GWistooshort

Darby & Spearing were already in this season's Champions League squad, as were Martin Kelly & Steven Irwin http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/club=78...on=1/index.html

He joined us in Jan 2007 according to the official site so will qualify in Jan 2010

Players need to have been registered with us for 3 entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of to qualify as a 'locally trained' player. Based on the official site Insua will qualify in Jan next year, although yurisaka thought it would be late Nov this year in an earlier thread, San Jose will qualify in August next year, but Lucas won't qualify because he'll reach 21 before he's done his 3 seasons/36 months

We need 'locally trained' players for the CL next season regardless of what happens with the quota as our squad for the knock out stages this season was 2 players short because we didn't replace Keane or Pennant

From the official site.............. SAMI IN SQUAD FOR SPURS Jimmy Rice 22 May 2009 Outgoing legend Sami Hyypia will be in the squad for Sunday's end-of-season finale against Spurs, Rafa Benitez today confirmed. The 35-year-old has not played since our 4-1 victory at Old Trafford on March 14 but could feature one last time in front of the Kop this weekend. "I can guarantee he'll be in the squad," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Everything is positive when you talk about Sami, so he'll get a great reception." Benitez is also open to the idea of giving Hyypia - who leaves for Bayer Leverkusen this summer - a testimonial at some stage in the future following 10 years' loyal service. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090522-1454.htm

From Sky Sports.............. Davies still in Anderson hunt Forest refusing to give up on winger By Chris Burton Last updated: 23rd May 2009 Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies has not given up hope of landing Paul Anderson this summer. The winger spent the 2008/09 campaign on loan at the City Ground from Liverpool, and made 28 appearances for the club are as they successfully avoided relegation from the Championship. Having impressed during his time on Trentside, Forest were keen to make his move permanent during the off-season. However, their plans were thrown into jeopardy when second tier rivals Swansea saw an offer accepted last week. While that deal is far from finalised, the 20-year-old has previously enjoyed a successful loan stint at the Liberty Stadium and knows what the Swans are all about. That has come as a worry to Davies, but he insists he will be doing all he can to ensure Anderson heads to Nottingham not south Wales. "We are still interested in Paul and it is not out of our hands (regarding Swansea's accepted bid)," he told the Nottingham Evening Post. "We will be seeing what we can do and will sit down and discuss the situation with Paul and talk to him about it. "We will see what happens. We plan to speak to him when he returns from his holiday. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5345134,00.html

It's working fine for me, but you could try justin.tv where it's taken from if it still isn't working for you

3 at the back?

According to the BBC Gossip Column the Sunday Express says that Rafa is closing in on a £15m deal for Johnson & also weighing up a bid for Heerenveen winger Daniel Pranjic. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/8065627.stm

Sunday People 24 May 2009 BAYERN SPARK GLEN CHASE Alan Nixon Bayern Munich want Portsmouth's England right back Glen Johnson - and will battle with a trio of top Premier League clubs in a fight for him. The Bundesliga outfit have made contact with Pompey via a top agent and want to be told when the bidding starts for one of the best home-based talents around. Pompey will look for £15million plus, but it seems certain he, and Peter Crouch, will leave as Paul Hart is left to start from scratch with some funds to rebuild. Bayern interest in Johnson will spark a scramble - with Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham all monitoring the situation. Manchester City have the money if they decide he is right for their problem position. Liverpool are long-term fans of Johnson, but the price appears too high for Rafa Benitez. Spurs chief Harry Redknapp would need to sell to finance a move - although he knows he would have a great chance because of his close association with the player's career. Pompey will be reluctant sellers but know that some men have to go to balance the books after owner Sacha Gaydamak ran out of cash. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

Sunday People 24 May 2009 MAN CITY'S £19M PAY BID FOR GARETH BARRY Steve Bates; Tom Hopkinson Manchester City are ready to offer Gareth Barry £19MILLION in wages to nick the Aston Villa star from under Liverpool's noses. And AC Milan are also preparing a similar deal. England ace Barry, 28, is out of contract a year from now. Kop boss Rafa Benitez hopes to snatch him in a £10m swoop after missing out last summer. But moneybags City have targeted Barry as the man boss Mark Hughes wants to replace Brazilian Elano. City are prepared to offer England defender Micah Richards in a partexchange deal that could blow Liverpool out of the equation. Arsenal fancy Barry and a move to the Emirates would appeal to him. But they cannot compete with City's cash - or the tempting scenario of offering defensive star Richards as part of the deal. Martin O'Neill is desperate to land Birmingham-born Richards, who is 21 next month. The Villa manager knows he won't persuade Barry to stay for the final year of his contract before leaving on a free. Hughes has had a bust-up with Richards and the player's future is uncertain despite claims by the boss that the youngster can prosper at Eastlands. Barry is desperate for Champions League football, but City are prepared to offer him a £100,000-a-week fouryear deal worth £19.2m. That is a carrot Liverpool and Arsenal can't match. But Milan could, if Barry uses rules allowing him to buy out the final year of his contract to move to another football association without a fee. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

The Mirror yesterday says Spurs have enquired about Carlos Tevez, but were "told he is on his way to Liverpool" http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21382076/

From the Daily Telegraph............ "Benitez has already drawn up a list of transfer targets, with Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Glen Johnson his four priorities. Financing those moves will be an issue, though. He is likely to be granted just £20 million for one major signing by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, although he may add to this through sales. Andrea Dossena, Andriy Voronin, Sebastian Leto and Ryan Babel will all be sold if appropriate offers are received, but Benitez insisted he did not want to sell his most saleable asset, Xabi Alonso, although Real Madrid are confident a substantial bid would tempt Liverpool to cash in. Reports in Italy that Napoli have rejected an £18 million offer from Liverpool for the Argentinean international Ezequiel Lavezzi suggest he can be added to a list of potential Benitez targets. The forward, who is thought to be keen to leave the club, wants to play in the Champions League and would be a viable alternative to either Tevez or Silva. His agent, Alejandro Mazzoni, said: "The offer from Liverpool was genuine, and came with a £2.5 million yearly salary." Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Napoli president, insists Lavezzi "is not for sale, unless an offer too good to refuse arrives." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...-Sammy-Lee.html

The Guardian Saturday 23 May 2009 Sammy Lee says Rafael Benítez can bring Premier League title to Anfield Andy Hunter • Spaniard won't repeat the mistakes of the past • Liverpool could move for Gareth Barry and Glen Johnson Liverpool's assistant manager, Sammy Lee, believes there will be no repeat of the mistakes that undermined Gérard Houllier's tenure at Anfield when Rafael Benítez develops his team from a position of strength this summer. Barring an unlikely set of results on Sunday, Liverpool will secure second place in the Premier League for the first time since Houllier followed his cup treble-winning campaign of 2001 with the runners-up spot in 2002. That pre-season, however, marked the point when Liverpool's gradual progression under the Frenchman slipped into reverse. Houllier declined the option to turn Nicolas Anelka's loan stay into a permanent deal and squandered £20m on El-Hadji Diouf, Bruno Cheyrou and Salif Diao instead, three catastrophic transfer failures that ultimately cost the manager his job. Benítez will also seek to fine-tune rather than overhaul his squad this summer in an attempt to turn Liverpool into champions, and Lee is adamant the club's improvement will be maintained. "I'm totally convinced Rafa is the man for the job and that's not because I'm in situ with him," the assistant manager said. "I'm convinced he is the man to oversee what we need to do to go that extra bit to get what the club and fans want and need." Lee added: "I was aware of what went on in 2002. That's why the clichés come in – there's no way we can afford to take anything for granted. I don't like to dwell on the past but we're aware of what happened. Although there's been an improvement we know there needs to be more. We have never made any false promises. We've always tried to remain grounded. We know what our ambitions are and I don't think that there's any conceit in wanting to win trophies and be the best, otherwise what would be the point?" Liverpool's assistant manager took Friday's press conference as Benítez was engaged in "other commitments", and the Spaniard was therefore unable to answer questions on the uncertainty surrounding Xabi Alonso's future at Anfield. However, he later stated on the club's website: "It's very clear, Xabi has three years left and we do not want to sell him." Whether that resolve will withstand a lucrative offer from Real Madrid for the Spain midfielder remains to be seen. Benítez must sell to satisfy all his transfer needs this summer and while he would be interested in signing Carlos Tevez, despite rejecting the chance to do so on several previous occasions, the Liverpool manager simply cannot afford the Manchester United forward at present. Gareth Barry and Glen Johnson are targets within his means, while Benítez would also pursue a deal for Valencia winger David Silva should he raise the funds. "We have some money, not big money," the Liverpool manager said. "But for me now it is not about how much, but how good they are for us." Both Benítez and Lee refused to reveal whether Sami Hyypia would start against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, only confirming that the club's outstanding servant would be in the squad for his final game, and the assistant manager admitted there is disappointment at this season's trophyless campaign. "There certainly has been an improvement but it's not enough of an improvement as we don't have any trophies," said Lee. "No one at the club is 100% happy with the season, as every season we want to win something." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...liverpool-title

Apparently the only other candidate besides Perez is the "little-known Eduardo Garcia", after a third candidate withdrew Also, if there is only 1 candidate, as would be the case if Garcia also withdraws, then Perez would be appointed on 1 June, not 15 June as I said in my previous post http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/8522195

Is that self-confessed Liverpool fan Michael Howard?

I'm pretty sure Real's elections are on 14 June as reported in the Guardian article below & several other places http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...nchester-united I don't know if anyone else besides Perez has announced they are standing yet, but it was speculated in an article a few weeks ago (by Sid Lowe I think) that no one else may stand because Perez is considered such a certainty to win, which would see him appointed on 15 June

Ferguson comments yesterday.......... "There's not a lot we can go if he decides to go. It will depend on which club can offer the deal his representatives are looking for." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...nchester-united

From the Liverpool Echo today............... Expert archivists needed to explore secret Hillsborough files May 22 2009 by Luke Traynor EXPERT archivists will have to be employed to study the huge dossier of secret Hillsborough disaster documents, MPs said today. Members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) met four Merseyside MPs last weekend to be informed of the progress of the disclosure of the hidden files. Derek Twigg, Peter Kilfoyle, Dave Watts and George Howarth sat down with the families of the 96 victims who died in the tragedy 20 years ago. The MPs will now report back the wishes of the HFSG to “keep the process moving” in a meeting with home secretary Jacqui Smith next month. It has emerged the government is considering using specialist archivists to sift through the hundreds of boxes, which contain never-been-seen-before evidence. It was suggested files could be transferred on to computers to more easily scrutinise the volume of material from South Yorkshire Police and the county’s ambulance and fire services. Mr Twigg said he hoped files would be available before the end of the year. The Halton MP, a Liverpool fan who attended the 1989 semi-final and sat in the North Stand, said: “Jacqui Smith has promised to come back to us as soon as possible. We do not know the size of this task or the whole issue of how the material has been archived. “There will be a lot of work getting it in the correct format and archivists and other experts will be employed to do that.” Following public pressure after the 20th anniversary memorial service at Anfield, the government called for the emergency services to release previously unseen files. South Yorkshire Police admitted they have up to 300 boxes of documents and other files held by Sheffield council and Sheffield Wednesday FC could also be disclosed. HFSG president Trevor Hicks said: “We expect the process to be moving by the time we hold our next meeting in a month.” On Saturday, a match will take place between local Liverpool fans and Norwegian Reds supporters to raise money for the Hope For Hillsborough campaign. The game kicks off at 1pm at Aintree Villa’s ground, in Melling Road, Aintree. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-23686620/

oh ok, sorry bout that

Perhaps this is why? http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-23688532/ He has paid a fitting tribute to Sami on the club website tho............. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090522-0849.htm

The Liverpool Daily Post still reckons he "is hopeful of making this season’s loan at Hertha Berlin a permanent deal". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...92534-23677824/

He has said he could leave Newcastle if they are relegated http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5341818,00.html

Maicon says he is 100% staying at Inter http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_5341908,00.html

From the Liverpool Daily Post................... Jamie Carragher’s reaction to Alvaro Arbeloa’s defensive hesitancy was understandable, but unwarranted. I’ll admit to wanting to shake Arbeloa myself a few times this season, but Jamie’s heart-on-the-sleeve commitment boiled over here into disrespect for a colleague and threatened the superb team spirit which has got us through many a tight spot this season. My fellow denizens of the Lower Centenary will attest that Jamie is often on Arbeloa’s case, and always calls him by his surname. A few fans in the same stand have also incurred Jamie’s wrath at times this season, using language that would make Russell Brand blush. Maybe at 31, Jamie is feeling the need to end our title famine more than most; but a cool head is as prized as a passionate one. Disappointing as this ending has been, we should be big enough to accept when we’ve just come up short, and not thrash about seeking to take it out on those who we think have contributed to that misfortune. Otherwise we might as well change our name to Arsenal. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...534-23677825/2/