The press and in particularly the Times is reporting today that our current owners have almost done the deal with DIC to sell the club to them.
ABOUT BLOODY TIME!
What should have been a "marriage made in heaven" has turned out to nothing short of an absolute disaster. This poor episode in the history of a great club has been tarnished by the dealings of these 2 gentlemen, I use the words loosely.
Well now, it would seem it could well be over.
The stand out for me is despite all the shit that Raffa has had to cope with during this period, he has demonstrated great dignity and a level of respect for the club that our owners have never managed to get any where near.
Let's move on, put this bad period behind us and focus on allowing Raffa and his team to do all the talking on the pitch - not off it!
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Reds 2-0 Inter: Go back to Italy
The enigma that is Liverpool under Rafa Benitez goes on. Inter Milan, the Italian champions, arguably the best side in Europe at present, who had not lost a single game in any competition in five months vanquished in an outstanding display at Anfield tonight. The same great club that carried off this feat were beaten by Barnsley of the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
But let's not dwell on Saturday's debacle because tonight was all about what's good at this club under Rafa Benitez and such a win would indicate things are very good indeed despite what many may say.
This was an outstanding display from start to finish. Inter were limited to virtually nothing in front of goal all night. Sure the departure of Marco Materazzi in the first half changed the complexion of the game but before the former Everton man walked there was little to suggest that the visitors were going all out tonight as Liverpool dominated.
Having spoken to Inter fans in town today as part of my coursework, between the various thank yous and handshakes for all our work in Istanbul nearly three years ago they seemed supremely confident of victory. Whilst acknowledging that Liverpool is a different beast in Europe they descended on Williamson Square with songs, chants and the swagger that comes with being ridiculously better than everyone else in Serie A as they head for a third consecutive title (second if their win by default of 2005/06 is discounted). But they were keen to point out that it was the European Cup they really wanted in this their centenary year and having not won it since 1965.
But Liverpool put a dent in those hopes tonight. Credit to everyone. If I'm nit picking Fabio Aurelio had a poor game and Ryan Babel has played better but Lucas Leiva in centre midfield was superb. The young Brazilian fully justified his selection over Xabi Alonso whose exclusion raises further doubts about his future.
Mascherano was on top form again and Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic silent all night.
Credit to Dirk Kuyt also. Another goal to boost his confidence and a solid performance in a position I doubt he relishes playing in but he's effective if not spectacular.
But most of all credit to Benitez, the right team, the right changes as Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant both contributed to the goals. The boss has weathered the storm of recent days and given his critics the perfect response. As long as he continues to do the right things there will be no complaints.
There certainly can't be any after tonight.
Monday 18 February 2008
Are you really that surprized?
While I admit that creashing out of the F.A. Cup is totally unacceptable from any Liverpools fans prespective, when we review their recent form, especially in this competition, I ask you "are you really that surprized?"
In the 3rd round we need two attempts to get over Luton, then to make matters worse, we suffered for a horrible 45 minutes against Haven't a Hope before finally coming home in the second half.
Therefore Barnsley were always going to a good bit harded to beat, moreso at home were our form is less than acceptable. For anyone who watched the match, 40,000+ and a few million around the world, they must have wondered was this a training game, Liver pool huffed & puffed and comments were made after the game about the keeper playing a blinder, I always that that what they were supposed to do. Meanwhile our reserve keeper looked anything but comfortable, in one mad run out the box, he flattened one of their forwards and was lucky not to be booked, only a foot up from their forward stopped him, not that a booking will make any difference, on this showing it will be awhile before he gets another game.
Crashing out of the F.A.Cup has in the history of Liverpool, often brought about some major changes.
I can recall and I think it was 1974 when one of the many great Liverpool sides crashed out to Watford 2-1.
That brought about many changes, with some of the Liverpool (fading) stars leaving and a mini revolution starting with a number of new stars coming in to build yet another great Liverpool side.
Many years later it was again crashing out of the Cup to a lower league side that brought about the decision by Souness to resign.
While I am not suggesting that Raffa would resign, matters both on and off the pitch are effecting both the team and the manager and while things might not change immediately, by the end of the season, should we have failed to make any inroads in the Champions League, tomorows night game against Inter is a great test, or not secured 4th spot, then certainly there will be and there needs to be major changes.
The next 48 hours will be very interesting for all Liverpool fans!
In the 3rd round we need two attempts to get over Luton, then to make matters worse, we suffered for a horrible 45 minutes against Haven't a Hope before finally coming home in the second half.
Therefore Barnsley were always going to a good bit harded to beat, moreso at home were our form is less than acceptable. For anyone who watched the match, 40,000+ and a few million around the world, they must have wondered was this a training game, Liver pool huffed & puffed and comments were made after the game about the keeper playing a blinder, I always that that what they were supposed to do. Meanwhile our reserve keeper looked anything but comfortable, in one mad run out the box, he flattened one of their forwards and was lucky not to be booked, only a foot up from their forward stopped him, not that a booking will make any difference, on this showing it will be awhile before he gets another game.
Crashing out of the F.A.Cup has in the history of Liverpool, often brought about some major changes.
I can recall and I think it was 1974 when one of the many great Liverpool sides crashed out to Watford 2-1.
That brought about many changes, with some of the Liverpool (fading) stars leaving and a mini revolution starting with a number of new stars coming in to build yet another great Liverpool side.
Many years later it was again crashing out of the Cup to a lower league side that brought about the decision by Souness to resign.
While I am not suggesting that Raffa would resign, matters both on and off the pitch are effecting both the team and the manager and while things might not change immediately, by the end of the season, should we have failed to make any inroads in the Champions League, tomorows night game against Inter is a great test, or not secured 4th spot, then certainly there will be and there needs to be major changes.
The next 48 hours will be very interesting for all Liverpool fans!
Season disintegrating as all hope rests on Inter
The title says it all really.
I didn't see yesterday's games so I'm not fit to comment on the various performances of players but needless to say to lose at home to a Championship side, a struggling Championship side is absolutely unacceptable for Liverpool Football Club.
Everyone shoulders the blame for this - the manager and the players. This shouldn't have been a problem. This should have been preparation for the big one on Tuesday and an easy passage into the quarter finals of the FA Cup instead it was a nightmare.
The worst possible defeat was confirmed in stoppage time by a fine goal but a preventable one had certain players got their act together. But then they haven't had our act together for quite some time.
As Jamie Carragher alludes to in today's Times this is a rot, not a bad spell. It's a sustained period of below par performance that has well and truly wrecked what had long ago, back in September promised to be a great season.
All our hopes now rest on Tuesday's Champions League tie at Anfield against Inter Milan, the best side in Europe at present, a side who have lost just one of their last 60 odd Serie A games. It is only the first leg but anything other than a win will probably mean we exit the competition at the San Siro next month.
And then it's a battle for a fourth place and for Rafa Benitez a battle for his job and that's the harsh reality we now face. No pressure then...
I didn't see yesterday's games so I'm not fit to comment on the various performances of players but needless to say to lose at home to a Championship side, a struggling Championship side is absolutely unacceptable for Liverpool Football Club.
Everyone shoulders the blame for this - the manager and the players. This shouldn't have been a problem. This should have been preparation for the big one on Tuesday and an easy passage into the quarter finals of the FA Cup instead it was a nightmare.
The worst possible defeat was confirmed in stoppage time by a fine goal but a preventable one had certain players got their act together. But then they haven't had our act together for quite some time.
As Jamie Carragher alludes to in today's Times this is a rot, not a bad spell. It's a sustained period of below par performance that has well and truly wrecked what had long ago, back in September promised to be a great season.
All our hopes now rest on Tuesday's Champions League tie at Anfield against Inter Milan, the best side in Europe at present, a side who have lost just one of their last 60 odd Serie A games. It is only the first leg but anything other than a win will probably mean we exit the competition at the San Siro next month.
And then it's a battle for a fourth place and for Rafa Benitez a battle for his job and that's the harsh reality we now face. No pressure then...
Monday 11 February 2008
Rafa sticks it to the NOTW and The S*n
The Sunday papers clearly felt that a story about Rafa and the owners falling out was long overdue after a hiatus of a few weeks at least so that bastion of bullshit the News of the World ran the headline “It’s your fault - Benitez in new blast at owners" in an attempt to undermine the boss ahead of a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge.
Rafa's response? He branded the journalist who wrote the story, Rob Beasley a liar and rightfully so. Beasley took innocuous quotes from an interview the boss to gave to Spanish national El Mundo prior to the Chelsea game and woefully misconstrued them to present an attack on the owners.
The El Mundo interview is pretty clear and pretty uncontroversial but Beasley has an agenda, that much is clear from this excellent piece that appeared on the Anfield Road website which outlines some of Chelsea fan Beasley's previous views of Benitez on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement, an excellent programme often ruined by the appearance of journalists from either the News of the World or The S*n.
And Benitez made sure those watching Sky Sports prior to the Chelsea game yesterday knew what he and the rest of Liverpool thought of The S*n and it's Sunday sidekick, saying: “It’s no surprise. Everybody in Liverpool knows there that are two newspapers you that cannot trust, this is one of them.
Of Beasley he adds: "He talks of it being an exclusive; but the journalist is lying. I was talking with the Spanish press - he was manipulating everything. So he’s lying.”
He sure is. Well said Rafa.
Rafa's response? He branded the journalist who wrote the story, Rob Beasley a liar and rightfully so. Beasley took innocuous quotes from an interview the boss to gave to Spanish national El Mundo prior to the Chelsea game and woefully misconstrued them to present an attack on the owners.
The El Mundo interview is pretty clear and pretty uncontroversial but Beasley has an agenda, that much is clear from this excellent piece that appeared on the Anfield Road website which outlines some of Chelsea fan Beasley's previous views of Benitez on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement, an excellent programme often ruined by the appearance of journalists from either the News of the World or The S*n.
And Benitez made sure those watching Sky Sports prior to the Chelsea game yesterday knew what he and the rest of Liverpool thought of The S*n and it's Sunday sidekick, saying: “It’s no surprise. Everybody in Liverpool knows there that are two newspapers you that cannot trust, this is one of them.
Of Beasley he adds: "He talks of it being an exclusive; but the journalist is lying. I was talking with the Spanish press - he was manipulating everything. So he’s lying.”
He sure is. Well said Rafa.
Chelsea 0-0 Reds: The unexpected point.
I was certain that it would be just another defeat at Stamford Bridge today. For the first half hour everything was going as it usually when we visit the blue half of West London. We play well, have the better chances but the expected flukey Chelsea goal never game and it was pleasing to see us continue to have the better of the play and the better chances throughout the game.
More confidence and a bit more quality from some players and we probably could have nicked it. A point in the circumstances - with Everton and Manchester City both winning this weekend - is not ideal but any points at Stamford Bridge are a rare commodity so this one is welcome. As the old saying goes, we would have taken 0-0 beforehand.
Their first half penalty shout was a legitimate one but then there have been at least five legitimate penalties that we have not been awarded against the Blues in the last four years so we were due a slice of luck. The offender, Javier Mascherano, otherwise had another excellent game in midfield as did Lucas Leiva.
Martin Skrtel was very good at centre half alongside the equally exemplary Jamie Carragher and the Slovak is improving with each game he plays and the more English he learns as Benitez pointed out post match.
Stevie Gerrard's had better games. He's been off the boil of late and was not at his marauding best today. He excelled for England during the week in the No.10 position (reflected in his unusual shirt number on the night). Despite playing in what I thought was a similar role today the result wasn't as effective but form is temporary and all that....
Kuyt and Crouch in attack wasn't effective from the point of view of goal scoring but it didn't fail miserably. Kuyt continues to get in positions that see him unlikely to ever score. He does the donkey work but sometimes you just wish he wouldn't. Put yourself in the box lad! Get a goal and more will follow. Kuyt's a quality player from what we saw at Feyenoord and at stages last season. He needs to start showing it.
The league is now put on the backburner as we concentrate on our two best chances of silverware this season. Two very different sides visit Anfield in the next few days. On Saturday it's Barnsley in the FA Cup and the following Tuesday, Inter Milan, possibly the best side in Europe at present, in the Champions League.
We've strung together two decent results and should have Torres back. All of which makes us all a little more optimistic heading into another important phase of the season.
More confidence and a bit more quality from some players and we probably could have nicked it. A point in the circumstances - with Everton and Manchester City both winning this weekend - is not ideal but any points at Stamford Bridge are a rare commodity so this one is welcome. As the old saying goes, we would have taken 0-0 beforehand.
Their first half penalty shout was a legitimate one but then there have been at least five legitimate penalties that we have not been awarded against the Blues in the last four years so we were due a slice of luck. The offender, Javier Mascherano, otherwise had another excellent game in midfield as did Lucas Leiva.
Martin Skrtel was very good at centre half alongside the equally exemplary Jamie Carragher and the Slovak is improving with each game he plays and the more English he learns as Benitez pointed out post match.
Stevie Gerrard's had better games. He's been off the boil of late and was not at his marauding best today. He excelled for England during the week in the No.10 position (reflected in his unusual shirt number on the night). Despite playing in what I thought was a similar role today the result wasn't as effective but form is temporary and all that....
Kuyt and Crouch in attack wasn't effective from the point of view of goal scoring but it didn't fail miserably. Kuyt continues to get in positions that see him unlikely to ever score. He does the donkey work but sometimes you just wish he wouldn't. Put yourself in the box lad! Get a goal and more will follow. Kuyt's a quality player from what we saw at Feyenoord and at stages last season. He needs to start showing it.
The league is now put on the backburner as we concentrate on our two best chances of silverware this season. Two very different sides visit Anfield in the next few days. On Saturday it's Barnsley in the FA Cup and the following Tuesday, Inter Milan, possibly the best side in Europe at present, in the Champions League.
We've strung together two decent results and should have Torres back. All of which makes us all a little more optimistic heading into another important phase of the season.
Sunday 3 February 2008
Reds 3-0 Mackems
A win at last. Relief more than anything as we secure out first league win of 2008...in February. And that simply is why we haven't challenged for the title this season. You cannot afford to go a whole month without winning a league game.
It wasn't a particularly impressive performance. In fact for most of the first half, it had the look of another frustrating draw and up until Crouch's opening goal we had created precious little. Torres follow up put us in the comfort zone and Gerrard added the shine with the penalty. At the moment Crouch/Torres looks a decent bet as a strike partnership in light of Dirk Kuyt's shocking loss of form which now sees him excluded from the latest Dutch squad.
Lucas Leiva on the left isn't something I want to see again. Rafa was obviously keen to include him following his impressive cameo at West Ham on Wednesday but the Brazilian will not have benefitted from looking as uncomfortable as he did in that position. Mascherano was once again superb and is worthy of every single penny we end up paying for him.
Martin Skrtel put in a more competent performance than he did against Havant last weekend. The Slovak will benefit from the more games he plays. Moving Jamie Carragher to right back was a strange decision but paid off with a fine cross for Crouch's goal.
But all the accolades for performances in defence must go to Sami Hyypia who is in the twilight of his career but is playing arguably his best football for the club. Many thought this season would see him feature very little but Daniel Agger's injury troubles have seen become a regular in the starting eleven and while two games a week might have impacted on his consistency there seems to be no such problems for the Finn.
A fantastic servant to the club and one of the best defenders we've ever had.
It wasn't a particularly impressive performance. In fact for most of the first half, it had the look of another frustrating draw and up until Crouch's opening goal we had created precious little. Torres follow up put us in the comfort zone and Gerrard added the shine with the penalty. At the moment Crouch/Torres looks a decent bet as a strike partnership in light of Dirk Kuyt's shocking loss of form which now sees him excluded from the latest Dutch squad.
Lucas Leiva on the left isn't something I want to see again. Rafa was obviously keen to include him following his impressive cameo at West Ham on Wednesday but the Brazilian will not have benefitted from looking as uncomfortable as he did in that position. Mascherano was once again superb and is worthy of every single penny we end up paying for him.
Martin Skrtel put in a more competent performance than he did against Havant last weekend. The Slovak will benefit from the more games he plays. Moving Jamie Carragher to right back was a strange decision but paid off with a fine cross for Crouch's goal.
But all the accolades for performances in defence must go to Sami Hyypia who is in the twilight of his career but is playing arguably his best football for the club. Many thought this season would see him feature very little but Daniel Agger's injury troubles have seen become a regular in the starting eleven and while two games a week might have impacted on his consistency there seems to be no such problems for the Finn.
A fantastic servant to the club and one of the best defenders we've ever had.
Friday 1 February 2008
Fans taking a stand against G&H
Last night, a grand plan to wrestle Liverpool from the hands of George Gillett and Tom Hicks was unveiled at the University of Liverpool.
Supporter and season ticket holder Rogan Taylor and others launched Share Liverpool, an attempt to get 100,000 fans on board with £5,000 each to help raise £500m so the club can be bought and the new stadium can be built. The club would then be run in the manner that Barcelona is where one share is one vote and a club president is elected democratically.
A grand idea, but I have huge doubts about how it would work. For starters Share Liverpool is asking an awful lot of 100,000 fans who would have to part with £5,000. I can't imagine that many Liverpool fans have that type of money to hand which means people who are not fans could come into the equation.
Now Taylor talked of a group of fans combining to buy one share as is already happening. But what about a group of millionaires combining to each buy a share of their own and then combining those shares to accrue some sort of balance of power? Then it gets messy.
As I've said here before I am abysmal on financial matters but it strikes me that this plan is just a little too audacious. Share Liverpool's website has already crashed because of interest. A good thing that people are interested but a bad one that the people organising didn't seem to expect it.
Last night also saw a meeting Liverpool fan groups and websites at The Sandon Pub near Anfield with the aim of establishing another way of impacting on the owners of the club. The Liverpool Supporters Union has released a statement under the name "The Sons of Shankly" and seem to have more realistic ways of getting Gillett and Hicks out of the club starting at Sunderland this weekend.
And it is against Sunderland this weekend that we really need things on the pitch to start organising themselves. After Wednesday's defeat, we can safely say we are in a fight for fourth place. Depressing but we just have to get on with the task of ensuring we are in the Champions League next season, not being there will only place further financial doubt over the club.
Supporter and season ticket holder Rogan Taylor and others launched Share Liverpool, an attempt to get 100,000 fans on board with £5,000 each to help raise £500m so the club can be bought and the new stadium can be built. The club would then be run in the manner that Barcelona is where one share is one vote and a club president is elected democratically.
A grand idea, but I have huge doubts about how it would work. For starters Share Liverpool is asking an awful lot of 100,000 fans who would have to part with £5,000. I can't imagine that many Liverpool fans have that type of money to hand which means people who are not fans could come into the equation.
Now Taylor talked of a group of fans combining to buy one share as is already happening. But what about a group of millionaires combining to each buy a share of their own and then combining those shares to accrue some sort of balance of power? Then it gets messy.
As I've said here before I am abysmal on financial matters but it strikes me that this plan is just a little too audacious. Share Liverpool's website has already crashed because of interest. A good thing that people are interested but a bad one that the people organising didn't seem to expect it.
Last night also saw a meeting Liverpool fan groups and websites at The Sandon Pub near Anfield with the aim of establishing another way of impacting on the owners of the club. The Liverpool Supporters Union has released a statement under the name "The Sons of Shankly" and seem to have more realistic ways of getting Gillett and Hicks out of the club starting at Sunderland this weekend.
And it is against Sunderland this weekend that we really need things on the pitch to start organising themselves. After Wednesday's defeat, we can safely say we are in a fight for fourth place. Depressing but we just have to get on with the task of ensuring we are in the Champions League next season, not being there will only place further financial doubt over the club.
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