Furious-tina 2 - LFC 0

1. Once in a while, after winning plenty and scoring like nobody's business... and last night, LFC was shot down by Fiorentina... a really classy Italian outfit - not in the mould of Roma nor Inter Milan but seriously a furious-tina team. And no matter how hard it is to express, I must confessed Liverpool were out-played, out-classed and out-maneuvered. Thus the result was a fair one. LFC did controlled the 2nd half and attack like a mad-Taliban but the Italian defenced was well-organised, well-fortressed and the goalie was top form.
   


2. The best part was to see that almost every one of the Fieorentina squad played with a good sportsmanship spirit. When they got tackled or tripped by LFC, they were the one who will stretch their hands FIRST - signalling a good, really good feelings that they treat the game professionally. At one time, Torres was seen charging one of his shadow but that fellow didn't retaliate and gesturing that he was playing the ball. I think he's right on that. For this, I think the sadness from the defeat is not so critical, thinking that Fiorentina won because they were the best on the pitch last night with feel good of that sportmanship spirit.
   


3. However, as a pure, hardcore loyalist of Liverpool Football Club, I'll tell you Fiorentina fans... Anfield would be a totally different arena altogether. Over there, LFC played with 12th man. So don't get too excited now. Capish?
   

First, Standard Chartered. Now its Dubai investor? WHAT A WEEK!!!

Saudi prince reveals investment deal is close
By Soccernet staff

A Saudi prince has revealed that he is set to make a significant investment in an English side, amid reports that Liverpool's owners are prepared to sell a 50% stake in the club.

Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah has been linked with a bid, in order to help balance the books at Anfield, as Liverpool are experiencing financial difficulties under the ownership of American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"We are currently seeking to buy 50% of the shares in the club which is now suffering with debts worth £245 million," Fahd bin Abdullah, who chairs private firm F6 and a Saudi-based holding firm called Fama Group, was quoted as saying in Al-Riyadh.

"The transaction, upon which a decision is close to be reached, will be worth 200 to 350 million pounds."

A spokesman for Fama has declined to comment on the matter, but it appears that the Premier League could be set to welcome further money from the Middle East after the success of the Dubai-based takeover of Manchester City.

LFC 6 - Hull 1 (The world saw Torres zigzagging & making fun of the Hull City's fullbacks)

``The image of Benitez as a defensive coach has been consigned to the past. With 22 goals scored already, it is their most prolific start to a season since 1895-96 and an attacking intent was apparent again in the use of Gerrard as one of the two central midfielders.'' - Richard Jolly in his post-mtach review on the Liverpool 6-1 Hull City (Soccernet )

Usually, when we win a game, what more with such a huge margin... I'll go to the nearby restaurant to celebrate with my mates - mostly not as crazy-on-Liverpool like me. But last night, I opted to go to sleep. May be it has to do with my work. I'm on a 7 days straight working, because it's my superior's turn for a holiday. Only on Tuesday I'll get my off-day. That's why I need a proper rest. Got another 2 days. An the Arabian life that I lived for a month during Ramadan, must never be repeated. I don't think it is healthy for me to sleep only on daylight. hahaha...

Well I'm sure all of you have watch the game. I shall not prolonged it. Of course, we have been waiting for the moment for Fernando Torres to do what he did best last night for quite a while already, and he is almost at his best, at his peak and the timing is just right because the next 2 matches are tougher than Hull City and Burnley.

Everybody would agree that the hat-trick by Torres were no mere hat-trick. We know that another former Liverpool, Robbie Keane got a hat-trick too but if you watch the post-match game, none could be compared to Torres's artistry goals. While Keane got 1 in the penalty kick, Torres's goals were exceptional. The trick (or was it humiliation) he did on the Hull City fullback (Ibrahima Sonko) was a typical and authentic Torres.

His composure, direction and boldness made Hull City wishes they play Everton again. At least with Everton, the scoreline was only 4-O. But they won't get bullied by Torres. His second goal was the best of all. At first we thought he wanted to blast at the goal, but he dummies Sonko, then the goalie... then we saw two more defenders running behind the goalie but with a slightest touch outside his right foot, he scored. No need for sheer power of a kick. Just flick. And that endear us all to him.

And what about Gerrard's goal? I do believed he meant it for a cross and he didn't realised also that it would go straight to the goalpost. Well, Gerrard was like preserving his energy for the Fiorentina...

While Fiorentina is the closest next game, we cheered on the news of Chelsea's demised at the hands of Wigan. Not only that, Petr Cech was red carded. Meaning, he won't be playing in the 4th October encounter against Liverpool. hmmm.... extra boost for us.

2nd Gathering For Liverpool Bloggers

1. It's not a raya gathering in its full purposes but simply a get together among friends, perhaps making new ones - especially among us who only communicated via this blog.
   
   
2. So the propose date is : 28 Sept 2009 (Monday) at 11pm. Place somewhere in Ampang. For you who wishes to join, simply e-mail me, insert your h/p no. and I shall text you the place.

LIVERPOOL v Hull: Rafa Benitez faces the Tigers without Andrea Dossena and Alberto Aquilani

The Malaysian national squad new jersey.... errr... no... Hull City (so you wonder where the tiger in United Kingdom was ever found?)

1. Do you notice the title above? I cut & paste it from The Daily Sports. I think they simply want to humour us. Why? Because Dossena was never a favourite to us - so if he is included or not in the squad - doesn't give us any excitement... and Aquilani - everybody know that he will only play next month. So why made it as your headline? Sometimes when the bias UK media refused to give a proper credit to Liverpool, they will resort to this kind of tactics. Miserable yet funny, though tasteless.
   


2. The game will start at 12 midnite tonight. Just sufficient for me to reach home from work, take a shower before watching it. (I am working since Tuesday straight to Monday... then I'll do my Raya holiday phase 2).
   


3. Hull City. It was a false tiger last season. They roared really high and were at the top for the first half of the season but then, every one's stamina seems to be diminished and finally, Hull found themselves fighting for the last spot last May.
   


4. In the Carling Cup a few days ago, Everton scored 4 goals passed them. That's the weaker Merseyside team. The Reds, obviously the stronger side surely can match that number easily. hahaha...
   
   
5. Beemer wrote that I stated the time wrongly. hahaha... At least someone notice it! The raya mood is too long. Still awaiting for the regulars to revisit this blog.
   
   

Kop cap revealed: Liverpool cannot compete with Chelsea or Manchester United due to £20m limit on transfer spend

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 11:22 AM on 24th September 2009

1. Liverpool's ability to compete with Chelsea and Manchester clubs United and City in the transfer market appears to have been hindered by a £20million spending cap, which has been locked in place until 2014.


2. The startling revelation was published in a prospectus back in March by investment banks Rothschild and Merrill Lynch to attract potential investors in the club.


3. The £20m spending cap, which will also include wage increases accruing from contract renewals, means that Anfield boss Rafa Benitez must continue to sell before he can buy over the next fives years as Liverpool chase their first league title since 1991.


4. The prospectus, obtained by Bloomberg News, provides a sense of how desperately Liverpool's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett need new finance and reveals that the Americans were considering increasing the average ticket price by eight per cent to help ease the club's debt.


5. The underlying lack of finance for Benitez remains a problem. It might not be as dire a position for the club as suggested by the banner unveiled by Liverpool fans before the Carling Cup tie with Leeds at Elland Road on Tuesday – 'We are the new Leeds,' it read – but Benitez is clearly limited in his options in the transfer market.


6. In this summer's transfer window, Liverpool were forced to offload Xabi Alonso (to Real Madrid for £30m), Alvaro Arbeloa (also to Real for £3.5m), Sebastian Leto (to Panathinaikos for £3.5m) and Paul Anderson (to Nottingham Forest for £250,000), in order to fund the purchases of Alberto Aquilani (from Roma for £20m), Chris Mavinga (from Paris St Germain, undisclosed), Glen Johnson (from Portsmouth, £17m) and Sotirios Kyrgiakos (from AEK Athens, £1.5m).


7. The section of the Rothschild/Merrill Lynch document relating to 'player transfer payments' states: 'Management believes that the normalised long-run level of new net player capital expenditure is £20m.


8. 'The accompanying data suggests 'long run' means the next five years. This figure 'will grow together with increases in media broadcasting revenues,' the bankers promise.
   Though revenues from British broadcasters are expected to drop, overseas rights should grow before 2014.


9. Hicks and Gillett eventually decided against an increase in ticket price, which would have come as the majority of the 20 Premier League clubs decided to freeze or reduce prices of some tickets for this season.


10. But other details of Hicks and Gillett's future commercial strategy for Liverpool, outlined in the document, include plans to convert 1,000 regular seats at Anfield into corporate seats and the creation of Liverpool-branded academies.


11. New secondary sponsors will be targeted and catering facilities improved to help realise ambitions to increase commercial revenue from £59m to £111.4m in the next five years – a lofty target.
    
    
    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/

UtusanLFC:

The best solution is for Rafa really to get rid of the surplus and Non Performing Players FIRST i.e Voronin, Lucas and Babel. And go for more English (adhere to the new FA ruling for more homegrown players... perhaps Joe Cole would be a good target... or Aaron Lennon... hehehe)

OUR NEW JERSEY 2010/2011 (Standard & Chartered on the chest)

Ok... I don't know if it's a genuine thing or just a vivid imagination by one of our friends. I got this from one of the friends in the Facebook and I think it would be fun to include it in this blog... for those who yet to connect with me in the Facebook.

Leeds United dispute with the press - thus no photos

I pick this photo from www.liverpoolfc.tv since I had a difficulty in finding the photos from the UK news web sites.

1. As a pressman myself, I have excess to the wire service - and I love to scroll the football photos, especially involving Liverpool. I was indeed surprised that I couldn't find any for the match LFC vs Leeds yesterday. I didn't know much then, thinking it may be because of Carling Cup... so the likes of Reuters, AP or AFP couldn't be bothered.
   
   
2. But just now, I saw this statement `The Daily Mail has decided not to publish pictures from this match in support of several news and photographic agencies, who are in dispute with Leeds United over photographer admission to this game.'
   
   
3. Now, I'm a bit amazed and puzzled. In this capitalist era, who would do that... have a dispute with media? That's tantamount to financial suicide. Look at from the commercial point of view: if you're the shirt sponsor for Leeds United, surely you want an exposure (regardless of the outcome of the match) since it has been quite a long time Leeds United ever played one of the Premier League giants (Leeds is now a defunct ex-Premier outfit).
   
   
4. I also read some posting from the Leeds United fans. They say ``since the media hates us, this incident gives the media new issue to mess us with''. That is comedy. But we as the Liverpool fans: acknowledge that sentiment. Liverpool has been long become the victim of the bias London-based newspapers. Every Liverpool fans knows what The Sun did to LFC (though I am a fan of the web sites simply because it is one of the most interesting, catchy & juicy presentation, outlook). I mean, we must be sensible. The media could be harsh (I know very well...ok hahaha...) but you still can read something else in the paper if you dislike the way they portray our team. You know... The Sun is famous for its Page 3 girls. hihihi....
   
   
5. Nonetheless, being in Leeds United position: down below in the League One, very weak financial condition (due to the late 90-s wild spending) and dented egos, the last entity you want to pick a fight with is the media.
   
   
6. What more with the UK media which is known to be vicious, vindictive and blatant.
   
   

Quota could mean Liverpool cull

(Note: I know it's Thursday and it suited better if this analysis be read on a Sunday morning, along with a tea and roti canai next to you... but this is a good view on what we will be facing next season with the new English quota system and the impact it could be on LFC. Read on...) - UtusanLFC

--------------


By Richard Jolly (Soccernet)
September 23, 2009

1. As he trotted along the touchline at Anfield last Wednesday, Andriy Voronin was greeted with generous applause. It probably had something to do with the fact that, a matter of metres away, the rather more popular Javier Mascherano was also warming up. Nonetheless, it was a moment the Ukrainian may want to savour.
   
   
2. This season, he is Liverpool's specialist substitute, the understudy to Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres who tends to be granted a cameo either if a game is already won or when Liverpool are pursuing an equaliser. Next season, however, bodes rather less well for the Ukrainian.
   
   
3. And not just for him. Others on the fringes of Liverpool team may also be advised to consult removal firms and instruct their agents to generate interest. The reason is the Premier League's new quota on home-grown players, due to be implemented from next summer. At least eight members of a 25-man squad must be trained for three years at an English or Welsh club before they are 21 to meet the criteria.
   
   
4. That, in short, poses problems for those who deal largely in imported talent. Liverpool and Chelsea are the two most obvious examples and, at Anfield, there are likely to be repercussions. Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson should form three of the domestic contingent: at the moment, the other five registered home-grown players in the Champions League squad are Stephen Darby, Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Nathan Eccleston and David Amoo. Spearing flourished as a substitute against Real Madrid last season, but that quintet have a combined total of zero starts in the Premier League.
   
   
5. All of which means several things. Firstly, that each may get a chance. Secondly, Rafa Benitez will have to buy British more often. Thirdly, given the restrictions on his budget, that cut-price Englishmen, or those whose contracts expire next summer, may provoke unprecedented interest from Anfield. And fourthly, that some of the foreign legion will be surplus to requirements.
   
   
6. Seventeen places sounds a lot. In practice, it may not be. Torres and Mascherano, assuming Barcelona do not lure the latter to Spain, are automatic choices, as are Dirk Kuyt and Jose Reina. It is hard to imagine that any of Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Aquilani, Albert Riera or Yossi Benayoun will be omitted, assuming all remain at the club. Sotirios Kyrgiakos is the back up at centre-back - and given Agger's unfortunate record with injuries, a much-needed one - while Ryan Babel's considerable potential would presumably result in his inclusion. And that makes 13.
   
   
7. In other words, Benitez only has four slots available, even before his spends next summer. With no limit on players who meet FIFA's definition of being Under-21 footballers (which can involve some who have celebrated a 21st birthday), the next generation provides options. Emiliano Insua, signed at 18, should qualify as home-grown from 2011; before then, he will count as an Under-21 player. David Ngog, recruited at 19, will not, though the striker will only be deemed a foreigner in two years' time. Mikel San Jose, Daniel Sanchez Ayala, Daniel Pacheco and Krisztian Nemeth will all be eligible.
   
   
8. But that still leaves Andrea Dossena, Philipp Degen, Damien Plessis, Diego Cavalieri, Charles Itandje, Nabil El Zhar and the aforementioned Voronin competing for a maximum of four spots. Given a record of recruiting from abroad, it may be more realistic to say that no more than two could have a future on Merseyside.
   
   
9. Liverpool supporters may welcome that: none have exactly excelled in the first team yet and it may cleanse Anfield of some of the mediocrity. But a need to dispose of players who would be ineligible to play is hardly likely to help them generate the best return financially. And if there are no takers, the worst-case scenario is that they remain, unable to play but draining the wage bill and depreciating in value.
   
   
10. Equally, English players' value could rise artificially when Liverpool's interest becomes apparent. As Johnson cost £17 million, it is already high enough. Even before the Premier League quota was announced, part of his appeal - like Gareth Barry's when he figured on Benitez's shopping list - was his nationality.
    
    
11. But as it stands, the quota system, like the boardroom machinations, like the lack of funds and like Xabi Alonso's wish to join Real Madrid, amounts to another obstacle in Benitez's planning. It is no surprise that the Liverpool manager was among the most vocal in his opposition to the idea.
    
    
12. Now it is a fact. It may prove a very good time to be a second-string goalkeeper with a grounding in English football, especially given Reina's excellent fitness record. Strikers and full backs who qualify as home-grown may be similarly fortunate. Their foreign counterparts on the fringes of the squad, however, have cause for concern. As he so often does, Benitez faces some awkward decisions. And these cannot be resolved by turning to Spain or, in Voronin's case, Ukraine.
    
    

Leeds 0 - LFC 1 (Carling Cup)

Why is French players love to show their tongue? Is it because they sound like a frog to us?

1. I must confessed. I switched-off the alarm clock at 12.30am as I decided to enjoy my bed, instead of watching another early morning games of LFC. It has been more than a month since I had a proper sleep (i.e before 2am and a not-disturbed-for-a-good 6-hours-straight slumber) but this morning I realised, I overshot... I slept for 8-hours. But I feel so fine now. Fresh.
   


2. During the fasting month... I only sleep an hour or two, wake up at 4.30am for the supper, then return to slumber. However, this Ramadan I emulated our Arab brothers. Stay awake the whole night, and sleep the whole daylight. Since my shift starts only at 3pm, I usually woke up at 2pm. Take my shower, then go to the office. I did this almost every day during the fasting month. Now it is time to return to normalcy. So that's why I changed my decision last night. hihihi
   


3. So based on the news reports, David Ngog was our hero last night. Great. When most of us don't really give him that much hope (imagine... how to rate him...1 star? 3 star? when you have the megastar striker within the ranks... Mr Fernando Torres...).
   


4. So when Ngog delivered albeit in the league cup (Carling) or Worth nothing cup (for the losers), it's still a good avenue for Ngog to really polished his skills and confidence. Rafa might use him occasionally in the premier matches and who knows, Ngog could replicate what Babel have done splendidly last season - as a supersub. Play under 15 minutes but became a menace by scoring those vital goals.
   


5. However, some UK media were puzzled with Rafa's man-management style which was called `unusual to say the least'. Five minutes after seeing young centre forward Ngog score just the fifth goal of his unspectacular Liverpool career he took him off. It may be argued that a player in need of goals and confidence and who won't play at home to Hull this weekend may have benefited from the chance to profit from the buzz that comes from making a telling contribution.