nibbler

I had meant to post on this thread ages ago but this is the first chance I've got. Looks like the discussion has been abandoned by most with any sense. Sorry.

I think the assumption is it's either or. Wasn't there speculation recently of ManUre offering £60M+ - that would only make economic sense if they were getting £70M+ for Ronaldo, surely. Wouldn't want United to get him or Tevez, those two would be the nucleus of a none-cunt-united team that would just feel all wrong.

Watched a lot of him in the CL. Brilliant player. When they got owned by Barca he was their one ray of light. I think he's a class apart from any wide player at the moment bar Ronaldo. I still thought we might have a shot at him for £25M or something this summer, especially when Bayern were having such a poo-season. Didn't realise his price had gone up again though. Crazy times.

I'd be really interested to know where all these stories of the certainty of Xabi's leaving are coming from. Rafa's given several interviews and although people on here have always found dubious holes in what he's said, e.g. "Don't want to sell him" vs "Won't sell him", I think he's been pretty categorical and would be surprised to see him backtrack. Why wouldn't he just say he might sell Xabi if that was his intention? I saw Xabi give his salute from the Kop on Sunday and that did make me think a little. The problem is that it's all cloak and dagger on here. People like ATK coming on and leaking a little bit of what he knows, which would be fine, but then if anyone questions him or worse dares to disagree with him, it'll be "Fuck off, you don't go the game" bollocks. Is this not a discussion forum? I don't know anyone with inside info and I'm in no position to leak information. I'd be very surprised if Rafa went full circle on what he's said, and I'd probably feel pretty differently about the man if he did, however at the same time I've never seen speculation of this nature on this site when the smoke hasnt ultimately revealed fire. I wish I knew where all the inside info was coming from, and I wish I knew why - if he does - Rafa wants Alonso gone. I simply can't accept that Rafa wants him out for some personal reason, I think they're both better men than that. I'm not accusing anyone of bullshitting here, I've been very careful not to, but I have to say that I really hope we're not all just getting duped by the tabloid rags. I mean, you only have to look at this thread to see how many papers the story will sell. I know CB is revered on here but a lot of what I've read with his name on it recently has been exaggerated, sensationalist and often untrue. Maybe Parry is leaking all this shit as a last "Fuck you" to Rafa, although I'm not sure whether that makes it more or less likely to be true. What I really want more than anything is for all those on here who've been, aggressively at times, touting their inside info and telling others they're "blind" or "full of shit" or "shit fans who never go the game" to come back on here at the end of the summer and apologise but I know that'll never happen whether or not Xabi is playing in a red shirt next season.

I always thought that Palacios might be the answer to their problems, until he went to Spurs. Can't understand why they weren't in for him, the no-necked motherfucker.

Suarez looks good from the youtube. Some of his finishing is top class - I especially like the volleys. I must say though, while I hate to get all Jockey on you, some of the defending and goalkeeping on show is truly woeful.

That explains why you have him as your avatar :whistle:

Tbh, I don't think Real at home was a very tough game. If the next 5 are like that we'll be sipping champagne before you know it.

How did that cunt not win on the "biggest twat pundit"? Fucking arse of a man!

A tough draw, but I don't fear the Chavs. Hiddink at the helm will make things harder, but they are far from invincible. I also fancy Porto to put the shits up the Mancs. I watched the Athletico vs Porto first leg and Porto couldve been 5-1 up were it not for the mismatch between their shite keeper and athleti's decent one. Chelsea, Barca, Arsenal. I'd fancy our chances there.

Arsenal are fucking brilliant..... ....Except when they're gash!

I've always thought that not rotating the team so much every week gives a club the best chance of getting a good start to a league campaign and that's backed up by what's happened to us this season when Rafa has had an Old School bootroom boy in his ear (SL) rather than a new age fitness guru (PA). Personally though I am somewhat concerned that our recent dip in form, lead by the dip in form of many of the key individuals in our squad (Mascherano, Babel etc), and the repeated injuries to Torres and others might actually be the price we have to pay for that early consistency, especially with so many members of the Spanish European Championship winning squad in our team. We've always played excellently after Christmas in the Champions league and often in the League under Rafa (OK, Benfica '06 aside) and I'm worried that we won't get that same boost this year which might also pose a problem to any aspirations of silverware. Of course it's simple to launch into an Andy Gray-esque rant about how we're top of the league because Rafa hasn't rotated as much this year, but am I right in being cautions that this argument isn't proved in the least until we've seen the effects over a whole season? And is there room for some middle ground - could we play the same team for a few weeks and then rotate a few hungrier fitter players in to back them up for another few weeks? Personally nothing fucks me off more than when someone tells me how we'd do so much better if Rafa played Gerrard and Torres every week and I'm worried that we're going to find out just why he hasn't taken this approach before now.

Richie humphreys, Carlton palmer, mickie Quinn, Jason lee, and fuck me, I just can't remember the name of that utter shite French toffee striker with long hair and a beard who was probably the worst player I can remember seeing. Anyone remember him?

I'd just like to add that in addition to his playing exploits he was a pretty good manager too, nearly as good as "Big" Ron Atkinson! High praise indeed! http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/ff-football-forum/68867-britains-best-manager.html#post1358867

The tragic thing is, looking at the list I'm pretty sure it's been created by getting people to fone in their favourite manager of all time. You always get "future weighting" when you do polls like that, people can have short memories or are just young and stupid, but some of the names in there are crazy because people must have foned in and voted for Ron Atkinson more than they foned in for Kenny. Maybe that says something good about Liverpool fans though I guess - who'd want to participate in sucha ludicrous enterprise anyway? EDIT: I guess that means they already made money from it :(

I defy any man to write down any criterion whereby on populating a list from it, Kenny should be next to "Big Ron"

Words fail me :wallbutt:

Wind-up it may well be but I do agree that we haven'tplayed to the best of our ability in every game this season. In fact certain bits of our play have made me downright depressed - Dossena's Pennant-esque crossing, Kuyt's incredible ability to take 4 touches when 1 would do etc but I this in a positive light. I haven't felt we've totally clicked yet and I am sure we will improve significantly, especially going forwards, nbut we're still top of the league!

Negged. Again! EDIT: Oh shit - I can't - someone reload for me?

Nearly as bad as fulham handing out these fucking things for every home game to try to "improve the atmosphere". Aplaudidores

Great commitment from the lad that! Those sort of last-ditch tackles are what he's famed for. He's looking a lot better today, his forward runs have been penetrating while he has covered back when he's needed to - I guess the ability to do that depends on fitness levels. If he is to play the overlapping fullback role then he will need to run harder than anyone else in the team. Plessis looks good again too. Very impressed witht this lad. Has the physique to step up as-well as the ability - definitely makes the difference. As good - but different to - lucas inmy book.

Rafa says "on the right" 3 times in this interview. I swear he's obsessed with playing strikers on the flanks. Anyway, I expect to see him Kuyt and Gerrard swap positions a lot whatever happens. Rafael Benitez has confirmed he must sell again to bring Gareth Barry to Liverpool after completing the £20.3m signing of Robbie Keane. The Reds manager insists that is what he aims to do, but he has no intention of selling Spain international Alvaro Arbeloa. Liverpool are believed to have had a £7m bid from Sevilla for the 25-year-old, but Benitez has made it clear the player is going nowhere, despite speculation defender Arbeloa wants to return to Spain for personal reasons. Benitez maintains there is no truth in the assumption Arbeloa is eager to leave and the former Deportivo La Coruna player will be part of his plans in the coming season. But there is no question that Benitez still wants to sign former Aston Villa skipper Barry, the subject of a summer-long saga which has frayed tempers at Villa Park and Anfield. Benitez could sell Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin or Steve Finnan, but it is still more likely that he will persuade Xabi Alonso to leave if he can get a £15million-plus bid for the Spanish midfielder. After completing the Keane deal, Benitez talked in terms of one more major departure rather than a string of smaller deals, to finance an £18m move for Barry. Benitez said: "We knew that we could only spend money by selling players and we have been doing this (for Keane). "We are still trying to sign the players that we need, and if we need to sell someone now, okay, we will do so. "If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try. We will always continue to improve our squad." Benitez was delighted to finally land Keane, and he declined to discuss Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's anger over how the move was concluded. Benitez said: "We are pleased he is here. We dealt well with Mr Levy, and my role was to bring the player here as quickly as possible. "Robbie is one of the very best forwards in the Premier League. He is settled and more than used to the requirements. He is a good professional with a solid mentality, obviously I am pleased he is here, other managers would say the same. "Robbie can play alongside (Fernando) Torres and (Dirk) Kuyt, and also (Steven) Gerrard. He is clever and is the right kind of player. "He can play on the right, he can play up front. If you have clever players it makes it easier for the manager." He added: "If you play 4-4-2, Keane can play alongside Torres. If we play 4-2-3-1 he can play as a second striker or on the right. "He is the kind of player who is adaptable, and can be used in different positions and will give you 100 per cent. "Robbie is intelligent, he can play on the right and he can adapt. He is a very positive signing. "He scored twice at Anfield last season, he knows where he has to be to score and where he must be to support team-mates. He is very clever. "We have known he was a good player for a long time, the goals he scored against us just underlined what we already knew. "We wanted the player, he said he was a Liverpool fan and wanted to come here. We are happy, our fans are happy."

Not suggesting he shouldn't - and I'm sure he will, but personally I don't see him doing his best work sitting out wide - even in our 4231. I'll be glad to be p;roved wrong though and I do think he's a more flexible player than many who we've tried to move out wide from a central striking position in the past (e.g. Cisse).

To put the argument about Keane's position to bed I refer people to his quotes last night: ROBBIE KEANE: THE FIRST INTERVIEW Do you see yourself as a second striker, someone who can play a bit deeper behind, say, Torres, or as a striker in your own right? I see myself as a second striker. I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole. You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool. Also, Rafa alluded to his plans by implying Keane also able to play on the right. Not sure about that bit myself: RAFA: KEANE A GREAT PARTNER FOR TORRES "He can play with Torres up front and also on the right."

From the site you posted - on Istanbul: I pulled Phil so close his face touched mine. "Look at that scoreboard: '3-3. Liverpool, champions.' And remember how it looked at half-time. And how you were dead inside. And whenever you feel life's beaten you, think of this scoreboard and realise that anything, anything is possible. Will you do that for me?" He nodded. I gulped. ------ Genuis, sums up how I feel about that magical night.