Liverpool Rumours And General Discussion 2007/2008

rosboy · 14-04-2008 01:06PM

raven136 wrote: »

Rafa is the only one who has the clubs best interests at heart and i personally believe he is 3 signings away from a title,but would not be surprised if he walked in the summer.

I agree with you totally. Its a terrible state of affairs. I'm not normally a praying manm but if you're up there, please save us superman!

IrishMike · 14-04-2008 01:19PM

Rafa will probably give an ultimatium of Parry or me.
He is in as strong a bargining position as he is ever likely to be with the team flying and
a CL semi final coming up so the board will have no choice but to back him.
Thats what im hoping but knowing the idiots at Liverpool they will probably let him walk
and hire Sam Allardyce

Stky10 · 14-04-2008 01:31PM

IrishMike wrote: »

Rafa will probably give an ultimatium of Parry or me.
He is in as strong a bargining position as he is ever likely to be with the team flying and
a CL semi final coming up so the board will have no choice but to back him.
Thats what im hoping but knowing the idiots at Liverpool they will probably let him walk
and hire Sam Allardyce

Personally I don't think it will come to that. I think Parry is a muppet like most people, but he was summoned to the meeting in the US. There is no indication that it was him who initiated the contact with Klinsmann, or had anymore to do it with it.

I reckon Rafa will use the crap going on to ensure he gets a decent transfer budget in the summer. He doesn't need them, his reputation is as strong as it ever was and he'd have plenty of offers if he opted out. They need him though, because if he walks, there'll be blood in the streets.

zing · 14-04-2008 01:34PM

IrishMike wrote: »

Rafa will probably give an ultimatium of Parry or me.
He is in as strong a bargining position as he is ever likely to be with the team flying and
a CL semi final coming up so the board will have no choice but to back him.
Thats what im hoping but knowing the idiots at Liverpool they will probably let him walk
and hire Sam Allardyce

I honestly hope he doesn't do that. Getting rid of Parry right now is not in the best interests of the club and I'd imagine Rafa knows that only too well.

IrishMike · 14-04-2008 01:37PM

zing wrote: »

I honestly hope he doesn't do that. Getting rid of Parry right now is not in the best interests of the club and I'd imagine Rafa knows that only too well.

Would you instead prefer another summer of him making a complete balls of
trying to sign new players to the point where we lose the next Torres ?
The man is a disaster and although there are bigger problems at the club
it shouldnt detract from the fact that he is a shambles and needs to go.

zing · 14-04-2008 02:35PM

I agree he needs to go but just not right now - imo his position on the board is far too important right now. For me resolving the mess that is the club's ownership is far more important than any one season, any one signing, any one existing player or any one staff member be they cook, groundskeeper, team manager, ceo, etc.. I believe Parry has an important role to play in this so if it came to it - yeah I'd be prepared to miss out on the next Torres if it meant the bigger problems were resolved soon. After that the sooner he's gone the better.

Also one would hope that with his position on thin ice as it is that he'll keep his socks pulled firmly up going forward - anyone is such a position would be a fool to do otherwise. But then we are talking about Rick here

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 03:32PM

I agree, at the moment, it may be best that Parry hangs around (i actually feel dirty for saying that)

good article from Brian Reade in the Mirror at the weekend. Although it is absolutely ruinned by a typo at the end!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/reade/2008/04/12/3-games-when-wenger-myths-were-exposed-89520-20380458/

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 04:11PM

It's not really

It's a biased article written by a Liverpool fan trying to ignore the achievements of 1 manager and celebrate the achievements of another just because of the club he supports.

Jesus Wept · 14-04-2008 04:13PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

I agree, at the moment, it may be best that Parry hangs around (i actually feel dirty for saying that)

good article from Brian Reade in the Mirror at the weekend. Although it is absolutely ruinned by a typo at the end!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/reade/2008/04/12/3-games-when-wenger-myths-were-exposed-89520-20380458/

FAIL! Posted in full already, thought you read this thread Mr Alan!

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 04:16PM

Shock horror.....Utd fan doesnt like article that points out benitez's positive attributes and super achievements!:eek:

Maybe instead you'd like to point out what he said in the article that is untrue? as opposed to just rubbishing it because of the city the writer is from

Thanks

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 04:18PM

The-Rigger wrote: »

FAIL! Posted in full already, thought you read this thread Mr Alan!

ah well! i'm a bit behind, been away most of the weekend, apologies!

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 04:23PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

Shock horror.....Utd fan doesnt like article that points out benitez's positive attributes and super achievements!:eek:

Maybe instead you'd like to point out what he said in the article that is untrue? as opposed to just rubbishing it because of the city the writer is from

Thanks

Shock horror in you presuming i'm rubbishing Benitez achievements. Fact is I rate Benitez AND Wenger as managers.

The whole article was presented in such a way to ridicule Wenger and his european record(whilst also concentrating on Benitezs terrific record in the CL)

but then when it came to the premiership the excuse was Benitez has only just failed in the premiership, and the teams like Man Utd and Chelsea were too good. Why is it acceptable to be a failure in the prem but not europe?

Karmafaerie · 14-04-2008 04:29PM

Unearthly wrote: »

It's not really

It's a biased article written by a Liverpool fan trying to ignore the achievements of 1 manager and celebrate the achievements of another just because of the club he supports.

Please.
Enlighten us on how it's biased?
Show me what's not true in that article? (besides the ridiculous typo!:D)

Did Liverpool not beat a Inter, and get non of the praise that Arsenal got for beating a lesser AC?

Has Benitez not been more succesfull than Wenger in the last 4 years already? (Don't forget he finished higher than arsenal in two of those two years too!)

Did Benitez not get constantly derided for his Zonal Marking, untill it worked!

Does Benitez not constantly get derided for rotating when other managers "rest players"! (The whole farce about Nando being rotated sums that up perfectly!)

Has all the turmoil at Anfield been good for Rafa?!

Come on, believe what you want, but there is no biase in that article.

PHB · 14-04-2008 04:37PM

Did Liverpool not beat a Inter, and get non of the praise that Arsenal got for beating a lesser AC?

Most would see Milan in Europe as a greater test than Inter, just like most would see Liverpool as a greater test than Arsenal, despite their league positions

Has Benitez not been more succesfull than Wenger in the last 4 years already? (Don't forget he finished higher than arsenal in two of those two years too!)

Finishing higher means nothing. Rafa has won the CL in 2005, and both Wenger and Rafa have won the FA Cup on penalties.

Did Benitez not get constantly derided for his Zonal Marking, untill it worked!

To many it still doesn't work, especially against good teams.

Does Benitez not constantly get derided for rotating when other managers "rest players"! (The whole farce about Nando being rotated sums that up perfectly!)

Indeed, the press are stupid here. Rafa rotates as much as Wenger or Fergie. The difference? Rafa is poor at it in comparison.

Has all the turmoil at Anfield been good for Rafa?!

Nope, but your season in the league was over before the whole thing started, indeed your position in the league was why the whole thing started!!

Rafa has done much better in Europe than Wenger has, there is no doubt about that.
But lots of people try to paint this whole picture of Liverpool being better than Arsenal in the league over the last 2 years as some sort of statement that they've been better in the league. They have, but Wenger was building towards something properly, blooding youths etc. Rafa was just bumbling along with average players. That's why Arsenal challenged this year. That's why Liverpool didn't.

That's what the article ignores. And the idea that Wenger's team has been dismissed is hilarious when you consider how bloody close the tie was, that Liverpool were within 4 minutes of going out, and that Arsenal were unlucky with a ref decision.

You want to know how you know the article is biased?

whose only failing in top-flight management has been an inability thus far to deliver the Premier League title to Anfield.

That's a pretty big failing

Maybe they should accept he's been up against clubs like Chelsea and United these past four seasons, with far greater resources

Maybe the writer should remember that Arsenal have spent about 60 million net spend less than Liverpool since Rafa took over. But wait, he ignores that? Odd :rolleyes:

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 04:44PM

Karmafaerie wrote: »

Please.
Enlighten us on how it's biased?
Show me what's not true in that article? (besides the ridiculous typo!:D)

Did Liverpool not beat a Inter, and get non of the praise that Arsenal got for beating a lesser AC?

Has Benitez not been more succesfull than Wenger in the last 4 years already? (Don't forget he finished higher than arsenal in two of those two years too!)

Did Benitez not get constantly derided for his Zonal Marking, untill it worked!

Does Benitez not constantly get derided for rotating when other managers "rest players"! (The whole farce about Nando being rotated sums that up perfectly!)

Has all the turmoil at Anfield been good for Rafa?!

Come on, believe what you want, but there is no biase in that article.

What a paranoid delluded person you are!

Liverpool got praised for beating Inter. I don't know what paper or media you were listening to(Dunphy perhaps? who i'll admit has a weird problem with Liverpool) but I saw a lot of Benitez continues his remarkable European record etc.

Arsenal got praised also beacuse they beat a team who reached the Champions League final 2 years in last 3 years and reached semi finals the other year(winning 1). No other team boasted that record. They were always a bit underwhelming in Serie A.

Benitez has been more successful than wenger since 2004, but those 3 games don't destroy wenger as a credible manager since he has won the premiership 3 times.

Zonal marking was working like a treat if I remember a while back where you conceded the least amount of goals from set pieces but you have to admit the goals you conceded froms set pieces recently have been awful.

Rotating is only criticsed when the team don't get the results. We all see the Man Utd topic before a game if someone like JOS or Fletcher is starting, the knifes are out for Ferguson ready to criticise if things don't go well, but if they win then all is forgotten. Benitez has rotated in recent weeks to but has produced good results so I haven't heard the rotating argument in a while. Simple as that.

Turmoil hasn't been good for Rafa, but why is he producing results now and not last christmas? Behind the scenes still a shambles so what has changed?

IrishMike · 14-04-2008 04:45PM

Unearthly wrote: »

It's not really

It's a biased article written by a Liverpool fan trying to ignore the achievements of 1 manager and celebrate the achievements of another just because of the club he supports.

How is it biased Unearthly?
It puts the 2 managers achievements side by side over the past 4 years and compares them.
Over the period Benitez looks a lot better than Wenger.
The fact that Wenger refuses to spend money should not be applauded
like it seems to be everywhere, it should be criticised because it is holding
his team back.
His club are swimming in money and yet the manager refuses to spend it.
Mindblowing when you think of it.
Fergie won the league last year and still went out and spent an absolute
fortune in the summer.
The result being his team retained their advantage even when everyone
around them strengthened too.
Your first 11 wont win you the league, its a squad effort.
Giving young players a chance is to be applauded if they are good enough.
Arsenals young players are good but not good enough to win a league
without help from some seasoned pros.

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 05:01PM

IrishMike wrote: »

How is it biased Unearthly?
It puts the 2 managers achievements side by side over the past 4 years and compares them.
Over the period Benitez looks a lot better than Wenger.
The fact that Wenger refuses to spend money should not be applauded
like it seems to be everywhere, it should be criticised because it is holding
his team back.
His club are swimming in money and yet the manager refuses to spend it.
Mindblowing when you think of it.
Fergie won the league last year and still went out and spent an absolute
fortune in the summer.
The result being his team retained their advantage even when everyone
around them strengthened too.
Your first 11 wont win you the league, its a squad effort.
Giving young players a chance is to be applauded if they are good enough.
Arsenals young players are good but not good enough to win a league
without help from some seasoned pros.

I don't disagree most of that Mike, it's just I felt the article was very aggressive towards Wenger(especially the title) and very 1 sided in its argument highlighting Wengers flaws and highlighting Benitez's possitives

spockety · 14-04-2008 05:12PM

PHB wrote: »

Most would see Milan in Europe as a greater test than Inter, just like most would see Liverpool as a greater test than Arsenal, despite their league positions

Lazy lazy excuse, it is horse manure. Inter are recent enough finalists.

Nope, but your season in the league was over before the whole thing started, indeed your position in the league was why the whole thing started!!

Tut tut PHP, Liverpool were still unbeaten in the league before this all kicked off actually.

Cyrus · 14-04-2008 05:16PM

Unearthly wrote: »

Arsenal got praised also beacuse they beat a team who reached the Champions League final 2 years in last 3 years and reached semi finals the other year(winning 1). No other team boasted that record. They were always a bit underwhelming in Serie A.

well liverpool can now boast a similar record

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 05:19PM

Cyrus wrote: »

well liverpool can now boast a similar record

but they couldn't last february, which was my point.

and Inter recent finalists? Only if you count the early 70's $:\$

Dub13 · 14-04-2008 05:22PM

It all sounds a bit far fetched to me,but this is the 'Rumour' gong around the LFC forums today.

Plan B!!
Rumour (cannot reveal source obviously - source is not LFC) that Plan B is being discussed by the following - UEFA, FA, Russian FA, LFC, Chelsea, Man Utd, Home Office, Foriegn Office, Russian Government. various Police Forces, Local Government +.

Plan B will be considered if it is an All English Final.

It involves the following:

NO game in Moscow.
Wembley Stadium is not available that week due to other things in Brent.
2 legged final - like old UEFA Cup - away goals rule will not apply to avoid moaning about it - draw = penalties.
Probable Monday and Thursday of week beginning 19th May.
ticket prices will be hiked up (£80 cheapest possibly) - still cheaper than travelling to Russia. This is an accepted view by all 3 clubs. £160 to attend both games is much cheaper than what you pay to go to Moscow.

combined attendance will be approx. 100,000.
10% of capacity to away club.
clubs will not keep gate receipts
compensation package to Russian FA etc.

This plan has been put together by the various organisations but the prime mover was initially the Foriegn Office and stems from the worries they have of crowd trouble and the diplomatic relationship strains following Litvenyenko (spelling!) and the fact they will not be able to assist with any situations.

The following have expressed these views:

All Police Forces - fearful of massive problems for either LFC or Chelsea v Man Utd; they would have no liaison whatsoever with their Russian counterparts unlike what they would normally expect in a consultation role.
Government - see above about Foriegn Office
UEFA - major headaches about English fans and would be prepared to bite the bullet as it would save them potential disaster and hassle (visa's etc); Athens has been mentioned and they are listening to the governments; they have a major issue about the strained relationship between UK Government and Russian Government - in fact they are petrified.
FA - worried about fans safety and hooligan issues; they say potential for problems with Russian fans (even if Barcelona get through) but that can not be used as a reason; worried about World Cup bid - English fighting English abroad.
Russian Government - very reluctant to speak to anyone English; Chelsea's stooges have done a lot of mediating; basically they dont want the hassle of it and can do without it at the moment; they seem to be happy with UEFA compensation package.
Chelsea - very surprising; Abramovich is worried (he would know a bit) about 50-60,000 Englisg fans in Moscow; they are trying to build brand Chelsea in Russia and fear the problems far outweigh the the potential $£; club issues with visa's and fan safety.
Liverpool - very worried after Athens debacle; lack of trust in UEFA organisation.
Man Utd - no surpirse here - there view about safety issues, admin problems was dwarfed by their reluctance to the plan - they are convinced that UEFA will do everything possible to make sure Barcelona get through to avoid having to use Plan B; they also wanted to keep a % of the gate receipt as they will get a bigger attendance.

Meetings are taking place at a rapid rate and the 3 Local Grounds are applying for safety certificates as a must requirement.

No one will know until the 2nd leg at Old Trafford on 29th April but watch this space as things progress and leaks will happen.

spockety · 14-04-2008 05:24PM

Unearthly wrote: »

but they couldn't last february, which was my point.

and Inter recent finalists? Only if you count the early 70's $:\$

My bad, confused them with Juventus in the 2003 final

Unearthly · 14-04-2008 05:26PM

spockety wrote: »

My bad, confused them with Juventus in the 2003 final

No problem

Should of seen the mistake i made earlier in this topic, edited quickly but if any liverpool fan saw it I would of been burned at the stake!

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 05:29PM

PHB, you are a riddle to me my manc friend.

Are you not on record as saying that you would much prefer your team to meet Liverpool in the CL, rather than Arsenal, as you feel that Arsenal are a better team and you are more than capable of beating Liverpool as league form has shown over the last few years.

But yet you go against this by saying that despite league form, AC are the more feared and difficult to beat opposition in the CL despite their poor league performances over the last few years when compared to Inter who are streets ahead of AC in the league (more so even than Utd are ahead of Liverpool).

It sounds to me, as with all your posts, that you just dont want to give Liverpool even the slightest hint of a compliment.

Now i'm sure you'll come out with some spiell to counteract this point, but the simple fact is you contradict yourself in praising ACs record in Europe, and disgarding Inter, but yet writing Liverpools European record off and heeping praise on Utd and Arsenal, insisting always, that their recent CL performances are of nout importance in comparrison to their league records.

Very strange to me.

oobydooby · 14-04-2008 05:44PM

Dub13 wrote: »

It all sounds a bit far fetched to me,but this is the 'Rumour' gong around the LFC forums today.

Very sensible idea. If it was Manchester vs Liverpool sure they could have it in Croke Park:)

Guy:Incognito · 14-04-2008 05:48PM

Dub13 wrote: »

It all sounds a bit far fetched to me,but this is the 'Rumour' gong around the LFC forums today.

Let me be the first to laugh at the possibility of this "plan B". HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHAH.

What eejit came up with that rubbish?

3 weeks before the final and a change of venue and rules? No chance.

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 05:49PM

Dont shoot the messenger Ste!

But yea, it is quite ridiculously far fetched.

PHB · 14-04-2008 05:51PM

spockety wrote: »

Lazy lazy excuse, it is horse manure. Inter are recent enough finalists.

Not for a couple of decades.

Tut tut PHP, Liverpool were still unbeaten in the league before this all kicked off actually.

Wow, unbeaten in the league, is their a medal for that?

PHB, you are a riddle to me my manc friend.

A man of mystery I am

Are you not on record as saying that you would much prefer your team to meet Liverpool in the CL, rather than Arsenal, as you feel that Arsenal are a better team and you are more than capable of beating Liverpool as league form has shown over the last few years.

Who I want United to play is different to who is the better team.

I think Liverpool are more likely to beat Barca than we are. I think we're more likely to beat Liverpool than Barca.

It's a funny old world

But yet you go against this by saying that despite league form, AC are the more feared and difficult to beat opposition in the CL despite their poor league performances over the last few years when compared to Inter who are streets ahead of AC in the league (more so even than Utd are ahead of Liverpool).

Now i'm sure you'll come out with some spiell to counteract this point, but the simple fact is you contradict yourself in praising ACs record in Europe, and disgarding Inter, but yet writing Liverpools European record off and heeping praise on Utd and Arsenal, insisting always, that their recent CL performances are of nout importance in comparrison to their league records.

I did none of those things.
I simply challenged the idea that AC Milan were the lessers of Inter in Europe, which is surely not something you'd contest either?
When did I ever write of Liverpools European record?

Unless you mean by me thinking that Arsenal would be a tougher test than Liverpool you think that is the reason? If so, IMO Liverpool are an amazing European team, but I don't think a United Liverpool tie in Europe would be a 'continental' tactical tie, and as such, I don't think its the same thing.

You seem to take any affront to the fact that the article is clearly biased, as me saying that Liverpool are ****. I'm not saying that, I'm just saying the article is clearly biased, as you can see yourself in the last two points I made, which you cleverly ignored

Stekelly wrote: »

Let me be the first to laugh at the possibility of this "plan B". HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHAH.

What eejit came up with that rubbish?

3 weeks before the final and a change of venue and rules? No chance.

+1 (just to piss of Cult)

If there is a coup, I could see a change in venue, that's about it. UEFA have already distributed tickets to about 10000 people, who have already booked flights and accomodation, they'd have some serious legal issues on their hands.

Mr Alan · 14-04-2008 06:05PM

The article is not what i would call biased.

It is written by a Liverpool fan, so its from a scouse p.o.v alright, but it does not take away from the fact, that Wenger is constantly praised, whereas Rafa is more often than not, ridiculed.

This whole Arsenal are building something thing, did Reade not dispell that to an extent by pointing out that the average age of the arsenal team was 25? these are not children, they are athletes in their prime. who when tested-were proven not good enough.

You say Rafa has plodded along with averageness-yet say Wenger is building towards something? Why isnt Rafa building towards something? do you feel that Liverpool need to increase their points tally little by little in order to bridge the gap? are we not closer this year than we were last? do we not have the spine of a title challenging team in Reina-Arbeloa-Agger-Carragher-Skrtl-Mascherano-Alonso-Gerrard-Babel-Torres, they imo are defiantely good enough (spot the Rafa buys), and then players who i personally think are good enough to be in a title winning squad, Kuyt, Aurelio, Lucas, Yossi......we're getting there PHB, and maybe we havent done as well this year as we would have hoped, but footballs a funny old world as you pointed out, and maybe we dont need to close the gap over a few seasons, maybe a couple more signings and things will click into place for us.

Thanx 4 The Fish · 14-04-2008 06:14PM

Well said Al.

Bloody hell, agreeing with Al, could be the polluted water I have been drinking of late.

Liverpool Rumours And General Discussion 2007/2008

Comments