I don't buy this whole mockering / firing up rivals stuff, but I'd still prefer our players to keep their mouth shut. Don't give the press anything - Rafa in his first season should be the role model.
He only gets a brief mention in the official reserve match report: "French goalkeeper Whatshisname and Spanish youth international Mikel San Jose made their first appearances for the Reds and both players did well. Whatshisname was steady and he made a brilliant save towards the end of the game, while San Jose looked calm and composed at the heart of the Reds defence. " Clearly the shot he made the save from can't have had any pace on it or he would have got out of the way...
Houllier's track record in the director of football role (i.e acquiring players) is proven allright. Anyway I reckon Houllier is just a smokescreen. Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you "The Return of Pinocchio", playing at Anfield from next week...
From the minute-by-minute on dotty vee: "It's boiling here in Toulouse. The stadium announcer advised everyone to drink lots of water. Most of the Reds fans, caged in just to the right of the press box, seem to have opted for lager"
Well said that man. As to the article: cutting edge journalism, innit? I mean, "may win the league but probably won't" - how bold is that? It might be worth noting that it was written by Paul Doyle who has a penchant for sticking the boot into managers. He did a piece on Houllier when GH took over at Lyon which is best described as a hatchet job - Doyle all but predicted relegation for them...
Not only that, we'd be nailed on for a perfect home record because everyone who plays us will be jet lagged. Meanwhile, with the size of our squad we can maintain a dedicated "away team" which stays in England.
I think the point is that before the season starts you don't know how signings are going to work out. The formula "won the title last year + signed big names = nailed on for the title next year" doesn't work, as illustrated by Chelsea last year and ManU in 99 when they signed Veron.