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How did Chazza Itjande slip through the net?

The Hitman

By The Hitman
in Liverpool FC

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The Hitman

The Hitman

Posted
Posted

Rafa Benitez believes last year's derby day blunder has helped turn Pepe Reina into one of the world's best goalkeepers.

The 25-year-old stopper has gone from strength to strength since gifting Andy Johnson a late goal in the 3-0 defeat at Goodison.

 

Reina went on to win the coveted Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in the Premiership, with 19 shut-outs during 2006-07.

 

Another 10 have followed in all competitions so far this year, making Benitez's decision to stand by his countryman last September seem not only justified, but inspired.

 

The boss said: "Pepe will remember this mistake as important, so for him it was a test and he showed that he can come through difficult situations and be really good.

 

"He has a lot of character. One of the keys to being a top professional and a top-class player is to be able to show character in difficult situations.

 

"If you are always playing well and without difficulties you cannot test the character of the player.

 

"Pepe made some mistakes but after this he showed quality and character.

 

"Also, you can see when he has been under pressure in finals and other big games that he is a player with a very good mentality."

 

Benitez claims he knew Reina could be a world-beater from the moment he set eyes on the youngster playing for Barcelona. He even wanted to sign him back in 2001.

 

"The first time I saw him play he was still at Barcelona and I was manager of Tenerife," recalled the Spaniard.

"We were looking for a new keeper and we were playing a tournament in Lanzarote which Barcelona were also involved in. On this occasion Pepe was going through his warm-up with Victor Valdes and I was stood behind him watching.

 

"It was clear just from watching him in a warm-up that he was a very good keeper and although I did not manage to sign him for Tenerife I did sign him for Liverpool a few years later."

 

Reina is hoping to get a starting place for his national side in Wednesday night's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden.

 

Spanish hero Iker Casillas is the current number one, a situation Benitez wants to see change.

 

He said: "Pepe is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

 

"If you analyse his game, his technique is really good. He is also very good physically and mentally he is very strong.

 

"So, if you take all that into account you have to say he is a very good keeper. For me he is the best keeper in Spain. There are many good keepers in Spain - Casillas, Valdes and so on - but Pepe has everything.

 

"But he can still get better. He is training well and he knows there are two or three things that he needs to improve. Every player can be better."

_00_deathscar

_00_deathscar

Posted
Posted
So what's with the Itjande reference? Needlessly having a go at our reserve or am I missing something?

 

Big Wayne posted a part wind up thread on here a month or so back about how crap Itandje was during the warm up and he'd made his mind up that just because he was no good at warming up, he'd be no good in the game.

 

Read the bit in bold from the article again, and you'll get it ... :D

Guest Linton

Guest Linton

Posted
Posted

On another note, what kind of drugs are Grobbelaar on these days?

 

PEPE REINA has the potential to become the best goalkeeper in the world, says the Liverpool legend who Reina has pushed into third place in the all-time Anfield charts.

 

The clean sheet Reina kept against Fulham last weekend means he now has the remarkable record of a clean sheet every 1.85 appearances for the Reds.

 

That is a more effective shut-out rate than all-time greats Ray Clemence (2.06) and Bruce Grobbelaar (2.35).

 

But Grobbelaar believes his successor can become even better.

 

“Liverpool still need a goalkeeper who can come and sweep up at the back,” he said. “That’s the one thing Reina maybe needs to add to his game, anticipating when to come out and smother.

 

“Having said that, I do think he has the attributes to become one of the very best in the world.

 

“He is dealing with crosses better than he ever has – I think he’s catching more often now, rather than punching.”

 

But Grobbelaar stopped short of declaring Reina as the best goalkeeper at Anfield since he ended his 13-year association with the Reds in 1994.

 

“It’s hard to say who is the best,” he added. “Sander Westerveld was a great keeper and I honestly think he was pushed out too soon.

 

“David James might still be here if the original plan Graeme Souness came up with had been implemented. Souness asked me to be the number one and bring on James. It didn’t happen because Souness didn’t like me going back and forth to play for my country, Zimbabwe.

 

“He put James in too early and destroyed his confidence. I am pleased with the way it has gone for him now, though; he is doing really well.”

 

 

What? If there's one thing Reina is the best in the business it is coming out from his goal? And Westerveld a great keeper? I know that Glenn Hysén said he was thick (Hysén is a bit thick himself by the way) but I didn't know it was this bad. :ohmy:

fyds

fyds

Posted
Posted
On another note, what kind of drugs are Grobbelaar on these days?

 

PEPE REINA has the potential to become the best goalkeeper in the world, says the Liverpool legend who Reina has pushed into third place in the all-time Anfield charts.

 

The clean sheet Reina kept against Fulham last weekend means he now has the remarkable record of a clean sheet every 1.85 appearances for the Reds.

 

That is a more effective shut-out rate than all-time greats Ray Clemence (2.06) and Bruce Grobbelaar (2.35).

 

But Grobbelaar believes his successor can become even better.

 

“Liverpool still need a goalkeeper who can come and sweep up at the back,” he said. “That’s the one thing Reina maybe needs to add to his game, anticipating when to come out and smother.

 

“Having said that, I do think he has the attributes to become one of the very best in the world.

 

“He is dealing with crosses better than he ever has – I think he’s catching more often now, rather than punching.”

 

But Grobbelaar stopped short of declaring Reina as the best goalkeeper at Anfield since he ended his 13-year association with the Reds in 1994.

 

“It’s hard to say who is the best,” he added. “Sander Westerveld was a great keeper and I honestly think he was pushed out too soon.

 

“David James might still be here if the original plan Graeme Souness came up with had been implemented. Souness asked me to be the number one and bring on James. It didn’t happen because Souness didn’t like me going back and forth to play for my country, Zimbabwe.

 

“He put James in too early and destroyed his confidence. I am pleased with the way it has gone for him now, though; he is doing really well.”

What? If there's one thing Reina is the best in the business it is coming out from his goal? And Westerveld a great keeper? I know that Glenn Hysén said he was thick (Hysén is a bit thick himself by the way) but I didn't know it was this bad. :ohmy:

 

Westerveld was a very good keeper - something went wrong with him though - his confidence maybe, as he was a very confident guy, attitude - god knows, But you don't win 5 trophies in one season being rubbish.

owenthomas

owenthomas

Posted
Posted

yeah i liked Westerveld.. he hits like a pussy mind - a lad that size should be smashing mugs like Jeffers to the ground with no fkin messin' about!

 

anyway, i've come to the conclusion lately that Reina's my all time favourite keeper.. :yes:

sutty

sutty

Posted
Posted
Westerveld was a very good keeper - something went wrong with him though - his confidence maybe, as he was a very confident guy, attitude - god knows, But you don't win 5 trophies in one season being rubbish.

 

 

No he wasn't

 

He never f***ing dived either

johngibo YPC

johngibo YPC

Posted
Posted
Westerveld was a very good keeper - something went wrong with him though - his confidence maybe, as he was a very confident guy, attitude - god knows, But you don't win 5 trophies in one season being rubbish.

 

wo-oh wo-oh wo-oh

We've got the worst keeping coach in the world

Hassony

Hassony

Posted
Posted
No he wasn't

 

He never f***ing dived either

Westerveld was poor, noting wrong with his confidence but his shot stopping is of a simmilar level to paul robinson

sutty

sutty

Posted
Posted
Westerveld was poor, noting wrong with his confidence but his shot stopping is of a simmilar level to paul robinson

 

 

He just stood there and watched the ball go into the net half the time.

 

Silly dutch c***

Bigal

Bigal

Posted
Posted
He just stood there and watched the ball go into the net half the time.

 

Silly dutch c***

 

Uefa cup final, there was a header that he just didnt go for.

 

And dont even start on chris f***ing kirkland

sutty

sutty

Posted
Posted
Uefa cup final, there was a header that he just didnt go for.

 

And dont even start on chris f***ing kirkland

 

 

I have far deeper issues with Kirkland

Senrab_nhoj

Senrab_nhoj

Posted
Posted
No he wasn't

 

He never f***ing dived either

 

 

Watch the treble season video and any goal we conceded you want to scream 'Dive you fecker'.. I struggle to remember one goal screaming into the net with him at full stretch the ball brushing his finger tips....

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