Monday, March 30, 2009

James Lawton: Inspired Gerrard Clicks With United Man To Promise Untold Riches


No wonder Fabio Capello so quickly folded up Steven Gerrard as though he was a newly minted bank note and put him away for a day when he needs something rather closer to maximum spending power, as in this coming Wednesday when victory over Ukraine will all but guarantee a place in next year's World Cup finals.

Slovakia were opponents conquered by the mere rattle of small change but not before Gerrard in his first-half appearance was able to debunk the theory that for all their individual assets he and Wayne Rooney were unlikely to ever forge a truly coherent playing relationship.

Rooney ran his way out of the anger which flared so disturbingly again at Fulham the previous weekend – and was also apparently expressed in an eye-popping collision with Sir Alex Ferguson – most spectacularly, only after Gerrard had showered and changed and sat, statesmanlike, at the touchline.

But by then Rooney's superbly taken goals and David Beckham's latest walk-on part, in which he was able to stroll virtually unchallenged past Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps, were very much adornments after the most crucial fact.

This was that Rooney, running free up front and with all his native intelligence, did indeed have the capacity to make a sweet alliance with the currently inspired Gerrard.

Their interchange before Emile Heskey's opening goal was so natural, and so irresistible, it might have been carried on a gust of wind.

At 23 Rooney is still in need of emergency anger management whenever the ball does not roll so sweetly for him, or when he is nursing some passing sense of grievance, but the good news is that the turbulence of his nature blows itself out a lot more easily than the abandonment of his extraordinary ability to make football at times seem so easy.

It has always been the mark of a great player and that Rooney enjoys this status has never been compromised by his susceptibility to the red mist. Against Slovakia, he was an unbroken source of both pressure and creativity, and with such movement and wit in front of him, Gerrard looked so comfortably at home he might have played for several hours instead of a mere 45 minutes without one of his trademarked sighs of frustration.

Naturally, Capello looked as contended as any Italian cat presented with a large bowl of cappuccino.

No doubt Ukraine, with Liverpool reject Andrei Voronin threatening to maintain the goal stream that has delighted his current employers, Hertha Berlin, and Andrei Shevchenko hoping to prove to an English audience that his own stay here was just a fleeting case of misadventure, will provide a much sterner test than Slovakia, but the England manager has plenty of reasons to believe in further unhindered progress to South Africa next year.

Chief among them is the growing certainty of key players. On Saturday this was most evident in the play of Rooney and Gerrard, so much so that it was almost as if Capello withdrew the latter not so much as a precaution but through fear of everybody, and also fate, being over-exposed to an extremely good thing.

Most evident was that which has always been the most striking aspect of the ability of Rooney, a natural football intelligence of sometimes stunning proportions. His innate sense of how to arrive at points of maximum opportunity at the age of 17 persuaded no less a judge than Arsène Wenger to proclaim that he had never seen a more promising young English player, a verdict that the Arsenal manager no doubt would have willingly confirmed as the Slovakian defenders were so relentlessly put on their wrong feet.

Beneath the waves of fury, Rooney is a runner and a thinker. Gerrard, it has always seemed, relies more on moments of inspiration than a constant involvement at the heart of a game. On Saturday, though, we often seemed close to a perfect fusion.

The rest, including Beckham's latest milestone, was predictable enough. Beckham's delivery of the ball, by and large, is still exceptional, but of course he cannot begin to match the pace or vitality of those such as Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips and if there is any intrigue in this equation it mostly concerns at which point the manager will decide that the veteran's lack of mobility, against the most serious opposition, has passed the point of being merely critical.

One reality may have been slow to dawn on some of us, and not least in this quarter. It concerns the foolishness of equating the number of caps Beckham wins with his all-time standing in the rankings of great English players. That statistically speaking Beckham's contribution to the national team now exceeds those of Sir Bobby Charlton and Moore surely makes the whole exercise palpably absurd.

According to Capello, who has got so much right, Beckham still has a role to play for England just so long as he continues to be involved in something more serious than the club football practised by his principal employers, Los Angeles Galaxy.

Inevitably, though, this issue is made to look increasingly marginal by so many of the signposts to the future hammered into the ground by Capello.

The manager is increasingly comfortable in placing maximum trust in players like Rooney and Gerrard and here his reward could scarcely have been greater. Rooney and Gerrard had moments beautifully detached from the old strivings and bogus swagger of underachieving England. They had both simplicity and poise, and the hunch here is that such qualities will again be paraded in the most demanding conditions of Wednesday night.

Not only did Rooney's anger diminish in the flow of sweet football. So too did the collective insecurity of a team which may just be beginning to believe in its own powers. Capello has been in charge scarcely more than a year. When you remember this, you can only say he is moving at breathtaking pace.

Gerrard Unhappy About Lucas Criticism


Steven Gerrard has told the Liverpool supporters to stop criticising under-fire midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The Brazil international, 22, has been booed by his own fans this season as he has struggled to find his best form and recently admitted that ‘some people don't trust me yet’.

However, he has already received the full backing of boss Rafa Benitez, and Gerrard has now called on the Liverpool fans to get behind the player as he develops.

“The criticism he receives does get to me,” he said in the Daily Star Sunday.

“I think people forget he’s 22 years old. He’s not 27 or 28.

“I remember what I was like at that age and I look at where I am now.

“I know that I’m a one-million-percent better player now. I got better with experience.

“I made mistakes and learned and it has helped me become the player I am.

“Lucas is a good player and I know he’ll continue to get better.”

Gerrard has also called for critics to recognise the contribution of the rest of the squad after the team’s recent impressive run.

Gerrard and Fernando Torres have taken most of the plaudits after the impressive victories over Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa, but the club captain feels it has been a team effort.

"It's an absolute privilege to captain this football club at any time, but especially when the team is playing the way it is," he said.

"It makes my job an awful lot easier when you don't have to talk too much to players because they are just doing their jobs without that being needed.

"Confidence is really high right now and we're certainly enjoying playing together. We are playing without fear and without anxiety and I think you're seeing some superb football from us in the last couple of weeks.

"I'm playing with magnificent players. Torres and myself have had a lot of pats on the back of late, but it's important to acknowledge our teammates who have been fantastic.

"That's from the goalkeeper and the defence right through to the front.

"The two full backs have been magnificent lately, the centre backs have been the same. I could go right through the team and everyone is doing their job properly.

“Long may that continue and hopefully it will right up until the end of the season.

"If we keep playing the way we have been over the last three games then it's going to be an exciting finish."

Benitez Drops Agger Hint


Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has hinted that Daniel Agger is a part of his future first-team plans.

The centre-back has been persistently linked with a move away Anfield, with AC Milan understood to be monitoring prolonged contract negotiations.

Agger - whose season has been hit by injury - has yet to put pen-to-paper on a long-term deal as he is not guaranteed a place in the starting XI after apparently falling behind Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia in the pecking order.

However, Benitez has implied that the Denmark international could regain a regular place in his plans if he remains on Merseyside.

The Liverpool boss said in the Mail on Sunday: "Agger knows what I think of him.

"If he stays fit, he will have as good a chance of playing as anyone else, maybe more."

Two Football Games That Changed Us Forever

A book that champions Arsenal’s 1989 title-winning game at Anfield against Liverpool might not be an obvious choice for a bestseller on Merseyside but Jason Cowley’s new publication is much more than ‘Gooner’ triumphalism.

A highly-respected print journalist, Cowley’s memoir attempts to place the highly-significant Liverpool v Arsenal Championship-decider in the context of the Hillsborough disaster and the significant impact that both events have had on English football over the following 20 years.

Cowley said: “Arsenal fans often celebrate the 1989 title-winning game in isolation of Hillsborough but I have attempted to contextualise it with what happened in Liverpool’s ill-fated semi-final a month earlier.

“For different reasons, both of these events ushered in landmark changes in our game.

“After Hillsborough everything changed and had to change.

“That goes for English football as a whole, the Liverpool fans and the city.

“I think that some changes had begun already at the time.

“The move away from hooliganism and the constant fear of violence at games from earlier in the 1980s had started to be replaced by the fanzine movement and more wittier banter.

“There was also the beginning of the rave scene in the summers of love in 1988 and 1989 which brought about a more ‘spliffed-out’ rather than drunken atmosphere amongst some fans.”

As one of the closest title battles in history, the climax to the 1988-89 First Division Championship race was also ideally suited for a live television spectacle.

Having already won an emotional second all-Merseyside FA Cup Final in four seasons against neighbours Everton a week earlier, Liverpool were the better placed of the two contenders to finish the season on top of the table.

Kenny Dalglish’s reigning champions went into the game three points ahead of George Graham’s side and even a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal would have been enough for them to retain their crown on goal difference.

Liverpool fans won’t need reminding that with just seconds to go, such a scenario was in place with the Gunners leading thanks to an Alan Smith header but still not doing enough to pip their rivals.

However, a last-gasp strike from future Liverpool FA Cup Final hero Michael Thomas broke Kopites hearts on this occasion as he popped up to give the Londoners the title on goals scored after both sides finished equal on both 76 points and a goal difference of plus 37.

Cowley said: “The way football was broadcast was also changing. Sky Television had launched in 1989 and six million people watched the title decider on ITV.

“It was a great piece of television sporting drama and showed just what could be done with big football matches.

“This was followed by England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals the following summer complete with Paul Gascoigne’s tears plus the return of English clubs to European competition and suddenly there was a different feel about the game and a new audience.”

Although Arsenal had enjoyed a healthy lead at the summit earlier in the campaign, Liverpool had approached the finish line in tremendous form winning 13 out of their previous 14 league fixtures, including a period of nine consecutive victories, a run punctuated only by a goalless draw at Goodison Park in their first competitive game after Hillsborough.

Cowley said: “Liverpool were playing fantastically. There was an incredible energy in the club and they were all grieving after Hillsborough.

“After the Cup Final, they’d beaten West Ham 5-1 at Anfield ahead of the Arsenal game which had just done enough to edge them ahead of my team in regards to goal difference.

“Although there was always going to be a winner and a loser on the night when it came to the title race, I remember this occasion as being one of great sportsmanship from both sets of players and fans.

“The Arsenal team came out wearing black armbands and laid a floral tribute to the victims of Hillsborough which was applauded.

Having already won an emotional second all-Merseyside FA Cup Final in four seasons against neighbours Everton a week earlier, Liverpool were the better placed of the two contenders to finish the season on top of the table.

Kenny Dalglish’s reigning champions went into the game three points ahead of George Graham’s side and even a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal would have been enough for them to retain their crown on goal difference.

Liverpool fans won’t need reminding that with just seconds to go, such a scenario was in place with the Gunners leading thanks to an Alan Smith header but still not doing enough to pip their rivals.

However, a last-gasp strike from future Liverpool FA Cup Final hero Michael Thomas broke Kopites hearts on this occasion as he popped up to give the Londoners the title on goals scored after both sides finished equal on both 76 points and a goal difference of plus 37.

Cowley said: “The way football was broadcast was also changing. Sky Television had launched in 1989 and six million people watched the title decider on ITV.

“It was a great piece of television sporting drama and showed just what could be done with big football matches.

“This was followed by England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals the following summer complete with Paul Gascoigne’s tears plus the return of English clubs to European competition and suddenly there was a different feel about the game and a new audience.”

Although Arsenal had enjoyed a healthy lead at the summit earlier in the campaign, Liverpool had approached the finish line in tremendous form winning 13 out of their previous 14 league fixtures, including a period of nine consecutive victories, a run punctuated only by a goalless draw at Goodison Park in their first competitive game after Hillsborough.

Cowley said: “Liverpool were playing fantastically. There was an incredible energy in the club and they were all grieving after Hillsborough.

“After the Cup Final, they’d beaten West Ham 5-1 at Anfield ahead of the Arsenal game which had just done enough to edge them ahead of my team in regards to goal difference.

“Although there was always going to be a winner and a loser on the night when it came to the title race, I remember this occasion as being one of great sportsmanship from both sets of players and fans.

“The Arsenal team came out wearing black armbands and laid a floral tribute to the victims of Hillsborough which was applauded.
“But there was applause too from the home crowd even after Arsenal had nicked it.

“To see your team lose the Championship with virtually the last kick of the season must have been particularly galling for the Liverpool supporters and you might imagine that they have booed or just walked out en masse but they stayed and clapped.”

Sportsmanship from the fiercely passionate and partisan Merseyside football crowds has often proved a pleasant surprise to outsiders like Cowley who added: “Do I think the reaction would be the same if it happened now? Yes.

“Liverpool fans have always been regarded as being very sporting.

“I remember Jurgen Klinsmann talking about his astonishment of the warm reaction they gave him and his Tottenham team-mates after they knocked Liverpool out of the 1995 FA Cup quarter-final.

“Also, Thierry Henry also regarded the Liverpool fans very highly when he was at Arsenal.

“I think there’s a magic there at Anfield, especially on those European nights or at other big games.

“There’s a certain spirit at the club which has resonated from Bill Shankly, through to the likes of Bob Paisley although I think it was lost somewhat during Graeme Souness’s tenure.

“I think a lot of it’s down to the unique Scouse attitude that Liverpool embodies.

“I’ve not had the same feeling from Everton although my friend James Corbett, a staunch Evertonian tells me that his team are actually ‘The People’s Club’ on Merseyside and that viewpoint is expressed in the book but he’s got his standpoint and I’ve got mine.

“I still love coming to the city whether it’s for football or not.

“It’s great to see how Liverpool has reinvented and revived itself since the blight of the 1980s.”

Cowley also believes that the game also ended the Anfield outfit’s dominance of the English game.

He said: “It was the start of something fresh for Arsenal who had not won the title since 1971.

“They were champions in 1991 and since then there have been the successes of Arsene Wenger’s French revolution.

“However, it was the end of an era for Liverpool.

“It didn’t end their dominance overnight, they went on to win their last League Championship to date the following year in 1990 but their own players admitted that something had been lost that night that they never recovered.”

Skrtel Was Out Of Order - Crouch


Peter Crouch has accused former Liverpool team-mate Martin Skrtel of deliberately kicking him and adding to England's striker crisis.

Crouch was forced off with a dead leg towards the end of the friendly win over Slovakia, having already seen Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole limp off in the first half at Wembley.

"I went up with Skrtel. I thought he was my mate to be honest, but obviously not," Crouch said. "I went up with him and he kicked out and gave me a dead leg."

Skrtel was being given a torrid time by Wayne Rooney, which may have contributed to the centre-back's frustration during the 4-0 defeat to Fabio Capello's men.

"It was a little bit (out of order)," Crouch added. "It's for other people to discuss if he didn't have the best of days."

Capello has drafted in Tottenham striker Darren Bent as cover, with Crouch desperate to be fit for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

The 28-year-old sees Capello's injury problems as a real opportunity to seize his chance to impress.

"I was gutted to come off, I just wanted to carry on running around but having both our other strikers come off the manager wanted to take me off," he said.

"If I rest up on ice when I get to the hotel, hopefully I can play some part on Wednesday.

"You don't wish injuries on anyone but when they do you have to take your chances.

"I've always felt that when I play I score goals. There is an opening now, a couple of injuries and I can prove myself.

"When I've played I've done well and hopefully, given the chances, I will continue to do well. I've scored goals for England and when called upon will score goals. Hopefully that will be the case."

Crouch would have been on the scoresheet against Slovakia if skipper John Terry had not tapped in when the ball was about to cross the line.

"I was looking to do that, come in and maybe score a goal if JT stayed out the way!" Crouch said.

"He apologised a few times. I would have done the same as well so I can't blame him."

If Crouch had scored there would have been no repeat of his famous robot celebration - a mark of the change in attitude under Capello.

"A few of the lads in the dressing room told me to do it but I don't think I can to be honest, it's a serious business now and I don't think it would go down too well with the manager," he said.

Cole and Heskey have now been ruled out of the Ukraine clash, with West Ham striker Cole reflecting on a missed opportunity.

He said: "I'm really disappointed, Emile scored and it was a great opportunity for me to come on and show what I can do.

"I felt really good after training all week so I am a bit disappointed that I couldn't come on and translate that onto the field."

Hull City Boss Phil Brown Thinks Liverpool Can Win Title

Hull City manager Phil Brown feels that Liverpool now have every chance of beating Manchester United in the race to claim the Premier League title, after the Merseysiders recent run of excellent results blew the race wide open.

"Two weeks ago, most of us were ready to present the Premier League title to Manchester United," Brown wrote in his column in The Hull Daily Mail.

"With rivals faltering and Sir Alex Ferguson's men looking invincible, it looked like being a procession through the season's final months. But after a huge shift in momentum to blow the race wide open, Liverpool are firmly back in the hunt.

"Rafael Benitez's side, brilliantly led by Steven Gerrard, have been in superb form since hammering Manchester United at Old Trafford. A 4-1 win over the leaders was followed up by a thumping 5-0 victory over Aston Villa next weekend and, all of a sudden, the title race is back on.

"With a game in hand and a point to the good, the title is still Manchester United's to lose but we look set for a thrilling finale to the season."

Interestingly, the City boss, mired in so much controversy in the last few weeks and bullish in his attitude to his job all season, went on to highlight just how much he feels the pressure increases at this time of the season, even for the greatest managers and players.

"Recent weeks have shown no-one is immune to the growing sense of pressure - not even the quintuple-chasing Manchester United.

"Nemanja Vidic, who is one of the front-runners to be crowned the PFA Player of the Year, had a nightmare against Liverpool when gifting Fernando Torres a goal and then being sent off."

Brown concluded by saying that that pressure was also affecting match officials, the consequences of which his side had been forced to endure in recent weeks.

"We're not just seeing top players being affected by the pressure. Even Howard Webb, a referee I rate very highly, had a very poor game in our clash with Newcastle a fortnight ago.

"I put that down to the old 'squeaky bum-time' affecting us all as the weeks tick down."

UEFA Secretary David Taylor Slams Liverpool & Others For Massive Squads

UEFA's general secretary David Taylor has led calls from the governing body questioning the need for the very biggest clubs to maintain such massive playing squads, with the case of Liverpool, who have 62 senior players registered, being highlighted by Taylor as especially baffling and unhealthy.

"Ridiculous. 62? You could have two full-size practice games," Taylor told The Observer.

"You can only field 11 at one time. It's an open question as to how many you actually need. Is it 20, 25?"

The same newspaper also reports that Taylor responded to a question asking him what benefit he felt clubs such as Liverpool gained from such a huge squad he responded, "You'd have to ask them."

Taylor also supports limiting the size of club's squads, as in the Champions League where only 25 players can be registered. He added, "UEFA has been in the vanguard of this and we certainly feel it's very useful. But that's for organisers of domestic leagues to decide among the clubs."

Liverpool have loaned out 17 players this season to a host of clubs, with many youngsters feeling frustrated at the lack of opportunities, according to The Observer, with one player, Craig Lindfield, aged 20, on loan at Accrington Stanley, saying, "That's the difference between Liverpool and other clubs, young lads get more of a chance elsewhere."

Meanwhile, Gordon Taylor, head of the PFA agrees with UEFA's general secretary and also feels it leads to players being lost to the game who actually have the talent to earn a living from it.

"Six hundred each year join Premier and Football League clubs at 16," he said.

"Of those, 500 will be out of the game by 21. It's a big wastage and not good enough. We have got to look at improving the ­success rate of academies and centres of excellence.

"Those who don't make it at the top don't necessarily make it lower down. Skills and technique don't always count as much as strength and ­competitiveness. We're finding a big black hole between 19 and 21."