7 Feb 2012

LFC hero: He was great against one of the 'best players in the world'...

With Glen Johnson ahead of him in the Anfield pecking order, Martin Kelly has been warming the bench more often than not this season, which is a shame because he rarely lets Liverpool down when he plays. As a result of Jose Enrique's injury, Kelly got his chance against Spurs last night, and he was arguably one of the best players on the pitch. Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor was impressed with the youngster, especially with how he handled Gareth Bale.

Mellor played a hugely important role in helping Liverpool get to the Champions League final in 2005. In that infamous group phase game against Olympiakos, he scored the second goal, and then set-up Steven Gerrard's memorable winner.

Last night, Mello was back at Anfield co-commentating on the game for LFC TV, and he picked out Kelly as one of the game's most impressive players:

"Kelly did really well. He was up against Bale, one of the best players in the world at the moment, and he was very solid".

Last night, Bale definitely did not look like one of the 'best players in the world'; indeed, I'm struggling to remember a game against Liverpool where Bale has actually shown his true quality.

Liverpool are currently four points off fourth place, and if results go the club's way, that gap can hopefully be reduced, and Mellor believes that the point against Spurs keeps the club on track for the Champions League:

"For Liverpool, it is a good point towards that fourth place. It was important to keep the unbeaten run at Anfield this season, and it's more confidence building going into the big games for the rest of the month".

Given the form against the top sides this season, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Liverpool beat Man United at Old Trafford this Saturday; they've already list two home games this season, and Liverpool have one of the best away records in the league.

Jaimie Kanwar


17 comments:

  1. Spurs supporter here ...... maybe that might be because for all his strengths, Bale is a fair way still from being 'one of the best players in the world', except for the odd 20 minute burst here or there.

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  2. You can't remember a game against Liverpool when Bale showed his quality?
    How about the game at WHL earlier this season when Liverpool had two players sent off, primarily for kicking him every time he got the ball?
    Look, he can blow hot and cold, but don't overdo it!

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  3. The sort of laughable hype that leads to clubs paying 35 mill for mediocrity

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  4. Lets put this too bed SKELATOR  shouldered him into the advertising boards and after that he was not the same all night.   Last season he suffered with his back and the way he got up he looked like he tinged it again then the same player nearly snapped is shin with a  studs up tackle and left a scar across his shin. So don't judge him on last night because if Spurs players held onto the ball for a second too long there legs went with the ball he is still 22 and missed a lot of football with ankle problems with dirty tackles from an early age and he still fears side on tackles like the one the Birmingham player did  and ended is season that year.   This was why he went down when Agger went to Tackle he feared another ankle knock so he went down first and Agger pulled his boot away and Bale got a yellow card this was better than a busted  ankle . The lad is class but our attack was blunted and he still could have won it if he had not taken the ball away from the centre of the goal and narrowed his angle a fully fit Bale would have gone round the keeper and scored but a badly bruised leg never helped his cause . Coys

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  5. Excellent article Jamie,
    You got my word buddy,
    Kelly really needs to be more appreciated, I mean really look at that cross for Carrol, or that powerful strike to the Kop end!
    Just beautiful(beats the hell out of that downing guy!)

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  6. kelly is top class, he has it all, hopefully from his point of view it may take him to the euros. kelly right back with johnson right wing, simple.
    bale is a brilliant player without dought but the press make him out to be alot better than he constantly is, with big money move to madrid etc.
    the boys done a top job on him last night, hell of a tackle from skrtel whch did not warrant a yellow. should have got 3 points. its that final third of the pitch that remains a constant issue

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  7. Definitely time to play Kelly at right back and Johnson at right midfield, what are they waiting for, why haven't they tried that already? Thought Johnson played well at left back as well, to be honest.

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  8. Mellor never a legend never a hero a bit part player never good enough and soon forgotten

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  9. And that is why he will never be one of the best. He plays with fear. You either fall all the time like Ronaldo, Torres and Drogba, or you brave the violence and push on like Suarez and Rooney. For all his knee problems, Bellamy still sprints his socks off. Bale just doesn't have the bottle to become one of the best. Like our own Glen Johnson and Stewart Downing, Gareth Bale is frail mentally.

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  10. Kinda tough, he has Johnson, Walker and Richards ahead of him. He may have done better than Walker in front of Capello, but Johnson's ability to excel on either flank will definitely rank him top in Capello's books. That said, it would take players like Richards(who also started off as a centreback), Johnson and Walker to keep him out of the national side - says it all about his calibre. Walker is possibly the fastest, Richards the biggest goal threat going forward, Johnson for experience and all round ability, Kelly for his crosses.

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  11. I am so sorry but Gareth Bale is 22 years old- that is 22 YEARS OLD! He is still learning- it is ok for you to sit and say he is not mentality this and not mentality that- are you his mind? Do you know what players say to him during the game goes on? Liverpool are one team that treat him really badly- to be honest everyone talks about Stoke, well Liverpool are not far off in terms of being a very strong and physical team although you play better football than Stoke. Downing has never and would never score a goal how much more a hatrick in the champions league and Glen Johnson will loose his England place to kids. Please do not compare. Mentality is something you gain from experience and Bale is getting that now by playing an important part in a team trying to win the title. Bale had a bad game- are you telling me Rooney doesnt have a bad game? Gerrard? Ronaldo? Everyone does, even you and me have bad days-we are not bad at our jobs just because one day does not go according to plan does it. Its hard to even critisize Bale, he has scored goals, assisted goals and worked hard. Thats all we want to see!

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  12. What is the point of this comment?  

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  13. bale got a yellow card not because he pulled away from a tackle and fell. he got it because he dived and protested to the ref. he is a very good player but he has got what he deserved.

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  14. That's what i was thinking!
    Re-read Jaimie's post. Mellor scored one and set up Gerrard in the final group game against Olympiacos, no Mellor that night = no trophy. Simples.

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  15. Of course everyone has bad games, but at 22, or even before, no one could ever say Rooney was frail mentally, nor Carroll, nor Suarez, how about Wilshere or Fabregas? It's not about a good day or bad day, and we aren't even talking about a handicap. Compared to the very best, Bale is frail mentally. Maybe his mental state is normal like the rest of us, but those who are the very best have a superior mindset that doesn't seem to know fear.

    It was also expected he'd get some pretty rough treatment. Most attackers do. The English premier league is a very physical league. Why do you think ruffians like Carroll and Rooney are so expensive to sign? They exhibit qualities we'd typically see in defenders - most of whom look and behave like thugs on the pitch.

    The work put in by players isn't just to attack. A large part of it is defending, and although it isn't pretty to watch, it is hard work nonetheless, and as much as most fans want to see goals and assists, some of us also appreciate the defensive work of the teams we support. These guys are professionals, and like other experts in their fields, they will use whatever means at their disposal to do their jobs, and for defenders, it means having to do alot of dirty work on the pitch. It's not just Liverpool or Stoke, and you would expect top managers to brief their defenders to give dangerous attackers a very good welcome - our Suarez gets it all the time.

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  16. Given Johnson's age and ability it will be hard pressed for Kelly in terms of game time if there aren't any injuries. Which is unfortunate because he is a fantastic prospect and is in the age zone where playing week in, week out - he will develop so much more. The only solution is that we qualify for UCL football. More games, greater ability to rotate and spread the workload.

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