beejay

It's not long since the financial gurus on here were saying Hicks & Gillett would never manage the refinancing of their original loans. Hicks is fighting his corner and is a powerful man, used to winning boardroom battles. A dangerous adversary, he doesn't care 2 hoots about the wreckage he is causing or his unpopularity. I'm convinced this will end up in a the courts, and that could spell the end for Rafa with an impasse ruining his summer transfer plans.

We keep hearing that Hicks is playing games, waiting for the best offer, under pressure from the banks etc etc but that's not necessarily true. He has bought & sold plenty of companies but has kept his sporting interests long-term. There is every chance he intends to be around for the long haul because (like DIC) he thinks there is still plenty of value to be added to the club. The big question still is what will happen to Gillett's 50%? Everything I have seen suggests that this will end up in the Courts because Hicks is relying on his veto while GG & DIC have agreed terms and are trying to get round the veto. All the mudslinging may be the 2 parties trying to publically show how unreasonable the other is ie the reference to arbitration etc. The end-of-May deadline widely quoted last week could be when GG/DIC try to force through their deal leaving Hicks to instigate proceedings. Could run all summer...

Rafa will be monitoring the Everton-Chelsea game on Thursday very closely. If Everton lose, I think he will gamble & rest a few for Fulham. If they win I don't think he will take any chances.

If you want an example of a one-eyed mancluvin geriatric revisionist spouting utter sh*te dressed up as journalism try this http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/col...icle3736285.ece Another clown dismissing Rafa's genius as luck.

51 goals now shared between Gerrard & Torres, absolutely amazing. I remember when Fowler & Collymore racked up 55 goals in a season and never thought we'd see the like again. G&T are on course to beat that stat, simply stunning stuff.

He got MOM in the Telegraph today. He is a bit lightweight and slow in possession at times given the frantic tempo & physicality of our League but I like him a lot. He keeps possession and is always showing for the ball, he moves the ball around with one touch passes and does put his foot in. He has seemed to lack stamina fading in the 2nd half but not yesterday, he got better & better. He's just 21 and is a terrific prospect IMO, dare I say it Ronnie Whelanesque in his style.

The noise was incessant but naturally enough you take a breather when it gets tense. The wall of noise at the beginning seemed to affect our players more than Arsenal, strangely enough. We were the ones who froze, misplacing passes in our own half all over the place. When I watched the TV coverage they were w*nking all over Arsenal's play but I thought at the game they let us off the hook in the 1st 25 mins, we were so bad and gave them the ball in our own half so many times but they really didn't punish us. The Hyypia goal came just at the right time as we were trying to get a foothold back into the match and the crowd responded. Thereafter, we were winning every 50:50 and in a spell right on half-time we chased them down all over the park and the whole ground rose to applaud the effort as they went off for half time. 2nd half, attacking the Kop we were again pressing really well putting them off their stride and they tired pretty badly. The decibels went up again as we could sense Arsenal's heads were dropping but just as they seemed to have weathered our storm, Torres scored his usual beauty in front of the Kop and the roof blew off. We have some f*ckin boss songs nowadays and the repertoire is pretty extensive when you include some of the oldies but the stand-outs are the Torres bouncing song and the longer Mascherano version. It's so loud me ears are still ringing. The Arsenal equaliser came out of the blue when I honestly thought they were shot but it was individual brilliance on the break. The crowd hardly had time to react before the penalty then bedlam after Stevie calmly slotted home. Babel put the icing on the cake - what an athlete he is - and the singing never stopped through YNWA (shockingly sung out of key, the Kop had gone hoarse) even as we were out the ground the "Fernando Torres Liverpool's No 9" reverborated along the side streets. What a night, 2nd best game I've ever been to after Istanbul and in terms of tension, volume of sound & drama up there with the Chelsea 1st semi.

It's a shame for Crouch because he played well enough and deserved his place after Saturday's performance, but we have to stick with the formation that works for us and it was no coincidence that we started off the game misfiring all over the pitch with Gerrard on the left, Torres having to move out wide and no Babel as an out ball. Crouch should be asking a few questions of himself and f*ck his agent off. Does he really want to be top dog at Portsmouth, winning f*ck all or does he want some more glory nights playing at the top level? If the latter, he should accept being a reliable & important member of the squad, work at being the striker Rafa goes to when he rests Torres and enjoy making a big impact off the bench. One of Rafa's mistakes earlier in the season was picking Voronin & Kuyt together in some games when it's clear that neither can lead the line. But if PC really challenged himself, especially over his movement & runs off the ball, he can fit in to the current formation and become an effective alternative to Torres when, over the course of a long season, the great man has to sit out a few games. Crouchie should get his head together, think about what he is giving up, sign a new contract and work his b****x off to prove himself. Ain't gonna happen though

The real debate should be about why the f*ck Toure brought him down in the box 30 secs after they had scored what looked like the winning goal. Arsenal blew it, their players lack discipline & heart when it really matters. We showed more bottle, dug in when the game (both legs) was slipping away from us, rode our luck at times, but came up with an answer to every question their so-called pretty football asked of us. We deserved to win over the 2 legs. 5 cracking goals & as our captain said, a terrific team performance.

I was sat, sorry, stood next to 2 spanish lasses in the kop. They loved it, sang along to all the songs, celebrated the goals manically, bounced etc. Then there was the dutch lads giving away Dirk Bags outside the ground, well funny.

Wenger will not make the same mistake as the 1st leg. He will play Eboue right back with Toure partnering Gallas and Walcott on the right. We will go for it in the first 20 mins, they will play on the break. The longer the game goes on with us holding the advantage, the more the roles will reverse and we will play on the break. This could be one of those games where Gerrard plays in several different positions. He will start in his new role off Torres, but will move back if we are defending a lead late on. Rafa's tactics will be to get a goal up, drop back then finish them off with a 2nd on the counter. If not it will be equally as tense as the 2 Chelsea semis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...ufnhicks108.xml Think this could be true - legal battle looming

100% right. When given the chance this season he has strolled through games, little effort, just couldn't be *rsed. He was very good 1st half, less so 2nd but he is definitely on his way. We need a shake-up in the striker department this summer - only Torres is good enough with Kuyt decent back-up in his current position.

Bit harsh on Kaiser - he makes the odd decent point

I think that he is progressing pretty well. The only thing that frustrates me about him is that he lacks conviction. He had Toure on the outside last night and only a last ditch tackle stopped him, why didnt he try it again? He has a jack-hammer of a shot but rarely uses it, and when he chasing for balls or tackling he loses belief that he can win it. I kinda want him to get angry during a game so that it produces some kind of reaction out of him when he's drifting out of games. I wouldnt take him out the team because he is one of very few players in our squad that can stand someone up and beat his man, he is direct and runs with the ball, he also offers goal threat something that very few of our other midfielders are offering, so much so we are playing a striker (Kuyt) on the other wing. I have belief that more experience in these sorts of situations, such as last night will make him a better player.

Anny road's old mate goes a bit further http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...oken=-942712510 David Bentley drives for the highest honours Ball in his court: Bentley is determined to move on from his first senior appearances for England and secure a place at the 2010 World Cup finals Alyson Rudd It probably has something to do with his bone structure, but David Bentley looks ambitious. He sounds it, too. He became a controversial figure, jeered by England supporters, after he snubbed a call-up to the under-21 team. And now Bentley, having — correctly — decided that he did not need to prove himself at under-21 level, has criticised England’s “half-hearted” friendly last week against France for failing to provide a platform on which he could impress. Bentley was always going to be a bit-part player in Fabio Capello’s second match in charge of the national team once the England manager decided that David Beckham would win his 100th cap. But the Blackburn Rovers winger does not believe that the match should have been played so close to the climax of the season. “It was a strange game,” Bentley said. “It wasn’t very enjoyable. It wasn’t the best of games watching from the bench. I think it was a difficult situation. A lot of the lads are preparing themselves for the Premier League and the Champions League, so it can be difficult to play a game like that for both sides. It was a halfhearted, 50 per cent effort. Everyone wants to play well for England, but sometimes it just happens like that.” Did he suspect, as he waited on the bench, that it would be a tricky match in which to make a difference? “I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll try to make an impact.’ I wanted to, but sometimes you are limited because it’s a team game and sometimes it doesn’t work out.” In other words, with most players saving themselves for Champions League glory, there was little chance that Bentley would have an opportunity to shine. Was there added pressure in being the one to replace Beckham in Paris? “No, not really,” he said. “I’ve just got to take time to develop. I’m in the early stages of my England career. I’m going to have to work hard; it’s up to me to take the position. If I perform, then I believe I can take it.” Bentley said that he was “buzzing” when he was awarded his international debut against Israel at Wembley Stadium last September, but the match marked the start of him being regarded by some sections of the England support as worthy of boos because Stuart Pearce, manager of the under-21 team, questioned his commitment. And it may be the turn of Blackburn fans to feel angry. With Liverpool placing the former Arsenal player at the top of their summer wish list and Rovers struggling to secure a Uefa Cup place, Bentley is stalling on signing an extension to his three-year contract. “It’s a big decision,” he said. “I want to play European football, I want to play at the top of my game. I want to go to the World Cup in two years’ time and I want to be starting — so sometimes you have to make strong decisions.” Is it fair to conclude that if Blackburn are not playing in Europe next season, Bentley is more likely to sign for a club, such as Liverpool, who are competing there? “I won’t answer that; I’ll leave it up to you to decide,” he said. And, meeting his gaze as he said this, a sharp spark of ruthlessness would suggest that he will soon be on the move. “We’re just trying to give him more money,” Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, said. “We’re trying to acknowledge that he’s had an exceptional season.” Have your say The lad from yorkshire is right - Bentley should be on the right wing for england and is more than good enough to do it. Did you see the game he started when he put Rooney & co through with perfect passing at least 3 times?? Or did you forget that game. Beckham should retire and Lennon & Shaun Wright Phillips have no end product. Bentley is your answer and he will also be staying at ewood. Hughesy, Bolton, Greater Manchester "Is it fair to conclude that if Blackburn are not playing in Europe next season, Bentley is more likely to sign for a club, such as Liverpool" Is that the same Liverpool that you support Alyson? Wishful thinking! Not only does he not fit into the Liverpool style of play, but I doubt he would enjoy rafas rotation policy. I think he would be much better suited to either Spurs or Chelsea. But if he was to leave, I'd prefer it if he went abroad. Joseph, Leeds, West Yorkshire This man is so annoying, i think he is a good player and believe he can do a great job with England, and even though i really hated what he did to the under 21s all i want is the best players on the pitch for England. BUT can he not keep his mouth shut, how disrespectful to blackburn to cleary insinuate that if blackburn fail to achieve european football he is going to leave. he has no loyalty but to himself, which i am sure all players do to a degree but i feel he has this bad quality to such a degree he will never be the great team player england need him to be. and he tried the big club thing with arsenal and look what happened there, surelyr afalearnt with wenger reject pennant and i have a feeling bentley woudl not enjoy rotation unless rafa can find a way to play his ego one week and his body the next,lol David, Melbourne, Bentley is rapidly become a most overrated player. I don't understand why some press hype about him. He is nothing special, and not good enough to replace Beckham at all. stop to publish those kind of hype news about him. we are get sick of it. alan, London, uk Anyone who has watched a lot of David Bentley this season would know that he is more than capable of being Englands first choice right winger. The only people who doubt his ability are people who catch the big four play on match of the day, and then change the channel. Perhaps people should be focusing more on Wes Browns shambles of a performance, than being critical of a player who hasn't been given a decent chance to prove himself. Joseph , Leeds, West Yorkshire Bentley talks way too much, he has publicly said he will beat Beckham to the position. Why doesn't he just do his talking on the field - I for one have not forgiven him for pulling out of the England U21's last summer, too late for someone else to take his place - and we talk about respect. I seem to remember Mark Hughes 'backed' his player then too. I am with Andrew, Hughes is a clown! Graeme, Huntingdon, UK Mark Hughes is a clown! Why does every manager insist their players are the ones to flourish at international level? Lets me guess, Brian Laws of Sheff Wed probably reckons Wade Small is the man to surpass Frank Ribery! Yeh, good one Hughes you clown! Andrew , Godalming, UK

That's funny as f*ck. Parry & Moores scratching around for tickets? After all 12 in our party failed in the ballot for Athens my heart bleeds for the pair of them. They made the most disastrous decision in the history of this club, made a fortune out of it then find they are marginalised by the 2 shysters they sold the family silver. It's also yet another example of the arrogance of the yanks and the tragi-comic situation we are in, with the 2 owners sitting apart. You couldn't make it up, they have made us a laughing stock with most observers citing us as the worst example of all that is wrong with foreign ownership. The word is that neither of them will do anything about a sale while there is still a chance of the club winning the European Cup so we have to put up with the spectacle of them turning up for our away matches cos they would get lynched at Anfield

Kuyt did a job for us yesterday. Lescott caused us huge problems at Goodison but Kuyt tracked every forward move he made and one of Everton's main outlets was snuffed out. That's why he is in the team instead of Pennant & Benayoun who are more traditional wide players. He is tactically a manager's delight and his workrate makes him a good foil for the team, he links up well with defence & attack. Unfortunately, his finishing this season has been truly awful. At times last year he was putting away half chances and was a constant threat in the box. This season he has been pap in front of goal. I keep waiting to see him recover his goal touch and maybe we will find he does it for us over the next few weeks. But he will have to improve his strike rate massively if he is to be a regular next season.

-----------------------------------Lehmann------------------------------ G Neville------------------R Ferdinand------A Ferdinand------A Cole Eboue------------------Cahill------------Savage------------Hunt -----------------Diouf----------------------Rooney----------------

A draw keeps us 1 clear game against Everton going into the derby and damages their title hopes. I will take that now.

The guy who told me about Barry has a good source at Villa. He also said cryptically that there could be plenty of transfer activity between the 2 sides in the summer with as many as 4 players changing clubs. The strongest link though was Barry, he wouldn't be more specific about the others

Villa fan I know says Gareth Barry is lined up to come to us. Can only think that would be if/when Xabi leaves.

I know he scored a hat trick over the wekend but thats about it

Harry still thinks he can do it http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...8-23215,00.html

echo as well http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html