morientes holds his head up but walks alone

[liverbird04]

Morientes holds head up high as he walks alone

By Oliver Kay

 

 

 

HIS former team-mates at Real Madrid keep telling him how much they envy him, but Fernando Morientes, it seems, is yet to be totally convinced.

Life at Anfield, the Spaniard maintains, is good. But, while Rafael Benítez and Xabi Alonso have immersed themselves into Liverpudlian culture, their compatriot has barely dipped his toe in ? a reflection, one might say, of his largely disappointing form since swapping Madrid for Merseyside.

 

 

 

Maybe it is because he was part of a great football institution in Madrid, maybe it is because he arrived in Liverpool seven months after Benítez, the manager, began his ?Rafa- lution?, maybe it is because he was on the sidelines, ineligible, when Alonso, Luis García and even the long-forgotten Josémi partied on the rostrum in Istanbul after that stunning Champions League triumph last May. Whatever the explanation, Morientes gives the impression of a man who, contrary to the club?s anthem, walks alone.

 

?I would love to say I can share the same sentiment towards this club as I did at Real Madrid,? the 30-year-old forward said, ?but I have to be realistic and say I?m never going to be able to share the same sentiment as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, who live and breathe this club.

 

?The same could be said of Michael Owen when he went to Real Madrid. I?m sure if he was honest, he would say he couldn?t share in the history of that club like I can. I don?t have Liverpool?s history in my head.?

 

Other overseas imports, though, have taken Liverpool to their hearts ? Sami Hyypia, Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise, Jerzy Dudek and, of the new breed, Alonso and García. Alonso even led Morientes through a rendition of You?ll Never Walk Alone at the end of the FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea last month.

 

But then Alonso?s bond with the supporters was strengthened by the journey to, and the events in, Istanbul, where he scored the equalising goal against AC Milan. Alonso has already written himself into Liverpool folklore whereas Morientes, with only 12 goals in 60 appearances for the club, remains an Anfield enigma.

 

?I?m just being realistic,? Morientes said. ?I?m a professional footballer. We always try to make the most of our own individual careers and at the same time try to make sure the club achieves great things as well.

 

?That doesn?t mean I don?t want to be a part of the club. I?m proud to wear the shirt of a club that I consider the biggest in England. But maybe the more finals you play in and the more trophies you win, the greater the affinity and affection you will have.?

 

A good job, then, that he has an opportunity to etch his name into Liverpool?s history tomorrow, when he is likely to start against West Ham United in the FA Cup Final. ?I think you?re right to say that you?ve not seen the real Morientes since I arrived here in Liverpool,? he said. ?I?m the first to be disappointed with my form.

 

?But Saturday provides a stage for me to announce myself and I have a real desire to take that chance. What better time than Saturday to go and do it? And then you will see the real Morientes.?

 

Perhaps not, given that he, along with Djibril Cissé, is likely to be open to offers this summer as Benítez looks to bring in a top-class centre forward, but Morientes does not expect tomorrow to be his farewell appearance for the club.

 

?You never know what is ahead in football, but I would like to finish my career here,? he said. ?If I was to leave this summer, maybe it would be on a low note as so far I have not achieved what I want to. But, as I intend to stay, maybe I will get to share the same sentiment that people are talking about.?

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2176651,00.html

[Maldini]

Strange article, I suppose we can expect a few of these coming up to Saturday.

[hagi_complex]

Morientes is a class player and I like the cut of his jib. It hasn't worked out for him as well as we'd wished but that's football. If he leaves, so be it - at £6.5m he was well worth the risk. Give us a goal on Saturday, Nando!

[Guest The Chunk]

I hope he stays, he's top class. Just hasn't worked out for him so far...

[Hassony]

I hope he stays, he's top class. Just hasn't worked out for him so far...

what makes you think that it will next season?

[Barnesy_10]

what makes you think that it will next season?

from what I have seen of him the last month he really seems to have improved a great deal.... I was very impressed in the cup semi where he closed the defence down and fought for the ball, and he is linking up well up front with Fowler and Crouch and is playing a bit deeper than he normally would recently which he seems to enjoy.. He will never guarantee us goals though.... but he is unpredictable, which I like and dislike about him. He has a good attitude though which Rafa must love..

[Guest The Chunk]

Was he a prolifc goalscorer at Madrid? I can't remember.

 

Maybe our expectations have been too high in terms of goals.

[Romario]

I haven't been wrong on forwards in a long long time on here and I reckon Moro will join Fowler and Crouch along with a fast top notch (not the poster) striker for next season. He's been gash in front of goal but he's a class player and I know Rafa knows this and will wait for it to shine through. Bar his lack of goals I think he's been wonderful at times for us in every other aspect and that counts for alot.

I'll be shocked if he goes.

 

P.S. He'll prob be gone in a week now......

[Guest fender_rhodes]

Top man. I have a sneaky feeling he might finally find his feet next season if he stays...

[Romario]

Was he a prolifc goalscorer at Madrid? I can't remember.

 

Maybe our expectations have been too high in terms of goals.

No he wasn't. He was far better in the air than he has been here though. I thought he alot stronger also than he's showen. Either he's unfit or the spanish league is full of lady boy CB's. Also I think his main roll is linking things up and he does that brilliantly at times. If Owen played off Moro he'd easily hit that 20 prem goal tally that always eluded him.

Hopefully we'll get someone like that in the summer.

[Maldini]

27 goals in 43 international games.

 

For Real: Games/Goals

 

2003-04 - 1 0

2002-03 - 27 6

2001-02 - 51 21

2000-01 - 32 10

1999-00 - 46 19

1998-99 - 38 25

1997-98 - 43 16

[Guest The Chunk]

The niggling injuries he's had haven't helped either.

 

No excuses though, he still needs to improve.

 

He needs to toughen up as well...get on the weights or something.

[Guest Lukan]

I can't help but remember Mori's spanish commentary of our EC final and how genuinely excited he was- although it wasn't difficult to be. He'd soon fall in love with the club like the others if he became a succesful regular but the chances of that are very slim. But at least he's being honest. I got morientes on the back of my shirt (bday prez when he first signed...) give me a reason to be proud to wear it Nando!

[Guest Red Flame]

He should go.

 

If his heart isn't really in the shirt then how could the magic be in his feet?

 

The article is a foolish one filled with whimsical sighs cast in the direction of Real Madrid. Face it, Nando, you aint going back there. So you have a choice, pull your finger out and play to your ability or look for another club that reminds you of Real Madrid.

[£440,000]

Someone here said to me today that Morientes is a different player in a Spain shirt than in any other.

[madaboutlfc]

the service has not been the best though.. Gonzalez will help deliver crosses but I think its already too late for him.. As for him not loving the club he is just being honest.. hes not a Liverpool fan and is in the later stages of his career..

[stressederic]

I'm not convinced that his sell on value will make it worthwhile to move Morientes on in the summer. I think much the same as with Crouch, if we can put an out and out striker alongside Morientes then we'll see his very best.

 

In fact as has been noted, over the last month his performances are greatly improved. I don't think it's any coincidence that in most of those games he's played alongside Fowler, who has started scoring regularly. How many of those goals have been set up by Morientes?

[redpool]

He should go.

 

If his heart isn't really in the shirt then how could the magic be in his feet?

 

The article is a foolish one filled with whimsical sighs cast in the direction of Real Madrid. Face it, Nando, you aint going back there. So you have a choice, pull your finger out and play to your ability or look for another club that reminds you of Real Madrid.

 

What he stated was the truth. Real Madrid is always going to be "his team" but he is a professional and wants to end his career at Liverpool. He must have a serious affection for this team or he would just head home and finish his career.

 

Now about his worth to this team, that may be debated.

[Guest Makaveli Smith]

I gotta say that I like the guy and for whatever reason he just hasnt been up to his own standard, but I would be delighted to see him bang in the winning goal(s) on saturday... his form is starting to improve lately, just hope he can do it... it's his last chance I feel.

 

come on Nando

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Watching the UEFA Cup Final it struck me that the delivery from Alves to Fabiano for the first goal is the kind service that Morientes would thrive upon. The thing is that we haven't been able to provide it for him in the time he has been with the club. Any headers that the forwards get in open play seem to be around 20 yards from goal.

[HeWonItFromBrock]

Watching the UEFA Cup Final it struck me that the delivery from Alves to Fabiano for the first goal is the kind service that Morientes would thrive upon. The thing is that we haven't been able to provide it for him in the time he has been with the club. Any headers that the forwards get in open play seem to be around 20 yards from goal.

 

Maybe Morientes isn't getting in the right positions. Seems like Crouch has missed a ton of headers in good positions this season.

[floyd the barber]

Watching the UEFA Cup Final it struck me that the delivery from Alves to Fabiano for the first goal is the kind service that Morientes would thrive upon. The thing is that we haven't been able to provide it for him in the time he has been with the club. Any headers that the forwards get in open play seem to be around 20 yards from goal.

 

steve finnan has been providing that kind of service all season, i can remember plenty of chances morientes should`ve stuck away.

[Rimbeux]

steve finnan has been providing that kind of service all season, i can remember plenty of chances morientes should`ve stuck away.

 

Aye, plenty

[Guest fender_rhodes]

Kewell's cross against Blackburn away, Fowler's pin point ball from the left in the 1st half against Arsenal home to name a couple of obvious ones.

 

The only one I seem to remember him attacking and connecting well was against Newcastle home, when Solano had to use his hand to keep it out. Apart from that, a lot of pretty bad misses for someone who is supposed to be one of the best around at heading the ball.

[Guest Kev]

I can't remember the last time I was so desperate for a particular player to succeed.

 

If we had only one forward struggling then I think Nando would get more support, but the fact is we have two (him and Cisse) and that's too much for the team to carry.