José Enrique

[Revolution Number 9]

To be fair, he is probably the best left back in the league right now.

 

Bainess says haha.

Who's Bainess

[Ishmael]

A mate of mine who reckons Everton's Leighton Baines is the best left back in the league.

[ShearMagic]

Most of the Liverpool fans I talk to think he's the best LB in the world.

 

Not even trolling.

[Revolution Number 9]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

[Tooj]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

 

Like, ever?

[Revolution Number 9]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

 

Like, ever?

Like, ever ever.

 

Seriously though, he can outpace most wingers and yet he's built like fucking Optimus Prime. The fucker shouldn't even be able to jog with that much muscle weighing him ffs

[Tooj]

It might of been in our relegation season, but I remember when we played Spurs at SJP and him outpacing Lennon comfortably. Was great to watch.

[Mr. Snrub]

http://www.kickette.com/files/2009/12/Abs-and-tents.jpg

[Ishmael]

http://www.wolves.co.uk/javaImages/3b/75/0,,10307~3765563,00.jpg

[Hughesy]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

 

Like, ever?

Like, ever ever.

 

Seriously though, he can outpace most wingers and yet he's built like f***ing Optimus Prime. The f***er shouldn't even be able to jog with that much muscle weighing him ffs

 

He really isn't that big..?

[madras]

One of my arsenal friends said that when Carroll left, "well now he'll know what pressure is."

 

 

Er? He's playing next to Kuyt and someone new in the league. When I told him toon fans are probably the most critical of their own players, he just replied, "yeah but it's Liverpool, it's a top 4 club."

 

Do people automatically talk in such a way about top 4 clubs? When we were in the top 4 regularly were other fans saying "yeah but that Andy Griffin, world beater, top 4 innit."

why are you confusing liverpool with a top 4 club ?

[toptoon]

 

To think in that wonderful thing hindsight we could have had a back 4 of:  Santon    Taylor  Colo    Enrique  with the rest of the team and possibly another Striker we should finish in the top 6 this season and could perhaps give the likes of Spurs a run for their money for fourth place with Arsenal and to a lesser extent Liverpool looking so out of sorts.

 

                  Krul

 

Santon  Taylor  Colo  Enrique

 

              Cabaye  Tiote

Jonas                            Marveaux

                          Ben Arfa

                    Ba

 

Subs: Harper, Williamson, Mehdi, Guthrie/Gosling, Obertan, Sammy, Best

 

 

 

 

[Sifu]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

 

Like, ever?

Like, ever ever.

 

Seriously though, he can outpace most wingers and yet he's built like f***ing Optimus Prime. The f***er shouldn't even be able to jog with that much muscle weighing him ffs

 

He really isn't that big..?

 

http://yfrog.com/gyiujnoj:tw1

[Guest PhilB]

Most of the Liverpool fans I talk to think he's the best LB in the world.

 

Not even trolling.

 

Where on earth do you talk to them? 

 

I'm one myself, live here in Liverpool, socialise with reds and work with reds,  and I haven't met one who thinks Enrique is the best LB in the world, not one. 

 

He looks to be a very good player, and he was a real bargain, but not even world class, imo, never mind best in the world. 

 

I would rather have had Baines in the summer window, but I'm still made up with Enrique, he's the best LB we've had since Riise.

[TRon]

A mate of mine who reckons Everton's Leighton Baines is the best left back in the league.

 

I used to think Enrique was, but since he joined Liverpool I've changed my mind. Now Baines is the biz and Jose's a goofy twat.

[Ronaldo]

Decent save.

 

Enrique beats Baines for me like, they're both very good left backs but he beats Baines in sheer athleticism by some distance. I don't think I've ever heard of another player being that fast AND that strong.

 

Like, ever?

Like, ever ever.

 

Seriously though, he can outpace most wingers and yet he's built like f***ing Optimus Prime. The f***er shouldn't even be able to jog with that much muscle weighing him ffs

 

He's probably about 13 1/2 stone, man. Don't talk crap.

[Village Idiot]

I have not been watching Liverpool, how's he been doing? I'm surprised that given the problems at LB in the national team since Capdevila retired he hasn't got a look yet.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

The last time Liverpool played good football was under Roy Evans with Fowler, Redknapp, Macmanaman et al playing for them. Under Houllier they were dour and direct, Gerrard to Owen, 1-0. Under Rafa they played slightly more expansive football but it was still defensive. When they bought Torress their football improved but overall they were still defensive and compact. Dalglish has them playing similarly. They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been.

 

As for pressure, the pressure on Carroll at Newcastle was immense. He was the darling of the crowd, a local lad, the number 9, the man to bag 20 league goals a season, all at the age of 21. That's huge pressure and to be fair, he strived on it. The only pressure he has at Liverpool is to live up to the insane 35m price tag which he never will because he isn't even a 10m player.

 

Regarding Enrique, for me he is the most complete left-back we've had and arguably the best defender we've had in my time following the lads in terms of one on one defending, tracking back, tackling and generally owning his 'man', however, Bernard was a far better attacking full-back and much more exciting on the ball as too was Beresford who is vastly underrated.

 

Its just a shame we couldn't hold onto Enrique for whatever reason because he is a top-class player. He'll never be world- class because going forward he lacks quality on the ball and the awareness and technique to play attacking football as a full-back. Think back to Bernard and how he drove forward and would whip crosses in like a winger, how he'd overlap Robert, Enrique rarely overlapped Jonas who by the way, was critical to the success of Enrique here at Newcastle because he give him so much cover and an outlet.

 

Anyway we've been quite blessed at LB in recent years starting with Beresford and then through to Domi, Bernard and Enrique, all top left backs on their day, hell even players like Bassong and Distan who were never left-backs, performed quite well there at times. Hopefully Santon can do like wise.

[Guest PhilB]

The last time Liverpool played good football was under Roy Evans with Fowler, Redknapp, Macmanaman et al playing for them. Under Houllier they were dour and direct, Gerrard to Owen, 1-0. Under Rafa they played slightly more expansive football but it was still defensive. When they bought Torress their football improved but overall they were still defensive and compact. Dalglish has them playing similarly. They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been.

 

 

You're obviously a young person, Dalglishs' team played the best football I've seen from ANY team in this country.  It wasn't just good in attack it had class from back to front, we also played great football under Shanks and Paisley, are you trying to say that a team with Kenny Dalglish in it didn't play fluent football? 

 

Even now we play, most of the time, the way he had us playing last time he was manager. 

 

 

From Henry Winter

 

 

THE GREATEST ENGLISH SIDE EVER

Henry Winter

05 December 2005

 

When the current English champions play host to the current European champions at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, I'm sure the sports pages of every national newspaper will be given over to debating the merits of both sides.

 

As the reigning Premiership champions and current league leaders, a lot has quite rightly been written about this Chelsea team, but I was surprised earlier in the season when some people began hailing them as the greatest English side ever.

 

For all the millions that Roman Abramovich has spent and the great Arsenal side that went an entire season unbeaten in recent times, I still don't think any team comes near the Liverpool side of 1987-88.

 

That Liverpool team was the best side I have ever seen grace British soil. It is my favourite team of all-time and summed up for me what football is all about. What Kenny Dalglish created there was a delight to behold.

 

The Arsenal team that went through the season unbeaten a couple of years ago was a special team but the problem with them was that they had a psychological flaw. It might not have cost them any defeats but when teams defended deep against them and went tight on Thierry Henry, they didn't seem to have a Plan B. There was also a streak of indiscipline about them. In terms of the balance from defence to attack though, the Liverpool team of 1987-88 with John Barnes at his prime would be ahead of them every time.

 

Dalglish created a fantastic football team with wingers and a goalscoring phenomenon that was John Aldridge. When Ian Rush, the best striker in the league, left for Italy, Kenny signed a player who not only looked like Rush but also scored like him and built the team around him.

 

I remember there was a collapsed sewer in the Kop during the summer of 1987 and Liverpool had to play three away games before Anfield was ready. I remember the first game was at Highbury when Peter Beardsley and Barnes set up Aldridge for the first goal. Then Steve Nicol scored with a 35-yard header for the winner.

 

It was strange not playing at Anfield but in a way it built up the anticipation among the fans because everyone wanted to see Barnes, Aldridge and Beardsley.

 

A couple of moments that stand out for me from that season include a goal at Anfield scored by Barnes against Queens Park Rangers which was something else and the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Anfield. I remember the great Tom Finney claiming it was the best performance ever and he should know.

 

I sometimes curse my luck and wish I could have covered more of the matches from that time than I did because it was early in my journalistic career. When I wasn't working, I went to a few of the games myself because that team for me was a pleasure to watch with Barnes sensational all season.

 

That team contained everything you need to make a wonderful football side - it had a tight defence, it had wonderful attacking football from midfield and great finishing from John Aldridge.

 

The sadness for Liverpool and for the rest of Europe was that this great team was not allowed to compete in the European Cup. Europe's loss was my gain though because watching a team like the 1987-88 one is what I got into this job for. Liverpool played beautiful, winning football and over 15 years on, I've yet to see another English team come close to matching them.

 

[Guest Howaythetoon]

The last time Liverpool played good football was under Roy Evans with Fowler, Redknapp, Macmanaman et al playing for them. Under Houllier they were dour and direct, Gerrard to Owen, 1-0. Under Rafa they played slightly more expansive football but it was still defensive. When they bought Torress their football improved but overall they were still defensive and compact. Dalglish has them playing similarly. They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been.

 

 

You're obviously a young person, Dalglishs' team played the best football I've seen from ANY team in this country.  It wasn't just good in attack it had class from back to front, we also played great football under Shanks and Paisley, are you trying to say that a team with Kenny Dalglish in it didn't play fluent football? 

 

Even now we play, most of the time, the way he had us playing last time he was manager. 

 

 

From Henry Winter

 

 

THE GREATEST ENGLISH SIDE EVER

Henry Winter

05 December 2005

 

When the current English champions play host to the current European champions at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, I'm sure the sports pages of every national newspaper will be given over to debating the merits of both sides.

 

As the reigning Premiership champions and current league leaders, a lot has quite rightly been written about this Chelsea team, but I was surprised earlier in the season when some people began hailing them as the greatest English side ever.

 

For all the millions that Roman Abramovich has spent and the great Arsenal side that went an entire season unbeaten in recent times, I still don't think any team comes near the Liverpool side of 1987-88.

 

That Liverpool team was the best side I have ever seen grace British soil. It is my favourite team of all-time and summed up for me what football is all about. What Kenny Dalglish created there was a delight to behold.

 

The Arsenal team that went through the season unbeaten a couple of years ago was a special team but the problem with them was that they had a psychological flaw. It might not have cost them any defeats but when teams defended deep against them and went tight on Thierry Henry, they didn't seem to have a Plan B. There was also a streak of indiscipline about them. In terms of the balance from defence to attack though, the Liverpool team of 1987-88 with John Barnes at his prime would be ahead of them every time.

 

Dalglish created a fantastic football team with wingers and a goalscoring phenomenon that was John Aldridge. When Ian Rush, the best striker in the league, left for Italy, Kenny signed a player who not only looked like Rush but also scored like him and built the team around him.

 

I remember there was a collapsed sewer in the Kop during the summer of 1987 and Liverpool had to play three away games before Anfield was ready. I remember the first game was at Highbury when Peter Beardsley and Barnes set up Aldridge for the first goal. Then Steve Nicol scored with a 35-yard header for the winner.

 

It was strange not playing at Anfield but in a way it built up the anticipation among the fans because everyone wanted to see Barnes, Aldridge and Beardsley.

 

A couple of moments that stand out for me from that season include a goal at Anfield scored by Barnes against Queens Park Rangers which was something else and the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Anfield. I remember the great Tom Finney claiming it was the best performance ever and he should know.

 

I sometimes curse my luck and wish I could have covered more of the matches from that time than I did because it was early in my journalistic career. When I wasn't working, I went to a few of the games myself because that team for me was a pleasure to watch with Barnes sensational all season.

 

That team contained everything you need to make a wonderful football side - it had a tight defence, it had wonderful attacking football from midfield and great finishing from John Aldridge.

 

The sadness for Liverpool and for the rest of Europe was that this great team was not allowed to compete in the European Cup. Europe's loss was my gain though because watching a team like the 1987-88 one is what I got into this job for. Liverpool played beautiful, winning football and over 15 years on, I've yet to see another English team come close to matching them.

 

 

I was too young to see those sides so I stand by my comments.

[Guest PhilB]

Oh I see.  You writing this then is not worth the few seconds it took you to hit the keys?

 

"They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been."

 

Why comment on something you know fuck all about then?

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Oh I see.  You writing this then is not worth the few seconds it took you to hit the keys?

 

"They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been."

 

Why comment on something you know f*** all about then?

 

Perhaps I should have added "in my time watching football"

 

I know it pains the many Liverpool fans who consider that pass and move was invented by LFC, that in the last 20 years or so your sides have generally played unattractive football despite having some really good sides and indeed fantastic footballers.

 

For me the side Roy Evans was building at Liverpool played fantastic football, similar to the footy we played under KK, fast, direct (not long ball direct, direct as in wave afer wave of attacks) with pass and move and simple footy at the heart of it all. I used to love watching yous back then with Fowler and Mcmanaman. Fowler could have been one of the best ever but for injuries and lifestyle. He was shit hot back in the day.

[Guest PhilB]

Oh I see.  You writing this then is not worth the few seconds it took you to hit the keys?

 

"They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been."

 

Why comment on something you know f*** all about then?

 

Perhaps I should have added "in my time watching football"

 

I know it pains the many Liverpool fans who consider that pass and move was invented by LFC, that in the last 20 years or so your sides have generally played unattractive football despite having some really good sides and indeed fantastic footballers.

 

For me the side Roy Evans was building at Liverpool played fantastic football, similar to the footy we played under KK, fast, direct (not long ball direct, direct as in wave afer wave of attacks) with pass and move and simple footy at the heart of it all. I used to love watching yous back then with Fowler and Mcmanaman. Fowler could have been one of the best ever but for injuries and lifestyle. He was s*** hot back in the day.

 

You see this is where football fans should keep their comments to those about their own teams instead of preaching  about other teams.  Rafas '08 '09 team played some of the best football since Dalglish's last team, and his Valencia side were voted the best visiting team to Anfield, not only by the fans, but the players too, and that was before he became our manager.  It probably played it's part in Moores and Parry bringing him in.

 

I don't for one minute think we invented pass and move, but it rankles when I see some football ignorant person pontificating about something they don't have a clue about.

[TRon]

Oh I see.  You writing this then is not worth the few seconds it took you to hit the keys?

 

"They have never been a fluent footballing side like we were under KK or Sir Bobby or Man Utd and Arsenal have been."

 

Why comment on something you know f*** all about then?

 

Perhaps I should have added "in my time watching football"

 

I know it pains the many Liverpool fans who consider that pass and move was invented by LFC, that in the last 20 years or so your sides have generally played unattractive football despite having some really good sides and indeed fantastic footballers.

 

For me the side Roy Evans was building at Liverpool played fantastic football, similar to the footy we played under KK, fast, direct (not long ball direct, direct as in wave afer wave of attacks) with pass and move and simple footy at the heart of it all. I used to love watching yous back then with Fowler and Mcmanaman. Fowler could have been one of the best ever but for injuries and lifestyle. He was s*** hot back in the day.

 

You see this is where football fans should keep their comments to those about their own teams instead of preaching  about other teams.  Rafas '08 '09 team played some of the best football since Dalglish's last team, and his Valencia side were voted the best visiting team to Anfield, not only by the fans, but the players too, and that was before he became our manager.  It probably played it's part in Moores and Parry bringing him in.

 

I don't for one minute think we invented pass and move, but it rankles when I see some football ignorant person pontificating about something they don't have a clue about.

 

Wind your neck in mate, we had Dalglish as manager here at Newcastle and he turned KK's pass and move side into a bunch of defensive bruisers so you need to temper your rose tinted view with some perspective. HTT was right about Roy Evans side as well, it might have been flawed but they played some lovely stuff. I don't think he was intentionally slagging off Rafa by praising Evans side.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

So I shouldn't offer an opinion on which LFC side I regard as the best footballing LFC side I've seen, because, err, I've never seen the all? Fuck off! Rafa's sides in general played functional, defensive minded football based on percentages. A less crude version of Sam Allardyce football. Houllier was similar where as Dalglish's current side is neither hear nor there. Roy Evans' side played attractive attacking football, the best I've seen in my time, from a LFC side.