http://forums.lfconline.com Chat about Liverpool Football Club or anything else football-related. en Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:38 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.lfconline.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://forums.lfconline.com http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101518&goto=newpost Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:10:34 GMT Liverpool emerged as a takeover target for the seventh-richest man in the world last night as the... Liverpool emerged as a takeover target for the seventh-richest man in the world last night as the pressure mounted on Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to cut a deal to sell Anfield.

Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest man in India, is one of two tycoons from the sub-continent competing to buy a stake in the Merseyside club.

The Sahara Group’s chairman, Subrata Roy, and Ambani’s Reliance Industries have each tendered similar bids to pay off Liverpool’s £237 million debt in return for a 51 per cent stake in the club.

Last night Christian Purslow, the Liverpool chief executive, denied any knowledge of either bid, but The Times understands that approaches began as early as November and that some preliminary talks have taken place.


Each deal requires that the present owners make a commitment to take no dividends or expenses out of Anfield for three years to allow the club to resume a secure financial basis. One of the potential owners has also indicated a willingness to allow supporters to take a 10 per cent stake in Liverpool.

A source close to Hicks and Gillett said that the duo would reject on principle any bid that left them with less than 50 per cent of the club’s shares unless it involved either of them selling out entirely. A sale of more than half of the total stake would mean they would lose control of the club.

It is understood that Liverpool’s banker, the state-backed Royal Bank of Scotland, is pressing Hicks and Gillett to cut their asking price.


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Hopefully this comes to fruition but I'm not holding my breath. I

It seems the stumbling block is their refusal to drop the price, but at least pressure is comming from RBS too so something soon has got to give..

http://www.lfclive.net/click.php?url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7020022.ece&lfcliveid=144320 ]]> Football Forum RST101 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101518 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101516&goto=newpost Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:09:35 GMT Now cech has maximum 12, I think pepe has 10 after an impressive 6 clean sheets in our last seven... Now cech has maximum 12, I think pepe has 10 after an impressive 6 clean sheets in our last seven games. Looks like he can grab another golden glove if can keep up our good work at the back. ]]> Football Forum bulb84 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101516 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101512&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:39:17 GMT *Martin Atkinson lets the Merseyside mayhem unfold as Liverpool and Everton raise red card count* ... Martin Atkinson lets the Merseyside mayhem unfold as Liverpool and Everton raise red card count


Martin Atkinson had no choice but to send off Sotirios Kyrgiakos for his two-footed challenge. He had no chance of seeing Marouane Fellaini's over-the-top tackle.

And while he misjudged Steven Pienaar's horror tackle on Javier Mascherano, Atkinson eventually dismissed the South African.

None of those decisions appeared to affect the outcome of a bruising Merseyside derby - but did the ref get his tactics right to contribute positively to the game?

Liverpool v Everton has produced more red cards than any other Premier League clash and Saturday's match certainly lived up to the billing. Atkinson will have been well aware of that when formulating his gameplan.

A referee, while not prejudging players or teams, must prepare thoroughly and have a strategy, but be ready to change it from the first minute if reqeuired. Atkinson appeared to be favouring the policy of new refs supremo Mike Riley – avoiding early cautions so as to 'keep his powder dry' and avoid silly red cards for two cautionable offences.

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher set the tone for the game with a crunching first tackle on Pienaar. Phil Neville's strong body check on Steven Gerrard then demonstrated Everton's willingness to go toe-to-toe with their neighbours and Atkinson was content to merely punish with free-kicks. Lots of free-kicks.

Twenty six in the first 30 minutes - coincidentally the same number as awarded on average in a full Premier League game - but only two yellow cards.

The first caution - for Dirk Kuyt - came exactly on 20 minutes, which was extraordinary given the high foul count and the nature of a lot of those fouls.

I believe it is this tolerant approach which contributed to Pienaar escaping with only a yellow just before the half hour mark. Without doubt, his dreadful tackle should have resulted in a red card and he will be relieved that Mascherano was not seriously injured.

Just four minutes later came the Fellaini-Kyrgiakos clash. Refs are told to dismiss players who tackle like that as once both feet leave the ground they have lost control. However, replays revealed Fellaini should have also gone.
Steven Gerrard

The Belgian probably raised his foot to protect himself but went over the top and his studs landed heavily on the ankle. Nobody called that live and to criticise Atkinson for missing it is harsh.

And so the pattern of another Merseyside derby was set and while there was not too much football to admire in the first half, the fans were captivated by the battle – as were the players.

Kuyt positively beamed through his post-match interview, clearly relishing the challenge that a strongly-contested derby throws up.
Pienaar

Gerrard said: 'The referee was superb. He let tackles go. The fans come to see commitment and fight. We showed passion, fight and commitment. Just what derby games are all about.'

Well you pay your money and take your choice. Personally I would have preferred a couple of earlier cautions to show the players that they were not at liberty to fly into challenges in such a reckless fashion. Maybe that would have made the game less absorbing, maybe it wouldn't.

But the challenge of refereeing at the very top level is getting the balance right between closing a game down too much and allowing the players the license to develop the game. That's the challenge that the very best get right. ]]> Football Forum konghøst http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101512 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101510&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:36:19 GMT I am by no means a tactical mastermind and thus come on here looking for some help from the wiser... I am by no means a tactical mastermind and thus come on here looking for some help from the wiser men on here. Skrtel was probably our best centre half last year, he dealt superbly with the strenght of some attackers and was all round brilliant. He has been largely poor this season and I know he can be good again.

Do you think its a crisis of confidence? Missing guidance from Hyypia in training? Or something tactically that is majorly him?

Either way we really need him to step up in Kyrgiakos' absence. ]]> Football Forum bjornebye20 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101510 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101507&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:49:17 GMT I've just been scouring through our remaining fixtures. I honestly believe that if we are able to keep this growing momentum going then few of them should really pose us many problems. Indeed I believe that the only points we will drop will be 2 on Wednesday and 2 at the Mancs. City are there for the taking if we approach it right and a nervous Chelsea could well come unstook at Anfield.

Therefore my prediction for our final 13 games is:

Arsenal- draw,
Man City- win,
Blackburn- win,
Wigan- win,
Portsmouth- win,
Mancs- draw,
Sunderland- win,
Birmingham-win,
Fulham- win,
West Ham- win,
Burnley- win,
Chelsea- win,
Hull- win.

That would mean us finishing with 79 points, which we also accumulated in 1990. Sadly, our run has come too late to see a title finish this time, but will probably be enough to cement 3rd. I think the title will be won with something in the mid eighties.

Alas the summer will be spent once again lamenting what might have been , but I'm sure that 2010-2011 will be our year ;):) ]]> Football Forum luca brasi http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101507 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101503&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:04:50 GMT Everton FC were too easy says Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez Feb 8 2010 by Ian Doyle, Daily Post... Everton FC were too easy says Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez

Feb 8 2010 by Ian Doyle, Daily Post
Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez

RAFA BENITEZ admitted Everton FC made it easy for Liverpool FC to win the 213th Merseyside derby.

Dirk Kuyt’s 55th minute header was the difference between the two teams, but Benitez believes Everton failed to take advantage of Sotirios Kyrgiakos’ first half sending off.

The Greek defender received a straight red card for a two-footed tackle on Marouane Fellaini, who was stretchered off before being carried down the tunnel and taken to hospital for an x-ray.

Despite the introduction of the ball-playing Mikel Arteta, however, the visitors resorted to hitting long balls forward instead of trying to play through Liverpool.

That, says Benitez, played into the Reds’ hands, making for a more comfortable win than he expected.

“I was surprised,” said the Spaniard.

“I was expecting more penetrating passes and also for them to try and play on the floor.

“They had Arteta on but they played direct. That made it easier for us. It was easier to control and we continued to do our job in defence.

“When you are losing with 11 players against 10, but you have to win, sometimes you are a little bit more nervous and play more direct. That made it easier for us to control the situation.

“It suited us.”

Benitez was clearly unhappy with the decision to send off Kyrgiakos, particularly as Fellaini went unpunished in an incident that presented a case for both players being reprimanded.

Having impressed in recent weeks, the centre-half will now miss Liverpool’s next three games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Blackburn.

Referee Martin Atkinson struggled to control a typically physical encounter between the fierce Mersey rivals, but Benitez stopped short of publicly criticising the official.

“There are too many tackles that we can analyse carefully but we won’t all agree,” he said.

“I prefer not to say anything about it rather than comment on the referee.

“But, yes, everybody was surprised with the sending off.”

Kuyt grabbed his 50th goal for Liverpool to hand the Anfield club maximum points and move them up to fourth in the table, a point ahead of Tottenham who drew with Aston Villa on Saturday.

“I think everyone knows now what Kuyt can do for us,” said Benitez.

“He’s not a player that is very skilful; not in the way we would normally understand of a skilful player with that kind of ability.

“Fifty goals for any player is a good achievement, especially in the Premier League. He has played as a right and left winger, striker and second striker. He is very important.”

The typically composed Benitez turned towards the Main Stand to celebrate at the final whistle.

He refuted claims he was making a gesture to the director’s box, however.

“To play with 10 players in a derby like this one, that was so emotional, you have to say thank you to the fans,” he added.

“My celebration was spontaneous. It was to the fans, nothing more. For me the fans were pushing and helping the team.

“That is the way, to get behind us, and help us win games.”

----------------------------------

:D ]]> Football Forum konghøst http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101503 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101491&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:52:30 GMT Is he suspended for 3 games or not?

I don't think he will be too missed against Arsenal but I would fancy him against Adebayor and against the rougher lower league opposition. ]]> Football Forum bjornebye20 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101491 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101469&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:18:07 GMT Can anyone find the interview moyes gave when he called everton a small club. Think it was after a... Can anyone find the interview moyes gave when he called everton a small club. Think it was after a game against united. Can't search as on phone. Just need the quote and date.think it was something like small clubs never get decisions. ]]> Football Forum ferg_g http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101469 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101456&goto=newpost Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:35:20 GMT Anybody going tonight ? Will be in the Uk with work so going to go. Going to be my first academy... Anybody going tonight ?
Will be in the Uk with work so going to go. Going to be my first academy game so looking forward to it . ]]> Football Forum Pip2 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101456 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101435&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:05:09 GMT Get in Rafa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rFjPohp-g Get in Rafa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rFjPohp-g ]]> Football Forum finnan23 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101435 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101432&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:44:01 GMT SHADOWPLAY So that’s what happens when you lose the dressing room. Contrary to popular belief... SHADOWPLAY

So that’s what happens when you lose the dressing room.

Contrary to popular belief and the Guardian minute by minute report, great football doesn’t always mean the passing genius and flair of the Brazil 1970 team. Sometimes it involves sheer determination, togetherness and other Hansen clichés. Sure it wasn’t pretty but to see Liverpool, the fancy Dans of Merseyside, tackle hard and not be bothered by Fellani, Cahill and Snoop from The Wire foul without impunity brought something warm to the soul. Yesterday scapegoats became the heroes of the hour. The selfless running from Ngog, the fortitude of Dirk Kuyt and the courage of Lucas in the face of boot studs and a General Melchett of a referee were simply beautiful to behold. Sometimes we can play like that. Brute strength is important in this game, ask Rooney or Drogba and then ask Wenger about his trophy haul since 2005. Too many times this season have we turned a lily-livered troupe onto the pitch (Wolves away, Reading, Arsenal second half) and got precisely what we deserved but now there is more resolve to our play.


We’re nothing like there yet but credit where it’s due, Rafa’s finally got us a run, a Torresless one at that and things are freeing up. If we continue on our present course we may make it all the way to, erm, the glory of our worst finish since 2005. Let’s be clear about this, a Europa League victory would be nice but there are Holy Grails and there are Holy Grails. This season has been terrible but if it encourages fight like that then maybe it’s not been entirely in vain.

For once, Moyes played down the Heysel references as he could boast a pretty decent run. No defeats since, well he didn’t go into specifics, and his big players are coming back. With Fellani being in good form and Arteta, a superb little player, returning maybe he could get something without playing to the gallery, the hands-over-mouths gallery at that. Perhaps a little dignity crept in.

Nice dream.

To find Moyes biggest fans you don’t need to go to Goodison but to Sky Sports – the same people who praise Big Sam TM and the directness of Stoke City. The Gobshite Council, the Mount Rushmore of intellectual mediocrity, duly predicted draws and Everton wins once they learned of Aquilani’s absence. Yes, lads. You need a glass Italian with a history of injuries against a team who maim wherever possible. If that match screamed for Lucas and Masch in the middle it was this one but once again the critics had a stick with which to beat Rafa. Christ, we even lost Masch from the middle and still got through. I’m far from Rafa’s biggest fan but who else would have picked a side with Aquilani in it?

A word here about Richard Keys. I think I love you, Richard. I love your gleaming eyes, trying in vain to comprehend the most basic argument from a stupid ex-footballer. I’ve long stopped taking offence from Sky as I quite like a pantomime but Keys never fails to dazzle me with his ‘I’ve just thought of this, whaddya reckon?’ contentions. Yesterday he stuck doggedly to an accusation of our winning through violence. Er, Pienaar, Fellani, Cahill…Their interviewer asked Gerrard if we’d ‘crossed the line’ with our tackling. The captain seemed quite pleased with this and took it as a compliment. Keys frowned on the next link, failing to see the irony behind the fact that we won by shadowing Everton mid nineties tactics that were fine before the game but not once the final whistle blew.

Nowadays I tick through a check list of feeble accusations and ill thought out Sky conclusions. Rafa’s 4th place guarantee – check, no League in decades, check etc. For this game I also employed a second list just for our worthy opponents. Moyes is a magnificent manager (an 11th and 17th finishing League position in his tenure), check, poorer cousins, check, unlucky injury list (Aurelio, Torres, Gerrard, Johnson, Agger), check. It’s this sort of coverage that makes the result all the sweeter. Keep laughing lads. Fourth place isn’t much in the grand scheme of a ‘successful season’ but our taking it will annoy a lot of people and sometimes that’s enough to keep you going.

Seven games unbeaten, conceding one goal and seventeen points in twenty one. Arsenal have one point in three games and will either be all over us or will capitulate if we can play like that again. A draw wouldn’t be ruinous but the last seven games give us hope and an away end that mirrors the Stoke game could reap dividends.

I’m back to hoping again, Damn it.

Karl ]]> Football Forum The Prince http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101432 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101431&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:41:56 GMT Thought the banner was a bit Manc but fucking loved the new tell yea ma song. The Bitters must... Thought the banner was a bit Manc but fucking loved the new tell yea ma song.

The Bitters must have been boiling. That song will deffo be aired at every derby from now till the day they win a trophy.

Liverpool vs Everton.

The Anfield Microsoft stadium. October 24th 2090.


97 time English league champions Liverpool Football Club take on their neighbours and older ugly brothers Bitterson FC in this highly antisipated clash.

The 50,000 fanatical kopites get the game underway with their famous rendition: "Tell yea ma yea ma, to wipe away all your tears, no trophies for 95 years, tell yea ma, yea ma".

:D ]]> Football Forum Duster http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101431 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101429&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:12:52 GMT I felt really sorry for Kyrgiakos yesterday, although his tackle was deserving of a red card I... I felt really sorry for Kyrgiakos yesterday, although his tackle was deserving of a red card I thought the Referee's handling of the game right from the off was primarily to blame.

To be fair Carra's first minute tackle on Pienaar was deserving of a yellow, but went unpunished. Felliani's tackle on Kuyts head was reckless and was also deserving of a yellow and maybe even a red this also went unpunished.

However, Pienaars tackle on Mascha was without doubt deserving of a straight red and yet only received a yellow. Despite the referee being perfectly positioned to see the full horror of that x-rated tackle.

As a result, Is there any wonder that the first half resembled more of a war zone than a football match.

I must say I am afraid the standard of Refereeing on display this year has been very very poor. Firstly, I know the game is played at a furious pace these days and genuine mistakes will always happen. However, yesterdays match simply highlighted how poor refereeing can adversely affect how a game is played. I am sure with more control early on, this match would of been far more of a footballing spectacle than the battle we all witnessed.

Finally, how can these guys ever expect to earn any respect from anybody, when despite the benefits of technology when they can analyse every match in minute detail, do they continually fail to spot even the most obvious play acting of supposed professional sportsmen.

Surely, even if they haven't played the game they will have watched enough matches as part of their training, to recognise what is bleeding obvious to everybody else.

Personally, I despair at some of the Refereeing decisions that we witness week in week out and unfortunately they seem to be getting worse...:eek:

Rant over..

Great result though !!!!! ]]> Football Forum BOBPAISLEYFAN http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101429 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101428&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:36:55 GMT As a recent participant in the Forum, I thought I should introduce myself (not that I think anyone... As a recent participant in the Forum, I thought I should introduce myself (not that I think anyone will be remotely interested; but just in case):

Me: been a supporter since 65 Cup Final. I live in Surrey and have always lived west of London (yeah, okay, bring on the criticism :p).

1st Anfield visit: 14/08/71 – Kevin Keegan’s debut against Notts Forest (pretty sure it coincided with the opening of the ‘new’ Main Stand.

Greatest Anfield match: Derby game when Everton took a 0-2 lead early in the 2nd half (Whittle & Royale) before an amazing comeback for a 3-2 win (Heighway, Toshack and Lawler). Awesome!

Worst 'football' experience: After a Chelsea game at Anfield in the mid-70’s; got the crap beaten out of me at Euston underground station by Chelsea supporters returning on the same train. I figured I was lucky they didn’t have a knife, but it kind of put me off of the whole thing and, with all the stuff that gets in the way (you know, wife, kids and career), have unfortunately never returned.

Kop Experience: Okay, tell me to grow ‘a pair’ but, as a 17 year old, who had experienced nothing like it, standing on The Kop was a fantastic and frightening experience at the same time. The atmosphere was just unbelievable but whenever the crowed tumbled forward at a goalmouth incident, it was ‘uncomfortable’, to say the least. Embarrassed to say, after 4 or 5 visits, I decanted to the paddock.

I appreciate in many people eyes, having not been to Anfield in 25+ years, gives me no credibility whatsoever. I can understand that view but I can’t change it! However, it doesn’t dull my passion for the team I have followed for 45 years! YNWA ]]> Football Forum Racing_in_the_Street http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101428 http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101424&goto=newpost Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:41:33 GMT With Arsenal currently losing, our game midweek against them and lets assume it's 3 points for us then that leaves us 2 points behind 3rd.
Add to that any possibilities in the 'Not the Champions League' Cup, and maybe something can be salvaged from this season??

Praise where it's due to the players and staff for the recent upturn on form, and more than anything the commitment and fight being shown by the players.
I'd like to see a 25 pass goal finished off with a Pele style overhead kick, but I'd take that tackle by Carragher on Peinaar anyday. ]]> Football Forum Red Sauce http://forums.lfconline.com/showthread.php?t=101424