Archive for May, 2007

31
May

Who will Rafa sign?

TEAM OF 07-08?
OK so we have now we have the cash to compete with those dirty MANCS and Chelsea scum but what are we going to do with it?

We have been linked with various players in various positions as we are every summer, but the difference this time is that we can actually buy them if he want to do so.

STRIKERS: Robbie ‘God’ Fowler is now gone. We will always love you Robbie. That but that leaves us with three recognised strikers. Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy + a fit-again Luis Garcia.

Kuyt seems to be the only one of the trio who is assured of a position next season. Dirk is great at holding the ball up and bringing the midfielders into the game but I think he could be more effective with a fast livewire striker supporting him.

Crouch has apparently been told by Rafa that he still has a future at the club and fair play, his form this season has shown that he will get goals when given solid game time.

Controversial striker Craig Bellamy is the least secure of the three and could be on the way out if we sign a similar style running forward (Owen, Eto’o etc)

I think Luis will still be at the club next season. Haven’t heard anything regarding a move and he is apparently fit and already in training for next season.

We have been linked to numerous strikers including Samuel Eto’o, David Villa, Carlos Tevez and Darren Bent. Who would you go for? I think Eto’o is a gem of a player. He has proven it at the top with Barcelona and will get us 20 goals a season. Tevez is the other striker I would purchase. After his slow start at the Hammers showed what he can do in an ordinary side. Imagine what he could do with the proper support.

That would leave Dirk and Crouchy on the bench assuming Bellamy leaves the club this summer.

FLANKERS: Our biggest issue. We need at least two new established ‘World Class’ flankers.

Jermaine Pennant has had a so so debut season at the club, Harry Kewell can be brilliant on his day but is to injury prone to rely on over the length of a season, Mark Gonzalez and Bolo Zenden are going to be sold by Rafa this summer.

The number one flanker I would like to have is the one Rafa is going to get (hopefully). SIMAO. He is quick, tricky, set piece master and is has big game experience. We almost had him at the start of the 05-06 season then he came back to bite us in the Champions league with Benfica that season.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: I am very glad and proud to say that I wouldn’t swap out centre of the park with anyone. We have the best midfield in world football. Stevie, Mascherano, Momo and Alonso. Perfect.

DEFENCE: Rafa could make a few changes here. Carra is obviously safe but the rest is there for the taking in my books. Stevie Finnan, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise (love’em all) they are all solid consistent performers but is Rafa looking for more?

I know Finnan is being offered a new deal so I assume he is safe. Brazilian Daniel Alves has been linked with us for some time now. He can play both as a right sided flanker and as an attacking full-back. Would give Finnan some very serious competition.

Agger has been another example of Rafa’s mastery. What a bargain. But we are still being linked with other established central defender like Diego Milito (Argentinean defender from Real Zaragoza) so who knows. I’m 100% sure Agger will be with us next term but maybe Rafa wants to keep him on his toes.

Hyppia is another loyal servant of the club who looks like he may be surplus to requirements at the club next season. If he does go, I’m sure every Reds fan will wish him the best.

IN GOAL: Pepe Reina. Enough said.

I AM PUMPED to think about who could be wearing our famous jersey next season

Those dirty Mancs have already made 2 signings (Nani and Anderson).

SO LETS GET CRACKING RAFA

Let us know if you think everything I just said is rubbish or if you were also thinking along the same lines.

YNWA

30
May

Boss Benitez reiterates Reds commitment

OK obviously still SHATTERED about the events in Athens but we have to think about the future, and it is EXCITING.

Master Rafa Benitez is desperate to start signing new players for next season NOW but dismissed and reports saying he would look to leave the club.

KING RAFA

Rafa told the Mirror: “Would I walk away? No, no. no.

“I am really pleased with the club and the supporters, but I just think that maybe the owners don’t know the football market. It is a different market to what they understand in sports in the United States. I say that because if we don’t start signing players - and I mean in the next week - then finishing in the top four will be a big challenge for us.

“The owners want to finish as high as possible because they are winners - that is what I like about them - but they need to understand the situation here.

“It’s about doing the right thing at the right moment. Sometimes football is not about spending £40million on a top striker, it’s about me identifying the player I need and the club then moving in to do the business.”

He added: “I like it here and I’m sure we can be contenders next season if we change things.”

24
May

Gutted

Absolutely gutted.

We arrived in Athens full of confidence and over powered a strong Milan side but I guess it just wasn’t to be our day in Athens.

Rafa and the lads can hold their heads high knowing that Milan were fortunate to come away with this match as the victors.

The first goal was undoubtedly a hand ball but was too quick for anyone to realise.

ROBBED

Milan then successfully slowed the play down with their time wasting tactics and came away with the Cup. I’m absolutely gutted but am sure we come back better than ever next season and challenge for all four competitions.

What some of the lads said after the match.

Skipper Stevie G: “It’s difficult to take but that’s football for you, you’ve got to take it on the chin and move on and try and pick yourself up but at the moment it’s heartbreaking.”

“I thought we started the game really well,” he said.

“We were controlling it how we’d like to but I think when you are on top you’ve got to score.

“Their first goal was a bit of luck and that was a big, big lift for them and it was difficult from then on.

“We’ve got the confidence in our team that if we’re getting beat we can still turn it around.

“We gave it everything we’ve got but it wasn’t to be tonight but credit to our players we worked so hard.”

Dirk Kuyt: “(At half-time) we were in control,”

“We had a few little chances and you have be lucky to score a goal.

“They were really lucky (to score) one minute before half-time, one of their players touched the ball in the area.

“We tried it for 90 minutes but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”

Rafa: “The rules talk about substitutions, yellow card, and players’ injuries - but anyway that is not a reason we lost against a very good team with top-class players,”

“And the difference sometimes is that you can work hard, but you cannot close the space or the pass, or the penetrative pass from Kaka, or a Seedorf or Inzaghi.”

“The first half we did really well, we played really, really well and then we conceded a deflection at the end of the first half,”

“Second half we were pushing, pushing, but then you leave space and then they have quality and it made the difference.

“We tried to keep the ball and press high, but you need to take your chances - we did have a lot and went close, but the quality they have if you lose the ball you will be in trouble.

“I think the team in the first half was really good.”

QUADRUPLE NEXT SEASON LADS…


YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

22
May

Flashback

FLASHBACK TO THAT GREAT DAY IN ISTANBUL

I WILL BE PUTTING UP A NEW VIDEO AFTER WE WIN No 6 TONIGHT…. IM PUMPED!!!!

22
May

Crouch thrilled with final chance

Crouchy has expressed his excitement to be part of the upcoming Champions League final in Athens.

Crouch told The Independent: “I remember thinking what a fantastic stage it was to play on, so to actually have a chance of repeating that is the best part of it,”

“People may have thought after 2005 that wouldn’t happen again for a good few years but once the boys had a taste of success it made them hungry. And we seem to do it in this competition.

“I have enjoyed this season, we have played well and when I have played in the Champions League I seem to have scored.

“Having got to the final and having the chance of winning it I am proud of the goals I have scored to help get us there.”

He added: “Beating Barcelona in the Nou Camp was a fantastic achievement that all the lads can be proud of,”

“Against Chelsea, there was so much to lose and thankfully we came out on top. I don’t think anyone cared what kind of game it was as long as we got to the final.”

When asked if there was any possibility of him leaving the club this summer, he said: “I don’t want to go anywhere, I’m happy,”

“I have had a fantastic two years, I won the FA Cup in the first year and I hope I can add the Champions League.”

22
May

Harry or Bolo. Who would you start?

Bolo Zenden is desperate to be picked in the run-out side that will face AC Milan in the Champions League final this week.

“I hope my performances against Chelsea in the semi-final will mean I will be given a start,” said Zenden.

“I played in most of the Champions League games this year. I think I have been involved in maybe 80 or 90 per cent of the games so I am really looking forward to the final again. ”

He added: “We have a mentality we can deal with anything that can be thrown at us,”

“They are a fantastic team and have a lot of experience. They are a team that have played a lot of big games and finals and some of them have won the Champions League several times.

“And although we have players who are in the final for the first time, the occasion will be an extra motivation to bring the cup back home.”

On his own future, he added: “I do not want to talk about my future at the moment,”

“For anyone to be playing in a final would be fantastic, but I will let people know about my future after the game. A Champions League medal on my CV would be quite nice, though.”

Harry or Bolo?

21
May

Gerrard: We will see if Gattuso can stop me

Captain Fantastic Stevie G has warned Milan big mouth Gennaro Gattuso in the lead up to the big match this week.

“I am not preparing to play against Gattuso, I am preparing to play against AC Milan,” said Gerrard.

“He is a fantastic player with a lot of experience, he’s won the World Cup and for many years he has proved himself at the top level, but I am not going into the game worried about Gennaro Gattuso - I am worried about AC Milan and how Steven Gerrard is going to play.

“If I can get myself right, we will see if Gattuso can stop me.”

CMON STEVIE GIVE US ANOTHER NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOREVER

2 DAYS TO GO

CL Image

21
May

Carra - Red 4 Life

Jamie ‘The Rock’ Carragher says he be ‘absolutely gutted’ if he ever had to leave the club.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “I never want to leave Liverpool and I hope I can get my contract sorted out as quickly as possible,”

“I want to stay here for the rest of my career.

“I’m not interested in this new Fifa rule where players can buy themselves out of their contract.

“I know it’s there, but I don’t know anything about it as it is something I wouldn’t do.

“My ambition is to wear the red shirt for as long as I can and I’d be absolutely gutted if I ever had to leave.”

17
May

Boss could play Kewell

The boss has talked about the possibility of including Harry Kewell in his plans for the Champions League finale in Athens.

Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv : “We could see against Charlton how fantastic Harry can be,”

“You could see him trying to beat players, keeping possession and working really hard. He set up one goal and scored the penalty.

“We will now have a week of training - it is not easy to say anything for sure about him now.”

He added: “It will be difficult for him to play from the beginning of the match, but if he improves a lot this week at the training camp, maybe we can consider possibilities.

“He may well be an option for me to use him from the bench, but not from the start. I think maybe he could do it for 60 minutes.”

I know H is not a favourite amongst all us Reds (I would say 50%/50%) but I do think he can add a spark if needed in the final.

I know Charlton is not AC Milan but I still think he can rise to the challenge if called upon by Rafa.

16
May

Rafa: We will challenge

Boss Rafa thinks we will be ready to seriously challenge for the Premiership next season.

He said: “I am happy we finished third - it was the same as last season - but obviously we want to go better than that next season,”

“We aim to be contenders and we know we must improve, especially in our away form.

“I feel, though, that it is maybe only one or two games that make the difference. When you play against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal you must beat them.

“If we can achieve improved results against the best sides, that will make us much closer to the top of the table.

“I have said all along that we are a better squad, but other teams also spend money on new players and we must try also to improve the team.

“We must be closer and we must be contenders.”