Ireland’s greatest Liverpool player? Well he’s my favourite

I’m 28 years old so I can’t claim to have witnessed every Irishman who has pulled on the famous Liverpool shirt. In my time however I have had the great fortune to watch the great Ronnie Whelan playing for Ireland and Liverpool.

Ronnie Whelan was born in Dublin into a family of footballers. His father Ronnie Senior, also played for Ireland and had a successful career in the League of Ireland playing for St. Pats in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ronnie’s brother Paul also played in the League of Ireland, pulling on the jerseys of Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers.

Ronnie was a talented youngster and came through the youth teams of Home Farm and made his breakthrough into the senior side at the age of 16. He may have being young but his skill on the ball and his willingness to work for the team caught the eye of all the English scouts.

It was the legendary Liverpool manager Bob Paisley who managed to lure Ronnie from his comfort zone at the tender age of 18. The price of the move was a bargain, £35,000. Ronnie was now surrounded by the cream of English football on the training ground and set about improving his game and not being over-awed by his surroundings.

His hard work paid off when he made his debut in April 1981 in Anfield and scored in his first game. It was a dream start and set the standard for his future Liverpool career. Throughout the 80s he established himself as an integral part of the Liverpool team. In the process he won 6 league titles, 2 FA cups, 3 league cups and 1 European Cup.

In total Ronnie made 362 appearances for Liverpool and scored 46 goals and was voted 30th in Liverpool’s top 100 by the fans on the club website. Along the way he collecting 53 caps for the Republic and scoring 3 goals. The most important and memorable being his volley from outside the box against the USSR in the 1988 European Championship.

I was a little boy in 1988 but I remember seeing that goal a lot and I remember the World Cup in 1990. I was a Liverpool fan by birth and an impressionable young boy during Ireland’s adventures in Italy in 1990. I was so proud of Ireland and I was so proud of the Irishman who played for Liverpool and scored that fantastic goal.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/100-pwstk-the-definitive-list

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

Barton gets up close and personal with his former team-mate Carroll

Liverpool’s hopes of securing European football next season were boosted with a 3-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle at Anfield on Sunday. The Anfield men who have now scored 14 in their last three matches at home, moved above Tottenham into fifth place via a superior goal difference.

Dirk Kuyt scored his eighth goal in his last seven league matches and was joined on the score-sheet by Maxi Rodriguez and the influential Luis Suarez. Andy Carroll came off the bench and as expected suffered abuse from the fans of his former club.

Liverpool played their best football of the season in demolishing Birmingham last week but never reached the same heights on Sunday despite taking an early lead.

Raul Meireles had the first shot of the match after Glen Johnson crossed to him on his return after a three-match absence with a hamstring injury.

The first goal came after youngster John Flanagan’s cross was cleared to Rodriguez who’s deflected shot found the back of the net.

After the goal Liverpool slackened their control on the game, allowing Newcastle time and space on the ball. The Toon’s Liverpool born midfielder Joey Barton was often at fault for wasting Newcastles chances.

One Barton free-kick forced a corner which resulted in an over-hit shot from Kevin Nolan.

Liverpool’s only other chance of the half saw Lucas  looping header easily caught by Krul in the Newcastle gola. While Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique had the final opportunity with a free-kick deflected behind off the wall.

For the second half Liverpool’s full-backs switched sides, Johnson moving to the right hand side to deal with Jonas Gutierrez as Flanagan had struggled.

But the youngster was almost let Barton score at the far post but the Scouser fluffed his lines.

Liverpool got lucky in 59th-minute second when Suarez isolated Williamson wide on the left from Jose Reina’s kick and was fouled by the defender on the edge of the penalty area.

Referee Peter Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot to allow Kuyt to score. Kuyt is this season’s most successful penalty taker in the league.

The Holland international could have doubled his goal with a free header just a few minutes later but failed to find the target.

Suarez however was less wasteful in the 65th minute when after a nice one-two with Kuyt he side-footed under Krul from 10 yards.

Dalglish replaced Rodriguez with Carroll in the 70 minute as when the 3 points were secured. Liverpool’s next chance came from a Meireles’ diving header which was deflected behind by Coloccini.

Carroll was unfortunately unable to make an impact against his former team-mates barely touching the ball but would still have being happy to see his new side win comfortably.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/fixtures/first-team/liverpool-v-newcastle-united-2010-9-7-15-00-00/last-match-statistics

Next season is always the best!

You\’ll never walk alone sung by Aretha Franklin

What a difference a new manager can make to a football team. Since Kenny Dalglish took over In January only Man United and Chelsea have won more points than Liverpool.

The last four games will have been very enjoyable for Liverpool fans, the draw with Arsenal and wins over Manchester City, Birmingham and Newcastle. Twelve goals scored and only one conceded. The standard of the performances in this period provides great encouragement as thoughts begin to turn to next season.

Does Suarez's movement and technique make him the new Kenny Dalglish?

The team plays with much more pace and movement now than under the previous management but in order to produce the pass and move football Liverpool fans expect two unsung heroes have emerged, the central midfield pairing of Lucas Leiva and Jay Sparing.

When Dalglish first took over he was willing to start Spearing, a young bit part player for the last few seasons and a product of the youth academy. He started in two started in two of the biggest games of the season, at home to bitter rivals Man United and Everton. In my mind Spearing was the “victim” of affirmative action or “reverse racism”, getting to play for Liverpool because he’s a scouser and would give more heart in the local slugfests.

Lucas and Spearing

Now my opinion of him has changed, just like the views held by other fans for the much maligned Lucas. I was sick of defending Lucas but this season I think he has won his sceptics over and the club have given him a new long-term contract and he’s a regular in the Brazil team.

Lucas and Spearing have been the foundation for the attacking drive of Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez et al. Sitting in front of the back four Spearings’ tremendous work-rate, covering the space of the forward moving full-backs, and tenacity in the tackle is the perfect spoil to Lucas’ holding the centre and quick distribution to the attacking-minded players.

The team’s lack of wingers is made-up for with the inter-play and switching of positions by the full-backs and the attacking quartet. It may be an overstatement but it’s almost like watching the Dutch total football of the 70s. Is it just a coincidence that Dirk Kuyt has been in his best form ever for Liverpool?

It’s definitely the Liverpool way and hopefully with a few big signings in the summer Liverpool will be picking up more points than Man United and Chelsea. The biggest signing is now just a formality, King Kenny been appointed permanent manager.

Liverpool’s owners turn on the heat

LeBron James official twitter page

One of the world’s greatest athletes has become a shareholder in one of the world’s greatest football clubs. LeBron James the American basketball superstar and one of the world’s richest sportsmen, has gone into partnership with Fenway sports group, the owners of Liverpool football club.

The deal between Liverpool’s owners John C Henry                                                                 and Tom Werner Company, FSG, and James’s sports-marketing firm, LRMR Branding & Marketing, makes FSG the worldwide representative for LeBron. It also gives James a minority stake in Liverpool football club.

LeBron James said he was humbled by the deal and that he couldn’t wait to visit Anfield and wear the famous Liverpool jersey. “Eighteen championships, I see myself trying to do the same things they have”, LeBron said.

At the age of 26 LeBron James earns 15.8 million dollars a year playing for the Miami Heat basketball team in the NBA. It’s estimated that he earns a further 30 million dollars a year from endorsements with companies including McDonald’s, Nike, and Coca-Cola.

Even while playing basketball for his high-school in Ohio LeBron was making a name for himself, he was drafted into The NBA by the Cleveland Cavaliers after finishing high school and signed a contract with sports manufacturers Nike before his professional debut. He was named the NBA Rookie of the year in 2003-04, NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and 2009-10, and has been in the All-NBA selection and an All-star every season since 2005.

In December 2007 James was ranked at #1 in the Forbes magazine Top 20 Earners under 25. Speaking of his many business interests James said, “The first time I stepped on an NBA court I became a businessman”. On his new deal with Fenway Sports Group he said, “this is a great opportunity for me”.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

Torres who?

A lot of Liverpool fans were angry with the sale of Torres to Chelsea but anger doesn’t change the fact that it happened. All you can do is accept a man’s desire to be employed somewhere else and move on.

When you look at the transfer and what Liverpool has gotten from it I think it makes perfect sense.

 Buy a player for 20 million, watch him score some great goals but spend half the time injured and then sell him 3 and half years later for 50 million.

 Use the money generated to bring in two younger players who will play up front and allow your best player to play in his favourite position. The team is left more balanced yet the new owners haven’t had to invest any money leaving them to plan for a busy summer of spending. Hopefully some quality wingers like Ashley Young and Eden Hazard to get the best out of Andy Carroll’s’ prowess in the air.

“The sale of Torres and the appointment of Dalglish has galvanised the team.”

 

 Meanwhile one of your main rivals has spunked 70 million pound on the same day it announced a financial loss for the previous year of 70 million. One can assume that there won’t be any big cheques been signed in Stamford bridge this summer even though half the team are over 30.

Look at the Chelsea team that lost to Liverpool on Sunday. Half the team are over 30. The use of Torres, anelka and Drogba up front just didn’t work as the team lacked width. They have no hope of winning the league this season so that’s one less competition for Torres to compete for.

The sale of Torres and the appointment of Dalglish has galvanised the team. Liverpool now have Chelsea in their sights as they hunt for a place in next seasons champions league. It all makes great sense to me!