Kindred

2-3 months wasn't it.

Wasn't Simon Jordan pursuing Dowie 'leaving' of Palace through legal means - it might have something to do with that. 5live rumour that Hoddle is lined up to take over.

That would be here then... He may be uncertain where Steven Gerrard belongs, but Rafael Benitez is so insistent he's at home with Liverpool he turned down the chance of returning to Spain as manager of Real Madrid. Benitez's revelation comes in the wake of reports linking him with yet another migration, this time to Italy. His agent suggested he might be interested in Serie A and the story rolled across Europe. Benitez endeavoured to pull the plug on that one and prove his long-term commitment to Merseyside by declaring he and his family would shortly be moving to a new house in the area. advertisement "The agent has to do his job but the manager decides," Benitez said. "I assure you I am happy here. I'm not talking or looking to another team. "A top club was talking to us and we said 'No'. We have a contract. We want to stay here." Pressed to confirm that the club in question was Real Madrid, he replied: "Yes, you know which one. There's no thought about leaving. We're moving to a new home, on the other side of Merseyside, and it would be a big problem if I told my wife I was going!" That will be comforting news for Benitez's extended family at Anfield. The team's resurgence in recent matches has helped reconcile the manager with any dissenting factions and they go to Arsenal today seemingly as one.

kerching! I thought the other interesting point Balague made was that he felt something of a clearout may occur in the summer, which I wasn't expecting. One or two bigish names I could maybe see, but I hadn't expected any major clearout.

Pray tell your goss!

Hither Quite interesting interview without being earth shattering Amongst other things mentioned.... Q. What do you think it will take for Liverpool to challenge for the Premiership title in the near future? And has Rafa heaped the pressure on himself by winning the Champions League in his first season with the club? A. Winning the Champions League has won him time more than added pressure. After that (and consider the lineup he had on that day), he has had time to build a side that combined style and power. But money has been an issue and the job is still half done. I predict a big clearout next summer while he finds the right combination. Internally, this was the year they thought they would fight for the title, but I still think Liverpool will be closer to the top than last year Q. Are they missing a player like Michael Owen? Why do you think Rafa declined the chance to re-sign him? A. All is revealed in the update of the book! But a clue - Owen was badly advised and he cried when he realized he couldn't go to Liverpool.

FT

According to 5live some 'liverpool' fans are giving Bellamby a bit of stick

Dudek saves from Jerome. Thats what 5live said.

Kuyts on the way shortly. On now for Fowler. Dudeks now captain!

Pen for us! Bellamy fires straight at Taylor!

Before the White problem arose, the main item on the board meeting agenda was discussion of the take-over of the club. This has been a much longer-running saga, having gone on for two years, involving half-a-dozen potential bidders ranging from a former Thai Prime Minister to Steve Morgan, the founder of the Redrow house building firm. White was keen on the Morgan bid and would have liked David Moores, the chairman, to do a deal with him, but was not able to persuade him to do so. Although five bidders are in the ring, only two are considered serious ? Dubai Holdings and George Gillett Jnr, the American owner of the Montreal Canadiens National Hockey League team and a former owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, the famous basketball team. Dubai have returned to the fray having walked off after an initial interest two years ago. Last week Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, was in Dubai and, though the reason given for his visit was that it was half-term and he was having a family holiday, I am told there was contact with Muhammad Gergaui, the man who runs Dubai Holdings and also the office of the ruler of Dubai, Dubai Holdings being effectively a state-owned company. One of the issues for discussion would have been the degree of control Dubai want, whether they would want to buy the whole club or let Moores continue as chairman with a smaller shareholding and with the present management team, led by Parry, remaining in place. I am told Gillett would want to buy the whole club, lock, stock and barrel. I understand the bidders have been given limited due diligence but not the exclusive, extensive look at the books, in particular the contracts of players and the manager, that they would want before committing themselves to buying the club. So far the sticking point has been the price. Moores, who owns 51 per cent, wants £6,000 a share but I am told neither bidder would want to pay more than £4,000 a share. At £6,000 a share, the share value of Liverpool alone would be £210 million, 3½ times what Aston Villa were recently sold for. Should he sell his entire holding Moores could make a profit of £97 million, not far short of the money Martin Edwards made from his share sales at Manchester United. But in addition to this, Liverpool have debts of around £80 million. Add to this the money necessary for investment in the team, as well as the £200 million the club need for their new stadium, and it can be expected that any one taking them over would be looking to fund around £500 million. This would mean Liverpool's total value is 10 times what Everton are worth, and even given the fact that their playing record is far superior and that they won the Champions League two years ago, the feeling among City experts is that is far too steep a price. Hither

Not that it helps you but e-seasons working for me. I take it you tried that link below the audio link for help, cos that usually comes up with a couple of direct links for WMP & RP.

Fabs out with a knock according to rafa.

Me too and its certainly a little different to his usual prematch press conferences. There a definate steely determination there and I think hes cetainly had something to get off his chest and theres maybe a message to the players in there as well as the fans and media. When asked about whether he felt the current form was becoming a mental problem, he replied that there was no point in that. The ONLY way to change anything and win the next game was to make damn sure you work harder with a positive attitude towards changing things for the better. Its something you often see reported as him saying but when you hear him saying it like he did its somehow more inspirational than it always sounds.

Utd score - scholes

Kuyt free header at Van der Sar after good play from Gonzales

sissoko booked

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IIRC there were rumours that he wanted to play in Europe but in the end we were the only club to make a proper attempt to sign him, which is what I always found surprising.

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I'm not sure if what we'll end up with is a Liverpool 'Valencia'. I think Rafa is having to adapt his style of play to English football. I think we will probably see more faster fluid counter attacks rather than a more smothering relentless passing game which Valencia were more known for, which is already showing signs of coming to fruition - more so when the players understand each others games better. I think the passing game will still form the basis of his style but I think he accepts that English opposition will inevitably have some possession of the ball due to the pace of the game here and I think its here where his 'machine' style will be more evident - in the defensive side. I think this what marks Rafa out as one of the 'better' managers, as all managers have a style of play but he is able to adapt his to differing players and league styles and get his players to understand it!

>>>>>>>>> (LONG ARTICLE - a little speculative but it is from the Daily Post and Morgans head rears again)

Right at the end of the clip with everyone singing his praises, rightly so, Kenny comes on being interviewed about him.... Kenny: (completely dead pan) ...crap,...don't know how he got a game! Interviewer: seriously though..? Kenny: seriously!