First, I think both Lucas and Babbel suffered from the 2008 Olympics. Even Anderson of the scums also suffered bad form last year. Only exception to this Olympics hangover I can think of is Messi, but maybe the later start to the season plus the winter break helped.

From what I’ve seen, Lucas has stepped up, and I agree with you Gerry that Babbel has to take his chances this season.

As for Riera, I hope to see the one that played so well during the early season.

Voronin? Let’s hope he reproduces the Bundesliga form / the early season form after he joined us. I think he can be quite useful at times. At least I think he may be more useful as a backup striker than the perpetually injured Michael Owen

As for Benayoun, I think his best position is actually Gerrard’s “2nd striker” role. But too bad, he won’t have many shots at that role. The good thing though, is that we won’t miss Gerrard in that role too badly if he gets injured.

Points well made as usual Gerry.

Agree with yer assesment of Voronin. Though he looked a couple of kilos lighter during yesterday’s game v Thailand, the friendly was also a timely reminder of what we lack upfront when there’s no Gerrard or Torres.

Am sorry, but Ngog & Voronin don’t quite cut it fer me. Kuyt & Yossi would be a better bet. Still am a bit surprised Boss Man hasn’t signed another hitman.

Though many of ye say we shouldn’t take too much from these warm up games, the fact we’ve looked fooking toothless in all of em is a worrying sign.

Gerry,
apologies as I havent read the blog or comments yet but just dropped in to say I met one or my all time heroes in Bangkok yesterday.
Yes you guessed it; Kenny Dalglish
I was absolutely speechless but eventually built up the courage to ask him for a photo with my missus…..

……..he told me to piss-off!!

But atleast we had a bit of banter and I could feel the connection!!

Anyway that started off a great day in Bangkok with Knight watching the game and singing songs.

Will comment on blog when I have time

Haha good to see that King Kenny isn’t letting his new role as an ambassador for the club go to his head!!

I think Rafa will continue to use Benayoun in exactly the same way as he did last season; as an impact sub about half the time, and a starter rotating across the attacking positions in the others. The amount we get to use our squad this year, like any year, will depend on how early we can kill games off. Last year we had to fight too many games til the last minute, which doesn’t leave much scope for resting players and giving other squad players – including the young guys – a chance. I think part of the way Benayoun is used will depend on this, as he can be used to rest Gerrard quite effectively.

With regards to Babel and Riera, I am wondering: did they both have good starts to their LFC careers, only to drop off, for mental/physical reasons, or because opposition teams worked them out? I felt Riera became less effective last season when he kept coming inside, as opposed to his early days when he made some good runs on the outside. I’d suggest this was because opposition defenders started forcing him inside. And I believe Babel is the opposite – defenders know he wants to cut inside onto his right, and are ready for it. Unfortunately Babel then didn’t seem to have the confidence to take them on on the outside, although some of the success he had last season was from the times he did exactly that.

Either way, I do feel that both Riera and Babel will benefit from a full pre-season under their belts. An in-form Babel really would be like a new signing to us, as most people agree that we need some more strength on the left and a backup striker – these 2 things are exactly what Babel is supposed to be!

Voronin – he’s lively, has decent movement, tries hard… but I’m not sure that he’s a matchwinner who will turn our draws against the lower teams into wins. Will Rafa try to upgrade with a new striker?

Lucas – even if we hold on to both Xabi and Masch, I can see Lucas getting even more minutes this season in preparation for Life Withough Xabi. Unfortunately he isn’t a like-for-like replacement, as he doesn’t seem to have the passing range or ability to control the game. But he does seem serviceable, and to me I think he plays best when the starting 11 around him are as strong as possible (as opposed to putting him in along with multiple other “second-string” players). If he is going to be used to rest/replace the likes of Xabi, I think it must be in games where the rest of our lineup is still strong.

I really don’t see a point in buying a Striker. Babel was came out several times claiming that he wants to play as a striker. I suggest we should give the chance to the lad. He’s got heaps of talent. no doubt abt that..
N Abt lucas, am sorry to say, i saw in the preseason as well. He ain’t top 4 quality. as simple and straight forward as that. Spearing should get some first team football. I really like that lad..

I agree with Puchong Red – altho these friendlies are meaningless I think it does highlight our relative lack of striking options when Stevie and El Nino aren’t about. And I’m just not convinced Babel, Nemeth and Porn Star can adequately fill in. Also – whats Benny doing playing Johnson at left back???

Voronin: Should be good enough but isn’t. He has good touch, is lively, passes and moves well but is toothless.

Benny: Hopefully he will start as he left off.

Babel: I’m not sure he’s going to make it I hope so because he could be fantastic

Lucas: I think now he has beefed up a bit he will hold on to the ball better. He’s got good pass and move ability. It winds me up when people say he’s not playing as a box to box player – err could that be because he’s playing as intructed by the gaffer?

Riera: I like Riera and I tink he’s being a bit harshly judged. He score a few goals, has tidy, quick feet, keeps the ball well and links up with other players. He’s also got a trick up his sleeve. I think he’ll be excellent for us this season.

Stevie G get in there son. That DJ probably was slagging him off thinking Stevie would just ignore him but he hadn’t banked on Stevie being half cut. Nice dig in the chops from Stevie’s mate though.

Arthur: Rafa is not referred to as Benny by any LFC fan I know. Who should Rafa buy as a striker and with what?

Anyone as long as it’s not Voronin. The bloke couldn’t finish his dinner let alone a goal scoring opportunity. Fucking useless.

Let me say first of all-please put your name on to the Petition going around for Liverpool’s ground to be amongst those selected in conjunction with England’s bid for the World Cup in 2018.I have added mine (and received acknowledgement of same this morning) and I hope you all will!
Regarding Voronin – IMHO, he should get the axe.
I still don’t like Lucas,but seeing that Rafa seems keen on him,I hope he comes good very soon.
I’ve always liked “Benny Onion” (even at West Ham)and I am very glad that he now has Rafa’s style behind him.
Roll on next Premiership season and I hope you, Gerry, get sorted out jobwise, soon !!

Kenny: Rafa loves when I call him Benny and loads of my Irish Liverpool mates here refer to him as Benny…not really important is it??

LB: Voronin does miss sitters. The words banjo, barn door and couldn’t hit come to mind. i can’t see him getting the nod ahead of Babel or Nemeth or Ngog. If he got the nod ahead of Babel If I was Babel I’d know it was all over.

Again people say Rafa should buy a second striker. I ask the question who and with what?

Basically, we don’t have any money, so unless Alonso goes, I doubt we will be seeing any more new names unless it is another free transfer.

Benayoun:
I can’t see him dictating the game for us. He needs to play behind torres if he were to do so, but that place belongs to Gerrard. He will probably remain as an impact player. The question is, will he be able to accept that, and will he be able to maintain the level of motivation and concentration he showed during the latter half of last season? He was sulking just before Christmas time, and if he continues to be rotated, he might start that disturbing moaning again. I hope not.

Riera:
I was gutted when he signed for us cos I know how shit he was at City and at Espanyol, but thankfully, he showed some grit for us, so I actually think he did quite well considering it was his first season. I like him now. He needs to work on his right foot though cos it is abysmal for a professional player.

Voronin:
I actually do not have anything against the fella. I find it quite baffling why he can’t deliver in the premiership, cos it seems that he has everything to be at least decent in the English game. He is quite athletic, has a pretty decent touch and pass, and a strong shot on him. Most importantly, you can tell he understands the game. This guy is probably someone that gets heavily affected by his surroundings. Cast our minds back to when he left for Herta– he couldn’t stand the Northern England weather (can’t blame him, mind), and he probably just couldn’t settle in the city. Maybe he didn’t like England. I think if he were professional enough to accept that playing for liverpool means you have to ignore the harsh weather conditions and bad food, then maybe we could get a good value out of him. Anyway, he was free, so like I said, I have really nothing against him. Good to have as a squad player in my view.

Lucas:
Never will be an Alonso, never will be a masch. Certainly never will be a Gerrard. He is just too different to any of these guys. However, I still rate him. Why? Cos he does have a good footballing brain. He has been to date,a bit too shy or modest in sharing his opinions during the game, but once he starts to feel confident enough to voice his vision to his team-mates, I think we can actually see him blossom.
Besides, we have no other option now than to stick by him. I can’t expect Spearing or Plessis to better him, so we just have to hope he finally starts imposing himself more in the outcome of the game.

Babel:
Gerry is right about this lad being the key. Barring maybe benayoun, none of the other lads in discussion is going to be someone that will turn the game around, or turn draws into wins. Basically, he is all we have in attacki if Nando or SG are out.
This guy really needs to start shouldering some of the responsibility, because as far as i have seen, he has been much too self-indulgent in many respects. We bought him to provide us with that spark. He needs to accept that he was not given that much of a playing time last year cos he didn’t deserve it. He needs to analyse why he wasn’t used. Liverpool or rafa is not wasting his talents. He is wasting it on his own. Basically, he needs to stop whining and do the job for us regardless of how much playing time he gets. That’s how Sg, torres and all those top players got their position in the telling years of their career. Good players will always deliver. Ryan needs to understand that with his heart, and not just with his head.

On a different note, I would like to see more of the Agger-Skrtel partnership. We can’t keep relying on Carra now and we have to start making the transition. I also am looking forward to seeing whether Martin Kelly and Pacheco can make their mark this season.

Oh i forgot about Ngog. I seriously believe this guy is the dog’s bollocks.

Well Kenny you ask bring in a striker with what..and I say with the funds we would have got had we sold Babel! When he first hit the scene he looked like a real talent but it just hasn’t happened for him for one reason or another. I’d have cashed in on him and then brought in someone like Huntelaar. Not gonna happen now tho…and I do truly hope I’m wrong about Babel – but methinks not

I’m one of those who think we do have good strikers in our midst. What with pacy players like Babel, and upcoming speedsters like N’gog (remember the Sunderland game in last season’s PL?) and Nemeth. We do need money but not to buy that many players except covers for our considerable spine.

I think some of what’s been said about Riera is unfair. He’s tricky and holds the ball well. In fact I can hardly remember him losing that round object last season. As Tomkins had analyzed, Riera played against the toughest teams, a testament to his character and physical strength. There is a change on that left wing since Albo’s arrival.

I am also a supporter of Lucas who’s shown a very strong character in playing on despite vicious criticism. It’s hard to believe the player’s less than 23! He continues to beef up and it’s clear he has the energy and stamina to play in a box-to-box role. His passing is underrated too.

We have a fabulous squad, although I note we might lose one (or both, but esp the former) of Alonso or Masche. If XA does go, we can put to good use that money Madrid is so willing to throw around and buy one more striker plus lots of cover for our first XI. I’m happy too that RB won’t just let a player walk off for nothing unlike our willingness in the past. The Rafalution rolls on!

I also believe in my guts that Voronin might just prove useful in the long season ahead. It’s not good letting a player go without giving him that final chance. He’s energetic and trickier than credited (anyone remember our record CL mauling of Besiktas? Voronin massively contributed in in seven of the eight goals scored that night!).

If there’s a suggestion of Rafa unlocking the mystery of Babel, how about adding Voro to the list of mysteries. How does a player consistently excel in the Bundesliga, a physical and offensive league like England’s, in two different spells (Leverkusen and Hertha Berlin)? While not exactly Shevhchenko, there must be some inner quality to Voronin.

I’m willing to believe. We shall need all these players for a very long and challenging campaign ahead. In the absence of Man City-like funds, retaining the current crop might just prove to be the next best option.

OK so I am no expert in the “tapping” laws, but someone please tell me how this does not count as tapping up??

“Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza still holds out hope they can persuade Liverpool to part with Spain duo Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

With regards Alonso, Pardeza said: “It’s at a standstill. From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay and it’s very difficult to understand. But I’ve not lost hope that things can be resolved.”

Pardeza, who confirmed Madrid have been looking for an alternative to Alonso but with little success, also admitted a lack of progress in their chase of defender Arbeloa.

“With Arbeloa there was an option which, at the moment, has come to nothing. Liverpool haven’t had much intention of letting him go, even though he has one year left on his contract, and we are still in this situation,” Pardeza told Spanish newspaper Publico.

“There is more than a month of the transfer market left and this could change. I’m not going to deny that we’d like to have Arbeloa.””

I used to have some kind of respect for Real Madrid, not born of any real reason other than I liked watching them play when they had Zidane in the team, and they were a club with a great history of success. But shit like this makes me steam – like they have some god-given right to any and every player on the planet? “From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay and it’s very difficult to understand.” – what’s difficult to understand you fucking moron?? He’s our player. He’s a top class player. YOU want him because he’s a top class player. Prices are governed by supply and demand, and it is clear as day that there aren’t many Alonso’s out there, otherwise you’d be chasing them instead of our Xabi.

Once again, thank fucking god Parry is out of the picture, or Alonso would have been sold to them by now for a suitcase full of pesos and tickets to a Michael Jackson concert.

Andy, what did we do with Robbie Keane and Barry last summer? We tapped up Keane big time and had to pay hush money when we completed the transfer. As for Barry we hounded him for 4 months and made 4 bids well below the asking price. We were all sitting here saying how unreasonable Villa were being with the price. We unsettled the player and couldn’t come up with the dough.

Real are not doing anything worse than we all big clubs do when they want a player. I’m not sure what the tapping up rules are but I’m pretty sure a club can talk as much they want to a player’s agent. They just aren’t allowed to talk to the player directly without permission.

Point taken LB, though I blame the whole Barry saga on Parry. You won’t see us acting like that anymore now that Rafa is in charge – Glen Johnson a perfect example. We enquired, got a price, paid it, deal done. No haggling via the press. Regardless of what hindsight gives us now, Parry was a fucking muppet in last season’s dealings just as Real Madrid’s directors are being fucking muppets over Alonso with this whole “I can’t understand why he is so expensive… but we really really want him to channel all our play” crap.

What was the actual story with us tapping up Keane? I heard we had to pay some hush money to a charity or something to keep Spurs happy, but I never heard exactly what we’d done wrong.

Members of the Liverpool heirachy were talking to Keane directly, making him offers saying they would be bidding for him as long as he tells Spurs he wants to sign for Liverpool. Well LFC got found out. There was no denial at all when Spurs chairman Levi made the accusation. They threatened to report Liverpool to the FA and Premier League but we apologised and agreed to pay a fee to a charity of Spurs’ choice.

Hey LB, it looks like we might be in for another season-long running battle
(now if we can just get Digger to take sides on the issue?)

Let me first state that I don’t think he’s quite up to Dirk standards, but I think Andy V. gets overlooked for the graft he puts in and for his positional awareness, in almost the same way that Dirk did a couple seasons back.

There was a point at which Skrtel walked off against Thailand. He tweaked his hammy and didn’t hang about, but just made a slow b-line for the touchline. He was done. The only person who reacted to it was Vorronin and 30 seconds later, who broke up the play in the right back slot, while everyone else was asking themselves “er, where’s he goin?”
Answer: Andre Vorronin!

Look, I’m not completely convinced by the lad and I certainly wouldn’t hang my season hopes on him. But I’m amazed people are calling him useless.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict 10 goals as a bit-part player this season.

Everyone waxes lyrical about the “potential” of some of the kids, well belive me Ponytail has potential to contribute to this squad, don’t write him off yet, just coz he hasn’t so far. Watch his off-the-ball runs and positional play in the next friendly.

Oh and despite having used an example from yesterday’s game in support of AV, I think its harsh to judge any players from these pre-season games, one way or the other.
I’m basing my opinion on what I’ve seen from him on the whole. (Some of you might remember I was calling for him to be given until January to prove himself when we shipped him to Hertha?)

New competition… see who can justifiably use the term “waxing lyrical” in the most consecutive posts, haha. We love that one don’t we.

LB – third time lucky, though sorry if you’ve already replied to this in another comments and I didn’t see it. I’ll be in London from roughly Aug 14th for about 4 or 5 days, so I will 100% definitely be at the Spurs game on Sunday 16th. Will you be about the place? I’m going to catch up with FS for a beer before the game. Would be a good laugh to get you there too. I’ll be knocking pints back somewhere every other day & night that I’m there too though.

Andy – I’m not sure if I’ll be in London as I’ve booked that week off work. The plan was to go to New York but that’s not a definite. If I’m local then a drink would be sound!

Aitch, Voronin runs his balls off I’ll give him that and his movement is good. I have a joke with my mate as I always say that Voronin has the best movement in world football. He always gets a sitter when he his brought off the bench. When he starts he gets at least 3 sitters per game. Trouble is he fucks up 90% of those sitters. For a 29 year old full international his finishing is dreadful.

At least Kuyt had history of scoring a lot of goals in Holland. Voroning has never had a ratio better than 1 in 3 games no matter where he has been.

We have more hope with youngtsers because it usually takes time for a young foreign player to peak. I can’t suddenly see Voronin getting any better. And it’s my opinion that the bloke is only at the club because Rafa couldn’t find anyone to flog him to!

Yeah but if he scores 1-in-3, doesn’t that get us 20 goals for the season? (in all comps)

Fuckin ‘ell… Andre Vorronin, the New Michael Owen?

I agree LB, I find it amazing that no team in Europe nevermind Germany would have a punt on him for a couple of mil. I mean surely he would be ideal for one of the teams that got promoted in the Bundesliga no? I mean if your the manager of say the Bundesliga equivalent of Burnley would you not be thinking ‘hey, hertha dont want this guy, hes scored 13 goals last season, those goals may keep us up this yr, lets bid 2mil’ for example. I think he’s here cos no-one else wants him! Not exactly ideal….

Super stuff Gerry.Of all the players that are knocking on the first team door so to speak i think Lucas will be the one to make a real improvement.IMO, Benny(thats benayoun,not Benitez Arthur:) ) with his performances last season since feb/march has made the step to the next level.Babel looked better yesterday as regards his attitude so hopefully thats a step in the right direction for him and us.Nice to see him score too.Vorinin for me,won’t cut the mustard at this stage but if he stays we’ll just have to do with.Maybe he should cut his davy crockett!

Arthur G posis… Don’t get me wrong, but how the Hell can you come to the conclution that by selling Babel we would have the necessary funds to purchase Huntelaar…? If we’re lucky, we might get £ 5 million + sell-on clause from the likes of Fulham or Portsmouth! RM paid Ajax app £ 23 million 7 months ago – they might be throwing money like a no other, but not even RM would accept a loss like that.

I’m not trying to be pedantic, but as Kenny suggest: Our club is not ecxatly what you would categorize as filthy rich… When, a few weeks ago, the was talk about a cash + player (striker, Negredo) in Alonso to RM saga, no-one outside Spain had ever heard of him and based by the reaction from forum like this, it was laughed off as another “oh fuck, another Nunez”. Now, the very same player is linked with a £ 18 million transfer to Spurs….!

Again – we do not have the funds to compete unless one of three scenarios happen:
1) We sell a star player for maximum money, or
2) The two american twats sell the club to the likes of DIC.
3) Rafa have been bluffing all along showing a Scrooge McDuck sized moneytank.

As it stands today, its bargain basement for Rafa and one “big-money” player a season.

Again, I’m not having a go at you, I’m just making a point.

Aitch, 20 goals in all comps? If he plays 60 games we really are in trouble.

But let me make it more clear his 1 in 3 ratio only relates to club football in Ukraine and Germany. That’s as good as it gets for him. When the standard goes up it looks like this: 6 in 57 for Ukraine national side. 7 in 28 for LFC.

I’ve been listening to the latest news on Gerrard’s case. I must say it doesn’t look good at all. His defense sounds flimsy to say the least. He actually admitted throwing punches but said it was in self defense. Said he didn’t see his mate elbow the guy in the face, he just saw the guy aggressively approach, so he thought he’d defend himself by throwing the punches first.

He better hope the judge doesn’t want to make an example of him. If he does we could have our skipper in the slammer for a couple of months. Nice one Stevie.

Still a better strike rate than Robbie Keane though eh, LB? (at least in a red shirt)

And on paper, better than any of the 17 year olds some are seemingly pinning their hopes on, no? How good will they be “when the standard goes up?”

Look, I don’t want to position myself as the Great Pronytail defender. I agree its as likely he won’t come good for us as he will, at this point.

All I’m saying is in my opinion…
a. He’s got some skills and isn’t useless…
b. He maybe has a point to prove… to himself… to LFC and its fans… and to ALL the people who HAVEN’t put a bid in for him. (and that’s some seriously good motivation right there!)

I think your clutching Aitch but we’ll just have to see…

hello men just checking this gravatar. one point off topic, i’ve started to grow slighty more worried about this season, The reason being that i was to confident when the summer came and was smugly laughing at the mancs losing key players chelsea an arsenal not making progress and again giggling at madrid and city trying to buy the world. I thought this was all just falling into place an it was really starting to look like our season.
Now i just feel really unsettled by two of our best midfilders getting tapped up and skrtel getting injured. I’m aware nothing has came of this and no that because i do worry i’m letting it get the better of me but teams go through periods of success. forest had theirs leeds had a sniff we had plenty but its the fact its the fuckin mancs turn is making me ill an i’m just worried that the stars our aligned for them and for the tramp to bow out after 19. Its fucking wrecking my head. please my god and everyone else’s do the right thing!

Great blog Gerry and here’s something to consider about it…
1: We are now a profit making club whenever we sell a player whereas we used to lose millions.
(I wonder who that’s down to?)
2: The quality of the squad players under disscusion… not long ago any of them would have been considered first teamers outright, and probably 100% better than 90% of them that took the field as untouchables week in week out.

In fact, even other clubs and the media now admit we have the best “Spine” of any team in the league, but I honestly think we have the best team – end of.

Who would we take from other clubs, and drop our players for?

Rooney, Lampard, Terry, Fabregas?

Good players, but who would you drop to accomodate them?

Think about it… a huge step up.

Ahhh, the miracle of what a wee bit of patientce can bring, eh.

Nice to see you back Mr. Hill. If you can post the link in here, I’m sure everyone will sign the petition.

As for the Steve Cohen business I wanted to post. I will do that tomorrow…
1: to let the blog run. We have plenty of time to go off on tangents.
2: I’m fucking knackered and it needs a bit of thought.

I’m sort of sick and tired with all the boycott’s and turmoil we’ve had in recent times. I just want to get back to the footy and start tonking some teams. But this Cohen is a really nasty specimen of a man, and he needs showing up for it.
And I’m sure you’ll all want to help in that.

Nah Aitch, I’d say its more likely he WONT come good than likely he will! LB I cant see Stevie getting time for this. If it took something like 3 seperate assaults before a judge finally sent that fucken thug barton down I just cant see how Stevie could be justifiably be imprisoned for a first offence. His lawyers defense strategy leaves a lot to be desired granted but his previously good record should (hopefully) draw a fine and community service, at worst a suspended sentence. Any legal eagles in here?

PS… As for tapping up. The rules are simple – it’s illegal and shouldn’t be done. Approaching agents though is allowed.

And that’s about it. But it’s a toothless law. All you can do is threaten to report the club involved and hope that puts an end to it – Chelsea doing just that right now over City/Terry.

Sadly, there is so much money involved it doesn’t even deter them now and FIFA, UEFA and the FA are too scared to do anything about it and be shown up for the toothless orginisations that they are.

But why hasn’t Rafa threatened it? I know what I reckon.

And don’t worry about Gerrard. Unless his whole jury is Evertonians, he will, like all rich celebritites, get a slap on the wrist.

Thanks for those kind thoughts and words FS.I am not a computer whiz kid by any means. I will try to send the link later about the Petition but no guarantees.

just got a few comment to make:

firstly with regards to the Babel debate its all a question of systems. My view is that under the current system babel will not come good at liverpool, reasons for this he likes to have no defensive duteis and play in a front three like he did at Ajax. Benitez will never play this way, the nearest positions that suit are left wing where he has to get back and striker where he’ll never dislodge torres. Its not his fault its just he likes to play of the last defender and theres no place for him in our starting eleven, the only way i could see him of any use is if torres gets injured.

secondly, everyone said last year that we never had the squad to challenge and that over the summer we needed some quality to go on our bench, well that hasn’t happened and im a bit worried to be honest. Dont get me wrong, i feel that our best eleven would beat barcelona. Its just to stay the distance over a league season you need to bring in fresh quality and we havent got it, last the mancs could bring in tevez and berbatov and nick three points.

I think the glen johnson signing is a quality one and one that will improve our first eleven a couple of notches from last year.

Im not worried just slightly concerened, as we have the best boss and in him we trust. Im looking forward to the new season and im hoping we can sign more quality for the bench. If it happens that we dont sign anyone and masch and alonso stay, then i would like to see the likes of pacheco, nemeth and spearing given a chance.

Grant

Ah… there you go Dig, so now its Me vs You and LB, just like it was a couple of seasons ago over Dirk.

(although as I said, I don’t feel nearly as strong about this one.)

You’ve writen him off and I think he has something to offer. Only time will tell if Andy lets me down or steps up like DK did and wins you over.

Oh well, back to work… should be done with my project just in time to enjoy the start of the season!

Like I said, I think Voronin is a decent player. There’s no need to slag him off even if he doesn’t show anything for us this season. He didn’t cost us anything.
Plus, we don’t have money to buy a great striker, so we have to make do with what we’ve got.

By the way, I wonder what boro are going to do with Tuncay…And i wonder what city are going to do with Benjani….

Let Alonso go and Agger will do just fine to replace him. Benitez to get one top class STRIKER. Sorted.

The Gerrard court case is interesting, I’m no legal eagle but it’s curious that Gerrard didn’t just take a plea bargain for his slap on the wrist, rather than take it to court. It looks like he’s hoping for a few LFC fans on the jury to get a not guilty or a hung jury. Of course if they find him guilty though, it’s up to the judge what punishment he gets so let’s fucking hope the judge isn’t an Evertonian. I think you’ll find the judge will say that jail time will be of no benefit and he’ll sentence Stevie to a bunch of community service (which, handily, I think you’ll find Gerrard will be able to cover doing the kind of charitable / meet the kiddies type stuff he does anyway). Anything more severe than that and I’m sure they’ll appeal it, not that we want this to drag on.

My 2 cents on Voronin: I think he can be a handy partner to Torres in games where Rafa wants to play 2 strikers, as his movement is good to either use space created by Torres, or create space for Torres. He did show he’s quite handy with assists so since his finishing is questionable, he can just tee them up for Torres instead. However he’d be lining up for that role behind both Gerrard and Benayoun, so it may not happen often. As for games where Torres isn’t playing for whatever reason, then I do not think Voronin is the answer – in fact from our current crop of strikers, I’m not sure who is. This is why I’d like to see someone else brought in who is capable of leading the line when Torres doesn’t play. Kuyt, Voronin, Babel, Ngog are all “handy” but I don’t want any of them leading the line in premiership games – happy for them to take that role in cup games though. I’m not saying we need to buy a superstar, but I think we need a focal point for our attack when Torres isn’t playing – they don’t necessarily need to be expensive – the likes of Crouch would have been OK if he’d hung around, as when he was in form he could hold the ball up and feed off to the smaller guys buzzing around him. I think we need someone who can play that role – like Viduka plays when he was younger and fit – strong as an ox, couldn’t be knocked off the ball, skilful at feeding off, and could score himself when needed.

Great blog Gerry! Well, I would prefer not comment on any thing related to the ongoing speculation regarding Xabi.

One thing is for sure you all guys wld love. Watch this video on YouTube – Ronaldo leaves Utd. This is the most hilarious one I’ve ever seen on YT.

Just to cheer your moods guys!! Watch it!!

Jack it’s called cut and paste mate. Even this duffer mastered it, so it’ll be nimps for you.

As for Gerrard… They just caught some kid out of Harry Potter with a few ounces of weed and a knife. Carrying a knife is supposed to be immeadiate jail time under legislation the government just brought in. The pot was in 8 bags, so he could have been done for dealing. The daft bastard, also had photographs on his phone of a crop of pot, which he addmitted he was growing in his bedroom. The police went round and found 10 plants.

What did he get for this?

120 hours of community service.

So, I wouldn’t be too worried about Our Stevie. And nevermind a jury full of Evertonians, we only need a Red judge and he will probably get a medal for punching a Manc and services to mankind above and beyond the call of duty.

As for tapping up players, I know what I’d do to stop it… any club caught doing it would get a ban from having any transfers for one season.

That would put an end to it. But it will never happen so I’d just do away with the whole non-existent law.

Will get round to the Cohen thing later. Too busy right now.

PS… Welcome back Kop King. I was wondering where you and Somnath had got to and was worried if I’d chased you off.

That wasn’t my intention when I stood my corner.

Hello all – following recent remarks that appear to have upset a number of my fellow Liverpool fans – I shall hereby refer to our manager as “Rafa” and not “Benny” – my humblest deepest apologies

oh but one thing – if we sell/had sold Babel – we’d get much more than 5million!

that is all – happy friday to you all

Just saw this on soccernet:

Rafa in move to bring Crouchinho back!!!

Now, that would be interesting. Me always though he’d make a good foil fer Torres & wasn’t given enough opportunity to build a proper understanding with Torres.

What do ye guys think?

Never gonna happen Puchong – but I agree – never really got a fair crack of the whip in my view

Apperently, according to The Independent, a deal for Silva could be back on track ….

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/benitez-will-swoop-for-silva-if-valencia-cash-in-1759120.html

Its all just speculation as per usual, but who knows…

Why are Degen and Itandje still @ the club?.Degen is said to be worse in training than when he actually plays!.Good money wasted.

Why are you still on the wind up. Your said to be worse in real life than cyber space. Good keyboard wasted.

I don’t think Crouch was given a raw deal in any way by Liverpool. The fact is, we bought him when nobody else wanted him. We stood by him when he couldn’t score in a crack den. We stood by him when he was ridiculed. Rafa got ridiculed for buying him and having faith in him. We/he brought out the potential he had and turned him into a full international. We didn’t want to sell him, even though he was starting to act the big time Charlie with his super model bird. We only let him go because he asked to.

But having said all that, fair play to the lad. He went for the best of reasons – wanting more playing time. He never turned into some proper Big Time Charlie. He nipped that right in the bud, got his head down and played some great football.

So, if he has learnt a lesson from all that, really wants to come back, and is willing to spend time on the bench without causing any disruption, then I would welcome back with open arms.

He’s a decent lad and more than decent footballer.

Gerrard found not guilty. Lucky git.

HOW IS THE WINDOW CLEANING GOING, FS?.

How’s the window licking on the bus to the care home BM? Do they wipe them for you?

Thank god for that with SG. God knows the media would have had a field day if he was found guilty.

Who is this Burgerman other than some moronic twat?

Some-one please update me…!

Missed that LB. But tell you what… if you want to get away from all this transfer nonsense – such as free transfer players being a waste of money, and players who refuse to lose the club, like Mr. Intandje because they’d rather see out contracts and pick up their wages on the bench, even though they have been found other clubs and LFC have tried to cancel their contracts – then you should look into a few Manc forums.

They will be going into meltdown over this as they was all hoping he’d get a wee bit of bird.

Stevie! What a hit son! What a hit! Heh heh!

“He’s big and he’s fooken hard”
“Steve Gerrard, Gerrard”

I hope Stevie learns his lesson. No more impressions of Roberto Duran. Thank you.

FS, the mancs and Evertonians would have LOVED it if had to do a bird. I might take a peep into a manc forum.

There’ll be murder over this LB. No doubt the Manc fella acted like a complete knob and probably deserved a dig. But Gerrard was clearly guilty.

I can’t dig out the film I saw, it was on the news not the net. In the first argument the fella looked like he was about to butt Gerrard, can’t say for definite because of the film but I’ve been snotted enough to think it was pretty obvious the fella had a go at Gerrard.

Next thing Gerrard’s mate charges over. Gerrard follows. You can guess what’s getting said. The next thing the fella get’s elbowed in the kipper. But then they put on the slowed down, cleard up bit… Gerrard does the aul favourite that he probably learned in school on the BlueBell estate – pulls the fellas sweater over he’s head, pulls he’s head down with it and then lamps the fella with 3 upper cuts.

They looked decent shots. But he either missed the target or punched like Amy Winehouse.

Jammy bastard, either way.

I thought the uppercuts looked impressive in slow motion.

Being out of action for a few days but just caught up on the blog and comments. Nothing more to add that I have not said already.

BTW, I found a clearer Gerrard clip and I have done him a misjustice. Three pretty hefty upppercuts they were and all. A lucky boy to get away scot-free.

Here’s the link that I found, if anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=UD7dPqkFbdE

Lastly but not leastly, Burgerman, wise/grow up.

Good bit of news at last. SG found not guilty by the jury but what is more significant is that the judge fully agrees with the verdict. These are the comments of Judge Henry Globe:

“The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away from this court with your reputation intact.

“You did not start the violence, it was started by the violent elbowing of Marcus McGee in the face by one of your friends John Doran,” he added.

“At all times you insisted that you only ever acted in what you believed was reasonable self-defence to what you understandably, albeit you accept mistakenly, believed was an attempted attack upon you by Marcus McGee.

“What at first sight to the casual observer may seem to have been a clear-cut case against you of unlawful violence, has been nowhere near as clear-cut upon careful analysis of the evidence.”

This was the judge who sent Joey Barton to 6 months imprisonment so obviously he knows what a real thug is. Well done SG, his defence team, the jury and the judge.

Well done nothing. After a 5-1 win at Newcastle Stevie shouldn’t be celebrating by trading blows in a bar. He’s an idiot and this could have cost us big time.

I’m sure some of you guys saw this

http://www.shareliverpoolfc.co.uk/

I for one, have registered my interest – not sure if it could actually work though!

Stevie off,jammy bastard ha.Time to get down to some footy now lad.Stig,Burgerman is nts resident pity.He comes in drops some ridiculous off topic posts and goes missing till the next day.Its obviously a wind up,as nobody’s that thick in the head,but i guess he’s harmless and lets face it every blog/forum offer a burgerman.You know someone you can have a wind up off now and then.The fecker makes some damn good chemical burgers though

that should have read needs a burgerman.God i have posting on my mobile!

virtual burgerman spotted on the net:

http://www.animationconnection.com/inc/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=/images/graphics/fles45l.jpg&w=400

HATE not have ,i’m not posting no more i’m rattled from drink.I’ll keep up with all comments.Good luck lads!

Vinotino, you missed a bit of the judge’s summing up…
Obviously you must be punished, and if it was within my power I would make you tend to my every need when I’m in my complimentary box at Anfield watching my beloved Reds. But seeing the law prevents me from doing this, I sentence you to 200 hours community service driving round Salford with me, and twatting Mancs around the head with a fresh wet salmon from the back window of my Rolls Royce.

I’m glad that SG got off scot free but agree with LB because that’s my thought too!

Amy Whinehouse got off too FS.Maybe herself and stevie are meeting for a bevvie later?She’d scare a few mancs around salford!

Hey FS, no offences taken man! I am not of those kind who would run away from arguments mate. Cheers!!

In all honesty I think Stevie might as well have been sentenced. He was not innocent of affray.

Still, after all he’s done for the club on the pitch the last decade, I can’t really comprehend how a Liverpool supporter would ever describe him as an idiot.

Thank fuck the Gerrard affray trial is out of the way. Now as gratitude for all our support, we only ask that you lead the team to a Premier League title, Stevie. Thanks.

BTW, burgerman, PLEASE GO FUCK YOURSELF.

Sachem it was more than idiotic. Stevie should be fined a few weeks wages, given a right bolloking by Rafa and a few digs by the lads in the showers after training.

But he won’t. Football, eh.

Since we’re at it, FS is too nice a chap to let him get away with it, so I will volunteer to get my hands dirty and formally request Gerry to keep an eye on this burgerman’s conduct, which has gone from merely disagreeing with people to resorting to petty personal insults towards members in the blog, reminiscent of the first Kopking (not to be confused with the current Kopking who coincidentally shares that prick’s name, and is actually ok).

Well, it’s probably as good a time as any now to change the subject, so here’s just a sample of this Steve Cohen character that I’ve been on about. Our American lads will know all about him. He’s one of the top broadcasters in the American Soccer media. Here’s a few of his comments on the eve of the 20th anivesary of Hillsborough….

Steven Cohen: “I want to say, and I want to get this correct, what is the difference between a cow and a tragedy? Liverpool fans can only milk the cow for so long. And here is th-the…

Cohost: Why… why are we… what is the reference?

Steven Cohen: Here is the bloody reference. Liverpool want to change the return leg of their game against Real Madrid.

Cohost: To honor dead people, is that a problem?

Steven Cohen: To change the date, what do you mean, to honour dead people? Fine, honor the dead people.

Cohost: They want to have a commemorative ceremony.

Steven Cohen: No they don’t. They want to move the date so it doesn’t coincide with the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough. How about you just go ahead and beat Madrid and go through to the quarter finals and call it a day?

Cohost: No, let’s move on.

Steven Cohen: No, I’m not going to move on. (laughs)

Cohost: (laughs) this is rubbish.

Steven Cohen: Here’s the thing. Not only is this is a tragedy, it’s a tragedy of their own doing! They’ve done brilliantly with this, with the Heysels and the Hillsboroughs, they’ve done brilliantly, they have taken events that they were solely responsible for or largely responsible for and have somehow turned the world on its head and made themselves the victims. The victims! ”

Cohost: Let them move on with it for christ’s sake, what difference does it make, they are going to honor some dead–people that died unfortunately, let them move on, let them change the date, let them do whatever they want”

Steven Cohen: But no, they should not change the date for something that happened 20 years before, if they want to honor them than have a ceremony before kick off, get on with it! The world does not stop for Liverpool, and the events that they have created, that they are not the victims, they are the perpetrators!

Cohost: (laughs) He’s trying to make up for yesterday’s rant that was missed, it was a cracker.

Steven Cohen: I’m not, I’m telling you, they are the perpetrators. You are not going to change my opinion on this. And then they come out with this bollocks about “oh well we don’t want to play a game on the 20th anniversary, we really want…”(makes numerous noises mocking Liverpudlian accent) Just unbelievable, they are the most despicable people. And you know who’s behind this… the Hillsborough bleeding Justice group who couldn’t be more corrupt and more blatantly ridiculous when they get to something like this. Play the bloody game, UEFA, don’t fall for this, at the end of the day, they are just as guilty for what happened there as the police, the stadium and everything else, don’t let them off the hook, they don’t deserve it, and it’s not a question of not respecting the 96, its not respecting the 8000 who showed up at Hillsborough without having tickets hell-bent on getting in”

This only a small snippet of Mr Cohen’s views on all Liverpool fans. And you have to remember this man is not some idiot without a platform. He hosts America’s only daily soccer show on radio – World Soccer Daily. And he is also a heavily featured pundit on the Fox Soccer Channel.

We might think the likes of Andy Gray are bad. But this man is spreading some vile lies and pure hatred to soccer fans in America.

That qoute from his show is only a small snippet of what Mr. Cohen has spouted on the Hillsborough tragedy, and it’s not the first time he has aired these type of views.

Indeed, Mr Cohen started this back in 2005/06 season if I am correct. The first time he broadcast such hatred, he was forced to appologise for his views. He then renaged on that appology and repeatedly broadcast ever more increasingly vile opinions.

He has since been forced to appologise on several occasions, and then again renaged on them over and over. So, finally The NY City branch of The LFC American Supporters group started a boycott of Cohen and said only his removal from the air will be acceptable seeing he’s had his chance over and over to appologise to the victims families only to renage on them.

Mr. Cohen is a Chelsea fan. And fair play to Chelsea FC, when he recently invited them on his show in LA, they made a public statement condeming Mr Cohen and his views. And also made it perfectly plain that they didn’t want Mr. Cohen as any part of their club or their support.

So as I say, fair play to Chelsea. And I never thought you’d hear that coming from me.

But you want to hear the things coming from Mr. Cohen. He has repeadetly compared LFC fans to Terrorists. He has accused not only the fans but the club itself of being Anti-Semetic, enraging the Isreali supporters branch. And he has also continously lied about the Hillsborough tragedy, the victims, the grieving families, The Hillsborough justice campaign, the club itself, the players and the fans. Indeed anything LFC is considered fair game by Mr. Cohen.

He is spreading this hatred he has imported into America from England under the guise of free speech. Well, Mr Cohen is also starting to realise there is also anti-hate speech laws in America, and some good people are doing their best to ensure it is removed from the American air-waves. They could do with our help.

There’s a email template been drawn up. Please use that to contact Mr. Cohen’s sponsors. And please whatever you do – don’t become abusive.

I can’t think of any people who deserve abuse more than Mr. Cohen, but he is now trying to portray himself as the victim in this affair and some sort of martyr defending free speech in America. So, any abuse will only be used to further his cause.

I will come back with the template in a moment, and I am going to email his list of sponsors to Gerry before I post them. Not that I think Gerry will object to this, but because it is quite a list and I hope Gerry will post them in one complete list for instead of me posting them one by one. I have no problem doing that, but I think they would be handier all in the same post.

So, please take a bit of time to do this. We may have our arguments between ourselves but this man deserves our universal condemnation.

Can you imagine any pundit on any air waves, broadcasting live from a large sports pub, during a Liverpool Chelsea game, and singing “Murderers” to the LFC fans in that pub? Well, that’s what Mr Cohen brags of doing – although he didn’t actually do it.

We must help remove this man and his hatred from the media. So please take the time to send the email to all his sponsors and encourage every one you can to do the same.

Kinny I would hate for Burger Man to be removed from the blog. I get a laugh from his comments, even the little insults aimed at me.

And lads I know that post is huge but please take the time to read it. This is important.

SORRY TO SHOUT, BUT HERE’S THE EMAIL TEMPLATE…

To whom it may concern,

You advertise on either one or both of Steve Cohen’s shows on Fox and Sirius. Steve Cohen has, and not for the first time, told lies about the deaths the 96 fans at Hillsborough, claiming that Liverpool fans were responsible for killing their own, amongst other lies. Is this the type of person you want representing your company? Steve Cohen has done this before, apologising when the outrage grew too large. Clearly, he will not stop, so our objective is to see him being put off air permanently.

I urge you to reconsider your purchasing of advertising.

I will be boycotting all your products and services until your support for Steve Cohen and his lies ends.

Thank you,

FEEL FREE TO CHANGE OR PERSONALISE IT, BUT REMEMBER… DON’T GET ABUSIVE. IT WILL ONLY DEFEAT THE OBJECT.

Has the email Gerry link been removed? Well, I can’t find it, so I’m going to attempt to post the list of sponsors in me next comment. If it doesn’t appear, I’ll do them one by one.

Objectivo T-Shirts
[email protected]

Cartan Tours
[email protected]

We Speak Wine
[email protected]

Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=&type=email&skip=true#csTop

Sony Pictures (The Damned United)
[email protected]

Press Display

Alex Kroogman
-This company has changed emails in an effort to hide.

PSG Sports
Nick Roberts
[email protected]

The Fix
Declan Hill
[email protected]

VIP Communications
[email protected]

Right the haven’t come up so I’ve done the old trick – but instead of removing the first letter, I have removed the .com

Please help out lads. The dead can’t defend themselves.

Objectivo T-Shirts
matt@objectivo

Cartan Tours
info@cartan

We Speak Wine
support@wespeakwine

Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=&type=email&skip=true#cs

(I HAVE REMOVED .Top FROM THE END OF THE AMAZON LINK)

Sony Pictures (The Damned United)
[email protected]

Due to the boycott of Steven Cohens show World Soccer Daily on SiriusXM, please say you will not attend the movie “Damned United” or rent the DVD which is due to be advertised on his show.

Press Display

Alex Kroogman
-This company has changed emails in an effort to hide.

PSG Sports
Nick Roberts
nickr@psgsports

The Fix
Declan Hill
declanhill2002@yahoo

VIP Communications
[email protected]

Thanks lads. Normally I would appologise for hogging the blog like this, but I stand by this.

If you need any further proof of Mr. Cohen’s disgraceful opinions, you can find him on you tube and there are plenty of links to him and his bile on the net.

You can also check out things at…
ttp://www.lfcny.org/

I’ve took the h off the front of that link.

Thanks lads. I’ll buy you all a pint at the match one day. And don’t forget to pass this on to as many reds as you can.

I have just sat and went through the list of sponsors removing bits of the address so they aren’t links, but they still haven’t appeared.

Please email me Gerry. I will pass them onto you.
I’ll do them one by one if needs be but I am getting round a few forums with this tonight.

It’s the only chance I have for awhile.

i’ll get on that right away when i get back from me hols in kerry tomo FS.Christ i’d love to have ten minutes with that bastard alone in a room.

This cohen bloke seems a right dick, maybe he wants us to react with abuse so he can use it agaisnt LFC. i agree with FS send as many emails as it takes, buy be polite and unabusive, but still put your points over forcefully. this will get up his noise more than being aggresive. he is the sort of person who would not have the balls to stand in front of you and say the same stuff, a coward and bully acts like this. Good on chealsea for condeming him.

Remember lads no abuse.

He’s been taking comments from fans forums and saying they are actual death threats sent to him from Reds.

To be honest, like I said in a recent post, I am sick and tired of all these boycotts and campaigns. I just want to get back to the footy. But this man has to stopped and this deserves the support of every Red. So, please do what you can, and spread it about. Remember there are millions of us.

In fact, remember us millions are spread all across the world, we come from every walk of life, we are every class, colour and creed under the sun.

Yet this man thinks he can not only slander our dead brothers and sisters, but lable us all Murderers, Racists, Anti-Semites and Terrorists.

He needs to be stopped. He has to be stopped. It’s our duty to stop him.

Aitch, I’ll hop on the unpopular wagon with you and hitch my self to Voronin.

I think he’s a tidy little player and would give us competent back up at all 3 of the attacking midfield positions. I don’t see him as cover for Nando if he were out injured, but I think Rafa prefers Dirk in that spot when that happens.

He’s got a good footballing brain (as has been previously mentioned) and he also has good ball skills. He does a good job of keeping possession and moving it around.

Stevie, Nando, Dirk, Yossi, et al can’t play all 90 minutes of every single game. We need quality squad players who can come on 65-75 minutes into the match and hold onto the ball and move it around so we can easily see out the last 15-20 minutes of matches we’re leading in.

We can talk about the potential of Ngog, Babel, Nemeth, et al to do this, but I’m not of the opinion that they are at that level just yet. Voronin is, so he will have an important role to play for us.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Rafa wanted to hold onto him last year. He went out on loan last year because he wasn’t going to play with the 20 million purchase of Robbie Keane. The 20 million purchase is always going to get preferential treatment to the no money signing.

Is Voronin cover for Nando should he get injured? No, but then exactly, who is? He get us 7-10 goals in all competitions, as well as a handful of assists. Not a bad return for a “squad” player.

Agreed.This Cohen is some piece of work.His employers fox have a lot to answer for too FS.They let him spit out this drivel on their channel.This goes way beyond simple football hatred and it has to be stopped.

arjun, you’re taking the piss when you say that Spearing should get more time instead of Lucas?

I guess I’ll hitch myself to another unpopular bandwagon with this one.

They are just under two years apart in age.
Lucas: 9 January 1987 (1987-01-09) (age 22)
Spearing: 25 November 1988 (1988-11-25) (age 20)

1st Team Appearences for Liverpool:
Lucas: 70
Spearing: 2

International Appearances:
Lucas: U20 9 (captain)
U23 7
Full 3
Spearing: 0
(I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s a little tougher to get into the Brazilian squad than the English squad.)

Lucas also became the youngest player ever to receive the Bola de Ouro (Golden Ball), given to the best player in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Is Lucas the lowest rated of our midfield? Yes, he’s no Gerrard, Xabi, or Masch, each of whom arguably would get into any first 11 on the planet.

Is he a serviceable player? Absolutely. When we thrashed the Mancs at Old Toliet, who was our Midfield partnership that day? Lucas and Masch, Xabi didn’t play.

He was instrumental in pulling the strings in our thrashing of Newcastle. Two seasons ago he slotted right into the CL games against Inter Milan and played flawlessly.

He’s a good solid professional and all of his teammates speak highly of him. He puts in the graft during training, and the boss obviously sees something in him as well.

We’ve all heard about his strength is as a box to box middie, but we haven’t really seen him put into that position as a Red. Rafa’s kept him in a holding role and he’s done a serviceable job.

He finished the season strongly and I expect him to continue his development into this season.

If Jay Spearing was from London or Newcastle as opposed to Wirral, would people be begging for him to play?

The thing is Timmy, he is working in an emerging soccer nation that is hungry for everything to do with the game. And I don’t mean this as an insult to American Soccer fans, far from it, but it’s a new market with millions and millions of fans, that are naive to all this.

AYSO the American Youth Soccer Orginisation is absoulutely huge. It’s a great institution. I used to coach in it myself on a voluntary basis. The kids were really lovely young kids, polite, fun, really in love with the game, especially the priemership, but most importantly, in this context, really eager to learn.

And this squalid little man is only too eager to fill their minds with this disgraceful hatred that it’s his mission to import.

It’s just not on. I’m going to start putting the links in now. Sorry to take over the blog, but it’s the only way to get them in.

Maybe Gerry can put them all in one handy place?

Links to Cohen’s sponsors…
Objectivo T-Shirts
[email protected]

Cartan Tours
[email protected]

We Speak Wine
[email protected]

Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=&type=email&skip=true#csTop

Sony Pictures (The Damned United)
[email protected]

Tell them due to the boycott of Steven Cohens show World Soccer Daily on SiriusXM, you will not go to the film “Damned United” or rent/buy the DVD which is due to be advertised on his show.

PSG Sports
Nick Roberts
[email protected]

The Fix
Declan Hill
[email protected]

VIP Communications
[email protected]

I know it’s a lot. But use the template to save time and try to peck through them as you can.

And it is already working. Due to the boycott and people like us emailing, Cohen has already lost a lot of sponsors, some biggies amongst them, including 4,4,2 magazine and Heineken.

And companies like Press Display, have changed their email addresses in an effort to hide. Well, let’s not let him hide.

Sorry to put all this on you boys, but it’s the right thing to do….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H25OqzrpwTM&feature=related

That’s just the snippet I printed earlier. There’s plenty more and every bit just as disgusting.

The Petition FS is :- england2018bid.com
I hope this works for everyone.

No need for sorry’s FS you blog hogger you!Seriously though your doing fantastic work here and i’m sure most will do what they can to help.This subject is close to all of our hearts even though us who are not from Liverpool itself we feel,as LFC supporters that we have a connection to all things that happen regarding our club be it good our bad.Your right i think its our duty to defend our club and anyone connected to it especially our 96 fellow red men and women.Keep up the good work.

Thanks Tim, but you know what… this fella doesn’t just hate scousers. He hates you. He hates everyone and everything LFC.

If it was just some tosser like the other millions of tossers who hate us, it wouldn’t matter. This goes way beyond tribalism in football. This man is one of America’s top soccer commentors and broadcasters and he is preaching this hatred to millions of people in America who don’t even know what a Scouser is.

And this would be hilarious if it wasn’t so damaging, he has roped in some professor from UCLA to back him up. The man is an African American with degree from The Martin Luther King Institute. And he is defending Cohen’s right to broadcast this hate.

While attacking the 96 dead and every LFC fan who was at Hillsborough, Cohen has also accused all LFC fans and the club itself of being racist and anti-semetic.

The mind boggles, but I can imagine the good professor’s reaction if Cohen was aiming these comments and this blatant hatred at some minority.

This isn’t a bit of banter. It’s not like Johnny Giles or Steve McMahon calling Rafa a fool or slagging off the team in some way. This serious stuff.

Ask yourself this, which ever country you are from, can you imagine your top football commentator being allowed to keep repeating these lies and hate filled opinions over and over again?

No. I thought not.

Well, I’m off now. But I’ll try that link first Jack. It’s about time something good happened to us.

I have emailed Steven Cohen’s just now thanks to your links FS.

FS great work Buddy.

Maybe Gerry can send out a few of these emails along with this sites address, this might also show them how many people think he is a disgrace and also the numbers who visit this site.

I was in Bangkok to see the game. Went to visit a freind staying at the same hotel as the players. Along the way up the lift, which was already crowded with 6 people inside, in came Alonso, Kuyt, Babel and Arbeloa. But, damn it, I was just partly tongue-tight and partly embarrasssed to speak up in the crowded lift. Seconds later they went off to the floor. They were so close, it was incredible. Gotta go.

Steven Gerrard has just been sentenced to eighty hours of community service, teaching Football to the under -priviledged. He reports to “Goodison Park” Monday morning….

I’m up early this morning because I’m just about to head off to Kerry to get completely pissed for a couple of days. I just got through catching up with the comments. FS and Mr Jack Hill sir, I’ll put something together as soon as I get back and include all of those links. FS, I appreciate the fact you were going to e-mail me about those links but there’s really no need mate and just in case you ever need to get in touch, just use the contact link at the top of the page.
There will be an awful lot of links in the next blog because there is also another cause near to my heart that I am hoping I can get some of you people to support.

FS mate, that is a great effort for a very worthy cause.

I am vacation this week, so I will have time to go thru’ every link.

Had a listen to that Cohen puke again on youtube and he does not know when to stop. He definitely has an agenda against Liverpool supporters, Scousers and Liverpool as a whole.

He is the type of guy you would never get tired punching! An absolute disgrace.

Nice one Gerry. It’s very much appreciated. I knew you wouldn’t mind and I knew you’d help.

I didn’t really want to put this in the blog. It’s been going on since the 20th anniversary, but I said nothing about and just left it to the people who are running – NYLFC. But I got to know some of them people when I contacted them about Alex’s kit boycott. (Where is Alex?) And they said they would like the help, so I’m rustling up as much as possible.

It needs to be done and it doesn’t take long lads. When you’ve got a bit of spare time, just click on the links and use the template. As I said, you can personalise, or even write your own if you have the time. Just don’t get abusive.

The Cohen fella and his cronies are trawlling LFC fan sites. When they find something saying something nasty, they are using it as actual death threats and he is using his shows to broadcast them. He’s already reported that he’s had loads of death threats, threats to kidnap his kids and loads of anti-semetic hate mail. (He’s Jewish).

In fact, he’s been comparing all Liverpool fans to terrorists, calling us all – me and you and every other one of us – murderers, racisists and anti-semites. And he constantly blames the Hillsborough victims for their own deaths. He completely ignores all the evidence, which proves it was the authorities fault and constantly says 8000 drunken angry ticketless LFC fans are to blame for what happened. Although that is completely untrue and has been proven so.

He has been forced to issue appologies before, but everytime he has renaged on them and repeated his poison. And everytime he thinks it’s safe to have another go – he does at the first opportunity and his accusations get worse everytime.

There’s plenty of idiots like him. You probably know some yourselves. But the thing is… this man is one of America’s most high profile broadcasters and he is determined to brainwash Americans into believing his lies and vile opinions. And he would love nothing more than to see a whole generation of Americans growing up believing his lies as truth and hating LFC.

It’s easy to mock what is just a faceless number 96. But the fact is, everyone of them was a living human being with families and loved ones. And after 20 years them families and loved ones have still had no justice. The pain of losing a father, other, brother, sister or child, never goes away. But imagine seeing them and their memories constantly abused in this manner and never recieving any justice. It’s just not on, and I hope you will all do the little we can to at least shut up one idiot who keeps increasing them poor people’s pain.

The victims weren’t all from Liverpool. Some of them were just young nice kids from decent hard working families. Remember one poor poor mother and father lost their only 2 daughters – young lovely, well mannered, educated, good girls. Mr Cohen has made it his mission in life to portray them all as drunken, ticketless, mindless thugs, intent on causing mayhem.

So, as I’ve said, sorry to put all this on you lads. All I want is to get back to the footy and a bit of banter in here. And I won’t even mention this all again. We aren’t here for all this. But please try to help put an end to it, and then we can all get back to what we love… having a laugh and talking some footy.

Enjoy the piss up Gerry. You jammy bugger. I’m off the ale until the first match. Feeling good for it but – no ale, no footy – arrrrghhh.

Oh and talking of Footy, Gerrard played and scored against Tranmere just a few hours after leaving court. Suppose it was good that he never went for a drink to celebrate.

And Rafa has given a press interview. He said he has told Alonso and Masch to stay, and I’d like to believe that was going to be the outcome. But in all honesty, he didn’t say it with much conviction. In fact, I think all he done was give the media more ammunition and I expect the Alonso Mascherano leaving LFC headlines to be plastered all over the weekends press.

Fat Scouser….

You are not normal – and I mean that in the nicest possible way!

The effort you’ve put into this is beyond call of duty! I’ve got nothing else but my deepest respect for your dedication!!

Keep the faith!

Lurgankop, I spent 9 years as a lower league professional footballer, which was a decent achievement and not something I have bragged about.All my comments are written because I love LFC, there is no malice ,just frustration.

Thanks for the mention Gerry, and FS,you put yourself down the “F” should be Fervent and henceforth in my eyes and mind you will be Fervent Scouser.
Here endeth the lesson.

Ahhh poor BM, and here’s me thinking they was just a wind up. Well, whoopedefuckindoo for the confessional, but the fact is, you aim you’re frustration in the wrong place.

Alonso, Masch and Arbeloa could all leave the club – all for differing reasons, but you put them all on Rafa when none of the reasons can be laid at Rafa’s door.

You demand high profile signings, but H&G have just failed to meet the loan deadline again – meaning there is no money in the coffers.

You demand immeadiate signings when Johnson has been bought for practically nothing… the money owed on Crouch and the few bob Rafa has dragged in on sales during this window.

We were promised at least 35/40 million quid – usual 20 odd and 15 from Keane debacle.

I could go on but why bother. You already have your agenda.

But if you do want to vent your frustration, do it condtructively, take it out on Cohen and blame those at fault for things that are wrong at LEC, instead of the one man who is fighting through it all on our/your behalf.

Thanks Stig, but fact is it doesn’t take long and someone needs to do it. Just try to help in your spare time. Cheers

Jack I actually weigh 6 stone in my stocking feet and stand 4 foot 9 inches high soaking wet. But thanks.

Well, I’m off out now. Thanks for the encouragement and support lads. But it really is no big deal. I had a few free hours this morning, so hopefully I’ve put it to some good use. Remember them lads and lasses can’t defend themselves – someone has to try.

And as for the problems at LFC – what a bastard. Just as we thought all was well and all we’d have to do is concentrate on the footy, the problems only seem to get bigger by the day. So, expect the doom and gloom sensationalist headlines to start flowing soon. But remember, there is one fella we can trust.

He proved that to me long ago. But think about it, instead of going through all this shit since 2005 and still going through it now – he could have been sat at Madrid now, spending all that filthy lucre instead of fighting them off on our behalf.

Later

E-mailed all those sponsors FS.

Gerry enjoy Kerry,lovely part of the world.Just got home myself from a week in Banna beach.Good old session we had.The kids loved it too.

Can`t wait for all the silly season shite to be over and the real footy to begin.My heads melting.

I just listened to this Cohen fella via the link. Absolutely disgusting. Why don’t he try using the same tactics on the 9-11 tragedy or the Holocaust. He has to be an idiot if he ever pokes fun at the families who lost loved ones on 9-11 or at the Holocaust survivors. He probably get murdered. Mocking the families and support groups of Hillsborough is just simply fucking distasteful. Accusing us of being anti semitic? Whats that all about. I just hope something similar happens to him, and lets see if he is still singing the same tune.

Hi Lads.

Firstly Stevie G. Not that I’ve had any experience in GBH, ABH assault or affray (I’m a lover not a fighter) Affray is a very serious charge and is not easy to prove, that’s why Stevie G didn’t plea bargain he knew on the evidence they had he had an excellent chance of getting off. From what I know(not very much) and have been told, for him to be convicted of Affray they would have to have proved that Stevie G and his mates went out that night to intentionally cause trouble. It’s also obvious that guy thought he could say what he wanted and it would get ignored. He didn’t realise that Stevie the same as Carra and Fowler all hang around with their mates from when they were young. It was always likely he was going to get a dig in the kisser.

LB: Lighten up mate about Stevie, the guy got a few digs and it was all over. For me that’s the big difference between Liverpool and London. In London people will give you the finger in the car, shout at you Eff and blind but if you get out and face up to them they will back off every time. If you give lip, the finger, abuse in Liverpool you’re going to end up in a fight. In London it’s all verbal in Liverpool it’ll end in a fight.

Steve Cohen is a disgrace. Do you know what would look good on him? a rottweiler. Credit where credit is due to chelsea for disowning him. Thanks for the links FS.

One thing about Steve Cohen. anti semetic? eh? Don’t we have an Israeili playing for us? Have I missed something. Anti manc yes but that’s the only thing we are anti.

Kenny, couldn’t agree more. Never been to London or Liverpool, would love to afford it someday though
I am one to believe what goes around comes around. This Cohen fella will one day get what he deserves.

Kenny, if someone like Pennant did what Stevie did we’d all be slaughtering him, saying how much of a disgrace his is to the shirt – get him out the club etc etc.

Steven Gerrard is captain of Liverpool football club, he’s supposed to be our ambassador. He’s a world superstar and like it or not a role model for kids all over the world. You’d think he would have the sense to walk away from confrontation rather than punching up a DJ in a night club.

If he got 6 months in jail then what? You’d still be complimenting him for getting some good digs in?

As for people in London only giving lip and no action. I only wish. The amount of fighting, stabbings and shootings that happen in and around my community is ridiculous.

Lads,anyone in the know about the situation with the borrowers?

Their extension wasv up on thursday wasn`t it?

The Barcodes go down 6-1 to Leyton Orient!

LB: Can’t argue with what you say except to say the guy got a couple of digs and he deserved them. You are right Stevie G should have walked away but then again he’d had a few beers and was a bit worse for wear which again isn’t a good idea. I know what I’d do if someone came up to me and it looked like they were looking for trouble I’d get it in first. I’ve walked away from trouble before only to get a kicking from four fellas, It won’t happen again.

As regards trouble in London. I’ve lived in south London for 13 years mate. I’ve walked and drank in Brixton, Peckham etc. I’m talking about the average person in the street not those mixed up in drungs/gangs etc. In every city in the world there will be people ready to stab, shoot or fight. The average person in London will cut you up, then get out of the car to shout at you etc black or white it’s all the same, as soon as you jump out and show you mean business they scuttle back to their cars. The trouble you talk about is mostly gangs and those mixed up in drugs.

by the way as I said I’m a lover not a fighter, the best thing is not to get mixed up or put yourself in a situation where trouble can start.

LB, I agree that SG should know better than getting in bar fights etc, and that it is setting a bad example. But if Pennant did it, it IS different because he has a history of poor behaviour, a history of not putting in 100% at training, of under-achieving and not putting in the hard yards for whichever club he is at. Stevie is getting our support on this one because his behaviour otherwise is generally above reproach, and has a history of setting a good example for others – fellow players, fans, kids alike.

For what it’s worth… I reckon he was guilty. He was daft and he should know better. Having said that, he’s still a young fella. He’s bound to want to go out for a bevvy with his mates and their birds from time to time.

You can give it all the he shouldn’t have been there. I have meself. But the fact, he’s a lad from a working class background and a huge tough council estate. That’s not to say, if he hadn’t of made it as a footballer he wouldn’t be doing that every night of the week or even every weekend, month, year. He’d probably going the match with his mates and then out for a drink in a pub on the estate where every one knows one an other and there’s really trouble. I know that for fact, cos I have lived there.

But when I went out of my area, and out of Liverpool to say Southport, there was always a chance of a kick off and I had many of them.

Well, imagine being Stevie G and the shit he takes off people constantly – like all famous people do. And before you tell me he doesn’t, how many of us get sung obscene songs at by thousands of people every week?

That’s still no excuse, but like I said, he’s a working class lad, from a hard background. Go up to one tonight and tell him to fuck off. Chances are you’ll get chinned. And that’s the problem I reckon… no big fancy nightclub for Gerrard. No VIP area in the Viper Room on bottles of Moet Channdon at 600 nicker a bottle. No. A few bottles of budweiser with he’s mates and his bird in an ordinary alehouse full of normal people, some of them people who absolutely hate you. So, actually a few digs getting thrown would be no surprise.

So, yes he was daft for going. He was even dafter for clumping the fella. But he’s a young lad who barely drinks, and rarely goes out. A few bottles of budweiser and one of them shot melarkeys wouldn’t probably even give most of us a bit of a buzz. And having them in a manky trying to be trendy alehouse would probably bore the shit out of most of us. I know it would me. Give me a proper manky alehouse and a huge amount of pints and a few vodies every time.

Still no excuse for his behaviour, but put it all together – a working class lad, from a tough background, drunk, excited, enjoying himself and then some prick telling him to fuck off and calling him a cunt… It’s just a wonder Gerrard and his mates never battered the fella to fuck which most lads in that situation would have.

Not condoning it. But that’s how I see it. But if you want to see some enraged and disgusted people, wait until you see all the fat drunken thugs screaming their disgust at him every time he takes the field for months. Or click on to the Daily Mail website and see the stuck up posh, drunken bastard reporters slatting him on the front middle and back pages.

It’s done. It’s over. And I’ll soon be singing his name at Spurs and probably a few little songs about knocking a Mancs tooth out.

Don’t forget that Cohen fella lads. The links are up and the Template is in post #82. It doesn’t take long does it Timmy?
Good man.

Sorry, I said really trouble in that post when it should have said rarely.

Just correcting it cos it turns the whole thing round. What I was saying he could go out for a drink on the Bluebell estate, or in Huyton and never have any trouble. Even though it’s huge, it’s the sort of estate where every one knows every one and all just have a laugh in the pub except for the odd fight every blue moon.

New lyrics for the approaching season…

Huyton’s Steve Gerrard,
arrested by Scotland Yard,
for twattin a Manc retard,
that’s our Steve Gerrard!
He paid his lawyers fee,
then filed a not guilty plea,
the judge let him off scott-free,
Nice one Stevie G!

Not too long FS,10 minutes max.Just copied and pasted the template didn`t take too long.

Nice song there Aitch.It`s nice to laugh about it now the whole thing is over.Glad it was done in the off season too so he can start fresh with this behind him.Not that it effected his form though.

Aitch,thats a goodun.

Good man Timmy. See lads – 10 minutes max. Not much to give.

Steve Gerrard not guilty
Floats like a butterfly
Stings like a bee

Too carry it on FS…..

Knocked out the tooth
of the manc magee
Didnt see it coming
the one,two,three
Starry eyed by stevie free!

That can be the Anfield rap`09…think we`re on a winner here FS!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Don’t now about that one Tim. Mind you, I could get me bird to join us. She looks like that blonde one out of Abba… must be the beard.

Just sent off the emails to the Cohen sponsors et al. Like Timmy didn’t take more than 10 minutes to do it.

Also managed to complete JackHill’s as well in the time.

No reason why it can’t be done lads.

Burgerman, it’s great to hear that you were a pro for 9 years, which makes it all the more puzzling why you come in here, drop a few grenades, without reason or rationale and expect to be taken seriously.

If you have got something to share then why not explain why you think that way? It may take a few extra minutes but since we are all LFC fans here, it’s worth it. No?

Read this on another site lol…

I thought Gerrard was meant to be a role model to the youth of Liverpool?

Why didn`t he kill the manc twat then!

Lurgan don`t think you`ll get a response tonight i think he`s already dropped his grenade for saturday!

Got a response from one of Cohen’s team (Matt Lengkeek) at World Soccer Daily.

Here it is:
———————————
Yo yo yo

You are beyond sad.

Get a life, a job or a hobby…but please i beg you do something for
yourself.

Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about.

Please get some therapy…your family deserves you to be well.

cheers,
Steven

[email protected]
[email protected]
———————————

The funny thing is that I did not send an email to them directly!

BTW, what a pathetic response.

FS, Timmy, I have received a response from Matt Lengkeek, who seems to be part of Steve Cohen’s World Soccer Daily team.

Here it is:
——————————-
Yo yo yo

You are beyond sad.

Get a life, a job or a hobby…but please i beg you do something for
yourself.

Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about.

Please get some therapy…your family deserves you to be well.

cheers,
Steven
——————————-

The funny thing is that I did not send an email to World Soccer Daily directly.

Also, what a pathetic response. These guys deserve all that’s comig to them!

Did you get anything back Timmy?

FS – fantastic work! many of steven cohen’s comments about liverpool, lfc and the 96 are truly disgusting. It is outrageous that this man has a bully pulpit, shaping opinions about football for the English speaking american market!

i’m very impressed that chelsea has taken a stand against him and his slandering.

bellow is a copy past job from the NYC LFC supports webpage. it has a couple more links to augment the ones FS gave and email address of sponsors who are no longer sponcoring his shows (they should be supported too).

STILL SPONSORING HATE!

Jack The Lad
Gary Allen
[email protected] and [email protected]

Press Display
Alex Kroogman

[email protected]
PSG Sports

Nick Roberts
[email protected]

Cartan Tours
[email protected]

We Speak Wine
[email protected]

Objectivo T-Shirts
Matt Lengkeek
[email protected]

The Fix
Declan Hill
[email protected]

VIP Communications
[email protected]

THOSE WHO HAVE WISED UP

Email thanking the sponsors supporting the campaign:

To whom it may concern,

I would like to congratulate and thank you on supporting the ongoing boycott of Steve Cohen for spreading lies about the 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough. It is wonderful to see such corporate responsibility these days.

Whenever I have the chance, I will buy and recommend your products and services as my way of showing support for your company.

Thank you,

World Soccer Daily Shop
[email protected]

Four Four Two Magazine
[email protected]

Who Are Ya Designs
[email protected]

Sporting Glory
[email protected]

Seattle Wolves FC
Alexander Caulfield
[email protected]

Nice on Lurgan. I’ve no idea who this Lengkeek fella is but I’ll find out and get back to you. But it shows one thing… It is working and they are rattled. The Boycott has already cost him plenty of advertisers/sponsors, and some big ones… Heineken and 442 amongst them.
And the Cohen fella is already appealing to his listeners for money to keep the show afloat.

So, please take the time – 10 minutes – do it lads.

And it doesn’t have to take away from what goes on here. I’d hate that. Pricks like that don’t deserve to take up anyone’s time, so let’s stop him and at the same time we can carry on as normal in here.

In fact, I came into say have you seen FergieTramp’s latest ramblings, ooops sorry, mind games. The hypocrisy of it all is really beyond the pale.

He has just came out with a rant against Man City, calling them a “small club with a small mentality.”

Sly News, Talk Shite and all the papers are full of the usual arse kissing. The best I just heard on Sky Sports – “The Master lights the blue touch paper under the new season!”

How long was it since The Master was ranting about Rafa’s arrogance for calling Everton a small club? How much stick did Rafa get in the media for that?

And the funny thing is, Rafa didn’t even mean it in that way. His English wasn’t as good when he said it, and all he was really doing was saying how hard it was to play against and open up the bus parkers.

Fucking amazing. The media is already all over Ancelotti kissing his arse and practically drooling over him at the few press conferences he has given. So, you can’t really even say it’s that Rafa hasn’t earned the media’s respect the way The Tramp has.

The fact is, they set about Rafa from the moment he arrived and hasn’t stopped since. I can’t wait to see all their faces when he is standing in front of The Kop holding the title up to them. In fact fuck them. Nevermind their downcast faces, I can’t wait to see all the happy ones inside Anfield when that happens. And it will – soon!

Just having a quick trawl through the back pages with me cup of tea and a ciggie. Here’s the first one I bothered to open…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/jul/26/sir-alex-ferguson-managerial-styles

And that’s from the Guardian, supposedly one of our better quality papers. I can only imagine what’s in the Sunday Arse Wipe and The Sunday Sun.

Well, no actually. I don’t need to imagine it. In fact, I don’t even have to read any of them. I already know what they say. I know only too well the dual standards of the hypocritical English media. I just wish our own “fans” would stop giving them any creedence.

Wow, Lurgan, that Cohen’s response just revealed what a childish cunt he is.

I really don’t care if he’s Jewish, Chinese, Black, Arab, White, Scouse or whatever, using the racist card as an excuse to hide behind his despicable comments is just that, despicable.

And don’t he fucking dare accuse me of being racist, as if we don’t suffer racist abuse ourselves. (For the record, I’m East Asian. )

Lurgan, you should publish this immature response everywhere for people to judge for themselves whether they care about the 96 or not. Only then will that dickhead realize the magnitude of his foolish blunder.

And BM #114, you say you’ve done 9 years at amateur footballer, but that and being frustrated is NO EXCUSE for you to throw abuses at people who don’t agree with you!

I mean look at LB, who can sometimes be “anti-Rafa”, but is still well-respected, why? Because he doesn’t stoop so low as you did with your petty snipes.

FS, I’m not surprised with the Guardian’s arse kissing. They weren’t called the Manchester Guardian for nothing.

I swear they’re so anti-Liverpool it stinks, I have not read the Guardian’s sports section for years now. If it wasn’t for their certain political stances in line with mine, I would’ve boycotted the Guardian ages ago.

Couldn’t agree more KR. Cohen is a childish idiot of a man. Try listening to some of his rantings on Youtube. You won’t last long. It’s pure drivel. So, even despite his disgraceful views, surely American football fans deserve better than that buffoon.

And The Guardian does have a decent left sided view of most things. And I actually enjoy it’s football coverage as a whole. But it is just another that is to frieghtened of the wicked old Tramp.

And LB would have trouble stooping that low. I believe the big rich bastard employees Jay Spearing to tie his shoe laces for him.

The singapore friendly is at half time. The Vroninator has just scored on the stroke of half time – 1 – 0.

Here’s a decent stream if anyone wants to watch the second half…
http://www.iraqgoals.net/game1147.html

It’s just a click and watch. No need to download any programes.

PS… 2 Merseyside footballers have just had their homes robbed again.
Gerrard has lost all his medals, including the champion’s league one.
Tim Cahill lost a kettle and a toaster!

What a game Kuyt has had!! Back to form i guess!!! Liking the way Voronin, Babel, Pacheco and Nemeth are shaping up. Pacheco plays a lot like Fabregas. Smooth passing, great first touch and an eye for the killer pass. Riera is looking leaner and meaner. Our attacking options have been bolstered. We are ready to roll for 09/10 provided we keep this squad. Imagine Johnson and Kuyt on the right and Riera/Babel running at defenders on the left…. Heaven!!

Are Darby, Johnson and Arby injured or something? Spearing and Degen playing in that position for two continuous games? I even saw Plessis playing CB for some time. He looks good on both legs.

Agger played LB, Dossena played LM, Pacheco played CM and many more combinations like these and not even once did i feel something was not right.

I was seeing the iraqgoals stream where the commentators were calling San Jose as Domingues or something. I was seriously thinking is he a new signing or a new kid before i saw his face. Later i got to know that his full name is Michael San Jose Dominguez.

Lurgan, I have found out who you’re new pen, well email, pal is… It’s only the bold Steve Cohen himself.

Apparently the Lengkeek fella is a sponsor of Cohens show put a crony too. And he’s passing all the emails on to Cohen. He must be getting quite a few passed to him. So, take a bow. You must be special for getting an answer from America’s idiot in Chief.

What a complete twat that man is, eh.

PS… come on the rest of you. It’s Sunday, fuck all to do but cure hangovers I bet. So spend 10 minutes doing the right thing.

FS. I’ll certainly do it. Really this Cohen guy is not well. In fact he sounds like a paranoid schizophrenic who imagines he’s being criticised now because he’s Jewish when we have Israel’s top player at our club not to mention Muslim El Zhar, protestants, catholics and atheists (I suppose) and everyone gets on fine.

SG: Those who are saying he should have been more careful about his actions and the behaviour of his mates are of course right but make no mistake, his aquittal is absolutely right IN LAW because there was insufficient evidence to convict him for the the crime he was charged with. Obviously he had a top defence team to ensure there was no miscarriage of justice. End.

Manure and Shitty: Well Scumtramp doesn’t like Shitty’s spending so he calls them ‘small’. He should show his city rivals ‘more respect’. Now where have I heard that one before? FS, at least that guy in the (Manchester) Guardian did admit that journalists liked him and Moronho because they made some entertaining quotes (to help sell papers) and didn’t take to the likes of Rafa or Erikson because they were rather more classy and diplomatic. I tell you most hacks are just worried about falling circulation and the growing chances of being fired, nothing more.

Luck’s on the turn I think. Great result in Singapore and wonderful to see we’re universally loved outside of London and Manchester. Pity we can’t get the papers printed away from these two cities to get a fairer press but we all know or should know the score.

Hmmm, FS, I don’t know what to think of my new pen-pal. There’s something that I don’t like about him!

FYI, I did modify your template slightly by adding in a reference to the Taylor report and signed-off with my professional title but that was it. Anyway, it does not matter what triggered the reaction, it is what to do next.

Initially I was going to reply to all his sponsors again with his response. Lads, do you have any other ideas?

Cheers,

Vinotinto, I was hoping for another draw or loss in this final match.

This would have been truly back to the good-old days when we would hardly win a friendly in pre-season and then go on to (usually) win the league.

BTW, didn’t see any of the match, so can’t comment.

Like the look of Nemeath could become something with Rafa lokking after him.
As for this nice Choen guy may the flees of a thouhand camel infest his aresehole,and may his wife fanny grow teeth and bite his dick off.

Any way starting to look as the guys fitness is coming along good all round performance.

Alonso lokked busy for the short time he came on just keeping fingers crossed.

will have a bit more time tomorrow to do the emails FS i ahve ask some of my mate to send as well even though some are not into football like us put they will support us in are aim to shut this guy up.

Thanks lads. And don’t worry it’s having results. So Lurgan, there’s no more you have to do really.

I’m just rustling up support for the email part, hoping I can get his sponsors hit with as many emails as possibe and thinking twice about what they are getting themselves involved with.

The bigger and more savvy ones have already dropped him. Amazon will be next. He will only be left with the like of the fella who answered Lurgan soon – his own cronies who probably get free advertising anyway.

And Vinotino, the anti-semitism is just a smoke screen. He’s desperately making all sorts of lies up in an effort to make himself look like the victim. It’s not working.

But the boycott and all the other actions are and that’s why he’s so desperate. Just today, he has been practically abandoned and disowned by the one voice who gave him some sort of credibility.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, he had a Mr Mark Sawyer defending his corner. Sawyer is an African-American academic with a degree from the Martin Luther King institute. So Cohen dragged him into it. But Phil Scranton a Liverpool born and based academic and proffesor at Liverpool University has spent much time corresponding with Mr Sawyer, and he has educated him on Hillsborough, and everything about it – cause, effect, and so on.

So, Mr. Sawyer has now back tracked slightly and will eventually disown Cohen. He hasn’t yet, but he has no choice because there is no way to defend such vile opinions which, for want of a better phrase, are nothing but regional racism.

So, don’t worry Cohen will get what he deserves and he alone has brought upon himself. But we need to stick together and do the little we can.

Sorry for preaching. I’m honestly tired of all this now, but it has to be done and August 16th will be here before we realise. Can’t bloody wait.

FS, I have being doing a bit of hunting around on the net and have found that a certain Matthew Henry Lengkeek is the president of Objectivo.

So I would assume that your matt @ objectivo link goes directly to him. Nice for him to take a bit of time out, on Steve Cohen’s behalf, and put me right.

I think that I may send him the Taylor report for some bedtime reading.

FS big kudos for taking the time and encouraging people to do this.

I finally got around to it this morning. I took the liberty of expanding on your template. For those that would like to say a little more, I’ll provide it below for inspiration.
Keep The Faith. Remember The 96. They’ll NEVER Walk Alone!

——
To whom it may concern,
You advertise on either one or both of Steve Cohen’s shows on Fox and Sirius.

Steve Cohen has and continues to use his public platform to perpetuate lies about the circumstances surrounding the deaths the 96 fans that lost their lives at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield England.

He has, despite the results of many public inquiries and the findings of the official “Taylor Report” continued to claim that it was the Liverpool fans themselves that were responsible for these deaths. It would be one thing for Mr. Cohen to hold this personal opinion in spite of all evidence to the contrary, but another thing entirely for him to use his public forum on Fox and Sirius, backed by your sponsorship, to perpetuate those lies to an American public, otherwise unaware of the circumstances of the events in question.

Steve Cohen has continued to make such allegations, making veiled apologies when forced to, then in spite of those apologies, repeating his campaign of deliberate misinformation. He has even gone so far recently, to suggest that Liverpool Football Club and its fans are in some way racist… when it is in fact he himself who is displaying the most obvious form of regional racism. To put it in terms America might understand, there are those in the England who look upon the people of the North as the “Southern White Trash” of England… Steven Cohen is such a man. Is this really the type of person you want representing, or associated with your company?

Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, uncles, aunts and grandchildren died at Hillsborough. Not drunken thugs as Mr. Cohen would have you believe, but 96 average people, not only from Liverpool, who went for a day out at a football match and never came home. These people have families who mourn their loss to this day… Steve Cohen’s words are more than just a spit in their face; they are a knife twisted in an open wound.

Mr. Cohen has further shown his immaturity, and total unprofessionalism, by obtaining a copy of a letter such as this and responding to the sender in the following manner: “Yo yo yo, You are beyond sad. Get a life, a job or a hobby…but please i beg you do something for yourself. Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about. Please get some therapy…your family deserves you to be well. cheers, Steven.”

I’m guessing he didn’t stop to consider that such a letter could have originated from a relative, or close personal friend of the 96?

I urge you to reconsider your support of Mr. Cohen, his radio and television shows, and more importantly from your perspective, your association with his vile, deliberate, false and incredibly insensitive ideas!

I and all my family and friends will be boycotting all products and services associated by sponsorship of Mr. Cohen and his public forums, until such support for his lies ends.
Thank you,
A Liverpool Fan

Nah Lurgan. Well, yeah. You’re right, he is the objectivo fella. But your replies directly from Cohen, cos the Langkeek fella is forwarding all emails to him.

So, that shows exactly what the fella is like… telling you to get a job. Scouse stereotyping or what?

And the cheek of the kunt mentioning your family. I bet he probably thinks you lost family at Hillsborough.

That’s how bad this bastard is. But like I said earlier, I don’t want a shite like that to take over the blog.

I’d like to think everyone should just carry on as normal but email the sponsors aswell. And thanks Gerry for the platform to rustle up support.

Missed your post as I was writing, but nice one Aitch

Back to football anyone seen that crouch is now going to spurs for 10 mill, or have they got this wrong as well.

And what about that two faced hypocrite at manure utd.talk about the kettle calling the pot.hope he gets his this season as well.shitty have never been small even if they dont win much they have real supporters and passinate,
look how got on Rafas back about his miss qoute on Everton.
really hope they stick it to them as will we this season.

Got a reply from Amazon Lads.

Thank you for your comments regarding Amazon.com’s advertisements.

As you might imagine, our customers are as varied as the millions of titles we sell; therefore, we are always testing new advertising environments and we will continue to do so. Our advertising decisions are based solely on business results.

We appreciate and respect your feedback, and I have passed it along to our marketing department for their consideration.

Thanks again for taking the time to write to us.

Didn`t see the match but the goals are on there.

Nice to see nemeth amongst the goals but Kuyt looked brilliant setting up all the goals.I think we are going to see a big season from Deadly Dirk.His movement on that right side is almost impossible to manage and expecting big things this season.

Nice one Timmy. As you can see they are getting through. So, I will shut up about it for now, and as Jim says back to the football…
Redknapp is definetely in for Crouch. And even if we was in for him, which I’m not so sure we are, I can see Crouch prefering Spurs over us… more playing time and he can stay down south, where he’s settled now. So, makes sense and, although I wouldn’t mind having him, I think it’s never any good going backwards.

Yeah, I know. Ian Rush. But even the great Rushie wasn’t as good second time round.

But anyway, I really came into give you all a look at this…
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/07/26/manual_194119.html

Rafa doesn’t fuck about.

I think Rafa has put the ball firmly in Xabi`s court.He has made it clear he wants him to stay so if the deal goes through,it will be Alonso doing the pushing.

The annoying thing is,the media hacks will blame it on Rafa because the tried to sell him last summer.

As if Xabi is that petty.He`s not going to cut spite his face.

British media pricks!

To me FS, that sounds like the first clear indication from Rafa that Xabi might indeed be off.

Not to worry, though…
Drop Stevie back into his old box-to-box role,
slide the wiley Benny Onion into the hole,
and count on Andy Vorronin for a hat-full!

Hmmm, those comments from Rafa seem to confirm most of our suspicions – that behind the scenes, Alonso has asked Rafa to let him go to Madrid.

FS, I just emailed all those sponsors you listed re Steve Cohen.

Emailed all those sponsors. Auto response saying guy from The Fix, Declan Hill, is off on holiday until August 10th. Would be nice if he had a full inbox upon his return.

MTMMC

Just watched the Singapore match and I have to say, in contrast to the other pre-season matches, which were very disjointed, we looked very good.

I think every player outfitted themselves very well. The final ball was frequently missing, but some of our build-up play was impressive and bodes well for the coming season.

The ONLY downside… Degen has yet to show us anything… Looked comppletely out of his depth… and that’s in the context of 9 kids getting a run-out and looking good.)

Man of the Match: Dirk Kuyt!

Thanks lads, you can see from this response that Lurgan got…
Here it is:
——————————-
Yo yo yo

You are beyond sad.

Get a life, a job or a hobby…but please i beg you do something for
yourself.

Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about.

Please get some therapy…your family deserves you to be well.

cheers,
Steven
——————————-

…that the man is a complete tosser. The snidey crack about family at the end isn’t by chance. For some reason this man is on a mission to cause people as much hurt and grief as he can.

The snidey get a job remark is in there just trying to reinforce the scouse stereotype. But I tell you one thing, he’s got this part…
“Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about.”
…Lots of people do, and their determined to bring him down because of it. And I reckon his childish response just shows how much he cares. Sadly, his only care is for himself and he knows he’s fucked it all up. The Prick.

As for the footy….
Aitch that is what happens mate. The first 2 games were played against professional teams who’s seasons have already started – to give the lads a good test. And as many of them as possible got them run outs.

But know you will see more and more settled sides until we play Atleti. And we’ll more or less see how we are going to face up to the season, but it would still be wrong to judge our chances on that game aswell. Hopefully all the games will have us ready and running come the 16th and Spuds.

I think this week should see the end of the Alonso sage one way or another. Espanyol game would be the perfect time for all parties to sit down and thrash it out. But yeah, it’s easy to read between the lines of Rafa’s comment. He’s made sure of that. In fact, he might aswell of just said, Xabi’s asked to leave. I’ve asked him to stay. It’s up to him to say he wants to go now, and for Real to come in with the dough we want.

And after all this, I’m not even sure what I want. I’ll just be glad once it’s all over.

FS, from the email trace it does seem that my initial email was forwarded to him by Langkeek (he must have had fun at school with a name like that pretty much straight away and then Cohen responded a few hours later.

I think that I will let it lie for now, even with the insults, but keep it safely stocked away for future reference, if needed. Anyway, there is no way I could match the letter sent by Aitch. Brilliant job Aitch!

As most agree, it’s time to get back to footie matters.

It certainly is Lurgan, but get on this…
I have just recieved an email from John Barnes. Well, Tranmere Rovers on behalf of Digger.

He recently appeared on the Cohen show. In fact, Cohen has been deperately trying to get anyone and everyone in any way connected to LFC to appear on his program. And he actually conned a few into it before they knew what he was doing. Sadly, Digger was one of them.

Well, I contacted Tranmere over that and just got an email back from them saying all messages had been passed onto John and that he was unaware of what Cohen had been doing and he was sincerely sorry for any hurt his appearance had caused.

I’d like to think that will help get the word out and nobody will appear on the shoddy little program from now on.

Oh well, got to go. Later chaps.

Hey guys,

I’m a bit late to the party judging by the response already but just sent those emails this morning using the excellent template kindly donated by Aitch (cheers mate). Just wanted to ask all you guys if you wouldn’t mind posting any feedback you get just to keep the rest of us up to date; it’s unfortunate to have this guy and this topic dominating the blog but as FS has said it’s something that’s very important that deserves our attention. Also, if Mr Cohen does come trawling through fan forums it will inform him as to the response he is being met with. As Brian Johnson from AC/DC said on Top Gear last night he’ll have “an arse like a rabbit’s nose”

Hi all back in the land of the living and will try and catch up with everything when I can. Just scan through a few comments but have not had time to do anything as I am flat out with work. Just came across this and thought of our Irish bloggers and Gerry. I also see it is looking good that Alonso might stay.

How to get to Heaven in Ireland

I was testing children in my Dublin Sunday school class to see if they
Understood the concept of getting to heaven.

I asked them, ‘If I sold my house and my car, had a big jumble sale
and Gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?’

‘NO!’ the children answered.

‘If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the garden, and kept
everything Tidy, would that get me into heaven?’

Again, the answer was ‘No!’ By now I was starting to smile.

‘ Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave sweeties to all
the children, And loved my husband, would that get me into heaven?’

Again, they all answered ‘No!’. I was just bursting with
pride for them. I continued, ‘ Then how can I get into heaven?’

A six year-old boy shouted out ‘YUV GOTTAE BE FOOCKN’ DEAD……….’

Well, just had me little trawl through the papers…
The Borrowers have covered their arses with RBS for another year. So, we could be stuck with the pair of pricks for another year.
Dosenna looks like he’s off to Napoli.
And a live handgrenade has been found by police at Kenny Dalglish’s home.

Andre left a little Sicylian pineapple for Kenny to sort the other 2 out, I hope.

FS: We keep saying when’s the deadline for the borrowers thinking and hoping they’ll default/sell etc and yet the deadline keeps getting extended. So it’s obvious we are stuck with them and it’ll be long term. The only silver lining in that cloud is that we have Rafa at the helm and by hook and crook he has got us into a position to challenge for the title. I’m not so worried about dossena going, we’ll get some money for him and Insua will more than hold his own there and we have Johnson or Arbie who can play on the left as cover for when Aurelio/Degen singlehandedly keep our physios in a job.

Bit quiet in here today. So I just wanted to get people’s opinion on the striker situation…

Right now in the first team squad, this is what we’ve got up front:

Out-and-out strikers: Torres, Voronin, Ngog
1/2 winger 1/2 striker: Kuyt, Babel
In behind the strikers: Gerrard, Benayoun
Young with potential: Nemeth (out-and-out), Pacheco (in behind)

Not wanting to discuss the merits of all of those guys, but to just cut to the chase, to me we clearly have just one world-class out-and-out striker in Torres. He has world-class support and there are guys who can “slot in there”, but to me we have no one to CONFIDENTLY turn to in games where Torres doesn’t play, or where he isn’t scoring and we need another option.

I’ve said it before, I genuinely think we need another out-and-out striker of a different style to Torres. Someone who can lead the line and hold the ball up. With Torres playing, our 4-2-3-1 has clearly been a preferred option and works well – but not always against the bus parkers. The 4-2-3-1 also doesn’t make sense when Torres is injured or rested, so without doubt we need to ability to play a genuine, strong 4-4-2 with players in their natural positions. Unfortunately to me, our 4-4-2′s without Torres last year just looked far too “makeshift” in attack.

I’m happy for the likes of Kuyt, Ngog, Babel to be played as strikers when needed – but I’d like to see them partnered with this other striker that I feel we are missing. Someone reasonably big and strong, with the ability to hold the ball up and feed it off to the likes of Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, etc, and someone who can also put his head on the end of crosses coming in from Kuyt and G.Johnson.

I’m not advocating some big oaf to throw up there for route one football. But I feel our attack needs that extra dimension of a quality bigger guy. Like a Crouch, a Viduka of 5 years ago, a Berbatov in his first year in the prem, these types of guys. And as strikers go, they tend to be cheaper than the out-and-out goalscoring machines.

I’d actually prefer us to get this type of guy over the likes of Silva. Not that I wouldn’t want Silva, but I’m not sure he’d add as much of a different dimension/option to our play as the striker I’m advocating.

Thoughts guys? I can’t actually name the player I want, just the style, I’m hoping Rafa’s database could then take care of the rest…

I’m not so sure Andy, and I suppose it depends on the Alonso/Mascherano saga.

Another problem is, getting a real top notch centre forward who’s willing to come to Anfield when they know quite well that Rafa prefers to play with one man up top, and to become that man he’d have to displace Nando.

So, obviously whoever came in would have to be willing to spend lots of time on the bench. So, could we get one willing to do that, and a step up on what we’ve already got?

I can’t see it meself. So, we might be aswell to just go with what we’ve got than spend the little money we might have on someone who probably wouldn’t be much of an upgrade on Vronin, N’gog, Nemeth or Pacheco.

And then like you said, we also have Kuyt and Babel who can also slot into that role.

So, what I’d honestly like is to hang on to what we’ve got or sell Vronin and Dosenna, who looks like he’s gone anyway. And then buy a little crafty fella like Silva or Turan, the Turkish kid at Galla, who can play out wide, in the hole or alongside Torres or anyone else in a 442. And I wouldn’t even want that if Nemeth and Pacheco were just one season older.

But like I said, it all comes down to Xabi and Masch. And on that subject…

These footballers really are disgusting nowadays. Just look at the John Terry saga. It makes me sick. The fucker is now kissing the badge again, and milking his Mr Chelsea image for all it’s worth.

The fact is, he’s held Chelsea over a barrel for weeks now. He didn’t give a toss what disruption that would cause his club, his team or Ancelotti – who, as a new manager, obviously has enough to concern him with out that big whingeing bastard.

A blind man on a fast horse could see what has gone on… City have made enquiries. He’s sat back, said fuck all when he could have easily nipped it all in the bud, milked the situation for all it’s worth and forced Chelsea into giving him more money.

Xabi and Masch are playing the same game. I know some will want to defend them, but I will bet any one of you that if either player or both stay, they will only do so when their contracts have been improved.

These bastards think us fans are completely fucking daft. And in all honesty, I’m getting completely sick and tired of this game they are playing with us. And that’s all it is – a complete and utter game of bluff until they get more money – whether that means by signing an improved contract with the club they are at or getting a transfer and more dosh from their new club.

But sick of it or not, we better all get used to it because I truly believe this is a new trend, that has started – More money or I’m off – and we will see it every time the bloody transfer window opens.

Footballers – greedy selfish bastards nearly every single man jack of them.

My word thats harsh!

FS, whilst it’d be great for the centre-forward to be top-notch, he need not be. Just someone with a bit of quality about him who is perhaps in a foreign league or smaller club and would jump at the chance to play for Liverpool even with limited opportunities (like Crouch when we first got him, though we did play him a lot when he first joined). No point getting a dud of course, but perhaps even someone with proven quality who is a bit older and fine with playing 25 games per season. To throw the name up again, if Viduka’s body wasn’t always failing him, I’d take him and he wouldn’t cost a thing.

I just don’t think Ngog, Voronin, Kuyt et al really give us anything different or special up forward, they are all just run-around-and-try-hard type players, better suited alongside someone of a different style. Keane was one of them when he was with us and we know how that turned out, he just didn’t quite fit in.

As for Xabi & Masch… my gut feeling is that Alonso wants to go back to Spain and join Real Madrid, it makes sense given he is Spanish and their biggest club are chasing him. I don’t think he would want to leave for anyone else except RM or Barca, nor would he let the “saga” drag out like this. I’m sure RM have promised him a big fat contract of course, but I don’t think that’s his big motivation, like say Terry has been doing.

Fair enough Andy, but I tell you what, let’s have a bet… if Alonso stays, will it be on the same or more money?

I’ll get the pints in at Tottenham if he’s still here and hasn’t had a wage rise.

And having said that, I think Alonso’s the better of the 2. It’s clear what Masch is up to. And as I say, it’s something we better get used to seeing pretty much every season.

All players have to do now, is have their agents leak a little noise of unrest/homesickness or whatever, and some other club will come in for them. Then they can sit back, just like Terry Masch and Alonso, and wait…
They will either get a transfer and a raise or the club will be forced to offer them more money to stay.

As for the centre forward, last season at the end of the January transfer window, there was a bit of a rumour flying round that Heskey would join us. Considering the season Torres had been having, I was all for it.

I had loads of arguments with me mates over it. I thought he would give us another option. I thought he was at least good for cover. In fact, I had loads of reasons why he would have been a good move for us…

They were all wrong.

So, I can see your point mate, but thinking it all over – injuries, options, tactics, the lot – I’d prefer to go with what we’ve got.

I’ll take that bet on Alonso FS – partly because I think it’s 50/50 that he’ll even stay, but also because I geniunely don’t think he’s doing it purely for money. He’s just tempted by RM. That said – if it takes a wage rise to keep him around then I’d take that too – it’s not like the RM story is just made up to get him a pay rise.

However I agree with you on Masch – my suspicion is that he IS chasing a wage rise, of course with his agent in one ear.

What is it that makes you think you were proved wrong about Heskey? Yes, our team was the best in the league without him after January… but over the course of the whole season, well obviously we weren’t coz we didn’t win. I’m not saying Heskey would have been the answer but there is a part of me which wonders how we would have fared if Crouch had still been around. We’ll never know but my guess was that he just maybe could’ve made the difference, if he’d kept his mouth shut about staying of course.

Let me put it another way. If Torres pulls another hamstring and is out for 4-6 weeks, what strike partnership would we turn to for that run of games? I know we have “options” amongst all our secondary strikers, but I see them as likely to deliver in the odd game (against poorer opposition) but not necessarily dependable to put the goals in over a string of games – they just aren’t prolific enough between them all. Not that Crouch was prolific, but he wasn’t too bad, and I think helped bring goals out of other players.

Basically I believe our chances still hinge too much on how many games Torres plays – last season was living proof of that. If he misses the same amount of games we will struggle again – which I accept because he missed a lot of games and every team would miss losing their best striker for that long – but we SHOULD be wanting to at least be able to cover losing him for something like 8-10 EPL matches, if necessary.

Well, concerning Heskey, you only have to look at what he done at Villa.

It would have been a huge mistake, not only for the fact he was crap at Villa, but because we’d have to change our whole style of play to accomodate him or someone like him.

But in January, after all the draws, I thought Heskey might give us an extra option – a sort of battering ram, like Viduka, that could be used against the bus parkers or when Torres was injured. But when I thought it over…

1: Young big fit centre halves would have no problem keeping out aging centre forwards or indeed most centre forwards if we tried route one.

2: We aren’t that sort of side. I don’t think we’d be able to adapt. People might still knock us as shit on a stick, but the fact is, we are now playing attractive, fast, one/two touch, passing football. We aren’t even any good at getting wide and knocking in high balls.

And that’s the problem with playing one up front, and especially with that one being Torres… Look at Crouch. And I’d expect any decent player to do the same thing… leave to find more football.

But, yes. Someone like Crouch with a bit more to their game than being a target man might be a good option. But like Crouch (Who is more or less knocking us back for Spurs) they aren’t easy to find and won’t accept that sort of role.

So, then you’re left with the problem of who will accept sitting on the bench, and not disrupt our style too much if brought in.

I’d say Tugay at Borro for about 5 million quid would be a good call. He wouldn’t disrupt our style too much and could play next to Torres in a traditional 442.
But then so could Vronin, Kuyt and Babel.

And would Tugay or the likes get in before them, or accept the bench for most of the season? And will bringing in someone like him upset the others and put back the kids, Ngog, Pacheco, Nemeth?

Maybe Rafa could find one, but I think we’d have to trust in Kuyt or Babel firstly. And let’s face it they done okay last season, remember we didn’t have Torres for a lot of the top games like Man U. And after them I’d use Ngog or Nemeth – who I’ve been told would have got more games last season when Torres was injured, except he was injured himself.

So, as I say, I can see your reasoning but it’s a problem we’ll always have while Rafa prefers just one up front and we have Torres.

That’s why I think the answer is not to find a replacement but someone who can do the job better than Vronin or Babel when Torres is injured but can also play out wide or as second striker with Torres.

That’s why I said Tugay. I think he’d be a very good option for us to have, but I also think we’d actually need to unload some if we was to bring another in.

Which then takes us back to the Babel question?

Bit of a fucker isn’t it. But then that’s why Rafa’s paid the big bucks.

As for Alonso, I’d believe he was only doing it for footballing and going home reasons if it wasn’t Real Madrid. You have to remember Xabi is a basque. So why does he want to go there?

Bur yes, I agree and I said it in me last post, I think it’s much clearer with Mascher. And in all honesty, after what’s happened with him and Tevez, ever since they set foot in England, I would never buy another Argentine.

I know Insua is Argie, but we got him as a kid before he became involved with some crooked cartel posing as agents.

Hiya FS,(well done you sir)

Just banged off those e-mails. I have been following this very closely on RAWK and previously where it all flared up on an american footie site where “the Gaffer” called upon Cohen to apologise way back in April. I’ve had “exchanges” with the american so-called mediator who was very hot under the collar at the time.
I personally hate hate and I do not go in for insulting remarks or even bad language (mostly) but this is one guy (Cohen) who is at the very least an insensitive shi* stirrer of the highest degree.
I won’t mention him here again. I have tremendous respect for people who have fought to clear and clean the air around what happened then. As many have said it must be quite appalling to have lost (forever) someone without having some moron spouting out his hate-filled falsehoods and rubbish on the public-airways over and over again.

Andy – another take on your point. Torres puts them in the net, indeed, but it’s the last piece in the jigsaw.
A different center forward may not be the element the will make the difference against the bus-parkers.
I think it’s got to come from the team in general. I think Glen J is a good signing for that reason. He’s got pace(crucial), technique, willingness to attack, shoot , pass, 1-2′s whatever. There has to be more from the whole team (less Gerrard and ‘Nando).
How many goals did Mascher & Xabi score last year ? Lucas, Arbie, Jamie, D’agger, Skyrtl… I’d say we are nearly in the red with the amount of own-goals Jamie put in alone! (joke).
For me it’s got to come from the team as a whole, more intent, unpredictability, responsibility.
I reckon it’s between the ears that’s got to change for the squad. There is talent the’ve got to apply themselves and not play safe.

Weather another striker is the answer to turning the draws into wins i for one don`t know.I will say i`d like if we signed another forward so we`d have strength all over the sqaud.

I agree we have kuty,babel and vorinin who can play there but i think in Kuyt`s case,he has excelled in the right side role so much now that it would weaken our side if he was moved from the right to striker.

With babel i`d love to see him given that up top role when Torres is unavailable but for one reason or another Rafa dosen`t see it that way.He rarely tried him there last season when he had plenty of opportunitys to do so.That is not a dig at Rafa at all i`m sure he has his reasons.He is looking at babel every day of the week and i trust his judgement all the way.

As for Vorinin,i`m not sure he can cut the mustard consistenly.I`m open to some humble pie on that one though!

FS,Tuncay wouldn`t be a bad signing at all.

RE: Tuncay

How much would we be willing to pay fer him?

Me thinks anything below £5m & we should take him.

Our squad still needs strengthening.

FS my very brief analysis of the Singapore game wasn’t meant as a predictor of our season.

It was more related to the question Andy is posing.

I liked the industry we showed. I liked how utterly hungry Vorronin looked.

Granted a lot of what we were trying didn’t come off, but to me, the whole game plan looked like an exercise in how to break down the bus parkers… and from that point of view, I thought all players fielded (bar Degen who looked out of his depth) outfitted themselves very well.

So I’d be pretty confident going into our season with our current forward line… its our midfield that now concerns me….

“And in all honesty, after what’s happened with him and Tevez, ever since they set foot in England, I would never buy another Argentine.” – FS

Most, if not all of us, share yer frutrations over this kind of ranson-holding. But me don’t think it is fair fer ye to point the finger at Argentines alone.

Remember Senor Owen & Macca?

Like ye said, its a disease of the modern game & all players, irrespective of nationality, will be playing at it . . .

Puchong: They didn’t hold us to ransom, it was obvious they were going. They had freedom of contract to move. We were gutted because they didn’t care for us like we cared for them but Xabi and Monster will go to whoever pays the most. so if it’s us they’ll stay if it’s whoever they’ll go. Only semantics but you get my drift.

Aitch: Voronin will be crap mate. He looked the bee’s knees in pre-season last season and when push came to shove the words cow’s arse, banjo and couldn’t hit proved to be the case.

In fact Owen hasn’t moved anywhere for the payday I believed he’s moved always for football reasons ie; to further his ingerland career, even if he’s made some real ricks since leaving LFC. Macca won a fair few trophies as well with Real Madrid. I’m not saying they are above reproach and that they only played for the love of the game that would be naive but I think it mattered to them more their football career over money.

Already the Scum media are trying to drum up the hype that is Michael Owned-by-Judas by saying he’s now constantly banging in goals.

Sure he is, against the likes of Malaysia and Chinese football teams who give him lots of space to roam. Though against the likes of anti-football teams like Stoke, he won’t be as potent as Tevez or Diving Wanker that could change games.

In other words, they’re still trying to delude themselves into thinking Judas = Tevez + Wanker.

Greetings from South Africa. Well… have sent emails to all the sponsors as well now. We’ll wait an see what the resposes are like.

Have watched the comments from the “sidleines” for about two months now so this is my first post.

Cheers.

‘Pool4Life’ greetings from Wales.

What do you mean by ‘emails to all the sponsors’?

Cheers

Me takes yer point Kenny.

But am sure Alonso & Masch will claim they are moving ourely fer footballing reasons. After all, they aren’t going to Man City, its real & barca.

But like ye said, its semantics.

Me point its just a little unfair to tar all Argentines with the same brush.

ps: also agree with ye on yer take on Voronin. Not good enough.

First things first. Ruchong Red, I hope the Argentinian comment wasn’t made in any racial/national way. As it certainly wasn’t from me.

All I done was point to an increasing problem in football, which, mark my words, will keep getting worse with each transfer window. But it wasn’t some sort of swipe at Argentian’s in general, but I stand by what I said… I wouldn’t buy another Argentinian.

And that’s for no other reason than the one I stated. And believe me, you are going to see this constantly now. Each transfer window, players and agents will start the “Unsettled, Unhappy, Homesick, whatever” rumour, clubs will start making enquiries, the situation will get milked until the player gets more money – whather that’s by changing clubs or getting an improved “Contract.”

Contract, my arse. The fact is, except for certain players like Torres or Carragher or even Scholes/Neville at Man U, they all just want more and more and more. Yes. There’s exceptions like the few I named but in general that’s what they do.

Please don’t give me the, It’s a short career, The need to make as much as they can while they can, or the latest laughable excuse that they all use… Show me a fan who wouldn’t leave his job for money.

Of course most of us would, because if we’re lucky we can earn what most of them earn a week in about 2 years. It’s fucking greed. End of.

I wanted to go to the Espanyol game this weekend. The cheapest ticket is… £100. Yep. One hundred fucking nicker for a glorified training session. And that’s in Spain, a country that is suffering from huge unemployment and a huge drop in the economy/standard of living over the last year or so.

Greed. Pure Greed. End of. And in my book, undefendable.

I watched the games in Asia. I was gutted I wasn’t there. I looked at all the pictures on the net. The people in Thailand and Singapore loving it and having a great time. That’s brilliant, and as I say, I was only gutted I wasn’t there.

But make no bones about it – on the clubs behalf it was no more than a money making excercise. If it wasn’t we’d still be polaying pre-season friendlies against the likes of Wrexham, and the furthest we would go is the likes of Brondeby. It’s huge big business, that us mugs pay for and everyone involved in it is just trying to milk the big fat cash cow for all it’s worth.

Argentinian agents are amongst the worse and, yes, it’s not only them, but I wouldn’t deal with them at all.

As for the Boro fella – Tungay, Tugay, Tucan, bloody Bung-eye, for all I can spell, was just a suggestion of the sort of player I would bring in if I was to bring one more in. And I mean that from all angles… decent player, can play right across the front line, wouldn’t cost too much, and wouldn’t be disruptive if not playing all the time.

And although I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sign him, I wasn’t saying we should.

In fact, as I’ve said loads of times, if we do hold on to Masch and Xabi, I wouldn’t really be bothered if we didn’t sign anyone else. Of course, I’d love Rafa to go out and buy 3 or 4 more top quality players. But in the real world – the one were we are owned by Hicks and Gillette – I’d be really happy to see one more signing, but settle for going with what we have.

Nice one Dougle. Thanks for sending them off. And that’s how I see it an all… just doing it with no need to mention that prick of a man. I will post any news of what’s happening when it comes up, but other than that I’d rather stick to the footy and just have a laugh.

And if I was barking up the wrong tree Puchong, I appologise. But it’s getting were any mention of race or nationality is jumped all over as if it is some sort of slur and it’s getting to where people are scared to say anything about anyone or anything in fear of offending anyone else. Sad times, indeed.

I’m not sure it’s so simple as just the biggest pay-cheque with Xabi in particular. If he was to go I think there is also the lure of returning to Spain. Appearing every week for one of the “top 2″ will give him a lot of exposure and has to help cement his place (?) in the Spanish national team. This is his big shot at World Cup Glory come the summer.

But perhaps the x-factor here is his relationship with Rafa, it has been commented many’s the time here about the spat over the birth of his first child and then there was the last summer Barry in/Alonso out debacle. (And who knows what the hell else can be going on in a player’s mind. I sure don’t. I never earned 2,000 in a week let alone 50,000 every week.)

But I think it has to have some emotional element not just financial. It’s a real pity I believe cos for me he was the next Captain of Liverpool. Classy with balls to boot. It’s not every (any) Spaniard who can take and give the physical stuff in England like Xabi, (remember Nunez, Morientes, Gonzalez anyone !) but maybe that’s because he’s a Basque, something else entirely. And maybe that hardness is not just physical … just surmising.

Hopefully it’s just hot air ..and I am quite wrong (again).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1202676/Xabi-Alonso-flies-Spain-Real-Madrid-given-48-hours-complete-26m-deal-Liverpool-midfielder.html

of course could all be bullshit – I for one am so tired/bored of this saga that I just want it all to end

So, if reports are to be believed (and don’t worry, I say that with sufficient sarcasm) – we are supposedly about to lose both Arbeloa and Dossena.

The loss of Dossena I think we can cover, so I’m not too fussed about that, even though I’d also be happy for him to stay because I think he’s better than some people make out.

The loss of Arbeloa would concern me much more, as it would leave us back having just one true first-team right-back. Degen I do not rate whatsoever, and Carra is not natural cover beyond the odd game here or there. I’m happy for Darby to progress and prove himself, but he’s clearly not there yet. So we would be in the unenviable position of having to “make do” with someone out there if GJ is injured. Not good, hence I hope the story is untrue, however Arbeloa himself is quoted as saying he expects it to happen, hopes it happens.

I know they are both just stories, but there’s not much else to talk about at this time of year. And the Arbeloa quotes I’m reading sound pretty certain he’s going.

Great campaign FS and I have mailed everyone on your list I added this at the bottom in keeping with my windbag status.
At the end of the day if nothing is done, you, your company and your products are being linked too or condoning and being associated with “Hate Speech” and a not so subtle form of Racism. In today’s world and society I would like to think that we are aiming for better society based on common respect and dignity. By supporting, or by even by doing nothing about Steve Cohen blatant disregard of the truth, you by association become part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Let’s make a better world where the likes of Steve Cohen do not get a public platform to spew the hatred he obviously feels for the people of Liverpool and by association the extended family world wide who have total sympathy respect, support and a common bond with all the families that have been tragically affected by this incident, who Steve Cohen so casually mocks, disrespects and insults every time he is on air.
Thank you,
Member of the World Wide Liverpool Fan Club

Just a bit of time to view my thoughts on this whole Madrid and Alonso saga. I cannot believe the crap that is coming out of Madrid in the form of “we are over valuing Alonso. Hello we do not want to sell, read my lips. If you want him you have to pay over the odds for him its very simple. It was the same as us last year when Rafa wanted Barry but refused to pay what MON wanted. The people who are saying what Madrid is doing is no similar as to what we did. There is a huge difference. Not once did anybody associated with the Management of the club come out and say anything in the press. Most of the hysteria was from MON, Rafa kept quite and said yes Barry is a player we are interested in only and only after MON started squealing like a little girl. When it was clear the 3 stooges did not value Barry the same way as Rafa did he moved on. This media onslaught about the price is pathetic and something should be done about it. If Alonso does not want to publicly state and ask for a transfer, match the price or shut up and move on, this oriental bazaar negotiations are becoming boring.

Babbel, probably my first choice, Kuyt, Ngog, Nemeth, Pacheo are more than enough options and quality to cover for Torres in case of an injury. We will not be able to attract a more established striker to sit on the bench. The only way for that to happen is if Alonso is sold and Gerrard moves back into midfield.

So many scholars in here, the mind boggles. So I shall bring down the tone

Is Xabi in Madrid or Liverpool at the moment?

Well he’s not in Liverpool – I just hope that if he goes, we don’t back down from our original stance and get our 30 million

If he’s not in liverpool where is he arthur?

on a plane back?

According to those reliable bastions of journalism that are Marca and the Daily Mail he is in San Sebastian

ah well there is no doubt then. we can all rest easy.

Is right Arthur. Rafa’s given Xabi 3 days off and he’s gone to see his family in San Sebastian. But he had to fly into Madrid to get there and he’s with Arby. So, of course the media add 2 and 2 together and come up with their usual 22.

But don’t be surprised if he’s gone by this time next week. Like I said, the Espanyol game will give all parties chance to sit down and thrash it out.

What will happen? Obviously, I don’t know. But if I had to have a bet on it or make up odds, I’d say Xabi leaving is slight favourite.

I’m not saying Xabi has done this just for money. I never have, but the done thing in this situation would be to offer him improved terms. Rafa hasn’t. He’s just put the ball in Xabi’s court and named his price. So, it’s basically down to Xabi and RM now.

I reckon you can bet your house on Arby leaving Andy. And, you’re right, with Dosenna looking likely to leave for Napoli, it’s all back to square one in the full back department.

And to think, we’ve got another month of this shit to put up with. Nevermind us, I don’t think The Tramp will take much more of it. At this time of season, he usually looks quite palid by his barbequed bacon faced standards. I’ve just seen him on the telly and The Trampo redness meter is already reading an 11.

Nice one Keith.

Mind you if we lose Arby & Xabi as well as Dossena I think that should put a smirk on old Sourpuss’s mug again. At least until Rafa “plan B” is sprung. Oh dear, who’s grasping at straws now.

I don’t think Real have the money to buy Alonso at the moment which is why they are moaning about the price. They need to sell players to buy. They also have 29 players and can only register 25 in la liga.

My money is on Xabi staying simply because Rafa wants €35m and Real want to pay no more than €25m. Real will find an alternative to Alonso like they did when they couldn’t get David Villa.

You could be right if Perez keeps this sort of shite up…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/28/perez-real-madrid-liverpool-xabi-alonso

Senor Perez, I wonder who it was that were paying for fees that didn’t correspond with reality in the first place? You reap what you sow, Rafa is simply adjusting to the market inflation caused by your antics. So you either quickly pay up or you fuck off and suck that Diving Wanker’s cock.

Thank fuck Prick Parry is no longer in charge of transfers.

Thanks FS, I had heard that Xabi was in Spain but did not know why. So, from the outside looking in, it seems that XA has a few days to make up his mind and Real have the same amount to come up with the money.

LB, I am not so sure about Real not having any more money. If the Spanish government cannot afford another 5-10 million pounds, then all of us are screwed.

BTW, is Wenger losing the plot altogether? Now Toure seems to be on his way as well.

I can just see the mainstream media this year again. Arsenal, a great young team and just a few signings and a few seasons form dominating the Universe.

The truth is that Rafa has left him trailing in his wake with a similar net budget and Rafa has had to totally reconstruct the entire squad!

Unless Wenger pulls his finger out they could be in danger of losing there 4th spot. How I would love to see that!

Lurgankop: Wenger has apparently said they have enough cover in that position, they have 7 centre backs, in fact they have so many they have to play some in midfield. ???? Er what? Why don’t you play midfielders in midfield? I think he’ll be gone this season, mind you it depends on if they are happy with 4th place.

Perez should shut his gob. pay up or shut up. I don’t subscribe to the view we did the same last season with Barry. We weren’t bleating to the media about the price. Perez is telling us what our asking price should be. What an arrogant son of a ..xxzz;.

Lads, Perez is doing his job i.e. get the player for as little as possible. It’s crap but it’s the way it is nowadays.

Personally I am quite happy that he is bleating in the press. Just think if Parry would have still been in charge, 15 million quid later we would have probably had no XA and no-one to replace him!

Well he hasn’t done his job that well. Ronaldo £80 million, Kaka £56 million. They will still get taken apart

True Kenny, but he had to fulfill his promises when he was elected as RM president. Paying over the odds to do so was always on the books!

I am not sure if it is true or not but supposedly Real would have had to pay the manure 20 million odd if they didn’t buy ladyboy this summer.

Anyway, the only thing left on his brief was a Spanish international! IMHO, 30m for XA would be acceptable in my book.

5 years of service, with 2 of them being exceptional, and being sold on for a profit of 20m. That’s what I would call a good deal for LFC.

Perez,you pay the price or you FECK OFF!

We want 30m and Snieder on loan for the Year!

Thats an offer we cant refuse!

… and the award for “Post of the Off-Season” goes to… KinnyRiddle…

“So you either quickly pay up, or you fuck off and suck that Diving Wanker’s cock.”

Ok, speaking from the point of view of the blind here I am going to guess what will happen next week.

Rafa has seen this coming from a long way off, he knows both lads want to go, he sees madrid have a great need for xabi.

Both Xabi and Arbie will be sold and we will end up with 25M plus Schneider (I hope)/Negredo.

I think Schneider would cover Xabi’s passing and control and be more offensive which I would like to see.

I personally think Rafa should blow any cash he gets because if it goes back to Thicks & his buddy Rafa will not see it again.

Stranger things have happened than this: Dossena off to Napoli – Heinze as makeweight for Alonso…

You never know, but that wouldn’t surprise me at all.

As for Nathan Petty and others with questionmark hanging over your heads when the talk comes to sponsors, email & Mr Cohen – check out #79 by FS.

If you haven’t done it yet, make it priority asap!

Isn’t it quite ironic, Perez seems to have spent all his money, need to sell before buying, time to fuck of back to the boardroom Mr Perez. Is that Perez or Press in Spanish. Ps is Ballague just an arm of the Real Madrid media outlet.

Aitch @225, I’m flattered you would give me something like that, though I can easily name a few around here who deserve that accolade far better than I do.

FS’s constant selfless services in teaching the Liverpool Way for free, or even MichaelThomasMadeMeCry’s hilarious one-line quips.

Valiant though their efforts might always be, Kinny, none of their posts featured the words… “fuck off and suck that Diving Wanker’s cock.”

That’s not a blog comment, that’s just fuckin prose, man… hence your moment of glory!

I’d rather be at work, but just done me usual recession/pissing down with rain summer morning ritual: put the radio on while making me cup of tea, turned the computer on and read a few papers with Sly Sports on in the background.

Fuck me, cant wait to get back to work full time nevermind the season. Got far too much time on me hands for all this bollacks. Just the usual aul cack, recycled, re-written, re-publisshed over and over again. What a crock.

But I tell you what, there is not one day that’s passed with out the nasty aul Tramp slatting someone or some club. It’s Real’s turn again today.

If I had anything else to do but sit here and look at the rain out the window, I wouldn’t even bother typing that. But what do you think the media are making out of all this drunken tramp’s ramblings… Yep. It’s being lapped up like the new sermon from the mount.

And I should know better, but sometimes shit like that still winds me up. But at the moment, I’m just laughing at the hypocrisy of it all.

Oh well, CL started last night proper, at least the qualifiers did – and we’re not in them again. So, onward and upward. Only 20 days left now.

FS @ no200 – nope, me wasn’t intimating in any way that ye was racist with that remark. Just a bit of over-generalisation, that’s all.

Completely agree with ye when ye says this sort of ransom holding will grow with each transfer window. However, still canna see why ye single out Argentines fer special mention.

Nevermind. Not a big issue. Everyone has their bugbears.

Maybe a few more seasons of this shite might finally convince uefa to do away with the transfer window. Wishful thinking?

Thanks fer acknowledging the wonderful support shown here during the southeast asian leg of the tour. Yes, it is a money-making exercise. Most of us know that. But heck, there are worse ways to spend yer dosh . . .

As fer Aberloa leaving, still canna understand why he would agree to play second fiddle to Sergio Ramos when he has more chance playing with us as GJohnson may be used as right midfielder or even leftback (like v Thailand game).

As fer Xabi, me thinks Rafa has put a price that he knows that Real would baulk at. Masch will stay coz me thinks Barca have blown their budget with Zlatan . . .

Is there any truth in the rumour about Xabi being in Spain, or are they all in Spain at the moment, anyone know. Is anyone else having problems with typing on the site.

FS, the Champions League qualifiers didn’t start yesterday, it started way back in June 30th. Yesterday was already the third qualifying round, which Celtic would start in.

The fourth qualifying round involving the likes of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Fiorentina and Stuttgart won’t be till August 18/19th.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/
An excellent independent source for all data concerning European matches, including match results, team seedings in every round, country and team rankings, calendars, and past season archives.

Thank Rafa we no longer need to compete in such convoluted qualifier formats, now that it’s been messed up even more by Platini.

Gazman, see post #212 for the Xabi answer.

BTW, I have had a few posts rejected recently but I think that I had email addresses in them. Seems the powers that be don’t like this!

Kinny, hoping for a Atletico – Arsenal match-up in the qualifier! Would be worth watching that one.

That would be a good game Lurgan,have athleti signed anyone big.Outside the top two in spain i haven`t heard much of the spanish transfers this summer.

Puchong,if UEFA done away with the window we wouldn`t be able to sign or sell anybody.Or do you mean do away with the window for Madrid only?

The tramp is going mad.Talking about other clubs constantly instead of worrying about his own.

PR, my problem that mate. I sort of jumped as I’m sick of politically correct speak. It really does my head in. Not the thought behind it. I know it all began with good intentions but it’s getting to a point now where you can’t say a thing with out someone jumping all over it and making you out to be some sort of racist. And I’d just had a big argument over that so I was a bit touchy at the time.

But having said that, I will stick by what I’ve said about Argentine agents/cartels. I honestly wouldn’t deal with one again. Maybe that seems a bit harsh to you. I think it’s fair comment. Go back to the arrival of Tevez and Mascherano at West Ham and look at all the trouble that has surrounded it ever since.

Just not worth all the hassle in my opinion. Of course, I wouldn’t give up on someone like Messi because of it. But the likes of Tevez/Masch, and I’d do more than think twice before getting involved again.

KR, I know the CL has been going a while already, but my point was… this used to be the stage where we’d become involved and now we take qualification for granted. Just another little sign of how we’ve progressed under Rafa, like you noted yourself.

So just Espanyol, Lyn and Atleti and we’re off. So, like I said, I can’t wait to get past all this nonsense now and just get started. But yeah, sick I never got to go on the Asian tour but I’m not bothered about missing the others… 100 pound for an Espanyol ticket. They’re taking the piss.

I see it getting down to the nitty gritty Alonso has to ask for a transfer publicly or Real have to cough up. I like it, Rafa is really playing hard ball good for him. As for the Arbie to Real I have a feeling that Rafa convinced him to stay for another year and then he could go back to Spain. Can anyone remember the homesick stories last year? I still thinl 4 mill is a bit on the cheap side but he does have 1 year left on his contract. The lad has put in some great performances, been very dignified, no rumors of him pushing to leave, snipes in the press ect, I wish him luck. I also agree that wanting to play second fiddle to Ramos is a bit baffling, but lets face it he would have played second fiddle to Johnson and with Johnson being Rafa’s number 1 priority this summer makes sense if Rafa knew Arbie was going.

I think Sniejder is out of the equation for us if Alonso goes (still think its 50/50) it looks like Aquillani or Martinez. Have heard really good reports on Aquillani from a Roma supporter over here, very skillful and very good technically; however he was injured a lot last year so that is a worrying aspect.

What I would like to see is Rafa come to a deal with Alonso to stay another year, bring in one of the above mentioned players and give them a year to settle, then let Alonso go, similar to the Wanker deal with ManU. If Alonso goes I can see us bringing in another 2 players to replace him. Cannot wait for the window to close and the Prem to start.

Great Blog Gerry
Well lads just got back from SE Asia and had a great time at the Thailand game with Knight.

I also sent Aitch’s template to all them email addresses Fatty.

I noticed that Rafa played Babel probably the longest so maybe he’s really testing him.

Still a bit salty Kenny wouldn’t take a pic with me and the missus and shes even saltier that we’re selling dossena

ah well thems the breaks

Aitch I’ll join you and reckon Voronin will have a decent season

Over

Lurgankop that match up could see the arse not qualifying. Then they would be in trouble financially and their fans would be well peaved and we would be well pleased.

FS: Taggart and the media. made for each other both hypocrites and talk out the rear end. Makes me laugh how they say “ooh fergie the master of mind games” really like a pro footballer goes out on to the pitch thinking about taggart’s latest quote and gets completely pysched out of the game. What nonesense!!

KDLL, as I said, I only bothered mentioning it because there was really nothing more to say. Things should start becoming much clearer soon though, but that doesn’t mean all the bollacks will stop. Remember the window is open until at least midnight August 31st and then could be still left ajar if the mighty Tramp decides to hijack someone last minute.

Glad you had a good time Donal. Looks like Knight is still licking his wounds. He popped in after the Thai game and hasn’t been seen since. Hope you’s didn’t get too drunk

I knew it would be a laugh, really sorry I couldn’t make it. That won’t happen again though. No matter what I’ll make sure on I’m on the next one, and I expect that to be within the next 2 seasons as the big clubs are now concentrating on the biggest but still open markets… which means Asia and the States.

So, every season now I expect a trip to either one and maybe a few games in Africa inbetween. And there’ll also be the Scandanavian ones due our huge support there.

It’s all great news for the fans who live in them places, but in all honesty I’m getting sick and tired of this constant chasing money. Don’t take that wrong. I think we should go and play a few games where we are supported so strongly. That’s a good thing in my book.

But like I said, the ticket prices are getting worse every year. LFC/Anfield is still one of the most reasonable places to watch premiereship football. But look at the way other teams hike their prices when we are playing them. It’s not on. The prices just keep going up and up and up. The likes of Masch want to realise what us ordinary punters go through to support them and their massive wages.

YEah. It’s a moan, but it’s right. Years back the authorities decided to price the likes of me (The traditional working class male support) out of the stadiums. They wanted the families and the money they spent in the mega-store. Well, they got their way and now they moan about the atmosphere. And now they are even pricing out the families that they wanted. Imaging taking the wife and two kids to a game. There’s at least a 100 quid on tickets. Add on travel and something to eat, programmes and something from the shop for the kids. It easily adds up to what some fellas earn in a week.

Telling you they won’t be happy until they’ve completely skinned the game out. What to do about it? Well, there’s loads but them who are taking all the money will never let it happen.

And that’s why Donal I’m amazed Kenny knocked you back for a picture. Well, I’m shocked anyway considering Kenny’s a nice fella and that’s what these tours are about – building up good will and support and therefore money. But the cheeky bastards should be forced to do these things if not needed somewhere else at that time.

Oh well, glad you had a good time and wish I’d have been there.

Came across these….
http://lfcglobe.com/pictures-liverpool-players-on-boat-trip/

Fatty
These tours are essential
in the Bangkok game 95% of the stadium were supporting the pool
These guys need to be respected and rewarded for the support they show Liverpool
yeah,wud of loved a photo with Kenny it’s not as if I’ll ever get the chance again
and Knight should of said hello to the lads in the lift but it just shows how much Liverpool means to us when grown men are too in awe to even say a few words to other humans (cause thats all they are)

Ill take a Kenny Dalglish ‘piss off’ any day but would prefer to have had a word with the man seen as at the end of the day were 2 blokes that share a love for Liverpool meeting half-way across the world.(he’ll still always be a legend in my heart, da bollix!)

Anyway im hoping to head home for christmas and would love to take the missus on the ferry to Anfield for a game

I might be bugging you for tickets in a few months and dont worry me and Knight split a few cans in Bangokok in Kopblogs honour

Over

FS trying to buy tickets here, 175 pounds is the cheapest you can get, what are the prices over there.

Donal you must have done something to offend King Kenny! lol. I’d have let you take a picture with me.

FS: It’s true about ticket prices. I’m a depot manager for a courier company in london. I’m on alright wages not fantastic but alright. It would have to be a LFC season ticket and no hols for the family it couldn’t be both. I just couldn’t do it and I don’t live an extravagant lifestyle. I go to Anfield a few times a season. I take me nephew it’s £70 for tickets, £60 fuel and £20-£30 for something to eat for us both. £150 for a day trip.

donal, really what happened during that encounter with dalglish, could u plse elaborate. i am really disturbed to read that.

one other thing, i really think that sergio ramos is over-rated. u shoulda seen him at the confeds cup, let a few fellas run around him. arbie should be challenging him for that position, and best of luck to our ex-red. solid performer, hardly went missing in games, although his crosses could have been better.

Yep KDLL, I completely agree. It’s well out of order. But you know what… it’ll just keep getting worse.

And of course Donal, they should go on the tours and give a little back. But this is what will just keep making it worse. Not the fans who want to see them, but the hype. That 39th game will happen sooner or later and then what…
Well, there’s only one way it’s headed – European Super League and the death of footy as we know it.

Didn’t want to really open this can of worms, but that’s what will happen. It’s the only real outcome if there isn’t some sort of changes made.

Gaz let me know when you are coming. I’ll do me best.

No fee mentioned, but just announced… Arby’s gone.

Well apart from telling him that I thought he was Kevin Keegan (only messin)

Ok Redneck
heres the story…………
I went to the Grand Hyatt to pick up my tickets off a mate that was staying there.
The Liverpool team was also there
In the lobby with me missus I saw King Kenny having a cup of tea with Steve Mc Mahon
I was totally starstruck
after about a half an hour of standing there and not really wanting to bother him me and the missus went up to him.
I said ‘Mr Dalgleish, I’m from Ireland and me missus is from Panama and I hate to bother you but if its not too much trouble would you mind if we took a photo with you?’
He looked at me with distain like I had just shat in his cornflakes and said ‘Later’
I proceeded to wait for as long as I could (my step daughter was sick and had to head back to my budget hotel to make sure she was ok before we went to the game) but there was no later
I guess I’ll just have to wait another 28 years

Now lads don’t get me wrong I love the guy and am not trying to discredit him I’m just telling you what happened and I’m not bitter I just woulda liked a photo with the King.

I guess these lads get asked that question so many times that they don’t realize who is a celeb hunter and who really fucking worships them!

He is the ambassador after all but like I said no beef or hard feelings we’re all just a bunch of humans afterall

over

No excuse. He needs a kick up the arse.

By the way
sad to see Arbie go he was a great servant and seemed like a good guy

good luck to him in the future

Over

Well, the pissing down of rain has slowed down to a nice summer’s drizzle and the pitch black’s lifted into a delgihtful summer’s day grey out there. So, me the granduaghter and the dog are going to see if we can make it down to the river and back without getting drowned.

Sportinglife is a good paper to look through, if you want to look through any of them. There’s a few stories worth checking… looks like fees have been agreed for both Arby and Dosenna.

And thinking about it Donal, if I had to spend any time with McMahon I probably wouldn’t be at me happiest either. Wonder how much that baldy bastard made out of them 2 games.

Oh well, best hurry before the usual weather gets back.

sometimes you wish you havent met your idol in person, cos they could turn out to be a bit of a prick. i’m a journalist from malaysia, and let me tell you that mel gibson is nothing but a sonofabitch. found that out when he was here in kuala lumpur. another time bob dylan was in town, and this mate of mine went up to him when he was having a drink at the hotel lobby for an autograph. know what he did? he pointed to another fella and said that’s bob dylan, he’s not, and went back to his drink. michael jackson was in kuala lumpur about a decade ago, and he was a nice guy. too shy in fact.

i liked the fact that pepe reina bantered with the crowd in singapore, teasing them to jump into the river. but the likes of voronin who had his ipod on, that’s disgusting in my books.

coupla years back the chavs were in town, there were glory hunters screaming at the airport and all, and the players just walked past without acknowledging the fans, with their ipods in their ears of course. but they are chavs, so ….

I shoul have offered to kick mac mahon in the balls for a photo eh

over

Well, that didn’t get far. Just got the poor kid and dog all ready and raring, got to the front door, opened it and so did the heaven’s right on que.

Sick of this. But here’s one for you…
A young lad once told me he was a waiter at some celebrity do or another. He was going to be waiting on The Tramp and was told to be quiet at all times, but if he was spoken to, or it was necessary for him to speak, when speaking to the Tramp. He must be called Sir Alex at all times.

The lad went up to him and straight away said, Mr. Ferguson. The Tramp near blew a gasket, shouted at the lad, when addressing me you do so as Sir and got the lad sacked.

So much for the Govern dock yards Socialist, eh.

And I know that must seem like just a sour story from a Liverpool fan, but apparently it’s the truth.

Hey redneck head down to the kebra club in Petaling Jaya for liverpool games
good craic to be had especially when Knight and the lads are there

over

Fs: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutley eh? why doesn’t that story about taggart surprise me? Anybody who has the audacity to stand up to him is given the fergie treatment – basically a tantrum followed by a snitching to the press. As Rafa said, taggart was very friendly towards him until Liverpool starting beating them and becoming a threat. He’s a disgrace.

Hope my fellow KopBloggers are not tired of the “Kopblog vrs Steven Cohen” saga. I download World Soccer Daily from Monday July 27 to get a list of the current sponsors of the show (the ones that we haven’t informed or chased of yet).

Here is the list of organizations still giving the man money.

-Society of Retina Specialist – [email protected]

-Goldline – [email protected] (Lars Larson CEO)

-Crown Publishing – [email protected] (The CEO of the company is Markus Dohle)

-Grant Walh – http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=81427 (could not find an email address)

- Copa NYC – [email protected]

-Carton Tours – [email protected]

- Crete Carrier – http://www.cretecarrier.com – (could not find an email address)

-Right Size Smoothies – http://www.rightsizeonline.com – (could not find an email address)

-Press Display.com – http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

-Michigan International Speedway – [email protected] – Sammie Lukaskiewicz Director of Communications & Dennis Worden Manager of Public Relations

Dollar Store Retail Services – [email protected]

Progressive Commercial Auto Services – http://commercialauto.progressive.com/ – (could not find an email address)

Objective T-shirts [email protected]

Greateyeglasses.com http://www.greateyeglasses.com/shop/help.php?section=contactus&mode=update – (could not find an email address)

College bound network [email protected]

Steven Cohen email is – [email protected]

the email that Aitch composed & posted #162 is brilliant.

to make it easy for everyone to let Cohen’s sponsors know the truth, please just copy and paste the following list of email address into the to: bar on your email and copy and paste the letter bellow (or write your own)

TO: ______________________
[email protected]; [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

_______________________
To whom it may concern,
You advertise on either one or both of Steve Cohen’s shows on Fox and Sirius.
Steve Cohen has and continues to use his public platform to perpetuate lies about the circumstances surrounding the deaths the 96 fans that lost their lives at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield England.
He has, despite the results of many public inquiries and the findings of the official “Taylor Report” continued to claim that it was the Liverpool fans themselves that were responsible for these deaths. It would be one thing for Mr. Cohen to hold this personal opinion in spite of all evidence to the contrary, but another thing entirely for him to use his public forum on Fox and Sirius, backed by your sponsorship, to perpetuate those lies to an American public, otherwise unaware of the circumstances of the events in question.
Steve Cohen has continued to make such allegations, making veiled apologies when forced to, then in spite of those apologies, repeating his campaign of deliberate misinformation. He has even gone so far recently, to suggest that Liverpool Football Club and its fans are in some way racist… when it is in fact he himself who is displaying the most obvious form of regional racism. To put it in terms America might understand, there are those in the England who look upon the people of the North as the “Southern White Trash” of England… Steven Cohen is such a man. Is this really the type of person you want representing, or associated with your company?
Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, uncles, aunts and grandchildren died at Hillsborough. Not drunken thugs as Mr. Cohen would have you believe, but 96 average people, not only from Liverpool, who went for a day out at a football match and never came home. These people have families who mourn their loss to this day… Steve Cohen’s words are more than just a spit in their face; they are a knife twisted in an open wound.
Mr. Cohen has further shown his immaturity, and total unprofessionalism, by obtaining a copy of a letter such as this and responding to the sender in the following manner: “Yo yo yo, You are beyond sad. Get a life, a job or a hobby…but please i beg you do something for yourself. Nobody cares anymore about what you are talking about. Please get some therapy…your family deserves you to be well. cheers, Steven.”
I’m guessing he didn’t stop to consider that such a letter could have originated from a relative, or close personal friend of the 96?
I urge you to reconsider your support of Mr. Cohen, his radio and television shows, and more importantly from your perspective, your association with his vile, deliberate, false and incredibly insensitive ideas!
I and all my family and friends will be boycotting all products and services associated by sponsorship of Mr. Cohen and his public forums, until such support for his lies ends.

Thank you,

A Liverpool FC Fan

Donal, King Kenny always has a look of disdain, apparently when he is sleeping as well, so I would have no hard feelings

So Arbie is away for (supposedly) around 3.5m quid, which is not bad business considering that he only had a year on his contract.

So Parry has lost us a few more million there thru’ his procrastinations. Thank Fowler that Rafa is now controlling the transfer side of things!!!

Lurgan there was and is no hard feelings

Just woulda loved a photo for me gravatar and maybe a sig on me shirt

and dont worry I cut the little fucker a look meself

over

Nah Lurgan, not to make excuses for Parry, but what Keith said earlier is from all I know truth… Arbeloa wanted to leave last season. He really doesn’t like living in England, (looking out the window, I can’t say I really blame him). And Rafa cut him a deal, stay with us for one more season and we’ll look after you.

Well, judging from the money we let him go for, it looks to me like Rafa has kept his word. I have no problem with that. But with Dosenna also being allowed to go home, we’re sort of back to square one in the fullback department. And then there’s the question marks hanging over Xabi and Masch.

How quick things change.

Fuck it. The rain’s probably not going to stop until next May. So, I’m just going to sit on me fat arse and watch The Arsenal Stadium Mystery.

Except for the murder happening at the stadium, it’s got very little to do with Arsenal or Highbury but it’s a cracking old film.

PS: Donal, I’m honestly not making excuses for Dalglish. I think he needs a bollacking for that. But I am surprised by it. I’ve never met the man meself, but from all I know he’s one of the better ones and always open to the fans for a bit of banter, pictures, autographs and that. You must have caught him at the wrong time. Like I say, probably done to being with the other prick, McMahon. Who I know for fact is a horrible arrogant bastard.

Oh well, back to the Arsenal stadium mystery.

Fair enough FS, but why let facts get in the road of a good rant!

Anyway, it just goes to show you that Rafa is a man of his word. In fact I don’t remember a single ex-player, that he signed, having a bad word to say about him. Although, I am ready to stand corrected on that.

I am stuck indoors on me hols as well but for a different reason – it is feckin boiling outside – must be tipping near 40 here and my poor Irish skin cannot take it!

Not a Liverpool related question but one I find interesting. Why do all the mingers go topless on a beach when the nice birds run around basically fully-dressed?

Thats just life Lurgan

fucked up as it is

I don’t remember refusing a photo with you Donal, I must have had me mind on other matters. Sorry for any offence caused.

By the way FS I’ve been reading your comments for a while now and I like your philosophy on football and the Liverpool way. Could you pop by monday morning for a chat in my office at Melwood, I think you know the address. By the way LB/Digger don’t bother coming you slagged off Deadly Dirk and he’s one of my favourite players.

dunno lurgan i’ll have to ask my misses that one

Tough morning, waking up to see that Arby’s fee’s been agreed and he’s off for a medical and it appears that Doss is right behind him.

Best of luck to both of them. Arby has been good value since he came, and I think Keith is right that Rafa asked him for one more season last summer and did the right thing in getting him home this season.

I’m not bothered by Doss leaving, nothing against him, but England just wasn’t for him. Great attitude, hard worker, and he seems like he’s a great team player, but his heart is back in Italy. Thanks for the two big goals in that one wonderful week, especially the one to finish things up at Old Toilet.

Arby leaving is the one that suddenly seems to leave us exposed in the back. He could cover at all three positions, although I see him primarily as cover at RB and LB.

As it stands right now, here’s our defense:

RB Johnson/Degen/Darby
CB Carra/Skrtel/Agger/(Kelly or San Jose)
LB Aurelio/Insua/Mavinga

We’re in the same spot we started the offseason with at RB. One established player, and two unknowns. Johnson appears to be an upgrade over Arby, but if he gets hurt, then what?

Degen makes Aurelio look like an iron man. He was injured most of the season, and he has as many league appearances for us as Darby, which would be zero.

The left is more thin that how we ended the season. Aurelio will start the season injured, and although Insua looks like the real deal, we’re not certain if he is yet strong enough to survive the rigors of a full season. That leaves us with an often injured Fabio, a 20 year old in Insua, and an 18 year old in Mavinga.

I don’t know a thing about Mavinga, other than he’s an 18 year old French youth international that plays at LB and/or CB. I have no idea where he is in his progression and whether he’s simply a reserve team player or someone who may be able to sneak his way into the first team at some point like N’Gog did last year.

The final part of the equation is CB, and we still haven’t figured out how to replace Big Sami just yet. Both Skrtel and Agger missed extended stretches of the season last year, and although Sami’s been our 4th choice CB the past two seasons, he still had time to make 44 appearances (all comps) in 2007-08 and 18 appearances in 2008-09.

That leaves us in the market for some super utility type player who can cover for us or else Rafa’s going to rely on the youth that’s already here. Suddenly that part of the squad is looking awfully thin.

Not that I’m a big fan of his, but I could see Heinze as a makeweight in any deal we work out with Madrid for Xabi?

Hopefully Rafa’s got his plan B already worked out. I’ve learned to trust in him, but it looks like the boss has some work ahead of him.

Good news folks, seems the campaign is working. Fox Soccer Channel is dumping Steve Cohen as the co-host on their footy phone-in show.

http://www.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=1e704431d89e7993&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a1e704431d89e7993Post%3af340d191-1f40-4b9f-aa2c-0db7f9abaf16

Quite gutted to see Arby go. And I was beginning to admire him for his unsung

Now even Doss’s left. I can only hope Rafa knows what he’s doing and already has contingency plans for that position in mind.

That must really suck Donal. It’s good that King Kenny has some good reputation with the fans beforehand, or he could be instantly misunderstood as an arrogant sod, not that I’m defending or trying to pretend to know him.

I’m the sort that gives people the benefit of the doubt before jumping to any conclusions, it could be as FS said, you must’ve bumped in the wrong time when he’s with McMahon, who FS thinks is a sod.

Good thing you’re understanding, Donal. There’s this football commentator in my city, he’s got some sort of a personal vendetta against Liverpool that he would go on and on in every match commentary about how the Liverpool players ignored his request for an autograph when they last visited the city years ago, without elaborating, and then used that as an excuse to label everything Liverpool as vile and dirty.

Naturally, he now supports the Scum. I actually pity that prick really, and it’s lamentable how one small misunderstanding just like that can easily earn one an eternal scorn that they completely do not deserve.

Great news to hear, yanksarewanks (BTW, what a name, you’re not a yank yourself, are you?)

Already there are some posters in that USA Today link trying to make it sound like Liverpool fans are behaving like a lynch mob in silencing Cohen’s freedom of speech and all that crap. Like that prick Cohen, these people must be set straight.

Well my main thoughts today are…

1. I’m not particularly happy that Degen appears to be our first cover at right-back (although Carra may be more likely to cover there if required). Neither are quality right-backs.

but

2. If Arbeloa wanted to go back to Spain last season, but agreed an extra season to get us through, then I thank him and congratulate him and wish him the best.

And, I console myself with the thought that the premiership is unlikely to be won or lost at right-back. I hope I don’t jinx us with that, but as long as GJ stays fit most of the time then it should not be too much of an issue. However, if we don’t have anyone else come in at right-back, then we also need to accept right now that GJ probably should not play in any of the cup games just to be sure, and if that results in us being knocked out then so be it for the greater good. Best to accept that idea now and not start ranting about it later if it does happen.

Overall we’d all love it if all the players shared our love of the club, but it’s unrealistic. Any local scouser and the odd Englishman who truly did support us as a youngster may show it, but it’s quite rare for new, foreign players to inherit the same level of passion. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised when foreign players like Arby and Alonso want to go back to Spain when the big clubs come calling. They’d have heard of Liverpool growing up, without truly knowing the extent of our history and culture, and I’m sure they appreciated things when they got here, but that doesn’t mean they have to suddenly be converted to badge-kissing life-long fans. (However in Alonso’s case it would be nice if he fulfilled the contract he signed).

One things this does do for me though – it makes me appreciate even so much more the attitude of guys like Torres, Reina and Kuyt. All arrived from foreign leagues and have shown fantastic passion for the club, to the point that you will very very rarely hear any even barely credible rumours about them being pursued by other clubs. Everyone knows they are committed to the Reds cause and I love them for it. Torres has shown himself as one of (if not the) greatest striker around since arriving with us, but all we ever heard were easily-discredited rumours of Chelsea trying to lure him away. That all got shut down pretty quick because nobody believed Torres would leave and he himself said so immediately. Since then, you hear nothing about other clubs chasing these guys even though they’ve had outstanding performances. It’s the same as Carra never being chased. I know they can’t all be like that, it’s my very point, but those who are like that should definitely be applauded.

Golf Clap for the Faithful…..

Keep in mind lads that Kenny had probably been smiling for the camera and signing autographs all day, every day, throughout the tour.

Lurg probably caught him in that very brief respite, when he was able to relax for a few and have a cuppa and a chat with an old teammate.

And once you pose with one bloke, then all the fuckin bus-boys and other patrons in the place want at it as well
Still, such is the burden of fame… and if you don’t like it, get a job in a fuckin factory where no one wants your autograph or photo!

Great news on the Cohen front, YAW. I had an email from a friend in NY to tell me about it and just popped in here to break it, but it’s not over lads…
Anyone who hasn’t emailed the sponsors please do it, and remember to rustle up as many people as you can to do the same.

I hope that doesn’t make me seem vindictive. I’m not. The fact is, this man has used his priveldged position to attempt to brainwash Americans into thinking all LFC fans and Scousers are the scum of the earth.

It goes way beyond footy banter, which, let’s admit it, we all love. But it’s not just the usual tribalism. I coached in America. Kids there love this game and are eager to learn all they can about it. This man should not be allowed to poison these young impressionable kids.

But he is coming un-glued. My mate tells me he had to move his radio show into his own home (I hope that’s because he can’t afford the rent). And that he has dropped his toll free number for the show and callers have to pay to get through now… Yesterday, he got the grand total of 3, yes 3, callers. And this on the only daily soccer show in the US.

Good. I hope he ends up in the soup kitchen. I know that’s bad of me, but I think it’s all he deserves and he’s brought it all upon himself with his self-destructive hatred and lies.

So, well done folks. But the job is only half done. So, please email if you haven’t and rustle up as much support as you can.

Oh and I’ve got a great Dalglish and supporter story but I’ll write that later. I’m busy getting the Cohen news around a few places.

When you say its not all over FS i`m thinking you mean he`s still in broadcasting in some capacity and must be completely wiped off the airwaves.

I totally agree we have to keep the pressure on.I left a comment on the usa today page telling one guy who followed Cohens show “religiously” the reason why he was taken off the air.This guy thinks it was a pack of LFC fans from the states got him off the air.I assured him it was o worldwide campaign and told him it wasn`t his fault that he was brainwashed by Cohen.After all he was the voice on America`s No1 soccer show.

I also urged him to google the taylor report or any piece by Phil Scraton.

I don`t know if this will get through to him but maybe some readers of the comments would consider checking up on the Hillsborough Disaster.

May i add a big well done to the NYOSC who have lead the campaign in the states right on Cohens doorstep.

Keep up the good work lads.

I don’t particularly begrudge you that opinion FS… but …in a way I feel I bit sorry for him.

A mate of mine had a long conversation with him after a live broadcast thing in a Sports Bar in LA, and said he seemed ,like an alright fella… he just can’t avoid getting a hard-on when it comes to LFC and Scousers.

Prior to the Hillsborough outburst earlier this year, he had been quite even handed in his handling of LFC on Fox Football Phone In and even quite even handedly critical of his beloved Chavs.

That’s what a broadcaster needs to do… put your personal feelings aside and be objective…
Of course, he just couldn’t help himself, and now we know how he really feels.

I bare him no personal ill-will… just glad to get him off the air, like you said!
Coz if he liked us before… he’s gonna fuckin love us now!

Ahhhh… never mind all that diplomacy bollocks… fuck him, where’s me pitchfork?

Aitch,

This man should get no sympathy at all.He deserves all the bad luck he gets for spreading his crap around.We should not rest until he`s completely out of the public domain.

The way he handles LFC on the pitch is a different issue to his remarks about hillsborough and the HJC.

Most commentators in the British media are unfair to LFC on the pitch but would never make digusting remarks about that day.

I don`t like pulling guys up on their comments Aitch but i can`t see how you have sympathy for this guy,even if it is a little.

Sorry Aitch i was writing whilst the little devil on your right shoulder was kicking the little angel off your left shoulder )

I’m with Aitch on this one, I also feel sorry for him. I’m one of those Americans who was a one time listener to his show.

It’s a shame when you watch a person self-destruct like he has over this issue. All of this is his own undoing, and it would have been so simple for him to rectify.

A heart felt apology and an admission that he was wrong about the facts on the day. That’s all that he needed to do, and this issue would have died long ago. Instead he refused to back down and dug his hole deeper.

It’s a shame the show is dying a slow death, because I have listened to it with regularity the past few years. Steven’s knows fuck all about football, but the guest correspondents were what made the show: Tim Vickery, Graham Hunter, Misha Sher, Andy Brassell, Phil Ball, Graham Poll, Derek Rae, and Bobby MacMahon to name a few.

I stopped downloading World Soccer Daily back in April when the boycott began, and I’ll continue to do so. He’s a grown ass man, and he made his bed which he’s now lying in.

I commute to work 1 hour in each direction daily, so I’m constantly looking for football content to download onto my iPod.

I listen to all of the podcasts I can get my hands on (Guardian, the Times, ESPN Soccernet, and Chappers) but that isn’t enough to fill up my drive time each week.

Any other suggestions on Podcasts you guys are downloading?

Aitch, I’m really a big daft bastard. I’ve got no real malice in me. And I honestly hate to see anyone lose their livelihood. But, even putting aside his opinions on Hillsborough, his hatred of all things LFC and Scousers in general, here’s why I think he’s just got to go…

The man is not some arse hole chanting obscenitites at the match. As one of America’s most high profile Soccer pundits/commentors, he has a huge platform. He has chosen to use that platform not only to attack people who can’t defend themselves and their grieving families and friends, he is using that platform to brainwash a whole generation into believing his lies and hatred.

Why that man hates us with such a passion is beyond me. But he has chosen to try and spread that hatred by not only slandering the dead but lie about why and how they died. So a whole generation of American kids will grow up with the idea that Liverpool fans are nothing more than murderers of their own kind.

I don’t think it’s possible to fill a young impressionable mind with anything much worse than that. But I do know there aren’t many worse things than poisoning young minds. It’s a terrible thing to do. The lowest of the low.

So I have no sympathy for this clown. He brought it all upon himself with his self destructive lies and hatred. And for him to not be seen as a liar, then it would be taken as he was telling the truth. That can’t be allowed.

The coward hides behind Freedom of Speech but uses it to spread lies and hatred. There are laws against this in the States, rightly so. And I would love to see him prosecuted for it, but being off air and losing his platform for spreading hate will do.

And I can’t go into detail just yet, but I’ve just had some other news sent to me and…. he’s fucked.

Ivcjmac, do you honestly think someone won’t come along to fill the void left by Cohen?

Do you honestly think who ever fills that slot won’t be more qualified, more knowledgable, more listenable and likeable than this vile know nothing specimen of a human being?

I have listened to his show and I’ll just say this…. Removing Cohen from his position is a great service to American soccer and broadcasting.

The man is a complete and utter arse which ever angle you look at it from.

Are any of Liverpool FC’s rivals e.g. ManUre at the back of Cohen?.
To sell more of the jerseys and things in the stores – just a thought!

FS, I don’t disagree that they will at some point be someone to come along and fill Cohen’s spot in this market, but it isn’t going to happen overnight.

I would love to get 2 hours of podcast 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year from somewhere else to help me fill my football jones, but I don’t know of that outlet just yet. If anyone knows of it, please fill me in.

Cohen works for himself, he is not someone’s employee. The radio show is his and it’s co-owned with Nick Geber, who claims to be a Red but his silence through this whole fiasco has been deafening.

Their funds are what runs the show and it’s not a question of the show getting someone to replace Cohen. Once he’s gone, so is his show.

The show is currently aired on Sirus/XM Satellite radio, which is a subscription based radio service here in the States with a rather small listening audience (Who wants to pay $14 a month to listen to the radio in their car?). It has approximately 19 million subscribers here in the US (a country of 305 million citizens), the vast majority of whom could give a shit about soccer. At most he reaches 25-50,000 listeners per day through this outlet, but that’s only a guess on my part. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him lose this outlet shortly as well.

The bread and butter of the show is with people downloading the podcast or listening in to the daily web streams he’s got at various outlets, including his own web site, ustream, as well as at iTunes.

I agree the man is an arse and I am in no ways defending him. I was simply stating that it’s disturbing to watch a man self implode like he has over the past 90 days and not feel a little sorry for him.

Like I said, he made his bed and now he’s lying in it.

Yo yo yo, that is music to my ears.

Maybe I should send his email back to him once this business is finished.

I am not like that but I will forward Aitch’s template to all the Luxembourg LFC supporters to ram it further down his throat!

YNWA

Why Luxemburg Lurgan?

Just curious.

MON is drinking some of the tramps domestos.He has come out today and said not only will Man City break into the top 4 and they should be the bookies title favourites!

The ‘Black Stuff’ pub in Luxembourg is my ‘local’, even though it is in a different country.

http://www.blackstuff.lu/

It’s about 25 minutes from my house so it is not as bad as it seems.

But best of all, it is the home of the Luxembourg LFC supporters club and you have some die-hard reds there, from all walks of life.

I used to be the secretary of the LFC supporters club there but due do a few family problems and a heavy workload I had to give it up.

BTW, I have just read the MON stuff as well. I used to have a lot of respect for the man but the toilet-duck effect does seem to be taking hold. A pity that!

Thats a nice one Lurgan,your local in a different country,thats a first for me!

Ya MON has taken something alright.City will be a threat to the top four.After landing toure they have just up`d their bid for lescott to 19m so its only a matter of time before the bitters accept.

At least the media might build this season as the “war in Manchester” and leave Rafa alone……….NO CHANCE!

Just got a message from a mate of mine in L.A.
Great news about Cohen getting the boot from FSC.
Let’s hope his radio program goes away too.
I was on his TV show several years ago..he was arrogant then,but I didn’t know he hated Scousers
until later..Nick Costigan who is on Fsc, is a big Reds fan, had a nice chat with him after the show.

that should have read. Kevin Costigan.

It’s great that when you do something for cause of the club you love, and the sport you love, some times the goods get delivered. I have absolutely no sympathies whatsoever with cohen. Good riddance.

As to arbie, it’s a bit disappointing cos he was a decent fella, but for me, that carra incident seemed like the final straw. I thank him and wish him the best at the club he supports.

Donal, I am sorry to hear about your incident with dalglish. As FS says, there should be no excuses. He should feel lucky that someone who has long been gone from the game even remembers him and asks for a photo. The fans treat him with respect every time, so he should return that every time.
I met Sampaio, the former brazilian midfielder, when he was playing for a local Japanese club over here in Japan about 5 years ago. I asked him for a photo when he and his wife was about to pay for all the shopping, informing him that I would of course wait until they had finished. But the fella came all the way out of the queue saying that there were no probs whatsoever and we had a little chat. It’s those little things that count. Judging from your explanation, it wasn’t as if King kenny was dead caught in a middle of a private session or amongst throngs of people, so no, there should be no excuses.

It’s worth thinking about it another way too though Hyde.
Walking into their hotel, and asking them for an photo/autograph while they are having a cuppa, is like walking into the man’s kitchen and asking him for a photo.
Their hotel is their home on the road.

…but as I said, its the price of fame… deal with it. You wanna be a Legend, you have to accept the adhoration too!

…
As for Cohen… don’t misunderstand my statement. I want him off the air, so he can’t spread his particular brand of racism… but beyond that, I don’t want to wish that anyone ends up penniless in a gutter… and that includes him.

And again… keep in mind that he’ll blame “vindictive scousers” for his downfall, so watch what you type, as it can be copied and pasted to support his claims..

Our attitude towards him should be, “we got you off the air for making racist and hurtful comments and… er… I’m sorry, who are you? What was your name again?”
(you know, as you drop a penny in his tin cup and walk on by)

Vindictive Liverpool fans my arse, Cohen brought it upon himself for such hateful comments. End of.

BTW, while shameless people who use Hillsborough as an excuse to bash Liverpool are rightfully disgraced and condemned, I wonder what do you people think about people who use Heysel to brand Liverpool fans as a bunch of violent hooligans?

I ask that because the other day my family was having dinner with a family friend, and when talking about football all of a sudden he was saying how Liverpool are nothing but violent thugs because of Heysel, that got me riled up and I had to set the record straight for him, family friend or not.

Ok, so Arbie is gone & Real have the weekend to conclude Xabi’s transfer.

But does anyone here know anything more this lad from Roma that Rafa is supposed to be eyeing as a replacement?

What about David Silva? Any news?

Also read that a few Bundesliga teams tried to sign Tuncay but were scared off by the £8m price tag.

ps: FS – regarding Argentinian cartels – isn’t the owner of the Masch & Tevez’s “economic rights” an Iranian?

Too much to catch up with right now. I’ve got to run, but just a quick word on Cohen….
While no one would like to see his wife or kids suffer, I honestly don’t care if the man himself ends up in the gutter.

Ivjmac, yes you may have to wait a while for someone to fill the void he will leave. But knowing all I know about America, that won’t be long.

And I’m not having a go at you for feeling sympathy or wanting your daily fix of footy. But 25 to 50,000 people is an enourmous audience. You get less people at Goodison! And I’m sure someone will see the enormous commercial potential of such a massive ready made market and it’s access to giant corperate sponsorship from the likes of Heineken.

Don’t under estimate this man and his hatred. I could forward emails to you that he has sent to the NYLFC. I’m sure they’d make you change your mind and drop any sympathy you may feel. Believe me, this man absolutely revels in the hurt his actions have caused.

As for Hysel, it’s a completely differnet kettle of fish. The two tragedies share nothing except the fact that they both involved Liverpool fans. But I was there and I will address that later when I have more time.

PR, not really sure what nationality the person is owns the rights to Tevez and Masch. But whoever they are, I wouldn’t deal with them or their likes again.

Last word on Cohen, I have been told he intends to open up a Soccer/Sports bar. So he won’t end up pennyless. He will just have a much smaller platform from which to spread his hatred and lies.

And he should consider himself lucky. If he had done this to some minority, he would have been in jail by now and hunted out of any livelihood he could still make.

He has nobody to blame for this but himself.

Kinny Riddle. I wasn’t at Heysel so those who were will obviously have more to add and a different perspective but here’s my observations.

1. the top and bottom of it all is football is a game and nobody should die because of a football match.

2. I do get very angry that the whole blame gets laid at LFC’s door. There are many factors to take into consideration. The year before LFC fans were ambushed in Rome by the ultras, there was violence and stabbings, so it was a nap we would be meeting up with an Italian team prepared for trouble.

3. The Juve fans were goading the Liverpool fans, when the Liverpool fans rushed them back they ran.

4. The stadium wasn’t fit to hold a European Cup Final and this was pointed out by the LFC officials ie; Peter Robinson. If it was in the correct condtion that wall wouldn’t have collapsed.

5. I saw on tv Juve fans with masks on, one with a starters pistol in his hand, so they played their part in the disaster and were also prepared for trouble.

6. I believe what happened would have happened with the same set of circumstances involving any other team.

As I said before football is a sport and no one should go to a match and lose their life.

As for Cohen – tough luck, you reap what you sow.

My greatest fears are confirmed now.
This is not a dodgy source either!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/07/30/liverpool-fc-s-xabi-alonso-hands-in-transfer-request-100252-24275822/

Now what? Cattermole, Aquilani? Either way the likelihood is we have taken a huge step backwards.

I was just feeling rather annoyed by Dudek’s comments of hoping Madrid can snatch Alonso as well after getting Arbeloa for a bargain 3.5m. This is when we got a player of Dossena’s calibre for 7 million last season and the likes of Turner is being touted for 9 million.

Compile this with the news that Dossena’s wage demands are complicating his transfer to Napoli, news of us being linked with Turner and Cattermole as replacements and Alonso’s transfer request, it really hasn’t been a very good week so far.

Maybe some or a lot of it is just shite but I am worried with this latest development with Alonso and the likelihood of Real getting two of our players on the cheap i.e. 10 million cheaper than originally demanded. They and City have been the main instigators of the ridiculous inflation.

I am also saddened that 3 years left on a contract can so easily be ignored and incinerated.

I just hope that we can look forward with more optimism once the dust has settled.

I see Alonso is nearing the exit door, but please where do these Cattermol and Turner stories come from. Great news about SC and have no sympathy in the slightest for people that indulge in Hate Speech and Lies and to be honest he could be taken to the cleaners legally, if one could be bothered because of what he has said from a public platform. If a news paper prints a false and damaging statement they are liable for damages so is a broadcaster.

I’m sorry the Cattermole and Turner stories have been going around the Daily Mail and rumour mill so probably don’t have an ounce of truth but I am speechless with the transfer request which means he forgoes 10% or 3 million to force through the move. I am pretty sure there were contacts made while he was in Spain and that he will get some if not all of this money back as a compromise.

Now I don’t want to sound of the alarm bells but what if Mascherano hands in a transfer request? Do we have to adhere to Barca’s demands? Football has really gone down the shitter.

If that Echo article is true, then Xabi, you must have your reasons, but it doesn’t change the fact I’m disappointed with you, after all everyone’s gone through to support and defend you. Real Madrid is a “big club” you say? Well, so are we, even bigger, more passionate, and more patient with their managers and players.

However, Rafa must not let him go cheaply. We have had enough of the days where people treat us as feeder clubs and try to bully us about. Real Madrid must cough up not a single cent less if they want Xabi, or he’s not going anywhere.

And though I doubt he’s as low as Diving Wanker, if he does begin to moan and bitch to the media like that Wanker, tough luck. Rafa would put him in the reserves to play or rot or whatever, but he will not be leaving for Real for free.

Stole this link from another site but it does sum-up how I think that most people are feeling about the latest developments on Xabi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by7TSX4DZJM&eurl=http%3A%2F

30 million quid Mr Perez!

I share some of the emotions expressed on here already – very disappointed with Xabi’s decision to hand in a transfer request. Actually can anyone tell me – what is the point of contracts if a player can just decide one day to “request a transfer” and BOOM – that’s it – he’s gone? Madrid are going to rape us now on the price. Bad, bad day – and even though we all probably knew it was coming – the reality and the Cattermole stories have truly depressed me. But Rafa has to take a portion of the blame as well – his futile chase for Barry probably led Alonso to this decision (or at least influenced him)

Well, life goes on. I’m sure Rafa has a plan. It’s not as if this happened overnight. So, I wouldn’t be getting too upset about any headlines in the Daily Shit Stirrer.

I love Xabi as a footballer. I’ve said all that before. The thing is, he may not be as big a miss as we all feared.

There’s no doubt that in the last few seasons LFC played better with Xabi on the pitch, and played much better when he was in form. And why was that?

Well, Xabi was absolutely essential to the type of football we played. But at the arse end of last season we wasn’t even playing the type of football that required Xabi. And, it’s only my opinion, but I think Rafa intends to start how we finished.

Of course that doesn’t mean we won’t miss Xabi. Which team wouldn’t miss a player like that? But it mightn’t spell the doom and gloom everyone is expecting/accepting.

In fact, if we get the right sort of player in, it might just turn out to be a god send. And I quite like the idea of getting a young energetic more attack minded player in that slot. But who knows what Rafa has in mind – certainly not The Daily Manc, who’s reporters are no doubt rubbing their hands in glee.

But we know one thing, Rafa won’t lay done for Madrid. You can see that by the way he has acted all the way through this and in the way he has forced Xabi to formally ask for a transfer.

And forcing Xabi to stay certainly wouldn’t have done us any good. As I’ve said before, from all I know about Xabi he is a very quiet, private sort of lad. He doesn’t spend time with the lads outside of work. He just keeps himself to himself and his closest friend is Arbie. So, forcing the lad to see out his contract, or even asking him to give us one more season, probably wouldn’t have been any good to us.

What good is an off form, sulking Xabi? Not for me, thanks. Give me a fella who is fully commited to the cause any day even over a much more talented player who doesn’t really want to be there.

My only concern in all this… Rafa must get the full transfer fee to spend on replacements. Not just the Xabi money, but all the money from the sales of Arbi and Dosenna too.

Will he get it? I don’t know. But what I do know is, if the money doesn’t get spent on new players, you know exactly who to blame.

PS… I haven’t forgot about Heysel. I will post on that later, just haven’t got time now. But what KDLL said is all true, and I will add my two cents penneth worth later.

FS – If the money doesn’t get spent on new players – there will be an out-cry. But on the other hand perhaps Rafa wont find a suitable replacement in the amount of time before the closure of the transfer window..

Real still have to come up with the fee. I think Rafa should give them a deadline or they might drag their heels until our league season starts giving us no time to get replacements in. £30m Perez, pay up or fuck off.

Arthur, reading the situation from the outside, Rafa has forced Xabi’s hand in making a transfer request if he wants a move to RM.

Having now done this, LFC will now get all of the transfer fee, so even if we now receive ‘only’ 30m, we will receive about the same amount as if we had made a 35m transfer with no request made by XA. Cool!

I am sure that Rafa has been working behind the scenes for this eventuality. Gutted that I am that XA will be leaving, it is quite an exciting period for LFC. Do you remember the last time we spent 20m odd on a player. He was not too shabby

The only thing that I am worried about is this english quota of players touted by UEFA. This could mess everything up!

Lurgan – Robbie Keane?

Sorry mate, couldnt resist.
YNWA

On the basis that the rumours are true for a second, cattermole will actually be a better fit for the type of football we played in the latter half of the season than Xabi. And I think people underrate cattermole. He is a good player in his own right. Plus, he is English which will allow us to have more options with the scope of players we can choose from up front.

Rafa is planning things very shrewdly if you ask me. He knew that we could lose Xabi, so he must be calculating many things now.

I think Xabi is a wonderful football player and I would have hated to lose him anytime but this year. At the end of the day, if he wants to go, we have to let go. We played a different, cultured and calculated type of game with him, but we can aspire for a yet another different type of game without Xabi. You know, the roll-the-opponents-over-and push-them-back type of football.

Hmmm, bhavster, that is the fatal flaw in my argument!

Default answer: It was Parry’s fault

I have to agree with FS that I am not too devastated with Alonso leaving. If he has put in a transfer request then he must go, I don’t want players at LFC unless they want to die for the cause. With this request we will get the fee we want and that will mean two quality signings that will leave us stronger for the coming campaign. I would not be surprised to see a bid for Silva, but the link for Aquillani is slightly surprising given his injury history. However I am sure that has all been taken into consideration if we have indeed made an approach. The Cattermole and Turner link is pure speculation, so I won’t get wound up just yet. Remember we have been linked to just about everybody so far this window, Downing anybody? Auther G. Rafa’s fault for pursuing Barry? Alonso had two very indifferent seasons before the Barry saga and put in his best performance last year because of it. It’s a bit rich to blame him for giving Alonso a kick up the arse he needed. Do you give him credit for making a 20 mill profit, giving him the tools and means to make us even stronger? Very easy to point fingers, but not so easy to do so when your hands are tied behind your back the way Rafa’s are because of the two broke Twats that run the club.

On that note I am please that the overall debt of the club will come down to 230 mill with the new financing deal and that THicks (the so called rich one) is having problems raising his share of the 60 mill, not to mention additional security needed. I am still not convinced that they can hang onto the club in the long term, but at least the burden of debt is reduced in the short term. Rafa’s youth policy is what will save us and keep us challenging as well as that not so small data base of players that he is keeping tags on. He bought Alonso for 10.7 mill how many more people has he identified that can fill that role and excel. May be a Martinez will step in and be a revelation.

In Rafa we Trust.

@FS

Very much a balanced comment from your side. Well, with Xabi handing his transfer request it almost is a confirmation that he will leave. I was hoping he will stay.

I dont know who Rafa will bring in as his replacement and i dont want to speculate too.

I wanted to raise another point here :

We saw Ronaldo,Kaka,Benezema this season saying how they dreamt about playing for RM oneday. In the past, Zidane,Ronaldo,Beckham have all termed it as a dream come true.

How big Real Madrid are in reality? How are they situated in the dreams of young footballers who go on to become the best in the planet? Is it for their glorious past or is it something related to the aura of being at Real Madrid or is it because of the money alone?

Looking at them, i get this feeling that as much as we term the English league the best amongst the major league,the best players of any generation still want to end up with Real. I do not understand it.

As per Xabi, i am dissapointed. As FS said, we should be able to cope up. I think ManCity will be a force next season.

Perhaps I was a bit rash with the Barry comment – I suppose I just never really wanted Barry and always saw Xabi as a better player and so didnt agree with the pursuit in the first place. Anyway I agree, if a player wants to leave, it’s much better to let him go than to sulk ala Ronseal. Cattermole is pure speculation at this moment in time but I’d be very surprised if a 21 year old would be able to fill Xabis boots (in terms of experience and ability). But by God I truly hope we don’t start the season with a Lucas and Mascherano centre midfield pairing …shiver

One big benefit to Rafas tactics is that he has forced Xabi to hand in a transfer request. If we had sold him to RM without that LFC would have to pay out the remaining contract value of his final 3 years or negotiate a lump sum payment to the player. This is why very few players ever do it, and why Keanes transfer went through so quickly last year. Robbie Fowler was being paid by LFC, Leeds and man City at the same time for one season cos he didnt request to leave any of the clubs.

I wouldn’t hold on to Xabi either now, but LB is right in saying Madrid can now try to wait us out and ruin our preperartions for the coming season. (Just 16 days to go). But I don’t think that will work for them either, because if they don’t meet Rafa’s evaluation, he can just knock them back.

Like I said, I wouldn’t want to force Xabi to stay, or any other player, but I also think Xabi is to much of a profesional to let his form purposely silde if it does happen that way and he ends up staying.

But it would be better for all concerened now if Xabi just leaves as soon as possible. And Rafa gets in a replacement.

I’d be really happy about all of this if we never had the Borrowers in the board room. Just think if we were owned by decent people. I don’t mean mega rich fellas who just want a new toy. All it would take is proper solvent people with a proper business plan instead of the smoke and mirrors them pair keep hiding behind.

This season alone, Rafa would have had the normal 20/25 million that should be expected from any owner of LFC. He would have had the 15 million change from the Robbie Keane debacle, and he would have had all money from sales. Quite a war chest.

What have we seen up to now… 17 million on Johnson. And if you equate in the money owed on Crouch and the money from sales, how much has Rafa actually had?

Last season was pretty much the same scenario. The only real money spent was the fees for Riera and Dosenna, and the 5 mill or so it cost to have Keane on a few months loan. So, if you look at it like that, you can see how Rafa is taking on the likes of City and Madrid with next to nothing in comparison.

So, it’s obviously essential that Rafa should recieve some real money as (taking Johnson out of the picture for this) the team hasn’t really been strengthened since Torres arrives – or should I say Rafa threatened to quit unless Torres was bought.

And I hate to say this but… if he ever gets tired of all this arsing about, we really are in serious schtuck.

Somnath… Real Madrid are THE team for kids from Southern europe and South America. Much like Man U are for the kids of northern/eastern europe.

Other areas of the world are still pretty much up for grabs. That’s why you see Chelsea trying to build a solid fan base in America and teams now moving into Asia and Africa.

But I like being the underdog.

I think we will now see what type of budget Rafa in fact has. I have a feeling he was keeping his options open until he could ascertain whether or not Alonso was going or staying. I am also sure he has everything planed down to a fine detail as to whom or what he wants and would not be surprised if we end up stronger.

If there’s any justice in this world Keith, Rafa will be given all the dosh from the transfers and everything else that’s still in the coffers.

And wouldn’t it be justice if Rafa, unvieled 3 new top notch players and rammed all the snipers words right back down their throats.

And no. That’s not aimed at anyone in here. I’d just love to see all the Manc loving media choking if we suddenly unveil the likes of Silva as they are all laughing over their keyboards and typing in Cattermole.

Arthur, 319, you might get a surprise yet. i think mascher is capable of playing a lot more ball than he has been so far for Liverpool. I was interested v Singapore that he hit some really good Xabi-like passes, for example the goal for Riera was a killer of a ball. I think there was a system which had xabi as the craftsman and mascher as the labourer but, as I say, I think mascher has a lot more to offer and maybe now he’ll have to produce more. I bet you !!!!
As many have said it’s not like we can replace Xabi with another Xabi and maybe we won’t look to do so.

Sorry Dougle – Masher (great player though he is) cannot replicate what Alonso gave us – his shooting accuracy is borderline appalling and his passing tends to be more of the give and go type. We will need a playmaker and these are hard to find – hence Madrid’s courting of Xabi. But yeah here’s hoping we can get Silva/ Aquailani type players and keep last season’s momentum going

I think Agger’s prescence alone will make up for a lot of what we will lose with Xabi. And as much as I love the lad and hate to lose him, I can honestly see it working out for us.

Carra is coming near the end now. That’s not to say he’ll be on the bench all the time, but I do reckon we’ll be seeing more and more of Skrtle and Agger as a pair even when all 3 are fit.

Which means you’ll have a bulldog (Masch) protecting the fence, and a ball player to tidy up and look after the garden.

Daft analogy, but I hope it paints the picture. And with Masch roaming across the back line, and Daniel being able to carry the ball out from the back, that should be able to make up for the loss of Xabi.

That will leave room for an attack minded central midfielder. I don’t want to speculate on names. But I’d love to see a return to the old days… A Terry McDermott type player in there.

For the young fellas who don’t know what I mean…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuSbsp7FHbI

But you don’t get many of them to a pound.

If there are clouds in my coffee… does that mean the sky is falling?

Hey lads a mate of mine used to be a big player in the Madrid football media and he is pretty sure Xabi is going

Hyde I appreciate your acknowledgment but I harbor no hard feelings what so ever for King Kenny

Over and out

If Xabi is going, hopefully it can get wrapped up in the next 24 hours so we can get his replacements in here.

I’m sad to see him go, but the team will succeed without him. Notice who wasn’t in the lineup for the 1-4 thrashing at Old Toilet (Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Reira, Torres).

The timing isn’t the greatest, I’d have preferred to see this come out at the beginning of July, but I’m sure the boss has his options laid out in front of him and is just waiting to cash in on this deal before he starts buying. Let’s take the 25-30 million and run with it.

I may be dead wrong on this, but I think the value for Xabi will never be higher than it is right now. We would have happily accepted 16 million for him last August, now we’re looking in the ballpark of 30 million. He’ll be 28 in November, so it’s not like we’re offloading a young guy with tons of potential upside.

He’s a class player, but I’m not sure if he’ll be able to replicate the season he just had again. He was fantastic, and I’m sure it had to do with him being pissed off at Rafa for whoring him all over Europe last summer. We’re all motivated for different reasons, and that anger led Xabi to have his best season since his first one in a red jersey.

Now if we do get this money and Dumb and Dumber pull a Glazer and decide it needs to go to RBS instead of Rafa, we’ve got a much bigger problem than any of us were aware of…

Just a thought guys…

We’ve all been operating under the assumption that Rafa’s plan last year was to try and upgrade on Xabi because he’d had a poor season, and he liked the look of Barry. And that, perhaps, Xabi got pissed off about all that and their relationship worsened a bit, etc…

But is there any chance at all, just maybe, that Alonso went to Rafa before last season and said, I’m sick of England, my missus wants to move somewhere else to raise our family, any chance you can sell me? By the way my mate Arbie kinda feels the same? And maybe Rafa said OK, I’ll see if I can get someone in for you Xabi (ie Barry) but if not you have to hang around another season. But Arby, I’ve got no cover for you so you definitely have to hang around another season. But I’ll do my best to sort it out next season as long as someone comes in for you and I can get a good price – so make sure you both have good seasons to keep your price up and make yourselves wanted by other clubs.

Of course Alonso had a stellar season and Rafa has said all the right things about wanting to keep him, but to be honest I haven’t been all that convinced when Rafa has said these things. First order of business was to get GJ in, allowing Arby to leave without barely a whimper… and once the haggling is all done, Xabi will be off too, for more than we would’ve got last year.

I’m extremely curious to see who we bring in, with the new season just 15 days away. Looks like Lucas could get a lot of game time.

Nothing’s done yet. In fact, The Echo have been known to get these things wrong before. So, I hate to say this, but bollocks to it…

If it all goes as expected, Rafa should be sitting on around 40 million quid.

(And that’s not including the Keane money or H&G putting in any money).

What’s the chances of him seeing that?

Good Id say. Rafa said after the Johnson transfer that we dident have to sell to buy another player. He also said that we could break our transfer record. Clearly he has some funds and has something in mind. I think he has just been getting his ducks in a row with regards to arbie, dossena and xabi before enacting whatever he’s got in store. No way he would have signed a new deal without express guarantees of funds this summer. We wait in anticipation….

Ha digs, I think we ARE just about to break our transfer record… have we ever sold a player for more than 25mill before?

Keith, Rafa stated in his comments on Barry at the Johnson unveiling that he had in fact tried again this summer to sign Barry. Hardly what you’d call music to Xabis ears methinks, especially after last summers debacle. Playing devils advocate here but if I’m Xabi I’m thinking ‘tried again to sign the player he wanted to replace me with last yr…..Madrid want me….mmmm…..’ I’m just saying is all…..

Think we’ve got troubles… I just heard Tranmere Rovers have been trying to find a buyer. They brought in some American company to help them find a buyer.

Straight up, this is not a joke…
The company stuck them on ebay for 10 million quid.

Oh and hope you’re right Dig, but don’t hold your breath

Ooops missed that one an all…
Your devil’s advocate might seem less of a wind up if the Barry interview had taken place before any of the Xabi/Real shit started.

And when you add that to the fact, all Rafa said on Barry was… “Money, money, money.” …it looks more imp than devil’s advocate.

I`m worried some bit about the final destination of the funds we`ll recieve if/when Xabi goes.

If they are true to their word and Rafa has money from sales to play with then as FS said we`d have around 40 million.

Now if you count the money we never spent on keane that must be around 12-15 million,where`s that gone?

I don`t think H&G will give rafa the full 40 million to spend,not in 40 million years i think RBS will be waiting with open arms for some cash.

All these theories are interesting Lads.

But when all is said and done i`m sure Xabi isn`t pushing through the transfer just to give the two finger salute to Rafa.

He is a lot more professional than that.I don`t know the real reason either,maybe its personal,maybe its because its world cup year an he thinks he can cement his place in the Spanish team if playing well in Spain.Maybe he`s felt he`s given enough service to the club and just fancies a new challenge.

I know we`re on the crest of something great under Rafa and from our point of view,the fans,we can`t understand why he`d want to leave at this point.

In fairness we will do well out of Xabi Alonso if he goes.He gave us five seasons 2 great,2 not so great,and one injury plagued season and when he`s sold we`ll make an 18 million profit from him.

I`m suspecting the deal will be done in next two days so it gives Rafa a month to shop.

The way Rafa,has worked since Parry left,knowing that sly old fox he`ll have somebody lined up out of his database.

One more thing.Sly sports,they do make me laugh.Ladyboy leaves the scum,so thats a good thing for them because it will release the beast that is apeboy!

Xabi leaving Liverpool will weaken them considerably!

British media pricks!

There’s no real point in trying to work it all out. And it’s probably a combination of many things. But most continental players don’t stay for anything longer than 5 years. So, I suppose whenever a club buys from abroad, they should hope on that but make plans for less.

And let’s face it, it’s understandable. Most of us would be no different… go to a foriegn country, earn a fortune, go home. It’s only human.

Then there’s the lower clubs. When they buy they know if they uncover someone good, who proves themself in the league for a couple of seasons or more – some bigger club will come in and try to take the player.

So, I’ve only got good words for Xabi. But the fact is, out of the five seasons he gave us only 2 were really good. The others were satisfactory at best. So, I don’t see why it has to be the major upheavel some fans and the media are making out.

In fact, if Rafa gets all the dough… Silva, Sniedjer and a back up right back, or something similar?

Seems okay to me, but I won’t hold me breath.

Arthur – you may be right and all “conventional wisdom” would say you are but we’ll see ! I think Mascher has more in him.

One other thing about Xabi and his time here. He was one of the first of the spaniards. He paved the way and stuck it out and prospered here. How much of a subtle influence was he on the eventual arrival of Torres for example ?

If he is to go the best of luck to him personally. I have no great love for Madrid and the whole circus but both Xabi and Arbie were very positive squad members (imho). No bullshit from either of those 2 guys, no playing to the press. Solid players.

Oh and I forgot to say… ivjmac, I see Fox have already replaced Cohen with Eric Wynalda.

I remember Wynalda as a player, but don’t know anything about the fella. But what I would say is…
1: He can’t be any worse than Cohen.
2: He’s American. So, he won’t be importing hatred.
3: It didn’t take long to get some one in.
4: I’d bet the same would happen if the Radio show goes tits up.

As I’ve said many times, Cohen has nobody but himself to blame.

And I haven’t forgotten about Heysel. I will answer any questions on that, and maybe even write a bit about it when it’s quiet in here and I have time.

But I did want to say something to you about Hillsborough. I was in America when the tragedy happened. Although it’s only 20 years ago, the world was a different place then, and America had absolutely no interest in Hillsborough whatsoever.

I remember coming home from work, turning on the telly and seeing this fleeting story on the news on the public broadcasting news.

It was a tiny little story. So, small I didn’t really realise what I had seen and I was in shock knowing many family and friends would be there. And I did lose both.

But at the time I didn’t know what was going on. To get any football news back then I had to wait for the pink echoes (saturday’s match day echo) me dad sent to me. Even the mail took weeks to get them there. And there was no coverage in the American media at all. So, my footy knowledge was always a couple of weeks behind.

But anyway, as soon as I snapped out of the shock of what I’d seen on the telly, I tried to phone home. Communication wasn’t what it is today. It took me the best part of 2 days to be able to get through when I tried to phone. It was horrible, and I could go on about that and the people I lost. But my point is… for nearly 2 full days, I couldn’t find a word on Hillsborough.

I’m not saying it wasn’t reported at all in America. I’m just saying, I spent 2 days, frantically worried over something nobody around me knew of, or, quite frankly, gave a toss about.

And why should they? I’m not slagging America or Americans for that. Tragedies happen all round the world everyday. When we hear of them, we just hear body counts and they are just faceless numbers to most of us. Harsh, but true.

The thing is, Cohen moved to America when he was 19 and now as a middle aged man he decides to constantly drag up a tragedy that frankly went nearly un-noticed at the time.

So, I think removing such a hate monger from his position is a very good thing for all concerend, except him, and he can only blame that upon himself.

5

Soooo….what your telling me big fella, is, that Rafa did not state that he tried to sign Barry again this Summer?

Digger, since you are in the US, what is your take on the Cohen fella?

He’s a despicable bastard Lurgan. Is there any other possible take?

FS, as an American, I know a thing or two about Wynalda, as he’s one of the only recognizable soccer commentators in the country.

He’s certainly a hothead, and he’ll speak his mind to anyone. It’s only bearable because I think he really does believe the shit that comes out of his mouth – it’s not put on just for ratings.

That said, he does have some pretty loopy opinions, like that the EPL is a rather mediocre league that looks impressive on TV because the defending is shit and the weather is cold enough for players to run all day.

Anyway, he seems like me might be a bit of a prick personally, but I do believe he’s at least genuine in his opinions and halfway bright, if a bit nuts. He cares passionately about American soccer while still being forthright and brutally frank about the state of the MLS (i.e., it’s just a feeder league, and should accept its status as such.)

/end of Yank insight that no one really gives a toss about!

STW, I heard from friends at NYLFC that Wynalda is a bit of a shall we say charachter, but at least I hope he has more sense than to spread lies and hate filled propoganda about the dead.

As I said in my last post, I was in America when the tragedy happened. Nobody really cared, and the few that did know anything about it naturally thought it was due to hooliganism. And like I said, that was perfectly natural.

But if you are going to bring this up, why do it in the manner Cohen did? Well, it’s obvious he hates LFC and everything to do with it. Even that’s okay. I hate Man U with a passion. As a kid, I would have probably sang Munich songs – but they didn’t exist.

Far from it, The Kop mourned along with Man U. Times were different then, and also Bill Shankly and Matt Busby were the best of friends. Munich songs began in the 70′s with Leeds fans, and, thankfully, I knew better by then.

But staying on subject, as I said, tragedies take place all the time. We have no choice to not really care or we’d go mad at the injustice of it all. So, to people an Ocean away, with no particular interest in what took place, 96 is understandably and naturally just a faceless number. Why did this man choose to try to convince people that they were animals that deserved no better and brought it all upon themselves?

I suppose it would take Frued and his dog to work that one out. But to constantly do that, despite all facts proving it otherwise, proves the man is on some sort of vendeta. He shouldn’t be allowed to do that from a public platform. Not just my opinion – law. So, the irony is, it is him who has got what he deserves. And as someone remarked earlier – you reap what you sow.

And although I say because Hillsborough is just another tragedy, people understandbly don’t want to know about it or think it’s in any way deserving of more attention than another tragedy, I can’t think of any other tragedy that has been treated in such a manner.

Cohen himself makes this point, by constantly comparing Hillsborough to other tragedies such as Munich, Ibrox and Barnsley, and tells the grieving and all Liverpool fans to “Just move on.”

How dare he. Can anyone tell me of any other tragedy where the victims have been painted as the perpetraitors? Did the survivors of any of the above tragedies get blamed for the tragedies? Did they get accused of pissing on the dead, and stealing from the dead bodies?

Of course not. When tragedy occurs, it is dealt with with some dignity and the outside world does indeed move on and leaves the grieving in peace to mourn for their dead. This is not possible with Hillsborough – especially while people like Cohen constantly bring it up and sully the memory of the dead. And how can the victims families move on while their dead have never seen justice?

Besides, terrorists, racists and anti-smites, Cohen likes to paint Scousers as victim minded morons who are milking a cow by treating their dead with digniity and seeking justice for them. He confuses, purposely or ortherwise, the call for justice as a vendetta and, even worse, just a call for compensation.

The fact, is all the families want is the truth to be finally known and justice to be served. Not one of them, even the poorest, has ever asked for monetary compensation – even though the police, some of whom directly caused the tragedy have been compensated hugely and been placed on disability due to post traumatic stress and never have to work again. And some of these police actually pushed people back into the pens as they tried to escape certain death, and pushed back other fans who were trying to help save their families and friends.

I’m not going to drag all that up again. The facts are all readily available. Shame Cohen chose to ignore them or never even bothered to read them. But all I can say is, I’m glad to come from people who refuse to “just move on,” and chose to fight for their own and some sort of justice for them and their families.

Cohen in his dispicable manner, called the HJC nothing more than terrorists and said he just didn’t understand them. Well, I’m sure concepts such as loyalty are beyond him. And I could go on, but the point is removing someone from the airwaves in America should be seen as justice and a service to the good people of the USA.

And let’s face it, no matter how much of a hothead Wynalda is he’s got to be an improvemnt on that moron. And I think it’s a good thing that he is more interested in the MLS than the EPL. In the long run this can only be good for American soccer, and it’s certainly an improvement on some moron on a vendeta.

So, sorry to go on, but I think that needed to be said.

Role on the 16th. Can’t wait now. I’m like a skint kid on Christmas eve, looking forward to the first pint of the season in the White Hart before the Tottenham game. Alex will be meeting me and my none racist, terrorist, anti-semite hooligan mates. And anyone else who is going, is more than welcome to join us.

Badly put question digger.

Basically is there much mention of this Cohen fella in the US press at the moment and the boycott by LFC fans? If so what are they saying?

Cheers.

Just listening to talk shite and have Sly on in the background. Here’s this mornings latest cack…
Liverpool will not finish in the top 4. They will be overhauled by City, and finish behind Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal – as they reckon their “kids” will definetely come good this season.

One “reporter” has just said, “Liverpool is a club in melt down.” I couldn’t believe what I was listening to… “Players want to leave by the bucket full. None of them like Benitez. Benitez is not good enough to win the league. Players like Carra and Gerrard are coming to the end of their careers. The only one truly world class player, Torres, is injury prone and won’t be able to hack it. There is no good young players coming through to replace the likes of Carra. The rest of the players aren’t good enough.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or pull me hair out. But this was the best one…
“Liverpool are totally reliant upon Xabi Alonso, and will lose all direction without him.”

And here’s me just beginning to believe their fact that we are a 1 man team. But silly me, I thought it was Torres or Gerrard, when apparently they meant it was Alonso all along.

Harmless mischief you might think, but also interviewed a few manager’s of teams that are expected to finish low in the league. One question they asked them all… Do you think it comes down to picking up points at your rivals, and just enjoying the games with Man Utd?

I know I must seem like a paranoid delusional at times, but even trying to be logical about it and just laugh it off, after listening to this sort of bollacks for years on end it’s hard to not see it as some sort of conspiracy.

FS, I thought that it was Arbie who was the one man in our one-man team.

Thank fuck I cannot get Sly sports where I am at.

Give them time Lurgan mate, give them time.

Just found out Sir Bobby Robson has just passed away. Shame that. Another of the great old school gone and not many left.

That man could have taught the press a thing or two about dignity. A gentleman in every sense of the word.

Always spoke well of LFC. Loved playing in front of The Kop and only ever spoke in admiration of all things LFC.

But I’m not saying he was a good man for that. He just was.