The Daily Antoine: 20th Jan 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Amazing story on how Kenny went down to the academy and gave Suso & Coady a drive up to Melwood to train with Stevie G more…
(Amazing, Shankly & Paisley were both smiling when they read that story)

And talk that Kenny might give Suso  a run in the first team more…
(That will be so awesome)

The reserves beat Man City 1-0 yesterday more…
(Awesome)

Tom Werner is impressed by Kenny Dalglish more…
(Who wouldn’t be :-) )

And they will give him money for players more…
(NICE)

And make him the permanent manager more…
(Excellent)

Here is the full Tom Werner interview more…
(Quite refreshing, nice to have owners who care)

Ryan Babel wants Ajax over Hoffenheim more…
(Humm)

Konchesky back to Fulham, that is what the Daily Mail is reporting more…
(Rattle and Hummm)

Stevie G wants to play on for at least another 5 years more…
(YNWA)

Luis Suarez’s agent met with John Henry more…
(Humm)

Kelly pays tribute to Glen Johnson more…
(YNWA)

Fabio Coentrao would love to move to LFC more…
(Let’s get him)

And more talk of Van Bommel more…
(Humm)

And Honda’s agent met Liverpool officials? more…
(Humm Humm Vrrrrooooom)

Sergio Ramos could be leaving Real Madrid after a bust up with Ronaldo more…
(Wow, let us grab him he is a very good friend of Pepe)

And Charlie Adam wants to leave Blackpool more…
(Humm)

A few former Reds & Mancs headed down to Brunei more…
(I feel bad for them having a Man Utd shirt hanging in their office)

And finally Robbie Keane reveals his soft spot for West Ham more…
(He was a West Ham fan when he was  a kid)

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Roy was given enough time

Miracles do happen. Honestly, they do. But this whole season doesn’t need saving, it needs repairing. Nobody expected us to do anything with regards to challenging for the title when Roy came in, and if you did then you were deluding yourselves I’m afraid. As for those of you/us that expected things to change immediately when Dalglish came back in,well we were right to an extent. Things against Blackpool were much different to what we have been used to under Roy this season. Alright Lucas, Kelly and Reina apart we fell to pieces in the second half, but on the whole there were some encouraging signs, not to mention some decent passing on the floor. Both goals we conceded were the result of some shocking lapses in defence, something that Agger and Skrtel have to sort out because it was alarming at times. But overall, there were some signs of change. What really annoyed me after the match were people (not LFC fans necessarily) complaining that Roy should have got more time, and that the Liverpool fans would never turn on Kenny and of course the notion that we always seek someone to blame. Those of you on Twitter would have no doubt seen the ‘#DalglishOut’ hash-tag that was doing the rounds, spread by fans of other clubs and some journalists who no doubt smugly considered themselves the height of wittiness.

Firstly, the idea that Roy was not given time is absurd. He was given plenty of time, which is indicative of his time in management at Liverpool that ‘plenty of time’ equated to half a season. Liverpool and Roy could not continue. Secondly, the appointment of Dalglish, people should remember that he is a Care-Taker Manager. Ergo his appointment is not permanent (not yet anyway). Barring relegation, is a win-win scenario for NESV. If Dalglish does well, great. If he doesn’t, then they’ll thank him for his commitment to taking the job at a very tricky time of the season, and appoint someone else without having to sack him. That and the fact that there will be more of a feel-good factor around the club. As for the notion that Liverpool fans are forever playing the blame game, well, that has some truth in it. Unfortunately fans will always want someone to vent their anger at. But who is there to blame? NESV so far have said all the right stuff, and been shown to be progressive in appointing Comolli and Clarke, and they gave Hodgson enough time to ‘make his mark’ on the squad. You can’t even blame Hodgson really, because if you did so, the counter-argument would be ‘well LFC should have seen whether he could turn it around’, in other words we should have given him time to see if he could make the club finish anything above or below 12th place. The only real thing you could point at Hodgson was for signing Konchesky, Poulsen (who had a decent game on Wednesday) and turning us into Fulham-on-Mersey. Then of course there is Rafa for leaving us a squad that was capable of finishing 7th/2nd and leaving a squad with hopeless duds/talented individuals like Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Rodriguez etc.

My point is what use is blaming people? All our problems right now is on the pitch, and not in the corridors of Anfield like it has been before this season. Like Kenny eluded to in the press conference, nothing that happened in the Blackpool cannot be ironed out in training. Likewise, anything that happened in the first half of the season is not something that is going to linger and can be erased, and reset, and I think that is Kenny’s main job in the eyes of NESV at the moment, to smooth things out, get the mindset of the team back on their feet, and get them playing, and enjoy doing so, so that whoever comes in during the summer truly has a clean slate and won’t have to deal with any of the emotional debris that might be left behind.

The Daily Antoine: 19th Dec 2010 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Unfortunately yesterday’s game was postponed more…
(This will put a crunch on our schedule)

Pepe Reina gave credit to David Beckham for the snood craze more…
(Come on Pepe, Becks is in LA)

Alan Hansen “Festive Period is Critical” more…
(As long as you play)

Konchesky believes the same thing more…
(I guess you have one less gift to buy this year Paul)

He also urges the Liverpool Supporters to get behind Roy more…
(I am behind Roy, I also believe that he is not the right man for Liverpool)

Comolli rules out a move for French players more…
(It will not stop the tabloids to link us with every single French kid)

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The Daily Antoine: 18th Dec 2010 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Kick off today is at 5:30PM, come on Reds

We will play Sparta Prague in the Europa League round of 32 more…
(Traveling Kop in for a treat, beautiful city)

Roy eyes victory over Fulham more…
(Come on Roy, we should win this one)

Kevin Keegan talks about today’s game more…
(Why did ESPN use a picture of Michael Jackson?)

Danny Murphy backs Roy Hodgson more…
(Of course he does, he did wonders at Fulham)

Fabio Aurelio wants to retain his place in the starting XI more…
(I agree, he should)

Ryan Babel claims that his future is in the club’s hands more…
(Not sure what to say)

The Babelmeiser also claims that he prefers playing under Roy than Rafa more…
(This is your chance then Ryan, become a superstar)

Pepe Reina has a Christmas wish more…
(Looks like mine)

John Henry & Tom Werner are equal partners in LFC however they are no Hicks & Gillett more…
(Well they know how to work together)

The clowns who robbed Stevie’s house had their appeal reject more…
(Excellent, thank you judge, Merry Christmas)

Christian Poulsen is being linked with a move to Shalke more…
(Humm)

Thommo “Liverpool owners must spend in January” more…
(Agree)

The former assistant gaffer talks about Torres’ form more…
(Torres needs service)

And that Fulham should be “swept aside” more…
(Agree)

Hazard keen on Arsenal or Liverpool move more…
(Let us get him before Wenger)

More talk of N’Zogbia more…
(Humm)

Sepp Blatter has apologised for saying that gays should refrain from sexual activities during the 2022 World Cup more…
(And this moron is the head of the World’s football governing body)

The Blattermeister also backs a Winter World Cup more…
(Well technically the last World Cup was a Winter World Cup & so will the next one)

Here is another one off the list as Defour rules out a possible move to Liverpool more…
(Next)

And finally I am sure many of you have heard about Konchesky’s mum rant on Facebook more…
(Even if it is true,  it doesn’t matter, Paul didn’t say it. We all have a weird relative)

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The Daily Antoine: 30th Nov 2010 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Carra’s injury looks like it is worse than feared more…
(Not good)

Roy stands by Torres more…
(A few weeks ago everyone was hailing Torres for his game against Chelsea, people tend to forget so quickly)

Konchesky blames himself over the loss against Spurs more…
(YNWA)

Sevilla are looking at Lucas more…
(Hands off)

And Juve are interested in Babel more…
(Hummm)

And the Italian press at linking us again with Mirko Vucinic more…
(£21 million, damn)

Zidane warns LFC over Hazard more…
(Hazard is a quality player and there are many clubs after him)

The St. Etienne chief attacks Comolli more…
(Wow!)

Fabio Aurelio relishing cup tie more…
(Hopefully he will feature)

The Brazilian also rues Carra’s absence more…
(We will miss him)

More talk of Kuyt leaving more…
(NO)

And according to Footylatest it is Bayern Munich more…
(NEIN)

Stephen Darby wants to stay longer at Notts County more…
(No, we need you)

Darren Bent is being mentioned now more…
(LOL, as long as he brings his beach balls with him)

And Diarra again more…
(Isn’t he too old?)

And a certain Traore is being linked more…
(No not Djimi :-) )

The reserves game yesterday was called off more…
(Weather)

And also the youth cup match is postponed more…
(For a while I thought it was because of the weather)

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Positives in the face of defeat

Yesterday’s defeat against Spurs ranks as one of the worst emotional debacles I have endured as a Liverpool FC fan. Frustration and anger overcame my system and I was left wondering that someone “up there” must certainly hate us. My last column, “Cautious Optimism” highlighted how Tottenham move into top gear after half-time and have become the season’s masters at coming back from behind and beat their opponents. Nothing prophetic may I add and a quick look at results will only confirm this. Tottenham away was not an insurmountable target I concluded, but deep down I knew we had to be inch-perfect to come away with anything but a defeat.

I must say that both teams were ambassadors to the English Premiership and proved to me (not that I needed further confirmation) that this league is the most exciting sporting event in Europe. The ball was continuously played from one end of the field to the other and both teams sought to pass the ball precisely and indulge in one-touch football. The Reds entertained us to one of the best away performances in the last months and any sincere neutral fan will acknowledge that Liverpool should have at least earned a point after yesterday’s much improved away display. It was not to be and the Liverpool players and management have to pick themselves up after yet another set back.

Liverpool proposed a typical 4-4-2 line-up with Ngog partnering Torres up front, both supported by Kuyt and Maxi just behind. Lucas returned into the starting eleven after seeing out a one-match ban against the Hammers the previous week. The Brazilian proved to be a massive influence and was instrumental in breaking down attacks. Equally important was how Lucas muscled his way through Tottenham’s defense on many occasions reminding everyone that he can shoulder the great burden when Gerrard is absent. Liverpool’s game play was tremendously professional, well disciplined, accurate and made easy by a Spurs side impatient to score the opening goal many times failing to put Pepe Reina under notable pressure. In fact it was Liverpool that gained the upper hand in the first half and such was the positive effort that Spurs suffered a sucker punch just before half-time with an opportunistic but well taken Skrytel shot. Fair to say, Spurs had lost two men to injury during the course of the first period.

Minutes later and Liverpool failed to consolidate, first through Maxi and then through Torres, both taking advantage of a napping Spurs defense but ultimately failing to find the net. Two nil down, and Liverpool firing on all fours would have made it tough for Tottenham to come back, but with the game so tight and the lead minimal, the onus was for Redknapp’s side to come out fighting after the break. And so they did, although the Reds never bowed to pressure and kept on probing Tottenham’s half in search of the elusive second goal, which never materialized. And this is the crux of the whole game – Liverpool created many chances but only scored once, so with Tottenham riding their luck, it was always too much for Liverpool’s back four to keep Spurs at bay. Mid-way through the second half, the North London team were awarded a dubious penalty but Defoe fluffed his shot wide, and, boy was I elated. Moments later, elation turned into despair as a bulldozing unchallenged run by Modric saw his shot blatantly deflected goalwards by Skrytel who suddenly turned villain after cunningly giving us the lead. Good to note that Skrytel’s “second” goal meant that this weekend’s Premiership round saw all teams score, at least, one goal, apparently a record in it’s own right.

It was not an onslaught from then on and Liverpool had penalty appeals turned down when Kuyt was amateurishly tackled inside the box. The match official wasn’t eager to hand Liverpool any favours and seemed to enjoy extracting the yellow card and book Liverpool’s players in a game that warranted less involvement of the referee. The football maybe great in England but English referees leave much to be desired. With a few minutes on the clock remaining, Liverpool were forced into a sudden change after Carragher signaled arm trouble and the only option was to bring Krygiakos on. As a side-note, any experienced armchair fan would have recognized the injury as being a dislocated shoulder, and it was to my surprise that a popular website came up with the mad conclusion that Carragher had sustained a broken arm! Deep into injury time and Konchesky was found dormant the moment Lennon latched onto a well struck pass and the England man showed great confidence to beat Reina and make it 2-1. Tottenham could have scored a third but failed to capitalize on poor defending.

The game provided a preview of what Liverpool might offer when the ship is finally stabilized and yesterday’s performance suggests we’re not far off from reaching this goal. It’s a fine line nowadays between victory and defeat; every team will provide for a stern test but the approach and mentality adopted by the Reds yesterday is welcome and helps tone down the consequences of earning zilch from a game which could have easily been won.

The defeat boiled down to errors which are a result of the team still trying to gel but the players seem to understand Hodgson’s tactics much better now. For once, there was nothing the manager could have done to change things for the better. The game was lost when Liverpool provided, on a number of occasions, a life-line for Tottenham to hang on to by failing to score that all important second goal. It is a boosting psychological factor when one’s opponent is not ruthless infront of goal and buoyed by the home crowd, Spurs were in no mood to throw in the towel early and pressed for an equaliser even after failing to convert a highly debatable penalty.

Torres was uncharacteristically shy at shooting goalwards and may have felt somehow lost playing alongside Ngog. The latter was a nuisance all throughout but needs to improve on his ball retention skills as many times he is shoved off far too easily. The next game against Steaua Bucharest will be important for us to get back in good shape in time for the home tie against Aston Villa which is another must win and one which I am confident will see us secure three points. Three home games and two visits to Newcastle and Blackpool offer a relatively straightforward end to 2010. No use crying over spilt milk (after losing to Tottneham) – it’s important the team recognizes the good achievement albeit the loss, build on this and improve on the few but determining negative aspects. Good luck Roy, Liverpool.

See you next time.