Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[S3vw]

a piece of new:


FERGIE SLAMS ANFIELD OWNERS


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken in defence of his Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez by suggesting the Anfield club's owners have undermined him.

Benitez's position has been the subject of speculation in the past two months amid reports his relationship with American co-chairmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks has broken down.

The problems heightened last week when Hicks admitted he had spoken to former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann as an "insurance policy" should Benitez leave the club.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia where United are on a short winter tour,

Ferguson said: "At big clubs, it's absolutely paramount that the board show their class.

"Arsene Wenger has had great support at Arsenal and I've had great support, too, ever since I came here. So there's a certain type of unity there.

"What happened with [Klinsmann] was a bad piece of business on Liverpool's part, there's no doubt about that. That sort of thing can be very upsetting for a manager. You should allow a manager to get on with his job."

League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan revealed his organisation had offered "advice, support and encouragement " to Benitez.

Gillett and Hicks have also angered supporters with their treatment of the Spaniard but the Americans themselves have also been the subject of rumours with the investment arm of the Dubai government thought to be interested in buying their stake.

The club's immediate future could become clearer this week with Gillett and Hicks poised to announce ?50million re-financing of the funds they used to buy the club. That would allow the pair, who have insisted they intend to remain in charge, to press ahead with plans for a new stadium.

[Regaine]

Originally Posted by sex crusader

When i was praising babel earlier, some so called 'expert' has played him down . But then hor,one of his post talking about him wor.Then he switched his focus to personal attack.I'm also with you on sticking with the winning formula. The funny thing was ,he said other team like man u also rotate their players. But the fact is they are winning games not liverpool.

Yes babel will be in time to come the next Henry . Imagine him with Torres. Now that so-called senoir dare not talk about roation in Liverpool. Agreed that other teams also do rotation only when they have no choice. Those teams only do about 2 rotations. But Liverpool still tops the best . 5 to 6 players in any one game. No wonder they can't pass the ball and can't win the game. As a die hard Liverpool fan, I like to see our team winning and winning in style. I believe now we are out of the title race. And have to even fight for the 4th spot. Rafa should realise that by now his rotation had cost Liverpool a lot of points. We have earned the title of king of draws. Very sad time for Liverpool. I hope they can sort out their problems soon and get on with the game of winning.

[Regaine]

Originally Posted by Alkano

Getting away with it is one thing but consistently producing results is another.
This is where Rafa failed.
He needs to learn from the best and not grumbling so much on the transfer fee available.

He has been in the England for about 3 years now if I not wrong.he still hasn't learnt anything about the game. Again I must say he is only good for Champions League. I think he needs to be rotated as well and take responsibility.

[hawksbay]

Originally Posted by Regaine

He has been in the England for about 3 years now if I not wrong.he still hasn't learnt anything about the game. Again I must say he is only good for Champions League. I think he needs to be rotated as well and take responsibility.

i jus don t understand u guys y is it always rafa s fault,y don t u fault the players he put out week in week out.u guys talk abt rotation but there 10international players out there most of the time,if they r gd enough for thier respective national teams then they shd be gd enough to the job week in week out.changing the manager is all nonsense.

[ANDYSIAO14]

WHO ARE HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE?



MANAGER

Shaun Gale: The boss (Runs Sportswear Business)


GOALKEEPERS


Kevin Scriven: First-choice (Property developer in family business)

Tom Taylor: deputy (Plumber/barman)


DEFENDERS

Neil Sharp: Centre Back (Courier Driver for Lynx UPS)

Justin Gregory: Left back (Studying sports therapy at Chichester University)

Jay Smith: Centre back (Quantity Surveyor in Surrey/Middlesex)

Phil Warner: Centre back (Works for a plumbing company)

Shaun Wilkinson: Right back (Works for Father's lagging firm IMI Insulations)

Brett Poate: Left back (Plasterer)


MIDFIELDERS


Jamie Collins: Central midfield and Captain (Football coach for primary school pupils in West London)

Mo Harkin: Right midfielder (Gas Boiler Engineer servicing Twickenham / Richmond area of London)

Michael McEnery: Right midfielder (Student)

Charlie Oatway: Central midfielder and Assistant manager (Brighton & Hove Albion Community Officer)

Alfie Potter: Right midfield (Professional Footballer - on loan from Peterborough)

Tony Taggart: Left/Right midifielder (Dustbin Man)


FORWARDS

Rocky Baptiste: Forward (Studying to be a London taxi driver)

Richard Pacquette: Forward (School Caretaker / Monitor and school football coach)

Jamie Slabber: Forward (Formerly a full time footballer currently unemployed)

Craig Watkins: Forward (Student)


ALL I CAN SAY IS ANOTHER 5-0 AWAITS THEM

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by Alkano

Getting away with it is one thing but consistently producing results is another. This is where Rafa failed.
He needs to learn from the best and not grumbling so much on the transfer fee available.

Let's just look at the facts:

ALEX FERGUSON became the manager of MUFC in 86 ... now, he is the most successful & longest serving in MUFC's history.

He was one match from being sacked in Jan 90, after WINNING NOTHING IN HIS FIRST 3 SEASONS!!
Fortunately for him (& the scums), MUFC won that 3rd round cup-tie 1-0 against Forest ... a cup win which has often been cited as the match which saved Ferguson's Old Trafford career.
Incidentally, they went on to win the FA Cup against Palace that season (3–3 in the final & 1-0 in the replay).
THAT'S 4 SEASONS BEFORE HE WON HIS FIRST DOMESTIC TROPHY FOR MUFC!!!
Despite the cheers, they still ended up a disappointing 13th in the league!!!

In his 5th season (90-91), they were still inconsistent and finished sixth. They reached the League Cup final, but lost 0–1 to Wednesday.
They also reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, beating Barcelona in the final.
THAT'S 5 SEASONS BEFORE HE WON HIS FIRST EUROPEAN TROPHY FOR MUFC, albeit in the 2nd class European competition.

After the match, Ferguson announced to journalists that MUFC would win the league the following season.
It was a brave prediction, considering that the club had failed to do so since 1967.
In the end, Ferguson won MUFC their first league title only in 92-93 ... THAT'S 7 SEASONS BEFORE HE WON HIS FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE FOR MUFC, a 26-year wait for MUFC die-hards!!!

At the end of 98-99, his team luckily won against Bayern in the Champions League final ... THAT'S 13 SEASONS BEFORE HE WON HIS ONLY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR MUFC!!!

More importantly, Ferguson has since surpassed Paisley to become the most successful manager in the history of English football ... winning 9 Premier Leagues by 06-07 - BUT ONLY BECOZ MUFC STOOD BY HIM FOR 21 SEASONS, noting that his 8th league title was actually won in 02-03!!!

In other words, even YOUR SO-CALLED BEST HAD TO GO ON FOR 4 CONTINUOUS SEASONS WITHOUT WINNING THE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!
Also, THROUGHOUT HIS 21 SEASONS, THERE WERE 8 TROPHYLESS SEASONS ... a hit rate of 0.62!!!

ARSENE WENGER became the manager of Arsenal in 96 ... now, he is the most successful & longest serving in Arsenal's history.

Yes, Wenger won both the Premier League & the FA Cup in 97-98 ... HIS 2ND SEASON IN CHARGE!!!

But after that flash in the pan, HE HAD 3 TROPHYLESS SEASONS TOO, albeit near misses:
98-99 ... 2nd in Premier League & FA Cup semi-finalist
99-00 ... 2nd in Premier League & UEFA Cup finalist
00-01 ... 2nd in Premier League & FA Cup finalist

Then, he won the domestic double again in 01-02 ... HIS 6TH SEASON IN CHARGE!!!
Then, he had 3 winning seasons as follows:
02-03 ... FA Cup
03-04 ... Premier League
04-05 ... FA Cup

Since then, he has had another 2 barren seasons:
05-06 ... Champions League finalist
06-07 ... League Cup finalist

In other words, YOUR OTHER SO-CALLED BEST HAS YET TO WIN A SINGLE EUROPEAN TROPHY!!!
Also, THROUGHOUT HIS 11 SEASONS, THERE WERE 6 TROPHYLESS SEASONS ... a hit-rate of 0.45!!!

Originally Posted by Regaine

He has been in the England for about 3 years now if I not wrong. he still hasn't learnt anything about the game. Again I must say he is only good for Champions League. I think he needs to be rotated as well and take responsibility.

Let's look at facts again ...

RAFA BENITEZ became the manager of Liverpool in 04 ... IT IS MY PERSONAL WISH TO SEE HIM BECOME THE MOST SUCCESSFUL & LONGEST SERVING IN LIVERPOOL'S HISTORY.

Rafa won the Champions League in 04-05 ... HIS 1ST SEASON IN CHARGE!!!
Rafa won the FA Cup in 05-06 ... HIS 2ND SEASON IN CHARGE!!!

Yes, he is after all still human ... & HAD 1 TROPHYLESS SEASON SO FAR, albeit a near miss:
06-07 ... Champions League finalist

Sure, Rafa hasn't brought home the Premier League yet ... but so has 4 other managers not, over a span of 17 seasons!!!
In fact, these 4 ex-managers only managed the following wins during their respective reigns:
Ronnie Moran (2 months) ... nothing
Graeme Souness (2.5 seasons) ... 1 FA Cup
Roy Evans (3.5 seasons) ... 1 League Cup
Gerard Houllier (6 seasons) ... 1 UEFA Cup, 1 FA Cup & 2 League Cups (with all 3 won in 00-01, it means he had 4 trophyless seasons!!!).

In comparison to the best, RAFA ONLY HAD 1 TROPHYLESS SEASON, OUT OF 3 SO FAR ... a hit-rate of 0.67!!!
In terms of win percentage, he stands at 56.54% so far ... inferior only to Paisley (57.38%) & Dalglish (60.91%) in LFC's history!!!

Facts dun lie ... if Rafa is given the time like Ferguson & Wenger got (plus the full backing consistently from the board too), I'm sure my personal wish will be materialise as an eventuality.

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by hawksbay

i jus don t understand u guys y is it always rafa s fault, y don t u fault the players he put out week in week out. u guys talk abt rotation but there 10international players out there most of the time, if they r gd enough for thier respective national teams then they shd be gd enough to the job week in week out. changing the manager is all nonsense.

On behalf of my "adversary of a friend", THUMBS UP to you.

[ANDYSIAO14]

Originally Posted by KingEros

Facts dun lie ... if Rafa is given the time like Ferguson & Wenger got (plus the full backing consistently from the board too),
I'm sure my personal wish will be materialise as an eventuality.

After reading the facts up there...

Yes!!
You correct!!
Facts dont lie!!

[picu]

Originally Posted by Regaine

I would have choose some players like Finian , Risse , Babel , Pennant and Alonso. with a 4-4-2 system.

And you are 100% sure that your team would have gotten all 3 points against Villa? Considering that Risse is not in his best of form lately, and Pennant and Alonso is still not back to full fitness from injuries.

Originally Posted by KingEros

Let's just look at the facts:

Facts dun lie ... if Rafa is given the time like Ferguson & Wenger got (plus the full backing consistently from the board too), I'm sure my personal wish will be materialise as an eventuality.

Kudos to your detailed analysis!!!

[Cummon]

Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have completed the £350m refinancing deal to secure their Anfield future, BBC Sport understands.

The financial package is expected to help the duo repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover in March 2007.

It also means that the club can finally launch their long-awaited plan for a new stadium at Stanley Park.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose said £60m of the package will provide the start-up money for the new ground.

The deal, which is expected to be announced on Friday, is seen as a reaffirmation of Hicks's determination to remain at Anfield along with co-owner Gillett, despite interest from Dubai International Capital (DIC).

Hicks will also feel he will be in a stronger position should he decide to sell in the future, dealing a blow to DIC's hopes of mounting a swift bid to take control at Anfield.

The American pair were the target of crowd demonstrations from Liverpool supporters unhappy with their regime during Monday's televised game against Aston Villa, with banners calling for DIC to mount a bid.

But Hicks, in particular, remained defiant in the face of protests and insisted he had no intention of selling his 50% share in the club.

We just watched how the angry Taiwanese throw President Ah Bian's DPP into abandon with their votes but it seems that there is not much Pool supporters can do to force G & H out of our beloved club other than 'begging' DIC to make a bid ?
What's the point of talking on the good or bad of rotation when we don't even know if there is a change of manager or owner,or both in the near future

[wolfclan]

Originally Posted by KingEros

Facts dun lie ... if Rafa is given the time like Ferguson & Wenger got (plus the full backing consistently from the board too), I'm sure my personal wish will be materialise as an eventuality.

In between, if I am not wrong, tat knight of scrums have to rebuild his team over and over again for the first seasons. And if not wrong it was only after they bought in gary palli, and few others did they actually win the league.

As for Arsene, when he came in, Denis Berg was already bought in for a seaon, and he still have the 4 defenders who were playing together since graham george, so he also had a stable and reliable defence when he came in.

I won't say Rafa's rotation is correct, but if the so called first 11 are played week in week out, and if someone in those 11 got injury, lets say out for few weeks, dun you need other players to come in? And won't those so called first 11 be tired? remember, nowadays games are played faster, and also the players run more, its not logically to expect same 11 players week in week out. Also is it possible to substain the form for such a long run?

Anyway I dun believe even if the same 11 players played in all the games, Liverpool will be top of table currently, as there are alot other factors coming into play. Dun forget the 6-0 win against derby, Steven Gerrard was not in the team. Maybe if he plays the score will be higher, but then it might not too.

At the end of the day, be it rotation or no rotation, the players being played just have to perform. if they dun, then both the manager and players got to take responsibility, and not just the manager.

[rahl]

Originally Posted by hawksbay

i jus don t understand u guys y is it always rafa s fault,y don t u fault the players he put out week in week out.u guys talk abt rotation but there 10international players out there most of the time,if they r gd enough for thier respective national teams then they shd be gd enough to the job week in week out.changing the manager is all nonsense.

Originally Posted by wolfclan

Anyway I dun believe even if the same 11 players played in all the games, Liverpool will be top of table currently, as there are alot other factors coming into play. Dun forget the 6-0 win against derby, Steven Gerrard was not in the team. Maybe if he plays the score will be higher, but then it might not too.

At the end of the day, be it rotation or no rotation, the players being played just have to perform. if they dun, then both the manager and players got to take responsibility, and not just the manager.

Top marks to you guys, that's all I can say, I won't be able to make a better case myself.

To bro Regaine, still waiting for the piece of homework on rotation. Now should be the best time to do it since apparently rotation has well and truly backfired this time!

[hawksbay]

[QUOTE=wolfclan;2545090]In between, if I am not wrong, tat knight of scrums have to rebuild his team over and over again for the first seasons. And if not wrong it was only after they bought in gary palli, and few others did they actually win the league.

dont forget the cantona factor,can t believe wilko sold him after cantona helped leeds win the tittle,cantona when on to win the tittle with the scums the following season which actually started the ball rolling for the scums

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by hawksbay

dont forget the cantona factor, cant believe wilko sold him after cantona helped leeds win the title

IMHO, Wilkinson had no choice ... he got neither the charisma nor the track record to "control" a loose character like Cantona.
In contrast, for the sake of his own survival, Ferguson indulged Cantona ... just look at how he's still welcomed back after being banned for his kung-fu antics, not unlike how Ferdinand was welcomed back after being banned for his dope evasion antics.
So much for his hair-dryer & boot-kicking reputation of a strictest disciplinarian. Nothing but tabloid myths.

Originally Posted by hawksbay

cantona went on to ... which actually started the ball rolling for the scums

Yes, I still remember his late goal which settled the 96 FA Cup final ... & left a bitter after-taste of the Armani suits, as well as the Spice Boys tag which followed LFC back then.

[KingEros]

With the Jan transfer window coming to a close in less than a week ...

RAFA: MOMO COULD LEAVE
Steve Hunter 23 January 2008

Rafa Benitez has admitted that Momo Sissoko could be close to leaving Anfield with Italian giants Juventus amongst a host of clubs chasing the Mali international's signature.
The midfielder is currently on African Cup of Nations duty with Mali and Benitez said the player could leave before the end of the January transfer window.

"We know that they (Juventus) are interested in Momo but we need to wait until the end of the transfer window and we need to be calm," he added. "There are two Spanish clubs and two Italian clubs also interested in Momo and we will try to do the best for the club."

When asked if he thought Sissoko would leave this month, Benitez said: "Yes, I think so. It could be a possibility but it depends on the other teams if they push hard or not."

Meanwhile, the Reds boss has also welcomed the news that Steve Finnan has retired from international football and said it can only be a good thing for Liverpool.

"Steve told me the other day and it is very positive for us," he said. "At his age it's important to concentrate on your team so I think this is very good news for us."