LIVERPOOL FC-Great Britain Greatest Club

[Duke Red]

Some tips for looking as fit as you please?

Get EcstacyElmo to be your publicist.

 

[koolspyda]

Oh you were outside were ya? Near the rails? Hmmm... you mean where the beer was don't ya?:regular_smile:

Beer in hand? Sounds like me. Directing people? Had to. Sitting? Don't think I sat down at all outside during the game. Was inside the whole game till right after when I ran up to the front to sing YNWA, hehe. Was quite a bad rendition though, I lost my voice screaming after Stevie's equalisers and Reina's saves.

dunno, me wife saw a green shirt dude giving small instructions to DJ & few fellows & did sit momentarily outside before disappearing into crowd.

BTW, nice event. not too overcrowded. nice beer girls. (some friends of mine were eyeing them)

 

[koolspyda]

a tribute to stevie G

He added: "He scored the second goal and the third goal was unbelievable.

"To do it at that time in the game - that is why he is a world class player, one of the best midfielders in the world if not the best.

"We played well on the day and I think we deserved to win. Steven Gerrard hit a 30-yarder which was out of this world. Not another player in the world could have done what he did."

As well as they played, West Ham scored three goals which were gifts from a strangely illdisciplined Liverpool defence.

In contrast, Liverpool scored three which were gifts from the football Gods.

and who else has scored in an FA cup final, League cup final, UEFA cup final and Champions Legaue final?

ballack who? Shevchenko to where? no no , the real deal is here. at the red side on liverpool.

 

[koolspyda]

awesome read for the red faithfuls. you just know why we are so lucky to have such a passionate captian. and why we are known to be the best fans in the world!!
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/mediawatch/drilldown/MW10052060515-1243.htm

IT'S a fine line between euphoria and heartbreak, but players of rare genius ensure they're usually on the right side of the cruel divide.
Steven Gerrard's ability to successfully drag his team-mates through two-hour ordeals isn't just a matchwinning attribute, it's become a cup final habit.

For long periods this tussle resembled an unevenly sided, gruelling tug-of-war. No matter how close Alan Pardew's men pulled themselves towards the point of victory, Gerrard was able to draw them back as his physically and mentally drained colleagues watched in as much awe as the spectators.

Liverpool have proved over the last eight months they're far from a one-man team, but their seventh FA Cup victory owed everything to the contribution of their captain, with his pals belatedly arriving to heave themselves across the victory line.

Many departed Cardiff applauding the final neither side deserved to lose, but had Gerrard not lifted the FA Cup, the sense of personal injustice would have overshadowed the overall failings of Rafa Benitez's team.

As well as they played, West Ham scored three goals which were gifts from a strangely illdisciplined Liverpool defence.

In contrast, Liverpool scored three which were gifts from the football Gods.

When Jamie Carragher claimed Gerrard was closing in on Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool's greatest ever player, traditionalists kept a dignified public silence in respect of their defender's views.

By Saturday evening, Carragher's tribute carried greater gravitas.

Even King Kenny would have struggled to turn this game Liverpool's way, but at least he'd have had help from six or seven world class teammates.

When Paul Konchesky crossed the third scruffy West Ham goal of the afternoon, Gerrard had to work solo. There was nowhere to look for inspiration other than in his own, exceptional, wholly fashionable, black boots.

The hopes of every supporter and player of red persuasion lay in the skipper's right foot, but the added burden merely prompted his second astonishing rescue act within the space of a year.

As West Ham's hearts were broken by a 35-yard screamer, it was time to dust down the cliché manual and christen the day 'The Gerrard Final'.

The Reds' last FA Cup victory is remembered for the manner Michael Owen transformed a day of inexplicable under-performance to one of triumph.

Now Gerrard has repeated the trick in a game which played out like a highlights package of each dramatic occasion in which Liverpool have contributed since 2001.

The struggle against a side expected to be soundly beaten, the stirring comeback, the 3-3 draw, the last minute stroke of fortune in extra time, the Kewell injury, farewell goal, penalties, and the metamorphosis of a goal-keeper from villain to hero.

The reference points from Birmingham to Alaves, to Arsenal, to AC Milan, were unshakeable.

There are those who still like to see Liverpool as a methodical, pragmatic side who fail to nourish lovers of pure, attacking football.

Such blinkeredness is undermined by the Reds' contribution to some of the most exciting finals the game has seen. The club should be a promoters' dream.

All these occasions share a common theme, as a season of rigorous, disciplined defending is temporarily abandoned and the skills of many of those involved are relegated in importance to more basic assets like courage and determination.

In those circumstances, it's little wonder Liverpool continue to emerge from these 'classics' as winners.

Poor as many of the most trusted lieutenants played, when Gerrard offered players like Carragher, Sissoko, Hyypia, Riise and Reina the chance for a reprieve, their sheer will to win brought the kind of gutsy response which could be dubbed 'Ataturkism'.

Sissoko, especially, grew in parallel with the sense of despair, and by extra time he was performing as Gerrard did in the 90 minutes.

As for Carragher and Reina, they had more reason than most to plant a kiss on Gerrard's forehead.

It was inconceivable a cup final would be decided by an own goal by Carragher after such a flawless career.

When Reina dropped a tame Mathew Etherington shot for the impressive Dean Ashton to score, it seemed the two most reliable performers of the campaign were destined to endure a summer of turmoil.

Gerrard reminded his colleagues they never know when they're beaten, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Djibril Cisse with the same, exquisite, defence-splitting pass.

Crouch's effort was wrongly disallowed, but at least Cisse ensured his afternoon's work went beyond merely showing off the ridiculous array of fashion accessories.

Cisse may not be the worst Liverpool player in recent memory, but when he leaves the club this summer clutching an FA Cup and Champions League winners' medal, given his limitations, he can certainly be considered the luckiest.

The departure of the unfortunate Kewell exposed Benitez's lack of attacking options in a manner which has been expertly hidden by masterful tactics.

By the time Konchesky fluked what looked like the winner, the manager was helpless, sending on Jan Kromkamp to balance the side, but further reducing the attacking threat. Gerrard was the only hope of salvation.

And, lest we forget, cometh the hour, cometh Hamann.

Didi's cup final performances make the decision to omit him look rather silly, in hindsight.

Xabi Alonso deserved to be risked, but it never paid off.

Once Hamann took to the field, Liverpool did what they had failed to do beforehand, keeping the ball and maintaining some momentum .

With Reina recovering from his catastrophic start, Gerrard's appeal for help from his cavalry was finally heard.

The save from Nigel Reo-Coker in the last minute of extra time, and lucky escape which followed, must have prompted a cry of 'been there, done that' from Jerzy Dudek, as the image of Shevchenko flashed across the Millennium Stadium.

As in Turkey, you felt the cup was truly won in that second and penalties merely sealed the deal.

Anton Ferdinand became the second player this season to pay a cruel price for the sins of his family during that notorious last minute at Old Trafford.

You could only sympathise with West Ham's players, although concern for their manager's heartache disappeared as quickly as you could say 'Crystal Palace 4, Liverpool 3'.

As the players and supporters indulged in their familiar post shoot-out celebration, the pre-match image of Benitez as a ruthless manager preparing to wield the axe, despite a year of progress, was already being re-assessed.

Far from ruthless, Benitez's determination to shake up his squad is basic common-sense. The Liverpool boss may even be thankful for such a flawed victory, as it underlines the need to push on from here.

Liverpool have now won the Champions League and FA Cup with no world class strikers and despite a chronic lack of pace which, on days like this, stretches the limbs of those filling the gaps to snapping point.

The team in transition has escaped triumphant from two of the most important days in Liverpool's history.

Gerrard is rightly positioned at the peak of what's becoming the most extraordinary Anfield career of all, but no-one left Cardiff in any doubt there is still much more to come.

And you can't get much more thrilling than that.

Henry is the best striker in the world, but he's not the best all round player.
Ronaldinho is the most skillfull player in the world but he's not the best all round player.

Gerrard has everything, and I mean everything. He can score any type of goal. When you want to protect a lead, you want Gerrard in your side. When you are chasing a game, you want Gerard in your side.

His goalscoring is unbeliveable, his energy is second to none he never stops.

He is the only player in the world, who I know that can play any outfield position on the field and still put in a man of the match performance, as if it's second nature to him

i would not swap him for any other player in the world - FACT!
he really does have ever quality you could want in a footballer.

he doesn't just win matches....he makes us believe, and that's special!

 

[Duke Red]

dunno, me wife saw a green shirt dude giving small instructions to DJ & few fellows & did sit momentarily outside before disappearing into crowd.

BTW, nice event. not too overcrowded. nice beer girls. (some friends of mine were eyeing them)

Ah well, could either have been me or my colleague. Anyway...

I was pretty worried at the start. The crowd came really late, after the mall closed I guess. We didn't have much time to promote the event unfortunately and the long weekend worked against us. Would have prefered a slightly larger crowd. Beer girls were provided directly by the client, the ones that I provide are even better looking! hehe. :regular_smile:

Will invite you to any future event since I see you enjoy giving your eyes a feast.

 

[Duke Red]

awesome read for the red faithfuls. you just know why we are so lucky to have such a passionate captian. and why we are known to be the best fans in the world!!
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/mediawatch/drilldown/MW10052060515-1243.htm

Aside from the official site, you get some pretty good reads of redandwhitekop.com as well. If you don't already know, one of the regular contributers is a guy called Paul Tomkins who is the author of "Golden Past, Red Future".

 

[-fRëɧt¥£3R-]

how we wish we had 11 gerrards..

 

[koolspyda]

we already have millions of fans like gerrard. I wouldnt trade for mercenaries but for a notable above average passionate (love for LFC) will do

we arent bankrolled to buy success (hint :ballack, Shevchenko (likely), lampard, SRW, cole, gallas, makelele, drogba, damien duff, Micheal Essien , crespo....and more & more to come)

some scenes at the final from a LFC fan

http://www.deman.co.uk/index.php?a=columns&b=15

 

[-fRëɧt¥£3R-]

i reckon cisse's goal in the final, was his best for this season..cos its never ez..2 keep ur eye on the ball n then get the shot in..plus he was slippin

 

[Duke Red]

we already have millions of fans like gerrard. I wouldnt trade for mercenaries but for a notable above average passionate (love for LFC) will do

we arent bankrolled to buy success (hint :ballack, Shevchenko (likely), lampard, SRW, cole, gallas, makelele, drogba, damien duff, Micheal Essien , crespo....and more & more to come)

some scenes at the final from a LFC fan

http://www.deman.co.uk/index.php?a=columns&b=15

Just received the pics taken by my photographer that night. Were you in a Liverpool kit? Didya have a scarf or something on? Can't exactly upload all the pics lah.

 

[Duke Red]

i reckon cisse's goal in the final, was his best for this season..cos its never ez..2 keep ur eye on the ball n then get the shot in..plus he was slippin

i reckon reina's fingertip save from reo-coker was one of his best this season as well. superb reflexes and agility.

 

[koolspyda]

Just received the pics taken by my photographer that night. Were you in a Liverpool kit? Didya have a scarf or something on? Can't exactly upload all the pics lah.

photobucket.com

but i wasnt wear a pool shirt; wanted to but gave in to wifey. we were entertaining our guest from SG the whole day. was on a denim blue shirt . no worries, i 'll drop by to a watering hole you mentioned in damansara later when schedules arent so packeed.

 

[Duke Red]

Our reign as Champions of Europe has ended and I thought it would be appropriate to give a final tribute. Here's an article I extracted from redandwhitekop.com. It was written by a 20 year old American girl, the furthest thing from a football fan let alone a Liverpool on right? Wrong. Here's what it means to her to be a Liverpool fan. Enjoy.

It took me almost a year to gain some perspective on the Champions League Final and Liverpool's toils in getting there. I'm a 20 year-old American girl . . . in other words, not your typical LFC fan. I've been a fan of LFC since I accidentally caught a game on digital cable 5 1/2 years ago. It was the first real football match I'd ever watched; previously my football was limited to watching my siblings play soccer for their little league clubs, and seeing pitches throughout Latin American on my family's frequent vacations to Mexico. Five and 1/2 years ago my life changed when Liverpool choose me (and I fully feel that I had no choice in the matter . . . you can't watch LFC and not fall in love with them). It's taken me 5 1/2 years to even begin to understand what it means to be a fan of this club, and almost a year to gain any perspective on last year's momentous win.

With that in mind, I was hoping it would be okay if I shared with RAWK an essay I wrote for an English class this semester at my university. The assignment (a Profile essay) finally gave me the chance to put pen to paper and attempt to express my love of this club in writing, and the chance to begin to understand what last year's win meant to me.

I hope Paul Tomkins is okay with my frequent use of his book for valuable quotations.



"All that I know most surely about morality and obligations I owe to football." ~Albert Camus

By football, existentialist philosopher, author, and playwright Albert Camus meant the type of football enjoyed by the world, with the glaring exception of the United States of America. The type of football that consists of 22 players, two goals, a playing field, 90 minutes, and a round ball. Simple ingredients, really, but apparently intricate enough to teach a philosopher all he needed to know about life.

I don’t purport to know or understand even a minutia of what Camus stood for and I don’t know the specifics of what football taught him. What I do know, is that football has irrevocably changed me, and much of what I know about morality, obligations, and more, I owe to football.

It sounds absurd, really: the idea that a sport - one in which I am but a spectator – can shape my values, my principles, and my perceptions of life. But it does. I have come to see the impact football has left on me only within this past year, and I’m sure I might never completely understand the depth nor the implications of my affection for the Beautiful Game. What I am sure of is that I would not be the person I am today without it.


You’ll Never Walk Alone. Ingrained in the mindset of all Liverpool Football Club fans is the knowledge that you’ll never walk alone. That sentiment can not be avoided; it is literally engraved on the entrance to Liverpool’s stadium and embroidered on the club badge. In fact, it is our anthem as fans. Liverpool fans don’t just sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, we live it.

During the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, almost 43,000 fans filled Liverpool’s stadium with the sounds of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. This game would decide who would go to the final of the most important competition in club football: the Champions League. Liverpool’s fans were doing their part to lead the team to victory, maintaining a decibel level of a jet engine for over two hours, startling the opposing team and encouraging their beloved Reds.

Though I was thousands of miles away, my television speakers quaked with the sound of my fellow fans. Hearing them sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” drove me to tears. As I sang along, despite the barriers of technology and distance, I knew. I knew I was part of something so much larger than myself, that I was taking my place alongside 134 years of my beloved club’s history. I was no longer just a fan; Liverpool Football Club had somehow crept into my veins. I was part of the collective “12th man”.

The sense of community among fans is immense. We are not just individuals who support a team, we are Liverpool fans. More than that, we are Liverpool. Through thick and thin, good and bad, excitement and agony, the joy of victory and the misery of defeat, we are Liverpool. Paul Tomkins summed it up in his book Golden Past, Red Future: “for better and for worse – the vows of a true football fan” (7). Being a Liverpool fan has taught me the true meaning of community, of being a part of something bigger than myself and of dedicating myself to the greater good.


Half-time, and 3-0 down to AC Milan. AC Milan, one of the greatest teams of all time, but more importantly, one of the greatest teams in recent times, national league champions and 2003 European Champions. All seemed lost, for there could be no possible way Liverpool Football Club could overcome this deficit. No matter how glorious Liverpool’s past might be, our present held little glory, and especially after 45 minutes of pure hell.

I had buried myself in a blanket and curled up in the fetal position on the floor in front of the television in my room. My heart throbbed, no it ached, in the very depths of my being. I didn’t know what to say, or do, or think. I just wanted it all to end. But then I remembered my duty as a Liverpool fan: “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark.” Nothing is over until it’s over, and the Champions League Final still had 45 minutes left; 45 minutes to make the comeback of all comebacks, or at least restore some pride. 45 minutes to remind the world that Liverpool fans are not fair-weather fans. As Paul Tomkins noted, “in order to make a remarkable comeback, you need first to make an almighty mess of things. From darkness comes the light, and those first 45 minutes were black” (168). I did the math; it only required Liverpool to score once every 15 minutes, and I’d seen them score before within 30 seconds. I had hope in my heart, and I refused to admit defeat.

As the broadcast returned from half-time commercials my hope was further buoyed when I heard my television speakers quaking with the sounds of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The 40,000 fans in attendance at the final might not have thought Liverpool could win, but they refused to give up hope. The anthem bolstered the team itself, with manager Rafael Benitez stating afterwards, “At half time we could hear them singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' - that was unbelievable. It gave us confidence, it gave us strength.”

Miraculously, eight minutes into the second half, Liverpool scored. And within six minutes after that first goal Liverpool had achieved the impossible: the score was 3-3. After almost three hours of regular time, extra time, and a penalty shoot-out, Liverpool emerged victorious. They staged what is arguably the greatest comeback of all time to be crowned 2005 European Champions.

On 25 May 2005, after possibly the longest day of my entire life, I came to understand that anything is possible. Anything. Existence is limitless, dreams are achievable and nothing is over until you say it is over. “Never give up” is not some pithy phrase to be thrown around nonchalantly, it is a way of life. Impossible is not a statement of fact, it is a challenge.


“Everything is contained within the game of football, providing you are prepared to look for it . . . it’s easy to think of football purely in terms of that rectangle of grass and what takes place within its white lines, but it’s so much more than that . . .” (Tomkins, 169). Football holds incalculable worth and meaning for me. Above all, football has taught me the meaning of community, given me hope, the knowledge that no struggle is in vain, and the understanding that anything can be achieved as long as you persevere. At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky . . . walk on . . . walk on.

Has anyone seen the half time YNWA clip? I managed to download it off the net. As a strong win blows across the pitch, thousands of Liverpool fans sing defiantly in the face of defeat, to let their heroes know that we are behind them no matter what. As Johan Cruyff said, "is sent shivers down my spine". Brings a tear to my eye everytime. If you've never seen it, you're missing out.

 

[Duke Red]

Here are some pics from the event

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4811.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4819.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4847.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4793.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4776.jpg

 

[Duke Red]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4624.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4580.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4563.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/79e085d5.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/bbe3d0d6.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4496.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4445.jpg

 

[Duke Red]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4433.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4412.jpg

 

[koolspyda]

damn

2 tables behind this shot. (group of 7-9)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h121/dukered1976/IMG_4496.jpg

but excellent event again!!! Looking forward to WC & Charity Cup 2006/07 against blackrubbles Blues!!

 

[Duke Red]

Liverpool have reached an agreement in principal with Birmingham City for their winger Jermaine Pennant.

Although details of the fee remain undisclosed, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is confident that nobody else will come in with a higher offer.

The player's agent Sky Andrew has already agreed personal terms with Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry but the deal will not proceed unless Rafa is unsuccessful with other options that he has prioritised.

An email received overnight from a source of mine involved in the negotiations, said: "Rafa has Jermaine in the bag but he must decide whether to push ahead with the deal or buy some more time.

"The transfer fee that has been brokered is reasonable but the wages are slightly higher than a player of his age would usually command.

"Rafa has other options and Sky (agent) is aware of this, which is probably why the wages are more lucrative as Pennant is prepared to wait.

"It's an excellent back-up plan that has been thought out by Rafa and put in place by Rick (Parry)."

Got this off the unreliable Koptalk. It probably holds little truth in it, but Pennant is a speedy winger and his addition to the squad will be a definite plus given our lack of options on the right. He's had a good season with the brums even though they got relegated.

 

[prodigy]

It'll be a massive addition to Liverpool if the deal goes thru. Pennant have been extremely unlucky during his time in Arsenal as Ljungberg and Wiltord had always been ahead of him. With Birmingham, he did ok and if not mistaken he has one of the highest cross rate among midfielders. Sadly the Birmingham players could not convert. However, with Crouch as striker and Gerrard playing behind, i see that Pennant will be a great player at Liverpool.

 

[RPM_freak]

:confused_smile: I hope he doesnt come. That would be a waste of valuble money. He may put in crosses, but he rarely scores any gols. We need our wide man to score at least 10 - 12 gols a season .. do remember that Crouch is not the best player when he is attacking a ball and heading it to gol .. his neck muscels arent built for it ..

And remember he is one of the Arsenal rejects, and Arsene Wenger isnt one who is going to dispose talent if he sees it. Iam hoping we can get some cash as go after SRP, he must be aching to get a game in Chelsea, tough i doubt they will sell him to a rival club .. sigh ..

Rafa did mention that Mark Gonzalez can play on the right as well as on the left ..