11/05/24
November 25, 2002
EPL Week 15 Report: Gunners and Reds lose but keep top spots. Toffees and Red Devils close gap.: (more inside)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 09:29 AM - 17 comments
Nice post... If only Yahoo Fantasy League was this prompt and consistent! I can't believe Liverpool lost again! If i fucking see Carragher, Murphy and Heskey in the god damn lineup one more time i am going to violently barf on my television!
posted by StarFucker at 11:09 AM on November 25, 2002
Hey StarFucker: I don't know if I've said this before, but, aside from you kicking my ass (and everyone else's) all over the Fantasy league, I'm pleased to have you as not just another soccer enthusiast, but a fellow *Liverpool fan* here at SpoFi. Now, what's your ideal Liverpool team? I'm going with these guys: Dudek Henchoz (as soon as he recovers) Hyppia Traore (what's up with Xavier's "virus"?) Arne-Riise Diao Gerrard Murphy (why don't you like him?) Baros Diouf Owen I still think we need more breadth, but then who doesn't? We need some people who can do overlapping runs or just tear other backs apart on the wings.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:30 PM on November 25, 2002
Whoa, I goofed. Man U is fifth in the League, not fourth. Chelsea is fourth. Yay!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:53 PM on November 25, 2002
I can't believe I actually saw this, but what do you Liverpool fans make of this? I thought Dudek was one of the most highly regarded keepers in the league.
posted by trox at 02:40 PM on November 25, 2002
That Soccernet team is poxy, Kenna is a poor player; if any Birmingham dude deserved to be in it was Lazaridis, who had one of his all too rare unstoppable, marauding games. The big surprise is Everton, who have a genius in David Moyes. Many Blues fans, but not all, wanted him to replace Trevor Francis when he was sacked last year. We remembered the fantastic job he had done with Preston the year before, and how they had mugged us in the play offs, with a team of lower league journeymen. Everton are hardly filled with stars and here he is doing it again, at a much higher level. It shows the value of a coach who thinks deeply about the game and attends many, many courses. He is is always looking to expand his knowledge of the game. Fair play to the dude, I like the cut of his jib. I have now booted all Liverpool players out of my fantasy team, so the revival starts here!
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:44 PM on November 25, 2002
Dudek is one of the highest regarded keepers in the world man! I don't exactly know what the hell is going on, but i have been watching the games and the "mistakes" he supposedly made are ridiculous! The dropped ball against Middlesbrough was entirely not his fault! Boksic deliberately ran into him, it should have been a free kick for Liverpool, not a goal for Middlesbrough. And don't even talk about this last game! He made some great saves and is it his fault if the defenders cannot clear the ball!? OH MY GOD!! THEY HAVE TO DROP CARRAGHER, HESKEY AND MURPHY! I swear, i have been a fan of Liverpool for 5 years now. If i see Kirkland playing instead of Dudek in the next few games but Heskey, Murphy and Carragher are still in the starting lineup...i am finding myself a new team. Everton seems to be doing everything right. I could see myself rooting for them instead of Liverpool...
posted by StarFucker at 03:07 PM on November 25, 2002
StarFucker: Name your Liverpool team.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:17 PM on November 25, 2002
StarFucker, thanks for clearing that up (I agree with his world class status by the way); the whole idea confused me to no end.
posted by trox at 03:55 PM on November 25, 2002
My ideal Liverpool team and formation is as follows. -------------------Dudek------------------- Babbel----Henchoz----Hyypia----Riise Diao------------Gerrard---------Hamann -------(Diouf, Berger or Smicer)-------- --------Baros---------------Owen-------- THIS is a winning formula!
posted by StarFucker at 04:02 PM on November 25, 2002
Not having watched Liverpool this season, I'm going to go with your formation, StarFucker (I'd forgotten Babbel and Hamman, and they're tops in my book). I'm going to have to goad my Man U-loving friend into letting me watch his TV this weekend.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:06 PM on November 25, 2002
I'd like to see Liverpool field: Jerzy Dudek (but give Kirkland a chance occasionally) Abel Xavier Stephane Henchoz Sammi Hyypia Markus Babbel Steven Gerrard Dietmar Hamann Danny Murphy John Arne Riise Michael Owen ...and then I'm at a loss. Heskey? (doesn't deserve all the critisim) Baros? (doesn't complement Owen very well) Diouf? (looks good but doesn't score as often as he should) Smicer? (does well as a substitute but isn't really a striker)
posted by Steve-o at 04:36 PM on November 25, 2002
"The cool, calm and collected passing moves that Liverpool once built their reputation on are yet to resurface in the current era." A dissection of the recent Champion's League loss to Basel strikes at the weak heart of Liverpool's strategy. Oh for the days of Dalglish, Rush, Kennedy, Thompson, Souness, and Keegan. Of width, breadth, control, and invention.
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:22 PM on November 25, 2002
World Cup...if you had seen Murphy and Heskey play this year you would NOT field them even as subs. They are bringing the team down, and the only reason they are being played as far as i can tell is because they are English and Houllier is most likely under pressure to field as many English players as possible... But he should have thought about this and bought some actual talent from amongst the English players instead of buying the Senagalese Diao and Diouf. Now he is stuck with these 3 no talent ass jobs of Carragher, Heskey and Murphy. Its really pissing me off.
posted by StarFucker at 08:01 AM on November 26, 2002
Hmmm. StarFucker: The transfer window opens in January. If you had your druthers, which English players would you buy for Liverpool (to replace Heskey, Carragher and Murphy)? I'd go for Rooney (heh, Everton would love that), Danny Mills (hey, Leeds needs the money) and Trevor Sinclair (he'll prob. relish not playing in the First Div).
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:33 AM on November 26, 2002
Definitely Rooney... Also Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer...
posted by StarFucker at 11:59 AM on November 26, 2002
Couple of points. There's no way Houllier is under pressure to field English players, no one's under any pressure to do so. He plays them because he thinks the best he has. Therefore it's his bad for not having a clue. Murphy is a great player having a dip in form, perhaps could do with a rest. Heskey is abysmal and Carragher average. What Liverpool seem to lack most is any incisive wing play, everything seems to go through the middle which most teams with a little nous can easily nullify. As for your suggested January buys would you mind if I share my uninformed opinions? Can't see Rooney leaving Everton, apparently also he's beginning to exhibit an ego the size of a small planet. Mills is having some kind of "personal problems" at Leeds (though the rumours about a run-in with Viduka abound) and seeing as they need to raise cash is probably a good shout. Sinclair? Never rated him myself. One overhead wonder goal and he's the next Pele. Cole - possibly the most overrated player in English football, yes he has the skill but his pass-completion and goal-scoring ratios are abysmal. Kieron Dyer? Dream on. ;-) My prediction for the season - Liverpool to finish fourth. Sorry.
posted by squealy at 06:06 AM on November 27, 2002
Arsenal (top of the table) and Liverpool (2nd) both lost 3-2 but had the consolation of knowing they had identical results, and maintained their top spots. Arsenal dropped the points to Southampton, while Liverpool succumbed to Fulham, who had two goals from that masked man. Meanwhile, Liverpool's city rivals Everton scored their sixth successive victory (and their fifth consecutive 1-0 win) to move into third spot, just two points behind Liverpool. This sets up an intriguing Liverpool derby right before Christmas. Next Sunday, Liverpool host nemesis Manchester United (4th spot), who displayed attacking power (and a Swiss cheese defence) with a 5-3 win at home to Newcastle United. Newcastle favorite Alan Shearer scored his 100th goal for the Magpies and BBC's Goal of the week. Miscellaneous: