You've got to breathe it to play it, says NST

My bright Sunday morning was captivated briefly by this article written by a lady reporter of The New Straits Times (Malaysia) , SONIA RAMACHANDRAN, who is no football fan, finds out why Malaysian football is no longer appealing... so she claimed.

I was more interested to read the motoring pages (my 3rd passion in life... 1st is LFC, 2nd is Mafia) but somehow this article is focusing directly to my subject of obsession... football. But mind you, football to me must have a connection with LFC. I don't mind learning about the Swiss team since we have the new guy in Dossena or even Israel, simply because we have a really good Jew in Benayoun (I am not anti-semitic...). It is true that LFC, like every other teams in the English Premier League ... is no more purely English entity. LFC last season was lucky to have Gerrard and Carra in the 1st 11. So to be familiar with the cosmopolitan or global-look of LFC, me and you must do some study and learn about these new players. It's simple. Just google.

Coming back to the core issue of the article written by Ms Sonia, she is examining on the performances of Malaysian national football team and the clubs playing in the Liga Perdana. Mind you, the national team will be facing Chelsea on July 29th... part of Chelsea's Far East exhibition programme. (I still contemplating to go or not, and if I were to go, I'll wear my red colours.... hahahaa)

My home state is Sarawak though I have been living, working and building my family here in the capital (Kuala Lumpur) for almost 16 years now. It was during my teens when my state team under the battle-cry of NGAP SAYOT stoled the scene. It was riot. It was fun back then. The stadium in Petra Jaya is roughly about 20 miles from where my parents stay and where my friends actually hang-out. I think it was the only avalaible location that the government can think of to built one, no matter how remote the area could be for most of Kuching city's dwellers and the rest of Sarawakian supporters. (This is also a point that I can empathy to the issue of building a new stadium at Stanley Park...)

The game is usually played at 8.45pm on Saturday. This is to accomodate the live telecast. But for teens like us... sometimes accompanied by a carton of Indonesian-made cigarretes (a pack of Djarum 10 sticks cost 80 sen) and may be a can or two of Heineken (I have ceased all my love towards booze since 1997)... we would arrive at the stadium as early as 4pm. This is simply to get the feel of the game. To hang out. Friends from every corner of the city would converged and usually we have our own corner... behind the left goal-post (the exit is straight to our car park). Those were the time when our pocket-money is so deprived. RM20 was considered a luxury. The ticket would cost about RM5. So you have RM15. Spend on fags and booze, plus 2 burgers, you'll still have at least RM3 when you reach home.

Speaking of which, everytime we're stuck in the traffic jam... (the agony of having to park close to the entrance of the stadium is to get stuck afterwards!) the never-missed song of the night is by Joan Jett - `I hate myself for loving you'. I guess it is simply because the deejay loves the song so much that he just didn't bother to play other albums. It's a catchy rock number and if any of you who are not familiar with that song... I say may you rest in peace and go to hell! This is a cult song. A must know song. Same category with Smoke on The Water by Deep Purple. Well... it is for me at least though I never bought the album. I prefer Metallica. It personifies our hate-love relationship with the state team. The singing would be louder from our car if the team loses the game. We hate the fact that we have to endure the heartbroken but at the same time seems to never failed to get into all the action. No football games on Saturday afternoon and the pitch near our places would be played by small kids as the big boys like us, got the licence to drive to the stadium on our own. This was the fun 1980's for me.

Then... there was a huge scandal. The nation's football league was rocked by arrests and prosecution by the law for match-fixing and bribery. I can't really remember the actuall date. It could be sometimes in 1993 or what ever. Roughly 127 players and team management were caught and some of them were detained under Restricted Residents (the law we inherited from our former colonial master... yes you... the English...). The whole case make all of my enthusiams and memories now a total mockery and disgust.

So Miss Sonia... I really don't care to read your article... I did read the boxes... that I just learn our national team has move three spaces and for me, it doesn't matter at all because I won't be rooting for any of them. The national team must prove to me, to all the Malaysian fan that the team are the strongest in the ASEAN region. They must beat Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore often and convincingly before they can pull enough string to attract my attention to taste again the agony of going to the stadium. Until then, supporting Liverpool Football Team is much fun and taught me a lot about self-esteem. We're not the League leader but we're the most feared team in Europe. That shows how great the team is.

But I'm still a loyal citizen of Malaysia with my heart goes to LFC.


Yours truly
utusanLFC
hehehe....

August is way too long to wait (THE START OF A NEW SEASON)

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JULY IS BORING.
Euro 2008 last month must be the best football tournament for me, both spiritualy and financially! My mind, my body, my live was bouncing everyday for the whole month of June with the games almost every night. Though I refuse to watch teams that were unknown to me (and most of us, actually) such as Austria, Swiss ... In terms of financial, my money from day 1 is on Spain. The reason as I have stated before, is solely because of Fernando Torres (my decision would be a bit fuzzy if England were one of the team but... hahaha).By 1 July, I collected a good RM2k. Big money in Malaysian Ringgit. Roughly 285 pounds sterling. Well, I finished 1k in a week. Now I have about RM500. hahaha... I bought all the knock-off Liverpool memorabilia that I can find (mostly made in China & Thailand...).

and I spend another RM300 to buy the whole 6 seasons of THE SOPRANOS!.......

At the moment, I'm at Forth Season. Some of you might familiar with the story so... I'm not gonna discuss about it.

But let me tell you the truth... only the truth. In fact a sadly funny truth.
Though The Sopranos was first aired in the States in 1999... we here in Malaysia just got to watch it on our satellite tv a few months back. A decade!

This is simply because the government censorship is too obnoxious and may be they have difficulty to edit all the X-Rated language and scenes. On the satellite tv, the sex and nude scenes are cut but the deragotory remarks remain. So I decided to find myself the whole sets of DVD. When I visited the States in 2003, I remember that the show was on a rerun. But such was my schedule (a month's trip), I didn't really have sufficient time to indulge myself with the tv show, except in Washington but then I was engrossed with the NAKED NEWS Channel. hahaha... (it was just boomed then, so I got to see it hahaahaa)....

But no matter. Better late than never, capish?
Of course, I got the opportunity to purchase the whole set of DVD... thanks to the winning SPAIN. Viva le Spain!
Let's hope that Villa will join his striking partner, Torres next August.
David Villa... you're welcome in Anfield. Come my man!

p/s:

I wish to thank our fellow friend who advertise this blog's address at rizalhashim.blogspot.com
which is also a dear friend of mine. He is a sportwriter. Me? I'm a bit business news, bit automotives and bit politics. Current affairs more approriately. Please go visit Rizal's blog. I'm not sure if he is a Liverpool supporter. Though I suspect he is a Man.U fan.

from your dearest : utusanlfc.blogspot.com

Rafa Benitez adds a new defensive dimension

Jul 11 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo


LONG before last season had come to a trophy-less end, Rafa Benitez had identified the two positions he wanted improving most urgently.
Despite having a defence which again kept the most Premiership clean sheets for the third successive season, the Reds boss was keen to bring in a new right back and a new left back.
The duo he wanted were Philipp Degen, a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, and Andrea Dossena, a £6m acquisition from Udinese, and yesterday the fruits of Benitez’s labour in the transfer market were displayed at a Melwood press conference where both players were formally unveiled.
As far as the Spaniard is concerned, Degen and Dossena personify the next phase of his Anfield revolution as he looks to bring more attacking flair to a team which has built much of its success on defensive solidity.
If Euro 2008 showed anything, it was that attacking full backs are no longer just desirable, they are an absolute necessity and Benitez has moved swiftly to add a new dimension to his squad in keeping with that philosophy.
Degen and Dossena will both be given licence to get forward and the early indications from pre-season training are that the Swiss in particular does not need any second invitation to bomb on.
His Italian counterpart, meanwhile, arrives with a reputation of being a left back who loves to attack, but Benitez has already informed him that this must not be to the detriment of the balance of the team.
“The talks I have had with Benitez have mostly been about tactics,” he said. “He has explained that he wants a four-man defence but that the most important thing is that the balance on the pitch is never broken. There must be balance between the left and right-backs.”
There is certainly a ying and yang balance to Degen and Dossena in terms of personality, if early impressions are anything to go by.
While Degen is chatty, light hearted and effusive, Dossena is more taciturn and steely with a stare which will no doubt frighten any lily livered wingers who cross his path.
Liverpool’s scouting reports on both players were glowing but, as ever, the only test that matters will be how well they adapt to the unique rigours of English football.
Both are in no doubt they have what it takes, with Dossena even going as far as arguing that he is a “half Italian, half English” kind of player.
He said: “Even from training I realise English football is different. It's all about possession and the ball seems to move quicker.
“There is also a great determination among the players in training, but these are all qualities that are characteristic of me too. In this way, I feel half English, half Italian.”
Benitez is clearly delighted to have captured a pair of players for the two positions he believed needed so urgently and he firmly believes Degen and Dossena will add a new dimension to his team for the new season.
“I think everyone was thinking the same as us, that we needed to improve in the wide areas,” he said. “We have the spine of the team with Torres, Gerrard, Mascherano and all these players that we know.
“In the wide areas maybe we needed something different so we were looking for full-backs with an offensive mentality.
“Dossena likes to play football, and Degen is the same, he goes forward with quality.
“So we now have two players who can go forward and they will compete for their positions and hopefully it will be good for the team.
“Sometimes it is not about how much money you spend but getting the players you need.
“We needed full-backs with different qualities and these two players could be good for us.
“Afterwards maybe you can sign big names and maybe people will be happy, but the priority is to sign the players that you want and need – in this case two full-backs who can give something more to the team.”
“I think all foreign players need time to adjust and it depends on the mentality,” he continued. “Both players are very good professionals and that was one of the things we were looking for – a strong mentality and they can compete as well, so I think they will be okay.”

Rafa Benitez asks Liverpool fans to 'trust him'

Jul 11 2008
icLiverpool

Rafael Benitez has called for Liverpool fans to "trust him" as he works in the transfer market to improve the Anfield squad.
Liverpool are also toiling to conclude the frustrating, summer-long transfer saga over Gareth Barry's arrival at the club but there is now no chance that the midfielder will be signed in time for the club's first pre-season friendly.
And Benitez said: "We know the situation regarding what we can spend, and we are trying to find solutions if we do not have enough money. The fans must trust us, we are working hard during the summer with a lot of people in different countries working for us."
He added: "And we will still try to sign players that will make us better. But if you do not have too much money, and that is clear, we will have to have a little bit of imagination to progress in the market."
Liverpool face Tranmere in front of a 15,000 sell-out crowd at Prenton Park on Saturday before heading off to their Swiss training camp and three more friendlies while they are there.
Benitez's fear now is that Barry - banned from Aston Villa's training ground - could miss as much as two weeks of vital pre-season training.
That situation could even cause them to doubt further the size of the transfer fee for the England midfielder, and that would underline further Benitez's cash-flow problems.
He said: "Everyone knows what our ideas are and what players we want. We are working hard with different names now.
"We know we will have to sell some players if we want some cash. So we have to do that. Our aim is to bring through young players and that can save us money, money that we can spend on big names.
"We have a fantastic group of young players, in the future they will save us money. At the moment we have to still by big names and the only way to do that is to sell players."

Kop new boy warns Reina

Published: Today

The Sun UK

DIEGO CAVALIERI vowed to challenge Pepe Reina for Liverpool's No1 shirt after completing his £3million move.
The Brazilian keeper, who holds an Italian passport, arrives from Palmeiras and will start as understudy to Reina.
But Cavalieri, 25, insists he hopes to soon become the Reds' first-choice stopper.
He said: "I know it won't be easy to get into the team.
"I watched some Liverpool games in both the Premier League and Champions League last year and I know Pepe is a very good goalkeeper.
"But everyone has to fight for their place and I'm sure we will have a healthy rivalry.
"I know I will have to be patient and work very hard to achieve my aims – but it is always like that when you come from another country.
"You have to adapt inside and outside of the pitch and get used to the way things work. But with hard work you get there.
"My confidence has got me where I am today and maybe people are aware of what I did at Palmeiras in Brazil.
"I am sure that one day I can get the No1 position but that will only come with hard work."
Cavalieri has agreed a four-year deal at Anfield.

Rafa chasing Silva-ware!

By PHIL THOMAS
Published: Today
The Sun UK

RAFA BENITEZ is ready to splash out a pot of gold to bring a dash of Silva to Anfield.
The Liverpool chief is eyeing Spain wideman David Silva after being priced out of a move for his Valencia team-mate David Villa.
The La Liga club want £32million for Spain’s four-goal Euro 2008 marksman Villa and at that price any transfer is dead in the water.
But Silva, 22, is available at around half that price and Benitez is keen to tie up a deal.
The Kop chief, who had three years in charge at the Mestalla, knows his old club need to sell because of the spiralling costs of building a new stadium.
But he is also aware that Valencia are determined to keep hold of Villa to appease fans who are already kicking up a storm at the prospect of losing their prize asset.
Former Valencia president Juan Soler, still the majority shareholder, is keen to sell the club and has placed a £65m price tag on it.
Yet Soler is also aware that losing the club’s crown jewels makes it a less attractive proposition for potential buyers.
And with Benitez also committing a huge chunk of his summer budget to land Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, hitman Villa’s price almost certainly takes him beyond Liverpool’s reach.
New Valencia manager Unai Emery, at 36 the youngest boss in La Liga, has admitted the decision is out of his hands, but is desperate not to lose Villa, 26.
Villa also has an agreement which will see his wages rise to £75,000 a week — yet Silva is on less than half that figure, bringing him well within Liverpool’s pay structure.
And for all Benitez’ public claims of the Reds’ interest, he is one of the most guarded bosses in the game when it comes to revealing his targets and releasing Villa’s name is generally accepted as little more than a smokescreen.
He also has an ace up his sleeve in the shape of Liverpool chief scout Eduardo Macia, a close friend of Silva from his days working for Valencia.
Macia set the winger on the road to glory by arranging a loan move to Eibar when he was struggling to break into the first team.
That led to a subsequent spell with Celta Vigo, and on his return to Valencia he quickly established himself as a regular.
Despite Benitez’ apparent urgency to sign an out-and-out attacker following Peter Crouch’s departure to Portsmouth, he does have other options already on the books.
Dutch rookie Ryan Babel was used largely on the flanks in his debut season at Anfield but arrived on Merseyside as one of Europe’s hottest young striking talents after playing down the middle for Ajax and Holland.
Andrei Voronin is another alternative, while using Steven Gerrard just off front man Fernando Torres proved a hugely successful pairing last term.

BENITEZ PROUD OF CROUCH PROGRESS

Jimmy Rice 09 July 2008
liverpoolfc.tv

Rafa Benitez has spoken of his pride at the progress Peter Crouch has made under his management at Liverpool – and admitted he would be sad to lose the striker to Portsmouth.
Benitez knows he cannot offer Crouch what he wants more than anything – first-team football week in, week out. With this in mind, he has not stood in the way of the big man's proposed move to Portsmouth, despite anything written in the press. However, Benitez knows the popular forward, who only has to agree personal terms for the move south to be completed, will be missed at Anfield as well as Melwood. The boss told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I am proud of the progress he has made. When we brought him here people were talking – especially because he didn't score for 14 games or something like that. "But he showed his quality; showed he was a good player and a fantastic professional. He is a nice person. We know we will miss him but you can't stop a player who wants to play every week. "He understands that with Torres here and Gerrard as a second striker, like he was at the end of last season, it will be difficult for him. "Everything is friendly. I've talked to him and the agents. If he can agree with Portsmouth it will be perfect for everyone. "People need to understand that we have supported Peter from the day he signed and we offered him a new contract (before the summer). But I can understand that he wants to play every week, wants to start every game. "As a manager you have to understand these situations. Also, a few people in the press were talking about £7million – so then I talked about £15million because I wanted to protect the club. But I know you need to respect the players. "So, we have now more or less agreed a transfer fee and now it's just the player talking to Portsmouth and finding a solution." Liverpool are now preparing for life after Crouch, which Benitez revealed is likely to include a new striker. Asked whether Valencia's David Villa was an option, he added: "We have Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard, who can play as a second striker.
"But we will try to bring in another option. Villa is a player we know all about and he is on our list. But maybe it will be difficult."


utusanLFC :
I deliberately enlarge the above sentences... Rafa could be simply joking or teasing all of us... but who knows?... Villa could be well be in our team next August... and yabedabeduuuuuuuu........!!!!

Summer of frustration for cash-strapped Rafa

By Norman Hubbard
ESPNsoccernet
Updated: July 8, 2008, 11:19 AM UK

A left-footed footballer and a long-term target finally became a Liverpool player on Friday. It was not Gareth Barry, however, but the Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena. In a summer where frustration appears the underlying emotion for Rafa Benitez, nothing is completed quickly. If the choice of the replacement for the Roma-bound John Arne Riise appeared made some time ago - and in May, Dossena expressed his willingness to move to Merseyside - the move was only completed in July.
Meanwhile, the offers for Barry are increased incrementally; to judge by Aston Villa's response, they go up by about 25p a time and according to Liverpool, by around £1 million. Four bids have been rejected and while the England midfielder appears to have reached the point of no return at Villa Park, it is unlikely he will become a Liverpool player until the valuation of £18 million is met.
Besides the interminable delay, it is all the more galling for Liverpool as they had hoped to acquire Barry comparatively cheaply, presuming a small cash outlay plus some combination of Peter Crouch, Scott Carson and Steve Finnan would have sufficed. Instead, the whole of the proceeds of Xabi Alonso's probable move to Juventus still won't finance Barry's arrival; those who watched the Spaniard's superlative display against Greece in Euro 2008 may wonder if, accomplished passer and steadying influence as Barry is, Liverpool will actually acquire a superior player.
But when Martin O'Neill referred to 'a mish-mash' of players offered in part-exchange for Barry, he inadvertently revealed the major factor undermining Liverpool's transfer dealings: a shortage of actual cash. Tom Hicks and George Gillett may insist their relationship has been at least partially repaired, and the global credit crunch may be responsible, but Liverpool's finances have taken a turn for the worse.
Last summer's £50 million outlay will not be repeated unless the vast majority of it is recouped in player sales. Hence the sight of Liverpool, their historic grandeur notwithstanding, resembling second-hand car salesmen, forever negotiating a part-exchange. Hence the excessive values placed on their own players, such as the suggestion that Crouch, with one year left on his contract, should command a fee of £15 million, in the hope of boosting Benitez's transfer fund; now Portsmouth's more realistic bid of £10 million looks enough to result in his departure. Hence suggestions of a deal for James Milner, even though the Newcastle winger was far from the Spaniard's top target: Liverpool merely believed they could use makeweights to affect a swap.
And consequently the hope that friendship with Benitez's players - Steven Gerrard in Barry's case - can convince them to come to Anfield, or that being a lifelong Liverpool fan, as Robbie Keane is, will prove decisive. Once again, the prospect of a part-exchange, again with Crouch, seems to have prompted Liverpool's interest. In the process, they may recruit their best striker since Michael Owen, with the exception of a certain Spaniard.
Yet that also risks disrupting a successful formula, removing Gerrard from his role as Fernando Torres' support act and prompter and granting him a return to his unfavoured terrain of the right flank. In turn, it also reduces the logic of signing Barry, whose understanding with the Liverpool captain has been apparent in a central role for England.
But then Liverpool's transfer policy is not being dictated by normal criteria. The requirement to raise money can distort priorities and deflect from targets. Despite a requirement for greater invention on the flanks, talk of wingers such as David Bentley has dissipated, bar the odd mention of Stuart Downing or James Milner.
Instead, the low esteem in which Jermaine Pennant is held by Benitez's peers - there are no takers for the right winger, even as a makeweight in a deal - suggests he will be at Anfield again. But it also means that Yossi Benayoun may represent the only credible alternative to Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel, either of whom may have to be pressed into service in attack if Crouch goes and Torres is injured.
At least Philipp Degen represented that rarity for Liverpool, a simple signing conducted without an inflated fee. That the Borussia Dortmund right-back, recruited on a Bosman, was on the bench in Euro 2008 may not bode well. Nor does the failure of Liverpool's last free arrival from Germany, Andriy Voronin.
But while Benitez's record in the transfer market remains mixed, the spectacular success of Torres has quietened some of his critics. Moreover, the manager merits sympathy now. Expectations are a fact of life at Liverpool; talk of the title abounds every season, regardless of the context.
Next season will be no different, even if Benitez is reduced to offering Joan the tea lady in part-exchange in attempt to facilitate another arrival. And while he was allowed funds to recruit Javier Mascherano and Martin Skrtel earlier in the year, it will be instructive to analyse the Premier League's net spending when the transfer window shuts.
Chelsea seem certain to have paid most; Manchester United's outlay rather depends on the Cristiano Ronaldo situation; Tottenham and Manchester City have already shown a fondness for the costliest players; Newcastle may yet do likewise. In the spending league, Liverpool may only rank a place in mid-table.
Not for the first time, Liverpool's manager and supporters may be regretting the change of ownership that was supposed to propel them into the rich list and a 21st-century stadium. But if Andrea Dossena finds himself granted a rapturous reception at Anfield, it might be because, Torres' exploits in Euro 2008 aside, Liverpool have had little else to cheer so far this summer.

Barry’s spin machine could get the worst from Rafa’s rotation

Jul 7 2008 By Pat Murphy
Birmingham Post


If Gareth Barry finally gets his move to Liverpool, he’ll soon have an opportunity for gratitude to his new manager’s fondness for a rotation policy that frustrates so many of his players.
Liverpool will play at Villa Park just a frtnight into the new Premier League season on on August 30.
Can you really imagine Barry turning out for the Reds that day after burning his boats with Villa in this past week?
I can’t see the Holte End extending a warm welcome to a player who has been deservedly respected this past decade, yet has chosen to vent publicly his frustration at his stalled move.
Throughout his unfashionably long stint at Villa Park, Barry has been the model professional. Careful in his public comments, yet always accessible to the media, gracious to the supporters and fully committed on the field.
When his career stalled, Barry kept his head down and eventually found in Martin O’Neill a manager who believed in him and played him in his best position in central midfield.
Otherwise, he’d have gone to Tottenham Hotspur or Portsmouth in August 2006 and would he have become an England regular after that?Villa and Barry have been good for each other and Barry may find that the Anfield grass isn’t that greener as he comes to terms with the Benitez rotation policy, rather than getting better and better by being an automatic choice for O’Neill.
And if Liverpool bomb out early from the Champions’ League will Barry have learned so much more as a player than if he’d stayed at a club that is clearly on the rise?
Barry was ill-advised to go public while on holiday in Florida last weekend. He should have continued trotting out the cliché about leaving the matter to both clubs, emphasised his respect for Villa’s supporters and let his agent and Benitez take the flak.
It was disrespectful to suggest that O’Neill was more bothered about working at Euro 2008 for the BBC rather than sorting out the impasse. Clearly, Barry doesn’t understand that many managers and agents were out at Euro 2008, setting out deals, establishing relevant contacts and watching potential purchases in the flesh.
I don’t hear any Arsenal player bleating about Arsene Wenger’s continual presence at the tournament.
Managers are entitled to be wherever they wish for three weeks in June if they think that’s what is best for their club. And it’s not as if O’Neill wasn’t back here on several occasions in between matches.
He’s been in the business long enough to be trusted in his judgment and aims. He has until the end of August to strengthen the squad and once Barry had made it clear he wanted to go at the start of June, there was no point in further dialogue. It was then up to the two clubs to negotiate and Liverpool have tried to get Barry on the cheap.
He’s ahead of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick in the England pecking order, yet both fetched a good deal more in the past two years than Liverpool are offering Villa.
And until recently, Benitez was valuing Peter Crouch at £15 million, with one year left on his contract compared to Barry’s two. There is no comparison between those two in terms of value. and it now looks as though the former Villa man is off to Portsmouth for an iniial £8m with £3m in add-ons.
Liverpool’s boardroom wrangles and Benitez’s uncertainty about his own position aren’t any concern of Villa’s but Barry won’t be joining a club enjoying the stability and promise of European dominance of the Shankly and Paisley years.
And Villa don’t need the money, thanks to Randy Lerner’s largesse. He is totally on O’Neill’s side. They can afford to tough this one out, aware that Barry has burned his bridges at Villa Park.
Some might say this is just damage limitation by Villa, being bloody-minded for the sake of it. But O’Neill should be commended for fighting his corner at a time when top players and their agents have too much power.
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utusanLFC :
what a bias reporting... what a condemnation by a Midland regional newspaper... hihihi... Of course Barry know fully well of Rafa's rotation policy. That's the main attraction! If he's the 1st choice at Villa, he knows he never know his real potential because there is no real competition at that level. But at LFC, the competition is so great that only good player do get playing time under Rafa. Go figure!

10 things about new Portsmouth signing Peter Crouch

By Dan Silver 7/07/2008
Daily Mirror

Portsmouth are expected to tie up the £10m signing of Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch this afternoon. Here’s what you need to know about the man they call ‘Two-metre Peter’:
1) Peter James Crouch was born in Macclesfield on January 30, 1981. His most obvious feature is his staggering height: at 6’7” (or 2.01m), he’s the tallest person ever to play for Liverpool or represent England.
2) His family moved frequently during his childhood, meaning Peter had spells in London and Singapore. Despite being taken to see Chelsea by his dad, Peter grew up supporting their West London rivals QPR.
3) He signed his first professional contract with Spurs in July 1998, but never got a first team run out. Instead he was loaned out to non-leaguers Dulwich Hamlet and Swedish side IFK Hassleholm.
4) In the summer of 2000, he joined boyhood team QPR for £60k. Despite notching 10 league goals in his first season there, the team were relegated to the third tier of English football and Crouch was sold – for £1.25m – to Portsmouth.
5) His first spell at Fratton Park brought 18 goals from 37 starts, and lead to a £5m move to Aston Villa in March 2002. Crouch scored on his debut – against Newcastle in the Premier League – but failed to hold down a regular first team place and was loaned out to Norwich at the start of the 2002/03 season. Despite only scoring four goals in his three-month spell at Norwich, the club gave Peter a championship medal when they won the First Division that year.
6) He signed for Southampton in July 2004 for £2m, but his 16 goals in 33 appearances couldn’t prevent the Saints’ relegation that season. Once again, Peter was moved on – this time to Liverpool, for an impressive £7m.
7) He failed to score in his first 19 games for Liverpool – a drought that lasted for four months and over 24 hours of playing time– before eventually netting twice against Wigan in December 2005.
8) He went on to score 40 times in 132 appearances for the Reds, and won the Community Shield and FA Cup (both in 2006). He also came on as a sub in the 2007 Champions League Final defeat to AC Milan.
9) He represented England at U-20 and U-21 level before making his senior debut against Columbia in May 2005. He’s since earned 28 caps and scored 14 goals, including one in a 2006 World Cup warm-up match against Hungary that he celebrated in this now-infamous fashion.
10) He’s enjoyed a tempestuous relationship with uber-WAG Abigail Clancy, although Peter is at least sanguine about his role in life. When asked by a newspaper what he would be if he wasn’t a footballer, Crouchie once replied: a virgin…
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utusanLFC :
Crouch has been a good servant to LFC. It is sad that his time is up. But the memories remain. Thank you Crouchy!