Oh, dear. This is usually a good sign for us... http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=364&cc=5901 Hendrie blasts 'unattractive' Liverpool Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has twisted the knife into Liverpool in the run-up to tomorrow's Premiership showdown. Hendrie believes Gerard Houllier's men are a pale imitation of previous Anfield sides and claims Villa have what it takes to extend the Reds' winless league run to a remarkable 11 games. Hendrie said: 'It is hard to believe it is Liverpool you are watching when they play the long ball so much. 'They are a team known for their skills and control, not the long ball. But that just shows what a dip in form can do to the confidence. 'I don't think it is unfair to say that we are playing the more attractive football out of the two teams at the moment. They will bounce back - but, we hope, not until after we have played them.' Peter Crouch and Stefan Moore are poised to return to a Villa squad which seeks revenge for their Worthington Cup quarter-final defeat last month. Hendrie added: 'We should go into the game looking to win for so many reasons - but the main one is revenge. 'We should have beaten Liverpool in the cup, and to miss out was so disappointing.'
Don't just love it when a little, no talent *************** like this tries to take the piss out of his betters. I say this should be the game we get healthy on.
My unattractive XI: ………………Kirkland Carragher—Henchoz—Hyypia—Traore …….Murphy—Diao—Gerrard—Riise ……………Owen—Heskey Subs: Dudek Vignal Smicer Diouf Mellor No reason in the world why we should lose to Villa at Anfield, having subdued them twice already this year. An unattractive 1-0 win; sentimentally, Heskey scores on his 25th birthday. ----
No, he's 24 right now. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) I like RedKnight's lineup, but Diao is sh!t. I vote Murphy to the middle, and either Biscan or Cheyrou out wide. Those two haven't played 6 crappy games in a row like Diao has. Also, I'd like to see Mellor come on no later than the 55' or so. Got to keep the lad's momentum up. Yes, but we're a young, unattractive team. Lee Hendrie said so, so it must be true. I'm going to go back to my room and call my best friend on my pink Hello, Kitty phone and tell her about how hurt my feelings are, then spend all night crying to myself. *sniff*
hmm! If L'pool possesed a midfielder with the technique, skill & passion of Super Lee Hendrie then they might actually beat Nationwide mediocrity!
10/18 Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 1 12/18 Aston Villa 3 Liverpool 4 So you're saying you're not even good enough to be called "Nationwide mediocrity?" Please piss off, turnipboy.
Yet another troll who's never posted on the boards of the team he claims to support. Then again, if these links are any indication, there might be a reason for that: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=26484 https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=200 Or maybe it's just another troll.
! I have supported AVFC for the last 22 years of my life & have a season ticket & have PAID MONEY to watch Wortington Cup games at VP. I have posted several posts about Villa, most of which have been ignored largely because it wasn't about ManYoo, Arse & the 2nd team in Merseyside (at least you have 2 years on Tranmere). Hendrie shows more invention with the ball than anyone in Houlliers mercenery band & being a brummie really cares about his club as opposed to his wage packet. If Eriksonn actually picked players on merit rather than the fashion status of their club (why else is Heskey picked) he would play for his country as opposed to fall over/gie away fouls/hit long balls (stand-up S Gerrard). Rant over.
Are there any Villa fans on Bigsoccer? Just wondering, even though I'm not one. Perhaps you’d be better off taking your rant here with all the rest of Villa’s fans. Pretty sad looking board for a sad looking team, that are only just above the “R” zone. Let’s see how Hendrie likes it down in Div 1 and how good a ‘brum’ he’ll be then. Paid money at VP....funnier still...!!!
Michael Owen, El-Hadji Diouf and Neil Mellor all start today for the Reds as Gerard Houllier chases his first win in 11 matches in the Premiership. Liverpool line-up as follows: Kirkland Carragher Henchoz Hyypia Riise Murphy Diao Gerrard Diouf Mellor Owen Subs: Dudek Cheyrou Heskey Traore Smicer ...Diouf...maybe he's the guy...I guess we'll all have to wait and see.
Your thoughts please Gerard? Gerard Houllier: We are still going through the storm. Aston Villa started the second half very well and the penalty couldn't have come at a worst time for us. At times we were a bit tired but we showed a great spirit and attitude. Did you think your team could have done better in the second half? GH: I liked the last 20 minutes when we took the initiative and took more risks. At times we showed some good stuff but at times we were nervous and too uptight. It's good we have a week without two games for the first time since October. Full interview at: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N138480030111-1746.htm ----
Postives : Forced Encklemann into seven saves. At least they tried to go forward. Gerrard played very well. Owen back on the score sheet. Diao didn't get sent off. Negatives: Came out falt after HT again! That is killing us. another two points dropped. Henchoz lost his cool, will miss FA cup tie. Pretty much sums it up. When will this madness end. I get the feeling that someone, somewhere is sticking little pins into a Gerard Houllier doll. David Ginola pehaps...
As expected Villa played Merseysides 2nd team off the park for long periods of the match! 1-1 was highly flattering for Houlliers team (as was their 4-3 Worthington victory!) but I'm happy in the fact that 1) 3,000 Villa fans made more noise than 40,000 mute scousers 2) Stefan Moore is a better player than the embarrasing Djiouf 3) Our fans won't whine about the result.
You win. Diao is just not suited to play at this level yet. Get well, Didi. Until then: Diouf—Murphy—Gerrard—Riise. Murphy was exceptional (MotM), Gerrard was much better than his usual form this year, and I am beginning to think Diouf might be able to contribute from the midfield. Memo to Vlad Smicer: Shoot. Owen got back on the scoresheet with a terrific finish from great hard work from Diouf; Mellor didn’t really factor today; and Heskey didn’t contribute much at all coming off the bench. I would’ve liked to have seen Traore on for Diao (rather than Cheyrou), with Riise pushed forward to left-mid (but that’s what I wanted in my starting XI). Hyypia had a great first half and a lousy second. Over the past month Henchoz has outplayed him in the center of our defense—it’s a shame that his indiscipline has caught up with him now (5th yellow today; misses Crystal Palace). After a bright start, another second-half lapse. This “1,000 minutes without a win” in the Prem is a nightmare. Very frustrating. But in this two months of futility, this was one of our better efforts. I can’t believe I just wrote that. ----
I am really disappointed with this 1-1 result. How many points have we thrown away this year by not being able to defend and build on our lead... something which had been our strength over the previous couple of seasons.
After coming out in the first half, putting about 5 shots on goal in the first 3 minutes and having so much possession and again forcing their keeper into good saves. What the hell happens in the dressing room at half time…??? It’s that second half crap again! Villa did absolutely nothing in the first half except punt really long balls down to Dublin and he’d take a first time hopeful poke at it. I don’t believe I heard Hendrie’s name after the first 7 minutes or so. And we let them back.!
I don't know about Gerrard having a better game then recent form would indicate. Allthough his final 20 or so minutes were much better then recent. It's the other 70 that bothered me. I don't know, but it looked like for a long time no one wanted to be the one to shoot the ball. Everyone (read - Smicer) was looking for someone else to take the shot. I think, and this goes against my opening statement, that Gerrard was finally the one who wanted to shoot the ball. One swerving ball was turned wide and then another long range shot went just over. If he played the entire 2nd half like the final 20 or so, I think the result would have been different. I only say that b/c as I was watching the game on tape, I thought to myself at about the 60th minute or so, where is Gerrard. Then lo and behold, there he was and he took the play to Villa. Also thought attack looked better with Heskey and Owen together. Djouf should be put at wing next time out and move Murphy into center with Gerrard.
I'm noticing that Gerrard's touch is getting better. He's playing more short passes, and he's not playing as many aimless 30-30 balls. Maybe his girlfriend is withholding until he starts producing again.