Aston Villa v Liverpool [R]

Discussion in 'Liverpool' started by Wilde, Jul 31, 2007.

  1. stanaccrington

    Jan 4, 2005
    GUILLEM BALAGUE ON OUR TITLE CHANCES
    Guillem Balague 10 August 2007

    What do you make of the new-look Liverpool?

    Guillem Balague: For me it's still a work in progress. The squad is full of very good youngsters who in the long run will give Liverpool a spine to the team. I think Liverpool are getting closer and closer to the top but there's still a little bit of work to do. I would think this season Liverpool will be closer to the top of the table with the idea of next season really going for the title. I know Liverpool fans want instant success but sometimes it does take time for everyone to gel and become a team that wins the Barclays Premier League title. I think the signings have been good in the areas that needed reinforcing.

    What difference will the likes of Torres, Babel, Andriy Voronin and Yossi Benayoun make to this team?

    They have given Rafa many more options in attack, it's as simple as that. We have already seen in pre-season that they are quality players. Nobody has said much about Voronin but I think he has been very impressive so far. He is one of those players who will stay for about five, six, seven or eight years at Liverpool because he will be happy to be a squad member and a very useful one at that. As for Torres, I think his impact at Liverpool is going to be huge but people are going to have to be patient with him. Benayoun for me is a better version of Luis Garcia. He will probably not score as many goals as Garcia did but he keeps the ball and rarely gives it away. Babel is one of the top youngsters in the world and is a very good capture by Rafa.

    Can Torres be the man to score the goals which leads Liverpool to that elusive league title this season?

    I am sure he will do eventually but I don't think so this season. What Liverpool are getting with Torres is a striker who can score individual goals and doesn't always need anybody's help in order to do that. Torres will improve the goalscoring record of the team but he can't win the title by himself. For people to say Liverpool only needed a 30 goal a season striker in order to win the league is very deceiving, because in my view they needed much more than that. They need a greater consistency and they need players who will perform when Gerrard is injured or having a quiet day. Consistency of the players is the key to winning league titles. Rafa has got a spine to the team with the likes of Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. Those players always play with a high level of consistency and Torres will be another, but they need a lot more than the five players I've mentioned. Rafa will always rotate but if he can find six or seven players who will give him what he wants in every game then those players will stay in the team. That's what Rafa found at Valencia when he led them to two league titles and that's what he's trying to find at Liverpool. He will get there but it may take one more season before Liverpool win the league title again.

    Just how important was it for Rafa to get Reina and Alonso to sign new contracts, especially with a lot of interest from Spain?

    There was interest but Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso are key players for Rafa Benitez and he wanted their contract situation sorted quickly. They are very happy at Liverpool and they want to be a part of the future of this great club under Rafa. The manager has got a fascinating project with the arrival of Torres being a major part of that.

    Why do you think Liverpool have been better in Europe than they have been domestically?

    Well, using the words of Arsene Wenger, there are teams who are better suited for short runs than marathons. Rafa has more quality in his squad now than when he first arrived at Liverpool. Again it comes down to consistency as well and what Rafa wants is for his players to perform in every game and not just the big matches.

    You know Rafa very well Guillem, so what would it mean to him if he could lead Liverpool to the Premier League title?

    That is his target. The Cups are great and getting Liverpool to two Champions League finals in three years was a fantastic achievement by Rafa. If he could lead Liverpool to the Premier League title then that would put him right up there with the best managers in Liverpool's history. Patience is a key word in football and Rafa Benitez will lead Liverpool to the title one day.

    Who do you see as Liverpool's most influential player this season?

    Steven Gerrard. Jamie Carragher is always influential because he will still be shouting and giving his all, but Gerrard is the man who takes Liverpool to a different level. We need more from the other players and hopefully the likes of Torres and Benayoun can also take the team to a higher level.
     
  2. Red Bird

    Red Bird Member+

    Sep 30, 2003
    Oxford
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Hi and welcome aboard.

    Try here, for starters, to get an idea of the team members:-
     
  3. usscouse

    usscouse BigSoccer Supporter

    May 3, 2002
    Orygun coast
    Hey XY, keep reading in here, like the post by Stan following yours. Get to know the team as you watch and you'll soon recognise who is who...and keep asking questions.

    And have fun...!
     
  4. hubbabubba

    hubbabubba Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 17, 2002
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Welcome xythander! You'll find being a liverpool fan to be an amazing trip with the occasional dip and valley, but always with a lot of excitement. The boards here are among the most intelligent that I've lurked on in Bigsoccer, and there is always a good level of discussion about the players, the formations and the history of the team...

    For me, the players I'm really interested to see play this year are Torres, and Kewell. I think the darkhorse surprise is going to be Voronin, this guy so far in the friendlies has proven to be a real poacher, and seems to be a "money-man" when he has the ball in front of goal. For Kewell, I'm the eternal optimist, but if he's finally been able to put his injuries behind him hopefully we can see him return to his Leeds form. In defense, you always have to watch Carragher, but our young Danish CB, Agger, really started to show some form last year, and I'm hopeful that we'll see him continue to be a stalwart in defense. I'm hoping with more experience under his belt we'll see him make more attacking forays this year... he used to do this a lot when he played in his danish side and if he does this a bit more often with Liverpool it really can be a game changer and throw the opposing midfield for a loop.

    It's also going to be fun to see how the midfield shakes out now that we have Alonso, Mascherano, and Sissoko battling for essentially 2 positions. I expect that we'll see all these guys step up their game to try to hold onto a consistent spot alongside Gerrard there.

    It's gonna be an interesting year, that's for sure...:D
     
  5. CCSC_STRIKER20

    CCSC_STRIKER20 New Member

    May 14, 2005
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Welcome Welcome, I was like you a couple of years back. Slowly make an input on this board, sometimes you will be wrong but if you sound intelligent nothing bad will happen.

    Look for Gerrard to have a massive year this year and also keep an eye on how our newer players develop (Babel, Yoss, Voronin, Torres)
     
  6. xythander

    xythander New Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    Dallas, TX
    Thanks for the warm welcome and info guys. The board looks like it's full of great people and I'm looking forward to watching and discussing some great games this season. In the meantime, I'll continue to read through the board and the official site to get as much info on the team as possible.

    I can't wait for this weekend. Should be a ton of fun.
     
  7. RCCook

    RCCook New Member

    Sep 24, 2005
    Dallas, Texas
    Another Dallas-area Red! Awesome!

    There's supposed to be an official watch party at Trinity Hall tomorrow. I'm going to be there- who else?
     
  8. canadianscraggledog

    canadianscraggledog New Member

    Jun 26, 2005
    London, Canada
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Such an impossible question to answer, as every position is important and all players contribute to this team game. Though here's a few players you might watch for! :D

    0 Charles Itandje
    25 Jose Reina
    30 Nikolaj Mihajlov
    3 Steve Finnan
    2 Alvaro Arbeloa
    39 Stephen Darby
    23 Jamie Carragher
    4 Sami Hyypia
    48 Emiliano Insua
    5 Daniel Agger
    29 Gabriel Paletta
    6 John Arne Riise
    12 Fabio Aurelio
    16 Jermaine Pennant
    8 Steven Gerrard
    20 Javier Mascherano
    21 Lucas Pezzini Leiva
    14 Xabi Alonso
    22 Mohamed Sissoko
    11 Yossi Benayoun
    7 Harry Kewell
    18 Dirk Kuyt
    19 Ryan Babel
    10 Andriy Voronin
    9 Fernando Torres
    15 Peter Crouch
    38 Craig Lindfield
     
  9. quentinc

    quentinc New Member

    Jan 3, 2005
    Annapolis, MD
    Djimi Traore.
     
  10. AndSomeAreAngels

    Jun 7, 2003
    Brokelyn
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Can't even help your fellow Texan out? ;)

    Re: players to watch, it's a little easier for a newbie to follow the guys on the offensive side of the field, but perhaps our most important player is Jamie Carragher. He is an absolute ROCK in the center of our defense, which is among the best in the Prem, and he is the heart and soul of this club (along with Gerrard, of course). Both he and Gerrard are Liverpool born-and-bred.

    Xabi Alonso has been among the most important players in the Benitez era. His game isn't necessarily newbie-friendly, but he's our deep-lying playmaker. He links the defense with the attack and sprays balls all around the pitch, often playing beautiful 40+ yard bombs that are right on the money. He doesn't score a whole lot, though he's had a couple goals from beyond the half-line. He also scored the equalizer in our 2005 Champions League final.

    Javier Mascherano is one of my favorite players on the team. He played every minute for Argentina at the last World Cup (and this year's Copa America), but never fit into the plans at West Ham. We took him on loan and he showed why he's considered one of the best young players in the world. He is an absolute bulldog in the defensive midfield position, a brutal but clean tackler who's nearly impossible to beat one-on-one. He's a good passer of the ball, though not in Xabi's class, and scored a few goals at the Copa. He's tracks back relentlessly and is an invaluable part of this team.

    Welcome. You've chosen wisely.
     
  11. SuperElf

    SuperElf Member

    Jul 16, 1999
    Dallas, TX
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    xythander - the Dallas chapter of the LFC supporter's club is meeting up to watch the match tomorrow morning. I'm new to the area (but not to the club . . . well, except compared to some of the locals around here that were following the club before Wilbur and Orville built that flying contraption . . .) and am headed up there for the first time tomorrow. If you're interested in coming out, PM me and we can work out a carpool or something. (I have an international flight later in the afternoon and can't get too trashed. However, if you carpool with me, you'll pretty much have free reign. I'll even buy you your first pint of Carlsberg for making such a wise choice in deciding to support the Greatest Club in the World.)
     
  12. quentinc

    quentinc New Member

    Jan 3, 2005
    Annapolis, MD
    xy, Djimi Traore was a joke by the way (one I wasn't anticipating you to get). However, if you want to sound sophisticated in your appreciation of Liverpool, watch Steve Finnan. The best right back in the EPL, and easily one of the best in the world - at least from a defensive standpoint. What he does isn't particularly eye-popping, but he's one of a few reasons we have arguably the best defense in the Premiership.
     
  13. Twenty26Six

    Twenty26Six Feeling Sheepish...

    Jan 2, 2004
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Steve Finnan? No offense, but watching Steve Finnan is not going to lead to any level of enjoyment.

    This isn't literature or fine art. He's not getting any credibility points for who he watches.

    Watching Mascherano and Sissoko dive wildly into tackles, or Riise taking long range bombs is much more entertaining.
     
  14. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London

    Welcome to the Reds, Xythander.

    Your comments are welcome here. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.

    As for players, Fernando Torres is our record signing and new striker. We have high hopes for him. He'll get a lot of press and the media will focus on him a lot.

    The main rivals for Liverpool are Everton and Man Utd. Everton are a club also from the city of Liverpool and Man Utd are from Manchester which is a city fairly close to Liverpool. Liverpool are the most successful team in England and Man Utd are the second most successful.

    Arsenal and Chelsea are teams from London and along with Liverpool and Man Utd are the strongest teams in England currently. Arsenal are the biggest club in London and the third biggest in England. Chelsea are smaller but have been bought by a very rich Russian who has bought them lots of very expensive players.

    Some details about the club can be found here
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C.

    A vid about supporting Liverpool
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rl0kDPgSZs&mode=related&search=


    Check out this link for a taster of the atmosphere at Anfield.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs&mode=related&search=


    This is a vid of the top 10 Liverpool goals from last season.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGRLIkwsvjg&mode=related&search=


    Some Steven Gerrard goals
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1yLy1SVnfg

    The Season starts tomorrow :D
     
  15. RCCook

    RCCook New Member

    Sep 24, 2005
    Dallas, Texas
    Well, looks like there will be at least two of us there, hopefully more! :D

    I'm not a member of the supporters' club yet, though I'll probably join tomorrow.
     
  16. CCSC_STRIKER20

    CCSC_STRIKER20 New Member

    May 14, 2005
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I find watching Steve Finnan enjoyable, nothing like a solid defensive back that can contribute offensively.

    And if a new Liverpool fan would say that their favorite player was Steve Finnan that would get some respect from veteran Liverpool fans because most fans will recognize Gerrard or Carragher's contribution but there are some people that miss the "other stevie's" contribution.
     
  17. Twenty26Six

    Twenty26Six Feeling Sheepish...

    Jan 2, 2004
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If you're saying that out of the 22 people on the pitch in a Liverpool vs. Chelsea/Manchester United/Arsenal the player you're going to watch is Steve Finnan... you're lying. And worse, you're lying to look like an intelligent fan. I'd rather admit I'm watching Gerrard and Torres, because I am and will be.

    Appreciating Steve Finnan and being excited by Finnan are two different things.

    Oh, and he hardly contributes offensively when compared with many, MANY fullbacks.
     
  18. Jonno

    Jonno New Member

    Oct 28, 2002
    Austin, TX
    Won't be at TH but we're having a get together at Fado's for the Austin crew. Have fun in TH and say hi to Scott for me.

    Jonno.
     
  19. livahpool

    livahpool New Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    Seattle
    I can't wait to see what our 40 million pounds worth of off-season signings will bring tomorrow v. the Villains.

    You can bet that the defense will come to play even if they won't be in the spotlight.

    Go REDS!
     
  20. RedInVA

    RedInVA New Member

    Jul 26, 2007
    Dallas
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Beautiful video on supporting Liverpool. My first post in the Liverpool board, and I find it appropriate to tell my story. I became a Liverpool supporter three years back after a trip to London. I watched a Manchester United v. Arsenal match on tv and the football bug bit me, the american football loving yank. But when I returned home to Richmond, Virginia, i discovered the obscene amount of bandwagon fans that the mancs have here in the states. So naturally I began hating them and as I researched the premiership more, I discovered the pride and passion and loyalty that goes with being a Liverpool supporter and I like to count myself among them now. Since then I have watched every Liverpool match I can, which mainly revolved around champions league as it is shown on ESPN. I am a member of liverpoolfc.tv so i try to listen/watch as many matches as I can. I dream of the day where I can walk into Anfield (new or old) and support the club I have come to love face to face with my fellow supporters.

    Unfortunately I will not be able to watch the match here in Richmond, but I will rely heavily on this thread to keep me updated. Thanks in advance. YNWA

    On an aside, if anyone knows of a supporter club in Nashville, TN, I would greatly appreciate the knowledge as I attend university there.
     
  21. livahpool

    livahpool New Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    Seattle
    Hi RedinVA,

    My story is similar to yours, but I have been a Reds supporter for 9 years now. My love for Liverpool grew out of my despise for Man U and a trip I made to Anfield in 1998.
     
  22. SuperElf

    SuperElf Member

    Jul 16, 1999
    Dallas, TX
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow, we're getting more lurkers coming out of the closet in this one thread than we've seen all summer!

    A hearty welcome to all the new folks! Be sure to make yourself heard around here . . .

    Probably my last post until I'm off to the local tomorrow. This feels just like our last few season openers - a road game against a competant opponent who can bunker well (if they choose), but can also pip one with ease. (In our recent openers, I recall a draw at Boro, a draw at the Blades, a draw at Spurs, a loss at Chelsea . . . hell, when was the last time we opened the season at Anfield? 2001?)

    A 0-2 win would make me much more buoyant about this season's chances. But I'm going to stick with my 1-1 prediction from upthread, maybe stealing a scrappy goal late for a 1-2 win.

    Even if Torres breaks a leg and we ship three, hold your head up high, new fans and old.
     
  23. AussieLFCfan

    AussieLFCfan Member

    Apr 24, 2006
    Sydney, Australia
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Welcome Xythander!

    Great time for you to start following, right in the midst of the Rafalution!

    Watch them all, it's a great team/club you've decided to follow.

    :)
     
  24. ForeverRed

    ForeverRed Member+

    Aug 18, 2005
    NYC
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I always enjoy watching defending and defenders more than I do attackers. Gerrard is a player you just can't help but notice but a good defender or some great defending on the pitch always sticks out to me more than anything else.
     
  25. AussieLFCfan

    AussieLFCfan Member

    Apr 24, 2006
    Sydney, Australia
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Yes, the latest arrivals actually seem to have intelligence unlike the newbies of a few weeks ago.

    Welcome all intelligent Newbies! :D
     

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