Liverpool FC Forum

by **The Ace1983** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:05 am

Source: The Liverpool Echo (www.liverpool.com)

Jerzy Dudek has blamed his un-impressive performances on the yellow balls used in the English Premiership. He says that they are hard to see and that other goalkeepers can coroborate his aliby that they also curl more than other balls. Can this be true? Can the colour of the balls really be the explanation for the lack-lustre performances that have seen him dropped in favour of Chris Kirkland (when he's fit) and even questioned by the Polish national team? I haven't played with one of these balls yet and I was just wondering if anyone else has and if they are harder to see or do they swing more? I know it must be different inside Anfield, but surely they must have the same effects in the park on Sunday. Anybody know?

:Oo:

by **kazza** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:09 am

Then what was his excuse last year? He is average at best, and not good enough for us. He makes the defence nervous, and should be dumped.

by **The_Rock** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:14 am

i was expecting something else when i saw the thread title

by **The Ace1983** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:16 am

The_Rock wrote:i was expecting something else when i saw the thread title

Thankfully, I don't know anything about those balls. And even if I did, I wouldn't have the balls to write it in here.

by **anfieldadorer** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:18 am

every goalie should be allowed to choose his own ball color

i would recommend dudek to choose this one:

by **kazza** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:30 am

On the question of the balls, I buy the good ones every year. As a striker I can tell you that these Nike balls are lovely to shoot. I would not say they move alot, but rather are very true. ie if you put spin on the ball when you kick it, it will give you lots of spin (which makes it move alot). Different to cheap light balls that move alot from the wind, in an irregular fashion.

This year they changed the ball completely, and personally I liked the ball they used the last three seasons (Geo-Merlin) which to me is the best ball ever made. This years ball seems a little less active (from a strikers opinion). This winter they changed to a yellow version of the new ball, but I never played keeper so I never had to track it. Still sounds like cr@p to me.

Bottom line is it is a lame excuse (like James's too many video games and Westerveld's "everyone keeps making fun of me") and our fans do not wear yellow to cause a distraction. All the keepers play with the same ball, so suck it up Jersey.

by **Rafa** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:44 am

Dudek and his excuses, i'm fed up with him in goal and I feel very uneasy with him being there in crosses etc.

I know Carson is young but the lad has to start somewhere, Dudek will never been a great goalie

by **FrankM** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:17 pm

Peter Cech seems to manage ok.

At one stage I did if the yellow ball was the reason for our poor performances in the yellow shirts

by **barnesrush** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:44 pm

just look at the goal that portsmouth scored to level at 1-1 which moved drastically. bob wilson was in the papers a few months ago complaining about these balls which they first tested at arsenal and thought they were a joke. lots of keepers are gettin stick this season tho and it is the same for all teams. i guess the balls are lighter to aid shooting and create more goals but i would rather see heavier footballs and slightly bigger goals.

by **REDTILLDEAD** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:13 pm

The simple answer is get shut of dudek, pathetic excuse if i ever heard one!..."wev`e got an ****** hole in our goal!
oops..sorry that should be pole in our goal...perhaps i had it right first time? :laugh:

by **stmichael** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:15 pm

why not sick a ten foot pole up his back and let the kop operate him?

by **109-1105722616** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:22 pm

i hate people using excuses like this, houllier was also always finding excuses to explain his mistakes and poor results. why cant players and managers come out and just say 'we were ******' or 'fckuning hell we were ****** today and we are sorry'
the fans would have more respect for them then

by **stmichael** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:26 pm

marklfc wrote:i hate people using excuses like this, houllier was also always finding excuses to explain his mistakes and poor results. why cant players and managers come out and just say 'we were ******' or 'fckuning hell we were ****** today and we are sorry'
the fans would have more respect for them then

100% agree. ian dowie is the prime example of this.

the funniest houllier quote was when he blamed the weather for our dismal fa cup defeat at portsmouth last season.

by **109-1105722616** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:31 pm

i admire people who just come out and tell the truth, houllier is a joke

by **Big Niall** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 3:37 pm

Was Dudek talking to ferguson? between grey jerseys and yellow footballs being a footballer must be a terrible life.

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Dudek blames his balls - Valid excuse or desperate excuse?

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