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Thursday, May 24, 2007
Well its over. I can't do anything. They can't do anything. But questions will be lingering above the heads of the referee and Rafael Benitez. Why couldn't Benitez bring Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch earlier? Why did the referee stop the game so many times for silly trivial fouls?
Aiya... I know I can't blame the referee... But then again... What's up with Benitez yesterday? Where was all his European tactics? The players gave their 100%. But some performances should be questioned, so these are my ratings of the players.:
25. Jose Reina (GK) - Couldn't do much with any of the goals... 7/10
3. Steve Finnan - Joined the attack well, but still steady... 6.5/10
23. Jamie Carragher - Had a steady game, but would have been better if he had cleared his lines just before the Andrea Pirlo freekick that lead to the goal, looked very tired too... 6/10
5. Daniel Agger - Could not do much for either goals too, managed to get the flick on for the Dirk Kuyt consolation goal... 6.5/10
6. John Arne Riise - Joined the attack well too, and should have had a better game... 6.5/10
16. Jermaine Pennant - Was playing quite well in the first half, but his crossing and contribution in the second half
sucked... 6/10
14. Xabi Alonso - Did not have the best of games, not attacking flair whatsoever... 5.5/10
20. Javier Mascherano - Liverpool's best player on the night... Was great at shackling Kaka and contributed with some fine tackles...
8/10
32. Boudewijn Zenden - Poor through out the game... 5/10
8. Steven Gerrard (C) - Tried hard to drive the team on, but equally towering performance... 7/10
18. Dirk Kuyt - Scored Liverpool's consolation goal, steady performance... 6.5/10
Substitutes (Used):
7. Harry Kewell - Was better than Zenden, but just... 6/10
15. Peter Crouch - More dangerous and tested Dida with a good shot... 6.5/10
2. Alvaro Aberloa - Didn't do much... 5.5/10
Manager Rafa Benitez - Extremely poor after a brilliant first half. Although his first half tactics were spot on, he screwed it big time in the second. Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch should have came on earlier to give more flair to the attacking line... Well... What has happened to Benitez's brilliant European mind?
I just wondered why Peter Crouch could not come on earlier, and that why didn't Craig Bellamy come on earlier too? The
oldies Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta would have been unable to cope with Bellamy's pace... And one last question for this lost final... 3 Minutes of extra time, one or two substitutes made, but only 2 minutes and 44 seconds played. What the
bloody hell was the referee doing? Check this
out. Why was a German referee picked? Doesn't FIFA know about the great rivalry between Germany and England? What about picking a Russian referee? A Dutch one? Or a Swedish one? Why German? Is it the best they've got?
The only ones that I think did well on the night were the Liverpool fans. AS ALWAYS, there always cheered their team on even when they trailed a goal and even another goal... They sang like they would if their team was winning, and as evidence against Benfica in the last 16 in last season's Champions League, when Liverpool were definitely out of the competition, the Liverpool fans still sang their hearts out, singing Liverpool's famous song "You'll Never Walk Alone...". I can bet you, you would never see another bunch of fans in the world. Expect Chelsea's fans to sing when the Blues are losing? I don't think so... They'll just be sulking their asses off... Great job Liverpool fans in Athens.
Disappointed at Rafa Benitez, the German referee and his decisions... But can't do anything about it...
Congrats AC Milan, you're the (un)deserving 2007 champions...
Just wait... We'll be back...
Bye~!
my thoughts at 2:40 pm