Liverpool FC Forum

by **simic_ie** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:56 am

What is this madness.... Cheeso is making a constuctive contribution to the forum.... hold on I have to sit down for a while :Oo:

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:25 pm

“ The manager has brought new ideas with him and pre-season has been tough so far. You expect it to be hard but I think we're all enjoying it. He has really been putting us through our paces and the muscles are aching, but this is an important time of the season because we're all looking to make a good impression. It's very exciting to be working with a manager who has the track record he has. What he did at Valencia was massive and hopefully he can bring that kind of success here. There's definitely a new buzz around the place. When new people arrive it means it's a new start for everyone and we all start from scratch. It's still very early days but so far I'm really enjoying it. It's not a case of me being desperate to get back to my top form because I know what I'm capable of and I know what I can produce. I've said before that I wasn't happy with my form towards the end of last season. Most people will probably say I did ok, but for me just doing ok isn't enough. I always want to do better. It's not a case of me being desperate to get back to my top form because I know what I am capable of and I know what I can produce. I wasn't happy with my form towards the end of last season. Most people will probably say I did okay, but for me just doing okay isn't good enough. I always want to do better. I want to play my part this season and contribute to the team. I'm not going to speak about targets or anything like that because I want to leave that kind of talk to the manager. But it goes without saying that we all want to do as well as possible. I want to play my part this season and contribute to the team. I'm not going to speak about targets or anything like that because I want to leave that kind of talk to the manager. But it goes without saying that we all want to do as well as possible. “

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:52 am

Libyan investor, Al Saadi, the fourth son of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator, might invest in Liverpool.
Sources close to Saadi say he is a keen admirer, in particular of Michael Owen. I understand that five years ago Liverpool turned down an indirect approach by Saadi but now things could be different. Saadi is believed to have visited Anfield and his interest in investing in the Merseyside club has been increased following the failure of Liverpool to attract funding from Thailand.

This plan, masterminded by the Thai entertainment magnate Paiboon Damrongchaitham, would have seen the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra make a £60 million investment for a 30 per cent stake in the club. But the deal collapsed because of opposition in Thailand to using public lottery money to make an investment in a private English football club. Since then, Damrongchaitham is believed to have sought out other Asian investors without success.

Libyan sources have expressed surprise at the newspaper stories at the weekend that Saadi's father, Col Gaddafi, was interested in investing in Crystal Palace. A spokesman for Gaddafi denied any knowledge of such a situation. It would be very unlikely that Gaddafi would become involved in football. His green book, which has been the bible for Libya since the colonel seized power in the Sixties, makes it clear that watching organised sport is harmful for the people.

But his son Saadi is allowed to indulge his passion for the game. On the field he is part of the Italian team Perugia,although in the last year he has hardly played for them. Off the field Saadi has invested £14 million to buy 5.31 per cent of Juventus. Saadi led Libya's unsuccessful bid to stage the 2010 World Cup. Last week his desire to host the 2008 African Nations Cup was also unsuccessful with Ghana defeating Libya.

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:25 am

I CAN understand the frustration of certain supporters arising from the lack of any further additions to the Liverpool playing squad but I'd much rather Benitez took his time to assess what he has to work with first of all before he starts to wave the cheque-book around.

Some of Houlliers expensive signings failed to deliver and I think Benitez is quite right to take his time and assess what he perceives to be the areas of weakness.

Who knows, maybe Benitez can even get something out of some of the players who have so far failed to justify their inflated price tags.

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:28 am

IAN RUSH'S hopes of landing a full-time coaching role at Anfield under Rafael Benitez may be receding.

The former Liverpool striker (right) had been due to meet with the new manager last Thursday, but the extra demands of training during the first week of pre-season plus internal discussions on potential transfer targets meant the get together never took place.

Rush had been brought in by former manager Gerard Houllier in a part-time coaching role to work with the strikers and had established a good rapport with the players, who hold him in high regard.

However Benitez arrived to start work at Melwood last Monday with his own team of coaches - Jose Ochotorena, Paco Herrera and Pako Ayestaran - while chief scout Alex Miller has also been handed more involvment in the coaching side.

Despite the departures of Phil Thompson, Sammy Lee and Joe Corrigan, that means all the full-time first team vacancies are now filled.

But it is still possible Rush will be given an extension to his part-time role, or handed a different job within the club framework.

Meanwhile Martin O'Neill revealed last night he will not be flying out to the United States with his team - but would almost certainly be joining up with them later on the tour.

The Parkhead players and coaching staff will fly out today for four matches in North America - but without the Northern Irishman.

O'Neill will not be in the dugout for their matches against Chelsea and Liverpool because of the ill-health of his wife Geraldine.

O'Neill said "Due to family reasons I wont be on the first part of the American tour but there is a good posibility that I will be able to join the team for the second part in the East Coast, certainly for the last two matches against Manchester United & Roma".

The former Leicester boss felt compelled last week to end speculation over his future by confirming that he will be in charge at Parkhead for the forthcoming season.

by **supersub** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:27 pm

GO,CHEESEY,GO........ FROM WHERE DID YOU OBTAIN THESE REPORTS?

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:55 am

from my heart for liverpool :;):

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:08 am

" Pre-season is one of those times that you just want to get over and done with as quickly as possible. The games are part of that but they are a nice distraction from being put through our paces on the training pitch. They're a nice break and something we all look forward to. The American tour will be interesting and I'm really looking forward to it. I've never been over there on a football trip. It'll be interesting to see how their public take to us because we're not sure how much they know about 'soccer' over there and it should be a really good experience. The games will be important because, one, it give you a chance to express yourself and two, it's what we're actually training for.
"

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:40 am

" AFTER a summer of one big story after another, it has been a quiet week for Liverpool, which is no bad thing. I suppose the biggest news was the arrival of Djibril Cisse from Auxerre. He looks to be a great acquisition to the squad and I am looking forward to seeing him play, given what I have heard about him so far. To add a note of caution though, we were all saying the same thing about El Hadji Diouf a few years ago, and we all know how that turned out. I hope Cisse will justify the excitement his signing has generated, because if he does then Liverpool's strikers certainly look full of goals next season. Apart from Cisse, it seems that Rafa Benitez has been taking his time with any new signings, preferring to see what he has at the club already. Apart from training, I understand he has already been watching plenty of videos of the team in action last season, which if nothing else will provide a cure for insomnia! Seriously, I think he will already know by and large who he wants and who he doesn't, and the key word is quality. Any Liverpool supporter already knows which players aren't good enough at the club because they have had more than enough chances to prove themselves. In terms of new players coming in, I expect Benitez to sign a centre-back with pace as a priority. "

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:13 am

" I have been at the club for two and a half years and so far I have had more disappointing moments than happy moments, but I want that to change. I know I can't play in every game and I also know that we have other world class strikers here like Owen and Cisse, but I will do my best to persuade the manager to keep picking me. I feel good after Euro 2004 and ready to go again. I've only had a two week break since the semi final which I spent with my parents and some friends, but now I'm back at Melwood and keen to make a good impression on the new manager. I didn't really know what to expect to be honest. I was a bit apprehensive coming in this morning because I was aware everything was going to be new. I said hello to the manager and we had a brief conversation but most of the morning was spent doing tests. Then in the afternoon I was able to have my first session on the pitch. The players who were here last week have all said the sessions are hard but enjoyable. It's certainly very exciting here at the moment as we get ready for the season. Euro 2004 was great for me. It was nice to finish top scorer but I would have happily swapped all five goals for a victory over Greece and a place in the final. We were disappointed to lose that game but credit to Greece because they played well and deserved to win the tournament. I'll always have the memory of being top scorer at a major tournament - but I have no trophy to show for it as there's no such thing as a 'Golden Boot'. I'll never forget Euro 2004 but now I want to look to the future. I'm back at Liverpool and I want to do as well as possible. I think we can have a good season. "

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:16 am

" I have heard all the rumors about Real Madrid and Barcelona supposedly being interested in me and, of course, it is nice to see clubs such as that wanting you. But I am back at Liverpool now ready for a new season and I want to stay here and play as many games as I can. I have been at the club for two and a half years and so far I have had more disappointing moments than happy moments but I want that to change. I feel good after Portugal and ready to go again. I have only had a short break since the semi-final which I spent with my parents and some friends but now I am back training and keen to make a good impression on the new manager. I know I cannot play in every game and I know that we have other world-class strikers here such as Owen and Cisse but I will do my best to persuade the manager to keep picking me. Euro 2004 was great for me. It was nice to finish top scorer but I would have happily swapped all my five goals for a victory over Greece and a place in the Final. We were disappointed to lose that game but credit to Greece because they played very well and deserved to win the tournament. I'll always have the memory of being top scorer at a major tournament. I will never forget Euro 2004 but now I want to look to the future. I'm back at Liverpool and I want to do as well as possible."

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:19 am

About his position

“Michael Owen is a well-known figure internationally. I think Milan, Florent and myself have to fight for the right to play with him. I've seen him on TV for more than 3 years now. He's done great things internationally as well as for LiverpoolBut we mustn't forget Florent and Milan. They're top goal scorers in their own right. It's a case of all improving ourselves and seeing who has the fight to play alongside Michael. Michael has played in two World Cups and done great things for club and country while Milan was top scorer in Euro 2004. We are all working hard to get into the team and to impress the manager”

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:22 am

About the manager

“The manager is a very honest guy and I know whoever is in the best form will get the chance to play. I liked Gerard Houllier very much but the change of manager never affected my decision to come. At a club like Liverpool, you have to work hard for success whoever is in charge”

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:23 am

About Liverpool

“Any top class player needs to play at the highest level and the fact that Liverpool feature in Europe year after year it made it really important in my decision to come here. I want to do as well as I can to help the club win trophies. We have got a lot of pressure on our backs this season. We've got to concentrate and be mentally tough. I used to watch a lot of Liverpool games on the television back in France and it has always been a dream of mine to play in England. Now I am here I want to do as well as I can to help the club win trophies. We have a good squad and a good manager and we can definitely be successful. We will need a lot of mental stamina and togetherness during the season because we will go through bad patches on occasions. But if we stick together then I know we can achieve things. There are other top strikers here and we all want the same thing. If we work as a team we can enjoy good fortune next season”

by **cheesecrackernuts** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:26 am

About English Premiere League

“It has been a long wait for me to join Liverpool. It has been talked of for over a year, maybe two. But in France we say that if it is a long time waiting for something it is sometimes much better when it does happen it is a different style here, there are fouls that would be given in France but are not given here so you have to get to know about that. We will have to see how the referees use their whistles. In Spain and France, things that are always given as free-kicks are not awarded here. We will both have to learn. But training hard and getting games under my belt is the only way to overcome that. It is a more direct and physical game in England but I will get used to that”

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