Comments on: From Istanbul to Athens

By: chris armstrong

chris armstrong — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:12:23 +0000

Re: 36
Sadly no, I’m not the same Chris Armstrong who played for Millwall. I’m pleased to say that he’s older than me. But surely playing for Spurs and Bolton was my namesake’s major claim to fame, not Millwall?

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:58:59 +0000

Agger’s goal was a classic dummy al right, but for a lot of that match both Liverpool and Chelsea were sending long balls up to Crouch and Drogba.

By: eviled

eviled — Thu, 03 May 2007 17:45:58 +0000

s/Couch/Crouch/g

By: eviled

eviled — Thu, 03 May 2007 17:25:10 +0000

diddy: Carra has near “legend” status among Liverpool fans, but no where else. I wear 23 not because of Beckham.

ray: Perhaps other than balls played to Couch (and Couch has deft foot skills), I don’t think Liverpool plays more hoof ball than anyone else. Case in point would be Agger’s goal. For most other teams and occasions, that free kick would have been sent high into the goal area in hope of a header attempt at the goal, hence it would be quite unusual for an air ball team to have done otherwise. Furthermore, air ball teams normally do not have majority possession time like Liverpool did against Chelsea.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 03 May 2007 14:31:47 +0000

“Milan might well beat Liverpool on paper, but the game will be played on the pitch.”

Actually, if Liverpool have their way, the game will probably be played in the air.

By: Randy Paul

Randy Paul — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:42:52 +0000

Milan owes a debt of gratitude to Italy’s oh so accommodating legal system as if they hadn’t been granted their appeal of their initial banning from European competition from the match-fixing scandal that put Juventus in Serie B.

Zenden’s best moment was a brilliant goal in the third place game of the 1998 WC. He was a bust at Barça.

By: Chris Bertram

Chris Bertram — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:18:38 +0000

Well fwiw, Fowler is not a “bog standard player”, he’s a brilliant player (see 1995-6 season) who is way way past his best after injuries and poor career choices.

Interesting that Carragher is getting a mention as “world class”. Carragher was an average squad player for years at Liverpool, often played at right- or left- back, sometimes in midfield. A succession of players was bought to replace him at full-back, but somehow he outlasted them all. Then he broke his leg at Blackburn and was out for ages. I, along with just about everyone else, thought it was curtains for his Liverpool career. But he focused, got himself together and somehow turned himself into one of the best defenders in the league. Which goes to show, I think, that attitude and commitment go a long way to making a player “world class” (as opposed to some mysterious intrinsic quality).

Anyway, to borrow a cliche, Milan might well beat Liverpool on paper, but the game will be played on the pitch.

By: Another Damned Medie

Another Damned Medie — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:45:37 +0000

“When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high …”

By: ejh

ejh — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:39:54 +0000

I don’t suppose the Chris Armstong posting on here is the old Millwall player…

By: a diddy

a diddy — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:24:59 +0000

Liverpool has three world class players who could get first team play on any team in the world: Gerrard, Reina, Carragher.

By: stostosto

stostosto — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:01:02 +0000

I stand by what I said. You mark my words, and get back to me on the 23rd!

By: Thom

Thom — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:18:10 +0000

stostosto – Zenden would look good in any team? Are you pissed? Liverpool have far too many bog-standard players – Pennent, Bellamy, Gonzalez, Fowler et al.

Like Man Ure found out – you can get so far in the Prem while carrying rubbish like O’Shea, Fletcher, Richardson, Brown and Ferdinand, but you’ll get found out in Europe.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:11:03 +0000

Kuyt? You’ve got to be kidding. He’s a hard worker with no pace, no touch, and no shot. He only plays because Liverpool have no strikers worth the name. Gerrard would get into most squads, maybe Agger or Carragher. Riise only into squads outside the top four.

Kaka and Seedorf will be playing against Mascherano, not Agger or Carragher. (and credit to Mascherano, he had a decent game on Tuesday)

By: chris armstrong

chris armstrong — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:50:56 +0000

Zenden would look good on any team? He certainly wouldn’t get in the squad at Man United, and Chelsea’s decision to discard him has never looked like a bad one…Maybe you had in mind a team of best-coiffed players, avec Mr Ginola et al?

By: stostosto

stostosto — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:17:51 +0000

A Liverpool win would be like the Greek Euro win, a victory for unimaginative grinders, and a loss for football.

I see what you mean. Yet. In 2005, Milan’s first half was nothing short of brilliant. A victory for football, you might even say. But Liverpool’s “grinding” comeback and bloody-minded determination was what really made that match into one of a few select all-time classics.

Also, I really think it’s unfair to Liverpool to compare them to the Greeks of 2004. Players like Zenden, Riise, Gerrard or Kuyt will look good on any team. And in the defense line, Daniel Agger in the second Chelsea game just may have accomplished a decisive breakthrough into the ranks of the Greats. It will be interesting to see how he’ll do against Kaka.