Friday, September 7, 2007
SINGAPOREPOOLS SHOULD PAYOUT TO PEOPLE WHO BET ON FIRST SCORER, FIRST TEAM TO SCORE, LAST SCORER AS WELL PTS 2-0N GIVE -112/2 BALL. Y?1.MATCH ABANDONED DUE TO WOODIES WALKOUT, NOT WEATHER, FIELD UNFIT TO PLAY..ITS ALL HUMAN ERROR AKA KELONG 2. THOSE WHO BET ON TAMPINES SHOULD GET THEIR WINNINGS AS THEY HAVE OREDI WON THE MATCH DUE TO WOODIES WALKOUT...ITS NOT THEIR FAULT OR PUNTER'S FAULT. 3. THOSE WHO BET ON WOODIES SHOULD NOT BE REFUNDED...ITS THE RISK THEY HAVE TO TAKE... TAMPINES PUNTERS SHOULD NOT BE PUNDISHED FOR THIS.. 4. SINGAPOREPOOLS SHOULD SET AN EXAMPLE...WALKING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MATCH IS A NO NO..LIKE THAT ANY TEAM WANTS KELONG ALSO CAN DO THAT IF RESULTS DO NOT GO IN THEIR FAVOUR....
Jingmian
@ 2:07 AM
Thursday, September 6, 2007
TOMKINS: WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE LAST SEASON?
Paul Tomkins 05 September 2007
Now is an easy time as a Liverpool fan to start getting carried away, and maybe that's dangerous. But if Reds can't enjoy this type of start to a season, they never will.After all, it's been a while. The league may be a marathon, not a sprint, but at least the Reds haven't started in concrete running shoes this time around. That can only bode well. It's hard to recall a better start in nearly two decades –– not just in terms of results, but the emphatic nature of the victories. The Reds are averaging about 20 shots a game at present, while Reina is a virtual spectator. Top of the league with a game in hand, having played less home matches than Arsenal (who have had three of their four games at the Emirates) and Manchester United, make for happy days. Those two teams have also yet to face another one of the 'big four', whereas Liverpool have already encountered Chelsea. The quality of opposition is now being questioned, but Liverpool have done enough to comfortably beat every team put in front of them –– home and away, in the league and in Europe –– and made them all look ordinary. And that includes Chelsea, who had luck on their side to escape Anfield with a draw. Not many visiting teams will win at Villa Park and the Stadium of Light. Indeed, Villa and Sunderland have won all their other home games, with Villa's two home wins including victory over Chelsea, and Sunderland's other home game a defeat of Spurs. I hinted at it last week, but I feel Benítez's men are wearing down the opposition, both physically and psychologically. There's a relentlessness about all aspects of the team's play. Torres and Kuyt, as strikers leading from the front, run defenders into the ground, and exhaust them mentally. They don't stop chasing back, but have the energy to be just as persistent and determined bursting forward. In midfield, everyone snaps in for the ball. Sissoko and Mascherano are like a pack of rabid hounds. Teams are closed down all over the park, and it's highly reminiscent of Rafa's Valencia at their best. But it needs a title to prove it. One of the players I'd most like to see win a Premiership medal is Sami Hyypia. When praising unsung heroes last week it never occurred to me to include the name of the great Finn. After all, he's received all the plaudits going. But these days perhaps that's his new role: the half-forgotten man. Last season, for the first time since he arrived in 1999 and reminded us what a proper centre-back was like, he was no longer a definite starter in the majority of matches. But news of his demise was greatly exaggerated. Both Agger and Hyypia started 23 games last season, although the Dane was playing more regularly in the second half of the campaign, so it looked like he'd nailed down the position (as much as anyone can.) However, Sami, with no pace to lose, has always had the chance to keep playing longer than those who rely on sprinting. Indeed, rather than end his Liverpool career, the arrival of Daniel Agger may help prolong it; as might the quality of the team as a whole, which protects the defence so well. Apparently a manager shouldn't rotate his defence, and yet when Benítez does so it doesn't seem to affect the continuity and organisation. So familiar and well-drilled are the individuals that they can seamlessly interchange. In six games, the Reds have conceded two goals, both penalties, one of which was a farcical decision. It's like the zonal marking debate which, tiresomely, trundles on. Clive Tyldesley continues to criticise it in his ITV commentaries, having failed to notice that a few set-piece goals conceded more than two years ago, when the system was bedding-in, are no longer relevant. Beside him, Jim Beglin stated "I don't like it", claiming that man-marking is what players feel more comfortable with. In his days at Liverpool that was possibly true; but back then the Reds hadn't spent three years tirelessly working on this particular kind of zonal marking system. Liverpool used what worked for them at the time, but people need to look at what is working now. Yes, Liverpool suffer the odd scare at set pieces, but very rarely concede from them. I like Jim Beglin as a summariser. And despite his United allegiances, Tyldesley was responsible for some seminal European Cup commentaries on the Reds for Radio City. Yet, when Hyypia was totally unmarked to head Liverpool's second, and then again moments later, as well as when Peter Crouch totally escaped his marker, there was talk of terrible marking ("how can you lose Hyypia/Crouch?") , but no mention of how useless man-marking as a system can be when the attacking team deploy any kind of clever movement at a set piece. (Poor man-marking also cost Chelsea the points at Villa Park on Sunday.) The season so far has confirmed that the Reds look capable of winning the title. Beyond that, it's tough to say what will actually transpire. What we don't yet know is how this team might deal with leading the league for a number of months, and the unique pressure it brings. Of course, it would be nice to find out. Then there is how the team handles the rest of the massive head-to-head games, particularly if they're in with a shout of the title, when the pressure grows really intense. A positive from the last three seasons is that Liverpool have played a number of these must-win games in the Champions League. As well as top foreign opposition, we've also seen the Reds succeed against other English teams. Chelsea have been beaten each season in such circumstances, while Manchester United have also succumbed in the FA Cup at Anfield. The pressure of the two recent Champions League finals, as well as the semi-finals against Chelsea, will stand the Reds in good stead in the big games in the title race. It's all good preparation. Of course, there's also the impact from all the injuries that may occur between now and May. Three broken bones and a punctured lung by late August hopefully means that plenty are now out of the way, but it doesn't necessarily work like that. But the squad suggests injuries can be dealt with. All the nonsense about Liverpool being a one- or two-man team have been blown out of the water with Gerrard and Carragher's absence. They are still the Reds' most important players in my eyes, but Liverpool now have a number of other 'go to' men, as well as the extra power gained from playing like a cohesive team. The playing style has evolved, but I don't think there's been a massive sea-change since last season. Most importantly, chances are now being taken, as well as defences stretched that bit more by the added presence of Torres, Voronin, Babel and, against Toulouse, Benayoun. I feel sorry for Crouch, but when you're 'rested' after a 4-0 win in which you scored, only for the next game to finish 6-0 with the new attacking players scoring four between them, you're not really in a position to question the decision. But he remains a great asset, and I'm sure he'll play a part in whatever success Liverpool have this season. It's just that the new players are adding hitherto absent dimensions. I never bought into the 'negativity' criticisms regarding the tactics last season; while the attacking play could have been improved upon (particularly in terms of pace), not taking a host of chances was the main shortcoming. I mean, are Manchester United, with a meagre three goals from five games, now a negative, defensive team? Of course not. So have Rafa's tactics changed that much? I'm not so sure. After all, Liverpool have just scored ten goals in four days with two ostensibly 'holding' midfielders (Sissoko and Mascherano, then Alonso alongside the Argentine). These are combinations that some critics said should not play together. Last week at Sunderland it was Sissoko scoring, this week Alonso with a brace. I argued last season that such a midfield didn't mean the Reds were negative; it's the same set-up as in the impressive 4-1 win against Arsenal in March. Sissoko, Mascherano and Alonso won't get into the box ahead of the strikers, but two have shown they can score from 20 yards (or more), while the other has also come close. And their strong defensive presence means two wingers from Pennant, Benayoun and Babel can play in tandem, and be given more licence to roam, as are Finnan and the ever-improving Arbeloa from full-back. However, when Gerrard plays centrally, Benítez tends to opt for the insurance policy of a more 'solid' option on one of the flanks, on account of his captain's desire to get forward. It maintains a nice balance. The last few games have also shown us what Ryan Babel has to offer. And while he obviously has a lot to learn at just 20, his quality is there for all to see. On Match of the Day, Alan Hansen was very critical of the Derby defending for the Dutchman's superb strike, but Chris Kamara did something interesting on Goals on Sunday: pausing the play on a wide-shot from a Main Stand camera at the exact moment Babel shaped to shoot. It looked 100% certain from his body shape that he was going to blast in a drive, and it made Babel's quick change of feet all the more remarkable. Somehow he readjusted, and slammed home a superb side-footed shot. He certainly generates some power with his instep, but it was a finish made all the sweeter for sending the keeper the wrong way. It was also an important goal in the context of the game. Getting the first goal, and then what will often prove the game-killing second, leads to relaxed players more able to take their chances. And confidence is brimming right now. But the difficulty will come on a day when nothing goes right, and luck is against the Reds. Of course, maybe we've already seen that with the Chelsea game. The worst thing now would be for the players to get carried away and think it's easy. But I just don't see those types at Anfield under Benítez, nor would he allow such attitudes to fester. He hasn't bought any slackers, and he's only really kept the winners from those he inherited. Some have criticised him for not going for virtuoso magicians in the transfer market, but the skilful players he has bought have a real team ethic and work-rate, and now we're seeing why he was so right to get this type of player. As a team, things are coming together very nicely. While it would be crazy to say Liverpool will definitely win the title based on six games, it's fair to say that the ability and the character appear present, both home and away. At this stage I'm sure we will all gladly settle for that, and take it game-by-game from here.
Jingmian
@ 8:15 PM
