Monsieur Houllier Est De Retour

Formidable!

It's not all up for Liverpool yet, bearing in mind they don't have to play any of the contenders after tonight. Chelsea will be tricky. Still not sure they ever returned to their early season consistency.

tres bien!

and about time with a new footie thread, I was considering doing this mysely. Liverpool vs Newcastle is crunchy for Liverpool, but not for the arse and Manyoo IMO. If the Reds lose tonight, I fear for our placing, if they win, it's a boost for the final run-in.

I wonder how much difference it will make. As I understand it he's been back at work, so to speak, for a while now and has certainly been acting as a manager to his players (e.g. advising Gerrard etc.). It's going to be similar to when Souness (shitehole that he is - I'm still bitter about the other weekend) went back to work. Maybe the presence on the touchline is important but it's still going to be Pinocchio who does the yelling and cajoling pitchside.

Very good news - although Phil Thompson did a great job (I honestly didn't think he had it in him and expected some kind of gaffe every week, but he handled it all admirably). In Liverpool's favour in the upcoming matches the defence is performing outstandingly, and can only get stronger with the return of Carragher and Huyton's second favourite Stevie. The problem that remains (despite the demolition of Leeds and Ipswich) is a lack of imagination going forward. Possibly this is a price of having such a strong defensive midfield, but relying on Gerrard's through-balls isn't really sufficient. Smicer, as much as I like him, has been pretty ineffective. I'm not sure Barmby is going to be much better. I can't be alone in wishing Litmanen would get a more regular start (or be allowed more than a cursory 10 minutes at the end of a game) - operating in a similar way alongside Owen as Bergkamp does with Henry. This seems like a pretty obvious idea so I'm not sure why they haven't tried it. I probably give Heskey more shrift than most people, but I don't see why he should start every game.

I think tonight will see a narrow Liverpool victory, but Arsenal can probably run away with the title now.

Et M. Le Renard des Pins aussi, apparament.

Je désire savoir plus au sujet de football.

He's good that Jacques Tati, isn't he?

I've been bending ears about Litmanen for ages now, the way he's being used is verging on the criminal, a man of his vision should be playing behind the front two (especially when one or both of themm has incredible pace - Owen and Anelka) pinging balls through the opposition backline in the way that only as skilled a player as him knows how.

Houllier has been "monitoring and advising" for a couple of months now but his reappearance on the touchline will be a bonus, there's only so much he can get over by phone or whatever, to have him there will be invaluable in the run-in.

Esperons-le.

I've been bending ears about Litmanen for ages now, the way he's being used is verging on the criminal, a man of his vision should be playing behind the front two (especially when one or both of themm has incredible pace - Owen and Anelka) pinging balls through the opposition backline in the way that only as skilled a player as him knows how.

Very true that's how we used him. We still want him back btw. ;) As for Houllier, an evil man who wants to turn footie into the most boring game possible. He should retire.

welcome back Omar!

I know you want him back, I heard talk of an approach but I'm not sure if it wasn't just speculation, especially as I think that if Ajax came in for him he'd probably demand a transfer.

You really don't like Uncle Gerard do you? He has done wonders for Liverpool so I can't agree, I know the playing style isn't always scintillating but it's a hundred times better and more effective than the sides that were running out in the mid-90s.

btw who have Ajax got on the weekend of the 12/13th of April?

Welcome back Omar! Half heard someone from Ajax on the telly this morning and AGAIN he pronounced Ajax "A-Jacks". The interviewer persisted in pronouncing it "I-Yaks". Which?

It seems that they want to always use 4 in midfield rather than 3+1, which is what you'd get with Litmanen behind the front 2. I guess the worry is that, assuming you play Gerrard and Hamman, you lose width. Or if they played say, Riise (left) and Smicer (right) you'd only have one berth for a tackler, and they're not comfortable with that.

You could argue that with Litmanen in the hole lots of the play is going to go thru him so you don't need Heskey to hold the ball up as much. He could then play right midfield pushing forward, and you could keep the two ball-winners and Riise. That leaves Owen with a lot of running to do, but the advantage is that you could be flexible and switch during the game, using Heskey in the other role when the long ball is the best option.

I wish we had *options* at Chelsea.

Oh dear, I just couldn't be arsed with responding to topics for the longest time, new computer and all. But I'm glad people actually miss me. :)

* Yeah I'm probably a bit tough on Houllier, he did turn LFC into a contender again which I grant is something of achievement. I just despise the sort of football he reinvented, even Inter Milan would be ashamed to play that cynical. ;)

I heard that Litmanen rumour too altohugh we have Litmanen rumours every single week it's becoming something of a running joke. 12/12 april is Sparta away I'm afraid. Stevo will be at that game no doubt.

* Tim, I-Yaks in English. AAII-Jahksss in Amsterdams. :)

I just have these beautiful reveries where Jari is unlocking defences with little dinks or balls on the floor and Owen and Anelka (or maybe, perchance to dream Kluivert) race each other to the ball to see who can be the cheekier when the knock it past the keeper ;-)

Sparta away, that's a shame, still it takes out the hassle of trying to get from Paris to Amsterdam and then back to London instead of a nice simple return ticket.

I saw that report, Tim. It was Ronald KOO-MAN who said A-JACKS. He was talking about the upcoming A-JACKS vs A-JACKS RESERVES cup final. Speaking of cup finals, I must say I enjoyed seeing Deportivo piss all over Real Madrid's fairworks last night.

I missed that, although they did show the first Depor goal in the hiatus before Liverpool vs Newcastle game. Jesus, Liverpool were good last night, attacking from the off, playing with some style, ahhhh, and looking even better when Jari came on!

I have to say though, Jermaine Jenas is looking like a superb buy.

Being a Merengue myself I was quite disappointed by yesterday's final, though I saw it coming when they organized it the way they did (final at homeground on the exact day of the centenial = pure trouble). After 1 minute of the game I knew it was going to be a tough game, the way Deportivo organized their midfield. Still, I don't feel to miserable since we were beat by a superior side, esp. the first half was an amazingly perfect team display, probably not witnessed since Lippi's Juventus used to drive opponents mad around 96-97. Tristan, Valeron, Mauro Silva, Sergio, Victor and Fran were all frustratingly untouchable. Also a lot of Real fans are wondering why Casillas didn't play, Reflex Boy is essential for these occasions and probably would have saved one of those goals. Anyway, it's a typical Real Madrid moment, they win big and lose big.

That was never a penalty. Paul Scholes should have been sent off for diving. I know Spurs would have probably lost anyway, but still it's a travesty. I hope Liverpool win the title, anything is better than Arsenal or Manchester Utd.

I didn't get home in time to see the manyoo/spurs highlights but Sky described it as 'hotly disputed'.

Casillas didn't play yesterday?? how come? was he injured or was Del Bosque being silly?

Well, tarrico brushed against scholes 4 feet outside the penalty area, scholes dived like an olympic swimmer and nearly landed on the penalty spot. The linesman gave a penalty, and Tarrico got sent off!

I'm very sorry to say this Jel, but I think Tarricco kind of deserved that (I know I haven't seen it) but I do think he's one of the dirtiest cheats in the Premiership, a horrible player and at least two Spurs fans of my acquaintance don't like him either (one of whom will probably post about this when he gets into work)

Well, yeah, he is kind of Spurs' Robbie Savage. But, I do think he was a bit unlucky this time. Maybe, it's a karma thing.

As far as I can gather, Casillas didn't play because the reserve keeper had played in all the previous rounds of the cup, so they let him play the final as well. Possibly silly, but I thought it was a rare and welcome display of decency. Poor old Casillas was going mad on the bench because he *knew* he would have stopped those goals (both went between the keeper's legs). Omar is OTM, the timing and location of the final just added to the pressure, and some of the players were certainly affected by it, I've never seen Raul get that angry before. Still, it serves them right, the mardy arsed bastards.

Did they both go through the keeper's legs, or have I been dreaming again?

Yeah they did. :( So much for decency. Still, how a national team with Tristan/Raul, Mendieta/Valeron/Helguera/Barajas and Casillas is going to fuck up at the World Cup is beyond me. It's the law though: Spain will get to the quarter-finals and then lose on penalties.

It bodes well for next week though doesn't it? God I hope Deportivo trounce Arse. As for Taricco, he is a little shit but it all sounds ridiculously harsh. I haven't seen it yet but all that I have read this morning supports this notion.

Omar, this year Spain will do well, mainly because I am tired of tipping them for great things only to see them do exactly what you say and lose in the quarter finals on penallties. So this year I'm predicting a first round exit for your boys.

Is Danny Murphy THE MAN for the big occasions or what?

The result came to me in a text and managed to make me smile on what was a dreadful night out at a crap club. Nice to notch up the 3 goals too, the defence is mean as George Graham these days.

Danny Murphy scored his first goal just as I was starting my usual rant about why he or Smicer should be on the pitch when Jari was on the bench.

Despite the goals I still think those two are the weak links in the team.

I have to admit though that Heskey playing out wide can work after last night's game, previously I'd not thought it a good idea at all.

Also good to have you back Omar, I need you to recommend albums so I buy them six months later and think "he was right". Felix Da Housecat and Green Velvet(I think) being two such examples.

No you're right Chris, Murphy has been quite "milky" for ages. He's not a fantastic player by any means. But he definitely does pop up on the big days. No it would be wrong to forgive all just cos of a few goals. Apparently he's been taking a lot of stick from the fans.

As for Smicer, I'm not sure he ever got going for us. Yeah it's quite sad to see Jari so under-used. they might as well never have bought him.

I have to mention the shocking state of affairs we got into last night, supposed to be meeting Jonnie after work to watch the footy I planted myself in the Castle in Farringdon, only to be told "no footie in here anymore" I ended up checking about 5 pubs, all of which weren't showing the footy. We ended up in the Betsey, not thinking they'd be showing it but there it was, only on a tv not a big screen but hey. Due to the delay we didn't miss any and also, the barman in there is one of the best I've run into in ages, friendly, willing to turn up the volume on the telly and brings the guinness over once it's settled. I may watch games in there again, it was that good, it did help that there were only about ten of us in there by the end of the match, all there just to watch it, lending it the air of a front room, only with beer pumps and pork scratchings, nice.

I like Danny Murphy a lot - he's Liverpool's Scholes I think. I saw him interviewed the other day and was pleasantly surprised at how articulate and thoughtful he seemed. Vladimir continues to be an enigma - he's never really hit a consistent seam of form for Liverpool, but whenever he plays for the Czech national team he seems to win man of the match awards. I think Liverpool have to play Litmanen vs Barcelona next week - it would be madness not to. It's a shame that Nicolas is cup-tied for the match, cos he seems to be on fire at the moment.

Danny Murphy is pretty underrated. I don't think he's the best player at Anfield or anything like that but he does run his socks off and has oodles of skill. I think there's something about him though that makes him unglamorous and therefore not as easily hero-worshipped. He somehow doesn't look as elegant as Gerrard or Hamman in the Liverpool team. He took his first goal with considerable aplomb last night and it was a quality finish, on the run with his wrong foot with very little to go for. Jenas is going to be an absolute thoroughbred within 3 years - Newcastle have got themselves a very good player there.

Tsk: Spain. The seductive prospect of Tristan actually been able to convert a chance or two... never happen. Once they reach Japan & Korea he'll discover an incredible instinct for shinning the ball far into the stands. I'm far, far, far too old to even begin to get my hopes up this time. Mendieta is bound to be rubbish as well. It's a horrible business.

c'est magnifique!

Gerard returns, Liverpool play in the style I've wanted them to play all season, Litmanen pulls the strings, Riise is sensational bombing down the left, Carragher fills in behind him admirably. Emile Heskey is the disruptive influence that he should be all the time, Sami and Stephane imperious. Jesus, I was soooo proud last night.

Fantastic. Litmanen must play more often. A win against Chelsea is vital, glimmer of hope here.

Stayed up to watch the Whole Match re-screened from 1am last night, with no idea of the result. Tyldesley and Pleat. Reading about naked teenagers in American cemeteries during duller passages of play.

Amazed when Heskey's goal went in. Fell asleep till Clive T's noise woke me up again minutes from the final whistle. Houllier and Thompson hugging at the end. Flames on the Kop.

Consider that very recently, Liverpool seemed to have NO CHANCE of getting to the QFs. Fantastic achievement, forceful performance, extraordinary turnaround, vs a very dangerous team. An occasion for Pool fans to be really proud.

Big congratulations to Liverpool's players, management and supporters (not least on ILx).

Houllier looks like he's going to drop dead any minute now. I don't really have a problem with that, but is this the right thing to do? I find it a bit morbid.

Ah AS Roma how did thy blow it? Not at Anfield which was predictable. Talk about wasting changes to qualify (giving away 2 points at Nou Camp in the last 5 minutes or so, pissing away a home game against Galatasaray). Such elegance (the skill, the kit, the hair)...all wasted.

At least LFC somehow deserved to qualify which can't be said for the mediocrity that is Barca these days.

Well let's hope Liverpool's path crosses Bayern or Deportivo.

Thanks Pf, last night was a beautiful thing.

Reading Guardian report just now on Houllier's unexpected return almost brought tears to my eyes. (Again, remember the strange fact that people wanted him OUT c.18 months ago.)

Pleat last night: 'Hyppia and Henchoz - they've been two colossuses, if that's the right phrase'.