Messages

A scoop in the Ziggy class there, Hound.

Indeed, I fed back Dinny's comments on Best and Girv, and while we were already up to our quota of Nordies, they dumped Dempsey and gave D'Arcy the no. 21 jersey   

Can't believe I'm even writing this but can vorinin be recalled from his loan? I would have more faith in him than Ngog

There isn't any question but he's a better player than Ngog, although he's not an out and out striker.

Many loan deals have clauses wherby the player can be recalled, but whether they bothered putting one into Voronin's contract is anyone's guess. Anyway my hunch is Rafa wouldnt want him, even if Torres did pick up an injury.

Will his loan spell be cut short......
Is he on his way back .....

I've heard the team from a source. No idea if he's reliable or not, but time will tell...

Munster front 5.
Ferris Heaslip Wallace
The Os
Luke and Bowe on the wings
Paddy Wallace at centre with Drico.
Kearney at full back.

Leamy, Dempsey and Murphy among the subs.

Some miserable git has said Liverpool have agreed a fee with Valencia for Villa and apparently its travelling like wildfire thru internet forums. If only...

Keane in talks with Spurs on deadline day
Monday, 2 February 2009 15:06
Keane, who has endured a frustrating six months at Anfield after leaving Spurs in the summer for £20.3million, has been given permission to speak to his former club.

One of the English papers today said Liverpool bought him for £18m + addons which brought it up to £20.3m, but none of the add-ons have materialised therefore £18m is the figure.

no, vidic normally attacks everything / goes tight with the centre forward and rio sweeps but for the pool last year they reversed that, to excellent effect both times. rio is as agile and fast as torres so he is perfect for him.

No they did not.

I was at the game at Anfield last year and Rio kept well away from Torres.

[Liverpool find it difficult to score when Torres doesn't do it. The better teams will work out how to contain him and thus contain Liverpool.]

- Aside from Gerrard long range efforts, Liverpool find it difficult to score when Torres doesn't do it.  The better teams will work out how to contain him and thus contain Liverpool.

United have a very effetive strategy for this. they gently place him in rio's arse pocket at kick off and return him to rafa upon the ending of the game.

- Steven Gerrard will not get sent off in English football regardless as to what he does.

Unless he dives blatantly twice in some game

Apart from set pieces, Rio has never marked Torres. Its Vidic who picks him up.

skysports news expect the transfer of keane to spurs to go through with spurs agreeing to drop interest in saviola to allow l'pool to tie up a deal

Always had a soft spot for Saviola.

I'll post about the match laster, why am I bigging this up? Because I am going to say Kuyt was poor.  

Saviola has never been one of those who I liked, not sure he has the substance behind the flair. I havent being closely following La Liga in the last couple of seasons but rarely getting a look in recently at a Madrid team that's hardly flying isn't a great sign. But if Benitez is really interested then obviously he thinks he can make an impact.

[George Gillett: "Why are Liverpool FC fans so angry with me?"]

Interesting piece from the Liverpool echo re Gillett:

George Gillett: "Why are Liverpool FC fans so angry with me?"
Feb 2 2009 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett

LIVERPOOL FC co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks endured a torrid day on Merseyside as they ran the gauntlet of protesting fans.

The Americans were left in no doubt about the strength of feeling against them when supporters staged a demonstration at Anfield following the Reds' 2-0 win over Chelsea.

Around 300 fans gathered outside the directors' entrance, chanting for Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett to sell the club they bought from former owner David Moores two years ago this month.

The protest was entirely peaceful but noisy and the chants could be heard inside the stadium long after the final whistle had been blown on Liverpool's victory.

Throughout the match, a group of fans in the paddock, right in front of where Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett were sitting in the directors box, displayed a banner which read "Thanks but no Yanks".

Earlier in the day, members of the Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) fans' group converged on the Crowne Plaza hotel at the Pier Head where Gillett was staying.

Mr Gillett, who had earlier declined an opportunity to be interviewed by the ECHO, was clearly unprepared for their arrival as a number of supporters got past hotel security to confront him.

But after quickly recovering his composure, the Colorado-based businessman agreed to speak with to SOS spokesman Jay McKenna in the hotel foyer.

The demonstrators were well-behaved and well-organised throughout, although police did arrive on the scene to ensure hotel guests could come and go unhindered.

Mr McKenna emerged from his impromptu meeting with Mr Gillett to inform those gathered outside of what he was just told.

Mr McKenna said: "I told him all the fans who were outside and thousands more were angry and upset at how he and Tom Hicks were running the club.

"He looked shocked and asked me why. I told him he knew why, because he met Spirit Of Shankly before the Manchester United game.

"I said 'fans see it as you have made three promises and broken them'. So he asked me what they were.

"The first one was the debt on the football club. I told him his partner Tom Hicks promised it would not be like the Glazer takeover at Manchester United, and to fans that meant no debt on the club.

"He claimed to be unaware and asked what I meant. I told him they had bought the club and then placed the debt for buying the club onto the club.

"He claimed this was at the 'request of the banks' and they were in a 'sound financial position' with 'revenue per pound or dollar in ratio to the debt' better than at any other football club.

"When I asked about the extension to July, he claimed that was false and no-one else knew the true details because they were kept confidential.

"The second one was backing the manager and then not doing so. I said they said they would back the manager, so why had they approached Jurgen Klinsmann about the position of manager?

"He then went onto claim they had met with the manager, who told them he was to have discussions with 'three other teams' about joining them and they approached Klinsmann to have him in place to work as a 'consultant at the club' if Benitez left them.

"I asked why they had approached Klinsmann, because his pedigree was not one that immediately made fans sit up and take note.

"He claimed Klinsmann had a brilliant track record, and he had excellent marketing talent, having close links with those at Adidas, Nike and Reebok and the benefits of him being at Liverpool.

"I asked who the three clubs were, but he refused to answer.

"The third one was the stadium. I told Gillett the situation with the stadium angered fans, because Gillett himself had promised a spade in the ground in 60 days, and it still had not happened.

"He denied making this claim and said it was a 'made-up quote by the media'and he would be interested to see such a quote.

"I asked why work on the stadium dragged on before they finally blamed the credit crunch for it not happening.

"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.

"I asked if the club's accounts would show and support this when they are released, and he said yes. "Gillett then claimed all transfer fees to date had been met by himself and Tom.

"He said when they bought the club, they were told about the 'Liverpool Way'.

"I asked if he felt they had been true custodians as they promised. Gillett told me he 'had tried, but it had been difficult' and they had 'done what they could'.

"I asked why he could not speak for Hicks because he was his partner.

"He said that 'husband and wife can say different things but one does not get the blame'.

"I explained they were both responsible, and he was not happy at being blamed.

"I asked why he was in partnership with Hicks. He said Hicks and himself had worked together well for six years in other businesses such as food, but this is different because the media are involved.

"I asked, would he or Tom Hicks, or both, be selling their stakes in Liverpool. "Again, he told me he cannot speak for Tom Hicks. I asked, had there been any offers for the club, and were they currently meeting anyone about it?

He told me: 'Yes, there have been expressions of interest and some negotiation'.

"I asked who with, and he told me he could not tell me that. I asked would he sell, and he admitted he was 'open to it', but he could not speak for Hicks.

"I then went to walk away, and he came after me saying, 'A few weeks ago, we were in first position, then a certain individual from the club attacked another individual from another club, and, since then, we have lost form and slid down the league.'

"I was stunned, and asked if he was blaming Benitez as a result, and in saying that, was he not backing the manager?

"Rather than confirm or deny as I expected, he replied 'that's your implication', before I walked away and back outside to the real world."

great entertainment but have the new rules taken the physicality out of the game? I'd hate to be a defender in croke park now. Was bad enough before, now its impossible.

Maybe, but I think the definition of physicality is the key question. Getting rid of Bodychecks and high tackles will be no loss. There's still room for the shoulder charge, when executed and refeereed properly - there was one perfect instance when Whelan gave Cavanaugh a great clatter, Cav got straight back up and play went on.

And defending is a team game, if you put pressure on the man delivering the ball, then it'll be easier for the defender to get their first. And good defenders can still dispossess forwards. While Sherlock gave McMahon a tough enough time, there were at least two occassions when McMahon dispossed him, when Sherlock looked in full control but just dawdled for a split second.

The problem with the new rules will be consistency. But we shouldnt forget that's also a big problem with the previous rules.

Great to get the win, and Liverpool's domination deserved it. 20 goal attempts to 4.
Substitutions worked today, I thought Benny made a big difference and even Babel showed some energy for a change.
Great cross by Aurelio and lovely header by Torres for the goal.

Alonso gave Lampard the absolute run around in midfield and hence his frustration. Tackling with a foot in the air and studs showing is always risky. I doubt Ballack or Malouda broke sweat during the game. Very similar to the United-Chelsea game, just took us a bit longer to get the opening goal, and if the ref had played 30 seconds longer the scoreline would have been the same.

Result will count for feck all if they don't beat Pompey next Saturday.

Meant to say also:
Riera is barely recognisable from the player who made such a great impact in the first half of the season. Maybe could two with a couple of weeks in Spain to recharge the batteries.
Is there a right winger in the premiership who is a worse crosser of the ball than Kuyt? He's as much chance of hitting those security people who sit behind the goals as he has of hitting Torres.

A great evening's entertainment.

Don't know how we were only 4 behind at the break after the superb Tyrone display, but hung in well and absolutely dominated the second half, mainly thanks to an immense display by Whelan.

We should have been well clear, the 6 kicks into the keeper's hands were very poor, but who knows if we'd gone ahead earlier Tyrone may well have come back earlier. Going ahead just at the end of the 70 looked ideal and I honsetly think we would have won it, having the momentum and some of the Tyronies out on their feet - but then two very poor mistakes by Bonner twice handed the ball to Cavanaugh and with tremendous bottle he nailed the equaliser and winning point. Well done!

A pleasure to play Tyrone without all the niggly crap.

Very well done to the ref too (bar one very odd decision to penalise Keaney after he made a great catch over the corner backs head).

you may have a problem on how Celtic conduct their contractual agreements, but as no other player has had a problem with this, then please tell me how miller was different ?

Its all explianed earlier, but sure if you refuse to "listen" then you'll hardly take notice now. But I will repeat if you think thats the way Celtic treat all their players, then you are delusional! Cetlic don't let players they want to keep get to close to 6 months remaining on their contract. They tie them up on good deals in the summer previous or earlier.

Well, we're agreed on that anyway! There was a Republic of Ireland player a few years ago (can't remember which) who was annoyed that Brain Kerr made them visit childrens hospitals. God love him 

Who is the one that Tom Humphries writes about sometimes who tore up a wad of money in front of impoverished children in an eastern European country?

Albania wasn't it? And he was setting fire to it in front of them, as I recall.

I thought I heard Latvia or Lithuania, the journo never named the player, but from reading the piece at the time I suspected McAteer.

I heard a different name, another lad who was very young and stupid at the time like Jason, and I'm sure very much regret their idiocy. Incidentally both Jason and the name I heard have done a lot of charity work in recent years