terry mac

Benitez fury over stars attitude Oct 24 2005

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVID Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez staged a Melwood summit yesterday where he told his under-performing players "We need to change our attitude."

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The Reds boss says no-one should be absolved from blame for a lack-lustre first half display - including himself and his staff.

Benitez held a Melwood summit on Sunday and forced his players to watch their 45 minute horror show again.

"We had more determination in the second half, but the first half was the same kind of performance away from home as last year," conceded the manager.

"Everyone must understand these kinds of games are important. It's acceptable to play at the same level as Chelsea and lose, but it's not acceptable to play Fulham, whom we know we are better than, and come away with nothing.

"It was as though we didn't understand the importance of the game in the first half. Only in the second was there a response, and then I felt it was a question of time whether we would score, but their keeper made a lot of saves.

"Last season we made a lot of mistakes and I thought we were learning from them. We've started strongly in other away games and I didn't expect to see us play like this again after last year.

"This is our first defeat away this year and we can't afford to make the same mistakes in future.

It's important the players under-stand we can't approach games in this way."

Benitez has questioned the commitment of his team in the first half at Craven Cottage.

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"It's not just the players who need to improve, but all of us. I include the staff, the players, everyone," said Benitez.

"We all know we need to change the attitude, particularly after European games. Yesterday we all spoke and watched the match again. The performance of the team was bad in terms of the aggressiveness of the players.

"We had a lot of the ball, and controlled the play, but didn't show enough until the second half. We've had these problems before after a Champions League game.

"We've all seen the big mistake we made with our first half performance and now we need to correct it."

Benitez will ring the changes for tomorrow's Carling Cup trip to Crystal Palace - but an experienced side is expected at Selhurst Park.

Youngsters David Raven, Zak Whitbread, Darren Potter and Scott Carson are likely to feature in the cup tie, but Benitez won't be fielding a full reserve side as he did in the notorious FA Cup defeat at Burnley.

Senior players such as Bolo Zenden, Stephen Warnock and Peter Crouch, who all missed the loss to Fulham on Saturday, are also expected to play.

Skipper Steven Gerrard may also be included in the travelling party. A decision will be made after training today.

Gerrard pulled out of the squad for the Fulham game late on after sensing his calf injury wasn't fully recovered.

But he's trained as normal over the weekend and could be given a run-out against Ian Dowie's side.

Jamie Carragher won't be involved tomorrow.

Clever move, puts pressure on the approiate places to issue a work permit

Gonzalez delight at Reds deal

By Adam Marshall - Created on 20 Oct 2005

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Mark Gonzalez

Albacete winger Mark Gonzalez has spoken of his delight at clinching a four-year contract with Liverpool.

The Chile international was denied a work permit in the summer, after initially agreeing a year-long loan with the UEFA Champions League winners, but his country's improvement in the rankings has helped Liverpool's cause.

As Gonzalez is nearing recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, plans are afoot to smooth his arrival on Merseyside and it is believed that the red tape blocking his signing has finally been unravelled.

"I do not have a lot of time to speak," he told Tercera from Madrid airport. "I am going with my suitcases at this time but tomorrow, at eight in the morning, I will give a press conference when I arrive in Santiago.

"Yes, I have already signed as a new player of Liverpool.

"The contract with the English club is for four years but I cannot give you any more details. Tomorrow, you will know everything."

Reds official Paco Herrera has confirmed that only a "few details" need to be ironed out to rubber-stamp the transfer.

"Mark Gonzalez is a footballer that has interested us for some time," he commented.

"Today, we could initiate the necessary procedures to agree to buy him.

"No longer do we speak of a loan, but of the final purchase of the player."

How many big games have we played in his absence?

seem to remember a great result away to Juve last season

its nice to see we can win without our captain and stop the one man team brigade mouthing off

Kerr has done wonders for Irish football from junior level up, he inherited one of the poorest squads Ireland ever had,think about it, Kilbane in the centre of midfield and Cunningham and Dunne at the back, but yet we only lost one game to a gem of a strike.....he should have been given another chance

If there was one man id like to see get the job would be Martin O' Neill, his main asset is motivating his players and thats what was always our biggest strength was the pride and passion and he would certaintly give us that

Gerrard has'nt travelled has he ?

no left behind at Melwood, hoping to be fit for Saturday according to the Echo

no game in the champions league is easy, this will be tough

Never, I prefer my budget and ambition to be that of European Champions with a sensible approach. Not that of a mid table team aiming for Uefa.

really, so you didint want Joaquin, Owen, etc etc

Utter rubbish, Dave U agrees with me on this and so do many reds. We fucked up in the summer in every way. Your attitude is too nicey nicey for football, much like Parry's. We want quality players that fit within our budget obviously - whatever the motivates them to join. You could argue that wouldn't have even attracted Rafa without our history.

problem is your budget is on the same scale as Chelsea's

Sorry mate, great post but that is all too romantic for me. In football you haveto take advantage of anything you can. We should have generated a lot of money from winning the CL but that has disappeared, we did generate a lot of interest in us from players but they were not taken up.

 

Clubs spend hours, days and months courting players, hoping they can be persuaded to join. This summer we had huge prestige behind us in that quest, we didn't use it, not once.

No thats just the thoughts of the modern day fickle football fan

But what does that mean Rashid?

 

The players you sign in modern day football has a lot more to do with your budget than your prestige. We only had a limited budget, with that in mind who should we have signed that would not have signed for us had we finished fifth?

 

Personally I'd also rather have a player that would sign for the club regardless with a complete belief that they would be instrumental in getting the club back up to where it belongs.

 

Players like Alonso didn't sign for the European Champions, he signed for the dream, he signed for the honour of playing for Liverpool Football Club & so far he has been rewarded.

 

I think that winning the Champions League in his first season with a squad that was 80% somebody else's should have earnt Mr Benitez some trust and some faith that he will take the club in the right direction. Fans such as yourself moaning because this is the real world and not Championship Manager really do look foolish.

:yes:

Name me a player we signed this summer that we couldn't have signed even if we had finished 5th and with no Champions League win. The club have not taken advantage of our position, its not evey year we are European Champions.

 

And please give it a rest about signing five £20M players, don't patronise me please.

We will benefit from winning the champions league in the transfer market over the coming seasons, we will have money to spend in the Janurary market and we will have money in the summer

If Rafa could have got his targets alot more money would have been spent

If this guy is so close to Rafa ask yourself why is he speaking to the press about Rafas intentions. Breaking a confidence is not a good way to maintain a relationship.

Could it not just possibly be that rafas is using the spanish media to talk down a potential deal to keep the price low and not alarm other clubs.

Just a thought.

spot on

Sorry Terry but I was in there first if anyone does have spares ;)

:wallbutt: ;)

sorry to be bumping this up lads, but desperate for any ticket

think it was to do with a tackle by Bently on Zenden, Hughes reckoned Zendon was play acting, Paco put him in his place

Lads here five minutes and his been strung up, abused left right and centre....mmmm not the Liverpool Way to go about slagging off one of their own

the lad gives 100% all the time, first rule in my book his passed with flying colours, ill judge his goal rate at the end of the season when hopefully the service into the box will be better

would be very grateful for even one ticket

thanks...e-mail - martin.cox@mjflood.ie

heading over for the West Ham game on the 28th with three lads, have been let down with tickets...anyone could help id be very grateful

Stevie relief Oct 10 2005

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

STEVEN GERRARD is hopeful he will only miss the next two Liverpool games after suffering a shin injury on international duty.

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The Liverpool skipper returned to Melwood for treatment yesterday and the diagnosis suggests the muscle strain isn't as bad as first feared.

An absence of up to three weeks was initially reported, but Gerrard says the Premiership game against Fulham on October 22 is a realistic target.

"The injury is not as bad as people are saying," said Gerrard.

"I've heard they're saying on television I'll be out for three weeks, but I think I'll be okay for the Fulahm game. I had a scan straight after the match and went to Melwood for treatment yesterday.

The medical staff are confident I'll be back after the next two games, so that's what I'm aiming for.

"I picked up the knock during the game and it was a bit of a worry at first, but it's not that serious."

Gerrard was hurt during the first half of England's 1-0 win over Austria, but was urged to play through the pain barrier as Sven Goran Eriksson's side struggled on with 10 men following the dismissal of David Beckham.

Now Liverpool are paying the price, with Gerrard certain to miss next weekend's visit by Blackburn, as well as the trip to Anderlecht in the Champions League.

The loss of Gerrard is a huge blow to Rafa Benitez, but with Momo Sissoko fit again, the Liverpool boss has options to fill the void for the next two fixtures, at least.

Jamie Carragher and Peter Crouch came through Saturday's match unscathed.

Carragher is set to continue at left back against Poland in midweek, but it may come as some relief to Benitez that Crouch will make way for Wayne Rooney.

Crouch has endured some shocking treatment, despite an acceptable performance for his country at the weekend.

Benitez will be happy if he can get his striker back fit and well for next weekend.

Everyone admires Gallas....No way they would sell him to us, he'll end up staying or go abroad

Yeah lets blow all our money on an inconsistent winger, not premiership proven, that makes sense

Benitez's high hopes for Harry Oct 6 2005

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today gave the all-clear for Harry Kewell to play for Australia this weekend, and said he hopes to have the winger back in his senior squad within a fortnight.

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The Liverpool boss has called on everyone at Anfield to give the Aussie a 'fresh start' as he bids to put his injury troubles behind him.

And he's also called on Kewell to show the 'hunger' to reassert his credentials on Merseyside.

Kewell has much to prove on his return, but with Benitez desperate for more options on the wing he's made it clear the left midfielder is key to his plans.

Kewell hasn't featured since breaking down during the Champions League Final. That was the climax to an 18-month battle with a groin injury which resulted in surgery over the summer.

Benitez knows he hasn't seen the best from his number seven, but he's in forgiving mood.

"Harry is a fantastic player and we need him," insisted the Anfield boss. "I want to see Harry doing what he's capable of, beating defenders and getting plenty of crosses into the box. That's what we need and that's why he could be like a new signing.

"Maybe we'll need to be a bit more patient with him when he's back into the team if he's not completely match fit, but we will give him a couple of games before he plays in the Premiership.

"He could feature in the Champions League against Anderlecht, or in the Carling Cup against Crystal Palace. We can use him then. If we use him little by little he can find his way back, but he must also be hungry to succeed. That's important, too."

Australia coach Guus Hiddink says he wants to play Kewell for part of the friendly against Jamaica on Sunday.

Benitez says as long as the circumstances are right, he'll have no complaints.

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"I've spoken to Harry and Guus Hiddink," Benitez added.

"They know Harry is not 100 per cent fit and we must be careful with the situation, but he's played 30 minutes for the reserves.

"He can play, but it depends on the intensity of the game. It shouldn't be a big risk if the game isn't so competitive and the manager is in control. The physios and the doctor will analyse him before and during the game.

"I think he's recovered from his injury now and it's just a question of match fitness. It's a question of time."

Cisse wants to leave Liverpool

Thu Oct 6, 2005 11:59 AM BST

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CLAIREFONTAINE, France (Reuters) - French striker Djibril Cisse is planning to leave Liverpool in January if coach Rafael Benitez continues to keep him on the substitutes' bench.

"If my situation remains the same by December I'll make my move and I'll go," Cisse told a news conference at France's training camp outside Paris on Thursday.

"Being on the bench annoys me. I'm know it's selfish but I have to think about my own career. There's a World Cup which is coming and I want to be part of it," he said.

Cisse scored twice to help Liverpool win the European Super Cup against CSKA Moscow in August but has been relegated to the bench since.

French probe Cisse signing Oct 5 2005

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

DJIBRIL CISSE'S record breaking transfer to Anfield is under investigation as part of a wide-ranging probe into corruption in French football.

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Cisse's former club, Auxerre, was one of eight French clubs visited by investigating officers yesterday.

Magistrates are examining documents relating to the transfer dealings of Richard Bettoni, who is said to have represented Cisse, but isn't licenced by Fifa.

France's national division of financial investigations began their probe at Paris St Germain earlier this season amid claims of embezzlements during transfers to and from the first division club.

Nine agents had their homes raided last March, including Bettoni, Monaco-based Willie McKay, and Olympic Marseille director Pope Diouf, a former associate of McKay.

McKay and Diouf were involved in numerous transfers involving Liverpool stars between 1998-2003. No charges have been made against any agents at this stage because the investigation is ongoing.

Cisse's £14m move to Liverpool in the summer of 2003 is now cited among those being closely examined by French magistrates and that's led them to Auxerre.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Liverpool.

Lille, Marseilles, Nice, Sochaux, Troyes, Metz and Montpellier are the other clubs involved in an inquiry which will be observed with interest by several British clubs who have dealt with the agents at the centre of the probe.