Liverpool FC Forum

by **Leonmc0708** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:46 am

I think this will be from the same source as Johnny Mac's video clips, (the LFC phenomenon that is Paul Tomkins.)

From today's Guardian. Don't know if it's been posted in one of the El Moro threads, but to my mind has so many interesting points and stats that it deserves a thread of its own. Incredible fact about his 18 ASSISTS the other season.

Golden touch of the newest Red

Spaniard will bring goals and industry to Liverpool

Graham Hunter in Barcelona
Thursday January 13, 2005
The Guardian

The warmth of welcome for Fernando Morientes at Anfield will be matched only by the degree of sadness among the Bernabéu faithful to see him leave.

Never the golden boy, like Raúl, Morientes was all the same adored because Real Madrid's demanding fans saw in him a player with all the old-fashioned values which were, once, the staple diet at Liverpool FC itself.

If Raúl was the soft-top sports model for showing off to the neighbours at the weekends, Morientes was the reliable people-carrier which was also more comfortable to drive.

It is not only at the Bernabéu that Morientes' unstinting work-rate, 24-carat goal record and basic professionalism has won him appreciation. Milan Baros may have been only 16 when Morientes, now 28, moved to Madrid and Liverpool's Czech striker could have felt threatened by the arrival of a triple Champions League winner in a team run by a coach who is comfortable with the idea of using only one striker. But Baros is also shrewd enough to know a good thing when he sees it.

"Personally I'm delighted Fernando is joining Liverpool because I know he is an outstanding footballer," Baros said yesterday. "His deal is very positive news for Liverpool in general but also important in its timing because Djibril Cissé's injury is obviously long-term and I have had my own fitness difficulties recently. But, above all, I'm really looking forward to establishing our partnership on the pitch.

"He is extremely good in the air, just like my international team-mate Jan Koller, and Jan and I have proved a successful double act. Fernando is a fine goalscorer in his own right, as he proved so clearly with Monaco last season.

"But I'm hopeful he and I will join up to the same kind of effect as Koller and I for the Czech Republic. The thing I'm sure of is that Fernando will help us climb to a higher position in the Premiership."

All Baros's points are sound. Although Morientes scored 19 domestic and European goals for Monaco en route to a Champions League runners-up medal and the award of Most Valuable Striker, his last prolific season at Madrid was 2001-02, thanks to Real's president Florentino Pérez.

Then he scored 21 domestic and European goals, 12 with his feet and nine with his head. But he also provided a phenomenal 18 assists to claim a share of 39 goals in a season when Madrid won their last Champions League.

Pérez's obsession with the latest model in his summer star-buying sprees has cost Morientes dearly.

The unfairness of instantly being relegated when Ronaldo arrived after winning the World Cup in 2002 was compounded by the then Real technical director Jorge Valdano hawking Morientes around to Internazionale and Barcelona without his permission.

The situation got so out of hand that in the 2002 European Super Cup against Feyenoord, Vicente del Bosque was ordered to omit Morientes from the squad. Raúl wore his friend's No9 jersey in his own as a gesture of support, and the two players, plus Fernando Hierro, argued openly and bitterly with Pérez and Valdano in the lobby of their Monte Carlo hotel late that night.

Perhaps the decline in Real's heart and soul can be traced to that night and the cavalier way in which a talented, loyal servant was treated.

Morientes hurts defences and works for the team, for his coach, for his partner - all the while scoring his own share.

Perhaps that explains a remarkable scene in September 2002. Morientes was finished, as far as Pérez was concerned. So, while the striker warmed the bench against Espanyol, the entire Bernabéu continually chanted his name. The late goal Steve McManaman scored to seal a 2-0 win almost passed unremarked as wave after wave of "cariño" washed down from the Madrid faithful.

Fernando Morientes' club record

League Apps Goals Eur Apps Goals

2004-05 Real Madrid 12 0 4 0

2003-04 Monaco 27 10 12 9

2003-04 Real Madrid 1 0 0 0

2002-03 Real Madrid 18 5 7 0

2001-02 Real Madrid 33 18 12 3

2000-01 Real Madrid 22 6 8 4

1999-00 Real Madrid 29 12 14 6

1998-99 Real Madrid 33 19 4 0

1997-98 Real Madrid 33 12 10 4

1996-97 Real Zaragoza 37 15 - -

1995-96 Real Zaragoza 29 13 5 2

1994-95 Albacete 20 5 - -

1993-94 Albacete 2 0 - -

Total 296 115 76 29

International record

Apps Goals

Spain 37 24

Plus this from the Telegraph (which I know is in the Mori thread)...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport....ty.html

Prolific scorer seen by fans as a misfit
By Sid Lowe in Madrid (Filed: 13/01/2005)

The scene was depressingly familiar. When Real Madrid signed Michael Owen back in August one man stood to lose out more than any other. Yet again, that man was Fernando Morientes, the eternal victim of the galáctic era, a striker with no way past the untouchables.

"If Fernando wasn't already a Madrid player, they would probably try to sign him. But as he's already at the club nobody rates him," sighed Morientes's agent Ginés Carvajal. Speaking from bitter experience, Carvajal had a point: playing on loan at Monaco, the 28-year-old was the Champions League's top scorer, but somehow he was never glamorous enough for Madrid. A product of Spain's austere, dull central tableland - he was born in Cáceres, brought up in Toledo, raised as a footballer at Albacete and had planned to become a Civil Guard - he was never really a galáctico, and it cost him.

Morientes's record is magnificent. He has won three European Cups (but only played a major part in one) and two league titles. He had, before this season, scored 72 goals in 168 games and he has an incredible strike-rate for Spain: 25 goals in 38 games. But something has never felt quite right, especially under current president Florentino Pérez, the man who, according to one director, didn't buy Ronaldinho because he was "too ugly".

Morientes scored 33 league goals in his first two seasons at Madrid and the following year Vicente del Bosque considered him a key part of the European Cup-winning team, despite the "beautiful madness" of signing Nicolas Anelka. Morientes scored a goal every other game in Europe, including the first in the final.

There was, however, a nagging sense of stopping short, a feeling that he wasn't quite enough for Madrid. He certainly wasn't sufficiently stylish: he didn't run at people and he couldn't do flashy back-heels or clever tricks, although he was better with his feet than many appreciated. Morientes nonetheless scored more goals with his head - and headers don't count to the purists of the Bernabéu.

In one match against Las Palmas he scored five - four were headers - the first Madrid player to do so since Puskas in 1961. It should have been six but he had a late penalty saved. If only he could have taken it with his head. For some, that was a fatal weakness; in England it will be a virtue. Morientes's other perceived failing was his mental fragility, but who could blame him? When Ronaldo signed, he was the one pushed unwillingly into joining Barcelona to fund the deal, only for Barca to pull out at the last minute, the suspicion remaining that they had simply used Morientes in a failed attempt to torpedo the deal.

The writing was on the wall, but Morientes endured a season on the bench before joining Monaco, where, under the warm care of Didier Deschamps, he rediscovered himself in such spectacular fashion. Memorably, he scored a marvellous, towering header that had revenge written all over it and knocked Madrid out of the Champions League.

Long an admirer, Rafa Benítez will look after Morientes, encourage him, rebuild his confidence and Liverpool fans are about to find out just how good a footballer he is. Maybe Madrid will as well; for them, however, it is too late.

From Independent

Real's British-style goal machine starts new life at Liverpool

By Patrick McCurdy in Madrid

13 January 2005

Three European Cup winners' medals, two league titles, the top scorer in the last edition of the Champions' League, voted best forward of the season by Uefa, the leading Spaniard in the voting for the Golden Ball award, and the most effective striker in the national side - with a cupboard full of honours like that you would expect Fernando Morientes to be treated as a jealously guarded treasure by his club and country.

But the 28-year-old striker has never received the recognition he has deserved from Real Madrid or Spain. It is little surprise, then, that after spending yet another season warming the bench at the Bernabeu he has decided to join the burgeoning colony of his fellow countrymen at Liverpool.

One of the most un-Spanish of Spanish players ever to play up front for Real Madrid, Morientes has always been too close to the classic mould of a British-style centre-forward to win a place in the hearts of the fans. Strong in the air, quick-thinking and a deadly close-range finisher, Morientes is too clinical to have a place at a club where, since the arrival of the president, Florentino Perez, and his acolytes, image has become all-important. But it is precisely these skills which have led Rafael Benitez to insist on his signing for a club in desperate need of his services.

If purely footballing matters had been of primary consideration, Morientes could and would have become a key part of Real's glittering squad. It takes little imagination to work out that if David Beckham had been used in his old Manchester United slot on the right wing rather than wasted in the middle, the powerful centre-forward would have filled his boots with goals on the end of the England player's crosses. Almost unbelievably, such a combination has never even been tried at Real.

Born in the province of Extremadura, a harsh, rugged region on the border with Portugal which was once home to the Conquistadors, Morientes first caught the eye as a player at Albacete as a 17-year-old. He signed for Real Zaragoza in 1995, scoring 28 goals in two seasons before being snapped up by Real Madrid for close to £4.5m. At that time, Real's recruitment policy was based on creaming off the best players from middle-ranking Primera Liga sides and offering them lucrative long-term deals, and Morientes was one of their best buys.

Renowned for his prowess in the air, he got his career at Real off to a dream start, scoring twice inside the first 20 minutes of his debut against Salamanca. He went on to become an important part of the side that won the 1998 European Cup, a victory that allowed Real to regain its status as kings of the Continent after a 32-year wait.

Forming a lethal partnership with his close friend Raul, Morientes picked up two more European Cup winners' medals in the next four years, weighing in with the crucial opening goal in the 3-0 win over Valencia in 2000 and playing in the side that beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in 2002. He also helped Real to league titles in 2001 and 2003.

He finished the 2001-2002 season as Real's top scorer in the league with 18 goals, helping himself to five in Real's 7-0 victory over Las Palmas in February. But a few months later he became one of the first casualties of Perez's galactico recruitment policy.

Perez tried to use Morientes as a makeweight in the deal to sign Ronaldo in August 2002, first as part-exchange for the Brazilian World Cup winner and then by selling him to Barcelona. Raul and the club captain, Fernando Hierro, were up in arms about the club's treatment of their friend.

Ronaldo arrived with all the fanfare accorded to Perez's new recruits, while Morientes ended up warming the bench. After losing his place in the national side he was left little choice but to move on, joining Monaco on loan, with Real agreeing to pay about two-thirds of his £3.2m salary.

Under the guidance of the Monaco coach, Didier Deschamps, he became far more rounded, learning to play in behind the lead striker as well as up front on his own. His scoring feats helped to steer the Ligue 1 side into the final of the European Cup and he finished as top scorer in the tournament with nine goals.

In a delicious piece of irony it was Morientes's goals that helped eliminate Real from a competition they had come to see as their own. His late strike in the 4-2 first leg of the quarter-final at the Bernabeu was crucial and he went on to score another in the 3-1 win in the return to ensure Monaco went through on the away goals rule.

His performances won him a return to the Spanish national squad for Euro 2004 and he has since taken his international tally to 25 goals in 38 games, a better strike-rate than Raul. At the start of this season, the new Real coach Jose Antonio Camacho persuaded Morientes to return to Madrid, assuring him that he would feature in his plans. Things started well enough when he scored both his side's goals in their 2-0 first-leg win over Wisla Krakow in a Champions' League qualifier.

But when Perez went over Camacho's head and signed Michael Owen, the Spaniard slipped to fourth choice behind Ronaldo, Raul and the England striker. Then Camacho resigned as Real coach after three league matches and Morientes ended up an onlooker under Mariano Garcia Remon.

The 28-year-old's only league start was in the seven-minute held-over game against Real Sociedad and, with his patience running out, he put in a request to leave. Real's loss will be Liverpool's gain, the only sadness for Benitez being that his new recruit will be cup-tied in the Champions' League - and so there is no hope of a repeat this season of his magic at Monaco.

ANFIELD'S SPANISH ENCLAVE

JOSEMI (Defender)

Age: 26; Fee: £2m

Rafael Benitez's first signing as Liverpool manager, featured in the Malaga side that knocked Leeds out of the 2002 Uefa Cup.

ANTONIO NUNEZ (Midfielder) Age: 26; Fee: Part exchange for Michael Owen

Although a knee injury forced him out for three months, his recent performances have failed to convince the fans.

LUIS GARCIA (Midfielder)

Age: 26; Fee: £6m

The tricky playmaker has dazzled in front of the Kop but seems to disappear when playing away from Anfield.

XABI ALONSO (Midfielder)

Age: 23; Fee: £10.5m

The ideal foil for Steven Gerrard, his performances have been impressive. His presence will be missed as he recovers from a broken ankle.

MAURICIO PELLIGRINO (Defender) Age: 33; Fee: Free

Eight years in Spain made this Argentinian a household name. He formed a solid defensive partnership with countryman Roberto Ayala at Valencia. Has played in, and lost, two Champions' League finals.

The Times

Morientes to feel at home on 'Costa del Anfield'
By Oliver Kay

THERE are some who have expressed concern at the fact that Hispanic voices have come to drown out Scouse accents in the Liverpool dressing-room, but few will have raised objections yesterday as it was confirmed that Fernando Morientes, the Real Madrid forward, would belatedly be completing his job-swap with Michael Owen.

Morientes will arrive on Merseyside this lunchtime to finalise a £6.3 million transfer and to become the sixth player to join Liverpool from La Liga since the appointment of Rafael Benítez as manager in June. Of the first four, amusingly dubbed the “Benítles” by the Spanish press, only Xabi Alonso has proved a resounding hit, but there seem to be few doubts that Morientes, who is likely to make his debut against Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday, should make the expected impact.

He may have fallen a long way down the pecking order in Madrid — behind not only Raúl and Ronaldo but also Owen, a player whom Benítez was content to sell when contract negotiations reached a stalemate — but Morientes, while lacking the galáctico qualities of that trio, will arrive with a reputation as one of the most feared centre forwards in Europe and one who, despite an apparent lack of match fitness, has his eyes on a Premiership baptism of fire.

“I am going to Liverpool and it was not a decision that I took in an instant,” Morientes said at Real’s training ground yesterday. “My family and I thought about it a lot. I told the club (Real) that I wanted to play and I had various offers, but I thought the most interesting one was Liverpool. Now all I can do is hope that the medical goes well and I am registered in time to play on Saturday. You can’t ask for more than a debut against Manchester United.”

The 28-year-old seems certain to get his wish. Provided that there are no problems with the medical — and with signing a 4½-year contract that has already been approved by Ginés Carvajal, his agent — he should be registered with the Premier League before tomorrow’s midday deadline. There would then be five hours to ensure that international clearance is received from the Spanish football federation.

The deal represents something of a coup for Liverpool, who, although forced to raise their offer from an initial £3 million, have succeeded in signing a player that Benítez had targeted even before Djibril Cissé, their £14 million record acquisition, suffered a horrific broken leg on October 23. Milan Baros, the Czech Republic forward, has at times had to carry the goalscoring burden on his own this season, but he expressed excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Morientes.

“I am delighted because Fernando is an outstanding player,” Baros said. “This is very positive news for Liverpool. I am sure Morientes will help us to get higher in the Premiership table. I am looking forward to working with him.”

For Morientes, there is excitement at the prospect of working under Benítez, a coach held in the highest regard in Spain after he led Valencia to two league titles in three seasons before moving to Anfield. But the greatest attraction is the prospect of playing first-team football again.

Aside from last season, when he enjoyed a happy and fruitful spell on loan to AS Monaco, Morientes has found himself frustrated in Madrid since Ronaldo arrived from Inter Milan in the summer of 2002. Although he continued to score goals when selected and remained a first choice for Spain, for whom he has scored 23 goals in 36 appearances, Morientes was never a favourite of the Real hierarchy once he had turned down moves to Barcelona and Inter Milan when the club were desperately trying to raise the money to sign Ronaldo.

Yet, even when exiled on loan to Monaco, where he helped to knock Real as well as Chelsea out of last season’s European Cup, he was idolised by the supporters in Madrid. It was their support, along with that of his team-mates, which made yesterday’s press conference an emotional affair. “I want to thank this club, which in eight years has given me nearly everything in my sporting career,” he said. “I want to thank the fans for their support and I am proud to have worn this shirt.”

Now, though, the challenge is playing for Liverpool. He will not be eligible to play in this season’s European Cup, but, with Owen’s departure leaving a vacancy for an idol on the Kop, Saturday gives Morientes the perfect opportunity to establish himself as everyone’s favourite “Benítle”.

CHANGING TIMES FOR THE £6m MAN

How The Times has followed the career of Morientes

Raúl has missed the incisive and unselfish link-up play of Morientes, who flourished on loan at AS Monaco. It can only be stubbornness that Real don’t want Morientes, for me the better of the players.
Tony Cascarino, Wednesday June 16, 2004

Morientes has been frozen out all season in the hope that he will get the message and leave now rather than when his contract expires in 2006. Whenever he comes on he scores, which is slightly embarrassing and, while the fans might cheer, it does him no favours with his bosses.
Tuesday April 29, 2003

After a brief showing of conviction, Spain spluttered and it took the advent of Morientes to introduce smoothness.
Saturday June 8, 2002

Spain 3 Paraguay 1 World Cup group B
In September, a young substitute named Morientes produced a night of devastating panache (in a 5-1 victory over Rosenborg).
Wednesday May 20, 1998

by **woof woof !** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:01 am

Don't know why I bother with newspapers and Sky sports , just tune in to Leon every morning . Nice one Leon.

by **Roger Red Hat** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:01 am

Could of read war and peace quicker.

I think the size of posts is getting ridiculous. I think it should be deleted.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:03 am

How about .
Morientes is very good .

Nah , I like a good read .

by **Roger Red Hat** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:30 am

Did I sound like Leon?

by **andy_g** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:56 am

cheers leon.

all your cuttin' 'n' pastin' has saved me loads of searchin' 'n' clickin'

i'm trying really hard to temper my excitement and just wait and see how the guy plays for us. but its hard not to be excited - i mean, 21 goals and 18 assists in a season. god how we need a player like that.

by **hawkmoon269** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:54 pm

NE1 got any news on how his medical went?

by **111-1105616639** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:00 pm

jonnymac1979 wrote:Morientes Goals to Download here

It's a 20Mb file. It will take 2 - 3 minutes to download on a 1 Meg broadband connection.

AND HE PLAYS FOR US!!!!!

watched them goals, he looks very strong in the air, good leap on him. at present liverpool are wasting their time crossing the ball into the box especially when we have a midget and a fatty in there, morientes should give us a bit of strength

by **ralmach** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:41 pm

Leonmc0708 your sign is bad translated, the correct translation for "You'll never walk alone" is:

"Nunca caminaras solo"

Congratulations for the Morientes sign, he's a great striker. I hope he'll score a lot of goals for LFC.

by **Ciggy** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:42 pm

So do we Ral

by **109-1105722616** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:29 pm

Guest wrote:
jonnymac1979 wrote:Morientes Goals to Download here

It's a 20Mb file. It will take 2 - 3 minutes to download on a 1 Meg broadband connection.

AND HE PLAYS FOR US!!!!!

watched them goals, he looks very strong in the air, good leap on him. at present liverpool are wasting their time crossing the ball into the box especially when we have a midget and a fatty in there, morientes should give us a bit of strength

just seen them goals, he looks a handful in and around the box, defenders dont know how to mark him

your right there about the mellor and pongollie being no good in the box

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