Ronnie Whelan

Dempsey is a 7/10 type of player. At the right price I wouldn't be against him. He's a good premiership player and much better than what we have. I do think though that we should be trying to offload the likes of Carroll and Downing and use additional transfer money to get the likes of Cavani or top young talents rather than getting the Clint Dempsey type of player. As already said, players are attracted by money and the chance to play at a big club (we're more than a big club as Inter Milan is also and as an earlier poster said they're after Moura). Players are also attracted to what nowadays seems to be called "a project". I love the signing of Borrini. It's heartening to get a top young talent with the world at his feet, rather than England B players. Hopefully more of the same from BR.

I thought it was an excellent read. I was looking through the comments of their fans and I find myself nodding in agreement at much of what they say. One time around late 70s, a mate and I tried unsuccessfully to get in to Maine Road through 3 different emergency exits. 3 unsuccessful attempts and we were brought back to the same head steward. 3rd time, he just laughed and said "fuck sake Lennon and McCarthy what'll we do with you" and brings us round to the Liverpool end. We spent the whole of the first half chatting about footy...he was a United fan. We kept in touch and he came to a few Liverpool games. Proper old salt of the earth Manc type. Fact is most people in every city are inherently decent. Most Mancs I've met I've really liked..they might not have the humour, the looks or the dress sense of us scousers :whistle: but they're mostly alright, and I go back to the 70s and 80s when it was pure mental when the two teams played each other. What has changed is that alot of working class people don't have the same solidarity anymore with each other. The reality is that most working class Scousers and Mancs can't get to games every week anymore and our two clubs are in a very precarious state, yet the venom between the fans on matchday is not too far off Old Firm levels with the Munich and Hillsborough chants. If you ask me, we share alot in common with each other than many on here would care to admit.

Would agree with that. Cole could fit in with Rodger's style of play. The big question is whether he's past it. I have to be honest I haven't seen him play for Lille, but have heard he's had a good season.

Question for everyone. Would you take Joe Cole back? I would in a heart beat. I think he's a very good player still and has a lot to offer us. Seems like an alright lad as well. In fact, I would keep Maxi in a heartbeat as well. We could have done with both players in a lot of the games that we dropped points last year.

He has done a fine job wherever he's been. I like him alot. Having said that I wouldn't feel he's anywhere ready to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world,

I like him. He's a very good young manager. It annoys me the way some people here are laying into him. Firstly it isn't his fault he's linked with us. Secondly, he's done an excellent job with them. There really are some total know it all idiots in our support. A lot of them weren't even born or were in baby clothes when we reigned supreme. However, the step up from Wigan is huge. I really think if the King does go this summer, then it will be a completely poisoned chalice. The job is already big enough for a young manager, let alone having to replace Kenny and begin to lead a team that will see a lot less of an inspirational player like Gerrrard over the next few years. It has to be a manager with the profile to attract big players and match the club. Rafa's reputation in Spain was a big part in us signing Torres. A lot of the great managers would jump at the chance to lead us.

I'd like McCarthy of Wigan, Hoilett and Luke De Jong for a start. All very good players with a very bright future. A really really top winger on top of that lot and I'd be made up. If Skrtel leaves, I'd obviously like a replacement but I would like Coates to have a bigger role next season regardless of whether he stays. Alot of world class players would still come to us, but I doubt we'll have the cash to get 2-3 of them, hence I think the players mentioned are more realistic with one marqee signing.

I love Pepe but he's been poor by his standards this season. If we could get a decent fee, I'd sell him and try and get Tim Krul of Newcastle. Obviously, alot would depend on whether Newcastle get in the Champions League, but he's pure class.

I don't feel English in any way. However, I thought the booing was distasteful. The national anthem does not mean a thing to me, I consider YNWA to be my anthem, but it means alot to a huge amount of people. Golden rule keep quiet and respect it rather than give the dickhead media another chance to throw shit at our club and city.

It's good for us I suppose, as by and large we should nearly always be a top 6 club (this season a very bad exception). I also support clubs from smaller countries having a better chance of being in the Champions League. However, you would have to worry about the standard being devalued. It's a bit like the way they're making the European Championships a 24 team tournament from 2016. I mean don't get me wrong there's some good sides that don't qualify for the current format, but some of the teams that will qualify will be fairly shite.

Agreed about Huntelar. Class player in front of goal but all round not great. I guess a fella who knows where the goal is, is precisely what we need though. Don't know much about munian and tello but they're meant to be class.

Alot of the threads are understandably full of doom and gloom. I just want this season to end asap, even if we do win the cup double. I'd like to see Kenny give some of the young lads a go like Sterling, Flano, Kelly, Coates etc as we have nothing to lose. Anyhow, just wondering who people would like to see us sign and how you think that we will line up next August. Obviously, we'd all like messi, Iniesta, Ronaldo etc but be realistic. I'm going with the King to still be our manager as even though we've been awful the last few months, if anyone deserves a chance to turn things around it's him. Here's my line-up; Reina (GK) Johnson (RB) Skrtel (CB) Agger (CB) Enrique (LB) Junior Hoilett (RW) Lucas (CM) Gerrard (CM) Griezmann (LW) Suarez (CF) Luke De Jong (CF) I think our defence when fully in place is very decent and with loads of lads like Coates and Kelly beginning to make a name, I don't see any new buys. If Pepe did leave, I could see us putting in a bid for Krul at Newcastle (dependent on Newcastle not getting Champions league). If Agger was to go, I think one of Coates or Kelly would step in and I wouldn't necessarilly think we'd buy anybody. We obviously need two new wingers and Hoilett and Griezmann fit the bill. Both very young and talented. Stevie hasn't much left in the tank so I would expect Henderson to get more gametime. Of all the younger players in the Premier League, that lad McCarthy at Wigan reminds me of Stevie the most. Obviously not as good as Stevie was at his age, but very promising. If Kenny feels that Henderson isn't going to reach his potential, we could move for McCarthy. That chap Mvilla is supposed to be incredible, but I would imagine he will go to a team in the Champions League. Up front, we desperately need a new striker who knows where the goal is and I think we could go for De Jong in Holland. He's very good for his age and there again fits the bill. I just hope we can hold on to Luis.

I agree with most of your post. I have met loads of class fans of both clubs down the years and by and large they are good people. Celtic fans generally have a great affinity with our club and our city and I have never met a Rangers that didn't feel the same way. However, I wouldn't be naive about the sectarianism that comes out during these games from guys that are normally best mates. I suppose you could say that it isn't any different to the vile that is thrown at us by United fans and vice versa.

I'll reserve judgement on our owners for the next 12 months. However, they did get a great deal on the club and we deserve to get the finances to take us to the next level. You're right though, a lot of the other clubs are basically play things. That sheikh probably never set foot in Manchester before buying City and I doubt Abramovich grew up with Chelsea posters in his bedroom. In Germany, clubs are penalised for being in debt. That would go a long way for making the league more of a level playing field. An Italian mate of mine reckons that the premier league is going to go the way of Serie A when they went in to crisis with big clubs going bankrupt. He actually said that while Serie A still has alot of problems such as hooliganism, it is on the way back and that it might have been the best thing that happened to Italian football. Maybe the premier league needs a similar crisis to bring our problems to a head. In fairness, most on here, were sceptical about Downing and Carroll before they even joined us. This would make the owners justifiably wary of giving us more money, as they were very expensive flops. Hopefully this summer even if we don't get a Cavani etc, we get players like Hoilett or De Jong (the young Dutch striker one) who will improve us greatly and won't cost a bomb. I'm still hopeful that our global name will mean we can get world class players..Luis joined us when we were at a very very low ebb. We also need to give the younger lads a go. We have class youngsters and with us being in Europe next year, why not give Flano, Sterling and Robinson etc their chance.

Looked at the table there. Jesus if we'd been half decent decent this season we'd have 3rd/4th in the bag.

Kenny has done enough for this football club to deserve time. He's shown in the past that he is a very good manager. If we do the cup double, then it balances out alot of the poorness of our league form. I would say that Kenny's decision to buy Carroll was a very very ill-thought out one that seemed to stink off desperation because we were losing Torres. I know Carroll looked very good at times for Newcastle but 35mil for a fella that was very good for 4 months?? Some on here are blaming others, but the buck stops with the manager. Downing for 20 mil was a poor deal..good solid England squad/b player yes but that money would buy you much much better players at a fraction of the cost on the continent. In fairness, Adam for 8 or 9 mil was a good punt, even if it hasn't come off. I think Hendo will come good in central mid and Enrique has been at times an excellent buy. All in all, a big summer, but the King deserves it.

I was back in town for the game. Haven't been home for a derby since the late 80's. Never thought I'd see a police helicopter over Anfield for a derby. In fairness, most blues my age are really great lads (I'm late 50s) but it's dying out and alot of the young ones are shitheads. Sad to see coz they were once a great club.

Considering Coates is one of the best young centre halves in South America, I feel he's more than capable of coming in and doing a great job for us. I genuinely believe that we need to blood Kelly more often, Flanagan, Shelvey and give Sterling a bit of playing time too. I would also give Henderson the rest of the season in centre mid. I've seen alot there that makes me think that he could be a very good player. People seem to forget that some of our greatest players players such as Rush and Whelan also had tough times when they were breaking through in to the team. I seem to recall Rushie having a rough time in his first year or so at the club and Whelan having a very poor 2nd season after a brilliant 1st...good thing Sir Bob stuck with them eh :)

Agree totally. I reckon if we could get 2 top quality of the type of players that you mentioned in the first batch and players like McCarthy and Hoilett who might come cheap if their teams are relegated, then I will be over the moon.

Boss deal that. Got myself two home jerseys and and away!!

Neville has been a breath of fresh air on Sky. It's full of tools or lads like Alan Smith who seem decent enough but contribute nothing meaningful. Splinter might be a manc cunt but he's fair on all teams. I like Keane too. He makes a useless manager but he's a good pundit. Doesn't pull any punches and sticks it up to the Mancs. I liked when he was asked about Luis not shaking Evra's hand and he basically just laughed and said that what does he expect given Luis lost a few weeks wages and getting suspended for 8 games and noting it says something about the way football has become that the United players were hissy-fitting over a Liverpool player doing that. He said it all seemed a bit self-righteous by them!!

Wales are Grand Slam material. Class team who could be frighteningly good in the coming years. Ireland have the players to be very good, but they never seem to perform at all.

Chelsea veer between being very good and being utterly shocking. They are there for the taking in the race for 4th. If Mourinho comes back, they could be very very good. United get by on their history and their reputation. They have some very average players but most teams are beaten before they play them. Credit where credit is due, they keep hanging in there. Long term, they better hope that they unearth a few Chicaritos because they don't seem to have the money to spend 30 million on players anymore. Knowing my luck, they'll be taken over by some sheikh or something. Arsenal are like Chelsea in some ways, except I have more time for them as a club and even though he's a bad loser, Wenger is a great manager who is also an accountant's dream. Take away RVP though and they're finished. There for the taking this year. Tottenham are a class team who for me are easily the 2nd best team in the league on paper. However, not sure if they have the belief to be winners that a team like United have. They'll finish third and to be fair good luck to them. I don't get the anti-Harry feeling here. He's a great manager and having met him a few times, he's a gentleman who has a real feel for our club. City are by far the best team in the league. I hope they win the league this year, purely so United don't. Down the line, they could be a disaster for English football though. Bottom line is that we can get 4th.

I like Henderson. I think he'll be a top class player in a few years. He's a good attitude and I could see him being a future captain when Stevie hangs up his boots. Bellamy is a class free transfer. Just a pity that he can't play more games. He gives 100%. I always feel that something can happen when he's on the pitch. Enrique is having a good season, even if he hasn't been so great recently. For the money he cost, he was a great signing. Downing is your classic England squad/sub player. A decent player yeah, but far from being a top one. If we're serious about being great again, then he's no more than a squad player. Adam is a good premiership player that belongs at a Villa or Newcastle. Bottom line though is he doesn't belong at one of the great clubs of world football. Squad player maybe. I'm not even going to comment on how bad Big Andy has been. If we get 6mil, then I would be happy enough. He's a mid-table championship player at best. All is not totally lost. We have a core of great players (Reina, Agger, Gerrard and Suarez), very good ones (Skrtel, Johnson, Enrique, Bellamy, Lucas) and players like Henderson, Coates and Kelly who will only get better and a great batch of young lads who could be terrific. We have lads like Carra there with great experience too. Most importantly, we have a manager who knows everything about winning. However, the glaring thing that we lack are two top class wingers and a great striker.

There is a massive difference between racism and non-pc nicknames/humour. Growing up in Liverpool when I was a kid, there was a fella known widely as Guinness who was a west indian man in his 60s with white hair. Everyone liked him, but the modern day pc brigade would probably say it's a disgrace giving him a nickname like that. In fairness, there was awful racism at the time though in Liverpool and I don't want to make it seem all happy clappy. When I moved to London in the late 60s, the racism was in your face much more. The old bill used to give the Irish and blacks an awful time. The old bill used to wait outside the irish clubs and west indian shebeens and antagonise them, hoping they would retaliate. Nowadays, it's probably the other extreme and young black thugs will use the race/ethnic card to the police.