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Mourinho Isn't Short-Term, Football Is
There's more in the afternoon Mailbox about Jose Mourinho and his potential return to Chelsea, while there's also a link to some pictures of eagles that look like Arsene Wenger...
Should Chelsea Be Worried About Jose Return?
After a disappointing end to his three years at Real Madrid, could Jose Mourinho struggle to bring immediate success if he completes his anticipated return to Chelsea?
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Liverpool Are New Newcastle
I've said this before, I'll say it again, Liverpool are the new Drama Queens of the Premier League. Everyone used to mock Newcastle for being a tragi-comedy: losing games they shouldn't have, never quite getting the team balance right, buying players at hugely inflated prices, being generally crap, having weird chairmen, and getting rid of managers too quickly so no one had time to settle - and on top of it all having whining and moaning fans who thought they had the inherent right to win stuff. It was an embarrassing for Newcastle fans, and probably hilarious for everyone watching. Liverpool fans now sound exactly like the Newcastle of that era. And I have to say, it's so refreshing!
The irony is this season has been abysmal for Newcastle - not just an up and down, mediocre one. Yet Liverpool fans in this mailbox are so upset and desperate they're talking about Rodgson (oops, sorry, Rodgers) being a cancer in the club, saying they don't fancy watching the team for the next three months if they can't win anything (easy answer there, mate: don't), crying into their pillows and generally just having a right tizzy. I can't imagine how bad they would be after 40 more years of winning nothing.
It's sadly looking more and more likely that they won't win anything this season. Nothing, that is, apart from the imaginary honours that I wish to bestow upon them: I hereby pass the mantle of 'Most Desperate Fans', as well as the additional trophy of 'Drama Queens of the Year' to Liverpool. Congratulations, you are embarrassing yourselves with true panache.
Fraser 'Bandwagon' NUFC Browne
Sell Suarez And Start Again?
I'd just like to commend the balanced and realistic views I have seen recently in the mailbox from Liverpool fans.
They too are bored of hearing the positive Brendan 'there were some good passes' Rodgers scrape the bottom of the barrel in an attempt to justify their most recent defeat.
I fear that this once great club is on a Leeds/Nottingham Forest style decline, never to taste the highs of former years again. Current form will take them to their worse league finish ever in the Prem and I don't see where it will get better in the foreseeable future.
So it got me thinking, that David Brent should sell Suarez for 40mill (let's be honest the owners would love that with the whole money ball thing) and reinvest. A left back, a couple of centre backs and a wide midfielder and suddenly the squad is abit more robust.
If you look at recent transfer moves:
At left back, Nacho Monreal (age 26) for 8.5 mill looks quite solid in his short time over here. Adam Johnson (age 24) for 12.5 mill, looks like hes starting to recapture some form. Bassong (don't laugh) is playing really well for Norwich and has chipped in with a goal or two (age 26/27?) for about 4 mill. Or Jan Vertonghen (age 25) for 10mill, he's secretly Superman too. Hell even Just signing Nigel De Jong for the 5 mill he went for would strengthen that team vastly.
Would Liverpool fans rather mediocrity with Suarez, or the possibility of a stronger team unit without?
TJ (Mancrush on Pirlo and THAT beard...giggedy)
...Liverpool FC: "We just can't compete financially!"
Really? - Andy Carroll £35m, Henderson £16m, Downing £20m, B&Q Toilet Stealer £18m, Suarez £26m, Borini £11, Sturridge £12m, Allen £15m, Coutinho £8.5m.
It's not that you can't compete financially, it's just that you have wazzed a gigantic amount of cash on pish (with the obvious exception of Suarez, who was a bargain and will be leaving in the summer).
Pardeep
Proud
Might I just say that I'm bloody proud of my fellow rational Liverpool fans, and their reactions in the afternoon mailbox to Daniel Benvenuto. I've come to be so sick of the whinging Liverpool 'fans' who permeate forums, comments sections and even the illustrious Mailbox. After Liverpool have a bad result there's a mass outrage, even if they've completely outplayed the opposition (not necessarily the WBA game, the Baggies had Liverpool pretty contained the whole game) and it's disgusting.
So well done to all the sane ones in the Mailbox yesterday afternoon.
Alex (no we're not a top four team anymore, we can't just keep firing managers), LFC
...I have tried to avoid writing in regarding the reds. Tried very hard not to bite at the nonsensical knee-jerk ramblings of twitter-age "fans" who demand 17-0 victories and the immediate transformation of a club that has long been going backwards (7th, 6th and 8th in the last three years), or will throw their toys out and refer to a manager as a cancer on the club (cancer? Are you serious??). Perspective is an impossible thing to try and bestow on these idiots.
But some things cannot be allowed to pass. And whilst Jason Todd did well in trying to educate some of the more questionable reactionaries from this morning's mailbox, I'm afraid that referring to Glen Johnson as GlenJo is an outrage that should never, EVER, be repeated. Please.
Kieron, Liverpool, Red.
Reaction To Brave Celtic's Defeat
Gutsy performance by Celtic yesterday. Ambrose, despite having an excellent nations cup with Nigeria, pretty much cost them the game. I am always surprised at coaches who put a player back in right after returning from an international tournament. See Yaya sleepwalking through the defeat to Sunderland on Sunday.
And Pirlo eh? What an utter delight to watch. Every stroke masterful. He is truly an artist - the pitch is his canvas, and the ball is his brush.
T. Ogeds (getting a stubby just thinking of the RM- Man U game tonight), NL.
...Gutted but proud again of the Bhoys. Beaten by a team with more quality that is all. But we are a young team and stood toe to toe with and where probably better in the most part, against a fantastic Juventus team. Until tiredness kicked in. A huge gamble which failed playing Ambrose who was at fault for the 1st and 3rd goals but we can't change that now.
The whole shambles with the fouling of Hooper in particular at corners needs to be sorted by UEFA. Lichsteiner constantly fouled even after being booked. I am not blaming this for our loss as we really just lacked that cutting edge up front. That can be expected against a team undefeated away from home in 3 years, if you believe Clive Tyldsley. Speaking of old Clive, can we please get rid of him and Townsend. Some of the most boring and patronising commentary I have ever endured. And I have watched England play on ITV many a time..
All in it was a great journey. We have shown we can compete on a small budget, so hopefully with a steady CL income we can possibly have a prolonged stay in the competition.
LK Oooohh Victor Wanyama!
...So the 'Italian' culture of tight marking etc ruined the game tonight according to ITV.. Have they never seen a Stoke or West Ham game? Apparently not..
Josh, Italian Gooner
...Maybe it's because I live in Glasgow but there seems to be an awful lot of whining about Juves tactics at corners last night. Everyone in the media/social media is having a fit about them pushing and shoving. Even the ever timid Joseph Barton got involved on the twittersphere saying he went to jail for less.
Has no-one actually seen an Italian team playing football? I don't see why everyone is so surprised, Celtic should have been prepared for it.
Alex, (they were unlucky though - played well), Ayr
Standard Boring Dig At Rooney
Those stats about Ashley Young only enhance my belief that he offers nothing to the team. A backwards passing winger isn't going to cost you goals but nor is he going to help you score them either.
Those praising Rooney's versatility on the weekend obviously didn't see the plethora of awful passes and first touches. Very versatile indeed, he excels at being ludicrously overrated in several positions. He looked very decent against Fulham though, that was obviously his one in eight.
Why no mention of Giggs' amazing first touch for the goal that took the ball away from the oncoming defender? Absolute class. The aforementioned white Pele would have turned into the defenders path and got tackled....it's really baffling how these things get overlooked by so many.
Big night for Carrick tonight. He's been amazing for over a year now, he better not go hiding tonight. Don't lose your balls please, Michael.
On the one hand I really enjoyed the MNF analysis of United/Everton, it showed so many clips highlighting the tactics United deployed. However, I can't help but cringe at such detail. It's only a football game, it reminded me of watching The Last Word with Gray around 8 hours after the game had finished and thinking....ugh......does it really matter? Move on, pal.
Silvio (Last time I had this feeling of "f**k me, the game is tonight!" we lost to Barcelona) Dante
On SFL To Liverpool
Dear 'Tony, watching highlights of Djimi Traore's career',
A superb suggestion for Liverpool to sign Frank Lampard, simply inspired.
Quick question though, have you ever seen England play?
Just a thought.
Mike, London. AVFC.
Where Would Arsenal Be With RVP?
Oooh, I gotta respond to "Conor (it is really about the money, isn't it?) Malone" regarding RVP (I have no problem whatsoever using initials).
If RVP had stayed at Arsenal you would have seen a lot more of Gervinho and a combination of Rosicky/Arshavin/Coquelin when fit. Why? Because there would be a Podolski/Giroud/Cazorla-shaped hole in the middle of the team otherwise. It was Van Persie's money that bought the three players who have, along with the admittedly improved Walcott, gotten Arsenal to where they are this year. Wenger would never have broken his penny jar unless someone gave him loads more pennies to start a new one.
So, in the end, I suppose we do have to admit that it is, after all, about the money.
FairyNuff
...Conor (it is really about the money, isn't it?) Malone, Arsenal would be floundering in the league, long since out of the title picture, and desperate for Spurs to slip up, and about to go out of Europe. You know, like they were this time last year WITH Van Persie.
Can people stop asking that question now please!? it must be the third time it's been in the mailbox since Van Persie upgraded to a much, much better team. It's almost as tedious as Bano's pathetic annual email about playoffs whenever it looks like United are going to win the title!
JB, RoM
Oh Wise One
J (Note: I'm not a Liverpool fan, just know my football and my opinions are usually right) Wilmshurst may or may not be right, but he or she has said that Liverpool have developed a knack of killing teams off and refers to the Manchester City and Arsenal games as matches where this has been achieved 'in patches'.
'Killing a team off'. 'In patches'. Hmm.
Graham (No big claims in these brackets) Callam
Boasting About His Foster Claim
Whilst many did not agree with my views about Schmeichel some supposedly knowledgeable people were also quick to dismiss Ben Foster. This was then continued with various lists of good goalkeerpers none of which included Foster in the top 10. Foster's performance against Liverpool was not surprising to Albion fans. That is how he has played all season and all last season. For an example of his true class, he 'camera save' to his right from Borini. Most keepers would have parried this and it would have still been raved about. Not our Ben. He held it. Saves the penalty then comes and catches the cross from the resulting corner. So you can keep your Vorms, Krul, Cechs and De Geas lol (were you watching United thats what a keeper looks like).Big Ben is the best in the league.
That said, I have read a lot of Liverpool comments saying if Gerrard had of scored the penalty they would have won. Well duuurrr. The point however is that he didn't. Having watched the Albion yoyo for years I know full well the danger of 'playing well' having lots of the ball and creating lots of chances, only to encounter an in form keeper and a sucker punch at then end. For years that has happened to the Albion. Villa are learning this lesson now and to a lesser extent so are Liverpool, the Premier League rewards efficiency nothing else. The Albion behaved like a proper Premier League team, even without the Premier League support of a referee. Disgraceful dive by Suarez and a couple of nasty tackles by Gerrard on Yacob that went unnoticed.
Finally, how big a sense of entitlement do Liverpool football club have. It is quite frankly sickening. No longer everybody's second favourite team,more like team everybody loves to see lose. To put that in context, that is Liverpool and QPR. It was not a shock result, a team one place below another can quite often win away from home especially after beating the other side 3-0 earlier in the season.
Albion fans just want 40 points. Although does Brendan Rogers now think Albion will claim 4th.
Ben (Even after an 8 games winless run, its never been so good) Baggie.
This Is Just Silly
As I read your article about Craig Gordon potentially retiring, I started wondering what goalkeepers do with their boots upon acquiring their sporting bus pass. Regular outfield players "hang up their boots" when they retire but goalies "hang up their gloves" which leads me to the conclusion that all goalkeepers spend the remainder of their lives trotting around in their favourite boots, dragging all sorts of mud around with them.
This kind of behaviour wouldn't surprise me with the more agricultural likes of Packie Bonner or Neville Southall but I can't imagine some of the more sophisticated types like Gianluigi Buffon or Iker Casillas engaging in such messiness when their time comes.
Mike (Hucknall Town are going out of business! Please help!) Ahern
