Liverpool 2 - 0 Newcastle
Michael Owen's return turned out to be a non-event really, from Newcastle's point of view. Liverpool were all over them from the first minute and completely dominated a game which could've been 5-0 if it wasn't for Given's superb goalkeeping, clearly their best player on the pitch. Gerrard with a thumping finish in the 14th minute and Anfield goal machine Peter Crouch with a headed effort that was fumbled by Given and just crossed the line.
Second half, and Bowyer brought Alonso down with an 'iffy' challenge, nothing career threatening, although Crouch must've seen something as he retaliated with a soft push that saw Bowyer take a tumble. Shearer, the cunt (yes he's a cunt) attacked Croucinho from behind and that was when Stevie Gerrard first jumped Shearer and then tried to strangle Bowyer while Carra was busy telling Shearer where to get off.
On another day, Gerrard and Croucinho would've both been sent off but here, only Crouch got a yellow. Bowyer was sent off though which made me feel a little sorry for him as his challenge didn't warrant a red, he got pushed, strangled and sent off for it.
I don't think his challenge justified the sending off, although the fact that he's a cunt probably did.
Here's the video: Gerrard and Carra make Shearer and Bowyer look like little girls
Oh and did I mention Owen? Not really, cuz there isn't much to be said about his return to Anfield except that he had plenty of time to stand and watch the side that he chose to leave in pursuit of glory, thrash his current team in style.
What must be going through his mind?
posted by Dirty Dan at 10:42 AM
7 Comments:
I'm kind of upset that Liverpool fans actually booed Michael Owen throughout the game. They have probably forgotten that in his years at Anfield, he probably carried the entire team on his shoulders in crucial games and his goals gave them the few cups they had in the 90s/early this century. without him, I think the Liverpool trophy cabinet would be barer and the few shining lights of hope they had wouldnt even be there. Definitely, the FA cup which he single-handed brought to anfield with his double over Wenger and his Arse.
Which is why even I, a Manchester United fan, feel dismay that the normally loyal and supportive Anfield fans actually turned on their golden boy who broke all the junior scoring records as well, and stayed with Liverpool throughout. He was comparable to the great Ian Rush in goal-scoring terms, and it would perhaps be wise to remember that his joining Real was a mutual decision and fairly amicable, unlike the Kewell vs Leeds saga.
I respected the Kop for their encouragement and courage whenever Liverpool needs them or when a old boy comes back to visit. However, a bit of that respect is now lost after what I witnessed. Maybe, just maybe, they are just as fickle as any other Chelski supporters, except that they shielded the truth well enough until yesterday. I'm seriously disappointed that they would stoop so low.
Owen was booed because he strung Liverpool out for the whole of the close season in 2004, before deciding he wanted to leave at the last minute, costing Liverpool a significant increase in transfer fee (similar, but not as bad as McManaman) as with more time they would've been able to generate more of an auction. Whether this was so he got a bigger signing on fee for Madrid is open to conjecture, however the feeling remains that it may have been.
Secondly he appeared to put his chances of appearing in the World Cup ahead of his desire to return to Liverpool, hence further doubt of his commitment to the club and further discontent by the fans. I would not boo him, however I think a warm welcome for the return of a former hero (as Henchoz received a couple of weeks ago) was way too much to ask.
I'm waiting for Biscan's return, he'd get a LEGENDARY welcome
Owen getting booed was definitely a disappointment. LFC fans are usually above all that. As for MO stringing out LFC is concerned I always believed he was just trying to give GH and LFC every last chance to prove they could win something with us. He's a footballer before his a fan (as are 99.9% of the players out there) so he was looking out for either a better chance at silverware or more money (something he realistically thought he'd get at Madrid).
Don't forget the whole thing blew up in the last week of the transfer deadline, he was originally going to stay (Rafa had convinced him of that - at least in the short term.) And if we had Owen, we wouldn't have had the same problems we had when we lost Cisse so early on. In fact we could well have had a far better start to the season that perhaps would have convinced Owen so sign a new contract after seeing Rafa at work.
As for putting the WC before LFC, it's more a case of putting the WC before Real. That's why he wanted to leave. He has always said that LFC was his first choice and Newcastle his second (something that he reiterated as a United player). However, the money was too much to justify buying him from LFC's point of view and Owen would have to practically play for free to make up the difference between what Newcastle and Liverpool were offering Madrid. I think he was desperate to come back, but again he freely admits that it would be wrong for Liverpool to have paid so much more for a player they had only sold just the year before.
He knows that he made a colossal mistake going to Madrid, and doesn't need reminding of it. He was and is an absolute legend and an LFC great. He deserved a rousing ovation and would have got it from me if I had been there.
BTW: I'm glad he didn't score and they lost. Just hoping that Newcastle get pulled down into the relegation zone by the end of the season. Owen on the cheap!!!
Just watched the video (won't get a chance to see the game/replay until tonight). Funny how Shearer had to jump just to push Crouch :D
As for why Bowyer got the red - it looked like Bowyer was pissed when he missed the first time Bowyer tackled him and then desperately went in two footed and got nowhere near the ball. I think to linesman relayed that to the ref, and that's why gave scum Bowyer a red and Crouch the obligitory yellow. (SG probably got saved a booking 'cause everyone was in it at that point.)
Nice to see SG giving some to Shearer too. :D
Shame on the real Scousers for booing Owen.
With regards to Owen playing out his last year I remember a certain Gerrard doing a similar thing until his move to Chelsea collapsed.
Regarding the result I have no complaints as we were played off the park by a very good Liverpool side. The issue I have is with that that scabby footballer, sorry, actor Alonso. Yes it was a late challenge, with no malice intended, but for him to roll around on the floor like he had been shot was nothing short of disgraceful. His pathetic behaviour resulted in the red card for Bowyer. Shame on him.
As for Shearer being a cunt. Forget that, he is a real man who plays football like it should be played like when men were men and all that. I reckon that there is'nt a player in the Liverpool side who is fit to lace the boots of our god in his prime. I guess most of you are too wet behind the ears and in the wrong country probably to remember how football used to played before the days of diving cheating foreigners and rule changes every other week.
I wonder if you would have said that about the likes of past Liverpool players like Tommy Smith, Graeme Souness etc who knew how to play football.
Shearer is a remnant from the days when you were allowed to tackle a player and it won't be long before his type is gone from the game as the rules have changed so much in recent years and then the game will be played in the modern day spirit. Which we all wanted did'nt we? Or did we?
If any of you have ever attended a match in England in recent years you will have realised that every fan loves their players to get stuck in and give their all. It's all most of us ask. I fear for football in my country.
Oh and all the best for the new year to you all. :)
I admire Shearer for his record but please spare me the 'manly' crap.
He may be a big bloke but he plays like a vicious little girl - all pointy elbows and cynical little fouls. Good to see Carra telling him where to get off as well. Did you see his challenge on Pongolle?
Against Grimsby he gets elbowed in the face and whinges for days but playing Everton days later he does the same to David Weir!
And who can forget when he kicked Neil Lennon in the head.
i agree, garcia was a cunt for that dive, and should have got booked. but its not like you can claim you've never had a player diving. at least it was harmless, solano prevented a goal
Not sure if it counts as recent but I've watched on average 15-20 games a season since I was 3, more than half of them at anfield. The only gaps have been when I was in Saudi and now since I've been in Dubai.
There is only one correct answer to all this:
You o not, i repeat you do not boo one of your star players... unless that is he goes to play for Everton, Man utd or Arsenal...which is not the case
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