The Zenden thread

[stuartb]

So the answer was E) then?

FYI Stu I was being somewhat less than serious (as always) and gave a typically Rafaesque quote about possibilities, no? Don't take it personally, I only take the piss out of people I like...

NP - nothing personal implied mate

Still not sure what he did to offer us possibilities though but nm

[MrMichael]

I think it was quite simple tonight. With Aurelio, Kewell and Garcia injured, Arbeloa having to play on the right so Riise had to play at the back, the only options were Gonzales or Zenden. I'm really not sure that Gonzales would have played any better than Zenden did tonight, and might well have played considerably worse. I don't particularly rate the guy, but he's an easy scapegoat, as is Rafa for playing him, and he really didn't play that badly.

[stuartb]

sadly he's just not good enough despite his best efforts.

Summed it up perfectly mate

[Revo]

ive actually calmed down now and see some strength to where we can beat them. riise is gonna need to have a stormer of a game down the left because imo i think thats where they are the most vunerable.(essien or not) it was like chelsea almost dared us to beat them with zenden and he failed. obviously, the game plan was to have gerrard play the strong side of the chelsea defence and for us to try to beat them on the weak side. with just a bit more quality from zenden we could of snatched a draw, the back post was there for the taking too but i dont think gerrard stayed committed enough with a follow up run. on another day we would of hailed rafa as the master tactician again. cant wait for tuesday cos RAFA GOT IT RIGHT TODAY AND IT WAS THE PLAYERS WHO NEVER EXECUTED

[Bob]

Every time i see these bolo (bob) is a **** threads i get an inferiority complex.

I said to my table last night that Zenden was the worst player on the pitch by a country mile... he was, but he didn't do terribly.

[Guest]

Every time i see these bolo is a **** threads i get an inferiority complex.

Why, you look similar on a football pitch ?

[friedk]

It seems to be overlooked that Zenden was there by default. Aurelio, Kewell and Garcia who would all have been in front of him were injured. Finnan was always first choice at RB with Arbeloa on the left and Riise in front of him, but he too was injured.

We all know Gonzales is struggling in his first season here, so it was a choice between someone with minimal experience, suffering with his form and offering no protective cover on the left, or Zenden.

The other alternative would have been Gerrard on the left and Pennant on the right, but then everyone would have had a go at Rafa for that.

The team as a whole didn't perform, but to single out Zenden is ridiculous.

The only players who did themselves justice last night were Pepe, Carra and Xabi, with Stevie in patches.

The second half we controlled much of the game, but our attacking threat was non-existent last night. That's down to the players and unless they turn it around in the second leg, our European cup run is over.

[AFII]

It seems to be overlooked that Zenden was there by default. Aurelio, Kewell and Garcia who would all have been in front of him were injured. Finnan was always first choice at RB with Arbeloa on the left and Riise in front of him, but he too was injured.

We all know Gonzales is struggling in his first season here, so it was a choice between someone with minimal experience, suffering with his form and offering no protective cover on the left, or Zenden.

The other alternative would have been Gerrard on the left and Pennant on the right, but then everyone would have had a go at Rafa for that.

The team as a whole didn't perform, but to single out Zenden is ridiculous.

The only players who did themselves justice last night were Pepe, Carra and Xabi, with Stevie in patches.

The second half we controlled much of the game, but our attacking threat was non-existent last night. That's down to the players and unless they turn it around in the second leg, our European cup run is over.

Rafa will need to splash the cash in the summer. We don't have that many injuries but we are having problems because we don't have good enough backups.

Zenden isn't good enough but he had to play because he is better in defense than Gonzalez. Both our first choice right and left back was out injured.

He played ok but not anymore just as almost the rest of the team. You need world class performances in games like this and the only one who did that was Reina.

[cobain]

He was doing his best for us tonight, but that just ain't enough. He's not good enough for Liverpool. Period.

[Spionkop69]

Guys, its frustrating that we lost and lost in the fashion we lost ie no real bite or commitment BUT....

Its just too easy to get on Zenden's back. He at least was committed, he did go past Ferreira on several occasions, his crossing was indifferent, but considering the threat in the box was virtually non-existent would it have made a difference if it were good?

If we're singling out Zenden (and believe me, I was apoplectic that he was playing) then what about Riise? He was woeful, in fact worse then woeful. No commitment, no bite, no energy. Zenden at least gave 100%.

The fact that his 100% is not good enough for us is not his fault, its the fault of the person who picked him.

Sorry, its too easy to single him out, but plenty of our more gifted/talented players went missing last night and some of them lacked the drive and commitment - yes, that's you, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, and especially Riise and Bellamy. Those 5 players were not even close to the top of their game.

[Reece]

What annoyed me, and i'm not going to bother slating Zenden here, is that we had the majority of our play down that left hand side. Therefore Rafa should have bought someone who actually has pace and can beat a player, i.e. Gonzo or Pennant, but instead he kept that useless peice of **** zenden on.

Oops.

[Jack D Rips]

What annoyed me, and i'm not going to bother slating Zenden here, is that we had the majority of our play down that left hand side. Therefore Rafa should have bought someone who actually has pace and can beat a player, i.e. Gonzo or Pennant, but instead he kept that useless peice of **** zenden on.
Oops.

I'd hate to hear you when you do bother slating him

[Reece]

I'd hate to hear you when you do bother slating him

[saveferris]

I kind of agree with what Reece says. Our main area of attack was there and so it was clear to see what he did wasnt working. So leading to more frustration than with other players as they were not given as many chances to provide a telling contribution in attack.

all in all though Zenden did try a lot harder than some of the others esp in the first half, just didnt do anything with it. Gonzalez wouldnt have played though in this leg, mainly because his defensive qualities are not as good. Really makes me think the losses of Finnan and Aurelio counted here.

[Shaggy]

I can't believe there are people asking folk to "lay off Zenden". He tries hard? So ****ing what? That is an absolute minimum requirement and "trying hard" doesn't excuse another completely **** performance.

He had the run of their right-side all night and didn't produce one single piece of quality. Not one. It's just not good enough.

In tandem with the cumbersome and agricultural Riise, our left side was a ****ing black hole.