Liverpool FC Forum

by **Owzat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:01 am

How many of you blame the French connection for our downturn in fortunes. I ask you to consider before voting

French

Houllier, Pongolle, Le Tallec, Cheyrou, Traore, Vignal and Luzi

plus Diouf, Riise, Diao and Smicer (French League)

Non-French

Biscan, Hamann, Heskey, Kewell, Finnan, Kirkland, Dudek, Baros, Hyypia, Henchoz, Murphy and Babbel

plus Owen, Gerrard and Carragher (up through the ranks)

------------------------------------------------------------

I guess most of us, if not all, would pick the non-French list over the French list. Comments please (constructive please stu)

by **woof woof !** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:33 pm

The french list shows an embarrasment of under acheivement. How can anybody rate Fooliers ability to buy wisely when they look at that lot ?. Admittedly some of them have "potential" but when will it flourish ?
Players aside,our biggest problem (imo) Foolier.

by **The_Rock** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:19 pm

GH problem is that he always goes french for potential talents. The problem is that the french has stopped producing world class footballers. Their boom time is over. Once the current batch retire, France will be going through a few years of bear market...... But GH still insists to get players from there. Why doesn't he just promote from the academy ?
Our best players always come from there.

by **Owzat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:25 pm

Is it any coincidence that most of us would pick non-French connection players in our best XI? None of this XI includes a "French connection" player :

GK Dudek/Kirkland
LB Carragher
CB Hyypia
CB Henchoz
RB Finnan
LM Kewell
CM Hamann
CM Gerrard
RM Murphy
CF Owen
CF Baros/Heskey

Must be a fairly acceptable XI to most Liverpool fans

by **The_Rock** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:36 pm

Owzat wrote:Is it any coincidence that most of us would pick non-French connection players in our best XI? None of this XI includes a "French connection" player :

GK Dudek/Kirkland
LB Carragher
CB Hyypia
CB Henchoz
RB Finnan
LM Kewell
CM Hamann
CM Gerrard
RM Murphy
CF Owen
CF Baros/Heskey

Must be a fairly acceptable XI to most Liverpool fans

agree with your formation with 1 change. Don't really want murphy. So opt for 4-3-3.

Dudek
Finnan Hyppia Henchoz Carragher
Hamann
Gerrard Kewell
Baros
Owen Heskey.

Its time to kick *****. No time for defensive, passy football.

by **Owzat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:43 pm

Why not slip Carragher or Traore to CB and play 3-5-2?

GK Dudek
CB Hyypia
CB Henchoz
CB Carragher
LWB Riise
RWB Finnan
CM Kewell
CM Hamann
CM Gerrard
CF Owen
CF Baros

Riise and Finnan would have less defending to do with Hamann sitting in front of the back three. Gerrard and Kewell would be relatively free to create and the two pronged attack would cause problems to any defence

If we are to draw positives from the defeat at Arsenal, we scored 2 goals against a defence which had only previously conceded 20 league goals all season

by **XSD** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 3:17 pm

I don't mind Pongolle, I think he could become a good striker. Letallec is ok as well, the others..:/

by **Zardoz** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 3:59 pm

Is the french connection a problem for Arsenal ?

by **115-1073096938** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:21 pm

Why not stick to a 4-4-2 and player the right players in the right positions and then sign the right players to improve us.

I.E. a centre forward, a pacey classy centre half who can use the ball aswell as defend a right winger or midfielder who at least provide width and a play maker for the central midfield position next to Stevie.

Obviously the latter the being the least important as Hamann is a class player. The fact is if we don't sell anyone thats all we are away from being one of the top 5 sides in europe. With the imminent arrival of Cisse in my opinion we don't now need that striker.

Its not as bad a squad as people make out, its just the first 11 isn't really strong enough to handle 2 or 3 injurys.

Houllier knows the problem area's, his interest in Boumsong and his tampering with Henchoz and Biscan shows he knows he needs a centre half. Granted i wouldn't play Biscan if it was me and probably most people wouldn't but at the end of the day the fact he's not totally sure himself shows he knows he needs to improve this area. We know about Cisse and he obviously thinks (and i agree) he is the answer to the question of who should partner Michael Owen in attack.

The only real problem area i would say is right wing. I agreed a while back on Malbranque but the reality is he's not a wide midfielder, he's in the same mould as Barmby (only a bit better, i rated Barmby at his best

), i think he could do a job there definately but he's not a winger. I look the look of Pennant. Who knows?

by **Stan Laurel** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:43 pm

Boumsong has signed for Rangers on pre-contract, Stu, what do you think of Mexes, do you think he is the right man to solve centre-back problem or not?
Cheers.
Stan

by **DrLiverpool** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 7:18 pm

Mexes is quick and class
just the type of defender we need.

The problem is the managment not the players
most of the french players wouldnt be at liverpool if houllier didnt buy them.

p.s. I think 4-4-2 diamond formation.

KIRKLAND

HYYPIA HENCHOZ
FINNAN CARRA/RIISE

HAMANN

DIOUF KEWELL
GERRARD

BAROS OWEN

next season:
mexes instead of henchoz
and cisse instead of baros
+other changes (including managment)

by **Owzat** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:38 am

Zardoz wrote:Is the french connection a problem for Arsenal ?

Different "French connection", Wenger bought players who are quality French internationals, how many of our French players can even get into the French national team?

by **The_Rock** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:06 am

Owzat wrote:Why not slip Carragher or Traore to CB and play 3-5-2?

GK Dudek
CB Hyypia
CB Henchoz
CB Carragher
LWB Riise
RWB Finnan
CM Kewell
CM Hamann
CM Gerrard
CF Owen
CF Baros

Riise and Finnan would have less defending to do with Hamann sitting in front of the back three. Gerrard and Kewell would be relatively free to create and the two pronged attack would cause problems to any defence

If we are to draw positives from the defeat at Arsenal, we scored 2 goals against a defence which had only previously conceded 20 league goals all season

i think 3-5-2 was the reason evens was asked to go. If evens had gone with 4-4-2...he might still be the liverpool manager (ie....he would have eventually won the league). Can't help but think if hyppia & henchoz were bought during evens reign, ...........

by **The_Rock** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:13 am

Owzat wrote:
Zardoz wrote:Is the french connection a problem for Arsenal ?

Different "French connection", Wenger bought players who are quality French internationals, how many of our French players can even get into the French national team?

Wenger must be a talent spotting god. Lundberg, Toure, Edu (he is playing like a classy midfielder). He also converted Henry from winger to striker and Viera from Left midfielder to defensive midfielder.

Now compare that with GH.

a)Convert a good defensive midfielder (who was reportedly wanted by juventus & milan) into a centreback and effectively ending his potential.
b)Convert the english christian vieri into a left winger.
c)Play our best centreback at rightback.

by **Owzat** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:20 am

I'm just saying that is maybe the only decent formation we could make given the lack of a top drawer left-back and right-midfielder. FACT is we need quality buys in the summer and I am sure Houllier won't make the necessary buys. We look set to gamble £14m on another French potential and skate round the areas that have been lacking this season. Our defence has been shaky for some time now : -

2003/2004 - conceded three x3, conceded four x1
2002/2003 - conceded three x3, conceded four x1
2001/2002 - conceded three x3, conceded four x2
2000/2001 - conceded three x2, conceded four x1
1999/2000 - conceded three x1, conceded four x0
1998/1999 - conceded three x5, conceded four x0
1997/1998 - conceded three x6, conceded four x1
1996/1997 - conceded three x6, conceded four x1

For me not conceding four or more goals is the benchmark of a top side - how often do you see a full strength manc or Arsenal side concede four?
It got better than it was under Evans but we're still conceding 3 or 4 far too often.

Liverpool FC Forum

Is it the french connection that is our problem? - Not racist, just an honest question

Is it the french connection that is our problem? - Not racist, just an honest question

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