Dalglish’s Pressers, Savage Making Sense, and Other Friday Notes

By: Ed | September 22nd, 2011

dalglish

Even when it’s only a few days, filling the time between matches is often one of the more difficult tasks to accomplish—there’s mostly just people talking, followed by other people talking, followed by us talking, and then there’s a bit more talking before things are polished off for around 100 minutes or so when the playing finally starts and the talking finally stops. Save for the rare abomination in which the actual match is more painful than the waiting, it’s sweet, sweet relief.

But we’ve still got 24 hours to wait, so we’re just going to keep talking:

* Those who do most of the talking, or at least have the largest audience, are the lovably bipolar members of the British press, who find time to lionize and demonize anyone and everyone in between purporting the latest hypothesis about why this is England’s year for real this time. It’s endearing stuff, trumped only by the experience of watching them with Kenny Dalglish. At least from a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, it’s great to see the boss in action, as he’s clearly not into the typical style of interacting.

It’s apparently rubbed some members of the media the wrong way, and Anfield Wrap contributor Rob Gutmann has a well-formed response to those who’ve had their feelings hurt by the Liverpool manager:

Kenny’s press conferences are, ironically, hugely entertaining to Liverpool fans. Watching him spikely spar with the media, telling them fuck all, whilst also taking the piss out of the eternally hapless, like Sky’s Vinnie O’Connor, is never anything less than compelling viewing/listening. If Kenny is prone to occasional rudeness and to putting down certain journalists it is because he (rightly) feels that they are insulting his intelligence by asking certain questions.

It is abundantly clear that he is not in the business of giving anything away that he feels may assist his opponents or damage his team, yet questioner after questioner, at any given Liverpool press conference, will attempt to outmanoeuvre him by making the same enquiry in a number of guises. It is relentless and predictable and Dalglish tires of it. Sorry Matt Hughes and others, but that’s just the way it is.

And I think that about settles it—there was bound to be some sort of push back against Dalglish’s press conference style, and now that it’s arrived, I think we can watch the foot-stamping of those who feel that they’re entitled to full disclosure or pats on the butt every time they note someone’s been playing well. That being said, I’m not so fond of the fact that he hasn’t returned any of my emails asking for the team sheets 48 hours ahead of time so I can start gaining some credibility with most of you assholes.

* Agreeing with someone you typically despise is an uncomfortable experience, so it’s with a certain amount of hesitation that I announce the head-nodding I engaged in while reading Robbie Savage’s latest effort in the Mirror. It’s not the most profound set of observations, but relative to his other work, it might be worth of a BPA nomination:

There should be bit-parts for Adam and Henderson, but also for Maxi, who is improving and shows hints that Liverpool could play the Barca way, with quck, short, mobile players drifting in between the lines. Leaving Carroll, Henderson and Adam on the bench doesn’t mean their Liverpool careers are over. It doesn’t mean Dalglish has wasted his money. I’d take at least one to come good. But it does mean that, for the first time in a long time, Liverpool have proper options. And that can only be a good thing as they start the long road back to the top.

The hope is that if it’s clear enough to Robbie Savage, it’s clear to those that matter when it comes to the team selection. One of the only mediating factors, however, is the timing—Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday might prove to be too much for Luis Suarez, Lucas, and Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard’s twenty minutes was encouraging but didn’t really announce a full return, and the full ninety for Maxi, Dirk Kuyt, and Craig Bellamy was marked by tireless running. But whether or not we get an eleven on Saturday that includes those names, it seems clear that for the immediate future, Liverpool would be best served having them involved on a more regular basis.

* It’s not a complete week in the world of Liverpool if there’s not a Fabio Aurelio fitness check, and, like clockwork, Kenny Dalglish has included the Brazilian in his weekly update. Nothing more concrete than “back in training,” which is just a shade above the report that we got on Glen Johnson, who’s in “light training.” We can likely expect neither at the weekend, and the only clarity we have is that Johnson re-injured himself against Stoke while Aurelio was just sort of…Aurelio. Further confirmation that it’s back to the training table for Daniel Agger, who’s out for around a month with one or two fractured ribs.

Back in a little bit with the preview for tomorrow’s home date with Wolves, but in the meantime, consider passing the time with a relaxing glide through lush mountain scenery:

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Team News

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mardia

Re: Kenny and the press, I personally get a huge kick out of the way that Dalglish trolls the media, and I think most LFC fans do as well. And part of that is because, well--I don't exactly trust the footballing media, at least not the British media. Frankly, I have a mental list in my head of which reporters/analysts aren't full of crap, and those are the ones I pay attention to.

Anyone besides me do this? For the record, my mental list of reporters that aren't totally full of it are: Sid Lowe, Tony Barrett, Tony Evans, Jen Chang, Grant Wahl, Graham Hunter. (Note, half of these guys don't even regularly report on Liverpool.) Special mention also goes out to David Conn, who did some excellent pieces on Hillsborough when the petition was going strong earlier this summer.
brother jon

...and sometimes when there's not enough to talk about then that clip works too. 'nuff respect! only question is if i'd need adult pampers or if i'd just keep it real and do like birds do, dudu. guess it depends on what i was flying over. (is that a purple nose or a urinal?)

prediction! (inaugural edition): andy sports new stream-lined mutton chops w goatee look, bags a brace, burps in Fabio's face, and kicks it into 3rd fucking gear already!
redtrev73

Evenin' all...

With Stevie not ready to start and Jonno and DAgger crocked, that's 3 starters (as I see it) not available from kick off. Adam, Carroll and Hendo, our 60 mill newbies, have earned a benching for a while based on performances (again, that's just me) so here's what I'd like to see vs Mick's mob in a 4-2-3-1;

Reina
Kelly Carra Coates Enrique
Lucas Spearo
Downing Suarez Bellers
Kuyt

However, Skrtel will probably get the nod ahead of Coates, Adam ahead of Wee Jay and Kenny will probably give Carroll another shot at the expense of Kuyt or Bellamy so what we're LIKELY to see is;

Reina
Kelly Carra Skrtel Enrique
Lucas Adam
Downing Suarez Bellers/Kuyt
Carroll

Hard to see a starting berth for Hendo after Stoke and Spurs...but then what do I know?
brother jon

i assume you have that front three (or atleast the wide guys) playing interchangeably - or do you really prefer Stanley Sensational on the right? i'm with you on coates over skirts. if the new guys get five or so games to show their stuff, i think we should find out about him sooner than later.
redtrev73

Oh yeah, two wide guys selected on the pre-supposition that they'll swop flanks throughout. I've said on here that I wish old Stewpot would stay left for 90 but that doesn't seem to be an option so far.
Suarez from the car park...

I reckon he might rest Suarez and bring him on later if necessary.
redtrev73

Could be Jonny, could be... Also just read the transcript of Kenny's presser today and he was talking about the fans and the importance of being objective and helping "the young ones"...is this a nod to another Hendo start?
Suarez from the car park...

Yeah, I reckon. Hendo and Downing for width with Bellamy or Kuyt up front with Carroll - probably Bellamy for his trickery.

But the big challenge is not to lose the midfield as per Spurs and Brighton 2nd half.

Gerrard to come on for 2nd half hopefully, last 30mins probably. But to replace who? Adam, Lucas or Hendo?

Lucas could do with a short game, Hendo likely to be replaced by Kuyt, but Adam plays more his position.
Red2death

It should be noted that Kenny doesn't take issue with all journos, only the dumb ones.

Kelly Cates is fine, evidently.
Seanster

And for a cheery Friday afternoon warmy glow feeling, here's tweet from Luis Suarez from earlier today:

RedNProud has news of simple but endearing tweet. There's a tweet from Luis Suarez that says:"I'm here to make the supporters happy. I'm Liverpool."
The little fuckers eyeing up a Chelsea move!
JPR

Kenny is setting a very bad example torturing these poor journos in front of the cameras and making them look like twats. Press conferences should be moved to the bootroom with notebooks only, old-style.
KC

Totally unrelated to this post but I needed somewhere to spout this out; what if Carroll is a reverse Samson. So instead of having long hair giving him power, its when he cuts his hair that all his power comes rushing to him. To be honest I just want him to cut off his hair.
Red2death

We could also observe that ponytailed footballers, if they were ever good, tend to go to shit all of a sudden and never recover.

The most famous of all would be Baggio, and then he fluffed a penalty and was never the same again.

David Seaman was a great ponytailed keeper until he inexplicably became shit and ended up as the joke of England.

At Anfield we had Andriy Voronin, spectacular in Germany and with Ukraine, suddenly shit once he moved to Liverpool. And also our favourite Greek defender, great for two seasons and then became the opposition's source for free penalties.

So, Mr Andy Carroll - superb for Newcastle, but now just a season later a shadow of his former self for Liverpool. Will he ever recover? I damn well hope so...
Suarez from the car park...

There has to be something more scientific than the pony tail to explain this.
Perhaps it's the change in hairdresser? Then we could just send him back to Geordie-land once a month to sort it out.
NotTooXabi

Nodding to Robbie Savage & impressed by Rob Guttman's 'well-formed response'?

Troubling. Someone pour Ed a drink.
Ed

It was, in fact, the drink that caused me to write those things. And "well-formed" was a bit sarcastic, since the title was "Fuck Off" and everything.
lfc80uk

It will be interesting to see what team and formation Kenny picks for the Wolves game. At the moment I have two formations that I think should outline Liverpool's main starting XI for this season;

                                                   Reina

                         Kelly       Carragher       Agger        Enrique

   Lucas   Gerrard

                               Kuyt                                    Downing

              Bellamy

                 Suarez

                                                    OR

                                                   Reina

                         Kelly       Carragher       Agger        Enrique

      Lucas   Gerrard

                               Bellamy                                Downing

              Suarez

                 Carroll

For me I don't think that the Lucas, Adam central partnership has worked this season because Adam is lazy defensively, doesn't track back and therefore leaving Lucas to get over run in the middle of the park. (See Spurs game, Stoke etc)

Henderson doesn't warrant a place in the starting lineup yet. May be for the future but not yet! I feel there are better and more experienced players that will do a better job for the team. He has been converted into a makeshift right winger, when he played more centrally for Sunderland. The likes of Bellamy and Kuyt are better suited because they work tirelessly for the team and put in their defensive duties.

I would also welcome Coates to the back line should Agger be injured (but that will never happen, so.....)

So I agree with Robbie Savage (wow never thought I would say that either Noel) regardless of whatever transfer fees were paid. Adam and Henderson do not warrant a place in the starting lineup.

As for the £35 million conundrum that is Andy Carroll. I see huge potential and I feel Carroll deserves a starting place more so than the previous two players mentioned. With the right service I feel he can be deadly. And hopefully if Carragher packs away his 9 iron by that I mean his big toe, and stop the hoofs... I feel Carroll can be integral to LFC's pass and move style of football.
Sue

I'd rather have a bone idle Adam playing, someone who can open up play and take dead ball situations, than a clueless clown like Lucas. Who despite all the huff and puff who creates almost nothing season after season, hardly gets near the ball going forward, and generally looks to play a negative ball all the time.

I've just found Carra's replacement!
Ed

Sue's back, let the Lucas-inspired wrist-slitting begin!
Red2death

No no, this is Lucas 2011 now, not the '08 version. He got upgraded.
redtrev73

Yesssss!!! The comforting negativity of Sue returns with a vengeance
PDubz18

I think having Adam back deep is much better than having Gerrard back deep. Gerrard should be in one of the out wide AM roles; that's where he's flourished before and that's where we need him the most.
Suarez from the car park...

Doesn't look like they want him tearing up and down wings with his his tender loins.

Reckon he's dead centre and might even have Lucas move forwards to support the attack.
redtrev73

How good is it watching journos squirm and fall over themselves with Kenny? The post-match interview on Sky after Brighton was classic. I'm paraphrasing here but the gist was;
Journo: "Weren't Brighton fantastic blah, blah?"Kenny: (distinctly unimpressed) "Why are we talking about Brighton after a Liverpool win?"Magic!!
brother jon

mornin' Trev, just a thought on that. i love that Kenny is/seems to be in control of situations. and i dig his wit - it's quite refreshing. but to me it says he's worried about protecting a fragile squad (club?) psyche. yes, that's partly his job, but a reply like "yeah, Brighton. great performance, especially in 2nd half. which is why my guys should feel good about creating so many chances. woodwork, bellamy/suarez pairing, etc. etc." - would do the same thing. i'm sure he got to that later on, but antagonizing journos doesn't seem like where we need to be most consistent.

that said, some people just having it coming to them. and that's important too.
redtrev73

Yeah, fair point Jon. I think he had the hump after a week of spurs and Carroll questions and when the tv hack opens with how fantastic the oppo were, The King just ain't havin' it. After years of watchin graceless bastards like ferguson and maureen-oh giving cranky pressers it's nice to revel in Kenny's righteous indignation. I think you're right and that he is protecting the squad...if only the previous incumbent had done the same instead of throwing his players under the bus, eh?
Latortillablanca

have u tried changing your email address in order to get a better response? who am i to judge, but sexyeddiesnips@xxxportal.com probably conveys slightly less professionalism than what the King's used to... ;)