Liverpool FC Forum

[wrighty (not mark!)]

If you have a player who has such a distinct knack of changing a game whether he comes off the bench or if he's a regular starter, you simply can't get rid of him.

Yea, I do agree that he should play in the hole but Rafa recognises this as he has said it before somewhere. Plus, If he loses the ball in the position, there is less chance of the opposition breaking down the flank. with sissoko, Gerrard and Alonso behind him, there is plenty of cover to mop up if he messes up.

On the other hand, if he plays a spectacular shot that get's parried or whatever, there are plenty of players (if they're awake) who can finish it off. 

[Garymac]

No one dislikes him or hates him, he is just the most frustrating player ever, but that comes with being a skillful and tricky player, sometimes you look stupid and give the ball away cheaply other times you make a complete muppet out of people (ask the worlds most expensive keeper about that!) Garcia will never be consistent so there is no point moaning that he isnt cos he is unpredictable and that is why we either love him at times or hate him at times, he will have great games and terrible games and like Leon summed up perfectly if he just kept it simple and neat then he would just be another average player, but that he aint and thats why we have to leave him the way he is.

[The_Rock]

garcia knows some of the fans hate him 

http://liverpoolfc.co.za/groupee....1019561

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

Luis Garcia today accepted he's developed a 'love-hate' relationship with The Kop, but vowed to prove he's more than a European specialist.

Garcia showed his determination to silence taunts that he's saving his best form for the Champions League by scoring his first Premier-ship goal of the season in the frustrating 2-2 draw with Birmingham.

Now the Spaniard has Chelsea back in his sights, with memories of his semi-final winner last May still fresh.



Garcia admits his style of play often divides opinion, but he says he willing to accept the rough with the smooth.

"It's normal if you don't play well the supporters will speak and say so," says Garcia. "Our supporters know when we play a good game and when we don't. I understand that.

"Sometimes the fans will love me and sing my name, sometimes they will hate me. That's just how it is.

"I'm not bothered by my form so early in the season because in every year you will have good and bad games. You have to try your best in every match, which is what I always do. Sometimes not everything I do works.

"I'm not bothered if supporters say I've had a bad game, because the manager knows what I can do for the team and he gives me a lot of confidence.

"It's true I want to be considered a player who does well in Europe and the Premiership and I'm always trying to show my best in every game. That's the same whether it's Champions League, Premiership or FA Cup."

Garcia was the matchwinner when Liverpool last met Chelsea, although he admits he rarely watches replays of his controversial goal.

"The goal is repeated a lot on television but I don't like to watch it," he said..

"I'm still sure it went over the line. I thought it was a goal and so did the linesman, which is the most important thing.

"It was one of the greatest moments of my career because it took us to the final. I don't believe Chelsea will see this as a chance for revenge because they know we must meet a lot of times in the future. This is about three points, not a place in the final.

"There are a lot of games left whatever happens on Wednesday. We are unbeaten, we are more consistent and we're confident.

"It will be a massive game and I think we'll play well."

Having scored over the weekend, Garcia also goes into Wednesday's clash hoping the fans will be loving, rather than criticising him by full-time.

"Every game is different and when you go onto the pitch you never know what's going to happen. You must be ready for everything," he said.

"I could have scored twice against Birmingham. I'm happy to have scored once, but not happy that we drew the game."

[davo_LFC]

i think garcia is a very talented player but is very frustrating,his flairy style of play makes him unpredictable...sometimes he can be superb, other times he can be sh.ite...but he has the ability to win any game which is valuable in any team

[King Carra]

Garcia is a really good player in Europe but in the Premiership, he is such a furstrating player. When you're 1 nil down with 5 mins to go and you're in your own half, he'll try doing tricks, which don't normally work. He is a bit like Joe Cole before Mouriniho came to Chelski.

[bigmick]

Mick. He's naturally left footed mate. Not right footed.

Quite right Stu. What I meant to say was that his best games have come when he has played wide right, he is left-footed and not vice-versa. You are also, somewhat annoyingly  correct about the both goals being scored with his left foot, although it doesn't diminish my point too much.
The reason I got it wrong was because when you look at my TV, as theyre running towards you the right hand side is on the left, that is to say at the top of the screen. when they are at the bottom however..........     , sorry AB I couldn't resist. (for those who don't know what I'm on about it was an AB and Stu spat off an ancient thread).

[drummerphil]

[i didnt know you were that agressive phil ]

I am when some bloke from India who says he supports Chelsea,although he has never seen them,tries to tell me about Liverpool,its players and our tactics 

                                             

[tubby]

IMO I think Garcia is going tobe more consistent this season. He already nabbed 3 goals this season
and his finish against Birmingham and Betis were very sharp indeed.

People forget what a skillfull player he is becasue he sometimes gives the ball away. But i think hes one of our most talanted players and one that should not be overlooked. When hes performed well weve always won

[Welshdude]

He can be fustrating, but he's a bit of a crowd pleaser most of the time, and he has the unnatural ablility to nick goals in the most spectacular fashion, then all is forgiven, until next time.



New LFC forum- http://wc5.worldcrossing.com/webx?14@@.1ddf63c2

[JC_81]

It's an interesting thread and one which as a confirmed Garcia fan, I considered starting myself to be honest. I think he's a fabulous footballer, one of the best players we have at the club and though admittedly he can be an annoying little bugger at times is well worth sticking with.
His goal on Saturday perfectly illustrated what he is all about. It's not about the finish, though it was a crisply struck first time shot with the right foot. It's all about the run, begun as the ball is on its way to Gerrard, before the capptain looks up. Similarly, his goal away to Betis which was crisply struck first time with his left foot, was all about the run he made accross the defender, begun just as Zenden was about to turn with the ball. He's a good guesser, a gambler on a football pitch with his movement.
In terms of him giving the ball away, I think the majority of this is caused by his failure to fully adapt to the physical nature of English football as of yet. I had hoped that he would have made more progress on this front this season but so far he doesn't seem to have. That said, given his frailty his goalscoring record from a starting position of wide right (usually) is nothing short of remarkable.

I'd go along with that bigmick.

Garcia is a frustrating little bugger but his ability to get a goal or create a goal out of nothing makes up for it imo.  He HAS to be in the team for all the big games because he is definitely a big-game player.  The bigger the stage the better he seems to play, and players like that are hard to find.

13 goals last season?  Can't complain about that no matter what way you look at it.  And all this from playing out of position out wide?  People need to look at the bigger picture and get off this guy's back.

[kazza]

When Garcia first came Raffa said that he is a player that will give the team something different. I think he is the most technically skilled player on the team, but due to his stature struggles more in the premieship. This year he seems much more aggressive (thumbs up for breaking the thug Keane's foot) although he has made stupid fouls in bad positions.

For me, he should always be in the team because he runs his balls off for the whole game which is more that we can say for others in the team. This proves commitment to the cause, and that is a team player. For fans to slate him is strange to me because he gives 100% to the team and I can forgive the odd stray pass but I cannot forgive a lack of effort. All players have bad games, but he is always capable of something special, but having said that he does need to work on the stray passes.

[Mikz]

Can be very frustrating not just for the fans but ive seen certain players getting annoyed at some of his decisions but he can also make up for that in different ways. On the night of the champs league final i was talking with some arsenal and utd fans and they said -if Garcia Plays well -Liverpool can win  shows what they know but it shows they fear him too. Its possession football these days but at least he trys to give the fans value for money with some amazing goals.

[Santa]

[i didnt know you were that agressive phil ]

I am when some bloke from India who says he supports Chelsea,although he has never seen them,tries to tell me about Liverpool,its players and our tactics 

                                             

ha...from India huh? Since when was Chelsea a supported team over there???    So I guessed it correctly when I said he lived so far away and that the telly did not feature Chelsea last Sat, which explains why he spent all his time posting on a LFC forum when his "supported" team was playing 

[Espionage]

[i didnt know you were that agressive phil ]

I am when some bloke from India who says he supports Chelsea,although he has never seen them,tries to tell me about Liverpool,its players and our tactics 

                                             

Phil you are a c0ckhead i dont know why people dont put you in place with the abuse that you give Chelsea Forever.
Why does it matter where you are from you racist . Some people are not from Europe and have never had a chance to see European Football, does that mean that we are not entitled to watch and have a point of view?
He has added valid points to this thread, Have you?

[Red Red Tom]

Garcia is the kind of player who can, and does win matches with one touch.  The question of how often would be what decides the balance of playing him in the team or bringing him off the bench if we need something special.  He isn't just going to be a 'super-sub' - because he can do one of three things.

(1) World Class game.  A brilliant performance, shreds the defences of the opposition and probably gets a goal or two.  Leverkusen is an example.

(2) Average game.  Decent performance, OR a poor performance with one or two special moments - a stunning cross, or a wonderful goal.

(3) He'll play badly.  This happens no more than the rest of the team, but because of his difficulty in adjusting to the physical nature of English football I believe he comes off worse than he should.  We don't tend to lose too many to teams playing football - its the grind out results that never happen for us.  Blackburn at Anfield last season was the biggest waste of money of my life and I don't actually remember if Garcia was playing!  But its because he epitimises the way we play as a club i.e. inconsistant between brilliant and abysmal that he bears the brunt of the frustrations that are also directed at the team.

Take the start to the season - we've not won enough games, we all know that.  We complain about the team being brilliant in Europe and poor at home.  Ring any bells?  Garcia's performances more than anybody else seem to be linked to the team performance.  We do well, so does he.  Likewise.  I think that this is why - at a time when we are all a little frustrated the guy comes in for stick.

My personal view is that I love the guy and for a time last season he was one of the only players speaking out and saying that we could win the CL.

Stevie:  We can't win it this year.
Garcia:  I've been dreaming of European Glory and there's no reason that we can't go all the way.

Maybe we thought Stevie was right, and Garcia had his head in the clouds but sometimes thats what you need.  Football is a funny game and without the dreamers like Luis, who wander in and out of games it just becomes a procession.  He's got talent, he scores some wonderful goals - and he's exciting to watch because he can do it at any time.

One final note, when he leaves us or retires we should retire his number 10 shirt... He broke Keane's foot after all!