Hi Gerry, Such a pleasure to have you back and hopefully writing regularly again.
I think Torres will be rested because he is still not fully fit. Getting him in the game might complicate and worsen his injury. So it will be Ngog upfront with Cole just behind him. I would play Babel or Aqualani as they are attack minded, can make runs and add strength to the forward line:

Ngog
Cole
Babel (Aqua)-Gerrard-Kuyt
Lucas
Aurelio-Skytel-Carra-Johnson
Reina.

As for predictions, it is a 2-1 win for me too.Cheers!

Gerry, some of my best mates are humans too! That was classic and I was laughing off my chair….
Though we’re going in with different level of fitness of the palyers, I do think that all will give in 110% to impress the new boss plus playing at home helps. Masch should not be in the squad and I’m with Knight that Aqua needs to be featured at some point and provides more creativity. For me, I would like to see Pacheco on the right though he looked a bit out against Robots last week but you can still see some of his runnings and positionings were superb.

1-0 for the reds!

I think the Europa League game on Thursday will be ideal for the likes of Pacheco and some of the other guys who probably won’t get a run out tomorrow, to get another game under their belts.

Great blog Ger, couldent agree more with all your sentiments. Cant wait for tomorrow, really excited about this season. I thought Stevies comments yesterday were telling and give a glimpse into the squads mindset. I think we’re gonna come out swinging tomorrow and I cant fucken wait. Hard to know what team will be selected with all the factors mentioned in your blog but if Nando cant go I’d love to see: Pepe, Johnson, Carra, Dagger, Fabio, Maxi(RM), Lucas, Aquilani, Stevie, Cole and Jovanovich up top. I agree with you on Ngog so he sits for me. Robotniki, Arsenal they aint. Lucas gets the holding nod for me as he’s played all our pre-season games and to start Poulsen ahead of him would be unfair. Mascherano can disappear up his own arse for all I care. I agree Gerry, any man that dont wanna play for us shouldent be near our squad. I’ve put Jovanovich up top instead of Dirk because Derek hasnt played any minutes since the world cup and as a result is probably lacking sharpness which Jova is’nt. By all accounts Arsenal have an injury list to rival ours from last season and with the above team and midfield in particular, I’m expecting us to frighten the shite outta Wengers muppet babies and win 2-1!
I’m really looking forward to this season (have I mentioned that yet?!) and whilst it would be an achievement of Istanbul proportions I simply couldent resist odds of 14/1 so I stuck a 50 on us for the league! Hey who knows? New era, new regime, fresh start, keep em all fit for 10 minutes……..A lad can dream eh? Rafa made us dream again, maybe Roy can build on his foundation and engage in some wish fulfillment? This time next year Rodders……….

P.s, I reckon we’re in for a cracking season from Stevie. Just has that bite back again methinks. Looked like he was going to explode Wednesday night and then spoke about how he dreams about doing that at Wembley for us. By all means lad, by all means. Take it to em Skipper.

Haven’t time to read the blog or the comments. I’m on me way out the door. I’ll read them when I get back. Just wanted to say… Here we go. It’s off. Good luck to Roy and the lads. Roy deserves and needs our backing just as much as all our other managers got. He gets mine from this point on. It’s off and he’s ours. So that’s that.

I would have been there today. I wouldn’t get in the car with the lads. I have made me stance… no games or merchandise until the yanks are gone. Bastards. I wish they’d just do one. I want to go the match again. Oh well, Come on You Mighty Reds!

Just seen this is an Aussie News site…dont know if it tells us anything new or not…but perhaps further backs up what FS has been told…and indeed it may well be the end for the evil that surronds us…and hopefully leaves the bastards with nothing…
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27558309-29437,00.html?from=public_rss

Well, as the actress said to the bishop, that was a quick in and out. Everything sorted. Me mate’s pub is closing it’s doors for the last time today. Shame that. It’s me only real local. He’s a good Scouse lad, and I like watching the games there. There’s a load of us living down here. We started our own supporters group there, the BornReds. There was over a 100 of us and it was great fun when it was running, but it folded when we decided not to get afiliated with H&G. We sent the money to the HJC and that was that. But it’s still a decent place to watch the games if you can’t get to the match and fancy watching it with a few other reds.

Oh well, just the way things are nowadays. Pubs closing left right and center or turning into shite theme parks and eateries. I like to imagine Ireland’s dodged that bullet, but I suppose it’s happening over there too. Oh well, just the shite times we live in.

As for todays game, well, as usual there’s not much I can’t agree with in the blog. Not sure about Torres though. Shame it’s such an important game. I know they all are but the Arse at home, it doesn’t get much bigger. So, part of me agrees that we have to risk him but like you said Gerry, with so many important games being crammed into the first few weeks, Roy is going to have use the squad very wisely. So, it’s a close call that will probably be made by the medical staff even more so than the manager.

Pepe… no brainer. He’s in. I love that fella. Love everything about him. Not only is he the best in the league, he’s a great lad. I just can’t speak highly enough of him.

Back 4…
Well, if fit, I’d go – Johnson, Mad Martin, Mad Danny and Aurelio.

No disrespect to Carr or Insua. I just agree with you Gerry, if Insua is off, there’s no point in playing him. And Carra, well, it’s a hard call really. I’d be scared of his lack of pace against Arsenal, but then with Magic on the right, we might need his no nonsense defending. So, I’ll leave that to Roy.

Got to be Lucas in the holding role for me, but I can see Roy giving the new lad the nod. I’ll be straight Gerry, I’m one of the people that isn’t too happy with the signing. But then again, I agree, we could do with an old fashioned hard case at times and maybe this is exactly the type of game we need him for. But I wouldn’t bank on him getting through it. I just don’t know enough about him to not worry about him seeing red… mist and then card. So again, Roy has a tough decision to make.

The rest, well Stevie and Joe will defo get the nod, and I agree that Maxi will probably get in ahead of our Derek due to circumstance. I’d like to see Alberto get some minutes. Don’t know if it should be from the off though.

So, this just goes to prove me point really…
Except for the obvious couple of positions, Roy has inherited a highly talented squad of players. We aren’t the shambles the media and some of our support would have us believe. We shouldn’t just accept ship steadying from Roy. We should be challenging. But we should also support if we don’t. I sincercly wish Mr. Hodgson all the very best and hope he isn’t treated with the same sort of treachery by some as the last manager had to endure.

It’s just not on. We are LFC. We back our own. It’s what makes us different to the rest. It’s what we are. It’s why I’m red. I want to be proud of the support again. And I just want to start going the match again. So that’s it…
Just over 3 hours to go. I want us to fuckin batter these Cockney media darlings. But more than anything else, I just want Roy, the lads on the pitch, and the lads and lasses in the stands to do us all proud. And that’ll do for me for now.

I also had a bet on us to win the league. I do it every year. 20 nicker on at 18 to 1. That would do nice for a trip to the FA or the Europa final. So come on you mighty reds… let’s twat these gooner bastards!

Nothing like it is there. I best stop. I’m getting a bit worked up. I fuckin love this day of the year…. GerrinderyerredbastardsIfuckinloveyou!

I just don’t get Cecil’s haste to get rid of Insua.

Yeah, he’s not brilliant. But he is good.

And he qualifies as a young player.

And he qualifies as a homegrown player.

You know, the ones we’re short of…

Anyway, been dreading the Arse for the last three weeks but now I’m well up for it. Can’t wait for kick-off.

Come on Roy. Who dares wins…

Anew second verse added to the Torres song to put us in the mood.

First verse;

His armband proved he was a Red. – Torres Torres
You’ll never walk alone, it said – Torres Torres
We bought the lad from sunny Spain
He gets the ball, he scores again
Fer-nan-do Tor-res, Liverpool’s number nine!

New second verse;

Again he proved he was a Red – Torres Torres
He put the transfer talks to bed – Torres Torres
He told Roy Hodgson where he stands
He loves the club and he loves the fans
Fer-nan-do Tor-res, Liverpool’s number nine!

Class!

Well that’s a league début to remember.

What a bastard, eh lads. But fuck it. Not the worst reult we could have got and I got the buzz back. Brillinat.

shame for pepe, a world class save and then does a rob green. poor with 11 on the pitch, immense with 10. Ngog took his goal superbly.

What was Roy doing starting with those donkey’s Ngog and Kuyt? Has he been stealing Rafa’s notes?

Rednapp and Merson at half time. Ngog has to come off arsenal are not worried about him at all. 5 mins later the ball is in the back off arsenal’s goal courtesy of you know who. Go back to drinking and gambling Merson.

Nice blog Ger,

Today was indeed the first leg of a pretty tricky start to the fixture list we have been given.On the flip side of being screwed in the usual way Gerry,at least we will have Arse at home and City and the mancs away,out of the way.If we can get through the first few fixtures without to much damage,well who knows,we might be able to build some momentum.

Looking at the game today it started out pretty much as i expected it would.Arsenal with all the ball but inevitably,playing in front of our back four and they really didn`t open us up.That said i felt we were a bit deep,maybe too deep in the first half,but when we broke i was impressed with jovanovic`s workrate and strength on the ball.

Stevie looks to be enjoying his midfield role again.He was more involved in the game.He seemed to be flying into a few tackles like the Stevie of old.
Glenda seems to be getting his form back also and made a few decent runs today.
I thoought we were in right trouble when Joe got red right on half time.Bit hard to defend it,in live action the ref probably had no other choice.When you lunge in like that your always asking for trouble in this day and age.
I won`t be too harsh on Joe,it was more out of desperation to impress in his first league game at Anfield but his willingness cost him.You could see all day he was working hard trying to track back as well as pull a couple of bits of skill for the fans.That rush of blood to the head has cost him a three match ban.

Ah well you live and learn.

Surprisingly,we played better football with ten men and had more possesion at the start of the second half.
The goal was a fantastic finish from N`gog and while the Martin Tyler and his monkey put all the blame on Almunia,i think it did a diservice to a superb finish from the young lad.If it had been torres,rooney or drogba they`d have been creaming themselves over it.Delighted for the lad,hope he`s not loaned out now,he can be a decent back up for Nando now and then.

Gerry,you said Masch shouldn`t be even in the squad and before today,i`ve had my reservations about his mindset also.To me today,he showed little sign of a player who wants away.He`s made it clear that LFC is not the problem,but his family life,so as long as he`s putting in his shift while he`s here,i`m willing to let it be.I`m sure Roy has looked at the situation closely,watched the way Masch trained and that,so if he feels he`s has the mindset to keep his eye on the job then that ill do for me.
Mash seems to have a good mentality when he on the field,i doubt he`ll be thinking of Italy or Spain.

We just couldn`t hang on at the end.I feel sorry for pepe,he was blinded by the sun and the ball came back off the post so fast,he just dropped it into the goal.When its played back in slow motion,it looks worse and worse every time but having played between the sticks a few times in me day i`m feeling for pepe tonight.

I thought Carra and Skrtel were immense today especially in the last 15 minutes when our backs were against the wall and its good to have Nando back.More minutes for you now lad.

Taking everything into consideration what happened today i suppose a point against Arsenal isn`t a bad result.

I thought a draw was a fair result and in fact suited us better. After Ngog scored (a superbly taken one I must say though the pundits blamed it on Almunia), I actually had mixed feelings at one point of whether wanting us to win (just like the game with the Chavs last season)…In my head, headlines in the papers like “Roy reenergized Rafa’s flops”, “Different manager, different class” all sprang to mind……how much more so when we were 10 men.

Anyway, Skrtel was particularly impressive and commanding….and also wonder what happened to Agger??? (dizziness after the ball hit his head?, exhaustion?)
And Jova looks good too with his strength and also some of his passes were excellent….

Most of all, I really feel for Reina especially after 2 superb saves…overall, more positives than negatives…

Go march on you reds!

Joe Cole said something last week that I really liked. It was something like this….
“At Chelsea we used to look for our games against the bottom ten teams, and know we could beat them. That meant 60 points. Then we fought for the rest.”

That seems like a bloody good idea to me. I like that mentality. I hope it rubs off on the other lads.

But having said that, I have to say this…
Was Aquilani injured yesterday?

I honestly don’t know, but if he wasn’t I’m pissed off he didn’t even make the bench.

Look at that substitution by Wenger yesterday. I seen Wallcott and Rosiscky and said to me mate…
We’re in trouble here.

I think we done brilliant. Some people were screaming stop sitting back, which is right. But I don’t think we was sitting back. Arsenal pushed us back. And the lad’s defended valliantly, but we needed someone to push us on. I think Aquilani would have done that.

Okay. He’s not a tackler. But sometimes you have to give something up. And I think we should have done that, give up a little defensively to go forward… attack being the best form of defense sort of thinking.

But, I used to give Rafa the benefit of the doubt so I have to give it to Roy… I don’t know why he took the decisions he did. I’m not privvy to that sort of info.

So anyway, it’s a bit sickening to end up with 1 point after all that but I don’t think it’s something to get too upset about.

And last word…
I hope to fuck no one comes in for Mascher. I love that crazy little bastard.

So it’s back!

Jesus I forgot how much football can kick you in the balls! But in saying that, at halftime I’d have happily taken a point but I suppose it was just the jammy, poxy manner of their goal that got me so down in the dump at the final whistle.

We looked a bit rusty and a bit off the pace in the first half but liked NGog’s movement and Gerrard looked comfortable in that middle role alongside Masch. The sending off was very unfortunate – still think it was only a yellow.

Our 2nd half performance bodes well for the rest of the season – real heart and lots of balls. Our defence was excellent – Agger at left back gives us real options while we’re still in this transitory phase – he perhaps doesn’t get forward as well as a natural left back but we looked solid.

Up front, Ngog continues to impress for me – no more talk of loaning him out please – we need him for the season ahead. Good to see Torres back – hopefully he can push on from here

Unfortunately it seems that Lady Luck still hates our fucking guts and she took another dump on our heads at the very end of the match. But positive signs. Looking forward to Trabzonspor match on Thursday

I agree with FS on the Aquilani issue: where was he? Answers on a postcard it seems… oh and yeah Masher – immense. Truly professional yesterday and if he does leave – well at least he went out on a high note. But lets hope we can hang onto him for another season

How’ya lads

I totally agree Fatty I hope we keep him
I thought he was class yesterday though the head on him looked like he just came off a week drinking binge but he played his heart out.

I watch the matches with Korean commentators and since last year they have nicknamed him “SuperRiena” even the commentators were upset to see him make a mistake.To be honest I think even if he held it he was going into the back of the net.
N’gog played really well too. I think if Gerrard would of rolled around like a hedgehog Rosicky might have gotten a red.
Anyway I was pissed off at the time but looking back we played well and im glad those little fuckers didn’t beat us.
Anyway the big thing is to see how we do against the lesser sides like Joe Cole said.
Im glad to have him in our team.
A rough month ahead so hopefully we can get through it with minimal damage and pick up some points.

Jovanovic played well but Glenda is really earning his nickname with that new hairstyle!!

anyway thats the craic for now just like to commend Fatty and all ye all (you know who you are) for really putting up a good fight and keeping the blog informed on the real plight of the club. I did the little I could before me time out in Cambodia

Great blog Gerry as usual

Over and out

By the way with the addition of Jovanovic and with skirtle Dagger Carra Monster StevieG and Dirk we look like a right bunch of hard bastards

even Glenda and Lucas are lookin mean!!

over

I think Roy will do alright with the players that we have now. The squad is excellent if a little thin as we know in some areas ie; left back and back up striker department. It’s how he will do when he has to start replacing players that has me worried. However that is a little time away and I’ll back him till I see otherwise.

I thought we did really well 2nd half and it’s a shame we couldn’t get the 2nd in that little 10 minute spell after half time.

I got suckered into a debate about football at work. I live in London and my work is full of gooners, hammers, spurs and of course chav’s. I laughed at merson’s and claptrap’s comments about Ngog and someone at work said well he was crap up till then, I said he did well he’s just a kid. guess what they said? You’ve been saying that for two years. Unbelievable!!

HA! Yeah. I forgot… Mascher’s hair do. fuckin brilliant. And I agree, it’s great to see some bloody steel in there and we haven’t even let the real thug out yet. That Poulsen fella’s bloody scary.

Tap Poulsen v Kaka into youtube. He’s horrible. A proper yard dog.

I just hope Roy doesn’t forget he’s got a bit of style and flair there in Aquilani. As I said earlier, I don’t think it’s really fair to question these sort of decisions if you haven’t got all the info. But I just hope Roy isn’t writing the lad off.

I think he would have came in very handy yesterday. Okay, he won’t go flying into tackles and winning the ball. But you don’t need to do that to defend. He’s the sort of player who can take the pressure off just by picking out little passes that others don’t see. And I think we needed that yesterday.

Oh well, only a wee complaint. I was quite happy overall.

And here’s a laugh for yers…
Have you heard the rumour that Maradonna is going to get the West Brom job?

It’s not a joke. There’s no punchline. I just heard that he is being considered for the job. I’d fuckin love that if he got it. Just the thought of all the little Inglunders cracking up cheered me up. Please God, let it be true and happen. I think it would be hilarious.

Well, I have Ngog in my Fantasy League team, as my 3rd striker. Paid all of 4mill for him – bargain! He has just earned me 25+ points or soemthing. And no, ye can’t buy him from me & I won’t loan him out. He is going to be a goldmine for my Rafalution Reds
Great goal lad, well done. Very happy with the display all round, for this tough opening fixture.
I too, hope Monster stays.

A few comments….

You could argue :
Barely a yellow – never a red

Reina fouled – not a goal (especially given some of the soft fouls that are given involving keepers nowadays)

Torres fouled – continued into the box – penalty (it was certainly a foul outside the box and should have been a free kick – we didnt even get that)…

I am only saying you could argue all of that…based on what refs have done in the past…

BTW did you notice the beautiful one touch pass that set Torres through for that…and whom delivered it…

But all in all not a bad result given we only had 10 for over half the match…very unlucky to concede the goal…not really Reinas fault – not much more he could have done considering…

At least there was plenty of fight and effort…but there was also quite a bit of good play…

See those bastards at Sly have made their own banner, with Roy’s face superimposed on it – you know the one, that communist style banner with Shanks, Paisley, Fagan, King Kenny & Rafa. Tossers. I hope hat Roy will one day deserve his spot on the banner, but this is not on!
http://twitpic.com/2f6cuc

And sorry to harp on about how the press hate Rafa. The following exert from Henry Winter’s twitter. The twat…I’m sure it was Rafa who ‘signed’ Jova?
henrywinter Jovanovic, on left of #Liverpool 4-2-3-1, bulldozes past Sagna twice. Determination, strength, touch..looks typical good business by Hodgson

Rafalution,

I could file a law suit on those bastards for copyright as that is my banner.Well its not totally mine but,a few of us Irish lads on another site threw a few bob together to have that banner made.One of the lads did the drawing and we all threw a few bob towards it.

Yes, it was Rafa who signed Jovanovi?. I’m not surprised Henry Winter would write something like that. We will have to stand this nonsense for at least this whole season. Every chance they’ll get, Rafa will be put in a bad light compared to Roy, even though it’s usually not true at all. The pundits have spread their lies about Rafa for years. They won’t stop now. I’m sick of it, but the truth is, not even Paul Tomkins (who’s spent ages contradicting all these lies) can really be bothered putting the facts straight anymore. It doesn’t matter what the bunch of them bastards say though, I know for a fact Rafa was one of the finest managers Liverpool ever had. I have absolutely nothing against Roy, but the truth is he has a long, long way to go before reaching Rafa’s level.

Some of you have mentioned we seem to have a bunch of hard bastards in our team at the moment. Well, speaking of that, I surprised to read a column by Tommy Smith the other day, in which he was completely slagging off Rafa and repeating several of the media-invented myths about him. I always thought Tommy was a good man, but that column really made me wonder what the hell kind of mine he was quarried out of.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-columnists/tommy-smith-column/2010/08/14/tommy-smith-i-m-impressed-with-new-liverpool-fc-boss-roy-hodgson-100252-27060129/

Similar problems as last season-can’t keep a clean sheet, can’t hold a lead, unable to score a second,fall asleep during the last 5 minutes, Kuyt plays every position except striker.Can’t seee the Mancs scoring many last minute og’s, the difference between first and ?.2 points dropped V a mediocre Arse side.

Tommy Smith is an absolute prick mate. It’s known fact, he’s a bitter old bastard.

Timmy, get on to Sky and kick off. Fuck them, and it might be a laugh. Just email them and say that’s your banner and you want Roy taken off as he hasn’t earned his place amongst the legends yet.

And as for that Henry Winter fella, well, he was quite possibly the biggest Rafa hater of all. Prick with ears that fella.

Tell you the banner they won’t bother to mention…
that 4 horsemen of the apocalypse one, with H&G and P&B on it.

It’s got the same sort of story as the legendary manager ones. It was paid for by whip round and it was an Irish lad who got it made up and took it on to the Kop yesterday. And that got hijacked an all… the stewards made them take it down. But it got an airing and made it’s point.

I thought the lad’s did brilliantly yesterday 10 men and all that, someone said they showed more bottle in the second half than they did the whole of last season which i think is grossly unfair given the amount of injuries we had then.
i was very impressed with the boy’s seeing that they hardly played together pre-season, so it was good to see a lot of understanding on the park.

FS, sad new’s mate,the BlueBell has been knocked down and there now stands a medical centre where it was, bit ironic seeing there were quite a few character’s who drank themselve’s to obscurity.
And it look’s like the Q M is next sad times indeed.
YNWA.

Timmy, saw a ‘tweet’ from Rory Smith saying it was the Irish Kop who made that banner.
Mate, I would defo send them an email. Fuck ‘em.
BM, the Arse didn’t look like scoring (besides Pepe’s save from Rosicky) in the 2nd half. We had the 3 points in the bag, until that misfortune from Pepe. It was a ‘beach-ball’ incident all over again, & I don’t think it should be categorized as a ‘we let one in due to bad defending & an inability to hold on to a lead’ type goal. If you know what I mean?
It was a goal nonetheless, but not due to bad play on our part. You have to take the positives out of the game, and I for one will feel fairly confident ahead of a trip to the Eastlands, for example.

I know Red mate, it’s shite isn’t it. I haven’t even got a local nowadays. I had some funny times in the QM and the Blue Bell. Great places in their day.

BM…
Pity you didn’t have Rafa to slat for that, eh.

Mind you, give you time, I’m sure you’ll find a way.

was gutted in the end but on reflection it was a good result to a tough opener. its hard to gauge what could happen against city they were shocking against spurs but held out for a draw so i cant see us breaking them down unless nando starts which he more then likely will wouldnt be too upset with a point.

really liked the look of jova, as was mentioned earlier we have a right motly crew of hard nuts and if we can add a bit of class to that in cole stevie nando and aqua who knows where we might end up!

I thought the first half was quite scrappy and we could have played better football. Joe Cole couldn’t get into the game at all. We couldn’t get a passing pattern going. We defended well and worked hard but not enough quality in my opinion. 2nd half – forst 10 mins we looked good and got the goal which was a great strike from Ngog. Great play from Masch with the assist. From 65 mins on it was backs against the wall and like FS I was very worried when Walcott and Rosicky came on.

I couldn’t believe it when Reina messed up. I was gutted. The goal was coming though, one way or the other and I just couldn’t see us holding out. Glen Johnson really did my head in the way he kicked the ball out for a throw deep in our own half. He tried to be clever and kicked it against an Arsenal player when he should have hoofed it up the field.

Overall I am satisfied with the result. I’d have taken a 1-1 before the game and at halftime. I would like us to pass it better though. We seem a bit of a running team with Jovanovic and Kuyt on the wings, Masch and Gerrard in midfield. I’d have liked to see Aquilani behind the striker and Cole on the wing. We need a quality left back and Agger to go into the centre. Skrtel and Carra did well but they hardly ever play the ball out. Its hoof up field mostly. Carra hit one ball about 2 miles vertical into the air in the first half.

Man City next in the PL and I think that will be a draw as well.

Think i`ll just do that.Fecking Sky,they make me sick.They`ve ruined our game and its only going to get worse.

While we`re on the subject.Here`s another one they`ve messed with.

http://tweetphoto.com/39242099

I`ve been on to the lad who owns it.Top banner that, i was thinking of having it tatooed!

Great game yesterday. Definitely feel hard done by for the Cole red card, you see those tackles all the time.

I don’t really see the arse’s goal as bad luck… It could just as easily had been an inch to the right and gone straight in. Pepe could possibly have hit the ball away but it came straight at him and even if he caught it i think he would have ended up over the line anyway. Wasn’t a robert green blunder by any means. I loved Cara’s support – “Pepe is undoubtedly the best keeper in the world” Must just be a bit of doubt in spain… But to be honest I think Pepe is better than Iker as well. It was just a good cross and all the defenders, Pepe and that little rat Chamakh (whom I’m glad we didn’t end up), couldn’t see a thing due to the sun and it deflected off the rat/new lady boy.
Rosicksy is a great little player. I thought he had scored but for pep’s genius earlier save.

I also felt a slight bit of relief after the draw (although I still would have preferred a win) just for the fact that I don’t have to read the media slagging Rafa and saluting Roy as the next Danglish.

It was great to watch the Lads giving it a really good go – for me they looked more committed than I’ve seen for a long time.

Well it will be interesting to see the line up this thurs. Obviously Cole and Ngog will play… I reckon Maxi, Stevie, babel. Probably Lucas and/or Poulson.
Probably Aurelio, Cara, Skrtel, Kelly at the back. Pepe unless his shoulder is still playing up. With subs such as shelvey to come on when we have a good lead.

I really think the key as a few above have been saying this year is to go for the jugular of the lesser teams. Too often in recent seasons we have tried to tire the lesser teams out in the first half and not really attack until the last 20 minutes. I think we need to go for the killer blows early, and if the likes of west brom get lucky with an early goal we have the whole match to keep attacking. Whereas it used to frustrate the fuck out of me that we would start attacking with 20minutes to go then the sneak in a lucky counterattack goal and then we are under huge pressure with just a few minutes to go.

Enough of my rant the long and the short is I’m liking the footy again, and I loved Our big Serbian bulldog running straight over the arse!

One other thing…. Pre match I was in agreeance with Gerry about sitting Masch, but I think in these sorts of cases we have to keep playing him otherwise it forces our hand when negotiating with Inter/Barca. At least this way we still have a leg to stand on.

Burgs that has to be the post of the year, how long did that take you to write, 89 minutes.

Gaz,I wonder why anyone even replies to him.He`s been on a wind-up for the last three years.He hardly ever replies to anyone when they pull him up on his ridiculous theories.

BM,
do you practice being an arseole or is it a natural talent you have ?, Gaz dont be sarcastic it only took him 80mins.

Apparently Aquilani had a severe case of the shites.

Not joking. It’s what I got told.

It’s really pissing me off now. If this lad gets fit and stays fit enough to put a run of games together, I’m convinced we’ve got a great player on our books.

Thinking about this and talking about hardcases got me thinking, we’ve also got a great attacking line up. Wether Roy will ever use them all in the same team remains to be seen, but imagine this line up…
Reina,
Johnson, Agger, Skrtle, Aurelio
Lucas
Maxi, Gerrard, Cole,
Aquilani,
Torres

I think that would put the shits right up most teams.

Aquilani needs to get himself fit and available because its either one thing or the other with him. Shits, virus, ligament damage, muscle strains. Goodness.

I wonder if Babel will get a look in under Roy?

What I wouldn’t do for a pacy top drawer left back. I get jealous when I see the likes of Evra and Cole bombing up and down the wing.

I agree about the LB, LB, even clichy is quick and gibbs looks quicker. Despite some of the critisism levelled at Glenda I think he is top draw RB and if we could have someone similar on the left we would be much more dangerous. Kelly was putting in a few nice balls the other day from the right, anyone notice what his left foot is like and how quick he is?
Insua is hearty and I like him but IMO he is too slow to ever be top draw and so I’m not too fussed about letting him go.

What will become of Aquilani I wonder. The thing is, back at Roma it was exactly the same as now with Liverpool. It was constantly one ailment or another with the poor lad. Very, very rarely was he entirely fit. It’s not his own fault of course. He just happens to have been dealt a bad hand constitution-wise. He also has extraordinary talent, so it’s a damn shame. I truly hope that Brukner fella can figure out a way to make Aquilani available for longer stretches of time, because I’m convinced he has all the talent necessary to be among the top ten players in the entire Premiership.

Reds in Aus, Glenda is great going forward. He is intelligent on the ball, the decision making is usually sound and he has a good shot on him with either foot. However defensively he has a mistake in him every game. I don’t know if it is concentration. I also think he is too easy to beat in an isolated one on one situation. The crème dela crème full backs like Maicon and Ashley Cole. How often do you see them beaten? Hardly ever. And they are great going forward.

In fact LB, Maicon, regarded as the best full back in the world, was criticized when he first came to Inter Milan at the age of 25 as being too careless in his defensive duties. He has since improved this part of his game (as well as his offensive qualities, which were always amazing) thanks to hard work and an excellent training staff. I expect him to improve it even more under Rafa. The fact is, even the very best of full backs are make more defensive blunders than the very best of CB. It’s inevitable when they go forward as much as is required in the modern game. As long as Glenda keeps working hard on improving his defense, then I’m not too worried. He might never reach Maicon’s level, but just think of Dani Alves who makes quite a lot more defensive errors than Maicon, and he is still a fucking world class full back.

completely agree Johnson does make more than his fair share of mistakes, the thing is and I’m sure we all agree, at least Glenda has a very positive side as opposed to most fullbacks. We can work on the mistakes/concentration. We can’t make Insua run faster…
I’d love it if glenda made less mistakes – of course! And I’d like it if ashley cole left chelsea.
Anyone know of any LB’s that are young, fast and raw… let Roy know if you do!

LB,
dispicable little bastard that he is, your point regarding Ashley Cole’s merits as a left back, would have been hard to argue…
…had you made it in May before he just spent the entire summer getting beat ugly, both in South Africa and in the Chav’s pre-season (not the least of which was at Wembley for the 2nd Scum goal!)
But I get what you meant!

Interestingly, a few weeks ago, I watched a rebroadcast of our season opener against Spurs from last year…
We started really well, had them under the cosh a bit, then…
Senior players get concussed and other senior players have to be subbed with injuries…
we lost.

Yesterday, a senior player gets red-carded, putting us down to 10 men for an entire half…
…Masch pulls up with an injury and has to be subbed…
…Agger has to play the last few minutes in a concussed stupor…
…and we have one of those classic “couldn’t duplicate it in 20-odd games, beachball moments”

…the difference… we held on for 1 point.

Insua beefed up to fast. He was brilliant before that but easily knocked off the ball. He could do with shedding a bit muscle, but then he’s got the old problem back.

If you think about it, Rafa was constantly trying to find the right full backs. They are essential to his vision of the game. And it seems for all the shite his system was given, it’s now the given way for most top teams here and abroad, and even international teams.

Roy’s done nothing to change it. I’m not slatting him for that. It makes sense. I did notice one change though. The marking was still zonal but we had a man on each post for corners.

Anyway, thing is, the type of fullbacks being mentioned in here are as rare as hen’s teeth and cost a fortune nowadays. So, don’t hold your breath just yet lads.

Good point about Ashley Cole Aitch. Everyone can have an off period though. I’d still rate him amongst the elite in the world.

I have a question that might seem daft. Why are we signing Brad Jones?

LB, I believe Diego is doing a Masch and wants out of liverpool, and Brad helps with the homegrown players rule, although I dont think that will be a problem with Roy (or should I say that little turd Purslow) at the helm.

I also noted the set piece defending with men on the post (as had Arsenal unfortunately otherwise we would have been 1-0 up at half time with 11 men rather than 0-0 with 10!). Our defending scheme was still a bit zonal with a few people man marking i.e. Skrtel on rat lady boy.

The more I think about it the more we should have beaten the Arse we absolutely dominated the second half with 10 men. I think we played much better than we did against spurs last year.

Man U look shite.

I jinxed it.

Cole is a great fullback, no question. However, would you like to see him in the red of Liverpool? I for one, would find it hard to support the turd, even if he did play for my club. Right tosspot!
Come to think of it, we don’t seem to have had many tossers at Liverpool? Maybe Julian Dicks, Ruddock? Maybe I’m being one-eyed? Can you think of anyone else?
Like that lineup FS. With Pacheco, Kuyt, Jova, Kuyt, Ngog on the bench, that’s a decent matchday squad – if they all stay fit.

All out attack eh Rafalution. let’s hope none of our defenders get injured or we’d be in trouble with that subs bench

Nah mate, just showing the options we have – that can score goals. Can’t mention Cara’s name now, can I

According to the Echo, Roy is linked with another Scandinavian. PSV Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen.

Hodgson was in Stockholm last Wednesday and watched the Sweden international in his country’s 3-0 victory over Scotland.

Well considering we played the last 10 minutes or so with 9 1/2 men i thought we were very unlucky,

Ah Pepe thats what caps are for – can’t really fault him though he made some good saves during the match

Thought Gerrard looked very up for it some good tracking back tackles and some great long balls,

What is it with refs either 1. not giving fouls on Torres and 2. no allowing play to continue – Lucas was through right at the end.

Like most of you I would have taken a draw at the start and and at half time but wasn’t happy with it at full time

I have to be honest, it’s all a bit worrying to me.

Why should we be satisfied with a draw at home against anyone, especially before a ball is kicked?

Like LB, I also have worries over some of the names we are linked with.

And this Roy-fest going on in the media is sickening me.

I don’t blame him for it. I blame him for nothing. He’s done no wrong.

But this new era of media friendliness is knocking me ill.

Last night, Sky was practically wanking over how Roy had brought back the feel good factor. They haven’t stopped all night and are still at it this morning, hailing Roy for “bringing in Brad Jones to put pressure on Pepe just hours after his howler lost us two points.”

I know a lot of you lads don’t watch Sky or listen to Talk Shite but it’s absolutely shocking…
They have even changed our banners to feature Roy. That is just not on. It’s not just some innocent little jape like some are taking it as. It’s subliminal Sky Washing at it’s finest. This is a new direction… it means you can’t even ignore the drivel they spew. They are now sticking it silently on our screens and there’s no escape.

What next, Roy holding up big ears in Istanbul, anti-owner flags changed into pro-owner flags?

Orwell was right. He just got the date wrong. The ministry of truth is alive and well and serving us what they want us to believe.

Hopefully Roy will earn his place amongst the greats. He hasn’t yet. And it’s making me ill, that Sky are now patting us on the head and treating us like the gimps that fill Old Trafford. It’s like they have finally won. They’ve implemented their man and they now have a new colony of puppy dogs in Anfield. They’ll get a shock. There’s still enough of us left to bite them on the arse.

And talking of the Arse, I have to say this…
They tore us apart in the first half. They battered us for a long section of the second. I done my best to give us/Roy the benefit of the doubt. I done my best not to mention this. I don’t want to knock the new man. But the truth is…
He had no answer. He just stood there letting things develop. And it seems to me we’ve traded in a successful tactical manager for a popular one.

I hope to fuck Roy proves me wrong. I hope he earns his place on banners next to the legendary managers. But I’m really afraid he hasn’t got the wherewithall to do it.

Sorry. I just have to be honest. But I will continue to support the lad. He’s our manager and he can’t be blamed for what our owners, board, some supporters and the media have done.

FS

I think Roy has been brought in to do what he is good at, to “steady the ship” after a season where things both on and off the pitch were in complete turmoil. My guess is that he will be with us for probably two seasons and then move on to do a similar job elsewhere. That has become is expertise and I honestly don’t believe he has the tactical ability to take us any further than back into the CL (at best).

Even if the new owners (whoever they will prove to be) will start bringing world class players to the club, I don’t think Roy has what it takes to bring us to the next level. Roy is undoubtedly a good, intelligent man and a good manager. Unlike Rafa however, Roy is not at the forefront of football management in terms of tactical proficiency. While Rafa has developed new approaches to tactics in recent years, Roy more or less relied on the same methods he and Bob Houghton made successful in Sweden 30-40 years ago.

He has of course adapted to the way football works these days or he would never have got the job he now holds, but I just can’t see him becoming a title-winning manager with a club like Liverpool in this day and age. For that to happen, we will have to bring someone else in. The ideal situation would be to bring Rafa back a year from now, causing an uproar in the media. That’s obviously not going to happen, but nevertheless I don’t expect Roy to be our manager for more than a few seasons.

Not sure what to make of this Jones signing. If it’s just a move to get another ‘home-grownn’ player into the squad then, for me, it’s a waste of money.

Sachem, this ship-steadying bollocks rolled out by the media and regurgitated by people is just that – bollocks.

We didn’t need to change the manager to steady the ship. There was fuck-all wrong with the ship, it was the men on the bridge were sailing us into a bloody tsunami and the deck hands could do nought about it.

Not having a go at you but this constant portrayl of Roy ‘ship-steadier’ Hodgson is startintg to grate.

I know what you mean Lurgan, I would of course also have preferred keeping Rafa. But the truth is we needed some kind of change, because the ship was not steady at all last season. There were players in the squad who didn’t want Rafa to stay. This has been confirmed. My point is that we can’t expect Roy to bring success to the club as we could expect from Rafa if he were given proper financial support. Roy can be expected to get all the players moving in the same direction again and challenging for a CL spot.

The change we needed and still need is new ownership. The only feel good factor is derived from the media. It creates an atmosphere that most people lap up. Not me. I like to deal with realness.

The truth is in the first half we couldn’t string 4 passes together and had 40% possession. I thought we were very ordinary. In the 2nd half we were down to 10 men so we can’t really judge. I’d say for 70 mins out of 90 we were chasing Arsenal players all over Anfield. We got a draw which was a decent result but it wasn’t fantastic.

We will know a lot more in a month because we’ll play both Manc clubs.

Just got told by my brother-in-law that the main reason the Reds have signed Brad Jones is that Diego Cavalieri want’s out as much as Masch does,
he got told this by (old big nose)Phil Thompson in the gym he goes to, so dont know how true it is.

Ol` big nose,ha like that one Red.Happy days when Ol` big nose and Ol` big Ears went to the Falcon for a pint!

Seems this Brad Jones is a good prospect.I can`t understand how some keepers come to a club knowing they`ll spend most of their time on the bench.Anyhow should(god forbid) something happen to pepe,then we will hail the signing if he can do a job for us.

I wonder will Roy start Torres on thursday?Maybe he`ll give him a half an hour then start him against city.The lad needs match fitness,no doubt about that,more minutes the better.I guess the medical staff know best how to deal with him.

Aquallini has the shits apparently so?Well there`s fuck all that Aussie doc can do with that.Plenty of lucozade sport and wash it out of the lad and get him up and running.

Timmy, if Liverpool came & told me: “mate, we want to buy you, pay you 100 quid a week, but you will be full of splinters at the end of the season”, I would say “bring it on’.
As a learned fan posted on another site:
I backed Rafa, and I respected him.
I will back Roy, but he must earn my respect.
It’s a pity the media shite & some of the fans don’t realise that you can only start judging Roy after a few games, not after 1 home game, albeit against the Arse. I suppose a 1-1 with 10 men for half the game is considered ‘ship-steadying’.

real madrid picking up ozil for 12mil is a bargain. The guy has huge potential.
I think Rafa is a legend, however I don’t think he communicated well enough with the players to help us get through a tumultuous time due to our thieving owners. I think that is the only knock I have on Rafa. He bought some flops but when you aren’t given much and you are trying to compete with huge spenders such as chelsea, man u, barca and real madrid, then you take risks which aren’t all going to come off. I think his tactical ability is up with the best in the world if not the best.
I think one of roy strong points will be his ability to relate to the players and help us get through the misery inflicted by those lying scum sucking turds (the merry fat fuckedup four). With new owners and the ability to compete on the world stage again, I don’t know whether Roy will be our man IMO although I too will give him a good chance. I just think Roy will struggle to attract the best players in the world (at the moment we are ok because we still have the players Rafa acquired).

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Aquaman, I really hope he gets fit and gives us a lasting legacy from Rafa.
I don’t think I’d start Torres on thursday it seems the last few times he has played a night game his groin has played up so I would make sure he is 100% before starting him at night especially when eggnog is doing well at the moment.
Unfortunately I also doubt torres will start against man city as he looked far from 100% on Sunday – when he is fit there isn’t a centre back that could stay with him. He would have scored from that pearler of a thru ball from Lucas 9 times out of 10 but due to his lack of fitness/confidence to sprint, Laurent (the guy that apparently ‘broke his leg’ from the cole red card) caught up to him.

Also in regard to Diego and Brad Jones, you can imagine that any professional athlete with any sort of ambition can only sit on the bench for a certain amount of time before they will be desperate to start. Diego has done that for over two years and due to Pepe’s fitness and ability is unlikely to get a game in the foreseeable future. So anyhow I’m sure he is keen to move somewhere he will start or at least have a chance to start.
Brad Jones however has been starting for a while and probably wouldn’t mind sitting behind Pepe – learning from ‘the best keeper in the world’ and improving with a view to starting for a good club in the years to come (hopefully not for liverpool as I hope Pepe is here for life).

Here’s my take on the game:

First half, I was bricking it.
I remember thinking I hope Roy’s got something for ‘em at half-time because this is going to be depressing.

Out we come with ten men and up we go with Ngog.
We also had the better of good chances throughout the rest of the half, even though we had nine/ten men.

I was happy with the way we played and content with the substitutions. The only fly in the ointment was Agger’s concussion which gave the Arse an advantage and in my eyes gave them the game.

I was proud of the boys and don’t blame Pepe’s peaked cap in the slightest (yeah, I wish the ball would’ve gone the other side of the post, but hey…)

I only hope we don’t get one of those “Oh no! Beachball!” things going on in our heads…

Opta says Arsenal have always won when playing against 10 men. Today they could only get a draw. That’s a positive.

So. So far, Roy’s done well and I look forward to seeing how we do against City.

Brad Jones is 28. He’s not going to improve much. I was talking to an Aussie lad today. He’s from Perth, same as Jones. He said Jones’ lad has cancer and he wants to sit back from football for awhile so will be more than content to sit on our bench. Normally that would be enough for me to say fuck him off. But it’s understandble if the lad’s kid has got cancer. At 28, his son must only be a very young lad. So, I give him the benefit of the doubt. It must be heartbreaking and if the club is happy enough with the arrangement, well, so should we be.

It’s also being done to free up another home grown space and I’m sure another of Rafa’s donkeys, Cavalieri, will make the club a profit. Will Roy see it?

Well apparently if he does, he won’t waste it like Rafa. The latest disgusting instalment…
Sly Sports have wheeled out Antony Le Talec to tell us all how Rafa wrecked and wasted his career.

You couldn’t make it up. In fact, they must have a little back office reserved to sit and come up with this stuff.

It really is disgusting and says much much more about the media in this country than it does about any manager. Mancini will get it soon. Once Cappello is done for.

My mate made me laugh today, they were going on and on about Cappello being unable to communicate with the players. (Where’ve we heard that one before Aus mate?) The man can speak about 5 languages and makes more sense in any of them than the likes of Merson the expert does in English on Sly. Then they said, “England needs a man with success at international level.”

Me mate reckoned they’d better dig Alf Ramsey up as he’s the only one who ever has.

And sorry, but it needs to be said…
Arsenal tonked us for the first half. We had about 10 minutes of the second. Roy didn’t have a clue as far as I was concerened. The forced/like for like substitutions changed nothing and we ended up fighting a frantic backs to the wall rear guard action.

I tried to cover it up by saying it was Arsenal. I don’t want to slat anyone, but the fact is, it was far from the best Arsenal. Arshavin stunk and they had no Fabregas. He was replaced by a kid in midfield in Wilshire, who Gerrard couldn’t get near all day.

I hate to say it and I hope to fuck I’m wrong, but if that has set the tone for the season, we could be in trouble.

PS: I forgot me main point yet again…
I agree it’s far too early to judge Roy. Let’s hope he grows into the job and does us and himself proud.

I’d heard from friends that some of the players (carra/stevie) didn’t know what rafa was talking about some of the time – that is not to say they didn’t respect him immensely, just that he would call things from the sidelines and make his gestures that no-one knew what he was going on about. And you need the team leaders to be on the same page as the coach when things are getting tough.
I think of Rafas habits as idiosyncracies of a genius.
p.s. although I’m Reds in Aus – I live in Aigburth.

Young Boys giving Spurs a spanking they will remember for a long time …
3-1 to Young Boys in first half …
Just thought of this month’s Sky Mag that had Harry Redknapp on front cover, on gold throne, “How Harry Joined The Big Time” ….

also I doubt we get more than we paid back for diego (2.5mil I think)

Young Boys giving Spurs a spanking…

Funny and true

Whose their manager, Julian Clarey.

So the season as started and the omens are not good Ref f*cked us,lady luck kicked us in the balls and Aggers concussion reminded me of Skyrtle and Carra last season and we all know how that snowballed into the rest of the season..
One thing i noticed was MOM Masch ( who i would always play regardless of circumstances ) looking over to Roy for instruction during some of the stoppages.
And been met with blank stares and silence. Another bad omen ?

Reds in (Aigburth) Aus
Gerrard & Carra didnt always understand Rafa but Masch did. besides most of the team dont understand what Carra’s screaming at them either.
Which is probably a good thing.
I think it took Arbeloa up to his last game for us,before he understood what Carra was shouting ¦ )
YNWA

PS Lurgankop probably a silly question but do you come from Lurgan ?

PPS
These banners having Roys face superimposed onto them is a disgraceful case of media manipulation and somewhat embarrassing for Roy himself.
Whats next are they going to start playing a audio tape of the crowds roaring Roys name ? a bit like when Germany scored in Escape To Victory ¦ (

Rome, it’ll probably come to that – an audio tape of the Kop singing Roy’s name? Oh dear. And yes, bloody despicable what Sly did with the banner. Timmy & the Irish lads should really follow up on that…send a letter to the press, emails whatever.
I would love it if the Kop did sing Roy’s name in time – it would mean that he is doing a good job.
And I loved the Young Boys game last night. Welcome to CL football, Sir Arry Brownenvelope! Wonder what the pundits, media etc will make of his tactics this time. Maybe blame the ‘unfamiliarly quick’ pitch?

Oh, forgot to add…
Ozil to Real M for 12 mill, and Milner to Shiteh for 25? Ludicrous springs to mind. You can see the British press warming up. They have a new target in sight, besides Capello.

rome ” looking over to Roy for instruction during some of the stoppages”
not sure a professional footballer and captain of one of the international giants of the game should need to be told what to do during a match!! man up make the decisions yourself its what you do for a living.

You want a manager they all understand, you better get this fella in…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4GXAmB1w6o

More bollacks to sling at Rafa. It’s as easy as this lads…
The media in this country has plunged to the depths. Football punditry and commentary has never been so bad…
Jamie Claptrapp on Liverpool playing at Old Trafford last season…
“Yes. They battered them last season, but they had Xabi Alonso pulling the strings in midfield.”

True enough, we battered them. But funny thing was… Alonso didn’t even play in that game.

So there you go, that’s about the depth of their knowledge. But it’s getting more sinister than that….

There’s a thing on Sly, Soccer AM, it’s essentially a kids program. It was full of “jokes” about paedophiles last week. What a jolly jape that was.

I’m no Mary Whitehouse, but this is getting completely out of hand. It’s a bloody disgrace and why these educated people who run these things want to dumb it down to the level of Paul Merson and the likes, just goes to show what they think of us, the footballing public.

In the 70′s and 80′s we were treated like cattle. It took Hillsborough and Bradford for things to improve. Now we are being treated as complete cretins and I know where it’s leading. It’s not by mistake. I’ll post about it when I have more time. But it’s the likes of Murdoch who are tryine to push through the European Super Leagues one and two.

The media want to take over the game completely and turn it into a global entertainment industry ran by the selected few companies like Sky. It’s on the cards. We’ll be left with fuck all that made us fans in the first place, just a sanitized dumbed down load of bollacks beamed live in to sitting rooms the world over.

Had to laugh at this this morning though…
Talk Shite and Sly have both been at it since last night, blaming Our Appy Arry’s 442, for leaving Spuds exposed and how he should have played with one up front and two holding players in the middle like the best teams at the World Cup.
You couldn’t make it up.

Fuck them. Just try and enjoy what’s left while we’ve got it.

Oh and on the banners…
Sly have been forced into making an explanation why they super imposed Roy’s head on the flags. Of course, it was only done to highlight LFC’s glorious past and in praise of Liverpool’s legendary managers.
Pricks. But that’s that, nothing else can be done.

Wonder how they’ll explain the audio track they laid over last season’s home games at Highbury. Yep. Through the discussions about the banner, it came out that they’d put phoney crowd chants over a few Arsenal games last season.

Oh well, welcome to The Big Brother, 1984, whacky world of Sky’s global entertainment football. It’s a gas.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=815055&sec=england&root=england&cc=4716

Sam, that was making interesting reading until I read, how Managing Director Christian Purslow has brought in money and is increasing our finances.

I had to stop there. I can’t be bothered with that right now. I will read it later, but putting espn “have found out” and Purslow together in the same paragraph leads me to one conclusion….
He’s at it again, leaking things to friends in the media.

Dead funny how he’s turned on his friends H&G in the last few weeks. What a horrible little bastard he truly is.

FS

Christian Purslow is the head of a team of people who managed to bring about the Standard Chartered sponsorship deal, which does in fact bring in a lot more money than the Carlsberg sponsorship did. That can’t be argued with as far as I know. What can be argued with is the claim that Purslow is the one who should take the most credit for that deal. I don’t know enough about what’s going on within the club to say who’s doing what. Considering what’s been reported about Purslow one does have reason to be sceptical with these things however.

“Expectations of a quick takeover have fallen by the wayside. Once again it is becoming a drawn-out and painfully slow process without any sign, as yet, of a resolution.”

From the article linked by Sam82, those two sentences struck me as important ones as they seem to confirm my fears. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen with the takeover and when it’s going to happen. The main thing is to get rid of the debt of course and if that will be the outcome of this drawn-out process, then it would be worth the wait. If it all will result in administration, then I don’t know.

One thing is for sure though: when the current transfer window closes, so does the opportunity to spend a lot of money the way Man City have done up until now. There will be a last opportunity in January, but it’s usually a lot harder to sign the best players during that time. This might actually be a good thing for us since I doubt any club will afford to bid £50m or more for players like Torres and then pass the new restrictions set up by the UEFA. It does on the other hand leave us in the same situation, which might be both good and bad depending how you look at it.

Guinessdrinker
Are you serious ? What do you think a managers role is,sit and do nothing when the team is under pressure.

Ian Ayre is commercial director. Its him that has been getting these deals in place and began doing so when Rick Parry was still with us. He has done a good job. Purslow however is Managing Director and his number 1 objective was to find investment. He failed.

Born in Liverpool, Ayre was a reds fan from a young age. He began following Liverpool as a nine year old and when he was appointed Commercial director in July 2007, he talked of his love for the club and that he had already realised one of his lifelong goals of scoring at Anfield when he scored in a half-time penalty shoot out during Chris Lawler’s testimonial in the mid seventies.

“I entered a competition run by Radio City to take a penalty against the Everton keeper George Wood. I won it and got to take a spot-kick in front of the Kop. Fortunately I scored it too! I’ve been to most of the big finals and was there in Athens in May for the European Cup final.”

Ayre left Litherland High School at 16 to join the Navy but he left the armed forces to have a shot in the world of business. He became incredibly successful in Asia where he ran a company called PACE, becoming a leading maker of digital set top boxes for Sky and other suppliers. His experience of working in football has not been confined to Liverpool though as he left PACE to become Chairman and CEO of Huddersfield Town. After a three year stint at the club, he returned to business as the managing director of Virgin/NTL subsidiary Premium TV before returning back to the Far East to run Total Sports Asia, a company which advised international companies on their strategies and how to market themselves in Asian sports campaigns.

Such experience in Asia was ideal for Liverpool when they were looking for a Commercial Director in 2007. They were looking to increase sponsorship and merchandising revenues as well as the LFC brand in international markets, especially in Asia, and Ayre looked like the ideal candidate. Speaking on his appointment, he talked about the Reds potential in overseas markets:

“There’s no doubt that after all the success of the seventies and eighties, Liverpool was easily the biggest footballing brand in the world. Manchester United may have made progress in that area but it is clear to me having travelled all around the world and spent so many years in Asia that people remember that time. Liverpool were undoubtedly the biggest name and attraction in football and I don’t see any reason why that can’t be got back. . . I watched every single Liverpool game live out here last season.The football is on everywhere in Asia – people gather to watch it at night in bars, restaurants and other places everywhere. That speaks volumes for the size of the appetite and we have got a system, a process and a partnership in place to serve that.”

It was a system that helped to get Standard Chartered Bank on board as the shirt sponsor on a £20m a year deal. The bank are predominantly based in Asia and it took a lot of negotiations to get the deal. Standard Chartered were looking to invest in football but they were speaking to a number of clubs. What may have swayed it is the sheer volume of supporters in Asia as according to one estimate, the Reds have over 130 million fans across 16 major markets – including China (58m), India (6m), Thailand (5m), Malaysia (2m), Japan (2m) and South Africa (6m), all of which were markets Standard Chartered were interested in. Ayre believes though that to get to these fans the club must utilise sponsors as well as the sponsors getting the most out of the club:

“For our summer tour in Asia – a big market for some of our partners – we spent a lot of time planning and discussing what our partners wanted to achieve on top of branding and media exposure. In Singapore and Thailand, we sold 150,000 tickets and every ticket was bought in a store owned by [Liverpool's kit maker] Adidas or a bar where Carlsberg was represented. It achieved real footfall for our partners.”

Such promise of mutual benefits helped the record sponsorship deal to be agreed and this will have to continue in future seasons for Liverpool to maximise the profit they can make. Ayre as a Liverpool fan and Asian business expert certainly has made an impact at Liverpool.

Christian Purslow was appointed in June 2009. The Standard Chartered deal was signed and sealed in September 2009. I think it is pretty safe to say this deal was negotiated a long time before Purslow showed up at the club.

Conclusion: Cecil cannot claim credit for the money the club is generating.

Me grankids are here. I’m getting driven nuts, but I done a wee bit of investigating to see if the author of that piece had any links to Purslow. I was told this…
He’s just a nonce, always trying to make a name for himself. Probability is, he pulled it out his arse.

But don’t for one second trust Purslow.
LB is right. He’s failed miserably at what he was brought here for. But not only that he’s a snake in the grass, trying to consilidate a bit of power for himself inside LFC.

I can’t list the treachery he’s pulled to do this, the kids are kicking off, but just think back to his role in Rafa’s sacking and how he stabbed H&G in the back in the meeting with SOS.

Snake – easy as that really.

Maybe I’ve missed something but can someone tell me why Aquilani seems to have disappeared.

You’re right LB, my mistake. It all makes you wonder whether Purslow has been of many more use to the club than his predecessor. That is something the new owners will have to decide when the time comes.

Sachem, since Rick Parry moved on it has been Ian Ayre (Commercial Director) and Philip Nash (Financial Director) running the club. Christian Purslow is the face. The Managing Director brought in by H&G to help the club find investment. Remember at the time of his appointment H&G were desperate and touring the globe whoring out the club on every continent trying get some party daft enough to do business with them. That is why they hired Purslow. To get investment. The banks wanted monies in April. None materialised. Purslow failed. The banks could have called in the loans then and there and if H&G were unable to pay we’d have been put into administration. This represents failure on Purslow’s part. However the banks brought in Broughton and BarCap and according to reports extended the loan until 6th October, placing stiff penalties if by then they were still unable to pay back monies owed.

Rafa seemed to be the only one calling out Purslow’s failure by making noises to the effect that with no investment we are screwed because we need 5 new signings to compete.

Purslow – having failed miserably at his job then has the nerve to undermine Rafa by leaking information to the newspapers. Further creating the atmosphere that made it easier for him and Broughton to sack Rafa.

After Rafa’s sacking all attention shifts towards his tenure. Was he a success or not? Very few wanted to know about finance or debt. It was zonal marking, holding midfield players, dodgy subs, poor buys, ‘Rafa lost the dressing room’.

Then the club recruited England’s most popular manager in the eye’s of the media followed by signing the most popular player in the eye’s of the media. You then have this artificial feel good factor and ‘steadying of the ship’.

Well I don’t know how we can feel good about a steady ship when we are less than 2 months away from possible administration. Bu there you go.

well rome from what i can gather the managers role is to prepare the team week in week out so that after a while they can function as a collective unit to out-think,out-battle,outrun,outsmart and hopefully outscore the opposition if you can achieve that then you wont need players constantly being barked at and told what to do why?
because they have been coached well enough during the week to be able to deal with whatever the game throws at them and they are capable of making the right decisions at the right moments otherwise you believe your players are idiots who haven’t been coached well. (great for team spirit that)

Guiness it was the first time masch played under Hodgson. As we were down to 10 men and just made a sub I do not consider it out of the ordinary for a player to look to the bench for instructions.

LB

Sure, there has been a lot of political machinations going on. Exactly who and what has been causing it I don’t know, because there’s also a lot of rumours and speculation knocking about, but it’s fair to say most of it seem to be pointing in Purslow’s direction.

Now I remain convinced something had to change after the poor results and performances last season. Nothing will convince me sacking Rafa (or forcing him out) was the right thing to do. We can of course only speculate as to what would happened had he stayed, but the amount of sulking by Steven Gerrard last season truly worried me and I’m not sure Rafa could have carried on into this season without something else breaking. Looking back, I get the feeling there was just too much pressure to keep everything the way they were.

But of course I don’t accept the official media story that Roy was brought in to deal with Rafa’s failings or any of that nonsense floating about. I don’t think Roy’s popularity in the media is the only reason he was brought in either, though I admit it’s easy to see it that way.

guinnessdrinker

Look at the top managers around Europe during games and count how many of those are not shouting instructions to their players. I have no idea what Mascherano needed instructions for, but presumably it was only because of some misunderstanding he didn’t get them.

i see managers watching the play i dont see them constantly telling players what to do on the ball or where to run. sure players need to be told to mark up or take it easy if they are getting out of control but i think you’ll find most top managers let the players play. didnt see del bosque constantly shouting at his players dont see pep guardiola constantly shouting at his.

GD… You do see managers instructing players to change things when the team is getting battered.

You do see managers making changes by their substitutions.

You see managers changing things when their team loses a man.

We seen none of the above from Roy.

We seen a home team down to ten men, getting 10 minutes after the half time break. That’s to be expected.

When we made substitutions, they were like for like or forced and changed nothing.

We fought a hard rear guard action and very nearly pulled it off against an Arsenal team that weren’t at full strength with some of their players not playing particularly well.

Our central midfield, well Gerrard, just couldn’t get to grips with theirs, well, Wilshire.

But hey, Steven got to play in the position he prefers, despite all fact and stats proving his best seasons have been on the right and behind the striker.

I had to laugh at Roy talking about Agger’s concusion affected us. Of course he’s right it did. But I wish I could find the link, he called Agger our most natural left back…
Maybe someone should remind him, he resigned Aurelio and Insua hasn’t left yet.

These are the sort of things that are worrying me. I honestly don’t want to slat Roy. I want him to succeed. I really do. And there’s no way I’ll bash him when he doesn’t deserve it. And, like I’ve said before, it’s far too early to judge. But lie for him… nah. Can’t do that unless I’m talking to the enemy.

As for the Purslow business, well it’s nutshelled in LB’s last post. The man’s a failure and a snake. His expertise lays in leveraged hostile take overs of companies that are struggling.

I’ve been doing a bit of investigating today when I could. It’s clam up time. There’s not a word being leaked from the banks. I know that for fact. So, any stories will be either entirely made up or leaked from the owners or board members. I think it will be easy to judge which depending on the story. What I don’t think is, they will come from Ayers or Broughton.

Mr Hill Sir…
Aquilani had a stomach upset on Sunday. Apparently he suffers from it quite a bit. I hope it’s nothing serious and the new medical staff can get to grips with it.

Hmmm….
A few weeks ago, Steven Gerrard stated in an article that Purslow had kept in touch with him and Carra since the end of the season. He’d called them and texted them in SA.
SG thanked him for it. He thanked him for following through on signing quality players (this was after the Shelvey/Jova/Cole transfers.)

It sounded to me at the time as though this was part of a long-standing relationship SG had with Purslow… but I left it there.

Now I know there are people who want to make it all nice and simple and say that rafa lost the dressing room coz he was stubborn and cold and tactically stifling.

But given what we know about Purslow’s actions towards Rafa (and what we know can surely only be the tip of an iceberg? Since it usually takes a Biography 10 years after the fact to get all the details of these things…) I wonder if Purslow was deliberately whispering in players’ ears and turning things sour.

I’ve had bad spells with teams before… and it is hard to really put your finger on what and where things went wrong… and when it becomes a season long thing, as opposed to a blip… it gets even harder to really put your finger on what and where things went wrong.

I cannot get my head around why players like SG particularly, and even Carra to some degree, were so poor last season… but if someone high up in the club was constantly at them blaming Rafa for everything… that could go some way to explaining a division in the squad and subsequent can’t be arsed performances…

… bit conspiracy, but after all, it worked with many fans!

The thing is, when Purslow was appointed, Rafa said he got on fine with him, and that they communicated in Spanish as Purslow was fluent in the language. Purslow in turn said he & Rafa got on well, and had faith in the manager.
I started getting concerned when SoS published their minutes of the meeting with him, and then he releases a different set to the media. Who do you trust? Well, why would SoS lie? The bloke definetly has an agenda – be it power or finacially driven – and he even has the audacity to sell himself as a Liverpool supporter (before he became MD of the club).
The old adage ‘where there is smoke, there is fire’ springs to mind. Snake is also an apt description. I just wish we were privy to some of his ‘discussions’ with Rafa & also with the tumours.
I would say I can’t wait to read Rafa’s autobiography or memoirs one day, but Senor Benitez is too classy to reveal his thoughts & secrets in the form of a book. Maybe the only way to find out what really happened (when he got the sack) is to get Montse pissed, and hope she leaks a few secrets?

Well, here’s what I know, which amounts to nothing really, but anyway…
Think back to last week. There was a few what they call In The Knows, keeping people updated. What they said all turned out to be pretty correct, especially the fella known as Bamba. More on that in moment.

Then me RBS fella got in touch with me at 2am in the morning and told me, there’d been a secret meeting between the top honchos at BarCap and RBS, and his own source had said to him, and I qoute…
“Your owners are getting shafted in the morning.”

The next morning there was the meeting between the board and the banks in London.

My fella at RBS then said, expect complete silence now and maybe, just maybe, an announcement of some sort towards the end of the week.

Well, that’s what we got and it’s stayed silent ever since. But we did get the announcment. It seemed a bit of an anti-climax because we’d all built our hopes up. But it wasn’t really….

“The Liverpool FC Board has reviewed a number of proposed bids for the club at a meeting held today.

The Board will continue to act in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club and its supporters, doing all that it can to ensure that the Club is ultimately sold to a buyer who has the resources and real commitment to give it a long-term, stable and secure funding position for its plans.

The sale process is continuing. However, its timing and outcome remain uncertain. In the meantime, we will not comment on rumour and speculation.”

Reading between the lines, and from everything we’ve been told…
There’s bids on the table. The board will review them all in depth. The banks and Broughton will make the decision. The board will vote on them if needs be.

Well, the fella called Bamba had said all this beforehand and then said he would have to remain silent and wouldn’t comment until he could with something concrete.

I’ve been told who Bamba is suspected to be. I can’t repeat it, but I can say I trust the lad who told me his identity. But don’t ask for it, as it’s been told to me in confidence and it could always turn out to be wrong. But I can say this… it’s not a board member.

So, all I can say is, the info we have been given up to now seems to have been correct so far. And I reckon that’s where we are now…
The board is still reviewing all the bids and when they sorted the wheat from the chaffe, the remaining prospective buyer’s bids will be handed to the bank for them to do their own due dilegence.

That is okay with me…
Remember it was the rush to hand over the club for what turned out to be pie in the sky, is what got us into all this trouble in the first place.

So, I would much prefer this limbo to any rushed decision. And think about it…
Khirdi, the pizza and off license owner, Purslow’s MidOceanPartners, there’s bound to be a lot of shit to work through and rather than end up is shady hands again, I’d actually prefer administration by the banks so long as the eventual outcome is the best we can get.

And as far as I’m informed, the owners are still up shit creek. The club could eventually go for comparitive buttons and them greedy bastards could still walk away with fuck all.

So, in a nutshell, it’s basically down to this now…
Is there a proper fit owner, with sufficient funds, amongst the bidders?

And on that, your guess is as good as mine.

Oh and I forgot to say…
It looks beyond a doubt that Khirdi is in bed with Gillette. And Purslow’s MidOcean leveraged buy out company is in bed with Hicks. But they are no longer believed to be in the running or in the background.

But you can imagine the backstabbing and deceit that’s going on behind closed doors. So, it could well be administration come October. Because from everything I’ve been told, there’s no chance whatsoever of H&G meeting all the penalty clauses that have been adding up week by week….
Randolph and Mortimer… I sure fuckin hope so.

As many of you have alluded to, all you have to do is look to the past to see what was said by these shysters and then look at the reality down the line.

Anything that comes out of the press/board should at least checked against previous comments before being commented on.

Fair fucks to LB for doing a bit of R&D before commenting on how Purselow had single-handledy, from reading what Sam82′s article implied, increased LFC’s turnover and got Standard Chartered on-board and gave birth to Freddie Mercury’s love child. Which one did I make up?

To be honest this whole football shenanigans is not how I used to remember/enjoy it. The grumpy fucker that I am.

In my day Rome, I was indeed from Lurgan. Born and bred there. Like all places it has it pluses and minuses. I live in France now with my family and it’s knocking on 20 odd years since I’ve been back there for any amount of time.

Nothing much there for me to be honest and I feel more of an affinity with Liverpool if I was to be honest. However, that’s now being fucked over in the last few years and all. I thinking about moving to the North Pole to be honest!

If I do, I will change my name to NorthPoleKop. Maybe I will meet KeithSA there. Who knows?

I must ask one thing about the game other day. When Agger suffered a concussion and as quoted by Roy that we struggled a little bit due to his absence of the field for receiving treatment, then it seems it was Roy who put him back and risking him being hit again and threatening his career. Is this the manager I want? No but who am I. No matter if we had no subs and play with 9 men. Lot is at stake at all times but he has got to think a big picture. If I say that Rafa wouldnt have done that then there will be some folks who will jump on me and ask “How do I know that for sure”? And we will go into back and forth comments to prove each other right and wrong. Hence I wouldnt say something which I cannot prove but in my heart I know what we lost with Rafa : A man with the highest integrity, technical nous and long term vision. Im so sad to be supporting liverpool with all this shit. I fully believe Aitch that sg and jc had sided with snake as we all experience this kind of politicking in the corporate world and its so sad that Rafa is made to look as the one who was doing this. I want to ask folks what would he gain now dont tell me few million, money is not everything for many of us still. He could walk into any job in this world. Blaming him for politicking is the worst thing when it was he who came out losers and the guys who stabbed him in the back are still there and he truly loved liverpool. I miss him so much. Sorry for starting of with something and ending with an ode to Rafa. I truly believed he loved liverpool, its fans and its players. I am not saying he was a saint no one is all of us are human but his achievements and values were exemplary. Wish Roy can emulate atleast some of it but as FS said we will give him time to prove but at the moment after the first game with Arsenal I think he failed on both counts. No matter what the media guys spin I knew what we could achieve from that game. Arsenal were there for the taking without cesc, van persie and couple others and the Agger incident has left a bitter taste in my mouth about his concern for his player. I hope to understand more on Roy once the season wears but he hasnt earned my respect yet as stated by rome77, lurgankop, fs and few others.

pshenava, there is no doubting that Rafa truly loved LFC.
Anyone who states otherwise simply ignored everything about the way the man did business.

However, I think you’ll find that Rafa did indeed throw players back into the fray who were injured.
He persisted with Skrtel and Carra when they near knocked each other for 6 against Spurs in last season’s opener.
Both played subsequent games with concussions and a broken jaw.

And there were plenty of games last season where SG and Torres took to the field of play when they shouldn’t have really been anywhere near it.

I think criticism of Roy is a bit premature.
Let’s give him a month or two for fucks sake.

I admit, I don’t like to see managers just sitting there… (was there anyone looked more fuckin gormless than Ged in his latter days?)
…in fact I’ve never played for a manager (and that would be a high double digit number) who wasn’t hoarse after every match…

… but I also don’t think Roy is in a position to be riding roughshod over the majority of these players.

As a general rukle though, the only time managers/coaches shut up, is when you are comfortably in the lead…
…and even then some of them can’t keep from telling you what to do…
… so I don’t know who you played for guinness lad, but it sounds like a mighty peaceful league!

Guinessdrinker for me the manager should manage and stoppages are the ideal time for those game changing instructions. One of the things Houlier ended up doing was sitting back and letting the players do there own thing. Mainly because (if rumours are to be believed) SG,JC, DM & MO basically had a revolt and took over similar to what happened with Scolari at Chavski so all in all its not a good thing to see.

Now with all that in mind remember Murphy & Owen trying to engineer moves back last summer but Rafa wouldn’t / couldn’t bring them back.
Murphy then slagged Rafa in the press ( NOTW ) and Owen did the unthinkable .
So what was Gerrards response ??
Now IF Gerrard did sulk his way through last season maybe its because he wanted control over transfers.
Or maybe it was his injuries and a loss of faith after those early losses which depressed him and led to his bottom lip tripping him up.
I suppose we’ll never know because a autobiography is usually one sided.
YNWA

PS Lurgan i have a Aunt who lives near there, she say it can get a bit rough.
She’s a bit of a rebel she only went and married a protestant and was told by everyone it wont last.
50 years later she’s still married to him ¦ )

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/7953281/Kenny-Huang-shows-impatience-as-his-Liverpool-offer-stutters-along.html
Rory Smith from The Telegraph reckons Huang is losing patience? Hang in there, Huang!

Pshenava, I love Rafa. But let’s not relate to him and compare him with Roy. Roy sent back Agger despite his injury beacuse he had already used up all the three subs ( Aurelio, Torres, Rodrigues). If Agger were to stay away, it would have meant playing with 9 players against 11. And notice too that this was done with two new and wily subs Walcott and Rosicky coming on just before Agger’s injury. They would likely be attacking us fiercely-which they did. One other point: up till that stage we were still 1-0 up. It was Roy’s first competitive match in the Prem, against a key opponent for what could possibly to be counted later for the Champion’s League spot. In that circumstance, armchair manager though I am, I too would have asked, cajoled and pleaded with Agger to stay on. Rafa would have done the same.

Ya, Agreed! Do hang in there Kenny Huang! We are with you…

Pshevana: Are you smoking crack?? After one game, Roy has “failed you”???

any manager worth his salt would have kept Agger on – that’s football.

Quit lamenting Rafa and move on – he’s gone.

Ha ha, I just knew Arfur would come in after Pshervana’s post!
But as much as I love Rafa – and Psherv, I too am still sore about him leaving – I reckon Dagger had to stay on & Roy wasn’t at fault there. You’d probably find Dagger said “fook that, I can’t see the ball, I don’t know who’s on my side or not, but I’m staying on da paddock”.

Morning chaps…
Had the wee lad over last night. I forgot what that was like. I loved it, but I don’t envy all our new dad’s in here going through that every night. It’s nice being auld cuddly wuddly Granda getting up twice in the night to feed Pirahana boy. I really enjoyed it, but then I don’t do it twice a night, every night and then have to go to work. No sympathy for yers though. I had to do my stint, so suffer.

As for Rory Smith and Huang, it’s the same with all the red journos. They are all pushing this. I’ve been told he’s the only real game in town by others to. But in all truth, I’m in no rush. I just want it done right. Act in hast repent at leisure, seems about right here. Remember it was the rush to hand us over for pie in the sky promises that led to this mess that we are in.

So, I hope Broughton and the banks take all the time they need.

Okay. We might have to miss the transfer window. So what?

Most teams/managers would die to get hold of a squad like ours. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t finish in at least a Europa place. We should see good runs in the cup too. And, I’ve got to be honest, Roy is a stop-gap manager. He probably won’t be here once we have new owners. So, what’s the point in giving him mega millions even if we had them?

I don’t really fancy watching half of Scandanavia and The failed Golden Generation anyway.

Okay, bit harsh that. But really, what would be the point.

Let Roy just do what he was brought here to do… keep the ship steady, in this turbulant transitional time. Wish him all the best. Expect him to challenge. Hold him to the same high standards as Rafa was. Even give him a walk over and expect nothing. But don’t kid yourself… he’s not here for the long term. So, even if Huang or Sheik Mc did come in with mega billions, don’t give him the money to build our next squad.

Arthur’s right… Rafa has gone. We have to accept that. That doesn’t mean we just forget him or what he done for us. But, speaking for meself, I’ll do me best to back Roy while he’s here and try to wait patiently for a new era.

Hopefully, it won’t be another fuck up like this one. And that’s why I don’t mind waiting and hoping Broughton and the banks get it right.

FS, I hope your friends from RBS and wherever are both saying th Chinese still have a chance.

Hiya Knight. Far as I know mate, The Chinese bid is the only real one on the table. I don’t know if someone has come in quietly before the deadline last Friday. There’s nothing but silence at the moment and anything you see in the papers is being made up.

I suppose there’s a chance of someone trying to gain something by leaking “News” to the press, but that would only be Purslow and I’m only saying that because of his track record for doing that.

The last time I spoke to our RBS friend, he said exactly the same thing as he told me last week…
It’s all being done in top secrecy, nothing will come out until there’s a proper announcement to be made.

So, that’s why I say, I don’t mind this silence. Because to the best of my knowledge, Broughton and the banks are doing the job correctly.

But soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you lads know.

According to an article by tony evans in the times this morning Huang has lost patience with the delaying tactics by broughton, Liverpool have claimed there are other offers on the table and that Huang has not yet offered proof of funds, the times reckons though that all the necessary documentation has been provided. Huang has issued a take it leave it message to Liverpool as he has realised its all smoke and mirrors and deliberate delays from broughton (probably on the orders of g&h) in an attempt to push up the price. To his credit Huang asserts that he is keen to complete the deal before the transfer window closes as he wants to provide Roy Hodgeson with funds to strengthen the squad. What I like most about Huang is that he really doesn’t want h&g to make any money from the deal – class!
I think RBS have realised what g&h are about and that the club have a chairman and chief executive who are not fulfilling their roles. The times article continues:
RBS can, if necessary, seize control of Liverpool without putting the club into administration. Also ‘the bank have been charging hicks and gillett £2.5 million a week in penalty fees and could threaten to pursue the Americans for the money if they fail to hand over the keys to Liverpool as part of a debt-for equity swap. Other options would include removing hicks and gillett from the clubs board.’
It looks like RBS are so sick of the situation they are prepared to take the decision out of the boards hands and do the right thing for the club. Here’s hoping…

Ps I cant believe Roy’s getting a hard time after just 1 league game, give him a chance, he’s been in management for over 30 years and has had a fair bit of success in his time. No one likes the fact that Rafa was treated so badly by the board/press/so called fans and then sacked, but lets give Roy some time. Who cares if Mascherano was looking over at the bench without response. Maybe he was looking for a razor-scruffy get.

These latest stories in the press about the takeover are being made up in my opinion. The times have motive as they released the exclusive in the first place. Now things have gone quiet they come out with these articles to make themselves look more credible. That’s how I feel about it. Until an announcement has been made I am treating all articles with contempt.

Now, what side do you think Roy will pick tonight?

Jones
Kelly Carra Wilson Fabulous
Kuyt JonJo Poulsen Aqua Babel
Ngog
Bench: Stevie, Scary, Pacheco, Nando, Jova (& others)

Even if Kenny’s PR team did leak that Kenny was getting impatient is probably just to try to push things along by putting media/public pressure on the board.
It all needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as we are all fairly well in the dark.
Tonight I think Roy will play
Reina
Johnson skrtel carra aurelio
poulson/lucas
babel gerrard Jova
cole ngog
with aquaman coming on for stevie for the last half hour if we are winning, and torress probably witting in comfy uggboots on the bench all night.

Been reading most of the posts but haven’t posted in a while because me missus had the our first sprog 3 weeks ago. Up to me tits in nappies and feeds the last while. Tough going – but worth every minute of it. Congrats to the other guys who just had sprogs as well. Cant wait to get our little Liam out onto the football pitch!

Tony Evans of the times is supposed to be doing a webchat at 1pm on the takeover. According to Bamba (the man in the know) the two tonys over at the times know as much as him; re: inside knowledge. Apparently they have the same source leaking information. Bamba’s words not mine. Maybe evans might enlighten us a little more as to what is going on.

As far as Roy is concerned i think we should give the guy a break. Scrutinizing his every move on the bench is a bit much. I dont think for the life of me that a man with 30 years football experience doesnt know what to do when one of his teams go down to 10 men. By what i’ve read here most of the lads seem to have watched the game on the box. So there is no way of telling what/where/when Roy was up out of his dugout. Unless someone here was at the game & can confirm that they watched Roy in the dugout for the 90 mins and he never once barked any orders. I think were doing the guy a bit of a dis-service and there might be a bit of lack of respect going on. Its his first home game in the league. Let things settle down first. Give him 10 games and then start making some judgments.

Sorry Aus: of course, Cole & Lucas will start – also up to my tits in nappies, also had a sprog 3 weeks ago, also have one called Liam…trying to follow LFC & post comments whilst at work.
But thinking about it, there is quite a choice for Roy. We keep on bemoaning the fact that our squad is week, but it is not – especially if I have trouble trying to decide who to pick. The only areas we lack decent backup is striker (everyone seems to have 4 or 5 on their books), LB and a wide man or 2?

I would like to see a left back play for us for the first time this season. So Fabio or Insua should play.

Also hope to see Aquilani tonight and maybe a start for Torres. He needs games.

Would like to see the team play some good football tonight.

Favour to ask. They are not showing the game over here, not on radio either. If anyone listening/watching tonite feels like posting ‘live commentary’ (like Aitch used to, I think?), then feel free to keep your fellow fans informed.
Cheers!

Full cut and paste from the Tony Evan live webchat on the times. Depressing reading some of it. Looks like the cancers are digging their heels in till the bitter end. Sorry for hogging the blog Gerry.

Tony Evans:
Alright everyone. Hope you’re all good today. I’ll get stuck in then.
Mike, good to hear from you. It’s a criticism that’s been levelled at me all summer. And it’s wrong. What I said, was that if the current ownership situation remained, then Torres and Gerrard would consider their future. I also said moves were afoot to ‘extricate them with dignity’. Which they were.
I believe the captain mulled over Real – which would have meant him -putting in a transfer request and I don’t think he’d do that – and Torres has been persuaded to give it more time. He doesn’t want to leave but knows the ownership situation is untenable.
If Martin Broughton does not find a buyer by January, then Torres will leave the club.
Doom and gloom? One way of looking at it. A better way would be a wake-up call.
And you don’t trust me. I’m sorry. Then just for you: wow! I love Anfield! Everything’s great! Hey, we’re gonna win the treble. Love and peace everywhere. Especially to the American owners and their flunkies.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:06 Tony Evans
13:06

[Comment From DaveDave: ]
Hi Tony there has been so much claim and counter claim regarding the Huany bid. Is he really backed by the chinese sovereign wealth fund? Is he a credible business man? Or is he just using the Times as his PR machine?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:06 Dave
13:09

Tony Evans:
Dave, CIC are certainly behind Huang. They have not denied it (they are very quick with official denials). The confusion started when the Financial Times quoted an unnamed source at CIC as knocking it down.
As for being used, our contacts are from a variety of sources. You never rely on just one. Anyway, if I thought they were trying to use me I wouldn’t write it.
When you write something in The Times of London, you’d better be right. Writs will fly, P45s delivered.
Plus, they people who talk to me know I’d hunt them down and kill them
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:09 Tony Evans
13:10

[Comment From TineTine: ]
Hi Tony, can you shed some light on the situation regarding the new stadium? Are the plans at a stand still/on hold/dead? When would you realistically expect Liverpool to move to a new ground, if ever? Thanks.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:10 Tine
13:12

Tony Evans:
Only if there are new owners, Tine. The council are growing tired of H&G’s antics and will close the whole thing down as early as next year. The owners’ budget just about stretches to a Subbuteo stadium
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:12 Tony Evans
13:12

[Comment From AKMAKM: ]
How long till Torres is off? How many years before Liverpool is a threat again? Is money the only way to the top in the Prem these days?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:12 AKM
13:16

Tony Evans:
If investment arrives, Torres won’t leave in the forseeable future. If it doesn’t, January.
I don’t think it’s all about money in the Prem. I think that’s a myth that grew in the late 1990s. A good manager with good scouts can win with a reasonable budget.
However, when money is being leeched out of a club left right and centre, it can kill any chance of success. That’s what’s happening at Liverpool.
Money will not buy the title for City, just like it didn’t buy the European Cup for Chelsea. But when the lack of cash threatens stability, a club’s in trouble
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:16 Tony Evans
13:16

[Comment From PedPed: ]
Give it to us straight, Tony. What’s the latest? Is this thing going to happen or not and if it it doesn’t who will be to blame? Broughton? China? Hicks & Gillett?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:16 Ped
13:22

Tony Evans:
Ped, the thing is so convoluted, I’ve forgotten what straight is. The Chinese have their budget. All in, they will spend about £800m on the club in the short term – price, players, stadium.
That’s their budget. They don’t want to go over it. They’re not buying for emotion, they’re buying for profit.
H&G want more. They don’t really want to sell.
So it comes to Broughton.
Now he comes to the table with a big reputation but was recruited by Hicks’s mate Michael Klein (after me, “ah, the Wall Street rainmaker “).
Broughton was charged with selling the club in April. He hasn’t. You get to the point where you stop believing in people.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:22 Tony Evans
13:22

[Comment From Bob Bob: ]
Beyond Kenny Huang are there any other viable bidders?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:22 Bob
13:25

Tony Evans:
Bob, as detailed by our back page today, RBS were saying that Kirdi’s backers could be real but have shown no money (you’d never think bankers would take such a McCawberish outlook, would you? No wonder capitalism nearly slid down the pan two years ago).
They also said Rhone are still talking but don’t have the money.
A simpler answer would have been ‘No’
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:25 Tony Evans
13:25

[Comment From Danny Danny: ]
Was Yaya Khirdi just a big time-waster? And were/are Hicks and Gillett using to derail the genuine bids for the club?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:25 Danny
13:28

Tony Evans:
Well I think so, Danny. On both counts.
Now here’s the thing: I don’t think football clubs are just any other business. I think they have cultural and communial significance.
So what I say to Broughton is tell us who the bidders are. What have they to offer? Let us look at them and see that they aren’t just carpetbaggers. If they have the best interests of the club at heart, they shouldn’t be scared of scrutiny.
Get out from behind closed doors. And that’s what this paper has been trying to do. Get the information out there
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:28 Tony Evans
13:28

[Comment From Patrick Patrick: ]
Do you really see this mess being tied up before the end of the transfer window Tony? As I see it, this is seemingly unlikely and could lead to a real delay in a takeover as many bidders, Huang included, will be reluctant to purchase after the closure of the transfer window. This could lea to an RBS takeover in October and the inevitable 9 point deduction… Cue a mass exodus of our players…
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:28 Patrick
13:29

Tony Evans:
No Patrick, not a chance. I think the Chinese misjudged that one. Ah, there’s always January
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:29 Tony Evans
13:29

[Comment From Jason Jackson Jason Jackson: ]
Hi Tony,
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:29 Jason Jackson
13:29

Tony Evans:
Alright Jason. Keeping well?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:29 Tony Evans
13:29

[Comment From Faith Fulcher Faith Fulcher: ]
Hi Tony
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:29 Faith Fulcher
13:30

Tony Evans:
Hi Faith. Friendly place this
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:30 Tony Evans
13:30

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony, do we know what happened with the 10 day deadline that K.Huang imposed on his bid at the beginning of August to enable him to offer the manager funds to buy players. Cheers
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:30 Pete
13:33

Tony Evans:
Pete, as far as I know there was never a 10-day deadline from the Chinese. The deadlines were Broughton’s – last Wednesday for proof of funds, Friday for the deal to be done.
Huang wanted to get in quick to spend but the first time they actually issued what I’d loosely call an untimatum was last night
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:33 Tony Evans
13:33

[Comment From Jason Jackson Jason Jackson: ]
Hi Tony, reading the article today and Rory Smith’s piece as well it seems like there maybe a technicality in terms of whether Huangs has or hasn’t proven his financial position to the board. Could something this simple drive him away from the negotiating table or is the board stalling for larger offers?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:33 Jason Jackson
13:35

Tony Evans:
The key phrase is the Chinese have “supplied the necessarry documentation required by the memorandum of sale”. That’s proof of funds. RBS said they were “there or thereabouts”. Which is bankerspeak for “you’ve got it bang to rights, Guv,” which is corblimey speak for… you get the point
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:35 Tony Evans
13:35

[Comment From Faith Fulcher Faith Fulcher: ]
Good afternoon Tony, can you please tell me why Kenneth Huang appears to be in such a panic to get the sale done and dusted. Surely as a businessman he must realise that these things take time if they are to be done properly. Faith
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:35 Faith Fulcher
13:38

Tony Evans:
Because, Faith, they are nervous the team won’t make the top four next year. Uefa’s new financial regulations mean that the majority of the big spending needs to be done, in theory, by 2012 (they big clubs will drive a truck through the rule but that’s for another day).
If, by January, Liverpool are off the pace, players will leave, no one will want to come. No top four means no big names next summer.
They were desperate to use the window of opportunity. It’s as simple as that.
Memo to Kenny: earlier start next time
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:38 Tony Evans
13:39

[Comment From Dave O Dave O: ]
Hi Tony, If you could travel to the future, two weeks from now to be precise, would the Huang deal still be on the table?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:39 Dave O
13:40

Tony Evans:
I fear not. But I would back every winner on the horses for 14 days and I would by the club. I’d make myself No7 and manager.
Seriously, I think H&G will move heaven and earth to keep the Chinese out
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:40 Tony Evans
13:40

[Comment From Jason Jackson Jason Jackson: ]
Transfers: Who are the current targets if no one is sold? Is Figueroa still considered for the LB slot or is Konchesky a shoe in assuming Insua is sold?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:40 Jason Jackson
13:42

Tony Evans:
Sorry Dave O, I forgot to address you personally. I’ll make up for it by namechecking Jason twice.
Konchesky as about our market these days. I’ve always liked him when I’ve seen him. But I wouldn’t hope for two-drawer quality
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:42 Tony Evans
13:42

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony, you have likely seen the Liverpool FC forums with certain posters ‘ITK’ who appear to have substance behind their claims especially a poster on RAWK. Do you think that they are being fed the same information as yourselves at the Times or from other sources. Thank you.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:42 Pete
13:45

Tony Evans:
There are loads of people who get snippets of information, Pete. Some of it has been close to what I’ve heard. Liverpool is the biggest village on the planet. Everyone’s heard a whisper. Usually from the Evertonian taxi driver.
However, it’s one thing putting it on a forum and another putting it in a newspaper. But year, there are people on the forums who’s knowledge I respect. Thommo’s Perm on the Rattle, for instance
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:45 Tony Evans
13:45

Tony Evans:
Sound! The fire alarm has just gone off. But as you lot know, I’m fireproof. I’ll be like the captain of the Titanic and I’ll go down with the ship. Things I do for you lot, ingrates
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:45 Tony Evans
13:46

[Comment From James W James W: ]
Hi Tony, can you see Chelsea making a renewed bid for Torres, was there any other strong interest in him apart chelsea who made a concrete bid?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:46 James W
13:49

Tony Evans:
Oh they’re keeping an eye on things, James, but it will be Janauary now. His options are fairly limited. Real are off limits, Barca not really a factor, he’ll be kicked all over Italy and United haven’t got the money and he wouldn’t go there.
Chelsea are a good option. However, if City are top of the league and cruising, then they’ll be in a position to make a bid.
Did I just write that? Hahahahha. City. Top of the table. Sorry, smell of smoke made me dizzy
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:49 Tony Evans
13:49

[Comment From Charlie Charlie: ]
Do you know if there is any truth in the claims that Huang was set to be announced as preferred bidder on Friday? Cheers.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:49 Charlie
13:51

Tony Evans:
I’d love to know what went on on Friday, Charlie. We were told an announcement was expected within and hour and four hours later we got the blandest of statements.
I wish I knew. But I suspect there was one hell of a row, for whatever reason
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:51 Tony Evans
13:51

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony, in your own honest opinion, do you think Huang is taking us for a PR ride? Or do you feel there is an honest intention to be owners of Liverpool FC.?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:51 Pete
13:52

Tony Evans:
No, I think he’s for real, Pete. They want Liverpool. It’s a goldmine with a little investment. It’s the same reason why H&G want to keep it
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:52 Tony Evans
13:52

[Comment From Will Will: ]
Hi Tony – as a reds fan I would be delighted in H&G made no money from any deal that may be struck. But back in the real world don’t you think that, for all the harm they have brought onto the Club, that Huang should pay them off. If they make £25m each forthe deal then it is a price worth paying. The alternative for Huang is to stick to his guns and not get the club.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:52 Will
13:54

Tony Evans:
The thing is Will, the Chinese are businessmen. They’ve decided what the club us worth and how much money they will invest. H&G’s windfall would come out of the player investment pot. They’d rather spend on players and wages.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:54 Tony Evans
13:54

[Comment From Peter Peter: ]
Hi Tony, How close do you think LFC are from allowing Mr huang to walk away as the echo seems to suggest that the board are denying knowledge of the urgency and do you think we fall into the trap like in 2007 when Sheik Mo walked and we G & H
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:54 Peter
13:56

Tony Evans:
The board might deny, Peter, but Broughton’s been told.
The comparison with DIC is interesting. DIC were made preferred bidder, which means all they had to do was keep their promises and the deal would have gone through. They didn’t so it all fell apart (the Moores letter explains this).
Yeah, the Chinese may well walk. Who’s next up? I can’t see anyone
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:56 Tony Evans
13:56

[Comment From Robert Robert: ]
Can H&G bolck the sale, by court action or any other means?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:56 Robert
13:57

Tony Evans:
They’ll try Robert. It depends how well RBS have them locked up. This could rumble on. That’s the biggest fear.
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:57 Tony Evans
13:57

[Comment From gugadan gugadan: ]
Tony, are Broughton and the rest of the (Liverpool, not USA) board not just acting in the best interest of the club? We messed up big time when we sold to H & G so why not be 100% this time? or, do you really think they are just delaying everything to up the price?
Thursday August 19, 2010 13:57 gugadan
14:02

Tony Evans:
Answer this question, Gugadan: is there anyone on the board you’d trust to act in the best interet of Liverpool Football Club? Hicks, Gillett, Broughton, Purslow, Ayre?
Just a question.
And another. Is it in the best interests of LFC to be paying £2.5m per week to RBS?
OK, I’ll answer both. I don’t trust Hicks and Gillett. Broughton has an impeccible reputation. He needs to live up to it. Purslow and Ayre, I think will do the right thing, more or less
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:02 Tony Evans
14:02

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony, obviously you have to have some degree of belief in the stories you send to print, how much of the China to buy Liverpool report did you believe or still believe for that matter?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:02 Pete
14:03

Tony Evans:
CIC will have a large proportion of Liverpool if the Huang takeover goes ahead, Pete. That means the Chinese Government. I would not write something I didn’t believe. Quickest way to be back at the Leece Street job centre
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:03 Tony Evans
14:03

[Comment From Guest Guest: ]
Hi Tony,
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:03 Guest
14:03

Tony Evans:
Guest, you da man!
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:03 Tony Evans
14:03

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony, do you admit a little that the Times was wrong with the Huang bid, there are too many holes in his bid to be considered the messiah.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:03 Pete
14:08

Tony Evans:
What was wrong Pete?
Kenny Huang wanted to buy Liverpool? He’s backed by the Chinese Government in the form of CIC?
As for Messiah, for God’s sake. You think I want the Chinese owning the club and talking of cold-eyed profit. You think I want a Sheihk?
There are no Messiahs, not even at Eastland, just a game that’s drifting away from us by the day.
We have not been wrong in this. It may not happen but we’ve never said it will. Just that they are trying to buy the club
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:08 Tony Evans
14:08

[Comment From Mark Mark: ]
Do we know who the board are favouring to takeover? Is there a split and what likelihood is there of a legal challenge by the owners?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:08 Mark
14:08

Tony Evans:
I sort of answered this one a couple of questions ago, Mark. And the owners will do anything to hold on
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:08 Tony Evans
14:08

[Comment From gugadan gugadan: ]
Also, do you have any specifics included in the ‘take-it or leave-it ‘offer?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:08 gugadan
14:10

Tony Evans:
Gugadan, only in the sense they will not be jerked around. If I was them, I’d let the match pass tonight, talk to Broughton tomorrow and depart the scene Friday at 5 if not satisfied.
Then I’d go the pub and start the weekend. Maybe some dancing, maybe a curry.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:10 Tony Evans
14:10

[Comment From Phil Phil: ]
Hi Tony, the Liverpool Echo are reporting that insiders have denied that Huang has issued an ultimatum. What’s your view on this. Thanks.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:10 Phil
14:12

Tony Evans:
Phil, the worst thing about football is everybody tells half-truths or downright lies. I’ll let you decide my view on this.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:12 Tony Evans
14:12

[Comment From tony tony: ]
Does your gut say a takeover will happen soon(before Oct) or will G and H ger re-financing deal and this matter gets dragged out???
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:12 tony
14:12

Tony Evans:
My gut, Tony, and what a gut, says this nightmare will linger and linger
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:12 Tony Evans
14:12

[Comment From Jonny Jonny: ]
How much if the Chinese get it do you think will be available for Transfers?..Will we be more financially powerful than Man City???
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:12 Jonny
14:13

Tony Evans:
It’ll be different, Jonny. They will compete and will be able to, if necessary, outmuscle City. Got to get into the place first, though
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:13 Tony Evans
14:13

[Comment From David ODowd David ODowd: ]
Can RBS force sale? If Kenny Huang is the only ‘serious’ bidder and has given all required back up to the bid and he has threatened to pull out, can RBS make the decision for the club? If the answer is yes, will it be legally challenged?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:13 David ODowd
14:14

Tony Evans:
In theory, David. But if they do, the writs will fly. It’s a political hot potato for RBS
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:14 Tony Evans
14:15

[Comment From James W James W: ]
dont listen to the unintelligent people on here who dont trust you cuz you are a good journalist
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:15 James W
14:15

Tony Evans:
Thanks James. I try.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:15 Tony Evans
14:15

[Comment From Jag Jag: ]
Do you think takeover will happen by the end of the window and when do you think LFC will announce a preferred bidder??
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:15 Jag
14:16

Tony Evans:
Think I’ve done most of this Jag. No to the first and I reckon there’s a long way to go
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:16 Tony Evans
14:16

[Comment From Dve Dve: ]
So Tony, how confident are you that Liverpool will be sold to Hung or any other bidder?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:16 Dve
14:17

Tony Evans:
I’m not Dve, at least in the short term.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:17 Tony Evans
14:17

[Comment From Pete Pete: ]
Hi Tony,
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:17 Pete
14:17

Tony Evans:
Alright Pete
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:17 Tony Evans
14:17

[Comment From gugadan gugadan: ]
Tony, your response to Mike is a tad harsh – I heard you myself when you we’re on talksport when you first broke the Huang story (I think you we’re on holiday so the Sangria may have been talking) and you definitely said that if the ownership situation didn’t get sorted the Torres would DEFINITELY leave! You also said that the Huang bid was the only bid on the table – so who’s telling the truth? The usually superb Times or Broughton?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:17 gugadan
14:20

Tony Evans:
I’ll say it again, Gugadan: if the ownership situation is not sorted, Torres will leave. He’ll just leave in January because he has been persuaded that there might be movement.
We’re telling the truth. Read the story again and you’ll see that RBS explain the situation with the other so-called bids.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:20 Tony Evans
14:20

[Comment From Faith Fulcher Faith Fulcher: ]
Hi Tony are there actuall
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:20 Faith Fulcher
14:20

Tony Evans:
There are Faith. That I believe
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:20 Tony Evans
14:20

[Comment From Faith Fulcher Faith Fulcher: ]
Hi Tony, Are there any other bids on the table other Mr Huangs, or is this something that is being put about to keep the supporters happy.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:20 Faith Fulcher
14:21

Tony Evans:
That’s better Faith. No bids. And it’s not about supporters, it’s about driving up price
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:21 Tony Evans
14:21

[Comment From Dave Dave: ]
Hi Tony, what do you know and reckon to G&H try to refinance the loan as recently as June. Surely this is a sign that they dont want to sell and this could end up court, also who would lend them the money.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:21 Dave
14:23

Tony Evans:
Yes Dave. They have been trying to refinance all the time. If they can make RBS go away, they’ve got another year. And the next TV deal is ever nearer. Suddenly they’ll be rich again
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:23 Tony Evans
14:23

[Comment From Peter Peter: ]
Hi Tony, how close are we to losing Huang and ending up like in 2007 when we lost sheik mo and ended up with the parasites. Do youthin the board will react to this ultimatum as the echo quotes sources who say the club no nothing of the urgency required
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:23 Peter
14:25

Tony Evans:
Peter, last week I thought it was the end game. Now I’m not so sure. The board want to do this behind closed doors. No one in football should let them.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:25 Tony Evans
14:25

[Comment From Tommy Tommy: ]
Will LFC sign anymore players in window..heard rumours about Crouch..Is insua leaving?..Is poulsen replacement for Maschareno or will Roy sign another midfielder (Defour) if Masch leaves???
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:25 Tommy
14:26

Tony Evans:
I’d be surprised to see Crouch back. Mascherano will leave. Can’t see many other arrivals
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:26 Tony Evans
14:26

[Comment From Nick Nick: ]
Tony, it seems to me that an empty vessel makes the most noise, so do you have any information about bids from either the Al-Kharafi family or one from the Kraft family?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:26 Nick
14:26

Tony Evans:
Krafts can’t afford it, Nick and the Al-Kharafi’s are out.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:26 Tony Evans
14:26

[Comment From Shameer Shameer: ]
If the takeover is not concluded before the end of the transfer window will Huang walk away from the deal or is this a move to hurry up the process?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:26 Shameer
14:28

Tony Evans:
It might be ploy Shameer, you can never be 100% sure. However, the people I’ve talked to are deadly serious. In their situation, I’d walk, but I’m a right drama queen
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:28 Tony Evans
14:29

Tony Evans:
Loads more but I’ve got to move on to other things, sadly. Just do a couple more
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:29 Tony Evans
14:29

[Comment From Kamal Kamal: ]
All these foreign owners that have come into the premiership and makes me wonder that at some point they’ll want a return on their investment. There was an interesting article by Matt Scott in the Guardian regarding Arsenal broadband and that clubs will provide football coverage through their own media companies. Bascially, if owners hold out their is a big pot of money waiting for them when the collective agreement regarding the EPL rights is broken. Not sure what your thoughts on this are?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:29 Kamal
14:30

Tony Evans:
I think that’s on the nail Kamal. That’s why G&H will wriggle so much
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:30 Tony Evans
14:31

[Comment From Oliver Oliver: ]
What evidence to do you have the Huang has the money – apart from being told/assured/”if we give you the inside line please write” this Tony? Serious business men with serious money who were serious about buying the club would have done it by now without all the fanfare.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:31 Oliver
14:33

Tony Evans:
RBS told us, Oliver. I don’t just believe one side.
And the ‘serious men’ stuff is off beam. They are not buying for emotion. They are buying at what they think it is worth. They believe they have been obstructed and don’t think this should be allowed to happen behind closed door.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:33 Tony Evans
14:33

[Comment From Vj khan Vj khan: ]
Hi Tony. I remember a few weeks ago u nobely admitted that u(the press) should have vetted hicks/gillet better rather then hailing them as saviours. What do u make of haung and his bid? Do u think they’ll be right for Liverpool and if so why?
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:33 Vj khan
14:34

Tony Evans:
Too true, Vj. That’s why the process should be in the open, so we can have maximum scrutiny.
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:34 Tony Evans
14:34

[Comment From Neel Neel: ]
Thank you Charlie
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:34 Neel
14:35

Tony Evans:
My favourite today. Thanks Neel.
With that, I’ll say goodbye. Hope you got something out of this.
One day we’ll talk about the football again. I hope I live that long
Thursday August 19, 2010 14:35

Nice work there Artful

fuck it all looks a bit ropey doesn’t it lads? This Huang deal appears to be the only legit offer – why is Broughton fuckin about????? I thought he is this esteemed business man who wouldn’t dare tarnish his reputation by pissing all over LFC????

a potential 9 point deduction in October would be disastrous – we’d be essentially looking at a quasi relagation battle….fuckin hell

FS, can we have a new campaign targeting RBS please? We need to make sure they do not lose their bottle and do indeed call in the bloody loan in October if there is no takeover by then.

I have a horrible feeling H&G will threaten RBS with court action and then RBS grant yet another extension that takes us to the next TV/Broadcasting deal.

Arthur I’d take administration right now. When was the last time we finished within 9 points of the bottom 3? The deduction would not relegate us. What it would do though is seize the club from H&G allowing Kenny Huang or another buyer to buy the club with no obstruction.

No worries arthur. Just copied and pasted from another forum!

I think the tumours and Huang are playing out some sore of high stakes poker game here. There seems to be a lot of posturing going on. As Bamba said previously its who is going to blink first.

Looks like something happened at that infamous board meeting last friday that threw a spanner in the works. Someone on the board, other than the cancers, may have opposed the announcement of Huang as the preferred bidder. (if that what was meant to be announced instead of this “holding” statement). Ayre, Purslow or Broughton? Take your pick.

Or maybe the cancers had some sort of devious underhand way of stalling the process.

My worry is why RBS/Broughton are allowing the cancers to stall the process? Havent they done enough stalling.

Either way the silence is deafening.

Imagine everything was made public, we all (fans, journalists, unassociated finance experts) scrutinised it and all came to the conclusion that the Chinese bid would give us a stable financial footing and money to rival City. Now imagine we all knew this and the deal did not go through. How would we all view the board? We’d think they all were a bunch of incompetent fucks right? This is why I think they want it on the quiet. So they don’t look like arseholes if it all goes tits up.

My simple question is: Can H&G block the sale? If so then what was the point bringing in BarCap and Broughton in the fucking first place? RBS need to show some balls and force the issue.

I’ll read the full post from Evans’ podcast later. I read the other comments and all I can say is exactly what I have been told and what I’ve been saying since last week…
It’s being done, Broughton is the man we need to hope does the right thing, bankers seem to think he will. RBS and Barcap have already pulled the plug on H&G.

Like I said last week, they were relying on RBS not bringing in the penalty clauses… they have.

There’s no way they can pay them… they are fucked.

Huang is trying to hijack it all by pushing it through.

But ask yourselves this lads…
Who do you trust, Broughton or Huang?

Personally I know fuck all about Huang. I know very little of Broughton either, but I have been assured, he will do the right thing because his own reputation/career will take a right knock if he doesn’t.
That’s the thing that makes me believe he will. Not for LFC’s sake… for his own.

As for Kenny Huang, well, I remember H&G waving dollars, promising Snoogy Doogy… I see no difference in what Huang is doing.

And if we wouldn’t have been duped by that last time, we would have had Shiekh Makthoum/DIC and not been in this mess..
We’d have probably won the league by now and been all settled.

So, I can’t tell anyone what to do or think, I’m just stating me own point…
I’d rather see us get fuck all and the bank take us over rather than fuck it up again.

As for Tony Evans, well, I said it in here once before, because I don’t like name dropping I never said much about it, but I have been in contact with Tony and Rory Smith from time to time throughout this all – usually when they are quizzing me on what I know.

That’s not a slur on either of them, or making out they know nothing. They are both sound in my book. But at the end of the day, it’s Stephen Hester, Broughton and the other fella at BarCap that will decide it all. Not journalists, not H&G, not Purslow, not anyone.

And LB, don’t worry. I’m assured the bank is not playing ball no more…. 2.5 mill a week since the last extension – nah, mate. They are fucked.

Oh and as for journos… I’ve knocked back 3, all sniffing round, found my email address somehow and promised us stories in their papers, if I tell them exactly what I know…
FFS, how credible is that.
They know nothing.

Last word on Roy…
Since when did you have to watch the manager to know that he knows what he is doing?

I don’t work for the English media. I’m not impressed by some English fella showing his “Passsion.” I’m not impressed by some red faced old Scottish Tramp, doing the Birdie Song Dance pointing at his watch and screaming. I’m not impressed by some Woody Allen Lephrecaun bouncing around like a monkey on a stick.

I judge managers by how they can change a game when things aren’t looking good. It wasn’t on Sunday. The only substitutions Roy made were like for like or forced through injury and still like for like.

Yep far too early to judge. But I think what I’ve said is legitimate.

Oh, fucking hell. As Tony Evans says, this whole thing has become so convoluted. It’s impossible for any one of us to know for sure why things are happening the way they do, or to predict what or when something is going to happen. There’s a lot pointing in the direction of a lingering nightmare here, but only fuck knows.

LB, I don’t think H&G do have the legal ability of blocking the sale. It’s down to Martin Broughton to do what he was appointed to do, arrange a sale that is in front of all beneficial to the club and thereby keeping his impeccable reputation. The only snag I can see there is that he was (more or less) appointed by H&G. RBS can in theory force the sale through, but as Tony Evans pointed out, that could backfire on them in a most unfavorable way as a politically hot potato.

Anyway, it does seem like the Chinese are serious and do have huge amounts of money available to them. Their aim is to make profit from LFC however and I wonder how we could be sure of them keeping promises. That is something Martin Broughton will also have to make sure in order to retain his reputation. The question is whether it can be sorted out before the Chinese decide to give it all up.

Personally I’m surprised some big bald angry liverpool fan hasn’t booked a flight to the US to pay our greedy thieving friends a ‘visit’ so they realise that leaving with no money may be there best option.
Can’t wait to be done thinking about those cunts.

Hope the boys go for the jugular early tonight get a few goals so we can relax and rest a few for the return leg particularly as it is in eastern Turkey.

Artful,thanks for posting that but i have to admit pal i only read a little bit.

To be honest i`m trying to take my mind off all of the speculation right now.When the news about Hueng broke on the sunday night i spent the next five days hoping and praying this would all come to a head.I was reading every link,article and snippets from the ITK`s and my hope was groing stronger every day.
It all seemed to be coming to a head on friday with the “statement” about to be released and it was the biggest of anti-climax`s when the statement read effectively “no comment”.

Then we got the bit of info from FS`s guy at RBS and things went quiet.So i`ve decided to try and take my mind off it all now until something concrete is announced.I`m only going to drive myself crazy if i`m constantly concentrating on it.

The end game is near for H&G.Hopefully we have new dependable owners soon.So until then i`ll sit and wait and try concentrate on the footy and in the meantime if there`s anything i can do,in the fight against H&G,then as always i`ll do me bit.

Looking forward to the game tonight.I`d like to see Torres get some game time.He needs to build his sharpness back.I also would like to see pacheco given a run in behind the striker in the absence of Joe Cole.

FFS if a puppy isn’t just for Christmas, I’m sure we can think owning LFC is for a wee bit longer than the end of the transfer window.

What’s the ruch Mr Huang?
Why you going to spit your dummy if you don’t get the club in the next couple of weeks?
Is there something you don’t want us to see if we take our time?

FFS lads, instant gratification…
When are we going to learn. It’s already got us in this mess. It’s already cost us a European champion manager.
It’s already seen us go to a point from which we may never have returned.

Stop falling for this X-Factor society.
Shankly worked 7 years to become an overnight sensation.
Smith and Robinson never told us fuck all until it was done.
Not so long ago, people were slatting Rafa for doing dirty washing in public.
Have a wee bit of patietence.
I hate to say, I told you so… But I did.
And Gerry and the old hands in here will back me up on that. When people were dancing in the streets over H&G… I warned they weren’t to be trusted.
When people screamed for Rafa’s head, I warned to be careful you might get what you’re wishing for.
Well, I’m doing it again.

Fuckinell, if someone would have told me a few years back, that an aul scally like me would end up the voice of patientce…
I’d have had them sectioned.

But lad’s, like I always say…
We’ll see.

And waiting right now, is not a bad thing.

Timmy mate… if you read it, it didn’t say no comment. Go read it again, or have a look at the post I made about it a few posts back. It basically said, what we’d been told…
The bids are on the table.
The banks/board are doing due diligence.
A statement won’t be made until a decision is made.

I’ve no problem with that.

But for anyone who feels like a kid on Christmas eve, well, the RBS fella like I said, did say…
They will pull the shutters down. It will be done in silence. It won’t be announced, but, maybe, just maybe, we could hear something by the end of the week.

He hasn’t let us down before. Let’s see if he’s right. But even if we hear nothing, I don’t think it’s a let down. It seems to be getting done the right way. Let’s wait and see, and on that note…
I’m having a can and getting ready for the game.

I’d love to see Aquilani in the middle there with Lucas tonight.

“I’m not impressed by some Woody Allen Lephrecaun bouncing around like a monkey on a stick.”
Defo “comment of the blog” award nominee!

A couple of things…
Like me, you all have an undeniable passion for LFC.
In this matter (the sale) you must set it aside.

1. “act in the best interest”
Of whom?

Why do any of you assume that any one of these fuckers involved has the best interests of LFC (meaning the club and the fans) at heart.

The simply DO NOT.
Not one of them is a dyed in the wool, red till dead, born and bred, LFC fan.
They are businessmen. All of them.

RBS will do what is right for RBS.
Broughton will do what is right to maintain his reputation.

G&H will try to hang on tooth and nail, to stay put or to walk away with as much as possible.

And the others on the board (Nash, Ayre, Purslow) will use their votes to get them something out of the deal.

When (if) the sale goes through…
Broughton will get the kudos for doing the deal… but once the deal is done, he’s out, and so endeth whatever he’s currently getting paid by LFC… so if there is a “bonus” to be negotiated, you can bet your red arse he’s negotiating it.

Purslow is on a temp contract as Managing Director, so would the Chinese want to keep him, given that he failed in his primary brief… which was to bring investment in and save his previous bosses? … My thinking is… Not!

But he’s not likely to want to vote in G&H’s favor, so my guess is his vote is for sale to Huang… and a negotiation must take place not just for the club, but for what he gets in return for voting in their favor… i.e. to keep his job, or a big “thanks for your vote” severance package.

I reckon Nash and Ayre will stay on. They seem good at their jobs and have stayed out of the limelight though most of this.
They are more integral to the daily business dealings of the club, so I reckon the Chinese would keep them in place…
…but they still have 2 crucial and perhaps “tie-breaking” board votes… so again…
…what if any negotiations are being conducted to swing those 2 votes in either G&H’s direction, or Huang’s??

2. “administration”

The natural assumption is that if G&H default on their loan on October 6 that the club will go into administration.

But according to most of the articles I’ve read, you know… proper articles, not News of the World and Sky bollocks (and there is a comment to this effect in Evans’ statements above) should RBS seize the club on October 6, something about the way the loan and its default was structured, is in a manner that does not involve administration. It comes down to the wording of the contract/agreement.

RBS would become owners of LFC, no receivership, no administration, and could then sell to whoever they see fit. G&H would have the least legal recourse should that happen, because rather than dispute a sale against their wishes, they’ve defaulted on a contract.

Again though… any such deal isn’t going to be out of the goodness of their (RBS’s) own hearts… for the ultimate benefit of LFC fans.

RBS loses a substantial daily revenue stream when the club is sold to new owners… so you can bet your red arse once again, that any negotiations to sell the club, involves RBS providing some sort of loan so they can still be financially involved with the club.
(I read somewhere about a 100 million pound loan to any new owners… which would seem to make sense!)

3 White Night Syndrome

Those of you expecting a White Knight to ride in and save us all with a Brinks Truck full of Gold Bars, really ought to wake from your slumber and begin slowly killing that dream right now.

Whoever buys LFC will do so with a business plan in mind, be it short or long… that looks to making THEM the most money off of US.

That is just the way it is.
LFC is a business… one that tries to part us from our hard earned money, be it for a match ticket, a shirt with Stevie G’s name on the back of it, an internet subscription, a SkySports (or whatever its called in your particular country) subscription, or red sheets for your new tadpole’s crib!

And this is nothing new… its just that we’ve always felt that Liverpool had a different way of going about this, than other clubs… but go about it they did.

The club is in a complete and utter mess…
…in terms of the actual way it is being run…
…in terms of the current financial structure…
…in terms of the convoluted process that will be the actual sale…
…and whoever buys the club will have to sort all that out…
…first during the sale process, which will likely involve greasing palms… so I suspect there’ll be a fair bit of money exchanged in “off the books” deals to make it happen…
…and second in terms of restructuring the club operationally…
…and third looking forward (playing staff/transfer windows, the Manager, New Stadium, New UEFA rules.)

The question is not…
Will new owners be businessmen?
The question is…
What type of businessmen will the new owners be?

Aitch, we hope they will be business men who deem a successful team integral to maximising their profit. Therefore investing in the stadium and competing at the top end in the transfer market.

How is that umpire?

Reina
Aurelio
Kyrgiakos
Carra
Kelly
Jovanovic
Poulsen
Lucas
Rodriguez
Cole
Babel

Subs: Diego, Torres, Wilson, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtle, Pacheco.

No Aquilani – does he still have the shits or does Roy not rate him? Stevie rested?

I hope he has the shites LB. Cos if he rates the Oompa Loopa over Aquilani, that’s it. I’m finished before it starts.

Not a bit pleased with that line up, and I don’t care who thinks that’s treacherous.

Well I just saw Aquilani walking through the corridor in his suit so he cant be that bad.

Pundits waxing lyrical about the strength of our squad. Can you believe it?

So did I mate, but apparently it’s a virus.

Oh well, not to worry. The ITV talking heads just told me how good the squad is, and seeing the feel good factor is back under Roy, well…
sort of makes me wonder, why we all got so upset in the first place. Silly us, eh.

Oh and yeah… that is sarcasm at it’s worst.

You beat me to it…
You couldn’t fuckin make it up could you mate.

Oh well off to watch Roys Rovers.

ah fuck it’s started already:
- 2nd string put out showing the strength of Roy’s squad.
- Roy unbeaten in 3 games
- putting the feel good factor back into the club

How fuckin’ two faced can you get. Not havin’ a go at Roy but our beloved press/media.

Rafalution, if you can stick the commentary and have a pretty decent internet connection, you can watch the match here:

http://mypremium.tv/

Not the best stream but better than nothing I suppose.

so I guess that there is a couple of minutes lag in my stream

Yeah LB, and there really are Hookers with Hearts of Gold, who look like Julia Roberts!

Hmmm…
Reina
Kelly, Carra, Soto, Aurellio
Maxi, Lucas, Poulsen, Babel
Cole and Jova

Crikey, 7 changes…
…that is what I call rotation…
oh no wait, rotation is what Rafa did…
…its only “shuffling the pack” by Roy!

And yeah LB, I’m not suggesting that Huang might not be a businessman who’s intent is to make money, but still do things “the right way”…
(that is the hope/dream, is it not?)

… I just laugh when I read some opinions about the takeover…

… the amount of cluelessness some people have about the situation is staggering…

…and I’m sorry to say this, but even from some people who have been coming in here regularly, where these things get pointed out on a regular basis.

If Carra launches one more aimless long ball I’ll scream!

Here’s a decent stream for those who need it:

http://www.vissattv.info/2010/08/link-1.html

Poulsen couldn’t pass the parcel.

I can’t wait until I see us play at home!

“Nice finish Ryan, now get in the showers.”

Lovely eh.

rojadirecta.com is good for some links as is myp2p.eu

I tend to use the iraqgoals link even though the connection is only 200k it still gives a decent image

I think poulsen is rusty and will get better shows signs of composure when on the ball and is not a hot potato player but i think he and lucas need to play with a creative player.I am in favour of two holding midfielders but one of them needs to have a bit of creative play in their game.Also i think babel could be a very effective player for us down the righthand side in front of johnson defensives tend to be a bit tentative when faced with raw pace my ist choice team unless we are playing the big guns and have to change our tatics accordingly is…………….REINA………………………JOHNSON…..CARRAGHER…AGGER……AURELIO…………………………………………………………….POULSEN…GERRARD………………………………………………………………………………COLE………………………BABEL…………………………JOVANOVICH…………………..TORRES……………………..
Obviously if masch stays and we sign a quality left back this formation would change.I think we need to get our forward line firing again this season.If we score plenty i’ve got a lot of confidence in our defence to shut down the other end and i think we will do well.ps would love too see another quality striker to backup nando at the moment if torres gets injured we have to play eggnog who i am warming to but is not ready to lead the line at the greatest clup in the universe
ynwa

We looked a very very ordinary side tonight. I cannot remember too many moments of quality at all. Our midfield had no imagination, no guile, no pace, it lacked quality. The fullbacks never got forward, I cannot remember a single overlapping run. How many clear openings did we create? Joe Cole has hardly played behind the striker throughout his career – all of a sudden he is a shoe-in for the position for us? I can’t remember ever seeing him take a penalty until tonight. Now I know why. He’s actually just admitted the last time he took a pen was when he was 13 years old. Great.

Torres looked a bit like his old self. We’ll certainly need him at the top of his game going by the performance of our midfield.

It was torture watching some of that tonight.

Let’s have it right lads. In all fairness to Roy, things he got right…
Firstly, the whole squad wearing the new club suits. Sickened to see that kunt Purslow in it, but it was good to see.

That might sound like stupid, small potatoes, but it’s not. It shows solidarity and unity. It doesn’t just look good, it makes a statement. Real good move that, and if it was Roy that made it…
I take me hat off to him.

2: Poulson. Far better than I expected. Again, too early to judge, but could be a really smart move for us taking him on.

3: I near hit the roof at half time when Nando appeared. Done my head in.
Babel had stunk. Let’s have it right, he was woeful, but didn’t he take that goal well.

I was gutted when he didn’t reappear and I don’t even like the lad. On top of that, I was thinking why are you risking Nando in this. But you have to admit, they looked a different side for them first ten minutes of the second half and hopefully the half has helped Nando when I was terrified he could have got crocked.

So, I’ll leave it at that. No point on focusing on the negatives.

But I do have to say this…
The fucking talking heads make me absolutely ill. The hypocrisy is absolutely disgusting. But, once again, you can’t blame Roy for that.

Have to mention this cracker at the end of the game though…
“Roy Hodgson, the only manager of LFC to win his first three European games on the bounce besides Bill Shankly.”

Fuckinell.

PS… Tell the tech boys the comments section is acting up again.

We were poor tonight and, when you think about it, it was probably to be expected at the start of this season.

These guys have been drilled to do a certain thing in a certain situation by Rafa and now Roy has come in and, let’s say, has a taken less scientific approach.

Look at what happened to Ranieri after he took over at Valencia. All the Valencia lads where lost and auld Claudio got the boot pretty tout de suite after. What I mean is that it’s difficult to follow Rafa because his methods are (pretty) unique.

Lastly, why pull Babel just after scoring a decent goal. That type of shite can ruin a player’s confidence, if I am not mistaken!

FS 136,your right it wasn`t “no comment” i think i worded it right.We were all expecting it,at the time for it to be announcement of a sale or at least that the board have chosen there preferred option,but it wasn`t to be.

Anyway once we get the right owners,thats the main thing.We can survive with the squad we have for the moment.

Second half tonight was much better than the first ,not that,thats saying much.Anyway Roy started with what was effectively a second string.He would have been better off playing a stronger side and trying to bring a proper lead to turkey.He could have played that team next week with the tie over.

I honestly thought Ryan Babel was injured.Ryan is a confidence player and it was a fine finish from him.To be pulled straight away,and so early on will not go down to well for his confidence.I remember Rafa continuosly getting ripped for such a move.
I don`t want to keep going back and saying “if rafa did that bla bla bla” but it now proves beyond doubt that there was a massive media whichunt,bias,call it what you ill against Rafa and not some scouse paranoia.

It aint Roys fault though.

Jovanovic was again impressive tonight.I was happy to see fernando get more match time.I know you said FS that it could have been a dodgey move but i think its important he gets his match fitness back asap.I`m sure the medical have been keeping tabs on this and had a say on how many minutes he should get.

I had the phone in on there,this is Anfield,one guy came on and as saying he`s on the verge of tears,tears of joy.How roy has brought back the lovely football and its a bright new dawn for LFC.The liverpool way is back bla bla bla.

That poor lad could be heading for a mighty fall.Sorry he`s not exactly a lad,he`s followed the reds 35 years which qualifies him to assume these things.

Our build up play was non existent and the moments of quality and goal that was created all involved moments of fortune.
The penalty decision was bad. I don’t know who else could have taken it but a certain Torres was on the field and surely the coach has to put his hands up.
Roy definitely cannnot be naive to give a guy who has not taken a penalty since 13. Rafa would have been slaughtered for such a game or decision and would have been blamed for destroying Joe’s confidence (I am not making up simply because the lad couldn’t out it in) but Roy is hailed..haha hypocrisy.
1-0 lead is slender and Trabonspur (I can’t spell it) is a difficult place. If Roy wins this tie its good else you could easily see the pressure staring to creep and there was no reason for us to have felt the pressure if we could have put the tie to bed today.
Our squad had quality with only couple of injuries to agger and mascherano and still we cannot win anything comfortably. By the way last year when Skrtel and Carra clashed Skrtel did come off and Carra’s injury was not serious as it was his head which hit Skrtel’s jaw. We cannot compare the concussion that Agger suffered (with a ball hurling at you at great speeds and you are taken by surprise) and I hear that he is not keeping well with no memory of the game. I think that is bad and he was allowed to continue was it me who was smoking crack or someone on the coaching and medical staff?
I hope the guy recovers fast and my worry is uncalled for.
Regarding giving Roy time I have seen couple of games and he hasn’t filled me with confidence despite the luxury of a full strength squad.

Should have read “worded it wrong”

Lets get the facts straight pshenava
I just watched a rebroadcast of the Spurs game a few weeks ago.
Skrtel came off after the collisoon, but after treatment, came back on for about 5 minutes, and was then subbed.
Carra played the whole game, but to characterize it as “not a serious injury” ignores the fact that it was reported he did so with a concuission.
He also played the subsequent 2 games, but still suffering from the effects of said concussion.
Skrtel was subbed and missed 1 game with his concussion, and then played the next 3 games… it was later reported… with a hariline fracture to the jaw.
Such was our injury list at the time, that these two had to play on, with serious injuries, coz we only had 3rd string back-ups fit.

As for todays game…
…the text thing on the BBC made it sound as though we were all over them and it was only their keeper kept them in it…
…but that’s not how it sounds in here at all???

Hi gang -
saw some of the second half with the new nipper slung on the chest. He’s getting his first subliminal football education already .. he’s not called Liam by the way !

Lurgan – 152 – a cracker !

Aurelio should have taken that spotter. Goalie too young, was gonna guess, just wait and keep cool, slide it the other way. It needed a cool head and JCole doesn’t have it (yet).

I am not making any new judgements on players or performances (certainly nothing negative) until things have settled and the September deadline is here … however … this is the internet and no-one wants to read holy-joe posts so here goes for my (not new) criticism … Jamie hoofed the **** out of that ball tonight. There was one stage, late in the game when he did it 3(?) times in a minute and man it’s depressing.
It makes playing Liverpool a doddle, just close down the other defenders and then Jamie hoofs it no-where. It’s a bloody joke. Roy has got to teach the old Dog a new trick, look up, pass, simple.

It was good to see Fabio back and having a few pot-shots, likewise Kelly. Thought Soto defended and attacked well. Milan a top buy (thank you Rafa), he faded later, as did most of the team, but I like what I see. Lucas was pretty good but christ he really has to learn to head a ball at goal, he missed another sitter tonight. Poulsen was ok for a first game and you have to remember that this team had never played before and CP was making his debut. Torres looked lively. So ok 1-0 is a long way from safe but one goal over there and we should be ok particularly if it’s the first one.

JColes penno, Lucas header, Poulsen’s “goal”, Milan’s chance … we should have been out of sight.

Well it should be a cracker next week anyway.

Yes we could have put the tie to bed tonight but we are still repeating the same mistakes from last season despite a much fitter line-up. But one thing which I see missing from last season already is that our build-up play and stretching the opposition.
Perhaps this is the style that Roy wants us to adopt. We are unable to keep possession and look narrow. Trabonspur could easily nicked a goal with their captain one on one against Reina. Dougle congrats mate. Even I was doing the same watching this with my 1 week old girl.

Aren’t we arguing mere trifles here with Roy’s decisions? The full story behind decisions is rarely known, and a lot of times people seem to judge decisions based on their own speculation.

I used to say the same when people argued over Rafa’s substitutions. There might be a story behind it we don’t know about and I don’t see the reason to criticize these things unless the argument can be backed up properly.

Perhaps Babel’s confidence got a blow when he was substituted after that goal, and perhaps it was all decided before the game he was going to play 45 minutes.

I think we should trust in Roy’s many years of experience to make the right call with these minor decisions. These are not the things I’m worried about when it comes to Roy Hodgson’s managerial qualities.

Well Aitch the Keeper didn`t do too bad.To say he singled handedly kept them in it is an overstatement.

I`d have saved joe`s penalty meself and the only other save of note i can recall would be from Milan.

Admittedly i hadn`t full concentration on the first half as the kiddies were still running mad around the house!

PS Anybody know anything about windows.I cant narrow the page without the words getting lost.I`ve to scroll across the bottom to get all the comments in>

Can anyone help,i`m sure it something simple i`m just a numpty with these things

Just got back and i’ll tell you one thing those Turks are a noisy bunch drowned out the home crowd who clapped like seals before YNWA was finished and basically resorted to boo’ing and whistling . Me and my mate & 3 ten year olds started singing “we’re not singing anymore” it was that bad.
Anyway i thought we was poor apart from a period after Roy destroyed Babels confidence ¦ ) and really should of been going over there with a 3-0 as its going to be a intimidating atmosphere and its going to be physical.
I wanted Soto to take the pen as it would of wound the Turks up and with hindsight he wouldn’t have done any worse than Cole.
Anyone know why the second goal got disallowed ?
PS Before i get a bollacking no official merchandise / food was bought and the tickets were only £10 adults £5 kids which is a step in the right direction.
YNWA

Apparently Aqua is going out on loan, to some team in italy. Why don’t we lend him to an English team. I’m afraid not many ever come back from loans.
.
I think the medical people just can’t trust him to get through the season.

Re Aquillani loan
“It would certainly be what he needs, it would certainly protect the value of the player and when he does return to Liverpool no doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed before he came here injured last year.”
Well Roy what about the Aquillani we saw at the end of last season ??? In his haste to have another sly dig he hasn’t thought through what he’s saying.
I’m finding it increasingly hard to like him mainly because of the media as i have my own motto
“my enemies friend is my enemy”
Now if your thinking i’m picking on him its because of that.
I actually liked him before he came here but its slowly changing.
On the subject of in game instruction Pepe was giving Torres instructions to push out wide and during the pen he ran up to the half way line to give instuction to Soto and kelly i think.
Why was HE doing this ?
YNWA

Rome I don’t know what your saying there lad, we hardly saw Aqualani last year, so who is he having a dig at. Do you think he’s sending him out as a slap in the face for Rafa, don’t think so, Rafa didn’t use him either.
.
I think he’s hoping he plays well and ups his price in the loan period. All the best Alberto, you wont be back, no-one ever is.
.
Lastly Pepe is the goal keeper and an experience defender, him talking to his players is part and parcel of what he does, dot some conspiracy theory, goalkeepers always spot little detail, other miss.

Gaz
Rafa did use him sparingly and from what i saw he was the biz.
So now he’s fully fit or so the new doc says, i’d expect for him to be given a chance.

And yes it is a sly dig read it again “no doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed ” ie injured
then adds “before he came here injured last year” thats a dig its nothing to do with the loan or current situation so why add that.
Then again CP deals with tansfers and probably prepares his statements.
Either that or he’s starting to believe his own press.
RE Pepe spots thing because he’s stood back looking at a bigger picture and rightly tells his players where he wants them which is the same for a manager whose not only in a better position its his job to spot these things like what i was saying @106.
I just found it strange a goalie running 50 yards to tell someone 20 yards from the manager where they should be, or shouting in spanish ( i think ) to Torres pushing him out wide, presumably to receive long clearances
Who’s managing this team ?

Rome he didn’t really stand out in pre-season, so i’m wondering whether, they think he can’t cut it in the prem. Anyway, I thought he was a wonderful skillful player, playing in a rigid team. Thats now changed to a new Manager who may or may not want him.
.
I think he’s just one of those players you want to keep but can’t use very often and that’s not fair on him.
.
I still don’t think Roy was having a dig at Rafa, I thought it come across as the club bought him because of how he played before he got injured. The lads a talent, lets hope it works out.

Right lads
Just watched the game heres what i got from it

Poulsen: a bit rusty but doesnt look too shabby at all. A lot of sideways and backward passing to keep things ticking over not exactly a xabi when it comes to forward passing though. Still not a bad debut after a year on the bench.Pity he’s goal didn’t stand!

Babel: Nice goal would like to see him play a bit more in the last chance saloon category though if im not mistaken hes stil only 22
Torres: looks like a snake primed for the strike.

Cole: Played pretty well but needs a goal to get him settled before he turns into Keane/crouch category of waiting for months to break the deadlock/ make a good impression.

Kelly: Jamie Carraghers little brother

Pepe: still ‘superreina’in my eyes

Aurelio: gave the ball away alot but looked like hes finding his range from set pieces

Jovanovic: linked up well with torres in the second half

Roy: jury’s hanging and probably will be for a while for me. I respect the man and will support him but it just feels like I dumped Jessica Alba when I was drunk and woke up with Susan Boyle under me arm. Sorry Roy Rafa is a hard act to follow in my book and I dont want the chinese government to take over and spend 100 million on half of scandanavia. But I will support the man with all the red that is in me and give him the benefit of the doubt.
Anyways thats how I feel

Over and out

Also wondering whats the craic with Aquaman
was really looking forward to seeing him this year!

Over

all those struggling with the comments page – use internet explorer if you have it (firefox is doing the same thing to me but IE isn’t)

I think people have been surpirsingly positive.
I don#t want to be burgerman but I was pretty depressed from the game. Pepe is Pepe genius is my book. Torres and Jova were both bright. Jova runs so hard he gets tired though.
Soto was huge. Besides that I though we were ordinary at best.
I can’t even blame jamie for the hoofs, in the first half he was passing it to the midfielders who would run back to collect the ball (i.e. poulsen) who then pass it straight back to carra and offer nothing. It was astonishing.
The biggest thing that fucked me off is that when cole was taking the penalty I think one liverpool shirt followed the ball in. What the fuck?! If a keeper saves a pen they very rarely catch the ball.
If you watch the replay maxi was standing on the edge of the box and after cole kicks it he just turned around and ran back did take a stingle step inside the box. Understandably the turk defenders who did follow the penalty just jogged into the area kicked the ball and got it out of there. IMO that is completely unforgivable and either shows how moronic we are, how lazy/tired we are, or that we are betting against ourselves?! I am still livid

hello all:

Decent, if unspectacular result. First half unsurprisingly we looked like a team that never played with each other (7 changes) but I thought we really played some lovely stuff up to and around the award of the ill-fated penalty. After that it seemed our tempo took a bit of a kicking and we never really got going again.

Pluses: Nando looking sharp and hungry, Poulsen growing in influence as game wore on, Jovanovic eager and willing and fuck it – nice to see Babel score a goal on a rare start up front. I agree with FS though, he was mostly awful.

Oh and lads – calm down (and yes I’m looking at you Pshenava) it was already arranged that Babel would get 45 mins and Torres the 2nd 45 mins. Just as it had also been decided before the match that JC would take the peno. Gutted for him by the way – not exactly a dream start to his LFC career but I’m still confident he’ll come good – and another decent assist.

I suppose another big positive is that we didn’t concede an away goal but next thursday’s gonna be very tough. But this competition IS NOT a priority so no real damage done if we get knocked out. But still fancy us to grab a goal out there and get through.

Ok here’s my take on things.

If Aqua is going out on loan then I am very very disapointed and worried. For me Joe Cole has to be pushed wide left with Aqua just behind Torres and Gerrard paired with Mash or Lucas. My strongest line up everyone fit would be;

Pepe

Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio

Kuyt Gerrard Monster Cole

Aqua

Torres

That team for me has the right blend of creativity, hard men, hard work, commitment and skill.

Right last night’s game.

We were crap in the first half, proper crap. But I put that down to not having a decent pre season, rustiness and having a second string line up.

Joe Cole needs to stop thinking it’s the Joe Cole show. I know he’s desperate to impress and for me his attitude has been a breath of fresh air but he needs to just play his natural game.

Poulsen was crap first half he acted like the ball was a hot potato. Second half I thought he was decent and was unlucky to have his goal disallowed.

Jamie Carragher – LB I read your comment last night and felt exactly the same, I was about to explode! Keep it on the floor Jamie! He’s still the best defender at the club though.

Martin Kelly – Biggest compliment I can give him is he looks like a Jamie Carragher but with a lot more skill, I think he will be phenomenal for us.

Steven Gerrard – terrible, I didn’t hear his name once, was he on the pitch?

Torres looked like he had a turbo booster in his boots – fantastic – lets hope he has a full injury free season ahead.

Babel – Stank and I was moaning my head off about him to my mate when he pops up with a sublime finish.

Roy Hodgson – Speaks with dignity but my worry is he doesn’t like flair players, hence the aqua out on loan crap. I think Ryan got 45 mins for fitness and I think that’s why Torres got 45 mins, no probs from me there, I don’t think it will affect Ryan’s confidence for two reasons.
1. He has no confidence
2. It was already decided he would play 45 mins(I think)
I thought he got it wrong bringing on Ngog with Torres, I thought a more natural fit would have been Pacheco but hey I’m in the Torres is better leading the line than having a partner playing next to him.

Reina made a great save, other than that we should be taking a 3-0 lead over to Turkey.

I have to say though the standard of officiating is diabolical, terrible!, unbelievably bad. We should have had to penos. Video replays for me please, the goal should have stood as well.

Oh just in case, the Stevie G comment is me being ironic. Last night the commentator said “this game needs a moment of Steven Gerrard magic. Now if Stevie G sitting on the bench can perform a moment of magic on the pitch then there is no doubt about it, he is the best player on the planet.

I have to agree with arthur there: I think it was pre-arranged that Babel would get 45 mins and Torres would come on in the second half to build up his fitness. Risky for Torres, but he needs to build up his game time before the City game because he so behind in pre-season. So a necessary evil as far as i’m concerned. Dont think Babel’s confidence would have been that dented if he all ready knew he was going to be taken off before the match even started. Team comes first. And to be honest…. how long have we got Babel now? Every year, its this enigma wrapped in a puzzle, wrapped in rubiks cube shit… he’s had plenty of time and games to shine and it just hasnt happened for him.

As for Aqualani going out on loan. Im absolutely baffled by that statement. What’s the point in paying his wages all last year when he was mostly injured. Finally getting him fit. Then loaning him out so somebody else can reap the benefits??? Its fuckin ridic. The guys got obvious talent. And he skill orientated player. Someone who can see a killer pass and unlock a defence. This is the type of player were desperate for. I’ll be seriously pissed off if he goes out on loan. I wonder is that dickhead Purslow telling Roy we need to cut the wage bill or something. Wouldnt be surprised.

Oh yeah Dougle #164: had me new nipper on the shoulder watching the game as well last night. Brought him close to the TV to let him watch his first LFC goal…. and then Cole goes and takes a shit peno!

I too am unhappy with Aquilani going out on loan – I mean jaysus! we don’t have the deepest squad as it is – so what do we do? ah sure let’s make it even more shallow!

Roy’s first major gamble – and will only be vindicated if Aquaman is injured regularly for whatever club he goes to because I think he is a class player and he gives us options to play Cole/ Gerrard/ Jovanovic in different positions.

Not happy

I can`t see the logic on loaning out Aqualini.Why,just whaen he`s got his pre-season under his belt has he decided to loan him out?

Something tells me this “feel good factor” weve been experiencing under roy might not last long.

Lads, my best advice….
Stop listening to the muppets they call pundits. Or better still, learn to laugh at them. Because, if you keep listening to them, you’ll end up turning on Roy.

You have to understand these people are morons.
They haven’t all got a vendetta against Rafa.
They are just too simple to form an opinion of their own.
You can look at it one of two ways..
The man has gone and they still want to stab him.
Or they are so fuckin thick they just keep going along with the same old band wagon.

I know it’s rotten either way, but if you let it it will drive you mad and turn you against Roy.

I burst out laughing at them a few times last night. Here’s a few gems from the pre match build up..
After spending all last season saying how much money Rafa wasted on shit players, their first comment was on the depth of the squad Roy had at his disposal and what a good team he’d put out.

Obviously when the going got tough, they changed that to Roy was using his second string.

And I could go on and on about their hypocrisy and bias, but I’ll just get the funniest one in and fuck them. This shows the level of their expertese…
“The UEFA Cup is a tournament Roy has a great history in and knowledge of. And he’s already bringing the great European nights back to Anfield.”

Now you can let shite like that drive you mental, and risk turning against Roy and then the team. Or you can take no notice of these idiotic wankers and do your best to enjoy it – which I admit, is already a hard task for me because I know how wrong it all is and it isn’t what I signed up for.

Yes the idiot phone in “Supporters” are going to lap up “Roy’s Feel Good Football.”

But if you let them, and the media they listen to,
get to you it will only make you bitter. I have to constantly keep telling myself “This isn’t Roy’s fault. He’s not to blame for any of it.”

But if he’s letting Aquilani go out on loan, then I’m going to find it really hard to keep it up. Of course the media will label it as one of Rafa’s flops being shipped out. But I have to say, if Roy prefers the likes of Poulsen/Spearing to this highly skilled, forward thinking/moving player… well, it’s not going to be easy for me to keep thinking none of this is Roy’s fault.

I haven’t looked at anything this morning but the blog. So, I don’t know what’s going on, but if the lad is off, well, all I can say is…
I really hope his medical record justifies this, because if it’s being done as a footballing matter I will find it very hard to agree with Roy, very hard, indeed.

Did anyone else hear all the “experts” agreeing that Joe is going to be Roy’s second striker, and that he’s going to have to be given time to learn the role.

Fuckinell, 29 years old, and there’s the perfect young player for the job being shipped out on loan.

If you are going to end up not wanting Roy, well, at least let it be for footballing reasons, and not media driven shit like that.

So we signed Poulsen and send Aquilani out on loan. And we thought Rafa was negative? May as well send Torres out on loan and sign Bobby Zamora. Last night’s match was like watching paint dry. Put all the positive spin on it you like but I thought it was shite. I only take solace in the fact we made 7 changes. If our general play is as poor on Monday night against City then my fears will have been confirmed.

Aqua was starting to look the biz towards the end of last season. A bit of creativity never did any harm. So to loan him out? OMF…
Arthur, you were talking about JC. Now I could have thought we had Him playing for LFC last night, but my immediate thought was “what, Jamie Carra taking the spotkick?”. Then it dawned on me… Maybe we should refer to Joe as…well, Joe, or maybe Joco?
Just a thought, got very confused for a mo.

ROY HODGSON is ready to let Alberto Aquilani leave Liverpool on loan in order to rebuild the midfielder’s flagging confidence.

The Italian midfielder was left out of last night’s Europa League win over Trabzonspor, having previously missed the opening 1-1 draw with Arsenal because of sickness.

Aquilani has struggled desperately to make an impact at Anfield since his £17m move from Roma 12 months ago and his attempts to make an impact have been stymied by series of injuries.

But Hodgson has a number of midfield options at his disposal and given that he is unable to promise him a starting place, the Liverpool manager feels it would be sensible for him to find a club in Serie A.

“At the moment we are considering possibly loaning him to an Italian club,” said Hodgson. “Nothing is sure about that yet so I don’t have anything definite to report.

“I didn’t want to use him (against Trabzonspor) just in case the loan goes through, because for Aquilani this year it’s very important that he plays regular football.

“Every week he has to be the number one man on the teamsheet. I can’t promise him that here so a loan move to Italy could help him in that respect.”

Many will think this is the beginning of the end for the 26-year-old, who has been linked with a number of Serie A clubs in recent months.

Hodgson, though, insists that is not the case and thinks that a temporary move away from Merseyside will revitalise Aquilani to play a role next season.

“It might be good for all parties,” said Hodgson. “It would certainly be what he needs and it would certainly protect the value of the player.

“When he does return to Liverpool no doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed before he came here injured last year.”

Just imagine Aquilani having the best season of his career at Parma FC or some club like that, while we’ll be struggling thanks to a lack of creativity and an even thinner squad. I can’t really see the logic behind this.

And remember, Mascherano wasn’t in the squad last night, so he might still get sold to Inter or Barcelona. Imagine the midfield setup left after that, we would have no chance of challenging for CL spots or even EL spots anymore. Who will want to stay then?

I hope my fears are proven dead wrong here, and that Roy knows what he’s doing, but things are looking very promising at the moment.

Sorry, are NOT looking very promising, or course.

Having read the statement, I can see sense in that.
Aquilani does need to start playing football regularly.
But here’s me problem with it…
It’s obvious, Roy is going to play Joe Cole in the hole behind Torres.
I’d prefer a fit Aquilani in there ahead of Cole, but Roy is the manager not me.
So, still no real problem there.
He has to make a decision.
But and here’s the rub…
Joe Cole is 29.
He’s going to need resting throughout the season.
He’s already had 2 career threatening injuries.
He’s not going to stay fit no matter how much Roy rotates, sorry, manages his squad.
Aquilani would be the man to play there.
But we still have other options so no problem there really.
But wouldn’t it make more sense to loan or sell Spearing?
And who will get the games in midfield when Roy’s top options are managed?
Poulsen and Spearing?
Meaning what about Shelvey and Pacheco?

Sorry, but Roy said he wanted to bring back the fast tempo, pressing the ball high up the pitch game.
I’ll back him to the hilt, if he does that.
We’ve sat deep for both the Arsenal and last night, and even for lots of the games against Robotnick.
We had the personel, both on the pitch and on the bench, to change that.

Sorry, and I really am sorry, because I don’t want to be negative about Roy, but, well, let’s just say it doesn’t make me confident about seeing the sort of football we want.

Rumours now about Dirk being offered to Inter…

As much as I’m not a massive fan of Kuyt – unless we replace him – we’ll be further weakening our squad by this.

In my view Kuyt is a more effective right sided player than Maxi – more goals and more assists. In saying that, there are , of course, far better right sided players out there..

But right now we can’t afford to buy a Subutteo player let alone a class winger

You have to laugh at it FS.Otherise the men in the white coats will be along very soon.

To be honest i don`t watch the pre match,half-time or full-time “analysis”.

I did turn on this is anfield last night but i had to turn it off after the man who was in tears of joy.
When the media are at it one can,ignore it,maybe laugh at it,we all know there a bunch of monkeys swinging off the same tree.

What i find hard to listen to is life long reds not seeing whats in front of them or worse,choose to ignore it.

LB you said it in a nutshell,Aqua out Poulsen in.And we already havent the strongest squad inh the world.This is in now way going to do anything for us.
He can`t gaurentee him football?

What if Rafa comes in for Masch?

I dunno i can`t see the logic in it.Maybe Roy has gaurenteed Joe Cole the position behind the striker?

I heard that about Derek on the wireless there.If this is true then i`m going to be seething.

Anyone see Cecil on the telly last night?

The little snake in the grass and poor oul Kenny plonked in between himself and Broughton.

He really looked like he didn`t want to be there.

I think that we now know why Aquaman had the shits!

Will be gutted if he’s loaned out becuase the team is crying out for someone with a bit of invention.

Also I don’t see how he will be coming back to Anfield either, if RH is still manager of LFC, since part of his rationale for the potential loan was to protect his ‘value’.

All I can hope for now is that somehow it does not go through and he gets fit with us during the season.

My take on lst night:
1. Trabzonspor’s to be taken as a light-weight, hence the “Test” with so many changes in the team and to rest key players for the Man Shitty game.
2. Key players rested, almost half the first team players: Torres (45 minutes), Ngog, Gerrard, Skrtel, Kuyt, Johnson, Masch ( OK,he had a slight injury).
3. New players tried/experimented: Poulson, Kelly, Aurelio.
4. Result should have been at least 2-0 upbut we just were not good enough (Yet) for that…
5. Not sure about Aqualani.His agent denies he is going back to Italy. He should be playing for the Man Shitty game.
6. My line up for the Man Shitty game:

———-Reina—————–
Johnson-Carra-Skrtel-Aurelio
—–Mascerano (Poulson)———
—–Kuyt-Gerrard-Jovanovic—–
———–Cole—————–
———–Torres————–

No width, no crosses, Maxi contributed little.Need 2 wide players.Tough return leg, just 3 days after the Cita game.

yep, seen that Timmy. The snake was constantly spouting drivel and Kenny looked pretty bored with the whole thing.

And I ams assuming Aqualani is unwell with the above team. If fit, Aqualani could come in for Jovanovic. Quite a team…

None of Joe Cole’s previous managers has played him behind the striker. Neither for England or for his clubs. What does that tell you? As far as I am concerned his best position is playing out wide either left or right and drifting in. From an attacking point of view he’d be ideal on the right drifting in with Johnson overlapping. We’d be vulnerable defensively on that side though so I’d play Cole on the left.

Jovanovic should be back up in my opinion. I see no class there, just a willing runner with a bit of pace and strength.

As our squad currently stands this would be my side:

Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurellio
Mascherano Gerrard
Kuyt Aquilani Cole
Torres

This represents our most balanced side in my opinion. Johnson, Agger, Gerrard, Aquilani, Cole and Torres you’d hope provide the class. Carra, Masch and Kuyt the steel. Aurellio the decent left foot. Gerrard, Aquilani, Cole and Kuyt can all rotate positions. It can be quite fluid.

However with the likes of Maxi, Jovanovic, Poulsen all in our midfield in the same game with Cole behind the striker we look like a Sam Allardyce side. I’m sorry but it bored me to tears last night.

Best side, but you’ll never see it…
Reina
Agger, Skrtle
Johnson, Aurelio
Mascherano
Gerrard, Cole,
Aquilani
Torres.

That would put the shits up anyone, nevermind Aquilani. But Roy will never play it.
I fear Carra, Steven and Joe wouldn’t let him.

PS… Gerry tell the techy lads the wrap around melarkey is happening again.

FS, don’t mean to be smart, but one obvious reason Roy wouldn’t play that side is it only contains 10 players.

LB – We came up with the same side.

I don’t understand Cole getting the 2nd striker role. I used to love playing up front but I was defo a central defender.

FS – You forgot deadly Dirk.

Thats a good team you have there FS.

Does anyone else have a feeling that Joe Cole signed on the condition that he will be played where he wants to play (behind the striker?)

I’ve given Roy as much respect as possible given the circumstances – but I certainly don’t see how he can justify loaning Aquaman out. Aquaman needs games – he needs to earn his spot in the side (which he was doing at the end of last year!). we will have a huge number of games with europe, EPL, FA cup, carling cup. That excuse doesn’t float with me ‘Needing games!’ we rested Stevie last night because we have so many games!
Fucked off to be perfectly honest. Was very optimistic a couple of weeks ago…
If you want to lower the wage bill because those greedy fuckers are digging there nails in then fuck someone like Maxi off – the guys is as useless as tits on a bull. He was a fair enough pick up on a free for depth but if we have wage restrictions then piss him off not aquaman!
Also although I am a fan of fabulous and I definitely would want him taking the corners instead of Steve, he played pretty poorly last night – hopefully it is just a blip because he hasn’t played much in the last 18 months – but his contribution last night was woeful.
I dont want to be only negative because there were some good points last night i.e. torres, jova and soto but the bad far outweighed them and then reading that aqua was left out because of a potential loan move has fucked me right off.

also I think I’d prefer Jova on the left than joe cole – he put a couple of great crosses in yesterday.

Well, it looks like the loan move for Aquilani is already completed more or less. It will be to Juventus and according to one of the biggest newspapers in Italy, Corriere dello Sport, there will also an option to buy included in the deal.

This is terribly disappointing for Liverpool supporters, but I can assure you it’s even worse for Roma supporters since Juventus is one of the sworn enemies and arch rivals. For them, this is like Fernando Torres joining Man Utd would be for us. I don’t think Aquilani will ever be forgiven for this if the move goes though. How could this happen?

http://www.football-italia.net/aug20r.html

Roy either has no balls (to stand up to Christian) or is making a stupid decision. Either way its pretty upsetting. I can’t see any other way of looking at it.

in fairness lads what has aqua done exactly since he came? a few nice passes and the odd goal, i’ve seen much more promise in jova in adapting to the english game already. if he needs games but keeps getting injured let juve sort out his fitness and we might see a far better player in time?

GD, what promise has Jova shown? Running up a few blind alleys? Our team is littered with players who would do well in the 3,000 metre steeple chase but not so well at breaking down defences. This is supposed to be Liverpool not Bolton Wanderers. Our standards of what constitutes a good player have plummeted. If the likes of Jova and Poulsen played for Everton we’d call them shite I am sure of it.

GD, what’s the point of offloading Aqua now?

The only thing that would make any sense is to get him off the wagebill and hope he has a good season in Italy and someone picks him up permenantly next summer, which is pretty much what Roy has alluded to – ‘keep his value up’.

Surely he deserves a season to show us if he can hack it in the EPL?

It might of course be that Aquilani is the sort of player that doesn’t fit into Roy’s system, that Roy have come to this conclusion after having watched and talked to the player for a couple of months now.

That does however lead to the question of why Joe Cole was signed to play behind the striker, because I think it’s obvious Aquilani could fill that role at least as good as Joe, and he’s also younger.

It does make some kind of sense that Aquilani leaves for Juventus, because he’s exactly the kind of player they have been lacking, adding creativity and quality passing.

Roy has previously said every player who leaves will have to be replaced. Liverpool just can’t afford losing any more players and expect to challenge at all.

If Aquilani is not replaced before the end of the transfer window, there must be something going on here that Roy is prevented from saying to the press.

Either Roy is being hamstrung and doesn’t have the balls to speak up about it or he is a fucking idiot. Take your pick.

Pissed right off ith this now.We could never see the full promise of Aqua last season because he was always playing catch up fitness wise.

When he did string a few games together he did start to show us glimpses of whathe can do.He was the best player on the pitch against Athletico in the europa league semi-final last year and i thought he would be like a new signing this year with the full pre-season under his belt.

I`m not happy with this at all.I don`t know who`s behind this.

1.If its roy,then its a big gamble and he`s showing us he`s sticking to his system which Aquallini clearly dosen`t fit into.

or..

2.If its Cecil pushing this through,to get someone off the wagebill,then what does that say about Roys position in the club?

And to think there`s people out there who believe Roy will bring us a prosperous new way of playing footy the right way.

They are deluded.His style will ultimately be more negative than Rafa`s ever was if any of the first few games are to go by.

Roy’s system has been the same as Rafa’s so far. So it’s not a question of Aquilani not fitting into it. Either he needs to reduce the wage bill or he reckons the likes of Spearing, Selvey, Poulson, Lucas and Cole are better options. If this is the case then we all should worry.

None of Roy’s teams every played attractive football so anyone expecting the “shackles” to come off are in for a shock. Its Fulham/Blackburn/Scandinavian style football all the way mate.

The system is set up the same.4-2-3-1.

Thing is,under roy,(so far) the team hasn`t been playing with a high tempo.The team is very deep.

Rafa`s sides,particularly at Anfield played right up in your face football.Didn`t give the opposition a second on the ball.When they were on song the football was lovely to watch.

Yes we keep harping back to the last three months of the 08/09 season.The football played in that period when everybody was on top of their game was as close as Rafa got to his ultimate plan only for the board to fuck him around again last summer.

Maybe i`m being a bit harsh on roy.Maybe we should give him more time,in fact we should.He can get it right with these players but if he isn`t prepared to give Aquallini game time then i worry.

Again i can`t help its all boiling down to cole and that position behind the front man.

I hope he didn`t give roy an ultimatum when signing.

If thats the case,who`s managing this fucking club????

Lb compare comment 209 to 214…. I think we’re onto something!

I agree. Poor decision to allow such a loan move for Aqua.

It gets worse, Huang has pulled out

Ah this week’s prize goes to Sachem 203…
You spotted the fatal flaw…
It was 10 men indeed.

Nah, to be honest, and to put it in a nutshell…
I honestly didn’t even want to put Joe Cole in.
But I thought I better had and while I was debating it in me head, I forgot Lucas.

But in honesty, I would feild this 11….
Reina
Agger, Skrtle,
Johnson, Aurelio,
Mascherano
Gerrard, Lucas, Jova,
Aquilani
Torres.

But I don’t know enough about Jova yet, and I suppose Cole should be in there.

But I’m going to be honest here…
I fear Cole could well turn into this season’s Robbie Keane. And 4 years, on 90k a week…
Oh dear.

But the thing is lads, you have to keep the faith. You have to back the players we have and Roy, and we have to give them time.

There goes the feel good factor.

Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang has ruled himself out of the running to buy Liverpool Football Club.

A statement issued on Friday said Huang and his company QSL Sports were pulling out of takeover talks with the club.

The statement did not elaborate on Huang’s reasons for withdrawing from negotiations to buy the Anfield club.

“We thank the many Liverpool fans who expressed support for our efforts and wish the club great success in the years to come,” Huang said.

“I am now considering my future options and will be making no further comment at this time.”

Huang was the first party to openly declare and interest in buying the Merseysiders from Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but refused to comment when it was claimed his bid was backed by the Chinese government.

He has formally notified Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton of his decision.

He added: “Over the past few months we learned first hand that Liverpool has a very special place in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

“We concluded that a plan that properly capitalises the business and provides funds for a new stadium and player related costs would allow Liverpool FC to provide its great fans with the success they deserve.

“Our strategy and unique ability to expand the fan base in Asia would also have been of benefit to all.

“We regret that we will not have the opportunity to implement this strategy.”

I hope to fuck that it’s just the Chinese applying some pressure. Either way, something will have to give pretty soon.

Rome, Lurgan is a pretty rough place but it’s like any Norn Iron town that has a 50-50 population split. It makes life interesting to say the least.

Your auntie had a set of balls, so to speak, breaking the religious divide. At that time it was very dangerous (potentially life threatening) to do so.

To lighten the mood, here’s a typical religious norn iron joke for ya.

Q: How do you know that E.T. is a protestant?
A: Because he looks like one!

Here is the ‘prod’ version of it.

Q: How do you know that E.T. is a catholic?
A: Because he looks like one!

Agh, we all love each other really. That’s why I moved to France

The club need to give us some fucking answers.

Good luck on that one LB

So it looks like the yanks won over the Chinese. Didn’t think the would pull out already to be honest. I wonder what the reasons really.

This will be a drawn-out process indeed and the pressure on Broughton to deliver just seem to have increased massively.

There are no more bids on the table as far as I know. Will RBS realize the sale probably won’t happen and force a takeover themselves?

The worst case scenario is that H&G get another extension and manage to keep the club. Tony Evans hinted in his webchat there’s still a risk of that.

If that turns out to be the case, something has to break. Don’t now what exactly, but H&G just can’t be allowed to remain as owners of LFC.

We were a big club not so long ago despite all the problems in the boardroom only because of Rafa. Yes he is gone but he had left his mark.

However with Roy he brings in the small club mindset and our style of play will mirror his previous clubs.

As LB pointed out no more attractive football. I am gutted with the kind of players we had.

Do we seriously believe that the likes of Torres would enjoy being in this team for long?

Another point: What has Cole done to be given the honor of building a team round him? JC, SG wax lyricals about him all the time. This guy can’t even make the national team and Carlo buys a replacement (Benayoun) from us. More importantly he is not getting any younger as FS said and is as injured as Aqua is / was. He feels happy to just provide assists which if he does is good but we should expect him to score atleast 15-20 goals the way Stevie would do in the hole behind Torres.

Aqua was coming to grips close to the end of last season and this surely is a mistake. Roy is not crowning himself in glory.

Sorry mates for sounding so gloom but I don’t see any positives.

Is Torres on the phone to his agent?

If Huang really has pulled out, RBS need to show some balls and call in the debt.

Surely RBS wont give the yank$ another extension?

When will they learn that the only way that they will get their money back is from a sale?

There is no way that the club will not survive with those two cunts in charge.

FFS we just bought an up and coming 28 year old goalkeeper. If this all unravels, we could be set back so many years and… I am going to get another beer…

Shite and fuck!

Silence is (NOT) golden. We were lead to believe everything was getting sorted behind closed doors.

Broughton needs to make a statement about what the hell is going on …. soon!

Mortimer & Randolph? Not so sure about that at the moment.

This is just my opinion but whatever pool team is selected these are our untouchables who have to play if they are fit :Gerrard/Torres/Cole/Johnson/Agger/Reina/Jovanovich.I would add masch if he stays but i dont think he will due to his personal circumstances.Also i would be interested to see amoo used as a impact sub the guys got pace to burn and would give a few tired fullbacks the shits
YNWA

There are a lot of short memories in here today.
50 odd posts discussing the possible reasons for Aqua being shunted out on loan…
… and not one of them mentioning the most significant probable factor…

Aqua did NOT cost 17 million. He cost 5.

We paid another 5 in January, (when his appearances clause kicked in.)

Which leaves a balance of 7 million pounds to be paid to Roma… NOW…

…sooooo… anyone want to guess WHY he is being shunted out???

Ball…..

… Bouncing…..

…Where’d it gooooooo…..

Aitch,

Nail.Hit.Head..

Dunno what to think of the heung thing.He looked like the real deal.

Then again they all do before hand!

Aitch

Actually, I think we have already paid 75% (about £13m) of the transfer fee for Aquilani. It was divided in four and the last part is supposed to be paid in June 2011. In January we paid about £3m. There were also some additional fees/clauses included in the deal, for appearances (he hasn’t yet reached any of those amounts, detailed at lfchistory) and Champions League qualification amongst others.

But Aitch he is going on loan now not being sold now. So we’d still need to pay the £7m now. No?

The 20 million EURO transfer fee is broken up into the following:
- 4 cash instalments of
- – 5 million EURO upfront £4.25m
- – 3 million EURO by 4th January 2010 £2.5m
- – 7 million EURO by June 30th 2010 £5.9m
- – 5 million EURO by June 30th 2011. £4.25
Further Add ons include:
- 300,000 EURO for every year Liverpool qualify for the Champions League from 2010/11 to 2014/15 £255k
- 250,000 EURO everytime the player reaches 35 appearancs, 70 appearances, 105 appeances and then 140 appearances. £212k
- 1 million EURO the first time Liverpool either wins the Premier League or Champions League by 30 June 2014. £850k
- 5% of any future transfer fee will be paid to Roma.

Yanks getting shafted ….. i doubt …
LFC and its fans getting shafted … i can see!!!

If we’re that desperate that we’re forcing Aquilani out to not pay £4m, why buy Poulsen for £4.5m and Brad Jones for £2.5m?

Hi Daddies -

My take on the Aquaman situation is, footballwise, Roy does not like the look of Aquaman in a defensive capacity. Roy’s teams, playing at their peak, defend from the front. I suspect Roy does not trust Aqua to fullfill a midfield defensive role irrespective of his attacking capabilities. It’s a question of his positional and mental discipline and ability to tackle.

(I think I could think of someone else in the squad who might have the same “aspects” to his game)

As I said in 164, I’m witholding any judgement until Sept 1st when we see the squad for the season.

Of course I could be a million miles from the truth.

Another thing about the Aqillani deal is,its a swap for Poulson as Juve seems to be the destination. And i think its the only deal Hodgson has been involved with so i think he has had some input in the loan.
The only reason i can think of why he’d swap the 2 is he feels he needs some back up in the changing room and Poulson would give that physical presence (he looks like one of the bad guys in thunderbirds)http://www.thisisanfield.com/blog/2010/08/16/photo-special-liverpool-1-1-arsenal/

Either way i’m not happy

As for the takeover am i right in thinking the banks are taking 2.5 mill a week in penalty fee’s from G&H for as long as the debt goes unpaid ?
If this is the case wouldnt the banks want to stall the process and wouldnt Huang know their stalling

Lurgan You probably made the right move mate,
Neil Lennon is from there and he’s had a interesting past to say the least.
YNWA

All I can say about Aquaman, from his limited appearances is: The Lad looks like class.

He seems to glide all over the park, and he is quick for a tall lad. He is just a silky player.

I couldnt give a fuck about his defensive dutiess, those he can develop and will if forced to do so.

Against Arse we played players who were great defensively but had not idea going forward (Ngog was the only all out attacking player.)

Look at the Arse and Chelski. They field a good portion of 3-4 players who are average at defending but can split defences apart. The main reason they can get away from it is teams chose not to attack as much because they know they will be twatted if they push too much. Where as with us teams are happy to just pound us and then get back into their defensive positions because we take 3 hours to build up our attacking moves and dont have those 2 players who break the lines and get players in behind the defense.

Just my 2c

Okay LB, I got the math slightly wrong…
… but by your math, we still owe 4.25 mill…

… conveniently what we bought Poulsen for from Juve… which is where we are loaning him??
(Hmmmm????)

Loan deals are not always about “just pay the player’s wages and we’ll call it even” …sometimes there are under the table fees invovled!

If this does turn out to be a Hodgson judgement of Aqua’s ability, I’ll eat my hat!
I could be wrong, but in my opinion, Hodgson is reading off the sheet handed to him.

Purslow is making these decisions and they are financial.

Lads let it go Aqualani’s gone, the deal apparently is year long loan with option to buy at 17 million pounds, money back to square I guess. Good luck Alberto, I though he was a genuinely nice lad, not suited to the Prem. Before anyone jumps down my throat, it appears Roy is trying to get the best price for a player who he doesn’t rate and Rafa never used. He became the 60 minute substitute in non event games. I thought he looked class but I’m not a manager.

Aquaman is shorter than me about 5 foot 8 i reckon. I still rate him but he’s far from being a ‘tall guy’
anyhow looks like the chinese takeover is off. was neer really on by the looks of things. Of course those cunts have more power than we are giving them credit for.

looks like we’ll lose torres in Jan, masch anytime soon, get some fucking drop kick sweed the day after…

wish I could be more positive but this is about as bad as LFC gets.
If anyone can convince me otherwise please do!

I dont think we are far from some psycho liverpool fan paying hicks or purslow a ‘visit’ – they are fucking up our pride and joy.

if hodgson is reading off a sheet given to him then what a pathetic fuck. I could do that. so could any of us.

if we dont get stable ownership we’ll be the next leeds…

Red in aus, aqualani is actually 6’1″. Descent heigh don’t ya reckon?

Gaz, he hasn’t gone anywhere yet, it hasn’t been announced by the official site.

Roy Hodgson has revealed Alberto Aquilani could be set to go out on loan back to Italy.
“At the moment we are considering possibly loaning him to an Italian club, but nothing is sure about that yet so I don’t have anything to report,” said Hodgson.

Could be… considering possibly… nothing sure…

Hardly the words of a done deal we need to “get over”

Maybe a coordinated email campaign… to all the usual suspects… and all the official LFC.tv email addresses… in protest of the move????
… maybe make them think twice!

Unless the lad himself wants this, anyone who thinks this is a good move needs their fuckin head examined!

Aitch for the purpose of sanity, I’ll agree with you, nothing is set in concrete. Yet. However when your manager claims on TV that you didn’t play because we’re trying to arrange a loan deal, then I think your good as gone.
.
I hope he stays but I’m not holding my breath. I think the has largely come about because we can’t actually off-load Mash. All the shite he went on with and now no-one wants him. He has caused a major re-think.
.
And to your last line, I agree.
.
Lastly name me the last person to go out on loan then come back as a first team player.

Fucking depressed.
I tell you, if it carries on like this, Nando will defo be gone in January. Why can’t someone (manager, maybe?) come out & tell us why Aqua has to go? Unless, of course, Roy really, really doesn’t want him. But judging by comments from fans on numerous sites, 90% think it’s a disaster.
And I wake up this am & hear Huang has pulled out….thanks for your timing Kenny, you just fucked up my weekend.
There defo is some sneaky shit going on at the club, and I’m positive it originates from Purslow.
Oh well, at least I have the rugby at Soccer City to look forward to.

Agree with above.

By d way.. i loved Ryan Babel’s finish. Super touch.

Sorry Aitch, I can’t let Hodgson off with this Aquilani situation. We’ve £4.25m left to pay for Aqua and we’ve just paid a similar amount for Poulsen. Now its just been reported that Inter will not be making an offer for Mascherano.

I just don’t see how the above can be a financial decision. How does the club benefit? Especially when Roma get 5% of the transfer fee if we sell Aquilani.

It looks to me that this is a football decision from Roy. If we were that hard up for cash we’d be whoring Masch out to all and sundry to get £20m+ not shoving Aquilani out the door to save 4 million quid.

Roy clearly prefers grafters and tacklers in his midfield.

I think it’s most likely true that those who constantly accused Rafa of using “negative” tactics will find it increasingly hard over the course of the season to claim Roy’s tactics are any more positive. But I’m sure the pundits will find a way or simply turn the attention to something else.

Sort of kills a few birds with one stone this…
Gaz, 250: Well, he’s not quite in the first team just yet, but Spearing went out to Leicester and came back.

He also came back to a glowing reception from Roy.
Which sort of backs up LB’s opinion that Roy prefers grafters and tacklers.

I done a bit of digging round on this. I never found out much, but…
The new Quack has reported Aquilani as 100% fit and ready to go.
He was out because of a virus, which give him the shits.
It’s passed.

He’s ready, and I’m summising raring to go.

But there’s the thing, I’m only summising.
I have to give Roy the benefit of the doubt.
I defended Rafa, I will defend Hodgson.
But, I will not defend him to the same degree.

Hypocritical… well, I’m sure there’s a couple in here who’d love to say it, but it’s not.

There’s a difference…
Rafa had a vision, a master plan.
He wanted to spend his career here and take us back to past glories.

Roy? Well, in all kidness, he’s exactly what he’s made out to be… a solid old pro, who will hopefully keep us afloat in these times.

I’m starting to fear even that’s beyond him though.

Just listened to Tony Evans on Talk Shite.

It wasn’t pretty listening.
Tony loves the club. He’s one of us. You can hear the emotion in his voice whenever we become the subject.
He sounds close to tears.

What a fuckin mess.

What was TE saying FS. Is this really the end of the Huang bid?

PS, just to finish that comment off…
That team we seen on Thursday night could very easily become the team we will see week in week out.

Panic mongering…
Don’t dare be so insulting. It’s exactly what I’ve been trying to warn about for the last 3 and a half years.

And I know for a fact that Torres only agreed to stay because he was led to believe massive new investment would be coming in now – not in the future.

They are all tired of being sold that line of shit.

Which means, Torres could be gone as early as January.
Will Gerrard stay… don’t really know.
But I’d be willing to guess if some decent offer came in, the club would accept it. And if it was from a team that gave Gerrard the chance of a few glories before retiring – say like, Real Madrid – then I think he’d be up to the one last challenge and who could blame him.

Then you have to ask what would Pepe do if he seen all the top lads jumping from the sinking ship?

Mascherano, well we all know he’s off soon as he gets a decent offer.

And that would be that…
Joe Cole, Liverpool FC’s star and hope. And who’s to say he’d stay under them circumstances.

I honestly hate to say all that, but it’s truth. It’s not panic mongering. It’s the big picture some of us were desperately trying to get across when people were moaning about abysmal performances at the likes of Wolves and insisting it was all Rafa’s fault and he had to go because of them.

Take a pop at that all you like. I honestly don’t care. I stand by it. I stand by it because it’s true.

A defeat on Monday and Thursday, and we are already in deep trouble. And it won’t be long until the days of hanging in there until Christmas will be considered the good old days.

Yep. Lurgan. He’s walked.

The one and only real game in town has closed shop and all we can hope now is that the RBS and Barcap don’t extend the loans.

I’ve tried to contact me RBS man on that. I’ll let you know what I get told as soon as he gets back to me.

Aquilani gone.

Doesn’t say much for the magical arm around the shoulder man management does it?

FS – not taking a pop at all unfortunately I can see that happening as well. It seems like it will all boil down to the banks and whether we can finally rid ourselves of those pricks in October…
Akka – don’t know where they get aquamans height from – not that it particularly matters – but I’ve met him a few times and he is shorter than me and wears those huge thick trainers and I am about 5 foot 10… so wikipaedia et al are wrong.
none the less I rate him and wish Roy was such a limp dick/moron, to send him out on loan

Aquilani being loaned out is surprising but hardly the end of the world. It seemed to me Rafa didnt rate him even when he was fit and perhaps Roy is just following this out to it’s logical conclusion?

Time will tell of course

what is far more depressing is the fact that CIC bid seems to have gone – now where do we go? Administration?

http://www.football-italia.net/aug21e.html

OK, I now have to say this about Aquilani: The guy is a gifted football player, no doubt about that. But if it is true he has said the things quoted in the article linked above, I have absolutely no respect for the man and to be perfectly honest glad to be rid of the treacherous bastard.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a Liverpool supporter, but for about ten years I’ve also been a supporter of Roma. The rivalry between Roma and Juventus runs so deep, to compare it with the Liverpool/Man Utd rivalry is barely adequate. There’s a severe hostility between the two clubs that is mostly based on the fact that southern Italian football clubs have gotten fucked over by nothern ones for many, many years and Juventus have always been the main culprit.

Juventus supporters will see it differently of course, there’s always two sides of a coin, but Aquilani, who was brought up in Rome with Roman ideals knows what the rivalry is all about. Frankly I’m disgusted he has decided to play for Juventus and even more so by those comments. He will never be allowed to return to Roma and I honestly hope he won’t return to Liverpool either. I just couldn’t stand the sight of him in a team I’m supporting any more. For me, this move has changed everything. It would be worse even than having the tramp as our manager.

Now, I think it’s time to calm down and drown my anger in copious amounts of beer.

sachem – hopefully you’re already indulging in a few beverages. I don’t think Aqua sounds too bad. He just said he is happy. Juve is as much of a rival as tottenham are for us in that they compete but certainly not sworn rivals like the mancs or everton…
Anyway looks like we have to get over Aqua and also the fact that the club is not far from administration. As FS says though I’d prefer us to go into admin if it means us getting decent owners who have cash. If not we will lose most of our top players and not be able to replace them…

Sachem All i read was basically a standard quote for any player signing for a new club.
Roma are in deep shit financially so they couldnt take him back and its not like he’s going to Lazio
who are Roma’s real rivals.

Danny Agger just gave an interview where he was quoted as saying “…and you think it stinks in our joint, you should walk around Anfield!”

(get it… coz he’s from Denmark… and there’s something wrotten in the state of….)

thank you, thank you… I’ll be here all week!

Of course I just made that up, Danny said nothing of the sort…

… but surely the players must be thinking it?

This whole summer stinks to high heaven…
…and Something is very, very wrotten.

The Insua nonsense… the Masch saga…
…Purslow “making all the decisions” according to Roy…
…then Roy being the one who decides if a player stays or goes, comes or doesn’t…
… a bloke who owns a corner pizza shop bidding to own LFC…
…Huang being the only serious bidder… then fucking off…

10 days left in the transfer window…. tick, tock….
6 weeks to “Repo-Man 3: Scouser Tommy’s Revenge” … tick, tock…

How’s the feel good factor now, eh?

LB, I get where you’re coming from (#254) I just doubt the Aquilani thing is about what Roy said it was about. I just don’t see how that makes sense.

He’s one of the few senior players Roy has had to work with since the beginning of pre-season training and he was praising the fuck out of him in Switzerland.

I’m not intending to “let Roy off the hook”…
… I just don’t think, from what’s been said since his first day, that he was ever really on it.

Roy is not in charge of LFC in the way that Rafa was, or for that matter Ged, or Evans before him. It is a completely different dynamic now.

I think Roy jumped at the chance to manage Liverpool, and you can hardly blame him, but from what I can see as an outside observer, I just think he’s taken the gig under heavy restriction.

Also, doesn’t anyone remember that Aqua was rumored with a move to Juve just before the World Cup started?
Coincidence?

Maybe the whole Poulsen for Aqua swap was negotiated behind closed doors (and I’ll grant you, I’m not sure how you accomplish that in this day and age) and we got Poulsen first before sending Aqua the other way, so as to soften any negative reaction.

I admit that’s just speculation on my part…
…but seriously…
…nothing to do with LFC over the last 18 months, has been cut-n-dry, or we find out later, actually transpired in a manner we were initially led to believe.

There has consistently been more to every move than met the eye initially, so I simply cannot accept that there isn’t more to this than meets the eye.
You can call that conspiracy theory all you want, but its pretty true.

Even if Roy does prefer yard dogs… I just don’t get that he’s shopping Aqua for on-field reasons (you know… if he were the one making such decisions which he has already stated he wasn’t!)

All this bollocks about him needing to play every week doesn’t wash either.
We will play 38 prem games.
We are in the Europa League.
We’ll have the Carling Cup and the FA Cup…
…don’t tell me you can’t give him 1 game per week.

We made 7 changes from Sunday to Thursday…
We’ll see 7 for this Monday’s game…
…and no doubt similar for next Thursday… (a long trip it might be added… and therefore)
… another mass change for the subsequent Prem game…

To quote a Texan phrase… “That dog just don’t hunt!”

It’s complete and utter bollocks…
…and we shouldn’t be buying it hook, line and sinker any more…
…not when we’ve been gaffed and hauled into a sinking boat so many times in the past!

SSN reader pissing himself laughing reading out how the second highest record signing at Liverpool is going out on loan.
Kind of sums up why hes really going just another stick to beat Rafa with.

Arthur
13 starts 6 assists 2 goals when not fully fit.
He played & scored in the biggest game of the season against Athletico, and had a great game. so why do you think Rafa didnt rate him ?

Chavs 6pts 12 goals but for some reason i dont think its important to us.

What a complete fucking joke of a club we have become. Gutted, again!

Arthur,
What is the end of the world? I will tell you nothing is really. There is always someone else to replace however when you downgrade you get what you deserve. They will only shoot above themselves for so long and the gulf in class will soon make up.
Look at our neighbours they huff and puff each year to only make the Europa spots and which they couldn’t last year and no guarantee they will this year. Oh….I forgot what is our guarantee.

Just watched Rafa pick up the first trophy of his time at Inter Melon. They beat Roma 3-1 in the italian supercup (?). Funily enough it was our old buddy JARiise who opened the scoring for Roma with a beauty altho’ he nearly twisted himself in two trying to poke it in wth his left foot.

It’s a shame that Aquilani is going.
I’d love to make a post on pure footballing reasons why it’s a very bad decision.
I probably will at some time.

But we have to look at the big picture. It’s far more important than the fate of one player.

And, in the big picture, it’s just another reason to believe what we already know…
We no longer have a football club that exists to compete as best it can.
In fact, we no longer have a football club.

What we have is a sham, a masquerade being run by wankers and bankers. And the only thing you mean to them is how much money they can exthort from you under false pretences.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/7958286/Kenny-Huang-blames-Liverpool-chairman-Martin-Broughton-for-failed-takeover.html

There is some serious shit going on behind the doors … Testing times indeed for LFC and its fans!!

We can talk all we want about Aqualani but most of us only really want him as a fill in squad player. I haven’t really heard anyone say he should start week in week out, even Roy said that. Aqualani was an expensive injured flop really and the only way we can attempt to re-coup some of the ridiculous money spent on him is by sending him out on loan.
.
If our thoughts on him are he must stay to swell the ranks of the bench, covering injuires etc, then we should stop complaining when young players don’t get a look in.
.
We’ve all been calling for Pacheco, Shelvey etc but where are they going to get a run if we have 20 million somethings sitting on their arse, getting splinter.
.
He is a luxury player in a time of thrift. Good luck Aqualani on your day you looked wonderful, however those days were few and far between. I believe he was the beginning of the end for Rafa, sad but thats how I feel.

So Boughtman who more than likely was tapping up our players on behalf of HIS team,has apparantly f*cked us over.
Now there’s a shock i can only think of 2.5 million reasons a week why he’d do that.

Meanwhile back in the footballing world Inter have just won their first trophy of the season and Inter fans want Kuyt & Masch.

YNWA

Gaz for a start i dont think he was a flop, he came here for 5 years and as comical as it sounds now, we do need 20 mill players on the bench if we’re to win no 19 and i’m sure Lucas would have been on the bench a lot more.
Your talking about “ridiculous money” 80mill ladyboy 55mill Kaka 32.5mill Berbaflop and you say 17.5 mill rising to 20mill (if we win everything under the sun and he plays every game) is “ridiculous” ! get a grip.

“beginning of the end” i thought that was rotation or was it zonal marking no hang on it was Lucas, i mean Kuyt no hang on it was wasting 250 mill, no actually your right it was Aquillani.
I dont know why some people think it was G&H buying our club and systematically raping it.

So if I’m reading that right… (274)

The Club wanted Huang to do all the groundwork, negotiating all the ins and outs of a deal…
… but provide for an 11th hour” window within which some ‘nobhead could sweep in and hijack the deal.

That has a strangely familiar sound to it.
Where, oh where, have I heard of such a deal before?
I can’t quite put my finger on it…
… but I’m almost sure I’ve heard this song before??

Was it the Citeh deal? …. NO
Was it perhaps the Chav deal?? …Nope.

Was it perhaps when DIC had a deal done, dusted and agreed to…
… only for John Wayne and his trusty midget sidekick to ride into town …
…AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR…
…to hijack the deal …
(without due diligence… or… rather ironically… the very proof of funds they are requiring of Huang?)

oh and Gaz, not to pick a fight, but speak for yourself when you make a statement like “most of us only really want him as a fill in squad player”

I’d start the lad in the hole every week if he’s as fit as was being reported in pre-season. Hodgson couldn’t praise him and Lucas enough.
Now all the “faves” are back, he’s got no time for him??? What the fuck is that about?

If you think Pacheco or Shelvey are ready to deliver the sort of football Aqualani is capable of, I don’t think you’ve been watching any of them.

You think Aqualani is “a luxury player in a time of thrift”…
… yet you think we have the luxury of fielding the uber-inexperienced Pacheco or Shelvey?
I’m sorry, but… WOW, really?

Aitch, wow indeed.

Gaz, I think your missing the point here. Most of us are pissed off because we see Aquilani as a talented footballer who should indeed be playing in out first team. Now if you think the likes of Spearing, Shelvey and Pacheco have more to offer I’d like to know what you are smoking.

I’d recommend a nice “white widow”, it’s calming me down ¦ )

Well unfortunately, as gaz said in #246 …
“Lads let it go Aqualani’s gone”
They’ve now announced a done deal on the official site.

But the smell is getting stronger!

Aitch and Rome,yes it’s nice to have a 20 millions someone sitting on the bench, but we don’t have 10 let alone 20.
.
Now to the who would he displace in our first team, would it be Gerrard, Mash or Cole, genuine question which one, on a regular basis or is it to cover injuries.
.
Many on here critised Rafa for not playing youth now I’m smoking dope for suggesting that might be a reason Aqualani is gone. Lots of having it both ways.
.
Go back through this bunch of posts and see how many people wrote it would be good to have Aqualani as cover for 1. 2.3 players, not many ever put Aqualani down as number 1 midfielder with others to squad around him.
.
Anyway, I’m not here to pick fights just debate, and personally I think Shelvey has a huge future but not if we keep palming him off to lesser teams.

Fact. Aqualani’s gone. We can’t do fuck all to bring him back this season now. Let’s not lament too much and just look forward to the guys we have. Jova is not bad going forward and has had good run outs. Poulson is a mean tackler, quite good going forward and can be a good replacement for Masch. Babel could play in more games as he showed he can score, even though he was not exactly exciting in dribbling past players or able to give the opposition trouble as Torres did.
Now on the the Man Shitty game. Gotta have two holding midfielders to stop their attacking. As Masch is still injured and unlikely to be featured, I will play Poulson paired with Lucas and Babel ahead of Jova.

My new thinking:

———–Reina—————
Johnson, Carra, Skrtel, Aurelio
———Lucas ,Poulson——–
—-Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel——-
———–Torres————–

Kuyt for Inter? Didn’t Roy talk to Moratti to extinguish that rumour?
http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/20/2079106/rafael-benitezs-inter-in-talks-with-liverpool-over-deal-for-dirk-

No smoke without fire. Here’s another article about Kuyt going off. Roy is targetting Colombian striker Bryan Ruiz: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Bryan-Ruiz-is-being-lined-up-as-Dirk-Kuyt-s-potential-replacement-at-Liverpool-article560277.html

Knight: Lucas? Don’t you know Lucas is shit?
If Roy keeps on picking Lucas, keeps on using zonal marking, deploys Nando as a lone striker – surely he must be off his rocker?

Another good read from Jim Boardman:
http://www.anfieldroad.com/news/201008213922/broughton-silence.html/
Somebody on the board, please say something! Please explain what is going on!
On the other hand, don’t. It would probably be all lies anyway.

I just think this Man City game is one we must win, we need to be taking points off teams who want a top 4 spot. Then we need to beat the likes of West Brom next week. I think City are going to be hard to beat later in the year, once their new stars start to get to know each other. So for me we really need the points from this one.
.
Ps Blackpool hammered by a team we nearly beat with 10 men, shows their not as shit as we first thought. We can beat anyone this season, we just need the passion.

I am back from my self imposed sabbatical, popped in from time to time to check the comments and see that not much has changed, people with the finger on the real pulse and people still deluding themselves that some how it only about football.

To tell you the truth after they managed to remove Rafa for all the wrong reasons I became really depressed and thought that until the parasites have been removed what’s the point in trying to have a serous debate when all they care about is raping the club that I love. When I talk about parasites I know included Purslow and Boughtman because they have only their self interests at heart and not the club.

Yes The Hodge is a nice man and yes he is a decent coach but it is a massive step in the wrong direction if we want get back up on the perch. The only saving grace is that he has inherited a squad that finished second and that could have won if we did not have all the horrific injuries (11 out of a squad of 23 in any mans language is debilitating) so do all the CBC’s of this world and the rest of the idiots who called for Rafa’s head expect him to win the Prem know that the only problem stopping us, Rafa, has been removed? It will be interesting to see how we fair this season. It seems getting into the top four will earn Woy the nod of approval yet Rafa has to win the Prem funny how things work out. From Woys tactics, team selections and subs I am not filled with confidence.

All the additions including Cole are still part of Rafa’s strategy going forward and the first serious indication of how Woy thinks is Poulson and that leaves a lot to be desired and does not fill me with a sense of well being for the future. We ship off Aquaman (he could have been immense for us this season) and ship in Poulson and even if it was not down to Woy show some balls and say it was not your decision. Saying that if we have a relatively injury free year I can see us having a decent run and doing OK. Woy is no idiot and will steer the ship safely enough but he will be tactically out maneuvered against the better managers (I don’t include Fungus among them) so I think it is fortunate that we are in the lesser of the two European cups as Woy should do OK there. He is a mid to top half team manager and that is where we will finish.

Cole if he stays fit is a better prospect than Benny, who is going to sit more on the Chelsea bench than he ever did on the Liverpool bench and I agree with LB (fuck it is happening on a constant basis, I miss the times where we fought about Rafa’s tactics and team selection) Cole is not a second striker and should be played out wide. Again for all you people who think we will play Champaign football I see another Ged Eye, sit back, defend and counter attack.

We need a total clear out of all top management (except Ayre), Woy is just not good enough so he needs to go, before we can have a decent debate. I am starting to think like FS, going into administration might be the only way we will come right. Very, very depressed.

On the bright side Rafa has picked up a trophy something Woy did not do at Inter, food for thought for the get rid of Rafa idiots.

Rafalution,

Keith give the “Woy” shit a rest mate.

Keith, you’ve been around this blog long enough to know why people are hoping for 4th, because we finished 7th. We may have been 2nd the season before but thats history.
.
People will cut Roy some slack as its his first year, whereas with Rafa it was 5 years on and second the previous year.
.
At the very least lets give Roy a go, FFS he didn’t sack Rafa, he didn’t put the club in debt, he doesn’t own Kop Holdings, he’s not holding up a club sale, but he is trying to do his best at a difficult time.
.
Lets get behind him regardless.

Gaz, if you think Pacheco and Shelvey will get significant game time as a result of Aquilani leaving your in for disappointment. I’m not quite sure how you’ve come up with the notion that fans would rather see youth get a chance than see a €20m player on the bench.

I think most of us who have any sense realise that in order to be competitive and the biggest competitions requires a deep squad of top talent. 25 players of top quality.

Aquilani was one of the few midfield players we have that can play in midfield or behind the striker and actually unlock defences and help the team play better football. The guy should be in our first team either in midfield or behind the striker in my opinion. Its not like we have a midfield full of top talent. I think it’s limited which is why we struggle to play good football and create many chances. Mascherano, Lucas and Poulson. Good luck breaking down sides with those 3. Gerrard in midfield with Cole behind the striker. Right, we’ll see how successful this will become. I’ll not comment on it again until the end of October. We’ll see how many games we’ve won and how many goals we’ve scored and continue the debate.

Gaz
Why havent you mentioned Lucas as to who Aquilani would replace ? You mention Cole and Gerrard who have missed a lot of games through injury in previous seasons.And just out of interest who would you drop for poulsen ? And if its to give the kids a game won’t poulsen be blocking their chances aswell or do you think he’s not that good,in which case shouldnt we have kept Aqillani.

But in fairness to Roy we should cut him some slack he’s working under the same conditions as Rafa was.
Only difference is he’s done fuck all for us yet.
well apart from swap Aquillani for poulsen.

PS I forgot that old chesnut “Rafa didnt give the kids a chance” another stick used by “supporters” of the media witchhunt.

LB I think you have taken my comment the wrong way but I’ll still ask you which of the three I mentioned would you drop week in week out for Aqualani.
.
I agree it would be wonderful to have a 20 million someone on the bench but right now this club can’t afford that luxury. Hence like all assets he’s most likely being sold or protected in value.
.
I’m actually gutted he’s going but I’m not the manager or the medical staff so my thoughts are just shite.

Rome I used three, didn’t even bother going to five midfielders, Lucas got more games than Aqualani even when he was fit, that was Rafa’s choice not mine.
.
I don’t see what all the arguments about, Roy obviously made or was told to make the decision in which case, once again I think its salvaging some money from an asset.
.
As far as the kids go whats wrong with wanting to see them come through, are you against the idea Rome.

the lad missed at least two matches since he’s been here because of an “upset tummy” any pro who cant play through that isnt worth 20 pound let alone 20 million if he has a great season at juve bring him back or get the money back we’ve spent on him. other wise we have the new harry kewell on our hands here, alot like smicer too bags of technical ability but struggling in the premier league.

We finished 7th because out of a squad of 25 we had 11 injuries at any given time and had to use kids to make up the 25 in the first place because we did not have a pot to piss in, did people give Rafa any slack? He overhauled an entire squad by spending an average of less than 15 Mill per year. During those 5 years we won a European cup, Super Cup, FA cup, reached another European Cup final and a semi final, finished consistently in the top four with a second and third place finish. Roy (if you prefer), has inherited the same squad, minus Alonso, so why should 4th be good enough if we are going to use the same criteria we judged Rafa by?

I don’t like his style of play, judging from his other appointments; he has coached more teams than we have had managers. Letting Aquaman go is a blatant statement of intent and huge mistake, as was using our third sub against Arsenal when we still had 20 minutes to play and being caught cold with an injury to Agger.

Buying Poulson, who cannot make the Juve side to replace Masch or Aquaman is more telling then people want to admit. Playing Cole in behind the striker, when at 29, no other quality managers that has managed Cole, has played him at the expense of Gerrard or Aquaman is another judgment call that could come back to haunt him.

It is very rich to say give Roy a chance, which I will because he is a decent man, but what chance was Rafa given? However his start has not filled me with much confidence. The buyout fiasco has made it even worse. I am of the opinion that the only way we will get rid of these parasites at the top, all of them, is if we go into administration and that might be are only and best chance of success.

So yes I will give Roy a chance but I do not holdout much hope that he is anything more than a caretaker manager until we get decent owners so we can bring in a Manager of the same caliber as the one we have just got rid of.

Gaz, I’ve already said what my line up would be. This is it:

Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurellio
Mascherano Gerrard
Kuyt Aquilani Cole
Torres

Alternatively

Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurellio
Mascherano Aquilani
Kuyt Gerrard Cole
Torres

So answering your question Aquilani would be ahead of Poulson and Lucas if I were playing him in midfield and I would have him ahead of Joe Cole if I were playing him behind the striker.

Joe Cole cannot play behind the striker. He is better out wide coming off either the right or left wing. That is what he has done throughout his career for club and country for a number of managers. Why now at the age of 29 am I supposed to accept that he is our number one player in the hole behind the striker?

Why should I accept that we’ve signed a 31 year old tough tackling midfield player to replace a 26 year old with creative talent?

I’m supposed to get over the fact that we’ve kept the likes of Spearing and Lucas, signed Shelvey and Poulsen and told Aquilani his surplus to requirements?

Roy is either a gutless manager who allows one of his better players to leave without making a fuss or he has a Sam Allardyce philosophy on how football is played. I can’t respect or give backing to that.

I’m not happy with the constant downgrading of our squad, its a fucking disgrace. The club at the moment is a fraud, the board and the management.

Gaz, upset tummy my arse. Roy himself said he didn’t play on Thursday because he is on the verge of going out on loan.

Gaz mate, this club couldn’t afford to sack Rafa.
This club couldn’t afford to sack Rafa when Juve was prepared to buy his contract out.
This club couldn’t afford to lost the at least 12 million that that bit of business cost.
This club couldn’t afford to pay Fulham 2 million for Roy.
This club couldn’t afford to pay Joe Cole’s huge Bosman contract.
This club couldn’t afford to buy Poulsen for 4.5 mill.
This club couldn’t afford to let Aquilani go.
This club couldn’t afford his wages on the bill.
But this club is paying his wages in the form of the 4.5 mill they paid for Poulsen.
This club couldn’t afford to risk a very valuble asset by letting him go out to a club who won’t give a fuck about his health and fitness, but will run him into the ground if they need to.
But in this one simple move, they have done all of the above, and you want to know why…
This club is no longer an actual football club.
It’s what I said earlier…
A sham, ran by wankers and bankers for their own ends, and the only thing you, me, or any other supporter counts for is how much money they can squeeze out of us.

If as people want to try and make out, Roy has no control of who comes and who goes, seeing that Nemeth has also been sold, is this the type of manager we need? A manager who is only to glad to get the job he will allow Purslow to buy and sell any player he thinks should come and go. What next will the excuse be Purslow is picking the team? THick’s famous comment that he should get on with coaching the players has really come back to haunt us, because that is exactly what we have got, thanks to a media witch hunt and our gullible supporters that allowed it to happen.

But let’s not forget we now have an almighty feel good factor, well let’s see if it wins us the Prem. I would like to see how much money the CBC’s of this world are putting on us to do just that. Rafa the rotator, defensive minded, negative tactic, zonal marking, bad team selection manager was the only reason we did not win it already. So yes 4th is defiantly not good enough.

We need a manager that will tell us what the, lying, cheating, thieving bastards at the top are doing. Threaten to resign with immediate effect before the club is dismantled any further without his say so. Tell the fans what is going on, oh yes we got rids of that one.

Now we have somebody who is so happy to be here he will go along with anything that top management wants, just so long as he can live his dream. Wake up call and reality check, we have got Roy because all the other decent managers worth their salt rejected the opportunity to come to the fiasco that is called Liverpool FC.

How long will Torres and co stay if this continues?

Gaz The thing with the money side of things is we spent more money on Poulsen than the instalment for Aquillani which we still have to pay.
Any money we get for a sale wont come in till next season (when hopefully the shower of shit currently running this club are gone)
Do i have a problem with kids coming through ?
Not at all if their good enough or we’re winning 3-0 or even if we have a bad season for injuries like last season.
When funnily enough we relied on the kids too much hence the dropped points and ultimately no top 4 and no CL. Which i’m acctually thinking was a good thing in regards to the ownership problem.

Sorry, I got a phone call and hit post before I’d finished that comment.

I also wanted to include Roy’s statement…
“It’s being done to keep the player’s value up.”

Seems to make everything else irrelevant to me, and proves me point.

It’s not about how highly you rate Aquilani.
It’s just another proof of what we all know…
LFC is no longer a football club striving to do it’s very best and aquire the best talent it can.

Mind you…
“On field success not being essential to suceed.”
“Brand loyalty.”

Tom told us that 3.5 years ago, and if we’d have heeded them words instead of arguing tactics, etc, we might still have a football club left to argue about.

You are right FS we are a brand just to serve the cunts at the top and as long as they can line their pockets a mid table finish with hopefully a Europa league spot will do just fine.

“Brand loyalty Ubber alles.”

I’ve been saying Shelvey will be a monster.
I think he’ll become our next Gerrard.
I think the boy’s special.
But he is a boy.
A very big boy, granted,
But, at 18 years of age, still a boy.

He has to be used sparingly and sensibly.
Otherwise we could burn him out.
Spearing… forget it.
He found his level at Leicester.
Joe and Stevie are injury prone.
Masher is gone if a decent offer comes in.
Same with Kuyt by the look of things.

But we couldn’t find room for a talented player
Like Aquilani…
Point getting missed here, boys.

We are not a football club anymore as we understand it.

Yes, Keith.
And some of us did see it coming
and tried to warn against it.

But the time for I told you so’s has gone.
The I told you so’s are here now.

Oh well, I’m off.
Had enough of this for one day.

This morning, I’ve already been defending Roy
against someone who last season called for
Rafa’s head and wanted Roy to be given
the job.

It’s true…
When the mighty fall
they really crash.

I’m going for a pint.

28 mins and more sense gets posted in Kopblog than SSN will talk in a lifetime.

Sorry make that 40 mins

I’m watching the mancs run rings around Fulham and I am very jealous of the type of football being exhibited.

Opportunity for more downgrading ?
http://www.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=25784
As always best taken with a pinch of salt.

Sorry but roughly translated it says a deal for a liverpool player whose extreamly close to Snieder
is in a advanced stage after talks in Switzerland.

Now i know Italian clubs like to do business in switzerland as phone taps are illegal and papertrails cant be followed.Its the kind of place the snakes will want to do business.

Well done Fulham – really turned it around despite the refs best efforts!!

Apparently Lucas has put in a transfer request.
Oh well, at least it will be funny
watching all the people who called him
shite and booed him scream.

Lads, please all take a deep breath.

Look… Roy is a caretaker manager. He just is.
He was offered the ultimate football job… but offered it in handcuffs.
I don’t blame him for biting their hand off, even under the circumstances.

Hell… most of us… us who despise the current regime with a passion, us who refuse to buy merchandise until they are gone… would pay those evil douchebags… for the chance to do what Roy is doing.
So lets not kill the messenger here.

There are a fair few better managers could have been given the nod…
…but be under no illusion that there are a lot worse.

Would you prefer a shackled Roy, or a shackled Allardyce, Curbishley, Mark Hughes?
I know what my answer is.

Roy Hodgson took the job under very defined, restrictive parameters.
We can bitch all we want about what those restrictions are…
… but don’t blame Roy for them… he just took the job.

And for all his tactical limitations, and operational restrictions… he’s a decent man and a decent manager… sure we could have done better… but we could have done so much worse.

So when we discuss these things, lets do so without blaming Roy for things that are out of his control… things that were not on the table as an option that would be within his control, as part of his job offer.

Rafa finally wretched that control a year ago… and he was judged as though he’d had it for 5 years.
Lets not make the same mistake here.

Direct your venom at the right target!

Now, having said that…

Gaz, I was not among those who were saying we should give the young players a run…
That is primarily said by those who have no understanding of how to develop a player.

Throwing young players in at the deep end is something you do when you have no other option… Like last year with Ngog and Insua.
… or something you do when you have the luxury of a 3-0 first leg lead, or are in a Carling Cup game against some lower league team.
… but even then, preferably alongside seasoned pros who can help them grow.

Ngog was vilified for “not being good enough”…
…and yet those same people wanted Pacheco thrown in at the deep end?

Now we can argue Pacheco’s merits until we’re blue in the face, but I guarantee you one thing that is beyond question…
…if he’d gone 5 games without scoring… the very same people would have judged him “yet another Rafa flop” and “not good enough for Liverpool.”

Youth got a chance last season… not because of some grandiose youth development ideal… but because senior players spent half the season crocked.

Part of the reason… and a fuckin big part of it at that… that they looked out of their depth is simply that they were… but that doesn’t make them shite!
They were kids deployed in a man’s game…
And the senior pros, who should have helped them, all too often didn’t

When McMannaman, Fowler, Owen, Gerrard all made their debuts, they did so in stable teams of experienced professionals.
Our kids were not afforded that luxury last season… coz when the senior players were available, they were playing like robots, allowing for any deficiencies in their games to be immediately exposed.

Ngog looked out of his depth because he was deployed as a single striker, asked to chase hoofers, when he was mostly marked by 3 defenders, and even when he did hold the ball up, no one got forward to support him.

Its quite easy to have a philosophical discussion about whether kids should be given game time…
… but all too often that discussion, is just that… philosophical…
…and does not take into account the actual circumstances and parameters we are talking about deploying them in.

Several people are already clamoring for Babel to be given a run, because he scored 1 goal.
And I’m not discounting it… it was an important goal… and gives us that 1st leg lead…

…But maybe, if we’d played Aqua in the hole in that game (given that Babel … as he often has been… was reportedly shite for 44 minutes prior to scoring) we might have won 3-0??

We won’t know.

Just as the argument goes that we finished 7th because Rafa was too cautious… and would have finished higher had we played with more abandon…
… ignores the possibility that if Rafa hadn’t been cautious (given the injuries and poor form of senior players) and “removed the shackles” we may very well have finished 12th.

… but again… we’ll never know.

(though a lot of points we dropped last year were dropped when we pressed forward and got caught on the break… often late in the game… soooo….)

“Apparently Lucas has put in a transfer request”

Hmmm…
AGAIN…this would be the same Lucas that Roy praised just 3 weeks ago as a “hard working professional” and “very nice young man” that he was “looking forward to working with”

…ball…
…bouncing…
…errr… what’s that smell?
… oops…
…where’d it gooooo…..

And the hits just keep on coming…

Dirk Kuyt has told a Dutch newspaper that he was “officially informed” by Liverpool of a bid from Inter. Kuyt said, “On Thursday night, during the Europa League game against Trabzonspor, the board of Liverpool informed me officially that they have received a fax from Inter.”

The British media suggest the price-tag is £15m, but the Italian newspapers insist the Nerazzurri are offering just £7m cash plus a player.
It is likely to be either Sulley Ali Muntari or striker Victor Obinna.

OH DEAR…

Now there are a number of immediate issues here.

First…
We were assured by Purslow that Rafa’s departure contained a clause that prevented him from coming in for any LFC players
No big surprise really… it came out of Purslow’s mouth… hence it was not true!

BUT… Second…

Roy just yesterday for fucks sake… made a categorical statement that he had spoken via phone to the Inter president and been assured that they would not bid for any of our players.

AND…
…it would be one thing if Roy had been misled by the Inter prez, but Moratti is quoted as saying this…

Moratti was also told of Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson’s claim that he had personally spoken to Moratti, receiving an assurance Inter would not sign any of his players. “Everyone can say what they want.”

That’s a bit disturbing…

Now I know not everyone recognizes the contribution a player like Dirk Kuyt makes to the team… it’s been discussed a lot….
But really… replacing him with Sulley Muntari or Obinna???

I’m sorry but anyone who thinks that is “good business by Roy”…
A) needs their head examined
and
B) needs to never, ever, ever, EVER again question any Rafa transfer!

Imho i think playing in the hole behind the main
striker will be the making of Joe cole why is he being condemned before he is given a chance to grow into the role.I think Joe was forced to play out wide just to fit in at Chelsea.But i think playing between Gerrard and Torres and with good support on the wings from Jovanovich on the left and hopefully Babel on the right with Poulsen sitting deep will give us our best hope of any success this season.Also with Agger at the back hopefully our distribution will improve.no more hoof and hope please.Carragher always complained that he was not given a fair crack with England but the thing that set him apart from the other candidates was his lack of composure on the ball.
We need to improve on our passing game and that starts from the back everytime i see Jamie hoofing it forward it makes me weep.We talk often about the Liverpool way and in relation to the team we always had defenders that were comfortable on the ball.Johnson/Agger/Aurelio are good but Carragher is shocking he needs to keep his passing as simple as possible and cut out the hollywood thru balls over the top.I think he should definitely stay in the side.Every top side should sacrifice 3 or 4 players to purely defensive duties including the keeper(And by the way we probably take for granted how lucky we are to have Reina).And the rest should be attack minded without neglecting there defensive duties.Terry Venables once said something that stuck with me.In relation to the Charlton brothers Bobby and Jackie.He said every side should have more bobbies than jackies in the team.Our Bobbies are Gerrard/Torres/Cole/Johnson/Babel/Agger/ our Jackies are Reina/Carragher/Poulsen/Jovanovich/Aurelio.My preferred team is probably self evident
————–Reina
Johnson–Carragher–Agger–Aurelio
Babel—-Gerrard—-poulsen–Jovanovich
—————-Cole
—————-Torres
Some people seem to be hoping that we fail to prove their arguments.I really wanted Rafa to stay
i thought we would dominate for years with him at the helm.And i was gutted he was ousted but i love Liverpool Fc more.Hopefully roy can keep us challenging til these 2 cunts Gillet and Hicks leave.I deffo dont want to go the way of Leeds Utd.Sorry i have digressed from my reason for this blog.Joe cole will flourish as a shadow striker.He is the most skilful british player of his generation wait and see that’s all I ask.
YNWA

Gaz – it’s you who wants his cake and to eat it. I think if i’m not mistaken 3 people named teams, me, FS & LB – all had Aquilani in the first 11.

Give youth a chance? Aquilani is 25 Poulsen 30.

Now who the hell thinks we can win the league or challenge this season because the way it’s going Satan will be skating to work before that happens.

I fear we are done for. FS Any idea what is going on with the loan extension, takeover etc?

Rafamuffin…that’s precisely the team I never wanted to see. If that’s an improvement on what we had I’ll eat my hat.

The way i looked at the “give the kids a chance”
comments last season,was similar to hearing a Butcher shouting NEXT in a slaughterhouse.

But this made me chuckle
“Roy made a categorical statement that he had spoken via phone to the Inter president and been assured that they would not bid for any of our players.”

Get with the programe Roy.
Untill you get one of those Swiss sim cards that the Snakes are using, thats all your going to hear.

Oh me god,this justgets better by the hour.

Asset stripping is well under way.

Aitch i think purslow wrote into that contract that Rafa HAS to buy some of our players.That would be more believeable.

I can`t for the life of me understand how any supporter of LFC can see the Aquallini deal and shrug their shoulders like it won`t make one blind bit of difference to our squad and subsequently our chances this season.

Fats couldn`t have put it better in one sentence…

LFC no longer exists to be the best it can be.

Yes i understand most football clubs are no watching the pennys.The board are doing more than just making some cuts.They are stripping the life out of the club.

Cecil seems to be stripping roy of his squad.Roy is helpless to do anything about it.

hat is happening right now had been forecasted in here for ages.

Guys called for Rafa`s head.He`d lost the dressing room.Last season was a disaster no doubt,but one bad season dosen`t constitute a world class manager losing his job.

Maybe his job became untenable anyway but there`s a bigger picture here.

Whatever one thinks of Rafael Benitez the football manager,he was on our side in this war we`re in.

He had power to stop players leaving.He had some power to stop the asset stripping.He refused to dance to the boards tune.

He had a master plan,which he could never complete as long as Tom and George were in town,and nearly did the impossible,despite them.

His over achievement in 08/09 ultimately cost him the trust of a lot of our fan base who last year despite all of the reasons for the failure,they refused to acknowledge them.

Yes he had a part to play in the demise,after all he was the manager.The players have to hold their hands up also.

Ultimately the reason we`re in this mess lads is because of Tom,George and their foot soldiers.

They`ve taken our club away and who knows if we`ll ever get it back?

And as for Roy,i ish him the best,i really do.He is on a hiding to nothinhg in my book.

Well Roy,welcome to your dream job……

(wakes up and falls into his cornflakes)

I really hope we get a result tomorrow.
And there is no reason why we should not.

But if we don’t… and if, god forbid, something goes wrong out at Trabzon on Thursday…
… heaven help us.

But lads there is a feel good factor at Anfield. Joe Cole is better than Messi and Roy has steadied the ship.

The mood of this blog is getting to a point where several people are going to be broken if we start winning a few games.
.
It is a shit situation to be in but so was the start of the wonderful club, we were left with no players and went on to form a huge history.
.
Chin up lads, its a storm and they all pass.

…which conveniently overlooks that it took us 50 years to even begin to “form a huge history” and that we had to drop down into the 2nd Division before actually doing so!

And no one in here will be broken if we win a few games.
But there’ll be plenty sharpening knives if we don’t… and it won’t be the people who supported Rafa… coz they’ll be too busy defending Roy…
… against the very people who seem insistant on thinking everything is gonna be okay!

All storms do indeed pass…
…some drop a bit of rain…
…some devastate New Orleans (which still hasn’t recovered)

Predicting hellfire based on what we know, is far, far different to actually wanting and hoping for it… and you know that Gaz.

Alas though they do pass Aitch and we both know it. Its still a Red shirt we’re watching.

Not at all Gaz we’ve been in this storm for a few years and it just makes those rays of sunshine a win provides feel so much better.
But the trouble is this storm as turned into a Hurricane, last weeks “feel good factor” brought on by a feeling of a imminent takeover, has just turned out to be the eye of the hurricane.
And now i can see all the debri flying around again and its got very f*cking windy again.

And i’ve got to say i’m worried Captain Roy, who as steadied the ship through the eye of the storm wont get us through the winds and waves that swept away Captain Rafa.

Last Thursday i went to Anfield half hoping Kenny Huang was going to be presented to the fans as the new owner, I had a strange feeling at HT that something big was happening,it was certainly a weird atmosphere .
Turns out something big was happening but none of it good
Rafa winning his first trophy for Inter has made it feel a little worse.
Hence i’m extremely pissed off, but i found myself laughing at @326 so all is not lost.
YNWA

Fuck Roy and the horse he rode in on, this man knew what he was getting into, this man knew what sort of control he would have over transfers, and if either of these statements is untrue then the man is an idiot.

I will support my club and by default the manager, but make no mistake all Roy Hodgson is doing for Liverpool football club is providing a friendly face for the downgrading of the team.

I have had enough to be honest, you can only spend so much of your life telling people to wake up and smell the bullshit.

We are the new Newcastle, delusional about our status in the world and chances are pretty soon we will be the new Leeds.

Already the revisionists are out in force telling us how difficult a job Roy has and how 4th place would be a good season, how we should not worry about europe and concentrate on the league.

Some of the threads on forums are either populated by H&G’s lap dogs or our fans have no idea what they are talking about.

Mascherano is being wrote off as just a limited defensive midfielder and Aqualina as too lightweight, but look who their replacements are going to be.

Every fibre of my body tells me that I should support Roy but in all honesty I cant because he is part of the problem, not the solution, the “steadying of the ship is going to put us back another 5 years by the time it is finished.

What our fans dont seem to realise is that even if we have a half decent season, which incidentally we won’t, it will not matter, by the time January comes round we must have new owners because if we haven’t there will be an exodus of whatever decent players we have left and we will be left with the mediocre buys that Purslow and Roy have contrived to fob us of with.

If it is true that Lucas has put in a transfer request it would seem that even our minor players cant wait to leave the sinking ship, I love Lucas to bits but First Masch then Aqua and now Lucas,expect more performances of the calibre of last season from Gerrard when he realises who he has left to play with.

I dont think Roy is a bad person, I think he has either bit off far more than he can chew or like some of our players believed the crap that was being peddled to him, but support the man, it isn’t going to happen.

Roy is responsible, because he signed contracts that gave him no control over transfers, Roy is responsible because he gives credibility to the board and Roy is responsible because he knows whats going on and is still letting them do it.

Gaz
just to answer your point in #327 no I won’t be broken if we win a few games, I want us to win a few games, in fact I want us to win all of them but you know as well as I do what is happening here and as stated before even if this season isn’t a nightmare then the next one will be, because there is still a massive debt to be fed and none of the board seem to have the will or the desire to do anything but continue to fill their pockets or their employers pockets.

Five year and Rome chin up lads, its a tragic situation but it could be worse (wish I knew how to insert a smiley face here).

Ok so we didn’t win the league last year.
Ok so we’ve lost some of our quality players.
Ok so we’ve got shit owners.
Ok so we have a massive debt.
Ok so we’ve still got fickle come lately fans.
Ok so we’ve still got a Scott as Manager.
Oh shite, sorry wrong forum.
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Have a chuckle lads.

Gaz – What???? For me regarding LFC there is absolutley nothing to chuckle about.

The tragedy is some business man with the fan base we have could make an absolute fortune just giving a decent manager £30 odd million a year, letting him have any funds he generates while having a decent shot at the title. I’d be happy with that.

It’s not going to happen. Gaz there’s nothing funny about my club being pillaged by two greedy con men.

Worst of all? You sound like digger.

Gaz, I hope that you’re being ironic in post #332.

Lads – where we hearing these Lucas transfer rumours???

I totally agree with everybody in here saying Paulsen is not good enough for Liverpool, even if he needs to be given a chance first. I think he was bought in a bit too early as an replacement for Monster, as it for a wild seemed more than likely he would go. Hopefully that will not be the case and the purchase of Paulsen would seem a wasted piece of business even if the thought was to have a sort of replacement in place before you sold the player instead of afterwards.
What I don’t understand is how highly Aquilani is rated in here! The player is just not good enough to justify the price tag or the hype. The few Games he played for us you could easily see this player would never cut it in Premier League. Even if he was not fully fit you can always see if a player has that bit of class. Cole has it and I would never put in Aquilani before Cole. Of course it would be great to have him in the squad but loan him out this year and sell him next summer. This is a case of cutting our loses.
I thought the spirit the team showed against Arsenal would give us some kind of hope! The players clearly believe in what Roy is trying to do! So why can’t we do the same? This club is in a bit of a mess but I’am 110% confident that within a short period of time the club will be saved. For good sake this is Liverpool Football Club one of the worlds top 5 supported clubs in the world. We are not Leeds, Newcastle or Portsmouth!

Norway: Yes, lets see how the season pans out – starting with Shiteh tonight.
But it is easier said than done, ignoring the doom & gloom re the 2 idiot owners, the (impending??) sale of the club, the fact that the new manager has been linked with Luke Young (amongst others), the curious transfer speculations re Kuyt etc. I think us fans just want to know whats going on. Is Purslow pulling the strings? Why has Huang blamed Broughton – does he (Broughton) have a hidden agenda, not helped by the fact that he is a huge Chel$ki fan?
Too many questions, and it is difficuklt to keep focused on the games at hand, and indeed any happenings on the pitch. It just goes to show the shit that Rafa had to go through, day in day out. If we, the fans, are affected by the shenanigans, what did the previous manager have to go through?
And now there is a story that Roy has come out in the open, saying that he NEEDS more funds? And this just before a big game? He should be focusing on the game tonight, not having to make statements like this, that he needs money to upgrade the squad.
This is going to be a tough season. Newcastle thrashing Villa, the Scum drawing to Fulham, Blackpool winning on the opening day. The Arse then proceeding to stick 6 past Blackpool, Chel$ki off to a flyer. Fuck, I’m worried. Roy has a job on his hands, and he is not helped by the chops like Purslow, who it seems, is pulling the strings at the club.
So you can’t really blame the doom & gloom that is prevalent. You can be guaranteed that everyone here is 100% behind the team, and (of course) wnat them to win every game. But you also have to look at the bigger picture – what is going on behind closed doors, the seemingly strange decisions/ideas that Roy has had thus far. So far, I’m not convinced that he is the right man.
But lets give it a chance. Maybe he proves me/us wrong. At the same time, it is impossible not to forget what is happening to our club at this present time.

Have to go for the win 2nite-Torres instead of JC should be the only change to the starting line-up.What’s happened to El Zahr?.Lasanna Diarra for £mill would of ben a better option than the tubby Dane!

The club is a sham from top to bottom and therein lies the problem.

We have no idea who the real decision makers are from the board level to the loaning/selling/purchasing of players.

The silence is deafening and the longer it goes on the more damage it will do. In fact there has to be a limit as to when the damage done will become irreparable.

If that doesn’t make you chuckle, then I don’t know what will.

Like FS says, It would be better if one ignored sites like Talk Shite (luckily we don’t get that crap here) & Sly, but…can’t help myself.
This from the Match Preview:
“…whilst Hodgson appeared to adopt a more attacking mindset against Arsenal than his predecessor Rafa Benitez would have done.”
Can you effing believe that shit? Or is it me just being a one-eyed, blinkered believer & supporter of Rafa?

Burgerman – we don’t need to go for win. A win would be nice – but not essential. A draw would be a very decent result indeed!

Arthur, since when did not trying to win a football match become acceptable? Aren’t we supposed to try and win every game? WTF?

Gerry’s blog was always about humour and wit, and if you read the above still is. So it’s a sad day when a life long LFC fan gets slated for taking the piss out of Manchester United.
.
The Americans might own the club but they don’t own me, and they will never own my humour and I wont give it to them, not a laugh more.
.
I have tried to remain positive and if SG and Co gave up like some on here, well fuck me there would be no Instanbul. Hate the people you should and laugh with yor mates, not tear the arse out of people who care.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news//tm_headline=liverpool-fc-up-attempts-to-sign-psv-eindhoven-pair-ola-toivonen-carlos-salcido%26method=full%26objectid=27116542%26siteid=100252-name_page.html

Gaz, didn’t see the reference to the whiskey one in #332. So please ignore post #334 and my dig at the end of #339.

BM, I see that the manure conceded a last minute equaliser yesterday. That’s a 50% ratio for the season. Not a great stat for the mighty manure, eh?

Its not giving up Gaz, its not being pessimistic.

One of the problems we have is that people still have this “it can’t happen here” attitude.

I hear that phrase “we are Liverpool” from a lot of fans and I understand their feelings, there is a belief that we are too big a club for us to collapse, too well supported etc, but I can tell you this Leeds fans thought the same thing.

I want to be optomistic but we are getting closer and closer to the edge and I believe that we have taken our eye of the ball again.
The fact is it can happen here and we will still be Liverpool but while things remain as they are we are getting closer to emulating Leeds than winning the league.

It is a positive attitude to believe in Roy and believe in the players, but just Look at the way some of our players played when they thought there was no investment coming.

Suddenly there are buyers on the horizon and everything is Hunky dory, but now those buyers are drifting away and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that when the players realise that there is no brave new dawn that we will act like rats on a sinking ship and Purslow and co will be only too happy to offer them lifeboats.

Nobody on this forum or anywhere else could be happier than me if I am proved disastrously wrong, but smiling on the way to the gallows wont make the rope go away

LB – Jesus man! you’re negativity these days knows no bounds!

Of course a team goes out to win. But away from home against City – a draw is a very very acceptable result. And I was merely replying to Burgerman assertion that we HAD to win.

We don’t HAVE to win. Two points from these opening two games would be a decent haul (in fact it would one point better off versus the corresponding fixtures last season) and then hopefully pick up full marks against Brum and West Brom.

LB, we get it – you don’t like RH. OK, well what can do about it right now? Nowt. No need to be so pedantic. I’m gonna follow the team – see how things go – and in my world (call me crazy if you want) but a point tonight would be A-OK by me.

Can we win tonight? Of course we can – come on the Reds!

BTW – team apparently for tonight is:

Reina
Johnson
Carra
Skrtel
Aurelio
Poulsen
Mascherano
Kuyt
Gerrard
Jova
Torres

Have been on hols for the past 2 weeks and only catching up with comments today, the only action I have seen was hi-lights of the Arse game on MOD2.
Good aul Lawro announced the end of the “Dreaded Zonal Marking” – I kid you not!!

Strangly enough the Mancs “Man Marking System” wasn’t mentioned last night.

On hols around Ireland over the last 2 Weeks, I can’t get over the amount of people wearing the new Kit, but I suppose most don’t see the bigger picture!!

Arthur, you said “we don’t need to go for win”. I asked a simple question as to since when this philosophy became acceptable. We go into a game where your ambition is to gain a point and you call ME negative? I don’t often agree with Burgerman but he said “we have to go for the win”. I share the same opinion. We should have that attitude in every game we play. Go for the win. If it doesn’t work out and we draw then so be it.

There have been games under Rafa where I thought we didn’t go for the win. Stoke away a couple of seasons ago springs immediately to mind but there are other occasions as well. I criticised the approach in many posts on here and got into arguments with the likes of Keith and FS because of it.

So mate don’t patronise me by telling me you get it that I don’t like Roy. I will pull up anyone who is happy to go into a game thinking we don’t need to win regardless who the manager is.

My prediction tonight is 0-0. Call that negative if you want.

LB – can get 8/1 odds for that score mate. Worth a tenner surely?

Guys, too much lamenting about the past. Let’s take the positives from here.

Roy has taken over from Rafa.
Roy managed to entice Joe Cole to LFC
And persuaded Torres and Gerrard to stay
He nearly got three points against Arsenal, despite being 10 men(9 at one stage) down and fighting, attacking more vigourously than we were with 11.
IMHO showed courage to use Babel upfront as a lone striker
Recruited Poulson, just in case Masch scoots off to Inter or more likely now, Barca.
Threw on Kelly against Trabzonspor, giving the kid a chance.
Used Jova thrice already in our games. Good stuff that.

So OK, Aqualani was bought for nearly Stg20 million.He is good, mind you. Yes, I will field him in games. But irreplaceble as some of you allude to? I don’t quite agree. Maybe there is something that Roy knows – and why talk when you wanna loan Aqualung out?- that we don’t and thus loaned him out as a result. We will never know. Personally I don’t think it is purely for financial reasons.

And yes, the Board members, Purse-low and Bought-man do not have LFC at heart. They are doing G&H’s bidding not to sell to anyone. Kenny Huang could have been a saviour. They just talked, talked and allowed Kenny to pull out. Sigh!

LB

Gotta agree with you on the scoreline, if Arthur has the line up right that looks like a team that doesn’t want to concede and given Mancini’s defensive nature its a good possibility.

But as always i will be hoping for a win

2 points from 2 games is a decent haul? No it isn’t because West Brom (home) and Brum (away) is no guaranteed 6 points. Can’t pick and choose the games to go for the win. That’s my way of thinking anyway.

Bhav, I’m going bookies to put a tenner on.

LB – we seem to have got our wires crossed. Yes I would like our team to go out and win every game. But as you well know this is not always possible – fight the battles you know you can win.

My problem last year was the clear negativity showed against the lesser lights – the stokes, wolves et al.

If we get a point tonight – it will be a good result in my eyes. Remember we have to steady the ship?

A draw is a good result when you don’t deserve to win.

No CorkLFC – draws away from home against Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City and Spurs are good results.

Then you try and beat them at home!

Man Utd are quite defensive away from home against the top teams…playing usually on the counter

Fight smart

I’d also go as far as saying: a draw is a good result when you’re up against away from home who have greater resources/squad then you.

I think we’d nearly all agree that teams I mentioned above are currently better equipped than us…

QED

up against a team

argh – why can’t we edit posts!!

2 points against those two particular teams is a decent haul – in context of the whole season LB

So, A draw is a good result when you are playing a team that is better that you