terry mac

not gay, but bloody boring, the highlights last about 2 minutes while the thing goes on the whole day

Euro memories give Warnock added strength Aug 10 2005 Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo THE glory of Istanbul will be remembered for the emotional extremes Liverpool's fans and players suffered on the route to victory. For one Anfield star, the cocktail of torment and joy lasted far beyond the final whistle. Steve Warnock's ecstasy at seeing his boyhood club claim their fifth European Cup was countered by his deflation at missing out, not only on a place in the squad and a winners' medal, but also, due to a mix-up on the team's return to Merseyside, a seat on the open-top bus. He was left stranded at Melwood with forlorn colleagues as the rest of the squad took their applause. The despair of being cruelly denied his invitation to the party forced the 23-year-old into a summer of reflection. But rather than nurse grudges, the youngster returned to Melwood more determined than ever to ensure he's not left behind again. Injury to Djimi Traore will offer Warnock fresh opportunities to establish his position in the first month of the season, and the Academy graduate will compete with John Arne Riise for his place against CSKA Sofia tonight. Having been favoured in the left-back role in the last round, Warnock feels he's made a solid start in his ongoing bid to assert his credentials. "I still feel I have something to prove at Liverpool, " admits Warnock. "I think you've always got to show the manager more when you're at a club like ours and I want to show everyone that I'm good enough to be in this team. "My aim this season is to earn selection regularly at left-back and I've a lot of confidence in my ability to do so. "It's unfortunate for Djimi he's injured, but I've got to look at it as an opportunity for me. Even if everyone in my position was fit I'd be trying my hardest to get into the team and backing my ability. "At the end of last season I didn't think I did myself justice. After my ankle injury I rushed back too soon because I was desperate to play. "The injuries seemed to come along at bad times. I played well against Bayer Leverkusen and was happy with my form, only to get injured in the derby. Every time I was doing well, I'd have a little setback. "Now I feel much fitter and fresher and there's no reason why I can't be right on top of my game." Having finally, belatedly, confirmed his place in the senior squad a year ago, Warnock says the last 12 months taught him even more about the brutal realities of football. "There were some good times last season and some really tough ones too," he said. "On a personal level, the Carling Cup and Champions League finals stand out as particularly low points for me. "I'd played in every round of the League Cup before the final, and missed out on a medal. Then when I wasn't in the squad for the European Cup final I'd have to say that was my lowest point of all. "There weren't enough winners' medal for us all, so I didn't get one. I spent time over the summer getting over that. "The night in Istanbul was a strange combination of emotions for me. When you're so close to it as a Liverpool fan who's grown up hearing about those kind of nights, you feel grateful that you're experiencing something which so many other supporters would love to be a part of. "Then, on the other hand, you're having to come to terms with the most disappointing few days of your life as a footballer because you're not in the squad. "It's definitely something I'll look back on with mixed thoughts, even though I was so happy as a supporter and player that we won. "I feel I've learned some hard lessons about football. You've always got to try and take positives from every experience, but when you suffer those kinds of disappointments, it's not easy to think that way. "Those occasions are what being a professional footballer is all about, so to miss out when you've been involved in helping the side get to the final takes getting over. "I think going through that has toughened me up mentally and made me more determined to ensure the next time we get to a final, I'll be involved." The next step on the road to recompense is Bulgaria and a clash Warnock believes is more hazardous than many believe for the European champions. "It will be tricky tonight," he said. "No disrespect to the teams we've faced already, but we know CSKA are going to provide a bigger test. They're no mugs. "We've seen the videos and they look like a team which likes to play counter-attacking football. "It can be difficult in Europe when you don't know much about the opponent. It was like that in the last round. You find yourself assessing how good they are in the first 20 minutes of the game. "In Lithuania, it took us a bit of time to get the measure of them. Then we found ourselves 1-0 down, looking at each other and thinking 'what's going on here?'. "We can't afford to have that kind of start against stronger teams because we may find it more difficult to get back into the match."

Rafa calls for justice over jailed Michael Aug 9 2005 Daily Post LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is supporting the campaign to help release Reds fan Michael Shields from a Bulgarian prison. He said: "We must have justice. Everyone has the right to a fair trial. "We must support someone because of this. It is not a political matter and it doesn't matter which football team someone supports. "This is about a human being. There must be a possibility of a fair trial." Mr Benitez's plea came as the Bulgarian authorities were criticised for refusing to introduce new measures which could eventually prove the innocence of 18-year-old Michael Shields. Despite increasing pressure, prosecutors are not initiating extradition proceedings against fellow Liverpudlian Graham Sankey who has admitted the assault for which Shields was sentenced to 15 years. They claim Sankey's signed confession concerned "another incident" rather than the brawl outside a fast food outlet in which a local barman almost lost his life. In response, Riverside MP Louise Ellman said the attitude of the Bulgarian authorities was outrageous. She said: "Sankey should be extradited so he can be interviewed by the Bulgarian police." Mrs Ellman is stepping up pressure on the Foreign Office to intervenel.

why bother answering such shite....if we were as consistant as Rashids shite we'd walk the league by Christmas

Sky reporting his still in Rafa's plans

really? lets sell our soul to raise funds for Joaquim, Owen and whoever else is on your wishlist

Cost too much and think we are been thrown in the hat to make City act

TRAORE RULED OUT FOR A MONTH Paul Rogers 08 August 2005 Liverpool have today confirmed that Djimi Traore is likely to miss the first month of the Premiership season after medical results confirmed a thigh strain. The Mali international - who signed a new contract at Anfield in the summer - picked up the injury aginst Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly last month and is not expected to return until early September.

If he goes to united, so what? we've moved on since he left and look at the consequences

Benitez, meanwhile, is confident Fernando Morientes will make a greater impact at Liverpool this season.The Spanish striker struggled with injury and European ineligibility last campaign since arriving from Real Madrid for £6.3million in January, scoring just three goals in 15 appearances. And while Benitez admits the forward has so far failed to sparkle, he believes Morientes - who is vying for a striking role alongside Djibril Cisse on Wednesday - will find his form this campaign.

News Kendall seethes at Liverpool in Europe Aug 8 2005 By Paul Walker Daily Post Correspondent FORMER Everton manager Howard Kendall has launched an astonishing attack on the decision to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League crown. As Everton prepare to make their first appearance in the European Cup for 34 years, Kendall has once again revealed the deep bitterness that remains over the way the Goodison side were treated by UEFA when England's clubs were banned from Europe. Kendall's team were not allowed to compete in the European Cup after winning the championship in 1985 and 1987 following Liverpool's part in the Heysel disaster. And Kendall insists Everton should have been given a wild card by UEFA - just as Champions League holders Liverpool have been this term - when English sides were eventually allowed back into the European Cup in 1990. "Liverpool have finished fifth but have been given a wild card even though the ruling was that the top four qualified. But there was no wild card for Everton when English clubs were re-admitted to Europe. Instead Liverpool were the first club back in. "Everton should have been given a place then after being denied as champions. It would not have benefited me at the time - I had left the club by then." Manchester United and Aston Villa were the first teams to be re-admitted when UEFA lifted the ban on English clubs, with Liverpool barred until the 1991-92 season. Everton's only appearance in Europe since then was in the 1995-96 Cup Winners' Cup.. Kendall has chosen to reopen old wounds in the week that the Merseyside neighbours are both playing third qualifying round ties, with Everton at home to Villarreal tomorrow and Liverpool away to CSKA Sofia the following night. Kendall said: "I do not agree with Liverpool being in the Champions League now even though they won it. The rules should not have been changed just like that." Kendall believes UEFA officials were banking on a Liverpool defeat by AC Milan in last season's Istanbul final so they would effectively have had no decision to make as Rafael Benitez's side finished fifth in the Premiership - outside the qualification places. "If they had wanted to change the rules for next season as a result of that, fair enough but I believe UEFA kept delaying a decision when Liverpool reached the final in the hope they would lose," he said.. "If that had happened they would not have a decision to make. "I am not bitter at being denied the chance to take Everton into the European Cup. How can I be when people lost their lives at Heysel? "That puts everything into perspective but I was envious when they were the first team back in when the ban was lifted. "Everton should have fought harder at the time because they should have been the first in Europe from England after the ban. They should have changed the rules for Everton as they did in the summer for Liverpool." Everton now face a very tough tie with Spain's third-best club.

where did it say that?

:D

mmmm i know Boumsong was a freebe then a fee, but the Anelka seems to be you can

would he be allowed to be transfered so soon? rules state no player can be transfered twice within 12 months

might have the same problem with Gonzalez if we decide to keep him the following season

Solano would be a good option

REDS DEBATING TOKYO INVITE Paul Eaton 04 August 2005 Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has admitted the Reds are still considering whether or not to take part in this season's World Club Championship. As European Champions, the Reds are automatically invited to take part in December's showpiece event in Tokyo, when the winners from the different FIFA confederations meet for a week long competition. Liverpool have been drawn to play either Deportivo Saprissa or FC Sydney in the semi-finals of the competition, but Parry says the Reds must decide whether it would serve the club's best interests to take part. "The World Club Championship draw has been made," he said. "This is something we are debating very carefully at the moment. It is a world tournament that is prestigious but we have to balance that with the potential of losing another domestic fixture. "We are already facing the disruption of two Premier League fixtures due to the Champions League third round qualifier and the Super Cup. "All of this is down to the price of success and as we've discovered in the past, you tend not to get a lot of sympathy for being successful."

Reds cool on Owen return Aug 4 2005 By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo LIVERPOOL are not in talks with Michael Owen - despite reports suggesting otherwise. Speculation linking the Real Madrid striker with a return to Anfield has surfaced in recent days as Owen looks to secure a move back to the Premiership. But Rafa Benitez insisted last week he is more interested in signing a centre back than a centre forward and club sources today indicated that situation has not changed. Back-up for Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher remains the Reds boss' priority and Benitez is looking to bring in a defensive reinforcement as soon as possible. However, with Peter Crouch ruled out for up to three weeks with a hamstring strain and suspended for the first two games of the Premiership season and Milan Baros on his way out of Anfield Benitez could be ready to reassess his attacking options. Currently, he has only Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse to call on for next week's Champions League third round qualifier against CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. Benitez does have the option of pushing Luis Garcia further forward for that game but that would be only a short-term answer. Crouch says he is disappointed to have picked up an injury so early in his Anfield career. He said: "It is really frustrating to pick up an injury like that but hopefully I will be back sooner rather than later. "I wanted to finish the game against Kaunas because I was really enjoying my home debut but I had no choice in the end and had to come off. "It is a real disappointment for me." Meanwhile, the Luis Figo saga came to an end today with the Portuguese international agreeing a two-year deal with Internazionale. Liverpool had been in the hunt for the winger and Figo had spoken of his desire to move to Anfield but the former World Footballer of the Year has now completed a free transfer to the San Siro.

id have him back but provided we get a centre half and right sided player first, if it means just getting Owen only then no

very good points....Rafa even at Carra to get on the scoresheet

Owen has said he has had talks with four premiership clubs....Sky and BBC reporting

Owen will be be a better all round player for his experince in a different league

manchester football manchester united Email to a Friend | Your comments Tuesday, 2nd August 2005 Owen's the Real deal Stuart Mathieson OWEN: Move?OLD Trafford and Anfield goalscoring greats are united in their belief that Michael Owen would cement Manchester United's firepower as the best in the Premiership. Not even champions Chelsea's unlimited cash could buy supremacy in the goals department if the Reds land the unsettled former Kop idol from Real Madrid. Interest in the England striker is high, with Newcastle today coming out and staking their interest in signing the World Cup star. And despite the bitter rivalry that exists between United and Liverpool fans, Merseyside legend Ian Rush believes the England hitman wouldn't baulk at switching to Old Trafford after his unhappy spell at the Bernabeu over the last 12 months. And Rushie should know because Sir Alex Ferguson almost tempted him into doing the same thing in 1988. The Welshman was enduring an unsettled time in Turin with Juventus when he decided he needed to return home after just 16 months in Italy following a move from Liverpool and it was Fergie who offered him the first escape route. "Alex Ferguson rang me up at Juventus to see if I wanted to come back to England and join United," Rush said. "Despite the great time I had had at Anfield and my feelings for the club all players are professionals and will go to the place that provides the best platform for their future. "I wanted to come home from Italy and United was an option. I would have gone to Old Trafford without any doubts. I wouldn't have had any qualms about it. "The fact is despite all the rivalry business, if you do your stuff you'll win the fans over. "It didn't happen for me because Kenny Dalglish then came in and offered me the chance to go back to Liverpool which I took. But if they hadn't then I would have accepted Alex Ferguson's invite. "Michael Owen will view the situation similarly. He is a professional and is focused on scoring goals. If Michael were to sign for United then nobody would be more focused on scoring goals for Manchester United than Michael Owen. "One thing for certain is that he'll improve any squad he goes to. United have a quality striker's department already installed at Old Trafford in Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Alan Smith but Michael would still improve that. He's a fabulous goalscorer. "It would be the one department where United would certainly be able to boast a better potential than Chelsea. "Chelsea's top scorer last season was midfielder Frank Lampard! They don't have a 25-30-goal-a-season striker but if United landed Owen they would have two in him and van Nistelrooy and possibly more in Rooney and Saha." John Aldridge used to be a scoring thorn in United's side for Liverpool in the 80s and 90s like Rush and he's convinced that Owen could even outshoot United's all-time top European scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy in the scoring charts. "I think Owen would score as many if not more than van Nistelrooy for United," Aldo said. "So if you linked him up with van Nistelrooy and have Owen's England partner Wayne Rooney in there as well then it would quite simply be a case of defenders beware. Phenomenal "It would be a phenomenal link-up. Owen is a goalscorer and will score them wherever he goes. He may have had a tough time at Real Madrid because of not starting that many matches but just look at his goals ratio, it is still fantastic. "It would give United a tremendous advantage in their bid to knock Chelsea off the top. "Chelsea's power base is not in their forwards. It is their defence and midfield that gives them their strength. "Up front they are not great but if United had Owen, Rooney, van Nistelrooy, Saha and Smith you couldn't touch them for quality up front." Aldridge was the target for United fans' abuse when he played for Liverpol but, like former Reds star Frank Stapleton, believes the 12 months away from the Premiership in La Liga will have eased that dilemma. "It's a bit sad about the bitterness between the two sets of fans. It's not nice but at the end of it all I think fans forget after a while," John added. "Twelve months on if Michael Owen has scored goals for Manchester United his Liverpool connection will have been forgotten. "He'd get some grief going back to Anfield for the first time. But the fact is, Michael went through all the right channels when he left Anfield. He didn't walk out on them and the club got money for him so there isn't animosity carried over from that. "It might have been hell if he'd made the straight switch from Anfield to Old Trafford but this would be different. "United supporters would very soon realise what a smashing bloke he is and they'd be buying a fantastic goalscorer. It would be a great coup for Sir Alex Ferguson and the fans would soon recognise that." Lou Macari, however, believes the transfer could be doomed to failure. "Owen is a great striker and would score goals for United obviously but I don't see the switch happening," the former Old Trafford strike hero said. "I am not sure the club are ready yet to ship out one of the strikers they already have and you certainly would be overloaded with five in that department. "Michael has had a frustrating time at Real Madrid because he's not been used every week. I cannot imagine him wanting him to swap the same situation over there for one over here. "Despite his impressive pedigree, he wouldn't be a certain starter every week at Old Trafford yet that must be what he is looking for after the year he has had in Spain. "He won't want to join another long queue of strikers."

me too