Definitely the case with Kewell I think. He's got a big fat contract and become lazy on it. He has tremendous ability and that's not in question. His desire is.
I watch (and read about) alot of american sports and they always say there that be wary of signing a player who has a "career year" in the final year of his contact.
This often happens and clubs overpay for that guy thinking that they've got a player on the up. Most dive bomb and the theory is that the player becomes lazy on the contract.
It could be that it was just one lucky season but statistically career years come more often in the final year of their existing deal for it to be a coincidence.
As for Houllier then I will never forget the "treble season". He did indeed give us our respect back but the key to being a good manager is making players better than they were. I think for the most part Houllier went the other way and to many players went backwards under his leadership.
I do think Houllier deserves some credit for the French system though and that might be his forte, as an overseer. However like Australian sport, Clairfontain recieved alot of public funding and lacked for nothing in that regard and that always helps.
Onto Liverpool then finally I think we are progressing and this is the first time that I have thought that for a few years. The team that you say is missing is starting to come under Benitez. It will take time and there will be plenty of hiccups on the way but provided he is given money to spend then I think he will turn us around.
For the most part, so far, I like what I have seen.
49 and OUT!!!
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Deuce Bigolo
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Re:Kewell
Think you might be right about Houlier....Man management wasn't his strength....Ideas were but best implemented by others
He was actually being sort by the Aussie Football Federation to be the technical Director before it went out of business....they were trying to lure him with some pathetic amount reputed to be 150,000 pounds a year
Wether its Kewells desire or just he's not in his element who can say
Given that he's never won anything that I can recall you'd think he'd desire at least 1 trophy before he starts playing Monopoly with the Loot earned over the years.He hasn't even played in a World Cup as yet
Maybe he's saving all his efforts for the final year of this contract?
Dare I say it....Liverpool without the sub-standard Owen/Heskey set-up in attack actually look like a chance of scoring regularly
Their defense similar to that of the their treble year(I think?) looks to be very leaky which might mean they only know one way to keep clean sheets PLAY ULTRA DEFENSIVE...will need changes overtime IMHO
Just like any team under a new coach...all takes time...2/3 years probably
but the nucleus is there...just needs a few stars in the midfied to be consistently brilliant and the squad to be improved IMHO before they'll be challenging the Top 3 in the EPL
cheers
B....OZ
PS I'm bet your loving Evertons resurgence(and without Rooney)
I think the entire squad should be drug tested AT ONCE
He was actually being sort by the Aussie Football Federation to be the technical Director before it went out of business....they were trying to lure him with some pathetic amount reputed to be 150,000 pounds a year
Wether its Kewells desire or just he's not in his element who can say
Given that he's never won anything that I can recall you'd think he'd desire at least 1 trophy before he starts playing Monopoly with the Loot earned over the years.He hasn't even played in a World Cup as yet
Maybe he's saving all his efforts for the final year of this contract?
Dare I say it....Liverpool without the sub-standard Owen/Heskey set-up in attack actually look like a chance of scoring regularly
Their defense similar to that of the their treble year(I think?) looks to be very leaky which might mean they only know one way to keep clean sheets PLAY ULTRA DEFENSIVE...will need changes overtime IMHO
Just like any team under a new coach...all takes time...2/3 years probably
but the nucleus is there...just needs a few stars in the midfied to be consistently brilliant and the squad to be improved IMHO before they'll be challenging the Top 3 in the EPL
cheers
B....OZ
PS I'm bet your loving Evertons resurgence(and without Rooney)
I think the entire squad should be drug tested AT ONCE
Re:Kewell
The defence is okay I think for now. Sure it could do with improving but that can happen with better personnel but as I said that will take time.
The full backs have looked the shakiest but it doesn't help with Kewell and Garcia not doubling back to help out.
The real problem is this zonal marking at set pieces. It is a very Spanish thing and most clubs over there do it but I am not so sure that it will work over here.
As for Everton then I am not too worried about them. The bubble will burst at some stage. They have done well although over achieved a bit. They have also had the rub of the green but I see them as a top 7-8 club and no more.
And as for a few stars in midfield then Stevie THE GLADIATOR Gerrard will be back in a couple of weeks and he's the best midfielder in the world.
A question for you Deuce. Where in that fair country do you live me old mucker? I have always had a soft spot for it myself.
The full backs have looked the shakiest but it doesn't help with Kewell and Garcia not doubling back to help out.
The real problem is this zonal marking at set pieces. It is a very Spanish thing and most clubs over there do it but I am not so sure that it will work over here.
As for Everton then I am not too worried about them. The bubble will burst at some stage. They have done well although over achieved a bit. They have also had the rub of the green but I see them as a top 7-8 club and no more.
And as for a few stars in midfield then Stevie THE GLADIATOR Gerrard will be back in a couple of weeks and he's the best midfielder in the world.
A question for you Deuce. Where in that fair country do you live me old mucker? I have always had a soft spot for it myself.
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Deuce Bigolo
- Posts: 9910
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re:Kewell
Spanish defending...its either spot on or non-existant...never inbetween
Your right about players up the pitch needed to help the defenders
Best example I can think of was the AC Milan of the late 80s/early 90s
Everyone defended when the opposition had the ball
Defence as they say wins the big matches
Gerrard shows a lot of promise but so then so did Mc Manaman
When G makes it at International level the jury will be put to rest as to wether he's got the temperament to go with the talent
Theres only one mid-fielder that seems out of place to me...Hamann....a dead ball specialist and long range shot but a stopper at best
Every season theres a bolter from the blue that usually starts at a sprint but gradually the season drags them down to mid table obscurity
Still that beats starting in a slumber and climbing to safety in the last weeks of the season as my chosen team Derby tend to do year in year out
Too many games,too many competitions and not a big enough squad
cheers
B....OZ Adelaide South Australia
Your right about players up the pitch needed to help the defenders
Best example I can think of was the AC Milan of the late 80s/early 90s
Everyone defended when the opposition had the ball
Defence as they say wins the big matches
Gerrard shows a lot of promise but so then so did Mc Manaman
When G makes it at International level the jury will be put to rest as to wether he's got the temperament to go with the talent
Theres only one mid-fielder that seems out of place to me...Hamann....a dead ball specialist and long range shot but a stopper at best
Every season theres a bolter from the blue that usually starts at a sprint but gradually the season drags them down to mid table obscurity
Still that beats starting in a slumber and climbing to safety in the last weeks of the season as my chosen team Derby tend to do year in year out
Too many games,too many competitions and not a big enough squad
cheers
B....OZ Adelaide South Australia
Re:Kewell
Stevie has proved himself at international level and has been fantastic many many times for England. Sure he didn't have the greatest euro champs in the summer but he was still okay.
He has the temperment, atttiude, ability. In fact he's got everything. He is the best midfielder player in the world now and has been for a year or two.
He single handedly got a very ordinary Liverpool team into the champs lge on his own last year and whereas I will stop short of calling him superman he is an absolutely fantastic player.
So you live in Adelaide. Do they call it the city of churches or something like that?
I have been to Oz 3 times and even worked and lived there for 18 months but I've never been to Adelaide. No particular reason and if I do come over again then I might well make the effort to go there.
Maybe the next Ashes series with a trip to the Adelaide Oval as I've always fancied a visit to what people tell me is the best cricket ground in Australia.
He has the temperment, atttiude, ability. In fact he's got everything. He is the best midfielder player in the world now and has been for a year or two.
He single handedly got a very ordinary Liverpool team into the champs lge on his own last year and whereas I will stop short of calling him superman he is an absolutely fantastic player.
So you live in Adelaide. Do they call it the city of churches or something like that?
I have been to Oz 3 times and even worked and lived there for 18 months but I've never been to Adelaide. No particular reason and if I do come over again then I might well make the effort to go there.
Maybe the next Ashes series with a trip to the Adelaide Oval as I've always fancied a visit to what people tell me is the best cricket ground in Australia.
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Deuce Bigolo
- Posts: 9910
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re:Kewell
I've never liked the title BEST this BEST that....it demeans far to many other good/great players....Zidane,that Czech dude from Juventus who scores goals out of everywhere
I'll grant you he was the driving force behind their qualifying for Europe
Adelaide City of Churches....we do have a lot of them
Another name Adelaide is known by "Serial Murder Capital of Australia"
The only reason the Adelaide Oval is said to be the most picturesque is that its retained most of its original features and only modernised with Lights and a few temporary stands unlike most other grounds you could name
To be honest I really don't see why tourists would bother coming to a backwater like our State.Once you see the Zoos(Monarto,Warrawong & Clelland reserve),visit the Wineries(Barossa Valley & Southern vales) & spent a day on Kangaroo Island you've pretty much done it all and the 24 Hour Nightlife doesn't exist like in the Eastern States
cheers
B....OZ
I'll grant you he was the driving force behind their qualifying for Europe
Adelaide City of Churches....we do have a lot of them
Another name Adelaide is known by "Serial Murder Capital of Australia"
The only reason the Adelaide Oval is said to be the most picturesque is that its retained most of its original features and only modernised with Lights and a few temporary stands unlike most other grounds you could name
To be honest I really don't see why tourists would bother coming to a backwater like our State.Once you see the Zoos(Monarto,Warrawong & Clelland reserve),visit the Wineries(Barossa Valley & Southern vales) & spent a day on Kangaroo Island you've pretty much done it all and the 24 Hour Nightlife doesn't exist like in the Eastern States
cheers
B....OZ
Re:Kewell
I still may go to Adelaide on the next Ashes tour if I do come over.
From a far and purely watching on TV only then the Adelaide Oval looks like a cricket ground to me. I've been to Melbourne and whereas it is a great stadium it aint a cricket ground and is set up more for Aussie Rules.
Sydney's fine. A bit of a cross between a stadium and cricket ground but it does have a great atmosphere.
From a far and purely watching on TV only then the Adelaide Oval looks like a cricket ground to me. I've been to Melbourne and whereas it is a great stadium it aint a cricket ground and is set up more for Aussie Rules.
Sydney's fine. A bit of a cross between a stadium and cricket ground but it does have a great atmosphere.
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Deuce Bigolo
- Posts: 9910
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re:Cricket Grounds
Its all down to keeping the old infrastructure and making sure anything added is an improvement and not an eye sore
The S.C.G & Adelaide seemed to have got this right but
the M.C.G. might as well change its name to the Devils Playground
for all the money that has been thrown at it and your right its all for Aussie Rules
Somehow the Cricket Mob of the M.C.G got the A.F.L to guarantee them a final every weekend to the year 2040 in exchange for building the new stands which basically means Inferior Victorian Clubs can get a home final even if they finish lower on the ladder than an interstate team or even if they lose a final...totally ridiculous but thats money for ya
cheers
B....OZ
PS I wasn't trying to scare you away from Adelaide just make you aware of some of its shortcomings.Other than the serial murders its not a bad place I still manage to have a good time every December on the X-Mas Pub Crawl...20 pubs in 7 Hours around the City Centre even if 11 of them last year were either closed or changed to Dance Clubs
The S.C.G & Adelaide seemed to have got this right but
the M.C.G. might as well change its name to the Devils Playground
for all the money that has been thrown at it and your right its all for Aussie Rules
Somehow the Cricket Mob of the M.C.G got the A.F.L to guarantee them a final every weekend to the year 2040 in exchange for building the new stands which basically means Inferior Victorian Clubs can get a home final even if they finish lower on the ladder than an interstate team or even if they lose a final...totally ridiculous but thats money for ya
cheers
B....OZ
PS I wasn't trying to scare you away from Adelaide just make you aware of some of its shortcomings.Other than the serial murders its not a bad place I still manage to have a good time every December on the X-Mas Pub Crawl...20 pubs in 7 Hours around the City Centre even if 11 of them last year were either closed or changed to Dance Clubs