Liverpool FC Forum

[account deleted by request]

After reading what Benitez had to say about Bolo and considering his penalty and performance against Chelsea 2nd leg(not great but not bad) I wondered if maybe peoples opinions had now softened slightly and they would be happy if he was kept on as a squad player.

I realise he's no where near good enough to hold down a place in the first team, but hes supposedly a great player to have in the dressing room (if not on the pitch)is very popular with the other players, has vast experience and is reputed to be one of our fittest players.

He's versatile, seems happy enough with a squad role and presumably isn't on too high wages.

I have probably been as harsh on his performances as anyone(except Stu  ) but maybe I was too harsh.

Rafa's view :-

Rafa Benitez today hailed the contribution of Bolo Zenden to the club - both on and off the field. 
While the Dutchman has had an increasing role to play on the pitch of late, Benitez also revealed he acts as a 'glue' that helps to keep his squad together.
 
"It's not easy when you talk about Bolo because some people don't know how good he is, as a professional and as a player," said the Liverpool manager. "His mentality is very competitive, he is always a fantastic teammate.
 
"One manager that he had said he was the glue because he is always between the players and trying to keep them together. The young players, the new players, the English players, the Spanish players, because he talks a lot of languages.
 
"I think that is a very good definition. He is a fantastic teammate, fantastic professional and a good player."
 
Zenden, who joined from Middlesbrough on a free transfer two years ago, is one of several Liverpool players who fall out of contract in the summer.
 
And Benitez admits he has yet to make a decision on the midfielder's future.
 
"I was talking with him last week because he is finishing his contract, and the first thing he said to me was, 'I want to win the final.'
 
"That is the only thing that is important now but I will try to be honest with him. I think he is a very good professional but you need to analyse everything.
 
"There is no decision now but I will explain to him quickly if I decide something one way or the other. But there is no decision yet." 


What do you think ?

[Paul C]

Nope

[Sabre]

I think we have been too harsh with Zenden when we have talked about his football. As we can read in your post he came on a free transfer so we shouldn't be demanding the same level that we asked Cisse, who came for quite a lot of money.

I wouldn't keep him in the squad, because LFC must improve always, and he's one of the best candidates to be replaced.

But I think Rafa does well to appreciate the player and rewarding his proffessional behaviour. In football forums we comment a lot on match performances but we're not able to discuss about the daily routines that are also very important for the team. Even in the pitch, I think he's been the scapegoat for some frustrating games.

So in a nutshell, I think he deserves gratitude and less stick, but unfortunately for him, I think he's going to be somewhere else next season. If I'm wrong, I'll be happy for him.

[RUSHIE#9]

NO

[red37]

I know, i read it as well before.      Course he wants to win in the final.  Salif Diao, Traore and Josemi made sure their ugly mugs were on the celebration shots as well.  But sorry Bolo old bean, you're not up to scratch imo any further beyond this term . Like Rafa said..."we need to analyse things". Which is a polite way of saying 'tara'.....i hope.

[Effes]

He just hasn't got the quality we need to progress.

[hunterz]

I am not impressed by him,but I think he worked very hard for the team.But he can never be the first choice if we are seriously thinking of improving the team.

[Emerald Red]

Hmm...














NA!

[66-1112520797]

I dont think so, if its an interpreter we need I'm sure they come alot cheaper than Zendens wages. Dont get me wrong I think he is a good proffesional, but a good footballer ? Maybe yesteyear but not anymore.
Although he was a freebie I'd imagine he wages would be pretty modest because of it.

No sorry Zenden, if it were me I wouldnt renew your contract and at the same time I'd sell Gonzalez too. Mindyou Sabes   post is a valid one, but I'd still let him go none the less.

[Rafa D]

He's done a good job for me when he has came in bar a few very poor performances. I think very early on in the season, as soon as the first game, Zenden was made a scapegoat along with a few other new faces, for the run of poor results.

His first season was a non event really. He played a few games (7 games ) and then was cut short by a season long injury. I weren't thrilled with his original transfer to us but I was sad to see him miss a whole season. I fully expected him to move on in the summer but that wasn't the case.

I am  not arguing that Bolo is a world beater, I am not even suggesting he should be in our first eleven but I do feel he has been unfairly targeted by Liverpool fans and made the scapegoat for diabolic TEAM performances. Everyone's in agreement, he does not possess enough quality to be a starter, however he is a good squad player in my eyes and not just for his versaitility between left midfield and central midfield. I think it all started when we played Sheffield United on the very first day of the season. He didn't play well, but neither did anyone in the team, the same could be said of Pennant ( and I am just as guilty ) as well. In the first quarter of the season , these 2 players came in for a lot of stick due to Liverpool's inept performances away. Momo, Stevie, Carragher and Xabi Alonso all played in practically every game  in our poor start and came under hardly any criticism, whereas Pennant and Zenden played bit parts and were lambasted. Favourtism by the fans definitely played their part in making Zenden an undesirable.

His performance last week and his performance in the Community Shield were his best 2 performances in a red shirt in what has been a stop start Liverpool career with his Harry Kewell style bad luck. It's also quite interesting that his best 2 games came against the arguably the best team in world football - player for player. My view on the matter is simple. He's a much better player when he gets time on the ball. Look back at those games, especially the Community Shield and look at how long he has on the ball. Whether its the managers tactics or the Chelsea's players way of playing but they never close down our midfield. Zenden was practically swanning around looking like Zidane in Cardiff! Now fast forward to 6 days later at Bramall Lane, Sheff United were all over the pitch, runnning their heart out, closing down players, keeping tight and as a result Zenden had a 'mare.

Rafa's got a lot of tough decisions to make in the summer, this year is a step back for me, even if we win the Champions League (again for any manc bast.ards lurking on the boards). I think most fans and Rafa himself expected to be  a lot closer to the top of the pack this year. Will Zenden's contract be re-newed? I think it will, he's no good in the gritty - every yard counts - games, but in the Champions League or at home against the lesser teams, he can do a job and do it well. I just hope the fans are willing to give him a bit of lee-way and not be so quick to jump on it when his names on the team sheet.

Anyways we might need him next year, if Chelsea get to the semi's someones got to stop em.

Again.

Haha. 

[Sabre]

I dont think so, if its an interpreter we need I'm sure they come alot cheaper than Zendens wages. Dont get me wrong I think he is a good proffesional, but a good footballer ? Maybe yesteyear but not anymore.
Although he was a freebie I'd imagine he wages would be pretty modest because of it.

No sorry Zenden, if it were me I wouldnt renew your contract and at the same time I'd sell Gonzalez too. Mindyou Sabes   post is a valid one, but I'd still let him go none the less.

This might sound as árse licking to the mighty reds, but it's a fáct, only rarely bad footballers make it to this club. Zenden is a good footballer, you can argue that not good enough for LFC or not, but definitely a good footballer that has been in important clubs. In Barcelona he wasn't great neither, but not just anybody manages to make it to those clubs.

As for Zenden, I'd also let him go, if you're reffering to the post in this thread, Zenden finnishes contract, has accomplished what the contract says, and should go. Gonzalez instead, is very young, has a contract, and as you know breaking contracts cost money, so unless LFC receives something decent for him, he shouldn't go, IMHO.

[account deleted by request]

Zenden was practically swanning around looking like Zidane

Poetic license is one thing, but this is a bit much Rafa   I know what you mean though mate, and I  agree with most of your post.

[jkop]

He is a good player, puts maybe 99% into his play... but he's not good enough for the Liverpool ranks we can have better players in that position. If he stays fair enough, and if he goes ill not shed a tear.

[SouthCoastShankly]

Get rid and replace

[stmichael]

Depends what we can get in his place.

All I'll say is it's a sign of how far we come when somebody like him is regarded as our weakest player and the one who is made the sacrificial lamb, as opposed to no-marks like Diao and Cheyrou.