Liverpool F.c.

[rixalex]

Apparently he wasn't "happy",

Oh dear... not another one.

Drive around in super cars, live in playboy mansions, millions in the bank, shagging the latest underwear models, playing a bit of footie at the weekend... what a life eh... just how these guys manage to struggle on, i just don't know... as if cursed at birth... forget the starving in Africa, it's these guys my heart goes out to.

I totally agree, money has changed these people and their values. Although in Sahin's case I think it was about not getting a run in the side.

I don't want to bring up Suarez here (again) for others to jump on and start on parts of his game, but I have to say if you isolate his commitment to his team and giving his all for 90 minutes and wanting to win, it is admirable compared to most. He doesn't stop because it isn't about money for him, it could b jumpers for goal posts and he'd be the same. It seems most players now are conditioned to play for money and themselves. Football is a tool to get rich, rather than money being an add on benefit to being able to play football for a living.

Put all the other nonsense he gets up to aside, and i completely agree, Suarez's work rate and dedication is fantastic, not to mention his skill. Similarities with regards that side of his game, to a player like Rooney. Even when these players are having an off day, you never see them standing about, arms outstretched, doing the petulant, pissed off, i need a hug from my mummy, look. Give me a player like that any day of week over a Berbatov type.

[StevieH]

Not life or death? Huh? Stevie, it's called making an analogy. Analogies have parallels, they aren't representative of exactly the same thing. Raping is not the same as diving, but did i really need to state that? Come on...

The point i was trying to make was that it is quite possible to find two things offensive and wrong, but one more offensive and wrong than the other. You seem to be living in a world in which every offensive and wrong act is equal to every other offensive and wrong act... well at least on the football pitch anyway. I don't buy that for one second.

Blatant diving in the penalty box with no contact is of course more offensive and wrong than claiming a throw in that isn't yours, because the likelihood of claiming a throw in that wasn't yours and having the result of the game turn on that one moment of cheating is extremely slim. The chances however of a dive in the box turning a game is very high. Doesn't mean i think that throw in cheats should be allowed to get away with it, it just means them getting away with it irks me less than divers.

And what is with the Daily Mail comment? An attempt to label me as some sort of right wing fascist? I don't like divers, and yes, i don't like divers more than throw in cheats. Any country that generally accepts diving as a skill is just plain wrong, and i don't give a shit what that country is. If it was my country, it would still be wrong. And that's about the beginning and end of it. Please don't turn this into something racial or political... if you knew me you'd know i am about the furthest you can get from being either right wing or racist.

and it was a very overly dramatic analogy. it's a breach of the football rules, not a sexual assault on a woman f'chrissakes. just trying to keep the debate sensible here.

and the daily mail comment was precisely as above, that it was a dumb, kneejerk melodramatic analogy, the sort that the mail specialises in. nothing to do with racism, xenophobia, right wing politics or anything else that that horrible rag excels in.

diving and cheating are the same thing, and they're both part of the game. how is a deliberate handball to stop a player scoring or a cynical professional foul to stop a player scoring not worse morally than a player going down to win a free-kick? we're going to agree to disagree on this one i'm afraid.

[StevieH]

Wasn't he paraphrasing Shankley?

bloody hell smokie, at least spell it right!

[nellyp]

I'm interested in this new Liverpool Way (of looking at cheating).

Stevie, are you now saying everyone does it and it's OK? In which case, just SAY Evra cheated and lied about Suarez saying what he said, would that have also been OK as things stand with you? After all, it would have just been a bit more cheating, yes?

I guess we can assume you're sticking with the churlish, petulant view....

?????

The most intelligent thing youve posted in a while

[rixalex]

and it was a very overly dramatic analogy. it's a breach of the football rules, not a sexual assault on a woman f'chrissakes. just trying to keep the debate sensible here.

I don't see it as you trying to keep the debate sensible, i see it as you taking an analogy of mine (that was offered merely by way of an example of the way different wrong-doings illicit different responses in people) in some sort of literal sense, and by doing so suggest that i was in some way comparing diving to rape. I was not, and i never imagined here, amongst people who know me - as much as people can know each other on the internet - that i would actually have to spell that out.

diving and cheating are the same thing, and they're both part of the game. how is a deliberate handball to stop a player scoring or a cynical professional foul to stop a player scoring not worse morally than a player going down to win a free-kick? we're going to agree to disagree on this one i'm afraid.

I don't believe a single person here would deny that different types of cheating piss them off to different degrees. I don't believe a single person here would disagree that players who receive no contact whatsoever and go down in the box theatrically like they have been shot, annoy them a h3ll of a lot more than players who claim throw-ins that weren't theirs. Both players have cheated yes, both players should not be able to get away with it, but one player has us up off our feet screaming at the TV what a <deleted> cheating <deleted> they are, whilst the other will probably get no reaction at all.

I don't think you will find a single person here who ever wants English football to adopt the same approach of accepting diving as a part of the game, as is the case in other countries, or a single person who will ever actually admire players who dive well. And for all of the above, i don't think you will find a single person here who thinks those views makes them either hypocritical or guilty of this English habit of sneering superiority that you believe exists. Not a single person that is accept you....

Hope for a good clean game today, without any diving from either side.... or any other sort of cheating. May the best team win...

[sharecropper]

I'm interested in this new Liverpool Way (of looking at cheating).

Stevie, are you now saying everyone does it and it's OK? In which case, just SAY Evra cheated and lied about Suarez saying what he said, would that have also been OK as things stand with you? After all, it would have just been a bit more cheating, yes?

I guess we can assume you're sticking with the churlish, petulant view....

?????

The most intelligent thing youve posted in a while

Unfortunately the same can't be said for yours.

A nice bit of wind-up by SAF here:

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/188002.html

But do you know, I fancy Liverpool to get a result tonight, a draw at worst...

[smokie36]

Good luck....I only want to see one red team win tonight.

[mrbojangles]

Good luck....I only want to see one red team win tonight.

Same, same. (and I am including Arsenal as one of the red teams I don't want to win)

[uptheos]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

[sharecropper]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Yeah, they looked much better in the second half. I also thought Sturridge showed his greedy side twice when he should have crossed but went for the shot instead.

[carmine]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Sterling needs a rest. hes a kid and is being overplayed by Rodgers. I donøt understand why the manager cant see it

[uptheos]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Sterling needs a rest. hes a kid and is being overplayed by Rodgers. I donøt understand why the manager cant see it

Absolutely and last night showed that more than any other time. Maybe now Sturridge has arrived he will get that rest, but if not Rodgers is an idiot and there's a chance that the kid will lose confidence and go backwards.

[uptheos]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Yeah, they looked much better in the second half. I also thought Sturridge showed his greedy side twice when he should have crossed but went for the shot instead.

Yes, I agree but I guess he's keen to impress and anything on his left foot is only going to head one way.

[alfieconn]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Yeah, they looked much better in the second half. I also thought Sturridge showed his greedy side twice when he should have crossed but went for the shot instead.

Yes, I agree but I guess he's keen to impress and anything on his left foot is only going to head one way.

Yep, seems Defoe and Sturridge are from the same pod !

[StevieH]

Unless Sturridge isn't fully fit (in which case he should be in bed with a hot water bottle), I think Rodgers made a terrible mistake not playing him from the start. I thought Liverpool looked good in the second half and once Suarez and Sturridge play together for a while they could be quite a force to cope with. Sterling was non-existent and really looked like a boy among men.

Sterling needs a rest. hes a kid and is being overplayed by Rodgers. I donøt understand why the manager cant see it

he's not had a lot of choice. the whole time that lucas and borini were out injured and before sturridge arrived we were down to the bare bones really. sterling and suso were starting every game for a long spell, not ideal at all. raheem definitely needs a rest though.

[Devil]

?? Now people are getting at Sturridge for shooting... 2 goals in 2 games folks.

He combined quite a few times with Suarez looking to put him through (vice versa) and the ones he hit at goal were justified as not much esle was on or no bodies in the box. I hope he contimues to do that...we have badly needed someone to put their foot through the ball and shoot in and around the edge of the box, as evidence when Gerrard took a shot which resulted in Sturrideg getting the rebound.

I like his pace and desire to burst forward, Suarez will welcome that support up top can believe how stranded he looked first half with no support.

My biggest concern is Allen and Lucas playing together at the moment - Allen is low on confidence and is getting knocked of the ball way too much - he needs to be benched. Lucas still looks far from his former self and in a attempt to bring him up to speed we keep playing him to much, Henderson deserves a start based on his past 4-5 appearances.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Devil

[MrRed]

?? Now people are getting at Sturridge for shooting... 2 goals in 2 games folks.

He combined quite a few times with Suarez looking to put him through (vice versa) and the ones he hit at goal were justified as not much esle was on or no bodies in the box. I hope he contimues to do that...we have badly needed someone to put their foot through the ball and shoot in and around the edge of the box, as evidence when Gerrard took a shot which resulted in Sturrideg getting the rebound.

I like his pace and desire to bust forward, Suarez will welcome that support up top.

My biggest concern is Allen and Lucas playing together at the moment - Allen is low on confidence and is getting knocked of the ball way too much - he needs to be benched. Lucas still looks far from his former self and in a attempt to bring him up to speed we keep playing him to much, Henderson deserves a start based on his past 4-

Time to buy another two or three midfielders again is it?

[carmine]

?? Now people are getting at Sturridge for shooting... 2 goals in 2 games folks.

He combined quite a few times with Suarez looking to put him through (vice versa) and the ones he hit at goal were justified as not much esle was on or bodies in th box. I hope he contimues to do that also we have badly need someone to put their foot through the ball and shoot in and the edge of the box, as evidence when Gerrard took a shot which resulted in Sturrideg getting the rebound.

My biggest concern is Allen and Lucas playing together at the moment - Allen is low on confidence and is getting knocked of the ball way too much - he needs to be benched. Lucas still looks far from his former self and in attempt to bring up to speed we keep playing him to much, Henderson deserves a start based on his past 4-5 appearences.

Agree with this and just to add that whilst i have been a big crtitic of Henderson he is starting to look a much better player.

Biggest worry for you lot should be the obvious fatigue showing on players who need a rest but cannot be replaced. This situation is, for me atleast, putting the owners on the spot because Rodgers needs more players to cope with the remainder of the season and it looks like he needs cover in all departments.

[StevieH]

Agree with this and just to add that whilst i have been a big crtitic of Henderson he is starting to look a much better player.

Biggest worry for you lot should be the obvious fatigue showing on players who need a rest but cannot be replaced. This situation is, for me atleast, putting the owners on the spot because Rodgers needs more players to cope with the remainder of the season and it looks like he needs cover in all departments.

yes, all correct that.

one other major problem we have is a lack of leadership. we used to have captains in all sorts of positions, now we really don't. this is exacerbated by this buy young policy that the owners seem to be fixed on - when you buy young you buy inexperienced and sometimes naive. that game last night was crying out for the likes of didi hamann or mascherano in midfield or dirk kuyt and maxi rodriguez up off suarez. we've got a bunch of kids who are learning the game, as is the manager - so there's kind of a lack of experience and savvy throughout the club from top to bottom.

[MrRed]

Luis Suarez admits to dive against Stoke but accuses media of inventing 'nonsense'

Luis Suarez has admitted his critics were right to accuse him of diving to win a penalty against Stoke this season.

In an extensive interview with Fox Sports Argentina the Liverpool forward repeated claims that he is treated differently by the media because of his South American background and again accused the press of being at Manchester United's beck and call.

But Suarez held up his hands over a dive at Anfield in October which led Stoke manager Tony Pulis to call for the a suspension.

He said: "I don't listen all the nonsense some people say about me. I'm accused of cheating here. People say I throw myself all the time inside the box.

"They said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing and I wanted to win.

"Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself, "What have I done?" But the name of Suarez sells papers."

The Uruguayan was recently accused of deliberately handling the ball moments before his winning goal at non-league Mansfield in the FA Cup.

But he said: "I touched the ball with my hand accidentally, and I was criticised because I kissed my hand. I say to the media: you should talk more about football, not about other stuff."

Suarez is yet to be forgiven by some supporters for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra - an offence which earned him an eight-match ban last season.

He said: "When someone comes and says to me something bad about being a South American, I don't cry, because that happens inside the pitch.

"I have my conscience clean. But as I have said: Manchester United controls the media, they are powerful and the media will always help them.

"It's complicated to play here in England. As Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero have said, it's complicated for a South American footballer to be here as we are treated differently to the local footballers."

[rixalex]

"They said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing and I wanted to win.

"Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself, "What have I done?" But the name of Suarez sells papers."

Why does he ask, "what have i done?". He has just admitted what he did.... it is called cheating. Yes i know, they all do it, but if you are going to admit to it, you kinda forgo you rights to play the victim card.

Here's an idea, don't like the flack your cheating brings you, stop <deleted> doing it... or, alternatively, keep doing it, and take the flack on the chin, and stop moaning about how everyone and his dog is against you.

[mrbojangles]

Luis Suarez admits to dive against Stoke but accuses media of inventing 'nonsense'

Wonder if Ashley Young will ever be man enough to own up and admit like Suarez.

[StevieH]

Wonder if Ashley Young will ever be man enough to own up and admit like Suarez.

no alex ferguson player has ever lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury, ever. don't you know that?

[rixalex]

Wonder if Ashley Young will ever be man enough to own up and admit like Suarez.

no alex ferguson player has ever lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury, ever. don't you know that?

As i recall, in the last couple of years prior to this last five minutes or so of sudden manning-up, of seeing the light, Suarez allegedly never lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury... it was all just a nasty unjustified conspiracy against him.

As for Ashley Young... including him in the same breath as Suarez with regards cheating, considering how little he has played in the last six months, is like including Darren Bent in the same breath as Suarez with regards scoring... Darren Bent might be capable of scoring 15 goals in 20 odd games, but i don't think we can hail him for what he might have done had he been playing.

[Chicog]

"They said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing and I wanted to win.

"Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself, "What have I done?" But the name of Suarez sells papers."

Why does he ask, "what have i done?". He has just admitted what he did.... it is called cheating. Yes i know, they all do it, but if you are going to admit to it, you kinda forgo you rights to play the victim card.

Here's an idea, don't like the flack your cheating brings you, stop <deleted> doing it... or, alternatively, keep doing it, and take the flack on the chin, and stop moaning about how everyone and his dog is against you.

Now he's admitted it, I wonder if the FA will do a Keano on him?

Another 9 matches would be good.

[bartender100]

"They said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing and I wanted to win.

"Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself, "What have I done?" But the name of Suarez sells papers."

Why does he ask, "what have i done?". He has just admitted what he did.... it is called cheating. Yes i know, they all do it, but if you are going to admit to it, you kinda forgo you rights to play the victim card.

Here's an idea, don't like the flack your cheating brings you, stop <deleted> doing it... or, alternatively, keep doing it, and take the flack on the chin, and stop moaning about how everyone and his dog is against you.

Now he's admitted it, I wonder if the FA will do a Keano on him?

Another 9 matches would be good.

Starting from Saturday please against Norwich, he don't like us

[StevieH]

Starting from Saturday please against Norwich, he don't like us

he has had rather a fun time against you hasn't he? looking very possible it could be called off tomorrow btw. you'd be a bit gutted if you'd driven from norwich up to merseyside only for it to be postponed.

[MrRed]

Wonder if Ashley Young will ever be man enough to own up and admit like Suarez.

no alex ferguson player has ever lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury, ever. don't you know that?

As i recall, in the last couple of years prior to this last five minutes or so of sudden manning-up, of seeing the light, Suarez allegedly never lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury... it was all just a nasty unjustified conspiracy against him.

As for Ashley Young... including him in the same breath as Suarez with regards cheating, considering how little he has played in the last six months, is like including Darren Bent in the same breath as Suarez with regards scoring... Darren Bent might be capable of scoring 15 goals in 20 odd games, but i don't think we can hail him for what he might have done had he been playing.

It is not worth it mate......the truth in Liverpool is only one way...ie..when it suits .....to come out and say he was cheating deserves a ban,end of story,just shows what a fuc_kin thick turd he is as well!

[carmine]

Wonder if Ashley Young will ever be man enough to own up and admit like Suarez.

no alex ferguson player has ever lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury, ever. don't you know that?

As i recall, in the last couple of years prior to this last five minutes or so of sudden manning-up, of seeing the light, Suarez allegedly never lied, cheated, dived or feigned injury... it was all just a nasty unjustified conspiracy against him.

As for Ashley Young... including him in the same breath as Suarez with regards cheating, considering how little he has played in the last six months, is like including Darren Bent in the same breath as Suarez with regards scoring... Darren Bent might be capable of scoring 15 goals in 20 odd games, but i don't think we can hail him for what he might have done had he been playing.

It is not worth it mate......the truth in Liverpool is only one way...ie..when it suits .....to come out and say he was cheating deserves a ban,end of story,just shows what a fuc_kin thick turd he is as well!

i don't want to steer this off topic but just to say that the premier league is or has already become its own worst enemy. All that seems to be discussed and argued about is the bloody obvious diving situation thats been going on for years but is the now favourite topic to bore on about ad nauseum. So i've just been watching an article on BBC sport featuring the Bundasliga and its all too interesting and obvious that they tend to take an interest in somewhat more important issues within the game and their league and with three sides still competing in the CL and their national team kicking our <deleted> everytime they play maybe the media FA and fans alike could just move on to important matters. Personally i don't give a toss if Suarez dives because so do the vast majority given the chance.

Sterling needs a rest btw

Edited January 18, 2013 by carmine

[rixalex]

i don't want to steer this off topic but just to say that the premier league is or has already become its own worst enemy. All that seems to be discussed and argued about is the bloody obvious diving situation thats been going on for years but is the now favourite topic to bore on about ad nauseum. So i've just been watching an article on BBC sport featuring the Bundasliga and its all too interesting and obvious that they tend to take an interest in somewhat more important issues within the game and their league and with three sides still competing in the CL and their national team kicking our <deleted> everytime they play maybe the media FA and fans alike could just move on to important matters. Personally i don't give a toss if Suarez dives because so do the vast majority given the chance.

Sterling needs a rest btw

I'm sorry that the topic bores you but there is a reason why it is discussed so much in the UK and that is because people feel strongly about it (as i recall, you seemed to feel strongly about it when Nani was doing it, and the topic didn't seem to bore you then, not judging from the number of posts you made about him).

I am aware that it is not a new phenomenon and i appreciate that all players cheat to one degree or another, but that doesn't make it acceptable any more than the fact that all politicians are corrupt to one degree or another makes corruption acceptable (i guess i have to add that that was just an analogy and no, i don't think that diving is as bad as corruption). The moment people stop kicking up a fuss and talking about it, is the moment we encourage it to get ten times worse, the moment we go down the path of other nations in actually admiring those who cheat well. Some people might like us to go down that path, some people may feel that would somehow make us less hypocritical in their eyes, but that is not a view i share nor a view i think that is shared by the overwhelming majority of football supporters in the UK.

I also think that lumping each and every player into the exact same group, as is done with comments like "they all do it", is all well and good for the likes of the Ronaldos, the Nanis, the Suarez's, because it implies they are no worse than anyone else. That is simply not true. Some players are a lot worse than others. And there are some players who do try and stay on their feet, and don't take every opportunity that presents itself to cheat. I hate to say it, but Aguero is one such player. I think the way he plays the game should be recognised and applauded. For me he is a very similar player to Suarez, and has very similar skills, it is just that he is much less prone to the dirty stuff. That means something to me. Perhaps i'm old fashioned though... come to think of it, perhaps Brendan is too...

Luis Suarez diving: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers reveals anger

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21064709