jean paul's Content

After failing to beat Spurs at home, proceeded by an awful display at home against Marseille in the Champions League, the international break could not come early enough. Whilst it could be argued the first international break has broken Liverpool’s momentum, being just after the six-nil rout over Derby County, this time it was welcomed, even though it has robbed Rafael Benitez some precious time to work with his lads. Being the Merseyside derby, it was even better, as such games usually throw the form book out of the window. Liverpool seemed to start the better of the two teams, and had the better chance when Yossi Benayoun profited from a misunderstanding between a pair of Everton defenders and sneaked into their penalty area. Being closed down and without a clear sight of their goal, the Jew showed his altruism and passed to the advancing Andriy Voronin. The Ukrainian had a decent shot at goal but was central enough for Tim Howard to save without much difficulty and agility needed. Gradually though, Liverpool were surrendering their dominance and looked every bit like the unconfident side of a fortnight ago. Sami Hyypia then added salt to the injury by beating Pepe’ Reina with an exquisite finish. Whilst the loyal Finn was dead unlucky, the deficit wasn’t unexpected or harsh, a bit like a rainy day in winter with the weather not being too bad. For the first time this season, the red men made their way to the dressing room at half-time a goal down. Steven Gerrard had been rather indifferent lately, fitting well with the off-form Liverpool. Yesterday, in the first forty-five minutes, he wasn’t having his best day, with his frown fixed on his face. Then, at the fifty-third minute, Voronin passed to him and with Everton still in Liverpool’s half after being awarded a corner, he accelerated with conviction towards the Everton goal and only an infringement by Tony Hibbert stopped him from having a shot with the goal at his mercy. For the first time this season, the official in black awarded Liverpool a penalty and sent the latter off. Dirk Kuyt took responsibility, sent the keeper to his left, and the ball to his right to level the score and open his account in this season’s Premiership. Game on. Eighteen minutes later though, the boss decided to take his captain off. For the first time in four years, with the points still being chased for, an uninjured Gerrard was taken off. The captain was shocked, but with dignity and calmness handed the armband to Jamie Carragher and trotted off the pitch. Considering his substitute being Lucas Leiva, the Brazilian twenty year old who hasn’t had any taste of the Premiership so far, never mind the full blooded Merseyside derby, the decision even looked stranger. All kind of thoughts were going through my mind. A mate sitting next to me told me Rafa just wants to make a point every time. Another mate, and a good red texted me and told me it’s unbelievable. I for a minute thought it’s a clash of personalities. For Rafa though, it was another decision. Liverpool impetus continued, chances got created, chances got missed. The best chance fell on Momo Sissoko, but Momo being presented with a chance face to face with the keeper is like offering a deliciously cooked fillet to a vegetarian. He screwed the ball horribly. The Malian looked to be improving at the start of the season, even scoring his first goal for Liverpool against Sunderland but at the moment his passing is too awful. He is no Igor Biscan, never mind Patrick Vieira. With the clocking ticking fast, Liverpool looked to keep their unbeaten record but failed again to get the three points so badly needed. For the second time in succession though, Liverpool scored in the dying minutes, in the added minutes to be more exact. Kuyt was denied by a Howard save, the rebound fell to Gerrard’s substitute Leiva who had a shot at goal only to be handled by Phil Neville on the line. Gary’s sweeter brother laid on the turf before the inevitable red card, and the ice cold Kuyt kept his nerves and for the second time went to his right from the penalty spot to beat Howard and give the three points to Liverpool. Some more drama was still in the offing, with Everton protesting for a penalty. Everton and protests are not too innovative though. Yesterday’s protests seemed to be more animated than those against the Kirkby move though. The final whistle then transformed all Carragher’s passion and adrenaline into one long sprint with arms wide aloft to the travelling reds. The derby enabled Liverpool to get back on the winning track, the hard way. The gloomy thundercloud during the half-time break failed to rain, and a clearer sky is now above us. Besiktas next Wednesday and even more the high-flying Arsenal on Sunday will test our skies even further and confirm whether is that a star that I can see so far off.

October 21, 2007

Video reviews

jean paul replied to New York Red 's topic in Liverpool FC

Absolutely right Mr Kite, I don't see the point of technology in this case as it all happened infront of him just a couple of yards away from his naked eye.... Infact my tuppence worth on my blog reads like this... We used to say that a good ref is one that you don't really notice. Unfortunately that is another saying that football has lost. Referees now love to grab the limelight, and probably see themselves on par with the players plying their trade on the pitch. Graeme Poll has now retired, and it seems Rob Styles is very intent to take over his heirloom. I can take a bad decision, but today's penalty is beyond any comprehensibility. And don't give me the argument for video evidence either. You can never beat being present in the thick of the action, and Rob Styles was actually that - a couple of metres away from the accident. Rob Styles just wanted to be controversial. But he failed miserably there. He was just ridiculously absurd. He succeeded in taking the wind out of Liverpool sails though. I wouldn't say Liverpool were comfortably in command then but they were surely the better team out of the two. Rafael Benitez let him know what he thought of him in his post-match comments. Visibly fuming, he labelled the decision 'unbelievable' which has reduced his side's three points to one. In the thick of this unjustice and anger at their first home match of the season, Rafael Benitez and his side have made a statement to both their fans and rivals. Liverpool are to be taken seriously,very seriously - there is an air of belief and Champions League qualification is not the realistic target. Liverpool want more. Again, the hunger was visible, the hard work felt and the belief tangible. Taking Riise off and putting Crouch on seven minutes from time with the tie level said it all. Chelsea for all their swagger were winding the clock down. Steven Gerrard was at his best again, covering every blade of the grass, pulling the midfield strings and putting it where it hurts without apologising. The nasty streak is there, the devil of a winner is inside him again and he is being feared. Torres first goal at Anfield put a lot of weight out of his shoulders. In the process though he showed his class and has defenitely added more dimensions, possibilities and options for Liverpool. The Spaniard just accepted Gerrard's routine pass and rather than waiting for help he showed his heels to Haim, and perfectly placed the ball beyond Cech via the post. Haim was left for dead, and ridiculed as much as the unwritten law of common sense was by the man in black. Psychologically, Liverpool has suffered a lot in the last season. The first away win was only grabbed in the first week of December. This year it arrived in the opening match. The ice has already been broken and with Sunderland awaiting, Liverpool should travel with a spring to their step. No penalties conceded and am confident Reina will keep a clean sheet. At the other end of the field, Liverpool are capable of scoring and get the second set of three points to their name.

August 19, 2007
64 replies

ASTON VILLA v LIVERPOOL

jean paul replied to ynwa.tv 's topic in Liverpool FC

My piece off my blog.... Being starved for nearly three months, I just realised how much I missed the match. Meeting a couple of the lads I haven't seen in those three months was good, most of them sporting a nice tan, between the lines saying they had a good Summer. But cometh the first match of the season, the Summer was forgot and put aside, and it felt good to be back following the eleven men sporting the Liverbird. Imagine having the same feeling going back to work after a long lay-off. But then again real life and football are so many times poles apart. And if anything, the last ten minutes of the match really defined a roller-coaster. It is a cheap and over-used cliche but for the life of me I can't think of anything more poignant. Liverpool were firmly on track, creating chances and winding down the last minutes on the clock. They were comfortable. Then, out of nothing came the hand-ball in the penalty area with the over-eager Riley snatching on like a hungry cat does on cream, and that sick feeling of deja-vu hits your stomach. So much like last season it felt. Mostly in control, chances created, chances missed, punishment at the other end of the field, valuable points lost. Two minutes later though the skipper stepped up. He won a free-kick, set himself up, bends the ball over the wall, past the keeper's reach and voila some mad celebrations. A moment of genius at a crucial time with the chips being down. Steven Gerrard yesterday had a superlative day. He seems to be in an optimal frame of mind. His body language which uncovers so much of him is showing it. He looks made up with his place in the middle of the pitch, and he is eager to prove his boss that is where he belongs - in the thick of things, pulling the strings, and going forward when the chance presents itself. I have counted three very good attempts on target apart from his goal, which brought good saves off the keeper Taylor and Gardener's body. Loose balls in the opposition penalty area are less likely to go begging with him starting from the middle. And in such an inspired form, at the very end he showed another priceless quality - resolve, and did his day and Liverpool's justice, their efforts deserved. At twenty-seven years of age, he is now at his very peak and maturing. He is saying the right words off the pitch and can make all the difference for a succesful season from a good season for Liverpool F.C. And yesterday while him being the shining star, he was surrounded by other eager, confident and hungry lads. The first goal of the season was only an own goal, but the lead was surely deserved. Gerrard created the move by a through-pass, the self-less Kuyt dummied, Torres got the ball, rode a tackle and his effort brought out a good save off Taylor. Kuyt grasped the rebound before going away to a corner, cut the ball in and Laursen did the job for the lads waiting to pounce in. A more than a decent start, and the first three points on the opening day since 2002. This was miles better than than last year's trip to Bramall Lane and justified the big wait for the first kick-off.

August 12, 2007
350 replies

New Season, New Dreams, New Hopes

jean paul posted a topic in Liverpool FC

The sun here is still shining brightly, and most rooms aren’t bearable without the help of artificial cool air. Being an island the sea is very close to anywhere and easily accessible. And I absolutely love it. It is another way of escaping from the heat, the everyday chores and sweat. Still I just can’t wait for tomorrow. First proper match of the season, first proper debuts for some of the new signings I guess and another short trek to our club where to meet with the other red mates after some three months without seeing much of each other to get glued to what this rather new look Liverpool have got to offer. And another dream starts, and the daily routine will be again be broken up by the men in red every weekend and the occasional mid-week match. I have that feeling of anticipation for tomorrow’s kick-off which Sky has decided to prolong by another couple of hours. But I can’t complain much, what’s two hours to three months to put things into perspective. It’s the first of thirty-eight, and such a kick-off is probably looked forward to as much as some of the crucial final matches. Tomorrow will be different though, everyone is on a plain level and the batteries are only starting to recharge rather than flattened with broken dreams and disappointments. I remember the last time Liverpool faced Aston Villa on the first match of the season. It was a Sunday kick-off, and Riise opened the score after being put through by Danny Murphy. El Hadji Diouf was making his debut and he run ragged the Villa defense. After placing second the season before, the title looked so close and I had more than a couple to celebrate. I felt good, most of us felt good and the world felt an alright place to be at. The following months though the mood changed drastically and by the end we couldn’t wait for the season to finish as the reds did not get even the consolation of a Champions League berth. With Aston Villa again on the first day, you might feel that sense of deja-vu again. After being floored by AC Milan on the Champions League Final, Rafa must have more than a small job in his hands. The signings and his beard have drifted the attention and am sure the whole squad ably led by Gerrard or even more so Carragher are kicking their heels for a good start tomorrow. Talk of getting out of the blocks very early this season have been incessant, now is just the time to prove it. Lately Liverpool have had good starts as much as Fidel Castro has got Yankee mates. The last time, Liverpool had a good start was back in 2002, leading the table till between October and November. Still, it was an awful lot less than enough as the reds just descended down the table as darkness does on a wintry day. To keep our dreams alive till May, a similar start is probably needed. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the journey itself with some interesting European places in between, and continue the pace through the weeks and months to doubly celebrate the status of European Capital of Culture.

August 10, 2007
6 replies

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