Following our humiliating defeat, I’ve had a few words with Liverpool fan Jaimie Kanwar from Liverpool Kop, to balance the opinion of Liverpool fans we have on this blog over the past few days. Guaranteed he will not mention Munich once and his opinions may surprise you.
RoM: So, after Saturday, how do you rate your title chances?
JM: As great as the victory was, Liverpool’s title chances have not improved. This is not pessimism, it is realism, and the euphoria of an almost perfect footballing week should not obscure the fact that this year’s Premiership title was there for the taking before Liverpool spectacularly blew it. United started badly; Chelsea and Arsenal were both in transition and Liverpool were quickly flying high. Predictably though, Rafa Benitez’s ultra-cautious approach, nonsensical team selections, needless public griping and spurious personal agenda conspired to derail the club’s forward progress. In short, Benitez is the reason Liverpool are out of the title race yet again. The Premiership is still United’s to lose, and barring an absolutely catastrophic collapse, the title is regrettably heading back to Old Trafford.
RoM: Who was your man of the match (other than Vidic, obviously!)?
JM: Fernando Torres without a doubt. The Spaniard produced a masterclass of devastatingly effective forward play and was a constant threat to the best defence in the league. Special mention also to my favourite player, Sami Hyypia, who continues to produce outstanding performances at the heart of Liverpool’s defence. A true legend and a true gentleman.
RoM: Liverpool fans sarcastically sung “He’s crackin up!” back to us before the final whistle. Are they right to back him?
JK: I’m sure many fans see it as their duty to back the manager irrespective of the problems surrounding the club, and that is, of course, their prerogative. In public, many fans will put on a united front, but I know that privately, many fans – myself included – have serious doubts about Benitez’s ability to bring the title back to Anfield. In my case, I have maintained since the day Benitez was appointed that he was the wrong man for Liverpool in terms of winning the title, and thus far, I have been proved right. I do not hide the fact that I am in favour of managerial change at the end of the season. Benitez’s selfish personal agenda, constant public politicking, endless moaning in the media, appalling treatment of players (and damaging favouritism for certain players), inexplicable rotation policy and depressingly cautious approach have conspired to stunt the club’s forward progress on the pitch.
RoM: What did you think about Rafa’s ‘facts’ speech?
JK: Utterly ridiculous, self-indulgent, completely pointless, cretinously ill-timed and totally unbecoming the conduct expected of a Liverpool manager. Nothing positive came from Benitez’s rant and Liverpool’s form on the pitch suffered as a result. Furthermore, Benitez displayed his incredible naiveté by basically falling into Fergie’s mind-games trap, only he didn’t fall, he jumped in head first!
RoM: Steven Gerrard kissed his badge after he scored the penalty. How does it make you feel when you see him do that?
JK: If I felt it was genuine and heartfelt, then I would feel good about it, but considering he’s spent the best part of his Liverpool career selfishly pointing to the name on the back of his shirt when he scores, I’ll take his sincerity with a pinch of salt.
Perhaps I’m being a little harsh – I suppose the fact that Gerrard has stayed with Liverpool for another four years after the dual Chelsea debacle of 2004/2005 counts for something. His stunning lack of loyalty during those two Chelsea approaches has changed my view of him forever, hence my cynicism above. I mean, here was a 23 year old Liverpudlian, blessed with the ultimate privilege of captaining his hometown club, something millions of fans could only dream of achieving. All we heard from Gerrard was how much he loved the club and blah blah blah. Yet as soon as Chelsea flashed some cash, his head was turned, not once but TWICE. Once is understandable, if not condonable; twice is unforgivable, and makes a mockery of his apparent love for the club. Bottom line: Someone who genuinely loves the club, does not try and leave twice.
RoM: Who do you hate more – us or Everton?
JK: I don’t hate either club. I know this will be anathema to most Liverpool fans but I have a healthy respect for both Man United and Everton. Of course, this means I cannot be a proper fan. In order to be a proper fan I should be slagging off Fergie, Ferdinand et al and cursing Moyes and coming up with all sorts of offensive nicknames. For me though, such behaviour is the mark of the lowest common dominator type of fan. Friendly banter is one thing, but nasty yob-like personal attacks are pathetic. In my view, real fans respect the opposition; criticise when it is necessary, give praise where it’s due and have the ability to assess contentious issues objectively, instead of being unfairly biased toward the club they support. If Gerrard dives, fans should have the balls the admit it. Same goes for Ronaldo. If Liverpool get a penalty at Goodison that is blatantly not a penalty, the fans should admit it, not just accept it because it gives the team an advantage.
If I had to choose though, I’d say United, purely because of the never-ending succession of unlikeable players you seem to attract, i.e. the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Ferdinand, the Nevilles etc.
When it comes to Everton though, I have lots of time for David Moyes, who I believe is one of the best managers in the league.
RoM: What would Liverpool have to do this season for you to class it as a good one?
JK: Drop the cautious approach and ridiculous team selections that have blighted much of this season and go for broke in every game from now on. This means no more playing ‘not to lose’, no more league draws (10 already – unacceptable), and no more taking the foot off the pedal during games. Bottom line: Champions League final and second in the league, culminating in Rafa taking his tiresome roadshow to Madrid and Liverpool appointing Martin O’ Neill.
RoM: Would you like Wayne Rooney at your club (if he didn’t ‘hate’ you)?
JK: Absolutely not. Rooney is as far away from a ‘Liverpool-type player’ as it is possible to be. His attitude on the pitch is a disgrace and he is a terrible role model for youngsters hooked on football. For me, talent is not enough – a footballer’s character and attitude are just as important, which is the principal reason I have such a problem with Gerrard. Rooney is incompatible with Liverpool FC’s Shankly-led, socialist philosophy, the very thing that drew me to the club in the first place.
RoM: How do you feel about the possibility of us matching your 18 titles this season?
JK: Sick to the stomach. It should never have been allowed to happen but, regrettably, it seems like it will happen very soon. Despite this impending dark day in Liverpool’s history, I have nothing but respect for Alex Ferguson and his tenure as United boss. His aim all along has been to smash Liverpool’s dominance and he has certainly achieved that. Rivalries aside, he is quite simply the greatest club manager in world football today. Still only the 4th best manager in British history though, after Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish 
RoM: Would you seriously consider emigrating if we win all five?
JK: I won’t have to consider it because it’s never going to happen!
Man Utd News 24/7
I advise you to start thinking about the emigrating, United will win the quintuple and next year we will consider winning La Liga and Calcio..
Interesting interview.
His answer to the “Who do you hate more – us or Everton?” question is something a few people on here should take stock of.
Is he a real Kopite? He does not sound like one. Is he a made up character?
Geez…
I don’t know who this alleged Liverpool fan is but he must have been the only one on the planet who “thought benitez was the wrong man at his time of appointment”. Benitez had won League titles with an under achieving Valencia side. They have not won it since. He had also win the Uefa cup. He was the 2nd most wanted man behond Mourinho.
He also has several other claims such as not disliking Man Utd or Everton. Whilst I am not particulary bothered by Everton, having been a life long Liverpool fan I really dis-like Man Utd. Its nothing to do with success or jealousy it’s just the way I was brought up. As with my friends who are Man Utd fans. They grew up dis-liking Liverpool, at the time of our childhood Liverpool were the top side and that too was not jealousy etc, it’s just the way it is. We don’t like your club and you don’t like ours. Its called RIVALRY!!!!!!!
It’s nice to see that your counterpart in Liverpool has a steady head and a realistic view of the footballing world. Something you could do with Scott. Maybe you should have taken some tips on reporting from him.
Lol….a really funny interview. Who do you think you are taking for a ride with this made up Liverpool supporter. You made him up but your coverup wasn’t at all good. Either that or he is complete nonsense.
The only supporters that want Benitez out are the Man utd ones….because even with an inferior squad to United, Liverpool are quickly catching up…and you know it.
An impressive interview. There have always been Liverpool players and fans I admire and respect and this guy fits into the mould. I’d like to think United supporters would be as magnanimous after the best away win for 73 years! Credit where it’s due.
Kanwar is a fraud, not to mention an odious little slimeball. He’s been laughed off every LFC forum out there.
There’s rumours that he’s really a manc. But he’s probably just a wannabe tabloid journo trying to boost his profile, hence the constant hate filled negativity dressed up as ‘realism’ drivel.
This is the same Kanwar who said that Liverpool are better off without Gerrard. Strange, he used to say against Gerrard on blogs like sportingo and there have always been question marks on how Kanwar is really a Liverpool fan. Now he is turning against Benitez. Maybe he likes Gerrard now?
don’t believe any of it -you made it up
I’m sorry but you chose the biggest anti-Liverpool fan possible to interview.
Jaime Kanwar is practically a Man Utd fan so easy interview!
The lad is a digrace and has no right whatsoever to call himself a Liverpool fan. I’m sure he was greatly disappointed at the great results we had last week. Every draw or bad result under Benitez is fuel for his agenda.
Rafa, either love him or hate him, inherited a bad Liverpool side play one-dimensional dire football under Houllier. Remember that we never turned a game under Houllier after going behind.
Rafa has improved the team/squad every year, had turned Liverpool back into the most feared team in Europe and is steadily building a team capable of winning the Premiership. And winning a Premiership that has changed significantly since Abramovich’s arrival.
It is ofcourse any fan’s prerogative to feel Rafa cannot win the title. But to say that Rafa is the reason we have not won it this year then that just show how unintelligent this lad is.
The Kop knows best… “Rafa, Rafael!”
Anfield – believe me, United fans want Benitez in the job at Liverpool. Talking in the pub after the game, we agreed the only positive to come from last week was the likelihood of the FSW being offered a new contract.
Savs – the side he was given finished 4th in the league, 5 points behind Manchester United, the season before he took over. You’re talking what we like to call ‘FSW facts’ because there’s no way you can label a team playing CL football ‘bad’.
Something that both him and you lot seemed to have missed is that when gerrard kissed his badge after scoring it wasnt a demonstartion of his loyalty. He was taking the piss out of you lot because of the transfer chant
OwenseftFoot – I get it. So he kisses the badge on his chest… so another transfer request this summer when Liverpool win fuck all again? If Gerrard wants out when you’re European Champions then what the fuck will keep him next time his contract talks are up for negotiations?
He’ll be there for the rest of his career. Unlike the gelled tumbler at OT
OwensLeftFoot – obviously. Ronaldo told us from day one that he was going to leave for Spain. He’s not born and bred Manc is he so we’ve never expected anything from him. The fact that you would compare Gerrard’s loyalty to Ronaldo’s is fairly amusing though.
A Liverpool Fan, you say?
Sounds like the same one that spoke a couple of years back on 606 claiming to be a Liverpool fan with a thick Manchester accent. He tore into Benitez and Liverpool that day wanting Rafa to leave. I can only assume that is the source of all the big stories that break on days Liverpool have an important match. Like the other week before the Real Madrid game, when it was claimed that Rafa was close to goingg..
Someone at the Evil Empire must be really worried Liverpool , in Benitez, have finally a manager to bring the glory days back to Anfield!!
Nice try, but definitely no cigar Manchistor…
From day one? You have any quotes? Whats amusing about it? Ive never come across any as one eyed as you. Apart from your mate jaime who on his site says gerrard is crap. What a tosser.
Fascinating interview. Hey, this is the great thing about football. Even when fans support the same team, they don’t agree about everything.
OwensLeftFoot – no I don’t have any quotes, I don’t need any. He has always said his long term ambitions were to go to Spain. Look it up for yourself if you’re not arsed.
It’s amusing because Gerrard is a scouser and you’re comparing his loyalty to some foreigner who obviously was never going to spend his entire career with us. Compare him to Giggsy instead… how many transfers requests has he handed in?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4653041.stm
I’m old enough to remember Liverpool’s dominance in the 70′s and 80′s, my intense of them dislike is more to do with their arrogant fans than their trophy haul.
God they’re a jumpy lot, all slagging each other off if they don’t toe some perceived party line. Funny to see them doing it on a United site, clearly oblivious of how insecure and desperate they seem, just 3 days after their best away win against us for 73 years . Very entertaining, just what we needed to cheer us all up. We can now see laid bare how close to the surface their foetid anxieties are about how good their team actually is, despite all the bravado. They must have read Wenger’s comments. Keep it up lads! Get along to Anfield for all the home games to come, give full vent to all your nervous twitchiness.
As a Liverpool fan myself I found I agreed with little bits of what the lad who was interviewed had to say, when I say I hate Man U it is not hate in any violent sense that I want to go out and do damage to someone purely because of footballing/City rivalry.
I am a Red who lives in Merseyside but that didn’t stop me having a mate from Eccles who was a solid United fan, I once took him to a LFC V MUFC game and he stood on the Kop with me as Liverpool lost 2-1 ! he tried his best to contain his glee whilst I was suffering but I didn’t once consider shouting get the Manc! That friend sadly passed away at a young age but I know he remembered that game until the end.
As a lad on the Kop Liverpool fans sang songs that mocked Uniteds grief over 58 and then Karma caught up with us and we had our own tragedies to deal with, what goes around comes around eh?
I want to beat Man U so much it hurts but that’s because now if we want to win something you are usually in the way whilst Everton really don’t matter that much because they are out of the running usually before the season starts.
I loved Saturday obviously but Iam a realist and unless Rafa can build on it ( and with stability behind the scenes he will) it will mean nothing. I honestly don’t want you to win another trophy again! But when you do I usually acknowledge the achievement and if you do win the league again! You will be worthy winners (think I’m going to be sick!) as for Fergie he is the best I have ever seen besides Bob and Bill and not just for his work at Man U but also what he achieved with Aberdeen he should try being gracious in defeat though if he is ever to be considered a great. I hope you don’t mind a bit of enemy observation and here’s to meeting in the champions league final in Rome when I’m sure the Ultras will decide not to go out on their scooters that night.
Dont really pay much attention to wenger Giles, he’s full of shit. And we know how good our team is. We thrashed two highly rated pub teams in the same week
Scott, as long as gerrard does the business on the pitch I couldnt give a shit. Just the way you are with ur Portuguese whinger
Nah this lot are right, he can’t be a Liverfool fan. The way he made sense and could see things in black & white. He actually sounded quite nice too.
Definately not a Loserpool fan!
BTW… Myself, and every Devil i know, want nothing more than FSW to stay at Liverpoo. We recognize you have some good players, and with a good manager you could actually be a threat, creating new stories to tell the kids instead of 30yr old tales of glory. Believe me, when you lot start defending him, it warms my heart.
Besides cheesin’ the CL on penalties, what exactly has he done?
ROOOOOOOONEY!!!
The entire interview seems made up, he seems to sensible and honest to be a Liverpool fan.
Who is this Joker? I saw this link on newsnow and being a Liverpool fan I had to have a look. He does not speak for a lot of Liverpool fans, in fact I’d say he was in the minority when he speaks about Rafa. He’s seems the type of fan that would welcome Jose as manager which again goes against what I think a lot of Liverpool fans would want. Yes Rafa has made mistakes but so has the likes of Fergie and Wenger yet you won’t get many fans of United or Arsenal speaking so badly of their manager. It winds me up when people give interviews like this because he is not the voice of all Liverpool fans and I personally would disagree with most of what he has said.
As for the title race – Well it’s Uniteds to lose but you never know in football. As much as I hate to say it United have a great team and a very strong squad. No-one can argue that Fergie has been and still is a fantastic manager (god I feel sick to my stomach saying that) but I do think first 11 against 11 we are just as good as United. We have been let down by our squad and fringe players not being up to it and this is where we need to improve next season.
I am Liverpool fan and found this article through News Now. I can only agree with parts of his answers – I agree nothing has changed regards the title, I also have healthy respect for Man U, the manager, Giggs and many other players at United – but for a Liverpool fan to be so negative about our great captain our manager is umbecoming of any Liverpool fan.
How predictable – gutter LFC ‘fans’ foaming at the mouth because another fan doesn’t share their view
1. Yes, on the day Rafa was appointed, i wrote a post on ThisIsAnfield.com arguing against the appointment and stating that Martin O Neill should have got the job. 5 years later, my view remains the same.
I didn’t want Rafa from the start for a number of reasons:
i) Negative, cautious style of football, evident from his Valencia team.
ii) Favoured use of two defensive midfielders, which he transferred to Liverpool, thus stifling the team.
iii) A history of arguing with the board and public-politicking, stretching all the way back to his time with Extramedura and Osasuna.
iv) Too many similarities between him and Gerard Houllier in terms of style of play, footballing philosophy (i.e. play not to lose rather than play to win) and poor treatment of players.
v) The Real Madrid connection: In my view, Benitez’s eventual goal is to manage Real Madrid and given his connection with the club, he will sooner rather than later. This is why he places more emphasis on winning the Champions League – this is a more impressive achievement on the continent than winning the premiership
2. I have never once stated that ‘Gerrard is crap’ – that is just typical simplistic misrepresentation. My main problem with him is not ability but attitude, character, demeanour and lack of leadership ability. Furthermore, I have always maintained – and still do – that Gerrard cannot be considered truly world class until he has performed on the international stage, i.e. in a major tournament for England. Gerrard has *never* done the business for England at the world cup or Euros, and he has had plenty of opportunities to do so.
3. Benitez did not inherit a poor team; that is pure fantasy perpetuated by blinkered apologists. Just like at Valencia, Benitez inherited a team fill with good players and achieved some success with practically the same team. Where he fails is in building a team of his own capable consistently challenging for the league title.
4. I think it is clear to any objective observer that Benitez is to blame for Liverpool’s failure to win the title this year, just like he has been the main problem *every season*. Whether it’s playing strikers on the left wing; playing 8 defensive players in must-win game, disgracefully subjecting a proven goalscorer to 28 sub appearances in 33 games, pointlessly leaving Torres out of must-win games; repeatedly playing the wrong (defensive) formation; repeatedly playing players out of position; repeatedly playing it safe and refusing to take risks; arguing with the board in public before important games or making stupid public rants that serve no purpose, benitez is definitely to blame.
Hahahah, this blog is utterly ridiculous. They take someone who’s been banned from countless Liverpool forums and take it as gospel for all real reds views. Jamie Kanwar, ffs, greatest attention seeker but the most clueless football fan. Ever. It’s really hilarious how this lad try to convince himself he knows the game while everone everyone can see he clearly doesn’t.
Reply to Scott the Red:
You say the Liverpool team Rafa inherited finished 4th 5 points behind United.
And that means something? How many points did United finish with that year? How many points are needed now to win the league? What quality of football do we play now compared to Houllier’s time? How did Houllier fare in the Champions League?
Let me ask you? Are you happy to be reaching the semis or final of the Champions League every year? Or do you prefer to go back to UEFA Cup playing days? Are you happy to do the double over United and Chelsea the same year? Are you happy to lose the least number of games of any team in the Premiership? Are you happy to sign world-class players like Torres, Alonso, Mascher, Reina and fantastic bargains like Arbeloa, Aurelio, Agger, Skrtel, Benayoun? Are you happy to be progressing year after year?
If you answer no to the above then fair enough.
The fact that United fans are complementing Mr. Jaime Kanwar shows him up as the two-faced United fan he really is.
Join your own Jaime.
Of course it means something. You called them BAD but any team who qualify for the CL can’t be considered BAD… unless you’re trying to make excuses for the manager who comes in and still doesn’t win you a title.
The team he was given were only 5 points behind United. In his first season, Liverpool finished 19 points behind United. Last season it was 11, the season before it was 21. Benitez was given a good team and how have they progressed? You haven’t won anything for two years ffs and when you consider you were running away with the league a few months ago and now find yourself in 3rd position, I cannot understand why you would be so happy with the job he’s done.
The fact that doing the double over United and Chelsea is now something to celebrate shows how low your expectations are. We’ve done the double over Liverpool for years on the trot… but it’s our trophies we talk about at the end of the season. City did the double over us last season, West Ham did the double over us the season before. Whilst it’s flattering you use your results against us a measuring stick, I’m not entirely sure why, other than bragging rights, you see it as a big achievement and a reason to praise the FSW.
Like I said to all the Arsenal fans saying similar things this time last season, come back in May. They didn’t, I’m sure you won’t either.
Jaime – “i) Negative, cautious style of football, evident from his Valencia team.”
The valencia team that completely made us look like kids at anfield?
Excellent interview by a dippers standards
Especially agree with this bit
‘His attitude on the pitch is a disgrace and he is a terrible role model for youngsters hooked on football.’
I am not rooney’s biggest fan but its true
add ill disciplined to that and it would be perfect
LOL. Scott really doesn’t know how to talk about anything else but rooney, ronaldo and the dippers.
Savs-I’ll tell you something mate, call the lad what you want but he’s twice as intelligent as you and probably much more philsophical which is something I appreciate…Calling him a United fan because he has his own opinions (which he backs up with examples) is pathetic and uneducated…I’m a United season ticket holder but I refuse to sing anti-Gerrard songs because I think he’s the best central midfielder in Europe and I like watching him play…Does this make me a closet Liverpool fan? Unfortunately, society is filled with morons like you and all football clubs have their fair share but it strikes me that Liverpool have a particular brand of idiot that likes to denigrate their fellow fans…I’ve just bemoaned the intelligence of people like you but in saying that, without people like you, I would find it much harder to define myself so carry on you fuckin idiot.
I’ve actually been banned from two Liverpool sites: ThisIsAnfield and SixCrazy Minutes. Why is that something to be ashamed of?! It just proves that unless you tow the party line set by rabid self-appointed superfans, you’ll be silenced.
The fact is, the so-called fans on those sites simply couldn’t hack the (fair) criticism of their golden boy, Steven Gerrard; and instead of debating the issue, they chose censorship instead. Hardly surprising though, since it’s the way of the world!
Owen’s Left Foot
One game at Anfield is not representative of Valencia’s style of play overall. Similarly, would you seriously argue that Liverpool’s victory over Madrid at Anfield is representative of our overall style of play?
I think not.
At Valencia, Benitez was as defensive minded and cautious as he is at Liverpool, and the onus was on defence and not losing, rather than attack.
Savs
People like you are incapable of understanding the concept of rival fans actually being friendly with each other. For the modern ‘fan’, it has to be about slagging off rival fans, violence, personal attacks and everything else that plagues modern football. It’s pathetic really, and is yet another reason why modern football is such a cesspool.
I thought it was a very fair interview, just because he doesn’t share opinions of the idiot fans doesn’t mean it’s not a proper interview, ofcourse for it to be put on a United site it had to be fairly bias, so he chose someone who doesn’t like Rafa! Why is it that Liverpool fans struggle to answer questions posed? It really annoys me, not ALL Liverpool fans, but when you mention he blew away a handsome lead at the top of the table, none refer to that whatsoever, Valencia had an up and down time with Rafa, I personally don’t think his achievement was that great, a cup run and 2 titles, sure it sounds impressive in any division but when you consider the likes of Real Sociedad can finish 2nd and then next season and the seasons after end up in a relegation battle just shows how poor the league is, i’m sure Mourinho would get the job done as it seems motivation is the key in that league. The league is completely unstable with managers of the top clubs being changed after a couple of years, you can never prove that Rafa was the 2nd most saught after manager, you can look at Valencia now and see they’re struggling but that’s ‘cuz of the crippling debts they’ve got not the fact that Rafa has left. Give him the Liverpool job for life is what I say, he might be an irritating prick but we can add to our titles year after year and compete with the true title contenders not pretenders!
In Rafa We Trust!
Atleast one of your scouse lad accepts the facts..well done Jamie…btw pool fans its okay if u and ur board live in your delusional little scouse world ..keep the FSW at your club and next year when we win our 19th title I’m sure you lads will rant aginst him and again a manager will come who will do fuck all for four or five years….Good goin…but then again this is what you lot are famous for!!
Tempting as it might be for some people to think of this guy as fictional, there are quite a number of affable people who follow rival clubs, and they almost certainly make for having the best debates and discussions with. I know a City fan who doesn’t spend all of his time obsessing over the success of United and the extent of its fan base. No, really.
Thanks for pointing out about the objectivity required of people for when it comes to their own club. Too many fans lacking in this ability is a blight on modern football. In my earlier years I’d have probably gone along with Ferguson’s assertion that United were the better team on Saturday. Thankfully I’ve come to realise that statistics can be deceptive.
P.s. there’s no shame in being banned from a Liverpool website. Just goes to show that his home truths have stoked up their share of the idiots, thus provoking a reaction to quell the bad feeling. A bit like the idiots and bad feeling that are as evident on here when people think their selfish “only United” world has been compromised.
Reaction from the Enemy?
In what way is this guy the enemy of Man U? He can’t stand Benitez, can’t stand Gerrard but has lots of time and respect for Fergie??? This looks like someone who got onto a soap box 4 years ago, and has subsequently lacked the capability to modify his position in the face of reality.
The comparative spending power of Liverool (and almost all other English sides – with the exception of Chelsea) relative to Man U has declined markedly since 1998. Benitez and Fergies relative successes have to measured against this reality.
Top Interview Scot &Jaimie! Ignore the haters!
i would like to put on record, my distaste at your very poor choice of a representative liverpool supporter. i must say that his view are definitely not a reflection of mine and i beg to differ from every statement he made, from wanting benitez out, to gerrard’s hypocritical love for the club, to not hating everton and manu.
i believe that benitez could’ve done a better job, but he comes as close as a perfect fit to the spirit and culture of liverpool. we all love gerrard, we know he had his head turned, but kudos to him, he resisted the lure at the end, and has pledged never to be swayed again. liverpool fans are a forgiving lot – we are family and family always forgives. aren’t manu fans any better? ronaldo has continually flirted with real madrid but the fans still love him.
and finally, a true reds fan will never say he/she doesn’t hate manu or everton. i think ferguson typifies the relationship between liverpool and manu with his comments “how about relegation instead?” when asked if it would be good for football if liverpool won the title. liverpool supporters feel the same way about the two.
Before all you Mancunians get too excited, those comments are not from a true Liverpool supporter, i suspect its all a bit of a fraud.
Benitez has made mistakes just the same as every other manager in the world, Fergie included. But in just five years he has Liverpool ranked No1 in Europe and easily competing with the other top 3 teams in the Premiership. Compare this with Fergies barren 7 years and taking into account he has always had to wheel & deal in the transfer market where as Fergie has had blank cheques given to him at every opportunity. If Benitez had received a few £30 million cheques from the board in the last few years i’m certain he would have acheived the Premiership title by now. All things considered, Benitez is doing a great job and has the support of almost every fan.
You have been had, the person who was answering your questions is actually either a Man Utd fan or an Evertonian we just can’t work out which. His name is ‘ Tricky ‘ and he’s actually from malaysia and he’s been banned of one forum but keeps reregestering in different names.
Mike, you talk as if at the time Fergie and Rafa started their clubs were in the exact same position. They were not. United were in the relegation zone and beset by a heavy drinking culture. Where were Liverpool when Rafa took over?
Jamiesdad – His English is considerably better than yours, I’d be more inclined to believe you were from Malaysia…Regardless of his origins or allegiance, he still has some pretty useful points to make and backs them up with evidence, where as you have just made a complete supposition. So we return to the point, that instead of engaging with the opinions you cut them down with baseless slurs which seems increasingly typical of Liverpool fans on here…Oh and just a bit of amateur psychology here but I am struggling to understand the motives of someone writing on several Liverpool blogs over a number of years, with reasonable and interesting arguments and calling himself a Liverpool fan, all to just get at other Liverpool fans in what would seem a pointlessly subtle and slow process…Give it a break mate
Mike Said
Why am I not a ‘true Liverpool supporter’. Becuase you say so? And how do you know Benitez has the support of ‘almost every fan’? Did you conduct a survey?!
Liverpool have not been ‘easily competing’ with the other top teams in the premiership at all since Benitez took over. Every season has fizzled out into practically nothing where the league is concerned. Let’s look at the facts shall we?
2004-05: Finished 5th/58 points – 19 points behind United, 25 behind Arsenal and 37 points behind Chelsea. Competing? NO.
2005-06: Finshed 3rd/82 points – 1 behind United and 9 behind Chelsea. Competing? Not really, as there was never a time in the season when Liverpool had a chance of winning the title. Furthermore, this points total was achieved with most of Houllier’s players, a manager who incidentally managed to finish 2nd in the league in 2002.
2006-07: Finshed 3rd/68 points – 15 points behind Chelsea and 21 points behind United. Competing? NO. This was actually a regression, achieved with mostly Rafa’s own players.
2007-08: Finished 4th: 76 points – 7 points behind Arsenal, 9 behind Chelsea and 11 behind United. Competing? NO. Once again, at no point in the season did Liverpool mount a serious title challenge.
So how do these placings show Liverpool ‘easily competing’?
The same thing will happen this season – we’ll finish 3rd probably, with 75 points or something, yet Chelsea and United will still be 10-12 points ahead.
How is this progress? How is this any different Gerard Houllier’s reign, or Roy Evans for that matter, who never finished outside the top 4 in his time in the hotseat?
Colbert:
After Hillsborough, Liverpool went through so much turmoil with different managers bringing different systems and changing so many things far too quickly. The club was in a lot of debt and had a squad of players that cost a small fortune but were very average. Benitez inherited a squad belonging to Souness and Houllier that was never gonna compete in Europe and was struggling to stay in the top 4. With a net average spend of only £18 million a season for the last 5 years he has completely overhauled the first team and improved the entire squad. Despite this transition period he has excelled in Europe and ensured the team are no longer struggling for that 4th spot. To me and every other fan that is called progress.
Jamie can’t be a liverpool fan, he’s far too intelligent and sensible. 19 years and counting.
Kanwar:
I hear the loyal 45 thousand fans singing his name at every home game. I hear the 3 thousand fans singing his name at every away game. I hear most of the radio phone ins that although they have criticisms of Benitez, the general feeling is that we are still progressing.
One step at a time is how a club is rebuilt, see Leeds, Newcastle, Spurs and the Souness era at Liverpool to evaluate just what a great job Benitez is doing, one step at a time.
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
he kisses the badge on his chest
then says he wants to be a chelsea rentboy
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
even though you are a homegrown academy born liverpool player
and wanted to leave us twice for nothing more than money
we treat you like a saint
steve Gerrard, Gerrard
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
Instead of kissing the badge
maybe you should worry about who
is the father of your kids
Gerrard, Gerrard
Sorry jake didn’t realise it was a f**kin english lesson. You say he makes some points and then backs them up with evidence – what evidence. If you lot wanna feel good about yourself by thinking that Liverpool fans have the same opinion as ” Hairdresser” as he is commonly known and is from malaysia which is backed up by mods on one of the sites he is always on changing his name by doing an ip check then you just carry on with Tricky.
Get a grip, Jamie’sdad!
What is all this Malaysia nonsense? And what site are you talking about. If you check the Alexa site info for my website you will find that I am very much based in the UK.
But believe whatever you want
Jaime Kanwar is exactly the L’pool fan I like to know & talk football with. Those I don’t want to know – example: one Singaporean L’pool fan who had a ManU no.7 jersey printed with the word ‘SHIT’and he wears it to offend ManU fans. HE looks like SHIT, actually!
I know its yoy Tricky cos you never shut up. Not even anyone anti Benitez could come up with your drivell after the two games we have just had. Now your on United Forums cos everyone just ignores you know “hairdresser Tricky hangfish whatever you wanna call yourself do us a favour and stay on this site from now on. Good luck United fans cos this blert will even do the heads in of the most anti liverpool fans amongst yourselves because you won’t get a chance to talk about anything United. Tricky just don’t shut up.
Im a MAN UTD FAN AND I AGREE WITH JAIMIES DAD. JAIMIE KANWAR CANNOT SURELY BE A DIPPER FAN.
1. Surely no dipper can articulate themselves like that
2. Surely no dipper can talk sense
3. Surely no dipper can be so coherent and concise and terse in argument.
4. Surely no dipper can be so succinct and to the point
5. Surely no dipper can be so intelligible
6. Surely no dipper can have that vocabulary
7. Surely no dipper can speak like that, instead of their proverbial shit they spout from their backsides.
8. Surely no dipper would accept stevie me’s 2 transfer requests and self glorification.
9. Surely no dipper would accept FSW cautious nature to life
10. Surely no dipper would accept they have gone backwards as he has pointed out.
11. Surely no dipper would accept that FSW is living on the fluke of 05 and the last ditch of 06.
12. Surely no dipper could make these observations and arguments.
13. Surely no dipper could see beyond his arsehole.
14. SURELY NO DIPPER CAN SPEAK THE TRUTH
15. SURELY NO DIPPER IS EDUCATED!!!!!!!!
All these reasons must be SO hard for the bunch of animals to comprehend…that 1 amongst them speaks clearly and speaks with enlightnment. Rather than acting like thick hyenas on steroids.
I cant believe anyone would set up a site and pretend to be a Liverpool supporter like this Jaimie Kanwar. Its mental!
Fair play to anyone with that much time and mental instability. But I honestly think Jamie needs to see a doctor and get treatment.
Oh my god.After the ridiculousness that was Jon,i thought that there were no decent Liverpoolians left.I don’t want any Liverpool fan to kiss our feet,but it is nice to hear them blame Benitez for his responsibilities and say that he threw the title away(hopefully for good).
I’d bet a pound to a penny it isn’t Merseyside you live.
And on a general note for all supporters from England.Guys you give your coaches way too much latitude.In Greece they are very suspicious of the managers.Fergie would have never made it if he was in Greece.But if a fan once in a while critisizes their manager,i don’t think it’s a negative.After all Rafa and SAF can make mistakes.
Read the articles on http://www.liverpool-kop.com/
Great reading. Link them to yer fanatic Pool-mates. What an excellent site. You can’t have anything but respect for this guy.
By the way Block 205. Respect to your comments pal. I as a utd fan can say that. There are some sensible pool fans after all.
I echo Suhayl’s comments. Nice post Block 205.
Why would all you United fans agree with Tricky anyway, I thought u all wanted Benitez to remain as Liverpool manager. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
We do want him as Liverpool manager.But we also feel sorry for those who have seen that he is not anything special.I know for a lot of Liverpool fans he is God now,and he should be.But you should never forget who cost Liverpool the top spot this season.
Listen costas i’m not on a United forum to act like a child swapping insults mate, i’m on here cos the story of a liverpool fan giving an honest opinion on R O M came on our news portal. Now there is a few moron’s on here who carry on like kid’s throwing insults but there is also some rational United fans on as well who if they went on Trickys site – Liverpool kop – then they would fathom after about 2 minutes that this is no Liverpool fan. Any United fan who reads that and believe it are as insane as tricky himself. We have all the little jokes on YOUTUBE etc were we take the prov out of each other but Trickys(or hairdresser, hangfish or gloryhuntingsuperfan some of his other psuedonames) isnt even funny it’s quite boring and instead of encouragment the fella needs help. Anyone who does think it’s funny must have had a personallity bypass at birth. As for Scott the red saying ‘ and he did not even mention Munich ‘ then maybee scot the red ought to grow up. Anyone needs an adult United forum try STRETTYRANT( proper match going United fans on there).
In my opinion,this is an adult serious blog.But in the last few days thgere have been some Liverpool fans who come here with the sole purpose of trashing the team,the manager and the fans.It’s not on.I don’t know if he is a Liverpool fan or not.Maybe you are right.Yoy probably know better than me.But as i said,it’s not bad to blame Rafa even at this point.Last year you know how many times i was cursing at SAF for some of his decisions?Hell i didn’t even like his decision in the final to start with Scholes.Anyway,and just for the humor of it,being Jamiesdad,would that make you Harry Redknapp?
Costas – i should not be on this site as it’s a United site so regardless of my opinions of Benitez then i’m not going into it just like if i wanted to have a pop at Fergie i would not come on here either i would just moan about him on one of our own sites. My point was that imposters cannot use phone-ins due to being detected through accent but it’s easy to pretend about who you are when hiding behind a keyboard spouting venom. Please leave Tricky alone – the guy needs a shrink! No im not Harry but i wish i had his dough.
Well if that’s the case you might be right.But at the moment he might be the only Liverpool fan who isn’t still on Cloud nine and is available for an interview.If he is a Liverpool fan.Nonetheless you should come more often here.Sometimes it can get boring if it’s only United fans here.We would either praise Rooney or trash O’Shea.Lol.Agreed on Harry.I think today he said that he wants to manage until he is 75 or something like that!If Sir Alex sees this he will want to carry on until then.
Jamies Dad – why do you persist with this ridiculous notion that I am apparently some poster called ‘Tricky’ on some unnamed website?! Why keep deluding yourself? Whoever that is, it is not me. I always post under my own name, regardless of the site. The only time I’ve used an alias in on SixCrazyMinutes, where I was ‘Kojak’.
Since you are so certain I am this ‘tricky’ person, I imagine you have proof of this. I challenge you to prove it.
*Cue much blustering about IP addresses and how ‘it’s obvious’ and whatnot*
Ace
If your comment “I’d bet a pound to a penny it isn’t Merseyside you live”, was aimed at me, I’d like to respond. What exactly has a fan’s location got to do with *anything*?
Liverpool FC does not survive purely because of fans who go to games or live in Merseyside. In fact, more than 90% of the club’s worldwide fanbase is located *outside* Liverpool, and without this 90%, the club would have withered and died a long time ago.
The non-merseyside support are what keep Liverpool going financially. Without the worldwide support, Liverpool would probably be in league 2 right now.
God, these ‘Pool fans really are the pits.
One moment they want RB out, the next game he’s the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
After victories over 2 teams who both had their worst performances in years, they think they are going to win everything. Well, I’ve got news for them – they are just not good enough to win anything. Not the EPL nor the CL. Not this season nor next season.Not unless they have a massive injection of QUALITY playing staff. That needs money that they haven’t got, and anyhow would the owners trust RB to buy wisely? Recent evidence suggests not.
The fans seem to completely ignore the clubs impending financial implosion.
Unless the owners can come up with enough money to repay their two banks, then the club is staring into an abyss. Without a laid out plan for the next 2/3 years I find it hard to see Liverpool ever having a team good enough to win the championship.
But I suppose there’s no harm in their fans sticking their heads in the sand and pretending the future is rosy and laden with trophies.
One of the ongoing facts that the disgruntled ‘Pool fans always bring up about UTD is UTD’s bigger spending power in relation to their own club. Lets look at the facts.
In the early 90s after the disasters at Hillsborough and Bradford, and the subsequent inquiries, football clubs were given orders to install seats throughout the grounds. Standing was out. Attendances would fall, therefore club income would also fall. The clubs had two options – do nothing and accept the situation, or improve their ground facilities to make up for the financial short-fall. UTD did the latter, ‘Pool did the former, reflecting the relative attitudes of the Boards of both clubs. UTD’s Board was progressive and planning for the future; Liverpool’s Board was mired in the past.
UTD took the opportunity of turning the situation to their advantage, whilst ‘Pool did nothing. UTD started a most ambitious programme of ground improvement to accommodate their supporters and more importantly to generate enough wealth to be able to take on the top European clubs.
Liverpool should have been looking for an alternate site as soon as it became evident what was in store for the clubs. But no they dithered and opportunities passed them by. Some of the smaller clubs in English football saw the signs and began making plans for new grounds almost immediately.
UTD’s foresight, and Liverpool’s complete lack of forward thinking has lead to the situation today that sees UTD get £3.5m in revenue for every home, whilst Liverpool only get £1.8m. The difference allows UTD to buy better players and pay them top wages. As far as this goes, UTD have a 20 year start on Liverpool. In fact Liverpool will NEVER be able to compete with UTD as far as club finances go. And the reason why goes back to the Liverpool Board of the early 90s.
UTD are planning more ground extensions. The quadrants on the south stand will be developed in the next few years giving OT a ground capacity of 84K. And when the structural problems of rebuilding the south stand are overcome and a new stand is built there, the ground will hold over 100k. Meanwhile Liverpool will be realising that with their new ground of 60K capacity, they still can’t compete with UTD.
So Liverpool fans stop complaining about UTD’s superior financial position and look at mistakes made by your club in the past.
Failure to be progressive has cost Liverpool FC dearly.
That’s a fair comment Brisbane red…
It’s a well known fact that we are not as commercially viable as we should be…
Hopefully, with Parry going and new investors around the corner, we will be in a better position to be able to compete financially, both on and off the pitch.
Jamie, most top clubs would be in a similiar position financially if it wasn’t for worldwide support – Utd very much included…
LOL this is the BEST blog iv read in ages thank you jamiesdad and kanwar for amusing mancs so much we wil be even more amused once we win the league
Brisbane Red is right in the sense that we didn’t have money fall from the sky for us.In the 90s the boards did a fantastic job of marketing Man United all over the world.The fact that Glazer’s takeover hasn’t put a damp on that yet(although i don’t know for how long we will hang on) is a testament to that.Liverpool could have done the same and maybe with the departure of Parry they will.
BrisbaneRed: is OT really goin to have 100,000 seating capacity ? thats gonna be awesome man.remember barca straightaway
oohh this forum is getting smokey!
That scares me though Brisbane red… If we have a bad run of form, lets say 5 years of winning nothing, falling out of the top four etc, who is going to fill the 100K seats?? I think it looks horrible in Italy and other leauges when the San Siro is this gigantic ground and its half empty for every game (except when United come to town, mind)
Amazing isn’t it?
Two weeks ago ‘Pool fans on one site I saw were saying that not only should RB go, but SG should have gone when Chelsea were offering big money.
Now after two 4 goal victories, everything is sweet in scouseland, ‘Pool are the best team in the country, RB is the most influential person since Jesus Christ, and SG is the reincarnation.
No doubt the chat sites will be back to normal when the fans realise that their team will NOT win their next 9 games and mediocrity will rear its head.
Ah well, that’s football.
As the Agnelli family used to believe, it takes the public’s mind off politics and religion.
Brisbanered you need to get out of the sun lad. You were probably reading Trickys post. You can tell your far away the way you call us POOL fans, that’s classic that kid. Do you mean Hartlepool.
Hello, Hitler