The OFFICIAL Liverpool Supporters thread

[Hound]

Benitez also won the CL with another man's team which he inherited.  He can't take too much credit esp given his ineptitude in the transfer market since then.

...apart from Torres, Mascherano, Skrtel and Reina of course

Granted but Torres & Mascherano's quality were never in doubt even before they joined Livepool. 

While most of us jumped up and down when Torres signed, there were lots of people who had misgivings about him, that he was only suited to be a big man at a (relatively) small club and he couldnt do it in big games (in particular a reputation of always playing poorly v Real Madrid). And (bizarrely) Mascho couldnt get his game at West Ham!!

[under the bar]

While most of us jumped up and down when Torres signed, there were lots of people who had misgivings about him

Don't worry about it.  Every team has them!

[full back]

While most of us jumped up and down when Torres signed, there were lots of people who had misgivings about him, that he was only suited to be a big man at a (relatively) small club

Sure he still is 

[Mentalman]

While most of us jumped up and down when Torres signed, there were lots of people who had misgivings about him, that he was only suited to be a big man at a (relatively) small club

Sure he still is 

Scorch! Pow!

[Hound]

Rafa on the LFC website:

"I don't have any problem with the pressure. But if people analyse the situation properly, it's changed a lot because other teams are signing big players."
 
He added: "I'm surprised by some things people have said. When I spent a lot of money on Torres, he couldn't play for a couple of games because he was injured, but everybody was telling me he had to play because I'd spent so much on him.
 
"But then there was a game of United's, where they had Hargreaves, Nani and Tevez on the bench, players who had cost £20m and maybe £30m, and nobody said anything.
 
"At Liverpool, though, if I leave a Torres or a Keane out, then everybody talks about it.
 
"If I put a player in another position, suddenly 20 experts are going on about it. Experts of what, though? I don't know.
 
"They are analysing things without knowing why they have been done. And then another team can have a bench full of £20million players, and nobody says anything."

Is this a hint that Robbie Keane is going to be dropped shortly...

[AZOffaly]

He also spectacularly misses the point. If other teams have a 20 million pound man on the bench, he's either injured or being replaced by a 25 million pound man. Not by Dirk Kuyt or Yossi Benayoun.

[Mentalman]

He also spectacularly misses the point. If other teams have a 20 million pound man on the bench, he's either injured or being replaced by a 25 million pound man. Not by Dirk Kuyt or Yossi Benayoun.

Very True.

[Uladh]

Sami Hyypia has spoken of his disappointment at being omitted from Liverpool's UEFA Champions League squad.


New regulations dictate that clubs must include at least eight home-grown players in their 25-man party.


Finnish defender Hyypia has been one of the unlucky imports to miss out and will be left in England as the Reds get their European campaign underway against Marseille next Tuesday.


The veteran centre-half admits he is shocked to have missed the cut, but still hopes to play a crucial role for the club this season.


"The manager's decision to leave me out of the squad is a big disappointment for me," he told the Liverpool Echo.


"I understand it's partly because of the UEFA regulations, but despite that, the news came as a surprise to me and a shock too.


"But the club had a 'perfect' timing for this: they didn't want me to move elsewhere, so that's why I was told the news of having been left out, just after the transfer window had closed.


"The club went public to say there had been offers for me, but turned them down. So perhaps that means I am still part of the plans for this season.


"I don't know if I would have wanted to move on, had I heard the news about the squad when the window was still open."


UEFA regulations stipulate four players must be 'association trained' (produced by an English academy) while four must be 'domestic association trained (produced by the club's academy).


As such, Liverpool have named Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby as their 'domestic' players, with Robbie Keane, Jermaine Pennant, Steven Irwin and Martin Kelly filling the other spots.


While Hyypia is disappointed to miss out at this juncture, a new list will be submitted prior to the knockout stages - should Liverpool make it that far.

[corn02]

No Plessi or El Zhar either. Feel sorry for Sami - hopefully will be back for the quarters if we get there.

[slow corner back]

How is this ruling affecting the other english clubs? I cannot see Chelsea or Arsenal having too many home grown acadamy products in the top 25? Must be a few other high profile players left out.

[Rasmatazz:)]

Im a wee bit sad that Sami keeky bobo is not playing as he is one off the weakest link 's & corn02 feel's sorry for him , Ahh well we still have Jamie Carragher playing for them , still hope of the pool to go out as he is a wick defender and player . Come on thee french and see u boys on sat launch time , then u guys can watch some football being play from the prem and euro champs

AKA The Rassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[Norf Tyrone]

How is this ruling affecting the other english clubs? I cannot see Chelsea or Arsenal having too many home grown acadamy products in the top 25? Must be a few other high profile players left out.

Chelsea's squad is not that big so the only casualty was Scott Sinclair. Even though Sinclair could've been classed as a club trained player his spells on loan made him ineligable for this criteria.

A List
Petr Cech
Branislav Ivanovich
Ashley Cole
Michael Essien
Ricardo Carvalho
Frank Lampard
Franco Di Santo
Joe Cole
Didier Drogba
Michael Ballack
Florent Malouda
José Bosingwa
Wayne Bridge
Paulo Ferreira
Deco
Salomon Kalou
Carlo Cudicini
John Terry
Alex
Juliano Belletti
Nicolas Anelka
Henrique Hilario

B List
John Mikel Obi
Rhys Taylor
Sam Hutchinson
Michael Mancienne
Miroslav Stoch

[doire na raithe]

So what way does everyone think saturday is gonna go? I think Rafa has been somewhat let off the hook a little with Gerard and Torres out. With a full team I think there would have been a lot of pressure to finally get a win over UTD but now I think expectations have been lowered. Keane needs a big performance but I can't see it happening, The usual 1-0 lose would be my unfortunate prediction.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

Im a wee bit sad that Sami keeky bobo is not playing as he is one off the weakest link 's & corn02 feel's sorry for him , Ahh well we still have Jamie Carragher playing for them , still hope of the pool to go out as he is a wick defender and player . Come on thee french and see u boys on sat launch time , then u guys can watch some football being play from the prem and euro champs

AKA The Rassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Anyone got a translation for that?

[Hound]

So what way does everyone think saturday is gonna go? I think Rafa has been somewhat let off the hook a little with Gerard and Torres out. With a full team I think there would have been a lot of pressure to finally get a win over UTD but now I think expectations have been lowered. Keane needs a big performance but I can't see it happening, The usual 1-0 lose would be my unfortunate prediction.

If its anything like recent games against United, Keane or Torres won't get a kick, because they won't get any service.  Liverpool need to attack the full backs and thus get the centre backs turned. Give them something to worry about, rather than the usual afternoon stroll they have when Liverpool try and play everything down the middle.

Interesting that Gerrard has ruled himself out, even though he's back in training. Without a warm-up game he believes he won't be 100% and therefore its not worth the risk.