Sladey

Breaking News : Gillett / Saudi deal done :: The Empire of The Kop – Liverpool F.C. I've never heard of this site - got it sent to me from someone using Twitter. What are the odds of this being reliable? Actually, I'm guessing "not very" - judging by the fact that, according to the quote at the top, they think that Bill Shankly said that "Napoleon wanted to conquer the bloodly world." Bloodly hell.

It was Matt Dickenson - their chief footy writer - who wrote the article.

Apparently, and I quote from the Times, "(Gillett) expected it to be a private chat, but The Times has obtained a transcript. " Taking the credit for Mick's sterling efforts. Nice of them. The twunts.

I thought the same thing as you, when I read it. I've managed to copy the article from the site, so here it is in full (or you can just click on ratcatcher's link): ====== Rafa Benitez badly short of options in Liverpool squad as Steven Gerrard returns By Rory Smith Published: 11:45PM BST 24 Jul 2009 Three games, one goal, no victories. Pre-season results are no gauge of a team's potential, but it is hard not to draw parallels between Liverpool's stuttering preparations for the new season and the malaise behind the scenes. Steven Gerrard may have been found not guilty of affray at Liverpool Crown Court, but that was a rare ray of sunshine in a summer of increasing gloom at Anfield. Friday's deadline for the club's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to refinance their £350 million loan with the Royal Band of Scotland and Wachovia passed without resolution. Sources suggest the delay does not indicate any problem, but that the deadline was "elastic", though there have been suggestions of complications regarding guarantees for a new package. Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, may have learnt to tune out such distractions since the Americans arrived. Besides, under the terms of his new contract, he has complete control of Liverpool's football matters, and there is plenty there to occupy his thoughts. Benitez intimated before the end of last season that all Liverpool needed to make that giant leap forward from second to first by May next year was stability, that if he could keep his squad together, making one or two additions of the utmost quality, the club's 19-year wait for a league championship would begin to draw to a close. That now looks a pipe dream. Gerrard may be a free man, "free to focus on his football," as Benitez said in response to his not guilty verdict, but his pre-season will have suffered. The club captain was scheduled to play last night with a reserve XI at Tranmere, but he clearly would have preferred to be with his senior colleagues in the Far East. That the England international will be joined over the weekend on Merseyside by Nabil El Zhar and Martin Skrtel, knee and hamstring injury victims respectively, adds to Benitez's woes. Fabio Aurelio, the left-back, is already expected to miss the start of the season with a freak injury picked up while playing with his children on holiday. Benitez may have signed Glen Johnson for £17.5 million, but with Alvaro Arbeloa likely to join Real Madrid and Napoli in talks to sign Andrea Dossena, Liverpool's defence already looks threadbare. Benitez's midfield, for two years arguably the best in the Premier League, is in danger of collapse. Real Madrid have turned Xabi Alonso's head on a £30 million move. Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, is thought to be keen on curing his homesickness for Argentina by moving to Barcelona. Liverpool's engine room has stalled. Benitez does not have the funds to spend big – his coffers may stretch to the £3 million Sylvain Distin, but not the £20 million David Silva – but he does not yet know what his priorities are. He needs action, and fast. Madrid and Barcelona must be presented with non-negotiable prices for Alonso and Mascherano. Benitez is adept at employing the velvet glove to get what he wants in the transfer market. Now, if he is to create the stability he craves, it is time for the iron fist.

I'm just awaiting further breaking news...namely that Newcastle will come in with a late bid for him...fuck knows they could have done with him yesterday. Actually, they could have replaced their entire back four with Sami, and he'd have put up an exemplary display. Mixed emotions here - sad that he's leaving...but made up that he gets another big move in the twilight of his career...AND that he's not gone to another Premiership club. We've had 10 years of exemplary, professional and utterly selfless service from him. On AND off the pitch - as illustrated by that donation to the Arrowe Park hospital appeal because that's where his child was born. And for all of that, we're ALL grateful. Come back when you've hung up your boots, Sami - I'm sure the door will always be open to you.

10/10 for observation. You fucked off yet? If not, then do it NOW. Pepe made a mistake, and he's the last person who needs to be told that. Of course, bellends like you conveniently forget the times when he's prevented 3 points from becoming 1 or zero points in all of the league games we've played, or even the penalty shootout when we beat that shower of Kings Road twats in 2007. After tonight, all proper Liverpool fans will be proud of their team tonight. The fact that you obviously don't seem to be, and would prefer to slag off our goalkeeper says as much about you as it does about your comments. I said it before, and I'll say it again - fuck RIGHT off now, dickhead.

Fuck off and support Chelsea then, you titwank.

Didn't someone post in another thread that Merson said the other night when asked for his thoughts on how we'd get on today that Rafa "will probably leave Gerrard and Torres out, so United will win easily", or words to that effect? Well, I hope watches us again later on MotD or Football First, and chokes on his methadone. The fat mongy smack-rat crap bastard.

Quelle surprise. Hopefully then, his legs will be as wonky as his lips by the time Fernando has finished with him. El Nino will merk him. Big time.

I'm glad to see there is a thread on that hairy cock-wart and his anti-Liverpool agenda (which is patently is - it can't be anything else, can it). Lest Sky forget, we beat the ITALIAN CHAMPIONS not once, but TWICE. And as well as Arsenal played last week at the San Siro (against the team who lie 5th in Serie A, 18 points behind Inter), they only drew with them at home. Yet they were shouting from the rooftops for them. Still...I guess we should be used to it by now - I mean, what else should we expect from the likes of Keys, Gray, Gale, Nicholas, and that fat crap bastard smack-rat Merson, who can't even keep his teeth in his mouth? George Best might have been a Manc, and an alcoholic, but when he was on Sky, any criticisms he made of Liverpool were invariably well put, and he was a fucking damn sight quicker to big us up when it was called for. Like he would have done last night. Oh, and that jizz stain Shreeves - trying to stir the Rafa/Xabi thing after the game as well. Twat.

"Search my name and do your own research." Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Rashid, just what the fuck WOULD make you happy? Is it any wonder why people are so fucked off to the back teeth of you? Come on, tell people just what you want to happen - and for the love of Dalglish, try to come up with an answer that - for once -DOESN'T mention DIC or your alleged information about what is supposed to be happening. Tell us ALL - on this day - what you want to happen to Rafa. If you want him to be sacked, come out and say so. If you don't, then get the fuck behind him and start giving him your support, instead of your snidey shit-stirring and antagonising the majority of good forumites (aka. everyone else bar you).

They are a bunch of shitehawks - both the club and its fans. Nothing that a dose of something like Legionnaire's disease wouldn't put right though. It's like having your club supported by 40,000 cockney Rashids. Actually, thinking about it, they won't annoy me quite as much as Sky will on Sunday when they show the game.

You don't know him, mate, but I do - so I'm not at all disturbed!!:lol: Actually, I'd rather have Ouchy than Parry as our CEO at the moment.

I enjoy reading these forums from afar, and don't really feel the need to post, as most people on here offer both/all sides of an argument, with good rhyme and reason - even if I might not necessarily agree with it. But, Jesus wept, I do wish you'd fuck off and support Everton - you boring scrote. You are arguably the most negative waste of skin I've ever read on this forum. I can answer that for him, Gaz - no fucking chance.