Rafa staying positive

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...er-league-title

 

Rafa has refused to concede the Premier League title to Manchester United and called on Arsenal to prove they are better than their recent results suggest. The Liverpool manager is defiantly clinging to the faint hope that United will fail to earn the point they need from their last two games to retain their crown.

 

Benítez hopes Liverpool will still have something to play for when they take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday, but that depends on Arsenal winning tomorrow lunchtime at Old Trafford.

 

"We have confidence that Arsenal will play a good game," Benítez said: "They have lost their last two and this time you will see a totally different team intent on proving something about themselves. If they do that, hopefully it will give us our chance the following day.

 

"Whatever happens, I am really pleased that we are in this position at the end of the season. But I am certainly not giving up on the title; we must always be positive. Arsenal will put up a fight, they are a good team with players of quality. And because of the results they have had in the last few games, they have to prove something.

 

"Arsène Wenger is a winner, and his players are too. You cannot lose in the way they have done in their last few games and not want to try to do their best.

 

 

and Carlsberg can feckoff

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...verpool-stadium

 

Carlsberg want their name on the Premier League club's new stadium, but the brewing company say they need assurances about the team's financial strength before extending its long-standing commercial partnership.

 

Their ties with the club stretch back to 1991, and the current contract, worth £7m per year, expires at the end of the 2009-10 season.

 

In announcing Carlsberg's intentions the head of sponsorship, Gareth Roberts, indicated his company would be monitoring the club's ability to refinance a loan of around £250m and, more crucially, progress on a new stadium.

 

The new 60,000-seat venue on the adjacent Stanley Park was due to have been ready by 2011, but the global economic downturn forced the co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, to halt building work last year. Carlsberg, though, are still keen on the new stadium bearing their name.

 

"That will be part of the discussion I'm sure, but there's been no decisions yet," Roberts said.

 

Roberts found the off-field tensions between Hicks and Gillett distracting, but last month's show of unity, with the Americans sitting together during the 4-4 draw with Arsenal, was an encouraging sign as negotiations between the parties intensify.

 

"We need to understand where they are going with the stadium, what is the next step?" Roberts told the Associated Press. "[The ownership situation] is a distraction. The best thing is they seem to have resolved the internal issues and they are going to take the next step. If it's done in the right way and they take the next step then absolutely.

 

"The ownership issue is also about the stadium and the financial setup. The stadium is a big step of their progression in the future and we want to be part of that."

 

Naming rights have been on the owners' agenda since they bought the club in 2007, with Gillett saying the windfall could subsidise buying a high-profile player every year.

[carrafan]

I like Rafa.

[ali]

Rafa needs his new ground to shake up the superpowers

 

By Daniel King Last updated at 10:24 PM on 16th May 2009

 

Rafa Benitez says Liverpool will struggle to compete with Manchester United and their others rivals at the top of the league until they have a new stadium.

 

The project to build a new 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park has stalled because the American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been unable to borrow the £350million required to construct it owing to the credit crunch.

 

Benitez, whose team play at bottom-club West Bromwich Albion knowing second place is the best they can hope for after United clinched the title yesterday, believes Liverpool will have to work extra hard to make up for the financial gap between themselves and the other teams in the so-called 'big four'.

 

The manager said: 'On an economic level we cannot fight with the other big teams, at least for now, in particular because of the stadium. Old Trafford has 76,000 seats, the Emirates has 60,000, Chelsea can count on Abramovich. Until we have a new stadium, we will not be able to compete economically. In the meantime we'll have to do things very well to be competitive.'

 

Benitez believes that his decision to sign a new five-year contract will give him and the club the opportunity to build on their improvement this season and challenge on a regular basis for the Premier League and other trophies.

 

He added: 'Believing in your manager, in his project, allows you more success as you can see when you look at Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

 

'However, there are new owners arriving in England and they don't necessarily understand that tradition so well. For them, clubs are just businesses and the risk is that there is less stability. The role of the manager can give you that stability.

 

'We have to first consolidate the level we have reached. We have a better squad now, a structure that works better with very capable people that have a huge amount of desire. That will bear fruit in the future. I have a five-year contract with the power to take decisions, to do things the way I think they should be done, which guarantees, despite the difficulty of the English league, the possibility to be in the race for titles.'

 

Despite pushing United almost all the way this season, Benitez warns the Premier League is the toughest competition to win.

 

He said: 'As for winning things, it's very easy to say that Liverpool have to win things but very complicated to do it, because the best teams in the world and the richest, as we've seen this year in the Champions League, are here in England.

 

'Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are among the four best European teams, which shows that the Premier League is the toughest league to win. But we have an obligation to be among them and to be a team always looking to win things.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...s.html?ITO=1490

[Rory Fitzgerald]

[ali]

Liverpool can snatch title from Manchester United next season, says Reds legend Sir Roger Hunt

By Anthony Clavane 17/05/2009

 

 

Liverpool legend Roger Hunt is convinced the Reds can overhaul Manchester United next season and end 20 years of hurt.

 

Rafa Benitez's side have missed out on the title again this season - but Hunt believes that the Spaniard's greater control of transfer targets will finally end the long wait.

 

Benitez, who was given more influence after signing a new five-year contract, has £20 million, plus part of the proceeds of Robbie Keane's return to Tottenham to buy in a new crop of stars this summer.

 

His side go to West Brom today having won eight of their last nine league games - but even that impressive run was not enough to stop United equalling Liverpool's all-time English record of 18 titles with yesterday's draw against Arsenal.

 

Hunt said: "I think they are getting much nearer to winning their first title since 1990. Each year they get nearer and nearer. And with Benitez signing this new contract, he's going to get the team he wants.

 

They've already got together a good group of players.

 

"Let him bring all his players in and see how he does. I think he's got a very good chance of doing it next season.

 

Manchester United won't be the same if Cristiano Ronaldo goes to Real Madrid."

 

Hunt starred in Bill Shankly's great team of the 1960s, scoring 245 times in 492 appearances - and holds the record for the most league goals scored by a Liverpool striker.

 

He sees Fernando Torres as a striker in the Hunt or Ian Rush mould - but does not believe that the Reds have become over-reliant on the Spanish hitman and Steven Gerrard.

 

"Now they've got Dirk Kuyt, who works hard and holds the ball up well and weighs in with lots of goals," he said. "And Yossi Benayoun has had a good season.

 

"I'd like them to buy some English players.

 

Who'd have thought 15 or 20 years ago they would have American owners, a Spanish manager and about nine of the first team not English? "If you had said that to a Scouser, he would have just laughed at you.

 

"But it's the support that makes it Liverpool. When Gerry Marsden comes on singing You'll Never Walk Alone it's still fantastic.

 

"It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Jamie Carragher and Stevie Gerrard typify the Liverpool spirit."

 

Roger Hunt has loaned his World Cup Final England for display in the National Museum, Preston. It other treasures including ball from the final. For more call 01772 908442 e-mail enquiries@nationalfootballmuseum.com

 

RECORD OF A REDS HERO

 

ROGER HUNT MBE

 

Born: July 20 1938 1958-69: Made 492 appearances for Liverpool and scored 286 goals, including a club record 245 in the league (Ian Rush got 229).

 

1960-61: Scored a club record 41 league goals in a season as Liverpool won promotion.

 

1962-69: Won 34 England caps, scoring 18 goals. Played in 1966 World Cup Final victory over West Germany.

 

1964: Scored the first goal ever shown on Match Of The Day, in 3-2 victory against Arsenal.

 

2000: Awarded MBE.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21366364/

 

 

That's good enough for me

[ali]

17 May 2009

Steven Gerrard: I've grown up and learned how to deal with my problems

STEVEN GERRARD ON THE ANGUISH THAT MADE A NO-HOPER A COPER

Steve Bates

 

Steven Gerrard has opened his heart on a season of personal turmoil and glory - and confessed he couldn't have coped with his court case hell four years ago.

 

Liverpool skipper Gerrard, named Football Writers' Footballer of the Year after an outstanding season pursuing Manchester United, has revealed vast reserves of mental strength in blocking out a probable July court appearance after an incident in a Southport bar.

 

Many stars would have buckled under the pressure of having to perform at the highest level and maintain Liverpool's title dream.

 

But Gerrard managed to sideline his personal anguish and deliver top class performances which helped keep the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson's men until the end of the campaign.

 

And now, in his first major interview, Gerrard reveals: WHAT gave him the inner strength to survive his court case nightmare.

 

Why he will sign a new four-year deal in the coming weeks.

 

How he is consulted by Kop boss Rafa Benitez on transfer decisions.

 

Where he is happiest playing in the current Liverpool line-up.

 

Speaking of his legal trauma, Gerrard said: "I've had to deal with a situation this season that's been difficult and if that had happened to me four or five years ago, it would have affected my form, I've no doubts about that.

 

Professional

 

"But with age, experience and maturity I have learned to park my problems or things on my mind until after a game. I have learned to deal with it in my own way and get on with life.

 

"I am really pleased I'm at the age now where if there is a problem or something's not going right I can park it to one side and deal with it.

 

"I have had to be professional and even more focussed and I have to thank my manager Rafa and my team-mates for helping me get through this season because it hasn't been easy.

 

"And that's why I am really pleased with myself for the way I have dealt with it and how I haven't let it affect my football.

 

"Four or five years ago I had a situation where my mum and dad split up and I wasn't enjoying training and it affected my form.

 

"Certain other little things down the years have affected me too, and I am only human.

 

"I've come into work and brought the problems with me - both to the training ground and on to the pitch. I've not been able to deal with it - but this time around, with age and maturity I've learned to cope."

 

Gerrard's reward for a season which put Liverpool within touching distance of their first League title in 19 years will be a new four-year deal that he'll sign within days.

 

The Liverpool captain said: "I am on the verge of signing it now, there are just a couple of minor details, so I am hoping I can sign it before I go off on my holidays.

 

"This is a big contract for me and it's likely to be my final one. It takes me to 33 but I feel I'm in the prime of my footballing career at the moment. I feel confident and strong and I feel really good when I'm out on the pitch. The aim for me now is to stay fit for the next four years and try to play as many games as I can and win as many trophies as I can. I'm getting greedy when it comes to winning trophies because I know I have to win as many as I can before it's too late.''

 

Gerrard is always kept in the loop at Anfield on major team decisions - and he's excited at the prospect of Liverpool's summer transfer activity.

 

He said: "The couple of signings the manager will make this summer are really key to us getting over that final hurdle, because we know that maybe with a couple of per cent more we could have won it this time.

 

"This is the first time I've been involved in a title race that has lasted the distance and the buzz of running United really close has been so enjoyable that I want more of it.

 

"I'll have certain regrets when the season ends but I don't normally like looking back, to be honest. This time I'm going to use the experience to drive me on and try to win the title over the next few years. We certainly have the ability, as we've shown this year.

 

"It's a hard league to win and it's taught me that you do need the experience of being in title races to win them. I think because Chelsea and United both have that experience, maybe that's where we've come unstuck.

 

"Sometimes you just have to go for it and take big risks to win the kind of games that we have drawn. But we've learned a lot and I think next year could be our year - I'm really confident about that."

 

Gerrard's big aim is to stop United's trophy-winning juggernaut and he's confident now that Benitez has committed his future to Anfield that the pieces are falling into place.

 

"Rafa signing has definitely had an impact, '' said Gerrard. "If you see our form and the way we have played since he signed the new deal, it has given everyone a big lift and that is what this club is all about - togetherness.

 

"We don't like picking up the papers and reading about Liverpool involved in off-the-field stuff like contracts, owners and negotiations.

 

Togetherness

 

"I have been involved in that myself and it's not what we want here. We want togetherness, continuity - and that will bring out the best in the team.''

 

And will the Kop skipper continue in his second striker role next season? "I hope so because I've loved playing this role behind Fernando Torres this season,'' admitted Gerrard.

 

"Credit must go to the manager because he's seen the strengths of my game and has utilised them to the benefit of the team. Fernando has also been key to that.

 

"He stretches defenders, he's very direct and he runs in behind, which gives me a lot of space behind him. And with two holding midfielders behind me it gives me licence to do what I like doing, which is bursting forward and getting into attacking positions. I've had to work at certain roles and the manager has helped me not be selfish and only want to play in one position.

 

"If I was to say 'no, I only want to play in this position' I could find myself on the bench for England and not playing the way I want to at Liverpool. Rafa has told me to learn to play in different positions. I'm benefiting from that now."

 

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

[John am Rhein]

Sponsorship by an electronics firm rather than a brewer is a pre-requisite for winning the League

[urban]

Sponsorship by an electronics firm rather than a brewer is a pre-requisite for winning the League

 

I would like an Apple sponsorship. With the see through apple logo on the shirt.

[John am Rhein]

I would like an Apple sponsorship. With the see through apple logo on the shirt.

 

That would condemn us to relegation

[Knox_Harrington]

And will the Kop skipper continue in his second striker role next season? "I hope so because I've loved playing this role behind Fernando Torres this season,'' admitted Gerrard.

 

"Credit must go to the manager because he's seen the strengths of my game and has utilised them to the benefit of the team. Fernando has also been key to that.

 

"He stretches defenders, he's very direct and he runs in behind, which gives me a lot of space behind him. And with two holding midfielders behind me it gives me licence to do what I like doing, which is bursting forward and getting into attacking positions. I've had to work at certain roles and the manager has helped me not be selfish and only want to play in one position.

 

"If I was to say 'no, I only want to play in this position' I could find myself on the bench for England and not playing the way I want to at Liverpool. Rafa has told me to learn to play in different positions. I'm benefiting from that now."

f***ing good on you Stevie. Seen exactly where his bread is buttered and has become a leader of men.

[R A Softlad]

That would condemn us to relegation

 

[Chili Palmer]

f***ing good on you Stevie. Seen exactly where his bread is buttered and has become a leader of men.

 

 

yep, great to hear, but it has to be said, he really should have consulted Redknapp and Keys before doing this interview as it really impacts them and their stupid conversations next season.