JRC

Know your enemy

The Mike Parry stuff was hilarious. He was apopleptic on the phone to TS last night, and made some dangerously off-colour remarks about Rafa, Spain and the Spanish. A couple of callers (not Reds) picked him up on it, and Kinghorn (never normally afraid to stick the boot into LFC) kept repeating that the station distanced themselves from his remarks - not jokily, but like he had been strongly advised legally. Mickey Quinn, of course, was useless in any kind of defence of Liverpool or Rafa - didn't argue with the stupid assertion that Rafa would be in trouble now if he hadn't won the CL. So would any succesful manager be....if they hadn't been succesful! This morning though, Parry was a little less demented, but in a random ad section, extolling the Ford Ranger, he spoke of driving from Madrid to Portugal in one in 2004, and repeated all the stuff he'd said about Spanish Peasants etc, but now in the style of 'local colour' or a travelogue, with no mentionm of the Rafa stuff from the night before - like he was nervousd about getting pulled up about his jibes, and building a post-facto defence that it had been this kind of 'journalistic story' rather than a nasty, xenophobic diatribe!

I was at the match, and thought Agger had a poor game today - although he got better after a couple of solid tackles late in the 1st half. Perhaps a bit of Derby Day adrenailin had him overhitting too many of his passes. They were quite happy to let him come forward. Alonso had a total mare - by his standards, but still saw a lot of the ball, and put some decent passes in -, as did Riise and Crouch; Kuyt looked uncomfortable Wide Left; Bellamy tried hard but didn't get as much out of Stubbs as someone with his pace should; I thought Pennant did OK, only in that he hada decent contest with Lescott, who at least had to play well to keep him quiet at times. Gerrard seemd to have too much to do to be an influence. Very surpised Rafa didn't mix it by bringing Gonzales on against Hibbert, pushing Kuyt up in place of Crouch. I don't agree that he is normally conservativbe with his substitutions, he tends to use them to change things rather than maintain them, but today he was conservative. Bringing Robbie on looked like we were hoping for a romantic, but unlikely, denouement. But we didn't lose, and were due a poor performance - it happens. If anything we played better in the Goodison match, and they played the same. Bring on the Barcodes.

So what are they doing about Justice for the 39? Contributing to a campaign fund? Contacting the victims families to offer support? Raising a petition? OR using the death of 39 Fans as a cheap taunt at their opposition? I suppose it makes a change from claimimg THEY were the 'Real Victims' of Heysel. Classless, Tasteless and Ignorant.

But Moyes' own interview, on City (or maybe Merseyside), had stuff like - we've only got a small squad...Rafa has spent more than 100M on his team, we can't afford that...we can't expect to come here and play free-flowing football.. So he was edffectively admitting they are a small club!

ffs, take off those rose-tinted glasses. We're doomed! Doomed, I tell ye!!

Everyone was quick to dis him, but Bose raised questions about DIC's long term intentions, which, anxious to do the deal, we all pooh-poohed, carried away by mobile phone screen-savers, perhaps. Yet we believe the worst part of the Gillett rumours, and don't accept the latest staement about groundshare not being an option, or underwriting the stadium, or that he seems to have the kind of commercial expertise to leverage a 'Sports Franchise Brand' that many here have continually claimed as the shortfall in our Board's skillset. Perhaps more pertinently, Bose suggested that al-Ansari was struggling to get the full support of the DIC Board for the deal...hence the slightly protracted due diligence...perhaps Gillett appearing was a convenient out for them?

And to be fair, I didn't feel he slated Agger, just pointed out that he made sure the Lino saw that a foul had been committed - and that most players would do the same. More 'going down easily' than 'diving'.

Last night's was the knd of Top Class Goalie display you need in a succesful team - you can keep your hyperactive, well-practiced shot-stoppers behind flakey defences (Yes, I'm talking to you, Shay Given, although I do rate you) - who often get the plaudits and the chance to do lots of Hollywood and Alamo stuff, what you need is solidity, organization, the ability to contribute to distribution from the back and the happy knack of pulling out vital saves when the opposition hasn't even been in your half for 35 minutes; and Pepe gave a Masterclass in those skills last night, and has proved that he can do it consistently - he was in his 3rd great Clean Sheet run in 2 years until beaten by an Off-Side goal. Schmeichel-like indeed, and there are few finer compliments for a Goalie, however hard that is to admit.

I'm a nervous TV Watcher, so I took the Dog out at Half-Time, fulminating under my breath at how poor Kuyt and Crouch had been, and how a lack of control up front had let WHU off the hook in the first half-hour, and even back into a game they didn't deserve to be in. I got back about 10 minutes into the 2nd Half. I didn't even need to ask my lad who'd scored the goals....

From where I sit in the Moan Stand, I can assure you some players are deprecated(sic) more than others....

May well be apocryphal, but this was a common explanation at the time of why the Celtic-Rangers chant started - it was a (thoughtless and insensitive) attempt to suggest that the away fans might die in the manner of the Ibrox disaster by mimicking what was being sung when it happened. I'm sure others have alternative theories, but this was definitely a contemporary one. Of course, we didn't have the interweb and all that then to debate/obfuscate/clarify the matter.

Apparently invoking the atmosphere at Ibrox just before the disaster, to will it upon the away fans. No longer appropriate, methiniks.

Personally, I think it's great that we have such a mixed, multi-cultural, diverse fan base, and accept their support howsoever they choose to provide it. I don't often get into Town on Match Day, but I was in Williamson Square late last year, and it was great to see all the overseas parties coming from the Hotels, into the LFC shop, generally taking it all in before heading up to the ground, brand new scarves and hats a dead giveaway; welcome to you all, come and join us! I'm reluctant to see us uncritically adopt songs and/or chants (and/or actions) from external sources - though I suppose they all come from somewhere - but we certainly used to give it the 'Easy, Easy' way back in the days, so I'm not embarassed by that, although I'm not too keen on the WWE clapping action that now goes with it, but what the hell, whatever floats your boat. I am MUCH more concerned by the depressing negativity from those miserabilists who appear to have nothing to offer, and DO draw the line as to what constitutes 'Fanhood' against 90 minutes of ignorant, bellowed, pessimistic misanthropy like you get in my part of the Main Stand (Saturday being an exception, thanks to the early goal, no doubt). That much of that comes from long-term Season Ticket Holders - probably ex-Kopites from the glory days (like me) - suggests that the 'problem' is not necessarily with OOT-ers, Soccer AM watchers or Tourists.

I don't think anyone would disagree that Crouch needs some coaching when it comes to getting power into his headers, but what struck me on Saturday was someone who has had heading coaching is Steve Finnan. After Bolton away, we all agreed that this was a weakness that they had exploited by getting him isolated at the back post, and it clearly wasn't missed by the likes of Blackburn who tried it as well, successfully as it turned out. Chelsea clearly thought the same - but he dealt with absolutely everything that came his way in the air, even when he had more than one player competing. Perhaps this 'weakness' was just another symptom of him not being in the best form at the start of the season, but I'd like to think he's showing his mettle and professionalism by responding positively and continuing to develop, even at his age and with his experience. Good work, Steve. Now it's your turn, Peter.

Agree about Drogba. For all his diving (which he is cutting out) and moaning (which can be par for the course for v. competitive players - e.g. Keane), he certainly gives 100%, is not without ability, and yet at heart remains an old-fashioned tough, hard centre forward - and he always seems to enjoy his contests with a tough defender; always chatting, sometimes smiling, seems to give defenders credit when they do well. He and Sami have had some great battles - he terrorised him last year (Sami was ill, though), and muscled him out - not many do that - when he was here with Marseille, whilst Sami had him in his pocket in the CL games - yet the two of them always seemed to slug it out in the best possible way, toe to toe, but lots of mutual respect, almost joking with each other - like boxers. He seemed to be paying the same respect to Jamie on Saturday, which he deserved.

Surely it is sensoble, whatever amount you have to spend, that some of your outlay goes on 'squad' players, so that you have, erm, a squad - you know, cover, options and...possibilities. A bit like another Iberian Manager has been pilloried for doing (including on here at times)

Whisper it, but I had respect for Drogba when he laid into the others for not tackling back in the last minute or so. Quite right too, they weren't up for it by then. And yes, Robben saw he wasn't going to get anything from Styles, was going to get booed mercilessly, and a tough time from Finnan, so he pulled a sicky. What did Mourinho say, btw?

Agree that today his performance was more about discipline than the wow factor we sometimes get. I would have liked him to cut loose a little more, esp later on, as he was Head & Shoulders above Ballck and Fat Frank. But adding that tactical disciplne has been something we've been asking for for a while, and he is starting to deliver.

I'll take your word for it, as I'm not as regular a reader as I used to be, but certainly recall that they ran a review of the Jimmy McGovern TV Drama which rather sneered at it, implying the usual dismissals (whingers, looking for others to blame, Taylor a 'whitewash' etc), following which a couple of letters were printed which pointed out that they hadn't laid into SYP and other culpable bodies with the gusto they usually would (although McKenzie has always been fair game to them). I certainly don't remember any really serious look at the injustice and cover-up, despite that being their stock-in-trade. But that may have been Ingrams Editorship, and he was a perverse old sod - maybe things have changed now. Certainly haven't read anything about the Manc Police - pity, because we have clearly lost the PR war in the reporting of bad behaviour at LFC-ManU matches. I know that sounds a crass reference in regard to genuinely offensive and anti-social behaviour, but I'm also sick of presenters and callers claiming the moral high ground - by inference - by reeling off the well-known (and not necessarily untrue) offences committed in our name without anyone pointing out that there is usually just as much offensive stuff happening on the other side - Mickey Quinnn lets Terry Christian tweak his tale all the time, without ever having a comeback.

The Eye has been surprisingly lightweight on Hillsborough in the past - amidst the knockabout stuff the genuine expose journalism of cover-ups, incompetence and tabloid excess is usually spot on, but they seemed to shy away from covering Hillsborough - football too working class? Strange, given that Paul Foot is a massive Plymouth fan, and the mags founders were school pals of John Peel. This is more about knocking The S*n, I suppose, but welcome none the less. Brandies All Round!!

Typical of Xabi, he shows appropriate knowledge of and respect for the whole JF96 thing - even after the Arsenal game, I'm not sure all our players would be so sympathetic, they do tend to live in a bubble at times. Xabi is a Red Legend already, becoming even more of one as each day passes.

If he is the kind to do a Gazza or a Eubank, the extra 3M will go as well, just take a little longer. If he manages his money well, his retirement lifestyle will be fabulous anyway - not sure that the incremental 3M substantially changes that. As a highly (over) paid member of the WH team, he could see himself sidelined, shipped out etc before it gets to Bosman time. Sure he could sit around and pick up the £50K a week, but WHU could well be trying to get rid before then. He is probably at his peak as a player right now, probably targetting the next WC still, so I would suggest this should be prove yourself at the top time rather than final pay day time (when I CAN understand the 'best possible contract' attitude; i.e. when you have already achieved your maximum potential). If he came to us and did at least OK, his chances of that final feather-bed contract would be enhanced rather than diminished. Having an EPL or CL medal (we can hope) as opposed to relegation on his CV would more than compensate, both spiritually and, if he is that money-conscious, materially. There would plenty of Reds in Oz keen to welcome a legend (if he became one) with open, cash-filled arms, well past 34 (Media, corporates etc.) - more so than there would be, I suggest, for an ex-Championship defender with WHU. Of course, maybe the EPL, CL, Legend stuff wouldn't happen - but if that is Neil's attitude, it suggests he lacks the assurance to back himself to perform at the top level. It certainly won't happen with West Ham. Didn't Paul Jones, late in his career, and a lower earner than Neil, turn down a reasonable contract offer - probably his last as he thought - for a short loan with us, just for the privilege, honour etc of running out in front of the Kop in a Reds shirt? 2 games, 1 great save and huge respect and kudos. And of course, the raised profile meant he did still get another contract. And I bet he'll get more out of that game and that save when he sits his Grandkids on his knee than Neil will from the increased salary he will receive. Anyway, I now seem to recall that Neil once broke one of our player's legs. I appear to have forgotten that until today. How could we consider signing him? I never liked him anyway....

I've never understood the rationale that people understand why he would go for more money - these guys already earn more money than they can realistically spend, so more of it hardly constitutes a key driver. Yes if the clubs are comparable, but choosing a relegation fight over CL seems bizarre for any sportsman with a desire to prove themselves at the top - he can easily afford to make his decision on footballing terms. Even financially, he is short-sighted - if he came to us and did well, as a member of a top 4 Team, his value and earning potential would rise, whilst there is the possibility at WH, if they go down, that he could become unemployable, or at least not on the salary WH are apparently paying. Shows poor decision-making capability - which, come to think of it, sometimes describes his tackling...

If it means paying off all the debts as defined by Bose and Cannon, I'll be getting some money back for the matches remaining on my Season Ticket, and we are unilaterally going to settle immediately all those Transfer Fees due to other clubs that we have previously agreed to pay over a period of time(but still allow others to pay us on the drip). Top business men these Dubaians!