Fantastic blog Gerry. This is damm good “John Terry when it comes to scoring away from home!” I am still having a perpetual smile on my face after the win.

great blog gerry,i get a good laugh reading this every time,a breath of fresh air.I must give a mention to Lucas. i think he’s come on a lot in the last few months and is showing us all why rafas had belief in him.I also find it amusing that the ugly troll figured they were at the same level as us regarding money etc,well i can honestly say were miles ahead with our manager regardless of money.ynwa

Wow, new blog already.

With Kyrgiakos being forced to serve a ban for his wrongful sending off, how about having Masch at left back for this game, as he did effectively while standing in against the Blueshites as a very wild suggestion?

********Reina********
Masch**Carra**Agger**Insua
****Gerrard***Lucas****
********Aqua********
****Kuyt***Riera****
********Ngog********

Then again, I’d probably get sacked after just 5 minutes.

Burgerman - Sometimes when I read your posts I wonder what planet your living on. But in fairness to you, and unlike some other people, you post your opinions here whether we win,lose or draw and have done for a long time now and for that reason I think you are entitled to a little lee-way.
But you can consider yourself on a yellow card after that last comment you posted which I found quite disgraceful but a bit out of character for you, so let’s just put it down to you having a bad hair day and leave it at that.
Without wishing to labour the point or to sidetrack the discussion away from the football or the blog, I should perhaps make you aware that my wife and I happen to care for a mentally retarded child who we are extremely proud of and I really didn’t appreciate you using his disability as a form of insult.
But let’s leave it there and get back to the football and can anybody tell me what was the story with Paddy the Greek on Saturday? I still haven’t seen the incident that he was red carded for, but Rafa seemed a bit pissed off by the decision, so did he deserve to go?

My opinion Gerry was that he deserved to go, but given that there had been at least 2 incidents previous to it that were worse and given that that thug Fellani got nothing for stamping on him I can understand Rafa’s reaction.

Great blog by the way

From an objective point of view, Kyrgiakos certainly deserved a red, but so too did Fellaini, and yet Fellaini got away scot free. And it is that display of double standards from Martin Atkinson is what makes it so infuriating.

He and a lot of refs this season has one set of standards for Liverpool players, and another totally different set for anyone else playing them.

Gerry, IMO he definetly deserved to get a red, but as we all know, Pienaar & Fellaini also deserved reds. Ferdinand got a suspension even though he didn’t get a card during the game, so is it possible that Fellaini could get suspended as well i.e. like rugby’s citing system? Or will that not happen because the ref ’saw’ the incident? Anyone know the exact rules & regs here? Because what he did was disgraceful, and he certainly needs to be punished (also the incident where he kicked Kuyt in the face deserves a huge ban).

About our formation, I would indeed play three CBs, Carra (at RB), Agger and Skrtel. I would use physically strong and ball-retentive Riera and Maxi on the flanks, then retain Lucas, Aqua and Babel as impact subs later in the game. This is of course holding all things constant (including a dismissal for whatever reason). I would also ask our backs to stay put for most of the game to counter whatever AFC throw our way. However, I see us playing classic counterattacking ball and that’s when we should unleash Insua.

In central midfield it’s obviously Jekyll and Hyde pair Gerrard and Masche (ahead of Lucas). Lucas IS capable but we need an experienced bruiser in this game to cover our defence as Arsenal won’t play many high balls behind the Little Chief. With Masche’s protection and Gerrard’s hidden guile, we’ll have an offensive platform to build upon on the wings and upfront (where I’d pick Kuyt off N’gog) in a modified 4-4-2 or our 4-2-3-1.

I agree that rarely has a win been so satisfying. My chief satisfaction emanated from the following:

1)The buildup to the game where in-trouble LFC faced a resurgent EFC - I shouldn’t forget to mention the Toffees have a manager who “regularly outwits” Rafa in everything including signings, management of finances and tactics;
2)Despite being the crisis club we would still start as favorites (how can a club have its cake and also eat it?!);
3)It was a “must win” match for us, not Everton, otherwise we’d be finished;
4)Everton’s “expertise” in set pieces, coupled with Cahill’s formidable presence and our defensive vulnerability from the same, was to see us struggle;
5)[Did I say] We were the club in a crisis;
6)Evertonian players returning from injury (LFC doesn’t seem to have injury probs of their own!), plus [the usual] “shrewd” signings e.g. Donovan (regardless of Rafa’s own signings in Soto and Maxi), tipped the scales for an in-form Everton;
7)EFC’s nine-match unbeaten streak (conveniently disregarding we’ve won six on the trot, conceding one goal only, with an impressive haul of 17 of 21 points, itself a whopping 81% of our requirements!

Did Kyrgiakos deserve to see red? No doubt, but so did Fellaini (twice) and (much earlier in the game) Pienaar. One thing Toffees were right about is this was their best chance to beat us at Anfield in a while - it just doesn’t translate to the Reds being easy to beat, ten men or not.

While not out of the playing woods yet, therefore this is not arrogance or presumption, not even a premature celebration of anything, a few Q’s can still be posed.

Is Rafa the “wrong” manager for the Kop Nation? Is Rafa’s squad as bad as said? How about RB’s inferior signings like Kyrgiakos, Degen, Lucas and Kuyt - actually, what about them? Are the Reds a “two-man team”? Is Liverpool a club in crisis at the moment? While rhetorical, it’s clear what the answers to those and more questions are. There is ABSOLUTELY NO need to panic from us Reds. No reason at all.

It’s not to say we don’t need reinforcements or for our “owners” to leave. It’s not to say that we’re now somehow invincible and beyond reproach. It will never mean Rafa’s squad selections are always well informed and infallible. It DOES mean that we Reds need to stop getting blindly swept by comments all round us, step back and reevaluate where we are. We need to be objective but informed. We can blame the gaffer but we must acknowledge his position too.

None of us should criticize without: 1) Wearing the target of our criticism’s shoes, and, 2) Without acknowledging the true facts of the matter.

That said, we have a lousy away record at Arsenal? Good. That means less pressure on us. Can we nick three at the Emirates. You betcha! In fact I will wager on that - despite enduring a case of guaranteed nerves.

All in all, keep your heads high through the storm. The light will shine through the greyest clouds. No darkness, not even seven of them combined can extinguish one little matchstick. We have two eternal flames and millions of Kopite flames worldwide.

Keep the faith. Siempre es posible. YN(Ever)WA(Ever)!

PS: Apologies in advance for keeping this long. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any way to shorten it. We’re alive, we’re the Reds and no one else EVER will.

Gerry, guys, sorry to head off the topic but I think this is quite interesting:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7020022.ece
Particularly like the bit where this guy does not want either G&H to take any dividends or expenses out of the club for 3 years, and is keen on the idea of the supporters having a 10% stake in the club. This is not an article from a tabloid, and is by the Times business correspondent. What do you think FS and others? Just a rumour?

Have ye guys read this?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7020022.ece

Fooking incredible!!! Dem basterd yanks are taking the piss aren’t they?

The fooking greed . . .

Great blog Gerry but I can’t agree with Babel starting due to his pace as when he came on against Everton he looked slow, fat and lazy. I guess this is down to his lack of match fitness from sitting on his arse all year but we can’t take the risk with him in such a crucial game. Ngog is the way to go, he’s zippy enough and tries his socks off. Babel can come on and get some match fitness when we are 3-0 up!!

Let me add to the off-topic.

This is an interesting article about interest in the club from someone, Mukesh Ambani, whose wealth dwarfs that of Man City’s owner and Abramovich!

What I’m lost about is the intentions of G & H. How can they kill the club by refusing to invest and also refuse to listen to bids for the same? That part of the story fails to make sense.

According to the story, Ambani’s Reliance Industries and his rival, Subrata Roy’s Sahara Group have each tendered a bid that would pay off the club’s £237 million debt in return for a 51% stake in the club. Fair enough.

The story adds that Liverpool’s bankers want the pair to pay off £100 million of club debt and inject tens of millions of pounds into the club intended to push them into an agreement with a new investor. Despite such a move stabilizing club finances, they seem to reject even this!

Why, according to the Times story, would these two reject “on principle” any bid that left them with less than 50% stake at the club? This is unless any such deal involved buying them out completely. Is loss of control of the club their chief fear as the article suggests or is it pure greed that’s driving them?

In addition, these are individuals who allegedly refused DIC’s offer of £500 million that would have left each with £125 million in profit.

My question is what their actual problem is. They don’t seem to want to take us forward (deliberate understatement), yet don’t want to sell. Either we have psychos in charge of the club or the story hasn’t been reported well.

Great Blog Gerry, smiled at the JT quip and the poem on the last blog had me laughing out aloud.

I am going to be very interested to see Rafa’s line up, but I would not be surprised to see the same line as for Spurs with Lucas on the bench. The lad ran his butt off and must be tired and this game could suit Aquilani with Masch sitting in front of the back four.

I would like to see Carra and Agger in the centre as the pace of Arsenals wings and backs would be too much for Carra on the flanks. Maybe Maxi, Degen or Kelly at RB, my money would be on Degen with his speed on the counter.

With regards to the red card Gerry, yes Hercules did go in with two feet, but the one foot was away from the ball and man and he only connected with the other on the ball. Yes technically it was a red for maybe intent but he got the ball fairly with one foot. However Pienaars challenge on Masch was by far the worst and a leg breaker and was a straight red. As for the Afro thug, he should have gotten a yellow at least for the assault and intent to harm Kuyt minutes before and his deliberate stamp on Hercules was a definite straight red and I will be surprise be does not pick up a lengthy ban on review. For me the injury was a pure fake to get out of a red, Hercules did not touch him and the scans an attempt to get out of a post match ban. He will play the next game with no problems.

I also read the article concerning the offers on the table but H&G don’t want to sell 51% as they loose control. This will go right down to the wire until RBS forces their hand. The Indians will wait them out; they are the toughest negotiators in the world.

I had a friend who was selling his stake in a steel factory to them and he said by the time they where finished he was so worn down he almost offered to pay them to take his shares. Every time he thought he had an agreement they would come back and bring up another point of discussion.

They love their sport, live for it, and they have the money and their teams get the best of everything. Lets face it anything would be better than the twats we have at the moment.

I personally would start Aqua. Arsenal like to play possession and good football but that also leaves them open in front of their defence. We need at least one more creative force up front to get some goals. Aqua I think can be up front behind the striker, with Stevie G supporting from behind.

Sam it very simple if they loose control, 49% is a minority, 26% still has a major say in things from a minority share holder protection law, but if the Indians then pump more money into the club they cannot block them and if they do not match them investment for investment then their shares are further diluted. So putting the money in for the stadium would be a big knock for the Yanks because they could not match them investment wise, they would also be blocked using the clubs assets to raise money and take expenses.

Hence the reason why they have only offered to buy 51% because they will dilute them over a time down to an insignificant shareholding by pumping money in to the club. The yanks are cunts not stupid, but the closer the deadline comes the more desperate they will become and the Indians will play on that. They are a master of this game.

All the ‘experts’ on Sly etc are saying that the Arse are a one-dimensional team…pretty football, but the same game plan every time. The way to beat them (according to the experts) is to harass these (small) pretty players, close them down & knock them off their stride. It makes sense, and that’s how the scum beat them, quick clinical counter-attacks.
So with that in mind, will Rafa load the midfield? I would like to see Aqua start, but can’t really see it. Lucas, Masch, Stevie & Kuyt working their socks off, but then who will we use on the counter? That’s why I like Gerry’s idea of Babel. I know, he has been a twat, and the players need to promise him a lollipop every time he makes an effort to track back & help the defense - but he has that genuine pace & (occasional) lethal shot.
It might work? He has done it before against the Arse.

Oh, thanks a lot for that KeithSA. Makes it much more clearer. I agree about our bozo owners being cunts, not stupid. I hope the day of G & H’s desperation is close at hand for them to leave Anfield forever. I would even be willing to underwrite their farewell bash! Anyone is better than those two.

I’ve been getting tooth ache for months, sort of coming and going. So I done nothing about it. On Thursday last week, it kicked off big time and didn’t stop all weekend. It was horrible. So, I gave in and got it pulled out yesterday. It was one of them big fuckers at the back and I think she gave me enough tranquilizer to knock out a herd of bull elephants…
So, a long story short - I’ve sort of been out of commision, and except for watching the Derby, Chavs v Arse, and popping in the blog, I’ve seen nothing about anything really.

So, I’m in the dark about any buy out. But I’m going to get onto a few people today. Not that I think they will know anything, but you never know so I’ll see if I can find anything out.

As for the red card and none red card…
With the Kyriagos one, the ref is quite a distance away. So all he can really see is, The Big Fella lunging in, off the ground not even sliding, with both feet up, studs showing. That’s a red. No way out of it, if the ref’s sticking to the laws of the game and just applying what’s in the book.

It might have been a bit different had he been closer and seen Fellani’s stamp, but there was no way he could have from that distance.

The Pienar on Masch: The ref was right on top of it, but his view was blocked by Gerrard so he didn’t see the kung foo style straight leg, twist of the foot/ankle, and rake down the shin. It was the sort of tackle that breaks legs. A bloody disgrace. But again, not really the ref’s fault.

Could say more, but want to say this….
I’m dreading this game now that Arsenal have lost the last 2. They’ll be desperate to win this game for lots and lots of reasons - no matter who they was playing, but they’ll be glad it’s us.

Arsenal might only be able to play the one way, but when it’s flowing, it’s practically impossible to stop. But here’s the scary thing, it’s bloody effective against us. In fact, we’re probably the perfect opponents for them.

Arsenal seem to be beatable in two ways… do a Stoke/Bolton on them, or play rope a dope - give them possesion, let them come on, and then hit them fast on the break when they are too committed up front.

But here’s the problem…
1: We aren’t Stoke/Bolton. We don’t play anti-football, and we won’t get away with playing it like the Derby. Imagine Carra hitting Arshavin at the Emirates the way he hit Pinar in the first 10 seconds in front of The Kop. We’d be down to 10 men and that’s not good against Wenger and the Arse - they’d soon find a way around or through us.

2: Without Torres, we don’t really have the players to sit back and hit them on the break. And no. Nevermind his pace, I just wouldn’t trust Babel with the job from the off but maybe, just maybe, he’ll come in handy for the last half hour.

3: We always give them a fair game and try to play footy with them… and it’s usually us that gets caught on the break.

Oh well, we’ll see.

Some interesting mid-week games tonight and tomorrow, and some really important ones coming up. I don’t expect them to all keep going our way, but what I do expect is to see us continuing to improve and putting some decent results together - especially as all the lads are getting fitter and we’ve got Nando to come back yet. So, in other words, I won’t be throwing a wobbler if we don’t see off the Arse. There’s lots of football to go yet.

PS: Gerry, try to get to see the first half. It was a throw back to the old days - not for the feint hearted, but a great spectacle.

Thanks for the explanation, Keith.

At first I’m as confused as Sam as to why G&H are so desperate to keep control that I’ve completed forgotten the “pump cash to dilute hostile minority shareholder’s holding” trump card which a majority shareholder has.

I hope you’re right that the Indians (either Roy or Ambani) will be able to patiently wait out the two goons until the RBS deadline forces their hand, at which time the Indians might even force a even more favourable deal from them. Provided the Indians don’t go bust by then like Dubai has.

Though Indians are well known for being prudent with their cash, so I guess I could rest easy a bit.

I’ll also have to wait and see whether they will live up to their promise of giving fans the 10% stake (as well as not attempting to dilute them).

good stuff Ger an excellent read and spot on, i think in the derby the team showed the kind of bottle thats been sorely missing too many times this year if they show that attitude til the end of the season who knows where we could end up?? next two games are both huge and could go either way but i reckon we could nick both if the boys show the same kahunas they did on saturday.

FS: I agree completely ith you except for the pienaar kung fu kick. Isn’t that why there’s a linesman to help out the ref? Fellaini on the big greek was hard to spot with TV replays so you can’t blame the ref.

Arsenal away is our toughest game each season I think. We find their style of play hard to combat. I am not confident about this game at all. On the other hand I do fancy us against man city.

Carra’s tackle on pienaar was ferocious. It’s the hardest toughest tackle I’ve ever seen I think. Not like cowardly Keane’s on Alfie harla ingle whatever his name was.

I understand what you mean about playing the Arse FS, but don’t forget we have the momentum. Of the two teams we are the one’s in form, not them.

My hope is that they don’t get an early goal, because the longer it goes without them scoring the more anxious they will become, mainly because of what has happened to them in their last few games.

I agree that without Torres hitting them on the break will be more difficult and Babel can’t be relied upon. But I think Aquilani should start this match, as he and Gerrard are two players with the craft and vision to make our forward play pay dividends.

I don’t think we’ll have many goalscoring opportunities in this match, so the more players we have on the pitch with a bit of guile and eye for a defence splitting pass the better, in my opinion.

I would go for Ngog to start up front on his own with Kuyt on the right but helping Ngog whenever he can cut in.

Arsenal 1 Liverpool 2

Gerry - you’ll see the tackles and goal on this site: http://www.101greatgoals.com/category/goals/england/ - scroll down a bit

anyway on to tomorrow, I agree with FS on this - I don’t think we could meet Arsenal at a worse time but in saying that they’re own confidence is brittle..if we could somehow nick a goal ahead - I’d be confident of hangin on. Should they score first however, I can see it being a tough day at the office. But to be honest, after our very decent haul of points over the last 7/8 games, a defeat at a ground where we rarely get very much, wouldn’t be the end of the world

I agree with FS about the Arse games. When we play them at their ground we seem to find it difficult and they always end up playing their football with us finding it difficult to get near the ball. Having said that last season I thought we outplayed them at times and should have won. We were the form side then however - I think we were top of the league at the time. Still didnt bloody beat them though. I have watched the Arse the last 2 games and although they have lost they were not outplayed. I think they had 60% of the ball against the chavs. Arshavin missed a sitter at 1-0 down. Against the mancs they were dominating for the first 15 mins or so. Arshavin missed a couple of chances and then the mancs scored. Game over. Any time that bloody Arshavin gets a sniff against us the ball is past Reina before anyone can blink.

I think it will be a backs to the wall job because I don’t think we are playing well enough to compete with them football wise at the moment. I would take a point and be quite satisfied.

Does anyone know when the RBS deadline is? Was the last refinance package for a year or 18 months? I think it was a year and it happened in July wasn’t it? So am I right it coming to the conclusion that RBS will want £100m by July 2010?

LB, I’m not sure about the RBS situation, but would agree with you that Arshavin is the major threat to us tomorrow night. It’s funny how some players always seem to score against certain clubs - who could forget his four at Anfield last season, and the winner there this season?

But, as you say, we are defending better and will be more confident of getting a result on that basis.

O.K, we haven’t managed to beat Arsenal away for 10 years but they ARE conceding goals and we need to find a way of capitalising on that.

Was it 1-1 in the PL at the Emirates last season? I think it was. The time is right to go one better!

Great blog Gerry and I hope the chicken sacrificing is going well because I think that we will need some luck tomorrow.

I hate playing the arse as their style of play tends to give us more problems than any other opponent. On top of this they have lost two on the bounce so they will more than up for this.

A clean sheet is ‘all’ I am hoping for. Anything more would be a huge bonus.

An early injury to Arshavin would also be welcome.

“7th richest man in the world plans takeover”!

he might have a few quid knockin around he can toss into the team! give us.. say… any money at all to spend on players.. and we’ll stuff gary neville up ferguson’s arse and build a new fuckin pirch to sit on.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7020022.ece

oops. just realised this has already been discussed. ignore me. i’m in a different time zone.

No worries Sambo, at least you are on the same planet, unlike some.

I would take any report like this with a large dose of salt. If it is good enough to be true then, unlike the last time, a proper due diligence process should be undertaken by both parties.

Otherwise we could be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

could be complete bullshit…. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/09/liverpool-deny-indian-investors

Sambo, love it! Gary Neville, Fergie’s arse, new perch. Great stuff.

Not gonna go into this Indian takeover, I´ll just cross my fingers. I hope the FA will look into some of those Everton players not that a ban will help us much after the game has been played. Havent looked at their fixtures but it might actually hurt us.
On to the game… who will play right-back. Not sure if Degen is fit or up to the challenge of looking after that spot when the ball moves so fast like the way Arsenal like to play it. Like people have mentioned we might just have Masch in right-back.

I think we have to keep Masch in his role of protecting the back four at Arsenal.

We will put pressure on Arsenal, and we mustn’t allow then to pass their way through the middle of the park - that’s when they will be at their most dangerous and Masch will be key in stifling those attacks.

I think JC will play at right back with Dagger and Skrtel in the middle. Would like to see Aurelio start at left back for this one.

Totally off subject lads but I want a career change and am seriously thinking about getting into sports psychology. Any of you know of anyone who has a career in that?

I worry about Skrtle against Arsenal. Also worry about Insua against someone like Walcott/Nasri/Rosicky… Probably time for Fabio.

rafa should just follow my advice and play this team. otherwise he is stubborn, knows nothing about football, does my head in, is very defensive, is only good for cup games, doesnt understand the english game… and umm…should be replaced by david moyes with angry gay as assistant manager.

———–pepe———–
carra — agger - skertel - insua
—–lucas - masch——-
–gerrard - aquilani - reira
———kuyt—————-

Great Blog Gerry,

Not sure if we should play albert or maxi.

Albert is disciplined, pretty good defensively, and creates width.

Maxi has some neat touches and maybe helpful in opening the defence. He will also be more used to the speed and the lack of heavy tackles.

However I dont think we have the confidence as a team to make the runs for maxi or even aqua. This one has to be a heavy slug.

So ill go for Riera and Kuyt on the wings.

I know some would like Babel to play up front. But i tell you what, Ngog has some good speed on him, also can dribble his man (not like babel who just kicks the ball 5metres and chases). Plus Ngog is good at relieving pressure by holding it up and drawing fouls (babel isnt that good at this component).

LB, I reckon you would be kept pretty busy if you had to open a Sports Psychology practice in the UK. No shortage of clients, starting with Terry, Rio, Joey Barton, the Neville’s…the potential clientel is endless. Maybe through Souness in there as well.

Have not read the new post nor comments. Just came in to post a startling news story of 2 Indian Billionaires bidding for 51% stake in LFC:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7020382.ece

Oops, sorry. Beaten to it by you slick guys as usual. As the Beatles sang, “I should have known better”

WEll Aqua isnt playing on Wednesday so we can stop thinking about where to put him.

why? Is he injured?

Sick

Would be nice though if he recovered to give Liverpool another option. Possibly mind games letting everybody know he won´t be playing.

LB, they have to come up with £100 million by July. That was from Purslow at the SOS meeting.

They’ve both obviously got it from their recent sales of other sports franchises, but they are whoring us about because obviously all they have ever intended to do is buy Liverpool on credit, never invest a cent and then sell it on for maximum profit.

As for these Indian business men, I think one is called Asif….
Asif they’d have anything to fuckin do with what the yanks are offering.

Jokes aside, I just done a little of what Parry never bothered to do when selling the family silver to the Yanks… a bit of googling.

The one fella, Roy, looks like a right crook. So, he’d be quite at home with H@&G, but who knows.

In fact, I’m taking no notice to be honest. And I can’t understand why anybody would be excited by the promise of one of the richest men in the world riding in to save us. What’s next, him pictured under This Is Anfield sign, waving Rupees in the air, saying he’ll buy us Raj Snoogy Doogy.

So, do what you like lads. Meself… once bit, forty times shy. And I won’t be taking any notice until something concrete is heard from SOS or RBS.

As for the Arse game, I really hope we don’t sit back and try to hit them on the counter. I hope we play the high pressure game that we can be so good at - give them no time on the ball at all, hunt in packs, close them down quick and hit them hard. But it will have to be fair, or we will be seeing early cards… that’s a defo. Wenger will whinge about it before the game, just to get the ref onside. And there’s bound to be a hangover from the Derby, especially after all the criticism Atkinson got for not producing early cards and Wenger will be sure to remind the ref of that.

In fact, who’s the ref for this one?

Think I’ll go and check as it might be crucial.

But anyway, I’ll leave the team selection to Rafa, and just hope he tells our lad’s to keep snapping after them and constantly pressing. I reckon we can win this if we give them no time or space.

First goal might be crucial though, so I’m hoping we can either get it early or frustrate them, then hit them and break their will - they might just fold if they think they are being hard done by.

As for last season, I was at that game. It was 1- 1.

A 1 - 1 battering. Think back, we really did panel them. Keane got that great goal for us - the only one beside PSV away that he did. A lovely volley from a long ball upfield.

But what I remember most about it is…
Fabregas went off injured and then one of them got sent off. So they was down to 10 men. We scored just on half time and then battered away at them but couldn’t break them down.

I put that down to Rafa not being there. It was one of the games he missed with kidney stones. But anyway, they parked the bus and we couldn’t get through. Then they hit us with a sucker punch. Can’t remember who scored for them, but I have a feeling it was Bentner.

Anyway, all in the past now. But we did give them a pasting and we are due a win there. So we live in hope, eh.

PS… I’m slyly working at getting to this one. I shouldn’t go really, but well… I have been a good lately, it’s only down the road, and the tooth fairy owes me one.

Too bad with the illness to Aquilani. I actually thought Rafa intended to have in fresh and ready for a start at the Emigrants when deciding to rescue him from getting murdered by Fellaini on Saturday. Perhaps that was his intention, but as it is we’ll have to take on the gooners with probably the same midfield that battled through the derby.

Very unfortunate that Kyrgiakos went in two-footed in that challenge. Not because I think we will miss him all that much against Arsenal (they don’t really have any thugs to deal with after all, mostly little fellas), but because he won’t be available for the next two games against Man City and Blackburn respectively.

Of all the impressing individual performances against Everton one that stood out for me that hasn’t been mentioned a lot is that of Daniel Agger. Did he make a single error in the entire game? If that lad just stays fit he will undoubtedly become a true great at the back. It’s usually his technical ability people tend to focus on because that’s what separates him from the majority of CB’s, but in front of all I think he possesses defensive abilities of the very highest order. Considering how fragile we were defensively earlier this season it truly fills me with confidence to see there are others than the greek who can step up at the back, although it’s obviously just as much down to us defending a lot, lot better as a team.

Regarding the starting line-up against Arsenal I don’t think Babel would causing any trouble at all if he’s given the chance to start the game. He’s just plain to damn stupid and lazy. It would require someone of Torres’ calibre to cause damage on the counter against such a good side. Drogba was the only reason Chelsea managed to win the other night, and that was in their home ground. To win this game we will have to be a little lucky and make sure we make the goalscoring opportunities count.

I think FS is spot on pointing out we usually end up getting caught on the break against them when we really try to play them. That’s why Wenger is always so angry when teams don’t try to do that, as it frustrates all his silky players when they’re facing the tactic similar to that employed by Chelsea and the mancs recently. I’m hoping for us to get lucky and grab the three points of course, but with Torres out I just can’t see it happening, no matter what effort our players will be putting in. Perhaps this would be a good occasion for one of those inspired scouser moments of Stevie G? He’s certainly improved a lot in recent games.

About the indian potential investors I’m not getting my hopes up until it a deal is made and the yanks are out (if not entirely then at least out of control).

Here we go. It’s started already…
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/illustrateur-uk-cbc1541a8a7fd6f8ae35d7b833d56a10.html

too many suitors have come and gone (remember that bald arab prince?) and like fatty said, we’d uncork the bubbly only when the ink dries and the yanks are out.

as for the arse game, i figure rafa would have benched our greek god anyway seeing that arse is not the type to lob high balls into our penalty area, that’s not their style.

things are finally going our way so i would say we can be optimistic about tomoro’s game. we’ve done it against the scum last season with players injured so let’s see the boys do the same.

onward reds. YNWA
.

They’re all at it now…
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/movie-uk-e9d43833059fe22ebc5ef53feca22fc8.html

Fuck it. I’m off.

FS - last season - Van Persie scored first for the Gunners - then Keane equalised near half time. When they were reduced to 10 men we didn’t realy create all that much but a point was a decent result anyway

Nice one Arthur. The old grey matter isn’t what it used to be, not that it was ever that sharp anyway like.

But I do remember the bits I said clearly because, I was standing there arguing with me mates about us not breaking them down. And, maybe you’re right, maybe we didn’t make many clear cut chances.

But I remember for fact we pounded them for most of the second half because one of the lad’s was coming over a bit BMish, blaming Rafa for us not breaking them down. So, I eventually cracked and roared at him… He’s not even here you daft kunt. He’s in hossie with kidney stones.

And I remember the Keane goal well. Not a hard thing to do. I was there for the 2 good uns he scored against PSV and Arsenal… both from long punted balls that he laruped in.

There seems to be a little pessimism about our chances tomorrow and given our record at the Emigrants we’ve every right to be wary, but I think we’ve got a decent chance against these guys tomorrow.
Let’s not forget we’ve won games away at the mancs, the chavs and we’ve even beaten fucking Barcelona at the Nou Camp so we are certainly capable of beating the Gooners at their place and I just think we are due a result against them there.
And while I know Eggnog would be the favourite to start the game for us as our lone striker, I am still sticking with the Babel option. I have nothing against Noggin the Nog, in fact I like the lad but if we play him from the start it’s likely he will work hard for 60 minutes or so and be subbed for Babel who will then have the benefit of playing against a tiring Arse defence.
So I just think maybe we should reverse that for a change. Let’s play Babel from the start and let him run his bollocks off an hour for a change and then bring Eggnog on against a tiring Arse defence and see what he can do.
The lad has done well for us from the bench in the past, remember he did well and made a difference against Wolves and remember his excellent goal against the mancs after coming on as a sub.
Ngog is still a work in progress and certain aspects of his game probably aren’t as well developed as Babel’s but I do think he has bit more between his ears (let’s face it, he couldn’t have any less!)and might be able to use his fresh legs to better effect.
If Babel comes on for the last 25 minutes or so, there always a chance he might hit a thunderbolt shot from 30 yards into the top corner of the net but more likely he will spend most of that time running into blind alleys or getting caught offside and giving soft possession back to the Arse.
So this is why I think we should reverse our normal strategy regarding these two. With more time on the pitch, Babel just might produce something unorthodox but if nothing else his pace might take more out of the legs of the Arse defence and Ngog might be able to take advantage of that later in the game.
Anyway, I’ve got a few more chaickens to sacrifice so I’ll leave it for you guys to discuss further.

I’m not being pessimistic Gerry, I think we can beat them. But I can only see it coming one way…
That high pressure game that we can play really well on our day.

And Babel would actually be perfect for that. He’s got the pace and the strength, to defend from the front, come back and help out in defence when needed and enough pace to hit them on the break. But… well, you know all the buts.

So, if you was forced to put money on it, which Babel would you bet on turning up… the fella who couldn’t find his own seat in the picturehouse using both hands, a torch, a map and a Satnav or the fella that can run a defence and wallop in a stormer?

I can’t see Rafa making many changes from the side that played Everton. Obviously Kyriagos won’t be playing, and I don’t think Maxi will be in from the start. He played most of that derby, and it must have been quite a shock to him.

Well, I don’t predict teams very often but I can see it being the same team as the derby with…
Carra back at right back. Skrtle, Agger in the middle. Riera infront of Insua.

Arsenal haven’t actually won for 4 games… there’s the 2 defeats, and Stoke knocked them out the cup and Villa drew with them.

They was looking at that run like we’ve been looking at ours… a chance to get back in the mix.

We’re the last of their run. So, they should be fighting like fuck to make sure they don’t end up with nothing from it. Who knows with them though.

As for us, we’ve still got City to go from that run. They’re playing Bolton tonight. It would be great if it was the old Bolton… even if they got nothing from it, you could count on them to at least rough them up a bit. But Coyle is trying to get them playing football, and they seem to be struggling with it.

What’s with that - Millionaire footballers who can’t play football, eh. But anyway, if the results go our way in these 3 games… well, I don’t want to tempt fate, so I’ll just say it would be good.

Wouldn’t mind a Villa win against the Mancs though.

PS… Knight, sorry I missed you and the call came up as unkown on me mobile. So I couldn’t bell you back. email me if you want.. LEESWATCHES@aol.com

I just got a text here. I shouldn’t put it in here as BM will think it’s true. But you other lads might get a laugh out of it…

Aquilani is not playing at Arsenal because he has a stomache bug…
He started shitting himself sitting on the bench watching the game against Everton when he thought he was about to be subbed on, and he hasn’t stopped since!

I’ve not shyed away from expressing my opinion on Deggen int he past. If you go just a few blogs back, you’ll find the comment “hope we never see him in a red shirt again.”

BUT… we did, and he put in 2 very decent shifts in the right mid slot where he was a very effective fast break outlet.

Sooo… I’d fancy him in at right mid, in front of Carra. He can help out (ahem, er, sort of) defensively and provide us with that quick break we’ll need to put their VERY dodgy back four under a bit of pressure!

Pepe
Carra, Ninja, Dagger, Insua
Deggen, Lucas, Masch, Riera
SG
Kuyt

But I can’t imagine I’ve predicted that right, and there are at least 5 or six changes you could make to that and still feel comfy.

FS, it is OK, will call you another day. Nothing urgent. I shall be off for the Chinese New Year hols from tomorrow anyway. Cheers!

No problem Knight mate. Enjoy the hols.

20 mins to go & Citeh are very lucky to be 1-0 up against Bolton. Who is this Johnson anyway? Not a bad player.
I’m with Gerry on the ‘Babel starting up front’ idea. Give him a start for once, and he might perform. If not, jerk him after 45 mins, and change the plan. He has the potential, he might just pull it off Wednesday night.
Shite, Citech have just scored a 2nd against the run of play.
Things not working out at the moments.

Yeah, in Arsenal’s faces from the off, give them no time or space to get their passing game together.

I have a feeling Stevie G is going to score tomorrow night. Let’s hope it’s the winner!

Super blog Gerry,

I think FS hit the nail on the head.The only way we`ll get the 3 ponts tomorrow nught is by playing that high tempo,hunt in packs,pressing from the front game.
I think we will adapt that approach.The players are a lot more in tune with each other now and are defending as a team and are starting to attack as a team again.
I`d go for N`gog myself Gerry with Babel coming on after the hour or so.I think he can be more effective as an impact player.

On your point with Dirk stepping up to the late with some goals recently he can play in a 4-4-2 with Torres but imo only at home against the so called lesser teams where we`ll dominate posession.I think it was Villa away when he last tried it away from home with Torres and N`gog and it didn`t seem to work.

I`m quietly confident for tomorrow and whatever happens in next two games if we can pick up four points one way or another we`ll be in a nice position.

Feckin KWALITY Rafa…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rFjPohp-g

Oh, I love those moments when Rafa gets totally fed up with all the nonsense and just states the truth. The anti-Rafa squad will call it arrogance. I would agree with timmytorres. Quality just doesn’t get any purer than that. Just go on and tell ‘em as it is, Rafa.

Still hybernating but popped in to say, I am pissed off again– apparently, Rafa isn’t even allowed the “luxury” of buying anyone he wants even if they are on a free transfer, and we only just managed to secure Jovanovic (again a free transfer).

And yet still our gaffer carries on with his job.

Thank god for Rafa.

I see Milan Jovanovic’s agent has confirmed that he has signed a pre contract with Liverpool for next season. He can play on the left and up front and looks like a decent player.

Morning lads, nothing much to say just wasting a bit of time before getting busy. In fact, all I can say is something I never bothered putting in the other day. I thought it wasn’t worth mentioning but seeing Timmy’s posted that Rafa conference…
I was sort of listening to Talk Shite the other morning. Alan Brazil was talking to some journalists from the daily papers. I don’t know which reporters or papers. I wasn’t taking that much notice.

Brazil starts talking about Zola and West Ham. They were all very complimentary about Zola and said what a great job he was doing, especially under such terrible circumstances.

It went on for a bit, praising Zola and good old West Ham. Up the ‘ammers. Won us the world cup and that sort of thing.

Then I was a bit surprised by Brazil - he’s one of the worst for slagging Rafa. But he says, well how come you can be like that over Zola, yet so hard on Benitez.

Journalists answer… Well, we like Zola. We can’t stand Rafa.

Brazil started laughing, but it was all deadly serious and then they went on about how Rafa is in press conferences, then started the character assasination bit…. stubborn, arrogant, Spanish, a bit up himself, won’t play ball, even had the nerve to attack the great dark lord Ferg.

As I say, I couldn’t be arsed mentioning it the other day. Didn’t think it was worth it, because most of us know/understand that anyway. But there it was right from the horses mouth.

I just hope he gives them something more to whinge about before the end of the season… like beating their darling Mancs at Old Toilet and handing the title to Chelsea.

Just noticed that the ref for tonight’s game is Howard Webb. At least that is (hopefully) something in our favour.

If Pompey get the boot today we will be up to 3rd before a ball is even kicked this evening.

Don’t see it happening though but this season has been a first for many things.

lurgan are you sure that we’ll get 3 points if pompey go into administration? where did you read that? tramp will blow a load!

Will stay up for the game tonight. Live viewing starts at 3.45am. Yawn! My prediction is always a win, 2-1.

Not going to happen lads. Wind up hearings have been adjourned for a week, while Pompey’s next owners go through the right and proper people thing.

But here’s why it won’t really happen… Pompey’s not that far from me. I used to have a flower pitch right in the middle of the city centre. So, I know quite a few of their supporters, not bad fellas actually. But anyway, it’s not been widely reported, but they’ve been telling me that Fratton Park is sat on top of a gold mine… It’s a complete shithole of a ground, but they own all the surrounding area. And here’s the rub… with the surrounding land, it’s worth mega-mega millions.

But there’s allsorts of clauses attached to it from back in the middle ages… it has to be used for leisure purposes. So there’s been allsorts of rich developers - who couldn’t give a shit about the club - fighting over it. The problem is, they can’t go in and build a shopping mall, hotel and houses, like they’d want to. They have to keep it for leisure activities for the people of Portsmouth.

So, bottom line is… except for their fans, no one gives a toss for poor ol Pompey. In fact, the rich fuckers who are after the land would like nothing more than to empty them out. And just look at how the Premiereship, the FA, the other clubs, in fact, football itself has reacted to them… No one gives a toss.

In fact, look at Redknapp swooping around them like the vulture bastard he really is. And it wasn’t just him and Spurs who stuck the knife in. Everyone was queing up with money bag demanding payment. But the fact is, while they have that land, they are sitting on a huge bargaining chip and, if they aren’t entirely stupid, they should be able to work a way out of all this.

I think the thing with Portsmouth is all results will be null & void so any team that beat them will have 3 pts deducted.Spurs & Chavs have been demanding their money and it will serve them right if they lose the points. As for liesure purposes a multiplex cinema and liesure centre will fit that criteria .
YNWA

No. It’s got to be some sort of park. That’s where the trouble is… the possible investors just want to rip off Pompey and put in hotels and spas and that melarkey.

We’re sorted for next season guys, the Serbian Snake is on his way!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehfUBqwwi94&NR=1

Wasn’t aware of that FS. Thanks for the info. It would explain a lot of the shenaningans going on there and the 4 to 5 owners in past year or so.

BTW, how did the previous owners pass the fit and proper person test? One billionaire sheikh who didn’t have two shillings and had to borrow from another lad who had zilch as well. A complete farce.

I would love to see Wenger’s gob if they did get the boot. They would lose 6 points.

come on you redmen!!! not posted in a very long time, but an avid reader and a passionate red. thanks for the blogs Gerry, top quality reading. tough one tonight, but i hope lucas plays a blinder. also masch with a crunching tackle in the first couple of minutes, just to let ‘em know he is there. in rafa we trust YNWA

I really am worried about the next 2 matches, the consequence’s of losing these games don’t bear thinking about, Arsenal bother me more than the nouveau rich lot up the road but neither game is going to be easy.

I have to agree with previous posters in as much as we have to hunt in packs and keep our discipline tonight, we haven’t won at the library in an awful long time and despite some commendable fighting spirit in the last few games we still are not playing that well.

Sorry Gerry I have to disagree with you on the Babel thing, I so wanted this guy to come good for us, but he just doesn’t have the right attitude, and to be honest he’s kinda dumb, in fact I would go so far to say the only reason he hasn’t been sent down the road is because Rafa knows he probably wont see any money for him.

Tonight we need the players who will fight for the cause and Babel doesn’t fit into that category, and my patience has just worn thin.

Arsenal could go one of two ways tonight, they will either be the “wounded animal or they will be completely lacking in confidence and it us up to us to go for the throat early on and make sure its the latter

Gerry (or any of you other lads) why are those YouTube clips always cut to the GAYEST music on the planet???

Now I’m not sure about this, but…
A) He’s called the “snake”
+
B) His clip features really gay music
=
Maybe he could be our Christiano Ronaldo?

(I’m just sayin….)

Don’t really appreciate the homophobia Aitch, there’s already way too much of that in football. But I also think the music chosen to football clips on youtube is God awful, and especially that dreadful swedish pop song on the Jovanovic clip. Hearing that mess makes me want to drop some plates in the floor.

No homophobia but the racial/cultural stereo types are cool eh?

Line-ups for tonight. Not really any surprises.

Arsenal: Almunia, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin.
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Rosicky, Walcott, Denilson, Traore, Campbell.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Ngog.
Subs: Cavalieri, Riera, Aurelio, Babel, Spearing, Degen, Kelly.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Good to see young Kelly back on the bench again.
As for the You Tube comment and without wishing to offend anyone, I’m really not sure what the term “gay” means anymore.
Some people say something is gay and mean that it is bad, others use to term to indicate something is fun and still others use the term to indicate something is strange or a bit off.
But if you mean that the music on You Tube clips is complete shite, then I totally agree!

With Nando, Yossi and Magic on there, we’d have had these by now. But job done. I’d say we’ve quitend the crowd, but it is Arsenal.

From now I’m going the pub or the match, don’t like this commenting while the game’s on. I Don’t want to tempt fate, but… come on Redmen. You can have these.

If that comment is homophobia then I apologise to your fuckin delicate sensibilities.

And while I implied girly, yes I also meant shite?

Fuckin lacklustre performance so far. Derby hangover???

Other half-time results look good so far. Lets hope they stay that way.

So sad that we lost. For my own consolation, at least it’s not Arshravin this time.

I didn’t watch the game, but know of a hand ball in the first half by an Arse player in the penalty box not given by the ref. Guess this sums up our season…

Just wanna say 2 things: 1, Anyone any idea how or why Maxi has displaced Riera? I will accept jokes as answers since it is a bit of a one. And 2, Howard Webb you blind cunt.

Why do referees almost always give Liverpool the wrong end of the stick?
It probably wouldn’t make any difference but right at the end when Liverpool were taking the free kick,Fabregas raised his arm and diverted the ball-the ref was only a few yards away and another free kick should have been given!

Stand Back!
We have an OFF button… and we’re not afraid to use it!

Hugely disappointing performance. No comparison whatsoever to the effort shown against Everton.

Few players looked like they could be arsed.

The back 4 looked decent until we lost JC and then we just fell apart. Real Keystone Cops stuff at times, to gift the ball back to them.

Exactly Jack. How could he not have seen that? I mean I never whinge over refs (we’ve 90mins to score) but how he has not seen that is inexplicable. Should have been a yellow card and another free kick if not a penalty as fabregas looked to be on the edge of, or inside the box. Just inexcusable incompetence from webb. Oh well, at least spuds lost and the mancs were held. Gotta beat city now.

Just one moment of calamity and bang we’re gone, other than that we probably deserved a point. JC going off for Degen was a big blow. Looked disjointed at the back after that. Agree with Digger, not sure why/how Maxi has replaced Riera. Maxi just looks too slow and I’d prefer to see more of Riera. If a couple of the chances Maxi had, had of fallen to Torres we’d be winning that game. Lucas was good, getting close to scoring, hopefully he can hit the target next time. Babel showed what he is capable of when his head is screwed on correctly and wouldn’t surprise to see him get a start soon.

Overall I’m disappointed but with the current state of injuries, as long as we keep beating the lesser teams I guess we’re just gonna have to accept that we don’t have the manpower to match it with the top three.

both sides were piss poor tonight. shocking decision by the ref at the end but we should’nt have to rely on the last kick of the game to get something out of it. start praying to robbie that nandos back for the city game with 12 games to go its going down to the wire big time.

Actually we’ve already been warned that our slump isn’t over yet. The result is bad, but I think the criticism of playing Maxi or withdrawing Carragher is a little over the top.

Carragher, it seems, is suffering from an injury (recurring theme this season). Playing Maxi over Riera is a decision the manager is paid to make. It’s easy for us to criticise after a loss (and with hindsight, of course), but if we’d won no one would criticise the decision. After all, Maxi played against Everton and I haven’t heard a single complaint about that.

It’s going to the wire this season, as Rafa has said, and let’s get together this tough period in support of the team.

We have looked like an ordinary side for a while now. Even during the unbeaten 7 game run. That’s why I was never confident of getting anything at the Emirates. I thought Arsenal were poor as well but our lack of creativity and urgency away from home is beyond belief at times. We have scored just 12 goals in 13 away games this season. At no stage did I think we looked like scoring.

Any ideas when Johnson, Benny and Torres are back? I hope Aquilani gets over the sniffles soon.

My take on a very ordinary game, Rafa sent us out to draw, and as ususally happens when you try to draw you end up loosing.
.
Why do I think this, because the introduction of Degen for an injured JC. He could have wizzed Mash out there, while bringing SG back slightly, therefore introducing Babel or Riera earlier.
.
Degen was awful when on, he is slow and limited. Both Babel and Riera should have come on just prior to the goal, as we were struggling. It was coming and everyone could see it.
.
Kuyt has scored 4 goals in 4 games but Ngog stayed up front. I cannot understand the subbing of Lucas, he was one of our leading lights, SG did jack shit.
.
Finally what do you lads see in Maxi, I still see nothing to warrant him starting and then staying on. He is extremely slow.
.
Overall I think Arse deserved to win, really we had about 3 shots through the whole game. No penetration or width.
.
Anyway lets hope we lift for Man City but today I think the lifting needed to come from Mr B.

Hang on a minute lads. We were at the Emirates. We more or less controlled the game, and except for about 25 minutes of it, if anyone was going to score it was us.

That’s Arsenal, you know, the touched by an Angel’s kiss of a wonderful footballing team. And except for a few dodgy moments we had them.

I don’t know about you, but I understand why, without Torres, Yossi and Johnson we are going to struggle creatively. I also understand why, with our finances, we are going to struggle without that sort of firepower.

A look at the bench showed how short we was. And maybe Gerry was right… maybe Babel should have been given the start, but that’s hindsight - not fact. So we don’t know. But, other than that, with everything taken into consideration, it certainly wasn’t a showing to whinge about.

It was Arsenal’s job to break us down. Except for that one porky moment, 16 minutes from time, they didn’t really do it. And despite our lack of attacking players, we could have pinched it… imagine getting that break away that NGog got.

But having said that, I’m not slagging NGog. I’m not slagging any of them. In fact, I don’t know what the problem with Maxi is, and who knows why Riera wasn’t played… well, Rafa knows and I have no choice but to accept his judgement.

But think about it… we moan about Carra, but when the only option was to withdraw him for Degen… well, the best I can say is… it just shows why we need all hands fit and at the pumps.

Anyway, there’s plenty of games to go and I’m not exactly suicidal at our reduced strength team being beaten at the Emirates by a wounded and desperate for points Arsenal… In fact, I’m quite proud of that showing and with just a wee bit of luck we could easily be talking about a hard job effectively done.

In fact, the only thing that pisses me off… The Mancs result. Villa fucking had them there. They stood off, and didn’t Sir Tramp show his favourite Martin how grateful he was… fffs, did you see them walking off the field together at full time, hand in hand, practically skipping.

But fuck em, we’ll fuck them plans up when we play them at Old Toilet. In fact, there’s lots to play for yet, and sorry, as much as I’m disapointed by our result, I don’t see a narrow 1 - 0 lose to Arsenal in their own backyard as something to be too upset about.

I agree with most on here - thought we played OK, just OK…definitely set up our stall to nick a point and that would have been a great result…but playing Maxi out left (is he not a right sided player) was a gamble that didn’t pay off. Carra’s injury was the turning point in the game. I don’t think we should cry too much about the free kick at the end - we didn’t create enough against a poor Arsenal team

I’m with FS on this one. It’s not all doom & gloom, and the Arse are a top side. Torres (if he was playing) would in all likelihood have left Gallas in his wake, rounded Almunia, and walked the ball into an empty net. Great ball by Gerrard BTW. Babel hit the bar, and Gerrard’s free-kick was on target until someone’s hand got in the way. So despite us playing shite, with a bit of luck and on any other day (besides this season, coz someone at LFC has obviously pissed off the big man upstairs) we could have scored 3!
And look at the other results: Villa dropped 2 points, Spurs dropped 2 points, and we still have to play Citeh, who have a nightmare run of games coming up (without Bellamy as well). So, let’s all look on the bright side - just trying to be positive here.
Oh yes, small fact of Nando, Benny & Magic being available at the end of the month-ish!
Lastly, more rumours re transfers. We could be getting Milos Krasic (good mate of Jovanovic) from CSK on a free, in the summer. Left winger, with great speed & Serbia’s ‘player of 2009′. Let’s hope it’s all not just a rumour…

Gerry, apologies for using retarded in my post last week.It was written in response to being told to f£%& myself.The Reds should of went out for the 3 points last night and tried to play like the Mancs did.I think Maxi is well past his best and along with a few more should be moved on during the summer.Lucas was excellent, the lack of goals from midfield is a huge problem, in Riise’s first season , he scored 7 league goals, that is the type of return Aquilani should be contributing.FS, stomach doesn’t have an e @ the end!.One smart put down attracts another!!.

Not too pissed off i think Rafa set the team up to first of all stop Arse from playing their Lavly Foobawl and hopefully nick one from a set piece or something.I was happy the way the game was panning out obviously until the goal.Carra going off unsettled the back four as a unit.

We were never going to be a threat on the break like the manc and chelsea were not without Nando in the side.Ngog is still learning his trade and whilst i`m happy with his development i`m sure Rafa would like to have some better quality up there but we know why that is.

Anyway i don`t think the lads will be too downhearted they can go to the MiddleEastlands and have a go.

Worst (forced) substitution ever !

Although it was a fairly shite game that livened up in the end - we had them corralled fairly well up until the substitution reminded me of the way we used to play away from home in the champions league.

On a brighter note maybe Arsenal can get a boost from this and go on to win the league - big if I know but I find myself in a horrible position of hoping Chelsea win just to stop United - the lesser of two evils and all that

This might give you a laugh - not the story but the picture - who does this look like
http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/4076812._NHS_is_exploiting_my_life____claims_trasnssexual/

Before the game I said, if we was to have a chance we would have to play that pressing game that has won us games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge… We did. And except for around ten minutes in each half, we had them. We just couldn’t finish them off. On top of that, they managed to break us down just the once, and that was rather jammy when they got the bounce of the ball, caught Insua out of position once, just the once, and managed to get a cross in.

Normally Pepe would have saved that header, or one of our centre halves would have got it away, but they were all drawn to the near post because Insua was caught out.

Once, just one fuck up, in a full 90 minutes at the Emirates… bloody hell lads, do us a favour eh.

Arsenal battered away at the Mancs and Chelsea and were very unlucky not to score in both games. And as Timmy just pointed out… we didn’t have the personel to hit them fast on the break.

But what we did have was the lads to play them exactly the way we did… and like I said, that was the only way we was going to beat them.

The differences, the tiny differences as Rafa says, is what makes the difference in this league… that’s why the Mancs only just clawed a draw at Villa Park, a place where we recently won, and where they should have been beat. And Chelsea it’s why Chelsea were defeated by a team who we just beat with ten men.

If any of you thought a team like us, struggling for confidence, form and personel was going to go to Arsenal and just walk away with all 3 points, well I’m sorry… but if that’s the case, you just don’t know or understand football.

As for the players they all done well - including Maxi. I know the idiots amongst us would come out with shit like he should be sold in the summer because he’s shite and past his best. But I thought the rest of you might have seen what he actually done all night.

There was only one player who wasn’t up to scratch for us last night… Steven Gerrard. No, I’m not having a go at him. The lad just had an off night. It happens. But the rest of them done well, and some put in excellent battling performances. I’m not going to name them. You should know.

And of course Degen is shite. There’s no way of getting round that. He might have the odd decent game, but the lad’s out of his depth. He shouldn’t be in this team. We all know, or should know that, but we should all know and understand why he’s there an all…. he’s the best back up Rafa could afford - for fuck all - under the ownership of H&G.

Oh well, that’s enough of me. If you have trouble understanding why a narrow 1 nil lose to the Arsenal, a desperate for points Arsenal, in their own background, is not something to slag the lads for, I honestly give up… All games can’t be Istanbull. Sometimes the realities of our situation will bite - like they have this season when we’ve never been able to put anything like our best 11 on the pitch at the same time, in anything like a state of match fitness.

Who knows if Riera could have put in the graft Maxi did? Who knows if we wouldn’t have gotten beaten worse if we’d sacrificied NGog’s graft for Babel’s lazziness and hoped for one moment of magic from him?

I don’t. And sorry, but the fact is… none of you do either. But I know, I saw nothing in that game last night to slag the lads off for.

Oh and BM, see you’re back being a smart arse after another setback. Unlike Gerry, I know you don’t come in when we’ve won… So, tell you what lad…
Go Fuck yourself dickhead with or without an e, you gobshite.

I think Babel couldn’t have done worse then Ngog, cause there was absolutely nothing going for him in this match. I’m aware of his age and the pressure heaped on him believe me, just saying that if people are going to single out lacking performances then I’d name him before Maxi and Gerrard.

But I guess it doesn’t help to dwell on these things. For some reason I take consolation from the fact it wasn’t an Arsechafing strike that sunk us.
That cretin Fabregas was a real pest, trying to push the ball back everytime we got a freekick and then of course ‘lending a hand’ towards the end. Hope they ship the little bugger to spain sooner then later.

Kristur, did you actually see how many times the lad held the ball up, and how much graft he did, defending from the front and coming back to help when Arsenal was pressing.

We would have never got that from Babel. Granted, we might have got a moment’s magic, but would that have been worth the gamble?

Clearly by the end, Rafa had no choice but to go for it… that’s why he pulled off a midfielder, put Babel on with NGog and went for it.

I was screaming for Babel by the 70th minute, but I was calling for NGog to get pulled for him. So I can’t really call Rafa for being cautious.

To be honest, I was drunk last night by the time the game had finished. So, I’m going to try and watch it again, properly sober. I want to see the goal again especially the build up to it, because… I don’t think they would have got past us last night if Carra hadn’t been hurt.

I remember the goal clearly, but I want to see it again, as I reckon Carra would have at least challenged for the ball and maybe put Diaby off enough to miss. In other words where the fuck was Degen?

As I say, I’ll have to watch it again. But if I had to guess, I’d reckon he was caught out of position, probably even gave the ball away upfield what led to them breaking and scoring.

And that’s not being unfair to the lad or scapegoating him. He’s just clearly not good enough for this level of football. But you know what… he won’t be doing the job next season. Kelly and Darby will be the understudies then.

I can understand some people’s frustration. I don’t like getting beat either. But there’s no point in carrying on like the bi-polar amongst us.

These things happen. We don’t have to flip-flop about like fish out of water every time we win then get beat. Football really isn’t as simple as we’re shite, oh no we’re great, oh no we’re shit again, oh no, we’re….

FS, Degen was caught ball watching and didn’t even see Diaby coming. As you say he is out of his depth and should be on his way in the summer. What a waste of… oh yeah he was a free transfer

Also, I still don’t know why people believe that should be starting ahead of Ngog. From what evidence?

That Ngog works his nuts off, has a decent touch and is able to hold the ball up. Whereas Babel, let’s say, has a more relaxed approach and has a touch of decapitated elephant and cannot hold the ball up, even after 3 years of some of the best tutelage available to him.

Anyway, as I have said many times in here, if the boys put in a shift and give 100% committment then that is good enough for me, win lose or draw. For me, I’ve seen that last night.

The nearest person to Diaby when he headed home was Dirk Kuyt. Whoever was no. 17 didn’t track him back.

Gazza

Yeah I was right last night no.17 was Maxi

I’d have to see it again to be certain. But I wasn’t drunk when I did see it. I done a bit of sorrow drowning after the game. But from what I remember last night, and everything I know about football, when the defence is drawn near post, it’s the right back’s job to fill in in the middle from where Diaby headed in.

I’m not a bit suprised that Kuyt was nearest to him. That’s what Dirk does… remember the derby, scoring at one end, next minute in the right back position, nodding out a cross that could have put is in real schtuck.

That’s Dirk. That’s what he brings to the team. As for Maxi, he’s only just arrived. I suppose we could do a BM and sell him after one game because he’s shite. Or we could wait to see how he settles before making judgement on a lad who’s not had much footy lately and is settling into a new country, new club, new team and new league… one of the hardest to adjust to.

But as for Degen, well, I know the lad gave us a couple of decent performances but he’s clearly out of his depth.

Talk of daft facial expressions, I can’t stand the way the dozey bugger just stands there grinning no matter what’s going on… even after he’s just lost the ball.

I tell you what, drunk as I was, I remember this clear as a bell…
Gerrard knocked a beautiful raking pass from inside his own half. It was a peach of a ball. It cut Arsenal to shreds, landed, and held up for Degen to run on to. The daft bastard, knocked it ahead of himself and then his trailing leg just wellied into the ball and knocked it out of play.

What a bloody waste that was. And we all know how Gerrard can react to something like that. In fact, if it had been anyone else on that ball, Stevie would have thrown a wobbler, but when he looked at Degen, he just bit his lip, turned away, and shook his head.

That to me is enough to prove the lad just isn’t good enough. What’s the use in bollacking someone that will never catch on.

But anyway, I stand by what I said. No. I wasn’t too happy with getting beat and the performance could have been better offensively, but it wasn’t something to throw a wobbler about.

On top of that, it’s not proveable, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have scored if our defence hadn’t been disrupted yet again. And after they did score, there wasn’t much more we could have done…

We went 4,4,2. We penned them back for the last quarter of an hour. Arsenal pulled their centre forward and put on a defender… Wenger is no mug. He knew there was only one team going to score after that… did you see him throwing a wobbler when Walcott broke to the by-line and put in a cross?

Well he did, and it was clear he wanted the lad to just hold it up in the corner and tick some seconds away. In fact, look at all the time wasting after they scored… Fabragas was lucky to stay on the field for all his fucking about, especially at free kicks when he constantly stood over the ball and even kicked it away to prevent us taking it.

Oh well, as I said, a disapointment but then how many supporters can go to Arsenal and be disapointed by getting beat 1 - 0 in a very tight game that could have gone either way?

Exactly.

I had a few beers myself last night but I ‘remember’, for the goal, the ball got shifted to our right, the defence made the transition to the right as well. Degen then tucked into the central defence area and then Kuyt tucked into his position.

Let see how accurate my beer google vision was last night when I have a second butchers.

Was i the boozer myself too.Thing is i was having a much needed shit when they scored.I hate when that happens!

Not undermining Ngog’s graft, he’s got the right attitude and I’m of the opinion he may come good for us. But when it came to attacking their defense he looked completely out of his depth.

I’m of the opinion that Babel would have put that chance away, our only clear cut one where Gallas took the ball of Ngog.
To me Babel seems like a bit of a twat but let’s face it, there’s a lot of absolute c**ts out there playing good football and we generally agree that he has good talent coupled with bad attitude.
However, I still have hopes for him and wish Rafa gives him a decent run of games - a final chance - before shipping him out.

#112: Long lost brothers Timmy - so was I

Shit or bust it was then!

Thing is Kristur, we all have players who we’d love to see get a few games. Mine’s Pacheco. I’ve been saying it for the last 2 seasons. But at the end of the day, Rafa has to do one thing… put out the team that he thinks is the most capable of doing the job and getting the most points.

And the thing is, we are running out of games. We can’t gamble at this stage of the season. We have to do our best to finish in the top 4.

I think we will, but it’s not nailed down yet. Obviously the repercusions of not getting in the CL are massive, especially with our finances. So there’s no way Rafa can just toss Babel in and leave him in there for 5 games or so, just with the hope that he might come good.

Let’s face it, if Rafa thought he’d have seen any of the 9 million Birmingham offered, Babel would have been gone. And I’m one who honestly thinks that’s a shame. I want everyone who pulls on our shirt to succeed, and who knows, Babel still might. But I don’t think that’s at our club.

I’ve said it before, and me mind hasn’t changed… he’s not a Rafa type player, and he just can’t, I don’t even think it’s won’t, do what’s expected of him.

And Lurgie, no matter how bevvied you was, that’s exactly what should happen when a full back gets passed wide and it looks like a cross is coming in, the defence should shift over towards that area, and the opposite side full back should move into the center with the winger/wide midfielder filling in at fullback.

It’s a bit like rear ending another car, sometimes there are factors what make it not your fault. But by de-fault you are always at fault. So no matter what, that means Degen was out of position and didn’t attack the ball or the player who, Diaby, who met it. And that’s the least he should have done… at least go with the player and put in a challenge that could at least put him off enough to make him miss.

Nothing to do here, so…
While I’m on about Pacheco. Has anyone seen Lauri Dalle Vale?

I’ve a feeling this kid is going to be the real deal. He’s only young and still short, but he’s quick as snot off a shovel, and really strong for a lad of his size. He puts in a decent tackle and can hold the ball up really well. He’s also got the vision and the nack for playing the killer pass. And he’s got an eye for goal. He scored something like 20 goals in 25 games for the youth team and he’s been promoted to the reserves.

Next season is still probably too early for him. But I have a feeling the conveyor belt will be turning out some real players over the next few seasons. And it has to be remembered that this season, we’ve seen Lucas, Insua and NGog become proper squad/first team players. We’ve had Pacheco, Kelly, Darby and Spearing knocking on the door, and except for Spearing, I expect them all to get closer next season. And the likes of Dale Vale will be moving into their slots as the next most likely. And even if worse comes to worse, they’ll add to Rafa’s coffers if H&G don’t pocket it all.

FS, I don’t think that I was not clear in my earlier comment.

Yes, for the goal, the defence as a whole worked well together, with regards to positioning but Degen (or whoever it was) was ball-watching/sleeping and did not see/anticipate the danger from Diaby. The minimum I would have expected in that situation was a decent challenge, which didn’t come. On the other hand that was really the only bad mistake that we made and got shafted for it. So what’s new.

The bottom line is, the only way that you can see how good carra is, is in his absence.

Whenever, he retires he will regarded as another Xabi i.e. instead on being a two man team (Torres & SG) we are now a two man team (Torres & SG), again.

Pure red-top shite.

I just had to laugh at Burgerbrains comment - “Maxi is past it and should be sold” (opinion based after 3 games)

Hey BM, wasnt it you who suggested we buy Larson, when he had already retired.

True enough. Carra’s much more than the battler they make him out to be. He might get done for pace nowadays, but he’s nouse and positiong usually makes up for that. And he’s great at marshaling the defence and running the line. And he’s done great at right back.

Looking back at the game, when Carra came off, the best sub would have probably been Babel and dropping Masch back to full back. But we was still in the game then, so I understood why Rafa done what he did. The other only real option was Kelly. I suppose Rafa wishes he’d made it then. But let’s face it, an international full back, who can add to the attack, or a raw kid who hasn’t played for ages.

No choice there. And besides, who would have thought Degen would perform so attrociously.

Oh well, it’s all hindsight now. Just hope it hasn’t knocked the confidence back down. We really need to win the next one now. But you know what… as long as we put up a decent fight, I won’t be too miffed if we don’t win that one either. Everton, Arsenal and City away - it was never going to be easy.

Akka that was one of his more level headed comments.

Well, after drinking last night and sleeping it off this morning, I can’t sleep now. So I’ve been sat here rooting around the net reading absolute shite and I’ve came across about 5 of these stories…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250062/The-story-Manchester-United-protests-Good-old-days-unite-army-fans.html

That’s about the mildest of them. There was one that would make a pig sick. The arse licking is just woeful. I’d even be embarrased if I was a manc.

But this is one of the reasons why I get so defensive about the club. We form the first ever football supporters union. We have protests and demonstrations. We lock our owners out. We lock our owners in. We make it plain that they are no longer accepted in the city nevermind the club. Supporters even banded together to get a blimp made that will be flown over the kop with anti H&G messages, and even aquired air space for it from the authorities.

As far as I know, all of these things are unique in football. But what do you see in the media about any of them or just one of them? Fuck all nothing.

Someone makes a few bob making and flogging green and yellow scarves in Manchester. It’s the second coming of peaceful resistance of Ghandi like proportions and genius, and the best invention since the wheel.

In everything I seen, there’s not one mention of who’s kopping the few bob from the sale of these scarves. And there’s not likely to be because it’s just going in someone’s arse pocket, not some anti-Glazier movement. Mind you, that’s not surprising as what ever happened when the Mancs bombarded Bellamy and the city team with bottles and coins?

In fact, the first time these green and yellow scarves appeared was at the city game and the next day’s papers were full of how wonderful the Utd fans were.

And then what happened when their fans terrorised the few girls working in the catering kiosks at, was it Leeds?

I can’t remember. Not surprising though as nothing much was ever reported about it.

This hypocrisy and bias is quite appaling really. In fact, the few times I have seen SOS mentioned in the press, it has been called a gang of thugs. Mind you, they even called the good people of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign thugs.

I can’t say anything about this, so don’t ask as I won’t say anymore. I’ve been told to keep it to myself and I’m probably saying more than I should. But I know SOS have some good things planned for March. And hopefully they’ll make the media, but no doubt they’ll be ignored again.

What a state of affairs eh. No wonder they are called the gutter press in this country.

Hey FS, just got back to the computer after finishing some pressing work. About the youngbloods, I must admit that I also hold very high hopes for Danny Pacheco - from what little I’ve seen he’s quite the prospect and the rumors circling have all been very positive.

But of course there’s always that question of when it’s suitable to give prospects game time. I don’t think there has been the right time to do so this season - even though we have of course had to field some young players to fill the ranks because of the endless injuries.

Like you say, we’re now approaching the run in and every game is vitally important. I guess we’ll just wait for next years pre season - or hammer the Romanians 0 -6 away so we can let the cubs out to play in the return leg

From what I’ve read, Dalle Valle sounds like a star of the future - a young Finn, we have good experience with the one we’ve had from Finnland!

I see the oh he’s on a free myth raising it’s ugly head again, no ones on a free in football.
.
Ok Degen was free, so lets assume he earns the measley amount to 20,000 a week, times that by around 40 weeks of the season, even though he’s be paid right through, and your looking at around 1.6 million in two years. Combine his medical, clothing, training, hanger offers ect and he’s even more.
.
Considering he’s played about 10 games max, he running out at around 160,000 pounds a game, not bad for a free. I also think 20,000 is very liberal in estimation.
.
FS, I here what your saying about Arsenal, and in any other season, I would take a draw or narrow loss, but Arsenal were there for the taking.
.
They are struggling with injuries, lost Nasri, then Arshavin, Walcotts seriously out of form, and Bendtner can’t even get a run with no striker available for the club.
.
We complain about luck but it was shining on us there. It also shined on us with other results going our way, as I said previously, no one seems to want fourth spot.
.
I still feel we went there not to lose, something I have always wished never came into Liverpools mentality. When the goal finally came we had given away possession on about 5 occasions. We couldn’t get it into their half. The goal came because Skrtel sent a wayward ball out wide to Maxi, which sailed over his head and went out, next thing they have the ball back and well we all know the rest.
.
I think considering how we have been playing, being still in 4th spot is a blessing but we need to start earning our spot.

First and foremost Gaz we did go there not to lose.Rafa set the team up to stop them playing there game.You have to do this against Arseanl away.It would be madness to go out and go gung ho from the off.It would have been suicide.

We were on a good run lately but you seem to forget we are coming out of the worst run of form/confidence since Rafa took over.We have got some good results of late without playing nice footy,just battling and working hard.

So to think we should expect us to go to the emigrants and beat them is way off the mark.

They have just lost to manc and chavs.They would have been doubley determined not to let make that three defeats to the big four on the spin.Off form or not they are a good side who play the game well and if not marshalled properly,will create a hatful of chances at home.
Rafa`s game plan was working well.Obviously he hoped we`d nick one from a set piece or even one from open play.
You talk about the mentality of the club saying you wished liverpool never got a “lets play for a point” attitude.
Well Gaz,circumstances dictate an attitude.We are no loger the dominating force we were in the 60`,70`s and 80`s.We can`t always go to other grounds and play them off the park any more.We haven`t got the players,the money to be that dominant.
Rafa didn`t go there to draw,he set his team up to stop this very good footy side from playing their normal game and then score ourselves when the opportunity arises.

Oh and Fatty as for the Manc who threw the coin at bellamy….

“Red Devils supporter Adam Teese is feeling the flipside of his alleged coin attack - with furious City fans bombarding his house with pranks.

Adam’s name and address were released by police after the season ticket holder was charged with throwing a coin at Bellamy during the Manchester derby last week.

And within 24 hours, the enraged blue half of Manchester had ordered him £150-worth of pizzas, a skip, rat exterminators and two prostitutes.

The barrage of jokes didn’t end there either. City supporters also:
- Requested a visit from an Avon rep
- Signed him up online as a rent boy
- Applied for an Ocean Finance loan for his mum
- Reported a gas leak in the middle of the night so he got a call out within the hour
- Booked a rep to go and see him about getting an indoor swimming pool
- Ordered him a 4 ft tall Bronze figurine of Winston Churchill on a
14 day trial
- Sent a breakdown truck
- Sent Jehovah’s Witnesses round
- Grassed him up for growing drugs at his house
- Grassed him up for being a benefit cheat
- Got him a weekend booking of a 1957 Pink Cadillac complete with 1950’s style Elvis dressed chauffer
- Signed up his phone number to receive adult chat
- Ordered him a Daffy Duck bouncy castle and puppet show for his garden
- Ordered squeaky the clown to go and perform for him”

Classic TT - had me in stitches.

Had another look at the goal and, with or without the beer goggles, I still see that Deggen swithes off and then stops with his gob open. Anway, enough of that, we were beat.

Citeh up next and Mancini has already lost more matches than Hughes. Time to add a bit more pressue on his shoulders I thinks.

Something wrong here, or maybe it’s me misreading it. I’m still suffering. Sadly, drinking heavily is defo a young man’s game. But anyway, let me make it clear…

I wasn’t defending Degen. As I said, the lad is completely out of his depth. As for him being free…
FFS Gaz, I know times are hard, but I think the club can still just about afford to put kit’s on the players.

Arsing about aside, yes. He’s cost a few bob in wages. Of course he did, but I think Rafa will recoup that if the lad goes the World Cup. And you have to remember the circumstances under which he was signed… Arbeloa was determined to go home and it meant we would have no right back at all at the club. In fact, Arbie had only stayed that season as a favour to Rafa.

I can’t remember if he was signed before or after Johnson, but it was always as an understudy to him. And let’s face it, he’s an international full back who was playing in the Bundes League. And he can also play at Right mid. In fact, I trust him there more than at fullback. Well…

you can’t play anywhere running round like a headless chicken with a big daft shitty grin constantly on your face. But at fullback it’s a definite liability… Remember the Reading game when he played ahead of Carra. He done okay going forward, but Carra spent the whole game screaming at him to get into position.

But when it’s all considered why he was signed, it wasn’t a bad move on Rafa’s part. He was worth the gamble at the time, but since then we’ve had Kelly and Darby show they are capable of being cover for Johnson and Degen should be let go now.

Anyway, I think it’s immetarial as Rafa will not have missed anything. I remember him out in the technical area on many occasions, talking to the lad, and giving him instructions when the ball was out of play. I think he knows he’s wasting his breath.

But here’s the thing… why did he put him on? HE could have played Kelly there or dropped Masch back. And the only reason I can see for playing him is… he wanted him to get forward and have a go at them.

I won’t go on too much about it, as Timmy has said it… of course, we went there to stop them but that doesn’t mean we were looking for a draw.

And as for that never being in our mentality… sorry mate, that sort of mentality and display has won us 5 european cups and I can’t remember how many leagues.

In fact, before 3 points for a win, that was exactly how you did win the title…
Win at home, Draw away.

And the team that did that most often usually end up champion’s. As for Europe we’ve always played our two legged ties that way… win at home, keep it tight away, take the draw if necessary but nick it if possible.

So it’s certainly not something the negative, too cautious Rafa has introduced at Anfield.

On top of that, why do you say Arsenal were there for the taking?

Is that because the Mancs and Chavs did them? I thought we’d covered all that.

And as for injuries, well that’s where they really came into play… Torres, Benayoun, Johnson all missing. That’s a big chunk of creativity and finishing for any club.

Who were they missing… Van Persie, that’s it really.

Then you have to look at who we had to replace our big guns with… Carra for Johnson. Not knocking Carra the lad’s done fantastic in this little run. But he’s not going to bomb on, and get in crosses or into the box like Johnson. But then even worse he had to be replaced by a walking disaster area.

Maxi for Yossi. If we don’t sell him… that was his third game in a red shirt. You could see him wilt visually in the second half, but the lad did alright.

NGog for Torres… no comparison and no point going on. It’s been done to death.

So, if injuries played any part in this mate, it certainly wasn’t Arsenal’s that caused the problems.

Anyway, like I said, I’m as disapointed as anyone that we didn’t win. But I certainly don’t think a one nil narrow defeat at the Emirates is anything to get angry or down about.

As for not trying to win… maybe you need to watch it again. We never just sat back. We did have a go, and once they scored we spent the rest of the game practically camped in their half.

And if anyone was hanging on to what they had, it was Arsenal and Wenger. Didn’t you see him take his loan striker off and send on a defender? Didn’t you see him screaming at Walcott for trying to play? Didn’t you see Arsenal wasting time and seeing the game out?

Sorry mate, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree there.

Who wrote the piece on the main site regarding next Thursdays game, and quoted at the end:

‘To make matters worse, fans not at Anfield for this one will have to make do with coverage on five. Kick-off is 8.05pm.’

What’s that all about, does it matter were you watch the game. Also you won’t have to listen to Auntie Gray
Sorry about the rant, it just wound me up that’s all

Gazza

How come Insua, Skrtl and Agger have all escaped criticism for the Arsenal goal?.I hope everybody took FS’S Aadvice last August and backed the Reds to win the league, flower sellers are a wealth of knowledge!.

That should be well young man. Well, with out an alt or h. Well as in one you draw water from not the many other usages of the word.

You know what I just answered that immeadiately. But now that I’ve actually looked at your latest bit of drivel. It really is illuminating…

Obviously no one escapes criticism in your little world. No matter what they do, nevermind the fact that the three you named all played exceptionally well.

Agger is getting back to his best. Insua had a great game. I remember at one point when him, Maxi and Masch were playing up the left together and thinking… fuck me, I’m watching Argentina’s left flank here. And the lad really did play well, his best game for ages.

As for Skrtle he was fantastic. I sat there thanking Bob and Bill that the lad was back to his best.

It seems on the other hand you are in need of some sort of help. That post really does say an awful lot about you and it’s not really flattering lad.

Burgerman, what is your problem?

Where were they responsble? Explain it to me, just once, and I will let it drop.

Otherwise do everyone a favour and do one.

Sorry hate to drag it back up again but when is a loss a good result,

And we can’t talk about the confidence affecting performance as we just been on a great run which should have the lads brimming with it

Injuries - apart from two definite first teamers that was a damm good side we put out

Arsenal were there for the taking and we should have done them

On a side note I thought Gerrard when he moved back to CM had a much better game - maybe he should only play in the second striker role when we have Torres upfront - he’d want to cut out the diving though hate to see it in a player of such class

An linn,Can you show me where anyone said it was a good result?

An Linn Are you on drugs son? Nobody has said a loss is a good result. all that’s been said is that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. The lads put in a good shift and the game could have gone either way.

Brimming with confidence? We were grinding out results.

Arsenal there for the taking? What does that mean? Why were they there for the taking? They didn’t play bad against the mancs or the chav’s.

Last August I thought we will win it this season too. I guess Rafa is the guilty soul who made me think that way. I say we sack him for that now.

Burgerbrain, Aunty Linn,
you two are priceless the only time you comment is when we have a hiccup, i dont think you have ever commented when we win.
Flower seller eh FS, always knew you where a florist purporting to be a Liverpool supporter.
If i was you FS i would put those two in the same catergory as quantum physics, i dont understand that neither, priceless man.
YNWA.

Red mate, in all truth, I’m a Del Boy. You want it, I’ll get it for you and I’ll get it cheaper than the shops. Except for a few years here and there, I’ve been a market trader all me life. I started off on me Ninna’s fruit and veg barra on the old Paddy’s Market. And I feel a bit silly saying this, because I’ve no reason to defend meself or anything about me to some knobhead who is so starved of attention that he resorts to this sort of shite, but yeah. Flowers is on the things I have me finger in, and think about it BM you tit… what is it this weekend. Errr, errr, errrm…

Well, before you blow a gasket… It’s Valentine’s Day you knobhead. And have a guess what billions of pounds will be spent on this weekend… oh, err, yeah. Roses….
Roses of which I can sell you twelve, with greenery and gyp (That’s that white fluffy stuff,) for 2 fucking quid a bunch.

Tesco and Asda can’t compete with that. And though, I won’t make Steven Gerrard money over the next few days, I’ll probably make enough to go and see him play for the remainder of the season. You knobead.

Sorry about that lads. I feel such a dickhead even coming out with that. But you know what, that’s about the 5th time he’s had a dig at what I do for a living. And before that he made out I was sitting here in Kop Blog all day with fuck all to do because I was a lazy bastard who wanted to just claim dole.

I’m honestly a bit ashamed of meself even giving him this sort of attention that he obviously craves cos he probably gets it nowhere else, but he’s been getting on me nerves lately.

Normally I find him a bit amusing at best, slightly annoying at worst. But calling someone a paedeophile and then appologising for using the word “Retarded,” and only because of a bollacking from the boss, not a word of appology about anything else… well, I’ve lost all time for the fella.

HE probably does sit there with he’s hand in his knickers thinking you have all lost money on Liverpool not winning the title, but I don’t want him banned. He’d actually be a loss to the site…
at least when we lose or draw, he’s in giving us something to laugh about. But let’s have it right…
he’s awol when we win, but he’s right in here after any sort of setback, attacking the players, but mainly Rafa, then gets very insulting on a personal level when pulled up for it. And most hilariously, then plays the wounded victim when people bite back.

As I’ve often said, the lad’s clearly in need of some help but I suppose the community he lives in is a bit safer if he’s in here spouting drivel and not on the streets.

Last word, as I honestly feel really stupid for bothering to write and post this. I actually thought of binning it, but you know what… it needed to be said. This lad really isn’t a Liverpool supporter. He’s just a wind up merchant with nothing better to do. And with that sort of character, I doubt he could support anything including himself.

TT - OK nobbody actually said it was a good result, but myself I was bitterly dissapointed that we didn’t get something from that game because we needed it,

KDLL - Yes I am, fair enough on the good result part -yes they did play well (enough to stop Arsenal playing which was the game plan) which is why Arsenal were there for the taking

After the Everton game the lads should be brimming with confidence and I hope this loss doesn’t knock the wind out of their sails

SOAK - I’m assuming that that was directed at me so - I too thought that we would win it in August - but if you actullay read any of my post you would know that I think Rafa is a great manager and I have never said sack him or anthing

REdman- That just bollocks I have always commented when I get a chance win lose or draw -

Bollocks eh Aunty Linn,
wondered what keeps your ears apart.
FS, good on you mate and i know how hard it is grafting outside in all weather had a good go myself selling fruit and veg door to door with the brother-in-law did that for 4 yrs getting up at 3-30am monday to saturday but i would’nt swap it just about made a living out of it but then we bought a new van (second hand) and thought go on from here and then get a shop, next thing engined siezed christmas week and we had to let down half of our customers for their christmas hampers, that was the end of that but i fuckin loved every minute of it.
YNWA.

That’s what it has come to. You know you have reached the realms of mediocrity when a loss is considered a decent result. Most of us seem content with a 1-0 defeat. Maybe nobody came out and said it was a decent result but to attack Ann Lin or anyone else for having a moan about losing a game is fucking ridiculous.

Our away performances have been dire. I accept we are without players but 12 goals in 13 games is shocking. How many times did we test Almunia - who is a dodgy goal keeper. The likes of Fulham, Sunderland and Wigan have scored more away goals than us.

This is no sack Rafa diatribe but a critical one about the way we approach games away from Anfield.

Now about our form. 17 points out of 21 and a win over Everton with 10 men. We didn’t play fantastic football over this period but you would have thought the confidence would improve significantly. As a matter of fact I dont think the level of our play has improved during this period. How come? The defending - yes that has improved. Passing the ball and opening up teams with interplay and movement? Still very much lacking. Its almost mid February and we cant string 5 passes together unless its across the back 4 and then back to Reina.

I think the term ‘Arsenal were there for the taking’ is because Arsenal were shite in the first half and not great in the 2nd half. With a tad more ambition and urgency maybe we could have got a better result?

Exactly. An Linn and Gaz’s crime? Sick and tired of excuses and platitudes I suspect.

LB,lets get one thing straight none of us are happy or content with the defeat.
Saying that we`re not going to go mad over it or spit dummies either.
After the run we went through it will be a long time before we see the team playing its best football despite our reason run of decent results.

What makes you thik that if we opened up more and went for it,that it would result in us getting something from the game.I think if we did that we would have been exposed and probsbly would have lsot by two or three.Ok the approach Rafa took didn`t pay off in the end but if we were to do it all again i`d hope and expect rafa to go with the same.
What makes people think if the Arse lose to man u and chelsea in a row all we have to do is turn up and follow suit?

I`d like to hear your take on it Digger without the sarcastic attitude and not so funny one liners.What way would you have played it and you have hindsught on your side.

So LB,
next home game if the kop and the rest of lfc supporters just stand there and adapt ann linn’s and burgerbrain’s attitude how far do you think our team will get, i’m not having a go at you mate, but i get fuckin sick and tired of these arseholes who like to stand up and be heard only when we get beat, let them stay out of the place for fuck’s sake, and you are right we have reached the realms of mediocrity that happened when most of the squad were injured and we had a run of such atrocious luck it was unbelievable, but the reds and Rafa are gradually putting that behind them and then one blip as in 17 points from 24 and we are once again not mediocre but fuckin woeful, i truly despair i really do.
YNWA.

Hang on LB. Well, you’re right in one way… nobody has came out and said it was a decent result.

And I can’t speak for anyone else, but besides having a go at BM, and not even for footy related matters, I for one haven’t had a go at anyone. In fact, except for a bit of dig from Redman at An Linn nobody has.

And you know what, it wasn’t that bad… the man’s from Huyton. It’s called banter. If you could hear how my best mates talk to me, you’d probably be shocked. But do you know what, being called a fat cunt up there is literally gushing with emotional sentimentallity.

And I think we all get a bit too thin skinned in here at times. Having said that though, I don’t think anyone should be attacked for having a moan.

But I also think you have to look at the big picture when criticising. Nevermind being “Supporters,” we are supposedly discussing football with some sort of knowledge about the game itself and more importantly an understanding of what is happening at our club.

Like let’s just take saying Arsenal were shite. I have to disagree, and I also have to say they were made to look like shite at times… Fabregas never got a kick practically all the first half. Do you honestly think that’s because the lad is/was shite?

No. I know you don’t, and I know you know better. The difference between us seems to be that you think they played badly, when I think we stopped them playing…
That’s not a bad upturn for a team who just struggled to get a point at Wolves and hardly got a shot in during that game.

Of course that’s not what we want. In fact, we wanted this to be our year. I can discuss why we haven’t lived up to expectations. There are reasons for this. But if some dickhead just wants to gloat about us losing, and hope that you’ve lost money because of it… well, then yes. I think they’re fair game for a bollacking.

On the other hand, if someone wants to discuss why we never won, why this season has been such a huge let down, and how do we solve it, then I’m well up for that.

Funny how just this week Man U could only scrape a draw against a Villa team that could have easily won had they gone for it instead of paying them too much respect. And it’s also a bit baffling why Chelsea got pannelled, and they did get thumped, by a team who we just beat with ten men.

It’s one of them seasons and I can’t tell you how saddened I am that we weren’t able to cash in on that. Believe me, I’m disapointed at every single point we’ve dropped this season. But like I just said, nobody has and when taken in context a battling 1 - 0 narrow lose to Arsenal in their backyard isn’t something to be all enraged about.

As for why are the team performing so poorly? Well come on LB, you said it yourself… we’ve regained the defensive stability but it’s creating and scoring where we are strugging.

Okay if that’s correct. Which I think it basically is at the moment, what reasons can we see for that and what has changed….
Well, having a sort of settled back 4 helps. I don’t know the stats on it now, but we had to use 17 different back fours in the first 20 games.

But I don’t think we’ve sacrificied attack for defence… the fact is, without Torres we are always going to struggle offensively. Kuyt and NGog have done a decent job of covering the job, but let’s face it they’re no Nando’s.

Anyway, I hope that doesn’t offend anyone in anyway. It’s not supposed to. In fact, I’d love to just talk footy without anyone getting offended or anyone using words like “Retarded Paedeophile.” Rough auld bastard I might be, but even I think somethings are just plain offensive and beyond the realms of banter.

PS missed Timmy’s and Redman’s comments. I was in the middle of writing mine when a mate called by and I just posted it when he left so I missed what was said. In fact, I haven’t even read them yet. I will now, but said that first as I didn’t want anything I said to be misconstrued.

And you know what… this is the sort of thing that makes me bail from here every now and again. It becomes tedious going through it all every now and again.

Oh and I missed Digger’s usual stellar contribution.

Anyway, want to comment on something here…
Whether it comes off or not, is open to allsorts of factors. We all know the biggest one, and it will probably put the blocks on it anyway, but it’s common knowledge that Rafa has already tried to fix most of the problems we are having at the moment…
They’re called Milan Jovanovic and Milos Kracis… look em up.

But even that sort of worries me. Once again it looks like Rafa is going to have to root round and find the best he can at cut rate prices. And if they come in, I can also see it being the end of the road for a few players, especially Riera.

But my main worry is, if they come in, which make no bones about it, it’s not just rumour. Rafa has been after them. Then is that it… are we out of the market for young promising proper talent like Arda Turan?

It would seem so. So yes. I honestly think there is far more to worry about than a defeat at the Emirates… we might soon be happy to settle for actual proper mediocrity instead of plummeting down the league.

The fact is… we are in more schtuck than Pompey. we owe far more money. It’s only our bigger earnings that are keeping the wolf from the door. That won’t last if Rafa can’t keep performing miracles. So when will the asset stripping begin?

I’d like to have my two pennyworth if I may, I find my self falling between two stools on this one in as much as I agree we didn’t play well and I also agree that we looked as if we were more concerned about not losing than winning.
However I have to defend Rafa here, so no change there, I seem to have spent most of my time in this blog doing just that, but the fact of the matter is that we were playing Arsenal at their gaff after they had lost two in a row and the only injury concern they had as far as I could see was Van Persie, whereas we are missing Torres, Benny onion, Glen Johnson and Aquaman, which incidentally is pretty much ALL of our creative players.

Ok there’s an argument for playing Riera ahead of Maxi but that’s not something I know about and I am willing to allow Rafa the benefit of the doubt on that, but the point is that we really don’t have the players to outplay Arsenal at the moment and had to try to control them.

I am NOT happy with the loss and I voiced my fears about this match beforehand but it has happened and we have to move on, but to try and tear Rafa a new one for coming and trying to nullify Arsenal given the players he has available to him is a bit niave.

LB I agree with you about our play not improving and the confidence not being there yet, maybe the media circus and our wonderful owners are still causing a lack of hope in the side, but also I think that we are mostly left with the “functional” players and our attacking options are so poor at the moment that the sort of snatched goal we got against Everton is more the norm than the exception.

One thing is for sure we need to get something at Man city, if we want to make good on the promise of fourth place

Thanks Fatty! I thought it was aswell. Concise and to the point. Im done fighting lads. Cant be bothered anymore. I mean, do you really care what my take is Tim? Probably not. Do I care what yours is? Probably not. I think I’m right. You think your right. Fair enough. Its the sickening collective feeling of superiority that permeates posts from your side of the fence that creates friction and division. Its a football forum. The 2 lads opinions are as valid as anyone elses. Aunty linn, are they on drugs..etc

I’m off but I want to say this first…
It’s the thing about football, it turns the most level headed of people bi-polar… you know one minute everything’s wonderful on God’s green earth, the next minute everything’s woeful in this shithouse.

And it’s perfectly understandable that people’s hopes for this game were up, especially after all that’s gone on this season, when we’d finally put a bit of a run together and just beaten the nasty neighbours in an absolute war.

But let’s face it, flip flopping about from result to result isn’t the sanest of things. Sometimes you just have to stop and consider everything. And when I do, I’m still not happy at being beat, but fuckinell lads… it was an understrength team, lacking form and confidence, facing a wounded Arsenal in their own backyard.

And I’m not having a dig here. I’m really not, but I think people are already setting themselves up for another wobbler next Sunday.

Of course I want to go to City and win. But I’m not going to go spitting the dummy if we don’t. City will be bang up for this. We will still be without Torres, Yossi and Magic. So, it’s going to be another squeaky bum match.

And if we lose, I’ll be choka, proper proper pissed off. But, unless we go there and don’t even make a fight of it, I won’t be throwing a wobbler.

In fact, to be honest what’s really worrying me more than anything is the Mancs. Here’s why…
Chelsea are struggling. The Terry thing seems to have really affected them. Ashley Cole is probably out for the rest of the season.

Then there’s the other teams…
Villa could have had the Mancs the other night. But as usual, they sat back and didn’t have a go when they could have taken them. In fact, once Man U went down to 10 men, Villa didn’t even try. They just accepted the point… I’d be proper pissed off about that if I was a Villa fan.

But you better get used to this for the rest of the season… Everton are next up for the Mancs. Do you honestly think Moyes will send them out how he did against us and Chelsea?

Will he fuck. And none of the others will either. So, it’s down to this… Chelsea or Arsenal will have to win it or the Mancs will be handed it.

I really hope the Arse can go onto win it. What a sad state of affairs, I know. But the thought of the mancs lifting number 19 is just to much to bear.

Dont forget Aunty Grey.

FS, remember any type of acknowledgment means their reading and listening. Name calling is part and parcel of blogging, its the only place you can drink, call someone a cunt and not end up with a black eye.
.
Alright, well when the season started I had a real belief that the big one was just around the corner. However our pre-season form was shite to say the best, I knew we were just saving ourself for the comp.
.
Well lets face it, if we take out the sentiment of being an LFC supporter, we had a good fucking team, one that came 2nd last year by a whisker to a good fucking Man U team.
.
So we then find Man U and Arsenal have lost players and appeared on paper to be considerably weaker top 4 members. They are weaker even FS said he thought Arsenal would struggle to stay in the 4.
.
Yes we knew Man City were the dark horse, cash wise, but all off us thought this year was a gang buster year.
.
However lets move on to next season, considering our current style of football, our current squad, our possibility of investment/buying power or lack of. Can anyone now feel next year is going to be a more challenging year than this one.
.
Yes I’m disappointed, as I should be, what type of fan would I be if I didn’t give a fuck. However I still maintain Arsenal were there to be beaten, and there is no better way to set the cat among the pidgeons at Man City than an on the run Liverpool coming off the back of a win at Arsenal.
.
I always support my team and manager but still maintain my thoughts, that Rafa missed a trick in this one. That doesn’t mean sack the bastard, it’s a learning curve for everyone.
.
Ps whats wrong with flower sellers.

An Linn

You assumed wrong because that was not directed at you and I DO actually read your posts, as I do the rest. It was in response to an earlier post by BM mocking FS, but in a way mocking all the fans who thought we will win it this season at the end of last season, including me.

SOAK - Apologies, mea culpa, - Yes I think most of us here would fall into that category,

Don’t mind the slagging thought Aunty Linn was quite funny(not that I’d want to be called it from now on) what gets on my wick is saying that I only come on here when we lose - thats just not true and I cant stand the people that do, Its like their happy we lost because it might prove some point they made - pisses me off

I think Everton will be well up for the game with the Mancs FS. Although Moyes and Fergie are both from north of Hadrian’s wall, I don’t think there is much love lost between them.

Everton have just beaten Chelsea and Moyes will be telling then that they can beat the Mancs at Goodison as well.

I’m going for a draw in that game.

Don’t hold out for the Arse to win the Prem - they won’t! they are just too inconsistent this season. Our only hope is the Chavs stopping the Mancs. Sad indeed.

Remember though, if it hadn’t been for Abramovich’s millions for mourinho to spend, the Mancs would have already toppled our history - and some!

Anyway back to footy - what do you all think of Gerrard’s position this season - thought he’s played much better when he’s moved back to CM - It is something we have been missing the season is the long defense splitting passes like the one for Degan against Arsenal - Lucas and Masch good as they are aren’t really that type of player

An Linn,
i apologise for that puerile remark and i know you dont only comment when we lose, it just upsets me when so called fans want to castigate the Reds as soon as a result goes the wrong way and i tend to carried away, hope you accept my apologies.
YNWA.

Gaz After the summer transfer period closed i kind of guessed we wouldn’t win the prem unless we had a season free of major injuries, the final push money wise didn’t happen.Next season its going to need a bigger investment which ain’t going to happen while G&H are our custodian’s or again a season without injuries which seems unlikely.After that we have the MUFA to deal with and the “favours” they get from officials and those Manchester based LMA teams who like to roll over for the Mancs.
All in all it’s a uphill task which seems to get steeper the nearer you get to the top.
The first important step is to get rid of G&H then we can deal with the rest one step at a time.
One thing to thank Abramovich for he’s nearly made the Mancs bankrupt by forcing them to spend millions to keep up with him, in a effort to catch up with us.
And as sad and strange as it is i’m actually gutted Arsey Hole has broke his ankle and i NEVER thought i’d say that.
Sad times indeed.
YNWA

PS Burgerbrain your a idiot looking for a village.

This should brighten your day FS,

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/02/13/daniel-pacheco-on-red-alert-for-liverpool-fc-first-team-breakthrough-100252-25824980/

quite excited by it meself.
YNWA.

Busy today, but while I was talking to a mate a thought occured to me. Well in all truth, he was talking at me about LFC/football while I was trying to get something done, and I just snapped at him…
It’s shite. There’s nothing to talk about, nothing more to say. The whole f***ing season, it’s just shite.

And it is, and that’s just not us, that’s the whole shebang…
It’s all been pretty woeful if you think about. There’s not one team… not even one player, barring Rooney, that you can say anything good about really.

We can talk and talk and talk about it. But the fact is, the whole thing from start to, well up to now, if not finish is easily summed in one word… shite.

I’ve watched a lot of it this season an all. But think about it… there’s been the odd great game. We’ve had the win against the Mancs and the war against Everton, but other than that it’s been pretty dire. And you can say that about all the other teams.

Just a shite season. Me mate had a theory on this… World Cup coming up. It’s always a shit season before a world cup.

And maybe he’s right, but that’s all I’ve got to say… it’s shite.

PS… Redman that is good news, but I’m knackered, cold to the bone, starving hungry and proper proper knackered. So, had me shower, having me dinner, going to bed, getting up and doing it all again tomorrow…
Getting too old for this melarkey mate.

Christ FS, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning… or is it just your time of the month… or maybe you didn’t get those flowers you were hoping for from your sweetie

I don’t understand how you can say that?
Or maybe I just don’t have the same definition of shite footy as you.

I’ll grant you a lot of games haven’t exactly been 90 minutes of silky skills from both sides, but this has been one of the best seasons in a long, long time for results not being completely fuckin predictable from the off.

The way teams have actually not only shown up to play against Scum, instead of just rolling over, and actually gone on to beat them or grab a point…
The way the same has happened to the Chavs…
Th Arse still not being able to capitalize on the fact that man to man, they probably have the best 11 ball controllers…

The 3-6 teams who at any given point this season have been threatening to push for the 4th spot…
Even the relegation battle is far from a drawn conclusion.

Just watching stoke-Citeh now and its not a game of dribbles and step-overs, and bicycle kicks like an american audience would demand and drool ovver, but its been a pretty gentertaining game, from an “anyone’s game” perspective.

I think its been a very interesting season, from a neutral point of view.
Granted I wish we were doing better, but the reasons why we aren’t have been discussed ad-nauseum, so there it is.

In fact the only negative, other than our poor season, has been the fact that Scum haven’t suffered more from their poor showings.

No bother Redman - does my head in as well

Well, while our lads are enjoying horse-placenta jacuzzis, Citeh have just slogged it out to a replay and now have one more game in their schedule to worry about… that’s a plus for us.

small victories, lads, small victories.

I see the lads over at TLW have a Yanks Out T-Shirt coming out this week, apparently will be on sale outside the stadium as well. Sounds good.

Cheers An Linn

Hi Lads!

I wanted to know onething. My friend wants to go to Anfield for the match against Blackburn(28th Feb-Sunday).

He is working at Edinburg,Scotland. Whats the best way to buy ticket for the match?

Please help.

all of this season has been pure shite FS, pure shite. have got excited about four times after watching almost every game but fuck it im gonna try and enjoy the run in and hopefully a drunken trip to hamburg in may. plus the news that little dani pacheco may start to get a run in the side is a chink of light in the gloom dont want to jinx the kid but i think we can all see when someone really has it and from what we’ve seen this fella does. good luck kiddo help us dream again.

Aitch, maybe you have a different defintion of shite than me. But come on mate… don’t be mistruing my definition for the American one. I’m a bit long in the tooth to be expecting Pele to do Hollywood bicycle kicks past Sylvester Stallone.

GuinessDrinker knows what I mean. And yes, it’s been watchable and enjoyable. Mugs like us will always love footy no matter what they serve up.

Sometimes I feel like a complete div because I’m like this, but I can’t help meself - I watch it, read about it, talk about it and think about it far too much.

But you know what… me little fella is only about 6 months away from getting on he’s feet and have a guess what the first thing I’ll do is… Yep. Roll a ball to him, and have him kick it. None of that picking up melarkey… kick it, and probably kick it with his weaker foot as that’s the one I’ll have him working on.

Sad bastard I am, that’s not even that much of a joke. I’ve already got him a little casey to kick about.

But what I meant by shite is… there’s been no quality on show. And I stand by that. As I say, it’s been watchable and enjoyable. I’ve just got home knackered after a days graft, and I’m sittin here typing this shite and watching the 86 cup final on LFCtv. So enjoyable and watchable doesn’t really mean it’s been that good.

Not one team has been any good. Chelsea are were they are because they’ve ground out 1- 0 wins. Think back to how many games, they fluked in the last minutes. Man U are where they are courtesy of Rooney, shit teams laying down, shit refs giving them the breaks and their second highest scorer… OG.

There hasn’t been one team, or besides Rooney, one player that has been outstanding. In fact, it’s all been pretty dire. But you know what… I’m really looking forward to the rest of it, and I’ll be gutted when the summer comes and it’s gone, because you know what…. although I’ll watch it, I don’t really give a toss about the World Cup either. And I don’t know, but maybe my mate has a point about why it’s been so shite…
Fucking internationals. I hate them.

I`ll be looking forwar to the worl cup myself.I can`t stan internationals in general but when we get a break in the summer the first week or two is ok but the cravings for some footy come back again.Anyway i can`t wait to see the british media blow up the english only for them to fall short an get knocked out at the semi-finals or quarters.
Saying that i think this is their best chance in a long time,they have a good manager but the media make them out to be better than what they really are an they always come up short.

Timmy mate, I’ll watch it. I always do, and I enjoy it. Did I tell you I went to the Republic v Italy in Giants stadium? Never got in, but I had a great craic. And me aul fella threw me under the turnstyles at Goodison in 66… Portugal v Korea.

And I’ve always loved the world cup. Seen some fantastic ones. Check out Holland in 74. Total football… What a team that was.

But in all truth, I’ll be watching this one cursing it… Waiting for Nando, Steven and the rest of the lads to come home at best knackered, at worst out of the game.

Oh well there you go, comparing this season’s footy to the 86 Cup Final!

Put me in me fuckin place!
Why don’t you just compare it to the LFC-Forest 5-0 game, while you’re at it???

Talk about goalpost shifting cheeerist???

I’ll agree that sort of quality footabll is nowhere near what we get served up nowadays, but this season has been entertaining.
The SkySports Circus is in town and the big top is open for business!

As for the World Cup, I dare say I’ll watch a few games, but I won’t be rearranging my schedule to do so.
If the opportunity comes to wax my car… or even my hairy Engluish balls… I’ll do so rather than watch Ingurland.

Behave Aitch… if it waddles and quacks, it’s probably the 2009/10 Premiere league.

As for the world cup, cars, wax and balls… well you please yourself sir. I’ll watch it. I love the World Cup on the sly, just moan about LFC players not getting a break or coming back injured.

Got home, knackered, cold and hungry to a empty house. So done the essentials… opened a can, rolled a fatty, put Nick Cave on, (been listening to him a good bit lately) and ended up in here… but surely you understand what I mean about this season and I’m not comparing it to anything… It’s just a low standard for some reason.

Which only makes it all the worse… if we’d have been anything like ourselves we could have nicked this one.

ah Abattoir blues, what a fine piece of music that is

Thats the down side to the world cup Fatty the players coming back kackered or injured.

I fear especially for Torres because he has not had a proper summer off since he`s joined up with us.

Since the Irish won`t be there i`ll be adopting spain as my team to support with the connection to our club and also they play the best football.

I love watching the official world cup films that do be on espn classic.Some great teams like Brazil 70 holland 74 and maradonna 86.I say that because the argentina team of 86 wouldn`t be considered a great team but they had the greatest player playing for them.

FS,
in june i’ll be watching the world cup in Marmaris, the first 2 weeks anyway and as you know theirs nothing better that either watching your club team or the international one while on holiday enjoying the amber nectar and the sun,
but i think LFC should bow to the spanish national coach’s wishes and rest Torres till the end of the season, yeah fuckin right mate will do.
YNWA.

A fine song 5 year mate. And just as a little aside for my mate BM… when I was a kid, in me teens, in Liverpool, I used to go to the abbattoir, buy a load of meat, chops, steaks, bacon, joints, whatever was going cheap and then flog it round the alehouses to make a few quid… Ah happy days.

Here’s a cracker though…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFErP4zpk8M

Suppose us aul white van grandads aren’t supposed to like this sort of stuff, but what you gonna do, eh.

I forgot to mention Ireland 90!

Ooops, wrong link. That one’s a belter anyway, but this was what I meant to put up…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFErP4zpk8M

I believe he writes books an all. I’ll have to get one. There’s definetely something going on upstairs.

nice FS wierd video very David Lynch

Ah Red I missed that mate… Mamaris, get us a few snide Rolex’s, a few Armani tea shirts and an Effes.

Fuckin hope we blow Torres about before the end of the season. Well, I don’t realy. I want the kid to have a great world cup, but you know what I mean. No doubt you lads will all feel the same… made up there’s top class footy on in the summer, but sweating over the lads.

Oh well, back to the music. Great these computers. I’ve got the best juke box on the south coast for fuck all nixo. Gorralovedat. Check this out…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3mMuhKvXQ

FS,
dont know if you’ve heard of them but go to YouTube and type in Elbow “one day like this” backed up by the bbc phliharmonc really good music.
Enjoy.

love Elbow but can I argue for this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4d7oMxsBMI

Yeah 5Year,
great music but as One day like this is the first song i ever heard them do, it tends to stick as my fav for some reason, dont know if you know it but it is taken from the classical theme for the film The Soloist.

Good band Red. I’ve loved the footy and music all me life. Don’t mind a bit of a film or telly, but, besides the obvious, they’re the only two entertainments of me life really.

Space, Zutons… great Huyton bands. I’m just trying to find a link for a David Byrne thing. I’ll put it in if I find it.

But come back to say Red, do you know the big market in Marmaris? That’s one funny gaff that eh mate.

I suppose thats it Redman “Audience” was the first thing I heard of their’s

I’m putting me vote in for these lads… (not Iron Maiden by the way) proper little scouse punks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj1mqR4L9aY&feature=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NucxlF_eGSM

As fer the World Cup, I sand by my earlier statement…

Sooner get me balls waxed, followed by a root canal… than root for a team containing Terry, Cashley, Cokehead, Lumpy and Rooney to win anything!

… but I’ll probably watch the odd Spain match if its convenient… I reckon they’re odds on.

Morning all,
FS, went to bed handy last night so did’nt answer your market question, yeah know it well buddy especially the lads shouting “genuine blag and “genuine fake”, funny as fuck mate.
They have the Anfield bar now and its great, but last year could’nt go for medical reasons but apparently they have now built the manc bar nextdoor but one to it also in the same vicinity is the everton bar (not many go there) and the celtic bar, my eldest boy was there with his wife and kid’s last year and was talking to the man who runs the Anfield bar, my lad said they where asking for trouble building the bars so close to each other he replied “no no no, my friend they are all owned by the same people, no trouble here.
My lad looked at him and said “thats all very well but the manc supporters and Liverpool supporters are not friends they fuckin hate each other.
My boy said the next weekend there was fuckin murder there in the square between mancs and Reds supporters (oh and the 2 evertonians).
YNWA.

English to the core eh Aitch.

Well lads
I see the usual shite arguments and nitpicking going on here so I’ve refrained from commenting
(hasn’t stopped me reading ALL comments as usual but couldn’t be arsed commenting , lazyness on my behalf but ye all seem to say it all repeatedly so nothing to add really!)

anyway ye have had a good few blogsofreal quality recently I must say

As always Gerry great blog and I enjoy all of them emmensly.

The Fatty ‘will he won’t he?” is classic!!

but fairplay to all of ye for keeping the Kopblog ticking over.

I see yer man Chamsack is going to the arse for 2.5 mill a year eventhough he was dead cert heading to liverpool
I saw a good interview with M. Laudrup and he said the same thing happened back in his day

Rafa is a sound man to put up with this shite so fair play to the man for sticking in our corner.

Fatty your fairly right when you say its been a shite season for quality but it hasn’t been short of dramas and twists. It made eastenders look like pedestrian nd Im hoping the final twist is in the hands of the pool.

Im looking forward to the auld eupopa league to see us play some extra games with a good chance of going all the way

Anyway keep her lit lads

Knight me auld segoiste happy new year bud

over and out

tevez’s missus is expecting to at least we don’t have to worry about that little bastard on the weekend……some good news to start the day

Digger, the words that come to mind are pot, kettle and black. You are the worst for sarcasm and superiority.

Couldn’t care less about ingerland, that’s not true I want them to win but won’t be shedding any tears when they go out in the quaters after being beaten on penos after a battling display of the 2nd half and extra time with only 10 men after the obligatory red card, then reading all the media being proud of the bulldog spirit. I’m more concerned about Stevie G coming back fit.

Aitch couldn’t agree more about cheering Terry, cokehead and Shrek not to mention Fat Frank and the way he points to the heavens every time he scores a peno or a deflection.

I stand by what I said Donal mate, it’s been watchable. It’s even been sort of enjoyable when results haven’t drove me mad. And I suppose it’s good for football that no one team has been dominant. But, let’s be honest, it’s been very low in terms of quality.

And, besides Rooney, no player has been outstanding. There’s been some flashes, but besides Shrek, who’s had a really good season. No one, as far as I’m concerned.

I just watched Atletico v Barca. Not a great game, but light years ahead of anything I’ve seen here this season.

Anyway, that’s what I reckon. And it also does me head to think if we’d had something like a fit 11 this season we could have had it this time round. I just hope I’m not saying the same thing next season and the mancs are chasing number 20. That would really do my head in. Oh well, what can you do, eh.

And Redman, you watch yourself over there auld fella… early nights, and warm milky drinks for you lad!

And oh… a bit of ggod luck for you Irish lads. I believe Liverpool, Celtic, Barcelona and Real Madrid are trying to set up a preseason tournament at Croke Park. Not definite yet, but it would be fun if it goes ahead. I might even come over for it.

Yeah, maybe your right Kenny, maybe your right. I just hope we field our strongest available 11 and win our next match. And I hope to fuck Milan maul utd tomorrow night. Surely I’m not asking for too much?!

Digger I’ll second that! But I reckon shrek will have a field day against that ageing creaking defence.

Is it too much to ask that shrek does his cruciate in?

That would be brilliant FS we could all make our way up there and Author and Gerry could put us up for the weekend.Some craic that would be.

I doubt that would be in Croke Park FS, the new Lansdowne Road (Aviva stadium) is opening soon and it could be a show piece tournament for the FAI to promote the stadium for European finals! Would definitely be up for it though, some craic indeed.

Broke today that the premier league are considering a play-off for the fourth champions league place.I think its a ridiculous idea myself.If proposed it will need a fourteen to four majority at least.
A money rackett in my opinion.

theredman, the next time Henry V needs a few blokes to twat the French, I’m there…

…but in so far as following Ingerland… well… let’s just say I cheered Scotland in Mexico, and Ireland in the USA, a lot more fervently than I have ever cheered Ingurland (that is to say, since becoming a man and understanding it all.)

I just don’t give a toss. If they do well, fine, if not, I’m as equally unbothered.
Maybe its because every tournament, they “big-up” like they are the odds on faves and ALWAYS fall short. Manager selection has always been political, instead of the best man for the job, and likewise player selection has followed suit.

I don’t have a problem with others following the national team. Do what you must, but I can’t be arsed… I’m defo a club before country man.

And as far as that goes, I only really watch other Prem games in so far as they may affect Liverpool.

As FS has so rightly called it… “sad bastards” the lot of us… (well, I’ll speak for myself there.)

They won’t be calling Champions League anymore but it will bee called ‘Halfway down the league champonships’ LOL

PS the winner of the play off will most probably end up in the Europa League after the group stages anyway

Aitch,
fuck Agincourt mate, let’s you,me and FS march on old trafford and take the fuckers on what what.
No really bud i think the world cup is better than watching nothing in the summer that’s the main reason for my comment and was only yanking your chain.
But imagine if and i know it’s a big if, we actually win the world cup (i mean Greece became European champions and quite honestly i dont know how the fuck they achieved that)the fuckin gobs on Blatter and Platini as they hate us with a passion.
YNWA.

Eh up lads in Ireland…
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/celtic-and-liverpool-hold-talks-on-croker-clash-2062757.html

The lad who told me about it, sent me the link. I hope it goes ahead. I would defo be over for that one. Would be a great craic.

Redman…
Think about it mate, Sir Wife Cheater, Sir Ponce, Sir Crackhead, Sir Granny Shagger Shrek…

I don’t think I could bear the thought of them horrible bastards being knighted and immortalised in sporting history.

Not to mention Sir Tom of Docherty who did fucketh off with the fair Mary Brown whilst said husband Sir dick of head knew fuck all about it.
Is’nt this fun.

Actually,for me, (apart from a genetic pre-disposition), the worst thing would be Sky-Media-606-Red Top Ragland never letting anyone ever forget EVER again about glorious Ingurland 2010 …. nope, I’d have to emigrate to a non-english speaking-skytvless country if one such exists … other than North Korea. Hmmm, I’d even go to Iran.
I have no problem with the players cos they are hilarious and would definitely completely make a laughing stock of themselves anyway, it’s the parasite camp-followers that would get on my wick.

Well you know what they say dougle ,
one man’s meat is another mans poison.

FS, on the official site last week, Liverpool said it had been canned and could no longer be factored into their pre-season. Plus what type of players would we have available anyway, all our internationals will still be having a holiday or just starting training. So that’s going to leave out SG, Torres, Johnson, Mash, Sktrl, Lucas, maybe Maxi and Riena/Riera.
.
I personally think it’s another disasterous way to start a season.

Just wanted to ask what people thought about these rumours that surfaced recently about these rich Indians who want to take over the club.

I know we have heard loads of similar stories before but it would be great to get rid of those 2 American cocksuckers.

How did Greece win the EUROS simple they just beat Portugal the home nation who had been accused of trying to bribe one of the African teams in the previous W/C so they were in the naughty corner. The Olympics were due to be played in Greece and ticket sales were non existent so to win the Euros it might restore some national pride and sell tickets and the organisers who no doubt organise both will make more money. Thats my theory anyway.
As to will England win the W/C apparantly not we have huge manufacturer’s who while claiming to be backing England by giving any money you spend on their products back if England win,are actually betting the money against England winning. They stand to lose billions and i ask myself how much would they pay to ensure they dont lose the money and risk bankruptcy.
Or do they just know something we dont.
I’m only joking lads the World Cup is always played fair and no corruption takes place.
YNWA

Just had to laugh out loud at that “I’m only joking lads the World Cup is always played fair and no corruption takes place.”

Aitch: I know what you mean. I’m a LFC fan not a football fan. I watch and read everything there is to watch n read about Liverpool. I’ll watch footy if there is nothing better to do. I never watch the mancs unless they are playing us or geting beat.

My bird loves her footy, she’s a Real Madrid fan and hates barca like I hate the mancs. She was all excited about the world cup saying I love it, it’s great and she looked at my lack of interest and said aren’t you bothered? I told her I’m a LFC fan.

The only thing that does wind me up is the everyone against Ingerland. We have the finest fans in the world. Known wherever they go for having a freindly drink and a bit of banter with the locals.

Just a friendly drink and banter of the English fans LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdJW6fLiDM&feature=related

Exactly what I was talking about DJGAZZA. The problem is the average ingerland fan is misunderstood. There is a lot of anglo saxon in the blood of your average englishman. Now what did they call a good saturday night out on the town?

apparently there’s a good explanation for the chair throwing. There were some old age pensioners in the corner with no where to sit so the ingerland fans were very kindly passing them their chairs so they wouldn’t have to stand in the burning hot sun. I told you the fans that follow ingerland are the salt of the earth.

DJGAZZA,
notice it said Football Hooligans and not England football hooligans, did’nt spot one fan wearing an england shirt did you.
But when Italian or German or Czech mobs go on the riot wether it be international or club matches it all gets swept under the carpets and “mums the word”, ask FS, to Platini and co its one rule for the English and another for the rest of europe.

In the clip it looks like it’s kicking off everywhere but I’ve seen another clip of this from a different angle, and there are actually more cameramen and reporters there than fans.The cameramen are all huddled around the chair throwers and it’s only a small amount of people.

I’ve been to watch England twice. One time just to watch Maradonna who was playing for Argentina in a friendly at Wembley. And I’ve got say, I’m really glad I did. The lad didn’t disapoint… best player I’ve ever seen in the flesh by far. In fact, greatest player to ever kick a ball. As far as I’m concerened, no one, no, not even Pele, come anywhere close.

But back when I was a kid. I can’t remember the year, I must have been about 18 no more than 20, me and a mate thought it would be a good craic at the Euros.

We was young, had a few quid and nothing much else to do. The competition was in Italy that year. We started off in Lime Street station Liverpool. There wasn’t another soul going. We sat on our todd, all the way to London and then got the boat train to get the Ferry to France…

That’s when it started. There was wads of them, from all over the country… Manchester, London, Leeds, but mainly little towns and villages with no big football teams. They all got on like a house on fire and started the usual drunken nonsense with one bloody chant… Ingurland, Ingurlaand, Ingerlaaaaaand!

We then got surrounded by those marvelous little Ingurlanders…. Worra you goin for? You’se aren’t even Ingerlish, you’se are Scouse. Robbin Scouse bastards… Ow can you afford to go. You’se are all on the dole, aren’t you. Oh you must be on the rob.

The banter was real fun. The fella from Nottingham who pulled a knife on us was particularily hilarious.

From Paris we managed dodge them and sat with some lovely family… Dad, Mam and daughter of 14. He’d offered to take them on a lovely family holiday, just neglected to tell them they would be going to the odd footy match as they travelled around Italy. They were really lovely people, good proper cockneys from the east end.

We arrived in Turin and said tara to them, and headed off to wait for the first game. What a nice surprise when we walked out the station…
Fans from all over Italy had decided to give us a welcome committee, and we walked out of the train station into a barrage of bottles, bricks and everything else they could get their hands on. Aitch would have been made up… Agincourt, indeed.

I seen a few people slashed and stabbed, especially by them cunts on mopeds/scooters. What did the cops do, well…

Me and me mate, (Good lad. Good friend. He’s dead now. God rest him), slopped away very quitely booked in a little shithole hotel and hid for the day… hanging out the window watching running battles up and down the street, listening to the sirens.

I said fuck that, let’s just get off. Me mate wouldn’t have it… “I’ve fuckin came all this way. I’m not letting these fuckers run me off.” That sort of thing.

We came out later, to go the game. It had quientened down a bit. It was still fuckin roastin hot though. Proper proper roasting, and we’d been stuck in that bastard hotel with nothing all day. I saw one of them little Italian Ice Cream parlours. Me tongue was like Ghandi’s flip flop. I went in, and there was a proper little old Italian Mama behind the counter… a lovely, tiny, delicate little woman, well in her seventies, traditional black frock and silver silver hair.

I smiled at her and asked for an Ice Cream. She spat in me face and started screaming something in Italian Banshee. All I could hear was Englaicey Bastard.

Nice.

We got to the match, went in sharpish to avoid all the shenanigans outside, and there was plenty.

When we got in it was a two tier stand. It was nice to be so close to the neighbours, and eventually they ran out of things to drop on us and throw down.

Very inventive people the Italians though… They tied their belts together and tied bottled on the end, so they could drop them on our heads and pull them back up for another go.

I seen one family, bring feeble old great great grandad down to the front so he could have a go. They had great fun, helping him drop the bottle down time and time again.

But in the end, twenty minutes or so after the footy started of which I hadn’t seen a kick, the Italian police decided enough was enough and came to put end to it. I looked up just in time to see the West Ham Dad, his wife and daughter all get their heads split open by the charming Cabianeri with them batons they carry. The ones that look like little pick axe handles. What a hoot.

That was enough. We fucked right off. Had to pay again to get home because our tickets weren’t valid for another week. A great time. That great, that I decided once was enough, and didn’t bother again.

Gaz, I hope it goes ahead. We’ve got to play somewhere pre-season. In fact, after the way this one has turned out, we need to play, start performing and start the season in gear. So, I’d prefer that to be done just across the road in Ireland, rather than some useless marketing excercise on the other side of the world, where the lads just come back knackered and don’t really get any testing games.

Oh forgot to say, we only went to the Euros because it was in Italy. We were gonna go on holiday anyway, and just fancied a bit of footy along with the sun.

Not an entirely wasted journey though. It was good training for our European games there, especially the two finals, and at least we knew exactly what to expect when we got there - unlike some poor mugs who walked right into it.

Oh yeah. Forgot another thing about that trip… When the Italian police waded into us, they ran right through the English end, bashing anything they could with them little pick axe handle jobs. Then they all congregated down at the front and their mates on the pitch fired tear gas into us.

How the fuck no one wasn’t trampled to death. I don’t know. But have you ever been tear gassed? It’s fukin horrible and the effects lasts for days. I thought I was gonna lose me eyes, it was that bad.

On the way home, we had a few hours lay over in Paris. So we headed off into the city… we walked out into the street, and all these scruffy hippy looking bastards was on the rampage having a running battle with the French Bizzies. And yeah…. We got fucking tear gassed again.

Ah the good old days eh.

FS: I live in London. I get the hilarious oh careful hold on to your wallets there’s a scouser about comment. or my personal favourite have you checked your hub caps, make sure your your car’s not on bricks, oh dear the tears of mirth and merriment just stream down my face.

I work for a courier company and one of the drivers locked their keys in the van. Well the office staff and the other drivers were going on about what’s the use of having a scouser about if he can’t get in to the car, we must have the only scouser working for us who doesn’t know how to break in to cars blah blah. so I said look chaps I can get into that van in 2 seconds. They were all like really? Show us, so I picked up a brick and went to lob against the driver’s side window, the boss screamed stop no! That soon put an end to their little game.

FS, you should seriously start writing a book on your experiences. Share them, my man! I bet it would be very much an eye-opener for many.

kenny lad, there’s the odd time, when it’s meant really badly, that I’ll kick off about but most of the time I take no notice. The majority of them are just daft bastards who’ve never even been to Liverpool and just think it’s a joke, bit of banter. In fact, they’re usually a bit shame faced, if you say… are you calling me missus, me kids, me mam, dad, brothers, sisters, me mates, most of the people I love, thieves?

That always stops them dead in their tracks.

The only reason I told that story is… that’s how it used to be following football. But when you got attacked with LFC, at least you was with your own. With England we don’t really belong and aren’t wanted anyway.

The first thing any England supporter usually says to me is… Gerrard’s a great player. But you Scousers are never as good for England.

Nothing you can do with that mindset. As I say, we just don’t belong really, and aren’t really expected.

Thing is nowadays though, footy was long taken out of the hands of the hooligans. You get the odd kick off… been a bad week to be honest, 2 fellas killed at the match, one hit on the head with a bin, one stabbed, but not much reported about it.

But in all reality, it’s been sanitised since them days I was on about. But the English reputation has never been forgotten in Europe. So, nowadays, all these prawn sandwich types who go to England games looking for a nice holiday experience, arrive to gangs of ultras who want a scrap with people of their own ilk, or the foriegn police who are usually dying to baton charge someone… most of them are as bad as the ultras.

And poor Nigel and Porsche come walking straight out of the train station ito that.

Fuck that mate. Not for me thank you.

Having said that, I’m off to Bucharest shortly. I know for fact, there will be some Stuea and Dynamo fans knocking around, looking for a kick off. Good luck to them. I’ll be too busy having a laugh in some cheap watering hole… 30p for a double vodka and 60p for a pint over there…

Oh no. Some serious wound licking going on when I get home, but it’ll all be self inflicted and nothing some stupid knobhead skins have done.

#223 SOAK, maybe when the statute of limitations runs out mate, or when I learn to spell… so no time soon then.

Then hopefully the time will come one day FS. It will be a good read from an LFC ‘veteran’, for the fans who never got the chance or means to go to Anfield, never mind to the european games. Especially for us over here in south east asia. Fans here in Malaysia at least have been following LFC since the 70s in great numbers as I can remember (maybe even earlier) but I have yet to see or read the experiences such as yours.

SOAK mate, from 65 to 86, when I started going to when I moved to the States, I hardly missed a home game, and I started going to the aways in my teens in the early 70’s. They were good times, but nothing you lads wouldn’t have done if the club had been on your doorstep.

Times were different then, and football was all we really had. So, you was either playing it or watching it. It was also reletaviley cheap, and there wasn’t the tourists of today. So, it meant you could go, even when you was proper skint… just hitch hiked or snuck on the train, wangled your way in when you got there.

There was some bad things. I always hated the hooliganism, but Liverpool weren’t bad for that. And there was that many of us, and we all stuck together so very few opposing teams fans attacked us. The stadiums were terrible compared to today. And the travelling was woeful…

Well, no. That’s not the right way to put it. But the trains and coaches were terrible, and we were always herded worse than cattle. But the laugh was great.

It was just our game. The players weren’t distanced from us like today either. You could have a chat and a pint with them, and get tickets off them.

So all in all, I prefered it back then and that’s not just some, “Oh in my day,” moaning from us some old fella. I just don’t feel the same about this over hyped entertainment, or over paid players now. Don’t suppose anyone could.

LFC still means the same thing to me that it always has, and it will alwaybes part of my life. But football today and all that surrounds it, well…

Tonight, if gets on the pitch, Beckham will play his first game against Man U. In all truth, that is a bit of a story, but if you’d have seen, heard or read the hype over here… it really is ridiculous. So, good only knows how bad it will be for the world cup this summer, which sort of started this discussion and really that’s all I’ve got to say about it - over hyped, disgusting really, but I enjoy the actual footy, and I do enjoy seeing all the different cultures on show on the pitch and in the stands. It really is a great show, but don’t they ram it down your throat.

Oh well, just the times we live in.

Redman 208 - bang on buddy. No accounting for the complete lack of logic in my particular brain. Always loved Liverpool and always loved the players yet strangely schizoid about them when they played for … guess who ! Crazy really.

Fatty - rite that book … sorry right it ok ? Wr ..ight Oops Well.

Its the beckham/apeboy lovefest on sly sports.

Probably the same on talkshite.

I`m going to make some pancakes.

Nothing more to report,roll on thursday.

Aghh fuck Timmy,
just reminded me, pancake tuesday shit i forgot to get the gear this morning, if i nip out now should be able to get it.
Dougle, was’nt implying anything mate i just thought the fuckwits who did the youtube was saying they HAD to be England fan’s, have to nip out see y’all later.

Alright chaps,been outta the loop for a bit only getting caught up on the posts. Between decorating and changing jobs I’ve been kept busy,and thank fuck because i was so fucked off after the arsenal game i sat for a day wondering what it was all about.
It’s been talked out in here so wont cast over it to much just to say they were there for the taking and had we not been aiming for a point(no questions asked) we could have taken them. This is without doubt one of the most depressing seasons I’ve encountered and every mini up is followed by devastating down. Beat the mancs,here we go happy days!!(lose to arsenal in the cup) but its OK coz were on the up. Beat everton(lose to arsenal) but its OK because there a top four side. Ah well this is football and they cant all be winning seasons. Hope we can go on and win the uefa because right now I’d bite your hand off for it.

Another sign of the times, and how quickly we forget nowadays…
we won’t even be doing pancake Tuesday. No kids here today, so what’s the point. Oh well, always trick and fuckin treating instead of duck apple in the house with the family having a laugh.

See Roarin mate… before the arrival of Rafa this was a perfectly normal season. And considering how bad some of them seasons were, it’s actually not that bad to some we’ve had over the last couple of decades.

Oh well, I just hope Stoke do a good old English type bombardment against Mecenary City tonight. And that’s the thing I’ve noticed about City… they’ve got some great players, but they seem to be just that… a collection of good/great players rather than team. And hopefully that could be there downfall tonight.

Thats right FS, i’d forgot city were playing tonight. I think we’re gonna pip them for forth this season. Though next season make no bones about it, they’ll start becoming the finished article.
All that money does buy you success(or at least a forth place finish) so we can cross that bridge when we come to it,just hope we get our house in order by then.

P.s I just found out im not getting pancakes today either. First since i can remember. Though still giving lent a go. I’m off all fast food and drink(except for my stag in Liverpool)

P.p.s I’m hating man u so much at the minute i’d rather see them lose tonight than city!!

Just caught up with the comments and Timmy, we are having pancakes (or crepes as they say in France) as well this evening, even though I had no idea it was pancake Tuesday! Devastating conincidence, I know.

On the piste at the moment and it’s given me some time to look back at the season so far. To be honest I thought that we had it in us to win it this season, injuries forbidding (I blame LB for that). Rafa has raised the bar that high since he has taken charge.

However, circumstances has went against us and it is not meant to be. However, as FS touched on it in #233, we have Rafa to thank for these higher expectactions. If only considering the progress Rafa has made in his time in charge, we should be giving the man some slack, especially as LFC supporters.

Will be cheering on Beckham tonight and that’s one sentence that I never thought I would be writing.

I’ll try to dig the link up. I was looking at it earlier. There’s an article on footballers wages…
If you want to know what a miracle Rafa is achieving at LFC, there’s the proof positive.

Like, I wonder why Gareth Barry really joined City instead of us when he left Villa… Firstly he felt stale at Villa and wanted the new challenge of Champion’s league with us. Then he suddenly wanted the challenge at City and he blah, blah, blah, fuckin blah, and all the other shite he came out with. When the fact is, he earns more than Gerrard or Torres there.

Here’s a bit of a surprise… Who’s the biggest earner in the Premiere. Terry? Lampard? Rooney?

Nope. Adebayor… yep. Adefukinbayor. I found that quite unbelievable meself. But here’s the thing….
Not only can’t we pay the highest wages, and therefore, can’t keep fella’s like Crouch happy when he’s perfectly happy to ride the bench at Spurs, there’s the huge tax difference between England and the rest of Europe.

Remember Arshavin was earning more net in Russia than he does in England. So that makes it hard to attract top talent that can go to Spain or even Russia. And then there’s the London factor… all these celbrities come footballers want to be around all that shite nowadays.

So not only are we shopping around for bargains like Kyriagos and Maxi, we can’t pay the top wages or attract some to the area.

So, in all truth, it’s not so much we should be surprised at this season as how much we should be surprised at what we have achieved under Rafa.

Careful FS, you’ll be accused of trotting out “excuses”.

Earnings… what utter tosh!
Nigel & Porscha will never believe all that… they subscribe to Sky and several broadsheets after all!
You know all of that is just “excuses” for Rafa’s bad man-management, stubbornness and zonal marking.

Also, Nigel is a bit miffed that service at Porscha’s favorite Tappas Bar has gone downhill since Rafa started “moonlighting” with this football lark.

Yet Another Absolutely Fuckin Superb Tomkins article
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/features/tomkins-youthful-promise

Bit of a long read as always… no 5 second soundbytes from Tomkins… but he’s so spot-on!

Just flipping channels, Milan v Dirty Mancs came on. It’s 1 nil. So, I left it for a second. Italian full back, just tackled Rooney, took the ball fairly but went to ground. In one sweeping move the great English hope managed to stamp on the lads head with one foot, then knee him in the head and kick him in the head with his trailing foot.

What can you say about this genius… great fast feet and can use either of them, plays for the team and manager that is absolutely made for him.

Oh well, just time to let the wife get back to the daft soap operas.

Had to turn it off, couldn’t take the spell blinding genius footwork…
Scholes goes to volley, completely missed the ball, air kick, ball hits trailing leg and obligingly makes it’s way into the net.

Deal with the fella who adorns their shirt?

I`m glad rio is england captain.This way he`s gaurenteed to start.He`ll single handedly cost them the tournament.He`s complete cack.

Gorilla on sly….”Its a trick form schloes,and what a trick”

What a dick..

Stoke have had a disallowed goal on 90 mins according to Paul Jewell they were robbed.

City drop 2 points so decent result for us.

Lets take it to them on sunday!!

Viera stamped one of the stoke players right in the balls. It was hilarious. Not for the Stoke player though.

LB in todays papers, he said how much he’d been missing playing Stoke.

FS, I saw that stamp - TV3 commentators here in Ireland made something along the following of a comment - that’s what you get for taking the ball off rooney, he doesn’t like it.
What a disgrace, he made 3 different contacts with his head and nothing is made of it.
Can’t argue with his ability but he is nothing more than a glorified knacker.
If AC could have finished their chances the tie would have been over before the ‘trick’ from scholes.

Awesome video on Pepe Reina. And to think he is still so young eh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl68kKFsFJU&feature=player_embedded

Ya awsome keeper Soak and we`re so lucky to have him.
Still young in keeper terms.

Anyone see Rafa`s silky skills in this mornings training session?

He has KWALITY..

Update on the injuries.Carra could be available and also could benny.
Nando and glenda not available for the game but thought to be not too far away from a return to full training.

Things are on the up.Seen stokes dissallowed goal last night.Feckin disgrace i tell ya.The lad shawcross just jumped up and headed it in.Given couldn`t get up with him.

I see oul paddy is up to his old tricks.

Has Gerry’s laptop broken down again?

FS,
only yourself can let tradition go, there was only me and the missus on tuesday but still went out and bought the gear cant beat it couple of pancakes each then minted lamb stir fry with boiled rice knockout.
Scholes apparently turned to Ronaldhino and said try that fuck-face after the jammy cunt stuck that one in.
YNWA.

FS,
only yourself can let tradition go, there was only me and the missus on tuesday but still went out and bought the gear cant beat it couple of pancakes each then minted lamb stir fry with boiled rice knockout.
Scholes apparently turned to Ronaldhino and said try that fuck-face after the jammy cunt stuck that one in.
YNWA.

New blog in lads.