Liverpool thread

[davidmphill]

Looks like Heinze is now off to Real Madrid as they have agreed a fee.

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.

The Spanish champions have been strongly linked with the Argentine, who had been hoping to join Liverpool, in recent weeks.
Following a Premier League panel's decision to block the player's move to Anfield, Real have now stepped in with an offer.
Real have confirmed their bid has been accepted by United and Heinze will sign a four-year contract at the Bernabeu.
Heinze is expected to arrive in Madrid on Thursday to undergo a medical before being confirmed as a Real player.

Favourite


The versatile stopper joined United from Paris Saint Germain three years ago and quickly established himself as a fans' favourite.
But he was second-choice left-back behind Patrice Evra last season and had been given permission by United to leave for a suitable club over the summer.
The Red Devils were unwilling to sanction a switch to Liverpool, prompting the Premier League to look into the matter.
A panel ruled on Tuesday that the champions were within their rights to refuse Liverpool's offer for Heinze, while there were claims that the player's agents wanted to engineer a move to Rafa Benitez's side via Crystal Palace.

[davidmphill]

Just read an open letter from Luis Garcia to Liverpool fans on the official website, makes good reading.

Dear Reds,

First of all I'd like to apologise for not having been back in touch sooner, but I needed to take some time to take on board all the recent changes and then to put down these words for you.

I'm sure you will understand.

I would rather this be a letter of thanks and gratitude, not simply a goodbye.

Yes, that's right, gratitude, because that is the word that best sums up my feelings for you all.

Taking the decision to change clubs hasn't been easy. Not easy at all.

I've experienced three fantastic years at the club and in the city. Three years in which together, the fans and the team, we have accomplished some fantastic achievements, and I'm sure that these successes will continue to be repeated in the near future.

You know that I like a challenge and that I don't just settle for second best.

Back then Liverpool Football Club gave me the opportunity to be part of an ambitious plan to put the Reds back at the summit of the game.

I think that together we managed to achieve that.

As I said, I do like challenges and in spite of the fact that at that time I was playing for my home town club, one of the biggest in the world, I wanted to be a part of that project that was being presented to me by Liverpool, and so I accepted the challenge.

Now, after three seasons in the Premier League and having won some major trophies, the chance came up for me to return to La Liga and be part of a new project at a club I already knew.

The idea of enjoying things in a Spanish club like we experienced together at Liverpool over these last three years appealed to me, and that's why I accepted the offer.

I want to thank everyone working at Liverpool Football Club for how well they have treated both my family and I, making us feel at home from the very first day to the last.

I also want to thank the management, coaching staff and directors for the opportunity they gave me back then to be part of such an important and well-loved club as Liverpool. A club which has helped me to grow as a footballer and where to date I have enjoyed the biggest success of my career.

Without a doubt, this success has been possible thanks to the outstanding group of players with whom I've been able to share a dressing room over the last three seasons.

I'm not going to mention anyone specifically, because I think that the secret of this team's success has been exactly that: nobody wanted to stand out above the rest and there has always been a great togetherness in the squad, which made it into something more than a group of players, it was a group of friends.

Thanks to all of you for your help and your friendship.

I've left until last the thank you which for me is the most important: Thank you to the supporters.

Your support allowed me to settle quickly at both the club and in the city, and you made me feel really at ease with you all right from the word go; that's the kind of help that you notice most of all during the difficult times, of which there have been a few during my time here.

I'd like to especially thank you for making up a song for me and you should know that every time I heard you singing it, it was like an extra injection of strength and motivation, even helping me to overcome pain occasionally during a game.

Your unconditional support is the thing that ensures that this team manages to pull through in the most difficult circumstances; and I can assure you that the whole squad is aware of this and thanks you for it.

A football club isn't just made up of players, coaches and directors. More than anything else it's the supporters who make a club, and that perhaps is the ingredient which best distinguishes Liverpool Football Club from every other team. The supporters.

Because if one thing has remained obvious to me after these few years, it's that with supporters like you, Liverpool Football Club will never walk alone.

I really hope that the club wins lots of major trophies in the future; I'll be following it all from a distance, with the pride that you can only get from having been a Red and played for the home team at Anfield – a ground that every football fan must visit at least once in their life.

Thank you for everything. Yours most sincerely,

Your friend,

Luís García

[aliando]

good letter from garcia


glad heinze's not coming tbh - the way he's treated man u through this is not the actions of players i want at my club.

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by aliando

good letter from garcia


glad heinze's not coming tbh - the way he's treated man u through this is not the actions of players i want at my club.

That is very true Alex.

[mileni4uk]

There is still a week so Rafa couls sign someone else. Don't know who though. There aren't many available classy defenders around. At least no that I can think of Heinze would have been perfect cover for center and left. I know he's 29, but he's a very very good defender and I like him. Don't regret the deal is off though, we'll find someone better. In Rafa we trust

[Charlie Wong]

i'd prefer it if Rafa got someone younger in, Heinze would only a have been a short term solution.

I'd have been happier if we'd gone for someone like Fabio Grosso,was one of Italy's star players in the WC. Could have landed him for about 5m, thats roughly what Lyon paid for him.

[Charlie Wong]

Originally Posted by Darren

Glad to see Rafa have a bit of a go at the Premier League, theres a couple of things he said that had annoyed me as well. So many early kick offs after the breaks especially, and away after European games also.

Its about time Rafa had a moan at the PL, Mourinho, Fergie & Wenger would whinge about this forever if it happened to them.

[davidmphill]

Liverpool youngster Nikolay Mikhailov has joined FC Twente on a season-long loan.

The Bulgarian keeper joined Liverpool earlier in the summer on a three-year contract, with the option for a further two years.
But he is yet to secure a work permit with the Premier League club and has now been allowed to move to Holland on loan.
Twente have confirmed on the club's official website that Mikhailov will form part of their squad for the 2007/08 campaign.
Mikhailov is expected to vie with Cees Paauwe to provide the back-up to Twente's No.1 keeper Sander Boschker.


Not sure how much action he'll get at FC Twente as they're an up and coming side in Holland these days but their coach Fred Rutten is no fool. Looks like he's likely to battle for a place on the bench from the off.

[mileni4uk]

BTW I should say some thing about Mihailov as you maybe know I'm Bulgarian. I don't know why Rafa took him, probaly the scouts saw him play trials at Fiorentina. But the boy is a complete jurk. Doesn't have the right attitude and lets so many easy goals. Levski were so happy to sell him for this kind of money. It's the deal of the decade for them. They sold their worst player for so much money. I don't like him at all. I've watched games where he lets goals from eveywhere and especially the game against Werder in the champions league .. he was awfull. Hope Rafa sells him, because he really doesn't know how weak goalie he is.

[Football-Tipper]

Found a few links lads

Liverpool Champions of europe 2005

Liverpool 70s

Liverpool 80s

Football Tipper

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by mileni4uk

BTW I should say some thing about Mihailov as you maybe know I'm Bulgarian. I don't know why Rafa took him, probaly the scouts saw him play trials at Fiorentina. But the boy is a complete jurk. Doesn't have the right attitude and lets so many easy goals. Levski were so happy to sell him for this kind of money. It's the deal of the decade for them. They sold their worst player for so much money. I don't like him at all. I've watched games where he lets goals from eveywhere and especially the game against Werder in the champions league .. he was awfull. Hope Rafa sells him, because he really doesn't know how weak goalie he is.

His missus ain't bad though so thats something!

[davidmphill]

Paletta leaves Liverpool for Boca

Paletta arrived at Liverpool with a big reputation Liverpool have sold young Argentine centre-half Gabriel Paletta to Boca Juniors for an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2006 after impressing at the 2005 World Youth Championships, which Argentina went on to win. He made his debut in a 4-3 League Cup win over Reading at Anfield in 2006, scoring in the second half, and went on to make eight appearances for the club. However, with opportunities limited, Liverpool have agreed to sell him.

Quite suprised to see him leave for two reasons.
Rafa was obviously after a defender in Heinze and therefore he hasn't brought one in.
He's now lost Carragher and Hyppia for the time being too.
I know the guy hasn't set the world on fire in his time at the club but it would of been worth keeping him as cover unless he intends to use the likes of Jack Hobbs etc

[davidmphill]

Seb Leto will make his debut tonight, looking forward to seeing how thisguy gets on. Hopefully he can go and cement a place long term on the left flank and we can see the end of Kewell at the club.

LETO SET FOR DEBUT V TOULOUSE Jimmy Rice 28 August 2007
	Sebastian Leto will be handed his Reds debut in tonight's Champions League qualifier against Toulouse.
The Argentine, who celebrates his 21st birthday next week, starts on the left side of midfield, while Yossi Benayoun patrols the right on his home debut. Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva could also make his debut after being named on the bench. The Reds line-up in full is: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Benayoun, Leto, Sissoko, Mascherano, Crouch, Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Finnan, Torres, Alonso, Pennant, Babel, Lucas

[aliando]

saw 2nd half after rushing home from work, and 4-0 would've suited before game but seems a bit of an underscore in the end - if someone could tell crouch the goals are not proportionate to player size, we may be onto something.

kuyt - i'm a massive fan of this lad and he really deserved the 2 late goals. fantastic work ethic, just gets his head down and works on overdrive for the whole game.

[davidmphill]

Ali, I like Dirk Kuyt too. Puts a shit load of effort into his game and doesn't seem to get the rewards he deserves.
He has the making of a great team player and hopefully Rafa will play him week in week out and then we'll see the best of him, that I have no doubt.

Nice comfortable win, job done. Lots of changes from Sunderland which adds value to the comment the squad is a lot stronger. Still want to see another defender at the club at least before the month is out.

[davidmphill]

More than happy with the CL draw. Nothing there should scare us or prevent us from progressing to the knockout stages. The toughest fixture is the first one up and thats a trip to Portugal to play Porto.

DATES FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAMES Paul Eaton 30 August 2007
	Liverpool have confirmed the dates for each of their games in Group A of the Champions League.
The Reds will kick off their campaign away in Porto on September 18 before entertaining Marseille in their first Anfield game of the competition. A double header with Besiktas will then follow before we entertain Porto at home and then conclude the group fixtures away at Marseille. The dates are as follows: September 18 Porto (away) October 3 Marseille (home) 24 Besiktas (away) November 6 Besiktas (home) 28 Porto (home) December 11 Marseille (away)

[davidmphill]

Rafa doesn't think its as easy as I do though!

What does he know anyway!?

RAFA'S REACTION TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW Paul Eaton 30 August 2007
	Rafael Benitez has warned his Liverpool side face a tough task to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League following today's draw in Monaco.
The Reds have been placed in Group A of the competition along with Porto, Marseille and Besiktas as they look to enjoy another successful European adventure this term. "It's clear when you look at some of the other groups that ours could have been easier," said the Reds' boss. "Porto have good experience in the Champions League and have enjoyed a good record over recent seasons. They will be tough opposition for us. "Marseille are a good side in the French league and they will know a lot about us which could make it more difficult. "And you always know when you go to Turkey that it will be hard because of the travelling involved and the wonderful support they give their teams over there. "I am always confident we can qualify but as ever the key will be winning the home games and picking up results away."

[davidmphill]

NEWS STORY
RAFA NOT EXPECTING NEW ARRIVALS Paul Eaton 30 August 2007
	Rafael Benitez today revealed it's unlikely there'll be any new arrivals at Anfield before tomorrow night's transfer deadline.
The Liverpool manager admitted he has scoured the market to assess what might be available, but has decided he's happy with the squad at his disposal. Reserve striker Besian Idrizaj has today completed a season long loan deal with Crystal Palace, but Benitez insists there'll be no major activity to report before the window closes. "We were checking some options for the first team squad yesterday, but it's very difficult to find the right players this late. I don't think we will be signing anyone now," he said. "Rick, Foster, Eduardo (Macia) and I looked at some options, but we decided we don't want to sign a player just for the sake of it. It has to be the right player and not for crazy money." Despite continued speculation linking Peter Crouch with a last minute exit from Anfield, Benitez has once again reiterated he has no interest in selling his striker. "There has been no bid for Crouch, certainly not before this morning anyway," said Benitez. "I have the same idea now as I've said before. I don't want to let anyone go. I've spoken to the player and he knows we need him."