LFC 2 - Man.City 2

This photo was taken from the Internet without permission...

1. Without clinging to any emotional attachment, my argument for this another match that we failed to win, yet didn't lose is simply down to a really bad defending. Much that we would love to cherish Skrtel first ever goal for the club but he was the culprit for the Adebayour equaliser and then everybody was asleep to allow Ireland scored the second goal.
   
   
2. I doubt if we can zoomed into Rafa's tactical strategy in this game. It was okay. The 2 injuries within the first 20 minutes could have disrupt his game plan but the replacement in Yossi, in particular - was somehow a blessing in disguised. Well, that sums up our season.
   
   
3. I am so used now to see my beloved team failed to win the game. I'm sure all of you are feeling dejected. But that doesn't mean we must become a traitor to the club by singing the same song, sang by the rival fans or the ruthless UK media.

Can Manchester City beat Liverpool?

The crazy illustration was taken from boxofficefootball.com without asking them...

1. Albeit the banters and the smirk for all the misery of the struggling Liverpool at the moment, the only joke that persistent is that Manchester United is the only odd team that failed to demolish Liverpool who has been on a no-win streak for a good 7 straight games til now.
   
   
2. This is one important moment of the season. Among the fans, the morale are low and the confidence is a disarray. While the first 15 minutes of the game, many would thought that Liverpool might eventually win any particular game, then the opposition score 2 and the whole dimension of the match changed. Instead of aiming for a win & 3 points, then it became trying to equalised and a single point. And 5 games already we lost all the catching up work. If our front forward couldn't score, don't expect we'll win the game.
   
   
3. Having our Captain nowadays also didn't help much, in particular when his other 10 players are not on the same par with him. Well, according to the news reports that I browse through just now, we probably will see the two pillars of Liverpool (Gerrard and Torres) will feature in the game tomorrow night. That will be good because we need to win after a miserable October and November. We must start winning games in December onwards.
   
   
4. The urge to win is more desirable with the reports saying that 80% Premier League Managers expect Manchester City will be challenging for the Top 4 Spot real soon. If that's so and the fact that they are a mini-Chelsea outfit, Manchester City sooner or later might just achieve that. But it shouldn't be in the expense of Liverpool. We're the favourite target to be ousted from the Top 4 slots, unless we change the way we play and start winning games.

WALK OFF!

Rafael benitez IS LARGELY TO BE BLAMED FOR THE REDS’ SLIDE AND MATTHEW YONG ARGUES THAT WE NEED THE PASSION BACK TO RECAPTURE LAST TERM’S FORM

From the start of the season, it was a clearly known fact that our team was not well prepared and the biggest sad news was the departure of Xabi Alonso, the instrumental one behind our successful previous season. Perhaps, if Rafael Benitez had treated him better, Xabi would have chose to stay. Many other questions remain unanswered. There’s no saying who’s wrong and who’s right here, probably, Benitez has his own views and his way of managing things. I duly respected Benitez - the Champions League in Istanbul will be in our thoughts forever.

He deserved some credit for winning that and assembling a passionate team but bear in mind that it was our instrumental heroic Captain ‘G’ whose leadership led us to a victorious and memorable day in history. A year or two later, we were still performing considerably well but some mistakes in some games cost us the title yet again. Benitez then adopted a knack of switching player’s to unfavourable positions according to his tactical plan. Yet, some of us still ask ourselves the same questions like: "If that was Torres, it would have been a goal?"

Yossi Benayoun has proved himself but isn’t a regular and I wouldn’t blame him should he choose to leave. Last season, Benitez ignored him and relied mostly on his ‘Duracell Pet’, Dirk Kuyt.

Though Kuyt is hardworking, the Benayoun-style telling passes and crosses did not come. Benitez doesn’t field an important first team and give chances to the younger ones as part of the grooming plan, the Arsene Wenger policy.

We have now a Krisztian Nemeth at hand but Benitez chose to loan him away and stick with Andriy Voronin in case Torres gets injured. Injuries do happen in football. It is a common thing and I would feel rather immature to blame the losses on injuries.

If we do lose so be it but at least the players can give their passion and desire to win and it would satisfy any fan. Well, if Benitez choose to rest some players for other games, would the next game be more meaningful than the current one? For if we do not win the current one, the next few games are simply irrelevant.

We have been relying too much on Gerrard and Torres that we don’t have sufficient depth in other areas. The moment one of them or both gets injured, we seem to be handicapped.

It is clear that our defence this season has let us down. Honestly speaking, our defence did make mistakes but the entire blame should not be on their shoulders.

The midfielders seem unable to protect our defence and it loses direction whenever Stevie’s missing. But in actual fact, it was our they who were doing holding and distributing the passes and crosses.

Now, they don’t know what to do or how to play but because game after game their confidence is slowly diminishing. In the past, we did leak at the start but we came back didn’t we? We kept winning games and the confidence boosted our players.

We started this season wrongly, some are not well prepared, some are injured, some were bad selections. The core of our success in the past was not about money or contracts but it was based purely on player’s passion, desire and the fans.

Being cash-strapped, no doubt we are unable to afford comparing to the other top three clubs, but the least what we could have done was to get cheaper players within our budget.

Provided the player bought have the desire and passion to don our jersey, play his heart out and win games. We need to regain the long lost passion.

BLOGGER NOTE: This article is republished from the LSCM E-Newsletter and is not representing the opinion of the blogger, one way or the other and shall not be liable to any legal prosecution.

BIRMING-HAMMERED LFC?

The blogger (in the Russian fur hat) with two new friends at a coffee shop in Murre, a mountainous holiday resort about an hour drive from Islamabad in Pakistan on Monday.

1. My apology for not being able to post an immediate reaction after the game. I was on a tight schedule and my body was losing massive energies while in Pakistan. I've just landed today and due to fly to Penang tomorrow. Saturday must be spend with my family.
   


2. Again, I had the sweet opportunity of being able to watch the game 3 hours earlier than Malaysia (due to the time difference) but again, it didn't have a happy-ending. I am too exhausted to analyse the game. I would prefer to focus on the plus-side of the game and leave it to you guys to comment on the failure of the team to register a win against the lucky-Birmingham.
   


3. As you can see, David Ngog did made a statement in that game. That is heartening. More time on the pitch, surely good for his confidence. Not only he scored the second goal, he was instrumental in ensuring the equaliser. Regardless of the loud complain that he dived, you must not judge by the slow-motion repeated over and over again in the TV. In such a surged towards the goal mouth and then slashed with that furious tackle, it was fortunate that Ngog did what he did and escaped with no injury. Yet, some pundits prefer to look at the incident in a rather different way. Let them be. The more they write about Ngog, I think it would serve Ngog reputation some how. It's a good thing to compare his previous reputation as an ineffective striker for Liverpool. Now he can be bold, notorious, tenacious and bring the scared out of the opponent's defenders. hehehe

THERE'S STILL A CHANCE, SLIM IT MAY SEEMS

Me and the whole `entourage' while I was in Karachi. Not only these Rangers responsible for my safety but also ensure the road was `smooth' for the journey.

1. I must admit that I didn't really study the whole situation of our beloved club when I jotted down my thoughts yesterday, especially when I was caught with a hefty long day working all around the Karachi city and then watching the `deadly' equaliser by that Lyon players. But since then, I had the opportunity to really sit in front of my laptop and read thoroughly the whole debacle and our current state of infamy.
   
   
2. To my relieve (and I hope you guys share it with me!), Liverpool was not really out and out of the race - as yet. There are still 2 games to go, and mathematically, we do still have that chance, albeit how slim it could be, since we have to pray and rely on the defeat of Fiorentina and hoping the likes of Torres, Benayoun and... errr.. Babel... Kuyt ... hmmm... to score more than 3 goals to grab that 2nd spot for the next round. There is still hopes. And this is where I like it most. I love to be the underdog. Let people assumed what ever they want, then we rise to the occasion and executed the coup de grace... so I hope.
   
   
3. I see that some of you don't really like my statement pertaining to the `new Liverpool fans'. Let me debate here a bit more. In any event, like it or not, while having a club to support and hold on to the rest of your life, we can't deny the necessity of having the new generations of fans. This is especially important in terms of commercialism in the long run. There won't be any sponsors if Liverpool kept on losing and the number of fans deteriorated. The impact on the season fans like many of us would be massive when that fact is not ratified. I really don't want it to reoccur when I have to pray every week for the satellite tv to air the live matches of Liverpool or searching endlessly all around the city simply just to look for the club's merchandise. What we have now is luxury. Almost every shopping malls have the dedicated stores that sold LFC's merchandise. Why? Because there are markets for it. What's the point of having a product but no one is buying. This could happened if Liverpool lost its attraction, especially now when it seems that almost any team can beat us. Birmingham City could be dreaming the same dream. To beat the hell out of the broken Liverpool. Lets hope the rot will stop with the Birmingham match. Lets hope.
   

DOOMED, GLOOMED...

This was my actual police escort... in Karachi, Pakistan on 4-5 Nov 2009

1. The time difference between Malaysia and Pakistan is 3 hours. I was in a state of joy earlier because of the thought that I will be watching it `a bit earlier' than the usual 3.45am that I had to endure in Shah Alam. So I watch the freaking match and what a devastation to see the late late equaliser by the Lyon outfit. Thus the eminent demised of Liverpool in the European Cup and hey we are now the hot favourite to win the new Europa Cup... huh....
   
   
2. I see that some of you have posted your dismay. Fine. I can't stop any of you from doing it because I am also very much pissed-off. Luckily, my programmes here in Pakistan are packed and my small entourage of 5 journalists doesn't have a fanatic like me, though at least 2 of them confessed of being a fan of our rivals. hah... never mind. Even the head of our security detail claimed he is a fan of Chelsea.
   
   
3. This is the after-effect of the losses. We won't be seeing new fans among the new generation because no way the young ones would support a losing-prone team like Liverpool now. No way. It's a pain in the heart and in the arse!!!...
   
   
4. I will be here till next week. Please pray for my safety. YNWA...
   
   

Rafa's future lies in the next 3 games?

The memories of 2005 can never erased the current state of infamy...

1. Many pundits, sports writers are suggesting that Rafa's tenure would be greatly depended on the next three games. If Liverpool lost all 3, that means Rafa must go or so that claimed to be. The frustration felt by all the LFC fans all over the world cannot be justified nor hidden. The crazy and suicide tactics by Rafa in the Fulham match was deemed as his betrayal to his words to us that he will focus on the Premier League, not Champions.
   
   
2. If that is so Rafa, when Liverpool lose against Lyon... for me there won't be another 2 games to decide your fate. By Friday, the cry would be louder for your head. I'm not sure if I would be among them. I prefer not to, at this juncture. Not my style. I don't belittling my own favourite team, but criticizing is a totally different meaning with belittling - according to my James Brooke's English understanding...
   
   
3. I will be travelling abroad on Wednesday, thus I'm not sure if I can present my posting in the blog. I'll find a time in between. I am a bit worried if the country that I'll be visiting don't have the football channel. But feel free to write some, send it to my gmail and I'll published it here.

Fulham 3 - LFC 1 (+ 2 red cards...)

Did the erratic decision by Benitez caused us the Fulham game?

1. It's 30 minutes to go. Then you took out Torres. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, RAFAEL BENITEZ? Lyon? That's three days more. Why can't you focus on the current battle? We're not even leading at the time, but were down 2-1. And you think Ryan Babel can changed that?
   
   
2. Then the referee exploded with obnoxiousness and an ordinary tackle by Degen was deemed a red card offence. Never mind that. Then you took out Yossi Benayoun. Who do you have? No you didn't have anyone. That's why Ecclestone was criticised for his lack of experience. We lost Carragher. Find. The third Fulham's goal was inevitable. Luckily, it stayed that way until the end.
   
   
3. People will remember this game not so much for the 2 red cards. Because referee decision is a normal thing to debate, mock or cursed at. But this time around, it is Rafa's decision would be the focus of condemnation. Fans will be shouting for reasons from Rafa... why must he pull-off Torres? He wasn't injured or seriously injured for that matter. Because once Torres was out of the pitch, that rejuvenate Fulham... That decision of Rafa invited the many attacks by Fulham and ultimately, forced Carra to do the tackled and was given a grand prize of a Red Card.
   


4. Again, the situation could be different if Torres's replacement is another established striker but Ryan Babel? OH MY GOD!... OH MY GOD!... I text Manaf... DIE, DIE and so it became true.
   


5. Do we say goodbye to our 19th title challenge? I wish not to do so because the season is still long. I am a pragmatic person, never ever a pessimist. If I cloud my mind with all the defeats and defeatism in me, I won't last this long in my day job. So you guys, please think positive. A defeat by our beloved team should be considered a mere result. It must not affect our lives. For a good remedy, just reminisced our gallant win against Manchester United last week. We can lost many games, drew 10 but nothing compares to a win against Manchester United...!!!
   
   
6. Though I'm not so sure about Rafa's, after tonight's defeat.

Liverpool doesn't have the 2nd Team that ROCKS...

David Ngog is not really a Premier League item as yet.

1. I have analyse and even gave it quite a serious thoughts on the defeat against Arsenal last Thursday. I think I still have some biff to express, some issues to deliberate, some pissing needs to clean-up...
   
   
2. First, the team that was featured in the Carling Cup was not our first-eleven. Then it's supposed to be our second-eleven. Aside than Insua who has been the regular for the last few weeks, the rest are mostly used sparingly or as a subs or played only when the regulars crocked. Unfortunately, Skrtel found himself in this line-up, simply because he has been carrying some injuries picked during the World Cup Qualifying games.
   
   
3. But Arsenal could also claimed the same, even though the line-up boast a rather still intriguing players such as Eduardo, Nasri, Bendtner, Senderos and Silvestre. And Bendtner scored the winning goal. My mind won't want to lie nor manipulate those facts. Arsenal was also presenting more and more opportunities to the kids that have been groomed and developed, and hell it proves something very worthy with the win against Liverpool.
   
   
4. What my mind would say is that Liverpool is simply a first-eleven team. We don't have a reliable second-eleven like what Arsenal could muster. Not much can be debated about money since Arsene Wenger didn't really utilised his money for the last few seasons, especially after getting rid of Adebayour, though he did bought that Russian boy.
   
   
5. So we don't have any hopes if we kept on relying it on the hands of players such as Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Dossena, Lucas (well... he did pretty good in the ManUre win...), David Ngog. The youngsters we got such as Plessis, Spearing, Eccleston are just not up to it as yet.

WE CAN'T BUY NEW STRIKER, MIGHT AS WELL UTILISED WHAT GOOD WE HAVE LEFT

A rare and expensive experience to watch Liverpool and Nemeth scored twice against Singapore, last July 2009

1. Now my memory keep telling my heart to question Rafa's decision to loan out Christian Nemeth to AEK Athens. The boy has been scoring left & right in the youth set-up. The excuse given was for Nemeth to find more playing experience, since the quota for such strikers are already full at Liverpool.
   
   
2. Well Rafa, David Ngog surely has reach the point where he is evaluated and the result should be only B. He is not good enough for Liverpool. I don't care about the fact that he scored in the ManU match because what is more important is for him to score on a regular basis, when ever he is picked to play. Which is not the reality.
   
   
3. What I am worried is that the goal against ManUre for Ngog would be something we would cherished with sadden feelings, similar to Neil Mellor's surprised winning goal against Arsenal at Anfield in 2004. Mellor didn't even make it to the regular team sheet. And I'm not sure if Mellor is still with Preston.
   
   
4. In this argument, it is prudent for Rafa to recall Nemeth now, and bring him back for the squad in January. Of course I don't know what is his development there in Greece, but most of us must have seen and witness how Nemeth could do better than Ngog. After all, unlike Ngog - Nemeth has been nurtured and groomed in our own football academy. I had the privilege last July to watch personally Nemeth scored two goals against Singapore. The goals wasn't a simple tap-in but something you get to see always in the Premier League.
   
   
5. Someone must find a way to tell Rafa that Nemeth should be recalled in January. Well, this argument is valid only when it is confirmed that Rafa would not be given any money to buy a high-class striker in January.
   
   

PLAYERS WE NEED TO GET RID IN JANUARY 2010

According to the latest news reports, Dossena has expressed his desire to return to Italy for lacking of playing opportunity afforded to him by Rafa Benitez in Liverpool. The 27-year-old international left-back failed to establish himself after being signed as John Arne Riise's replacement in a £7million transfer from Udinese last summer. Dossena made just 12 Barclays Premier League starts and towards the end of the season was third choice behind Fabio Aurelio and young Argentinian Emiliano Insua. The Italian has told Benitez he would like to return to his homeland, with Juventus his preferred destination. For this we say to him: Arivederci...!!! Thanks for the joyous goals against Real Madrid and Manchester United last season. That's all.

Since he is the only one at the moment announced about his wishes, we would like to urge a few more players to follow suit. Starting with:

Ryan Babel. He had so many chances but failed to covert any. He was one of the reason Liverpool lost to the freaking Arsenal kids in the Carling Cup. He can't handled the ball properly, he can't passed and he doesn't know how to tackle accurately. He is just dumb. We would like to wish him: Vaarwel...!!!

We are hoping that Babel won't find excuses not to send his transfer request this January. We had enough of his shortcomings. He is just not fit to be in the Liverpool squad. I doubt if even Barnsley would be bother.

Another player that we should say good bye to is:

Andriy Voronin. He was also the contributing factor for our failure in the Carling Cup. Although in the last few minutes he did some beautiful moves but he was lousy almost the entire game. Still can't believed the tag of the 2nd highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga. That German league must be a pathetic football league to boast Voronin as one of its top scorer and yet failed miserably to emulate his form in the Premier League. I hate his ponytail. It's so out-dated. For this we say: GET LOST...!