Thursday 31 January 2008

Liverpool fans to buy out the club????

Supporters of Liverpool Football Club are reportedly planning to launch an ambitious plan to buy the club from its current owners.

US businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who last week finalised a £350million refinancing package for Liverpool Football Club, which they bought in 2007, are set to face a bid to buy them out - by Liverpool fans.

The BBC reports that the Share Liverpool FC Group will reveal plans for a buy-out of the club by 100,000 Liverpool supporters around the world.

The model being proposed.............

Full article HERE

Monday 28 January 2008

Pundits having a blast

Check out how these pundits respond to the live scores coming in....druing the FA Cup weekend...

Sunday 27 January 2008

Soccer Babe of the Week

Helen Svedin. Wife of Luis Figo. Swedish.

Arsenal?

I saw this online. Sorry Arsenal fans.

Gerd Muller

The ultimate goalscoring machine. He was arguably the best in-the-box forward of all time.You will understand why i say in the box when u see the video tribute. Hows this for a return. He play 565 club games and scored 487 goals. For West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 games.

Cheva Reyes

The oldest player maybe???? This happened in the Mexican league when Cheva Reyes, 71 years young, took to the pitch for Chivas Guadalajara. It was arranged as a tribute to him being the club's all time leading goalscorer. The number 57 was worn as had won the league title 57 years ago!!!!

Whats In A Name?

This list is courtesy of Rob Parker from whoateallthepies.tv

Stuart Taylor
Who wants to be in nets when you could be in the finest wool?

Chris Plummer
The perfect cure for a leaky defence.

Terry Butcher
Opposing strikers would be like a lamb to the slaughter.

Richard Carpenter
A midfielder boss who is hard as nails. Perfect.

Doctor Khumalo
The South African international can double-up as team physio.

Ian Bishop
On the wing (and a prayer).

Lee Cook
Adding some spice to the attack.

DJ Campbell
We don't want to be known as a long ball team, but sometimes it is good to throw it into the mixer.

Alan Shearer
There is nothing sheepish about the former England skipper - except his name.

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Latest: Hicks Interview 6 Months ago

This is an quote from an interview by the Major League Baseball website with Hicks 6 months ago.

"People are worried that I might take money away from the [Texas] Rangers [Hicks' baseball franchise] to go to Liverpool," Hicks said. "But it is just the reverse. Liverpool is going to throw off lots of extra money which, if I choose to, I can use for the Rangers or the [Dallas] Stars [ice hockey team]."

Oh hell yeah...i can see those Kopites flaring up now...

Disillusioned Kopites

Who should be blamed? The American duo of Gillet and Hicks or Rafa?

I was watching the match between liverpool and villa last nite and at the end of the game they showed the banners that was done by the anfield faithful. "Yanks out, Dubai In", "Dubai SOS" and "1 DIC is better than 2".

It made me wonder is really the fault of the owners, who suspiciously weren't at the game. In addition to that, Liverpool's problems was summed up when u looked at Moores and Parry's 'lost' faces. Back to the finger pointing. Ok, Gillet and HIcks (GH) hasn't really lived up to their campaign promises. Yes they have spend big in the summer but rafa had to offload some of their players to get the finance needed. Sounds like a mid table team transfer policy. Have the reds become one?

Latest rumor is that GH has less than two weeks to find someone to provide them the loans needed to refinance. Don't ask me what it means, i have no clues either. What i know is if they dont get this someone, they wont have the cash for players and even worse to build the new stadium. It has been reported they had been rejected once already in the past few days. Good news to those blokes who done up those banners. For this fact, GH is better off selling the club. The fans don't want to want them. DIC with their bottomless pockets could be that crucial financial backing Liverpool need.

But then again, its what happens on the field that wins u matches and trophies. Not the guy sitting in plush seat in the directors box. And that brings our finger pointing to Rafa. As great as he has done for Liverpool, he has lost his way this season. Personally, i feel he has lost the plot and should go. But it seems that the Liverpudlians are willing to stick with him. Despite having a talented team, at least good enough to comfortably get fourth, they have been very poor this season. Some say they have been beaten less this season but as a pure soccer fan, the performance matters. Tactically he has been off, personnel selection has been suspect and un explainable. The players are never playing at their true standard. The report card would indicate Liverpool's performance as a high C. What if DIC comes in and pumps in money? I believe it would make no difference with respect to Rafa's Football Manager-like selection tactics.

Stevie G has gone on the record saying off field problems are affecting players. Now that's not good news when the captain come out and talk about off field areas. It just displays a lack of unity, communication and understanding between player-manager-owner. It seems they all live in their own worlds. Mind you, rafa is not backing his captain's words.

This coming weeks are interesting for Liverpool fans. Would it be status quo or would there be farewells before the end of the season. I am hoping for DIC and Jose....hahaha...hey anything is possible....

Wanna hear what u guys think...do comment...

African Nations Cup

Ghana 2
Guinea 1



Namibia 1
Morocco 5




Nigeria 0
Ivory Coast 1


0-1
Uploaded by bobrivers


Mali 1
Benin 0

Sunday 13 January 2008

The Morning After: Middlesbrough vs Liverpool

A step closer to the edge. Rafa's reign at Anfield might just be coming to an end and i reckoned with respect to his past achievements, the US owners will sack him only at the end of the season. So hows to come in? Those without a club at the moment are the likes of Klinnsmann (Bayern?), Jol, Mourinho or how about McClaren??!! (hahaha). Despite the animosity between Jose and the Kopites in tthe past season, i don't think anyone will mind if he was to take over the helm at anfield.

4 draws now in the past 4 games and mind you they were easy games agst the likes of boro, wigan and luton. In addition the level of performance has been terrible. And honestly i cant put a finger to it. You cannot deny that they have better players than the opposition in all those games yet they just cant play as a team. In yesterdays game, they looked lethargic in that first half.I remembered Rafa saying rotation will allow our players to be fit in the long run especially in the season's run in..bla bla bla... Gerrard wasn't his forward running self. Movement was also poor. I want to come down to Melwood and see them train because i wonder if Rafa pays any attention to technique training. The level of technique displayed were no better than an amateur team. Passes were short and first touch were going everywhere.

On an individual level, Carra and Finnan were their usual solid self. Mascherano was busy. The rest were not up to their own standard. Torres was working on scraps and his wonder strike showed what he is able to do if only his teammates get their act together and supply him with something. Voronin(surprised why he was taken off only in the 74th min) and Benayoun was rubbish. They tried to play 442 but it didn't work coz they didn't have natural wingers on the flanks. Benayoun tends to move inwards and work behind their strikers. Riise is never a left midfielder in the first place. No pace and no ability to get past players or swing a good ball in.

They looked better in the 2nd half and credit to them. But Boro did try to close shop in the second half. But lets give credit where credit is due. Boro played their socks off yesterday and deserved more than a point. Boateng was magnificent shackling Gerrard. Tuncay and Aliardiere were running circles around Hyppia. Wheater and Huth at the heart of defence didn't allow anyone space and time on the ball. Torres had to pick up the ball deep; away from the centre backs; when he got that goal.

I believe rafa will remain until end season unless he dont get a win in the near future. He has done good service to the club but the impression i got from the way they play is that there is no room for creativity and freedom to express themselves(the players i mean). It was very robotic at times. Players were gestured to stand in certain positions and pass to certain people. At times, i feel when they crossed that white lines, some freedom should be given to the players to show their stuff. (watch arsenal and manyoo; u cant really train their movements). Mind you, except a few, Liverpool do boast a strong squad in depth.

Reina 6
Finnan 7
Hyppia 6
Carra 8
Arbeloa 5
Benayoun 5
Gerrard 7
Macherano 7
Riise 6
Voronin 5
Torres 7
Kuyt 5
Babel 7
Alonso 7

Saturday 12 January 2008

SIngapore 1993 team



This the squad photo for the Singapore Malaysian League team of 1993.

Top Row(left to right): V. Sundramoorthy, Kadir Yahya, Alistair Edwards, Jang Jung, Nazri Nasir, Abbas Saad, Fandi Ahmad.

Middle Row: Tamil Marren, Lee Man Hon, Rudy Khairon, Bashir Khan, Abdul Malek, (unknown guy), Late Borhan Abu Samah, Syed Faruk, Yahya Madon.

Bottom Row: Lim Tong Hai, Razali Saad(Captain), P.N. Sivaji, Patrick Ang??, (unknown team manager), Robert Lim, (unknown staff), Saswadimata Dasuki, Malek Awab.

Big Sam Gets the Boot - Analysis

Not enough time on the job
Never given the amount of time required to 'reform' Newcastle United. He wanted 3-5 years to create the right team for the club. Considering their last title was in the 60s i think, the fans and board could have given him more time. Cant really judge a manager's potency within 8 months. In fact at this stage of the month, he was doing better than Roeder.

Too much fan power
Fans has too much of a say in the club. It is as though the the board members are recording the decibel level of jeers in each home game and relate it to manager's performance. Of course, it dont help when the owner sits in the stands, right in the midst of the swears and the jeers.

Wasnt the choice of the present owner
In the first place, Big Sam came was appointed by Freddy Shepherd and not present owner Mike Ashley. I dont think he fancies Big Sam style of football. As Sven Goran mentioned in an interview, "cant sack the players or the board, so the manager gets the sack"

Players out of position
Big Sam kinda put nails on his own coffin(yeah while he was lying down in it) by playing players out of position. Milner constantly on the bench. The most bizarre was the fact that N Zogbia was playing at left back???!!! Smithie was playing in central midfield and he looked like a 'rusa masuk kampung' which is malay for 'deer entering the village' (lost and confused). On personal touch, u wont get much from a lumbering Viduka and playing truant Owen (never fit). Come on, u got two amateur fighters in Smith and Butt in the middle of the park so u dont really can ask for attractive creative attacking football.

Got rid of the deadweight
He did what was needed. He got the right of the deadweights such as Bramble, Moore, Luque, Srnicek and many more. He was beginning to build the foundations but 24 games into it, he is out of the door.

Saturday 5 January 2008

A Walk Down Memory Lane



This the squad photo for the Singapore Malaysian League team of 1993. Test your memory and Singapore soccer knowledge skills. Try naming all the players...

Singapore Squad Announced



The provisional squad for the World Cup qualifying match with Saudi Arabia on the 6th of February has been announced.

Goalkeepers: Jasper Chan, Hassan Sunny, Lionel Lewis

Defenders: Baihakki Khaizan, Daniel Bennett, Precious Emuejeraye, Ismail Yunos, Juma'at Jantan, Sevki Sha'ban, Mohamed Noh Rahman

Midfielders: Hariss Harun, John Wilkinson, Isa Halim, Shahril Ishak, Ridhuan Muhamad, Mustafic Fahrudin, Shi Jiayi

Forwards: Agu Casmir, Aleksandar Duric, Fazrul Nawaz, Indra Sahdan Daud, Khairul Amri

Friday 4 January 2008

Football 365 End of Year 2007 Awards

Admission Of The Year
Winner: Curtis Davies admitting he played like a "pub player" on his debut for Aston Villa.
Runner-Up: Alan Curbishley admitting he "didn't know exactly what they did there" when Spurs switched to a thoroughly baffling three-at-the-back formation.

Anti-Climax Of The Year
Winner: The FA Cup final. Did anyone not supporting either ManYoo or Chelski manage to stay awake?
Runner-Up: The end-of-season Premiership clash between Manchester United and Chelski...just a few days after United had secured the title. How Sky must have regretted holding that fixture back...

Advice Of The Year
Winner: As published on the morning of October's Merseyside derby in Graham Poll's column for The Daily Mail: 'WATCH OUT FOR Mark Clattenburg at this weekend's Merseyside derby. Clattenburg has already controlled the Manchester and north London derbies successfully and has been proclaimed as England's best referee in The Official Line all season.'

Brown-Nose Of The Year
Winner: Patrice Evra for announcing: "When it comes to Alex Ferguson I just want to thank the Lord. Whatever may happen in the future, I have been trained by Alex Ferguson."
Runner-Up: A joint award to the entire England football team for lining up in turn to hail Fabio Capello as the saviour of English football.

Busiest Man Of The Year
Winner: Sam Allardyce, who, despite responding to a Panorama investigation by announcing, "I'm denying all allegations that have been alleged against me...The matter's in the lawyers' hands and will be resolved by due process - I have instructed my lawyers to take the appropriate action", still hasn't found to deliver the promised writ a full 14 months later.

Comeback Of The Year
Winner: West Ham winning seven of their last nine matches to avoid......

For the full article click HERE

In Memory

Those that passed away in 2007

Antonio Puerta (Sevilla)(26 November 1984 – 28 August 2007)
Phil O Donnell (Motherwell) (25 March 1972 – 29 December 2007)
Mpho Gift Leremi (Mamelodi Sundowns) (October 13, 1984 – September 3, 2007)
Jairo Nazareno (Chimborazo/Ecuador) age 21
Salou Tadjou (Togo) (24 December 1974 - 2 April 2007)
Patrick Allotey (Feyernoord/Ghana) (December 13, 1978 – June 27, 2007)
Edy Vazquez (Honduran) age 23


Nils Liedholm (Former AC Milan) (October 8, 1922 – November 5, 2007)
Jupp Derwall (West Germany Manager 1978-1984) (10 March 1927 - 26 June 2007)
Georg Buschner (East Germany) (26 December 1925 – 12 February 2007)
Helmut Senekowitsch (Austria 57-68) (October 22, 1933 – September 9, 2007)
Ian Porterfield (Sunderland 67-77) (11 February 1946 – 11 September 2007)
Yemi Tella (Cameroon)
Alan Ball (Everton/Arsenal/England) (12 May 1945 – 25 April 2007)
Florea Dumitrache (Romania 68-74) (May 22, 1948 – April 26, 2007)
Nicolae Dobrin (Romania 66-80) (August 26, 1947 – October 26, 2007)
Andrej Kvasnak (Czechoslovakia 62-70) (May 19, 1936 – April 18, 2007)
Raymond Kaelbel (France 54-60) (January 31, 1932 – April 17, 2007)
Mariano Gonzalvo (Barcelona/Spain 42-55) (March 22, 1922 - April 7, 2007)
Manuel Bento (Benfica/Portugal 72-86) (25 June 1948 - 1 March 2007)
Sandro Salvadore (AC Milan/Juventus/Italy 58-70) (November 29, 1939 – January 4, 2007)

18YB would like to pay tribute to all lovers of the beautiful game who left us in 2007.

Season So Far

Highest scoring first eleven (minus keepers)

Laursen(5).....Gallas/Lescott/N'Zogbia/Scharner(3)
Gerrard(7).....Fabregas(6).....Cahill(6).....Ronaldo(13)
Adebayor(12).....Anelka/Keane/Santa Cruz/Torres(10)

The Ever Presents(most minutes played)

Hahnemann/Friedel/James/Jasskelainen(1890)
Kelly/Distin/Toure/Bramble/Mellberg(1890)
Hunt(1874).....Barry(1890).....Young(1868).....Downing(1888)
Agbonlahor(1884).....Doyle(1696)

The Givers(Most Assists)
Carson(2)
Shorey(9).....Warnock/Geremi/Glichy/Sagna/Jagielka(3)
Gerrard(7).....Fabregas(11).....Young(10).....Petrov(8)
Berbatov(9).....Kalou(8)

Most Busiest Goalkeeper(Saves)
1.Hahnemann(81)
2.James(68)
3.Niemi(66)
4.Friedel(63)
5.Bywater/Gordon(62)

Dirty Eleven(Most Fouls)
Samba(30).....Scharner(38).....Brown(28).....Clichy(29)
Coker(41).....Brown(wigan)(46).....Dempsey(40).....Barry(39)
Davies(bolton)(54).....Smith(newcastle)(54)

The Giants(Tallest)
Isaksson(1.99m)
Knight(1.98).....Gardner(1.96).....Wheater(1.96).....Distin/Michalik/Hall/Samba(1.93)
Diop(1.93).....O'Shea(1.91).....Hamann(1.89).....Sissoko(1.89)
Crouch(1.98).....Kanu(1.96)

The Dwarves(Shortest)
Ashwon(1.78)
Wallace(1.67).....Baines(1.70).....N'Zogbia(1.70).....A.Cole(1.72)
Lennon(1.65).....Wright-Phillips(1.66).....Malbranque(1.68).....Scholes(1.68)
Tevez(1.68).....Sinclair(Bolton)(1.68)

Rants of a Liverpool Fan

Its about time rafa leaves us. No, not because he's a bad manager. Rafa has brought this club as far as he can go. When inspected individually, Liverpool has its best team in recent memory.As a team, they are beginning to look lost. Rafa's constant tinkering is not a good strategy in my opinion. It disrupts player's momentum and confidence. When looking at the successful model of Chelsea, Man Utd and even the present Arsenal, one can easily observe the consistency of the first eleven. Any tinkering or resting players only involve one or two players at a time. This is said with respect to rafa's 5-6 personnel change every game. Get the best eleven and rest them when they need rest.

Tactics wise....whats up with his ridiculous 4-3-3 system. Used in games agst reading for example. The likes of Kuyt, Voronin and Coruch being shifted out to the flanks of the front 3 and then expecting them to be right and left midfielders when in defence mode. That just does not make sense. 4-4-2 is liverpool and liverpool is 4-4-2. Nuff said. And another bizarre way he sets up is 4-4-1-1 with gerrard behind the lone striker. He used this agst Wigan in the most recent of match. Why do you use 1 out of 4 fit strikers agst a team everyone expects liverpool to beat comfortably. One can say he is more worried to counter the opposition rather than stamping the team's own superiority on the opposition. I do hope the 4-4-2 returns in the next game.

Personnel...We cant really blame rafa (but i do) for all of their shortcomings this season. The players hasn't really been up to the mark. passing has been atrocious this season. The likes of daglish, keegan and molby would frown on this. Another evident problem seems to be their first touches. Balls has been bouncing off the foot of kuyt, babel, benayoun and most of the team. Are they technically lacking in that sense.Bad passing and control and how do u expect to have a cutting edge in attack without mastering the two earlier skills.

Personal agenda...here i would like to mention some personal opinions. Really feel like rafa should take his leave. Some players should be also be going out of anfield. Some of my personal "favorites" would include kewell, kuyt, benayoun and sissoko. Maybe riise and crouch if we can get good money for them. They need to mascherano deal permanent. Wigan has not gotten a point of the Big Four since they got promoted. They just did two days ago. This just means at this present time, in terms of performance, Liverpool are not part of this Big Four. It has in fact become the Big 3; with the likes of liverpool, everton, man city, portsmouth, villa and blackburn in their own mini league.

Reinforcements....Need cover at central defenders. More world class signings(not benayoun from west ham) in the mold of Torres, in positions such as the wings and striker.

So rafa, pls lose more matches so that i can see ur back heading out of the door.

Jersey Details

More details about the jersey. The jerseys are manufactured by Nike. It will be in orange with white trims. Here below is an illustration of the jersey.

K-TAG(to be confirmed) News

The order for the squad jerseys have been placed a few hours ago. We will only be able to collect them on Sunday. Tentatively, there will be soccer this sunday. This session could also be used for the distribution of jerseys. In that light, do hope those who can make it to come down. Time will be confirmed via email.

Thursday 3 January 2008

Rumour Mill

Avram Grant refused to rule out a move for either Dimitar Berbatov or Nicolas Anelka

The Daily Mirror reckons that Harry Kewell could be on his way to Fulham

Roy Keane plans seems keen to bid for Robbie Savage and Stephen Hunt in the next few days, according to The Daily Star.

The Daily Mirror reckons Keano will try and get Steve Sidwell on loan


Arsenal is eyeing Gillingham's Luke Freeman, who is a mere 15 years of age.

David Bentley is set to have more talks with Blackburn over a bumper new deal as they try to keep him out of the clutches of the big clubs

Sven-Goran Eriksson is lining up a £2million swoop for Palace whizkid Sean Scannell

Dean Ashton could be on his way out of West Ham after being frozen out by boss Alan Curbishley

Blackburn want a massive £4million for transfer-seeking striker Jason Roberts

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is planning to open contract talks with Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor

Derby manager Paul Jewell was yesterday putting the finishing touches to a deal to sign striker Emanuel Villa