I know but I said in Jest.

In terms qualifying I would prefer Liverpool to always go through this process as although it has the feel of a friendly match you don't know the opposition and therefore you need to approach the game with real caution, in that sense it is a great way to prepare for a season.

I will be disappointed next year as Liverpool will actually have no competition until match day 1 of the premier league next year.

Apologies. I had my sarcasm detector switched off as we were discussing Scousers. It interferes with my anti-shellsuit defence system, and I've never needed both at the same time.

At least the Liverpool players will be well rested as there aren't any international competitions at the end of the season, though we are finishing later.

It'll give the new manager time to get to know the players, who'll also need to get to know their new team-mates should the new owners splash the cash.

Do you know of a certain manager getting the boot?

I agree that it could be a good thing giving certain players time to recover A.K.A. Gerrard and Torres cause it seems they are played whether injured or not nowadays.

But I find Liverpool at the start of the season quite devoid of teamwork so the less they play the more prone to errors we seem to be.

Since Rafa has taken over we always seem to be in the best form at the end of the season, i'm pretty sure this can be attributed to confusing tactics for the players gelling in the latter stages.

EWven though I understand he's just signed a new contract, all that does really is increase how much compensation he'd get if he was fired.

I have heard that Hicks and Gillette are trying to sell out, and I've heard the Gillette is also trying to sell the Montreal Canadians hockey team as well. Any new owner is going to want to bring their own manager in 99% of the time.

Gascoigne bemoans dearth of flair players

Can't believe how old Gazza looks here

Old enough yet to be Toon's next local hero manager?

Gazza is born the same day/same year as my brother and I'd be worried if my brother looked like that.

His accent reminds me of the geordie guy on Alan Partridge who Steve Coogan found incomprehensible.

its coooming, its coooming, I can feel it in the water.


http://link.brightcove.com/services/...id=20156276001

And people on these forums complain about the inane shows on TV in Canada. Thank goodness more premier league games are available on tv here in Canada than in the UK and we don't have to rely on these guys who gives us the play by play.

The only thing that concerns me is the fact that Benitez has improved the teams finishing tally almost every year he has been at the club. It will take a long time if we suddenly got rid of him for Liverpool to recover to what they are today. The team is better than people give it credit for.

The main thing it did is give him the control over transfers that he thinks he needs to bridge the gap to the top of the table.

I'm not sure how often new ownership brings a change of manager? Man City and Man U didnt... I suppose it depends on who the incumbent is and how good a job they are doing.

Personally I cant see liverpool bringing in a new manager with new ownership...just as the Glazers knew a good thing when they saw it with Man U, I dont think any new owners would dream of ditching Raffa, and why rile up the (majority) of supporters who are behind him.

It is a bit odd though that after Liverpools best playing season in years, there is the distinct possibility that the third best team in the city is better placed to bring home a trophy than the reds

I think that a manager should have control over what players he buys. The owners should only tell him how much is available for transfers. After all, it's the manager who works with the players, and who gets fired if the owners feel he isn't doing what they expect.

I guess the change depends on whether the new owners (if any) think Rafa's done enough to stay, or whether they see another possibly under-achieving season as the future under Rafa. I hope he stays.

Haha. Liverpool Ladies are 2nd from bottom in the Women's Premier League, or did you mean 4th best Everton?

Remember the good old days...Everton and Liverpool at Wembley chanting Merseyside...fans travelling together...

I heard a story from the weekend that Mark Lawrenson was being pursued by a bunch of little scallies down wembley way and nearly getting hit by a bus...who says the friendly derby has gone!

That was before ordinary fans were priced out of the games.

Good result for ManUre there.