Benitez .... prick

[blurred]

There is no decent answer, there is no logic, there is no reasoning. "Because he should" is the answer. It just is.
I can expand it slightly if it'll help (which it won't) - either put your country first or opt out of playing for it.

Sorry, I don't buy that. There has to be a reason, it can't just 'be'. I can see your point of view with regards to your second point, though, but that still doesn't explain why one should put his country before his club.

[Tombwfc]

It's up to Gerrard if he wants to put club before country. Carragher, Scholes and Shearer all did. But it should be all or nothing, not treating the prestige and history of playing for your country with contempt by only turning up when you can be arsed or for a glamorous tournament in South Africa.

International football always has been and always should be the pinnacle of the sport, in the same way Test matches should be in Cricket.

[Soldier_Of_The_White_Army]

There is no decent answer, there is no logic, there is no reasoning. "Because he should" is the answer. It just is.
I can expand it slightly if it'll help (which it won't) - either put your country first or opt out of playing for it.

Sorry, I don't buy that. There has to be a reason, it can't just 'be'. I can see your point of view with regards to your second point, though, but that still doesn't explain why one should put his country before his club.

He should because no players on the bleedin planet has the right to play for their country when it suits his convieniance!

Yet managers bend over backwards to fit him into the first team somewhere, even though we seam to play better without him.

[Bruce Rioja]

It's up to Gerrard if he wants to put club before country. Carragher, Scholes and Shearer all did.

And Andy Cole, too, Tom. He was so brave to make such a sacrifice.

[Hoboh]

It's up to Gerrard if he wants to put club before country. Carragher, Scholes and Shearer all did.

And Andy Cole, too, Tom. He was so brave to make such a sacrifice.

was that when he turned 59?

[enfieldwhite]

Just to say I want to take back what I said about Steven Gerrard feigning injury last week for the England friendly. Rafa Benitez didn't have him available for the fixture at the weekend versus Fulham and it cost Liverpool vital points in their quest for that elusive Premier League championship.

Oh well.

[bobo the clown]

Just to say I want to take back what I said about Steven Gerrard feigning injury last week for the England friendly. Rafa Benitez didn't have him available for the fixture at the weekend versus Fulham and it cost Liverpool vital points in their quest for that elusive Premier League championship.

Oh well.

Steady now. It's a case of "the boy who cried wolf" in fatty-B's case. He's done it so often no-one believes him. Hence Gerrard having to actually go down there.

I see 3 Chelsea players and 2 at Stretford suddenly recovered for Saturday's 0-0 fest.

Simple enough to cure ... miss the Wednesday game & you're not allowed to play in the fiollowing weekend's round of games.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

... and Benitez is still a prick.

[potter1989bwfc]

It's up to Gerrard if he wants to put club before country. Carragher, Scholes and Shearer all did. But it should be all or nothing, not treating the prestige and history of playing for your country with contempt by only turning up when you can be arsed or for a glamorous tournament in South Africa.

International football always has been and always should be the pinnacle of the sport, in the same way Test matches should be in Cricket.

but its lampard who gets booed by the England Fans, when i would prefer him over Gerrard any day

[blurred]

Just to say I want to take back what I said about Steven Gerrard feigning injury last week for the England friendly. Rafa Benitez didn't have him available for the fixture at the weekend versus Fulham and it cost Liverpool vital points in their quest for that elusive Premier League championship.

Oh well.

Did you have any sauce with your hat?

[enfieldwhite]

Just to say I want to take back what I said about Steven Gerrard feigning injury last week for the England friendly. Rafa Benitez didn't have him available for the fixture at the weekend versus Fulham and it cost Liverpool vital points in their quest for that elusive Premier League championship.

Oh well.

Did you have any sauce with your hat?

Yes. Tartar!

[enfieldwhite]

... and Benitez is still a prick.

The indisputible fact.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Keane managed to shake off his niggle though, that prevented him from representing Ireland...

[blurred]

Keane managed to shake off his niggle though, that prevented him from representing Ireland...

Wish he'd not bothered

[CrazyHorse]

Rafa Benitez has dismissed Manchester united manager Sir Alex Ferguson's attempts to derail Liverpool's title push by claiming they will be stronger than ever in the second half of the season. (Daily Mail)

[bobo the clown]

Rafa Benitez has dismissed Manchester united manager Sir Alex Ferguson's attempts to derail Liverpool's title push by claiming they will be stronger than ever in the second half of the season. (Daily Mail)

bless you Horse-man. Was worrying that this was dropping from sight.

The fact that he's been quiet shouldn't let us overlook him. Remember, a useless Spanish tosspot is for life, not just for Christmas.

[Verbal]

Not sure if this belongs in the 'prick' thread, as any mon who publically slates Ferguson has my blessing

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1703 ... 29,00.html

Here is the content of Rafael Benitez's press conference, where he read from a dossier in response to Sir Alex's complaints about the Christmas fixture programme...


"I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they (Manchester United) are nervous because we are at the top of the table.


"But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start.


"But I have seen some facts. On November 1, they played Hull and Mr Ferguson had a two-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine after confronting Mike Dean, the referee, for improper conduct.


"We started the Respect campaign, and that was when (Javier) Mascherano was sent off (last season) at Old Trafford.


"The referee (Steve Bennett) was the referee when they played against Wigan - he could not see the handball against Wigan by Rio Ferdinand, he did not give a penalty. They won the game and they won the title in this game.


"I think it will be the same referee who will be in charge of their game in hand this season (against Wigan).


"During the Respect campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett.


"He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.


"Then he was talking about the fixtures. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything.


"Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.


"But at Christmas, United played on the 29th and the rest of the teams played on the 28th. We were away against Newcastle two days after playing Bolton. They were playing about 40 hours later, they were not complaining then.


"And about his behaviour with referees. The Southampton manager he knows how Mr Ferguson works and how he works, he was very clear. I am not playing mind games, just facts.


"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England. There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures.


"One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know.


"Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games and it will be the same for everyone. So Mr Ferguson will not be complaining about fixtures and a campaign against United.


"Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple.


"We know what happens every time we go to Old Trafford and the United staff. They are always going man to man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking.


"All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens.


"We need to know that I am taking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.


"Are they under pressure? Maybe they were not thinking that we would be at the top of the table in January. But we are at the top of the table and they are nervous.


"I am not telling the authorities what to do. But I have been here for five years and know how things are going on. I will be watching United's game with Chelsea.


"The result does not matter to us, if we win at Stoke that result does not matter.


"I was surprised United wanted to start the mind games too early, maybe it is because we are top of the table. But I only wanted to explain our position.


"It is a massive difference to play early on a Saturday, say, after a European match in midweek.


"But they will play the second half of the season with home matches against the other top teams, and that is a massive advantage to them.


"They cannot complain about the fixtures after they were playing on December 29 while the rest played on the 28th.


"I have decided that I had a lot of information and I have been watching every single week what has been going on. Then they started talking about us, but every single week we know they will be talking.


"But we want to stay at the top and maybe they will talk about us right to the end.


"To hear someone talking when he has problems with referees every single week, and now complaining about the fixtures and complaining about everything, I think that is not fair.


"You can see every single week how they put (referees) under pressure, we know this. We have seen it before. We have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off.


"It is part of the game. But to complain and to always have an advantage is not fair.


"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and FA about the Respect campaign. And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett.


"But he is not punished. How can you talk about the respect campaign and

criticise the referee every single week?


"You can analyse the facts and come to your own decision and ideas


"There is still no news about my contract, my agent has not received any documents so he is a little bit disappointed. But we will see.


"I would rather not talk too much about this, though, when we have an important game ahead.''

[potter1989bwfc]

Not sure if this belongs in the 'prick' thread, as any mon who publically slates Ferguson has my blessing

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1703 ... 29,00.html

Here is the content of Rafael Benitez's press conference, where he read from a dossier in response to Sir Alex's complaints about the Christmas fixture programme...


"I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they (Manchester United) are nervous because we are at the top of the table.


"But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start.


"But I have seen some facts. On November 1, they played Hull and Mr Ferguson had a two-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine after confronting Mike Dean, the referee, for improper conduct.


"We started the Respect campaign, and that was when (Javier) Mascherano was sent off (last season) at Old Trafford.


"The referee (Steve Bennett) was the referee when they played against Wigan - he could not see the handball against Wigan by Rio Ferdinand, he did not give a penalty. They won the game and they won the title in this game.


"I think it will be the same referee who will be in charge of their game in hand this season (against Wigan).


"During the Respect campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett.


"He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.


"Then he was talking about the fixtures. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything.


"Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.


"But at Christmas, United played on the 29th and the rest of the teams played on the 28th. We were away against Newcastle two days after playing Bolton. They were playing about 40 hours later, they were not complaining then.


"And about his behaviour with referees. The Southampton manager he knows how Mr Ferguson works and how he works, he was very clear. I am not playing mind games, just facts.


"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England. There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures.


"One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know.


"Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games and it will be the same for everyone. So Mr Ferguson will not be complaining about fixtures and a campaign against United.


"Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple.


"We know what happens every time we go to Old Trafford and the United staff. They are always going man to man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking.


"All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens.


"We need to know that I am taking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.


"Are they under pressure? Maybe they were not thinking that we would be at the top of the table in January. But we are at the top of the table and they are nervous.


"I am not telling the authorities what to do. But I have been here for five years and know how things are going on. I will be watching United's game with Chelsea.


"The result does not matter to us, if we win at Stoke that result does not matter.


"I was surprised United wanted to start the mind games too early, maybe it is because we are top of the table. But I only wanted to explain our position.


"It is a massive difference to play early on a Saturday, say, after a European match in midweek.


"But they will play the second half of the season with home matches against the other top teams, and that is a massive advantage to them.


"They cannot complain about the fixtures after they were playing on December 29 while the rest played on the 28th.


"I have decided that I had a lot of information and I have been watching every single week what has been going on. Then they started talking about us, but every single week we know they will be talking.


"But we want to stay at the top and maybe they will talk about us right to the end.


"To hear someone talking when he has problems with referees every single week, and now complaining about the fixtures and complaining about everything, I think that is not fair.


"You can see every single week how they put (referees) under pressure, we know this. We have seen it before. We have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off.


"It is part of the game. But to complain and to always have an advantage is not fair.


"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and FA about the Respect campaign. And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett.


"But he is not punished. How can you talk about the respect campaign and

criticise the referee every single week?


"You can analyse the facts and come to your own decision and ideas


"There is still no news about my contract, my agent has not received any documents so he is a little bit disappointed. But we will see.


"I would rather not talk too much about this, though, when we have an important game ahead.''

Prick

[Athers]

One step away from saying he'd love it.

[Verbal]

One step away from saying he'd love it.

Precisely what I said. Title is all but Uniteds.