Redshadow

Exactly. It was a competition set up to improve trade between cities, no more than that, which is the reason it was only one club per city and why Newcastle finishing 10th got in it. In the 50's perhaps but in the end it was much more than that. It's not like it was full of shite really is it? Football is football, UEFA and a badge can't change that. It was by no means an easy competition. We finished Tenth but there were clubs in the same competition that finished higher than us that didn't fare aswell, yourselves and Chelsea for a start. Fair point, it was still a comp that held many shit teams though because of the the one team per city rule. We got knocked out by Ferencvaros.

More or less the same defence as Dudek had though.

Exactly. It was a competition set up to improve trade between cities, no more than that, which is the reason it was only one club per city and why Newcastle finishing 10th got in it.

I would probably say despite that the Italian fans are quality. My only problem with it is that FIFA/UEFA ignore the flaws, e.g the fighting & when an England fan abroad drops his can of coke on the floor he gets a batton to the face and there is a UEFA report favouring the policeman. However some fans deserve it, Liverpool fans in Istanbul & Athens acted like complete tools. Istanbul? There wasn't one arrest in Istanbul and Liverpool fans got praised to the hilt by UEFA, the press and the Turkish govvernment. They also received 'best fans' award in '01 after the UEFA cup final in Dortmund. Athens had faults on both sides but yes, I accept we had some bell ends there. It's expected though when UEFA pick a stadium that is easy to walk in to without a ticket and the town officials have been saying for weeks beforehand come without tickets and enjoy the atmosphere.

So what you're saying is that they have to be a big name for them to be a good team? How do you know those Madrid and Bayern teams were better than those mentioned above? You're just basing it on the name rather than the team. Those finalists you mention were big teams of their day. Your fairs cup mate doesn't even count as a European trophy by UEFA. You came 10th to get in it. I'd say it was on the lines of the UEFA cup of today with the way the comp has been watered down. The European Cup in those days was equally as hard as the Champions League is today in many ways. The qualifiers now are against teams that you would have been lucky to get in the old cup winners cup and the group games of the CL can still hold one great team and 3 mediocre teams, just like the early rounds of the old EC. The knockout stages are the important part still because the league stages give clubs a second chance, much like our group games this season. There were less matches to play in the EC but that was because it was only played by champions. All the big clubs were still there to be knocked out and anyone belittling the fact that Forest and Villa won it should remember that these teams were the best England had to offer, because they were the League Champions.

I disagree, I think you're always going to have certain problems when rotating players regardless of quality. I take Rafa's point about keeping players fresh at the start of the season but if the result is that when it comes to the middle of the season and you're already out of the running for the league then it really defeats the purpose. Getting off to a good start and being there or there abouts come January can result in momentum and the chase often giving players that extra 10% of energy what keeps them going until the end of the season. I think Rafa was quite lucky at Valencia where he inherited a team on the up and up from Cuper. *Runs off to check if true* ewerk This interview with Benitez explains his theories on rotation, if you're interested. Benitez interview with Balague Park Life The interview also answers your question about Hector Cuper

The league is always the number one objective with all Liverpool managers, even Rafa. Once the league looks out of sight he concentrates on the Champions League because this is what has given him his transfer budget for the last few years. Our best league run under Benitez was 05/06 season when we finished on 82 points, 1 behind Manure and 9 behind Chelsea. We got knocked out of the CL in the first knockout round that season, which for me shows he's capable of winning the league but his squad isn't good enough to go for everything. Our players are looking fresh at the minute which may be down to his rotation policy. He believes that it's no good resting players once they are knackered, it's best to keep them fresh for the business end of the season. No-one can say it hasn't worked. What we are lacking is quality players to rotate with.

It's only taken him 3 seasons and countless wasted millions. Yes, but he's done it a lot sooner than most clubs and hardly any wasted millions. His transfers have been very good on the whole and any that haven't worked out have cost very little and been shipped out at the first opportunity. Bear in mind that you actually fluked the Champions league... I know, it's amazing how lucky you can be the more determined you are.

You must have come to that conclusion after your champions league win! We'll see how the old debt restructuring goes.... Our owner you see is a Billionaire x2 and we currently carry zero debt, he didn't have to hock the club against assets to buy it. You follow? DIC will be in before the debt needs restructuring.

It's only taken him 3 seasons and countless wasted millions. Yes, but he's done it a lot sooner than most clubs and hardly any wasted millions. His transfers have been very good on the whole and any that haven't worked out have cost very little and been shipped out at the first opportunity.

Benitez is far to conservative to win the PL. Too many away draws, too much safety first etc. Winning the PL is a far more tricky exercise than any other league in the world and it requires sides to show many facets and subtle changes in approach....It's beyond Benny imo. Although he is starting to show signs he is 'getting it'. I think he always has got it Park Life, he just hasn't had the right players to play the system he likes, only now are we starting to see the shape and style of the team he's been trying to build.

I disagree acrossthepond, Rafas position is very strong now. Hicks thinks getting behind him will turn the fans opinion towards the yanks and DIC have made their admiration for him quite clear. The only way Rafa won't be here next season is if he himself chooses to walk.

A backtracking bottler it is then. You showed yourself for the weirdo that you are and now you are trying to make out it wasn't serious, it might wash with some of your mates on here but even they know deep down that you're a weirdo. The FA Cup is a glamour competition but I've never met anyone yet, other than Newcastle fans, who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League tilte. Can you not read you tedious post office visitor??? What bit do you not understand here... "in an era when the FA Cup was held in a much higher regard", where does that make reference to the present, and what Newcastle fans priorities are in terms of what they would like to win. Go away you boring bastard, you defeat yourself and you know you do in your heart. I understood perfectly what you meant and still say I've never met a fan yet who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League title and that includes old timers who've been going to the match for decades. My own Grandfathers biggest dream at the beginning of every season was to see Liverpool win another title and he's been dead for 20 years. What makes you think I have you fool? I've heard people like Jimmy Greaves describe the FA Cup as more important in his era, and speak to any person over 50 and they'd say the same of the era, but you chose to twist what I said. I've spoken to many people over 50 and not met one yet who pined for an FA Cup win above a title.

A backtracking bottler it is then. You showed yourself for the weirdo that you are and now you are trying to make out it wasn't serious, it might wash with some of your mates on here but even they know deep down that you're a weirdo. The FA Cup is a glamour competition but I've never met anyone yet, other than Newcastle fans, who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League tilte. Can you not read you tedious post office visitor??? What bit do you not understand here... "in an era when the FA Cup was held in a much higher regard", where does that make reference to the present, and what Newcastle fans priorities are in terms of what they would like to win. Go away you boring bastard, you defeat yourself and you know you do in your heart. I understood perfectly what you meant and still say I've never met a fan yet who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League title and that includes old timers who've been going to the match for decades. My own Grandfathers biggest dream at the beginning of every season was to see Liverpool win another title and he's been dead for 20 years. When do you think you might win another title? Serious question btw? (No malice intended). Depends how stable the club become Park Life. I thought we'd have a bash at it this season but it hasn't worked out. We need at least three top quality players, right winger, left back and a striker. Or maybe a left winger with Babel up front with Torres. I believe if we get knocked out of the CL earlier next season we might give a good show, we haven't got enough quality yet to challenge for both.

A backtracking bottler it is then. You showed yourself for the weirdo that you are and now you are trying to make out it wasn't serious, it might wash with some of your mates on here but even they know deep down that you're a weirdo. The FA Cup is a glamour competition but I've never met anyone yet, other than Newcastle fans, who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League tilte. Can you not read you tedious post office visitor??? What bit do you not understand here... "in an era when the FA Cup was held in a much higher regard", where does that make reference to the present, and what Newcastle fans priorities are in terms of what they would like to win. Go away you boring bastard, you defeat yourself and you know you do in your heart. I understood perfectly what you meant and still say I've never met a fan yet who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League title and that includes old timers who've been going to the match for decades. My own Grandfathers biggest dream at the beginning of every season was to see Liverpool win another title and he's been dead for 20 years.

Yawn, yawn, yawn. I don't hate, strongly dislike, for reasons even demonstated by yourself and Redman ironically enough, but I'm sure there's decent ones amongst you, well it's possible. If we never won anything in the next 100 years, I'd still be proud of my club, my local club. England's most succesful club in my life time are Man Utd, a far bigger club than you will ever be. Did you do a secret straw poll to find that out? No I just counted the trophies up you silly cunt. You can't count either then? Well I was born during the 1977/78 season so yes, yes I can count, and yes they have won more than you have in my life time. I see, certainly a view I'd expect from a weirdo who only a few weeks ago was bigging up Newcastles trophy haul. I called you a wierdo, why do you persist on showing yourself up? Arsenal and Newcastle's trophy haul was the best in the 20th century up to Munich and Shankly in this country. I would regard anyone who does secret polls in a city that he isn't from about a city and people he has nothing at all to do with a weirdo. 4 league titles isn't much really, we had 5 before Shankly came. As I've said before that was said tongue in cheek, but as you have so little to say you keep reverting to it you boring little man. 5 titles and 2 FA Cups you had, as opposed to 4 titles and 6 FA Cups from us, in an era when the FA Cup was held in a much higher regard than any league title. A backtracking bottler it is then. You showed yourself for the weirdo that you are and now you are trying to make out it wasn't serious, it might wash with some of your mates on here but even they know deep down that you're a weirdo. The FA Cup is a glamour competition but I've never met anyone yet, other than Newcastle fans, who'd choose to win the FA Cup above a League tilte.

That really isn't the point T-Keith. What is the point then you tosspot? You only regarding teams who've won things in your lifetime and previously holding up your own trophy haul that I doubt were seen in your parents life time, let alone your own.

Yawn, yawn, yawn. I don't hate, strongly dislike, for reasons even demonstated by yourself and Redman ironically enough, but I'm sure there's decent ones amongst you, well it's possible. If we never won anything in the next 100 years, I'd still be proud of my club, my local club. England's most succesful club in my life time are Man Utd, a far bigger club than you will ever be. Did you do a secret straw poll to find that out? No I just counted the trophies up you silly cunt. You can't count either then? Well I was born during the 1977/78 season so yes, yes I can count, and yes they have won more than you have in my life time. I see, certainly a view I'd expect from a weirdo who only a few weeks ago was bigging up Newcastles trophy haul. I called you a wierdo, why do you persist on showing yourself up? Arsenal and Newcastle's trophy haul was the best in the 20th century up to Munich and Shankly in this country. I would regard anyone who does secret polls in a city that he isn't from about a city and people he has nothing at all to do with a weirdo. 4 league titles isn't much really, we had 5 before Shankly came.

That really isn't the point T-Keith.

Yawn, yawn, yawn. I don't hate, strongly dislike, for reasons even demonstated by yourself and Redman ironically enough, but I'm sure there's decent ones amongst you, well it's possible. If we never won anything in the next 100 years, I'd still be proud of my club, my local club. England's most succesful club in my life time are Man Utd, a far bigger club than you will ever be. Did you do a secret straw poll to find that out? No I just counted the trophies up you silly cunt. You can't count either then? Well I was born during the 1977/78 season so yes, yes I can count, and yes they have won more than you have in my life time. I see, certainly a view I'd expect from a weirdo who only a few weeks ago was bigging up Newcastles trophy haul.

Yawn, yawn, yawn. I don't hate, strongly dislike, for reasons even demonstated by yourself and Redman ironically enough, but I'm sure there's decent ones amongst you, well it's possible. If we never won anything in the next 100 years, I'd still be proud of my club, my local club. England's most succesful club in my life time are Man Utd, a far bigger club than you will ever be. Did you do a secret straw poll to find that out? No I just counted the trophies up you silly cunt. You can't count either then?

What I can't believe is that someone would think that would be said without tongue firmly in cheek, are you really that dense? Oh I see, bit of backtracking now you've shown yourself up for what you are. A scouse baiter There's a scouse saying "whoppers" you define, that word you really do, and you will die like that, you're not going to change now at your age. As already said, coming from someone like you that's a relief. It would be insulting in the extreme to be well thought of in any way by a secret ballot taking weirdo like you. Oh dear. I can hear your deep droning glutteral annoyance now, like that tannoy announcer at Anfield. If there's a more boring voice in Britain I've yet to hear it. I don't talk when I'm typing but I suppose to a weirdo like you it's second nature.

Yawn, yawn, yawn. I don't hate, strongly dislike, for reasons even demonstated by yourself and Redman ironically enough, but I'm sure there's decent ones amongst you, well it's possible. If we never won anything in the next 100 years, I'd still be proud of my club, my local club. England's most succesful club in my life time are Man Utd, a far bigger club than you will ever be. Did you do a secret straw poll to find that out?

What I can't believe is that someone would think that would be said without tongue firmly in cheek, are you really that dense? Oh I see, bit of backtracking now you've shown yourself up for what you are. A scouse baiter There's a scouse saying "whoppers" you define, that word you really do, and you will die like that, you're not going to change now at your age. As already said, coming from someone like you that's a relief. It would be insulting in the extreme to be well thought of in any way by a secret ballot taking weirdo like you.

What I can't believe is that someone would think that would be said without tongue firmly in cheek, are you really that dense? Oh I see, bit of backtracking now you've shown yourself up for what you are.