Granted, this thread is about football, and isn't about buildings. But neither is the thread on the Liverpool media, or the TV people have seen, etc. So I would like to post this here where there is more passion for the club. Also, numerous forummers here don't venture out to the Skybar, so this extra thread will add interest to this forum.

Is anybody else starting to seriously question Benitez? Having just watched the FA Cup game, and having followed LFC closely this season, I am starting to have serious doubts. Liverpool were basically poor against Arsenal. Arsenal's defence was far, far superior; and their attack was far, far superior. Even when Liverpool upped the pressure, they just seemed to contain Liverpool and when they felt like having a go they went on and scored quite easily.

Perhaps this is some sort of deliberate plan so that Liverpool can concentrate on bigger fish. Maybe. And I'm sure people will talk about how Benitez won the Champions League and the FA Cup last season. Both were awesome. But the Champions League was won with Houllier's squad. The FA Cup was won by a cat's whisker against a mediocre team.

This season has been extremely disappointing. The league was needlessly thrown down the toilet within the first 10 games because of botched "rotation" strategies and having key players out of position. It is a disgrace, and terrible for season ticket holders who now know the league is pretty much gone, based on some poor results early on.

And today against Arsenal, LFC were just out classed. Arsenal were faster, and better in all areas other than midfield. Arsenal's tactics were better and their fluency was better. Arsenal do not spend any more than Liverpool, so what the hell is going on?

I no longer rate Benitez and frankly he has a lot of work to do to win back my support.

What do other people think?

:lol: Turning on him already? Houllier all over again with you lovable reds.

I don't think these posts should be on here btw, plenty of busy LFC and general football forums. Stuff like liverpool in the media is semi-related and isn't really catered to on other forums.

Garcia is 99.9999999% sh*te and 00.0000001 good

and that is his ratio to how much good he does for Liverpool

Hail Rosicky! :cheers:

I don't think these posts should be on here btw, plenty of busy LFC and general football forums.

Well I would like to discuss it with people I know here, who I consider to be informed and articulate people. If you can only offer inhuman pedantry then perhaps you should avoid clicking the thread link.

Garcia is 99.9999999% sh*te and 00.0000001 good

He was appalling today. Weak in front of defenders. He isn't as worthless as you make out.

What about Rafa though?

Im not commenting on Rafa, its such a bad time to have a museum and stadium tour, anyone want my reservation for £10, tommorow (sunday 7th)

Bumbling meff who won the jackpot with Houlliers muppets. Spent millions on building his own team. In reality, swapped the French and northern European garbage with latin garbage. Fore Shore.

Bumbling meff who won the jackpot with Houlliers muppets. Spent millions on building his own team. In reality, swapped the French and northern European garbage with latin garbage. Fore Shore.

He has swapped French for Latin, that is a fact. Although I don't think the new "garbage" is as bad as Houllier's "garbage".

Houlliers garbage won t'Champions league. :)

Liverpool are doing reasonably well on the whole. Only in recent months has their performance dipped to slightly below average. The problem is, something happened 2 years ago that made the idea that Liverpool could be a successful team go to everybodys heads! At the end of the day, Liverpool (in a contemporary context) are an average premiership team who got very lucky 2 years ago but in a general sense equal to spurs and ummm... Everton! Arsenal on the other hand are a very high quality side whose potential isnt being fully realised and have been very unlucky.
However, I would support Liverpool over Arsenal because Liverpool dont have the ridiculous amount of foreign players that Arsenal have on a team. I dont like it if a team has more than 7 non-British Isles players on a team.

Lets forget the game and hail the Kop, amazing

Liverpool (in a contemporary context) are an average premiership team who got very lucky 2 years ago but in a general sense equal to spurs and ummm... Everton! Arsenal on the other hand are a very high quality side whose potential isnt being fully realised and have been very unlucky.


I find that slightly exaggerated. Liverpool routinely finish in the top 4, and it is rexpected that they finish in the top 4. They have also won more silver than any other English club in the last 5/6 years.

Tottenham havn't won anything as far as I'm aware, and so the difference between they and Liverpool is enormous. Arsenal have serious issues and Liverpool can expect to finish ahead of them. But I just quesiton why they outperform Liverpool so easily when they meet.

However, I would support Liverpool over Arsenal because Liverpool dont have the ridiculous amount of foreign players that Arsenal have on a team. I dont like it if a team has more than 7 non-British Isles players on a team.

No black players either did you notice that? Benitez has lost a game lets all call for him to be sacked this type of fan makes me sick.Give the man a chance he won the European cup in his first season .Then the world famous FA cup in his second give him time.

Arsenal are better than Liverpool right now - simple as that. They play beautiful as welll as effective football in a league more geared towards thugs and alehouse kickers.

Calling Rafa's qualities into doubt is a strange one... about 3 more years before we should do that.

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Benitez has lost a game lets all call for him to be sacked this type of fan makes me sick.Give the man a chance he won the European cup in his first season .Then the world famous FA cup in his second give him time.

For crying out loud man! Didn't you read my first post? The type of fan who says "yeah, but he won the european cup and then the FA cup!" in a bleating sort of fashion makes me sick.

I'm not saying he should be sacked. I'm calling his abilities into question. He has been here for a couple of seasons now and that is only fair. The pundits were suggesting Liverpool could topple Chelsea this season. AFter the end to last season we all expected it. And then look what happened. the beginning of the season was squandered due to Rafa's stupid policy of rotation. He didn't play Crouch even though he'd been the highest England scorer, but kept playing Bellamy when he was out of form. He kept playing Gerrard out of his preferred position. He kept swapping everything around causing confusion- to a degree no other manager has. Do you see Mourihno keeping Drogba on the bench? No! he gets everything he can out of him. Same with other managers.

Rafa has made stupid mistakes and I for one hope he doesn't make them again because he doesn't want to lose face. Today's performance lacked character, and I don't think he has a big excuse. Rafa is in full control now after this amount of time, and he is accountable for the way the team performs. Nobody can deny that the waste of this season's league campaign is largely down to him.

I do realise that he needs another season before we judge him. Not 3 years! But i just hope things improve. I want LFC to be best of the best, not good against the Premiership dregs and then crap against the top guns.

That's whay I have started this thread.

Well I would like to discuss it with people I know here, who I consider to be informed and articulate people. If you can only offer inhuman pedantry then perhaps you should avoid clicking the thread link

That is possibly the most pompous thing I've ever read in my life. :lol:

You started a new thread and I made a relevant reply to what you had said regarding it's "worth" so to speak, on this forum. You raised the issue in the first place so why get upset when someone comments on it? I never said anything out of order, get over yourself mate.

That is possibly the most pompous thing I've ever read in my life. :lol:

You started a new thread and I made a relevant reply to what you had said regarding it's "worth" so to speak, on this forum. You raised the issue in the first place so why get upset when someone comments on it? I never said anything out of order, get over yourself mate.

Well I'm sorry, but I find there are far too many sour faced whingers on the internet complaining about minute and unimportant matters. "I don't think the thread should be there!", "I don't like this, I don't like that!"

I wasn't inviting you to start whinging, I was simply explaining why I'd posted the thread. Other people seem to be happy and we have a debate going, so shut up.

[QUOTE=UrbaniseD;11180548]For crying out loud man! Didn't you read my first post? The type of fan who says "yeah, but he won the european cup and then the FA cup!" in a bleating sort of fashion makes me sick.


Im sorry but Uefa cup winner Champions league winner La Liga winner FA cup winner gets my vote over you.

[QUOTE=UrbaniseD;11180548]For crying out loud man! Didn't you read my first post? The type of fan who says "yeah, but he won the european cup and then the FA cup!" in a bleating sort of fashion makes me sick.


Im sorry but Uefa cup winner Champions league winner La Liga winner FA cup winner gets my vote over you.

Well that is a fair point Tommy. But if we don't win the Champions League this year then what is there to win? People seem to think these new owners are going to be saviours, but lets not forget, Arsenal play beautiful football and they don't pay big bucks for it. It is how you use your players and the tactics you employ that are as important as anything.

[QUOTE=tommygunn;11181060]

Well that is a fair point Tommy. But if we don't win the Champions League this year then what is there to win? People seem to think these new owners are going to be saviours, but lets not forget, Arsenal play beautiful football and they don't pay big bucks for it. It is how you use your players and the tactics you employ that are as important as anything.

Benitez has never payed big bucks for his players and is known for it.Kuyt ring any bells? best player on the pitch tonight agger?Garcia?Bellamy?Crouch?Pennant? Give him some time i know your frustrated but Rafa will bring the good times back im confident.When Liverpool brought the European cup back was a great night what an achivemenet rememeber that.

I thought we were far too predictable and didn't try anything different.

Was there a problem with Bellamy? He warmed up nearly the whole of the second half. I would have thought he could have changed things, unless he hinted to RAFA he wasn't ready due to his injury.

[QUOTE=tommygunn;11181060]

Well that is a fair point Tommy. But if we don't win the Champions League this year then what is there to win? People seem to think these new owners are going to be saviours, but lets not forget, Arsenal play beautiful football and they don't pay big bucks for it. It is how you use your players and the tactics you employ that are as important as anything.


Have you ever been the match, out of interest?

(sorry T, that's for Urbanised)

Rafa fucked this game up by rotating two defensive players for absoloutley no logical reason at all, and for not changing the front line.

Dudek was awful, he's way past it, he used to be an excellent goalkeeper, granted, but why drop Reina after all the clean sheets he's kept?. Bellamy should have come on for crouch after Kuyt scored, it was clear to everyone that we needed a bit of pace.

Arsenal had three shots on target and scored three. Well played, they defended excellently, but they hardly outplayed Liverpool. You can't outplay anyone with barely 30% of the posession.

However, Rafa won the CL with Biscan, Smicer, Traore, Cisse, Pongolle, Mellor. etc

Houllier's squad was average to say the least. Only Gerrard, Hamann, Hyppia, Cara, Riise and Finnan, and perhaps Baros were worthy of playing CL footie.

Rafa came into his first season, couldn't speak much English and utilised average players and a few stars to perfection. CLASS. Oh and an FA Cup knocking out Chelsea and Man United in the process.

A missed opportunity today.

Anyone who claims Arsenal are better than Liverpool presently should reserve judgement until the end of the season. Liverpool finished miles ahead of Arsenal last season, won the FA Cup, and also won the CL the year before that, which Arsenal failed to do.

Arsenal play the more attractive football, than liverpool, and for some reason, in some people's minds that seems to prioritise over POINTS

Two simultaneous events occurred that no-one could have forseen: Carragher having a bad game and Senderos having a good one. Liverpool's defence played like they have done away from home this season (i.e straight up the shitter's arse), and Arsenal's played like they were at home.

At the end of the day, you can't complain about the result. Arsenal were easily superior, though you do have to wonder what no less than SEVEN red shirts were doing letting Rosicky stroll right through for his second goal. Also, why Dudek over Reina?

Anyway, it's just a game and shit happens.

Arsenal were better than us last night easily, you have to admit it. What has annoyed me this season is the pathetic performances away. It's ok beating Watford etc at home but Liverpool never seem to have any confidence that they could go to Old Trafford or Chelsea and beat them, they'd be fired up at home but not away. Is this because Benitez doesn't instill any self beleif in them that they could win these games?. The performaces this season at Arsenal and OT were awful and Liverpool seemed to just accept that they were going to lose. Don't even get me started on the derby!

Went on the tour today, was good. Got one of the white `the truth` sheets that was lying on the second row in the Kop and got a single for tuesdays game, there still on general sale as i know if anyone wants togo

double post

[QUOTE=UrbaniseD;11181165]


Have you ever been the match, out of interest?

(sorry T, that's for Urbanised)

Yes I have. I have been to see LFC three times, which is no where near as much as I'd have liked. But as most reds supporters will know, if you can't afford a season ticket (which I can't), or get hold of one even if you have the money, then getting tickets is hell. I have tried on no less than 30 occasions to see LFC and have been laughed at on numerous occasions by the sales assistant. I hope with this new stadium they will reserve a third of the seats purely for public, non-season ticket holders. It would do a lot for the amtosphere as well not to have it dominated by corporate nerds who aren't even really arsed.

I don't know why you are interested to be honest. A person could watch the match on TV and listen to it on the radio and have a good enough knowledge of what is going on, and have an opinion on how things might improve. If the reds are ever on TV then I will go out of my way to watch it. If not I will have the radio or will follow it online.

I haven't actually been to the museum since before Istanbul... I will have to go and see what FIVE European Cups look like together!

Rafa fucked this game up by rotating two defensive players for absoloutley no logical reason at all, and for not changing the front line.

Dudek was awful, he's way past it, he used to be an excellent goalkeeper, granted, but why drop Reina after all the clean sheets he's kept?. Bellamy should have come on for crouch after Kuyt scored, it was clear to everyone that we needed a bit of pace.

Arsenal had three shots on target and scored three. Well played, they defended excellently, but they hardly outplayed Liverpool. You can't outplay anyone with barely 30% of the posession.

However, Rafa won the CL with Biscan, Smicer, Traore, Cisse, Pongolle, Mellor. etc

Houllier's squad was average to say the least. Only Gerrard, Hamann, Hyppia, Cara, Riise and Finnan, and perhaps Baros were worthy of playing CL footie.

Rafa came into his first season, couldn't speak much English and utilised average players and a few stars to perfection. CLASS. Oh and an FA Cup knocking out Chelsea and Man United in the process.

A missed opportunity today.

Anyone who claims Arsenal are better than Liverpool presently should reserve judgement until the end of the season. Liverpool finished miles ahead of Arsenal last season, won the FA Cup, and also won the CL the year before that, which Arsenal failed to do.

Arsenal play the more attractive football, than liverpool, and for some reason, in some people's minds that seems to prioritise over POINTS

Arsenal looked like they could step it up anytime they liked after the first 30 mins. They looked more comfortable on the ball and because of their superior passing and movement, carved Liverpool open at times with just three players making the passes and runs - simple stuff really.

They looked more comfortable on the ball and because of their superior passing and movement, carved Liverpool open at times with just three players making the passes and runs - simple stuff really.

Agree totally.

Its happening all over again!

Good god. It's not as if we have to play Barce soon either...

Pleazzz remind me never to go to a Liverpool game again, although you can see me holding 2 fingers upto Baptised as hes about to take his pen:)

:rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant:

oops!, WTF?, OMG....etc!

Oh dear.

Copy and paste this thread eh? :lol:

Rafa's house is up for sale at the moment with a price tag some 30% higher than when he bought it. I wonder how many of the current Liverpool squad would attract such a premium this morning?

Michael Jackson has applied for the LFC managers' job. Apparently he wants to know what it's liked to be spanked at home by a bunch of kids...

Michael Jackson has applied for the LFC managers' job. Apparently he wants to know what it's liked to be spanked at home by a bunch of kids...

Blackburn anyone.

No, it was definately Arsenal. Call yourself a Liverpool fan?? :lol:

Incidentially I phoned up Anfield last night and asked what time Liverpool were kicking off. The bloke on the phone said "about every fifteen minutes..."

No, it was definately Arsenal. Call yourself a Liverpool fan?? :lol:

Incidentially I phoned up Anfield last night and asked what time Liverpool were kicking off. The bloke on the phone said "about every fifteen minutes..."

:lol: Nice one Bunny, yeh blue nosed t*at.

Hail Rafa?

yes

Pelt Rafa would be a better title...

I'm sure sir alex will have a grin as wide as the mersey tunnel.

Not necessarily. The season isn't over yet.

If Utd lose their next 3 games against the top 4 sides and Liverpool win their games then Liverpool will only be 5 behind them. i.e. the number of points Liverpool are now behind Chelsea. Anything can happen from now til the end of the season.

Not necessarily. The season isn't over yet.

If Utd lose their next 3 games against the top 4 sides and Liverpool win their games then Liverpool will only be 5 behind them. i.e. the number of points Liverpool are now behind Chelsea. Anything can happen from now til the end of the season.

utd arent going to lose 3 games against the top for sides though

utd arent going to lose 3 games against the top for sides though

Are you fucking psychic or something?

Are you a crazed smackhead or something? Tone it down a little, eh? :)

Did the redshite win today or something?

Are you a crazed smackhead or something? Tone it down a little, eh? :)

Did the redshite win today or something?

:hilarious

The blue vermin are out in force to piss on the Red's record (best league performers over the last 10 games...)

We wont catch United, and I don't think we'll overturn Chelsea's points tally. And I still think Arsenal are capable of finishing ahead of us.

But hey, I said Chelsea would win 2-0 today.

Impossible is nothing, yada yada

We wont catch United, and I don't think we'll overturn Chelsea's points tally. And I still think Arsenal are capable of finishing ahead of us.

But hey, I said Chelsea would win 2-0 today.

Impossible is nothing, yada yada

Are you really a Liverpool supporter, i am having serious doubts

It looks like U N I T E D ' s season boys! And very pleased for you scousers today! :)

The reds are coming up the hill Bammy.

never be forgotten

http://youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs

It looks like U N I T E D ' s season boys! And very pleased for you scousers today! :)

oops, bummer. Those damn saveloys have chucked a spanner in the works....

never be forgotten

http://youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs

Watching that video still makes the hairs on the back of my kneck stand up. We were down at the front near the corner flag by the Main Stand.

I still think the YNWA before the start of the game was louder. We missed most of the YNWA before the start of the game because we were queing for a program. By the time we got to our seats, the last few verses were being sung and it was so loud it actually hurt my ear drums.

The greatest YNWA ever simply has to be the whole packed stadium in Istanbul singing it at the end of a certain match 18 months ago... no doubts.

I thought this DIC thing was taking a bit longer than what was suggested before Xmas, looks like we'll have to wait a bit more.


http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=us-bid-hitch-to-lfc-takeover%26method=full%26objectid=18512303%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

Liverpool are expected to go ahead with the planned £156m takeover by Dubai's government despite interest from American billionaire George Gillette.


Full link here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6263933.stm)

I prefer the Dubai bid to the U.S. bid, because i think the investment will be for the long term and of higher quality, considering their other investments. Gillette have been involved with different U.S. sports "franchises" and want a shared stadium, i.e. they want a quick buck.

Good news for the club and the city - Dubai are far more likely to take the club and the sport seriously, whereas it would have just been another arm of Gillette's massive sports empire, and compromise was likely as JUXT suggests. Also great for opening up investment from an extremely rich and ambitious country who know a thing or two about building TALL!!!

i thought it was £450m?

£450 million is the value of the DIC investment.

Is this the sort of city we want investing in our club...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6179432634249787416

Hell yeh!

Pictures of the soon to be 'Sports City' in Dubai

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9360/image177si.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/186/sportcity16gh.jpg

Can anyone tell me if the Champions League Final will be shown on a large outdoor screen anywhere in the city centre?

Somebody I work with mentioned there may be one at Concert Sq. My lad and his mates are thinking of travelling down and watching the game in the city centre and they were hoping it would be screened somewhere in the open. (Might even join them).

Can anyone tell me if the Champions League Final will be shown on a large outdoor screen anywhere in the city centre?

Somebody I work with mentioned there may be one at Concert Sq. My lad and his mates are thinking of travelling down and watching the game in the city centre and they were hoping it would be screened somewhere in the open. (Might even join them).


I'm not sure about an outdoor screening yet but tell them the atmosphere here last time was out of this world,I'd highly recommend it,there was people here from all over enjoying themselves.

I'm not sure about an outdoor screening yet but tell them the atmosphere here last time was out of this world,I'd highly recommend it,there was people here from all over enjoying themselves.

I've told my lad to travel down anyway and try and find out when he gets there. Thought if there was a confirmed location, it might save them a lot of walking.

Which cheap & basic hotel would you recommend? That's if there's any rooms available.

I've told my lad to travel down anyway and try and find out when he gets there. Thought if there was a confirmed location, it might save them a lot of walking.

Which cheap & basic hotel would you recommend? That's if there's any rooms available.

The Adelphi are doing a 3 course meal and Champagne reception for £25,no room in that though.I'd go for one of those budget hotels on the dock road if I was him,they're cheap.I'd book soon as well because the sold out signs will go up all over the city centre for this.

http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/fichehotel/gb/for/3484/fiche_hotel.shtml

http://www.hotelsrus.com/search.php?ref=AFAH5&fn=hotelinfo&HotelCode=DCALJAC&gclid=CPvJ272EiYwCFRWOEgod0jjXBQ

Cheers Paul, I'll tell him to get his arse into gear.

Speaking of the Champions League, how annoyed to these bitter Mancs get at a mere geographical location? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbevSpn6GHk She reminds them where we're going though.

It seems everyone these days are adopting that ring of fire tune the Liverpool fans sing,soon they'll be saying they started it first,everyone copies this city but they're too thick to realise it.

It seems everyone these days are adopting that ring of fire tune the Liverpool fans sing,soon they'll be saying they started it first,everyone copies this city but they're too thick to realise it.

There is another one (not sure what it's called) that Liverpool fans have been singing for ages, and just lately I've heard the Mancs starting to do it at their games. They've no soul in that club :ohno:

We got 3rd, but another shit display, that GK is shit. thanks to Harry for getting the late penalty

It seems everyone these days are adopting that ring of fire tune the Liverpool fans sing,soon they'll be saying they started it first,everyone copies this city but they're too thick to realise it.

liverpool sing campione (sp?) though sung by Panathinaikos and we sing If you know your history started by Celtic i think, it happens in football. its a stupid tune anyway.

We got 3rd, but another shit display, that GK is shit. thanks to Harry for getting the late penalty

1 game in English football and he's shit?:lol:

he is awful though. his positioning and handling of the ball is awful

liverpool sing campione (sp?) though sung by Panathinaikos and we sing If you know your history started by Celtic i think, it happens in football. its a stupid tune anyway.


Wrong.

'If you know your history' was started by Tottenham getting on for 50 years ago.

KEIOC

Wrong.

'If you know your history' was started by Tottenham getting on for 50 years ago.

KEIOC
Are you sure Snapper.The first time i heard Spurs singing it was after us in the mid 80's.Celtic have been singing it for at least 40 years.I went to White Hart Lane in the 70's and in 84,85 and 86 and they weren't singing it then.I think we started it about 85.Funnily enough another thing Spurs and Arsenal copied off us about the same time was wearing the Celtic/rangers hats, not to mention Chelsea pinching the Everton song "run run"

Are you sure Snapper.The first time i heard Spurs singing it was after us in the mid 80's.Celtic have been singing it for at least 40 years.I went to White Hart Lane in the 70's and in 84,85 and 86 and they weren't singing it then.I think we started it about 85.Funnily enough another thing Spurs and Arsenal copied off us about the same time was wearing the Celtic/rangers hats, not to mention Chelsea pinching the Everton song "run run"

They sang it in the late 50's early 60's.

liverpool sing campione (sp?) though sung by Panathinaikos .

1878EFC,almost every Spanish team sings 'Campeones' when they win or when they're on a good run.I've been a season ticket holder at Sevilla FC for a few years and I've heard it up and down the country.I've asked about its origins but everbody says 'es una canciön de siempre'.So it's been sung for donkey's years.Do Everton still walk out to the Z Cars theme?

1878EFC,almost every Spanish team sings 'Campeones' when they win or when they're on a good run.I've been a season ticket holder at Sevilla FC for a few years and I've heard it up and down the country.I've asked about its origins but everbody says 'es una canciön de siempre'.So it's been sung for donkey's years.Do Everton still walk out to the Z Cars theme?

hi nacho

sevilla have been doing well recently havent they you've got a good team good luck in the UEFA Cup final.

Yes we do come out to Z Cars although briefly in the 1990s they changed it for a small period of time but there was uproar so they changed it back to ZCars, watford also use this tune >(

we've got out Parrott whistling it aswell :)

hi nacho

sevilla have been doing well recently havent they you've got a good team good luck in the UEFA Cup final.

Yes we do come out to Z Cars although briefly in the 1990s they changed it for a small period of time but there was uproar so they changed it back to ZCars, watford also use this tune >(

Yes,the team are doing well on three fronts this season,we're two points behind Madrid and Barca ,in Wenesday's Uefa final ,and play in the King's Cup on the 23rd of June against Getafe(Madrid).Getafe lost in Barcelona 5-2 in the first leg of the semi-final but managed an historic 4-0 victory the other night.
Concerning thedropping of the Z Cars tune,my English team WBA played 'The
Liquidator' for many years until the police advised the club to drop it.Wolves were also told to stop using it.

I didn't know Watford had Z Cars theme too.

They sang it in the late 50's early 60's.

Says who! evidence. Seems a bit strange they abandoned it for 25 years.Glory Glory has always been Spur's song since their double winning side of 62 or 61 can't remember.

61 GV, remember the rubbish about years with a 1 in being special 'Spurs' years?... it nover holds out, but they persist in peddling the crap.... helps keep Everton out of the 'Big 5' as well.

61 GV, remember the rubbish about years with a 1 in being special 'Spurs' years?... it nover holds out, but they persist in peddling the crap.... helps keep Everton out of the 'Big 5' as well.

Oh yeah that's right Tony,the year with one in it:lol: It always mystified me how Spurs with 4 championships were in the big 5.

Concerning thedropping of the Z Cars tune,my English team WBA played 'The
Liquidator' for many years until the police advised the club to drop it.Wolves were also told to stop using it.

.

This is the reason the police decided that the old favourite had to go.The sound is from the Hawthorns and of course the words were reversed at the Molinuex.
The link 21-4-02
http://www.btinternet.com/~blueandwhitestripe/The_Liquidator_Live21-4-02.mp3

Anyone know any good pubs or bars to watch the match for free in Liverpool?

the flute on hardman st, although not a pub I like for normal berage, is brilliant for footy. I went there in 2005 and it was packed out for 4 p.m. Lots of singing and Im queing outside for about 2 p.m. tomorrow.

the flute on hardman st, although not a pub I like for normal berage, is brilliant for footy. I went there in 2005 and it was packed out for 4 p.m. Lots of singing and Im queing outside for about 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Cheers mate i will check that one out :cheers:

Hello,

I don't know if any of you lot know this but this site is to dicuss architecture or new developments...NOT football!!!! There are many suitable sites with scousers raving on about how great the team is! Please use this site properly or don't use it at all!

Hello,

I don't know if any of you lot know this but this site is to dicuss architecture or new developments...NOT football!!!! There are many suitable sites with scousers raving on about how great the team is! Please use this site properly or don't use it at all!

Miserable SOD.

Hello,

I don't know if any of you lot know this but this site is to dicuss architecture or new developments...NOT football!!!! There are many suitable sites with scousers raving on about how great the team is! Please use this site properly or don't use it at all!

It would appear that your user name isn't very accurate.

It would appear that your user name isn't very accurate.

Damon, it seems that during Gareth's absence a former member here is taking a number of his troll IDs out for walkies a bit more often. Babaloo is another one. Bizarrely they (this persons trolls) even talk to each other, which is one of his hallmarks. He believes it helps establish their personality, but if two new trolls chat to each other, it really just raises another red flag in my book.

Damon, it seems that during Gareth's absence a former member here is taking a number of his troll IDs out for walkies a bit more often. Babaloo is another one. Bizarrely they (this persons trolls) even talk to each other, which is one of his hallmarks. He believes it helps establish their personality, but if two new trolls chat to each other, it really just raises another red flag in my book.

:lol: and :lol: again.

Good to see you've lost none of your famous Scouse humour. Now sit down lad, get a few bevvies in and watch the match. Kick-off's in 4 minutes.

:cheers:

Worst heartacre

Fuck off Davensmokes!!! Forza Milano!!

Anyone know why SkyBet have suspended betting on Rafa to be the next manager to leave?

http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvType&id=10002896

RAFA PLEASED WITH DRAW
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N156580070803-1523.htm

Rafa Benitez admits he is delighted his squad won't face a daunting trek across Europe in the Champions League third qualifying round.
The Spaniard is happy with a trip across the Channel after being drawn against Toulouse in Friday's draw.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I'm happy with the draw for two reasons. Firstly, the travelling won't be a problem, and secondly, the second leg will be at Anfield in front of our supporters.

"After travelling to Hong Kong, Switzerland and Rotterdam, the last thing we wanted was a long trip."

Despite being pleased with the draw, Benitez knows he can take nothing for granted against a team who finished third in one of Europe's top leagues.

"Toulouse are a good side with some good players. The French league is of a high standard and so this won't be an easy game.

"When we return from Rotterdam we will start our reports on Toulouse. We have some information at the moment but we'll have to do some more work when we get home."

Dates for the tie have yet to be confirmed by the club, so fans are advised not to make travel arrangements.

I guess Portsmouth played the invisable man, someone work this out for me

thanks

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5260/retrewod8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Best midfield in the world song

Liverpool fans were singing this at the Villa game yesterday...

ayivhplxuwM

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
We Got The Best Defence In The World
We Got Riise & Agger
Finnan and Carra
and Pepe Reina in Goallllllllll

Voronin's goal vs. Toulouse

WDmXsLF7oe8

Iv'e been watchin the game on that live-footy.org, with the help od sopcast, good quality even on a 32 inch tele.

just bit crap last night

Gillett and Hicks buy into Anfield romance.
17 August 2007
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=476114&in_page_id=1779

The conversation moves from English football to American politics and the reputation Tom Hicks has for putting presidents in the White House.

'I'm working hard for him,' Hicks says of Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a Republican candidate who can count the part-owner of Liverpool as a member of his political action committee. 'But I never worked hard for him,' he then says of the current occupant of the Oval Office. 'I just made him rich.'

Hicks smiles and the man sitting beside him in a rather more modest office at Anfield lets out a huge guffaw. George W Bush? He owes Hicks big time, George Gillett acknowledges.

Bush got rich when Hicks bought the Texas Rangers baseball team from a consortium that, in 1998, was headed by the 43rd President of the United States. Not only that, he provided Bush with major financial support in his climb up the political ladder.

The subject is raised only because of the influence they might enjoy now they have seats at club football's top table.

Hicks and Gillett, as the American owners of the five-times European champions, have friends in seriously high places, are worth billions, have a vast wealth of experience in owning major sports franchises and also have a background in television and broadcasting. In short, they are the kind of men who might make the game's administrators nervous when it comes to talk of breakaway leagues and independent television deals.

TV money, and what they consider a potential area of huge financial growth, is partly what attracted them to Liverpool in the first place.

Story continues...

Torres first goal at Anfield:

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=S9NYO6PK

Torres first goal at Anfield:

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=S9NYO6PK


Class!

Radio City made a american hockey style profile of the Liverpool team after the American takeover.

It's a good laugh...:)


NSlw6bBzqYM

OMFG that is class!!

Fernando Torres Speed Painting

iZoqR3Q0B1c

^^ Nice Liver Bird.

:cheers:

Start growing your mullet now!
I hope they dont re-release the shorts aswelll! Shorts back then were just wrong!

http://www.adidas-shop.co.uk/rf/adi/navigation/product.do?categoryId=6874637&productPos=31&catno=WS2491A&groupId=415319119

Radio City made a american hockey style profile of the Liverpool team after the American takeover.

It's a good laugh...:)


NSlw6bBzqYM

now that was funny! but i think was more american football sounding?

"My challenge is to triumph in Liverpool and become the best striker in the club's history."

Says Torres, i will quote him to that

Ever wondered why Peter Crouch is penalised so much in European / international competitions?

Poll says Crouch is targeted by referees

'I tried to defend him, being English'

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2162757,00.html
Wednesday September 5, 2007


Former referee Graham Poll has claimed the game's top officials were told to "look out for" England striker Peter Crouch.

Poll says World Cup referees in Germany last summer were told to keep a close eye on Crouch because of his distinctively rangy playing style. "At the World Cup last year we were shown videos of games and the head of refereeing at Fifa said, 'Look at this big fella Crouch, he's a real pain and he's getting away with too much. We need to mark him out as a player we need to look out for.' We watched England's warm-up games, and had been out there for two or three weeks before, and it was pointed out the way he used his arms. I tried to defend him, being English."

Crouch is suspended for England's Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel on Saturday after picking up a booking in England's 3-0 Group E win over Estonia in Tallinn.

pavarotti sings youii never walk alone
r i p big man

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=01L3poHPaNI

They're selling tickets for his funeral for a tenor.:ohno:

Posted on YouTube last month. Bluenose walk of shame after losing a bet in 2005:lol:

M_3ogjVZnnA

That's real class, excellent!!:lol:

HAHA
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5753/pepenxabina0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They may have lost Torres. But Forlan (1) and Garcia (2) helped Athletico to a 4-0 tonight

LOL!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

http://www.dailymotion.com/scoopex/video/5477108

Tsk, tsk. Were those bags full of excrement, as per usual?

Tsk, tsk. Were those bags full of excrement, as per usual?
The way they hung in the air for a brief moment, I think they farted in them.

:lol:

You're a sick, sick human being, Adman...

Rafa's lost the plot. He is conceited and arrogant. His ideas are flawed. We find now that having rested certain key players earlier in the season when they could've been making a big contribution, they are now injured anyway and out for weeks. Just one reason why the rotation policy is a bit of a no brainer.

He repeatedly leaves Crouch out of the side, despite him being the club's best striker (based on the last 12 months.) He did the same last season. Crouch returned from international duty as England's highest-scoring striker and Benitez kept him on the bench. Why? Crouch hasn't started any of the recent games but has always turned a game when he has been introduced. Why doesn't he start? Benitez has something against Crouch and he's jeopardising the club's achievements in the process.

His ideas about rotation are just plain stupid. Rest players so they are still fit in 6 months? Doesn't make any sense. None of the other, more successful Premiership managers, do it to the same degree.

Liverpool were shit today against Blackburn. Just plain disappointing. I have no faith in them at the moment. Liverpool fans are just repeatedly being let down and I'm not even sure it's necessary. I sense Benitez just isn't going to listen to reason. He is using the club as his academic project, trying out his tactical and other (more dubious) ideas. And he also has personal issues with certain players who could improve the club's performance.

Liverpool are now slipping down the league and looking pathetic compared with the other big clubs. Despite having a brilliant main squad and plenty of back up the results are repeatedly disappointing, both at home and abroad. Granted, there are injuries at the moment, but it's obvious there is more to it than that. I would even venture to add that constantly resting players (even in-form players, which is stupid) makes them more suseptible to injury when they do play.

I know we will finish in the top 4, but it looks like winning definitely isn't on the cards. I reckon though, that with the players we have, it could be a bigger possibility if things were done differently.

It appears that things are panning out the same as the last few seasons.
Arse,MU and Chelski battling for first with Liverpool going for Fourth place.
Still Rafa has had a few injuries ,Agger,Alonso,Torres etc.. but then so have the other clubs.
Our squad members haven't quite measured up.

There again,Rafa's rotation policy.....

:ohno: its that time of the season for this talk (aka bollocks), as we've had it the last 3 seasons. We're only 6 points off the lead, we're unbeaten in the league unlike chelsea&mancs, and we've only played something like 3 games with a full squad. Also as to rafa's squad rotation, ferguson rotated his squad more last season but the press never mention him. I don't see the problem, as long as we stay in touch. The benefits of squad rotation become apparent towards the final 1/3 of the season.

:ohno: its that time of the season for this talk (aka bollocks), as we've had it the last 3 seasons. We're only 6 points off the lead, we're unbeaten in the league unlike chelsea&mancs, and we've only played something like 3 games with a full squad. Also as to rafa's squad rotation, ferguson rotated his squad more last season but the press never mention him. I don't see the problem, as long as we stay in touch. The benefits of squad rotation become apparent towards the final 1/3 of the season.

But he won the title.

But he won the title.

exactly - so why do the press get on Rafa's back? easy target - they think "soft spanish guy, can't speak english properly, mustn't have a clue, rotation doesn't work", and you get the likes of thickos like andy gray criticising him every match because he STILL doesn't understand the zonal marking system we employ at corners, and he still doesn't understand rotation. It does my head in when people just repeat what morons in the press are saying. How come the press never mention Rotation when Rafa's leading them out in European Cup Finals?

exactly - so why do the press get on Rafa's back? easy target - they think "soft spanish guy, can't speak english properly, mustn't have a clue, rotation doesn't work", and you get the likes of thickos like andy gray criticising him every match because he STILL doesn't understand the zonal marking system we employ at corners, and he still doesn't understand rotation. It does my head in when people just repeat what morons in the press are saying. How come the press never mention Rotation when Rafa's leading them out in European Cup Finals?

You're wrong. Rafa rotates more than any of the other managers, far more in fact, and he has got worse this season.

I honestly believe that if Rafa toned down on a few of his strange ideas Liverpool would be in with a shout of the title. They have the squad for it. I think they would've finished higher last season as well.

8-0!!!!! :cheers:

New Champions League record... did u see Babels 6-0, u beauty!

Wow great game, need to play like that in next two games.

You're wrong. Rafa rotates more than any of the other managers, far more in fact, and he has got worse this season.

I honestly believe that if Rafa toned down on a few of his strange ideas Liverpool would be in with a shout of the title. They have the squad for it. I think they would've finished higher last season as well.

paul tomkins wrote this, which sums up the rotation myth for me:-

"Manchester United won last season's league title with Alex Ferguson having made a total of 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, at an average of 3.11 changes per game. The season before that, Chelsea won the league with Mourinho also having made 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, again (obviously) at an average of 3.11 changes per game.

So how many changes did Benitez make in 2006/07?

You guessed it, 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, at what the eagle-eyed among you will know recognise as an average of 3.11 changes per game."

You're wrong. Rafa rotates more than any of the other managers, far more in fact, and he has got worse this season.

I honestly believe that if Rafa toned down on a few of his strange ideas Liverpool would be in with a shout of the title. They have the squad for it. I think they would've finished higher last season as well.

blab..you will look silly come may

paul tomkins wrote this, which sums up the rotation myth for me:-

"Manchester United won last season's league title with Alex Ferguson having made a total of 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, at an average of 3.11 changes per game. The season before that, Chelsea won the league with Mourinho also having made 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, again (obviously) at an average of 3.11 changes per game.

So how many changes did Benitez make in 2006/07?

You guessed it, 118 changes to his Premiership line-ups throughout the campaign, at what the eagle-eyed among you will know recognise as an average of 3.11 changes per game."

Just goes to show that rafa needs to change his tactics.
118 seems to be the magic number but to be successfull you have to be more attack minded.
It worked tonight.

exactly - so why do the press get on Rafa's back? easy target - they think "soft spanish guy, can't speak english properly, mustn't have a clue, rotation doesn't work", and you get the likes of thickos like andy gray criticising him every match because he STILL doesn't understand the zonal marking system we employ at corners, and he still doesn't understand rotation. It does my head in when people just repeat what morons in the press are saying. How come the press never mention Rotation when Rafa's leading them out in European Cup Finals?

Not saying this as a 'bitter' blue but Rafa does seem to attract the wrong type of attention from a Manchester/London based press looking to bury him. Maybe part of it is that he comes across as not very humble or gracious either in defeat or victory. Maybe its because he is under so much pressure and maybe some of its is a translation issue as I presume English is his second language. Whatever it is, I and others including a number of my red friends cant say he comes across at all well especially when you compare him to Shankly, Paisley etc and as having a good camera persona seems to be part of the game these days maybe he suffers.

If rotation and his methods win trophies for you then good luck to you and fuck the press including Andy Gray who by the way is a no mark who never has a good word for us either.

Oh by the way - well done (no sarcasm) 8 against anyone is always a great achievement. Still dont want you to get through though so we can toss you out the EUFA. :)

Cheers TescoBlue....:cheers:

Did the Besiktas goalie get the LFC Man of the Match award? He was shocking, and at fault for at least four goals.

Great result for the R/S though. Should really improve confidence. Bet Alonso felt a tit sitting in the studio. :)

blab..you will look silly come may

I'm not the only one who has these views on Rafa's policies; I'm joined by various people, including professionals. If I look silly come May, i.e. if Liverpool are challenging for the league, then it may well be down to the fact that Rafa has changed his ways. In which case, I won't look silly at all.

Great result last night. Nice to see he played Crouch from the start for a change - one of the things I criticised Rafa about. I don't think there is anything wrong with criticising a manager who, with an amazingly talented squad, has drawn at home against the likes of Birmingham, and generally played boring and mediocre football in the league.

There seem to be some people who don't have opinions on things and just think to themselves "well Rafa is dead good so I'll just go with the flow." Maybe I'm just guilty of being interested in it all. I don't think it takes a great deal of intelligence to understand that Liverpool were awful against Blackburn at the weekend, and should have got wins in some of the games were they only got a measily point.

Anyway, article in today's Echo by Tommy Smith. Let's hope he and I look silly come May (I really, really hope so...)

From toothless to ruthless - now let’s keep it up!Nov 7 2007

by Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo

IT’S been a long time coming, but at last Liverpool finally showed their fans how good an attacking team they can be.

Whether it’s just coincidence or not, the Reds have recently been known for their great European nights at Anfield more than anything else - and after some disappointing league results at home this eight goal demolition of Besiktas was just what was needed.

All the talk beforehand was of the Reds under pressure and needing a win to stay alive in their European campaign.

But they looked as if they were finally enjoying their football and the scale of this record victory will only help to restore confidence in certain players and the team as a whole.

After the disappointments of the 0-0 at Blackburn, this was a fantastic result.

You can’t do much better than 8-0 and they have repaid their fans for some indifferent form.


But Rafa Benitez will recognise they still have a long way to go to qualify for the knockout stages, and Porto and Marseille will represent far tougher hurdles than the one presented by the Turks.


Much has been said over Peter Crouch’s absence from the side, but I thought the striker had one of his best games and always caused trouble to the visitors.


Andriy Voronin also had a good game, linking with his partner and having a hand in three of the goals, while Yossi Benayoun was a constant threat and proved the value of an attack-minded wide player, who got himself into good positions.


Steven Gerrard was, as usual, his commanding self, but I thought Javier Mascherano was as effective in his midfield role.

In fact, everything on the night went according to plan, and congratulations to the manager and his team.

But the performance last night throws up as many questions as answers . . .

* How the hell did we lose to this side just a fortnight ago?

* Why has there been a tendency this season for the Reds to go out with the intention of not losing games, rather than trying to win?

* What are the reasons behind the indifferent form when they can turn on a show like this?

Benitez made four changes from the team last Saturday and the changes paid off handsomely.

But it has not always been the case with his rotation policy.

You can’t argue, once the Reds were well ahead, in the resting of the skipper and the opportunities the manager gave for Ryan Babel and Harry Kewell to gain more match fitness and confidence.

But, sadly, the talk after most games tends to be about the rotation policy rather than the football.

He might believe in the rotation policy - and Benitez has had success with it, but the majority of time it hasn’t worked - but I don’t.

I am still trying to fathom his substitution of Gerrard in the derby!

Liverpool’s performances generally this season have been average.

They have to be stepped up if they have hopes of winning trophies.

Last night was a start. The football was fast-flowing, the movement excellent, and the goals just what team and fans needed.

Yes, a terrific result, where they did not allow the opposition to settle and they went for the jugular.

Premiership opposition is proving far tougher than Besiktas offered at Anfield. Now, the Reds have got to start showing that attacking intent in the league, starting with Fulham.

I'm not the only one who has these views on Rafa's policies; I'm joined by various people, including professionals. If I look silly come May, i.e. if Liverpool are challenging for the league, then it may well be down to the fact that Rafa has changed his ways. In which case, I won't look silly at all.

Great result last night. Nice to see he played Crouch from the start for a change - one of the things I criticised Rafa about. I don't think there is anything wrong with criticising a manager who, with an amazingly talented squad, has drawn at home against the likes of Birmingham, and generally played boring and mediocre football in the league.

There seem to be some people who don't have opinions on things and just think to themselves "well Rafa is dead good so I'll just go with the flow." Maybe I'm just guilty of being interested in it all. I don't think it takes a great deal of intelligence to understand that Liverpool were awful against Blackburn at the weekend, and should have got wins in some of the games were they only got a measily point.

Anyway, article in today's Echo by Tommy Smith. Let's hope he and I look silly come May (I really, really hope so...)

From toothless to ruthless - now let’s keep it up!Nov 7 2007

by Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo

IT’S been a long time coming, but at last Liverpool finally showed their fans how good an attacking team they can be.

Whether it’s just coincidence or not, the Reds have recently been known for their great European nights at Anfield more than anything else - and after some disappointing league results at home this eight goal demolition of Besiktas was just what was needed.

All the talk beforehand was of the Reds under pressure and needing a win to stay alive in their European campaign.

But they looked as if they were finally enjoying their football and the scale of this record victory will only help to restore confidence in certain players and the team as a whole.

After the disappointments of the 0-0 at Blackburn, this was a fantastic result.

You can’t do much better than 8-0 and they have repaid their fans for some indifferent form.


But Rafa Benitez will recognise they still have a long way to go to qualify for the knockout stages, and Porto and Marseille will represent far tougher hurdles than the one presented by the Turks.


Much has been said over Peter Crouch’s absence from the side, but I thought the striker had one of his best games and always caused trouble to the visitors.


Andriy Voronin also had a good game, linking with his partner and having a hand in three of the goals, while Yossi Benayoun was a constant threat and proved the value of an attack-minded wide player, who got himself into good positions.


Steven Gerrard was, as usual, his commanding self, but I thought Javier Mascherano was as effective in his midfield role.

In fact, everything on the night went according to plan, and congratulations to the manager and his team.

But the performance last night throws up as many questions as answers . . .

* How the hell did we lose to this side just a fortnight ago?

* Why has there been a tendency this season for the Reds to go out with the intention of not losing games, rather than trying to win?

* What are the reasons behind the indifferent form when they can turn on a show like this?

Benitez made four changes from the team last Saturday and the changes paid off handsomely.

But it has not always been the case with his rotation policy.

You can’t argue, once the Reds were well ahead, in the resting of the skipper and the opportunities the manager gave for Ryan Babel and Harry Kewell to gain more match fitness and confidence.

But, sadly, the talk after most games tends to be about the rotation policy rather than the football.

He might believe in the rotation policy - and Benitez has had success with it, but the majority of time it hasn’t worked - but I don’t.

I am still trying to fathom his substitution of Gerrard in the derby!

Liverpool’s performances generally this season have been average.

They have to be stepped up if they have hopes of winning trophies.

Last night was a start. The football was fast-flowing, the movement excellent, and the goals just what team and fans needed.

Yes, a terrific result, where they did not allow the opposition to settle and they went for the jugular.

Premiership opposition is proving far tougher than Besiktas offered at Anfield. Now, the Reds have got to start showing that attacking intent in the league, starting with Fulham.

Hansen, Smith, Lawrenson, Gray, Townsend, Charlie Nicolas, Matt Le Tissier et al look silly every time they criticise Rafa's methods to be fair, simply because they've never managed, or in Lawrenson's case made a complete arse of himself. The fact of the matter is they don't understand Rafa, so it puzzles and annoys them. He doesn't employ the simple tactics, formations and methods that they were used to, and so he must be wrong. Rafa will experiment with different players, formations, tactics. He'll pick a team and tactics to beat the opposition, he doesn't pick the same team week after week, its not his style. He'll actually admit he made a mistake, or try to buy players to solve problems. But they need to blame something, otherwise they look stupid. This punditry is based on the tried and tested "Play 4-4-2 attacking football every week" which is all very well if you can throw £30 million at every position like United or Chelsea, or if you've had 10 years to poach the best talent in Europe like Arsenal. The reasons for all our problems used to be Zonal Marking, then it was Rotation, then its the Two Defensive Midfielders, then it was "why isn't Gerrard in the middle" despite scoring 23 goals on the right, now its back to Rotation. They want something to blame, and for some reason it can't be any of the players' fault, it must all be down to the manager rotation policy. It's getting tiresome.

The reason we've been playing shite is because we've had injuries. The reason we've been playing shite is Gerrard playing in the middle and playing shite, and Kuyt has attached a spoon to each foot. Alonso and Agger have been injured. Without Agger, Aurelio, Arbeloa the distribution from the back is shite, and is exacerbated with no Alonso. Our distribution recently has been mostly "Hoof the Ball up the Field (tm)" employed by Riise, Carra, Hyypia and Finnan as they don't have the technical skills of Agger, Aurelio and Arbeloa on the ball. This was obvious last night with Aurelio and Arbeloa back in the team. We've also just lost our first team coach, Pako, which must have affected things hugely.

I, and many like me, will not jump on the shitehawk "rotation" bandwagon. Last night is more than ample proof that Rafa knows what he is doing. I know he makes mistakes from time to time, but I have watched us play some of our best football for nearly 20 years under Rafa. The pundits sound like a broken record, whilst Rafa is out breaking records.

oh and by the way, for all the criticism he receives I haven't heard any of these pundits mention this one simple fact.

Before Rafa came we were also rans, a sleeping giant, a famous but faded old name in Europe, and we had been for years. Now we're back on the big stage as one of Europes most feared, biggest and best teams, with new investment, and a new uber-stadium on the way. Obviously, not down to rotation, but mainly down to that mystical sauce he feeds the players.

I think Rafa's a great manager and Liverpool would be fools to get rid of him.He hasn't been at Liverpool long and he's done so much already,have patience because he'll get it right.

I feel the same about Moyes, but seeing as the two clubs have no intention of removing their managers......:uh:

Rafa and his rotation system!:ohno:
He makes 4 changes from the Blackburn game and subs Gerard in the 72nd minute last night. And for what? 8 measly goals! Sack the Spaniard now!:lol:

"Changes" when we win, "rotation" when we don't:nuts:

What spectacle it would be.... Liverpool coming home with the European Cup in Liverpool's European City of Culture year.... just a reminder of the importance of that culture to the city. :master:

What spectacle it would be.... Liverpool coming home with the European Cup in Liverpool's European City of Culture year.... just a reminder of the importance of that culture to the city. :master:

.......and win the Premier League also.......!!!

^^ ^^ ^^
Yes.... how foolish of me..... :nuts:

oh and by the way, for all the criticism he receives I haven't heard any of these pundits mention this one simple fact.

Before Rafa came we were also rans, a sleeping giant, a famous but faded old name in Europe, and we had been for years. Now we're back on the big stage as one of Europes most feared, biggest and best teams, with new investment, and a new uber-stadium on the way. Obviously, not down to rotation, but mainly down to that mystical sauce he feeds the players.

True, they said our triumph in istanbul was a fluke, some fluke that was considering we got to another final a couple of years later.

Well I won't lie, Yoshef, there is a big part of me that thinks, regardless of what little things happen in the short-term, the man is a genius, knows what he's doing, has reasons for doing this or that and it will work out, if not by the end of the season then in the longer-term. Perhaps he is building up an enduring legacy in the vein of Slur Alex.

I guess we'll have to see how it pans out.

Football fans today are very fickle. The sad thing is I always thought we were different, supporting the team through whatever, You'll never walk alone anyone?

I remember us being humiliated by Rafa's Valencia team when at the end Fowler asked one of their players if he could see the ball! They really were that good, just as we will be if all these armchair supporters stop listening to the poisonous media, Andy biased bastard Gray etc and like a real Liverpool fan get behind the team!

Half the problem nowadays I think is the saturation coverage of football which has now allowed people who have never been to a game in their lives to feel entitled to mouth off on phone in's about how the manager should do things.

I recently pissed meself at a fella in the boozer who was boasting during the Blackburn game that he had not missed a Libpool game home or away all season, all on the telly of course.

These beauts do my head in especially when they let out a huge belly laugh at the Wickes adverts despite them having been seen a million effin times.

We are one of two teams in a smallish (nowadays anyway!) city and we have been in two of the last three Champions League finals! Can you imagine any other team having that record? The manager would be deified, statues in the city centre.

We do not have a divine right to success. All our glorious past was built on the back of incredible support from the fans, this is now being ruined by a gang of blurts who can't wait to grab the phone should we as much as drop a point!

We are still in contention for every competition we have entered, unbeaten in the league, unlike Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea.

This idea of I've paid me telly license so I'm entitled to complain is ruining football.

I agree with everything you say Gobshoite. These tossers who think they are fans cos they scream at a telly in a pub and repeat the shite spouted by Gray and his cronies.

When was the last time a post match analysis was done where rotation wasn't mentioned or any one of the pundits gave an original insight.

Nigel Winterburn of all fucking people was talking about it last week criticising Benitez saying the other big clubs only rotate for cup competitions. These usually account for over a third of games these days so that means they constantly rotate as well. Paul Tomkins analysis also dispels the myth that it is only LFC who rotate players.

It was the same with zonal marking despite conceding less goals from set pieces in each of the first two seasons (not sure about the third) than any other team.

They are fuckwits who generally can't string a coherent sentence together (Paul Merson :nuts:for example, the poor bastard) criticising one of the world's top coaches and who themselves by and large have sidestepped managerial positions.

[These beauts do my head in especially when they let out a huge belly laugh at the Wickes adverts despite them having been seen a million effin times.]...nice one lad

I recently pissed meself at a fella in the boozer who was boasting during the Blackburn game that he had not missed a Libpool game home or away all season, all on the telly of course.


Frankly, I think you're talking a lot of rubbish yourself, as are other people here.

There seems to be a common theme that goes: support your team no matter what; don't criticise or question policies (in fact don't think at all, just support), and critics are stupid, lying, idiots...

Firstly, that bloke in the pub might not be able to afford to go to the match, or have some other circumstances that prevent him going. Does that make him less of a fan in your eyes? How do you measure how much somebody really cares about the thing they support? There seem to be plenty of "fans" who show up at football games (Chelsea springs to mind) who got tickets through their work or something and just don't really seem arsed. Are they bigger, better fans than the man screaming at his radio set?

And I suppose some fans are more fanatical than others. The man who seems to know every stat about their club, and sings the loudest and hasn't missed a game, including low-level games, since 1974, could look down on all here and say "I'm a bigger, better fan than you, so shut up. Your opinions aren't important." Frankly, I wouldn't want to be that person, and don't envy him one bit.

As for the other matters you, and others, have expressed. I don't buy into the whole, "go along with everything, don't have opinions, just support." Of course, one should always (and will always, if they genuinely love their club) stick up for them and want them to prevail no matter what. But people who are interested in the game, and who are hungry for success, especially vis-a-vis their rivals, are entitled to have opinions about the way things are being managed, and to express these. How boring it would be if they didn't. If fans didn't demand, or rather crave, success for their club, and have views about whether things are being done "right" or "wrong", then we might well still be supporting the pile of mediocrity Liverpool were in the 1990s, prancing around in cream suits, and not really being bothered about it.

As for this business about the critics being people who have it in for Rafa and sort of attack and criticise for no reason. I find that a bit odd. For a start, they aren't a homogeous grouping. There are twats like Andy Grey and there are, in my opinion, knowledgable and straight fellas like Hanson, and to a lesser degree, Lawrenson, who are (unlike anybody here) professionals (on and off the field), who also happen to have an affection for LFC. I don't think they are being arseholes just because they question some managerial ideas. They are just being normal people, interested in football. I would also add that the critics don't criticise any club/manager that produces beautiful football and results - CONSISTENTLY. From a league point of view, rather than a cup one, Rafa has failed to produce so far, despite having good assets. He certainly could've, in my opinion, earned more league points in the last two seasons had he chosen his team more effectively.

Anyway, I stand by my original point. I think some of Rafa's ideas are wrong headed. Resting players so they are fresh next April seems counter intutitive to me, and is in stark contrast to other managers who seem to get the most out of their best players before they get injured or lose form. The way Rafa has used Crouch has been nothing short of a joke, and it showed last night what an impact he makes and LFC have been missing. I hope I'm wrong and LFC win the league and the European Cup again.

Rafa is a tactical genius, and perhaps he has some grand scheme that I should just shutup and let him get on with, but I'm not sure about some of his ideas. Just expressing an opinion as a fan. Sorry about being "fickle", guv.

Resting players so they are fresh next April

You're kidding, you quoted an article by Tommy Smith earlier.


ok forget benitez as a manger for a moment, and just ask yourself seriously, who would you take advice off about physical conditioning in modern football?

A) Tommy Smith, who retired nearly 30 years ago, in the days of having steak egg and chips before the game.

B) Rafael Benitez, who has a degree in Physical Education

You're kidding, you quoted an article by Tommy Smith earlier.


ok forget benitez as a manger for a moment, and just ask yourself seriously, who would you take advice off about physical conditioning in modern football?

A) Tommy Smith, who retired nearly 30 years ago, in the days of having steak egg and chips before the game.

B) Rafael Benitez, who has a degree in Physical Education

Jose Mourihno who never rested Didier Drogba. Oh, and by the way, the year LFC won the Champions League, didn't Gerrard and Carragher play in more games than any other player in the league (or were up there at least) ?

Jose Mourihno who never rested Didier Drogba. Oh, and by the way, the year LFC won the Champions League, didn't Gerrard and Carragher play in more games than any other player in the league (or were up there at least) ?

Arsenal made 8 changes last night. Where's the Rotation uproar in the press?

Frankly, I think you're talking a lot of rubbish yourself, as are other people here.

There seems to be a common theme that goes: support your team no matter what; don't criticise or question policies (in fact don't think at all, just support), and critics are stupid, lying, idiots...

Firstly, that bloke in the pub might not be able to afford to go to the match, or have some other circumstances that prevent him going. Does that make him less of a fan in your eyes? How do you measure how much somebody really cares about the thing they support? There seem to be plenty of "fans" who show up at football games (Chelsea springs to mind) who got tickets through their work or something and just don't really seem arsed. Are they bigger, better fans than the man screaming at his radio set?

And I suppose some fans are more fanatical than others. The man who seems to know every stat about their club, and sings the loudest and hasn't missed a game, including low-level games, since 1974, could look down on all here and say "I'm a bigger, better fan than you, so shut up. Your opinions aren't important." Frankly, I wouldn't want to be that person, and don't envy him one bit.

As for the other matters you, and others, have expressed. I don't buy into the whole, "go along with everything, don't have opinions, just support." Of course, one should always (and will always, if they genuinely love their club) stick up for them and want them to prevail no matter what. But people who are interested in the game, and who are hungry for success, especially vis-a-vis their rivals, are entitled to have opinions about the way things are being managed, and to express these. How boring it would be if they didn't. If fans didn't demand, or rather crave, success for their club, and have views about whether things are being done "right" or "wrong", then we might well still be supporting the pile of mediocrity Liverpool were in the 1990s, prancing around in cream suits, and not really being bothered about it.

As for this business about the critics being people who have it in for Rafa and sort of attack and criticise for no reason. I find that a bit odd. For a start, they aren't a homogeous grouping. There are twats like Andy Grey and there are, in my opinion, knowledgable and straight fellas like Hanson, and to a lesser degree, Lawrenson, who are (unlike anybody here) professionals (on and off the field), who also happen to have an affection for LFC. I don't think they are being arseholes just because they question some managerial ideas. They are just being normal people, interested in football. I would also add that the critics don't criticise any club/manager that produces beautiful football and results - CONSISTENTLY. From a league point of view, rather than a cup one, Rafa has failed to produce so far, despite having good assets. He certainly could've, in my opinion, earned more league points in the last two seasons had he chosen his team more effectively.

Anyway, I stand by my original point. I think some of Rafa's ideas are wrong headed. Resting players so they are fresh next April seems counter intutitive to me, and is in stark contrast to other managers who seem to get the most out of their best players before they get injured or lose form. The way Rafa has used Crouch has been nothing short of a joke, and it showed last night what an impact he makes and LFC have been missing. I hope I'm wrong and LFC win the league and the European Cup again.

Rafa is a tactical genius, and perhaps he has some grand scheme that I should just shutup and let him get on with, but I'm not sure about some of his ideas. Just expressing an opinion as a fan. Sorry about being "fickle", guv.

I think you're missing the point 'GUV.' Anyone who knows anything about football would undertstand that it takes time to build a fabulous team, a dynasty if you like.

Those same phone ins were full of Mancs screaming for Fergusons head years ago before he was allowed time to build a great team. Those same blurts will be the most vociferous in their praise of the 'Champions' now just as you and your fickle friends will be when we dominate Europe again.

Rafa's record so far is phenomonal in comparrison to other managers in their first years at a club with notable exceptions like Clough and erm.. can't think of many more who have achieved immediate success after inheriting a shite team!

The thing is with this, I may be proved wrong eventually, we may get worse and the manager may end up being sacked because of it but I know I will not have hastened his demise by bleating to a media crying out for an excuse to crucify our club. Do you truly believe there are not people out there with an agenda? Remember the Sun?

With regard to former players do you not think it's a case of he who pays the piper? Yes, everyone is entitled to criticize, including those poor people unable to afford a ticket, lepers and the limbless in particular, seeing as you seem to be after the sympathy vote! Yes we are entitled to an opinion but I prefer to be a supporter!

Your's guv.

I think the rumble around Rafa stems from the teams approach to the opposition. Not everyone can be steam rollered and swept aside but there's undoubtly too much respect given to other sides. People can see a fine attacking side with movement and pace cramming the midfield for 80 minutes against inferior opponents before we go for the kill.

That said Rafa's the professional with a track record, he's trying to maximise our outputs over 60/70 games. At the moment we've been without Torres, Agger and Alonso - the spine of the team for a crucial period and yet we're only 6 points off the top, 2 wins away from qualification to the knockout phase of the European Cup, quarter finalists in the League Cup and with those 3 players coming back along with Rafa's traditional post Christmas league record then we're positioned better than we have been for a while to push on.

Peter Crouch – Robbie Fowler - The Radisson Hotel, Old Hall St. Liverpool.

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Picture Credit - JUXTAPOL

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/2444/zradissonbalcony34fe.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4507/zradissonbalcony44sb.jpg

http://img313.imageshack.us/img313/1272/zradissonbalcony55zu.jpg

Just in case the owners are really thinking of getting rid of Rafa, it might not be a bad idea to get our voices out there to make sure they understand where we, his supporters , stand on this.

I'm sure that those that get to the games will do us proud. But for those of you that can't please take 15 minutes, to let the following know of your support for Rafa. For now, a statement of support for Rafa, should suffice.

If anyone has any other good contacts let me know and I'll include them.

YNWA :handshake:

Send a message to LFC
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/hcu/contact/index.php3

Sign the online petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/keeprafa/petition.html

Email the press

Daily Mail
letters@dailymail.co.uk

The People
sport@people.co.uk

The Star
starsport@dailystar.co.uk

Mirror
mailbox@mirror.co.uk

Observer
fans@observer.co.uk

Express
news.desk@express.co.uk

Echo
sport@liverpoolecho.co.uk
tonybarrett@liverpoolecho.co.uk

So to Wednesday night;

It is up to every man, woman, child, scallie, oot'er, wool and miserable arl gits in all the stands to make it known our feelings on the subject. Rafa songs MUST be belted from all four corners of the ground, the yanks and the rest of the board MUST be left in no doubt of our feelings. If they think they can hoof Rafa out and bring Maureen in then holy hell will break loose.

Make it loud and proud on Wednesday folks. Do it for Rafa and do it for LIVERPOOL

TIME TO STAND UP LADS
_________________

^^well said.

What a shit lot the english press are.
Trying their utmost to stir things up.

Rafa will be gone by the end of the week....the relationship has been damaged irrevocably!

Rafa will be gone by the end of the week....the relationship has been damaged irrevocably!

What's your source for this?

The RTK is helping organise the demo on Wednesday:

We are calling on all supporters of Liverpool FC to demonstrate their unconditional support of the Rafael Beneitz this Wednesday. Rafa is far and away the most important figure at Anfield - bar none. Under his guidance the club has appeared in 2 European Cup finals in the little over 3 years that he has been manager. We currently stand well placed in the title race and remain undefeated.

Rafael Benitez also needs the full support of his employers. It is Rafa's job not only to train and coach the players, but also to be proactive and decisive in acquiring new ones. Bill Shankly turned down the Liverpool job in the early 1950s because he was told it would not be his job to sign new players. It was only when he was promised a free reign in the selection of his squad that he agreed to become manager of Liverpool FC. Rafael Benitez deserves similar support from our current owners.

If you want to pledge your support publicly for Rafa Benitez then join us on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, outside the Sandon pub on Oakfield Road, close to The Kop. If you have any Rafa flags and banners then please bring them along. We then urge you to continue your support of Rafa during this crucial European Cup game by singing and chanting his name . We call on all Liverpool supporters to unite and publicly display their devotion to our manager.

Rafa needs us, and we owe him every ounce of love and support that we can possibly muster.

Remember: Liverpool Football Club exists not to make money - it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for it's supporters. It serves no other purpose.

Hala Rafa!

The RTK is helping organise the demo on Wednesday:



Remember: Liverpool Football Club exists not to make money - it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for it's supporters. It serves no other purpose.

Hala Rafa!

Thats beautiful but completely unrealistic... i think the american priorities are somewhat different!

I find this whole situation sad but inevitable. A culture clash was sooner or later going to occur.

Anyone who viewed our new owners as anything other than hard nosed business people after 'the quick buck' were naive in the extreme!

Despite protestations to the contrary, they have no idea of the importance of Liverpool fc to millions of people all over the world and their record of supporting other clubs in the differing sports they have invested in does not bode well.

Anyone with a half decent grasp of the workings of football will understand that it is not any individual group of players that can make a team successful but the coach.

Somebody needs to sit down with this pair of blurts and explain the fundementals of the game and how the loss of a brilliant coach will lead to the loss of their investment, just look at the sad situation at Newcastle!

I have this weird image of this pair at the Chelsea game, rocked in their seats by the phenomonal noise and passion of that evening and being as isolated and incapable of understanding what was happening as a couple of christians at an Iranian religous festival yet thinking there's a few bob to be made from this lark.

This all makes for an interesting Wednesday night when I'm sure our new owners will be made fully aware of their place in our hearts compared to that of our beloved Rafa!

Keep them coming you reds.
http://www.petitiononline.com

Keep them coming you reds.
http://www.petitiononline.com

signed

Don't see him being sacked myself, to sack a manager of that calibre over what is a small disagreement would be an act of stupidity of the highest order.

The owners need Rafa even if they wanted him out over a personality clash they couldn't sack him now.

Rafa needs to be knocked down a peg behind the scenes though, Liverpool managers mounting press campaigns is not on.

The board need to understand the politics and mechanisms of football transfers better as well.

signed

Don't see him being sacked myself, to sack a manager of that calibre over what is a small disagreement would be an act of stupidity of the highest order.

He may walk though, particularly as there'll be several top European clubs eyeing the situation.

The owners need Rafa even if they wanted him out over a personality clash they couldn't sack him now.

Rafa needs to be knocked down a peg behind the scenes though, Liverpool managers mounting press campaigns is not on.

The board need to understand the politics and mechanisms of football transfers better as well.

This sums up my thoughts exactly. The owners would be nuts to get rid of him, firstly because he'd be very difficult to replace (despite my own recent criticisms of him, I do believe he is the best providing he isn't too "academic"), but it would also waste what has been built up so far. A new manager, new to the club, would be starting their own reign from scratch.

I also think Rafa needs knocking down a bit, and I hope this is all the owners (with Parry?) are trying to do. It is very refreshing to hear a more humble Rafa issuing kind words about the club and the city, and wishing to make amends. It has taken the arrogant edge of off his character. I also think he needs to have been issued a firm command, not only to avoid public displays of criticism, but also to start really performing on the pitch. I think Rafa will want to avoid losing now no matter what the price of it, and that won't do any harm to the club's ability to win games.

On the other side of the coin, hopefully these yanks will listen to what Rafa is saying. He knows better than anybody how the transfer market works in European football and I think it is out of order that he has been prevented even from selling players and/or signing free agents.

I hope to christ he doesn't leave. I sense he is building something great and will do even better now that he has to impress his employers. It might be a good thing to have owners who aren't push overs, but it will fuck things up big time if he goes.

I find this whole situation sad but inevitable. A culture clash was sooner or later going to occur.

Anyone who viewed our new owners as anything other than hard nosed business people after 'the quick buck' were naive in the extreme!

Despite protestations to the contrary, they have no idea of the importance of Liverpool fc to millions of people all over the world and their record of supporting other clubs in the differing sports they have invested in does not bode well.

Anyone with a half decent grasp of the workings of football will understand that it is not any individual group of players that can make a team successful but the coach.

Somebody needs to sit down with this pair of blurts and explain the fundementals of the game and how the loss of a brilliant coach will lead to the loss of their investment, just look at the sad situation at Newcastle!

I have this weird image of this pair at the Chelsea game, rocked in their seats by the phenomonal noise and passion of that evening and being as isolated and incapable of understanding what was happening as a couple of christians at an Iranian religous festival yet thinking there's a few bob to be made from this lark.

This all makes for an interesting Wednesday night when I'm sure our new owners will be made fully aware of their place in our hearts compared to that of our beloved Rafa!


Let's hope your cystal ball turns out to be cracked.

I remember the same things being said about Houlier... imagine if they had listened to the 'true fans' back then?

Rafa behaved stupidly. I don't think he will be sacked, as being hard nosed businessmen (unlike the sentimental, unentrepreneurial rich kid who owned the club prior to them taking over) they will appreciate his skills. In the business world you make money by being the best, unless all of you out there believe that these two yanks are asset strippers you should respect their talents as much as those of Rafa?

i think you guys have your blinkers on here.... if the same situation had happened at Old trafford you would be whetting yourselves..
It was always only a matter of time before tensions like this arose... though slightly soonr than i anticpated!

the same situation had happened at Old trafford you would be whetting yourselves..
so

Let's hope your cystal ball turns out to be cracked.

I remember the same things being said about Houlier... imagine if they had listened to the 'true fans' back then?

Rafa behaved stupidly. I don't think he will be sacked, as being hard nosed businessmen (unlike the sentimental, unentrepreneurial rich kid who owned the club prior to them taking over) they will appreciate his skills. In the business world you make money by being the best, unless all of you out there believe that these two yanks are asset strippers you should respect their talents as much as those of Rafa?

Just as long as it's not as cracked as your logic! Your love of all things capitalist interferes with a discussion about what is best for a club that is part of the very fabric of this city.

The sentimental 'unentrepreneurial' rich kid to whom you refer, loved our club as much as any fan and spent a great deal of his own money backing the club (unlike the present owners who have merely put the club in debt)

Your reference to asset stripping is quite ironic as a little digging into their previous business dealings would make most Tories blush. Factories even in this country closed to allow a bigger profit elsewhere. They do seem to be 'the best' in this regard.

I cannot recall any similar reaction at the time of Houliers departure, more of a sad realisation that a love affair was coming to an end. He will to me always be remembered fondly.

We are now at a crossroads where we must decide between stability and tradition or the globalisation of 'our brand' and a downward spiral in the league!

Just as long as it's not as cracked as your logic! Your love of all things capitalist interferes with a discussion about what is best for a club that is part of the very fabric of this city.

The sentimental 'unentrepreneurial' rich kid to whom you refer, loved our club as much as any fan and spent a great deal of his own money backing the club (unlike the present owners who have merely put the club in debt)

Your reference to asset stripping is quite ironic as a little digging into their previous business dealings would make most Tories blush. Factories even in this country closed to allow a bigger profit elsewhere. They do seem to be 'the best' in this regard.

I cannot recall any similar reaction at the time of Houliers departure, more of a sad realisation that a love affair was coming to an end. He will to me always be remembered fondly.

We are now at a crossroads where we must decide between stability and tradition or the globalisation of 'our brand' and a downward spiral in the league!

Glad to see that some Liverpool fans have a sense of realism ^^^^^

the same situation had happened at Old trafford you would be whetting yourselves..
so


My point is that every liverpool fan is denying that there is a problem at the club when .... smeraican BUSINESS MEN ( that is what they are) are taking decisions on englands most succesful football team from afar!
Rafa will go its a matter of time.... Hicks and Gillette are inetersted in the bottom line not history!!! It makes the Glazier affair seem almost good!

My point is that every liverpool fan is denying that there is a problem at the club when .... smeraican BUSINESS MEN ( that is what they are) are taking decisions on englands most succesful football team from afar!
Rafa will go its a matter of time.... Hicks and Gillette are inetersted in the bottom line not history!!! It makes the Glazier affair seem almost good!

So Hicks and Gillette need a successful Manager,someone who brings trophies and fills Anfield for even Champ league qualifying games and Carling cup matches- and before Istanbul you could still buy tickets on the night for those type of games.
I am worried- once a situation gets to this stage it is very difficult to repair the damage, but hicks and co will be acutely aware that there are not many great managers available,so hopefully the meeting on Dec 17th will cover up the cracks and of course if Benitez can arrange us to pick up a biggie come May then it might be forgotten.

One glimmer is according to teletext Mourinho is telling the FA to come and speak to him, So maybe he has had no phone calls from the USA...

My point is that every liverpool fan is denying that there is a problem at the club
That's not true though is it? Just look at any LFC forum on the web.

Just as long as it's not as cracked as your logic! Your love of all things capitalist interferes with a discussion about what is best for a club that is part of the very fabric of this city.

The sentimental 'unentrepreneurial' rich kid to whom you refer, loved our club as much as any fan and spent a great deal of his own money backing the club (unlike the present owners who have merely put the club in debt)

Your reference to asset stripping is quite ironic as a little digging into their previous business dealings would make most Tories blush. Factories even in this country closed to allow a bigger profit elsewhere. They do seem to be 'the best' in this regard.

I cannot recall any similar reaction at the time of Houliers departure, more of a sad realisation that a love affair was coming to an end. He will to me always be remembered fondly.

We are now at a crossroads where we must decide between stability and tradition or the globalisation of 'our brand' and a downward spiral in the league!

your last line sums up the dilema. I was not attacking you personally gobshoite, so no need for the personal dig in your reposte? I made my view on how football was going and why I am not passionate anymore quite some time ago. Football has left that community a long time ago.. and LFC went with it. It is not about stablity and tradition or globalisation, it is, as you say, about 'winning things'... to do that LFC has to go with the latter of your options. 'Stability' in the footballing instance means mediocrity and not winning anything.

Football is an industry that has now transcended any of the familiar aspects that I was fond of (and part of), so I am just making the objective and obvious point that if LFC are to continue to be succesful on the field then Hicks and Gillette are as important as Benitez.

Also. If LFC was to pull uo the draw bridge on these type of global capitalists, leaving the club without the mega millions of £ now needed to field even the most mediocre of teams (to say nothing about not going ahead with teh new stadium, which I also dislike!) how long do you think Rafa would 'stay loyal' to the club? Would he be here, happy with mid table mediocrity, or would he fuck off to sunnier climes, to a club which had stayed on teh football brand bandwagon?

It really is sentimental nonsense to belive that LFC can remain a successful club by ditching Hicks and Gillette, or to think it aceptible that they should just hand over tens of millions of £ without any input or say on whether this is right, as they did in the old days, when players cost 2s/6d!

This piece reflects the dilemas facing all football fans today. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=496795&in_page_id=1951

As I said before, as I do not agree with the way football has gone in the last decade, my love for the institution has been somewhat tempered. Football is not the game that attracted me when I was a kid and LFC are no longer the type of club I can unconditionally or uncritically love and blindly follow, that club died around the time that Dalglish left.

I haven't read all the posts apart from the final page, so apologies if this has already been brought up.

The Yank owners appear to be a benign lot...for the moment.
Isn't it Rafa who kicked off all this recent fuss with his request for yet more money to purchase players? The way I read it, aren't the Yanks just saying that they've contributed enough, now let's see some positive results? (no pun intended)

I love Rafa, but he's not yet up there with my beloved Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Dalglish (No offence Roy and Graeme:)). He may think he is, which is why he's taking such a gamble by having a go at Hicks and Gillette.

gobshoite. I should like to point out, re: your "all things capitalist" remark. Go and see what I have written on the 'when will Liverpool start attracting big companies back' thread, for clarity where I stand on that broader issue?

The problem is that LFC set off down that road ages ago. Perhaps the demo's should have been made when Moores decided to sell out. Perhpas you could question his rationale for doing so as well, as wasn't this precisely to bring in the type of finance that was beyond him, but not beyond Hicks and his ilk, in order to keep the club 'up there' and being able to continue their core resondetre of 'winning things'?

You took the shilling when nobody complained in the first inst? Say what you like about the Man U supporters, but at least those who where vehemntly against the principle of big money 'inward investment'.. campaigned about it when it was inevitable, and fucked off and formed their own club when they lost the cause.

This is all based on the presumption that you are right and Hicks and Gillette are indeed two rapatious yankee carpetbagging asset strippers, rather than two people who since their take over have bankrolled the club way beyond the capability that football generatede income could do?

Where's the moral(s) in that?

I personally think you are wrong about their motives (H&G), this is of course, just my opinion, I am guessing. I am sure that you do not have a better inside track on what is really going on as the rest of us, so your post is simply also your opinion, and you are guessing that these people have darker motives than was first though? Only time will tell.

I don't understand some of the posts on here.

If the new owners have any intention of making money out of this venture then the club needs to be successful both on and off the pitch; but especially on the pitch as this preceeds success off the pitch (selling LFC merchandise, etc.)

If they want their investment to become a profitable venture then they need a very good manager and a very good squad. I find it hard to believe they would've bothered getting involved, and going to the expense and trouble of planning/developing a massive new stadium, sucking up to the fans, etc. all so that they can rip the club off (somehow) and run off with the money in the future. I don't see why they would bother, or that there is any evidence to support this. There is some unsubstantiated hysteria going around that's for sure.

Fact is, if LFC want to challenge for the big silver in the modern game then, in addition to other things, they need big money behind them. That means one of two things - get some highly successful and wealthy businessmen on board, or somehow get an uber rich sugar daddy like Abromovich. Neither seems ideal, especially in a sport/movement bound up with sentiment and non-monetary considerations, but sadly that's just how it is.

I'd also point out that, whilst there are obviously niggling issues going on between the manager and owners (blown out of proportion no doubt by the media), Liverpool made some great acquisitions in the summer, and on the pitch right now, especially over the last few weeks, look more likely than they have done for a long time of actually winning the league this season.

CHILL everybody.

There is some unsubstantiated hysteria going around that's for sure.
CHILL everybody.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
"Is anybody else starting to seriously question" Benitez?

"I no longer rate Benitez and frankly he has a lot of work to do to win back my support."

PMSL:)

I think Urbanised was referring to a separate issue, Dave. :)

don,t mess with us

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44268000/jpg/_44268129_fans_ap.jpg

I have too say that i find all this hysteria around your manager a touch embaressing...
The picture portrays Rafa as some sort of god like figure .... when if we are completely honest if he was too loose 5 games on the bounce the same people would be shouting for his head!
What will this mean to the American's?? not a jot if they want Rafa out he will be gone regarless of how many pilgrimages and demos the Liverpool fans do!
I quite like the guy... but i dont run the club.... contrary to popular belief niether do Liverpool fans ... the truth hurts but there it is.... Liverpool sold its soul without hesitation to a couple of American's.... at least Man U relutantly let the Glazers through the door... all these guys are looking to do is make a fast buck from their Franchise...
Dont kid yourself that they have the history and heart of you club at the forefront everytime they take a decision ... they think in dollar signs and nothing else and ultimately it will be what they want that happens! Look at the near Half a billion pounds worth of debt that they are putting the club in to finance a new stadium and re-finance the original deal!
I cant help but thinking you reap what you sew!
The Rafa saga will be the least of your probs....

Does anybody else find it amazing how football can stir up peoples emotions more than almost anything else in the world. It's an oft quoted claim that once seemed ridiculous but football really does seem to be the new religion.

The same people who ridicule religious disputes as just fools arguing over who has the best imaginary friend, are suddenly turned into bigots and loudmouths whenever football is brought into a discussion. ( Reading my own posts I include myself amongst the guilty)

The problem lies just as it did with religion, with an upbringinging where an incredible amount of importance was placed upon something so obviously trivial in the great scheme of things.
I (and I suspect many of you too!) have berated and mistreated friends and family after particularly bad results but in this moment of particularly lucid insight I would like to hold out an olive branch, draped with petals of regret to anybody with whom I have previously disagreed over this childish stuff.

By the way, if you like and respect Man Utd fans so much why don't you fuck off to Old T... er sorry!

:lol: Good points

I hope that the last comment wasn't aimed at me?

:lol: Good points

I hope that the last comment wasn't aimed at me?

Certainly not lad, it's just funny sometimes when you read the stuff you've written the night before and wonder how you could have been so serious and pedantic about what we all know at the bottom of our hearts to be inconsequential in the real world.

We both know we can't help it though don't we? I was just trying to diffuse a situation that I found embarassing from an intelectual point of view and thought a little self defecating humour might suffice!

Or am I talking shite again?

rafa, if your on the forum tonight! just make sure you pair crouchy with torres tomorrows! i just dont get this obcession you have with voronin.

rafa, if your on the forum tonight! just make sure you pair crouchy with torres tomorrows! i just dont get this obcession you have with voronin.

Go on then Paul mi amigo, who do you suspect is the secret Rafa on the site?

For me, it is simple, yes? There are possibilities it could be Liverpolitan but at the moment I am focussed only on the SSC forum, for sure!

Go on then Paul mi amigo, who do you suspect is the secret Rafa on the site?

For me, it is simple, yes? There are possibilities it could be Liverpolitan but at the moment I am focussed only on the SSC forum, for sure!

:lol: poli certainly has that managerial air about him! reckon he's a similar age to rafa too! and sure to come down heavy when someone steps out of line! only joking poli! :)

Was Rafa the tactician playing a tactical manouvre as part of a strategic plan to show the financial owners of Liverpool FC what the club is all about and who really matters if you want a successful business and a return?

As childish as some of Rafas 'raids' were they did stir up the red masses and once the wave hit its optimum level with the fans demonstrating where they stand and his teams hitting some very good form and results on the pitch Rafa retreated and gave the owners a route back in. Maybe I'm reading too much in to it but it would fall in to line with Rafa's almost military thinking, planning and execution of scenarios and situations.

Certainly not lad, it's just funny sometimes when you read the stuff you've written the night before and wonder how you could have been so serious and pedantic about what we all know at the bottom of our hearts to be inconsequential in the real world.

We both know we can't help it though don't we? I was just trying to diffuse a situation that I found embarassing from an intelectual point of view and thought a little self defecating humour might suffice!

Or am I talking shite again?


That's the nature of footy as you say. It also goes for a lot of stuff we have to say on the city, architecure and urbanism in general, as the main thing that attracts us all to this site is our passions for all of these things!

:)

Was Rafa the tactician playing a tactical manouvre as part of a strategic plan to show the financial owners of Liverpool FC what the club is all about and who really matters if you want a successful business and a return?

As childish as some of Rafas 'raids' were they did stir up the red masses and once the wave hit its optimum level with the fans demonstrating where they stand and his teams hitting some very good form and results on the pitch Rafa retreated and gave the owners a route back in. Maybe I'm reading too much in to it but it would fall in to line with Rafa's almost military thinking, planning and execution of scenarios and situations.

as much as i love rafa, i just wish he would stop rotating his team. even claudio ranieri at chelsea wasnt as bad in his reign. its obvious crouch and torres are the best 2 strikers at the club. when one loses form, then sure try other options. but they never ever start a match together.

bustcapl .. [My point is that every liverpool fan is denying that there is a problem at the club ]
what planet are you on

[I have too say that i find all this hysteria around your manager a touch embaressing...]
Its called passion and I love it

as much as i love rafa, i just wish he would stop rotating his team. even claudio ranieri at chelsea wasnt as bad in his reign. its obvious crouch and torres are the best 2 strikers at the club. when one loses form, then sure try other options. but they never ever start a match together.

I sort of agree but statistically Rafa does it about the same or even less than other coaches!

:uh::uh::uh::uh:
"Liverpool's record-breaking Champions League defeat of Besiktas last month is one of the games under suspicion of being rigged, according to a report in Germany."
[more (http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2222135,00.html)]

:uh::uh::uh::uh:
"Liverpool's record-breaking Champions League defeat of Besiktas last month is one of the games under suspicion of being rigged, according to a report in Germany."
[more (http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2222135,00.html)]

LFC taking a hammering in the papers today, you'd think we have a game with Man U coming up. It happens every time. The first two reports are from the Mirror, the Mascherano one is in the Independent.


Match fixing (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/liverpool-match-fix-probe-89520-20205137/)
Tapping up Capello (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/capello-kop-are-after-me-89520-20205135/)
Mascherano is off to Manchester City (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article3223641.ece) for £17m


I struggled to find a relevant quote in any of the above stories.

LFC taking a hammering in the papers today, you'd think we have a game with Man U coming up. It happens every time. The first two reports are from the Mirror, the Mascherano one is in the Independent.


Match fixing (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/liverpool-match-fix-probe-89520-20205137/)
Tapping up Capello (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/capello-kop-are-after-me-89520-20205135/)
Mascherano is off to Manchester City (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article3223641.ece) for £17m

The Match Fixing and Mascherano articles I can accept. However, if the Capello tap up is fact/spin to rattle Rafa, then our Yank friends have made a big faux pas.

IMO the credibility of the Mirror has to be questioned after they continued the "Hicks wants to sell his shares, DIC were ready to buy" story last week, a day after Hicks had rubbished it.

Mmmmmmm, just seen the back page of the mirror on the tele, big headline which says "kopello" the plots thickens, and as a previous poster said "where playing man u soon" happens every time, funny that?.:)

IMO the credibility of the Mirror has to be questioned after they continued the "Hicks wants to sell his shares, DIC were ready to buy" story last week, a day after Hicks had rubbished it.
So why doesn't the club sue the 'paper?

So why doesn't the club sue the 'paper?

No idea m8, probably difficult to find out where the story originated from as the papers just republish any old bollocks. In the "kopello" story, there is not a single quote, apart from John Terry on Jose Mourinho. In the "Liverpool in Match-fix probe" story - "Investigators from German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung" are the source, not UEFA, and the story continues "There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Liverpool". That's a dramatic headline with no substance.

Just the usual shit-stirring.

No idea m8, probably difficult to find out where the story originated from
Doesn't matter where it originally came from.

I think the press are up to their usual tricks concerning the recent sack Rafa stories,they know he's the man who will put Liverpool back at the top and they are doing everything in their power to prevent that.They're hating the Liverpool revival under him and they're scarred by the Liverpool FC of the past,they tried it with Gerrard and Michael Owen etc,they'll do anything to disrupt them,they don't want Liverpool to be successful.When the press start acting like this you know the manager's getting it right.

I particularly love the fact that we can now say Liverpool are challenging for the premiership with a straight face and no sly digs.

Dave Kirby (Radio City) mixed with the voice of Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday

qrryWFt7SII

LFC taking a hammering in the papers today, you'd think we have a game with Man U coming up. It happens every time. The first two reports are from the Mirror, the Mascherano one is in the Independent.


Match fixing (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/liverpool-match-fix-probe-89520-20205137/)
Tapping up Capello (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/05/capello-kop-are-after-me-89520-20205135/)
Mascherano is off to Manchester City (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article3223641.ece) for £17m


I struggled to find a relevant quote in any of the above stories.


...and now trying to disrupt the club with stories about returning to the old stadium design.

...and now trying to disrupt the club with stories about returning to the old stadium design.

If this isn't true it certainly makes you think,I'll look out for that next year.

If this isn't true it certainly makes you think,I'll look out for that next year.

Going off topic a bit, but it will be interesting to see if any sections of the media come up with a 'spoiler' campaign for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year.

Going off topic a bit, but it will be interesting to see if any sections of the media come up with a 'spoiler' campaign for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year.

I'm expecting that one anyway.

Liverpool got Everton in the League Cup semi final! Well we would have if we hadn't lost to Chelsea.

Doh!

:ohno:

Is it just me or is it more than a coincidence that Kuyt rhymes with shite?

If I hear one more time that he's hard working I'll explode! I can get 500 kids from the local leagues who would run their fuckin bollocks off for Liverpool and as far as I can see that is all this fella contributes to the team.

Again we have battered a team and missed out on the points, too many fuckin passengers in the team!

[Is it just me or is it more than a coincidence that Kuyt rhymes with shite?]

gobshite

[Is it just me or is it more than a coincidence that Kuyt rhymes with shite?]

gobshite

Explain that most sophisticated of answers Mr Pool 08!

gobshite

pool08

Am I understanding the game now?

ok; quote..Again we have battered a team .. too many fuckin passengers in the team!

so which one is it

Easy.

They were shite. We were miles better because of our decent players and had we not been hampered by our 'passengers' and had a decent partner for Torres we would almost certainly have won.

Sorry for any confusion.

Pool08, sorry, Gobshoite!

Is it just me or is it more than a coincidence that Kuyt rhymes with shite?

If I hear one more time that he's hard working I'll explode! I can get 500 kids from the local leagues who would run their fuckin bollocks off for Liverpool and as far as I can see that is all this fella contributes to the team.

Again we have battered a team and missed out on the points, too many fuckin passengers in the team!

Re Kuyt - i was actually shouting that earlier. Even tho i like the guys attitude, heart, work rate etc.. his first touch is consistently shite, and his second touch is, more often than not, a tackle. When he holds the ball up hes good, and when he wins the ball back up the pitch even better, but its his lack of quality in and around the penalty area which is really frustrating. Of all our strikers, no matter how well i want him to do, I think Kuyt is the least likely to score.

With regards to the match, it was a good game and i can find little fault with any of our players today, i didn't notice any passengers save for perhaps Reina! If we played rubbish like we did at Derby id be more frustrated, but we didn't. Man City have more than proved themselves to be a very solid and well drilled outfit at home, previously dropping only 2 points from 30 at home, and we were battering them at the end, which is a sign of a very good team.

sadly, Kuyt seems to be turning out like too many ex-Liverpool players... good haeart, no real world class talent. Hesky anyone?

I agree with you Louis, I thought we played very well.

Very frustrating result mind, but, if we fail to challenge properly this year it'll be because of games like the Reading defeat and draws against Birmingham etc, rather than fairly fine displays against very good, defensively set-up teams at home.

We're going in the right direction.

Dubai May Offer to Buy Liverpool Football Club, Observer Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601077&sid=aBKCJJWS9ShY&refer=intsports

By Will McSheehy

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg)

Dubai International Capital LLC may buy Liverpool Football Club for 500 million pounds ($980 million) as the British company's owners struggle to refinance debt, the Observer reported, without saying where it got the information.

U.S. investors Thomas Hicks and George Gillett, who beat Dubai International to buy the club last year, need to refinance 350 million pounds of debt owed to Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc by the end of February, the U.K. newspaper said.

State-controlled Dubai International is close to making a bid for the Americans' holdings in Liverpool FC, according to the Observer.

Dubai International spokeswoman Jehad Saleh declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg today, and Chief Executive Officer Sameer al-Ansari didn't answer a call to his mobile phone.

To contact the reporter on this story: Will McSheehy in Dubai at wmcsheehy@bloomberg.net

Liverpool cocked up by not accepting this deal in the first place,I don't think the Americans hearts are in it,it's just another money making venture to them.I'm sure it's the same for DIC but they just seemed right for the club.

You've only got to look at what they've done with Godolphin in horse racing to be impressed:

http://www.godolphin.com/

I do think the Americans are looking to sell up,Liverpool better hope it's to D.I.C.

Liverpool cocked up by not accepting this deal in the first place,I don't think the Americans hearts are in it,it's just another money making venture to them.I'm sure it's the same for DIC but they just seemed right for the club.


Liverpool didn't cock up ,David Moores and Rick Parry specifically cocked up big time, one becos he isn't a businessman and the other becos he wanted to keep his job.

Liverpool didn't cock up ,David Moores and Rick Parry specifically cocked up big time, one becos he isn't a businessman and the other becos he wanted to keep his job.

They were representing Liverpool so in reality they did,I'm not talking about individual fans.

Arabs back in frame for Liverpool FC move
Jan 14 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

FRESH rumours were circulating last night that an Arab investment group is poised to swoop on Liverpool FC if the club’s American owners continue to experience difficulties in refinancing £350m of debt.

It is understood Dubai Inter- national Capital (DIC) are close to lodging an offer to buy out Tom Hicks and George Gillett, probably for about £500m.

If correct, it would be a remarkable turnaround for DIC, owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, who were bid rivals at the time Hicks and Gillett bought the club a year ago, and shows they have not given up hope of taking control at Anfield.

But the rumours – which could see Liverpool FC changing hands for the second time in a year – were strongly denied by sources at the club.

It is understood the US pair have been attempting to trans-fer the debt used to buy the club, for which they are per- sonally liable and which is due to be repaid at the end of February, on to the club itself but have encountered difficul- ties because of the current global credit squeeze.

If DIC is successful, it is claimed, the outfit led by Liverpool supporter Sameer Al Ansari would invest heavily in the new stadium at Stanley Park and the playing squad.

DIC were extremely close to buying Liverpool last February, only to lose when Hicks and Gillett joined forces.

The latter paid £174.1m for a 100% shareholding, also agreeing to take on the club’s then debt of £44.8m. The purchase, however, was funded solely with borrowed money. Hicks and Gillett’s loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland swelled to £350m as it was used to fund several high-profile summer transfers, development work and architect’s plans for the 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park.

Hicks and Gillett declined to comment last night.

A meeting in New York last week saw architects HKS and AFL present new competing stadium designs, seen as vital for the club to increase revenue to allow it to compete with Man Utd and Arsenal.

But an expected decision at the end of last week has been delayed for around two weeks.

Middle East sources say DIC remain keenly interested in buying Liverpool.

Tom Hicks exclusive: We lined up Jurgen Klinsmann
Jan 14 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

TOM Hicks and George Gillett held a secret meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann to line him up as the next manager of Liverpool FC.

Hicks today insisted the talks would not have resulted in the immediate dismissal of Rafael Benitez and that Klinsmann was only ” an insurance policy.”

He told the ECHO: “We attempted to negotiate an option, as an insurance policy, to have him become manager if Rafa left for Real Madrid or other clubs that were rumoured in the UK press.

“Or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason.”

The ECHO can also reveal:

Had Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League the club’s owners would have tried to replace Benitez.

A deal was almost agreed for Dubai International Capital to buy a minority share in the club in the autumn, only for talks to collapse over the valuation of the club.

Hicks is hopeful for a financial restructure and that plans for the new stadium will be released by the end of this week.

These two are like Laurel and Hardy,they're an absolute joke.

^^

Laurel and Hardy were funny. Theses two are more Little and Large. :bash:

^^

Laurel and Hardy were funny. Theses two are more Little and Large. :bash:

Good point.:lol:

Laurel and Hardy were funny. Theses two are more Little and Large. :bash:


If they overtake Rick 'Coco the clown' Parry in the comedy stakes then we're in trouble.

I can't believe the club has turned into such a circus. Shankly et al will be turning in their graves.

One things for sure......these two on their own have no chance of building a new stadium

A meeting in New York last week saw architects HKS and AFL present new competing stadium designs, seen as vital for the club to increase revenue to allow it to compete with Man Utd and Arsenal.

But an expected decision at the end of last week has been delayed for around two weeks.


So the designs are done.. any sneak previews or will we have to wait for the official decision in a couple of weeks?

Within 7 days according to Brutus Hicks.

Cheers Toady. I reckon the new plans will make or break Hiccups & Gillsweat. After releasing such spectacular initial plans anything too 'downscaled' is going to get slated and hopefully rejected, especially now that there's talk of DIC being back at the door with cash aplenty! Given the negative experience of the last few months and H&G's blatent missmanagement of their roles I think people will look far more favourably on DIC this time round. If it's a question of 'just getting the money' - it's better to get it from someone who's actually got the cash, and doesn't have to pay for shares with expensive loans... of course, everyone already knows this.. I just wanted to rant!

Down valued is the term!

If DIC are sniffing are Hicks and Gillet just 'adding value' by getting a more flexible stadium design in place with a higher capacity along with a business plan to raise the value of the company?

It's time that the American owners showed some respect for the manager and fans of Liverpool Football Club - or better still just sell up now. Your behaviour has been a disgrace and has damaged the proud reputation of this famous institution.

Please sign

http://www.petitiononline.com/UNWALFC/petition.html

(this isn't me btw.)

"I EMAILED HICKS YISTERDEE + HES SENT THIS BACK TO ME 1ST IS MY EMAIL TO HIM LOL

MR HICKS

LISTEN MACK IVE SEEN YOR TYPE B4 WITH UR DUBBLE BREASTED SOOWTS AN COWIES AND SUMMIT TELLS ME U AINT PLAYIN BALL HERE RAFA WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AN HIS WIFE HAS READ EVERY BOOK ABOUT US IN THE LIBRY US SCOUSERS TRUST THEM WITH R HERTS AND MINDS BUT WORAVE U DOIN 4 US EH

HIS REPLY

Dear Mr Bastard

Thank you for taking the time to write to me and air your concerns.

May I point out that George and I have carried out extensive research and spoke to many people about the heritage and passion of Liverpool FC, The Mighty Reds!

Rest assured that we will endeavour to deliver the title back to it's rightful place, right here at L4 with Rafa at the helm. It may have escaped your notice that we recently gave Rafa a new defender and we are working to secure the services of 2 more players this month, one of whom is a household name.

Watch this space!

Thank you for your support of Liverpool FC, The Mighty Reds!

Tom Hicks

IM GONNA REPLY WITH A BIT MORE AGRO"


:lol:

I had a letter the other day from his son going to Anfield,we charged it because he hadn't paid enough postage,mingebag he's worth millions.:lol:

Dubai to make Liverpool FC bid
Jan 17 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

DUBAI International Capital is ready to make an offer for Tom Hicks’s stake in Liverpool FC.

The ECHO understands senior executives at the Dubai-based international investment company were given the go-ahead by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to launch a second bid to buy into Liverpool in a year.

An offer has been agreed in principle.

Co-owners Hicks and Gillett are edging closer to clinching a refinancing deal.

But DIC are hoping to make a move before any deal is completed.

Hicks and Gillet enjoyed a honeymoon period after their acquisition of the Reds.

But recent revelations they talked to Jurgen Klinsmann about the possibility of replacing the hugely popular Rafa Benitez as manager have led to them falling out of favour with the Liverpool fans.

While the financial restructuring deal, which would give them the necessary collateral to fund the building of the long-awaited new stadium, remains incomplete, DIC believe a window of opportunity still remains open to them.

Whether Hicks is willing to sell is another matter entirely.

The Dallas-based multi-millionaire is on record saying he is not interested in selling his stake, even though there are tensions between himself and Gillett about the proposed refinancing deal.

In a recent interview with the ECHO Hicks said: “I just want to clear up with you that I am not selling any of my shares to anybody.

“I have no idea why anyone would think that. It was just rubbish.”

But with Sheikh Mohammed, one of the world’s richest men, now back on the scene Hicks looks likely to face some tough decisions in the days to come.

On the one hand a deal with DIC could present him with a sizeable return on his initial investment and an opportunity to walk away from the dual problems of securing the necessary loans to service their own debt, fund the new stadium and winning the fans over all over again.

But, on the other, there may be a reluctance to part with an asset which he fought so hard to acquire, one which he firmly believes can pay dividends in the long term.

Hicks insists financial restructuring could be complete within days, and if he is proven right it will make an immediate offer from DIC less likely.

The American pair have six weeks to secure a £350m loan that would refinance their original purchase of the club.

Hicks recently told the ECHO he hopes a deal can be signed off with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the US investment bank Wachovia by the middle of next week.

If, as expected, DIC follow up their interest with a firm bid the ownership of Liverpool FC could change for the second time in a year.

Club officials said today: “We do not comment on speculation.”

Jamie Carragher's Cafe Sports England Bar on Stanley Street was the venue for Liverpool's annual fancy dress Christmas party, delayed because of Christmas fixture congestion.


Steven Gerrard

http://cimg24.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/2008011815393491fbe.jpg


Dirk Kuyt

http://cimg23.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/20080118153950b9b82.jpg


Jamie Carragher

http://cimg23.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/200801181540041f518.jpg


Xavi Alonso

http://cimg21.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/200801181540187bf64.jpg


Daniel Agger

http://cimg22.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/20080118154034314b2.jpg


Steve Finnan

http://cimg20.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/200801181540460b296.jpg


Jermaine Pennant

http://cimg24.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/20080118154103f33ed.jpg


Peter Crouch

http://cimg20.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/2008011815411985b74.jpg


Sami Hyypia

http://cimg22.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/20080118154134ce0f7.jpg


Harry Kewell

http://cimg20.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/20080118154149729ad.jpg


John Arne Riise

http://cimg20.163.com/sports/2008/1/18/2008011815420153615.jpg


The 'chav' on the right is Fabio Aurelio

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/6629/lpoolfancydress211_468x340.jpg


Momo Sissoko, Charles Itandje and Jermaine Pennant

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/01_03/AliOsmamRabbitXPS_800x730.jpg