Garcia: The New Dalglish?

midget lord

Garcia guile gives Anfield a reminder of Dalglish
By Phil Shaw
17 September 2004


European football, in its truest sense, returned to Anfield in the 2-0 win over Monaco which saw Liverpool plant the red flag on the Group A summit. While the goals by Djibril Cissé and Milan Baros each highlighted a different strand of the striking arts, the craft and cunning of Luis Garcia did most to send the crowd home happy.

Garcia, 26, was born a month after Kenny Dalglish conjured the goal against Bruges at Wembley by which Liverpool retained the European Cup in 1978. These are early days in his new life and Garcia is slight whereas the Scot was strong, yet many present on Wednesday were reminded of Dalglish's clever linking of midfield and attack.

On his arrival from Barcelona for £6m, Garcia was dubbed "the beach boy" by the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez. Although the epithet was a comment on his easy-going lifestyle - Benitez first worked with his compatriot at Tenerife - it could easily have been a tribute to his capacity for sweet harmony with an advanced forward. Cissé and Baros have so far struggled to forge a partnership. Garcia, however, has demonstrated the ability to dovetail with either the Frenchman or the Czech from a withdrawn role, rather as Dalglish, relying on speed of thought more than pace, did with Ian Rush. In fact, Garcia cites Michael Laudrup, formerly the creative hub of Barcelona, as his role model - and Benitez as his mentor. "He has always shown a lot of faith in me," said Garcia, "and the fact that I gave up my home and family in Barcelona to come to Merseyside shows the faith I have in him." The other captures from Spain, Xabi Alonso and Josemi, may be less easy on the eye, but each contributed handsomely.

Alonso's passing range made the £10.5m recruit from Real Sociedad a more positive foil for Steven Gerrard than Dietmar Hamann while Josemi, a £2m buy from Malaga, was sound at right-back. Liverpool's next group game is against Olympiakos, followed by back-to-back encounters with Deportivo La Coruña, but they scarcely have time to look ahead.

On Monday, they visit Manchester United, where the atmosphere should go some way towards establishing whether Garcia's talent is complemented by the necessary temperament and toughness.


From the Independent


A bit early to be making comparisons to the King, but nice to see us being talked about positively in the media.

The Rooster

He's certainly started well, scored 2 very good goals, but missed a couple of sitters too.

I hope Xabi keeps his place for the Mancs game, but I fear Hamann will come in.

Josemi is certainly the best right back at the club. Not dissimilar to Henize in style of play. Probably not as good, but not as expensive either.

Big Nelly

2-3 seasons of consistant play and then maybe! I seem to remember that after his first game that Diouf was been hailed as the next Folwer after he scored 2 goals in his first game.....saying that he was a bargain at 10 mil....blah blah blah.....look how he turned out!!

Has done ok so far but has only played 2-3 games?? You have to love the press! no transfers so they just make comparisons then when he fails they all slag the player off!

midget lord

Thats exactly it BN, two bad games and they will label him the new heskey.

The Muppet

Rubbish he's the first Garcia (at anfield anyway). I don't agree with comparing players to the legends of old. The game has changed so much and sometimes I wonder just how good the old players would do in the much quicker less physical game of today. Thats taking nothing away from Kenny he was an exceptional talent in his day.

mayordenis

Big Nelly wrote:

I seem to remember that after his first game that Diouf was been hailed as the next Folwer after he scored 2 goals in his first game.....saying that he was a bargain at 10 mil....blah blah blah.....look how he turned out!!
!

yeah diouf could of been one of the best strikers ever in the premiership without a doubt he has everything except the backing of a manager. poor fella - technically excellent.

p.pete

I'll go along with Muppet on this one. I think the new Dalgluish (his son) is struggling in Newcastles reserves as far as I remember. We've had a string of players over the last 10 years who've been hyped up to be the new somebody or other and it's all pointless talk because if a player is going to be that exceptional then he's going to leave his own mark - there won't be a need for comparisons. Aside from the fact that most Liverpool players who've been compared to people in the last 10 years have flopped.

We still have the new Vieira (Diao) sitting on our bench.

Big Nelly

p.pete wrote:

I'll go along with Muppet on this one. I think the new Dalgluish (his son) is struggling in Newcastles reserves as far as I remember. We've had a string of players over the last 10 years who've been hyped up to be the new somebody or other and it's all pointless talk because if a player is going to be that exceptional then he's going to leave his own mark - there won't be a need for comparisons. Aside from the fact that most Liverpool players who've been compared to people in the last 10 years have flopped.

We still have the new Vieira (Diao) sitting on our bench.

Daglish is playing for Huddersfield or a team similiar in League 1/2

p.pete

Big Nelly wrote:

Daglish is playing for Huddersfield or a team similiar in League 1/2

Cheers
Think he was on Liverpools books ages ago and I'm pretty sure he was on Newcastles although I admit I'd have been surprised if he still was.