Liverpool FC Forum

[jonnymac1979]

BY THEACE1983

The jubilant elation that came with winning the most prestigeous trophy in European club football in Istanbul has always been tinged with a dark shadow. The question of whether or not we will be allowed to defend our crown is beginning to weigh heavily with all of us and the prospect of the Uefa cup is once again realising it's nightmarish form. But what I want to know is "who's with us?" and "who is against?". This little topic is therefore as much for my benefit as it is for yours. So here goes:

FOR

SEB BLATTER: The autocratic, self-proclaimed "MR WORLD FOOTBALL", big gob Blatter is on our side in this one and the head of FIFA is calling for Uefa to let us in. As much contempt as I have for him normally, I can't help wanting to give him a massive hug for backing us. His support could swingg it for us as I'm sure the creeps at Uefa are dying to make that step up to FIFA and what better way than to impress the boss.

AC MILAN: Believe it or not, the defeated finalists want us in next season (even if it is only to exact revenge) and their captain Paolo Maldini has been very vocal in his support.

The FA: This is a tricky one. Uefa give England, Italy and Spain four invites each to the Champions league and it doesn't say anywhere that the have to go to the top four teams (what on Earth are Man Utd or Everton champions of?). So technically, Soho Square could reward West Brom for staying up by giving them a place in the CL. I know it's never going to happen but there is no reason why it shouldn't. So how are they For if the have given the Toffees the fourth invite? Well, in fairness, reports coming from London suggest that the FA have been constantly pestering each member of the Uefa exec and efforts are being made everyday to try and coerce the top dogs into giving us an invite. Good on em!

TNS: I'm sure I don't have to remind everyone of the incredibly generous and sensible offer made to Liverpool by the Welsh Champions. They get the Ca$h and we get the place. Sounds sensible to me...

Mr Johansson: Big Len, one of the massive cheeses of Uefa has vocally supported us from day one. That could well be the key to us getting the nod along with...

...The TV Companies: Basically, football these days is rules by the mighty Euro (0r £ or even $) and the dosh in football comes from the TV. If Sky, ITV, Fox, Canal, RTL and all the others want us, then we're in. They all know that we will bring in big £££s and therefore, for them, we are very important. It could be as simple as that, and after all it could just mean that Fenerbanche (excuse the spelling) go down into a qualifying round.

Against

Uefa: Seeing as this is their competition, they are quite a serious adversory to have. They can be swung, but at the moment they seem quite determined. Let's just hope that Rick Parry and The FA can bring them round with some Chocolate and Flowers.

Chelski, Man Ure, @rse and the Toffees: Basically this is how it works out on the cash front. As it stands, this lot stand to cop at least £5m each provided they reach the group stages. If we get in, they only get £4m and possibly some other losses depending on how far we and they get. Will this please Kenwright, Abramovich and co? I think not.

Spain: I'm sure you all know this one so I'll keep it short. When Madrid won and finished 5th, Zaragosa (4th) lost out. Will they be happy if we get in? I think not (again).

Turkey: Basically, if we're in, then their only seeded team is out. The English will be even more popular in Turkey than ever.


So there you have it. Some are for, some are against and they all matter and it's really really tight. I don't know whether we will get a chance to defend the trophy that has meant everything to us and was one in a fashion that will seldom be seen again. We still have Hope and some support and if there is any justice in the world, then we shall be in that draw for the group stages next season, but we shall see.

P.s. It's good to be back, have missed you all and I would just like to praise Stevie G for his come back to David Moyes saying that Everton are the biggest team in Liverpool. "You can't show fourth place to your grandkids". Peace.




   Viva El Rafa-Lution!!!

[jonnymac1979]

No real discussions going on before was there?  Just arguments with Everton fans, so forgive me for doing this, but they're not getting in this part of the forum.

TheAce1983, congrats for coming back on here.  You're a credit to this forum.

Lets' start again shall we.

Apologies to the rest whose posts got deleted in the melee.

[Ciggy]

Hope them 2 have been banned John.

[A.B.]

There's always bitterness, but damn how can anybody be this bitter and stubborn?

[jonnymac1979]

I can't ban them CGGY, but it's easy to delete posts. 

This was the next best option, at least Ace's post was not forgotten.  I made sure I cut and pasted it into a new topic before I deleted the old one.  It was going nowhere, just would have been 100 replies of arguments. 

Everton aren't worth it in anyones eyes.

[The Ace1983]

Thanx for moving the post dude. I've gotta say that this forum (and imparticular the advanced forum) is the best on the net for all football fans and not just the fans of LFC. I remember taking part in the debate about whether or not football is a religion and I can't think of a more interlectual conversation ever. Nice to see the same old names are still doin their upmost. So what do you think of our CL 05-06 chances?

And to all the Everton fans who read this, you can't show fourth place to your grandkids!!!

[A.B.]

Nice to see the same old names are still doin their upmost. So what do you think of our CL 05-06 chances?

Good question, I think we won't be as focused on the CL as we were this year, Rafa and the rest will be aiming for the Premiership so I can't see us focusing entirely on the CL so we may not be able to win it again however I think we can make it at least to the quarter-finals.

[Woollyback]

Yup, a quality post from the Ace

I think one of the major factors in our favour which has been left out (although similar to the TV companies thingy) is the sponsors, eg. Ford and Mastercard. They must plough multi millions into the competition and to an extent bankroll uefa.

Now the only reason sponsors dig so deep into their pockets is they want their brand associated with glamour and success, something which they won't achieve with a TV audience of 128 people watching Everton get dumped out of the competition by FC Beekeepers from Transylvania

To quote my dad, "he who pays the piper, calls the tune" and I firmly belive that the moneymen from the TV networks and sponsors will simply insist that uefa find a way of allowing us to defend our title

[jonnymac1979]

I remember reading a post on here a few weeks back before we won it, and whoever wrote it (and as the whole farce is boring me now, I have to agree with the poster) he/she said that it wouldn't be a major problem in their eyes if we were not allowed back in it next season, as it adds to the whole "myth of Liverpool Football Club"

I mean it would be great, wouldn't it, in a certain way, knowing that whoever wins it next season would only be paper champions.  The Champions not allowed to defend their rightful title? 

Whoever wins it next season would have that stigma attached to them, that they never actually defeated the EXISTING champions did they?  It makes us sound kind of invincible!

See the point?  I can't remember who it was, might have been Dalglish or Woof Woof.

Anyway, if they want to let us back in, so be it, if they don't, lets go and win the UEFA Cup and Premier League.  We'll give them our best shot next season either way.

[Woollyback]

I was having a similar conversation at work yesterday, if we can't compete in next year's competition then maybe we can concentrate all our efforts on the premiership (and FA & uefa cups) which could indeed be a good thing, however...

Our attractiveness to top class players across the continent might be slightly diminished if we aren't in the CL. Swings and roundabouts really

I'd obviously love us to be allowed back in, but won't be distraught if not

[zarababe]

.. i understand the Toffees have come out in favour of us being in it.. as for Ar.se and Mancsh*te.. well they are part of the elite G14 clubs.. (which incidentally does not include Chelski ) but it does include, real, milan, juve, barca and bayern, G14 have come out in favour of our inclusion ..

.. in addition ppl like Beckenbauer.. tipped to challenge Platini for the UEFA presdiency in 2 yrs time or so.. is also strongly behind us..

.. this is on top of the media pressure the countless petitions world wide.. from Asia as well ( yep I signed that one too )

.. we will be let in to defend it .. another gut feeling..one like I had when I said we'd win Ol big ears..

[84-1106852058]

Officially an Everton spokesman said they supported Liverpools
attempts to be included in The Champions League but not at the expense of Everton.Iam sure we all understand this and would feel the same if it was our club under threat.That said,I
heard an interview with David Moyes on Radio Merseyside,he was adamant that Liverpool should not be included as they new the rules,and you cant go restructuring the whole competition for Liverpools benifit.
He came across as a very arrogant man, and dare I use the word bitter.No wonder we no longer have The Friendly Derbys
with attitudes like his.

[zarababe]

.. oh whose gonna listen to our pauper neignbour's good for nothing vagabonds..   assasins... we will get in ..

[The Ace1983]

"he who pays the piper, calls the tune"

Couldn't have put it better my self. Spot on. Let's just hope that we're right.

[A.B.]

I've heard that Everton are not seeded in the CL qualifiers meaning that they could end up playing the likes of Inter Milan!

Don't know if its true or not, but if it is then thats f#cking hillarious.