Redwire

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Torres scores.

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Dreadful isn't it. That Mark_P is hilarious though.

England fans.....bunch of c*nts. Half of them had left with 15 minutes to go.

Loads of empty seats at Wembly.

They play the Proclaimers after each goal.

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We should have pulled him into the dressing room at half time for a coaching session. He would have more of a clue than Cullen.

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IT'S pretty obvious that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez couldn’t care less whether or not England qualify for the European Championship finals. Benitez would certainly be happy if Steven Gerrard did not play against Israel or Russia at Wembley. England does not mean much to Rafa. He is wrong, of course, and dare anyone tell me he is right not to care? I will tell you why he should. Firstly, Gerrard is desperate to represent his country against Israel on Saturday in the most important match since the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal. And secondly, that England reaching the finals and doing well would have a tremendous uplift for the game. Maybe Mr. Benitez is not worried about that either. These are worrying times for the England team as too many people are eroding exactly what representing your country means. David Bentley was too tired to play for the Under 21s, Benitez is warning Steve McClaren to be careful with Gerrard and other chairmen and managers are pushing international football way down the list of priorities. Gerrard, I am sure, is an exception. He remains passionate and committed to his country, despite the reluctance of his manager. Unlike other players under pressure from their clubs, he is strong enough to be his own man. Gerrard will report for duty today with the rest of England’s walking wounded with a fractured toe he suffered last month. It cannot be too bad because a few days after picking up the injury he played for Liverpool, only to then pull out of England’s friendly against Germany. This time if Gerrard wants to play for England and feels right, he will. It is about time someone made a stand in this growing club against country row. I am not sure exactly what Rafa means when he tells England to be careful. The rule is set in stone. Players meet up, those with a problem are examined and either declared fit or sent home. Let us get this clear. Gerrard is fit. Would he have played for Liverpool on Saturday had Man United been the opposition and not Derby? Of course he would and then there would have been none of this nonsense over his availability. Benitez is just protecting what he has, a good start in the Premier League and a squad of players who give the club their best chance for years of winning the title. And to hell with England. When you have a Spanish manager and a club owned by Americans, I suppose this is always going to be a problem. Not just at Liverpool but other clubs too. There has always been a club against country conflict although this is different. Here is a manager indicating that a key player should miss a vital qualifying match. Coach Steve McClaren has to be strong and send out the right message once and for all. That this is down to him and the player and the decision has ­nothing to do with Liverpool. The moment Gerrard walks through the door of England’s HQ he is McClaren’s responsibility and property. Nothing else is an issue. Gerrard plays on Saturday and never before has his country needed him more. This is a massive ­double header for England. They have to win both games. The build-up has started badly and Benitez is to blame. He has sent out completely the wrong message, that England does not matter. It does. More than he realises. Correction. More than he wants to realise. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/1...d-matters-Rafa/

There's a surprise.

I'm surprised he can sleep at night.

Russian leaving early.

Excellent. still top of the league.

"If we don't qualify for Euro 2008, it will have a major detrimental effect not just for the Football Association and the England team, but for Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and other clubs, too." Will it f*ck.

Benítez quietly furious after No2 of 11 years leaves Andy Hunter Saturday September 1, 2007 The Guardian Rafael Benítez lost the most trusted member of his managerial team yesterday when Pako Ayestarán, his confidant and assistant for the past 11 years, quit after a series of disputes with the Liverpool manager. Liverpool's assistant manager tendered his resignation to Benítez after being confronted over reports linking him with a return to his native Spain. Although he has not formally severed ties with the club, the 44-year-old Ayestarán will not be on the bench for today's Premier League game at home to Derby County and his departure will be confirmed once outstanding contractual issues have been resolved. "He said that maybe he would like to leave the club and we are now analysing the situation" was as much as Benítez was prepared to divulge on the matter yesterday, though the depth of his grievance with his friend is acute. They began collaborating more than a decade ago and their fortunes have risen in tandem, with promotion to the Primera División with Tenerife and two league titles and a Uefa Cup at Valencia before moving to Liverpool in 2004 and extending their successful relationship with Champions League and FA Cup wins. It is Ayestarán, a qualified fitness coach, who is credited with the rotation policy that has generated both silverware and criticism for Benítez at the Mestalla and Anfield and he has been instrumental in the improved fitness and sports science methods introduced at Liverpool. Charts detailing the exact minutes each player has performed during a season, which line Benítez's office and influence selection policy, are an Ayestarán trademark, along with a man-made hill the duo had constructed at the club's Melwood training ground to improve stamina levels. His influence is not confined to physical conditioning, however, with the Liverpool assistant manager used as a sounding board for tactical and technical advice by Benítez who, with his team unbeaten and impressive in the Premier League and Champions League qualifiers, admitted the departure came at the worst possible time. "Yes it has," he conceded. Benítez added: "Eleven years we have worked together but now we must analysis the situation. I know things but the best thing now is to say nothing and wait. I think he will go but I don't think he will be at the game tomorrow." Ayestarán's resignation is understood to have followed a series of disagreements between the pair, including changes to Liverpool's pre-season training routine as Benítez sought to avoid a repeat of the team's poor start to last season, but reports linking the coach with a return to Valencia this week brought matters to a head after training on Thursday. Ayestarán had been strongly tipped to take up a director-of-football role at Athletic Bilbao in the summer depending on the outcome of the Basque club's presidential election. The candidate with whom Ayestarán was associated lost, and Benítez believed that would end the uncertainty surrounding his friend and colleague, but he has been dismayed at fresh reports of interest from Valencia. Benítez opted to confront Ayestarán over the Valencia link on Thursday afternoon and his assistant announced that he no longer wished to work for the club. The Liverpool squad were informed of the development yesterday. Benítez expressed surprise yesterday at Jermaine Pennant's exclusion from the England squad to face Israel and Russia in the European Championship qualifiers. "I have a lot of respect for Steve McClaren's decision but I am sure Jermaine must be very close to the national team," said the Spaniard. "He is improving and maturing all the time." http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/...=rss&feed=7

Please stop. I've just nearly wet myself. Have you actually seen any of these players you are discussing live? On second thoughts, have you seen any of them on TV?

It’s a strange one this. On Tuesday night the two of them were laughing and joking on the bench, especially when they were taking the p*ss out of Pennant after telling him to carry on warming up after we had made our third substitution. We even commented on how rare it was to see Rafa so light-hearted on the bench.

I'm gutted that the thread is now unlikely to reach half a million views.

You knob at reserve games?