Did anyone see a football tournament on telly back in June? You wouldn't think so to judge by the recent opinions of some of our supporters.
There was this big tournament in Japan and we could get to see who some of the best players in the world were, and so could the managers.
All the players that modest Mr. Ferguson liked were already his, and anyway the final's at Old Trafford this season, so he didn't bother to sign anyone. He was pleased to see Sally Forlan get a goal, even though he's still only seen her score on telly and in the reserves and friendlies.
That clever Mr. Wenger saw a Brazilian lad he liked, and made a call expecting to be told maybe £12 million. '£4m eh? You haven't got two more I could have, have you?' thinks he.
That nice Mr Kenwright saw some Chinese lads & saw a canny financial opportunity. His manager Chris Moyles wasn't all that thrilled, but never mind, these are world class players....
Prof. Houllier had already done his deals. Throughout May he'd been keeping one eye on negotiations with (and the attitude of) Nicolas Anelka & another eye on first Djibril Cisse of Auxerre and then El Hadji Diouf Of Lens.
Quietly, stealthily, cunningly, he used his dealings with Diouf to allow him also to line up the signature of fellow Senegal international, defensive midfielder Diao of Sédan .
But you know all this. Did you see the World Cup? How excited were you about Diouf when he destroyed the French defence? How excited about Diao when he scored THE team goal of the World Cup against Denmark, making a tackle in defence then popping up 80 yards away about 8 seconds later to finish the move? These boys had POWER and skill, but above all the work-rate and attitude was really impressive.
How can people be mentioning Diao in the same breath as the lumbering callow youth Biscan (there was one in a post below) , who has hardly played a full international ?
Don't you remember Diouf's brace of determined finishes just 9 games ago v. Southampton? What has happened since? A visit to his dying father perhaps? Is he allowed to have a couple of not-so-good games after that? Vieira & West ham's Cisse have shown us how deeply affected (& understandably distracted ) by the Senegal ferry tragedy the Senegalese players have been, too.
And meanwhile Salif Diao has got used to the English game in the reserves, plays a stop-gap role in defence in a couple of games, and then in 2 10-minute cameos show s us the World cup form again, and shows us his passion for Liverpool too. Sprinting into the area pointing to his head v. Spartak, this lad's going to be our Vieira but I can't remember Vieira scoring that kind of headed goal with that kind of determination. And we all saw the crucial part he played v. chelsea.
And don't call him "Rigo". So he's got dreads but he looks nothing like Rigo & plays nothing like Rigo - did you call Aldo "Rushie" (if you did Ok, because they really did look alike) ?
Within weeks these 2 lads will make you remember that they were amongst the outstanding players of that tournament back in June. I feel it like I have felt about no bunch of signings since 1987. These lads will explode onto the scene with their athleticism , skill and clear DETERMINATION TO WIN. Don't give me any stereotyped shit about the "wait till you see how they do in the British winter" either. It gets just as cold in Lens or Sédan. Vieira does OK in the winter. I think that myth has passed its sell-by date !
I'm taking my Senegal flag to Leeds (with a big Red Liverbird on it ), in hope. If not Leeds, then it'll be soon … haven't you seen it too ?
There was this big tournament in Japan and we could get to see who some of the best players in the world were, and so could the managers.
All the players that modest Mr. Ferguson liked were already his, and anyway the final's at Old Trafford this season, so he didn't bother to sign anyone. He was pleased to see Sally Forlan get a goal, even though he's still only seen her score on telly and in the reserves and friendlies.
That clever Mr. Wenger saw a Brazilian lad he liked, and made a call expecting to be told maybe £12 million. '£4m eh? You haven't got two more I could have, have you?' thinks he.
That nice Mr Kenwright saw some Chinese lads & saw a canny financial opportunity. His manager Chris Moyles wasn't all that thrilled, but never mind, these are world class players....
Prof. Houllier had already done his deals. Throughout May he'd been keeping one eye on negotiations with (and the attitude of) Nicolas Anelka & another eye on first Djibril Cisse of Auxerre and then El Hadji Diouf Of Lens.
Quietly, stealthily, cunningly, he used his dealings with Diouf to allow him also to line up the signature of fellow Senegal international, defensive midfielder Diao of Sédan .
But you know all this. Did you see the World Cup? How excited were you about Diouf when he destroyed the French defence? How excited about Diao when he scored THE team goal of the World Cup against Denmark, making a tackle in defence then popping up 80 yards away about 8 seconds later to finish the move? These boys had POWER and skill, but above all the work-rate and attitude was really impressive.
How can people be mentioning Diao in the same breath as the lumbering callow youth Biscan (there was one in a post below) , who has hardly played a full international ?
Don't you remember Diouf's brace of determined finishes just 9 games ago v. Southampton? What has happened since? A visit to his dying father perhaps? Is he allowed to have a couple of not-so-good games after that? Vieira & West ham's Cisse have shown us how deeply affected (& understandably distracted ) by the Senegal ferry tragedy the Senegalese players have been, too.
And meanwhile Salif Diao has got used to the English game in the reserves, plays a stop-gap role in defence in a couple of games, and then in 2 10-minute cameos show s us the World cup form again, and shows us his passion for Liverpool too. Sprinting into the area pointing to his head v. Spartak, this lad's going to be our Vieira but I can't remember Vieira scoring that kind of headed goal with that kind of determination. And we all saw the crucial part he played v. chelsea.
And don't call him "Rigo". So he's got dreads but he looks nothing like Rigo & plays nothing like Rigo - did you call Aldo "Rushie" (if you did Ok, because they really did look alike) ?
Within weeks these 2 lads will make you remember that they were amongst the outstanding players of that tournament back in June. I feel it like I have felt about no bunch of signings since 1987. These lads will explode onto the scene with their athleticism , skill and clear DETERMINATION TO WIN. Don't give me any stereotyped shit about the "wait till you see how they do in the British winter" either. It gets just as cold in Lens or Sédan. Vieira does OK in the winter. I think that myth has passed its sell-by date !
I'm taking my Senegal flag to Leeds (with a big Red Liverbird on it ), in hope. If not Leeds, then it'll be soon … haven't you seen it too ?