tirsdag 16. desember 2008
søndag 14. desember 2008
Liverpool's slim title chances
I'm a huge Liverpool-fan and I can't deny that things looked good when winning against Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. But what Liverpool-fans are witnessing is not a squad of champions - things have looked spooky because we almost lost against Wigan and have played draws against Fulham, West Ham and now Hull.
Torres' injury is no good, and we can't blame the injury. Unless it's Gerrard, then some of the blame may have been in his injury.
A squad has to make chemistry without certain players, no matter how important players we're talking about.
I'm a massive Dirk Kuyt-fan and simply love him, but I think Benitez made a wrong decision when assigning him as a sole striker on top against Hull. I believe in Kuyt as a good striker when he gets the chance, but unfortunately not as a sole striker. Kuyt played very well with Bellamy, Crouch and plays well with Torres when the opportunity is there. Benitez should know - he was the one bringing the Dutchman to Anfield.
And mixed up with my opinion (or complaint) that Ryan Babel is getting far too little time on the pitch, I would of course suggest him to partner Kuyt on the top. With Gerrard and Mascherano in central midfield, while Benayoun and Riera completes the midfield positions by filling respectively the right and left side.
It may not be good enough in other fan's ears, but you have to give 100% and think smart even when meeting teams like Fulham, West Ham or Hull, when having ambitions about winning the league title. We can no longer depend on Chelsea's results the day after. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING!
If Rafa doesn't do anything that makes more sense, I'm afraid Liverpool will barely manage second place this year. I'm expecting it, really.
Torres' injury is no good, and we can't blame the injury. Unless it's Gerrard, then some of the blame may have been in his injury.
A squad has to make chemistry without certain players, no matter how important players we're talking about.
I'm a massive Dirk Kuyt-fan and simply love him, but I think Benitez made a wrong decision when assigning him as a sole striker on top against Hull. I believe in Kuyt as a good striker when he gets the chance, but unfortunately not as a sole striker. Kuyt played very well with Bellamy, Crouch and plays well with Torres when the opportunity is there. Benitez should know - he was the one bringing the Dutchman to Anfield.
And mixed up with my opinion (or complaint) that Ryan Babel is getting far too little time on the pitch, I would of course suggest him to partner Kuyt on the top. With Gerrard and Mascherano in central midfield, while Benayoun and Riera completes the midfield positions by filling respectively the right and left side.
It may not be good enough in other fan's ears, but you have to give 100% and think smart even when meeting teams like Fulham, West Ham or Hull, when having ambitions about winning the league title. We can no longer depend on Chelsea's results the day after. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING!
If Rafa doesn't do anything that makes more sense, I'm afraid Liverpool will barely manage second place this year. I'm expecting it, really.
tirsdag 9. desember 2008
I fell in love with a... Xbox?
I've got to say this - in an age of 5 with a Super Nintendo in your living room, you have more fun in your everyday life.
In an age of 9 with a Nintendo 64 in your living room, you invite your friends for multiplayer battles in Mario Kart 64.
In an age of 13, nothing is more cool than the Playstation 2 and your favourite game called Gran Turismo.
In an age of 19, the Xbox 360 has now become your everyday life.
This machine is geniously good! I mean, the LIVE-part and the fact that you can download classic arcade games in renewed version is cool. I downloaded my favourite game of all time - Banjo-Kazooie, originally made for Nintendo 64 - to my Xbox, and I played like hell.
This renewed version includes the egg and key-mystery that never could be solved on the Nintendo 64 due to insufficient space in the game.
And I simply love the concept of gamescore-points! Almost the only reason to why I buy and download games (and many of them!) is just to get those points and brag about them when you compare with other friends.
Now that they've updated the whole LIVE-thing, I'm in love. Simple as that.
In an age of 9 with a Nintendo 64 in your living room, you invite your friends for multiplayer battles in Mario Kart 64.
In an age of 13, nothing is more cool than the Playstation 2 and your favourite game called Gran Turismo.
In an age of 19, the Xbox 360 has now become your everyday life.
This machine is geniously good! I mean, the LIVE-part and the fact that you can download classic arcade games in renewed version is cool. I downloaded my favourite game of all time - Banjo-Kazooie, originally made for Nintendo 64 - to my Xbox, and I played like hell.
This renewed version includes the egg and key-mystery that never could be solved on the Nintendo 64 due to insufficient space in the game.
And I simply love the concept of gamescore-points! Almost the only reason to why I buy and download games (and many of them!) is just to get those points and brag about them when you compare with other friends.
Now that they've updated the whole LIVE-thing, I'm in love. Simple as that.
tirsdag 2. desember 2008
Get your fingers out of your ears, Benitez!
Liverpool has been a huge irony this season. They have beaten Manchester United, Manchester City and even Chelsea on Stamford Bridge, but are losing points against the "easier" teams like Fulham and now West Ham.
While Liverpool-fans have waited impatiently since 1990, and the chance finally has arrived - Who's to blame?
As fans usually do, they either blame the ref, the player(s) or the manager. My opinion is to blame the manager.
Rafael Benitez has been credited as a great strategist, and I can agree on that one. But he makes weird choices sometimes, like in this season. It seems like he doesn't want to listen to the fans, the media, the experts and commentators just to make his own choices to prove that he is right.
For instance:
- Lucas was a disaster against Fulham. When Alonso stood at the sideline ready to get on the pitch after 70 minutes, everyone expected Lucas to be taken off. Instead, the hardworking Mascherano was taken off, and Liverpool were stuck at the exact same place Lucas had been responsible for for the last 69 of those 70 minutes.
- The 20 million transfer for Robbie Keane is a waste of money and a waste of time for both Keane and Liverpool FC. I surely hope Benitez kept his receipt, because Keane would probably be better off in Tottenham where he actually scored goals.
- Speaking of Robbie Keane - despite Keane's hard time finding the net, it seems that Benitez is using him only to give him a chance. After all, Benitez wants to prove it was a good buy, and after all, he cost the team 20 million pounds.
- Instead of getting in Ryan Babel at Robbie Keane's spot last night, Rafael Benitez set N'Gog in his place. N'GOG FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! I like the kid and think he's a good player, but he's more of a emergency-striker, like when Benitez is in deep shits with injuries or he wants to save Torres/Kuyt during the english cups.
Here's my two cents.
- Use Lucas less, or even sell him. I don't believe in him, and we already have Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano as great players. Sell Lucas now and get a better one on the transfer market in january.
- I wasn't happy with the transfer of Robbie Keane in the first place, especially not 20 million pounds. With those pounds, if not half of it, Benitez could even have got Gareth Barry to Anfield.
- Since Keane's having such a hard time finding the net, he should be substituted instead of starting each match. That won't do anything with his confidence as the confidence he has now don't score goals at all.
- Benitez have three underrated players in his team that should play more - Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant.
And if Keane's getting benched, that's where Babel comes into the picture. Babel himself have said he's not satisfied with the small amount of time he's allowed to play. After all, he's always getting substituted with Riera in the 75th minute almost every time.
Yossi Benayoun is a great player that should start more often in my opinion. But if Benitez are choosing to start with Benayoun on the bench, I understand - we have a lot of good midfielders. But don't let Lucas get Benayoun's place!
Jermaine Pennant is a very good player and frankly, I hope he's getting sold during this winter. He's too good to be wasted on the bench or outside the squad every game. But until then, when needed, I advise Benitez to use him.
While Liverpool-fans have waited impatiently since 1990, and the chance finally has arrived - Who's to blame?
As fans usually do, they either blame the ref, the player(s) or the manager. My opinion is to blame the manager.
Rafael Benitez has been credited as a great strategist, and I can agree on that one. But he makes weird choices sometimes, like in this season. It seems like he doesn't want to listen to the fans, the media, the experts and commentators just to make his own choices to prove that he is right.
For instance:
- Lucas was a disaster against Fulham. When Alonso stood at the sideline ready to get on the pitch after 70 minutes, everyone expected Lucas to be taken off. Instead, the hardworking Mascherano was taken off, and Liverpool were stuck at the exact same place Lucas had been responsible for for the last 69 of those 70 minutes.
- The 20 million transfer for Robbie Keane is a waste of money and a waste of time for both Keane and Liverpool FC. I surely hope Benitez kept his receipt, because Keane would probably be better off in Tottenham where he actually scored goals.
- Speaking of Robbie Keane - despite Keane's hard time finding the net, it seems that Benitez is using him only to give him a chance. After all, Benitez wants to prove it was a good buy, and after all, he cost the team 20 million pounds.
- Instead of getting in Ryan Babel at Robbie Keane's spot last night, Rafael Benitez set N'Gog in his place. N'GOG FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! I like the kid and think he's a good player, but he's more of a emergency-striker, like when Benitez is in deep shits with injuries or he wants to save Torres/Kuyt during the english cups.
Here's my two cents.
- Use Lucas less, or even sell him. I don't believe in him, and we already have Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano as great players. Sell Lucas now and get a better one on the transfer market in january.
- I wasn't happy with the transfer of Robbie Keane in the first place, especially not 20 million pounds. With those pounds, if not half of it, Benitez could even have got Gareth Barry to Anfield.
- Since Keane's having such a hard time finding the net, he should be substituted instead of starting each match. That won't do anything with his confidence as the confidence he has now don't score goals at all.
- Benitez have three underrated players in his team that should play more - Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant.
And if Keane's getting benched, that's where Babel comes into the picture. Babel himself have said he's not satisfied with the small amount of time he's allowed to play. After all, he's always getting substituted with Riera in the 75th minute almost every time.
Yossi Benayoun is a great player that should start more often in my opinion. But if Benitez are choosing to start with Benayoun on the bench, I understand - we have a lot of good midfielders. But don't let Lucas get Benayoun's place!
Jermaine Pennant is a very good player and frankly, I hope he's getting sold during this winter. He's too good to be wasted on the bench or outside the squad every game. But until then, when needed, I advise Benitez to use him.
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