Gonzalez is the new...

[Harv]

Was that the same game in which Richard bloody Dunne gave him a 5 yard headstart down the wing, caught him, brushed him aside, and meandered away with the ball?

people seem to forget that before this Gonzalez had run full pace the length of the pitch. He was knackered by the time the ball got to him. Thats why Dunne caught him.

[Ryan]

people seem to forget that before this Gonzalez had run full pace the length of the pitch. He was knackered by the time the ball got to him. Thats why Dunne caught him.

Are you being serious?

He's what, 22/23? And he was tired cos he'd ran the whole way down the pitch?

This sounds promising.

'Sorry lads, I couldn't get that cross in there cos I was too fcuked from having to run 70 yards. That darn Tony Hibbert's robbbed me of it. You understand don't you?'

'Aye, no bother Gonzo lar. Take a wee rest there sure.'

[Bob]

people seem to forget that before this Gonzalez had run full pace the length of the pitch. He was knackered by the time the ball got to him. Thats why Dunne caught him.

Ryan's got the blinkers on - only time will tell

[Ryan]

Ryan's got the blinkers on - only time will tell

Surely you don't subscribe to that 'he-was-all-tired-from-having-to-run-down-the-pitch' theory too Rob?

I had you down for being a wee bit more 'advanced' than that...

[Rich]

I don't think Rob is refering to that one instance - but I don't care if Dunne beat him for pace on one occasion, as long as he skins him in the league - I'll be happy.

I still don't think we'll see the best of Gonzalez until next year anyway.

[MrMichael]

I think it is hard to judge anything from a pre-season friendly. I remember fans drooling over Cheyrou's first friendly appearances for us, and look what happened there. It is undoubted that many fans have built Gonzales up slightly farther than is fair on the lad, he's very young, only played 12 games last season due to injury, and wil take some considerable time to adjust to Premiership football I'd expect. But he didn't cost a lot, and in football that he is familiar with (ie la liga) he looked an outstanding prospect.

The most important thing in pre-season is to get players fit, and if he looked tired, all the better IMO

[Ryan]

I still don't think we'll see the best of Gonzalez until next year anyway.

Agreed.

[Harv]

Are you being serious?

He's what, 22/23? And he was tired cos he'd ran the whole way down the pitch?

This sounds promising.

'Sorry lads, I couldn't get that cross in there cos I was too fcuked from having to run 70 yards. That darn Tony Hibbert's robbbed me of it. You understand don't you?'

'Aye, no bother Gonzo lar. Take a wee rest there sure.'

have you ever played football Ryan?

i certainly have!, im talking about running FLAT OUT! im not talking about a gentle stroll down the pitch im talking about running as fast as you can. You make it sound like every player should be able to do it all game non stop.

How far do you expect someone to run flat out for before they begin to tire? 1km...2km?:whatever: Most would be ****ed after 200m, then try swinging in a decent cross when your legs feel like jelly....it all comes into perspective then. Add the fact that half a game had been played and....you get my point.

[Ryan]

have you ever played football Ryan?

i certainly have!, im talking about running FLAT OUT! im not talking about a gentle stroll down the pitch im talking about running as fast as you can. You make it sound like every player should be able to do it all game non stop.

How far do you expect someone to run flat out for before they begin to tire? 1km...2km?:whatever: Most would be ****ed after 200m, then try swinging in a decent cross when your legs feel like jelly....it all comes into perspective then. Add the fact that half a game had been played and....you get my point.

They're footballers.

They're expected to be able to run down a pitch without getting tired.

I can't quite believe you're arguing this.

[Rich]

I think Harveybirdman has a point, you can't expect a player to run flat out for the whole 90mins. (Unless you are called Sissoko)

Although I didn't see the incident in question, so for all I know Gonzalez is a lazy ass and couldn't be bothered!!!

[Bob]

Surely you don't subscribe to that 'he-was-all-tired-from-having-to-run-down-the-pitch' theory too Rob?

I had you down for being a wee bit more 'advanced' than that...

I play football, ok i'm probably not as fit as MG though if i run the length of the pitch it takes me a while to recover. All wingers are the same. They need time to recover as does any other athlete, particularly sprinters. Ever see 100m runners give interviews minutes after their run?

Furthermore, Dunne is actually quite quick. It's a common misconception due to his size that he is slow.

Ryan, i'm amazed you are so negative towards about a player's potential that has yet to play in one competitive game for us. In fact i find it ludicrous - you may be right, who knows - i just wish you'd give him some time. Post again on this topic around christmas.

I'm of the opinion Liverpool players deserve our support, none more so than in infancy of their LFC careers. While I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree in this instance i hope that if you go to any games this season you'll lend your support to the kid despite your opinions on his potential

[Harv]

They're footballers.

They're expected to be able to run down a pitch without getting tired.

I can't quite believe you're arguing this.

i cant believe your dumb enough to not see my point

NO ONE can run flat out for 90mins of a game. NOBODY!

its physically impossible.

No wonder your so unhappy with our players all the time....they cant run flat out for a full game. Is that why you think Harry is lazy

[Bob]

you made the same point

[MrMichael]

As I see it

The point: Ryan wasn't impressed with Gonzales performance in the friendly. By all accounts of the game he wasn't that impressive and at best looked like he was "trying to hard". Gonzales has been built up somewhat by LFC fans, and maybe unrealistically so

The other point: It was a pre-season friendly, its far too early to judge. And its a bit unfair to blame him for being tired; all footballers who aren't called Sissoko get tired, especially wingers in pre-season friendlies.

Both are valid, the problem is perhaps about the way the debate in this thread has unfolded? Agree to disagree?

[baronvonskidmark]

... Vladimir Smicer.

All hype, zero product (well apart from the copious amounts of it in his barnet).

Good feet, looks the part, lovely touch, 'amazing in training'... Gives the ball away 9 times outta ten.

He'll produce 10 woefully anonymous perfromances in a row and then knock one in the top corner in some meaningless Carling Cup tie, which will be sufficent for all those who've vehemently backed him to tell us all that "I told you he'll come good blah blah blah"

He's gonna frustrate the fcuk out of us all season, every season.

If Gonzalez had skinned 4 players every time he got the ball on Saturday, and scored a hatrick, then TBH I still would reserve judgement until he was in the 'real' first team playing competitive games. Same goes for if he played poorly.

How you can compare a player whose played 2 halves for us to one who played 6 years or so is beyond me. Perhaps we should just realise that he's a young lad, playing football for a new team - and not the first choice team either - in a new country, in a pre-season friendly. He's gonna take some time to settle in, it's only natural for a player in his position, but he's shown enough for Chile and Sociedad to suggest that he could make a very decent player.

Lest we forget, Henry couldn't hit a cow's ass with a banjo when he first joined Arsenal.