Learn English Through Football Podcast

Learn English Through Football Podcast


Main Report 20: Liverpool and Tottenham’s Seasons in 2009

December 24, 2009

[print_link] | Subscribe: Main Report Damon and Damian take a look back at the fortunes of their teams. The transcripts can be found below. Damian 2009 for the most part has been a good year for Tottenham. This time last year we were languishing in 15th place in the Premier League having had the club's worst start in its history and very much in a relegation dog fight. New manager Harry Rednapp had steadied the ship somewhat but there were still worries about the character of the team - particularly away from home as defeats at Wigan, Middlesbrough and Newcastle were to testify. Dumped out of the UEFA and FA Cups with weakened sides early on in the year, Spurs fans were worried that maybe Harry was somewhat out of his depth but he made some good signings, players that were big personalities both on and off the pitch. Back came Robbie Keane to captain the side, Jermaine Defoe to lead the attack and Wilson Palacios to bolster the midfield. In March, Spurs went to Wembley again, this time losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Carling Cup final. Tottenham finished 8th in the league which was almost perfect for Harry as he had lifted the club out of the drop zone but did not quite make it into the European places. No distractions then for the current season. Of course the club was busy during the summer transfer window - we always are - but yet again good quality was brought in, Krancjar and Crouch coming from Portsmouth. Darren Bent was transferred to Sunderland while players deemed to be lacking in character, that word again, will be on their way soon - Bentley, Pavylunchenko and Hutton for example. Currently the club lie in 5th place, two points behind the Champions League positions. They have had some notable victories already this season, 9-1 against a hapless Wigan side, good home wins against Man City and Liverpool and some very impressive attacking performances throughout. Defoe is scoring goals, Aaron Lennon is fulfilling promise, Gomes has calmed down in goal and we still have our best player to return in Luka Modric. However, they have been outclassed in three matches this season: Chelsea, Manchester United and loathe though I am to say it, Arsenal. There is still a long way to go but Tottenham have come a long way in 2009 and with strong character all around the club there is real optimism that this could be our year to make the breakthrough. Damon Well the second half of 2009 has been much much worse than the first. Liverpool are out of the Champions League, where much of their and Rafa Benitez's reputation has been made, and they are slipping away from the all important top four spots in the League - currently they lie in eighth place. Last season they finished strongly, including a glorious purple patch which included thrashing Real Madrid, real aristocrats of European football, 4-0 over two legs, arch-rivals Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford, ensuring the double over them, and 5-0 against Aston Villa. Compare that with losing 2-0 to bottom club Portsmouth in their last game and losing seven games before Christmas - famously last season they only lost two and still finished second! There is real pressure on Benitez and his players to turn things around. This was the season that they were meant to continue, if not build, on there second place finish and quarter-final finish in the Champions League. Oh how badly things have gone. Most people point to the fact that Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid after becoming disenchanted with his manager, others talk about the injuries suffered by Torres and Gerrard amongst others that have meant there has been no fluency, a red beach ball scoring against us has played its bizarre part, but it does look as though Liverpool's squad is just not good enough - particularly as big signings Glen Johnson at right back and Alberto Aquilani in midfield have not lived up to their price tags - the former because question marks still remain over his de...