The Soccer Blog: Daniel Agger, Dani Pacheco, and Other Friday Notes

Saturday, 4 December 2010

Daniel Agger, Dani Pacheco, and Other Friday Notes

By: Noel | December 3rd, 2010
agger

Well, that was a bit of an odd week for Liverpool, from a well-fought loss to Spurs where the club came away with nothing after putting on the kind of display we’ve all wanted to see on a regular basis to yesterday’s Europa League match where we came away with the top spot in the group after the kind of dull and sorry display we’d all hoped to have long since seen the back of. So it goes.

And so we move on to a few pieces of club news to wrap up the work week…

* They’re staying, then they’re going. We’re understaffed, we’re overstaffed. He’ll fight for his place, he’s moving to Malaga. Given how often Roy Hodgson seems to change his mind it’s little surprise that such uncertainty has permeated downwards, but at least today that uncertainty about just what the hell is going on leads to some flips and flops in a positive direction. In short, Dani Pacheco and Martin Kelly have both just signed contract extensions through 2014. Which means they’re both seen as the club’s future by somebody in charge. Who might be Hodgson. Unless it’s Comolli. And unless it’s just so they can be sold for a larger fee in January. But then if Pacheco had been looking to get out of the club he’d hardly be going out of his way to increase his transfer value and make that less likely. So yeah.

* Elsewhere in players thought to be on their way out news, Daniel Agger has helped remind everybody why they’re so fond of the Danish defender (aside from his footballing ability and tattoos, of course). At times a player being outspoken can come across as foolhardy or just plain foolish, but ever since Agger was the first to stand up and fight for the club during last summer’s chaos it’s been hard not to nod along with his occasionally aggressive but heartfelt messages. Which is all to say that Daniel Agger has said a few things that I’m going to quote:

Liverpool can’t force me out of the club even if they want to as I have got four years left on my contract.

I expect Roy Hodgson to have the guts to tell me face to face if he doesn’t want me and he hasn’t said that.

I suppose some might feel their delicate sensibilities have been ruffled by such blunt honesty, but it’s been clear for quite some time now that Liverpool is where Agger wants to be, and in a sport full of celebrity gossip and rumours leaked by agents I have to say I find it more than a bit refreshing.

* And to finish wrapping up Thursday’s Steaua match, Roy has–as the official site puts it–offered up his verdict. Spoiler alert: he’s thrilled.

It’s good for me to know the work we’re doing day in, day out on the training field is having some effect and the players are getting more and more comfortable with what we’re trying to do, even those that maybe don’t play every week.

I suppose it is good to see him praising the “b team,” but I can’t help but find it worrisome that he’s so happy the players are finally taking his tactics and training to heart. Passive defending and hoofmania: the lads are finally buying in! Next year’s Carling Cup will be ours!

In the meantime, apropos of nothing, have some of Stephen Fry. And if by chance you find yourself looking at this page at two in the morning in an altered state of mind, just keep hitting next video. You’re welcome…

Some Related Liverpool Posts:More Dani Pacheco GoodnessFriday News and RamblingsRoy Gets Something Right and Friday Cache ClearingHodgson Presser and Friday Wrap-UpQuick Friday Thoughts and News Run-Down

Category: Team News

Tags: Dani Pacheco, Daniel Agger, Go Do One, Martin Kelly, Roy Hodgson, Team News
« The Return of Robbie Keane | Home | KTIs it just me, or does Stephen Fry look eerily alike to Hodgson?SimonI, and I think many regular readers of this fine blog, would thoroughly appreciate a brief bio of its authors, purely for curiosity's sake. I am intrigued as to what moulds a mind like Noel's, and what it is that Ed does to put the bacon on the table. Use it, don't use it...MikeI don't care much for a bio, although I'm curious as to where they are from.Tom FooleryI think they are both part-time mad scientists working on creating a Frankenstien creature in order to implement it as the new manager of LFC thus spawning a new era for the club that could actually accommodate to the intellectuals who support the club despite the madness that encompasses it....or they're just mad without the scientist part. But, really not a bad idea. I mean its not everyday you come across a football blog sprinkled with pop-culture references (that I actually get) and Vonnegut-esque transitions. So it goes.EdI mostly just watch lots of Jeopardy whilst cursing Alex Trebeck and drinking whiskey apple ciders.

Is there more to it than that?NoelThe reality is never as interesting as all the potential unrealities could be. But I do enjoy a bowl of pickled hot peppers as a tasty snack, and I also display moderate symptoms of Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioophthalmic Outburst Syndrome. Though that isn't related to eating hot peppers. I think. And most of that is true, as far as I'm aware, although I suspect I am a highly unreliable narrator.EdDunno if the Agger quotes are legit, but I don't care.GalahadThreepwoodSame here...I think I remember reading somewhere that ClickLiverpool belongs among the dubious-veracity sites, like Caught Offside and Tribal Football. (I think I've linked to some of their stories myself, though, so pot to kettle...)NoelIt does seem a situation where translation could have tweaked the tone, though like with the last controversial set of comments from him I rather expect the core message isn't far from the truth. And maybe it's hypocritical of me, but I do get a bit of a kick out of the idea of Agger telling Hodgson he'll be here after he's left the club &etc.ChrisLFCI love the Agger comments. I'm all for blunt honesty, particularly from a player with obvious passion for his club. I'll be very upset if we don't seem him again soon. (and you don't want to make me upset!) ;)blog comments powered by Disqus