tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75188360928037002842024-02-19T19:29:57.673+08:00my liverpool fcKL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.comBlogger727125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-54798799075882766772011-03-23T00:31:00.000+08:002011-03-23T00:42:15.710+08:00Aldo: He is a better player now than Lucas was 3 years agoFormer <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/liverpool" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Liverpool">Liverpool</a> striker <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/john-aldridge" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with John Aldridge">John Aldridge</a> has praised <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/jay-spearing" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Jay Spearing">Jay Spearing</a>’s recent performances. He wrote in his column fo the <em>Liverpool Echo</em>: <blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“Jay Spearing had his best game in a Liverpool shirt against <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/sunderland" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Sunderland">Sunderland</a>. It was great to see and the more experience he gets the better he will become. Spearing is a terrier. He did really well to win the penalty and was only denied his first goal by a brilliant save. He was excellent and only <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/luis-suarez" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Luis Suarez">Luis Suarez</a> stopped him from getting the man of the match award. Spearing is a better player now than Lucas was three years ago. Give him three years experience of being in the squad and he will mature into a fine player. Kenny Dalglish clearly has a lot of faith in him and everyone wants to see him do well. He’s a local lad and you can see how much it means to him to pull on the shirt. We’re all behind him and now he’s got to take the bull by the horns and have belief in himself.”</span></p></blockquote> <p>Aldridge also believes that Liverpool can still finish fifth:</p> <blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“Finishing fifth is still going to be very tough but Liverpool have given themselves a chance of catching Spurs. We’re on the front foot and have to keep this winning run going. All we can do is focus on getting three points at West Brom a week on Saturday and hope Spurs slip up. There’s no doubt Harry Redknapp’s side have got a tough run in as well as the distraction of the <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/champions-league" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Champions League">Champions League</a> quarter-final against <a href="http://live4liverpool.com/tag/real-madrid" class="st_tag internal_tag" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with Real Madrid">Real Madrid</a>. They’ve got Chelsea away as well as Arsenal at home. Crucially, Spurs also have to come to Anfield. That last home game of the season for Liverpool could be huge.”</span></p></blockquote>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-81593950784911872912011-03-23T00:27:00.000+08:002011-03-23T00:31:47.082+08:00Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani set to stay at Juventus, claims agent<div id="article-wrapper" switch="on"> <figure> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2010/11/13/1289680355271/Alberto-Aquilani-006.jpg" alt="Alberto Aquilani" height="276" width="460" /> <figcaption>Alberto Aquilani has also been linked with his former club Roma. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images <div id="article-body-blocks"> <p>Alberto Aquilani is likely to sign with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/juventus" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Juventus">Juventus</a> at the end of the season, according to the player's agent.</p><p>The <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Liverpool">Liverpool</a> midfielder returned to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/serieafootball" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Serie A">Serie A</a> on loan last August after only one injury-affected season in the Premier League. And Aquilani's representative, Franco Zavaglia, has suggested the Italian is ready to extend his stay in Turin despite being linked with his former club Roma.</p><p>"Aquilani to Roma? That will be difficult. Juve has the priority and I don't think they will let him escape," he told the Italian broadcaster Radio Mana Mana. "On 30 June Juventus will be able to buy Aquilani and they should act now.</p><p>"They could sign him by making three to four delayed payments, a system which was established last summer. The agreement between Liverpool and Juventus is already there, it all depends on the willingness of Juventus. I think Aquilani will stay at Juventus and there will not be any obstacles."</p> </div> </figcaption></figure></div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-8320913588235103582010-08-14T06:08:00.000+08:002010-08-14T06:10:34.305+08:00Joe Cole of Liverpool. Does that sound good More here: http://lfcglobe.com/joe-cole-of-liverpool-does-that-sound-good<p>Joe Cole’s arrival at Liverpool on a Bosman is, and will remain, the British transfer coup of the summer. Already it has given the supporters a terrific psychological boost and it’s also put a couple of our rivals on the back foot.</p> <p><span id="more-5199"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 221, 2);">This article was written by yorkykopite from The Red And White Kop Forums (RAWK) – It does not necessarily represent our views and has been edited to suit posting.</span></p> <p><img src="http://lfcglobe.com/images/cole_image3-300x188.jpg" alt="Joe Cole" title="Joe Cole" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5176" width="300" height="188" />At a time when the football press was predicting a stampede of star players out of Anfield, and when the semi-criminal ownership was haemorrhaging £100,000-a-day to the banks, there was enormous symbolic value in the fact that we captured Cole, not Arsenal or Tottenham or Man Utd. Even though we are seriously ill and even though we could not hope to match his initial wage demand, Joe Cole chose us. </p> <p>I don’t know anyone in Red who wasn’t lifted by that. I live in London and so inevitably have friends who support Arsenal and Tottenham. You could still see the shock on their faces a day or so afterwards. “I thought you were dead”, said one mate who’d become used to hearing my pirate stories about Gillett and Hicks. “Half-dead”, I replied. But even the semi-corpse of Liverpool Football Club was more seductive to Joe than the sprightly North London duo. Yes, he chose us and it was a fine thing. </p> <p>But is he what we need? What can Joe Cole bring to Liverpool? Is he the real thing or is he just an ornament? I think he’s the real thing. In fact Cole is the player I expected Rafa to sign when he first arrived, except his name was Pablo Aimar then. </p> <p><strong>‘Cockney Tw*t’</strong></p> <p>Looking back at previous posts on RAWK, when Cole was still a Russian slave, I see that I once called him a ‘tw*t’ and hoped some Liverpool player would break his legs – a sure sign that I regarded him extremely highly. Indeed in October 2008 I wistfully imagined that we had a “Cole-type” player on the right wing to bring some defence-unlocking trickery to that side of the field. And then over the space of 12 months I posted these two comments. Again, they contain a wee dose of envy-driven malice, not to mention some indefensible regional stereotyping, but it’s fair to say that my high regard for the man’s footballing skills comes through. </p> <p><strong>This was in 2008:</strong>
“It’s like that little shit Joe Cole. Can’t stand him. But I can’t stand him playing against us either. The temptation for his manager must always be to bench him in the big games because he can’t defend for the life in him. When Chelsea come to Anfield I always pray that’s where Joe Cole will be – nailed to the bench. But, really, if you want to win titles you’ve got to be prepared to take risks and field players like him” </p> <p><strong>And this in 2009: </strong>
“Obviously he’s a cockney tw*t with a grade-A certificate in diving from his local swimming baths. But he’s a wonderful player who worries me when he lines up against us. He has immaculate ball control, is tenacious and has tremendous pace when he’s running with the ball – and because he is so balanced is surprisingly difficult to knock off it. He takes opponents out of the game constantly and his head never seems to drop – a real ‘picture-changer’ of a player who always looks to disorganize the opponents’ defence and often suceeds. He ought to score more goals, but his greatest asset is creating space for teammates.”</p> <p>So yeah, ‘cockney tw*t’ or not, I liked him. A lot. Well, now he’s ours and I’m delighted. </p> <p>I’m delighted because I take huge enjoyment from having audacious players in the Liverpool shirt. It’s our birthright. Over the years each generation of Kopites has witnessed that lethal combination of imagination, guts and technique: imagination to conceive something, guts to try it, and technique to carry it out. It’s a rare thing to see the three things combined in one player. They were in St John. They were in Keegan and Dalglish. They were in Beardsley and Fowler. I think they are in Cole. But I’m also delighted because Joe Cole is a battle-hardened performer who has won three league titles and two FA-Cup winners’ medals. He’s not just a fancy dan, as many of his detractors tend to suggest. He’s a player who is habituated to winning and one who knows that trickery can hurt the opposition and coax teammates into life as well as excite the crowd. </p> <p><strong>The best is yet to come</strong></p> <p>Cole himself believes his best years are still to come. He’s 28 now, and has suffered serious injury in the recent past, so perhaps this is bullshit. And, certainly, it’s true that all players at the peak of their powers are inclined to say “my best is yet to come”. The demoralising alternative, after all, is to gaze at the long downslope which leads to nowhere but the pit. But I think Cole might be right, and there are two reasons why. </p> <p><img src="http://lfcglobe.com/images/cole_image1-300x188.jpg" alt="Joe Cole" title="Joe Cole" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5126" width="300" height="188" />First, because despite his medals, Cole still has something to prove. There is unquestionably a certain feeling in English and European football that the boy-genius has not quite fulfilled his early promise. I can remember reading about the reaction of Italian football journalists after one of Cole’s first international games, against Italy. He gave a command performance full of damaging flicks, cheeky turns and incisive off-the-ball running and it had the Italian press corps cooing and wondering why Italy could no longer produce such virtuoso talent. Yet that tyro of 2002 has still never managed to become a permanent fixture in the national team, nor an indisputable star in the Champions League. That’s a warning for Liverpool fans. But it’s also a source of hope. Cole must know that there’s a lingering question-mark over his career, and the move to Liverpool could, once and for all, supply the definitive answer. He can write his name in gold here in a way he never quite managed at Stamford Bridge. </p> <p>The second reason why the best is possibly still to come is to do with the specific role he plays inside the team. Chelsea never completely liberated or harnessed Cole’s prodigious talent because they never knew quite where to play him. Central midfield, on the left wing, on the right, in the hole – they tried him everywhere and often you got the feeling he was moved to a certain position because Robben happened to be injured that week, or Drogba was sulking, or Kalou was in Africa. Mourinho was the biggest culprit because he was working with raw material he could have moulded any way he liked. “There are two faces to Joe Cole”, he once said. “One is beautiful, and the other I do not like”. The bit he didn’t like was the one, he claimed, who didn’t defend properly and so he moved Cole from ‘the hole’ where defence is usually a matter of astute positioning to the flank where it’s often about harum-scarum retreat to prevent a marauding full back getting a 2 on 1 on your own man. You can’t shirk obligations there so easily. Everybody can see you resting on your spade in ways they can’t when you’re in the middle of the pitch playing the classic ‘no. 10’. </p> <p>I don’t know. Perhaps playing Cole on the wing, and loading him with defensive duties, made him a more rounded player. After all he was Chelsea’s player of the year in 2008. But somehow you can’t imagine Pablo Aimar being plucked from the hole and told to do the same thing. Aimar remained a specialist operating behind the front line and squeezing gorgeous living space out of the most congested and most contested few square yards on the pitch. That’s where he did his damage. And that’s where a lot of us would like to see Cole. </p> <p>The move to Liverpool is therefore a chance to redefine Cole’s position and to establish it inside a team that gives him more attacking responsibility. I hope he plays in the hole behind Torres, much as Beardsley did behind Aldridge. The match against the Macedonians was a bit of a joke match of course (They’ve never been the same since Alexander the Great retired). But even in that match you could appreciate the awesome nature of the Cole turn on the ball and the way that acceleration over 3 or 4 yards and the desire to face the goal with the ball at your feet can throw defenders backwards, create space in the last third and allow blind-side runs for colleagues. Turning Essien and Palacios will be harder than turning the Rabotnicki lads, but it will happen and Liverpool will be better for it. </p> <p><strong>There’s also this</strong></p> <p>Joe has also come to Anfield to play for the first time for many years in front of a proper football crowd instead of herds of stockbrokers and management consultants on mobile phones. We all like to joke about the Chelsea plazzy-flag sickness and their increasingly futile attempts to create the big-time atmosphere they associate with us. And the whole football world is embarrassed by the fact that Stamford Bridge still trails the Chelsea Flower Show for genuine atmosphere, let alone Anfield. Well now he is in a football city and, judging from his early comments, he knows it and is inspired by it. It’s a brilliant stage for him to fill in the missing dots in his career. </p> <p>He’s a risk because of the injuries. He needs to get more goals than he’s ever got in his career (1 in every 6.5 games is not enough). He needs to be surrounded by pace, on all sides (including the right wing). He needs to develop the psychology of the ‘go-to’ man and see himself as the fella who fixes problems in attack. But he ought to get lots of games and get them in his favourite position. When this happens the Kop will feed off him and he will feed off the Kop and it will create that special player-supporter symbiosis that can raise the game of even established talent. Pretty soon, I hope, everyone (not just us) will forget he ever played for Chelsea. </p> <p>Welcome to Anfield Joe. </p><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
</div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-56135655113275440702010-08-14T06:06:00.000+08:002010-08-14T06:08:34.390+08:00Poulsen hoping for early debut<div class="teaserText" id="teaserText">Liverpool's Christian Poulsen says he is ready to take on Arsenal in their Barclays Premier League opener on Sunday.</div> <p>The 30-year-old Denmark international signed a three-year contract on Thursday after a £4.5m fee, with an additional £1m payable on certain conditions, was agreed with Juventus.</p> <p>The midfielder has trained with his new team-mates but has little time to settle in before the campaign kicks-off at Anfield and throwing him in against Arsene Wenger's side may be too much of a gamble.</p><p>However, Hodgson is well aware of Poulsen's qualities, having signed him for FC Copenhagen 10 years ago, and the player says he is ready if called upon.</p><p>"I started a little bit later because of the World Cup but I've done pre-season with Juventus," he said.</p> <p>"I didn't play the last matches in the Europa League because of the move to this club.</p> <p>"I am feeling fit but of course it's a decision for the manager and the staff."</p> <p>Of his previous working relationship with Hodgson, Poulsen added: "I had two good years with him so I hope to carry that on, and hopefully he'll be satisfied with my qualities.</p> <p>"He's a manager who's been all over the world and has a lot of experience, so of course I have a lot of respect for him.</p> <p>"Roy didn't have to say that much because Liverpool is known all around the world, and for people in Denmark, Liverpool are the biggest club in England.</p> <p>"With this move here I have a lot to prove. If you come to a club like Liverpool, you have to deliver.</p> <p>"I will hopefully show I can be a good player for Liverpool."</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-89323181309616879872010-08-14T06:05:00.000+08:002010-08-14T06:06:14.736+08:00Liverpool vs Arsenal Squad Sheet<p>Tomorrow will bring a certain ambivalence to Anfield on an afternoon when there ought only to be unmitigated excitement at the start of a new campaign. The ownership issues linger yet supporters who yearn for the club to be bought must also wish the best for the manager Roy Hodgson. However, the visitors could also be uneasy since Arsène Wenger has not yet made the signings to give Arsenal a greater durability and key players such as Cesc Fábregas and Robin van Persie have yet to reach optimum fitness. <strong>Kevin McCarra</strong></p><p><strong>Venue </strong>Anfield, Sunday 4pm</p><p><strong>Tickets </strong>£43-45 (0151 263 9199)</p><p><strong>Last season </strong>Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2</p><p><strong>Referee </strong>M Atkinson</p><p><strong>This season's matches</strong> 30 <strong>Y</strong>123, <strong>R</strong>5, 4.27 cards per game</p><p><strong>Odds </strong>Liverpool 6-4 Arsenal 2-1 Draw 23-10</p> <span class="inline wide"> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2010/8/13/1281716344879/Liverpool-v-Arsenal-001.jpg" alt="Liverpool v Arsenal" width="460" height="650" /> <span class="caption" style="width: 460px;"> Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic </span> </span> <h2><strong>Liverpool</strong></h2><p><strong>Subs from</strong> Cavalieri, Aquilani, Torres, Aurélio, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Babel, Mascherano, Wilson, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey, Kelly, Ayala, Amoo, El Zhar</p><p><strong>Doubtful</strong> Reina (shoulder), Skrtel (ankle), Torres (groin)</p><p><strong>Injured</strong> None</p><p><strong>Suspended</strong> None</p><p><strong>Form guide</strong> n/a</p><p><strong>Disciplinary record (last season)</strong> Y56 R5</p><p><strong>Leading scorer (last season)</strong> Torres 18</p><h2><strong>Arsenal</strong></h2><p><strong>Subs from</strong> Fabianski, Gibbs, Eboué, Song, Frimpong, Wilshere, Rosicky, Lansbury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Van Persie, Denílson</p><p><strong>Doubtful</strong> Denílson (abdominal), Diaby (calf), Song (calf), Fábregas, Van Persie (both match fitness)</p><p><strong>Injured</strong> Bendtner (groin, Sep), Djourou (hamstring, Sep), Ramsey (broken leg, Nov)</p><p><strong>Suspended</strong> None</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-83259313604588711832010-07-01T18:43:00.000+08:002010-07-01T18:47:30.273+08:00Roy Hodgson career timeline<div id="article-header"> <div id="main-article-info"> <p id="stand-first" class="stand-first-alone">The highs and lows of Roy Hodgson's career to date, from his playing days at Crystal Palace through to his time at Fulham</p> </div>
</div><div id="content"><div id="article-wrapper"> <figure> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2010/5/12/1273704917746/Glum-Roy-Hodgson-consoles-006.jpg" alt="Glum Roy Hodgson consoles Mark Schwarzer" width="460" height="276" /> <figcaption>A glum Roy Hodgson consoles goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after Fulham lost the Europa League final to Atlético Madrid. Photograph: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>1947:</strong> Born on 9 August, Croydon.</p><p><strong>1965-75:</strong> Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.</p><p><strong>1976:</strong> Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.</p><p><strong>1980:</strong> Joins Bristol City as the assistant manager to Bobby Houghton.</p><p><strong>1982:</strong> Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club are taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.</p><p><strong>1990:</strong> Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchâtel Xamax.</p><p><strong>1992:</strong> Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Was in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.</p><p><strong>1995:</strong> Appointed manager of Internazionale.</p><p><strong>1997:</strong> Agrees to become Blackburn Rovers manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the Uefa Cup final on penalties.</p><p><strong>1998: May –</strong> Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.</p><p><strong>November –</strong> Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.</p><p><strong>1999:</strong> Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on 27 April as technical director until the end of the season. Joins Grasshoppers.</p><p><strong>2000:</strong> Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after the resignation of Kevin Keegan.</p><p><strong>2001: May –</strong> Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.</p><p><strong>May –</strong> Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.</p><p><strong>10 December –</strong> Udinese and Hodgson part company.</p><p><strong>2002: April –</strong> Appointed manager of United Arab Emirates.</p><p><strong>2004: January – </strong>Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.</p><p><strong>May – </strong>Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.</p><p><strong>2005: August – </strong>Agrees to take over as manager of Finland.</p><p><strong>2007: 30 November –</strong> Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008, and is immediately linked with the Republic of Ireland vacancy.</p><p><strong>30 December –</strong> Appointed Fulham manager.</p><p><strong>2008: </strong>Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to avoid relegation.</p><p><strong>2009:</strong> After overhauling the squad in pre-season, guides Fulham to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.</p><p><strong>2010: 18 March –</strong> Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.</p><p><strong>April –</strong> Having seen off Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, leads the club into the final as they draw 0-0 in Hamburg despite a nightmare journey due to Icelandic volcanic ash, winning the second leg 2-1 at Craven Cottage.</p><p><strong>12 May –</strong> Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in extra time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.</p><p><strong>1 July –</strong> Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.</p> </div> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-58698075812577593922010-07-01T18:41:00.000+08:002010-07-01T18:42:13.139+08:00Liverpool: Rumours - Roy's Shopping List?The rumours of who Roy Hodgson wants to bring to Anfield are now beginning to grow as his official appointment draws closer. Brede Hangeland has already been mentioned as a player that he wants to bring with him from Fulham and there are three others in the tabloids today, some that will be greeted with more enthusiasm than others I'm sure.
Danny Murphy, who has backed his Fulham Boss' switch to Liverpool, was a well liked and respected player during his seven years with the club. The 33 year old has grown as a player since he left for Charlton (and then current club Fulham) however in my honest opinion I'm not sure how well an Anfield return would go down with the supporters as it'll not be a name to get the blood pumping will it? Danny would jump at the chance I'm sure.
Liverpool have been "monitoring" Gilberto Silva at the World Cup, even though I'm still not sure who was doing this unless it was Roy who has always been there or thereabout as the new Reds Boss? The Brazilian international is seen as a ready made replacement for want away midfielder Javier Mascherano. Gilberto has been very good at the World Cup but at 33 isn't getting any younger however he'd do well I think.
The name that would excite people the most is Rafael Van der Vaart, who has often been linked with a move to Merseyside, or the Premier League, yet this has never happened. The Dutch international is believed to be happy at Real Madrid however their new Boss Jose Mourinho is going to have to move on some players and England could be his destination.
It's believed that Hodgson will have £15m to spend, plus some money that can be generated from player's sales. I worry that Dumb and Dumber will manage to talk Hodgson into selling some of the prized assets with promises of some money however little of that will actually been seen as they'll need this to pay off their debts. We've got to get Roy officially appointed first of all though and then we'll see what happens after this.<div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
</div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-58906877825618801132010-07-01T18:37:00.000+08:002010-07-01T18:40:48.689+08:00Roy Hodgson can bring new era to Liverpool, says Phil Thompson<div id="content"><div id="article-wrapper"> <figure> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/7/1/1277976891225/Roy-Hodgson-Liverpool-man-006.jpg" alt="Roy Hodgson, Liverpool manager" width="460" height="276" /> <figcaption>Roy Hodgson's appointment represents a return to an English manager for Liverpool after Gérard Houllier and Rafa Benítez. Photograph: Matthew Impey/Empics Sport</figcaption> </figure> <p>The former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson believes the appointment of Roy Hodgson as manager can signal the beginning of a new era at Anfield.</p><p>Hodgson was confirmed as Rafael Benítez's replacement on a three-year contract this morning after the finer details of his severance from Craven Cottage were finalised. Thompson, a European Cup-winning captain with the Reds, now hopes new owners can also be found so the club can move forward after a period of stagnation under Tom Hicks and George Gillett.</p><p>"We need the sale of the club sorted to enable us to really go forward," he said. "I just hope it won't be too long before that's done. With a new boss and new owners it really would be the dawn of a new era."</p><p>Thompson, who was assistant manager during Frenchman Gérard Houllier's reign, believes Hodgson will help bring stability to Liverpool.</p><p>"After having foreign managers in Gérard Houllier and Rafa Benítez, it seems there was a thought process of going back to British," he added. "The club needs a steadying influence and Roy will provide that.</p><p>"He's done a fantastic job at Fulham and has a wealth of experience having managed all over Europe. This is one of those jobs Roy had hoped and prayed for and it's a fantastic opportunity for him."</p><p>Thompson admits Hodgson's appointment will probably not be wholeheartedly welcomed by fans but he urged everyone at the club and supporters to get behind the new man.</p><p>"The big thing now is to get everyone on board comfortable with his ideas and visions for the football club. He has to unite everyone," he told the Liverpool Echo. "All summer there have been rumours about players going, but he's only just arrived and he won't want anyone leaving.</p><p>"He's a shrewd talker and I'm sure he will find the right words and the right manner to speak to players and convince them to stay. He will want to build for the future around Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.</p><p>"If – and it's a big if – players are sold then that cash has to be reinvested in the squad, and not go to the banks to pay off debt. No matter what you say about Rafa Benítez, he wasn't helped in that area. The board have to back Roy financially."</p> </div> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-75985425328572136532010-06-29T00:18:00.001+08:002010-06-29T00:40:34.096+08:00Liverpool buyout<p><a href="http://live4liverpool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/shiekhkhalifa.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5514" style="margin: 5px;" title="shiekhkhalifa" src="http://live4liverpool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/shiekhkhalifa-294x300.jpg" alt="" height="300" width="294" /></a>
</p><p>Rumours abound that <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span> haverecieved offers from several wealthy businessmen around the world. It appears that one prospective new owner may be a wealthy Arabian figure.</p> <p><span class="st_tag internal_tag">Sheikh Khalifa</span> bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir (Ruler/ Leader) of Abu Dhabi. He is one of the wealthiest Arab businessmen in the World. He is wealthier than his half-brother, <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Sheikh Mansour</span> bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who is the owner of <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Manchester City</span> FC.</p> <p><span class="st_tag internal_tag">Sheikh Khalifa</span>, as he is known, is said to be the third wealthiest royal with his net-worth around $19 billion, he also has major interest in Abu Dhabi and UAE developments.</p> <p>If he was interested in taking over <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>, his wealth could mean the Reds would have more financial power than both <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Manchester City</span> and <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Roman Abramovich</span>’s <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Chelsea</span>.Is this the right man to take over from the ill-fated reign of Hicks and Gillett? He sounds like the answer to <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>’s fan’s prayers.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-80690628866024097652010-06-29T00:17:00.000+08:002010-06-29T00:18:03.694+08:00Torres not going anywahere<span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span> striker <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Fernando Torres</span> has told a fan that he will not be moving to <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Manchester City</span> this summer. <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Rameez Mahomed</span>, from Johannesburg, was one of the 23 mascots who were present at the match between Spain and Honduras last week and according to the <em>Sunday Times</em>, Mahomed asked Torres whether he would be leaving <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>. Mahomed said of Torres’s reply: <blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“He told me he would never go to <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Manchester City</span> because his heart was with <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span> and also because he gets along well with Steven Gerrard.”</span></p></blockquote>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-9295658854356496572010-06-28T00:28:00.002+08:002010-06-28T00:30:17.727+08:00Liverpool set to announce Roy Hodgson as manager<div id="article-wrapper"> <figure> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/6/3/1275593229808/Roy-Hodgson-006.jpg" alt="Roy Hodgson" width="460" height="276" /> <figcaption>Liverpool are confident of bringing Roy Hodgson to Liverpool. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian</figcaption> </figure> <p>Liverpool expect to finalise the appointment of Roy Hodgson as the club's new manager following his return from South Africa today. The Fulham manager, who has been commenting at the World Cup for the BBC, has been the frontrunner for the Liverpool job since Rafael Benítez left Anfield this month and could be confirmed as the Spaniard's successor within days.</p><p>Liverpool have considered several candidates for the position, including the former Real Madrid and Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini, but Kenny Dalglish, the club legend asked to conduct the managerial search alongside the managing director, Christian Purslow, is not in the running.</p><p>Anfield officials are confident of securing a deal with Hodgson now that he has returned from South Africa and with his prospects of being offered the chance to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager diminished by the national team's World Cup victory over Slovenia.</p><p>It is understood the make-up of Hodgson's backroom staff is one of the issues to be resolved prior to his appointment, with the 62-year-old keen to bring the Fulham assistant manager, Mike Kelly, with him to Merseyside.</p><p>While Liverpool await the arrival of their next manager, Yossi Benayoun is close to leaving Anfield for Chelsea after the two clubs agreed a £5m fee for the Israel international.</p> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-75706558970772339082010-06-28T00:25:00.000+08:002010-06-28T00:26:34.427+08:00Dirk Kuyt unsure of Liverpool FC future<div class="span-47 last"> </div> <div id="three-col"> <div class="article-image fl-left"> <img style="float: left;" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/dailypost/dec2009/3/9/pics-image-3-388959916.jpg" alt="Dirk Kuyt" width="460" border="0" height="180" /> <p class="article-date">
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</p><p class="article-date">Dirk Kuyt</p> </div> <p>Dirk Kuyt admits he is unsure about his future at Liverpool FC.</p> <p>With Rafa Benitez having departed recently and the club yet to unveil his successor, uncertainty reigns at Anfield at the moment. Kuyt is concentrating on Holland's ongoing World Cup campaign, with a last-16 clash against Slovakia at the forefront of his mind, but was non-committal about his future on Merseyside.</p> <p>"I'm just focusing myself on the World Cup," he said.</p> <p>"I still have a long-term contract with Liverpool and I'm just focused on the World Cup. What happens at Liverpool, we'll see."</p> <p>Asked whether he has had contact with departed boss Benitez, Kuyt said: "I haven't spoken to him. I've had a few text messages but they were more like 'good luck for the games' and 'well done'."</p> <p>As for reports linking him with a move to join Benitez at Inter Milan, the forward said: "We have to see what happens. I also have a great time at Liverpool and I still have a two-year contract. My focus is on the World Cup but I'm still happy to play at Liverpool.</p> <p>"But who knows what happens in the future? We have to see.</p> <p>"If the possibility is there...we have to see what happens with the new manager at Liverpool. Hopefully we'll get new players but we'll see what the future is for me."</p> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-17010724592546920342010-06-28T00:20:00.000+08:002010-06-28T00:23:33.248+08:00No transfer for Masch<span class="st_tag internal_tag">Javier Mascherano</span> is one of a number of <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>’s key players being linked with a move away from <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Anfield</span> this summer, but it seems now that the club touted as his most likely destination have pulled out of the race to sign the Argentinian midfielder. Internazionale president Massimo Moratti was recently quoted as saying: <blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“Mascherano is a strong player, but it is unlikely that he will arrive. He simply costs too much and it is uncertain that <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span> will sell.”</span></p></blockquote> <p>Whether or not Mascherano is worth the reported £25 million price tag is up for debate, but Inter’s reluctance to splash out is great news for <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>. The only other club which has been strongly linked with him is <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Barcelona</span>, but Catalans seem more intent on signing <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Arsenal</span>’s Cesc Fabregas, who would most likely cost a fair wedge of Barca’s summer transfer budget as well as taking up one of the centre midfield spots Mascherano would occupy.</p><p>Aside from Mascherano, nothing much has come up surrounding other players linked with moves. <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Steven Gerrard</span> has been linked with <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Real Madrid</span>, but could, like Mascherano, prove to be too expensive for <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Jose Mourinho</span>’s side (although if there’s one club that love paying large transfer fees, it’s <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Real Madrid</span>). <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Fernando Torres</span> was rumoured to be off to <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Barcelona</span>, but they have already brought in <span class="st_tag internal_tag">David Villa</span>, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in reserve, they are unlikely to be after another striker.</p> <p>It seems as if the media could simply have gone into overdrive after <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>’s poor form last season. It was inevitable that after such a low finish, big name players would be linked with other clubs, but of the three biggest that looked like they might leave, Mascherano, now looks like he could be staying. Of course it’s not good to have a player who wants to leave, but <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span> have been fair to Mascherano in declaring an acceptable price, and if Inter aren’t prepared to pay that, then hopefully he will be professional enough to still perform at a high level while he remains at <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Anfield</span>.</p> <p>Obviously, there is still a long time left until the transfer window closes, but this revelation by Inter is great news for <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>, and I believe that the core of <span class="st_tag internal_tag">Liverpool</span>’s squad will still be there come September 1st.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-65275533798386093492010-06-14T23:48:00.000+08:002010-06-14T23:56:02.500+08:00Benayoun signs Chelsea deal – reports<span class="text"><img src="http://www.thisisanfield.com/pics/benayoun.jpg" vspace="15" align="right" border="1" hspace="15" /> <span class="text"> <p>Reports in Israel this afternoon suggest that Liverpool midfielder <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/benayoun">Yossi Benayoun</a> has signed a 4-year deal with <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/tags/chelsea/">Chelsea</a>.</p> <p>Benayoun has been linked with the Premier League holders since the end of the season, with a fee of around £6million thought to have been agreed between the two clubs.</p> <p>Reports say the 30-year-old midfielder will undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge later this week before his move to Carlos Ancelotti’s men is confirmed.</p> <p>Benayoun made 92 appearances for Liverpool after signing from <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/tags/west-ham">West Ham</a> in 2007, scoring 18 times.</p> </span></span>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-1343532070260103022010-06-10T10:53:00.000+08:002010-06-10T10:59:19.762+08:00Roy Hodgson must decide if he wants Liverpool FC job – Fulham's Clint Dempsey<div class="art-o art-align-left otm-59"><img alt="Roy Hodgson" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/jun2010/3/5/roy-hodgson-446373530.jpg" width="300" border="0" height="180" /> </div> <p>ONLY Roy Hodgson can decide if he will become the next Liverpool manager.</p> <p>That is the opinion of Fulham striker Clint Dempsey who is the latest Cottagers player to respond to mounting speculation linking Hodgson with a move to Anfield.</p> <p>The Fulham boss is the firm favourite to succeed Rafa Benitez, who is set to be unveiled as the new Inter boss today after parting company with Liverpool by mutual consent last Thursday.</p> <p>Earlier this week, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer declared he “wouldn't blame” Hodgson if he took up the opportunity to join Liverpool.</p> <p>Now Dempsey has joined Schwarzer by speaking out about the veteran coaches future.</p> <p>Dempsey is in South Africa with the USA World Cup squad preparing for their opening Group C game against England in Rustenburg on Saturday.</p> <p>Schwarzer said he would be disappointed to see Hodgson leave Craven Cottage this summer and Dempsey insists any decision lies with the 63-year-old should Liverpool make their move.</p> <p>“If the coach wants to be there he will be there,” said Dempsey. “He has to do the best for him and his family.</p> <p>“It is not something I can worry about. I am with Fulham for three more years and I will do my best for the club until something happens.</p> <p>“If he wants to stay, let him stay. If he wants to go, let him go.”</p><p>But with the likes of Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and Italy boss Marcello Lippi ruling themselves out of the running to replace Benitez, Hodgson – whose wife hails from Liverpool – heads an ever decreasing list of viable candidates.</p> <p>Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill remains in the frame while former England and Manchester City chief, Sven Goran Eriksson, has revealed his lifelong support for Liverpool admitting he would dearly love to take the reins at Anfield.</p> <p>There is also growing support among fans for Reds legend Kenny Dalglish to get the job on a permanent basis.</p> <p>However, club ambassador Dalglish has been handed the task of helping managing director Christian Purslow locate the next incumbent of the Anfield hotseat and his advisory role could prove a stumbling block.</p> <p>Meanwhile, reports in Italy claim Fiorentina are keen on taking Emiliano Insua to Serie A.</p> <p>The Argentinian left-back endured a difficult season with Liverpool but that has not deterred La Viola.</p> <p>However, Fabio Aurelio’s departure could prevent Insua moving on.</p> <p>The Brazilian was told he can leave Anfield this summer after four injury-plagued years on Merseyside. That means 21-year-old Insua will be the only recognised senior left-back at the club.</p> <p>FERNANDO TORRES made a scoring return for Spain last night as he came off the bench to net in the European champions 6-0 rout of Poland in their final World Cup warm-up in Murcia before heading for South Africa.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-62199689471554166312010-06-10T10:49:00.000+08:002010-06-10T10:53:10.282+08:00Liverpool FC snub Kenny Dalglish over manager’s job<div class="article-image fl-left"><img style="float: left;" alt="Kenny Dalglish" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/dailypost/jul2009/3/4/sd-image-1-476284551.jpg" width="460" border="0" height="150" /> <p class="article-date">
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</p><p class="article-date">Kenny Dalglish</p></div> <p>LIVERPOOL FC will press ahead with their plans to speak with Roy Hodgson over the vacant manager’s role – despite Kenny Dalglish declaring his interest in the position.</p> <p>The Anfield hierarchy have targeted Fulham manager Hodgson as their preferred choice to succeed Rafa Benitez, who departed last Thursday after almost six years in charge.</p> <p>Liverpool still intend to approach the Craven Cottage outfit later this week with a view to being given permission to talk with Hodgson, and are prepared to offer the 62-year-old a rolling 12-month contract.</p> <p>Although aware of Dalglish’s stance, the club were nevertheless surprised with his decision to go public with his desire to once again take on the role of manager that he</p> <p>held between 1985 and 1991.</p> <p>The Anfield legend has been employed in an ambassadorial capacity at the club for the past year and was thought to be advising managing Christian Purslow in determining Benitez’s successor.</p> <p>But now Dalglish wants to be taken into consideration for the position and as such will no longer play any part in the selection process.</p> <p>Hodgson, though, remains the first choice with the club seeking a steady pair of hands to stabilise matters following the tumultuous conclusion to Benitez’s reign.</p> <p>Benitez will be confirmed as Inter Milan manager in the coming days after agreeing a three-year deal with the Serie A side.</p> <p>The Spaniard is expected to take a number of his backroom staff from Anfield with him to the San Siro, and reports in Italy suggest he will also attempt to sign some of his former players.</p> <p>Chief among them is Glen Johnson, with it being claimed the right-back is among Benitez’s list of wanted players as he aims to replicate Jose Mourinho’s feat of winning the treble of Italian league, cup and Champions League.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Fernando Torres has hailed a “perfect” comeback after making his return to action after almost two months on the sidelines.</p> <p>Torres made his first appearance since undergoing surgery in April as a goalscoring second-half substitute in Spain’s 6-0 friendly demolition of Poland on Tuesday night</p> <p>And now the 25-year-old is hopeful of being involved when Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Switzerland in Durban next Wednesday.</p> <p>“I am very happy because now it is nearly two months after the surgery and I haven’t noticed any problems,” said Torres.</p> <p>“It was a very important day to me because to play in the World Cup is most important.</p> <p>“The minutes I played were useful to gain rhythm and to confirm that my knee is good.</p> <p>“It was perfect, and to get a goal as well, I’m very happy.”</p> <p>European Championship winners Spain are among the favourites to lift the World Cup in South Africa, but Torres has warned an arduous adventure awaits.</p> <p>“We have recuperated and our timing is there on the field,” said the Liverpool forward. “But the World Cup is very long and it will not be easy.”</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-3731989049592466102010-06-10T10:48:00.000+08:002010-06-10T10:49:24.626+08:00Benitez to target double Anfield swoop<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_4309" style="width: 460px;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-4309" title="Kuyt celebrates" alt="" src="http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/kuyt-goal-450x310.jpg" width="450" height="310" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Dirk Kuyt could be a transfer target for Rafa once more</p></div> <p>Speculation has been mounting for days concerning the future of Javier Mascherano. It is well known that Mascherano and Benitez have a lot of mutual respect and the Argentine captain’s recent statements suggesting only Benitez could follow in Mourinho’s footsteps at Inter will have pleased our former manager.</p> <p>As Benitez prepares to be unveiled at the current European Champions Inter Milan reports in today’s <em>Mail</em> suggest that not only will Mascherano be a target but also Dirk Kuyt.</p> <p>According to the press Inter Milan will make a joint bid of £33M for both players, although the World Cup will no doubt complicate factors.</p> <p>Dirk Kuyt said:</p> <blockquote> <p>‘I don’t know for sure who is going to be in charge at Inter, but Benitez is a fantastic coach and would be a great choice for them.</p> <p>‘Working with him is perfect and I am grateful for all he did for me. I was delighted when he asked me to join him at Liverpool, and while we were together, he gave me a lot of good suggestions about how I could improve my game.</p> <p>‘He was good for my career. I have read a lot about what might happen now, if he goes to Inter, but I am just concentrating on the World Cup.</p> <p>‘That is important, because I want to have a good tournament. I have a contract with Liverpool, and I have to respect that, because they are a big club and have been good to me.’</p></blockquote> <p>Rumours from Italy have suggested that Inter will have about £50M to spend this summer on new players.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-20223163951877104312010-06-09T14:42:00.001+08:002010-06-09T14:46:24.770+08:00Kenny Dalglish throws hat into ring in surprise bid to manage Liverpool<p sizcache="0" sizset="56"><img alt="Kenny Dalglish" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/6/4/1275641320616/Kenny-Dalglish-006.jpg" width="460" height="276" /></p><p sizcache="0" sizset="56">Kenny Dalglish has told <a title="More from guardian.co.uk on Liverpool" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool">Liverpool</a> he is prepared to make a sensational return as manager as the previous incumbent, <a title="More from guardian.co.uk on Rafael Benítez" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/rafael-benitez">Rafael Benítez</a>, agreed to become the new coach of <a title="More from guardian.co.uk on Internazionale" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/internazionale">Internazionale</a> last night.</p> <p>Dalglish, who quit the Anfield job in 1991, is currently charged with identifying the club's next manager alongside the managing director, Christian Purslow. The Liverpool legend, however, is willing to enter his own name into that process and believes he can revive the club's fortunes on a limited budget and, crucially, convince Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres not to leave this summer.</p> <p>Dalglish, 59, has admitted that he regrets quitting as Liverpool manager 19 years ago, when the stresses of dealing with the Hillsborough disaster took their toll, and claimed he would have been ready to return after a brief sabbatical.</p> <p>The Scot's desire for the position may present a problem for Purslow and the Anfield board, who are looking at replacing Benítez with a manager currently in the game. Roy Hodgson emerged as the favourite in the aftermath of the Spaniard's exit last week, although no official approach has been made to Fulham. Any appointment of Dalglish, who has not managed since his acrimonious departure from Celtic in 2000, would appease many Liverpool supporters at a turbulent time. With the club lacking the resources to entice many leading names this summer, he could also offer the emotive pull to convince Gerrard to resist overtures from Real Madrid.</p> <p>Dalglish first became Liverpool manager in the days after the Heysel disaster in 1985, when he took over from Joe Fagan. The Scot, who had signed from Celtic as a player for £440,000 in 1977 and won seven league titles, three European Cups and five domestic trophies at Anfield, secured the Double in his first season in charge and during his six-year spell won two more titles and the FA Cup in 1989, following the Hillsborough disaster. He returned to the game with Blackburn in late 1991 and took them from the second tier to become Premier League champions in 1995 and also had a short period at Newcastle, steering them to a second-place finish and the 1998 FA Cup final.</p> <p sizcache="0" sizset="59">While Liverpool ponder this development, the man they parted company with "by mutual consent" last week has completed a dramatic change in fortunes and agreed to coach the European champions. <a title="" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/08/rafael-benitez-inter-manager-moratti">Benítez's unveiling at Internazionale is now a formality, according to the president Massimo Moratti</a>, after he accepted a three-year contract worth in the region of €5m (£4.1m) per season. "We have agreed the final details, which were not important things," Moratti said in a <a title="" href="http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=34014&L=en">statement on the Inter website</a> last night. "All that is needed now is a counter-signature. Tomorrow we will tell you when he will be presented."</p> <p>Benítez has been on holiday in Sardinia while his Anfield departure was negotiated and soon began talks over his move to San Siro, where he will replace José Mourinho. He is due to sign this week and after hiring Liverpool's first-team coach Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel, may also tender a bid for the disillusioned midfielder Javier Mascherano.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-52129329755985606532010-06-08T19:45:00.000+08:002010-06-08T19:50:05.826+08:00Article:Post Rafa<span class="text"><span class="text"><p>Many of you will remember that I thought it was time for Rafa to leave and thankfully, he has done so. But I really don’t understand the blind faith of the “In Rafa We Trust” brigade. Of course we should support our manager within reason, but when the manager makes a statement “promising” 4th position and the last Champion’s League place … and then the same manager gives us only 7th place, then surely the manager IS responsible isn’t he? Surely the buck must stop with him?</p> <p>I just wonder how the “In Rafa We Trust” blind faith brigade would have reacted if Rafa had stayed and we had lost the likes of Stevie, Torres and Carra? Would their blind faith have remained as the proceeds from these sales were part channelled into servicing our debts and part channelled into mediocre replacements?</p> <p>Don’t get me wrong, I am glad we had Rafa as our manager. After Gerard Houllier’s last few years we all needed someone fresh and someone to inspire us…. and inspire us Rafa did with what must surely be our greatest victory ever – Istanbul. How can we also regret having someone who brought us a second Champions League final in 3 years, or who gave us that fantastic FA Cup victory?</p><p><span class="text"><span class="text"><p>I just think he stayed for 2 years too long – and yes, that even takes into account our second placed finish last year that as far as I’m concerned, was a “fluke”. Yes I know how many goals we scored last season but we clearly ran out of ideas with way too many draws. The title was there for the taking as the other three teams out of the then “big four” couldn’t string together a title-winning run of games either. In my opinion, Rafa’s tactics killed off our chances of finally raising that Premiership trophy.</p> <p>But that’s all in the past. Rafa has gone now so what next?</p> <p>I think there’s a lot of cause for excitement and optimism now. It wouldn’t surprise me if a buyer has already been found for the club – but that there are complexities with any such arrangements such as any deal being reliant on Benitez leaving, the right managerial replacement being found and our key players staying at the club. Even IF a buyer hasn’t been found, it is clearly crucial that we get the next manager right and that our key players remain.</p> <p>I have received a lot of emails asking for my opinion on who our next manager should be. Firstly, I think we need to go back to basics and to the grass roots of English football – and for me, we need a British manager at the helm. The exceptions to that rule would have been Mourinho and Hiddink – but they are both accounted for.</p><p><span class="text"><span class="text"><p>I very much respect Roy Hodgson and what he has achieved on the Continent and with Fulham, but I’m just not sure he’s who Liverpool needs right now. Has he got the hunger needed for our top job? Can he command the respect of our top players? I’m not saying I will be disappointed if he DOES get the job, but for me there are better candidates out there.</p> <p>I believe it is a 3-horse race for the top job. By that, I mean that any of the following 3 candidates could all do a great job for us:</p> <div style="float: right;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-january-2010/image/7540536?term=kenny+dalglish" target="_blank"><img src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7540536/sports-news-january-2010/sports-news-january-2010.jpg?size=234&imageId=7540536" title="Sports News - January 14, 2010" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" alt="Jan. 14, 2010 - 05344654 date 13 01 2010 Copyright imago BPI Liverpool Global Ambassador Kenny Dalglish PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRAxNEDxESPxSWExPOLxCHNxJPN men Football England FA Cup Cup Cup tie 2009 Liverpool Portrait Vdig xsk 2010 vertical premiumd Football." width="234" border="0" height="330" /></a></div> <p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js"></script><b>1. “King” Kenny Dalglish</b></p> <p>Friends have intimated that Kenny would jump at the chance. “Unfinished business” and the chance to lead his beloved Reds again might be too tempting to turn down. Clearly, he would have the support of the fans and the club and is the one man who could be guaranteed to bring stability back to the playing side of the club. This stability is just what the club needs whether a buyer has been found or is still being sought. I don’t buy into the theory that he’s been away from the game too long – when you’ve got the talent, then it doesn’t go away. At 61, he’s still relatively young enough for the position but only he can answer if he himself is up to the demands of the job</p> <p><b>2. Harry Redknapp</b></p> <p>Sure, Harry is no spring chicken anymore but he would clearly love to finally get his hands on the reigns of a top 4 club – although ironically of course, that’s exactly where he is now! The current Spurs boss only has a year left on his contract and he is rumoured to have fallen out with the top brass at the North London club. Yes, Harry would have to turn his back on Champion’s League football next season, but how many more chances will he get to manage a club like Liverpool? Other than Kenny Dalglish, Harry is the one manager who would certainly command the respect of the dressing room and for me, he’s one of the few bosses who could convince Stevie to see his career out with us. On a final note, Harry is a success story in the transfer market and surely the board will give serious consideration to a manager who is probably the best bet to spend wisely with what little funds are available.</p> <div style="float: left;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-aston-villa/image/8623265?term=martin+o%27neil" target="_blank"><img src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8623265/football-aston-villa/football-aston-villa.jpg?size=234&imageId=8623265" title="Football - Aston Villa v Birmingham City Barclays Premier League" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" alt="Apr. 25, 2010 - United Kingdom - Football - Aston Villa v Birmingham City Barclays Premier League - Villa Park - 25/4/10..Martin O'Neill - Aston Villa manager." width="234" border="0" height="324" /></a></div> </span></span></p></span></span></p></span></span>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-52002843025622117312010-06-08T19:34:00.000+08:002010-06-08T19:45:38.307+08:00‘Its all in the mind’ – Rafa’s reign was far from failure<span class="text"><span class="text"><p>The great intellectual, Bill Shankly once said “A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are.”</p> <p>A mantra arguably observed by Rafael Benitez during his reign as Liverpool manager and one he needed to adopt if he didn’t already do so.</p> <p>This is a man who took a team of mediocre footballers, albeit with one or two rough diamonds back to the pinnacle of European football after spending years in the wilderness and in the shadows of Europe’s elite.</p> <p>Take one look at the starting line-ups from the 2005 Champions League final compared to that of the last European Cup triumph of 1984 against Roma. The contrast is startling; the 1984 squad boasted probably some of the best players to ever don the red shirt.</p> <p> The exuberant strike-force of Ian Rush and Kenny Daglish, supported on the wings by Sammy Lee and Ronnie Whelan, dominating in midfield you had Graeme Souness and the versatile Craig Johnson, all that built on the foundation of Bruce Gobbelaar in goal and a back four of Phil Neal, Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Kennedy.</p> <p>Compare that to the 2005 squad that faced more Italian opposition in AC Milan. In goal you had the unpredictable Jerzy Dudek, a back four of Steve Finnan, <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/carragher">Jamie Carragher</a>, <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/hyypia">Sami Hyypia</a> and Djimi Traore, in midfield, the cultured <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/alonso">Xabi Alonso</a> and <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/gerrard">Steven Gerrard</a>, Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise on the flanks and <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/kewell">Harry Kewell</a> and Milan Baros partnering up-front.</p> <p>Of course as we all know how those games ended in Liverpool bring Old Big Ears home on the plane to an adoring public, be it in incredible different circumstances.</p> <p>Now looking at the 2005 team sheet they are all should be considered LFC legends because of their participation is such as classic final and a glorious chapter in the club’s history.</p> <p>But the truth is the majority of the team had no place in a team of European Champions, it was Benitez that made them believe they did.</p> <p>Benitez has often been lambasted for his lack of encouragement to his players and the distance he keeps from his squad members, using them more like pawns in a chess game than football players.</p> <p>As many players have professed in the past, Benitez is the man behind the success, despite what some critics say about <a target="_self" href="http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/gerrard">Steven Gerrard</a>’s heroics during his tenure.</p> <p>Sure, Gerrard has played his part but Benitez was the man to turn him into the determined player he is today, something that may have not happened under Gerard Houllier’s management. The detached style, shrewd tactics and strict roles he enforced on a team with limited ability brought out the best in them when it mattered most.</p> <div style="float: right; margin-left: 5px;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/sports-january-2008/image/3198728?term=rafa+benitez" target="_blank"><img src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/3198728/sports-january-2008/sports-january-2008.jpg?size=234&imageId=3198728" title="Sports - January 30, 2008" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" alt="Liverpool's Rafa Benitez Photo via Newscom" width="234" border="0" height="388" /></a></div> <p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js"></script><script language="javascript" src="http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script>Much has been documented about Benitez’s failings as Liverpool manager from persistently stubborn attitude to player and tactics, signings, boardroom disputes, public ramblings and player and staff relationships.</p> <p>I too have been a critic at times as has been documented on this very website but the fact remains, to label Benitez’s career as Liverpool manger as a failure is a travesty of justice.</p> <p>He took Liverpool from the doldrums to the within reach of climbing back on to that mile-high perch that Shankly set all those years ago.</p> <p>Boardroom troubles and mismanagement from our ‘prestigious’ owners and chairmen marred Benitez’s chances of joining the ranks of Shanky and Paisley and walking out of Anfield as a true hero and a man of the people like his predecessors.</p> <p>He made mistakes, every manger does but he leaves Liverpool, in my eyes at least as a legend. A man of his own, a fighter ‘til the end, unwilling to accept defeat and with the distinct ability to grab victory from the jaws of certain defeat and humiliation.</p> <p>Rafael Benítez Maudes I for one salute you, if you should grace the hallowed turf of Anfield once again, be it as a visitor, I invite 45,000 more to do the same.</p> <p><strong>Brian Irvine</strong></p></span></span>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-28485942976571830902010-06-08T19:28:00.001+08:002010-06-08T19:34:04.306+08:00Rafa to raid Liverpool FC’s backroom staff<p> <img style="float: left;" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/dailypost/nov2009/8/7/pics-image-27-339294575.jpg" alt="Rafael Benitez" width="460" border="0" height="329" /></p><p>
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</p><p>RAFAEL BENITEZ will raid Liverpool’s backroom staff after taking over as Inter Milan manager.</p> <p>Benitez is expected to be installed as new coach at the San Siro in the coming days having held talks over a three-year deal with Inter president Massimo Moratti.</p> <p>The Spaniard has been targeted by the Italians after leaving Liverpool last Thursday following almost six years in charge at the club.</p> <p>And Benitez is ready to return to Anfield to take some of his trusted lieutenants with him to Serie A.</p> <p>Reports in Italy indicate Benitez will take Liverpool assistant manager Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel with him to the San Siro.</p> <p>Italian Amedeo Carboni – who played under Benitez as a midfielder at Valencia – is also likely to be added to his backroom staff.</p> <p>The imminent departure of key coaching personnel further underlines the need for Liverpool to intensify their efforts in finding a replacement for Benitez.</p> <p>Managing director Christian Purslow, with the help of club ambassador Kenny Dalglish, is heading the search, although Dalglish</p> <p>himself has emerged as an early front-runner along with Fulham manager Roy Hodgson.</p> <p>Whoever comes in will make the futures of Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard a priority, with all three linked heavily with a move away from Anfield.</p> <p>Mascherano has hinted he wants to follow Benitez to Inter Milan, while Gerrard is a target for new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.</p> <p>Torres has attracted interest from Manchester City and Chelsea, with Barcelona thought to be preparing a big-money bid to take him to Spain and reunite him with international strike partner David Villa.</p> <p>But Torres yesterday hinted he won’t return to La Liga when declaring England has the better league.</p> <p>“As a competition, the Premier League is the best,” said the forward, who is preparing with Spain ahead of their World Cup opener against Switzerland on Wednesday week.</p> <p>“When you are talking about organisation, respect and having all the stadiums full every weekend, it is really nice to see that.</p> <p>“In Spain they have some of the better players in the world but, as a competition, it is not as big as the Premier League.</p> <p>“I’ve played in Spain and can tell you honestly, the Premier League is much better.”</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-43211719488286079162010-06-06T19:21:00.002+08:002010-06-06T19:24:03.052+08:00Liverpool FC deal for Serbian international Milan Jovanovic is still on<div class="article-image fl-left"> <img style="float: left;" src="http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/dec2009/0/2/milan-jovanovic-300-617025620.jpg" alt="Milan Jovanovic" width="300" border="0" height="180" />Milan Jovanovic </div> <p>LIVERPOOL are committed to wrapping up a deal for Milan Jovanovic as they begin the process of rebuilding after the Rafa Benitez era.</p> <p>The Serbian international has long been on the Reds’ radar and Benitez had laid the groundwork for bringing the versatile striker – he can also play on the left side of midfield – to Anfield on a Bosman this summer.</p> <p>Terms on a three-year deal were initially agreed with Jovanovic in February and he also passed a stringent medical in London in April – now all that remains for him to become a Liverpool player is the formality of completing a work permit.</p> <p>Liverpool officials are “confident” that will be wrapped up shortly but the fact that no deal has yet been signed means there is still a possibility that the player could yet decide not to pursue a move to Anfield.</p> <p>Jovanovic is understood to have expressed some concerns about Benitez’s departure from the Anfield hot seat as one of the reasons he indicated his desire to leave Standard Liege was to work with Benitez.</p> <p>It must also be stressed, however, that he is overwhelmed by the idea of playing for Liverpool and, on a number of occasions, the 29-year-old has said how he is looking forward to the fact he “will now never walk alone”.</p> <p>Inevitably, he will have questions to ask regarding what the future holds for the club but Liverpool remain optimistic that they will be in a position to officially announce his arrival in the near future, possibly before the World Cup starts.</p><p>As someone who scored 69 times in 146 appearances for Standard Liege – one was a penalty that knocked Everton out of the Europa League in October 2008 – Jovanovic will be an important addition to a squad that lacked striking options last season.</p> <p>The hunt for Benitez’s successor, meanwhile, will not have a time scale, despite speculation intensifying and the odds plummeting around a number of names in the betting market.</p> <p>Mark Hughes and Martin O’Neill, for instance, have been heavily linked in different areas, as has Fulham manager Roy Hodgson; the latter remains the early favourite at this stage, as he ticks a number of the boxes that the board are looking for.</p> <p>No formal approach has been made to Fulham for Hodgson as yet and the Europa League finalists would not welcome a move for their manager, who has a £2.5m release clause in his 12-month rolling contract at Craven Cottage.</p>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-18143528598424081292010-06-06T19:18:00.000+08:002010-06-06T19:21:03.534+08:00Sven-Goran Eriksson: it would be a dream to manage Liverpool<div class="slideshow"> <div style="display: block;" class="ssImg"> <img src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01651/sven-goran-eriksso_1651458c.jpg" alt="Sven-Goran Eriksson: It would be a dream to manage Liverpool" width="460" height="288" /> <div class="imageExtras" style="width: 460px;"> <span class="caption">Lifelong fan: Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has always been a Liverpool fan, as was his father before him</span> <span class="credit">Photo: GETTY IMAGES</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="firstPar"><p> Hiddink has been linked with the vacant Liverpool job since Rafael Benítez departed Anfield by mutual consent on Thursday. </p></div> <div class="secondPar"> <p> The 63 year-old enjoyed a successful spell in the Premier League as interim Chelsea boss in 2009, but the former Australia manager has just taken over as Turkey coach and has no intention of walking out on his new employers. </p></div> <!-- BEFORE ACI --> <div class="body"> <p> Hiddink's agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, said: "Guus has shown over the years that he is loyal to agreements that he signed. There is no reason today why he would change such behaviour. </p> <p> "Guus just started two weeks ago in Turkey and as much as he likes the Premier League and as much as he respects Liverpool as a legendary club with a great future ahead, a switch would be hardly doable. </p> <p> "Two weeks ago for the same reason he refused the position at Inter Milan post-Jose Mourinho. </p> <p> "I know, never say never and especially in football this is true, but for me this is an impossible thought." </p> <p> The Reds are believed to be looking at several other candidates including Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill and Fulham's Roy Hodgson. </p> <p> One man who could be interested in the Anfield post is Ivory Coast coach Eriksson. </p> <p> The former England boss has only agreed to manage Ivory Coast until the end of the World Cup and the Swede gave a strong indication that he would be ready to succeed Benítez after revealing he supported Liverpool as a boy. </p> <p> Eriksson said: "I have been a Liverpool fan all of my life. I never mentioned it when I was in charge of England because I didn't think it was fair. </p> <p> "I was shocked when I discovered Rafa Benítez had left. Would I want to be the manager of Liverpool? It is every manager's dream to manage Liverpool. </p> <p> "My father was also a Liverpool supporter and every Saturday we would watch an English match on television. It was the highlight of the week. </p> <p> "Liverpool matches were televised quite regularly and we would cheer them on. They have always been my team and nothing has changed. </p> <p> "When I was starting out in coaching I was invited to Liverpool to see how they did things. Joe Fagan was the manager at the time. </p> <p> "I remember him showing me around Anfield and taking me into their legendary boot room. </p> <p> "It was such a privilege and an honour for me to be invited in there. I will never forget that moment. Liverpool will always hold a special place in my heart." </p> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-88713085276010210322010-06-06T19:17:00.000+08:002010-06-06T19:18:16.772+08:00Steven Gerrard faces decision day on Liverpool future<div id="content"> <div id="article-wrapper"> <figure> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2010/6/5/1275744893533/Steven-Gerrard-training-006.jpg" alt="Steven Gerrard training" width="460" height="276" /> <figcaption>The England captain, Steven Gerrard, faces a choice this summer of a move to Spain or remaining at Liverpool. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP</figcaption> </figure> <p>It looks like <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/steven-gerrard" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Steven Gerrard">Steven Gerrard</a> is going to have another World Cup ruined. No sooner had the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Liverpool">Liverpool</a> captain spoken of his distress at being tapped up by Chelsea four years ago in Germany, and two years before that at the European Championship in Portugal, than events at Anfield took a turn to defy all his best efforts to put club matters out of his mind and concentrate on England for the duration of the tournament.</p><p>When Gerrard said last month he was going to shut himself off totally from events on Merseyside, and had told all his family and friends that he did not wish to discuss any "club stuff" until he returned from South Africa, he could hardly have imagined that might involve turning his back on conversations with Kenny Dalglish.</p><p>It was a good plan, though not one that ever had much chance of standing up to developments such as José Mourinho taking over at Real Madrid or Dalglish being installed as kingmaker at Anfield. Not to mention Sven-Goran Eriksson coming out as a lifelong Liverpool fan. Gerrard found out four years ago how persuasive Mourinho could be, and that was when he only had Stamford Bridge to offer and not the glamour of the Bernabéu. Gerrard came close to leaving Anfield in the early years of Rafa Benítez's reign, but eventually decided to stay. Now he probably wants to go, he would find one final chance to link up with Mourinho hard to resist, yet in Dalglish Liverpool have astutely appointed the one man to whom Gerrard has no option but to listen.</p><p>Gerrard will have the best coach in the world in one ear this summer, offering him an escape route from the ongoing turmoil at Liverpool and the chance to end his career among the really big prizes instead of striving for little reward in the Europa League, and his lifelong friend, mentor and role model in the other urging him to stay. If Liverpool have asked Dalglish to identify their next manager, it is not because they needed someone with a phone number for Roy Hodgson or Martin O'Neill, it is because they know that Dalglish will act as a conduit for whatever Gerrard wants to happen.</p><p>There is a school of thought that insists Liverpool would be better off selling Gerrard while they can – he has just turned 30 and will not always command a sizeable fee – though by bringing Dalglish into the process the club have done everything in their power to persuade their captain to stay on. For all his good intentions, it would hardly be surprising if Gerrard is once again a little distracted during the World Cup. Fabio Capello has just admitted the possibility of Dalglish turning up in person at England's training camp in the next few days, seeking permission to speak to Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.</p><p>Christian Purslow, the Liverpool managing director, made a smart decision in bringing Dalglish onside, not least because such a populist move will keep complaint over the treatment of Benítez to a minumum. The problem for any incoming manager, however, whether it be Hodgson or O'Neill or one of the more ambitious targets such as Guus Hiddink or Louis van Gaal, is that the club remains in poor shape off the pitch. The owners are distant, in both senses of the word, and want to sell up. There are no buyers at the price they are demanding, plans for a new stadium have stalled and the future is unclear. The club may need to buy time with a temporary managerial appointment.</p><p>Benítez has left Liverpool with three extremely good players, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina, who could either form the basis for a new team – should funds unexpectedly become available – or be sold on quickly for a tidy profit. There are rather more players who also need to be sold and will not yield a tidy profit, and with Carragher not getting any younger the defence is going to have to be rebuilt. Liverpool have not won a title in 20 years, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are all more secure at the top of the league and Manchester City awash with money, so this is not a particularly auspicious time for any manager to be taking over at Anfield.</p><p>More or less the same thing could have been said in December 1959, the month Bill Shankly walked into Anfield, but those were different days. The maximum wage was still in operation, which meant that though Liverpool were in the Second Division they were able to rise extremely quickly under a well-organised manager who had spotted the club's potential to be the heartbeat of a great city. The maximum wage, for all its manifest unfairness, did at least have the redeeming feature of spreading talent fairly evenly throughout the top two divisions. With all clubs offering a broadly similar rate, players would happily countenance dropping down the table, or even dropping a division, as long as first-team football could be guaranteed.</p><p>The opposite applies now, with top players gravitating inexorably to clubs in the Champions League bracket, even if they cannot always play every week. The new way to compete is to find owners with deep pockets, and Liverpool have been left behind in a race they should possibly never have entered in the first place. The city does football better than it does finance, and not for nothing does the most prominent anti-American protest group call itself Spirit of Shankly.</p><p>Dalglish, as a graduate of the boot-room culture that produced every Liverpool manager between Shankly and Gérard Houllier, retains much of that spirit. Already there are calls for him to take the job himself, and resume his managerial career after 10 years away from the front line. Terry Venables thinks he should do it, Mark Lawrenson thinks he should do it. "I'd like to see Kenny – if not manager – at least involved in the set-up," the former Liverpool defender said. Bruce Grobbelaar agrees. "There is only one man for the job and that is Kenny Dalglish," the goalkeeper said. "He's respected, he'll be a stabilising influence and if he didn't have the appetite for the game he wouldn't be at Anfield every week."</p><p>As Houllier once complained, the list of ex-Liverpool players with media platforms to express their opinions is extensive, and it is no surprise to find them backing Dalglish because to a man they would all be in favour of Liverpool returning to the pattern Shankly established and promoting from within. That may be an unrealistic hope, and there is no indication at the moment that Liverpool intend to turn the clock back with Dalglish, yet to an extent they already have and if the Scot's mission is to get Gerrard to stay he will need to promise him more than Hodgson and a limited transfer budget.</p><p>The opinion that matters most about what happens next at Liverpool belongs to someone who is not an ex-player yet, someone who is vainly trying to shut out the siren calls from Merseyside in his hotel room in South Africa. A fortnight ago Gerrard was hoping to get away with a quiet World Cup. Fat chance. Not only is he now the England captain, he faces a choice between the Bernabéu and the boot room.</p></div></div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518836092803700284.post-78067121098822537612010-06-06T19:15:00.000+08:002010-06-06T19:17:07.050+08:00Martinez: Reds will remember Rafa reign<div class="storyindexabstract"><p>Wigan boss Roberto Martinez believes everyone connected with Liverpool will remember Rafa Benitez's reign as "an extremely successful period"</p><p>Benitez's six-year tenure at Anfield was ended by mutual consent on Thursday following a disappointing 2009-10 campaign in which the Reds were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage and finished seventh in the Premier League.</p><p>Those efforts marked a significant regression for Liverpool, who finished second only a season earlier, and won the European Cup and FA Cup as well as reaching another Champions League final in Benitez's first three years in charge.</p><p>Martinez admits Benitez fell short of the club's target's last year but is confident he will be remembered fondly by Liverpool supporters.</p><p>Asked if he felt people had been quick to criticise Benitez, Martinez said: "I think it's the nature of the game and at any football club, in any league in the world, when you don't achieve your aims that you set early in the season - that is the sort of business we are living in and as a manager you understand that."</p><p>He added: "In any club with the expectation of Liverpool, or Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid - you start to accept that nothing will surprise you."</p><p>Martinez believes both Benitez and Liverpool's fans will always remember the good times during his spell as manager.</p><p>"In football, it is not about how long you can stay at a club, but what you achieve at a club," Martinez said.</p><p>"I think Rafael Benitez will look back at his time at Liverpool, I think the fans and the players will do the same, and it has been an extremely successful period.</p><p>"In football these days there are many reasons (why managers leave), with the ownerships and the situation at a club, and I think we are starting to get used to these sorts of situations.</p><p>"There is an intense period whenever you are the manager of a football club and you should enjoy good moments."</p><p>He continued: "I think everyone will agree that Rafael Benitez brought huge success in Europe, bringing the Champions League and taking the team to another final.</p><p>"They were big nights and I am sure everyone will have great memories of Benitez's time at Liverpool.</p><p>"He is going to be part of their folklore and their history and that is the way it should be.</p><p>"I'm sure Liverpool fans will have huge memories of Rafael Benitez and I'm sure it is a part of his life he will be extremely proud of."</p><p>Martinez has also given his thoughts on England's World Cup chances after Rio Ferdinand was ruled out of the tournament with a knee ligament injury.</p><p>"Without a doubt, it is a big, big blow," Martinez said.</p><p>"More than just the type of player Rio is, it is his character, his leadership and his understanding of the game.</p><p>"When you are trying to guess about who is going to do well in the World Cup as a team, those moments are huge.</p><p>"But on the other side, you are looking at the possible players who could step up and play instead of Rio.</p><p>"You have got huge options, with players that have had great seasons in the Premier League, which we have to remember is the best league in world football.</p><p>"So I would say it is a disappointment, but I think the replacements are good enough and ready enough to take England as far as they would have gone with Rio."</p> </div>KL Ocs Kidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03784672763113603893noreply@blogger.com0