duke2

Yeah, hilarious. Ok, never mind, I'll find somewhere. Thanks for all the smart-arse suggestions :)

Long-time lurker here. Southport lad and lifelong Red exiled in London all of my adult life. I'm coming home this weekend with my wife and baby to visit my parents for Easter and want to watch the Norwich match in a Liverpool city centre pub with a load of proper Reds. Only seen the lads once this season, the league defeat at the Emirates. I've watched most of the rest of our matches on TV on my lonesome. Is there anywhere in particular that anyone can recommend for a warm welcome, lots of singing and some decent beers? Maybe some good lunch options too in case I can persuade my old Dad to get out of his chair and join me? Any suggestions (with rough locations/road names included) much appreciated. Thanks

Code, you wanting us to sign Quaresma is how I know that you simply don't uderstand football. He's never been a serious option, even at the start of his career or in the days of Rashid raving about him in every third post. The very fact that you think he'd be a good signing for us, compared with your constant badgering of a player like Lucas, makes me wonder how you expect to be taken seriously. Quaresma is a 12-year-old fan's wet dream and an amazing 'YouTube player' but of no use to a team whatsoever. YouTube shows his astonishing skill and close control but it rarely shows what you really want to know about a player you're looking at. It doesn't show what you see when you watch a footballer play a full 90mins; namely, the end product. What is the outcome of all of his skilful play? A huge majority of the time with Quaresma it is nothing. His decision making is rotten. He is way too interested in beating his man for the fifth time or pulling off some flashy cross-heel pass with the outside of his foot to think about what is best for the team. His team-mates make runs that he looks up and sees but he hasn't got the maturity to pick them out when there's an opportunity to try something magical. He's a wizard on the ball for sure and he's quick and plays on the wing. Sounds just what we need. But as someone posted earlier there's a reason he plays in Turkey, has never won anything (to the best of my knowledge but do correct me if I'm wrong) and failed abjectly to keep up with his mate at Real. Watch a few videos that show his every touch or involvement against a team in a single game (I find they are among the more useful videos when looking at a player we've been linked with) and you'll see that for all his showpony swagger, he's an irritatingly stupid player that loses the ball long before he's swung a good cross in or played a telling pass.

Yes. Absolutely. He will improve us no end by giving us the kind of goal-scoring opportunities that we don't currently have within the squad. Suarez will continue bamboozling defences with his vision, his close dribbling skills and his ability to unlock tight units with a brilliant pass, either through the middle or from either wing. Adam will improve our ratio of scoring from corners and set-pieces. Downing will finally give us somebody that can deliver excellent crosses from open play and put the ball right onto Andy or Stevie's head. Opposition teams will know we can come at them with four or five different ways of creating goal-threats. Really hope we get him.

I really like the enthusiasm that the more seasoned watchers among you have for this crop of young players - the thought that there could be up to half a dozen players from our youth ranks fighting for a first team place in years to come is mouthwatering. Obviously Sterling could be special. But I have a question - I've watched all the clips I can find on YT and watch them whenever I can on LFCTV - I'd like to know, what's his left foot like? He's clearly very confident in his ability to cut in from the left and create or score. His speed and quick feet give him the tools to be very dangerous when cutting into the box. But there seems to be scant evidence if him getting to the bye-line when on that side and sending over a decent cross with his left. This is not a criticism of the boy and I appreciate how young he is and therefore how much time he has to develop - I just wonder if he has this as an option in his armoury yet because people on here are comparing him to Johnny Barnes and that.

Just tried Veetle for the first time (never come across it before someone here mentioned it early on in the first half). Downloaded it and was happily watching the game in HD on the laptop until it just turned off. A message came up about respecting the rights of copyright owners etc - does anyone here watch footie on Veetle regularly? What do I need to do etc? Warning: talk to me like a luddite. I'm a technical dunce. Thanks.

Some people shouldn't be allowed to own the internet.

Dennis, I think it might be time for bed mate. You are are criminally confused. And a bit of a nob.

I agree with Xabi D's banning. The man was a bellend and a half. I've been your classic lurker, logging onto this site pretty much every day since I came across it in about 2003. Xabi D's replies got me angrier than any other poster in all that time. Really disliked him. He was the sort of 'fan' you hope aren't out there in enough numbers to account for a large proportion of us because of the image we would project to others. I think Rash was different though. It's a shame he let himself down, especially as he knows exactly what it takes to get a banning both here and on other sites. The problem with him is he's so naive. I hardly ever agreed with his views on football, LFC or Rafa but at least he had an opinion and at times, he proved himself capable of contributing to debate. Xabi D didn't understand debate at all but some of Rashid's posts really did provoke some reasonable discussion. Then there were the other times when he would be so desperate to be right that he would fall into the trap of being a dick - like the whole Red Cafe affair, or just constantly comparing Liverpool to United or Barcelona. Wish he'd have heeded the numerous warnings he was given.

That's what the club keeps saying Spider-Neil but then the papers are consistently describing him as 'unsettled'. They must be getting it from somewhere?

I'm a bit worried about selling the likes of Yossi to help fund the acquisition of Barry or whoever else. I like the idea of Barry here and I agree with the sense made in the analysis some on here have given in the past about him moving over to the left to cover for Dossena when the full-back pushes forward but we need to be careful about who we sell to make that happen. I think Yossi is a great player and under-used by us. There are a number of different views on the forum of the talent this guy has and I don't really wish to get into that, you either rate him or you don't. But what's undeniable is this - while he isn't the only player we have in the squad who can go past a player when one-on-one, he is the only one who can skip past a number of players at will, and does it often, and does it from deep positions. You could argue that Jermaine has all that in his locker but I think he does it less and besides, much as I admire JP's efforts to integrate and succeed, he simply doesn't have Yossi's knack for scoring all different types of goals. So if I had to sell one, it wouldn't be Yossi. I know the boss wants a trimmer squad this year but we shouldn't get rid of assets that can still be of use. We are all crying out for width/wide players/attacking midfielders/wingers/forwards/goal threat from the flanks/whatever the hell you want to call them - and Yossi does it, he fulfils all those roles. Yes he might not start too many league games but I love that we have his sort of quality on the bench. He's not as fashionable as some but he's easily capable of unlocking the best defences Chelsea and Man U can put on the pitch. I worry that if we trim too far to get Barry, we'll suffer when we need the players we've sold. If you look at what most people here are saying in terms of what the squad needs. it seems to be cover for Babel and someone else at right-back if Finnan and Bob both end up going. Let's not create more vacancies on the right eh?

Top of the Kop, today, 1.12am: "I just hope fans like Xabi D etc wont big him up too much and put the lad under too much pressure." 1.37am: Hehehe.

"We should play Gerrard wherever's best for us. I happen to think if we play our current system he's best for us in his current role. If we're playing 442 i think he's best on the right." - PaulMcC Correct.

Yes, you're right. Gerrard used to get up and down the pitch when we played him in the centre but that was because he played in a different team with different strengths provided by different personnel and run by a different manager. Rafa has found a system - and has provided (most of) the players to play in it - which unleashes Gerrard as probably the best all round attacking midfielder in Europe. The seasons that we have stripped the captain of all defensive responsibilities (including when we've played him on the right of a four) he has has been at the heart of many if not most of our goals. Just because Arsenal or Barca or whoever would probably play him in the centre doesn't mean we should. If it's true it would be because it would fit their system to play him there and because he would perform there better than anyone else in that squad - maybe they have all the attackers they need and instead require a driving force in the centre circle. But we don't. We have Mascherano and are looking at having a number of decent options to sit there and do that job alongside him. Meanwhile, we have a fucking monster of a partnership up front between Gerrard and Torres which scared the life out of most defences in Europe and the PL last year. Even if Villa came I wouldn't give Gerrard any reason to worry about staying in position and defending. I'd want all three up there with either of Villa or Stevie wide, feeding Torres and picking up his lay offs. Like someone said earlier, you don't use a nuclear weapon to guard a gate.

Rushie for me too. Had posters of all the Liverpool players on my wall but mainly him, whatever I could find and cut out of the papers. Used to play one on one in the back garden against my older brother who's a blue so it was always lovely to score against him while pretending to be Rush. Outside of Liverpool I didn't really have too many favourites but I remember seeing Escape to Victory (and loving that John Wark was in it) for the first time one Christmas and then going out into the garden to try and master the Pele overhead kick. Time after time I threw the ball into the air and tried to make contact with it on its fall as I tossed myself into the air. must have looked a right gimp.

This must be the most patronising thread ever. Sign your name on this contract that says you promise to be a good little boy from here on in.

Are you eight years old?

Ta for that. Didn't know Pachecho had played so little. Hope he stays with us for a few years though because he looks very good. Who is Bruna? Is he the kid we got from Real? What position? Has he played much? What's he like etc etc?

"Nemeth isn't a secondary striker. He's a finisher." Maybe you're right. But when I've watched him on telly I've seen him start moves from thirty yards outside the box with a flick or a clever pass. I've also seen him run at defenders from the (current) Gerrard position. Ablett comparing him to Kenny (not that I agree to be honest) would seem to suggest the same thing. This is why I wanted input from anyone that has seen him and the others play live regularly - see what they think. Maybe we shouldn't label him a 'finisher' just because of his goals record - might be that he has more in his locker...

This is not just a question for Dave but others who go regularly to see the ressies live. I only watch them on the club channel so don't really get the bigger picture (off the ball movement, attitude etc). I accept that Rafa will only have his normal £20m plus receipts from sales to spend and therefore don't anticipate us being able to fill every perceived hole in our team with the best of the best. For example, I'll be happy enough with Degen and Dossena as new full-backs, knowing that while we can't afford to buy the likes of Alves and Lahm, the boss has seen enough in the two D's to give them both a chance - for better or for worse we're working with financial reality and while we'd all like to match United's rumoured £60m warchest, it ain't going to happen. On that basis then, is there anyone from the ressies that could be ready to do more than warm the bench as our seventh sub next season. I know Plessis has already been given a couple of run-outs in the middle of the park. But is there any hope of us filling any of the 'problem' positions which are not as well stocked and which are harder to fill on the sort of money we can spend? ie one of the front three or attacking midfielder? Pachecho is bloody young but then Fabregas was thrown in young and is probably as good as he is because of all the games he's got under his belt at a tender age. Nemeth looks like a very good player and is obviously being talked up by Ablett and the rest of the club a lot. I wonder if that is just for the sake of content to fill the Official website's home page or is it to plant the germ of the idea in the masses that he might be seen more regularly next season? Both look like they can play off a central striker like Torres. Then there is the likes of El Zhar and Insua both progressing and (further back in the pecking order in their positions perhaps?) Hobbs, San Jose, Spearing, Darby, Putterill et al and the likes of Anderson still to return from loan. This isn't a thread designed to kickstart a comparison of these lads, or a 'Who will make it in the distant future?' either. It's more of a question of whether Rafa is being a bit calculated, spending what little money he has got as wisely as possible where he thinks it is needed while considering bolstering the first team playing squad with one or two from the ressies in the next 12 months? Would love to see Nemeth come in and form a partnership sitting behind Torres.

...let's be making some noise! The lads in the ground are going to do it for Rafa so let's get some attention onto our feelings all over the country. Don't cause trouble like but lift the lid of your local boozer with some serious singing. We've got to stop the seemingly inevitable...

...who is a blue, just texted me the following: "A bad result all round, we lost and had 2 men sent off and you had trouble against 10 men!" My reply read simply: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" What he and too many posters on here don't get (just 'cause you're regulars, don't make you right gentlemen) is that every team is going to have a spell of bad form and play shite. If this is ours, still fourth and unbeaten all season, keeping pace with the top (please let us beat Arsenal next week...) and stealing all three points from the Pit, then keep it coming. There's no way Rafa should be under fire for the Gerrard decision. He's the manager and can sub whoever he likes, that's the point of being manager. I didn't think Gerrard was as good today as plenty on here are making out. He was alright like and did everything right for the first pen, but it's not like he was back to his barnstorming best. He overhit a couple of passes (Riise and I think Voro) and too many times was spotted ambling 10 yards behind the action when we were attacking and in need of an option. He'll be back but in the meantime I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lucas, who clearly has enough to prove that Rafa shouldn't shy away from subbing Stevie just because he's a 'superstar'. Yes we've dropped points and it is frustrating but look where we are. Still more than in with a shout. If you can't be happy after robbing three points from the Bitters with a bucket of luck, a couple of dodgy decisions and an injury time pen then you should fuck off and support the Kirkby boys.

Nick, I'm getting more than a bit sick of you constantly trying to undermine our confidence in Rafa and hinting with every one of your posts that your concern should be shared by all of us. We get it mate. We get that you don't approve of all our signings this summer. And we get that we don't have your perfect squad. And we all understand and some even agree with your views on Rafa's habit of rotating players. Please mate, find something fresh to say and stop pretending you know how this season's going to turn out and why. If you could let us all be a little bit excited without your doom and gloom for one lousy thread, I'd really appreciate it. You're getting as mind-numbing as Rashid used to be. Now, on the thread, before Villa returned to form at the end of last season, O'Neill had them playing some really attractive stuff when he first arrived. And like most upper mid-table teams they certainly have players to look out for. But they are certainly beatable, even if they're "all fired up" as someone above said. Add any of our new boys to what we had last year, plus the determination currently in our squad to get a better start to the year, and I'm pretty sure we'll have them. 2-0 to the Reds. Gerrard and Voronin.

Don't want him. He's a preeeeeek. Never smiles when he scores as somewhere along the line, he's heard it's much cooler to pout like a supermodel. The man needs to go and watch a vid of Kenny who never looked anything but ecstatic when he scored and always shared his joy with the fans. On playing ability, Henry's got nothing good to look forward to except getting older and his legs getting heavier. We could pay £20m for him now and he'll be worth very little in three years time when he's so slow he can be caught by Stubbs. Stop fookin' about, go and get Eto'o.