Sport Liverpool Football Club

[BeeJay]

We've had good starts to the season before. I'm sure we were top after 10 games around 2003 but the difference then was that we hadn't beaten any of the big guns. To win leagues, you've got to beat the best.

The funny thing about us though, is that over the past few years we've also not beaten the worst too. We've already done it this season and I can see us losing to Portsmouth. That's the thing that really needs to change.

[Nate Dogg III]

Not to sound churlish, but what was there to be aggrieved about with the 2-0 at Anfield in the league and the FA Cup semi?

Mostly 'what a bunch of cunts' if I'm brutally honest. But nah, thinking about it more, I think it's just that yesterday the superiority was just indisputable, the ref didn't do much to argue about (though thanks to Mascherano for probably saving Cashley from a red card) and overall it wasn't anywhere near as dour as the Mourinho/Benitez games nearly always were, just a gameplan being perfectly carried out. As a lot of the press have said anyone who uses the shit on a stick line to describe yesterday doesn't know a fucking thing about football.

Not that the irony's lost on me that you beat us with a deflected goal followed by 80 minutes of well-drilled defending and dangerous counter-attacks, I suppose we had one of those coming.

[V3zna]

It's kind of odd looking through the papers today and seeing pages & pages of Redknapp's arrival at Spurs and seeing Chelsea's home record finally being ended relegated to some sort of afterthought.

[Reynard]

...the ref didn't do much to argue about...

His second half performance (compared to his first) was like night and day. He was giving you everything during the first half, including the outrageous decision to book Gerrard for one of the game's best tackles (which looked like it could've developed into a really promising counter attack).

He then looked to favour us more during the second half - indulging some of our players' attempts at drawing fouls/slowing the game down, towards the end.

Can't believe he didn't give Cole his second yellow, though. Fair enough that Mascherano got booked (hate players doing that), but it almost seemed to 'replace' Cole's yellow.

[David Kenny]

It's kind of odd looking through the papers today and seeing pages & pages of Redknapp's arrival at Spurs and seeing Chelsea's home record finally being ended relegated to some sort of afterthought.

It's not really that significant is it? It's only a peripheral matter compared to actual football. Certainly not as significant as Redknapp leaving a stable club to take charge at some kind of football car crash.

[Sng]

How old are you? Do you not remember the late 80s, early nineties?

27. The late 80s are a blur, I remember John Barnes (he's the reason I started supporting Liverpool) but my memory generally starts around the downfall of the early/mid-90s.

[Nate Dogg III]

His second half performance (compared to his first) was like night and day. He was giving you everything during the first half, including the outrageous decision to book Gerrard for one of the game's best tackles (which looked like it could've developed into a really promising counter attack).

He then looked to favour us more during the second half - indulging some of our players' attempts at drawing fouls/slowing the game down, towards the end.

Can't believe he didn't give Cole his second yellow, though. Fair enough that Mascherano got booked (hate players doing that), but it almost seemed to 'replace' Cole's yellow.

Yeah I noticed that about the ref - your lot did the ironic cheer thing about two minutes into the second half and it was like his big ref-pendulum swung all the way over to your guys. But no seriously scandalous game-breaking decisions, which was pleasing.

And obviously I'm entirely biased but I actually liked how he handled the Masch/Cole thing, thought it was quite progressive of him.

[V3zna]

Certainly not as significant as Redknapp leaving a stable club to take charge at some kind of football car crash.

You've got it the wrong way round, Redknapp has left an alledgedly insolvent Portsmouth to take charge of a Spurs team capable of a lot more than they have shown thus far. When Liverpool FC get any sort of press it's usually some sort of attack on Benitez. Ah well, we can spend the rest of the season as the unsung underdogs.

[Nate Dogg III]

When Liverpool FC get any sort of press it's usually some sort of attack on Benitez.

Also applies to most other clubs and their managers to be fair.

Worth noting that the press spent Saturday dribbling over what a nice chap Scolari is and aren't they playing pretty stuff these days and we go and lose.

[BeeJay]

27. The late 80s are a blur, I remember John Barnes (he's the reason I started supporting Liverpool) but my memory generally starts around the downfall of the early/mid-90s.

I was a couple of years before you then. I really started getting into my football around 88/89 when we still had the majority of the golden era, Hansen, Molby, Barnes, Beardsley, Rush, Houghton, Ablett, Gilespie, McMahon, Venison, Aldridge.

Team of 89

Then it all went so wrong dropping to the lowest of the lows thanks to Graham Souness with the likes of julian dicks and star strikers like david speedy.

[BeeJay]

Dalglish actually bought Speedie, a few weeks before he quit

Yeah, I remember that now. He was going a little mad by then.

[Nate Dogg III]

And now they're dissing Speedie.

Way to rub salt in the wound, guys.

[BeeJay]

And now they're dissing Speedie.

Way to rub salt in the wound, guys.

Aww, he wasn't that bad, it's just kinda tough going from the likes of barnes, rush, aldridge and beardsley to speedie.

[Reynard]

And obviously I'm entirely biased but I actually liked how he handled the Masch/Cole thing, thought it was quite progressive of him.

Progressive?!

How can what Masch said affect whether Cole's challenge warranted a second yellow ("Well, yes, it was a challenge worthy of a yellow, but the fact that you had the gall to tell me it was means you can have it instead and I won't give him one.")?

They should've both been booked, IMO.

Anyway, water under the bridge and all that (seriously, no pun intended!).

[BeeJay]

Progressive?!

How can what Masch said affect whether Cole's challenge warranted a second yellow ("Well, yes, it was a challenge worthy of a yellow, but the fact that you had the gall to tell me it was means you can have it instead and I won't give him one.")?

They should've both been booked, IMO.

Anyway, water under the bridge and all that (seriously, no pun intended!).

I haven't seen the incident yet but if that kind of thing stamps out that kind of behaviour then it's all good.

In rugby, if you retaliate to a penalty incident or whatever with something worse like a punch for example then the penalty will be reversed. That rule has certainly helped stamp out retaliation in rugby.

[Reynard]

I see your point, but think that the original offence should still warrant punishment.

Just like when a player might retaliate to a bad tackle, both the original offender and the retaliator often get booked.

My opinion is that, if Masch had kept his mouth shut, Cole would've been shown a second yellow.

[Takizawa]

My FIFA manager mode predicts that if we sign Mathias Fernandez we will win the league without conceding a goal.

MAKE IT HAPPEN RAFA!

[V3zna]

My FIFA manager mode predicts that if we sign Mathias Fernandez we will win the league without conceding a goal.

MAKE IT HAPPEN RAFA!

Going by mine if we sign Messi we will draw 0-0 with Wigan on his debut.

[dizogg]

Whatever should have happened, Mascherano needs to learn to keep his fucking mouth shut. Hasn't he learnt yet? Just get on with the game and playing amazingly. Argueing with the ref will never get you anywhere.

[Meat]

Who would you guys sign this January

A) Realistic signing

B ) If you could choose any player in the world

[ras el hanout]

B) Patrice Evra.

That's a fucking b

[V3zna]

Who would you guys sign this January

A) Realistic signing

B ) If you could choose any player in the world

Potentially we don't actually need to sign anybody in all honesty. Hopefully Degen will prove to be decent back up for Arbeloa and one of our many young centerbacks can step up to take Hyypia's place next summer.

I don't know how realistic this signing would be but if Pennant is moved on in January I see Newcastle Utd's Jonas Gutierez as 100% a Rafa type player. I rate him as well but I suppose it would take the highly unlikely relegation of Newcastle to get him quickly. If Degen isn't up to scratch then Tottenham's Alan Hutton would be a great signing. Would love to see what Levy would quote us for him. We have been linked with Gareth Bale plenty of times but I'm far from convinced he should be leaving Spurs anytime soon.

As for any player in the world it would have to be Messi. He's the best player on the planet by miles. He's in a different league to other undoubtedly great players like Torres, Ronaldo, Kaka, Fabregas etc.

[Stig]

Is the match tonight on TV or stream somewhere?

[Reynard]

Is the match tonight on TV or stream somewhere?

Sky are showing the Arsenal v Spurs match.

So, it'll be a stream for most of us.

Check this link nearer to kick-off.

[Guest]

I've been looking at the upcoming games to the end of the year.

I'm thinking we should actually be taking full points from every match we enter now, until we hit Arsenal in December.

So out of the upcoming 11 games until 2009, I think 30 points is achievable!

Portsmouth H

Tottenham A

West Brom H

Bolton A

Fulham H

West Ham H

Blackburn A

Hull H

Arsenal A

Bolton H

Newcastle A

[Kelthink]

I've been looking at the upcoming games to the end of the year.

I'm thinking we should actually be taking full points from every match we enter now, until we hit Arsenal in December.

So out of the upcoming 11 games until 2009, I think 30 points is achievable!

Portsmouth H

Tottenham A

West Brom H

Bolton A

Fulham H

West Ham H

Blackburn A

Hull H

Arsenal A

Bolton H

Newcastle A

Good point! Only genuinely hard game there seems to be Hull.

[Takizawa]

As for any player in the world it would have to be Messi. He's the best player on the planet by miles. He's in a different league to other undoubtedly great players like Torres, Ronaldo, Kaka, Fabregas etc.

Come on, he plays in a luxury position it's easier to shine. I regard Fabregas as the one of the finest midfielders i've ever watched, but he has different qualities to Messi. I'd even argue someone like Riquelme has offered a more influential role in a team than Messi. He's absoloute class no doubt though, and if he progresses much more it'll be frightening.

I really don't think we need any signings, and its about time we saw some of the young talent work it's way in when the chance arises.

[Reynard]

I'm thinking we should actually be taking full points from every match we enter now, until we hit Arsenal in December.

Strange, pundit-like statement - of course we should be looking at taking full points from every match. Any team that wants to win the league needs to take that approach.

I hate it when people do this, but:

One. Game. At. A. Time.

[V3zna]

Come on, he plays in a luxury position it's easier to shine. I regard Fabregas as the one of the finest midfielders i've ever watched, but he has different qualities to Messi. I'd even argue someone like Riquelme has offered a more influential role in a team than Messi. He's absoloute class no doubt though, and if he progresses much more it'll be frightening.

I really don't think we need any signings, and its about time we saw some of the young talent work it's way in when the chance arises.

Nah, Messi's a class above all the rest of them. In my 32 years I would regard Maradona as the finest player I've ever saw. Messi is the heir to that particular throne. As for a luxury position that's surely wrong? Somebody has to be a forward?!?!? Does that mean Torres plays in a luxury position? As for Fabregas and Riquelme both require others to do the dirty work around them. Messi just requires the ball. Dribbling has been a dieing art for years, thank fuck the diminuitive Argentinian thinks otherwise. I also like the way even when he gets fouled repeatedly or doubled up on he doesn't just disappear. That's something that I couldn't say whole heartedly regarding Henry in his prime or current Ronaldo. It's a trait I love about Torres as well. No matter how many times he gets hacked down or fluffs a chance he keeps his head up and keeps trying 100% every single minute he is on the pitch.

[Nate Dogg III]

Strange, pundit-like statement - of course we should be looking at taking full points from every match. Any team that wants to win the league needs to take that approach.

I hate it when people do this, but:

One. Game. At. A. Time.

Quite right too. No point looking at a game that's six weeks away when that six weeks could see you lose a heap of players to injury or suspension or see Newcastle suddenly knocking 5 past everyone like they're Brazil Fucking '70.

Sounds unlikely I know but it's a funny old game Brian, the lads have just got to take it one game at a time and get out there and give us one hundred and ten percent for ninety minutes, and soforth.