Smicer is worried

And so to another perennial underperformer, Vladimir Smicer. Yet again another season of failed performances by him as we still await him to ‘adjust to the Premiership.’

The Czech International has also got involved in some of the transfer speculation. He said “It would be good for the club to get Damien Duff. That’s the kind of player we need.”

“The manager is looking for new players and that’s right, but I don’t know what that will mean for me. I really want to stay at Liverpool but we’ll have to wait and see what the manager decides.

“We have to play better football next season. There are no excuses. We didn’t do as well as we expected and we must all accept the responsibility as a team.

“We set targets for ourselves to win the Premiership and do well in the Champions League. To finish so many points behind Manchester United means no-one can say it has been a good season.

“We should have done a lot better and we must take the blame. Everybody has to play their part next year.”

“When I had a bad game I took stick from the fans and they were right. I deserved the criticism,” he said.

“I played some bad games. There were times when I was so disappointed with myself and for the suppor ter s because I knew I could play better.

“What was frustrating for me was I kept getting injured playing for my country. It happened three times. I thought I ended the previous year well and started this season in good form. I felt really sharp after the summer.

“Then I broke my toe and missed two months. I never felt the same. There were good moments for me, like against Basle and Charlton, but I was unhappy with myself in other games.

“I thought my best games were in a more central position, but it’s hard for the manager because since I’ve been at Liverpool every midfield player has wanted to play in the centre. I understand that. For the Czech team I play behind one striker or two.”

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