Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:30 am

But is he going to do the business for us? Yeah yeah I know he's absolute class, a blind man can see that but that's not the question. The question is can he cut it in the English Prem? Sofar, if I'm brutally honest I have my concerns. He's scored a couple of beautiful goals (and I ust the word deliberately) but his contribution in a lot of the games has been negligable. He was invisible at Palace on Saturday and this was by no means untypical.
"Give him time, remember Pires, knee-jerker" etc etc etc etc. There, I've saved you all the trouble of the usual retorts when anybody dares to ask the question. What do you actually think based on the little you have seen sofar?
My opinion? I'm not sure he's going to be the superstar for us that we all hoped. Sorry.

by **Ciggy** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:37 am

Theres no doubting his ability, but he looks very unhappy Im afraid, he doesnt speak a word of english so theres no comunication on the pitch if luis or xabi arnt playing.
The bright lights and lovely scenary of monaco and Spain are a far cry from the murky river mersey.

by **LFC #1** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:45 am

I have these same sentiments mick, and am a little skeptical to whether he will be a success myself.

He has done ok so far, and is definitely a class act, but will he cut it in England I am not sure?

I am not doubting the lad for a minute and hope he starts banging them in next season. I think he will excel in Europe also, whether it be the UEFA Cup or the CL.

by **maximus** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:18 am

In Rafa we trust.......................say no more :cool:

by **siti_zaiton1982** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:29 am

maybe,we should giv him time for him to adapt to the english football.but honestly its a huge disappointment tat he can't score consistently for us tis season.

by **Alanay** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:34 am

I think he seems to have communication problem on the field. I have not seen any interview with him in english..... but definitely he's a world class player...

by **JBG** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:36 am

I'm going to go against the grain here and think he'll be a quality player for us next season. He's had a lot of injuries and played hardly any football for Madrid in the first half of the season. I think he has done ok, although I accept that in a few games he has struggled, particularly with pace.

However, while the "Robert Pires" arguement has blown up in Liverpool fan's faces before, let me remind people that this is Fernando Morientes we are talking about, not Bruno Cheyrou or El Hadji Diouff.

So to the doubters I say: Remember Robert Pires you kneejerk dolts! :laugh:

by **115-1073096938** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:44 am

Mick, he's a class player. Not a good player. You've said yourself alot of times he's shown touches of absoloute class. He has and will continue to do so.

Class players can cut it anywhere.

He'll need time to adapt, learn the language and settle. He also needs better supply. He's also under enormous pressure at the moment.

Patience is a virtue Mick.

As JBG said, its not Diouf or Cheyrou we're talking about, its Morientes. Give him time and he will deliver.

by **tel** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:58 am

No matter how good a player you are, you still need time to settle. And he came in at a difficult time when we were having loads of injuries and he was rushed in to cover holes.

He'll be a star for us next season.

by **hawkmoon269** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:22 am

John Barnes' Granny wrote:I'm going to go against the grain here and think he'll be a quality player for us next season. He's had a lot of injuries and played hardly any football for Madrid in the first half of the season. I think he has done ok, although I accept that in a few games he has struggled, particularly with pace.

However, while the "Robert Pires" arguement has blown up in Liverpool fan's faces before, let me remind people that this is Fernando Morientes we are talking about, not Bruno Cheyrou or El Hadji Diouff.

So to the doubters I say: Remember Robert Pires you kneejerk dolts!

Agreed JBG - he is a class player - was it 9 goals in the Champions League last year? We just need to get him the service he needs, crossed balls onto his head!

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:29 am

I think all the Spanish players have struggled with the physical nature of the premiership. Its not at all like the namby pamby spanish La Liga. Even Mr Benitez can't believe how hard it is.

I think he needs to toughen up or he will struggle to make it

by **Ace Ventura** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:43 am

He will be a different player next season after he has had a proper pre-seasons training. He has shown in glimpses what he can do, but its obvious to anyone that he is not fit yet.
The language i dont think is a problem...theres plenty of spanish players to communicate with, and he will be learning more English every day. It will be interesting to see if he can form a good partnership with Cisse, Baros is definately on his way so i'm lookin forward to seein the two of them together fully fit next season.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:11 pm

I posted this in another thread in March

When the Morientes deal went through everyone was excited. He is an extremely talented player, superb technique, passing ability and awareness.

In addition he is good in the air. But some people thought that he was a target man in the "English sense", they were mistaken, he will not get many flick on's and will not chase lost causes and use his body weight against defenders. He is a "European" target man, he can play with the ball back to goal, using his body strength to hold off defenders and his tecnique and passing range too bring midfielders into play.

Morientes is good in the air but only from corners, free kicks, and crosses. He not a "busting and tussling" type player. The rest of the team made this assumption and started lobbing long balls up to him against Man Utd.

My one major reservation when we signed him was that I thought he might not like the physical nature of the Premiership, he is a technical player who like to pass, not someone who enjoys the Physical contest. So far I think I have been right, his body language has suggested he hasn't enjoyed the start of his Premiership career.

I'm not saying that he won't be a success. But what I am saying it will depend on whether he has the willingness to adapt and come to terms with the physical nature of the Premiership.

by **bigmick** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:16 pm

I agree with pretty much most of whats been said, particularly with the people who say he is class, of that there is no dispute. He just worries me the way that he lets average defenders bully him into anonymity.
If we take it as red that Baros is away in the summer, then presumeably we will be signing two strikers in the close season, (please don't anyone get me started on Mellor). That being the case, it would sensible to me to make at least one of those guys a more combative player. The one that absolutely stands out for me is Alan Smith but I can forsee only one circumstance in which we could get our hands on him. Needless to say I pray to God that doesn't happen but I'd not rule it out as a possibility.

by **Cool Hand Luke** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:21 pm

bigmick wrote:I agree with pretty much most of whats been said, particularly with the people who say he is class, of that there is no dispute. He just worries me the way that he lets average defenders bully him into anonymity.
If we take it as red that Baros is away in the summer, then presumeably we will be signing two strikers in the close season, (please don't anyone get me started on Mellor). That being the case, it would sensible to me to make at least one of those guys a more combative player. The one that absolutely stands out for me is Alan Smith but I can forsee only one circumstance in which we could get our hands on him. Needless to say I pray to God that doesn't happen but I'd not rule it out as a possibility.

I was saying the same thing last night Mick.

http://www.liverpoolfc-newkit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=10424

What do you think of my suggestion?

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Morientes, - I know its early.........

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