[chrysostom]

Mobile DEVICES.

they're much more than phones

[DevilsDuck]

Annoying me today is opening this thread and finding all you nerdy boys wanking over your bloody PHONES!

[James H]

Annoying me today is opening this thread and finding all you nerdy boys wanking over your bloody PHONES!

Here, have this one:



(that's mine, and it still works!)

[dimtimjim]

Annoying me today is opening this thread and finding all you nerdy boys wanking over your bloody PHONES!

Annoying me today is the dreadful language and terrible phrases some people use online.

[chrysostom]

Did you search @alandavies1 on twitter?

[Nicola_Red]

I've only just caught up with the Alan Davies furore. I can't believe how he's being persecuted for expressing his opinion. People may disagree, but such is the nature of debate. It's baffling that the Hillsborough charity have refused his donation.

[chrysostom]

It's far too exhausting to get into as I've been engrossed in it on Twitter for the last couple days. But here goes.

It's sadly typical of the second era of Kenny Dalglish, and Liverpool fans using mob mentality to bully anyone who opposes them into submission. Good article about it here: http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topi ... ttitude-is

He expressed a dislike towards the Liverpool manager (while in a interview) using the commemoration of Hillsborough as a reason not to play a match - at the expense of another club (as opposed to hoping that the footballing authorities respect tradition, he told them to).

Nothing negative about anything else, a 15 second rant on a podcast relating to Arsenal was taken by a disgruntled Liverpool fan looking to detract from his team's poor performances - and it was taken by the masses of LFC fans on twitter, given the usual twist of hatred and gave them something to hate that wasn't their team.

The Hillsborough Charity refused his donation by basically saying "We accept his apology, but he should learn about what happened". This is basically them refusing to publicly refuse an apology - but let the Hillsborough supporters know that he should remain a target of hate until he learns (which apparently apologising doesn't show). You should see how many people from Liverpool are using this as an excuse to claim that all southeners hate the north, and many many other ridiculous incongruous points.

Since the hypocrisy of defending Suarez, the masses of vocal Liverpool fans have really put me off the club who I used to like a lot - and in my opinion Dalglish has been the architect of their destruction; on and off the pitch.

[Nicola_Red]

I've heard the podcast clip. I refuse to read all the Twitter hate cos it will just make me despair of humanity, but I know there have been death threats. Saying that Davies needs to learn about what happened is such an insult to his opinion - as if they only way he could possibly say that would be if he didn't know the full horror and tragedy of Hillsborough. And of course he knows. Everyone knows.

[Yudster]

Since the hypocrisy of defending Suarez, the masses of vocal Liverpool fans have really put me off the club who I used to like a lot - and in my opinion Dalglish has been the architect of their destruction; on and off the pitch.

I completely agree.

[Bonanzoid]

That article's a good read, chrysostom. As a Liverpool fan myself, this recent behaviour saddens me. 'King' Kenny is unbelievable in his media dealings, and his public demeanor is doing the club absolutely no favours. This season, Kenny has been the ringleader in too many incidents that have brought very bad publicity our way, and it's borne solely out of stubbornness.

I had my opinions on the Suarez saga, ones which don't need repeating after so long, but the way he dealt with 'handshakegate' was truly abominable. Obviously in this case, Suarez himself was majorly culpable, but the manager did not react in a way that would have been expected of a club of Liverpool's stature.

Even now, there's a certain arrogance that seems to haunt Kenny in his interviews. Any question challenging the ability or performance of his team and he's quick to give a condescending and blunt response, as if the interviewer had crossed the line by not lavishing praise on his beloved squad. He portrays a man who thinks his lads are above others just by wearing a red shirt.

The reaction to Alan Davies' comments is laughable frankly, but to me not as surprising as I wish it was. Every club has their idiotic fans, but Liverpool's are more vocal than others and love to hate people who are at all opposed to how the club handles itself.

Quite honestly, Liverpool are a joke both on and off the pitch, much to the amusement of most of my friends.

[Yudster]

The off pitch joke is what's causing the on-pitch collapse I think. The club is being badly run at the footballing level (and if the directors aren't doing anything about it surely that can't be regarded as being done well either), and they have a manager (or head coach or whatever Dalglish is called) who hasn't grasped that there's more to putting a team together than just knowing how to play football (which I'm assuming he does because as I remember he was pretty good). They have some good players and good players don't suddenly turn into bad players, but the team looks unhappy and seems to lack confidence.

I have no idea how it can be done, but surely Dalglish has to go?

[chrysostom]

They've started by getting rid of Comolli - but all the biggest Liverpool flops (as Dalglish has said) have come in on Dalglish's advice.

He's a 90's manager who hasn't evolved because he's been out of the game. No idea how to deal with modern players - or the modern press.

Benitez always kept the criticism on himself, and protected his players well. I miss that chubby legend.

[The Deadly]

Work has annoyed me again.

[Bonanzoid]

They've started by getting rid of Comolli - but all the biggest Liverpool flops (as Dalglish has said) have come in on Dalglish's advice.

He's a 90's manager who hasn't evolved because he's been out of the game. No idea how to deal with modern players - or the modern press.

Benitez always kept the criticism on himself, and protected his players well. I miss that chubby legend.

I know a couple of Liverpool fans who'd take Rafa back now too. As for what you said about Kenny, I'd agree. Hodgson was ousted for his stubbornness, his unadventurous tactics and his refusal to adapt but I see Kenny displaying all those characteristics right now. It is his reputation that's keeping him in a job, Carling Cup/potential cup double aside the performances have not been remotely good enough. I respect his past, and it'd be better if his legacy wasn't tarnished any further.

[Yudster]

I think it just underlines that there is more to football than talent on the pitch - the really successful footballers and football managers are intelligent and perceptive. Dalglish seems to be neither - he actually seems to be quite seriously challenged in both those departments.

[The Deadly]

He is just too old school. Thing with Liverpool is they are not a big club any more. I think their fans need to lower their expectations and just get behind the team. Liverpool have won a cup this season and they should be happy with what they have.

[chrysostom]

I have to say I disagree, their global fan base and owner means that can be a big club again, and with the right signings and management can chase 4th.

The fans need to put pressure on the board for success, otherwise (like at Arsenal) they will be happy with turning a profit for the future. Saying things like 'Shirt deals are as good as trophies' should make all LFC fans stand up and see that things are going the wrong way.

I used to admire Liverpool fans for always sticking with their manager and backing him, but previously the regimes were always based on good intentions. It seems that the club wants to unite the supporters by providing a common enemy to take the spotlight off themselves.

Their backing means they are unlikely to go the way of Leeds/Forest, but they need to spend carefully instead of making O'Leary-esque signings. The fans should be applying all this organised fury to their own problems, I just don't see why they're not.

[The Deadly]

I should have clarified, they are a huge club in terms of fanbase and global appeal. I was talking in pure football terms. I don't think Kenny should take all the blame for their decline either.
In my opinion Liverpool would do much better with a young manager who can start again and grow with the club. Brendan Rodgers is one potential name.

[chrysostom]

But Dalglish was given the tools to reshape the club as he saw fit.

He told Comolli to get players, and they got them. He wasted money on the idealism of getting British players. It's entirely his fault, the owner couldn't have given him more support - and now a huge chunk of money which could have gone on better players is completely lost. I don't see who else is to blame? Should the Fenway sports group have tightened the purse strings? Told Dalglish that he needs to buy cheaper players? The blame lies with Dalglish and the players (many of whom Dalglish brought in) in my opinion.

In wasting that money, he has helped Newcastle rejuvenate their squad into Champions League contenders, through great purchasing and good management.

edit. This should probably be moved to the Football Thread

[The Deadly]

On paper the players he bought are good young players. I think the players should take the most of the blame for Liverpool's poor league form. I'm not a fan of Kenny due to the way he conducts himself away from the pitch (interviews mainly) but he doesn't deserve 100% blame.

[Dexy]

But Dalglish was given the tools to reshape the club as he saw fit.

He told Comolli to get players, and they got them. He wasted money on the idealism of getting British players. It's entirely his fault, the owner couldn't have given him more support - and now a huge chunk of money which could have gone on better players is completely lost. I don't see who else is to blame? Should the Fenway sports group have tightened the purse strings? Told Dalglish that he needs to buy cheaper players? The blame lies with Dalglish and the players (many of whom Dalglish brought in) in my opinion.

In wasting that money, he has helped Newcastle rejuvenate their squad into Champions League contenders, through great purchasing and good management.

edit. This should probably be moved to the Football Thread

Fact of the matter is, Andy Carroll is something like the 12th most expensive footballer of all time. OF ALL TIME.

That's insane. Mike Ashley must have bitten Comolli's hands, arms and most of his upper body off for that.

[The Deadly]

I really rate Andy Carroll but he isn't a good fit at Liverpool. The game they like to play doesn't suit him at all.

[Bonanzoid]

This

[The Deadly]

Can't stand Ashley Young, he's always at it. If FIFA/The FA brought in a retrospective 3 game ban for that kind of thing it would soon stop.

[Bonanzoid]

Against the team that made him too. Shows zero respect.