Liverpool FC Forum

by **Sabre** » Wed May 03, 2006 2:13 pm

Real Sociedad 1 - 2 Sevilla

Well the delay in the update is due to the defeat,

, but now I'm back to my normal mood. He didn't score but the game was very interesting.

For the first time in the season he was heavily marked, and one of the defenders Alves was bloody fast too. Bad news is that they stopped our main threat pretty well using constant helps, good news is that Mark more resources than his pace, I really liked him in this game too. His first part of the game was consistent, he got the yellow card of his pair at min 20', but then the ref looked somewhere else. Sevilla would have paid dearly this tactic if Gonzalez was playing for Liverpool as the attacking midfielder often had big channels, but see that's the difference of playing with Gerrard and Mikel Alonso

In the second part the ref sent off 2 of our men for two stupid things, it's sarcastic since Sevilla gave all the stick they wanted. Not much to mention with 2 men less, we did what we could. He was subbed pretty early, probably because there was not much to do with 2 men less and we have an important game today in Cadiz -- we might save mathematically or be near the relegation zone again.

Anyway good game from Mark again.

If anybody is thinking on putting some money in the UEFA final, I'd bet for Sevilla rather than Boro, they've been one of the most solid teams I've seen around Anoeta.

by **stmichael** » Wed May 03, 2006 2:18 pm

Cheers for the update Sabre

Good interview with the lad in this weeks LFC mag.

Seems a good, honest, motivated, hard working lad. Talks about how Rafa, Paco and Pako are all pretty much in regular contact and how keen they are to get him into the club proper.

Chile are currently in the top 67 clubs according to his interview so a Work Permit application (should it still be needed) might be a bit smoother. They also have a Spanish passport application going through now based both on the time the lad has spent living in Spain and also the fact he has Spanish descendents on his Father's side of the family.

A bit of positive news and so hopefully Gonzalez will be here in July ready for pre-season training! :cool:

by **Sabre** » Wed May 03, 2006 2:26 pm

Chile are currently in the top 67 clubs according to his interview so a Work Permit application (should it still be needed) might be a bit smoother. They also have a Spanish passport application going through now based both on the time the lad has spent living in Spain and also the fact he has Spanish descendents on his Father's side of the family.

The latter option seems to be the most important one, because according to Mark himself it's very likely Chile will lose this 67th place this summer, as they're not classified for the world cup.

The passport way would bring Mark to Anfield in December, and if we want to have him in summer in Anfield LFC will have to convince DoE about the work permit. I don't think the DoE should even consider the place Chile is occupying, but the performance Mark is having in one of the most difficult leagues in the world (it's not a matter of luck that both UEFA and CL champions are English-Spanish encounters).

If the bloody tribunal is not full of Mancs and Shítski supporters, they should accept him. :angry:

Paco is positive on that, but who knows.

In the mean time Gonzalez is preparing my crowd por the departure. Some :censored:

around here started to think that he might stay here a bit longer, I don't know why, since the terms of the deal were clear from moment one, but they do. So Gonzalez have said this week that he's comfortable here, but he's true will and determination are to play in Anfield. In Kewell we have the dribling, in Gonzalez we have the pace and long shots, we have a strong left wing. Now we must sort out the right wing problem.

by **stmichael** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:10 pm

Sabre wrote:
Chile are currently in the top 67 clubs according to his interview so a Work Permit application (should it still be needed) might be a bit smoother. They also have a Spanish passport application going through now based both on the time the lad has spent living in Spain and also the fact he has Spanish descendents on his Father's side of the family.

The latter option seems to be the most important one, because according to Mark himself it's very likely Chile will lose this 67th place this summer, as they're not classified for the world cup.

The passport way would bring Mark to Anfield in December, and if we want to have him in summer in Anfield LFC will have to convince DoE about the work permit. I don't think the DoE should even consider the place Chile is occupying, but the performance Mark is having in one of the most difficult leagues in the world (it's not a matter of luck that both UEFA and CL champions are English-Spanish encounters).

If the bloody tribunal is not full of Mancs and Shítski supporters, they should accept him. Paco is positive on that, but who knows.

In the mean time Gonzalez is preparing my crowd por the departure. Some around here started to think that he might stay here a bit longer, I don't know why, since the terms of the deal were clear from moment one, but they do. So Gonzalez have said this week that he's comfortable here, but he's true will and determination are to play in Anfield. In Kewell we have the dribling, in Gonzalez we have the pace and long shots, we have a strong left wing. Now we must sort out the right wing problem.

To my understanding, the original reason he wasn't allowed the permit other than Chile ranking was the panel decided 'he wasnt good enough'. Well that was ridiculous considering the pile of sh#t that got work permits ahead of him.

Apparently, if a player is deemed good enough but his country isn't quite high enough in the rankings, exceptions are made. Gonzalez hadn't played much, and his side had been relegated, so there was insufficient examples to make that exception.

Therefore, his rising reputation WILL have a positive impact on his next application. :nod

by **adamnbarrett** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:22 pm

Chilean star Mark Gonzalez is confident he'll be a Liverpool player before the start of next season.
Liverpool originally had their work permit application for the 21 year old turned down and so agreed a deal to send him on loan to Real Sociedad while they worked on appealing against the decision.

Gonzalez has been a major hit in La Liga and his goals have proved key in Sociedad's successful fight against relegation this season.

The Reds will make another bid for a work permit this summer but will secure his services anyway if he can obtain a Spanish passport first.

"I have heard that the passport application is progressing quite well, so let's hope that I can get the EU Spanish passport which I think then might be enough to play in the UK without needing a work permit," he told LFC Magazine.

"There are certain requirements they demand. Firstly, the country you play for must be in the FIFA top 70. Chile were lower than that at the time we applied.

"Then you must have played 75% of your country's games, which I have done. So the top 70 issue was the problem."

He adds: "How can it be my fault that my country are not in the top 70, it is not like I play them by myself.

"We are looking at two ways of getting Spanish nationality, and with that an EC Spanish passport.

"Firstly through residency, and the time I spent with Albacete and now Sociedad. You need to have been here (in Spain) two years.

"Secondly through Spanish descendants on my father's side of the family. Now we have an application for a Spanish passport being progressed.

"Once I get that I don't think there will be any problem. It has all made me more determined to be a success in England with Liverpool."

by **stmichael** » Wed May 03, 2006 8:47 pm

gonazlez just put in a superb cross for a sociedad goal. they're 2-0 up at cadiz by the way.

by **scouse cockny** » Wed May 03, 2006 10:00 pm

what a fantastic insight.

thanks for taking the time

by **Garymac** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:13 pm

The panal the decision made on Gonzalez looks embarassing for them now, Rafa told them he was the best player in Chile and he doesnt look to far off it.

Can not wait to see him in a red shirt.

by **HacksawJimDuggin** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:17 pm

This guy will be a legend in a red shirt. Not only does he have the undoubted ability to make the grade in the Premiership and Champions League but he appearsv to have the desire and hunger to fit in well here. Yes, he may just be saying that to keep Rafa and the fans happy but I, for one, don't believe that. He WANTS to play for LFC.

by **joko** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:10 am

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he will reject every transfer approach for winger Mark Gonzalez following interest from several Spanish clubs.

The 21-year-old will return to Melwood in the summer and the Reds should get the all clear to field him next season.

Rafa said: "We have had three or four Spanish clubs asking about him because he is playing really well against good teams over there.

"When I was in Madrid last Monday I had three phone calls from chairmen in Spain wanting to buy him or take him on loan.

"But my idea is to have him here next season. The quality of the player is not in question.

"We are not thinking about selling Mark Gonzalez at all. When we decided to sign him he was injured, but we knew his quality - he is a left winger with pace and skill and now he is showing everyone that.

"He has scored five goals and the manager of Real Sociedad has been speaking really highly of him.

"Real Sociedad were at the bottom of the table when he joined and for him to score five goals for a team like that is not easy.

"He can play sometimes as a second striker and on the right wing but he is best on the left.

and says mark

"At first, the news of Liverpool's interest in me was through the usual rumours that you hear about.

There's no advertising in the KopTalk Gold Club!
"There'd been quite a lot of talk about how well I'd been doing and in spite of Albacete's league position, and that I was a player who'd always stood out - maybe for my speed and my style of play. This was my first season in Europe and Albacete were in the Primera Liga.

"So gradually these rumours became more serious and there was also talk of interest from Arsenal and I'm not sure who else.

"So I was aware about Liverpool's interest and I was really motivated and playing well up to the point everything had been agreed and I was going to sign a contract to go and play for Liverpool.

"There were just six games to go until the end of the season and that's when I got injured. It was really bad luck.

"Things were made much more difficult for me because I was due to sign my contract the week after I got injured. It was very complicated in the sense that I got the injury just at the time I'd got the chance to leave Albacete and just when I saw that my future was at Liverpool.

"Obviously everything cools off at that point, you're injured and the contract suddenly seems very far away. You say things to yourself like, "that's it, I won't be going to play for Liverpool now. So just when you thought you had the chance to go and play for a big club, you begin to think about all kind of things.

"Psychologically it's a huge blow and in really starts to eat away at you. However, about a month and a half from when I first got injured, Rafa Benitez called me to see how I was doing and to see if I was feeling positive and motivated.

"It was at that time that Liverpool renewed their interest in me and offered me a new one year contract with an option to buy.

"Now they were showing interest in me once again and keen to offer this one-year contract with an option to buy, which of course was understandable, because I was still injured and you never know what's going to happen.

"So I knew about this renewed interest from the club when Rafa Benitez called me on the day of the semi-final or maybe it was the final of the Champions League, asking how I was and all the rest of it, and if I was motivated.

"I said that I was, big time, after all that had happened with the injury, and now my chance had come again, it was something really important for me. So we hung up and there I was, was made up.

"All I wanted to do from then on was recover from the injury and get back playing again. So from then on you can't imagine how my confidence and spirits were lifted.

"Then as time went on they decided to offer a long term contract, something of a gamble to take a risk with me because there are lots of cases where players with knee injuries have not recovered or not been the same player as before.

"So as things stand I'm thankful because as time goes on I'm more and more convinced that I'm the same player as before and still improving."

Work permit problems have so far prevented him from turning out for the Reds but everything should be resolved in time for next season.

He added: "We're looking at two different ways of getting Spanish nationality and with that, an EC Spanish passport.

"Firstly, through residency and the time I spent with Albacete and now with La Real, you need to have been here two years in total.

"Secondly, through Spanish descendants on my father's side of the family and we have an application for a Spanish Passport currently being processed.

"I've heard that apparently that the application is progressing quite well and so let's hope I can get the EC Spanish Passport which I think then might be enough to be able to play here without needing a work permit."

koptalk (hope this time not being cr@ptalk)

by **Anfield rapper** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:25 am

I can't see how they would be able to call him "not good enough" after scoring goals in probably best football league in the world. The only reason i could see him not playing for us next season is if he decides he likes the spanish league better, and with all due respect Sabre he would probably move to one of the bigger clubs. Having said that i think he will play for us next season has he has always seemed determind to play for us, even after everything that has gone on. It looks good, only the DoE can :censored:

it up for us now.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Thu May 04, 2006 4:18 pm

I think we need to clear one thing up, Mark Gonzalez is a left sides midfield player who can fill in on the right or as the second striker, so he will be competing for a first team spot on the left, I don’t think he has any relation to our transfer target in terms of right sided midfielders.

Quote from Rafa:

"He can play sometimes as a second striker and on the right wing but he is best on the left."

by **Sabre** » Tue May 09, 2006 4:31 pm

Yes, he can. Our coach played vey conservative in the game of wednesday against Cadiz. And Mark was up there on his own

As a lone striker he doesn't have the strenght or body to hold up a central defender charging on him, but as a second striker I think he can do a good job.

I also think he can be a good left back but if any, he's an excellent left winger. He was determinant in the last game against Celta too, he provoked a penalty, several yellow cards, a ball to the post, and danger in free kicks and corners, his usual stuff.

Mark Gonzalez. OBJETIVO CUMPLIDO. Real Sociedad is out of relegations thanks to you, you are ready for Liverpool FC first team football, and your injury is history. TARGET ACCOMPLISHED

I'm going to print this thread in about an hour and give it to his hands tomorrow (I want to ask him to rite some words for Phil and I want him to have this thread). If you want to say something to him, say now!!!!

by **dward** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:45 pm

Sabre wrote:If you want to say something to him, say now!!!!

Well Mark, I hope you will enjoy Liverpool! You look extremely fast and skillful from what clips and reports I've seen. I'm really looking forward to seeing you playing here and probably scoring next season! I'm optimistic you'll be able to settle in OK and get in the first team as quickly as possible! Please write something nice for Drummerphil, he deserves it because of what he's going through. I'll be watching you against Ireland (where my parents are from) so then I can see you playing a full match.

All the best,

D.Ward

by **red37** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:50 pm

welcome to the family mark gonzalez. my away shirt will have your name on the back :buttrock

(gerrards on me home one

) sorry m8!!!

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