liverbird04

in giving micheal owen soviet style credit for well everything he also in the same breath dismisses the perception that some fans have of owen's departure as baseless rubbish ,and puts down peter crouch which was totally unnecessary and benitez ,he lost to birmingham don't you know! so for the rest of the season I am sure what we have to look forward to from "the times" in particular is more liverpool bashing for daring to insult their star columnist in owen ,every lost will I am sure be trumpeted as a reason why we should sign owen the saviour to all our problems and why peter crouch is s*** and why benitez isn't what he's cracked up to be .Oh well .

sorry to go on but "Well, when Gerrard turned the game around after half-time, he was the angel on his shoulder, the one that had brought him to the place" what the f***? I almost expect someone to start singing "wind beneath my wings" ....

why give owen all the credit for everything the club has done in recent years ? why not houllier for leaving liverpool with hamman who was so crucial in the final? ,what about giving our defence credit? becos if they didn't keep out goals ,it wouldn't have mattered how many owen scored at the other end . The piece reads like a piece of absolute ridiculous propaganda on micheal owen's behalf and thats becos it is.

its the most strange article I have read for a while ,mind you I say that all the time and am constantly surprised ,everything we done in recent years is all becos of owen ,what a unique slant on a clubs recent history. breathtaking really. actually I shouldn't be shocked this is the times newspaper and owen writes for the times so its no surprise they have come out fighting his corner so strongly .

Scouse wits fail to realise life would be a lot less wonderful without Owen By Martin Samuel THAT famous Scouse sense of humour clearly does not find room for irony. ?Where were you in Istanbul?? the Kop asked of Michael Owen on Boxing Day. Don?t they get it? He was there all right. He was there because they were there, and because they could not have been there without him. He was there because in the seven years he played for the club, his 158 goals helped to bring three domestic cups, one leading European trophy, five top-four finishes and two Champions League campaigns, therefore ensuring Liverpool maintained their reputation as a football club of significance. Who dragged Liverpool to Istanbul? Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benítez: men who would not have been anywhere near the club in May 2005 were it not for Owen?s contribution between 1997 and 2004. Owen?s legacy is that in the latter half of the 15 years spanning their last League Championship win and this year?s Champions League triumph, he prevented his club from becoming a museum exhibit. In the seven years preceding Owen?s emergence, Liverpool managed two finishes in the top three. They were one of a number (a third of the top-three finishers in the past 15 seasons are not even in the Premiership now ? see bottom of page to find out who they are): a great club trading on a proud tradition, with fine individual players but little substance. In that period Liverpool won two trophies, the 1992 FA Cup and 1995 League Cup, neither against Premier League opposition. Then Owen arrived; and while it is true that Liverpool?s final ascent to the summit occurred in his absence, what was cruelly forgotten is that without him, the club would still be at base camp tapping up Sherpas. What the churlish souls booing and taunting Owen at Anfield required was not just history revision, but a revelation of the kind the George Bailey character receives in Frank Capra?s ultimate Christmas film, It?s a Wonderful Life. On the brink of suicide, Bailey is visited by a novice angel, Clarence, and shown what life would have been like for his loved ones had he never been born. Those now rounding with a smug vindictiveness on Owen perhaps need a visitation to remind them of what last year would have brought forth at Anfield had a certain teenager signed for, say, Everton in 1996 instead. ?Strange, isn?t it,? George Bailey discovers. ?Each man?s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn?t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn?t he?? Liverpool?s crowing thousands dare not contemplate the despair of an Owen-less existence. Start with the best player. Does anybody seriously believe Gerrard would still be at Liverpool were it not for his friend who scored at the rate of two goals every three games? Take Owen out of the equation, with the resulting descent into mid-table mediocrity, and he would have been gone long before Roman Abramovich came calling, perhaps to Manchester United. Gerrard may now say he would never move to Old Trafford, but that is a far easier call to make when the difference is one or two league places. Throughout the time when Gerrard was in demand, it was Owen?s cutting edge that maintained Liverpool?s presence near the top of the table and, in turn, Gerrard?s happiness. This tied him to the club by making a move to a more powerful rival less attractive. Had Liverpool been looking up at United from somewhere near Middlesbrough, as they would surely have been without Owen, Sir Alex Ferguson might have secured the natural successor to Roy Keane long ago. Impossible? Consider this. When Leeds United were flying high and in the Champions League, Alan Smith also boldly stated his hatred for all things Mancunian red, before relegation swiftly cured his aversion. Liverpool minus Owen may not have fallen that far, but a player of Gerrard?s talent and ambition could not have trod water for more than two or three seasons. So, where was Owen in Istanbul? Well, when Gerrard turned the game around after half-time, he was the angel on his shoulder, the one that had brought him to the place. No Michael, no Stevie G. No Stevie G, no trophy. In fact, no Stevie G, no Istanbul, considering his 86th-minute goal against Olympiacos was all that hauled Liverpool through the group stage. In fact, would Gerrard even have been around for the treble cup win in 2001 considering he was an established international by that time? No matter. Without Owen, there would have been no treble. How good is his record (158 goals in 267 starts in European and domestic matches)? Put it like this: in equivalent competitions, Peter Crouch has been credited with two in 19 starts. At that rate, if he was to play 60 games a season, it would take him 25 years to amass as many, sometime during the 2030-31 season, aged 50. Owen did it in seven seasons, shortly after his 24th birthday. The other hero of Istanbul? Rafa the gaffer. The coach who guided a team that lost to Birmingham City home and away through terrain that included a stretch of matches against Juventus, Chelsea and AC Milan. He came to Liverpool from Valencia, the reigning Spanish champions. Would that switch have happened if all Rick Parry, the chief executive, had to clinch the deal was a scrapbook of photographs from the Seventies and Eighties? The Liverpool name will always conjure special memories in men of a certain age, but so does Nottingham Forest and a top coach does not quit his job to be impressed by fading pictures of a dead legend and his team, parading a trophy in flares. He notes potential and possibilities. The only reason Liverpool possessed either in 2004 was because Owen?s goals had helped to keep Liverpool among Europe?s leading players, with strong individual squad members and experience in top competitions. Benítez did not join because of what Liverpool were in the days of Shankly and Paisley, but for what they could be after seven years kept buoyant by one of the world?s greatest goalscorers. So no Owen, no Rafa. And no Rafa, no Istanbul, because however freakish or fortuitous events on the night, Benítez?s greatest achievement was taking his team there. And he would not have been around to do it had Owen not made Liverpool viable. As usual, the airwaves have been full of justification these past 24 hours. Owen messed the club around over his contract, Owen got the best deal he could by going to Real Madrid, Owen always cared more about England, Owen snubbed Liverpool for Newcastle United, Owen was disloyal. Baseless rubbish, all of it. it continues...... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8305-1961030,00.html

we tried scrapping with everton at goodison last year and lost ,okay we had diao but I just don't like the idea of having to descend to their level ,they will want a scrappy ,disjointed game so they can have half a chance against us ,footballing wise we have the ability to t*** them and I would rather see us sticking with so called "lightweight" players rather than changing much . But I expect benitez will make a few changes and will more than likely get it spot on as he usually does and thats why he's manager and er I'm not .

In for a week, Out for 10 years, In for a week, Out for 10 years, In for a week, Out for 10 years, Everton in Europe!

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the most interesting thing parry said was to the echo "The Reds chief is remaining tight-lipped on the club's next moves off the pitch, although somewhat tantalisingly he did hint at imminent progress by adding: "I'm expecting a busy Christmas, one way or the other"

sounds like he's cracking up to me.

he also said he didnt' come to england specifically for chelsea he came becos he liked english football and then he said chelsea weren't the first team to come in for him but linekar cut in before he said anything else.

I occasionally browse on bluekipper (don't hold it against me),I don't post I just joined when they went into europe so I could chuckle at their despair . but surely the funniest thread ever has got to be awarded to teven-p Ian Snodin Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 294 Location: edinburgh Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject: Song to sing to livers**** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign On Sign Oooon With a pen In your hand Cos you'll neeeveeerrr get Aaaa job You'll neeeveeerrr get A job Sign On Sign Ooon well the comments that got were just class ,went something like this . "t** thats what away fans sing to us scousers in general it just doesnt get sung to liverpool" "Original" "Ar$eface" the fella then tells them he's sorry they continue anyway "you stupid f***ing príck" "lets also sing at them "you scouse b******s" and "you stole my stereo" and "sing when you're thieving" and "feed the scousers" and for an encore we can do "in your liverpool slums" "you forgot to 'build a bonfire' the fella in question then tries to retrieve the situation with "**k OFF THE LOT OF YA A WAS ONLY HAVEING A LAUGH I NEVER KNEW THAT AND IF I DID I WOULD NOT HAVE POSTED THIS AND THERES NO NEED TO BE RACIST WERE I LIVE IS THERE YOU DONT SEE ME SLAGGING YOU WERE YOU LIVE AND AM SORRY FOR POSTING IT" someone else says "Have you never heard that song while watching Everton or the s**** on the box?" the fella in question [b "No mate and if i did i woud not have put this topic on i have scouse in me and i am proud of it no way in hell i would put this on if i knew away fans sing it to us and sing it to the s****" I have scouse in me ,deary me ,well er I thought it was funny anyway

There's no doubt Rafa Benitez is a very clever coach - and I'm not just saying that because he's baffled me - but I don't know anyone who can really say what he ultimately wants from this side. At this moment in time I don't know what Liverpool's principle is. Now that Peter Crouch has got his goal, what do they do? What is the aim? Do they go out and build on the confidence of a run of wins and really attack Boro, or do they go out there with not being beaten as the priority? I think right now, it is still the latter. I know have made a lot of Djibril Cisse being on his way in January and although it might be down to individuals, I think it is indicative of Liverpool right now. If - and when - Cisse goes, it leaves Crouch, Fernando Morientes and Florent Sinama-Pongolle as the attacking options." I refuse to let my blood pressure build up ,its just f***ing stupid .

you forgot the bit about crouch to score against real betis crouch scores against manchester united crouch scores against chelsea crouch becomes liverpool legend.

"Xabi Alonso is tipped to join Steven Gerrard and Momo Sissoko in a five man midfield behind Peter Crouch, who will want to impress the watching Sven Goran Eriksson. Josemi could also be in line for a surprise recall, allowing Steve Finnan to push into midfield" this was from chris basecombe in the echo ,weird very weird. will garcia play ,will he play on the left ?will warnock play ? raffa always springs a surprise or two ,can never predict him thats for sure.

doesn't owen write for the times? ,thought they might have a bit more insight than your average newspaper ,but we will only see that in time I suppose.

"Liverpool could be the busiest club in Europe over the next 72 hours. Rick Parry, the chief executive, has been attempting to sign a centre half and a right winger as well as finding a buyer for Djibril Cissé. A bid for Owen is not thought to be conditional on Cissé leaving, possibly on loan, but Rafael Benítez, the manager, will want to balance his squad. He already has Peter Crouch, Fernando Morientes and Florent Sinama Pongolle as attacking options." that looked the most important paragraph to me in the times newspaper .a bid for owen not conditional on cisse going ,if thats the case then we would only be getting rid of cisse becos benitez doesn't want him and not becos we lack money,footballing and not financial issue .Maybe we do have more money than we are letting on ,just hope thats the case anyway .

I always wonder about the gerrard situation,I thought the club went a bit cold becos of the money gerrard or his agent wanted ,no player is worth 100 grand I just thought at the time the club were trying to drive a harder bargain .

exactly I don't think it would harm micheal having to wait till january if thats what it came down to ,however there is a clamour to get defoe in the first team and sven has shown he is not resistant to media pressure so if owen asked sven "should I join newcastle now ,or liverpool in january" the idiot would say newcastle I have no doubt .

wonder is getting owen is directly dependent on getting rid of cisse , nobody seems to have any clue about whats going on with the finanaces ,all I know is that raffa himself said that the some of the baros money had gone on paying for crouch ,I am really starting to worry I have tried to keep calm thinking there was some masterplan but er maybe there isn't ,wasn't it raffa who said he expected some signings in a week and that week came and went a while ago too.

so far liverpool do not have a consistent premiership goalscorer maybe thats why some people feel a bit jittery ,having at least one will inevitably give the whole team confidence . liverpool need a proven consistent PREMIERSHIP goalscorer and we need one now ,crouch did well for southampton but has not done it consistently ,morientes is unproven but is raffas' signing and so he will persist with him . Cisse looks like he will be the odd one out ,although he has plenty of potential and a great attitude he is not proven in the premiership either and looks like he will have to make way . I thought the choice would be owen or baros ,get baros out and bring in owen now it seems the club is so skint we need to get rid of cisse just to fund owen ,its a shame but a choice out of them two and and it has to be owen .If we could keep all four then great but it looks unlikely.

just reading the independent it said the newcastle bid is closer to 14 million than the ridiculous amounts being quoted eg 18 million if thats the case then I would be even more positive liverpool would get owen .

Souness said: "As I understand it, the loan is not an option, not a chance. Not when we've made a whacking great offer for him that's been accepted. "He is contracted to Real Madrid and it is not his decision." Souness added: "No player can make that decision. "If Real have accepted our offer and they are happy with that then it is now up to us to make the deal attractive for Michael. liked that bit the best ,can't stand newcastle ,their club is a joke ,doesn't matter how much money they throw at someone if a player has any ambition he wouldn't be going to newcastle .

well at least he has got it out of his system ,theres nothing worse than thinking "what if" to yourself for the rest of your life , owen has gone abroad found the grass ain't greener and what we should get back in return is a happier ,focused ,fresher player with no doubts in the back of his mind .