Firstly welcome back Gerry, great to read your newest blog. Anyway down to business, I see your using the CFC first roots of recovery theme.
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Well at the moment I’m not sure whats going on, we have invested in Shelvey and the other young player from Palace of QPR, Jovonic’s coming in, while Wilson is in the pipeline.
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Gillet seems to have fallen of the planet, maybe he’s dead and Hicks won’t tell us.
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Moores is shielding himself in self pity and former glories.
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Hicks is still a Callous Uncaring Nasty Type, who lives in a world of mushrooms and late payments.
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Still I guess there roots of recovery. Alas though if I’m genuinely honest, I was never attracted to LFC by silky, one touch, top of the world football. My attraction was obviously through family, both in tragedy and support.
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The one defining drawcard for LFC is it’s ability to rise from shite and continue on as though everything is rosey Red.
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This is why we have a world wide appeal compared to many other English Clubs, our ability to muster up an enormous effort when others have quit.
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Istanbul being one such occasion.
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If everything at LFC ran smoothly, I don’t know whether I’d be this much involved. I’m still not convince Hicks is going gracefully, and I completely think Moores is a Fucking Idiot, but in the end there will be more owners, more heart ache, more good times, more glorious European nights and the end of that storm will continue to roll on.
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As for the media, they will always want headlines from LFC, afterall that’s what our club has always been, right from the start, we were news then and still are today.
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Anyway welcome back.

Hi Gerry welcome back to planet Earth. Nice to have you back in this period between seasons.
here’s an article from the Telegraph which is at least critical of Tom & Georgie.

by Rory Smith The Telegraph
May 27th, 2010

At the risk of breaking the fourth wall, perhaps you could help me out. Last week, in the course of my usual professional nosing into all things Liverpool, I spoke to two immaculate sources on the subject of the club’s transfer spend this summer.

The first informed me that the club would have no problem making a couple of impressive signings in a bid to reshape the squad. They didn’t mention whether that would come from sales or investment, but they seemed confident there would be a goodly sum of money for Rafael Benitez, or whoever, to spend when, and if, they chose to do so.

The second, barely a couple of hours later, suggested that was hocum, that Benitez was yet to receive in his meetings with Martin Broughton and Christian Purslow, Liverpool’s chairman and managing director respectively, the reassurances he desires that he will be backed in the transfer market. Indeed, the feeling was that even if the Spaniard were to sell players, there were no guarantees he would be able to spend all, or indeed any, of the cash generated.

Such is life at Liverpool, land of contradictions. There are so many factions – boardroom, Boot Room, dressing room – offering wildly contrasting perspectives on the future of club, manager and players that it is almost impossible to know where to begin.

Truth has become a fluid concept, and one only imparted in whispered, clandestine briefings. Always off the record. As in not attributable quotes. As in sources this and it is believed that. As in the technique employed by those who do not have the courage to stand by their words, by those who know what they say may not stand up to scrutiny. As in spin, and bluff, and lies.

There are occasions, such as yesterday, when one faction or another comes out fighting. Then, over the phone to Sky Sports News, Hicks issued the following statement: “We have a substantial transfer budget in place. There is some misinformation about transfer spending. It is more than double what it was and we will make a significant investment this summer but it is more about getting the right players.”

Liverpool fans, come August 31, will remember those words. And the words of Purslow, who told Spirit of Shankly, the club’s supporters’ union, that “the manager has had plenty of funding available,” that “no proceeds from player sales are used to pay down…debt” and, though the club’s player account has to “be self-funding,” he had spent time talking with Benitez about “summer transfer plans.”

Those words are on record. As is Hicks’s comment to a fan earlier this year that this will be a “big” window for Liverpool. Christian, Tom and (the ever-silent) George, now is put up or shut up time. The maths show that Benitez has made a net profit of £20 million or so over the last 30 months in the transfer market. You have promised money to spend, and now you must deliver. No matter how long any of you remain ensconced at Anfield, if you want to exit this escapade with a shred of dignity, you must deliver.

Good blog Gerry.

Where are these statements from Tom Hicks coming from? Is he living in another world?

‘Considerable Investments’ means what to him? Yet another long term target David Silva seems to be going to another club and he keeps talking about considerable investments.

Nice one Gerry,these blogs always cheer me up (two pages on facebook) what-away to keep up with today’s youth.classic.
Well done to all the boys for posting regularly over this shit storm, im only getting to graze over the comments at best but good to see so many committed reds out there.
I also have turned to life as a escape from football but sadly my life is resembling liverpool at present so rock and hard place springs to mind.
roll on world cup and pray for a miracle season that gives us plenty to shout about…..oh and the return of the beloved fat man.

Ah love the joke Gerry,
and talking about the samaritans i used to work for them but every time i phoned in sick they’d talk me out of it.
Like you and the lads in here i’m looking forward to next season my friend.
YNWA.

Nice to read you again Gerry!
Regarding fresh players in the team,we need a left winger like Callaghan,he was not as speedy by today’s standard’s go by but like Carragher, he had the “Liverpool” spirit and longevity.To me he was tricky, not a headliner and rarely got injured. Berbatov,although in the wrong team is an example (like Benayoun) of weaving around and not losing the ball i.e. in certain players,speed is not essensial,skill is,and height is an advantage!
I will be watching the Swindon v. Millwall play-off shortly and will root for Swindon because they have a “Red” reserve player in the team.
I see that FS is not over the hump like you are now Gerry but to him I say “come on down”.
TTFN and YNWA.

Milllwall 1-0 Swindon FT.
So Steve Darby was NOT a winner

So Derby is mutted as a backup for Johnson, yet the kid can only come on as a sub in the 67th minute for a league 1 team. I think the clearout needs to be a rout at the academy and reserve level.

Does anyone think Heskey would be considered for the squads of any of the top teams going to the world cup.

His selection shows were we are lacking if you are going to pick a striker who does not score you have to find someone with more to his game than Heskey.

I remember serginho for brazil who played because careca was not available in 1982.He looked out of his depth compared to the players around him ie Zico,Socrates,Junior,Falcao,Eder.(what a team)

But he was playing inplace of someone else but Heskey seems to be ist choice.It beggars belief.

I’m not sure if Heskey would get into any of the squads of the top teams at the world cup, but he should do alright for England.

Liverpool unable to afford £2.5million defender
Saturday, 29th May 2010 ·

According to reports, Rangers defender Danny Wilson’s move to Liverpool will not go through with the Reds not being able to afford the £2.5million price-tag.

Wilson was set to make a £2.5million (plus add-ons) move to Liverpool this week. However, the Reds have backed out of the deal with Rafael Benitez only allowed to spend £5million this summer.

Benitez realises he needs to spend his money elsewhere and the deal has now hit rock bottom with the Spaniard eyeing deals elsewhere.

Tottenham, who replaced Liverpool in the ‘top four’ last season, are now being tipped to bring the Scotsman to White Hart Lane.

Rangers are also now being reported to wanting a higher fee for their star defender – which might have caused Benitez to look elsewhere.

A senior source at Ibrox was quoted: “If you look at some of the top teenage transfers in England over the past few years, then there are a number of them that have involved very significant fees.

“It is all very well saying Wilson is only a young boy but the likes of Walcott, Ramsey and Smalling only had a handful of first team appearances against their name when they moved.

“Arsenal and Manchester United have had to pay big money in those cases, so should it really be any different because the player is coming from Scotland?

“It would be interesting to see what Liverpool’s offer would be if Danny Wilson was, for example, at Bristol City.”

Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid winger Simao Sabrosa for £8million – although the deal looks promising, Rafa Benitez would have to cash in on Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera and Ryan Babel, who have all been linked with moves away.
***

We can’t even afford a 2.5 million defender.Hmm… that sums up the summer activities for Liverpool next season

Come on mate, with the first three words of that article being “according to reports” your bullshit antenne should have been beeping. “Accordng to reports” is up there with “a senior source” and “a club insider” as major signs of bullshit.
Rangers have a young highly promising defender who wants to leave and who can sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in six months time and walk away for nothing at the end of next season. Because of these circumstances Liverpool have offered £2 million and Rangers are trying to get a bit more. That’s the only story here, the rest is just press fantasy. We’ve got enough probs at the club these days without allowing ourselves to be suckered in by more press bullshit.

Thanks for the (timely) blog Gerry! Good read as always.
I watched a bit of the Turkey/USA game. What a pity we couldn’t snap up Turan. Great player with loads of skill, can beat a man, cross and score goals. And to top it off, he wanted to come to Liverpool. Shit.
Also just read a piece in the Times, where Broughton (apparently) revealed to a Sly Sports presenter that ‘maybe Torres should be sold’. This was a confidential & private discussion between ‘our’ Chairman & the presenter, but she leaked the story.
Are all Sly Sports presenters ordered to undermine LFC in any way possible?
Also, I find haveing a Chelski fan as a Chairman very detrimental. Maybe I’m being very paranoid, but he has inside info on all things LFC, and he surely must be mates with the Chav board, managers etc? Don’t like this scenarion one bit, but what can you do?
I guess I should try & ignore all & any news on LFC and just focus on the WC.

Well we know not to take any notice of transfer bullshit but this is in Benny’s own (quoted) words:

“Ancelotti wants me for next season and now everything depends on Liverpool,” he said. “Chelsea will have to pay some £6m, but I believe that, in the end, I’ll be moving there”

the link with broughton is shady, Rafa…

the other bit of rumour-mongering i shouldn’t mention (was it brought up on here already?) is israeli yossi going to pave the way for an arab based takeover…

ahhhh fuckit – bring on the world cup ;-(

Nice to see so many Reds players fit .Will they return in the same condition?.Compensation?.

So Benny is jumping off HMS Titanic…sad to see him leave – had a fantastic 2008/09 not so great last year but always gave us a spark.

In better times we’d probably replace him with Joe Cole – but that doesn’t seem likely – Spurs being favourites.

I’d like to some good news soon….

Let no one misunderstand me but I love you Gerry. I love you for always cheering me and God only knows what Kopites would do minus humor!

I cannot wait for tomorrow, partly being a public holiday here (yipee!) and also being the unveiling of Milan Jovanovic as a Red. Regardless of whether he’ll be a bust or not, we still beat Milan and a host of other giants to his signature. WHO CALLED LFC DEAD?

My take on the comings and goings at Anfield remains this, that whoever wants to stay will and whoever doesn’t can ship out! I will not have half-assed Reds regardless of who they are (or think they are). Liverpool has always been bigger than any of us – thank God – and will always be. It was big, Shankly just confirmed the size and it went on to outlive and outdo even the great man himself! How about that for legacy?

I want to see passion and Rafa’s clearly brought it back. I still remember watching UEFA CL top goals since the start of the current format and was shocked to find the first entries in the 2000′s. That might mean nothing to most but not to me. Where were we in Europe during the Evans or Houllier years? In the UEFA and Cup Winners Cup stages. That IS a fact.

Under this Madirista we not only became regular contestants but went on to lift ‘Ol Big Ears, get to another final, earn a number one ranking in Europe and “only” become the most feared team in Europe in the knockouts. Did we do this with lots of money in the bank? Well, Torres is our record signing and Alonso our record sell. Look around at the figures brandished at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge to answer that. How about the monies splashed by Man City and Spurs? We don’t compare but still compete!

Do I have something to smile about as a Kopite? Well, that’s a hard one because they aren’t that many. I mean:

1) 18 League titles (Div I)
2) Four Div II titles
3) One Lancashire title
4) Five European cups
5) Seven FA Cups
6) Seven League cups
7) 15 FA Charity Shields
One English Super Cup
9) [A record] Three UEFA cups
10) Three UEFA Super Cups
11) Seven trebles, including the only winner of the “lesser treble”
12) Nine doubles
13) Best fans in the world
14) Torres
15) Best captain in the world
16) Carra, Reina, Masche
17) Rafa
18) History and passion
19) Shanks and his boot room
20) King Kenny and the Liverpudlian legends
21) Gerry Ormonde and all Kopites who subscribe to Kopblog
22) Etc

As you can see, the reasons for loving LFC aren’t that many when you think about it. I prefer to share the few I can think of.

Keep your head high through the storm, for it will pass like anything else this life throws (good or bad).

We are re re re re Red to the bone! YN(Ever)WA(Ever)!

Sorry Sam, but I simply cannot disagree with you more…

surely #21 should be at the top of that list at #1

I like Benny a lot. I rate him highly…
…but if he thinks he hasn’t seen enough playing time at LFC, then I reckon he’s in for a big surprise when he gets to the Bridge.
I reckon in that squad… he’ll see more blue splinters to match the red ones in his arse than he will blades of grass.

And Welcome back Gerry!
I don’t usually follow the World Cup. I’ll watch a game if I’ve got nought to do, but I certainly don’t go out of my way to do so.
But as you said, after our recent season, I was sorta looking forward to it being a bit of a break from all the summer bullshit we’ll have to deal with (and believe me the shitstorm hasn’t even started yet… this Wilson/Broughton/Bennayoun/Torres nonsense is the calm before the storm…)
…but I watched the last 20 minutes of the England vs Japan game yesterday and frankly…
… if I hear the fuckin “Great Escape” them one more time, I’m taking fuckin hostages!

Fantastic piece about Heysel.
A must read for all footy fans let alone LFC fans.

http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/05/heysel-25-years-on-book-extract/

Cheers Sam, finally I know how to do the sunglasses thing

It seems we cannot even trust “quotes” when they appear in press articles anymore!
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2010/05/31/presenter-denies-broughton-torres-quotes/

Players take note:

It took Ms. Jackson less than 12 hours to categorically and publicly deny the rumor…

Another one…. As per Gerry’s advice, I dumped the news at “a source close to Yossi Benayoun..”
***

“Yossi says that if Rafa stays, then he will go.”
Posted on Monday, 31st May 2010 by David Tully

A source close to Yossi Benayoun told Goal.com why the Liverpool midfielder wants to leave Anfield. The Israeli apparently believes that Rafa Benitez just doesn’t trust him:

“Yossi loves Liverpool and wants to stay but he feels that Rafa does not really trust him. Whenever Rafa looks to make a substitution or rotate the team, Yossi always seems to be the fall guy, even when he is playing really well. He believes he would be better off playing under a manager who really believes in him. None of the [Liverpool] players really know if Rafa will be manager next season but Yossi says that if Rafa stays, then he will go. He feels he would get more chances at another team.”

Benayoun only signed a contract extension until 2013 last summer but he has strongly been linked with a move to Chelsea. The 30 year old started the season strongly and scored nine goals in 42 appearances, becoming one of the most creative players in the Liverpool team, but he has become frustrated with the manager’s seeming reluctance to pick him as an automatic first choice.

Welcome Back Gerry bud

I set up a Kopblog WC fantasy league if ye want to take yer minds off bleak situation

first you must register on the FIFA website here:

http://www.fifa.com/theclub/index.html

then activate and sign up for the Fantasy Game here:

http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/

join the private league I setup, which is:

“Kopblog World Cup”
code: 199249-76718

the game is operational now, though squads cannot be selected until June 4th.

Please check out the site and rules/scoring and tell me what you think

http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/M/rules.mc

If yer not into it no worries Im just in it to keep sane this summer

Over and out

hello

Gerry I posted a comment about a fantasy league for the WC

Is it not coming up cause there’s links in it?

Gerry, a question. Is this guy, Martin Broughton, alrite or is he planning to sell Torres to his favorite team Chelsea. I am some what suspicious of this fellow.

Jovanovic to be the new berbatov?

(tottenham berbatov not united!)

What do ye think of this guy lads

seems promising from what I saw

He’s no Voronin but at least he’s big with some skills

over and out

h
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVwi5IcQWZo

So the TIA mainpage has an article claiming that Liverpool have rejected a 4million quid bid from teh Chavs for BennyOnion….
… despite the club stating today that they “have received no inquiries about Bennayoun” from any club.

The Echo ran a similar story today… ending it by reiterating the rumor regarding Broughton’s statement to Charlotte Jackson that Torres would be better off at another club…
… despite Ms Jackson clearly denying yesterday any such statement was made to her!

For fucks sake… journalism truly is dead.
Lazy fuckers can’t be arsed doing a simple fact check.

“He’s no Voronin but at least he’s big with some skills”

Nice one donal

Good stuff Gerry pal i know you must be up to your neck in idea`s for blogs with all the activity at LFC (not) so its understandable you haven`t posted one for a bit.

For the first time in my life i`m not anticipating whats going to happen during a summer break.I`ve realised there won`t be much activity although it looks like we`ve landed Javanovic who could be the first of a few freebees this summer.

Anyway despite me hating the international friendlys and qualifiers and what not i love when the big tournaments like the world cup and euro`s are on so i`ve something to look forward to now.

Nice one for the league Donal lets hope i`ll do better than the premier league one you set up.

Outside football i`m getting my annual GAA fix as the rebels of cork conqured Tipperary last sunday in the hurling now its ff to Killarney sunday to take on the Kingdom in the football.

How are the Dubs fsncied this year Gerry??

I see that Skrtel has made it into the Slovakian WC squad. Should be a good experience for the lad and will also get him back up to speed nicely for the start of next season, after his broken foot et al (I refuse to use the meta***al word), if he does not get injured again, of course.

TT, when’s the last time the Dubs won anything? Probably longer than the last time the pool won the league and they play at ‘home’ even when they are supposed to be away most of the time. Orchard county all the way mucker.

Looking at the Reds who are representing at the world cup.
Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt (Holland), Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina (Spain), Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Greece), Martin Skrtel (Slovakia), Daniel Agger (Denmark), Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson (England).
We have players representing their country from almost every position Glen (RB), Carra (CB), Agger (LB or CB), Soto (CB), Skrtel (CB), Gerrard (CM), Mascherano (DM), Babel (LM), Maxi (RM), Kuyt (FW), Torres (FW),Pepe (GK)
Secondly 9 of these 12 players are representing the top 4 out of 10 countries ranked in fifa world cup. We have 2 players from Spain ranked 2,2 from Holland ranked 4, 2 from Argentina ranked 7, 3 from England ranked 8.
Thirdly atleast 9 of these would be first team players.

What a squad Rafa has put together with a meagre budget!!! Not to mention some of them are star players for their countries.

Thanks
Prashant

I know that Lurgan its just the Dubs are hyped to death by the media every year only to fall at the quarter or semi-final stage.
(remind you of a certain country at the upcoming world cup?)
I`m sure Gerry will agree with that.

Thats impressive alright Pshenava isn`t it a damn pity we can`t get all them playing at the same time on a regular basis

thanks prash #36

I was just about to google this up for those interested in red-tinged teams to follow during the wc and I see you’ve already done it.

I guess we could look at teams with ex-reds out of interest as well – spain with Xabi & Arbeloa for example…

You guys know that there is a movement starting on another forum. The aim is to educate people on the state of our club and to rid us of those two cancerous pricks G & H. They’ve nearly 6 thousand members so far on their facebook site and they’ve just started. They are also planning a march through liverpool on 4th July. “Our Independance Day” its called. Should we be getting more pro-active in getting these 2 cunts out? I know i’ve got a pain in my face of just sitting back and doing nothing. All the time we have to listen to these (well mostly hicks) twats in the media spouting their filth and lies.

I think if enough people get involved and its properly organised we can really make a difference. This summer is going to be crucial. Dont know if I can put up with starting another season with dumb and dumber in charge.

Judging from the vibe (& chatting to other LFC supporters) I’m getting over here, it looks like most Reds supporters are going for Spain, and then England (after Bafana, of course )
Shows you the Torres & Reina factors, I guess?
I’ve been on RAWK, and the guys have got a campaign going. A few banners are being made along the lines of ‘Save Liverpool FC – Hicks & Gillete OUT’. There are a few ‘local’ Reds who will take them to some of the games, most notably Ingerland v USA and Ingerland v Algeria in Cape Town. Fantastic idea, and hopefully we will get some coverage. Wish I could participate, but the missus is due in a month so I’ll be in front of the telly. Criminal not going to any games when I live here, but hey…I still get to enjoy the vibe AND a few bevvies.

I think the only way to get them out is to be more militant.

Name-calling doesn’t affect them. They’re more thick-skinned than a rhino scrubbing dishes.

Meanwhile they’re making money hand-over-fist out of this club – and they don’t care what state it’s left in when finally they do sell up and leave. As long as they maximise their profit.

I think the way to get them out is to push them out and the way to do this is through the banks. We missed an opportunity with RBS who are, in effect, owned by we the people.

Now that Barclays are in the frame we should target them.

As long as either bank are making the kind of easy money from us in interest they will go along with whatever the two muppets plan. Perhaps they’ll protest a little bit but money talks. LOUDLY.

If the banks had been pressured before they wouldn’t have extended the number of times they did (and will continue to do).

We need to become a hot-potato and then hope we get passed to a squeaky-clean sugar-daddio with oven mitts, large, deep pockets and a love for this club.

Mr red i respect your ideas but targeting RBS won`t make much of a difference.
What exactly do we want them to do?Put pressure on H&G to sell up at a cheaper price?
RBS are getting the bones of a million pounds every ten days from the club in interest so i don`t think they are too bothered extending the yanks deadlines as long as they can.
It is the way they work.If and when these payments become unsistanable then they`ll put pressure on for them to sell or just take the club off them and flog it themselves if they don`t pay up.

We mut keep uo the good fight though and hopefully the demonstration on the 4th of july gets some media coverage.Although i wouldn`t bank on too much unless we get ourselves some green and yellow Norwich City scarfs!!

I’d love to go over for the march myself but my missus is due as well in 6 weeks time. Serious baby boom here in Ireland at the moment. With the recession everyone seems to be staying home and “entertaining” themselves!

I think the banner ideas are great. The more media exposure we get at the world cup the better. However, as McrRed said, these cunts have seriously thick skin. Sticks and stones an all that. So there is only so far this idea will get us. Also, the media have kind of changed their tactics in recent weeks. There have been a few articles in the nationals criticising cunto and cuntee.

Maybe something more militant will need to be done. What though? Do we boycott merchandise? Boycott a game? Turn up 15 mins late for a game? We dont really want the team to be affected but the club is going down the shithole at the same time. Catch 22. It does feel like the guys over at RAWK are gathering some great momentum though.

Does anyone know whats happening with krisztian nemeth is he coming back next season.

Just watched a few clips of him on youtube looks like a very good finisher.
with him and jovanovic in the squad things may look a lot better.

Nemeth only made 7 appearences and scored 3 goals for Athens last season.He`s had an ankle injury for a large part of the season thus his limited appearences.

Good old piece with Thommo on newstalk on monday night.

http://media.newstalk.ie/extra/817/popup

Echo that, Timmy, Thommo at his best:

No man is bigger than our club!

My own take on Nemeth (from about 3 pre season games I saw him play) is that he is a skillful, poacher type goalscorer but is not blessed with great pace or strength. I, for one, am sceptical that he will flourish at a Premier League level

Well Arthur,Digger et al your wishes might just yet come through.
Looks like the club have paved the way for Rafa to leave according to Tony Barrett.

From Tony Barett.

Liverpool have attempted to pave the way for Rafael Benitez’s departure by offering their manager a compromise deal to leave the club this summer.

In what amounts to a vote of no confidence in Benitez, the Liverpool board approved a proposal to the Spaniard which would see him depart Anfield with a lucrative pay off worth in the region of £3 million up front.

According to the terms of the five-year contract he signed in March 2009, Benitez is entitled to a £16 million severance package but given their current financial predicament there is no possibility of Liverpool being able to come up with that kind of money, regardless of their desire to bring about a change of manager.

As such, the club’s hierarchy is hoping that Benitez will stand aside without demanding the windfall that he would otherwise due or else they will have no option but to allow him to continue in the role he has been in since the summer of 2004 in the knowledge that he is no longer wanted.

Though Benitez is yet to accept the offer, the chances of a compromise being reached were raised by indications from the 50-year-old that he would not be able to take the club any further if, as expected, the current restrictions on transfer spending are extended into another summer. Despite claims by co-owner Tom Hicks last week that Liverpool are set to spend big in the coming months, the reality is that their transfer budget is currently limited to £15 million at most and there are yet to be any assurances that they will be able to re-invest the proceeds from player sales to any great extent.

Had Benitez received the guarantees he had been looking for during talks with Martin Broughton, Liverpool’s chairman, then the current situation would not have arisen but with both parties unable to envisage a way of working together for the good of the club a parting of the ways now looks increasingly inevitable.

Such is Liverpool’s palsied fiscal state, they recently posted record annual losses of £55 million and are saddled with debts totalling £351 million, Broughton was simply unable to offer Benitez the guarantees he was looking for and after a desperately disappointing campaign in which they finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League and failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League the club’s hierarchy would not have been keen to extend Benitez’s tenure anyway.

Inter Milan ready to offer Benitez an escape route to Italy should he show any willingness to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho, his managerial arch rival, although Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, has insisted that the reigning European and Italian champions have not made any contact with his client.

“I don’t know anything about Inter,” Quillon said. “No one has contacted me, it’s just transfer speculation.”

Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, is a confirmed admirer of Benitez and is monitoring his position. On Monday, he made his admiration and his interest public when he told reporters that “I have always thought Benitez is a good coach, but he is linked with Liverpool” and he will be encouraged by the fact that those links now appear to be loosening.

Just being discussed on t’radio that Benitez is being offered 3 million handshake to go during the summer. (report by Times’ Tony Barrett)

What a mess.
You couldn’t make it up.
They probably want to bring in a top manager quickly. Someone like Jurgen Klinsmann or Ollie!

If only we could offer the two clowns the same to do one!!!

Ah, fuck this shite all to hell. Rafa dig your heels in man!

The end-game could well be on the horizon and don’t anyone say that they weren’t told so. I hope to fuck that I am wrong.

Fuckin’ sceptics!

Its all over the net and Sly sports like a rash bloody maddock has already said he`s been sacked,prick.

Hi gang,

Rafa away on holidays … agenda set by the board and the flames fanned by the ever-willing cut and paste merchants i.e the english press.
The whole scenario will be set up by tomorrow morning when the idiots on radio and tv will just crank up the volume on the story blah blah blah…

Myself I am not surprised. I doubt that Rafa is. It’s not gonna be a shock to him to see the board (Hicks & Gillette & Co) want shut of him. It’s been that way for years now.

Rafa has more than his pocket on his mind. He has a vision for what he wants (whether you like it or not). He has respect for the Club and it’s supporters, he is part of the club and it’s proud history. He is not a yes man. They want him out.

They will offer him 30 pieces of silver and at the same time strangle him and his vision by not giving him firm ground upon which to manage his team (let alone run the club). It’s slow death or walk. Great choice eh !

That’s my take on the Broughton/Rafa talks and where they are going. Nowhere. There will be no gaurentees on anything.

Try this for size;

Does it make any difference to the yanks whether we finish 7th or 17th next season? They are not going to release any of their money for Rafa/whoever to build another team.
So why not just just flog the star assets and get a few journeymen in to keep the show wobblying along. If the real supporters boycott the club, hand in their season tickets etc … all the better (less hassle then) there are loads of people trying to get season tickets anyway. So you have a compliant fanbase to boot (well on the way already), as well as ~150 million ?? for Torres/Gerrard/Mascher/Reina/Benny/?? in the bank and then you sell it on to whoever for whatever.
The big obstacle here is …. ? Rafa. You need a “yes manager” who will put up and shut up.
One thing Rafa most definitely is not is a “Yes-man”. So bye – bye Rafa ??

They were quite happy to play one game while Rafa had us in the Champions League, now we’re not they may need to change they’re financial plan. Cut down on wages being one way of saving a packet.

Keith/Aitch/LB/anyone – knock me back – say it isn’t so !

Goodnight … not really.

Disgusted.

Wish I could doubgle, but I think you nailed it in one mate!

The Yanks do NOT care about our League position. It isn’t the American SPorts Way. Teams make money regardless of where they finish. The Top Dogs make more obviously, but bottom of the league “franchises” are still gold mines.

This is really disheartening news if true… and there’s no way anyone worth their salt will take the helm with only 15 mill to spend.

Especially if a fair few players abandon ship.

I think its fair to suggest that Masch will leave.

Will SG be willing to give a new man (unlikely to be a Top Name) another season or 2 to see if we can claw our way back? I’d expect him to be off like a rocket if this story is true.

That happens… will Torres stay?

Even if you don’t care for Rafa’s tactics, I don’t see how you can view this rumor… knowing what we know about the finances… as a good thing?

Ok, so it looks like doom and gloom time, but as I wrote in my first post, if your club song is about walking through a storm with your head held high, then drama is part and parcel of your club.
.
This has been coming and still may or may not happen. In regard to players, if anyone thought SG was a happy man at Anfield this year, then let me drink what you’ve bought.
.
Most of our first teamers when about their business like they were just bobbing in the lake.
.
I don’t want Rafa to go, and as everyone knows when I like someone the club sells them.
.
This club is LFC not RAFA FC or Yank FC, it will rise as it always does.
.
To Rafa if you are going, all the very best and thankyou for your wonderful contribution. If not get of your arse and whip my team into serious contenders, afterall there is some fucking great players there.

You’re right gaz, its not Rafa FC.
But not wanting Rafa to leave doesn’t mean anyone is blindly following him over the club.

Yes LFC will rise again… but with a new manager (more likely of the Curbishley Caliber than the JoMo/Rafa caliber) its not likely to be next season… or the one after that.
We are in serious shite right now!

Rafa’s contract stipulates that he gets £16 million quid if he’s fired.
The Yanks are offering him £3 mill.

I think that tells us everything we need to know about the current financial status of the club?

And the “large investment” for players, that Hicks has suggested is available, appears to be £5million.

Who replaces Rafa… given that we can’t compensate any top side to steal a top under-contract manager? …and £5 million won’t buy you Scott Parker’s boots let alone a decent player!

Nobody has a crystal ball, so we can’t say for certain whether we’d be better off with “Rafa”… or better off with “Anyone Else”.

But the current squad, and the reorganization that has taken place on the playing side of things from Acadamy to the First Team, has all been done with Rafa’s plan in mind, so I’d be more inclined to think we’re better off staicking with him… given the lack of cash to invest in at least 3 Top Signings. (to add to the Team, not to replace Good Players leaving!!)

Go with a new man walking into the current set-up, with no money to spare, and the likelihood that he might lose one or two First Team players and NOT be given the money to reinvest… (well, you can disagree and call it scaremongering all you want, but I’m thinking under that scenario, 7th will be looking pretty good come next May.)

The current squad is well better than they showed during this past season, and I’d suggest they’ll deliver better football next season regardless of whether they are playing for Rafa, or Curbishley, or Jurgen… (well okay… Jurgen = relegation, but you get my point) but I’ll be far less confident proceeding without Rafa.

I can’t see SG sticking around unless we draw a Top name and I simply don’t see how we draw a Top Name Manager.

Masch will be off.
And I think there’d be question marks over Pepe and Torres.

Nah… this ain’t about Rafa FC… this is about Rafa staying, actually being LFC (if only for the forseeable 12 months… and Rafa going, actually being Yanks FC… then Who-Fuckin-Knows FC.

YES… no one is bigger than the club…
… but the unfortunate reality “right now” for us fans, is that…
given the finances and ownership mess… the club isn’t bigger than Rafa!

Some won’t want to accept that, but its pretty true.

Now understand though… we get the Yanks to sell and a New Owner sets about balancing the books and that statement is no longer true…
…but right now…
…this summer…
…it fuckin is, you know!

Yeah I know it’s fucked but it was coming, and Aitch like I wrote after the last game at Anfield, did anyone think Rafa’s walk around the ground looked like a goodbye, thanks for the support walk.
.
Un-certain times ahead but so is every manager including, Shanks, Paisley etc.
.
Well at least we know where the Danny Wilson money went. There’s a long way to go in this dispute.

Ps, just when the media thinks the season is over and all they can do is make up shit and speculate, along comes LFC. Our club is a walking, talking two twat headline act.

Aye… but not 2 Twat act gaz.

The important part of the leak is that Rafa “has been asked to leave by the board”

ASKED!

By the board!
The Board being
Tom Hickes
George Gillette
Christian Purslow
Ian Ayre
Phillip Nash
Martin Broughton

Now from those 6 names… and the name Rafa Benitez… I ask you this

… which one might… just might… mind you…

… have the fan’s best interests at heart???

Aahhh, you know what? I’ll save you the Google search time.

Its isn’t Tome Hicks.

It isn’t George Gillette.

And given that their jobs are to make money for G&H (not us the fans) (in fact… their task is to part us the fans from our money and put it inot G&H’s pockets) I’ll go out on a limb and say…

It isn’t Christian Purslow.

It isn’t Ian Ayre.

It isn’t Philip Nash.

It isn’t Martin Broughton.

Which leaves one name.
Look I’m not suggesting the man is a Saint, or that he doesn’t have his own personal agenda, but he’s shown a connection to the fanbase the others can’t match.

For some reason, I have a very strong urge to fly to Texas in order to re-enact the Texas Chainsaw Massacre – I’ll be the one wielding the chainsaw, of course.

I hear there’ll be a protest outside Anfield at 6pm local time. Against the Yanks of course.

Timmy – I’ll have you know that I stated in here a few posts ago, that I wanted Rafa to stay one more year (given the current state of our club).

The club is in free fall right now – no one knows who will arrive now and who will leave

Dare I say – the most uncertain period in LFC’s history?

The job at Inter Milan will suit best for Rafa. If the news is true, i would like him to leave and atleast show the world his true potential. Inter will have money and he can sign his primary targets.

Liverpool FC is in a turmoil and Rafa Benitez wanted to stay in these testing times but if the board decides to kick him out, i think Rafa should actually leave(which is equivalent to giving a bigger kick back to the board).

Hopefully this isn’t premature. I’m convinced now Rafael Benítez won’t be the manager of Liverpool FC at the start of next season.

Thank you Rafa for all those magnificent European nights reminding us of our glorious past.

Thank you Rafa for remaining loyal to the supporters and the core values of LFC.

Thank you Rafa for bringing the likes of Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano to the LFC and turning them into world class players.

Thank you Rafa for helping local lads Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher fulfill their potential.

Thank you Rafa. You’ve been a great manager and I will miss you. I wish the circumstances were different, that you would have been backed up properly by the board and given a reasonable chance to realize your long-term plan for the club.

I wish you all the best in the future.

Having said all this, I’m beginning to fear for the club in a way I haven’t previously. As far as I can tell, Liverpool is now officially a mid-table team in the Premier League, and we should all be very happy about that. If Gerrard leaves for Real Madrid, who knows how far we’ll fall. I saw an incredible picture the other day from Guatemala. A huge so-called sinkhole right in the middle of a city where a school used to stand. I wonder why I thought of that picture after reading about Rafa’s departure.

What pisses me off is these twats on the making comments on the echo pages of this story. Like “thank god he’s going”, “break out the champagne”…. and the likes. Its fucking pathetic. Where the fuck are our heritage and traditions gone. No matter how bad the last year was there is no way he deserves that type of shit. These wankers & there sky sports thinking brains are a complete and utter embarrassment to our club and history. This in itself is absolutely disgraceful. How you can celebrate the sacking of a man who brought us Istanbul and all those other European memories is beyond me. Fuck im pissed off. Rafa is the only man standing in the way of cunto and cuntee now doing what the fuck they want.

Unfortunatley the post Istanbul fans forget the years of mediocrity. Some friends of mine agree he is a very good coach but don’t like the stringent style of play under Rafa but they will not sink as low as the one’s making idiotic comments.

Speaking for myself I am optimistically hoping that this is all a bad dream or mere speculation by the gutterpress and that Rafa will come back from his holidays and say that none of them are true and that he will fight for the Club and for our traditions. He will not be keen to leave a project he has started. A workaholic and passionate manager will not throw the towel in or accept a paltry 3 million severance. I pray that the Club is sold quickly to anyone but these greedy pricks.

When the 5 million or 15 million transfer funds were being bandied about I was at least hopeful that we can sign one winger/forward and Banega with our funds + dead wood sales but now I am not so hopeful there will be anyone at the helm to make the signings this summer.

A part of me is wishing this is a smokescreen to negotiate getting transfer targets on the cheap but who am I kidding…

To sky sports

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown in to the sea.

A man who has managed, with limited resources, to break all records and expectations to reach second in the league with the highest points ever, falling short due to some injuries and the opponent being incredibly lucky.

Instead of this being an indication that he can go even better and backing him even more so that he can show that it’s possible, these two American CUNTS have done everything possible to undermine this honorable man, who has put up with all these shit in these past few months from the ignorant media and the so-called “fans” on SlySports, TalkShite and 606.

To quote Samuel L. Jackson, a Liverpool fan himself: ENOUGH is ENOUGH! I have had it with these motherfucking bloodsuckers in this motherfucking board! Buckle up folks, I’m about to blow some fucking pricks up.

If it is anyone that needs the boot, it is them, not Rafa.

I totally wouldn’t blame Rafa for deciding he’s had enough, and I actually wish he’ll come back one day with his team in Europe and trash Liverpool badly, just to prove his point that the Yanks are making a retarded mistake in sacking him (much like how the Special Needs One did so when his Inter side eliminated the Chavs earlier).

Well Tim I can understand why you would think that but now that that day is here why do I feel so low? So conflicted? To be honest my opinion on Rafa has changed since his ‘big mistakes’ interview. His concession and ownership of errors I’ve been lambasted for pointing out may have felt like validation but more importantly it acknowledged the existence of a problem and thus was the 1st step on the road to a better manager. Maybe all I’ve wanted all along was a change in our manager, not a change of manager.

Beaky just on the radio saying that Kenny will take over with Rush as second-in-command until a buyer has been found and that Rafa has lost the dressing room and all the players. (!)

Sounding VERY familiar this.

Let’s see.
Gullitt drops Shearer.
Gullitt gets the drop.
Keegan comes in.
Keegan goes.
Others come in.
Other go.
Newcastle get relegated….

All this while Rafa’s on holiday.

Shows the value of getting a good PR company behind you if you want to engage in dirty tricks – wash them out whiter than white.

It’s as if Rafa has already accepted the £3 million.

But they’re squeezing from every side now.
How come the new manager gets £15m and Rafa is to get £5m? etc etc

Anyone got any details on that march?

The end is nigh. The forums on TIA crashed so I think there are more than a few people either extremely disturbed or rejoicing.

Anyway Tim, mine and your thoughts on the man are irrelevant at the moment in comparison to the real problem: The direction the club is headed. To be perfectly honest it wouldent surprise me in the least if these 2 cunts bring us to bankruptcy. If keeping Rafa means keeping the wolves from the door and ousting these parasites then theres only one choice really isnt there? Rafas position should be reviewed after a season under new ownership imo. Until then, the owners are the true problem.

The way an honourable man is forced out under such disgraceful circumstances is the day the club I recognize ceased to exist.

Until the day G+H and their evil influences are finally gone from the club, I think I will stop watching Liverpool. I wish the new manager good luck, but he’ll find his hands will just be as tied as Rafa’s was.

When these cunts leave for good, I hope eventually ShareLFC come back in some capacity and first thing they should do, should Rafa’s “replacements” (note the plural) end up being a failure, is to reinstate Rafa back to his rightful position – Manager of Liverpool FC, with 100% financial backing.

Couldn’t agree more with you Kinny, the two scumbags are the cancer growing within the club. I don’t think anybody who is a Liverpool fan can ever blame Rafa for leaving, it would be a miracle if he stays on. I really think it is time we become like RM and Barca, the club should belong to the fans and not some jackasses who thinks LFC is a “franchise”, for fuck’s sake, we’re not KFC or White Castle! That said, maybe Share LFC should bring down their prices for the shares so that the fans who don’t earn in pounds can actually afford to buy the shares. With us as shareholders we can vote out the directors who think they can screw with us.

The away games @ Hull, Pompey, Wolves, Reading, and Wigan cost Rafa his job.14 away goals all season was a rerun of the Souness era.The players gave up long before Christmas.Rafa can prove he is great by winning Serie A next season.

Sorry Kinny but that’s not going to happen. If Rafa leaves now, I don’t expect him to ever return to work in England considering how he’s been bullied by the press for all these years. Besides, he will probably be successful at another club, possibly Inter Milan and after that Real Madrid when Mourinho moves on from there.

I don’t know who will be brought in now to replace Rafa, but we can’t afford one of the top managers of Europe, which means we will most likely continue to perform as we did this past season or even worse.

My main fear is that the owners needed to get rid of Rafa in order to sell players like Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano. One have to admit though it’s incredibly difficult to predict the near future of the club right now.

Ya know, I wanna agree with ya and say that post is 100% accurate Burgerman but I reckon theres more going on here than a mere vote of no confidence stemming from the factors you mention. They want him gone. That much is clear. I wonder….I just wonder did Rafas incessant chatter to the media and internal battling ( I know, all on our behalf) constant politicking, flirtations with other clubs, finally break the camels back? Or is it that he’s the final hurdle hindering asset stripping? Combination of both?

I dont think most of the spanish speakers at the club will hang around after Rafa goes.Torres and Reina definitely.Mascherano wanted to go anyway.Gerrard wont stay he was only hanging on in the hope the team would keep improving year on year so he could win the title(thats not going to happen).I can see it all melting down.

One swallow doesnt make a summer. Admittedly a lot of the performances were shite last season. Negative tactics, players played out of position and baffling substitutions at times. Add that to a horrific injury list which included 2 of our best players out for the season and you have a recipe for disaster. Thats not to mention the myriad of internal shit that is going on at the club and the constant press manipulation.

You have to think though that instead of breaking even in transfer costs, that if Rafa had been given that little extra to spend as in previous seasons then where would we have finished last season. Maybe he would have bought a decent left back and a quality striker and it wouldnt have been half bad.

I think in hindsight (which is a great thing) one of the biggest mistakes pre-season was buying Aqualani. Not because he was a bad player or not because he was injured. But because we needed to strengthen in other areas. i.e. a proven goalscorer to play either alongside Torres or up front in place of him if he got injured.

Anyway when all is said and done I believe Rafa deserved another season to see if he could turn it round.

The manner in which this is all being played out in the media and the public eye is a microcosm of what is going on at the club. A fucking disgrace. The last of what our great club once was will be gone if Rafa goes and cunto and cuntee appoint their YES man.

Long time, no post.

Barring Hillsborough and Heysel, I think this has to be one of the most darkest times in LFC history.

Sacking our only hope of even a faint hint of consistency and development is bad enough, but to do so in this manner, with some idiotic “fans” and vulture media enjoying it, is, quite frankly, hell.

To top it off and if reports are to be believed, our board is only willing to pay a meager 3 million for Rafa’s walk-out.

Shocking; I can’t believe how low this club has become.

People can talk about no one being bigger than the club; that’s fine, but as digger says, the direction towards which our very own club is heading does not leave anything to be hopeful about.

What is going to happen to our promising youth set-up, for example, which Rafa had finally started to get his free hands on? Will Senor Barcelona stay when he finds that Rafa, the very person that brought him here, is leaving. How the hell can Martin O’Neill even have a proper conversation with the youth team (not to say that he is coming).

All I can say is that I will probably be chuffed to bits if I see rafa leading another team to european glory. The man deserves much better than our cocked-up board.

On the other hand, I think we can kiss a Champions League place a real goodbye now, let alone the league. Perhaps if we are willing to wait another 10 years and if Rafa’s new-born youth set-up is maintained, we might just be able to see some “home-grown” talent guiding us to a memorable era (and we know who we should be thanking then if that happens), but for the meantime, we will have to hope that we are strong enough to compete against our wee neighbors, fulham and villa.

Kinny #74,
Like you, I’m extremely disappointed with Liverpool Football Club and its vocal “fans”.

If they kick Rafa out this way, I will stop supporting it until the yanks are gone at least.

Digger #69,
I’m glad you’ve spoken out what’s in your heart.

#78,
I’ll add one more reason to what you’ve just mentioned. The yanks just want to sack Rafa to sidetrack the fans from the REAL ISSUES in the club.

They’ll say they’ve listened to their customers in this case, and would use this to stall for more time in their negotiations to sell the club. SOS is getting under their skins.

I think we’re going the way of Newcastle and Leeds, like what Fat Scouser has mentioned earlier. Sigh….

Gerry: I guess the weed killer is being poured upon your little red shoots of recovery blog as we speak.

I fear for us, I cannot see in any way, shape or form how this can be beneficial. I cannot see us attracting another high class manager, they’d be on a hiding to nothing.

We are on a slippery slope. The yanks know how to make money make no bones about that, the only trouble is we won’t see any of it.

Your right Digger our opinions of the man from a football sense seem have little relevance at the moment.
I know we all want the best for LFC and i`m sure we`re all in agreement Rafa isn`t getting the sack because of the season just gone.

The liars want to cash in.They want rid of the one man who has the power to veto and propased sale of the big players.

They want to hire a new manager on less salary,on their terms who`ll have little or no power when it comes to transfers in and out.In other words another gimp.

Kennys mane is being mentioned all over the shop.I really don`t hope he does it.He`s a legend,the biggest and it could damage his legacy at LFC.

YANKS OUT NOW!!

Fat Scouser – yes, him – started a nice thread on RAWK:

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=258876.0

add your voices…

Its official:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/liverpool-fc-statement-1

Felt good sending emails even though it feels like the (thoroughbred) horse has bolted.

Now I know what Shergar lovers felt like…

Good video comp from Bobby here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-Zkpc3ik4I&feature=player_embedded

Never mind lads. We’ll get Hiddink, give him £50m to spend and win the title next season.

That’s it, until these two cancerous cells are removed from the club for good, I will stop watching any Liverpool games or follow their progress, except through here, but I will be apathetic to whatever happens.

Good luck to the Successor in attempting to avoid relegation.

It’s my birthday today – strange day it’s been

never known so much doom and gloom surrounding my club

A time to live, a time to die
A time for joy, a time to cry
A time to build up, a time to tear down
A time to smile, a time to frown
A time to bandage, a time to bleed
A time to go forward, a time to heed
A time to choke, a time to breathe
A time to rejoice, a time to grieve
A time to speak, a time to hear
A time to be brave, a time to fear
A time to be numb, a time to feel
A time to hurt, a time to heal
A time to work, a time to rest
A time to be worst, a time to be best
A time to have all, a time to choose
A time to love, a time to loose

Rafa Benitez YNWA

Here’s the thing lads… I think now… we as Fans… DO Walk Alone.

The players are in it for themselves… their own glory, medal collection, bank accounts.

The owners aren’t with us for damn sure.
…and Those Running the Club, are nothing but the Owners Lapdog Yes-Men.

We walk alone into a storm that has no golden sky in sight until such times as the Yanks are gone…. and then hope they haven’t left us like Katrina left the New Orleans 7th District, completely destroyed and with so much rot it couldn’t be (and still hasn’t been) rebuilt.

(on the upside, at least we won’t be playing in PINK! What the fuck were they thinking?)

Well it’s finally happened. The ‘sack Rafa brigade’ have got their wish. The wrong person has left LFC. Now will be a good time to tell us where we go from here. Say hello to Sam Alladyce – new LFC manager.

I know you were being facetious LB, but I think Hiddink is our only hope at this point.

He won’t get anything like 50 million, (even if G&H sell SG&FT) but he’s the only name being mentioned that is anything like the sort of quality we need.

Kenny Dalglish hasn’t managed a club since for a long time… and his stints at Newcy and Celtic weren’t exactly successful.
He was a manager for another time… and I think he’d be insane to even consider taking the gig…. and risk his Legend status.

Martin O’Neill… don’t make me laugh.

Hodgson, decent man, decent manager… but capable of challenging Scum, Chavs, Arse, Citeh and even Spurs, given their available funds?
I don’t think so.

Van Gaal? Really?

Urgh…
My heart just sank….and my fuckin brain hurts!

Totally gutted.
Its a sad day to be a RED
for those Anti-Rafa guys, you ve got our wishes.

RAFA,
Thanks for everything.
See you in Inter Milan next season

I mean, your wishes….

Here’s my prediction.

Promises are made to a New Manager to secure his services.

Those promises are then broken (just as they have been since RB’s first day at LFC) and Torres, SG and Masch are sold for a total of £100 million.

That money finds its way from LFC, to Kop Holdings, where it mysteriously disappears off the books and into G&H’s back pockets (perhaps for a revised stadium design?)

The club is sold for £450 million… with the new owners acquiring at least half the debt in the deal (still leaving us in the neighborhood of £200-250 million in debt… albeit a more serviceable debt with lower interest payments… but still…)

We look forward to battling it out for 6th/7th each season with Bolton, Sunderland, Birmingham and the slim hopes of Europa League footy!

Sad day indeed. I wish Rafa all the best. Do well and fulfil your ambitions. You gave us a lot to cheer. Rafa Benitez- A true hero.

Totally gutted! Did not think the two cunts would get away with this move. Fuck them.. how the fuck was this allowed to happen when the whole world could see who the real culprits are (except for some blind fans and the equally blind anti-Rafa brigade)? I hope the two cunts never make it to Liverpool ever again and the real fans in the states give them a nightmare everyday until they sell!

Damn I am so pissed off now..

heartbroken

Welcome to asset stripping and mid-table obscurity. Which division is debatable.

Maybe dropping down a division or two would not be a bad thing. These two fucks get nought and we get some decent supporters back, instead of the po-faced sheep we currently get at Anfield.

Anyway, it’s a sad day indeed when a LFC board sack a manager in this manner. The Liverpool way?
Not any more, money is their mantra and these two cunts will not stop until we are bleed dry. Parry and Moores, hang your collective dopey fuckin’ heads in shame.

Don’t forget that the Oracle that is FS pointed it out all along and here we are. Next will come the ‘yes man’ and then the slippery slope to mediocrity, at best.

I’m with Kinny here, no more Liverpool games for me until these two grade 4 glioblastoma’s fuck-off from the club.

Yanks Out!

Really gutted.
Thanks Rafa n all the best.

To the 2 damn idiots, fuck off.

what a sad day it is to be a red. im only 24, and i would like to say a thank you to rafa for giving me my most memorable moments as a red. before that it was the treble, but we were not a formidable side, and winning the league still looked a way off. and there is no way those times compared to istanbul, or even the second half of 08/09 where rafa’s hard work was starting to really bear fruit. aitch really summed it up well in 59/60. there is no one on the inside with our best interests at heart. only king kenny as an abassador for the club but how much weight will he hold in making key decisions?? i think you are all correct in saying a ‘yes man’ will be appointed, and our big names will be out the door. most of the coaching staff will do one now rafa is gone, and even keeping pacheco and the other promising youth now looks unlikely. thanks for that link (#85) mcrred. i sent an email to talk shite and slysport. i wish i could be in liverpool tonight for the protest. now is the time to really cause a scene, one which cant be ignored by the media and really push to get the YANKS OUT!

Until those two cunts have left I will stop caring and supporting LFC. 45 odd years and they do this. The Liverpool Way is truely Fucked. Well all you oracles that say Rafa is to blame, you have your wish. Mediocrity here we come.

and to think that last year we were a few decent squad players and a bit of luck away from winning the league.

30 years I have followed this team for two twats to fuck it up when we were, IMHO, on the brink of getting back to the top.

Well done the CBC, away and support Chelsea, Barca or whatever whim takes you. Wankers.

All I know if the two wanks are still in charge if ever Benitez returns to Anfield as a visiting manager (Inter Milan), I know who I will be cheering on.

Even though I know next year we will be fortunate to get a UEFA cup place, just like the good auld days, I tells ya.

Enough to make me vomit.

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I am just to angry to write anymore.

Really sad day They made sure he doesn’t feel happy by jumping into a job of his choice like Real Madrid or Juventus. The way they have treated him is shambolic. His records speaks for itself.

he’s gone to inter. nailed on. their owner only came out a couple of days ago and said how much he admired him and boom he’s gone. it’s gonna be very interesting to see what rafa has to say without a muzzle on also what the top players have to say.

There’s layers of irony here, and you’re right Guinness, time will tell on the true story. But i’m not holding my breath…

The original pay-off figure was £3m. Rafa reportedly is getting £6m. I wouldn’t be surprised if the difference was a non-disclosure clause.

Anyway I’m too gutted for words (well nearly)…

..spent the evening arguing with the Rafa-out brigade. They just haven’t got a clue about the insidious nature of the Leeches. Everything’s Rafa did this; Rafa didn’t do that. Etc etc, you know the score from the cut & paste brigade.

All I can say is I’m confused. Something between Monty Python – “he’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!”

and the Britney Spears – “Leave him alone!!!” YouTube guy.

Fuckit. I need a drink…

Officially in mourning.

What a grave and very very sad day for LFC and it’s “loyal” fan’s, the Rafa out brigade in here must be rubbing their hand’s with glee, personally i am totally gutted especially when i read this,

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/91122

Correct Hyde dark day’s indeed.
LB, i think the next guy to become our coach should be told “go out there and win the prem for those fantastic fan’s of our’s” oh and by the way here’s £15mil to go out and buy three world class player’s sorry, less the £6mil we paid our former coach.
Not trying to be funny here guy’s cos honestly LFC getting rid of Rafa Benitez is somebody else’s gain and as i say to me this hurt’s like hell.
Thank’s Rafa for everything.
YNWA.

Lads, haven’t been here for a while.
As Gerry said, this (kopblog and lfc) was a way to get away from all the shite and enjoy something.
Instead for the past month I’ve completely stayed away from anything football related.

Sad day today.

Not only have we lost a great manager but we have lost hope.

My biggest concern is goin forward.

The next manager, for example oneill or hodgson, don’t have rafas network of scouts and players.
Had we had a descent budget, this wouldn’t be an issue, but when we have to dig for gold through dirt, I don’t think these managers will be capable.

Sad day indeed but lets get one thing straight, all this talk about Hiddink, O’Neil, Hodgson is just shite. We are talking about the twats here, there going to want some class acts like Bruce, Strachan, Fat Sam or Moyes, afterall you have to give the fans something.
.
Afterall why not bring in people who really know what it means to be on Mersyside, passion, traditions and two dead set fucksticks.
.
Ps is Gillet dead yet.

Tomkins has some terrific stuff on his site today.

One of which is a follow up to his visit in October with rafa at Mellwood.

But here are some interesting “facts” for the people who got their wish…
http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/06/some-rafa-benitez-facts-and-record/

These figures are staggeringly successful!

Rafa thank you for everything.You`ve filled my life with so much joy.

Thanks for Istanbul,the greatest night of my life by a mile.(my 3 kids were born in the AM!)
Thanks for Cardiff,the fa cup.Thanks for making us one of the most feared teams in Europe.Thanks for standing up to the cancer.
Thanks for your dignity and respect for us supporters and most importantly for making me believe again.

It`s a sad day in our history Rafa.

I`m gutted to see you go.That said you deserve better.I hope you find a club that appreciates you.

You`ll never walk alone.

This piece by Tomkins hints at some of the background shit going on:

http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/06/conversations-with-a-european-champion/

“I was born Spanish, I am no longer as thin (the anxiety doesn’t help), and yes, sometimes I help serving the dinner.”

After the media referred to him as “the fat Spanish waiter”.

God, I’ll miss having him at the helm. It was that subtle, cheeky sense of humour that only we, as fans, could see…

This is a day where I’ve seen the best and the worst.

Just coming back from the Crematorium. Said goodbye to a friend of mine. A young fella, 38, with a 2 year old, 4 days younger than mine. A Liverpool supporter, a quiet, thinking guy with a wicked, dry sense of humour. Cancer killed his body but not his spirit nor the spirits of his wife, family and friends. Very moving, emotional day. Made me proud to be a human being.

Flicked on the radio and guess what I heard. Fcuk it man.

Not that Rafa’s parting and my mate’s exit are in anyway comparable but there are some weird echos there in my poor little mind right now.

Respect for Rafa, respect for the real Reds.
Spot on Timmy and Lurgan and Aitch. Redmen, Yokohama, McrRed, Keith, SOAK, LB, Skeat, Kinny, Ax, Corkie, Digger, Gerry,knight, Hyde, FS and ALL (bar the muppets) who have posted on the site over the last few years … It’s been great shooting the shit with you guys. You are the real Liverpool and the real Liverpool Way. I have not met any of you in person (bar Corkie) but you know I feel the love, the intelligence, the humour, the wit, passion, heart and self depreciation. It’s been good to hang out on this site in Rafa’s time. It was a special time.

As for now well i’m 40 years a red and hopefully I’ll be around another 40 years but that’s it for me for now. I’m going underground. Until those 2 slimebags and their cohorts are gone then anything that screws them up and shakes off the gloryhunting – me now -sheep is fine by me.

So I don’t really care what happens and if we have to crash and burn to rid ourselves of them then so be it. In fact bring it on!

All efforts and energy should be put towards that one goal. No matches, no LFC Tv, no replica jerseys, no nothing that puts a single cent into their greasy palms. If any of us have not yet joined the Union then do so now. Boycott everything that supports them.

Aitch, it’s not that the club wasn’t bigger than Rafa, or no-one was bigger than the club or whatever…. The club is no longer ours. The club doesn’t belong to us anymore. The “club” is a whore now. It has it’s yankee pimps and bends as they wish. It’s there to make them money and no other reason. FS was right.

What the fcuk is kenny doing, having anything to do with these pigs ?

Bye bye sink, hello plughole.

Sorry to be such a miseable git tonight. Life ain’t the way you’d want it to be sometimes.

Respect to Diarm. RIP.

Rafa is now away, instead of asking who will be the next manager, we should be asking what this means for LFC.

I have some dark thoughts in my head so any other input would be welcome.

By the way ….

40 years a red mean’t many amazing nights and days. For a long time they were so numerous and consistent that I almost became used to them and took it for granted that is why, for me, Istanbul (and Olypiakos, Juve ? and most particularly Chavski) will always be the best. Quite simply could not ever be better. The perfect end to the best series of underdog wins by a pretty limited team a master coach and the fans.
Cheers Rafa, just thinking about that made me feel better !

This is all down to those cowardly mother fucking day tripping 2005 season glory hunting traitorous cunts like Jamie Wanker…

Without Rafa were fucked – we’ll end up with some numpty like Steve McLaren…

We wont be winning anything for years to come now…

We’d all better hope that some sugar daddy comes along because thats the only way we’ll get out of this collossal cluster fuck…

The Yanks have fucked us over well and truely – with no little help from a section a brain dead moronic “supporters” who know less about the game than the two thieves who own us…

Dark thoughts? I got some I have to get off my chest…

I’m fucking more furious than I can say with the players – particularly Gerrard and Carragher who I’m thinking were the senior players the Board (H&G) were cosying up to.

Now, I’ve stood all around Anfield and hero worshipped these two like a little kid, so I’m not trying to do a simple character assassination.

Benitez’s style was to ship out big egos. That’s how he got the crushing machine ticking over at Valencia.

Gerrard was too precious to get rid of and ultimately this contributed to Rafa’s downfall.

All’s fair in love and war, so I can accept the need to keep players on-side. It’s politics and the game at LFC had suddenly got way political.

What I can’t accept is multi-millionaire players not putting in 100% because they’ve had a ‘rift’ with the manager. We’re the ones paying their wages. They should put in maximum effort on the field then talk it out with the manager in private. I ended up getting sick of the sight of our captain’s face whenever the 75th minute came because it was so clearly showing the rift that was there beneath the surface.

I’ve said it before, the comparisons with Shearer are remarkable.

There. Left field and heretical, I know, but I’m so gutted it’s happened like this.

The irony is there’s a more than even chance that Gerrard won’t be here come the next season so what did he as a player gain?

Rant over…for now.

This is so fucking pathetic, I’m very disillusioned and angry by Rafa’s sacking. There is nothing mutual about this departure. No doubt a “yes man” will be appointed as the next manager, a puppet for the yanks to strip the club of its assests. I hope we get relegated next season so that maybe some “fans” and media can finally reason just how good Rafa was for Liverpool and how bad the two Yank leeches are. A big FUCK YOU to you everyone involved in the sacking of this great, proud man. Good luck Rafa, I hope you have instant success next season.

Thanks Rafa, for bringing back Big Ears, for standing up to bullies in the Press and Ferguson, for showing us the best football since Kenny’s days 2 seasons back.

You’ve shown your care and concern for the club and its fans, and this is what I’m most grateful for. Here’s all the best for your next appointment!

BTW guys, I’ll be off to support the younger Rafa in Roland Garros

Sorry to hear about your loss Dougle, my condolences mate. Always tragic to lose anyone near and dear nevermind one in his prime and with little ones too. Extremely sad but as you allude, it adds a sobering perspective when compared to our collective loss today. And with that in mind I say to Mcred and Arman; lads, I appreciate ye’re emotional right now but…..blame our Skipper for Rafas dismissal? Look higher up the food chain. Hope we’re relegated Arman? To prove a point? Seriously mate, get a grip.

William Hill’s Current Odds:

9-4 Martin O’Neill,
5-2 Roy Hodgson,
3-1 Kenny Dalglish,
6-1 Jurgen Klinsmann,
8-1 Guus Hiddink,
14-1 Frank Rijkaard,
14/1 Sammy Lee,
16-1 Slaven Bilic, Mark Hughes,
20-1 Marco Van Basten, Alex McLeish,
25-1 Marcello Lippi, Harry Redknapp, Bernd Schuster, Michael Laudrup,
33-1 Kevin Keegan, Alan Curbishley, Felipe Scolari, Dider Deschamps,
40-1 Sven Goran Eriksson,
50-1 Steve McClaren, John Toshack, Graeme Souness,
150/1 Phil Thompson

Anybody remember Magnum P.I.? “OH….MY….GOD!”

Most of those names are nauseating, but just to pick out a few…

Klinsmann?????
Mark Fat-Arse MANC Hughes?????
Sven Goran Former Fuckin Norwich Manager Lock Up Yer Daughters Erickson?????
GRAEME BLEEDIN SOUNESS?????????????
That warrants saying again… GRAEME BLEEDIN SOUNESS????????????? (who as memory serves me coached LFC to 12th or 14th?)

There is quite literally only ONE name that stands out and Hiddink just signed a contract with Turkey.

Then you have a huge gulf in class, that requires taking a big leap of faith that they can make the step up, with someone like Hodgson.

The rest have been failures at far smaller clubs.

Of the former players…
I just think Kenny’s time has come and gone.
Sammi’s a decent assistant, but he’s not the way forward.
I think Phil Thompson wouldn’t be an entirely bad choice (but only in regards how fuckin abjectly poor the rest are) since he did do a decent job under Ged and during his absence…. but I wonder about his temparament to handle underperforming stars.
And lets face it… NONE of those are a step forward from Rafa.

Here’s some more odds…
Will Liverpool Hang On To Their Assets: (Players to be Liverpool players on September 1st 2010)

Steven Gerrard: 5/6 Stay, 5/6 Go
Fernando Torres: 5/6 Stay, 5/6 Go
Javier Mascherano: 1/1 Stay, 8/11 Go
Yossi Benayoun: 6/4 Stay, 1/2 Go
Alberto Aquilano: 4/9 Stay, 13/8 Go

URGH!

Yeah Digger, I can’t believe I’m rightfully being chastised by you…strange times indeed! But I haven’t lost sight of the biggest (& ongoing) threat to this club, the two bloodsucking leeches.

I wasn’t saying Gerrard was only to blame but probably a bigger part of the picture than I would have liked.

Anyway Ballache disagrees:

http://www.guillembalague.com/blog_desp.php?titulo=Rafa+exit+not+a+consequence+of+player+power&id=455

Aitch, I’ve got a fairly good imagination but I can’t see myself being inspired by O’neil hopping onto the pitch instead of Rafa in Buddha pose during the penalty shoot-out.

Awww crap. The tears are coming again…

From the Ballague link McrRed provided above…
“Gerrard has four offers from English clubs and there have been conversations with Real Madrid.”

Oh Dear…

Commenting on the player power rumor, today a SkySports reporter suggested that… “the decision to part ways with Rafa Benitez, was effected primarily by Martin Broughton.”

Hmmm… who is it he supports again?

Alright, I hope we come 17th then, not get relegated.

No worries Mcred, I dont presume to chastise anyone. Was just trying to provide a more grounded appraisal unencumbered by (perfectly natural) emotional venting. Fair dues to ya for taking it in the manner it was intended. On Stevie, I’d be stunned if he signed for another Prem team. Flabbergasted. If he goes it’ll be Madrid. Its very much dependant on whos appointed now imo. I think a Dalglish (Stevie worships him), Rijkaard, Hiddink like appointment would convince him to stay. An O’neill, Hodgeson? Mmmm…

A very sad day indeed
I’m too gutted to even post anything worthwhile
sorry about your mate Dougle

Rafa, you will ALWAYS be a legend in my eyes and you really love US the fans

to quote the man

“Thank you so much once more and always remember: You’ll never walk alone.”

I wish it were true

Slainte Rafa

over and out

Did my 1st posting after hearing the bad news yesterday.

4 LFC’s sake, the 2 must go, get lost, fuck off, to hell!

Hicks = He Is Cowardly Kingsized Shits
Gillett = Good In Lies Leading Everything To Tumble

nice one sam, bring out the assassin poet in all off us…

purslow = probably undermining rafa, significant lies on wecord
broughton = brought round on urgent gillett/hicks task of nefariousness

Yes, to relegation it will be if that’s what’s needed to send these cancerous tumours out for good, as well as make the Anti-Rafa Cunts (ARCs) look completely stupid, thus vindicating Rafa.

Go into administration, start the season with minus 10 points, but the new owner will no longer need to worry about debts? I’ll take that.

decent eulogy for the man – before he left:

“Actually, it would be rather ironic that the only substantial money Rafa has received in recent years is the money to get rid of him.”

http://lfcglobe.com/why-rafael-benitez-has-to-remain-as-liverpool-manager/

Very sad day indeed. Rafa is the only single person to hold the LFC tradition together, allowing us to hold our heads up high, to give us hope, to gell the team together, fighting off predators. Now, it seems our key players are being sought after by so many clubs. It is only profit motive for the yanks and yes, Moores and Parry too. LFC is being thrown down the gutter by Moores and Parry and now G&H.I am shaking my head as I type this. Very sad.

Lads, lets see who arrives before we start slitting our wrists – remember the club WILL be sold – maybe not soon enough to save Rafa but hopefully by the end of the year. There really is no point in speculating as to what will happen until we have new owners.

I for one, will continue to support the new manager and the team, but of course YANKS OUT

Aitch, Just read your PT Post. Staggering statistics of Rafa. Makes me even angrier than ever of the bloody yanks and yes, especially our Chelksi fan, Broughton. No wonder he kicked Rafa out. I guess he will be having agalss of champagne with Roman Abramovich in London quite soon.Disgusting, don’t you agree?

There is a saying in Chinese: Nothing gives greater cause for sorrow than despair.

This club has died for me. It no longer exists. Even as a phoenix, this Liver Bird will not be resurrected until the two evil forces holding it back are completely and utterly removed.

Great post Dougle and sorry to hear about your friend.Ain`t life a bitch.
News like that kinda puts things into perspective.

Yes there are more important things in life but all this shit is really fucking my head up.I can`t help but feel the same Dougle,i want to switch off from it all.It feels like we`ve lost,our club as we knew it is gone.There teeth are firmly sunk into us and we seem powerless to be able to do anything about it.
It feels like LFC is dead and the only thing that will resserect it is when the club is sold and the two tumours in our club are gone.

sad how it happened in the end but come on now lads slitting wrists, relegation not supporting the team??
Dougles mates family have real problems.you have my sympathy mate.
these are dark times for the club but it has been through MUCH worse than this and come out the other side if you feel so angry about these things don’t turn your back on the club get involved in the fight to save the club. players and managers will come and go the club will always remain as long as it has fans to play for.

Hey Dougle, top post mate and sorry to hear about your loss. I hope that you will still pop in here from time to time though.

Guinness, I am not sure that this club has been in this type of shit before. As Dougle and others have pointed out this is no longer LFC as we knew it. For me LFC died yesterday and all it is now is a bag of shite in a pretty LFC wrapping.

From henceforth, I will do anything that stops putting money into the Yanks pockets and support the SOS in anyway I can. Once they are finally gone, I will reassess.

If any of you guys still haven’t caught on yet, it does not matter who the manager is or who we sell or buy (LOL), with these two fucks at the helm we are going nowhere, except south!

So if ye haven’t signed up to SOS, I would ask you to do so now.

Still gutted!

http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/06/conversations-with-a-european-champion/

Thanks for posting that Lurgan,good read.

I think no matter who comes in once they`re still in charge we`ll never challenge.

Any manager worth his salt wouldn`t touch LFC with a bargepole,

In fairness Lurgen Hillsborough puts whats going on now in the halfpenny place lets get some perspective here. these wankers have been in charge for three years we cant all just turn around today and go right thats it im off cause they sacked the manager.
now i know alot of people are distraught about whats happened but life goes on we dont need anymore proof of what they plan to do with the club FS pointed it all out months ago so lets collectivly go and do something about it.
There is a hard road ahead no doubt about it but maybe this is the kick up the arse we all need to up the pressure and the protests to get rid of the scum i hope it is. not for rafa not for nando or stevie, for liverpool fc.

Guiness & Arthur,

I like your attitude in #145 & #137.

But I just can’t put myself to support the club that the yanks are currently manipulating for their own profits.

1) 46m pounds for designing a stadium that never existed and no money for transfers.
2) several millions for travelling to & from Anfield and the US
3) Most likely getting Yes Men to be the manager (but I’ll take Arthur’s word on it and see who is appointed).

We’re now like the fairy tale princesses waiting for a handsome prince/knight in shining armour to take us away from the clutches of evil stepmothers.

We really need a fairy tale ending to turn things round. That’s why I’m so sad.

But then after watching Shrek (not the manc scouser), I think fairy tale endings are extremely unlikely.

I’ll still hang around Kopblog every now and then. Tata…

Guinness how can you draw a parallel between the Hillsborough tragedy and the current situation at LFC?

There is no common ground whatsoever.

After Hillsborough (JFT 96), we still had the best players, best team, great manager and SUPPORT from the board. A cohesive unit!

Flash forward now 24 years and we have just sacked the best manager we have had since Dalglish, for no apparent reason other than the owners (i.e. board) want to rape and pillage the club of everything. Never in my recollection has this ever happened before at LFC.

Maybe JackHill or TheRedMan will correct me but this is unprecedented and if you think supporting LFC (i.e. the yanks) is the way forward, then fair play to you bud. IMHO Rafa was the one plugging the holes in the dam and now he has been ousted as well. Now let’s see what happens!

BTW, who said I was off? I said that I would be doing my bit to get rid of these two tumors and get back the club I once knew to be LFC. All these guys understand is money and this is where we need to hit them. Hopefully we can limit the damage that they cause before fucking off.

There is a saying in Diggerese: Nothing gives greater cause for deserved derision than the sight of a grown man, clearly unschooled in not getting what he wants, behaving like a 4yr old in the confectionary aisle at the supermarket when he dosent get what he wants. ‘I HATE YOU!!…..I HOPE YOUR RELEGATED!!! (screaming now embarrassingly) I HOPE WE GO INTO ADMINISTRATION!!! YOUR DEAD TO ME…..YOU NO LONGER EXIST!!!’ (stomps feet etc). The adults: ‘yes yes little Kinny, we know (sigh)….come along now…’

Are you on a wind-up Digger?

Good morning Gerry, Good People, Idiots and Traitors…

Well I hope the Idiots and Traitors amongst us are happy now.

Sadly, as for the rest of us… We are bollacksed.

I just sent this as an email answer to one of the good bretheren of this blog. Waste not want not… I thought I might aswell let you all see it, slightly edited a bit…

A boycott mate… with these kunts we’ve got following us today. Not a hope in hell.

The time when LFC fans were reknowned for their loyalty and knowledge has well gone mate… funny enough, Rafa’s to blame for that in one way.

The silly bastard, what was he thinking winning a European Cup in his first season with that shower of shite he inherited. But then he wasn’t to know, that it would be the post Istanbul band wagon jumpers who’d helped drive him out…

And yes. The stupid bastards are still being conned…
Sky sports was at Anfield all day yesterday. They scoured the place until they found a few people who said they was glad he was gone – both had Southern accents.

They showed these 2 pricks all day long, until they finally found 2 scousers who said the same thing. I’m glad he’s gone….
funnily enough though, in both “the interviews,” not a word about the owners.

But then when I say “interviewers” they were edited down to nothing more than Rafa out soundbites. And all reference to the owners were obviously edited out.

Then when the protest happened outside the club, they announced it as an SOS organised protest… it wasn’t. And the SOS went to great lengths to tell them that. It was also said, that the protests were purely against the owners and had nothing to do with Rafa being forced out.

The truth is, it was just local people turning up after work and staging a protest against the yanks – especially for the “sacking” of Rafa.

That was completely ignored, and all Rafa chants were edited out. But they concentrated on the burning of US flags.

2 effects there… The Fans were happy to see Rafa go, the SOS is a bunch of flag burning thugs.
And sadly our own “Support” still laps this up.

We are doing all we can, but, well, this might explain it…
Next week the BBC is having a 2 hour documentary on the Green and Gold “Campaign at Man U.”

Campaign my arse. It’s just some fellas knocking up Norwich coloured scarves in sweat shops and making a few quid selling them on the streets of Manchester and round the world through the internet.

The money doesn’t go to any cause, it’s just pocketed by those involved. There is no real organisation anyway. As for SOS…

Well we recieve one or another treatment from the media… ignored or called a bunch of thugs, no matter what it does.

Newsworthy events are totally ignored….
There are anti H&G billboards all over Liverpool, and a blimp flying over Anfield, paid for by SOS, ignored by the media.
H&G have effectively been banned from the city nevermind their own stadium by SOS… ignored by the media.

And I could go on, but I think you get my drift… no matter what we do, no matter how unique (Even the union itself is unique – the first ever football fans union in the world) it is all ignored or portayed in a bad light. While a scarf selling operation is hailed by the media on a daily basis as the greatest people’s uprising since Jesus took on the Romans.

And this is what we are up against… So how can we educate these people into boycotting?

Season ticket prices have already been put up for next season. And life long, match going local supporters are refusing to take them in protest.

But they know they will just be snapped up by tourists. So people are paying for them but intending not to use them. Realisitcally though, people won’t, or can’t afford, to keep wasting thousands of pounds on tickets they’ll never use.

As for merchandise boycotting…
SOS has peaceful pickets outside the club’s shops in Liverpool city centre and at Anfield. They’ve been there for months. But due to laws implemented by that cunt Thatcher during the miner’s strike, the pickets have to stand a few hundred yards away from the shops.

Meaning… People ignore them, walk in, and come out arms full of tat and unmolested. They even refuse to take the leaflets that the pickets try to hand to them… usually saying no, in their Southern, Irish, American or Asian accents.

And that is just the tip of what we are up against.

In fact, I’m just watching Sky sports news now. It’s business as usual…
Southern accents being interviewed outside the shop, arms full of over priced tat, calling for Dalglish or Hodgson or ONeil or Hughes to replace a European cup winning manager who was able to break up the du-oply of Real an Barca…

ffs, and these stupid bastards think he’s been sacked for footballing reasons…
Hicks, Gillette, Purslow and Broughton, what the fuck do they know about football?

Make no bones about it mate, Rafa has been sacked for one reason only… he was the only thing left standing in their way.

Our fukin idiot fans have got what they wanted. They have now removed the only obstacle we had in the way of H&G.

But I wonder how many of them will be still going the shop when we are fighting Blackburn for 12th place?

And that’s if we are fucking lucky and get shot of the leeches quick. Otherwise I fear it’s the likes of Cardiff we will be fighting for promotion back to the Premiereship.

Oh well, if that’s the case hopefully we will at least get shot of the kunts who get the train from London to go the shop and ignore the pickets. And hopefully we will get shot of the likes of them kunts in the blog and we will get our club back.

So, I hope the stupid bastards enjoy what they have helped happen with their internet blogs, phone ins and letters, and even booing at Anfield.

But sadly it’s us mate, the life long diehards who are going to suffer the consequences.

As for meself, I’m going to do the little I can. I’ll remain in the SOS, and I won’t go to another match or buy any tat, until the yanks are gone.

I’ll miss going the match terribly. I’ll miss seeing all me old mates terribly. But they won’t be there anyway. As most diehards are the same, and they won’t get a penny from us until the yanks are gone…

As make no mistake we now exist for just one purpose…
solely to make money for our American “Custosians” and to pay off debts not only incurred by them but actually owed to them!

Yep. For all this shite… We actually owe them through loans secured to their Cayman Island based Kop holdings….

And yes we are no more than Weetabix now. And while some of us will fight that, sadly all I can say is… there’s a lot of us who deserve no better. And I hope they enjoy their little victory while it lasts.

As for me, I’ll see you in the Championship soon, and hopefully we’ll be shot of them by then.
*******************************************

As I said, that was an email, slightly edited, to another of the lads from the blog. I thought I might aswell let you all see it.

Hiya to all the good lads. Sorry, I don’t see you so much nowadays, but I won’t be coming back. I’m still at it though, and there is some of us having some success against the owners. I can’t say too much about that, but don’t get your hopes up… the only thing that will shift them, MONEY.

And to get it, they’ll either asset strip the club and then sell the shell – alla Leeds. Or with a bit of luck, they’ll find some mug who’s willing to pay 4 times the actual worth of the club… but don’t hold your breath on that.

As for the footballing side of things… Have a look at the list of future managers. Oh dear. Rafa for that lot… And still some of you stupid bastards think he was sacked for footballing reasons, and that the likes of MON will do better with no money. And please don’t start thinking the likes of Hiddink… I keep hearing the dickheads saying that name… FFS he’s contracted to Turkey and will get a million Euros for each game he’s in charge. Do you really think anyone decent will take this on?

Oh dear whatever happened to the most knowledgable fans in the game.

Yes. It’s sad sad times for us proper reds, indeed.

As for the rest of you fuckin idiots, I hope you’re happy now.

Tara lads.
Keep the Faith
Fat Scouser

Just had a quick look at the comments while I was in. See nothing’s changed…

There is a saying in Diggerese: Nothing gives greater cause for deserved derision than the sight of a grown man, clearly unschooled in not getting what he wants, behaving like a 4yr old in the confectionary aisle at the supermarket when he dosent get what he wants. ‘I HATE YOU!!…..I HOPE YOUR RELEGATED!!! (screaming now embarrassingly) I HOPE WE GO INTO ADMINISTRATION!!! YOUR DEAD TO ME…..YOU NO LONGER EXIST!!!’ (stomps feet etc). The adults: ‘yes yes little Kinny, we know (sigh)….come along now…’

Oh dear to think the likes of that have inherited the club.

How about Roonie Whelan for manager Diggereedoo. He’d be right up your street. You fuckin idiot.

http://tomkinstimes.com/2010/06/please-mr-hansen-check-your-facts/

What is it with ex-reds? Here’s a quote from the article.

“The painful truth for Liverpool and their supporters is that the new manager at Anfield, whoever he turns out to be, will find a worse squad at his disposal than that which Benítez inherited from Gerard Houllier in 2004.”

At first I hoped it was sarcasm but no, ultimately it was utter tripe from Hansen, spouting the same shite.

This is fucking depressing! More beer/wine/ricard needed I thinks.

No Lurgan, I’m not on a windup. I’m making a point. I’m highlighting how utterly childish and embarrassing some of the things our supporters are saying. Relegation? Yeah, thats worked well for Leeds. How many yrs they gone now? Administration? So we can be picked apart and left a shell? Great. I’m trying to say, ‘pull yourself together lad, man up, nobody died here, we’ll move forward, as best we can, together’. To be willfully, actively wishing ill on our club is frankly, fucken pathetic. Grow the fuck up.

Digger I think that what some of the people in here are trying to say, and I know I can’t talk for everyone, is that if we got relegated or went into administration, this would be the quickest way to get rid of G&H.

It’s for the greater good.

BTW, I am a midget and was insulted by your last comment!

Sorry mate but I disagree. It wouldent be for the greater good imo. Relegation could take yrs to recover from. Administration? Who knows, could take our lifetimes. Thats good? Me, I’d rather be in the prem and afloat whilst we get new owners, then take it from there. The club will be sold. Until then we need to do all we can to expedite that event. Wishing for what amounts to our destruction because we hate the ownership is smalltime and pathetic. Worse iswhen that wish is to prove a point. Ridiculous mate.

Digger what makes you think that whilst we remain in the EPL, these guys will want to leave?

FFS, they have lent their own money to us at a 10% interest rate and are reaping in the profits. RBS are getting a million quid every 9 days of us.

I know what I would do, especially at a time when global interest rates are at a all-time low i.e. fuck all. They will just keep raping the club until there is nothing left.

On the other hand, if we fall out of the EPL this may force their (or RBS’) hand, and they will need to sell up for a ‘normal’ selling price and then we, LFC, maybe able to take it from there.

So, back to you, how do you see it panning out in the short, medium, and long term, just to put it on record.

Lurgan – the Wanks have stated they are selling the club – that is why they appointed the new chairman. Now, if the club is not in the PL, surely it becomes a less attractive potential purchase for an investor?

I for one think we’ll hold on to Torres and Mascherano – perhaps purchase a player or two and by Xmas, the club will be sold. Then we’ll see where we stand.

Wanting us to go into administration is foolhardy and unhelpful – wont happen anyway

AGP, the wanks stated a lot! Let me list a few.

- Spade in the ground within 40 days, or maybe it was 60
- No debt to be put onto the club
- Massive transfer budget in summer 2009
- Substantial transfer budget in summer 2010
- We don’t have to sell to buy

You keep believing what you read and I will keep believing what I see.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4041596

Great custodians. FFS, wake up!

Arthur I think you are being very optimistic. I doubt the club will be sold until the owners start feeling it in the pocket. Look at the history of Tom Hicks and you’ll see that he only sells up when the sports “franchise” is in ruin. He’ll sell until he has bled the club dry mate. That’s unless some sod turns up and pays £600m-£800m for a club in £351m debt that needs a new stadium. Remember these 2 cunts already turned down a near £500m offer from DIC not that long ago. All of a sudden they will sell up now and make us all happy? I don’t think so. RBS has given the club an indefinite extension. As long as the club can pay the interest the banks are cool with it. When the club can no longer afford to meet the payments that’s when they will step in. Which brings me to this point.

We’ve been qualifying for the champions league and turning a profit in the transfer market for the past 2 years. Although we made a loss of £55m we were able to pay off the £40m interest payment. Next season we have no champions league income and will have paid Rafa off in my opinion more than the £6m that is being reported. So how will we be in a position to pay off the £40m interest payment? The club say we won’t be selling our best players. Well that’s what Peter Risdale (chairman) at Leeds said while they auctioned off their stars.

H&G saying the club is for sale means nothing. There are no buyers. Purslow was supposed to find investment by Easter. What happened with that? Spade was supposed to be in the ground in 60 days was it? Snoogey Doogey? Substantial transfer kitty? All these lies and people still believe them when they say the club will be sold. My arse will it.

I have no doubt Mascherano will want to leave. Torres might stay for another season – max. Eventually he’ll fuck off as well. If Gerrard gets a good offer I can see him leaving. Only thing that might persuade him is a one to one with Dalglish.

The way they have shoved Dalglish in front of us is another classic. An obvious attempt to appease. I wonder how long it will take Kenny to smell the bullshit.

At some point Lurgan the RBS are gonna stop giving them extensions. They have too. It cant go on forever. They can barely pay the interest. RBS are not going to continue in this vein indefinitely. At some stage they’re gonna call in the loans and this will force them to sell. Add to this the pressure that the fans have them (all) under and pretty soon the jig will be up. If nothing else, H&G are on borrowed (oh the irony) time. I’d sooner hope for this scenario than administration. Sorry mate, thats just me

Are you sure that RBS gave them an indefinite extension LB? First I heard of that mate. Never heard the words ‘indefinite’ and ‘extension’ together in relation to this issue until your post. Jaysus I hope to fuck thats not true. If thats the case those desiring administration may very well get their wish.

Digger: I think we’d all prefer the yanks to go rather than go into administration. The problem is the yanks are good at hanging on and bleeding things dry. They will only go when the cash cow has been milked to death. That’s bad news for us mate.

Digger, the word indefinite was not used but they have given no set deadline. Broughton said they have finance sorted until they find a buyer. I interpret that as RBS being fine as long as they get their interest payments sorted.

When I emailed RBS some time ago asking for them not to provide further loans to Hicks and Gillett they sent me a reply basically saying that they are business partners with LFC and have done and continue to do business. Words to that effect. They won’t pull the plug on the club while the club has enough assets to ensure the interest is paid.

The LFC soap opera has taken another twist, and that’s what the whole thing is, one big shitty soap opera!!

Dougle, condolences on your news, I will make my way down West to you in the next few Weeks.

When I heard the board were discussing Rafa’d position a few days ago, I laughed, what the fuck good have the board been over the last 3 years.

The new season starts in 9 Weeks, who do they really expect to get in with the current circumstances. it’s a complete joke.

I have lost count on the number of extentions the two pricks have got from the banks so far, and the fact the club is for sale dosn’t mean fuck all(look at Newcastle). The extensions won’t last forever, but long enough to put us in the shit.

Looking at the club from the outside, we have about four world class players, (and I doubt all four will be retained before the start of the season) and thats all that seperates us now from most average them in the league. (Fulham with their great season finished 10th or there abouts)

A work mate can up to me yesterday and said “I suppose it a good thing, fresh start” – The mind boggles!

According to the financial reports… (and figures, as always, vary)

Liverpool Football Club is £351m in debt.
The Club itself, over in Anfield, holds around £127 million of this debt.
The remainder of around £220milion or so, is held against Kop Holdings.

If, as Hicks has done with The Dallas Stars, (see Lurgs link in #160) G&H decide to default on the loan… let me type that again… G&H decide to default on the loan… (and that is their decision to make) …
RBS will only be able to legally make claims against the £127 million held by the Club itself.

The rest of the money owed to RBS… the £220milion or so… is held by Kop Holdings, a company based in the Cayman Islands… a soveriegn territory not held to U.K., Euro, or U.S. Laws.

(which is why the fuckin thing was based there in the beginning!)

Oh and Digger… the loan extention may not be “indefinite”
…but RBS were supposedly going to “call in” the loan las year…
…then in January…
… then it was extended to July…
… then supposedly for an additional 6 months, to give Broughton working room…
… many of Broughton’s statements suggest the end of the year…
… then we had a Hicks statement, just last week, claiming they had “18 months to find the right buyer”.

RBS do not give a fuck about LFC… as long as they get their interest payment on time.

If you miss a payment, a loan shark will break your fingers, he won’t kill you. With broken fingers you still pay him… dead, he gets nothing.

RBS won’t care if Torres is sold, and won’t even vcare if the 30-50 million we get for him disappears… just as long as they see their daily VIG.

same goes for SG, Masch, or anyone else.

LFC without SG, FT, Masch, Bennayoun, Pepe, Kuyt, Agger, Skrtel, Babel, Maxi, Aqua, Riera, Lucas, Johnson…. (ALL significantly sellable assets, with the exception of Riera) is still worth £350 million to a new buyer.
Simply because it is still LFC, with a worldwide fan base of shirt-n-swag buying “customers”!

That may be a worse case scenario?
For sure, we may get a Good Manager and a New Money-Bags owener within the next 6 months and 12 months from now, the ship is righted and sailing back in the right direction…. but
but it isn’t doom-n-gloom scaremongering to suggest it… and from evidence of the last 2-3 years, I’d suggest the worse case scenario is far more likely than the best case.
Its a fuckin distinct possibility given the disappearance of the funds from recent player sales!

Oh and FS… don’t go away… you just got here!

It’ll be nice to have some of your insight over the coming weeks, lad.

…So stick around please!

Cheers LB. This whole thing has my head fucked to be honest. I’m trying to not panic and focus on something positive (potential sale). I read and appreciate what you and Aitch and Lurgan write with growing dread and I’m just hoping against hope ya know? Listen Kinny, I’m sorry for having a go but when I read that you were hoping that our desperate situation would worsen just so you could say ‘Hah!’ to the cbc I thought it was unecessary and self destructive. Nose, spite, face n’ all that. Sorry mucker.

Definitions of despair

(1)A state in which all hope is lost or absent

(2)The feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well

(3) Liverpool football club

I know Aitch, I know. I’m trying, really trying not to hit the panic button. Believe me, I’m aware of the direction we’re lurching toward. But I’m trying to focus on the positive. I know its not easy right now but we have to try. Anyway, I’m off upstate to a music festival to try and forget about this shit for the wknd. Hopefully there’ll be no cell phone reception up there and I can just chill da fuck out. Right, I’m off to recapture the Feile’s of my youth and roll me first joint. Good luck lads.

#149, Digger, what the fuck is your problem? What else can you suggest on bringing the club back? Are you going to personally buy the club and pay off the debts yourself? Exactly.

I take great offense in your personal dig at me out of the blue just for me voicing my sentiments and I demand an apology at once. I am also formally lodging a complaint against you to Gerry until you do so.

PS Thanks for defending me, FS.