or 100-0 it wouldn’t of made a difference. Fiorentina won the match against Lyon thanks to a first half penalty. The only thing we can now do is look forward to the Europa League. It should be easier than the Champions League, so it’s a chance to win some silverware this season.

Final Score: Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool.

There’s a lot at stake for Liverpool today. Unfortunately, it’s not entirely up to the reds to progress as there are various permutations that need to click else the reds might find themselves in the Europa league (no offence!) come 2010. Below are the various permutations and the effect that they would have for Liverpool:

Liverpool win + Fiorentina win = Liverpool out of the CL.

Liverpool win + Lyon win = Liverpool need to beat Fiorentina to progress in CL.

Liverpool win + Lyon/Fiorentina draw = Liverpool need to beat Fiorentina by three goals or more to progress in CL.

Liverpool lose = Liverpool out of the CL.

Liverpool draw = Liverpool out of the CL.

Here’s hoping that Liverpool and Lyon pull out wins this Tuesday! YNWA.

]]> http://lfcfanclub.info/2009/11/24/debrecen-vs-liverpool-fc-uefa-champions-league/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:14:30 +0000 Sam http://lfcfanclub.info/2009/11/24/debrecen-vs-liverpool-fc-uefa-champions-league/

Liverpool FC are playing Debrecen tonight in the Champions League, and unfortunately, with our fate not anymore in our hands, we are unable to decide who goes through, and who goes out. Liverpool need a miracle to qualify, just like they needed a miracle against Olympiakos, but this is alot less ’simpler’. If we beat Debrecen tonight, Lyon have the fate to decide who will qualify. If Lyon lose against Fioreinta, then that’s it for Liverpool. We only have the UEFA Cup to play for. On the other hand, If Lyon win in Italy, there is still a chance of qualifying if we beat Fiorienta at Anfield.

With Liverpool struggling also in the Premier League, this may be a season to forget for all Liverpool fans.

“Man City are way better than Liverpool”

“Liverpool are rubbish.”

“Liverpool won’t even make the Champions League”

These are things we have to turn around, and quick. Liverpool FC are one of the most successful teams  in the world, and if you told that to someone who only started to watch football from the start of the season right now, they would laugh.

Liverpool F.C vs Debrecen

Kick Off 19:45 (UK)

Home/Away

Sky Sports 1 (HD)/ ITV/ Sky Sports 2 (HD)

Last meeting: Liverpool 1 (Kuyt) – 0 Debrecen

Be sure to follow www.twitter.com/Lfc_Fan_club for match updates and updates on the Fiorienta – Lyon match.

Jamie Carragher conceded that Liverpool’s chances of progressing to the last 16 are pretty slim. He also said that if Liverpool don’t make it through, they will focus their energy on the Europa league:

“If we don’t make it through, then we have to accept it and move on,” said Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher. “Stevie Gerrard and myself won what was the UEFA Cup back in 2001 and it was a great moment. It is still a chance to win silverware [this season] and there are some great teams in that competition. Benfica looked really strong against Everton, and Valencia are in it too. Obviously, we are all still hoping we are in the Champions League come Tuesday night.

Liverpoll will need Lady Luck tonight when they take on Debrecen. A win alone is not enough to see them through. Lyon will need to do Liverpool a favour by beating Fiorentina. If Lyon and Fiorentina draw, Liverpool will have to beat the Italian club by 3 goals.

“The hardest thing is our destiny isn’t in our own hands. When we have been in situations like this before, we have been able to sort it out ourselves. We have to concentrate on our own game and hopefully things will go our way. We have to look after ourselves and get the three points. We just have to concentrate on what we can affect and make sure we do our job. Nobody is thinking about the other game yet because we have to make sure we win first. There would be nothing worse than Lyon doing us a favour and we haven’t managed to get the win we need,” said Carragher.
Source: FIFA.com

E plictisitor, plictisitor de moarte, fiind deci cazul s-o luam din loc. A fost concluzia lui Roy Keane despre reactia unei intregi Irlande, mai putin a sa, of course, la hentul lui Henry, parere exprimata la nici doua zile dupa jocul de la Paris.

Sunt perfect de-acord cu Keane c-ar fi timpul sa scriem si de-altceva. Dar, intr-o ultima radiografiere a tonelor de hartie consumate in Albion pe marginea meciului intre vecinii de peste Canalul Manecii si Marea Irlandei, m-am izbit de editorialul unuia dintre cele mai reputate peneluri din Regatul Unit, al carui comentariu m-a facut sa pricem ca, in ciuda deceniilor petrecute de la distanta ori de la fata locului cu ochii pe fotbalul insular, nu deprinsesem o piatra de temelie a etosului jocului inventatorilor sai.

Intr-o stranie coincidenta in privinta nationalitatii eroilor fazei aduse in discutie de jurnalist, se intampla cu doar 9 zile inaintea henturilor de pe Stade de France ca un mulatru atacant francez sa obtina un penalty nemeritat, plonjand in careu ca in bazin, in preajma unui mijlocas irlandez ce se lansase intr-o deposedare prin alunecare, fara insa a-l fi atins. Faza s-a derulat in ultimul joc al etapei dinaintea meciurilor intertari, mai exact Liverpool – Birmingham City, intr-o luni seara.

David Ngog a patruns pe flancul stang, a cazut neobstructionat in careu, arbitrul a acordat penalty iar irlandezul Lee Carsley s-a facut foc si para pe francez si oficial. Acest incident, si nu mult discutatul dublu hent de la Paris, a fost subiectul randurilor ce mi-au dezvaluit un fapt esential despre crezul iubitorilor de fotbal din Regat.

Am aflat astfel ca, la conferinta de presa dinaintea recentei partide Liverpool – Manchester City, un alt 2-2, ca si cu City din Birmingham, Rafael Benitez s-ar fi exprimat ca plonjonul lui Ngog s-a constituit intr-o mai mica ofensa la adresa fotbalului decat un tackling periculos. La care, atragandu-i-se atentia ca auditoriul englez are o perceptie inversata in aceasta privinta, spanionul a solicitat presarilor sa incerce furnizarea unei ordini mai umane a prioritatilor.

E posibil ca, influentat de numarul accidentatilor din lot in cursul acestei toamne, incluzand piese cheie ca Gerrard si Torres, antrenorul Benitez sa fi incercat diminuarea oprobiului iscat la adresa oportunismului tanarului sau atacant prin a-i aseza plonjonul in lumina unor “rele” pe care le considera mai mari, exemplificand tacklingurile ce pun in pericol ori chiar accidenteaza adversari.

Benitez nu si-a gasit insa cu acest punct de vedere aliati intre ziaristi. Dintre care, editorialistul a dezvaluit consensul sincer al breslei ca, amintind de-un plonjon similar din vara al lui Eduardo, in jocul Arsenal – Celtic, gestul brazilianului-croat a fost mai grav decat incidentul in care ii era rupt piciorul, intr-un tackling considerat accidental, comis acum 20 de luni, coincidenta, de un fundas de la… Birmingham City, Martin Taylor. Faultul de maidan din preajma centrului terenului, in primele minute ale acelei partide, e probabil inca intiparit pe retina multor telespectatori, cu tibia lui Eduardo franta ca o grisina si cu Wenger explodand imediat dupa fluierul final, cum ca Taylor ar trebui suspendat pe viata din fotbal. Sentinta pe care si-a renegat-o in aceeasi seara.

Ei bine, dintotdeauna am admirat fair-playul britanic si, mai mult, am detestat copios trucurile de tot felul ale fotbalului in general de sorginte latina, contrast care m-a determinat cu si mai mare usurinta sa simpatizez abordarea insularilor. Dar n-am intuit ca britanicilor le repugna intr-asemenea masura teatralitatea ori micile farse ale jocului latin incat sa imbratiseze ca pe un mai mic rau o incercare de deposedare generand oase rupte. In fiecare zi invatam cate ceva si abia acum am priceput ordinea lucrurilor, pe un subiect de principiu mai mult decat important in privinta fotbalului insular.

Benitez, dupa 6 ani in Albion, de o parte a faliei, iar presarii de cealalta, cand vine vorba de merele stricate ale fotbalului. Plonjonul in speranta unui penalty ori tacklingul primejdios. Falia e probabil extinsa in aceasta privinta, existand in general intre jocul din Marea Britanie si cel continental ori macar latin.

Iar pentru a-si fortifica argumentul, comentatorul a exemplificat atacul lui Guthrie, in primavara inca in elita cu Newcastle, care a sprintat la tinta, scotandu-l din joc pe Fagan, de la Hull City, dar nu pentru restul partidei, ci pe cateva luni de zile, considerand ca faultul sau, desi in mod evident premeditat, ar atrage mai putine critici decat plonjonul teatral al lui Ngog.

Aici consider ca este o fortare a notei, o exagerare, ori  – din contra – tocmai dovada absoluta a spiritului de lupta al bulldogului britanic, “fibra” esentiala a jocului in insula. Jos palaria daca determinarea respectivilor jucatori, oricat de amenintator ar parea tacklingul, ar rezulta intr-o deposedare curata prin alunecare, mingea si nu adversarul. Insa in cazul in care atacurile s-au lasat, in cazurile amintite, cu fracturi si multe luni prin sali de recuperare si pe tusa, imi cer iertare, dar n-ar putea avea mai multa trecere in fata incercarii unui Ngog de a obtine pe nedrept penalty.

In motricitatea lui Ngog nu s-a deslusit ca ar cauta penaltyul cu lumanarea, doar “saniuta” lui Carsley determinandu-l sa incerce in ultima clipa marea cu sarea, pe cand acel hei-rup al lui Guthrie, lansat la rupere, a fost cu premeditare. Acestea au fost exemplele alese de ziarist pentru a-si reliefa punctul de vedere, creand implicit o falie intre perceptia sa si probabil nu doar a lui Benitez, ci a destulor exponenti ai fotbalului non-insular.

Articolul mi-a pus in alta lumina marja acceptabilitatii deposedarii in fotbalul insular, placandu-mi mult tacklingurile desavarsite dar gasindu-le uneori mai mult decat la limita chiar si pe cele ale lui Paul Scholes, altfel deloc un jucator “murdar”.  

Mai jos, faultul asupra lui Eduardo si plonjonul sau contra lui Celtic, unii presari considerand a doua infractiune ca fiind mai grava. Va las pe Dumneavoastra sa decideti. Gusturile nu se discuta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qryjPi4KEek

E pe ritmuri sud-americane. Si zau ca mi s-ar face inima cat un purice, sa-mi mai sara cineva la picioare, dupa atacul de mai sus. Dar de-aceea nu-s fotbalist si scrijelesc in lumea virtuala.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL5G6eAsfgY  

Why do I always type a little blurb here? It never really says anything; I just feel weird diving straight into the match results themselves without any preamble. It’s too… impersonal that way. So hello, hi, here we are, so let’s get down to it:

Calcio:

AS Roma Totti 3-1 Bari – Romanisti always repeat one thing when Er Pupone is sidelined: No Totti, no Party. But sometimes we get so caught up in our own negativity that we forget the flip-side of that equation: Totti = party. Er Capitano made his return today against Bari, back from over a month out after going into knee surgery earlier in the season. And just to remind us why we miss him when he’s gone, he scored a hattrick. In the first half hour. The first came on 7′ – a spot kick after Jean-François Gillet downed Mirko Vucinic in the area. Then, only 7 minutes later, Totti launched a searing free-kick into the back of the net to make it 2-0. On 28′, he scored a world-class – and seemingly impossible – goal, beating Bari’s defense, Gillet and firing an acute-angle shot into the far corner. Beauty. Roma did their usual thing in the second half, sitting comfortably back on their large lead and letting i Galletti tire themselves out. However, the visitors finally pulled one back when youngster Marco Andreolli nodded the ball into his own net on 73′. A bit of a blemish, but a pretty good party nonetheless. To Gillet’s credit, he was outstanding for most of the match (those stretches when Totti was not destroying his self esteem), as was Julio Sergio, who was very solid behind the Roman back four. Mirko Vucinic was phenomenal, back to his old self again, while the only real black spot for Roma was Nicolas Burdisso, who was an absolute horrorshow at right-back. Also, the own goal was unfortunate. But all in all, a very good party with Er Capitano back at the helm. I can’t wait until we get Danielino back – then we can really party.

Inter 3-1  Bologna – The Inter Offside webpage referred to this match as a ‘Mortadella Speedbump’ — that pretty much sums it up for me. The reigning champions probably felt as if they could simply stroll into the Stadio Dall’Ara and come back out with three easy points, and their hosts failed to prove them wrong. There was a bit of tension early in the match; Diego Milito put Inter ahead on 22′ off of a corner from Maicon, only for Marcelo Zalayeta to equalize within 60 seconds, smashing the ball past Julio Cesar and into the top corner. The next 20 minutes saw both teams get really into the game, but Mario Balotelli should have put his side ahead when he beat the Bologna backline and dummied ‘keeper Emiliano Viviano – only to waste enough time that Viviano was able to get up and rob him of his much belated shot. One could see Jose Mourinho rise from his bench, flailing in anger. However, Supermario was able to atone for his sins just before the half; another Maicon corner saw the young striker rise powerfully in the air and head home to make it 2-1 for the Nerazzurri. He picked up a knock in the process, however, and was subbed off for Samuel Eto’o, who made a rare start on the bench. The visitors would make their lead more comfortable midway through the second half, with Esteban Cambiasso, who was in excellent form, burying a left-foot strike on 72′. To be honest, the hosts never looked like they were going to get back into the game, and Inter cruised to a comfortable win over the Emiliani.

AC Milan 4-3 Cagliari – It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride in the San Siro this afternoon, but i Rossoneri came out on top. Clarence Seedorf gave the home side an early lead on 5′, but gli Isolani weren’t interested in falling behind and Alessandro Matri equalized just 3 minutes later. The visitors would take the lead on 30′ when Andrea Lazzari found himself completely unmarked at Milan’s back post and gave his side a 2-1 lead. This time though, it was Milan’s turn to come from behind, as Marco Borriello and Alexandre Pato bagged a pair of goals in quick succession to put their side up 3-2 by the 39th minute. Pato’s goal was particularly nice, a rocket-powered blast into the top shelf which sent the San Siro crowd into an uproar. Milan would further consolidate their lead after the break, with Ronaldinho stepping up to the spot after Borriello had been felled in the area and burying it, sending Federico Marchetti the wrong way. He seems to score all of his goals that way, doesn’t he? More on him later. Cagliari was able to reduce Milan’s lead to a single goal when Nenê beat Dida on 68′, but Milan would hold onto their rather precarious lead and edge their visitors 4-3 in what turned out to be an exciting goalfest. Now, Ronaldinho. He was quite possibly – I’d almost say easily – the man of the match; back to his Barcelona form and full of tricks and flicks. That he only got onto the scoresheet via PK is misleading, as he was the creative force behind Milan’s devastating offense all night. That being said, their defending was quite shoddy, and against a better team (no offense, Cagliari, I like you guys) they might have come away with a rather different result. That being said, an excellent high-scoring match to put il Diavolo into 3rd place. Who says Serie A is boring?

Juventus 1-0 Udinese – Oh that’s right, Juventini say Serie A is boring. Because Juve is boring. I Bianconeri edged, well, i Bianconeri in Turin to keep their Scudetto hopes alive tonight. After the kickoff, it was all Juventus; Diego and Mauro Camoranesi both came close in the first quarter of an hour. After that though, the game went into a bit of a lull, and neither side looked dangerous (or did anything important) before the halftime break – unless you count a Udinese goal rightly disallowed for offside. After the restart, it was once again Juventus who set the pace, and this time it paid off. Summer signing Martin Cácares set up summer signing Fabio Grosso, who beat Samir Handanovic with ease to put the home side up 1-0 on 51′. Udinese fought hard throughout the remainder of the half, and both Handanovic and Gigi Buffon were called upon to make class saves, but ultimately the most exciting thing to happen before the fulltime whistle was Alessandro Del Piero’s appearance as a substitute. Juventino or not, you gotta love that guy.

Football:

A hattrick? No, that was just a warm-up.

Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan Athletic – Stop the press! What in God’s name do they put in the water in Tottenham? The Spurs recorded the second-biggest Premiership blowout in history at White Hart Lane over a hapless Wigan Athletic, with Jermain Defoe grabbing 5 himself in the second half. Peter Crouch opened the scoring for the home side on 9′, and believe it or not, that was it for the first half. Defoe got started right away after the break though, netting on 51′ and 54′, before Paul Scharner (who may have also pulled a Thierry Henry) pulled one back for the Latics to make it 3-1 on 57′. Defoe wasn’t done yet though, and to complete his hattrick restored the Spurs 3-goal margin just seconds later. Aaron Lennon got in on the action with a goal of his own on 64′, and then Jermain Defoe topped off his hattrick with a brace on 69′ and 87′. Chris Kirkland put the ball into his own net on 88′ to make it 8-1, and then Niko Kranjcar scored in the 4th minute of stoppage time to make the scoreline a whopping 9-1. To put this into perspective, didn’t table-toppers Chelsea lose to Wigan this season? Holy shit, dude.

Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton – Speaking of Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti’s men took part in a rout of their own this weekend, though it seems rather paltry in comparison with their London neighbours’ rather excessive beatdown. The Wolves simply had no chance at Stamford Bridge, and with Florent Malouda opening the scoring with a 25-yard strike on 5′, it seemed a cricket score was imminent. Michael Essien furthered that notion, bagging a brace within a 10 minute span by finding the back of the Wolves’ net on 12′ and 22′. The visitors simply had no response to the dominant Chelsea play, and their ill-advised 2-5-3 formation left plenty of gaps for the Blues to exploit. The teams went into the half with the score 3-0, but not before Sylvain Ebanks-Blake forced a class save from Petr Cech. As the game progressed, Wolverhampton reverted to a more solid 4-4-2, it was not enough to stop Joe Cole from scoring his first Premiership goal in over a year, making the score 4-0. Another quite impressive blowout/shutout from Ancelotti’s men, but until they score 9 goals I think they’ll feel that their crosstown rivals have the upper hand. Then again, they’re leading the league, so who cares about the Spurs?

Liverpool 2-2- Manchester City – Every time a Koppite cries, and angel get its wings. Or so I’ve been led to believe. Either way, both the Reds and the Blues (no, no, other Reds. Other Blues too.) dropped points and further away from the top 4 with a 4-goal draw at Anfield on Saturday. Martin Skrtel gave the home side the lead on 50′, only for Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland to respond on 69′ and 76′ respectively to give the Citizens a 2-1 lead. A loss at this stage in the competition would have meant disaster for the Scousers, but luckily Yossi Benayoun cut any Mancunian celebrations short by responding with a goal of his own on 77′ to equalize and make it 2-2. And 2-2 the score would remain. This result is neither a complete disaster for Mark Hughes or Rafa Benitez, but you gotta think that the two of them, and their grossly underperforming squads, have gotta be feeling a little uncomfortable right now.

Manchester Utd 3-0 Everton – As for the other Reds and Blues of Manchester and Liverpool, a draw was not in the cards. The Red Devils trounced the Toffeemakers at Old Trafford to stay within five points of Chelsea in the table. Darren Fletcher opened the scoring for the homeside on 35′ with a beautiful goal that has been compared (somewhat hyperbolically) to the work of Zinedine Zidane. After the half Michael Carrick and Luis Antonio Valencia would add a goal each, while David Moyes’ men could do little but keep the scoreline respectable. I gotta say, the Merseyside derby is going to be downright depressing this year…

Pictured: Arsenal player not fit for today's match.

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal – Oh, Arsenal. The Gooners had gone over a dozen games without a loss, but as usual Arsene Wenger’s men got a little too close to the sun and their wings simply burned up. Also, they had a lot of injuries. The Londoners put in an unfocused and ramshackle performance against a determined Sunderland side who clearly wanted the result more. And they got it. Sunderland simply rode out wave after wave of potent Arsenal attacking play, though admittedly, it didn’t seem like the Gunners wanted to do much other than controlling the ball in midfield. On 71′, the home side finally got their chance and Darren Bent buried it to make the score 1-0 for the Black Cats. Wenger’s men had simply no will to get back into the game (perhaps their minds were occupied with thoughts of next week’s clash against Chelsea) and ultimately fell to a steely Sunderland side. This is the second time this year that the Black Cats have beaten a top 4 side – and this time it can’t even be blamed on a beach ball.

Futbol:

Real Madrid 1-0 Racing Santander – Well, Los Galacticos are still without their biggest star – Cristiano Ronaldo – and they’re still not playing as ‘Galacticos’ perhaps should, but they’re finally where Galacticos should be: on top. Gonzalo Higuaín provided the difference that Manuel Pellegrini’s men needed to take down mid-table residents Racing Santander, with a strike from close range on 22′. Both sides had second-half goals disallowed for offsides, with both Karim Benzema and Sergio Canales putting the ball into the back of the net only to be notified by the referee that they need not celebrate. As has been the norm this year, Madrid did not completely convince, but their narrow victory was nevertheless enough to see them go top of the table for the first time this season after Barcelona picked up a similarly unconvincing result in Bilbao.

Because Bear Country is more frightening than Basque Country.

Barcelona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao – Treble Champions they may be, but at times this season Barcelona have failed to look the part. They faltered again in their title race during this weekend’s trip to Basque Country. Though many of their starting 11, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were out with knocks, one could still expect Barcelona to produce a result against midtable opponents such as Bilbao. Early in the match, Los Leones put pressure on their visitors, peppering them with corners and free kicks, while Barca looked simply content to play on the counter. Soon however, Barca wrested control of possession from their hosts, and began to look like the side to score, though when it came to finishing they came up empty – at least in the first half. However, after the restart the Blaugrana got off on the right foot, with Daniel Alves running on to the end of a perfect throughball from Xavi and finding the back of Bilbao’s net. Athletic immediately responded by bringing Toquero into the game; a move that would prove very effective as the substitute would equalize for the home side within 10 minutes of coming onto the pitch, running onto a long ball and smashing it home. All that was left to do for Bilbao was to park the bus and ride out the waves of Barcelona attacks – which they did – in order to gain a point and drop the reigning champions down to second place. What has happened to Pep Guardiola’s men?

Fußball:

Bayern München 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen – Well, Die Roten haven’t sunk any further into their slump, but they haven’t de-slumped either, achieving a draw against league-leading Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz-Arena this weekend. Mario Gomez and Stephan Kießling each netted for their respective sides early on in the match; both goals came within the first 15 minutes of play. Bayern started off energetically, with their aggressive attack leading to Mario Gomez’s opener on 8′, which he sidefooted in on an advantage play after Miroslav Klose was fouled. However, their visitors soon caught up to them in pace and were able to exploit the home side’s defensive weaknesses; Kießling easily beat the offside trap and slotted the ball coolly past Hans-Jörg Butt to make it all square on 14′. Each team had spells of pacy and bright looking attack, but neither could capitalize during those stretches; Leverkusen keeper Rene Adler saved his side time and time again with world class saves to prevent Bayern from getting out in front. Even Thomas Müller, who has so often been Bayern’s ace-in-the-hole this season proved ineffectual, and was subbed in the second half for Ivica Olic, returning from a lengthy injury layoff. The chances petered out towards the end of the game, and a 1-1 draw it would remain – a result that sees Bayer reclaim 1st and Bayern languish in 7th.

Werder Bremen 6-0 SC Freiburg – Poor Freiburg. On more than a few occasions this season they have found themselvesin situations where they are simply out of their depth. The home side suffered a humbling defeat to Die Grün-Weißen in their own Badenova-Stadion, falling 6-0 in an all-out slaughter. Hugo Almeida opened the scoring for the visitors on 33′, Marko Marin added a second on 55′, Almeida doubled his money on 57′, Mesut Özil netted on 67′, Naldo on 73′ and substitute Markus Rosenberg made it 6-0 with 8 minutes left to play. Freiburg once again made a case for having the worst defense in the Bundesliga (they have the highest number of goals against; 30) and sit 13th in the league table, while this victory propels Werder Bremen to second, just a point behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen. I guess the English aren’t the only ones who know how to have a good blowout!

No matter which way you slice it, Liverpool are having a dreadful season. How many false dawns can one team experience in a season only to see them dashed on the rocks by a poor performance the following week. Showing ‘character’ and looking for the positives in a loss or a draw simply isn’t good enough.

The startling statistic is that Liverpool have only won 1 game in the last 10 and who knows if that’s the end of our current decline. A Fiorentina win on Tuesday will be the end of our European season, no matter what our result at Debrecen, and then it’s off to Everton who will be more than happy to compound our misery.

The problem I’m having is finding any positives from this season. In fact the list of reasons for Liverpool’s dreadful campaign is so long, and has been debated endlessly on websites such as this one, that I really don’t have to write any of them down as you know them as well as I do.

So let’s face facts, the season is over. The clubs Executives have to start laying out their strategy for next season, and beyond, and begin the rebuilding process as of the January transfer window. I would rather the club announce they accept responsibility for doing a bad job in building on the momentum from last season and get on with it. That will mean getting rid of players who are not committed to the club, who don’t have the required talent and ultimately reconsider the tactical approaches that have led us to this unacceptable position. If that happened, I would have a great deal more respect for those running the club.

With the possibility of no Champions League money coming in the door this will be a tremendously difficult task. But wait, don’t we have two millionaire owners? Time to put your hand in your pockets George & Tom. But of course if this were the only option they’d sell in a second. Perhaps the first positive step in developing a new strategy to rebuild the club is to say goodbye to these two dead weights.

Kedden este 20:45-kor a Puskás Ferenc Stadionban lép pályára a Liverpool a Debrecen ellen a Bajnokok Ligája ötödik fordulójában. Gyere, szurkoljunk közösen a Lokinak.

2009. 11. 20. Péntek
A Debrecen 2-1-re győzte a Bp. Honvédot a Bozsik-Stadionban a 3. fordulóban a bepótolt mérkőzésen.

2009. 11. 21. Szombat
A Liverpool hazai hazai pályán 2-2-es döntetlent játszott a Manchester Cityvel. Hetek óta vergődik Rafa Benitez csapata. Könnyen elképzelhető, ha kedden nem nyernek a Debrecen ellen a BL-ben, akkor a klub amerikai tulajdonosai fel is állíthatják a kispadról. Majd kiderül.

2009. 11. 22. Vasárnap
- Holland bíró fogja vezetni a keddi találkozót
Az UEFA elküldte a Debreceni vezetőknek, hogy a keddi, DVSC-Liverpool Bajnokok Ligája-mérkőzés játékvezető küldését. A vezetőbíró a 36 éves Bjorn Kuipers lesz, aki három évvel ezelőtt lett tagja a FIFA-keretnek. A két asszisztens Sander van Roekel és Norbertus Josephus C. (Berry) Simons lesz.
Érdekesség, hogy Első nemzetközi évében az U17-es Eb döntőjét kapta meg. Nemrég a 2-2-es döntetlennel végződött Atletico Madrid–Chelsea BL-meccsen, illetve november 18-án a szintén 2-2-es Németország-Elefántcsontpart barátságos találkozón tevékenykedett. A magyar futball sem ismeretlen számára, hiszen idén márciusban ő vezette a magyar válogatott albániai vb-selejtező-mérkőzését, amelyen a mieink 1-0-ra nyertek.

- Hétfőn érkeznek az angolok
A Liverpool a tervek szerint hétfőn 13 órakor érkezik meg Budapestre. Gerrardék a Budapest szívében található luxusszállodában, a Corinthia Grand Hotelben szállnak majd meg. A Vörösök szakvezetője, Rafa Benítez 18 óra 45 perctől tart sajtótájékoztatója a Puskás Ferenc-stadion Iharos-termében. Az angol csapat edzése 19 óra 30 perckor kezdődik a mérkőzés helyszínén, a tréningnek csak az első 15 perce nyilvános – írja a dvsc.hu

- Szélesi Zoltán: “Szeretnénk már végre pontot szerezni a csoportban”
Szélesi Zoltán a dvsc.hu-nak még szombat délelőtt a mérkőzés esélyeiről.

“A Liverpool neve már elég arra, hogy egy játékos felspannolja magát a mérkőzésre, ám emellett higgadnak is kell maradni, és egészséges koncentrációval készülni a megmérettetésre. Szeretnénk már végre pontot szerezni a csoportban “

- Hétfő délelőtt indul a csapat Budapestre a Loki
A játékosok hétfőn délelőtt 9 óra körül gyülekeznek az Oláh Gábor utcai stadion öltözőjénél, majd fél 10-kor elindulnak a fővárosba. A társaság szállása a már jól bevált Ramada Plaza Budapest lesz. Herczeg András klubmenedzser és egy játékos hétfőn 17 óra 30 perckor tart sajtótájékoztatót a Puskás Stadion Iharos-termében. Előtte (16.30-tól) a mérkőzés helyszínén edz a DVSC csapata. A foglalkozás nyilvános a média részére – írja a dvsc.hu

2009.11.22. Hétfő
- Torres nélkül Budapesten
Hétfő délután Budapestre érkezett a Liverpool labdarúgó-csapata, amely kedd este játszik Bajnokok Ligája mérkőzést a Debrecennel. Nem tart az angol együttessel sérülése miatt Fernando Torres, Albert Riera és Ryan Babel.
Rafael Benítez menedzser 18 játékost hoz el a Debrecen elleni BL-meccsre. A legnagyobb hiányzó a sérüléssel bajlódó Fernando Torres, valamint Albert Riera és Ryan Babel is kihagyja a budapesti találkozót.

A csapatkapitány, Steven Gerrard ott van a keretben, ahogy az elmúlt hetekben sérüléssel küzdő Glen Johnson és Daniel Agger is.

A Liverpool kerete: Pepe Reina, Diego Cavalieri, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua, Sotirios Kirjakos, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena, Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Josszi Benajun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas, Jay Spearing, Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog.

- Fokozott ellenőrzést rendelt el a rendőrség a BL-mérkőzés miatt
Fokozott ellenőrzést rendelt el Budapest rendőrfőkapitánya hétfőn délutánra és kedden egész napra a Debrecen-Liverpool Bajnokok Ligája mérkőzés miatt, amit kedden tartanak meg a fővárosi Puskás Ferenc Stadionban.

A közlemény szerint a fokozott ellenőrzés – amikor bűnmegelőzési, közbiztonsági céllal bárkit igazoltathatnak a rendőrök – hétfőn délután kettő órától éjfélig, illetve kedden reggel nyolctól éjfélig tart. Az intézkedés az V., VI., VII., VIII., X., és XIV. kerület területére vonatkozik.
(telesport.hu/MTI)

- Mészáros Norbert játszhat, Leo nem
Felépült a sérüléséből a Loki védője, pályára léphet kedden, ha a szakma stáb úgy dönt – számol be a klub honlapja.

Mészáros Norbert:

“Nagyon várom már a Liverpool elleni találkozót, egy játékos életében egy ilyen csapat ellen futballozni nagy élmény. Nem kell félni az angoloktól, úgy kell játszanunk, mint kint, és megpróbálni egy jó eredményt elérni. Bízom benne, hogy lehetőséget kapok, mert szeretnék játszani. A hazai Fiorentina elleni találkozón csak fél órát tölthettem a pályán, mert kiújult a sérülésem. Legutóbb ugyanakkor, a Honvéd elleni bajnokit végigjátszottam, nem volt semmi gond, remélem, kedden is így lesz. Jól érzem magam a DVSC-ben és a városban is, nem véletlenül írtam alá. Jelen pillanatban Magyarországon más csapatban nem tudnám elképzelni magam.”

A hírek szerint valószínűleg Fodor Marcell pótolja Leandrót. A brazil-magyar játékos részleges térdszalagszakadást szenvedett.

- Herczeg András: “Tudjuk, hogy a Liverpoolnak nagyon fontos ez az összecsapás, mindenképpen nyerniük kell”
A szakvezető a sajtótájékoztatón elmondta, a Liverpoolnak nagyon fontos a három pont, mindenképpen győzni akar, de a Lokinak az a dolga, hogy ebben megakadályozza az angolokat.

“A holnapi találkozó az utolsó hazai BL-meccsünk lesz. Az eddigi mérkőzéseken mindig megpróbáltunk a legjobb tudásunk szerint futballozni, volt, amikor nem okoztunk csalódást a játékunkkal, mégis kevésnek bizonyult, hogy pontot szerezzünk. Kedden sem lehet más célunk, mint a legtöbbet kihozni magunkból. Hogy mire lesz elég, csak a meccsen derül ki. Jó lenne pontot szerezni, de nem ez a realitás. Tudjuk, hogy a Liverpoolnak nagyon fontos ez az összecsapás, mindenképpen nyerniük kell, hogy legyen esélyük a továbbjutásra. Nekünk az a feladatunk, hogy ebben megakadályozzuk őket, emelt fővel jöhessünk le a pályáról, és a szurkolók büszkék legyenek ránk. Ha ezt elérjük, akkor már elégedettek lehetünk. Amikor bekerültünk a Bajnokok Ligája csoportkörébe, magam sem tudtam, mire leszünk képesek. Rengeteg tapasztalatot szereztünk, látjuk azokat a hibákat, amelyeket egy ilyen meccsen nem lehet elkövetni. Például ha eladjuk a labdát, akkor nem tudunk olyan gyorsan visszazárni, mert az ellenfél nagyon gyors. Egy magyar bajnokin korrigálhatunk ilyenkor, de egy BL-mérkőzésen nem. Visszatérve a holnapi találkozóra, nagy dolog lenne a pontszerzés, volt már rá példa, hogy Dávid legyőzte Góliátot, de ehhez nagyon össze kellene jönnie mindennek. A régebb óta maródiak mellett a Honvéd elleni bajnokin megsérült Leandróra sem számíthatok, mert részleges térdszalag-szakadást szenvedett. Helyén minden bizonnyal Fodor Marcell futballozik majd, már többször bizonyított, hogy lehet rá számítani. Mészáros Norbert ugyanakkor felépült, és vállalni tudja a játékot.”

- Rafa Benitez: ” Egyszerű feladatunk van, győzni kell”
A spanyol szakembernek most nincs könnyű helyzetben, hiszen több kulcs fontosságú játékosa nem egészséges. Fernando Torres három hétre kidőlt, rá biztosan nem számíthat, s kérdéses Glen Johnson és Daniel Agger játéka is.

“Remélem, hogy mindketten rendelkezésemre állhatnak holnap, sok sérülés miatt elég szűk a keret, ezért fontos, hogy ez a két játékos is pályára léphessen a Debrecen ellen. Egyszerű feladatunk van, győzni kell. Korábban több jó eredményünk is volt a Bajnokok Ligájában, de ez semmire nem jogosít fel minket. Úgy gondolom, hogy bár a Lyon már továbbjutott, teljes erőbedobással játszik majd a Fiorentina ellen, ugyanis mindkét csapat számára fontos az első hely megszerzése. Korábban többször is csodát tettünk már ebben a sorozatban, most újra képesek leszünk erre.”

A sajtótájékoztatón szóba került Gulácsi Péter neve is. Magyar kérdésére reagálva Benítez elmondta: Gulácsi Pétert remek kapusnak, s jó srácnak tartja, de neki van egy kipróbált második számú kapusa, Diego Cavalieri, aki jelenleg előrébb van a rangsorban mint Gulácsi.

2009.11.24. Kedd

- A Liverpool az Anfield Roadon, “csak” egy góllal tudott nyerni a Loki ellen
Egy kis visszatekintés az első mérkőzésről: Liverpool FC – DVSC-TEVA 1-0 Katt ide.

- Varga nélkül kezd a Loki a Liverpool ellen
Herczeg András kijelölte a kezdőcsapatot a vörösök elleni BL-mérkőzésre. Vannak meglepetések a kezdőcsapatban – számol be a klub honlapja.
A klubmenedzser első meglepetése, hogy Varga József a kispadon kezdi a mérkőzést. Az indoklás nagyon egyszerű: “mivel a Bajnokok Ligája és bajnoki összecsapások mellett a felnőtt és az U21-es válogatottban is szerepelt, rengeteg mérkőzés van a lábában, emiatt a fáradtság jelei látszanak rajta.”
A nyáron igazolt, de eddig még csak egy bajnokin pályára lépő Mirszad Mijadinoszki ugyanakkor bizonyíthat az angolok ellen. A svájci-macedón védő a Kecskemét ellen kapott szerepet, és megbízható teljesítményt nyújtott.
Meglepetés még, hogy ezúttal 4-2-3-1-es felállásban kezd a Loki.

Íme a kezdőcsapat:
Polekszics – Bodnár, Mészáros, Mijadinoszki, Fodor – Szélesi, Kiss – Szakály, Czvitkovics, Laczkó – Rudolf

- Csak egy támadóval kezd a ‘Pool!
Rafa Benitez kijelölte a kezdőcsapatot:
Reina – Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insúa – Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Fábio Aurélio – Gerrard – Ngog

- A DVSC-Liverpool BL-mérkőzést 20:15-től a tv2 élőben, illetve az interneten a bl.tv2.hu-n lehet követni a találkozót. Aki esetleg nem tudná befogni a tv2-t, és nem jönne be a website, akkor egy stream oldalt tudunk ajánlani.  Ha valakinek gondja akadna a stream-el, szóljon bátran itt a kommentek között.

- Az E-csoport állása:
1. Lyon 4 3 1 0 8–2 +6 10
2. Fiorentina 4 3 0 1 11–6 +5 9
3. Liverpool 4 1 1 2 3–5 –2 4
4. Debrecen 4 0 0 4 5–14 –9 0

Folyamatosan frissül!

——————————————————————–

20:30: Köszöntjük a kedves olvasókat. Ma este a Debrecen ötödik meccsét játssza a BL-ben, ezúttal a Liverpoolt fogadja a Puskás Ferenc Stadionban. Óriási lesz a tét, miután a Debrecen szeretné megszerezni első pontjait a BL,ben, addig a vörösöknek a győzelem és a francia-siker kellene a másik találkozón, mreert így életben maradnak a továbbjutási esélyeik a csoportban.

20:37: Íme a hivatalos kezdőcsapatok
Debrecen: Polekszics – Bodnár, Mészáros, Mijadinoszki, Fodor – Szélesi, Kiss – Szakály, Czvitkovics, Laczkó – Rudolf
csere:

Liverpool: Reina – Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insúa – Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Fábio Aurélio – Gerrard – Ngog
csere:

20:40: Most jönnek ki a csapatok a Puskás Ferenc Stadion gyepére. Telt ház van, jó hangulatú mérkőzés lesz. A Debrecen fehér mezben, a Liverpool vörös mezben fog játszani.

20:43: A találkozót a holland Bjorn Kuipers fogja vezetni. Fantasztikus a hangulat a Puskás Ferenc Stadionban.

20:45: A mérkőzést a Debrecen kezdte.

20:47: A negyedik perc elején az első liverpooli szöglet következik. Gyorsan elvégezte a vendég csapat a második sarokrúgást, Mascherano beadása után Ngogon keresztül a kapuba érkezett a labda, 1-0-ra vezet a Liverpool.

20:53: Lassan eltelik az első tíz perc, és egyelőre magabiztosan uralja a játékot a Liverpool és megérdemelten vezet 1-0-ra a Debrecen ellen.

21:00: Eltelik a mérkőzés első 15 perce. Továbbra is a Liverpool uralja a játékot. A labdabirtoklás:  33-67%.

21:07: Huszonkét percet kellett várni az első Debreceni akcióra, de nem sikerült kiharcolni egy mégjobb helyzetet, miután  Rudolf elfutott a jobboldalon, majd a beadása révén senki nem érkezett középen.

21:17: A 33. percben történt a mérkőzés eddig legnagyobb debreceni helyzet maradt ki. Bodnár beadása után Rudolf az ötösön belül fejelt, de kapu mellé.

21:29: Az utolsó percben járunk, többet birtokola a labdát a Liverpool. A holland játékvezető lefújta az első félidőt. Az angolok Ngong góljával 1-0-ra vezetnek a Loki ellen.

21:36: A mérkőzés statisztikája:
Összes lövés: 2-6
Kapu mellémenő lövés: 1-3
Kapura menő lövések: 0-3
Blokkolt lövések: 2-0
Szabálytalanságok: 12-10
lesek: 0-1
Szöglet: 0-6
Sárga lap: 1-0
Piros lap: 0-0
Labdabirtoklás: 36-64%
Futómennyiség: 58703 – 57743

21:45: A liverpool kezdi a második félidőt. Herczeg András a debreceniek klubmenedzsere egyelőre nem cserélt.

22: 00: Eltelt a második félidőből negyedóra és továbbra is a Liverpool uralja a játékot. A 60. percben cserélt a Debrecen Szakály Dénes le, és Coulibary állt be a helyére.

22:16: A 77. percben járunk, továbbra is nagy fölényben játszik az angol csapat. A Lokinak egy-egy lehetőségei akadtak, de a holland sporttárs nem segített… Firenzében nincs változás, még mindig vezet a Fiorentina 1-0-ra a Lyon ellen.

22:17: A 78. percben második debreceni csere történik meg: Fodor Marcell le, és Dombi Tibor állt be. A közönség óriási örömmel fogadta a debreceni jobbszélsőt.

22:20: A mérkőzés legelső ziccere maradt ki a Loki részéről a 81. percben. Rudolf lövését nagy braúrral védte Reina.

22:25: 85. percben járunk, az eredmények: DVSC-Liverpool 0-1, és Fiorentina-Lyon 1-0.  Ez azt jelenti, hogy a Liverpool elbúcsúzhat a BL-től.

22:30: Lejárt a rendes játékidő. A holland játékvezető 2 perces hosszabbítás van még a mérkőzésből.

22:32: A 92. percben óriási debreceni helyzet maradt ki, méghozzá Coulibary révén. Időközben a holland játékvezető lefújta a találkozót. Az angolok 1-0-ra nyertek a Debrecen ellen. Lehet, hogy ez a győzelem, egyben a kiesésüket fogja jelenteni. Pár perc múlva kiderül.

22:46: A mérkőzés statisztika
A mérkőzés statisztikája:
Összes lövés: 3-15
Kapu mellémenő lövés: 1-6
Kapura menő lövések: 2-9
Blokkolt lövések: 2-3
Szabálytalanságok: 22-17
Lesek: 3-2
Szöglet: 3-17
Sárga lap: 1-0
Piros lap: 0-0
Labdabirtoklás: 33-67%
Futómennyiség: 12147 – 11762 Km

Bajnokok Ligája, csoportkör, 5. forduló, E csoport:
Debreceni VSC – Liverpool FC (angol) 0-1 (0-1)
Budapest, Puskás-stadion,
v.: Björn Kuipers (holland)
DVSC: Poleksic – Bodnár, Mészáros, Mijadinoski, Fodor (Dombi, 78.) – Szélesi, Kiss – Szakály (Coulibaly, 62.), Czvitkovics, Laczkó – Rudolf
Liverpool: Reina – Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insúa – Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio (Dossena, 90.) – Gerrard (Aquilani, 91.), N’Gog (Benajun, 77.)
gól: N’Gog (4.)

A csoport másik mérkőzésén:
Fiorentina (olasz) – Olympique Lyon (francia) 1-0 (1-0)

Az E-csoport állása:
1. Fiorentina 5 4 0 1 12–6 +6 12
2. Lyon 5 3 1 1 8–3 +5 10
3. Liverpool 5 2 1 2 4–5 –1 7
4. Debrecen 5 0 0 5 5–15 –10 0

Vastag betűvel a továbbjutókat jelöltük. Pirossal, pedig az Európa Liga továbbjutást.

I’m sure that there used to be a time when I looked forward to watching Liverpool’s matches – but that seems like a distant memory now.  Anyway, the good news was that Steven Gerrard was back in the starting line up.  The bad news is that Fernando Torres was still missing.  Some might argue that, since Manchester City are the team most likely to push Liverpool for a top-four finish, this was a crunch game.  Given the Reds recent run of form, I’d say that every game is a crunch game.  I wish I was only being hyperbolic about it.

In the opening few minutes, Liverpool looked quite bright, but the game was disrupted by a head injury to Daniel Agger, who had to go off.  A few minutes later Ryan Babel went off with an injury, despite the efforts of Gerrard to get him to run it off, and the Reds had suffered two enforced changes in the first 20 minutes.  The first half never recovered from the two disruptions, despite Liverpool dominating the possession.

The opening minutes of the second half continued to be a dour affair until Martin Skrtel turned in a free kick, on 49 minutes, to score his first ever Liverpool goal.  Sadly, this only seemed to spark City in to life and they inevitably equalised, on 68 minutes, through an Adebayor header.  It was a dismal goal to concede from the Reds point of view; the former Arsenal striker was completely unmarked at a corner – it was worse than schoolboy defending.

Things went from bad to worse when City took the lead with a goal from a possibly offside Stephen Ireland, on 75 minutes.  To be fair, it was an excellent move and good goal.  Just as I was about to hold my head in my hands, Liverpool went straight down the other end and equalised – a sloppy goal scored by Benayoun.  Despite some late pressure from the home side, it ended 2-2.

Another desperately disappointing day for Liverpool.  I feel like I’ll never see them win ever again.  I was going to write a bit more, but the will has left me.

Mengapa hari ini saya posting begitu? Karena ada sebuah tradegi yang menyebabkan sepak bola Inggris ke masa yang suram. Yaitu, Tradegi Heysel (29 Mei 1985). Tradegi ini disebabkan oleh hooligans Loserfool FC (Liverpool FC) yang mengejek fans Juventus di Piala Champions (sebelum Liga Champions). Karena Tradegi itu, klub sepakbola Inggris dilarang bermain di ajang internasional selama 5 tahun.

Mengapa Terjadi Tradegi Heysel?

Kejadian ini dimulai ketika fans kedua tim saling mengejek dan melecehkan. Lalu, sekitar satu jam setelah kick-off, hooligans Liverpool menerobos pembatas agar masuk ke wilayah tifosi Juventus. Tak ada perlawanan karena kelompok suporter yang ada di situ bukanlah kelompok Ultras. Tifosi Juve berusaha menjauh namun tiba-tiba tembok pembatas di sektor tersebut roboh karena tidak bisa menahan beban orang-orang yang mencba merangsek dan melompati pagar. Akibatnya, 39 orang meninggal dan 600+ orang luka-luka.

Akibatnya Bagi Persepakbolaan Inggris

31 Mei 1985, PM Inggris saat itu Margareth Thatcher mendesak FA agar dituntut larangan bermain di Eropa bagi seluruh klub Inggris. Dua hari kemudian, UEFA secara resmi melarang klub-klub Inggris bermain di seluruh Eropa sampai “waktu yang belum ditentukan”. Pada 6 Juni, hukuman itu berubah menjadi larangan bermain di seluruh dunia. Namun seminggu kemudian pertandingan persahabatan diperbolehkan. Sanksi ini tidak berlaku bagi Timnas Inggris.

Putusan terakhir adalah mengucilkan klub-klub Inggris dari peta persepakbolaan dunia selama 5 tahun. Khusus bagi Liverpool ditambah 3 tahun meskipun akhirnya diberi keringanan 1 tahun.

Hukuman itu sebenarnya memperingatkan bahwa kekerasan dalam sepakbola tidak boleh terjadi lagi. Saat itu pula ada istilah yang disebut dengan ‘hooliganinsme’. Sebenarnya, sebelum Tradegi Heysel ada juga kejadian kekerasan dalam sepakbola sebelumnya yaitu :

• Final Piala Champions 1975. Fans Leeds United menyerang fans Bayern Muenchen. Masyarakat sepak bola mengutuk tindakan itu tapi UEFA masih memberikan keringanan.
• Final Champions Cup. Fans Loserfool bentrok dengan tifosi AS Roma. Namun keributan ini tidak sampai mendapat begitu banyak perhatian.

Heysel Disaster’s Gallery

Dan ini adalah video yang mengambarkan Tradegi Heysel

MASIH BANGGA MENJADI LOSERPOODILLAN?

]]> http://aneet84.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/liverpool-vs-manchester-city-possible-liverpool-starting-11/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:14:08 +0000 Aneet http://aneet84.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/liverpool-vs-manchester-city-possible-liverpool-starting-11/

The International break should have done a lot of good to Liverpool. They have Steven Gerrard back although it isn’t certain if he is set to start against Manchester City this Saturday. A lot would be riding on this match for both parties. If Liverpool are to win, which I hope, they would be making a stand to recapture their lost form. If Manchester City are to win, they would strengthen their grip on fourth spot and this would also put Rafael Benitez in a sorry situation.

The big team news for Liverpool is that Torres will be out for a couple of weeks while Aquilani is presumably fully fit although Rafa did rant that the latter *might* not START this game but *might* come of off the bench!

Here is what, I think the team might look like:

Reina (GK), Johnson (RB), Carragher (CB), Skrtel (CB), Aurelio (LB), Benayoun (RM/SR), Mascheranho (CDM), Leiva (CDM)/Aquilani(CDM/CM), Babel (LM), Gerrard(AMC/CF), Kuyt (SC).

Key: GK: Goalie, RB: Right Back, CB: center back, LB: Left back, RM: Right midfield, SR: Striker-Right, CDM: Central defensive midfield, LM: Left midfield, AMC: Attacking mid field, CF: center forward, SC: Striker-central.

]]> http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/trust-me-im-a-doctor-its-money-for-nothing-and-the-chicks-are-free/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:25:17 +0000 tophatal http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/trust-me-im-a-doctor-its-money-for-nothing-and-the-chicks-are-free/

Exuberance or just sheer stupidity on the part of the London Stock Exchange and that of the UK Takeover Panel. It could well be that they’ve not been made fully aware, as to the financial maneuvers of many of the prospective bidders for English Premiership League clubs ? And over the last five years there has been a swath of purchases made by prominent US businessman. Many of them viewed their purchases as a safe investment or just as a way of hiding taxable assets away from the prying eyes of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Disgraced financier Bernie Madoff is seen here arriving at US Federal District Court in Manhattan. Madoff pled guilty and was duly sentenced to 150 years in prison for his Ponzi scheme which is said to have defrauded his clients to the tune of $50 billion ($50,000,000,000).

One hundred and fifty years seems too small a price to pay, considering the financial havoc reaped upon families and financial institutions across the globe. But then again, how is that the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) could be so unaware as to the extent of this massive financial fraud ? Especially when on numerous occasions it had been brought to their attention that something was indeed wrong with many of Madoff’s financial dealings in the markets. But it’s as I’ve always alluded to, when you have no one with any common sense or a comprehensive understanding of the financial market and its vagaries. Then the abuses and fraudulent acts will continue to be commissioned unabated !

Christopher Cox who at the time of the Madoff saga, as well as the Enron escapade , was the Chairman of the SEC.Cox seen here, addressing members of the Senate Banking Committee up on Capitol Hill,Washington D.C. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Martin Pressman ……..

And it certainly hasn’t elicited the public’s trust when you continually hear the excuse behind the SEC’s mishandling of this all came down to the fact that they were under undue pressure just to look at small transactions to see if anything was awry. But what also is even more preposterous is the excuse that they were under staffed. We can spend billions sending rockets into space but we can’t hire several financial accountants and corporate tax attorneys to the benefit ot this one particular government agency to safeguard the public’s financial health and interests ? If that isn’t asinine, then pardon me for saying this,but the SEC is deserving of the ridicule and the attention that it received .

And while I’m for the free movement of capital and the creation of jobs in order to strengthen an economy. What I’m dead set against are the creation of tax shelters and financial maneuverings that take place in order to circumvent the sovereign laws of the land. Time and time again I here many out there complaining about the government raising their taxes. But I hear, not one complaint when the likes of Bernie Madoff, Allen Stanford, Bernie Ebbers or Andrew Fastow and Kenneth Lay. All have essentially wreaked just as much havoc, if not more on the lives of millions of people. All that bellyaching, as if the government are the only fu_king bunch of crooks out there ? When essentially,you’ve got major corporate boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies littered with ne’r do wells and fraudsters up and down the country doing more harm than any apparent good. And it would now appear that many of them are moving out of the boardrooms and unto the playing fields of nation and beyond.

The NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA , NASCAR, MLS and indeed the English Premiership League (EPL) in Britain, have fairly rigorous financial criteria that has to be met before a prospective buyer can purchase a team. Thereafter, once they’ve met that criteria and the board of governors is in agreement with the prospective sale of the team. Then the purchaser essentially becomes the new owner of a sports franchise. And it now becomes in some respects, nothing more than a petty bauble that they’ll show off to their like minded wealthy colleagues and social acquaintances.

In the United Kingdom (UK) , many of the soccer clubs in the Premiership are actually publicly listed companies. And the directors of those clubs have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to safeguard and act in their best interests. Something that’s not always been done by several of the owners in recent memory. And in order for a team that’s publicly listed to be taken over. The prospective bidder for those shares of the team, has to be in compliance with the act of the Takeover Panel. Wherein,upon purchasing 30% of the shares of a club they have to make the panel and the LSE fully aware, as to their intentions.

I bring this particular topic to the foreground , in light of the fact that a number of teams across a widening array of sports now seem to have found themselves in a severe financial crisis. Much of it brought about by themselves and in some cases, it has merely come down to the fact that the world is in an economic downturn. Which will affect how one spends their discretionary disposable income. It has began to hit home for a number of team in all sectors of the sports world. The NBA and many of it franchises face a severe financial crisis. Albeit, that the league’s commissioner, David Stern would have you believe otherwise. And that the health of the game has never been better in terms of its brand and marketing. That may well be all well and good. But the bottom line for many of the franchises of the NBA isn’t as healthy as they once were. Declining revenues by away smaller attendances for game and less money being spent on concessions and memorabilia at their games. And you have something of a ‘perfect storm’ within your midst.

If you thought that the NBA was only the sport where this was happening, then think again. In the case of NASCAR, supposedly the most fan and media friendly sport in North America. Attendance is down across the board by over 8% and the viewership on a year to year basis, has declined in excess of 23 % over the last four years alone. The NBA has had to delve into the capital markets to the tune of $250 million in the last fiscal year in order to ensure the financial well being of several of their franchises. And the extent of the situation is becoming even more acute by the minute.

Uber-agent Scott Boras, seated left and perhaps his most high profiled major league client, Alex Rodriguez. Over the course of his career Boras negotiated contracts said to be worth in excess of $ 4.8 billion. And he was at the center of the most recent acquisitions made by the New York Yankees ,in that of Mark Teixiera and A. J. Burnett, two more of his clients. Of the ten highest paid players in the game , six of those are clients of Scott Boras. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Hugh MacIntosh ………

Bud Selig and Major League Baseball suffer from the misbelief that because the New York Yankees lifted this year’s World Series crown, then the game of baseball happens to be in a healthy state ? What Selig still fails to get , is that the teams in the mid to smaller markets have to scrimp and save every last red cent, merely to make ends meet. Much less survive the ordeal of having to play a 162 game regular season schedule. Hey Bud, So Zach Greinke wins the AL Cy Young Award ? What’s the bet, two years from now he’s gone from the Kansas City Royals ? If not sooner ? Simply put, because of your intransigence and that vulture, Scott Boras. The game of baseball is in a quagmire and in the true sense of the word until you and your hierarchy sits down with the players and resolve the issue concerning the escalating salaries. Then there’ll continue to be distrust amongst the two vested parties. Never mind the fact that the fans of the game can’t trust you or anyone within the MLBPA, to begin with. You keep on blowing smoke up some people’s ass and clearly you and Scott Boras are out of touch with the harsh economic realities of the present. But just you keep on going as you are and you’ll be in for a very rude awakening !

In the UK, where the pre-eminent sport played , is that of soccer. The clubs now are slowly waking up to stark a reality and that essentially applies clubs within the Premiership (EPL). Giants such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have suddenly began to realize that you can no longer buy way your way to success. Especially when your revenues are declining because of economic and inflationary fears. Teams are now having to be frugal with regard to their budgets.

Tom Hicks (right) and to his business partner George Gillett Jr , owners of the Premiership soccer club Liverpool FC. The co-owners are now said to be feeling the brunt of the anger from Liverpool's fans as they're said to be considering selling the team's best player , Fernando Torres. Much to the chagrin of the team's coach, Rafael Benitez. The coach has let it be known that should the team sell Torres. Then he too will quit the club immediately. Much of this problem has been created by the financial maneuvering of the owners as they've laden the club with an excessive amount of debt. picture appears courtesy of dailymail.co.uk/ Andrew Fogarty ..................

As I’d alluded to earlier a number of teams have seen their fortunes change for the better. While many others have not been as fortunate in that endeavor. Teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea , Manchester United and Liverpool to name but a few,have had a change in ownership over the past five years. They’ve either been bought outright , or used as an investment vehicle for their new owners. However, the financial maneuvers that led to a great many of those deal are now coming into question. And nowhere now is this more apparent now,than with what is transpiring in the hallways and boardrooms of both Liverpool and Manchester United.And the case of Liverpool it is now creating an impasse between the team’s coach, Rafael Benitez and the ownership group of Texas businessmen, George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Fernando Torres and Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez (right) seen here at Anfield , home of Liverpool FC . picture appears courtesy dailymail.co.uk/ Ian Hodgson ..............

The relationship between coach and owner has become strained as there have been rumblings that the owners who are desperately in need of cash to meet financial obligations to their financiers (bankers) – are seeking to sell one team’s best players in,Fernando Torres. And this has come much to the dismay of Benitez as well as the loyal fans of the team. But what is also becoming more apparent is the financial stability and viability of the club. It has been laden with a great deal of debt and even though Gillett and Hicks bought the club for in excess $900 million. Much of that money was raised through leveraging the assets of the team with a minimal cash infusion by Gillett and Hicks. Payments on that debt has to be made on time and invariably the owners haven’t been forthcoming as to the balance sheet of the club and its present status.

There are no sobering thought processes here, as to the financial mismanagement of a sports franchise. But invariably,whenever there’s said to be a problem. The fans are always the last to know and the first to find out, how much it may well invariably end up costing them.And it is no different,with the situation facing the Manchester United and that of its owners the Glazer family, headed by their patriarch, Malcolm Glazer. The family also owns the NFL franchise, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though the legacy of success with the soccer club hasn’t abated. For the NFL franchise , success has been few and far between. At present they may well be the worse ran and possibly the worst team in the NFL. Their futility alone this year, has many reminiscing about the early years of the franchise when they were woefully inept. And mere mention of the Buccaneers’ name more often than not was greeted with laughter.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Mark Dominik discuss the Buccaneers first round selection in the draft room at One Buccaneer Place on Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Tampa, Florida. Photo by Matt May/Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers had seen a great deal of upheaval in the offseason, with the firing of former coach, Jon Gruden and General Manager, Bruce Allen. Installed to replace them were first year coach, Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik, as the new general manager. And the inexperience has shown with the duo Dominik and Morris, by way of the blunders made with the team’s roster , lack of experience,both on and off the field . And the mere fact that there’s no team leadership forthcoming from anyone on the team. And that includes such seasoned veterans as Ronde Barber and Kellen Winslow.

Patriarch, Malcolm Glaze (center) and two of his sons Joel (right) and Brian , far left , seen here attending a Premiership league game at Old Trafford , Manchester United's home venue . picture appears courtesy of dailytelegraph.uk.co/ Anthony Hodgins .................

When the family first bought the Premiership club , it was felt it would be of benefit to both organizations. The universal appeal of United , who are seen as the soccer world’s answer to the New York Yankees. As the success of both franchises is unrivaled and unparalleled . However , what has gone down within the inner workings of both franchise borders on either stupidity, or the mere fact that this is all being done with some sort of greater objective in mind. Manchester United having been bought for $1.5 billion dollars, though much of it was in the form of a leveraged buyout (LBO). It is still saddled with a debt of over $1.15 billion dollars, bearing in mind that there’s accruing interest and the slow amortization of the debt. The family has seen fit to act with a great deal of secrecy that when questioned on their financial situation. The answers have been either fleeting or mono-syllabic.

Things may very well change as UEFA,the governing body of soccer throughout Europe seeks to enact a strong set of rules governing the operational and financial viability of a team. But this will only pertain to teams participating or who in the future seek to participate in any of its club competitions. This may well change the face of soccer not only domestically in the UK but also across the continent of Europe.

As contrived as it might appear to be , I do feel that a number of franchise owners merely treat their teams as a bauble to be paraded as a way of showing off their wealth and ostentatiousness. Never mind the fact that if the franchises are part of a community, then its citizens ought not to feel shutout when they tend to show some interest in the team beyond the field of play. It’s as if some of these sports franchise owners are no different from many of the corporate wheelers and dealers that’ve brought the country to its knees. Almost as if it is crawling on all fours, begging like a homeless vagrant for a morsel of food.

Trust me I’m a doctor and the owners are merely all about the money and the chicks are just free !

Dire Straits’ ‘Money For Nothing’ also featuring Sting. Lyrics by Mark Knopfler.

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