Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[libraguy75]

Originally Posted by kb_soo80

No team on earth could have beaten the blueshites 9-0-1 formation today. Especially when all 9 defenders took up their places inside their own 18 yard box.

Rafa's right - only one team tried to win the match. The Neverton formation and tactics were all about damage limitation. There was no way any strikeforce in the Premiership was going to be able to navigate it's way through a penalty area that resembled a mosh pit.

Apart from not sticking the ball in the onion bag, which was always the most likely case when you go against a team as negatively-minded as this, our boys battered the crap out of them.

tried telling that to the blues....

Its was damn $@^#%& to watch the blues in the match...

they might as well all 'fall-in' in front of the goalpost and let us shoot from outside the penalty box...






...
..
.

[KingEros]

TEAMtalk's James Marshment explains why Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was spot-on in his assessment of Everton as a 'small team' this weekend.

Rafa Benitez has caused something of a stir this weekend by calling Everton a 'small team'.

So why all the fuss? Benitez is only stating what everyone in football, (minus deluded Everton supporters) already knows to be the truth.

Everton have long lived in the shadow of their more illustrious rivals, bar for their golden era of the 1980s under Howard Kendall when they had, admittedly, as good a club side this country has seen in modern times.

Even then though, their League championship triumphs in 1985 and 1987 and their European Cup Winners Cup triumph in 1985 were probably overshadowed by Liverpool's Double in 1986.

But Kevin Ratcliffe, Neville Southall and Co are now long forgotten and David Moyes' current class of 2007 are just not in the same league as either their predecessors or Rafa's Reds.

True, Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta are a touch of class on their day and it surely won't be too long before some of Europe's big guns come calling for these two supremely-talented midfielders.

And if there is a more suited player in the English game to assume Paul Scholes' eventual mantle at Manchester United than Cahill, then I have yet to see him...

But let's not wander too far away from the fact of the matter here: Everton are the second-best team in Liverpool so therefore as a 'small-minded' (if not a 'small') club, would regard a point at Anfield as a great result. That, coupled together with a 3-0 victory over the Reds back in September, probably means that for Everton supporters, the 2006/07 campaign will be regarded as a successful season.

Everton fans might count Benitez's comments as that of a bitter manager, frustrated by his side's inability to crack a defence expertly marshalled by Alan Stubbs, Joseph Yobo and the ever-improving Joleon Lescott.

And whilst there is an element of truth in that assessment, you can't help but admiring Benitez's honesty in stating what all football fans were thinking. No-one wants to watch a side sticking 10 men behind the ball and showing no ambition to gain anything more than a dreary point. Everton went to Anfield with 'small ideas', 'small-minded tactics' that befit everything associated with a 'small team' with a 'small mentality'.

So was Benitez wrong to say what he did? No, because it was the truth. The fact that he touched a nerve in every bitter Everton supporter nationwide is not his fault.

I mean, it must be hard being an Evertonian. No-one wants to watch their most bitter rivals collect trophy after trophy over the years and even rain on their parade when they were in fact themselves quite good.

As a supporter of a team who have fallen on far harder times than the likes of Everton, I'm easy ammunition for any bitter Toffees. And I admit, if my team went to Anfield, we'd be lucky to get away with a 5-0 stuffing. And if we collected a point, then I suppose I too would be celebrating. But that's the point that Everton are missing. It was a great point for them because for a 'small team' living on past glories (and recent qualification for the preliminary stages of the Champions League does not count!) a draw at Anfield is to be savoured.

Rafa's frustration was that when Chelsea came to Anfield recently, they didn't come looking for a point. They came looking for three. Big team equals big mentality. As a result, Liverpool were able to play their natural game and collect a victory that was possible because they weren't facing 11 men with the sole intention of suffocating the life out of what should have been a decent game.

Therefore, who can say Rafa was wrong? Small team, small expectations, big point.

Exactly my sentiments ...

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by LSB_Fan

We have Reina to thank for the draw... How Andy Johnson did not score after our defence screwed up was beyond me ... phew

I beg to differ ... in that paticular gilt-edged chance for AJ, if Carragher did not dive in to pressure AJ after he managed to turn the ball onto his stronger right foot ... we won't even get to see Reina do his "I dun remember much" heroics.

Originally Posted by KingEros

What's wrong with calling a spade what it really is ... ie, a spade??
Everton's a club who had to sell Rooney ... their genius of a find.
Everton's a club Rooney decide to leave ... despite the fact that he grew up supporting them.
Adding fuel to the fire, Everton's a club who can't even hold onto a certain Tomas Gravesen.
If this is not a small club, then what is??
Yes, we're talking about facilities, ambitions & wealth ...

I heard Rafa called them a small team? It's not surprising, because they played like a small team away. They played with a 4-5-1 with Arteta on the right (not an attacking winger but a midfielder). They pressed our midfield well to be honest, and after the first mad 15 minutes, they hand tied our midfielders. Alonso couldn't get much of the ball, neither did Gerrard who came to deep positions in order to get some of the ball.

We tried too much to do harm from the middle, and we should have used more Pennant, as the wings are the key against this small team tactics.

Bellamy made the role of Luis Garcia. He put more work than Luis, but less abilty to break up defences. But I think that even if LG was in the pitch, the path to victory wouldn't come from the middle, but proper use of wings.

When Rafa put Fowler in the pitch, he did so because the small team did not press up any longer and seemed very happy with the point, so they sit back waiting for us. With an scenario of 15 minutes, an ultradefensive oposition, and our midfielders having more space, perhaps it was the moment of Fowler. But Rafa should have awaken the left wing just after the half time, and I missed a substitution in the early stages of the second half.

Everscum did their small team work well, to be honest. For instance it's very typical to try to surprise the way Bellamy did in the disallowed goal. But they were aware enough to remove the man in the post in that corner and putting Bellamy off side. They did their stuff well.

But we should be more clever not to stumble twice in the same stone. We did the same mistakes in their small stadium

So, those bitter bluenoses kept two clean sheets against us.

If they're happy to dine off that for the rest of the season then let 'em go hungry.

Luckily for them they're the small people's club, so they don't need much food to keep 'em going anyway, bunch of witless smurfs!

Originally Posted by ah_ray

...he's said 'smaller teams' out of bitterness, stooping to their level - he knows how big a game this was in terms of our title aspirations so having a dig at the intertoto-bluesh1te should be the last of his concerns.

Don't see what all the fuss is about. Rafa was right in what he said, no different to me then when Everscum proclaimed themselves "the peoples' club" knowing full well it was a swipe at us.

Sign of a small club living in your shadow - They bring out a DVD when they beat you 3-0 haha

Originally Posted by KingEros

TEAMtalk's James Marshment explains why Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was spot-on in his assessment of Everton as a 'small team' this weekend.

Rafa's such a legend for that quote
The bitters are fuming. But it's true. They are a smaller club than us

Anyway bros, I've been informed that there was a fan in the main stand, who during the game, collapsed and died.

RIP
YNWA

[canthaveenuf]

Aiya, small team or not, let's forget about it lah and move on. The fact remains that we did not beat a small team. Yes they may be small, but IMHO, a great manager shouldn't say such things, if not may appear petty. Quite a pity becos Rafa is actually a very respectable manager and always say very reasonable and meaningful things. Maybe this time he really pek-chek. Who wouldn't be?

Anyway, if we are a great team, we should be able to beat all the small teams. There can be no excuse.

Never mind lah bros, one point gain still better than losing to a Andrew Johnson goal right? Anyway, we got more important games to look forward to, this weekend against Newcastle and next against Barca. And tomorrow (or is it today) we will know the investment result. Let's hope everything goes fine and we get new and passionate owners that will inject the much needed cash.

Cheers

[Cummon]

LIVERPOOL FC RECOMMENDS OFFER FOR CLUB
Paul Eaton 06 February 2007
Liverpool FC today announced that the Board have agreed the terms of an offer for the Club from Mr George Gillett and Mr Tom Hicks. The Board are unanimously recommending that the Club’s shareholders accept this offer.
Full details of the offer were announced earlier today to the Stock Exchange.

Commenting on the offer, David Moores, Chairman of Liverpool said:
“I believe this is a great step forward for Liverpool, its shareholders and its fans. This Club is my passion and forms a huge part of my life. After much careful consideration, I have agreed to sell my shares to assist in securing the investment needed for the new stadium and for the playing squad. I urge all my fellow shareholders to do the same and to support the offer. By doing so, I believe you will be backing the successful future of Liverpool Football Club.

"I am also delighted to accept the offer from the Hicks and Gillett families to continue my involvement in the Club by becoming Honorary Life President.”

Rick Parry, Chief Executive of Liverpool, commented: “This is great for Liverpool, our supporters and the shareholders – it is the beginning of a new era for the Club.

“The partnership created by George and Tom is very special. They are bringing to the table tremendous and relevant experience, a passion for sport, real resources and a strong commitment to the traditions of Liverpool. Their approach represents exactly the sort of genuine partnership that Liverpool has been seeking over recent times.

“We know that George and Tom want a long-term relationship with Liverpool and that they also understand the importance of investing in our success both on and off the field. They have made clear their intention to move as quickly as practicable on the financing and construction of our proposed new stadium at Stanley Park and also to support investment in the playing squad.

“This has been an important time for the Club. We now have the right partners for the future. I am absolutely certain we have now ended up in the right place, with owners who will help the Club succeed and prosper.”

Commenting on the offer, George Gillett and Tom Hicks said: “Liverpool is a fantastic club with a remarkable history and a passionate fanbase. We fully acknowledge and appreciate the unique heritage and rich history of Liverpool and intend to respect this heritage in the future. The Hicks family and the Gillett family are extremely excited about continuing the Club’s legacy and tradition.

“We are particularly pleased that David Moores and Rick Parry will have a continuing involvement in the Club. For us continuity and stability are keys to the future.”

[Cummon]

Looks like we are gonna into a new era......hopefully the future is RED,the future is Rosy

There were reports you were interested in a ground share…

Tom Hicks: I can categorically say we have no interest in a ground share with any other team. We are going to build the finest team for the finest stadium in the Premier League and that is Liverpool.
George Gillett: I don't know how this story got started. It didn't get started with us. I look forward to meeting the officials from Everton some day because we are both in this wonderful city, but I have never authorised anyone to talk or act on our behalf relative to the possibility of ground sharing. I have no idea where this has come from. It was not true and we can categorically deny it.

The first time I met Rick Parry I asked him the question and that's the only time I can recall the topic coming up. He looked me in the eye and said that if I ever brought that topic up in a serious way again then I could have his resignation because he wouldn't be involved with or support that kind of discussion. That was very clear and so the subject never came up again from our side.

More recently someone close to the club said that if the topic did come up then it was the surest way possible for us to be lynched.

We want to build the greatest facility for the players and the fans and make this the best location for players to play and for fans to come.

Can we bring the title here under your ownership?

George Gillett: I really hope so. Rick has told me of a Shankly saying that 'first is first and second is nowhere' and that sounds good to us.

[coolfire69]

MOORES: GILLETT AND HICKS ARE RIGHT FOR LFC
Paul Eaton 06 February 2007

David Moores talks to Liverpoolfc.tv after agreeing to sell his shareholding in the club to George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
david moores


Liverpoolfc.tv: How are you feeling after agreeing a deal to sell the Club?

David Moores: It's like a big relief. It's been a long and arduous journey over the past three years and there has been quite a lot of pressure and stress to contend with. At the end of the day I have managed to battle on until we got what we considered to be the best outcome for the club and the supporters going forward.

What is it about the deal which has convinced you it's the right one for the club?

There has never been any dithering on my part, I want to stress that. People know me and they know that if I had the money to afford the stadium – which is the main thing – then I would have done it myself. I wouldn't hold the club back and I wouldn't want to hold it back. It's an emotional time for me because my family has been involved in this club for fifty years. We had to find the money for the stadium and players so that the manager could have good funds each season.

I met George Gillett in Montreal in November and I was very taken with him. What he has done with the Montreal Canadiens and the arena they have built there is outstanding. He had a bit of a tough time when he first went to Canada in convincing people, but he has won them all over and is like a God there now. He has done a tremendous job.

Seeing his passion and what he has achieved was impressive. I liked his bubbliness. He's a character who is just very passionate about sport. He isn't dour, he'll be very forward and will tell it like it is. I know less about Mr Hicks but I also know he is very passionate. George is a very bubbly character who wants to see Liverpool winning everything. Trophies are what he is after.

When we were contemplating the two bids and decided to give DIC the exclusivity, George was very gracious and wished them good luck. He said he had immense respect for Dubai, that they were good people and that he wished us all the best for the future. I told George we couldn't see where he would have enough money for the stadium and players going forward and, to his credit, he went away and came back with Mr Hicks who is another very passionate sports person. Between the pair of them, I feel we have got very strong owners going forward. I believe that these two men will want to win things. They have proved that with their respective clubs. They are in it for the long term because they are involving their sons so you can plan for the future. This isn't someone coming over just to make a quick buck.

How tough was it to decide between DIC and the Gillett/Hicks offer?

I can only make this decision once. I only get one chance with it and there were a few things that just weren't quite right with DIC. The longer it went on the more concerns I had. I just asked if I could have two or three days to clear my mind and think over a few points I wasn't sure about and, unfortunately, we were only given six hours. It was such a major decision for me to make and I had to get it right.

Don't get me wrong, the people we dealt with from DIC were very honest men. I wouldn't have a bad word said about them but at the end of the day it wasn't them who were calling the shots. We never saw the top people. If we had a worry or wanted to clarify something then it had to go back to the top men.

We have not dithered in any way. We have made considered judgements. When you have a decision to make like this and you are so desperate to see the club go into the right hands then you have to be comfortable with whatever you decide.

Nobody gives ultimatums to one of the world's great institutions. It should never be thought that we considered George as our second choice. The fact that he came back with a second bid shows you how passionate he was about taking over the club.

Are you disappointed the way things ended with DIC?

I was a bit upset about being called dishonourable because I have never been dishonourable in my life. It was hard to take coming from somebody I have never seen. I don't want to get involved in slanging matches. As I said, I have great respect for the people I dealt with.

Some people have said you've taken the decision which has given you the most money…

If the DIC deal had gone ahead, even if Gillett had come back, then I'd have accepted their offer. I can't speak for the other directors but at the end of the day I'd rather not have the money and be able to stay as Chairman. It's upsetting that some people have said I'm in this for the money. I think the fans know that's not the case. I'm proud of our fans and I'm extremely proud to be one of them.

How big a decision has this been in your life?

It's the biggest decision I've ever had to make. If you are as passionate as I am about the club then I can't have been easy to live with over the past few years but my wife has been very supportive to me throughout. I've had a lot of help from my chief executive who has been absolutely spot on and I don't know how I'd have coped without him. It's quite lonely up there and it's always good to have good people around you and I have certainly had that.

How hard has it been to let go?

It is very hard to think it won't be my club anymore. Having said that, I am handing it over into safe hands because I can't afford to take the club any further forward. I haven't got that money and I'm not going to bankrupt the family.

What does the future hold for this club now?

I'll still be around for them to ask my opinions and Rick will still be here as chief executive. There are exciting times ahead with a brand new stadium, although I'll have regrets when we see the last days of this place. There's so much history here but we're land-locked and can't move on. I'd love to stay here but it's just impossible.

Where can George Gillett and Tom Hicks take this football club?

Hopefully to a place I was never able to manage – Premiership champions! That was the only one I never won as Chairman and that bugs me a bit. They can make us the best in England and make us able to compete and do better than Chelsea and Man United.

We've got an exceptional manager and he will have the funds to take the club forward and bring in world class players.


Could any other club have gone through this process without the fans getting impatient waiting for news on the investment search?

This is a very special club, more special than any other club in the world. The supporters have been tremendous to the club and tremendous to me.

There have been a few times when I thought they might turn on me but they never did. I think it's because they trust me. I tell it like it is and I'm always honest and fair to the fans because I am one of them and always will be.

Will the club change radically?

The two new people have both given their assurances that the same management team will be in place and there will be no change for the club's employees. My understanding is that there won't be a lot of interference because they are happy with the way the club has been run.

Are there any areas of the club which could do better under them?

Perhaps on the commercial side. I don't think we have maximised our world brand and hopefully they will help us to get into these areas where we have the fantastic fan bases.

Will you still play an active part around the club?

I will help out as much as they want me to help out. I'll still be going to every game, that's for sure. It wasn't part of the deal for me to stay around, they insisted it should be that way because they know I understand the club.

I've had a great time as Chairman. There have been good times and bad times but the good ones have far outweighed the bad. No-one can ever take away from me the fact that I was Chairman on the night we won the Champions League in Istanbul. Since the start of the new millennium we've won more trophies than any other club so it hasn't been all doom and gloom.

I'm so relieved the club can now move forward with a new stadium and more money. I have definitely made the right decision.

(Extracted from liverpoolfc.tv


Finally, the truth is out, and hopefully, things will be better for our club from now...

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by Sirus_The_Virus

With an scenario of 15 minutes, an ultradefensive oposition, and our midfielders having more space, perhaps it was the moment of Fowler.

Ditto ... but alas, God was lacking match-fitness.
At that kind of distance, onto his potent left foot ... he would have buried the ball in the net with his eyes closed, if this was like 3-5 years ago.

Originally Posted by Sirus_The_Virus

Sign of a small club living in your shadow - They bring out a DVD when they beat you 3-0 haha

No kidding?? Must get my hands on this collector's item ... I could be earning a big paypacket, considering that this will probably never happen again in a 100 years!!!

[KingEros]

Originally Posted by kb_soo80

Rafa's such a legend for that quote.
The bitters are fuming. But it's true.

Just like Bill Shankly has been remembered for "There are 2 teams in the city of Liverpool ... LFC & LFC reserves."
Come to think of it, I dun recall the BlueScums release any fart about "a LFC manager should not be saying this" ... all becoz Rafa is a foreigner on British shores & doing very well at what he's paid for too.

Originally Posted by canthaveenuf

The fact remains that we did not beat a small team. Yes they may be small, but IMHO, a great manager shouldn't say such things, if not may appear petty. Quite a pity becos Rafa is actually a very respectable manager and always say very reasonable and meaningful things. Maybe this time he really pek-chek. Who wouldn't be?

Sounds like you disagree with the erecting of the Shankly Gates then??
All great managers wanna win & their agression will spill onto their behaviour after every match they really should have won ... nothing wrong with that - just look at Ferguson, Wenger & Mourinho. For one thing, I've never known any nice guys who come in first.
Years down the road, the next generation will respect Rafa for being totally honest (in calling them small clubs, like everybody else really wanted to but dared not), if not being blatantly witty too.

[kingcopa]

We got new owner n will be moving to a new stadium. Future look good for us. I begin to understand the feeling of Chelski fans liao, 'We dun care who own the team, we onli wanna see our team success'

Abit sad to see anfield becoming history. Will save up to visit the KOP before it tear down.

[LSB_Fan]

Lets hope that the new money heralds an era of success for Liverpool... gives us an equal footing to compete in the transfer market.

Happy Chinese New Year to all Fans...

[canthaveenuf]

Originally Posted by KingEros

Sounds like you disagree with the erecting of the Shankly Gates then??
All great managers wanna win & their agression will spill onto their behaviour after every match they really should have won ... nothing wrong with that - just look at Ferguson, Wenger & Mourinho. For one thing, I've never known any nice guys who come in first.
Years down the road, the next generation will respect Rafa for being totally honest (in calling them small clubs, like everybody else really wanted to but dared not), if not being blatantly witty too.

Not dat I want to argue over this lah, but I just feel that one can still be a great manager without resorting to belittling your opponents. Maybe I come from the old school but I always believe in being gentleman and a gracious loser. There are great and respectable managers who win great things and say loud and big things, but then, there can also be great and respectable managers who win big things without having to do such things. I dun know if there are any such managers around or exist in the past, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Just to clarify hor, I still respect Rafa as a great manager so far despite wat he said abt Everton.

Cheers