Sport Liverpool Football Club

[DeNeo]

For what it's worth, Insua and Plessis weren't in the squad for the Reserves match against Marine tonight. I wonder if Rafa will risk Riise against Birmingham seeing as we have no real cover in that poisition now or will he give Inusa a league start?

Which we lost to a late penalty

But yeah I think they'll both start. Nemeth played the full game though, so can't see him playing any part.

[Kelthink]

Ho ho, I've just had to produce a birth certificate in work and the child's middle names are 'Anfield Kopite'. Bless.

[Chewylegs]

I prefer the last one

[Commander Jameson]

I prefer the new kit, but won't be getting one until G&H are out of the club.

Ideally, I'd like us to go back to our older, simpler Liverbird crest (retaining the flames though).

[dogsout]

I really like the new shirt. The last one's collar is an abomination. Stevie said pretty much the same thing when asked about the new shirt. I've recently abandoned my floppy collared home shirt for the 2005 version anyway. Champions League fever took over back when we beat Inter and it's been getting worn more often than not when we play. I went for the away shirt on Tuesday but won't be making that mistake again on Wednesday.

[Nate Dogg III]

Ho ho, I've just had to produce a birth certificate in work and the child's middle names are 'Anfield Kopite'. Bless.

I assume when you say 'bless' you mean 'hit it with a hammer'.

I despair.

[Kelthink]

The guy was born in Plymouth, too! I also saw a guy getting married who changed his middle names by deed poll to Manchester United. That is also stupid.

[Warszawa]

It was good to see the FA's 'respect' crackdown in effect today. Much deserved red cards for Ferdinand and Hargreaves proved to me once and for all that this was by no means the one game measure to make an example of a single player (a foreigner from a none-too popular country 'coincidentally'...) to sate the laughably short attention span of the average thick as pig shit journalist / 'outraged fan' I said it was at the time.

[Commander Jameson]

You may be able to see something here.

[Kelthink]

Another good performance by Pennant today (man of the match again, for sure). No doubt Vezna will say he's still not good enough to start on Wednesday. Lawl.

[dogsout]

Would you start him over Kuyt on Wednesday?

[Warszawa]

I wouldn't because Kuyt has been outstandng in the CL. And he's our top scorer in the competition.

Pennant should definitely be the one to replace Babel in the second half (rather than Benayoun) though.

[dogsout]

Kuyt would be one of the first names on the team sheet for me. I'd consider playing Pennant on the left instead of Babel from the start, though. Babel was pretty poor in the first leg and he's likely to struggle again with even less space to operate in. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to start Pennant or Benayoun instead and bring him on in the second half when Chelsea begin to tire.

[DC Lemon]

It was good to see the FA's 'respect' crackdown in effect today. Much deserved red cards for Ferdinand and Hargreaves proved to me once and for all that this was by no means the one game measure to make an example of a single player (a foreigner from a none-too popular country 'coincidentally'...) to sate the laughably short attention span of the average thick as pig shit journalist / 'outraged fan' I said it was at the time.

They both got yellow cards like Mascherano did, but overall I agree with you that things have quickly gone back to normal and players are once again disrespecting the officials without a care in the world. I didn't enjoy seeing it today.

[Warszawa]

They both got yellow cards like Mascherano did, but overall I agree with you that things have quickly gone back to normal and players are once again disrespecting the officials without a care in the world. I didn't enjoy seeing it today.

Any Alex Ferguson side is always going to be full of players surrounding the ref because that's what he instructs them to do. Everyone knows how much I cannot stand him, but I honestly feel that the man deserves to be punished, and is ten times more deserving of a lengthy ban than Mascherano ever was.

But I understand why he does it...he knows he can get away with it, he knows he can subtly influence officials and future appointments by commenting as he does. He knows how to dissuade referees from giving contentious decisions against his side (today's wasn't contentious and unless Carrick is disabled, he didn't need to handle it there). I actually don't blame him because it works for he and his team, I blame the spineless FA for letting it slide time after time with barely a slap on the wrists.

He's a master opportunist and his comment before the Liverpool game about players having respect for officials was completely disingenuous, utter hypocritical bollocks but I have to be honest and say that - time and time again - his comments work for he and his team. If his tactical mastery matched his psycholgical and motivational ability it would be awful for me because he'd have won an extra four or five league titles and another few European Cups.

[phresh]

[DC]

Any Alex Ferguson side is always going to be full of players surrounding the ref because that's what he instructs them to do. Everyone knows how much I cannot stand him, but I honestly feel that the man deserves to be punished, and is ten times more deserving of a lengthy ban than Mascherano ever was.

But I understand why he does it...he knows he can get away with it, he knows he can subtly influence officials and future appointments by commenting as he does. He knows how to dissuade referees from giving contentious decisions against his side (today's wasn't contentious and unless Carrick is disabled, he didn't need to handle it there). I actually don't blame him because it works for he and his team, I blame the spineless FA for letting it slide time after time with barely a slap on the wrists.

He's a master opportunist and his comment before the Liverpool game about players having respect for officials was completely disingenuous, utter hypocritical bollocks but I have to be honest and say that - time and time again - his comments work for he and his team. If his tactical mastery matched his psycholgical and motivational ability it would be awful for me because he'd have won an extra four or five league titles and another few European Cups.

You are on a wind up. You have to be.

[Warszawa]

Why? I thought it was common knowledge that Ferguson drills it into his players' heads that referees are there to be pressured. Mourinho taught similarly and it worked pretty well for him...both his Porto and Chelsea teams were models of cynical football (without the attacking flair of Man Utd) and it did the trick. I can't think of any other reason as to why about three or four generations of Man Utd teams would do the same if it's not something they've been asked to do. And, like I said, I can't blame them, it's not necessarily the wrong thing to do if you're allowed to do it.

Sometimes I wonder if Liverpool at the moment need a 'quality thug' who is hated by everyone else, someone who is despicable but outstanding on the pitch ala Roy Keane or Graeme Souness. Gerrard is an excellent player but he doesn't have nearly the same sort of fire, the same air of dominance which is why he goes missing against Man Utd, Chelsea & Arsenal far too often.

I'm not trying to wind anyone up, if I was trying to do so I'd rant about corruption again, which I don't necessarily believe is there when I'm not caught in the bitterness of after-match at Old Trafford.... I obviously just have a different view on this issue.

[Chewylegs]

It was good to see the FA's 'respect' crackdown in effect today. Much deserved red cards for Ferdinand and Hargreaves proved to me once and for all that this was by no means the one game measure to make an example of a single player (a foreigner from a none-too popular country 'coincidentally'...) to sate the laughably short attention span of the average thick as pig shit journalist / 'outraged fan' I said it was at the time.

exactly what I was thinking yesterday. Why I am surprised is a mystery though

Not a bad result yesterday seeming we were 2 down and Brum needed a win. Glad Crouch got on the score sheet again and hopefully he will be able to make an impact on wednesday if needed.

As for the shirt - Its not that I don't like it, its just that I prefered the last one. I don't have a problem with the 'floppy' collar myself. Anyway I'm the type of person who only buys a Liverpool shirt when I really like it so I'll wait to see if the away kit or euro kit changes.

[El Pibe]

To say that Mascherano got his ban because he was Argentinian is just ridiculous.

Was it the same with Jérémie Aliadière?

[El Pibe]

They both got yellow cards like Mascherano did, but overall I agree with you that things have quickly gone back to normal and players are once again disrespecting the officials without a care in the world. I didn't enjoy seeing it today.

Good to see van der Sar get a card for fucking around before the penalty, even better when Ballack tucked it away!

[Chewylegs]

To say that Mascherano got his ban because he was Argentina is just ridiculous.

Was it the same with Jérémie Aliadière?

I didnt actually mean to quote that bit of his post. I don't think it was because he was Argentinian. I'm just annoyed that the "crack down" lasted just one week and seemingly only affected us!

Apparently Hargreaves two or three times yesterday ran at the officials harrassing them but he only got a yellow card.

Consistency is the the thing that I would say every football fan wants.

Anyway, back to what matters to us which is wednesday's game at Stamford Bridge. I think Chelsea beating Man U has done us a favour because they will not just have the Champions League to think about. As we have secured 4th place we can chuck everything at them and not have to worry to much about our final matches.

I'm away with work in Plymouth and I will be watching it in the same Walkabout where I saw us beat Inter earlier on in the competition. Win or lose at least I can celebrate/consule myself with £1.50 pints!

[El Pibe]

I'm away with work in Plymouth and I will be watching it in the same Walkabout where I saw us beat Inter earlier on in the competition. Win or lose at least I can celebrate/consule myself with £1.50 pints!

Then get beaten up afterwards!

[DC]

Then get beaten up afterwards!

Where are QPR/Exeter in the league again?

You'll be fine in Walkabout. Just dont go left on your way out towards Union Street. Stick to the path, theres trouble in them there hills etc.

[DC Lemon]

Apparently Hargreaves two or three times yesterday ran at the officials harrassing them but he only got a yellow card.

Consistency is the the thing that I would say every football fan wants.

But I say again, Mascherano harassed Steve Bennett three or four times before getting a yellow card for it. There's your consistency for you.

[El Pibe]

Where are QPR/Exeter in the league again?

You'll be fine in Walkabout. Just dont go left on your way out towards Union Street. Stick to the path, theres trouble in them there hills etc.

Exeter are on their way to Wembley and QPR to Championship domination next year!

[dogsout]

But I say again, Mascherano harassed Steve Bennett three or four times before getting a yellow card for it. There's your consistency for you.

And what of Torres? I'm sorry, I've already said you lot were the better team and deserved the win but Bennett was fucking awful that day. He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a big game again, the only consistency to his performances is how completely fucking shit they are.

Getting back on topic, I'm starting to wonder what line-up we're going to see on Wednesday. I'm half expecting Babel to be benched in favour of someone capable of being a touch more productive from the start, allowing him to come on when the game is a bit more open. I really hope we start fast and unsettle them from the off.

[Kelthink]

I'm betting we'll see a midfield & strikeforce combo of

------------Torres-----------

Babel-------------------Kuyt

-----------Gerrard-----------

-----Alonso----Masch-------

and I'll be all 'fucking no', because Babel is far more effective as a super sub at this current stage. Pennant should easily start the game on the left and possibly switch with Kuyt whenever possible.

[SPE]

As DC07 has been saying, how was the ref in the Man U game not consistent, when he gave out yellow cards for dissent? Unless there's some selective memory is going on and you think Mascherano was given a straight red. If anything, the ref in that game was more lenient, as it took Mascherano four or five attempts at mouthing off before he finally got his yellow for dissent.

Everything Warszawa has said about Ferguson and Mourinho is right. It's no coincidence when certain teams behave in one way. For all of Mourinho's strengths, he's probably the most cynical manager in football. Drobga ongoing antics are perfectly in line with Mourinho's coaching. Did you ever see the Porto v Celtic UEFA final? Mourinho's side were technically and tactically the better side, yet still dived, cheated and time wasted their way to victory. Ferguson is far less cynical and pushes more to influence the refs with his comments and his player's behaviour, rather than outright cheating. In this regard, he's hugely successful, which gives his side an edge over all the others in the league. Many other managers try and emulate this tactic, but most lack his knack for it and come across as whingers or bad sports (Rafa included).

[Commander Jameson]

Many other managers try and emulate this tactic, but most lack his knack for it and come across as whingers or bad sports (Rafa included).

Umm. I think you'll find that Ferguson comes across as a whinger and a bad sport too. Just a more effective one.