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Rafael Benitez fears losing players By Graham Chase Last Updated: 12:02am GMT 23/11/2007 Rafael Benitez insisted he never enjoyed mind games with Jose Mourinho but he used his press conference yesterday to send a pointed message to Liverpool's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and cast major doubt over his future. Hicks and Gillett are not prepared to discuss transfer targets until they meet Benitez next month and the Spaniard is clearly deeply unhappy at being told he cannot immediately tie up Javier Mascherano, who is being targeted by Barcelona, on a permanent basis for a £17 million fee that he has negotiated. He is also worried that dithering could enable Manchester United or Real Madrid to beat him to the signing of Racing Santander's Argentine defender, Ezequiel Garay. He believes that waiting could cost him both players and having volunteered that he would one day like to manage England, he refused to speak expansively on numerous topics yesterday, insisting that he was "focused on training and coaching". That mantra, repeated 15 times in a nine-minute briefing with newspaper journalists, was a clear indication of his anger at what he perceives to be a crucial issue not being viewed as a top priority by the club's owners, who he thinks have told him just to get on with his job rather than complete key transfers. Just two days after being linked with German club Bayern Munich caused him to speak about his long-term plans for Liverpool, his desire to win the league and his contentment at life on Merseyside, Benitez shrugged when he was asked if he stood by those statements and refused to deny that his future was in the balance. Routine questions about tomorrow's opposition, Newcastle, and the issue with the Americans were met time and again with: "I am focused on training and coaching." It is not the first time Benitez's friction with "the Americans" has come to the surface. In the wake of Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League final in May, Benitez attacked the club's hierarchy over what he believed was a lack of funds and chief executive Rick Parry's sluggishness in the transfer market. Hicks and Gillett backed their manager in the summer by spending in excess of £50 million on new players. Despite that, Liverpool look no closer to mounting a serious challenge for the title. Hicks and Gillett released a statement last night, which read: "We made a significant investment in the playing squad during the summer and desperately want this team to succeed. There are some very important games coming up and all of us need to focus on winning those games and getting the best out of the players we already have. "We will leave any talk of buying or selling players until we come across to Liverpool in December and sit down with the manager then." I recall similar soundings earlier this year, just around July/ August. Rafa is clearly distancing himself from the international performances (listen to the full interviews). Nothing ot see here. Move along.

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Offside. No question. However, if the free kick had gone straight in, it would have been a goal. Similarly, if the ball came back off the keeper and to a player who was in an onside position when the kick was taken, it would have been a goal.

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I've got cars big as bars I've got rivers of gold But the Reds play right through you It's no place for Joe Cole When you first took the charge In the Premier League You promised me glory was waiting for me We're boring We're s***ty Joke of London city When the team finished playing They howled out 'No more!' The Shed End is minging The fans they're not singing We won't get good goals here If we play evermore And the boys of the CFC Choir Are singing 'Blue's the day' And the boos are ringing out For you Jose You're a dud You're a punk You've signed all that junk Shevchenko is injured and Ballack's in bed You tightfisted maggot You cheap Russian ****** By Christmas the league Or you're out on your a*** I could have signed someone Well, so could anyone You took my cash from me When I first hired you I spent it wisely babe I never bought Keown Can't make it all alone I've built my team around you

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Cardiff City's main financial backers have initiated legal proceedings against the club over claims they have not repaid more than £30m in debts. Law firm Hextalls LLP, acting on behalf of Cardiff backers Langston, have accused the club's board of mismanaging their finances. Cardiff are also accused of misleading the public about the health of their accounts for the year ending May 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/6946893.stm Couldn't have happened to a nicer club....

Because Trevor Brooking never played for Leeds. Duh!

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From: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/25...rt_30042332.php So let me get this right. Sukha... might play up front with..... Dickov.....

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I have read elsewhere that the tribunal has found 2-1 in favour of Sheffield United. The PL have asked for an adjournment while they decide what to do. I have heard = rumour. No solid facts or links. You heard it here first, though.....

From BBC: 2107: This is the best Manchester United have had it tonight... but there is still no way through. It is like an adult holding a kid at arm's length with the child swinging wildly.

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Fair dos: http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=30490

Quoted after the cup final: Anyone care to hazard a guess as to why he's known as Trigger in the dressing room?

They can't. It's as simple as that. The new stadium is going on Public Open Space. The law says that when such permission is granted, and equal amount of open space must be provided elsewhere. The land on which the current stadium sits will be put over to the public for open space, as a garden or whatever. There is no way around this. The council would never be allowed to grant permission to develop on the site unless there was other development elsewhere that could be given over. AFAIK, DIC don't own land elsewhere in the city.

Tim, Is it not the case that the interest payments can be offest against corporation tax?

Barcelona v Liverpool