AnfieldReds' Report Card 2006/07 - Goalkeepers

The season has came to an end. It's time for us to reflect and for me to grade the players. From the back to the front. Starting from goalkeepers.

First, Pepe Reina.



Our number one goalkeeper for the past 2 seasons. He started poorly in the beginning with much blunders and howlers especially those against our derby rivals, Everton. Future was in doubt and I believe Rafael Benitez gave him a warning of performing. He stood up well and managed to regain his form which made all of us started loving him again.

What I love about him is his confidence on the ball and towards the end of the season, he played really well and helped us on the way to Athens with a penalty shootout win against Chelsea. That was for me his best performance. Heard that his contract is going to be extended. I do fancy him to stay with us and be one of the best goalkeepers in Liverpool history.

AnfieldReds' Grade : 80/100



Jerzy Dudek

Our Istanbul hero. He will never be forgotten for the night and be in Liverpool history. However, ever since Reina's arrival, his place in the team is not guaranteed. Or I should say taken over. He's normally on the bench this season except for several occasions.

Sadly, every time he plays, it's seems to be Liverpool who's losing. Nobody will forget the 6-3 loss against a young Arsenal side in the Carling Cup. He was the goalkeeper of the match. Mistakes were everywhere. In football, people will only remember the mistakes, not the saves. His contract is not extended and is allow to leave the club end of the season.

Nevertheless, we appreciate his contributions to Liverpool Football Club. He's a winner and I shall wish him all the best for his future career.

AnfieldReds' Grade: 50/100


*Defenders' coming up..

You'll Never Walk Alone..

All The Best, Jerzy

The season is coming to an end and it's a routine to see players come and go. Sadly, in football, players just have to leave, Normally the main big reason is lacking of first team football.

With one more premiership game to go, Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has told the world that he's going to leave Liverpool at the end of the season as his contract will not be extended. Our Istanbul hero will always be remembered for his heroics saves during the match and also in the penalty shootout. Without any doubts, he has made his name into the Liverpool history.



Having said that, the reason why he's not the first choice goalkeeper is because he has made crucial mistakes over the years which is so frustrating for managers. Unfortunately, in football, whenever goalkeepers make mistakes and howlers, you will be remembered for that. I remember this phrase by ex-Liverpool boss, Gerald Houllier.
"A good goalkeeper is not about the number of saves he makes, it's the least mistakes he make."

Nevertheless, I do hope that Jerzy Dudek can play against Charlton for the final match of the season and can bid a good farewell to the fans.





Thank you Jerzy Dudek.

You'll Never Walk Alone..

LIVERPOOL FC..

I was reading today's newspaper and on the last page of Newpaper, it's an article written by Lain Macintosh, a writer from UK. It's about Jerzy Dudek.

Many of us know that Dudek's days at Anfield are numbered and he himself knows about it. This writer is writing about asking Rafa Benitez to let Dudek go with grace, with the fact that his heroics gave Liverpool a 5th European Cup. As I mentioned before, although i'm not a fan of Jerzy Dudek, i agreed with writer's idea of offering him a chance at a dignified exit.

This is not the main point i would like to write about. It's actually about some phrases in the column which caught my attention. It's pretty interesting and true. Let's read..

"The roar around Anfield for that stop (Jerzy Dudek's save of Baptista's penalty) was louder than the cheer for Robbie Fowler's opening goal."

"Liverpool are unlike most English clubs."

"You can't imagine any other team's supporters lustily belting out You'll Never Walk Alone after watching their team ship 6 goals at home."

"Even the Newcastle fans, whose passion i would not dare to doubt, would have started to testy if Arsenal had struck 6 past them."

"What other club would go out and sign a former cult hero like Fowler, even though his best days are clearly gone?"

"Where else would you find fans who would celebrate a signing like it was a Cup win?"

I nodded my head after reading. Liverpool is a club which is full of traditions and history. It's something money can't buy. Chelsea, Arsenal or even Manchester United can't reach that. Rivals' fans are always complaining about Liverpool fans that we just know how to talk about our history but not doing well now. However, I could sense their jealousy of Liverpool as their clubs do not have such traditions and history to talk about.

18 times league champions and 5 times european cup winner. These are not easy achievements and not every single club can achieve. Just ask Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, they would agree with me that it's so difficult to win a European cup, let alone 5. Ferguson won it once, Wenger lost in the final last year and Mourinho won once with Porto, but not with his mighty Chelsea. All these need hard work, luck, as well as our 12th man, the fans to achieve such achievements. I can say I'm proud of Liverpool's achievements over the years.

Being a Liverpool fan is never easy. Everytime we enter a major final for the past 2 years, we always have to come back from almost defeat and I can assure you, it's not good for the heart. Also, as the current Liverpool team is not as dominant as the past, we are always marked down by people around us. Media, pundits etc. I can tell you, the feeling isn't good.

Still, as Lain Macintosh had written above, you can't find fans like us.
Devoted and never-say-die attitude.
This is Liverpool.

you'll never walk alone..

cheers.