I was driving home this evening when I turned the radio to sport on Five (909), and on it I think was Alan Green taking calls about the Liverpool match. Most of the calls (I imagine, infact all the calls I heard) were from disgruntled Liverpool fans. And one name kept cropping up - that of Vladimir Smicer. Every caller was negative and I was surpirsed by how much Alan Green was agreeing with them about Smicer. One caller even claimed that he and Biscan were only just division 1 quality. Biscan, I have no opinion of, but I hadn't realised Smicer was so low in Liverpool fans' estimation. Is this an accurate depiction of feeling about him, or is everything just heightened because of the particularly ignominious defeat?
I've seen him twice this week, and wasn't really happy with either performance. I'm sure he's got better in him, but he's not showing right now. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, I tore into him after the Vitesse match, and he wasn't much better today. However, it's a bit much to say he doesn't belong on this level.
I’ll dissent from those radio callers, I guess. In the first half, he and Baros were the only good things about the Reds, though that is not saying much. He is not a star player, and probably never will be with this side. There’s a history of slagging Smicer because he won’t get stuck in the way the typical LFC midfielder is expected to. His role is to be good for twenty minutes as a substitute, and be stylish and creative in European and Cup ties. Even in that limited role, I think he’s fallen short of expectations—but that shouldn’t damn him the way your report makes it sound. Everyone in the squad has fallen short of expectations this year except Hamann. If the fans want to pile onto somebody, Smicer isn’t the culprit. Today, there were plenty of candidates for “goat.” I’d give the horns, unfortunately, to Steven Gerrard. ----
I agree in that there are a host of subpar players this season I agree. Smicer is a player who really does better as a sub. Liverpool's performances over the last 5 weeks have been due in large part to the lack of form from Gerrard, Owen, Heskey, Hyypia and Dudek. This team needs some width. When was the last time you saw a cross thru the 6 yard box from this team. Eveything is run thru Hamann. Gerrard needs to understand this and play more outside. Murphy too. What I don't understand is that with Babbel's performance in his last start, why is he not in the lineup. I must say Traore performance this year has been decent but is he really better than Riise out of the back? For that matter Carragher? This team will recover from thius bad patch, but not until Houllier discovers that Traore, Biscan, Smicer are subs. A lineup of Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise and Babbel in the back would overlapping and width from the outside backs. Riise and Babbel love to come forward. The Midfield can world more centrally with Gerrard, Murphy and Hamann. I would like to see Cheyrou gets his full chance. Owen needs someone to work off of. Heskey is a great player going forward when he is on, but Baros has played too well not to give him his due. Houllier, do me favor. Buy Duff or Kewell, send Diouf packing.
Re: I agree in that there are a host of subpar players this season Not so fast. I like your thoughts on the back 4, although Carragher and Traore haven't shown themselves to be a complete clowns, and should each get a couple of run outs every month for the sake of keeping our guys fresh and (snicker) in form. Cheyrou should get his chance, but Diao is going to be given way more time right now, much to my dismay. Owen does need someone to create space off of. It works pretty well with Baros, but they need some time to mesh together, and this might not be the time. We'll probably see Heskey up front again for the next match. As for the last bit, I have been Duff's biggest cheeleader, and have pissed on Diouf nearly weekly, but I still think you're going a bit far. Diouf can make an outstanding winger or third forward. He is the outstanding at bringing a couple guys to the edge of the area, making them look stupid, and getting off a cross or a shot with a good rebound opportunity. We've been sorely missing that kind of skill, and I don't think anyone else on the squad right now can really provide that. Aside from that, the depth we currently enjoy in the front 2/3 of the field is not something I feel we should be tinkering with if we inted to make a serious CL/Prem./FA Cup run in the next few years. I think we need Duff, sure, but not after showing Diouf the door. I can't believe I just defended him. Don't worry, it probably won't happen again.
Diouf's Skill I agree that Liverpool need more skill and creativity. Just not quite sure Diouf is the one to provide it. Diouf has the skill, more than Smicer, but I don't think he has the heart nor the temperament to play that position. As far as Carragher being a clown, that wasn't my intention. I really like Carragher's play, he's conventional and purely functional. It just so happens that Liverpool have 11 of those type players on the field at the same time. What has happened to Pat Berger? He has to be the most injured player to have not played in two years.
You can stop right there. The tossers that call into those programmes have nothing original or unique to say. They are the first people to complain and some are even calling for Houllier's head. Madness. Time to rally round and get behind each and every player. Not stick the knife in. I am as pissed off as anyone, I was in a dark, dark mood yesterday. But pointing fingers and selling players and making panic buys is not the solution. The players are good enough, time to prove it.
Re: Re: Smicer - that bad? (R) He flew to the states a couple weeks ago to get his knee scoped, he is believed to be out for several months. He had a few appearances in September and looked pretty good, but he's off the radar for now. Sheer madness. I suppose all of them think they would be great in the dugout. I am a pretty big loudmouth, and criticise lineups and tactics more than I should, but even I have the common sense to know GH is the perfect man for the job, despite my Champion's League vitory with Darlington in Championship Manager 3.
Smicer has never delivered consistently, that much is inarguable. But it has to be said, he, like Murphy, are often left shouldering a disproportionately large creative burden in a defensively deployed side. Against Vitesse at Anfield, for instance, he was easily the best player on the pitch in the second half, running at his man, going wide, seeking to spread the play. The problem was - and Murphy was suffering similarly down the other side - that he was getting next to no support. This is a typical Smicer move: "Right, got the ball, yep, well controlled, look up, challenge coming in, sidestep that, nice, right and off I go, WOW! space out wide, I could start a farm out here, let's go, OK, marker pulling across, no problem, ball under control? Check. All is well, right, shimmy, change of pace, see ya! And here's the box, OK, so, look up, what's on ... erm ... hum. Stop. Foot on ball. Oops - defender, OK, move the ball, keep the feet going, twist left, twist right, someone will be along in a moment, look up, any moment now ... come on guys, just one of you will do Aaarrgh! Ooh, that hurt. Good tackle though. Oh look - here's a red shirt. Nice one. Bit late, mate. And groans from the Centenary stand. Fucking typical. I can't buy a break in this place ... " It is no surprise that Smicer's best moments in the match coincided with the team's brightest spell, in the first 15 of the second half. By extension, it is no wonder that his most memorable performances in a red shirt have always come when the team has played with a bit of gumption and movement. The sad twats on 606 (a universally loathed brand of "fan") think they have the answers. It makes me laugh like a drain to even contemplate it.