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They did well getting Yakubu on a free though

Benayoun Crouch Mascherano

Reina Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa Pennant Gerrard Alonso Kewell Crouch Torres

With the help of rotation

Yep it would, be interesting to see if anything comes of this

We were linked with Ben Thatcher for about 2 years when he was at Wimbledon weren't we. Another one that got away!

That's what made me laugh about the Echo this week Monday - the People will vote, we'll let the People decide where the People's club moves to because we do things the Everton way. But.. Tuesday - Kirkby is our only option though because it's the deal of the century So, the People can vote as long as they vote for Kirkby, otherwise the vote will be binned.

My Choice Reina Finnan Carra Agger Riise Pennant Gerrard Xabi Benayoun Torres Crouch What I think Rafa will do Reina Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa Pennant Alonso Gerrard Riise Kuyt Torres

Warnock? But obviously he's moved on. Richardson at United, when did he break through? Looks like he's going as wll though. Hoyte at Arsenal, still there I think Regarding Darby pleased to see him being taken with the squad. From the bits I've seen of him seems to be in the Finnan mode defensively, consistant, does the simple things well, doesn't take risks, but lacks the ability going forward. Considering Arbeloa's the only real right back cover, I'd hope to see Darby in a few of the 'lesser' games this season

He certainly did, wanted the other clubs (Wigan and Spurs was it?) to all bid around £7m and knowing the cock would choose Everton, get him on the cheap.

I'm not.

Finnan Carra Crouch

Here's the full article anyway Déjà vu as Benitez lays down the law In the summer of 2004, Steven Gerrard gave an interview which exposed why the Gerard Houllier regime had run it’s course. Having been at the end of his tether for the best part of 18 months, disturbed by the lack of progress of his club, he decided in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s Champions League qualification enough was enough “The next few weeks will be the most important in the recent history of this football club” he said “I will be watching what happens very closely” Liverpool had just pipped Newcastle to the fourth Champions League spot, and while Houllier was hailing the achievement, the captain was mourning the fact such a routine expectation was now being perceived as worthy. There was a clear subtext to Gerrard’s comments then, and although he stopped short of demanding a change of manager, this was the inevitable consequence of any revelution. Had Liverpool not acted, they wouldn’t have avoided their narrow escape when Chelsea made the second of their three summer approaches for Gerrard between 2003-5. It’s impossible not to be reminded of the agitation and hunger for change Gerrard felt then when Rafa Benitez speaks now. On Thursday morning he effectively repeated what the captain had said three years ago. “The club must act now…the next few weeks are crucial…if we don’t do more we can’t compete for the title…etc…” There are those who argue to dismiss the competency of the entire structure of the club takes the argument to the extreme, but the shambolic organisation of the Athens trip did nothing to help those in the firing line, even if UEFA carry most blame. In the early hours of the morning, as Benitez pondered what to say at Thursday’s press conference, he was strolling the streets around the team hotel because he had no room to sleep in. The facilities at the team’s base were described by management and players as shocking. When Liverpool’s representatives spent a couple of days in Athens after the semi-final, they were promised luxurious bedrooms which turned out to be unavailable when the team arrived. AC Milan encountered similar problems. In their Wisdom, UEFA picked a city with just one airport in the same week a major global pharmaceutical conference was held, block booking all the top hotels. Fiasco doesn’t do this organisation justice. Many players had to move out as soon as they arrived, with Benitez eventually giving up his room completely. “If we don’t win, there will be bloodshed at this club” someone close to the manager warned on Tuesday evening, making it clear Benitez saw UEFA as partially but not exclusively responsible for the problems. The zeal for revolution this column reported on last week was evident in Benitez’s comments after the match. Wednesday night felt like a watershed for Liverpool in Europe. Rather than a climax of an exciting new era, it was the end of one. From the callous approach of UEFA to the depressing site of a minority of fans pushing down barriers (how do they qualify these actions when they’re wearing yellow justice stickers I may ask?), right through to the inappropriate preparations of UEFA and the club which were frankly embarrassing. The majority of right minded Liverpool supporters must have made the depressing return feeling wounded by their experience. I know many who wonder why they bother. The idea of the European Cup final is sometimes more exciting that the experience of it. George Gillett and Tom Hicks have spent six months commenting on their extraordinary purchase, but nothing exposes the cracks more than a cup final defeat. It’s now up to them to keep their part of the bargain and ensure on and off the pitch Liverpool is run like a club worthy of its stature. The focus is shifting to them, and it’s their job to shift it back to Benitez. They’ll do this by investing in the team and then taking care of the other under-funded departments. If they succeed, it’s then up to Benitez to prove how astute he is in the transfer market. The loss of chief scout Frank McParland to Bolton is a blow, especially since the jury is out on the track record of Eduardo Macia. His purchases must be up to scratch if the money is there, but he can be sure his dependency on the same Italian agents will be monitored if the signings aren’t good enough. The loss of Paco Herrera last summer was compared to the departure of Patrice Bergues in 2001 which had a destabilising impact. At the moment, worryingly, that still stands. Make no mistake, Liverpool head into the closed season a club deeply divided, with talented backroom personnel leaving and many key figures barely on speaking terms. If the summer of 2004 was considered one of the clubs most important in recent history, it may look like a picnic in comparison to what may follow.

Bascombe was on Talksport earlier talking about divisions within the hierarchy and referred to Rafa as being 'a man at the end of his tether'. Foster Gillett not being able to work in the country until August isn't helping either.

Mate's put £100 on us to win but I don't know whether that's in 90 minutes or overall. I haven't put anything on us yet though

It is just season tickets or fancards as well? Got 3 fancards and 1 ST in ours so will head down anyway and see what I can get

What time's it open till?

4 fancards with 6 credits, 0 successful

Very prophetic words

So every penalty goes in then. Right!

We've got to keep it tight though, should we go chasing the game from the off they'll punish us on the counter attack. Keep it tight and even going in at 0-0 half time wouldn't be a disaster. We'll fuckin have them though, it'll be even better than 2 years ago when we come from behind to put them out

As tempting as the first option is, I'd love us to do them by a 3 or 4 goal margin so there can be no dispute over who deserved it Having said that, walking back to the car after the FA Cup semi last year I was saying something about how at least Mourinho could have nothing to moan about and we were by far the better team, only to put the radio on and hear his ramblings about how the better team lost once again

Just at first glance, am I wrong in thinking one against Reading at home was a Crouch knockdown than Kuyt put away?

In that case I don't know Losing to them in the final would quite easily be the worst moment of my life, but winning the league would eclipse that I think So yeh, I'd take it

Only if we beat United in our last league game to clinch the title from their grasp. Or relegate them.