#1:-)

btw, I am blocked, so i need to go to bed. Apologies Gerry but oculd not resist getting the 1st post in.

A Demain.

Completely agree Ger. It would be sweet indeed to see the chavs banned from next year c.l but whilst I think uefa will throw the book at drogba and ballack I cant see them tossing the entire club out as a result of the actions of 2 certifiable morons. Fresh in uefa officials minds too will be mourinhos enforced resignation of Anders Frisk in 05 so I expect the sanctions to be strong for them 2 shitheads but maybe not so severe as to see the club banned. But man wouldent it be sweet!….

Agree with everything you say Gerry, except for one thing– I would gladly support even the chavs, probably even the racists Zenit, against the mancs. The pathetic excuse the chavs have for a club is another matter. It would really be great if the barca slaughter the mancs.

As for our game against the Hammers, I also think it will be a tough encounter. However, if we continute playing as we have been, I am certain we will win. A concise 1-0 win is what I would like to see, probably from someone like Benny. I also want to make sure we keep a clean sheet. What with cech nowhere near his best since his injury, and the mancs rotating keepers, there is a good chance Reina will get another golden glove award.

If this remains purely a football disciplinary matter then you’ll most probably be right Digger but there are a couple of other factors that may affect things.
It could be argued that the behaviour of those chav players may have incited their supporters into issuing death threats towards the referee. I’ve heard some news media stations that don’t normally cover football stories giving this one some coverage mainly from the death threats angle.
Apparently that ref and his family have been forced to abandon their home under police advice and the Norwegian Police are keeping the house under heavy guard. This is the part that seems to be catching the attention of the news media and bringing a lot of negative press coverage.
So it could work out that UEFA will want to be seen to be taking a tough stance towards the chavs and their supporters.
Another thing worth considering is the Pratini factor. We all know how he feels about english clubs and he might see this as an ideal opportunity to put the boot in.
OK, I agree that it most probably won’t happen but it really would be sweet if it did.

HaHaHa, Chelsea lost and their behaviour was disgusting!

I missed the game but watched it on China TV channel in China last night. They gave a detailed analysis with plenty of slow motions on all the so called penalty claims. They concluded that the only claim which could be considered as genuine was the last one during the injury time after Barca has equalized. The rests were all good call by the referee. In fact, the replay also showed that Abidal was wrongly sent off.

Barca went through, albeit with some luck and I hope that they will win the Championship league!

Yeah I read somewhere too that the police had to smuggle the ref out of the stadium after the game and then out of London. I mean its like it was a covert military operation! After a soccer game no less!! So its certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that uefa will take action against the club also for their fans clearly endangering the safety of one of their officials. One can only hope heh heh!

Excellent blog once again Gerry. Good luck to Barca once again, they’re gonna need all of it against those constantly lucky bastards.

Anyway, scrolling through the last few posts in the last blog, I saw FS’s post on #373, and FS, I have to say, that’s very inspiring as your posts have always been, though I notice a minor error.

In 1972/1973, Leeds didn’t lose to Barca in the final, they lost to AC Milan, and that was in the Cup Winners Cup. They lost to Beckenbauer’s Bayern in the European Cup final the following year in 1974.

But anyway, apart from that, your point is spot on. There WILL be a twist by the end of the season, but first we must take care of West Ham.

Oh and MTMMC, superb post on #374 on the last blog, that really cracked me up laughing.

Well written Blog Gerry..
I didn’t see the game , I can’t bring myself to watch the Scum or Chelski unless they are playing Us.
From what I have read , Uefa should throw the book at Drogba and Ballack.
It would be great to see them Grow a Pair and
throw Chelski out of next years Champions League.

I think that Wet Spam are going to give us a tough game Saturday. 2- 1 to Us sounds like a good result.
Torres and Kuyt would do me fine..

Gerry I’m not 100% sure, but is it possible that UEFA won’t be able to take additional action against Dogbreath and Bollock because they were issued with a yellow card as “punishment” at the time? Can they add to that punishment, or possibly use it as a cop-out to wash their hands of the matter as an “apology” for poor reffing?

Either way, that of course doesn’t stop them from taking action against Chelsea as a club though, for bringing the game into disrepute. By all rights they should throw the book at them, but I wouldn’t count too much on Pratini… if he has his way, he may use it as an excuse to ban all English clubs from the competition!!

It’s quite funny seeing the mancs appeal Fletcher’s red card on “compassionate grounds”. Bwahaha, they must think the FA is involved somehow… but in some ways I almost wish he could get it overturned, as UEFA would then be forced to overturn Abidal’s too, and he’s more important to Barca than Fletcher is to the mancs.

I don’t think Alonso has been ruled out of the West Ham game yet, he’s just listed as doubtful. You’d think if it is just bruising then he should be OK to play through that. I always worry when Alonso isn’t playing so I sure hope he pulls through. With Alonso, Gerrard and Torres in the starting lineup, I’m confident we will defeat anyone at the moment.

I said it on the last blog, I’ll say it again. The CL antics this week have made me prouder than ever to be a Red. You would never see our captain behave like Terry, our players behave like Drogba, our manager react like Guus, or our club virtually condone it afterwards with “we’re sorry but you can’t really blame us because the ref was bad” comments. It’s good to be Red.

“As for Joey Barton’s cowardly tackle on Alonso, that guy is just a total scum-bag but let’s just hope he learns from his parents mistakes and tries using some birth control!”

Keep ‘em coming Gerry!

In truth, Chelsea didn’t deserve to romp into another final. The only thing I can’t understand is how we lost 1-3 to them. However, that notwithstanding, we’ve played with utmost dignity and especially during the Rafalution. The antics of the Drog are very atavistic, especially coming from a team that’s been consistently favored by dodgy refereeing decisions.

In truth, we’ve had much more success at Anfield during the last five years because of patience in rebuilding. We have a manager who’s been true to the Liverpool Way of old and who’s concentrated on the future instead of shortcutting the path ala Galactico policy. No one at Anfield is bigger than the club, not even the gaffer, and it shows in our play this season. I too am proud that such displays of utter petulance would be unheard of at the Kop.

Barca out-thought the Blues tactically, continuing to find their goal even when a man (unfairly) down. They in fact played better than their hosts when Abidal was sent off. At the Nou Camp Chelsea didn’t play that well, they were just lucky that the Blaugrana had an off day offensively. There are two worthy finalists and I pray Spain beats England in that one.

It’s funny that the more I’ve seen our rivals play this season, the more am proud to be a Red. Re Re Re Red till I die!

YNWA!

John Terry has been quoted as saying he feels Chelsea were robbed against Barcelona.

Marks & Spencers have said “Now he knows how we feel when his mum has been in store”.

””

What’s the difference between David Blunkett and Chelsea?

At least David Blunkett knows how to hang onto a lead.

MTMMC

Both Dogbath and Bugsingwa admitted over reacting after the match. I think Guss might have told the pricks that its not the FA but the UEFA who will be after them and there would be no buying their way out. Come’on platini dogs…go get em

I watched the match and was disgusted in the manner which Chelsea ended their game. I do hope EUFA throws the book at them, and seeing as Platini (I really wants someone else to win) is looking to nail an English Club to the wall, well here is his chance.
.
On to the death threats, did they know they were from Chelsea fans because they came on the back of blue plastic flags. Why bother protecting the Refs house, wouldn’t that mean the Chelsea fans would have to travel. Maybe there selling tickets to Norway, only to have the death squad hand them back. (a bridge to far no doubt).
.
It’s a shame it ended the way it did. We would never have disgraced it’s aura.

What we don’t want is Platini to come out and use the chelksi debacle as an excuse to limit english clubs, i.e., Liverpool. It is apparent that he has no soft spot for us either, so I am watching with a bit of wariness.

The old Monty Python song with the words “When life is a hassle” well all you need to do is read Kopblog to put a smile back on your face. Great blog Gerry and very uplifting first thing in the morning. Spot on with everything and it will be interesting to see what happens in the wider scheme of things. A nice little ban for next year competition will certainly sort them out and send a strong message. You can just imagine the lawsuits that will follow. It is an utter disgrace and needs to be sorted out ASAP. Hens coming home to roost would be my verdict if they get a ban.

Michael TMM my friend, those one liners had me in stitches and every time I think about them a crack up, keep them coming.

I have said along that Wet Spam would be one of the most difficult games in the run in and it is a must win for all sorts of reasons. I will take any score line as long as it is three points.

Great blog Gerry,

I just love when Drogba complains about injustice. Considering he has spent more time during his career on his back than a porn star.

Not only does he go down easily, but he acts like he is injured. I think he had the medicos out to him around 4-5 times. What a pussy!

Thanks for the voucher Gerry, appreciated.

Morning lads…
I can’t agree more, Chelsea are indeed a medium (not small) sized club. When it dries up they will return to what they are – a mid-table club, with a chance to lift the odd FA or Carling cup every twenty years or so. The way the whole club have tried to establish themselves – even their fans trying to create a rivalry with us – is quite pathetic. Peter Kenyoun (Bought from the mancs)… “We will establish ourselves as the biggest club in world football over the next five years.”
As I said, pathetic even quite funny.

They were never and still aren’t, any real rival of ours. This is a blip that might last a decade, but it’s still a blip none the less.

The players actions were disgusting indeed, but let’s not get all morally superior…
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3tyiv_liverpool-v-inter-milan-1965-europe_sport

Watch us in the return leg. And no I’m not comparing us, our situation back then, or our reaction to theirs. And I’m certainly not excusing them. Far from it. But we are no angels and I think most clubs would have kicked off under them circumstances.

In fact, we should be congratulating Mr. Dropba. Had he not reacted like that Chelsea would have been able to take the moral high ground and caused quite a few rifts at UEFA and Mr Plattini could well have been more determined to fuck the English clubs up in Europe. At least for now, I can see him being quite happy with the outcome.

Kinny, #8, I can’t be arsed going back to check. But I don’t think I mentioned Leeds in Europe at all. I was only going on about some barren years and how we nicked the league in a similair situation to the one we are in. If I was going to mention Europe in that statement, I would have mentioned that we also won the UEFA cup that season too.

I never bothered to mention it because we aren’t still in European competition. But when we won the league in 72/73 we nicked it before the end of the season. We still had a league game to go against Leicester (What a party that turned into) and then the first leg of the UEFA. We beat Borrussia 3 – 0 and then went over there (Well, I didn’t. I was 15. Started going to Europe 2 years later) and got beat 2 – 0.

So anyway, all I was saying in the original post is don’t give up hope just yet. We will be back on top of the league by the time the mancs play. that puts pressure on them. City are playing quite well. They’ve won their last 4. They are trying to get into Europe. Hughes is fighting for his job. He has the big time players to win this. City are another club that are going to become obnoxious bastards. Some of their players already are – but that’s not a bad thing in this case… even them win fuck all nothing superstars will want to perform in this one.

The short memoried mancs (Players and Fans) are starting to believe the hype agin. And seem to think they’ve already walked it, even though they’ve played like shite for months. But I like what Mark Hughes is saying…. “Some teams are already beaten in the tunnel at Old Trafford. We will be going there to give them a game and we can win it.”

And if City did nick this and we keep winning, that means it has go to the final game of the season. People keep telling me that’s a lot of ifs and buts. But it’s also an if that is very possible, and I’ll hold on to that until it’s gone.

And, If Arsenal win the World Plastic Flag Waving Championship’s on Sunday, that sets their manc game up nicely. Again a chance.

I expect nothing from Fat Head Bruce and his team. There again, you never know. Strange things happen.

So it could easily come down to the last day. Who would you back then?
Nervous mancs in front of a hungry Hull team and a seething stadium totally against them?
Or a hungry LFC against the wobbly Spuds in front of a Kop that will be carrying on like it’s still 72?

Fuck that lads, I’m clutching at every hope until it’s all gone.

Just posted me thoughts. Put a video link in there. Forgot to take the H off. I hope it reappears. I can’t be arsed writing all that out again.

Super stuff Gerry.

There is some justice out there in the way the chavs went out.Their behaviour during and after the game just summed up their club.

LOADS OF MONEY AND NO CLASS!

I would rather go out in the quarter final with our heads held high than go out in a semi acting like a bunch of scumbags.

Sending their ticket allocation back just goes to show how small a club they are.They could even fill the stadium with the mancs for the CL final last year.

On to sat,is Alonso definately out?

Wow, busy month, but feels good to be back.

I didn’t watch the chelsea game, no point losing sleep over nothing. But after reading the papers this morning, i think chelsea are not a great team simply because all great teams know how to lose graciously.

The death threats against the ref, isn’t the first time, if i am not mistaken it happen a few seasons back when maureenlow was in charge and the ref involved decided to quit football altogether. If we had to threaten every match official whose decisions’ costs us games, we’re probably have a lot of dead referees. Dog breath is an asshole, enough said, no point saying what everybody already knows.

Maybe chelsea should change their name to “Taliban of the EPL”. Whenever things don’t go our way, we will send you a bullet. Platini and UEFA should grow some balls and make an example of the “Talibans”. Ban them from European competitions for the next 3 years or so,teach them a lesson. It is a disgrace when referees are threaten, even in third world countries fans know when to draw the line.Come down hard on them, and the rest will fall in line.

They blame the ref for not giving them penalties! What are playing American football?Pathetic excuse. If they were sooooo good, why didn’t they score from open play? My theory is that dragqueen and gang are known to dive during matches, and they hoped that the ref would be awarding penalties like the US government’s stimulus packages.

Dragqueen and gang should read ” The boy who cried wolf”. Moral of the story, fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you, fool me thrice, you’re outta Champions League.

Great blog Gerry!

I found the part where you wrote that Chelsea fans could not fill up the full quota of tickets given to them for the NouCamp trip. Thats just disgusting.

It is very well known on what principle Roman bought Chelsea. He wanted instant success. He got some part of it in the form of winning 2 premier leagues and the FA cup. But the problem which he faces now is a very precarious one. As Gerry mentioned, he now needs to replace most of his superstars who are in wrong side of 30. He cant go and buy another set of world class players because he does not have the money to re build his team instantly. Chelsea’s financial future looks bleak.

Barcelona had only 1 shot on target. Had a man sent off unfairly. Had to play the 2nd leg without Puyol and Marquez. Still they managed to go through. Its the victory of beautiful football over some absurd defensive tactics. I thought Hiddink was spot on at Nou Camp because that was the only way to get a result there but to play the same way at home and continue that even after Barca were down to 10 men is just pathetic.

Coming to our match, we need to win it.West Ham will be a tougher opposition but we have to show the same spirit like we did at Fulham.

Sorry i missed one word in my initial paragraph and as a result its making a completely different sense. So here is it:

I found the part where you wrote that Chelsea fans could not fill up the full quota of tickets given to them for the NouCamp trip very intersting. Thats just disgusting.

Great blog Gerry! I agree with most of what you say but banning the chavs from the CL next season seems extremely harsh to me. Seems I’m alone in that opinion judging by the sentiments of the other lads here. I’ve seen refs get missiles thrown at them in Italy and other countries where the ref leaves the field with a bloody head, mass brawls on the touch line between squads and backroom staff, riot police in the stands, racist chanting throughout matches and the worse punishment these clubs get is a small fine and having to play a couple of matches behind closed doors.

John Terry at least showed some dignity. I read that he went into the Barca dressing room after the game and shook all the players and coaching staff’s hand and congratulated them and was then applauded as he left the dressing room. So credit where it’s due.

I think Drogba should be fined and banned for around 6 matches. Ballack should be banned for around 3 matches. The chavs should be charged with failing to control their players. For that they could get fined and have to play in an empty Stamford Bridge. They could also get a suspended sentence where they would get a points deduction in the group phase or expulsion from the competition if they continue to let their players/staff behave in that manner.

Barca are indeed a proper football team and I hope to God they stuff the mancs.

West Ham away is gonna be really tough. I think Alonso will be out as I can’t remember the last time one of our players was doubtful and actually played in the game. If he hasn’t trained with the team today I doubt he’ll travel to London. If he misses out I’d play Gerrard next to Masch and Benny behind Torres.

Reina
Arbie Carra Agger Insua
Masch Gerrard
Kuyt Benayoun Riera
Torres

just one thing on the media hype of barcelona having only one shot on goal all game – guess how many chelsea had during their trip to barca? ONE. So how the english media can try and take the moral high ground on that point is beyond me. Barca had about 70% possession in BOTH games, played their football and thank F*CK ended up winning.

Anyhoo, its time to focus on us and the trip to Wet Spam. I think Rafa might go for your team LB, might have Aurelio instead of Insua.

The Scums have 3 games this week, let the dreams begin!!

YNWA

BHav, I’ve a feeling rafa could go for the Insua/Aurellio and Dossena combination down the left as he did at Fulham. We can’t afford one of Riera’s annonymous displays at Upton park especially if Lucas plays. We’ll have to compete all over the pitch.

Thommo was interviewed on the radio this morning and he said Rafa’s main targets will be Johnson, Barry,Tevez and Valencia.Don’t reckon he will have much change from £50 million.Johnson looks a stone overweight and the Mancs have a better chance with the last two.I hope Alonso’s absence isn’t an excuse to play Mr Lucas.

Apropos the Chelski Club don’t forget that it has a Russian owner,”Hoodwink” with strong Russian connections as a temporary manager and everyone is afraid the Russian Mafia may “do” things. So the upshot will be that nothing meaningfull will be done by the Authorities and “supporters” feelings will subside in time.
Liverpool FC will get better and better and the ManUre cannot sustain Lady Luck much longer surely!
Enjoyed the Gerry Blog and the comments and laughters that go with them.

Bugerman don`t get upset by this but…your one depressing git.Do you ever have anything positive to say?

FS,seen that clip.One thing it didn`t show though and that was Tommy smith kicking the ref down the steps into the tunnel!I heard him tell that story on LFC tv on a programme about the `65 contraversy.He said when he done it,the ref just got up and kept on running like the guilty man that he was.

Italian football always has been linked to bungs but particularly at that period Inter were at it big time.

I know you weren`t comparing the drogba incident with that one because the times were different.Players in those days generally have respect for referee`s but that one in `65 was a cheat of the highest order.

Plus football today gets saturation media coverage and there is young children looking at that behaviour also.

Looks like Roman has had enough of dogbreath,seems he`s on his merry way in the summer.

Still laughing now at the Chavs behaviour,no class at all. Dropba calling the
ref a cheat, kettle pot black, Malouda calling him a thief ,disgraceful.
LB Shame John Teary couldn’t shake hands on the pitch then he wouldn’t
have to go in their changing room.
MTMMC Followed your advice and got JT crying as my wallpaper cheers me up
every time i login.
Bugerman I hope Lucas does play and has another good game then it may stop
you slagging him.
YNWA

You know what? We’re sounding a bit bitter – almost like Everton fans.

I think Torres might be left out tomorrow. I read a Tony Barret article and the vibe was Rafa will only play him if he’s 100% satisfied he is absoultely ready. A Lucas and Masch midfield with no Torres usually means we struggle to create. I’m worried.

Nevermind Evertonians, I’d say you’re sounding like me LB… flapping!
Stop it lads. This is going to the final game of the season.

Timmy, I thought me post didn’t go in. It must just hold them up when they have a link in.

And oh yeah… I’d have loved to have seen that. Smithy booting the ref up the tunnel. Must have been hilarious. That ref ended up with a job at Inter for a life when he hung up his whistlt and packed in cheating.

And you’re right Timmy, I wasn’t trying to compare the 2 teams, the situations or the times. But LB, I was trying to show anyone can get caught up in it when they feel cheated. I still don’t think it excuses the classless c***ts, but I know I would be seething if I was a Chav.

Fuck em. If you want to upset one, when they start kicking off, just say…
“I’ve got no argument with you mate. You’re not even our rivals……. Everton are!”

They deluded wannabes go nuts. Works a treat on mancs too.

As for tomorrow…
I think we’ll be alright.

It says on the main site that Alonso is out but torres and masch are available to start.

As for chav supporter FS,they are few and far between over here in ireland.I only know one or two and one`s me mate.He`s always followed them before the roman era and admits that since the money has come in dosen`t get the same buzz out of following them as he used to.

michaelthomasmademecry – Sorry mate I meant to respond to your comment about the movie blog on the last post. As I mentioned before, it’s an idea I’ve been toying around with but after giving it some thought I’ve decided to adopt a different approach.
We are rapidly approaching the end of the season and we will have a long boring summer ahead of us with little to discuss but endless transfer speculation. So I’m thinking I’ll throw in a little movie talk into the blog to give us something extra to discuss and hopefully help to keep us all sane until the football gets started again.

I’ve got a mate that supports the chavs – has done ever since I’ve known him which is about 20 years. I remember him going to the City Ground Nottingham with his Dad and coming back gutted after they got beat 7-0 lol. He was always annoying – even when they were shite. When they beat us 4-2 at the Bridge in the 1990-91 season he was running his mouth for weeks. That was the game where Jimmy Carter came on as a sub and then got substituted. His younger brother is a postman and delivers my mail. He’s a chav supporter and all. The other day on delivering my mail he was really rubbing it in that they beat us in the CL. I’m gonna leave a sign on my letter box for him tomorrow morning.

Lads, what wonderful one liner should I leave as a message?

FS, as for me flapping. I always do any time we play in London. I think its trauma from going to so many matches in the 90s in places like Highbury, Selhurst Park and Staford Bridge. We’d lose and I’d trudge home pissed off.

You’ve no chance Gerry, unless you want to just talk about the Damned United. Soft bastards like us fellas can’t help ourselves. I remember going through a phase when I tried to not cut the footy out but at least spend less time on it. All the real important things in the world, hunger, war an all that came into me head, and I felt footy wasn’t that important and a bit guilty about it filling most of me time and thoughts. But you know what, mate… it’s keeps me sane and stops me thinking about all that horrible shite that you can’t do nothing about.

As for Chav fans Timmy, I actually feel sorry for the real ones who’ve followed them all their lives. They must obviously love the success Roman’s Rubles have bought. But imagine going into the ground and being surrounded by all them plastic flags and even more plastic people.

The day they do a sychronized karaoke at Anfield is the day I will shuffle off into the retirement home for auld kopites.

And anyway, fuck Chelsea fans. Back in my hey day they was nasty bastards. Now they’re nasty obnoxious bastards. Can’t wait to laugh me bollacks off at the World’s Plastic Flag Waving Championships on Sunday. If I’m finished working in time, I might even go the pub and wind a few of them up.

We cant underestimate West Ham, good manager, and great defensive coach, I think its the hardest game we have left.
If we win this one then the mancs play 3 games before we play West brom, today is a must win and then we have to sit back and see what Man City , wigan and Arsenal can do for us

If we win the Mancs will know they cant afford to lose a game in those 3, if they lose one of them it will mean the titke is decided on the final day

LB, I’m the world’s worst for it, but I can still remember the days of not flapping. I used to go the game with me mates and none of us even really thought too much about it. We just expected to win. Not in a big headed way. We just never thought about getting beat, and when we did, we just thought… So what. We’ll win the next game.

Think the old heart could do with getting back to that. But isn’t it great to still have a squeaky bum with only 3 to go.

Tell your mate you’ve just gone to buy a CL ref’s top cos they’ve run out of Barca ones. That should do him up.

LB I like your team in 24 except I would start Aurelio ahead of Riera but then you went and amended your team to do just that in 26! I think we all know how I feel about Alberts displays of late(!) and the general concensus is that the lad is tired or suffering from lack of preseason. Fair enough. Then we should give him a rest and sit him. As you rightly point out LB this is not the point in the season for anonymity or passengers. Wasnt aware Torres was a doubt LB, jesus the lad is cursed with injuries.

Digger, what are you trying to say there – you think Riera is crap? ahahah.

actually LB I dont mind the aurelio/dossena combination for our left either, though i think rafa will start with riera as he seems to be more settled.

we win tomorrow, and then collectively pray that the scums lose just one! cannot wait!

YNWA

I think we all know how I feel about Alberts displays of late(!)

Is that to indicate surprise Digger or just a little arse you have drawn?

LB, ask your mailman if he has stamps to send a thank you card to Norway?

Doesn’t matter who’s in or out. If needs be Gerrard will win this game by sheer force of will if needs be.

The Chav’s behaviour was lacking class and showed them up for who they are but to talk about banning the chav’s is ridiculous, funny but silly. They should be fined defo though.

mtmmc: Nice one, I’ve texted those to a few friends.

No Fatty, just a bit of levity in reference to battles past! Just explaining my team selection with a little humour to avoid a battle present. Good to know you think an exclamation point in parentheses looks like an arse though lol!

(_!_) (_!_) Boom Boom

I’m in a naughty mood….
The referee tomorrow is Alan Wiley. He was the referee when we lost there last year to a penalty he gave in the final minute.

FLAP! FLAP! FLAP!

Ohhh! My eyes! My eyes!

Digger, I feared for Torres in the summer. He had the busiest season of his life and then the Euros with Spain where he played in every game. Before that at Altetico he’d often play through injuries. He plays alone up front and therefore does a lot of running. In short Nando was knackered – I could even tell in the Euros because he wasnt at his best at all. Tired limbs = susceptible to muscle injuries. Hopefully next season will be better. There is the Confederations cup but it wont be as intense physically and to be honest he should be fresh coz he’s only played half a season.

I would agree with your team selection also LB.
Though in place of Riera, I wouldn’t mind seeing Babel given a “last chance saloon” runout.
The Spam defense is one where Babel could perhaps do some damage?

But I suspect, rafa would go with Fabulous Fabio, as he’s perhaps more reliable and has that whole set pice thing going for him.

But please… whatever the selection… did we learn nothing from SG’s enforced injury absence?

If we get a corner, don’t let our illustrious leader anywhere near it for fucks sake!
SG in the D should be our mantra for corners.

I dunno LB, I’m extremely concerned with this fucken mickey mouse federations cup in the summer. Its another summer without a break for our Spanish contingent and it pisses me off. To be honest I cant believe established senior stars want to go and play in the fucken thing risking injury. I’d appreciate some diva behaviour here Nando, Xabi etc! Anyway, arent these things for blooding young players and seeing what the fringe guys can do? This thing is really getting on my wick already

LB…’When you put the mail in the box try to not fall over.’

Classic MTMM you are on a roll

LB the 5-1 drubbing of the Bar Codes had Lucas and Masch in the middle.

Very true Keith, I hope for that type of performance tomorrow. But I think the West Ham team have a bit more about them than the barcodes.

MTMM, I might use that one. With this photo of Drogba next to it….

ttp://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/t.php?p=2008_05_20_spoof_drogtitle.jpg&s=150

Took me a while to fully get MTMMC’s tagline in #53. You’re getting better and better, aren’t ya? LMAO.

Even with lucas and masch i the middle LB,povided stevie and torres play,we should have enough to do the job.

Just found out my best mate’s younger brother is in the West Ham squad tomorrow. Anyhow he makes his debut and scores I’ll have to slap him! Shit, I’m gonna phone him and try to bum a ticket….

Try get him to score a o.g LB

Lol, he’s a striker so that’ll be difficult.

He could come back for a corner and put one in his own net LB..that would do us …

But in all seriousness, I think Tomorrows game
will be a tough one , we need everyone to be up for it.
I think Stevie G will be well up for it.
So let’s get after them right from the First whistle.
3 pts would put the scum under a nice bit of pressure going into Sundays game.

Great blog Gerry … as usual! Dogbreath is a disgrace to football and so is Michael Bollocks! They shud both be banned for a long period of time so that others would not follow suit!

As for our game tonite, even tho we won’t have Alonso, I’m predicting a 5 goal thriller.

Liverpool 5 West Ham 1.

Gerrard 2 goals, Deadly Dirk 1 goal & El Nino 2 goals!

YNWA! Comm’on u REDS!

I totally agree with you Digger, the thought of this confedereations cup is pising me off big time too. Even if it is for just 5 games, Torres and co just don’t need it!

I too am hoping we wipe the floor with Waste Ham, so we can move onto other things. However my optimism doesn’t extent to Citeh who have the ability to find a new way to lose every time they step on the park.
.
To the lads down this neck of the woods, we are very aware of the Fox team who comment on the PL, the main commentator is a total City fan and spends most of his time shaking his head. Often commenting on a new found loosing method.
.
I hope they at least go out with the intention of giving it a go.

Gaz, Mark Hughes could find himself looking for a new club if City don’t finish 7th and secure a place in next seasons Europa cup.

The money men at City will not be impressed if he doesen’t even manage to achieve that. So I think City have alot to play for, especially if we beat West Ham, who are currently 7th!

Great blog Gerry but like a lot of people in here I would not be holding my breath for anything other than a cash fine for Chel$ki. Like LB I think that Bollox and Dogbath should be suspended for the next CL matches.

For today’s match, I am nervous about this one. We don’t have a great record there and I don’t like when Alsono is not in the team. Will take any type of win today.

BTW MTMM, some cracking one-liners. Keep them
coming.

Have to go now.

I hate it when Alonso isn’t playing. I know we’ve achieved results without him, but quite simply we’d all rather have him playing than not playing. However I do also agree that I think Gerrard and Torres are set to explode in this game… I don’t think it will be a rout, but I’m confident that one or the other (or both) will bang in one or two goals, which should see us through.

I agree Andy, I do some serious nailbiting and flapping when Xabis not in the team. Strange really when you consider the injuries to 8 and 9 we’ve endured this season you’d think I’d be conditioned to big name injuries. I guess its a testament to the lad and just how important he is to us. Heres hoping Lucas continues the form he displayed at the bridge which I thought was his best game of the season. I’m thinking 3-1 today, Stevie and a brace for Nando. Lets go lads!!

I wouldn`t hold any hope if we`ve to rely on Hull to do us a favour on the last day.They are stuggling against a stoke side who have “little to play for”.I know they`ll be fighting for their survival on the last day but aren`t they doing that today?

I think we can cope with the loss of Alonso today too.If we play well we`ll win.That goal lucas got even though not that important could give him some confidence.I hope he does well.

I`m going for 3-1 to the reds with torres benny and gerrard netting and LB`s mate`s brother netting for the hammers!

The Reds XI in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Skrtel, Carragher, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Babel, Insua, Ngog, Degen.

Team;

Reina

arbeloa skrtel carragher aurellio

masch lucas

kuyt gerrard benny

torres

Shit LB got thee before me!

I like that team lads. Seems Rafa agrees that Riera needs a rest. Degen makes the bench!! A little surprised to see no Dagger in squad but there you go, these last few games are Samis much deserved swansong and hope if we’re in a strong position we’ll see the big fella today.

…and West ham’s formation is an attacking 4-4-2

and hey… we wear green today….
Is this our new jersey?

Get in there, Stevie lad!
1-0 after 1:18.
Let’s go for more and keep the pressure on.

Gerrard!!!

Well did ye miss me lads huh?! C’mon, ye missed me! Whats my name? Whats my name?! Stevie!!….

Lets not be Chelsea today ^^

We are playing dangerously at the moment
We allowed West ham to play

hmm..

Gerrard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew. We really needed that 2nd goal because we were playing as if we were already 2 or 3 up, which is exactly the reason why we drew so many games mid-season. Our streak of good form coincided with us maintaining a high tempo through the games… in the last couple that’s started to slide just a little bit.

We really aren’t playing all that well for this 2-0 but if we can hang some shit on a stick and keep the clean sheet it’ll do.

Fucking hell Carra, what the hell was that?? I’m really not feeling very comfortable watching this game even at 2-0!

What a mistake from Carra…..What a mistake…
Luckily we are not punished from it

Yes, i am feeling the same too..
maybe it was the euphoria from that early goal..
something we have not managed to do for a very long time..

Digger, Riera has a calf strain.

I’ve taken a few deep breaths at half time… don’t want any of my earlier posts to come across as being too negative or not supporting the lads! I have confidence in them, I just think we were playing with fire a bit at 1-0, inviting pressure. An early breakaway goal to Torres would be a lovely sealer, take him off to save that hammy and bring Hyypia on to rest Carra.

…..and we continue to play dangerously….
hmm..

I just noticed…

Benny has had a haircut…..
Why would he change his lucky haircut?

Thanks LB, wasnt aware of that, when did it happen? No mention of it in the squad report yesterday right? Benni deputizing well in his absence. Think we might see Sami soon

Babel!!!!!!!!!!!!3-0

No hand gestures please, Rafa..

The tramp’s watching

Lucas again justifies my choice for putting him in my top ten… in the absence of Alonso…

We made that look like a stroll in the park. Completely dominant performance.

Over to you Man City….

Gerrard’s 2nd goal was our 100th goal this season

1 Liverpool 36 23 11 2 72 26 46 80
2 Scum 34 25 5 4 63 23 40 80

They will have 3 consecutive games before our game with West Brom……
We could… COULD be 9 points behind..

Fingers crossed..

Skeat if the mancs win them 3 games they win the title.

They’ll be a trophy presentation at Old Toilet before we even play West Brom if they win the 3 games. So we’re City, Wigan and Arsenal fans until 17th May.

Good peformance.Comfortable enough.Rarely got out of second gear.We`ve done all we can lads.As LB says the next time we kick a ball united could be the champions.

Even if that is the case i`m delighted with the sides progression under rafa.Long may it continue.

Well done boys.

A friend of mine who’s familiar with the Spanish league told me today’s performance was exactly like Rafa’s Valencia team of old, just when you thought Valencia were playing crappily, then BAM! They hit you with goals all of a sudden.

Carra, please stop scaring us with errors like that, thank god Di Michelis isn’t Arshavn. Though seeing Di Michelis bottle it like that was absolutely hilarious.

(Though if THAT Portuguese wanking scumbag were to fall like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ref still awarded him a penalty. After Webb’s blatant gift in that Spurs game, I’m no longer surprised. )

Anyway, we’ve done our job and we’re back on top. COME ON CITY! HELP CONSOLIDATE OUR PLACE THERE! We’ve done you guys a favour by beating West Ham, so you have an added incentive of going for a possible 3rd UEFA Cup spot (provided the Small Club win the FA Cup, of course).

Great Result..
We made it look easy..Let’s hope we can get some help tomorrow from city..

Apparently Dagger’s wife has just had a baby, so that’s why he wasn’t at Upton Park today….congrats to them both!

I don’t even want to think of the Mancs winning their next 3 matches. I think they’ll beat Wigan, but I’m keeping my fingers crosssed in the hope that City and Arsenal can take points off them.

I thought we were comfortable winners today, and that West Ham struggled to find any real momentum today, all well and good for us.

West Brom won today, so they will have to come out and try to beat us next Sunday, which will suit us down to the ground.

If we are, let’s say, 5 points behind before we kick off at the Hawthorns, we will still believe we can do it, and that’s the best we can ask for I think. Beat Albion and still have half a chance going into the last game. I think we would all take that right now.

I think its fair to say we have challenged to the end
now we just need the other three teams to make a fight of it for us

Nice game today. It’s unfortunate that we still have to play West Brom. I think they play the nicest football of the bottom teams and would like for them to stay up but a loss to us might just seal their fate.
Too bad really…
Come on Man City!!

Of to work hoping the Man City of the last few weeks turns up today and not the one from a couple of months back. Funny club. They could just help us out, but they could also be a real confidence booster for the other lot. Oh well, nothing we can do about it.

I hope this Tevez furore is to our benefit today lads. Cant see slur alex being too happy about him giving interviews to the sunday papers saying ‘i’m off’ and therefore i’d be shocked if he makes the squad today. At least it’ll be one less of the big guns city will have to face. Lets hope for the usual anonymous display from berbatoss, a red card meltdown from apeboy and a debilitating kick in the stones for ladyboy from the honeymonster richard dunne!! Come on citeh!!

Aggree digger this can`t be good but the tramp will involve him regardless i think.He`ll try to show that it has no effect on the dressing room. hope it backfires on the tomato faced cunt.He already has the press druling over his squad now.His “family” is what he calls his players now.

I love it when the media blow them up and up and up because from there,the only way is down.Lets hope the players are starting to belive the hype again and they let their gaurd down today.

Well we live in hope.

Fingers crossed everybody, it’s hail Mary time for LFC fans everywhere.

Manchester City CAN win today. Even a draw would help us, as it would stop Man.U’s winning run and that can be damaging.

But a city win. Please!

These rumours about Alonso being sold won’t go away. IMHO that would be sheer lunacy.

Alonso to Man City for 18m !!

Hopefully the fact that the NOTW has the story means it may not be true.

I`m afraid that happens when a player has a season such as Xabi`s had.Just because Rafa was willing to sell him last year the idiot newspapers assume he`s up for sale again.

It would be lunacy to sell him on this form.Why anyway would he want to go to Man City?

I think if was ever to leave us in the future he would retun to spain.

Ridiculous rumours,i`d be very surprised if there was anything in them.

Chris Foy is the referee in the Manc Derby……. He’s from Merseyside! Hope he’s not an Evertonian!

1-0 scum ladyboy deflected free kick wrong footed given.

Lady luck just won`t budge will she?

City are playing like headless chooks. Going round in circles instead of playing simple balls.

sorry boys but it seems that city have not showed up today. they are buying right into all the surrounding hoopla and are totally out of it. the ref is giving the mancs a free kick every time they get touched.

doesnt look good, city look woeful.

City… useless. Poor midfield distribution, nothing out wide… at least I can go to bed early now.

2-0 now.

Digger i`m sure you`ll be shocked to hear tevez has not only made the squad but he has started hit the woodwork and scored their second.

Thats that so lads.We gave it our best shot but it just wasn`t meant to be.

City don`t seem to have anything in the final third.

Game over now. Damn,how I wish we could play against manure again.

2-0 now just before half-time.
I feel depressed since City don’t look like doind an “Istambul”.

JackHill

I don’t think they have the balls to do an Istanbul.

Im holding out for a miracle. Remember anything can happen, remember Tottenham against us, how they scored a few jammy goals.

I hope so but it doesn’t look good for City.

Straw clutching lads,we need to accept its over.

Elano is a clown. Just play simple ffs. Timmy im gonna clutch every bloody straw till the end and i dont care.

Sadly I’m inclined to agree.

Ronaldo throwing the dummy out of the pram.

It not over till its over fellas. Havent you learnt anything from this season yet?

Akka,I`m trying to jonah the situation

timmy im trying to do some form of vodoo dance against united. Seems the tramp has sold his soul a long time ago.

ronaldo’s behaviour at being substituted is nothing short of hilarious. he’s been subbed when the team is 2-0 up and he’s snatched his trainer from the asst coach, thrown it on the floor, and is sitting on the bench shaking his head and talking to himself.

hilarious. what a prat.

Alec, Ronaldo’s outburst has made this game worthwhile to watch, the only highlight for me.

Over to Wigan then….

LB, come on. Wigan?? never gonna happen

I know.

Wigan? Now you’re clutching at straws big time. Steve Bruce is just going to roll over like the bitch that he is.

Gameover

At least we tried…
^^

It will be a manc celebration night at the JJB on wednesday just like last year.

I think even the most optimistic of reds can admit defat now.

A win on wednesday will leave them needing only a point at home to the arse next weekend.

There goes my last few straws. I’m now clutching on hair, not straws now. Heh.

We were fools to rely on the Ferguscum Old Boys Network on doing anything. City’s Shiek owner needs to sack Hughes ASAP. The same goes for fucking Bruce on Wednesday.

Anyway, I’d like to say I’m very proud of what Liverpool have achieved, and Rafa has given us a glimpse of what Liverpool will offer next year.

To those Scumbags, indulge in the gloating all you like: YOU ARE MERELY DELAYING THE INEVITABLE.

Two numbers will remind you imbeciles of that: 1-4. You were never the “best” to begin with. Rafa was merely letting a leg this year.

To those unrationally negative idiots who believed this year was our sole chance of winning it, and that Rafa will have no more chance after that, you couldn’t have been any more deluded.

First, Rafa has laid the foundations for success now that Prick Parry’s gone, and the contracts for himself, the staff and the core players are all in place. Meaning he is here to stay for the long term.

Second, sure Ferguscum might splash out 40-50 million over another big name, but he is just hoping that said player’s talent will conceal his own tactical incompetence. As the 4-1 demoltion showed, against someone tactical minded as Rafa, Ferguscum is fighting a losing battle overall.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ferguscum decided to retire “on a high” after this year, because he knew very well he can’t rely on his network of corrupt refs and his millions forever to compete long term against Rafa.

Third, we didn’t make it not because we were inferior to the Scum, but the Scum lost less points. I believe next year this problem will be finally solved once and for all, and the Scum can no longer rely on us losing points, even with all their refs and such.

You heard it here first: Liverpool, Premier League Champions 2009/2010.

Then again, there’s still Arsenal and Hull, so I’m not going to let go of this clutch of thin hair just yet.

Good post Kinny.

Lets hope Arse get a win and get some confidence. They might hold the key

Remember, losing 2nd in a close race one year will only serve to drive us to 1st next year, as we now have the valuable experience of taking the battle all the way till May.

Looking at the data from 1992/1993, those that ended 2nd in a very close race one year usually end up being champions the following year.

And if it makes you guys feel any better, a Scum colleague of mine secretly admits that as long as Liverpool play as they do after the 4-1 demolition, there’s no way Ferguscum can rely on his luck anymore next year.

Good point Kinny,

We do have a lot of resons to be optimistic next season.I think now the players have smelled it,got a taste of it,they`ll be double determined next season.

If the mancs do see it out they`ll be deserved winners over the 38 games.It pains me to say that but the league table never lies.

Saying that we`re here to stay for the long term and with one or two quality additions we can do it no doubt.

Arsenal have just conceded a goal from a set piece and no mention of man marking by that Manure-loving clown, Andy Gray

i am now seriously worried that utd will go on to win the treble again. that would make me so physically sick i dont know how i would get through the summer.

they keep getting free kicks they dont deserve, and the trouble is, with winker able to take them like he does, its basically like getting a penalty…his free kicks are unbelievable.

as long as they can get a few free kicks anywhere near the box, they will always have a high chance of scoring no matter how poor they are playing.

still, we gave it a good run and i am so proud of our team.

i’ll keep believing till its over, but even arsenal seem like easy fodder for the scums based on their performance against chelsea. 0-3 down at home in 60 mins!!!

YNWA

alec the funny thing is barca are lining up for a treble as well. time to find out if there is a God. and how strong the Devil really is.

YNWA

I was indeed shocked tevez was involved Timmy. Given taggarts history of ruthless dismissals of those who cross him, the pitch was the last place I thought tevez would be today. I guess taggart was so terrified of a slip up that principle went out the window and he wanted his full arsenal at hand. Anyway, speaking of arsenals, the Arsenal have felt the full force of Chelseas today. On this evidence the impossible dream is it seems, impossible. For this year…. Roll on August…

Looking at the transfer speculation today we’ll be signing Daniel Pranjic who is a left midfielder/wingback. And also Gareth Barry.

If we sign those 2 LB theres some major intrigue in store. Looking ahead Pranjic would surely mean one of or possibly both Dossena and Riera are leaving. Barry would surely spell the same for Lucas. As you say its only speculation but in truth could signing those 2 mean anything else for the 3 lads I mentioned? Thoughts anyone?

Digger, most of the English newspapers are saying that Alonso will be sold to either Man City or Juventus. I’m hoping it’s complete bullshit.

I think Dossena and Leto will be sold. Not sure about Lucas and Riera as Rafa seems to really like both.

I’m watching Barca vs Villareal. That Iniesta is a magnificent player. Got to be top 5 players in the world right now.

LB am watching the game too – what i’d give to see barca toy with the scum defence like this.

Indeed Bhav!

Barca are playing some mind blowing football.I`m afraid they won`t get this much space against scum.I still fancy them to beat them though.

I`ve messi to score any one of the first 5 goals so he`d want to get the finger out!

LB – i’ve wished we could have signed iniesta for years now! a great player, and until now, he was often a filler player for them that wasn’t a guaranteed starter. i always thought it was a possibility then for that reason, but now, there is no way they will sell him. he can play as a winger on either side or a second striker.

dont know anything about pranjic but ive heard those rumours for weeks. i would love to get silva, but who knows?

YNWA

Can’t disagree with much of this…
ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2009/05/liverpools_fans_cornered_a_sma.html

I read that article earlier FS. One of McNulty’s better ones.

Can’t believe that Barca match finished 3-3. Well dodgy at the back, but we knew that already.

Arsenal got slaughtered and on that form they’ll get another beating by the mancs.

FS, I watched the 2nd half of the barca match and, even after the sending off of abidal, again, they were still attacking for the 4th goal. I don’t think that they have won the league at the nou camp for such a long time, so this may explain their urgency.

Anyway, they will win the Spanish league and will also win the CL, if they do not give too many free-kicks away close to the box. Here’s hoping anyway.

Not surprised Arsenal players weren’t concentrating today. I think A level and GCSE exams start tomorrow.

Apparently Iniesta tore a thigh muscle and is a doubt for the CL final. How jammy are the mancs? For fuck sake. What are the odds on Messi getting swine flu, Eto’o getting arrested for tax fraud and Xavi being banned by UEFA for not smiling enough in matches?

Fucking hell.

We can only hope man u think its all over and that they get over confident and Fuck it up.but they can afford to lose and draw 2 games now and still Win so i think its too late in the season for us to catch up.but i really love the way the team is playing now and hope we can carry this form into next season.i dont think we started the season thinking we Would seriously challenge for the title.but next season we will have the belief and the right focus on attacking teams from the start .and hopefully we wont throw points away against the park the bus teams i have been pleased and suprised at our attacking play in the latter half of the season we used to grind out results against teams .now we go for the throat from the start of games and do not let up til the final whistle.even if we are three or four goals up we are not satisfied and are still throwing bodies forward i think we are on the right track now and i dont want us to have too much upheaval in the summer transfer wise but we need to spend Wisely

Man City rubbish..let’s hope they keep Hughes there, he really is a crap manager.

I watched the Villa game lastnight on tv here,
and I have to say I don’t see anything worhtwhile in buying Barry, I wouldn’t mind Ashley Young though, he would be give us something down our left side.
I don’t know what kind of contract he has with
Villa but I can’t believe he wants to keep playing for MON. Villa just fade away as the season goes along.

any thoughts on the matter?????

Excellent post Rafamuffin. Just crystalizes my thoughts. I wish next season was starting tomorrow. If we approach next season the way we’ve approached the final 3rd of this one no team will be able to live with us. Mancs included. Minimal disruption to the team and a couple of quality additions to be gradually moulded in and I think we’re finally there. But the key, the absolute key is to take the mentality we’ve adopted and maintain it from day 1 next season. August cant come quick enough!

Yes, the shackles have definitely been taken off and LFC are now among the best attacking teams in the Prem, and could well finish top goalscorers. We have 72 Prem goals to date, and there is no reason why we can’t finish on 80!

Three of our 7 drawn home games, against Hull, Stoke and West Ham will haunt me all Summer, because if we had won those three games we could well be celebrating number 19 in two weeks time.

We have made great progress this season though, and I think most of us will now go into next season believing we have a very good chance of finishing it as champions.

It makes me sick that the Mancs are going to equal our title haul, but hopefully parity will only exist for 12 months.

No wonder why they’re called Manchester shitty, ffs. I am still hoping that wigan do something. Maybe that Valencia fella wants to impress old taggart and puts in a magnificent performance.

I only hope that all of you lads out there that are drooling over barca are right. I personally do not believe that this barca side are nowhere near the best attacking group that they have ever had, and does not even come close to the football that romario, hagi, stoikovic, Laudrup (he was supposed to be a liverpool player!!) and guardiola showed. However, I also do believe they have enough to keep the mancs worried. What I am concerned about is their shite defense– I mean, puyol and pique are about the worst pair of duds I’ve seen in a barca defense. Add to that the fact that they are without their first-choice full-backs, and I think they might get torn apart by the mancs. And then the mancs are in a lucky streak. I dunno, I just can’t picture a barca win. I only hope that barca prove me wrong and the mancs’ defense also performs shite.

What a horrible monday morning. Worked me bollax off, never made a bean. In fact, takings hit an all time low. Me van got screwed, even though there was nothing in there to rob. Junky bastards, left me a mice repair bill though. LFC and Hull results cheered me up, only for City and Arsenal to wipe away it away and leave me completely choka. Life and a Chinesse man’s hair is never ever fair.

Should say worked me bollax off all weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Had about 8 hours kip all weekend. I’m getting too old for this.
Credit crunch my arse… It’s a fucking full blown recession. I’m sure some of you lads are feeling it an all. I took the least money I ever have in the last ten years. In fact, it cost me money to go to work. Why do these politicians talk such shite. They should work for FIFA.

“I am still hoping that wigan do something”

Are you sure? Don’t forget it’s Steve Bruce who manages them.

anfield_rap, i know mate, last season was pathetic enough. I seethed when I saw ugly bruce smiling after the game knowing that the mancs had secure their tital. But still, we have to keep hoping….

FS, it is depressing is it not? The less money you earn, the more you have to work; and to think some companies are actually trying to stop employees from coming to office. Then you have an ungrateful sod like harry kewell getting all the money we could not even think about earning whilst sitting around. And then saying he is entitled to it.

These other PL teams are rubbish. Next season we’re just gonna have to amass over 90 points. Means Rafa having to do some clever stuff during the summer. Would be nice if we walked the league next season like the chavs did in 2005.

Hyde, didn’t the Barca team with Romario, Stoichkov etc get slaughtered 4-0 by Milan in the European Cup final? I didn’t see the side with Michael Laudrup play but I know they are referred to as the dream team and considered Barca’s best ever team. The current Barca side have broken the La Liga goal scoring record and were on course for the points record before being held yesterday. Their the only Spanish side that could win a treble. I agree that Puyol is dodgy but Pique looks good to me. Also consider that they conceded 1 goal to the chavs in 180 mins while we let in 7. Lol.

The mancs have not played a strong side yet in the CL. Keep the faith!

FS, agreed about the weekend mate. City just fucked it up completely. Ill be bold and predict a draw for the scum against wigan, draw with arse and a draw on the last day with Hull. One can hope, but ive got a weird feeling.

Remember we like to make it as diffcult as possible for ourselves to win, just to make it that little bit more dramatic and memorable.

Akka, we like to make it more dramatic but do the mancs? I can see them beating Wigan and Arse and losing against Hull. I think we’ll beat West Brom 5-0 and give Spurs a 2-0.

Pique would probably make it as a Basketball player as well! Although a certain Norwegian Referee might not see his potential. lol.

Thats true LB,Milan did tonk them 4-0.Rafa actually showed a tape of that match and other milan matches of that era to the players because he wants to model his teams on the great mial side of `89-`94.

When you think about it he`s getting there.Gerrard is Guillit,torres-van basten,masch-rikarrd,carra-baresi alonso-donnadoni etc etc.

As i said,getting there.We`re not that far off now.

The title is gone but if we finish with 86 points, it will in % terms be the second highest points tally ever.The treble team of 1984 could only manage 80 points from 42 games and the double team of 1986 had 88 points.86 points would of won every title between 1970 and 2000!.Since 2000, the average has been 88.Did the NOTW carry news abot Rafa ditching a lot of players in the summer?.

Yes Burgerman the NOTW did indeed say Rafa would sell 11 players. Get £20m from the owners and generate £44m through sales. I think it’s a absolute garbage. The headline says “Benitez to get £64m warchest to challenge for title”. Nonesense.

Timmy, Carra is no Baresi!!

Remember Houllier kept saying 80 points would win the league, and we have it with teo games to spare and looks like we are still going to fall short.

I think the draws against Everton and Wigan when we were leading both games are the ones I was most dissapointed with.

5 years ago we were loosing 14 leagues games and season and finishing 20-30 points behind, Inspite of the money the manc and chavs have spent since then, we have passed out the chavs and right up the arse of the mancs.

Minimal change in the summer, but what ever one or two players come in, they have to make an impact!

I never said he was Cork.I said he`s modeled on him.Same type of player good at reading the game and well timed tackler.Baresi was one of the greatest ever,carra although not as good even in his pomp has been one of the best centre halfs over the last 5 years.Torres ain`t no van basten either but there`s still improvement in him.

As regards the points total,the bar has been raised considerably since Roman greeted us with his presence.LB was right we`ll probably need 90+ points next season to win it.

I know what your saying Timmy, the mis-kick on Sat def wasn’t Baresi like!

Yep, the bar has been raised, the CL money means the financial gulf between the top 4 and the rest of the league is as wide as ever. The league is less competitive. Less teams are capable of beating the top sides regardless of what people in the game say.

2004 Arsenal 90 points 26 wins
2005 Chelsea 95 points 29 wins
2006 Chelsea 91 points 29 wins
2007 Man Utd 89 points 28 wins
2008 Man Utd 87 points 27 wins

Man Utd have already won 26 games this season. We’ve won 23.

I know ya,it was like someone had a peice of string around his leg and just pulled it at the precise moment!

Thank god Di Michelle was on the end of it!

Those stats are very telling LB, the likes of villa spurs and chity are miles behind.

30 wins and 8 losses will win us the league next season!

Cork we won’t lose 8 times next season.

Torres isn’t Van Basten. Who cares he’s magnificent. Let’s hope he doesn’t have to finsh his career early due to injury.

NOTW!!! FFS. Don’t believe the date at the top of the page until you’ve had it corrobarated by at least 3 reliable sources. Sunday S*n, nothing more.

As for funds, Rafa offed Keane so he could pull back some money and was promised all that money on top of the normal 20 million quid or so. But don’t hold your breath on that one. He’ll probably get the 20 and have to raise anymore himself through sales.

I can see this being mostly used to strentgthen at right back and up front. But who knows. And whatever happens, I’ll trust Rafa to get it right.

If you look at the squad/team throughout Rafa’s time as boss, you can see the line of progression both on and off the field. First, he made us very difficult to beat. Now, when playing at our best, we’ve became practically impossible to stop when going forward. The flair that everyone wanted is also showing. Watching the lads has been a treat for the last few months.

Fair enough, we aren’t complete yet. We can still have trouble breaking down some teams. We can also look a bit fragile at the back when pressing up top. We paid the price for that against Chelsea and Arsenal. But the jigsaw is very near complete.

On top of that, our three main rivals have problems of their own both on and off the field. And like I’ve said before, a few wise moves by Rafa and we can emerge from the pack in the front.

But it’s still possible this season. Granted it’s not very likely, but if the mancs lose one of their next 2 it will mean a final day show down. If that becomes the case and Hull are still fighting to avoid the drop, what’s the odds we can win it on goal difference?

I’m going home for the Spurs game and after the match I’m going straight to the SOS end of season do. Fuck me. What a day and night that could turn out to be.

Just listened to an Arsen Wenger interview there. I’d be going bonkers if I was an Arsenal fan.

Yes, LB, that milan side was a monstrous side; some of the football they played was down-right perfect. Baresi is one of my all time favourite players. That is the only team that I have respect for, and that is saying something because I hate Serie A.
However, so good were the barca side that Cruyff allowed them to go and binge themselves to bits after the semi-final which did not help their cause against a fantastic milan side. But the most disappointing thing was that Liverpool of that day were not allowed to take part in the Champions Cup. Just imagine that team competing against that Barca side and that Milan side. Now that is what you call a European competition!! Not this stupid overhyped competition these days.

And you’re right about Rafa trying to make our team like that Milan side. Rafa himself said that he went and got a lot of advice from Arigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello in his early days. I think every manager should learn from that Milan side– the basis zonal system that the team employed transcends time.

Anyway, back to 2009, I really hope barca cacks the mancs. I really do. I hope for that as much as I hope the mancs slip up in the prem.

Until its mathematically over we`ll all hang on to that grain of hope but i wouldn`t be going to the bookies to back us in a hurry.

Football is indeed a strange game and ever since the 25th of may 2005 i`ll always belive it`s never over until its over.

So we`ll hsng on to that hope in our heart.

Whats Wenger been saying FS?I haven`t seen it.

He’s starting to seem demented Tim. He’s saying they don’t need to spend money as they aren’t that far behind the mancs. Every mug with an opinion, including meself, can see what they need to do. For once, it’s not just media bollacks being regurgitated over and over. It’s plain as the beacon on the end of the tramp’s face where they need to splash a bit of dough.

He’s deluding himself that the players he has got will still become good enough to compete for, as he said, “the only two trophies they are interested in winning, the league and the CL.” If he honestly thinks that, I’d be very worried if I was an Arsenal fan.

There’s the nucleus of a great side there. Some wise moves and they could be challenging on all fronts. But if they do nothing they are more likely to be challenging the likes of City, Everton, Villa, Tottenham for the UEFA spots.

I know we won’t loose 8 games, but I would risk it, if it ment we would win 30 games.

Selling Keane did not effect our season, in fact we prob improved as a result, with Benny coming to the fore

Tough weekend boys, and it’s frustrating knowing the Mancs can be parading around Old Toilet as league champs before we even play on Sunday.

Four points from them against Wigan and Arsenal and the title is theirs.

I can’t see them losing any of their last three; Fathead will rollover to help Fergie on Wednesday, and Arsenal look completely lost right now.

Three Manc draws and the title is ours…….OK, I’m grasping at straws, but right now it’s all we’ve got.

Believe!

I dunno what Wenger is thinking. Is he trying to start a new trend of football or something, or maybe he thinks that the presence of Song and gallas is enough for balance??
But, I don’t really care; we’re on the right track so that is good enough for me.

God, could the 3 teams we are hoping to take points off the mancs look any worse?? The Arse get their backsides kicked again, Wigan lay down to West Brom, and Hull lose at home to Stoke. Really though, the title wasn’t on the line in these 3 games, it was on the line when the mancs were looking shakey against Villa, Sunderland, Spurs etc and still found a way to win (jammy or not).

Like everyone else it seems, I have high hopes for next season, and rightly so. However, I’m also waiting for the curveball – seems there is one every year lately. It may be with our club – eg a change of ownership, which could be good news but could also be quite disruptive, or it could be an unfortunate injury (touch wood) in the off-season, or it could be Alonso saying he wants to leave for Juventus… who knows. Or it could be Man City going ballistic and buying 10 world-class players and a world-class manager (both unlikely of course). I’m not saying any of these things will stop us from winning the title, because I think we are better prepared than we have been for a very long time…. but, there will almost certainly be a surprise or two, that is for sure!

To the squad’s credit, they never quit on us this season. Since the loss at Boro, we’ve taken 25 of the 27 points available.

That’s our best run of the season by far; we just left ourselves too big of a gap and we were hoping the Mancs would drop some points, which they haven’t. They’ve won their past six matches since losing at Fulham.

Good point Corky! And Keane has been pants at Spurs.

Lets have a look at Wigan’s chances on Wednesday….

Wigan Athletic’s home record this season: Won 7 Drawn 5 Lost 5.
Wigan Athletic’s record against the mancs since they were promoted: Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 7.
Wigan Athletic’s form – their last 6 league results: Won 1 Drawn 1 Lost 4.

Steve Bruce has never beaten Alex Ferguson as a manager.

Oh dear….. keep the faith?

I expect nothing from Wigan or Arsenal. But fact is, if the mancs lose one of them games. It will go to the final day. And even if that happens and we still lose it, it will feel a bit of a let down after the season we’ve had.

As for Keane I’d say buying him not selling him affected our season more. In fact if he’d put away a few of them sitters – just belted them in instead of trying cute flicks, falling on his arse and laughing – we might have been a good few points better off.

LB I think the lesson is, yes keep the faith – even if/when the mancs close out the title this weekend, keep the faith. We finished 4th last season with 21 wins and 76 points, we’re on track to finish 2nd this season with 25 wins and 86 points. However we start next season, we need to keep the faith that the quality and character we showed this season will come through again next season, hopefully taking that final step.

I think Rafa realised buying him was a mistake and he rectified it at the first opportunity.Credit to him for offloading him for almost what we paid for him.

I liked Keane as a player and was happy enough when we signed him but it just didn`t work out for him.

At least he didn`t slag off anyone when he left and when he was here weather he was playing bad or not he always gave 110%.

I think most Liverpool fans would recognise that.He should get a good reception on the final day IMO.

No problem with Robbie on my behalf. I just made a point. the lad himself can hardly be blamed for any of it. Just a shame it didn’t work out. We’d have probably won the league if it had.

As for next season, I’ve got absolutely no worries about it. A little tweak here and there from Rafa, and Gerrard will be right… He’ll soon be getting his hands on the trophy we all want.

I think we’ll see all the kids get a good run out next season in the FA and Carling cups, and the big lads will also be kept fresh by that. Also, the class we’ve got in the squad, plus a few additions, will mean we will be rotating better players in and out than in previous seasons.

I think the question is more about the opposition?

Chelsea need to do a bit of rebuilding. Who will be doing it and how much money will he be given to do the job? And how long will it take them to adjust to new players and yet another manager?

Arsenal, more hype than substance. I don’t even think they are playing good football, unless good football means passing it around a lot in the middle. The back and front… well, they need shoring up and Wenger’s already refusing to do it. He seems to think it’s a question of evolution not revolution.
Well, I think the players they have just aren’t good enough, and the how will the really good ones get better if they keep getting let down by the others? No. Despite the making of a great side, some real problems there, and if he doesn’t put them right they could get even worse.

United, Giggs, Scholes and Neville are on their last legs and Tevez and Ronaldo could well be gone. Look at their actions at the weekend.

If The Tranny hadn’t had a tart attack for being subsituted would Tevez had got away with that interview and goal “celebration?”

Would he fuck. The tramps famous hair dryer, which is really a brewery blast, would have been aimed right at him. It’s just one of the indications of the trouble behind the scenes. Team spirit, nah… Me, Me, Me is all that superstar galactico melarkey is about.

Anyway, I’ve gone on about their troubles in earlier blogs and posts. And I stand by what I said… It’s us, not them, despite the position right now, that is moving in the right direction.

So, like I keep saying… a few right moves by Rafa and we can come out of this on top.

But I still haven’t given up on this season. It’s still possible. I still have hopes of being at the SOS end of season bash, stinking drunk, dancing on tables, singing me head off and making a show of Mrs FS. Mind you, I’ll be doing that anyway. Hope they have sturdy tables there.

I hope they`ll have cast-iron tables at that SOS do FS if your planning on dancing on them

And oh…Brewery Blast nice one

This is my third time posting this;

FS,

I hope they`ll have cast iron tables at the SOS do if your planning on dancing on them

Brewery blast..good one.

Even though Robbie hasn’t said anything since he left, I am sure he felt he got a raw deal, but if he had settled any way at all, I am sure we would have got the extra few results we required, despite the number of games Torres & Gerrard missed.
I wonder does that cross his mind?

Insua has been the only reserve/youth player to really come through this season.

We can mention all the names, but what others will come through next season and forget carling cup appearences.

Thats true Corkie,Robbie must have been proper pissed off.The fact he hasn`t slated anyone in public shows his respect for the club.

Regarding Insua being the only one coming trough,if we had one coming trough every season that would be very satisfying.

Ngog and El Zhar didn’t do badly Corkie and Spearing also done quite well this year when he was played, but I have doubts he’ll ever make it to be a full time LFC player.

Nemeth and Paceco should be next to break through but there’s plenty of exciting young lads at the club. Even the academy and youth teams have some great prospects, not just the reserves.

Lads, if you have a bit of spare time, tune into the newcastle – middlesbro match. It’s a cracker at the moment – one all after 10 mins.

I’m glued Lurgan. The relegation scraps and the play-off semi finals are rip roaring games!!

I went to Anfield to see us play Boro early in the season and Boro looked a really good side. Surprising they’ve been so poor since.

guys are you streaming the newcastle game?

Setanta, Bhav

bloody hell missus hogging the tv!

204: Agree LB, usually you see some of the best matches of the season.

2nd half has not started half bad either.

meant comment 203!

Viduka
Owen
Butt
Duff
Nolan

All these players are living off their reps from 5 years ago.

No wonder they are in so much trouble!

Corky, the only one that I would disagree with is Nolan but other than that, spot on.

Newcastle fans are dancing like they’ve won the league! Idiots.

Lurgan, Nolan is shite now.

Interesting point… what about Downing if/when the boro’ go down?

To be honest he has done feck all tonight, when you would expect him to step up to the mark!

LB, have not seen enough of Nolan recently to comment either way. So i will go with you on this one.

Downing has talent and pace but never seems to do fuck all! He ain’t scored a league goal this season so he should bloody well stay at Boro and help them get promoted next season.

I wanted Boro to win that game. Their final ball was awful all night long.

Hull were 6th at Christmas. Now they are in deep doo doo.

I am looking forward to seeing how Ngog develops. Out of the youngsters, he is the one that I am really looking forward to seeing more of next year. I really think he has got the touches to be an Henry type.

Other youngsters are obviously Insua, and if we fail to get a proper right-back, stephen darby. When is Pacheco going to be ready?? I hope he is eating and putting on weight cos from what I’ve seen he looks tiny in every way; but then again, strangely enough, most of our talented academy players seems to be on the titchy side. Good ball players tend to be small???

Oh dear, downing. Downing’s right foot is pathetic to say the least. To be honest with you, I would rather have Adam Johnson than him if we are to pluck an Englishman cheap from boro.

Rafa has been said to say on Downing:

‘Someone called him Mr Duracell, and that is a good description for him, because he is like the bunny in the advert. He is always on the go, always running.’

Eh?? Is he taking the piss or is he complimenting him LoL!

No chance LB! Why did you want boro to win?! I was behind the toon all the way – its 6pts for us every year! Boro are muck and absolute fucken kryptonite to us! We may very well have won the league this year but for boro. Obviously we wont know til the final day and many may point to stoke, hull etc but our record against boro over the last few years is shocking! Relegate em now Digger cries! (yeah i’ve had a few beers!)

For once I agree with Digger, fucking Boro always seems to get in our way, but lays down pathetically against the Scum.

Newcastle, on the other hand, guarantees us 6 points (4 points at least) per season, and it’s only once in a blue moon that we’d even lose to them.

I don’t rate Downing, I think he is well over rated, and certainly not an improvement on Riera or Babel.

If Rafa gets the finds to make 3 signings, I really hope that Downing is not one of them.

If Rafa goes anywhere near Downing, nevermind me own, I will eat Steve Bruce’s hat. Remember it’s about to start now… Silly Season. So, according to the papers, we’ll probably making a bid for uncle Tom Cobbly an all.

I’ve just seen on Sly Sports News, that The S*n is reporting that Tevez wants to come to Liverpool. Fuckinell, the lad’s said time and again that he doesn’t want to play for us. And the very next 2 reports he was going to Spurs and then AC Milan. 3 different clubs, in 3 different reports without time to draw a breath between each of them.

So, in other words, get ready for the nonsensical rumours to start flooding the media.

I dismiss the lot of them without a thought, but I tell you what is very concerning… the prices qouted. Fuck me, have you seen them. 20, 30, 40 millions, getting tossed about like monopoly money. It’s ridiculous and how the fuck the game can keep it up is beyond me. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before you see some really big names going tits up. We’ve already seen Leeds and Southampton near go to the wall. How long before the likes of Sunderland, Boro and Newcastle join them? Football will eat itself one day.

As for Boro, they have a habit of taking points from the other top teams aswell as us. But I’m not really arsed who comes up or goes down. I just want 18 points off whoever comes up next season and I’m sure the lads will need no telling. When has a team that has only lost 2 games all season never won the league before? Can’t be arsed checking it up. But I bet Rafa and Carra know, and I’m sure the boss is already working on solving them draws.

And Hyde mate, Paceco is tiny and I don’t think he’ll get much bigger, length wise, but he’s built like a Bull Terrier. He’s one solid little fucker and he’s quite the player. I’ve only seen him twice in the flesh, both friendly games, but I was very impressed. I’ve also watched him for the reserves on PC streams, and even on them shitty things you can see the lad is special.

At the beginning of the season I thought we’d see him making the breakthrough, but obviously Rafa thought he wasn’t ready yet. This season I reckon some of them will come through though.

The reserves have had a pretty shitty season, but they finished it off well and I think we’ll see a few changes in the set up. I reckon Ablett is about to lose his job, and Dalglish will be there in some role. I don’t know if he will get the manager’s job. I couldn’t see him wanting that level of involvement. But Rafa had a major study done on the academy and reserves, in an attempt to make them more productive. I’m sure any changes he makes will be positive ones, and hopefully the conveyor belt will start up again and some good players will roll off it.

FS: I agree with your comments about the other “big three”. I also think Manure’s centre midfield is quite poor now. Schole is getting on, Nani plays like a nanny and anderton is all huff and puff. Carrick is a good passer of the ball but that’s about it in my opinion.

Downing? No way and no thanks – crap end of story.

Players coming in who would I like and who we could get? I haven’t got a clue but I know Rafa does and thank goodness for that.

I agree Steve. I think signing Downing would be a massive error, regression in fact. Riera is a far better player in my opinion, which pretty much tells ya what I think of Downing!!

well, it seems that the duracell bunny that Rafa was referring to was in fact, Kuyt! That makes sense then.
I tend to ignore the who’s coming and going stuff and just sit back and enjoy, but my ears do stand up whenever the name david silva pops up. Interesting-but-crazier-than-ever-summer coming up, lads.

Thanks for the info on pacheco, FS. I only watched one match of him playing but I didn’t think he was that muscle-based a player, so now knowing that he has a bit of a tevez-like build, I really hope we will be seeing some of him next season. Just think, he was plucked straight from the Barca academy, and he was one of their best there. May become one of the fantastic swoops of recent times.
When you think that a club like westham and boro do so well with their academies, there is no reason why a club like with our resources can’t. I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of Rafa’s revolution in the next couple of years.

Agree with that 100% Steve. Downing is not an improvement to what we already have. Digger, I want Newcastle relegated – they deserve it the way they run the club and by the way the fans are so deluded. Our defeat to Boro won’t be the reason why we don’t win the league. It’s the 7 draws at Anfield. We’ve won more away games than homes games this season.

Hyde talking of the Barca academy. Their youth scout brought 3 twelve year olds to the club at the same time: Messi, Pique and Fabregas. Not bad that.

Pacheco is not a Tevez build though mate. Unless he has been on the steroids during the last couple of months.

No and he’s not that sort of player either.

I dont think a team deserves to be relegated because their fans are deluded LB! Many teams fans would consider us deluded! Yes Newcastle is badly run but we’ve hardly been a paragon of principle or business philosophy ourselves the last couple of years! Just think of the 6pts we get from em every year and our annual banana skin trip to the riverside eliminated, you’ll come around! Agree 100% on the draws though. Simply put, they cost us the league.

Hi,

Barca’s youth scout deserves praise for that. I think a lot of the player’s asking price this transfer season will be inflated. Manchester City will be the primary reason for it. It is true that most of the players know the difference in coming to us compared to city but the Robinhos still exists out there.

Arsenal would require serious investments to improve their position(investment include holding onto their remaining stars). Chelsea probably had their last chance this season with their ageing squad.

The challenge for us is to take down ManU. I have mentioned earlier too, its gonna be one hell of a task. Looking at our season, most of us would agree that we need one last piece to get fixed in our jigsaw.

Hope cry baby Ronaldo leaves United. Inspite of my hatred for him i have to admit, he has won matches single handedly. He makes a big difference to them.

Someone pointed out about the United midfield. I think its as good as any other team(Except us)in the premiership.

The transfer season will be crucial.

Paceco, what I’ve seen… can play up front or in the hole. He’s been getting played wide on the left a lot this season, (Rafa looking at solving a problem with no more money being spent), but drifts inside to support the strikers and get in the box.

He is a strong little fucker and may well end up a Tevez sized lad when he fully matures, but his game is not about running and power. He has very, very tricky feet. His touch is fantastic. And he has a great footballing brain. I was very impressed with how the lad picks his balls and runs. (O’eer missus). But he does have great vision on him. He’s also got an eye for a shot. And if I had to compare him to any LFC player, I’d say it was like watching a young Dalglish. Of course, he’s got a long way to go to be put in that sort of bracket. I’m not doing that. I’m saying his game has many similarities, but the kid’s also a fantastic dribbler. He’s got close control comparable to Rieria’s. So all in all, I’d say he’s a cracking little player and should go on to do great things for us.

Good piece of information FS.

What about Nemeth? Is he gonna make it next season?

He’ll definetely get a go Somanth, probably even before Paceco. He’s more physically mature. But I love Paceco. I really hope he keeps developing in the way I’ve seen. I’m really not over stretching things by saying we might have another Dalglish on our hands.

As for Boro, it was only 12 months ago they battered Man City 8 – 1. A year can be a long time in football. And I don’t expect bigger clubs to plummet like that, but I definetely think this could be one of them periods of transition and we can come out of it leading the pack.

Digger, the fans have a lot to answer for at Newcastle. They put pressure on the board to sack managers because they are deluded and believe they should be winning things even though they haven’t won silverware since was born. The constant changes at board level and management is why they are in the hole they find themselves in. The fans begged for Keegan and then Shearer and their still shite so they should taste some Championship football I reckon. Liverpool fans have never bayed for a manager’s blood at Anfield. I could go on but don’t want to bore everyone by talking about the barcodes.

Nah LB I love laughing at them Wor,Lads. Fucking divvies, insist on thinking the Loony Toony Army is somesort of devine creation. Geordie nation my arse. You watch their crowds plummet if they go down.

@LB

Taking your point further, i feel its a disgrace when fans start booing their own players or managers. RealMadrid is another example. Fans like those feel its their divine right to watch their team batter the opposition everytime. If things starts to go the wrong way, they start to criticize their own players and manager. In terms of loyality and passion i really feel we are at the top of the heap. How about Stoke city fans? I felt they are another bunch of fantastic fans. Am i correct?

@FatScouser

Yeah i really want to Nemeth. Pacheo going by your description looks to be a bright description. Another thing which i wanted to say is i get this feeling that under Rafa Liverpool plays a distinctive style of football. Its unique and the philosophy is very similar to that employed by Barcelona. Lots of possession and hard work to win the ball back whenever possession is lost. This style is unique in the premiership and will be even better practiced next season. Am i correct?

I’ll have to shift soon, but I’m sitting here like a gobshite watching SSN because they said, Fat Head Bruce will be on soon. I don’t know why I’m bothering. He’s already been waxing lyrical about Sir Tramp and the mancs last weekend. It’s back to business as usual… manager’s making statements like, “They’re the best. Don’t expect much from us.” And letting their teams take the field thinking they are already beaten.

Yeah maybe so LB but it wasnt the fans fault KK left, that was Ashleys fault for hiring that insidious little cunt Wise. And Keegan was right, how could he go on when being undermined by that fucken thug. Anyway, it matters little now, I think they just might scrape it now and we’ll all be grateful for the 6pts next year mate!

I’ve said it all along Somnath, Rafa is building another Valencia type crushing machine here. Some people thought that description meant we would play boring Chelsea/Mourhino type football. It’s no such thing. We’ll see plenty of flair. We already are. But Rafa’s teams are mainly about imposing themselves on the opposition. Players like Kuyt, Mascherano and Alonso are key to this. They give the likes of Gerrard and Torres the freedom to create and do the damage.

We’ll never see Keegan like all out attack, or Wenger like passing about and about and about. At our best, you will see what we have seen in the last few months, but with a bit more time we will get the balance between attack and defence right. Meaning when we score four we won’t let four go in.

@FS

Spot on.Yeah i read your past comments and i have seen how you have reiterated this point.I think what you told is actually whats going to happen. I dont mind we not playing the Arsenal brand of football. Their football sits better on my eyes but when i read the comments here and analyze it myself i feel its correct. What they have won? Absolutely nothing in the last few seasons.

I dunno why but i sometimes dont understand that how on earth ManU won title after title in these last 19 years. How do u explain that? Was it that they were from a different planet(Looking at their teams i certainly dont think so)or was it because of the gaps which existed between the rest and them?

Ferguson sold his soul to the devil mate. Don’t worry he’ll be coming to collect it soon.

@FS

Well..but i dont get a clue how a club can win titles after tiles for so many years. 19 years.

Chelsea-2,Arsenal-2,Blackburn-1 (5 out of 19 if i am not mistaken).

Its just shocking.

Digger as well as the 6pts, don’t forget the 8+ to our goal difference as well.

ttp://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=6632419

Stick a ‘h’ in front. Just look at Fergussons tactics.

Ok FS, I’ll carry on…. Newcastle have had 9 managers in the last 10 years.

Dalglish took over Jan 1997 and they finished 2nd. The next season they finished 13th. Fans demanded his sacking. The board abliged.

Gullit takes over September 1998 finishes 13th, benches Shearer a couple of times and gets sacked in September 1999.

Bobby Robson takes over in 1999. Gets them into the CL in 2001-02 and 2002-03. UEFA cup in 2003-04. Fans not happy with that, moaning that the manager has lost the respect of the players, not enough discipline at the club. Sacked in August 2004. They want a hard boss to put the players like Bellamy and Kieron Dyer into line. That’s whats needed the fans say.

Souness takes over in August 2004 and they finish 14th. In Feburary 2006 he’s sacked.

Glen Roeder takes the reigns Feb 2006 and takes the club to 7th place. However is sacked May 2007 after finishing 13th.

Fat Sam takes over May 2007, fans chant “You don’t know what your doing!!” sacked in January 2008.

Fans only want Keegan so they get him.

And Digger, Keegan is an idiot and Ashley a bigger idiot for hiring him. I don’t know how Dennis Wise qualifies being a director of football. But a director of football was needed if Keegan was gonna be their manager. KK had not been to see a match in 4 years, he had no scouting network and connections within the game. In a board meeting he told them he wanted Henry, Lampard and Beckham. Bit different from Rafa and his database of 95 players.

Ashley’s biggest mistake was sacking Fat Sam, he’s next mistake was hiring Keegan. Why did he make those mistakes? Fan pressure.

Hopefully they get relegated and we pick up 18 points from whoever replaces them from the championship.

Were Rafa’s Valencia side good enough to win the Preiership?.I saw them @ Anfield in August 2003 in the final pre season friendly and they won 2-0.The following week Chelsea won 2-1 @ Anfield.Rafa should of brought more players with him from Valencia.Mista, Baraja and Albeda were outstanding.90 points may not be enough to win the title next season-96 to be certain.

I dunno LB, I think KK would have done alright if left alone. But your right, 9 managers in 10 years is a joke and no way to run a club. Still not so sure bout you hoping they’re relegated and we take 18pts from the teams that come up, we could only manage 12pts this year! Better that Newcastle stay up and we take the extra 6 too I think!

It was a combination of things Somnath. Look at his first 5 years in charge. Anyone with that record would be sacked nowadays. So, in that regard, he was very lucky to take over when he did. But he was still about to get sacked, when he saved his skin by winning the FA Cup. That was one huge stroke of luck. He got many others. But at that time, his academy came up with Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt and the Neville sisters. Something he had nothing to do with.

But it meant he had the backbone of a very good team free. He then made a realy good move by adding Cantona to them kids. His class added to them youthful legs mad a great combination.
Again, a great slice of luck.

On top of this sort of luck, Arsenal and ourselves were in decline at the time, and the only up and comers, Blackburn and Leeds, bust themselves by throwing to much money at trying to compete and eventually ran out of resources.

Which meant, United have been able to smash transfer records by adding players like Ferdinand and Rooney to an already finished article. Which then meant, they became more and more entrenched and harder and harder to shove aside. We still face an uphill battle to do that.

There’s lots more that could be added to that. But I’d rather say this… It’s sort of like The Beatles. They got so so lucky. The time was exactly right for them to take over the pop world and become the biggest ever band in the world. But they also needed huge talent and had to work really hard to achieve their domination.

Might seem like a shite analogy, but it’s pretty close. Feguson got all the luck in the world and the time was exactly right for all his luck to work, but you can’t take it away from the old bastard…. while others thought things would just roll along, the tramp seized the moment.

But like I keep saying, I think the time for a change is coming again and we must be the best prepared and most ready to seize the moment and the chance.

Somnath, the mancs built an empire from the early 1990s. They took advantage of their stadium (constantly expanding it from 50,000 to 76,000). Edwards sold the club and they put the club on the stockmarket and then took maximum advantage from commercial enterprises all over the world. They had a talented excutive in Peter Kenyon. That’s the money part of it sorted. They were fortunate that 5 or 6 world class youngsters all ermerged at the same time in a time when the team was already strong. A good manager that controls all football matters. At the same time no other club had the foresight to compete financially. Liverpool are the only club in England with a fan base big enough to compete commercially but we were still being run like a 1980s family club. We also hired a couple of managers after Kenny who were not up to the task.

Blackburn had Jack Walker but one man with his millions and a good manager (Kenny) can only do so much. Not too long after he died and Kenny left Blackburn got relegated. Arsenal brought in a genius of a manager who managed to get 3 titles on a low budget but the Arse just can’t compete financially. Hence why they built the stadium. The loss of David Dein has hurt them though I reckon. Then the Russian Billionaire comes along. Takes Kenyon from the mancs and then gets Mourinho. They dominate the league but Roman got impatient, egos clashed and they sacked a very good manager. The fact is though that despite the Russian billions and Kenyon as chief exec. Chelsea just do not have the fan base to compete with the mancs long term.

As FS says, only we can stop them now.

@Burgerman

90 or 96 points, if you look at our home draws and convert those 1 points into 3′s i guess we would touched above 90 ourselves. So i dont think the points target would not lead us anywhere.

We need to win more % of our home games. This season we did exceedingly well against our tital rivals. It might not happen next season but still the point difference wont be much. What will indeed make the difference is our win% against the other teams.

Abour Rafa’s Valencia, at that time Real Madrid were a better team compared to the present one. Deportivo La Coruna were doing good too. But i dont think its fair to compare the two leagues. They are different in nature.

@FS and LB

Yeah i do get the point. Nicely explained by both of you. I feel it’s just a shame that we took so much time to rise to the next level. As FS puts it, throughout his career fergusson has been blessed with lot of good luck. The Macheda strike against Aston Villa is the latest one to me. That match was the turning point for them. Had they not won that day, i am sure they would have dropped more points. Also i forgot, Tottenham match.

Lets hope that the end of Manchester United come quick and we see ourselves returning to the zenith soo. The Leeds team which reached the Champions League semi final was a good team according to me.

guillembalague.com says that Rafa may sell Alonso for 30 mill euro to Madrid.It is a good site for Reds info, as Guillem and Rafa are long time friends.I reckon he is very serious about buying Tevez.Who is going to fill the right sided slots?.

I’ve got to go now, but here’s something to consider…
ttp://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164347090512-0832.htm

Stick the h on. It’s well worth a read. I’ve been trying to make this point for some time. Now, please don’t take it wrong. I do not mean we are depending on the tramp retiring. In fact, I discussed this with Andy, and I’d much prefer the tramp to stay on and we can eventually crush him along with his club.

But, the point is…. Ferguson has built no lasting legacy into the club. In fact, he has always moved on every number 2 he has had and he has built the club in his own, rather nasty, image. There will be no easy transition when he hangs up his bottle of meths.

And, it seems silly to say a club that could win the big double in the next few weeks, could soon be in trouble. But despite the position they are in, there are problems there….

I see no team spirit. Again it’s all built on ego. Funnily enough the only thing they have got as far as team spirit goes is a Scouser. Fuck knows how he sleeps, but Rooney sometimes drags that club along much in the way Gerrard did for us.

But look at the rest of it… aging stalwarts that will soon be gone. the replacements are good footballers, but certainly not a patch on the ones they will replace. Ronaldo and Tevez will be gone. Will fellas like Berbatov fancy a few seasons in the trenches fighting off clubs that won’t lay down anymore when they see the chance of taking the mancs on?
Van Der Sar… not that good, finished soon anyway.
Rio Ferdinand… starting to look like a crock.
Other players, Evra in particular, exposed to be not quite the world beaters the press had us believe.
Fellas like Carrick, Nani, Anderson, O’Shea, Fletcher, Park, Hargreaves left to carry the torch.
All very good footballers, but enough to keep them on their perch and LFC at bay?
I doubt it.

Would love to go on. There’s so much more I could say – the debt, etc. But I have to go now. Got a dentist’s appointment. Got to get a back molar pulled. Dreading it but probably more pleasurable than talking about the mancs, unless it’s of their demise of course.

Well history tells us we need to win 26 or more games to stand a chance. No team has got 90 points or more and failed to win the title. Away from home we’re sorted. We seem to have the ideal set up to win away matches. We’ve won 12 – should be 13 after the West Brom game. 13 wins out of 19 away from home. That’s excellent. We’ve won 11 games at Anfield – might be 12 after the spurs game but that’s not really good enough to win the league.

Somnath, over 38 games its not luck its quality. Things have gone for the mancs here and there but they have made the most of it. The mentality and composure of their players is fantastic. I know its difficult to admit. 2-0 down against Spurs they get a dodgy penalty but then go on to get 4 more goals. We were 2-0 down against Hull, got back to 2-2 with an hour left to play and still couldn’t get the winner. Against Man City, 1-0 down and equalise with 15 mins left. You just know the mancs would win that game but we drew 1-1. When they get a chance in the last minute you just know it will get absolutely buried. We’ve put them under pressure every week for how long by going to the top of the table. But they just get 3 points the next day without much fuss. If it was the other way round could we handle that pressure? Of course their winning habit helps. This is something we’ll have to develop but it’ll take time. Certain times this season we’ve cacked our load. Everton at Anfield, Arsenal at Anfield are 2 examples.

BM… Rafa kicked off on Belague not long ago. They’ve had a bit of a falling out. And Rafa did used to leak stories to him when he wanted them to get back to the British media, but I wouldn’t take anything he said as gospel nowadays.

FS, I blame it all on Mark Robins.

Where did he spring from and where did he go to? Anyway, for Ferguscum, he came at the right time!

Wish you’s would shut up, so I could work the bottle up to go the dentist’s.

LB of course you’re right. It’s not all down to luck. That’s why I said, what I said about them seizing upon it. But there’s no denying they’ve had huge slices of it throughout the years. They’ve also been aided and abbetted by some very dodgy refereeing. Look at how they won the league at Wigan on the final day.

You have to hand it to them, they fought and earned wins when others just rolled along. But they also used every dirty tactic thinkable to achieve this. Horrible bastards. But like all bully’s will they be up for the fight when faced with their equals?

I think not. But like I say, it won’t be easy but the time is coming to shove them aside.

@LB

Yeah true. Those matches against Villa,Spurs are the ones which turned their season. No,by luck what i meant was the winner factors. For example the Macheda strike. He might not score another such goal in near future but the one which he scored got them 3 points. Same with Ronaldo’s great strike at Porto. I accept that both were great piece of skills but for Fergusson, it was nothing but sheer good luck.

I did read a Rafa interview a month or so ago where he said he isn’t looking to sell Alonso but every player has a price. If Real offer €30m (£26m) I reckon Rafa would go for it. Real will definitely test us with a bid, of that I have no doubt.

I just got this off the article Burgerman is talking about.

The site has been inundated with emails and comments from Liverpool fans over the last 24 hours, asking for clarification over Xabi Alonso´s future at Anfield and a comment on the reports of a deal involving Gareth Barry…

At this moment in time, the situation is as follows:

Florentino Perez, the clear favourite to win this summer´s presidential elections at Real Madrid, will try and sign Xabi Alonso from Liverpool. In fact, almost all of the prospective candidates are likely to include Alonso on their wanted list, as their is a growing sense amongst all associated with Real Madrid that the club needs to sign more Spanish players. And as far as Madrid are concerned, Xabi Alonso fits the bill perfectly in terms of nationality, position, quality and potential availability.

Xabi Alonso would have been sold last summer, had another club met Liverpool´s asking price of €20 million. Real Madrid will make an initial attempt to sign Alonso for that amount, but they will need to increase their bid significantly as Liverpool feel that Alonso has improved.

However, should Real Madrid offer Liverpool a fee in the region of €30 million, then Xabi Alonso will be sold: at that price, both Liverpool and the player would be happy for the deal to go ahead.

If Xabi Alonso is sold, then money would be available for Rafa Benitez to revive his attempt to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. Despite recent media reports, Liverpool have not made a 9.5 million bid for the English midfielder.

Aston Villa have set a fee of around 12 million for Gareth Barry, and while at this exact moment in time there has not been a renewed attempt to sign him by Liverpool, there are no denials from Anfield that Gareth Barry remains a genuine target.

This Xabi transfer saga makes me sick. Ok we get $30m for him. Will we get his quality from the midfield? Barry is no Alonso when it comes to passing the ball around. Xabi is more accurate, more lethal with his passes. Barry to me is better crosser of the ball from the flanks.

I am sorry but if we are dreaming to win the title then thats not the way to go about it. You cant sell your best players and hope to build on the present success. No one should here say that we will be able to replace Alonso with an equally established midfielder. I just dont think that is possible.

Last word, got to go get this thing pulled. It’s fucking killing me. But anyway… Can’t see Xabi going to Madrid. He’s a Basque. But I could see him moving on if Rafa thinks the price is right and Xabi agrees to the move. Could see him joing AC, Barca or even Inter before Real.

I’d be sad to see Xabi go, but like I’ve always said… no one is bigger than the club.

Oh and from all I know, The Barry deal was done months ago. It just depends whether Rafa yea’s or nay’s it.

@FS

Its a step back backwards if Xabi is sold.

Somnath, if selling Alonso meant we could afford to get Barry and Silva what would you say?

I don’t want him to leave either as he’s class and has had his best season with us. Sometimes though sacrifices are made for the greater good. Like selling Rush and getting Barnes, Bearsley and Aldridge.

I agree Somnath. Selling Alonso would be a monumental error. We’re trying to win the league here. You wont do that selling your best players, your player of the year no less. Selling Alonso would be akin to selling Torres or Gerrard in my opinion. Thats how important Xabi is to us and our system. So we’d get 30mil. Well unless you go and buy Xavi (which aint happening) its fucken meaningless. Selling our best midfielder (lets face it Stevies practically a striker now) is not progression.

@Diggerno.10

I dont want to hear the news of Xabi getting sold. As LB states that we might get Silva and Barry. We get two quality players for one but the position in which that one player plays for us is such an important one. All our attacks starts from his vision. He is a great passer and his long balls have improved with every game he has played. He is good at tackling and much skillfull compared to Gareth Barry. I dont mind buying silva,barry and you can just add on to that list but please dont sell Xabi.

Common we just had a brilliant season, our players are high on confidence. They are still in the title race and we are so so close to winning it. We as supporters are looking to build on this team.

What happens if we keep Xabi? We wont get another world class player? So be it. We can get Valencia,Johnson. Leave it at that. I can say with some conviction. Even then we would be good enough to win the title.

@LB

I dont agree with your exchange of 1 player for 2 players theory. Its just wrong. We sold Owen. Did we not suffer? It took us some time to find Torres. I tell you, selling Alonso will lead to the same thing.

ttp://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liverpoolfc/0100news/tm_headline=ian-rush-liverpool-learning-to-win-with-foot-off-the-gas%26method=full%26objectid=23603243%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

Check what Ian Rush has to say. Stick the ‘h’ in front. No one would want Xabi to be sold.

Good point Digger,stevie`s days as a central box to box midfielder are all but over.Alonso has been not only one of our best players this season bu tone of the best in the premier league.

It would be a big backwards step and i know that people move on and all that but we`re so close now we don`t need to be selling our gems.

I wish the club or Xabi would come out crush the rumours a the end of the season.

Somnath, the Owen example is not a good one mate. He was sold for a pittance. £8m. We couldn’t do anything with that.

If Xabi was sold for €30m I’m sure Rafa could build us a better team. You only sell a top player if your ultimately looking to have a better team surely.

But let me make myself clear. Do I want Alonso sold? Hell no.

Yeah LB. Your last statement is what make me feel Happy.

Just dont want Xabi to be sold. I dont want to bring the money thing into picture. Its the importance of the player and his position. With Owen we could not replace him with another strike of his quality at that point. Same will be the case with Xabi i tell you.

LB if we could sign Barnes, Beardo and Aldo in their prime again in exchange for Xabi then of course! But whats the chances of a deal like that happening again? That was a once in a lifetime thing bro, we havent had a summer like that since. The likelihood of finding the greatest winger of his generation, a 30 goal a season striker and a football genius with a brain to match all for the 25mil Xabi would fetch is improbable if not impossible. And then you’d still have to replace Xabi!

Lol, Digger We sold Keegan for big money and bought Dalglish. Wenger sold Anelka and bought Henry and Pires. Barca sold Ronaldo and bought Rivaldo and Kluivert.

We can sell Alonso and buy Curtis Davis.

And the fact that the way we play makes Xabi even more important to us. He plays alongside Masch, gives him the support while defending and at the same time is a great passer.

Rafa likes to play two midfielders just in front of the defense. Lucas is not in the same class. If Gerrard is switched to that position,what about his exisiting role? Cant rely on Banyayoun to form a partnership with Torres for the whole season in that position.

Most importantly you are upsetting a winning combination,unit the moment you decide to sell one of the core of the team.

LB what? Are you joking or was that a serious thought? Curtis Davis for Alonso? What happens to the position where Alonso plays?

Biscan could replacde him.He`s bound to be around if we look for him maybe down a side ally somewhere busking for penny`s.He`s a CL medal….what do ye think lads?

Somnath…your so naive

Sucker!!

Oh what names are coming to replace Xabi. First Curtis Davis and now Biscan. I hope you all are joking.

Lol, Timmy

heard joey barton might leave the toon this summer. possible replacement for xabi – could do with some passion in the midfield.

Bhav, you went too far

why that LB?

Barton is a total disgrace mate. Just the thought of him in a red shirt disgusts me.

ahahahah, mate you dont have to actually imagine the player in the lets-sell-xabi-for-cack-player-game in a Liverpool shirt.

I called Drogba a Total asshole last Week, Barton is a Complete asshole!!

So as i can see a little game of jokes and fun is going on.

Shall i pitch in with another name?

Bring Parker in for Xabi.

There was a hillarious cartoon picture of Drogba in the Mirror the other day. With him selling his book titled “My F****** book”. It was a Brian Reade article. Was a good laugh. I wish I kept the paper.

I’d have Peter Parker in for Xabi, Somnath…..

I don’t care the price, if we sell Alonso I’ll be shattered and I will need to see some pretty damn good (and winning) football to have it proved to me it was the right decision. Alonso knows our system and completely dictates most games he plays in. We’ve said it in here before, he is our quarterback, and to me if he left we’d be asking a brand new player to slot in as the main pilot of our team. That, to me, is a huge risk.

I’ve no problem with bringing in quality back-up for him, we need it. That may be Barry, though I’m having my doubts about how that would all work out in terms of who plays when.

The whole thing just really really worries me. I understand that no one player is bigger than the club, but changing crucial players who are performing well is just so risky when you don’t have a clear, proven replacement. And I’m extra worried because Rafa clearly tried to sell Alonso last season and Balague’s article sounds like it is naming Liverpool’s price for Alonso to the market. I just have this annoying little feeling that Rafa and Alonso don’t get along these days.

The reason we might get €30 million for Alonso is that he is worth it. Spending any less than that on a replacement is risky stuff. To me you don’t sell the spine to improve the fringes.

@Andy

Spot on. Just can let this happen.

Just cant i meant. In my excitement i typed wrongly.

too late somnath,joke has ran it`s course

Actually parker wouldn`t be a bad signing.

Well these quotes from Rafa won’t make you feel better lads….

“Alonso was not on the market last summer but Juventus came to us, so we had to talk,” said Benitez.

“I think it will be the same situation this year. I don’t want to sell him but when there is a window you have to talk to see what price is being considered.”

You’re killing me LB!

First and foremost, we are trying to enforce our squad, so in an ideal world, we shouldn’t be selling any of our players. We should just be adding.

But, unfortunately, we do not have much money, so we have to sell.

That is the stark truth that sets everything in motion. Alonso’s sale has to be looked upon in that context.

Alonso is class, and I said pre-season that selling him would be massive backward step for this club. But we don’t have much money. I was totally against his sale last year because despite the fact that Xabi is a better player than barry, the latter cost more and so Xabi’s sale meant nothing for us.

However, this year, I am in a bit of a tangle on this issue.

This season Xabi has upped his performance in addition to the fact that he was involved in the Spanish side that won the Euros, and therefore, has greatly increased in value. In contrast, Barry’s price would have gone down.

That means we would still have money left in our hands even after using the profit from the sale of Xabi to get Barry.

Of all the players that would prove profitable (Torres, SG, reina,alonso and kuyt), alonso is probably brought up because there is a possible replacement in the form of Barry. Again, Barry is nowhere near the level of alonso in the same position, but he is left-footed and can play on the flanks and as a full-back, and also as a make shift centre-half. His versatility is the only but important asset in comparison to Xabi.

We get someone “nearly” the same as Xabi, but more importantly, have enough left to add on to buy another player.

Therefore, losing alonso is a shocker, but would not be so much of a lose-lose situation as last year.

It is a frightening dilemma.

I have been one of the ardent fans of alonso so I would be devastated if I see him go, but ironicallly, I am not as against his selling as I was last year. Rafa just needs to get it absolutely spot on, though.

I know some would say that we could get just as much profit by selling other players, but, for example, we would probably need to sell both babel and dossena to reach any thing near what other teams would pay for alonso alone. We would get to keep alonso, yes, but in the process, we would lose two players (squad players or not) so that requires us to search for 2 more players to maintain our depth. Losing 2 players and getting only silva will not help our cause for the upcoming long season.

If we sold Dossena and Babel and bought Silva I’d be doing cartwheels.

If we sold Xabi and bought Barry and Pranjcic I’d go looking for Rafa….

I still want parker..paul parker..

C`mon Somnath bite!

I think hyde is right.The media are throwing the alonso thing around because there`s a “ready and able replacement” for him in Barry.Also because he`s had a great season and he`s spanish he`s automatically Real Madrid`s pending property.

As i said before someone needs to crush these rumours fast before it spirals out of control.

I`d still like us to sign Barry his versitility could be priceless.

Lurgan, what about selling Torres to buy Emnes at Boro.

LB, I liked your one-for-three idea…

sell gerrard. get tevez, barry and silva.

The only thing that the GB article did say was that all of the so called in coming Presidents (Real Madrid) had Alonso on the their wish list. Rafa does not want to sell Alonso and has stated that, but GB added but if the right price was offered that he would think about it (simple deduction and logic) and any Manager would think about it if offered over market related prices. He even went on the say that no approach has been made for Barry, but again ideally bringing Barry in and keeping Alonso would be the right and best approach.

Everybody is clutching at straws and trying to put 2 and 2 together and get a head of the next person by trying to be clever.

We could be under new ownership before the start of the summer silly season and in saying that Rafa does not even know want he is going to get, presumable the normal 20 odd mill but will he get the money from the Keane sale? Who knows. TRhe priority will be to keep most of the squad, trim the deadwood, Vorinon, Peanut, and a few of the youth players that will not make it. Bring in cover for the right back slot and a right wide midfielder as priority and then take stock of what we need and if the new owners are going to loosen the purse strings.

We played the best football out of all teams this year, especially towards the end and despite the injury to Torres and Gerrard and don’t need to do to much more. With another year under our belt we will be that much better and more settled. With Nemeth and Pacheo coming up into the first team (I would rather compare Pacheo to a Maradona in size and stature, his ball control and trickery is very much that, Nemeth reminds me more of a Kenny type player with vision and finishing) it will add even more quality and depth to go along with Ngog and I must say I liked Babbel in the central role and he should be better next year with a good preseason under his belt (added that just to piss of Digger)

All those of you who say Lucas does not have the quality to succeed at Liverpool, did you see the quality at the weekend, he had some sublime touches and he will be even better next season with another year and hopefully the booing behind him.

We don’t need too much I always remember the Mancs going out and buying Carrick (over priced) and I thought well that wont win them the prem (they finished second) yet all they needed was another year to settle and a holding midfielder. Unity and continuity is the game with a few additions for strength in depth.

Who thinks we would have won the title this year if Torres and Gerrard had both only missed half as many games as they did? I believe it’s highly likely we would have. No guarantees of course, but that’s my belief. We all know that it’s the draws that cost us, and Gerrard and Torres are our match-winners who turn draws into wins.

Who also thinks that winning the title next season probably depends on Torres and Gerrard being fit for more games? Again, I do. It’s not saying that we “rely” on them in the way the media craps on – we “rely” on Carra to lead our defense, we “rely” on Alonso to dictate the midfield, etc. Every team relies on it’s stars, and they are our biggest two. I’m not saying we’re stuffed without them, I just don’t think we’re as good a chance to win the title.

My point? Well, if we are looking at taking risks like selling Alonso, how about this risk instead… we gamble that Gerrard and Torres will stay fit for most of next season. We spend the Keane money on another backup striker, and we sell another fringe player or two to get backup for Arbeloa. No David Silva, no Barry. Basically our first 11 stays the same but with decent cover in important positions like striker and right-back.

The other “risk” is that other teams don’t improve markedly to throw our season off. But I agree with LB that the bottom half of the table is as weak as ever, so I’m no too worried about them. Really, after the top 6, it goes downhill pretty quickly. So who in the top 6 is going to improve enough next year to beat us to the title if we play as well as we did this year, but with the addition of having Gerrard + Torres fit, plus the extra depth just mentioned?

Keith, I think we may have just more or less posted the same thing mate! Great minds

LB, as you probably acknowledge, your cartwheels will turn to leg splits if silva breaks his legs (and he is very injury-prone) in September. no alonso, no dossena, no babel and no silva would be pretty painful.

It is disgraceful though isn’t it that we have to do what middle ranking clubs do. Sell good players to up our squad. Fungusface would be having fits and sulking if he was forced to do that with the mancs.

i would hate to see alonso go, as he has been our player of the season (at least in the top 3 candidates) but there are a few things that would maybe make you think about it being a decent possibility.

1. he will guarantee a big fee – easily 20 million pounds, i would think…but maybe not, who knows.

2. lucas is not the same player as alonso, but he is showing signs of real progress, and perhaps next year could be his breakout year. its clear that rafa rates him very highly. he has now had two years in england and is used to the language, league, style of play, style of life, etc. if we were to sell lucas, we wouldn’t get nearly the money we would for alonso, and we would get someone that would be coming in as a “back-up” quality player that would have to get acclimatised to the league, team, tactics, etc… lucas has a great reputation and was on the radar of every top club in europe. he is a regular in the brazil squad, and has leadership qualities…and a great mentality which rafa loves.

3. maybe rafa might think alonso will not perform the same this coming year. look at wenger selling vieira…everybody thought he was crazy, but he hasn’t done anything at all since leaving. that said, vieira was 3 years older than xabi at the time. but its important to realize that no player is untouchable from sale. which brings me to my next point.

4. if rafa thinks its the best move for the team, then that’s it sorted for me.

my heart and mind say we should hold onto him and not change anything about our starting midfield or striking partnership. we need a right back, winger, and a decent striker option.

i think all this speculation is unfounded though. teams will hesitate to pay what we want for alonso (and what he is worth). As FS says often, and we all know from past experience, this is bogus transfer story time. the media are just gearing up for the time when they will have nothing to write about worth while for 3 months.

YNWA

Keith, Andy, I agree completely, that is why i state that we should be adding not selling.

But the problem is, we are never going to see a fit gerrard and torres all the time. We definitely need someone as good as they are in terms of directly creating or scoring goals.

I am wishing that Nemeth or Pacheco could instantly make a hit next season.

But unless you are Arsene Wenger, you never ever put too much responsibility on the shoulders of new youngsters.

So we need to buy.

But they are expensive and we are short in cash.

So we have to sell.

That is the dilemma.

Going back to when Owen left and SG considered it, the problem was we didn’t look like competing with the best, and players felt they had to leave to be competive in the league and CL.

Now we are the top ranked team in Europe and now league contenders, I don’t think many players if any will be looking to leave if any.

Barry wanted to leave Villa for those exact reasons last summer, Arse will find it with their players this summer also.

Depending on the funds, we have never being better placed heading into a transfer window.

Sell lucas and dossena – Get Barry

I am going home now lads, so good night to you all, but may I say, that this has been one of the more enjoyable dialogues I have had with all of you. Many a nights I would go home depressed with some of the comments, but it has been a pleasant one tonight.

Ta very much, and night, night.

Andy, I still think we need another quality attacker for the first team. In my opinion if we keep the same first team we’ll still struggle to break down teams who come and sit deep in their own half. Once we get an early goal we’re alright and usually go on to score 3 or 4. But when we don’t score early and the opposition get confident a lot of times it seems like we run out of ideas. It’s times like this where you need the magic and I believe we need more than 2 players who are capable of providing that magic.

Hyde, if we bought Silva and he got injured, I don’t think we’d be any worse off than we are at the moment. How many minutes do Babel and Dossena play? I think we’d do just fine with Insua and Aurellio for left back and Riera for left wing while Silva recovers. Hypothetically speaking.

LB, do you mean a quality starting 11 attacker, or quality backup striker/attacker?

I agree that I’d rather see Silva on the left than Riera, who wouldn’t. But if we can’t afford him, I still think we can possibly win the title just by adding depth (including in attack). The Keane money plus a few sales should see us able to do that; that would include either a backup striker (strikers being the most expensive players) or winger/attacker for the same money. That attacker/striker would offer another option for breaking teams down. Of course I’d prefer him to be worth 20 mill but I’m not convinced it is essential to us winning the title. I could be wrong, but back to my point, I’d rather go with that option than selling Alonso to fund a player I’m not convinced we need. Plus put it this way, whatever someone pays for Alonso, we will get charged more for Silva. No deal in my book. Shunt Voronin, Babel, Degen, Dossena (even though I don’t mind Babel and Dossena) and combine that with the Keane money to get what we can, leave the rest.

Just re-read my post, just to clarify – I am convinced we need an additional attacking option, be it backup striker or other attacker, I’m just not convinced it needs to be a starting 11 superstar. That would be nice, but given our financial situation, it’s probably not going to happen without selling someone from the spine, and in that case I don’t think it’s that necessary.

Sell Gerrard…Buy an ice cream factory

Sell Alonso….Buy a flake factory

Sell Kuyt…Buy a cone factory

Then at every match all fans on the Kop get a free ice cream.

EVERYONE IS HAPPY!

Yes, you read that right.

Andy, first 11 attacker to play on the left is what I mean. Not a back up striker/winger. Obviously we need a strong squad I agree with you there. Where I think we disagree is that you think the current first XI is good enough to win the league. I don’t think it’s quite there yet. Which is why I want one more exceptional talent. He doesn’t have to be a superstar. Just perform like one Someone in the Silva/Arshavin mould. I don’t care how much he costs but realistically it’ll be between £15m-£30m. I can’t see us being able to afford anyone more than £20m. So if we could get that player it would be my priority.

In an ideal world we’d use the usual £20m the borrowers give Rafa on that one player. Then use the cash from player sales to improve the squad. Sell players such as Voronin, Leto, Dossena, Anderson, Hobbs and use the Robbie Keane money. Then buy Pranjcic and a back up striker. You end up with 3 hopefully quality players added and who do we lose from our current squad? Dossena. Even Hyde would be happy with that surely.

The current first XI on its day is a match for anybody.
A good squad wins a title not a good first XI.

Incidently David Silva has been ruled out for 3 weeks with injury.

Seems most of the Spaniards have suffered injuries this season.

The long summer of 2008 is taking its toll LB.

Now they`ve that confederations cup to deal with.They should blood a few youngsters on the fringe of the national side instead of using their strongest XI.

Can`t see that happening though,they are in the middle of a long unbeaten run that they`ll want to preserve.

Andy believe it or not Torres and Stevie were present for many of our draws this season. Off the top of my head the 2 Stoke games come to mind and I’m sure there were more but I’m just too lazy to lookem up! Hyde, yes we may need to sell to buy but ya dont sell your best players. Its defeating the purpose no? You’re robbing peter to pay paul and theres no progression. You’ve removed something irreplaceable and its a slippery slope. What next? Will we be trying to justify the sale of Torres next year?

Do you remember when Xabi refused to turn up for a game against Arsenal because he wanted to see his child being born?
Do you remember Rafa going ballistic about it? That caused a big rift between the two. I’m sure it’s well patched up by now, but another problem arose from it… Xabi’s wife said she would rather live on the continent, preferably Spain but Italy would do. She also said, she wanted their children to be raised in Spain. On top of that, Xabi has always said that he wanted to return to Spain, to finish his playing days and settle back down.

All of that’s very understandble. I had a great time running round Europe and America. I always knew I’d return to England. I now live in Bournemouth, but it’s only a matter of time before I go back to Liverpool. It’s completely natural. We do our best for our families. We make the best living wherever we can and most of us return to our roots. I’m sure it’s what will eventally move Xabi on.

What I know it won’t be is… shite reports trying to fill shite space in shite newspapers. And like Keith said, read the Balague report properly. There’s nothing new or concrete in there.

I also now for fact that Rafa fell out with Belague. I don’t know if it’s been patched up. But Belague overstepped the mark and Rafa cut him off. I’m sure he’ll still use him to leak stories when he wants, but I’m also Rafa isn’t quite as pally with him ever again.

Alec said it…. Silly season is upon us. Wouldn’t or couldn’t tell you lads what to do, but me – I’m taking it all with a pinch of salt and, until I see a player boarding a plane out of Liverpool or being paraded around Anfield with Rafa, I will continue to take no notice of any newspapers mischevious meddling.

I find it really strange that some of us would rather get in a flap over some shite story in some shite rag rather than show a little trust and belief in the man that has brought us to this position and works selflessly and tirelessly on our behalf.

I couldn’t give a fuck what some rag says. Although, I would be upset if certain players left the club, I would still trust Rafa implicitly.

See, I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes. So, therefore, I don’t know what the reasoning would be behind any sale. Even when players go it’s usually never revealed properly. More times than not, the media just gets a statement that’s just a case of all concerned saving face.

But even if stalwarts of the team were to leave, as long as Rafa seemed okay with it, then I would accept it too.

Well, I’m off in a mo, early start tomorrow, but I was just wondering why anybody didn’t say this during the Xabi discussion… A week or so ago, Mascher was saying how he could be playing somewhere else next season.

Nobody in here seemed to latch on to that. But Rafa had a word in his shell like and Masch is in the papers again today saying, how happy he is at Anfield and how he wants to just concentrate on winning trophies for LFC.

I don’t know what was said behind closed doors. I only have what Mascher and Rafa said to go on. Read both their comments – looks to me like Rafa put a rocket up his arse.

Also in the same story there’s a qoute from Rafa saying Xabi is not leaving. So, why believe that ticket tout, Belague, or the likes of the NOTW before that?

Tell you one thing I know for sure… the best signing LFC made this year is Rafa Benitez.

And look what he done immeadiately upon sorting his own contract out… sorted out all the back room staff and players contracts – even ones that seemed impossible like Agger.

But now it seems to me, that after putting the Agger flap to sleep in here, the Xabi flap took over immeadiately. I’d actually like to say a few things to some individuals about it, but I’d probably spend the next 3 days in a You said, I said tit-for-tat and I just can’t be arsed with that again. But I really do think some people need to check their loyalty bones. Some seem to be in need of a transplant.

Like i said earlier this speculation is around because the silly season is upon us and Barry could be on his way to Anfield.The papers automatically think Xabi is to make way for him.This might have been the case last year but not now.A week is a long time in football never mind a year.

FS,if Xabi or Rafa came out tomorrow and crushed the rumours then they`d just stick the Xabi rumours in the bin and move on to some other player.

“Gerrard to milan for £70 million” or some shite like that would be printed.

I think Rafa knows whats best for LFC and i think he`ll be looking to build on this foundation he has put in place so i couldn`t see him selling Xabi.Unless he wants to leave,it would only be for family reasons i couldn`t see how it would be a 100% footballing decision.

I think we aren`t doing the situation much good in here anyway by dicussing something that most probably will never happen so i`ll say no more on the matter.

Timmy people can discuss what they like. It’s what footy fans do. I’m just shocked when they take any opinion over our Bosses – especially the opinions of the English, or should I say manc, media.

I put the bit about Xabi and his wife in because it happened. I don’t think it’s bad that people want to live and raise they’re children in their own culture. It’s perfcetly natural, especially when they’ve made a few bob and can return to a good life. I don’t even know if that’s what could cause Xabi to leave.

All I know is it happened. And all I can say is sometimes we just don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors. And due to that, I choose to believe Rafa will do right by the club.

I wanted to leave on a laugh. I just got emailed a couple of pictures by a mate. But I don’t have a link, so don’t know how to put them up for you lads to see.

They’re proper hilarious. It’s a fella with a huge big wheelie bin collecting all the dumped free plassie flags inside Stamford Bridge after the Barca game and carting them off in the bin.

I know I throw wobblers about loyalty, but imagine being part of that bloody shower.

Just thinking…whats with all this end of season talk?

There`s a title to be won.Its a long shot but we`re still breathing.And as long as we are we`ll always have that grain of hope.

So fuck the tramp and fat head its up to you ZAKI to sigle handedly take down the mancs tomorrow!

Wouldn`t it be sweet

It would be lovely Tim mate but I think he’s not playing. I hold out no hope for tomorrrow. Did you hear Steve Bruce. The fucker threw the towel on last saturday. they’ve also got a lot of injuries. I think Zaki’s and Kirkland’s out for a start. But you’re right.

You just never know. You have to hang onto the hope.

FS did ya see the geordies last night.They`ve caught the plastic flag epidemic.What is happening to our game?

This will catch on big time now every premier league club,bar us of course,will be doing it.

The funniest thing about the whole lot if and when every other club catches on the chavs will claim to be the first club to have done it and be proud of it too.

The saddest thing of the whole charade is with the help of soccer am and the whole sky hyped up media with make it out to be a genuine atmosphere instead of the mock,manufactured one that it really is.

I`m glad that will never be done at Anfield.

Our game its literally turning into a circus.

Sad times.

Fuck me. Did they do it an all. That’s woeful. Pricks. Love to go on and on about the Toon Army, but I remember last time they was relegated. They were getting crowds of 18,000 tops.

I know they have taken to doing that Karoake melarkey. Big fat cunt singing some embarrasing shite. It’s shameful mate.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… time it happens at Anfield is the time I’ll want to go tits up.

LB, exellent summing up of the way things are and how they got to be like that in your post (number 250).

For Tevez homself, I think a move to Anfield would make perfect sense to him.

Look at the facts. Apparently his kids go to school in Cheshire and he doesen’t want to uproot them. A move to Liverpool would mean he wouldn’t have to. Where else could he move to without disturbing his childrens education? Everton? No, he wants CL football. Man.City? Don’t think so!
He won’t even get Europa Cup football there.

Liverpool have several Spanish speaking players (have you heard Tevez speaking English?) No, neither have I.

Add to that he will have a Spanish manager and two compatriots in Mascherano and Insua, the former also being the captain of his country.

For Tevez the move makes sense and he knows LFC are on the up. The question is, do we really want or need him. Over to you, Rafa.

I’m off to bed, but Steve do you want him?
I don’t.
I honestly couldn’t take to him or any other manc in an LFC shirt. I just can’t the thought of any manc with a liverbird on his chest. Never even took to Ince even though he never came directly to us.

And have you read anything the lad has had to say about moving to LFC? He’s dead against it. He has gone on and on about how he wouldn’t play for LFC as a mark of respect for the manc fans. He has a pop/rock band, and he’s even recorded a record to the manc fans. He must like Karoake.

On top of that, do you really want to blow all our transfer dough on him?

My last word on the subject…. no thank you.

Timmy, my jaunt to Ireland is confirmed for the week of the 25th May.

The CL final is on that week. Are you and dougle et al up for cheering on the barca in Killarney? It’s a doubled-edged sword, I know, but I don’t have a lot of choice.

Let me know what you think.

I am in the camp that thinks it would be madness to sell Xabi. There are no guarantees that any replacements would be anywhere as effective as him.

Why take a gamble when we have one of the best men at his particular role in world football already? XA is 27, in his prime. FS, yeah he may want to return to Spain to finish his playing days there, when he hits 32 perhaps.

In the meantime, I think our prospects of winning the Prem would be better served with Xabi than without him. Now if we could get Tevez and Silva as well?

The comparison with Xabi and Viera is not a good one. A blind man on a white charger could have told us that Viera was finished well before he left Arsenal.

I`m actually working that night lurgan.Working
night shifts mon-tue-wed then back on days sat-tues.I had the 3 nights booked off as hols on case we got to rome i was going to go over.Since we were eliminated i didn`t bother taking them and cancelled them.

Sorry about this man.I`m off the following week from tuesday on but i guess you`ll be out of town by then.

Tevez said the mancs will always be in his heart.I know everyone says that nowadays but how could he say that and then come to Anfield and say he loves the KOP.

It would be ridiculous.We haven`t done business with that shower since 1964.Enough said.

The Tevez talk should be shelved to be honest lads.It never gona happen.

FS if you want to see the link to the plastic flag plus more go to the TLW forum and go into wallpapers and screen savers.
.
Well lots of discussion regarding possible buys, one thing worrying me is the constant reminder of we’ll have to sell to buy. Yes we may have a very largish squad but there isn’t that much mention of cash coming from big kuhuna’s.
.
I guess we’ve all seen the Pranjic link, what do we think. Scores plenty of goals from free kicks, something I think we could do with, very good with his feet but not lightening in pace, is quiet cheap in this aspect.
.
I also don’t really know about Tevez, he had his chance but chose Man U. He will go to whoever offers the biggest amount of cash for HIM.

Sorry FS it’s TIA’s forum, nice one’s of Ballack chasing the ref.