The Mail Bag
Swing of Power
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Great news. Torres is out for Liverpool’s remaining fixtures. But why do I bring this up? Some say ‘who cares what the other lot do’. Not me, I hate them… I really do. Support for Everton and hatred of the Reds are one and the same for me, no excuses.
You’ve got to admire Torres though don’t you? Bastard.
With Torres out we have a great chance to over-haul them in the league and say that we are rightly better than them. Sure we lost the derby games but if we top the Reds we would had to have found 7 full points where they didn’t. Stunning considering their resources and how we started the season.
But let’s say we don’t, what would make up for it? I’ll tell you. Rafa essentially relegating Liverpool from their Champions League cash cow, and watching their disintegration over the summer. Beautiful.
But has their pact with the Devil come to an end? Who would want to buy them now they’re out Europe’s riches? And without the lure of the CL to bring in the big players this summer it would take a rebuilding effort of some ability to get back in contention, with or without Torres and Gerrard at Anfield. Over to you Rafa…
We are in interesting times. Yes we can expect a full on assault of the Champions League qualification next season, but amazingly witness a swing in power on Merseyside. Could it be?
Of course the Devil could have a chuckle at the last, make them win the Europa final and cause a rule change and it’s the Champions League for them again.
Me, I’d want Fulham three down at half time and come back to win on penalties… am I bitter?
Nick Entwistle, Posted 18/04/2010 at 22:55:25
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Whether people like BK / DM or not our relative recent success has been built on stability.
To turn their situation around LFC need to:
a) Find new owners. As long as H&G are at the helm they will remain unstable and descend further. If they find new owners it'll take time for the new regime to settle in - but who's going to buy them?.
b) Find a new manager. Benitez's time has come, he has to go - the owners know it, the fans know it , he knows it. It appears to me that he's lost the dressing room - but replace him with who?
c) Keep Torres, Gerrard and Reina - which I think they'll do but who is going to step up in their ranks to challenge for honours / who could they buy and how? Plus Torres is undeniably quality but it's not much use sat on the physios bench.
So - massive ifs and buts from the pitch to the terraces to the boardroom and it can only spell trouble if you ask me.
All we need to do is sight tight, keep our squad togther, add a couple of quality signings (striker and right winger please) in the summer and I think we'll put them right in the shade next season.
COYB.
To turn their situation around LFC need to:
a) Find new owners. As long as H&G are at the helm they will remain unstable and descend further. If they find new owners it'll take time for the new regime to settle in - but who's going to buy them?.
b) Find a new manager. Benitez's time has come, he has to go - the owners know it, the fans know it , he knows it. It appears to me that he's lost the dressing room - but replace him with who?
c) Keep Torres, Gerrard and Reina - which I think they'll do but who is going to step up in their ranks to challenge for honours / who could they buy and how? Plus Torres is undeniably quality but it's not much use sat on the physios bench.
So - massive ifs and buts from the pitch to the terraces to the boardroom and it can only spell trouble if you ask me.
All we need to do is sight tight, keep our squad togther, add a couple of quality signings (striker and right winger please) in the summer and I think we'll put them right in the shade next season.
COYB.
Please stop your optimism right now, otherwise Arteta will slip on the soap coming out of the shower in next season's opener and be out for 6 months and take the Yak down with him, Jags will pull a buttock in the warm-up and Howard will set his hands on fire at a good old Yankee hog roast during the summer.
Don't say anything that could upset the footballing gods, especially about that shower of shite.... the last time I took any satisfaction in one of their lot getting injured we lost Mikky a few days later for what seemed like forever.
If we all keep our thoughts in check, maybe we can start next season with something resembling a full strength side.
Don't say anything that could upset the footballing gods, especially about that shower of shite.... the last time I took any satisfaction in one of their lot getting injured we lost Mikky a few days later for what seemed like forever.
If we all keep our thoughts in check, maybe we can start next season with something resembling a full strength side.
Whenever trying to foresee the overtaking or the demise of Liverpool FC we always have to bear in mind their contract with the Devil and their unbelievable scrawniness.
Something will always turn up for them and pull them out of the shit in the end. From UEFA changing the rules to suit them or being awarded imaginary goals in Champions League semi finals. They say you earn your luck, but it's how you earn it that worries me!
Gerrard's diving is inversely proportional to Torres' availability and this is assisted by most referees being in his pocket. In a fair world he should have been unavailable too because of a jail sentence. The Devil was on the jury, probably all handpicked Kopites!
Mark my words....and watch tonight against West Ham!
Something will always turn up for them and pull them out of the shit in the end. From UEFA changing the rules to suit them or being awarded imaginary goals in Champions League semi finals. They say you earn your luck, but it's how you earn it that worries me!
Gerrard's diving is inversely proportional to Torres' availability and this is assisted by most referees being in his pocket. In a fair world he should have been unavailable too because of a jail sentence. The Devil was on the jury, probably all handpicked Kopites!
Mark my words....and watch tonight against West Ham!
I do agree that it is interesting times and I do think that Liverpool could be at a turning point. I am really worried though that the fat waiter will go and be replaced by the 'special one' because he has been doing such a tremendous job. I even hope that Liverpool win the Europa Cup, is it a cup or a league, who care's anyway? It would be worth it if keeps Rafa there for another season.
I've been saying for some time now that Man City are going to put someone's nose out of joint and I thought at the beginning of the season it would be Arsenal. Once they get into the CL places they are going to be almost impossible to dislodge. Could it be that the the mighty reds are going to be reduced to mere also-rans. One can only hope but from my experience I know that if Liverpool Football Club fell into a vast pit of shite they would probably come up smelling of roses.
I've been saying for some time now that Man City are going to put someone's nose out of joint and I thought at the beginning of the season it would be Arsenal. Once they get into the CL places they are going to be almost impossible to dislodge. Could it be that the the mighty reds are going to be reduced to mere also-rans. One can only hope but from my experience I know that if Liverpool Football Club fell into a vast pit of shite they would probably come up smelling of roses.
Is this true that if you win the Europa Cup you gain entry into next season's CL?
Sorry if I'm behind the times here but can anyone confirm this situation?
If the RS get into the CL by this method then there surely cannot be a God!
The only way the Special One will go to the Shite is if someone from the middle east goes. He will only go if there if theres pots of money. We will never have a better chance to get ahead of them, coz without Torres n,Gerrard and Reina they are ordinary.
I'd love to see those fuckers across the park sink without a trace. But experience tells me to worry about Everton first.
The only downside with the Shite having financial problems is that someone will probably see them as a great investment with potentially great returns.
Whereas King Kenwright has asset stripped us and leveraged our future TV money to buy players.
They may have 5 times the debt of us, but they probably are better placed to serve their debt, than we are with ours.
No investment, no assets, no transfer kitty, and two failed stadium moves means we're in just as dire straits.
The only downside with the Shite having financial problems is that someone will probably see them as a great investment with potentially great returns.
Whereas King Kenwright has asset stripped us and leveraged our future TV money to buy players.
They may have 5 times the debt of us, but they probably are better placed to serve their debt, than we are with ours.
No investment, no assets, no transfer kitty, and two failed stadium moves means we're in just as dire straits.
Phil, are you perhaps been a little harsh on "King Kenwright" here or have I missed something? — how has Kenwright asset stripped us? and if he's using the TV money for Moyes to buy future players then surely that's where we want the money to go isn't it? — rebuilding the team.
We have to get away from this thinking that Everton have a divine right to be a top team and a big club. We have to earn it like most other clubs do. OK, if the Grand Old Lady is looking aged and in need of TLC then that's the harsh realities of economic life, but she's still functional. We are where we are as they say and we need to just get on with it and not feel sorry for ourselves all the time.
With regards to the two failed stadium moves, I can't comment upon the first one (Kings Dock) as I don't know the ins and outs of that particular saga, but the second one (Kirkby);- was that really in the best interests of EFC for the next hundred years or so?
Kenwright may not be everyone's cup of tea but I'd rather have someone like him than the cowboys from across the park who quite clearly know fuck all about football and don't give a fuck about LFC because all they are interested in is money and business.
We have to get away from this thinking that Everton have a divine right to be a top team and a big club. We have to earn it like most other clubs do. OK, if the Grand Old Lady is looking aged and in need of TLC then that's the harsh realities of economic life, but she's still functional. We are where we are as they say and we need to just get on with it and not feel sorry for ourselves all the time.
With regards to the two failed stadium moves, I can't comment upon the first one (Kings Dock) as I don't know the ins and outs of that particular saga, but the second one (Kirkby);- was that really in the best interests of EFC for the next hundred years or so?
Kenwright may not be everyone's cup of tea but I'd rather have someone like him than the cowboys from across the park who quite clearly know fuck all about football and don't give a fuck about LFC because all they are interested in is money and business.
Matthew, Without turning this into another BK debate, Finch Farm was sold on its completion to which we now lease. Rather than bring in fresh investment, we just loaned money and now have future TV rights paying back the interest (only) on these loans.
Yes Kirbky failing was good news. However who was selling it to us anyway? Who told us we had no alternative? Who (fortunately) oversaw this failure?
Final thought, if Kenwright was a fat yank from Texas, would we be so appathetic with his running of the club over the last 8 years?
Yes Kirbky failing was good news. However who was selling it to us anyway? Who told us we had no alternative? Who (fortunately) oversaw this failure?
Final thought, if Kenwright was a fat yank from Texas, would we be so appathetic with his running of the club over the last 8 years?
Nick, The pact with the Devil is a long-term contract, and never be surprised what transpires at Anfield. I have said for months that they are destined to win the Europa league trophy, even if it means the fat waiter playing.
And that will give Uefa a spark to allow them into the Champions League backdoor.
It has been common knowledge that the Europa winners gain entry to the CL. I can't say I argue with that at all. It is a fitting prize. What I do have issues with however is teams dropping out of the CL into the later stages of the Europa. This is just plain wrong. If you go out of a cup competition you are OUT!
Winners of the Europa League gain entry to the group stages of the following seasons Europa league group stage — not the Champions League. I can see us finshing above them and they win the Europa league and then taking our place in next seasons Europa and then we'll have to listen to them gloat all summer!!
I wonder how the Anfield 'cognoscenti' feel about the prospect of Liverpool's defeating Chelsea handing a record-breaking 4th consecutive and 19th title to their chums from Manchester? Beelzebub and his staff will, no doubt, be working on a scenario to outdo even the CL final turnaround.
James (Stewart) & Colin (Ryan) - I am still confussed. James states that winning the Europa Cup gains entry to next seasond CL and Colin states that winning the Europa Cup gains entry into the Europa League group stages!
Is that a typo error by Colin stating Europa League group stage? (should be CL group stage?)
Colin - I think you're right, winners of Europa League only qualify for next seasons Europa League, not the CL.
Besides, they'll win nought without Torres.
Besides, they'll win nought without Torres.
Definately not a typo Matthew. Winners of the Europa gain entry to the group stages of next seasons Europa group stage. Thank fuck it doesn't give you entry to the Champions League... Saying that, there is time for Uefa to change it to suit the red shite!
Colin, - thanks for your reply. So is James comment (see post no 11) incorrect? I hope so because if the RS get into the CL by winning the Europa cup then I, like many others here. would be tottally pissed off.
Yep, James comment is incorrect if my reading of the Uefa website is correct. It will be bad enough if we finish 7th and above them but they win the Europa and get the last Europa spot but if Uefa change the rules to let them into the Champions League, I don't think I could ever watch football again!
Yup, Europa cup winners do not qualify for the CL. But, will that change this season?
Maybe the announcement will be buried under the events at the world cup or CL final just to divert attention.
Maybe the announcement will be buried under the events at the world cup or CL final just to divert attention.
To clear things up regarding Europa League qualification, I found this on UEFA's Europa League site under 'Regulations'
"2.06:
Unless the Uefa Cup titleholder for the UEFA Champions League through its domestic championship, it is guaranteed a place in the group stage of the Uefa Europa League.
If the titleholder does qualify for the UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the number of places to which its national association is entitled in the UEFA Europa League does not change.
If the UEFA Cup titleholder does not qualify for either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League through its domestic competition, its participation in UEFA Europa League is not at the expense of the contingent of its association."
Link: http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/UEFACup/84/52/89/845289_DOWNLOAD.pdf
So if we finish seventh and the Shite wins the tournament, we both get in to Europa League. UEFA has apparently learned from the last time around;)
"2.06:
Unless the Uefa Cup titleholder for the UEFA Champions League through its domestic championship, it is guaranteed a place in the group stage of the Uefa Europa League.
If the titleholder does qualify for the UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the number of places to which its national association is entitled in the UEFA Europa League does not change.
If the UEFA Cup titleholder does not qualify for either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League through its domestic competition, its participation in UEFA Europa League is not at the expense of the contingent of its association."
Link: http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/UEFACup/84/52/89/845289_DOWNLOAD.pdf
So if we finish seventh and the Shite wins the tournament, we both get in to Europa League. UEFA has apparently learned from the last time around;)
I think the reason for the confusion is that there was definitely strong rumours flying around late last year that UEFA were going to give a Champions League Place to the Europa winners (coincidently when RS were on their first run of poor results in the league) but it dissipated when the RS started to drag themselves up the league.
If UEFA were to show complete bias and suddenly change the rule now then would it be a bad thing? I'm unsure, yes it would let `them` into the Champions League this year again, but it may at least mean that it paves the way for us in future years if we were to win the Europa....
If UEFA were to show complete bias and suddenly change the rule now then would it be a bad thing? I'm unsure, yes it would let `them` into the Champions League this year again, but it may at least mean that it paves the way for us in future years if we were to win the Europa....
Curious I distinctly remember one of the pundits on Channel 5 mentioning the Prize would be a place in the CL this for the first time. This was way back at the start of the competition. I think if Liverpool win it there will be a nasty surprise and they will be in the CL. I have seen the above rules before but as I understood them that was for last years competition.
Back to the original post: I don't quite see a swing of power yet. We were beaten twice by this terrible Liverpool team remember. We will not swing the balance of power until we finish above them or win something. That doesn't seem likely yet.
James, just recently we seem in the main to be capable of beating anyone who dares to play football against us. We are suffering trying to defeat the cloggers, one of which, I'm happy to say, are this Liverpool team
For the first time in 20 odd years we are a better footballing side then them
For the first time in 20 odd years we are a better footballing side then them
Yes we are a better footballing side than the shite. In fact we are a better footballing side than most in the Premier League nowadays and have shown it consistently since the turn of the year.
BUT THAT IS WHY I GET SO FUCKING FRUSTRATED! JUST A HALF DECENT START TO THE SEASON AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN US IN THE MIX FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, NEVER MIND THE EUROPA OR FINISHING ABOVE THE SHITE!
Aahh! That feels better getting that out of my system. If only we could put ONE WHOLE season together from August to May... sigh!
BUT THAT IS WHY I GET SO FUCKING FRUSTRATED! JUST A HALF DECENT START TO THE SEASON AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN US IN THE MIX FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, NEVER MIND THE EUROPA OR FINISHING ABOVE THE SHITE!
Aahh! That feels better getting that out of my system. If only we could put ONE WHOLE season together from August to May... sigh!
Hating Liverpool (my God, they are hateful) is part of being an Evertonian. I'd like to ask what, in a pact with the devil, would you go for? Everton winning the FA cup or Liverpool being relegated?
With regard to Torres. These fast boys always explode onto the scene but they don't last long and soon burn themselves out. Hamstrings start to go on a regular basis and then other injuries kick in as a result. I've been telling the red shite this for some time now, in a very sympathetic way of course. They think I'm having a dig but I'm not. Seriously though if they can get 60 to 80 million for him now they should take it.
I see Stevie G has now hit the thirty mark. Another couple of years at the most and he'll be history. He's had a very poor season by his standards up to now. He's always had that burst of speed over a couple of yards in his locker. It could be the old legs are on the way out already. Still they have developed very nicely into the new dogs of war. It will only take them so far. Thats the only way they got a result against us by kicking us out of our stride. How times have changed.
I see Stevie G has now hit the thirty mark. Another couple of years at the most and he'll be history. He's had a very poor season by his standards up to now. He's always had that burst of speed over a couple of yards in his locker. It could be the old legs are on the way out already. Still they have developed very nicely into the new dogs of war. It will only take them so far. Thats the only way they got a result against us by kicking us out of our stride. How times have changed.
I actually wanted them to fly thru the volcanic cloud.
Dave Roberts - "If only we could put ONE WHOLE season together from August to May".
This season coming up Brother! The players know it, DM knows it. Like any champion, we'll need a bit of good luck. Since the circle of life had to pass through such terrible luck this season, the good is due to keep things in balance (just like Liverpool, except the exact opposite). The main break we need is health and fitness.
And bring Landon back.
This season coming up Brother! The players know it, DM knows it. Like any champion, we'll need a bit of good luck. Since the circle of life had to pass through such terrible luck this season, the good is due to keep things in balance (just like Liverpool, except the exact opposite). The main break we need is health and fitness.
And bring Landon back.
Just a quick one if anyone knows off the top of their head.
If we finish 7th above Liverpool only two pionts between us and when they get hammed tonight (ba-bum) but they win the Europa league (god forbid) will they take our Europa League place or will an extra place be granted to the Prem for the winners and seventh?
I can just see this happening as those spawny dirty kopites will still get one over us if we finish above them by taking our European place.
Both Liverpool and Fulham are being made to play Thursday night. Now for once this must be good news for us. Liverpool look like the side we need to overtake to reach the Europa Cup and they have a long long journey to Madrid on road or sea? It can't do their chances against Burnley (why can't it be a Top 6 side) next week-end and oh of course Fulham have to travel to play us next week-end.
Our fortunes must be turning, and on top of the Volcano issue Liverpool have lost Torres for the season.
Can we still do it?
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1 Posted 19/04/2010 at 09:04:15
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I know exactly where you are coming from. I say prayers at night that they go into liquidation! I told that to one of my Manure mates recently and he cracked up - don't think he realised that I was actually serious!
A word of caution however - I often find that when I openly laugh at RS results then we usually stuff up. Let's wait til the end of the season shall we?