Liverpool FC Forum

by **66-1112520797** » Mon May 21, 2007 1:42 pm

F.uck it double post.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon May 21, 2007 1:44 pm

So good you posted it twice Bamaga

I think its just paper talk, if not I think he may find himself playing for a new club.

by **Sabre** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:03 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
DazH- wrote:The Mirror says Alonso is getting increasingly frustrated at Mascherano being picked ahead of him and that an omission from Wednesdays line-up could be the final straw and see him demand a transfer back to Spain
Bulls**t if you ask me and I hope so! What am I gona do then coz I have ALONSO 14 on the back of shirt!

If thats true, well ........ He's a cog in a very effective Liverpool team. Even if that means him being rotated from time to time so be it.

This is a possible gripe with Xabi. IMO Gerrard got shafted out wide.
His place has never been under threat until now, and I hope its not true, but if the dummies been thrown out of the pram well, surely thats not the kind of attitude we're after. I mean its fair enough being dissapointed I wouldnt expect anything different. But letting out the news, to the press and agents isnt right. Garcia has never come and said he's unhappy with being rotated or dropped he gets on with it.

I just hope the rumour is a false one and Xabi hasnt said anything.

The mirror is a tabloid with little credibility and lots of especulation.

On the subject of not using Alonso a couple of matches Rafa said Xabi was a good professional and that he understood perfectly those decissions. He also said that the fact of using one player or another doesn't mean he's dissapointed with the player.

IMHO, I'm sure many tabloids and pundits that do not like LFC would like to see LFC with a weakened squad, not with gerrard, alonso and mascherano all together.

by **Owzat** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:07 pm

I'll make a pretty safe prediction that Liverpool won't win the league title while a giraffe remains an integral part of the squad. Make your choice boys and girls, I'll be quite happy to be proven wrong but I'm sure I won't be

by **Sabre** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:30 am

In order not to open yet another ALonso thread, I put this interesting interview here.

Journalist: Miguel Gonzalez
Newspaper: www.diariovasco.com
Shitty Translation: me

You're becoming a CL final expert

It's an enormous satisfaction to play another final. It's very difficult to reach this point. Even if you're a great team, you can't make mistakes to reach the final. So it's a big achievement to reach 2 CL finals in 3 years

What's more exciting, the second, or the first final?

Obviously what it is unknown is always more exciting, it happens aswell in real life. But the importance of the match and the will to win it are identical.

What pic would you select from the Istambul final?

I have fixed in my mind, and it always pop ups when I remember the game, that save of Dudek to Shevshenko. Every time I see that shot I think it goes in. It was very important it didn't because we wouldn't have been champions.

How many more times have you seen that final?

The whole match, twice. Then, I've seen highlights a lot of times.

Has Rafa shown the final of the video to motivate you for tomorrow ?

No. It's nod valid as a refference. Both teams are very changed, and we have to look what we are now, not what we were, in order to prepare games.

Would you have preffered different opposition?

Playing the final is what that matters. Tha fact that it's Milan again is nothing more than an anecdote. IN a final you'll always face a great team.

Two months ago you said this LFC squad is better than 2 years ago

So I said, yes.

And what about Milan?

THey have a similiar level. They keep the nucleus of 2 years ago, but has lost Shevchenko and have renewed tha back. Oddo is playing instead of Cafu, Stam was CB in that final and now Maldini might be the CB, and in the left Jankulovski has appeared in the team.

In the middle of the pitch they keep the same structure with the classics, Gatusso, Pirlo, Kaka and Seedorf.

So you'll win again then!

Laughs. In football maths do not work.

What worries you about MIlan most?

Their counter attacks. They're most comfortable when they have plenty of space (ed. Hint!) We should be aware with Kaka who plays very well in the hole between lines, he's very direct, and knows perfectly when it's necessary to play faster or slower (tempo). Wouldn't forget about Seedord, he's despite the age in a great moment of form, and he scores goals.

And what are the Liverpool's weapons?

Keep being faithful to our style, keep doing the things as we've been doing until now. Work as a team, sacrifice ourselves a lot, and play with intensity. For us, the key is work, and determination to attack.

Milan seems to have more experience than you lot

You tell me!! (like saying you're right), I saw Maldini playing a final against Steaua when I was 8 years old, and this is the 8th final he's going to play (legend, to be honest).

If you analyse the team that beat Manchester United in the semifinal, you realise the average age of the squad is high, and all of them are well known players.

We instead, are younger, but we're making our career aswell. They might have more experience, but we are a more mature team and we know reading well the matches.

With all that experience, Milan did let scape a 3 goal advantage 3 years ago

That day, receiving a goal so early in a free kick made havoc on our side. THose are matches in which you can't make mistakes, and seeing ourselves behind them so early made us to change the plan of the game we had. Thus, they had more spaces and we didn't know how to tie them. Then, we scored 3 goals. Achieving that against MIlan is a miracle.

Does the 3-0 against Manchester brings extra respect to them?

No, we respect them just the same we did before. They had an excellent day against Manchester, and our work is to make them have a bad day.

With Reina as a keeper, Do we agree it would be good to reach the penalties?

No, we want to win first, but just in case we reach the penalties, Reina is an excellent keeper, both in penalties and overall. He trains every aspect of the game including penalties, and have them trained and learnt with Otxotorena, the goalkeeper coach, how the opposition players throw them

Anfield was very important again against Barcelona and Chelsea

Anybody who comes to Anfield can see that it's a especial gorund and in those nights even more. That's a weapon we count with.

Do you feel more the weight of Liverpool's history this days?

Not really. The history is very present every day. You feel you're in a big club. It's true that since we made it to Athens, the fans remind us other finals and they tell us "bring back home".

How do you explain to have reached 2 CL finals in Europe and being so far away the league title?

We have problems at the start of the season. This year we started badly away and Chelsea and Manchester beat us. It's been very difficult to recover those points because they've been very regular. In the champions though we've prepared thoroughly each match and we can beat anybody. That's why.

CL champion in 2005, CL finalist in 2006 and 3 semifinalists in this year, is the premiership the best league of the world?

This question has been asked me several times. It's difficult to compare, but in players quality and money it's among the best two leagues. Right now, and due to the philosophy and the way to live football they have here, for me it's the best.

(He doesn't look like he's going to move, does he?)

What's Benitez' secret?

He's a great professional. He's surrounded by very capable people, prepares everything thoroughly, takes care of every detail and is a tough worker. That's key of success. Plus, he reads well the matches and is spot on in the tactic variations.

You know that in Gipuzkoa (San Sebastian province) the match will be followed with intensity

Yes, the friends have told me. TO have people following my games, despite a play for a foreign team, is something very especial to me.

Some sort of ambassador?

We're 22 different players, and at some extent, we represent aswell the places we come from, and both Paco (Patxi) Aiestaran, Otxotorena and me being here, is something to be proud of. Hopefully we'll win the CL again.

Is your people going to be in Athens?

Dad will be there. Mum, won't. Mikel (RS brother) is focused in Real Sociedad because they have an important game in Pamplona, and Jon the little brother (he's a ref!) has exams. Then there will be around 20 of my friends there. Each player had around 30 tickets (Arbeloa said it was 10-15, I guess that's for newbies)

I've snipped a couple of questions, that might not be that relevant.

by **Sabre** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:48 pm

I've read somewhere that that rumour about Alonso leaving came from the rag, the ***. Is that true, Dazh-?

If so, then it's nothing to worry about. All they want is to unsettle LFC and a player before a final.

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