rjlfc

Mockers!!

f*** me. Only Liverpool could turn an attacking throw on the edge of the opposition area into Reina's arms in three passes. Diabolical. Lucas, how many times is this guy gonna get given a chance. Physically incapable of passing it forward without giving the ball away. Kuyt - I can't believe people are begging for us not to sell him to Rafa. And £15m? Bite their f*****g hands off.

Not getting suicidal just yet. BBC reporting a preferred bidder will be selected next week. Haung could just have pulled out cos he knows he's out of the running. Remember Purslow stated his annoyance at people running their bids in public - I reckon, IMHO, that there are other serious bidders who have kept their mouths shut and one will be announced very soon.

Surely this news from Purslow is very good news?? Maybe not the fantastic news we hope for (i.e. we've got a preferred bidder, all funds proved and the sale nearly complete) but good none the less. For there to now be written - i.e. formal - bids is a great next step. Ok, so he says they haven't had proof of funds (yet) but surely at least one of them will have proof. I appreciate there is still a long way to go and some of the bids may not have proof of funding and some may not be suitable, but I think this is a very big step in the right direction.

The end game. An important throw of the dice is about to be cast in the future of Liverpool football club. Ok, red-top stylee headlines, but the critical nature of the next couple of weeks is huge. As fans on a forum, we often talk about how this match, or that, or this signing, or that, is crucial to our future etc. But if ever a couple of weeks could potential define both the short and long term future of the club, this is it. Everyone is obviously getting excited, but in reality, we have to treat things with guarded optimism..... Is this Huang genuine - doubts are beginning to surface about the credibility of his backing and his apparent reluctance to divulge certain info. Is he playing a PR game to push through a quick sale? Could we find ourselves in a similar mess to what we have now - could it transpire his sovereign backing is not what it seems and cash (or lack of it) be as it is now? His offer could well be genuine, but realistically, will G&H (and the board) accept his deadline, particularly if there are others offers, and ones which may be more suitable to the owners as opposed to the club? How much influence Broughton has is now clearly huge. He could have the casting vote. How much loyalty does he have to his employers/bosses (G&H)? Would he really accept a low offer for the club, leaving G&H with no profit, on the basis that Huang (or any buyer for that matter) will put in big money into the club? Will Broughton be more likely (or even forced) to accept an offer of bigger money but then potentially leave a buyer with less cash to invest? Will any of this go through in time to invest in the squad? If not, will Torres still stay? All questions that at the moment we definitely have no answers to. We could be in dreamland come end of August - new (genuine owners) and a seriously improved squad. However, we could very well (especially with G&H involved) be in a situation with no new owers and them holding on for dear life trying to extract every last penny out of the sale and with a squad full of holes going into a very important season....... One thing is for sure, we'll know soon enough........

Hmm, really interesting replies. I thought that others would be in agreement but thought that many would slaughter me for a downbeat post after recent optimism around us. But basically, its seems most people have their feet on the ground and are realistic. Yes the Cole signing was very good and Gerrard staying too, but after all the doom and gloom it was easy for many fans to cling onto that good news and suddenly think things were on the up. Talk of the Cole signing sending out a message, sign of things to come etc. In fact, we're still pretty much in dire straights. Follwoing on from recent transfer windows, we are still in the positive, selling many, acquiring only a few, and those either free or bargain basements. We have major holes in the team, not just squad. And as people say, to top it off, we've got two ******** in charge still, using our profits and player sales to pay off debts. Until I see us spend all of Masch's money (even though we'll still be in the positive), it won't be a decent transfer window. And unitl those two blood-suckers go, theres no end to this......

Have been sat thinking about the last few weeks and the weeks ahead and I have very mixed feelings, even a large sense of foreboding or being brought crashing back down to earth. How to others feel at this poing in Pre-season? A week or two ago, most notably following the Joe Cole signing and Gerrards commitment, it was like a breath of fresh air, and a much needed one, with regards to the optimism and 'positive' attention on the club. Roy was talking honestly and frankly (seemingly), the club seemed to be moving in the right direction with regards to transfers and it kicked off a feel good factor round the place. Roy talked about - I think his words were - 'a mini overhaul', needing to bring in more players of Joe's quality. Joe Cole was impressed with the clubs plans and who we were/are trying to bring in. Obviously, the cancer hanging over our club remains and that is still of greatest imprtance. But just for once I felt optimistic. However, I don't know why, maybe its the pessimism that I've become used to around the club, but I have started to feel very cautious and a feeling that things may not go quite as well. Firstly, I know, I know, that we just don't know what will happen re. incoming/outgoing transfers and we have to wait until August 31st. But I've got a nagging feeling we may be dissappointed. Roy has started to make references to players being shipped out without his knowledge. Even in a report in the Liverpool Echo today, King quote Roy re. Ngog - "Nobody at the club has ever told me that we are looking to move him on and I certainly have never heard West Brom’s name mentioned,” said Hodgson. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but quite a damning statement IMO. He has also come out and said we only need 1 or 2 more players? Now this I find incredible, and it smacks of a masive u-turn and an order from abovr to dampen expectation with supporters. We need, not want, NEED, 2 left back. Unfortunately, we seem to be shopping in the bargain basement, with the likes of Luke Young and Konchesky repeatedly linked. Figueroa would be ok, nothing more. We are desperate for another striker to either play up top with Torres, or be an adequate 2nd choice. Given Ngog is not that player, this won't come cheap. . If anyone suggests we shouldn't worry as we have Stevie, Dirk, Babel or Ngog to fill in for Torres, they can f**k off. Didn't work last season and won't this. Theres 3 players we defintely need. Although not needed as desperately, I think we also need a pacy wide player and a centre back. Only Babel has any real pace out wide and there are question marks over the ability/pace over some of our centre backs. Oh, and theres the obvious need to get someone in in place of Mascherano, although it looks as though we are prepared to spend some of this money. So, although theres very much a long way to go, I have a sneaky suspicion we will yet again end up with a transfer window where will will have been forced to make a profit and still won't have filled the positions where we need real quality. We are so far approx. 6-7 million in profit (at least) including Inusa sale and thats even assuming Benayoun's money went to pay off Rafa. Add to that approx. £23m for Masch gives us £30m. Now we have supposedly got £12-15m to spend without sales, so you would have thought we would still have well over £40 to spend. Does any really, honestly, think we will spend anywhere near that? Very long winded I know, but in summary I'm starting to feel very reticent again. Would love to be proved wrong, but given who's in charge of buying/selling, I just think we'll be left wondering what if again....

Think this is absolutely spot on. As it stands he is a Liverpool player and everything he has said and done (while injury free) has been fantastic and is rightly adored by fans. However, as you say, if he leaves now, without giving us that one last chance (remember, he only signed a new contract last year) then he's gonna look shallow to me. If he moved back to Spain, I could partly understand it, but to go to one of our rivals would be a f*****g disgrace, simple as. All ifs and buts I know, but considering things are obviously in balance, its only natural people look at the possible outcomes.

Never mind the match on Thursday, if ever a 45 minutes summed us up this season, that was it. Showed great promise at the start of the match (quite often even in our dire performances/results we've started well or ok). Lots of possession, but awful in the final 3rd. Benayoun reguarly cut inside but wasted possession or had poor long range effort. Kuyts touch has been back to its poor self and Masch has worked hard but his distribution is awful (though in fairness he's way out of position). Then a woeful mistake has cost us again. When that goal went in, it was so exasperating, so typical. Oh, then our best player (in the match) goes off injured. F*****g brilliant.

Oh f***k off. That clip was from his own f******g leg for a start. It was no more of a pen (in fact less so) than when Ivanovic stuck his leg out at hit Aquilani and not the ball who made the most if it by going down

SLOWEST. TEAM. EVER. I wouldn't worry about supporting Chelsea or otherwise. Get behind the lads as vociferously as ever, the fact is we've got no chance against them with that team.

First off, let me comment on TONIGHT'S game. Fanstastic effort by the lads. Showed some great attitude (in general*) and showed glimpses of good play but lacked real quality. Thought Kuyt worked his socks off, cant believe some on here are criticising him, had virtually no support when Auilani went off. Thought they had a bit of luck as everytime our attack broke down their defensive headers or clearances went to their players. We defended really well and a fortunate break between a Johnson and Reyes challenge has let them in. HOWEVER, I got into arguments last week with t*****s who couldnt argue their own case and resorted to insults. Basically, we lost this tie last week, and f**k you to all you p****s who blindly defended that result and performance last week. I said I'd come back when (odds were) I was proven right. A 1 NIL DEFEAT AWAY FROM HOME IN A FIRST LEG TIE IS A BAD RESULT. All it takes is 1 goal and its nighty f****g night. How anyone couldnt see that, particularly without Torres which drastically reduced our chances of scoring 3, are f*****g mentalists. Well I know its the hard way, but I hope you learned a thing or two about realism. Of course the tie was till winnable, but it was massively in their favour. And hence it proved. They played quite relaxed football, whether it was 0-0 or 1-0. Even as 2-0 they knew 1 goal would be enough. All it takes is a lucky break and thats it. And that was it. We payed the price for last weeks weak and shameful performance, too scared to attempt to attack (even at 1-0 down). Unfortunately, Rafa has always been the same and always will. I can't take another season of gutless away performances ruining our season, because this season our attitude to winning games, particularly away from home is embarassing and shameful. One man is responsible for that. Well done for your effort tonight lads, but please, someone learn a lesson from all this. *Gerrard - I can't remember him getting anywhere near the ball from 60 minutes. For a guy playing centre mid, and captain at that, is f*****g shocking. If someone came down from planet Mars, who do you think they would have thought the beleagured, chastised centre mid outcast was and the quality, hard working one. Lucas, while in terms of what he has done for this club can't even be compared to Gerrard, does not mean our captain is exempt from criticism. That tonight was not good enough and hasn't been for most of the season.

Oh yeah thats right, after shouting to everyone that nothing that happened before now matters.

Jesus wept? What, so we can't even discuss the merits of tonights results? WTF? Tonights result will have a massive bearing on how we play and how they play. We will need to attack, but cautiously. We will have a very nervous approach to the game. They can relax and try and pick us off. If we win 2 nil, great. But theres a huge chance they will score, which would leave us with massive problems. Nobody is saying we won't, or even can't. But they are in the driving seat now, IMO.

Brilliant. Next....

Nice try and twisting again. He's pointing at (as you full well know as you referred him to our home form) that that very home form is very much governed by a certain Fernando Torres. But hey, don't let facts get in the way of your sarcastic response.....

Lol, great reply. Another quality response from the rose tinted brigade. If in doubt, bury head. If in doubt - don't worry, theres always next week or next season. Please explain where I have used my psychic power? Please explain if you think Torres might be fit for next week, or if we have resembled any other than schiteness this season, currently lieing in 7th, yes, thats 7th? Hey, not to worry chaps. Despite another dreary, insipid, fearful performance against a side struggling in their own league. Despite not showing hardly any initiative to get an important away goal. And most worryingly of all, despite this being a repeat of a majority of our performances this season, this is in any way a positive result? Face it, we face an uphill task next week, moreso given our form and our strikeforce available. We've missed a great opportunity tonight.

If we were a half decent team this season, and if we had Torres, I'd be reasonably, upbeat. We have no Torres, FACT. We are schite. FACT. I cannot accept that this is a good result. If/when they ping 1 goal in next week, which is very likely, and will then definitely put us out, lets have a chat, and I'll tell you all day long that we f****d it up over in Madrid.

Not being funny, but you are f*****g wrong. Didn't force one save from their goalie, not ONE. One goal from them next week and we're out, simple as. they've got Aguero back then too. Yes we've got a chance, but losing 1-0 in a first leg away tie is not good. You seem to think that we are actually a good team at the moment too. Today was a massive chance to get an away goal against an average side, but as usual caution and fear were the defining tactics. Not good enough. HT f*****g H.

Do you know what, I want to be angry but I've just lost the f*****g will. If we'd drawn 0-0 but hit the bar, had goal-line clearances and their keeper was MOM, I'd be p****d but sometimes sh*t happens. But that was unforgiveable. Their keeper didn't make a single save in the last 30 minutes. Not one. Leaving 4 defenders on (3 of whom were centre halves) at the end when we have got to win these games is undefendable. It was the same in the last 30 against Utd when we were 2-1 down. Didn't force a single save. At the very least just get players in the box and get it in there. I was going ballistic at the TV in the when the clocked was 93 mins and 5 seconds, time was up, and we were still playing at sideways, back and forth then the whistle blew. JUST GET IT IN THE BOX you f****g imbaciles. Raf said in a recent interview in relation to the Birmingham game that if taking 1 player like Torres off is causes a problem to a team like Liverpool then we have big problems. Well you are f****g right, we do. Ngog actually cleared the ball a few times for Fulham today. Incredible. Gerrard needs to take a long hard look at himself cos he looks, slow, cumbersome and basically schite. I'd snap someones hand off for £30 million at the minute.

Jesus H Christ. People just dont get it!! Performance wise no, but then we were winning 2-1 at half time. We had approx. 30 minites to TRY and get a goal and we didn't even look bothered. We seemed more concerned with applying the same destructive, defensive, deep tactis that we deployed at 1-0 and 1-1. When we go 2-1 down, we HAVE to accept the fact we need massively different tactics and go for the jugular, but thats never gonna happen in a millon years. We just forfeited an attempt at getting back to 2-2 so as to try not to concede any more than 2. As a result, we now lost to our absolute bitterest and most hated rivals, screwed up our last chance of 4th while watching them on their way to a record breaking title. But hey, don't worry, we were OK. Hey, don't worry, we didn't play much different to last year when we won 4-1. Jesus wept, I give up.

Mate, you are bemused? Some of the comments on here, ala above, leave me f****g raging. the problem is, we've been so bad people actually accept mediocre performances like that. People seem to be missing the whole point - no, were weren't THAT bad, and have been a lot worse this season. But ALL second half, a majority of it losing, to our bitterest rivals, who are about to take over our 18 title record, when we absolutely had to AT LEAST draw to get the imperative 4th spot, and all we could manage was a headed back pass from Yoss to Van de Sar. We must have got in their box twice in 45 minutes. Where the lets throw the kitchen sink attitude, throw everything at them mentality. I tell you where it was, sucked out of them by boring, defensive, s*** scared tactics that have ripped the life out of our players and now most of our fans it seems. Yes we were OK, but when we were 2-1 it wasn't about necessarily playing great football, but throwing EVERYTHING at them. Their goalie geniunely had nothing to do apart from the goal in the first 4 minutes and when 30 minutes of that is losing to the mancs, its absolutelt NOT acceptable.

Wow. I've been angry, frustrated, shocked and ranging at some performances this season, but that last 45 minutes has left me speechless and numb. I cannot believe, that having had 30 odd minutes to get an equaliser, we cannot even muster an attempt at goal. I'm genuinely amazed. Probably THE most gutless, spineless, clueless defensive minded performances having been losing the match I have ever seen. For a minute, I thought either our players thought it was a friendly or we were in a European match winning on away goals on aggregate. It was almost as if they saw 2-1 as a GOOD result? Like they chose losing 2-1 rather than push for an equaliser and risk it being 3-1. In injury time, we still brought back 8 or 9 men to defend leaving Torres and maybe Babel isolated. Wow. That is shocking for a Liverpool fan to see your team accept defeat like that. They were there for the taking if we wanted it. If thats what Rafa has instilled in our team, he can f**k right off right now. It's like forget Portsmouth or Lille, back to defend defend defend even when you are losing.

F**k off. If its near 20% I'd be surprised. To not add Gerrard to that list is criminally insane. Babel, as frustrating as he can be with his passing, at least got at players. It was the one chance (all be it unlikely) to get behind them. It says it all really how backward we've come when I'm crying out for Babel to stay on. What the hell question is that? Are you 5? Absolutely spot on. We keep on, time after time after time after time (ad infinitum) keep playing a team thats set up to not lose. Its not f*****g difficult, you worry more about the opposition, play defensive minded players who are criminally out of form (or generally poor) and you'll end up inviting pressure and losing. Its an odds game, Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal play every game to win. Sometime they become unstuck becuase of it, but more often than not it works. even when they are off form, or or playing 2nd choice players, EVERYONE knows what they are doing because they only play one way. Simples. Agree with the Kuyt thing. What on earth on is the point in a football philosophy, when a player who is so bad they might as well have an opposition shirt on keeps not only his starting position, but plays 85+ minutes of a game. Add to that, a manager scared to play his record midfield signing "as games are tight and his mistakes might cost us" when every game crap players make stupid mistakes costing us goals and every man and his dog can see we are generally schite beyond belief and dropping at a drastic rate. But hey, better not play Aquilani incase he makes a mistake. Jeses f****g christ, its lunacy on a par with GH at the end of his reign. It's embarassing, diabolical, inept, bloody minded and gone on long enough. Thanks for the memories I'll always admire the good things he's done, but enough is enough Rafa.

Thing is, people have got to realise its his f*****g fault we are like this. The tactics are not just negative, they are a f*****g disgrace. This isn't a one off, its every other f******g game. Its like banging your head against a brick wall though - you see the same thing, time and time and f*****g time and yet somehow he keeps getting the backing from many? The defence is not the problem here though we have had problems this season admittedly. It's the f*****g dross in front of it. I admit Carra and Insua just aren't good enough for me, but they aren't the real problem tonight. Kuyt is so bad I just cannot describe how poor he is. I don't think i can recall a performance like it. And thats going some. I recall that Southampton player who played for 45 minutes after Souness was duped into buying him before he realised straight away how crap he was. Well that 45 from Kuyt has got to be as bad if not worse. Think I counted he found a red shirt once. Does he actually get paid thousands EVERY week. F**k me. Lucas not much better, and tonight, neither has Gerrard. Is correct. But hey, when we finish 6th and lose our best players, don't worry, everyone will turn round and say they've been saying it for ages and should have gone sooner. I've written off 4th, and have done realistically for a while. These tactics and the mentaility drummed into the players is a disgrace to football and to Liverpool football club. To see attacking players whose first job is to defend so that they rarely get forward. To see players so off form, so continually playing bad get a game because 'they work hard' and 'understand what the manager wants' is utterly, utterly wrong. How a high paid manager, and a manager of Rafas obvious calibre and experience is getting it SO wrong is baffling, worrying and absurd. As people are writing in other posts, these performance and results are just too frequent to be coincidental or one offs.