Liverpool FC Forum

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:11 am

Start of the season we sold cult hero Luis Garcia for 4 million and brought in Israli captain Yossi Benayoun for the same price.

Neither player have been able to cement a permanant position in the team but both seem to of come up with the goods at crucial times for the club.

I was never a fan of Garcia's, I think his overall game wasn't up to scratch, but like I said, he could be relied on to score when we most needed it. Benayoun seems to of taken over this role as the floater from the wing to chip in with some goals. Nobody knew if Garcia was a left/right winger or a 2nd forward, abit like Benayoun. Benayoun doesn't seem as prone to the little flicks as Garcia, but they are a very similar type of player.

So do you think we'd of brought Benayoun to the club, if we'd kept Garcia or is Benayoun just a replacement?

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:24 am

I don't think we'd have signed Benayoun if Garcia had stayed. I think Garcia went, though, to grease the wheels for the Torres deal so, much as I rated him, it was a good move. As for Benayoun, he's a tidy little player with an eye for goal. If he can somehow manage to match Luis's brilliance against top sides, I'd be thrilled. I can't help but think, though, that he doesn't quite have that same sprinkle of magic (nor, to be fair, does he have the Spaniard's capacity to irritate).

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:36 am

Bad Bob wrote:(nor, to be fair, does he have the Spaniard's capacity to irritate).

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:42 am

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:(nor, to be fair, does he have the Spaniard's capacity to irritate).

But, seriously, they are two sides of the same coin. Garcia mixed utter genius with sheer madness on the pitch--you loved him for the big moments but wanted to wring his neck for the gaffs. Benayoun's a much steadier hand. You don't get audacious flicks, slack passes or wreckless challenges. But, you also don't get quite those same moments of inspiration in the big matches. He's in the Garcia mould but he's a blander, safer version--which is not necessarily a good thing.

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:46 am

I was never a fan of little Luis meself, his goals proved to be priceless and he was great in the air for a little player, but his bad moments often overshadowed his good ones.

Juvetus, Anfield, 05 will always be my fave Garcia goal, just for the difficulty of it.

But like you said Benayoun is a more steady version, something I always asked of Garcia. Just stop the flicks and the mindless moments, and he'd of been a great player for the club, but because of the often lapse in basic ability, he'll never be classed as a legend for the club IMO.

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:01 am

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:I was never a fan of little Luis meself, his goals proved to be priceless and he was great in the air for a little player, but his bad moments often overshadowed his good ones.

Juvetus, Anfield, 05 will always be my fave Garcia goal, just for the difficulty of it.

But like you said Benayoun is a more steady version, something I always asked of Garcia. Just stop the flicks and the mindless moments, and he'd of been a great player for the club, but because of the often lapse in basic ability, he'll never be classed as a legend for the club IMO.

Agreed. I wouldn't consider Garcia a legend but he did provide some breath-taking moments for the supporters. He was the kind of player who, when he wasn't playing, you were desperate for and, when he was playing, left you wondering just why the hell he was selected a lot of the time. Trickster and ball waster, indeed!

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:06 am

Best story I heard about Garica was the champions league final of 05 when we got the penalty. Carra was holding the ball and Garcia tried to take it off him and Carra went "no you're not taking it" :laugh:

Lucky though because up stepped Xabi and missed, but scored the rebound thank god

by **mart** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:08 pm

Sadly i dont think Yossi can fill Luis shoes. While Luis could come up with goals in important matches, yossi only seems to shine against :censored:

opposition when we are winning anyway.

by **LittleHobo** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

luis - big game player, but was awful against the lesser teams

yossi - does it against the lesser teams

tough call but luis is obviously a better player

by **NiftyNeil** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:48 pm

LittleHobo wrote:luis - big game player, but was awful against the lesser teams

yossi - does it against the lesser teams

tough call but luis is obviously a better player

I was thinking the same thing a few games back while watching Yossi. He does remind me of Garcia, but Garcia often came up with the goods in big matches, whereas Yossi seems to do it against infrior teams.

by **redmikey** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:15 pm

yossie = diet garcia

you had to love luis and hate him at the same time, couldn't pass two yards yet could appear at the last second to do a piece of brilliance. and had the knack of winning alot of headers

by **Kukilon** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 11:08 pm

I was gutted to see Garcia leave but I think we have got a superb replacement in Yossi. Better in most respects but a little worse in a few.

by **Toffeehater** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:55 am

Yossi is a better dribbler then garcia , Watching garcia meant that u dunno if u're see a moment of magic or cry in agony as he misses the simple chances , Garcia could never score the easy ones but yossi is a poacher , already has got i think what 8 goals this season and has been a sub alot , 2 hat tricks against besiktas and havant i think , something whihc i have never seen luis get in the red shirt

by **burjennio** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:34 am

If we'd had Luis yesterday I feel we may have won the game. He always did the biz against Chelsea

by **Judge** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:11 pm

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:Start of the season we sold cult hero Luis Garcia for 4 million and brought in Israli captain Yossi Benayoun for the same price.

Neither player have been able to cement a permanant position in the team but both seem to of come up with the goods at crucial times for the club.

I was never a fan of Garcia's, I think his overall game wasn't up to scratch, but like I said, he could be relied on to score when we most needed it. Benayoun seems to of taken over this role as the floater from the wing to chip in with some goals. Nobody knew if Garcia was a left/right winger or a 2nd forward, abit like Benayoun. Benayoun doesn't seem as prone to the little flicks as Garcia, but they are a very similar type of player.

So do you think we'd of brought Benayoun to the club, if we'd kept Garcia or is Benayoun just a replacement?

Luis Garcia - trickster and ball waster

Yossi Benayoun - trickster and good use of the ball

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