One Point Is Two Dropped

29 Nov 2006 Liverpool 0-0 Portsmouth - EPL

BBC - The Reds were allowed to dominate play as an injury-ravaged Pompey barricaded their goal behind the massed ranks of a spirited and stubborn defence. A low Steven Gerrard cross caused some desperate defending for the visitors but keeper David James saved Luis Garcia's shot to avert the danger. Gerrard went close with a late diving header but found the side-netting.

Cara: "We're disappointed with the result and the performance. When you look at how the other results went last night, we feel even worse today. Aston Villa, Arsenal, Bolton and Everton all losing gave us a big opportunity which we haven't taken.
"Our home record has been fantastic for well over a year, so sometimes you've just got to accept there are going to be games like this. Really, we're paying a bit for the points we've dropped away from home. When you don't win enough away games you're putting yourself under far more pressure to keep winning at home. We're now at that stage of the season where we've got to start winning away, starting at Wigan this weekend, but I know Paul Jewell will have his side right up for that one and it will be another very difficult game."

Gerrard's First Of The League

25 Nov 2006 Liverpool 1-0 Man City - EPL

BBC - Gerrard crashed a swerving shot past Nicky Weaver after Dutchman Dirk Kuyt intercepted Joey Barton's poor pass. Before the goal City had frustrated Liverpool and might have taken the lead themselves had Bernardo Corradi taken a couple of reasonable chances. Georgios Samaras also went close with a clever shot in the last 10 minutes.

The Kaiser - A Real Mate

This is one of my favorite parts of the book. It was Euro 2000 on 17 June in Charleroi England played their old rival Germany. The England boss Kevin Keegan sent Gerrard on for substitution, who had played just ONE England friendly. As a young lad, he was definitely nervous. See how the generosity of Didi helped him.

".......When Didi arrived at Liverpool, I was ecstatic. He's a great player, and I learn off him day in, day out. I have always watched Didi, picking up little tips to improve me and I was gutted when he left Liverpool in 2006. He is the ultimate holding-role player, a clever sentry who allows other midfielders to bomb forward. His qualities were not restricted to the art of tackling and passing.
My admiration for him as a man grew during my twenty-nine minutes in opposition to him in Charleroi. After my first few passes, Didi ran past and said, 'Keep doing what you are doing.' Unbelievable. I was stunned. We were sworn enemies until the referee's final whistle, representing rival countries in a vital game with half the world tuned in. Yet here he was, helping me. Incredible. Germany themselves had so much riding on the game. They had drawn their first match, with Romania, and were trailing here. Yet even in the heat of battle, Didi was prepared to think about me, a young club-mate struggling not to sink in unfamiliar international waters. Didi could see in my face that I was sweating, nervous and panicky. When the ball next went out of play, I turned to him.
'I am shitting myself here, mate,' I said. 'I'm fucking terrified.'
Didi looked at me. 'Relax, Stevie,' he said. 'Just do what you do normally.'
Didi's kindness to an opponent that evening showed he was a real mate. As long as I live, I will never forget out exchange of words in Charleroi."

"....I treasure the shirt he gave me at the final whistle. It's upstairs, and when I look at it all the memories of that night in Charleroi come flooding back. The nerves, the tackle, the tree points. 'All the best in your next game,' said Didi, before heading off to the demoralized German dressing-room. Typical Didi. Even then, in what must have been a time of real heartache, he was prepared to think about someone else. My life took a turn for the better the day I met Didi Hamann."

Of course, this is not the whole story. After the exchange of words, Gerrard started to go after him and made some tackles. "I screamed at him, standing over him. 'I didn't fucking touch you. Get up! I'm going to get a yellow unless you fucking get up now. Two yellow and I miss the quarters.'".........If you're interested, go get the book, 'Gerrard: My Autobiography'.

I miss Didi a lot, and I think I'll feel strange seeing him back to Anfield plays against us this Saturday. But as Alan Hansen writes in this week's LFC magazine, "Even without Sissoko getting injured you could say that Hamann in there with Steven Gerrard in front of him was one of the best combinations but that's gone now and let's not forget that Didi is 33. He wasn't getting any quicker and I've spoken consistently in this column about the need for pace. If you had Hamann in front of jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia there isn't a lot of pace there so sooner or later you've got to do something about that. We're another year down the line and they're all getting older so I'd back Rafa Benitez on this one. Hamann was a brilliant player for Liverpool and he gave the back four trmendous protection but the manager got it right on this occasion. It was time to move him on."

Does This Make You Think Of...

[Latest Injury Report]
Liverpoolfc.tv - Alonso faces up to twelve days on the sidelines with a knee injury while Gonzalez could be out for three weeks after tearing his hamstring against PSV Eindhoven in midweek. Jermaine Pennant, who also left the clash with PSV on a stretcher, is a doubt and will face a late fitness test. Benitez will also be without Stephen Warnock for the next couple of weeks after the defender underwent a groin operation while Fabio Aurelio, Momo Sissoko and Harry Kewell are all still missing.

Doesn't all of these sound familiar?? Struggling in the domestic league, especially away games when we were in damn yellow shirts, and with injury problems, everyone thought: Liverpool is going nowhere. But what the hell happened that season was we ended up the European Champion! lol

Top The Group But A Triple Injury Blow

22 Nov 2006 Liverpool 2-0 PSV Eindhoven - CL Group Stage

Liverpoolfc.tv - Steven Gerrard's 65th minute side-footed opener and an 89th minute Peter Crouch header ensured the Reds will take their place in the knockout phase as group winners and renders the forthcoming trip to Istanbul meaningless. But Rafael Benitez's delight at seeing his side clinch first place with a game to spare was tempered by injuries to Xabi Alonso, Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant.

R.I.P

I've noticed that this video has been put up by some football blogs recently. I was so shocked by this, and felt terribly sad. It's a little late, but rest in peace, Miklos Feher.

Soccer Player Dies During Game - video powered by Metacafe

"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones." - Mother Teresa

One World

Created by MadV
"This is an invitation, to make a stand, to make a statement, to make a difference.Write something, anything, on your hand and share it with the world.What will you choose to write?"

Top man! I love his videos.
And if I'm writting something on my hand, it would be..

Another Shocking Performance

18 Nov 2006 Middlesbrough 0-0 Liverpool - EPL

BBC - The visitors dominated an uninspiring game and Dirk Kuyt had a promising early chance but fired wide. Boro had only one chance, when Jason Euell's header was saved by Jose Reina and Yakubu failed to get on the end of the rebound with an empty net gaping. Peter Crouch went close late on for the Reds but lacked power in his header.

If I were Rafa, I would shout loudly: 'see, I play Gerrard in the centre as you all wish. So what do you make of it about our wingers - Pennant and Gonzalez today?'
The draw today just raised a question in my mind: If Liverpool isn't doing well, what the fuck should I be buzzing for living so far away from home in the God damn chilly Newcastle!? Come on, I need energy, I need something to cheer for!! Studying abroad is difficult!! Don't let me wait for too long Liverpool!

btw, why Woodgate's never been so great for Real Madrid before..

We've Lost, No Complain

12 Nov 2006 Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool - EPL

BBC - Mathieu Flamini put Arsenal ahead from close range five minutes before the end of an evenly contested first half. But Arsenal moved into top gear after the interval, Kolo Toure racing on to Robin van Persie's clever pass to slide home a cool finish after 56 minutes. William Gallas was then left completely unmarked to head in Van Persie's corner to seal the win with 10 minutes left.

Carra: "It's another disappointing result, but we've got to try and look ahead now. You never want to look beyond the next game, but we've got to remember what we did this time last season and put together a long unbeaten run now. A lot of the toughest away fixtures have gone and we know we've got to make sure we improve on our away performances.
"We'll never throw in the towel at Liverpool, but the first thing we've got to do is to get ourselves into the top four. We had big ambitions at the start of the season, which is only right at a club like Liverpool, but we also know it's important to make sure we're in the top four as soon as possible, and then we can start thinking about what's above us.
"There's still a long way to go, and Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea will all have to come to Anfield during the second half of the season. We did well to win five games on the run after losing to United, and now we've got to put a longer winning run together."

Speechless, gutted, and inconsolable. We all knew how important that three points was. The first away win this season against a great side, and most importantly, going back to the top of the table. I was worried because we needed the win so badly that if we fell, it would hurt like hell. Unfortunately it just happened. Couldn't be worst. Well beaten, no spirits, and that yellow away shirt. Yes, that yellow away shirt. Never like it. A reminder of poor away preformances the season before. Even worst, seeing Gerrard and Riise arguing on the pitch after Gallas scored. What the hell was going on, I thought. That just showed how frustrated the players were. I've never seen Liverpool players do that since I started watching them.

And all those about Gerrard's future and position debate started again. The English press just never get tired of that. It seems that Liverpool is all about Steven Gerrard, and playing him in the centre can solve all the problems, if not, he's leaving the club. Come on let's be honest, we're just not preforming at the moment. And stop putting those headlines singling out Gerrard's frustration. That's extra pressure on him! Where were all those speculations when he was doing well on the right last season??

Have A Laugh

Liverpoolfc.tv - The first ever edition of a new monthly video blog about Liverpool Football Club - Bishop's Blog. Hosted by John Bishop - one of the best stand-up comedians in England right now - it's the world's first ever comedy video blog solely about a football club.
[Click to watch]

Well Done To The Young Backline

8 Nov 2006 Birmingham 0-1 Liverpool - Carling Cup 4th round

BBC - Daniel Agger volleyed in from close range in the seven minutes of first-half stoppage time added after Sissoko fell awkwardly on his shoulder. Just past the hour Maik Taylor saved a penalty from Craig Bellamy after Radhi Jaidi had fouled Mark Gonzalez. Birmingham had chances but Jerzy Dudek denied DJ Campbell and Julian Gray.

Agger: "Of course the important thing was to win the game but it was also good for me to score and for the defence to keep a clean sheet. It has been a perfect night because we have all done our jobs and got the right result."

BBC - Liverpool will be without influential midfielder Mohamed Sissoko for three months as he requires surgery on his dislocated shoulder.

Xabi: "If he's out, it's clear we'll have to change something in the team. There are times when we've played without him before and we've still managed to get good results. But now we will have to think of a new system and I'm sure Rafa will do something.
Stevie and I have played together in the middle a lot. Sometimes it's worked really well and other times we've had some problems. We know we need to work together to find the balance which is important for the team."

I'm On Your Side Simon

Found it at the backpage of The Guardian sport section today. Brilliant. I competely know what you're talking about Simon.
----------------------------------------------------
Life is all the sweeter after Chelsea's Portillo moment
By Simon Hattenstone

"....Every underdog has it day. Charlton, Sheffield United, Watford - unbelievably, the bottom three all won over one weekend. And West Ham beat Arsenal. Great stuff. But not, of course, as great as Tottenham's epic victory over Chelsea.
In the past, this newspaper has been accused of being anti-Chelsea. While I'm sure it's not true of my more esteemed colleagues, I wish to state categorically that I would never attempt to bring objectivity to my analysis of the club. Truth is I'm so biased that I find it hard to admit Didier Drogba is having a decent season or Claude Makelele hit his goal sweetly on Sunday.

My prejudice knows no bounds. I detest Chelsea. I despise everything about their soul-destroying, peasant-plundering, oil-pimping, wallet-waving, pitch-ruining, ref-abusing, knee-falling, opponent-cussing ways. I despise the fact that they have made me a bigot. I despise the fact that I get more pleasure from seeing Chelsea lose than Manchester City win. I despise the fact that I'd rather Manchester United won the Premiership than Chelsea. I despise the fact that I tick off every week Andriy Shevchenko doesn't score a goal as another victory for the unmoneyed majority. I despise the fact that I take pleasure in Shaun Wright-Phillips having never scored for Chelsea despite the fact that I once loved him so tenderly. I despise the fact that I take comfort in the belief that Chelsea are getting worse and worse - two seasons ago they lost once in the league, last season twice, and less than a third of the way through the season they have already been beaten twice. I despise the fact that I know the word schadenfreude means something akin to bitter, vengeful bastard.

....But we shouldn't get carried away. After all, look what happened to New Labour. Perhaps by 2015, Tottenham will be bankrolled by a Russian billionaire and will be looking to complete a hat-trick of successive Premiership titles. Perhaps by then they will be unaffectionately known as Spurski."
[Read the whole article]
--------------------------------------------------
Wenger's lost his temper, being a bad loser. Chelsea lost, with captain John Terry sent off first time of his career. Man Utd was knocked out early in the Carling Cup against Championship side Southend. What a surprising week in English football! At the same time, Liverpool keeps working hard and waiting for those top teams to take off points from each other.

No One Is Innocent

I was reading something about 11 September the other day in class discussing about the airline industry. Does it still make you sad? I hate recalling those horrible scenes. I've never thought it before but there are two kinds of people in the world.

We're angry about terrorists killing innocent civilian, but who's innocent and who's not? How about those terrorists? They probably couldn't be more ordinary than us before they crushed the plane. Terrorism won't work and can't be tolerated but their voice should be heard. The way they're using is wrong, but they definitely have their rights to choose their life and belief. If in a way they're trying to express their anger to the world and telling people they're not afraid of the American power, then they're kind of 'innocent' to me. How many people, families will be affected or even killed by simply an IMF (International Monetary Fund)'s foreign aid policy in a developing country? In this case who's innocent and who's not?

There are two kinds of people in the world whether they're innocent or not. People who don't respect and care about others lives, and people who do; People who crush the plane, killing many others and people who rushed into the World Trade Centre to save others. No one is innocent in a way. We couldn't walk away from certain systems or the society. The environmental protesters can't completely avoid using papers, fuel or stop consuming. I'm against the exploitation of global economic but I can't say no to brands like Nike using cheap labour from developing countries.

Well how did I come to this? From 9/11 to exploitation? Anyway, Just some random thoughts here.

Here We Go Let's Start The Season!

4 Nov 2006 Liverpool 2-0 Reading - EPL

BBC - Kuyt turned in from close range after 14 minutes when Peter Crouch headed Steven Gerrard's cross into his path.
And he added a second 18 minutes from time, pouncing inside the six-yard box after Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann failed to hold another Crouch header. Reading had an early chance through James Harper, but ended well beaten.

Rafa: "I have followed Dirk's career for a long time and he is a very consistent player and you could say the complete striker. He is a good worker, he scores goals, causes defenders a lot of problems and he can bring other players into the game. His understanding with Peter Crouch was really good.
"I was really pleased to get the three points and the second goal was very important for us because Reading caused us some problems with long throw-ins. I expected them to play with five defenders and it was difficult at times to find the space to play but once we got the second goal it settled us down more and we created more chances."

Liverpoolfc.tv - Momo Big Interview

The squad went go-karting earlier this week – who won?
Bolo won and I came last! It was the first time I'd been karting so for me it's normal to finish last. Bolo was good and Sami was very good as well.
Do you have any superstitions when you go out on to the pitch?
Yes. I always go out left foot first. I don't know why but I've done it since I was a boy.
Many Liverpool fans probably aren't aware that you have 14 brothers and sisters. Can we expect to see another Sissoko in a Red shirt one day?
Maybe! I have a younger brother playing in the first division for West Brom and I have told him to work hard. There are others – my brother Abdul plays in France for Auxerre. [read more]

(What? Our Momo has 14 brothers and sisters? 14 !? Is that 14!??? Oh my God...how crowded the house would be..lol)