Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

Just want to make a few points about the guy. Ok he's hardly set the world on fire but I still think he'll be a good signing for us given time.

Maybe his level may well turn out to be Spain, but he was found in their top division, was loaned back to La Liga, ran the Leagues defences ragged and scored a good amount of goals. My point is he has ability, the video's are there to watch and IMO he should be allowed time and we should epect this from a kid in a new league.

Time is whats needed, how much time is for Rafa to decide but I watched this lad in Spain and he was f#ckin superb, true, players with ability have come to England and failed but you have to give him a chance especially as he's nowhere near as old as the likes of Morientes. Time is on his side and we should allow it, until it gets to the point where we know he wont make it, but that time is certainly not half way through his first season in a new world where the kid is still learning his trade.

However I would say at this point that he shouldn't be a first team regular by any means. Garcia proved again today, in the short space of time that he was on, that he must start the majority of games, especially at home.

[red37]

ive had my two-pennorth in this thread below, so im not going to say it all over.  In the main i stand by my optimism (for the long-term) But as you correctly say St.Mike....it perhaps is too early for MG's potential to be realised yet, if of course at all. Time will tell...(i agree with LG at home, or in the CL should he maintain his current threat)

http://www.liverpoolfc-newkit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=19980

[Smeg]

He's shi*e.

[Lando_Griffin]

The lad is quality. He just needs time to settle and adapt.

You don't f*ck top SPanish sides up if you haven't got ability.


Look at Pires - he took over 12 months to settle, and we're all on Mark's back after less than half that.

Different kettle of fish to Morientes - he was too old to adapt.

People need to stop bitching about him and provide the confidence he's severely lacking. (Not aimed at St Mike or Red, as I haven't read your comments - bit p*ssed you see. )

[red37]

Too right mate    you fill yer boots!

[peterc1992]

hes quick and il give him the time but his inexperience shows and he gives the ball away alot and hits stupid shots but quality

[eds]

I have defended him once, twice, three times and I will continue to do so until he proves everyone wrong.

Mark will come good, the only problem he is facing is getting use to the English League, he has quality and skill to burn (we ALL know this). I was watching the game yesterday and was amazed at how many poor passes he received. Another thing that is starting to worry me is the lack of ball he is getting from Gerrard and Alonso in the center. I counted almost 2-3 passes from Gerrard in the whole farkin game, that s/h\i\t has to stop right now! Either you are with your team-mates or out.

[aCe']

I have defended him once, twice, three times and I will continue to do so until he proves everyone wrong.

Mark will come good, the only problem he is facing is getting use to the English League, he has quality and skill to burn (we ALL know this). I was watching the game yesterday and was amazed at how many poor passes he received. Another thing that is starting to worry me is the lack of ball he is getting from Gerrard and Alonso in the center. I counted almost 2-3 passes from Gerrard in the whole farkin game, that s/h\i\t has to stop right now! Either you are with your team-mates or out.

muahahaha !
poor passes he recieved ... man... talk about the poor passes he was making... or the posession he kept losing... or that brilliant shot that almost ended up a throw in !
Gimme a break, Gerrad and Alonso not passing the ball to him... think about it there for a minute brilliant !
the guy is shiitty... at times...most times his positioning is shitty... doesnt know when to come deep to play and recieve ball with central midfielders... just stands there  hugging the touchline trying to outrun the fullbacks...
yesterdays game was by all means awful ! stop trying to defend him when he had obviously screwed up !

[parchpea]

Despite the fact Gonzalez is new to this league he has not shown anything that would hint of better things to come.

The lightning pace that was reported is not there and I have not seen the lad get by anyone that often.

Even if he makes some improvements I doubt very much it will be enough for him to be what we are looking for or need.

We got the player on the cheap and hope we found a gem. Unfortunately like many others it appears he is doomed to failure and will likely end up on loan in La Liga.

[Smeg]

The lad is quality. He just needs time to settle and adapt.

You don't f*ck top SPanish sides up if you haven't got ability.


Look at Pires - he took over 12 months to settle, and we're all on Mark's back after less than half that.

Different kettle of fish to Morientes - he was too old to adapt.

People need to stop bitching about him and provide the confidence he's severely lacking. (Not aimed at St Mike or Red, as I haven't read your comments - bit p*ssed you see. )

hes had half a season, its a myth all this about players being better in certain countries. Youre good enough or youre not. Gonzalez has pace and not alot else. The sooner Kewell is fit the better.

[Sabre]

I agree St Michael.

I add a couple of points. Mark has entered the team regularly as of late, in the first games of the season he didn't play much. I think it's too early to say he's not good enough for LFC.

Mark made great games against great teams in La Liga, which is not a joke league. A free kick goal from long distance is the same in England and in Spain, and Mark scored this kind of goals, because he has the ability to do that. Mark also has pace, I only remember Alves controlling him by pace.

¿Kewell? excuse me but for me Kewell has better dribling than Gonzalez and stop counting. He hasn't showed it yet, but Gonzalez has better shot, more pace, better touch of the ball when the ball is dead, just give him time!

P.S. Why don't we open the "not good enough" thread? we LFC fans always find someone to have a go. Alonso was shaky and not the same Alonso, very poor at the start of the season, or so said some people. Then our strikers were the problem. Then Pennant. Then Gonzalez. It's bloody difficult to tryumph here! and we're winning, I can't imagine the criticism if we were 7th in the table.

[Smeg]

I agree St Michael.

I add a couple of points. Mark has entered the team regularly as of late, in the first games of the season he didn't play much. I think it's too early to say he's not good enough for LFC.

Mark made great games against great teams in La Liga, which is not a joke league. A free kick goal from long distance is the same in England and in Spain, and Mark scored this kind of goals, because he has the ability to do that. Mark also has pace, I only remember Alves controlling him by pace.

¿Kewell? excuse me but for me Kewell has better dribling than Gonzalez and stop counting. He hasn't showed it yet, but Gonzalez has better shot, more pace, better touch of the ball when the ball is dead, just give him time!

P.S. Why don't we open the "not good enough" thread? we LFC fans always find someone to have a go. Alonso was shaky and not the same Alonso, very poor at the start of the season, or so said some people. Then our strikers were the problem. Then Pennant. Then Gonzalez. It's bloody difficult to tryumph here! and we're winning, I can't imagine the criticism if we were 7th in the table.

1) Being a set piece specialist doesnt mke you a decent player.

2) Mark Gonzalez will never reach Kewell's level. Ever.


Its suprising how much people neglect Kewell.


Kewell Alonso Sissoko Gerrard
Our best midfield, and how it should be when theyre all fit.

[Ace Ventura]

I agree St Michael.

I add a couple of points. Mark has entered the team regularly as of late, in the first games of the season he didn't play much. I think it's too early to say he's not good enough for LFC.

Mark made great games against great teams in La Liga, which is not a joke league. A free kick goal from long distance is the same in England and in Spain, and Mark scored this kind of goals, because he has the ability to do that. Mark also has pace, I only remember Alves controlling him by pace.

¿Kewell? excuse me but for me Kewell has better dribling than Gonzalez and stop counting. He hasn't showed it yet, but Gonzalez has better shot, more pace, better touch of the ball when the ball is dead, just give him time!

P.S. Why don't we open the "not good enough" thread? we LFC fans always find someone to have a go. Alonso was shaky and not the same Alonso, very poor at the start of the season, or so said some people. Then our strikers were the problem. Then Pennant. Then Gonzalez. It's bloody difficult to tryumph here! and we're winning, I can't imagine the criticism if we were 7th in the table.

Sabre i will be honest mate, this touch that you are talking about i have not seen, his first touch is awful imo.
So far he looks an extremley limited player and shouldnt be near the first team (whether Kewell is fit or not).
I am not totally slagging the lad off and am prepared to give him plenty of time as he is young and adapting to a different style of football, but so far he has been really poor.

Me mate was telling me that his ald man knows someone connected with Fowler (we all do  ) but he was saying Fowler said that MG is a terrible player...and even worse in training, and that he (Fowler) is shocked that he (MG) is at Liverpool.

[alxy]

I too am disappointed with MG's performances so far. But he has turned up to score a few goals for us. His poor choice of passes and shots indicates his inexperience. But I'm still willing to give him a chance. Someone here mentioned Kewell. Remember Harry himself needed some time before he could adapt to Liverpool.... and he already had the benefit of fitting in to the pace of the premiership...

[Scottbot]

It seems that responses to Gonzalez sit between 'he's ' and 'don't worry, he'll come good in time'. For me it's probably somewhere in the middle, i'm not sure he will make it in the EPL but neither have i written him off. I think most of us were hoping (assuming in some cases!) we had a ready made Damien Duff/Arjen Robben arriving to fill Kewell's injured boots. The reality is that Gonzalez is a very raw talent who, despite a few glimpses of form has struggled to settle into English football.

On the plus side we can all see the lad is quick and there have been a few occasions where he has found the confidence to get the ball out of his feet and run past his man. While defending isn't his strong point he works hards to win the ball back (much like Kewell) and certainly makes a bigger contribution to this area than Garcia. He proved the other day that he can take take a set piece and he has shown in Spain (and to a lesser extent over here) that he has a few goals in him. He's very good at finding a yard or two to get a shot in but this often happens when he cuts in onto his weaker foot which is an area he needs to work on in training. The biggest negative for me is the fact he isn't a great dribbler, he has pace to burn but we tend not to see him at full speed with the ball stuck to his feet. His crossing and final ball have let him down for the most part this season and this is obviously (for a winger) an area he will need to improve on considerably.

So for me he is very much a 'project' and in an ideal world Rafa could (and would) be bringing him along slowly as first reserve to Kewell while he takes some time to get used to the physical demands of the English league. The reality is that he has been chucked in at the deep end into a struggling (untill recently) team and has done more sinking than swimming.

I don't think you can properly assess the player untill this time next year.