Bullies 2-1 Bullies: Barca in disguise?
Posted by: roversreturn on 
Mar 2nd, 2010 | 
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Coming soon to a cinema near you.
Lots of positives to be taken from an unfortunate defeat at Anfield, with Rovers more than matching Liverpool for the entire game and deserving at least a point.
I’m told even the BBC were saying we gave a good account of ourselves, so if they’re paying us compliments, we must have done alright.
Rafa Benitez proved yet again what a wanker he is with his throwing his toys out of the pram comments after the match. What Rafa can’t handle is the truth.
Yes, Rovers are physical – and should have had two sendings off with N’Zonzi’s stupid push and Chimbonda kicking out, I can accept and admit that – and indeed we were the more physical of the two sides here, we have to be if we are to get anything from games like this. But Liverpool, this season, are not playing pretty football.
Sam was right. Take a side-by-side look at our trips to Anfield last season and on Sunday and you will notice a not so subtle difference in Liverpool’s play. Rafa, who had he not been on such a ridiculously long and large contract would definitely have been sacked by now, is bitter about that.
I guess Barcelona probably wouldn’t model their style of play on the Scousers’ either. Nor would most managers model their behaviour on Rafa, the bitter bitter fat Spanish waiter.
EDIT: Having seen the Prozone analysis of the match, Sam Allardyce discovered that Rovers’ pass completion rate was 75 per cent, just 0.7 per cent behind that of Liverpool. Also, Rovers spent more time in the attacking third of the pitch than Liverpool. So maybe we weren’t much worse than stylish Liverpool after all?
Back to the game, and both Liverpool’s goals were somewhat fortuitous. Gerrard got the run of the ball for the first and so did Torres for the second, although Robinson’s positioning was questionable for that one.
As for Rovers’ goal. It was a blatant penalty. What Carragher was moaning about only he knows. But he handballed it in the box. That is a foul. I have to admit to being a little apprehensive as Keith Andrews stepped up, but he stuck it away, just.
Liverpool had keeper Pepe Reina to thank for us only scoring once, particularly when Chris Samba’s 94th minute header was turned round the post by the Spanish stopper.
We were so close to that elusive victory over one of the so-called Big Four, although how long it will be the Big Four and how long Liverpool can be considered on a par with the other sides in that group only time will tell.
We’ve got another little rest now until we play Spurs at White Hart Lane, which will be another very tough game. But we are getting better all the time.
If we can find the back of the net at Tottenham, we may have a chance …
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March 2nd, 2010 at 3:45 pm
So, let me get this straight:
You’re acknowledging that you should have had two men sent off, once for a blatant shove in the face and once for violently kicking another player in the chest yet you’re rubbishing Benitez’s comments that you’re an ugly, non-footballing side?
Sure, Liverpool play with a robust defence and mainly two defensive midfielders but you can’t call Torres, Gerrard, Babel, Benayoun, N’Gog, Riera, Rodriguez et al. route one footballers. They are all, without exception, skillfull players.
Just because the Scousers have had to set up a physical last line of defence because of the injuries this season, that doesn’t make them anything like Blackburn!
Benitez was well within his rights to have a dig at Allardyce, because, let’s not forget, it was ‘big’ Sam that kicked the whole embarrassing shambles off. First with his planned attack with Slur Alex and then again before the match at the weekend, in the vein hope of unsettling the Liverpool manager and players.
The fat Brum shouldn’t hand it out if he can’t take it back.
Also, as a footnote, how many of Blackburns players have been courted by Barcelona? Zero. How many Liverpool players have been? Last count, 4.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
rovers were a good side i liked them till fat bin man allardyce came in charge a really truely shite manager who proved he cant manage ! what a flop he was at newcastle.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:41 pm
My wife happens to be a Man United fan (blame her father, something about living in Stretford or something…) but she did point out to me this…
Can you name the four teams who have won the Premier League?
Four teams have won it?
Surely these are the real Big 4, an atmittedly exclusive club
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Mish – I’m not denying we are physical (in fact I stated that quite clearly) and not once have I said we play a particularly attractive brand of football. But Benitez is and always has been a moaning git.
Armchair fan – Haha. Good point.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Mish – Please see my edit:
EDIT: Having seen the Prozone analysis of the match, Sam Allardyce discovered that Rovers’ pass completion rate was 75 per cent, just 0.7 per cent behind that of Liverpool. Also, Rovers spent more time in the attacking third of the pitch than Liverpool. So maybe we weren’t much worse than stylish Liverpool after all?
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
There’s quite a bit been said over the whole childish affair; My two pennorth’ is as follows; – Firstly, I think the Rovers fans should remember the old saying (Japanese) ”Those who know don’t talk – Those who talk? Don’t know”;
I think that Rovers fans have been talking a little TO much in defence of their revered (ha ha) manager Mr Allardyce – maybe they’re TO defensive for a reason? After all – Liverpool may not be Barcelona (and the joke clearly went over the heads of those who thought Rafa’ said that – he didn’t; He meant Barca’ would/should copy Rovers as Allardyce’s style is SO perfect no?) but let’s not forget here he WAS responding sarcastically to Sam’s pathetic jibe about ”5 yellow cards at Man City” for Liverpool the week before and thus in Sam’s view ”that PROVES he’s brought out the physical side in them”;
Firstly half those cards SHOULDN’T have been given as the ref’ in the City game was pathetic and secondly since WHEN do LFC against Blackburn or ANY other side specifically utilise targetted fouls as part of their (pathetic in Sam’s case) gameplan? I didn’t see any Liverpool players throwing City players to the floor from headlocks or scissorkicking their players in the chest did anyone else here?
Nor did I see as I have in past matches with Sam’s sides against us – our players breaking opposing defenders noses, roughing up goalkeepers, benefitting from dodgy linesman decisions after refereeing stuffups OR knocking opponents mouths deliberately with elbows and drawing blood – ALL of which Sam’s sides have done to Benitez’ Liverpool sides in the past so maybe Rafa’ has a point in slating whatever passed for Rover’s ‘style’ of play as style it contained NOTHING of;
At least LFC’s two goals came from worked moves involving passing and running off the ball (particularly the first goal); Rovers? They Benefited from one melee in the area and wrestling match between defenders and midfielders for their joke of a penalty and one stupendous save drawn from Reina whilst injured (deliberately by THEM) AFTER loading the area with players to recieve knockdowns from a Robinson goalkick;
Not that such an abysmal excuse for a style worked – Last Year; Rovers came to Anfield missing half a team and were given a damn good hiding – this time? Liverpool were missing half our regular team and those that WERE there weren’t all fully fit or had just returned from injury – but? We STILL won – THAT is the difference; That difference just goes to show that even with his players playing at their VERY best – Sam’s style doesn’t work against Rafa’ anymore and hasn’t done since 2006 – the last time he actually WON a game against Rafa’;
You think Sam’s some sort of tactical genius who has Rafa’s number? Erm, no think again actually; Try the other way around – the overall record for Rafa’ v Sam since 2006 reads won 4, drawn 1 against his various teams; Scored 12, conceded 1 (on Sunday) and a string of results that reads since Jan’ 1st 07; 3-0, 3-0, 4-0, 0-0, 2-1;
In overall games? It’s little better with Rafa’ winning 6, Sam winning 2 and 2 draws from 10 games; Goals read; Rafa’s sides; 14, Sam’s sides; 6. A fairly damning indication of almost overwhelming superiority no? And a DEFINITE pointer as to who is the better manager yes? No wonder Sam hates Rafa’ now with stat’s like that; I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s at home STILL right now shouting at his dog/the walls/the world in his kitchen about that ‘evil Spanish b*stard’ who keeps embarrassing him.
Face it people, he DOES bring much of the ridicule he gets form Rafa’ on himself no? As he CLEARLY did in this case by opening his big gob just before our game on Sunday with a totally unnecessary remark about fouls in a match that had NOTHING to do with him or his side – That? Was just ASKING for Rafa’ to respond in kind and he did;
He laid his trap with sarcasm and wit (BOTH qualities Sam is utterly devoid of) beat Sam on the pitch and then humiliated him in the interview room as his ridiculous remarks before the game deserved – It’s not Rafa’s fault if Sam chooses to go up against him season in, season out around our games with him KNOWING he’ll get skewered is it?
Maybe Sam should take the advice of that idiot Garner (another one who shouldn’t get involved) and put up or shut up; Rafa’ put up on the pitch AND shut Sam up in front of the cameras. Moan all you like but as Rafa’ says ”It’s a Fact” and there’s NOTHING Sam can do about it now – He’s so twisted now he can’t even lose with dignity – I hear he rather enjoyed the after match press conference where he was taken apart all over again by the media as well – Like I said, he’ll NEVER learn will Big Sam – he brings ALL his woes on himself………………………………..
NB: BTW on another note – IF that useless stat’ re Premiership winners is meant to mean they are somehow different to the OLD League Title Trophy then someone answer me this; HOW can Man’ United be counted as having 18 titles Since HALF of theirs ARE that old trophy? Either they have 10 Premier League titles and NO old ones OR they have 18 in which case BOTH are of equal value and Liverpool’s past titles are every bit the match of those more recent sides to have bought their way to the Premier League Title; Work that one out if you can.
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
The reason the pass completion rates are similar is because Blackburn (under Allardyce) prevent football from being played. When you play a side that prefers to kick the shit out of the opposing team rather than play football you’re going to end up with a scrappy match with similar statistics which reflect the nature of the match.
Also, how has Benitez ‘always been a moaning git’? He’s been a fairly laid-back and jovial manager or are you slating him because he dared to comment on Blackburn’s lack of finnesse under fat Sam?
Let’s not forget too that he was the one attacked by your Brummie eejit and Ferguson for nothing at all.
As for being as stylish as the Reds: dream on, kitten.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I used to like Rovers…
Then you went and hired that fat odious cunt Allardyce…
Now you’re playing like Wimbledon…
And you deserve everything that gets thrown your way…
Fat Sam is a big fucking hypocrite…he made an unfounded, unsubstantiated and incorrect attack on Rafa last year…and then fucking whinges when the shoes on the other foot…
He is scum of the highest order…
He has no talent, no tactics and no idea…his only gameplan is to get whatever bunch of thugs are playing for him to kick the shit out of the opposition and hope not too many of his thugs get sent off…
Your type of football deserves to be in League 2 with the rest of the talentless hackers…
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:47 am
You can use all the stats you like, Blackburn are a horrible, bruising side. In the past Blackburn players have broken the legs of Jamie Carragher and Milan Baros. They left half of our team in the treatment room at the weekend. Blackburn and Allardyce are a good match, they both like anti-football.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:39 am
Mish – Benitez is laid back and jovial?!?! Are you freaking kidding.
Rovers were more than a match for Liverpool on Sunday, if you are struggling with that then fair enough but don’t be a child…
Neither side were stylish at all, Rovers pass completion rate was as good as Liverpools because they matched Liverpool and made better use of the ball.
I was a mistake and a run of the green that gave Liverpool victory.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:57 am
I think that fans should always be careful of putting blind faith in their club’s manager and supporting him to the hilt.
I know a whole bunch of Man Ure fans who happily accept that sralex is a right tw@t, but they can forgive him that because he’s given them huge success.
Liverpool fans are still (just about) behind Benitez because he has given them some success. But even then, they often wince when he embarks on one of his rants.
Blackburn were a fantastic side to watch under Hughes, but Allardyce has runied them. And he has the temerity to start slagging off others despite this. He ruined Newcastle because he didn’t know what to do with a football playing team. God knows what would’ve happened to England had he been given the job. Just don’t back this guy. My (only) Blackburn-supporting friend can’t stand the man and what he’s done to the club. Get him out of the game quick. Just hope he doesn’t get into match analysis full time!!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:09 am
Liverpool have been playing this brand of football of football pretty much all season, with one excuse of another always being made as to why that is the only way to play football, whether it be against Stoke or against Arsenal.
Fat Sam is an obnoxious, dislikable man but his footballing philosophy doesn’t differ too far from Rafa
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:27 am
Well I guess i’ll throw my two cents in as everyone else has. I find it hilarious that people comment on Rovers being like Wimbledon when they’ve either watched us play only against their own team or the 30seconds (on a good day) on MOTD. Look at the fair play table and rovers are bottom half but nowhere near the worst. Yes we committed 25 fouls but not all of them should have been. Time and time again people assume we are a dirty because of BFS when in reality he is assembling a side which is very young and exciting – kalinic, nzonzi, hoilett, lingzani. BFS is buying young and talented it just takes sometime when you cant afford to spend more than £6m a season (and that was after selling RSC). While the fat waiter’s comments are quite funny he really should concern himself with looking upwards rather than down at a club nowhere near his in quality or resources. Well done Rafa you scraped a result against a team that Arsenal, Chelsea and Man U have knocked 6,5, and 4 against. He should be better than this but as he is having such a dire season he needs every victory both personal and for the team. COYB.
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:52 am
Mikey – Firstly, I’ve come on this opposing fans board and at least shown a modicum of respect by not calling people names and being obnoxious. If you had actually said something worthy of a debate I might have taken you up on it but to just call someone a fool shows that you’ve got nothing to back it up.
Benitez is a convivial man. He has a laugh with the press in the press conferences and doesn’t spit his dummy out over difficult questions and end up sending his 2ic out to talk after games. He has had a pop at certain people but they’re people who were very much asking for it. Ferguson and Allardyce have, throughout their careers, shouted, whinged, moaned and created over every little perceived slight.
They talk about other players and managers and for years they’ve been allowed to do so by people in the game seeing them as untouchable. Well, they ain’t! They’re a couple of griping old knobs who both need to be taken down a peg or two. When the likes of Benitez and Wenger stand up and speak their mind they’re met with collective gasps for daring to criticise. It’s bollocks.
fat Sam wouldn’t have got any criticism or needle from Benitez if he hadn’t taken the defeat last season personally and in his usual narcissistic way assumed that Benitez’s gestures were ‘aimed at him’. He opened his fat gob and now continues to do so at every opportunity. What an embarrassment to Rovers! Sure they’ve/you’ve always played a physical game to an extent but you’ve always been honest about it, now under than pilllock you’re looking more and more like Bolton (or any of the other clubs that prick has ruined).
Instead of slating Benitez, look at your own feeble minded manager. He talks a LOT but has NO tactical nous to back it up and YOU end up looking pricks because of it.
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:41 am
I like to receive comments on my posts and like to allow people the freedom to say pretty much what they want on here. But any personal attacks on myself, or other commenters, will be removed, as they have from some of the above comments.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:07 am
Roversreturn: Apologies for venting spleen but the comment by the person I was addressing was left to stand until I said something. Surely moderation should be universal?
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:22 am
Mish – Moderation is universal, but as I am at work (don’t tell them I’m on here …) I can’t monitor it constantly and only came across those comments at that time.
Honestly, I wouldn’t allow it to stand if I knew about it.
I may be (very) biased, but I appreciate comments from supporters of other sides and, when it comes to comments, I am not biased in favour of those from Rovers fans.
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