Phil236849

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assume stead falls into the internet joke category -cauet et al

thats what i thought. if it was indeed said, and said in seriousness, it would have been lead story, and the title splash would not have been about money but something else. strange way for a tabloid to end an article!

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_page...rt/sport4.shtml the relevant bit is And his manager is convinced his captain will not coast his way through the end of the season to save his energy for the World Cup finals. Benitez said: "Some players lose concentration before a World Cup. They're always thinking about the World Cup and are really selfish. "But Steven's not like that. He knows how important the club is. He is more mature now and doing the right things for the club. "Steven's very happy here and has been settled this season. "Does he want to play abroad one day? I'm not sure. Maybe. Maybe we go together!" Rafa seems to enjoy these jokes that liverpool fans will not find funny! or is he just p'ing around.........?

i think in that team, we wouldn't suffer! rafa said the other day that gerrard, alonso and sissoko give the perfect combination of qualities. rafa also said that in this week's champions league mag that when we control a match and play at our best, we play 4-2-3-1. as alonso and sissoko are likely to be the 2, that leaves wide right, attacking centre, or wide left as stevie's position. i suspect gerrard may play a lot of the time on the right or as the third central midfielder/split striker next year really?! que?

imagine this Reina Finnan Carra Hyppia Riise Gerrard Sissoko Alonso Barnes Dalglish Rush In their peak of course. so "just" 3 world class players. i know its not easy but it shows we now have very strong foundations. and that would be some team....

stupid enough...bill kenwright?! barcodes is my vote too though

from sporting life Rushden & Diamonds striker Lee Tomlin is to spend this week training with European champions Liverpool, his assistant manager Geoff Harrop has confirmed. The 17-year-old has been a revelation for the Nene Park side since making the step up from the youth academy to the first team squad last October. Just three of Tomlin's 18 appearances for the relegation-threatened League Two strugglers have been starts but his performances coming off the bench have been enough to catch they eye of the Barclays Premiership side. Tomlin will spend five days with the Reds at their Melwood training ground and Harrop is hopeful of a big money move for the player. "We wouldn't send him to Liverpool if we didn't think there was the possibility of a deal being struck somewhere down the line," he said. "They don't have time to have a look at Lee just for the sake of it - and neither do we. "But one thing I would say to Rafael Benitez is get ready to get your cheque book out because everyone everyone at the club from the youth development staff to (manager) Barry Hunter have spent a lot of time and effort working very hard with him over the last couple of years. "He's a goalscorer, there's no doubt about that. He's sharp in the box and he gets into the right positions, he has great awareness and this is a good opportunity for him to show that at the highest level. ps confirmed by sky Liverpool have handed a trial to Rushden & Diamonds youngster Lee Tomlin. Tomlin is highly-regarded at Nene Park and his progress has attracted the interest of European champions Liverpool. The teenager only made his debut for Rushden in October and has started just four games for the club. Tomlin is expected to link up with Liverpool next week and Rushden assistant manager Geoff Harrop revealed a deal is in place for the striker to move to Anfield if he impresses during his trial. "He'll have a lovely week at Liverpool," Harrop told his club's official website. "I'm sure he'll come back with loads of ideas how to be the next Robbie Fowler. "All I would say to Mr Benitez is 'get your cheque book out' because we certainly need the money at this club "He's a player that will score goals because he is a goalscorer there is no doubt about that. "Lee has been unlucky over the past few games but he will come good rest assured about that. "We wouldn't send him to Liverpool if there wasn't a deal on the table. I don't see any mileage of them having a look at him for the fun of it." Meanwhile, Neil McCafferty has left Rushden by mutual consent.

and i s'pose you feel the same about ian rush and joey jones

Judging by the posts, there seems, as there often is this time of the season, a fairly heady optimism that we will make a big stride forward next season. This seems to be based on (i) Rafa's re-stated commitment (ii) team really understanding Rafa's tactics now (iii) defence and midfield remaining very solid defensively (iv) attacking options improving with gonzalez, a new right mid, another striker, fabio aurelio, etc. As ever though, the fans of the other leading teams will also be pretty optimistic. Chavski will do their usual Monopoly-style plundering, with Shevchenko, Ballack and Ashley Cole the reported world class targets. United are being linked with a few other CMs, possibly another striker or wide player, and will have their new defence bedded in. They may have Scholes back. Arsenal are back in form, will be expecting more of their kids, and may also make some big buys. Personally, I feel that Arsenal's fate depends heavily on Henry. Plus, although Jockey Hansen has shown the danger of being seduced by the cliches re the kids, you would expect some of them could well find the next season tougher, when the opponents know more about them, etc. Personally, I can see the gap between these four teams and the rest of the PL widening, and I think many of us may, unfortunately, having been a little hasty in sounding Fergie's death-knell. But I see us really establishing ourselves as one of THE leading clubs, not just, as the press have generally seen us in the last few years, the 4th best team in England. Any thoughts?

will console myself with reliving the humiliation of the blue sh!te. it would have been a lot worse this week if we hadn't taken 3 points in the derby will support juve. not just cos of history between the teams but the 4th place point.

stubbs quoted in the echo as saying "I don't think it was a great game passing-wise. Liverpool just look for Crouch as quick as they can. It's just so disappointing that we didn't put them under any pressure" what a twot. as if a team with alonso, gerrard, garcia, kewell, champions of europe, just plays route 1. in any event, i thought that would be the sort of battle they like and advocate! as for the disappointment, well if you can't put us under pressure when our captain and best player is sent off after 18 mins, you might as well give up, pal! reality translation: "they were brilliant, we were sh!te. we couldn't really get the ball off them. even when we did, all we managed was one good attempt at goal in the second half from a set piece. apart from that, we were sh!te. it's disappointing because it was so obviously apparent not just to the whole of merseyside, but thanks to sky, the whole of the world. they'll be saying, school of science, my @rse! it could have been a lot worse even though liverpool were down to 10 men for so long. but what can our supporters expect with the lumps of lard (no offence to any manufacturers of the cooking ingredient) who turn out for us? anyway, if i take the p!ss out of that lanky rodney lookalike, who's always fair game even when he's made our defence look like @rseholes, maybe it will detract the attention from our clumsy and clueless thuggery. i certainly don't want it to look like we are awestruck at the gulf between the teams and how good liverpool were even without gerrard."

from sporting life SHEARER STIRS UP DIVING ROW By Matt Barlow, PA Sport Chief Football Writer Alan Shearer hit out at Shaun Wright-Phillips and accused the Chelsea winger of diving as Newcastle crashed out of the FA Cup. Wright-Phillips appeared to overreact to a challenge by Robbie Elliott which earned the Toon defender a second yellow card. It soured Shearer's final game in the FA Cup as Chelsea won the quarter final 1-0 and booked a place in the last four. Shearer said: "It was a blatant dive. There was absolutely no contact and I thought that at the time. "I have seen it again on a replay and it was definitely the case." The Newcastle skipper was booked for arguing with the decision in the last minute of normal time. Newcastle's caretaker manager Glenn Roeder was also angry with Wright-Phillips and suggested the player's father Ian Wright would also not be happy. Roeder said: "My view is crystal clear. Wright-Phillips took the ball past Robbie Elliott, who immediately turned his body sideways to let him go. "He is an experienced defender - but Wright-Phillips knows he has beaten him and he's on the ground. "He made no attempt to run past him at all. "I am disappointed with the young man - and I don't think his dad will be too pleased either. "What disappoints me most is the contrast between two incidents in the game. "Kieron Dyer was 'scissored' in the corner but he gets up straightaway and he is not looking for a foul or a booking. "Then we have the sending-off incident. They are at two ends on the spectrum of fair play. "I am sure the other manager will have his opinion - but that is mine." Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho refused to speak after the game. Roeder added: "For me you should just play the game of football. "If you are fouled, go down. If you are not fouled, don't."The incident overshadowed Shearer's exit from the FA Cup. It was his last chance to win a trophy in the colours of his home town club because he will retire at the end of the season. Roeder said: "Alan set his heart on getting into the last four but conceding an early

except that (i) his total cost including wages is very high and would restrict other squad-building (ii) there will be in rafa's eyes cheaper good alternatives (iii) his injury record this year is not good (iv) his less than sparkling all round approach work may not appeal to rafa's philosophies (v) he'd insist on heskey rejoining stevie's got unduly excited about potential signings before. he knows nothing.

apparently rick parry is cancelling lunch today as he is gnawing away on a dish of Hand of Levy

thats what i thought, hence the post. rafa is not blinded by nostalgic owen love and i strongly suspect rafa will steal see the gross owen package as too expensive.

1st choice team: Reina Finnan Carra Hyppia Riise Gerrard Momo Xabi Harry Fowler Crouch [please!] Subs Dudek, Kromkamp, Didi, Cisse, Garcia

another dubious goal v brum last night? clearly a crouch goal but on the fa's form, will they choose to "investigate" it?

woddayasay

plays like hansen, looks like warnock

so 10 years on or so, we still can't agree/decide if djimi is good/sh!te bit like rafa handing him a 4 year contract then sending him to the reserves!

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a mate of mine was told by a mate of his who plays for charlton that we have signed defoe. i dont believe any rumour that involves alleged signings outside of transfer windows, but maybe we have agreed personal terms?

in their fa youth cup semi final first leg? not heard much about it... be good if they could get through and lift the flagging spirits...

its bound to rub off on others. if you're a senior team player, and others near you are not performing, you have to concentrate on their jobs as well as your own. tbh i'm surprised by the level of pro-djimi lobbying.