The Euro trophy still warm, Torres back in Liverpool

By Rob Hughes

Life's no beach for the modern sporting professional. One week after the Euro 2008 final in Vienna, half a week after being feted in Madrid as the scorer of the goal that won Spain's first major soccer trophy in 44 years, Fernando Torres is focused again on improving himself in England.
It will be hard to top his first season at Liverpool, where he scored 33 times, a record for a foreign player entering the most physically demanding league of them all. Yet there is a manager waiting for him - as it happens, he is a Spaniard, Rafael Benitez - and Torres on Saturday told the club's Web site: "There are days when you think, my God, this guy doesn't let you breathe. After you score 20, Benitez is at it during the next training sessions, and stays on top of you all day, all week."
He added: "He tells you to go off and do new exercises. I want progress in life, not to relax, not be complacent, and sometimes you need someone telling you to keep at it. You don't always fancy someone that close but in the long term everybody will thank him for it."
So, the Spanish fiesta was as short as it was sweet. Luis Aragonés, the coach who orchestrated it, has flown, at 70 years of age, to start a fresh challenge in charge of Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The Barcelona trio of Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol, their brief summer of unification with the Madrid players done and dusted, are headed back to a new setup, a new coach, a different, post-Ronaldinho approach to winning and not just entertaining.
He is one player who never got near the beaches this summer, one of the envied millionaires who, even at the Champagne moments in Vienna and Madrid, was reminded that his priority is to his club. Liverpool expects its team first and foremost to try to win the English title, and that hasn't happened in almost two decades.
Torres and Steven Gerrard are the fulcrum players, and their preseason starts with a friendly game at nearby Tranmere on Saturday, followed by warm-up matches on tour at Lucerne, Krakow, Berlin and Glasgow Rangers.
It could be more demanding. Some of Liverpool's rivals will tour Asia, America or Africa, mixing preseason training with selling the club's brands in different time zones, cultures and climates.
However, there will be no let up from the coach or from the demanding Liverpool captain, Gerrard.
"I really admire him, Steve," Torres said. "I know the pressure he is under every day. Everybody is talking about him all day long, in the changing room, in the pubs, in the stadium."
He added: "People look at you from a distance and challenge you with their eyes. Everyone looks at Steve to show leadership, and having been in a similar position with Atletico Madrid, I think it's incredible the way he carries himself regardless of what is going on. He has shown me how to be a great leader."

Copyright © 2008 the International Herald Tribune All rights reserved

CROUCH OPENS TALKS WITH PORTSMOUTH

Paul Eaton 07 July 2008

Peter Crouch could be on the verge of bringing his Liverpool career to an end after the Reds gave him permission to open transfer talks with Portsmouth.
A Liverpool spokesman confirmed: "We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter." Crouch joined the Reds in the summer of 2005 and has netted 42 goals in 135 games for the club.

Former Leeds star Kewell defends his shock move to Turkish giants Galatasaray

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 10:14 PM on 06th July 2008

Former Leeds United winger Kewell joined the Turkish champions even though two Leeds fans were stabbed to death prior to a European tie against the Yorkshire side in Istanbul eight years ago.
Kewell, 29, signed a two-year contract and said Europe's most notorious set of supporters had helped convince him to join.
'I've never known anything like the reception at Istanbul Airport,' he said.
'There were thousands mobbing me and chanting my name. I always knew they were passionate about their team but that was something I've never experienced before.'
Portsmouth, Blackburn and Fulham were the three Barclays Premier League sides competing to sign Kewell following his release by Liverpool.
A source close to the Australia winger said: 'There were approaches from clubs all over Europe but some wanted to impose ridiculous conditions to guard against injuries. We got the impression some people were taking the mickey.'
Scott Carson looks to be heading to Stoke City. The Liverpool goalkeeper is waiting tohear whether his club will again allow him to go out on loan.
Peter Crouch will finally become a Portsmouth player today. Liverpool will receive £8million up front with £3million to follow in add-ons.
Gareth Barry is close to ending the saga over his future after Steve Finnan was added as a makeweight in Liverpool’s cash offer for the Villa midfielder.

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utusanLFC :

When his name was confirmed to be bought 5 years ago, I follow the story closely. Every hour I refresh my internet. The saga was almost similar to what we have with Barry entry to our club. CONTROVERSIAL. Contrary to Barry, when LFC wanted to buy Kewell, the excitement were there. We remember how Kewell assisted Viduka in inflicting 4-0 against the likes of Emile Heskey and Owen when they played in Anfield. That show the talent of Aussies and Leeds... then. That's why Kewell was so welcomed when the club persuing him. But all in all... not much can be remembered about Keweel time's in Anfield, aside than the beautiful goal against Everton. The team just lost Gerrard (2 yellow cards) but ended up winning 3-1. That goal of his was memorable. But that's it. The rest are grouses. The way he limped out of Istanbul in the final really pissed me off. So now... he's leaving, I guess it is for a mutual benefit. Kewell himself and us LFC. I'm sure we will crossed path with Galatasarray soon. However, we must Thank You Kewell for all the good memories. Thank you!

Rafael Benitez considers Steve Finnan as makeweight to secure Gareth Barry transfer

By Steve Wilson
Last Updated: 7:46am BST 07/07/2008

Steve Finnan has emerged as the unlikely answer to the nagging question hanging over Gareth Barry's protracted move to Anfield.
With Liverpool having their opening £12 million offer turned down by Aston Villa, and receiving a similar response to their latest bid of £15 million plus add-ons that could see the fee rise to £17 million, manager Rafael Benitez may now include Finnan in the package to meet Villa's asking price. The Irish full-back is valued at around £2 million and Martin O'Neill is an admirer of the player.
That will be important in convincing Finnan to leave for a club not playing in Europe as O'Neill would guarantee him a starting place.
Benitez is also close to completing a deal for Palmeiras goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri. Cavalieri's agent claimed that his client has been in England over the weekend to finalise the move.
This could see Scott Carson leave the club but Benitez's valuation of £10 million has dissuaded prospective bids from Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion.

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utusanLFC :

This is what happened always to the unsung hero. hmmm....

Barry saga leaving a sour taste

Phil McNulty BBC Sports
4 Jul 08, 12:34pm


It would not be summer without a transfer saga - and with Cristiano Ronaldo taking a few days off from telling people what they want to hear depending whether they are Spanish or English - Gareth Barry has kindly stepped into the breach.
Barry will leave Villa and end up at Liverpool. Liverpool know that. Aston Villa know that.
But what is taking place in between is an undignified mess that has done no favours for Liverpool, their manager Rafael Benitez and Barry.
Benitez is not flavour of the month at Villa Park, and to understand why we might go back to words that came from his own mouth in early May when one of his players was attracting a little attention.
He said: "A £15m price tag for Crouch would not be unreasonable."
A price of £15m is apparently not unreasonable for a player he studiously ignored for much of last season and who is not a regular in the England side - according to Benitez logic.
The logic, however, looks twisted when set against his opening offer for a player who is now a fixture in Fabio Capello's England side and who was a regular for Villa last season, delivering a string of outstanding performances.
O'Neill said Benitez can "come up and talk about a £10m offer which includes some money and some unnamed players which would make Gareth worth about £2m."
Villa's manager was not only furious that the bid became public. He was furious with the bid itself.
And since then relations between the clubs have gone downhill fast. Offers increased and rejected. Barry criticising O'Neill in print. O'Neill responding by banning Barry from Villa's premises. Villa firing off invective in Liverpool's direction.
I reckon Villa's price tag is ridiculous, but so was Benitez's arithmetic - especially when he reportedly wants £16m for Xabi Alonso, the man he intends to replace with Barry.
O'Neill has seen Manchester United pay around £17m and £18m for Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick - an England duo ousted by Barry at international level - and wants a piece of that action himself.
Throw in the acrimony between the clubs and you can see why O'Neill is digging his heels in the face of Benitez's original tactics.
Liverpool will simply edge closer to the £18m price tag and hope Villa blink first - but pride is involved now and when that comes through the door common sense goes out of the window.
The Anfield hierarchy has hurdles to negotiate before Barry is standing underneath the "This Is Anfield" sign - and O'Neill's hostility towards Benitez has made the obstacles even more difficult to negotiate.
Liverpool's board, perfectly understandably, do not want to end up with both Alonso and Barry, especially as plenty of their fans do not actually regard one as massively better than the other.
They will be within their rights to tell Benitez he can have one but not both. And will want to use money from Alonso's sale to buy Barry.
I must confess I have never shared in the adoration of Alonso, indeed I've even been heard to whisper the words "vastly over-rated" when I thought no-one was listening.
And in Villa owner Randy Lerner, Liverpool are dealing with a man who would like an extra £18m in his club's bank account but is not actually desperate for it - making it much easier to back his manager's stance and make a very public point of principle.
Barry will make a point, with some justification, that he has given Villa 10 years of very solid service and should be allowed to leave and fulfil his wish to play Champions League football.
Sadly, even he will know that sentiment is an out of date currency in football.
Liverpool will get Barry, but they may have to end up a lot closer to Villa's asking price than they would like thanks to a few bold words from their manager and his unusual grasp of how players might be valued.
Benitez will then hope Barry is worth the trouble he has put his board through to get his main summer transfer target - he certainly needs him to forge a partnership with Steven Gerrard and push Liverpool a lot closer to the title than they were last season.
And once that is done, we will move on to the next saga. Maybe even back to Ronaldo.
Still, where would we be without a spot of handbags between clubs and managers before a deal reaches its inevitable conclusion?
We may shake our heads and question the sanity of football - but let's be honest we love it really.
Do you think Benitez has used the right tactics in doing this deal? Is Barry over-priced? Are Villa being too hard-nosed?
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utusanlFC :
Since Barry's name propped up as the likely target for Rafa new reinforcement... I have stated it clearly about my doubts if Barry is the type of player we really need. At first, I'm not excited at all. I've seen him play against LFC over the years, he didn't excell to breakthru our solid defence. What could he possibly do to penetrate the other BIG THREE teams? Of course he play with brilliant players of ours i.e Masch, Gerrard... anybody would excell too (including me!). hmmm... I hope my opinion would be altered when Barry really become our player and prove how good he is to be in LFC. That is if ever he become one.

Crouch on his way as Pompey's £10m bid wins the day and dashes Spurs' hopes

By JOHN EDWARDS

Last updated at 10:49 PM on 04th July 2008

Peter Crouch finally landed his move to Portsmouth yesterday after the south coast club relented over his valuation and had a £10million bid accepted by Liverpool.
Throughout months of uncertainty over his future, the striker has insisted he would consider quitting Anfield only for Fratton Park, despite Tottenham offering £9m for him less than a fortnight ago.
His wish was granted when the two clubs struck an agreement last night over a deal that will be confirmed when the Football Association offices open on Monday morning.
Crouch was in jubilant mood after learning that Portsmouth had succeeded in a pursuit that was first revealed in Sportsmail earlier this year.
He made it clear he was prepared to run down the final year of his Liverpool contract rather than be forced into joining any other club, such was his determination to link up with Harry Redknapp and boost the ranks of England players at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth already have a quartet of England squad members in David James, Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson and David Nugent. Crouch has long felt that more frequent starts under Redknapp would reinforce his standing at international level.
Liverpool will receive £8m up front and will waste little time putting it to good use.
They are close to sorting out the fine detail of Gareth Barry's protracted move from Aston Villa and are still exploring ways of prising £20m rated striker Robbie Keane away from Tottenham.
With Juventus expected to meet the £15m price tag on Xabi Alonso, they could soon have the funds needed to launch another bid for Keane.
Yossi Benayoun has turned down the chance of a move to Ajax and told boss Rafa Benitez he wants to fight for his place at Liverpool.
Ajax chiefs were given permission to speak with Benayoun's representatives after registering their interest with Liverpool, as revealed in Sportsmail.
But despite the prospect of linking up again with one of his former coaches, Danny Blind, and interest from Tottenham and Portsmouth, the Israel midfielder has made it clear he intends staying at Anfield.

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utusanLFC :
It's okay. It's for the mutual benefit of LFC and Crouchy himself. We fully understand the frustration of Crouchy to be left on the bench when Torres did tremendously on the pitch. It's okay...

A VISIT TO LSCM YESTERDAY 2 JULY 2008

My great appreciation toward Mdm Angie who has been so kind to me. When I first called her yesterday, she was at a supermarket doing her shopping. By 2.30pm she text me telling me that I can come now. I was like ``hovering'' around Shah Alam with a friend of mine. When I reach the condominium, Mdm Angie was just coming out of her car. Sorry Mdm Angie! Didn't mean to be like that. I know the office only open Thursday to weekend but my holiday ends yesterday and I brought some money! Yeah that money is to renew my membership for another year and to purchase a rugby LFC shirt RM169.90. I got 15 % discount as a member. For the joy my friend brought and willingly tag along with me, I even sponsor his membership. That's another RM76. All in all I spend RM300 at LSCM. No regrets. After all... I got the money from Fernando Torres. How? I bet since the beginning of Euro tournament on Spain. And yiiiihaaaa.... by 30th July, my winning amounted to RM2k. I did win RM150 on Germany when they beat Portugal. Not that I have any affection with the Germans but I simply despised that guy from Manure.

I was informed by Mdm Angie that the Walk On magazine will be no longer produce in print. Instead it will be send online through our e-mail. I personally sad & glad of this new development. I'm sad because the magazine could be my only evidence of my membership and affiliation toward a certain organisation (aside from my neighbourhood's Residential Association) and somemore, I never yet join any of the LSCM gatherings. May be I'm more comfortable watching the game from my own living room. Glad... because LSCM's action is in line with the IT revolution. You got to go online. You got to be virtual. Paperless is indeed rules the day! I think as long as Mdm Angie still tolerate my unschedule visit to purchase the old stock merchandise at LSCM outlet... I guess it will be okay for me.

Please visit http://www.lscm.com.my/

RAFA MUST BUY THE BEST

Stevie G and Carra is the bedrock of the team. It'd definitely a mystery if any of the duo didn't play in any particular game. So together with 5 other best foreign players in the team, of my choice as shown below :

Reina. Playing with Adebayor. Not a save hand indeed but a funny dribble and a lob away.

This man is running on a diesel engine, powerful and works very hard for the team. Getting right wing as his permanent position... hey, you're well appreciated, Kuyt! by us the fans.

Everytime he shine in a game, the joke goes like this : what did really happened while he was in West Ham? Masherano is a gem. Don't ever let him go.

Babel is young and not many young players attract my interest or confindence. But with his blistering run from the left and never hesitate to shoot a powerful drive, makes me a Babel believer.

haaa... this fella needs no caption at all actually. As this blog has showcase almost all his 33 goals last season, plus the additional 2 goals in the Euro. The players above are proven quality buy for Liverpool Football Club. And this is what the article below all about :

Graham Shaw

Sporting Life

Eighteen years, and the wait goes on. The title drought on Merseyside shows no sign of ending just yet.
We're already hearing the annual 'this is our year' proclamations from Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and co.
But surely even those two must be scratching their heads when they read who Rafa Benitez is reportedly out to buy this summer.
Gareth Barry and James Milner appear to be high on the shopping list, with Stewart Downing also mentioned.
But the eight-figure sums mentioned in some quarters must have knowledgeable Koppites coughing up cornflakes all over their red tops around the breakfast table. More 'ow' factor than 'wow'.
Liverpool did make strides last season in terms of closing the gap on Manchester United and Chelsea, but for one reason only. They bought big.
The acquisition of Fernando Torres used up a hefty portion of Benitez's kitty in the summer of 2007, but it was worth every penny.
El Nino lit up the Premier League with some phenomenal goalscoring displays, and made Liverpool a real threat to most teams. Without him though they looked pretty average.
Benitez already has a sizeable squad to work with, so I'd humbly submit that he should be looking for quality and not quantity this summer.
If Barry is really a massively better option than Xabi Alonso I'd be very surprised - he's top-six, not Champions League for me. Good not great, lacking the pace and ability for the very highest level.
And with Javier Mascherano already in the Anfield engine room, shouldn't they be looking for something just a little different?
Milner and Downing, meanwhile, are hardly likely to terrorise opposing defences and set pulses racing on Merseyside (are they really better than Ryan Babel?). Personally I'd prefer the chances of Yossi Benayoun (who looks surplus to requirements) winning a game with a moment of magic.
When Liverpool were in their pomp they bought the best, only going for players who could improve them. That's why the likes of Dalglish, Souness, Barnes and Beardsley ended up in a red shirt.
Our man Rafa, though, appears to spend most of his time snapping up players who MIGHT be the next big thing. A bit like getting a cheap telly without a big brand name in the hope that it's quite good. Except you generally end up ditching it and upgrading because the picture's not great.
As long as Torres can stay fit Liverpool might well be only one player short of being genuine title contenders. Just not the ones they're currently being linked with.
Liverpool's form late last season was top-class. And for a fair part of the season they matched the top three. Their one big failing - they couldn't beat Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. To do that you need quality throughout the team.
Barry, Milner and Downing might not even be definite starters next season if they do end up moving to Merseyside. Squad players aren't what Benitez needs - he can only play 11 after all.
The message is simple: buy the best or fail the test. Rafa, you have been warned.

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utusanLFC :

I like this article. I hope Rafa read it too. In fact I am a bit puzzled when I read how Rafa vigoriously persuing Gareth Barry and now Robbie Keane. I agree if Barry were to replace Xabi Alonso, I don't think the comparison will float. Alonso is an established Spain international squad, albeit he was mostly a sub in the last Euro (due to his long term injury) as to Barry who need Liverpool to get establish. I assume there must be something that badly hurt the relationship between Rafa and Alonso that forced this issue. Is Alonso too sloppy now? Too old? Damned it is not. But why he is going to be offloaded? Lets say... if Alonso to be shipped out and the replacement would be the like of Xabi Hernandez... wow, nobody would question Rafa. But Barry? eerrrr... and as for Keane, well... I got not much complaining about him. I remember his glory days in Leeds with once-glorious winger by the name of Harry Kewell... But he didn't managed to help Hotspur to a better position last season. Not even with one of the most interesting player along side him... Berbatov. Well again... I like the article.

Keane stuns Spurs with transfer demand: Liverpool set to offer Crouch and £5m for striker

By JOHN EDWARDS AND NEIL ASHTON

Last updated at 12:43 AM on 01st July 2008

Robbie Keane stunned Tottenham by telling them he wants to leave.
Sportsmail can reveal that Republic of Ireland striker Keane delivered his shock transfer demand after learning Liverpool had lodged a player-plus-cash bid for him on Friday.
The 28-year-old came out of a meeting at White Hart Lane having left club officials in little doubt about his eagerness to play for his boyhood idols.
Anfield manager Rafa Benitez sees Keane as the ideal strike partner for Euro 2008 match-winner Fernando Torres and is prepared to part with Peter Crouch and around £5million to make it happen.
As with his pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, though, Benitez is going to have to dig deeper after Tottenham rejected his initial offer and placed a £20m valuation on Keane.
Keane's desire to get away from Spurs is a bigger shock. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and long-serving centre back Jamie Carragher are both friends of the Irishman, who could be one of three strikers to leave Tottenham should the deal go through.
Spurs manager Juande Ramos knows Dimitar Berbatov is unsettled and he is also exploring ways of offloading Darren Bent. Apart from having to increase the cash adjustment, Benitez may also struggle to talk Crouch into being part of the package as the England striker still wishes to join Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.

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utusanLFC:

errr... not to say Robbie Keane is not good but isn't Berbatov is a much more interesting option? And Berbatov does play like Spanish. Well... Keane has that fighting spirit... the Irish fire and may be, Rafa thought this would ignited the whole Anfield if Keane join us. errr... what a theory!

Torres snubs Chelsea as he puts his success down to being at Liverpool

by JOHN EDWARDS

Fernando Torres has delivered the final blow to Chelsea’s hopes of signing him by paying a remarkable tribute to his Liverpool team-mates in the wake of Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph.
Manager Rafa Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett had already done their utmost to deter Chelsea after Sportsmail revealed Roman Abramovich was ready to sanction a £40million-plus record bid for Liverpool’s leading marksman.
The official line from Anfield still needed Torres’s endorsement, though, and Chelsea were clinging to the hope that Abramovich’s vast fortune might yet turn his head.
They will surely have to abandon their bold plan after Liverpool’s £21m record buy dedicated his brilliant winning goal against Germany in Vienna on Sunday to everyone at Anfield.
In a gesture that underlined his feeling for Liverpool, after just one season there, Torres took time off from celebrating in Spain’s dressing room to send text messages to friends and team-mates on Merseyside, thanking them for helping him land his first major trophy.
‘I want to thank all the staff and players at Liverpool for their support during these championships because it makes a real difference when you know you have the backing of the people at your club,’ he said. ‘Because of that, they share in our success.
‘I had a wonderful first season for Liverpool and the goals I scored gave me the confidence and belief I needed for the Euros. Again, I would like to thank Rafa and his staff because I have improved as a player due to their help.
‘It isn’t just the people at the club who have helped me, though. It is also the supporters and people of the city. From the moment I first came to Liverpool I have been made to feel so welcome. That is why I am able to enjoy my football so much.
‘It is incredible really because the Liverpool fans have given me so much support. I know they have even been supporting Spain in this tournament and I can’t thank them enough for that. It is something I will never forget.’
Torres will waste no time setting his sights on the Barclays Premier League title when he returns from holiday and links up with his team-mates, who began reporting back for pre-season training yesterday.
‘I hope Sunday’s win proves to be the first of many because I want to win many more major titles with Liverpool and Spain,’ said Torres. ‘I am really looking forward to competing for trophies with the Reds because I know that means so much to the club and fans.’
Benitez has added to his backroom staff by appointing former Valencia and Argentina centre back Mauricio Pellegrino first team coach.
Sammy Lee had already been recruited as assistant manager but with Alex Miller moving to Japanese club JEF United Chiba, as well as Pako Ayesteran leaving earlier last season, Benitez felt he needed another new face.
Pellegrino made 12 appearances for Liverpool during a brief stint at Anfield in 2005. He is still remembered for collecting discarded Champions League Final losers’ medals after the penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan in Istanbul and distributing them among some of the younger Liverpool players.
Anthony Le Tallec has signed a permanent deal with French side Le Mans after being farmed out on loan by Liverpool for the last four seasons. The former France Under 21 forward had spells with St Etienne, Sunderland, Sochaux and Le Mans.
Xabi Alonso believes England can take inspiration from Spain and end their own trophy drought. ‘They have waited a long time like us but they have the players to do it,’ said the Liverpool midfielder.