Momo and Stevie G

[Chili Palmer]

Have we seen this combination in the centre of the park? As much as I love Xabi, and providing we get a right midfielder, would this combo work out better in the premiership?

[CaptainXabi]

Have we seen this combination in the centre of the park? As much as I love Xabi, and providing we get a right midfielder, would this combo work out better in the premiership?

No, we haven't seen it. However, unless either Momo or Gerrard or both learn not to run all over the place, we'll have a gaping hole in central midfield.

[Stevie H]

never, ever diss the xabi.

[CarraLegend]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...060316-1440.htm

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Momo cant pass the ball yet so no. As good as Momo is, he is very raw and his best work comes off the ball, on it he is very 'uncertain'

[Benitez]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...060316-1440.htm

 

just watched that Momo's back!

[CarraLegend]

Momo cant pass the ball yet so no.

 

This myth does my head in, yes he gives the ball away at times but he also does a lot of quality passes including a few good long range passes.

[CaptainXabi]

This myth does my head in, yes he gives the ball away at times but he also does a lot of quality passes including a few good long range passes.

I agree. I'd say his misplaced passes are due to lack of composure rather than a fundamental skill problem. In some of the more recent games he's calmed down considerably when on the ball and all has been well. He'll soon get to the point where he plays that way consistently.

[Mike]

great to see that

[CarraLegend]

Be brilliant if he could play in the Derby although not sure if he'll be ready for that sort of match. Hopefully though.

[Barnesy_10]

he walked past the paddock last night on the way to the tunnel... he seemed perfectly fine to me... though one girl next to me had been waiting ages for someone to come by to get their autograph, and when Momo eventually did he went to sign the piece of paper and the pen didn't work!!

[Reggie]

just watched that Momo's back!

 

The camera spends more time on Robbie than poor Momo.

[Ombudsam]

It would be fun to watch that midfield but I'm not sure that positionally it's the best. stevie is an attacking player and momo isn't a hamann type, his success is that he can win the ball anywhere on the back thus keeping the pressure up. Besides all that Alonso is boss, why drop him.

[Guest Sabre]

That was an excellent vid. Robbie was having a great time! Loved that bit with him and Harry doing a jig and dive!

 

Momo looked like he was fighting fit!

[Guz]

I think both players need to learn to use the ball better (Momo more than Stevie though) before it can be seen as a long term option. I know Stevie has improved and made his running more "intellegent" as Rafa puts it up but both players can go a bit crazy at times, potential is there.

[JGL]

I can't see Stevie in that vid, injured?

 

Also, Pako's pants is brilliant.

Edited March 16, 2006 by Mersey

[David Hodgson]

I'm just so happy to see him back. The season finsihed for me the night his sight was put in jeopardy. I don't like people getting all sanctimonious about the odd broken leg, but the prospect of a man going blind playing football was just really upsetting.

 

If Momo's back, the season re-starts here.

[RedMarauder]

I'm just so happy to see him back. The season finsihed for me the night his sight was put in jeopardy. I don't like people getting all sanctimonious about the odd broken leg, but the prospect of a man going blind playing football was just really upsetting.

 

If Momo's back, the season re-starts here.

 

 

 

This could be your lucky day

[R A Softlad]

Hurrah!!!

 

 

Sissoko back from injury as Liverpool play under protest

 

Dominic Fifield

Tuesday March 21, 2006

 

Mohamed Sissoko could make a return to Liverpool's first team tonight wearing protective glasses after recovering from the eye injury that had initially threatened to end his career. The Mali international has been training in the glasses for a fortnight and has been included in the squad for the FA Cup quarter-final away to Birmingham City with Liverpool still aggrieved that they have been forced to play the tie only a little more than 48 hours after they won at Newcastle in the Premiership.

 

Squad resources have been stretched sufficiently for Rafael Benítez to consider Sissoko, having explored various means of protecting the left eye damaged at Benfica four weeks ago. Sissoko was accidentally kicked by the Portuguese side's midfielder Beto in the 1-0 Champions League defeat and, after losing his sight, spent a night in hospital in Lisbon before consulting a London specialist, who confirmed the retina had been seriously damaged.

 

There were concerns that there could be permanent damage or, at best, his vision might be seriously impaired. However, once the swelling had receded, his recovery has been hugely encouraging. The 20-year-old returned to training a fortnight ago and, having experimented with eyewear, could feature at St Andrew's.

 

"I don't know if Momo will play," said Benítez, "but we have been trying different types of glasses to protect the eye and we will have to see."

 

Sissoko is expected to start on the bench but Liverpool's may well call on his energy at some point, with Benítez critical of the Football Association's scheduling of the tie. While television dictated the Newcastle match should take place on Sunday, the FA and Sven-Goran Eriksson's desire to have a fourth week of preparation before the World Cup finals has seen the FA Cup quarter-finals crammed into midweek, though Benítez warns that the decision could backfire should the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher be injured at Birmingham.

 

"If you lose two or three players during the season, how can that help England?" he said. "We will see if it is counter-productive, but I know you will not see the best of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher if they're forced to play twice in three days. All the English players, if they play two games in three days, will be more at risk and will have more problems."

 

Benítez and his squad flew back from Tyneside on Sunday, arriving on Merseyside at around 5.30pm with the manager's preparations for the FA Cup tie restricted to watching a video yesterday of Birmingham's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. His players trained for two hours last night before their coach journey south.

 

"I've had to prepare for both our games at the same time," Benítez said. "That's my problem because the players have to know what to do. I don't want to use excuses before the game, but Birmingham will have one more day [to prepare]. We are going there to win and I think we can, but the situation is not the best. The people who decide these things must realise that it is impossible for players to play at their best if they have to play twice in three days at this level."

 

Birmingham City (4-5-1, probable): Maik Taylor; Melchiot, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Clapham; Pennant, Johnson, Kilkenny, Clemence, Lazaridis; Forssell.

 

Liverpool (4-4-2, possible): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Luis García, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell; Morientes, Fowler.

 

Referee R Styles.

 

TV: Sky Sports 1, kick-off 7.45pm

 

The Grauniad

Edited March 21, 2006 by R A Softlad

[shanks59]

I think Alonso is a great player but he's a passive one at times. Momo changes games with his tackles and strenght. For me Sissoko should always be in the team.

The stray pass thing is a***. Usually whe he passes it it's after winning an 80/20 against him against 3 players and he passes it when on the ground with savage punching him in the balls.

 

Other myths...

 

Baros runs with his head down ALWAYS.. just look at Villa now...

Sami is finished since 2002

Kewell is s***

Finnan should be sold

Riise is crap as a LB

Cisse is Carnage

blah blah blah.

 

Probably Rafas best signing yet IMHO

 

 

Riise is CRAP to ORDINARY at left back

 

 

Hurrah!!!

Sissoko back from injury as Liverpool play under protest

 

Dominic Fifield

Tuesday March 21, 2006

 

Mohamed Sissoko could make a return to Liverpool's first team tonight wearing protective glasses after recovering from the eye injury that had initially threatened to end his career. The Mali international has been training in the glasses for a fortnight and has been included in the squad for the FA Cup quarter-final away to Birmingham City with Liverpool still aggrieved that they have been forced to play the tie only a little more than 48 hours after they won at Newcastle in the Premiership.

 

Squad resources have been stretched sufficiently for Rafael Benítez to consider Sissoko, having explored various means of protecting the left eye damaged at Benfica four weeks ago. Sissoko was accidentally kicked by the Portuguese side's midfielder Beto in the 1-0 Champions League defeat and, after losing his sight, spent a night in hospital in Lisbon before consulting a London specialist, who confirmed the retina had been seriously damaged.

 

There were concerns that there could be permanent damage or, at best, his vision might be seriously impaired. However, once the swelling had receded, his recovery has been hugely encouraging. The 20-year-old returned to training a fortnight ago and, having experimented with eyewear, could feature at St Andrew's.

 

"I don't know if Momo will play," said Benítez, "but we have been trying different types of glasses to protect the eye and we will have to see."

 

Sissoko is expected to start on the bench but Liverpool's may well call on his energy at some point, with Benítez critical of the Football Association's scheduling of the tie. While television dictated the Newcastle match should take place on Sunday, the FA and Sven-Goran Eriksson's desire to have a fourth week of preparation before the World Cup finals has seen the FA Cup quarter-finals crammed into midweek, though Benítez warns that the decision could backfire should the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher be injured at Birmingham.

 

"If you lose two or three players during the season, how can that help England?" he said. "We will see if it is counter-productive, but I know you will not see the best of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher if they're forced to play twice in three days. All the English players, if they play two games in three days, will be more at risk and will have more problems."

 

Benítez and his squad flew back from Tyneside on Sunday, arriving on Merseyside at around 5.30pm with the manager's preparations for the FA Cup tie restricted to watching a video yesterday of Birmingham's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. His players trained for two hours last night before their coach journey south.

 

"I've had to prepare for both our games at the same time," Benítez said. "That's my problem because the players have to know what to do. I don't want to use excuses before the game, but Birmingham will have one more day [to prepare]. We are going there to win and I think we can, but the situation is not the best. The people who decide these things must realise that it is impossible for players to play at their best if they have to play twice in three days at this level."

 

Birmingham City (4-5-1, probable): Maik Taylor; Melchiot, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Clapham; Pennant, Johnson, Kilkenny, Clemence, Lazaridis; Forssell.

 

Liverpool (4-4-2, possible): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Luis García, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell; Morientes, Fowler.

 

Referee R Styles.

 

TV: Sky Sports 1, kick-off 7.45pm

 

The Grauniad

 

Fifield gets it wrong, again .. Fowler cuptied