04/26/24
October 15, 2003
Gerard hands the armband to Gerrard: Houllier to Steven, of course, as the midfield monster get's the captain's job just ahead of signing a four year contract extension. Houllier claims this will help Sami too, ease the pressure a bit, do you agree? And with Becks playing in Spain, is it time for a new England skipper as well?
posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 01:38 PM - 44 comments
So i see... I think he deserves it i guess. Who else? Maybe Kewell, but he is too new to the team. Hmm...how about...Smicer!?
posted by StarFucker at 02:19 PM on October 15, 2003
Heskey? Hoohoohoo.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:44 PM on October 15, 2003
btw, first half in the Reds vs Olimpija game, and the score is 2-0 (agg 3-1) with goals from Le Tallec and ... Heskey! Gerrard's captainship is off to a good start.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:49 PM on October 15, 2003
Woah!! Check out this lineup! Its fucking sweet. The only problem i have is Heskey, but as long as the other 2 monkeys, Murphy and Carrager aren't in there i can deal with this. 1 Jerzy Dudek 4 Sami Hyypia 25 Igor Biscan 3 Steve Finnan 17 Steven Gerrard 7 Harry Kewell 18 John Arne Riise 11 Vladimir Smicer 9 El Hadji Diouf 8 Emile Heskey 20 Anthony Le Tallec
posted by StarFucker at 03:49 PM on October 15, 2003
Kewell tallied just after the half as well. Think we'll see Le Tallec starting up with Heskey while Michael recovers? As far as UEFA Cup, I'm watching Barca simply disassemble Puchov, with Ronaldhino getting a hat trick inside 57 minutes. Some beautiful possession and footwork from the Nou Camp.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:51 PM on October 15, 2003
Dammit!! I forgot to record that fucking game!
posted by StarFucker at 03:56 PM on October 15, 2003
This has to be a Liverpool link too far!
posted by Fat Buddha at 04:01 PM on October 15, 2003
SF, unless you were hoping for a clinic I don't think you ought to be too upset. Regardless of the first leg result, these two sides aren't even close to being well-matched.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:03 PM on October 15, 2003
Sami of course is typical Finnish class, but it seems to me that they've been gunning for him since the start of the season. His very first performances were criticized very harshly. Sorry to say this isn't surprising, just a bit disappointing. But, I guess the politics in footy can be downright nasty.
posted by somethingotherthan at 04:24 PM on October 15, 2003
I haven't seen a match for almost 2 weeks...i would've watched WOMEN'S SOCCER tonight!! Well, i wouldn't go that far...maybe if there were no matches for like...2 months.
posted by StarFucker at 04:38 PM on October 15, 2003
US Open final is on FSW at 5 p.m. PST, dude.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:56 PM on October 15, 2003
Yeah i just realized that...and i have a game tonight so... At least i'll record that...
posted by StarFucker at 06:04 PM on October 15, 2003
We won 3-0!! I got another goal!! Thats 6 in 6 matches!! Whats Houllier's number?!?!
posted by StarFucker at 11:29 PM on October 15, 2003
Hey, congrats, SF! As for Liverpool, looks like the French lads are turning up good, and Henchoz even got a few minutes of match-play. These new options in attack are heartening, given the Reds' rampant injury problems. Heskey not included. He still misses too many.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:06 AM on October 16, 2003
Steven Gerrard has been our true captain on the field for some time now. Sami Hyypia has been suffering from the lack of his centre-half partner Stephan Henchoz, and with Carragher out of the side he is also having to cover for Jon Arne Riise quite a lot as Riise attacks up the flank, leaving him exposed. This hasn't left Sami time to do his duties as captain in terms of marshalling the attack and seeing that the team keeps shape further up the field. Steven is a local lad (the Huyton Hammer) and is English. He's a natural leader and he was always going to be the Liverpool captain going into the future. So it was just a matter of time. Everyone at the club and most of the supporters have known this for ages, but how to make the switch when we all love Sami so. Sami has done a superb job as Liverpool captain, and is a consumate professional. Houllier has stated that Sami understands this decision and accepts it. I'm betting it will be a relief as it will allow him to concentrate on getting his defensive role back to full strength and will deflect some of the unfair criticism he has received in recent months. If you look at the game he had last night, I think it's working. He was certainly smiling a lot. I believe it's the right time to do it now because we're having a poor season where we may not win much anyway. Expect to see lots more youngsters blooded this year for the same reasons. It's a brave decision by the manager and I salute it. Allez, Allez Gerard Houllier!
posted by walrus at 04:01 AM on October 16, 2003
Biggest. Overreaction. To. Beating. Third-rate. Opposition. Ever.
posted by squealy at 04:56 AM on October 16, 2003
Who's over-reacting? It was a solid performance against a poor side. Nice to see a first goal from Tony Le T, but otherwise we just took our dues. Anyway, I thought the thread was about the new captain?
posted by walrus at 05:16 AM on October 16, 2003
I wasn't having a pop at you walrus. I think that having a front page post about Liverpool switching captaincy is probably a little too ScouseFilter for my liking though.
posted by squealy at 05:51 AM on October 16, 2003
Yeah you definitely have a point there. We seem to be over-represented on this website.
posted by walrus at 06:26 AM on October 16, 2003
Aww...jealous? Post something about YOUR team, see how many posts are in THAT thread, pal...
posted by StarFucker at 09:25 AM on October 16, 2003
And that would help in what way?
posted by squealy at 10:22 AM on October 16, 2003
It would help me understand your objection to a post about Liverpool...i think. I mean, what IS your objection?
posted by StarFucker at 10:26 AM on October 16, 2003
A good link is sports-related and encourages discussion among the community. SportsFilter is not a place to ask a question or merely state an opinion. Links should be about something new related to sports—such as a breaking news story, an interesting commentary, or a noteworthy sports site. The more specific the link the better. Linking to a preview of the Super Bowl is OK. Linking to an article on how the field conditions might affect play is better. The way you describe a link has a direct impact on the way it is discussed by members
posted by Fat Buddha at 11:18 AM on October 16, 2003
This was a great link...
posted by StarFucker at 11:33 AM on October 16, 2003
FB, squealy, I think this FPP meets the guidelines and I did note the LFCFilter nature in the first comment. PppphhhhhhhhhTTTTTTTTTTThhhhhh!!!!!!!!
posted by billsaysthis at 01:09 PM on October 16, 2003
posted by Fat Buddha at 01:13 PM on October 16, 2003
FB: Argh, my brain! It's worse than the BBC boreds (sic) on there. I went to a few Blues matches in my youth by the way. It was always good atmos, but they lost every time I went so I thought I might be a bad luck totem. I was already an LFC fan by then (it's a long story), but Hereford (don't laugh) were local and the team I first went to see, and if they met Liverpool now I'd still want the Bulls to win.
posted by walrus at 01:29 PM on October 16, 2003
I just like a good pile-on. You actually tried to address the ScouseFilter issue in the post itself bill, but no one wanted to discuss Beckham's captaincy of England. FWIW I think Becks is a great captain and I wouldn't swap him for any other member of the England squad. Pity your jinx on us didn't wear off sooner walrus. Don't come back to Blues, there's a good chap.
posted by squealy at 01:34 PM on October 16, 2003
I like Beckham as a captain. I don't think Gerrard is ready for that one yet, but who knows what could come to pass. If this armband is a catalyst for him like the England captaincy was for Beckham, then it's possible he will turn out at least as effective a captain. He's already a big influence on England, but only 23 years old don't forget. I'm starting to fancy getting up there again some time actually, maybe when I go to visit my mum. Which match could you handle losing?
posted by walrus at 01:58 PM on October 16, 2003
Just wait until we've ensured survival, mkay?
posted by squealy at 02:05 PM on October 16, 2003
If you havent been for a while Walrus old chap, you are in for a surprise, not least at the price of the chuffin tickets! Squealy, we are safe old boy, stop panicking. England will never be captained by a chap with one of those horrible hub cap nickers frowns, of which Gerrard possesses a classic. Not a cheap jibe at scousers by the way, all towns possess youth of such demeanour, in abundance.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:20 PM on October 16, 2003
It's been about fifteen years so I reckon it would be a shock. Bet I know someone who could get me one though. I was pleased to see your lot promoted, but it would be a bit sordid to cheat on Liverpool now we're in the same division, so maybe I'll give it a miss after all.
posted by walrus at 02:39 PM on October 16, 2003
You would have no problem getting a ticket, we only sell out for the likes of Man Ure and Villa. It will be easy to get one for the Liverpool game, just keep your eyes on the Blues website for when they go on general sale; usually 2 weeks before the game.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:43 PM on October 16, 2003
Nice idea. If I did manage to get up for that particular game then maybe we could get a beer in too.
posted by walrus at 02:52 PM on October 16, 2003
Maybe. I use a superb old style boozer just outside town that is welcoming to away fans. Squealy associates with undesirables, I think, in a hotel much nearer the ground.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:08 PM on October 16, 2003
Owen has been Captain a few times now for England...
posted by StarFucker at 03:19 PM on October 16, 2003
Owen hasn't got the scally scowl, but he shouldn't be captaining England, as he's Welsh.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:29 PM on October 16, 2003
I didn't realize that being captain included on field responsibilities. Well, other than arguing with the referee and the sort. Hmm.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:03 PM on October 16, 2003
Add that to the fact that I've given up going because of "the price of the chuffin tickets" and FB is definitely a better bet. I'd prefer to drink in a proper pub, but when you're skint and being offered tickets gratis then... I guess as a one-off though, the Liverpool game would be a good un. After all, we skinned them last year. ;-)
posted by squealy at 05:53 PM on October 16, 2003
You did?! I don't remember that...
posted by StarFucker at 06:08 PM on October 16, 2003
Pissed all over them in fact!
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:00 AM on October 17, 2003
I must have blocked it out, i don't remember it at all. Must have been a boring game.
posted by StarFucker at 09:00 AM on October 17, 2003
This year is payback time. I expect we'll do the double over the Blues this year. Yeah!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:13 PM on October 17, 2003
Pantheon, any chance of adding an LFC category? <ducks>