Excellent blog Gerry.Tonight’s game is irrelevant.Getting max points from Fulham and Lyon will set things up perfectly.Wouldn’t right off the Mancs, they have the knack of taking care of the smaller teams.

Great blog gerry…as always.

On Kuyt being selfish though I would have agreed with you when watching the game but as I have watched it about 6 times now, its getting better each time, I think it was going to be a great pass to torres who had peeled off to the penalty spot but yossi got in the way. Not a big thing but I think kuyt rarely does the wrong thing when in that position and if the pass had come off I think we’d all bet on torres to finish from where he was.

I would say I was disappointed with the mancs performance but I simply don’t rate them this year. Think they have been very lucky so far and if rooney gets injured god help them (fingers crossed)

Nice one gerry,although having uma turn up instesd of a liverpool win……….. shame on you!!! It should have been a liverpool win then her ringing the doorbell at full time to give you a happy ending:D
To be honest i think it will be very tough to pull a win off tonight also, but for the continued confidence of the sqaud would be fantastic. so heres hoping anyway!!

Take a look @ Molby’s goal on lfc.tv from 1985 V the Mancs, he ran half of the pitch!.

Lads,
havent read the blog yet, but I was just looking at the transfer gossip on the bbc site cos the headline about the mancs below caught my eye. I realise that this is all only usual Daily mirror gossip crap, but I think the 3 ‘rumours’ below sums up the financial league we are in in comparison to our rivals!!!
No. 1
Manchester United are edging closer to signing Valencia forwards David Villa and David Silva, with the Spanish club willing to listen to offers. With winger Cristiano Ronaldo offloaded in the summer, Sir Alex Ferguson has cash to spare and the United manager is willing to pay £40m for the duo.

No. 2
Chelsea lead the chase to sign £42m-rated striker Sergio Aguero after Atletico Madrid admitted they are ready to listen to offers for the 21-year-old.

No. 3
Liverpool are keen on securing the services of Sampdoria midfielder Koman Vladimir. The Hungarian star is currently on loan at Bari and is valued at £4m.

Thanks for the good read Gerry! Must have been a tough one, choosing between a naked Uma or a Reds victory over the scum?
Anyway, if I could just add to a slightly old topic re Souness & his views on Rafa? Does anyone remember him signing a striker called Ali Dia? check #4 on this list from the Daily Mail (yeah, I know, very bored at work having to read this shite). It’s no wonder he couldn’t hack it as a manager, and then he has the balls to critisize Rafa?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1219047/THE-LIST-The-worst-strikers-played-Premier-League-Nos-10-1.html
Ps: Burger, who you shouting for tonite?

Great blog Gerry and infectiously hilarious! No wonder i want to read your new blog after every 100 comments.
I would have had a fully clothed Uma Thurman and welcome her to my house anytime.

Following up from the last blog, FS has started calling me SK, my given name, instead of Knight here. No problem. In fact his Liverpool friends whom he intorduced me to at Anfield hear it as Heskey. Must either be my Chinese accent (likely) r that I took after Heskey’s name because I like the striker (not so).

Knight, what is your real name mate? I’d like to know why FS’ mates didn’t have a clue how to pronounce it…..

My mate got tickets for the manc game. His brother got them. However the wally got tickets for the away end!!! Imagine a Liverpool fan at Anfield sitting with mancs. WTF!? So I used that, the fact I’m skint and the fact the train fare was £60 as an excuse to watch it on Sly sports.

What was the whipped cream for Gerry, had Una baked you a pie?
And you should have told your mate to have a word with Ngog… Apparently he’s a very big lad.

In a bit of a rush here, so just a couple of things…
Burgerman how can you say tonight’s game is irrelevant? Read the blog and see why it’s not and get a grip lad. I know what you’re saying, prem and CL first, but it’s important for loads of reasons most of which I summise you’ve just read before commenting.

And as for Molby, I always thought that goal should have been left were it was.. firmly in the legend and folk lore of LFC. But I’m glad it put one myth to bed… The lad had a good turn of pace on him, especially over short sprints, and tell a lie often enough and it becomes truth as they say, but the fact is the big fella ran a lot more than people like to admit and in some games he hardly stopped.

Just another of those LFC myths… Fatty Molby never moved out the centre circle. A funny harmles one but shows how these things end up as the truth.

Oh and talking of weight…
Have a look at Insua. He has really bulked up in a short period of time, looking very solid now. But he’s been exposed for a bit of pace lately, and I hope the extra muscle isn’t slowing the lad down.

Last word…
Lucas has swine flu.

Shame that. Was hoping to see the lad kick on from Sunday. But now hoping he’s just kept well away from all the other lads. That’s the last thing we need, especially as we are still a wee bit short of bodies.

Reminds me that men get ‘swine flu’ and women get ‘mad cow disease’.
You can tell I’m happy ‘cos the old jokes come rolling out.
Up the Reds!!!

Great blog Gerry.

I wonder just who passed the swine flu to Lucas if it were true? One of the Scum players? Anyway, hope he gets well as soon as possible, because where will the naysayers spend their time if “Scapegoat” isn’t available to shut them up again?

BTW, due to the depression and subsequent euphoria before and after the Scum game, this nearly got forgotten.

So I thought this might be a good time to show this: God has scored yet again in the A-League.

(Add the letter h in front)
ttp://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3728123/

This time a cheeky fast free-kick just outside the box. He simply waited for the ref to walk away, and then popped the ball in before the defenders could even react.

North Queensland won 2-1, though they’re still rooted at the bottom of the table as this is only their 2nd win. They’ve actually lost fewer games than the teams above them, but like Liverpool last season, the draws proved quite costly.

Though there’s no relegation in the A-League, so there’s not much pressure as there is in leagues elsewhere.

Fowler is now 2nd in the current A-League top scorers at 6 goals (1st is 10 goals).

So when can I see this Jan Molby strike at Old Trafford? I’ve been dying to see this goal for years.

Cut and pasted…
Rafa Benitez has spoken of his desire to become the first Liverpool manager to win silverware at the new Wembley stadium as the Reds prepare to resume their Carling Cup campaign tonight.
Liverpool have not lifted a trophy at the national stadium since a League Cup final triumph over Bolton Wanderers in 1995, while the Reds are also yet to play a match at Wembley since its redevelopment two years ago – statistics the boss is hoping to change.

While Benitez admits he will make changes to his starting line-up for this evening’s clash with Arsenal at the Emirates, the Spaniard insists the Carling Cup is a trophy the Reds are keen to bring back to Anfield.

“If you can progress in a competition, that is what you have got to do,” he said. “You have got to select the right players for each game and it depends on the programme you have.

“But we are always thinking about progressing and winning and the Carling Cup gives us that first opportunity. I would love to win a trophy with Liverpool at Wembley.”

The two teams last met in this competition in January 2007 at Anfield when a Julio Baptista inspired Arsenal claimed a 6-3 victory in front of the Kop.

However, Benitez believes the events of that night will have no bearing on tonight’s encounter, and stressed the importance of trying to build on Sunday’s victory over Manchester United.

“We try to approach things always one game at a time,” said the Reds boss. “It’s the Carling Cup and it’s Arsenal, so it is a little bit different to normal.

“But the mentality and the confidence will always be the same; we know we have got to go down there and win and the players will be ready.

“Every year is different and you cannot think too much about what happened in the past because circumstances change all the time. To beat Arsenal – or any of the top sides – is a challenge and that is always our target. It doesn’t matter what the competition is, always you want to win.”

And thinking about it now, I’d like to win the thing an all. I fancy a trip to Wembley.

And LB, here’s a link to that Molby goal. I haven’t watched the clip all the way through. It’s taped off the telly and pretty shitty quality, but it’s got to be in there.

Molby goal is free on official site…here is the link

ttp://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166241091028-0958.htm

Super stuff Gerry,

No Uma so pal,what harm not a ad second prize.

I hope we do give a good account of ourselves.Its important we keep the confidence in our performance.

LB the molby goal was on LFC tv last night.Great goal i must say and he stuck a spotter to boot.

Too bad about lucas.No luck on the injury front at all.That swine flu is rampant.My amigo is convinced all the world superpowers sprayed the air with swine flu so billions would be spent on vacinations,but thats for some other forum i guess.

Happy (late) birthday Gerry.

Our win against Man U is now past tense but significant in many ways. Just today I read Lineker’s comment about Rafa’s “mistake” in opting for GJ over Gareth Barry. Interesting. In his article, he noted that Rafa used the Alonso windfall to buy unwisely. While I’m not particularly moved by such misinformation, it reminds me of many fallacies directed towards the Reds.

One of those is the “mistakes” RB makes. You’ve raised an important one regarding any of our losses and how Rafa’s name crops up whenever this happens. You’ve also raised the issue of how many of our playing personnel escape blame in the confusion and dust raised when RB’s name is invoked. There’s no excuse for non-performance, and that applies across the board, fans included. Everyone MUST do their bit, however small, to boost the team. We’re a phalanx, with no covering for our backs. The ONLY covering we have is what the guy behind and to the side does for us, as we do it for them. Let’s be one always.

Fallacy two is about denial. How much funds has Rafa actually had since his first season? Why aren’t figures ever produced? Why is it that Torres doesn’t feature much in the misinfo-maths, but only deals like Keane’s? Selective information and half truths, more of red herrings (like SAF’s rants against refs). Rafa is a buyer and seller, period – I feel that even Reds fans need to be educated on this.

Using Tomkin’s figures, £ 30 million isn’t much in this day and age, considering it’s still 20 million short of our squad cost……….we’re actually fifth in squad cost in the PL, behind Man City! Thirty million is good enough for the likes of Fulham, but to stay in the soccer royalty league, such represents the cost of one purchase.

Of course, with Man City and Real Madrid inflating the market, £ 30 million to buy Berbatov is pocket change if the individual fees for Kaka and CR7 are considered. That said, who is Liverpool’s record purchase? Fernando José “El Nino” Torres Sanz at £ 20 million (Tomkins and Wikipedia)! This is still a whole ten million less than Alonso’s sale price to Real Madrid! In comparison, Man U with a squad cost of 206.8 m features two players in the thirty mil range, Rio (32) and Berb (30). Chelsea with a squad cost of 207.35 m features two players on 24 m, Essien and Drogba. Torres features in a squad costing 126.8 m, some 13 mil behind Man City.

We keep overachieving and RB needs lots of support. Making tactical errors isn’t unique, just human. SAF made massive blunders in last season’s CL final but didn’t get the hair dryer treatment given to perpetually-under-the-microscope Reds. Hiddink didn’t get it right either against Barcelona in their semis clash. Mum’s the word. While Rafa hasn’t won “anything” in three dog years, how many has the Prof, Wenger, won in five? Again, no comment.

Opinions are free, even from the club supporters, but let’s be constructive and supportive. Sunday provided a perfect example. Of course Gary Neville and Owen’s presence helped, but it’s the way it ought to be. We’re one, We fail and win together, as one. A lesson from Istanbul: WE WILL WIN FOUR THREE. That is the way forward. We’ve lost four? Good. We’ll lose some more en route our win. How about that for defiance?

Choosing to rant and whine doesn’t help, does it? What then is the harm in going positive and just enjoying our team playing? C’mon, Siempre es Posible. Let this might phalanx never walk alone.

LB, my name is SK Chew, so told FS to call me SK. When he introduced me, I am not sure if it was his Scouse accent or my Chinese accent (not much of it anyway, as I speak decent English), his friend thought it sounded like Heskey. I didn’t know until I FS mentioned about this in the previous blog.

Sam, good comments.
Tonight’s line-up: Dirk Kuyt skippers the side as Rafael Benitez makes nine changes for tonight’s Carling Cup clash with Arsenal – listen live from 7.15pm GMT.
Alberto Aquilani remains on course to make his debut and will take his place among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Plessis, Spearing, Babel, Kuyt (Capt), Voronin, Ngog. Subs: Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala.

FS, forgot to mention I am glad you will be getting your mobile back. Good of the taxi to have sent it back to the pub.

Dirk Kuyt skippers the side as Rafael Benitez makes nine changes for tonight’s Carling Cup clash with Arsenal – listen live from 7.15pm GMT.
Alberto Aquilani remains on course to make his debut and will take his place among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Plessis, Spearing, Babel, Kuyt, Voronin, Ngog. Subs: Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala.

Good man Knight you blog hogger you

Lads are doing real well tonight.Some decent football being played on both sides.The game is quite open and pleasing on the eye.Of course sly are creaming themselves over the Arse but we`ve opened them up on more than one occasion with some slick footy of our own.When we cut them open it was”giving them too much space” but when they did us it was “sublime football”.Fecking twats.

In fairness to that puppet Redknapp,whilst Paul merson and jazzy jeff were doing the arse licking redknapp mentioned that Liverpool deserve some praise.

The two goals of real quality from Insua and mecida(or whatever the lads name is).

Second half just started,c`mon redmen!

Win would have been good, but really enjoyed that. Nice to watch the new fella Il Principo, and nice volley by Rafa.

Knight,

I am a “SK” too… but I am a Lim….
Cheers…

I was at the game today, dissapointed to not win as it was an even game, but seeing Aquaman more than made up for it. I know it was only twenty minutes but I still think you can judge these things to an extent so Im going to say it, in terms of technical ability he looks a notch above any midfielder we’ve had in a long time and that includes our captain. Two great feet, balance, quickness and agility, awareness and composure in tight spaces. This guy looks like a natural, he’s gona be the business!

I was sitting in the middle of a class here at law school watching the game online and nearly jumped up out of my seat over Insua’s beauty!

Also, watching Skrtel play made it apparent why our back line has looked significantly better since Agger’s return. Skrtel simply looked unimpressive in and around the box.

What? No wrist slitters? Rather strange.

There’s plenty to swallow hook line and sinker and regurgitate without a thought of your own… like htis from John Motson at the final whistle…

“Rafa will have some questions to answer for not taking this competition seriously and sending out a shadow squad against Arsenal. After all, its still a cup to be won on a trip to wembley.”

Shadow squad? As though we had faced a full strength Arsenal team, for fucks sake. I used to like ole JM, but he’s just a fuckwit now.

oh well… fuck the Carling Cup… I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d have quite fancied a Quadruple, but I’ll settle for a more meaningful Treble.
Roll on Fulham and Come On You Reds!

Good to see Aquaman getting a touch today.

Would have been nice for him to win the penalty and possibly even take it.

I’m not sure we will see Aqua against Fulham, but i fancy that he will play some solid minutes against Lyon if we are winning and then against Citeh.

The reason I dont fancy Rafa playing him against Fulham is the potential for him to be kicked to shreds. At least we know in Europe it wont happen against Lyon (not their game plan really) and Citeh will come out to play.

Welcome Little Prince you derserved a penalty for your Nando like scissor kick,
resulting in the double handball.
It seemed the ref was only giving us free kicks when we’d won the ball after the
initial foul.
Some of the problems seemed to come from too many players thinking that their
the Captain.
Another thing i noticed ( i might get flack ) was Babel he gave a lot of balls
away and ran down a few blind alley’s and generally looked uninterested a lot
of the time. He had a excellent opportunity to score but opted to use his right
foot instead of the left which would have been the best option. He’s spent enough time on the left wing to learn how to use his left, the mark of a world class striker is been able to use either. But as always hoping he comes good.
I can finally see what Rafa saw in Degan although he is a bit indecisive when
he reaches the box he may learn what to do when he gets there.If he manages
to stay fit for long enough that is.
YNWA.

MaccyD. That’s quite a report on the prince. I have Italian friends that rated aquilani as the best Italian midfielder playing today. Didn’t get a chance to see the match, but I can’t wait to see the boy play. Heard so many good things…

Disappointed about the result…mainly cause I was hoping our younger players and fringe players would get more opportunities in the carling cup. Oh well…

YNWA

PS If he hasn’t done it already i think Rafa should praise the ref for his fitness
levels and then praise the liverpool fans for their good behaviour. Presuming
that is,they didnt rob the Kiosk and terrorise the female staff, before destroying
the place and generally behaving like Scum. That would certainly annoy the
Old Tramp.
Millwall & West ham fans were on Crimewatch tonight .Lets see if the Mancs
are on next month.
What is it that makes Apeboy and Judas play for them Scouse hating Scumbags
i cant understand it, they hate them but they still play for them.
Anyone notice Gary Nipple as become the touchline jester a bit like that mascot
at Arsenal only he hasn’t got his red devil costume yet.
He’ll probabably end his career on a ban for trying to cripple some kid who’ll
probably be from liverpool .
Nice to see Real get hammered 4-0 by some 3rd division team.I bet you they
wish Rafa had been sacked, because he’d be walking in to that job right now.
YNWA

Sorry Gerry, Uma was with me that nite giving me a foot rub . . .

ps: Ace blog as usual.

Wrote a post straight after game last night but it the site went a bit pinky ponky on me.

So i`ll sum up.

Gallant effort from the second string.Played well despite losing.
Insua got a peach,same can be said for merida to be fair.A cracking little player.
N`gog`sconfidence is gone through the roof with that goal tagains mancs.Outstanding movementfrom him last night,even showed strength at times.Encouraging.

El principino played very well for the 15 mins he was on.This guy can play and its clear to see at this early stage.

Caught out a bit in the centre though.I thought spearing and plessis were given the run around by Ramsey.I`m not knocking the lads,they didn`t hide,it just seems like they look slightly out of their depth.

Overall encouraging performance from the reds despite the result.

Skeat, so you are a Lim as as the Chinese say Ah Lim? Where from my friend?
Very groggy today having watched the match at 3.40am this morning. But Aqualung was class. His passes, his touches. He should have gotten a penalty. His bicycle kick sent the ball straight for Senderos hands and he cradled it like the way FS would his new grandson.
Anyway, he will surely be a handfull for any team.
Other players who shone were Philip Degen who was fast and strong. No wonder I fell elated despite the loss.

Rafa and TV replays says it was a penalty, Senderos cradling of the ball via Aqualung’s bicylce kick.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/aquilanis-flying-start-fails-to-halt-merida-and-his-young-guns-1811218.html

Insua’s shot was a beauty by the way and he continues to play well and with confidence.
In contrast Babel had another wasted opportunity in front of goal and did not make much impact, in my opinion.

I share the sentiments of most on here – good performance and a little unlucky not to get anything out of it. Only downside was the fact that I’m not so sure how ready Plessis and Spearing are. Yes, the Arsenal midfield is quite gifted but they really did stroll right through us at times.. but its all good experience for young Jay – think he needs to hit the weights tho and beef up…he looks like a 14 year old!

I was at the game with my little boy, and was well impressed by the performance from both teams. I’m proud of the boys….well most of them.
Voronin for me was a waste of space. I felt he didn’t offer much to the team, and in fact made it look like we were playing with 10 men most of the time! Babel – can’t say he took his opportunity last night. kept their rightback on his toes in the first half, but went missing 2nd half. Ngog and Degen were immense! I though Plessi had a good game and spearing seemed out of his depth (his only little though so we can let him off)Skirtel seemed short of confidence. Good to see Aquaman play…class act. Lovely 30yard cross field ball….excellent control….he’s definately gonna have an impact once he’s had a few games under his belt(ps. he’s a lot bigger in real life than he looks on the telly!)
But on a serious note….Voronin….I really feel he’s short of the quality we need. (I hope you just had a bad game, but he was awful last night!)
I’m not too bothered about the result though as the boys tried hard. I just hope when the 1st string come back on the weekend we capitalise on educating the Mancs, and beat Fulham.
YNWA

ps. forgot to say comedy moment of the night was the Arsenal fans singing ‘we’ve got Cesc Fabregas’ at Aquaman when he came on….lol i was thinking,…bothered!! just glad the lad’s playing again.

Babel and Voro were a big disappointment, can’t see either hanging round especially if the Ukraine qualify for the world cup.Starting with Masher and SG in the middle for the Fulham and Lyons games with Aurelio and Kuyt on the flanks should be good enough for 2 wins.
Mc Manaman’s goal V Celtic in 97 was very similar to the one scored by Molby.Are Fulham as rough arsed as some people are suggesting?.If so,Aqua won’t be playing very often.

Any ideas how long before Riera and El Zhar are back?

I didnt care about that game as it started but as it went on it sucked me in and i was really pissed off we lost in the end. babel is a goner. january then bye bye no more to say on the man.end of. voronin even though he pissed the ball away a bit, actually had some really nice touches and made some nice runs but no one picked any of them up.
I was really disappointed with spearing. those two shots from outside the box were pathetic and if babel or voronin would have hit them i would have been raging. The guy tries his balls off but we all no that’s not enough.
P.s someone tell me that the mancs aren’t gonna be getting villa an Silva??

Top transfer i want for January is Gillet & Hicks out!!

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7092/hicks.jpg

Roarin,silly season is nearly upon us again thus the Silva/villa rumours.Or more likely the Tramp got his bitches in the media to publish these rumours to soften the blow of sunday.I`d imagine the kneejerk mancs were trawling the internet calling for rio and vidic`s head.So these rumours will be a distraction.Whatever you say about the horrible bastard,he knows how to use the media.

Knight,
I am from M’sia… but currently working in Shanghai. Cheers!

FS, nice picture of Hicks! Wish the sharks were swimming in the pool and snared his little gicchi gicchi. (If you don’t know the word, please don’t bother to look up the Oxford English Dicktionary)

Great Skeat, I love Shanghai. I might catch up with you there sometime. I go there annually for the Pharmaceutical Exhibition sometime in May( hot and humid then though!). You originally from Penang then being a Lim?

love the pic FS….funny as!

Gerry, you know I love your blog. There is none better than to entertain me, espeically from so far away in Malaysia. But better yet, I want you to know that I have met two wonderful contibutors in Donal of the Gap (and his wonderful wife) and FS through your blog. Wonderful feeling meeting them. Both happened in 2009, even meeting Donal and Tracy twice (in KL and Bangkok when LFC came). Awesome really. Salute and thanks, mate!

Knight,

Maybe we should have a “Kopblog community unite” at the last home game of the season against the Chavs when we beat them to take the title(who`s kneejerking now!).

We could have a right bevvie up

Knight just as i read your post #52 it looks like it was done under the influence of ecstacy.

Ha ha only messin pal,you`ve met with two of the funniest guys on this blog.And by all accounts your a top man yourself,kudos to you.

There’s Hungary first Timmbo me aul cocker… might even take me bird with me to mule some ciggies and baccy back. Marlboro lights 2 euros a pack. Just getting the limit makes about a grand. It’s no life at all following LFC

E’r Digger…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjcbDX49Lf0

The fella in the green polo shirt (is that the republic or the north?) is Connor. Sound lad. He owns the gaff.
And the little black lady at the front is Conny. She’s a really lovely woman and LFC mental.
Good people.

And get the lonely Manc at the back, could almost but not quite feel sorry for him

Fuckinell… just got an email off my mate, Harry, The Hobo On The Moto, the lad who does the bike rides for LFC related charitys. He’s doing one for Marina Dalglish’s cancer charity… riding to every club in the Champion’s League on a fucked up old moped. He’s 61 now Harry, a lovely lovely man but ever so slightly mental…. He’s just crashed in Berlin and went flying over the handlebars. Fucking nutter. All he’s bothered about is getting to Lyon so he doesn’t miss taking all the lads spare money for Marina. A great lad. Shame the bloody papers only want to report the bad.

Love the “what the fuck was I thinking” look on his face the whole time FS. Classic that.

Then at the end he’s taking pics with his mobile. D’ya recon he was thinking “Why the fuck did I pick United. This is what support is all about”?

FS, has his info been sent to Paul Tomkins, Tony Barrett and the new lads at the Echo?

That moped ride woulda made a great documentary. A low-budget footy version of Ewan MacGreggor & Charlie Boardman’s “The Long Way Round”

some of you might enjoy this one..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOSVVrj0WZo&feature=player_embedded

unfortunately Gerrard is represented from our side.

He’s been in the Echo a few times Aitch. He’s well known in Liverpool, rides into the alehouse on his moped waving his collection bucket. The national media just ignore him though. Shame that. He’s a cracking lad and he’s raised some good money for some very good causes. Hasn’t got a pot to piss in himself either… Nice lad.

There’s a book being done about this latest ride. I’ll post details when I know more. He’s a right laugh… 61 years old, fit as fuck, organises footy games, or fans against fans of all the teams we play in europe – and plays in goal… mad aul bastard, but one good lad.

What do you guys think our best team will be assuming that aquaman will fill one of the midfield slots

Didn’t get to watch all of the match yesterday but from what I saw, you could argue that we deserved something from that. Overall I think that it can be said that it was a great match of football.

The highlight for me was Degen. At least now I can see why Rafa was thinking when he bought him. Good turn of pace and incisive, even though his final ball could be (much) better.

Lowlight – Skrtel seems to be struggling a bit at the moment but then again it was a completely ‘new’ back four. Since Agger has come back into the staring XI we seem to be a lot more compact and solid at the back. Coincidence?

Even though we lost, I thought that the lads put in a more than decent display and with a bit of luck we may have been in the next round.

FS, I hope that your mate is well and still in one piece!

Teah He’s sound Lurgie. Just worried about the bike and getting to Lyon. You’d love Harry. He’s boss.

As for the game last night, it was really good to watch. And don’t worry about Skrtle, just having a bad patch. He’s only young. I reckon him and Agger together will be a great pair of centre backs in the Liverpool tradition… A tackling hard fucker and a thinking man’s centre half. Look at the great pairings since the 60′s. They are definetely in that mould.

Raffamuffin, this would be my team:

Reina
Johnson, Carra, Agger, Aurelio
Kuyt, Mascher, Gerrard, Onion
Aquaman, Torres

Would not be boring anyway

Lurgan Substitute aurelio for insua and put benny on the right instead of kuyt and riera on the left and that Would be my team

FS, glad to hear that he’s OK.

Not too worried about Skrtel at the moment. He’s had a bit of a rough time in the last 12 months with knee injuries, a broken jaw etc. Maybe catching up with him a bit. But I agree that the CB partnership going forward is Scary and Dagger with Scary taking on the ‘no prisoners role’. I would expect/prefer Dagger to do Carra’s organisation role and give him more responsibility.

As for the Degen, I don’t expect him to become our best right-back after seeing him for 60 minutes. However, now, at least, I can now see some attributes were Rafa may have thought that he could have enhanced the squad, at the time, for a free (risky) transfer.

Hasn’t Rafa already said that both Aqualung and SG won’t be playing at Fulham?

And aren’t bans immediate/next game now? Or is that only for straight reds? So we could be missing Masch also.

Could leave us light in midfield.

And Lucas has swine flu Aitch… the joys of following Libpool eh.

As for Degen, it was always known he could get up like that. The glass factor was the unknown bit… what a waste of money eh.

Lurgan, you might have missed it but Skrtle took another cracking knock to he’s jaw… tried to put his chin through Eduardo’s head when they went for a long high ball – you know the type the Arsenal magical kids never play… take no notice of all the reports mate. For all their creativity and great footy, they was on the back foot for most of the game. And we should have well got something out of it. Oh well, great game for the nuetral, eh Burgerman?

Raffamuffin, Aurelio has the best delivery in our squad. Over the course of a season, he would be worth his inclusion in assists alone, IMHO.

You could argue against Aurelio’s inclusion but dropping Kuyt. Not with with you there mate. You never know what you have until it’s gone!

Oh and I’ll be disappearing now, just smoked a fatty. But as for best teams/11′s and the thinness of our squad…. my arse.

This team is full of cracking players now and Rafa’s favourite things… Kwality and Options.

Think of the midfield we can put out when their all fit, and all the types of footy they can play with the different formations and personel… Thank fuck I got a bet on them when things were at their worst.

FS, I did see Skrtel having some treatment but never thought anything of it.

Anyway, as you have said, I think that it’s just a dip in form but, for now, I do prefer the Dagger lad with Carra in central defence. One good’un and one tough’un is always a good combo.

I couldn’tgive a toss right now. I’m listening to this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3mMuhKvXQ

Come to think of it, I might even be in the film an all

Aitch, the ‘league cup’ match against the Arse should suffice for the mascher. So he will be available for selection for the Fulham match.

This is a massive game for us and we need to keep the momentum going. Fulham away is not easy and I don’t see any reason why the aquaman should not be on the bench, as a minimum. They are not a ‘Bolton’ after all.

roarin-red – the Bot!

That used to be my local at the time.

Many great times and these are only football related:
- Gothenburg beating the manure in the CL (Great)
- Liverpool 4-3 against Newcastle (unbelievable)
- Liverpool 4-3 against Newcastle (unbelievable)
- FA cup final against the Arse (bad then good)
- Bayern Leverkusen game against the Pool (bad)
- Bayern Leverkusen game against the mancs (Great)

and I could go on…

Anyway, when I plan to go back, I will give you a shout.

BTW, is the Eglantine Inn still crap!

BTW, I first met my now wife in the Bot.

Funny how that did not come to the top of the list. Not right, but that’s how my brain works!

Nice clip that from New York FS.

Feel sorry for the Manc? He was lucky we won I think.

Disappointed with Babel at Arsenal, how the fuck didn’t he convert that tap in?

Deggen would have scored if his left foot wasn’t just for standing on and Aquilani was proberly denied a penalty because the ref felt Senderos had no chance of getting out of the way – fair enough.

Voronin gave the ball away for their first goal and Skrtel showed us why we are so very lucky to have Agger. Great to see Aquilani out there. Class.

Ha ha! Cheers for that @56 Fatty, what a day. Yeah was chatting to Conner after the game, he’s the vice president of the New York Liverpool supporters club and a sound man as you point out. He was on the rip all that weekend with the lad beside him in the clip, Tony Anonins I think his name was. Anyway Conner stood up on the bar at halftime to make an announcement welcoming Tony to New York and the bar. Tony, you see, is an ex-pat Scouser living in New Mexico who was a major player over here in getting Steven Cohen off the air and worked for many many many hours with Conner and LFCNY to organise and rally the base and organize the boycott. So that went down with a massive roar and round of applause as you can imagine. And Tony drank for free from there on out! Never got to meet Conny but I’m sure I will in the future. You can barely make me out from time to time when the camera pans to the left. I’m the big redhead standing in the middle of the bar where the two doors are behind. Im in me white Torres top. Well, I think its amber now from all the ale soaked in it! Its a day that will live long in the memory….and one I’m still not fully recovered from!

Is that some new rule I’m not aware of?
Since when did Cup matches count as League matches?

Music night going on here, so I’m not that arsed about footy. But before I go , I want to say one thing, well two..
1: Remeber as Gerry said… 3 parts to the league, Crimbo, Easter, Finsish… it’s still on.
2: Many many teams will be taking points of our oppositon….
As far as I know, last year the mancs won it on a record total… not sure about that. I don’t take that much notice of the horrible bastards. But I don’t think we’ll need to win so many points this year.

I’ll look for you Digger. And I know Tony. Another good red. I chat with him from time to time.

Off now… LFC TV – Kop Talk, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Our Elvis, Johnny Cash, Rolf Harris.

Decisions. Decisions.

No life being a redeh.

Sorry Lurg, my apologies, you are correct in that the League Cup does indeed count as “the next game”

“As of 2008, in England if a direct red card is shown, then the player in question is dismissed from the field immediately and normally faces a one, two or three-match ban depending on the offence, which exceeds the FIFA minimum. Suspensions apply to the player’s next competitive domestic matches, whether these be in League or Cup competitions”

What a cracking game
In fairness Arsenal bossed the midfield.
I was pissed off with Babel giving the ball away too easily early on but he had some good spells too.
Thought Voronin did well and showed good commitment and heart and had some nifty touches too.(remember he had just picked up a knock when he gave the ball away for the goal)
What about Insuas goal….lets hope its not a once off and that should give him great confidence.
I feel had Deggen squared to Babel for his miss it could of been a different sceal.
And I have to admit Aqualung looks the dogs bollicks (not a knee-jerk just a good feeling)
Lucas should send a few ‘snotted-on’ envelopes over to the chelsea dressing room.(poor fella but im glad he’s getting some time off on the back of a great performance, he must be feeling pretty good about himself apart from the pig flu)

Knight your totally right about the blog if not for Gerry I wouldn’t of had as good a time in Malaysia or Bankok. Im actually heading back to Ireland for christmas and would like to hook up with Fatty for the Spurs game on Jan 10th

Thats the craic she said with one leg up on the table

Over and out

Fatty I have to agree about all ‘this and that’about the Arse youngsters (albiet some of them look class) Ramsay looks the bollix .
Pity Rafa couldn’t afford him
Anyway I watched the game with sky sports coverage (1st time in years)and there was a commentator that sounded like Jonathon Woss and I must admit I was pretty pretty close to throwing my whole computer out the window listening to this fucker.
The end

Over and out

Aitch, Rafa said Aqualung won’t start at Fulham. Re did not say he will not play. He says Aqualung will be eased into the game with more time given with each game as his fitness progresses.So likely aqualung will be on the bench and comes in 25 minutes before time.

Seems that all the carraghers are the same:

JAMIE CARRAGHER’S dad articulated it bluntly, but best. At around 3.45pm last Sunday Carragher senior popped his head into the Anfield press room and enquired: “What are you going to put in your papers now?” (slightly edited version)

Good on him.

The full article is here:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/10/30/dave-prentice-jamie-carragher-s-dad-highlight-liverpool-fc-press-attacks-100252-25048462/

No need to apologise Aitch.

I enjoyed that youtube clip FS, I’m gonna watch it again and look out for Digger.

As for the Arse game. I really enjoyed the match. Just pissed off with one thing. Voronin bollacking team mates during the whole game while playing utter shite himself.

Skrtle’s defending is very suspect at the moment. Got beaten by Bendter far too easily. Good thing Agger has found form.
Aquaman looked good in his 15 mins. Can’t wait until he is match fit.

By the way – I can’t put Paul McGrath’s autobiography down. Nearly finished it.

Not much chat here yet about tomorrow’s game, which in my eyes, is a very tricky one ideed. Last season although we needed a last minute winner from Benny – we absolutely battered Fulham hitting the woodwork 3/4 times I think. I think tomorrow will much tougher – Fulham’s confidence will be sky high after that 2-2 with the Sheiks from Manchester. I’d love a 1-0 sneaky win but my head tells me this is gonna be a score draw

Arthur, we’ll get 3 points.

Fatty, the Mancs 90 points last season was their second highest after (91 in 2000).The Chavs won their 2 titles with 95 and 90 points and the Arse won in 2004 with 90.If SG doesn’t play tomorrow then it may be Masher and Plessis in the middle which isn’t very encouraging.Babel could play as a link between midfield and attack down the middle.1-0 win @ best (Torres 24).Why not start with Aqua, wrap the game by half-time and then sub him?.

Burgerman – Aquilani looked good in his brief cameo on Wednesday – but that was practically a glorified friendly – no way Rafa is risking starting him in tomorrow’s match. And even he did (which he wont) – I doubt we’d have the game “wrapped by half time” – I don’t think he’s THAT good is he?

LB, re your post at #10. Were you saying that you couldn’t handle a few loud mouthed manure fans? Lol

The Reds don’t have a great record in London .The next 6 games will make or break the season.Still reckon they can win tomorrow.

And then what will the papers say if we win the next 6….

What they always fucking say of course… Liverpool’s season can end in the next 6 games.

FFS there’s 28 left, let’s at least get a few of them out of the way before you hand it over to the Arse

Boogeley, boogeley boggling, boing!

FS are you sure about Lucas and the flu? cant find any link on the net.

gerrard and johnson out for sure. will be an interesting team selection.

YNWA

Me mate told me, he’s got it. He’s usually right on these things.

if that is true and also seems aquilani is down with a virus, what team are we looking at?
————pepe———–
degen – carra – agger – insua
kuyt – mascha – benny – aurelio
—— ngog ——-torres —-

i dont think rafa will put benny in the hole and either of plessis/spearing in midfield. not only did these 2 play on tuesday, dont think they are ready for this game. it could be either of ngog or babel. cant even think of our bench.

YNWA

Don’t know who he’ll put out mate, but I know he’ll be demanding this of all of them…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrTbG6dql74&NR=1

Can’t ask for any more really.

Oh and people should really read that link that Lurgan put up in comment #86…
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/10/30/dave-prentice-jamie-carragher-s-dad-highlight-liverpool-fc-press-attacks-100252-25048462/

That’s the attitude we need. Fuck the press.

Just came across this. Cut and pasted from Rafa’s press conference, seems Lucas is okay but we’ve got plenty of problems…

“Steven Gerrard still has a problem with his groin and he will not be available tomorrow,” said the Reds boss.

“He went to play with England and he got the injury. He was rested for two days, but after the first training session, he had the same problem.

“We were bringing him back in, but he could only play 25 minutes against Lyon. Since then he has progressed, but he’s still not good so we have to be careful.

“We don’t think he needs surgery and he is just working with the physios and at this moment we just keep going with the treatment.”

To add to Benitez’s problems, Glen Johnson is out with a calf problem, while Alberto Aquilani has been laid low by a virus, although Fernando Torres and Lucas are available.

“Glen Johnson has a small tear in his calf and he cannot play,” he said. “He should be back in four or five days.

“Aquilani has a virus and could not train because of it. It is not swine flu and he just has a virus.

“Lucas was the same and was OK after one or two days so maybe it will be the same with him.”

Therefore I reckon it’ll be

Reina
Degen, Carra, Agger, Insua
Benny, Masch, Lucas, Aurelio
Kuyt, Torres

Nothing to do with nothing this. I just want a moan…
I’m rooting round the internet, trying to find flights and hotels for the Debrecen away game. The robbing bastards. They do it for every Champion’s league game now… ram the prices right up two days before and after the game. Something needs doing about that.

Return flight from Luton to Budapest can normally be had for 52 quid. They are all over a hundred from the 23rd to the 26th. Does my bloody head in.

Maybe it`s Aquaman has the flu!

We`ll just have to soldier on.Kelly could fit in for Johnson although Rafa might opt with Skrtle.

Good news about lucas indeed and Masch has served his ban so were sorted there.

Rafa might go with;

Reina,
Ninja,carra,agger,insua
masch,lucas
kuyt,benny,aurelio
torres.

Good vid on the NY supporters club some craic there Digger i`d say.

I`ll be listening to the game on the wireless tomorrow as i`m in the middle of night shifts so i won`t be going out and i`ve cancelled Shitanta.

Who`s that FS ryanair?

Please no Skrtel in the right back position…I really like the lad but he absolutely stinks there.
Is Kelly fit yet? i’d still choose him over Degen despite his reasonably good game on Tuesday…

I doubt it but Rafa might use the 3 centre half option again, and stick Aurelio in the middle.

And it’s Easy Jet Timmy, but they all do it. The robbing bastards.

Lurgan you must have been a bot head if you met your wife there lol I’m sure you enjoyed some of those games,it gets a great footy atmosphere.
By all means let me no when your up next an we’ll get down for a game.
Cant believe im coming on here and reading comments that’s say thank god lucas is fit……. wot a difference a week makes eh. we’ll hopefully we’ve enough fire power to take them tomorrow. Mark my words though, that fulham defence will be shitting in their pants at the thought of facing el nino.

COME ON YOU REDS.

My team:

Riena
Kelly Carra Agger Insua

Mascherano

Lucas Aurelio

Kuyt Benyaoun

Torres

I’m still rooting round for flights and hotels, so I put a podcast by English journalists from last Sunday. I won’t put up the link. I wouldn’t put me worst enemy through it. It’s a proper disgrace. I won’t even bother to repeat some of the shit I heard coming out of them.

But what really got on me nerves was the real glee in their voices and their laughing while talking about Liverpool’s problems both on and off the field. Even the way they said Rafa’s name was bad, spit out with real venom…
Benitez!

And of course Fergie and Sir Alex was said with the greatest of reverie and arse licking.

How any of our fans can side with these bastards over Rafa is beyond me.

Q. WHAT MAKES ROARIN-RED HAPPY??

A. COMING HOME AND FINDING OUT THAT YOUR GOING
TO THE BIRMINGHAM GAME ON MONDAY THE 9TH.

GET IN THERE YOU WEE RIPPER!!

Rafa’s Record at all the clubs he managed:

Team Games Win Loss Win%
Tenerife 42 21 10 50
Valencia 163 87 33 53.37
Liverpool 291 165 60 56.70

Thats quite impressive. I never bothered to check that.

Maybe if you had checked some facts in the first place you wouldn’t have made a tit of yourself!

FS it seems everyone and his dog involved in LFC Inc is a robbin bastard. Hospitality packages, hotels, airfares. Have a look at Ryan air fares for Saturday morning coming in and Sunday coming out. Dramatic difference.
.
Another one, LFC has hospitality packages at the Sandon for 108 pounds Ticket/lunch/drinks. However their contractor only sells the 108 pound package for 245 pounds. And we think the touts rip people off.
.
Even the Ferry price back to Ireland is dearer on the Sunday of a match. As you can see my daughter and I are going to Ireland after the LFC match. Possibly might go before because I don’t think I can stomach 500 pounds followed by accommodation. Actually got a quote from over here that come in at 1800.00 dollars. Travel agent thought that was fair as it included 2 nights accommodation. Has she ever been to Liverpool.
.
Anyway back to the blog, those stats, the one that sticks out for me, has Rafa been here for 291 games already, shit LFC play some games in a short period of time. The win ratio may be 56% but the loss ratio is only around 20, thats a decent result.

Lads, the Arsenal game was on Wednesday, not Tuesday!

Skrtel cannot play at right back, and I trust Rafa discovered that at Middlesborough last February. Deggen must play if he’s fit. I’ve not heard that he isn’t fit and if he’s O.K to go he should be able to deal with playing on Wednesday Evening and then Saturday Afternoon.

Benny, IMHO, has to play close to Torres, giving him the chance to use his trickery to put Torres through again, as he did against the Mancs.

In an attacking sense, Benny and Torres striking up an understanding in SG’s absence is vital.

Lucas has hopefully recovered from his illness and let’s hope Aquilani will be well enough to continue his progress at Lyon next Wednesday.

My team at Fulham

Reina
Deggen Carra Agger Insua

Kuyt Masch Lucas Babel/Aurelio

Benny

Torres

Fulham 0 Reds 2

Roarin, Pleased to hear your’e going to the Bimingham game.

I hope for your sake and LFC fans sakes eveywhere that we break our Monday night hoodoo.

We never seem to win on a Monday night, the last game being a 3-1 reverse in August against the other mob from the second city!

Fingers crossed for a home win on Monday the 9th!

Steve mate I’d love to come in here and be sure of a win but i turn into a bag of nerves during nearly any match and would feel solely responsible if we didn’t get a result.
However what i will say is this will be my 11th time at anfield and my stats are as follows:

won:10 drew:1 lost:0

117 – OK Roarin-red here’s the deal. You go to the match and I won’t go to the local where my ratio is about the opposite to yours. We can’t fail !!!

Fulham we will win if we score first, imho. If they do … then it’s gonna be real tough. Benny needs a big one tomorrow and I think he’ll produce.

I saw the Arse game and (albeit tv) I didn’t rate Spearing and especially Plesis on that game. I actually thought Vorro played some good ball but I get the feeling he can’t buy a goal. Deegan – here comes a cliche – looks decent going forward. Skyrtl brittle, Babel looks down on himself and everything. Ngog flying.

Dougle even though I enjoyed the Carling Cup game, I thought it was quite sad that Voronin provided most of out penetrating balls/passes.
.
Spearing and Plessis were shown to be very basic. Sadly though one player who was given the greatest chance failed in my opinion. Babel looked third rate, he looked worse than most of the team, I even noticed Voronin trying to pump him up as they walked down the tunnel. He’s just not good enough and seems to have given up.
.
Degen should have scored, otherwise run well.

Hello

FS – Congratulations on the becoming a grand dad. I hope you have already added the another member to LFC fan base…

Gerry – Belated happy birthday. Do let us know if Uma does turn up with or without the cream

@Team – What is it with injuries? It seems we only half the last year’s first team available. And BBC had a scary story about Gerrad needing a surgery. I think we have to quell some sort of voodoo spell

@Carling cup game – It was the first time I saw degen play. His attack play was good. I was delighted to Aquaman as well. He had a great pass for Degen.. Kuyt, though, looked a bit flat. I hope he is not running himself into ground.. Cavalieri too was not impressive. But I have not seen him play a lot. so would notjump to criticism..

I hope (and pray) that we get a win at Fulham without injuring any more folks..

Thats a deal dougle. Cant wait to get over now.3points needed today just to shut the media up who are praying for us to mess up.

COME ON YOU REDS.

I don’t know this for definite but I’ve heard Agger and Skrtle are both out. I got told they’ve both kopped for that virus what’s floating about

I was a Perakian…

My team for the night

Reina

Deggen Agger Carra Insua

Benny Masch Aurelio Babel

Kuyt Torres

err… Fulham 1-2 Liverpool?

I hope your sources are wrong FS. Or we’ll struggle to field a side at Craven Cottage.

I hope so to LB. It’s not one of me reliable mates, so I’m hopeful it’s wrong.

I’m going to ask a controversial question. Is Gerrard a crock? If not is he likely to become one in the next couple of years?

If it is true, I’d expect to see something like this…
Reina

Degen Carra Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Lucas Mascherano

Kuyt Benayoun
NGog or Vronin
Torres

I might play Insua over Aurelio, but whoever plays, the bench will be looking rather baldy though

Bench (fuck knows): Cavalieri, Ayala, Babel, N’Gog, Spearing, Plessis, Darby

Just saw the Gerrard question… the lad has had the same reoccuring problem with his groin. I think it might need an operation to sort it out. But when’s he going to get the time, season’s truly on now and then there’s a World Cup at the end. I think it’s sort of like Aquilani’s problem… getting over played when he could do with a proper rest for at least a couple of months.

It could get worse as he gets older, but I think he’ll adapt his game and could go on as top class player until he’s 35 or so.

Whatever happens, we won’t half miss him when does go. The lad is immense and maybe just about the best LFC player I have ever seen.

Very frustrating considering the number of pointless games Stevie has played for Ingerland

i thought he had surgery on it a few years back as well…

The line up is:
Reina
Insua. Degen, Kyriagos,Cara
Kuyt, Benny, Masch, Lucas
Voronin, Nando.

Yeah Alec is right. He had surgery on last year and had about a month out. The amount of times the same injury has occurred – well I’ve lost count.

Team News: Reina, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Voronin, Torres.

Subs: Gulacsi, Babel, Spearing, Plessis, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala.

So no Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Riera, Aqualani and Gerrard. Had we had those players on the ground/bench its class, but at the moment we are bare. How unlucky can we get hey.

Looks like Auerellio is out aswell. Fucks sake

Very impressed with lucas so far, ball dispossal has been top notch.
Degen and kuyt seems like they have played together for ages.

Ohh shite, as I type we concede

Can’t believe the bullshit commentary at the moment. They are saying it was a gamble that back fired for rafa (picking degen over johnson). Total fools

seriously Akka, seems like you are also stuck with ESPN fools

yes, Nando scores

I’m pretty sure I’ve got the sly, I mean sky, commentary. Ffs bolton get a man sent off in injury time and give a penalty to the chavs.

Someone please choke those commentators. Already an ache to concede in the circumstances we are in and we have two jokers as commentators.

This is so typical. We are running the game. First time Reina touches the ball is when he is picking it out of the net. Combination of a mis-hit shot and 4 defenders not looking at one attacker. I was really worried that this would happen. Fulham playing a containing game, as usual, and frustration building on the reds side.
However, cometh the hour cometh the man, step up ‘Nando.

So 45 mins gone and we are back where we started. At least psychologically we have pulled them back and should be well up for this now. Next goal absolutely vital, I would say uber-vital for our season. We need to score and win, simple!

Oops. Not looking good now.

This ref is a fucking wank job. Did u see how he was pushing the fulham player down.

Liverpool making it a little difficult for ourselves right now. How about a goal lead and we’ll play with 9 ?

All gone Pete Tong…..

Ohh jamie got the ball.

Well its a good night from me. I won’t be back here for some time to come knowing the usual knee jerk bullshit that’s about to come.

holy shit
is this a game when we can genuinely call the ref a wanker!!
i’ve never heard happier commentators than the ones on Slysports
as im typing were down to 9 men and 3-1 down and I can hear ‘youll never walk alone’

dont give a fuck what anyone says we’re the epitome of the team to emulate

never been more proud of our support

lets hope someone kicks the tits off the skysports commentator after his finished scraping his pants off

You’ll never walk alone

over and out

Akka

fuck the knee jerk what is there to say

we lost!!

were eastbound and down but not out!!

Hope we have a few players for the next game

were they straight red cards because if they were they were a fuckin disgrace

over and out

btw ……………………it was ALL Rafas fault for subbing Torres ………………..
……………..Not you fucking knobheads(for the knee jerkers)

Over and out

When I heard ynwa I was bloody proud to support this club. I’m dissapointed, but for me this isn’t the end, till its mathematically impossible, even then ill support them.

Well said DFTG..well said. These commentators should just drop down and die..full of shittalk of our ‘demise’ etc. Those fans..how I wish I were amongst them singing YNWA.

Ref is defo a wanker

the guy commenting on sky looks like bilbo bagging but even ole bilbo would have something better to say!!

says a lot in this day and age

Over and out

Ride on SOAK
Over and out

I made a post but the server seemed unstable so it’s gone.

Anyway, besides calling this game the Halloween Perfect Storm, I don’t know what else to call it:

1. Nearly half our regular team was wiped out by some unknown virus

2. Fulham nicking a goal despite being dominated in possession

3. Torres with injury doubt (ice pack on knee after being subbed)

4. Ref going bonkers

Unlike these retarded press vultures, I still see plenty of straws to clutch on and still go on, so I refuse to say anything overly negative.

Besides the above points which were beyond Rafa’s control, my only gripe with him today was withdrawing Benny halfway, I know he’s tired and much needed for the Lyon game, but if he can play and the game isn’t over, he should be allowed to continue.

wow…5 losses in october is not something i would have deemed possible at the start of the year. still, there it is…

incredible injuries list, collective mentality, collective form, a beach ball, now silly tackles and red cards…

what a series of events. what a change in atmosphere from last week.

YNWA

what a brilliant performance by liverpool. loved it.

Ok in fairness I was probably more proud at half-time in istanbul
but I was pretty pretty damn proud!!HaHa

I have to say lads Im happier to listen to the auld korean commentators (who dont know shit and only care about Park Ji Sung and partly about Hienz Ward(the Korean part)) Than listen to another second of those sky sports wankheads

The fuckbag that presents the show is probably the biggest bollicks I’ve ever came across
(not that I’ve came across many big bollicks’ it’s just a figure of speech!!)

Over and out

No need for the knobhead sarcasm KopKing.

On to proper footy talk. I think Benny was subbed because he is our only remaining attacking player that has some flare, and if we lost him, we would be up the creek for the another 3-4 games (if torres doesnt pull up well, gerrard is still out, aqualani is some time away).
We had 7 first team players out today (Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Aqua, Riera, Aurellio), we had the game by the balls but something didnt click.

Excellent post Kopking #155

Thanks for your contribution

Ohh and on top of thqt, 2 reds.

Things went for from bad to worse in the 2nd half. I have never heard match commentary as biased as today. Skysport team should be feeling ecstatic for their own team selection and probably this was the story which the entire british media needed. Big time pressure will be on Rafa ahead of the Lyon game again.

My analysis:

1st Half we were as good as it can get. Total domination. Amazing control. I keep saying that we are perhaps short on goal scorers. It again got proved today. Torres is world class and i am quite sure that with Aqualani and Gerrard in that Liverpool team playing consistently el Nino will be more lethal.

2nd Half we started well. Rafa’s substitution were a bit strange and i am sure the english press will make big stories out of that. Torres one was understandable but such is the scarcity of finishers in the team that Fulham almost said “Thank You Rafa” when he went off. I didnt understand why Benny Onion was taken off. Eccelstone looks a good prospect though.

Overall i will reckon we were undone by bad luck, pathetic referee and yes absence of enough goal scoring threats on the day.

I couldnt give a flying toss about what all the pundits, experts even some ‘supporters say’.

Its not over till its mathematically over. Even if that point comes, I couldnt care either, cause i love the club above everything else. Made me proud hearing the fans sing today, thats what the club has been built on, and thats what its all about.

???????

lol…are some of you really delusional..this is it!!!…had enough of these gutless performances…i doubt we’re fininshing even top 5…too ashamed to wear this jersey anymore!!

A bad loss today. 1-3 and 2 red cards which were a bit harsh in my opinion.
Torres and benny going off I suspect would be to rest for the Lyon game in mid week.
Speculation has it that Pelligrini will lose his job to Rafa at Real Madrid. Madrid pays Rafa’s Stg 20 million ( for 5 years tenure) compensation and sends Alonso over for Free. G&H accepts it and appoints Dalglish as Manager. What do you say to that?

you cant be serious Knight mate!!

I`d say we`d be a mid table team in 2 years!

how can u say that TT?

We are about to win the title this season

I wish that things would just turn around for us and some _______ (fill in all the expletives here) will all eat their humble pie and shit it out and then eat it all over again at the end of the season. Such is my contempt for them.

..sorry for that outburst…

kopking is a real hero. thank god we have supporters like him around to remind us what it means to support your team through thick and thin.

Kopking go back and play with your action figures.

It`s amazing how they all pop up after a defeat alec,there like bloddy toasters!

I`m not going to bother with them.

Oh well, what can you do. That was always on the cards. I only told you half the story when I came in earlier… On top of Agger and Skrtle being out I was told Torres and Lucas probably wouldn’t make it either.

Lucas is still wiped from this bloody mystery virus. Not an excuse. You could see it, and who’s ever heard of anyone shaking off the flu virus in 2 days… Not me. That’s for sure.

Torres was also playing with a couple of injuries. I know he had a ice bag on his knee but I got told he had a pull in his thigh and stomache muscles.

I don’t think I can remember anything like this. It just seems like there’s a huge cloud hanging over all things LFC.

One thing I know for sure… the knives will really be out for Rafa this week. You think them tits who questioned why he left out Johnson are bad, just wait till you see the headlines tomorrow. He will get absolutely murdered. I haven’t turned on a radio or telly since the final whistle… What’s the point. I can tell you exactly what will be going on on there.

Every little bad thing the “Experts” can think of about us will be said with absolute glee and they will be spitting out the name BEN-IT-EEEEZ with as much venom as they can muster. Really sad thing is we have people like Kop King (Worse use and miss-use of a name I’ve ever seen) amongst us who just can’t wait to agree with them and stick their knives in.

Oh well, sad times. But don’t worry. It will turn round and he who laughs last laughs loudest.

Knight my friend, Dalglish’s day has been and gone. But thankfully he’s loyal to the club and the gaffer. The only thing he’ll be doing at Anfield is his very best to help out in these troubled times.

I’d say we’re a mid-table team now Tim.

Fuck it. I’m skint, but I’ve just cheered meself right up… booked for Debrecen. Flight, transport to the airport and 2 nights stay in a 4 star hotel – 450 nicker for me and She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Yep. The missus is coming… it’s only 2 quid a packet of ciggies. She’s a strong lass for her small stature, and we’ll have to pay for it somehow.

Liverpool football club i love you even more!! two men off gettin beat 3-1 and still singing our anthem at the end…….. were else would ya get it.

I’m pretty drunk now and just watched blackburn fall apart an old scumford. well somethings will never change.

as for any fuckin dickheads who’s posts i see tomorrow who are happy we lost i hope you an your family die slow painful deaths.

YNWA
YNWA
YNWA

Great stuff there roarin, just classy top drawer stuff….

I was shocked and stunned when my Son called me to tell me the result from Craven Cottage. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

Save from beating the Mancs, October has been an absolute disaster for LFC. Six defeats in Seven matches!

Hope November proves to be a better month for us.

Since Manchester City acheived it in the 1967-68 season, no team has managed to win the title after losing 5 of their first 11 matches. We have to re-write the history books now.

I think you could safely say the man is depressed Digger. Can’t see anything to bollack him for over that. I’m not in the best of moods myself, but that’s when I do my best to get behind the lads and Debrecen is the next game I can make it to. It’s what supporters do.

Well hello there!

Just seen “highlights” on RTE (Irish Tv).
Firstly, (IMHO) neither player deserved a red card. Carra even got the ball and if I’m not mistaken Zamora backed him up but the Ref was having his day. Degan didn’t get anywhere near the man (nor the ball) and it was a flapping foot waving, I mean we all know that guy ain’t going to put the boot in.

Secondly just look at who Rafa had today to make up the team and the bench. Kyriokas (bargain basement, and looked it), Degan, a free and Vorro also a free. As for the bench, Dosser and Babel, rafa’s possibly 2 current worst signings and a bunch of kids.

Thirdly, Torres and Lucas both playing sick/injured.

So we had 2 men off incorrectly, a half fit team, a defense playing together for the first time with 2 guys on or about premiership debuts. We still dominated the game first half and were toe to toe until we went 2-1 down and then down to 9 men.

Still you might say that Rafa got it wrong ? I would have tried Benny in the hole and Babel on the wing myself. It’s a matter for debate.

But Ronnie Whelan doesn’t see it like that. “Rafa has shown his true colours today,he only wants to win in Europe to get himself a good job there. He doesn’t care about the league (and by extention the vast majority of Liverpool support). Just look at the team and the substitutions he made” …… etc etc etc …..
Just look at me in my pomp with my opinions, who likes it bitter baby? Dunphy has a rival.

What a moron. This dope is getting paid to NOT do his research. The dog in the streets knew that the squad is injury ravaged and he makes out that ALL of the team decisions were made from a more or less full squad.

Take it away Ronnie you are a F**king moron.

Whelan is one of the worst. I don’t know why, but he really hates Rafa. I wouldn’t mind if it was from some sort of loyalty to the club and he thought it best Rafa was gone. It’s just some sort of crusade.

MOTD was a bit more subtle. Had Liverpool on first. Tell me when Liverpool are ever on MOTD first – if we aren’t playing the other 3? It hasn’t happened in donkeys. And the camera kept zooming in onto Rafa sweating. It should have just had one of them little subliminal SACK HIM messages in the background.

I’m off to bed. I can’t be arsed talking about these experts and the bollacks they spout… A lot of good arse holes went to waste when they give that lot teeth.

There are some decent reporters, and I don’t just mean fellas like Barrett or any other reds. There’s quality in depth analysis done in the better quality papers. Fink Tank in The Times is good, and it’s written by a Man U supporter. But except for a few exceptions the British media has sunk to a very low level. Whether it’s the papers, television or the radio – they all play the same game. Talk Shite, Sly Sports… they’re just The Sun in another guise.

I remember years back, The Daily Mirror was a decent paper. It was the working man’s paper in this country, but it wasn’t written by morons for morons like it is today…
Page One: Huge over hyped headline, not about an earthquake or something truly important, usually Kattie and Peter, or Simon Cowell or insert this weeks celeb here.
Page 2: Politics, usually get our brave boys home.
Page 3: Tits.
Page 4: Bingo.
Pages until the sport: Celebrity gossip, TV Times.
Sports pages: Big Sam, Appy Arry, Wrighty, Stan The Man, Sir Alex, Fergie… BEN-IT-EEEEZ Spanish manager destroys Kop.

I could honestly sit and write any of the red tops, well probably all of them, in the next ten minutes, while also knocking out the headlines and scripts for Sly Sports News and Talk Shite.

In fact, I tell you what… Here’s the Sunday Supplement from Sky tomorrow. That’s the show that pretends to be the thinking footy fans show – 4 journos sitting round discussing football all celebrally. And I tell you now, the journalists will be from The Sun, The Daily Mirror, News Of The World (Or 3 of that type) 1 from the Observer or so on. And for the next 40 minutes they will rip into LFC Rafa, spend 10 minutes kissing “Sir Alex’s” arse, spend 5 minutes or so on the rest of the Prem, and then round it off by ragging Rafa/LFC with the last 5 minutes.

It’s just the way it is. It won’t stop even when we win the league. There has always been an agenda against us. Paranoia? Nah. Just ask anyone who’s seen it for forty years, win lose or draw.

But having said all that, there is huge problems at our club…. Lack of money, Wrong Owners, lack of confidence, injuries, thiness of squad.

Yes. There’s plenty of things that are wrong. But don’t expect any journalist/expert to point them out. It doesn’t fit the agenda. They’re job is to sell papers and get you to watch/listen. So they take the easy option… slag Rafa, LFC, and them Scousers.

Even though the fact is… All the statistics prove Rafa has LFC punching above it’s weight. The proof is out there. And the likes of Ronnie fucking Whelan and Souness can stand the fact that proper kopites see right through their shite, and still back Rafa to the hilt.

Rant over. Your turn Kop King. Night Night.

I know Fatty, who isnt depressed? We all are but going around calling fellow reds who have adiffering opinion to his ‘fucken dickheads’ is hardly gonna help matters is it? Not exactly the most insightful representation of footballs ‘most knowledgeable fans’ there eh? And I know you were drunk Roarin but fuck me what sort of a comment was that ‘slow painful death’ for anyone to come out with nevermind a Liverpool fan? Most knowledgeable fans…..it would appear our number is dwindling.

Well I’m broken, not because we were beaten by Fulham, they are never a 3 points in the bag team, it’s because in my opinion we conceded defeat after about 65 minutes.
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When your backs against the wall you either cover up and concede defeat or you fight like a madman and try to win. Today it looked like we give up because we need to win on Wednesday. I for one don’t like this type of attitude, my club has never, and should never give up a chance to win a game.
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I fully expect to get jumped on with this comment but regardless of flu, injuries, playing staff, at the end it’s still a red shirt playing against someone else. The media may run around with some exuses for LFC but we as supporters find just as many.
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When a player like Babel is on the bench in a time of dire sickness and injury then he should hang his head in shame.
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I don’t care that they lost, it’s the manner in which they lost in the last 20 minutes.
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For the record we lost midweek but I thought the lads went down with the ship and never shirked the issue.
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Come on lads time to rally. Reds till your dead.

Funny thing I was frustrated with Kuyt for keeping the ball in and subsequently Konchesky putting the cross in for the goal.

But then i saw the replay, and saw all the players standing around expecting a throw in. In games like that I think we need some more desperation and show our hunger (like kuyt chasing everything down and not letting their players get into rhythm)

In my view the subbing of Torres changed the game, and not because Rafa subbed Torres, but because of what Torres was doing on the pitch and what Babel didnt do when he came on.

Torres would drop deep, make runs left and right, so not only did the fulham defence have to make sure he had no chances to shoot, the entire back 4 was accountable as he was all over the.
When Babel came on, he just sat in the middle and wasnt too bothered. Thats why i prefer Ngog, the lad is hungry and does the team work.

I’m touched that we don’t have many knee-jerkers here in Kopblog. Like many, I’m very disappointed with the result.

But I trust the team. I believe they’ll turn things round.

It’s strange that history seems to be repeating itself. Remember our loss to Reading when Gerrard and Torres were taken out just to prepare for a crucial Champions League game? Now it’s Torres and Benayoun.

Rafa is facing immense pressure in the Champions League due to our bad start, and if we’re out of it, he’d probably be booted out as well, as was in the case a few years back. I’d have subbed Benayoun & Torres to save my job if I were in his shoes. So to Whelan and Souness I’d just say that they haven’t even the chance to manage such huge expectations at a high level. Just ignore them.

Axchoice, i can definately see why Rafa subbed Torres and Benny.

Torres was already carrying a knock, and ht was getting kicked by Fulham all over the park. Considering our problems, we couldnt let him be injured, and we should have had enough to beat Fulham, who havent been performing well either.

Benny went off because we dont have anyone else to fill the void that Stevie has left. If Benny had gotten injured we would have been worse off.

@Akka

The reason you gave for Benny’s substitution does not make sense. We needed to get the 3 points and Benny Onion was the only player who could score and win us the match.

I dont know whether people here will agree or not but we rely heavily on Torres/Gerrard to score the goals. I have kept saying for a long time, we lack enough players who can score the goals.

Kuyt for example is a great player,works so hard and is a great asset but i can never look at him and say that the lad will bail us out and win us matches with that one ‘moment of brilliance’.

Rafa will be under presure but the fact is with a second choice side we played amazing football in the 1st half. Things are not going right and a lot of it is about destiny. We have to keep believing that things will turn around.

How doesnt it make sense?
Look at our injury list, if we add Benny to that we are screwed, considering at the moment he is the most creative player and has to fill the void Gerrard is likely to leave. From what i can see Benny is the main person to fill that position that Gerrard leaves when injured.

Kuyt has scored many important and valuable goals, in fact he put in some marvelous crosses against fulham.

Sure Benny could have scored in hindsight, but so could have the other players who were on the park, considering they are inernationals playing against Fulham.

The problem i saw was we were trying to walk the ball into the goals. We need to mix up taking chances from outside the box to crossing and passing. Fulham realised this and just became ultra compact. Maybe thats why Benny was subbed, being cute and tricky just wasnt working. Usualy we see benny break through the walls of midfield and defence, but it wasnt working for him yesterday.

We know we rely on Gerrard/Torres, everyone knows that, in fact they are our two best players. Its not only you who has been sayong we lack players who score, its every liverpool supporter. Hence the Silva/Villa rumours earlier. Unfortunately we are skint and couldnt buy a snickers bar without consulting RBS.

Also i think we took a bit too long to move the ball from defence to the midfield and so forth. Too many times we made 5-6 passes in our own half giving Fulham time to push back. With the team that we had, and the way fulham have been playing, i think itf we had moved the ball faster and allowed Nando/Benny and co to run at the back4 it might have been different.

Once again, thats all in hindsight, its easier said than done.

The lads will bounce back. 28 games to go, plenty of time for crazy events to occur.

I think Arsenal will fall off once the winter hits (they dont have the hard working, hard ball winning players). United will faulter if they have a few injuries and the chavs have the african nations cup.

Im a glass is half full kind of person. So there is a positrom this whole injury crisis. Players will be rested, most have already missed 3-4 games. So the team is fresher than everyone else.

Digger, you’ll have to excuse me….
FFS Somnath Lad, how many fucking times are you going to keep saying the same thing… We all bloody know how short we are upfront.

What is your point… do you think Rafa somehow hasn’t noticed that fact, or do you think he might be just trying to do the best he can with our two back up strikers – 1 a free transfer, 2 a 20 year old kid who cost us a million quid?

Or would you just like us all to say… Wow. We hadn’t really noticed that. What would you do about it?

We all know how short we are upfront. Do you realise we had a back four on the pitch that cost us 3 million quid, and 2 of the millions that Rafa had to really kick up to get hold of, plus a kid who’s still learning his trade – who Rafa has turned into a full international – and two fellas who’ve played 5 games for us between them.

We all know we have problems lad. Everyone and his dog knows it. Will we get any slack or sympathy for that…. My Arse! We will get slaughtered.

Honestly I’m not picking on you. And talk footy all you want and by all means even be critical. But don’t keep banging on about us being short up front. As keep that up, you might aswell do the presses job for them and just call us a two man team…

In fact, just leave that to the press, and try to practice what you preach… believe that things will turn round.

They will!

Well, our game in Lyon is live on the telly on Wednesday night so we’ll all be able to see the action as it happens.

Is Rafa putting the CL ahead of the PL? Probably, but I wouldn’t be suprised if he is under strict orders to make sure we stay in the CL at all costs.

As far as the Prem is concerned, if the Mancs were to win at the Chavs place next Sunday and we then beat Birmingham on the Monday night, we would have the deficit reduced from 9 points to 7 points. Clutching at straws? Just trying to put a positive spin on things!

Can’t sleep. It’s now 3am here in Malaysia and tomorrow I am working. Was unable to get into the kopblog website and had to go in via TIA. FS, were you are the Fulham game? You did say you were going.

The speculation regarding Rafa going off to Real Madrid was made by TV pundits on the South African channel. Cobra was using their satelite and decided to use that stream.

But Ya, the result was disappointing, especially since we played quite well and was mainly in control for the first 65 minutes or so. Then it all fell apart.

But I believe we will bounce back.

Couldn’t get onto the blog all day i kept getting directed to some blog server.

Anyway problem sorted for now. Gerry firstly want to apologise for #176 came in here after having a skinful and just vented my frustration in the wrong way. You and the team put to much good effort into this site,so im sorry for dragging it down.

Ok I’ve been ripped apart by all the mancs mates so im back to putting on the brave face,after watching the game its the first time I’ve really thought rafa got it badly wrong. I would not have anyone else in his place but the guys human an is gonna make mistakes though yesterdays seemed to be real bad ones.

I hate to see our players coming off with a temper and especially Benny as he scored the winner against them last season, and had the full believe he could have salvaged something from the game. Though i understood the torres one it gave fulham far to much believe it was actually like them scoring a goal. ironic isn’t it, torres is that good that when he leaves the field it works against us on so many levels.

well here we are again then back in with the doom and gloom. I can honestly say I’ve no fuckin idea where our season is going and this frighting run im expecting us to go on,i don’t know how or when its gonna start. When we get our players back???Will that ever happen???

I think its safe to say rafa is taking no chances on us going out of Europe so roll on Wednesday and get our spirits up with a moral boosting victory.

Digger mate you seemed to take that pretty bad so sorry to yourself,i was aiming my anger(trying to)
at the people who pretend to support the club. I love the differences in opinion in this blog between all GENUINE supporters.

Seems to me that the team just needs a kick in the pants, which should have been provided by the win against manure. They just looked flat throughout the whole game against fulham. Granted, fulham were content to park 10 behind the ball for the majority of the game, but our players also seemed content to stand around. Where were the runs off the ball?

I don’t think there’s any single person to blame, it seems to me that our woes result from a lack of energy throughout the entire team. I’m sure part of it is that so many players have been in and out of the lineup due to injury. So, fingers crossed for players to stay healthy, put together a run of results, and show the naysayers how they can play.

Somnath may sound like a broken record, or he may simply be an instant success been waiting twenty years guy. Either way he has an opinion and spends his time putting it out there.
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I have simply come to a stage where I blame the club and the people with power and positions.
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The club has been taking advantage of the most knowledgable supporters for decades.
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In my opinion number 1 holy grail for fans is the league, no 1 for club is top 4 and CL run. An old wise man said, win the game your in before we think about the next one. Right now who would take 4 points of the lead over a win a Lyon. I would.
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Long ago power that be realised we just keep packing in an out of date stadium paying premium prices, week in week out, any type of game. Finally though the club has been run as a State run Eastern European car factory. Run down dilapidated sold for peanuts, out go fleecum and scarper in come dumb and dumber.
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The only piece of honesty they brought was they left the “brand loyal fan” tag out of the bag. They seen how run down the club was, changed miniscul parts and are trying to flog it off for twice the money.
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They know the brand loyal fans will dutifully do whats required, turn up at all costs, expel, vilify anyone who questions. It’s the perfect protected market. Why wouldn’t the Americans want to stay. We’re fucking stupid and fed a diet of bullshit, whats worse we can’t get enough of it.
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Sorry for the rant lads but I’m in the win the game your in camp rather than wait and see what happens with the next one.
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PS (talk about taking the piss out of supporters, I have emailed the fucking club 6 times in 1 month and still no fucking reply. What is scouse for reply “senit bak.”) Thats my rant.

No problem at all Roarin. Pay no mind to me, was just as pissed off as yourself, fighting with all my might coming in here and going off on one and it wouldent have taken much to set me off. So no biggie mate, if your mood was as dark as mine yesterday I understand where you were coming from. Agree with you completely on Torres actually. Taking him off was conceding the game and Fulham knew it. Fair play to them, no complaints. I felt how Torres and Benni looked when coming off; ‘what the fuck??’

Talking about Torres and Benni Dig, can you understand why Benni wasn’t playing just behind Torres, thus increasing the chance of him setting Torres up with more perfectly waited passes like the one he gobbled up against the Mancs? No, neither can I!

It seems to me that Benni was wasted out on the left side of midfield against Fulham, as I thought he would have far more opportunity to link with Torres by playing just behind him. After SG and Torres, Benni is our most skilful player I think (not counting the soon to prove himself Aquilani of course!)

I’m not sure plyaing benny would have been the best move (in hindsight it might have maybe).
I think fulham were content to sit deep and in numbers and give no space at all through the middle area of the park.
So we really needed a hard player to sit behind torres, someone who could win physical contests.
Of course it didn’t really work out did it.

I guess we had little choice Steve if reports of this oh-so-virulent virus are as bad as portrayed. With Riera injured, Babel incapable of performing on the left and Aurelio apparently laid low Rafa was left with little option. So it was what it was I guess is the best we can say about that. One strange virus though is all I can say; Lucas has it but is able to play, Aurelio and Dagger have it but cant? Mmmm….. Hope I get the strain Lucas has if I catch it is all I can say.

Steve – I reckoned the same thing, Benny behind and close to Nando. But how would the rest of the team have set up ? Who plays out on the left ? Babel (as I mindlessly thought) ? I think the decision came down to Voronin or Babel and while neither have been pulling up trees the only place Voronin could play was in the centre. For me he took a shot on Voronin (who did not play very well ?).

For what it’s worth I think Fulham played too coyly against us in the first half but I reckon when Hodgson saw how easy it was to score he pushed them to push on at us. Our defense was flimsy and a disaster waiting to happen.

They were set up to do us yesterday. Their whole game is about soaking up and denying space and they have some experienced clever players up front. We had to make our superiority count in the first half but we were pretty toothless in truth and then we gave them a ridiculous goal and the big crack appeared in confidence.

Digger, maybe Lucas was also not 100% fit but what choice did he have ? Neither of the 2 central midfielders looked the part midweek.

Exactly Dougle. What choice did he have? Its becoming a season of choices or rather lack thereof. Rafas famous possiblities are rather limited. But one choice he did have made the wrong one was withdrawing Torres and Benny. The baffled looks on their faces said it all to me. At 1-1 we should have been battering them looking for a winner. Instead (it kills me to type this) we raised the white flag and it galvanised Fulham who duly and deservedly won the game. Fortune favours the brave….

Some of you do make me larf.

Its not about “prioritizing the CL over the League” … if Rafa was doing that, he wouldn’t have risked Torres and Benny at all at Fulham.

Is it really a “mystery virus”, simply coz Lucas had it but could play, while others did and couldn’t?
You’re jokin right?

Look, when I get flu, I’m fuckin bedridden and useless for a week and it takes me 5 weeks to completely rid myself of the shit. My wife on the other hand, sniffles for a couple of days and that’s that. Its just the difference in the way we’re made up.

Conversely, I’ve played through the pain barrier on two dodgy knees and two fucked ankles, while teammates have hobbled off coz they stubbed their toe.

I know youz are frustrated, we all are, but try to think.

Some are questioning Benny’s position out wide, yet it was Voronin, played in the middle, that set up our equalizer.

Likewise, questioning Benny’s removal, as though it was a virtual impossibility that a pair of fresh legs might not have done Fulham damage? Okay granted they didn’t, but we have hindsight to tell us that, at the time it was a gamble Rafa felt he had to take.

Rafa didn’t throw in the towel, he analyzed the situation and made decisions he thought best for the players and the team.

We lost against Fulham. It cost us 3 points, leaving us 9 points off the leaders, with 28 games to go.

If we lose to Lyon, we are out of the CL at a cost of 20 million quid. No 2nd chances, no opportunity to make it up, just two meaningless fixtures, cluttering things up, as maybe games to play kids in.

Now forgetting for a moment, the media shitstorm that would ensue upon our exit from the CL, and the incessant loads of crap we’d have to endure from Scum fans, and even Everton fans (and they aren’t even in Europe at all for fucks sake) lets think about what that CL exit and loss of 20 million means.

You all want Rafa to sign someone in January right? Where the fuck do you think he’s gonna get the money from… the lottery? Coz he sure as shite ain’t gettin it from the Yanks.

Its about simple math.
X number of players available and healthy.
X number of players available but moderately crocked.
X minutes left for a player to get lumps kicked out of him.
X number of points at risk that can be made up.
X number of Quids to lose.

Do that math, before shouting about who you’d have played, and how, and where, because…

(the because is supposed to = your reasoning…
…but maybe it should be…
beacause = you’ve won more than a bloke who’s won the CL,, FA Cup, La Liga…
…but then again, Rafa didn’t win those, did he, the players did…
…but apparently when those players lose, its actually Rafa that lost…
…As Digger said… hmmmm?)

“Fortune favours the brave….”

So the brave choice was to leave FT and Benny on… rather than sub them for Babel and Eccleston?

I think we have a different definition of “brave” Digger.

Er…..yeah? Glad your having a larf though.

Excellent retort.

Aitch,

I completely agree with you on #203.

Rafa is just being methodical given the resources available to him at the moment.

It’s something the English press & fans (and some players) just simply cannot subscribe to.

Thanks! Look Aitch, I could pick apart your post if I wanted to but to be honest, whats the point? We’re in different places on the issues and obviously disagree. Having a 3 day argument in here over it, whilst enjoyable(!), ultimately wont change my opinion and it wont change yours. So I’ll just keep believing my eyes when they see a mistake and you keep believing in your excuses, that way everybodys happy! Relax, I’m just having a larf too!

Have we ever had such a bad start to the season as far as injuries go,?
Then throw in the flu for good measure and what are you left with,
A entire team of injured players
.http://www.thisisanfield.com/2009/10/31/reds-hit-by-massive-injury-list/
Under these circumstances you’d be happy with a point at Fulham and hope
you have enough fit players for Lyon. But with hindsight you could play a unfit
Torres for 90 minutes and risk losing him for X amount of time ( like S G ) or
maybe give one of the youngsters a bit of experience because we all know
how important that is . Or is that throwing in the towel and not giving a f*ck
about the PL.

YNWA

Digger Should the baffled looks on their faces be replaced with smiles when
been substituted. I think any player worth having should look disappointed
but they should also know it’s not because of their performance, unless it is
of course, in which case they should be told to buck up.
YNWA

RE: Close ups of Rafa sweating

Look, we all know Spaniards sweat more than most. Must be the amount of onions in their diet.

Just cast yer mind back to the 2002 World Cup & how Antonio Camacho & his soaking sweat patches under his shirt sleeves.

It ain’t pressure, its just the way they are . . .

Sorry fer the physilogical generalisations above . . .

Puchong I thought Rafa looked like he had flu,i know i was sweating a lot when
i got it a few months ago.
PS I dont think the Spanish sweat more than anyone else.
YNWA

Another example of Sly Sports and their commentators being wank jobs:

In the past when we have been cruising in games (3-0 etc) and rafa appears upset with the players from the sideline, the commentators usually say something along the line of “rafa cant be pleased, thats why his man management skills arent the best, even players have come out and said it”

The other night Wenger through his jacket at the bench when Arse were leading 3-0 and they go “What a sign of a professional when he still gets upset when the team isnt doing the right things at 3-0 up, shows of a true professional”

Lads two quotes from another era.
.
Paisley, “Still we’ve the hard times too, one year we finished second.”
.
Shanks, “If you are first you are first, if you are second you are nothing.”
.
Does this ethos no longer apply at this club, it did at my Liverpool. The lads looked disappointed coming of becaused they wanted to win the game. Once again win the game your in and worry about the next one later.

Theres a difference between bafflement and disappointment Rome. Most players always look disappointed when coming off but the expressions on their faces was something else completely and it mirrored mine. And everyone else I know. Except you and Aitch of course!

Digger TBH with Torres i was baffled for about 30 seconds then i realised we
have a vital game on wednesday.A genuine must win.
With Benny he’d had 75 mins and not scored so couldn’t it be viewed as a
mistake to keep him on ? Only hindsight could answer that .
Me myself id try something different and take comfort in the knowledge ive got
at least 2 good players for the vital game,and hope the subs make a difference.
YNWA

Well at least all the takeover agenda seems to have died a sudden death. That a least offers some stability to the players. In fact the Prince and his co-horts seem to have fallen of the face of the planet. Maybe the price of oil has fallen 3 dollars a barrel so the poor possums are down to their last couple of trillion.
.
Come on Reds backs to the wall and come out fighting.

‘With Benny he had 75mins and not scored so couldent it viewed as a mistake to leave him on?’ Lol! This is your best one yet Rome! Instant classic! I dunno, I love a good debate but you’re too far gone bud. I cant reach you. Anyway….Indeed Gaz, win the game your in and worry about the next one later. Nice quotes too mate but apparently we dont have to win trophies anymore to be successful. Sigh….Right, I’m off to bed so I can be fresh for my slating in the morning!

A brief history of Rafa’s tenure:

2004/2005: No expectation in league as Rafa’s rebuilding has only just begun. But surprise win in UCL got everyone’s hopes (unrealistically) up.

2005/2006: Huge (unrealistic) expectation in league due to UCL win, though did not win, league form still considered a massive improvement from last season. (UCL out at Round of 16, but cup setback softened by FA Cup win) People expect Rafa to win it next season on same shoestring budget compared to Chavs and Scum.

2006/2007: League form goes backwards as team tries to adapt to player departures and arrivals (due to shoestring budget, which press ignores). In order to maintain competitiveness in transfer market, Rafa concentrates on UCL, and gets team to final. New owners and UCL run means everybody’s hopes (semi-realistically) up again.

2007/2008: A repeat of last season, with stuttering league form, exasperated by new owners revealing their true colours as swindlers. Rafa again concentrates on UCL to maintain transfer competitiveness. Pressure starts becoming unbearable as Instant Success Brigade (ISB) begins joining forces with Biased Press on crusade against Rafa.

2008/2009: As there’s no movement in transfer window, team finally gets to gel, leading to magnificent league form (and decent UCL run). This added with extension of Rafa and player contracts means everybody’s hopes is sky high (this time realistically).

2009/2010: Departure of Xabi means team needing time to re-gel again, much like 2007/2008. Owners’ selfishness with funds means Rafa may have to throw everything into UCL again in order to maintain competitiveness… (for next season?) ISB and press actively calling for Rafa to be hung, drawn and quartered.

So the cycle goes something like this:
2004/2005 – Poor league, great Euro (win)
2005/2006 – Good league, decent Euro (R16)
2006/2007 – Poor league, great Euro (Final)
2007/2008 – Poor league, good Euro (SF)
2008/2009 – Very good league, decent Euro (QF)
2009/2010 – Poor league?, good Euro?
2010/2011 – Great league?, decent Euro?

And as long as the swindlers are here, Rafa will find it hard to break out of this cycle. The ISB and press could care less.

So I expect to see the players get their arses back from this “flu” and take out Lyon this Wednesday at all costs if they don’t want to be “man managed” by Klinnsman, which nobody here would like happen.

It still Baffles me that some lads in here dont respect the opinion of former liverpool players and Managers,these guys have been there and done it all…i wonder who is the right person to question the situation going on at LFC!

@Akka
i love ur optimism man,the problem is,u sometimes take it too far and that makes me wonder,are tyring to make urself a saint in this blog?

I have been silent since the last whistle at craven cottage,its apparent for even the 5yr old to see..the ship is sinking,and this is only because the manager is always too cautious,he throws in the towel too soon and his mind is always on the next game which he is probably going to lose as well,5 defeats in 6 matches is what i can literally put up to back up that…

We all love LFC,but its time we stood up and admit that things are going in the wrong direction other than finding lame excuses! its so hurting to know that LFC has become so predictable now that even a kid would know that the lads are gonna lose their next match…lets not be like the Iraq information minister,who in the wake of the American invasion who kept on saying that the iraq gov’t was in still in control when he could visibly hear bombs in the backyard

sula, if you meant former players and managers criticizing Rafa on groundless facts, then I’m sorry, they hardly deserve any respect for that, even if they’ve received more Nobel peace prizes than Obama.

Nobody is saying Rafa is above criticism, I myself find his withdrawal of Benny questionable, but to see them do it ALL the time? That’s bordering on having a personal vendetta on the man.

BTW, I wish to modify my post in #220 in stressing I have NOT YET given up on the league, NOR do I believe that Rafa is gonna get the sack anytime in the near future, no matter how the results goes these coming games.

I wouldn’t like to comment right now, but the thing is that you all mindless people are writing bollocks about me and I can’t stand it.

Mr. Fatty here seems to be jumping all alone defending Rafa as if all other people are fools or blind that they couldn’t see what he was upto. Although, your comments make me laugh, but still it’s certainly not the point.

You all talk about weaknesses in our forward line. This is so because Rafa believes in selling of good strikers and buying headless forwards who turn into flops.

He has signed Peter Crouch, who was a hit at Anfield. Why was he sold to Pompey? Rafa could give him more opportunities and could convince him to stay but he didn’t.

Djibril Cisse is another one who was good striker but went on to have a fight with the manager.

Craig Bellamy was another one. Brilliant is all I can say. Pace, power, shots, everything. This guy had a row with Riise. What happens? He is sold to West Ham and Riise is sold to Roma. At least one of them could have been kept at the Merseyside.

He even bought Dirk Kuyt, but transformed him into a winger. Jermaine Pennant, could easily play as a right winger but even he was sold.

Ryan Babel is another player who’s original position is a striker. He was made to play on the left, with Mark Gonzalez sent back to Spain. You can excuse Rafa for Babel’s signing as he was neither good as a striker nor as a winger. But a total waste of 11.5m pounds.

Robbie Keane was the most unexpected of them all. Bought in the summer for 20m and sold back to Spurs in Jan for an estimated price of 15m. He was far better than Babel. Rather than selling him, Babel should have been sold. Keane probably deserved more opportunities and he he could have shown his worth if he would been convinced to stay for another half of the season. Another waste of 5m.

A Hungarian named Nemeth was also signed but has vanished and has not been seen ever since.

Andriy Voronin, a headless Ukrainian who’s best suited for Germany and not Premier League.

David N’Gog is another one who was signed by Rafa from PSG and is far better than either one of Babel or Voronin.

El Zhar! The least said the better.

Now you can see, that Rafa has signed so many forwards, but from all of these, are Voronin and Babel the ones who deserve to stay? No!!

It doesn’t matter if they have come for a bosman or free transfer. All that matters is that this is the strike force we have right now. Keane would have done a brilliant job and far better than these headless chickens.

Now, we are having trouble with the injuries Torres is having. Keane could have been easily called on during these times.

We have already lost 8 matches in the season. 5 in the PL and 2 in the CL. One of them can be excused which was the Carling Cup. Is this not the point of getting frustrated? You ask me to wait for something great to happen. Okay, I admit that it wouldn’t be sensible to sack the manager, but all I am giving is my opinion. There is a crisis and it’s because of some foolish decisions taken by Rafa. He is to blame and no one else. He has had 5 long years to organize a squad and he seems to have failed. The confidence in the players is low. I believe in the team but they are disappointing me week after week. We fans have the right to give our opinion.

Rafa is to blame because the owners are not the ones to manage a team and take out results. The owners didn’t ask Rafa to sell off Keane or Crouch, nor did they ask him to buy Babel. They were Rafa’s decisions and he is the one to take the blame. This same squad was performing well last season and is not doing so now. The owners are not the ones to motivate them nor are we supporters supposed to, except when the match is going on. Stop blaming us people and see the reality – what Rafa’s doing or what the squad is doing. We are not the ones who change the game but the only thing that we can do is applaud, cheer, curse etc. So stop acting like a child and get on with supporting your team. Supporting not only means cheering and only cheering. We people also have feelings. When we lose, that’s what we express. We are not blind and you are not the only Liverpool supporters out here.

I had written just two posts after our loss and you guys were so frustrated that you all had a go at me. Two sentences of mockery, mere mockery and you all went berserk. I didn’t even have a go at Rafa and you all accused me of something that I didn’t do.

Read my post carefully!!

KK, I had avoided taking a swipe at your sarcastic remarks (which you seem to think is no big deal whatsoever), but this outburst is taking things too far. For that, I cannot pretend I did not see that.

Besides the Babel remark (throw enough shit on a wall and some sticks), there’re so many holes in the rest of that outburst that one can steer an aircraft carrier through without getting damaged.

“He has signed Peter Crouch, who was a hit at Anfield. Why was he sold to Pompey? Rafa could give him more opportunities and could convince him to stay but he didn’t.”

It was not Rafa that sold Crouch, it was Crouch that wanted to leave to further his England career. The formation did not accommodate for Crouch.

“Djibril Cisse is another one who was good striker but went on to have a fight with the manager.”

Extremely laughable example. CISSE WAS FUCKING SIGNED BY HOULLIER! FOR FUCK’S SAKE!

“Craig Bellamy was another one. Brilliant is all I can say. Pace, power, shots, everything. This guy had a row with Riise. What happens? He is sold to West Ham and Riise is sold to Roma. At least one of them could have been kept at the Merseyside.”

The golf club row myth was duly put to rest in that subsequent Barca game, when BOTH Bellamy and Riise scored. Bellamy left because he couldn’t fit in the jigsaw and nothing else.

“He even bought Dirk Kuyt, but transformed him into a winger.”

And what was wrong with that? Who was scoring all these vital Euro goals for us all this time then?

“Jermaine Pennant, could easily play as a right winger but even he was sold.”

Are you seriously suggesting Pennant is any good. And with that cheap swipe at Rafa, who needs players with no commitment like him?

“Robbie Keane was the most unexpected of them all. Bought in the summer for 20m and sold back to Spurs in Jan for an estimated price of 15m. He was far better than Babel. Rather than selling him, Babel should have been sold. Keane probably deserved more opportunities and he he could have shown his worth if he would been convinced to stay for another half of the season. Another waste of 5m.”

Rafa never intended to buy Keane in the first place. Keane was the unfortunate victim between a power struggle between Rafa and the owners/Parry. It was hoped Keane would understand Rafa’s tactics, but he didn’t, so he was sold as soon as possible, or you would be complaining about “a waste of 20m”.

“A Hungarian named Nemeth was also signed but has vanished and has not been seen ever since.”

Your reasoning has just gone to new lows.

Just because Nemeth hasn’t been seen doesn’t mean he’s discarded! Rafa rates this youngster highly (he’s only 20) and wants him to experience as much first team football as possible before easing him into the first team proper, which is why he was loaned to AEK Athens (ending up with Kyrgiakos was part of the fee).

“Andriy Voronin, a headless Ukrainian who’s best suited for Germany and not Premier League.”

You think Rafa wants to keep him? HE’S ONLY STAYING BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BUY HIM!

“David N’Gog is another one who was signed by Rafa from PSG and is far better than either one of Babel or Voronin.”

And did you not see him used now and again? He’s just as old as Nemeth, and yet his work ethic is far better than Babel, not to mention his goals per minutes ratio.

“El Zhar! The least said the better.”

And what was wrong with El Zhar again?

I have read your post carefully, in return my advise to you: GET YOUR FACTS CORRECT!

By the way, a small point here, Rafa gave a very clear and concise answer to the Journo’s who questioned him about Torres. It took him 4 days (of doing nothing ) to recover from the Mancs game. It was a calculated gamble (A) to play him against Fulham and (B) to leave him on for the lenght of time he was on. We risked losing him for months (not a couple of games).

It was interesring, I was listening to Newstalk sports yesterday afternoon and despite playing the interview in full the presenter introduced it by asking if this would explain Rafa’s “crazy substitutions” and, worse, then went on to parrot the very same opinions/questions right after the interview. The presenter is a thick egit anyway but he has licence to keep spouting his “opinion”.
Afterwards Dion Fanning was interviewed, asked the same “questions” by that clown and calmly repeated what Rafa had said. By the way KK, Fanning, who is a good journo, laughed at Ronnie Whelans opinions and pointed out other occasions where Whelan had launched into an attack without the backup of facts (which are always useful, imho).
KK, I would completely disagree with you about ex-players and knowledge of any kind. They may have agendas and opinions, no more than us all, but thats it.

(*sigh*)

Some people really know how to piss people off, don’t they?

Sure, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But as more than punter here has pointed out, at the very least get yer facts right if ye want to be taken seriously.

Question Rafa’s transfer policy all ye want but at least know who he signed & who he did not!!! FFS, Cisse ?!!?

Incredible . . .

It is probably just as well I have stayed out as long as I have. Funny how certain people only come in here to gloat and criticize when things go wrong but are very quick to stay away when things go right.

Well Liverpool certainly could take over the soapy General Hospital with all the injuries and players down with a virus at the moment. I got really annoyed with the commentators, yes more than usual, with their constant way did Rafa pick this one and that and not this one, because they where out sick or injured you twat and he had no wiggle room what so ever, even the bench had sick people on it.

My only gripe was the Benny substitution and it was probably just as well he rested him with the two red cards that followed. For all the ranters even the Benny substitution did not loose us the game. If people cannot see the substitution of Torres was forced and the prudent thing to do, then you are idiots. Look what happened when we rushed Gerrard back, the last thing we need is for Torres to be out for over a month again. You could also see Lucas struggling towards he end with his fitness level, we where on a hiding to nothing and should have wrapped it up in the first half with all our dominance and chances. Benny’s hit post and Torres’s goal should have been enough. We should not have conceded and at 1.5 mill our Golly Greek Giant is not even playing to that price tag. Skertal is having a mare and Insua was ball watching. A very sloppy goal to concede but what can we expect when they have never played together. Its like trying to plig a finger into a dam that has sprung multiple leaks.

To blame Rafa is just so far off the mark and not worthy of our supporters, yes Fulham where visibly lifted when Torres came off but what would have been said if he broke down and was out for a month or two. Does anybody know what directive Rafa has been given concerning the CL by our two Twats? Take 11 members out of any team’s squad, let alone our thin one and see how they will struggle.

I wonder what deal Fugus has done with old Nick to heap this amount of shit onto us. This run of luck (including the red cards that where not) and set of circumstances are just a joke. Talk about Murphy’s law, hell we are Murphy at this stage.

Bellamy was sold to finance the Torres deal, Crouch forced the transfer, unless people wanted Torres to be benched in favor of Crouch or Gerrard for that matter.

We did get an offer for both Vorinon (3mill) and Dossena (3mill) but had to hang onto them because we would not have the cash to replace them or even get the cash he got for them. Anybody remember Alonso’s 30 mill? Rafa had to fight to get 1.5 for the Greek, we lost Turner and a few other that Rafa wanted to bring in. So those people with foot in mouth disease should get their facts straight before spewing their garbage and if you want to vent, vent at the right culprits our owners. As for our esteemed ex players, to a man what have they accomplished in the hot seat. That’s right sweet fuck all. It’s very easy from the armchair with all the ammunition of hindsight. I did not hear much from these tossers after the ManU game. If you want to base your opinion on the likes of those wankers instead of the King Kenny’s even Hodgson and Wenger (who are in the hot seat) of this world well it shows the lack of for site and genuine support from your part.

The pre-season games V Espanyol 0-3 and Atletico 1-2 have been an excellent predictor as to how the season has shaped so far.Goals from both are on Youtube.We didn’t have any injuries for those games or V Cortina but the defending was consistently shite.
The Aqua money should of beeen used to buy Shawcross and Marcus Berg.Cattermole and Michael Turner should of been bought instead of Jonno and Kryg.Since 2004 Rafa has spent £140 million more than Wenger.If the Arse win the title this season, Rafa won’t have a leg to stand on.Why was Kuyt playing right back?.

I’m sorry I can’t blame Rafa over that defeat.

Digger, We had 10 players out ill or injured and then had 2 sent off. How on earth do you win an away Premier League football match with 9 men on the pitch and a shitload unavailable? Lucas caught the virus before the others. Remember FS saying he had heard Lucas caught swine flu a good few days later the same source of FS said the others caught it. You talk about the virus as if Rafa made it up to justify playing a reserve side. What – you think he’s sabotaging our title challenge on purpose or you just think he’s lost his marbles?

Torres couldn’t train for 4 days after playing 80 mins against the mancs. Rafa looked at it and decided he couldn’t play any more than 60 odd mins against Fulham. That is fair enough for me because tired or slightly damaged muscles lead to serious injuries if not taken care of. I don’t care how quizzical Torres looks when he’s substituted. In my opinion he doesn’t know how to manage his own body. How many times has he said he is fine to play for Spain after he’s had a couple of niggles? Only for him to then break down and then miss 2 weeks of football for us! How often does Gerrard say he is fine to play only to then hobble off after a few minutes and then miss 4 important matches?

Fuck knows why Benny was withdrawn but I don’t think him remaining on the pitch would have guaranteed 3 points.

Anyway Digger, did you see Brett Favre last night?

@LB
“I’m sorry I can’t blame Rafa over that defeat.”

need i need to remind u that we have lost 5games in 6games?

Thanks for the reminder Sula.

Aitch, what makes you think that the 20m we might get from getting out of our CL group is going to be spent on players? My guess is that it won’t be, that it will go straight into our custodians pockets. But hey, that’s only my guess.

We can all have our opinion on team selections and what we think should have happened (that’s what’s being a supporter is all about isn’t it??)

But I agree with Digger when he says that he would rather have the milder strain of the mystery virus (wouldn’t we all?)

The press are saying that Rafa will go if we lose in Lyon. They’re having a larf!!

Burgerman why don’t you just go and manage a team, you have all the answers and know everything there is to know about football. You will be a shoo in for most Prem Teams, I cannot understand why they are not at this very minute banging on your door, what, with all your insightful and intelligent comments that you spew up ad infinitum. Add norsium is a better description, they are not even funny anymore, just sad and pathetic.

sula #230, if you’re trying to blame Rafa for all the losses, then say you’re trying to blame Rafa for all the losses and stop beating around the bush.

The reason you didn’t is because you know you got no backing for your argument simply because Rafa is NOT 100% to blame for any of those October losses.

1. Fiorentina – Rafa picked the team alright, but the players weren’t there

2. Chavs – No problem with the selection, but Masch gets caught out of possession, and in the end, our thin squad due to lack of funds (only Johnson, Aqua is still injured) was our undoing.

3. Sunderland – As Gerry has mentioned, Gerrard was daft to get himself injured for an absolutely USELESS international game, that plus the team again didn’t turn up until after lunch time. Oh, and did I mention the beach ball?

4. Lyon – Same as Sunderland, minus the beach ball.

5. Arsenal – This is the League Cup, fielding a second string side is actually expected and a loss understandable.

6. Fulham – Half the team disappeared due to a mysterious flu, Torres was only half-fit. OK, maybe the Benny withdrawal was questionable, but in the end, the players did not take their chances, and that’s Rafa’s fault completely?

Oh, and BM, I’ve had enough of being nice with you: Please piss off.

Nah I dont think he’s sabotaging us LB but sometimes…..he just dosent help himself lets say. Look, after a morale boosting possibly momentum regaining victory last wk we should be doing everything in our power to maintain that and if that includes taking a risk on Nando (for 20mins?) and leaving our most creative player ON the pitch then we should be doing it imo. Lets be frank, we’re in no title race here and on the verge of c.l elimination. We’re trying to salvage a season. Gotta give yourself a chance

Yes Sula Rafa is to blame, he kicked Gerrard in the groin and put him put for weeks, same with Reira, Johnson, Torres and the rest of the injured players, their injury is a direct result of Rafa’s man management and to really put the fox in the hen house he passed on a virus to the rest of the 11 players that are unavailable just to prove how strong a squad he has.

His Mandate from the owners is to loose anyway possible just to piss you off, he decided to bring in Vorrinon and Deggen on a free and the Greek for 1.5 mill then spend the ready available millions on Silva, Turner and anyone else you can care to mention that we have been linked with. It’s much better to have 19 years olds on the bench with no experience than proven quality players, any idiot knows that ask Whelan and Souness, the most successful managers that I know their managerial records speak volumes.

He is also responsible for elephant and rhino poaching which is out of control, not to mention the whales, (no disrespect to FS intended) global warming, the Bush Presidency and the sub Prime fiasco. He also advised Kim of North Korea on his hairstyle, now that is a complete disaster if there is one.

With a remark like that Kinny,I think you should really be called “Jimmy”.(Joke).
Agree with all you said but add that at the Arsenal game a penalty should have been awarded when a goal bound shot was NOT awarded by the ‘homer’ referee. The result would eventually have been a win for the Pool on penalties!

Yeah watched that game last night bro. Farve was his usual irrepressible brilliant self. Unreal to think the guy is 40 and playing NFL, incredible. It was the only bright spot in my sporting wknd. Reds lost, Jets lost, even the damn Yankees won last night to bring them within one win of their 27th championship. Did you go to the Patriots game at Wembley last wk?

very funny retort KeithSA. I laughed out loud in the office.
Bottom line regardless of whatever Sula, KopKing or the rest of the ‘Rafa is the root of all evil’ brigade think. Rafa will manage the team against Lyon, people who know how to support their team will …support their team, and your opinions….as probably mine, will count for nowt!
I actually pity you guys….I mean….Liverpool win you’re upset because Rafa proved you wrong, Liverpool lose because…the team you claim to support has lost…you’ll be upset. You guys must be manically depressed because either way you loose. That’s pretty sad.

I missed the Patriots game Digger. Gutted coz I couldn’t get tickets at a decent price. And I’m a Pats fan! So I watched it on slysports instead.

I watched the Jets game as well. Not sure how they lost that one. The Favre show was incredible. Vikings look a good outfit this year with Adrian, Harvin and Rice. And the defence looked mean in that first half.

Like everyone else, I couldn’t get in all day yesterday. Thank God… I just read as far as half way through Mr King of The Kop, whose never stood on it’s comment and had to give in.

I’m gutted enough without putting myself through all that drivel.

This is a perfect example of what’s happened to LFC’s “Support.” Everyone with an opinion… Everyone with a God given right to air it… Even though there’s not one bit of fact in it.

You Sir are a complete and utter idiot and no absolutely nothing of which you speak.

I haven’t the time nor the inclination to sit here and pull it apart point by point. There is no need for me to show what an idiot you are – you make a fine job of that yourself with no help from me.

The thing is, these are the tits that immeadiately jump all over the phone ins and internet at every single opportunity. They then spout there non/ill informed drivel and make out that they speak for all Kopites. None of them even go to a match, yet they think their god given right opinions count and that they speak for all of us.

They don’t even realise that their non-sense is the thing that could drive Rafa out the club. He’s stated many times how it’s his love of the fans that kept him in the job… Thank God Tits like our King don’t go the match.

None of us are happy with the situation. But at least we try to support and when we criticise we try to do it from fact.

As for the actual game… All footballers should not be happy at getting subbed off. I was at Anfield when the great Sir Roger Hunt was subbed for the only time in his career. He was having a shocking game. He was getting old and at the end of his LFC career. When Shankly called him off – he refused to go. And when he did eventually come off, after loads of hystronics, he pulled off his shirt, threw it to the ground and kicked the dug out as he stormed up the tunnel. And that was the great gentlemen Hunt.

Benayoun – who can be our most creative player, but also our most frustrating when he isn’t playing well – was stinking. He was running round like a headless chicken. It was time to get him out.

Torres was playing with a pain injection. HE has a tear to his thigh and stomach muscles. He also put an ice-pack on his knee when he came off. He hadn’t been able to train since the Manc game.

If he’d been left on, he’d probably done enough damage to miss the next four games or so.

Our defence cost a combined 3.5 million. I could go on about that, but what’s the point.

I am talking to people who understand that, and all the other factors that lead to this latest terrible showing, and people who can’t and won’t ever.

So I really can’t be arsed.

All I can say is, if we can get to this next international break without doing any further damage – results and personel/injuries – Rafa should tell all the FA’s of the players countries to fuck off and that they are not getting any of our players for useless/senseless bloody friendly games that are being played in all 4 corners of the earth.

(Who the fuck at the FA arranges these things… a bloody friendly in Abudabhi at a time like this. They need fucking shooting.)

He won’t but if he gets that break/time to work with all the players, and the medical staff can get about curing injuries and illness, we can still come out of this alright.

KOP KING…. never ever change your title. It reminds me of what we are up against.

If Torres had stayed on the pitch and we’d lost him for the next 6 to 8 games, Rafa would have been getting slatted for keeping him on.

He gets slatted for fielding weakened teams – Mr Angry of Milton Keynes, immediately on the phone to agree with Stan The Man Collymoore that you should always start with your best 11 and bring them off when the game is won.

Or he gets slatted, by Mr Kop King or his equivalent from Mumbai, because he should have never risked an injured player.

Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.

Thank fuck Rafa doesn’t listen to the gobshites, or the rest of us would be left to support the team as it slides down the league under the guidance of some genius like Klinsmann who will be hired by H&G when Kop King Sula and the likes run off to “Support” Chelsea and moan in their forums when they haven’t won 17 nil.

I’m going to post something that I’ve cut and pasted here. I’d like to think it would put an end to some of the shit that’s spouted by our “Supporters” in here, but sadly I know it won’t…

2004/05

£2m – Josemi: peanuts and was moved on in a swap for Kromkamp 18 months later
£1.5m – Antonio Nunez: part of the Michael Owen deal and filled a gap for a while. Peanuts.
£10.7m – Xabi Alonso: Massive success and sold for £30m+ in the summer when he wanted to leave
£6m – Luis Garcia: Massive success and sold to Athletico Madrid for £4m
Free – Pelligrino: Stop gap that allowed us to rest Sami for league games, benefitting us massively in Istanbul. Now on the coaching staff.
£6.3m – Fernando Morientes: Pretty much everyone made up when we signed him, top class, but never settled. Sold for £3m to Valencia.
£1m – Scott Carson: One the most highly rated young keepers around. Lost out through injury and signing of Reina when Dudek left the club. Sold for £3.25m.

Total bought: £27.5m

Free – Marcus Babbel: Released to Stuttgart at the end of his career.
£2.5m – Danny Murphy: Xabi Alonso signed to fill the role Murphy had in the side
£8.5m – Michael Owen: Wouldn’t sign a new contract and sold before he left on a free. He’s done nothing since that is a masterstroke with hindsight.
Free – Stephane Henchoz: Released to Celtic at the end of his career

Total sold: £11m

A total of £16.5m net spend in his first year at the club, with the vast majority of that being spent on Xabi Alonso.

2004/05 net spend: £16.5m

2005/06

£240,000 – Antonio Barragan: Kid for the future. Sold for £675,000 to Deportivo a year later.
Free – Boudewijn Zenden: Signed for nothing and released for nothing. Did a job for us.
£6m – Pepe Reina: In the top 3 or 4 keepers in the world now and still young. One of Rafa’s best signings.
£5.6m – Momo Sissoko: Brilliant for a few years, had that eye injury and sold to Juventus when his form dipped for £8.2m. Replaced by Mascherano.
£7m – Peter Crouch: One signing I did question but proved to be a great bit of business. Turned him from a laughing stock into an international. Sold for £11m.
Unkown – Miki Roque: Kid bought for peanuts. Sold again for an unknown amount.
£150,000 – Jack Hobbs: Highly rated 16yr old signed from Lincoln. Didn’t progress as hoped and sold to Leicester for a reported £1.5m, although figure not confirmed.
£190,000 Besian Idrizaj: No idea who he is
£1.5m – Mark Gonzales: Cheap player to provide back up for the left wing. Sold for £3.5m to Real Betis.
Exchange – Paul Anderson: Swapped for John Welsh. Sold for £250,000.
Exchange – Jan Kromkamp: Swapped for Josemi. Later sold for £1.75m
£5.8m – Daniel Agger: Blighted by injuries but potentially top class and great signing for the money.
£250,000 – David Martin: Young reserve keeper
Free – Robbie Fowler: Pay as you play deal and no risk involved. Scored a few goals. Released in the summer.

Total bought: £26.73

Free – Vladimir Smicer: Out of contract and released. Played a small part in Istanbul.
£3.5m – El Hadji Diouf: The best £3.5m Rafa has ever recieved.
Free – Pellegrino: Filled the gap in the last 5 months of the previous season, not good enough and released.
£2m – Alou Diarra: Sold for £2m. One of Houllier’s buys.
£2m – Antonio Nunez: Bought for £1.5m and now sold for £2m when didn’t work out.
£6.5m – Milan Baros: A Houllier signing sold at a profit. He’s done nothing since.
Exchange – John Welsh: Swapped for Paul Anderson
Exchange – Josemi: Swapped for Kronkamp.

Total sold: £14m

2005/06 net spend: £12.73m
2006/07

£6m – Craig Bellamy: Good signing and later sold for £7.5m to fund Torres deal.
£2m – Gabriel Palletta: Played a few league cup games, not good enough and sold for £1.2m
Free – Fabio Aurelio: Very injury prone but a good player when fit. Great signing for nothing.
£6.7m – Jermaine Pennant: Second choice after missing out on Alves. Ran his contract down and released. Attitude stank.
£9m – Dirk Kuyt: Has his critics, but has been brilliant for the money. 15 goals last season from wide and vital to the way we play. Ultimate pro. Great signing.
£200,000 – Nabil El Zhar: Few cameos last season and improving. Injured now. Promising still. Peanuts.
£750,000 – Astrit Ajdarevic: No idea who he is, and released on a free to Leicester.
Loan – Daniele Padelli: Reserve keeper, made one appearance and never seen again.
Undisclosed – Jordy Brouwer: Young reserve.
£2.5m – Alvaro Arbeloa: Bargain signing, great service for a few years and sold for £3.5m when running his contract down.
Loan – Javier Mascherano: Rescued from West Ham, now one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and will probably be sold to Barca this summer for a massive profit. Paid £18.6m for him a year later at end of loan deal.

Total bought: £27.15m

£200,000 – Zak Whitbread: Youngster
Undisclosed – Bruno Cheyrou: Houllier flopped, sold for a reported £1.5m.
£3m – Fernando Morientes: Didn’t work out. Cut his losses.
Free – Didi Hamann: Great servant, released at the end of his career
£675,000 – Antonio Barragan: Paid £240,000 for him.
£2m – Djimi Traore: Houllier signing and daylight robbery getting £2m for him
£500,000 – Neil Mellor: Signed as a kid and did a job for a while. Not good enough and released.
£1.75m – Jan Kromkamp: Nunez bought for £2m, swapped for him, who then sold for £1.75m. Stop gaps at minimal expense.
£525,000 – Darren Potter: Acadamy lad, not good enough and robbery getting that much for him.
£1.5m – Steven Warnock: Probably sold to cheap and looks a mistake with hindsight. Good squad player.
Free – Salif Diao: The clearout of Houllier’s flops continues.

Total sold: £10.15m

2006/07 net spend: £17m

2007/08

£5m – Lucas Leiva: Brazilian player of the year when signed. Could still go either way but a lot to prove.
Undisclosed – Krisztian Nemeth: Promising youngster currently out on loan in Athens.
£270,000 – Mikel San Jose Dominguez: Youngester plays in the reserves.
£1.8m – Sebastian Leto: Left winger signing but refused a work permit. Sold for £3m.
£20.2m – Fernando Torres: Bargain of the century
Free – Andriy Voronin: Free transfer to strengthen the squad. Plays well in Germany, garbage over here.
£5m – Yossi Benayoun: Took a while to settle but now a key player. Superb signing and an absolute bargain.
£11.5m – Ryan Babel: Highly rated dutch international. Absolute waste of space. Bad signing on reflection, but nobody knew how he’d turn out. Still got potential but he can’t be arsed.
Undisclosed – Charles Itandje: Back up keeper signed for peanuts. Now released.
£1.3m – Emiliano Insua: Youngster who is now a full Argentinian international and massive potential. Bargain.
£6.5m – Martin Skrtel: Been off form this season so far, but brilliant last year and a good signing for the money.
£18.6m – Javier Mascherano: Completion of loan deal

Total bought: £70.7m

£2.7m – Florent Simana-Pongolle: Houllier youngster sold wanting first team football.
£100,000 – Daniel O’Donnell: Kid sold
Free – Jerzy Dudek: Released at end of contract
Free – Zenden: Released at end of contract
Free – Robbie Fowler: Released at end of contract
£4m – Luis Garcia: Wanted to return to Spain. Great service.
£6m – Djibril Cisse: Houllier signing sold to part fund Torres deal.
£7.5m – Craig Bellamy: Sold at profit to part fund Torres deal
£3.5m – Mark Gonzales: Signed for £1.5m and sold when didn’t work out.
£1.2m – Gabriel Palletta: Bought for £2m but never worked out. Young defender.
£3.5m – Chris Kirkland: Houllier signing. Injury prone and wanted first team football.
£8.2m – Momo Sissoko: Great signing, good service, sold when lost his form at a profit.

Total sold: £36.7m

2007/08 net spend: £34m

2008/09

Free – Philip Degen: Garbage, but free.
£7m – Andrea Dossena: Italian international left back. Hasn’t settled. Bad signing.
£3.5m – Diego Cavalieri: Reserve keeper. Only played league cup games so far.
£1.5m – David N’gog: Young French striker. Promising.
£19m – Robbie Keane: Everyone made up when we signed him. Didn’t work out and sold back to Spurs for £16m.
£8m – Albert Riera: Spanish international. Started well but jury still out.

Total bought: £39m

£4m – John Arne Riise: Good servant but form tailed off. Snapped their hands off at £4m.
Free – Harry Kewell: Harry who?
Undisclosed – Anthony Le Tallec: Houllier youngster finally released. Fee not known.
£11m – Peter Crouch: Laughing stock bought for £7m. Great signing. Wanted first team football.
£2.25m – Danny Guthrie: Youngster from Acadamy thought not good enough.
£3.25m – Scott Carson: Injury prone and Reina now first choice. Sold at profit.
Undisclosed – Steve Finnan: Sold for a fee believed to be £1m
£16m – Robbie Keane: Didn’t work out.
Undisclosed – Jack Hobbs: Young defender that didn’t progress. Sold for believed to £1.5m.

Total sold: £36.5m

2008/09 net spend: £2.5m

2009/10

£17.5m – Glen Johnson: Big fee, but has been brilliant so far.
£17.1m – Alberto Aquilani: Injured so far but meant to be a class act. Highly rated in Italy.
£2m – Sotirios Kyrgiakos: Last minute signing to fill Hyypia’s shoes. Only money we had to spend.
£160,000 – Daniel Ayala: Young defender, played a few times this season and looked promising.

Total bought: £36.76m

£250,000 – Paul Anderson: Youngster that didn’t progess.
Free – Jermaine Pennant: Out of contract. Poor signing.
Free – Miki Roque: No idea who he is. Bought for peanuts.
£3m – Sebastian Leto: Signed for £1.8m but didn’t get a work permit. Had to sell.
£3.5m – Alvaro Arbeloa: Wanted to leave and out of contract in the summer.
£30m – Xabi Alonso: Wanted to leave. Bought for £10.7m. Great signing.

Total sold: £36.75m

2009/10 net spend: £10,000

Total Players Bought: £228,976,000
Total Players Sold: £145,100,000

Total Net Spend: £83,876,000

So, that’s a total spend of just over £83m in 5 years at the club. An average of £16.6m a year.

The vast majority of his signings have been sold at profit, or if still at the club, are worth a lot more than we paid for them. Exceptions being Babel and Dossena, but we’ll still get decent fees for them when sold as they’re full internationals.

A lot of the signings above have been stepping stones in rebuilding the squad, gradually improving it by replacing players with better ones. Our league positions over the past 5 years and the improvement in our league positions and points totals show the progression.

2004/05: Finished 5th – 58 pts
2005/06: Finished 3rd – 82 pts
2006/07: Finished 3rd – 68 pts
2007/08: Finished 4th – 76 pts
2008/09: Finished 2nd – 86 pts
**************************************

We ungrateful bastards, with our ridiculous demands and expectations, should be on our knees thanking the good lord for bringing us Rafa Benitez.

I shudder to think the mess our club would have been in by now had Parry not hired this man before selling the club to the two parasites.

And one last thing before I leave, and I’m only saying this just to shut up the kind of shit that’s going to be spouted as a come back by people who are too stupid to understand the facts and figures of the last post…

Kop King…
Crouch and Bellamy could indeed have been kept and been doing a good job at our club, but…

1: Crouch wanted to leave.
2: Bellamy – while being on a warning from Rafa after the Risse golf-club incident – went to a night club in Cardiff and was arrested by the police at 3 o’clock in the morning, for drunkenly punching a young woman in the face.

GET SOME FACTS BEFORE YOU SPOUT SHITE – YOU GOBSHITE!

They do look strong alright LB. Adrian Peterson is the best running back I’ve ever seen. He dosent run around people, he runs over them. He can carry the team on his back. Literally! Having said that I think the Saints will win it. They’re putting up video game scores! Brees is unreal. He reminds me of Farve in his prime actually.

Oh and one other thing…
If you bother to even look at them facts and figures, and if you go and check where LFC have finished in the league and Champion’s league, since Rafa has been here, you might just realise that Rafa’s successes have actually brought more money into the club than he has spent on players.

But sadly, you’ll just listen to the likes of Souness shouting 400 gazillion billion spent on 40 thousand players and they’re still a two man team who’ve won fuck all.

Digger, the Saints look the real deal don’t they? I would like to see them vs the Vikings in the championship game. The playoffs though usually throws a couple of shocks in there.

As for Peterson – do you reckon he is better than LT was a few years ago?

I suppose it’s normal that there is disappointment and frustration in here because after beating the Mancs we all expected the team to kick on from there and it hasn’t happened.

We need to arm ourselves with the reasons why it hasn’t happened before slating the Gaffer – which some in here have done and then there are those of us who haven’t slated him.

I stated an opinion that I would have liked to have seen Yossi playing directly behind Torres, and 2 or 3 lads in here have come back with perfectly sensible reasoning as to why that probably didn’t happen – that’s what good debate is so let’s keep it going.

It seems that nobody really knows how serious this virus thing is, and I for one was very suprised not to see Agger on the pitch, for example. Was he one of the players affected by the virus?

Great post FS

JackHill @237, that’s why I picked this name.

Though you are the first to “mistake” me for some Jimmy boy, people often confuse me for Kenny instead.

With the exception of the king of the Kop and his fellow cohorts, who fortunately gets shot down quickly by the likes of FS and Keith, this is actually quite a sanctuary for getting a cool headed assessment of what really happened without going overly hysterical.

I don’t bother with my local fanclub forum during times like these, though it’s not as bad as the TIA forums, it’s still full of negativity I couldn’t be arsed to argue with some people if they genuinely believe that Rafa is responsible for the current deficiencies of the squad, and expect better of him.

It’s like questioning why he’s taking so many months to get from London to Sydney when you only provide him with a boat, while his opponents have supersonic jets.

Of course, when the team wins, they quickly forget how picky they are.

I’m quietly biding my time, waiting for the chance to make a “SHAME ON YOU FOR EVER DOUBTING RAFA” thread when the time is right. Provided Rafa is still here, of course.

Thanks Keith. I didn’t write it, as you can probably tell by the good research, fact and lack of obscenitites. But the sad thing about it is, those who really need to read it – and get themselves some proper fact – won’t bother to even look at it.

They’ll just keep flip-flopping about like fish out of water, to each and every rant they hear from pundits or other gobshites like themselves.

I really don’t know what is the cause of this situation we are in. It’s probably a collection of many factors, but, in all my time of supporting the club, I can honestly say, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. It’s amazing really. It’s like every little thing that could go wrong or against us, has.

Like probably everyone else has, I’ve been through periods like this in me own life. Fuck there was one time I dreaded getting out of bed, worrying what terrible thing that day would have in store for me. But, probably like everyone else on here – well the mature sane ones – it eventually turned right and things got back to normal.

It will probably be the same with the club/team. Nobody quite sure why it’s all happened, everybody fighting to put it right, can’t understand why it won’t go right, all of a sudden for no apparent reason it does a U-turn and all goes right.

I’m just hoping it starts on Wednesday night. As I said, if we can get through the next 2 games with no further damage, we have a full 2 week break then.

If Rafa can refuse even some of our players going – especially the injured Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Agger and Riera – it will give us plenty of time to work things out, and Aqualini should also be ready by then.

With a bit of luck we can salvage the Champion’s league qualification, and then go on a run of games that will push us right back into the hunt.

At the moment, there’s only really Chelsea that I’m worried about catching, and they’ll hit they’re bad patch, probably during the African Nations Cup.

Out of all the seasons I’ve waited for the league, this is the one that winning it would end up the most satisfying. But what ever happens, I’ll still be supporting them. It’s just a shame our knobheads won’t read the sort of facts they need to, and realise the sort of damage their shite spouting is doing to the club they pretend to love.

Who needs enemies, eh.

@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 other teams below us whom we have lost against.

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.

I`ve just finished four 12 hour night shifts in work and i`m pretty fooked now.Not from work,but from my single handed crusade defending our manager to knobheads who think he`s “lost his marbles”.

The drivel being spouted in here is beyond the pale.Kopking 1st prize has to go to you pal for the most ridiculous post i`ve ever seen here in this fine blog.Absolute wind up if i ever seen one.There`s no point answering to that post,the lads have done a fine job of it.

Its amazing when we lose,kopking,sula etc come in here and drop bombs.Then when guys prove there comments to be way off the matk by using good hard facts,they disappear until the next loss and pop in again to share their wisdom.

It`s a tough time being an LFC fan at the moment.Ever man and his dog are in the que to have a dig at `Mental Rafa`.Our injury crisis,and it is a crisis at this stage,is something i`ve never seen in my time following the reds.

Rafa is taking the flak for this defeat and the players are getting off scott free.Dosen`t mean the man is void of critisism.The Benny substitution drove me bonkers to be honest although i could understand the Torres sub.

The players on the field seemed to lack the penetration shown the week before.Granted they would we more wound up for a game against the mancs and i know the players should be up for every game but when you play a team you are superior to its very difficult to wind yourself up as much.Its human nature.

I felt even though we had all the possesion we didn`t ask any questions of the fulham keeper.Our passing wasn`t crisp and quick like the week before and we always gave fulham the chance to regroup.

The second half wasn`t much better and after the sending off the players looked deflated and with the score at 2-1 a point could have been rescued.

Feck that i`m off on the piss tonight.Have a darts match.I`m crap at darts but feck,its an excuse to get out.

Anyone have an injury update?

There you go. Immeadiately after posting all that information and fact, this kid comes back in going on about the same thing he’s been going on about for ages, and still doesn’t understand why we are short up front.

It’s a waste of bloody time, and that’s it… I’m refusing to waste any more of mine in trying to educate them.

You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

I stopped answering Burger Man when I realised what a waste of time it was. I actually used to answer his little hand grenades, but then I sussed out what a load of shit they were and why it was a useless waste to even answer.

This is what they want. They might go quite when something goes right, but they’re just biding their time to spout their shite every time we suffer a setback. And they’ll continually move the goalposts to do it…

For ages Burger Man complained about Rafa buying quantity over quality – or for buying complete and utter shite as he would have it. So what happens when Rafa goes out and buys Aquilani and Johnson….
Of course he wasted all his money on 2 duff players when he could have/should have bought 6 or 7 players to bulk up our squad.

As I said earlier…
Rafa’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

So, that’s it. I’m finished even giving people like this any sort of credence by even answering them.

So, FFS Somnath kid, for the last time ever…

we all know we are short up front. So, instead of banging on about it over and over and over again, why not read some bloody facts and figures and try to come to some sort of understanding why we are in this situation!

@FS

Its your good luck that i try to make you understand that i am not against Rafa and what are my expectation as a LFC supporter. What you do in reply? You try to enforce your views again on me sighting all those transfer records. For fuck sake who is denying that Rafa has not done a great job? Who is saying that Rafa is not a great manager? Certainly not me. I have never questioned his ability. I have questioned our ability to win the title. Do you get that?

You are crazy FS. I dont need to study facts. I know those facts and thats why i keep repeating..let this team finish top 4 this season..i will be happy.

“You are crazy FS. I dont need to study facts.”

Says it all really, now stop moving the goal posts. I know quite well what you used to say, and it certainly wasn’t the mellowed out version you are trying to say it is now…
You came in here calling for Rafa’s head and spitting dummies all over the place. The good people in here took the time to educate you on some things when they realised you was only a kid.
I even tried myself.

You carried on dummy spitting and calling for the bosses head, and you only mellowed that recently – probably just as a tactic because you knew the dummy spitting would just be ignored.

I haven’t fell for any of it. And kid or not, I will say this for the last time…
Please don’t address any of your “opinions” to me and I will do my absolute best just to ignore your “opinions” and not comment on anything you – and your kind – make.

Bye. Bye.

sorry for posting links for other football sights, especially the tabloidlike football365, but I thought it was worth a read.

ttp://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_5669611,00.html

These are bad times at our club in many ways, but as silver linings go, the yanks must be aware of the fact that they now own a very hot potatoe indeed, I would imagine their attempts to offload the club will be getting desperate by now.

I wrote football sights not sites, god I share an IQ with burgerman

FS, it’s a bloody disgrace Rafa didn’t buy Kaka, David Villa and Ronaldo last summer no matter what figures and facts you want to dig up. I can’t believe Rafa would want to bring back Voronin while snubbing David Silva. And how dare he not spend the Robbie Keane money.

It’s a total disgrace he tried to improve the team by buying an in form Gareth Barry when Alonso was playing shite, I shall not forgive him for hurting Xabi Alonso’s feelings.

Isn’t it beyond the pale that he sold Bellamy and Crouch so he could buy Torres?

I say give Souness the job again.

LB thank fuck for that… Why didn’t I think of just taking the piss, instead of banging my head against the wall for 2 days!

Oh well, thanks for making me laugh and see the error of my ways!

I must indeed be crazy

No FS,just misunderstood!

I am fucking pissed with you all talking crap about me again and again.

@FS

Unlike you, I don’t have the leisure to sit at home 24/7 and write shit that could a fill hundred pages. So please stop saying that I run away and can’t stand by my comments. You can sit here all day long and keep writing crap which makes me go to sleep in between. Although I had enough respect for you when I first entered this site, but all of it has gone up your arse. And please don’t say that I’m getting abusive here coz its just a form of expression.

Now let’s come to the point. You’re saying that Benayoun deserved to get substituted because he was running around like a headless chicken. I believe, Kuyt and Voronin were worse off than Benayoun. The second goal happened because Kuyt lost the ball and couldn’t make a tackle. Whereas, Voronin is pure shite who lacks brain as well as quality and creativity. Do you think that Benayoun should have been substituted rather than Voronin? Thank god you’re not our manager Mr. Fatty or we would have been doomed. But I should remind myself that Rafa did what you’re thinking. Let me rephrase it: We are already doomed. Do you think that Eccleston could make a difference on the pitch? Would you gamble an 18 year old to change the game? I wouldn’t but atleast he had a better chance than Voronin.

Now, in your second post you’ve given all the details of the signings Rafa has made since he has joined the club. It’s quite impressive how much work you can do in order to convince me but I am sorry I am not convinced.

Okay, Rafa has done good business in transfer dealings. But he can only be called a good businessman and not a good manager. The points have been improving but no titles in five years. Thats all he can show. Should add another year because the title race is already over. 2 losses last season and 5 losses already, till October. If you’re still expecting us to win the title, then I am sure you’re imagining.

Only Arsenal have a manager who, in spite of winning nothing in recent years is still at the club. Even he won the title in his first season and has won two more titles ever since.

If you argue that Fergie didn’t win the title in his first 5 seasons then this argument would be bullshit. This is not a two horse race now. Chelsea are the major title contenders while Arsenal are on an impressive run. ManC will certainly be dangerous to play against and are likely to drop our points. We still have to face Villa at Villa Park. Everton are still left.

This might be one of the worst seasons of Rafa and we might not even qualify for the CL. You can show statistics how much ever you want but it’s no use. Are we waiting for that to happen? You wouldn’t admit that we have lost the title until it is mathematically impossible. Even if 10 matches are remaining and the the team on the top is 30 points above us, you would still say that we could win the rest and they could lose all their remaining matches. We are still in the title race. This is total Bollocks!!

You should see the reality. I am not asking to sack Rafa, but at least don’t support him when he’s doing a poor job.

Your CL profit shit that you’re talking about, Fatty is total crap. Chelsea have reached in the semi-finals since the last three-four seasons. They have played two finals and were unlucky to lose one on penalties. They have been performing brilliantly even with different managers. So it’s pure shite that only Rafa can manage that profit. He is supposed to while hes managing Liverpool F.C. Even A.C.Milan are making profits in CL who are in worse state than us in aspects of money and funds. So it’s not a superman-ager kinda stuff.

Although some of my facts in my earlier post were wrong and miscalculated I would still want you all to read the other stuff that I wrote about than the strikers stuff.

And I would still say that I don’t want the club to sack Rafa in the middle of the season, but hes not doing a good job right now. And still Fatty, I am not getting frustrated nor abusive. If you would have even tried to understand my earlier post minus the striker “GOBSHITE”, that is.

Yesterday, I was so pissed off, I done something I very rarely do…
I watched telly.

First, I watched Man City struggle at Birmingham. Brum should won by 3 or 4, such is the nature of this mad season. Then a watched a film and a thought occured to me…
http://generationfilm.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/fargo.jpg

Do you reckon we could get Vronin and Benny to shoot out to the States, and put that pair of fat lying theiving bastards through a woodchipper?

“I am fucking pissed with you all talking crap about me again and again.”

As promised, I didn’t read your drivel, but can’t resist saying…
Well fuck off then and don’t come back. Idiot.

It’s good for your health that you didn’t read my post Fatty. Otherwise, you would have to be diagnosed in the hospital with a heart attack.

For the people who are actually interested in our next game, I’ve just checked on the players. There might be even worse news than this, but here’s what I’ve found out so far…

Cavalari: out with flu/virus.
Johnson: Calf injury. Flying with team in the hope might be fit for the game. Late fitness test before the match.
Agger: His back’s gone again. He’ll also travel with the team but very unlikely to be able to play.
Skrtel: Thigh’s gone. Not even travelling with the team.
Aurelio: Calf injury. Like Johnson, travelling with the team in the hope he might be fit but a major doubt.
Riera: Hamstrings gone. Definetely wont make it.
Gerrard: Groin. Wont make it, really starting to look like the lad needs the op.
Aqualini: Flu/virus. He’s trained with the team yesterday but was very weak. Will have to travel with the team in case he’s needed.
Dossena: Still injured but travelling in case he is needed.
Kelly: Ankle. wont be fit
Torres: Same injury, stomache and thigh. Will probably have to play but Rafa wont risk him 90 minutes
Ngog: Ankle. Travelling, will try to train in France and have late fitness test before the game.

Oh and even worse news for some, that fucking Benitez fella is fit and will be going.

I was about to get some sleep, but again KK your comment is filled with holes I have to delay it for a while as I fill them up with LOGIC AND FACTS.

“Okay, Rafa has done good business in transfer dealings. But he can only be called a good businessman and not a good manager. The points have been improving but no titles in five years. Thats all he can show. Should add another year because the title race is already over. 2 losses last season and 5 losses already, till October. If you’re still expecting us to win the title, then I am sure you’re imagining.”

There is no doubt about it, Bill Shankly should have been sacked in 1971. Between 1966 and 1973, Bill Shankly has not won anything FOR SEVEN YEARS.

“Only Arsenal have a manager who, in spite of winning nothing in recent years is still at the club. Even he won the title in his first season and has won two more titles ever since.”

Stop fucking comparing Wenger’s first years with Rafa’s first years, the situation is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. There was no Abramovich to make the market unstable, nor was there someone tactically and financially astute like Rafa or Wenger to challenge Ferguscum’s monopoly back then.

It’s like saying why America is having a hard time in Iraq and Afghanistan now when they did well occupying Germany and Japan 60 years ago.

“If you argue that Fergie didn’t win the title in his first 5 seasons then this argument would be bullshit.”

Bullshit my arse. Let me enlighten you:
Ferguscum’s first 200 league games: 87 wins
Wenger’s first 200: 110 wins
Rafa: 114 wins

“This is not a two horse race now. Chelsea are the major title contenders while Arsenal are on an impressive run.”

The Chavs have yet to play the Scum and Arsenal, and where have we heard the part about Arsenal being so impressive in September-October that they’ll win everything again?

“ManC will certainly be dangerous to play against and are likely to drop our points.”

If that’s the case, can I ask you for the score? I’m short on cash now and would like to make a fortune on a decent bet. Try asking Gerry and see if he can give you a T-shirt.

“We still have to face Villa at Villa Park. Everton are still left.”

Two letters: SO?

“This might be one of the worst seasons of Rafa and we might not even qualify for the CL. You can show statistics how much ever you want but it’s no use.”

It’s no use only if you decide to completely give in to despair, and let it blind EVERYTHING.

“You should see the reality. I am not asking to sack Rafa, but at least don’t support him when he’s doing a poor job.”

You should see the reality. I am not asking you to support Rafa unconditionally, but at least don’t slate him when he isn’t given decent tools to do his fucking job.

“Your CL profit shit that you’re talking about, Fatty is total crap. Chelsea have reached in the semi-finals since the last three-four seasons. They have played two finals and were unlucky to lose one on penalties. They have been performing brilliantly even with different managers. So it’s pure shite that only Rafa can manage that profit. He is supposed to while hes managing Liverpool F.C. ”

What is this tosh? Your logic clearly baffles me. The Chavs reached the semis by virtue of their bottomless kitty, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS MANAGER. And they managed to have a decent run in the league. Rafa can only do so at the expense of the league.

“Even A.C.Milan are making profits in CL who are in worse state than us in aspects of money and funds. So it’s not a superman-ager kinda stuff.”

AC Milan is backed by the Prime Minister of Italy as well as its richest man, Gordon Brown doesn’t back Liverpool, and neither do we want it.

if you guys are going to insult each other, can i suggest that you do a better job at it – the trash talk is embarrasing!

I really have had it with small minded people that just ooze ignorance. They refuse to look at the big picture. They dont care about facts or figures, rather make them up as they go. As FS figures prove, Rafa has spent slightly more in his thime here then Fergie spent on Nani/Anderson and Berbatov. They dont care about injuries or planning for future games. No its on game at a time for them. Forget about the fact that the realistic money is coming from the CL, lets sacrifice that for the EPL. We all want #19 but lets be realistic, it could happen, I wont give up hope but the sure money is coming from the CL and thats were Rafa gets the chump change he so desperately needs to build the team. Lets ignore the Americans and the daily robbery the conduct. Lets fire Rafa and get this mythical manager that gonna come and bring us success, without money or support. Whst top manager would touch us with a ten foot pole I ask. Thank God we have Rafa and I dread to think that he might just say FUCK IT, I´m off to sunny Spain.

Red4life… not only will we not attract a top manager. Our “support” that want a new one with a magic-make-LFC-great-again-wand, don’t even realise that it would be H&G who would be bringing in any new man.

And nevermind the fact, that they would only bring in a Yes Man of their own – if they could even talk to each other for long enough to make a decision – the real problem is…

Between the pair of robbing lying bastards there is probably even less football knowledge than there is between Sula, Somnath, King Of The Kop and Burger Man.

And if that doesn’t frighten you, you’re already probably brain dead and beyond all hope anyway.

KopKing, I think you are wasting our time. So much effort has been put in to convince you regarding our situation. If you do not see the reasoning, the facts, the arguments put forth by Keith, Aitch and FS amaong others, then Bugger off from this site.

We are all gutted as it were already with our losses and have accepted the difficulties rafa has been put in. Not once in your argument have you ever blamed the Yanks. Not once. It is only Rafa is an idiot Manager. If Rafa goes, with no money who do you think will come in? I think Mr Souness whom you think highly of will be suitable as you knows so much about football that you are impressed with him. LFC surely can afford to pay his saalary. G&H can’t afford to pay for Mourihno, Hiddink or Lippi. Nor will they want to come in and be treated like Rafa has been treated by the yanks. No way.

I thought I had told you to piss off earlier. Why come back? Please stay away. You pollute this site.

@Kop King

No point arguing. These people are like gangsters. They are desparate.

Dont argue with Fatty Acid. He is such a nonsense. I try to make him understand things but that silly chap keeps on making stupid statements.

The rule in this forum is to back the manager even if its wrong. You cant air your views which are negative KK.

Your post #265 makes a lot of sense.

@Knight

Kop King is not polluting this site. Its your fear that people even in this forum is starting to question the on field tactics.

We all will be here and will continue to make our points.

“What we all thought on the opening day of the season at Spurs when we looked at the Liverpool bench is coming back to haunt them; the squad just doesn’t have enough strength in depth. I don’t think Rafa has been backed properly in the transfer market and I do worry that will cost them.”
Phil Thompson
Quotes of the week

And lack of depth is due to Rafa too, with no money to spend? He was scared to even sell Voronin coz the Yanks will just have pocketed the money.
And Somnath, you can also piss off from this site too. Both you and KK can start a new blog so that your kind can go in there to comment to your hearts content.

Gerry, Please sart a new blog. I am tired of some of these so called “fans” comments. The Sounness believers. Let them go support some other team please…

Now now Knight Sir, that’s not like you.

And why don’t you understand that a manager – who inherited a club, with a boardroom in complete disaray and a team packed with the likes of Traori, and has spent 16 Million per season, and won a European Cup, an FA Cup, a European final, and finished in the top 4 every season, with a club record points haul 2 place finish, and has built a side that now includes world class players like Reina, Johnson, Agger, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani, plus top class players like Benayoun, Kuyt, Aurelio, Riera, Lucas (yes Lucas), with kids like Ngog, Insua coming through and others like Pacheco and Nemeth following – thoroughly deserves the sack for this bad run of results?

And never mind making excuses about bad refereeing, not given penalties, given none deserved red cards, media pressure, disasterous boardroom, great “support” through the wind and the rain, managers ganging up on him, and even bloody beach balls – The super “support” is entitled to it’s opinion and that opinion says the one man we have fighting on our behalf and keeping us in a position we have no right to be in, should be sacked immeadiately because they have friends who support Manchester United and Chelsea and they are hurting their poor feelings.

I suppose it would be a whole lot easier if they just went and bought a Man U shirt so they wouldn’t have to endure the skitting they get from their friends, but they are entitled to their opinion.

Well I just had wonderful news….
I’m now the proud grandfather of a beautiful baby boy!

Just had the phone call now. We weren’t allowed in the hospital. They’re funny about things nowadays, but we have been sat here waiting for the news. I didn’t say it earlier in case it was another false alarm, but that is it…
A Baby Boy.

I don’t even know what he looks like yet or how big he is, but I couldn’t be happier. Yahooo!

I cant believe some of the absolute shite i’ve been reading from some of the “kids” in here.

People like FS and kenny riddle have wrote intelligent well thought out comments backed up with fucking FACT. Thats fucking FACT. Its called a fact for a fucking reason…… because its the fucking TRUTH. Its a simple fucking equation morons. FACT = TRUTH.

Now how the fuck can anyone with even the slightest little bit of intelligence deny the figures posted by FS is beyond me. But somehow, some people can all too conveniently just blow off these figures by saying “i can see your figures but your not going to convince me”… the ignorance is just mind blowing.

The figures are FACT. They are not there to fucking convince you. They are not there to fucking persuade you. They are not there to change your fucking opinion or to be argued with. They are there as an indisputable record of a sequence of events. Next you’ll be telling me that gravity doesnt exist and that the theory of relativity is a load of bollox because “your not convinced”.

If anybody is not convinced by the figures posted by FS then put your fucking argument forward in a clear and intelligent manner and dispute them with well sourced information and quote your sources.

#253
“You take out Torres,Gerrard and Benny(On recent form) and you will struggle to find another player who can be the difference”.

This above quote really pisses me off. This goes for every fucking team in world football. So by that logic if we take Pikey Rooney, Berbatov, and any other creative player from the scum then you can find an abundance of other attacking flair to take their place?? Who? Anderson? Nani? Carrick? Valencia? Judas Owen? None of them have a patch on Rooney or Berbatov. So Bollox. So you take Dogbreath, Anelka & Fat Lampard from Chavski and who have they got to replace them. Kalou? Dos Santos? Who the fuck can take their place? Exactly you ignorant twat. Because if you take 3 world class first team players, when 2 of them are your first choice strikers, from any team in the world they are going to suffer.

The kind of “supporter”, and i use the term very loosely we attract these days is enough to make we wanna puke. They are gorging on all things sly sports have to offer, gorging themselves on piece of shit rags, gorging themselves on any little piece of media about our club, and worst of all believing it. Absolutely brainwashed. Not one of them can form a single fucking coherent opinion for themselves. I mean settling for 4th place at this early stage of the season is despicable. Where is the hope in your heart? Where is the faith? Where is the fucking support? Of course its going to be a lot more difficult with the brutal start we’ve made. But do we throw in the towel? No we fucking dont. What if we’d throw in the towel at half time in Istanbul? Exactly. Thats why were liverpool supporters. Because when the chips are down, when they are at their absolute worst, we support our team. And some people need to fucking learn that or fuck off and support the plastic flag waving morons down in that shed stamford bridge.

Thank fuck i got that off my chest. On a lighter note. Anyone, and by anyone, i mean real supporters, read the crap whelan has been spouting? Any thoughts?

Congrats FS…. another pool supporter hopefully!

Thank you Artful mate. The Liverpool baby kit is already here waiting for when he gets home.

As for the others mate, I wouldn’t bother. It’s like pissing in the wind.

I found a great bit of research about the squad Rafa inherited and what he has built since, how much it was worth when he took over and what it’s worth now. But I never even bothered posting it. No point really.

The people who most need to read it won’t even look at it. And that is why I’ve given up on them.

Congrats FS hope all are doing well.
.
On the issue of managers, Kinny do you really think Klinsman would bother coming in, surely he reads the papers/talks to other managers.
.
No budgets, cash getting less by the day. Club struggling to pay interest payments. I don’t think we would be attracting anyone, other than someone forced to take the position out of love for the club. ie Kenny.
.
Anyway mute point really, Yanks can’t even afford to sack Rafa. There only hope of getting rid of Rafa is Real Madrid coming in.
.
I just hope he doesn’t have a heart attack.

Congrats FS …
I see another ardent pool fan …

As for the Messrs, kopKing and Somnath are concerned, i really dun blame them .. i assume they both are from the subcontinent, and me being from there as well can tell you exactly why they act the way they do …
They have to listen to the absolute genius of the likes of SHEBBY SINGH .. on Football Focus … yeh .. Sheby singh who played in the most competitive league in teh world.. MALAYSIAN league …

Question, in regard to the Lyon game, apparently Aqualani is over his virus and available. Considering our current plight do we drop him in the furnace or put him on the bench. Can we afford to let a player of his talent sit on the bench. What do we think. Over last weeks game, this one’s the one I’m worrying about now.
.
Also if the Yanks are trying to raise capital why can’t Liverpool be listed on the stock exchange, is it possible or not allowed.

Congrats FS.

Fuck Me – I see the gutless chokers are back out in full force…

Once again why cant these morons – these dumbest mother fucking cunts on the face of the earth – get it through their tiny little brains they no one – and I mean NO ONE is interested in their half arsed opinions…once again just because you are entitled to an opinion doesnt mean you are smart enough to have one – or that anyone wants to hear it…

And finally :
As has been proven time and time and time again…Rafa is actually OVERACHIEVING with the amount of money he has had to spend…basically there are at least 5 and probably 7 clubs with higher wage bills than ours – therefore at best we should only be coming in about 6th to 8th on average…so to judge Rafa harshly and to suggest he is failing is beyond comprehension and shows those that do are amongst the stupidest beings in the known universe…

Fuck Me – I have had it with these dumb mother fuckers…there are just two many morons in the world and far too many of them seem to be where I am far too often…and whats more youre not allowed to shoot the fuckers…

Somnath07in – the only fucker around here that needs to understand anything is you – you arogant little fuck – what makes you think you are right when time and again it has been demonstrated that your opinion is based on bollocks…you have to be one of the thickest mother fuckers to have ever walked the earth…

Fuck off and support Chelsea you dirty fucking little traitor

Now now Mark, the lad has “given me the good luck of trying to make me understand.”

Sorry, couldn’t resist that one. Just think it’s really funny. But anyway…
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6900279.ece?

Be warned… it’s not good. Me mate has been telling me for awhile now that Torres came back from Spain with a tear in his stomache muscles. Well, it’s apparently even worse than that.

Why the fuck this sort of shit just keeps happening to our club and players over and over is beyond me. But there’s only one way to sort it out. As Shanks said, everyone working hard for each other and sharing in the rewards. We really need the squad players to stand up and be counted now.

Oh well, they say the darkest hour comes just before the dawn.

Congrats F.S there is nothing like Grandkids.
It was worth not killing my kids when they were
Teenagers.
We had one of our Granddaughters spend the night Friday, nothing like seeing a smiling face looking up at you from a crib in the morning.
Puts everything into perspective.
We need to stand together right now.The yanks have screwed Liverpool F.C royally.
I wouldn’t want to work for them, they have give Rafa no chance to win the League with their lack of Financial support.
Until we can get them out of the club we will always be behind the Chelski and the Scum when it comes to buying Quality players.
Good luck to the Lads on Wednesday, Back against the Wall and all that..

FS Glad you put them stats up @ 243 should enlighten a few people,and glad
we’ve got another fan for the next generation with the arrival of your Grandson.
Do you think Fulham knew about the hernia because Nando got a few elbows
in his stomach during the match
Welcome back Artful Dodger your right about Whelan talking crap with is little
kneejerk comment without knowing all the facts,you’d think he’d know better,
but apparently he know as much as some of our “Fans”.
Digger Glad i made you laugh but whats so funny about subbing a attacking
player who hasn’t had a assist or scored in 75 mins.
However having now watched the game on DVD and watched the alternative
ending ( the one where Benny scores a hat trick ) i agree it was a bad decision.
YNWA

Congrats FS on the arrival of ur grandson!

Thanks lads. He’s a belter. Alfie, a big lad, 9.5 pounds, with a full head of thick black wavy hair. Got the weight off me and the hair off the wife. Couldn’t be happier.

Unfortunately Wednesday is a bit too early for him to make his debut, but hopefully we can cobble some sort of team together and give it a go. In fact, there’s only one thing that could make me any happier right now…
Winning the bloody thing and unleashing a few I Told You So’s.

FS, hopefully you can coach your grandson to become an LFC player? Would be great.

Rafa has managed to make progress in the five years at LFC, despite having his hands and foot bound up by G&H, fighting openly with each other and not caring if it affects the team even on the eve of key CL matches, giving little support in terms of finance to buy new players or those whom Rafa wanted, nor live up to their promises of building a new stadium and lying about using their own funds to buy the club and then undermining his credibility by trying to appoint Klinnsman who subsequently failed miserably at Bayern Munich. Any other person would have walked away. There are some fans who do not see that and acknowledge it. They only see the results on the field and think that is the problem.

When I was at Anfield before the Man United match, FS told me to meet him at the Fans Club premises. It was a nice building and lots of fans showed up. I met the Chairman, Richard (can’t remember his family name)and the Secretary of the Club. Lots of members were streaming in. My fellow Malaysian fans who were there were impressed by the facilities and that it was self-funded and run. Subsequently I was asked what I thought of the American owners by Richard in front of a BBC reporter (Sue was her name). I told them that the yanks are the cause of the crisis in LFC. When they took over the club, the debt was just Stg45 million. Now it has ballooned to Stg300 million. Yes, that is because H&G put all the interest on the loans and lumped it on the Club. Yesiree. And I told them about the various incidencess that did not help rafa but put a bind on him instead.

No other Manager in the top seven eight clubs (includes Spurs, Villa, Everton, Man Shitty) have to face these problems but just concentrate on football matters and also be given a generous butget to spend as well. Not Rafa. But sadly that aspect is difficult to understand for some fans.

Merseyside Derby. Scores tied. Late in the game. Rafa removes SG to gasps of “what the fuck!” and replaces him with everyone’s favorite midfielder Lucas Leiva.
Crazy, unfathomable, act of sheer lunacy!
The man was clearly throwing in the towel.
Giving up in a game that means so much to fans, but obviously little to him.

Now who can tell me the difference between that substitution and the substitution of BennyOnion on Saturday?

But really… the fuckin quote of the year for me has to be #164:
“too ashamed to wear this jersey anymore!!”

Ref’s decisions had also cost us.The two reds at Fulham, which Rafa says he will appeal especially since Carra did get the ball on replay.

Going back a bit, Jack Hill is right when he mentioned we should have be given a penalty in the game against Arsenal when the brilliant bicycle kick from Aqualung clearly hit Senderos hands, not just one both both hands! Things could have been different then. The Ref’s decision went against us there, yet again.

rome, is that DVD the Director’s Cut?
Is it available from Amazon?

Besides the Rafa Transfer/Man Management/substitutions/controlling the world econonmy/backroom problems/financial problems arguments, cant some people in here see how much we are struggling with unjuries alone. Yet those same people want to hang Rafa( Yes you Sula and KK) for our losees.
Just look at our injury list:
Aqualani, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Auerellio, Gerrard, Torres, Riera, Ngog, Gerrard etc.

That injured team would be enough to compete in the EPL and finish top 4. Yet we have all these players out, and still those people want to rag Rafa.

For fucks sake, not only do you not understand the arguments put forwward logically by the members of this blog in regards to finances/club troubles/skintness of the club, you cant see the blinding obvious that we have 7 first team players out.

But thats alright, as stated earlier, Rafa injured them all himself.

You know hypocricy i hate that comes out of some members in this blog.:

Last year everyone was having a go at Rafa for not having any reserves players in the squad and giving them a chance. When Fergie played Macheda and he scored the winning goal, those members went on about how Fergie was a genius in playing a young player and why arent we doing the same.

Yet when Rafa played Ecclestone (admittedly only because we have 7 first team players out), those same members are now complaining about Rafa playing the youngster.

FFS, stop moving the goal posts.

Knight did you see beachball ref’s latest f*ck up at Burnley/ Hull game.
And we couldn’t go a week without a Fergie “favour” when Blackburns goal
was wrongly disallowed for offside.Not that Fat Sam complained probably
because there was no disrespectful ” beyond the pale” hand gestures by his
lord & master.
Aitch The deleted scenes show Torres getting badly injured in the 65th minute
Apparantly it was too horrifying for this Halloween release, so they had to cut it.
YNWA

9.5lbs!!! Wow! Hope the madam who delivered that bundle of joy is getting some R&R.

Many congrats FS.

How many of ye here can stomach a really bad season just to see the yanks out?

ps: By ‘bad’ me is talking about out of europe now & a mid table finish. The kind of season which will take some time to bounce back from.

Congrats, FS! I’m only a father of 2 young kids and don’t understand the joy of being a grand dad yet.

I’m very sad to see so many so called fans slagging off Rafa with the usual chants, and when presented with facts and figures, just shrug them off.

I think many people here have forgotten how the press have been talking about the BIG THREE in EPL when Rafa began his career in LFC, and subsequently (& begrudgingly) talking about the BIG FOUR now after RAFA HAS OVERTAKEN WENGER IN THE LEAGUE TABLE FOR A COUPLE OF SEASONS OR MORE (caps intended for myopic readers here).

If that’s not consistency to show improvement, I wonder what is, with the constant disregard of our European top ranking when Rafa’s in charge.

Wenger took quite a few seasons before even being able to consistently qualify from the group stages, and Champions of the Universe was knocked out (not even qualifying for UEFA Cup) and winning only the Carling Cup a few seasons ago. Rafa’s Liverpool have progressed past the group stages for all the seasons he’s boss so far, and if that’s not consistency, then what is????

It seems some of our supporters here want to see this proud record of Champions League qualification & results go just to prove their point that Rafa has lost it. And if that’s the case, please go join in Talkshite, Whelan, Collywobble, Sourpuss, Jamie My Father is the Best Manger Ever and enjoy yourselves in the great company of pals who think alike.

This time round, I’m quite afraid that we may actually not qualify for the knockout stages, given the injuries and flu problem. But I’ll support the club and give Rafa the backing he fully deserves in difficult times like this, even when the worst case scenario happens.

He really had done a fantastic job given the support he’s received from the 2 owner debtors, the constant press bombardment, the Fergie & Clowns party who perform character assassinations together, all those former player experts at wrecking the club but with terrible or no management credentials, and of course, the self-proclaimed knowledgeable fans who’d jump at anything they’ve been fed with from the sources just mentioned above.

If I were Rafa, I’d have left LFC for another team given all these circumstances above. He’s taught me the meaning of being resilient, even in times of difficulties like this, when the whole world and their dogs are against you. We just have to believe in our vision and stubbornly (or “thick-skinly”) hold on and see things through.

I think we’re very blessed to have such a great manager in charge, who’d go through thick and thin with the club, and he’s definitely more special than the self-proclaimed one who’s now touting himself for a top managerial post after failing to lift a great Italian team back to its glory days.

Well, I’m still pleased to see some of our fans here trying to reason with much enthusiasm and you guys have lightened my mood somehow. For the club I’ve supported for more than 20 years is now in going through a difficult period, and it’s nice to have some like-minded supporters hanging on and believing even in times like this.

YNWA

The illogical mistruths spouted by KK was nothing, but what really gets my blood boiling is posts like somnath’s on #275 and #276, trying to play the victim card whose freedom of speech is being infringed on and pretend he’s on the moral high ground, when he obviously isn’t.

#275-
“@Kop King

No point arguing. These people are like gangsters. They are desparate.”

See here? They make statements which are obviously WRONG, and when they get corrected, they go on the defensive and starts accusing people of being gangsters and defensive. Now who’s the gangster here, I wonder?

“Dont argue with Fatty Acid. He is such a nonsense. I try to make him understand things but that silly chap keeps on making stupid statements.”

You? Trying to tell FS the truth of the world? It’s like Osama bin Laden preaching for world peace. How fucking DARE you try to turn lies into truth and vice versa!?

“The rule in this forum is to back the manager even if its wrong. You cant air your views which are negative KK.”

YOUR rule in this forum is to SLATE THE MANAGER even if he’s not 100% at fault. We can’t air our views which are even positive without even accused of being bullies.

“Your post #265 makes a lot of sense.”

Your post in #275 was utter bollocks.

#276-

“@Knight

Kop King is not polluting this site. Its your fear that people even in this forum is starting to question the on field tactics.”

somnath, knight is not here to terrorize people for questioning field tactics, people like knight are here to terrorize idiots who mistake lies for facts.

“We all will be here and will continue to make our points.”

And so will we be here and continue to shoot down any LIES and MISINFORMATION you continue to spout!

FS apparently Rooney has become a dad aswell, is it the same day. Wonder if he’s knows who the father is.
.
Anyway enough joviality, enough is enough boys time to think about the next game, time to stick together. Afterall in the end we’re all in it together. As the blog title is written.

Congratulations to you and all your family FS.

Congratulations FS, and to your family members too. May your grandchild grow up to become as sensible as you are, a true fan of LFC!

You guys who are blatantly abusing me and Somnath here should be ashamed of yourselves. You are those dirty hypocrites who sing the songs of peace and liberty and then terrorize others with your abusive language.

Somnath, I know we are right about many things and many of our points make sense. But the problem in this blog is that these people don’t want to understand us. They are so damn arrogant people that they don’t even try to understand us.

I know that there are only some of us who write what we think and what we want. We are not terrorized by these self-imposed “True” fans who desperately want us to leave this blog. Frankly, I don’t care what they think. I don’t care if Mr. Fatty keeps writing book-long articles to convince me because I’ve never asked him to. Who’s he to blame me for all that?

Mr. Knight here believes that anyone who cannot understand Mr. Fatty here should leave the blog. Who’s he to ask us to leave this place? We are free to do what we want. If we don’t agree with Fatty, why should we leave? Is he the founder of LFC? We are not committing any crime by posting our views. Fatty acid’s nothing but an old guy sitting on his computer at home 24/7, who has loads of time to waste and write huge posts. And then theses people blame us.

Kiwi_Mark_Lfc:

You should be fucking ashamed of yourself. You call yourself a Liverpool supporter and abuse others? Somnath never even addressed you. What kind of pathetic thug language are you using? You lack proper understanding of things and using of words. On the whole, you lack a brain.

Dizzy:

Frankly, you just make me laugh. At last you’ve learnt the art of writing. I remember that at the start of the season, when we lost to Spurs, you agreed with all I said at that time. And now when I am repeating myself, you are on Fatty’s side. Frankly, you’re a bit confused yourself, so please wash your face and then come back. I think you yourself are acting like a lot of Shebby Singh. One instant here and another somewhere else. He’s also confused like the load of you.

Lastly, I would say that please, stop abusing and insulting us on this blog. We have our views and we have our limits. Even we know your language but are still patiently trying to understand you and answer you in a proper way. Do try to talk in a proper manner.

Don’t worry Somnath, I am with you on this one and nothing can change my opinion. We are free to express our view and will do so.

Even if Sula agrees with us, he can give his opinion freely. I guess we are the only ones in this.

Well thank you lads for all the well wishes. Mum and Baby are both fine and well, if not a bit tired… He’s an oven buster alright. But I think his poor Dad came out of it worst. The look on his face, you’d think he’d delivered it.

Oh well, as Gaz said, enough and on to the next match…

The injury/virus list is indeed horrendous.
We have also had terrible luck in all departments. Like I said, it’s like some cloud hanging over us and it doesn’t want to go away.
But it will. We’ve just got to hope all’s not lost by the time things turn round.

I know one thing, through out all of this Rafa has acted like a complete gentleman. He hasn’t complained or moaned about one thing, and he’s made no feeble excuses…

Could you imagine how some other managers would be acting if they’d had this run of “luck?”

Nevermind even moaning about the referees, Rafa hasn’t even moaned about things like the beach ball. I know others who would have been demanding it get replayes. I seem to remember Steve Bruce screaming about some sort of dodgy goal against Arsenal until Arsenal/Wenger went to the FA and gave them a replay.

I can’t remember it clearly. Like TV experts, I don’t really have good knowledge of the other clubs. So maybe Burger Man or one of our other Arsenal experts could remind us of what it was.

Sorry for the sarcasm. I should be past that, especially the happy mood I’m in. But my point is, Rafa is an absolute gentleman yet he is treated worse than Jack The Ripper in our marvelous British media. It actually drives me to the point of missing some of his failings, like anyone else he has them.

But it certainly isn’t any of the nonsense spouted in our papers, radio and television. Nothing we can do about that though. We just have to do what LFC fans have always done… stick together and remain loyal. It’s what we’ve always done. It’s what made us famous and different from other clubs. Thankfully this is the sort of history that Rafa has immersed himself in. He’s a great student of all things LFC, past and present. And I think he has enough enemies outside the club, to at least deserve some faith and loyalty to take us into a bright new future.

I know most lads who knock him come from overseas. That’s not a reflection on good supporters from overseas. It’s just me saying that they don’t see first hand the treatment Rafa recieves in the British media.

It really is quite sickening. But even worse than that is the treatment he recieves from the other managers and the football authorities.

We all know that Sir Tramp won’t even talk to the BBC, and they kiss his arse for it. But when he does open his mouth after a game to Sly or someother firm, especially after a bad united performance, look at what he says… Everyone and everything is blamed for everything except of course himself.

His treatment of referees over the years has been a complete disgrace. Sadly though it worked… how many years passed without a penalty being given at Old Trafford? And who can ever forget the way his team chased that ref all over the pitch actually physically threatening him for giving a decision against them? And that wasn’t something that just happened – that was what he trains them to do. That team truly reflect that man and they were made for each other.

Look at the difference in the treatment Rafa is given. After one of our defeats some reporter kept at him, trying to get him to attack the ref. Rafa refused to say anything bad about him and kept talking about how we had to put things right and not blame anyone else for our bad form. The reporter kept on and on about the ref, asking Rafa what he thought of him. Rafa just smiled, took off his glasses and wiped them… a sarcastic little gesture as if to say the man needed glasses.

Next morning the papers where full of stories of Rafa saying the ref was blind, and he was immeadiately charged by the FA for bringing the game into disrepute.

And we all remember how he was attacked for his last little hand gesture.

It’s bloody ridiculous. But it’s also a very concentrated attack on the man that I fear will one day drive him away. He’s got young children who constantly see this happening to their dad. How would you feel if your kids were assaulted with this kind of shit everytime they looked at a paper or turned on a radio or TV. And I can only imagine some of the shit other kids at school say to them after every attack they see in the papers.

I know I’m going on a bit, but I want to let people overseas know how bad it really is. And I’ll just say this to finish it off…

In the British media, there is this nonsense way of giving people some sort of nickname. You know the sort of thing Fergie, Big Sam, Appy Arry, Sparkie, The Special One (Granted that was self given by an ego maniac, but they loved him for that). All these names are said, in a nice jovial friendly sort of way, and then there’s the deep reverence that’s used to say Sir Alex.

Well, I swear to god, it would make you sick to see the way they spit out the word BEN-EET-EEEZ like it’s some sort of shite stuck in their mouth.

It’s awful. It’s a disgrace. It’s an agenda. It’s a mission to get the man out. And it’s the sort of thing that will eventually grind down any person no matter how hard they are… and Rafa is a tough aul lad.

But if he loses us, what is the point in carrying on against all this?

And last point, for all our doubters… What do you really think will happen if he is driven out?
Do you really think H&G will hire a man who will work tirelessly against all the odds to put LFC back at the very top? Do you think any man capable of doing that would ever touch the LFC job?

Get a bloody grip.

Rome, No I did not see the Burnley/Hull game. I rarely watch other games other than ours, except real big clashes. Some of the Refs are really short-sighted as Rafa had recently alluded to by taking out his spectacles, looking holding it up against the sky to see the blemishes on the glass and cleaning it with his kerchief.

The term Dumb and Dumber is normally applied to H&G. Now it can also be used for a couple of loose cannons and knee jerkers on this blog. They refuse to leave despite being unreasonable and not being wanted. Maybe Sounness sent them to comment here?

Kopking please don’t leave I have not laughed so much in ages, every time I think of your post it has me in stitches. I am even smiling as I type.

Somnath Your post #265 makes a lot of sense.” Had me nearly peeing myself with laughter. Only you could find something intelligent in that rambling monologue and that says it all.

That you actually expect us to take you seriously is even more hilarious, how can we when you choose to ignore reality and fact. So go ahead and spew forth your highly considered pearls of wisdom but don’t expect any response except laughter because quite frankly that all you deserve I for one will not waste my time and I suggest the rest of you don’t as well.

Congrats FS glad to hear it’s healthily and please pass it on to your family.

Thanks Keith. I’ve already told the missus and kids how many friends I’ve made on here over the years and how nice they are. But then, I suppose I was bound to get a few people on my side while sitting here like a big fat and very ancient old Buddah 24/7.

You’re right… It would be a complete shame to ever lose such a rich vein of comedy delights.

Spot on FS, Rafa always acts with dignity, and it will be the decent ones among our opponents who will acknowledge this.

The main site reports that Torres might need surgery after tomorrow night’s match. If he and Gerrard both have to go under the knife and both need 2 months recovery time we will be well and truely in the shit.

Keith mate, couldnt agree more.

You know that person that you sometimes find in your group of friends/collegues, the one that really has no idea and always talks alot of shite, but everyone is so used to it that they go along with it and then have a laugh about it. Well we have found those in this blog.

The thing that these clowns dont realise, is that everyone in here is up for a debate. In fact ive been coming to this blog for at least 4-5 years now, and i keep coming back because of the sound debates. There have been some ripper ones between LB, FS, Digger, Keith and Aitch (plus a few more).

Why cant KK, Sulka etc just realise that members in here are well educated on Liverpool, and by basing your opinions on pointless facts and incorrect facts wont win any fans.

Look I realise KK is a yoyung member, but KK you have on numerous times come in here and made wild points/ We have taken the time to read your view and tried to correct you based on FACTS, even know most in here are using FACTS to counter your arguments.

Yet when anyone disagress with you, its all about how the world is against you and you cant make an opinion. You can have an opinion, doesnt mean its right. Its like me saying “KK I think you are a wanker and i can express this because everyone is entitled” But unless i have any facts or logical reasoning for this its not a valid opinion. Can you see where everyone is coming from?

I must admit, I am realatively young, but i grew up watching the reds with the old man enjoying the footy and supporting my favourite players. But i grew up supporting Liverpool in the time where we were lucky to have games shown (down under), and alot of the times id be up at 3-4am listening to the game on the radio. Maybe I appreciate it more because of it.

“You guys who are blatantly abusing me and Somnath here should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Ashamed for what? For telling it as it is?

“You are those dirty hypocrites who sing the songs of peace and liberty and then terrorize others with your abusive language.”

Do we need to remind you that we only choose to be abusive because you started it?

“Somnath, I know we are right about many things and many of our points make sense.”

What points? NAME THEM!

“But the problem in this blog is that these people don’t want to understand us. They are so damn arrogant people that they don’t even try to understand us.”

I can simply copy and paste the same paragraph and APPLY IT BACK TO YOU!

“I know that there are only some of us who write what we think and what we want.”

Don’t you mean people like you?

“We are not terrorized by these self-imposed “True” fans who desperately want us to leave this blog. Frankly, I don’t care what they think. I don’t care if Mr. Fatty keeps writing book-long articles to convince me because I’ve never asked him to. Who’s he to blame me for all that?”

Your Holy Highness, your rants are becoming more predictable than Rafa’s that one can simply copy and paste them, modify them a bit and throw it right back at you:

We refuse to be intimidated by those self-imposed “morally right “fans” ” who desperately want to continue being a nuisance. Frankly, I could care fuck all about them. I don’t care if His Holy Highness keeps writing epic-length rants to assert his existence because we never asked him to. Who’s he to blame us for all that?

“Mr. Knight here believes that anyone who cannot understand Mr. Fatty here should leave the blog.”

Mr somnath here believes that anyone who cannot understand His Holy Highness should be listed in the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list.

“Who’s he to ask us to leave this place? We are free to do what we want. If we don’t agree with Fatty, why should we leave?”

Who’s he to judge us to be morally wrong? We are merely listing facts to at least show you where things were wrong, but you refuse to listen. If you can’t be persuaded, why should we put up with you crap?

“Is he the founder of LFC? We are not committing any crime by posting our views. Fatty acid’s nothing but an old guy sitting on his computer at home 24/7, who has loads of time to waste and write huge posts. And then theses people blame us.”

Neither are you the founder of LFC. Neither is anyone of us here committing any crime by posting about FACTS! His Holy Highness’s vitriol is nothing but a immature teenager sitting on his computer all the time, wasting everybody’s time. And then they wonder why they’re being targeted against.

“Lastly, I would say that please, stop abusing and insulting us on this blog. We have our views and we have our limits. Even we know your language but are still patiently trying to understand you and answer you in a proper way. Do try to talk in a proper manner.”

RESPECT IS EARNED, NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED! We gave you time and space to read some of the facts that you listed, but what do you do? You come out with an outrageous rant, comprising of all sorts of mistruths and myths that offends just about everybody here besides your “friends” who buy your mistruths. And when we try to tell you some of them are not right, you pull out the victim card and act as though you’re the holy one here.

Ohh and ill add, I dont always agree with FS and a few of the other lads in this blog, but I always take the time to read it and learn from it, because they have been around a whole lot longer than me. They have witnessed change in times/supporters/owners/managers/players and have alot of knowledge.

FS – sorry – but ignorance and arrogance really gets me pissed off…so I really let fly – both barrels…I know – I should be more patience and understanding like you and some of the others…but fuck it – I’m too old to be bothered with that, but not old enough to let it go…and I get tired of dealing with some of the dumbest people around (its bad enough having to deal with idiots in your working life)…

KK :
If you dont like the abuse then perhaps you and the rest should stop acting so arrogant as to assume that a. anyone has to agree with your opinion, b. anyone wants to hear your opinion and c. when you are disagreed with dont get hostile (I got Hostile because of the tone of the responses to FS and others were quite appalling – so you got a disproportinate respone because I dont believe in pussy footing around – the hostility came because of your own arrogance).

And Finally – heres a hint – if the majority of people are telling you are wrong, perhaps, just perhaps you might actually be wrong. Have you thought of that? Has that managed to filter through? Or are you so arrogant as to assume that Lifelong Reds Supporters couldnt possibly know as much as you mere fans (because thats all you are at this point in time – you are not supporters – supporters know what it means to support a team, especially when the times are bad, especially when that team is actually OVERACHIEVING based on its financial state).

You have no right to be offended! You have done nothing to earn anyones respect! If you are too arrogrant to understand this, then this is YOUR problem – not ours.

I on the other hand have every right to be offended by the drivel you and the rest spout time and time again – because that is what it is – absolute drivel (yes again you are entitled to an opinion – but that doesnt mean your opinion isnt anything more than drivel)…and it as been shown to be drivel by more than one person on more than one occasion…and yet you continiue to persist with it…which indicates you are either beyond stupid or so incredibly arrogant as to think that only you could possibly be correct…either way its not a great outlook…

so if you dont want to be abused :
1. Stop spouting drivel based on unsubstantiated crap written by morons in the media.
2. Stop arguing with people who know oh so much more than you and actually take the time to listen to what they are saying to you. Fine – if you have a counter argument based on solid facts…but we are not interested in your unsubstantiated unfounded ignorant opinions. Basically if you cant back it up with FACTS dont bother…the main commentators on here will tear you to shreds because their knowledge exceeds the rest of ours combined by quite a large factor – show some humilty and accept that fact at least.
3. When you do get disputed dont resort to smart arse comments that only indicate you have no respect for those that know oh so much more than you (and you wonder why you get abused – perhaps you should learn to look inside yourself first instead of having a fucking hissy fit like some 12 year old girl – you got what you got because of your arrogance and lack of respect to the others who have very patiently tried to educate you).

And Finally – dont even fucking dare to tell me what I can and cannot do…you are not in my league…I have nothing to be ashamed of…I have not acted so arrogantly and with so little respect to those who know more than me…you and the others on the other hand…so it is you who should be ashamed…when you start showing the proper respect and courtesy to those who know oh so much more than you, then you will get treated with respect but until then you are deserving of neither respect nor kind words.

Fuck a duck – the modern school system really is turning out some right little arrogant fucks who think they know it all before they have even achieved a single thing…

FS, adding on to your useful comments. Rafa had stood by LFC when all around the club things are falling apart. He could have parted ways when Real Madrid came with a job offer.He could have gone after G&H tapped up Klinnsmann behind his back. He could have left after the dilly-dallying by Rick Parry and missing out on several signings. He could have bolted when G&H told him to shut up and just concentrate on coaching and training. Or when they bought a lampshade (Robbie Keane) when he asked for a table(G Barry). Then there are so much gall and criticism of his team selection ( rotation policy), marking system, accusing him of being stubborn and now even player substitutions. He could have just walked away from all that crap. But he stayed on. The only ones who supported him were and are the fans. Sorry, most of the fans. So he stayed on because he loves the club, cares for it, the players -many of whom he has improved- and certainly he loves the fans.
It is just that some people (I won’t call them fans) here will not support the Manager when things are not going our way.

Mangers should be judged not on a few game but over the years. Sure, we have not sone well over the last five of six games. It is a cause for concern. But I still think we should back the Manager. A few factors are of his own making but many are not.

If you take just one example like Newcastle, where there are so many Manager changes, that this had sadly caused such a great and reputable Club with a rich history to be relegated last season.

There were 8 NUFC Managers over the last ten years, four of which came in the last two:
1998-9: Rudd Gullit
1999-2004: Bobby Robson (longest serving and best result)
2004-2006: Graeme Souness
2006-2007: Glenn Roeder
2007-2008: Sam Allydyce
2008-2008: Kevin Keegaan
2008-2009: Joe Kinnear
2009: Alan Shearer
2009: Chris Houton

On to footbaling matters. I think it might be wortwhile doing the ops (if required) on Stevie and Nando before the busy Xmas period (December). If they arent well they wont be able to play all those games anyway, but we will need them fit through mid-late december and beyond. This might be the most ideal time because of the international break etc.

Hopefully we get through the Lyon game and then we start having players coming back from virus/injury. I believe once we have a full team, we can go through 5-6 games without nando and stevie (will be tough, but we managed to a degree last season) and then have them fresh and fit for the second part of the season.

Timmy, on your previous suggestion to have a gathering of contributors to this blog. I think it is a great idea. Meet at one of the BIG games. Only thing is getting tickets during those games.
We can have a piss up before the game and go for more drinks and dinner after that. Would be fun. This need to be planned ahead so oversea contributors can make plans to meet up. Gerry to be invited as our guest of honour.
And I would like to taste some of Keith’s famous humble pies, no matter who he was making that for.

Akka, the operation doesn’t mean problem solved sadly. Gerrard had an op this time last year on the same muscle. Sports people in general get put under the knife too quickly in my opinion. How many ops has Andrew Flintoff had and what good did that do him?

We’ve been cursed this season. I think my jinx explanation has been the most accurate bit of analysis thus far.

Yeah you are right, ops in no way gaurantee solving a problem long term. But at this rate it seems Stevie cant play week in week out if it is constantly going to flare up. Also considering the busy schedule coming up (world cup at al) i think he might need some work done.

But ill leave that decision with the medicos, they seem to be world class.

FS – Congrats to you and your family on the new addition! Baby’s are amazing, I’ve just become a godfather so on a much smaller scale I understand your joy.
On your point about the British media, for a long time I have wondered if it was just me imagining the hidden (or not so hidden) agenda. I 100% agree with you that there seems to be an unholy amount of focus/ and negative press aimed at Rafa. And again you are right in that he has handled it like a true gent. One thing you can say about Rafa is that he is a very quick learner! Remember the so called ‘Rafa Rant’ last season? The way the press rallied around Sir Funguson! attacking Rafa like he had committed some onerous crime! Its despicable. I have to admit that I am worried by it all…..remember Martin Jol and the way the Media went on a crusade against him? Next thing you know he’s sacked! I really hope they don’t succeed and get their way this time. I wonder if there is a link to the press agenda and football betting?

akka – I agree the injuries to Torres and Gerrard seem to be fairly serious…it may be the better option to let them have operations now and have them back just after xmas. Its is shocking the injury list we have at the moment! The sad thing is come January I don’t see Rafa having any funds with which to strengthen

To all you negatrons!! – Why are you here? you’re better off going on the slysports.com website and posting your comments there….I’m sure you’ll get the appreciation you’re looking for there. Better still why not go support a club you really believe in and leave us desperate Liverpool support gangsters alone?

Sobering article for those who are interested….not from one of the shit rags either!

http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2009/10/liverpool-americans-are-turning-us-into-premier-league-minnows-.html#more

How about taking Henry Larssen on a free?.Desperate times, desperate measures.

Tell you what burgerman, he can’t be any worse than Babel & Voronin have been!

FS,congrats on the the new arrival.Now get yourself away from that PC and go and wet the baby`s head!

Were well and truly up shit creek without a paddle.Somebody upstairs dosen`t like us.Maybe Shanks gave god a telling off or something because this bad luck on the injury front is fecking frighening.

If Torres and Stevie G are out for the next two months we will be right up against it.All we can do as supporters is rally behind the club and not get the knives out.Nobody is beyond critisism once its fair and constructive.A blind man can see the situation we`re in and all some can do is repeat crap thats being spewed in the media.Its times like this when the team needs our support.It very easy to stand up and claim to be proud to be a red when we`re winning but when we`re down they choose to hide behind keyboards and telephones and stick the knife into Rafa`s back.
These are the kind who would have walked out of the Ataturk at half-time instead of staying and supporting the reds to the greatest comback of all time.

We are LFC true good times and bad,for sickness and health `til death us do part.

Larson has officially retired.

We are LFC true good times and bad,for sickness and health `til death us do part.

Couldn’t have put it better myself tt….its easy being a supporter when you’re winning! When we’re losing is when the Team & Rafa really need us!!

I would take fourth place in the prem and 0 trophies.Bring Nemeth back.

Well I gotta say if Torres has a hernia then I was wrong in questioning Rafa subbing him but I must admit I was led to believe by Nandos reaction to the decision that he was fit to continue. As it stands now I agree with Akka; if he needs surgery then just do it. No point in playing injured players. He’s just gonna fuck himself up worse and then what’ll the media say? ‘Rafa rides Torres to the knackers yard’, ‘Benitez flogs dead horse’. Go get your surgery Nando, see you after Christmas lad.

Personally i’m not gonna worry about where we’re gonna finish, or what cup competitions we’re gonna win until the end of January. I think that’s probably when we can realistically start estimating where we can finish in the league, and what throphies we can win. For now i’ll just hope and pray that this hoodoo run of bad luck comes to an end, and our players stop getting broken!….and whilst i’m hoping and praying, I wish a fat jolly man in a red suit with white hair and a white beard drops a sack of GBPs under Rafa’s xmas tree to spend in january….I might as well hope.

I think I’ll be spending more money than LFC in the January sales.

Oh Jesus these are indeed tough times. I’m desperately looking for the light at the end of the tunnel but to no avail.
What the fuck our we gonna do tomorrow,i’ve no idea how were gonna pull it off,my only plan would be get torres through the first half hopefully bag a couple of goals and then a backs to the wall job to hold out.(you can guess why im not the manager)

YNWA

Being going through the comments – some good, some not so good, but I’ll tell you what our main problem is (been like this for a couple if years now) we don’t know how to finish teams off

If we take for example the Fulham game – we were in control for the first half and most of the second – should have been 2-1 or 3-1 up by the time Torres had to come off.

Instead we’re at 1-1, panic starts to set in balls are hoofed up the pitch, mistakes are made, they get the wind up them because our main attacking threat has gone off – thats not going to happen at 3-1

Another thing I have to ask maybe some of the teammanagers out there can fill me in,

Would Rafa not tell Torres he’s only getting 60 min before the game ?

Roarin -red I know what you mean mate ….how can one team have so much bad luck…in such a short space of time!! I think you’re right Rafa will have to start with El Nino, and hope that he gets a couple by half time then sub him off and hope the rest of the boys can sit back and catch the lyonnaise on the break.
I’d play Babel when after we sub off Torres …. he’s not playing well, but his got pace to burn, and if we’re playing on the break he might be able to do a job……oh my god! what am i saying?!!! we have to rely on Babel!….I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!

Heading down to Woolworths then LB?! Saints won again last night, thats them at 7 and o as they say over here. I agree BM, right now on the 3rd of November I too would snap your hand off for a 4th place finish. And given that we may be without Torres and Gerrard for a lot longer than anticipated that would be a remarkable and laudable achievement. I said it a few wks ago and I stand by it; a transitional polarizing season ahead.

Fair point An Linn, i’ve thought so for a while myself …we need that killer instinct…that get one hance score one goal instinct. We’d be battering teams 5-0 every week!! Saying that though mate, I think it brings us full circle back to FS’s point about amount of money Rafa has had to buy. I mean if you pay peanuts you get monkeys….you can’t expect that kind of killer instinct on a shoe string budget of a average £16m a season! Fair play to Rafa, when he has been able to shell that much and more on one player (aka Torres or Johnson) we get goals…. another 3/4 players of that calibre in the squad mate, and you’d get your wish…..screw it we’d all get our wish!!

Ps. whether you’re told you’re only gonna play 60 mins or not mate as a top quality player i’d expect the dissapointment or even anger. I mean i’m Fernando right, i’d be frustrated that its only 1-1 against a team we’ve battered for most of the game, even more frustrated that I’m not at 100% so these mediocre defenders are getting anywhere near me, and most mightly upset that even though the manager is right to sub me off cos i’m carrying war wounds, I can’t stay on the pitch and do a full shift with my fellow brothers in Red.
YNWA

There is no Woolworths any more Digger. It went under due to the recession.

Yep Saints won. My girlfriend is a fan coz she fancies Marques Colston. She was up until about 3am watching the stream.

7 and o indeed but I’m a Pats fan and they went 18 and o but then lost the superbowl. I remember Dallas being 10 and o a couple of years back and lost their first play-off game.

Burgerman, Here is your answer on Nemeth (see articlee below). He was searching for first team football but Rafa was not able to provide him that, hence loaned to AEK Athens with Kyrgiakos coming in for Stg 1.5 million.

“Liverpool youngster Krisztián Németh has joined Greek club AEK Athens on a year-long loan deal.

AEK Athens chairman Nikos Thanopoulos was in Liverpool today and met Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos made the move to Anfield from AEK yesterday and Nemeth will join the Greek side as a part of an agreement.

Thanopoulos wanted to sign Reds winger Nabil El Zhar however, Benitez wasn’t keen on letting go of the Moroccan after insisting he was part of his plans this season.

Nemeth is in search of first-team football, something which Benitez isn’t ready to offer yet, and decided a move to AEK was ideal for him.

The loan deal will see the Hungarian at AEK for a year with an option to extend the loan deal for another 6 months.”

Article in today’s Liverpool Echo, saying exactly what most of us have said:

Didi Hamann: Under-fire Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez will turn it around at Anfield
Nov 3 2009 Phil Kirkbride

FORMER Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann today lent his support to under-fire manager Rafa Benitez.

Despite six defeats in seven games, the 2005 Champions League winner says calls for the Liverpool boss to be sacked are nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction.

Ex-German international Hamann, who made 283 appearances for the Reds over seven seasons, insists Benitez is the man to turn Liverpool’s fortunes around.

Thirty-six-year-old Hamann also believes when the club’s crippling injury crisis eases, results will begin to improve.

Hamann said: “People calling for Rafa’s head are being very premature.

“He has been there five years and has improved them every season.

“Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs, he will turn it around.”

“It’s almost the first time in his five-year period at Anfield where they’ve had a bad spell like this. “Every year Rafa has gradually improved Liverpool, every year he has taken them forward.

“There are still another 27 games left in the league and while I don’t think they can win it after the start they have made, there is plenty of time to get into that top four.

The whole article is here:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/11/03/didi-hamann-under-fire-liverpool-fc-boss-rafa-benitez-will-turn-it-around-at-anfield-100252-25079419/

And another article of support from the great Ian Rush:

“IAN RUSH: Liverpool FC require strong minds and big men
Nov 3 2009 Liverpool Echo

THE feelgood factor after a great win over United has gone; the crisis headlines are back and the daggers are out for Rafa Benitez.

Now Liverpool face a crucial game which should they lose it, will mean the end of the road in the Champions League.

I’m sorry if it sounds familiar but there just is no other option but for people to keep sticking together – and for players to show they’re big enough to get us out of here.

Tomorrow in France the Reds will need all that fighting spirit that was on display against United. Everybody is hurting again but the players have simply got to pick themselves up and find the mental strength you need as a Liverpool player to get through this.

Rafa Benitez and his backroom staff must do everything they can to instill that belief and confidence in the players and they’ll be doing that I’m sure. They’ll know they should have beaten Lyon at Anfield two weeks ago, never mind lose to them. That game just went a bit flat and Lyon sensed their chance to get back into it. But after that they went and lost 4-1 in their league, so they’re no worldbeaters. And we can definitely go and beat them tomorrow.

Yes, it’s a very rough run of results right now and it’s very painful for the fans too. But I honestly believe things aren’t as bad as some would have it. Everyone goes on about Arsenal’s youngsters but I thought ours were terrific against them in the Carling Cup and more than a bit unlucky to lose. And against Fulham on Saturday we started very well and had we got the first goal, it would probably have been a very different story. But after equalising we did not go on and dominate, as we should have done.

The team have got to be stronger than this because they are better than this. They’ve also got to add more concentration to the commitment and sheer self-belief that anyone good enough to wear that Liverpool shirt must display, week in, week out.

Full article here:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/11/03/ian-rush-liverpool-fc-require-strong-minds-and-big-men-100252-25075801/

Fatty … congrads my man. I hope he gives you some great times as he grows up and then makes a few bob so he can take care of his Granda’s “extra nutritional” requirements in times to come.
Brilliant posts Keith, FS, Ax, Akka, Knight etc…
I think while certain things are very irritating, the press in general, certain ex-liverpool players in particular as well as anyone spouting half-baked slogans on this site the picture from Anfield’s medical room is the one that’s really troubling. If it is as bad as Fatty posted earlier then we’re in deep doody tomorrow night. I mean it could be the same team as Saturday. God. Half-crocked Torres and his band of merry men. I’d prefer a team made up of who’s injured.

@KIWI_MARK_LFC

I dont want to say anything to you after the kind of comment you have posted against me. You termed me ‘Arrogant Little **** ‘. I consider you as a animal who dont even deserve to live in a human society.

@Kinny Riddle

Your Post #305:

Who are you to call me a victim? You mentioned that i have made statements which are WRONG. You try to equate me with Osama Bin Laden. You say that my rule is to SLATE THE MANAGER.

I want you to do onething. Try to search a single post by me where i have SLATED THE MANAGER. Your other two crap statements are not even worth replying to.

@KeithSA

You can laugh as much as you want but the fact of the matter is my views are not nonsensical. Its just that people here are against us.

@Kop King

Thanks. I am just amazed that how cheap people can be at this forum. I never said a thing against Rafa. They never got the point. All i said is as a LFC supporter i will be happy if we finish any pos upto 4th.I dont think we are still capable of winning it because this league is the toughest. Its all about our expectations.

Quote from Ian Rush:
“But for all the dismay defeats like these bring, you just don’t toss your manager aside.

Rafa will know what needs putting right and he’ll be doing everything he can to sort it.

Sticking by people when they are up against it is what makes Liverpool Football Club so special. We don’t just change the manager every season or so like so many clubs do.”

And quotes from Tommy Smith:

“Tommy Smith: Liverpool FC problems begin at the top
Oct 22 2009 By Tommy Smith

SOMETHING has gone badly wrong on the pitch at Liverpool. We can all see it and it’s painful stuff. There are problems almost everywhere you look – and almost as many reasons for them.

Without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres we do seem to struggle. Any team would miss world class stars like these but we are over-reliant on them, it’s true.

Rafa Benitez has made mistakes of course and he has got an awful lot on his hands now to put things right. He’s not beyond criticism and has to accept his share of the blame for things, of course. But those people calling for his head because of this alarming, sudden dip in results are way off the mark as I see it.

Because the truth for me is this.

If things have just started to go wrong on the pitch, then off it they have been wrong – very wrong – for two and a half years now.

The American owners have screwed the club up and are still doing so. They are hardly ever there, hardly on speaking terms I hear and showing no sign of doing the decent thing – selling up and getting out.

True Liverpool fans would far rather see the back of Tom Hicks and George Gillett than a popular and proven manager who is yet capable of putting things right again.”

Since we have so many injured and sick players from our first team, it’s fun to form a team of our injured and sick players. Here is my Injured team line-up:

—————FS*—————
Kelly—Sykrtel—Agger—Aurelio
Johnson–Gerrard—Lucas—-Reira
Ngog—Aqualung

*FS is having his head bruised by assaults on Kopblog. Anyway I thought he would make a good goalkeeper because of his width. I can assure you that no player can shoot through him. And with his huge body, any player just being knocked sideways by it will surely be flown 6 feet away.

Tell you what Knight, that looks a decent team ….minus FS…..no offence meant, but i’d rather Reina in there
that team would probably get a result tomorrow night.

Good times….

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

More good times…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9B26fXTj4c

And again…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqYJsLoXW4

Bad times…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2K4U6W1goc

Difficult times..

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

Good again..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1F1YG8h55Q

And so on….

Sorry for posting all videos but i`m trying to put things into perspective.What ever will be,will be and we WILL bounce back from this.We`ve had hard times on the pitch before and will have again but we`ll come through this.

Wouldn`t like reina in there dec,that will mean he`.s injured!

Cavilieri can slot in there,he`s the virus if i`m not mistaken.

Kiwi:

While thinking about those modern school systems, you decided to give a lesson yourself, eh? Thank god, you were not my teacher back in school, or I would have been abusing all the people I know.

You just know one way of talking to people. Interrupt others’ conversation using abusive language. You think that if one doesn’t respect another, he should abuse him, right? Well, as a matter of fact, I don’t respect you. That doesn’t mean I’ll start abusing you. It shows that you come from a family of thugs or gangsters just like Somnath put it.

I would like to add, that I am truly not in your gangster/thug league(thank god). And you’re one of the biggest hypocrites here who’s trying to direct me into what and what not to do. And on top of that, asks me to treat him like a proper gentleman. Well guess what, mind your own business and I’ll mind mine.

I don’t care if your arrogant bullshit stops here or not. I don’t care if you’re 15 or 50. I don’t care if you abuse me again. Just stay outta my way. From your language you seem to be a pretty short tempered guy.

You’re no one to doubt my love for this club. I support it and love it. I don’t love it’s manager but the club. That’s what attracted me to support it and if I show false impressions to you all, of loving Rafa, it would mean that I am cheating the love for which I support this club. I am frank and if it pains you then don’t read it. Your wish.

This is none of your business.

Kiwi:

While thinking about those modern school systems, you decided to give a lesson yourself, eh? Thank god, you were not my teacher back in school, or I would have been abusing all the people I know.

You just know one way of talking to people. Interrupt others’ conversation using abusive language. You think that if one doesn’t respect another, he should abuse him, right? Well, as a matter of fact, I don’t respect you. That doesn’t mean I’ll start abusing you. It shows that you come from a family of thugs or gangsters just like Somnath put it.

I would like to add, that I am truly not in your gangster/thug league(thank god). And you’re one of the biggest hypocrites here who’s trying to direct me into what and what not to do. And on top of that, asks me to treat him like a proper gentleman. Well guess what, mind your own business and I’ll mind mine.

I don’t care if your arrogant bullshit stops here or not. I don’t care if you’re 15 or 50. I don’t care if you abuse me again. Just stay outta my way. From your language you seem to be a pretty short tempered guy.

You’re no one to doubt my love for this club. I support it and love it. I don’t love it’s manager but the club. That’s what attracted me to support it and if I show false impressions to you all, of loving Rafa, it would mean that I am cheating the love for which I support this club. I am frank and if it pains you then don’t read it. Your wish.

The last line in my previous post was a mistake!!

AT KK ..

Go read that post again son and u will see WHICH part of ur post i agreed to …
I still stick to that point that LUCAS is not yet a final-product to control the midfield, but then again he is the ONLY player this season who has actually improved his performances to such an extent that he almost bossed the midfield during teh manx game …

But i have never slated Rafa needlessly as u and somnath go on doing … its not agrreeeing wid FS or otehrs blatantly… you have to admite wen u r wrong and just going thru emotions … Sadly, u both dun think that way and keep on repeating the same old story …

and one more thing… I dunno if its only me but why do i always feel that you are actually SHOUTING in ur posts ??? … .. Like trying to force ur point of view …

and another thing,

well said somnath!!

Congrats FS for your grandkid..

Won’t want to add fuel to fire in this thread… but just want to wish our team Good luck in the next match in Lyon.

Hope that we could sneak a narrow victory and lighten up our already darken CL hopes..

Good times….

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNboU_PbZMY

More good times…

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9B26fXTj4c

And again…

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wqYJsLoXW4

Bad times…

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2K4U6W1goc

Difficult times..

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlvgIWLKvdo

Good again..

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1F1YG8h55Q

And so on….

Sorry for posting all videos but i`m trying to put things into perspective.What ever will be,will be and we WILL bounce back from this.We`ve had hard times on the pitch before and will have again but we will come through this.

Amen Timmy..

Rafa would have something up his sleeves for the next games until the injury crisis is over. Who can forget the masterstroke of playing an unfit Torres in the final quarter of the game so that he will be against tired legs? And in which he brought us so much joy?

To state the obvious: Rafa is a genius!

@Dizzy

Like i posted earlier show me one post where i have slated Rafa.

@KopKing

Coz of work i dont have time to sit and continuously post here and i am sure its the same with you.Had it not been the case, i would have dealt with these craps in a befitting manner. They want to project us as illiterates who dont understand football.

Alright lads, just back from seeing little Alfie. He’s a cracker. But enough of him back to me first love, footy and LFC…

I’ve said loads of times how much I hate international football, but I understand other people love it and I do enjoy the big tournaments. And I also said I haven’t seen anything like this before. Not quite true…

I’ve seen international football wreck our players for years. Something has to be done. All I can come up with is to do away with these useless ridiculous friendlies that always seem to come at the worst possible times.

So, instead of flying the likes of Gerrard and Johnson to Abudabhi to play a friendly, why not just have a week training camp at home with a game thrown in against decent opposition… well, obviously it won’t happen because of the money. But it’s the only sane option I can think of.

LB, you did indeed have it right with the jinx theory but you forgot to add your other one about money… you were spot on with both.

I read a really good article by a Man supporting economist. I’ll try to dig up the link. He supports Benitez and he’s a Manc. He knows Rafa is actually over achieving with what he’s got to work with and knows it would be absolute madness for LFC to let him go. But one very interesting thing he points out is it’s not even who can buy the best, but who can pay the sort of wages that will keep a top class player happy enough to sit on the bench.

I’ll defo try to dig it up.

I’ve also tried to call me mate, the one who knows what’s going on with the injuries. He’s the lad who told me Torres had a rip in his stomache muscles and that there was an outbreak of Swine Flu in the squad. He might have been slightly off with the diagnosis, but he was more right than wrong. So if I get hold of him and find anything out, I will post it in here.

No need to appologise to me for your rant Mark. I’m Scouse and more than capable of letting loose with a volley or two meself… All I can say is it’s probably best just ignored. I know when my 3 year old grandaughter is throwing one of her tantrums, she soon stops when I just ignore it. And that’s the sort of mentality we are dealing with here. So do a Keith and just get a giggle out of it.

Take no notice to Knight. I actually stand 5 foot high soaking wet, and weigh in at 9 stone in me stocking feet.

Off to take up Timmy’s suggestion, and the head wetting started last night, but it’s now about to seriously commence.

PS… Somnath we all have to work lad. What we don’t do is tell lies… I remember your first appearance in here and how you called for Rafa’s head on a plate.

You actually done it twice, long and loud, and ruined debate for days on end, then mellowed the attacks and stopped calling for Rafa to be sacked but still just posted negative nonsense based on nothing but your own childish opinion.

I’m sure others remember that as they spent weeks trying to educate you. They didn’t attack you or abuse you. In fact, they were very civil and patient with you. I even posted links to sites and articles that would educate you. You disappeared and have resurfaced only to do it all again.

The King Of The Kop and Sula done exactly the same thing, and I’m past even reading their opinions. I would hate my own eyes for even looing at such shite, but I somehow think there is hope for you yet.

So lad…
It’s up to you. You have the choice, admit you were wrong and maybe even appologise to some of the decent people in here who you continually abuse, or… have the courage of your convictions, stop acting like a child and say what you really said, instead of trying to paint yourself as a victim.

I really should just give up on you, and although you’ll see that as yet another attack on your poor misunderstood self – it’s actually a tip.

It’s really quite ironic that all your little rants have done is ruined the actual debate in here… as people who would be critical of the players, manager, and at what has been happening at LFC lately are instead rallying to the defence of the players and manager.

Like in normal life when family and friends are attacked, it’s what proper supporters do when something they love is being attacked – rally together to defend and support it.

And you, my friend, are making sure it will stay that way.

An-Linn … hunt around lad… there are a number of articles actually quoting Rafa as telling Torres that he’d give him 60 minutes at Fulham. Rafa didn’t want to play him at all, but let the lad convince him he could.

I don’t mean that as an attack against you. A lot of people are questioning Rafa without all the facts at their disposal before doing so.

Rafa took a similar chance with SG against Lyon… and look how that turned out. Not only did having to replace him so early in the game, totally wreck our shape and game plan… it took away “options” for later in the game. And we lost SG not only for that game, but for several after that.

The manager knows more than any of us… and that’s not blind faith… he just does!

I’ve won a fair bit in footy as both a player and Coach, but I’ve never won La Liga, the CL, or kept a team in the top 4 of the toughest league in the world for 5 years.

I’m not suggesting we can’t question the man, but you better do it in a knowledgeable, thought out, constructive way, or you just prove yourself a cunt.

Rafa isn’t just looking at the 90 minutes in front of him, he’s looking at how the players have been playing and feeling in the days leading up to the games… knowledge we don’t have come game time.

Aitch – Well f**k you and the horse you rode in on, you stupid muthaf**ka – Na just kidding – its got like here the last week.

Actually i wasn’t questioning Rafa more questioning Torres – why looked pissed off if you already know your coming off ?

But your points does answer a question about Rafa’s priorities – why risk Torres if he was only interested in the Champions league – it goes to show that he wants to win the premiership as well

As for looking up articles and the rest – to tell you the truth I couldn’t be arsed – not being flippant or anything but you read so many different stories who knows whats true and people in here seem to be pretty clued in

P.S – congrats FS on the birth of your grandson

As far as i can gather Torres hasn`t trained properly since before the manc game.What does Rafa do tomorrow night?

1.Start him give him around 60 mins again in the hope he does the business in that time.

or

2.Start him on the bench and bring him on with 30 mins to go.Keep things `compact` until then and hope he does the bizzo when he comes on.

or

3.Give him the 90 as he`s due to go under the knife and it might not make a difference.

I`m not clued in on sports injurys so i`m not sure if option 3 is doable.I`m not even sure what he`s due to have repaired.Some reports say stomach,some say hernia,others groin.

And one thing i`d just like to say,in the hight of all this doom and gloom clouding over the result saturday we all forgot to mention Nando`s goal.That was some strike even though it counted for nothing at the end of the day it was a gem.I`m just glad we have the lad and he`s a cracker,injurys and all.

Knight it would be an excellent idea if all of us fine gentlemen could meet for a game one day.Sooner the better i`d say although its easy for me to say when i don`t live on the other side of the world.But maybe with a bit of planning some time in the future with the help of god.
That goes for the three stooges and all ha we could physically slap some sense into them and all

Great laugh as usual and today’s classic;
“They want to project us as illiterates who dont understand football.”
New flash we don’t project anything you accomplish it quite beautifully all by yourself every time you write something.
Does anybody remember the Quail watch? That dynamic wordsmith and intellectual that ran as Bush’s VP for his first term, Dan the man Quail? The press recorded every moronic utterance and he became an institution, for the wrong reasons.
Well I think we can start a chuckle brother watch, they could become legends in the future.
Who remembers the line “Bugger the Bertha” (Educating Rita) well I would like to know who did that at Liverpool for us to have such a run of bad decisions, bad luck and sickness’ it’s almost like a Black Comedy at the moment. Imagine if we pull it off this year or even come close that will shut a few people up… probably not thinking about it. I cannot wait for us to be back to full fitness and go on a run and play the football we know they are capable off. I really hope Gerrard and Torres do not need surgery.

I’m a sad bastard, loads of things I should be doing, but I’m doing me usual trawl and came across this…
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166320091103-1859.htm

You’ve got to read it.

Puts it all into perspective and shows what we as a club really are…
Fuck knows how we are going to even field a team. We are out there with just 19 players, a fair few of them crocked and there to make up the numbers, facing a huge game, that the future of our boss could dependend on and look at what the man has to say.

Fuck the idiots that know nothing of what they speak…
Walk on Rafa lad.

Apologies guys. I haven’t jumped naked off my roof and landed in my next door neighbours dustbin again nor have I been abducted by aliens, or even Uma Thurman for that matter!
My laptop is ever so slightly bollocksed at the moment but I’m attempting to fix it and will hopefully be back shortly.

OH NO! That’s the blog gone then…
The man who made dinner and burnt the water is fixing the lap top!

Nice one Gerry pal,no problem there we`ll keep the ship afloat for ya.

Sher Fatty is on 24/7 with no sleep

Americans ruining our club,rafa getting battered by the media, 12 players injured and coupe the de grace gerry’s fucking lap-top is on the blink!!!

Always look on the bright side of life……….

Timmy, those clips of a packed Kop are a great reminder to all of just how great the club is, and in these troubled times it’s a real tonic to see things like that. Nice one, buddy.

Timmy @368 My lad reckon’s option 2 bring him on as a sub when the
defenders are getting tired, and if their on yellows they wont foul him.
Think he has a point myself.
FS borrowed some of them stats you posted hope you dont mind. Because
while you lot have been entertaining yourselves with KK & Somath i’ve been
having a laugh in the comments section here.
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2009/11/01/no-progress-in-champions-league-would-be-a-%e2%80%9cdisaster%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/
YNWA

I see the usual suspects have gone and got all offended…

Listen here you daft pricks…I am a Kiwi…we tell it like it is too your face…if you cant handle that then that IS YOUR PROBLEM…

We dont have time for hypocrites like you…your arrogance is unbounded – you have dared to question those who have tried to educate you in the most smart arsed manner…your ignorance would be tolerated if you showed a little humilty when proven wrong…but you dont – you dare to suggest that those who have tried to educate you are wrong (and you continue to do so) – showing you are nothing more than small minded arrogant pricks…

If you cant handle a little swearing then how fucking soft are you? No wonder you spout utter rubbish as soon as the times get tough…you have no back bone! I never wished harm upon you and yet you suggest I have no right to live – this clearly shows what a small insignificant person you are…

You claim to be supporters of this club – and yet you use a disgraced former manager to support your attacks on this club – if you really were a supporter then you would know just how inappropriate that was…

You ARE NOT supporters – get yourself a fucking Dictionary and learn the fucking meaning of the word…

If you baselessly attack Rafa you are attacking the club…and that is NOT what supporters do…

AND ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR TINY LITTLE BRAINS – WE ARE OVERCHIEVING UNDER RAFA GIVEN OUR FINANCIAL STATE – how fucking hard is that for you too understand…

You need to learn a little humility – you attack anyone who disagrees with you and then act like a big fucking girls blouse when attacked back…you are fucking gutless cowards and hypocrites – you are not worthy of Liverpool…

And Somnath07in – can and say that to my fucking face you little hypocritcal fucking ignorant arrogant prick…if you dont like being abused then stop attacking others…you started this with your disgusting disgracefull actions on here…take you medicine like a man…

I am done with the lot of you – you no longer deserve to be educated…you are unworthy of Liverpool…you have shown no respect to others (and yet demanded respect yourselves)…and you have refused to listen to those who know better…who are more informed…and in fact even called into question their loyalty and knowledge in the most arrogant way…

I dont know what they taught you in school – but they did a fucking piss poor job…because you act like the world owes you and you alone everything and if anyone disputes you you act as though you have suffered the greatest of slights…your immaturity and lack of respect to others is second only to your ignorance and arrogance…

Christ Kiwi, don’t sugar coat it lad

That sort of ambivelance doesn’t let anyone know where you really stand on the matter!

And I agree with roarin… it just keeps going from bad to worse… Gerry’s laptop now???
… out for 2 weeks with a bruised interface, a broken metatag and pulled hard-drive!

Oh dear, just what I expected. I stayed away from this site starting from just before the fulham game, cos I knew the usual suspects would be out once we had a difficult game regardless of the results (and let’s face it, we all knew it was going to be much tougher facing fulham than the mancs) but the pure constant drivel by these chaps is enough to drive you insane.

But I decided previously that I had said all that is needed against these fellas so I leave it at that.
When you think about the fact that the likes of LB and digger are pissed off with these individuals is enough proof that the usual suspects are full of shite LoL!!

I waw pleasantly surprised with Eccleston. I thought he looked really promising, twinkle feet and all. If half of our top team are down, I would like to see him come on than Babel. The youngster’s touches and agility looked class.

relevant and useful Comments from another LFC Blogger-The probelm is the debt caused by the yanks:

There is one thing, and one thing only, wrong with Liverpool Football Club at the moment.

The debt.

It can be argued that Man Utd, Arsenal, and several other clubs, have more debt on the books than we do at Anfield. The difference between them and us, is that they have sustainable plans, and considerable income streams for paying them off.

Liverpool’s debt, and the way it has been leveraged against the club, has put this great footballing and national institution on the edge of a precipice. Like it or not, the recent financial management of Liverpool has been on a level of football suicide that is consistent with Peter Risdale and Leeds.

£30 million pounds a year to pay in interest, or £1 million every 9 days – whatever the figure really is, it means that the club basically has to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League every year, just to stay still. Not to progress, not to bring more, better players in. Not even to pay off some of the debt – just to stay still.

And what’s the result of that ?

Poor players who should not be wearing the red shirt starting Premier League games – because we cannot afford to move them on ( for a profit – you know who I mean ) because the money will not be invested in the squad to replace them

Critical Substitutions – Torres and Benayoun were taken off yesterday because we need them to play in mid-week. Make no mistake about it, Rafa has been told that he has two priorities this year – Stay in the Champions League as long as possible this year, and qualify for it next year. The financial rewards of the Champions League make it a much bigger priority than the Premier League in our current financial state – the league is not a priority for the owners – and Rafa is doing what he has to and what he has been told to, to safeguard the future of the club as he sees it.

A guaranteed income stream for future years has been ignored and the mythical ’spade in the ground’ is still a pipe dream, whilst Spurs ( for god’s sake ) are busy building theirs.

Decent Squad Players ( Crouch, Riise, Bellamy etc etc ) are sold on because we need to trade up. We are reduced to wheeling and dealing in the transfer market to compete ( Does that mean Harry Redknapp is the best manager for us at the moment ?! ). And then our squad becomes too thin.

Our best players are long term injured because we rush them back to quickly – Gerrard may have gone this way already, Torres I would put mpney on this happening.

Our best players leave in the Summer because they see no way in which we can challenge next year ( Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano, Agger ) as there is no investment in the team ( Sell Babel to pay for Reina’s contract – dear god )

Now ok, the last 2 are more predictions than truths. But consider – we have gone from selling players to buy better ones, to selling players to pay for contracts – how long is it before we sell players to pay off a rising debt ?

Rafa is doing the best he can. Whatever people may think about him, one thing is indisputable – he has the heart and soul of LFC within him – think of your own hurt recently and then imagine you are putting your entire life in to making the club successful only to have the rug constantly pulled from under your feet. Just for one minute, imagine Jose M at the club at the moment – he managed to talk himself out of a job when he was being given hundreds of millions to spend ever year – he would tear our club apart right now.

There is a reason that the kind of leveraged buy out is illegal in America. It is a gamble with a business, with people’s lives and jobs, and our heritage. The debt is the problem.

What can we do about it ? I honestly don’t know whether Share Liverpool, a Sheikh, or some serious, prolonged protest is the answer. But those of us who have quietly or even financially supported SOS and the like whilst not taking any serious action – the club as we know it will DIE if we don’t do something. Soon.

Lads apparently Gillett is all hot under the collare over something Rafa said in the press conference, does anone know what it was.
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Keep going lads up against it and give your all. Aqualani must show what he has tonight, he looks a superstar, so lets hope he is.

Gaz, Ive already been hearing alot of expectations being placed on Aqua for tonights game. Alot of “Aqualani will save our season” etc.

I think the lad is class. BUT! we have to remember that he has only played 15-20min in 2 games and not once with the first team (Carling Cup was more of a reserve team) nor has he played against good/world class quality opposition.

I can see the knee jerkers complaining if Aqua doesnt win the game for us (considering if he will play at all).
I dont think we should be putting all this expectation on the lad taking into the consideration his circumstances (not having played at all lately and probably still sick)

oh please spare us with all that expert knowledge of yours……we’re obviously gonna lose tonight…i’m already waiting for the next season..we’re a mid-table team this year

Nice one smith. Are you Sula in disguise? or Kopking? Making another account, ahaha.

Go support the chavs mate, no loss.

I see the chuckle brother’s fan club is growing in stature, welcome Smith, nothing like throwing in the towel before the fight. I supposed the win over Manu was just an aberration and they actually deserved to win. Funny how a mid table team finished second last year with our highest points total ever in the Prem. Yes the same mid table team that has qualified for the CL for the last 5 years, not to mention two finals and one success. Yes the myth that we have injuries and virus’s is something cooked up by Rafa to divert the attention that he has had more than enough money to spend one of the strongest and deepest squads available with 100’s of millions of experienced talent sitting on the bench, we should be 10 points clear at the top by know, fuck that we should have won the Prem by know. Crap manager when he has all the support in the world form two honest, honorable and reliable owners, the greatest custodians of the Liverpool Way (The Weetabix Kids). Sack him and bring in Souness he did a great job everywhere he has managed and appoint Whelan as his second in command as it is obvious to all that these two have the finger on the pulse of what makes a club successful and the rest of us are just plain shite.

alas though Akka if your ever going to announce yourself into the LFC history books then tonight is your chance. However I keep saying tonight is the chance for Babel but evertime I do he just seems to disregard the opportunity.
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Can’t say he’s not getting a run at the moment. So it’s his turn too.

I don’t know why anyone is bothered with them. I said it before but…
It’s like me grandaughter having a tantrum. I can talk to her. I can try my best to explain to her why she can’t have her own way. I can do everything humanly possible to teach her that what she wants is not good for her, will hurt her if she gets it and it’s not possible to give it to her anyway. She will just keep throwing her tantrum until I ignore her and within minutes after having a little silent sulk, she will move onto something else.

I’ve really tried with Somnath. I didn’t at first, I just attacked him for coming in here and calling for Rafa’s head – which he now denies, like my grandaughter getting caught doing something wrong. But then some good person in here informed that he was only a kid, so I stopped having a go at him and spent lots of time talking to him and trying to explain some things to him. Everybody did.

I done that – and have been doing it again for the last few days – because I thought/think there’s hope for him as he’s only young and can learn. But it’s accomplished nothing but waste my time. The lad still whines on about us not having any strike force, and that we have to rely on the likes of Vronin. So, I explain to him why, and he types back the same childish demands, with just a few more expletives. I can actually picture him, holding his breath, turning blue in the face and jumping up and down on the spot as he types.

Who knows. He might catch on to himself, some facts, some loyalty and some decency in time. But I’m not wasting any more of mine on him, and I’ve already given up on the others.

We’ve got Burger Man coming in demanding that Rafa stop wasting money on mediocre squad players and buy a couple with real talent. Rafa buys Johnson and Aqualini, he’s wasted all his money on 2 nonces, when he should have bought 6 or 7 players to flesh out the squad. This is the sort of goalpost moving they do to “prove” their opinion. Then he comes in saying we should get Larson… The fella is retired and so old and fucked that he has trouble walking nowadays. He gets told that so he says we should play Nemeth.
He gets told Nemeth is on loan in Greece. HE demands we bring him back. Knight prints an article explaining that Nemeth was loaned to Olympiacos so that we could get Kyriagos. And that Nemeth was sacrificed because they actually wanted El Zhar.

So that is the mentality you are dealing with. I think LFC has more on their plate than worrying about idiots like that right now.

To top it off… our luck, El Zhar gets injured badly. And none of them even see that is the type of pressure Rafa is working under and the type of luck he is having.

LFC supporters… my arse!

@ timmytorres (#353)
Fair point mate…..but please don’t say it it or it might happen!! (on knee praying it doesn’t)

Lads a bit of good news is that lyon have lost their last match (4-1) and have 6 defenders out. It seems they’re gonna have to put two midfielders in the centre. If we get an early goal and hit them with a high tempo we could rock them to their foundations in the first half!!!

COME ON LIVERPOOL,LETS FUCKING GO,FROG SOUP FOR DINNER TONIGHT PLEASE!!!

I’m all set for tonights game! Going through all my good luck rituals…
1)walk in backwards through the front door on the way in from work.
2) Kiss the missus on the right cheek the lips then left cheek.
3) get my liverpool top on (the red one)
4) get my lucky liverpool towel and lay it on the sofa next to me where my granddad would have sat
5) no food till the game is done!!

ps. anyone else got their important game routine?

Decstarr that’s a good one.

mines differs somewhat.

1)get dressed and go into town..
2)find a couple of mancs wearing utd tops..
3)punch them on the left cheek,the right cheek and then the nose.
4)let one get away,then take out a hammer wrap my liverpool top around it(the red one)then break his ankles.
5)don’t wash any blood off until after the match.

lol to be honest I have a habit of putting everyone’s litter in the bin through out the day.

I’ve been away travelling for the last week or so and been unable to follow the news and debate for most part of that time. The tough days aren’t past us still. They have on the contrary gotten worse since before the manc game. Myths and nonsense is still being spread around concerning Rafa and the sort. Good, reasonable people in here, just as usual, try their best making unreasonable youngsters understand the facts they are apparently unable to grasp. Those are the things I’ve gathered since my return. A few moments ago I read today’s article in the echo by the always reliable old quarryman Tommy Smith. He mentioned something about a supporter investigating the facts concerning the spending Rafa’s been doing in the transfer market. Are his findings available somewhere online? It might be of use to disprove one or two Rafa bashers.

Hey lads heres some words from the man thais actually fighting OUR fight in the trenches

Rafa “Our fans are very clever. Sometimes you have bad moments, but they know we are working very hard to try and change things.

“We will try to win and we know that when you walk through a storm, hold your head up high – and we will try to hold our heads up high.”

Well done to ye lads for fighting the fight in here