DaveC

Ha, we can't score goals and we haven't scored a goal at Tynecastle in something like 8 games. In addition to that we pursued Lee Miller on a couple of occasions so the script is set for him to show us what we're missing. I think I'll be working on Saturday so I'll miss the game.

The OF fans are so far up their own arses it's unbelievable. As the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy once said, "raise the double standard." If you boo Neil Lennon it must be because you're a proddy and nothing to do with the fact that he's an irritating ginger shite. I think Marvin Andrews was getting booed on Sunday for clattering into people so the huns think Aberdeen fans are racialistic. Or maybe Atheists, as Andrew is a Christian. Surprised he was playing on a Sunday come to think of it. Dons fans aren't judgemental, have you heard what we do to sheep for goodness sake?

Tone

Bellamy signs for the Villa

Here

Webbie

Just done a quick bit of research on http://www.dogsdieinhotcars.com/

Hmm...
Remember that my head is still back in the 80's there, but even so I do have to say that they have a throwback sound. But they are produced by Langer/Winstanley (Madness, Dexy's et al) so no surprise.
And anyway there's only so many chords you can play, plus everything comes in circles so that sound is always going to be there.

The sound of Dogs Die In Hot Cars (excellent name and a very good reminder to any forgetful driver - first band to also be a public service message ?)
...where was I ?
The sound of the Dogs (as they will be known) is very ska influenced.
Bit of XTC thrown in and when you listen to album track Lounger, I agree Dave, there is definitely a hint of China Crisis.
For me it's....ok, but nothing that grabs me there.
Maybe a few more listens.

Edit: "Celebrity Sanctum" - he's singing an ode to Angelina Jollie.
:O

Footie stuff ?
Yes there is probably.

(Bellamy/Villa - nearly had me there.
In reality Stoke City are the only ones who have come in with an offer for him.)

James Box

Liverpool climbs to the top of the injury league (nice that we can top something!)
Pongolle has an ACL injury which will probably end his season.

Also on the list:
(possibly back within a month)
Hyppia (hip)
Partridge (knee)
Kewell (groin)
Josemi (knee)
Smicer (knee)

(basically out for season)
Kirkland (back)
Alonso (broken ankle)
Cisse (broken leg)
Pongolle (ACL)

Webbie

"Florent Sinama-Pongolle"
What sort of name is that for a striker ?

I remember (jumpers/goalpost) when you could name the Liverpool 11 without thinking. Now you look at the above names and go: "Who ?!"

I listened to the mickey mouse cup semi-2nd leg yesterday. Only scored because of a mistake by the Watford defence. Not a very convincing display.
Gerrard (their saviour over the two games) will be away at the end of the season, Carragher might follow him.

The other league cup semi is playing in an hour or two. (Broadcast online)
A match between a loadsamoney club and another loadsamoney club and none of us really care.

Actually - Chelski are still in the Champs League, League Cup, FA Cup and top of the Prem - wonder what odds the bookies are giving for that quadriple ?
It'll never happen of course, but I bet somebody has banded a tenner on it.

Other ins and outs -
Bellamy - out (as mentioned only Stoke have offered anything so far)
Unsworth - out and in (Was at Everton, went to Pompy but nice bit of business by Joe Royle and going to Ipswich)
"Blaster" Bates - in at Leeds. Kevin Blackwell shitting himself because he might be out and Bates will bring in his bestest mate Dennis Wise.
Is Bates going to create a 90's Chelsea up at Elland Rd ?

A few more maybe's:
Annelka - out (to Fenerbahce ?)
Pardew [West Ham manager] - hasn't got the dreaded vote of confidence yet, but looks like he'll get it.
Merson (player/manager) Walsall got whupped 5-nil by Colchester and is "considering his position" Will be out soon tho..

cuckoofrommars

I see the British tabloids are trying their best to convince people that Liverpool are interested in Craig Bellamy. Laughable rumour if ever there was one.

Guggler

Fair enough, that's a long injury list but I still get the feeling that, even with everybody fit, there's still not the necessary depth there. There's maybe 6-7 top-class players when it's generally considered that 15-16 is what's needed to cover the congested fixture list these days. They could do worse than try to get Fowler back, he's doing not bad at City.

The manager continues to make complete howlers, for example breaking up a working partnership like Hyppia/Carragher by bringing in Mauricio Pellegrino (who'd hadn't played competitively for a long time) and then on Saturday against the Saints playing an obviously left-sided player like Riise on the right wing for about half-an-hour!! Hansen was correct earlier in the week; this is a club in serious trouble and Benitez may be lucky to survive beyond the end of the season.

cuckoofrommars

I am a massive Liverpool fan and I have to agree. There is potential for a great side. But the Liverpool board will not accept financial offers from outside that would make them more competitive. When I heard that Morientes was finally coming I was ecstatic - I believe he'll be a far better asset than Owen was. But Liverpool's problem has been the same for years - players who could be sensational just haven't been. Other than Gerrard and the underated Hamann, the rest of the team haven't performed. Kewell has done nothing since coming, and interchanging him with Risse and Luis Garcia has prevented them from getting comfortable. I thought Alonso and Cisse could have been great but both are injured. Nunez may have been Real Madrid material, but then so was McManaman and he's awful. Carragher has been our most consistent player for years, but he gets moved all over the back four. Hyppia has proven his one great season was a fluke. Baros can only score for the Czech side. Finnan and Josemi aren't good enough. Traore and Biscan are appalling players.

Put simply, I'm a realist. Liverpool haven't won the league since 1989/90, so it's fair to say they are only a top ten team, not contenders. I see another 5th or 6th place finish this season, after which Gerrard will leave to play overseas, and Liverpool will have to hope they don't simply become another team that was "good 25 years ago."

Sadly, when I look at Liverpool now, I see no difference between them and say Spurs. Which ****ing hurts.

Guggler

Agree with virtually everything in that analysis. So, what do you think? Try to keep the handful of really top-flighters, ditch the rest and start again? Or is it too early for something as radical as that? I suspect we're not too far from needing to do something along these lines. The Saint and others seem to be leaning that way too.

cuckoofrommars

Yep - wholesale change. I get the gut feeling that virtually everyone is waiting to see if Stevie Gerrard stays around, and then might finally think about it. To be fair I don't think this was the whole plan considering the players bought in - Alonso, Nunez, Josemi, Cisse, Luis Garcia, and Morientes could have been great signings. I really thought Garcia and Alonso would be good. And Morientes is proven quality. So yeah, I'd do the hard thing and chuck the secondary lot out. The 4 keepers are good. I'd keep Carragher and Risse (and Josemi - give him a chance to prove he's worth the hassle) but put the rest of the defense up for sale. Keep Gerrard, Alonso, maybe Garcia, and I'd love to keep Hamann but maybe that big a change is needed. Smicer, Kewell, Biscan, and the rest can all go. Up front it's all pretty weird but I'd get rid of Baros and Pongolle. This might sound weird but I'd keep both Anthony Le Tallec and Bruno Cheyrou as squad players. In France they call Cheyrou "Little Zidane", and Le Tallec has been compared to Jean Pierre Papin - which is pretty odd when you've seen them in Reds jerseys.

Liverpool need money and balls. If we want to be deserving of being compared with Chelski, Arsenal and Manure, we have to change. Alas, it all went to shit when managers thought crapola like Piechnik, Bjornebye, and Biscan were good enough for Liverpool.

James Box

Found odds on the Treble: Prem, FA, Champ
16/1 Chelsea
200/1 Arsenal
400/1 Man Utd

Hmm.. Quadruple odds:
40/1 Chelsea (apparently)

Webbie

Think I'll have to find somebody in Blighty to bung on a fiver.
There's a first time for everything.

Tomorrow's Sun:
*Mark Bosnich will fight Mark Morrison in "The Fight" on BBC3
*BBs Victor was arrested yesterday over allegations he stole a mobile phone from student digs at Brunel University.
*Jason Statham pictured looking fed up as Kelly Brook returns some CDs and belongings to his Hollywood home. (Brook dumped him for Billy Zane - trying to do a bit of a Catherine Z-J and sleep/marry herself to the top ?)
*Stan Collymore is quitting Britain to live in America - where one of his friends is OJ Simpson.
*Clive Owen (from Coventry, but a Liverpool supporter) has become hot favourite to be the next James Bond.
*Ally Ross: Prick.
*The Sun tries to find the most desperate celebs, by offering them £40k to appear in a reality show where they spend two weeks down a mine. Among those eager to appear are Jodie Marsh, Razor Ruddock, Emma Greenwood, Simon Groom (who wants more money) and Bernie Clifton.
*Chris Martin is in a sweat over Coldplay tracks from the new album that have been leaked on to the Internet.
*Penelope Cruz was the victim of an attempted mugging in her car in Paris.
*George and Lynne: The clothed pair debate whether to go out or not. (exciting life for G + L these days)

James Box

Apparently you'll win more money with an accumulator than the straight quadruple bet.

Webbie

On this day (football wise) in 1995:

"Everybody was Kung Foo fighting..."

It's a pity that he only clipped that cnut.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2506237.stm

Simmonds since the incident:
http://www.jimjagger.com/EricCantona.../TheTarget.htm
Still claiming he said nothing offensive or rude.

Webbie

FA Cup 4th Round already and some tasty ("tasty, their very tasty") ties tomorrow:

Arsenal v Wolves
Charlton v Yeovil
Everton v Sunderland
Chelsea v Birmingham
Newcastle v Coventry
Oldham v Bolton
Southampton v Portsmouth
West Brom v Spurs
West Ham v Sheffield Utd

Plus a battle for 4th place:
Hearts v Aberdeen
(Well.. it means something to some of you here.)

Get them (predicts) in before 9am GMT tomorrow morning.
Best do them now though. If you leave it for later you'll only forget. (I'm talking from experience now.)

http://files.netairborne.com/predict...redictions.php