GWistooshort

Tom & George couldn't agree whether to get gel pens or biros

The clear the air talks are worthy of a statement on the official site.......... PARRY AND BENITEZ HOLD 'POSITIVE' TALKS Paul Eaton 21 August 2008 Chief Executive Rick Parry and manager Rafael Benitez have vowed to 'move forward together' after holding clear the air talks at Anfield. It had been suggested the working relationship between the two had become strained over Liverpool's activity in the transfer market. But with the talks being described as 'positive', Parry and Benitez are continuing to work on strengthening the squad before the window closes at the end of the month. Benitez said: "Clear the air talks have taken place. It was a positive discussion and we will now move forward together. Parry added: "I can confirm that we had a friendly and positive meeting and we're moving forward." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...080821-1237.htm

Most of it was posted on here, but in parts cos that's how it originally appeared on the Echo website The Parry & Benitez bit was missing tho cos it wasn't on the Echo website

Liverpool fans' disappointment at the news that manager Rafa Benitez is leaving after months of infighting with American owners Tom Hicks & George Gillett was tempered by the news that the club's new Chief Executive Brian Barwick had secured Holland's No 1 manager as his sucessor. Kopites expecting the unveiling of Guus Hiddink were however distraught when Liverpool's new manager was revealed to be none other than Schteve McClaren.

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers............ Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill believes Gareth Barry’s future is “not completely resolved” despite Liverpool "cooling their interest in the midfielder". Liverpool’s refusal to meet Villa’s £18m asking price has forced Rafa "to look elsewhere to reinforce his team’s left flank", but a move for Stewart Downing "seems unlikely given Boro’s reluctance to sell so near the deadline" while Espanyol are asking £16m for Albert Riera, whom "Liverpool value at nearer £9m". However, Rafa "remains keen on bringing in another player before the transfer window shuts" with reports in France claiming he "is again keeping tabs on Grenoble’s highly-rated 19-year-old midfielder Sofiane Feghouli". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21576589/ Rafa "is facing fresh transfer frustration" following the "collapse" of Barry’s proposed transfer with Espanyol "insisting Riera will not be sold for less than £16m". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...--Football.html Liverpool have "indicated that they will not be held to ransom by Espanyol for Riera" & "will walk away" if they do not lower their £16m asking price. Riera "is thought to be Benitez’s first choice" & he "will hope to use his relationship with Paco Herrera, Espanyol’s sporting director and a former scout at Anfield, to agree a deal". However, Liverpool "are unwilling to pay more than £10m for Riera" & "may turn their attention to Stewart Downing". Rafa is "still hoping to offload Xabi Alonso, who continues to interest Arsenal, albeit not at Liverpool’s £16m-plus valuation", as well as Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin & Steve Finnan. There is still "uncertainty surrounding the future of Álvaro Arbeloa" with Rafa "thought to have monitored Rafinha, the Schalke 04 & Brazil right back". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4576199.ece Man City midfielder Michael Johnson, whom Liverpool made a £3m bid for more than a year ago, will today sign a new 5-year deal with the club. Everton, Arsenal & Spurs "have made plays" for Johnson since the bid from Liverpool, whom "finally dropped out of the chase". Johnson had "made no secret of his desire to move to Anfield", but he will now stay at City after the sticking points which caused his contract talks to nearly collapse last week have been removed & will receive "a large & immediate pay increase". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...rcity.blackburn

Wasn't having a pop at you Paul - sorry if it came over that way Was just commenting on Barwick to replace Parry

Not sure that would be an improvement While Barwick has had some successes at the FA, he was also responsible for appointing McClaren & bungled the appointment of Scolari & has reportedly lost the confidence of the FA's Chairman because of a lack of business skills

From today's Birmingham Mail.............. Martin O'Neill: I want Gareth Barry to stay at Aston Villa Aug 20 2008 By Bill Howell MARTIN O’Neill has reaffirmed his wish that Gareth Barry stays at the club. There has been increased speculation Liverpool are set to pull the plug on their move for the former skipper due to a disagreement between Rafa Benitez and his board over the £18million price tag. O’Neill admits the midfielder’s future remains unclear but with two weeks of the transfer window still to run he has once again insisted he wants to keep the influential midfielder. Barry plays for England against the Czech Republic at Wembley tonight having made a huge impact in Villa’s fine start to the season. “We want him to stay I think that’s obvious,’’ O’Neill said. “I think the fans want him to stay and for the length of time it has gone on it is hard to pre-empt anything. At this minute it’s not completely resolved.” http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21569678/

which in itself is fairly telling

If Reira & Downing are both being priced by their clubs at close to the £18m Villa want for Barry I wonder whether that might prompt us to go back to Barry? Also, I expect there's some interesting conversations going on if Stevie & Gareth Barry are rooming togther on international duty

Can't see Middlesborough selling Downing for £12m They've consistently said that he's not for sale "at any price", so there will be a premium even if they can be persuaded to sell They also know we're getting desperate

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers........ Talking about the Liverpool squad, Robbie Keane said yesterday "there are a few more additions to come". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-says-Trap.html Rafa "is ready to concede defeat in his pursuit of Gareth Barry & turn his attentions elsewhere, with Albert Riera...understood to be in his thoughts". With the Liverpool board refusing to pay £18m for Barry, Rafa "is mindful time is running out" & "has identified Riera & Stewart Downing...as possible alternatives". Rafa "would be confident" of getting Reira for "considerably less" than the £19m Espanyol were demanding, although "he is also an admirer of Downing". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4569561.ece Rafa "retains hope of signing Barry before the deadline but, with no sign of the Anfield hierarchy relenting over his £18m price tag...is considering other solutions" with both Riera & Downing on Rafa's list of alternatives to Barry. A deal for Reira "could be the easier to secure before the [end of the] transfer window". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...newcastleunited Reira "has been an on-off target for Liverpool for over a year" & Rafa is "considering his options" although he "would still prefer to land number one target Gareth Barry". Blackburn's move for Valencia winger Joaquin "could bear fruit" as he "is keen on a move to the Premier League". The article doesn't say whether the capture of Joaquin would result in Blackburn dropping their reported interest in Jermaine Pennant, with who they have been linked in previous articles. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...man-Davies.html Rafa tried to sell Steve Finnan "behind his back" as part of one of the proposed deal to sign Barry. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...its-Finnan.html Arsenal are "planning to add another midfielder to the squad" before the transfer window closes, with Gokhan Inler "the most likely target", but Xabi Alonso & Gareth Barry "have also been linked". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...senal.liverpool Talks between Man City & representatives of midfielder Michael Johnson, who has been linked with Liverpool in previous articles, restarted yesterday, having stalled recently. Man City "hope" to secure Johnson's long-term future, while the player himself also "hopes to stay at City". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4569468.ece Real Mallorca midfielder Borja Valero, who was linked with Liverpool in previous articles, has signed for West Brom. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-Hawthorns.html

From this morning's Liverpool Daily Post........... Liverpool FC told to pay £16m for Albert Riera Aug 20 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post ESPANYOL are set to continue their hardline stance over Albert Riera – and insist Liverpool meet his £16million release clause. The Spanish club are aware that Rafael Benitez has money to spend after the Gareth Barry deal was blocked by the owners, who were unwilling to go to £18million for that particular player. But with Benitez in the market for a left-sided player to bolster his squad, Riera has re-emerged as one of the possibilities he is weighing up. Liverpool considered making an offer in June when Riera hinted he wanted to leave the La Liga club after hitting out at their supporters. But Benitez was unwilling to enter a bidding war for the 26-year-old then – valuing the player at closer to the £9million mark – and that stance hasn’t changed. If Espanyol can’t be persuaded to lower their asking price he will walk away from the deal and look elsewhere, as time runs out to strengthen his wide areas before the closure of the transfer window. “Liverpool want Riera but Liverpool are reluctant to meet Espanyol's demands,” Riera's agent Magico Diaz confirmed last night. Riera recently attempted to mend his relationship with his club by pledging to give his all for them while he was on their books – but didn’t go as far as to say he wouldn’t consider leaving. And earlier in the summer he said: “If Espanyol do finally receive an offer I do not want to miss the opportunity to go to Liverpool. The option to join a super-club doesn’t come every day. “I am a realistic person but this has given me something to look forward to. “To reject the possibility of a move would be madness.” His awareness in Benitez’s renewed interest could force him to re-iterate his desire to be allowed to leave without his release clause being triggered. Riera already has previous Premier League experience, having had a spell on loan at Manchester City in the 2005-06 season, and would provide the out-and-out attacking option Benitez is seeking for the left-hand side. Espanyol sporting director Paco Herrera, a former member of Benitez’s backroom staff at Liverpool, said: “We have received no offers for Albert Riera. Not from Liverpool or any other club. “We know what has been written in the newspapers, but this is the truth.” http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21566499/

From the official site.......... Apply for the Liverpool FC Rewards Credit Card and make £200 worth of card transactions within 90 days of your account being opened and you will automatically be sent a New Home Shirt!* *To be eligible for this offer you need to apply for the Liverpool FC Rewards Credit Card using the Apply Now link on this Internet application and spend at least £200 in retail or cash transactions on this card within 90 days of your account being opened. This offer is subject to availability, while stocks last. Available to UK residents only, responding to this offer, who become a new Liverpool FC Rewards Credit Card account holder and meet the above criteria. Available to main cardholder only. In order to ensure this gift is delivered to your satisfaction we need to pass your name and address on to the organisation that will dispatch this on our behalf. The gift will be dispatched within 28 days of first transaction. The card issuer reserves the right to offer an alternative gift of equivalent or greater value. Not for resale. https://wwwa.mbna.co.uk/UKCCapp/Ctl/entry?s...-AP-11111-16073

From Sky Sports website............. Riera back on Reds radar Renewed interest in Spaniard Last updated: 19th August 2008 Albert Riera could be on his way back to the Premier League, skysports.com understands, and Liverpool remain favourites to claim his signature. The 26-year-old has previous experience of playing in England with Manchester City after he spent the latter part of the 2006 season at Eastlands. Riera impressed with City but he returned to Espanyol where he has flourished ever since. He has since gone on to become a full Spanish international and has attracted interest from a number of clubs, although Liverpool have been leading the chase all summer and remain very interested. Former Spanish boss, Luis Aragones, now in charge at Fenerbahce, is trying to lure him to Turkey - but England remains his most likely destination. Riera demanded a transfer earlier in the summer and, although he has since settled his differences with the Barcelona-based club, a move back to the Premier League is still a big attraction. His possible arrival at Anfield would solve Rafa Benitez's left-sided midfield problem, although they are not the only English side interested. However, Riera has made no secret of his desire to link up with Benitez and should they make a renewed bid - as expected - then they would be firm favourites to tie up the deal. A move for Riera could also finally see Benitez call-off his long-winded pursuit of Aston Villa's Gareth Barry http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_4011751,00.html

From memory it didn't say - the official site has taken the article down for some reason (it was the one about Mendy making his debut for the reserves) The Hungary U21s are playing tonight in a UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying match so I expect it was that

I agree that Rafa wants to play 4-2-3-1 & has earmarked Barry as the LH player in the 2. Barry's versatility is perfect for this role as it allows him to comfortably cover the left fullback when they go forward, as you point out, but also to contribute on the left hand side in an attacking sense. I'm struggling to think of many/any other players who could fill that particular role so well, especially if you add in that they are English & would need no settling in period to the Premiership. Which I think explains why Rafa is apparently so desperate to sign him. Rafa said fairly early on in the transfer window (when we brought in Degen & Dossena) that he is looking to the fullbacks to provide the width & that quality wingers are very difficult to find, rightly pointing out that there are very few & they are/would be very expensive. It would be interesting to know whether this talk of Riera & Downing, provided it is genuine, means Rafa has given up hope of signing Barry or someone to fill that role & is switching to plan B or that he still wants/intends to sign Barry or someone to fill that role & wants a left winger so we have that additional option ("possibility") given that Leto was refused a work permit.

Balague says Joaquin will reject Blackburn's offer, which makes Pennant to them more likely if Joaquin was viewed as an alternative to Pennant http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?id=64

Mark Lawrenson in his latest article in the Daily Post says "I’m with the owners" Also says MON is "a very good manager" Is it a deliberate attack on Rafa???? http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21559673/

THE OWNERS . . . Aug 19 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo NEITHER Tom Hicks nor George Gillett have gone public on the ongoing Gareth Barry situation despite the continuing fallout. But privately, Gillett is fuming that Rafa Benitez has chosen to make his displeasure public about Barry not being a Liverpool player. The American businessman and his son Foster were heavily involved in the bid to bring Barry to Anfield and believe the Reds boss has since overstepped the mark. Hicks' position on the matter is less clear with Benitez having told the media at the weekend that the Texan has told him the money is in place to sign Barry despite the fact that no further offer for the player is imminent. Significantly, Hicks and Gillett chose not to put their names to an official club statement insisting the £18m asking price for Barry was too high, preferring to leave it to go out in Parry’s name. In effect, Parry was handed a smoking gun, in all likelihood because the owners feared any perceived lack of backing for Benitez would have a negative effect on their already negligible popularity among Liverpool's fans. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-21558685/

if i was rafa i'd watch my back

Here it is for those who haven't seen it............. Ball well gone, ref clearly has a perfect view & not even a booking, let alone the red it deserved

Rafa "is continuing to ask Hicks & Gillett to relent" on their veto of signing Gareth Barry, but "will require a radical change of heart from Liverpool's owners...even if he raises the £18m Aston Villa want". Rafa "will not concede defeat in efforts to persuade [them] & is prepared to raise revenue for the club by selling Xabi Alonso &/or Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin & Steve Finnan", but Liverpool haven't currently received any "firm offers" for them. Even if additional funds are secured through sales, Hicks & Gillett will need to sign off on buying Barry, a deal which at £18m "neither believes represents good value". However, they "are wary of another public spat with the popular Spaniard". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...villa.liverpool Rafa "will step up his efforts to bring in midfield reinforcements & finally concede defeat in his pursuit of Gareth Barry". He "is determined to strengthen his left side & is set to make this his priority in the remaining 2 weeks of the transfer window". Although Rafa "still holds out hope that he can complete Barry’s move from Aston Villa, there is no sign from Hicks & Gillett that they will buckle" & "that is likely to remain the case even if Liverpool raise more transfer funds from selling players on". "No official bids have come in" for Alonso, Voronin or Pennant, which "further limits" Rafa’s spending power. David Silva, James Milner & Albert Riera "have all been considered" as options for the left side. Rafa "has already revealed he will make 1 more signing with the cash he currently has available", but "his chances of landing his top target Barry have rapidly deteriorated in the past few weeks". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21556594/ Rafa "remains desperate" to sign Barry in this transfer window. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...eal-901044.html Hicks & Gillett "will block" Rafa's attempts to sign Barry "even if the Reds manager raises funds by selling fringe players". http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/7569523.stm Rafa has said that Hicks has told him that, as well as having the money to sign Barry, "If you sell players, you can buy with that, too". Liverpool "are still trying to off-load Jermaine Pennant & Andriy Voronin". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-Liverpool.html Steve Finnan has admitted that his future at Liverpool is in "limbo". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4561749.ece To watch the interview with Finnan click HERE Stewart Downing, who been linked with Liverpool in previous articles, was recently the subject of an offer from Aston Villa, which was immediately rejected by Middlesbrough who said Downing was not available "at any price". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/au...m.middlesbrough Joe Cole, who been linked with Liverpool & Aston Villa, said yesterday "I will be a Chelsea player for the rest of my career". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ring-blues.html

According to the Echo yesterday "Both Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin were left out of the squad on Saturday as Benitez looks to tie up deals that could see the pair depart Anfield this week". http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-21552835/2/ & the official site said yesterday that Nemeth is away on international duty, although wasn't clear if he was available Saturday or not

A few more transfer snippets........... Steve Finnan says he is in "limbo" at the moment & "hasn't got a clue" whether he will be sold or not. He also intimated that he may have to seek a move if he can't get into the team. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4007410,00.html Reports in Spain claim that Blackburn, who have been linked with Jermain Pennant in previous articles, have lodged a bid in the region of £9.5m for Valencia winger Joaquin & Valencia's vice-president is tipped to meet Joaquin's agent tomorrow to discuss the offer. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4007411,00.html Joe Cole, who has been linked with Liverpool, has today rubbished speculation he is set to quit Chelsea saying "I will be a Chelsea player for the rest of my career". http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_4007125,00.html