Wednesday 12 August 2009

IT'S ALL OVER FOR LIVERPOOL - WITHOUT A BALL BEING KICKED...

THE new season is so close you can almost reach out and touch it.

It's the time of year when you should be dreaming up songs for new signings, dusting off your lucky boxer shorts and picking your fantasy footie team with a big smile on your face.

But if you believe the ex-pros and national newspaper columnists, you needn't bother this year.

Carry on shopping, cutting the grass and painting the fence - because without Xabi Alonso there's no hope of the title coming to Anfield in May.

Now it seems, Liverpool are no longer a two-man team, other Reds players are decent - now they've left, that is.

But if Xabi's suddenly so good he can single-handedly swing a title one way or another - where were the articles hailing him as the world's best?

Where was the praise for Benitez for plucking such a gem from the relative obscurity of Real Sociedad?

Well don't bother exercising your Google searchbar - they're not there.

Not just because it didn't suit certain journos' agendas to write that kind of piece. But also because Alonso had two ordinary seasons before peaking in the last campaign.

With the saga of his sale out the way, a sizeable sum of £30million banked, Rafa Benitez kissing his middle finger in the direction of Madrid and the quickfire signing of Alberto Aquilani, everything should be alright again though, right?

Wrong. He's a crock, we're told. Not in Xabi's class. Too lightweight for the Premier League. And on it goes.

Suddenly, everyone's an expert on Aquilani.

Well I'm not - and I'm not afraid to say it. I've read the background and watched the clips on Youtube. I've heard the Roma players and staff speak favourably about him, not least former Red John Arne Riise.

But I'll judge for myself when Aquilani runs out in red which, unfortunately by the looks of things, won't be until October.

Meanwhile, everyone continues to overstate the influence of Alonso.

How far can it go? It's like when Kevin Keegan left, Kenny Dalglish retired or Ian Rush headed for Italy?

Even better. How about that Liverpool's title challenge is over before a ball is kicked because of the sale of Alonso?

I'm exaggerating though, right? No-one could write off a club that finished four points shy of the title. A side that won home and away against the Champions and Chelsea. And all this despite not having the best striker in the world available for a large chunk of the season.

They could you know.

According to Daily Mail columnist Martin Samuel, by selling a player who was desperate to leave for an inflated fee and immediately replacing him with a highly-rated Italian, the Reds have: "put a stick of dynamite under their title aspirations again".

And once one 'expert' reels out this unsubstantiated drivel, they all follow suit. It's like a huge snowball - only this one is a browner shade of white.

I've been away on holiday for a week. And in the matter of hours since I've been back I've watched Ray Parlour and Andy Townsend write us off because Alonso's left.

Then I read a few season previews - everyone trotting out the same old line that Liverpool have been severely weakened by his departure and can't possibly push for the title.

It seems Rafa Benitez can't do anything right - while Alex Ferguson never does any wrong.
Glen Johnson is the England right back, Portsmouth's player of the year and could have gone back to Chelsea.

But he's too dear.

And there's no point in having a decent right back because there's no decent left wingers in the Premier League (according to Paul Merson).

On the other hand, it's a stroke of genius to sell arguably the world's best player in Cristiano Ronaldo (in his peak) and replace him with Michael Owen (definitely not in his).

Sometimes I despair, I really do.

But then I remember I've got some boxer shorts to dust.

Anyone got any Aqualani songs?!

Read my season preview at LFC Bet

86 comments:

Nabz said...

Didn't bother readin this shite only commenting by looking at the title!

Shut the fuck up and belive you idiot in Torres Gerrard Kuyt Riera Lucas Johnston Babel Benayoun there's hope.

robbohuyton said...

The world is a better place for your comment "Nabz". Tip for the future, try reading the post.

Deno said...

Lol nabz you should of read the article the author here is totally mocking the shite that's printed in rags and not actually writing Pool off.

Anyway great read - hits the nail on the head.

Anonymous said...

Any intelligent argument die the moment you created your moronic tltle.

Anonymous said...

great post,i have the same feelings towards journos. on that note oliver kay(the times)anyone know his team?
john usa

Joe, Liverpool. said...

Nabz, you look right a proper tit. Read the fucking article and you'll see that he is being sarcastic and having a go at the media for writing us off after selling alonso.

Some people are real idiots and I'm afraid I've got news for you, Nabz... You're right up there with the best of them.

Anonymous said...

Nabz is an idiot

Good article. So what if Alonso is gone. It had to happen sometime. We pretty much have the youngest squad of the top four. Score the most goals. Lucas looks good. Fit Torres and Gerrard. We'll win and comfortably.

robbohuyton said...

"Anon" (the first one) - maybe a moron would post a comment without reading the article?

John, Oliver Kay is a Liverpool fan by all accounts.

Anonymous said...

because he wrote a load o tosh the other day about lfc and wouldnt print my reply
johnusa

Anonymous said...

we have to get behind lucas,i mean if he comes good(lol) we'll all look like nabz the muppet
john usa

Anonymous said...

at robbo,i tried to find that article but it was three days ago,itwas a doom and gloom piece about missing the chance to win the prem this season and getting back to this article above"what the fuck,we havnt kicked a bleedin ball yet for gods sake"
john usa

Anonymous said...

wavertree exile robbo trying to get a grip over here
john usa

robbohuyton said...

John, agree on Lucas. I think he could come good, too. I think the problem has been we've expected him to play like Xabi. A tweak of the tactics allowing him to play further forward I think would benefit him - and once he gets his confidence up we could have a player on our hands. He's only 22 as well.

Anonymous said...

This time last year, the only people complaining about the Xabi out; Barry in prospect were the Liverpool fans. Fast forward a year and Benitez has lost the title by acceding to Alonso's wish to move (most people knew this was likely after how Xabi was treated last year).

Another way to look at this is that we got Alonso's best year so far plus around £15 million and Aquilani rather than Gareth Barry.
I'll compare Aquilani's 8 months to Barry's 10 months in May.

Anonymous said...

i think hes more his own man robbo,rafa knows this,give him a chance with open minds,its amazing what confidence does!
john usa

Anonymous said...

great point anon
john

Anonymous said...

anyone remember the fAKT lucas won that thingy in brazil previously won by kaka,ronaldhino et al,??????????
jc usa

Anonymous said...

theres no doubting alonso is a great loss but for fuck sake, he aint the be all and end all of lfc, them so called experts need to get off the united band wagon and realize alonso and all his greatness wasnt so great to win the league for us.
I dont know how they are judging aquilani yet as the man hasnt even trained in england yet, u would think that they would at least give him 1 game before judging him, too much for glen johnson?? chelsea and there so called saviour ancelotti was willing to pay the money so how come when rafa pays it, its supposidly a ridiculous amount?

Anonymous said...

i think it should become the siege mentality fungus adopted years ago ,maybe thats the big plan by rafa,everyone writes unfounded crap and are blinkered by what they read in their own papers.me i see what i see on the pitch and in the way my manager speaks,i was a little young for shanks but i bet my empty pocket shanks is giving a wry old smile over benitez.
john usa

Anonymous said...

double A, our new number 7,
win us the league and bring us to heaven,
do us a favor and become our savior,
and fuck the traitor, uniteds number 7

Anonymous said...

aquilani is number 4

Anonymous said...

knock knock knocking on uniteds door,
knock knock knocking on uniteds door,
rafa take that jersey off of dossena,
he cant use it anymore,
hes gettin bad, too bad to play,
feel were knocking on uniteds door,
knock knock knocking on uniteds door...
rafa put insua in left back,
i cant watch dossena anymore,
the long wait is coming to an end,
i feel like were knocking on uniteds door,
knock knock knocking on uniteds door,
yeah yeah yeah yeah

Anonymous said...

7 is a jinx number for Liverpool. Remember Kewell and Keane

Nabz said...

I'm reall sorry lads for not reading the article my bad jst the title pissed me off.
But after actually reading it well done to the author!
Sorry again mate.

Anonymous said...

alberto,alberto can i shag your tart if we win the league?

Anonymous said...

nabz say sorry to everyone!
john usa

Marc said...

Thank you! Amidst all the pice of $%$%$, WE HAVE A GEM OF AN ARTICLE!

Bless you.

Anonymous said...

excellent article...could't agree with you more...n btw the title of the article ws pretty amusing too...This is going to be our year...You'll Never Walk Alone...n btw Aquilani frm the youtue vid's looks quite decent as lng as he's fit n im sure rafa bought him aftr making sure he cn play consistantly for us...he's one of the best if not the best manager in the world...its time the world gives him the respect he deserves..

Anonymous said...

good read, alonso, he got his arse kicked into shape last year by nearly been sold, then he plays his best yr for us so far,should of played his best for the previous two yrs and we might of closed the massive gap left by manu and chelsea, im glad alonso is gone, might have the best feet in the game for picking out players , cant tackle , cant run , my mother would run quicker, and ive never seen him head the ball, on the other hand Aqualani might be injured, but injury comes to thos who have speed, torres owen ronaldo robben van persie , the list goes on and on, those who have speed have injury problems thruought their career, Aqualani was one of roma's dead ball specialists , he is 2 footed , and can take free kicks with both, also nearly 5 inchs taller , so better advantage in the air ,rafa done a smart piece of business, bought alonso for £10m sold for £30m profit of £17m after wages

maxta said...

The more these crap journos write Liverpool off the bigger the egg to cover their ugly red faces after the premiership comes back to Anfield.....

Anonymous said...

In rafa we trust!!! Boss rafa is not a fool siting there and watching alonso going for nothing!!! He did said that breaking his team would cost much and rafa knows what he is up to!!!this article says shit as if only one player play football on the ground!!! Grow up man football is played with a team!!! I admit that alonso is a big loss but that does not mean it will cost us a title??? As if u stop living?? Cut the crap and focus on our actual team because player come and go it depend on them!!!

Anonymous said...

i think mark lawrenson is the biggest culprit, i think he is alex ferguson's secret rent boy , last year i said if liverpool close the gap and finish within a couple of points , in my own head it would be a massive progress , and liverpool excelled last year, this is liverpools best chance for the title, even tho i hate andy gray, he said this is liverpools yr, manu have a much bigger challenge with man city spending money, that is 2 more tougher games than normal for united

Denarse said...

NABZ FOR PRESIDENT.
not often someone holds there hands up on the net and admits they were wrong - good on you.

Anonymous said...

Reds sld hav bought Hernanes or Defour instead and Lorik Cana (now at sunderland)and Nalo(werder bremen)as cover 4 mascherano and Skrtel/Agger?

buboy philippines said...

alonso had a good last year with liverpool because he compensate on Torres' injury, also it made a great move for rafa knowing Alonso would have left anyways. everythin will fall into its' place.

Anonymous said...

guys, we will win the tile this year.
Alonso was a very good player but not that great. I think Aquilani willl be a very nice surprise for us. And lucas will prove everybody wrong. He already looks different. he started to believe in his chances now. Its the media that is making a big fuss over alonso. he rarely scores.
Rafa knows what he is doing and i even think thyat deep inside, he is happy alonso left and for what money!!! He wanted a more attacking midfielder/ And bought aquilani immediately.
We should trust him, koz he's been doing only good since he came.
In rafa we trust. YNWA. Peace and premiership.

Anonymous said...

A song for Aqualani

To the tune of :"The Age Of Aquarius" A famous song in the 70's

When the cup is very near in sight.

And Rafael could'nt let the devil out of sight

Age of Aqualani, Age of Aqualani niii....Aqualaani... Aqualaani.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, we're a two man team. Everybody says so, and they are unlikely to be injured as much as last season. The future's bright, Manchester's on fire.

Tgan said...

Excellent piece i must say!, We know that the media are terrified of Liverpool taking 'whiskey nose's' title, Can't have that can we?. We know how we finished the season, Even Andy Gray the blue said Liverpool will win the title along with Teddy Sheringham. We are hated across this country and we need to create a siege mentality and use it to our advantage.

Anonymous said...

aquilani da da da da
in the rough tune of
aaa quil anieee da da dada

Anonymous said...

benitez need another top midfilder to start the season not an ingerd one fuke sake wake up benitez this is your last season to prove your self

Anonymous said...

good article.keep off lawro,hes a 100 percenr red,i lived his playing days......hes on of the best with jock hansen.........ynwa as long as your blood is red.give owen a chance lads the boy wants to play football.....anywere... he was dono now a true red....hel never score against lfc....ul see.rf ur the legend zeid

Anonymous said...

WOW i loved the artical
SO clever
LIVERPOOL TIL I DIE
may this be our year

* Carla

robbohuyton said...

Fair play Nabz for seeing the error of your ways!

Anonymous said...

any good new songs then?

Anonymous said...

Xabi is good but give me a break, Liverpool gonna crumble bcos of that? I will be worried if it was Gerard or Torres . Not bothered at all. Think rather we will win even before we kick the ball. He is gonna rot in Real Fucking Madrid . Hmm btw the last we lost a player to them (Owen) we won the Champions League..

Anonymous said...

i say keep writing us off! it will stir up the likes of stevie and carra to show them all that they're wrong (not that they need any more inspiration to win the league!)
also think lucas has sorted himself out and also babel is looking like the player he was before we signed him
on a note about aquilani song, maybe something to do with the AA???

Anonymous said...

good article, totally agree. Nabz you're a tit.

Karshan.Live said...

Big Ups to the author...

Lets leave the destiny of The Mighty Reds to the people on the pitch this season...

I feel it, This is our time...

BELIEVE ! ! ! ! !

Anonymous said...

ynwa

Anonymous said...

Great article, one of the best i've read in ages. 10 / 10

YNWA

Anonymous said...

Lot of time for your review of the summer. Never listen to Andy Townsend! Sneaky feeling Rafa might have one big signing left to pull out of bag.

Paul Grech said...

Sorry Rob but Nabz is the real star of this piece. What a quality comment!

PS - Fully agree with what you say, obviously.

robbohuyton said...

Haha - I know, take a bow Nabz lad - comment of the year!

Anonymous said...

shame you wont get three points on Sunday tho, u never beat the yids down the lane!!!!
Keano Keano hatrick!!

Anonymous said...

I personally think United will finish out of the top four. They have not replaced Ronaldo's goals and Tevez' enthusiasm. Giggs and Scholes are not 20 somethings anymore, Vidic was never the same after Torres left him for dead.
Stop all the stupid analysis, no Ronaldo no title, possibly no top four. I will not dismiss Chelsea but their manager is new, and their focus is the champpions league.
LFC for the title, and Lucas will be the most improved player of the season.

Nabz said...

Thanks guys... I'll be running for president next year. I just hope I'll read all the bills that come my way before I pass them.

May LIVERPOOL win the title with Jonhnston at right-back!

Andy Lucas (Fan of the richest club in the world) said...

you stupid scouser you are not gonna win the league if anything you and arsenal are gonna be struggling to stay in the top 4. You have one good striker and when he gets injured, which no doubt he will, you wilol once again be relying on gerrard to get you out of shit. But what do you expect when he is pplaying with awful players suchas riers, kuyt and dossena. LMAO win the title eh? Do me a favour

Anonymous said...

mark lawro is a closet manu fan, all u had to do was see him face after liverpool hammered them 4-1, he didnt look happy at all, but alan hansen now he is a true red, he couldnt contain himself , he wanted to scream out loud cause of what had happened, i dont mind owen playing anywhere , im annoyed when owen left liverpool, he lined his own pockets, liverpool should of sold him when offered 25m from real madrid a yr before he was sold, macmanaman done the same, liverpool game them their bread and water and they choose not to sign a contract in order to get a large signing on fee

Anonymous said...

id rather be a pikey than a manc
id rather be a pikey than a manc
oh id rather be a pikey rather be a pikey rather be a pikey
than a manc cause ur wank

lfctipster said...

Think we should lay off the journalists. The poor lambs all trooped over to Amsterdam yesterday ready to write about how England don't need Gerrard, how Lampard shone without having Stevie stepping on his toes etc, etc.
But then they saw the reality of England minus Stevie and had to think of something else to waffle on about.

Anonymous said...

Not even gonna read the title NABZ has spoken, i aint even gonna re read my post for spelling errors cos im the fookin bizness.

Anonymous said...

lol... i almost didn't read the article when i saw the title. nabz, you are a lazy ass. Assumptions kills, mate. By the way, i think this season might be lucas's season.. anyone agree on that??

Anonymous said...

Well said.... The reds are coming upthe hill boys the all laugh at us they all mock at us they all say our days are best article for weeks thank you and to all you Reds with jittery arseholes over a few pre season games wise up or shut up

Anonymous said...

Great article. Why are our hopes over with one player leaving even though we've got 2 very solid additions and the prospect of Stevie and Torres starting MORE than 14 games together. Totally agree with the post that as good as Xabi was with his feet he couldn't run to save his life and judgment in tackles was sketchy at best - I seem to recall a few made just out the area which led to goals for the opposition. I hate so called pundits as much as they hate LFC :)

Anonymous said...

Hey nabz newsnight are looking for a new anchor man to replace Paxo get yer CV in lad

Anonymous said...

Great article and definitely hits the nail on the head with regard to British journalists who are either United, Chelsea or Arsenal fans. Martin Samuel is a total prick! I have read many of his articles in the past and the man is a f*cking imbecile! I doubt if he ever even kicked a ball because his knowledge of football is nil.

Anonymous said...

Alonso is a massive miss FACT,
Aquilani is unproven and could be great or very poo FACT,
Lucas has looked good in pre season but so has Voronin, Dossena, Babel & Ngog FACT
All of these FACTS aside I am feeling quitely confident this year as I think the defensive solidity will see us in good stead and Manure will no longer be winning games they deserve to lose by 3 or 4 goals because of the genius that was Christiano Ronaldo (Chav!) and the guile that was Tevez (The ugly MOFO)
And by the way I AM NOT CRACKING UP!!!

Anonymous said...

To be honest, we have been weakened slightly cos Alonso was underestimated and unsung by those who didn't know, and just because his praises weren't sung by ex-player turned pundits with no affiliation to Liverpool and no real interest, doesn't mean he wasn't a hugely influential player. Having said that, u have an excellent point in the fact that Alonso alone wasn't going to bring that title home alone. We do have a more attacking minded central mid-fielder in aquilani, with 2 good feet. He also ties the gap between midfield and attack alot neater, a good player in a different mould. A midfielder who will get around the box.. which we've lacked since Stevie was pushed up front. Let's not detract from the fact our fantastic finish last season was also influenced by the teams around us underfiring. Man U and chelsea failed to capatalise in games they usually would have. So I'm not going to get carried away and say it was down to our consistent excellent performances that we only finished 4pts clear. But we have certainly improved in the way we play. Over the past 2 years we've become alot more attacking, scoring goals in abundance. We're finding the balance, and we will be challenging this year regardless of what pundits may be saying. We have as much chance of winning this title as man u, or chelsea and deep down, fergie and ancelloti know it... it's gonna be great.. Aquilaaaaani, Aquilaaaani ole ole ole...

Anonymous said...

To "the fan of the richest club in the world". obviously you are a city fan and all of a sudden have found your voice because clubs are selling you players they have no use for anymore. You are not even the best team in your own City, so why because you have 9 strikers in the squad and a wage bill bigger than a NASA space programme you believe you are going to win anything is beyond me. Hopefully that arab will get bored and pull out sending you lot to the pontins league

Imran said...

Great article, couldn't agree more. In Rafa we trust!

Anonymous said...

To the tune of Lady Gaga - Paperazzi

Im your biggest fan
il follow you until u love me
Aqua Aquaillani

Anonymous said...

The journalists writing off Liverpool this early means we start the season as underdogs, which suits us greatly.

It is our time to prove the majority of journalists wrong, and deliver the title to L4.

Anonymous said...

Yoo made a good point with this article, but it needs to be said that Manchester Utd. are title holders, they can afford one weeker season and Liverpool realy needs to win the Premier league now.
About Gerrard in national team, I would like England to use Lampard insted of him, becouse I support Croatia.

Anonymous said...

Very true. The guardian tipping Liverpool a week or so ago precipitated a deluge of anti- red horse sh1te, from all sides. I'm sorry to see Alonso go but who can blame him really, given the Barry saga. He did dis duty and good luck to him.

I've been frustrated with Lucas at times but remember feeling the same about Alonso at first. He has to step up now. Benayoun, Torres, Stevie, Agger, not to mention Nemeth who I hope will see some action, and the newbies- there's a lot to be excited about.

Anonymous said...

Great article well written, about time someone wrote some sense on LFC. The main tabloid idiots get paid to sell papers not write intelligently. Well done.

Anonymous said...

Great article there, exactly how a lot of reds fans feel. Seems at Liverpool we have to put up with the most bizarre opinion, fantasy and utter tripe from the press. And I think we suffer more than most.

The biggest example is the lack of press interest in Fergie and Allardyce's little conspiracy about Rafa's hand gestures. It was pathetic. Did the press go for it - did they heck.

Thanks again mate keep up the good work - we need you when we have 'fans' like that guy that runs the LiverpoolKop blog who ain't got a good word to say about anything.

Anonymous said...

Great blog a fan with common sense rafa has been steadily building yes we all wanted the title striaght away when he came in 2004, but look back with some common sense the whole club was far away from utd chelsea and arsenal , he has steadily built the club over the past 5 years with a few champions league finals along the way won the f.a cup and gave us a geninue title challenge on a net spend of 20 million this is the moment he has been waiting for with a few tweaks the team is now good enough to win league titles and dominate the future is bright not just this season im looking beyond the next 5 or 10 years winning trophies with rafa in charge!

Vanan said...

it's a great read! total mock at the rags! haha...it sure is frustrating to read lazy journos slaging rafa at any chance they get....but the drunk idot at stretford gets off scot-free (pun intended) everytime!!

ANDY LUCAS (FAN OF THE RICHEST CLUB IN THE WORLD) said...

you lot are dilusional

FACT!

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha , I was fuming before reading the article.
Spot on. If we need to win the title a different approach needs to be taken, and its a brave man to sign aquilani. Rafa had a good point his first injury was a recurring thigh and last year was a ankle injury which kept him out for most of the season. The medical experts must have seen enough to feel that he will make a full recovery.

The way the media stirrers talk you would think Xabi had no flaws in his game! I think alonsos problem is that he sits too deep which is good for a top 4 match to soak up the pressure but no use for the Boltons and Stokes of the world, If we kept him we would become a "known quantity" in fungusfaces own words and potentially less of a threat.

Whos to say alonso wont suffer a dip in form or get injured. For all lucas' flaws he played in our two best games last year Newcastle and Man Utd away when Xabi was absent.

This means that Masch can do the dirty work and aquilani plays further up and gerrard as "2nd striker". At anfield this would break down the boltons and stokes of this world.

To win the league we need to make some changes, and I'd like to see more signings to make sure we can last the season.

Anonymous said...

Quality read this la. Nice to see a predominantly optimistic tone in most of these posts too. Makes a change. Just had two responses in a row ignored by that fat-manc samuel in the mail. The media(especially london rags) are in thrall to matron ferguson. Sad really. Will make the title even sweeter when it comes and if it's to be this year, the redmen will have to sweat harder even than last season because it was clear that bar a freak result against the arse (4 shots, 4 goals??!!), no side could live with us in full flow. Hope in your heart and all that.....

Dave Molyneux said...

Andy Townsend!! Mmmm, i often wonder how he gets to work each morning due to the amount of medals he has weighing him down!!! Fucking bulb.

Good stuff lad. See ye Sunday?

By the way, Nabz!!! You fucking glorious whopper. Fuck off somewhere your 'comments' will be appreciated (down the M62 or London no doubt). Bell end!!

Anonymous said...

omg anonyomus said... you put in 54 comments sado n gud article m8.

Diranoct3 said...

Nonsense. What will happen when Alonso retire from football while playing for Liverpool? Slate Rafa bcoz Alonso retire? Oh now i remember, Liverpool wont win the Premier League blah blah blah............ What will happen if Gerrard broke his leg and cant play football? Slate Rafa again??????? If all Rafas fault, why dont those critic come forward to manage Liverpool and win the Premier League. Now i remember, bcoz those critics got no guts like Rafa have. Critics of Rafa plz look at the mirror and ask urself if u know anything about football, than talk all this shit about Rafas fault. Rafa is a genius no matter if he sell Alonso, Gerrard or Torres bcoz Rafa knows better certainly not those critic beggars.

Anonymous said...

For the new lad's song: It's got to be Volare right?

Aquillani...Whoa - O
Aquillani...Whoa - O - O - O

It's not too long, but would sound great on the Kop and it's an Italian song!

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