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July 2007 Archives

Everton's Kirkby Move (Again)

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 30, 2007 12:13 PM

I've already nailed my colours to the mast on this one by saying it'll be really bad for this city if Everton move to Kirkby.
Although most Reds I know disagree with me and can't wait to see the back of the Blues, there are still those who see the bigger picture.
One is someone called Retro Red who posts on the execllent Red All Over The Land forum.
I've cut and pasted it (stolen it?!) so anyone who hasn't seen it yet can read it for themselves.

What About The Leg Room?

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 27, 2007 8:59 AM

The artists impressions of Liverpool's new ground look fantastic and I can't wait for the stadium to be built.
But I'm sure I'm not the only Kop season ticket holder who got more than a little worried when Rick Parry said the seats in the new Kop will be "tightly packed".
What, even more tightly packed than the ones we are used to? Surely that would be impossible.
Sitting in the current incarnation of the Kop should come with a government health warning because everyone who does so (who stands over 5ft 6 anyway) risks lacerations of the shin or deep vein thrombosis.

What No Protest - The Update

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 26, 2007 1:21 PM

Had loads of reaction, both here and on various forums, to my blog article about it not being in the nature of Liverpool fans to protest against the club.
Some have been inspired and some have missed the point in a big way.
I'm not looking for protests. I know a new ground is an absolute necessity and I am looking forward to seeing it in all its glory.
I also know all about Anfield4Ever and all the excellent work they did when it was first mooted that Liverpool might quit Anfield.
The point of the article was that seeing the new plans yesterday brought it into sharper focus than ever that we really will be leaving Anfield, particularly with the new owners being in a much better financial position to facilitate the move than the previous regime were.

I Don't Actually Want People To Protest

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 25, 2007 3:38 PM

Before anyone accuses me of rabble rousing or some mad bloke grabs a placard and goes down to picket Anfield I don't actually want people to protest.
The title of my last entry on this blog was a rhetorical question not some sort of ill-advised demand for civil unrest because we're moving to a new stadium.
It just interests me that Liverpool is regarded as one of the most militant cities in this country and yet in the 115 year history of its most famous sporting institution fans of Liverpool FC have been the least rebellious in the land.

Why No Protests?

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 25, 2007 11:27 AM

"Thousands of Liverpool fans took to the city's streets this afternoon in protest at the club's plans to quit Anfield and move to a new stadium to be built on Stanley Park".
This is a line you will never, ever see written in any newspaper. But why not?
Why are Liverpool fans so ready to see Anfield, a ground which is so synonymous with all our success and which holds so many special memories, consigned to the history books?
Look at our friends and neighbours across the park. There is mutiny in the air amongst the blue brethren and it's not just because they're facing the stark prospect of quitting the city - many are simply unready and unwilling to give up on Goodison Park.

Do You Really Want Everton To Quit The City?

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 24, 2007 2:32 PM

I know I don't.
There, I've said it.
As much as I will enjoy the comedy if they do go I just think seeing the city of Liverpool reduced to just one club can only be a bad thing.
Manchester, Glasgow, London and Birmingham will all have at least two big clubs but Liverpool will have just one.
We would be deprived of a genuine derby as Everton's new local rivals would be Kirkby Town (and there's no point arguing any differently cos derby matches are local skirmishes, they're all about geography and proximity).

Carragher Everton Tattoo Shocker

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 23, 2007 3:05 PM

Yes, he really doesn't have one.
After all those years of hearing the "Carragher wears long sleeves cos he's got an Everton tattoo" the myth can finally be nailed once and for all.
As this picture, taken by Echo photoghrapher Colin Lane, shows, Carragher hasn't got any tattoos, never mind an Everton one.

CL230707LPOOLTRAIN-5.jpg

I Love Idiots: Part 2

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 20, 2007 9:14 PM

Some clown called Lewis thinks you're not English unless you hate Muslims and love the BNP.
He sent me this message in reply to my rant about having no time for the England national team:
"This is pathetic. You have no right to call yourself English anyway, you should move to Scotland or Wales or better yet Germany.
"With all of England's history I am ashamed people like you exist. It's bad enough have all these muslims in England hating us and killing us without people like you joining their side.
Up the BNP."

Trivia Question answser

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 18, 2007 9:57 AM

Can't believe the first answer I get is the right one.
The player was Delfi Gelli of Alaves who scored the own goal that won us the UEFA Cup in 2001.
Aidan, please tell me you used google or your Gelli's brother or something cos I was made up with that question!

Trivia Question

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 17, 2007 9:07 PM

There's no prizes on offer for this one but if anyone can get the right answer to this question (without looking on Google!) you'll have my total admiration.
One former Atletico Madrid player has already scored a goal which secured a European trophy for Liverpool.
Can you name him?

A Cracking Read

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 17, 2007 6:55 PM

After Istanbul a load of books came out as publishers (and just about everyone else) looked to cash in on Liverpool's fifth European Cup win.
To be honest, I couldn't be bothered with most of them because I didn't see what any author could add to our own stories, particularly so soon after the event.
I bought Guillem Balague's A Season On The Brink because I knew it would be a good read given his relationship with many at Anfield, particularly those who arrived from Spain in the last few years.

Torres Madness

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 17, 2007 9:48 AM

Just got back from a few days in Madrid, a city which is still mourning the loss of its favourite son.
Fernando Torres is not just a footballer to the people of Madrid, he is an icon who inspires the most incredible loyalty and a cult hero who is worshipped like no other player in this football mad city.
I can't think of a single Liverpool player who has inspired sililarly strong feelings in the last couple of decades - the last one was probably Kenny Dalglish - and, while such extremes of emotion might have their roots in the Latin temprament of your average Madrileno, there is no doubt that their devotion to him is fired by their belief that El Nino is the real deal.

I Love Idiots

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 10, 2007 8:13 PM

Seriously, wouldn't life be shit without them?
There'd be nothing to make us laugh in derision and nothing to get us angry.
One of the best things about having a blog is there are no shortage of idiots who leave comments for me to enjoy.
My favourite one recently is this one, posted by a fella called Nick in response to me saying I have no interest in the English national team.
Nick replied:
Quite agree with you. Scouser's should stay away from the England team.

Two Shameless Plugs

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 10, 2007 7:51 PM

Plug number one: If anyone reading this has got a few bob to spare log on to www.babyemma.co.uk and give to to one of the best causes you could ever give to.
The website was set up in a bid to raise the £200,000 needed to send two-year-old Emma Clittie, from Skelmersdale, to the USA for life saving treatment after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Emma has been through an horrendous ordeal for such a young kid and she has kept on smiling no matter what she has faced.

Carragher furore (again!)

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 10, 2007 11:32 AM

I can't understand how so many people in this country are up in arms about a player saying he no longer wishes to be fifth choice centre half for England.
It's not as if he is depriving them of his services, Steve McClaren has done that since he became manager.
And I can't remember any "Carra must play" campaign because so many Ingerlund fans felt so strongly that he should represent his country.
All he has done is state that he no longer wishes to clock up more air miles than Alan Whicker, going to places like Estonia in the forlorn hope that only one from John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate is fit and he might actually get a game.

Talksport

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 10, 2007 9:38 AM

What else should we expect from a station which once had Kelvin MacKenzie as its chief executive?
My only disappointment about Carragher's on air outburst is it will have given their viewing figures a massive boost.
In it's reactionary sensationalism Talksport is the Sun of the airwaves and we'd all be better off leaving it well alone.
After hearing of Carragher putting presenter Adrian Durham to the sword I tuned in for the first time and I won't be doing so again.

I Still Hate England

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 9, 2007 8:43 PM

All the controversy over Jamie Carragher has led to loads of Reds going on Talksport telling the Southern presenters that they don't give a monkeys about England.
Superb.
The Cockneys really don't get it either.
Long may it continue. We're not English, we're not English, we're not English we are Scouse.
Seriously, do any Liverpool fans from Liverpool support the national team?

The Scouse Accent

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 9, 2007 2:54 PM

We're about to launch a new project at the Echo in celebration of the Scouse accent.
It's one of a number of ways we're toasting Liverpool as the city celebrates its 800th birthday and approaches Capital of Culture year.
We want people to get involved because it'd be pretty pointless if everything was led by a load of journalists and marketing people.
So if any of you have any favourite Scouse words of phrases - they could be from now or from years gone by - let us know what they are.
Absolutely anything goes. All you have to do is add a comment to this blog and we'll pick them up.

Why I Hate England

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 8, 2007 10:55 AM

I've always hated the England national team.
When I was a kid I supported Scotland even though I was brought up in Liverpool, not Livingston.
When Ray Houghton scored the winner for the Republic of Ireland against Bobby Robson's men in Euro 88 I danced around the living room as if Razor had just scored for the Reds.
When Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed those penalties against Germany I celebrated as much as any German.
And when Gareth Southgate repeated the trick to send England crashing out of Euro 96 I bought a bottle of champagne for me and my mates.

Soeculation About Jamie Carragher Quitting England

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 8, 2007 10:26 AM

IF anyone is surprised that speculation is growing that Jamie Carragher has informed the FA he no longer wishes to be considered for selection for England then they shouldn't be.
After being considered nothing more than a stand in for his country by Sven Goran Eriksson, Carragher has had to put up with being sent even further down the England pecking order by Steve McClaren - and it stinks.
Carragher is a world class centre back. He's not a stand in for Rio Ferdinand, a poor man's Ledley King or an auxilliary full back. He is one of the few top class operators in his position and yet for some strange reason he has had to put up with being treated like s**t by the current national team manager and his predecessor.

Rafa's Goatee

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 6, 2007 2:42 PM

The mystery of Rafa's new bearded look can finally be solved.
No, he wasn't inspired by Max out of Max and Paddy or David Gest.
And it isn't some sort of cunning disguise which allows him to go unnoticed when he goes for a walk in the Wirral on a Sunday.

Djibril Cisse

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 5, 2007 8:47 PM

As Fernando Torres arrives on Merseyside it seems Liverpool's previous record signing is on his way out.
Marseilles interest in Djibril Cisse is well known but it appears they have big competition for the French international.
Big spending Portsmouth have tabled a bid for Cisse, with sources indicating Pompey's offer could be for as much as £9m.

Fernando Torres

Posted by Tony Barrett on July 5, 2007 2:34 PM

There comes a time in everyone's life when you realise you can't look up to footballers any more because you're so much older than they are.
I think that moment arrived for me yesterday when I was sat in the trophy room at Anfield watching Fernando Torres being unveiled as a Liverpool player.
I knew he was only 23 and I knew his nickname was El Nino (The Kid) but I hadn't realised he looked so young he seemed almost pre-pubescent!
Seriously, I looked at him and thought "he'll be alright for the youth team in about three years".