Couldn't care less. You certainly don't seem to be defending him now.
How many managers slate players in public? Of course he's going to be encouraging and supportive. Anyway, he has to be - he was the one who bought him for an extortionate amount, hasn't got the best out of him, and isn't playing him. Besides, so many fans are keen to point out that Kenny doesn't actually say what he thinks in post-match conferences, so maybe he doesn't have faith.
I'll be perfectly honest and admit that I couldn't see the game so have only seen the replay. Looks like an awful dive but why would he do it? If he appeals for a penalty then yeah, it is... but I'm not sure that he does. He can be quite clumsy, and I think, unfortunately, he might've just tripped. I'll happily accept proof to the contrary but that makes most sense thus far, especially considering his reaction to the ref and then walking down the tunnel later on. If you had a chance to score against your old team to shut the fans up, wouldn't you be dying to take it? And don't say that he didn't have the bottle to score - what do you think happened tonight (and in other games where he's not only scored but scored important goals, e.g. Everton, Wolves)? Chances are he fell, regretted it (obviously) and then was labelled a diver and cheat, as well as not good enough (from our own, embarrassingly, as well as the opposition support and referee). No wonder he's annoyed. I don't necessarily disagree with what you have to say about Kenny being strong enough to stick to his convictions but in the position we were in it was still idiotic and did nothing to help him - then again, he's done little to help him all season.
After the time he's had at the club so far I don't blame him. 'Storming down the tunnel' - is that it? No other evidence to use against him? What a shock. Barely worth mentioning. We may as well have sold Gerrard for "questioning" a Torres sub under Benitez if that's what you're so offended by. And Kenny "rewarded" him with a start tonight... only because of a cup final, and left him out against Villa.
Oh and once again - even with ten men - Carroll starts: we win, he doesn't: we don't.
Not true, but okay. He's played a bit - in and out of the team. Destroyed City last season but was otherwise injured in a season where he was on course for over 20 league goals for Newcastle! Cup final is one of the only big games he's played in... dropped for most of the games against the big teams, and delivers when he isn't. Got the assist for the winning goal against Man Utd in the FA Cup otherwise we wouldn't have Saturday at all. Had a good run of form between January and March but was then inexplicably dropped (as well as very capably standing in for Suarez during his ban). We've had nothing to play for recently in the league and he has barely played... again, when he has, he's threatened and even scored the winning goal for us today.
And I bet you anything - just like Maxi (and maybe even Bellamy, sadly) - he won't start on Saturday, because Kenny inexplicably has his favourites who are far less dangerous.
There is nothing to defend, he had a good game. So why would I defend him after a good game? Thing is there is no grey area on this site, none. He is either shite or he is 'a beast'. When he is neither, he is a decent footballer, potentially a good one in the right formation, with the correct service and when he has his head together. And you might not be arsed, but I have backed him, consistently. I've already said on a number of occasions I haven't wanted a player to do well at Liverpool as much as I want Andy to since Lucas was getting the ridiculous criticism he got at the start of his Anfield career.
As for the incidents at St James' Park. He dived. It was hugely embarrassing for him and for the Club.
What happened when he went off was unprofessional, seriously unprofessional. He should have stuck around to support his teammates, but instead he stormed off down the tunnel. And as for the parallel to Gerrard's response to the Torres substitution against Birmingham, I thought that was terrible captaincy from him, he ought to have been a) supporting the young forward who had come on and b) respecting his managers decisions. I don't like seeing dissent amongst the ranks, not when a manager in under pressure and the Club is in a tough position. That applies to both instances, and I think both players were out of order. So I'm consistent to this end.
Managers publicly criticise players all of the time, you can look as far back as the weekend for Mancini's comments re: Ballotelli. Kenny has defended him to the hilt in the press and has given him a number of opportunities to prove himself. He has started on 24 occasions this season, and made a further 18 appearances from the bench, he is hardly underused. As for how you would characterise his performances during the Suarez ban, I'll agree to disagree. But he has featured in almost all of the 'big games' starting against Everton, Manchester United, and Cardiff City this season. Faith? Kenny has shown plenty of it.
As for the
'Carroll starts: we win. Carroll doesn't: we don't' argument, that is extremely simplistic, and as you are a fan of Gerrard comparisons; Liverpool have won just one league game in which Gerrard has started. Does that make him the problem? I doubt you'd agree to that...
