*Before* the FA Cup Final started, legendary defender Alan Hansen said “He [Gerrard] is probably the greatest player to ever wear the red of Liverpool … and I don’t say that lightly as I’ve played with Daglish”. I wonder if he’s changed his mind after the final whistle? Gary Linker said of Gerrard’s strike “I think we can just ignore the Goal of the Season compeition”. Here’s my bold prediction: When Gerrard lifts the Premiership trophy this time next year Daglish will come out and say that Stevie is the greatest player he’s ever seen and clarify “better than me”. A quick comment about the similarities with the Champions’ League Final. I had previously said Liverpool would lift the cup as we drew Chelsea in the semis rather than the final. The fact that we then went three unbelievably unlucky goals down (own goal of Jamie’s standing leg, spill by the keeper Reina and then incorrectly ruling Crouch’s volley out for offside) and fort back is quite major. The games ends 3-3 and the extra time is basically a walking battlefield. In the dying seconds the Liverpool keeper has to pull of a stunning save to keep them in the game: Dudek saved at point blank range from Schevchenko and Reina tipped it onto the post from Reo-Coker. Of course we then have two great performances by the keepers. I won’t make it to 30 if Liverpool keep going on like this!
In other related news in the interviews before the game Gerrard talked about our stiking situation. He said next year we’ll have “Robbie will be there and Crouchy and Fernado will chip in a few plus 25-30 from a new guy”. I think that confirms 100% Cisse is on his way. Also in the BBC studios Ian Wright was getting ribbed and teased by his co-presenters about his son, Shaun Wright-Phillips, moving to Liverpool. Not much of a giveaway but he finally conceded about Gerrard, “any father would want his son to play along side him”. Place your bets now, Liverpool as 2006-07 Premiership Champions, as the odds will shrink once we get a prolific hitman and a great right winger.
Premiership champions if/when you sign a prolific striker and a great right winger? Really? All of this on the day that Chelsea signed Ballack and Shevchenko is said to be 50-50 to sign for them also? It’s a bold prediction…
Which striker(s) and winger(s) do you have in mind? I think that Hasselbaink is available…
LOL! Maybe we could make a double swoop and sign Viduka too! Seriously, in answer to your second question, I think someone *like* SWP (or even Duff) for around £14m and then the same again for the porn star Dirk Kuyt or maybe Torres. I really hope he doesn’t go for Pennant or Benayoun, not convinced about Bent either! Rafa insists that the deals will be tied up before the world cup so that’s less waiting time to find out.
As for Chelsea, I think they are going to put in the same performance as last year, I see Ballack and Shevchenko freshening up their squad. He can’t play all them at the same time, I see Ballack as a way of resting Lampard or Essein.
Finally, has it stopped hurting yet? Who is going to take charge of your team … Sven?