Conference trucks::football;1

Yes,

 Back on Air, No government state is going to ban us Reds for long.

Well not too much happening since we shut down. McMahon came through ok after
playing 45 minutes in the 2-1 friendly win at Stafford Rangers. Rosenthal and
Speedie were also playing, along with Molby, who it is reported will be joining
Beardo at the Blues!! Where has Kendall got all this cash from who knows!!
The first team squad finished their tour of Scandanavia with a 3-2 win over
Efonberg, Abblett was sent off, Barnes and Saunders got the goals.

Chris.

    Yes, it's great to be back once again with this new notes conference
    and I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the 
    moderators for setting up this new conference.
    
       rgds,
        Martin.

    I have heard from a few people this morning that Souness has been in
    the transfer market once again but nobody seems to know who he has
    bought. Anyone here got any news?
    
        Martin.

    Yes,Mark Walters is on his way from Ibrox,the fee 1.2 million.
    
    
    M.J.

    
    
    Souness bought Mark Walters from Glasgow Rangers for 1.2 million.
    
    Now where does this leave John Barnes???
    
    Gary

The purchase leaves John Barnes exactly where he is, it's bye-bye time however
for Jimmy Carter who seems to be London bound to play at Upton Park next season.
Looking at West Ham's pre-season results I think he should fit in ok there.
The fee for 1.2M came on the day that the club announced a 332,000 pound loss
for the last year. Pretty disappointing considering we were playing to packed
houses as usual, but obviously not winning the league and having fewer cup
matches than usual caused some of this. Now I think it is reasonable to expect
some transfers away from Anfield to recoup some of the 6.3M spent this summer,
so far. I say so far as Souness is still in the market for a centre forward to
partner Saunders, whilst Rush is out. Expected departures are Molby (to Everton)
Speedie (possibly), Rosenthal (why not keep him and save some cash?) and 
Gillespie, who it is rumoured Celtic are after.


Chris.

    hi Chris and Martin,
     nice to be back noting in the next seasons champions note, albeit in
     a new location...
    
    anyone got the fact-file on Mark Walters, i dont know so much about
    him, did he used to play for Villa, and wasnt he once considered for
    england?
    
    Ian.
    

August
------
Sat 18 Oldham H
Wed 21 Man City A
Sat 24 Luton A
Wed 28 QPR H
Sat 31 Everton A

September
---------
Sat 7 Notts County A
Sat 14 Aston Villa H
Wed 18 Kuusi Layhti H (UEFA Cup - LIVE on BBC)
Sat 21 Leeds A
Sat 28 Sheffield Wed H

October
--------
Sat 5 Man United A
Sat 19 Chelsea H
Sat 26 Coventry H

November
--------
Sat 2 Crystal Palace H
Sat 16 West Ham A
Sat 23 Wimbledon A
Sat 30 Norwich H

December
--------
Sat 7 Southampton A
Sat 14 Nottm Forest H
Thurs 26 QPR A
Sat 28 Everton A

January
-------
Weds 1 Sheffield Utd H
Sat 4 FA Cup 3rd Round
Sat 11 Luton H
Sat 18 Oldham A
Wed 29 Arsenal H

February
--------
Sat 1 Chelsea H
Sat 8 Coventry A
Sat 15 Wimbledon H
Sat 22 Norwich A
Sat 29 Southampton H

March
-----
Sat 7 Nottm Forest A
Wed 11 West Ham H
Sat 14 Crystal Palace A
Sat 21 Spurs H
Sat 28 Sheffield Utd A

April
-----
Sat 4 Notts County H
Sat 11 Aston Villa A
Sat 18 Leeds H
Mon 20 Arsenal A
Sat 25 Man United H

May
---
Sat 2 Sheffield Wed A
Sat 9 FA Cup Final

To Be Rearranged Spurs A

Chris

    Re-1
    
    It seems like you are playing Everton twice at Goodsion this year ,
    that should give us more of a chance. I think you'll find that the game
    in August is at Anfield and the one in December at Goodison.
    
    Nigel

RE- LAST

OK, OK we do play Everton at home on aug 31, it's easier to get tickets for
Goodison. A report in today's SUN says that the Walters signing paves the way
for a 4million sale of Barnes to Marseilles. I don't believe Souness would be so
stupid to let Barnes go. If he does our season will be extremely poor, put it
simply we rely on Barnesie!!

Chris.

    re: mark walters
    
    so.............................................................
    
    
    
    has anyone got any info on him? (no matter how small)
    
    
    
    also, sorry if im being slow or anything, but im not getting these
    notes registered as NEW, they just sit here...
    well, at least i shall learn the topic numbers.
    
    Ian.
    

    Good point. Can one of the mods let everybody know that they should do
    a
    
    notes> set seen/before=01-jan-1991
    
    or something similar.

    notice that this is the fastest growing note!
    weve left the manc and the toffees trailing in our wake....as usual.
    Thanks for the info on 'set seen' im just off to try it...
    
    Ian.
    

    I wonder if the arrival of Mark Walters will threaten the future of
    Ray Houghton. Souness now seems intent on building a team based on
    English born players so it's watch out for the foreigners.
    
     Martin.

    
    	At least you won't be able to criticise other clubs for trying
    	to "buy" the title..
    
    	Even so, he's worth every penny. Wish United could buy as 
    	sensibly !!
    
    
    	Andy.
    

Mark Walters at Rangers was a success as a winger, mainly left wing. Highly 
skilled and fast. Definately international class when on his game. Gets 
involved in a bit of trouble sometimes, though.

In my opinion, he's the nearest thing there is to Barnes in Britain right now.
If he replaces Barnes, I think the 'pool supporters will be pleasantly surprised
after seeing Walters a few times. He is good.

Gordon.

It's great reading the tabloid press. Saturday's SUN said that Souness would 
offer Barnes a long term money-no-object contract, whilst yesterday's News of
the World said that Souness was intersted in signing Des Walker, which means 
that Barnes would have to be let go to Marseille in order to finance the deal!!
Personally, I think it's all rubbish!!

Only 5 days to go to Oldham and the start of Championship no.19

Chris.

Chris,
    
    It's not Portsmouth that you're going back to to is it?? 
    What did you do to deserve that.
    
    Two errors in the fixture list in .9
    
    Man City at Home on Dec 21st has disappeared; and the away leg
    against Kuusi Layhiti on Oct 2nd which will be a nice warm up for our
    defeat of Man U on the 5th (Parker O.G of course).
    
    Re. 18,
    
    Am I missing something in Souness's Master Plan but if we already
    have too many players in midfield/up front (Rosenthal, Speedie, Carter
    ...) why are we buying anymore? And why would we even consider selling
    Gillespie when we are a little short on quality behind the halfway line. 
    
    Going to be waiting for the "te dum, te dum ..." of the World Service
    on Saturday afternoon anxiously.
    
    I wish I understood Beardsley and Staunton leaving ... oh heck it's
    time to go and have a beer.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                               

Andrew,

 You're right the more fixtures I get rid of , the more chance we have of 
winning the league again!! I share your concerns about the gulf between 
midfield and Brucie. It was supposed to be the defence that was the problem last
season but we have only brought one new player for that area. Celtic are 
interested in Gillespie, as now Wright and Ablett will be the centre backs with
Nicol and Burrows the full backs. I think Ablett has been retained so when he
gets the ball he can give it his usual welly up field to the front men. Tranmere
have turned down an offer from Souness for one of their full backs, so Souness
is trying obviously to strenghten the defence. However there are very few
quality defenders around, and that includes Wright!

A fully fit team will looklike this I expect:-

                       Grobbelaar
      Nicol      Ablett       Wright        Burrows

       Walters     Whelan      McMahon       Barnes
 
                   Saunders        Rush  

Chris.

    I see liverpool are starting the season as they mean to go on, losing
    to Tranmere 1-0. Guess who scored the goal, yep, TGA. 
    
    
    	Maybe Tranmere are the only decent merseyside team. 'cos there are
    no others....?!!!!

    
    
    Re last
    
    Tranmere - to make matters worse, the Red garbage had a FULL STRENGTH
    side playing...... ha hah haha hah
    
>>    	Maybe Tranmere are the only decent merseyside team. 'cos there are
>>    no others....?!!!!
    
    Can't see how you work that out - Everton won 3-1 at Tranmere last
    week.
    
    Paul

    Re previous note,
                   I have just heard indeed that Liverpool were beaten 1-0
    by their neighbours, Tranmere Rovers and yes, the scorer was the great,
    the one and only ALDO. Judging from the radio report, the great one
    out shone the other former Oxford striker and record signing, Dean
    Saunders and I can safely say that Liverpool and all other lesser teams
    like Arsenal, Spurs, Man.Utd, Everton, Leeds and Forest could rue the
    fact that they missed out on the great one. Time will tell and Aldo has
    proved once again that he is indeed the greatest striker in the English
    game.
        Martin.

    Jesus Martin,
    
    After a whole summer of peace you're back to torment the people.
    
    Aldo had the chances against Poland and couldn't deliver and as a
    result England will probably be going to Sweden and we'll be left
    shouting for whoever they're playing.
    
    
    Aldo???
    
    
    
    
    
    Aldo my ass.
    
    
    Paul

    Here in U.S. we spell it "ARS". It's a little more polite....
    
    But when you're right......... you're right!!!
    
    _NP

If Aldo gets the winning goal against us, then Aldo my ass too!!!

Early team news for Saturday, McMahon is out with knee ligament trouble, and
Barnes has a slight calf strain!!

Good start to the season already eh?

Chris.

For those interested, the Leppings Lane end at Hillsborough is reopened this
weekend for away supporters for the first time since the disaster. It has now
been seated and the roof extended to cover it. It will be an emotional return 
for those fans who were at the FA Cup semi final that April day,  as the only
other visit saw only the seated area open above where the disaster occurred.
Aston Villa are the first supporters there.

Chris.

Rumour has it that Gillespie has been sold to Celtic as predicted in this note
by yours truly!! A million is the number being mentioned, Souness obviously
rates Ablett higher than Gillespie!!!

Chris.

Anyone in the North West can go and watch the mighty Reds at Maine Road vs
Manchester City next Wednesday - Priced 11 pounds pay on the gate. The Luton
game is all ticket for season ticket holders only 13 pounds 50 for a stand
ticket and 7 quid for restricted view. Is football getting expensive to watch or
what, some clubs will soon start pricing themselves out of the market if
they are not careful!! A note to emphasise how difficult it will be to get onto
the Kop without season tickets. Turnstiles 3-24 are for season ticket holders
only 30-33 Paying customers!! As the Kop holds 18000 people there are quite a
few season tickets!! Prices this season for the Kop are very reasonable at 
6 pounds adult, 4 pounds child/senior citizen.

Main Stand seats are 11 pound and child/adult are 15 pound!!

Chris.

    re .30
    May be this is, for once, an astute move by Souness. Gillespie seems to
    be injured even more than Bryan Robson.
    
    Gillespie must also feel quite insulted; in these days of high fees, a
    mllion is like a free transfer!

Liverpool are having the predicted clearout now. Rosenthal and Speedie are
expected to sign for Blackburn in a 1.5 million pound deal and Gillespie
should sign for Celtic today.

Chris.

    
    It looks like the clear out is really under way . 
    With the sale of Steve Staunton , Peter Beardsley , Gary Gillespie ,
    Ronnie Rosenthal and David Speedie , Souness should be able to
    recoup 5 million or so . Not bad is it.....
    Will Jan Molby move on , I reckon he will sooner or later .
    Jimmy Carter looks like moving on as well. What will happen to
    Ray Houghton will he also be let go . Where does one stop !.
    By the time his finished Souness will have the 6.3 million he spent
    on Wright , Saunder and Walters recouped . I hope Liverpool aren't
    leaving themselves a bit thin on the ground after this big
    clear out.........
    Any news in the press speculation of Des Walker's impending
    move to Anfield.....Is this true I wonder , time will tell .
    Any comments anyone...
    
    
    jm

    Has no-one stepped in for the mighty Glenn Hysen !
    
    When will Barnes go? If Liverpool wait until his contact runs out next
    June, under UEFA rules/pricing he's available at ~1.5m. Sell him soon
    and they would get over twice that.

    
    RE:-2
    
    Walker for the 'pool????
    
    
    Never I hope!!!!!!!
    
    
    Imagine playing alongside cr*ppy Ablett ,Hysen you must be joking!!!
    just because Paul (own goal) Parker has gone to another cr*p reds
    doesn't mean Walker has to !
    
    	
    Come on "U REDS".
    
    	
    M.J.

    Des Walker is rather adept at the odd own goal; it's not just PP's
    forte.

    RE:-1
    
    But Dessie's oggies are special,rare gems.... served up on big
    occasions unlike PP who seems to find the passtime habit-forming!!!!
    8-) 8-) 8-)
    
    Keep our Dessie at the true REDS...8-)
    
    Come on UUUU RREEEDDS..
    
    davidS.
    
    

    re:-2
    	
    Actually it's a goal to remember ....it's the only goal ever scored by
    Des while playing for "U REDS"!
    
    
    RE:-1   Thanks for the moral support Dave!
    
    M.J.....come on "U REDS"

    Liverpool  2              Oldham Ath. 1
    Houghton 52               Barrett 8
    Barnes   77
    Att. 38,481
    
    So Liverpool pick up maximum points in their first outing but were made
    to fight all the way by newly promoted Oldham who took the lead after 8
    mins with a header from Barrett from yet another set piece. 0-1 down at
    the break but a Houghton header beat Hallworth and he has made it plain
    that Walters will have a tough fight on his hands if he wants to be in
    the starting line up. Walters did come on as sub and provided the cross
    for Barnes to shoot the winner. Sharp came close to an equaliser but
    Grobbelaar saved well. Not a very convincing start but three points
    have been secured.
     
       Martin.  

    Former Liverpool great and hero of the Kop, John Aldridge made a very
    impressive but not surprising start to the season as he scored on his
    league debut with Tranmere Rovers and was twice denied his hat-trick by
    the woodwork. He has proved once again that he hasn't lost any of his
    amazing ability in front of goal.
    
    Martin.

Well, another successful start. I was very disappointed, but not in the least
surprised, that Oldham scored from a corner with Wright and Whelan marking thin
air!! It was the defence that was suspect last year, and one new player won't
change that! Still nice to hear that local lad Steve McMannaman was a success
up front with Saunders. Man City is the next game away on Wednesday night which
could be tricky.
The team was Grobbelaar, Nicol, Ablett, Wright, Burrows, McMahon, Whelan,
Houghton, Barnes, McMannaman, Saunders. Walters came on for McMahon who was
exhausted after 65 mins.
Saturday also marked the first time Kenny Dalglish has been back to Anfield
since resigning, which is good to see.

Chris.

P.S. RE a while back, Molby is expected to leave this week for Goodison, nice to
see them lose again!!! Shame about lucky ,lucky Arsenal!

    Except when he's playing for Ireland.
    
    Paul

    Stolen from other notes...
    
    Speedie has signed for Blackburn
    
    Both Staunton and Gillespie score on the respective debuts.
    
    No news on Beardsley.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    no

    Last Sunday a local cable TV station was showing old film from the
    days of the NASL which included some brilliant saves made by Grobelaar,
    (SP?) when he played in Canada for the Vancouver Whitecaps. I didn't
    know he played in the NASL prior to Liverpool. Were you Liverpool fans
    aware of that?
    
    JC
    
    P/S
    This is the first time in my life I have said something positive about
    anything/anyone having anything to do with Liverpool. I must be losing
    it....
    
    

       JC,
        I am not sure how many of the Liverpool supporters remember that
    Grobelaar was in Vancouver before he joined the 'Pool. I certainly
    remember it, however. I visited relatives in Vancouver on several
    occasions in the late-70's and watched a number of Whitecap games. 
        My cousins were regulars at Empire Stadium. They just could not believe 
    it when Liverpool signed Grobelaar. They are all pretty astute soccer fans.
    After all, they grew up watching Celtic before emigrating to 
    Canada -:)) In their view, he was a pretty poor keeper and was certainly 
    not in the class of his successor, Ray Clemence. I haven't seen a great
    deal of Liverpool matches since he joined them. However, I think their
    assessment has proven pretty accurate. At best, the guy has been an
    adequate keeper. He certainly does make some acrobatic saves. However, 
    he makes more than his fair share of blunders. Every cross seems to be an
    adventure for him!
        By the way, did you also know that Peter Beardsley played with 
    Vancouver, as did the former Welsh international, Terry Yorath? Several
    future Canadian internationals, including Gerry Gray and Ian Bridge
    were also on that Vancouver team. From what I remember, the Whitecaps
    were one of the top teams in the NASL in those days. Perhaps, not on a 
    par with the Cosmos and Beckenbaur, Pele, Chinaglia etc. However, they 
    were still a pretty good team.
                                                               Dan 

    Well we appear to have lost a few notes here ...
    
    Skipping quickly over the 2-1 defeat at Man-City on August 21st
    (scorer Mcmanaman) and the 0-0 draw at Luton on August 24th the
    league champions elect have recently begun an impressive run towards
    the reclaiming of the title:
    
    August 28th QPR were thrashed 1-0 at home by Dean Saunders
    August 31st Everton were absolutely swept away 3-1 by the Red Wave
                of Burrows, Saunders and Houghton.
    September 7th saw Notts County trounced 2-1 - don't know who scored.
    
    Aston Villa on Saturday.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks   
                                          

    re .48
     > and was certainly not in the class of his successor, Ray Clemence.
    
    yes! has Clemence returned to Anfield and taken Grobs position?!?!
    who will prop him up?
    :^)
    
    Ian.
    

    No, Clemence is at Tottenham on the receiving end of Paul Walsh's
    fist!!
    
    PJ

    wonder what Clem said to provoke such anger from the hairy attacker?
    Ian.
    

    re .52
    
    He probably said what the rest of us say... "Get off you useless git!"
    
    Stevo
    

    re. 50
        Ian, you are so perceptive -:))) Sorry about that slight inaccuracy. 
    What I meant to say was that Clemence was Grobelaar's "predecessor" not 
    "successor". After watching Grobelaar over the years, however, I am sure 
    that there are any number of Liverpool fans who would want to see 
    Clemence come back- and the sooner the better!
                                                            Dan 

    re.54
    yep, i wish that we could get our hands on a new keeper.
    Ian.
    

    prediction for tonites game...
    
    Kysussi Lahti 1-1 Liverpool
    
    and i aint joking...
    after seeing Spurs last night, i wonder how Liverpools 7 all-english
    players are going to cope.
    Ian.
    

    In the absence of Messrs Swiffen (long-term) and Cunno (short-term)
    the latest results  from the 1992 League Champions were:
    
    Sep 7th  Liverpool 2 Notts County 1  scorers Rosenthal and Walters
    Sep 14th Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 1   scorer Walters.
    
    And in just a few hours the lads play in Europe for the first time
    in 6 years since Heysel. It sure is good to be back.
    
    Prediction Liverpool 4 Kuusi Layhti 0
               scorers: Saunders, Houghton, Nicol, Whelan
    
    Anyone have a U.K paper with the team listing? 
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                                   

    
    
     After 10 mins  Liverpool 1    H. Laahti 0
                     Saunders
    
    
    		     

    
    
    
    
    Liverpool 2   H.Laahti  1
    	
    
    Houghton gets the second.
    

    Re. previous,
    
    Look back a few notes and you'll see that they are scoring in the order
    I predicted ... come on give the ball to Nicol (:==:).
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

      
    
    Saunders scores again.
    

    And Saunders gets another so it's 4-1.
    
    If only the 7 english players could get a touch.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    

    And seconds later another 5-1
    
    4 for Saunders.
    
    If only we could get a decent result like the mancs
    
    

    
    
    
    Saunders scores again,   and again. 
    
	now  5-1

    
    
    you beat me to it, too slow typing I suppose!!!

    
    
    
    Houghton   scores his second.
    

    6-1 6-1 - this is getting boring
    
    Houghton gets another.
    
    What a let-down - hope they get their act together for Saturday
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Vinnie,
    
    Great reporting - sorry about the notes clash. 
    
    I can't wait for the video to reach me - I think I might also
    have the highlights of the Mancs game on the same tape but that
    won't last more than a minute at most?.
    
    Pity we couldn't put our first team out (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    
    
    
    	
    Andrew,
    
    They just kept scoring too fast!
    
    Can't keep a good team down I suppose, pity Villa cannot
    do likewise.
    
    Hope that you enjoy the game.
    
    
    Vinnie.
    
    

    Liverpool 6-1 Kuusysi Lahti
    
    well, what can one say?
    i spent last night screaming at mssrs Brooking and Motson for their
    utter stupidity in proclaiming Lahti as an unbelievable side, when
    well, basically, we had about 95% of the possession, and in my opinion
    stuffed the living daylights out of them.
    admitted, the pool were lacking 'that final ball' into the centre and
    looked more than a bit sluggish but at times the old Liverpool
    pass n move style of play appeared to get back to its previous
    brilliance.
    There is a lot to be positive about after this result but i think
    Liverpool will have to get their act together if they are to win the
    championship this season because their defending was, as usual,
    appaling.
    good performance from Arsenal last night should see them getting back
    into the championship frame.
    Ian.
    

    Might have been different if Hooper hadn't made that tackle though...

    > Might have been different if Hooper hadn't made that tackle though...
    
    yep, it would have been 6-2 !
    C=:-)
    

    
    Well done Liverpool. It took a while to sort it out though.
    
    Macmanamanamanamanaman looked exciting but did a bit too much
    on occasions. He certainly wasn't afraid to take them on though.
    
    Jeff.
    

    hate to be a pessimist, but i dont think we will win tomorrow...
    
    prediction: 2-1 to Leeds (at best)
    
    Ian. :-(
    

    Gee,
    	 Its very quiet in here without "cunno".
    
    My prediction  1-0 to the 'pool, Walters from a dubious penalty !!

    I hope Liverpool don't try their 'cheating' tactics at Elland Road
    tomorrow with 30,000 Leeds United supporters there ...
    
    It's time Leeds beat Liverpool, I'll settle for 1-0 with an 89th minute
    goal, but I think 2-0 to Leeds.
    
    jb.

    2-1 to Liverpool (I hope)
    
    Gerry

    
    
    Your not singing, your not singing, your not singing anymore!!!
    
    
    Leeds Utd for ever!!
    
    
    S

    This is very disturbing indeed. Any one got a FAIR match report ? The one
    I read in the Leed topic suggests that we didn't have even a single
    decent shot at Lucky Itch. I find that very hard to believe !!! 
    Souness better do something and fast too ! 
    Also, anyone happen to know who we're up against in the Dumbfellows, er
    I mean, Rumbelows Cup. 
    Can someone also provide the team line-up last Saturday as well as the
    team that played in mid-week against that Finnish club ? 

    Liverpool had a couple of shots at the Leeds goal. They were outplayed
    in defence, midfield and attack. Grobellar is a strange goalie - get
    rid of him. Siuness is a loudmouth who will cause trouble amongst the
    crowd if he doesn't keep himself in check. If Liverpool are to do
    anything this season they they better sort themselves out fast. Losing
    key players should not impact too greatly a club with the depth of
    squad that Liverpool have. Liverpool didn't show the commitment and the
    will to win that Leeds did on Saturday. Leeds won fairly and squarely.
    
    Yah Boo ;-)
    
    jb.

    According to reliable press reports, Liverpool, half of whose team is
    missing through injury, were dominated by Leeds, who nevertheless only
    managed one goal. Souness was talked to for misbehaviour in the
    dug-out. Grobelaar made a few comic errors but then he was playing at
    the home round of the most comic goalie of all - Gary Sprake.
    
    
    Peter

According to CEEFAX this morning, John Barnes will be out for about 12 weeks
following an operation on his achilles tendon last week.

Hopefully this should give McManamon (Sp?) the opportunity to mature and keep
the left wing a strong attacking option, as I was very impressed by him in the
game against Laahti.

	Al

    
    
      and......craig johnston has finally put paid to any rumour of
      re-joining liverpool...the lure of the tv limelight proved to
      strong, though the pool seem to be the team to be in if you 
      want to be seen on the box :-)
    
      could ronnie rosenthal be finally going to st etienne at last,
      with talks 'round the table' tomorrow. chances are liverpool
      will not recoup the full amount that they paid for him.
    
      re a couple of notes back... the reds are playing tonight at home
      to stoke . also, check out bbc2 next wednesday afternoon (5pm)
      for live coverage of the second leg against kuuysi lahti with
      cuddly des lynam
    
      giles
    
    

    Hi all,
           I'm back and ready for action and very optimistic that Liverpool
    can win their 11th title since 1967 despite being very unfortunate
    against Villa and at Leeds on Saturday. I was talking to some people in 
    Dublin on Sunday night and they told me that the Pool were very
    unfortunate to be beaten by a poor Leeds outfit with Old boy McClelland
    being very fortunate against Deano. Leeds can thank their lucky stars
    that Liverpool have big injury problems or else it would have been a 
    cricket score. Perhaps Liverpool will get the rub of the green in the
    next few games and get back where they belong.
    
        Cunno
    

    Hi all,
    
    	The former Liverpool star, Kevin Keegan in here in Singapore to
    play as a guest player for one of the teams here for an annual
    seven-a-side tournament. Also here are former greats like Gordon Banks,
    Pat Jennings, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Mike England (who ?) and a
    couple more whose names I forget.
    	Keegan said in an interview that he felt that Liverpool would NOT
    win the league this season. And for this he blamed his successor in the
    no.7 shirt, Kenny Dalglish. Keegan said that Dalglish did not groom a
    second team of players to eventually come into the first team. He said
    that with Souness in charge, this would be put back in place.
    	Somehow, I feel that there is a certain amount of truth in what
    Keegan said. Players like Marsh, Tanner and McManaman are all good
    players. But they were there last season and Dalglish just didn't give
    them a chance to play. Instead, he chose to spend money on people like
    Speedie, Carter and even good ol' Glen Hysen. Yes, Souness has also
    spent a lot of money. But I think faced with the injury problems that
    he has just now, he's keeping faith with the reserves and the recent
    splendid victory over Everton showed everyone that players like
    Tanner and McManaman are good. They just need a bit of time to adjust
    and that's how I see the games against Villa and Leeds and even Stoke
    just yesterday (by the way, final score 2-2).
	Any other thoughts ?

    >being very fortunate against Deano. Leeds can thank their lucky stars
    >that Liverpool have big injury problems or else it would have been a 
    >cricket score. Perhaps Liverpool will get the rub of the green in the
    
    
    	Aww come on Cunno! You still had your number 1 referee playing.

    
    
    	...you know the 'pool are struggling when Ronnie "Loganis"
    	Rosenthal comes in for the 2.9m kid.
    
    			8-)
    
    	Looking forward to seeing Stoke do the biz in the second leg...
    
    	Andy.
    

    
    Liverpool 2 Rush
    Stoke 2 Cranson and Kelly
    A terrible performance from the reds and unless the injuries clear up,
    then there is worse to follow. I am still totally disappointed with
    Saunders up front. His chances seem to be few and far between or maybe
    he isn't getting the service from the midfield men. The loss of Whelan
    Barnes and Houghton is very telling at the moment. Marsh, Tanner and
    Mcmanamen are not fit for this stage. A few years back and they
    wouldn't have got near the ground, not to mention playing on the first
    team. When one thinks of the team of Grobelaar, Beglin, Nicol,Hansen,
    Lawrenson, Whelan, Dalglish, Souness, etc., we can just realise how
    inadequate these youngsters are. From the tv highlights last night, the
    likes of Walters, Marsh and Mcmanamen seemed to get quite a bit of 
    possession but were devoid of any good ideas or telling passes. All I
    can say is the quicker that Whelan, Barnes, Hougton, McMahon and Rush
    are all playing together,the better things will be.
    Also I was never convinced about Wright and 2.2m was twice too much for
    him. He's spent more time on the bench than on the field of play and
    certainly Ablett is no Hansen, Walters no Barnes, Mcmanemon no Whelan,
    Tanner no Lawrenson, etc. I rest my case.
    
        rgds,
         totally disgusted.

Martin(a),

A few replies back you had Liverpool going for their 11th title since 1967. I
know understatement has never been your strong point, but there's a first time
for everything....and this time you might just have done the trick. Haven't 
Liverpool already won 11 titles since 1967? You have missed a season, surely.
Who or what were you scoring with in Crete? It seems to have wiped out your
recollection of a whole year....

Exactly what position were you in when you scored against the German?

    Declan,
           Yes, I did make a simple mistake by saying that the Pool were
    going for their 11th title since 1967 when it should have read 12th
    Since 1967, Liverpool have won the title in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979,
    1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990 (there are no full stops on
    this terminal) I know those dates off by heart but with such an amount
    of years to remember, even I can make the odd mistake I guess that's
    one problem that Arse or Manc fans don't have
    
    Cunno

    >(there are no full stops on this terminal)
    
    
    	The question is would you use them if there were?

    
    
    Does anyone know if there's any truth in the rumour that Gary Owers,
    Sunderlands 2m rated midfielder, is on his way to Anfield to join 
    the 'pool?????
    
    Stew.
    

    re -1 
    
    I heard that Palace have bought Gabbiadini from Sunderland and that the
    Arse are after Palace skipper Geoff Thomas.
    
    have to wait and see.
    
    i didn't think 'pool spent loads of dosh on players to succeed, looks
    they are trying and not succeeding. does this sound familiar, and look
    at us(MAN UTD) now.  Eh ?!!
    
    macca

    Cunno,
    
    To think Looneypool could have signed TGA, but didn't, must drive you
    NUTS. No?
    
    JC

    
    	If Liverpool had to play the likes of Halifax, Bristol Rovers,
    	Plymouth, Oxford (etc) week-in week-out then I'm sure the Great
    	D*ldo would be top of their "Must Have" list.
    
    	But since they are in what is reputed to be (by titans such as
    	Chinny Hill, John Motson..) the toughest League in the Galaxy,
    	they recognise the need to have a top quality striker. Hence
    	they sold the Hunchback to Everton and spent 2.9m quid on a loser
    	like Saunders...apparently he has played in four sides which won
    	relegation.   8-) better rename him Jonah!
    
    	I hardly call (was it?) 15 goals in last years Spanish League, half
    	from spot-kicks, as world-shattering!
    
    	Andy.
                                              

    Thanks for the Hunchback ;-)
    
    Nige

    Looks as though the 'pool are in the market for a midfielder...
    
    Yetserday, they had a 750,000 bid for Gary Parker of Nottm Forest
    turned down, and there hve even been wild rumours flying around that
    they're interested in Neil Webb!!! 
    Why we'd want anyone whos game has been tarnished by the mancs is
    completely beyond me!!
    
    What I want to know is what's wrong with Mikey Marsh?? A class player
    if ever I saw one, and undoubtedly with more flair than Neil Webb, or
    Bryan Robson for that matter, could ever dream of having.
    
    Could it be that i'm just a teesy bit biased?? Naahhhhh!!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    	Re .102..
    
    	Sorry, Stew, but you can forget Webby. We're not likely to sell
    	him, least of all to you lot! 8-)
    
    	I'm a little surprised at the Parker bid. He was reported as
    	having a real stinker of a game on Saturday. Why would 'pool 
    	want another ordinary midfielder? They've plenty 8-)  ... The
    	man's not even an international.
    
    	It goes to show how desperate The Beast is in buying buying and
    	buying a side good enough to be called Liverpool. I'm with you -
    	he should stick with the home-grown talent like Marsh, Mcthingy,
    	etc.
    
    	Andy.	

    
    I would indeed lose quite a lot of respect for Souness if he did make a 
    bid for Webb as he is a very ordinary player. The news of a move for
    Gary Parker of Notts For. also amazes me as he can't command a first
    team place under Clough. The thought of either Webb or Parker being on
    the same team as Whelan, McMahon, Houghton, Barnes and Rush doesn't
    appeal to me at all.
    
    Cunno.
    

    
    	Well, Martin....maybe a new face would shake these posers up. Of
    	those you have mentioned, only Houghton seems keen to impress the
    	Beast Sourpuss so far this season, when many were predicting him 
    	to be one of the first to leave.
    
    	Barnes is still looking for a natty pair of tights to wear when
    	it gets too cold for the likkle love..last seen in a Lucozade
    	commercial..
    
	Rush has only recently remembered where they hide the net..
    
    	Whelan...who?
    
    	McMahon is playing very ordinarily..perhaps he's getting too slow
    	to be able to kick anyone..
    
    	And you forgot to mention:-
    
    	Ablett.....playing down to his true potential..heehaww..
    	
    	Nichol...not playing to his usual ability..he's much better than
    	he's been showing lately..
    
    	Saunders...still not convincing..for 2.9m?
    
    	Also absent:-
    
    	Wright....Ha Ha Ha ...what a waste of money..
    
    	So all in all things are looking pretty rosy, eh?  8-)
    	
    	
    	Andy.

    re .105
    
    Well, seeing as how the 'pool are supposedly playing so badly, then it
    must be a measure of the sheer talent of the younger players available
    to Souness that we're managing to stay up there with the rest of the
    first division.
    
    There isn't another club in the country that could cope with the injury
    list that we've got at the moment...  Venison, Wright, Hysen, Molby,
    Barnes, Whelan, and now add Houghton (ankle) and Tanner (shin) to that
    list. How many internationals ??!!??
    
    So, anyone that reckons the 'pool are past it had best watch out. This
    is going to be yet another League title season, with two or three cups
    thrown in for good measure...
    
    Stew.
    

    Ref: last
    
    Yeah, right..... paper cups, perhaps.
    
    JC

    
    
        UEFA Cup result.
    
    
    	K. Lahti   1  Liverpool  0
    
    
    
    Vinnie.
    
    
    	

    
    
    	I thought that the Shopkeepers had 11 (XI) but if you
    	think that they had only 9 (IX) who am I to disagree
    	with a Man Utd disciple.....
    
    	     (-: (-:
    
    	Vinnie.
    
    

    
    One hour after Liverpool's defeat in Finland against the Shopkeepers
    (XI) and things don't look too good for the upcoming games. On top of
    the already crippling list, David Burrows also had to go off injured
    and I only hope that it isn't too serious.
    Alan Hansen was interviewed by Des Lynam and he stressed the importance
    of the loss of the injured Ronnie Whelan, which I have been preaching
    all along. So far, Liverpool have had to throw in Tanner, Harkness,
    Marsh, Mcmananen and tonight Brian Jones for the injured Burrows. They
    are doing their best but are far too inexperienced to be all thrown in
    together.
    Getting back to tonight's game, we lost 1-0 but the important thing is
    that we are in the draw for the next round which will take place on 
    Friday.
    
    Cunno.

    re  .112
    
    	You say that you are missing Ronnie Whelan.  Are you trying to say
    the 'pool are a one man team. I remember a few seasons ago people
    saying that Man Utd were a one man team, without Robson they said UTD
    were playing bad. Alan Hansen did not only make reference to missing
    Ronnie Whelan but also to John Barnes and Mark Wright as well.
    
    	'pool seem to be inheriting an almost UTD attitude, buying
    expensive players, one man team etc , it oh so sounds so familiar.
	And after yesterdays performance (which was rubbish, for want of a
    better word) I'd say that they need to buck their ideas up. 
    	
    	Anyway they are now in the next round, and I'm sure you'll be there
    when at least the semi-finals come around.
    	Pity you'll lose on Sunday to the almighty, top of the league, and
    thats were we'll stay, red army.
    
    Prediction for Sunday UTD 3 Liverpool 0
    
    
    macca
    

    
    	I was pleased to see The Beast remaining calm but teeth-gritted
    	during the pathetic interview by the BBC man in Kuusysi last
    	night. Sourpuss made no Kenny Dalglish-type whines about injuries
    	saying something like the players who were chosen to play didn't
    	play well and we got what we deserved.
    
    	Twice the berk with the mic asked him if he was happy to lose! I
    	thought he was gonna chin him the second time!!
    
    	He made it quite clear that he was determined to put a brave face
    	on the club's situation, and with that attitude I have no doubt
    	he will pull them around. I wouldn't mind a transcript of his
    	post-match de-brief to his men/boys! Not for Grandma to hear, me
    	thinks....
    
     	You're in the hat for Round 2. Good luck!!
    
    	Andy.

    Well, I don't know which game you lot were watching, but the one I saw
    was excellent!!
    
    Superb passing, and excellent movement off the ball, running into
    space, and dragging the defence all over the place. Admittedly, there
    weren't too many chances created, but all in all I thought the Finnish
    side had a great game, and thoroughly deserved their win.
    
    It just goes to show how interested the 'pool were in last nights game,
    doesn't it...  when you start playing keep-ball in your own half whilst
    losing 1:0. 
    
    But, we did what we had to, and we'll be more than a match for any side
    in the next round...
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s. Has anyone thought of opening a Kuusysi Lahti notes file??
    

    
    	re last 8-)
    
    	Surely you jest, Stew... 8-)
    
    	I was watching the same game as Sourpuss - those were his
    	impressions of how Liverpool had "performed". I merely relayed
    	them to this forum...
    
    	I call upon Martin to enlighten us with another unbiased report
    	on this excellent Liverpool defeat by a bunch of part-timers from
    	that footballing nation Finland,a side no one had ever heard of 
    	before this season.. 8-)
    
    	Yes, you qualified. But if you'd failed to do THAT (ie lost 5-0)
    	then Souness would have committed 13 murders and one suicide - in
    	that order!!
    
    	Andy.
  

    How could you possibly think I was being serious???
    
    Mind you, the way the 'pool went about the task in hand, by passing
    back to Grobs every five minutes, left me wondering whether they
    would've done better sitting at home watching the game on TV...
    (and this from a seriously serious 'pool fanatic!! what is the world
    coming to??)
    
    But, looking forward to Sunday... it'll be nice seeing our reserves
    thrash the life out of the league leaders!! 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    
    
    Last night's game (and especially Souness' reported comments) begs the
    question:  Has Grobbelar (sp?) made his last mistake in a Liverpool
    jersey?
    
    It was a particularly bad one - even by Brucie's standards.   I watched
    the replay closely.  He was starting to come just as the guy was
    striking his cross - ie before he had a hope of judging the flight of
    the ball.
    
    
    Michael
    

    I think its time you lot shut up with all this bias both 'pro' and
    'anti' Liverpool.
    
    1. Liverpool played RUBBISH for most of the match against 3rd rate
       opposition.
    2. Liverpool HAVE got many players out injured, and since every other
       team uses it as a valid excuse, Liverpool should be allowed to too.
    3. I think its time you lot got a little bit patriotic in your football
       views. Arsenal got stuffed too and Man U and Spurs were far from 
       impressive.
       As an Englishman i want to see an English team win the trophies, and
       i think that now would be the time for constructive views/criticism
       of our ailing teams in an attempt to see if we can decide why we
       arent performing too well against European opposition, ALL OF US.
       petty squabbling and name-calling is hardly a constructive attitude.
    
    sorry to get angry, but im fed up,
    Ian
    
    p.s i wish Grobelaar would go away.
     

    
    Re previous note,
                    I heard the words 'constructive criticism' mentioned
    along with shutting up with all this bias both 'pro' and 'anti' for
    certain teams. It's time we became more open minded and take off our
    red glasses or whatever colour they might be and respect each team for
    their talents or constructively criticise a boring team ..............
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
         and I hope we can stuff the Mancs on Sunday and I can't see a team
    of their inadequacies even coming close to winning the title. Last
    night, I came within ten minutes of seeing the Mancs being embarrassed
    by a group of Greek non-entities.
    
        Cunno.
    
        

    All the hype surrounding the English Clubs reurn to Europe almost blew
    up, when all 3 teams gave well below par performances against less than
    top notch opposition. All 3 teams were expected to 'take their opponents
    apart' (Lunchtime O'Booze), wheras they were taken to the last few
    yards (Man U/Totts), had done all the work in the 1st leg (Pool and Arse) 
    and therefore weren't giving their all. At least all 4 are in the bag for
    the next round - that is an acheivement.
    
    Liverpool have a lot of players out (so have Leeds), but they should be
    able to select from their strong squad - the fact that Sourpuss has got
    rid of a few is his action. Man U have started well, they have not had
    a crop of injuries, can they keep it up ? Liverpool will raise their
    game on Sunday, a draw is the likely outcome. As for the rest of the
    season, then the table around Xmas will be a pointer.
    
    jb.

    re -1
    
    Due to Typos, read 4 for 3 .....
    
    jb.

    You want to "support" Scottish football if you think the English teams
    have'nt achieved anything, you'd really have something to complain
    about, they nearly all make an early exit EVERY season.
    
    It looks very good for English teams at Euro level, especially
    considering that one club won a tournament on the first outing since
    approx 1985.........I would'nt be too disheartened by a few
    on-the-night results, maybe Liverpool could be hit harder than the rest
    of the clubs with respect to the 4-foreigner rule, they achieved
    success regularly in the past with a team mostly consistent of
    "foreigners", it might prove more difficult nowadays, probably with the
    dilemma of who to field and who not to field.......any comments ?
    
    As a Scot I'm used to English successes being masterminded by Scots on
    and off the pitch, why can't we do it at home ?  -) -)
    
    Incidentally, Souness seemed to conduct himself with more decorum last
    night than we normally expect of him during interviews.....especially
    after a defeat -) -) -).
    
    
    
                                                       Brian.

    Okay, so let's have a look at the good points of our main rivals...
    
    ARSENAL
    Don't concede many goals. 
    Good at the offside trap, appealing for offside, harrasing the match
    officials, starting fights, and pulling opposition players over in 
    the penalty area.
    A long way from Liverpool.
    
    TOTTENHAM
    Play good open football. Usually in their own penalty area.
    Rarely play offside trap. But, this isn't for want of trying, it's just
    that there always seems to be someone who stops behind for a chat with 
    the goalie.
    Gazza.
    
    EVERTON
    Don't play the long ball. 
    Don't win many games.
    Buy players from Liverpool once they're too old, and no longer get into
    the Liverpool first team.
    
    MAN. UTD.
    None.
    
    ...so there you go, a totally non-biased opinion of our four nearest
    rivals for the league title. 8-)
    
    So, now can we get this topic back to being a LIVERPOOL topic, rather
    than one in which people write in with in-depth discussions on the good
    and bad points of Scottish club football, and the like... ;-)
    
    Stew.
    

    
    re -1... Arsenal....Sounds more like Aberdeen to me.

    LIVERPOOL V/S AUXERRE IN THE 2ND ROUND OF UEFA CUP
    
    JAYESH.

    re last
    
    Who are Auxerre when they're at home???  Anyone got any info.??
    
    Stew.
    

    re .127, .128
    
    I read on the newspaper that the match will be payed in Paris.
    So that means more seats...
    
    Thierry

Is Barry Venison still with Liverpool or has he been sold

Jonathan (watcher of ex-Sunderland players - well, its more fun than 
watching the lads nowadays!)

    Yes, Barry Venison IS STILL with Liverpool...
    
    ...and, yes, you guessed it... 
    
    ...he's currently on the injured list along with countless others, who
    we shall not mention.
    Talking of injuries...
    Mark Wright is due to have an op. and will be out for 6 weeks...
    Ronnie Whelan is not expected back for another 6 weeks...
    Dean Saunders is nursing a slight injury after Sundays game...
    
    Plus, Liverpool have been notified by Southampton about the
    availability of Matthew Le Tissier, watch this space...
    
    Stew.
    

    Oh yeh, Barry Venison. The guy that DID elbow Nayim in the face, but
    because Liverpool were the darlings of the media, got away with it.
    
    Tony

    re prev.
    
    How many years ago was that?? 
    
    Stew.
    

	If it was more than six months ago Nayim is due another one.
 

    prediction for tonight's game...
    
    Stoke		0
    Liverpool		4
    
    Rushie with a hatrick, and Walters with the other from the penalty
    spot...
    
    Stew.
    

    Prediction for tonights game :
    
    Stoke 1 (Saunders own goal)
    
    Loonypool 0
    
    Nigeo
    
    PS Thanks again for Beardo

    Prediction
    Stoke 0
    Liverpool 1 (Houghton)
    
    

       congrats to cunno who celebrated his birthday yesterday tga gave him
    the perfect present on tuesday night and the pool did the biz last
    night and the poor old mancs only drew with cambridge  so not a bad day
    for cunno.
    any reports on last nights game.
                                      rgds,
                                      Tony

    
    
       from the editted highlights last night, the goals came
       from macmanaman (?) after a cross from the left side byline
       that everyone missed from walters (how many 'froms'?). a stoke
       midfielder goofed with a dreadful back pass that enabled
       rush to unselfishly draw the keeper and pass to deano to walk
       over the line. and a fine run down the right from houghton
       ended in a good goal by walters. stoke to their credit fought
       back, dropping the sweeper for a last half hour of pressure.
       after numerous stoke corners, tanner handled on the line, and
       stoke scored from the spot. with five minutes to go, hooper 
       boobed coming for a high ball, missed, and the ball was headed 
       over him for a goal.
    
       the 15 minute highlights looked end to end stuff, though the
       real highlight was the studio guest, ian wright, whose in 
       depth analysts , behind the scenes in sights , and personal
       views were a joy to behold. i don't know who was operating him,
       but gerry anderson has a lot to answer for :-)
    
       the pool play port vale in the next round at home (it's one leg)
        in a fortnights time
    
       

    Well, from what I saw on the telly last nite, the 'pool are certainly
    starting to rediscover their form... and not a moment too soon
    either!!
    Apparently Wally had an excellent match, and the defence looked
    reasonably solid throughout the match.
    All in all, I reckon we've got to be pleased with the result, and also
    with the draw, which puts us at home to Port Vale in the next round.
    Coventry also look to have an easy third round match... 8-)
    
    It was nice to see Ian Wright giving such an interesting [ ;-) ]
    analysis of the nights footie, and also of George Grahams recent
    signing... who was he anyway??
    I think it's about time George stopped kidding himself, and dropped
    his entire midfield for the rest of the season. Playing 5 at the back
    and 5 up front (plus Seaman) would make the long ball game and offside
    trap so much easier to play, wouldn't it?? 8-)
    
    Stew.
    
    

    
    	You must be delighted, Stew....to have beaten a side half-way down
    	the third div. 5-4 on aggregate. 8-) Bodes well for the future, eh?
    
        Liverpool need more than these sort of games right now. I think
    	this week's rest will help them as much as anyone else. You need
    	someone to be able to defend. Bring back Hanson?
    
    
    	Andy.

    Saw the highlights on TV...just one question
    
    If the ref awarded a penalty for hand ball, why wasnt the defender sent
    off, following the new FA directives to refs this season.  If it wasnt
    deliberate handball, it wasnt a penalty...sure its tough on players,
    but thems the rules...as a ref at local level, its incidents like this
    wot give us hassle.
    
    BTW  Thought Houghton played very well, and looked sharp.
    
    Paul

    Why does handball have to be deliberate? I'm not well versed in the
    rules but such a thing as accidental handball can happen, can't it? AS
    Vinny Jones knows!

    The laws are quite specific about this..I cant remember the exact
    wording, but the general rule I apply is..ball to hand, play on...hand
    to ball (ie deliberate), give a foul...this advice was given to me by a
    League referee..name excapes me but he the one who reffed the Liverpool
    v Wimbledon FA cup final. Given his decision about Beardsleys
    foul/advantage incident, perhaps he was not the best guy to listen to.
    My interpretation of last night is, if it was a penalty (ie deliberate)
    he had to be sent off. There is nothing in the laws about whether an
    advantage is gained or not.....dare I suggest that the refs you have
    had at Reading might have been correct ??...remember referees must pass
    an exam on the laws of the game with a minimum of 90% pass. Players and
    spectators do not...I played football till I was 34, and got into a lot
    of trouble, and it wasnt until I took the refs exam, that I realised
    how wrong I was about certain incidents/laws as player. eg a foul
    committed right on the line of the penalty box is a penalty, as the
    penalty area is defined as the area within the outermost edges of the
    line..I got sent off once for arguing with the ref about that one !!
    
    Paul

    
    Next Saturday, myself and two Dec friends will be celebrating dinner
    with the great Ronnie Whelan in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin in what
    promises to be a great night. All of the Liverpool squad will be there
    plus players from the past like Steve Heighway and Phil Thompson. Also,
    most of the Irish players will be there. I am going to enjoy the night
    and there will be ample orrortunity to meet all the players and take
    photographs. All I can say is that if I don't have a full film of
    photos by the end of the night, it won't be from the lack of trying.
    Kenny Dalglish, Souness, etc. will be there and I shall be making a
    beeline to people like Dalglish, Rushie, Barnes and Aldo of course.
    
     Looking forward to Saturday night,
        Cunno.
     
    

    Just a few things that might interest someone...
    
    Steve Nicol has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for Wednesdays
    European Championship qualifier... 
    
    Ian Rush missed training for Wales with a sore hamstring... but is
    expected to be fit for Wednesday.
    
    Ayr United have let their 21 year old striker Greg Shaw spend a week
    training at Anfield... 
    
     

    
    Does anyone know what Anfield's official capacity is at the moment ?
    
    Paul

    
    
    The way they've been playing lately, are they ever likely to fill it
    again ?
    
    Adam.

    It's about 37,000 ish.

    
    Liverpool are now looking for 1/2m compensation from Blackburn because
    when Kenny left the Pool, there was still about 18 months of his
    contract left and it was stated that Liverpool would be due
    compensation if he became manager of another club.
    Anyway, good luck to Kenny in his new job and from now on, I have two
    favourite teams in the second div., TGA's Tranny and Kenny's Rovers
    Return.
    
       Cunno.

    Well a 3 week absence has certainly not brought the turnaround in
    fortune I expected - with the help of BBC World Service and the
    Guardian Weekly I have pieced together the following run of results
    since I departed.
    
    Sep 21st	Liverpool 0 Leeds 1 (league)    - oh dear
    
    Sep 25th    Liverpool 2 Stoke 2 (rumbles)
    		Rush 2				- his first goals of the
    						  season!!!!!!!!
    
    Sep 28th    Liverpool 1 Sheff Wed 1 (league)
    		Houghton                        - having a great season
    
    
    Oct 2nd     Liverpool 0 Kussi Lahti 1 (UEFA)
    						- not much can be said but
    					          at least we're through
    						  to play Auxerre on the
    						  21st and 4th
    
    Oct 6th	Liverpool 0 Man U 0 (league)	- a TV game so obvious
                                                                      
    Oct 9th     Liverpool 3 Stoke 2 (rumbles)   - again what can you
    		Mcmanaman			  say except we got through
    		Saunders			  to face mighty Port Vale
    		Walters				  on the 28th.
    
    Apart from that the transfer news is that:
    
    Jimmy carter has gone to Arsenal - I guess George Graham is after the 
    Guiness book of records for largest squad or something? 
    
    Rob Jones has arrived fron Crewe - unfortunately World Service offered
    no background on who he is or where he plays so i'd appreciate some
    news about him??
    
    And finally someone called Hutchinson appears to have played in one of
    the games - anyone know anything about him - it's getting to the stage
    where I think they've started making up the names in the team listing.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                                           

    
    Hutchinson (can't remember his first name) was bought from Hartlepool
    at the beginning of last season for something like 100,000 after he
    had only played a handful of games. I think he's a defender (full back
    ?).

    re .152
    
    Andrew, where can you pick up the BBC World Service? Is this a standard
    AM/FM radio station, or do you need some kind of short-wave radio? I 
    suppose whatever you can get down in Atlanta woud be on a different
    frequency than whatever we could get here in New England, but it would
    be worth a try... 
    
    Will you be doing the "Tomahawk Chop" if Wales beat Germany
    tomorrow?
    
    Cheers,
    
    Tom 

    Tom,
    
    It's at 3 different points on the Short-Wave band depending on the time
    of day - somewhere around 6, 12 and 13. It's the same frequency all
    over the U.S and even in parts of new England (:==:).
    
    I'll look up the exact frequency and post it later
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Thanks, Andrew!

    Is there no end to our injury worries???
    
    Ray Houghton is out of tonights game for the Rep. of Ireland injured,
    and Ian Rush missed training AGAIN yesterday for Wales with a damaged
    hamstring, though they expect him to be fit for tonight...
    I just hope he's STILL fit for Saturday!!
    On top of that, Mike Hooper will be out for a couple of weeks with a
    severely torn calf muscle...
    
    Anyway, apart from that, it looks as though Souness is in the market
    for another goalie... maybe he should've been when Chris Woods was
    available??
    He spent last night watching David James play for the u21's, and it's
    thought that it'll only be a matter of time before he makes a concrete
    bid.
    Could it be that Grobs is on his way???
    
    Stew.  

    Hooper is out for 2 months not 2 weeks.
    
    With all these injuries 'pool are getting, one wonders about their
    training methods? Too severe? No proper warms ups|downs?

    >    With all these injuries 'pool are getting, one wonders about their
    >	 training methods? Too severe? No proper warms ups|downs?
    
    Nah, it's just old age catching up with them.

    on the subject of LFC's training methods ....
    
    My uncle is going to a clinic in the pool and its the same clinic that
    LFC use (a lot in recent months) , and he was saying that he has heard
    that the training under Sourpuss is a lot more severe than it was under
    Kenny ... this may account for the recent eash of injuries.
    
    My wife also saw John Barnes on his crutches down Hemel Hempstead High
    Street doing the shoping (sounds like he's out for a while).
    
    Nigeo

  Don't the 'pool normally have injuries around Internationals time.

  K Doglead

    When was the last time Liverpool won a League game ?
    
    jb.
    

    
    
    September 7th. Can't remember who against. Luton ??? QPR ???
    
    JN.

    re .163
    
>>> September 7th. Can't remember who against. Luton ??? QPR ???
   
    Ronnie The Sub (Dive Dive Dive) earned them full points at Meadow Lane
    on that day. Hardly counts as a creditable victory - County have only
    beaten 1 of the 16 clubs above them so far :-(
    
    Rob 

    re .164
    
    A victory ana 3 points, nonetheless
    
    Gerry

	re .154

	BBC WS short wave frequencies for use in New England.

	Saturday morning sports programme with Paddy Feeney
	15.00 - 17.00 UTC approx
	11775kHz	via Caribbean relay station
	15260kHz	via Sackville, New Brunswick relay
	12095kHz	direct from Daventry, England
	15070kHz	direct from Daventry, England
	All these are a bit iffy, depending on the state of the ionosphere.
	The broadcasts from England are not beamed at the U.S., but often
	can be heard. Another possible frequency is 17880kHz (relayed through
	Cyprus).

	In the late afternoon (Eastern time zone) try
	15260kHz	via Ascension Island relay
	12095kHz	from Daventry
	15070kHz	from Daventry
	These may work for 21.00 Newshour. This edition of Newshour is relayed
	later in the evening through WBUR, (Boston FM90.9) at 7.30p.m. local
	time.

	The first North American relay to start up in the evening is
	5975kHz at 22.00 UTC from Sackville.
	6175kHz from Sackville is on in time for the 00.00 UTC Newsdesk
	The 02.00 edition of Newsdesk is also relayed through WBUR.

	For full listing of programmes and frequencies, subscribe to
		BBC London Calling,
		Bush House,
		Strand,
		LONDON W.1.

	Tony

    So, the 'pool have a new goalie... ALMOST!!
    
    Apparently, all David James has to do is to put pen to paper, and he'll
    be on his way to Anfield. Needless to say, Grobs and Mike Hooper are
    reportedly considering their long term future with the club...
    
    The fee will be somewhere in the region of 1.5m, with 900,000 paid
    straight away, and the rest on a 'if he plays so many matches for us'
    basis.
    
    Chelsea must be feeling a bit sick, 'cos Watford accepted a 1.5m cash +
    players deal from them, and David James wouldn't sign... the only team
    he wants to play for is the 'pool!!!
    Personally, I don't blame him!! 8-)
    
    Anyway, I reckon I should be in line for 'Scoop of the year', eh??
    I predicted this as far back as note .157... gosh!!
    
    By the way, prediction for tomorrow nights game...
    	Auxerre		2 
    	Liverpool	2
    Apparently they have a brilliant attack, but an awful defence... sound
    familiar?? Deano to score twice!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    	re .167..
    
    	Stew, you may have to revise your prediction for tomorrow, coz I
    	reckon Deano won't even be playing 8-) We shall see....
    
    	Congrats on the impending signing of the new kid James. Grobatair
    	will be off but what about Hooper? I think he gets the sh*t end 
    	of the stick here after standing in Brucie's shadow for so long.
    	Sourpuss is pretty single-minded about these things though, and
    	I'm sure his way will work for the 'pool...
    
    	Question is: When?
    
    	Andy.
  

    More exciting news, hot off the press... 8-)
    
    Liverpool have called up their 17 year old YTS goalie, Rob Holcroft,
    for the away leg against Auxerre tomorrow night, and he's expected to
    start the match... on the bench!!
    Though, nothing would surprise me at the moment!!
    
    As for the impending arrival of James from Watford... I haven't a
    clue!! But the transfer is expected to be completed in time for him to
    make his debut against Coventry on Saturday...
    
    Stew.
    

    i am off to St Lucia (carribean) for 2 weeks as from next week.
    can anyone tell me if english newspapers are available in the
    carribean? i believe that the native language of the island is french.
    i am hoping to use this info to get hold of the english football
    scores in the hope that Liverpool surge back to the top while i am away
    (or surge to mid table anyway)
    
    thanks in advance for any help.
    ian.
    

    
    
    Tell the truth Ian, you're actually going on a school trip to Bognor
    and the teachers won't let you into the shops to buy newspapers because
    of your shop-lifting experiences...... :-)
    
    Paul

    
    Re. .170 St Lucia
    
    Went there 10 years ago, and then the 'airport terminal' was a little
    shack with a couple of overhead fans... Then there was no chance of
    getting papers but things might have changed by now. BTW the language
    isn't French but some unintelligible mixture between French and
    English (Creole ?) but most people speak English albeit with very
    strong accents - it was a British colony (the queen is still on the
    coins !).
    
    Also stay off the local rum, if you value your brain cells...

    Dunno if it's the same in St. Lucia, but you could get the sunday
    papers on Wednesday from our hotel in Barbados (it's a long way to swim
    though!)
    
    Stevo
    

    
    Auxerre 2 (Ferreira, Kovacs)
    Liverpool 0
    
    It's going to be very tough in the next leg with a 2-0 decifit but if
    anybody can do it, then Liverpool can. Grobbelaar had a superb game and
    answered a lot of his critics. Steve Nicol went off injured, I hope
    it's not too serious. It's now 9 o'clock and I must go home and watch
    the Mancs get stuffed.
    
          rgds,
           Cunno.

    Liverpool really didn't look good, they spent the first 30 minutes
    punting the ball up field or into the crowd to clear from the area
    and never seemed to really threaten the French defence.....
    
    ....the French commentators couldn't quite believe they were watching
    the 'legendary' Liverpool. I hope the injured players get back into
    the team and make a difference for the second leg at Anfield.
    
    -Dom

    Auxerre are a mid table (French) 1st Division team, so are Liverpool, so
    a 2-0 loss away from home isn't too drastic. Whether they will win at
    Anfield by 3 clear goals is another matter. They also played
    pathetically, the 2nd goal was an elementary mistake by a poor defence. 
    
    jb.

     
    Would someone please tell me why do Liverpool keep playing
    Gary Ablett  , I just cannot understand it .
    
    Nothing personal but I reckon Ablett is pure useless.
    
    How near are Whelan , Barnes , Wright , Vennison , Hysen
    to being fit ????
    
    Liverpool looked very poor last night against Auxerre..
    
    jm
    

    Well, it looks as though we've managed to go over all the bad points
    from last night, so let's have a look at the good points...
    
    ...errrmmmmm...
    
    ...well, the mancs lost 3:0!!! Ha Ha!! 8-)
    
    Anyway, we did manage to create one or two good chances in the first
    half, but failed to take them. This, with however many first teamers
    out through injury, and now Stevie Nicol... but, they wont relish
    coming to Anfield for the second leg, and I reckon we'll take them
    apart.
    
    Another good point about last night was Jamie Redknapp... only 18, and
    just come back after having a hernia op. . A star for the future... and
    we've certainly got more than our fair share of them!!
    
    So, it's not really that disastrous, though losing 2:0 isn't a good
    result...
    
    However, the sooner Mark Wright is fit the better, 'cos our defence is
    certainly not as tight as it should be!!
    
    Stew.
    
    
    

    
    Yeah,it could be worse Stew.....your defence could be as bad as ours !
    (Celtic's). Struth,we've got more leaks than a......erm.....mmmm....
    
    Leakery !!!!!
    
    

    
       quite agree with jmurphy regarding ablett. during the second
       half against the finnish team i don't think he played a single
       ball forward at all, except to woof it into the crowd. when
        you're 6-2 up on aggregate you can feel safe in trying some
       thing adventurous..but not our gary. last night did not change
       my opinion. no confidence. no adventure. no good.
    
    

   Nice bit of reportage in the Grauniad. It said that " Martini was neither
   shaken nor stirred"


   Take it away, Cunno.

   Paneso

    It's been pretty quiet in this topic for a while now, has the level of
    noting sunk to the same level as the once famous Liverpool ? Has
    Liverpool been eclipsed by its great rival Manchester ? Why do they
    still wear flares in Manchester ? 
    
    jb.

    re .183
    
    Whilst mancs have something to say whether they're winning or losing...
    
    
    Not that it's ever worth listening to, mind you. 8-)
    
    At least you get something worth reading in this file... 
    I see the mancs lost 3:0 last night... 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    Has anyone seen Cunno? Shouldn't one of you notify his relatives and
    file a missing person' report with the police?
    
    JC

    Could someone at least post the team - please - as midweek papers
    don't reach this outpost; and Sunday's paper will concentrate on
    the annihilation of Coventry I may never find out otherwise.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
    Re .185, Shhhhhh, they might find him then.
    
    Rumour has it that Cunno will make a footballing comeback tomorrow
    morning playing for ESSB v Baird (from Antrim).  If Sounness isn't at
    the Coventry game tomorrow you'll now know where he is.
    
    Gary.

    well, an excellent week this has turned out to be, eh?? 8-(
    
    Not only have we given Auxerre a glimmer of hope that they might
    actually beat us on aggregate, but Stevie Nicol has been added to the
    casulty list, and is doubtful for tomorrows game, and even for Port
    Vale next week... 
    
    Does this mean a reprieve for Gary 'give the ball a good whack' Ablett?
    
    Anyway, onto tomorrows game, and a prediction...
    
    	Coventry	0
    	Liverpool	4 (McManaman, Houghton, Rush, Walters(pen) )
    ( or 7:0 if Deano plays!! 8-) )
    
    Stew.
    
    
    

    >    Anyway, onto tomorrows game, and a prediction...
    >
    >	Coventry	0
    >	Liverpool	4 (McManaman, Houghton, Rush, Walters(pen) )
    > ( or 7:0 if Deano plays!! 8-) )
    
    I know Saunders is not playing too well but surely he's not so bad that
    his presence would turn a 0-4 win into a 7-0 defeat? ;-)

	Re: .186, Andy if your looking for a team list, your guess is as good 
as anyone elses (probably better than Souness's). I think Redknap(sp?) and 
Marsh will play though. As for the rest, well they have to find some mid-field 
players. That was the trouble in France, no one to connect the defence with 
the forward line - terrible waste of Rush's time being there. And while I'm 
at it does anyone think Walters is worth his position?

	Andy, your lucky to be in Atlanta at the moment at least you missing 
some very embarassing performances, and Liverpool are doing very well either.
 
 

     
    Mark Walters .
    
    I've seen Liverpool play a few times on TV this season and the
    only time I remember Walters inside the oppenents penantly box
    is when he takes the penalties .
    
    So far Mark Walters seems a very bad buy for Souness .
    And as for Gart Ablett ...pure useless .
    How come Ablett never gets injured...
    
    Sorrowful times at Anfield .
    
    It looks as if Mr Dalgleish saw the light a long time
    before anyone else....
    
    jm

    re .188
    
    well, if he does play, then it'll probs be in the centre of defence...
    ...hopefully instead of Ablett!! 8-)
    
    As for Wally... he's in a class of his own!! He just needs to adapt to
    the English game, and liverpool's style... but, when he has he'll take
    a lot of stopping.
    
    Stew.
    

    	-1 says that Dalglish saw the light a long time ago but I think
    that he has been the actual cause of their recent demise.
    	
    	Although the success they enjoyed under Dalglish's management was 
    good,he broke the golden rule of Anfield of not developing players from
    within.This previous policy brought long term dividends to Liverpool but 
    that now seems to be no longer the case.To me,what Dalglish did was buy 
    in the best of the available talent & wiped the floor with everyone else 
    for a couple of seasons.During that period they were brilliant.
    
    	However, continually buying to build instead of staying true to 
    long standing effective policies is now starting to cause the problems 
    that have previously been seen by teams like Man Utd who for many years 
    tried to buy success.For a short period of time it worked for Dalglish but 
    its long term effects are now being seen.Souness seemingly has had to 
    start from scratch & buy in players just to do a job  meanwhile trying 
    to rebuild the infrastructure that was present pre Dalglish.
    
    	This is only an opinion but to me Dalglish's departure was like a
    captain leaving a sinking ship.He has F****d them up badly for the time
    being & I believe it will take Souness two to three years to rebuild
    them & the back up organisation.
    
    	Any comments from you scouse supporters??

    I meant .191

    
    Can anyone out there submit the Liverpool team that started the 1974
    F.A. cup final against Newcastle?
    
         Cunno.

    
    	Is this a quiz? Is this close?
    
    	Clemence
    	Lawler
    	Lindsay
    	Smith
    	Thompson
    	Hughes
    	Keegan
    	Boersma
    	Toshak
    	?
        Heighway
    
    	Andy.

Calaghan certainly played in the '74 final.

What about Hall??

Dave

    
    RE Previous 2,
                 I was discussing the 1974 cup final the other day with
    ESSB::BLONG who is a closet Liverpool fan and we were just trying to
    name the 11 who started but we weren't sure of one or two so I decided
    to ask some of you Liverpool fans.
      My guess would be:
                      
                         Clemence
                          Lawlor
                           Smith
                            Hughes
                             Hall
                              Lindsay
                               Keegan
                                Beorsema
                                 Toshack
                                  Heighway
                                   Callaghan   
    
            
                Cunno.
                       

    Re: .193,
    
    I don't know which team you support Mr Moriarty. But I will say that
    you know your football well !! 
    I mentioned this very same problem which Mr K. Dalglish has created in
    .86. And yes, I share your opinion. If Dalglish overlooked players whom
    he didn't buy, I guess it's ok. But he was the one who bought the likes
    of Barnes, Beardsley, Rosenthal, Jamie Redknapp. And half the time he
    didn't even put these people on the field (except Barnes, of course).
    As a player, I don't think anyone will ever come close to the skill of
    Dalglish. But as a manager..... Oh well !!! Better left unsaid..!!
    If you look at the likes of Mcmanaman, Marsh, Tanner, you will see that
    these are not great players. But then neither were Emlyn Hughes, Tommy
    Smith, Toshack of the past and some of the current Arse team midfield
    players. What matters really is the cohesion and understanding that
    comes from years of playing together. If you look at the Liverpool
    defence today, with the exception of Nicol and Ablett, none of the
    others had the experience of playing with the likes of Hansen or
    Lawrenson. And this is really important. Souness seems to have a bit
    more of brains as he tries to mix youth with experience. And yes some
    of the experience from the older and more experienced players is bound
    to rub off. But in the meanwhile, a price will have to be paid. How
    dear that's going to be we will all soon find out.
    
    	Yes, Mr Kenny Dalglish has truly F*****D up. BIG TIME !!! 

    re .199....Thanks.
    	
    	I thought my note had been set hidden by the Liverpool mob since
    it did not get any response!!:-))
    
    	One point I would make is that it used to be a Liverpool trait to 
    buy players & keep tham in the reserves for a spell (I suppose to
    "Learn the Liverpool way").This happened in a number of cases,the best
    of which I remember as being David Johnson of Ipswich who was playing 
    very well when transferred but then spent nearly a season in the
    reserves.He certainly came back an even better player.
    
    	With regards McManaman et al I believe that they could certainly be
    good players but without that gradual step up that used to be so
    characteristic - ie.with a lot of players who filtered through,their
    ascendency into the first team was almost transparent & one Liverpool
    team looked & played much like another - these players are not going to 
    get the nurturing they would previously had from the more experienced
    players.
    
    Kevin

    
    Since Liverpool gained promotion to the 1st division after winning the
    2nd Div championship in 1962, their performances have been unbelievable
    and no team will ever dominate the league like Liverpool have done over
    the last 25 years. Below is a season by season look at Liverpool's final
    league positions:
    
    
    
                Year         P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS      Position
                ====         =====================      ========
             1962-63         42 17 10 16 71 59  44         8th
             1963-64         42 26  5 11 92 45  57         1st
             1964-65         42 17 10 15 67 73  44         7th
             1965-66         42 26  9  7 79 34  61         1st
             1966-67         42 19 13 10 64 47  51         5th
             1967-68         42 22 11  9 71 40  55         3rd
             1968-69         42 25 11  6 63 24  61         2nd
             1969-70         42 20 11 11 65 42  51         5th
             1970-71         42 17 17  8 42 24  51         5th
             1971-72         42 24  9  9 64 30  57         3rd
             1972-73         42 25 10  7 72 42  60         1st
             1973-74         42 22 13  7 52 31  57         2nd
             1974-75         42 20 11 11 60 39  51         2nd
             1975-76         42 23 14  5 66 31  60         1st
             1976-77         42 23 11  8 62 33  57         1st
             1977-78         42 24  9  9 65 34  57         2nd
             1978-79         42 30  8  4 85 16  68         1st
             1979-80         42 25 10  7 81 30  60         1st
             1980-81         42 17 17  8 64 42  51         5th
             1981-82         42 26  9  7 80 32  87         1st
             1982-83         42 24 10  8 87 37  82         1st
             1983-84         42 22 14  6 73 32  80         1st
             1984-85         42 22 11  9 68 35  77         2nd
             1985-86         42 26 10  6 89 37  88         1st
             1986-87         42 23  8 11 72 42  77         2nd
             1987-88         40 26 12  2 87 24  90         1st
             1988-89         38 22 10  6 65 28  76         2nd
             1989-90         38 23 10  5 78 37  79         1st
             1990-91         38 23  7  8 77 40  76         2nd                           
    
    Unbelievable stuff from an unbelievable team
    
            Cunno.

    No doubt there will be Cunnostirrings in 33.xx in the next day.
    
    sigh.
    
    jb.

    
    re.201
    
    Is it a sign of the times that Liverpool fans are already starting to
    draw on former glories ? An admission, perhaps, that this "total
    domination" is now at an end ?

    	Re .201.....Martin what was the point of that note???? We are all
    aware of how well Liverpool have done in the past twenty years & I'm 
    sure most people admire that success.....I,however,am tired of your
    inane attempts to continually stuff those facts down everyone
    elses' throats.......Can you not concede that whilst Liverpool are
    still one of THE teams to beat,they are not currently anywhere near
    their former standards & if that note was in reply to note .200 then
    I'm afraid it made little or no sense in its context as a reply.
    If,however,it was just another attempt to tell us how brilliant
    Liverpool have been,then as the other noters have already said:
    
    YAWN YAWN YAWN YAWN YAWN!!                                     

    
 >   Since Liverpool gained promotion to the 1st division after winning the
 >   2nd Div championship in 1962, their performances have been unbelievable
 >   and no team will ever dominate the league like Liverpool have done over
 >   the last 25 years. Below is a season by season look at Liverpool's final
 >   league positions:
 

Martin,

 With all these "we are the best no matter how we're playing" notes and 
harping on about past glories, by a supporter of an average mid-table club,
you are beginning to sound rather like the supporters of a certain other
football club, (who are somewhat higher than you in the league at the moment)
who you always seem to take an obsessive interest in.

All the best

Dave

    Has no one mentioned our return to winning ways with a 1-0 victory
    at Coventry yet? 
    
    9 points behind - 2 games in hand
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    
      re .205,
              My note was not a reply to note .200 but was meant as showing
    Liverpool's extra-ordinary success over the last 20 years and most
    people while realising that Liverpool did dominate the league don't
    realise that they had statistics like that e.g., lowest league position
    in the last 28 years has been 8th. I think my note like most of my
    contributions will prove to be very informative for all Liverpool fans
    who wish to see at a glance Liverpool's league record and it is in the
    Liverpool note. I haven't submitted in the wrong note like
    Man.utd's..........................................................
    ..........................
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
           
           
             yet
    
               Cunno.

    Now, the question is, are the 'pools injury problems starting to ease??
    
    Apparently, the performance against Coventry was one of our most
    impressive this season, especially in defence, and really we should
    have buried them before half time.
    This could be due to the return of Molby in midfield, and Hysen (who
    Souness apparently told that he had no future at Anfield) in the middle
    of the defence...
    
    I hope that when he's got a fully fit squad to choose from, that
    Souness won't forget the younger players who have played so well to
    keep us in touch with the league leaders.
    
    But, my prediction at the start of the season of a clean sweep of all
    the major domestic honours looks pretty solid!! 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re: Cunno and domination
    
    This just goes to show that there are too many ways to skin a cat...
    (apologies to any cat-lovers out there).
    
    One person's justification is another's point of attack.
    
    For example, I'll throw the now skinless cat amongst the pigeons
    (apologies to any bird-lovers out there) by asking "When was the last
    time Arsenal were in the Second Division??"
    
    (Hint:  It was a long time before 1962!!!)
    
    
    Just stirring the pot,
    PJ
    

    
    re -1,
          Yes Arsenal have been in the first division for about 500 years
    but Liverpool have achieved much more between 1963 to the present day
    than the boring Arse ever achieved.
    
        Cunno.

    ...like a superb 2-2 draw at Anfield against ...err....Port Vale....

    re: .212
    
    Ouch!!   That's a low blow.....
    
    
    
    
    ...but I love it!!
    PJ
    

	We need a match report on last nights game. I have read the Gruaniads
report but as I believe nothing I read in the British press I need an unbiased
report from a Liverpool supporter.

	From the TV last night it looked like bad defending again - was that 
Hysen twice? The clown commenating did say something about "pressure being 
made to count" when LFC second goal went in. Rush's goal looked like a good one.

Jim
 

    
    	re last....
    
    	Jim, you're unlikely to get an "unbiased" report from a "Liverpool
    	supporter"....8-)
    
    	The two are mutually exclusive ;-)
    
    	From an unbiased Utd supporter who saw it on TV last night, though,
    	:-} Liverpool should have won comfortably. They fell behind to a
    	good goal, scored either side of half-time, then threw away the 
    	lead with yet more shocking defensive mistakes.
    
    	Rush could easily have had a hat-trick, Saunders was totally
    	ineffectual, and McMananananananthingy scored a good equaliser.
    
    	They *should* beat sides like this on one leg, but the way they're 
    	playing at the moment Port Vale must fancy the replay...
    
    	Andy.

    Re .214,
    
    Jim - don't worry because this all part of Souness's masterplan to
    generate extra revenue from the extra games, allow more time for
    our first team to recover from injury and then enter the new year
    ready for a tilt at all 3 trophies (:==:).
    
    Of course with Scotland self-destructing in the European championship
    and even losing to England at Rugby times must be tough!!
    
    Good to see Mcmanaman get another goal.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                                           

	Andy, you obviously didn't follow Souness' career (as is down a steep 
hill on a bike with no brakes, type career). He isn't trying his master plan
this time, or else he would have bought half a dozen over the hill English 
players, abused the press and TV etc.

	As for master plans you also haven't spotted Roxie's ruse of lulling 
San Marino into a false sense of security by losing to Romania, we can rely on 
Bulgaria!

	Scotland losing at rugby never hurt before, it did this time especially
as it was to the Wimbeldon of international Rugby (big kick and run). 

Jim

PS NZ stuffed us as well

    
    
       souness was being grilled by des lynham last night....
       unfortunately i couldn't make out what was being said 
        due to television interference....well i thought it was
       the tv, but it turned out to be souness' tie.. talk about
        being too loud for the deaf.:-) in fact if actions speak 
        louder words, he should play his entire collection each week
       
    
    

    
    Our great manager basically said that no one should judge Liverpool on
    their current form but should only be judged when all players are fit
    and playing and if they are only moderate by then, they will deserve
    any criticism.
        
         Cunno.
    

    Re .193 and .199
    
    Bit dissapointed with those notes (sorry it was such a long time ago).
    
    Surely, if Dalglish didnt have a youth policy, then where would some of
    the players the Poll have been forced to use recently come from.  If
    you take Sourpuss' recent past history at Rangers, and expect a youth
    policy from him...forget it !!.  I thought he was good on the Beeb last
    night, and didnt seem worried about the present position, as he said
    wait till Easter and then see who is at/near the top. They have only
    lost 2 games in the League so far..its not exactly a disaster is it ??
    
    Paul

    Re last note, and having read .199 again
    
    Did Dalglish F**k up at Liverpool, or because he has left Liverpool, as
    Im confused with your PS at the end  ???
    
    Paul
    

    Hi Paul,
    
    	Sorry to disappoint you...Although I am an Arsenal follower (& I
    don't say supporter coz I don't go to watch them) I have admired the 
    setup that has been established at Liverpool since the Shankly era...
    .where I believe Dalglish went wrong is that he didn't stay true (in 
    the way both Paisley & Fagan did) to the formula employed by Liverpool
    as a club.Yes,he brought some brilliant players to the club.Yes they
    enjoyed superb success early on.What I am questioning (& this is not 
    knocking,just observing) is that if you looked at nearly any time in
    the last twenty years at a Liverpool side,regardless of League
    position,you knew that they played to a specific game plan,were hard to
    beat & always played power football (meant in a positive way).Today
    however,they are in 8th or so position but do not give that ominous air
    of bygone teams.....I am not saying they are still not to be reckoned 
    with,just that Dalglish's policies have left the club,as an
    establishment,in a very much weakened state.
    
    	FWIW I believe that Souness,being one of the 'pool old guard,will
    get them back to their original power status.this is good for Liverpool 
    but not so good for the rest.However,it will take more than a season.
    
    	Also,George Graham has always admired the Liverpool set up & I
    believe is getting very close to having something similar at Arsenal
    that,if continued (should he leave) will keep Arsenal at/near the top
    of the English game for a very long time to come.
    
    Kevin
    
    

    Kevin,
    
    Thanks for that.  Not being a Pool fan, i can remain neutral on these
    matters.  Just 2 things  : I dont feel that Dalglish left Liverpool in
    as bad a position as some people think, and I always felt that he did
    (albeit less rigidly than his predecessors) stick to the Liverpool game
    plan. I think that the Liverpool set up was (possibly still is) strong
    eenuff to withstand a poor/ordinary manager and maintain its incredible
    success. Kenny made some (to me) strange decisions eg not picking
    Beardsley too often, and his position at Blackburn will determine
    whether he is a good manager or not.
    
    
    Secondly I feel that old Sourpuss, just because hes from the old
    brigade, wont necessarily/automatically maintain the Reds equilibrium.
    Hes had a very unfortunate start with injuries.  My feeling is that he
    is too much of an individual, too strong a character and has too much
    of an ego, to be regarded as a typical Liverpool manager..perhaps this
    is what they need.
    
    However Liverpool will be there or there abouts come april/may 92,
    unlike some of the present pretenders to the throne, and remain your
    (arsenals) greatest threat for the league....but Im no expert about
    football , Im a Jock !! 
    Keep noting
    Paul

    
    IMHO the day's of Liverpool's domination of the first Division are now
    over.
    
    They've been the luckiest team in football for well over twenty years
    with a combination of biased referees (see below), jammy goals and
    other teams not having the bottle to challenge them. (QPR 1976, Everton
    1986, Aston Villa 1989 ?)
    
    How many times have referees made decisions which have favoured
    Liverpool ? Virtually everytime Everton have lost to Liverpool in a
    major final / semi-final they've been cheated;
    
    1977 FA Cup Semi Final Maine Rd - Bryan Hamilton's perfectly good goal
    is disallowed by Clive Thomas - result a 2-2 draw.
    
    1985 Milk Cup final Wembley  - A blatant handball by Hanson is ignored
    by the ref - result 0-0 draw.
    
    1986 FA Cup final Wembley - Rush was clearly offside for Liverpool's
    second goal.
    
    This incidents don't happen occassionally - they happen all the time
    and at important moments.
    
    
    Souness hasn't got the ability to be succesfully in management, he was
    a clogger as a player and is a clogger as a manager - anyone can do
    well in Scotland - if they've got the money. Look how bad Celtic are at
    the moment, and where are they in the League 3rd ? 4th ? - if they were
    English they'd be in a similar position to someone like Birmingham or
    West Brom - 3rd division. Souness's Rangers did nothing in Europe - a
    truer reflection of how good a team is.
    
    He's ripped the heart out of Liverpool's old system, Dalglish began it,
    but Souness has speeded it up, players like Walters or Rosental are
    never going to be succesful 'team' players - Barnes and Beardsley were
    unique - Liverpool will have to go back to their most boring negative
    mid-70s style to be anywhere near successful. Players like Tanner,
    McManaman and Marsh will be burnt out by the end of the season, and as
    they start to feel the pressure of having an 'average' season, so the
    pressure will be on to play unfit players - eventually making the
    injury list even worse.
    
    I love it............
    
    Paul

    
    Get your sour grapes.....only 50p a pound !!

    
      Re .224,
              Never have I heard so much drivel and absolute rubbish in all
    my life. You must have been asleep for the last 20 years if you
    discount Liverpool's marvellous achievements in all competitions.
    Liverpool deserved to beat Everton in every major match, 1977 semi,
    1984 League cup final, 1986 and 1989 cup finals. I suppose you think
    Rushie has been lucky to score over 20 goals against Everton, that
    Liverpool were lucky to win the league 11 times in the last 17 years,
    the European cup four times in seven years, the UEFA Cup twice, the
    league cup four times in a row and the F.A. Cup twice in the last five
    years. Get your head out of the clouds and face the fact that Liverpool
    are the most dominant team of the modern era. If your history of
    Liverpool's league form over the last 20 years is a bit rusty, then
    take a look at my note in .200.
    
        Cunno

    re .226
    
    Blimey!
    
    Cunno put a pointer in instead of typing the dates as per usual.
    
    This isn't the Cunno we know and love.    :-)
    
    Stevo
    

    
    
    re .226 Yeeeahhh. Go on Martin, get stuck in lad. :-)

    re a few back
    
    Paul, you forgot to mention that they won a European cup final on
    penalties...

    Re .230,
    
    	Wrong. Although Liverpool are not always lucky, they were in 1986.
    As a neutral I thought Everton were the better team that year.
    
    		Steve

    Re: .223
    
    As the author of .199, I feel I have a certain "responsibility" to
    explain some things. This is going to be a bit long. But please bear
    with me.
    I don't know how much the rest of you 'Pool remember Bill
    Shankly. Not that I do. But I have heard quite a few stories from his
    era at Anfield. This is one which I feel is appropriate. Liverpool were
    due to meet Anderlecht in a UEFA Cup match. Before that match, England
    met Belgium in a friendly (I can't remember where). At that time
    Anderlecht sort of like supplied the bulk of the players for the
    national team. "Shanks" went to see the match. He was quite horrified
    at how good they were and was sure Liverpool would be torn apart.
    He came back to Liverpool and told his team that Belgium were a load of
    rubbish and that Liverpool would have no problems against Anderlecht.
    Now, of course, nobody questioned Shankly. So Liverpool went for the
    UEFA cup match and drew 1-1. First thing that Shankly told his team
    was, "Well done lads, you just drew your match against the Belgian
    national team." Of course, the Reds promptly lost the second leg by
    3-0 or something like that. My point is really this: Shankly also had a
    great ego. But he also knew how to build a good team and in retrospect was
    one of the finest managers you will ever see. But at that time, he was
    seen as just another ordinary manager. I'm not comparing Sourpuss to
    Shankly. All I am saying is that for as long as Sourpuss picks a team
    in the true Liverpool tradition, then I am not going to gripe at him.
    What stupid Dalglish did was against this 'Pool tradition ! I have
    mentioned this before. Last season, he went to White Hart Lane for
    a League match against Spurs and fielded no less than 6 known defensive
    players and Beardsley on the bench. Barnes got injured and Beardsley
    came in. Liverpool won that one 3-1 in quite controversial
    circumstances. Now if Shankly, Paisley or even Fagan were in charge,
    they would have put out the same team that Dalglish put out in the 4-0
    drubbing of the Mancs (alright 1 or 2 changes if there were
    injuries !). A couple of weeks after the Spurs match, Dalglish went to
    Highbury, now with Beardsley not even a sub (in fact he was in the
    match of the day studios ) and ended up with a 3-0 drubbing. This man
    doesn't know how to manage never mind manage a Liverpool team. Again,
    against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. He just doesn't learn or
    doesn't know what to do. You don't ever let yourself be intimidated by
    the other team. Instead, you should intimidate the other team by
    fielding your strongest team in every single match. Let the other team
    worry about the fact that they are playing against the mighty
    Liverpool. And that in itself means you have won 50 % of the battle.
    You just go into the match play your usual Liverpool style of short
    passes and good buildup and the goals will come definitely.
    Remember May 1989 ? I won't ever forget that one because all we had to
    do was draw against the Arse at Anfield, of all places. And how did Mr
    Dalglish select the team ? Beardsley on the bench. After just 20
    minutes, Rush went off with an injury. So Beardsley came on. Did they
    play their usual passing game ? Noooooooooooo !!! I suspect even God
    didn't know what rubbish they were playing. By the time the 70 minute
    mark came along, it was clear that TGA just didn't have the energy to
    go on. To be fair, they had just played in a 2 hour F.A. Cup final
    against the other team from Liverpool. Would it not have made sense if
    they had started with the same team that started at Wembley (i.e. Rush
    as a Sub). Yes, it is easy to criticize when it's all over. But even I
    was surprised when Rush started the game instead of being a Sub. So
    what happened in February '91 was the same thing. If this nut had put
    Beardsley in the team in the first match of the F.A. Cup tie against
    Everton, Liverpool would have won the match easily. He didn't, got
    criticized, didn't like it and quit. Easiest thing to do. Shankly lost
    the double to the Arse in 1971. He didn't quit. Instead he brought Ray
    Kennedy from the Arse to Anfield. How many managers have the guts to do
    that ? Paisley brought Mark Lawrenson from Brighton to Anfield after
    Mark had helped Brighton to beat Liverpool at Anfield in the early
    '80s, in the F.A. Cup.
    Will Dalglish succeed at Blackburn ? We will wait and see. But if I
    were the Blackburn Chairman, I wouldn't want him. It's all well and
    good if your team enjoys a good run. But the true test is whether you
    as a manager are prepared to see your team thru' the bad times. Yes, I
    think Souness is doing exactly that, especially after the latest blow
    of Crystal Palace winning at Anfield yesterday. Yes, Liverpool might
    quite possibly end the 91-92 season without a trophy. But in the long
    run, Souness should be able to build a strong team. He should make sure
    that Dalglish doesn't poach any players. 
    Now, lest I give the impression that Beardsley is an angel, let me take
    a swipe at him. He is reported as having said that the moment Souness
    signed Saunders, the writing was on the wall for him to leave. Absloute
    rubbish I say !!! So why didn't Houghton leave when Walters came ? If
    you think you're good, then you should stay and fight for your place.
    Anybody know how long Gillespie, Ogrizovic or Rush spent on the
    reserves ? Ogrizovic only left because just as he thought he would
    inherit the goalkeeper's jersey, Bruce Grobelaar was brought in. So if
    Beardsley wanted he could still be playing for Liverpool. He thought
    wrongly that Souness would also keep him on the bench. Now, what
    Souness did was right. He's got no time for insecure wimps like
    Beardsley and showed the rest of the team that being a Liverpool player
    is a privilege. You have no god given right to play for them. Hardwork
    and commitment to the Liverpool cause are what will earn you a place
    in the team.
    Anybody remember Charlie Nicholas ? One of the most gifted players
    around (even now I think). He turned his back on Liverpool and went to
    the Arse. Why ? Simply because he wasn't interested in playing on the
    reserves. Where's his career now ? Nowhere !!! Even when he was leaving
    the Arse, Liverpool didn't make a bid. Mind you, he's not very old. But
    when Ian Rush decided to comeback from Italy, Liverpool took him back
    with pleasure. Note the difference in treatment !!! 
    Anybody know what Ian Snodin (who ?) said when he chose Everton over
    Liverpool when he left Leeds in the mid-80s. "I see Everton as having a 
    better future over next few years." Yes, he won a League Championship medal
    in '87. But since then where is he ? Is he alive ? What have Everton won
    since '87. Absolutely nothing !!!! No sir, Peter Beardsley going to
    Everton is not a loss to Liverpool at all !!!!
    	I have written this note with a lot of passion, I suspect :-).
    Maybe too much !!! Sometimes a good memory is bad. I remember the team
    of the late 70s and early 80s. How I yearn to see a Liverpool team
    playing that kind of soccer !!! All is perhaps not lost. There was a
    glimmer of hope in the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. If Souness sticks to
    the Liverpool tradition, then yes Liverpool will be there at the top
    come Apr/May 92. Along the way, there will be a few hiccups. Like the
    losses to Palace and Auxerre. But there is no gain without pain.
    
    
    Bye for now,
    
    Kumar  

    
    Hi Kumar,
    
    I thought I was a bit biased - but you beat me by a long way.
    
    I don't know why you're slagging Beardsley off for being a wimp - he
    never actually wanted to leave Liverpool, but when Souness offered him
    to Everton (yes Souness offered him !!!), he jumped at the chance to
    join a club on the up and escape from the declining Anfield....
    
    (oh and by the way, Liverpool wouldn't have won the first game 'easily'
    if he'd played - Everton murdered Liverpool at Anfield and should have
    won, but the referee ignored yet another obvious penalty when Nevin was
    brought down in the box......- haven't I said that before ?)
    
    You seem to have a very good memory for televised games - have you ever
    been to Anfield ? ;-)
        
    Liverpool's rapid decline continued yesterday when Palace had an easy
    2-1 at 'the mighty Anfield'.
    
    Paul

    Sour puss says he was mugged, well I would agree, but it was by Derby
    County not Palace :-)
    
    Now when do they come to Selhurst for the double???
    
    Paul
    

    
    
    Cunno
    
    I suggest you run out and buy the Irish Times this morning
    
    there is a half page interview with you-know-who TGA..............
    
    
    cheers
    
    Liam

  In the interest of fair play ( another plagiarised joke).


  A Manchester United fan was driving to an away game ( shurely some mistake,
  Ed), when he was stopped by the police.


  Plod asked to him to blow into a bag, and he produced a card with " I am
  an asthmatic,don't not take my breath"

  The policeman then suggested that perhaps a blood sample might be in order.  
  The Moancheater United fan , produces a card inscribed" I am a haemophilliac
  don't take my blood".

  The copper is gettting a bit hacked off with all this, and insists that
  the driver goes to the nick for a urine sample. The M*n U*d fan brings
  out another card bearing  

  " I am a M.U fan, don't take the p*ss"


   and now to the game,

   


   George Courtney was at Blackburn.



   Stuart 

     

HO HO HO, nice one

	What a great way to brighten anotherwise dull boring Monday.
Rgds,
Shaughs.

    
    Liverpool 1 (Hysen)
    Crystal Pal 2( I don't remember the names)
    
    A game that the Pool should have easily won but along with the long
    injury list, luck has also gone against the Pool. Glen Hysen scored
    from a header and Rushie should have made it 2-0 but he failed to
    convert an easy chance. Despite lacking talent, style and good
    footballing ability, Thomas and the rest of these cloggers must be
    rewarded for their strength and persistence and two poxy goals after
    half-time and against the run of play gave Palace the points. One
    wonders what would have happened to Palace if Whelan, Barnes and Wright
    had been playing.
    An unlucky result for the Pool but they are still a long way from the
    form that saw them beat these non-entities 9-0 two years ago when THE
    GREAT ALDO added the ninth from the penalty spot.
    
       Cunno

re last,


Martin,

Thank you for your evenly balanced report.

Stuart

    Re. .243
    
    A bit unfair to suggest that palace are non-entities. I would suggest
    that the 0-9 to 2-1 in two years is more to do with Palace improving as
    a team unit than Liverpools decline.  A bad result for Liverpool, and
    my predictions (in other topics) that it is too early to write the Pool
    off could be rebounding.
    
    As for the 'we should have won it, we wuz robbed, we had most of the
    game etc etc'  Im sure that there are supporters out there from lots of
    teams who have been 'mugged' by Liverpool in similar circumstances who
    would now say :-
    
    'HOW DOES IT FEEEEEEL ??'
    
    Re Kumars earlier note.
    \
    I agree (to a point) that Dalglish may not have been the manager that
    he could have been, but he wasnt as bad as that surely.. I dont think
    he will come up to scratch at Blackburn..time will tell.  What you
    quote about Shankly is about the ability of an individual to MOTIVATE,
    not about the 'Liverpool tradition' being upheld.  To me the 'Liverpool
    Tradition' is about the changing of managers ( Paisley, fagan, etc) and
    the team still being successful and playing to a regular patern.  IMHO
    no single man is good, or strong, enough to change the clubs
    philosophy  ie the old bootroom club.  I think Sourpuss will try to get
    his own way, and try to dictate more than previous managers, and he
    will not last long at the club....he was not good with the media in
    Scotland, slagged off the refs and the SFA.  If he tries to do this in
    England, Liverpool will not accept this behaviour.  Public behaviour
    and opinion is held dearly at Anfield (and Highbury) and the tradition
    of these great clubs are bigger than any managers ego....now try saying
    this for other clubs ...no names from me.
    
    Paul

    That should have read Re .244
    

    
    Liverpool must deliver the goods tonight if they are to survive to the
    next round of the UEFA cup and I am quite confident that they will with
    a score of 3-0 after extra-time with Saunders getting two and Rushie
    with one.
    My prediction and hopes for the other scores this week are::
      
        Manchester Utd.  4   Athletico Madrid 1...........with Futre
    scoring a poxy goal in the 90th minute after Utd. look certain to go
    through.
    
        Arsenal 2   Benfica 2...........The boring Arse 2-1 up and then the
    donkey Adams with a back-pass to the keeper that lobs Seamen and goes
    into the next and the two away goals to put the Portugeuse through.
    
        Spurs 0  Porto 2............so that the fat boy GAZZA when he
    recovers will not have the chance to play with his beloved Spurs in 
    Europe.
    
    
             Your friend,
                  Cunno

Re .248

	How can someone be so blindly optimistic and so mean spirited. 

	Of the teams playing tonight Liverpool really do need the luck.

Jim

    Re. 249
    
    
    	>Of the teams playing tonight Liverpool really do need the luck.
    
    In retrospect Mr Parker, the Arse and the Mancs needed much more than
    Liverpool. They got it. But they still didn't know what to do with it.
    By contrast, Liverpool played "majestically" according to the BBC World
    Service, to wallop the French team Auxerre. This brings me to this
    weeks's quiz question in the Liverpool topic :
    
    "Which British Team(s) is/are still left in the UEFA Cup ?
    
    
    Rules for answering the question: Only Man Utd and Arse(nal) followers
    can answer this question. Liverpool followers are banned from answering
    this question in the first instance. However if no one answers it
    within the next 3 replies, then anyone can answer it :-)
    
    
    Re. 246,
    
    I think Bill Shankly is solely responsible for starting the Liverpool
    success. Yes, Paisley did a good job of continuing it. As for Fagan,
    well he didn't really have to do much because he already had the
    players. 1985 was a bad year and Fagan was in charge. Liverpool didn't
    win anything mainly because they depended too much on Souness and were
    trying to readjust to life without him.
    As for Dalglish, Blackburn just lost 3-0 yesterday. Need I say more ?
    As for Souness, I don't think he would be so stupid to do some of the
    thing that he had done North of the Border. He knows that he will have
    to be careful. And I think he's done well so far (He hasn't been banned
    from the touchline yet !!:-):-)) under the difficult circumstances that
    he's facing now. Things can only get better !!!
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Kumar

    Anyone seen or heard from Cunno lately?  I heard he was last spotted
    walking along the pier is Salthill last night.
    
    Shane

    I reckon 'majestic' isn't the right word to describe how Liverpool
    played last night, it's not strong enough!!!!
    
    More like sheer brilliance!!!!!
    There was so much commitment, and so much passion... just what we
    needed!!! 
    
    But, basically, it was a forgone conclusion before the kick off!! The
    French needn't have bothered turning up!!!
    
    I just couldn't believe what an excellent nights football last night
    turned out to be...
    The 'pool wallop the froggies...
     ...then turn over to see the arse get stuffed by Benfica...
     ...and the mancs run ragged by Atletico...
    
    They might as well give the 'pool the UEFA cup now, and save anyone
    wasting their time... 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

	Sorry but neither "majestic" nor "brilliant" are the right word. 
The best word to describe the performance - "lucky"! They played a committed 
game but there were a couple of moments when Grob kept them in it, brilliantly.
The football was not quality football. Don't take my word for it though 
re-run your video and listen to Souness comments, at least he isn't a "fan". 

	Having said that the result was just what they needed, perhaps LFC will 
have a bit more confidence for league games. Then again who out there thinks 
Molby will cope against the better teams in the first division? Great passer, 
great vision, great eater (?), great drinker (?) not so good at the running 
about for ninety minutes though. Best thing about last night was that some of 
the new defenders came good. The team still needs to be organised properly to 
make use of what class they have available.

	Sorry to say it but I don't think LFC would have coped with either 
Benfica or Arsenal last night, nor do I think they'll get much further in the 
tournament, pity. Good result great game but...

Jim

Well I have it on good authority that Cunno is lying low for the time being. He
was deeply affected with the events of yesterday and feels morally exhausted.

Praise be, as he would have had lots to say about Liverpools lucky victory last
night otherwise. 

                            James.

    Well done Liverpool.....It figures, just when I bet, for the first time
    this year, against them advancing they go on and play over their heads
    and in the process cost me $25. 
    
    
    JC, (who now has 25 more reason to hatre the pool)
    

    re .253
    
    Oh dear... someone's got an axe to grind!! 8-)
    An Arsenal supporter perhaps?? 8-)
    
    I reckon the 'pool would have beaten any team on Wed night... it's the
    turning point of our season!!
    We'll now go on to win all of the major domestic honours, plus the UEFA
    cup... like I predicted at the start of the season.
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s. I hope Arsenal get relegated!!
    

    I have a question regarding the way Liverpool play (or used to play
    during their glory years, if it is any different now).
    
    Would you say that it is a Continental style ?
    
    Thanks,
    Wayne

    RE last
    
    
    Once Liverpool could defend -- then they bought Hysen
    
    Once Liverpool could score -- then they bought Saunders
    
    
    Once Liverpool had a midfield -- then they bought Burrows
    
    As for their current style being Continental,  you''ve just upset most
    of Europe.

    No, you misunderstand.
    
    Everybody (mainly the media, but I've seen it mentioned in here) keeps 
    talking about 'The Liverpool Way'. This is obviousley a reference to the 
    teams(s) that won the League so often, so many cups, and the European Cup 
    (was it 3 times ?). I guess this was pre Dalglish as manager days.
    
    Now, this 'Liverpool way', could it be decribed as 'continental' in
    style ? Is it typically British ? English even ? If not, what ? How
    would you describe it ?
    
    Thats all, no inuendos, no snide, no sarcasm. Just an honest question,
    wanting an honest answer.
    
    Thanks again,
    Wayne

    Re last few   (eg .252 and .253)
    
    Well we had the extremes of emotion there..eg 'majestic, brilliant and
    lucky'.
    
    I thought Liverpool played the game absolutely right, got the early
    goal, and (Where the Mancs and the Arse failed) capitalised on it.
    If Grobelaar makes a few good saves, this doesnt mean Liverpool were
    lucky, it means that the whole team played well.  There are, however,
    some much stronger teams than Auxerre left in the tournament, and they
    will provide the Pool with a sterner test. Chances are some of the
    walking wounded will have returned to fitness, and Liverpool will have
    a stronger team themselves.  This was probably Liverpools best
    performance of the season so far.
    
    Am I the only *rseh*le who wants to see ALL the British teams do well
    ??
    
    Paul
    
    

    
    	re .260..
    
    	No, Paul....I also wish ALL BRITISH teams the very best of luck
    	whilst competing in Europe. I get absolutely no satisfaction seeing
    	*any* of our representatives failing on the bigger stage. Friendly
    	rivalry at home is one thing, but surely there's some national
    	pride ? I find it amazing, some peoples' attitudes....8-(
    
    	I even support Celtic and Rangers in Europe, and I read enough
    	about both (though one in particular 8-)) in here to put me off
    	doing that! 
    
    	Andy.

    re .256

	What is this? Here's me trying to be rational and I'm accused of being
   an Arsenal fan! And I haven't got an axe either, then again maybe I do have 
   but its for people who on hearing an unwelcome opinion get "patriotic" in an 
   attempt to close their ears :-(

	More interstingly is the question about continental football and did 
   LFC play it. No never, what they did do was learn how to pace their game to
   handle both physical 100% commitment English teams and continental teams.
   In the league by playing a passing game and letting the opposition run out 
   of steam, how many games did LFC win/save by a late goal. In European games 
   by keeping up the physical pressure on continental teams without blowing up 
   (like Arsenal did). They did this by virtue of playing a very effective 
   positive fast passing game. Having very good skilful players also helped:-) 
   Thats why the performance against Auxerre shouldn't be over-rated it was a 
   very good example of English football - 100% commitment - the best 
   LFC performance I've seen this season (don't ask how many I've seen). There 
   where moments when they looked almost like previous Liverpool teams - when 
   Molby's passes were accurate picked up.
 
	Less pleasent in the notes file is the slagging off of KD - is there 
   manager with a better league record? He did a great job running the team, 
   he obviously had his problems at the end but those who are blaming him for 
   all the teams current problems seem to have forgotten that the club is  
   famous for its backroom management team or is it- all problems are Dalglish's
   everything that goes right Souness'. 

Jim

    re .258
    
    I would just like to point out that David Burrows is neither a midfield
    player, nor is he crap!!!
    We seem to have already forgotten that he completely man-marked Paul
    Gascoigne out of the game when we played Spurs last season, and did the
    same to Bryan Robson when we played the mancs a few weeks back.
    These are indeed versatile performances from an out and out left
    fullback, who, in my opinion should be a regular in the England squad.
    Though, it has to be said, sometimes his temperament is a little bit
    suspect, but people said that about Stuart Pearce, and he's a regular
    in the England team.
    
    Stew.
    

    Re .263
    
    Thanks for that, Jim.
    
    Wayne

    Hi guys,
    
    	There have been some reports in newspapers here that Deano is up
    for sale and that Leeds and Forest are among the interested parties. Is
    there any truth to this ?
    	Also, reports say that Ian Rush has been offered a highly lucrative
    3-year contract which would see him earn more than John Barnes !! Any
    similar reports in your part of the world ?
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kumar

    re 215. (sorry ive been away)
    from TRUCKS::SANT
    
    re: there are no unbiased liverpool supporters.
        the two are mutually exclusive...etc...crap...etc...
    
    Mr Sant,
      I have been a very staunch critic of Liverpool myself this season
    and have given reasonably unbiased opinions.
    also, it seems not too long ago since we were commending the late
    lamented Jason Swiffen for his unbiased reporting.
    So there Andy, nur!
    Ian.
    

    re.last
    
    '...Jason Swiffen...'
    or rather 'CHRIS Swiffen'
    
    rgds,
    Ian 'still jet-lagged' Hawley.
    

    
    	Awwww...come on Ian (nice to have you back, by the way)..
    
    	...I *was* trying to be impartial in .215...read it again. The
    	first bit was the wind-up..shame you only read that... 8-)
    
    	Andy.

    andy,
      Glub! sorry if i mistook your motives...
      also, its nice to BE back...could only get the sunday papers on a
      tuesday, giving me more time to wonder how many Liverpool lost by.
      :-)
    Ian.
    

    Getting back to more serious matters...
    
    Sunday should be an interesting game, giving a clearer indication that
    the 'pool are finally getting their game together.
    So, I'll go for a really tight game...
    
    	...something like 5:1 to the 'pool, with Deano getting back onto
    the scoresheet where he belongs!!  8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    
    Stuart,
           I was aware of the poxy Palace slip-up. See my .244 note.
    
           Cunno

    Could someone put me out of my misery and tell me who scored the
    Liverpool goal against Palace - as this week's Guardian Weekly failed
    miserably to mention it.
    
    Still I content myself with the knowledge that the Auxerre video is
    in the post to me and I can see the lads do what the Arse and the Mancs
    failed to do i.e stay in Europe for 1992.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks - who's totally overjoyed that Wales hammered Lux!!

    Re: -1
    
    	Of all people, it was good ol' Glen Hysen who scored. As I saw it,
    it was really giving Palace a dose of their own medicine. That brings
    Hysen's number of goals scored in his days at Liverpool to fabulous 2.
    
    
    
    Kumar
    

    re. last
    
    	...and both of them against Palace!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    re. Glenn Hysen
    
    is the injury crisis THAT bad?
    dont we have any ball-boys we can play instead?
    tea ladies?
    the groundsmans dog?
    
    Ian.
    

    
    regarding the current injury crisis, can anyone give me a run down of 
    the current team please? im a bit lost since i came back from holiday.
    TIA,
    Ian.
    

    re .280
    
    The current team seems to be along the lines of...
    
    1.	Grobbelaar
    2.	Rob Jones
    3.	Burrows
    4.	Hysen
    5.	Molby
    6.	Tanner
    7.	Saunders or McManaman
    8.	Houghton
    9.	Rush
    10.	Walters
    11.	McMahon
    
     	...but there's so much chopping and changing that it's hard to know
    who's playing and who's not!!
    
    	We're still missing Hooper, Nicol, Whelan, Barnes and Wright. So,
    hopefully, the competition for places once everyone is fit again (or
    should the be IF?? 8-) ) will improve the performance of the team.
    
    Stew.
    

    
    Stew,
      This Rob Jones seems to be a recent addition (i vaguely remember him
      before i departed these shores) is he any good?
      also what happened to Harkness? he appeared to be a good tackler,
      even if his timing was sometimes a little suspect.
      Finally, when did McMahon come back?
    Rgds,
    Ian.

    p.s i forgot about Mike Marsh!
        he was hailed as a good player, what happened to him?
        is he injured? :^)
    Ian.
    

    What Ive seen of Mike Marsh, Ive been impressed. He appeared to have an
    excellent game against Auxerre. One for the future, I would say.
    Paul
    

    West Ham     0-0   Liverpool
    
    what a game! congratulations to all concerned.
    what a performance from West Ham, they really brought the best out of
    Brucie (for once) though i thought that Tim Breacker deserved the man
    of the match award. As for Liverpool, well, they looked a lot better
    than they have all season and if this is a reflection on how they will
    play against other teams for the rest of this season then i think that
    Liverpool are not dead yet.
    As for the Liverpool team, well i thought Rob Jones looked VERY
    impressive, McManaman looked a bit muted, and really wasnt getting very
    far against the well organised hammers defence. I thought Walters was
    very busy, but still no good, McMahon made far too many mistakes (is he
    fully fit?). Marsh was good, Tanner was good (for once), Rush was
    excellent when setting up other people (little touches etc..) but never
    really looked all that dangerous in front of goal.
    all in all a great performance.
    thank god he didnt bring on Gary Ablett!
    Ian.
    

	Not a bad performance yesterday, considering that West Ham seem to be 
on a good spell. Liverpool looked like a different team, perhaps the Auxerre 
game has made a real difference. 

	For those who didn't see the game Grob kept them in iyt with two or 
three spectacular saves, one in particular from a point blank header from 
McAvennie, the commentators got round to blaming McA for not getting more 
direction but that was an example of commentators having to talk.

	Other players worth mentioning Jones, played really well, Marsh being 
played as right back had a hard time but he seems able to move forward well. 
The defence seems to be getting sorted out especially as Nicol was back and 
playing at his best. They just need to get the mid-field sorted out MacMahon
is still giving the ball away too often and there are not enough clever passes 
being madefor the forwards to run onto. Walters was active but he was up 
against a class full back who didn't dive in, as a result he kept two players 
tied up but couldn't deliver enough final balls. 

	Looks like LFC fans have reason to be optimistic.

Jim

    The one player that impressed me BIG-time was the Hammers Tim Breaker.
    What an excellent player, any ideas on his age and record??
    
    I will say that Liverpool have got defeats ahead of them. They're
    spending their time snuffing out the other side at the moment and I
    feel they will takes a few smacks yet.
    
    Tony

    Tony,
     
    > I will say that Liverpool have got defeats ahead of them.
    
    me too, but yesterdays performance was a good start on the comeback
    trail.
    We have got some good young players who appear to be starting to gel
    together at last, and the resulting competition for places that will
    take place when the walking wounded return should push the pool into a
    'respectable' position by the end of the season.
    I wont say that we'll win any trophies this year though.
    i think next year Liverpool will be back at the top, vying with a 
    revitalised Arsenal, Man Utd, Leeds 'n' Villa.
    We often have a year off, and this appears to be one of them.
    i dont think, however, that it is the end for them just yet. 
    
    > SUBURB::ABSOLOMT "Don't Bank With Lloyds"
    
    what happened between you and lloyds?!??!
    
    Ian.
    
    

    Tim Breaker played for Luton for a couple of years and earned himself
    the reputation of being the only competent defender they had.
    i have always liked him. at one stage it looked like he would get his
    England break, but it never came. I think poor Tim suffered from a case
    of 'wrong team at the wrong time', had he played for the likes of 
    Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Everton or Leeds etc... he would have had
    more chance but being known as the mainstay of a defence with more
    holes than a collander (spelt wrong) is not good press.
    he then moved over to West Ham where i believe he will make a bigger
    impact. He must be about 24 years old.
    Ian.
    

    Jim,  (.286)
    
    Given that Jones, Nicol, Tanner (and burrows?) played and are all
    full-backs what the **** was Marsh a striker already converted by
    Souness to a midfield player doing at right-back??? I know ours
    is not to question but .... should I be worried if Marsh appears
    in goal soon (:==:).
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    re.288
    
    The slimey gits paid out my mortgage three days on the trot. Thus
    leaving me without any cash. The punchline being, although they
    realised their error, they wouldn't lend me any cash to see me to
    payday. Gauld bless em.
    
    Tony

    I don't think you can praise the players of both teams highly enough
    for an excellent match.
    I thought Rob Jones had an excellent match, and wasn't even mentioned
    once for his unbelieveable work rate.
    I do agree though, that playing Mike Marsh at right back, and Jones in
    midfield may not have been completely the right thing to do, seeing as
    how Jones was bought as a right back!! But, each to their own...
    Brucie had another excellent game, and seems to be the only player
    performing consistently... and this could well be his last season, with
    David James expected to be joining at the end of the season from
    Watford.
    Anyway we've managed to do what Arsenal, Spurs, and Palace all failed
    to do this season... take a point off the Hammers!! 8-)
    
    Is this the start of better things to come??
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s. Nicky Tanner is actually a central defender, not a full back...
    									8-)
    

    re. 282
    
    I forgot to mention Steve Harkness...
    
    The only thing he's famous for is for being sent off during the u19
    World Cup last year...
    ...but he is a very good player!!
    
    Nicky Tanner reminds me a bit of Mark Lawrenson, the way he goes about
    his job compentently and quietly... and never gets half as much
    recognition as he should. I think the groundsmans dog would have to go
    a bit to replace him!! 8-)
    
    Finally, Rob Jones... what more can I say?? Sheer class!! It won't be
    long before he's in the England squad!! We could certainly do with a
    decent right back in the England team!! ;-)
    
    Stew.
    

        
    re last few
    
    Wow !!! lets really go over-the-top, the 'mighty' Liverpool won an
    amazing point at lowly West Ham.... brilliant performance, world-class,
    players etc etc etc......
    
    don't kid yourselves - the decline of Liverpool continues......
    
    Still I suppose live TV games are the only chance most of you get to
    see 'the mighty reds' in action.....
    
    Paul

    Paul,
     West Ham will stuff you when they play you, so dont kid YOURSELF.
     not only that i believe that you werent too pleased about the fact
     that WE stuffed you earlier in the season, even when we are in
     'decline'. When Everton stop buying second rate scottish forwards and
     start winning things, THEN you can start mouthing.
    Ian.
    
    p.s hurry up and go to warrington, im sick of having a sad Everton fan
        sat behind me.
    

    
    Hi Ian,
    
    my last note has nothing to do with Everton - read your 'Penguin big
    words for 10 year olds' again !!! - I've been extremely critical of
    Everton in this notesfile in the past, but this time I'm trying to
    point out how quickly the decline of Liverpool is gathering pace. 
    
    A couple of years ago, Liverpool supporters would have laughed at
    ANYONE for going over the top about winning a valuable away point
    anywhere - the fact that most Liverpool supporters think they're world
    beaters after Sunday's game shows how much Liverpool's standards have
    declined.......
    
    
    paul    :-) :-) :-)
                                                                      

    paul,
     and i was just pointing out, by using the example of Everton, that
     your judgement of our declining standards can be confusing...
     YES, compared to the Liverpool of the past, as you say, we arent very
     good, but, however, if you compare us to the likes of clubs such as 
     Everton, somewhat inferior to the Liverpool of the past then we are 
     quite average these days.
     i hope this solves your obvious confusion,
     your friend, Ian.
    

    re. last few
    
    I think we can settle this small confusion rather simply...
    
    Out of Liverpool and Everton, which team is involved in European
    competition??
    
    Therefore, this team must be superior to the other...
    
    Therefore, if this team is in decline, then god help the other team...
    
    End of argument.
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s. I reckon Everton could be outsiders for relegation this season!!
                                                                       8-)
    

    
    Oh no - another Ian Hawley.......  :-)
    
>>    Out of Liverpool and Everton, which team is involved in European
>>    competition??
    
    
    Which team was responsible for NO English teams being in Europe between
    1985 and 1990 ????????
    
    I repeat - I'm not talking about Everton - I talk about Everton in the
    Everton note, I talk about Liverpool in the Liverpool note......
    Which note is this ????
    
    I am merely pointing out that Liverpool, the successful club of a few
    years ago, are in decline - they have a poor manager, average players
    and the supporters are so desperate for a return to the 'good old days'
    that they see signs of that return in any average performance.
    
    Paul
        

    Paul,
     What you dont seem to be grasping is that i am saying that you cannot
     judge Liverpool performances because youre definition of the word
     'average' is different to mine, because it has been tarnished by
     allegiance to a certain team, i.e Everton.
    i hope this helps to clarify your muddled mind.
    Ian.
     

    
    	keep it up lads.....8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

    Andy,
     Paul has given up, hes decided that screaming at everyone to fetch coffee
     is a more worthwhile pursuit.
    Ian.
    

    
    Re .300
    
    Ian, you're obviously having problems grasping what I'm saying - let me
    spell it out for you.........
    
    Unlike yourself, I consider my self to be above your average 'biased'
    supporter and I'm trying to objective in my views on the current
    Liverpool team.... I don't want to resort to 'we've won the League blah
    times... my dad's bigger than your dad etc etc etc', lets just stick to
    the basic facts...
    
    Souness was a limited success in Scotland - how many European games
    (never mind trophies) did Rangers win ?
    
    He is a poor manager and will drag Liverpool even deeper into the ****
    before he's sacked and replaced by Toshack.
    
    Saunders is a poor player - I was glad when Everton didn't get him (and
    said so in the Everton note)
    
    Liverpool were AVERAGE on Sunday - where are West Ham in the League ? -
    a draw at Upton Park is two points lost, not a point gained !!
    
    (my definintion of average....)
    
    Some teams are good at present - Leeds, Aston Villa...
    
    Some teams are poor - Luton, Wimbledon...
    
    Most others are average... including the present Liverpool and Everton
    teams...
    
    All that I found surprising was that yourself and a number of other
    Liverpool supporters were raving with enthusiasm after the
    world-beating draw at West Ham - I wish I could be that enthusiastic
    when Everton don't win - but then again, I probably see more games than
    you.........
    
    Paul:-)
    
    By the way, I finished craving for coffee - I've moved onto craving for
    nicotine !!!! *7^%@!@@(@ !!!!

    Paul,
     you seem to be having a little trouble with all these wide sweeping
     generalisations that you keep making...
     Just because West Ham are in the bottom half of the league, it doesnt 
     mean to say that they arent a good team, if you take the example of a
     pools forecaster in a newspaper, he doesnt base his judgements so much 
     on the position of the team, but the CURRENT FORM of the team.
     we were playing a team who have beaten Arsenal and Spurs, a FORM TEAM,
     and we were playing them AWAY FROM HOME. It was a good result.
     The way we played impressed ME, compared to how they have played so
     far this season. it also impressed several other noters who were full
     of commendation for the way both teams played. It was NOT an average
     performance by any standards, so stop talking unsubstantiated rubbish.
    
    Ian.
    

    
    
    Re .304
    
    AT LAST !!!!
    
    You've put in a note and haven't slagged off Everton !!!!
    
    (I must admit - I fell asleep watching the game on Sunday......)
    
    Paul

    re .303
    
    How could you possibly class Aston Villa as good??? While the 'pool
    only as 'average'!!! 
    
    Admittedly, there is some truth in Everton being only 'average', but
    the 'pool??? Let's be serious!!
    
    West Ham are a good footballing side, which they proved on Sunday...
    You don't beat sides like Arsenal, Spurs ,and Palace without being a
    good side. So, a draw, away from home, was a good result. Especially
    considering the manner in which we achieved that result.
    We played some quality attacking football, whilst other, more average
    teams (no names mentioned, but I think we all know who I'm on about)
    would've gone to Upton Park and played not to lose.
    
    So, let's just face it, you're jealous 'cos we've got quality players,
    like Deano (who incidentally has got a proven goalscoring record at
    international level!!), and he can't even get in the side. That's how
    good we are!!
    Ner ner ne ner nerrrr!!! 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    This all rather unsavoury chaps, not what us Scottish noters are used
    to.

    Stew,
     Me and Paul had just settled the argument!!!
     here we go again?!??
    Ian.
    

    Re .306
    
>>    How could you possibly class Aston Villa as good??? While the 'pool
>>    only as 'average'!!! 
    
     Easy.... I've seen Liverpool on telly a couple of times this season
    and they have been very very average.....
    
    I saw Villa at Goodison a few weeks back and they were sh*t-hot - since
    then they've won about their last five or sixs games - and where are
    they in the league fourth ?? - Us Evertonians are able to give credit
    to other teams - unlike you biased, tunnel-vision Red-noses.....
    
    
>>    West Ham are a good footballing side, which they proved on Sunday...
>>    You don't beat sides like Arsenal, Spurs ,and Palace without being a
>>    good side. So, a draw, away from home, was a good result. Especially
>>    considering the manner in which we achieved that result.
>>    We played some quality attacking football, whilst other, more average
>>    teams (no names mentioned, but I think we all know who I'm on about)
>>    would've gone to Upton Park and played not to lose.
    
    This 'quality attacking football' didn't result in any goals - or even
    near misses from what I can remember.....
    
>>    So, let's just face it, you're jealous 'cos we've got quality players,
>>    like Deano (who incidentally has got a proven goalscoring record at
>>    international level!!), and he can't even get in the side. That's how
>>    good we are!!
>>    Ner ner ne ner nerrrr!!! 8-)
    
    nah !!
    
    Paul

    re previous few..
    
    Its almost like the Old Firm notesfiles except there are no set hidden
    replies.
    
    My interpretation of the game was that both sides played good attacking
    football, which was a joy to watch.  Grabatair was awarded MOM for a
    few very good saves, which makes me worry about the earlier statement
    that there were little near things.  The absence of goals was
    unfortunate, because the game had everything else, but it was still a
    good attacking, end to end game.  The best game I have seen so far this
    season, and I would love to think that there would be more of them to
    come.  If I were a Pool fan..and Im not.. I would be pleased with the
    way the reds/greens played as they look infinitely better than some of
    the games they have been in  eg against Stoke.  The fact that a point
    was won as well is perhaps extra jam on the bread, so perhaps this is
    why there is increased optimism in this notes file.  Ok OK so they are
    not the team they once were..who is ??... The general standard of our
    beloved game seems to have slipped, so its difficult to compare.
    
    So write Liverpool off at your peril, as they always seem to bounce
    back when everyone writes them off. Perhaps sunday was the start of
    their return, perhaps not..time will tell.  I would say that come May
    92 Liverpool will be higher in the league than Everton and Aston Villa,
    so then we can say who is 'average' and who isnt.  Were only approx one
    third through the season, and no team is brilliant in every game.
    
    Peacefully yours
    
    Paul
    
    ps I hope Mojo does the business for Everton, as he is a good player,
    given the right support from his teammates.

    re last
    
    Give that bloke a pat on the back!!
    
    So, now we all know that there are people out there who know good
    football when they see it...
    I think this is the point where we change the subject to tonights
    game...
    
    Rush is out for three weeks with a cartilage injury!! So, Deano is
    likely to start for the first time in god knows how long. Rob Jones is
    also out, 'cos he's cup-tied. But, good news is, Ray Houghton will be
    back to bolster the right side of midfield.
    So, a prediction...
    		Port Vale	0
    		Liverpool	4 (Houghton, McManaman, Deano(2))
    
    By the way (re .309), just 'cos Villa were better than Everton doesn't
    make them a good side!! Though, Johnston was a good buy, and he and
    Beardo (the hunchbacked wonder kid) should be able to form a goodish
    attacking partnership, as long as Beardo doesn't decide he's going to
    play in midfield like he used to at Liverpool.
    
    Stew.
    

    prediction for tonite...
    
    Port Vale  1   (a corner or free kick)
    Liverpool  2   (superb mcmananamamnanamnamamnamananan strike and
                    a dodgy m.walters penalty 7 mins from time)
    
    :-)
    
    Ian.
    

    Brian,
    
    ok, i admit it!
    George Courtney is our chairman!
    
    Ian.
    

    Prediction for tonight.........
    
    Port Vale     0-0   Liverpool
    
    what a game! congratulations to all concerned.
    what a performance from Port Vale, they really brought the best out of
    Brucie (for once) though i thought that Tim Breakleg deserved the man
    of the match award. As for Liverpool, well, they looked a lot better
    than they have all season and if this is a reflection on how they will
    play against other teams for the rest of this season then i think that
    Liverpool are not dead yet.
    As for the Liverpool team, well i thought Rob Jones looked VERY
    impressive, McManaman looked a bit muted, and really wasnt getting very
    far against the well organised hammers defence. I thought Walters was
    very busy, but still no good, McMahon made far too many mistakes (is he
    fully fit?). Marsh was good, Tanner was good (for once), Rush was
    excellent when setting up other people (little touches etc..) but never
    really looked all that dangerous in front of goal.
    all in all a great performance.
    thank god he didnt bring on Gary Ablett!
    
    Paul
    

    I've got an idea :-
    
    Why isn't a 'Liverpool Game Report Template' created in DECWrite, using
    live links to documents that can have comments such as 'Brilliant, Very
    Good, Good, Average' for each sentence and player. We could then read
    the same report for each match, whether they hab played averagely, less
    then average or just plain grey porridgey. An extra section could be
    appended for any decisions that went Liverpool's way, and another for
    any injustices done to their great selves.
    
    jb.

    Mr Blythe,
     ha ha ho ho he he,
    Ian.
    

	Are the last three notes indications of panic setting in now that 
LFC are approaching almost acceptable levels of play (by Liverpool standards 
that is). 

Jim

    Jim, 
     no, my note was an indication of panic setting in now that Jon Blythe
     appears to have realised that he has some sense of humour.
    Ian.
    
    :-) no offence jon!
    

    anyone got a list of the goalscorers for Liverpool this season like
    the list that Brian put up in the Man Utd note?
    Ian.
    

    It'll be short.
    
    jb.

    Goalscorers this season...
    
    		League		UEFA Cup	Rumbelows	Total
    
    Saunders	  2		   4		    1		  7
    Houghton	  4		   2		    0		  6
    Rush	  1		   0		    3		  4
    McManaman	  2		   0		    2		  4
    Walters	  2 (2 pens)	   1		    1		  4 
    Molby	  0		   1 (1 pen)	    0		  1
    Marsh	  0		   1		    0		  1
    Barnes	  1		   0		    0		  1
    Burrows	  1		   0		    0		  1
    Rosenthal	  1		   0		    0		  1
    Hysen	  1		   0		    0		  1
    
    Totals	 15		   9		    7		 31
    
    
    ...better than I thought!!
    
    Stew.	

    
    	Hmmmmmm...
    
    	So much has been said about the lack of security at the back, but
    	after 13 (?) League games I'd expect a little more than 3 goals out
    	of Rush *and* 2.9m man Saunders...frankly that's p*ss-poor, but I 
    	wouldn't use words like that in here 8-)
    
    	I know they need support from midfield (Whelan and Barnes have been
    	injured for some time now..) but Houghton has 4 goals on his own.
    
    	What's going wrong? Or is this some master plan..
    
    	Andy.

    Andy,
     Its a master plan, no-one is passing to Rush, so that he will not get
     any goals, so that there will be an uproar and he will be thrown out,
     to be replaced by one Martin Cunniffe at centre forward.
    :-)
    Ian.
    
    p.s ive got my eye on Barnes' position actually.
    

    
    If I were to play in the Liverpool side, I would see myself more in the
    role of a Ronnie Whelan rather than purely a Rushie. I have played in
    the centre-forward position several times but of late, I have been
    occupying a Ronnie type position,i.e., nice simple first time touches,
    effective tackling, vision, distribution coupled with some crucial
    goals. In fact the last time I played, I inspired our team to a
    comprehensive 8-2 win.
    
          Cunno 

                         
    Reds romp to biggest win of the season !!!
    
    Port Vale   1 : 4 Liverpool
    
    Now I am a firm believer in Mr Stew Seabury's theory whereby the draws
    at Anfield are done on purpose so that there will be more revenue by
    way of more matches. Anyone got the match details. Was Mr Seabury right
    with his prediction of the score or what !!!  Buy this man a drink !!!
    He knows his football :-)
    Yes, last Sunday looks like the start of better things to come for the
    mighty Liverpool. Souness said, after the match, on TV and I quote 
    "It's not Christmas, yet." Now I know what he meant.
    Roll on Peterborough........

    So Port Vale tumble to the same fate as Stoke (they're actually the 
    same team aren't they??) and Peterborough must be booking their hotel for 
    the replay already. 
    
    With the UEFA cup all but wrapped up we can start looking forward with 
    anticipation to the F.A Cup 3rd round draw and our first steps on the road
    to all 3 cup competitions (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                       

    
    	re last...
    
    	Bl**dy hell, Andrew....can I have a pint of that stuff you've been
    	drinking 8-) 8-)
             
    	Andy.

    anyone watch the TVS coverage last night?
    i thought Liverpool looked VERY shaky and was none too impressed with
    their performance, but the commentators on Midweek Sport RAVED about
    it! Admitted, Houghtons goal was sheer class, truly brilliant, but
    apart from that i thought Liverpool lacked flow.
    maybe i am in the minority??
    sorry for sounding utterly pessimistic, but i was just none too
    impressed bearing in mind we were taking on a 2nd division side with
    injuries who for about 40% of the game, dominated!
    
    Ian 'trying to be unbiased' Hawley,
    

          
    	Spot on, Ian.....4-1 flattered you, and just hearing that scoreline
    	would not be a true reflection of the game. If PV had taken their
    	early chances it would have been all over by half-time.
    
    	Having said that, they *didn't*, and 'pool put them away well. 
    	Houghton played very well. I also thought Hysen had a sound game.
    
    	Also-unbiased Andy. 8-)

    So, the 'pool sweep another lowly 2nd Division side out of their path,
    and prepare to take on mighty Peterborough away from home...
    I don't think they can expect much less than a 4:0 or so drubbing by 
    the reds!!
    
    Personally, I thought it was an excellent game last night, from the
    highlights... end to end attacking football. Are we seeing a change in
    the way the 'pool approach their games now, compared to earlier in the
    season??? The work rate of the team seems to have improved a great
    deal, and this is shown in the improved results of late.
    I thought Stevie Mac jnr had a great game, he was all over the pitch,
    and the Vale had no answer... obviously a star for the future!! 
    It was also good to see Deano back on the scoresheet... about time
    too!! We'll need a few more goals from him while Rushie's out!!
    
    I also take complete credit for predicting the scoreline (almost!!),
    okay so I missed the Vale goal out, but who cares really?!? Also, the
    scorers were pretty close too!! But, I can't go on and on about how I
    just knew the 'pool would stuff Port Vale... well, I could, but then
    I'd be accused of being biased, which of course I am, but then everyone
    would go accuse me of going over the top in my praise.
    As far as I'm concernened, who gives a ****??? (excuse language) We
    won, and the team deserves credit. We took our chances, and Vale
    didn't, and that's the name of the game...
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s. We're still on course for all 4 trophies this season!!!   

    i predicted the scoreline perfectly till houghton scored...
    :-)
    i said...
    
    PORT VALE  1  (defensive error - and it was, uuurgh!)
    LIVERPOOL  2  (Mcmananananmanannaman - and he did)
                  (dubious walters penalty 7 mins from time - well nearly.)
    
    Ian.
    
                              

    Anyone notice the rather exotically monikered "The British Coal
    Open-Cast Stand" last night? Sounds like something from Michael
    Palin's "Gordon Of the Rovers". 
    
    Stanley Accrington. :^)
    
    
    

    re.last
    
    yes, i noticed it too.
    very strange, evidence of mining!
    i thought Thatcher closed all the pits years ago!
    oooh ooh bit of politics!
    Ian.
    

    I worked down that pit...
    
    ...when I was 3!!
    
    We were so poor, me mam sent us t'work down pit so's we wouldn't
    clutter up the small shoe box what we shared wi'three other families.
    
    But then we moved down south and bought a big house in the country, so
    everything turned out okay in the end. 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re.last
    
    shoe box? SHOE BOX!?
    
    LUXURY!
    
    we were so poor we couldnt afford a shoe box!
    we lived in a LAKE! with several hundred other familes.
    we used to work a 75 hour day and when we got home our father would
    slipper us and make us watch reruns of Arsenal matches!
    You had it SOOOO easy!
    :-) Ian.
    

    re last
    
    you mean you only used to work half days???!!!???
    
    you skivers!!!
    
    we were payed a penny a week, and we were grateful, otherwise we
    wouldn't get our bowl of greul at the end of the month... and our dad
    used to make us watch reruns of reruns of Arsenal videos on the old
    video recorder that he bought down the market one weekend for 5 pence.
    If we fell asleep, we 'ad t'work an extra day that week...
    
    ...I ended up working 14 day weeks!!
    
    you were so lucky!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    
    'ang on a minute guvnor....
    
    I don't think either of the offending noters have ever been to the city
    of Liverpool - never mind seen a Liverpool game....
    
    Typical woolyback drivel
    

    a penny a week?
    LUXURY!
    we were paid a penny a YEAR!
    the only food we had was half a pea every 3 months...IF WE WERE LUCKY!
    we had to work a seven year shift, night and day, with only 1 minute
    off per day except Sundays when we would be made to watch 
    'Famous highbury 0-0 draws' until our hands bled.
    Ian :-)
    

    Paul,
     i keep getting calls for you, ring me and give me a forwarding
     number...
    cheers, Ian.
    
    Stew, 
     do you have any idea how long Nicol is out for?
    Ian.
    

    could anyone tell me how old Bruce Grobbelaar is please?
    i mean his REAL age, not the age he acts sometimes on the pitch...
    (i could see you lot reaching for your keyboards :-)
    
    TIA,
    Ian.
    

In some previous notes someone forgot to complete Looneypools record in Europe.
We are always reminded of the wins...how about the not so good ones

Super Cup

1978 Anderlecht	 Liverpool 	3-1,1-2
1984 Juventus	 Liverpool	2-0

World Club

1981 Flamengo	Liverpool	3-0
1984 Independiente Liverpool	1-0	

Never mind !

Always look on the bright side..!!!

    re.last
    
    look again....they are there...
    
    Ian.
    

    
    Droppalot is 34

    Wimbledon 0-0 Liverpool
    
    I was away for the weekend...
    A good result against a traditionally tough team for the pool?
    or was it 2 points dropped?
    
    in eager anticipation...
    Ian.
    

    Liverpool are 14 points behind Leeds, but with 2 games in hand. Leeds
    have the points however. If Liverpool are going to challenge, they had
    better start winning games by large margins.
    
    jb.

    jon,
     but as we all know, Leeds will probably commit suicide in the second
     half of the season as per usual.
     personally, i want to see them win it, rather a yorkshire team, than
     the Mancs or Arsenal, but i cant see it happening.
    Ian.
    

    They have gone through a patch when they didn't play too well, and
    still remained top/2nd. I think this season they have more experience
    and strength, and I'm sure they can keep it going longer. If they do
    have a bad patch, now is the time to accumulate points and goals to see
    them through. If the Arse, Liverpool don't start stringing together
    resounding victories, then it could be a Man U Leeds title race.
    
    jb.

    the trouble seems to be that the Liverpool team is like a machine,
    if a bit falls off, the chances are that the rest of the team cannot
    function without it. Without John Barnes we lack something, 
    Mark Walters does his best but all he seems to do is run at defenders
    and lose the ball, which sets up a counter attack for the opposition
    against (im afraid to say) the weakest Liverpool defence for 20 years.
    we also miss Ronnie Whelan, who really did count as an extra defender
    for us.
    Souness will doubtlessly call for patience with such a young team,
    and i think that of ALL PEOPLE John, you should be able to understand
    this.
    Last season Leeds had a young team, that did extremely well, but they
    have proved that with experience they can take on the world, as they 
    are doing this season.
    Am i not right John?
    As a Liverpool supporter, all i can hope is that our youngsters,
    Mcmanaman, Jones, Tanner, Marsh etc... turn out as well as yours did.
    Liverpool have too much young talent to be written off as a force in
    90's.
    Ian.
     
    

    Liverpool will be back, but I don't think that will be this season. A
    big change in management and injuries doesn't help. Leeds fell apart
    after the 73-74 season after Revie left, and it's taken them 17 years
    to get back to the top. (Hey, that's 18 years since the last league
    championship, which as 7 years less than <fill in blanks for team and
    comment> )
    
    jb.

    i hope they do bounce back next season...
    it would be brilliant to have Leeds and Liverpool (arguable the two
    best teams since the war) vying for the championship...
    just like old times....
    Ian.
    
    p.s i dont think it will be this season either :-(
    

    Roll on Wednesday night...
    
    Did anyone see that Tirol bloke on the telly on Saturday??? He reckoned
    they were going to beat us by 3 goals, and that it was the will of god,
    and it would happen. B**l***s!! 
    
    Anyway, good news is, Mark Wright played a full 90 mins for the
    reserves on Saturday, and should be back in the team for Wed. night.
    I've no idea whether either McMahon or Houghton will be fit, both
    having missed the excellent draw away to the Wimbles of Wombleland.
    Jones is cup-tied, and so Marshy should be back at right-back, with
    maybe Burrows in midfield, unless he gives young Jamie another game, or
    even the groundsmans dog, who qualifies on account that his great great 
    great grandma wasn't born anywhere near Leeds.
    
    I'd also like to lay to rest the malicious rumour that I've never been
    to Liverpool... I was born there!!! So, HA!!!
    Plus, from a few notes back, Nicol played on Saturday, so he's not
    going to be injured for much longer I shouldn't think.
    
    prediction for Wed night...
    	Swarsomethingorother Tirol 	1 (a Mark Wright penalty)
    	Liverpool			2 (a Mark Wright penalty, Deano)
    (...leading the commentators to say something like, "I think Deano was
    the difference between the two sides on the night...") 8-)
    
    Stew. 
     

    oh no! not Mark Wright!!!!
    surely if we sold Mark Wright we could afford another couple of dogs
    for the groundsman!
    :^)
    
    Ian.
    

    I can't believe that people a few notes back are talking about a good
    draw against Wimbledon last Saturday!! Having gone to the game I can
    say that Liverpool were very poor indeed. Defense looked shakey but any
    chance seemed to disappear when Rosenthal (sp!) had to leave the field
    with what looked like a shoulder injury.
    
    During the closing stages Deano missed a sitter - for 2.9m quid he
    should be putting those away. One thing that surprised me was the
    quietness of the Liverpool supporters. Sounno got a talking to for
    shouting at the referee. He had cause to complain - Liverpool were
    clean through when he whistled for offside despite the linesmans flag
    staying down.
    
    Maybe this weekend I will try Brentford...
    
    Martin

    not another injury!
    (and yes, you did spell it right to my knowledge)
    thanks for the report,
    Ian.
    

    re last
    
    I don't reckon we should be offering Deano just yet...
    
    I've got a feeling he's going to come good tonight, and he'll
    *definately* score (sticking my neck on the line a bit here!!)
    Tirol have conceded 33 goals in 21 matches this season, so we must have
    a good chance of at least one away goal!!
    
    Stew.
    

    prediction:
    
    Tirol      1 - 2    Liverpool    (i hope)
    
    can one of our European friends give us a rundown on Tirol?
    (better still, can you give Graeme Souness a rundown?!?!)
    :^)
    

    We were thinking of making the short trip down the road to Innsbruck for 
    the game, but after Liverpools recent results, Bonnie Raitt looks a much 
    better proposition. Mind you, so would Kylie Minogue ( sp?).
    
    

    
    Liverpool beware!!! The referee for tonight's game in Innsbruck is the
    one and only Erik Fredriksson from Tidaholm, Sweden. If you don't
    remember him, jus ask anyone in Russia and he will start chewing his
    tongue. 
    
    He was ref in the two last WC-finals. Got his reputation for giving away
    the game when Russia was beated by Belgium. In Italy he was the only
    person among 80.000 that failed to see a handball from Maradona in the
    USSR-Argentina game.
    
    This will be his last international, im not gonna miss him.
    
    Mats

    re .361
    
    How dare you insult my one and only true love...
    
    
    	...Kylie Minogue 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

Lads,


     Any score on tonights game or do I detect a period of official mourning    
in progress.....

on behalf of Mr. Cunniffe -:)-:)


I await in anticipation !!!

Rgds,

Your good friend Martin.

    Stew, looks like your neck is safe !!
	Re. -1,
    
    	No, we are not in mourning. We are all silently celebrating the
    fact that Deano scored twice and Liverpool came away from Austria with
    a good 2-0 win. It looks to me like, slowly but surely, Mr Saunders is
    coming good. So, NO , Souness wouldn't want to sell him.
    	So watch out Norwich, make sure you come prepared for another
    0-0 draw at Anfield !!!! :-)
    
    
    Kumar

    So Liverpool continue to plough relentlessly on through all cup
    competitions ...
    
    But what's this World Service has no news of the results of the Arse
    or the Mancs....
    
    What could have happened to them ... aren't they bothering to play
    in any more rounds or something?? (:==:)
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    I thought Liverpool were excellent last night but I'd love to know how
    Tirol got through the previous two rounds. Obviously they beat the
    opponents but how bad can they have been???
    
    
    Paul
    

    .361> Bonnie Raitt looks a much better proposition.
    
    	Should have gone to the football! 

    An excellent result for the 'pool, although against what looked like
    pretty mediocre opponents.
    But, take nothing away from the lads, they did great!! We can now look
    forward to a nice comfortable match at home to clinch our place in the
    quarter finals in March...
    
    I thought Mark Wright was superb, considering he'd only played one and
    a half games before this one after recovering from injury, and Tanner
    looked impressive alongside him. 
    Mind you, it was a good all round performance... very solid!! We gave
    hardly anything away, and Saunders proved he's still good enough (I
    predicted this!!) with two well taken chances.
    Stevie Mac jnr. did everything except score, and is certainly a star in
    the making, and much better than Ryan Giggs!! 8-)
    The only blemish was Steve Nicol trying a Ronnie Whelan type own goal,
    which didn't quite come off, and did my heart no favours!!
    
    Though, the highlight of the evening had to be the fact that Alan
    Hansen smiled!! We must have played well!! 8-)
    
    Now, onto Norwich on Saturday, and a match we must win really.
    
    Stew.
    

    Swarovski Tirol      0-2  Liverpool Reserves
    
    A good match, interesting to watch (especially seeing as we in England 
    got the cut down version, without any waiting for the keeper to fetch
    the ball etc...why dont we have more hour long games :-)
    Tirol i thought, were very disappointing and really didnt distinguish
    themselves in the last third of the pitch although i thought their
    defending was better. their only real periods of pressure were in the
    first few minutes of each half. As for Liverpool, a good, solid,
    workman-like performance with no real outstanding performances but a
    good team effort...
    i thought that the game was made by both sides giving away the ball too
    often (especially Tirol, Liverpool would have had a much tougher time
    if Tirol hadnt kept passing to them).
    As for the goals, i thought the first one was a little lucky, but the
    second was excellently taken,a true strikers goal.
    as for individual performances, well, i thought Tanner had a decent
    game and McManaman was busy (but not outstanding).
    overall, a good performance but we wont get as easy an opposition as
    that in the league...
    incidentally, good to see Mark Wright back, the first of many to return 
    from injury i hope.
    Ian.
    

    p.s
     forgot to mention that i thought that Peter Pacult looked a reasonable
     player for Tirol (apart from having a cute second name)
    Ian.
    

    p.p.s 
     also forgot to mention Mark Wright putting his body in the way of 2
     goal bound efforts from Tirol...
    now, did he know anything about them?!?!
    :-)
    Ian.
    

    re .354
    
    Looks like even God has an off day sometimes!! 8-)
    
    Ian, 
    Congratulations on such a well presented, totally unbiased report on
    the match. I also thought that Des Lynam (sp??) had a great game,
    especially in the closing minutes when he seemed to take complete
    control.
    It's a pity other fans find it so hard to give unbiased reports of
    their respective teams... ;-)
    
    Stew.
    
    

    re .373
    
    Mark Wright - a superb player, and a future captain of the 'pool and
    England... I thought hid tackle in the dying minutes which prevented an
    almost certain goal was excellent!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    Swaroskvi Tirol 0 Liverpool 2 (Deano)
    
    Liverpool without Ronnie Whelan
                      John Barnes
                      Ian Rush
                      Ray Houghton
                      David Burrows
                      Mark Walters
    
       .........and still the Pool put in a superb performance away from
    home. The opposition wasn't great and how they got this far, I don't
    know. A thorough professional approach from Liverpool giving nothing
    away at the back, Molby controlling the midfield and Deano taking his
    two chances in Aldo-like fashion. As the commentator mentioned, there
    will be fierce competition for places when all the big guns are fit
    annd a fit Liverpool time for me would look like ( for Euro comp.)
    this:
                               Bruce Grobbelaar
                               ================
       Steve Nicol     Mark Wright      Nick Tanner     David Burrows
       ===========
                                                             
      Mark Walters      Ronnie Whelan   Steve McMahon     John Barnes   
                        =============
                       Ian Rush      Steve McManaman
                       ========
    
          Any comments....
    
             Cunno

    > any comments....
    
    yeah, no deano?
    Mark Walters on the opposite side to Barnes?
    Mark Walters in the team at all?
    
    Ian 'not impressed with Walters' Hawley.
    

    Brian,
     I am not a scouser.
    Ian.
    

    
    Ian, 
        My ideal choice for the right side of midfield would of course be 
    Ray Houghton but since, I already had four foreigners in the team, I
    didn't have any choice but to include Walters.
        Again, I had to choose between Deano and Rushie to partner to
    partner MnManamanie up front and I gave the verdict to Rushie because
    of his previous Euro experience. There was no place at all for Rosie
    and hopefully when Ronnie and Barnsie get fit, they will bring the best
    out of the frontmen.
    
          Liverpool team for domestic competition..........
    
                       Bruce Grobbelaar
    
    Steve Nicol    Mark Wright     Jan Molby        David Burrows
    
    Ray Houghton     Ronnie (fab) Whelan   Steve McMahon   John Barnes
    
                   Dean Saunders      Ian Rush
     
      Subs from::      Mike Hooper
                       Mike Marsh
                       Gary Ablett
                       Barry Venison
                       Nicky Tanner
                       Rob Jones
                       Glen Hysen
                       Steve Harkness
                       Steve McManaman
                       Mark Walters
                       Ronnie Rosenthal
                       Jamie Reddknapp
    
        A squad of pure strength and depth
    
             Cunno. 

    
    There's a certain belief going around that its not just Deano who
    hasn't performed this season....Rush has hardly been outstanding.
    
    In my humble opinion I think Rushie will find it differcult to get back
    in the team if Saunders/Mac Jr continue to perform well together.
    (Maybe Rush will link up again with Kenny sooner than he thinks???)
    
    Also....not even Sourpuss would be stupid enough to play Barnes and 
    Walters in the same team.....would he ??
    
    But all the same.....2 of the best English teams into 1/4 Finals of
    Euro Competions......and aren't we all upset that there's no Arse and
    no Mancs left  !!!!!.....ain't life a "bitch".
    
    Good luck 'Pool
    
    
    
    Cheers...Rob..

    you sit next to Martin?
    believe me, thats lucky compared to having Paul Watterson leering
    over your shoulder.
    do you and Martin continue the banter off the notes conference?
    Ian.
    

    
    Ian,
    
    what does 'leer' mean ?
    
    Paul

    just had a big office discussion on what 'to leer' means...
    now, back to football?
    Ian.
    

    >     just had a big office discussion on what 'to leer' means...
    
    	Well we're all on the edge of our seats here! How DID the
    conversation go?

    it was decided that 'to leer' was correct, and it meant to look at
    someone in a lecherous manner, and that Paul Watterson had never heard
    of it.
    Ian.
    

    personal abuse, mr Moderator!
    cant we keep this in a football context between rival supporters?
    Ian.
     

    re .389
    
    Ian,
    I couldn't decide whether you were requesting personal abuse, or
    claiming it???
    
    Stew.
    

    RE: .381
    
    In April onlt one team will be left in Europe. 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    No need to say it will be Liverpool.

    Getting back to the subject of when we've got a full strength squad...
    
    The competition for places is going to be unbelieveably fierce... and
    there are going to be numerous options open to Souness on how the side
    should line up, but I reckon the team will probably look something
    like...
    
    				Grobbelaar
    	Rob Jones					Burrows
    			Wright		Nicol
    
    	Houghton	McMahon		Whelan(capt.)	Barnes
    
    			Rush		Saunders
    
    
    I reckon he'll try and rest McManaman as much as possible, to prevent
    him burning out. But, he may decide to keep him on the bench to provide
    another attacking option. 
    I s'pose we'll have to wait and see...
    
    Stew.
    
    			

    
    	Well played last night, Liverpool. A performance of command and
    	stature. Splendid result away from home. Roll on the Q-Fs in March,
    	when once again I will be wishing you luck.
    
    	Actually, I don't think the team can be strengthened much given
    	the 4-foreigner rule. Only Barnes walks into the side. Perhaps
    	Houghton in for Molby, but his last two performances in Europe
    	have been brilliant (v. Auxerre and last night) so that's no
    	formality either. Whelan? Past it, and not worth one of those
    	precious 4 places unless you drop Grabatair....
    
    	I also think Ian "Elephant Man" Rush could soon be on his bike
    	from Anfield, once he's fit. Once Deano starts to hit the spot 
    	regularly in the League he'll be off....that should get a response 
    	...8-)
    
    	Andy.

    Andy,
     thanks for the unbiased report. :-)
     as for Rush, im not bothered whether he stays or goes,
    cos we've got Mcmanananamanannanman!
    ok, i know its blasphemy to say 'byebye rushie' but im feeling
    contraversial.
    Ian.
    

    then again, i think its maybe controversial instead...
    Ian.
    

    
    
    "Very controversial there Smashy "
    
    "I know, Nicey , I'm a right looney"
    
    "Yeah, but you do a lot of work for Charity, don't you mate "
    
    :^)
    
    

    re.last
    
    SEDSWS::WILLMOTT
    
    you dont note very often do you...
    
    Ian.

    according to CEEFAX last night, John Barnes is back in training and Ian
    Rush could soon be back in the side.
    Mark Walters must be counting the days....
    
    Ian.
    

    re .SEDSWS::WILLMOTT
    
    Poptabulous note mate! Keep it up, it's better than all this Scouse 
    drivel anyway. 
    
    Nicey.

    If I don't look at this notesfile for more than 12 hours, I miss so
    much of the banter in here !! I have to try to keep up.
    	Anyway, will someone please enlighten me as to what was said in
    .388 that got it hidden ? Must have been really bad, eh ?
    	Secondly, will everyone please  exercise their freedom of choice ?
    If you don't want to hear/listen to all this Scouse drivel, then, like
    Ian said, don't read topic no. 34. What do you expect in the Liverpool
    topic ? Mancs drivel, which is really bad !!! :-)
    	Finally, will someone post the team line-up which played in the
    UEFA Cup so that the rest of us will know who the 4 "foreigners"
    were ? I for one would really like to know. 
    	And now onto that 0-0 draw against Norwich.....
    
    
    
    Kumar

    
    Kumar, 
       the Liverpool line-up for the UEFA cup match was
     
                           Bruce Grobbelaar
    Steve Nicol                                        Gary Ablett
                  
                  Mark Wright      Nicky Tanner
    
    Mike Marsh                                     Steve Harkness
     
               Steve McMahon         Jan Molby
    
                 Dean Saunders     Steve McManaman
    
         I cannot over emphasise the excellent result that the Pool
    achieved the other night and the mighty days at the mecca of world
    football are back with a bang. 
    
         Cunno
    

    re.last
    
    i wouldnt go THAT far, but it WAS a decent result, yeah...
    Ian.
    

    
    	What did you honestly expect from him, Ian..
    
    	One defeat = defeaning silence..
    	One draw   = "the good times will soon return" etc..
    	One win    = totally OTT..
    
    	typical. We try and get him to be reasonable but it's clearly not
    	in his nature ;-)
    
    	Andy.

    Norwich are tipped to win at Anfield tomorrow.
    
    jb.

    Well, myself, Stuart and Brian are the chosen few.
    
    I'm off for a few Tetley's and a curry.
    
    Liverpool to get beaten by Norwich tomorrow.
    
    jb.

    
    
    Awwww - why didn't I get the mail ????
    
    I'm deeply hurt !!!! :-)
    
    Paul

    
    .406 has been set hidden because it's against company rules to post a
    mail message to a public notesfile without the author's permission.  If
    the author of the message gives permission for it to be posted I'll
    make it visible again.
    
    Gary.

    prediction...
    
    Liverpool 1-1 Norwich
    
    i dont think Norwich have got the firepower to win.
    i dont think Liverpool have got the talent (at the moment) to win.
    
    Ian 'hedging his bets' Hawley.
    
    

    > prediction...
    >
    > Liverpool 1-1 Norwich
    >
    > i dont think Norwich have got the firepower to win.
    > i dont think Liverpool have got the talent (at the moment) to win.
     
    Glad to see i was wrong!
    Ian.
       

    A six match unbeaten run, and things are finally looking up for the
    'pool...
    
    Only the second time Norwich have lost in their last 10, and so this is
    a good result, though not a surprising one!! But three points will do
    nicely...
    
    Ronnie Whelan is to see a specialist about his knee ligament trouble,
    and it's a possiblity that he has played his last match for the 'pool.
    Souness is already said to be looking for a replacement, and Roy Keane,
    and Andy Townsend are high on the list of possibilities.
    
    What about Geoff Thomas?? 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    I'd just like to congratulate Arsenal on a thoroughly excellent
    display of how not to play through the midfield once in an entire 90
    minutes...
    Mind you, it got a bit boring after the first 5 or 6 seconds!! 8-)
    
    I'm glad Ian St. John wasn't asked to pick the man of the match as
    well, 'cos it'd probably have been Bryan Robson!! 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    
    Ronnie is to see a specialist shortly about his injury and I sincerely
    hope that he will play again. He is just 30 since October and plenty of
    football left in him. What a huge loss he would be to Liverpool and to 
    the football world in general. He was by far the most accomplished
    player of the 80's and that includes Robbo and the fat Mars bar idiot
    that disgraced himself in the cup final.
        As for the possibility of Roy Keane or Townsand replacing Ronnie,
    both of them together wouldn't compensate for Whelan. As for the
    possibility of "haircut Thomas" doing the job, forget it.
      
      Ronnie made his league debut against Stoke on 3/4/81 and scored a
    goal. Since then, he has collected a host of medals and been a very
    influential player for Ireland.......he scored the best goal of the
    Euro c'ships in 1988 when he volleyed past Daseav.
    
       Ronnie's honours so far
                        ======
    
       League C'ship medals - 1982
                              1983
                              1984
                              1986
                              1988    (How many league medals has Robbo??)
                              1990  
    
            F.A. Cup medals - 1986  
                            - 1989 (captain)
    
          League cup medals - 1982
                              1983 (a cracking curler past Bailey)
                              1984 
    
          European cup medal- 1984
     
         rgds,
          Cunno.

    So having lulled the world and the pools panel into a false
    sense of security with a couple of nil-nil draws we go and promptly
    ignore the fine sense of tradition in Liverpool v Norwich games of
    0-0 draws and instead go and thrash the living daylights out of them 2-1.
    
    Unfortunately due to attempts by Norwich's only living supporter to jam
    all BBC world service transmissions on Saturday the scores were
    particularly garbled such that it was difficult to catch any of the
    scorers - I know Molby scored one but Jon appears to have forgotten to
    list the other scorer in his all too brief match report - anyone know?.
    
    Well it's Peterborough on Wed night so I confidently predict a 2-2
    draw ... 
    
    Then it  will unfortunately be my last day here in Atlanta until 
    early-mid January 1992 about when we put 7 past Luton. 

    I guess i'll have about 1000 unseen notes by then? however some of the 
    countries I shall be visiting on my month long business trip do apparently
    have computers and I shall be attempting to dial in and note under
    a pseuodonym so you don't know it's me:
    
    Apart from Peterborough and Svarosvki Tirol (both 2-2) here are my 
    predictions for the next month:
    
    Dec 7  Liverpool 2 Scummers 0
    Dec 14 Liverpool 2 Brian's boys 1
    Dec 18 Liverpool 4 Midland Bank Debtors XI 1 (I'll be there!)
    Dec 21 Liverpool 1 Blue Mancs 0 
    Dec 26 Liverpool 3 BBC white city 2
    Dec 28 Liverpool 1 Liverpool 3rd team 1
    Jan 1  Liverpool 2 Bassetts Allsorts 2 (they need the points)
    Jan 4  - depends who we draw.    

    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    Andrew,
     Houghton got the second...
    Ian.
    

I heard on the radio this morning that John Barnes is expecting to play for the
reserves on Saturday. With all the discussion regarding coming back from
injuries too early, I hope he's ready.

Al

    i dont think hes ready...
    i think souness is pushing him (and the rest) too hard...
    Ian.
    
    

    
    The quicker Barnsie and Ronnie are back, the better things will be at
    Anfield. I have also heard rumours that McMahon wants to leave the
    Pool. The Manc generated rumours say that he is "disillusioned" at
    Anfield. How can anybody be disillusioned at the Mecca of world
    football?
    
        Cunno.

    Re .last
    
    Ask Kenny...

    Onto tonights Rumbelows Cup game at Peterborough, and I'm banking on a
    comprehensive victory... (that's the scoreline, not the way we play!!)
    
    Peterborough	0
    Liverpool		4 (Saunders, McManaman(2), Molby(pen))
    
    When's the draw for the fifth round??
    
    Stew.
    

    > When's the draw for the fifth round??
    
    stew,
     beware ye of ye sin of over confidence,
     for verily ye shall turn into Martin Cunniffe...
    Ian.
                    

    Ian,
    
    Thanks for the warning... I'll be more careful in future...
    
    Martin. 
    
    Oh my god!!! 8-)
    
    Stew.

    
    Ha-Ha Sourpuss (& Cunno) !
    
    Bombed out of the cup by lowly Peterboro' 8*))
    
    

    re .422
    
    >When's the draw for the fifth round ??
    
    Stew,
    
    	Well is definately not this year !!!!!
    
    Any reports anyone ??!!!

    
    	.422...nice prediction Stew... 8-) x 1000
    
    	When's the 5th round draw..? Why would you want to know that?
    
    	Once again the over-confidence, nay arrogance, of you 'pool fans
    	is demonstrated by your failing to respect your opponents. Sides
    	have done that for years with Liverpool..some in recent times like
    	United to some success in their encounters with the 'pool..but 
    	those days have gone gone gone...
    
    	Liverpool are a shadow of their former selves..anyone must fancy
    	their chances against them these days, including some lowly 3rd
    	Division side with a home Cup game to show what they can do.
    
    	Face facts. Liverpool are cr*p this season, and need to concentrate
    	on re-building. Sourpuss, to his credit, recognises that, and is
    	starting the clear-out. Those without the stomache for it (like
    	McMahon, Whelan, Barnes..) won't last. They'll either retire or get
    	"moved on".. 
    
    	Liverpool will win NOTHING this season. Just like last season. And
    	hopefully for a few more yet ... ;-)
    
    	Start munching on that humble pie 8-)
    
    	Andy.
    

    stew,
     i warned you didnt i?!?!?...
     as Andy says, its time to face reality, we need to rebuild.
     i knew that last nights game would be tough, thats why i warned you
     against over-confidence...
    Ian.
    
    p.s right, cue Martin for an amazing explanation of what went wrong...
        complete with morale boosting prediction of how Liverpool are going
        to win all the remaining major trophies this season.
        :-)
        

    The Radio 5 commentary team (paraphrased) said Liverpool were vey poor
    indeed, and Peterborough should have won by more. Liverpool did not
    create one chance in the 2nd half, their best effort was a powerful
    shot at the goalie after 3 minuteds of injury time. All credit to
    Peterborough, more dosh will flow into their coffers in the 5th round.
    
    Liverpool - well, they have to rebuild, and I don't think they will win
    anything this season, and they will finish in the bottom 1/2 of the
    table.
    
    jb.

    its a long time since Liverpool fell to someone from the 3rd of 4th
    division, and it had to happen sometime. im not worried.
    as for 'bottom half of the division'
    im a BIG pessimist, but even i dont thinnk they'll do THAT badly...
    
    Ian.
    

    I'm gutted!! 8-(
    
    I don't really know what else to say... I got the prediction slightly
    wrong though!! 8-|
    
    Mind you, you can't keep being depressed every time you lose, can you!!
    You have to look on the bright side, and look forward to the next match.
    (I learnt this from some manc fans who probably wouldn't be alive today
    if they let themselves be depressed by every bad result... ;-) )
    
    So, we played some dire football, and got well and truly slaughtered by
    mediocre thrid division opposition, and we're out of the cup.
    But, you have to look on the funny side, don't you?? It's what the
    cup's all about!! I mean, wouldn't we have laughed if Arsenal had lost
    to Coventry in the third round, or if the mancs had been made to look
    like schoolkids in the Cup Winners Cup??? We certainly would!! 8-)
    
    I'm not expecting the 'pool to win anything this season... but I like
    to think they will!! Instead of being downhearted all the time!!!
    I fully expect Souness to perform a complete overhaul this season, and
    we'll be back with avengeance next year...
    
    I just can't wait!!
    
    prediction for Saturday... I think maybe I'll wait till tomorrow...
    
    Stew.
    
    

    p.s. 
    
    Here's hoping that Oldham and Everton (God forgive me!!) do the biz
    tonight!! 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re .433
    
    Not really!!
    
    Stew.
    

    Compared to Peterborough they are. ;)

    come on Martin, we are trying to hold the fort here!
    when are you going to come on with your list of Man Utd cup defeats
    to lowly opposition in the last 75 years!?!??
    Ian.
    :-)
    

Hey less of this this 'third-rate THird Division' stuff. Peterborough must be 
a fine side after knocking out both Liverpool and Newcastle!!

grahame

    yeah sorry,
     well done the Peterborough, you must have played very well.
    Ian.

    yeah!!
    
    either that, or we played cr*p!!
    
    I reckon Peterborough must be an excellent side worthy of a place in
    the Super League, or at least the second division, next season
    alongside such greats as Wimbledon and Cambridge United... 8-)
    
    well played Perterborough, you thoroughly deserved to win.
    
    Stew.
    

    re last
    
    p.s. 
    
    spot the deliberate spelling mistake!!
    

    
       Liverpool may have suffered a flukey reverse against Peterborough
    but in a way I'm glad that the Pool are out of this competition because
    the league, F.A. cup and the UEFA cup are the more important ones and
    continued involvement in the league cup would have been two muck. Not
    to worry, Liverpool are still the most successful side in league cup
    history with superb wins in the early eighties and two other final
    appearances.
    
       In 1978, Liverpool played Notts For. in the replay final at scum HQ
    and went down to a poxy goal.
    Next, we had the magnificent four in a row starting off with West Ham.
    In the Wembley encounter, Alan Kennedy scored for the Pool and West Ham
    equalised with a dubious Stewart penalty. In the replay at OT, the
    hammers went ahead against the run of play with a Goddard goal but the
    Pool claimed the trophy with classic strikes from Kenny and Hansen.
    That game also saw the first appearance of a certain Ian Rush who
    started in place of the injured Johnston.
      In 1982, Spurs had the cheek to go ahead with an Archibald goal but
    the Pool hit back with goals from Whelan and Rushie.
     In 1983, it was time to send the Mancs packing. Whiteside got in for
    an early poxy goal but Liverpool struck back with goals from Alan
    Kennedy and a superb curler from Ronnie. That same day, Gordon McQueen
    should have been sent off for a terrible challenge on Grobbs.
      The four in a row was completed in 1984 against Everton in a replay
    at Maine Rd when a Souness goal sunk the Evertonians. This superb
    record in the league will probably never be equalled.
      Liverpool in recent years haven't showed the same kind of appetite
    for the league cup and the whole credibility of the competition isn't
    the same if a team like Liverpool don't give it their full effort. This
    has been shown by the presence of lesser teams like Norwich,
    Sunderland and Luton in the final. I know Oxford also appeared in and
    won the final but they had a superb player leading the attack, the one
    and only, ALDO.
    
    Now, that the laague cup is out of the way, the Pool can concentrate on
    the league, FA and UEFA treble.
    
          Cunno
      
    
    

    
    re previous note,
                     For those people about to correct my grammatical
    errors, the mistake "two muck" should of course have read 'too much'.
    
        Cunno.

    re.441
    
    am I clairvoyant or WHAT?
    
    Yours, Madame Zena.
    :-)
    

    
    
    >In the Wembley encounter, Alan Kennedy scored for the Pool and West
    >Ham equalised with a dubious Stewart penalty.
    
    Martin, whatever about the rest of the note if I remember correctly the
    penalty was awrded when alan Kennedy stopped a goalbound shot was his
    hand on the line and pushed it over the bar.  George Courtney might
    even have given it at Anfield against Liverpool.
    
    Gary.

    
    *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh* *Laugh*
    
    I like it....
    
    Sounds as if certain people in this Liverpool Conference are still 
    living in the past..
    
    *Laugh*

    re .445
    
    I think you'll find that Martin was actually refering to 4 consecutive
    League cup victories, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
    
    As for the mancs going 10 straight wins at the start of a league
    season, what did they win that year??
    It does not even go close to comparing with the 'pools 28 (or whatever
    it was) match unbeaten start to the season 87/88.
    This is, by the way, a record, held jointly with Leeds... (or should
    that be ANOTHER record?? 8-) )
    
    Stew.
    

    re.444
    
    gary,
     wasnt it terry mcdermott who pushed it over the bar?
    Ian.
    

    re.447
    
    thanks for putting the mancs in their place, Stewart!
    Ian.
    

    YES,
       the Pool had equalled the Leeds record of 29 unbeaten games and were
    going for the record against Everton when a wayward header from Dave
    Watson gave victory to Everton.
    
        Cunno.

    re. dave watson...
    
    nope, it was that Clarke fellow, cos everyone said...
    that it may a bit poignant cos he was Allan Clarkes son, whos
    Leeds team held the record...
    Ian.
    

    
    	Isn't memory a wonderful thing...
    
    	Just goes to show how it is possible to recall all sorts of garbage
    	from the past and totally misquote with inaccurate vagueries and
    	no one notices.
    
    	Oh, well...I guess all you have now are memories. 8-)
    
    	Andy.

    andy,
     if you dont stop talking about memories, im going to phone your
     DTN and blow you a huge raspberry down the phone...
     :-)
     ooooh threats!!!
     
     Ian.

    re .446
    
    At least we have a past to live in... 8-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re .452
    Nitpicking, perhaps, but isn't Wayne Clarke Allan's younger brother ?
    Or was he "hitting the target" from a *really* early age ?
    
    Ads.

    yeah, thats the guy, Wayne Clarke,
    and yes, your right he is his younger brother...
    (son? where did i get that from?)
    and im sure he scored the goal for Everton.
    Ian.
    

    
    	We *are* in a tangle today aren't we boys ....ha ha ha 8-) lots..
    	
    	love it!!
    
    	Andy.

    
    Stop trying to smokescreen that fact that 'The mighty Reds' are now
    well in decline - confirmed by a disasterous defeat at the hands of
    Peterborough - what did I say about Souness in a previous note ? - he's
    useless - the longer he stays there, the better for football...
    
    It was Wayne Clarke that scored the goal that stopped "The mighty reds'
    beating Leeds' record - shame, I was gutted..
    
    Paul

    ive got it too, excellent video.
    i think showing ALL the forest game was a mistake though, i hate
    to admit it but i got bored!
    what they should have done is cut it down to about an hour, like
    the Liverpool 9-0 Palace video :-):-):-)
    Ian.
    
    p.s where can i get a video of last night game :-(((((
    

    
      Yes,
          JF, I must agree with your views on the said game. Liverpool were
    absolutely brilliant that night on April 13th, 1988 in front of 39,535
    fans. Tom Finney has stated that it was the best exhibition of football
    that he had ever seen. That night, THE GREAT ALDO scored twice with
    goals also from Houghton, Beardsley and Gillespie. More on that great
    game later.
        
       Cunno.
    
     

	re .416

>    Unfortunately due to attempts by Norwich's only living supporter to jam
>    all BBC world service transmissions on Saturday the scores were

	Do I conclude that there is a Norwich supporter living in the
	Atlanta area?

	In Massachusetts I had clear reception of one of the Sackville N.B.
	relays - didn't even need an external antenna.

	Not that finding out that Southampton had lost to Coventry
	brightened the week-end.

	Tony

    I hope the match against Peterborough becomes the 4th scouser match
    to be shown on TV in the New England area this fall. I've loved them 
    all so far. Don't recall a pool victory in any of the matches.
    
    Ref: .441
    
    Cunno, I agree with you. I'm also glad the pool are out of this
    competition.
    
    Go mancs!
    
    JC
    
    
    
    

    Well, it looks as though Grobs' mistake which led to the Peterboro'
    goal is going to cost him his place in the side... even though he made
    an unbelieveable stop to prevent a second only minutes later.
    
    Apparently the 'pool have made an improved bid for David James of
    Watford, although Steve Perryman has said that he will not sell for
    less than 1.5m...
    James has already made it clear that he wants to leave at the end of
    the season, and he wants to join the 'pool!! 
    
    Where does this leave Mike Hooper I wonder?? I can't see him wanting to
    play understudy to a 21 year old for very long!!
    
    Anyway, onto Saturdays game, and a more impressive disply is definately
    required if we're going to beat Southampton...
    I reckon on a 2:1 victory for the 'pool, with Saunders getting at least
    one of the goals, and Mark Wright having another storming game in the
    centre of the defence...
    
    Stew.
     

It seems ridiculous that a keeper can make a single mistake (well, ok, so he's 
made others in the past) and the media gang up on him and he gets dropped. I'd 
have thought losing 1-0 to a Third Division side would have had Souness looking 
at everyone BUT Grob - what the hell were the others doing for 90 mins?!!

g

    its all a carefully calculated plan, Souness made us lose to
    Peterborough in order to LOWER morale...
    after all we are still in the hunt for the one trophy that we havent
    won for a long time but might this year finally win...
    
    The wooden spoon!
    
    yes, souness has had his eyes on this trophy for some time but has
    never even got close!
    now, with this team, playing as well as they are, we finally have 
    the chance to compete with such great teams as Luton, Southampton and
    Sheffield United for that most coveted of prizes!
    Ian. :^)
    

    
>>    the chance to compete with such great teams as Luton, Southampton and
>>    Sheffield United for that most coveted of prizes!
  
    Ian,
    
    After all the good things I've said about Barnsley in the past, how
    could you miss out the really in-form team for the coveted "Wooden
    Spoon" - The 'Pies ? (1 win in the last 10 league games)
    
    Rob :-(

    Rob,
     sorry! i forgot to include the pies!
     i dont think that you will win the wooden spoon though...
     you have a match at Liverpool to come that will be terribly hard for
     you to lose, Liverpool will be on their 'best' form with star player
     Bruce Grobbelaar probably having a sparkling game acrobatically
     setting up Notts County attacks and maybe pushing the odd ball into
     the net.
     A tough act to follow in what will be a hard game for the Pies to
     lose...
    Ian. :^)
    

    re last few
    
    Yes, Brucie certainly has been in "sparkling" form this season so
    far...
    It's hard to decide which has been his "best" performance in what can
    only be called an outstanding season for him...
    
    There was the time in the Rumbelows Cup against Stoke when he let the
    ball go through his legs to deny Stoke what would have been a well
    deserved defeat...
    
    Then there was the time in the against Swarovski Tirol when he came out
    of his area and completely missed the ball...
    
    Then there was the time against Peterborough when he came to collect a
    cross, and completely missed the ball...
    
    Aahhhh... memories... 8-)
    
    Stew.
    
    

    
    	..and then there was the 1st leg in Auxerre when he kept his head
    	whilst all around him lost theirs and saved the tie...
    
    	..my you've got short memories. Contradicts with your abilities
    	in regurgitating past successes..  8-)
    
    	Andy.

    re .471
    
    I reckon it's going to be a sad day when Grobs goes...
    
    He's definately been the outstanding keeper of the eighties, and the
    odd mistake has been far outweighed by tremendous saves... like the one
    in the 1986 FA cup final when he tipped Graeme Sharpe's header over the
    bar when a goal looked a certainty, and he's definately having one of
    his best seasons for the 'pool so far...
    
    When, for all these years, Grobs has been performing heroics, other
    teams having been changing their keepers each season in an attempt to
    emulate the great success acheived by the 'pool...
    
    A little trivia question for those manc fans who bother to read this
    notes file...
    How many goalkeepers have Man Utd had on their books since 1981, and
    can you name them all??
    (I don't know the answer(but there's been at least 6), so maybe someone 
    can enlighten us... 8-) )
    
    Stew.
    

    
    	You're right Stew..
    
    	United keepers? From memory Bailey, Walsh, Leighton, Sealey,
    	Schmichal (sp!) were/are all capable, but cretins such as Roche 
    	and Whelans will remain thankfully short in the memory!!
    
    	Andy.

    Andy,
     just trying to put a brave face on what has been so far a bad
     season...
    Ian. 
    :-}
    

    Could someone please explain why Grobs came rushing off his line and
    was promptly lobbed by Shearer for the first goal, when staying on his
    line would definately have been the best option??
    
    Oh well, at least we didn't lose, eh?? 8-|
    
    I don't reckon much for the mancs chances of a trophy this season,
    after the draws for both cups effectively put paid to their chances in
    both competitions... Leeds are definately the in form team at the
    moment, and it wouldn't surprise me if they won the league, but their
    inexperience could be a major factor...
    
    Liverpool have another "tricky" away tie, at Crewe... though we should
    have most of our injured players back by then.
    
    Also, nice to see young Jamie get his first goal for the club. Let's
    just hope he has aa long and rewarding career at Anfield...
    
    Stew.
    

	Sigh.

	Throwing away two points in a home game against a middle-of-the-table
	side is not going to help us avoid relegation.

	Southampton_supporter_of_Spitbrook

    re .477
    
    Well, the way I see it is that the Leeds attack is by far the stronger,
    and more creative of the two...
    Against the Mancs defence, which can sometimes go AWOL for no apparent
    reason, I consider that Leeds definately have the upper hand.
    There is also the midfield battle to take into account, and although
    the Mancs are strong in this department, the two midfields will probs
    cancel each other out.
    But, you also have to take into account home advantage, and therefore I
    can definately say that Leeds will take a lot of stopping...
    
    Stew.
    

    re.478
    
    As long as you remember that the "Mancs defence, which can sometimes go
    AWOL" is currently the best in the country ie better than Leeds !
    
    I also believe that Leeds and United have scored the same number of
    goals this season.  Now then, with the midfield dept being cancelled
    out just where is the Leeds advantage ?!?

    i come back peacefully from my 2 day course at Hampshire house and
    what lies lurking on my desk in a brown envelope?
    A PICTURE OF CUNNO!
    what is happening to the world?
    Ian.
    

    p.s Martin, nice tuxedo, shame about the haircut
        :-)
    Ian.
    

re .479 

That advantage happens to be that Leeds will be playing 
at home in all three matches. Thats worth a bit don't you 
think.


                      James.

    A final point on the "home advantage" - when was the last time Leeds
    beat United at Elland Road ?  6,500 reds say there wont be much of a
    home advantage !

    Oi !!
    
    This conversation belongs to 32.* and 33.* !
    
    No padding out of mediocre teams notes please !
    
    jb.

    jb,
    
    never realised it was a race....
    
    re. mediocre...
    
    yeah, yeah.
    i wish id have been in this notes conference for the past 10 years.
    id have had a lot of fun at YOUR expense, john.
    heres hoping you dont fall on your ar*e against the Mancs.
    Ian.
    

    I just heard on 2FM this morning that Sourpuss has 11million sterling made 
    available to him to sign new players ...could this be true??

    havent heard about it...
    wonder if hes going to waste it like he did the last 5 million?
    yours cynically,
    Ian.
    

    I thought it said on the radio this morning that Michael Thomas would
    make up his mind about a move to Anfield by the end of today...
    Any comments??
    I'd have thought we needed a more creative midfielder...
    Stojkovic(sp??) of Marseille for instance...
    
    Also, Souness wants 1m for Steve McMahon, and he could be on his way to
    Blackburn...
    Although, he should be in the team for tonights game, but Ray Houghton
    won't be playing. He's injured!!
    
    Also, prediction for tonights game...
    	Liverpool	3 (McManaman, Saunders, Wright)
    	Swarovski	1
    
    Stew.
    
    p.s.
    Cunno, thanks for the photo, I've already had it framed and hung it
    next to my desk... but, who's the bloke next to TGA?? ;-)
    

    predictions:
    
    Tonight:   Liverpool 2-1 Tirol              (agg. 4-1)
    Saturday:  Liverpool 1-1 Nottingham Forest
    
                                                       

    
    	Good luck to the 'pool tonite, though you shouldn't really need
    	it!
    
    	I'll be watching and hoping for Liverpool to do the biz and reach
    	the QFs.
    
    	Andy.

    re prev.
    
    Cheers Andy...
    
    Stew.
    

    
    Well - I won't be watching Liverpool tonight, but I hope they get
    soundly beaten.
    
    Yours unbiasedly
    
    Paul

    Paul,
    
    You're just jealous cos we're in Europe and you're not, my dad's bigger
    than your dad, we've got quality strikers and you've got Beardo the
    hunchbacked wonder, etc., etc.,...
    
    Stew. 8-D
    

    
    Stew,
    
    Nothing to do with sour grapes - I've always supported Swarovski
    Tirol !!!!
    
    Paul   ;-)

Martin the stage is all yours ......

let it rip.

   Liverpool 4 (Deano 3, Venison)
   Swaroskwi Tirol 0

   A comprehensive display by the reds at a very chilly Anfield. The tie was
   over before this match but that doesn't take away from this superb effort.
   Deano who had scored four against the Finnish side Kyusshi Lahti and two
   against Tirol in the first leg netted a hat-trick to surpass Roger Hunt's
   long-standing record of eight goals in one European campaign.
   Brucie in goal was rarely troubled and the back-four marshalled by Wright
   were very steady. Ian Molby had time to display his immense talents.
   The first goal saw Deano beat the off-side trap and slot a super shot into
   the corner while his second came as the result of a corner kick. He 
   controlled a shot, flicked the ball up and planted it past the keeper.
   Number three was provided courtesy of a delightful Marsh through ball and
   Deano drew the keeper before knocking the ball over him and into the net.
   Barry "I'm a poser" Venison then came on as substitute for Harkness for his
   first game since March and after five minutes got on the scoresheet, driving
   the ball fiercely past the luckluss keeper.
   Liverpool are now into the quarter final in March and with the availability
   of Barnes, Whelan, Rush, things will be looking good.

        Cunno
 

    
    	Well played Liverpool...but weren't Tirol cr*p?
    
    	Things will get very interesting when all the little lambs are 
    	fit again. Will Sourpuss drop 9-goal hero Deano? Will Grabatair
    	be safe? Will Ian "John Merrick" Rush get one of the 4 foreigner
    	places? Molby is playing well in European games - will he remain?
    
    	I think Whelan will quit and Rush will be transfered. Nicol, Molby,	
    	Grobs and Saunders seem to be doing the right things at the moment.
    
    	Andy.

    Saw the game on TV last night. Tirol were appalling...... Molby is a
    lovely passer of the ball and looks comfortable on it, but he looks
    at least 10 kilos overweight (so much for Sounnes's hard training !!).
    I also thought MacManaman and Wright played well. 
    
    	- Robin

    im not suprised the stadium was empty, it was f***ing cold!!!
    even by Austrian standards!
    even they were wearing gloves!!!
    a great match for morale, but then we said that last time and we got
    gubbed on a number of occasions afterwards.
    Ian.
    

    also, just like to say that the Austrians laid some flowers at the 
    eternal flame memorial to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster
    before the game. This was a fantastic gesture for them to make and
    i wholeheartedly applaud them.
    Ian.
    

    
    
       I watched the game live last night here in Germany on Austrian TV.
    What impressed me was Liverpools passing, but I wouldn't call it a
    superb effort. I see FC Tirol play every othe week and beleive me 
    they are crap. Only two players on the FC Tirol play with the Austrian
    national team, and we all know how good they are!!!!!
    
        On a possitive note I was very impressed with Burrows and Tanner in
    the backline especially some of the runs Burrows made on the left wing.
    Molby played well and passed well but he had the room to do so, I don't
    like this Macmanaman too much he looks very awkard on the ball although
    he made one great run last night. Deano looks sharp when the ball is
    played through the middle.
    
        Martin perhaps you could let me know when the injured boys are due
    back if at all, Rush, Barnes, Whelan, and Houghton..
    
                                                  all the best...
    
                                                      -dave-
    
    p.s There were 12,000 cold fans at Anfield last night according to
    Austrian TV.
    

    Well, we're through to the quarters and that was the main aim... now we
    just have to hope that the draw is favourable...
    
    Before the match I really couldn't understand why Souness made Mark
    Wright captain instead of Stevie Nicol, but I have to admit that he did
    impress me a great deal and showed why he cost 2m.
    Deano looked lively all night, and I don't think it'll be long before
    he starts knocking the goals in in the league as well.
    Jamie Redknapp seemed completely at home in the middle of the park, and
    he does the simple things well, though the pace probably suited him...
    Other than that I think Burrows had another good game, as did Tanner,
    and Mac jnr. 
    
    But, I don't think we can draw much, except morale, from this result...
    The Austrians really didn't play at all!! We need to knuckle down for
    the potentially impossible task of beating Forest on Saturday...
    
    At least we should have Barnes back in 10 days, according to the man
    himself. We could also have Michael Thomas on the books pretty soon as
    well, which might signal the departure of Steve McMahon to Man City or
    Blackburn.
    
    Stew.
    

    im not sure about Michael Thomas...
    i mean, not exactly a regular for Arsenal was he?
    also, i dont think the kop will take to him,
    not after 1989! :-(
    :-)
    Ian.
    

    ulp!
    

    
    How do you know it was cold at Anfield last night - you were in
    Basingstoke..........
    
    Liverpool's attendance was low (16,000) last night because;
    
    i - they were already 2-0 up from the away leg
    ii - it was live on telly
    iii - Liverpool are boring.
    
    Paul                         

    Paul,
    
    Why do think Liverpool are boring??
    
    Stew.
    

    Well, according to the radio this morning Michael Thomas could be a
    Liverpool player by this afternoon... he's just got to sort out his
    personal terms...
    
    According to the paper Souness has said that Thomas wants to play for
    Liverpool... If that's correct then I for one am willing to forgive him
    for anything he may have done wrong in the past... like scoring in the
    last minute in 1989!! 8-(
    
    This might also mean he will be in the squad for tomorrows game against
    Forest...
    
    Also, Man City have increased their bid for Steve McMahon to 850,000 
    but Souness wont sell for less than 1m.
    
    Stew.
    

    
    i think we just made another rather expensive mistake...
    Ian.
    

    		** NEWSFLASH **
    Thomas should be in the Liverpool team to play Spurs next Wednesday...
    
    prediction for tomorrow...
    	Liverpool	2 (Saunders,Molby(pen))
    	Forest		1
    
    Stew.
    

    I can't wait to see this feast of football between 2 teams having
    mediocre seasons ;-)
    
    jb.
    

    
    	...and who have both now reached the QF stage of their respective
    	European campaigns.
    
    	I suspect at least one of those sides will substitute success in
    	the league for a good run in Europe..
    
    	..and Spurs probably would too ;-)
             
    	Andy.

    
    ...as i hacked my way through the crowds on Oxford Street....
    
    Liverpool 2-0 Nottm Forest
    
    report anyone?
    Ian.
    

    re.'dixon's window never looked so good'
    
    i know this is quite unconnected...but,
    Dixons, the electronics chain store have started turning off their
    TVs that are turned to the football results at 4:45.
    (Luckily, i managed to catch Liverpools result)
    The reason they give is that it causes a security risk within the shop,
    and a nuisance outside of the shop.
    my argument was that it actually got people into the shop or looking
    in the window, which is the best advert you could wish for.
    i think that this only applies to Oxford Street, but if everyone takes
    this up, it could be the end of a much loved public service.
    Ian.
    

    Saw the 'pool goals on telly, and I must admit that they both were a
    bit lucky...
    The first was created superbly by Steve Chettle who miskicked his
    clearance into the path of Steve McMahon... probs Macca's first and
    last goal for the 'pool, though I hope not!!
    The second was a well struck free kick from just outside the area by
    Jan Molby... Mark Crossley only just managed to get to ball enough to
    push it into the back of the net. 8-)
    
    But, three points in the bag, and we've now gone 5 games unbeaten in
    the league, and Spurs on Wed night... this could be tricky for us!!
    Everyone is writing us out of the championship race... I love it!! It
    said in my paper this morning that "...Liverpool are too far behind to
    affect the final reckoning..."
    We'll see!!
    
    By the way, congrats to the Mancs who went back to the top yesterday...
    Although I'm still not convinced about the defence, Gary Pallister in
    particular was out of position on numerous occasions, you can't argue
    against the quality of their attack... Mind you, Hughes definately
    handled the ball before he backheeled it for the second goal, and I
    liked his little dive for the penalty!! 8-)
    
    Anyway, onto Wed night, and a chance to see Michael Thomas in action...
    I only hope his passing has improved!!!
    
    Stew.
     

    Why is the Spurs|'Pool match on TV? After all, its only a fixture
    between two mid-table teams.

    re.517
    
    because they are the two teams that are still in Europe, Simon....
    and you?
    :-)
    Ian. 
    

    re .517
    
    You could also ask why was the Man Utd vs Chelsea match on telly, and
    why are Man Utd on 3 times over xmas, and against QPR of all teams??
    I was looking forward to xmas this year as well, but now it's spoilt!!
    
    Stew. 8-)
     

    Yeah Stew, they say you get fed up of turkey by New Years Day.
    Looks like we are going to get fed up of THOSE turkeys too...
    ;-)
    Ian.
    

    nice one Ian!! 8-D
    
    Stew 

    Martin,
    Thanks for the 'card'...
    theres nothing else i can say really!
    
    Ian.
    :-)
    

    Martin,
    
    	Thanks for the Yuletide Wishes.
    
    	Nice to see that with all the banter that goes round that no real
    intention is meant.
    
    	Cheers 
    
    Mac

    re .523
    
    You mean it didn't explode when you opened it?? ;-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re .524
    
    It came as a mail message, took about 5 minutes to finish and screws up
    your screen, but apart from that......!
    
    Mac

Liverpool have drawn Genoa in the next round of the EUFA Cup - could have been 
worse!

grahame

    
      Genoa will test Liverpool,they are a good side.I saw them beat
    Juventus on SKY earlier this year,and they looked good.
    
    Dave...

    I heard that they weren't having a particularly good season in the
    Italian league... aren't they mid-table, or thereabouts??
    
    Mind you, we're not having an especially good season either!!
    
    Should be a close game!!
    
    Stew.
    

    
    	Reasonably good draw for Liverpool. Should see them progress to
    	the semis. Good luck to them.
             
    	Andy.

   Any news on the subject of Macca moving to Man city?

     Cunno

    re: -1
    
    Martin,
    
    	There is stalemate at the moment, Reid has upped his offer from
    500,000 to 800,000, but seemingly at first Souness wanted 1 million,
    but is prepared to go down to 900,000.
    Unfortunately Reid will not go any higher(although I can't see why
    another 100,000 wouldn't do!!), so has left the door open for Souness
    to come in, if he wants to.
    Souness has been quoted as saying that he does not want Macca to go,
    especially with the Euro Cup competition still in full swing, Macca is
    another useful Englishman, however with Mr. Thomas joining, he is not
    allowed to play for 'pool in Euro Cup Competitions due to having
    already played for the Arse' in Europe, so keeping Macca would be an
    asset rather than a burden.
    Must be hard for Macca, having two managers argue over a price for him,
    maybe it should be put to him, to ask if he wants to go??
    
    So still in a deadlock
    
    Mac        

    Tottenham tonite, and three points are what we need...
    
    If we can keep our good run going till after xmas, then who knows where
    we'll be in the league... 
    Mind you, it won't be easy... we've got Man City on Saturday, QPR on
    Boxing day, Everton on Saturday week, another game on New Years day,
    and then the FA cup the Saturday after... 
    I reckon the Mancs having to play Leeds three times (if not more) in 10
    days is really going to blow the title race wide open...
    
    prediction for tonite...
    Tottenham	1 (Lineker penalty)
    Liverpool	3 (Saunders hatrick)
    
    Stew.
    

    
    By all accounts Macca wishes to leave due to being no longer
    settled at Liverpool.
    
    I have read something very recently that Daglish was interested
    in bringing him over to Blackburn. Can anyone expand on this ?
    
    As macca is now 30 I cannot see him playing 2nd division football
    with what would be the last move of his career.
    
    JN.

    re.534
    
    when Dalglish went to Blackburn i half expected the older members of
    the squad to disappear there. i reckon McMahon's got a good couple of
    seasons left in him at the top level, and if he went to Blackburn to
    join Kenny, chances are, he'd get them because Blackburn look good for
    promotion at the moment. 
    Also, McMahon might want to further his England claim by moving
    there...
    after all, Mr Aldridge has shown how easy it is for first division
    players to play in the second division!
    even cunno i think would think twice before saying that he would have
    got as many goals had he have been in division 1.
    McMahon in the second division would stand out head and shoulders above
    the rest and maybe thats what he wants right now, for this season at 
    least. Last time i saw McMahon he seemed to be slowing down.
    if he goes to Blackburn, it might prove that he knows it...
    Ian.
    

    
    
    Tottenham Hotspurs  1 (Walsh)
    Liverpool		2 ( Saunders, Houghton)
    
    
    	Don't know details. BBC World Service said that" news of the result 
    would be reverberating (sp?) in Manchester and Leeds tonight".
    	It was only second time in the league that Liverpool won away from
    home this season. It was about time to put that right ! Deano scored
    only his second league goal as well.
    	Things are looking good for the 'Pool as the League program goes 
    into the festive season.
    

    
    	Good game. Three good goals (Houghton's fortune with the deflection
    	made up for McThingy's excellent goal being ruled offside..)
    
    	Liverpool looked in good shape. Molby and Houghton played well. 
    	R Bryan gave MotM to Paul Stewart...must have been watching a
    	different game ;-) .. about 4 'pool players had better games 
    	than him (Jones, Houghton, Saunders, Wright..)
    
    	Liverpool go fourth, but still a couple of miles behind United
    	and Leeds (Leeds Leeds).
    
    	Andy.

    
    Andy,
    your right there, i thought Rob Jones was excellent, in fact the whole
    team played like the Liverpool of old.
    I must say that Spurs played brilliantly and could have been well worth
    the draw.
    right, we are 4th now, and you lot can stop calling us a mid-table
    side. I hear that our championship odds have improved slightly this
    morning! :-)
    Ian.
    
    p.s i was not impressed with the way that Michael Thomas was booed
        last night every time he touched the ball.
        this kind of treatment gives our game a bad name.
        after a shaky first 5-10 minutes, i thought he started to play
        quite well and fitted in with the Liverpool style.
        i still dont want McMahon to go though....
    

    Yes - the ITV commentators were in such a fluster about Paul Stewart
    getting Man-of-the-Match from Bryan Robson, they hardly commented
    on how well Michael Thomas fitted in to the Liverpool side. Almost
    like a machine component that is replaced and does what it should
    immediately, he opened up the midfield with some great touches,
    and was rarely beaten in the challenge. No wonder Souness almost 
    smiled at the end of the interview!
    
    Clive

    Impressed!!
    
    We started slowly, and Tottenham deserved their goal, but the way we
    came straight back impressed me no end!!
    Just about the whole team had an excellent match... Rob Jones had a
    superb game, everything he did just oozed class and I reckon he's one
    to watch... Mark Wright has now gone 4 games unbeaten since he became
    captain, could this be an inspired move by Souness?? Stevie Mac jnr and
    Deano were outstanding up front, especially in the last 20 mins, and I
    think Macca was unlucky to have his goal disallowed... Ray Houghton,
    what can I say, sheer class... and Michael Thomas' long awaited debut
    was worth waiting for as well!! He showed some excellent touches in
    midfield, and if he continues to play like that then I wont be
    disappointed!! 8-D
    
    All in all a well deserved three points, and I can't help thinking that
    1992 could be a fairly good year for us. I hope this isn't premature!!!
    
    By the way, I'm surprised "Crock" Robson didn't pick himself for M.O.M.
    after his superb display in the middle of the program. His witty, and
    undoubtedly unrehearsed comments certainly made my evening... ;-)
    
    Stew. 8-)
    

    re. stunning performance by Robson...
    
    Stew,
     like it!
     :-D
    Ian.
    

    if youll refer to the stats ive produced in 13.* you'll see
    that Liverpool are the 3rd best team in the league so far this season
    as far as stats go...well behind Man Utd and Leeds.
    According to these stats we are the 16th (!!) best attacking side
    in the division as far as scoring goals goes.
    When it comes to defending however, we are 3rd.
    we are almost the opposite of Crystal Palace, a clearly attacking
    orientated side who have the second worst defensive record in the
    division but the 6th best attacking record.
    Ian.
    

     
    Byran Robson must have been asleep during the match . I thought
    Rob Jones deserved MOTM with Ray Houghton a close second...
    It looks like Liverpool are back....

    ref: .530
    
    Genoa will not be that easy to overcome. Although tied for 4th place
    in Italy and no chance/hope to win it all, Genoa, just like Sampdoria,
    have played well in Europe. It should be a good match. BTW, I think
    you'll see a good mix of the short, Brasilian type passing game, and
    the long ball, a la English league. It'll be the Pool's toughest
    opponent so far in the tournament.
    
    JC

    > It'll be the Pool's toughest opponent so far in the tournament.
     
     which as im sure youve noticed, is not difficult considering the
     opposition we've had so far!
     im sure that the injured crew will relish their first chance of
     European action, and it should be a good game.
    Ian.
    

    A truly merry crimble to everyone...
    (including the mancs! - as long as they dont win)
    :-)
    Ian.
    

    a reasonable start to the christmas period...
    Ian.
    

    
    	Thank you for that in-depth analysis Ian 8-)
    
    	Seriously, though...a Nicol equaliser with 8 minutes to go,
    	salvaging a point when three were needed...you're happy with
    	that? 
    
    	Andy.

    Andy,
     not really, there was a tiny hint of sarcasm in my reply, but better
     a draw than a defeat. Being 'down and out' for a while humbles you a 
     little and you become a little more appreciative of the score draw!
     seriously, a reasonable result against a team which is good opposition
     this season.
    Ian.                  

    -< a point gained, not 3 lost... >-
    
    ...or even two....im not 'with it' this morning.
    Ian.
    :-)
    

    where are you Stew Seabury!
    Ian.
    

	According to the Manchester Guardian Weekly, Dean Saunders has
	created a new record for the most goals scored by a Liverpool
	player in European club competitions in a season. The previous
	holder of this record was Roger Hunt.

	Tony

    yes, thats true, im trying to count up how many, but im too lazy,
    hes passed it by two, i believe.
    Ian.
    

    
    	Nine. Previous record was seven by Roger Hunt (can't tell you
    	which year though...)
    
   	Andy.

    Ref: 110.something....
    
    Ian, go home, get some rest and plenty to drink. You need it.
    Then come back and look at the standings and you'll realize the
    pool's late rush was but a dream: They made up some ground
    on the pretenders. Made up ZERO ground on the leaders.
    
    My best holiday wishes to you and all you pool fans. 
    
    JC 
    

    JC,
    
    even Alex Ferguson would say:
    'you write Liverpool off at your peril'
    
    i wouldnt if i were you...
    Ian.
    

    As for 85, it has no bearing. Our defense is superior, only Leeds
    comes close in terms of goals allowed, and we have a goalkeeper.
    Should the offense faulter a bit late in the season, the defense is 
    so much better then 85 (and anyone else in the league this year)that 
    a total collapse a la 1985 is highly unlikely.
    
    This coming weekend we in the Boston area will get to see the pool's
    2-2 draw against Manchester City. Seriuosly, I think if the pool is
    going to make a serious challenge for the title they must take at least
    one point against Utd and Leeds and three points against everybody else,
    especially at home. Teams are no longer intimidated when they step onto
    the pitch at Anfield. Anyway, I deslike/hate the pool so much that I
    hope they get close enough to get you and Cunno excited. That will make
    busting yours/his chops sweeter. Good luck against Genoa, another team
    I don't care very much about.
    
    JC

    If Man Utd don't win the league, there's going to be quite a few of
    their fans looking like complete plonkers.
    
    By the way, do they sell humble pie in Boston?

    No. They stopped selling it when Peter Frampton (sp) went solo.
    
    JC

    re last few.
    
    Its true, you write the Pool off at your peril, just when you think
    their dead and buried, they come back and tear your Ar*e off.  We are
    approx half way through the season..quick rush of 'game of 2 halves'
    type cliches...and there is a long way to go. The return of Whelan will
    be the turning point in Liverpools roller coaster form. If Liverpool
    are to be considered as serious challengers they must start getting
    results at home.    
    At present Leeds look like the stronger of the 2 front runners, but a few 
    injuries to a comparatively small squad would unsettle them.  Man U are in 
    a better
    position (level points, games in hand) and are starting to look like a
    team, but they are not invincible. When a couple of decisions/results
    go against them then well see what they are made of.  The 3 games, it
    could be more, between Leeds And ManU, could take their toll on one, or
    both, clubs.
    Then lets not forget Arsenal, stumbling along like a pale shadow of 
    their former selves but still there or thereabouts. All the clubs have to 
    play each other..rush of 6 point game cliches..so the 12 point gaps may get
    reduced.
    Im really looking forward to the coming months, should be very
    interesting.
    Merry Christmas, and a Happy healthy New Year to all.
    
    Paul

    Last Saturday we in the Boston area got to watch the Pool' 2-2 draw
    against the other team from Manchester. Seems to me unless Liverpool
    find a goaltender, or Grobs stops daydreaming while in the net, we
    need not wait for the fat lady to sing. Other then Grobs the pool
    put on a decent performance. It could just be my imagination, 
    but it seems Grobelar (sp?) has been caught out of position too many
    times this season. 

     HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL POOL FANS INCLUDING CUNNO.
                                                           RGDS,
                                                            TONY.

2001

:^)

    Keep dreaming Gerry. BTW, was the match against Manchester City shown
    in Canada?
    
    Happy new year,
    JC

    Yes, JC, it was. What a relief when Liverpool scored that second goal,
    although I never thought for a moment that they would loose :-)
    
    Gerry

    I'm back!!!
    
    What a great christmas it's been...
    
    We're on a roll, and it seems to me that other clubs might be starting
    to feel the pace??!!??
    
    Arsenal are out of everything... I don't care what anybody says, they
    have no chance in the championship!! Definately a pale shadow of their
    former selves, and Wrexham proved that on Saturday... ha ha!! 8-) 
    Has George lost his touch??
    
    Leeds, what can I say?? They're still going strong, picking up the
    points, and definately my tip for the championship, should the 'pool
    fail to win it... Mind you, they do tend to struggle until they've
    scored the first goal!!
    
    Man United... they definately deserved to lose 4:1 to QPR on New Years
    Day, if not by more!! So where was the United defence playing?? 
    
    Leeds and the mancs are going to rue having to play each other so many
    times... especially after yesterdays game was called off when the
    groundsman forgot to turn the sprinklers off... 8-)
    So, the championship race is nowhere near over, and we're just hitting
    first gear (about time too!!)
    
    Good news is that John Barnes could be back for tonights game at
    Crewe...
       ...prediction...
    	Crewe		1
    	Liverpool	3 (Saunders, Thomas, Houghton)
    
    Transfer speculation... any number of players could be moving to
    Anfield in the near future if you believe everything you read,
    including Paul McStay from Celtic, Gary Owers from Sunderland, Matthew
    Le Tissier from Southampton, Stuart Slater from West Ham... the list
    goes on!!! Merely speculation though I reckon!!
    
    Anyway, it's been a nice start to our centenary year, so lets hope it
    continues...
    
    Stew.
    

 Prediction for tonight

 Crewe 0
 Liverpool 4 (Saunders 3, Houghton)

 Cunno    

    Re. .569,568
    
    Cunno, you were right about  the scoreline. But I'm happy to say that
    you were wrong about the scorers. Mr John Barnes made a fabulous
    comeback to the first team. He scored 3 goals , including 1 penalty 
    Mcmanaman got the other. Anyone got the full match report ?
    Yep, Stew, you were dead right ! With everybody else falling apart,
    things are beginning to fall into place for the 'Pool's centenary year.
    Who knows ? Maybe we might still end up with 3 trophies :-))
    
    Roll on 1992,
    
    
    Kumar

    Re. last two
    
    Cunno was right about the scoreline, his Saunders figure was the number
    of chances missed by him in front of goal...
    
    Game was live on SKY  (who have showed Liec v. Palace, Spurs V. Villa, 
    Crewe V. Pool on previous days and tonight Saints V. Hammers!)  and
    well worth watching.  Barnes was impressive, one penalty, but two well
    taken goals.  The first he back-kicked a low cross into the net from 
    just outside the six yard area.  The second,  a great strike from about
    16 yards of a ball that reached him almost at chest height.
    
    Crewe became less 'shy' of the ball in the second half and "held" Pool 
    - good job as it looked like a few more goals would go in...
    
    Anyone know the price of Liverpool for the championship (Seriously, Anyone
    work next to a bookies?)... Is this now only 1 defeat in 16? 

    Liverpool are now Cup favourites after the stroll against Crewe. Crewe
    seemed to play for about 10 mins at the start of the second half and
    could have had 3 goals. Apart from that it looked like a training
    exercise. Can't see many 1st divison defences giving Barnes all that
    time to settle on the ball.
    
    Whilst Liverpool are on a 'roll', they aren't winning many league
    matches, mainly draws (and then by the skin of their teeth, eg Everton,
    City).

    
    I also saw last nights game and can say that I thought it was
    excellent. OK the first half saw Crewe drifting around a bit
    but as Mr Keys said afterwards the Crewe manager was a bit hard
    on his team. To my mind Crewe played extremely well and showed
    commitment and faith in themselves. They actually believed that
    they could get goals but were just unfortunate not to.
    
    That Naylor bloke, what a player. I can see him in a first or second
    division team before you know it.
    
    Liverpool put up an excellent display of fluent football and remained
    professional throughout the game and I do not agree with the comment
    about the match ending up as a training excercise. Liverpool knew
    what they were up against and had their work cut out for them.
    
    Crewe could have had at least four goals. Liverpool, through Saunders,
    could have had about four more as well. Then again Saunders is not a
    Liverpool player.
    
    Great game. Unlucky Crewe, they battled which is what its all about.
    Good to see John Barnes back in action. Best of luck to Liverpool,
    I think they could go all the way.
    
    JN.

    A thoroughly proffesional approach saw the 'pool through last nights
    tricky away tie...
    
    The only real disappointment was when Ray Houghton was substituted due
    to a recurring back injury... I just hope it isn't too serious cos he's
    been our outstanding player of the season.
    
    Good to see Barnsie back, and I think this could be the start of a
    championship winning run... We've definately missed his goals, and he
    creates as many. So, look out for a few more convincing results in the
    second half of the season.
    
    Now we have to travel to Bath for the 4th round tie against Bristol
    Rovers, and if we can get through that, then half of the 1st Division
    teams will be out, and we'll have an excellent chance of going all the
    way... Lots of ifs there though!!!
    
    Never mind the price on the championship... what about the double???
    
    Stew.
    

    re .568
    
    I forgot Trevor Steven!!!
    There were rumours that Marseille wanted to sell him, because of their
    exit from the European Cup, and although Rangers have first option on
    him, the 'pool were firmly in the hunt. In fact they had a 3m bid
    rejected by Rangers before he moved to Marseille...
    
    Newshound.
    

    Anyone heard something similar ??
    
    A friend of mine (who is in finance and meets a lot of top wigs from
    football), told me (when we were discussing Liverpools injuries) that
    Whelan will not make it, and at the moment they are discussing his
    value/worth for insurance claim purposes....this cant be true can it ??
    I know it was a long term injury, but it would be a disaster for
    Liverpool, and very sad for Whelan if it were true.
    
    Re -1
    
    Apparently Rangers are favourite to re-sign Steven, and for less than
    they sold him..shrewd businessmen that they are. 

             <<< Note 34.415 by ESSB::MCUNNIFFE "THE GREAT ALDO" >>>
                           -< Ronnie will be back. >-

      Re -2,
            I hear that Ronnie is at Lilleshall training and rehabilation
    centre at the moment where he is striving to get back to full fitness.
    If he has to quit, he will be sorely missed by Liverpool and Irish fans.
    No player has come close to Ronnie in the last decade and I sincerely
    hope that he makes it back again. I have included a note previously
    entered lest you all forget the achievements of the great Ronnie
    Whelan.


    
    Ronnie is to see a specialist shortly about his injury and I sincerely
    hope that he will play again. He is just 30 since October and plenty of
    football left in him. What a huge loss he would be to Liverpool and to 
    the football world in general. He was by far the most accomplished
    player of the 80's and that includes Robbo and the fat Mars bar idiot
    that disgraced himself in the cup final.
        As for the possibility of Roy Keane or Townsand replacing Ronnie,
    both of them together wouldn't compensate for Whelan. As for the
    possibility of "haircut Thomas" doing the job, forget it.
      
      Ronnie made his league debut against Stoke on 3/4/81 and scored a
    goal. Since then, he has collected a host of medals and been a very
    influential player for Ireland.......he scored the best goal of the
    Euro c'ships in 1988 when he volleyed past Daseav.
    
       Ronnie's honours so far
                        ======
    
       League C'ship medals - 1982
                              1983
                              1984
                              1986
                              1988    (How many league medals has Robbo??)
                              1990  
    
            F.A. Cup medals - 1986  
                            - 1989 (captain)
    
          League cup medals - 1982
                              1983 (a cracking curler past Bailey)
                              1984 
    
          European cup medal- 1984
     
         rgds,
          Cunno.

             

    Div 1 - Championship		FA Cup 91-92
                                                    	
    2/5	   Man United                   9/2    Liverpool
    9/4    Leeds                        13/2   Man United
    10/1   Liverpool                    7/1    Forest
    33/1   Sheffield Wed                8/1    Leeds
    50/1   Arsenal
    100/1  Man City and the rest
    
    
    Thats 60-1 for Liverpool to do the double

    re .579
    
    Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but 60/1 has got to be
    excellent odds for a side which is just beginning to find it's best
    form!! 
    I'm off down the bookies...
    
    re .578
    
    I think Souness has already bought a replacement for Ronnie... Michael
    Thomas!! 
    I reckon he could consider raiding Highbury again, if Barnsie decides
    he's finally off to Europe next season... for Paul Merson!! Might cost
    a bit though!!
    
    Stew.
     

    I think you could have backed Liverpool last Saturday for the league at
    about 10 or 12 to 1.
    
    cheers,
    
    Paul

    re .580
    
    Headlines - Barnes refuses new contract!!
    
    No sooner have I mentioned the possibility than it's splashed across
    the back pages of the papers... 8-)
    Apparently, Barnsie wants to go to Italy next season, and so he wont
    sign the contract offered to him by Souness.
    Maybe we should be concentrating on finding a replacement?? What about
    Matthew Le Tissier of Southampton, or Paul Merson??
    
    Stew.
    

    Just in case anyone's bothered... goals scorers this season so far...
    
    		League	FA Cup	Rumbls	UEFA Cup	Total
    		------	------	------	--------	-----
    Saunders	  5	  0	  2	   9		  16
    Houghton	  7	  0	  1	   2		  10
    McManaman	  2	  1	  3	   0		   6
    Walters	  2	  0	  2	   1		   5
    Barnes	  1	  3	  0   	   0		   4
    Rush	  1	  0	  3	   0		   4
    Molby	  2	  0	  0	   1		   3
    Burrows	  1	  0 	  0	   0		   1
    Rosenthal	  1	  0	  0 	   0		   1
    Hysen	  1	  0	  0	   0		   1
    Redknapp	  1	  0	  0	   0		   1
    McMahon	  1	  0	  0	   0		   1
    Nicol	  1	  0	  0	   0		   1
    Tanner	  1 	  0	  0	   0		   1
    Marsh	  0	  0	  0	   1		   1
    Venison	  0	  0	  0	   1		   1
    
    TOTALS	 27	  4	 11	  15		  57
    	   

    I reckon 60/1 is not nearly long enough to warrant a bet. Better bets
    would be backing both United and Leeds in the cup because after tonight
    one of them will move up to be favourites, or City at 100/1 for the
    league.

    re .584
    
    The winner of the mancs/leeds game tonight will almost certainly be
    installed odds on favourites for the cup, and that isn't particularly
    appealing as a bet...
    
    As for Man City at 100/1 for the league, well, you want to have at
    least some chance of winning don't you??!!?? ;-)
    
    Stew.
    

    re. 583,
    
    Yes let's keep the goal scorers up to date - first one to 10 in the
    league looks like a two-horse race, though what price might Ronnie
    Whelan be for top-scorer with Ladbrokes???.
    
    Apart from the partly encouraging fact that 16 separate players
    have scored for Liverpool this season - that must be a record as
    how many teams use 16 players in total in a whole season? - is the
    slightly worrying fact that at least 8 other players have appeared
    for LIverpoool this season who haven't even scored as many goals
    as the great Barry venison !!!
    
    Ah well let's hope we increase our goal difference against Luton
    on Saturday.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                 

    Apparently, Trevor Steven has said he would favour a move back to the
    North-West when he leaves Marseille...
    
    That must put us favourites to buy him... there aren't any other teams
    in the North-West worth considering... ;-)
    
    Stew.