The LFC English players could be the problem

[HL5]

This morning on Sky Sunday Supplement, Patrick Barclay suggested the problem was not Rafa but the English players, like the swash-buckling untouchable Steven Gerrad who are holding back the club. What do you think?

[Stevie H]

would need to hear the comment but that might be the stupidest comment about our predicament since jason mcateer blamed ringo starr for it.

Edited February 17, 2008 by Stevie H

[Herbie von Smalls]

i think barclay is a smug sting lookylikey c*** who reckons he knows more about football than anyone who's ever played the game at professional level. there are few 'serious' football writers whose opinions i value less than his.

 

so, no. it's a load of b******s.

[Hightown Phil]

If Gerrard realised he's not a central midfielder, then maybe we'd become a better team.

[Kahnee]

i think barclay is a smug sting lookylikey c*** who reckons he knows more about football than anyone who's ever played the game at professional level. there are few 'serious' football writers whose opinions i value less than his.

 

so, no. it's a load of b******s.

 

 

Up late, aren't you?

[Guest Pointerlou]

Patrick lives down my road and drinks in the local pub "The White Hart" in Barnes, SW13. I shall take him to task over that next time I see him! Have to say he is actually a really nice chap, just seems to like being controversial which can make him seem a prat every now and then

[gkmacca]

He's a proper writer. How he can stand to be in the same studio as idiots like Woolly Woolnough, Martin Samuels and other failed cab drivers is beyond me.

[Swipe]

Obviously those who didn't watch won't know the full context of what he was trying to say, but it looks b****x when written down like that.

[McBain]

Bizarre show this morning. Ian Ridley (Ged's mate) saying that Houllier should have had 18 months longer at the helm was a laugh out loud moment

 

Sometimes it can be good viewing, other times comical. Depending on the guests.

[Rimbeux]

There is no big THE. There are any number of issues which may impact on performances, there isn't a single issue that can be turned around and turn this int a 90 point squad, however not having the right players is a pretty big hurdle.

 

The English players? Not for how they play, their style, no way. For being leaders and mood setters, and not totally buying into the philosophies at the heart of things, perhaps

[gkmacca]

Bizarre show this morning. Ian Ridley (Ged's mate) saying that Houllier should have had 18 months longer at the helm was a laugh out loud moment

 

Sometimes it can be good viewing, other times comical. Depending on the guests.

 

Of all the people who've had to give up alcohol, Ridley looks like the worst advert. I know that's a bit too glib, so my apologies to anyone struggling, but my god he always looks desperately depressed and, well, denied. He only ever seems remotely animated when he's moaning on someone else's behalf.

[Keita]

Did he not also say that it was Houlliers team that won the Champions league with 9 of the starting 11 being his players.

[McBain]

Did he not also say that it was Houlliers team that won the Champions league with 9 of the starting 11 being his players.

 

Aye. the fact that said 9 players had failed the previous season in the Uefa and the season before that in both the cl and the uefa seemingly passed him by

[jfogarty]

Steven Gerrard is the last person who is "holding the club back".

[Rimbeux]

Did he not also say that it was Houlliers team that won the Champions league with 9 of the starting 11 being his players.

 

He's another mate of Ged's, Ged is by all accounts great company and well liked. Barclay insists his shortcomings were all about not having the cash and wages to get the likes of Ronaldo and Llundberg having 'found' them first and having to settle for lesser-cheaper players.

[Guest Snorky]

I was chilled before I read this s****.

[floyd]

Patrick Barclay said on that programme a while ago "Liverpool think their still a big club, but they just aren't anymore"

Ian Ridley, when he's not sucking up to Ged, is buried knee deep up Tony "Pontius Pilate" Adams jacksie.

Woolnough has got the biggest fvckin head, ever recorded by Norris McWhirter, on a human being.

 

Fancy the best journo, (and usually is) on their today being Emily Bishop's son.

Edited February 17, 2008 by floyd

[gkmacca]

Yes, Oliver Holt.

[Kuyt-fever]

At times I think the same thing.

[Guest RedLegend]

This morning on Sky Sunday Supplement, Patrick Barclay suggested the problem was not Rafa but the English players, like the swash-buckling untouchable Steven Gerrad who are holding back the club. What do you think?

 

If Gerrard is holding us back I'd hate to see what the rest of them are doing.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Was the comment not more along the lines of, there was a split in the dressing room between the English and some of the foreign lads and it manifested from there that Benitez would side with his players and the English lads would lose.

[growler]

houllier did find the players, he just didn't have the coaching ability to take them to the next level.

[Guz]

What was the comment in relation to? Carragher and Gerrard's footballing abilities OR their dressing room influence? Because the two things are very different.

 

I do remember a lot of talk in Ged's final season about how much influence Gerrard, Carragher, Owen and Murphy had around the time we beat the mancs 1-0 at their place including persuading the manager not to pick certain players

[Billydog]

I think there is something in this suggestion in as far as it relates to S Gerrard. Time may have come where Stevie is too big for the club and is holding back the team and other players developing. Fergie moved on Keane Becham and Horseface and each time the club improved. Wenger moved on henry and Viera and again look what happened. Stevie has too much baggage and is too intense. I dont think he makes a good captain. I think a sale in the Summer could lift cloud which has been hanging over the club and be the catylyst for a new beginning.

 

I will now turn around and bend over so that you can all give me a good a*** kicking.

[alias75]

I think there is a difference in the British players compared to the overseas players, and that may be causing problems. I know these are sweeping generlisations but i do think theres some truth to them, namely that British players pigeon hole themselves as central midfielders or centre backs etc.., we've already seen Gerrard sulk a bit when he was played on the right and Carragher didnt look happy the other week when he was asked to play right back. If you asked Mascherano to play right back he'd do it without complaining or with no ego as if its a slight on him as a player. I get the impression Gerrard thinks its a slight against him as a player if he plays anywhere but central midfield and i think thats a very British attitude thats prevalent from a very young age where players are given positions and thats that.

 

I also think British players handle rotation badly compared to overseas players which is obviously a problem with Rafa, i think Crouch as one example is somebody that doesn't like being rotated and when he is picked of late he seem disinterested.

 

So maybe the way Rafa manages isn't suited to a British player thats set in his ways and less flexible than someone from Spain or Argentina or Brazil.