Liverpool thread

[Matt]

4th spot looks like its gonna be an interesting race, dont forget Liverpool still to have to go Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea as well

How does Kuyt play ahead of Crouchie?

[kevshat]

Goalie aside, last week you played pretty much your strongest side against us in a cup replay. Why the 5 changes tonight. And somebody please tell me how Dirk Kuyt has ever made a top flight striker .

[liverpoolfan]

its sad to say but are season is over regarding the premiership and its time to fight for 4th place 20m pound i think its worth.Money to pay for more over payed players who don't perform to the level to win the premiership Liverpool fans are slowly turning into Newcastle fan in there belief that there got a right to win the league just because they spent millions on players. i just hope the liverpool players step up to the mark next season and try win the prem imo there's no need to spend any more money on players the one's we have need a bit more time to gel and next season we could have a better chance.

. i just hope raffa can stay at the club imo he's great manger and just needs time to change thing at the club and get rid of the old wood in the back room and take total control of the club like Arsen venger has done at Arsenal and we all can see how Arsenal have preformed over the past few years.it takes time to create a team and changing mangers imo does not work in the long run . to all Liverpool fans on pl keep your heads up good times are just around the conner a fa cup win or lets not say but i a CL win

[Sharpe1ne]

Gerrard hits out at unstable Reds

Gerrard has grown tired of the constant speculation at Liverpool Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says speculation over the club's ownership and the future of manager Rafa Benitez is affecting the players on the pitch. Liverpool lie fifth in the Premier League after a 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa and are 14 points adrift of Manchester United and Arsenal. Gerrard said: "It's not just this week, it's been going on for some time and it's certainly not helping the players. "I've got to be careful what I say, but it's certainly not helping the team." Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez Liverpool have come under intense media scrutiny in recent weeks after prolonged speculation over Benitez's future and the management direction of American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. You try to put what's going on off the pitch to the back of your mind Steven Gerrard Last week, Hicks revealed he had spoken to Jurgen Klinsmann in November about the possibility of taking over from Benitez, before the German agreed to become Bayern Munich's new coach at the start of next season. The revelation followed a very public spat between Benitez and the Americans over the Spaniard's transfer policy. BBC Sport understands Dubai Investment Capital is preparing a bid to buy the club from the American duo, who took charge less than a year ago. Supporters at Anfield on Monday chanted and held up banners in support of Benitez, while also asking for Hicks and Gillett to sell the club to DIC. 606: DEBATE Are Liverpool out of the Premier League title race? Gerrard added: "We know what's going on, but as players you've got a job to do on the pitch and you try to put what's going on off the pitch to the back of your mind. "But sometimes it's impossible, when it is every day."

I think this is a very piss poor excuse to use regarding result's and performances.Your paid to play for Liverpool FC and nothing that goes on around the club is to do with these bad performances.
No matter what happens there will still be a Liverpool Football Club owned by someone rich whose willing to make investments,to blame uncertainty of things going on around the club just doesn't stand up.

It's solely down to the players on the pitch but mainly the manager.
What Benitez has done with his rotation policy is destroy any unison the players have together.If your rotating players to keep them fresh for up and coming games you have to win at least something this year,thats why your rotating.
If a player get's injured then thats when you rotate and it's where careers are built,having 30 million in squad players is a joke and trying to accomodate them into the team every other week is not going to bring consistency,thats where the up and coming youngsters should be playing.
Benitez seems to have taken too much on around the club and to me doesn't seem totally focused on matchday preparations.
If he stops rotating they'll be fine but top blame it on "outside interference" just doesn't stand up.

[Darren]

KOP COMPLETES FINANCING PACKAGE Paul Eaton 25 January 2008
	Kop Football (Holdings) Limited ("Kop"), the owner of Liverpool Football Club (the "Club"), is pleased to announce the successful completion of a £350 million financing package.
In addition it is pleased to announce confirmation of the selection of the architectural firm HKS, Inc. as designer of the Club's new stadium at Stanley Park. The Financing Package Kop has secured a £350 million financing package, led by The Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia Bank NA, which replaces previous financing that had been due in February 2008. The new financing will meet all of the Club's current financial needs and includes facilities to support the commencement of construction for the new stadium at Stanley Park and to provide working capital for the Club and future player transfers. Of the £350 million financing, £105 million is Club-level debt that will be used to fund commencement of construction of the new stadium at Stanley Park, for future player transfers, and to meet the Club's working capital needs. The other £245 million will be at the holding company level and was used to refinance the £60 million of debt that was on the Club's books at the time of last year's acquisition as well as the loan related to the share purchase at that time. The overall financing is being supported by a combination of owner cash, letters of credit and personal guarantees totaling £225 million, ensuring that the Club remains on a sound financial footing. Tom Hicks said: "This new financing package is a strong vote of confidence in the Club's financial strength and a recognition of the exceptional opportunity represented by the construction of the Club's new state-of-the-art stadium at Stanley Park. The successful completion of this financing package is particularly significant in light of the currently challenging credit-market environment. With the refinancing process now done, Club supporters can look forward to the timely commencement of construction work on the new stadium and renew their focus on actions on the pitch." The New Stadium: Confirmation of the selection of HKS was based on the firm's successful development of an improved stadium design that meets the objective of a cost-effective, supporter-friendly design. The new stadium, scheduled to open in August 2011, will ensure that Liverpool Football Club and its supporters get the much-anticipated groundbreaking iconic design at a capacity of approximately 71,000 seats, significantly more than is currently available at Anfield. The new stadium will feature enhanced amenities for the Club's supporters while preserving the history and traditions of Anfield and the Club itself. It will be anchored by an expanded 18,500-seat standalone KOP, an increase of more than 5,000 seats. Kop also announces the appointment of KUD International as project manager for the stadium. KUD, which will establish a Liverpool office to oversee the project, has developed projects globally, including Silvertown Quays, a large-scale mixed use scheme in London, as well as collegiate and professional stadiums in the United States including the Philadelphia Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field and the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park. Laing O'Rourke, the largest privately owned construction firm in the UK, has also joined, and provides further depth of experience to, the project team. Laing O'Rourke is currently working with developer Grosvenor on The Paradise Project in Liverpool – Europe's largest city-centre regeneration scheme. Tom Hicks said: "HKS has developed a more efficient design that, at the same time, is just as stunning as its original design. Liverpool supporters should have high expectations for the future: a premier sporting experience at their new stadium at Stanley Park and a winning Club on the pitch for years to come." Football Operations: In response to questions recently raised about owner support of Rafa Benitez as Manager, Tom Hicks today commented: "Since the meeting with Rafa on December 16th, at which some widely reported communications issues were discussed, Rafa has been assured that he has continuing and enthusiastic support as the Club's Manager. "Reflecting that support, Kop recently approved his transfer payment request to sign Martin Skrtel for £6.5 million and is in discussions with Rafa and Club management regarding additional player signings this summer. "Rafa is under contract for two more seasons following this season. I am solidly behind Rafa and am confident of the team's competitive prospects under his continuing leadership."

[Darren]

Major blow, I was hoping he might be out for the rest of the season

[AJ]

So they've dumped the debt they raised to buy the club onto the club, and get it for nothing.

As bad the glazers down the M62

Do Liverpool fans still chant "USA! USA!" when they play Manchester United ??

[Darren]

LIVERPOOL 5-2 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE Saturday 26 January 2008 15:00 , FA Cup 4th Round

LFC 5-2 HAVANT: THE REPORT For 55 minutes this afternoon, the football world was turned on its head as the plasterers and binmen of Havant and Waterlooville cut the world beaters of Liverpool down to size. The Blue Square Premier outfit twice took the lead during a bizarre first half in which the Reds' usually-watertight defence sprung a leak. Rafa Benitez doubtless wished he had a plumber in his side when Richard Pacquette headed home on nine minutes. Lucas equalised with his first goal in English football on 27 minutes before another bizarre twist. This time Martin Skrtel, making his full debut, deflected home an Alfie Potter shot. It took Liverpool and Yossi Benayoun until the stroke of half-time to restore parity and some sense of pride. On second thoughts, best put the latter on ice. That had to wait until the second half when two more goals from Benayoun and one from Peter Crouch saw off what would have been the most embarrassing upset in the FA Cup's long and eventful history. So, Merseyside is where the journey ends for Havant, while Liverpool will be hoping for a less eventful occasion in the fifth round. At least the visiting players, who two hours before kick-off could be seen walking out of the tunnel with wide eyes and video cameras, have memories of one of the competition's all-time great occasions to savour. Not to mention an appearance on Match of the Day. Not that the BBC could do justice to what the 42,566 supporters present at Anfield witnessed today. It's a cliché, but there was magic in the air in this part of the north-west on Saturday afternoon. As Benitez pointed out earlier in the week, only in England, only in the FA Cup, could you get plumbers and gas engineers pitting their wits against some of the best players European football has to offer. A sight to behold, certainly. As was the view of the Anfield Road end as the first chimes of You'll Never Walk Alone echoed around the stadium. The visiting fans stood en masse, held their scarves aloft and sang their hearts out. This was the closest they'd ever been to the famous Kop and by God they were going to enjoy it. And some. On nine minutes their fervour turned to unbridled jubilation when an unmarked Pacquette headed home from the second of two early corners. 'Que Sera Sera,' they sang, 'we're going to Wem-ber-ly'. You had to smile - it was nearly as surreal as the decision not to televise this game. Ten minutes later Shaun Wilkinson tried a cheeky overhead kick in the Liverpool box, missing the ball completely before falling on his backside. His embarrassment wasn't a hundredth of that which would have engulfed Anfield had Neil Wilkinson's volley found the back of the net on 23 minutes following some comic defending. Then, for a few moments, it seemed as if a touch of reality was going to be restored. With 27 minutes on the clock Lucas curled home his first Liverpool goal from 20 yards. The Kop breathed a collective sigh of relief. We all knew what was coming next. How could it go any other way? A rout would surely ensue. But Alfie Potter, the only professional on Havant's books, hadn't read the script. With 31 minutes on the clock he took advantage of yet more slapdash defending to restore the non-leaguers' lead. Sky Sports interpreted a deflection from Skrtel to be an own goal, a mean-spirited call to say the least. From there Crouch squandered a gilt-edged chance to make it 2-2 and Liverpool had to wait until 44 minutes to level the scores when Pennant cut inside before feeding Benayoun in the box. The Israeli took a single touch before swerving beyond Kevin Scriven in the Havant goal. Anfield hardly flinched. There was marginally more celebration when Benayoun at last gave the hosts a lead on 56 minutes, this time lashing a Pennant cross into the top corner from close-range. Goliath had at last put David in his place, it seemed. Three minutes later Liverpool's number 11 notched up his second hat-trick of the season when Scriven could only parry a fierce drive from Ryan Babel. Their dream was crumbling before their eyes, but the travelling fans didn't seem to care a jot. Once again they stood en masse and in a gesture of immense goodwill chanted 'Stand up if you hate Man Utd'. Anfield was most definitely amused. Crouch put an unjust gloss on the result in the dying moments. Liverpool are in the fifth round, but this was Havant's day. No question. UK users should stay logged on to .tv for highlights of this game on Sunday morning Teams Liverpool: Itandje, Riise, Hyypia (c), Skrtel, Finnan, Benayoun, Leiva, Mascherano, Pennant, Babel, Crouch. Subs - Carragher, Gerrard, Kuyt, Martin, Torres Havant & Waterlooville: Scriven, Warner, Jordan, Wilkinson, Smith, Sharp, Collins (c), Harkin, Potter, Baptiste, Pacquette. Subs - Gregory, Oatway, Slabber, Taggart, Taylor Referee: Unavailable Conditions: Attendance: Unavailable Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Benayoun

[jeffers]

Originally Posted by Darren

For 55 minutes this afternoon, the football world was turned on its head as the plasterers and binmen of Havant and Waterlooville cut the world beaters of Liverpool down to size.

Seriously, waht the fcuk? Lost my interest right there mate...World beaters :lo l:rolli n

[Big Andy]

Originally Posted by jeffers

Seriously, waht the fcuk? Lost my interest right there mate...World beaters :lo l:rolli n

Jeffers, I have to say, as a neutral, I did laugh at that line and clicked "Back" on my browser right away without reading any further.

[Matt]

Rafael Benitiez has came out and defended his rotation policy when he picks his team............ He said its extremely important to keep the burglers guessing who is at the game.....

[Darren]

Sissoko completes Juve switch

Midfielder agrees £8.2m move to Italy


Juventus have completed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko for £8.2million.


Claudio Ranieri has been chasing the Mali international for the majority of the January transfer window after it became clear Reds boss Rafa Benitez was open to offers.

Sissoko, who is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty, joined Liverpool in 2005 in a £5.6m move from Valencia.

However, the 23-year-old has struggled for first-team football at Anfield following the loan arrival of Javier Mascherano.


Five-year deal



And Juve manager Ranieri has now swooped to reinforce his central midfield by offering Sissoko a five-year contract as he bids to keep pace with Roma and Internazionale at the top of Seire A.

Sissoko has welcomed the move to Juve and believes the switch will allow him to progress in his career.

"I'm happy to have joined such an important club, this move certainly constitutes a step forward in my career," he told the Juventus TV channel.

"I feel very excited to think about the possibility of playing with great players such as (Gianluigi) Buffon and (Alessandro) Del Piero and to work under Ranieri, a great coach who I already know from my time at Valencia."


Experience



And Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc believes Sissoko will bring experience to the club.

"He is an important element in the strengthening of our squad," added Blanc.

"Despite being only 23, Sissoko is a player of great experience having played more than 30 UEFA Champions League matches. He has also played many matches in big leagues and for his country."

The sale of Sissoko is expected to provide Benitez with additional funds to finance a permanent transfer for Mascherano.

[aliando]

benayoun aside, i'm not impressed again tonight.

[peteg40]

C ommmon Noble

[aliando]

in rafa, i no longer trust.

let him stay until a proper replacement has been arranged - several years on and we are not progressing in the league despite the array of talent and money spent

we looked abysmal in the final 3rd tonight, and i really dont think that it was because west ham played that well. they deserve the 3 points for the effort, but player for player, this should not have been a contest.

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by aliando

in rafa, i no longer trust.

More importantly, IMO, in Rafa the players no longer trust by the looks of it.

You were poor against us, in both games to be honest even though you beat us 5-0 it wasn't convincing and it seems to have got worse from there. Despite spending all that dosh you've still only got 3 players of the necessary quality and that's Torres, Gerrard and Carragher and yet Torres barely plays .

Not very often I say it, and it's not really any of my business but he's got to go for me.

[Matt]

Liverpool supporters are to launch an ambitious plan to buy the football club from its current American owners.

US tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks recently finalised a £350m refinancing of the club which they bought in 2007.
But the Share Liverpool FC Group is to reveal plans for a buy-out of the club by 100,000 Reds fans around the world.
The model proposed will be a Barcelona style, "member-share" scheme, aimed at raising £500m to purchase the club from its US owners and build a new stadium.

606: DEBATE Can the fans succeed in their bid to take over the club?

As well as UK-based fans, a website will be launched to attract interest from Liverpool's supporter base around the world, particularly in East Asia.
Club refinancing Those behind the move are football business lecturer and Liverpool fan Rogan Taylor, former director of communications at the Premier League Phil French, and lawyer Kevin Jacquiss - an expert in launching co-operatives


GONNA TAKE A LOT OF FCUKING GIROS THIS ONE

[Mr Intensity]

Was just about to post that. Taking about £5000 per supporter - that's a lot of hub caps!

[aliando]

we're becoming more and more of a laughing stock this season - if the club aint stablised by the summer we can forget next season too.