Nice blog Gerry! Its true that Rieras form has dipped lately! I did read some where that, he said that when he first arrived he didnt know the other players and wanted to impress them. He then said that he seemed to fit in quite quickly into the team and City and that he now felt settled. Perhaps this has had something to do with it, perhaps he feels he doent need to impress anymore??

Good Blog Gerry, Like you I have thought for awhile now that Ferdinand and Vidic are over-rated as the best Centre backs in Europe, and Torres showed on Saturday that with his pace not many people can live with him.
It’s a joy to watch the Lad play, he has a footballers brain, he knows what he’s going to do
even before the ball comes into him.
I always enjoyed watching Cruyff play, because he had that same ability , his vision was just brilliant.
Torres can only get better and better.
I hope he can get some time off this summer,
and next season we will really start to see
him become the best Centre forward in the World.

Hopefully the Lads will get some rest this week
and get to heal some of these niggling injuries.

By the way, I forgot to mention this in the blog but we once again made the shortlist for this years Best Football Blog in the Football Fanzine Awards. Just like last time I’ve got to send them three past blogs for the judges to have a look at.
I was so proud of winning it last year that my missus said when I kick the bucket shes going to put my ashes in it. Now that she’s heard we’ve made the shortlist again this year she reckons it might be useful to win another one because I’ve put on a bit of weight since then!
Anyway, I’m trying to decide which ones to send them so if there are any ones from this season that you particularly liked let me know I’d appreciate it.

‘Scumbag millionaire’!! Brilliant! Just brilliant!….

Scumbag Millionaire, hahahahaha. I wonder if all the scripwriters are Liverpool fans?

Responding to some comments in the last blog:

To FS’s comments concerning Cruyff, to be fair to the guy, it wasn’t him that called us “shit on a stick”, it was Jorge Valdano, writing for the Marca, the Real Madrid propaganda mouthpiece. Well, joke’s on him now that we’ve shoved that stick full of shit right down his throat.

Some people seem to think Liverpool is able to run on auto-pilot all the time, regardless of who is the manager. Sure, we have a sizeable chunk of fanatical supporters, a well-known name, and a good culture (sort of), but so does Newcastle, Spurs, Leeds, West Ham, the list goes on.

Honestly, do you think these alone will win us trophies after trophies? We now have an excellent pilot in Rafa that can actually make this plane we’re on climb even higher. Rather than just flying above the sea level. His improving league record year by year – fact, as well as his already stellar Champions League record – also fact, speaks for itself.

Hyde makes a very good comment on why Rafa would eventually win the league, because it’s just simple logic. Ferguscum has been riding his luck for far too long now, and when push comes to shove, he hides his sorry arse and refuses to talk to media, lest they expose his flaws even more.

PS Hyde, quite surprised to see the Japanese being objective in their comments. Most of the Asian media seems to be biased towards the Scum as well, I read a headline in Hong Kong that says “Ferguson probably thought the title race was not exciting enough, and so purposely lost to give his opponents some false hope”. The denial these goons go into can sometimes be so hilariously pathetic.

So, that does it, I’m moving to Japan, lol. (Don’t worry about the language, I speak Japanese just fine, having studied for years. )

Good Luck entering Denmark Gerry!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. the draws were not down to any lack of tactical nouse, team selection, or stubbornness on Rafa’s part.

Last season BennyOnion got into double figures.
Kuyt and Babel both came close to that mark. This season non of the above have come close to that tally.
One more goal from each of them would mean 6 more points on the board.

And that is well before we get into how many games Torres and SG have missed.
Or how many points we’d have if Keane, (who Rafa supposedly didn’t play enough,) would have scored just 2 or 3 more goals, in all the countless goal-drought minutes he did play!

So yeah, maybe the title is a bridge too far this season… but how anyone can call it a failed season is beyond me.

Challenging for the title, was the mantra of last summer.
Well we challenged for it right up until the New Year, then let it slip, and have now put some pressure back on.

Good blog, gerry, as everyone is pointing out, Scumbag millionare is a classic!! As I did the previous time around, I am going to be thinking hard about your best blogs.

Kinny, you speak Japanese!? Wow, wud luv to have someone on board over here, it is very lonely!
I was actually having a certain channel and a certain commentator in mind on Cable TV (J sports, and this incredible guy called Kurashiki who I have the utmost respect for). 90% of the main stream media is, as you rightly point out, the mancs and chelshit crazy. And barca. It pisses me off. There is this disgusting footy program on Sat evening where they have a short corner dubbed “This week’s Ronaldo” (it used to be this weeks ronaldinho when barca was on fine form), where they show those show-boating and annoying free-kicks, even ones that go in due to crap goal-keeping. As if there is only one player on the planet for, ffs. I am having a hard time preaching why I support liverpool, but I am slowly starting to win over some of my colleagues over here. I could do with some help though!

Our performance was astonishing. I for one didn’t feel we’d lose that game, not after watching the scrappy win over cowardly Inter. That game, also at OT gave me lots of hope for our clash.

I think Riera did his share of defensive work but I don’t know why he’s stopped playing on the flank. But then again, I saw an interchange of passes, right on the left flank, between Riera and fabulous Aurelio.

We might have used route one, which I’ve heard raised by some, but I tell you we still had this season’s one touch on-the-ball movement. I have thought, just like Gerry, that Man U has been accorded too much respect by opponents. We can’t beat them coz they’re Man U……..well, Arsenal and Liverpool don’t think so at all. Route one, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, are all tactics and there’s nothing wrong with trying till they work.

Does anyone still seriously think Rafa should be replaced? We’ve gone back to the Boot Room philosophy of hardworking, technical, good passers, with an overall eye for the team (first), and a penchant for goal. Like Shankly, Rafa believes in his players and gives chances liberally, with Dossena a prime example. Oh, he’s too fat, he’s too slow, he’s this and that…..let’s hear the same crowd criticize two goals in as many matches.

While controversial, Keano’s departure might be more than him being a ‘Parry buy’. It might come down to attitude, not unlike Crouchie’s.

Again, for the Liverpool-are-a-two-man-team- brigade, we played initially with our ‘two’ then without them. And for good measure, so did we play without Arby and Alonso!

We’ve improved massively in five years, even more than Moyes’ seven years across Merseyside. RB’s record far outstrips SAF’s first seven years equivalent!

Kudos to Centurion Rafa and I also pray you keep losing it even more!

Gerry, I’d put this blog and the “When Good Kops Turn Bad” blog as 2 definites to submit. This one is one of your funniest I’ve seen, and the Good Kop Turns Bad blog was a fantastic piece on what it means to support our great club. Choose your own favourite for the 3rd.

“Apeboy Rooney is a person who makes it easy to understand why some mammals eat their own young. He’s the kind of footballer who doesn’t know the meaning of the word fear, in fact he doesn’t know the meaning of most words.” — Fucking hilarious!

I think Babel deserves to take Riera’s starting spot on the left from now. He’s looked good lately and Riera has done nothing for ages. I understand Riera starting against Man U, but I think we’ll see Babel on the scoresheet before too long if we give him the runouts – or a lot of assists.

Scumbag millionaire! Awesome !!!

Also a point of contention is this:

Why was Agbonlahor’s booing by the AV fans on the field made into a headline news and not that of Lucas’s? Because he’s English? If Agbonlahor’s performance this year is really good and hence,is not worth a booing, so was Lucas’s last year. He did not get much time to play this year. He had a Olympics to contend with in the middle. Why did this biased media not highlight it as should have done?

I am telling this because, it will teach some of our own plastic fans a lesson had he media given this much hype. Had it come on all the media that booing Lucas is bad when he’s playing for the team, for us, on the field, probably they would have deterred from doing it again. He’s a good lad. He’ll come good.

I totally agree with Andy on that!!
The previous blog is very good. You can look at it as the third option. Will you be sending the entries along with all the comments or just the blog?

Rafa as well as Babel himself wants to play as a striker in the future. I think we’ll play Benny or Riera there. All great to good strikers have always started at the wings. I feel the time has come for Babel.

“Little bit of Irish? Unlike you to underestimate yourself Gerry, great read as usual and I have to say Hyde the last post you made on the last blog was spot on and one of the best post that I have read (in my opinion, just had to get that in)in a long time. More people should read it.

I really hope we do not draw Porto or Villareal we play so much better against the so called big teams then the ones everybody thinks we should beat. I would be happy with Bayern, failing that we have done Chelsea, Arsenal and Barca bring on ManU lets really fuck their season up.

One last comment about the debate on the last blog is that Digger no one is saying that Rafa is infallible and yes everyone has a right to point out things that they do not agree with. You might be right but you also might be wrong that’s the definition of debate, but what comes across form your posts, whether you mean it intentionally or not, is that you are very quick to point out every conceived mistake and fault, sometimes quite gleefully yes there is reasoned backup and thought about what you say, it is very easy to criticize, to fix it is much more difficult and just because you say so and so should have played or we should have done it this or that way it does not mean the result would have been any different, but when it comes to giving Rafa fair due and respect where fair due and respect is earned in abundance, it comes across grudgingly, miserly and with less enthusiasm one would expect from a fan considering the results we have just achieved.

Great post Gerry.. as always.
And i’m very sure, after that final whistle of the game, every Liverpool fan is buzzing n trying to get hold of manu fans to teach them a lesson.
You wrote about Riera’s dip in form, n totally agree. But do you think lucas’s performance was even OK ? I no he did pretty much ok breaking few attacks and sticking his leg wherever he cud on the field, but i really don’t think he has done enough to prove his place in the starting 11. When jay spearing came on against madrid, i guess he showed off lot of guile n character in that 15 min span than what Lucas has showed the whole season.. I know my statements are a bit impulsive, but i think Fabulous Aurelio can do better job in the mid fld when required than lucas any day.

Your good mood shines through on this blog Gerry. It made me laugh out loud at several points and it’s a pleasure to read. The funny bits are always welcome, but you also pointed something out there, as did one or two of the lads in the comments on the last blog…

We literally battered them with out really getting into top gear, and we done so without top players and some last minute stop gaps.

Take no heed of the “Route one” critics. It was identified by Rafa as the best tactic to get about them. He’s even been trying to rally some other teams into having a go by using that formula, but judging by Hodgson’s comments he’s not having much luck in that department.

Remember Wenger’s “Yes. They are probably invincible” comments? Well, let’s hope he’s been shamed out of that by Rafa and not sucked into it by mr ferguson, who seems to have become his mate since he said it.

As for that wonderful “better team lost” comment. I think he actually surfaced after a few bottles of Turps in his office and slurred, “The battered team lost.” But his mates in the media corrected his slip up.

Hyde said something in the last comments that is very true. Ferguson is not a very tactically minded man. He relies on having great talent and just giving it it’s head, which is all very well until you need a plan B – which he very well could do at this stage of the season.

I honestly think we have nothing to fear. I’m a bit wary of Villa. I expect them to come out like a wounded dog. But the the pressure is off, nothing is expected of us. And one more slip by them and they’ll really be rattling. Mark my words, mr ferguson won’t forget blowing that 13 point lead in 1999. And it’s just a shame Vidic is banned for a couple of games. He’s been shite for a good few weeks and the rest will probably do him good.

On top of that, being underdogs suits us. You could argue that leading for such a long stage actually got to us, and the nerves got the better of us – both players and fans. But we are still on for a nice double, and no one is really giving it much creedence which will only work in our favour.

Quick word on Riera, Babell and Dosenna. Great thing about both of them is – they have both stated they’re not happy with their form and are determined to work very hard to put it right. I think in Riera’s case, it all just caught up on him, but you don’t lose great feet like his over night. He will be a very good player for us in the coming season’s. I think Dosenna just needed time to adjust and you will see a much improved player next season.
As for our Ryan, early in the season people were shouting for him to be let loose. But it was obvious he wasn’t up to it at the time (Euro’s, Olympics, injuries and attitude) and I kept saying he will be vital at the end when he is right. Well, I stand by that. And I hope to see him play a key part in the run in.

Ahh well, Slainte to you Sir on this fine St. Patrick’s Day morning. I shall be joining you in a few pints meself.
Eirran Go Brach!
YNWA

Gerry, your Irish humour never fails to impress, good luck with the Dutch barmaid I hope she pulls more than your pint!

I agree that we could still play better, and I think we will. It’s still very likely that we will miss out on the Prem this season but you just never know. Apparently when Arsenal beat the Mancs at Greyskull in 1998 it was the start of them clawing back a 12 point lead, and that game was also on 14th March, the exact same date that we just thrashed them 4-1 on. It’s very close to St.Pat’s day so you never know, it may be a lucky omen.

I rate Reina very highly but I certainly don’t rate him as our best ever goalkeeper, that acolade will surely go to Ray Clemence.

Reina has saved our skins before though, and is a very good last line of defence, but Anfield last Tuesday night showed us why Casillas is still Spain’s numero Uno between the sticks.

As for the CL draw, I have a feeling we will get drawn against Bayern Munich, which won’t be easy but over the two legs I think we will get the better of them.

Friday is also the 25th anniversary of the birth of one of the best strikers to wear the famous red shirt (happy birthday for Friday Mr Torres) and Stevie.G also has his court appearance that day. So fingers crossed on that one.

On the point of Rafa getting praise for the attacking football and goals we are now producing, I think praise sholud go to everyone of the players and ths coaching staff and that obviously includes Rafa. He has said that we need to win our last 9 Prem games so I am assuming that means going all out for the 3 points in all of those games. If that’s the case you certainly won’t hear any complaints from me.

I agree about taggart. As soon as a good manager had a few quid to match him ie maureen he won nothing and was as quiet as a mouse. When the chav’s stopped splashing the cash and letting their team go a bit stale he was able to capitalise. One thing he does do is freshen up his team with a big signing or two every year. Tactical? No way. It’s not as if he can spot a player either the players he buys are not unknowns ie, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo. Credit where credit is due he does know how to put a team together.

Digger: It might be a disaster in football terms if Rafa goes, obviously not a disaster in the biblical sense of the term. if the LFC were to slip out of the top four then that would be a footballing disaster to me. Leeds anyone?

Riera was excellent in the early part of the season. Form wise he has slipped, maybe he’s a bit knackered but he worked his socks off against the mancs and was one of the reasons why Ronaldo got no joy down the left. He has excellent close control and rarely gives the ball away. He has a good mentality as well.

Route one football. There’s a big difference between just hoofing the ball up and playing the ball long although the ball for Dossena’s goal was a hoof. For Torre’s goal the mancs were playing a high defensive line so when Vidic let the ball bounce he was in trouble. Teams are beaten before they start with the bitters being a prime example. Everton always roll over and die at castle greyskull. The only teams to run at the dirty mancs back line have been Liverpool and the arse and guees what? They resulted in two defeats. Roque Santa cruz caused them a few problems as well. So get two fast strong players pushed right up on them. Martin O’neil that means Abonglahor and Carew. Hodgson that’s means Andy diver Johnson and an other. Winger that means Adebayor/Walcott

Barnes defending Lucas…

http://community.footballpools.com/blog/2009/03/17/john-barnes-lay-off-lucas/

Great blog Gerry! I’ll have a think about my favourite 3 blogs.

I haven’t read the last few posts on the previous blog but will do in a bit.

I agree with Gerry about Riera – I must say he was doing my head in on Saturday. Constantly losing the ball and looking quite lethargic. He does have good control and good feet, but struggles to beat a defender due to lack of speed. Maybe he is knackered – if so give Babel a run while he’s confidence is right.

People talk about Vidic and Ferdinand being a great partnership and I agree with that. The thing is Torres is so good that he makes world class defenders look shite. Look what he did to Cannavaro and Sergio Ramos. He wrecked Mattarazi last season.

I was talking to one of my good mates who is a manc supporter and I asked him if he thought Man Utd would now struggle in some of their remaining games. He said only if we loan out Gerrard and Torres to all of their opponents every week for the rest of the season. I laughed and thought that was a good point.
Alan Hansen has a good article on the bbc website about what class strikers to a defender’s phsycology. Apparently Rushie used to have Hansen second guessing himself and making errors in training all of the time. Just because of the worry about what Rushie would do. I can’t see Vidic or Rio shitting themselves with Andy Johnson or John Carew bearing down on them. But we’ll see.

When Arsenal won the title in 1998 they were 12 points behind at the beginning of March. However they won their last 13 games to win the title by 1 point. Can we win our remaining 9 games? Our longest winning run this season in the league is 3 games. I think it’s a very tall order. Torres and Gerrard will have to feature in all of those matches IMO.

Lucas’ future in doubt Written by Max Munton on March 17th, 2009

Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva has hinted that his future may lie away from Anfield if he continues to be only a squad player at the club.

The 22-year-old has found himself constantly behind the likes of Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso in the Reds’ impressive central midfield.

And after a season of poor performances from Lucas, he has admitted he will consider his options when the current campaign is over, with his commitment to his country in mind.

“I think I have played a lot, but the competition for places here is very high,” he told Brazilian football journal, Folha.

“The situation doesn’t really worry me, but my objective has always been to play in order to make sure I am back with the national side.

“Once the season is over, I will have to see what is the best option for me. It is the World Cup next year and I will have to push to get this chance and you have to be playing to get called up.”

Lucas was signed by Rafa Benitez from Gremio in 2007.

***
There you go…
I wonder how much truth in this. If he really wants to go.. then na na na hey hey hey goodbye

Torres fit and firing on all cylinders is a sight to behold. As a striker he has everything. Good in the air, fast, strong, skilfull, scores pot shots, dribbles, beats players and can poach. Is there a better striker in the world. Only 2 come close for me Eto on top form is a real handful and Villa can conjure up a bit of magic out of the blue. Defenders must be terrified of him. I would be terrified seeing Andy Johnson bear down on me LB but not because of his football ability but because he’s an ugly so n so.

My random Scum-bashing for the day:

AIG (Alex Is Goatshxt) has been revealed to be paying bonuses to its execs using US taxpayers’ money, much to the fury of Obama. What do you expect from a sponsor that sponsors a whole team of Scum? :p

Perhaps Obama can consider asking AIG to cut Ferguscum’s transfer budger to zero this summer to make ends meet.

LB-I agree with your assessment of us winning our remaining 9 games and the improbability of it, but I refuse to give up on our chances until we’re mathematically eliminated.

We currently sit four points behind, -5 on Goal Differential, with the Mancs having an extra game in hand. The media continue to harp on about the Mancs having to lose three matches, but that’s not the case.

One loss and two draws would put us level on points, which would bring Goal Differential into the equation. 5 goals really isn’t that much to make up, and who knows, we could be looking at Doss’s goal with even more importance as the season winds down.

This season is a success in my book, regardless of finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. I continue to see progress, and although I would like to see some hardware added to the trophy cabinet, I can live with the results. Shocking to think that we’ve done the double over the Mancs and Chavs, and we still most likely won’t win the league. Who would have predicted that?

Saturday was the 9th league match that Stevie and Nando started together, including Villa away when Torres came off after 31 minutes with a hamstring injury. If you sat there in August and you knew those facts up front, I’m guessing you would have focused our league campaign on remaining in the top 4. Hats tipped to Rafa for keeping the squad in the race as long as he has.

Won’t happen Kinny, though there are a few Senators calling for Obama to take the company over. The US gvmt essentially OWNS 80% of AIG as part of the bailout deal…. should they chose to exercise that right!

If I were him, I’d take it over and fire the lot of them… sure it will cause short term suffering for a lot of people, but it would sort things out, scare the shit out of the other banks (who have been doing the same thing) and if done correctly, provide for long term stability.
……

I thought Max was a bit harsh on the main site. He used the underheadline “The Brazilian midfielder is fed up of being a squad player at Anfield.”
When in fact what he said was that in order to get into the World Cup Squad, he might have to play more and so therefore might have to consider a move away as he was behind Xabs and Javier in the pecking order.
All of which is just matter of fact truth!
I’ve rread 3 versions of this interview and not one features Lucas using the the words “fed up”!

Its bad enough the general press being big shite-stirers, one of our own shouldn’t be doing it!!!
Come on Max, you’re better than that!

Good blog Gerry

You are absolutely right about saturdays performance compared to the Madrid performance.

I think it is a case of horses for courses, we played more defensively against the Mancs and missed Alonso and his range of passes(no reflection on Lucas, but he isn’t as good a player I’m afraid although credit for a fine performance). I think Reira was picked for his defensive qualities above Babel and Carra didn’t give us the overlapping ability that Arbeloa would have and so our play wasn’t as fluid.

Also, and I hate to say this but the mancs are a better team than Madrid in my opinion.
However our performance was outstanding on the day and there were some stellar performances out there, The talk will of course be of Torres and Gerrard but I would like to give special mention to monster and an almost ageless performance from Sammy.

Some have said in the press and on blogs that the scoreline flattered us, well I would like to put that particular myth to bed, the mancs had almost no clear cut opportunities and besides the penalty I can think of no shot that should have troubled Pepe.
We on the other hand shackled the winker completely,and I do mean completely, he did nothing all game except score a penalty, absolutlely nothing, Rooney was a headless chicken and Carrick hardly made a pass all day.
The only two players I would give any credit to what so ever are Park who worked hard and Tevez who always does.

Not as good as Madrid but still a wonderful performance and we deserved no less than the 4-1 scoreline.

I think Rafa got the tactics right in both games and once again showed he knows how to find the weaknesses of teams that seem strong.

Credit must go to the players, who seem to have faith in their manager and work within his tactics and seem to excell against the better teams.

The comment that seems to appear a lot in blogs on our club is if we can demolish Madrid and the mancs why cant we do it against Stoke etc.

I think we are still short one or two players who can turn a match and most would agree with me I think, but I want to bring up something that I mentioned when we were top of the table, one of our problems this season, I believe is that in truth I dont think that we believed we could win the league.

Funnily eneough we seem to be happier when we are chasing than when we are top and that needs to change, but I believe that results like saturday and fungus faces obvious distress at being humiliated in front of the sky cameras may well give us enough belief to carry it through next year.
I know this season isn’t over and who knows but we have shown that we CAN compete and that will make us a better team because the players know it is possible.

One other point in a already over long missive.
Babel, a player that I privately didn’t think would make it as a Liverpool player because of his attitude, who seemed to think at some points that his natural talent would be enough to make him a world beater, has buckled down worked hard, looked as if he can play the strikers role and has I hope turned a corner and I have faith will be a great player for us in the future

Hi Gerry

Great blog. I would defo pick this as one of your three nominated blogs. As Andy Wirral has said above this paragraph…

“Apeboy Rooney is a person who makes it easy to understand why some mammals eat their own young. He’s the kind of footballer who doesn’t know the meaning of the word fear, in fact he doesn’t know the meaning of most words.”

… is top class had me in stitches. In fact it should get an award by itself.

Some interesting comments about the type of strikers that the manure CD don’t like and I agree.

Another name to add to the list is Carlton Cole, who was a real handful for them earlier this season when they visited Upton Park.

From the horse’s mouth! The Official Liverpool site!

liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163636090317-0849.htm

We always seem to be behind this poor boy. He receives a lot of flak even before he does something.

Here is a good article

http://
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/rorysmith/blog/2009/03/17/anfield_juggernaut_turns_cruyffs_head

Now where did that Lucas wanting to leave rumour came from? The lad was probably playing the game of his career against the Scum, which should help boost his confidence, like hell he would suddenly think of leaving just like that.

I was scouring through YouTube for interesting things to watch and I came across this interesting song by a certain American band called Disturbed.

The song’s called “Just Stop”, and it’s interesting, because the lyrics could very well be a plea from Rafa to all you unforgiving naysayers out there, asking to give him the chance to come good:

Song here: youtube.com/watch?v=WReGK97VdgQ

Just stop enough of the limitless critical comments on my life
Just drop the judgment and all of your pseudo-involvement in my life
Step back a moment, and look at the miracle starting in our life
Don’t stop the moment, and let the incredible happen knowing that

All that you want is to criticize
Something for nothing
And all that I want is forgiveness one more time
To be the best in the world

Just stop with all of your little deliberate problems with my life
Enough of all the crippling, terrible pain we feel inside
Step back a moment, remember how the miracle started in our life
Take back the torment; I won’t be enjoying this moment knowing that

All that you want is to criticize
Something for nothing
And all that I want is forgiveness one more time
I know that
All that we want is to feel inside
Some kind of comfort
And all that we’ve done
We can hide
We’ll be the best in the world

All I ever wanted was to be a real source of compassion
From the moment that we found ourselves drowning in
All I ever wanted was to be a real source of compassion
From the moment that we found ourselves drowning in

All that you want is to criticize
Something for nothing
And all that I want is forgiveness one more time
I know that
All that we want is to feel inside
Some kind of comfort
And all that we’ve done
We can hide
We’ll be the best in the world
We’ll be the best in the world
Just stop enough of the limitless critical comments on my life
Just drop the judgment and all of your pseudo-involvement in my life

I just watched Arsenal get past Hull on a very Dodgy goal.
That means the game against them on April 19th will be postponed, anyone know when the game will be played?
I am going to be in Liverpool April 10th until the 24th and I was hoping to be at that game.
So any info would be appreciated.

I think its interesting that the performances and the results from the last 3 games will raise the questions once again, about the quality of the squad.

There’s a great comment in that John Barnes article that abirham posted in comment #18 regarding his perceived “lack of respect” shown to those “outside the spine of the team.”

Barnes suggests that in order for SG and Torres to be grabbing the headlines, fellas like Lucas, Masch, Arbeloa, Kuyt must have been doing their job right… he’s bang on!

More than a few people have suggested that if we had better “fringe” players, or “squad” players that we’d be winning the Prem this seaosn.
Its a fair enough comment, but I think its a bit disingenuous, and a more accurate comment would be, if our fringe/squad players had played just that little bit better (and I would argue to their potential) then we would be winning the Prem this season.

How many goals did Babel get last season compared to this?
How many does Benny Onion have this season compared to last?
How many does Kuyt have? (hell even his normal quota of crucial CL goals hasn’t been met this season!)
What about Riera’s contribution?
For all the supposed quality Keane offered, how many did he actually score in his time with us? (And don’t say he didn’t get the opportunity…. for 20 million, he missed a hat-load of sitters!)

Marry that to our abject delivery of corners and free-kicks and you subtract a good 3 or 4 goals that have come in past seasons from the head of Hyppia/Skrtel… or the like!

It called perspective lads…. All this… while Scum have won games 1-0… not coz they are the unstoppable juggernaut, but because Winker takes a decent free kick and Tevez/berba/Rooney have managed to get on the end of a few things now and then, and Giggs has had a swan-song of a season!

As lvcjmac suggested… 7 points is not insurmountable, but lvc you forgot that if Scum do draw 2 and lose 1, not only does that sort the points out, but it also sorts the goal difference, since we would have to win on all 3 occasions. That would mean at least +3 for us and at least -1 from their loss, making the goal diff now 1 goal! (and that’s assuming 1-0 results!)

It really is all there to play for!

Well lads, lucky me had a week off this week and am still celebrating last Saturdays demolition!!!! Great post again Gerry, scumdog millionaire….priceless!!

So sat here full of optimism (and guiness!) when the fat lady sings, (and Rooney hasent Sha***d her!) if we finish with nothing, I will be happy, cos for the first time in many a year, we will have been contenders!!! one of the weirest things I have had so far this year is having to explain to my 16 yo son the ins – outs and intricacies of challenging over a full season for the league. Why?? because he has never experienced it, whereas I have, and that in itself, makes this season a success for me. The added knowledge that if this season on season improvement continues I will have to do it again next year and very soon my son will see what its like to win the league and maybe even another trophy alongside it for the first time. (lets be honest all you arl arses out there, during the 70s & 80s we took it for granted……)

That being said, I havent given up on this year, I have seen far more impossible things happen than the manc scum losing it this year….god I sound more and more like an arl arse every day!!

As for the Champions League, bring on the manc scum next round!!! us meeting them has been threatening itself for the last 3 years, so its gonna happen sooner or later…….what better time than after last Saturday and it would give us another chance to batter their confidence in the run in to the league. I really believe that if we get the chance to knock them out of Europe whilst breathing down their necks in the league that their managers tactical deficiencies and their players super ego being shattered could well lead to an implosion at Old Twatford, its happened before (remember the third in a two horse race season?! good cos damn I cant remember the year! too much guiness!)

Also brilliant to see the optimism on this blog…..thats what we do, we back the men in the red shirts, we support our manager, we are full of optimism and confidence and we dont give up till its mathematically impossible, if we fail we stand proud, wearing red and singing their praises, if we win we celebrate in style till the cows come home……WE ARE LIVERPOOL!!!

viva the rafalution!

Gerry i think this Blog has been the funniest but these 3 stand out.
DIC or bust
Will this be liverpools year
When good Kop turns bad :
Anyone wondering where the Scum fans had gone after Dossena’s goal
well i think i’ve found them Go to You tube and type in
FC United supporters at Halifax Town .

I think they would have still been there but Feruscum told them
to go watch Chelsea .
YNWA

Well done Gerry nice blog, well worth throwing this one in your list of 3.
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Lads in relation to our end of season run, first and foremost we need to keep winning.
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Secondly we need other teams to help us out, we know that. Well two teams who will are Chelsea and Arsenal.
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Chelsea, like ourselves has a sniff, they are showing some real determination under big Guss. While they still think they have a chance that’s good news for us.
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Arsenal are getting back to their thumping best, so they will never roll over and die. They need to push on and secure a top 4 spot so every game for them is a must win. Also good for us, until they come to Anfield.
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Teams that may surprise are Spurs, West Ham and maybe even Everton, all still looking forward.
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I dropped Villa out of this list as I think O’Niel wants the Man U job so he’ll be to busy sucking willy to bother with this game.
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So if Chelsea and Arsenal give all they have the competition is wide open again.
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Take advantage Red Men.

Lucas leiva on the main website says he has never thought about leaving.

Gaz: Talking about manure and dropping points. Arsenal could very well get a result but other than that I don’t really see it. the problem for me when I see teams play the mancs is that they don’t attack and they drop deep but leave the mancs loads of room to play it bugs the life out of me. Fulham and Stoke for example were in our face and fought like wild cats but fulham against the mancs were a disgrace. I have no problem with a lesser team parking the bus but do it properly.

Gaz the chav’s have already played the mancs twice.

Mancs have a lot of their games at home. Its a bit worrying since not a single team has played well in Old Toilet other than us of-course. The teams against which we can expect favorable results might be Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and Man City. Draws or wins against the Mancs in any combination is good for us.

Having said that, if we bottle our chances by drawing or worse, losing against the 9 clubs we play, …. Nothing can be said about that. We don’t have a cakewalk too. We will be playing Arsenal, Villa next week, Spurs – last game of the season. and many more. I would not like us to keep this dragging to the last game of the season. I have a bad feeling about Keane and his botched transfer. I hope Man U and Chelsea bottle fast and continuously. The league gets over in 6 games.

Here’s the mancs remaining fixtures:

Fulham (a)
Villa (h)
Sunderland (a)
Spurs (h)
Boro (a)
Man City (h)
Wigan (a)
Portsmouth (h)
Arsenal (h)
Hull (a)

If they drop points against Fulham then it would be interesting but if they give Fulham a good hiding (and they will be right up for it) it will be business as usual for me. Villa couldn’t beat a pub side at the moment and Sunderland are being booed off by their own fans every home game – thats how shite they have been playing recently. If Man U win their next 3 games thats a wrap! IMO.

Really though we just need to concentrate on our own results because if we don’t win our games the above manc fixtures are irrelevant. The games either side of the CL quarter final fixtures will be key. Will Rafa rotate in form players to keep them fresh for the CL? How will Torres’ ankle cope? Will we be able to break down the bus parkers?

Note that the mancs could have already won the league by the time they play Arsenal.

Has anybody checked out Fontainethered on Youtube?.It is the funniest thing I have ever seen.Let’s see if we can finally beat Fulham, West Ham and Hull.Porto would be ideal in the CL.Degen is injured again!-5 starts- 5 injuries.Ridiculous.

I don’t know about that burgerman! Porto is not better than a mid table team from Premier league. We have had problems beating those kind of teams.

We seem to play according to the quality and level of the opposition. I hope we get a good team. Any team among these would be good: Barca, Manure, Bayern and Chelsea. Of these 4, we should get one and one more tie among themselves. So one less good team in the semis.

I have a theory:
I hope we end up with Manure. If we are successful in beating them in both the legs, i am quite sure they will falter in the premier league too… Yeah i might also happen that they might more time for Premier league but still it will hurt them and hurt them bad as we will have beaten them 4 times in a year. How many times would we have done that in our history? Their aim for Quintuple trophies will be over and their confidence will go low. We can hope it will go so low that they hand over the trophy to us.

We need to make our own luck and this is how we should go about it.

LB, I agree that games either side of the quarters will be key. The QFs are on the 7/8 and 14/15.

Scums have Villa (h), Sunderland (a) and FA Cup going during that time.

We have Fulham (a), Blackburn (h), Arsenal (h).

I would want to play the first leg away and hope Arsenal have it the other way round.

If we can keep winning the PL games till that point, the Scums will have a good ol fixture list piling up.

Lets start with Villa though!
YNWA

I see Daniel Agger is back training today.

Bhavster, our game against Arsenal will be re-arranged because they are playing in the FA cup semi final.

send this to all your favorite untied fans:

For all those united fans upset after the weekends defeat a helpline has been setup. For help and assitance call 1850 4 1 4 1 4 1. That number again 1850 4 1 4 1 4 1

Just read this http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/03/18/Opta-Is-the-Lucas-criticism-justified/gnid-44880/

This might give some insight into Rafas thinking.

There is a cracking article on the offical LFC website entitled Shankley’s last interview. Fascinating! The man was before his time no doubt about it.

good point LB. i think i am happy with that – just Fulham and Blackburn to worry abt then. For the time being.

I want Aston Villa slaughtered on Sunday. Martin O’Neil and his team put in their place good and proper. With any luck Alonso will be back and we can dish out a good hiding. Sort the goal difference out and maintain high confidence. If we approach the Villa game in the same way we did against Real Madrid we’ll murder them.

The Lucas story isn’t even a story – “options”. He was talking to a Brazilian newspaper who were more concerned about his International game. Think about it – he’s interviewed in Brazilian language, and it’s all of a sudden headlines. I’ll see what my options are at the end of the season could also mean he has a doubt if he’ll still be wanted at Anfield.

I think if Alonso plays he will be desperate to show Barry who the daddy is.

Lads… a truly frightening article by Mihir Blose on the bbc website.
He makes the Kuwaitis sound worse than G&H. I hope they don’t get hold of us!

Here’s the link… just add the h in front.

ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/mihirbose/2009/03/liverpools_elusive_man_in_the.html

Aitch, where is the frightening part of this story? Most Mihir Bose articles are like this. Start off as if some dramatic revelation is about to be unfolded and then you get to the end and wonder “erm… and?”.

What’s the gist? A deal was about to be done but the Kuwaiti cancelled and did a runner. Mr Bose at least give us a comspiracy theory as to why they legged it….

#49 Bang on LB. I too want them to go all out. It will surely help the goal difference in the end. I would also want to see if this formation works:

Torres – Babel/Ngog
Riera – Gerrard – Kuyt
Mascher
Aurelio/Insua – Carra – Skrtel – Arbeloa

We can use this formation against teams that come to Anfield and part their bus in front of goal. Not only will we have good presence in the opposition box but also a cover for defence in Mascher. He is enough against defensive teams don’t you guys think?

LB, I wasn’t suggesting that the Bose article was in any way a Pulitzer prize winner. Nor am I suggesting he provides us with any information regarding the behind the scenes dealmaking, that we were unaware of… other than the numbers being yet again different from what we’ve heard, but they change in every article written.

It was in his characterization of the Kuwaitis that I was referring… and I know its just his opinion, but after our ordeal with the Yanks, I want a buyer who is above such suspicions!

Anyone who thinks we could not go from our current frying pan into the fire, is deluding themselves in a false sense of security… and I know, you know that!

Sorry to hog the blog, but LB Bose also suggests that the Kuwaitis offered G&H 100million above and beyond the value of the club (and I’ve seen similar figures in other articles.)

100 million to walk away… shit that’s more than the fuckwits at AIG got!
(At one point the Saudis offered the same…you gotta wonder why G&H haven’t taken it at this point???)

But at what Bose suggests was an advanced stage of negotiations, the Kuwaitis simply said, fuck it and walked away from the deal with no explanation???

Now IF that’s true… and I accept that its an IF and not a surety… do we really want a new owner who will take his ball and fuck off home at the drop of a hat?

That immediately makes them someone I don’t want to see buying LFC!

I see your point Aitch

It just puts the shits up me when I read stuff like that.

I’m as eager as anyone else to see th back of G&H, but we have to ask ourselves “at what cost?”

We wanted Moores to sellup and look what we ended up wth?
We wanted Parry gone and don’t yet fully know what the cost of that might yet be?

I just think we all have to be careful what we wish for… (unless of course that wish is for winning the Prem on goal difference in a 3-way point tie witht he Chavs and Scum on the last day of the seaosn… and marrying that to a CL double by demolishing Barca 4-1 in the final!)

I thought Mihir Bose had something to do with the break down in the talks between Moores and DIC? Now hes sticking his nose in to our clubs other potential deals. I dont like or trust him.

I recommend Paul Tompkins article, Four Days in Heaven, it can be found in forum on TIA. I was amazed to see Rafa has reached 100 wins 50 games quicker than Ferguson.

There is news that Rafa has signed his contract on BBC radio 5 Live!

SBB, Alleluia to that

What a great 10 days for LFC.

Confirmed

ttp://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163657090318-2103.htm

“Rafa Benitez has signed a contract extension with Liverpool FC, keeping him at the club until 2014.
The Liverpool manager has extended his current deal, which took him to the end of next season, by a further four years.

“My heart is with Liverpool Football Club, so I’m delighted to sign this new deal,” said Rafa. “I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and when I complete my new contract it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool.

“The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage. It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history.

“Throughout this process, I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal. All of us at the club want the same thing, which is to be successful by winning major trophies.”

The completion of contract talks with Rafa is the third major boost for Liverpool fans in recent days, coming after fabulous wins against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League. The 4-1 win at Old Trafford saw Rafa achieve 100 league wins in the third fastest period of time for a Liverpool manager, surpassing Bill Shankly.

Liverpool Co-Chairman Tom Hicks said: “It is wonderful news that Rafa has made a long-term commitment to the football club. Since he became manager in 2004, he has been responsible for the great progress we have made. I know he will continue to build on his achievements as he has a tremendous hunger and desire to bring more success to the club – success our fans and everyone connected with the club deserves.”

Co-Chairman George Gillett added: “With Rafa continuing to manage the team, we can look forward to more great football and success on the pitch. He has special abilities and qualities which are admired here at the club and around the world. Coming after our excellent wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, this gives us great momentum going into the final stages of the season.”

Rafa joined the Reds in 2004 following a successful period in charge of Spanish club Valencia, who he guided to two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup success.

While he has been at the helm, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul in 2005, the FA Cup the following year and reached another Champions League final in Athens in 2007. He has also overseen success in both the UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

The club are currently the number one team in Europe according to UEFA’s co-efficient ranking system, based on results over the past five years in European competition.”

Liverpool FC

Rafa ” I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal” Ha Ha

Hi All, havent been on for a while. But what a bloody great week it has been. I think everyone has discussed it quiet extensively so i will leave it and just enjoy the feeling.

In terms of the CL draw. I hope we get Man Utd purely because after being beaten twice already they would not want to be defeated again. So for the 2 EPL games in between the CL games their attention will be on the CL game with us and hopefully will cause them to stutter in the EPL. Just a thought.

what a great 7 days, with Rafa and the contract issue finally being settled. Curious as to the outcome though, did Rafa get everything he wanted in terms of control of transfers? methinks probably….

Hicks: ” know he will continue to build on his achievements as he has a tremendous hunger and desire to bring more success to the club – success our fans and everyone connected with the club deserves.”

Gillette: “… this gives us great momentum going into the final stages of the season.”

Interpretation = “Maybe now we can use that to bilk some rich Arab of an extra 100 million!”

Great news though. Let the DYNASTY commence!

One of the happiest 2 weeks. Thank god, Rafa is here to stay for at least another 5 years.
Now I hope we get the financial backing. If not, at least the stadium.

Great news regarding the Manager, is it confirmed lads. I never thought I say this but dumb and dumber seem to be backing Rafa at the moment.
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One thing it will do is make the players feel secure. Good decision if its happened.

What a day! Great news for us. This will surely bring stability (at least on the surface) to the club.

I would now like to see what kind of a transfer kitty Rafa gets? He should get at least 20 mil. We need 2 good attacking players and we are good to go. At least that is what i feel.

In Rafa we trust…
Long live the Rafalution
YNWA

Good news, “some” stability at last.

FS, looking forward to reading your reaction to the signing!

Whether Rafa has anything to spend in the summer is the next challenge. If dumb & dumber are still in charge – or even in the process of selling us – it could be like trying get water out of a stone. Still, Rafa’s probably the smartest manager in the prem so hopefully he can work something out. Abhiram, 20mill aint enough though, especially since we have already trimmed the squad down with sales in previous years (ie I can’t see us off-loading many players this year, we need some quality additions, and 20mill is only enough for 1 good player).

great news and great week

Long live Rafalution

YNWA

Very true Andy. But do you see the yanks giving even 20 mil? I can only see the 12 we got from Keane transfer. Other than that, i don’t know where the rest of the money is coming from.

We might get a good amount from the Champions League and the Premier League we can’t be sure of how much of it is Rafa going to see? Knowing the yanks, not much!

Wonder what sort of war chest he’s been promised? If we are to really challenege on all major fronts, some serios reinforcements will be needed.

Not least a quality striker who can step up when Torres is injured (Benzema to play alongside?) & a couple of decent wingers &/or playmakers (Diego? Ribery?).

It’d be nice if we could get Bastian Schweinsteiger as back up fer Stevie.

Dream list anyone?

Dream list? Far East Club Ambassador in Charge of Merchandising and Whipping Up New Fans…FatScouser

Iraq/Iran Club Ambassador…Rick Parry

The problem will be keeping all the players happy thru out the season. Even if, mind you its highly unlikely, we get the big names like Silva, and a good RB, we cannot pay as much as Chelsky or Manure to keep them quiet while not playing them for the whole season. If a player is good, he would not want to be a back-up.

Hence, we might be looking at promising young players for attack. We can induct Babel, El Zhar, Nemeth, Ngog and Spearing into the main team with good training and practice this summer, particularly the attacking front.

My bet would be to buy a really good goal scoring forward who can play with Torres and even upfront alone if required. He’ll surely be costly but if he can buy us goals, it’ll be more than worth the price. You can put any good young striker’s name to this.

Since Rafa’s got the job extension, many players would be wanting to play for him, in a team boasting of Gerrard, Torres, Mascher, Alonso and Carragher. I am quite sure we can convince one good striker to join us.

A rather excellent week gets even better.

Where are all these media hacks now, huh? All this time they were carping on and one about Rafa using his thrashing of Real Madrid as part of his CV to succeed Ramos at the Bernabeu? What a load of tosh is that?

We’ve pinched one striker from Athletico, why not go in fer Maradona’s son-in-law?

Looks like a decent player.

Or will we see the return of The Bayern Slayer Voronin . . .

Absolutely brilliant blog – as usual. But reading about this past week never seems to tire me. I’ve been smirking like I just lost my virginity again since Torres’ nice “heel-dribble” past Cannovaro and there’s no sign of that fading any time soon.

I firmly believe that thare are no better attacking combination than Gerrard / Torres in the world. The two of them are simply frightning.

If someone tried to sell me, at the start of the season, that we would be joint second in the league, very much alive in CL and do the double on RM & manu & CSKA London by a combined 14-2, I would have bought that prospect in a heartbeat!!

Last time manu cocked up a lead in the PL, they lost at home to the Arse – on the date 14/3. The very same as our slaughtering of them… Stranger things have happened!! Bring it on!!!

Great week indeed and probably the best piece of news I and I would think the majority of Liverpool fans could have wished to hear, the signing of a New contract that will keep Rafa here for another 5 years

As I searched through the internet reading different articles and different takes on the signing it was interesting to read some of the fans reactions. I don’t expect everybody to be pleased or to be an Einstein when evaluating what Rafa has accomplished, but the sheer stupidity of some of our so called fans is mind boggling to say the least.

100 Prem wins 50 games quicker than Fergie, better than Shanks and third behind Paisley and Kenny who both inherited strong winning squads is a remarkable achievement. The same win percentage as Paisley speaks volumes of the man and put into perspective what he has accomplished and against all the odds in terms of the strength financially and board backing wise of Chelsea and ManU. Ranked first in Europe, reaching two finals and a semi in 4 years.

One only has to compare him to Wenger over the same period. Wenger has had 9 years in charge and has had full backing of the board and total control of his squad and transfers. Along with a similar budget, whether he spent it or not is irrelevant. Wenger had a strong established squad and still has not come close to what Rafa has achieved over the last 5 years.

You know old Fungus face is worried when asked who he thought were the best Prem Managers and he reply’s Wenger, Moyes and MON.

I want them in the CL as I think beating them in the CL will be the best way to catch them in the Prem.

Viva The Ravalution long may it continue.

I would go for a right back and a right winger; rest the kids should be stepped up – the young guns like Nemeth, Darby, Pacheo, El Zhar….

deadwood like Degen should be deported asap!

For Rafa to sign his contract surely he’s got everything he wants – or close to it. That’s good news. We just need soem stability at the very top of the club now. I can see something happening in the next 2 or 3 months on that front.

Who knows what kind of transfer budget we’ll have in the summer but if possible I’d go for Glen Johnson and David Silva.
Arbie needs some competition for his position and we need the back up. If Rafa is having to put make shift right backs in place whenever Arbie is injured it must mean he thinks Darby isn’t ready.
We also need another attacker to help break those bus parkers at Anfield. That’s where David Silva comes in. He can play on the left, on the right and behind the striker. He’s played and trained with our other Spanish players already. You’d imagine him settling in quicker than usual off the field due to our Spanish contingent. Valencia have already admitted they need to sell players. I reckon it’s worth breaking our transfer record to get him.

What are your thoughts lads?

LB I like the idea of Silva who can play all across the park. Abblet said that Nemeth was in Rafa’s plans this year but with all the injuries it never happened. With babble showing a return to form and next year he should be better prepared, Ngog with one more years experience and Nemeth we should have enough cover upfront.

Leto will hopefully be back after a very good season in Greece where he has received rave reviews, so competition on the left will be good. Riera will have a full preseason so should be better placed to stay the pace and not fade as he has done this year.

Glen Johnson? I have not seen enough of him but we need to bring in a quality right back. Darby has been injured but we need another RB for cover. I would be happy with Silva and a RB and let the youngsters come through.

I cannot see any reason to bring in Barry with Alonso playing the way he is and with Lucas, Spearing and Plessis in the wings.

If it was a choice over an attacker or a right back, I’d go for the attacking player as I think for the majority of games we need someone to open the door not close it and for those games where Arbie is injured well surely Darby is good enough to defend against the likes of Fulham etc etc.

It is excellent news that Rafa has signed. Talk crap were saying today how it is a 50-50 split with Liverpool fans about Rafa ha! utter piffle! For him to have signed it must mean he has everything he stipulated. I love his statement 10 years he plans to be here at least, er Real Madrid who?

LB I still like the idea of putting in a bid for Lennon. His blistering pace on the right could be a great option instead of Kuyt when teams are parking the bus, he is also a youngster. He is English as well another major consideration for European squads and I suppose that is a good argument for Glen Johnson.

I hope the Agger situation is sorted out so we do not have to spend money there

Keith, I like Aaron Lennon as well. Trouble is I could see it turning into another Barry situation. Wrangling with another PL club for one of their players etc. Spurs would not want to sell. If the player wanted to join us then they’d slap a ridiculous price on him. Maybe the Robbie Keane situation would make him think twice about joining us as well?

I hope we don’t bother with Barry. Alonso has hit good form, we have Masch, Gerrard, Lucas and also Spearing coming through. We have 3 left backs. We have Riera and Leto coming back and there is Babel and Benny that can do a job on the left. I really don’t see the need for Barry so I hope that chapter is closed.

Like you Keith, I hope we won’t have to spend anything on a centre back. I’d rather they pay Agger what he wants than have to go hunting around and spend a chunk of the budget on another centre back.

If it was a choice between attacking player and right back I’d go for the attacker.

I like Glen Johnson. He seems to have matured a lot recently and has had a very good season with Portsmouth. He attacks well. Overlapping and crossing is very good and he can score the odd goal. He isn’t the best defender in the world but I think Rafa would be able to improve that. The boy has talent.

10 mill 4 Voronin?.

Maybe 10 million Jamaican dollars Burgerman.

LB, I agree as I had similar ideas about picking up those two. In looking at who/what we need in attack, the problem with buying a quality out-and-out striker is that it messes with our favoured formation, and if all goes well then that striker will end up spending a lot of time on the bench. And Carlos Tevez seems to be the only quality striker who is happy to do that. So, in Silva we would have a quality attacker who can be on the pitch at the same time as Torres… between Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt, Babel and Silva we would have enough very attacking players to trouble most teams, including the bus parkers. Benayoun and Riera would be there as pinch-hitting options still too.

Also agreed about Glen Johnson, ready-made to do a job, although he plays every week at the moment so he would certainly need to mature to handle being in-and-out of our team (potentially)… some players don’t adjust well to being at a big club, so I’m sure Rafa would try and evaluate that.

It’d be nice to have Villa too, but it’s difficult to see where he would fit into our best formation, and you don’t want to pay big money for a star like him and put him on the bench.

Re: Barry – similar story – there are roles for him, but with Alonso in form that puts Barry on the bench (for our best XI) in my books. However, to be honest, that’s exactly the kind of depth we need in order to win the premiership – we look a different team without Alonso, but I’d feel a lot better if we had Barry ready to slot into the games that Alonso misses. If the price is right, I’d say buy Barry for sure.

Andy, regarding Barry. I just think it would be a waste of money signing him. Unless of course we had a Man Utd budget then it wouldn’t matter. I’d be happier with a Silva behind Torres and Gerrard in the middle with Masch should Alonso be injured. That’s the beauty getting a quality player that can play 3 positions very well.
I don’t think Tevez is satisfied being on the bench at Man Utd at all and I would bet good money that this will be his last season at Old Trafford. He’s loan deal runs out at the end of the season. Man U have first refusal but I think he’ll be off!
David Villa has made it very clear he won’t be leaving Spain. Barca are favourites to sign him in the summer. They want rid of Eto’o.
I agree with you about Glen Johnson and his ability to settle at a big club and how he’d handle being in and out of the side. Of course if he showed he was undisputed number 1 right back at the club it would help.

There isn’t room for 2 big name expensive strikers is there? The combination of Torres and Gerrard is so good that we don’t need another top striker. Have Babel and Ngog deputise.

LB Vorinin has 7 goals in last 6 games including Bayern helping his team
to 13 points and top spot since he wanted to come back after the Keane
thing.
I think 10 million is cheap considering he’s currently on loan,
I bet Hertha cant believe their luck.
YNWA

LB, a “waste of money” on Barry depends on the price. I said if the price is right… and there is no way the price will be 18mill again. If he’s able to buy out his contract (not sure if that’s true and I can’t be bothered looking it up) then the price will be even lower. Something like 10-12mill for someone who can do a very good job in central midfield, on the left, or even at left back if needed, is pretty good (perhaps I’m being ambitious on the price). I think the big question would be, that even if Rafa wanted him again, would he risk moving clubs with the 2010 World Cup looming? That could be a major factor, as he knows playing for us could risk a bit of bench time and his England spot if Alonso maintains his current form.

Forgot to mention about Silva, without being a huge expert on him, is that he seems a bit slight so there would be questions on his ability in England. I know that class and skill transfer anywhere, so I would hope it wouldn’t matter, but do you think he’d be strong enough on the ball? Even Babel, who is pretty solid, gets knocked off quite easily.

The danger with Ngog, Babel (and Kuyt) being the deputies for Torres is that if he is out for any significant amount of time again, there goes our season again. We need to be a bit less reliant on him, find other matchwinners when he’s out. Crouch was actually capable of that if he’d been willing to hang around – in hindsight he would’ve played a lot of games for us this year if he’d stayed. Finding the right player is a big challenge, since proven goalscorers are so expensive.

Wouldnt Barry be on a free transfer ?

funny parody of rafa’s new contract details:

REVEALED: RAFA’S NEW DEAL
ATTN: Rafael Benitez, The Most Expensive House in the Wirral. Merseyside. CH46 1RB.
Subject: NOTICE OF CHANGE TO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.

Dear Rafa,

As agreed in our discussion of Monday 19th March, 2009, the following changes in your employment contract will take effect on 1st April 2009.

Details of change: Contract dated 01/07/2004 – Clauses 2,4, 7a, 12, and 23c.

The Employer: Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool FC. Anfield Road. Liverpool, Merseyside. L4 OTH

The Employee: Rafael Benitez, The Most Expensive House in the Wirral. Merseyside, CH46 1RB.

Clause 2: Job description. Current: The employee’s job title is: Manager. New: The employee’s title is: Emperor.

Summary of changes: Under the new contract arrangement, the employee will assume complete and unquestionable control over all matters regarding to the business, future and finances of Liverpool Football Club (LFC), both on and off the field. Player recruitment, boardroom appointments, pre-season tours, colour of playing kit (Home, Away and Third), office wallpaper, car park space allocation, stadium design, disciplinary procedure, canteen menu and identity of broadband provider are all at the sole discretion of the employee.

Clause 4. Sickness entitlement. The employer will receive full salary for an unlimited amount of time due to sickness caused by kidney stones and/or injuries caused by excessive and animated hand waving.

Clause 7a. Status of chief executive. LFC’s current chief executive, Richard Parry, will be immediately stripped of all privileges related to the office. Those include club mobile phone, director’s box access and subsidised treatments at Pam’s Perm Palace. Mr Parry will be allowed paid entry to the stadium only on those occasions the employee is in hospital undergoing kidney stone removal surgery.

Clause 12. Jurgen Klinsmann. Any club employee/board member heard to mention the phrases ‘Jurgen’ and/or ‘Klinsmann’ will be instantly dismissed.

Clause 23c. Facts. Current: Facts are objectively provable statements. New: Facts are whatever the employee says they are.
These are the agreed changes to your contract. Please read, sign, and return in the envelope provided, one signed copy of this notice.

Yours faithfully,
Tom Hicks and (reluctantly) George Gillett.

Barry is 29 soon so no thanks I don’t want to spend anything on him not with a zillion midfielders in the team. More attacking options and a right back please not that I don’t think arbie is good enough just that we need back up.

My brother watched the reserves against wigan and said wigan condensed the play and hoofed the ball up the pitch. he was frustrated because there’s nothing riding on the game and wanted a decent game of footy to watch. He did say that you could see some of the ressies had real class, something about them like Pacheco, Nemeth but physically they were up against men and they are still young lads and it was a bit of a struggle for them.

Just a little point, I understand why teams like wigan (although they actually try and play footy) play hoof the ball and condense the play football in the premiership as there is a lot riding on the games but in the ressies and under 19′s etc down to youth level surely this is the chance to bring your talent on and play proper footy coaching youngsters how to play pass and move etc, after all this is the only way smaller teams will compete with youngsters coming through the ranks.

Rome, Barry wouldn’t be free – he has another year to run after this one. I could see Barry going for £12m-£14m which I think would put a big dent into our transfer budget.
If we get £10m for Voronin I’ll do the moonwalk naked up and down Knowsley Rd.

Andy, would Silva cut it in the Prem? I guess you never know but I think he has the pedigree. In my opinion he is a much better version of Luis Garcia and so I believe he would do well. As for a replacement for Torres when he’s injured – you’re right it would be better to have a top quality back up player. However with our current budget I think its better to address the weakness of the first team before addressing the squad depth. At the moment if we put our best team out on the pitch we still struggle to break down the bus parkers. Note we’ve already spent £11.5m on Babel and £10m on Kuyt so how much is it gonna cost to get a striker better than these 2?

Rome77-Barry would not come on a free, he still has one year left on his contract following this season, but his price would be greatly reduced from what it was last summer.

I’m over the moon with the Rafa news. I was hoping Dumb & Dumber wouldn’t screw this up, and it appears they’ve gotten it right. What a great way for me to start my morning here in the States.

I feel pretty confident that Rafa will handle the task with control of the transfer budget without Coco’s interference. Say what you want about those Manc bastards, but over the past few seasons Whiskey Nose had had his transfer dealings tied up in the very beginning of the window. Hopefully, we can now do the same; identify our target(s) and get them wrapped up quickly.

It’s tough to say which direction we’re going to go in the off season with transfers. I think you might see us leaning towards more English players in the face of the controversial 6+5 rule which FIFA is trying to push through and an independent council has ruled may be legal under European law. Right now we’ve got 2 in our first 11, and Carra and Stevie aren’t getting any younger.

If not English, we will at least need to look at players who count as “club trained” in England according to UEFA for our Champions League roster. Look at our options for our Champions League roster, and they’re rather limited this season; more so now than earlier in the season since both Keane and Pennant have left.

LB I think i’ll settle for £9,999,999 but if we get 10 should be a laugh
YNWA

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has told BBC Sport he never doubted manager Rafa Benitez would sign a new contract.

Benitez ended speculation about his future by signing a new deal on Wednesday that keeps him at the club until 2014.

“I was never worried because I know Rafa really wanted to stay at Liverpool and we wanted him to stay,” Hicks told 5 Live Sport.

“We agreed the economics some time ago and I’m glad we finally got it done.”

There had been speculation as to whether Benitez would remain with the Reds after what was a protracted period of negotiations over the new contract.

One of the rumoured stumbling blocks holding up the deal was the suggestion that Benitez wanted greater control over the club’s transfer dealings and was unhappy with the time chief executive Rick Parry took to conclude deals.

However, Hicks refuted the suggestions that the club’s transfer dealings were a cause of concern for Benitez.

“Rafa was never wanting control of the transfer policy, he just wanted to make sure we had better decision-making capability and that we moved quicker than we had in the past,” said Hicks.

“Rafa will make the recommendations but in English football it’s very important that the chief executive should make the financial decisions not the manager.”

The club recently announced that Parry would be leaving his post at the end of the season and Hicks stated that finding the right man for the job was of paramount importance.

“Rick had been with us 12 years, his heart was in the right place and he done a good job but it was time for a change and we need to make sure we get the right chief executive.

“Were starting the search. [Co-owner George Gillett] interviewed some headhunting firms in London this week and I’m going to interview some as well.

“We’re going to take our time. It’s the most important decision we can take on behalf of the club. In the meantime we have a great team”

Another issue that was rumoured to be holding up Benitez putting pen to paper was the fractured relationship between Hicks and his fellow owner George Gillett.

Hicks claims that any such problems between the two Americans has now been resolved and they are united in their forward-looking vision for the club.

“Me and George have been getting on well for some time. I don’t know how we got off course but it was stupid on both our parts and I think we’ve learnt that.

“We’ve been here for two years now and we’ve learnt so much about how the unique world of English football works and one of the thing we both feel is we need a proper board that sees over the day-to-day running of the club.

“We’ve brought in some good young players and you have to be able to develop your own young talent as well.

“To compete in the Premier League you need depth and we need to get stronger that way.”

Hicks’ reiterated the long-term aim of the club to build a new stadium and that once the global financial situation improves the club will press ahead with the project.

Great news for Rafa and Liverpool lads. Delighted for him on a personal level too, he’s deserved it. But the most important level is at club level and hopefully we’ll continue progressing forward as a club now. This deal has (finally) brought some stability to the club and will give the players a massive boost for our end of season push. With great power comes great responsibility they say and like all of ye I cant help but look toward the summer with intense interest. Exciting times ahead!

Almost everybody here see Silva as a very good prospect for us. I have a slightly different opinion on him.

He’s costly (around 20 mil). He’s a bit light weight. Lets get realistic here. Not everyone can adapt to EPL conditions as well as Torres. If he takes 8 months to adjust, it will surely not justify the price tag. (Keane anyone!!!)

Coming to Barry, most of you are not considering the most important tool that he’ll bring with him. Goals from set-pieces and corners in particular. Lots of them. Neither Alonso nor Silva can get us that. I remember in a few games that we drew, we had something like 10 corners. With Barry, we will surely be able to convert some of these chances.

Come to think of it, we need to add to the team a new dimension to win against the Stokes, Hulls, Middlesboroughs etc. I don’t know how far will a player like Silva be useful in games like these. He will be kicked out of the game.

Barry can activate the Websters clause. If Aston Villa are not in the CL, which seems a certainty now, with only an year to in his contract, we have a very good chance of landing up with Barry, hopefully even for free. So all we need will be a good goal scoring forward as a Torres replacement just in case.

We need to secure the contract of Agger ASAP. We should not go about searching for a CB in the next Transfer season.

@ alec-_the_red,

I hope you don’t mind, I posted your comment No.95 onto the forum Rafa thread. all rights reserved of course.

Super stuff gerry,

You`ve written two blogs since i left for liverpool and i enjoyed reading them.This blog is definatley the funniest i`ve read.”when goog kops turn bad” was a top blog gerry and it should definatley be one of your entries.Best of luck anyway.

Regarding the manc game i won`t comment too much as it has already been said.Lets just say we celebrated so hard in liverpool over the weekend,it caused me and 4 others to miss our flight home on monday,thus the party carried on into paddy`s day.

I never want to see drink again(at least for a day or two) and i`m back to work tonight one sick,but very happy puppy.

The contract has topped it all off.I`m over the moon he signed.Rafa probably agreed to sign weeks ago but decided to wait until we embarress the shite out of the so-called european superpowers then sign to rub it in.

So its a big UP YOURS to Fungus(who`s cracking up now?)and the manc obsessed world media.

Rafa is here to stay.Long live the rafalution!

abhiram, you only have to look at what Robinho and Arshavin have done to teams like Hull, Boro, Blackburn, Fulham and Stoke to get an idea of what Silva could potentially do to teams like these. Have a look at Man City results againt these sides at home and see how many goals and assists Robinho has. Arshavin has already began tearing the bus parkers apart. I think Silva is more similar to this type of player than a Robbie Keane.

When teams parked the bus against Spain in the Euros he was often their best outlet. Different type of football I know. There are no guarantees but for me in theory he would improve our team. I don’t think Barry would. He doesn’t even take the free kicks at Villa these days – Ashley Young does.

I can’t see us bringing in more than 1 big name at the most.
I can’t see it being a striker. No big name striker is gonna want to play 2nd fiddle to Nando, and we cannot play 2 strikers if we are to accomodate Stevie in the hole… which we have to if we are playing 2 out of Masch/Xabs/Lucas deep… which we always will under Rafa!

Our squad has faltered this season, but don’t be so swift to write them off.

Players like BennyOnion and Babel have only just turned it on after disappointing for much of the season. Kuyt bagged us a few early on, then went cold, but what his work rate contributed should never be under question.
We are finally seeing Aurellio return to the kind of performances he showed when he first signed.
Dossena is popping up with a few goals ala Steve Nicol.
Lucas is starting to settle after a bad patch.
Masch is hitting stellar form, which was missed early season.

This squad isn’t half as bad as people want to make it out to be.

2 quality signings in the right back and right wing slots and the Dynasty will continue to grow!
Viva El Rafalution

I think our inability to get anything from set pieces stems from a lack of players who attack the ball in the penalty area. I know the kick itself has often been lousy but at other times I’ve seen decent balls go into the 6 yard box and none of our players get close to contesting it. When Hyppia plays we get a lot more joy from set pieces don’t we? Yet the taker of the kick is the same. Agger is also good at attacking the ball and so is Torres. All 3 have been out more than in the side this season unfortunately. And so we get Gerrard or Alonso putting the ball into the penalty area and 9 times out of 10 a defender heads it clear.

Last season Villa had Lausen and Carew causing havoc while Young and Barry were taking the set pieces. They scored more goals 23 goals from set pieces tlast season. This season they have scored 10. They have the same takers but Carew has been out injured and Lausen left the club. My point is I can’t see Barry solving our problem scoring goals from free kicks and corners. Unless we’re gonna buy Cahill, Terry and Drogba as well.

And Aitch, yeah 2 quality signings! Address the areas in the first team that need attention the most. Rather than buying a top striker when we already have one. Or buying a midfield utility player when we already have several. When was the last time we had a top class winger? And as a club we always seem to find an excuse not to buy one!

LB, i understand you point of view.

Arshavin has not played many matches. Even Wenger himself said he’s surprised how well Arshavin has gelled. Robinho has been playing like shit away from home through out the season and he cost 30 mil. We should not compare them. Take a comparable example. Riera. Howz he fared? Well in the begining. Now? He looks very tired. Mind you, Spain will have the Confederations cup this summer. Not only 6 of our players will be out again but also another will add to this list. So again, he will not have time to bed in just as the case of Riera. We simply need to see other options.

Hey LB, Laursen is the captain of Villa. He is still their long term captain. Your statistic speaks a lot though. Agreed.

Still, we have many good candidates who do the Laursen and Carew job like Torres, Skrtel, Agger, Riera, Alonso and Gerrard himself who is pretty good with the headers. We need a good supply and Barry can provide that. Add to that his normal game play, his versatility (can play CM, LB and LM) and his experience, don’t you think he would be a better candidate?

LB, not pickin on you, but you are havin a larf…

Good delivery???? We are absolutely CACK at set pieces! If SG worked for Fed Ex… well he wouldn’t be working for Fed Ex!

9 out of 10 Stevie G corners kneecap the first defender. Christ he should be brought up on GBH charges after every match!

And 9 out of 10 of our free kicks float over everyone to NOBODY at the far post and bounce out for the opposition!
Its absolutely criminal!

The logic of SG taking corners is beyond me, especially when he’s fairly handy at gettin on the end of them??????

As for Arshavin… he has been terrific in his first few games, but then so was Riera, so was Babel, so was Gonzalez for fucks sake! (Don’t get me wrong, I was one of a few voices last summer suggesting we go after the Arsh instead of Barry or Keane. I reate him, but its a bit early to call him a success. How many people were venting spleen coz we missed out on Malouda… now look at him? Players all too often have a great run in their first 6 games and then fade into mediocrity, … though I suspect he wont… but let’s hold out the jury until the end of the season…)

I think we’d all cream ourselves if we got Silva. I doubt there are many in here who don’t rate him. The question is always… how will he fair in the fast paced rough-n-tumble of a midwinter Wednesday night in Middlesborough?

But I’d settle for Silva and a decent quality right back… Then again Deggen might yet do the biz if he recovers…. (though I won’t hold my breath)… I mean look at Aurelio?

I gotta say I’m with Aitch and LB on this one. Get cover for right back and a top quality right winger. All other considertions are secondary. Right back and right wing are PRIORITY. Numero uno. No 2 ways about it. Insert cliche here. Etc etc. My god if we’d signed Arshavin in the summer as myself and Aitch pleaded for I wonder would be even having this debate? Guess where he’s lining out for the gooners? Right, right midfield….aaaaargh!! Anyway, whats gone is gone. Would I be happy with Silva? You betcha

Haven’t Arseshaving’s goals come from cutting in from the left Dig???
That’s certainly where I saw the majority of his Russian goals coming from.

Again, I wouldn’t be too hasty to discount Babel rediscovering form and solving our right wing problem… (or even El Zhar making the step up, though that might be another bit-part-playing season away yet) but of course, anyone that pulls a shift out there has to do the defensive duty required of the position… which I would suggest is partly why we’ve seen Riera be less efective (though mostly due to his lack of a right foot I think,) on the left wing.

I think the last 3 results have shown what this squad is capable of… with at least 8 or 9 of the draws showing what happens when they are playing below their potential… but remember even the almighty, unstoppable, irrepressable, indefatigable, all-conquering United lose 4-1 when that happens!

I’m delighted that Rafa is staying. Even if we had lost to Real and Manchesturd I’d still would have wanted Rafa to stay.
I agree that SG is wasted taking corners and he should be in the box causing havoc. Let someone else deliver – dunno who, but not SG. I agree that we need players who’ll attack the ball and SG will do just that and also create space for others too.
I do worry about the fragility of our striking options for this year and beyond. If Nando gets injured then we’ve got no significant cover. I agree with Aitch about the 2nd fiddle point. Can we clone him?

Great day for LFC.
Now if we can all just concentrate on what’s really important – supporting the team, players and manager – we should see good things ahead.

Haven’t been able to read all the comments, been busy the last few days. But I have skimmed a few and want to just say…
This has been one of the greatest couple of weeks I can remember. Yes of course, there’s been trophy winning days. I was at Wolverhapton, Wembley and Rome in 77. It doesn’t come any bigger than that. But these last few days, have been really special. But more importantly, I believe, today is one of the greatest in terms of the club’s long term future. And that’s the key lads… Long Term!

I can’t believe it meself nor would anyone who knows me… fuckin auld scallywag me being the voice of reason and patientce, well, it beggar’s belief. I really must be getting old. But honest lads, that’s the key – patientce.

As I said, I’ve only skimmed a few comments but in them we’re already playing fantasy football again and calling for Villa to get twatted. No harm in that, except you are only setting yourselves up to be pissed off if either doesn’t happen.

Meself, I expect a very tough game against Villa. MON is no mug. He hates us and Rafa. He will have Villa ready, and their recent results will only help him gee them up. Having said that, I want us to batter them and get 3 points wrapped up by half time. But even if they do us and Man U slaughter Fulham, I will still be a Liverpudlian. It won’t change the bigger picture.

As for transfers, the boardroom will still have final say, but let’s hope they’ll move swiftly on Rafa’s targets and base their spending on his valuations – not the CEO’s, the markability of the player (Shirt sales etc), or the sell on value.

I expect Rafa to have at least 20 million (Most of it coming from what he clawed back on the Keane debacle). And I will back him to spend it more wisely than any of us would.

Not having a dig at you LB, but let’s say Villa and Johnson as you suggested. If he buys them, I will back them. But to my mind…
Villa would mean Torres playing like he does for Spain – not quite in the Gerrard role, but still second striker.
I don’t really want that. But it wouldn’t be a bad option, especially during times of fatigue and injury for Gerrard or Torres.

Johnson – certainly a good attacking option but defending? No thank you on my part.

So, all I’m saying is… one step at a time chaps. This has been a very very important and significant day for our club’s long term health. That’s enough for me for Today. Tomorrow, I’ll watch the CL draw and that will be enough for tomorrow. Saturday, Villa… get my drift. One match and one battle at a time.

A very happy red – right now. Rafa can worry about the future for me.

I see where you’re comin from FS, but I honestly feel confident enough that if the lads don’t stop and take a breath we can do Villa comfortably. My money would be on a 3-1 result for us.
And though many wouldn’t agree, I fancy Fulham to hold Scum to a point. If that happens then it really is game on innit?

I think the other thing to keep in mind is that Rafa won’t be playing fantasy football (even if he had the money) and while he generally thinks short term in the “one game at a time mode,” I reckon he’ll be looking long term at this summers signings. (I think that is part of what prompted the chase for Barry and Keane… players that will fit the UEFA 6 requirement.)

I agree, Johnson hasn’t really impressd to the point where you’d say let’s get him now…. and I reckon he’d be well-2nd choice to Arbie who is underrated in my opinion…. but the problem is, if not Johnson, then who… bearing in mind the home-grown caveat?

FS mate, I said David Silva not David Villa. Silva is the wide player, quick, skillful, 2 good feet and I’ve seen him on both wings for Spain and he’s looked great!

I’m thinking our main problem is breaking down teams who sit deep and defend at Anfield. Players who can dribble and play quick passes, go pass players and take players out of the game is what’s needed I feel. And Silva fits the bill. Well he does in La Liga and for Spain. There are no guarantees he’d do it in the Prem.

Aitch, how many goals or near misses have you seen from the head of Hyypia in the last 3 seasons? Who took the kicks?

I dont think anyones playing fantasy football FS. More like reality football. If we play with half the intensity we played with last wk it is a realistic expectation that we should beat a team who are in dreadful form. Nothing fantastic about it mate. And yes I’ll be pissed off if we drop points to them as will a whole lot of other people I suspect, not least of whom will be Stevie, Carra etc. As Stevie said what good is it to beat utd, haul yourself back into the race and not win the rest of your games?

Abhiram, sorry I meant to say Melberg not Lausen. For Aston Villa I mean. And I disagree about the players who say can attack a ball with their head. Skrtel, Alonso, Riera don’t pose a threat when we have a corner. I’ve never seen them win a header. Agger and Torres yes. Hyypia of course. The rest make token efforts to get anywhere near the ball.

When i say never won a header I mean when we have a corner.

By the way Abriham, Robinho has taken stick because of his form away from home. Never mind the rest of the team is shite every away game as well. Lol

FS, we were talking more about getting David Silva, not David Villa. Easy to confuse them though (their names that is), I do it all the time. I think Silva would be a good option.

I agree about needing a right-back and winger, but you have to add striker to that mix. Maybe not a world-class 20mill+ out-and-out striker, but we need better backup to Torres than Ngog, Babel and Kuyt. Far too often this season our attack looked make-shift without Torres. Perhaps a promising youngster who doesn’t cost too much and can be phased in without whining about being on the bench.

Like everyone, I want us to smash Villa, we just have to be careful about being TOO over-zealous… I think considering their current form, and our’s, AV will start cagey and try to hit us with pace on the counter – and they do have a lot of pace in Ashley Young and Agbonlahor. I think you’ll find we play a bit differently to the Man U and Real games… with a high tempo yes, but perhaps not so high up the park.

Starting lineup should be our usual best XI in the 4-2-3-1, but with Babel on the left instead of Riera. If Arbie is injured, Carra out there again and Agger in.

I don’t know Aitch, but let me tell you a little story…

I was about 12. We was playing Dundalk an Irish team, in the Inter City Fairs Cup. It doesn’t even exist now. It eventually became the UEFA Cup. Anyway, I was in The Kop, down the front, by the wall, still not big enough to take me place in the middle. We beat Dundalk 10 – 0. I wasn’t to know they was a little Irish amatuer team. Try explaining the difference between Besiktas and Madrid to a daft kid.

It was Europe and we’d just battered someone 10 – 0. I remember leaving the ground. I can see it in me mind’s eye right now. I remember going on and on about how great we was – especially to me Toffee mates. IMPORTANT BIT _ We hadn’t won anything since the league in 66 and the year before that the FA Cup. I finally thought this is it. I’ll see trophies now. And I honestly, didn’t see how we could lose again all season.

We got knocked out the next round. I can’t remember where we finished in the league, but it was well off the top, and we got knocked out of the FA early on. I was devastated, but that was the beginning of me proper football education. Funny old game.

So will Rafa throw everything at Villa? I doubt it, but I’m convinced he’ll have the tactics right. And even if this weekend kills off all our hopes, I’ll remain convinced it won’t be long.

Here’s one reason why…
I was talking to an auld mate of mine the other day. I’ve mentioned him in here before, so you know I’m not kidding, but he played for Villa. He never made it for a rather sad reason, but he did have a couple of first team games at centre forward. And that man knows his football.

Anyway, he pointed something out to me… Chelsea weren’t setting the world alight, but they were playing well and they had that wonderful unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge.
So, nobody really expected us to win there. But little did we know, Rafa had identified the way to beat them – nullify their fullbacks, make them play through the middle, push up on Mickel, (I think Essiedn wasn’t playing) strangle theor midfield, pull the centre backs forward and hit them fast on the break. BINGO!

He then went on to tell other teams how to beat them. Chelsea went on that bad run. How, why? Because other teams played them in a similar fashion.

Well, as we know Rafa’s just done it again to Real and the Mancs. We don’t have to worry about Real again. And as for the Mancs…
he’s showed other teams the way and shouted it from the rooftops. Sadly, other teams don’t have Torres and Gerrard. But Spuds gave them a hard time in the CC Final – Lennon raging Evra. So, it can be done if they try.

Andy Johnstone is fast as fuck. So, if Fulham stop rolling over and try to play him in behind their on pushing/high defence, he/they might just spring a shock.

As for transfers, look up Eduardo Macia. Rafa has the same/his old Valencia set up at Anfield now – Drogba was the coffee table Rafa wanted when they bought him a lamp… I can’t remember the exact fee, but they wouldn’t pay something silly like 4 million euros for Drogba!

And I can’t find the link, but I will. It shows how LFC’s scouting network is now set up – fuck me. It’s like some sort of secret police. They have fingers in every pie all over the world.

And that’s why I say, I’ll leave it to them. I can name player’s I like, but I don’t have their resources or knowledge. If I did I wouldn’t be my bookies best mate.

In fact, there’s a challenge for you… go have a bet on the weekend’s results, try to forecast at least 5 results. Your bookie will love you.

PS… I fucked up really badly. I went in the bookies before the first legs of the last CL games. I asked for odds on all English sides going through. I got qouted 25 to 1. I thought that was well worth at least putting 20 quid on. I fucked up and never went back before I left for Madrid. Bastard. That would have paid for me flight, hotel and beer money in ROME! Yep, getting ahead of meself, but fucking bring em on. I fancy a trip to Germany but, like Keith said, it would be nice to fuck up Man U’s mighty quintuple, eh.

Sorry lads, as I said… I only skimmed the comments. I thought you said Villa…. me eyes are old me bones are weak.

Tell you what though, we already have a very similar player to Silva. Can’t name him off the top of me head. I’ll look it up. Young Finnish kid. But like I said, the youngsters are all just a bit to sleight yet. Hopefully we’ll see them in the Carling Cup and early rounds of next season’s FA.

PPS… Off to watch Red Riding now. Anyone watch it? It’s been great. Some of the best telly I’ve seen in ages.

PPS… And I am definetely going now. Not missing that show, so haven’t got time to check. But I think it was Macia who found Silva and definetely Alves. Not bad, eh.

Andy if we have the money then yes a back-up striker would be nice. But that scenario is unlikely. And besides who’s gonna come to sit on the bench? Our system is one man upfront with someone playing off him. As we all know that man is the best striker in the world and that someone is the best midfielder in the world. I think promoting Nemeth to the bench is a better option than possibly squandering more cash on a pissed off striker. We’ve babel and Ngog too if worst comes to worst. Go get a winger Rafa la!

“Perhaps a promising youngster who doesn’t cost too much and can be phased in without whining about being on the bench.”
er… isn’t that exactly what Ngog is?

Just because he hasn’t smashed in 14 goals this season, doesn’t mean its time to write him off.
Same goes for Babel, Kuyt, Lucas, Riera, even El Zhar.

Its been an incredibly frsutrating season… and even those of us who were calling for a little “calm down, calm down” were borderline suicidal at the way we threw the title away this season… but as I’ve said before… a goal or two more from each of these lads and its a whole different story innit?
That isn’t wishful thinking. They are all well capable of more, as we’ve just witnessed in the last 3 games.

Darby, Nemeth and a few others will get a look in next season (provided we don’t go out and unnecessarily buy a half dozen 3rd rate squad members) and Insua will get a few more games (I actually predict him making the left back spot HIS next season.)

We’ve had so many false dawns before that we truly can’t see sometimes, that we are on the verge…some of us on the verge of a nervous breakdown, I’ll grant you… but on the verge of regaining our perch!

Look how many people are agreeing that we only need 2 players, now, whereas 4 weeks ago, we needed to overhaul the fuckin squad!
And if we don’t capitalize on our current form and take it into the Villa game, then the good mood will be gone and we’ll be talking about selling half a dozen players and replacing them… again.

But stand fast lads.
Rafa will get it right.
This group of players will get it right.
And we’ll be dancing in the streets sooner rather than later!

And LB… I’m not starting a nark, but in answer to your question #117

the answer is… come on, really? Far fewer than I’ve seen sail 5 feet over his head as he looks on frustrated that he’s now gotta jog all that fuckin way back and why did he bother comin up in the first place!

Oh… and… Skrtel has got his head on a few near misses, (as many as Sami this seaosn) so why do you doubt his attacking threat from a set piece? Simply coz he hasn’t netted one yet?

It ain’t about the header…. its about the delivery to the head.. and frankly ours is generally poor!

We used to bang loads in off corners.
I don’t have the numbers and don’t know where to find them, but I remember someone posting a stat that showed we win more corners than any of the top 4.
We waste more than half of them!

Aitch, I know we have Ngog, but in my opinion he isn’t yet good enough to provide enough of an insurance policy for Torres missing games. Sure, give him some games, develop him, etc… but the gulf in class between the two is just too huge right now for him to be our cover. Yes we have Babel, Kuyt… but to me it still feels like the instant Torres is out, we are always trying to “make do”. Maybe in 1-2 years Ngog will be a suitable backup, but not yet. Maybe he will sparkle next year, but that’s a big risk to hope for in such an important position. So no I am not “writing him off”, I’m saying he has scored one premier league goal and would be very surprised if he can bang anywhere near 10 in for us next season. I’d of course be pleased if he did, but as a club that wants to contend again I don’t think we should count on it, hence the need for another option.

Basically I don’t believe you can win the premiership with only one quality striker unless you are very lucky and he is fit the entire season. That’s a lot to hope for and not good planning for premiership contenders.

I think Rafa agrees, because that would appear to have been his idea in bringing in Keane. The fact that Keane didn’t deliver is unlikely to change Rafa’s philosophy on the need for another striker, it may just change who he goes for. So, I bet we bring in another striker in the summer – I’m guessing for around 15mill or so.

Aitch, I’m not denying that the delivery from corners is usually poor BUT the attacking of the ball in the air is equally poor in my opinion. There are 2 elements to it I think. Say we get 10 corners in a game. 4 of them will go in a dangerous area but get clear out by a defender who is under no pressure.

I can’t recall Skrtel attacking a ball from a corner with conviction and getting anywhere near. I remember Torres scoring a couple of goals from corners this season and I remember Hyypia being a consistent threat even when the corner is a near post one.

I get your point Andy, but 15 mill is a LOT to spend on a striker when a right back AND a right winger are needed… unless Rafa has 45 mill to spend and can do so in all 3 areas.

I doubt we’ll be bagging a 15 mill striker unless we get one at the endof his ocntract that we can steal for say 5-8.

And LB, I think we’re on the same page.
My next argument was going to be that I frankly find the body language of players coming up for a conrer to be rather poor. It looks to me like they come up “just knowing” they won’t be getting on the end of it, coz they don’t expect it to be swung in with any conviction.

It spretty hard to attack the ball in the box, if its delivered behind you
I see where you are coming from, but I still contend that its down more to the quality of the delivery of the ball, than any lack of ability to fashion a goalbound effort with that ball.

As a Captain, surely SG wants to be standing in the D on corners? As a CM myself, that was my fave place to be.
I don’t get why he hasn’t asked to be relieved of duty. And I am at a loss to undestand why Rafa hasn’t taken the duty off him.

Riera, Xabi, Aurellio, Dossena, Babel, Benny can all cross a ball.

I agree with you on Nemeth Aitch. Get him on the bench next year. Every game. And start blooding the lad. When we’re subbing Nando off, send him on, learn the system etc etc. No need to go buying squad players as back up, we’ve got em. Lets see the lad get some action and prove himself. I disagree with you on Insua. He made that l.b spot his own this yr. Dossena wasnt cutting it, fabio was injured. The kid stepped in and locked it down. Without overstating it he was outstanding. Its his to lose next yr.

I think Aurelio should take inswinging corners from the right, Alonso from the left, with Gerrard either just outside the box waiting for clearances, or in the box with the rest of them competing for headers (he’s one of our better headers).

Steady on Dig.

Nemeth is a seaosn away form that at best. There is as you are aware, a massive gulf in class between the reserves and the Prem. Few players can handle being dropped in at the deep end. I’d ease Nemeth in behind Ngog (at the moment) into the pecking order.
Get Nemeth a few starts in the CC and early FA and a few bench/sub appearances against the lower end of the Prem… and let’s see how he does… before we sart calling for Nemeth to make the bench every game.

As for Insua, I think he’s leapfrogged Dossena for sure, and the kid looks the biz, but I wouldn’t say the spot is his and his alone just yet.
Aurellio is looking the biz too this season and right now, its a tough choice between the two… and you simply have to factor in Aurellio’s experience for certain oppostiion.

I wouldn;t mind seeing Riera given a bit of a rest and Insua played at left back with Aurellio at left-mid, with Dossena coming on at 70/75 to back his super-sub goal against tired defenders!

Anyway, my point is that I don’t fundamentally disagree with your rating of him, but I think Insua needs to deliver at least a few more performances like the ones we’ve been seeing before he becomes the first name on the team sheet!

The Future is Bright, The Future is Rafa Red!

The Times are reporting that Rafael Benítez will be given at least £30 million to spend on new players this summer, the transfer fee being boosted by at least ten million from the sale of Keene. He may also be able to keep funds raised by player sales and any successful competion money.

Oliver Kay – The Times

Apparently the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, continues to monitor events with interest.

The Times

And

Danny Murphy and the Fulham skipper has promised to do all he can to help his former Liverpool team-mates close the gap in the title race.

“Murphy’s free-kick in 2000 gave Liverpool their first victory at Old Trafford in a decade and he followed that up with a late winner to dent United’s title hopes in 2002 and a decisive penalty in 2004″

The Daily Mail

That sounds about right SBB. If memory serves we spent 37mil last summer and I surmised we’d have a similar figure this summer. I hope that article is accurate. Fuck if we win the c.l that would really boost the kitty too! It just whets the appetite…. And good on you Danny the manc crusher! Give it loads lad. Aitch thats my left side for sunday too. Rieras gotta sit a few. Insua and Aurelio defo. And Nemeths ready for the bench mate. Theres only so long you can keep banging em in for the ressies methinks.

er… Digger… Neil Mellor!

Nemeth was injured for a larger part of last year. When he was finally fully recovered we lent him out to Blackpool to get some experience. In his first game for them in January, he recieved a fractured cheekbone – welcome to the Championship.

He has been out since then, but finally played 2 days ago in a reserve match against Wigan. He was pulled off in the second half exhausted. But what the fuck, let’s just lash him in there.

Not taking the piss Digger but like I have said a million times, the kids will be developed at the the right rate. These lads are worth more than Derby winning colts. They can’t just be tossed to the likes of Terry and Vidic.

But having said that, Nemeth is one of the very highly rated kids, and very definetely in Rafa’s plans for the future. But it is that… in the future.

I went on and on about Insua last season. I said, he would be first to come through, but writing off both Aurelio and Dosenna for him is complete bollacks. Like the rest of them, the kid will be allowed to develop in his own time.

As for real young kids, (16 to 18) watch out for these all under 18….
Thomas Ince, that’s Paul’s lad – shit hot young winger. Lauri Dalla Valle, top-top quality striker. Adam Pepper, the one I’ve been most tipped about – local lad, sprays the ball about (And even scores goals from the half way line) like Xabi.

Yep. No one’s playing fantasy football, eh Dig. Which I actually meant as… well, you know picking fantasy squads in the fantasy leagues in the papers. But if you want to get real – go look at some reserve games. You can find links to some of them. And read some reports.

Pacheco is a wonderfully talented kid. But I tell you what, let a few cart horse centre halves loose on him and he’d probably be fucked for months if not life. Micheal Owen, ring a bell?

It just goes to show you what a despicable club Manchester United are when they allow banners to be displayed on an internationally televised game or even at all!

“When the two clubs met at Old Trafford on Saturday a banner saying “Murderers” was draped over the middle section of the Stretford End.”

The Guardian

Who’s talking bout lashing him in there FS? Jesus, exaggerate much?! I’m talking about promoting him to the first team squad next year, giving him 10 or 15mins here and there when possible, ya know? When we’re 2 up and replacing Nando or as Aitch says the fizzy cup and so on, ya know? Start grooming him as Nandos apprentice so if the lad does miss a few games we have his natural replacement. Think of what this already prodigious talent could learn from training with Nando and Stevie every week. What say you

Sorry meant to say there ‘what say you FS?’ Is what I’m suggesting here really that outlandish?! Ablett said he’s ready.

Hi Lads
Long time no comment from me (Sir Wanker pissed me off with his racism an`d I didn’t want to talk shit on this fine Blog out of respect to Gerry)
Anyway as I read the blog religiously I’ve been reading all comments and didn’t want to get into the Rafa debate.I’ve always been a loyal supporter of Liverpool and of Rafa and for me the best thing that happened in all this craziness is him signing a new contract (I fucking love him and think he’s a class act) I don’t call it blind faith I call it the loyalty of the highest degree that made me love Liverpool in the 1st place.
Anyway that’s the end of it
Its good to have you back regularly Wirral and Fatty and I like the mood in here at the moment.
Gerry defo ‘when good Kop turns bad ‘ and this one for the award.
Anyway lads did we just hammer Real Madrid and Ushited in one week or did I just have an acid flashback.
Go-on the Boys, fuck yeah!
The missus predicted Dossenas 2 goals and now he is her favorite player (apart from Gerrards legs!)
What a broad eh
I think we can beat the snot out of anyone that comes next for the rest of the season
Lets hope it’s enough!!
Over and out

Good to see you back donal, missed your “over and outs”! We all need our breaks from the blog now and then, I took mine for a few months last year while I went and visited a few senoritas in the US & Central America.

Sorry meant to say a big shout out to Knight and the boys at the Cobra club
Ill send ya some photos soon
over and out

Liverpool have re-arranged their game against Arsenal to Tue April 21st at 8:00pm.

All the talk bout potential signings seem to ignore the 6+5 rule that FIFA & UEFA are hell bent on forcing thru.

Like or not, we’ve got to be prepared. And me is a little nervous that we may be caught off guard.

Any thoughts from the well-versed experts here on the impact that rule might have on us?

And one more thing, having played the chavs & arse in surope in previous seasons, what are the chance we get the scum in the draw tonite?

Digger, right down to the kit man, this is the first team squad and the staff…

Liverpool FC Squad – 2008-2009:
1. Diego Cavalieri
2. Andrea Dossena
4. Sami Hyypia
5.Daniel Agger
8. Steven Gerrard
9. Fernando Torres
10. Andriy Voronin
11. Albert Riera
12. Fabio Aurelio
14. Xabi Alonso
15. Yossi Benayoun
17. Alvaro Arbeloa
18. Dirk Kuyt
19. Ryan Babel
20. Javier Mascherano
22. Emiliano Insua
23. Jamie Carragher
24. David Ngog
25. Pepe Reina
26. Jay Spearing
27. Philipp Degen
28. Damien Plessis
29. Krisztian Nemeth
30. Charles Itandje
31. Nabil El Zhar
32. Stephen Darby
34. Martin Kelly
35. Ryan Flynn
36. Steven Irwin
37. Martin Skrtel
38. Craig Lindfield
39. Nathan Eccleston
41. Martin Hansen
42. Peter Gulacsi
- Godwin Antwi
- Daniel Sanchez Ayala
- Vincent Lucas Weijl
- Vitor Coutinho Flora
- Victor Palsson
- Zsolt Poloskei
- Dean Bouzanis
- Emmanuel Mendy
- Nikola Saric
- Paul Anderson
- Gerardo Alfredo Bruna Blanco
- Daniel Pacheco
- Mikel San Jose Dominguez
- Jordy Brouwer
- Ryan Crowther
- Sebastian Leto
- Gary Mackay-Steven
- Andras Simon
- Ray Putterill
- Francisco Duran
- Robbie Threlfall
- Miki Roque
- Jack Hobbs
- Ronald Huth
- David Martin
- Adam Hammill

Liverpool FC Staff:
Rafael Benitez – Manager
Sammy Lee – Assistant Manager
Gary Ablett – Reserve Team Manager
Mauricio Pellegrino – First-team Coach
Angel Vales – Reserve Coach and Head of Technical Analysis
Dave McDonough – Technical Analyst
Paco De Miguel – Fitness Coach
Gonzalo Rodriguez – Fitness Coach
Gerard Nus – Fitness Coach
Xavi Valero – Goalkeeping Coach
Eduardo Macia – Chief Scout
Mike McGlynn – Assistant Chief Scout
Mark Waller – Club Doctor
Rob Price – Senior Physiotherapist
Victor Salinas – Physiotherapist
Graham Carter – Kit Manager

Except for the one’s out on loan, all the players, even the ones without squad numbers, are registered and able to play in the first team if picked or needed. Obviously most won’t be and sadly, most of them will never make it.

But I imagine it gives them a great boost to be named in the squad, and it probably increases any price we can sell them for if and when they don’t make it.

If you look at squad, Nemeth actually has a number (29) while some real quality players haven’t. That shows how highly he is rated. And, god forbid, if the league becomes mathmatically impossible, I think we will see him before the end of it – probably in a couple of nothing games where he won’t get clogged to death.

You can watch the reserves quite regularily on line – if not the full game at least highlights. I watch them as often as possible. There’s loads of thing’s I could say, but on this subject, here’s the main one…
Whenever I’ve seen our ressies playing a team with a full blown professional in their ranks, the kids have came off second best.

I remember telling about Pennant’s attitude in here after the game against Sunderland reserves. I’m sure some people remember it, but fuck him. He’s gone. It’s relevant now because, Sunderland had Micheal Chopra in the side coming back from injury. Unlike Pennant, he didn’t see it below him, got stuck in, and he absolutely minced our kids. It was honestly shocking how a so-so but very experienced pro absolutely murdered them.

But that will have been a good experience for them – shown them what they could be up against in the future.

And as I say, I think it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing some of them. But that time will be when it’s right for them. Have a look at Pacheco. That kid is fantastic. I’m sure he’s going to be a great player for us one day. But right now he’s tiny. And compared to the kid, I mentioned in me last post – Adam Pepper – he looks like The Hulk.

And I’m not bollicking you. I’m just pointing out that at this age and stage of development, it’s very easy to wreck a young player. As I’ve said about Owen on many occasions, the injury problems he suffers with today are mainly a result of us over playing him in our panic to catch Man U.

There’s people who think Rooney is showing signs of being over played. It’s hard to disagree with them. And that horrible bastard was born the size of a brick shithouse and hard as nails.

Anyway, I’m just going to wait for the draw now. Not really bothered who we get, but obviously Porto or Villareal would be the easiest on paper. But as for the reserves/kids, I’m just happy we have such a great system and staff in place, and I’m sure it won’t be too long before it starts paying dividends.

PS… mr. ferguson, “The 3 best managers in the prem are Wenger, Moyes and O’Neil.
The tranvestite, “We don’t care who we get in the CL, but Bayern and Barca are the main dangers to us.”

Me thinks the ladies do protest too much.

Gerrard’s back in court today.

And now that Rafa’s signed his contract, expect the papers to go into meltdown about his plans – according to the Mirror, to get the contract, he had to promise to buy better players.

The mind boggles.

Oh, and before answering Digger, what I really wanted to say was… before Rafa(according to what ever paper you’re reading) spends any of the 20/30/40/50 million war chest that he’s getting, what I expect to see him do next is tie up all contracts – staff and players.

So, I reckon we’ll soon see what’s going to happen with Agger. I hope to fuck he gets a renewed and better contract and stays. But I also think the lad should lower his demands, show a bit of loyalty for what the club has done for him, and knuckle down to really getting fit and forcing his way into the team.

Puchong Red I can’t see the UEFA 6+5 rule coming into law anytime soon/if at all. It will have to get past the EU Law of employment & trade and I can’t see that happening over night.

So FS, according to the Mirror Rafa had to “I promise to buy better players – honest” before having his wishes granted? Lol. Those journalists are something else. I’d like to know how a journo knows how much money Rafa will get to spend when it’s questionnable if even Rafa himself knows how much money he’ll get to spend.

FS, you forgot Lucas in your squad list. I only see a non-numbered “Vincent Lucas Weijl”, but I don’t think that’s him, no? <— Pay attention to the smilie this time!

FS: I couldn’t agree more about the kids. If you listen or read any interviews, the kids themselves say when asked what do you need to improve “I need to get stronger”. Not better but stronger. Pacheco looks like he will be outstanding but he would get murdered by Terry. Look what he tried to do to Nando in his first game only he didn’t realise that Nando although being called El Nino is as strong as an ox and showed him up for the cart horse he is. Owen was a prodigious talent but from 27 onward when he should have been at his peak he was burnt out physically. the media would have you believe that Owen was just a goal poacher but if you look at footage of his goals he was so much more. He could score every type of goal, tap in’s, outside the box, headers, go past players. We over played him. We don’t need to do that thankfully with the lads coming through we can blood them at just the right time.

We need a back-up goal scoring and experienced striker for the next season.

LB, I agree with your reasoning that the pressing matter is the RM but i donot agree with the RB position. Even if we do find a RB, he will surely be a back-up for Arbeloa right? Why do we need that? We already have Darby. I want him to get his chance. Even for RM, we should get a very good, atleast 15 goal a season player. He will be replacing Kuyt or Bennayoun. If not, there is no need.

If, God forbid, Torres gets injured next season too and is not available for say 8 months. What then? I don’t want us to be discussing how he lost out on the Premier League because of Torres injury.

Its very rare that a team can go on to win the Premier League with only only one striker. We have many back-up options. Our back-up options are raw as of now although i want them played whenever possible. But in the worst case i mentioned above, is there any one who can replace Torres when required and do the job in this present team? The replacements are Kuyt, Babel, Ngog and Nemeth. The answer is quite emphatic.

abhiram, You’re right about the replacement for Benayoun or Kuyt – I think the player would have to contribute goals as well as create many. Such a player is going to cost a lot of money and therefore take up the bulk of transfer budget in my opinion. As for the right back. I’m still not convinced that Arbie is the ultimate answer – he’s played very well in patches this season but I still think we need competition for his position. He can’t put a cross on a pools coupon – other than that he’s been very good though. Darby at 20 years old has not made a league appearance yet. There has been more sightings of the Lochness Monster than Philip Degen. I don’t know if that is adequate back up.

I’d love an experienced quality goal scorer to be there in case Torres gets injured. But realistically we won’t be buying one. Can’t see anyone with experience and quality, in the season before the world cup signing up as a just in case option. What you’re going to have to accept is that if Torres is injured for 8 months we won’t be winning the league. Take out any team’s best attacking player and they are not going to win the league. Man Utd were not great at the beginning of the season without Ronaldo and would have won f*ck all last season without him, Arsenal have struggled without Fabgregas, Chelsea struggled without a fit Drogba, I’ve seen Barca struggle without Messi and doubt they’d win the La Liga title without him. I don’t care how strong a squad is – take out the best player and it will damage their title winning chances.

we’ve got the chavs

its chelski againnnn, wtf

lucky mancs have got porto

Fucking chelsea again. And the mancs get Porto. It’s rigged I tell you!

arse v villareal
barca v bayern
lfc v chavs
mancs v porto

the semis will be with Barca most prolly assuming everything right…ManU will again have easy picks there too assuming Porto sucks

I can’t believe how the mancs always avoid English opposition. It’s got to be fixed for them no one have that much luck surely. Only good thing is if arse and mancs get through they will play each other in semi’s.

I don’t know what chelsea fans are thinking, but i am certainly not pleased

Home tie first as well. I always prefer the 2nd leg at home but we’ve done the chav’s at home this season so they hold no fear.

and away.

but hard way Liv will win the CL anywaz

YNWA

I assume RAFA will have no rant against Drogba this time

Chelsea fans pissed off as well. Not for fear factor – just fed up playing us like we are playing them.

We’ll need to give them a sound beating at Anfield. No more Riise own goals in the 92nd minute.

Fucking typical. We will probably have to beat all the English teams (or barca) again to win it.

That is a tough ask!

i sit next to a chelsea fan at work – both of us find this extremely boring. very, very boring.

YNWA

Why do we always,,,,always get Chavs…
This is one opponent that I hoped we could avoid..

Absolutely boring!

We have Fulham in the league before the CL game. No doubt Gerrard and Torres will be wrapped in some cotton wool and parked on the bench. Same thing in the Blackburn game a week after.

Well look at it this way we have an excellent chance of progressing. the chav’s are not the team they were and they know we can do them. I think we’ll be more confident than they will.

Rafa knows the players of both teams inside out, but we can’t say the same about Guus. Besides we beat them twice this season already. So I am bored while optimistic!

We won’t be bored when we get to match day I’m sure.

the positive about the draw in contrast to previous seasons is that chavs are invincible no more at their own turf. Thanks to Alonso

YNWA

Boring? Get real!

We are in the 1/4 finals of the Champion League FFS. There was a long time were we were nowhere near this level. I would gladly take this ‘boring’ 1/4 CL final every year.

Do you want to bring back the days when we were struggling to qualify for the UEFA cup. That is what I would call boring!

This draw, IMHO, reduces our chances of winning the European cup again and increases the mancs chances. Maybe it will change after this round but at the moment it is like this.

So let’s get behind the boys and set the example.

rant over and i’ll get me coat.

Assault charge against Gerard dropped.
He’s still facing charge of affray

rant continues….

You know what some of you are like… my daugther.

Santa bought her a bike last Christmas and what did I hear from her… he forgot my Nintendo DS.

Some of you are acting like spoilt brats with short memories. Just a pity I can’t give you a slap like I did to her!

Now I’ll get me coat.

Lurgan, We’ve played Chelsea 23 times in the last 5 years. Drawing them in the quarter finals this year is not the most romantic of fixtures is it? Obviously when the match comes we’ll be up for it and backing the team to win. But don’t expect cartwheels immediately after the draw mate.

Lurgan what the hell are you on about mate? Who ever said we are bored of being in the CL and rather play in Uefa? Keep it in persepective – only talking abt the 7 possible opponents and we get one we’ve played a million times already. Jeez.

YNWA

And if your daughter got the same bike every birthday and christmas for 5 years she might be entitled to want something different this year.

These fucking Scums ought to count themselves lucky they got away scot-free after such a thrashing last week. Fingers crossed Arsenal will dispatch Villarreal and be able to do something about them in the semis.

And Chavs again!? Not that I’m worried about them, but I’m beginning to get sick and tired of this tie again and again.

Oh well, here’re the positives I can spin:

1. We’ll have a chance to exorcise the demons of last year’s semis, when we dominated but lost because of Riise’s idiotic own goal and untimely injuries to Aurelio, Skrtel and Torres.

2. I believe Hiddink may have finally met his match in Rafa, now we shall see who is better.

3. Once we dispatch the Chavs, in the semis we’ll be playing away first, and then at Anfield in the second leg. (I personally want Bayern over Barca, so that Rafa can beat Klinnsmann and that’ll bury all speculation about Klinnsmann replacing Rafa once and for all)

4. And when we do reach the final, we’ll be designated as the home team, meaning if either the Scum or Arsenal reach the final, WE will be wearing Red, not them.

5. Just look at the calibre of our possible opponents from the quarters onwards: QF – Chavs, SF – Bayern/Barca, Final – Most likely Scum/Arsenal. When we do win, only an idiot would claim we don’t deserve to win.

PS LB, your negativity has never failed to amaze me. Look on the bright side, with Rafa signing another five years, at least you guys can moan and bitch about how wrong his selection is for that long as well.

Maybe I should stop listening to talkshite. They had the same comments and then when I come in here (where I expect better) I see the same.

Went off on one but it is not boring, even though I was disappointed with the draw.

BTW, there is a good chance we will play them in the CL next year. So maybe we should get used to it.

Anyway, I admit, a bit OTT on my behalf.

YNWA

LB are you spying of me

should be

LB are you spying on me

Kinny, your negativity towards my posts never fail to amaze me! A number of lads talk about how fed up they are about the draw and you fucking single me out? What’s that about? When was my last bitch or moan about Rafa? You taken the batton from Fat Scouser? Mate save the shit for when I really do have a good moan.

Porto was the cushy draw-by a mile.Maybe I overvalued Voronin.I would take 8 million sterling.Pity that Fat Phil isn’t in charge of the Chavs.Hidink is a much shrewder operator.Hs anyone checked out fontainethered on Youtube-you will need headphones.2-o V Villa.

Yes Lurgan, I’m gonna be checking to see what your daughter gets for Christmas this year

And Kinny, if your refering to my post about resting Torres and Gerrard and wrapping them in cotton wool. I actually advocate that to some degree. So don’t assume I’m being negative towards the likely selection.

No, LB, my beef was with you moaning about how Rafa is going to rest Gerrard and Torres against Fulham, before we even play Villa. So continue to be amazed at my negativity and exasperation at your posts.

Shit, your 191 came just seconds after I clicked 192.

Seeing you clear the air about that, I take the last part of 184 back.

LB. I’ll let you into a secret… it’s a bike.

But not the same bike, she will inherit it from her older sister

handbags started to fly in here I see, now now ladies.

Lurgankop: She should count herself lucky. In my day we got an apple, an orange and a box of hankies.

Anything we get for Voronin would be a bonus he was a freebie.

Most accurate comment in here… you’re all like spoilt girls. Not exactly jumping for joy over Chelsea meself. Nevermind the footballing side of things, I don’t even get a nice little trip abroad, but will end up at that shithole again. But you know what… fuck them. Let’s do them, again, do Barca again and fuck the dirty Mancs mano-a-mano in a one off in our European home ground of Rome!

In fact, come to think of it, Boring, my arse… I can’t fucking wait!

Fs: A nice trip to germany would have been nice. One good thing about not getting the mancs is we don’t to go to that souless excuse they call a city, what a hole!

it really is shocking how much luck the mancs seem to get in these things…

i too am frustrated with having to play chelsea again, i always like the european competitions cause we can play against teams we normally wouldn’t on a regular basis…european heavy weights. of course, now all the euro heavy weights are becoming all english sides (exaggeration, i know)…

i would have preferred any side by chelsea, not for footballing reasons, but just cause we’ve met them so many times in the CL recently.

YNWA

mancs got the three least threatening teams…although i think arsenal will be much more difficult in europe now that they have their full side back – plus arshavin.

its ridiculous though. f’ing jammy mancs

Don’t worry LB, if Riise scores another own goal, I’ll buy you all a pint!

Seriously, yes it has to be good news that Rafa has signed a new contract, that’s done now and everyone can focus fully on the football again.

I just couldn’t believe we drew Chelsea again, surely the law of averages should have been against that. It really is amazing. Rigged? probably not, but it does feel thst way.

I agree LB, we will have to go for broke in the first leg and try to come out of the traps like we did against Madrid.

Chelsea will be slight favourites because the history is with the team at home in the second leg.

But we have two things in our favour.

We have already won at Chelsea this season and I cannot ever remember us losing a quarter-final in any competition. Can anyone remember us losing amy quarter-final? It seems to be our lucky round in competitions.

Think you’ve took your eyes off the ball lads. I understand it was a shitty draw, probably the worst we could have thought of, but I’m looking at it this way…
We never do things the easy way. So, let’s say it does work out to be Chavs, Barca, Mancs (Which seems to be what everyone thinks) – brilliant. Win that and we can never be called lucky again. And it will go down as probably our greatest CL/Euro Cup ever – even though it wouldn’t be.

But, first of all, why do people summise it’s Barca or the Mancs we will have to beat if we get past the Chavs. I thin Arsenal and Bayern might disagree with that. Ans why summise the Arse can’t do them. They’ve got the personel to follow our lead. they’ve already done the Mancs this season. They will have close to a full team. I think they can do them, even without Arshavin who I’m sure won’t eligble to play.

Fuck the doom and gloom chaps. I can’t wait to get at them. Laughing to meslef just thinking what they’ll use to try and conjure up a bit of atmosphere this time…. Free plassie flags, free wooly scarves, and a community sing song – sort of like The Manc karaoke last week. Fuck them. They’re a joke. I can’t wait to stuff them and I bet The traveling Kop will be singing JAR and Little Lui’s names loud and proud. Show the fuckers what history, tradition, loyalty and support means. Can’t wait to see John Terry crying again.

And I absolutely can’t wait to be belting this one out again…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFkPhus8Q-w

hear hear FS. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the mancs get done by the arse. Arse have quick, fast tricky forwards just the type the mancs don’t like. Walcott running at Evra? My money’s on Walcott. Fabregas will run the midfield.

I’ll tell you what though, UEFA will be doing all they can for Us and manure not to meet in the final. It would be a bloodbath the mancs getting done by us and the ultras.

Sadly mate, I think Walcott is knackered again. Blew his knee out and could be out for about 6 weeks. I still think they’ve got enough to do them anyway, but yeah you’re right… Evra would have shit himself with him running at him.

What’s happening with Rosiscky? Is he completely fucked for the season? I rate that lad.

And fuck the fighting. The Mancs can get on with that, while we have a bevvy and a sing song.

I think Rosicky is close to be being back. Samir Nasri will have the job of making Evra need a change of underwear.

Yes my initial reaction was not again and yes I would have preferred the Mancs or Bayern but remember the last time we won, Juve (best team in Europe at that time, then the Chavs, then AC Milan, a very tough road, no different from now.

Then the next year we drew Benfica in the round of 16 and out we went. So don’t think Porto (two times Champions are going to roll over and play dead and as FS said I fancy Arsenal to beat ManU if both get threw. Also agree with FS that Bayern are not going to be easy for Barca either. Kit would have been nice to play the second leg at home but I still think we have the beating of them, not to mention the physiological advantage of doing the double over them this year.

I would also love to see JT cry again, lets do a Real and come out of the blocks flying and bury them in the first leg. We have a rested Torres and Gerrard, Arbelloe and Alonso will be fit so our balance will be good bring them on, a nice high tempo game and run the Granddads of their feet.

Thats john teary FS, heh heh! I must admit I’m quietly confident we will beat the chavs. We’ve done em twice already this year and as I’ve said before Rafa is peerless in Europe, Gus is in for a nightmare! Add in the revenge factor from last year and we’ve got a very spicy tie. I bet teary and carvalho are already sweating bullets at the thought of facing Nando again. Thanks for that squad list FS. Nobodies calling for the lad to be wrecked, just put on the bench and start getting a few mins.

Tough draw lads,FOR THE CHAVS!

Why all the doom and gloom.Everybody wanted to avoid us so its the others that`ll be brickin` it.

Shitanta: “man u draw porto in the cl quarter finals and will face Arsenal IF they get passed villareal.

So the scum are already in the quarter finals.

Fooking media!

meant to say there already in the semi`s

Nice confirmation from Rafa that Agger wants to stay that the hard part done. Also Lennen is out of the equation, he just signed a new 5 year deal.

BUT the major breaking news, stop the presses Deggan is fit and could be on the bench for the Villa game. The bookies are taking bets that he will injure himself during the warm up. Jokes aside I would not mind seeing him play at some point, just to see if he is alright or if he can do a job for us. Means we do not have to bring in another RB in the Summer as we will have three.

Lads, it ain’t just about playing the Chavs in the CL.
This draw not only helps Scum in the CL, but it helps them immensely in the Prem.

This was the last draw I wanted for us… but having said that, come game time, I’ll be right there willing the lads to win.

Whose to say that we won’t get that trip to Germany in the Semi’s?

And why would we be resting Gerrard and Torres at Fulham and at home to Blackburn?

It may be a long shot but we still have an outside chance of winning the Prem. Resting our two best players either side of the Chelsea games might not be a good plan. I know they risk injury, but that applies to any match, or should we just play Torres and Gerrard in CL now?

We have a maximum of 14 matches in both the Prem and the CL left now, 9 in the Prem and 5 in the CL. I would like to see Rafa fielding his strongest team in every match we have left now.

I dont wanna see Deggen near the pitch unless we’re 3 up Keith! Anyway, another day til game time, he’ll injure himself brushing his teeth or something!

Fellas. I dont mind the Chelski draw, fook em and their plastic flag waiving supporters. However id prefer if the mancs had a slightly harder run because if they had Barca/Chelski/Us they (the team and old whiskey) would be thinking about the game in advance and during the tie, hopefully taking their mind of the EPL for a second and potentially dropping points.

I am usually the optimist. Im hoping Porto will realise they have to really get stuck in and go for it (including with tackles) and hopefully a few of the united players will feel a few knocks

Chelsh*t again !!! i was hoping for Scum still won’t be a problem.I bet they sh*t
themselves when they heard .Whats the odds on J Teary crying again.
Deggan who is this guy new signing or something ?.

FS I watched RED RIDING definitely best TV for a while.I bet you didn’t think it
was the priest, didn’t see it coming myself .Some of it was filmed around the
area where i live. (The part when police kicked that Journalist out of the back
of the van.)
“To the north where we do, what we want”.
YNWA

Hello all, Been busy and did not have a chance to comment. So it is Chelshi again. What the heck, bring them on. We did a double over them already, so what does it matter? The won goal was a freak one by Riise and we can surely get over Terry and Co.
Yea, agree the scums probably have the easier route.

Hi gang – been in the land of Work of late and I’m knackered from it too.
I’m disappointed that we got the Chavs (again), but the way it’s set up and if we do them, then that’s them crunched for some time to come. It will be interesting to see what happens from a tactical point of view. Winning the Champion’s League IS in our hands, the EPL is NOT. I am not gonna say anything else on that one right now.

Some great posts of late, I’ve just read over 500 ! Hyde, very true at the end of the last Blog, very clear, concise. FS, great to see your stories, insights and the breath of experience.

I remember when I started supporting L’pool, ~ 1970 or so … I remember Man City had just won an FA Cup (a big team), Leeds V Chelsea .. Leeds were powerful and successful and dominant. Chelsea were big. I remember Ipswich Town, Derby County, Villa and Notts Forest, Everton winning Leagues and European Trophies. Spurs won things I’m sure.

The point I’m trying to make here is … Where are they now ? they all had momentum and they all have their history.

Leeds ? Forest ? Derby ? Ipswich ? and where would Man City, Chelsea and Spurs and Villa be w/o all their cash ..

It’s easy to think we have a right to be in the CL quarters and joint 2nd in the League because we get used to it. But we don’t, and we better enjoy it and secondly figure out who is worth backing to keep us there.

Utd have the superior brand, stadium, momentum, and squad/players , Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and even Villa have more cash then us. Arsenal have vision, stadium, brand, location, stability and talented manager. We are in Debt, have Dumb & Dumber leeching off of us, no brand, a (wonderful) banger of a stadium with 40% less capacity than the Old Toilet…. Man all we have is what Rafa has/is created. I’m sure the accountants and businessmen here would have the right analogy but basically we are getting by with what rafa maages to put in “our pockets”.

Happy I am to see the man put is name to a contract. As for transfer money etc .. I wouldn’t put a penny on us having anything at all. We’ll certainly get ZERO from the yanks I reckon. maybe something if we win …… win what ? …. Champion’s League ?

This has been simply the best week. Not one “Clingon manc” has opened their untutored mouth in my presence .. Thanks rafa and the Lads.

I am really happy that Rafa had signed the new contract. The man undoubtedly deserved the contract extension on the terms that he had asked for.

I am in no doubt that Rafa will win us the league title at least once before the end of this new contract, and when he does, I want SAF to be still around because it will show that when given the time and right support Rafa can achieve more than him.

On another note, there are 14 games (9 leagues and 5 CL, yes I am optimistic!) to go, will we be able to play our first team every time? I doubt so, there will be injuries and players getting tired. But with Babel & Lucas coming into form and Bennyonion & Agger returning from injury, and Insua, I am quietly confident that we have able replacements for the first teamers. So Rafa can rotate when necessary. And what is wrong with rotating?

My prediction for tomorrow’s game : Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0

ttp://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=629936&sec=england&cc=4716

You know Ferguscum is really rattled when he starts BLATANTLY LYING about Liverpool spending more than them, when in fact Paul Tomkins’ excellent article and many other sources, including the Times, have refuted that.

Now who’s ranting, huh?

I should rephrase, Ferguscum is not “rattled”, but more like “cracking up”.

mis-information at its best that.

What’s he so worried about

Viva la Rafalution!

btw, is it sure that if we beat chel$ki, we will meet the winners of barca/bayern?

Lurgan its definatley true.we get barca/bayern if we win.

Taggart has lost it big time.Does he realise that Rafa had to dismantle a whole squad bar 3 and build a new one to challenge.The dick already had a established squad when rafa came and all he had to do is fine tune it.

I can`t wait for the day rafa buries him.Maybe it`ll be in rome with a bit of luck.If we do them in the CL final whiskey nose will blow his top!

Morning chaps.
Lurgan mate, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching mr ferguson squirm ever since Rafa’s “Rant.” We all know the spin the media put on that. But why?

Well, for some reason, both the authorities and the media seem to be scared of mr ferguson and so line up alongside him at every chance. Thing about sycophants though, mate… they’ll drop their best mates quicker than a hot shite as soon as they start to lose.

Obviously we’ve only won a few battles not the war, but the signs are there.

I think mr ferguson must have been drinking very heavily before his lastest Rant, because he’s made a terrible mistake. Of course, the media will spin it in his favour for now but if the Mancs start to lose, they’ll drop him faster than some of their own “fans” did when rushing to buy Chelsea shirts a few season’s ago.

I can’t be arsed pulling mr ferguson’s “rant” apart. And there should be no need. We should all know the facts and figures.

What I will say is… Hyppia, Cara and Gerrard are the only players left from the squad Rafa inherited. There’s been no luxury of spending 30 odd million on “potential” (Anderson, Nani) for us.

And nevermind Tomkins or ferguson’s spin doctors, there are plenty of independent sources that have already made a mockery of mr ferguson’s quite ridiculous claims. There’s an article in the Times from about 6 weeks ago on the very same subject. Try to read it if you can still get it online. The truth is out there!

I can’t remember who the Mancs played right now, but after their first game after Rafa’s “rant” the Sky Sports reporter asked mr ferguson what he had made of Rafa’s “rant.”

I was shocked. It was the first time, I’d seen the aul tramp completely tongue tied. I hope some of you lad’s seen it. He was bollacksed. He turned a strange sort of crimson uhhmmmed and ahhed for a bit and finally said, “ridiculous.”

The reporter asked him about Rafa again, the tramp stammered “disturbed.”

The reporter asked him another question. Mr ferguson gave him his infamous off-licence (nevermind hair dryer) glare and said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

And he never had to again – as no other fucker dared ask him. Just business as usual – arse kissing headlines screaming The Master wins The Mind Games, and Rafa’s Cracking Up.

He should have left it at that. He’d won. The great majority of the great unwashed will always believe what the media feed them. A mate of mine has a great saying for it… Skywashed!

Well, like Maureen before him, mr ferguson used to praise Rafa and make glowing noises about LFC when he seen us as no threat. Obviously something has changed.

Making enemies fear you is a key ingredient of winning any competition. And it’s not just my LFC tinted glasses making me see that mr ferguson is very much worried by LFC and Rafa. A blind man on a fast horse can see that.

Sadly, I think the drunken aul tramp had one thing right about us… We never had the nerve for the title. But thankfully that was only some of us fans and players, not the Boss.

Rafa has held his nerve throughout every challenge he has faced, on and off the field, and he has also dragged us back on track while facing all the flack.

I’m afraid it’s going to be too little too late, but you never know. If shithouse’s like Hodgson can hold their nerve and put up a fight, well…? Maybe it’s time for Rafa to show them some facts again.

But here’s one fact I know… before winning a league title, teams always mount at least one realistic/serious challenge. You can check that easily enough. It’s not me spinning things. It’s always been the case. And obviously mr. ferguson knows that.

Perch knocking off time is running out and he’s not a happy drunk.

Timmy, Ferguson knows exactly what the stats are but just distorts them to prove his point, one of which is how the hell does he have a net spend of 85.5 million during the last 5 years.

There is a times article which puts fergie’s spending, during this time, at 147.9 million compared to ours at 111.39. As you point Timmy our figure is for a complete overhaul where fergie’s was a bit of ‘fine-tuning’.

Anyway, I am happy as a pig in shit about Fergie’s comments because he only goes of the front-foot like this whenever he feels threatened. Maybe not this year but he sees it coming.

Onwards and upwards I tells ya

I must be a slow typer…

FS has pretty much covered what I wanted to say and well said it was.

FS, I would like to know your thoughts on Guus Hiddink and the technical genius that he is now betrayed to be i.e. putting players in their proper position. Is he a match for Rafa?

Hiddink’s obviously a very good manager. He’s got the track record. I don’t know what happened with Scoalri at Chelsea. He’s got some record himself, but obviously something was wrong behind the scenes. As you say mate, Hiddink has put that right pretty much by just doing the simple things correctly. Is that a match for Rafa? I suppose we’ll have to wait and see, but I’m sure Rafa’s working on it right now.

I think 2 things are different about Chelsea since they’ve started playing again – Essien is back and Drogba’s actually trying, even if he isn’t quite the player he was. So, I think we have a right battle on our hands again.

It’s hard to see anything positive in the draw really, but there are some. I went on about them yesterday, but one thing I think we really need is Chelsea to keep winning.

If they lose in the league, we could be in trouble. They play Spuds, Newcastle and Bolton in that time. So, hopefully they will keep going and some of their older players will start to feel it.

But which ever way you look at it, all the luck has fell to United. It’s true, but that only sounds like sour grapes. It’s just the way it’s worked out and we have to try to overcome it not only in the Chelsea games but right until the end of the season.

In the Chelsea game itself though, I think we’ll see the same tactics as in the last 2 games – stiffle the fullbacks, make them play compact and through the middle, draw the centre halves forward, and get in behind them by hitting them with pace on the break, using both long balls and fast short passing.

And, I honestly reckon, if we get it right, we’ll see them off no matter what Hiddink tries to stop us.

The thing that worries me most though… injuries and how knackered will it leave our lads – especially Stevie and Nando.

I put a Fiver on us doing the League/CL double yesterday. No wonder my bookie loves me. But I got 36 to 1 for it and who knows… the prick might still be paying for my ale in Rome.

FS they must have followed your link.

Why Manchester United should blame karaoke warm-up for 4-1 Liverpool defeat

“Critics pinpoint Nemanja Vidic’s inability to clear a halfway line header against Fernando Torres as the start of Manchester United’s embarrassment last Saturday. Wrong.

It started before kickoff with a Peter Kay figure trying to rouse Old Trafford into singing a dire cover version of a John Denver non-classic.

As attempts to create a big match atmosphere go, Take Me Home United Road (The Karaoke Cut) is right down there with Chelsea’s plastic flags under seats.

United’s history surely tells them they’re bigger than this.” Brian Reade – The Mirror

I’ve got to go now, but nice one SBB mate. Can’t put links in here, but go to youtube and put in Kop Choir: Rafa in Istanbul.

Now there’s a song. I hope it’s dragged out and dusted off for the Chav games. It’s great fun, and they fucking seethe when we do it.

Stretford End. Shed… I’ve fuckin shit em!

FS, which bookies did you go to? That bet has to be worth 50-1 of anybody’s money!

I’ve seen it bandied about at 50-1 but not everyone is puttung it up as it is considered extremely unlikely, which begs the question if the fuckers want our money, why don’t they offer us 100-1 if it is that much of a long shot?

I think they have short changed you at 36-1.

If I get 50-1 I’ll have a tenner on it!

I rate Hiddink he is a very good Manager, one of the best around, I don’t think he is as good as Rafa from a technical point of view and figuring out the oppositions weaknesses and hoe to exploiting it. I don’t think there is anyone better on the world stage doing that than Rafa.

Saying that with Essien back and Carvalleo fit they are a different side and as FS said with Drogba trying instead of sulking they will be a different prospect to the team we faced in the league. However they were flying and unbeaten when we beat them at the Bridge, that was the start of the end for Scholari. Their biggest mistake apart from letting the Special Needs one go was selling Robben and Duff and not replacing them with anyone near as good.

It will not be easy but over the two legs we should, on our current form beat them with a tiny bit to spare. It will not be a walk in the Park as our recent results against Real and the Mancs suggest, they are not a team, under Hiddink, that are going to give too many goals away.

Just heard the sad news that Bryce Morrison, the club secretary has died suddenly,early this morning. This is a very sad day for Liverpool FC believe me lads. Bryce was a very popular and humble person. He always had time for us, Liverpool supporters from Malta, and for the past three years, he had sent us tickets for a few matches as well. My condolences goes to his family.
We will miss you, Bryce, but Rest In Peace dear friend, in the future we will surely meet again. Till then, take a deserved rest, You are Not Alone up there, there’s Shanks, Paisley, Emlyn and Fagan at the gate, waiting for you.

That is very sad news indeed Ron, a minutes silence before kick off tomorrow for Bryce, and hopefully some silverware for the club this season. Rest in peace Bryce.

fulham 1-0……..united ten men……..murphy penalty

Is Murphy the most loved ex-Reds at the moment?

yes he is… yes he is…..

I hope Fulham can retain the lead..
Zamora missing too many chances

Fulham 2 – Manure 0

Title race on boys!!!!!!

2-0 GERA HA HA SHREK GONE TO BOOT!

God bless danny murphy.What a week.

Scholes and Rooney both sent off…

GAME ON

I feel sick!

With excitement

Fulham 2-0 Scum….

Its up to us now… please oh please lets not screw ourselves up tomorrow~!

Oh my, why am I looking forward to the next Manure game?!!!

Scholes and rooney sent off

What price Rafa’s rant now

Mancs beaten Chelsea losing

No further comment until after the Aston Villa game….

Unfuckenbelievable!! Get in there Danny-the-manc-crusher!!

R.I.P. Bryce morrison.

You`ll never walk alone.

Chelsea lost!

Deepest sympathy to Bryce Morrisons Family, Friends and Relatives.

Y.N.W.A

Yes…..

Now its really up to us now…
God … If we win tomorrow…it will be only a margin of one-point…. but they have a game less than us..

They have to face Villa, Arsenal and manchester Derby as well?

Deepest sympathy to Bryce Morrisons Family, Friends and Relatives.

Bryce blessing and smiling at the Reds from heaven..

The Mancs and Chelsea may have Money and depth but we have Heart!