Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Monday, 25 February 2008
Daily Mirror - “Win it or Kop it”
After an excruciating defeat, to a lower league opposition at Anfield, Liverpool FC’s chances in the league look pretty grim, not to mention subjecting Benitez and his team to constant sniggering and a great deal of jokes on Liverpool’s behalf.
As Ian Spragg quite rightly points, it is human nature to celebrate the misfortune of the great and mighty. The bigger they are the greater, and more entertaining, the fall.
However, Liverpool’s victory over Inter Milan last week will surely help Liverpool recover from the shame of their last game, wont it? Jamie Carragher doesn’t think so.
The Liverpool defender was quoted by the Daily Mirror, shortly before the Liverpool V Inter Milan game, in saying:
Some people could argue that Liverpool deserved to lose at Anfield for believing that Tuesday’s game against Inter Milan was more important.
Rafa didn’t play his strongest team that day, even Steven Gerrard was on the bench. It clearly backfired on him because now, as the papers indicate, unless Liverpool can do a repeat of their 2005 triumph, Benitez risks losing his job.
The Inter Milan victory may not have erased the shame of the Barnsley match, however their latest 3-2 win against Middlesbrough has put them well on the road to recovery.
Despite the dodgy line-ups and questionable transfers over the years the Liverpool squad truly believe that Rafa is right for them. The PremiershipLatest website quotes Torres in thanking Benitez after his hat-trick in the Middlesbrough match.
Rafael Benitez, along with the Liverpool fans, believe that Torres will only get better and lets hope, for Rafa’s sake, he does!
As Ian Spragg quite rightly points, it is human nature to celebrate the misfortune of the great and mighty. The bigger they are the greater, and more entertaining, the fall.
However, Liverpool’s victory over Inter Milan last week will surely help Liverpool recover from the shame of their last game, wont it? Jamie Carragher doesn’t think so.
The Liverpool defender was quoted by the Daily Mirror, shortly before the Liverpool V Inter Milan game, in saying:
“I don’t think that beating Inter Milan would make up for losing the FA cup tie in the way we did. We’re devastated obviously. It is a major blow to go out of the competition to a lower league team at Anfield. We realise that’s not good enough. This clearly isn’t the best preparation for Tuesday, but we had the same situation last season, when we lost to Arsenal twice in the cups and people were saying we were finished before we even played Barcelona, and we got through”.
Some people could argue that Liverpool deserved to lose at Anfield for believing that Tuesday’s game against Inter Milan was more important.
Rafa didn’t play his strongest team that day, even Steven Gerrard was on the bench. It clearly backfired on him because now, as the papers indicate, unless Liverpool can do a repeat of their 2005 triumph, Benitez risks losing his job.
The Inter Milan victory may not have erased the shame of the Barnsley match, however their latest 3-2 win against Middlesbrough has put them well on the road to recovery.
Despite the dodgy line-ups and questionable transfers over the years the Liverpool squad truly believe that Rafa is right for them. The PremiershipLatest website quotes Torres in thanking Benitez after his hat-trick in the Middlesbrough match.
“You cannot score three goals in a game without the help of your manager and your team-mates so I would like to thank them. The manager signed me for Liverpool so I am really grateful for that, and he also works with me all the time trying to improve me and make me a better player.”
Rafael Benitez, along with the Liverpool fans, believe that Torres will only get better and lets hope, for Rafa’s sake, he does!
MacLeod Cleared of Positive Drug Test
According to the BBC website, Scotland rugby forward, Scott MacLeod, has been cleared after testing positive for Terbutaline in January.
Google News reports that Terbutaline is on the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list. A therapeutic use exemption (TUE) must be obtained if it is prescribed through an inhaler.
As it turns out the Scotland lock has been suffering from asthma since he was a toddler and had been taking the drug in an inhaler.
Despite the positive result, he was was cleared and avoided a one year ban, under the grounds that he had “inadvertently taken a prohibited asthma medication". However he did receive a warning as he was taking the medication without the required permission
MacLeod said:
Asthmatic MacLeod did actually have a TUE, which was issued in April 2006, that noted he had been on Terbutaline in the past but it wasn’t available at the time.
Click here for Press Conference Video
Google News reports that Terbutaline is on the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list. A therapeutic use exemption (TUE) must be obtained if it is prescribed through an inhaler.
As it turns out the Scotland lock has been suffering from asthma since he was a toddler and had been taking the drug in an inhaler.
Despite the positive result, he was was cleared and avoided a one year ban, under the grounds that he had “inadvertently taken a prohibited asthma medication". However he did receive a warning as he was taking the medication without the required permission
MacLeod said:
"I'm not a cheat and I'm pleased that the panel accepted that I'd used Terbutaline inadvertently and that there had been no intention to enhance sports performance. Hopefully other players will be a bit more savvy given what's happened to me. I want to put this behind me now and concentrate on the job in hand with the national team."
Asthmatic MacLeod did actually have a TUE, which was issued in April 2006, that noted he had been on Terbutaline in the past but it wasn’t available at the time.
Click here for Press Conference Video
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Reds have no chance
According to the BBC website, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp doesn’t believe that Anfield will see the premiership title as long as Rafael Benitez is in charge.
Redknapp said "I don't think Liverpool can win it (the league) under Rafa Benitez. I think they are further away than they have ever been before. They have got no chance.”
The reds are trailing behind our Merseyside rivals, Everton, and are a massive 19 points behing league leaders Arsenal!
Admittedly Rafa’s decisions often have Liverpool supporters questioning his management abilities, the team appears to be all over the place and, much to the disappointment of the supporters, the weakest players are usually on during important games, and the recent loss to Barnsley is no exception.
Redknapp thinks that there are too many changes and you don’t get “consistency and understanding”.
He added, “The best managers like Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson keep basically the same team and system. In their big games, they field their strongest team”.
Liverpool FC Internet forums show that a lot of red supporters agree with Redknapp, they believe that our poor performances in the league are down to disorganised rotation. When Crouch and Torres play up front it looks as if it could work, but then Benitez changes it. One fan commented that the players lack pace and there is little or no understanding between the players.
It is highly unlikely that Liverpool will recover in the premier league and red supporters are uncertain that Rafa’s latest statement that he is 100% dedicated to the team is a positive. Lets just hope that Liverpool’s dismal performance lately will force Benitez to step up his game!
Redknapp said "I don't think Liverpool can win it (the league) under Rafa Benitez. I think they are further away than they have ever been before. They have got no chance.”
The reds are trailing behind our Merseyside rivals, Everton, and are a massive 19 points behing league leaders Arsenal!
Admittedly Rafa’s decisions often have Liverpool supporters questioning his management abilities, the team appears to be all over the place and, much to the disappointment of the supporters, the weakest players are usually on during important games, and the recent loss to Barnsley is no exception.
Redknapp thinks that there are too many changes and you don’t get “consistency and understanding”.
He added, “The best managers like Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson keep basically the same team and system. In their big games, they field their strongest team”.
Liverpool FC Internet forums show that a lot of red supporters agree with Redknapp, they believe that our poor performances in the league are down to disorganised rotation. When Crouch and Torres play up front it looks as if it could work, but then Benitez changes it. One fan commented that the players lack pace and there is little or no understanding between the players.
It is highly unlikely that Liverpool will recover in the premier league and red supporters are uncertain that Rafa’s latest statement that he is 100% dedicated to the team is a positive. Lets just hope that Liverpool’s dismal performance lately will force Benitez to step up his game!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)