Goaltender Blunders And Whatnot

It's always nice to laugh at blunders and look back at those yesteryears of Fabien Barthez and Massimo Taibi in goal.



It's even funnier if you can understand Chinese..

Life Under The New Regime

It has been a eventful week and we've seen Liverpool moved on and into the hands of two American owners. The first match under their ownership is none other than a trip up to the Tyneside.

Over the years, Liverpool and Newcastle NEVER failed to provide entertainment when the two sides meet. I fell in love with Liverpool watching them play against Newcastle back in 1997. It was a game of the highest quality and Michael Owen's finishing back then was just pure class.

Even the last meeting between the two sides produced a magical moment by our Spanish playmaker, Xabi Alonso. He saw Steve Harper off the line and audaciously chipped the ball from just within his own half and embarrassed Harper, who slipped and fell after getting caught out.

We've no idea whether the two tycoons will be present at the game but I've got a feeling they will be. As owners, I believe it's important to go to your team's (or franchise to them) first game to show support to not only players but the fans as well.

With the 100 million transfer kitty promised, Rafa will most definitely look into bringing quality players into the squad which is already brimming with qualities from back to front. But for now, we will have to work with the current group of players.

Good news will definitely be the return of Momo Sissoko into the side. He has been missing since early November with a shoulder injury and will probably make it into the squad if he pass the late fitness test. This will be a crucial decision due to the fact that Xabi Alonso will not be playing any part of this game due to injury. Bolo Zenden could slot in there as well alongside captain Steven Gerrard.

Newcastle's injury woes continues as they'll missing a huge chunk of players. Emre, Shay Given, Peter Ramage, Craig Moore, Shola Ameobi, Charles N'Zogbia and Michael Owen are all missing through injury.

Stephen Carr has joined the casualty list after being forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad in midweek with a thigh problem.

Will the first game under the new ownership prove to be a successful one? Looking through the injury list, we could well get the 3 points today. But the players will have to come up with a good performance after that disappointing one last weekend.

Drogballs' Prediction: Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool. Should be a close game. But I still think we have the quality to defeat them at St. James' Park.

Rage Against The McClown

"I believe in these players and I believe in my ability to do the job and get us qualified," says Steve McClaren.




Of course, not many people thinks so. Scan through ALL the major newspaper in England this couple of days and you could sense that not everyone is completely positive about him. There are photoshopped pictures of him on some newspaper even.

Just like the campaign against Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup, the English came out with another brilliant site like THIS.

Rafa In Signing Spanish Youngster Shocker

RAFAEL BENITEZ is ready to dip into the coffers of Liverpool’s new American owners by adding to his Spanish contingent.

The Anfield manager has earmarked a £1.5million move for Tenerife midfielder Iriome Gonzalez at the end of the season.

The 19-year-old right-sided midfielder has this year broken into the first team of the Canary Island outfit, who play in the second division in Spain.

Iriome has appeared in only six games, and with regulations in Spain stating an academy graduate cannot sign a contract until he has featured in 10 senior games, Tenerife will make sure the midfielder reaches that figure so they can command a transfer fee at the end of the campaign.


Drogballs: Now we have the quantity. But do they have the quality needed to play for the Red devils? Just hope he's not another Antonio Nunuz. But just imagine, the Gonzos on the wings. Mark on the left and Iriome on the right. Should be quite interesting!

Probably The Best In The World?

LIVERPOOL are on the verge of sealing their first multi-million pound sponsorship deal of the new American era with a £21.6m agreement with Carlsberg.

The Reds had already decided to renew their arrangement with the brewing giants prior to the takeover of George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

However, the terms are a massive improvement on the disappointing £5m over two years which was agreed in 2004, just before Liverpool won the Champions League final.

The new deal represents £7.2m a year for the next three seasons - virtually trebling Liverpool’s income from this source per annum.

Carlsberg have been Liverpool’s sponsors since 1992, but although the latest deal is the most lucrative between the pair yet, it still doesn’t compare favourably with those of Manchester United and Chelsea.

United are currently in a £56.5m deal with AIG over four years, while Chelsea struck a deal with Samsung worth £50m a year over five years. Spurs’ shirt deal with Mansion House is worth £34m over four years.


Drogballs: It's always good to have Carlsberg back as your sponsor because of the history and also, it seemed like Carlsberg and Liverpool are pretty much inseparable. Think of Liverpool, it's Carlsberg and vice versa. But have we gotten ourselves another rip off deal again?

I mean, even Tottenham Hotspur have a bigger and better deal than us! How wrong is that? Is it due to our 'ties' with Carlsberg for such a long time that makes it difficult for us to get another sponsor? If it is then it's pretty embarrassing, I think.

Still, it's so much better than the current deal. Better than nothing, I guess...

MASCHERANO!! OUT!!

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has already put his foot in it at Anfield - by saying he now considers himself a Red Devil!

The Argentine World Cup star is still waiting for clearance to make his debut, having joined from West Ham on deadline day last week.

But he's already caused a storm by referring to the Kop kings as the Red Devils, the nickname of course of bitter rivals Manchester United.

He told The S*n: "I have disconnected myself from West Ham and signed a contract with Liverpool.

"I can consider myself a Red Devil. It's now just up to the Premier League to authorise me to play, something I believe should happen because it was they who made the appeal to FIFA to allow me to move clubs. I hope the situation is resolved as soon as possible."

Firstly, never call us the Red Devil. Read up the bloody history book or even have a heart to go and read Wikipedia!

Secondly, don't EVER speak to The S*n. Speak to them again and you'll most probably end up like Graeme Souness. Great player but nobody gave a sh*t about him after he sells his story to The S*n.

Hope you learn your lesson!

Kung-fu Fighting! *der der der der*

The recent friendly between Queen's Park Rangers and the Chinese Olympic team became a full fledged martial arts exhibition.



Bruce Lee must be real proud...

Adam Hammill

If you're not aware of this lad, then do note down his name because many sees him as a star for the future at Liverpool. He have been playing well for the U-21 team and recently, he was loaned out to Scottish League side, Dunfermline Athletic.

It's not always a good yardstick to see players performing well at the Scottish League, but for a 19 year old kid, it should be a great learning experience.




Any semblance of Steve McManaman?

The only way Hearts could stop him was to bring him down,but he kept getting up,continued to look for the ball and run at them again.

Sums it up.

Poor Spain Defeat Clueless England

Macca Under Intense Pressure

Friendly

England 0 - 1 Spain

ESP - Iniesta

Although it was only a friendly, it has to be one of the more dire and abject performance by the Three Lions in recent times. Now England have gone 4 games without a win and England fans should be worried as to whether the team is really moving in the right direction or are they falling further behind.

Impact wise, it is not as devastating as the defeat at Croatia when Paul Robinson decides to put up a truly dreadful performance but you've got to wonder what lies ahead for McClaren and his team. Because for me, I see no improvement whatsoever. And don't go on about evolution or revolution because they are PR stunts and are said to appease the fans.

Performance wise, dreadful, insipid and absolutely woeful. Apart from the first 5 minutes when England turned up the gear and played at their own pace and momentum (which is at 100km/h), they just looked out of sort, confused and lost.

We must admit that the Spain team last night was not the best as well. They struggled to cope with the pace of Dyer and S-Wright Phillips at times but I think the England players must be in awe of the way Spain controlled the possession and rhythm of the game.

Xavi in the middle was the one pulling the strings. He don't seemed to appear in your TV screen as much as Lampard or Gerrard but did an awful lot more than the whole of England's XI added up together. Sums it up pretty much.

David Villa then decides to conjure up brilliant cross which was well defended by Rio Ferdinand. Unfortunately, the ball fell to the worst possible candidate in England's eye. Andres Iniesta of Barcelona fired into the top corner. Everyone stood still, no one there to close him down.

You'll expect some sort of response from the England team, who are playing their last game at Old Trafford before moving into their new home at Wembley. But that was about it. It was just like what happen when you play Football Manager when the opponent scores and then there was absolutely no reply from your team for the next 40-50 minutes.

Now let's put the performance aside. I think McClaren should have a reality check. Because either he doesn't watch football, doesn't have the tactical nous or the FA just think he's a stop gap for someone bigger, like Scolari or Hiddink (??).

Firstly, on the case of Paul Robinson. We've been harping for months on how dire and inept this goalkeeper has been since his move to Spurs. He seemed to gain an extra stone or two and to be honest, in all the Spurs match I've watched, any shots on Robbo's goal turned out to be a goal. Who can forget his air-kick? To sum it up, his form this season has been absolutely awful.


So, Macca tried out Ben Forster in goal and he managed to put up a decent performance. But the key here would be the pre-match talk where McClaren mentioned 'Robinson's position is not threatened'. Are you crazy? Which manager would tell their player that their position is safe no matter how shit you play? So now Robbo must be thinking 'aye I can continue to eat my pies and till get the numer 1 jersey every year'. Reality check one. Fail.

Regarding Gareth Barry, the most under-rated player in the Premiership by far. With Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge withdrawn from the squad due to injury, you would expect the Villa captain to be slotted into the left back position with ease. His performance for Villa have been consistent in recent years and deserve it all.

Overlooked by Sven, now he has his chance. But McClaren once again, came up with one of the most bizarre decision I've seen. Putting Phil Neville in the left back slot. Is this Philip the one that cost England a penalty in the Euro 2000 game against Romania? In the left back slot?

His reason was: 'I want players to play in the position that they play for their respective clubs'. Gareth Barry have been playing as a left winger for majority of the season at Villa, fair enough. Hang on, is Phil Neville a left back for Everton then? No? I thought I saw him playing in midfield against Liverpool and perhaps a right back a few weeks back. So everything, backfires. Sorry, your reason is not a reason but an excuse.

Looking at the first eleven of the England team, the only left footed player on the field is none other than, the goalkeeper. How much of a joke is that? I could find more left footed players than England do!

Tactics wise, I'm no genius, but I see no movement or plan on the pitch. They're so 'flexible' that everyone seemed to get into each others way. You could argue that England are missing a few key players and it's just a friendly. But you've got to wonder where England are heading with this man.

Problems are not on the surface. It's a deep problem down to the youth system. He mentioned about England having to play their own style rather than copying the other team's. So what now, is England's style? I think even Mr. McClaren have a problem answering that.

This BETTER Be True...

Lampard is being a right tit about Barton being in the squad, won’t talk to him, pass to him, all that stuff, and just got up to move to another table at breakfast when Barton sat at the same one. Apparently as soon as he stood up and moved, Barton called after him "Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to nick your breakfast you fat prick" and Lampard threw a hissy fit and stormed out.

Nice one, Joey.