Red

Getting a bit bored of journalists padding out their articles with the "... since Phil Chisnall in 1964" line. Enough already.

Surprised me too when I first came here RP, along with a number of names and phrases which still get used today. But you're right it's all about context it's used in and the word "Wog" has almost become a term of endearment here. In fact, many of the 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants I know, use the word like it's a "badge of honour" to describe themselves, if that makes sense.

Aussies are sports lovers in general and if an Australian or Australian team is doing well, the population tend to get behind them regardless of the sport. The lack of tears toward the "soccer" result, I think, is probably due in part to the Aussies also losing to the All Blacks in rugby in the same weekend. The less said the better, in other words. The build-up you usually get during the qualifying rounds hasn't been that stimulating either. Let's face it, you have to be a VERY keen soccer fan to take an interest in matches like Uzbekistan V China, or Bahrain V S.Korea.

Thats the bit that stood out for me too. My best memory of Craig (totally unrelated to his philanthropic side), was sitting outside a night club in the Kings Cross area of Sydney and hearing a scouse accent from someone comin' out the club. I looked up to see Craig Johnston and Stan Boardman walking past with Stan swearing about how hot it was in there.. which was nice.

I'm not saying we should or shouldn't have bought anyone. We've had a lot of changes and I wanted to know whether it would have the same affect as last season. As a few posters have already rightlly pointed out, the players and circumstances are different and we shouldn't necessarily expect the same. p.s. that was in reply to GEH007 btw.. I'm a slow typist!

.. with the number of players being bought in? I only mention it as I seem to remember it being one of the excuses for our poor start last year. Even if the new lads settle well individually, you'd think they still need time to 'gel' into the team. Is a good start being a little optimistic considering the amount changes taken place, or are we right to expect our higher profile sigings to perform brilliantly from the off'?

LOL Eskimo I was never into the Biscan cult thing, although I did have a soft spot for the Titi Camara cult thing... as for Voronin, as long he's knockin' them in, I don't care what his cult status is!

Judgin' by the offal comm's, it's a crackin' atmosphere.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/mediawatch/drill...070405-0849.htm Real shame he got injured when he did. He looked like he was really coming good, can't wait to see him back.

Cisse always struck me as someone who needed thier ego "massaging" to play well. Problem was Rafa' just isn't the "ego massaging" type... especially when it was obvious he didn't rate him in the first place.

Classy?? It was a pity about breaking his legs. A pity for him and for us... not being crass, just stating the bl**din' obvious.

... and in today's news, YNWA "Carnage T-shirts flood op' shops around the globe. I liked him, just a pity about his ball control, footballing brain, oh and his two broken legs. All the best "Jib"

16th June 2007: "Benitez could quit Liverpool over lack of transfer funds" Daily Mail 19th June 2007: "Liverpool board ready to back Rafa's spending spree" Daily Mail Nice to know someone's got their finger oon the pulse.

Well there's no "tongue in cheek" smiley, so I thought the rolling eyes one would do Actually I started a thread about Tevez just after we got Mascherano saying how much I would absolutely luv' it, (in a very keegan-esque type way), if we signed him as well.

I'd be happy too... then we can all start moaning about how we haven't signed any wingers yet.

How can you say "its pretty obvious who rafa's targets are" when Rafa' has consistently surprised us with the players he's purchased?

Making serious statements based on entirely false or unsubstantiated rumours and reports only serves to make YOU look naive.

Problem with Cisse was, when he wasn't scoring he was a waste of space. Did very little to contribute to the team. At least Bellamy, Crouch and Kuyt contribute something to the build up play, even if they're not scoring the number of goals everyone would like to see.

Torres, Tevez(or Owen, sorry Andy ), Garcia, Gerrard, Kewell, Pennant... Forget the money, what's that worth in goals?

I really hope the Mancs don't get Tevez. I remember feeling very down when Chelsea landed Shevchenko. Fortunately, he didn't turn out the wonder signing for them I thought he would be, but I think Tevez is a different story and he'll be a prize asset for any club that gets him.

The "silly season" has always been just that, but with the combination of new owners and Rafa's comments after the final, it's ten times worse than it usually is. .. and I agree with Spike, no point getting heated about it.

Well thats cleared that up, when does he start?

Well starting, or on the bench, a Garcia type player is what we desparately needed, especially after going a goal down.

Bearing in mind the roasting we got for most of the 2005 final and the annhilation of the Mancs in the semi's, I think Rafa got his tactics right. Putting our main threat in Gerrard in a more forward role put them on the back foot and allowed us to keep a tight rein on Kaka and Seedorf. Everyone knew Zenden wasn't the ideal choice for the left but he played well in the second leg against Chelsea, he just didn't produce the same kind of performance in the final. Kewell may have caused a few problems, but he still looked a couple of games short of match fitness and took 10-15 minutes to get into the game I thought. I think he may have benefitted from being on from the start, then we could've used Zenden as his replacement when he got tired or if needed to go more defensive. I agree Crouch should've been on a lot earlier, but I would've also preferred to have him on from the start. Crouch has always done well in high profile games and in retrospect I think he would've done a much better job than Kuyt. Neither side were taking any risks and it was always going to be a game of few chances. We weren't creating enough chances with the players we had and once we were a goal down they tightened up their defence and we created even less. I said after the match, I thought it was strange Rafa' bought on Arbeola instead of Bellamy. To me the game was crying out for someone to cause them problems and in choosing Arebola over Bellamy, I thought, gave Bellamy a real proverbial "slap in the face". It would've been great to have had Garcia on the bench for this one, but alas it just wasn't to be.