Liverpool left deflated by Sunderland's beach-ball winner

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 01:31

  Originally posted by Medicated Oil:

  The beach ball deflected the soccer ball to the left of Reina.

  Even without the beach ball, sunderland was bombing Liverpool goal mouth.

  Liverpool fans will be furious with Ah Ben when he lose to Lyon at Anfield next week.

  Ah Ben biggest nemesis = himself.

  
  You want to know a big surprise... Rafa will make-up for this lost and win Lyon then everything would be forgotten again...

• fudgester

  18 Oct 09, 01:31

  If the beach ball (it's confirmed to be a beach ball, not a balloon) could deflect the soccer ball, it just goes to show that Bent's shot had pretty low momentum and might actually have been saveable.

  But I can say that the kid can't really be blamed for his enthusiasm, and besides, Reina or his defenders should have kicked it away as soon as possible.

  In the end, Bent was given too much space to maneuver, and that was what that really caused the goal. The defenders should have harassed him and shut him down, but they failed to do so.

• Rooney9

  18 Oct 09, 01:38

  Liverpool is in serious trouble not qualifying for the CL. as for winning the title, can forget about it.

• Y_Shun

  18 Oct 09, 01:40

  walan is that really the goal ? funny sia!

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 01:46

  It was a weird goal i must say... Johnson was grabbing his own 2 balls and kicking the other 2 balls at the same time... lol

  Johnson seem to have cleared the beach ball while missing the actual match ball... and it got deflected at that split second and instead of going to Reina's right, it then went to Reina's left...

   

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

   

  Another weird thing I thought was Reina continue and kept his eyes on the wrong ball while the actual match ball was going pass him and into the net...

  So many strange incidents that led to one crazy goal...

   

• Y_Shun

  18 Oct 09, 01:52

  hannor. why reina keep his eyes on the red ball instead of the WHITE one?

• charleslee

  18 Oct 09, 01:52

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  Liverpool won't go bankrupt even if they don't qualify for the CL cos they are a big club with lots of potential marketing wise, so there will always be someone interested to invest in them...

  however, who's willing to meet the 2 americans' asking price and at the same time clear the debts that these 2 jokers incurred n carry the expectation of being seen as a saviour?

• United4Life

  18 Oct 09, 01:54

  anyone know how long gerrard and torres gonna be out for?

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 02:05

  POOL LOSE AGAIN

  Has Pool's Title Charge Been Ended By Stray Beach Ball?

  
  

   

   

   

  Liverpool's title challenge looks in serious trouble after they lost their fourth game of the season, going down 1-0 to Sunderland in bizarre circumstances.

  Darren Bent was credited with the only goal at the Stadium of Light, but the ball took a wicked deflection off a beach ball - which appeared to have been thrown onto the pitch by a Liverpool fan - and deceived Pepe Reina.

  As the football struck the beach ball and veered to Reina's left, the Spanish keeper appeared to react to and follow the beach ball, who dived the wrong way as the ball flew into the net.

   

  

   

   

  Liverpool were furious and protested to referee Mike Jones and his assistant but any claims fell on deaf ears. The Reds were furious, and it could have got worse as Lorik Cana met Reid's corner with a firm header but he missed the target.

  Rafa Benitez - without both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres - experimented with a 3-5-2 formation, but the visitors put in a disjointed and rather disorganised performance.

  The match will also be remembered for a touchline flare-up between Benitez and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.

  Bruce and Benitez became involved in a furious row on the sidelines as the injured Jones was treated on the pitch. But the fourth official eventually separated the pair as tensions grew.

   

  Benitez made a number of switches as the match went on but his side could not muster the equaliser they desperately wanted.

   

   

   

  Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Turner, Ferdinand, McCartney (Henderson 46), Malbranque, Cana, Cattermole (Zenden 58), Reid, Bent, Jones (Campbell 66). Subs Not Used: Fulop, Nosworthy, Da Silva, Healy. Booked: Cana, Reid. Goals: Bent 5.

   

  Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel (Voronin 72), Carragher, Babel (Ngog 81), Lucas, Aurelio, Spearing (Mascherano 72), Benayoun, Kuyt. Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Riera, Insua, Kelly. Booked: Kuyt.

  Att: 47,327

  Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

• charleslee

  18 Oct 09, 02:27

  there are worse news to come... Yahoo reported that F6's talks of buying the club has been on hold due to the breakdown in negotiating the price...

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 02:43

  Originally posted by charleslee:

  however, who's willing to meet the 2 americans' asking price and at the same time clear the debts that these 2 jokers incurred n carry the expectation of being seen as a saviour?

   

  The price is not going to go down for the Prince... The 2 yanks are quite smart businessmen... They know they can milk the club for much more so why give up now? The Prince would have to pay big time to get the club... Pool already got an $80m shirt sponsor starting next season...

  George Gillett and Tom Hicks paid only $219 million for the whole club in 2007 and now GG wants to sell his half share for $350 million... That is like he wants to multiple his investment by more than 3 x in less than 3 years... And the worse thing is, they didn't even came out the full sum... Most of it was loan from the banks...

  These 2 yankees sure know how to milk Pool dry... But maybe Tom Hicks isn't that bad as he isn't looking to sell according to news report...

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 03:16

  RAFA REFUSES TO BLAME FLUKE

  
  
  

  Liverpool Rafa Benitez refused to blame the fluke goal which gave Sunderland their 1-0 victory.

   

  The only goal at the Stadium of Light arrived after five minutes when Darren Bent's shot defelected off a beach ball and past the helpless Jose Reina.

   

  But Benitez admits the goal should have stood and he could have no complaints about the result after a poor performance.

   

   

  

   

   

  STEVE BRUCE says only football's biggest nerd would have disallowed Sunderland's mad winner. And the Black Cats boss shrugged off a spat with Rafa Benitez as "handbags".

  Darren Bent's bizarre strike deflected off a Liverpool club balloon and past gobsmacked Pepe Reina. Ref Mike Jones allowed the goal — even though there's a law in the footy rulebook for dealing with objects on the pitch.

  And Bruce said: "Listen, I thought it was a deflection off a player. I have to say when I have just seen it there, if anybody knew that rule — that it is supposed to be a drop ball — then you are a saddo.

  "They have got it on telly with the guy who threw it on and it's got Liverpool crests all over it. What a shame."

  Benitez refused to blame the freak goal for Liverpool's loss. He said: "It's a very technical question. It could be a goal, it's difficult to say. In this case, it has to be a goal.

  "These things can happen in a lot of games. It was a bad situation for us - it was in the middle [of the goal] and it was very influential. "But we didn't play well, that is the main thing for me."

  Bruce blew his top at Benitez after the Spaniard complained at injured Kenwyne Jones' lengthy on-pitch treatment. But the Sunderland chief brushed aside the clash after the game. He added: "It was handbags. It's all over, it's done.

  "You do things in the heat of the moment which, when you look back at it, you think, 'Maybe I shouldn't have done that', but there you go."

   

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 12:07

   

  

   

   

  Pictures on Sky TV showed a young fan in the Liverpool section throwing the beach ball on the pitch and then looking particularly glum at halftime as he perhaps considered the consequences of his actions.

   

  The rules state the referee has the option to allow play to continue if a "second ball" goes on to the field but should call a halt if it interferes with the action.

   

  It also states he should stop the game in the case of "any kind of outside interference" but in reality matches are routinely allowed to continue with items like balloons on the pitch.

• Redster

  18 Oct 09, 12:18

  i have no choice but to believe that liverpool have no depth in their squad and cannot survive without gerrard and torres. and i think rafael should be more flexible and change the formation when it is needed, not just at the 60th minute

• Redster

  18 Oct 09, 12:19

  Originally posted by youyayu:

  nvm la.. liverpool got so many history lecturer

  surly then can fork out the money to buy 1 red piece of poo

  dont kpkb lah. disgrace

• sand king

  18 Oct 09, 13:01

  Originally posted by zocoss:

   

  

   

  What a dumbass

• zocoss

  18 Oct 09, 13:30

  I guess Pool's problems come down to just Rafa and nothing else as important... The rest isn't too major.

  Rafa is dragging them through the mud this last 5 over years and unless they change manager, they probably will remain an averagely good club only...

  Rafa don't seem to have good PR skills and don't seem to be able to connect with the players as well as he should... Torres, Kuyt and Lucas are probably the only ones that will be loyal to him... Mascherano seems to have lost interest, probably due to Barcelona or he feel he is not paid enough and Rafa isn't helping him to get a better deal... Its hard to blame him when he see people like Johnson gets $140k per week and he gets peanuts...

• Medicated Oil

  18 Oct 09, 13:55

  http://www.thisisanfield.com/2009/10/17/rafa-bemoans-lack-of-confidence/

  If I understand Ah Ben's above response, he meant that the formation put up is ok and his players are not good enough to play to the formation that he have devised.

  If his players are good enough, any of his formation may worked.

  But, if he know his players well, they are not as versatile as he have expected and they have even problems playing in their own positions.

  I will be very angry if I am the player after reading this report.

  As for winning against Lyon, the chances of that happening is zero unless Ah Ben is stupid enough to risk SG and FT for that game and get injured for two weeks.

  Ah Ben cannot risk his neck for two time in a week - imagine losing to Lyon and Man Utd within a week in ANFIELD.

  You will see fans burning the flag "In Rafa, We Trust".

  It is the truth that Ah Ben have brought a number of good players but it is always his formation that is losing the plot.

• charleslee

  18 Oct 09, 20:29

  Originally posted by zocoss:

   

  The price is not going to go down for the Prince... The 2 yanks are quite smart businessmen... They know they can milk the club for much more so why give up now? The Prince would have to pay big time to get the club... Pool already got an $80m shirt sponsor starting next season...

  George Gillett and Tom Hicks paid only $219 million for the whole club in 2007 and now GG wants to sell his half share for $350 million... That is like he wants to multiple his investment by more than 3 x in less than 3 years... And the worse thing is, they didn't even came out the full sum... Most of it was loan from the banks...

  These 2 yankees sure know how to milk Pool dry... But maybe Tom Hicks isn't that bad as he isn't looking to sell according to news report...

  bt i sure hope that someone forces them to pay up for this kind of irresponsible purchase of the club...n i hope at least the banks will force them to lower the valuation of the club to pay off the debts coz' i seriously tink they are still living in their dreamland of earning big by investing very little in the club...

• charlize

  18 Oct 09, 20:38

  Rafa gambled on his team selection and formation and failed.

   

  Already weakened by the absence of Torres and Gerrard, he chose to play a new formation and throw in the relatively inexperienced Spearing - Lucas midfield.

   

  Spearing didn't play badly but in times of uncertainty, you don't throw in more uncertainty by playing new formations and players.

   

  A reasonable selection would have been  a normal 4-4-2 with Kuyt and Voronin spearheading the attack from the start of the game, with mashcerano-lucas as the midfield.  Instead Voronin only came on only in the 70th min instead of maybe at the start of the 2nd half.  

   

• charleslee

  18 Oct 09, 20:50

  Originally posted by charlize:

  Rafa gambled on his team selection and formation and failed.

   

  Already weakened by the absence of Torres and Gerrard, he chose to play a new formation and throw in the relatively inexperienced Spearing - Lucas midfield.

   

  Spearing didn't play badly but in times of uncertainty, you don't throw in more uncertainty by playing new formations and players.

   

  A reasonable selection would have been  a normal 4-4-2 with Kuyt and Voronin spearheading the attack from the start of the game, with mashcerano-lucas as the midfield.  Instead Voronin only came on only in the 70th min instead of maybe at the start of the 2nd half.  

   

  n look at the effect that voronin has....once he and mascherano came along, the attack became more fluent...n spearing is over-rawed la....1st time meeting big sized players like jones and bent, cfm kena pawned...

• youyayu

  18 Oct 09, 20:56

  Originally posted by Redster:

  dont kpkb lah. disgrace

  0.o  don't angry la..

  come come

  i give you one red balloon

  

  =)!

  too bad this one no liverpoo logo

   

• iceFatboy

  19 Oct 09, 09:23

  Originally posted by youyayu:

  0.o  don't angry la..

  come come

  i give you one red balloon

  

  =)!

  too bad this one no liverpoo logo

   

  anyway, most of the former referees, remarked that the goal should not stand as it was outside interference. just bad luck to Liverpool.

• Maurince

  19 Oct 09, 09:47

  

   

  Heehee.. Really a fluke goal.. 6 pts for my Bent.. Thanks..

• zocoss

  19 Oct 09, 11:48

  Originally posted by Maurince:

  

   

  Heehee.. Really a fluke goal.. 6 pts for my Bent.. Thanks..

   

  Glen Johnson should just go and play beach football lah... What $140k defender he is...

  His right-back position is Pool's weakest area in defence... You can try to argue that he goes missing from his position most of the time cos he likes to wander about but even when he is there, its like not much difference... His positioning and blocking isn't that good too.

  He need Kuyt to help him cover most of the time... and Kuyt wasn't available in this game.

  And I watched the rerun of the start and I saw the beach ball was resting innocently in Reina's goal when the match started... Then we have to ask how did the beach ball thrown from the stands ended up so nicely in Reina's net? Was Reina keeping the beach ball in there so that he could take it home with him after the match?

  I think its pointless to blame the referee, cos not too long ago, balloons were responsible for a goal between Sheff Utd & City and the respond was its the keeper's duty to clear it away... Here I guess should have been the same, But why was Reina keeping the beach ball in his net and not deflated it at the start, I guess they have to ask him...