Carlos Durninio

250 mill over 20 years isn't that far fetched, other than the fact that any major brand is unlikely to commit to such a long term deal. Not to mention the fact that it's just another load of spin. The stadium won't happen under these two. They'll drag it out as long as they can and then be advised to sell up.

I blame the fanbase, it's the fanbase's fault. Booo!

That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and just sounds like more extreme apologist hyperbole. Do you think picking holes in Gerrard's character somehow deflects from the manager's mistakes? Because it doesn't. Plus lets not forget where the manager would be without 'mr personality'.

Why have they picked Johnson for a friendly when he hasn't even played for 2 weeks? Fucking hate internationals. If Gerrard and Torres still aren't 100% I'd have them on the bench as security. Revised team: Reina Johnson (if fit) Skrtel Agger Aurelio (if still alive) Benayoun Lucas Masch Riera Ngog Kuyt

Yeah, it was Sammy's fault, and the fanbase's, obviously.

The only 'fact' is we finished 2nd and threw away our best chance of the title in 20 years, mainly due to the manager's cautious and obsessive methods and ego. The points total and goal tally reflects our usual end of season spurt when the pressure is off, and masks the timid, mind numbing, mid-season draws that are part and parcel of his reign. The mancs were never going to collapse like we did and the end result just papered over the cracks. Your 'point', other than trying to be smart and use last season's failure as some sort of moral victory, is a pointless hypothetical one, and explains why the manager is not being cut more 'slack' by an ever growing number of doubters. But it was the fanbase's fault, the fanbase. Best fans in the world, etc.

Down with dis sort of ting. It was only a plastic beer glass, any chance to flounce off that tart. I blame the parents and students.

It would be easier just to ignore him. Some people just get a buzz out of winding up their fellow fans, that's if he's even a Red. I've seen that name on RedCafe.

Haha, nice one. Some people just don't know when they're beaten. Rafa has his faults like, but why he is even being mentioned in the same breath as some journalistic nobody, albeit one with minor distant links to the club.

No, the negative streak that saw us draw ourselves of the title race by January, leaving way too much ground to catch up without a massive collapse by the mancs, and the one that has constantly seen us out of the title race before Xmas in his 6 seasons here. That negative streak. But you be a good boy and keep clinging to your pointless stats.

This is the reality of the situation. It's a shit state of affairs but would you prefer to see us relegated or try and least make sure we finish in the top 4?

Saw him, yeah, the absolute belter. Obviously some tit desperate to get his mug on telly. Oh, and while Evans caught Drogba, he was in full on pantomine mode, even jerking his legs like he was having a seizure and throwing sly glances to the ref. He's vermin and the worst thing about wanting them to win the league.

Horrible cunt him, they all are on both sides. Supoib result. We need to stay in touch with the mancs and Arsenal as Chelsea are far too strong this season, plus it's always nice to see the mancs get twatted.

But we didn't, mainly because of the manager's negative streak. The last couple of months were great but we threw it away post Xmas with a succession of disjointed draws, maybe even before. He also couldn't resist using our lofty position in his power battle and contract negotiations with the owners, which had a definite negative effect on the team. Not to mention his ridiculous attempt to undermine Ferguson, which only proceded to galvanise the mancs, who at that stage were looking very ropey, along with a stuttering Chelsea. I doubt we'll ever get a better chance to win the title again. What was your point again?

That's the excuses sorted then, although to be fair to Rafa he isn't making any in that piece. I doubt anyone will be doing much business in Jan, because the top talent is never readily available, but that won't stop the apologists whinging about not throwing yet more millions at more fundamental issues.

It is a decent post that, and it should be the model for most top clubs in a fair and balanced league. But I think Benitez can only win the title now with massive funds, which is at odds with his history in Spain, and even then his methods are likely to get in the way. I certainly don't expect him to be here long enough to see the fruits of any long term youth policy anyway, but hopefully what we're implementing will serve us well in the future.

Scarf and gloves I reckon.

Be that as it may, the knock off effect of both disasters was tremendous and we lost our way. Yes, the leadership at the top was poor and there could have more forward thinking in terms of stadium and commercial revenue, which was a sticky subject for a lot of Reds who prided themselves on not selling out completely, but we should never underestimate the effect Hillsborough had on everyone - club and fans alilke. Personally, I lost the spark for a good 10 years and knew many others who felt the same.

Did they tell you this in internet transfer finance school? Roma obviously agreed to such a deal and we've paid so much upfront. That doesn't mean we can then go out and spend another 15 million in that window because the WHOLE amount is budgeted for. Hopefully this will register in noddy land.

Is it too much to fathom that we've bought a 20 MILLION pound player and only paid so much upfront because that's how deals are structured these days?

Lets not get into semantics. Most transfers these days are paid in installments due to the high fees and wage structures involved, especially cross continent deals. Regardless, the point being made about only so much being paid upfront which should allow us to then spend the rest in that window is utter, utter crap of the highest order that you only find on internet forums spouted by simpletons. The FULL amount will be budgeted for.

For that amount they are, you absolute dick. I prefered wanker too. I don't remember the same furore over the transfer payment structure of any other signings which had no bearing on the overall budget. It's only since Rafa has been taking stick for buying an injured player that it's become an issue. Funny that.

:wallbutt: AAAAAAAHHHHH!!! For the last time, all transfers are paid in installments and the full amount will have been budgeted for. Why are some fans unable to grasp that simple fact, especially when defending the manager.

The fanbase swelled because of the new legislation and rise in popularity of the game. I doubt Hillsborough even registered for most. For those that lived through it, and the club itself, there was a lot of soul searching, and still is. The club survived two major footballing disasters, when lesser clubs would have gone under, so to pin the blame on indivuduals is pointless. Without Heysel or Hillsborough it's impossible to judge what direction the club would have gone in.

Absolutely disgusting that. I have my own doubts about Rafa but that's just a personal hatchet job. There are no journalist 'Reds', their alliegiance is to their bosses and they'd all sell their souls for an exclusive regardless of the effect on the club or personel. Horrible, horrible vermin, and we more than anyone should know that.