I have to say that overall I'm delighted with Luis' contribution to our season. The £6m has turned out to be a bargain for player of his age (only £6m) and experience.
13 goals (including 5 in the crucial knock-out phase of the champions league) has been a great contribution considering this is his first year at liverpool & he's trying to fit into a team that is being re-built and re-modelled.
His work-rate is immense. Fair enough he has the tackling ability of Paul Scholes and the build of Juninho but he doesn't have run his ass off for his teammates. He has shown great discipline when covering finnan and yet has the stamina to consistently back up the play and be in the right position to react when the ball drops in the right areas (e.g. Vs Chelsea on tues & Vs Everton when Moro hit the bar)
His attitude is top notch. He's always smiling, always positive, always encouraging his teammates (he even gave hell to the liverpool fans who were screaming for Baros as Nunez came on in the carling cup final)
He has great skills and has taken up Mcmanaman's mantle of being our main creative force (the role was in limbo for a number of years with smicer, litmanen etc. all failing to deliver consistently). His eye for a pass & ability to pass/shoot with either foot are key parts of his game
If Luis can learn to be more intelligent in the tackle (Pires was not a great tackler & is a bit weedy but his technique has improved greatly to the point that it's no longer a weakness in his game) and also learn that our final third of the pitch is not the place to be trying tricks & flicks I think he'll go from strength to strength with us.
Here are some reactions (from ynwa.tv) of the Barca crew to Luis' role in tuesday night's game and his season so far...
Rijkaard:
"I'm over the moon for him. He's a great player, but more than that he's a fantastic person. He deserves everything that's happening at the moment."
On a more serious note - "His workrate has been very good. Benítez knew all about his qualities, moved in for him and time has shown benítez to be right...."
Xavi:
"I have lots of friends over there, but I'm chuffed to bits for Luis Garcia."
Puyol:
He's always moving, he's very clever and it's normal that he's scores goals like the one against Chelsea. He was one of the forwards who gave me the most trouble..."
Ronaldinho:
"I was so pleased. Luis was an excellent colleague and I'm sure it was a fantastic night for him..."
Gabri:
"What he's done during his first year in England deserves a lot of praise. he has the self-confidence to play well at a very high level..."
Gio:
"he's been one of the most important players for Liverpool to win the Champions League..."
at the start i wasnt impressed but he is settling in well now and he is definetly one of our greater playermakers in the team. could i just point out that litmanen was never in limbo. phil the nose thompson screwed that up. we had a world class player and let him go on a free to ajax.
but all in all im looking forward to next season more and more.
could i just point out that litmanen was never in limbo. phil the nose thompson screwed that up. we had a world class player and let him go on a free to ajax
Jari was gifted and clearly a fans' favourite but his injury problems meant he couldn't play as many games as was necessary (look back on his career, he played surprisingly few games per season) to be a first choice. I admit that we should've used him more than we did but I also think that he wouldn't have been able to handle a full premiership season physically. Look at the minimal amount of games he has played since moving on form liverpool for evidence of this.
The time to buy litmanen was when he left for Barca, he considered us but chose the spaniards. It's a shame as he could've been a liverpool legend for what he did on the pitch and not for what he could've done (in the fans' minds)
i said it ages ago ill say it again.....liverpool are only 2 or 3 players away from being the premierleague champions. I think on their day they have one of the best teams in england. consistancy has let them down.
a stable keeper. good leftback. good centre back...
thats it. maybe a few more cover players.......for the centre midfield players like.
I agree we are not as far off as it would appear. The following 3 signings would make us a match for any side (Reina is on his way & is highly-rated...admittedly my knowledge of him is limited). Perhaps with the money & prestige of a champions league final we can attract the right players. The time for buying potential is long gone.
I remember him running around like a headless chicken against United at anfield thinking what the fuck but he has been unreal anytime i've seen him since and definitely worth a flutter for a goal in Istanbul.
His work-rate is immense. Fair enough he has the tackling ability of Paul Scholes and the build of Juninho but he doesn't have run his ass off for his teammates. He has shown great discipline when covering finnan
I'd disagree with you there. Yes he works hard, but he is not yet disciplined when defending. Too often when a full back plays a pass infield he either ball watches or simply follows the ball. The full back makes a run wide left and Finnan is left trying to cover the left midfielder and the left full back. Discipline means covering those runs (as Riise does). He's not a natural defender (as Riise is), so these things have to be coached into him. He is getting better though, and hopefully Maldini hasn't got the legs to get up where he can hurt Liverpool anymore.
An improvement in ball retention and his tracking back and he's a star.
Litmanen is one of the best footballers i've ever seen, problem for him at anfield was Houllier just didn't trust creative types like jari. Pity, i always felt he had it in him to do for us what dalglish did in the past.
He's considered almost on a par with cryuff at ajax and higher praise for any footballer is hard to imagine.
Litmanen is one of the best footballers i've ever seen, problem for him at anfield was Houllier just didn't trust creative types like jari. Pity, i always felt he had it in him to do for us what dalglish did in the past.
He's considered almost on a par with cryuff at ajax and higher praise for any footballer is hard to imagine.
Agrees. He would have been an excellent acquisition for Celtic after he left the Pool. We were crying out for someone like him after Lubo left.
Luis Garcia - Case Closed
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