I wasn't aiming at you or at anyone in particular- it's just the vitriol aimed at some of our players after a bad performance (or even a defeat at the hands of the European Champions, no less) makes me uncomfortable and less likely to spend much time on here. There are many things in the world far more deserving of our hatred than footballers. Most of the players mentioned have been worthy of a bit of stick one way or another, but the only thing that annoys me is a bad attitude. No-one can help the degree of talent they're blessed with, but there's no excuse for not making the effort. The one that irritates me most at the moment is GJ, we know he has/had the talent but his work rate seems so low and he doesn't appear to care. He was always guilty of being caught up the pitch, but his attacking qualities counter-balanced that. Now he just seems to run into a cul-de-sac all the time. What to say about Balotelli? His attitude is definitely suspect, but as he's only been with us for five minutes I'm willing to give him more time to bring it around. Glen's been poor for a long time now and is a lost cause imo, but I still hope that if one or two things go right for Balo he might cheer up a bit. I'm bewildered at the harshness of the criticism of Mignolet for not being the best in the world. Harry Kewell was a dick.
Hmmm interesting question. My least favourite player now is Glen Johnson for how poor he plays and continues to do the same **** week in week out, opposition full backs must love playing against Glen 'I'm not gonna cross, just cut in and shoot' Johnson. And to think he was one of the best full backs in the prem at one point. Now least favourite Liverpool player ever? I never liked Dirk Kuyt, for all his hard work he did in the pitch he ability was terrible and for me if we signed a proper winger we would of done so much better than him, but i never hated him or anything, just for me a poor footballer. But the player who was terrible and I never liked would go to probably Voronin, he was terrible.
I don't like Djimi Traore & Igor Biscan, just because of the fact they highlight the inconsistencies in our supporters opinions. Gerrard can give numerous years of fantastic service to the club but one bad spell of form and he's called all sorts on here. Traore and Biscan can give years of mediocre, hopeless service and are then treated as cult heroes.
I think the worship of Traore and Biscan is ironic, at least I hope it is. I agree with you about Gerrard, sad to see people turning on him.
If you think anyone on here genuinely rates Traore or Biscan then you are sadly mistaken. The clue is in the wording, they are cult heroes. They both helped us win a CL medal despite being amongst the worst players to pull on the shirt. Gerrard is a club legend and always will be. No one is above criticism but no one stands taller within our club than Steven Gerrard either. There is no room for sentiment in football!
Like Saint said the cult status of those two is an ironic joke. Traore was just so calamitous that it was funny more than anything and Biscan, that more of a 606 thing (the original 606) Gerrard, nobody is questioning his past, what he's done for the club or his connection to the club. When he does retire there is no doubt he will go down as a legend and one of the best to have ever played for the club. However people are right to question his current ability and form and the fact he is playing, and commanding a starting place, nearly every game despite being 34. The idea of fazing him out has been around for a while now and nothing seems to be happening there. After all in a couple of years its likely Gerrard wont be playing anymore.
Like Saint said I only "hate" poor attitude from someone paid to do a job, doesn't matter the amount paid compared to other jobs. I dislike the shopworker or bus driver with the "**** off" attitude to customers just as much as the footballer who doesn't want to kick a ball. So yes the kewels and Johnson's of the world. Others I've just sympathised with for being ****, the Adams or cissokos. After a while though my anger turns to the manager who keeps picking the morons simply because the club were stupid enough to give them long expensive contracts. I'd have more respect at benching 100k mistakes or players who's game has dropped away than filling the team with them and seeing points whittle away....... But Suarez I actually dislike, not so much for being so mercenary but for how he went about it. Hiding it behind mental instability gave naive numptys like Rodgers the hope they could reform him and then he'd love us and change his mind and we'd build a glorious team around him. It was a lie, we were a stepping stone. What irks me more is the speed at which desperate fans were just as quick to believe it, become his apologists each time he went "mental" and even for leaving! I kept hearing "but he always told us he'd leave for a Spanish club..." No! He kept signing big ****ing contracts which tells us he's bloody staying!!! now those fans are angry at everyone but Suarez for the quite obvious fact we are a poorer team without him. At the end of the day Suarez work ethic may have been great on the pitch (when on) but his actual real personality (that of a complete cock) has done far more damage to our teams near future prospects than a lazy Glen shuffling about for 90 minutes.....
On the Gerrard point, his years of service should give him the respect that avoids name calling but it does not make him immune to criticism of his current ability. He is Captain, a Liverpool hero, a man who purports to love the club. I think some people's reaction against him is maybe the feeling that he is hiding behind that reputation to get his guaranteed start when his current performance levels from any player not named Gerrard would see them dropped (well except maybe Johnson lol). If he was all for the good of the club he would not allow self interest to come first. If you answer that with "dont be silly, No one volunteers to stop doing their job, then You are arguing pragmatism which should then be allowed by the manager when dropping a substandard player rather than dropping a "Liverpool hero" It irks me when I hear Gerrard come out week after week post match, saying "poor performance" "must do better" when he knows full well he isn't going to and doesn't have to do better individually. In that circumstance it turns into basically criticising the rest of the team for not successfully covering his arse more. The guy getting the bye ball gets to slag off those who dont.
What you're going through with Gerrard, we went through with Giggs, twice. A few years back Giggs had a couple of very mediocre/stinker seasons yet was selected on a regular basis, albeit not as often as Gerrard. The fans got incredibly frustrated with him and the general consensus was that he was finished. Then he went and had a couple of very good seasons. The last couple of years were a bit of a joke to be honest as, apart from the occasional good performance, the game passed him by. You feel almost disloyal criticising one of your club's all time greats. Perhaps Gerrard is being picked for the same reason Giggs was ie no better alternatives which is the bigger issue!
"Perhaps Gerrard is being picked for the same reason Giggs was ie no better alternatives which is the bigger issue!" is an element of that, but he i also captain which is just a big issue as clubs don't like dropping their captains. Casillias(spelling?) got away with it for years with poor performances as he was captain as well. dont know why, but being captain seems to make you undroppable, well mostly it does, prob exceptions.
I disliked Bellamy before we got him- due to reputation... but he's the kind of person that the more you learn about him, the more you realise he's actually a very well-grounded and genuinely good individual. (with flaws)
