So, its out with the old and in with the new, yet its still the same old story.
Penny-pinching owners who care more about their draft players in Boston than investing a few quid
into their pet-project, namely Liverpool Football Club.
Brendan Rodgers, to his immense credit, got rid of alot of deadwood at Anfield; Adam, Carroll,
Kuyt, Maxi and Ecclestone, reducing the wage-bill and getting costs down.
"Even if Liverpool gets better production from the supporting cast – and honestly, there's
seemingly nowhere to go but up in that category – as [Suarez and Gerrard] go, so goes
Liverpool."
I hate being right.
And yesterday, in the first match of the league campaign, Suarez misfired and Gerrard had little
influence on proceedings, and Liverpool failed to take advantage when in control then succumbed to
a wonder goal followed by multiple defensive errors and a sending-off.
With the summer departures of Bellamy, Kuyt, and Aurelio (as well as Maxi and Aquilani), Liverpool
now have just six players who have been on the books since the 2007-08 season: Carragher, Gerrard,
Reina, Agger, Lucas, and Skrtel. Just six of the 27 players who have made at least first team
appearance for Liverpool.
Well, while waiting on pins and needles in the hopes that Liverpool have signed Fabio Borini (look,
there's a picture of him in training gear!), we get news that Maxi Rodriguez's inevitable exit has
finally come to pass.
Which Liverpool did an excellent job of promoting, as has become par for the course.
Expected, but out of the blue. Kuyt to Fenerbahce is official, not long after initial reports
surfaced early this morning.
So, what will you remember most? His hat-trick against United probably leads the list, and
rightfully so, but we're not wanting for choices. There's his five strikes against Everton,
including two game-winners.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football
Club as Manager...I would like to thank all of the staff at the Club for their effort and loyalty.
I said when first approached about coming back as Manager that I would always be of help if I can
at any time and that offer remains the same.
Andy Carroll tries a trick...We all hoped that the last game of
the season would bring us some joy, but, as predicted, it didn't. A slightly changed Liverpool XI
couldn't muster much of a performance for the final game and it was only Andy Carroll that really
threatened the Swansea keeper.
What an appropriate end to the season. As the Premier League explodes everywhere else, Liverpool
fumbled aimlessly and purposelessly before unnecessarily conceding late on. The longest nine months
in memory gave birth to this. Glimpses of potential, hints of rebuilding, few and far between
blessed high points, but mostly just frustration and disappointment.
I don't know if your cable service gets Fuel TV. Given Fox's ubiquity, chances are it does,
especially if you have any extra sports packages. I suspect most providers bundle it with the same
package Fox Soccer comes on. It is channel 618 on DirecTV.
Also, once again, I'd like to thank Fox for this "Survival Sunday," televising six matches with
three others available via the internet and City v QPR on espn2.
Liverpool snapped a four match winless streak at Anfield with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.
Chelsea, who needed a win to keep their chances of a top four finish alive, started off poorly and
never recovered.
It started with a Michael Essian own goal in the 19th minute then continued with goals from
Jordan Henderson (25th minute) and Daniel Agger (28th minute).
Well that was strange. And even though that 90 minutes was approximately the exact opposite of what
we've become used to at Anfield, "strange" is entirely expected after this marathon campaign.
With an impressive knack of scoring crucial goals in big games, Liverpool's flying Dutchman has
trained his sights on his own cup final hat-trick when his team take on Chelsea at Wembley on
Saturday.
Kuyt has scored in a Champions League final, Carling Cup final and now
he is hoping to feature at Wembley this weekend to repeat the trick in Saturday's FA Cup final.
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Henderson Spearing
Kuyt Gerrard Bellamy
Suarez
For those who think formation doesn't matter, that the tactical eggheads who reduce the game to
numbers and minutiae are ruining the fun for normal people, well, you're wrong.
FYI: For the second time in the last three matches, I'll have to miss this game due to prior
commitments. Unlike the Newcastle abomination, I'll have a review up later in the evening. Just no
live tweets or semi-immediate match write-up. This is what this season has done to me; I honestly
forgot Liverpool were playing when scheduling a meeting.
After another less than impressive result for Liverpool on Saturday, the hangman's noose is
slowing tightening around Dalglish's future with the club. Liverpool remain winless in their last 4
matches having lost 3 consecutively prior to yesterday's draw.
Of course, as is the custom nowadays, Reds manager Kenny Dalglish blamed the referee for the
result claiming that his were unfairly denied opportunities that could have changed the outcome of
the game.
Con 18 minutos para el final, Holanda soñaba. Alemania seguía a lo suyo. Pero el escenario
cambió. Van Persie jugó más cerca de Huntelaar, creció el juego de los de van Marwijk, aunque
sin reflejo en el marcador.Los alemanes tiraron de oficio y se llevaron una victoria que les acerca
a la siguiente ronda.
So why is it that the Oranje has a solid squad with only top football talent and skill,
yet could not manage to not shake when facing Germany?
I do not have the answer. Maybe you do?
The Dutch faced the Germans today for their second group match in EURO 2012 needing a victory
after losing 1-0 to Denmark -and, for the initial 50 minutes seemed like a child who was too shy to
join the rest of the kids in play-time.
Ficha del partido:0. Holanda: Maarten Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel (Kuyt, min.85), Heitinga, Vlaar,
Jetro Willems; Van Bommel, Nigel de Jong (Van der Vaart, min.71), Robben, Wesley Sneijder; Ibrahim
Afellay (Huntelaar, min.71) y Robin van Persie.1. Dinamarca: Andersen; Jacobsen, Kjær, Agger,
Simon Poulsen; Zimling, Kvist; Rommedahl (Mikkelsen, min.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is likely to start £35million striker Andy Carroll against
Chelsea following his goal in the FA Cup final against the Blues on Saturday.
Carroll's introduction from the bench during the final gave Liverpool a fresh impetus and he came
very close to scoring an equalizer but for a good save from Petr Cech.
(Rich's report was eaten by the internet, so here's the next best thing: HatterDon's View
From South Texas)
Historic Victory for Fulham At Uninspired Liverpool
Ho-hum, yet another double by the Mighty Whites.
There's a point to be made that Liverpool purposely fielded a weakened XI against Fulham Tuesday
evening, since they have the FA Cup Final on Saturday.
(Rich's report was eaten by the internet, so here's the next best thing: HatterDon's View
From South Texas)
Historic Victory for Fulham At Uninspired Liverpool
Ho-hum, yet another double by the Mighty Whites.
There's a point to be made that Liverpool purposely fielded a weakened XI against Fulham Tuesday
evening, since they have the FA Cup Final on Saturday.
Three goals in 10 minutes saw Spartak Moscow beat Fenerbahce 2-1 at home in a first-leg playoff
match, with striker Emmanuel Emenike on target against his former club. Emenike,
who joined Spartak last year after just two months at Fenerbahce, scored on 59 minutes Tuesday,
hammering the ball into the net after pouncing on a low left-wing cross from Dmitry Kombarov.
Swansea play host to Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday as both sides look to end the
season in style.
The home team will be aiming to reward their fans by taking another famous scalp after a memorable
first season in the Premier League.
Swansea has won just one of their last eight top-flight games, but they comfortably achieved their
aim of securing safety among the elite.
