Spot on mate, spot on.

Plus I love that last line of your blog.

Keep the Faith (or piss off)

Should have written this in your blog long time ago, man…. would have avoided most of the “confrontations” in the blog.

Nicely written.

Well said Mate.
“When the going gets tough , the tough get going.
We need Everyone to be behind Liverpool right now.
Stop your whingeing, like Geryy said at the end of the Blog ‘Keep the Faith or Piss off”

wonderful blog, ger, but you know, the essence of the blog is repeated every single year. I mean every year. LB cracked me up in the previous blog when we said our club was jinxed, but it sort of feels that way.

It’s incredible some people fail to learn, and yet, still want to come back and provide illogical and irresponsible comments.

The only issue I have with the upcoming Lyon game is whether we see a massive rally for Rafa. I Really hope that happens. Game-wise, we should look out for that Lisandro fella. But in all honesty, our team should focus more on the manc game. In that respect, glad to know Torres won’t be playing in the lyon game. He needs all the rest he can get.

I hope the boys rally against Lyon. Really get stuck in and work together.

Fantastic Blog Gerry and right on the money. I am sure the faithful will give Rafa and the team a rousing reception tonight.

reira is out with a ham.

Well said Gerry. Now is the time for supporters to really get behind the team and the Manager.

We know we can beat any other team when the confidence is flowing and a good win over Lyon will set us up nicely for the visit of the Mancs.

2-0 tonight and 2-0 on Sunday. That will put us back on track. Come on you Redmen!

I almost had tears in my eyes reading this great post. Salute Gerry!

Great article Gerry. Timely too. I really hope Rafa does not lose hope in Liverpool and move on. As a fan, being frustrated is on thing but being stupid, is another thing all together. The thing about being a fan is the belief you have in your team even when the chips are down. A true fan is a fan who can be highly illogical. The logical thinking at half-time at Istanbul is can we keep the score down. The highly illogical thinking will be we can reverse the 3 nil down to victory. I bet all true Liverpool fans were thinking the impossible then but now we know it was possible. I remember the days, way back in late seventies, when I was a teen, i used to turn up late for school on Mondays if Liverpool lost. I hate to face the dopes who supported Leeds, Arsenal and United. But never lost hope. And never want to be smart to analyse and say we will not win. As long as there is a mathematical chance then there is always hope. When there is no mathematical chance then there is always the next season. Yes we are a bit short now with squad players. But there is no guarantee with better squad players we will win, like Chelsea, still lost last season and last week. As you said Gerry we have to be there at end of December to challenge. Yes, slate the team for bad performances but to say sack the manager, that too a manager who has the capability to bring in the 19, well as FS said “A sad state of affairs indeed”

As usual I’ve been posting in the last blog. It’s this technology melarkey, way beyond the powers of us auldies…
I’ll have to get a little finger on this bloody watch or at least learn to set the clock on me Betamax.

Sadly though Gerry, the loyalty, patientce and fight you talk of is beyond the comprhension of an awful lot of young fans who have been reared on Sly, Youtube clips and today’s Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Gimme it now standards.

That’s not a go at the young. There’s no fool like an old fool.

And I’d never dream of saying this normally, and certainly not in a cracking blog like this, but…
Some people need to go look at the last few comments in the last blog.

There’s a cracking link posted by Donal, and there’s a great comment by Digger – yes, our sceptical friend Digger. And I’m certainly not having a go at him. In fact, I’m saying NICE ONE DIGGER LAD!

2 of the people I’ve most crossed swords with in here are LB and Digger. I enjoy our little jousts. But I must say, when they critcise they do so fairly – well, mostly fairly – they have a point, and they don’t just spit dummies and throw tantrums because things haven’t gone exactly how they’d want. And to both lads credit, they also understand the circumstances under which our club is operating.

So, after digesting Gerry’s blog, you nay-sayers should take a look in the last one and read Digger’s comment and Donal’s link – I sadly doubt it, but, who knows, you might learn a thing or two.

As for tonight, don’t hold your breath on a Rafa rally lads. It’s getting very grim in them there stands.

yes, fantastic link it is that Donal put up.

Sadly, those who read it are those who don’t need to…..

Fuck me it never ends, now Rieras injured, jesus christ maybe LB’s right. Babel almost certainly starts now. Dont worry FS I still retain a more than healthy sense of skepticism and my famous powers of observation (ha ha!) and believe me I can see where mistakes have been made. I just feel that this is too important a week for all that and Rafa needs our support more than ever. The poor hoor is catching shit from everywhere and we need to give him a reception to remember tonight.

That was indeed a great post from Digger in the previous blog. This blog is very good as well Gerry! Gave me a right laugh at certain points and the last line gave me a good chuckle.

Glad I made you laugh Hyde – about the jinx on the club. I could swear it’s true though. The older fans will have to tell me if we got a lot of luck in the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Maybe we used up all the luck in those decades and now we are getting our karma. And maybe the mancs had some rotten luck in years past and are now benefitting. Either that or they sold their soul to the devil.

I’m not expecting a wonderful performance tonight in terms of quality but I’m expecting lots of effort! That will to win will get us the 3 points I think. Something tells me the fans will be up for it.

Regarding Rafa – after our lack of transfers during the summer I just can’t criticise him. Unless he does something like put Torres at left back or leave out a fit Gerrard against the mancs there is nothing I can really say against him. I’m amazed he hasn’t walked to be honest. I can’t think of anyone else who would stick around – especially a foreign manager. If it was me I’d have done one as soon as I was told I couldn’t have the £6m for Michael Turner. I’d have fucked right off as for me that would have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Regarding all the bollacks on talkshite etc about sacking Rafa. The club can’t afford to sack him. He just signed a 4 year contract and I’m guessing for big money. Would they have the funds to pay him the compensation? I think not. So the only way he’ll leave is if he walks. I think he’ll stick around because he sees it as a job well done and doesn’t want to be perceived as having failed at the club. For him there is unfinished business and he’ll try to ride out the storm and finish it.

Funny enough, I’ve just watched bits of The Real Rafa DVD. Wish you could all see it, sitting with an lfctv reporter, laughing and joking… Rafa ended it with, “Ta. Tara, lad.”

Funny as fuck.

And Digger please do tell what the mistakes are… I’m dying to have a go at someone!

Jokes aside, I listed what I think are some of Rafa’s biggest ricks in the last blog. I’ll add to them by saying he shouldn’t have let Sami go.

Yep. It’s hindsight. Yep. I know the lad chose to leave for more regular football – and hats off to him for that. And I know we had 3 first choice center backs playing good football and 3 adequate, if unexperienced, back ups for them. I also know Sami wanted a 2 year playing contract instead of the 1 year, with a coaching option at the end, that we offered him.

But how we’ve missed the big fella, both at the back and upfront from set pieces…. Far more than Xabi I’d say.

Another spot on thing with the blog… funny how our great experts and pundits are screaming about how much we miss Alonso when they hardly even noticed him before.

LB, there does seem to be an ever darkening cloud over the club right now.

I think it’s just one of them things – a cycle that seems to go on and on and impossible to break the longer it goes on.

As for the tramp, I have it on good authority he sold his soul to the devil for a life’s supply of chilled red toilet duck and unsoiled undercrackers.

Don’t worry about Sula lads, I think he is a Manc in disguise and is in here trying to wind us all up. Take no notice of the twat!

Nah Fatty not this week! There will be time enough for analysis and debate later. This is a pivotal week, season defining perhaps. I just hope we take to the pitch like an all consuming red storm tonight. 12th man n’ all. Stevies got to stand up and LEAD tonight, a la Istanbul. The holy trinity has to unite tonight in collective effort and fight like our very survival depends on it. Manager, players, supporters…. reds.

Excellent blog as usual, Gerry. You should consider puttng together a collection of your blogs and I believe this should be one of them.

Fellow reds, I’m going to apply Glen Hoddle’s philosophy about what people might have done in a previous life coming back to haunt them. My theory is that Rafa could have pulled a fast one one on his best friend’s woman in his previous life and this has come back to bite him in the backside.

On a serious note, just like you LB, I’m not expecting a great performance but I think the boys may just do enough to get that morale-boosting victory. I’m on my way to Anfield now as one of those day trippers from London and I’m going to support the boys until the beach ball sings.

YNWA

Funny enough Digger, that’s exactly what I expect to happen… The Real Stevie G will turn out tonight, grab this game by the scruff of the neck and win it with sheer force of will if not great play.

Talking about Xabi made me think about it… if anyone misses the lad, it’s Gerrard.

Over the seasons they’d became a real class act together, and it was Xabi’s nouse and passing that allowed Gerrard to not only get forward but stay there. Also, Xabi’s quick accurate, passing, his footballing-brain and instant decision gave Gerrard the space to work his magic.

Of course, Gerrard has so much to his game that he doesn’t need Xabi behind him and can play with anyone, in practically any position. But I think he has missed Xabi and it’s taken him a bit of time to adjust. I have a feeling we will see the real Gerrard tonight and then he’ll be chomping to get at the Mancs. And we all know… win them two and it’s game on.

Sadly, we’ve used up most of our margin for error already, but even if we lose both games – it’s not over.

The games we have lost have all been to teams that are above us in the league. They’ve all been away, and we have had dreadful luck in all of them.

I’d say we was cack against Sunderland and Villa and didn’t really derserve nothing from them but, if we’d got that bit of luck, we would have got at least a point from both.

As for Chelsea, if we’d have got the early breakthrough we’d have won that, but the confidence wilted as the game went on and then we tried to tweek out the draw – bad move that.

Tottenham hard game first day, but once again the ref robbed us. Talking of which… has anybody read the ref’s excuses for giving the beach ball goal?

Fuck me. The Tramp would have ripped him apart for that – and he would have been right to do so.

I’ve never heard anything so stupid since, The Dog eat my homework, Sir.

It would be bloody disgraceful and seriously laughable in the playground, nevermind a multi-million quid industry with so much riding on it.

Bayo… nothing wrong with day trippers – as long as they support the team.

Ooops sorry I know the Villa game was at home – meant to say the other 3 had been away. And think about it… they was all at very difficult places anyway.

Well, enough of my drivel. See you later. It’ll be better tonight – mark my words.

But one last thing… I also think Carra’s been getting all the stick for our problems at the back but let’s be honest… Skrtle’s been pulling no trees up either.

Which all leads me to think – these players are too good to stay in this slump for much longer and it’s going to change tonight.

Those 3 away defeats were at difficult places FS, but we got 6 points more from our matches there last season than we have this season.

Let’s hope a lack of draws and a winning run will have us with similar points around Christmas time.

Form is temporary, class is permanent and I think our gaffer certainly has a lot of class.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6881598.ece

i really hope that rafa gets an amazing ovation tonight. and i havent lost my sense of hope yet.

i know this side can play better than it has been. yes, there is trouble at our club. there has been for three years at the very least. but we have a quality side that is capable of winning trophies. we saw what a side like sunderland can play like with their supporters backing them last weekend. we supposedly have the best support in the world (according to many of us – myself included) – but we need to show it and help our team recover from its collective lack of confidence.

the biggest test will be if we go behind tonight at a certain point. last season (albeit we had some luck at times) we pulled ourselves back from defeat many times… but it seemed the players, and the fans, felt that it was inevitable – we were buzzing almost the whole season (with the exception of decemeber/january)… right now we are at a low point, and some of our “fans” have started to rock the boat, afraid to jump ship which is what i wish they would do.

tonight let’s stand together.
YNWA

Lets get naked

Gerry nice blog and that time’s link goes to show Rafa may finally grasped what
it takes to win the prem ie get the refs on side and maybe they’ll stop handing
out “favours” to the Tramp, who to be honest is one ungrateful nasty bully
whose recent behaviour towards the refs as been quite frankly “beyond the
pale “. I bet you Whiskeybreath was fuming when he read that because he
knows it makes him look a c*nt.
FS Admittedly those Mars bars and packets of crisp do seem to have been
wasted but your not looking at the actual net spend.
LB Think its a bit cold for that.
YNWA

I read that earlier Gerry and thought the same. Could anybody over in the UK or with close ties to the club confirm that Rafa has the dressing room solidly behind him, FS? There is a persistent underlying slant to stories that hint otherwise. Yes it is easy to jump on the bandwagon because of the losses and add 1 plus 1 and come up with three (Digger does it all the time, great article by the way and thanks for the heads up) but I would like to here it is crap from somebody in the know.

The comment by FS that don’t expect a Rafa rally tonight gave me food for thought. It’s exactly what Rafa and the team needs surly the Kop will rise to the occasion? Any news from anybody?

Yes it looks like Fortuna’s wheel has definitely turned against us, (I think its actually stuck she might want abit of WD40)

Great blog Gerry – excellent points about getting behind the team

I actually like the debates that go on in here – its one of the reasons I signed up – I thought the arguments back and forth in the last blog were excellent – no holds barred

I myself have been called a knee jerker and I will admit that I will come on here and say the team has played shite (or so I think) – and will question Rafa on selection and tatics and welcome any arguments,insults that come my way – its a forum thats what it does – my point being I don’t think we should tell the “others” to piss off or anything like that – invite them to prove their point

For example : I have never been to Anfield – I’m 32 now and I’ve supported Liverpool since I was about 14/15 (wasn’t really around in my twenties -physically and spiritually, FFS don’t even know how to drive yet) but does that make my points less valid than a lifelong supporter

An Linn, you get more browny points if you get yourself a cool looking avatar.

Seriously though if you live in the UK you need to get your ass to Anfield. Not to say you are now a ‘true supporter’ but for your own experience.

Don’t know what you mean about the net spend Rome mate. If you mean my listing of Rafa mistakes, well I thought it only fair to list what I see as his major ones. But as for his spending or even wasting money… I’d be the first to say what bloody money.

But An Lin does have a point… this is a forum for debate and argument. If it was just a back slapping club – or arse slapping as LB seems to be trying to turn it into – I’d be off like a shot.

But there’s a difference between being critical and spitting the dummy. Decent arguments, yep. Give me them all day long but – we’re shite. Sack Rafa, or I’ll hold my breath until I turn blue… well, I wish that sort would just turn blue and go follow Chelsea. It’s about the level of argument I’d expect from them idiots.

Keith mate… to my knowledge there is absolutely no rift between Rafa and the players whatsoever.

This seems to have stemmed from Rafa saying it was the more senior players who had to share their part of the responsibility for the performances so far.

To my mind, Rafa was only doing to protect Lucas, and to a lesser extent Insua, who were getting mauled by the press. But of course the press jumped on it and said Rafa was slagging off the senior players – but more specifically Gerrard and Carra.

They harped on and on about this for days in the papers, on Sly and especially on Talk Shite. I swear that station should change it’s name to Slag Rafa. It’s constant. It’s none stop. And it’s on 24/7.

I won’t go on about it as I said all I had to say about it in the last blog. But I swear, if you was subjected to it none stop in South Africa you would want to go round there and blow the place up. It’s an absolute disgrace.

And it’s them that keep on insisting on this rift between the management and the players. As I type, they are right now calling for Rafa to be replaced by Kenny Dalglish. One of their expert presenters is Ray Houghton. He’s constantly behind all this. Maybe he thinks Dalglish will tell him to dust his boots off and get ready for the call up – yes. It’s that ridiculous.

And despite both Carra and Gerrard saying Rafa was right and admitting they haven’t been playing well – it goes on 24/7 regardless.

And like I said, some of you will no doubt be thinking well why listen, or who gives a shit. It’s only a nonsense radio station. But the fact is, it’s huge over here and it’s a monopoly. And that is where most of our new “Beloved Club” type “support” gets it’s god given opinions from.

And you might still think, Who gives a shit about them idiots. But the players also listen to this shite.

Quick funny story on that…
One of the presenters called Carra a bottless coward on one of the shows. He said it when Carra threw the towel in on England.

It was really funny – the next thing is, a caller comes on the show… Carra. I kid you not, he called the fella up and the fella shit himself.

Hilarious. But sadly, as I said, it does have a huge influence on people over here – well, at least the daft, gullible ones.

But as rift – take no notice.

And the only reason why I say don’t expect a Rafa rally tonight is… it’s the early stages of the Champions league, and Anfield will be full of fans that don’t normally go to the match.

FS, I think Knight might make up enough noise on his own.

I dunno about arse slapping but I wouldn’t mind some arse kicking. In particular Steven Gerrard’s rear end. A boot up the rear as a form of encouragement.

I remember when Carra phoned in. The link is somewhere on the internet. The DJ did cack his load just a little bit. I think the same idiot was having a go at Lampard last season. Really laying into Fat Frank. I don’t know if you guys know but Lampard’s missus left him last season, took the kids and did one. Then told the newspapers her story. So this TalkShite DJ started laying into Lampard big time. That men who don’t look after the kids are scum etc etc. He got a bit surprised when Fat Frank phoned up to set the record straight and put him in his place.

I really can’t stand that show. It’s ignorant beyond belief.

and here’s the link for the carra call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITzkx-KaEsk

Feckin’ brilliant. Always cheers me up listening to it. Balls of steel and a decent lad to boot.

AP Newswire: October 20, 2009

News of Kopblog’s demise was prematurely reported by many yesterday. It had appeard that the world famous blog had been infected by a cancer. This cancer has spread throughout the footballing world in recent years and has seen many a blog turn into nothing more than teenage pissing contests, populated by morons with little to no common sense.

“It now appears our beloved blog was infected with a case of swine flu.” said one poster, “But it would seem it was just a mild case of the variety, and with this latest blog entry, Gerry’s got everyone’s head over a steaming bowl of water with a drop of Vics in it.”
“Hell, even Digger’s talking sense.” added another poster, who requested anonymity.

That blogs a corker Gerry nice one

I betcha that was Keith Aitch!

LB – Yeah have to sort out the important things, learn to drive, buy a house, go to anfield, get a gravatar,

I live in Dublin so to get a ticket it costs €300 plus the after match session were talking about €500 – but fuck it its only money – going to plan for one next year around Feb

Sweet Black Baby Jesus on a Goddam One-Balled Spotted Palomino!!!!!!

Rafa’s got balls of steel!

If we don’t get a result tonight the crazies are gonna have a field day criticizing that line-up!

Gerry, I’m with you 150% on this one!

We’ve now lost four on the trot. Big deal. We’re still alive and in eighth, Gerrard’s squad number. Now, how many times has #8 come back to bit opponents in their behinds?

Do we have depth? of course not – thanks Messrs G & H! To be fair to our 11 at Sunderland, many had come from grueling internationals (I number Babel, Kuyt, Benayoun, Skrtel, Lucas, Masch, Insua, GJ, Riera, Torres and Reina). Despite such, we still only lost to an illegal goal? This was an extremely tired team, ask Chelsea for their response as they were in the same situation. What internationals do Sunderland boast of? With a fully rested team, they still only beat us through a non-goal and “plenty of chances” for Bent! Please.

We have the Dagger back, and Aquilani doesn’t seem that far off (he might play on Wednesday against the Black Cats). Carra was back on Saturday and his pairing with Skrtel good.

Let’s keep the faith (or quit being fans altogether – it’s the easier option anyway). We’ve been here before – remember when Inter waltzed into town on the back of us losing to Barnsley in the FA Cup? They left 0-2 down, didn’t they? This for me is just a day in the life of LFC.

Siempre es posible. YN(Ever)WA(Ever)!

Fuck me… for all our differences, for all the ups and downs, all our trials and tribulations, there’s one thing you have to admit…
following Liverpool is never dull.

LB… I think you might just be right about that jinx.

Nevermind players, we even lost the toss and had to kick into the Kop first half. (Hope Knight’s in the Anfield Rd end for the second half).

Side note… loved Rafa’s pre match interview, all smiles, not a moan. What a lad.

And what the fuck are Sky at… Klinsmann commenting at a time like this. If that’s not the worst of mischief making, I’m a Dutchman.

Oh well, come on you Reds!

Oh My…

So, I believed that Double S will continue their scathing attacks tonight after all

I told you so. I’m away to support barca!

…and Barca lost as well…

err… Guardiola out, anyone??

Oh well… Bring on yer Manchester United!

Night. Night.

Well well well.

I will not say anything negative coz that will be termed as “Knee Jerk” here by the real “SUPPORTERS”.

Kelly had a good game and so did Ngog. He did a better job than Ryan Babel.

Goodnight Lads.

Can we get our collective backs even closer to the theoretical football wall? My phone is pinging away here from these froggy fucks! Anyway, at least, I can just ignore them.

I am beginning to think that this is a critical time for the boss and the shadows of the Marseille match, 3 years ago, are looming large.

Can’t wait! I will back him to the hilt.

YNWA

It really is time to standby Rafa. It’s started already:

BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty at Anfield: “A surreal mixture of jeers and silence greeted the final whistle at Anfield. Dreadful night for Liverpool with a late defeat and an injury to captain Steven Gerrard. And Rafael Benitez also came under serious question from large sections of the Anfield support, with genuine anger greeting his puzzling late decision to replace the lively Yossi Benayoun with the tried and failed Andriy Voronin. The meeting with Manchester United on Sunday now assumes even greater significance for Liverpool and Benitez.”

I would love to know if this is true because… revert to last blog.

Fuckin’ wankers!

suffering jesus this is brutal stuff,how am i suppose to make it to sunday. I’m actually taken this better than i should,i think i’m numb to be honest but its the rafa haters in the papers that are gonna kill me!!

solution- I shall not be reading any papers until saturday. Come sunday torres one nil win….well i can dream can’t I!!

I feel another Vera Lynn blog coming on.

We will still qualify from the group. Next game agsint Lyon is in 15 days. We tend to do it the hard way. I remember everyone had razor blades out after we lost to besiktas and needed to win all 3.

Jaysus sometimes its hard supporting LFC. This season is almost a write off and now we have to start worrying about simple things like: are we gonna get into the top 4?? Long way to go before that is a real dilemma though.

Gerrard off injured actually coincided with us playing some of our best football of the night but once we hit the 70 min mark our lack of leaders on the pitch out there was frightening. Lyon are a good side and I think they deserved a draw but it was cruel to concede so late on. Thought Kelly had a good game but Govou made Insua look very ordinary. Ngog tried hard and I think he will become a good player but having to rely on a kid in match like this sums it all up. Would that have happened to any of the other top 4 sides? Nope. Blame Rafa or the Yanks or a combo of both but this current squad just ain’t good enough.

I don’t think anyone will argue with me when I say that if we were to lose to Utd and go 10 points behind them, that our league title chances will have evaporated. all that will be left will be the F.A. cup and 4th spot. But lets all dream….2-0 Sunday and our season bursts back into life

Arthur, FFS, how many injuries do we have, so yes if they other sides had the same problems it may well have happened.

By the way, Barcelona got turned over against a opposition that is iles behind Lyon and Barca are meant to be playing ‘beautiful’ football as someone in here mentioned once, hmmmm.

Positives on the night:
-Kelly wasnt overwhelmed by the occassion. Was quiet in the first 10min but then made some good runs and put in some fantastic crosses (with both right and LEFT). Looks a great prospect.

-Mascheranos first half was superb. His tackling was back to world class. Some of those tackled coming from a position behind a player were great.

- Auerllio getting more game time and some of his passing/delivery was top class.

- Agger playing well at the back.

Hi guys,

Just back from Northern Poland and a brother’s wedding. No internet, tv, newspapers or anything that I could understand. Walked in , flicked on the box and lo and behold Richard bloody idiot keys and Jurgan Klinsman and we’re beaten twice since I departed. Balls. Going back to Poland.

Where players need (and can) to improve:

-Ngog’s positioning wasnt the best as he was ball watching/dragged towards the ball on a few occassions. Examples when Gerrard flicked numerous balls on with a header expecting him to be there as a striker.

-I think Insua is starting to feel fatigued.

-Missing that team spark at the moment, i half expected everyone to maul Benny once he scored, but it was subdued.

Few negatives (a fix for those who love them )

-Beach ball didnt make the starting eleven. Time to blame Rafa for his management skills and single-ing out those who cost us the game.

-Injuries, hopefully Johnson and Stevie pull up for the weekend.

-Conceding softish goals.

-Players on different wavelenghts to each other.

Kelly was brilliant. Definitely a great back up for Glen Johnson. He seems to have the drive and the english steel of Carra and Stevie plus some nice crossing ability. Good positive on a negative night. Ngog showed some nice touches, could do well in the future if he bulks up a bit.
I must say the moment of the match was that one handed save their keeper made on Aurelio’s header. Man that was something!
Haven’t thrown in the towel just yet. We can still make something of this season. Not mathematically out of anything just yet so gotta relax….

Fatty, I was at the Anfield Road side tonight, thanks to your help. Our first goal was great, then we let in an equaliser and then at the last minute another. Sigh! I also can’t fathom why Benayoun was substituted. Reserved for the Man U game perhaps?
Poor Rafa. He must be even more pressure now. The Man U game takes on greater significance and is a must win now. See you at the Game.

Too fuckin right Idawan… that keeper’s mum must be a Voodoo priestess. Absolutely incredible save.

Combine that with the perfectly onside, disallowed Kuyt goal and we’d have been 3-0 up at half-time and it would have been a completely different game… but because we lost 1-2 all that will be ignored and be the usual light on personnel, not good enough, played poorly, etc, etc.

…….

Are any of you guys noticing a rather interesting trend in punditry?

The last time Rafa was under pressure, it was all about how he could be fired… but that’s NOT what is being said this time around… and very interesting given 4 straight losses and Scum up next… the comments are mostly that he will/should walk, not that he will be fired.
What the fuck is that all about?

Aitch – It could be down to the fact that as Rafa has recently signed a new contract it would reportedly cost the americans £25 million to sack him and even the moron pundits know there is no way those guys will fork out that kind of cash.

Good shite

Time to shine up the ole dog kicking shoes!

Knight can you please wear your lucky underpants to Anfield on Sunday.

Havent watched the game yet lads as me alarm didnt budge me at 4 am. Did the crowd give Rafa and the lads a good reception?

I’ve earmarked the dog down the road for a good kick in the hole

Over and out

Apologies………..Gerry that was one of your better blogs and I love the sign off. The ole windsereen wipers on the goats arse had me pissing myself!

LB Ithink your right we are cursed how many injuries can one team have
Torres,Gerrard,Johnson,Riera,Kryiacos,,El zhar,Kelly (who played well)
even Ngogg looked injured towards the end.
FS Comment 27 was in reply to your comment 216 on previous blog.
YNWA

Donald the only time the crowd started bitching was when Rafa substituted
Vorinin for Benny and not Ngogg,other than that a few moans at the end.
YNWA

Fuck the press have started

I wont read any of that shite anymore

Gerry you now monopolize my Liverpool reading

Rome its Donal bud (was there a good reception from the beginning?)

Over and out

Donal It was alright but not the loudest ive been to,but the fact i got 4 tickets
meant a lot of the regulars weren’t there so its hard to judge.
YNWA

Its happened before to Rafa, this loss of form.

Season after winning La Liga, Valencia finished 5th & missed out champion’s league.

Following season, Rafa wins league & uefa cup.

That’s footie innit.

ps: More silver lining? A wretched season may be what is needed to get rid of them yanks.

Oh, yeah, ace blog as usual, Gerry.

Yeah, I was aware of the contract situation Gerry. My vague recollection is that it would cost them something like 12-15 million to fire him?
(goes to show you how fuckin business savvy those two are agreeing to that clause… dipshits)

Nah, my curiousity regarding the “situation” is in terms of how “loud” some of the pundits are in “suggesting” that “Rafa should/will quit”
…. its like a collective goading that seems to be going on.
I keep thinking of the Scene in “Almost Famous” where the guitarist is on the roof and all the kids are shouting “jump, jump, jump”…

Pat Dolan on Setanta has been saying he should walk since the beginning of the season (though his reasoning is that he’s too good and decent a bloke for LFC/the owners) (an unusually refreshing opinion from someone who’s usually a tit towards us)
…But I just find it interesting how in the last week, almost every footy show I’ve watched (and a fair few articles read) seem to be jumping on this bandwagon and adopting the chant… and it seems to be growing a head of steam (which could perhaps be dangerous should we lose to Scum and our own “fans” climb on the badwagon.)

Very curious indeed, since we are widely not considered a threat for the title, or now the CL, so why the fervent desire to see him quit???

Aitch Maybe it because they know we’ll be fucked if he did.
The most famous journalist in USA are probably the one’s who got Nixon fired
Woodward & Bernstien. It’s kind of like that but for the sports Journalists Rafa
will do.
YNWA

As i said in the first blog, I didn’t have a issue as to how the result against Lyon went, but was more concerned about whether Rafa will get his support.

Couldn’t get the match over here, but sadly, that seems to have not been the case.

It would have been so Reds-like and superb if the fans gave a massive up-yours to the press and the owners had Anfield erupted with a Rafa song right after our defeat.

Imagine what that would have done to our players as well. The “us against all the other suckers” mentality we so desperately need right now.

Support even in defeat is something the new “supporters” throughout the country do not understand.
It would have shown how much we know about football, cementing ourselves forever in history as the most knowledgable fans in the world.

Sad, sad day indeed, just like the day when Lucas was booed.

If some sections of the fans can’t even accept that the Lyon game is still recoverable and lose sight of the bigger picture than on just one result, I dunno how they are going to support the gaffer and the lads against the mancs.

Sad, sad day, indeed.

4 consecutive defeats and probably still counting…!! Fantastic football from the lads,fantastic substitution from the manager,bringing on Voronin for the goal scorer..we nolonger care any more if we lose,do we?..but come the end of the season we shall have lifted both the EPL and champions league trophies…thats the shit most of u guys wanna hear in here,Right?

i think rafa was right to sub benoyoun. he is right now our best player and only chance for goals and with the muncs this weekend, we gonna need his legs.

i still have faith in rafa, but he has to kop some flak this season. i mean, we did so well last season, we lost a good player (eventhough he wanted to leave), replaced him with good player who wont be fully fit (game fit) until probably december ?? reallied heavily on torres who virtually didnt have much rest in the break..

and not to mention the quality we have .. lucas, babel..voronin.

the season will be over by then!

It’s no good (Benitez) saying I haven’t had enough money. If you’ve been there five years, brought in 68 players, you should have more than that after five years. You should be able to cope better with losing two players.’…Souness

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1221847/Graeme-Souness-issues-withering-verdict-Rafa-Benitezs-Liverpool.html#ixzz0UXz8g4pJ

sula what the fuck exactly is your problem? at least somnath #46 had the decency not to aggravate an already bad situation. we are all gutted over the loss and somnath knew when to shut the fuck up, unlike assholes like you. we as lfc supporters may not see eye to eye on a few things but at times like this, we don’t need a fellow “supporter” like you to rub it in with your remarks in #72.

Sula

Do some research on Souness and his record in managment

If you still want to quote him after that then your on your own lad.

Most of those 68 players were probably U-15

You really brought in a fresh stink of shit into this fine blog by posting a Souness quote bashing Rafa

Over and out

sula, sula … there you go quoting souness. what has souness won for liverpool, compared to rafa?

@sula
yes, 4 consequtive losses but it is still recoverable….this is the time where all of us need to stick together and rally our support for the lads & the gaffer….we do have the quality & it was proven before…what we’re missing right now is the confidence and if we beat the mancs this weekend, am pretty sure that we’ll continue the momentum….
So, a little bit of support from u is much needed. Else, just take ur bullshit with u & get the f**k out of here!

Sula you moron!.

When you have fuck all funds available you have to buy cheap, and then sell for a profit in order to buy a better player. Constant upgrading. Unlike the macs/chavs/citeh, we cant buy top players straight up.

Secondly, rafa has completely changed our youth set up, a large number of thise players coming in are the youngsters.

When Rafa arrived he had to upgrade every position on a budget tighter than a virgin. You try upgrading 16 players in 5 years on less than 20mil a year. Get your fucking head out of these computer games you are playing and face reality.

Sula you are really starting to show your age in your posts.

Ohh and to add, i wouldnt listen to Souness’ advice as a manager. If you got your head out of your arse Sula and actually knew a thing or two about Liverpool (which insidently began before istanbul) youd know Souness didnt exactly aid Liverpool in being a top team. Ohh and he was sacked from Newcastle.

How about you give me a job as a pundit and whatever I say will be believed by you. I think i have the right qualification after coaching under 12′s with no budget and not being sacked.

No wonder… sula will take anything the media feed him/her..talk about being farkin gullible

- dailymail.co.uk says Souness said ’68 players’
- mirrorfootball.co.uk and goal.com says ’67 players’

How about Souness also mentioned this:

“Souness added: “You want your strongest team whenever you are playing a big game but he ‘s not had his strongest team tonight.

“The criticism aimed at Rafa would be that he had signed 67 players and if you are missing two or three you don’t look anything like a team that can win big games in the Champions League or the other Premier League contenders.”

Read it however you see fit.

some stick is already getting personal…am not getting to any one,atleast not for today! am just silently praying that u guys get to admit that things are not going on well…dont blame the beach balls or the Refs but this is a liverpool problem! but the question remains,is it management or the lads themselves? i cant say much either coz no one thinks am a real supporter afterall,will let the “real supporters brigade” take control..Fat Scouser, Akka ,Hyde,Aitch,Rome77 do ur thing!

@Akka,#80
that is uncalled for..i have been blamed for getting personal,are u guys practicing what u preach? still that wont push me to get to any one!

one thing sula, did you actually read the blog? Any comments on it?

NEWSBREAK! Souness, in his interview with skysport did not actually give a professional criticism but actually has an axe to grind with LFC. This is based on an interview he gave some time ago in 1996:

The Liverpool move seemed like the dream appointment, both for the club, and for Souness. It quickly became obvious that his time there would be anything but smooth. “Looking back I was blinded by my feelings for the club,” he admits, talking slowly, and making every word count. “I’ve never allowed this to happen since.

“Sure, I know I made mistakes, in both my manner, and the way in which I tried to change things too quickly. But everyone accepted when I took the job that it was the most difficult period for the club in its recent history. We managed to win the Cup in my two and a half years, but my timing was all wrong.”

“The criticism I received from some of the people I played with really pissed me off,” he admits. “I think of them as professional Scousers, people who went on and on about their love for the club. Nobody could accuse me of not putting everything into Liverpool, both as a player and as a manager.

“The players who turned against me were the same ones whose battles I used to fight when I was playing with them… but players like Steve Nicol, Bruce Grobbelaar and Ronnie Whelan were all queueing for their testimonials.

“Contrary to popular belief I was under no pressure, but I’d fallen out of love with football. The chairman suggested I should give it a little longer at the club, but I told him I didn’t enjoy it any more.”

What did you feel as you drove away from his house? “An enormous sense of relief.”

Of course the above snippets was not the whole interview but hey, what the heck, it is after all my agenda. But what a hell of a players Souness was for us then!

I didnt get personal Sula

Just mentioned the comments 72 and 74 left a nasty skidmark in the underpants of this blog

Ill back what i say up by posting the official definition:Skidmark – A visible feces stain left on underpants

Nothing personal against you …..just your comments

Over and out

Ye win some, ye lose some.

Sure it hurts like fook. But grow up & take it like a man instead of whining like a lil bitch.

Yes, Sula me is talking about ye . . .

For Sunday’s game our confidence will be low, we are in poor form and we could be without some key players. What we need on Sunday is just a little bit of luck…….. Something we have had precious little of lately!

We will play well against the Mancs, I’m sure of that, the rub of the green going in our favour on Sunday is crucial. Man.U been extremely lucky against us in the past and also they have had the breaks in their games so far this season…… Let’s hope it’s our turn on Sunday.

The last time we lost 4 on the spin was 22 years ago, we cannot let that become 5 on Sunday. A draw is no good, we need this morale boosting victory big time.

Fat Scouser, your comment at 21 is most appreciated. It’s just that I’ve read and heard so much about ‘day trippers’ who don’t live in Liverpool turning Anfield into Stamford Bridge. Thus it really annoys me to think that I need to have L4 as my post code to be a Liverpool fan. It’s not cheap to be a ‘day tripper’.

I returned from Liverpool about an hour ago after spending almost 6 hours on a coach – not an easy thing to do if you’re 6ft 3. Our attack lacked any drive and we conceded possession far too easily for my liking. We didn’t do enough to win the match but we have to win in Lyon to keep our hopes in the CL alive. I hope we can turn this around otherwise it could be a very long season for us.

Akka my earlier point of whether this would happen to the other top 4 sides was in relation to having a 20 year old lead the line in such a massively important match.

Utd have Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda

Chelsea have Drogba, Anelka, Kalou

Arsenal have Van Persie, Arshavin, Eduardo and Bendtner

City have, well they tons!

Playing N’Gog ahead of the other so called strikers just shows the lack of confidence Rafa has in either Babel or Voronin. Now as I mentioned before I think you have to point the blame for this situation at both the manager (who buys the players) and the owners (who clearly didn’t give us the full backing this summer). So it’s a complex and a difficult problem to rectify.

I also think it’s naive to compare this current Champions League campaign with the 2007/08 one, where we needed to win last three games as well to qualify. This season we were put in a Group of Death. Lyon are a very well balanced, organised and confident team – winning there will be much harder than having to win in Marseilles. I’m not saying it will be impossible but based on current form I would think it very unlikely

And yes I agree, any team would have struggled last night without Gerrard, Torres, Johnson and Riera. But my focus was on our striker options when Torres is not available.

Arhur mate.

We had a 20yo leading the line because we dont have money to buy another player. We are lucky to have Torres because a player of his calibre only arrived at Liverpool for 20mil because of Rafa.

As for the other teams
United: Rooney and Berba are 30mil each (enough said). I wouldnt even put macheda on that list or owen for that matter.

You are correct, the other teams have TONS! Why? because we are tight with money. Is that Rafa’s fault? Fuck NO.

Why you would point the blame at Rafa for not buying another world class striker is beyond me. Had we had the money we would have had someone like Villa or at least a international striker.

Ill give you an example. Ill be the driver and you be the financer. Now i want to beat a ferrari at a 1/4mile race and you provide me with 15,000. With that i can only afford a Focus, how the fuck is it my fault that i cant buy a car that matches the ferrari for 15,000.

No sula, sorry, mate I can’t be bothered today.

You already proved yourself even more foolish by quoting Souness, whose words nobody with a proper mind has any respect for. He is only respected for his time as a player here, but that’s it.
Any liverpool fan will know that, so I have to say, you have no education to even warrant as a liverpool fan.

Sorry if that pisses you off, but that quoting was the final straw for me.

I only refuted you thus far because I thought your intentions were for the better, but just as there is no point arguing with a supporter of another team, there is no point in trying to explain to you. Amazed that you even think you have a valid case of an argument utilizing souness’ comments.

Besides, it is blatantly clear you are not analyzing other peoples’ comments. Who in the world in this blog has not admitted that we are not playing well? We are all discussing why we are not playing well.

Sorry mate, but that’s it for me with you.

Is what i said in no#92 so hard to understand?

Rafa had to buy a 30yo defender for peanuts because he couldnt get a descent CB for 6mil pounds and you blame Rafa that he didnt have a berba/rooney/15m/12m/30mil striker as a back up

the first back up needed by our team is a back up for Torres. Egg nog, boronin just don’t cut it here at LFC.

I hope Rafa buys one in Jan window

Keep the faith

I love how you totally get Ryan Babel and his utter shite-ness. People, especially pundits and so-called experts all seem to love him, and for no apparent reason other than his inclusion in the Dutch team.

Yesterday, on the Ten Sports pre-match discussion, the ‘experts’ were saying (with reference to Babel in the first team): “He knows he deserves it, we know he deserves it; and even Rafa knows he deserves it. So why isn’t he there?”

He has consistently played some inconsistent football, and with the amount of chances he’s got. he should’ve scored a fair few more goals; or at least created more goals. But he still doesn’t capitalize on ‘em.

Look at Yossi-he worked his way into the first team by consistent performances off the bench. Ryan Babel clearly doesn’t seem able to do that.

With what money Abhishek? Care to donate 20mil pounds?

Tell you what sula, forget studying liverpool or football.

This will enlighten you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=328Q79GoR7g

i hope akka that we have enough money by Jan. But as Gerry once said, “Hope can be a fickle mistress”

!!!

Unless we get new owners there wont be any money for players in January. You are forgetting what happened at the start of the year and how 20mil magically dissapeared and we were trying to buy a centre back. (See my posts in #92 and #94)

I will add to that Akka, if people had actually bothered to look at the link I posted on the previous blog, they will see that Torres was not a world-class striker as of the time he joined our club.
It was rafa that transformed him into one, just as he made carra one of our finest centre-backs in the world, and stevie, the best offensive midfielder.

Then of course, the same people don’t know that Pepe reina was a barca reject, arbeloa a throw-out from the real youth, and Xabi alonso, a nearly-player that real nor barca deemed worthy of seriously going in for, let alone the premiership clubs. But no, none of these are world-class are they, that’s why they are all in the spanish squad now, and 2 of them have been “prized away” by the capital city of spain, and one has been the best goalkeeper in England for the last 3 years.

But of course, rafa is too stubborn and cautious, isn’t he, and has no clue in finding the right targets.

But Akka we can’t get rid of the Yanks – so then you have to look at the decisions the manager makes. Yes, he hasn’t the same financial muscle as some of the others (I would suggest Arsenal are of similar standing as us) but he has to make do with what he can. That’s his job.

This year the team are not performing. Why is that? It’s fundamentally (Alonso aside) the same as last season – questions need to be asked, that’s all. We have lost games this season with Torres and Gerrard in the team so we can’t lay the blame soley on injuries.

My point is – I don’t think our wonderful American owners are going anywhere, anytime soon.

Do I blame the owners for not investing in the team this year? Yes

Do I blame the owners for clearly not trusting Rafa? Yes

But can Liverpool afford to not be playing in CL knock-out stages in Februray or perhaps not qualify at all come the end of the season?

What I’m saying is there is dual responsibility – manager and owners. I don’t think Rafa should be beyond criticism in this forum just because of the poxy backroom problems he faces

the venomous knives are out for Rafa by media bastards – we just need to spank Mancs and put these media shitworms back to their dreamy world

I myself thought we played well after Gerrard went off, and if we had a scored the second that game was over – we need to take our chances,

Benayoun going off was obviously to rest him for Sunday incase Gerrard’s not fit –

I thought our biggest loss was Kelly – after he went off and Carra went to right back we lost our attacking verve on the side which looked like
the side we were going to score from. Apart from a few rushes of blood to the head – I thought Kelly was excellent – some crosser

On the other hand Insua had a poor game – maybe tired, don’t know, but he got skinned a good few times – that side looked weak – no support maybe

Donal, #86 cracked me up. There were skid marks all over Anfield mate especially after Lyon’s 2nd goal. The way they cut our defence open reminded me of the Souness era. To actually quote Souness is ridiculous. A fucking useless manager he was. The decision to hire him set the club back many years. Should have brought Kenny back – look what he did with Blackburn.

Anyway enough dwelling in the past. The players confidence is at rock bottom. Lose against the Mancs and we are fucked. Confidence will go through the floor and Rafa will be under immense pressure. We need any kind of win. I slightly disagree with Steve, we don’t need a little bit of luck we need a lot of luck. That’s another decent side who have beaten us.

We need our better players back fit asap – if anything just to give the others a lift.

Maybe we need a poor season for the owners to sell up and fuck off? If that’s the case I wouldn’t mind a few more defeats.

I dont even know why i am responding to you arthur.

There is responsibility of Rafa to put the team out on the park and get the correct formation. Thats agreed.

Ofcourse he doesnt have the same financial muscle, teams like portsmouth, tottenham are outspending us, and they arent even getting CL money or have the same fan base.

But your argument was solely on not having adequate back up for Torres etc. Like i said, you try and buy a ferrari with the funds enough to buy a Focus.

Well, it’s official…. you can now call this a crisis.

But before some of our great and loyal, married to, bleeding LFC, “beloved supporters” scream I told you so, let me just say…

You are the crisis!

Like I said in the last comments, take this little blog of ours as a wee example of what’s happening amongst Liverpool supporters and it does give you a glimpse of the bigger picture…

All fans pissed off with what’s happening.
Majority of fans, still backing Rafa, realise the circumstances that he’s working under.
Large section of fans having doubts.
Minority screaming – and making the most noise – for Rafa’s head.

The main problem about this is we are owned by “Custodians,” who have even less football knowledge and more importantly – less patientce – than our own Chuckle Brothers in here.

All of you lads hoped for a Rafa rally last night. I tried to tell you it wouldn’t happen. Bayo… there is a difference between a day tripper and an Out Of Town (OOT) Supporter.

Hyde… you are entirely correct. There was a time when the Kop would have rose to a man and backed the team and Rafa until they had to be thrown out of the ground. Sadly them days are completely gone.

I’ve said it before, but…
It’s ironically The Kop and it’s atmosphere that drew most day trippers – including G&H – to the place. It’s sort of like Tourists destroying the great sights of the world. And sadly the amount of them is turning Anfield into just another stadium… you can see what they done to the Mancs.

How long before there’s a Karaoke version of YNWA at Anfield?

So instead of the huge backing that dragged us across the line in the past – last occasion being the Chelsea semi final PRE ISTANBUL – you have a very normal football crowd… singing when they are winning and for the most part not even knowing the songs.

Watch The Kop when the camera pans across it during YNWA – half of them aren’t even singing. And if they don’t know the words to our Anthem, what chance them singing the likes of Rafa in Istanbul?

So instead of the great rousing support that you used to get – especially when things were going against us – you get silence, which then becomes
anxiety, which then becomes pressure on the players, which then leads to them playing badly.

But don’t take any of that wrong. I shouldn’t even need to explain this in here by now, I’ve done that many times before. But this is not down to good lads like you Bayo, or anyone who goes out of their way to support the team.

I live in Bournemouth…. I know what sacrifices people have to make to get to Anfield. I know quite well, that good out of town support goes there to get behind the team and have a good time singing and supporting. Them people aren’t the problem. It’s the tourist. The Day Tripper that is diluting the place, not proper supporters – wherever they’re from.

And it will only get worse, as G&H introduce more and more ticket schemes and money spinning tourist package deals – and therefore split up the hardcore support – their only real opposition.

I am going to take Knight to my local on Sunday. I’ll leave it to him to tell you what he sees and hears. Good support – local and out of town – still exists.

However, it’s getting swamped, by the people that spend all day on the phone in’s calling for Rafa’s head. Since Saturday evening the main and more or less constant topic on Talk Shite has been Sack Rafa.

Sadly this forms the opinion’s of the likes of our very own Chuckle Brothers – in the blog, in front of the telly, in the stands and most dangerously of all – in the boardroom.

A sad state of affairs.

Take Sky Sports last night…
Or Sly – they really lived up to that name last night.

Their experts… Souness and Klinsmann.

Any decent Liverpool fan would see right through that immeadiately, but you can see in here what is happening…

They would rather believe a man who gave an interview to The Sun – telling them how much he hated LFC – against our own manager.

They cannot even see the mischief Sly are up to by bringing in Klinsmann… Fuck me, a blind man on a fast horse could see right through that.

But as if the gesture wasn’t enough to get the message across… The shows host, Martin Tyler’s Monkey (Richard Keys), practically offered Klinnsman Rafa’s job.

And I’m sorry to say all this, believe me I am. It hurts more than any defeat – even against the Mancs.

I know it hurts when Liverpool fail year after year. I know it’s horrible to have supported them over the last 20 years – despite the success’s we’ve had. I know it’s horrible to watch the Mancs lift title after title. I know I was lucky enough to have been there for the glory years – and to have seen The Mancs go into the old second division – great times, indeed.

But imagine how hurtful it is when the likes of me, who stood there week in week out and created the atmosphere, now looks at The Kop.

And then I have idiots like the Chuckle Brothers telling me they are the real supporters and I’m not.

Well, as I said, this blog is a small example of what’s going on and watching these people turn LFC into just another football club hurts far more than any defeat.

This is now waffling on too much, so I’ll stop even though I’d love to tell the story of how a Steward came up to me at one game last season and told me to “Tone it Down,” as I was disturbing people around me in the main stand.

But I told that story in here before. So most people will remember it anyway. But that is what is going on now. So, I’ll leave it at that for now.

I did want to go on about what’s happening on the pitch. Let’s face it…. there’s plenty of worries there. But after seeing the comments I hd to get this off my chest first, and it’s became so long and depressing that I can’t get into that right now.

But there is some very worrying team/player/management things to discuss. So, I’ll come back later and discuss it with the proper people who understand what’s actually going on – and that doesn’t mean just the people who agree with me.

Let’s face it, there’s loads for us opposing fans to chat about – and right now none of it’s good.

I don’t think Rafa’s under any pressure, the teams going through a rough patch. When the chips are down, things just don’t go your way. When there up everything just works.
.
Last year Aurelio’s screaming header would have smashed the net to pieces, today it just didn’t happen. If players like Babel, Riera, Voronin are not good enough and Rafa is forced to play Kelly and others, then what fucking miracle would you like him to produce.
.
I’ve been critical of Rafa over the times but if people can’t see the amount of out of luck, injured, out of form players he has at the moment, then I must be a dumb old fuckwit.
.
4 games ago we couldn’t stop scoring goals, then that little piece of Canadian buffalo dung came out with his latest hit single. The Rafa tapes. Since then it’s gone slightly haywire.
.
This is still my team and I don’t give a fuck where they finish as long as I’m alive to see them next season. Things will turn around, they always do. Dwelling makes it worse.

Onwards an upwards lads. ok that was a terrible nights sleep I had, i woke three times dreaming that the result didnt happen. Nothing at all seems to be going are way what so ever,must admit i started to freak out a bit to much last night.

positives from last night-we finally scored a goal. At times there was some great play.(that wee reverse nutmeg by ngog was delicious) the lads got the weight of the world on his shoulders actually feel abit sorry he’s to come an expected to play like torres.If people wonder why he started then you just look at the opportunity handed to babel an co on Saturday who didnt take it. martin kelly having a good game,i’m liking the look of this fella. mash getting stuck in.

So although the result went the wrong way we can pray for a fit gerrard torres and johnson and hopefully catch them FUCKIN BASTARDS on the bounce on sunday. p.s i’ve just heard they left a shit load of first teamers at home so cunt face is expecting to really kick us when we’re down. If they lose because of this tonight then it could have a knock on effect,they start losing we start winning.

Roarin lets hope CSKA kick the shit out of United tonight.

Ok Akka well then let me change focus then – (although I still think that after 5 years in charge Rafa should have better back up options than we currently have)

Do you agree that even with a full team we have struggled this year? I’m not saying Rafa out – but I’m asking questions of him. Why are we under-achieving so badly this year? This isn’t just because we have shitty owners. This current team, current squad should be doing much better than it is. This is the manager’s responsibility

If Ferguson or Wenger had lost this many games at this stage in a season the same questions would be asked…

What I can’t quite understand is why all of our players seem to be off form? Skrtle has been shocking this season. Carra well below his usual standards. Masch has been poor most of the time. Kuyt has not looked like the player he was last season. Gerrard and Torres are out inured now but when they were fit neither were on top form. Nando has scored plenty of goals but his overall play was nowhere near it’s best. So what the fuck is going on? Xabi leaving can’t have affected everyone else’s form.

I am at a loss to even try and explain what has gone wrong.

My one criticism of Rafa is that he replaced Xabi with an injured player and thought we’d be able to cope while that injured player got fit. It’s not like the injury was a little niggle either. It’s a serious half a season out deal. I always had doubts Masch and Lucas would be a good enough pairing for half a season. I’m not saying that is the only reason why we’ve not played well but it could be a contributing factor.

Imagine we sold Torres for £40m and bought say Henry for £20m but Henry wasn’t likely to be match fit until December?

I think Rafa has put too much faith in Lucas. The lad has not been our worse player by any means and I think he is a decent player. But I do not think he has it in his locker to dominate a midfield and I believe all top sides need a midfield player to do that. Masch isn’t going to do it – especially with his head in the Nou Camp. Which is another situation that might be a contributing factor to our poor form. Can’t blame Rafa for that one.

Last season we did alright without Torres and Gerrard but looking back how key was Xabi in those games? With the 3 of them out of the team we are looking a shambles at times. Or is that over simplifying it? I dunno.

Our league form (and our players form) is a huge concern. In season’s gone by we perhaps could have had such a poor start but still have been reasonably confident of a top 4 finish. Now, it’s far too early to panic about losing out on a CL spot just yet – but we have consider that Spurs, Villa and of course Man City all have their strongest teams (and squads) in years. If we don’t qualify for Champions League next year we will struggle to attract top quality players and I think it’s no exaggeration to say that Torres and Gerrard may start have wandering eyes

LB I think rafa had to go for aqualani because considering the funds that were available he was the best option. Yes he was out injured, but the lad is apparently class. I dont think there were are any other world class midfielders available at the time and especially for that price.

Sure rafa could have pushed to get a midfielder for 30mil if available (which didnt look like there was), but im assuming he kept the second half of that alonso transfer to purchase another attacking player (silva, villa etc). But then we saw that money dissapear.

Dont forget at the time we sold Alonso, midfielders prices were crazy. Masch was rumoured at 25-30m aswell.

The other thing we need is just that touch of luck, a ball to go our way for once.

I think i mentioned it earlier, we have had the MOST SHOTS ON GOAL in the epl. But they seem to want to stay out, on top of that we have had penalties dissalowed, beachball goals etc.

Look at united and chelsea in comparison. Chelsea have won 3-4 games in the 90th+ minute (ala drogba putting a cross in that floated in the goals) and united with their luck (97 minutes against citeh, own goal against sunderland).

Everyone in here is entitled to question things and have their doubts. The problem is, while the yanks remain in charge you can’t really debate the situation without taking them into consideration.

LB, I’ve wanted to discuss the Aqualani/Xabi/Lucas situation for awhile now but all the other problems have stopped me from getting on to it.

But it shows what I’m saying about G&H over shadowing everything else…
Xabi, for one reason or another, decides he’s leaving.
Rafa forces top money for him.
He looks round for the replacement, with the funds he’s given.
He identifies Aqualani as the best man he can afford – the man who can make the change he wants to a more attacking mid-field.
Aqualani, from all I’ve heard, would be a 30 million quid player if it wasn’t for his injury problems.
Rafa decides to take the gamble, put his faith in Lucas and hope, or more likely believes, we can keep in touch until Aqualani is fixed.
So, he sets about fixing him properly after Roma have fucked him up for years by playing him injured.

What was the option? Well, remember the other mid-fielders on the radar where people like Cattermole – a poor man’s Mascher, at an equal price to Aqualani.
And of course, Mascher, or his agent, or Barca, were also at it and causing Rafa huge problems on top of it all.

So who do we blame for this… Rafa for putting faith in Lucas and gambling on him doing the job until Aqualani was ready?

Xabi for wanting to leave when he knew quite well we needed him and was on the verge of taking the final step up the ladder?

Masch/his agent/Barca for adding to the problems?

Or the owners for not giving Rafa any money – money he was entitled to and money he’d made – to get in the top midfielder he could?

I know who I think should carry the can for that situation.

Oh and like the Aqualani/Masch/Lucas situtation, there’s other things I haven’t commented on because other things overtook them. But here’s something…
Weeks ago, a good friend of mine, with inside info, told me Rafa had come to a deal with Tom Hicks…
He would not complain about anything. He would just get on with the job and keep schtum until Gillette sold his shares. For that he would be rewarded with firstly – the new contract, and then funds when Gillette had sold up.

And that is why Rafa said things like, “We have enough players in the squad. We enough quality upfront. We don’t need to buy more forwards when we have players like NGog and Vronin.”

I honestly can’t see Rafa agreeing to that sort of thing…. throw this season on a promise that you’ll be given what he wants for future seasons.

That’s why I never mentioned it before. But having said that, I also don’t see it as being a completely impossible conspiracy theory. And I also know the lad who said it to me, far too well to think he’d just pull it out of his arse for no reason… he isn’t even a Rafatollah.

How are we going to win on Sunday? A ball bouncing around the Manc penalty area in the last minute with the scores level. Kuyt miss hitting it straight into Gary Neville’s shin and the ball looping high up into the air and dropping in just underneath the bar sending the Kop into raptures.

They have beaten us like that often enough. What better time for our luck to turn?

Super stuff Gerry excellent blog.

Our backs are really agaainst the wall now.The confidence the finished last season has been sucked out of them.

We can`t buy a bit of luck at the moment (we don`t have the money!) but last night we looked so off form all over the pitch with one or two exceptions.I think Kelly was superb considering the circumstances and Carra seems to be regaining his form.Masch did his job but unfortunately this offers nothing offensively.

A good team dose not turn into a bad team overnight and Rafa hasn`t turned into a bad manager either so to look at the bigger picture this crap talk of sacking Rafa is complete and utter nonsense.

We all know the situation Rafa`s in so please consider that before you form an opinion.

Saying that Rafa isn`t beyond critisism once it`s constuctive.Last night i felt it was a mistake by him to replace Benny.His two other subs were forced by injury so i can`t say anything about them.
Team selection wise,its ok he went with N`gog because like it our not he`s the only natural striker we have available to play in that torres role.
Kuyt is better right side and i`m glad he started him there.

This form can`t last forever lads and i know i`ve said it in the last blog too but we just got to hope its not too late by the time we hit form for us to make an impact on our season.

To be honest,as things stand with SG,FT and GJ doubtful for sunday,i`m not overly optimistic about the manc game.More hopeful of a result.Its up to the crowd too to play their part as well as the players on sunday.They seemed very subdude and edgey last night.No doubt it will be electric on sunday as it always is for the manc game.

A lot of comments have been about money-let’s compare the cost of the 2 teams @ the Emirates next week, that will settle the money issue.I can’t understand how the team form has dipped so badly in a few months, remember the performances V Espanyol and Atletico (Youtube) were desperate.The team lacked shape last night (all season).
Our scouts are nowhere near as goos as Arsenal, they have compensated for their lack of finance by buying some outstanding kids from the UK as well as abroad.Babel should of come on earlier.How much did Lyon spend on this team and why spend so much on Aqualani?.Wenger won his titles with bargains such as Ljungberg, Pires, etc.Some of Houllier’s best buys were dirt cheap, Henchoz,Babbel ,Hyypia etc.His expensive purchases such as Diouf,Kirkland were hopeless.

P.S

Sula,Rafa has bought 68 players???

http://lfchistory.net/stats_transfers_by_manager.asp?list=Get&manager_id=20&InOut=1&submit1=Submit

Have a good look at that site Sula you might learn a thing or two.

Burgerman you are getting on my fucking nerves with you constantly creaming yourself over Arsenal.

Jesus man will you just piss off to an Arsenal site and air your views there and while your at it take sula with you.

Timmy, isn’t this the time of year when you write your annual letter to the fat jolly bearded man whose favourite colour is red?.Not Rafa, Santa!.Compare and contrast Wenger’s recruitment of young payers with our own next week.It’s not just about money, it is about having an excellent scouting network, acumen in the transfer market etc.Look @ the French players bought by Wenger and compare them with Houllier’s purchases.I can’t stand the Mancs, hence my references to the Goons.

I have thinkign alot about our poor form this season and I think there are a number of factors.

1. The biggest factor is the disruption of Alonso going. The best solution would have been to get a direct replacement for Xabi and leave everybody else unchanged. It would still have taken tiem for players to adjust to this but the disruption would have been minimised.
However this was not possible and instead what has happened is Gerrard coming back into midfield which has disrupted most otehr positions. Gerrard himself is playing out of position in midfield and Nando’s main attacking sipport is gone deeper. Kuty and Benny on the wings are now linking to different players and so on. It has a ripple effect throughout teh whole team.
2. Out defence has struggled in most games.
and 3 we have been unlucky with injuries.

All of these factors have effected results which has caused a big dip in confidence.

Please read the following for a view on money and success:

http://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/the-cost-of-premiership-success/

Why do i bother….

If Wenger is so brilliant in the transfer market so Burgerman answer these two questions.

How come in the summer of 2004 when Rafa joined Liverpool and inherited a mediocre squad whilst Wenger had just won the league undefeated with arguably the best side in Europe,now here in 2009 there is little to choose between the two clubs.With such a solid foundation to work with shouldn`t Wenger have a lot stronger squad now in 2009 than Rafa who had to completely rebuild a new squad with a modest budget?

And shouldn`t Arsenal in that period won the prem once maybe twice more considering the genius wenger is without money,just a good scouting network and good business acumen?

Neil agreed the confidence is well down.But we couldn`t find a direct replacement for Alonso because there isn`t one out there.We needed johnson because Arbie was on his bike anyway.So we needed an upgrade there.

If Rafa was backed properly we would have another striker now and probably another central midfielder and things wouldn`t look as bad.But the fact of the matter is,he wasn`t backed so thats how it is.

That’s what I’m banking on this Sunday as well Timmy, the crowd giving the players the lift they need.

FS said earlier that he couldn’t see that happening last night but as you say Timmy, the Manc game is diferent to any other match and I am expecting the crowd to give the Redmen tremendous support from the off. If we were to get an early goal that will help to keep it going.

This match on Sunday is so important to our season now, and we couldn’t be going into it in worse shape to be honest. But, you know what, sometimes something can happen during a game that turns things around and if Lady luck is watching on Sunday, let’s all hope and pray that she is wearing Red knickers!

A flukey, deflected winner (like the one I described earlier) would be ideal, and how sweet would it be to me the Mancs in that manner? It would make the team believe their luck had turned and would also be payback from beach ball gate!

Well, that confirms it…
BM, I thought you had a bit more about you, that’s why I bothered to answer a lot of your little hand grenades in the past. I don’t mind, in fact, I quite enjoy a debate with lads who hold different views than my own. But I now know that we haven’t got just the Chuckle Brothers in here… The 3 Stooges are alive and well and living in Kop Blog land.

How on earth can you say our scouting team is shite?

Do you even know who is running it? No doubt, you will now google it and come back with the name, but will you learn any facts from it?

FFS… The mind boggles, indeed.

Have a go at Rafa by all means, but at least have a go at him for something credible. You’re last comment has made you look like a complete and utter fool.

Last paragraph should read “how sweet would it be to BEAT the Mancs in that manner”

I got so excited at the prospect, I forgot to hit the buttons I was supposed to hit!

The 38 mill spent in the summer could have yielded a better return if spent over 4 or 5 players.Jono was completely overpriced, Sagna cost 6 mill!.If Ngog was any use, Wenger would of bought him.We will see the difference in the 2 sides next week-Goons to win by 3, what do you reckon?.There first 11 will have cost 1/5 the price of the LFC team that they play.That puts the finance argument to bed.George Graham delivered 2 titles in his first 5 seasons, thanks to inspired signings.The team hadn’t won a title in 15 years before he took over.

In fact, while on the scouting subject, do you even know that Man United have became so worried about Rafa’s infamous network that they are now building academies in Brazil and funding all their major clubs youth developments – just so they can get first dibs on all the best young Brazillian prospects?

LFC’s answer to this… build an academy in the middle east, where we all know the best players in the world originate from.

Or let’s think a for a moment…. err, errrm, errr, or could that just be Gillette dangling the carrot?

Okay. You’ve put it to bed. You win. We’re shit. Arsenal are great. Rafa’s a mug. Wenger’s a genius.

Now you’ve got what you want, can you stop talking shite?

While we’re at it… Chuckle Brothers, what is it you want us to say?

Cavilieri , Flora,Lucas are some of the worst Brazilian player’s on the planet.Taggart got 2 gem full backs for buttons.Same goes with the young Argies bought by Rafa, Insua is too slow to play full back.The October edition of the Kop mag had a piece criticising the scouting system which is run by a bloke that Rafa brought from Valencia.Ed Murcia, I think.Are the blokes from the mag talking crap as well?.I didn’t need Google.Do you read the mag, it is available online?.

Burgerman can you answer my two questions #125?

And contrary to popular beife,Arsene Wenger dosen`t have first refusal on every single french player to put on a pair of boots.

Chris Mavinga,the young left back Rafa signed this summer,was a target of Wenger.So that blows your argument out of the water there.

I cant, because I am a tali wacker!

I don’t need to read the Kop magazine. I stand on there quite often. Eduardo Macia is the man who ran Rafa’s scouting system at Valencia. He’s the man who found the coffee table Rafa wanted – Drogba for 6 million euros – but the Valencia board bought him the lamp.

He is the man who found the likes of Alves and turned men like Silva and Villa into household names. He is the man who has a network of at least 3 hundred scouts all over the planet and compiled Rafa’s fabled dossier.

He is the man who Rafa finally cajoled into joining him at LFC. So I think he is eminently entitled to call LFC’s prefvious scouting regime crap.

You on the other hand Sir, aren’t. And you should really learn something of which you speak instead of mis-qouting some article in a fan’s mag.

Well said FS. Its bad enough having ‘pundits’ and the media misqoute and change the words to suit their agenda, and now we have our own ‘supporters’ doing so.

I was watching the CL game on telly. Over here this one ‘pundit’ was blowing his load over Rafa at half time. After the match, when we lost, he went on about how Rafa has no man management team and then said ‘even torres complains about rafa’. When the fuck did Torres ever complain, in fact he is a better player for coming to LFC and thanks Rafa himself. Lazy journos!

Sadly Akka our own “Supporters” would rather qoute – even mis-qoute – these lazy journos and use it against the one man who is fighting on their behalf.

As I said, sad state of affairs that I never thought I would see amongst the once most loyal, passionate and knowledgable fans in the game.

But I blame Rafa for that…
The silly bastard what was he thinking, winning a bloody European Cup and bringing this sort of shit into the club.

Fuck it. Sack him!

“I don’t need to read the Kop magazine. I stand on there quite often”

Classic.

Re Burgermen,

You really have a good sense of humour.

Pepe Reina, Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Agger and benny (yes, a player none of the remaining big 3 even contemplated moving for) are just some of the names that come to mind…..
How many of them had you heard of before they joined us. And maybe you forgot that walcott, ramsey were both players we were looking to sign– unfortunately, we didn’t have the money to buy either of them and kopped out very early on.

More importantly, perhaps you have forgotten that wenger has also now been struggling for as long as rafa has been around by going after these so-called “gems.” What have they won in the last couple of years, with all your favourite so-called promising, cheap players?? Or perhaps you just want to see “beautiful” football being played despite the fact that you know that you will actually never win anything.

Oh well, I’m off. I avoided all this last week, but sadly all this week we’ve had workmen at the house who needed someone to be home. I should kick off on the missus for leaving me to all this, but she would only batter me.

But she’s home and I don’t need to put up with this. I’m off the alehouse. I’ll be sat with a few reds, some of them want Rafa out. We’ll have a good aul argument, put it to bed and then have a laugh – because their arguments have some basis to them and are out of concern for the club, not just spitting the dummy, and even worse… said in glee because they think it’s more important for them to say, I told you so rather than LFC/Rafa succeed.

BM, Sula, Somnath… I started going to Anfield in 1965. I am a 52 year old life long Liverpool supporter. I happen to rate Rafa as a manager. I like him an awful lot as a man. I think he recieves terrible treatment at the hands of the British media. I think he deserves better off our “Own.” In fact, I could be accused of being a Rafatollah (If you even know what that means). But first and foremost, I am a Liverpudlian. And no one would scream for Rafa’s head louder than me if I thought that was the right thing to do.

But I will tell you this… be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

As the article on the main site says… Alan Curbishley isn’t up to much nowadays.

Tatty bye.

Enjoy your pint FS god knows i`d murder one now myself.But it`s school runs for the day for me i`m afraid.

I think Burgerman dodging my questions in #125 have said it all.He likes to come in and blab comparisons with wenger and claims he does that because he hates the mancs and dosen`t want to use them.He dosen`t compare rafa with the taggart because rafa has been a lot more successful compared to taggarts first 5 years.He says he dosen`t want to compare rafa to the mancs because he hates them but still says taggart picked up his full backs for peanuts compared to rafa who has paid over the odds for johnson.

I`m not going to bother with you anymore Burgerman,i don`t need to,you`ll just contradict yourself like you always do.

I actually went into hysterical laughter when I found out Johnson was injured and it was confirmed that Reira was also injured and that was why he did not play on the weekend. I jokingly said I wont say thing could not get worse because they probably could and it bit me in the arse. On top of that Gerrard hobbles off, what are the fucking odds of that. The minute Kuyt’s goal was wrongly disallowed I thought the worse, then we scored and I thought well maybe, despite not playing well. We are so lacking confidence we hoof the ball anywhere. When Aurelleo missed the sitter (yes great save but he should not have even had a sniff at that one) I started to get nervous and could feel it coming.

On the bright side Kelly looked very good and Agger is starting to remind me what we have been missing all along. Rafa is on a hiding to nothing and cannot win no matter what he does. Take 4 or 5 of any teams best players, let alone from a squad that falls short in terms of quality in depth and they would also struggle. Add long distance travel to the ones that are fit, add low confidence and two key people coming back from long term injuries and we are precisely were we are at the moment. Surprised anyone? You can throw in the beach ball saga, a couple of decisions that have not been kind to us to say the least and you can then call it a crises, blame the Manager and call for his head, because that is what is happening. Suddenly everything will be miraculously alright.

The only good thing is that our owners don’t care about Liverpool and would rather save the money and try and force Rafa to quit than fire him. Rafa is to stubborn to walk, which sometimes I wonder if we deserve this man, because he would definitely be better off anywhere else, we would slip to mid to low table mediocrity, the value of the club would plummet, we would not have CL revenue to pay the overdraft rates, no manager with a half decent record would come to Anfield, no half decent player would want to come as well, the likes of Gerrard and Torres would put in a transfer request and be snapped up instantly and would be allowed to leave to pay off the debt and that way we could get rid of our two cancerous growths.

The gamble on Aquaman was worth it. What could not be taken into consideration was Gerrards lack of form. Lucas cannot carry the midfield just yet (Masch being the holding defensive midfielder) he needs Gerrard to help in the attacking creativity stakes and he has not had that. That is what has happened to us so far against the better opposition. Lucas has been one of our better players and most consistent ones. He is still a youngster and as FS pointed out, should not have to responsibility of carrying the team just yet.

Well for something completely different lets go and trounce the Mancs on Sunday, that would be a turn-up for the books wouldn’t it.

I had assumed torres an gerrard would be available for sunday,turns out they may not……………throw us a bone here,

GOD are you that busy!!!

Roarin mate, from what I’ve been told…
People, me included, were baffled by Yossi’s substitution. Well, I’ve been told it was made because there’s a very good chance we won’t have Gerrard or Torres for Sunday and Rafa was protecting Yossi.

I hope the info’s wrong.

If thats the case FS then so be it,but I’m all for giving babel a start also. he got the winner there last season an maybe that’ll be enough for him to find the net(atleast once) I cant believe we’ve found ourself in this position but I’m feeling strong today and I’m moving on. I posted that i didn’t really care about last nights game as the manc game was on the horizon, and as much as i would have liked the result to have been positive the manc game is the only game that counts this week. win that and things could very well start falling into place.

just made myself sick there. i went onto a man scum website an they our just loving this. they are sure Sunday is done an dusted an have banners of us when cantona left saying come back when you’ve won 18. there’s the odd wise head saying don’t be to confident as the underdog usually wins this one,but for the most of it they our rubbing there hands with glee.
P.s FS an Knight they’re also planning to bring hundreds of beach balls with them so expect the game to be stopped constantly. p.p.s Knight i don’t mean to single ya out my good man, but have the last two games you’ve been to been loses?? if so please change your routine or burn a cross upside down outside the ground we’re gonna need all the help we can get!!

@FS

Regarding Post #141 :

Well good to know your background. My only comment post yesterdays match is #46. I have not wrote anything which will again start this nonsensical debate of who is the real supporter of LFC.

All i can say i saw the match and had Aurelio scored with his header we actually could have won the match comfortably. The situation right now is not just about Rafa’s “Managerial inability” as the papers say, it is much more than that. It is bad fortune.

Lets be clear on onething. Dont equate me with “Kneejerkers” and dont put me into the group who wants Rafa out.All i have said and will continue to say is this team aint good enough to win the title and thats my view. I hate to bring this up but Alonso was a different class. We are missing that guile and craft in the midfield. I am looking forward to see Acquilani play.

I am happy with Liverpool finishing 4th.Anything above than that will make me delighted. Rafa will not go anywhere. The owners need to leave and we need some cash injection. We need more consistent goal scorers..more in number compared to what we have now. That threat needs to be there whenever we play.

Against ManU i would tip us to win the match. Probably this low will help us to find that added inspiration to go all out against the leaders.

I know, poor old Knight, eh…
All that bloody way, all that money spent, and look what he’s got it for it.

I tell you something though… there’s a lot some others in here and elsewhere could learn from Knight. He’s been in touch with me and his attitude is something to be admired…

A gentleman and a proper proper Red.

As for Sunday RR mate, I was really hoping we could have got ourselves ready for this by getting a result last night. I didn’t expect us to suddenly hit form last night and trounce Lyon, but I did think we’d see a typical LFC backs against the wall fighting performance. And I was hoping Gerrard would have one of his typical games like he does in Europe when the chips are down.

Sadly it now seems to me the lad shouldn’t have even been on the pitch, but I don’t blame Rafa for it. I think Gerrard would have reported himself fit and ready or he wouldn’t have been played.

But it is what it is, and now we’ll have to get on with it.

Logic and my head tells me not to expect too much. And if we play the sort of plodding predictable football that we have been playing we will stand no chance.

Man U aren’t what they were, but they are organised and they will be hold us out if we play that sort of game, and with the confidence and the form being the way it is at the back, I can see them sitting back and hitting us on the break. If they take the lead, the way we’ve been playing I can’t see us getting anything back.

Having said that, if we get at them we can do them. And as much as I have given up on Babel you might just be right on this one… if Babel plays, and plays to his full potential, his speed will definetely cause the Manc back line problems. And we all know how dodgy that back line can be when it is attacked with pace.

So, I suppose it just matters on which LFC turns up. Like everyone else in here – well, everyone who doesn’t think we are just crap – I cannot work out why this cloud is hanging over us.

Despite all the injuries, the unsettled team, the terrible luck, awful decisions, and everything else that’s been against us… I can’t for the life of me understand or work out why practically everyone of our players has hit a bad patch of form at exactly the same time.

But this is the Mancs. And the odd wise head you saw in the Manc forum is right… form counts for fuck all going into this game. If we go out onto the pitch determined to fight, and believe in ourselves, we can do them – no matter what personel Rafa has to call on.

Somnath, people will think I’m bad for saying this but, you know what…
I don’t care.

I have been through this with you before. You done exactly the same thing then… Came in throwing a wobbler, caused ructions in here for days, mellowed your views after people had spent days talking to you and explaining things, including myself, then you said the things you thought people wanted to hear, then dissappeared only to come back and do it all again.

This is the 3rd time this has happened. So please don’t bother me again. I told you all about my background the first time round… that’s why you kept telling me to get out of the Shankly era this time round, while the other fella who didn’t know my background kept accusing me of being a post Istanbul glory hunter.

And when I found out you was a youngster, I gave you this web site…
LFChistory.net.

I told you to go in there and learn a few things about Liverpool, and then to hold your breath before jumping in here and throwing a tantrum after our next defeat.

It didn’t work and I have no given up.

I don’t mean to be insulting, but I honestly can’t be arsed with this anymore.

Learning our history as a club doesn’t just mean being able to list our trophies, managers, players etc. Liverpool as a club was always unique. We, the supporters, were always noted for our knowledge of the game, our passion for it and our loyalty to our own.

Who knows, you may well learn about these things as you get older. But right now lad, all I can say is… you don’t really understand who we are or how we got to be who we are.

Do you honestly think all these lads in here – who have tried to educate you – don’t know the shortfalls in our squad? Do you think they all don’t know we miss Alonso and could be in for a long struggle of a season… Of course they bloody do. But they don’t go spitting the dummy and throwing tantrums because things aren’t going exactly how’d they’d want.

So honestly, I’m not being horrible. I’m just tired of this. I’ve been through it all before on a couple of occasions and I’m not going to do it again.

I can tell you right now what will happen on Sunday.
We’ll get an early goal and settle.
Or
It’ll be 0-0 after 20 minutes.. and the anxiety in the crowd will grow like a teenage boys prick in a whorehouse on free blowjob night.

—–
I’d like to really get into a few things, but there’s so much bullshit going on in here lately, I don’t even know where to start.

A) Purchase in the last few seasons.
Let’s see now.
Torres – bought with the extra 60 million tagged onto the refinance lan
Babel – same as above
Vorronin – Free
Johnson – bought with money from the Alonso sale
Kyrgiakos – bought with what was left over from the above

…nuff sed.

B) Games so far this season.
1. Spurs – crazy collision in the first 15 minutes crocks Carragher and Skrtel, they play like crap from then on, it forces a reshuffling of formation and we’re still expected to destroy them…. hmmm?
2. These injuries have a spillover effect for several games, including us relying on a kid (Ayala) at CB for an entire game.
3. The beachball goal – granted we didn’t play great after conceding it, but the goal should never have stood and goals change games.
4. To repeat, goals change games. Kuyt was onside last night, so combine that with Benny’s goal and the incredible save their keeper made on Fabio, and their single goalscoring chance that was headed straight at Pepe and we should have had that game wrapped up by half-time. But we didn’t, so apparently they played us off the park. Puhlease?
Shit hapopens and sometimes it happens to us.

C) Young players.
Apparenlty Rafa hasn’t developed any young players into the first team.
1. Insua
2. Ayala
3. Kelly
4. Ngog
All of whom have done well. Then there’s Lucas and Spearing and the young lad we’ve just loaned out.

D) Lucas not good enough to carry the midfield.
Yet that is EXACTLY what the lad has been doing. Look, love him or hate him, sell him or rate him, the simple inescapable fact is, over the course of the games played so far this season, Lucas is one of the few who have put oin consistently good performances.
Whereas Masch and SG, who of course ARE good enough to carry a midfield, simply have NOT been doing so, with the exception of one or two games to their credit.

I’ll leave it there for now, coz I’m boring myself, but I do wonder sometimes if some of the people in here, have ever actually even played the game competitively.
Not on a fuckin playstation, or just in a kick-about in the park with a few mates, but in an organized league over more than just one or two seasons.
Coz some of the opinions in here sure do not reflect that.

@Fat scouser!

where is that ego taking u mate…who cares if u think that ur more liverpudian than others?,who cares if ur 52? ur thinking half that age mate! if some1 wants us to draw a conclusion btn Rafa and Arsene scouting whats wrong with that? every one is entitled an opinion here!

@Timmy

I want u to know that am a well educated man,i dont care waht u think of me…iam always entitled to my opinion no matter what u think!

Problem,u guys in here want us to believe that whateva Rafa is doing is very right..i find it very sickening that he is trying to do what ever worked for him at Valencia at Liverpool! importing with him the scouting squad,over due players in Aurelio,sissoko,Pellegrini..etc

Am not calling for his head either,but want him to style up and do whats best for the club other than employing and old trick from valencia to a different league!

@Hyde,Puchong

FUCK OFF!!!

I’m distracted here,this game cant come quick enough four days of waiting for the worst. I had decided to not go and watch it in the bar because i am fearing the worst,then i thought its better to be out there getting behind the team and showing them bastards we can hold our own. I tell you this if we get a result there’s a strong chance I’ll batter one of them to death outside the bar. I’m going to the busiest football bar in Belfast(which does generate good Liverpool support)its normally to busy but fuck it I’m gonna brave it(with two manc mates)

I’ve just seen them cunts have won 1-0 so its all going according to plan. they left half their team an still got a result and valencia just scored to boost his confidence,jesus talk about living a nightmare!!!

sula
Posted on October 21, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
@Fat scouser!

where is that ego taking u mate…who cares if u think that ur more liverpudian than others?,who cares if ur 52? ur thinking half that age mate! if some1 wants us to draw a conclusion btn Rafa and Arsene scouting whats wrong with that? every one is entitled an opinion here!

Apparently even when it’s blatantly wrong and proved to be so.

But you know what… I am indeed a better Liverpudlian than you, and as such. I won’t be answering you again.

You Sir, have wasted far too much of my time as it is. I won’t let it happen again.

Goodbye.

RR I didn’t realise you was from Belfast mate. Must be nuts over there when this game goes off.

Aquaman just came on for the ressies!

Sula well educated..how is that then pal?Oh yes i remember now.You pointed out two typo`s in one of my posts.Congratulations sula here`s a degree.

Sadly this is a Liverpool football club forum mate and most in here are well educated in the game of football.Whats more most of us are willing to learn more about the Liverpool way from older guys like FS,Aitch,Keith etc.We all have opinions and god knows we do not all agree but nobody throws abuse at each other and we respect each others point of view.

You Sula are a coward who hides behind a keyboard.Sadly there are too many of you lot around these days.

Aquaman got 15 mins but i must say he had some nice touches.Obviously it was only some game time but he was thrown in behind the front man.

Pacheco caught my eye though.With this injury crisis we have surely he can`t be far away from the bench?Looking forward to seeing him at Arsenal.

What a bummer. In all the doom and gloom, and useless shite flying round in here, I forgot the ressies played tonight.

Thanks for the heads up Timmy. Caught the last 15 minutes there. Didn’t realise that Aqualani was that big. I thought he was a bit of a midget. Nice to see he’s got presence to him aswell as talent then. Nothing wrong with a good little un, but we are a bit short on height.

You could see the class in him in just them few touches, got scared that big bastard chasing him was going to clatter him. Loved that cross field ball he played from inside his own half… he was in the box by the time the full back got it under control.

We could definetely do with some of that in the first team.

And what a shame Pacheco isn’t ready for it yet, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing him involved in a few cup games, and maybe a few league ones, this season. I think this kid’s got a right future ahead of him.

Eh Timmy, I know you enjoy the daft old stories… See the kid Amoo. I had a fight with his dad in the 70′s outside some club in Liverpool. His dad used to be in a band then. Became quite famous… The Real Thing.

Oooops I’ll be getting bollacked again for talking like a child about medieval times.

Funny days though. You’d have loved them.

Oh and PS… before I get accused of hooliganism back in the middle ages – I couldn’t fight sleep and never did get into all that football violence melarkey. In fact, there wasn’t much of it attached to LFC – despite what the press makes out nowadays.

Ha,too right maybe you should continue with them mate.I`m sure Amoo`s oul man has fogiven you by now for busting his guitar(over his crown topper) !

On the subject of Amoo he`s another i`ve been keeping my eye on.Cracking player that fella.Bags of pace and skill too boot.

From what i read back in the 70`s it was the norm to have running battles at away games weather you were up for it or not.Some stories i`ve read are dead funny though!

Yep born and bred here FS, an just like Liverpool Belfast gets a fair share of unwarranted criticism but to be be honest it’s fine nowadays an like yourselves its starting to turn into a cosmopolitan city.(albeit were a few years behind ya’s) The Liverpool v utd game is on a knife edge every year its the only game were it gets two sets of supporters together who are petrified of losing and no how to rub it in when they win. For obvious reasons celtic an rangers games are not watched by both sets of fans. (though there both piss as is Scottish footy lol)

Text speak, grammatical errors, and rounding off your post with “can fuck off” are absolutely THE ways to convince people of your intelect and maturity.
Nice one!

Had a job once (in the States) back in the late 80s, where I worked with this lad who’s dad was Greek and followed Greek footy. Mad Panathanaikos fan.

The kid didn’t follow “soccer”, but we got along well enough and coz I used to wear me LFC shirts all the time, he started getting into footy and following Panathanaikos and Liverpool.
Flash forward 2 years.

The lad socks his money away for months and finally books his trip to the homeland. Shows up at work, in his brand new Panathanaikos shirt, with tales of how his cousin is dead excited about him coming over and has got tickets to take him to the Panathanaikos vs Olympiakos match.
(do I need to point out the relevance of such a match? Essentially Everton vs LFC of the old days or Scum vs LFC now.)

Anyway… off he goes on his hols to Greece for 3 weeks.
Wonders off from his cousin and his mates before the match, to take in all the sights and atmosphere of the hoardes of fans and such… and mistakenly ends up on the Olympiakos side of the stadium… in his fuckin Panathanaikos shirt!

Needless to say, he got the shit kicked out of him by a a gang of Oly lads, never wore the shirt again, came home and promptly shunned “soccer” for supporting the San Francisco 49ers (he lives in LA) who were THE winning team of the time.

Even now, I laugh my arse off thinking about it.

well aquilani getting through 15mins is a nice we bit of good news,bout the best Ive heard in the last few days anyway. early start for me tomorrow so can end on that good note and dream of a winning Daniel agger thunderbolt in stoppage time or the same shot breaking girly neville’s face and trickling over the line. hmmmmmmm sweet dreams!!

Sula, since you didn’t answer my last question, what about this one.

In your previous post you said:

i find it very sickening that he (Rafa) is trying to do what ever worked for him at Valencia at Liverpool!

What in Fowler’s name is wrong with this? Find a winning method, after many years of work and study by the way, so when you join Liverpool, you start again from scratch?

You gotta admit, Dr Sula, that what you said here does not make sense whatsoever. No?

Funny enough Timmy, I did end up knowing he’s Da quite well, only for a brief time though. They went onto bigger things. Had a huge hit with a song called You to me are everything. And they had an LP, 4 from 8 (Meaning 4 lads from Toxteth) that made them a fortune. They all ended up skint and still live in Tocky though.

And yeah, them days were savage. I hated it to be honest, couldn’t go any fucking where with out there being murder. I remember playing Walsall on a Wednesday night in a Cup game. The only Asians I’d ever seen in me life was the few that worked on the markets in Liverpool. Suddenly me and me few mates was getting legged by hoardes of them with hockey sticks… and they wasn’t even at, or going to, the match. Fuckin nuts, I tell yer.

The Mancs were an absolute disgrace the year they got relegated… like an invading army of the middle ages. But the shithouses were only wreaking havoc on little market towns like Chesterfield and that. There’s some good clips on youtube. Can’t be arsed digging it up now, but there’s a belter where they rip apart a stand at either Ipswich or Norwich, Norwich I think. They litterally rip the place apart and then hurl it at a few country bumkin bizzies who are policing them. But it’s funny, one of the fuckers climbs on the roof and plunges right through it, and then on the way out the stadium a handful of bizzies knock fuck out of loads of them. Divs.

But they were great days for the aways if you followed LFC. We’d set off in Liverpool without a baldy penny between us. Thatcher days were no fun on the aul wallet. And we’d hitch hike, or bunk trains planes and automobiles and somehow get to wherever we was going and rob every off license along the way blind. Funny aul days.

Greatest trips… Wolverhampton Wanderers when we won the league there, and of course the first European Final in Rome. What a fucking trek that was.

I know a fella called Tommy Taylor a great, great red. He’s in his 70′s now Tommy. He never missed a game in his life and he used to turn up all over the country and throughout Europe with out a bloody penny in his pocket. I could tell you some tales about aul Tom. Bloody case that fella.

And there was a lad called John Walker, the scruffiest bastard you have ever clapped eyes on – big huge, flat cap, ugly grid, full ginger beard, proper tramps clobber and either wellies or big worky boots on his feet. He was in his 50′s in the 70′s. Every home game, he used to jump out of The Kop, run onto the pitch, grab a ball and take a penno against Clemence, or sometimes even the opposing keeper – some of them used to be hardfaced an go up the Kop end until they got fucked off. The bizzies would let John take the penalty and then leg him round the goal area, be the way like, and then let him dive back into the Kop. He always used to get chased by a bizzie we called The Walrus – huge big Grenadier of a man, big silver topped Sergeants cane, and a massive massive mussie that made him look like a motor bike from the back.

It was always great for a laugh. Then John never showed up for awhile and everyone wondered where he was. It was announced before a game that he’d died, and his ashes were spread in the Kop goal. It was dead sad. Then Liverpool got beat in that game (Norwich again I think), and the Kop to a man burst out with…
Oh dig that bastard up.
Oh dig that bastard up.
Ohhhhhh dig that bastard up.

Hilarious. John would have loved it. Great times.

Oh well, off to bed before I start getting too sentimental.

Night. Night.

I am actually starting to look forward to Sula’s comments, its light comic relief among all the flak that is flying around. He could not be further of the mark even if he tried, being a comical twat when you are trying to make a serious point is amusing. Rafa’s disastrous transfer record with the hundreds of millions he has had to spend (20 mill per season must seem a lot for the unlightened ones.)

Youth Record under 20 who have a good chance to make it at Prem Level and who will go on to have a shot at the first team squad. Yes subjective but it my fucking opinion before I here a comment from the peanut gallery

Ngog, Bruno, Spearing, Eccelstan, Nemeth, Plessis, Ayala, Insua, Kelly, Nemeth, Amoo, Duran, Pacheco, Mavenga (more on reports that actually seen him) same goes for Buchtmann and I am probably being unfair on a couple of the keepers who are showing good potential.

This does not take into account the academy youngsters like Ince (I like) Pepper and co.

They hailed ManU’s accadamy for Beckham, Giggs, Scholes and the Neville sisters, well we will have more and better very soon. Not bad for a disaster.

Lets take the seniors

Torres, lots of people questioned this buy, does not score enough goals etc, Johnson, Masch, Aquaman (going to be a super star) all above the 15 mill mark, but below the 20 mill mark.

Agger, Skertal, Lucas, Alonso, Kuyt, Reira, Benny, Reina, Babel, Sissoko (bought for 5 sold for 8 when we upgraded to Masch) El Zhar, all bought for below 12 mill.

The ones that did not work out (not bought as a stop gap then sold for a profit like Speedy, Bellamy and Garcia as part of the Torres trade etc these are not failed buys but good business, because we lacked the funds to get Rafa’s first choice, Alves, Vidic, Silva, Arshavin etc)

Keane and Morienties and you could throw in Babel as players we will loose over 3 mill on.

This is the failed transfer policy? I think the comment is failed intelligence.

And that’s before you even get into the whole Rafa vs Wenger debate, Lurg.

In the same amount of time Wenger has been at Arsenal, how many trophys has he won compared to Rafa? Coz remember you now have to include the LaLiga title at Valencia and their UEFA Cup.

…add to that, how many Cup finals and semi-finals each man has taken their respective teams to …and it becomes pretty clear which of the two managers is the more successful.

…but hey, why let facts stand in the way of the god-given right to hold an opinion!

I remember something about that Walrus fella alright.Think it was in a video brought out about the KOP after the old stand was knocked.A bit infamous that man by all accounts.Some characters in the old Kop i`d say.Would give anything for one day in there!

Having watched the game again i think we deserved something out of the game
Our first goal the Kuyt one was onside and well worked shame about the
linesman.
The Benny one showed how cool he his and him running over to Mark Waller
to celebrate shows his gratitude to one of the hardest working employees
at LFC.
Both their goals came from debatable situations the first .
After he’d cleared the first cross Riena tried to get back but he was obstructed.
If he had of got back quicker i reckon he’d have smothered that first shot.
The second came from what looked like a foul on Ngogg but he stayed on his
feet untill the ref had turned his back ( cant really blame the ref ) if he’d have
gone straight down we’d have had a free kick.
While some may want to exercise their right to boo a substitution think of Benny
He scores a goal then 10 mins from time he comes off giving the fans the
chance to show some gratitude to him personally.But no some people want to
express their right to boo instead of support
YNWA

I’ve been thinking about the Rafa getting sacked rumours. Personally I think he’s in the safest job in the PL.
.
1. The Yanks do not have the money to pay him out, simply, if they could only afford to fund Sorryarse from Greece, their never going to pay Rafa out.
.
2. RBS wont lend them the money to pay Rafa out.
.
3. No other manager would want to come here with the shite that happens at our top level.
.
4. Maybe that’s why Rafa seemed happy, he’s got dumb and dumber over a barrel at the moment.
.
Onwards and upwards we go.

Anyone got any comment on Gillett being at the reserve game tonight?

Gaz, G&H “reluctantly rejected” a bid of 70 mill from City for Torres, what if the fuckers sell Torres to Man City in January.
(the quoted source wasn’t exactly the most reliable, but there it is anyway )

I wouldn’t go feeling too secure about anything LFC while the inmates are running the assylum.

And too right Rome. The Lyon performance wasn’t all that bad… Massive improvement in performance from the weekend and the game could easily have gone heavily the other way, but for the disallowed goal.

I do Jack.

“THE CHEEKY CUNT!”

hows that for comment?

(my preference would have been for “we’ve found a witch, can we burn her?”)

Didnt those 2 silva brothers cost 17 mill for the 2

I could be wrong but thats what I thought

Not exactly buttons

Over and out

Been watching SSN and listening to Talk Shite today ( i know )
First thing Klinsman & Souness what a pair.
Klinsman the guy that invented Diving and showed to the world that cheating
can win the biggest prize. Sacked by Bayern,unemployed,so he’s having his
little digs at Rafa and the team.
Souness Yes i know he was a great player for us but one thing that stuck
with me was the 1984 European cup final,extra time had just finished and all
the players go for drinks one of them goes to have a drink when souness
snatched it off him and then drank it all not giving it back.Made him look a
horrible c*nt . Then his disastrous time as manager and his subsequent failures
the reasons ranging from
Bad man managment,Wasting money on transfer’s,Crap tactics etc etc
Probably the reason why Fat Sam was chosen before him at Blackburn.
Then the Big one.He sell his story to the S*N, pissing in the face of the 96 and
their families and every Liverpool fan.
And some C*NT comes on here quoting him.

Hey SUla,

I have a link for you:

http://www.slbenfica.pt/Informacao/Futebol/Noticias/CompraRedPass.asp?Adepto=Fernando%20Torres

I think you should believe it

I am beginning to wonder if Sula isnt in fact the dumbest thing in the universe…or the dumbest thing from planet dumb who makes all the other dumb arses look like right Einsteins at the very least…and why do complete morons have to keep insisting they are well educated (compared to what – an amoeba)? and why do they think just because they are entitled to an opinion means we want to fucking hear it…he claims to be intelligent yet fails completely to get that point…yeah right hes intelligent…and also appears to be suffering from some serious anger issues…

Fat Scouser…love your stories. You are a mighty fine writer and you should compile your stories in a blog for all to read. It will at least give these plastic supporters a bit of history lesson of what it means to be a supporter.

Oh my, what a come back Sula . . . Ah ha ha. Touche?

Like many others here, won’t be wasting any more time reading or commenting on yer posts.

Comical.

Knight, if yer reading this, please jampi sikit la bro. There’s a few auld Malaysian sailor-types living around the rougher parts of Toxteth. See if ye can find a bomoh (witch doctor) . . .

Fer rest of us, keep the faith. Its just a rough patch. When it becomes a Houllier-like 11 game winless run, then we can collectively have a melt down . . .

Agree with Puchong Red….Knight, please “jampi” a bit man….we all back here will be doing our bit….a win for us this sunday 2-1!

Don’t know what a jampi sikit la bro is lads, but I’ll make sure Knight will be doing one with bells on. And I don’t know about witch doctors, but there’s plenty of aul witches knocking about Liverpool. But I’ll steer him clear of them.

Joking aside, Knight has been in touch with me after both the Lyon and Sunderland games. I know the results have upset the man as much as any of us, probably more. But he’s been staunch. Not a single moan. It will be a pleasure to sit with him at the match, even though he doesn’t seem to be having much luck…

The only bloody tickets I could get us are right next to the Mancs. The thought of being anywhere near them is already making me itch. But here’s the funny bit…
I could only get us a Dad and Lad ticket!

HA! A lovely Malaysian Gentleman and a big fat Scouse scallywag… I’ll have to tell the lad on the gate he’s my long lost son! And he’s ten bloody years older than me.

Just hope Dad doesn’t embarrass him by getting too drunk and kicking off on the neighbours from down the East Lancs Road!

And thank you Sleme, but as for me writing a book…
Before I started coming in here, I could hardly string 2 words together. I’m not messing either… Unlike some of our more educated Support, I was in the thick class at school. You know the kids who only do Sports and Woodwork – but aren’t given any sharp tools just in case. Well, I was one of them. And I’m not just saying it, but before finding this blog, except for the odd letter to my mother in prison, I never wrote a thing in my life.

And the thing is… Sula said it himself, I only have these stories because of an accident of birth. I can take no credit for being born where I was, when I was. And in them days, going the match was just what we done. And no doubt, most of you lads in here would have done exactly the same as what I did…
Played football and went to Anfield to watch it. It was all we had back then, and all we ever done. In fact, except for swapping playing it for watching it in the pub, it’s all I really do now.

But honestly, there was no play stations or computers or anything then. All we had was football. In fact, that’s why I think the best footballers are now being produced in the poorer countries… look at Scotland, all the next Dalglish’s and St John’s are sat on their arses in front of a screen eating fried Mars Bars instead of being out in the street kicking a ball.

Oh well, that’s progress for you, eh.

And Jack… good spotting on the Gillette fella. I saw him myself and, to be honest, I had the same reaction as Aitch. But he must be intending a visit to Anfield on Sunday. Let’s hope he gets the “Welcome” he deserves.

Well, I’ve got to move my fat arse, but had to come back and say this…
I always have Talk Shite on in the background when I’m at home. It’s a bit of comic relief. But like I said, it’s practically Liverpool are shite, Sack Rafa 24/7.

Well, Alan Brazil and his monkey Ronny Arahni – the great football genius pundit, who played cricket! are going on and on about Boro sacking Southgate. The way they are going on, you’d think the Boro chairman had hung him after he’d won them the title – not taken them into the Championship and played such awful football and teams that they are now playing to an empty house.

Anyway, Brazil started on about Southgate becoming the next England manager! (Fuck me) Then he rambled on about an English manager never having won the Premiership and that Southgate should be given a chance with a big 4 club (Wonder which one he meant) and given a go at the title! The fucking irony and hypocrisy is unbelievable.

But here’s the topper, his monkey, Arani, then ran with the subject… which English manager should be given the chance to manage a top team and win the league.

Of course Brazil dusts off and wheels out the usual 3 names that they always do… Fat Sam, Fat Head, and Appy Arry.

Arani threw a spanner in the works and mentioned something about Appy Arry being in todays papers for dodginess on transfers and wages. I haven’t seen it, but Ol’ Arry must have got caught with his fingers in the till again.

Brazil immeadiately shut Arani up… Oh we’re only here to speak about footy. That’s nothing to do with us.

And on they went about Arry’s great credentials and career.

Disgraceful. Yep. But you can imagine what they’d say/do if Rafa was caught taking as much as a paper clip home from work, let alone be caught taking bungs again for how many times is it now?

I can remember it on at least 3 occasions. I hate the English f***ing media.

Damn you anyway FS,i started to listen to that Talkshite out of curiosity more than anything recentley and i swear its disturbingly addictive!

That tit head ronnie arani now thinks the lady being touted for the grimsby job,the england ladys manager i think,wouldn`t be as bad as Rafa at doing the reds job the MOMENT.

What a pair of wankers i tell ya

HA! At least I got one of you bastards to get drove mental along with me!

I’m off out now, so I’ll leave you to it Timmy lad. But when you throw the radio, try to throw it out the window and not at the dog or the wife.

HA! HA! Suffer…
Tatty bye

I suppose it’s time for my annual post and just because i rarely drop in for a comment doesn’t mean i don’t keep a close eye on you boys in here!
Great blogs Gerry, love em to bits, keep up the good work. But what i really wanted to say is this, whatever you think about the situation at the club manager/owners/team etc the only way the club will get out of this mess is by the teams collective hard work and the total and unrepentant support of every single man jack of its supporters. You all know the old saying ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’; well have have class in abundance but a hole in our bucket of confidence. Let’s get behind the team and show them that we really care after all as a true supporter surely that’s what we all want – a sucessful winning team. Isn’t it?
I for one am Keeping the faith.

as a malaysian, allow me to provide the translation to “jampi sikit la bro”. that means jinx it a bit, bro (as in brother). cos if we are that jinxed, we might as well double hex the whole damn thing and see if two negatives make a positive. so knight sir, do your thing there will ya? drop your pants, puke on fat scouser’s shoes, i dunno, just do your bit as liverpool’s 12th man will ya. the lads in kuala lumpur will take up positions as usual at the old cobra club, while the rest of us will, well, try not to wreck the sofa watching the game in our living room.

YNWA

Seeing that you got a papa/son ticket FS(classic) maybe you`ll have to bounce Knight up and down on your knee!!

Just don`t let the mancs get to ya too much or poor ol` Knight could be used as a missile!

PS,

Good job i listen to that crap on the telly so FS.I too feckin lazy now at this stage to pick it up.

I wouldn`t let that shower get to me either.I just laugh it off now its everywhere,even over here.I threw a few texts into “off the ball” on newstalk last night when the presenter was ripping into rafa for wasting money on Aqualani.I think i must have pissed him off,i must have sent in around five or six texts and in fairness to Eoin mc devitt(co.presenter) he read out every one as he always does.I think he was enjoying annoying Ken.

So was i.As i was saying i once let all this anti-rafa/LFC media crap get to me so much i wouldn`t turn on the telly or radio for days but now if we lose i stay away for a few hours for the cooling down period.

Read the bad news about Digger Barnes going bankrupt.Hope things pick up for the man.Never got to meet him but i`ve heard he`s a top fella.Good luck johhny.

fuck every whining bastard. I’ve waited long eough to post my comment. but the fuckin’ patience barrier is broken. I support this fuckin’ club not for trophies. not for winning continually like inter, manc-shits or madrid mafioso. I fuckin love this club coz it has the strongest spirit, turn a game when no one gives them a fuckin chance. IF we perform the way we did last season 4 the rest of my life- I shall gladly take it anyday. The way they spanked every ego-istic club, proved everyone’s prediction wrong & pissed everyone off – i absolutely luved it. unfortunately, that season also brought some so called ‘fans’ who absolutely have no clue of the circumstances the club have been through 4 the last six years. hands off rafa, hands off liverpool – go support newcastle instead ( can’t u people see the media are tryin desperately to turn us into a ‘ newcastle’.

Hello everyone, I’m new to this site, but been a Liverpool fan as long as I can remember. I’ve just sat in the office, and read all the the whole of this blog from #1 to #192, and have to say I am 100% behind what FS said. There is a very disturbing increase of fickle fans following our beloved club. And it hurts me to admit it.
The loyalty and love of the Liverpool fan base has more often than not (quoted by many ex manager and players) been the driving force behind some of our most remarkable successes. I mean, I understand that we are all frustrated at our current below par performances, and our team isn’t where it needs to be right now….and yes for a myriad of reason!!! But I point to something ,my mother always use to say to me for us all to consider….when you point the finger at another (i.e Rafa) remember that there are 3 fingers pointing back at you.
For those who don’t understand what I’m driving at, let me simplify it…..before we start point the finger at the team, and at Rafa, let us as fan asked ourselves have we given everything we can in support of the club? Sang our hearts out, even when we’ve given the ball away?, or Cheered the boys on even when the opposition has just put the ball in the back of the net? Or even shouted words of encouragement even as Reina picks the ball out of the net after a bizarre deflection off a beach ball? Well have we? As FS said clapped the team off for effort after a loss with the hope that our support win, lose or draw will inspire herculean efforts from the boys in red on their next outing. Why? because they will want to die for us out there on the pitch just to show us how much our support means to them?
I mean that is what we expect of them isn’t it? That they leave it all on the pitch for us?…..So surely we have to do the same in the terraces, and blogs and wherever else fans are needed to stand up and be counted.
It is very clear to me that many on this site understand this, and do not need me preaching to them, but there are some on here who have driven me to put my 2 pennies worth in! If you can’t stand up and be counted when your club needs you…..jog on!

My last bit of advice for the fickle fans can be found in the words of our anthem:

When you walk through a storm
Hold your chin up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark.

Walk on, through the wind,
Walk on, through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart,
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never walk alone.

I mean its there in plain sight!! We sing it at all games!! But do you believe it?

‘at the end of the storm is a golden sky’

‘Walk on, through the wind, Walk on, through the rain,Though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart,’

If you don’t truly believe these words….can you truly be a fan?

On a final note before anyone takes offence and gets all uppity! This is merely my opinion!

There has been talking about Rafa’s man management again – besides the obvious work he has done with Gerrard and Torres (both better players for it)

I would like to point out that two years ago most people were saying that Kuyt and Lucas were shite – now look at them (although some people have doubts about Lucas) – I would even say that given time Rafa could work wonders with Voronin ( a hole player maybe)

Another point I have is that we can’t have it both ways in regards to plastic fans – we all recognise that to really compete we need the top players – but to get the top players we need the money – to get the money we need the club to be run like a franchise – but in having a franchise you get the fair weather fans

Thats it thats all I got – of now to look at Gravaters

great fuckin post maximus!!!!

Well when Aquilani starts playing for us, no doubt they will be calling us a 3 man team!

He’s class, you can see it already.

As FS said watching his first touch and control will help you to realise he is going to be something special.

I womder.

As I was trying to say, I wonder if Rafa might put Aquilani in the squad on Sunday. A 15-20 minute cameo perhaps?

He said the thought of scoring in front of the Kop has been his spur during his rehabilitation from injury. What about the winner in front of the Kop in the 90th minute on Sunday then?

#196
steve the red
Posted on October 22, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
As I was trying to say, I wonder if Rafa might put Aquilani in the squad on Sunday. A 15-20 minute cameo perhaps?

He said the thought of scoring in front of the Kop has been his spur during his rehabilitation from injury. What about the winner in front of the Kop in the 90th minute on Sunday then?

Mate I think I would loose my mind!!! and just yell madly until i lost my voice if Aquilani did that! Then I would name every child I have from now on Aquilani 1, Aqulani 2 etc…..i think you get the picture

http://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/my-day-with-crisis-hit-benitez/

Good article here

Hello there people,

I haven’t posted on this blog for quite a while now and that too for a reason. The last time I posted my comments on this blog, I was called a “KNEE-JERKER” by TimmyTorres, who said that I wrote on this blog only when we lost to another club. Well, I am not asking for any sympathies here but sense. Knee-jerking is done when you overreact to something that is not such a big thing.

I’ve been reading some comments since the last few weeks, and liked some of them written by Sula and Somnath. Although it was not appropriate to write slangs and to use bad language, but his overall point was sensible.

I don’t get this part ever, but surely want to. Every guy or gal(if any), on this blog has to have a view. Okay, it’s alright if it is against Rafa, coz it’s for the better of the club. It’s not that they have some personal issues with him. It’s just that they don’t like him as a manager. That doesn’t mean that they are not Liverpool supporters. I know plenty of Chelsea supporters who hated Scolari and some hate Ancelotti. Even they had a manager who I regard as one of the best in this business – Jose Mourinho. The fans loved him dearly. It’s no secret, what all he won in his long tenure at Stanford Bridge. But still, he was sacked for some poor results and a tiff with the owner. Even after winning 6 trophies in three years, he was sacked by Abramovic. That club has guts.

Not only Chelsea, but also Inter who sacked Roberto Mancini. Real sacked Fabio Capello. Barcelona sacked Frank Rijkaard. I am not asking for Rafa sacking, but surely I am not in the “I love Rafa” club. I don’t love Rafa, but Liverpool. I support Liverpool, not Rafael Benitez, and sorry if I am offending anyone, but he is not the one who can win us PL.

I believe, anyone could have prepared a good team in five years. Five years is a long time, and I am still aghast to see that there are so many positions in the starting eleven that are yet to be filled properly. The left-back position for me is one of the weakest parts in our squad. Fabio Aurelio is a decent left-back who cannot break into any of the top teams starting eleven. Leave the ones in England, but not any of the top teams in Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A. This guy plays a lot better in left midfield, because he has a short stature. Name any player in our squad who can break except for Torres, Johnson, Reina and Gerrard in the starting lineup for Arsenal, Man Utd. and Chelsea. I don’t think anyone except Torres can break in the Chelsea squad. Pepe Reina and Torres can break in Arsenal’s squad. Johnson, Gerrard and Torres can break into Utd’s squad. That’s it.

Now, I know JC has come of age. We need a replacement. Skrtel maybe. He and Agger can make a good partnership only if Agger stays fit. LB position as usual is still left vulnerable. We need a proper left-back. Hope Aquilani stays fit and fills the void left by Alonso. Gerrard is getting old and I don’t think we have a player who can fill up his position. Masch’s probable departure to Barca next season will see Lucas filling his shoes in the midfield, whom I don’t rate anywhere near to Masch’s influence in the mid-field. Kuyt is already 29, and I am hoping that he stays as fit as hes right now, although I know that he’ll start losing his stamina and speed with his growing age. Benayoun is never played consistently. He’s an in-form class player who’s full of creativity. Babel’s rubbish. Torres is world-class. Ngog is the worst striker after Voronin. Riera is a good player who has a few colors of being a great player. Insua’s an average player working on his part, but the problem arises when he’s asked to play on the left flank with new players almost every week. Sometimes Riera, then Babel, the benayoun and nowadays even Spearing.

I liked Daniel Ayala and Martin Kelly, but not Jay Spearing. I didn’t like him at all. He gives away the ball way too much. He’s short, re: very short. Blind men have better passing abilities.

This team is an average team on the whole. Not a world-class team. Apart from a few players, it’s average. It lacks depth and younger players, talents. Is this the best one can prepare in five years. Thats what makes me suspicious of Rafa’s signings. Spending almost $230m and still an average team. That means spending of almost 45m every season. But when a manager says that he lacks funds and money to buy players and spends this much amount, hes lying.

When a supporter gets worried for the team after losing 4 consecutive matches, and when he sees that his manager has been bringing in players he claims are good and wastes a terrible amount of money, he gets frustrated on the manager. He listens to the managers’ interviews saying that the club is responding well and will take out results, but still finds the club not performing in not only the league but also Europe.

How many years is he going to take us without winning anything? This is surely ridiculous. One Champions League, FA Cup and Community Shield. I cannot wait for another Shankly or Ferguson-like seasons. Five seaons without winning anything. Bah!

And though, it would have been excusable two years ago, it’s hard to do it now, coz there are several teams looking good to break the top 4 barrier this season.

This is not knee-jerking mates but fear for the club you love and cheer. No one doubts your love for the club, but expects the same from you.

I am with you on this one Sula.

#199
An Linn
Posted on October 22, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
http://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/my-day-with-crisis-hit-benitez/

Good article here

Very good article! I very jealous which i could spend the a day with Rafa and get the insite Tomkins got!

I say Maximus, I applaud your sentiments but could you cut your ‘f’ words down to minimus, they don’t make your allegiance any stronger.
This old fart is closing down for now.

@ KopKing in response to #200

I believe you are welcome to your opinion, and you’re right its not necessarily about loving Rafa, and is about supporting the Team. The question I ask is how do you feel that undermining the current manager through your (in my opinion) negative views help the situation and supporting the team? Further more how does slating the payers help the team? surely all it does is further undermine a already rock bottom level of confidence?

I urge you to look up the word support in the dictionary, and see what verb (the doing version) definition of the word is – These verbs mean to give aid or encouragement to a person or cause.

In response to your comments that:
This team is an average team on the whole. Not a world-class team. Apart from a few players, it’s average. It lacks depth and younger players, talents. Is this the best one can prepare in five years. That’s what makes me suspicious of Rafa’s signings. Spending almost $230m and still an average team. That means spending of almost 45m every season. But when a manager says that he lacks funds and money to buy players and spends this much amount, he’s lying.

If we go with Rafa spending £45m every season since he joined (not sure about that, but will go with it), I ask you what quality can you purchase when you have to spend £45m on 7 or 8 players and every one else you compete with spends it on 1 or 2? I don’t think Rafa has ever said he hasn’t had ANY funds, I think you’ll find that he says he hasn’t had THE FUNDS aka THE FUNDs to compete with those who purchase 3 or 4 players in a season all over the £15m/£20m bracket. when he the last 5yrs has he been able to do that?

Good article An Linn cheers pal.

“I say Maximus, I applaud your sentiments but could you cut your ‘f’ words down to minimus”

Ha nice one jack.BTW nice post Max.Kopking,why didn`t you just stay away.I`m not going to get abusive to you now but your better off going into the main site forums i`m sure there`s plenty of kneejerking in there.

Or better still, get a job working with Gordon F…… Ramsey!

KK I know i said id ignore you but check out SonOfAKhan link at 125
Or maybe Anlinn’s link at 197.
I knew you’d see sense in S&S comments but each of their comments have
been proved wrong by various people and Somath actually wants us to lose
the prem just so FS loses some money on a bet.Which is worse than your
gloating “i told you so” post at the beginning of the season.
And i urge you once again check out your facts before posting your opinions
and read all the comments before swearing allegiance to sula.

I don’t need any directions from you TT. I very well kno where to go and where not to. So just stop it, and if you want to get abusive then go ahead. If I remember correctly, you were one of those who some months back taught me that getting abusive is not the only way of solving problems. Aint that right? Lets talk in a civilized manner.

@ KopKing 198

I qoute:”I support Liverpool, not Rafael Benitez…..”

One shud keep in mind that wat defines a club is teh COACH and the PLAYERS … so if u cant have faith in either of them, u cant really be serious in supporting the club ….

I just cant believe that even after explanations by some evry senior guys in here regarding this SPENDING issue, ppl still come up wid it … its like they love to go in circles… a certain loop of whinings against Rafa … Ok, we admit he mite have made a few flop singings but which manager hasnt ??? and can u name a single HIGH-Price flop signing made by Rafa ?? (Barring Keane, cos i dun think it was Rafa’s signing) … I dun recall any … like i can regarding Matchfixers United’s purchase of teh likes of Veron and Arsenal’s signing of Reyes.. etc … The reason other clubs have been successful is that they never had to SELL in order to buy .. as is the case wid Rafa … When u r doing (forced to) that u cant possibly BUILD a squad.. u r just REPLACING players…Why cant this simplest of things can settle in the minds of ur likes ??
Its not his fault that our players havent been in peak-fitness this season… its not his fault that he hasnt been able to field a FIRST-XI since the begining of teh season due to injuries… And if u still feel like finding some scapegoats, then point fingers at the players who have failed to step up their performances rather than slating Rafa..

An Linn, thanks so much for the link. What an outstanding article by Paul Thompkins. That lucky MuthaF***er (edited in defference to Jack)

KopKing, I don’t agree with much you had to say in that post (#198) but at least you took a dozen paragraphs to support your theories/opinions. The Chuckle Brothers did nothing of the sort. Their posts max out at 2 paragraphs and that’s mostly telling people to fuck off.
That’s the difference.

Come in here and drop bombs and nobody will repect you.
You can get away with that shit in other forums, but Kopblog is run by and populated mostly by lads who know their footy and any poster not prepared to debate and support their arguments with them, will get rightly flamed.

Good article Gerry, but Rafa got a lot wrong at Sundlund. There was no real reason to go for that formation. The subs were either too late, or just nonsensical. But the main thing that was wrong with the performance was that the players were not up for it. This is the managers job to put this right.

I don’t think that there is anything wrong, ostensibly with signing 30yr old Greeks by the way – Leverkausen bought a 37yr old Fin, and are the envy of us for not keeping that Fin.

KK again you should read my post.I sais i WASN`T going to get abusive.

I`m with Rome on this.You should read the link in #197.I know your a young lad and therefore maybe a bit naieve and just because you wait a couple of days after our recent defeat to come in dosen`t mean your not kneejerking.Read the link it might teach you a few things about the manager.Tomkins makes a few good points like he always has.He might be a Rafatolla but he always backs up his statements with hard facts so it`s worth a look.

Welcome back Aiyic, good to hear from you again. I thought that you had started to support the Arsenal like BM

KK, I am not sure where going with this:

Jose Mourinho. The fans loved him dearly. It’s no secret, what all he won in his long tenure at Stanford Bridge. But still, he was sacked for some poor results and a tiff with the owner. Even after winning 6 trophies in three years, he was sacked by Abramovic. That club has guts.

and what have CFC won since he left? Think about it. Shit I used that word again, think…

1st line should have been:

KK, I am not sure where you are going with this:

Whew,

Just read 2 blogs and about 450 posts since Tuesday night to catch up. Respect to those who think about what they write.

Heard an interview with John Giles tonight on Newstalk, I think it’s a podcast so have a listen. One point he made, and he’s no Benitez/Liverpool lover, was about the fact that it was dumb, dumber and dumbest(Parry) who blew the Barry deal 2 summers ago which resulted in Alonso getting the hump with Rafa. The result was, as we know, Alonso walking away at the first opportunity. We could have had both Barry and Alonso and now we have neither.
On the other hand perhaps Rafa figured on changing the way we played anyway. He has and the players just have not produced the goods.

Fatty, I think it would be a grand book of stories indeed and I have the title for you. It was something you said yourself ….
“An accident of birth” … Perfect.

Digger, that was a good post last blog. LB, spot on too. Funny how you guys used (and I’m sure will be again !) to be … let’s say supporting Liverpool from a different position !

I came into post that link that An Lin put in. But I’m sure it’s a waste of time anyway. In the last few days, we’ve had all the comments trying to explain the problems LFC/Rafa have got – even from lads like LB and Digger who could never be accused of being Rafatollahs.

We’ve had this blog itself, a link by Donal to a great article explaining our problems, and a very good article on the main site. They’ve all gone over the heads of the Rafa bashers.

We’ve also had their comments proved to be nonsense and just plain accusations with no foundation. None of it has made any difference.

The FO’s and name calling might have mellowed out a bit, but the gist of it remains the same. So, I’m honestly not going to bother with these people again.

That’s not me spitting the dummy. I have conversations on practically a daily basis with people who think it’s time for Rafa to go. I listen and then put my case. There’s nothing wrong with wanting Rafa out. But put some bloody sense into the argument… What’s today’s one?

Sack Rafa because he’s wasted 45 million a season. Bring in Maureen.

Well, let’s just have a look at KK’s theory…
1: If LFC ever made The Special Needs One the boss every match going Kopite I know would never go there again. (I know I’d see it as the final nail in the coffin of everything that made LFC LFC).
2: We haven’t got any money to buy players, but we should sack Rafa and his staff – at a cost of about 40 million. We should take Maureen out of his contract at Inter – at a cost of ?
3: How much did Maureen spend building Chelsea – a team that was just about complete, winning trophies and finishing high in the table, when he took it over from Ranieri.
4: I’ve never seen such boring shit on a stick football played by such a hugely expensive team/squad as Maureen’s Chelsea.
5: Why the fuck would Maureen even come to Anfield and work under such circumstances? And if he did what makes you think he’d succeed?

The other main complaints is Rafa’s buys. Let’s take the left back that seems to be one of KK’s main gripes…
We have three players for that position…
Insua, Aurelio, Dossena in that order.
1: Insua cost 1 million pound. He was identified by Rafa’s scouting network and has been turned into an international since arriving at Anfield.
2: Aurelio – free. Yep brought here on a free.
3: Dossena – 7 million quid. Sadly it looks like it’s not working out for the lad. It seems he just can’t adjust to the higher paced English game. But who would have thought that an Italian defender wouldn’t be able to defend in England?

So out of fairness, let’s call Dossena a flop. So, in 5 we have gone from Bambi Traori to 3 full international defenders at a cost of 8 million quid.

Terrible that – yeah sack Rafa.

I could go on but what’s the point?

KK as I always say, call for Rafa’s head by all means. Criticise the team by all means, but at least use fact when trying to hang them.

But in all honesty, I don’t really care as your remarks on Maureenio alone proved to me that you have no idea whatsoever what LFC is, what made it what it is, and what is destroying all it stood for.

You want another Shankly… HA! The man would have been sacked before his 5th season if we’d had fans like you around back then. Do you even realise Shankly went 7 years without winning a trophy?

Do you even realise why is loved so much by proper LFC fans and seen as the father of our club as we know it?

Go read a few facts before making any more of a fool of yourself. I’ve just listed a few articles that might open your eyes. But I think you’d rather just read comments that echo your own.

PS… I’m a Liverpool fan not a Rafa fan is one of my sayings, and believe me nobody would shout for his head louder than me if that would fix the problems we have at the club.

Cheers Lurg, how’s that Ferrari going for ya? Got a job – with no internet access. Aaghh!

Dougle believe me mate, I have trouble stitching this drivel I spout together. As for LB and Digger, I shouldn’t speak for them, but well you know my big mouth…
I’m sure both of them will have a go at Rafa and any of the players when they think the time is right for that. But unlike the out and out Rafa bashers, they can see what’s going on at the moment and they know it’s neither the time to do that or that it can be blamed on Rafa.

And I know most people in here probably won’t believe it, but I will have a go at Rafa and call for his head if I think that time arrives.

Sadly we have some idiot fans who just don’t see what damage Rafa leaving would cause the club at this time.

But here’s something that really has me worried… if the media and these type of fans keep going on the way they are going, and I can only believe they will, then I think Rafa’s position at Anfield could become untenable anyway.

I’d like to say forgive them for they know not what they do, but I can’t be getting all Christian to people who will wreck LFC if they get their way.

I remember talking to some old irish guy in a pub about 20 years ago as he was
a liverpool fan i asked him about Shankly he replied ” He was like jesus and
Paisley was his disciple”. Hows that for getting all Christian .
PS Souness must therefore be Judas.
YNWA

I’m off to bed, but I’d like to ask a little question…
What if that’s that, if it’s as good as it gets?

I mean what gives us the devine right to think we should be winning league titles?

Do Spurs fans do that? Do the likes of Villa, Sunderland and Pompey fans do it?

Well, they’ve out spent us consistently for a few seasons now. They’ve got better owners who invest money. And they’ve all been managed by darlings of the British Press. But to my reckoning in the last 5 seasons they’ve won an FA and Carling Cup between them.

Will you still be married to the beloved club and bleed LFC if we never win another trophy?

And Rafa bashers ask yourselves this…
http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/Tom-and-George-_-You-sss-re-Not-Welcome-Here.html

Why isn’t the Supporters Union calling for Rafa’s head?

Rome77 mate, Shankly’s trophyless years were some of the best I ever had following LFC.

I know time makes people sentimental, but I’m honestly telling the truth. It was a great time to be a Liverpudlian. And honestly, we did used to have a moan after getting another hiding. Sometimes we moaned all week until the next game, and then had to do it all again after we got pasted again. But not once did anyone lose the faith. Straight up. People knew what we was up against. People knew what Shankly was building. People stood together and fought it through.

I know fellas older than me who watched LFC in the old second division. Our own Jack Hill did. And I know they stood firm too – look at the attendances back then.

But them 7 trophyless years where what made LFC what it is today. Well what it was anyway.

But I’m not going to depress meself talking about that now. There’s a little book called the history of LFC. It’s only like a little pamphlet. But it’s brilliant. I’ll have a root round the net and see if it’s still in print.

This club of ours was born out of adversity. It has no right to even exist. And it probably wouldn’t now if people like we have following it today were about back then. And I’m not lecturing. It’s the truth. I should be off to bed, busy day tomorrow. But I’ll go see if that books available online.

you know what shits me the most about comments like KopKings. Is they bring up facts that have been extracted from the media(who take no time in doing any research).

Do some research mate FFS.

1) Mourinho got sacked, because he got a fuckload of cash and even then couldnt win the title. But i guess you want the chelsea attitude, or even the newcastel attitude, lets sack the coach every 6 months.

2) Rafa spent on average 45mil a year. He had to sell in order to spend. Look at this year, in fact he sold more than he spent, in the tune of 20mil, but that money dissapearded. On top of that he had to over run the whole team, as FS said, get rid of players like Traori.

If he was allowed to spend 40mil a year wihout having to sell anyone than your point may be more valid.

Fortunately, this blog has some very intelligent people, and post like that are seen for what they are, complete rubbish.

I guess this is what i hate about globalization of football.

Lol Dougle! Thanks mate, dont worry, Diggers inner Digger is still alive and kicking. Its just that the inner Diggers inner Digger told him that this was not the time for histrionics. Believe it or not I’m more worried than anything. My issues with Rafa are far from resolved and probably never will be but the last few wks have just frightened the shite out of me and I’m fearful that a witchhunt may destabilize us further. If we’d drawn 4 I’d be in here throwing a Terry-esque tantrum!

Digger, mate, when you’re in tantrums, you’re even worse than Terry!!

I’m with FS on what it is ti be an LFC fan (no surprise there though I would guess)

Yes, we live to win Titles, the CL, the FA Cup, but if we don’t, then we don’t.

The only time it is bad to be a red is when we lose to either Scum or Everton… and in that order… and you can maybe add the Chavs to that now… but other than that… win lose or fuckin draw, regardless of the opposition… the only team to follow is LFC and the only fan to be is a Red’s fan.

That don’t mean you can’t dissent, but think that dissent through… to be a Red means to be more “knowledgeable about football” than any other team’s fans.

But hold fast, and stand tall,
and say it loud and say it proud.
I am a Liverpudlian (whether by birth or convert) and I live on the Spion Kop!”

akka, nice one mate. I really cant stand ‘fans’ who rely on mainstream press for information and swear by ‘observations’ by idiots like Andy Gray, Souness, Alan Green and the likes and believe it as gospel truth.

Despite the link to Tomkin’s brilliant insider article (lucky bastard), the same drivel is spouted. Echoing FS’ sentiments, I would respect their views had it made sense or it were properly researched in context but unfortunately, most of the time it isnt. The sack Rafa and replace him with Mourinho/Curbishley/Martin O’neil whoever the fuck else…they should just give up and go support Chelsea or Man City.
FS, spot on..Aurelio for free and Insua for a million quid. Still not good enough.

I love Liverpool FC.
I love the club, its player, its manager
My dream is to visit Anfield one day.
Win or lose, I will never support another football club.

Ditto Skeat…my life-long dream to one day visit Anfield too, even if we don’t win anything (touch wood!). Have had some actual dreams though of being there, thanks to the virtual tour of Anfield on the net from a decade ago.

In the words of the greatest living Irishman (Bob O’Dylan)…
They say the darkest hour comes before the dawn.

Well, let’s hope that’s it… go out Sunday, get 3 points, crisis over.

If that happens the worst off we can be is 6 points behind Chelsea, and that’s if the Chavs win.

Before the season started, if you’d have been told of all the problems we would have and would still have only been 6 points behind the leaders going into November, with a win against the Mancs, would you have taken that?

Personally, I’d have bitten off the hand that offered it.

But even if we get beat, I won’t be screaming for Rafa’s head or throwing tantrums. What’s the point?

I’d love us to go out and give them the sort of hiding we did last season. It won’t happen. What I’d like to see though is… what I expected to see on Tuesday against Lyon – a typical LFC, backs to the wall, hard working fight of a game.

If we get that sort of performance, I don’t think we can ask for anything more – regardless the result – while we’re in this run of form and carrying the injuries we are.

Remember the bench for the first few games of the season – how thin it was? Well, other teams would be given some sympathy for that. We were ragged in the press/media for it, well, Rafa was for putting such a shit squad together. But no reporters bothered to mention, that without all the injuries, Mascherano, Agger, Aurelio and Aqualani would have been sat on the bench not the motley collection of kids and free transfer players that was.

As for the press, I’ve got Talk Shite on again. I don’t know why I bother. I could tape it one day and just keep playing it over and ever. It never changes… Rafa’s a tit head. Sack him.

Funny thing is, I hardly ever hear a Scouse voice on there. In fact, I can only remember 2 – one prick who should have been working for the Sun and Mickey Quinn one of the presenters. I used to love Mick, but he let himself down badly this week – spewing media driven nonsense.

That’s not a dig at out of town/country fans. It’s just true. In fact, if the likes of Keith, Aitch, Hyde and so on could have seen the anti Rafa frenzy in the English papers yesterday… Well, I reckon Keith’s head would have exploded. It was absolutely disgraceful – without a grain of logic or truth to it.

I believe Everton just got pannelled 5 – 0 by Benfica. I don’t know. I didn’t even look, but I know one thing… Moyes won’t be getting murdered for it. He’ll still be looked as at one of the great English/British managers who is over achieving with very little resources.

In fact, I think that’s why the likes of the Chuckle Brothers spew such shite. They are removed from the situation. They don’t see first hand the sort of treatment Rafa recieves. They just react – and unlike most in here they don’t have the nouse/sense to look at things like others do.

Thing is, if they get their way, and we end up like Nottingham Forest or Leeds, they will just jump ship and you other lads will be left supporting a championship team.

And believe me, that’s more than a possiblity.

Oh well, that’s enough of that. I’m going to just look forward to the game now and I’m going to concentrate on supporting my team, my players, and my manager.

Keith check yesterday’s Daily Mail, Times and Guardian – and I only say them 3 as they are some of the better quality English papers.

In fact, scrap that idea. You’d probably have an aneurism.

Fuck. It’s impossible not to mention it…
After slagging off Rafa for the last 4 hours, the Talk Shite presenter (and ex-Man U player) Alan Brazil – who’s really spent the last 4 years doing it – has just signed off the show by saying…
And if you’re protesting at Anfield against the owners on Sunday, take it easy eh!

Unbelievable.

KK@198 – My rebuttal if you please

1. You say you don’t think we can win the prem with Rafa – did you feel the same way last year after we beat united either the 1-0 or the 1-4 (I use those two games because after each there was the most talk of us winning the league) – whats changed

2. Signings – How many of Rafa’s first choice signings were flops – and how many were his third or fourth choice – and how has he improved the third or fourth choices – Kuyt and Lucas even Benny being prime examples

3. Mourihno as boss – FAIL – sorry can’t see how he would do any better than Rafa with the funds available

Don’t get me wrong Rafa and his choices wrecks my head sometimes but I just think that changing the manager now when were so close is nonsensical -

If we get another manager in are we going to have to wait another 5 years for him to build the team he wants

I agree with FS and the rest of you kopblog mafia that rafa’s transfer dealing can’t be called into question given the shit he’s had to put up with, the delboy style wheeling and dealing that he’s been forced into, and the constant improvements he’s made to the squad. But its a shame you’ve got to get on people’s backs for being young, skinny, or from out of town. the whole “i’m a better fan than you” reasoning is a bit pointless. i’m sure you were a young scally once FS, and it’s galling when people tell you your opinions don’t count because you’re still in your 20s (i’m 34 by the way).

anyway, my point is that i reckon the manager can be called into question by anyone who loves the club, watches them play every week and wants what’s best for the mighty LFC. I live in new zealand now so never get to anfield anymore, but that doesn’t stop my whole week being affected by what happens there, so i reckon i’ve got the right to have a bit of a whinge and if i can’t do it here, then where?

what consistently drives me crazy about rafa is his choice and timing of substitutions. when crouch was with us, we’d be desperate for a goal away from home (precisely the reason we bought him) and he’d spend the whole match warming up on the touchlines while various defenders were reshuffled. it drove me insane! when keane was with us he(and i)went through the same thing. this season we’re seeing more of the same unexpected and unpopular substitutions. not only that, no matter how badly a first half goes, you (almost) never see rafa making a half time change.

don’t get me wrong, i’m not calling for rafa’s head or anything like that, and i still think he’s a fantastic manager, but lets face it, even gerry politely mentioned that he thought the boss could possibly have done something more useful from the bench last week. nuff said.

Sambo, it may seem logical to ” reckon the manager can be called into question by anyone who loves the club, watches them play every week and wants what’s best for the mighty LFC.”

However, the big issue that you miss is how people misunderstand “what’s best for the mighty LFC.”

FS is not pinpointing his comments to youngsters. There are many young liverpudlians out there who do understand what supporting a club is about. That’s not the main gripe FS is having.

The problem is not understanding what one’s actions/comments can do to a club. Sadly, it tends to be that people who grew up with sly sports et al and do not have footballing experience before that (= youngsters) do not know there are other information that they need themselves exposing to.

I wasn’t even a teenager when we last won the title. But even then, I never ever dreamt of reasoning myself the way some of the people that have been mentioned here in this site have. And that had nothing to do with the fact that we were a dream team then and didn’t really have to worry about losing.

It has already been stated that some of the best years of being a Red was during the trophyless seasons under Shankly. Like they said, why is that?

I wasn’t born then, but I still know why (partly due to the education I had during those short wonderful mid to late 80s), but what I studied thereafter.
That’s why I will always support this club and not any other club, and know when to speak out about the failings of a manager.

I reiterate, it’s not age. It’s about the education you receive and “ARE WILLING TO RECEIVE.” This blog is a treasure to that end. Which other sites allows people who do not live anywhere near liverpool to interact and become educated directly by those who lived thru those 60s and 70s era, who built everything that has made this club what it is. Why is it that these individuals are so vehemently scolded for their words.

It is not the OLD vs the YOUNG issue. It is not about the Rafa-lovers vs liverpool-lovers.

It is not about reminiscing the past.
It is not about being an illogical romantist.
It is not about being an unrealistic sentimentalist.

I just don’t know why some people can’t see this.

I am 30 years old, but at times, I feel like a 70 year old in here.

FS, I can get gist of the british media just by looking at the headlines. The guardian has now put up a (probably 2 weeks outdated) Peanut interview to say that Rafa is too cautious. It’s just disgraceful.

Nuff said – maybe. Nuff read – nah…

if you read my posts I constantly state that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have been coming in this blog for years now. Wouldn’t I be in a blog dominated by Scousers if I thought out of town/country support didn’t count?

I’ve also told tale after tale of Irish/Scots and Norwegian lads who’ve been coming to Anfield since the 70′s. And I’m actually meeting a friend I’ve made in here from Malaysia at the game on Sunday. I’ve also got tickets for the match for every lad in here who’s ever asked me to – no matter where they are from.

So I have no reason to justify myself. In fact, I really can’t be arsed going through this. I only came into ask the lads what I could do about my fantasy league team – 4 of which are injured and can’t play this weekend.

The joys of management eh. And on top of that, there’s the mis-qouting knockers to contend with.

But yes… I am a better supporter than those who just want to spit dummies, qoute the press lies about the manager and call for his head…

That’s why I will be on Lower Breck Rd, outside the Liverpool supporters club club, at 10am on Sunday and taking part in the rally to rid the club of the owners and supporting Rafa in his time of need – not phoning Stan Collymoore after the match, or coming on the internet calling for the manager’s head if things don’t go exactly how I’d like them to.

As for the name calling, I think you should go read the comments. Not once have I called anyone anything abusive or told them to Fuck off… I don’t have to. They make fools of themselves without me having to point that out, and another season without a trophy and they’ll be in some Manc/Arse/Chav forum slagging us off anyway.

Oh and before I’m accused of uberfandom… I know that if the lads who come in here had the chance to be at Anfield on Sunday, 99% of them would also be on the march and supporting the club through thick and thin.

Sadly though, some wouldn’t even know it was taking place. They’d just go in the club shop, buy more tat and give H&G more support. Then go in the game, not sing, wonder where the famous atmoshpere was as they looked round for photo opportunities, and then boo Rafa or the players when they never got the entertainment they thought they had the god given right to get.

So, Sambo take that as you will. I don’t really care. I just do my best to tell it as it is.

Hyde mate, I saw that Pennant interview. Strange how it was given ages ago and they choose to print it now, eh.

I never bother mentioning that one as, well, if I was to mention all the anti-Rafa witch hunt articles in the English press I would never get out of here.

And I waste too much of my time as it is… So, tara for now.

What I will say is that at the moment a lot of players are not playing anywhere near to their potential. This is a problem for which the manager is ultimately responsible so it’s a problem needs to fix. Players like Carra, Skrtle, Kuyt, Masch, Benny are not playing as they were between Feb and May this year. Rafa needs to get the best out of these boys – its part of what he gets paid for.

What I am not having is the bollacks notion that we should be winning the league. In previous seasons I have been highly critical of Rafa because I felt we should be at least competing for it. We did that last season. Who is to say we won’t do it this season. That’s compete though – not win it. I am afraid that in order to actually win the thing the club needs to invest big money. And I don’t mean buying and selling like Delboy or Arthur Daily. I mean investing into the team with quality while keeping your better players. Since 2004 which I believe was the year Mourinho and Rafa came to the PL and when Abramovich began to spend some serious money. No team has won the league without that big level of investment. Arsene Wenger can no longer compete. I regard Wenger as a genius when it comes to scouting talent. I can think of nobody better at finding quality players on the cheap. Yet he has been unable to compete for a league title in 5 years. There is no rocket science theory to explain why Arsenal can’t win a league title despite the fact they have a genius of a manager who has already won 3 league titles. The fact is these days with no big dough you can fucking forget it. It does not even happen in Spain anymore or the CL. The days of Porto and a weak Liverpool winning it are over. Look at the finalists over the last 4 years. All teams who have spent a shit load of money building their squads. Teams like Deportivo and Valencia used to win La Liga. Not now. Teams like Ajax used to win the CL and Dynamo Kiev would come close. These teams don’t have a snow flake’s chance in hell of winning it now. In fact they struggle to get out of the group stages. Why is that?

It is no coincidence that Chelsea and the Mancs have dominated the PL over the last 5 years. It is because they have been the only clubs able to maintain a sustained high level of spending. Calculate the cost of the 20 most expensive players in their current squads and then compare it to ours. You’ll then have your answer as to why we haven’t won a title under Rafa.

By all means it’s fair to have a moan. We’ve lost 4 games in a row and have played poorly against some teams who we should be beating. It’s fair to have a moan about substitutions, tactics etc. Its fair to have a moan about the odd flop transfer such as Dossena and Babel. But this talk that we should have a stronger squad because Rafa has been here 5 years is total cack. Rafa could be here 20 years, in fact you can hand pick any manager you want – if he is consistently outspent by 7 clubs in the PL (which is happening now) we will be winning fuck all. Know that.

agreed with LB and others that have said it (as the majority of football supporters with half a brain understand)…rafa has not been given close to the financial backing he needs to win the league or the CL, yet he has done that, or nearly done that despite the fact.

just to point out to LB’s post though, we made the final in 2007 (two and a half years ago) of the CL with a small budget. it’s possible, i dont think those days are over, but they are becoming very very unusual.

for these next few thoughts, i’m going to try and ignore the outside influence on our team and focus simply on the situation we have at hand (the players we have, playing the game on the pitch): we are on a slippery slope of losing confidence. we have a good squad. its just like with a striker not scoring goals, confidence in football is a exponential thing. the less you score (or win) you lose more and more confidence, but if a few go in (or you win a few) your confidence grows by leaps and bounds.

the thing that boggles my mind is how all the players are struggling for form at the same time. as FS, i think, said a while back – rafa went on the assumption that we would be able to hold it together in midfield till aquilani was available. this was a big risk, and ON THE PITCH, i think our biggest problem has been not being able to dictate the pace of the game. controlling midfield, and keeping the game playing at OUR tempo was what was key for us last season. yes, alonso helped with that obviously, but its not down to one player. its also down to confidence. the players are very nervous, and its clear simply in their passing and match vision.

im talking too much. but i love this blog and i used to be in here much more often. the last 6 months have seen me be very very busy and unable to comment as much as i used to. luckily, that meant i could also skim over a lot of the s**** thats been written by some people in here.

wish i could be at the rally on sunday.
YNWA

btw, how can we have soo many injuries?! its unbelievable…

gerrard, torres, riera, johnson, aquilani (ok, we know), el zhar…etc

gotta run

That’s how it goes sometimes. A couple of years ago Chelsea had Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Essien all inured. That’s why the wealthiest clubs spend £300m on a strong squad of 25 players.

How many injuries did Newcastle have last season? And they got relegated.

I’ve had a little time to think it over…..

This is how I see it….

We lose on Sunday and I think realistically the best we can hope for is to maintain our top 4 status and maybe provide us with a day out at Wembley for FA Cup Final?????

However, I think we shouldn’t want Rafa out…no LFC fan should. Sacking him (if that did happen) mid-season would be absolute folly – there is clear replacement and in all fairness, who in the right mind would come to LFC with the whole boardroom shenanigans taking place???

Basically for a number of different reasons we may possibly have to view this season as a blip, a right off – look at Arsenal last year for example.

But we can come back with a bang next season…Sacking Rafa or forcing him out now would be like….cutting off the head to cure a headache…..

we need to be calm…

meant to say “there is no clear replacement”

I was wondering why we didn’t see so much of you these days Alec. But of course I understand why some of us don’t come in so often. Normally at this time of year, I’m really really busy and just pop in from time to time myself. Sadly, this week due to business being so crap, and having workmen at the house, I’ve been at home and spending far too much time in here. Believe me, I’d have rather dodged all this myself. But anyway…

LB, what you say is perfect sense, but I want to add to it…
If any manager can win the league with lesser resources than the others, I firmly believe that’s Rafa.

It’s not blind faith. It’s belief in past history…. he’s done it before. I see no reason why he can’t do it again.

Well, I do. I see the handicap of H&G and the lack of belief amongst fans as a major reason why he will struggle. But I honestly believe that even if H&G just stopped interfering, made up with one another, and therefore gave Rafa a clear line of communication and plan of what he could and couldn’t do – he could perform miracles with what he has at hand.

You watch, after blaming Rafa for everything up to and including global warming last week, Gillette is already now saying he backs Rafa 100% and he will give him some funds to work with in January.

What do you think will happen come January…
1: Rafa gets some dough?
2: Rafa doesn’t get a light?
3: Rafa is called a twat by the owners and is said to have wasted far too much money of all the millions they have given him so far?

I know what I’d bet on, and for once, I reckon I’d probably be on a winner.

As for all the injuries and loss of form, I just can’t work it out. It was clear in pre-season that something was wrong. But I put that down to the players being tired and not getting a full rest in the summer due to things like the Concaf Cup.

Then when we kicked the season off at Spurs, I thought we got outplayed, but could have easily picked up a point, even fluked a win, but no matter what, we’d soon come good.

And on and on it’s gone from there. But as to why, I have no clue. The injuries, well as you’ve just pointed out, it does happen from time to time. Tough but that’s the way it goes. The lack of form is another thing.

Now and again, you’ll see top teams have the odd games when nobody shows up. But this season, the only one player who’s played consistently week in week out is Johnson – and we’ve already seen Rafa getting ragged for wasting money on him.

It’s unbelievable – both on and off the pitch. I honestly can’t remember anything like it.

But like a striker who loses form and then gets lucky with one going in off his shin, it will come good again. That’s not daft red tinted belief. We know what these lads are capable of – and it’s far more than that dithering, plodding shite we’ve seen so far.

I know I go on too much about the old days for some people’s liking but the fact is we need to turn back the clock on Sunday… The crowd needs to get behind the team like they used to – especially when the chips are down – and drag the team along with them, not weigh them down with anxiety.

Sadly you are right about the expectations of the LFC fans. This unreasonable/unrealistic demand for a title is becoming a millstone around the player’s necks. And before anyone jumps on that as goal post shifting… Yes. I do believe we can still win it. But, well… look at the likes of Roma or Lazio.

They haven’t won anything in years. They traditionally don’t. I think they’ve won something like 6 Scudettos between them. But despite them being from the capital of one of the best footballing nations in the world, the fans never get on their backs and demand anything.

But you don’t have to go that far… look at Stoke. Can’t stand their small time violent fans myself. They’re stuck in some sort of time warp, and think footy violence is cool. But you never hear them moan. And no matter how battered they get or the fact that they’ll probably never win anything ever again, they keep on singing and supporting to the very end. And I take my hats off to them for that.

Like I said earlier, all I expect on Sunday is a fighting performance both on and off the pitch and you’ll hear no moans from me.

Nah Arthur, there’s a long long way to go yet. We will be there or thereabouts at the end of it. And in all honesty, of all the seasons when we’ve went through disapointment after disapointment – this is the one where I really really want it to turn round and sicken all of them.

Mark my words mate, or better still them ones by Mark Twain, what was it… the reports of my demise have been somewhat over stated.

Put your email up, if you want to see me at Anfield and I’ll have a word with a few lads for you. 3 tickets is probably too tall an order, but I’ll try. And even if worse comes to worse, I know how to deal with them bastard touts and won’t let you get ripped off. Or I’ll introduce you to the flag sellers. Great lads, and it’s a right craic watching the match with them in their alehouse if you fancy it.

Cheers FS – I’m actually not sure if I’m heading over with me mates now – my uncle passed away so may have to attend a funeral on Saturday – but my email is [email protected] send us your mobile and if I’m over, Ill send ya a text on Saturday night yeah? oh yeah and my real name is Kevin by the way!

Come on the reds!! We can so turn this around. 1 game is all it takes and we’ll be through thiis storm!

I have taken the time to look at the following clubs first team squads and calculate how much money each squad cost. No net spend, gross spend or any of that. Just simply a total of the cost of each player in their respective squads. Thus showing how much dough it cost to build each squad.

Manchester City £255m
Chelsea £239m
Manchester United £194.95m
Tottenham Hot Spur £168m
Liverpool £149m
Arsenal £89m

Your thoughts please…..

I think the figures are wrong LB.

Hughes has spent more than that this summer and no way on God’s earth did Arsenal cost that.

PS… that’s not a dig at you. It just shows that you can’t get correct figures. And no matter what figures you do get, they only get twisted to suit agendas… even by Rafatollah’s like me.

Here’s one LB, do you think City can win the league this season?

I read somewhere that Man City Spent £200m over the last season and a half.

Good points made about the financial clout that we don’t have, LB.

In essence, I agree with you entirely but as followers of Liverpool Football Club we must never lie down and accept that we cannot win thew Prem. If we do that we can say for sure that we never will.

The game of Football is wonderful. It can kick you in the teeth when you are least expecting it and it can take you to highs that you wouldn’t experience in any other walk of life – Except perhaps shagging the woman of your dreams!

But to say we will never win the Prem because we are financially inferior to the Mancs and the Chavs is too radical in my view. Football is not like that. Look how close we came last season – we could so easily have won it.

The performances we put in against Real Madrid, Man.U and Aston Villa (all within a 9 day spell in March) are what we seek to acheive on a more regular basis, and it can be done.

For all those of you who say “but we had Alonso then” I will say “Yes, but we have Aquilani now” This lad will make a difference to us and I can see him bringing a turn of fortune to us, like a good luck charm. Don’t ask me why, it’s just a feeling I have.

A win on Sunday is very possible and will give us a shot in the arm which could turn our season around. Couple that with Aquilani playing in the team very, very soon and we could well be on the up.

I won’t over estimate the value of 3 points to LFC on Sunday. We are capable of winning this game, and personally I am glad we are playing them instead of the likes of Bolton or Hull. We will feel the force of the crowd right behind us. Let’s believe we can win it.

Maybe you can add a few million quid onto the Arsenal total coz it was impossible to find the price of kids that are in their first team squad. However what I found was that a lot of their players were signed 4-5 years ago for nothing and are now in the first team. For example van Persie cost £2.75m but was a nobody when signed in 2004.

Note that it’s the current squad list so those figures will not include the cost of Veron for the mancs or Reyes for Arsenal. Shevchenko is not in the current Chelsea squad list so that £30m is not included. Neither is the £19m we spent for Keane included in our total.

Man City current squad list:

Given £8m
Richards youth
Bridge £14m
Zabaleta £6.5m
Johnson youth
Ireland youth
Wright-Phillips £8.5m
Robinho £32.5m
Roque Santa Cruz £17.5m
Garrido £1.5m
Sylvinho free
Petrov £4.7m
Barry £12m
Lescott £24m
Adebayor £25m
Benjani £4m
Toure £14m
Tevez £47m (spread over 3 years)
Kompany £6m
De Jong £16m
Bellamy £14m
Weiss youth
Taylor free
Total £255m

I have no argument with you over Wenger. The problem is LB, figures are never correct in football. But you’re right… Wenger is the dogs at finding talent and turning it into something special. I know you know that I think that anyway.

But I also think Rafa has found us some gems that will start to make an impression soon – like Insua at a million quid. He hasn’t had the time Wenger has yet and he’s also had to revamp the whole of our Scouting, Academy and Reserve set ups. So only time will tell.

As for City, since before the season started I’ve been telling people to watch out for them. Such a huge pool of talent really doesn’t need much coaching/managing. Avram Grant being proof of that.

Funny thing is… All the Mancs who know hate Hughes seem to forget, or – more likely for them glory hunting idiots – don’t even realise if it wasn’t for Hughes, The Tramp would have been sacked in his 5th season.

In fact, I can remember us beating them 2 – 0 at their place and all their great support singing Fergie out. (Come to think of it, they still don’t have a song for him. Fuck me. What’s that about). But anyway, they was all chanting for his head when Hughes scored a brace against us – probably saving his head – and they went on to win the FA cup that year.

Funny ol’ game, eh.

And as I always say… be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.

Oh and LB… of that Arsenal squad, at least 3 of them would have been at Anfield if Parry hadn’t dithered and H&G would have stumped up a few quid.

FS, I do indeed think Man City can win the league. I’m not sure if they will win it but they definitely can win it. Put it this way – I wouldn’t be surprised.

Steve, you think Nottingham Forest fans think they can still win the league and CL again? I know our situation is not that drastic but my point is we Liverpool fans tend to think we’ll win it when logic suggest we cannot. Especially with our current owners. You can say we came close last year. 4 points. Was it really that close? If we played an extra match and won 25-0 we’d still finished runners up. I am not downplaying the achievement. What I am saying is that extra step is a massive one. In my opinion.

We’ve already had the miracle. Istanbul. I very much doubt we will get another one. We need sound ownership. Rafa needs bosses who back him and are honest with him. And then give him some decent money. Not having to sell to buy I mean an actual transfer budget. How on earth can he devise a transfer strategy when he doesn’t even know what his budget is? The budget changes like the wind. Or it disappears. He has to consider selling his better players in order to get one of his targets. How is he supposed to build a squad capable of winning the toughest league in the world?

Club football is no longer wonderful or romantic – not in England, Spain and Italy. The richest clubs win the league every year.

Anyway, I’m going to have to go now. I’ve been sat here while I should be looking after me grandaughter. She’s at the table colouring, waiting to become a big sister an I’m about to become a Grandad again.

Yep. We’re about to have a new addition to the family. And I’m stuck here while all the rest of them are at the hospital waiting on the new arrival.

Well, it will have to hurry up or hang the latch…
There’s priorities to be seen to. And no matter what we have, I will be wetting it’s head in the Wine Lodge downtown Liverpool this time tomorrow night.

PS 250 is spot on, but I honestly believe that if H&G just shut up, stay out of the way, and give Rafa some truthful and clear idea of what they are prepared to give him… he could still do it.

Mind you, that’s like asking a Donkey to mind the carrot patch and expecting them all to still be there when you got back. Even if they’d just stop disappearing money we might stand a chance. Bastards, purified bastards the pair of them.

Congrats on the soon to be Granddaughter/Grandson!!

Good analogy with the Donkey and Carrot patch. That’s the thing – after last summer I’ve lost all hope that they will do anything decent. They give Rafa a transfer budget and then months later tell him “oh by the way the wages are included in that figure mate”. Fans should demonstrate during the entire game on Sunday coz I believe sending a message to the whole world that we want the owners out is more important than 3 points tomorrow. I’d take both mind.

Oh and I can’t understand Mancs hating Hughes. That’s like us hating Ian Rush.

haha…look at this:
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166179091023-0917.htm

i knew most of this already, but its great to see it all spelled out, and if you havent seen it (Kopking, sula, somnath…)

a better first 200 matches than slur alex, and wenger. and second only in our illustrious history to king kenny (by a little bit)…ahead of paisley and shankly.

still, i say sack him. he has no excuse! ; )
YNWA

Thanks LB, I hope it’s a lad but will be happy with whatever we get.

And I agree it’s awful how they’ve turned on Hughes, but that’s what happens when you are followed by nothing but Glory Hunters.

I can’t understand why some people on here still make out that I’m anti-OOT-OOC support. I’ve made my thoughts on that plain enough for a long time now – it’s not support, wherever it’s from that is the problem. It’s prawn sandwich munching tourists and day trippers. But I’m sick of talking about that now.

In fact, I’m sick of talking about pretty much everything we have done all week, but how are you supposed to not comment on what’s going on in our own fan base and the media.

Here’s a cracker for you… On Talk Shite right now, they are debating the fact – yep. stone cold fact – that a Man U win on Sunday will finish off LFC for – now get this… not the season – a bloody decade!

Yep. I kid you not. That is the subject right now… LFC are doomed to mid table mediocricty, maybe even relegation, for the next ten years if they lose this one game on Sunday.

How the bloody hell the presenters come out with this shit is beyond me. But what’s worse… one of the presenters is Micky Quinn, born and bred Huyton lad, and quite a few of our “Supporters” have phoned up to agree and are calling for Rafa’s head before it’s too late.

Yep. You guessed the next line… the mind boggles, but then I suppose consistency is a virtue. Or should I say, tell a lie long enough and people begin to believe it?

FS, with any luck your Granchild will arrive on Sunday Morning, and the day will just get better and better from then on!

LB, look at the progress LFC have made over the last few years. Finishing 37 points off the pace 4 or 5 seasons ago to just 4 points last season.

Winning 25-0 is not the issue, we would of beaten the Mancs to the title on goal difference if we had bagged 4 more points!

O.K, so we have just lost 4 on the spin but we can rally, and that is why Sunday’s game is so important to our season now. So important to get these 3 points.

When Rafa took over Mourinho was given endless millions to spend and then, yes, money did win the Prem. But ever since that the Mancs and the Chavs have had more to spend than us (much more) yet we have reduced the margin every season.

This gives me hope and if we don’t either win it or finish less than four points off the pace come May then it will blow my theory out of the water. However, I’m not giving up hope!

Gerry, I have a suggestion… open a new blog. You don’t have to write anything. Just put up a blank page entitled LFC v Man U.

It’s time to forget all the other stuff and just get back to the footy.

Thanks Steve. That’s a nice thought… a brand new FS arriving and cursing the Mancs!

Well all I can say FS and TT is that I will not be reading your posts again!

Started listening to this talkshite stuff and it is strangely addictive/funny.

On opening the site, the first thing I see is the blog about rafa’s total transfer spend – have not read it but I am sure that it has nothing but good things to say.

Then Brazil and Arani start spouting shite about how it’s a disgrace that SOS have arranged a demonstration before the march on Sunday and that’s no way to treat the owner’s and sets a bad example for potential investors. Also, there’s no way that 10,000 people will EVER turn up.

So I leave to drop my kids to school and come back to hear that LFC are in crisis (again) and if they don’t win on Sunday the season is over.

Later they say that several ex-players have told them that Rafa has had sssooooooo much money to spend and he should have a much stronger squad to deal with injuries. Also, they cannot believe that Rafa is got ‘away with it’ (blaming the owners etc) for so long!

So I head to work and after coming back home pop on the TV and what’s the headline? Rafa’s Liverpool in crisis!

No agenda! Bollix.

And I leave in France. Would hate to see what it’s like over in the UK.

Away to listen to talksite now

It souds like Torres will be fit for Sunday, and also Johnson. Not sure about Gerrard and Riera is definitely out.

If Gerrard is not fit, let’s hope that Benayoun can play just behind Torres.

Ha, another one bites the dust. Lurgan mate, I guarantee you will be pulling your hair out after a couple of shows. Thankfully, I’ve learned to just laugh at it now, but the bias and on a supposedly unpredjudiced radio show is beyond the pale.

I liked the bit were Brazil signed off today… and to all you Liverpool fans who are going to march on Sunday… take it easy lads, eh!

Joking aside, I honestly do believe if LFC the world over knew the extent of Rafa bashing that went on over here, they’d change their views. It’s an absolute disgrace how they treat the man.

So, word of warning… Learn to laugh at it mate or turn it off, otherwise I swear it will drive you mental.

Ha you caught the bug Lurgan welcome to the club.But do you know what,i only listen to it in the morning time when there`s feck all else on the telly.Thank christ i was at work today though i`d have definately made the effort to pick up the telly and feck it out the window if i had to listen to that shit that was on today.

Good posts today lads.

With the position were in these are the best opponents we could play right now.If we were playing a bottom half side it could work against us.The atmosphere would be flat and if we didn`t start well the negative vibes would spread on to the pitch and so on.

This time Anfield should be rocking.We are underdogs.This will suit us.If the players can`t get up for this game what game can they get up for.The closer we get to sunday the more confident i get,even though come sunday kick off,i`ll be seating like a peadophile in a barny suit!

Looks more likely we`ll have no Gerrard but if Torres and Johnson are there it will give everyody a lift.

Fatty, good luck with the birth tonight, I hope everyone comes through ok. Another little Jamie Carragher, that would be grand.

It has been hot and a bit heavy at times here this last week and I can only imagine what it is like in the less thoughtfull forums where very important people express their absolute right to pontificate.

I would encourage anyone here who has not read the Paul Tomkins “a day with Rafa” link above to do so. It is great.

It would be a dream of mine to hang out with Rafa like that. Fantastic.

So to the game on Sunday.

The Mancs, I reckon, will sit, control if they can, draw us on and try and hit us on the break. A draw would not be the end of the world for either team but I’m sure Fergie would love to bury Rafa in Manure. He will never have a better opportunity. Mentally Liverpool and certainly the support, are posssibly fragile right now.

You know would someone get on the computer and tell us how we are gonna win this game ? I’m sitting here coming up with cliches and it is not really gelling for me. At the same time we beat them fair and square twice last season sooooo …..

Fatty,sorry pal i forgot to say best of luck with the new arrival.

May the child have eternal health and happiness.

Commiserations to you also Arthor on the death of your uncle.

Lads,for any of those who read the Tomkins article here`s the follow up article..

http://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/the-aftermath-after-meeting-benitez/

cheered me up reading that timmy,cheers mate.

If Torres is fit my line up will be:

Reina
Johnshon Carra Agger Aurelio
Masch Lucas
Kuyt Benyayoun
Voronin

Torres/Babel

Thanks for all the good wishes lads. The new addition shouldn’t be here for another two weeks, and now, after looking like it would be an early kick off, he/she has gone all shy on us again.

So, I’m sat here wasting time as I know as soon as I shut me eyes the phone will go and it will be a mad dash to the hossie. So…

Think Rafa’s got headaches for Sunday – The Chubby Chasers whole bench is crocked and I’ve still got 2 injured players in me team. So, is it possible to get some fantasy money for a fantasy transfer at this time of the season?

Can’t be letting crap management wreck the season before October is out the way.

FS, I wish you the very best with your grandchild and am praying over here for a safe and easy delivery.

Which reminds me, congrats to you also puchong!

Fatty, there’s a wild card thingy that you can use to overhaul your team with no point deductions.

BTW, just put talksport on now and they have just started a phone-in about, ‘Where’s the rot in LFC? Is it the board, the players, or the manager (with emphasis here)’

Thanks for all the good wishes. No sign of the little blighter just yet. I’m hoping for a debut against the Mancs… can’t think of a better time to kick off.

Me other Grandaughter is here helping me manage the Chubby Chasers… Told her I was trying to get new players cos most of mine were hurt. She said stick a plaster on his leg!

She’d have made a good physio back in the day.

Sorry for the late congrats but all the best Puchong and good luck to fatty and the family, nothing better than the blessing of a new addition.
.
Also good luck to Rafa and the lads, give it all you have and what happen, happens.

She`d probably be better than the physios today to FS,bless her.

I love the way kids thing there is a simple answer to every question.

One day my 5 year old asked me “why do you go to work dad?” then i said “for money boy” then a couple of weeks later he was in my ear for this and that and asking for the whole world and more and when i said “i`ve no money,leave it now” he said “its ok,just go in to work and get some”….if it was only that easy!

Kids eh..answer for everything

On the subject of the physio`s remember the good oul` fashioned “magic sponge” they used to use.When a player would get a tackle that halfed him in two and he would go down to the deck.The physio would be on with the magic sponge diped in cold water,one rub and up came the player like a jack in the box.Brilliant.

Everything is so technical nowadays,it`s like the players are too fit so the slightest knock now seems to damage them.Give me the magic sponge days anyday.

How about playing Carra right back and Johno right midfield along with Masher ,Benny and Aurelio?.Playing Lucas looks too negative for a home game.give the Mancs an edge.The post-match phone in on bbc.co.uk/liverpool is streets ahead of the rest.guillembalague.com has a good peiece about Rafa on his site as does Gab Marcotti on timesonline.co.uk/football.

Best wishes for the new edition FS, if he/she comes tomorrow that would have to be a great sign……….

Altogether now PUSH FS’S DAUGHTER, PUSH!!:-D

YNWA

looks like sunderland have taken boro’s old role in the league: play great against the top sides and absolute rubbish against everyone else.

2-0 down to birmingham just after half and looks like more to come.

Great article by Tomkins and further confirms what a lot of us already know, we have the best Manager we could possibly hope for. I also have to agree with FS, that if anybody can win us the league with the budget and cash that Rafa has available, against the big spending teams it will be Rafa. Inexperience cost us last year, but if nothing else it proved we have the squad capable of doing it. The sequence of events culminating in the horrific run of injuries has really knocked us out of our stride and made it backs to the wall scenario and while I still think we are in with a shout, very good one if we take 3 points tomorrow but regardless we will still be in the hunt. Rafa, better than anyone I could think of, when he finally can field the team he wants to will silence a lot of the knee jerkers and the critics. It will happen this year I just hope its not too late to have a real go. After all this is still a better team than the one that trounced Real, ManU and a few others along the way. We are lacking confidence and that players a huge role, so we need all our top players back to lift us to the level I know we can ascend to.

FS, may a time I have thought of writing to the local station complaining of the biased coverage as it makes my blood boil. They take their cue from Sky Sports, which we also get at certain hours over here. Lazy journalism at its best and the spouting of the usual twisted facts is the norm. As for the newspapers, I have access to all of the UK press on the net and have made it a policy not to read any of the more blatant ones. I do from time tio time read one or two just to reconfirm my disgust and understand why I don’t bother anymore.

Oh yes the plenty of money scenario, zonal marking, two man team, contradicted by Alonso’s sale, buying a crock, disastrous transfer policy has plenty of airm over here. The latest if Rafa does not win the league or silverware this season he will be fired. I worry moiré that he may walk, but Tomkins’s article but me a little more at ease.

I remember the analysis and cost breakdown I did on the transfers, due to the scale of the overhaul, two original players left from the Ged Eye years. Rafa’s average spend is around the 2 mill mark for all the players he has brought in. That is a complete first and reserve team squad as well as the academy. Everybody is quick to praise Wenger, rightly so, for unearthing young talent. However his young talent comes at a price even for the young ones like Walcot, Ramsey etc. The future, because Wenger has had the time, will prove Rafa Wenger’s equal when all the talent accumulated by Rafa starts to come through. Don’t be surprised if he outstrips him as well.

Congrats Grandad FS and I wish you a healthy one. If it is a boy, as much as I like Carra, could it please b another Kenny, Rush or Gerrard….please.

Sunderland, Villa, and Spuds all drop points today, we’ve lost 4 on the bounce, our eternal enemies arrive intent on making it 5 and ending our title bid in October, if ever there was a must win game…… Regardless of who’s injured, we’ve gotta man up tomorrow. If we play scared (2nd half vs Lyon) or with apathy and indifference (80mins vs Sunderland) we’ll be hommered. If we play with heart, passion and resolve aswell as our inherent but AWOL ability, then we’ll get what such a performance deserves; 3pts

Here here digger!!

Keith I’ve got a couple of questions for you on your last post but I said Monday that this wasnt the week for debate or disagreement so I’ll stick to my word and leave them til after tomorrows game or perhaps later depending on the result. But I certainly want to revisit a couple of your points and so hope you wont think I’m blindsiding you or pulling up 2 day old posts on Monday. Alrighty, til Monday then, when the great debate continues/resumes!

@FS

You mentioned why the fuck i state something which everyone knows and the media also repeats.

I tell you why the fuck i mention it again and again. It is clearly seen that we lack in depth when it comes to players who can score the goals and win us games like Fulham,Aston Villa and others we have lost to teams below us.

We have a great striker in the form of Torres. A midfielder who scores consistently in the form of Gerrard. I am quite hopeful that Acquilani will be in that league too. Benayoun is a much improved player and all credits should go to Rafa for the development of the players and the team in general.

Someone mentioned Kuyt. I agree he has scored vital goals but the fact is he tried to pass a ball to Torres when going for goal was the best option in a recent match. He can score goals occassionaly but he is not the player i can associate with goal scoring consistently.

You take out Torres,Gerrard and Benny(On recent form) and you will struggle to find another player who can be the difference.

So the point i am trying to make and i have been making it ever since we lost to Aston Villa, that as a Liverpool supporter i am quite pleased to see us finish any position upto 4th. I know this project Rafa has taken up is under progress and i do respect that.

Lets be first clear on our expectations. The moment you want to believe that Liverpool will win the title this year, all these results and the shortage upfront are so clearly visible and people end up taking our their frustrations.