Great Red North

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Rafa Benitez has revealed Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio collected knocks in Liverpool's 3-2 loss to Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

Garcia was forced off with a neck injury while Aurelio tweaked his calf and could now be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Benitez revealed Garcia's withdrawal was simply precautionary, although he is slightly more worried by the blow sustained to summer signing Aurelio.

"It was a difficult game for us with the two injuries to Luis and Fabio and we made three mistakes which cost us the game," Benitez said to the club's official website.

"Luis had a problem with his neck and we decided the best thing would be to take him off. Fabio felt something in his calf and I think it's a more serious problem than Luis."

With Benitez short of midfielders in the contest in Germany he used Spanish keeper Jose Reina as a makeshift midfielder for the last 11 minutes of the friendly.

Great Red North @ 6:51 pm

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Red All Over The Land
A Liverpool Fanzine

PO Box 296; Loughborough; LE11 4ZR England

Hello

I’m John Pearman the editor of a Liverpool Fanzine entitled, ‘Red All Over The Land’ a fanzine written by the fans for the fans.

In May 2006 we put together a 68-page publication entitled ‘Our Road To Istanbul’ which is basically a fans photo album tribute to the miracle of Istanbul that begins with the game against AK Grazer and goes right through to the homecoming. There is a foreword by local Liverpool author Kevin Sampson and an after word by the Liverpool FC museum curator Stephen Done. Plus an hilarious write up of Istanbul by John Mackin and a few words from myself. Those that have read it have acclaimed the album.

I’d like to know if you would give the album some publicity to create interest. The cost of the publication [including post and packaging] is:

UK £6.50 Europe £8 and the Rest of World £10

This publication can be ordered through paypal and details can be found at:

www.raotl.co.uk

There is also the opportunity to have glimpse at the publication.

‘Our Road To Istanbul’ is unique in so much as it is the fans own. None of the pictures used are from official sources – if you were Istanbul you might well be on a picture somewhere. As far as we know, no other set of fans have ever set out to do this. It is the fans own piece of memorabilia about the greatest story ever told.

Orders are processed within 24 hours and sent via airmail.

Should you be interested in taking a bulk order [more than five copies] please contact John Pearman on this e-mail address.

If any of your members are interested in receiving a copy of ‘Red All Over The Land’ details again can be found at www.raotl.co.uk

The cost in Europe is £30 for 10 issues and £40 for the rest of the world.

If you would like us to mention your supporters club in RAOTL please send me the info and it will be done.

Coming soon from RAOTL publications:

‘Our Road To Rome’ - The story of how Bob Paisley’s team conquered Europe in 1977

‘Shankly’s First Champions’ – How Liverpool won the title back in 63/64

Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon

John Pearman

Editor of Red All Over the Land I

Co-compiler of ‘Our Road To Istanbul’

Great Red North @ 10:51 am

Monday, July 24, 2006

Liverpool pip Manchester United in all-time table

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Liverpool pipped Manchester United to top spot in an all-time league table dating back to the start of English League soccer and published by The Times newspaper on Monday.

According to the standings which awards three points for a win and one for a draw since the start of league soccer in 1888, Liverpool, who have won a record 18 titles, emerged with 5,927 points from their 3,643 matches - an average of 1.63 points a game.

Manchester United, who have won 15 titles, were second with 5,337 points from their 3,287 matches - an average of 1.62 points per game followed by Arsenal, champions 13 times, who totalled 5,780 points from 3,643 matches at 1.59 points a match.

Despite playing only 2,063 matches in the top division, Leeds United were fourth with 1.48 average points with Aston Villa fifth (1.47), Everton sixth (1.47), Tottenham Hotspur seventh (1.44), Newcastle United eighth (1.43), Wolverhampton Wanderers ninth (1.42) and Burnley tenth (1.41).

Chelsea, champions for the last two seasons, are 14th (average 1.39 points) and would have to total more than 90 points a season for the next 23 years to overhaul Liverpool's present average points per game.

Leyton Orient, who spent one season in the top division in 1962-63, placed 62nd and last in the list with 0.64 points a match.

Everton, founder members of the league in 1888, have played more top flight matches than any other club: 4,027 while Liverpool have won more than anyone else: 1,674. Everton also hold the record for drawn games (987) and defeats (1,402).

Great Red North @ 8:20 am

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Wrexham 0-2 Liverpool
Craig Bellamy
Bellamy scored on his Liverpool debut
Craig Bellamy lived up to his star billing with a debut goal for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly at Wrexham.

Kick-off was delayed 15 minutes to allow a near-capacity 11,335 crowd into the Racecourse, and they saw the visitors take a sixth-minute lead.

Paul Anderson met a John Arne Riise cross on the volley to crash the ball past Michael Jones from 12 yards.

Mark Jones and Chris Llewellyn went close for Wrexham, before Bellamy's left-footed strike on 53 minutes.

The £6m summer signing from Blackburn was one of only three Reds players not to be substituted at the break, but after his goal the Welsh international was brought off to cool his heels.

Consolation for Wrexham is the news that their club is expected to at last come out of administration early next week.

Liverpool - playing a friendly at the Racecourse for the third successive year - again agreed to waive their cut of the gate receipts, guaranteeing the cash-strapped Dragons a boost of around £100,000.

Great Red North @ 7:05 pm

Monday, July 10, 2006

It Only Took A Matter Of Hours... So here It Is.... The Best Game on The Net!

ZZ sorts out the situation!

http://tonaz.altervista.org/zidane.html

Great Red North @ 10:20 pm

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Shankly’s quote voted best of all time

LONDON — Bill Shankly felt football was more important than life and death, and fans around the world agreed with the former Liverpool manager yesterday.

Scotsman Shankly, who died of a heart attack in 1981, beat former Manchester United and France forward Eric Cantona in a poll organised by the Plain English Campaign to pick football’s most memorable quote.

Shankly struck a chord when he said: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

Shankly’s passionate commitment to the game gave him top spot above Cantona, who once bewildered fans by saying: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea”. Third place went to former England star Paul Gascoigne for saying: “I never predict anything and I never will”.

BBC commentator John Motson took two of the top-10 spots. “I think this could be our best victory over Germany since the War” said Motson, who also once declared “the World Cup is a truly international event”.

Former Manchester United great George Best, famous for his passion for the good life, was at number eight in the poll for saying: “I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars. The rest I just squandered”.

Great Red North @ 10:35 pm

Friday, July 07, 2006

Liverpool Boss Benitez Unveils Bellamy, Aurelio, Gonzalez & Paletta As New Players - Feyenoord's Kuyt & City's Pennant Targets

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed his four new Liverpool players for the beginning of pre-season training, with more stars expected to join the Reds this summer.

Benitez has now finally confirmed that Chile winger Mark Gonzalez has been granted a work permit after a successful hearing on Wednesday morning, with Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio also completing his free transfer move from Spanish giants Valencia on Wednesday.

Benitez believes Gonzalez is a player who will not only enhance his team but also excite the supporters, saying after his unsuccessful appeal in October last year: “Gonzalez is already a player who will shine in the Premiership, but very soon he could be one of the most exciting players in England.”

With Wales striker Craig Bellamy and Argentinean defender Gabriel Paletta having already both been confirmed on four-year contracts, Benitez has added strength and depth to his squad, but he says that he still intends to bring more players in to Anfield.

Benitez has made no secret of his desire to sign Holland and Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt, who himself has stated his desire to play in The Premiership, but that deal may well turn into a bidding war with Newcastle United after the injury to Michael Owen in the World Cup Finals.

Benitez is reported to be back in the hunt for Spain and Real Betis winger Joaquin, with Birmingham City winger Jermaine Pennant also on his wish list.

It has been rumoured that Poland keeper Jerzy Dudek, ex-Sevilla defender Antonio Barragan - who only made one first-team appearance for Liverpool – and long-term Dutch international injury Boudewijn Zenden could also be on the move, with Barragan rumoured to be set for a switch to Spanish La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.

Former Germany international Dietmar Hamann is on the brink of a free transfer to Manchester City, while goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could be joining Wigan Athletic.

Bruno Cheyrou, Ramon Calliste and David Raven have also left the club.

Benitez particularly happy with the signings of Aurelio and Gonzalez. Speaking of the Gonzalez deal, after having had a year-long wait for a work permit for the Chilean international, Benitez said to Liverpoolfc.tv: “This is very good news for us and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mark to Liverpool as he is a player the supporters will like to see.

“Mark is an exciting left winger who can cross good balls and beat defenders and he is a very good signing for us. He has a very good mentality, as when I was talking with him he told me, ‘I want to play for Liverpool’.”

Fabio Aurelio joined Gonzalez and Paletta in pre-season training with Liverpool this week after the move was completed yesterday.

Benitez said: “Fabio is a player with a lot of quality and he is a really good signing for us.

“His technical ability is fantastic and he has a great left foot and provides the team with a lot of options. He has a really good mentality and he is a winner.”

Great Red North @ 5:30 pm

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

LIVERPOOL SHOCK EURO NEWS

Liverpool could be set to replace Olympicos in the Champions League after Greek football was suspended from international competition.

Fifa has suspended European champions Greece and its member clubs from international competition because of government interference in the sport.

World governing body Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country".

It means Greek clubs and officials are banned from European competitions.

The suspension will be in place with "immediate effect and until further notice", according to a Fifa statement.

Although Greek officials are believed to be working furiously behind the scenes, Liverpool currently sit as the top ranking team in the 3rd qualifying stage. If the FIFA ban remains in place, then Liverpool will be set to be upgraded to automatic group stage qualification.

Great Red North @ 12:25 am

Sunday, July 02, 2006

I had to include this as it's cheekily brilliant!

France's former striker Youri Djorkaeff was rumbled on Saturday after telling employers New York Red Bulls he was away attending a "family emergency". Djorkaeff was spotted in the crowd at the France v Brazil quarter-final!

Great Red North @ 10:34 pm

Steven Gerrard has slammed the conduct of Cristiano Ronaldo for his role in Wayne Rooney's red card.

Rooney was sent off during England's World Cup quarter final defeat to Portugal after stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.

As referee Horatio Elizondo stood over the incident, Ronaldo came up to the official to remonstrate over the actions of his Manchester United team-mate.

Ronaldo was then pushed by Rooney before the England striker was dismissed for his initial altercation with Carvalho.

The actions of Ronaldo have drawn heavy criticism and Gerrard was fuming with the Portuguese winger.

"If it was one of my team-mates, I'd be absolutely disgusted in him because there's no need for that," said Gerrard.

"I've seen Ronaldo going over giving the card and I think he's bang out of order."

Television cameras also caught Ronaldo winking at the Portuguese dugout after Rooney's sending off, with Gerrard again infuriated by his Premiership rival.

The Liverpool captain added: "I think that sums him up as a person.

"If I was playing against my team-mates from Liverpool and they were involved in a situation like that, I'd never try and get them sent off."

Gerrard was later one of the players to miss in the penalty shoot-out, as England lost to Portugal in the same fashion for the second tournament in a row.

He remains disappointed with his spot kick, which was saved by Ricardo, and is still devastated by England's World Cup exit.

He continued: "I just can't get the penalty out of my head. I feel numb at the minute.

"I was man enough to step up and take it, but, the way I hit a ball, I should score a penalty.

"It never went exactly where I wanted it to go. I've taken maybe 20 or 30 penalties and I've probably scored 95 percent of them.

"I tried to do what I did for Liverpool in the FA Cup final, but my strike wasn't good enough."

Great Red North @ 7:16 pm

Saturday, July 01, 2006

England midfielder Steven Gerrard says Wayne Rooney should not be made into the scapegoat for The Three Lions' World Cup exit after his sending off against Portugal.

The young Manchester United star's temperament will again be put under severe scrutiny following his dismissal for an apparent stamp on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.

The incident was reminiscent of David Beckham's dismissal against Argentina in 1998, and the game was to follow the same course with England battling bravely before succumbing yet again to penalties.

Beckham suffered heavily after his own lapse of judgement, but Gerrard believes that Rooney should not be targeted in the same way and no blame should be attached to the striker.

"Wayne has been fantastic for us," said Gerrard.

"We can't blame Wayne. He has done so much for this team and he is going to do so much for this team in the future.

"I haven't seen Wayne but when I see him I will give him a big hug because he is my team-mate and he is getting no blame from me because I love him.

"I thought it was a melee and I walked away from it thinking Wayne was going to get a foul in his favour.

"He had two or three men all over him and I can't believe he never got the foul before whatever happened kicked off.

"There is talk of him stamping on someone. I'll have to have a look at it but you guys will make your judgement on it."

Gerrard, along with Frank Lampard and Jamie Carragher, missed a spot kick in the shoot-out as Portugal keeper Ricardo again proved to be England's nemesis following his Euro 2004 heroics.

The Liverpool man was distraught following England's exit and admitted that Portugal were too good from twelve yards.

"I am feeling a bit numb at the moment. I am just gutted for the fans and my team-mates that I never scored the penalty but for the whole match we gave everything we had," Gerrard added.

"When we went down to 10 men it was backs against the wall. It was a hard grind and hard work and I have never felt so tired in a game in my life.

"We did so well to get to penalties and then we weren't good enough and I take responsibility for my penalties.

"I thought we were going to go on and win it but their penalties were better than ours at the end of the day."

England's players were left in floods of tears as Sven Goran Eriksson's reign came to an end in Gelsenkirchen, and defender Rio Ferdinand expressed the squad's acute disappointment at yet another penalty failure.

"To lose on penalties again is sickening but the lads put a great effort in," said Ferdinand. "It just wasn't to be.

"We didn't falter with 10 men. Even with 10 men we were the team who created the best chances.

"In the second-half we had about three half-chances and decent chances which we didn't manage to convert.

"That's the only positive I can draw from it. We were still the more dangerous side."

"We deserved to win today," Ferdinand continued.

"It wasn't as one-sided but it was almost like the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

"They never looked like scoring a goal although they had a lot of shots from outside the box - but they won the game."

Great Red North @ 7:58 pm