Denny Crane

I understand where you are coming from, but I think there vacuous lifestyle and attitude is a bit overplayed at times. They are the main cast in this drama. The footballers in most instances are not the villains, the people who run football are. The Premier league, the FA, Uefa, Fifa and the individual football clubs are. One thing I have learned following football, is everything that surrounds it is very fictitious, even that Cole tale that has taken on a life of it's own. Wenger only last month, said that it is one of his big regrets letting Cole go. Who let's not forget for most of the last decade was one of the most consistent left backs in the world. It is pretty much accepted that players who come through as trainees are underpaid relative to there contribution to the club. Anyone would think Arsenal had never created a situation that deliberately engineered players to leave to pay for their new stadium consistently over the past decade. That Cole book was ghostwritten by the same person who did Paul Burrells book. So I think there may well have been a bit of artistic license to get sales up. Here is another take on it. let's start with the story that turned Arsenal fans, and many others, against him: Cole swerving his car when he found out he was being offered £55k a week. If you took a dislike to him because of this, turn the situation on yourself. Imagine you’re earning £25k a year. All your colleagues doing the same job are on at least three times more, some picking up quadruple your wage. You’re on such a relatively low wage because this is your first job. You ask for an increase, you’re told you’ll get a rise of £10k a year. You don’t settle for that. So you ask for more, to bring you closer, but still behind, some of your colleagues. You’re promised the new salary you ask for - £60k a year. You accept, despite colleagues saying you’re worth far more, and despite other companies offering more. But when the offer is put on paper, it’s actually £55k a year. How would you feel? Replace the word ‘year’ with ‘week’ and you have Cole’s reasons for being angry with Arsenal.

99.9 of footballers grow up in working class backgrounds. Pretty sure Sterling has saw as much if not worse than most of us growing up. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2224063/The-extraordinary-story-Raheem-Sterling.html

It was not a full list of players who played games before 20, Paco. A few players have played a fair few games before 20, the likes of Fabregas, Wilshire, Owen, Fowler, Rooney, Milner amongst others with varying levels of injury's. Although I think it is fair to say different roles on the pitch place different physical demands on a player. Sterling's game is prob more reliant on short sharp intense bursts than most players. It just seems like he has played lots of games in a short time-span and the one he should have played, he missed out in Madrid. Anyway, Rodgers hinted at resting him in the new year hopefully there is a plan and it is not dependent on if Rodgers neck is on the chopping block or not.

Seen this elsewhere shows how much he has played at such an age. If he picks up injury's, fingers will be pointed at Rodgers without question for overplaying him despite his moans to Hodgson. Sterling's precocious and sometimes outrageous displays have made him indispensable to his manager and he has been overburdened for a player of his age. Indeed, as Gabriele Marcotti noted, Sterling had played the full 90 minutes a staggering 49 times before he had even turned 20. For Cristiano Ronaldo it was 30, Lionel Messi? Just 25.

Just found out he is Kenyan, those brothers are slow so I am out.

I doubt it is true but who knows. « Mario Balotelli is back training, and could start v Manchester United on Sunday (Images) Liverpool stars visit children’s hospital in Father Christmas hats » Friday Dec 12 Posted by: Wash N'Gog No Comments » Stan Collymore claims J.W Henry tried to sack Brendan Rodgers last week, but Ian Ayre convinced him not toAyre talked Henry out of firing Northern Irishman… Former Liverpool player Stan Collymore reckons that a number of club legends and CEO Ian Ayre persuaded owner John W. Henry not to sack manager Brendan Rodgers, the Express reports. According the ex-striker, Henry has been so disappointed by our start to the season and Champions League failure that he wants to fire the manager he got so behind during our title push in 2013/14. The fact that £113m was spent in the summer to no immediate avail has also griped the American businessman. Writing for Bleacher Report, Collymore said: “I heard two weeks ago that John Henry has tried to sack Brendan Rodgers a couple of times already. “He was persuaded not to by Ian Ayre and a couple of club legends, who were sought out for their counsel. “Rodgers’ signings just haven’t worked. “Adam Lallana has been no better than a six out of 10, Mario Balotelli a five, Rickie Lambert five, Lazar Markovic five. “It’s been the stuff of nightmares for Rodgers.” It is often said that a manager lives and dies by his signings, and of Rodgers’ 25 since arriving at Anfield, only Coutinho (who is actually having a poor season) and the perpetually injured Daniel Sturridge could be regarded as big successes. Earlier today, reports linking Diego Simeone to Liverpool emerged, which would back up Collymore’s claims. It would be fair to say that Rodgers’ future is a much debated topic in Liverpool right now. While many are remaining loyal to the likeable boss who managed the team so superbly last season, others see this term’s failings as unforgivable.

You can't fault Rodgers dedication to the cause he has even been coaching him over the phone... "We're in regular contact with the kid, he's a wonderful talent," the boss told journalists. "I get all of his games downloaded from our recruitment team. We're in contact, which is great, and we're helping him with his game.

Just for some balance as it is easy to moan like jealous school-girls at what footballers earn. They have offered Johnson 60k and Sterling 70k reportedly. If I was his agent I would be back with my hand out wanting more. In fact I would go in with the 370 million FSG have spent on players written down on a list and say pay me you cunts. Is it really that harsh that his agent wants the market-rate. Football fans are confused, one minute they say they want the club to pay top wages, the next they moan when the best player of his age or one of the best wants to be paid the going rate. Is he the finished product no, but this is a player who the manager has played in FIVE different positions this season, as he does not trust the rest of them and still outplayed the rest in most games. The club talk like a business not a football club which is the norm these days and they have made it clear they see players as commodities, why get upset when a players acts that way?. They are quick to flaunt Dunkin Donuts and whatever markets they are tapping and get players to sell all sorts of corporate shite. I could understand if Liverpool was a local owned business offering fair prices to Liverpool fans but they are not. In 2016/17 or whenever FSG sell us, they will prob make 300, 400 odd million profit. Football fans are too easy to manipulate, moan at the player but the businessman walks away with a huge haul. It seems Sterlings agent does not fancy having his wages linked to top 4 and winning stuff and looking at our performances you could see why. Throw in we have a manager who aint won shit, it does not seem that convincing a deal for him. He has also seen Gerrard pissed about, so if we can't treat a club legend like Gerrard right it sets a bad example in my book. Let us not forget that Gerrard was so fed up he had to go the media to try and get a deal. If Sterling did not play for us. I reckon we would be pretty ecstatic if we were monitoring him and say getting him from Arsenal or another similar club. I have no doubts he will stay and sign a deal, just a bit of posturing by both sides to get what both sides see as a fair deal. But the player is in a stronger position at the moment.

923 minutes without scoring and booed after missing a pen yesterday. This fella has a bit on his timeline about him. https://mobile.twitter.com/HLNinEngeland

Liverpool have the most expensive squad in the Europa and the highest wage bill. We are the Real/Barca of this cup on paper at least. Our wage bill is 60-70% higher than the likes of Sevilla, Napoli,and Fiorentina.I guess that is why we are the favourites with some bookies. Most teams in this can only dream of having such a large squad as we have. Don't forget our "3rd choice leftback" Moreno won it last season and Markovic would have played the final if he never got sent off in the semi-final against Juventus. Our squad of players are more than good enough to win this, but is the manager?.

Moggi the grande old crook of Italy on how he he tricked inter into buying a player. I reckon we have been done a few times like this. Gary Neville eulogising over Lovren on MNF just one example. Another Swansea going for Aspas and us thinking let's gazump them, that will teach them. In 1999 I went to scout a player at Marseille and noticed an Inter scout was there for the same player. I had to misdirect him. I noticed Cyril Domoraud playing and started to praise him so the Inter scout could hear me. Within a week newspapers linked Domoraud to Inter and they ended up signing him. He turned out to be a very mediocre player."

Hopefully Dave has a few anecdotes about the Northern Soul scene.

I think the main problem would be him talking Instagram snaps as a corner comes in though.

I think this would be a good start from Rodgers.

I have an idea let's spend 60 million on defenders and a goalkeeper and then we will stop conceding goals from set-pieces, right. It could be a cunning plan, has anyone thought of it

Oh 13 goals from set pieces conceded out of 29. Do you remember when Agger was scapegoated for being shit in the air. We sorted that out didn't we!.

Manager reactionLudogorets 2-2 Liverpool Posted at 22:04More from Brendan Rodgers: "We showed wonderful resilience and scored two good goals. "I picked players I know what they are capable of. In time the new players will adapt to how we work. This is a real confidence boost for us, because Ludogorets are a really difficult team to play against."

I see Rodgers called us outstanding against the Bulgarian fisherman. Lambert says we answered our critics. Easily pleased our lot. Liverpool have had a one goal lead after 85 mins six times in all comps this season. They've lost that lead six times.

You lot are harsh Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh are real "football men".

People have suggested bringing Bruce in as interim, as it has been intimated he could predict the results at the very least.

I prefer he has gone full Hodgson, that is my appropriate phrase of choice. Hits the nail on the head and gives you a visual as well. My friend who has little time for Rodgers, refers to him as the Mighty Red looking .... Rodgers is so arrogant and a control freak, he has made the mascot look like him. A bit harsh even for me who thinks Rodgers is full of it at the moment.

They had a slideshow of Messi Champions league goals on the BBC website. This was his first, look at Igors big dopey face. He looks like he is drunk and has toppled over the big goon.

Rodgers goes back to basics. “We play with 11 men, other teams play with 10 men and a goalkeeper.”

Same way he is killing Gerrard.

It looks like Rodgers/Ayre are briefing Bascombe/Dave Kidd and telling all the hangerons that Rodgers has his hands tied. Every manager has his hands tied. Anyway, the reason we ended up with the Donkey Lovren, is purely down to Rodgers. He killed Agger and did not want rate Sakho. Toure who has not been infected by Rodgers cowboy defending gets splinters sitting on the bench watching Lovren make a fool of himself. Why Mignolet, again Rodgers fell out/did not rate Reina. Rodgers has made his own mess, but wants others to clean his shit up and get poo all over them. It will probably work as maybe it will cost too much to send everyone to Boston.