Kids leave benitez smiling......

[The Wolfman]

in the news section.

[Dan]

I got in trouble for something like this yesterday

[The Wolfman]

I got in trouble for something like this yesterday

how old was he/she?

[The Wolfman]

were you babysitting or opportunist ****?

[Dan]

for saying something like this I should say

[captainfog]

[DeeGame]

Kids leave Benitez smiling

November 01 2007

Liverpool's progress to the Carling Cup quarter-finals came with the added pleasure for boss Rafael Benitez of seeing that his kids are alright.

Defender Jack Hobbs and midfielder Nabil El Zhar were hugely instrumental in the defeat of brave Cardiff.

Hobbs, 19, made his full debut alongside the experienced Jamie Carragher, and coped well with Cardiff's veteran front pairing of Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

While El Zhar, French-born but of Moroccan background, struck a stunning 25-yarder to help send Liverpool on their way into the last eight.

For Hobbs there was glowing praise from Liverpool's own veteran defender Sami Hyypia, who watched his young protege underline his growing promise.

Hyypia said: "He is better than me when I was his age, and he is not slow to carry the ball out of defence, prehaps something I do not do these days.

"It was a great start for Jack, and hopefully he now has many more games to go in his career at Liverpool.

"He is still young and has lots to learn, but he is willing to learn every day. Sometimes he asks for advice and I am more than willing to give it.

"His strength is his height, and I can see a lot of myself in him. He has similar qualities that I have, and this is not a bad start for him. If he keeps improving he can be one for the future here at Liverpool. "

El Zhar, 21, was born in Ales, France, and has played for the French youth side and Morocco's Under 20s.

The former St. Etienne youngster said: "It was a big dream to score in front of the Kop and now I am living that dream. I don't know if I have scored a better one than that and I hope it is the first of many in a Liverpool shirt.

"I don't have the words to describe the feeling when I scored, it was simply amazing. It happened so quickly.

"You have to forget about the big names you are playing with and try to show people what you can do. I hope I did that.

"But I now have to try to keep at this level. I must get up in the morning, go to training and continue working hard. I scored but I have got more work to do to play in this team. I have to keep my feet on the ground. All I've done is score - I haven't done anything in this team yet."

Wednesday's Carling Cup tie was El Zhar's first senior start of the season, adding to the three appearances he had notched up since joining in October 2006.

With Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, fit-again Harry Kewell and Sebastian Leto battling it out for places on the wings, and with Jeremaine Pennant recovering from injury, El Zhar knows he may have to be patient for his next chance.

But he added: "I am better on the right wing because I'm right footed, but I also feel OK on the left and up front. I would play as a defender at the moment if it meant I played!

"I have to work hard and improve - and you can only improve when you play with the kind of players I did against Cardiff. I've just got to work hard for the reserves and try to prove to the boss that I'm ready to play some games this season. He (Benitez) said I will play some games if I work hard and prove what I can do."

http://www.itv-football.co.uk/story/...840979,00.html

[FT9]

I got in trouble for something like this yesterday

how old was he/she?

were you babysitting or opportunist ****?

PWNED

[Parm]

I dont know what it is about El Zahr, but I think he could be a real gem for us, am chuffed he got his first goal last night, the wing positions have not been nailed down by Pennant/Yossi/Kewell/Babel/Leto etc and I think with some more game time El Zahr should be given a go.

As for Hobbs, thought it was funny when Sami said "He is better than me when I was his age, and he is not slow to carry the ball out of defence, prehaps something I do not do these days. " Dont think I've ever seen Sami carry the ball out.
Good to see we have Agger and now possibly Hobbs as ball playing CB.