Author Topic: Nico sharpening up.... (Read 4457 times)

hoonin · « **on:** March 2, 2002, 06:52:26 pm »

2 crucial goals in 2 PL games for Anelka now.

For a player who is getting limited chances so far he is making a good case for himself. I hope he is happy to play second fiddle to Owen and Heskey for the remainder of the season as thats the way i think it will go. Having said that, his attitude so far seems to be spot on. It must be hard for a player hoping to make the World Cup to sit patiently for his chances.

I've been very impressed with what i have seen of him, he seems determined to prove a few people wrong (which he shouldn't need to to!) and looks well suited to our game. He's quick, skillful, has a good touch and can finish..... and just as important he looks like he's up for it in a red shirt (remember the little set-too he had with Weir last week!).

I hope we take the option to sign him. Theres not many young talented forwards available at the moment, but we have first takes on one of the best.

What does everyone else think. Is it too early for us to commit to him? Based on what you've seen does he fit in?

[ Goal Litmanen!!!!

]

mark s · « **Reply #1 on:** March 2, 2002, 07:07:04 pm »

i agree he is starting to look good and hopefully we do sign him on a permanent basis next season

Curly Tom · « **Reply #2 on:** March 2, 2002, 07:19:35 pm »

I heard he was going to arsenal!

KFC · « **Reply #3 on:** March 2, 2002, 07:27:47 pm »

Noway jose baby...... Nico is ours.

BTW I heard O'Leary is looking at offloading some of his players and Kewell is included -- it would be nice if we could give him the No.7 shirt that he adores for so long.

You asked me how about Vladi?? Well I think we have given him enough chances and he can really complain for losing his place -- I am actually glad Barmby has come on.

hoonin · « **Reply #4 on:** March 2, 2002, 10:09:23 pm »

Believe me, if O'Dreary is forced to sell players at the end of the year, Kewell will not be coming to us. I dont think they'll sell him unless they get an un-refusable offer, something stupid like 25-30 mill - which is out of our league (thankfully! Ged could get 2 or 3 players for that).

Curly, stop reading the Sunday Mirror, full of bollocks

MJN · « **Reply #5 on:** March 2, 2002, 11:04:25 pm »

Nico would be a good permanent signing, but I though le boss was going for this French kid cisee?

Dave_W · « **Reply #6 on:** March 2, 2002, 11:11:56 pm »

Think Cisse's club are asking silly money - supposed to be a class act, but did I hear something about £10mill plus? Lot of money for an 18-year-old in any case. Pongolle is only a year or so younger, so there's not as if there's a great need for 'young' strikers at the club anyway IMO.

Oh, and Gareth, Ged could get an entire TEAM for £25-£30mill

GedKicksIce · « **Reply #7 on:** March 2, 2002, 11:15:58 pm »

Quote

Nico would be a good permanent signing, but I though le boss was going for this French kid cisee?

Le Boss won't pay the crazy money Auxerre want though. I'm sure he'd love to sign Cisse, but he isn't going to splash out 25 mill + on him - if that is what Auxerre REALLY think they will get. I think they will have to lower their price mind - unless someone like money bags Real Madrid just send the transfer market even crazier by paying it

:

Anyway - back to Nico - I'd love for him to stay. He's really impressed me. Firstly with his attitude. He's looked happy as anything, and Thommo keeps raving about his saying he's doing great, and is very happy here. And also his work rate has REALLY impressed me. Plus now, he's reaping the rewards with 2 big goals.

And after all Nico is only 22 (or 23?) anyway, so even if he can't get Cisse at the right price, in Anelka he'd still get a very talented young player.

GedKicksIce · « **Reply #8 on:** March 2, 2002, 11:19:12 pm »

Quote

Think Cisse's club are asking silly money - supposed to be a class act, but did I hear something about £10mill plus? Lot of money for an 18-year-old in any case. Pongolle is only a year or so younger, so there's not as if there's a great need for 'young' strikers at the club anyway IMO.

Oh, and Gareth, Ged could get an entire TEAM for £25-£30mill

never mind £10 mill plus - they want 25 mill plus for him

Oh, did you hear that Florent Sinama-Pongolle is out for the rest of the season

He's been taken ill with monuncleosis which is a bad flu like virus - but it lasts a whole lot longer.

Dave_W · « **Reply #9 on:** March 2, 2002, 11:22:35 pm »

Thanks GKI - couldn't remember how much exactly, just remember thinking 'no way'

when I read the amount.

Hadn't heard about Pongolle, that's a real shame for the lad - particularly after his performances in the U17 World Cup last summer

Steve C · « **Reply #10 on:** March 3, 2002, 12:29:57 am »

Great goal today.

Great performance.

Worked hard.

Scored a good goal.

Got great fan support.

Im happy.

TheKid. · « **Reply #11 on:** March 3, 2002, 12:51:44 am »

He's a class act, what more can we say!!

GedKicksIce · « **Reply #12 on:** March 3, 2002, 02:10:11 am »

Quote

Hadn't heard about Pongolle, that's a real shame for the lad - particularly after his performances in the U17 World Cup last summer

yeah, it's a real shame eh. What with Ged and Markus having such bad illnesses, now Florent Sinama has got a real nasty virus... what else do our lads have to go through

Brick Tamland · « **Reply #13 on:** March 3, 2002, 04:41:09 pm »

I've been impressed with what I've seen so far of Nico and Steve reports that his partnership with Heskey looks 'good'. This may help take some weight off Owen's shoulders if and when he is in need of rest. I would like to see Anelka start with Heskey against the Geordies, but you can't really leave Michael out against them can you? - 12 goals in 6 games isn't it?

Sleeve · « **Reply #14 on:** March 4, 2002, 03:25:18 pm »

Poor Pongolle. Mind you, what has he been up to. Mononucleosis = Glandular Fever and we all know how you get that! Hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Gojedo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 4, 2002, 10:57:27 pm »

I's a bit sceptical at first when he came to Liverpool because of his previous track record(attitude wise at least) but he seem to have adapted well and by all accounts is playing well. I'd like to see him stay for another season and build on from this one.

cain · « **Reply #16 on:** March 4, 2002, 11:39:04 pm »

When he has beeen on the pitch I have been really impressed with his work rate and his ability to stay on two feet....
He deserves more time !
(And better service)

:

MNAA · « **Reply #17 on:** March 7, 2002, 07:52:40 am »

There is no doubt about Anelka. He's simply magnificent! He gives you the comfort that we can rest Owen (if we need to) without losing a beat upfront.

Houllier is a genius who has outsmarted everyone again. Bringing Anelka to Anfield is a masterstroke of the highest order.

Shaky Jake · « **Reply #18 on:** March 7, 2002, 11:45:53 am »

Anelka was bloody marvellous last night!!! I hope that he keeps this up and signs for us in the summer. I hope his old attitude problems don't crop up again. :-/

Allez Nic!!!

Pheeny · « **Reply #19 on:** March 7, 2002, 01:11:08 pm »

The thing is he looks as if he's enjoying his footy again whitch was not the case at Real!

Steve C · « **Reply #20 on:** March 7, 2002, 02:30:04 pm »

Kinell, he was superb last nite.

Give him a couple more games, and he could be frightening.

Think he could be the key factor in the Title run in...

Fanxxxxtastic · « **Reply #21 on:** March 7, 2002, 02:40:01 pm »

Nico is looking sharper with every game he plays. I'm praying that we manage to sign him up at the end of the season.

hoonin · « **Reply #22 on:** March 7, 2002, 02:59:57 pm »

Agreed, he's had a good little run in the team recently and is looking better with each game. He was was the best player on the pitch last night by a long way.

Its hard to describe how good he was for that 90 mins. He looks so up for it at the moment.

His movement, his aggressive running with the ball, his pace, his willingness to work openings for team mates. Excellent stuff. I hope he can continue this till the end of the year. With Owen looking doubtful the chance is there for Nico to keep impressing.

Credit must go to himself for having the determination to suceed, but also the managment for bringing him in and coaxing him out of his shell.

4pool · « **Reply #23 on:** March 7, 2002, 03:14:06 pm »

Do you think Houllier whispering French in his ear at Melwood before the Newcastle match had anything to do with Nic's performance?

Let's hope it continues....

Andy · « **Reply #24 on:** March 7, 2002, 03:28:19 pm »

i am well pleased nico is in such great form, hope he wins us the league (along with the other 20+ professionals we got o'course).

having him on a permanent contract would be fantastic, but there is always the question of money. how much do you think Ged would be willing to pay.

i think PSG paid over 20 mil for him didn't they? and they would want to recupe as much as poss. maybe they would look for about £15 mil? especially as he has settled well and is now in great form.

with hesk, owen, baros, jari plus the french lads and any reserve/youth players in a couple of years, is it worth paying that much?

...none of which detracts from his contribution this season. he is proving again what a great player he is.

god bless the genius of Ged

Shaky Jake · « **Reply #25 on:** March 7, 2002, 04:06:54 pm »

I posted on another thread that I beleived Anelka was strictly a stop-gap for this season only. My reasoning was that if he doesn't perform, we don't want him. If he does perform he'll be too expensive.

But somebody replied that a fee has already been agreed for him as part of the loan deal and I guess, if true it means he can't bugger off to another club after the World Cup.

Is this definitely the case? Any info?

joepunter · « **Reply #26 on:** March 7, 2002, 04:17:55 pm »

we have a deal with psg whereby we take him on loan till the end of the season, at which point we can decide whether we want to buy him at a pre-arranged price (i think around £14m) or let him go back to psg. if we want to buy him neither psg nor another club can stop us, provided we stump up the £14mill or whatever. if we don't want to buy him i'm sure someone else - arsenal for example - will be only too happy to take him.

this is quite a good article about anelka with a bunch of amusing quotes at the end

http://www.setanta.com/azsport/story.jsp?story=WCContent;id-38295

Craig S · « **Reply #27 on:** March 7, 2002, 04:53:06 pm »

Did you see him when he clapped the Kop after singing his name?
He forgot about the match and didnt realised he was in an offside position

cain · « **Reply #28 on:** March 7, 2002, 05:21:04 pm »

Sharp as a Mach 3....
Hungrier than a starved Hyena....
He was ****in awesome and my man of the match ....
Lets have more of the same Nic

hoonin · « **Reply #29 on:** March 7, 2002, 05:21:58 pm »

The fee i have heart quoted on numerous occasions is £13M, not a great deal for a player of his calibre.

I would be very suprised if Houllier agreed to take him on loan without agreeing the permanent terms in advance. Not even the worst business man in the world would be that dumb surely

dan17 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 7, 2002, 06:16:51 pm »

Although we do have a lot of strikers we should sing him, owen and heskey need a rest from time to time and anelka is top class. litmanen won't go on for ever and the young trio (baros, and the french lads) won't be ready for a good few years. i say buy him!

MJN · « **Reply #31 on:** March 8, 2002, 02:24:22 am »

I knew he was fast, but having seen him in the newcastle match I think his a bit faster than MO or heskey.

Now that is f***** fast!!!

Shaky Jake · « **Reply #32 on:** March 8, 2002, 10:59:38 am »

He's always been an incredible talent. But...

Spookily... there was a thread asking for people's most hated players just a few weeks before we signed him.

One of mine (before we were even linked with him, let me say!) was Anelka! I think I wrote something about him "doing a Collymore" and wasting his talent through having a terrible attitude. That is still my biggest fear. He is 30+ millions quid's worth of striker if he can just settle at a club and sort his head out. If we get him for 13 million then that's amazing.

It was a great team peformance against Newcastle, but he was man of the match. Quick, strong, powerful, great first touch, good link play. The works. His shot that was tipped onto the bar by Given was even "Folweresque", ´he just turned and shot so quickly and unexpectedly.

When playing for Madrid he was a very selfish player. In the end he fell out with the manager because he felt the team was not sufficiently focussed around him- that he was often asked to hold the ball up and work the wings. He didn't like that!

But the other night he was popping up all over the front line. He was also, in the last third of the match very good at retaining possession. Holding the ball up. Looking for openings and then laying it back into midfield when nothing obvious was on. He'd obviously been told to keep it tight and he was doing that. The old Nic would've gone for personal glory every time.

So yeah. Things are looking good for him. There are signs his attitude is improved. Fingers crossed that Ged is the man to guide him on to great things... in a red shirt.

Author Topic: Nico sharpening up.... (Read 4457 times)

hoonin

hoonin

Pheeny

hoonin

hoonin