Liverpool 2014-15: Now Is Time On Merseyside When We Dance
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Speaking of that goal, here's how Jordan Henderson was surrounded when he was releasing the cross that led to the goal:
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I'm not sure what else Palace could have done. Out of frame to the right is also Martin Kelly, so Sturridge was covered on the front and back as well.
I'm not sure what else Palace could have done. Out of frame to the right is also Martin Kelly, so Sturridge was covered on the front and back as well.
Here is the incredibly vicious foul that required such a harsh punishment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhSFv9dAEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhSFv9dAEY
Complete nonsense. I'm sure they followed some logic where they thought it was intentional or something because he's searching for the player, but it's too clever by a lot when there isn't actual contact. I really don't understand this sport anymore.
I'm not one for the "THEY ARE ALL AGAINST US!!!!" paranoia crap, but let's just say that since UEFA elected a guy who played for Juventus at Heysel it has at times seemed like they have had it out for English teams in general and Liverpool in particular.
I did some googling of 'UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body' adding the odd word outside of the commas to see if i could find out who might be on said body. I couldn't find anything, except previous announcements. I have no idea if they are staffed by former refs, players or what. But anyone who knows anything of consequence about the game knows that's never a 4 match ban and it serves as a precedent in my view. So for actual slaps that do connect, five games? Actual head butts six games and handbag headbutts five? What about two footed studs in the air career-enders, seven if you miss and eight if you connect.
Ludicrous decision and I'd say the same if it was John Terry who did the 'slap' but he'd never do that, he'd have the good grace to make sure the intention and the result were of a par.
Ludicrous decision and I'd say the same if it was John Terry who did the 'slap' but he'd never do that, he'd have the good grace to make sure the intention and the result were of a par.
Ibe's clowning people draws the penalty, which leads to some dispute between Balotelli and Sturridge. Balotelli takes it and scores, as he should on both counts--he's one of the most reliable penalty takers in the world.
Sturridge decided to have a pout afterwards, which will surely get the press excited.
Sturridge decided to have a pout afterwards, which will surely get the press excited.
Yeah, say what you want about Mario, but if he's on the pitch and Gerrard isn't, he should be taking 100% of the penalties.
Apparently Hendo was the designated penalty taker, but I still say that Balotelli has to take them once he came on.
Mario's 4 Liverpool goals have come in the 82nd, 83rd, 85th, and 86th minutes. #SuperSub
Mario's 4 Liverpool goals have come in the 82nd, 83rd, 85th, and 86th minutes. #SuperSub
Sturridge was telling Balotelli that Henderson should have taken it. Henderson was kind of pissed because he wanted to take the penalty (and become the new Gerrard) but... how does Balotelli not take that? His record with penalties is impeccable.
I'm sure they'll sort it out but, when continuing in the Europa League is on the line, it has to be Balotelli. Henderson can work on them when they're up by 2 against Stoke or something.
Balotelli was excellent in this game, along with Ibe. Coutinho looked tired. Lallana and Sturridge were, well, let's just say they're much better than how they played today. Decent game overall.
I'm sure they'll sort it out but, when continuing in the Europa League is on the line, it has to be Balotelli. Henderson can work on them when they're up by 2 against Stoke or something.
Balotelli was excellent in this game, along with Ibe. Coutinho looked tired. Lallana and Sturridge were, well, let's just say they're much better than how they played today. Decent game overall.
More from Gerrard:
I put this on Rodgers a bit. It's fine to say that Henderson was the designated taker because Mario started on the bench, but he's got to make it clear in that situation that Mario is the guy once he came on. If Gerrard was in the same situation as Balotelli and comes on as a late sub, I don't think there's any question that Henderson hands the ball to Gerrard regardless of who the designated taker was at the beginning of the game.
Rodgers is answering every question about the penalty with "we won the game".
I put this on Rodgers a bit. It's fine to say that Henderson was the designated taker because Mario started on the bench, but he's got to make it clear in that situation that Mario is the guy once he came on. If Gerrard was in the same situation as Balotelli and comes on as a late sub, I don't think there's any question that Henderson hands the ball to Gerrard regardless of who the designated taker was at the beginning of the game.
Rodgers is answering every question about the penalty with "we won the game".
Yeah, I thought Henderson did a good job downplaying it, but as soon as Gerrard said something, it was going to be the only point of discussion.
Thank you hendo for let me take the penalty.. Stop drama now. We won that's what it count. We are a team and expecially we are Liverpool. Come on guys.
A photo posted by Mario Balotelli (@mb459) on Feb 19, 2015 at 2:49pm PST
A photo posted by Mario Balotelli (@mb459) on Feb 19, 2015 at 2:49pm PST
Balotelli is one of the best PK takers in the world. Fine and good to have Gerrard over him (although Balo has a better record) given that he is also a great PK taker and the captain and all. But the idea of Jordan Henderson taking a critical penalty instead of Balo is just madness.
I'd like to welcome Steven Gerrard to the punditry world!!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 19, 2015
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 19, 2015
Nobody else can take that penalty. I've heard talk about Mario "earning" it with Liverpool, but on a team of professionals working toward a common goal you must put your best foot forward. From the spot, that's Mario. I don't know if whatever screws he has loose contribute to his utter lethality from the spot, but the man is incredibly focused and reliable in that situation.
I would even have liked to see Balo over the free kick at the end. He's simply a more talented and clinical player with a dead ball. It is nice that Hendo has moved on from ballooning it into Row Z to smashing the wall, however. Progress is progress.
I would even have liked to see Balo over the free kick at the end. He's simply a more talented and clinical player with a dead ball. It is nice that Hendo has moved on from ballooning it into Row Z to smashing the wall, however. Progress is progress.
Rodgers said today that Balotelli is the club's #2 penalty taker behind Gerrard, and that it was his right to claim the penalty after he came on. Basically said there was a breakdown in communication and he didn't like seeing several players around the ball.
Interestingly, when discussing Henderson and how he just needs time to continue to grow into his role, he threw a bit of doubt into who will be the next full-time captain.
Interestingly, when discussing Henderson and how he just needs time to continue to grow into his role, he threw a bit of doubt into who will be the next full-time captain.
Henderson's contract is up in 2016 and his agent would be a fool not to play the captaincy card for more $$$ if he were the automatic heir.
We're on to Istanbul.
SoxFanInCali said:
We're on to Istanbul.
Nice weekend. Picked up 3 points on the Mancs and Saints and 2 on Spurs. 2 points out of the top 4.
Loved--LOVED--the crying by the Two Robbies on NBCSN about the Mignolet incident. Feel the hate flow through you, Robbies.
3400 mile round-trip to Istanbul for a match on Thursday followed by Man City on Sunday. That's a tough week ahead.
The game in Istanbul will be Liverpool's 43rd of the season, which matches the total amount played in 2013-14.
Which two American athletes would you compare those two? A cursory Wikipedia search leads me to the belief that it's like watching Stan Humphries and Erik Kramer host NFL coverage on Sky Sports.DLew On Roids said:
my wife would not argue with you.JayMags71 said:
Your team seems to be finding form. Should be a good matchup
Yeah, but there's not a two hour time difference, and most people don't play 90+ minute soccer matches on both sides of flying down for a weekend at Sloppy Joe's.soxfan121 said:
Playing at Besiktas was no fun at all for Arsenal in the UCL qualifiers last August. Their pitch was total shit, their fans were absolute (likely knife carrying) lunatics, and their players flew at us at 100 mph from the opening whistle. We were absolutely flattered by the 0-0 scoreline, and ended the match with half our team physically battered and half on yellows, with Ramsey sent off.
The Balotelli goal was humongous because that's a really hard environment to chase a result, especially for a team with a lot of technical players that likes to play attractive football on the carpet.
The Balotelli goal was humongous because that's a really hard environment to chase a result, especially for a team with a lot of technical players that likes to play attractive football on the carpet.
WayBackVazquez said:
Boston to Dallas is ~3200 miles, has the two hour difference and professional athletes in several sports complete this arduous journey of playing on both legs of a road trip several times a season. Plus, they have drinks at whatever the local equivalent of Sloppy Joe's is (Bosoxen will tell us) afterwards.
Point, America.
Well, that's a normal night for normal English teams traveling to Istanbul. LFC, on the other hand...Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
A very thin squad made the trip to Istanbul.
Henderson, Coutinho, Sakho and Johnson are all out. Gerrard and Lucas are still not ready; Markovic is suspended...
I guess captain Skrtel for the day.
Henderson, Coutinho, Sakho and Johnson are all out. Gerrard and Lucas are still not ready; Markovic is suspended...
I guess captain Skrtel for the day.
Yeesh, they are mighty thin now with Gerrard/Henderson/Lucas out of midfield. Hoping for this lineup in light of the injuries:
--------------- Mignolet ---------------
----- Lovren --- Škrtel --- Touré -----
Ibe ----- Allen -------- Can ----- Moreno
-------- Lallana ------ Sterling --------
--------------- Sturridge ---------------
Bench: Ward, Manquillo, Sinclair, Borini, Lambert, Balotelli... Yesil?
It's a shame Rossiter's out, he could have seen action at this point. If they registered him, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jordan Williams in the side.
Biggest potential mistake that I'm fearing would be to play Lallana in midfield.
--------------- Mignolet ---------------
----- Lovren --- Škrtel --- Touré -----
Ibe ----- Allen -------- Can ----- Moreno
-------- Lallana ------ Sterling --------
--------------- Sturridge ---------------
Bench: Ward, Manquillo, Sinclair, Borini, Lambert, Balotelli... Yesil?
It's a shame Rossiter's out, he could have seen action at this point. If they registered him, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jordan Williams in the side.
Biggest potential mistake that I'm fearing would be to play Lallana in midfield.
If Balotelli is ever going to get a game, this would be the one. They may need his physical presence.
Then again, it's also an environment where I could see him getting sent off, so maybe not.
Then again, it's also an environment where I could see him getting sent off, so maybe not.
I think these guys are more familiar to you in the States than us here, but the latest episode is very LFC-centric and very funny
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/25/watch-men-in-blazers-talk-liverpool-and-more-with-comedian-john-oliver/
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/25/watch-men-in-blazers-talk-liverpool-and-more-with-comedian-john-oliver/
PedroSpecialK said:
That's an awful lot of attackers. I'm with you--Jordan Williams would be the next guy up in MF if he's eligible. And Lloyd Jones, maybe? Without a CB or DM on the bench they have no option but to slide in Manquillo and go with a back 4 if one of the starting CBs has an issue.
Mignolet, Toure, Skrtel, Lovren, Ibe, Allen, Can, Moreno, Sterling, Balotelli, Sturridge.
That's exactly the lineup card as I'd have written it. I'm not sure I'm ready to live in a world where I'm in full agreement with Rodgers.
That's exactly the lineup card as I'd have written it. I'm not sure I'm ready to live in a world where I'm in full agreement with Rodgers.
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