ECHO Comment: "Fears of Witch-hunt Against Liverpool FC"

[Jacob]

Zinedine Zidane believes Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is currently the best player in the world, eclipsing Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. The former France and Real Madrid midfielder saw Gerrard score twice against his old club in the Champions League during the week and said teams need players like Gerrard to be the "engine room" for the flair players to thrive, comparing the Liverpool captain to his former team-mate Claude Makelele.

"Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo but, yes, I think he just might be," Zidane said. "If you don't have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.

"When we were winning league titles and European Cups at Real, I always said Claude Makelele was our most important player. There is no way myself, [Luis] Figo or Raúl would have been able to do what we did without Claude and the same goes for Liverpool and Gerrard.

"He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that – players like him are just born with that presence."

Currently ? Hes not even a player anywhere now, is he. (Unless theres another facet to the Rangers situation ???)

 

[anton66]

Zinedine Zidane believes Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is currently the best player in the world, eclipsing Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. The former France and Real Madrid midfielder saw Gerrard score twice against his old club in the Champions League during the week and said teams need players like Gerrard to be the "engine room" for the flair players to thrive, comparing the Liverpool captain to his former team-mate Claude Makelele.

"Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo but, yes, I think he just might be," Zidane said. "If you don't have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.

"When we were winning league titles and European Cups at Real, I always said Claude Makelele was our most important player. There is no way myself, [Luis] Figo or Raúl would have been able to do what we did without Claude and the same goes for Liverpool and Gerrard.

"He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that – players like him are just born with that presence."

So, you're a Utd fan from India, who is obsessed with liverpool?

 

[stony]

That's a very good point that you make.
However, he's hardly likely to be labelled "Miscontrolly G" at any point in the near future I don't think.
I agree though, saying he slipped sort of lets him off the hook a bit doesn't it?
Still, if there's fellows on here who think he was a good as Zidane then who am I to argue.

*sigh

No problem with the name, just the rewriting of history that goes with it. Something LFC are very good at.

 

[bitter-no-better]

Roma need a ref like they had against Dundee utd in the 84 semi....

This ref tonight has done 3 of the RS games previous and they lost all 3. He also loves a yellow card. Gave 10 out in the Zenit/Celtic game a couple of months ago. Think they have 3 players on a yellow.

 

[RobC]

Yellow card don't count, only a red would mean missing the final.

 

[Gladystweet]

Yellow card don't count, only a red would mean missing the final.

Well we don't need to worry then, cos the bellends are getting knocked out tonight.


COME ON ROMA!!

 

[Khalekan]

Although I cannot see it happening, just the thought of them being 5-0 up in the tie and going out would be absolutely beautiful.
A feat to match Slippy G.

And then Spurs and Chelsea run them out of a CL spot lol


It would be like 2014, Slippy and Crystalbul revisited

 

[Wayno]

Remember how painful the slippy G season was? Utter torture for months and then the most unbelievable amazing climax.

It was like not having a wank for 12 months and ending it by smashing Kelly Brooke.

You have to go through the lows to enjoy the highs and when Roma / Madrid leather them and a load of their fans get herded into a Rome colosseum and made to fight lions live on Sky sports news , the high is going to be something else.

 

[Garymc2412]

Please Satan just pull the rug now.and say ya was only kidding with them.
Let Roma win 3 nil by the dodgiest way ever seen.
Cos I can stand another month of this if they get to the final.

 

[brigadier]

I hate the lie that has built up around the slip. Everyone seems to think he slipped which allowed Ba to score. It's bollocks, but it suits the rs and Gerrard for this myth to propagate.
The truth is he got complacent and miscontrolled a simple pass. Then he panicked and slipped trying to recover.
The slip has provided countless hours of amusement and will do for many years. I hope it haunts him forever.

dead right, the myth that it was bad luck and not lack of ability.

 

[davek]

There's something embarrassing about the Liverpool fan stories knocking about today. All the ultra stuff we've been seeing in the last two rounds with their supporters, and now the ones who've gone over to Rome are demanding protection or having protection demanded for them.

Yes, I know they might not be one and the same people, but there's something comic about it all. I think the idiom is 'if you cant stand the heat'......

 

[Khalekan]

There's something embarrassing about the Liverpool fan stories knocking about today. All the ultra stuff we've been seeing in the last two rounds with their supporters, and now the ones who've gone over to Rome are demanding protection or having protection demanded for them.

Yes, I know they might not be one and the same people, but there's something comic about it all. I think the idiom is 'if you cant stand the heat'......

This is the problem though, innit

One the one hand it is pathetic how they are cowering and begging Plod to help them after the way they disgraced themselves at the last two home games.

Hard man Ultras indeed

But on the other hand I have two nephews away over and we are concerned about them

I am sure others on there have family members or friends in Rome right now.

 

[ToffeeDan]

Quite liking that old Style Council song... Now if we could get a cringy Irish non comedian to sing "(We're gonna) sh** on the Kop doo doo doo" we will be in business

(Shout to the Top) btw

 

[Harryflashman]

This is the problem though, innit

One the one hand it is pathetic how they are cowering and begging Plod to help them after the way they disgraced themselves at the last two home games.

Hard man Ultras indeed

But on the other hand I have two nephews away over and we are concerned about them

I am sure others on there have family members or friends in Rome right now.

Exactly right

 

[FC sexy xxx]

There's something embarrassing about the Liverpool fan stories knocking about today. All the ultra stuff we've been seeing in the last two rounds with their supporters, and now the ones who've gone over to Rome are demanding protection or having protection demanded for them.

Yes, I know they might not be one and the same people, but there's something comic about it all. I think the idiom is 'if you cant stand the heat'......

its nothing new for them

Fiorentina 2008 away for Everton
= warnings of us bringing hundreds of hooligans to wreck the place and panic in there media . Resulting in an alcohol ban in Florence and pubs closed who ignored it with heavy handed policing.

No trouble of great note happening besides what the police caused.


Fiorentina v Liverpool a year or 2 later
= the city of Florence laid out the red carpet and hospitality ( big media story over here) and the plastic sheeting on the away end being removed for this one game .