Liverpool

[old git]

Keep your nickers on and grow up. I was using Keane as an example nothing more and as you can see by the replies of the Man U fans on a "Liverpool thread";) that they to could see i was only using Keane as an example NOTHING MORE.

calm down rafa .. just trying to make a point is it an obession with utd that liverpool fans have to keep going on about them .. and by the way it is spelt knickers :D

[Closed Account 2]

Nobody disputes Torres is world class Reder it's just that the majority of us don't see enough quality in the rest of the side to mount another title challenge.

That's true but on the other hand there is a real lack of quality in the other top Premier League teams. Man Utd are looking a lot thinner than in previous seasons, they don't have a huge amount of creativity in midfield. Nani, Anderson and Valenica are no where near world class. Giggs is their only decent creative midfielder (Stoke match showed this) but you fear for them relying on him for all of the season. Scholes, Park or Hargreaves (if he plays again) could do a creative job for them but this isnt their primary role. It's the same with Carrick and Fletcher, decent midfielders but not really creative. I just dont see them being able to unlock resolute defences the way they did last season. Rooney can create chances on his own, but the other strikers like Berbatov and Owen are reliant on service and I just wonder if there will be enough quality service for them this season. The keeper is also a major problem for them, Van Der Saar is injured and also looked past it towards the end of last season, in truth he's looked dodgy for a year or so. The Russians tore him to ribbons in Euro 2008, Foster doesnt look like a world beater either. With Vidic in front of the keeper Man Utd wont leak that many goals, but neither a past-it Van Der Saar, nor a not-quite-there Foster will be able to dig the points out for them like say Schmeicel or Given or even Friedel.

Liverpool probably have the strongest attack if they have no injuries. Torres is world class and when he's on his game it's impossible to stop him. Gerrard is a very good player playing just off him. I just think that Alonso would have been the missing piece in the jigsaw had he stayed. His presence allowed Gerrard to get forward more (and sometimes they would swap and Alonso would be the attacking force - which meant the oppsition would struggle to adapt their marking system). I also have my doubts about their defence if injuries occur particularly in central areas.

Chelsea are probably the strongest squad in the league, looking at their team there is a very strong spine (Cech, Terry, Essien, Lampard, Drogba) and there are decent back-ups in most of those positions (like Alex, Ballack, Anelka), Essien is the real engine of the team and without him I can see the wheels coming off, even for the short amount of time like the month of the African Nations Cup. If Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire get far in that competition then Essien, Kalou and Drogba will all be out of the picture which could mean dropped points over that time frame.

Arsenal have quality upfront, Arshavin is world class and I think will be the most impressive player in the league this season, Van Persie is a decent player and if Eduardo can get a string of games together he will be very good. But if you scratch the surface with Arsenal you can see there isn't too much strength in depth. Bendtner is not really good enough, Ramsey, Vela, Wallcott and Wilshere are good but lack experience (and Wenger seems to prefer the lumbering Dane to them anyway), it's the same story in defence, they just dont quite have the strength in depth. They should make the second round of the CL and all those games could expose a paper thin squad. Unless Wenger digs into his pockets they might well just be overstretched again this season.

In my opinion Man City have a superb chance of winning it this season. They have quality all over the pitch. Given is a superb keeper easily the best in the league. Toure and Lescott are strong defenders (they still need time to organise and gel), De Jong is a fantastic athlete, and upfront they have an overwhelming array of talent. Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bellamy are all very good players who can hurt teams. They also have a good mix of target men (like Adebayor even Santa Cruz at a push) and support strikers (Tevez and Bellamy) who have enough pace to cause problems. There is pace all over the team with players like Wright-Phillips, Petrov and also Kompany in reserve. If they can survive the African Cup of Nations (should be possible as Togo [Adebayor] will go out early if they qualify) and they have enough cover in other areas, they could win the league. They also have the advantage of no European matches so their squad will not be stretched too much. If they can keep putting teams away at home (like West Ham tonight) then I think they will win it.

[old git]

That's true but on the other hand there is a real lack of quality in the other top Premier League teams. Man Utd are looking a lot thinner than in previous seasons, they don't have a huge amount of creativity in midfield. Nani, Anderson and Valenica are no where near world class. Giggs is their only decent creative midfielder (Stoke match showed this) but you fear for them relying on him for all of the season. Scholes, Park or Hargreaves (if he plays again) could do a creative job for them but this isnt their primary role. It's the same with Carrick and Fletcher, decent midfielders but not really creative. I just dont see them being able to unlock resolute defences the way they did last season. Rooney can create chances on his own, but the other strikers like Berbatov and Owen are reliant on service and I just wonder if there will be enough quality service for them this season. The keeper is also a major problem for them, Van Der Saar is injured and also looked past it towards the end of last season, in truth he's looked dodgy for a year or so. The Russians tore him to ribbons in Euro 2008, Foster doesnt look like a world beater either. With Vidic in front of the keeper Man Utd wont leak that many goals, but neither a past-it Van Der Saar, nor a not-quite-there Foster will be able to dig the points out for them like say Schmeicel or Given or even Friedel.

Liverpool probably have the strongest attack if they have no injuries. Torres is world class and when he's on his game it's impossible to stop him. Gerrard is a very good player playing just off him. I just think that Alonso would have been the missing piece in the jigsaw had he stayed. His presence allowed Gerrard to get forward more (and sometimes they would swap and Alonso would be the attacking force - which meant the oppsition would struggle to adapt their marking system). I also have my doubts about their defence if injuries occur particularly in central areas.

Chelsea are probably the strongest squad in the league, looking at their team there is a very strong spine (Cech, Terry, Essien, Lampard, Drogba) and there are decent back-ups in most of those positions (like Alex, Ballack, Anelka), Essien is the real engine of the team and without him I can see the wheels coming off, even for the short amount of time like the month of the African Nations Cup. If Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire get far in that competition then Essien, Kalou and Drogba will all be out of the picture which could mean dropped points over that time frame.

Arsenal have quality upfront, Arshavin is world class and I think will be the most impressive player in the league this season, Van Persie is a decent player and if Eduardo can get a string of games together he will be very good. But if you scratch the surface with Arsenal you can see there isn't too much strength in depth. Bendtner is not really good enough, Ramsey, Vela, Wallcott and Wilshere are good but lack experience (and Wenger seems to prefer the lumbering Dane to them anyway), it's the same story in defence, they just dont quite have the strength in depth. They should make the second round of the CL and all those games could expose a paper thin squad. Unless Wenger digs into his pockets they might well just be overstretched again this season.

In my opinion Man City have a superb chance of winning it this season. They have quality all over the pitch. Given is a superb keeper easily the best in the league. Toure and Lescott are strong defenders (they still need time to organise and gel), De Jong is a fantastic athlete, and upfront they have an overwhelming array of talent. Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bellamy are all very good players who can hurt teams. They also have a good mix of target men (like Adebayor even Santa Cruz at a push) and support strikers (Tevez and Bellamy) who have enough pace to cause problems. There is pace all over the team with players like Wright-Phillips, Petrov and also Kompany in reserve. If they can survive the African Cup of Nations (should be possible as Togo [Adebayor] will go out early if they qualify) and they have enough cover in other areas, they could win the league. They also have the advantage of no European matches so their squad will not be stretched too much. If they can keep putting teams away at home (like West Ham tonight) then I think they will win it.

good post ... but i still think league between chelsea or utd... liverpool wont be far off if they can keep everybody fit (torres ) and i agree alonso may well have been the missing piece of jigsaw.. if torres was playing for either chelsea or utd they would walk away with league.. man city the jury still out alot of new players may take time to gel plus i now think a lot of the so called weaker teams will try a little bit harder to beat them so every game could be like a cup final for them . arsenal once again will impress us with their great football but as you said lack of depth in squad will cost them over the season..:ball:

[KK77]

calm down rafa .. just trying to make a point is it an obession with utd that liverpool fans have to keep going on about them .. and by the way it is spelt knickers :D

You come on to a football forum and pull someone up over a spelling mistake...sad. This is not the the dead poets society. Seems i was right about growing up.

[old git]

You come on to a football forum and pull someone up over a spelling mistake...sad. This is not the the dead poets society. Seems i was right about growing up.

notice the smile after my post i was only joking ..:D must be touchy after tonights performance p.s. only joking again :p

[KK77]

notice the smile after my post i was only joking ..:D must be touchy after tonights performance p.s. only joking again :p

Terrible first half improved second half but that wasn't hard. Heading over on Sunday i hope for an improvement!

[DeLorean]

Liverpool definitely got the toughest group out of the English sides, by a distance. Fiorentina looked a very useful side and I got the feeling there were more goals there for them, if they weren't content with what they had. The back-to-back fixtures are vital now. If Fiorentina take 6pts from Debrecen then Liverpool will want to, at least, break even with Lyon. Would have to fancy Pool at home to Fiorentina on the last night, at Anfield, if they need to win though, that's their speciality.

[old git]

Terrible first half improved second half but that wasn't hard. Heading over on Sunday i hope for an improvement!

yeah will agree with you on last nights performance :)... would definatly expect a massive improvement at the weekend and would even fancy liverpool to get the 3 points :ball:

[shakermaker1982]

Good post edmundo and I agree the League title is wide open this season but I still think United will edge it. They've got out of the starting blocks early for the first time in years and will keep on improving. Scholes and Giggs can still do the business against the less glamorous sides and if Fergie makes sure his team perform better against the top 4 this time round then I think Fergie will bag another title. I think Fergie is expecting a lot more from Nani and Valencia this season and they have been disappointing so far but it's still early days yet. Chelsea are a danger but like you say the African Nations will disrupt them. I know they have some easy games during the month of January but a lot of players from Chelsea and Arsenal struggled to hit top form again when they returned to their clubs after the last African Nation competition and I can see that happening again.

I was expecting big things from Arsenal this season but still think they are one or two players away from a title challenge. They still seem to struggle against sides which get stuck in, particuarly away from home. Liverpool can grind out results but Alonso is a loss and the purchase of Johnson has weakened them defensively IMO. He adds a new attacking dimension but teams will be able to counter them once they see large holes at RB. Fiorentina did an excellent job of containing Liverpool last night. The two centre backs kept Torres fairly quiet and they made sure he had little supply to work with.

[DeLorean]

yeah will agree with you on last nights performance :)... would definatly expect a massive improvement at the weekend and would even fancy liverpool to get the 3 points :ball:

I don't think so. If Liverpool get a draw at the wkd I think it would be a decent result for them. I can see them being completely dominated in the midfield battle with Torres feeding off scraps, granted no better man to be feeding off scraps.

[papa-j]

All this Alonso = missing link stuff needs to be qualified properly. In my opinion its a little misguided - he was at Anfield for 5 years and never got the credit he deserved. Suddenly when he moves on he become the missing link that would win Liverpool the title:confused:

He was a fantastic player for Liverpool but very underrated as he played deep and did not score too many. He is certainly missed as the Liverpool style of play was built around this ability as a "pivot man" but that style has changed this year.

On one hand Liverpool are missing his presence against the better sides who attack, as his retention of the ball was top class.He kept the passages of play moving and as well as taking pressure off the defence he could find the space behind the oppositions defence by pulling tham left and right thUS making the space for Torres/Gerrard to exploit.

On the flip side Liverpool struggled against the "park the bus" sides as they sat deep. This allowed Liverpool posession but they could not penetrate with Alonso sitting so deep and the fact he never burst beyond defences from midfield.

Now I can see why people say Liverpool miss him as they done extremely well in the top four mini league clashes but remember their issues and draws against the"lesser" sides at Anfield. That trend has already been reversed with convincing wins over Stoke and Hull( draws last year) but the jury is out with the losses against Spurs and Villa.

Chelsea will be a defining moment but not in regards to Alonsos presence as he is long gone but weather the players can implement the new style of play properly and improve their retention of the ball.

Aqualani will be key to that style once fit but I am annoyed that he will have missed 3 crucial months of the season. Liverpool will loose more games than last year but will also turn a lot of those draws into wins. It will be interesting to see how that reflects in terms of points total.

Dont write them off just yet:D

[KK77]

All this Alonso = missing link stuff needs to be qualified properly. In my opinion its a little misguided - he was at Anfield for 5 years and never got the credit he deserved. Suddenly when he moves on he become the missing link that would win Liverpool the title:confused:

He was a fantastic player for Liverpool but very underrated as he played deep and did not score too many. He is certainly missed as the Liverpool style of play was built around this ability as a "pivot man" but that style has changed this year.

On one hand Liverpool are missing his presence against the better sides who attack, as his retention of the ball was top class.He kept the passages of play moving and as well as taking pressure off the defence he could find the space behind the oppositions defence by pulling tham left and right thUS making the space for Torres/Gerrard to exploit.

On the flip side Liverpool struggled against the "park the bus" sides as they sat deep. This allowed Liverpool posession but they could not penetrate with Alonso sitting so deep and the fact he never burst beyond defences from midfield.

Now I can see why people say Liverpool miss him as they done extremely well in the top four mini league clashes but remember their issues and draws against the"lesser" sides at Anfield. That trend has already been reversed with convincing wins over Stoke and Hull( draws last year) but the jury is out with the losses against Spurs and Villa.

Chelsea will be a defining moment but not in regards to Alonsos presence as he is long gone but weather the players can implement the new style of play properly and improve their retention of the ball.

Aqualani will be key to that style once fit but I am annoyed that he will have missed 3 crucial months of the season. Liverpool will loose more games than last year but will also turn a lot of those draws into wins. It will be interesting to see how that reflects in terms of points total.

Dont write them off just yet:D

Very good post mate have to say. Was at loads of draws last season when Alonso played and also games we won 1-0 but struggled in. Great player don't get me wrong but not the best player the club ever had as is being made out. I think it's just people being lazy myself starts up in the media and then it's everyones opinion. Don't remember many praising him as much when he was at Liverpool. Certainly do miss him who wouldn't but at the same time it's way over the top this missing link carry on.

[Roadend]

He's only the missing link when you have Lucas, sideways passer extrordanaire, to fill the gap. I'm not jumping on the Lucas is sh*t bandwagon, but just saying his range of passing is nowhere near what Alonso's is. Aquillani should improve this aspect of play when he returns.

[DeLorean]

I always rated Alonso. Having said that I don't think he's the missing link, as I don't think they'd have won the title if he was there either. I'm not trying to be smart when I say that by the way. The biggest thing at the moment, as has been said, is that it is Lucas is his replacement. He just doesn't look anywhere near good enough, certainly so far. I feel Liverpool will struggle to match their points total for last season, so unless United and Chelsea amount lesser tallys than previous years, I think they'll find it difficult to even be in the shake up. It will be interesting to see what Aquilani can offer them, and whether or not he can stay fit. I believe he's missed 60% of Roma's matches the last few seasons?

[papa-j]

I always rated Alonso. Having said that I don't think he's the missing link, as I don't think they'd have won the title if he was there either. I'm not trying to be smart when I say that by the way. The biggest thing at the moment, as has been said, is that it is Lucas is his replacement. He just doesn't look anywhere near good enough, certainly so far. I feel Liverpool will struggle to match their points total for last season, so unless United and Chelsea amount lesser tallys than previous years, I think they'll find it difficult to even be in the shake up. It will be interesting to see what Aquilani can offer them, and whether or not he can stay fit. I believe he's missed 60% of Roma's matches the last few seasons?

The thing is that Lucas is not his direct replacement and neither is Aqualani. The system has changed fundamentally so players have new roles,to the point where Mascherano is redundant against the Hulls and Stokes and wont play those games. Lucas is not Alonso and still needs to improve but he is not as bad a people make out - watch the games closely, he is improving all the time. I think the points total for all teams will be much lower this year. Chelsea are good but they have not added any players from last year except a new manager and once the honeymoon period is over I can see a similar pattern to last year. They are beatable - Wigan( lucky v Hull) UTD are beatable - Burnley and Liverpool are beatable - its wide open.

[Closed Account 2]

I think the system Liverpool used last season was pretty much spot on. With Torres and Gerrard upfront (the latter in a withdrawn role) and Alonso sitting in the middle, with Mascherano as a defensive midfielder. Players like Kuyt, Riera, Babel and Benayoun gave good wide options. Kuyt and Benayoun could be played when subtle build up was needed, and Babel and Riera when pace was needed. I think without Alonso the whole engine or regulator, of that system has gone. Aquliani might be able to do the Alonso job but he'll need time to fit into the system and with him still months off starting it doesnt bode well for their midfield.

Had Liverpool kept Alonso (and others like Arbeloa) and invested in a good central defender they would have been in a better position to go for the league. As it is they lost Hyppia (fair enough given his age), Arbeloa and Alonso all of whom were key players in the squad. Now they have brought Johnson, who as a full back can fill that void, but had to rush in and buy Kyrgiakos and have a long term injured player to replace Alonso. And Aquilani has to play a complex role, in a system very different to that used by Roma.

[shakermaker1982]

Keep Torres quiet and Liverpool look toothless.

Didier Drogba......God knows what he'd do if he ever suffers a real injury on the football pitch. I lost count how many times he went down 'injured' looking for a bit of love off the physio.

[apo11o]

Torres looked a little scared yesterday, I don t think he has the bottle to mix it with the big boys.

[reder]

Torres looked a little scared yesterday, I don t think he has the bottle to mix it with the big boys.

I dont really agree with that.

Anyway, had tickets for yesterday but didnt go in the end. Ended up at the Fulham game with the gf and some mates which was very entertaining and I felt sorry for Fulham at the end.

I have only seen the extended highlights of the game from yesterday and I thought it was very even overall. There isnt a whole lot between the 2 sides in truth. Torres, who is a dirty player now according to the Chelsea fans I know, didnt really get into it yesterday and missed a chance towards the end that he would normally put away.

I did speak to 2 Liverpool fans in Victoria who were at the game and they were very unhappy about the team and the performances as of late. They were giving out loads about Rafa and the fact that he was arguing with the 4th official instead of focusing on the team when Chelsea scored their 2nd.

Liverpool have some tricky games ahead with Sunderland away and United at home surrounding a very important CL game against Lyon. Interesting times ahead. Gonna have to pray for no injuries during the international break.

[KK77]

Didn't think it was a 2-0 game myself but that's football. First goal always crucial in these games and proved so. Thought we got into plenty of good positions out wide but final ball was very poor along with our corners which in general are poor. Good weekend for Chelsea overall and possibly Man City if they win tonight. O and Drogba is a stain on the game.

[DeLorean]

Torres looked a little scared yesterday, I don t think he has the bottle to mix it with the big boys.

He's scored loads of goals against Chelsea since joining Liverpool. Why would he be scared of them, or any of the other big boys who he has also scored plenty against?

[DeLorean]

Didn't think it was a 2-0 game myself but that's football. First goal always crucial in these games and proved so. Thought we got into plenty of good positions out wide but final ball was very poor along with our corners which in general are poor. Good weekend for Chelsea overall and possibly Man City if they win tonight. O and Drogba is a stain on the game.

He's comical. I blame the ref's as much as him at this stage. He was brilliant for the two goals. 2-0 was probably slightly flattering alright but think Chelsea shaded it alright. I'm not a bit convinced about Reira, he hasn't really kicked on after an impressive start to him Liverpool career.

[KK77]

He's comical. I blame the ref's as much as him at this stage. He was brilliant for the two goals. 2-0 was probably slightly flattering alright but think Chelsea shaded it alright. I'm not a bit convinced about Reira, he hasn't really kicked on after an impressive start to him Liverpool career.


Brilliant for the goals. Funnily though he was down in agony seconds before the first goal but was alive seconds later. Your right though it's the refs and the fa/premier league who are to blame. Riera was disappointing yesterday had plenty of chances to take on the full back but kept cutting inside. Honestly feel Rafa prefers him in big games ahead of Yossi because he thinks he will help the full back more. Would have Yossi everyday over Riera. Decent squad player.

[shakermaker1982]

Torres was just getting frustrated because he was feeding on scraps. He does react like a big baby when things don't go his way though.

Dull game and Chelsea weren't anything special. 1 nil down & Benitez should have gone for it.

[KK77]

Torres was just getting frustrated because he was feeding on scraps. He does react like a big baby when things don't go his way though.

Dull game and Chelsea weren't anything special. 1 nil down & Benitez should have gone for it.

In fairness he did go for it. Brought on Yossi and Babbel. Poor final balls cost us. Was at the game myself and can't agree at all that he didn't got for it. Maybe it looked different from the couch. Torres can get frustrated but at least he doesn't dive around the pitch or stamp on fell pros calfs when he gets frustrated.

[stojkovic]

He's scored loads of goals against Chelsea since joining Liverpool. Why would he be scared of them, or any of the other big boys who he has also scored plenty against?

Torres has scored five goals in seven games against Chelsea.
Drogba has scored six goals in 21 games against Liverpool.

Yet the perception is that Drogba terrorises Liverpool.

[DeLorean]

Torres has scored five goals in seven games against Chelsea.
Drogba has scored six goals in 21 games against Liverpool.

Yet the perception is that Drogba terrorises Liverpool.

From watching most of those matches I do think that Drogba gives Liverpool an seriously hard time of it. He was the difference yesterday without scoring. Torres is just top class.

[Roo69]

Drogba is a pain in the hole the way he goes down so easily, rolling around as if he's been shot, BUT most players do this (Lucas got Essien booked by diving). It is not part and parcel of the game and until the men in charge decide to do something about it then it will continue.

No one really decided to win the game, a draw would have been a fair result IMO but Liverpool's finishing was dreadful and when Torres is off form Liverpool tend not to win, well that's the way i see it anyway.

Gerrard might as well not been on the pitch, can't remember him contributing anything to the game.

If Liverpool go trophyless again this season will Rafa get the chop ?

[KK77]

Gerrard might as well not been on the pitch, can't remember him contributing anything to the game.

If Liverpool go trophyless again this season will Rafa get the chop ?

Gerrard didn't have a great game but to say he may as well have not been on the pitch is plain crazy. He has pulled us out of the mire so many times in games that he hasn't played well in.

Here we go October 5th should Rafa go................

[Roo69]

Here we go October 5th should Rafa go................

I'm lost with this...

I asked "If Liverpool go trophyless again this season will Rafa get the chop ?" they have lost more games now than they did all last season, i think it's a reasobable question.

[KK77]

I'm lost with this...

I asked "If Liverpool go trophyless again this season will Rafa get the chop ?" they have lost more games now than they did all last season, i think it's a reasobable question.

If being the word. That sort of question will be anwsered in May not October 5th based on having lost one game more than the previous season.

[DeLorean]

They were saying yesterday on Sky that the last team to lose 3 out of their first 8 games, and go on to win the title were Man Utd in 66/67. Only saying!!

[KK77]

They were saying yesterday on Sky that the last team to lose 3 out of their first 8 games, and go on to win the title were Man Utd in 66/67. Only saying!!

Yeah i believe so. Sky love those sort of stats. Remember before the 1994 WC being told that Ireland hadn't beaten Italy in 7 games. The next day we beat them. Only saying!!!

[DeLorean]

Yeah i believe so. Sky love those sort of stats. Remember before the 1994 WC being told that Ireland hadn't beaten Italy in 7 games. The next day we beat them. Only saying!!!

I'm sure there are plenty more examples too. Records are there to be broken and it has no influence on my belief that Liverpool will be found wanting in a big way this season.

[razor]

They were saying yesterday on Sky that the last team to lose 3 out of their first 8 games, and go on to win the title were Man Utd in 66/67. Only saying!!I'd get on it then, surely worth a 50.

[KK77]

I'm sure there are plenty more examples too. Records are there to be broken and it has no influence on my belief that Liverpool will be found wanting in a big way this season.

Only having a laugh! Your opinions your opinion.

[DeLorean]

Only having a laugh! Your opinions your opinion.

I know, and just for the record, I've been known to be wrong once or twice so don't be too despondent:D

[KK77]

I know, and just for the record, I've been known to be wrong once or twice so don't be too despondent:D

I am always wrong hence i no longer make predictions!

[reder]

They were saying yesterday on Sky that the last team to lose 3 out of their first 8 games, and go on to win the title were Man Utd in 66/67. Only saying!!

Records are there to be broken. We will all probably be wrong and City will spend £110m+ at Christmas and win it.

[old git]

In fairness he did go for it. Brought on Yossi and Babbel. Poor final balls cost us. Was at the game myself and can't agree at all that he didn't got for it. Maybe it looked different from the couch. Torres can get frustrated but at least he doesn't dive around the pitch or stamp on fell pros calfs when he gets frustrated.

torres dosen't dive around pitch :D not as much as drogba . but he has been know to fall over rather easy alot of times :D who was the player stamping on fellow pro's calfs during this game ...??

[KK77]

who was the player stamping on fellow pro's calfs during this game ...??

A player who likes to dive around the odd time like an old slapper;):D:D

[reder]

A player who likes to dive around the odd time like an old slapper.

Well it cant be Drogba because he dives around the whole time.:D

[KK77]

Well it cant be Drogba because he dives around the whole time.:D

Clue = Slapper:D

[razor]

Well it cant be Drogba because he dives around the whole time.:DFor a man of 6ft 2 to be on the ground as often as him is just comical, its time for refs to cut this out and start carding.
Imagine if he was really injured? :eek:

[old git]

Clue = Slapper:D

jesus thats half of the preimership :D:D ( rooney i assume )

[old git]

strange statement released today by one of liverpool fc co-ownwers
seems like he is blaming benitiz for failing to progress liverpool.:confused: surely this is bound to p**s off benitiz and cant be good for liverpool fc..



George Gillett defends Liverpool FC investment09:45, Oct 6 2009


Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has defended the investment levels of the current regime and suggested fans should look to manager Rafael Benitez, rather than the club's owners, if the Reds are failing to progress.

Last weekend's 2-0 loss at Chelsea was the Reds' third defeat of the campaign - more than they suffered in the whole of last season - while they also lost against Fiorentina in the Champions League last week.

But Gillett has defended the record of himself and co-owner Tom Hicks according to reports in the Times and the Daily Telegraph. "We have invested more money than our competitors, in keeping with the history of the club," Gillett is quoted as telling a representative of the fans' group Spirit of Shankly prior to Liverpool's 6-1 win over Hull last week.

"In the last 18 months, we have invested £128m on top of what has come in. That means it should be getting better.

"Now if it's not getting better, it's not Gillett and Hicks, it's the manager, it's the scouting. You have to make sure you balance out your analysis.




Story continues

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"There was plenty of money, so if you have any complaints, take a look at the ins and outs."


Gillett also added that the £30million fee recouped from Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid "went straight back" into the club's transfer budget, which was already set at "£22-23m as part of our budgets".


Gillett added: "The club is in extraordinarily good financial condition. Far better than Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.


"We have invested massively, we have put more money in than anyone other than Manchester City, with the craziness they have got."

[KK77]

strange statement released today by one of liverpool fc co-ownwers
seems like he is blaming benitiz for failing to progress liverpool.:confused: surely this is bound to p**s off benitiz and cant be good for liverpool fc..



George Gillett defends Liverpool FC investment09:45, Oct 6 2009


Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has defended the investment levels of the current regime and suggested fans should look to manager Rafael Benitez, rather than the club's owners, if the Reds are failing to progress.

Last weekend's 2-0 loss at Chelsea was the Reds' third defeat of the campaign - more than they suffered in the whole of last season - while they also lost against Fiorentina in the Champions League last week.

But Gillett has defended the record of himself and co-owner Tom Hicks according to reports in the Times and the Daily Telegraph. "We have invested more money than our competitors, in keeping with the history of the club," Gillett is quoted as telling a representative of the fans' group Spirit of Shankly prior to Liverpool's 6-1 win over Hull last week.

"In the last 18 months, we have invested £128m on top of what has come in. That means it should be getting better.

"Now if it's not getting better, it's not Gillett and Hicks, it's the manager, it's the scouting. You have to make sure you balance out your analysis.




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"There was plenty of money, so if you have any complaints, take a look at the ins and outs."


Gillett also added that the £30million fee recouped from Xabi Alonso's move to Real Madrid "went straight back" into the club's transfer budget, which was already set at "£22-23m as part of our budgets".


Gillett added: "The club is in extraordinarily good financial condition. Far better than Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.


"We have invested massively, we have put more money in than anyone other than Manchester City, with the craziness they have got."

Wonder if we won our last 2 games would the same articles be printed considering the interview took place about 10 days ago!!!

Gillette made those comments on the back of a 4/5 game winning run...pity the media wont mention that part.

Typical media bolloox.

It was never given to the press its just lazy hacks taken it from forums.The reason its only emerging now is, the chap who met him said as he was going off memory he only got to type up the full transcript and posted it last saturday, wether we'd won the last 2 games or not, its only emerging now, note how that Coward John Thompson at the Echo has'nt printed it.

[reder]

It was never given to the press its just lazy hacks taken it from forums.

Another piece of poor journalism on the club. Journalists who are pro and anti Rafa are equally guilty of this.

[KK77]

Another piece of poor journalism on the club. Journalists who are pro and anti Rafa are equally guilty of this.

George Gillett. A billionaire (apparently). Fifty percent owner of Liverpool Football Club. A man who never has and never will understand what Liverpool Football Club is all about, no matter how much he has or hasn't got sitting in the bank. His recent impromptu meeting with a Spirit Of Shankly member prior to the Hull City game, further underlines, just how much he doesn't get it, and how out of touch he is. Whilst fans keep themselves updated with the on going turmoil behind the scenes, Gillett thinks fans are oblivious to all he and his partner Tom Hicks have done, and are gullible to believe his words. In his recent meeting, as is usual for George Gillett, he made a number of claims which simply aren't true, managed to contradict himself in the same meeting, and with what appears to be his favourite past-time, undermined the position of manager at Liverpool Football Club. Here are some of the things he had to say:

Debt on the club

George Gillett: “The club had £40-80m debt when we bought it, but no earnings." “The debt on the club today is very sound".

The auditors of LFC's accounts have a different opinion: “These conditions, along with other matters explained in note 1 to the financial statements, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on the Group's and parent company's ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group and parent company were unable to continue as a going concern." http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/SOS-and-LFC-Accounts.html



Christian Purslow recently told us that the debt stands at £245 million. £40 million to £245 million in the space of less than 3 years. Doesn't sound very sound to me George. http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/Christian-Purslow-Meeting-Minutes.html

Stadium

George Gillett: “Whether you see the value is a different issue. Where have we lied? Where’s the lie, for Christ’s sake? In those 60 days, what happened to the world? I didn’t say that. Hicks was the one who said. 60 days? Bulls**t. That was not me. It’s wrong. I have never talked about that. I think that what happened was that Hicks was convinced we were going to start to move dirt on the foundations within a 60-day period. In the period of time, the world credit market collapsed and he had big egg on his face, not living up to what we said. I don’t talk about absolute dates when we’re talking about credit markets.”

No George. Tom didn't say it. You did. Look



George Gillett claims the credit crunch happened in the 60 days from buying the club. He then goes onto claim “When we bought the club it was with our own money. Cash. A year and a half later, when the credit crisis hit we each put our portion of the club up as collateral for a loan to go into the club and refinance the business.”


So when did the credit crunch start George, within 60 days or a year and a half later?


When talking about paying for a stadium, Gillett said the following “You want a bigger stadium and if we could figure how to do it I would have done it yesterday. Not going to use our own capital because that is not the way a smart investment occurs for this club.” He said the following back in January 2009 "He claimed they had spent £100m on the stadium so far and were still working with designers, architects and planners.

"I asked why they were spending the club's money on this and he claimed it was coming from himself and Tom Hicks and not the club.”
http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/SOS-Meeting-and-Action-_-Sunday-1st-February-2009.html


Expenses

When quizzed about his expenses, George Gillett claimed "The money taken out is for the benefit of the club, not the detriment.” Obviously the £1.327 million claimed by Gillett has benefitted us greatly. Or more likely, paid for his travel, his security, his expenses, his bills for buying the club. http://www.spiritofshankly.com/documents/gillett_hicks_out_leaflet.pdf


Transfers

George Gillett :“We have put £128 million in to buy players on top of what’s come in in the last 18 months.”


Using figures from LFChistory.net, LFC have spent approximately £100 million on transfers in the past 18 months. From player sales, they have recouped approximately £80 million. A net spend of around £20 million. Where's the other £100 million George?

You were right about 2 things in the meeting though. We don't like you. And we certainly don't trust you.

You're not welcome here. So do us all a favour - sell the club and don't come back.

YANK LIAR$ OUT

[Roadend]

Have I just wandered into rawk?