First one to comment for the first time. Great blog Gerry as always. I have pretty much said every thing on the Aquilani subject.

I can’t believe any player can avoid getting booked for eight seasons. He was our top scorer for eight seasons.He played in 9 positions and excelled in each one of them.

Is there anything this guy couldn’t do? He was impossible.

KK, he actually avoided being booked for 22 seasons in total. That’s why it would be such a shame for him to be forgotten. I just gave a quick summary of him on the blog but there is a lot more to know about him, such as the fact that the man who was most responsible for us signing perhaps our greatest ever player was none other than Matt Busby, who was also a pretty good liverpool player himself.
You should check out the brilliant LFC histroy site to find out more about the Great Man.

Thanks Ger!!

I am in complete agreement about Kelly, Ged. I was thoroughly impressed with the lad vs. Lyn.

While the overall game was terrible (particularly the 2nd half) I thought some of our approach/build-up play was quite impressive… albeit lacking the final ball. (oh and what is the deal with the Lyn Center-Back getting 2 yellow cards but not walking?? very Odd!)

I also thought Lucas looked very good. Eager yet composed, efficient but effective. He looks well improved.

I also thought Ngog did very well in a game where he was consistently man-handled throughout. He dealt with the constant pushing, knocks, trips, etc., and just got on with it and showed some very nice touches and turns.

I know Voronin gave the ball a way quite a bit, but I thought he looked really hungry, and put himself about a lot, always showing for the pass. I was reasonably impressed, though he’s still got a ways to go, but I stand by my prediction that I think people are gonna be surprised by AV.

I also thoguht Jay Spearing put in a decent performance.

The other player who deserves mention is Cavalieri. What a terrific performance by our 2nd string keeper… very Pepe-esque!

in re all… as you said… perhaps not ready to rely on for a season, but I’d play any of these players against the newly promoted teams, Hull, Fulham, Wigan etc. as well as the Carling.
And I’d be very interested to see how each of them could performed within a settled/established 11… as opposed to these mismatched training teams.

Yeah well, tatty bye Xabi. Not much more to say.

As for Degen, to me the lad is a championship grade player. But unfortunately, he’s on Champion’s League wages. So, if we can’t get some mug to buy him, it looks like we’re stuck with him for quite some time.

The basic errors he makes only become all the more strange when you think the lad’s a full international. The mind boggles. But I’ll give Rafa a break on that one and Vronin for that matter.

When they both arrived on frees, I actually thought two full internationals, and one being Schevchenko’s partner, was an incredible bit of business.

Fucking free indeed – can you imagine how much the pair have cost us in wages! But we’re stuck with them so let’s hope…. hope we don’t have to relie on them in anyway firstly, and if we are that unlucky they can show whatever it was, besides costing nothing, that Rafa seen in them.

Who knows though? They could still be handy to fall back on, but, like yourself, I’d far rather relie on the likes of Kelly and Derby, and Babel or the kids up front.

On the Liddell memorial… Misuss FS has a pay pal account. I’ll get a few tickets in the raffle. It will be a pleasure to contribute. I never saw the great man myself – yep Dig, somethings where even before my aul arse time. But I talked to people who watched him play, and he was indeed their generation’s Dalglish or Gerrard, or Nando, or insert your heroes name here…

I have an old friend I haven’t seen in years. He told me a cracking Liddell story. I’ll tell it in here when everyone’s had their say and things get a bit quiet.

And great suggestion Gerry.
KK…
LFCHistory.net

In there you’ll find a massive and really comprehensive history of LFC. I’m amazed at that site and the devotion of the people who’ve built it. And KK there’s even links to full web-sites on Liddell, Shankly and Paisley, that they also built. So, it’s well worth spending a bit of time in there.

Well said Ged.

Thanks for the memories Xabi and best of luck in Madrid. Terrific person and player, who hopefully will not be missed at all, although I will keep an eye-out to see how he is doing in Spain. Decent lad all being said!

Just by the by, but in the days of Lidell, did you not have to be commit GBH/ABH to get a yellow card. A real man’s mans game in them times.

Not a slur on his good-self, or his footballing skill, but I would like to know from the experienced folk what they think.

BTW, I will contribute 2 quid for each decent response that I receive.

Yeah Lurgan, it was a rougher game, but how about this… Billy Liddell was eventually replaced in the side by Ian Callaghan, who himself played for something like 17 years, still holds the all time appearance record and was only booked once in his whole career – which never should have happened.

He got booked for decent at the very end of his career and he’d said nothing. It wasn’t his way, and the referee was just out to make a name for himself.

I can still remember the picture of him on the back of the Echo when he retired, holding 3 old type leather casies, with the numbers 857 painted on them so I never forget how many games he played. He, along with Peter Thompson our other winger, was me first real hero. But I loved all that team, which is another story.

And when Billy Liddell hung his boots up, he opened a shop in Liverpool and became a magistrate and he sent a mate of mine to Borstal.

Then years later the same lad, went to see Billy in his sweet shop and took his autobiography with him to get it signed. When Billy asked him who he should sign it to me mate told him his name and jokingly said… “Don’t you remember me Mister Liddell? You sent me to borstal.”

And Billy signed it… “To Blah-Blah, glad to see you saw the error of your ways.”

Worth 2 nicker of anyones money that.

Cheers FS, worth more than two nicker indeed.

Just trying to see who’s older than me on this internet super-highway forum .

BTW, how did the LFC match go in Dunmanway? Any reports?

Well I’m glad to see the Alonso transfer is over and glad to see Rafa jumping on another centre midfielder. Yeah I know there’s pro’s and con’s on the lad but he is world class and wanted so thats a bonus. Good to see our players wanted and world class players coming in.
.
Aqualani is definitely an attacking SG type player and when fit will add to our attack. Yes I know he has a few problems with injury but then so did Nando last term.
.
I’m with Rafa, if he thinks he good enough then it’s my job to watch him play. So 2 world class players in already could there be a third, hope so.
.
Can’t wait for the start of the year, did someone say Agger may be used in the defensive midfield role now. Not sure but I thought someone mentioned it.
.
Anyway good luck Xabi, well done for Liverpool and all the best for the future. Ps I don’t think Degen is of the quality we are coming to expect at Liverpool. (therefore I now like him, that should get him transferred quick).

Good blog Gerry
Agree that it’s a good thing the xabi business is finally concluded but eagerly await news of more strengthening of the squad. Hope your hunch regarding a couple of more signings comes good.

On another note, FS – am I correct in remembering you being able to help procure tickets to LFC games?

uve prob seen it lurgen but here u go m8,

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N165331090806-1600.htm

Pacheco could be a very useful player if you ask me.

Hope Aquilani isnt as crocked as some reports ive seen, ive followed him for a while and think he has real quality, when teams park the bus he will be brilliant at bursting forward, theyll be watching torres and gerrard and from knowhere this little gem will smack them right on the arse! Against the top teams in the prem and champs league we may not be able to dominate as much, but we will be exciting to watch.

Glenda Johnson looks quality and if we can add him and Aquilani then we are looking strong. Against the defensive teams, i can see kuyt pushing up to torres and glenda being a right winger, we have a lot options next year if everyone stays fit, and that is my next point.

I know Stevie and nando only started 12/13 prem games together and we still did well, however i think to really turn them draws into wins we need them for as much as we can, if we were to lose them two, then i think in the long term, were going to come short.

Weve still got to get more quality in im afraid, i would be happy with Huntelaar/Silva and Dystin. We dont know the figures that Rafa has to work with but if he has 20 mill left then these would help us next year.

cant wait now for the real stuff to start!

Granto

I’M definitely going to make my donations, Gerry. Billy Liddel deserves all the respect. I am also a great fan of the website you indicated. Liddel’s piece is incredible. Everyone should read it. He did all the hard work on the pitch, a super star, and yet he was still working as a proper man. The site introduces you to a standard weekly schedule of Billy Liddle– I wish some of the players of today read it and became grateful for their positions. 80% of them are probably not even as half as good as Billy as a footballer.

You can also hear how great he was on the Liverpool history DVD from the interviews of his peers.

FS slated me for this before, but my obsession for the 60′s uniform (the style, FS, not the material!!) really started from my respect for Billy. Wish I was old enough to have seen him play in the flesh.

As to Kelly, I’ve been saying it all along– out of all the English youngster, he is the one that I am most keen to see this season. He is tall but quick, and versatile. If my memory serves me correct, he also can play as left back, in addition to the positions you mentioned, Ger. Basically, with Carra getting on a bit, we will have to rely on this fella more.

Dont know how reputable the daily express is but this must count as a spit-your-coffee-across-the-table-wtf? article: Lucas Levia has suggested he is concerned about his world cup prospects by revealing he has spoken to corinthians president Andre Sanches. ‘We will have to see what Rafa Benitez’s plans are’ he said. ‘The president of corinthians knows what I’m interested in and what I want’. Like I said wtf?!? If this is true I think I’m actually impressed! The fucken balls on this fucken kid! Slap him Rafa

Now thats what ya call trying to engineer a move Keith….

My favourite quote about Billy Liddell came from his lifelong best friend Bob Paisley. Referring to his great all-conquering Liverpool side of the 70′s, Bob said, “If I could have had Billy Liddell available to play in the middle of that team, we’d have won the Grand National and the Boat Race an all!” Brilliant stuff!

Liddelpool.

Yup, we were accussed of being a one man team even then. Good to see some things haven’t changed!

Me thinks Xabi is gonna be the one that gets real madrid ticking. So long as we don’t cross paths . . .

Looking at Aqualani’s record, me is more than a touch concerned. Just seven Seria A starts last term & only 20-odd% of games from last 3 seasons at Roma.

When will news of his medical be revealed?

What if he doesn’t pass it? Any suggestions on alternative targets?

Ace blog as usual, Gerry.

Hey guys!

Just read some articles related to our greats, and I was quite amazed and impressed by their records. Be it Ian Callaghan, Bob Paisley, Billy Liddel, Matt Busby, Kenny Dalglish, Bill Shankly, Kevin Keegan, Steve McMahon.

The feeling I got was, that man, I support the best in the world. This is the real deal. These are the real players, managers. This feeling is just unbelievable. “I am proud to be a Kop” is all I can say.

Hyde, what did I say about the 60′s shirts? I love the old kits. In fact the only LFC shirts I own are from the 70′s – home and away. I hate these new ones and never buy or wear them, haven’t since advertising came in on them except for one the Fowler/Collymoore era Addidas one. For some reason, I’m not even sure what, I liked that shirt, bought one, and it has laid in a draw since, season by season watching my belly get way to big to ever wear it. The ravages of time.

On Aqualani and the injuriesm, the only real one to be concerned about is the ankle. And that should be okay. The other injuries have all been of the sort that you can expect any footballer to pick up and aren’t of any real concern. But the good thing about the ankle is… he’s finally been given the time by Roma to get it operated on and that should fix it. And he’s also spent time at West Ham working with Zola’s medical team (Who are apparently the best Italy had) and it should finally be fixed once and for all.

On top of that, the medical the lad is going to have will be much more rigorous than the usual and any indication of trouble will see him fail. So, if anything the lad will be coming with more guarantees than usual. His transfer fee will also include performance based clauses. So it’s not quite the gamble The Daily Manc would have you think it is.

On tickets: I got some very bad news yesterday… Thanks to our glourious owners H&G, my mate who gets the tickets has now lost a third of his allocation. Some of the lads off here have met him and he’s got them tickets in the past. A great lad, and proper Red who never takes a penny over the face value price. Well, it’s a bit complicated and long to explain properly but in a nutshell, H&G have fucked him and all the other people like him as they are now using the tickets for hospitality/corporate/big money tourists.

Me mate is a Pools collector for the club, and because of the amount of business/money that he brought into the club, he was entitled to 5 tickets for every game. They were always wanted but he would always put one by for me when I needed. Well, his (And all other pools agents) ticket allocations have been slashed, and his is now down to 2. Which means the end of that, as he goes on his season ticket and his sons use 2 every game. So, sorry lads. That looks like that. But I have other contacts and will always try to get anyone a ticket, but I won’t be able to guarantee them now. Sorry, but just another thing to thank our illustrious owners for.

As for the Dumanway game, I believe it was a great craic and…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFkGrqILbko

Talking of our history, our owners and tickets…
Do you know the birthplace of LFC, The Sandon pub, has now been turned into a hospitality suite and ordinary fans can no longer get in there on match days?

Yep, even that bit of our heritage has been taken away by this pair of horrible bastards. I never used the place meself. It was always full of tourists and far too hard to get served in there on a match day. But it was sort of like a place of pilgrimage for some people and them bastards have no turned it into a fancy watering hole for the corporate suits.

I hate that pair with a passion, but at times like this, when I think back to the likes of Liddell and the old days, I atually hate footy and all it’s become.

Thanks Gerry, you’ve started me day off with a cob on.

FS – Calm down, calm down . . .

Nay, yer actually rite.

That’s why me has not bought any form of merchandise since the pair of wankers took over.

Well you didn’t exactly slate me FS, I was fooling there.

There once was a discussion about our favourite reds kit when the grey one came out last year.

I mentioned that I love the 60s kit the best, and you asked me whether I had ever worn it– implying that they were like metal and not good. To which I replied, I like the design, not the material which would have ground my tits to sahara sand!

I have that Fowler/Collymore era one as well– it does resemble the 60s one doesn’t it, with the round sewn-on emblem and round thick neck? I have the cream-coloured one, though, not the red one.

Yeah I remember it now Hyde. I think I meant they were murder to play in, and yeah, especially on the nips.

I have the red with white trim and the away white with red trim and yellow liver birds from the 70′s, but I never wear them.

The cream coloured one you have was the away kit, has little liverbirds in the material. But I meant the v-necked one. I’ll dig a picture up. But here’s one…
http://www.toffs.com/invt/9081

That’s the only LFC thing I wear and only to the odd game, and I’ve got an old scarf from the 70′s that I take to the odd match but I don’t do that too often as I like to have the odd pint or 12 after the match and would hate to lose it.

PS… little tip call it a kit. Uniform will get you a proper slatting!

Oh and up date on Cohen…

Firstly, this is for the American lads, especially ivjmac…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/audio/2009/aug/06/football-weekly-podcast-season-preview

No need to miss WSD. This is a far better podcast and it’s back now, as are loads of other ones.

As for Cohen himself, the fucking mug, can you believe this…
He’s formed a “WSD Supporters Union,” based on Liverpool’s Spirit of Shankly. He also asked “WSD fans to come up for a motto for it… “Something like LFC’s You’ll Never Walk Alone!”

And what did this Mensa dodgers and their Guru settle on… “Love Football Or Die.”

I kid you not that is all gospel truth. It would have to be. I mean Steven King couldn’t make it up.
Truly unbelievable. I don’t think I have ever came across such a bloody moron in all my life, and I definetely can’t think of anyone with such a talent for shooting himself in the foot everytime he opens that idiotic trap of his.

The mind truly boggles!

Hi guys,

Sorry to hear about the ticket situation FS. I don’t like hearing stuff like what the American Knobbers are up to now. What these gimps don’t realise is the glue which holds a club together is the love and respect generated in the greater community around a club. The volunteers, the connection people make with each other, the stories told and re-told … not the Club Shop and certainly not Corporate parasites and their ilk. You cut out the people and there will come a time that there is nothing left, just an empty shell. I’ve seen that with my local club here in Cork. The club was taken over by an Investment Cmpany who basically fired all the Volunteers, program sellers, ball collectors, stewards etc.. When they did a runner a few months later they had gone a long way to ripping away all the goodwill built up over the years. Crowds are down and the club was the subject of a winding up order last week. It’s a long story but I do not like hearing about the ordinary fan being pushed away from the club, bad vibe.

Great blog Gerry (again). Sylvia Dustbin indeed, I hope signs just so we can write about Glenda and Sylvia at the back … !

As I have bladdered about before I am sorry to see Xabi go. I think he was very important in establishing Rafa’s way in Liverpool. He took the penalty in Istanbul which made it 3-3 and went a long way to getting us *Big ears” and thus settling Rafa down and giving him credibility with the fans and power vs Coco and the 2 dopes.
He went with dignity (imho) and I, for one, wish him the best except where it counts, v Liverpool.

On to Dunmanway yesterday. Well I hooked up with Corkie and Corkie Junior. Good craic. Grand little set up with a kind of weird vibe of a game. Of course 95% of the people were be-decked in red but the fact that nobody knew any of the players or the manager and the fact that Dunmanway gave it their considerable all with very limited talent or technique kind of mixed the vibe. In the end most people were hoping the Docter, the tarmacadem workers, cops and brick layers would grab an equaliser.

I happened to have been out at the hotel taking my daughter for a swim when the Liverpool squad, who were staying there, came out to their big bus, security etc.., porter pushing the trolley with the bags. the multi-national lads/boys with the Ipods and kit etc…not a care in the world. The Dunmanway team had come to travel in convoy (of 2 buses !) with the Liverpool team, they were all crammed into a mini-bus behind them. Kind of apt really. Anyway we all piled in behind the buses and promptly got stuck in a traffic jam about 50m down the road. Craggy island – Father Ted how are you!

So I dumped dear daughter asleep and pegged it over to Dunmanway. Liverpool (second reserve team) were no great shakes to be honest. They had the ball all game and did very little with it. Pachego was a class apart however. Time and time again he drifted into space took people on and layed on good passes. He’s like Benny Onion for me. Nameth looked dangerous but the ball didn’t run for him. Irwin the right-footed left full back was pretty good. Otherwise nothing of any consequence was seen. To be fair Dunmanway played an 8-2 formation so it was a dificult business getting space behind the packed defence.

The best bit of the game was when the announcer tried to pronounce the Liverpool sub kalanckic’s (?) name, he could get his tongue around it, the crowd gave a good laugh… “I knew ye were gonna laugh at me” comes floating across the tannoy … queue more laughter all around.

It was interesting to see just how many people were there. There is a huge support here in this part of the country and I hope, if Liverpool come again, that they do a bit more on the “star” vibe. Even a few mini-stars !

Nice one Dougle. Wish I could have been over there just for the craic. Oh well, maybe next time.

The club really couldn’t have sent any major players over though. There was the Espanyol game to consider and the serious business of getting all the lads ready for the upcoming battle. Not long now.

Anyway, I came in here to post this….
[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

They are the email address’ of all the head honchos at Sirius the company that airs Cohen’s show. Please email them asking them to think twice about being connected to, and indeed giving a forum to this man’s vile opinions and hate speech. But remember… please don’t be abusive.

Just a quick, short and to the point email, free of any abuse, will be much more helpful than any hate filled rant.
Cheers.

Cohen’s

Arse have drawn The Celts.Anybody think Martinez Athletic Bilbao would be a good signing?.

Sent in a comment earlier, it had 4 email addresses in it, so it will probably show up later, but…
[email protected]

I will now post them singely. They are the email addresses of all the head honchos at Sirius, the company that hosts and broadcasts Cohen’s show.

Please take the time to email them, but remember…
Don’t be abusive.

Just a short, polite note asking them if they want their company to be connected to, and indeed provide a platform for, such vile opinions and hate speech.

Say what you want, but believe me that will work better than any abusive long letter – which would only be ignored and even defeat the purpose.

Cheers.

#2:

[email protected]

#3:

[email protected]

#4:

[email protected]

Cheers lads.

Haha, FS, I’ve been back here for so long, I sometimes blurt out Japanenglish! They call kits uniforms over here, strangely enough. Thanks for the Toff links, mate. They used to sell the 60′s one there, but now they’ve taken it off…
And the shanks tracktop is wicked, but whenever I try to buy it over here, it’s always sold out– why? Because Liverpool have Torres….I have to leave this place soon…

Oh well, will be e-mailing away in a short while.

Super stuff Gerry.

I`ve said my piece on Alonso.

As for Billy Liddell i`d be honoured to contribute towards his memorial.

One of the greatest players and men that wore our red shirt,if not the greatest.

For a long spell if not all of his LFC career,he only trained twice a week.So he was technically a part-time pro.Phenomenal.

Fs,i`m having trouble trying to send the e-mails,don`t know whats wrong,could be trouble my end.I`ll keep trying.Keep up the good work pal.

So how long is Aquilani’s medical going to take?

Still going LB.I heard they brought him out to Aintree and made him run the Grand National course!

He made it over Beachers Brook but when he got to the Chair,he sat down on it instead of jumping over it.

Foreigners eh

Apparently the doctor was testing Aquilani’s reflexes and in tapping his knee with that little rubber mallet, blew out his anterior cruciate ligament.
It hurt so much he leaped from the table, pulling a hammy in the process… then as he landed he twisted his ankle, tore the cartiledge in his right hip, got a headache… and an ear infection… and broke a metatarsal.
As he was falling, he reached out to steady himself and accidentally grabbed the nurse’s left tit. Being from Bootle, of course, she gobbed him one.
Once he wakes up… He’ll be out until Summer 2013!

When the fuck did “the most knowledgeable fans in the world” turn into a bunch of fuckin Nervous Nellies???

Kids today, eh FS?

I remember seeing Liddel play,what a player!
He shot so hard that he broke a goalie’s arm once,mind you,I will admit that they had leather boots and ball in those days and when you got hit in the ‘dangles’ you knew about it.

It hardly seems 22 years since I was being warned about the “terrible” city which has meant so much to me. I cannot recall who said that a city is not just bricks and mortar and fine buildings, it is the people in it, but it expresses what I think. I would like to take the opportunity of thanking the much-maligned Liverpool supporters for the encouragement they have given to me. I have always been happy at Anfield for I know we have the staunchest bunch of supporters in the land. I do feel that the Kop is very biased at times, but in this sport which is fast becoming commercialised, the fans have a part to play in the team’s success. The Kop crowd certainly have done their hardest to cheer Liverpool back to its rightful place, and I hope they will be able to achieve it this season : Billy Liddell . Now that could have been written yesterday,goes to show some thing’s never change .As for never been booked that’s because he never played against the likes of Ladyboy,Dropba etc etc.
YNWA

Just seen a T-shirt, with printed on front…

Lewis
Hatton
Eubank
GERRARD.

Must say I’m tempted to get it.

In a rush lads, just wanted to put this up….
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N165347090807-1933.htm

So that’s that then. Aqualini it is

Great Chirp Atich, sitting getting pissed at Lagos Airport and had a good laugh. Another good blog Gerry and I have also said enough about the Alonso issue. Maybe I was harsh on the lad and most of the blame could be laid at Reals door for their handling of the whole affair and for being so cheap after splashing so much money on two players. I just felt that if he really loved LFC or felt connected in anyway to the fans he would know how important this season was and I would have thought he would like to be apart of it, the lifting of number 19 I mean. Anyway each to his own and I wish him luck; I think he will need it.

I do think, if all the comments from Roma supporters are a reflection, we my end up being stronger for having Aquilani in the midfield, especially in the attacking sense. I think there was a comment from Granto about the weaker teams, but by all account in the CL game against Chelsea he made Lampost and Obi Won look ordinary and controlled the midfield so don’t underestimate the lad. He has passed the fitness test and will be fully fit in about 4 to 6 weeks.

As for Digger a hole for yourself, my sparing buddy’s quip, it is preferable to read the Suns page 3 than the express, you can at least look at the tits and it probably has more intellectual content. With all the positive reports of Lucas’s preseason I think we could see a big contribution from him this year. For all the non- believers and adult diaper brigade, this lad has vision and a good range when it comes to passing, my only issue with him is his speed and acceleration off the mark but I still expect good things of him this year.

Just about to finish my Star ( local brew) and stagger to the plane, getting really exited about the new season and I feel it in my waters (not because of the amount I have consumed) that we are in for one hell of a season. Let the games begin.

FS, “Love football or Die” has a kind of a Mozart ring about it, it really class and instantly forgettable, just like the wanker who coined it.

So Keith, if I’m reading you correctly, it is better to look at tits… than to read anything written by them?

Keith – happy to hear your a STAR man!

I suppose some things never change, here’s the headline in the daily manc this evening:

Aquilani stunner: Liverpool’s £20m new boy ruled out for two months

For me, it is welcome Aquaman.

Yes Lurgan. No reference to Zlatan Ibramovich who’s walking around with a plaster and has just cost Barça around 50 mil.

So the italian is onboard but not playing for at least 4 weeks…then there’s the ole ‘match fitness’ and so on. Hope for the best eh?

What do people reckon we’ve got left in the old coffers? If the Silva deal would present itself, can we put the dosh together?
Gossip says sir tramp and co are interested, I would hate to see them snag the guy from under our noses…

Shame about the tickets FS, so it goes I guess.

Off to bed, just popped in to say, I can’t quite fathom buying injured players. It would have never happened in my day. Can you imagine Old Shanks buying a fella in plaster?

But I suppose with the advances in injury care, we can presume it’s actually a sort of guarantee that all will be well with the lad’s ankle.

Anyway, that’s how I’m going to look at it and hope the lad adjusts to the game as soon as he’s played.

Is right Jack, I remember reading how Liddell broke a goalies arm with a shot. I wish there was some film of him in his pomp.

As for the tickets Kristur, that is indeed sadly how it goes in the days of H&G. But hopefully they won’t last much longer.

I agree its a bit odd FS, but if he’s as class as rumor suggests, then he’s worth waiting for is he not?

No Aquilani for (up to) 8 weeks is surely better than no Aquilani for those 8 weeks PLUS the remaining 40-odd weeks of the season, no?
(long term, big picture and all that.)

On the other hand, fuck it, we should all panic now before the opportunity passes us by…

And FS… if you think the ticket situation is bad now, wait until they build the new super-stadium… you’ll be able to get tickets… but only if you’ve got an armoured-car full of cash handy!
but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know…

Hello Gerry and the lads
This blog was an oasis in a desert of fuckall fottie news
Thanks
Great cause which I will definitely support

There are 29 players in the Kopblog league so far so in fairness I think you have your own little army in here and probably more supporters than Bin Laden!

The statue will probably be funded by Kopblog

Good luck Xabi and thanks for all the fish!
He seemed like a sound fella and showed some real grit last season which added to his already classy style.
I too will remember nearly exploding with joy as he blasted the rebound into the roof of the net in ’05
and his trademark ‘goal from inside your own half goals’ which people still think Beckam is the master of even though he only did it once (it must be the hair!)

and welcome Berty from Rome patience is needed and I’m looking forward to see him when he’s ready
From what I’ve heard he’s a good dribbler too (on the field not eating ready brek!)

Probably a bit of a Benny only better (I think benny is class and way underrated btw)

Knight thanks for the emails bro and keep the Malaysian LFC newsletter coming for the season Please, its always a good read!

Anyway thats the craic she said with one leg up on the table

Over and out

Aitch
There’s no need to panic we have Voronin to fill in while he’s getting fit

Al Berty has the same birthday as Ringo Starr (my favorite Beatle)

I cand believe Lidell broke a goalies arm with a shot (thats gotta be a record too no?)

Forgot to say well done to Rafa too for getting a good price for Xabi (another record)

I posred this in the last blog its a good read

another legend

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/08/07/liverpool-fc-super-scout-geoff-twentyman-s-secret-diary-revealed-100252-24338468/

As for Masch being homesick
He’s from Argentina right? not Spain
Maybe Stevie Soprano should have a word with him

Lads I know I throw handgrenades in here consecutively but keeping the missus happy I can only contribute when I can

at least I didn’t give it all up over the missus like a certain Aussie I know

Over

I know you were being facetious regarding Voronin donal, but my money is on Andy to score tomorrow! (though I suspect he won’t start)

I’m backing him to make LB and Digger eat their words!

I think if Rafa gives him a few games, he’s going to surprise a lot of people this season… though admittedly I don’t expect him to play too much, and am not suggesting all our striking hopes lie with him… it will be as a bit-part player, but in that role I think he’ll be effective, coz he’s really looked like he’s got a point to prove in pre-season.

Greetings to all

I have been following this blog for a short while now and would like to say that this has got to be the best one there is.

Well done Gerry on the great posts and to everyone for the equally great readings.

Not facetious just a little funny

A few blogs back I agreed with you that Andy will do some good this year

And I still think that after seeing him in Bangkok he missed a good opportunity but he was all over the place covering at right back at one stage and setting up good attacks

So I have a few expectations of the fella meself

Over

Nothing like a bit of pessimism from the fans to put things into perspective, it will have me reaching for the razor blades soon or in the basement playing the violin.

Aquilani is not out injured he is 4 to 6 weeks (main site) away from full fitness. That does not mean he cannot play or be introduced slowly to gain match fitness towards the end of matches. He will not be rushed back until he is ready and his ankle must be 100% fixed because I am sure it was thoroughly examined before he passed his medical.

It is know time for Lucas to stand up and show his worth and few 4-1 results like we achieved against the Mancs wll be just the tonic we need and also keep the pessimist quiet. We will not be buying Silva because he is not a priority right know, Benny is a similar type player and with his contract extension we have other areas we need to look at before Silva, defensive cover being one.

It seems like Aqui did pass the medical after all.
Though the rehabilitation process will take time, he will be fully fit in 4-8 weeks. This is a good news.

Lucas will get his chance, but I don’t think he’ll get it for Brazil next year. Brazil’s squad is quality at the top level. This guy is thinking of making a place in a mid-field comprising of Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Kaka, Diego Ribas, Ze Roberto, Elano, Robinho, Anderson.

Last season he capped around 40 appearances for Liverpool(in all competitions). He’s already 22 I guess. I don’t think he should throw tantrums to get in the team, whereas he is appearing in most of the matches. I guess he was thinking of replacing Alonso now that he was leaving for Real. Looks like he got a blow with Aqui’s entry. These threats of joining Corinthians are just ridiculous. I haven’t seen that quality in Lucas.

I hope Rafa buys two more players. Lee Cattermole and Sylvain Distin should fill the bill. Cattermole would cost around 10m and Distin would be worth of around 4m. Rafa wold be still left with 8m. Cattermole could replace Masch next season and Distin could cover the centre.

KK you really do have to stop believing everything you read.
I’d be willing to bet Lucas never made anything close to the kind of statements being attributed to him., let alone “throwing a tantrum” (where the fuck did that come from?)

Lucas made 40 appearances in a Liverpool side that boasts SG, Alonso, Mascherano as central midfielders… frankly I’m surprised he played at all!

neck-out-bold-prediction, number 4…
Lucas will shine this season and be instrumental in breaking down the bus parkers!

kopking #59:
“Cattermole could replace Masch next season …”

i have refrained from saying anything about your postings thus far, seeing that quite a number of kopblog regulars have slated you for your comments, which i find at best naive, otherwise cack.

i may not weigh in regularly with my comments, but when i do i make sure that i at least make sense. don’t just lob grenades in here. you need to be able to back up what you say.

so why should cattermole replace monster next season? he going somewhere?

RE:

I hope Rafa buys two more players. Lee Cattermole and Sylvain Distin should fill the bill. Cattermole would cost around 10m and Distin would be worth of around 4m. Rafa wold be still left with 8m. Cattermole could replace Masch next season(IF HE LEAVES) and Distin could cover the centre.

FS I’ve been trying to aquire tickets over here so it doesn’t put the pressure on you or your mate, however it is near impossible.
.
I have contacted LFC only to continually get a recorded message without ever getting a real person. I have sent them emails (notice I used the term emailS) to which I have never received a reply. How in gods name do they run this business. All I get is please contact our package deal suppliers. These lads want 350 pounds for a ticket and 1 nights accommodation, but then when they find out your on your own, they want another 80 pounds single accommodation fee’s.
.
Yes I know I’m a fucking daytripper but that’s all I get but LFC are bleeding every living cent out of me. Who needs to sell shirts when this is going on day in day out.
.
I even tried buying tickets from Abbey Sports Travel and others in Ireland, when they finally get around to replying to you they charge like a wounded bull.
.
I guess that’s why the Americans seem impervious to the supporters because everyone who goes feels blessed to have a ticket.
.
It breaks my heart, and while we’re at it, for fuck sake LFC build the man a tribute.

Very interesting article by Tony Barrett about Rafa’s and Alonso’s relationship. I did not realise (yes we knew they had a fall out) that Alonso took it really badly and never forgave Rafa for putting him up for sale. If he looked at is from a professional point of view it did wonders for his career, the performances he put in last year. Real where not knocking on his door before. Anyway I am glad that thee has been no public slagging of each other and the transfer has gone through with some dignity, so both must take credit, a real step back to the old Liverpool Way.

Entered the Fantasy League Donal.

Donal, just wanted to ask, how many points should one score approx. in one gameweek? (i.e. 60-70, 70-80)

Carra’s injured too!! At the back we’re all over the place. It’s HT and we’re 0-2 down.

Surely, not perfect preperation for the real thing next week. So now we have 3 centre backs injured, are we cursed or what?!?

Rafa’s got to get another experienced defender and a midfielder in before next week. Even in midfield we look short of ideas.

I love the man but he surely put his neck on the chopping block by signing a crocked player that will not contribute in the first 2 months of the season. We need reinforcements, and quick.

…or… we could just take a nice deep breath … and… NOT PANIC!

Well, it seems we’re running out of central defenders at the moment. Hopefully Carra just went off as a precaution. Me might be in for a disaster otherwise.

Otherwise a good performance today. Lucas is looking better for each game and building on his performances from the end of last season. Glen Johnson looks interesting as well and already does things out wide that Arbeloa wasn’t ever capable of. Looks promising to me, but of course the players still need to sharpen up a bit until next week.

DAMMIT.
The game was advertised as 2 hour tape-delay here… so I just flicked on the TV….. and it’s half-time in a fuckin rebroadcast of the Hull vs Scum match from last season.

I threw up a little bit of breakfast in the back of my throat, it was horrible.

alright lads aint got a chance to post in a while but been keep up to date with the comments as per usual. just caught the 2nd half there,we actaully played half decent but i cant believe we’ve 3 injurys at centre half i’m getting all the we “the world is against us” vibes which i tend to build throughout the season.
Really pleased to see lucas score he’d some nice touches to, however we tend to play a bit panicy at times. Gotta give madrid credit though they were really silky with some of there passing.
Well thats the bullshit over with,time for the really thing.

COME ON YOU MIGHTY FUCKIN REDMEN!!!

KK, wow wow, no need for the panic buys. It was only a friendly, we tend not to do well in friendlies, and we had our youngsters play bulk of the match and against players like Forlan, Agurreo and Co. I think our youngsters had a baptism of fire, not only in this match but also our other friendlies.

How ever you try to gloss over it, you can’t shine shite. We was fucking awful yesterday. But no need to panic just yet.

Anyway, I’m suffering a monumental hangover so I can’t be arsed saying much. But Gaz, this is what I have been saying for ages. It’s fuckin woeful isn’t it. That’s why whenever the lads off here was going I got them a ticket, otherwise you are at the mercy of the touts, or even worse the legal touts on the web. Fucking scandalous. But now they are driving the locals out more and more. I’ve went on about this in many previous blogs and to most people it just seemed like sour grapes. Well welcome to the reality of life under H&G. And if you do get sorted out and go there, make sure to get a picture of any scousers you might see… we are an endangered species around Anfield.

Well the worst thing FS is I feel guilty about buying a ticket, because deep down I know I’m just feeding the blood of these lifeless parasites, and not just them Moores and Parry’s, all that type.
.
They know I’m screwed and my once in a lifetime status is their ticket. I’m actually thinking of only going to the ground to listen to the crowd, standing outside.
.
Anyway back to the game, why the fuck has an international game been scheduled 3 days before the start of the season, what a fuck up that is.

One answer Gaz… Money! It more or less covers all them questions and any other you or anybody else could ask. Disgrace, but how it is and it will only get worse.

Just came across this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac-b2Xmgab4&feature=related

Who is that fat bastard!

Fuckinell. I’ve found a few now. Should be ashamed not broadcasting them…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFkPhus8Q-w

FS great song loved it, is that you in the glasses?

It’s frustrating not being able to watch the preseason matches. Madrid are a good technical side and with two youngsters in the middle of the defense we would have been on a hiding for nothing. By all accounts it seems to have been a good work out. It really pleases me that Lucas’s is getting some good reviews, that’s probably why Digger has not made a lot of comments recently.

I know Carra was just a precaution, but does anybody know the extent of Agger and Skertals injuries and how soon they will be back to full fitness? Did Babbel get on and how did he play? By all accounts Torres was in good touch and on another day could have scored a few. I would not worry too much about the results, the real business starts next week, but the injuries worry me.

Sadly Keith I’m always behind one glass or another.

And be worried about the injuries… Carra’s gone for a scan today

Fatty in Athens…
http://www.youtube.com/user/FatArsedScouser

And there’s more but that’s it. I’m not posting anymore for you bastards to take the piss out of.

Whens the next episode of the fatty show airing?

I think all these injuries and losses are part of Rafa’s plan to lure the other fuckers into a false sense of security.
We’ll see the real team come start of business.

BTW just watching a few seasons of the Sopranos

Good fucking show

Over

32 so far in the Kopblog league

any ideas for prizes or just brag rights?

Over

What a twt eh Doanl. You’ll have to excuse me behaviour and put it down to the sesmic hangover I am suffering. My only defence is, I’ve been hiding behind the keyboard and the curtains all morning. And I whacked into that youtube melarkey looking at the greatest ever living Irish man… Van Morrison and as I was rooting about the other fat twat came up. So what can I say… but fuck it, I’m off to Tirna Nog

I`m impressed the way Lucas is developing.

Concerned about the injury`s though,i hope they`re not as bad and we`ll be raring to go for the game at the Lane.

From the kids at the back my money`s on Martin Kelly making the progression this year.This kid looks to have all the attributes to do very well.

San Hoze and particularly Ayala look a bit out of theor depth at the moment but the experience will do them good.

Not really surprising they are out of their depth, they are both teenagers and would probably cope better with more experience player beside them to help them settle. I see Kelly has been called up for the England U20 squad. Watching the Charity Shield and think Ancellotti has got it wrong formation wise. Gift of a goal by Chec and Chelsea should have equalized. They have just done that.

Yes everybody over here are writing us off, have not bought enough etc, but I am not too worried as long as we get Agger and Skertal back ASAP. We need stability at the back to play with confidence. I hope the news of Carra’s scans is also just precautionary FS, because the rest of the team is looking good with a decent amount of depth around the squad with the exception of right back.

Just found this:

Contrary to all the rubbish printed by the British press regarding a 20 million pound deal for Alberto Aquilani, Roma have themselves revealed the true extent of the payment structure for the Italian (both to the stock exchange as well as their own official site).

The 20 million EURO transfer fee is broken up into the following:

- 4 cash instalments of
- – 5 million EURO upfront
- – 3 million EURO by 4th January 2010
- – 7 million EURO by June 30th 2010
- – 5 million EURO by June 30th 2011.

Further Add ons include:

- 300,000 EURO for every year Liverpool qualify for the Champions League from 2010/11 to 2014/15

- 250,000 EURO everytime the player reaches 35 appearancs, 70 appearances, 105 appeances and then 140 appearances.

- 1 million EURO the first time Liverpool either wins the Premier League or Champions League by 30 June 2014.

- 5% of any future transfer fee will be paid to Roma.

Details can be found here (for those fluent in Italian) – http://www.asroma.it/UserFiles/988.pdf

So next time you read any article and it says we paid 20 million Pounds or any other funny amount, reference this article!

That being said, if we’ve only paid 5 million EURO for Aquilani, and got 30 million POUNDS for the Alonso deal right away….is there more money to burn or is it going to our esteemed American owners to re-finance their deal?

The Alonso deal is probably similar.

just watching the traitor Owen for the manc scum,hope he has fick all success like after he left us for Madrid-i used to see his old man play for Chester–Shite footballer Welsh wooly windbag-”whos sheep is that cow boyo”

Fatty I’d be disappointed with anything else

Looking for the greatest ever living Irishman you’d be be looking for ‘ol Rory Gallagher,Ronnie Drew or Luke Kelly

Although Van the Man is up there

Lads ye reckon Dagger will be fit to start on Saturday?

Over

What aboot Che Guevara Donal?

The Community Shield match was pretty awesome today. Both the teams played very well, creating chances, goals.

One thing I am sure of – Chelsea are back. Their tactics in the first half weren’t working out, but in the second half they completely threw out.

Nani’s goal was superb, although it could have been saved. Cech was looking quite sloppy in the first half.

Evra was decent in the first half, but in the second he was completely lost. The second goal was scored because of him, and he started acting, thinking that his mistake could be solved. Ballack didn’t even move a muscle, and Evra took a fall as if he was hit by a tree. Why was he coming from the right flank? His position is on the left. He was totally crap.

Carvalho’s goal was good. I like him, because he even comes out and attack. He’s a goal scoring centre-back.

Lampard’s goal was a real quality. He hit the ball so hard, that Foster had difficulty in stopping him. The shot’s power was immense. Like I said before, it wasn’t even a foul on Evra. Fergie was behaving like a stupid boy, shouting at the referee like that.

Rooney’s goal looked off-side. It was just a consolation for Manure.

Manure’s penalties were totally rubbish. All the players looked like they were on a hunger strike. No power in their shots. Giggs’ penalty didn’t have any accuracy nor power. Evra’s penalty was worse.

Owen was as usual, nowhere. Same for Valencia, Berbatov, Scholes, Giggs, Fletcher.

Valencia’s pretty overrated according to me. A good player at best.

Over all performance:-

Man Utd.: 4/10
Chelsea : 7/10

Both looked unsettled, but as it is, it was the first game of the season. Chelsea will do much better than Manure this season, and according to me, they are a bigger threat to our title challenge next season.

Donal why it the Irish produce the absolute best and the worst of mankind?

And that’s not a joke. It’s an honest obsevation. Oh well, best to just concentrate on the Vans and ignore the Bono’s I suppose

I couldn’t help be wonder if that political correctness comment was in response of my comments on last week’s blog. It was just my opinion, not trying to piss people off.

Anyway, I completely agree on Martin Kelly, I know Rafa’s seen him more than we have, but going on this pre-season, he’s earned a chance in the first team. Rafa issued a challenge to the kids to impress him before pre-season, I think Kelly’s been the most impressive. Distin had a chance to come on a free 2 years ago, he blew it, you don’t get a second chance.

Degen is very worrying to me, he plays like a baby giraffe, let’s hope Kelly is in there ahead of him this season.

Ataturk, no need to apologise mate. And no offences taken as well. Cheers.

Well, I’m back from my Spanish exile now lads and jesus hasn’t alot happened while I’ve been away?

Like most of you lads, I wasn’t suprised to see Alonso go as it was clear the lad wanted away.

As for Aqualani, well, everyone has been talking him up but any player with no Prem experience will always be risk, let alone an injury prone one!

It’s unusual to sign a player who has not recovered from surgery, but as always we have to trust in Rafa and the medical team. Let’s hope the lad proves to be a real success for LFC.

RE:

Ataturk, no need to apologise mate. And no offences taken as well. Cheers.

Timmy

Shea Mc Avara was a good Paddy indeed

Fatty in all fairness to Bono he might be an egotistical fucker but he’s done more good than harm and for that I give him his dues and U2 were a pretty good band!

But the boys I mentioned had only music in their hearts and fucked the rest of it

anyway enough of that shite ond on with the soccer (we have Gaelic Football dont forget!)

The Charity shield shows nothin I remember we won it a few years back but had no bearin on the league

so fuck the begrudgers and lets see how it pans out on Saturday!!

Over

BTW Fatty from the vids you only look about 10 years older than meself and a few kilos heavier

Not quiet the fat bastard you make yourself out to be

(Although not a Burgerman specimen of a being I will admit)

Over and out

Is there anything more fun than winding people up?

Apart from watching Liverpool beatin the shit out of Utd
……………………..probably not Mick!

and sex I suppose

U2 are still a very, very good band. I’ve seen them live 3 times but can’t get tickets for their Wembley gigs on Friday and Saturday night. Sold out!

U2 sorry lads, just can’t have it. Each to their own I suppose. Great Irish musicians… Josef Locke for starters. Another great Fatty Donal

Doanl I’ve got family in rathmines. Me Ma came from Ross Common. Paddies and Scousers, I suppose you couldn’t fit a Rizzla between the two

Haven’t heard of Josef Locke in years. Feeling older. Thanks FS.

My take on the “Irish” is that this country is made to leave. Problem is if you stay here you can get caught up in the crap that goes on here. Any of us thats here now knows what I’m talking about. Muppets and much worse have been running this place a long time and ingrained a lot of weird and warped habits.

I was out last night in a little sea-side town in west cork. I’m at the bar, in a hotel queueing up for a drink. It’s a manky red carpeted room, you’re waiting for ages for someone to serve you, kids at my elbow asking me to buy brandy shots and jump the queue, people talking bullshit roaring at each other. Generations at the bar, all glass-eyed. The kids outside mixing drinks in the car-park, practically naked teenage girls falling over themselves, staggering around on high-heels, smahed … I’m 47 (I know, cranky ol’ git) and I say to my buddy who lives in South America now, “It’s the same thing going on now as 30 years ago, nothing’s changed” … that’s just a little tiny nothing example of what I’m talking about.

I think I need the season to begin !!!!

Where was that Dougle i might pop down there!

Well, well, well, Fergie into the refs already, the evil empire back to where it thinks it should be. No doubt the ref will not be doing Man U games this year now. I don’t understand why the Man U referee’s association stands for such disrespect. Then again their sister branch the Sweet FA do nothing to assist.

Nah Keith I tend to reserve my comments for when it matters, not pre-season challenge matches. Lets see what the reviews are like after competitive games. For the record I hope you’re right and he miraculously transforms from a decidedly very average footballer into the second coming of Zico you so zealously believe he will. God knows we’ll need the latter not the former this season. We’re gravely weakened in midfield for potentially the first 8wks of the season. If we are to succeed so too must Lucas.

I do not worry one bit about pre-season friendlies. Saying that I do worry about injuries and we are in trouble if neither, Skyrtl, Dagger or Carra are fit for the Spurs game.

Aitch: For the first time in my Kop blog history I will side with Digger and LB over Voronin. I’m not saying he hasn’t got technique but he runs around looking busy, making tidy passes and touches producing absolutley nothing. As for scoring 10 goals I bet you Carra scores more own goals this season. The phrase toothless was coined for My little pony.

Taggart already blowing the respect campaign out of the water. Makes me chortle. He is a horrible, odious, hypocritical git of a man and that’s me trying to be nice about him.

FS: Greatest living Irishman has to be Steve Highway. Does he count?

Ronaldo gone but nani looks like stepping up. Hate to say this but he does look pretty keen from yesterday’s performance. Rooney is looking to finally cement his place as the attack’s fulcrum while Berbatov wants to silence the boo boys. Plenty of incentive.

Welbeck & Macheda have proved they can score, even if it is flukey rebounds. (But they all count don’t they?).

As fer our title hopes hinging on whether Lucas, Voronin & Babel will FINALLY deliver the goods . . . well . . .

What do the others think?

ps: Guardian story says Rafa has hinted that his funds are limited so if any more arrivals would be of the bargain basement variety.

We seem to be having trouble affording michael turner…okay, 12 million is way too expensive for someone who is not even an international, I know but…. And the next in line is Ryan Shawcross. Where the hell did our profit from Xabi’s sale go to??

Spot on FS, it’s all about personal choice. Just because we all follow the same football team doesen’t mean we have to like the same music. Each to their own indeed.

dougle, it’s like that everywhere. The only thing that doesen’t exist now that we did have 30 years ago is respect. Younsters respect nothing or nobody these days and it will only get worse.

Tell me guys if this calculation is true:-

http://liverpoolfc.co.za/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1126051643/m/472106714

KopKing, I think it was Keith who posted that the other day. It seems that alot of transfers are dealt with like that nowadays. As keith said, it probably means that we didn’t get the 30m up front for Alonso either!

Puchong: Relax son. nani looked good in a glorified friendly. Berba? err whatever. Welbeck and Macheda? They look like they have potential but we are worried we’re relying on players with potential to win the league.

I watched the match yesterday and I did not see anything whatsoever in the performance of manure and chel$ki to worry me.

It was funny when chasing a goal, that Slur Alex brought on the 3 OAPs. Also, if Foster is England’s number one then they should not bother going to the world cup next year!

If we do our job properly this season and have a bit of luck with injuries we will win the league. Basically, injuries aside, we hold our destiny in our own hands.

To be fair lads we can`t say that the mancs and chavs performance in the charity shield will have any baring on their performance this season.We all know that they both will be there at the end and if we are to wrestle the title away from the mancs we won`t be doing it at a canter.

Agreed Timmy but I just wanted to highlight that during the match yesterday I didn’t see anything that I have not already seen from the Chavs and the mancs.

Personally I think that it will be between us, the mancs and the chavs. Also, I don’t think that there will be a big point difference between the three either. Roll-on the weekend.

KopKing: Post 85 already had that payment for Aquilani broken down. I believe Rafa must have money unless the owners have really tightened the screws and taken the profits for themselves. Yokohoma did a good analysis in last thread, p 338, showing that Rafa has spent very little (net) so far.

So, have the owners tightened the screws or is Rafa being cunning and acting the pauper in order to keep prices of his targets down? I suppose the next 3 weeks might shed some light on this.

Gazmaninaus: Yes, Ferguson gets more and more derranged and bolder and bolder as his retirement nears. Hasn’t even waited for an important game to have a go at the ref and with Riley taking over Hackett’s job on the refs’ committee, he’s likely to get bolder still. He must sense, however, that his team is under threat this year to have started trying to manipulate the refs so early in the season.

I’ve got to give credit to Xabi. On his farewell press conference he was asked surprise surprise about his relationship with Rafa. A fine opportunity to get some digs in, however Xabi just said, I repeat what I have already said many times over, Our relationship is a normal coach/player relationship. I respect and thank Rafa for what he’s done for me. Top marks Xabi lad.

Nice one Mr Ferguson, starting off the season with a snide remark about Chavski (pot kettle black anyone?) and having a go off the ref in a pointless match.

Unless he is the Genius that the press makes him out to be well I think not only was it kind of senseless what he said but he’s blown his wad way too early in the season. That’ll piss off the boys in black nicely. Somewhere in the bowels of the FA there must be some well irritated officials. “Here we go again with that cranky trouble-maker”.

What goes around comes around Mr Ferguson, Rafa has pointed Mr Fergusons bullying out and not criticised the refs directly. He has also shown how if you stand up to bully’s on the pitch as well you can wipe them.
I was delighted to see Evra losing the plot and Rooney ‘n’ Rio laying into the Ref to boot. It all bodes well.

Digger, of course we have weakened mid-field with xabi going, any team would have. However it is not only up to Lucas to deliver. I think the squad and manager collectively have to take it on. It may mean Stevie dropping back a degree more and looking for the ball more in the centre. It also means Mascher needs to offer more than the 10 metre shuffle pass. It means both full-backs offering more initiative and threat, looking for the ball (both now are well capable). It means someone (Agger), coming from the back and offering a different point of distribution and upsetting the defense ahead. I haven’t touched upon Kuyt, Benny/babel/Riera at least 3 of those guys have real game intelligence and need to step up further again.

So whereas I agree a squad minus Xabi cannot be stronger I also think it challanges and gives opportunities to the squad and management to improve the variety, pace and range of attacking options. But they have to step up collectively.

Also as far as Lucas is concerned even his (many) detracters have to admit he is getting better, he can make a difference. Finally he has improved over time and under quite difficult conditions, it’s one thing getting sh** from the opposition supporters but it must be really hard getting it from your (so-called) own support. How much more would be brought out in him if he got anything like the support just about all the others get?

Well, now that xabi’s gone, we have to look forward for positives and stop worrying about the weakness in the midfield … Maybe its a blessing in disguise as it will give the likes of Lucas more responsibility.. and sometimes, the responsibility brings out the best… and in the case of lucas, he surely has got the talent and maybe he needs just that, RESPONSIBILITY … Ok, he got few starts last season, but he always knew that he cant take Xabi’s place but now the situation is different.. He knows that the midfield space is up for grabs and i wont be surprised if he steps up and improves by leaps n bounds this season…

I’ll hop on the Nervous Nelly brigade and say that I’m quite concerned about our injury problems at CB. After our first three, we’re left with teenagers in the back.

Rafa’s quoted in the Guardian this morning saying: “I am 80% sure we will have two available for the next game.” Not the most reassuring news.

Sunday’s a tricky fixture, and Spurs do have a bit of guile in their front: Defoe, Crouch, Keane, and Pavlyuchencko.

Luckily for us, their central defense is even more crocked than ours with Woodgate out, King and Dawson are iffy, and I think that Bassong is still on a suspension from the end of last season at Newcastle.

I didn’t think we looked too terrible against Atleti. Nando easily could have bagged a few which would have changed the flow of the match. We looked a little flat in the first half, but as the match progressed we looked much better.

The two goals we conceded were well taken. Aguerro made Ayala look like an 18 year old when he lost him in the box for the header, and Forlan’s goal was beautifully finished. Those are two polished scorers who would cause fits to most experienced defenders.

I thought Lucas looked really good playing in the center as well as out on the right once Spearing was introduced. He took his goal very well, and it looks like his confidence is growing with each match he plays. Fingers crossed this carries over into the season.

Masch also had a nice match, and he made an awful lot of nice passes forward. It’s a side of him we haven’t seen much of with Xabi around and maybe it’s a sign that Javier has a little bit more to offer the squad then just sitting back and destroying everything.

I’m glad to read that Lucas is playing better.Brazilians usually come almost ready-made,I know he is young but so are some players who are good! Rafa must have seen something worthwhile in him at an early stage thank God,and I have a lot of faith in him now that he is more adventurous.
I have signed again to have the cable company here in Ontario provide Setanta and they show a lot of Liverpool games. I believe Setanta has gone out of business in Europe but in North America it seems OK.
I watched The Community Shield game live yesterday and was a bit bothered about ManUre for the first 20 minutes but Chelski won in the end.I must add that I enjoyed watching Fergie lose it – even though I think he had a point IMHO.
Roll on the start of the Premiership and I’m very glad that Tottering Hotspurs are in trouble in the middle too and am eagerly looking forward to seeing them and the Reds on Sunday.
Thanks all for the kind words and keeping things going with your comments.

Great comment Dougle and well summed up. Yes we will be weaker for the loss of Alonso, what team wouldn’t. However I personally do not think we will be that much weaker with Lucas stepping up, Johnson coming in at right back as well as Agger to bring the ball out from the back. This coupled with a fit Gerrard and Torres and I think the pundits writing the obituaries might just have to eat their words. When Aquilani slots in and reaches full fitness I expect us to be better by a fair distance than last year. My overriding concern is the injuries to our centre backs and I just hope we do not drop too many points until me get into our stride and get over these injuries.

Where we are also going to be better is our other squad players, Babel, Reira, Insua, Ngog, El Zhar with another years experience and another years pre season, yes even Vorinon could add depth in the so called less glamorous competitions and I expect us to challenge across all 4 competitions with the youngsters getting some good experience in the Carling and early FA cup rounds.

We paid 5 mill for Agger and 6 odd for Skertal, why would we pay 12 for Turner?

12 Million is way too much for a fourth choice centre half.

Alright, I’ll be the one to say it: any amount is too much for a 4th choice CB. Lads what was the one thing we all agreed we needed at seasons end? Right, another quality attacking player as backup for 8 and 9 or even a world class left winger would lighten the load. Hell even Rafa bemoaned the lengthy absences of 8 and 9 and for all intents and purposes laid responsibility for our bare cabinet squarely on those absences. 3wks left Rafa. If you spend 12mil on a 4th CB, well, you see where I’m going here….

still leaves 28 million digger

Dougle,

Great post. With Xabi gone, everybody else is going to have to step up to the mark. If Lucas and Benni can maintain a high level of performances that will be a huge step in the right direction.

One thing that struck me watching the match at the weekend is that, mentally, the players will have to adjust to no Xabi. He is one of the top players in the world in that position and when the players were going onto the pitch on Saturday, in the back of their minds they knew they were without one of their star men.

Still I reckon they will get over that quickly and a good start is imperative.

Dig i don`t think Rafa will pay 12m for him.I`m sure he wants to get a striker in and is probably working on it.

The thing is how much does he really have?We all know what he should have but i`m getting the feeling he won`t get all of it.

We have spent Around 35 million euro`s,we`ve sold 38 million pounds.

We should have the money coming back from the Keane deal and the money he gets from the two pricks.

Somethings fishy here or else Rafa has us all fooled and will pull one more rabbit out of the hat(not literally).Idon`t know what to think,his cards are too close to his chest.

Best way i suppose.

Neilob that’s exactly the point I reckon. It’s a mental thing. The talent is there it’s about mentally challenging yourself to look for more. There is no more metronomic Xabi, get and give. Movement, ideas and having the balls to go looking for “it”. I haven’t seen much more than the highlights from the pre-season but I have seen Mascher putting in a couple of killer “Xabi” like long balls which have led to scores. This is what we are going to need. I know I’m just an armchair manager like most of the rest of us but my feeling is that Rafa is the key here. He takes, makes and moulds players as he wishes and his vision will dictate how the team shapes up. I really hope he encourages them to go out and play as they did last 10/12 games of the season.

I think the start, first 10 games are vital. If we are thereabouts come October I will be very happy. It will mean the team has covered the gap left by Xabi leaving. As ever confidence is powerful, and it breeds “luck”. To that end I think the Spurs game is a wonderful opportunity. they play openly enough (at home, despite Harry).If we play to our potential we can win and it would be a great start.

Overall (all things being equal injury-wise) I feel that we are going to improve as the season goes on. Aquilani will settle in and I feel optimistic about the prospects for Riera, Babel, Benny and Lucas. A good start would be a great bonus.

FS,

Just watched the first “Fox Football Fone-In” w/out Mr. Cohen in the States.

Nick Webster gives an educated and unbiased (or at least non controversial) British opinion and Mr. Cohen’s replacement Eric Wynalda (USA World Cup ’94) clearly does not like the Mancs, well at least not this week anyway.

It just seems like positive karma heading into the opening weekend.

I sincerely hope you’re right Tim. If we spend 12mil on a fucken 4th choice CB instead of what we need, what Rafa said we need, I’ll be seriously aggrieved. And I doubt I’ll be alone. Can you imagine if Torres picks up a knock and we run off a sequence of 2 or 3 draws (or worse) whilst a 12mil CB sits on the bench cos Daggers fit again? Farkin el the fallout would be apocalyptic. And rightly so. We havent resolved last yrs greatest flaw yet: quality backup for 8 and 9. 12mil for a CB? How bout 12mil for CF.

Don’t worry digger, that is just not going to happen. Apparently, rafa has pulled out, anyway.

I wonder though, I was hoping we will see a bit more news on some personnel up front after the sale of Xabi, but it really looks like we are going to go thru with Torres, Ngog and Voronin. Perhaps babel and kuyt is also an option if needs be, but I was hoping for another cracker signing or at least someone like Tuncay to give us a consistent and calculated cover.

Well we still have a couple more weeks until the close of the market so we will just have to wait and see.

Some funny comments there lads… do you realise this place sometimes seems like an episode of grumpy old men?

Moaning buggers, aren’t we. Mind you it’s not easy being an LFC at times. I think after last season we was all hoping for a perfect summer and going into the season firing on all cylinders.

When was the last time LFC did anything the easy way? Oh well, not long now.

Dougle, do you remembr Bournmouth used to be the gentile southcoast town where rich old people retired to? Well you want to see it now mate. The town centre now resembles a war zone on weekends, and there is one part of the town that is worse than Sodum and Gemorra…. stuffed to the gills with junkies, prostitutes and neer do wells. Not a place I’d like to be stuck after dark.

It’s now near 4am and I have been asleep on the couch most of the day, sleeping off one almighty session. Sadly it seems the old constitution isn’t what it used to be, but you know what… the kids are welcome to it. I think my time has came and went.

On the good news front…. The NYLFC chapter is now calling off the boycott of Sirius as it has invited them to talk about the Cohen situation. So, I’m keep[ing me fingers crossed on that.

I hate to hear of any person loosing their livelihood, but he has nobody to blame but himself. Thanks for the FFF update Dottie. Please keep us posted as to any developments.

MTMMFC… your arent’ feeling old. If you can remember Josef Locke, you are old. I put his name in as a bit of giggle, but I do actually enjoy listentning to him when I’m in the mood. It takes me back, when I was a kid me own old fella used to play him on a Sunday morning while waiting for the pub to open. Happy days.

And in keeping with the spirit of things…. KK turn that music down and go and clean your room. I don’t believe it!

To true F.S.Liverpool never do anything the easy way.That’s why we have stuck around all these Years, just in case they ever do..
Bring on the New Season..I fancy OUR chances this season…

Don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way FS… I’m glad we got the man off the air and he does only have himself to blame… but…

I watched Fox Football Phone-In tonight for the first time with Wynalda and Webster… and it has to be said (abhorent bigoted opinions aside) the show is shite without Cohen.
(and that is in no way to be misconstrued as support for Cohen, just an objective observation… something the man was less capable of himself)

But W & W have no fuckin chemistry between them at all. Hopefully they’ll find a groove in the coming weeks… but its becoming the fuckin MLS show anyway, so who gives a fuck, I don’t think I’ll be making a point to tune in much.

Sorry to mention the community shield again. But am appalled at how every paper, sports commentator & pundit make it sound like Chelsea got the ball back directly after Ballack’s foul.

Rooney had the ball & ref was playing advantage. At no point did he look like he was going to kick the ball out. And none of his scum team mates were signalling him to do so.

In fact. there were 2-3 passes before Chelsea got it back. So why should Chelsea kick it out when they won it back?

We all expect fergie to spew shite but am totally flabbergasted that every single paper / website seems to mimick him!!!

Fook this la. When are the pundits & journos gonna grow a collective pair of balls & call it like it is?

I agree Puchong. All this kick the ball out nonsense, they should have been playing to the whistle. Makes me laugh this fake sportsmanship when they dive, trip, cheat in every other way they can.

Digger: Take a chill pill mate. Nothing’s been done yet. Anyway Possibly 3 centre backs out do you want to rely on 2 youngsters? There was only 1 player who scored more goals than Kuyt in his position in the whole league last season. Who was it? But you do need to relax; effing this and effin that and Rafa this and Rafa that.

Lads,
I reckon we should take a chance on the CB position, if most teams lost 2 of their 3 main CB’s they’d be screwed, but one of the young lads can step up and perform alongside one of the experienced guys, just look at Evans last year, if we lose all 3, well that’s just ridiculously unlucky and you would still end up playing your fourth choice (Turner or whoever) who hasnt played all season and a youngster. Keep the money and spend it on someone who has the potential to come off the bench and win us a game which we would have drwan last year.

I think Rafa has enough understanding to buy players for a correct price. We have all seen that in this Aquilani deal. I don’t think he will pay anywhere near 12m for a player who is yet to prove his worth and is a CB. 12m is a price in which ManC signed Barry this summer.

There are many other CBs which can be bought at a lower price and which will be promising. Like Micah Richards. City will agree a fee of 8-10m for him. Paul Scharner. He’s a class CB and Wigan will definitely sell him for 8-10m. Sylvain Distin, is already in Rafa’s radar. He could be bought for 4m. Even if we need an older player for the time-being, who’s experienced and stable, Lauren is available for free.
Sol Campbell is also available for free.

For now we could buy any two of these players, and when our other CB’s regain their fitness, we could sideline them.

The news has been going around in the rumour mill about Liverpool allegedly tracking VV Venlo captain (Eredivisie promoted team) Honda Keisuke AM/LW/LB along with Fulham and Bolton.

ttp://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5482864,00.html

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg3psvgoSfc
(against PSV Eindhoven)

Source from his Japanese website: ttp://www.keisuke-honda.com/profile.php

Birthdate: 13/06/1986 (23 yrs old)
Height: 182cm/74kg (6ft 12stone +)
Teams: Gamba Osaka Junior Youth, Nagoya Grampus Eight, VVV Venlo.
Position: MF versatile (left and right footed)
?U-20 Japan National Team starting 11
?2005 FIFA World Youth Tournament in Holland staring 11
?2008 Beijing Olympic National Team starting 11

He has only just been called up to the National team and played one game so far and will be figuring in next year’s World Cup.

Besides Park, Inamoto and Nakata (who was already past his best at Bolton) there haven’t been many East Asians coming to these shores and making any notable impression so I suppose many in here will be thinking Rafa really must be suffering with the tightened purse strings.

Anyway my perspective living in Japan is that this is an excellent opportunity, knowing the marketing potential of Liverpool and the Premier League not being fully realised on these shores and will explain more later.

As for the player himself, a Japanese player going to a foreign league (language and cultural differences) and given the captaincy at the age of 22 is no mean feat, not to mention getting an average team promoted. He has been getting rave reviews in the Netherlands (not just Japan) after scoring 16 goals in 36 matches last season as a MF and being voted MVP.

Japanese tend to be timid and modest, especially if there is a language barrier. From what I have seen Honda Keisuke has the character, mentality, toughness and drive to succeed. He managed to get Venlo promoted to the Eredivisie coming in 1st place and this season, as a MF, he has already scored 3 goals in 2 games in the top division which has already begun. The defence in his team is shocking to say the least, but all the attacks (goals) go through him and he gets the results. Which is why many games he has played in have resulted in 2-2 or 3-3 scorelines. He is a class above.

Being only 23 (just turned this summer) and 182cm/ 74kg, he has the physique to cope with the Premiership. He is quick, mobile, skillful, aggressive, two footed, excellent set piece taker and importantly has end product which is what Liverpool need from MF. The Dutch league would have prepared him physically so now to make the next step up, adjusting to the pace of the Premier League will be a good test if he joins. I think with Alonso gone and Aurelio and Aqua man injured, it will be useful to have a flair player who can take good free kicks and corners besides Gerrard.

Nakamura for example physically wouldn’t suit the Premier League but had an abundance of skill. I think we may have been linked to him before but he is already 31 and plays for Espanyol.
While only just joining La Liga he has already stood out when the team embarrassed us 3-0 in preseason. He orchestrated the MF and set up one of their goals. I think Honda while still being young has the potential to improve and be as successful as Nakamura was at Celtic.

Now if people still have doubts about signing him for 8 million quid or however much he will cost, he will more than make up for the signing on fees with the merchandising in Japan. I believe that this is a great opportunity to promote Liverpool and the Premier League in a country that boasts the 2nd largest economy in the world, a population of 120 million people and the most affluent nation in Asia and one of the highest in the world per capita.

Shirt sales and memorabilia linked to Honda Keisuke if he succeeds in moving to Liverpool will be immense. No doubt Purslow who is in charge of marketing the club knows a thing or two which he can explore to catch United.

An official Liverpool replica shirt will cost GBP 70 in Japan but people can afford to buy that here. In Bangkok you will see very impressive “like for like” copy kits selling for 9 quid in back street stores. This is not surprising as GBP 70 will be a week’s wage for the average consumer in quite a few areas in Asia. In Japan, this type of piracy is a rarity and therefore I would expect and impressive amount of direct profit to the club should this deal come off. Also as we saw from the Liverpool tour, Bangkok and Singapore already have many Liverpool supporters and although there is a LFC support club here as well, Japan seems to be a relatively untapped market. Inamoto hardly figured for Arsenal and Fulham but still boosted the coffers so imagine what Honda can do moving to a bigger club.

I happen to live in Japan and can watch all Liverpool games on Sky Sports already but the additional media coverage of Liverpool (i.e. LFCTV which is not yet aired) and the Premiership in the local media would be welcome and we can hopefully catch up with Man United’s overseas marketing while signing a tidy player on the cheap.

While his current team may raise a few question marks, everyone has to keep in mind that players like Drogba started and blossomed late after humble beginnings in their careers and players such as Ruud, Van Persie and our very own Kuyt were all successful purchases and integrated well in the Premier League.

Gerrard has pulled out of the England game with a groin injury. Looks like the Anfield curse is in full effect. Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Riera, Torres and now Gerrard doubtful for the Spurs game.

Yokohama red, why aren’t you working for the club ? Great post, I never heard of the lad but there you go.

LondonBarnes surely the call up can’t be far away for you? Choose your position now eh!

I should have kept my gob shut about ‘…barring injuries, we have it in our hands…’

Shit, I have just seen that a train has hit a lorry, which has then hit Torres.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTxxYGAjac

Nothing would surprise me now.

I was thinking that when you said it Lurgan. Hopefully most of these are precautions but in the first game of the season the players will need to be flying not nursing muscles and joints.

We will start like Arsenal next season with half the squad injured.

Just to add to my previous post I know youtube isn’t the best indicator of a player’s quality but you can get an idea of his set piece taking ability when he was only 20-21 yrs old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-C0-oC3H8c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDbX8I202VU&NR=1

The second one is Ronaldo esque.

Hopefully this is the case LB and the bbc reports that Stevie G has a tight hammy. Again, hyped-up headline but when you read the actual report and quotes, not as bad as the headline suggests.

Also, why is there a friendly game on the eve of the EPL season starting. It’s fucking mental!

Anyway, will keep my head down now until the weekend comes. Can’t wait

I wrote a post with two youtube links so it is taking a long time to load.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-C0-oC3H8c

For anyone who wants to check out his skill and set piece ability when he was only 20, 21 back in his Nagoya Grampus days he will be useful to us.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDbX8I202VU&NR=1

The second one is Ronaldo esque.

At this rate we will have half a squad by the time we face Spurs. Come on Rafa, bring in a few more. Defender, setpiece taker and reliable fwd needed.

International friendlies 3 days before the start of the season. Fucking moronic.

Also seems like our transfer budget was used to pay RBS and Wachovia. We sold Robbie Keane last January and replaced him with nobody. Sold Alonso and others. Total sales since January is around £55m and we’ve spent around £35m. And Rafa finds himself having to beg for funds to get a centre back.

Oh dear god, I was near sick looking at that. You should have put a warning before that. I’m not a nesh old bugger, but I am one of them fellas that can’t bear to see any body getting hurt.

And believe it or not Aitch, I do have sort of sypathy for some Cohen. God only knows why. I have every reason to hate the man and wish on him all the harm I could but I don’t. But in all honesty, when it comes to making a decision on the matter, there can only really be one succesful out come… Cohen’s removal from the air-waves.

It could have all been so different, but the man has chose to lie and lie and constantly lie and, even to this day, he is still at it. So that’s the only conclusion I can make.

I know how limited Soccer coverage is in the US. Well, in fact, the coverage of the actual game is better than here. It’s the punditry that is in need of an upgrade.

I haven’t seen Wynalda as I came home years ago. When I was there it was basically Tommy Smythe and that moron Bienenvue. So I can only imagine that it has improved since I left. And I’d think it will keep evolving and getting better as the sport becomes more and more popular.

In fact, that’s what I find most worrying in all of this… Cohen’s insistence on pushing these lies on the soccer loving people in the States. I voluntarily coached AYSO soccer for many years. I loved it and really enjoyed passing on the little I know to kids over there. Who I must say, I found to be some of the nicest, polite kids I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

They were all like sponges an all, wanting to soak up everything they could about the game. Why try to poison thier minds? No, Mr Cohen is a digrace to broadcasting. And I understand completely that your are not supporting him Aitch. I understand why both you and ivjmac have said are worried about soccer coverage but not him personally – even though his removal will lessen the coverage you recieve.

But I have listened to him, and can only say, I consider the NYLFC branch is actually doing a public service by ridding the air-waves of this man. And once he has gone, knowing what I know of America, I think it will only be a matter of time before someone fills the void he will leave. and I sould go as far as to say, they will probably make a better job of it than this moron who insists on self destructing. His “expertise” is to be knid minimal, and hopefully the person who replaces him will use truth and fact as their yardstick.

But as I said Aitch, I do understand the concern. So please don’t mistake any of that for a bollacking.

On to more important matters… there’s no denying these injuries are very worrying and preperation for the coming season certainly hasn’t been anything like we’d have wanted. But I don’t think this the time to panic… that passed long ago!

And I tell you why I’m really panicking – my ticket to Tottenham is being brought down by a complete and utter lunatic that I know. He’s a cracking lad, and great company. He could make a cat laugh, but he could also cause murder in a one man tent. Dpon’t take that wrong. He’s a lovely fella but he does like an occasional pint or twenty and has a knack for finding himself in all sorts of, shall we say, situations. So, I just hope me ticket arrives safe and sound. Oh well, we’ll see.

PS can’t agree more on the friendly games. Madness pure madness. And as for the funds lads, if you’re wondering where they are, well… remember not long ago all them millions went missing from the clubs accounts, and have never been explained or accounted for. And then there was 3 drawings that cost us 10 million. Then there was the 60 million that went on “preporatory” ground work – as I told you a port a loo and an old fella with a shovel in Stanley Park. And Keane bought for commercial reasons and the… Oh well, I could go on, but you all know the dance.

So don’t be surprised if no more business is down but YLF, don’t say too much about shirt sales you could give H&G ideas and the team will be comprised of all the cheapest players Asia has to offer.

Although I’m not disagreeing with you. I don’t know anything about the kid you are talking about. I’m just being a sacastic cynical old B where H&G are concerned. I’ve never seen anything to make me think otherwise.

Johnson just came on telly justifying the friendly and saying he’s happy to get in another game before the big kick off. Let’s hope that doesn’t come back to bite him on the arse, or we will be in a proper jam.

Is right Galway Red, #140. Whats the point in having an academy if your never gonna give a young hungry CAPABLE player like Kelly a chance? When are they gonna get a chance if not when a senior player picks up a knock? To squander whatever money IS left on a CB at the expense of what is needed would be absolutely ludicrous. As for the effin and blinding Kenny sorry mate but the time for excuses and chilling as you put it is over. We do NOT need another CB. We NEED another striker. Simple as.

According to Lawro’s predictions, Manure are coming first, Chelski coming second, Liverpool in the third, Arsenal in the fourth and ManC in the fifth position this season.

Well, we all know this guy’s predictions are always wrong and this boosts my confidence to think that Liverpool can win the title this season. I mean this is the guy who predicted the score between Liverpool and Hull as a draw. He wrote a comment there saying that “Liverpool look very strong and will definitely come out with points.”

He remembers every signing of every team and forgets that we have already signed Aquilani. He mentions that we need somebody to replace Alonso. Someone who has a more attacking mentality, someone who’s classy like Gerrard and Torres.

His own words “Liverpool need someone who attacks and even stays in the mid-field. They can’t rely on Gerrard, they can’t rely on Torres. They need someone else as well to win the title.”

Aquilani????

Yes it seems as if the depriciating USD has hit the two owners badly and they have been keeping quiet for some time now. I think in not managing to offload Dossena and Voronin (although Degen woud have been a good one to let go as well judging from his preseason form), Rafa has been given a torrid time in negotiating further funds.

It realy is a mystery trying to guess how much Rafa has left to spend or where the money has gone because we should be in the plus. This is not even taking into account the usual 20 million which mostly comes from CL and TV revenue outlay but I wouldn’t put it past the
yanks to break any promises they may have made to Rafa after lying to us about the debt and stadium.

I’ve also heard Abramovic has flown to Bayern to negotiate the cost of Ribery. The price is believed to be a lot lower at 40 mil now due to Beckenbauer’s comments about him and Ribery’s disillusions with the cub now.

Chelsea will be our main rivals I feel this year.

Sorry Fat Scouse. I wouldn’t want to give G and H any ideas that would just line their pockets.

The stadium delays and the fortune that was invested in plans that were discarded is scandalous. These fraudelent pricks will hinder any progress we may have made.

The player Keisuke Honda in the TIA rumour mill came from sources in Holland and Japan and has only recently been mentioned in Sky. I do not know whether this is a publicity stunt but they have claimed our scouts have been monitoring him. Given the tight funds it seems like he would be a cheap alternative along with Shawcross compared to Silva and Turner.

YLF, Arigatogozaimaz! Very intersting and useful comments (No 142). Yup, if Honda Keisuke is as good as you say, then why not? I am from Malaysia and can tell you there are lots of Reds here. Agree wholeheartedly that a good candidate from the East (Japan or Korea) in the LFC first team will do wonders for shirt sales, not to mention audience viewings. But on the reverse side, getting tickets to go to Anfield will be even tougher. I guess so long as we keep winning, this is one of the downsides we can cope with. Cheers!

YLF I was only being sarcastic with the post on shirt sales. Not to you, but to the Borrowers who we are saddled with. And I know you understand that ayway. But when questioning they’re methods, there isn’t even any need to guess. Not long after arriving Hicks slipped up and made it very plain himself, when he said… “Success doesn’t have to mean success on the field.”

And I can’t remember the qoute verbatim, so I won’t try and para-phrase it. I’m sure everyone in here remembers what he said and what it actually translated into… “As long as we can keep fleecing the mugs that love the club, we’ll be happy even if the team wins nothing.”

Sadly things have gotten worse sice then, not only just inside the club but in football generally. The regimes at Real Madrid and Manchester City have assured this by inflating the market to ridiculous levels.

Can’t blame their fans for this. I’m sure most of us would like to see a bottomless money pit for Rafa to dip into to. Sadly though it looks like we’ll see the exact opposite as anybody with more sense than money would see that investing in football at this time would be madness. So, it looks like we are stuck with the Borrowers for the foreseeable future.

I’m just glad it’s Rafa we have in charge. The scouting network set up by him and Macia is so good that it has panicked Man U into establishing academies in Brazil. So although we can’t compete with the likes of these clubs in actual money terms, at least we have the sort of men in charge who are capable of seeing beyond the likes of Ribbery and other world stars.

I don’t know how many people realise when Rafa walked out on Valencia the coffee table he reffered to was Drogba. And I only say this because I just saw his name mentioned in one post. Well, it was Rafa and Macia who first identified him and could have brought him to Valencia for a pittance. I can’t remember the actual figure, but 6 million euros seems to be stuck in my head. Instead the Valencia board done prety much what the LFC board done over Keane… went out and bought a completely different player.

I’m still a little hungover (Takes days for me to overcome a session now) so I can’t remember all the facts and figures off the top of my head right now. In fact, I’m only worsening me headache trying to recall it all. But I’m sure you get my drift, and I’ve said it before, but I’m still convinced it’s right… the day we need to really worry is when Rafa gets fed up with all this nonsense and walks. I honestly don’t think this will happen until he has completely finished his mission at LFC. But how much frustration is someone supposed to take before giving in, and when you consider it could be him spending the limitless millions at his home club of Real…. well, it doesn’t really bare thing about too much.

As far as the cash situation goes we have brought in Johnson. we did not pay out 17M. As I understand it, from comments here and elsewhere, Portsmouth owed us 7M from the crouchie deal and that would be discounted off the outlay.

As Yokohama and Keith SA showed us in posts earlier in the blog we have not spent 20M on Aquilani, it’s 15M euro over the next year with another installment due after.

So we have spent roughly 20M stg up front.

Theoretically Rafa has “the keane money” which he obviously doesn’t. He has “the 20M which he gets every year” … bet you he doesn’t have that either. All he may have (I think) is the positive balance with the Real (and other transfers) money and we don’t know how much of that was up front. Quite possibly he has nothing.

I would say as much as we are likely to see is a free or one under 5M buy.

That would be my opinion. Sorry.

Don’t sorry Dougle. I’d say you’ve got it about right.

Everton have just rejected a transfer request from Lescott. Could we have done the same with Xabi? Or Not?

Thoughts?

David Moyes:

“I have always said that we are not selling any players and that has not changed”

LB, is there any point in trying to keep a player who wants away? I think not. If a player’s heart is not in the club then he will be a passenger.

What Everton do is up to them, but I am personally pleased that Alonso left, simply because he wanted to leave.

Who knows they might just shock us yet. But I think we are all entitled to be more than suspicious. In fact, anyone who believes any thing good about H&G can only in my book be well, to be kind, more than a forgiving type.

It’s pretty similar to the Cohen situation in the way that they expect you to believe they will only act for the good in future but everything they have done in the past tells you that won’t be the case.

I honestly don’t believe a word they say and I think that’s the only real reason they have kept schtum. They know no one will believe a word they come out with and so they’re just keeping their heads down. But they don’t need to speak. Their actions say it all for them. Like Knight has just alluded to their shenaningans are already costing ordinary fans. They have revamped the whole ticket allocation process and I can’t really be bothere going on about it all now, but you can believe me when I say it’s all for one reason… to screw you out of every possible penny.

Try ringing the ticket line. See how long you are kept waiting on a premium number line, only to finally get a taped message that could have easily been played immeadiately. Indeed, just look at the official site, and see how long it takes them to put up the information you’re kept waiting ages to get… sold out.

Slod out, indeed. I can’t even think of better words to use myself.

Steve, if Alonso wanted to go to Man Utd what then?

Reason I say that is because Man City and Everton are rivals for a European place no? So if a key playere puts in a request to go to a direct rival what then?

I read that David Villa was desperate to go to Barca, so much so he offered his own money to help the deal go through. Valencia told him he aint going anywhere.

FS, you big-girls blouse, the lad only ended-up with a grazed cheek and ear. The lucky bastard!

BTW, what’s the current status on my pen-pal Steve Cohen. I know that Fox have gave him the boot but not much else. Is he still on the radio?

Been on vacation for the last few weeks so I am a bit out of touch.

Cheers,

That would never of happened, Alonso surely had far too much respect for LFC to have asked for a transfer there, don’t you think? The supporters were always good to him and he was at Anfield for 5 years and would have fully understood the rivalry between the 2 clubs.

As soon as he made public his desire to join RM, it was a dot on the card that he would leave.

If Lescott is not a Man.City player before 1st Sepember, I will eat my neighbours cat!

Steve you didn’t answer my hypothetical question.

LB, have LFC ever sold a player to a direct Leauge rival? Have we ever bought a player from a direct Leauge rival? We failed with Heinze, and that should suggest that it just doesen’t happen.

Everton are not going to win the Prem, and I bet Rafa would immediately reject any overtures for any of our players from Man.City. Not to Mention Man.U, Chelsea and Arsenal!

So Steve just so I’m clear. If one of our rivals were to bid for any of our players and for whatever reason the player in question put in a transfer request. You would have a difference in your point of view that if a player wants to leave you sell them?

In a nutshell I’m asking would you (a) keep a player who might sulk with his heart not in it or (b) sell him to a direct rival. No other answer apart from (a) and (b) please.

Others feel free to answer…..

We couldn’t stop Alonso to leave for Real because Rafa respected his decision. Rafa didn’t want to keep unhappy players in the squad.

While Moyes is working like a dictator there. The rival situation about which LB’s talking about also makes sense but not in this case. I am dead sure that even if Real would have been on Moyes’ doorstep for Lescott or for any other player, he wouldn’t have agreed.

Moyes would never sell any player whom he wants in his squad. Unless and until he finds a replacement, he wouldn’t. He doesn’t care about money.

Obviously, ManC are also a rival of Arsenal(according to LB’s theory). Even Wenger sold his best CB and his best striker to them. Why? Because he thinks that with that kind of money he could buy their replacements. Moyes thinks that Lescott is irreplaceable. As simple as that.

I admit it Lurgie, I’m a big aul tart, can’t stand seeing anyone hurt nowadays. Even watching the footie on telly when they zoom in one someone getting walloped I turn away. Bit incovienient when Man U are playing. Well, no because unless they’re playing us I don’t watch.

As for own injuries there’s no denying it’s worrying. But it’s nothing we didn’t realise could happen and we’ll just have to get on with it. But that’s not to say I’m not concerened. In fact, that’s the only real worry I have about our squad – when you take away the major senior players there is a big drop down in quality. But it’s not in all positions. We do have some quality that we can bring in. So I suppose all we can do is hope the likes of what is happening with the centre halves is a freakish set of circumstances and won’t be happening too many times during the season.

Other than that, all we can really hope is that Rafa can find us some cheap but decent cover. Sadly though, you get what you pay for and that bar has been driven sky high by Real and City. So don’t be surprised if you see some kids and the likes of Vronin and Degan getting more games than you’d like. But as long as its just one or two players filling in for the odd game, we should be alright. Anymore than that, and we could be in trouble. Not panic mongering, just telling it how I see it.

I’d rather know if Steve has ever eaten in a certain chippy in Bootle. There was a disturbing amount of cat’s disappearing in the area and all the meat tasted surprisingly like chicken.

The reds haven’t done business with the mancs since 1964.Nuf said.

Lads the question was not “Do you think one of our players would go to the mancs?”

Everyone is basically in agreement that if a player has his heart set on a move and wants to leave then you should sell. So my question was: if the player wanted to move to a direct rival does the theory still hold? Or do you keep the player in that instance?

Yeah, and let him rot in the reserves,as stated by the Tramp, if needs be.

Some words on Honda since Yokohama brought it up.

The mentality that Japanese players have is top quality because the majority will be willing to be squad players if they have to. They’re not as greedy, so we won’t really have this nonsense of sorting out contracts or addressing obscene requests for more pay every 2 bloody years.
Basically, the Japanese work ethic and our club’s values should actually match.

Ability-wise, I think Honda is a much better player than Nakamura, who I don’t rate at all.

However, as with most Japanese players, I am not sure whether the lad would be able to cope with the physical aspect of the game over here.
The dutch second division is basically shite, so you have less pressure on the ball– which is why he could so easily flourish. I am a bit skeptical as to how well he would be able to cope with the toughness needed over here. And i don’t mean the physicality per se– a good player with vision can avoid contact. I am more worried about the lack of stamina. In my view, the Japanese players have the worst stamina level in Asia. I mean, this is a country that supposedly has one of the worst summer conditions in the world, and yet they were out of breath by around 65 mintues against Australia in the lovely German summer condition.

So, would a Japanese player be able to last a whole season?

Also, it is true that a lot of honda shirts and the interest in liverpool itself would shoot up in japan if he joins. Merchandise sales will reach stupid levels.

But most of the money will probably go to the two twats and towards repayment when it should be provided to Rafa for transfer fees.

On top of that, I can so easily imagine the hoards of ignorant japanese cameras bombarding anfield and melwood, and that thought makes me shudder.

As to selling Xabi to the mancs. No way, even if they were willing to pay more than madrid. At least, as long as that nasty old git is in charge, I won’t be willing to give him anything he wants, even Itandje.
Oh wait, maybe someone like Itandje belongs there.

LB, I think if Rafa wanted to keep Alonso badly enough he would have refused his request. I believe he wanted to sell him. I don’t have a problem with that, especially if his trying to create a more attacking team.
I bet if Masch had put in a transfer request it would have been refused.

I don’t believe Alonso would have sulked, especially with it being a world cup year, same applies to Lescott.

I heard on news that there is no danger of Gerrard missing the spurs game, he only withdrew from england squad as a precaution.

Do spain have a friendly this week?

Spain are probably the only nation not playing tomorrow night. Argentina are playing in Russia. Of course Holland and England play each other. Israel are in Northern Ireland. So that’s Masch, Kuyt, Babel, Johnson and Benny away with their countries.

The next international after that is 5th September and then the 9th and those are world cup qualifiers so expect the whole squad to be f*cking off all over the world for a week.

I’d sell a virus to them,nothing more.Swine flu to be more precise.

Don’t want to jinx him, but has Kuyt ever been out injured for a significant spell? I can’t remember. Some players are great like that, they hardly ever get injured.
Torres had very few problems in his first year, lets him this year is the same

Friendlies at this time, can only be seen by the clubs and it’s fans as madness. The only consolation is that it will hurt all our rivals as much as it hurts us. But as usual we are the ones that are now being slatted on radio, television and in the press for pulling Gerrard out.

As for players to the mancs, all I can do is qoute the tramp again… “I wouldn’t sell them a virus.” I wouldn’t mind them catching one though. Shouldn’t be chancing fate by saying that though, I suppose.

And as for buying players, all I can say is the only criteria should be, “Are they good enough?”

Who was the Japanese lad that played for Roma awhile back? I can’t recall his name, but I remember he made the club a fortune in shirt sales. But this is really not how I’d like our players to be scouted. If they are good enough that should be it and it shouldn’t matter where they are from.

Timmy you beat me to it.

FS, you mean Nakata? He was actually a very good player.

Digger (#152) that question you pose is a tough one. I agree that for kids to come through the system and succeed they need to get a chance to shine at the first team level.

The problem arises when we drop points due to their mistakes. At what point do people call for Rafa’s head for not having enough depth in the squad? We all feel good about our chance to win the league this year but I personally don’t want to rely on untested kids to get us there.

Hypothetical situation, last March we’re playing ManUre and Agger is out injured. During the warm up, Arbeloa gets injured, which moves Carra over to RB. Luckily we had the depth to bring Sami in. Would you have the same confidence bringing in Martin Kelly?

I rate Kelly by the way, but he was playing in League One last spring (not the Championship) so that’s a big step up in class.

Moyes is doing the right thing by not selling Lescott to Cithe right now. I don’t want to turn this into a Blue Nose forum, but how would that benefit Everton?

It’s too late to bring in a replacement and with Jagielka out for a few months, they would be screwed without Lescott. I actually rate him as a player (I know many who don’t) and to sell him to a direct rival seems like bad business.

It’s one thing if he wants to bugger off to La Liga or Serie A, but Everton will be fighting with Citeh for a spot in Europe.

Not sure if that was the lad’s name, LB. He was indeed a decent player if I remember rightly, used to die his hair peroxide blonde and was a superstar back in Japan.

I can see the logic in signing some superstar from Asia or, indeed Africa or America to build up our support base in these areas.

Actually YLF isn’t really saying that. He’s just reporting on a player who he obviously thinks is good enough to make it at LFC. And any player being of slight stature doesn’t really bother me. Let’s face it some of the greatest players haven’t been exactly giants.

Pete uses Kuyt as an example of a player who hardly ever seems injured and he’s right. But you only have to look at Ian Callaghan’s playing record to see how smaller players doesn’t nexessarily mean weaker or injury prone players. In fact, Cally played on the wing at a time when a full back’s job was to literally boot the smaller wingers into row z.

The question really is not a matter of size. It’s a question of attitude to engage in the fight even against bigger intimidating players and resilience. Otherwise fellas like Pacheco would never make it. But like ivjmac has just pointed out over Kelly, we can’t really afford to gamble on any of the kids being up to it during the season. Remember we only lost 2 games all last season and still finished four points short.

So, ideally the kids will get their chance in the FA and Carling Cups, even the early stage of the CL if the points are secure. But I’d honestly worry about having to blood too many of them in the league at one go and having to relie on them for any prolonged period of games.

But it’s pointless really as it just brings us round in a circle and back to the question of money and where it’s disappearing to. As you can bet, Rafa is even more frustrated than us at not being able to splash out a bit and go into the new season actually strengthened instead of where we really are…. weakend at worst, in the same situation as last season at best.

TOTTENHAM centre-back Sebastien Bassong is set to make his debut for the club at the weekend against Liverpool despite serving only one game of a two-match ban with Newcastle.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was suspended for two games when he was sent off in Newcastle’s penultimate game of last season, meaning he would have had to sit out their Coca-Cola Championship opener.

He signed for Spurs before Newcastle’s clash against West Brom but Spurs have released a statement confirming he will be available for the Barclays Premier League clash at White Hart Lane.

“Sebastien Bassong will be available for selection for our Premier League season opener against Liverpool on Sunday,” read the statement.

It continued: “Given he served the first game of his ban against Aston Villa on the final day of the previous campaign as a Newcastle player, it meant the suspension continued to apply to Newcastle games and was therefore satisfied when his former club visited West Brom on the opening day of the Championship season on Saturday.”

Bassong is set to partner Ledley King on Sunday.

King does not train regularly and cannot play matches in quick succession but came through the Olympiacos friendly win on Sunday.

“Keeping Ledley fit will be key this season,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. “We want him on the pitch as much as we can – he’s so good.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/amateur-football/2009/08/11/new-tottenham-signing-sebastien-bassong-will-face-liverpool-fc-100252-24365946/

Don’t know how that’s quite legit, but I guess that just proves that FA really does stand for “eff all”.

Bassong didn’t play for Newcastle in our 5-1 thrashing of them last December at St. James Park, but he did feature for them when we tonked them 3-0 at Anfield in May.

Senior players make mistakes that result in dropped points week in week out Ivcjmac. What do you put that down to? Carras o.g’s, Lucas coughing up penos, Arbeloa ‘passing’ the ball out to Arshavin etc etc. Mistakes are part of the game. At least if Kelly makes one it can be put down to youthful inexperience. What can be said for the senior players?! How did Evans and Rafael get their chance for the mancs? Injuries to senior players. Thats what the youngsters are there for; to take their chance when it comes

Tottenham is a club that has been boasting big players since the last 3-4 seasons. Every season they sign three very good players and have a good pre-season as well.

Every year I keep thinking, that maybe they will be a threat this season, but not to be. They have been dissapointing me for the last 2 seasons or maybe more.

Last year they boasted signings of Geovani Dos Santos, Jonathan Woodgate, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Huerelho Gomes, Luka Modric, David Bentley, Corluka. Still they were fighting for the last position in the premiership for a good half of the season.

Now, what makes them different this season? It’s Harry Redknapp. I rate him as one of the best managers in football because of his tactics, strategies. I don’t care what position Tottenham fights for next season, but all I fear is facing Harry, because somehow he finds a way to take out points from every game. He tends to surprise people. Like last season, his team could have beaten Manure if not for Howard Webb.

This season as well, Spurs will be gearing up with players like Crouch, Palacios, Bostok and now Bassong.

I am used to some extraordinary signings that are made by this club. But I think this time they will probably make a place in Europe. Maybe UEFA Cup, or Champions League.

I think Bassong playing on Sunday is a definite bonus…. for us.

As for the youngsters Dig, I don’t think the point that they have to play at some time is being dispute. It’s the fact, that we really don’t want to have to relie on a number of them for any prolonged period.

You know what I think of Pacheco. I’d love to see him get a chance some time this season, but I wouldn’t watn that to be because Torres is injured for a long time. And I’d be even more worried if say we had to rely on Spearing in midfield and Kelly at the back at the same time.

It’s a point you’ve made yourself on numerous occasions – there is a big gulf between our senior players and the back up. So, hopefully the kids will get introduced at the right rate, a few at a time in the lesser competions. I’d love to even throw all the kids into Carling Cup and FA Cup games and let them contest them for as far as they can go. But due to revenue, and bringing in as much as possible, it’s unlikely to happen.

So, what I’d like to see is 3 or even four youngsters in the cup competitions at one time, with fringe players like Babel and Vronin making up the numbers. Like I said, not likely, but what I’m really dreading is the likes of Torres and Gerrard picking up long term injuries against some team of cloggers in an early Carling cup game, and then our league challenge to be risked by having to relie on the likes of Pacheco and Spearing.

LB (#171) If a player has their heart set on a move, you move them if possible, preferably to another league.

Coming from the States, our sports system is a bit different in that we move players through trades, not cash transfers as you see in Europe. It takes the right package to put those deals together, whether it’s an exchange of current players, prospects in the youth system, or future draft picks in our yearly draft system.

There isn’t an option to move them off to another league in another country like you’ve got in football.

Going back to the original question, if a player has their heart set on moving to a rival, you’ve got to extract the biggest price possible and/or find a comparable talent to bring back in return.

To use a recent example, Cashley Cole had his heart set on moving from Arsenal to Chelsea, and Wenger really didn’t want to sell him to them. When everything concluded, Wenger was able to extract William Gallas and £5million in return.

I think Carraghar would be back for the game against Spurs this weekend. And I believe that Rafa would make a signing in two days if he thinks that it’s necessary. If not, then I guess Kelly is ready to deal with the PL this season. Our lineup will be something like this:-

Reina

Johnson – Carraghar – New Signing/Kelly – Dossena/Insua

Kuyt – Lucas – Masch – Riera/Babel

Babel/Benayoun

Torres

I’m not saying we should be relying on em for half a season or anything FS, just step in for a game or 2 in a pinch when needed a la this weekend. If 2 of our 3 CB’s are injured then promote the lad. Give him his shot. He’s proved in pre season he’s ready. Whatever ya do dont go wasting our remaining budget on a 4th choice CB!! Thats all I’m saying lads. Besides, Rafa said he’s 80% sure 2 of our 3 senior CB’s will be fit sunday, so whats he at looking for a 4th CB?! Bring the young lads through!!!

KK, think you’re overlooking on player in your line up there. Just a mistake I’m sure.

And as I said earlier Dig, I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we bring anyone else in and I’d love to be disproved but I wouldn’t be shocked if no one else came in.

Yeah, I know what your are saying, but I tell you what…. White Hart Lane is never the easiest of places to go – especially for the first game of a new season.

KK is right in that Tottenham now have quite a good squad about them. I’m not overly worried about them. Hopefully we go there and pick up the points like we deserved last season. If we don’t so be it. It will be far too early to panic, but ideally it would be best if we could face them with our best 11 on the pitch.

Digger, I don’t dispute what you’re saying. Actually I see it as a chicken and egg kind of thing.

de Silva got his chance last season because the Mancs were down to their 4th choice RB (Neville, Brown, and O’Shea were all out injured). It was done out of necessity.

Evans is a different story, he was loaned out to Sunderland in 2006-07 to play in the Championship and was instrumental player in helping them gain promotion. In 2007-08 he was at United for the first half of the season before being loaned out to Sunderland again, this time playing an instrumental part in helping them stay up. Evans had already proven he was a Premiership level performer before stepping into the ManUre first team.

Yes, they both played due to injuries, but they also occurred while the transfer window was closed. If we’ve got an extended period of injuries in front of us, which only Rafa really knows, then I would prefer to grab an experienced hand like Distin or Campbell than rely on the youth.

I rate Kelly, but I would hate like hell to see him starting our league campaign for us away to Spurs this weekend. He’s looked good in the friendlies, but the lad spent last spring playing the likes of Tranmere, Colchester, Hereford, Bristol, Scunthorpe, et al. Spurs away is an entirely different prospect.

We can mock Spurs all we want, but we lost 5 matches in all comps last season (Spurs league, Spurs Carling Cup, Everton FA Cup, Boro league, and Chelsea CL 1st Leg at Anfield), and Spurs skinned us twice at White Heart Lane.

Digger, just read your post while I was posting. I also don’t want to spend our limited transfer funds on a Michael Turner 10 million plus type transfer.

I was just saying there are cheaper options and if it looks like Agger/Skrtel/Carra are out for an extended period of time, Rafa should pull the trigger on a cheap fix.

KK-I’d be stunned if Stevie G wasn’t fit for Sunday.

He may not be able to go for Ingerlund on Wednesday night, but I think we’ll see him in the lineup for Spurs.

I’m not going to lie, that hamstring injury does have me concerned. I’m hoping that he’s able to go Sunday and then follow it up with our Wednesday night game against Stoke.

If Stevie G’s not playing against Spuds I’ll eat Steve’s neighbours cat for him.

I’d love to see Skrtle fit for Spurs as I think if they will try the long ball game and hope to win all the second balls from Crouch’s knockdowns.

If we do end up with just Carra and Kelly, Carra must do a man to man marking job on Crouch and Kelly should look to clear any scraps. I think it would be fatal to relie on the young lad grasping on to his own responsibilites in a zonal marking job. But then I don’t know all the ins and outs.

So this is one of them occasions when we can do nothing but trust in Rafa. I know he’ll be wanting to get off to the best possible start and keep it rolling, and if that means bringing in another centre half, so be it. and I’m sure there’ll be far more people than Digger that would be not best pleased. But at the end of the day, there’s only Rafa who can make the final call.

I blame that bloody big Finnish fella. Nah, but oh to have denied him his request for a transfer right now.

Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier LB, call of duty and all that! Answering your question a) or b) probably wouldn’t do my response justice, so I’ll put it like this.

There is a reason that we have never sold directly to a Prem rival and a reason that we have never bought one either. It’s like an unwritten rule and it must have real substance because to my mind it has never been broken.

My guess is that if one of our players put in a transfer request and to join one of our rivals, Rafa would find him a nice little club in Spain, probably taking a squad player and cash as the deal. That’s what I think would happen anyway.

FS, I don’t make a habbit of eating cats, so the Bootle toms are quite safe where I am concerned.

Does anyone else think Lescott will still be an Everton player on 1st September?

Just wanted to wish John Barnes and Jason Mcateer all the best at Tranmere.

Shame that Steve, we could do with a few moggy munching maddies back on the Kop!

But just popped back into say this… Pacheco just signed a contract extension until 2012 today. And I believe Swansea wanted to take him on loan for this season but Rafa wants him to stay at Anfield.

That to me says 2 things….
1: Rafa wants him to have had 4 consecutive years of development so that he counts as home grown for Champions League squads.
2: More importantly Rafa probably sees him playing some part in the first team this season.

That is great news about Pacheco. It was a great free-kick that he scored in Ireland as well.

BTW, there’s a new blog.

Nice one Lurgie, off to read it now

Aitch Re: your comment in #137..I stopped watching those two plonkers a year ago.
The show has been going down hill for a few years. so don’t be surprised if it’s gone by the end of the season.