Nice blog Gerry. You know if we are talking about quality players and not factoring the fact that Rafa prefers Torres up front alone, I would love to see Ibrahimovich join us. Can you imagine the two of them on the front lines? Both with good feet, capable of creating their own, both capable of scoring great goals!? Yes Ibra has the rep for choking in big games but I think he could do the business for us. I personally would not like to see Eto’o as he for me is another version of Drogba, Diouf etc. Only seem to care about themselves.
In the mid, Silva would be sweet but I think we need a fast and strong right winger, like Joaquin. Pennant had some skill and could cross decently enough but was always bullied off the ball. This guy I think would do well rampaging down the right side. And behind him, another rampaging right back would be Glen Johnson. That would make our right side wicked dangerous!
Can’t wait for the weekend… go Liverpool!
PS I agree about int’l football being a serious pain in the ass. I think that is an excellent idea about the leagues finishing earlier then letting the players play for their countries. At least they will have more time to gel and offer more attractive football as a result.

not all is bad with international football

Kuyt scored a brace! Xabi and Reira scored for Spain (Albert’s goal came in the 90th to win it).

Hopefully they keep there scoring boots on for the rest of the LFC season

Great blog as usual, Gerry! Touching on the Eto’o story, I think it is just to destabilize Barca as very likely Rafa confidently knows that we’ll get past the chavs and be meeting them in semis of the CL. this is understandable considering Eto’o is their most lethal striker with 25 goals in 27 games if i’m not wrong….
seems like the gaffer is now the master of mind games since the “rant”….

Gerry, if you think you hate internationals now, wait til the summer hits and all the Spaniards in our squad go and play in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, instead of getting some much-needed rest. Could there be a more mickey-mouse, bullshit international tournament? Torres has already said he wants to play. If ever a club needed to ban it’s players from a tournament, that is it!

Which players in our squad had an interrupted pre-season due to other commitments, mostly bullshit internationals? Masch and Babel are 2 obvious ones, and look how their form was in 2008.

Nice blog, can’t wait to hear what the prize is!! It is tough enough having to pay for freight fees when I could just buy things off the shelf if I lived in the UK.

Andy, good point, I had forgotten about that joke of a tournament. What a bloody waste. They say it’s supposed to be a rehearsal, what shite is that!!

I think the Eto’o story is a load of crap. As everyone says, his mentality is not rafa-minded.
With Torres and stevie so good in the current system, I doubt we’ll go for an out and out striker well-established. He has to play second-fiddle to torres and that is not going to happen. Mentality, i.e., being dedicated and intelligent enough to accept that you are going to get rotated, is the key to Rafa’s signing. In that respect, I think there’s a much higher chance of us signing the likes of Tuncay. Besides, I feel that Ngog is going to offer a lot.

One player I think that might suit us is Arda Turan, another turk. His best position is on the left flank, but he can play behind torres if SG is injured, and he can operate seamlessly on the right. He also played excellently at right-back; not so capable in defense, mind, but excellent at bombing forward. Moreover, he is a typical turk, tough, never-say-die-attitude, but most importantly, selfless enough to accept being played in various positions, despite his apparent abilities. I think he is definitely a rafa-type player. I do worry though that he was silent as a wall when we played galatasary.

What do the lads in germany, or anyone who watches the bundesliga, think of the mentality of Rakitic, the croat at Schalke? I have no doubts about his abilities, especially his versatility and willingness to help out in defense, but is he a rafa-type player? Happy if someone could elaborate more on that aspect.

I was always stated that David Silva should have been the most ideal signing but since that is not happening, we have to look for players second in line to that but with just as good an ability and more importantly, mental focus and committment to the team. Ibrahimovic and eto’o are too focused on proving themselves that they just don’t fit in Rafa’s team. That can’t of signing will just not happen.

Great blog Gerry and I could not agree with you more. I cannot see the logic of playing the internationals during the season with all the players having to fly all over the place. Much better to finish the season earlier, then ear mark 1 month or so for all the qualifiers, if they can play a whole tournament in that time they should be able to fit in all the qualifiers and then the players can get a decent break and rest. The countries will be pleased without all their players calling off injured for the friendly’s during the season.

Spot on about Gerrard as well. I don’t think we should write off the Silva rumors just yet. Yes Rafa quashed it very quickly but if Silva want to come he could force the issue the same way Torres did and quashing it know could give them more time to work on it outside the media attention.

LB I like Glen Johnson from what I have seen of him playing for England and think it might be a good buy if PSmith go down.

Haven’t read the blog yet, but I haven’t heard of any new injuries, Benny even played the 2nd half last night.

Phew! Looks like we’re in the clear lads. No injuries other than Sami. Couple of days rest and the late kick-off Saturday will help too. Now lets ROCK!! Same team as against Villa please Rafa!

Bit surprised there Gerry. Most Irish lads I know are very patriotic and put country before club. So, some refreshing views there, and I said just about all I have to say in the last blog, so will leave it with this… Something has to be done. People can argue about how hard it will be to sort it out, but that doesn’t stand up. It’s a bloody mess. It needs fixing. And it needs fixing for those who like international football just as much as it needs fixing for people who see it as nothing more than a nuisance.

At least it looks like the lads have came through unscathed and some even scored a few goals and had good performances. Let’s hope it carries them into the up-coming games on a high.

I can’t see that being the case for Masch though. He will be knackered. And I think he would have been more than useful against Fulham, but I’m sure Rafa already has his plan for beating them and will unveil it to a fuming mr. ferguson on Saturday night.

And I don’t think Mr Hodgsons’ plan from last time we played will work for him. If they sit back this time, I think a fit Nando and Gerrard will rip them. And having no deep playing Mascher could even help us in that regard. But whatever happens, I think we are in for a hard game and will be glad to see us come away with anysort of win.

I might be going to Fulham. I can have a ticket waiting there for me if I can go. But it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get away… fucking TV scheduling.

Here’s another thing about money fucking up sport…
This saturday is Grand National day. It used to be a fantastic weekend in Liverpool. Friday night’s in town were the business. People arriving from all over the world to go the races and party it up big time. The piss ups in town are legendary. Then Saturday morning, meet the lads, have a quick few pints, and off to the match…
Liverpool v Everton 11 am kick off, fully suited and booted, stand on The Kop or in The Bullens Rd in your best bib and tucker, come out with dishevelled clobber and filthy shoes, try to fix them up while heading off to Aintree. A full day’s drinking and racing, then back into town to round off the day. Brilliant stuff.

That made the city of Liverpool a lot of much needed money on that day. Why change it… so Santana can have a 5:30pm kick off and Fulham can double their ticket prices?

Oh well, just the way it is, I suppose. But if I was loaded and had the choice, I’d be on me way home now. Friday (Lady’s day at the course) is a cracking laugh, and then into town for a few bevs and a sing song. I used to always harrish the Irish lads for a tip or two. I got quite a few winners that way over the years. Pappillon about 10 years ago was the best. I had a few quid on me and I stuck a 20 on it at 25 to 1.

Happy days. But to qoute the late great Tommy Cooper… when I normally back a horse at 20 to 1 the fucker is still running at half past five. Boom Boom.

Anyway, thank fuck we’re back to proper footy, but any tips you Irish lads might have will be duly noted and gratefully accepted.

Off out now, but here’s a little something from the official site. I’m sure you’ll all be interested in reading it…

BOSS: DANE CAN BOOST TITLE CHALLENGE
James Carroll 01 April 2009
Rafael Benitez believes Daniel Agger’s return to fitness can bolster Liverpool’s title challenge.
Injury problems have restricted the Dane to just two starts so far this year, but the centre-back was handed a 15 minute run-out in the Reds’ last fixture against Aston Villa and Benitez is confident a fully-fit Agger will have an important role to play as the season draws to a conclusion.
“It is always a boost when you have good players coming back into the squad after injury, especially at this time of year because it is the most important part of the season,” said the Anfield boss.

“If they are fit they can help the team with the quality they have.

“Agger showed when he came on against Aston Villa that he is no longer injured and he also showed that he can play really well with the ball, bringing it out from the back.

“So it will be good for us to have him available again, particularly as we have been without him on several occasions.

“Hopefully now he will be really fresh and ready to play his part because everyone knows that he is an important player for us.”

Rafa is giving this lad every chance. He really is going out of his way to make the lad feel special and needed – especially when you consider he’s started 2 games all season.

I just hope the lad sees sense and does the right thing. He really does owe it to the club, his team mates, his boss, us fans, and mostly himself, to knuckle down and get stuck in.

Even after all his injury woes, he could still play a big part in us having a fantastic finish to the season and, if he decides to stay, he could make himself a legend with our club.

Come on Danny lad, you know it makes sense.

It’s important that Rafa doesn’t start making excuses about players being tired in his press conference 2moro.If we don’t beat Fulham the results V Villa and the Mancs will be wasted.Babel’s pace could be a help-we don’t want a rerun of the Boro game.

I agree FS. It really looks as if Rafa is making a concerted effort to convince Agger he is in his long term plans. In fact I think he’s gone above and beyond, I’ve never seen him publicly fawn, if fawn is the right word, over a player like this before. If he’s not careful Stevie will start to get jealous! Anyway, I guess we’ll see how it pans out when we know what and when Aggers been offered in the summer.

Clearly Rafa rates Agger extremely highly and doesn’t want to be shopping for a new centre half this summer. Sometimes you have to massage a player’s ego and it seems that is what he is doing at the moment. I wonder who will partner Carra against Fulham. Both Agger and Skrtel played 2 games for their countries this week. I know it’s probably irrelevant but Skrtel had a nightmare against England. Was all over the place.

Unfortunately as fans, the only thing we can probably do about the ridiculous int’l schedule is not turn up to matches and not watch them on TV. Half the matches are just fund-raisers, but if no one watches them they will turn into a bigger waste of time…

However, having said all that, I’m really mainly talking about the ridiculous European and South American qualifying draws because they are the ones which affect my club. I do support the Australian “Socceroos” and did watch them win their way to within 1 point of WC qualification yesterday, so it is probably double-standards from me. LFC come first for me by a long way, which reminds me that one H.Kewell once got in trouble for saying he’d rather win the title with Liverpool than the World Cup with Australia. See he’s not all bad!

Thats cos he dident have Carra belting out commands and instructions LB! I’m with you Burgerman. Strongest 11 Saturday end of. This is it. The business end. 8 games left. What would we be resting em for? The confederations cup?! Only change I can imagine is as FS alluded to – Mascher. Even at that I suspect the psychotic hoor will be chomping at the bit! So this red expects as you were from Villa game. Did I mention I cant fricken wait?!

Masch played at altitude in Bolivia so will be knackered! Lucas will come in I think. Riera and Alonso scored so must be confident, I’d start with both. Apparently Torres looked out of sorts in the game and is probably tired. I’d play him for an hour or so. Kuyt got 3 goals in 2 games for Holland so he’s playing in my side. My team:

Reina
Arbie Carra Agger Aurellio
Lucas Alonso
Kuyt Gerrard Riera
Torres

Bring Babel on for Torres between 60-70 mins.

Forgot to make my other point, which was that really the most fucked thing about the internationals is the “friendlies”. Did they all really need to play 2 matches this week?? With so many bloody qualifying games, surely that is more than enough get-togethers for the team, it’s not like they are shotgunned together for 1 do-or-die match. Or, as King Kenny makes a good point on, if they must play 2 matches why can’t it be Wed & Sat instead of Sat & Wed??

Anyway I’m done with that.

LB it sure will be interesting to see what lineup we put together, with all the Spanish players coming back all the way from Istanbul. I’m pretty sure Masch won’t play, since he played 90mins in both games for the Argies, including the 2nd one at 3,600 metres above sea level! Obviously there’s no point resting people to keep them fresh for later – but many could be at risk of putting in a poor performance if they really are knackered.

Check out the verdict on Mascherano’s performance in their 6-1 slaughter against Bolivia from Goal.com

Mascherano 3/10 – Ought to be ashamed after a completely and utterly anonymous performance. The worst player on the pitch, and that really is saying something. Shiftless.

If you didn’t know already it was the Argies that got slaughtered.

Hold the front page… I agree with LB on something… Not knowing all the information, I will once again trust Rafa to put out what he thinks is our best line up for the Fulham game. But, with me own limited knowledge, that line up LB posted is exactly what I’d go with.

But I wouldn’t go expecting ManU/Villa type performances from the lads. There’s bound to be a few little knocks and some tired legs. But hopefully, all that’s at stake will make the difference and carry us through. The lads should then be wrapped in cotton wool and bubble wrap for the scrap ahead.

And I’d also keep Dosenna as well as Bable warm and limbered up. I think both Torres and Riera could be really feeling it after an hour…. And there’s exactly why Yossi needs at least a bollacking.

As for leniency, I think why Rafa’s handling Agger with kid’s gloves is, because the lad is a bit of a kid as well as a bit nuts. And a bollacking would probably result in him storming out the room, taking to his bedroom and shouting, “I hate you. I’ll never speak to you again and I’m leaving!”

His behaviour does seem that childish at times. I won’t just put rumour about on the lad, but some of the tales I’ve heard are quite pathetic and are well known fact round Liverpool. The lad seems to need to grow up a bit. Let’s just hope he’ll see the light in time, but if I was Rafa I’d be making contingency plans.

And talking of growing up, and to get back to Gerry’s blog… I couldn’t agree more about Steven Gerrard. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s the best Liverpool captain I’ve seen, but he is maturing into a great one. And he really is becoming the complete player.

Thank fuck he’s ours and will be until he finishes. And like I said in another blog, even though he is 28 now, I think he still has plenty of years service left in him. He’s coming into his prime now, and injury permitting, I think he’ll be practically unstopable over the next couple of seasons. And then, as the legs start to go a bit, I think he will drop back a bit and become a fantastic holding midfielder for us.

In fact, I think our Steven could retire with at least 3 title’s under his belt. So, it’s Sami and Carra I’d really like to see grab one this season.

Great blog Gerry, and like you I can’t wait for club football to resume this weekend.

As an inspiration, simply by the way he plays, Stevie would be hard to beat and to my mind he is without equal in that regard in today’s game.

There are players like Messi, Ladyboy and Kaka who are great on the ball, but as you lads say, none would be as effective all over the park as Stevie has proved to be. We are indeed very lucky to have him. I really hope he is celebrating more than his 29th birthday next month! I have a feeling we will all be on a real high during the month of May.

Masch probably won’t play again until the Blackburn game on the 11th as he is suspended for the first game with Chelsea. Talking of the Blackburn game, it’s the closest home match to the 15th so we can expect an emotional Anfield that day, and of course a poignant minutes silence.

Rafa will assess which players look freshest in a light training session tomorrow, and take it from there. I won’t be expecting too much in this game and while it’s obvious that we need to win, I think it will be a very tough match.
Fulham 0 Reds 2

After this we have the Chelsea match and Blackburn 3 days after that. Now is the time that the team must show real character and mental strength. come on you Redmen!

My prediction is Fulham 1-2 Liverpool

Steve you bring up an excellent point about Maschs suspension. I’d forgotten about that and given that knowledge and the fact that by all accounts he dosent seem to have exerted himself too much(!) in the Bolivia game I think he’ll be pushing to start on Saturday and whats more I think Rafa will agree. He’s gonna have a weeks rest afterward anyway so what the hell right? I dunno, that’d be my thinking anyway but who knows what the hell Rafa will thinking eh?! All in all though yeah, LB’s lineup should do it

Digger, it will depend who looks knackered in Friday’s light training session. I think Masch will be knackered. I don’t think Rafa will be leaving players out to keep them fresh in future matches. I think Rafa will leave players out who are too tired to do themselves or the team justice against Fulham. Masch couldn’t get near a Bolivian last night and he might not get near Murphy & Co if he’s even more tired after flying from Bolivia to Argentina and then the 9 hour flight from Beunos Ares to Liverpool.

Don’t go making your predictions for the Fulham game just yet guys, remember we will be having a competion about it tomorrow and if you work or drink etc with any manc supporters then you will definitely want this prize so that you can piss them off big time!

Yeah maybe so LB. But as I say you’re line-up looks good. If Masch is the only casualty in our starting 11 from the internationals then we can be very happy I think. I’m much more confident in lucas when when he has Xabi beside him and I’m sure if called upon he’ll do a job for us. I’m sure that Rafa will have noted how taggart came a cropper when he left scholes, ape boy and tevez on the bench at the cottage so other than masch I’d expect to see all the big guns start.

Yes Digger, I’m much more comfortable with Lucas and Xabi in there compared to the Lucas and Masch combo.

To FS #9
No horsey’s up here were I am. I’m in the most northernly point of Southern Ireland…. Work that one out (It’s a bit Irish )

I have a feeling there will be a lot of tired legs out there on Saturday, so I can’t see the recent form continuing.

I don’t think it will be a very good game for that reason.
But, I still think it will be a win.

Off work sick and flicking through youtube.

Digger, LB, you’ll like this. (add the h)

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzGouuyt2Cc&feature=related

Danman, come Grand National day all us Scousers think you Irish are born on horse back and go digging for tips. And as I said, I’ve had a few good ones. And to anyone who’s never been the Grand National, it’s one of them things you must do before you go tits up… It’s a great weekend.

Anyway, I came on to say this… just heard Carlton Cole is out for the rest of the season after returning from England duty. Me point is, it could have been Ste G just as easily. But what the fuck…. West Ham have just had to pay Sheffield United 10 million over the Tevez affair. But how guilty were the FA in that? Quite a bit in my book. And now they’ve cost them their center forward for the rest of the season.

Neil Warnock, Rafa’s least favourite dinosaur has even got the lawyer’s on to it and is trying to encourage all his team that went down to screw West Ham. (I’ll come back to that in a minute).

I’m completely sick of hearing this from every silly Geordie who can get his mug on the telly or radio, and all the shite pundits who are reporting on it…. Why aye, Man. Shearer will save the Toon. He’s the man for the job… he’s got the passion!

How fucking archaeic is football, football supporting and football reporting in England? All the fuck you ever hear is Passion, passion, passion. What a load of bollacks.

We’ve all got passion for football. How many of us could manage a premiereship side? Not one of us. But that’s not to say we’d make any worse of a job of it than Shearer. And if all he’s armed with is passion, I’d say… get your bets on Newcastle going down quick.

Bloody passion. What nonsense. Rafa shown what he thought of passion when he dragged Gerrard off in the Derby. And mark my words, these dinosaurs over here will soon be making you sick, when they finally realise what Rafa is doing… revolutionising football and football management in this country. They’ll be all fighting to say how great he is and how they always knew he’d be a great premiereship manager.

I’[ll just ignore them like I always do. But I tell you what, we are very lucky to have found this man especially with all the shite that followed. And thank fuck he won all the power struggles or we could be just like the Barcodes now…. on our 4th manager of the season and facing relugation. Or even worse, we could have ended up like Southampton starring administration in the face.

That might seem a bit dramatic lads. But it’s not. We are very lucky to have such a level headed man at the helm in a time when football just seems to get more and more mental by the day.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum!

Just a quick return to what FS was talking about in the last blog.
(and THIS is from a fuckin Liverpool paper??)

Headline-
Rafa Benitez: I Almost Quit Liverpool

What Benitez ACTUALLY SAID:
“It is true that at times I may have thought about my future…”

In what fuckin world do the words “at times” and “I may have thought” translate to “almost quit”???

You get more sense out of a Spanish article translated into English with that Google translation tool!
(Than you do from these “tools” that write for some of the papers!)

Super stuff Gerry.

Correct me if i`m wrong but wasn`t the last comp when we were playing fulham also?And we all know what happened then…

FS,the lads are talking about Black Apalachi for the national.
No Gaurentee`s of course but i`ll be having a few quid on myself.

Just checked the result of the 2.35 in Aintree and the horse i was going to have a cut off won the race.

His name was “WALK ON”.

I was on nights last night so i woke too late to back him.

I always have a cut off him due to his name but he`s a decent horse who came second at cheltenham.

FS: The FA are proper guilty over the West Ham affair. West Ham looked as if they were certs to go down, dead and buried so the FA thought what’s the point of giving them a points reduction it’ll make no difference, it won’t be a punishment because they are already down and we can make a nice little few quid out of it. Then the decision came back to bite them on the backside. For me that should have been the end of it. West ham were dealt with by the authorities, it’s not West Ham’s fault the FA ballsed it up.

I had a little flutter on Walk On the other week, mate. And I’ll have a look at Balck Alapchi. I’m not mad on the horses but I do like a little bet come the National.. and as I said, anyone who hasn’t gone and gets the chance really should go, especially you Irish lads. You’d love it.

I have family in Dublin Timmy. I haven’t been in ages. I should make the effort. They tell me the Curragh is turned into a markey on Sunday’s. I wouldn’t mind taking a van full of stock over. I’ve grafted Ireland a couple of times, The Ploughing Championships. Always made a few quid and had a great time.

Anyway, just trawling round the internet, stuck indoors with nothing to do. And I seen some very disturbing pictures of Gerrard from the England game, looks like he’s doing a little dance with Shrek and The Chelsea Two. I didn’t watch the game on telly nor the highlights. To qoute the great man, Shanks… if they was playing in my garden I’d close the curtains.

But did Gerrard take part in one of them crappy coreographed goal celebrations? Very disappointed if he did.

PS… is correct KDLL. And Aitch, that shows exactly what I’m always banging on about… The Echo and Daily Post might be a bit more reliable when it comes to the football and LFC, but the British Press have nothing to do with reporting the truth and fact… they exist for one reason only – selling newspapers. And the more sensational the headline, the more sales they make.

Went to the national one year alright FS.We were over for a game and it was on a sunday so we decided to make our way up to Aintree on the saturday.

Unfortunatley the meeting was abandoned due to the now infamous bomb scare.I think it was in `96 or `97.Shame about that but there`s some buzz in the city on grand national day.

We used to stay in a place called the hanover and the gaffer there used to throw on a big horse race night.

Women,betting and plenty of porter flowing…..heaven.

Ha! The old Hangover hotel. I know it well Timmy. And I was in America the year of the bombscare. But here’s a perfect example of the British media…
The people of Liverpool were absoulutely savaged in the papers, and on the radio and telly that year. The documentary about The Adelphi hotel didn’t help. I don’t know if anyone seen it, but the manger of the place took full advantage of the situation – gouging people to stay there night cos she knew there was thousands of them stuck in Liverpool without a place to stay while they was waiting for the race to be run on the Sunday.

Well, here’s a little true story…
Me sister lives right by the race course. You can actually watch the races from her bedroom window.

As the people were removed from the course because of the bomb threat she started to let people into her house. She ended up with bodies all over the place that night, asleep all over her house. There was a lot of Irish amongst them.

They all went the pub up the top of the road that night. And in the morning before anyone woke, her hubby shot out the shops, bought loads of bacon and loaves and made everyone bacon butties and cups of tea.

They offered me sister money. She refused to take it. After everyone had left, her and her hubby was cleaning up and found a wad of cash under a plate with a little note…
Thanks for your hospitality.

The people had had a whip round and left them a nice few quid. People all over the area had similar stories to tell. None of that was reported though. But I suppose good news about decent friendly people, doesn’t sell newspapers.

FS, I only saw Gerrard congratulate Crouchie after his goal. Crouch was doing the “rope” number as his goal celebration and Stevie looked suitably impressed.

Apeboy pretended to cut Terry’s hair after the Chav scored England’s winner. How fucking stupid is that? Shame he didn’t try to cut his fucking throat instead!

Regarding Shearer FS, mostly I agree with you but it’s amazing to think what a massive boost his presence will give the Toon fans, they love him and he will be worth a goal to them on Saturday. 50.000 screaming Geordies who believe their Massiah has just arrived. Frankly I’m glad it’s Chelsea going there and just for this one game, it wouldn’t suprise me at all to see the Mags turn them over.

Christ thats a great story Fattty.Too great for that lot to write about.

Thats one thing about the scousers i like the most,there hospitality.Even to this day when we go across for a game people are genuinly decent.

The Irish are always welcomed there.It must be our mutual dislike of that dragon Thatcher!

Digger, I see what you mean, but I just can’t see Masch lining up against Fulham. His body clock will still be fucked and I don’t think he will be up for this one. But, who knows he could spring a suprise.

Masch also played in high altitude 3600 feet above sea level.I can`t see him starting either.

Ahh well, time to get off this contraption and do something more constructive… go to bed and watch a DVD. I hate night’s in the house like this… fuck all to do, not even anybody to annoy cos they’ve all fucked off out knowing I’m bored.

Yeah Timmy, about the only people you won’t hear a good word about in Liverpool is The Tramp and Margret Hilda Thatcher… imagine them two shagging. On second thoughts, don’t. Wonder who’d win a fight between them though, eh?

As for the Messiah, Steve mate… Shearer’s already the second coming this season. They got the other Messiah Keegan back not long ago and he didn’t seem to do the resurection much good.

4 manager’s they’ve had this season. 7 manager’s they’ve had since the Riley fella bought them. They’re a fucking joke. I used to like them as a team, and I’ve got time for Geordies. They’re okay people. But their knee jerking demands are reaping their rewards and the Passion of The Messiah won’t stave off Armagedon this time round.

Sorry to get all biblical on you, but you started it… you very naughty boy.

Timmy,

La Paz is 3600 meters above see level. That is almost 12,000 feet and well over 2 miles. It must be a tough place to walk to and from the pub much less play a 90 minute qualifying match after flying across the world.

I’ve been as high as 8,000 feet before and breathing is harder that sucking a tit through a flannel night gown.

Dottie, how do the kids cope breast-feeding way up-there

Messi said it was impossible to play football.Whe he mande a burst it took him 20 minutes to recover from it.

I was in La Paz last year, it is tough walking up steps there, let alone play sport!! I actually went on a cycle which we were told was all down hill but it actually had a 200 m uphill section which was fairly steep. As I struggled up that bit I could taste blood. when we got to the top the guide was laughing and told me that blood vessels actually burst in my throat. Nice!!!

Maradona taking his team to play in Bolivia… crikey that was a bit risky wasn’t it! Bit like Ferguson taking his team to play a game at a whiskey distillery! Can they drug test managers or only players?

Hello all,

finally the internationals are out the way…roll on Saturday, a must win (they all are from now on!) I can see the scum dropping points against Villa they have a number of key players missing and Villa are due to have a return to form soon……..Have you heard, Man City have sold Shaun Wright Phillips……………………….to Madonna!!

Tomorrow is gonna be a Looooooong day.
Come on you Reds!

And, thank christ (or deity of your preference) that my dad wasn’t a Geordie, (no offense to geordies) and I was born in Liverpool (albeit not down by the docks) and he was a Red and not a Blue… is all I have to say.
What a complete circus of a football club… makes G&H and their bollocks look like stability, for fucks sake!

Poor Bastards!
I can’t for the life of me figure what Shearer is thinking?
The gnome is still Director of Football, in-ee?

Aitch, wise got the boot 1 hour before they confirmed Shearer as manager and the club confirmed that there was no plans to backfill this position.

FS thats a brilliant story in post 37. Maybe I’m a soppy ‘ol git but thats just made my morning! I’ve always wondered about the affinity between the Irish and Scousers, Liverpool in general. I’m guessing its partly because so many of us have emigrated there over the years perhaps or maybe its because so many of our lads played for the reds. I dunno, I’m getting all misty eyed here! Anyway, cant wait for tomorrow til I’m sat in the bar wit my scouse mates watching the reds!

Morning chaps, thank fuck all that nonsense is over and it’s back to proper footy. I can’t help but get all negative about it when the internationals are on. I start off getting a bit of a cob on about Liverpool players going off all over the world and coming back knackered, but I end up just getting negative about the whole game.
I can’t help it, but seeing things like this start getting under me skin…
Micheal Owen arriving in Newcastle in a helicopter – why? He won’t be even training nor playing – he’ll be flying it into Aintree on Saturday. A report in The Daily Mail on Cisse’s boutique in Newcastle – the most disgusting gaudy clobber you have ever seen, with the cheapest thing in there being a T-Shirt for £250 when most Gerodies can’t afford to wear fake replica shirts. Shearer spouting love for Newcastle, but reportedly getting 2 million for 8 games and insisting he won’t stay any longer than them 8 games, and 50,000 Geordies turning up to sing his name in the middle of the afternoon – why aren’t they at work on a Thursday afternoon? Cos the poor fuckers up there have no work to go to.

If that’s true that put’s Shearer on £250,000 a game. Most Geordie lads won’t earn that in a life time. Madness.

One of Shearer’s old clubs, Southampton, used to be a staple in the first division/premiereship. They’re parent company Southampton holdings(Sort of like Hicks set up in Kop Holdings) has gone to the wall, leavening Southampton multi-millions in debt and facing bankruptcy/administration. Like I said yonks ago in here… the whole thing is a house of cards and could fall with the slightest breeze.

So, yes Digger no harm being a sentimentalist. It’s about the only thing that keeps me loving LFC. And we Scouse/Irish probably get along because we’ve both been shit on from above for ever. That’s why I can’t help but like Geordies, the daft bastards.

Oh well, you know what they say… The toothless get ruthless. So it must be an age thing. But I promise, no moaning now and back to what we all love. Well, once Gerrard gets out of court this morning it will be!

“Liverpool Football Club today confirmed Steven Gerrard has agreed a two-year extension to his current contract.
The Liverpool skipper, who has two years to run on his current deal, will soon put pen to paper on a new agreement to keep him at Anfield until at least 2013.

With manager Rafa Benitez and key members of his backroom team signing new contracts over the past two weeks, Gerrard’s deal is another timely boost as the Reds look to end the season on a high.

Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv this morning, Benitez said: “This is fantastic news for the club.

“Steven has once again shown his commitment and it was an easy deal to agree. As soon as we offered him the option he said yes. There were no problems at all. He wants to stay for life.

“This deal sends out another clear message that we are moving forward as a club. To know we have a player of Steven’s quality with us for many more years is a great boost for the club and the fans.

“He is clearly a player who inspires those around him and even though he is playing very well at the moment, I still think his best years are ahead of him.”

Liverpool FC

Gr8 news for Liverpool Football club

Looking forward to tomorrow, now that the internationals are over.

Great news about Gerrard too.

I’m still looking for two tickets for the Blackburn game over Easter weekend. If anyone knows of any contacts to help me out.
Fat Scouser – you said you might be able to help.

No problem if you can’t – I know it’s getting to that silly stage of the season now!

YNWA

Nice one FS, and you are right about the Geordies of course……… God knows their supporters deserve better! (whooops! There I go, getting all biblical again)

The Euphoria at St.James’ Park might just act like a twelth man tomorrow, and the 11 in Black & White will probably playout of their skins for Shearer, so it may be of benefit to them tomorrow.

I do agree with you that Shearer’s arrival won’t save them from a relegation dogfight though. I think it will be touch and go for them.

I recently watched a DVD of the 1974 F.A Cup Final, when Terry Mac was playing for Newcastle.

Thw poor bastards never win anything do they? Christ, they were lucky to win a corner in that match. Malcom Mcdonald…………… Oh, the things I wish I had never said!

The Shearer decision is a last ditch attempt to keep them in the EPL.

A have a few toon mates in my ‘local’ and they were saying that Hughton was about as useful as a handbrake on a canoe and had lost the players.

So maybe spending 2 million to have a chance of staying up is a gamble worth taking.

I hope they stay up… so at least we are guaranteed another 6 points from them next season

I want Newcastle to get relegated. Their fans are too deluded, and for some reason think that only Geordies can run the football club whether it be at board level or team management. They want Ashley and Wise out because they are cockneys. They wanted Dalglish out because he wasn’t Keegan, they hounded out Ruud Gullit because he benched Shearer. They demanded Bobby Robson get the sacked even though they never finished outside the top 6 during his time there and from that point their fans have hounded out manager after manager. They even hounded the previous chairmen out. They screamed in unison to Sam Allardyce that he doesn’t know what he’s doing and reckoned the football wasn’t good enough. He was manager for 8 months. They were 11th at the time. Well now they are 18th and I hope they stay there.

I don’t know about that Steve. It’s not like all the team will love him. In fact, some could easily recent Shearer and put in even less effort.

But F Newcastle anyway. LB had it right (Agreeing twice in 2 days. (Must be a full moon or something)…
They wouldn’t have been in this mess if they’d backing Allardyce. I don’t like the big fat headed bastard either, and I can’t stand the football his teams play. But he’d have at least kept them mid-table.

As for them going down, I remember them being in the old second division. Their crowds at the time averaged 18,000. So, next season they’ll all be able to huddle together in Shearer’s bar, give their dole money to the Messiah, and shout for their next favourite Geordie… Gazzer, Jimmy Nail, Sting. Sid the Sexist would probably more to their liking though.

I shouldn’t really take the piss, as I honestly quite like Geordies. They’re decent enough folk. And talking of a night out… it’s true. You can’t beat the Toon. Bigg Market, an absolutely great place to get bevvied up and have a laugh. Bars and clubs all over the gaff, friendly fellas (well, they are with Scousers) and birds dressed in little more than cling film no matter how freezing cold it is. Why aye, man. But yes. They are sadly deluded about their football club.

Redragon as for a ticket mate, remind me on Tuesday and I’ll make a few phone calls for you. It’s not worth me trying before then. Normally I can get tickets no bother. But I’m not promising anything at this stage of the season – especially if we are still in it and get a decent result against Chelsea in mid-week. Sorry mate, but I’ve got to be honest…. they’ll be pretty scarce.

Try some ticket exchanges – the ones on fan sites. Don’t go near tout ones. Them bastards should be strung up. But there are a few fan sites on the internet that include ticket exchanges, where you can swoop tickets for different games and buy them at face value.

Type LFC fans ticket exchanges, in your search bar and see what comes up. I know it’s not the greatest help, but it’s worth a try.

2moro, we should start with Arb and Babel on the right with Insua and Aurelio on the left.Riera looks a bit ropey away.Rest of team picks itself.

Ouch! Dont hold back LB! I’m like Steve, I hope they stay up, invaluable 6pts every yr heh heh… Rafas a crafty ‘ol git innee, – ‘even though hes playing very well at the moment his best years are still ahead of him’. Carrott, stick and all that. Great stuff. I think their relationship has really blossomed over the last couple of seasons. Rocky start but ever since Rafa acquiesced and brought him in from the wing (cold?) Stevies been unstoppable. Getting Torres was key too. Lightened the load so to speak.

Cheers FS.
I’ve just registered with a few of those sites.
Wait and see now with fingers crossed.
I’ll give you a shout on Tue.
Thanks again.
YNWA

The shambolic show by Newcastle is really quite baffling. I mean, it is not as if they do not have a squad that is any worse than Wigan or West Ham. It really goes to show how frightening it is if you don’t have a manager and a decent board.
FS and LB is right, they should have at least hang on to Allardyce. As FS says, I don’t like him at all in any whatsoever but he does manage to keep the team in the premiership. Look at Fulham– they went and brought in a proper manager and have just got better and better. A total farce what they have been looking.

If shearer truly intends to just be there to save them for the next 8 games, he really shouldn’t be taking any money. That would have worked wonders for their players.

I am a little nervous about our game tomorrow. I’ll take any goal, and hopefully it will come relatively quickly, but I intend to be more than patient for this one.

Kuyt just agreed a 2 year extension.

I don’t see Masch making it into the lineup for tomorrow’s game at Fulham. I was listening to the Guardian podcast, and the reporter who watched the game commented on how Masch was visibly having trouble breathing around the 14 minute mark.

With the Argies playing their 3-4-3 formation, they can’t operate if Masch is having a stinker.

I am real nervous about this Fulham game. Nothing like the two week international break to take the wwind out of our sales.

We couldn’t break them down in the first meeting, and we’ve lost 2 of our last 3 down there. Fingers crossed that we can nip a 0-1 and get out of there with all three points. I would love to see us sitting top of the table come Saturday night.

The Tramps got some issues this weekend against Villa. Rooney, Vidic, and Scholes all suspended, and I just read that Berbatov is out for two more weeks. That leaves him with just Tevez up front, and I’m assuming he’s in the same boat as Masch regarding recovery from the international break.

It’s a shame Villa are in such a poor run of form right now, but maybe they can nip a point?

The pace are which contracts are being signed is unbeleivable, it goes to show what happens when there is a bit of stability on the playing side at least.
It being nothing but go news over recent Weeks, you would expect the squad will be buzzing for the match tomorrow.

Corky, maybe its because Rick Parry might be on gardenning leave and therefore someone more competant is dealing with the contracts….?

corklfc, I think that it goes to show you what happens when rafa is in control of these day to day footballing decisions and not our good friend Rick Parry.

LB, you’re too damn quick

Only one contract extension left now….. Mr Agger’s!

Lads, what do you think that the odds are that Dagger will get a run-out tomorrow?

For me I would stick with the same defence and if we are a few goals to the good, give him a run-out as a sub.

Difficult call this one.

I reckon Agger might start.

At first I’m delighted for Stevie’s contract extension, but I didn’t have time to comment as I had to be away. When I returned, even Kuyt’s signed his extension. Wow.

At this rate, it’ll only be a matter of time before Agger finally puts pen to paper and put an end to this saga.

I agree 100% with LB over Newcastle and their fans. I do like geordies and they are very friendly and good for a laugh but they are their own downfall with regards to the plight of their club.

Playing at altitude makes a massive difference. I went to Cuzco in Peru which is in the mountains I think about 3,400 metres above sea level. Just walking up a slight hill had me breathing harder than an asthmatic dirty phone caller. I had to stop half way up i was knackered.

Wether Agger signs a new contract or not, I reckon it won’t drag on like in previous years. If there is no contract signed by the end of the season, I see the transfer completed by June. With so many staff and players signing deals, Agger can’t come out and say no one is dealing with it.
25 hours to kick-off, I can’t bloody wait!!

Oh boy, it begins:

finalternatives.com/node/7478

“Private equity legend Tom Hicks’ sports team holding company has defaulted on more than $500 million in loans, a source has told FINalternatives.

Hicks Sports Group, which owns baseball’s Texas Rangers and hockey’s Dallas Stars, failed to make its interest payment on $525 million in syndicated bank loans on Monday. The group is now in talks with its lenders about a forbearance.

Hicks made his billions on leveraged buyouts, founding private equity firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst, now HM Capital, in 1989. He retired from the firm in 2006.

According to the source, who has seen documents relating to the loans, Hicks defaulted on a $350 million bank term loan, $100 million second-lien loan and a $75 million revolving credit facility. A spokesman for Hicks Sports declined to comment.

Hicks also owns a 50% stake in the English Premier League’s Liverpool Football Club, but through a separate entity. According to the source, the loans are partially secured by the Rangers and Stars, but not by Hicks’ stake in Liverpool or his personal assets.”

LFC safe for now, but this does not bode well for us.

lvcjmac: The argies didnt play 3-4-3 against Bolivia.

Does anyone know about the status of Berbatov’s injury? Mancs could be severely shorthanded on sun, with tevez knackered and scholes, vidic, and rooney suspended. If Villa can’t snatch a point I will be very disappointed.

I think what’s happened is the players have finally realised what a fantastic manager they have.
They might work with him everyday close up. But remember these lads are only young and most of them won’t be applying for MENSA.

It’s not that they’re all thick, but they do live their lives in a bubble. And constantly reading RAFA IS SHITE headlines would have got them thinking. But they have seen him take all that ridicule on the chin and not take a backward’s step. They have seen him win every battle without buckling. They have seen him take on all comers and not waiver. And, most importantly, they have realised that Rafa has improved them as players.

Digger noted how the situation with Gerrard has improved. But I don’t believe it’s because Stevie got his own way. I think it’s because he’s grown up a little bit and started to trust his own eyes instead of believing the hype.

No matter their age, all LFC fans have a soft spot for Shankly and see him as the father of our success. And rightly so. But believe me, not all his players liked Shankly, but they did respect him.

Shanks was way ahead of his times. He fought many boardroom battles, and he wasn’t afraid to fight them in the media. He introduced new techniques and methods. He revamped the club from top to bottom. He built the pile of rubble that was Anfield into a bastion of invincibility – in his own image. He would only have men on his side who shared his goals and vision (men of the right mentality). And we all know what happened, but most people didn’t understand him or his methods at the time.

Remind you of anyone?

Nothing makes me smile more than when pundits and hacks say, “I don’t understand Rafa.” Of course they fucking don’t. He’s forgot more in a moment’s nap than they’ll ever learn.

Lesser men would have buckled to the media and boardroom pressure. But Rafa has been unwaivering in his faith and belief in himself and his methods. He will not be swayed. He is on a mission. He is a scientist that is introducing new methods and techniques. He will eventually return this club to it’s place at the head of European football. The club will once again become the benchmark to aim at, and the model to copy, for other clubs. And I firmly believe Rafa will keep his promise and leave behind a lasting legacy of the likes that Shankly and Paisley left behind them.

Of all this I am convinced. We haven’t won the war yet, but the tide is turning, and I’m so happy I won’t even rub it in and say…
I told you so.

Hey Danman would you be from Donegal? I camped at Tra Na Rossen beach and went to the Youth Hostel when I was sick and an old fella gave me some poteen from an old brandy bottle-talk about hospitality.
Don’t forget folks that some of us come from oversees and even though the internet news is fast,there is nothing like having it from fellow supporters.
The week-end will tell us how things are going in the Premiership so I will be seeing the Fulham game on Setanta,which I subscribe to, and cheering the Liverpool goals!!!

Fellow Liverpool Supporters from the emerald Isle. Liverpool is the only place in England and Wales where the Orange Lodge march. That’s a big indication of the link Liverpool has with Ireland. Liverpool was never bombed either at the height of the IRA terror attacks although Manchester and even Warrington was.

Yeah defo FS. You can see it in Stevie now that he really believes in Rafa. I dont think that was always the case but it certainly is now. He has totally bought into it and immersed himself in Rafas system and the team is better for it and hes a better player for it. But as I said Torres was a huge factor too. I remember 2 or 3 seasons ago looking at Stevie in the tunnel before games and he looked like the weight of a club was on his shoulders. And it was. If he dident score chances are we wouldent!

Well, I’ve been howling all seaosn that the poor results were a result of players committment rather than managerial decisions, but there you go.

Players have far too much power these days and this game is really all about the players putting in their all, and trusting and playing for the manager.

And Benitez named Manager of the Month for March!
(was Fungus not in the pot?)

As regards the Liverpool and hospitality/friendliness. I’m from liverpool but I live in London and the difference is amazing. I go back to Liverpool and I’m in a shop waiting to get served and the counter staff are chatting away and I’m thinking get a move on I haven’t got all day, after a couple of days I chill out. when I get back to London I’m chatting away to the counter staff and people are looking daggers at me to get a move. funny how we acclimatise to where we live eh?

The tide is turning indeed FS, the next five games will define our season in terms of trophies (Fulham A, Chelsea(CL), Balckburn H, Cheslea(CL), Arsenal H). For me the success is evident and it is only a matter of time before we are back to were we belong. If we get through these games unscathed then the pressure will be right on the Mancs and we will be through to another semi in the CL and then anything can happen.

I honestly can see them dropping 2 points against Villa with all there suspensions and injuries it could not be a better time for Villa to play them, not to mention the rest most the Villa players got and needed. Then another 2 at least against Arsenal will do quite nicely then it’s game on, but we have to beat Fulham at all cost. I really hope we put it all together and win going away (I will take a ricochet of the refs arse in the 94 minute though) , the message and pressure it will put on the Mancs will be phenomenal.

I would read nothing into the result or performance at altitude, it can destroy the best of teams and if you have never been or played at altitude you wont understand. As soon as the players are at sea level they will recover quickly.

Stevie G looks like he’s loving his football at the moment. Torres and Stevie G have formed a fantastic partnership and you can tell they both love playing with each other(obviously in the football sense of the term). Their partnership is fantastic.

The press conference is on the main web site,

ttp://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163881090403-1716.htm

At the end there is a hack desperately trying to get a nasty headline but Rafa plays him beautifully.

Rafa has found a few weaknesses in the Mancs game. He used one to perfection and then broadcast it after the match.

Fergie didn’t know what to do and could not change his game plan.

This was even more evident in the Fulham game where Fergie again had no answers.

I do hope Martin O’Neil follows Rafa lead!

After a long time we are back to talking my kind of football. Surprisingly i felt its more than a month since we last played although its just a measly 2 weeks. Hope we still keep our form.

Don’t you guys think this is getting a little predictable here? Rafa signed extension just before the an important game. Now Gerrard and Kuyt signing on just before another crucial game and more importantly giving all the kind of boost one needs after missing all the players for 2 weeks due to international games. This momentum can win us this game.

I think this too is some kind of a tactical game Rafa’s playing. Whats the bet that before we play another important game against say Chelsea away leg or Arsenal, Agger’s deal would be finalized?

I am quite sure something like that might happen .

Fingers crossed.

Ah abhiram you like a little conspiracy theory eh?

Fucking hell FS, talk about a post from the heart! #78

It all makes sense too, and credit to you, you did tell us so.

Agger must have realised that with other players now signing contract extensions, if he doesen’t he will only have himself to blame if he is offered a good deal and then drags his heels and is then subsequently shown the door. My own feeeling is that he will sign and soon.

You could well be right abhiram, you could well be right.

Kenny,
First, i really want Agger to stay.
Second, once is coincidence, twice is a plan.

Well if it does become true, who would be unhappy? Milan, Madrid may be. I am quite sure no true Red (Liverpool of-course, too many wannabe’s in the world) would feel bad if Agger signed …

Hope it will come true

Steve mate, through thick and thin and throughout the darkest of times, one man in here has supported Rafa staunchly and refused to back down. Take a bow KeithSA.

As for Keith’s comment #84… I don’t care if we lose every game from now until the end of the season. Well, obviously I do. I want to win everyone of them. But put it this way…
even if we end up empty handed from this season, which we could do easily, I won’t be too upset. Because I know, if we hang on to Rafa, we will be taking most of the silverware on offer for many years to come.

And I know there’s still huge problems at the club. They still worry me, and make me wary to tempt fate. But, mark me words, this is it lads. No more false dawns. There’ll soon be a job opportunity at Anfield for a trophy polisher.

And lads, if you want a laugh… go check out Rooney’s latest rant. It’s on a few sites now, and it looks like they’re starting to realise what we know. Yep, looks like squeaky bum time really has arrived for mr. ferguson and his galacticos.

I know FS, they most certainly are worried, and Apeboy couldn’t help resist saying he is too young to remember the last time LFC won the Leauge…………… Twat, he will have that yard dog smile wiped off his face, hopefully this season.

Fair play to Keith too, as you say FS. I have also seen the light now, and even if we do end up empty handed this season, you won’t hear me doubting Rafa again. YNWA.

It’s coming, the tide is turning!

This is the third time i am having a go at posting a comment. The last two times it did not get posted. Here goes.

Kenny Once is coincidence, twice is planning.
I hope i am steve! In that case, we will tie Agger’s contract. Thats obviously good for us. Probably Milan or Madrid might feel aggrieved but of us would surely be happy.

I don’t think that Agger’s is a given but I hope you are right abhiram.

i am a toon fan

thank you for some of your comments about my club and the people of newcastle

some 1 said that we are delusional i would like to disagree we are not delusional we know exactly where our club is and what we can achieve

we havent been in a good position since sir bobby(btw we did boo but we didnt want him sacked)i dont think we are delusional but we are demanding lurgen was right we did want allardyce out coz the football was bad but we do not hate cockneys the “cockney mafia out” thing wasnt coz we hate cockneys but because they all happend to be cockneys and we wanted them out because off there lies aswell as the treatment of kk so just to clarify we wanted them out on those reasons and those reasons alone not because they are cockneys

anyway on to lfc

i would like to wish you all the best with 7 of youre next 8 epl games and i sincerely ho00pe you win the champs league and prem

FS you bastard (and I mean that affectionately) you make it sound as though he was the only Rafa defender in here, while you took your ball and went home coz you were tired of explaining yourself.
It wasn’t only Keith who was in here flying the flag in your absence, mate.
Others are fully paid up members of the gagonrafastackle brigade too!

(sulks off into a corner feeling underappreciated…)

ditto for me FS

Just kiddin FS, my reward is not in being retroactively recognized for my opinion at the time, but rather in seeing people line up to gag on his tackle now, after the last few results.

While there is a bit of smug satisfaction in that, for me, its more about seeing us all being mostly unified again, rather than all that fractious “pro-anti” bollocks.

Come Reds… if we can get out the blocks strong and get an early goal, we’ll run out a score again.
But if we start slow, we’ll struggle to break them down.

Lads the Rafa confusion over the squeaky bum comment was funny as fuck
I tell you there’s no flies on Rafa
Looking forward too your competition Gerry
And I’m glad I wont have to donate it to Timmy
haha
I think we’ll get back on the horse again tomorrow
over and out