Liverpool Season 2008/9

[JK]

I know Sir Alex has made many, many comments in the press before but at least he has the results to back it up. Sir Alex would have absolutely loved Rafa saying that kind of stuff publicly. He should have kept it to himself and got his players focused on winning the League... that is the only way to get back at Ferguson.

Nothing wrong with questioning Rafa's timing, even Liverpool fans will do that and it's now something he'll have to wear either way, depending on how the season pans out - However, what you're saying is exactly what Rafa is pointing out, why should only the manager or club that's most successful be allowed to make public comment and not conform to an agreement the rest of the league (or most) try to honour?

Fergie is a master at manipulating the officials, and good luck to him or any manager that can get away with it - IMHO, full marks also to Rafa for being the only one with the balls to speak up about it (although I would have preferred better timing, like the off-season)

If United go on to win the league then he will look extremely stupid.

Only to some, and most of those will be Man U supporters backing their manager and refusing to acknowledge the valid points Rafa's made - The bookies have had Man U short priced favourites all season, so it's not as though they haven't been expected to win the title by the majority anyway!

I also posted my thoughts on Benitez's comments well before your poor performance overnight against Stoke who were extremely unlucky to only take 1 point out of that. Hardly a snipe but you do support Liverpool I guess. The pressure is starting to tell with your captain getting arrested, Rafa bleating in the press, and their own fans starting to crack and not even have an ounce of confidence in their own side.

LOL You know full well I support Liverpool, why would you "guess"? You questioned Rafa's comments, but then waited for them to fail before putting the boots in ... Im sure Gerrard got involved in a blue on a Sunday night, because he felt under pressure , Im sure Rafa's "bleat" is nothing but a whinge and has no truth to it And Im sure Liverpool's fans doubting their own teams ability to win the title (like the fans of every other club) would be the reason why they wouldn't win it

[johntheclaret]

If United go on to win the league then he will look extremely stupid.

Sorry Marty, but what has United winning the title got to do with making Rafa's look stupid?
Looking from the flip side, if Man U do win the title, then Rafa's comments might be justified.

From a neutrals point of view, Man U and Fergie, have had the rub of the green with ref's and the FA for a long. long time. As much as Arsenal had a spell and Chelski to some extent.

The truth is the biggest clubs do have some weight and Fergie is an expert at throwing it around. Remember a few seasons ago when Utd were allowed to dip out of the FA Cup and bugger off to sunny Brasil over the clod winter months. they came back after a nice winter break and didn't lose a game for the rest of the season to win the title.

Be honest mate, could you see Cardiff getting away with that ??

Fergie has been the greatest exponent of the psycobabble mind games for many years. See my Top Ten thread. He famously got to Keegan all those years ago. Newcastle went on to throw away a 12 point lead at the top and Utd went on to take the title.

To be fair, Rafa is only just justified in his comments in my opinion, as Liverpool did ok in the 70's and 80's when a penalty at Anfield was something only the Reds got.

[johntheclaret]

I've merged the Liverpool Season 2008/9 and Liverpool Barclays Premier League threads as I didn't see the need for two threads about Liverpool

[BALLHOG]

Rooster it's o.k don't put anymore effort into this thread. The results on the weekend were fantastic let's just look forward to playing Liverpool at Old Trafford in a couple of months.

[Bully]

yeah what was that assult over anyway i didnt hear much, all i heard was about a song that wasnt played for gerrard or something at a club in newcaslte?. i would not have thought clubs in newcastle would be packed seen as their side is struggling , thought all the supporters would be tucked home in bed dreaming of staying in the premier league?

[devilsadvocate]

Rooster it's o.k don't put anymore effort into this thread. The results on the weekend were fantastic let's just look forward to playing Liverpool at Old Trafford in a couple of months.

Ease up. Someone has to moderate this thread or it would be WW3.

And there are no sides being taken. It's fact that Fergie has played the FA like a fiddle for years. They lube up, bend over and spread em for a good ol rodgering for Fergie and Utd.

[devilsadvocate]

yeah what was that assult over anyway i didnt hear much, all i heard was about a song that wasnt played for gerrard or something at a club in newcaslte?. i would not have thought clubs in newcastle would be packed seen as their side is struggling , thought all the supporters would be tucked home in bed dreaming of staying in the premier league?

It was in Liverpool. Surely it would have been a Toffee DJ taking the mickey our of Stevie, who probably got fed up and had a swing after a few beers.

If my B grade buddies had done the same thing at our rivals local, it wouldn't even get a word in the local rag. It been blown way out of proportion, but it's no excuse for Stevie G's outburst.

[JK]

yeah what was that assult over anyway i didnt hear much, all i heard was about a song that wasnt played for gerrard or something at a club in newcaslte?. i would not have thought clubs in newcastle would be packed seen as their side is struggling , thought all the supporters would be tucked home in bed dreaming of staying in the premier league?

It was in Liverpool. Surely it would have been a Toffee DJ taking the mickey our of Stevie, who probably got fed up and had a swing after a few beers.

If my B grade buddies had done the same thing at our rivals local, it wouldn't even get a word in the local rag. It been blown way out of proportion, but it's no excuse for Stevie G's outburst.

From the reports I've heard, the witnesses have said SteveG was sober as ... Who knows with these things though, only thing that can be taken as fact is a verdict once it's been to court I guess.

[smithy]

The DJ was a manc.

[Bully]

yeah what was that assult over anyway i didnt hear much, all i heard was about a song that wasnt played for gerrard or something at a club in newcaslte?. i would not have thought clubs in newcastle would be packed seen as their side is struggling , thought all the supporters would be tucked home in bed dreaming of staying in the premier league?

It was in Liverpool. Surely it would have been a Toffee DJ taking the mickey our of Stevie, who probably got fed up and had a swing after a few beers.

If my B grade buddies had done the same thing at our rivals local, it wouldn't even get a word in the local rag. It been blown way out of proportion, but it's no excuse for Stevie G's outburst.

From the reports I've heard, the witnesses have said SteveG was sober as ... Who knows with these things though, only thing that can be taken as fact is a verdict once it's been to court I guess.

i thought it was in newcastle after the game up there between newcastle and liverpool?

[smithy]

It was in Southport, LIverpool.
He was there having a discussion with Kenny and Marina Dalglish about how he could do some charity work/fundraising for their charity as well as some drinks with mates for christmas.

[RoosterMarty]

It is funny (well maybe not really) that only moments after discussing charity work with Dalglish he was arrested and facing a 5 year stint in jail. Kenny said they were behaving exceptionally well before he left too.

[smithy]

Saw this and thought it was quite funny.
Martin Skrtel and Carlos Tevez

[devilsadvocate]

The DJ was a manc.

And clearly a complete wanker.

[Zelezny Chucks]

Pfft he's been charged with affray. By the definition of that if you look at someone the wrong way and they fear for their safety you can be charged.

[johntheclaret]

Affray is a plea bargain. The CPS are only after a conviction to keep thier hit rate up and affray is a much less serious charge so I think that Gerrard is likely to plead guilty.

He gets off with a ticking off, fine or maybe a day's community service and the CPS get another tick in their box. I suspect he was offered Affray for a guiulty plea as the alternative would be an ABH charge which he would have no alternative but to defend as it comes with a 5 year sentence.

I think the CPS would also be aware that he has a a few bob and could afford some top lawers to defend him, whereas the CPS lawyers tend to be light weights, so they probably wouldn't want to waste time and money to possibly lose the case.

Just a guess though.

[johntheclaret]

Talk about a complete rip off.

Thanks to the Sun

Fans Kop costliest ticket

REAL MADRID have unveiled their most expensive seat ticket for the visit of Liverpool in the Champions League.
Top seats at the Bernabeu for the last-16 clash on February 25 will cost a whopping £785 — and that is before the touts even get hold of them.
The record-breaking VIP ticket comes with a complimentary team scarf and food and drink from one of the club’s restaurants.
But it is still DOUBLE the price of the same ticket for a match against Juventus last November.

[johntheclaret]

Thanks to the Mail

Reds rocked as Rafa rejects new contract at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has rejected the terms of the contract which was offered to him this week, according to a report.
The Spaniard has refused to commit to the deal because of a disagreement with owners George Gillett and Tim Hicks over his level of control.

Benitez told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: 'The talks between my agent and the advisers of the owners have been very positive and friendly and our differences are about my responsibilities.
'The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive. But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.

[Bully]

Thanks to the Mail

Reds rocked as Rafa rejects new contract at Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has rejected the terms of the contract which was offered to him this week, according to a report.
The Spaniard has refused to commit to the deal because of a disagreement with owners George Gillett and Tim Hicks over his level of control.

Benitez told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: 'The talks between my agent and the advisers of the owners have been very positive and friendly and our differences are about my responsibilities.
'The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive. But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.

strange, would have thought they would not let rafa go?

[JK]

Many reports coming out of the UK suggest the LFC Owners (or perhaps that should be owner, singular, as some reports suggest it was Hicks acting without Gillette's knowledge) are lining up a sale or majority investment of/into the club.

The Al Kharafi family of Kuwait is estimated to be worth 9-12 Billion STG.

Whether it's now or the not too-distant future, it's hard to see how the Yanks can retain ownership ... They need to renegotiate their loans by July and with the RBS reeling from the global financial crisis, it's unlikely they'll be offering favourable terms or conditions.

We can only hope I guess!!