The Official 09/10 Liverpool F.C. Thread

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Perhaps, but this has me way more interested!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...192473,00.html

I think that would be fantastic if they could bring 'Arry. Make it happen King Kenny!!

Wouldn't make sense for Harry, not saying it won't happen, but he has CL football, a better squad and money to spend with Spurs

I just hope for Liverpool's sake they don't get Martin O'Neill, I don't rate him at all, for every good buy (Milner, Dunne) he has 3 bad ones and he doesn't know how to use his bench so the first team always gets worn out in March and they stumble to the finish

[Nuje]

I'd be happy with either of Redknapp or Hiddink. I also don't know how plausible Redknapp would be, but it'd be nice! Seems like Hiddink isn't on the list though...and please...not SVEN!!!!

[Dagger]

HICKS & GILLET GTFO. YNWA RAFA.

Losing Rafa is the worst thing that could have happened this year. Yanks are absolute s.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opin...cle448527.html

Read that. That's an excellent article on what really is going on, and what Rafa has done. Anyone that says he's not an elite manager is out of their mind. Last season we finished behind 6 clubs that have outspent us the last 2 years. Should tell you everything you need to know. It was bound to happen.

Enjoy Hodgson. Classic midtable manager. No way should the manc Hughes come here, and Redknapp while good has always spent to fix problems. He can't here. Pellegrini is the only manager even near Rafa out there.

[Dagger]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...d-1992585.html

Another good article.

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by Dagger

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...d-1992585.html

Another good article.

If you like the tongue-in-cheek petulant child style of journalism.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

If you like the tongue-in-cheek petulant child style of journalism.

Or facts.

[SeoulFire]

There is a way to present facts without sounding like a sniveling idiot. Unfortunately the writer of that article has not figured that out yet.

In relation to transfer money - I guess this goes to show that if something is repeated long enough people will accept it as fact.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

There is a way to present facts without sounding like a sniveling idiot. Unfortunately the writer of that article has not figured that out yet.

In relation to transfer money - I guess this goes to show that if something is repeated long enough people will accept it as fact.

I don't care how it's presented because everybody that knows what's going on at Liverpool knows that it's bang on what has been said.

I don't get your last sentence. Are you agreeing with the fact that Rafa has been deprived of a budget in which we can win with and that this fact has been twisted or the opposite?

[Nuje]

The latest number thrown out was 5 million pounds would be made available. That's nothing for a team that's supposed to be a champions league competitor.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Nuje

The latest number thrown out was 5 million pounds would be made available. That's nothing for a team that's supposed to be a champions league competitor.

I saw that.

These Americans are a sick joke of the human race. Hicks has been clamouring on about giving Rafa a big transfer budget since January and not only will we not have Rafa we don't have a transfer budget. Birmingham City will have outspent us with one player and I think in 2 years time they may supplant us for that last Euro spot.

[GirlySports]

I think Slavan Bilic would be an exciting option.

[Dagger]

Should throw this out there:

http://www.spiritofshankly.com/

Join the union to get the s out.

[Locke]

Inter get Benitez.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that Rafael Benitez will be appointed as the new head coach of the Italian champions on Wednesday.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...europe&cc=5901

[Leon Kennedy]

I'm so glad Benitez is gone. He played such a boring style. Liverpool were painful to watch last season, save for Torres beating two or three defenders at a time and the odd long shot from Gerrard there really wasn't much to cheer about.

We desperately need new owners with big enough pockets to fund a new stadium. Otherwise, our debt payments are going to take us down just like Leeds.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Leon Kennedy

I'm so glad Benitez is gone. He played such a boring style. Liverpool were painful to watch last season, save for Torres beating two or three defenders at a time and the odd long shot from Gerrard there really wasn't much to cheer about.

We desperately need new owners with big enough pockets to fund a new stadium. Otherwise, our debt payments are going to take us down just like Leeds.

Buddy go and read about Hicks and Gillet.

Benitez' "boring" style is completely false. He played a style that suited each and every game in the past, and last year he didn't lose a match in the prem.

How can you be glad the man that Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter all wanted is gone? Inter snapped him up in what 3 days time? The European champions grabbed our manager.

Have fun with Hodgson. You think Benitez was boring? Yeesh, your in for a treat, Hodgson is the epitome of no frills and almost no chances. It's set up shop and go from there.

[Leon Kennedy]

Hicks' Texas Rangers recently filed for bankruptcy. He has no money, if he did, he'd invest in a new Anfield so he can make some money off the club. Right now he's paying the Bank of Scotland over forty million pounds annually just in interest.

Benitez didn't lose a match in the Premiership last season? Are you having a laugh?

Hodgson's Fulham were one of the most exciting teams in the league last season! Did you watch them in the Europa League, throwing all caution to the wind and going for goals at all times?

Hodgson would bring in a proper, rigid, 4-4-2 formation with the same XI every match, instead of this 4-2-3-1 "play whomever you feel like" crap Benitez made us watch.

[Dagger]

[QUOTE=Leon Kennedy;2537226]Hicks' Texas Rangers recently filed for bankruptcy. He has no money, if he did, he'd invest in a new Anfield so he can make some money off the club. Right now he's paying the Bank of Scotland over forty million pounds annually just in interest.[QUOTE]

I suggest you look further into the situation. You don't have a true understanding.

Benitez didn't lose a match in the Premiership last season? Are you having a laugh?

I'm sorry that was a mistake. He only lost 2. Whoop de doo.

Hodgson's Fulham were one of the most exciting teams in the league last season! Did you watch them in the Europa League, throwing all caution to the wind and going for goals at all times?

Hodgson would bring in a proper, rigid, 4-4-2 formation with the same XI every match, instead of this 4-2-3-1 "play whomever you feel like" crap Benitez made us watch.

I'm not sure if you're even serious. Hodgson plays the most boring style of football in the world. Are you actually serious?

Yeah this 4-2-3-1 crap. Do you even realize what we played last year? You know when we came 2nd in the premier league, and came to the QFs of the champions league, almost beating a Chelsea time without Gerrard when we needed what was it 3 goals to 0/1 at the Bridge? That was sure boring footy.

Do you even want to compare resumes between Hodgson and Benitez? Talk about what have you done for me lately.

There's no such thing as a proper formation. Chelsea didn't play a 4-4-2. Arsenal didn't play a 4-4-2. Barca don't play a 4-4-2. SAF doesn't always use a 4-4-2.

I sincerely hope that you do research regarding the situation with Hicks and Gillet, learn what Benitez was trying to do behind closed doors, become familiar with the Liverpool way, and then try and tell me sacking Benitez was smart.

There's a reason clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter all sniffed around Benitez for the past year even with all the that went on. And there's a reason that Hodgson has floated around mid table clubs most of his career barring a run with Inter for 2 years which was far from top class.

[Leon Kennedy]

Mate, I've been a Liverpool supporter since the day I was born, so don't lecture me on becoming "familiar with the Liverpool way". The Liverpool way for many years was to promote from within, and that's why we ended up with that joker Roy Evans as a manager!

Liverpool lost eleven matches last year, not two. We lost two back in 2008-09.

I'm not trying to argue with you, but I know good football when I see it. Liverpool were playing terribly boring footy last season and everyone knows it. I remember the great Liverpool teams of the late 80s when we were playing other teams off the park, we were in a different class altogether when it came to passing, off the ball movement and breaking down the other team. Nowadays? We hoof it up to Torres and hope he can beat two or three defenders to score.

The team is much like the Calgary Flames - old, decrepid, and living off past glory.

I'm serious when I talk about boring football. Liverpool played the worst football I've ever seen them player this past season. In the Premier League, you play 38 matches and you finish where you deserve to finish. We finished seventh, and we have a very poor stadium that is incapable of supporting the types of salaries you are required to pay to players if you want to compete at the highest level.

What's this about "I suggest you look further into the situation. You don't have a true understanding."? Are you aware of Liverpool's perilous financial state? Are you aware of these financial figures:

* Liverpool FC has an overall debt-burden of £350m

* Interest payments for this debt are around £30m each year.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Leon Kennedy

Mate, I've been a Liverpool supporter since the day I was born, so don't lecture me on becoming "familiar with the Liverpool way". The Liverpool way for many years was to promote from within, and that's why we ended up with that joker Roy Evans as a manager!

Liverpool lost eleven matches last year, not two. We lost two back in 2008-09.

I'm not trying to argue with you, but I know good football when I see it. Liverpool were playing terribly boring footy last season and everyone knows it. I remember the great Liverpool teams of the late 80s when we were playing other teams off the park, we were in a different class altogether when it came to passing, off the ball movement and breaking down the other team. Nowadays? We hoof it up to Torres and hope he can beat two or three defenders to score.

No that's merely part of the Liverpool way. You can't even get that right. The Liverpool way involves everybody working together for the purpose of one goal. The connection between the fans and the club is vital. The managers of the club have always understood this and done everything to carry the torch. Shanks started it, then you have the likes of Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish who have carried that on. Benitez understood it. Benitez was adored by the true fans of Anfield, the kopites. Never once did the Kop turn on him. The only ones that did were the bandwagoners/foreigners who do not understand. Make no mistake, only pundits went on a witch hunt to get rid of Rafa. Not true writers close to the team, only wankers like Redknapp and the like.

You know what I'm talking about when I say 2 losses last season. Don't be difficult.

Play beautiful football with what? You want us to play like Chelsea or Barcelona? Well that's difficult considering they pay enormous amounts of money to import many players, or have an outstanding academy that breed for one club.

Benitez' net spend was negative last year. Birmingham City spent more. Do you wanna tell me that this was not coming for us? Benitez finishing 2nd in a year that our wage bill was 5th highest in the prem is special.

The chemistry wasn't there. There were far too many injuries and the knock Carra took with Skrtel in the first match really upset our defense for the first half of the year.

You can't have beautiful football with a new squad every week. If you want to talk about Benitez not playing beautiful footy, I'll raise you a single week in which we beat Villa 5-0, Real Madrid 4-0, and United 4-1 at OT. Benitez played a possession game when he could. Not sit back and defend. He ideally wants to have the ball, pass it around and find the seam to spring someone. It worked last year, because he had the squad to do so. With more money, we win the premier league. It's that simple.

You can't fault Benitez now for not having the dominance of some of the best sides to play in the premier league in the 80s. Football is a different game financially. Think about what you wrote. It's ridiculous. "Sack Rafa because he doesn't play football like the legendary 80s Liverpool sides"

The team is much like the Calgary Flames - old, decrepid, and living off past glory.

No it's not. The Flames have done nothing for 5 years while paying as much as they can to win. Benitez has restored Liverpool's glory, won a champions league, FA cup, reached another CL final on top of scoring the most points ever for a Liverpool side in X amount of years. All of this whilst having a huge gap in spending, which is what you need now a days in winning. Benitez beat "the special one" 3 straight years in semi-finals whilst having a way worse squad. Benitez bested Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, Juventus, AC Milan and Arsenal in the champions league. All of this while not having the amenities that they have.

This was one bad year. Now it's going to be multiple ones with old man stagnant Roy Hodgson.

I'm serious when I talk about boring football. Liverpool played the worst football I've ever seen them player this past season. In the Premier League, you play 38 matches and you finish where you deserve to finish. We finished seventh, and we have a very poor stadium that is incapable of supporting the types of salaries you are required to pay to players if you want to compete at the highest level.

I'll let you in on a small secret. Every single club above us has a higher net spend in the last 2 years. Liverpool had a negative net spend last year. What do you want Rafa to do exactly?

The stadium is yet another lie the Yanks conjured. They promised the ground and won't build it. That's got nothing to do with Rafa.

What's this about "I suggest you look further into the situation. You don't have a true understanding."? Are you aware of Liverpool's perilous financial state? Are you aware of these financial figures:

* Liverpool FC has an overall debt-burden of £350m

* Interest payments for this debt are around £30m each year.

Everyone knows the debt. People know the debt is burdened on the club and not the owners, which is how Hicks buys every club he owns.

I suggest you dig deeper. Find the extent of their lies, read all of them. Read how much they want for the club, compared to what most value it at. You only know a bit about what's happening. Go read around Liverpool forums/articles from LFC beat writers. Go look at Corinthians. Look what he did to them. It's happening to us.

You don't understand what Rafa went through. You didn't know that there was a power struggle inside the board room that Rafa won out, only to have funds taken away. Read about what Rafa has done for us. Learn to appreciate him. Beacuse your man Hodgson is a yes man for the s, and Rafa wasn't because he wanted what was best for LFC and the ones close to the team knew this. That's why the Kop chanted his name everyday, and that's why Rafa will always never walk alone.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Dagger

Everyone knows the debt. People know the debt is burdened on the club and not the owners, which is how Hicks buys every club he owns.

Exactly. There have been reports saying that both the MLB and the NHL were funding the Rangers and Stars respectively at some point in time. Now Gillet sells the Habs for around the equivalent of a quarter of a million pounds, and there's still no transfer budget? Rafa was the right man for the job, and still would be the right man if he were here. He's now taking over for the always-praised Mourinho (for good reason), who had a slightly short, but very decorated stint there. Why would Rafa follow that unless he knew he was capable of at least similar results?

Originally Posted by Dagger

You don't understand what Rafa went through. You didn't know that there was a power struggle inside the board room that Rafa won out, only to have funds taken away. Read about what Rafa has done for us. Learn to appreciate him. Beacuse your man Hodgson is a yes man for the s, and Rafa wasn't because he wanted what was best for LFC and the ones close to the team knew this. That's why the Kop chanted his name everyday, and that's why Rafa will always never walk alone.

Couldn't have said that better myself.