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Cash is in place for new Anfield Jul 27 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo LIVERPOOL FC have assured European moneymen that cash to pay for their new stadium is in place. Club officials will not attend a key meeting today when the future of £9m of European Objective One funding earmarked for the Stanley Park scheme could be decided. But the Reds have already told the European Objective One committee that they have the resources to press ahead with the £190m, 60,000-seater stadium. The European money will not be used to pay for the ground, but for the regeneration of the deprived Anfield and Breckfield communities nearby. The Objective One committee had set a deadline of today for the club to confirm it has the privatemoney to pay forits share of the project. In theory, it could now decide to take the money away from Liverpool if it is not happy with what the club is saying. But it is far more likely that they will instead accept that progress is being made and extend the deadline to give the Reds more time to firm up their proposals. Liverpool are hopeful the funding will remain in place, although club insiders insist if the decision goes against the club, it will not spell the end of their stadium plans. Club officials acknowledge the loss of the European grant would be a significant blow, but would not derail the process of leaving the current site. Chief executive Rick Parry recently spoke of his confidence Liverpool will secure the multi-million pound investment they need to build the complex on Stanley Park. The club has been in talks with several interested parties, with at least one thought to be at an advanced stage. The overall project needs more than £18m from Europe and the government to pay for the regeneration of Stanley Park and the surrounding area. Land occupied by the current ground will be turned into Anfield Plaza, a new public square lined with homes, shops and leisure facilities. Two weeks ago, senior councillors voiced their fears that this part of the scheme could fail if Liverpool are unable to come up with their share of the stadium cash. Cllr Flo Clucas, executive member for economic development, said: "Even though European funding will not be used for the stadium itself, the stadium is seen as a vital part of the regeneration project. "If the stadium money is not forthcoming, regeneration will not take place in the way currently envisaged. "If this particular package does not come together, it will not be the public sector's fault, it will be LFC that failed to bring cash to the table."

Pennant to seal Anfield switch Jul 26 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo JERMAINE Pennant today headed to Merseyside to undergo a medical ahead of a £6m Liverpool move - and is set to make his debut this weekend. And after Rafa Benitez ends his year-long search for an elusive right winger, he'll turn his attentions to completing his major transfer business of the summer with a move for Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt. While the Liverpool squad flew to Switzerland for their pre-season camp, club doctor MarkWaller remained at Melwood to oversee Pennant's medical. The 23-year-old is likely to put pen to paper later today, allowing him to join his new team-mates before this weekend's friendly with Kaiserslautern. Pennant has already been pencilled in for a possible debut for the fixture in Liechtenstein. His arrival ends the Reds' quest for Daniel Alves for another season. Liverpool have paid well beyond their initial valuation for the midfielder, but Benitez will still have some funds available to target another striker. However, he still needs to cut several more players from his squad to generate additional cash for a realistic bid for Kuyt, who's valued around £10m by his Dutch club. One player who's clarified his future is rookie goalkeeper Scott Carson, who's been handed a new five year contract. Carson was the subject of interest from Portsmouth, and Liverpool could have cashed in on the England international. But Benitez was always reluctant to allow the youngster to leave and has now seen the keeper commit his long-term future to the club. That will open the door for Jerzy Dudek to leave Anfield. Portsmouth have also shown interest in a £1.5m move for the Polish keeper. Carson isn't the only Anfield youngster celebrating anew deal. Highly-rated teenager Paul Anderson has also been rewarded with fresh terms, having impressed since his move from Hull six months ago. * Reports in Spain today suggested Real Madrid have made an official bid of £20m for Xabi Alonso. But Benitez today reiterated there's no chance of Alonso leaving the club. "This report isn't true and we've not had a bid," said Benitez. "I've spoken to the people in Madrid and told them there is no chance of us selling Xabi. "Xabi has already said he's happy here so there's no possibility of him leaving." Florent Sinama-Pongolle has stayed at Melwood after suffering a hamstring strain, with Stephen Warnock also recovering from a minor operation.

I think Ray signed for us in the October or November of that season The season had certainly started by the time Houghton arrived

I am sure the local weather report last night said it was gonna get hotter as the week goes on with Saturday being the peak temperature

Just to complicate the issue further Alves' official site says this http://danielalves.net/ 30 JUNIO 2006. SÓLO LA FORMA DE PAGO FRENA LA VENTA DE ALVES El Liverpool ha aceptado invertir 15 millones de euros El culebrón del verano en el Sevilla no termina de aclararse. La salida de Daniel Alves camino de Liverpool parece no concretarse nunca. Cuando parecía todo hecho se enfrío hasta extremos que hacían peligrar la operación y ahora parece que las partes vuelven a acercarse. Las cantidades económicas siguen fijadas en los 15 millones de euros. En concreto, los británicos pagarían 13 y el resto sería en función de unos objetivos a marcar. El cuadro hispalense desea aumentar el fijo pero parece complicado que los Reds aumenten la cantidad. Ahora, sin embargo, el gran problema es la forma de pago. Ese punto es el que tiene paralizada la operación. El Sevilla ya tenía asimilada la marcha del brasileño pero no de cualquier forma. Por ello, en ese punto están las negociaciones. Pero parece claro que cualquier obstáculo será superado debido a la insistencia de Rafa Benítez. El técnico español sueña con tener a Alves para el puesto de interior derecho y todos los datos que maneja sobre él son magníficos. El entrenador incluso ha solicitado unos informes sobre todo el entorno del jugador y su comportamiento fuera de los terrenos de juego y éstos no han podido ser más satisfactorios. Así, además del interés por su gran juego se unen el resto de facetas de Alves. Así la operación podría cerrarse en cualquier momento. No obstante, está claro que los británicos no aumentarán la cantidad ofrecida ya que también necesitan un nuevo delantero tras la baja de Cissé y la venta de Morientes al Valencia. De momento, ayer cerraron sin coste alguno al lateral izquierdo ex valencianista Fabio Aurelio.

You've been spending too much time with Dunk again Anyway enjoy your holiday Dan

Walcott scout gets Reds role Jun 29 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo THE scout who discovered Theo Walcott has been handed a key talent finding role at Liverpool's Academy. Malcolm Elias has announced he's leaving his job as Head of Recruitment at Southampton to take on the same position for the Reds. Although Liverpool won the FA Youth Cup this season, there have been murmurings for some time about the overall standard of young players coming through the ranks in recent seasons. The appointment of Elias will build on the necessary changes Rafa Benitez has enforced at the Melwood end of the youth recruitment operation. Benitez and his backroom staff took their own steps a year ago by signing five of the teenagers who starred in the Youth Cup Final. That policy proved a success when a combination of Melwood and Kirkby youngsters lifted the trophy for the first time since 1996. Chief executive Rick Parry believes Liverpool have now appointed one of the most accomplished talent scouts in the country. He said: "Malcolm has a fantastic track record at Southampton and an extremely good reputation. We've been looking to expand our recruitment department at The Academy for some time, and this appointment is part of that. As ever, we've taken an opportunity to bring one of the best in the business to Liverpool." Southampton's youth side has been considered one of best in the country for several years. Elias' most famous signing was the teenage sensation Walcott, who he signed from Swindon for £200,000 seven years ago. Walcott later joined Arsenal for £12m. Now the Reds will be hoping Elias' talent spotting brings players of similar class to Merseyside. Meanwhile, Bolton believe they've convinced Didi Hamann to join them, after the midfielder originally had second thoughts on the signing.

Nistelrooy is dutch for horse

Malcolm Elias According to Southamptons official site http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=7098

No he stands at the back and "FIRMS" up

How can Kromkamp move? Dont transfer regulations allow only 1 transfer of registration per calender year? He moved to Villareal last summer (2005) and from Villareal to us in January (2006)

Have people forgotten the games Cisse has played upfront as a striker these 3 spring to mind immediately Luton in the FA Cup Man U at Old Trafford Portsmouth FA Cup He was sh**e in all those games Cisse's biggest problem is his application, whether hes played right wing, centre half or in goal I want someone willing to put the effort in and fight for his place For some reason Cisse appears to feel that once you get handed the shirt then you dont need to put effort in

I think we will get Xabi Prieto from Sociedad

Heres the quotes you decide "These stories are false. I keep reading in the Spanish press that we are trying to take Joaquin to England." "The agent did not come to the Chelsea game and we have never made any offer or suggested other players as part of a transfer deal." "Our position is clear. We are not interested in bringing the player to Anfield and I can only assume that people in Spain are trying to move the player out of Betis."

He never ceases to amaze me He paints Rafa as some kind of bumbling idiot stumbling along from game to game not knowing what hes doing Where the hell he gets that we are a counter attacking side I will never know, virtually every game we have the majority of possession. I can only think he looks at our defensive record and assumes we are ultra defensive so dreams up the rest

Is your friends name Duncan Oldham as he posted the exact same thing on KT last week

KT is reporting Torres is Rafa's No.1 target

You are Bill Oddy I claim my £5

I am not saying Rafa needs to do the same I am just highlighting the FACT that other clubs can and do spend more money than us I dont think Rafa needs a Chelsea or a Newcastle style budget to challenge next season but he needs more than he has been given the last 2 seasons For me the board want Rafa to continue along the same lines spending their conservative budget with a view to success in the league 3 or 4 years down the line Rafa imo wants to challenge next season and it would appear hes putting pressure on the board to stump up more cash. I personally dont believe its significantly more hes asking for but I might be wrong

Rafa has spent about £55 million gross Newcastle have bought the following players in 2005 Boumsong £8 million Babayaro £1 million Faye £2 million Emre £5 or 6 million Parker £6.5 million Owen £17 million Luque £9.5 million Solano £1.5 million And sold Jenas £9 million and Andy O'Brian for £2 million Thats a nett spend of £40 million it quite literally blows away the budget Rafa has had in the same period

This whole scenario has shades of Rafas last season at Valencia Lots of rumours about him leaving, him asking for backing from the board both in terms of transfer budget and new contract The Valencia board asked for patience and said they would review the situation When it became clear that Rafa wasnt staying the Valencia board panicked and offerred him everything he wanted... but it was too little too late Now our board find themselves in the same situation Its a case of backing their man or not If Rafa leaves due to the board not giving him the financial backing required what kind of message does that send out to potential managers and players wanting to come to Liverpool? Secondly it should not be underestimated what Rafa has achieved on a pittance from the board (about £14 million NETT spend each season) Newcastle and Spurs have spent way more cash than this and look at them A top class manager is worth his weight in gold and thats what Rafa is. With other teams having greater spending power you have to rely on the brains of your manager to get results Losing Rafa would have a detrimental affect on us imo in fact I would go so far as saying we would probbly end up out of the top 4

Take Cisse out of the equation and it comes to gross spending of £54 million In addition to this hes sold Owen £8 million Baros £6.5 million Murphy £3 million Diouf £3 million Diarra £2-3 million Nunez £2 million ish His nett spending is in the regio of £14-15 million per year Thats not a huge amount of money in fact it could be argued that Everton have spent almost this amount or maybe more NETT this season

In his weekly column for LFC Magazine hes gone on to talk about tomorrow?s AGM and David Moores. After praising him and saying he should be proud after the European Cup success hes made a rather strange comment ??Whatever is announced this Thursday it?s important to remember David?s achievements at this football club and the stability he has brought in the boardroom

Just finished reading alan Kennedys book and he said Liverpool never man marked off corners but marked space or zones