Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A LETTER FROM LUIS GARCIA
Dear Reds,
First of all I'd like to apologise for not having been back in touch sooner, but I needed to take some time to take on board all the recent changes and then to put down these words for you.
I'm sure you will understand.
I would rather this be a letter of thanks and gratitude, not simply a goodbye.
Yes, that's right, gratitude, because that is the word that best sums up my feelings for you all.
Taking the decision to change clubs hasn't been easy. Not easy at all.
I've experienced three fantastic years at the club and in the city. Three years in which together, the fans and the team, we have accomplished some fantastic achievements, and I'm sure that these successes will continue to be repeated in the near future.
You know that I like a challenge and that I don't just settle for second best.
Back then Liverpool Football Club gave me the opportunity to be part of an ambitious plan to put the Reds back at the summit of the game.
I think that together we managed to achieve that.
As I said, I do like challenges and in spite of the fact that at that time I was playing for my home town club, one of the biggest in the world, I wanted to be a part of that project that was being presented to me by Liverpool, and so I accepted the challenge.
Now, after three seasons in the Premier League and having won some major trophies, the chance came up for me to return to La Liga and be part of a new project at a club I already knew.
The idea of enjoying things in a Spanish club like we experienced together at Liverpool over these last three years appealed to me, and that's why I accepted the offer.
I want to thank everyone working at Liverpool Football Club for how well they have treated both my family and I, making us feel at home from the very first day to the last.
I also want to thank the management, coaching staff and directors for the opportunity they gave me back then to be part of such an important and well-loved club as Liverpool. A club which has helped me to grow as a footballer and where to date I have enjoyed the biggest success of my career.
Without a doubt, this success has been possible thanks to the outstanding group of players with whom I've been able to share a dressing room over the last three seasons.
I'm not going to mention anyone specifically, because I think that the secret of this team's success has been exactly that: nobody wanted to stand out above the rest and there has always been a great togetherness in the squad, which made it into something more than a group of players, it was a group of friends.
Thanks to all of you for your help and your friendship.
I've left until last the thank you which for me is the most important: Thank you to the supporters.
Your support allowed me to settle quickly at both the club and in the city, and you made me feel really at ease with you all right from the word go; that's the kind of help that you notice most of all during the difficult times, of which there have been a few during my time here.
I'd like to especially thank you for making up a song for me and you should know that every time I heard you singing it, it was like an extra injection of strength and motivation, even helping me to overcome pain occasionally during a game.
Your unconditional support is the thing that ensures that this team manages to pull through in the most difficult circumstances; and I can assure you that the whole squad is aware of this and thanks you for it.
A football club isn't just made up of players, coaches and directors. More than anything else it's the supporters who make a club, and that perhaps is the ingredient which best distinguishes Liverpool Football Club from every other team. The supporters.
Because if one thing has remained obvious to me after these few years, it's that with supporters like you, Liverpool Football Club will never walk alone.
I really hope that the club wins lots of major trophies in the future; I'll be following it all from a distance, with the pride that you can only get from having been a Red and played for the home team at Anfield – a ground that every football fan must visit at least once in their life.
Thank you for everything. Yours most sincerely,
Your friend, Luís García
First of all I'd like to apologise for not having been back in touch sooner, but I needed to take some time to take on board all the recent changes and then to put down these words for you.
I'm sure you will understand.
I would rather this be a letter of thanks and gratitude, not simply a goodbye.
Yes, that's right, gratitude, because that is the word that best sums up my feelings for you all.
Taking the decision to change clubs hasn't been easy. Not easy at all.
I've experienced three fantastic years at the club and in the city. Three years in which together, the fans and the team, we have accomplished some fantastic achievements, and I'm sure that these successes will continue to be repeated in the near future.
You know that I like a challenge and that I don't just settle for second best.
Back then Liverpool Football Club gave me the opportunity to be part of an ambitious plan to put the Reds back at the summit of the game.
I think that together we managed to achieve that.
As I said, I do like challenges and in spite of the fact that at that time I was playing for my home town club, one of the biggest in the world, I wanted to be a part of that project that was being presented to me by Liverpool, and so I accepted the challenge.
Now, after three seasons in the Premier League and having won some major trophies, the chance came up for me to return to La Liga and be part of a new project at a club I already knew.
The idea of enjoying things in a Spanish club like we experienced together at Liverpool over these last three years appealed to me, and that's why I accepted the offer.
I want to thank everyone working at Liverpool Football Club for how well they have treated both my family and I, making us feel at home from the very first day to the last.
I also want to thank the management, coaching staff and directors for the opportunity they gave me back then to be part of such an important and well-loved club as Liverpool. A club which has helped me to grow as a footballer and where to date I have enjoyed the biggest success of my career.
Without a doubt, this success has been possible thanks to the outstanding group of players with whom I've been able to share a dressing room over the last three seasons.
I'm not going to mention anyone specifically, because I think that the secret of this team's success has been exactly that: nobody wanted to stand out above the rest and there has always been a great togetherness in the squad, which made it into something more than a group of players, it was a group of friends.
Thanks to all of you for your help and your friendship.
I've left until last the thank you which for me is the most important: Thank you to the supporters.
Your support allowed me to settle quickly at both the club and in the city, and you made me feel really at ease with you all right from the word go; that's the kind of help that you notice most of all during the difficult times, of which there have been a few during my time here.
I'd like to especially thank you for making up a song for me and you should know that every time I heard you singing it, it was like an extra injection of strength and motivation, even helping me to overcome pain occasionally during a game.
Your unconditional support is the thing that ensures that this team manages to pull through in the most difficult circumstances; and I can assure you that the whole squad is aware of this and thanks you for it.
A football club isn't just made up of players, coaches and directors. More than anything else it's the supporters who make a club, and that perhaps is the ingredient which best distinguishes Liverpool Football Club from every other team. The supporters.
Because if one thing has remained obvious to me after these few years, it's that with supporters like you, Liverpool Football Club will never walk alone.
I really hope that the club wins lots of major trophies in the future; I'll be following it all from a distance, with the pride that you can only get from having been a Red and played for the home team at Anfield – a ground that every football fan must visit at least once in their life.
Thank you for everything. Yours most sincerely,
Your friend, Luís García
STYLES APOLOGISES BUT IS SENT ON LEAVE
The Independent 21 August २००७
Referee Rob Styles has apologised for denying Liverpool a valuable victory over Chelsea and been placed on temporary gardening leave for his mishandling of Sunday's fractious affair at Anfield।
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for the country's leading referees, reacted to a weekend of controversy yesterday when it announced that Styles and Ian Gosling had been punished for their performances at Anfield and Craven Cottage respectively.
Styles fell victim to the PGMOL's strict self-regulation policy for the penalty award that enabled Frank Lampard to equalise Fernando Torres' opener for Liverpool on Sunday. The referee penalised Steve Finnan for a foul on Florent Malouda when the French international had clearly leapt into the Republic of Ireland defender but, refreshingly, he last night admitted his mistake and offered a public apology to the Anfield club. It is believed he also offered a personal apology to Rafael Benitez, who had described Styles' initial decision as "absolutely unbelievable".
The Hampshire official, who was accused of cracking under pressure from Chelsea players by the Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, stated: "All referees enter into matches hoping not to make any mistakes but understanding that they may happen, what none of us want is for any mistake to potentially affect the result of the match. Yesterday, in mistakenly awarding a penalty, I accept that I may have affected the result of the match and for that I apologise."
Styles' contrition followed an announcement by PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett that the referee would not have been involved in any matches this weekend, with the organisation keen to demonstrate to Premier League clubs that officials will be held accountable for mistakes.
Hackett explained: "Accountability exists and we, the PGMOL, do expect referees to get big decisions correct. On this occasion it was wrong and therefore Rob will not be officiating next weekend.
"I spoke to Rob this morning and obviously he is extremely disappointed with the decision and admitted he got it wrong. I have left a message with Rafael Benitez to apologise."
There was further confusion at Anfield on Sunday when Styles appeared to book Michael Essien for a second time but did not show the Chelsea midfielder a red card. At the time Styles confirmed to fourth official Phil Dowd that the booking was for Chelsea captain John Terry, but Hackett admitted it was another aspect of Styles' performance at Anfield that needed to be improved.
Assistant referee Gosling has also been removed from the match list for this weekend for failing to award a goal to Fulham on Saturday when a shot from striker David Healy clearly crossed the Middlesbrough goal-line.
Friday, August 3, 2007
BRITISH CLUBS GET TOUGH EURO DRAW
BBC 03 August 2007
Liverpool face a tough tie in the third qualifying round of the Champions League as they have to overcome Toulouse to book a group stage spot.
Arsenal have been drawn against Sparta Prague over the two legs. Scottish champions Celtic have a tricky match against Spartak Moscow.
Rangers hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over FK Zeta in their second qualifying round tie and, if they win, will play Crvena Zvezda or Levadia Tallinn.
The winners will go through to the group stages, when English duo Manchester United and Chelsea will enter the tournament.
Crvena Zvezda, formerly known as Red Star Belgrade, hold a 1-0 lead over Estonian side Levadia Tallinn after the first leg in Serbia.
If Rangers come through their second leg game against Zeta next Tuesday they will travel away from home for the first leg.
Celtic's opponents Spartak Moscow play on an artificial pitch and are midway through their domestic season.
Arsenal were one of the last teams out of the draw and will face a team with plenty of Champions League experience in Sparta Prague.
Club spokesman David Miles said: "We have played them four times in six years and so we're very much looking to visiting Prague again.
"It could have been worse and we have a good working relationship with them.
"But we won't take anything for granted. It is very important for the club both financially and for our supporters to play in the group stages."
Liverpool, who lost out in the final of the competition last season, face a trip into the unknown when they take on French club Toulouse.
Club secretary Bryce Morrison said: "It will not be easy. This qualifying round of the competition seems to be getting harder each year.
"The French league is strong. They are a rugby town and it is a new ground for us. They will be really up for it.
"Rafael Benitez has brought in some new players and everyone in the club feels we are stronger and there is no reason why we can't go all the way again."
The lucrative group stages of the competition run from 18 September to 12 December and the final will be played in Moscow on 21 May 2008.
Toulouse test
Liverpool club secretary Bryce Morrison admits the Reds are pleased after drawing Toulouse in the Champions League third qualifying round.
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