Tuesday 22 November 2011

Loan Sharks Issue 7


     Jonjo Shelvey enjoyed another arresting performance in the orange of Blackpool, drawing 2-2 away at Middlesborough. Shelvey scored his 5th goal in four games in the 78th minute to earn Blackpool the point. They have risen to 7th on 26 points. Shelvey is shining in that midfield role and should be impressing Dalglish.


    Joe Cole played 65 minutes in Lille's goalless draw away at Toulouse. He was eventually replaced with Eden Hazard, probably with the Champions League game ahead. Lille remain 3rd on 25 points, ahead of Rennes on goal difference. They play midtable Brestois on Saturday.
     Tuesday's match away at CSKA was Cole's second match of a three match week. The 2-0 win sees Lille stay 3rd of group B, if CSKA fail to beat Inter then Lille only need a draw to progress to the knockout stages. Cole played 87 minutes and was replaced by Dimitri payet. Cole had a shot saved by Gabulov after a great turn, Eden hazard put him through on goal and it was his rebounded shot that fell into the path of Sow for him to score the second goal of the night.

    AC Milan drew away at Fiorentina. Aquilani had a decent game with a few chances to score. Milan stay 3rd on 21 points, just 1 point behind leaders Juventus who have a game in hand.

    Stephen Darby sat out the Rochdale win over Preston that lifted them out of the relegation zone to 19th. Nathan Ecclestone came on in the 89th minute. Ecclestone has now returned to Liverpool were he scored two goals in the reserve match against Sunderland.

     David Amoo continued his first team run at Bury with 81 minutes against Walsall. The win has allowed Bury to climb even further into the middle top of the table.

     Gulacsi was once again first team goalkeeping choice for new Tigers boss, Nick Barmby. The 2-0 win against Derby lifts Hull into the promotion playoff positions, with only 4 points seperating them and second place.

     Dani Pacheco was an unused substitute in the goalless draw away at Osasuna. Rayo Vallecano are now 10th on 16 points only 3 points behind 6th place Sevilla.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Loan Sharks Issue 6

Loan Sharks Issue 6

Leeds 0-5 Blackpool
     Jonjo Shelvey hit a hat-trick in a goal fest for the seasiders. Shelvey converted from the spot as a spilt ball by Rachubka was handled in the box. Shelvey had to retake the penalty as the referee ruled it out for encroachment of players, but he slotted it home. 
     Shelvey scored his second goal as a shot from Lua Lua was spilt, again, at his feet by Rabuchka. He scored the third after being played in by Angel. 
     The win leaves Blackpool in 8th position on 22 points only two points off 5th place and a playoff position. 

Inter 2-1 Lille Champions League
     Cole and Lille succumbed to a decent Inter Milan performance. Officially the oldest team fielded in the competition, Inter missed many chances to put the game to bed. Cole gave Lille a superb chance with a pinpoint cross for Jelen but nothing came of it. 
     Joe Cole was substituted for Dimtri Payet in the 71st minute. The loss leaves Lille bottom of Group B on two points and a minus two in goal difference. Lille can only qualify if they beat both CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor and Inter Milan do the same. 

Lille 1-1 Evian
     Cole played the full 90 minutes in their draw with Ligue Un's newcomers. Evian took the game to the French champions as they started sluggishly with a European hangover. An early goal from Joe Cole, on 13 minutes, was ruled as offside and Lille carried on looking for the equaliser. Cole is enjoying his role in the attacking front three wit Hazard and Payet. Eventually Pedretti scored with a wonder free kick and dragged a draw out of a loss. 
     The earned point means that Lille are still 3rd as all other results have gone their way. 

BATE Borisov 1-1 AC Milan Champions League
     Milan went in front with a Zlatan Imbrahimovic goal in the 22nd minute. Aquilani set the play well, cross field passes were sprayed everywhere and the Italian nearly scored as his header and the rebound were saved by Gutor. 
     Aquilani was substituted with Clarence Seedorf in the 69th minute. Milan can qualify with a draw and one point. Milan play Barcelona at the San Siro on 23rd November. 

AC Milan 4-0 Catania
     Aquilani played the full 90 minutes as they scored four past Catania, their first loss in seven games. 
     Aquilani almost scored, in the second half, with a wonderfully powerful free kick which spilt into the path of Inzaghi. 
     Milan move up to 3rd in Serie A, one point of the leaders Udinese. However, the match between Juventus and Napoli was called off and, with a game in hand, Juventus have the advantage to move back into the top spot.

Barnsley 2-1 Hull
     Peter Gulacsi came on in the 66th minute as Hull suffered a rare loss. Their first such loss, in the league, since 20th August. 
     The loss leaves Hull in 6th spot in the Championship, occupying a playoff position, and just four points off second placed West Ham. 

Oldham 0-2 Bury
     David Amoo is still currently injured and did not make the squad. The Bury win moves them up to 15th and a few points away from midtable safety. 

MK Dons 3-1 Rochdale
     Stephen Darby played the full 90 minutes in Rochdales ninth defeat and their sixth away from home. Nathan Ecclestone came on in the 77th minute yet couldn't influence the outcome of the game. 
     Rochdale have slumped to just 21st, a relegation position, in the league with only two points keeping them from the bottom. 

Rayo Vallencano 4-0 Real Sociedad
     Dani Pacheco wasn't in the squad that ran out 4-0 winners against whipping boys Real Sociedad. 
     The win keeps Rayo Vallecano at 8th and Real Sociedad firmly entrenched at the bottom of La Liga. 

Fortuna Dusseldorf
Villyan Bijev has not featured for the Bundesliga 2 outfit for some time.

Monday 31 October 2011

Loan Sharks Issue 5

Loan Sharks Issue 5

      It has been a while since I've done a Loan Sharks Issue, yet we still have players on loan and I think it's a decent column to write up all the performances of the loanees.

   Roma 2-3 Milan
  Alberto Aquilani played the full 90 minutes for AC Milan. In this thrilling game he assisted all three Milan goals as every goal was headed in by each of his crosses. Aquilani continues to shine in Italy and it would no surprise if, come January, Milan look to buy a quality midfielder. On the back of the win, Milan topped Serie A for a few hours, however Juventus won the Derby D'Italia by beating Inter Milan 2-1 at the San Siro. Juventus now top the table with a 2 point lead.

Valenciennes v Lille
    Joe Cole came on in the 77th minute to replace Moussa Sow. He played out a draw which sees Lille stay 3rd on 23 points. Cole has seen some fine form recently and remains something of a success at Lille. 

Villareal 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 
     Dani Pacheco came off the bench in the 67th minute to see out a 2-0 loss to Villareal. 
     The loss leaves Rayo Vallecano in 9th position on 12 points. 

Burnley 3-1 Blackpool
     Jonjo Shelvey played the full 90 minutes for Blackpool in their loss to Burnley. The midfielder scored a decent goal deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half. He was also booked for a foul on Ben Mee.
     The loss sees Blackpool on 19 points and in 13th place. 

Bury 1-2 Stevenage
     David Amoo didn't feature for Bury as they sank to a defeat. They are 18th on 16 points. 

Rochdale 0-2 Leyton Orient
     Stephen Darby and Nathan Ecclestone both played 68 minutes for Rochdale in their 2-0 loss to the O's. 

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Hull
     Peter Gulacsi sat out the 1-0 win on the bench. Hull continue to dominate their away fixtures, losing only 2 of their last 25 away matches. Hull are now 6th on 24 points and occupy a play off position. 

Fortuna Dussledorf
     Villyan Bijev hasn't featured for the Bundesliga 2 outfit yet. 

Sunday 30 October 2011

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool 29/10/11

     The media had been hyping this league encounter all week. It was the visit of the club that had forced Roy Hodgson out. Delicious stuff for the papers, including the last time we came to the Hawthornes we lost, a statistic often thrown around when discussing Roy and West Brom. 
     Finding decent form is a struggle for Liverpool at the moment, however a 2-1 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in the Carling Cup fourth round, should provide the platform for a good run. 
     The Liverpool team set out as a 4-2-3-1. At the back there was a new centre back pairing of Skrtel and Agger as Johnson and Enrique took up their flank positions. The midfield boasted Lucas and Adam, behind the three of Downing, Henderson and Suarez. Carroll played up front on his own.
     Dalglish was forced to leave the talismanic Gerrard and Carragher out of the side due to injury. Fans went into overdrive on twitter, on one hand salivating at the possibility of a Skrtel and Agger defence and on the other hand fearing the worst for the midfield. No one need have had a concern though. 
     Yesterdays game was dominated by Liverpool. They had 56% possession and 17 shots, 4on target, with 2 in the back of the net. 
     There weren't many controversies to speak about in the first half, Olsson clearly had an agenda to stop Suarez and Carroll, as he repeatedly fouled both and brought Carroll down in the box, without a penalty being awarded. Suarez was fouled running the ball out of the 18 yard area, Jay Emmanuel Thomas running a leg across Suarez. 
     Adam and Carroll argued over who would take the penalty, Adam brushed aside Carroll and placed the ball. He had to wait nearly a minute as two West Brom defenders tried to sandwich Carroll and prevent him running onto any rebound. Eventually Adam took it and slotted home easily enough. 
     West Brom didn't really mount a serious response to going behind and on the stroke of half time, into one minute of injury time, Lucas played out a killer pass on the outside of his right foot to Suarez. Suarez volleyed a first time pass to Carroll who was unmarked and who ran towards the goal, Foster rushed out to meet Carroll whose first touch was heavy, yet as Foster went to ground, Carroll poked a left footed shot through his legs and into the goal.
     After the break it was relentless pressure from Liverpool, but the game was over. West Brom tried to mount attacks yet they had no real steam. Liverpool made one change, that of Suarez and Bellamy in the 81st minute. 
     All in all, it was a good days work from Liverpool, a clean sheet for Reina as captain and the partnership of Skrtel and Agger. It was always going to be a match of intense scrutiny from the fans as Carragher and Gerrard were both injured. However the class of Lucas and Adam shone through in the midfield with Henderson coming on in leaps and bounds. Skrtel and Agger seemed relaxed and their performance was full of bold moves to break up the play. 
    Liverpool back up to fifth and hoping for Tottenham and Newcastle to lose or draw. The race for fourth place is starting to take shape as Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool seem the likely candidates. 

Thursday 27 October 2011

Stoke 1-2 Liverpool Carling Cup 4th Round 26/10/2011

Always a tough fixture, Stoke at the Britannia Stadium have almost become the byword for difficult and frustrating football. The long balls, the long thrown ins and the siege mentality that the team has, always makes for a match of intense pressure and attack, usually from the visitors.
Liverpool's last visit to the Britannia in the League Cup resulted in an 8-0 thrashing of Stoke, Jamie Carragher the only player left of that victory eleven years ago. With a record seven competition wins and having featured in the final eleven times, there is always an air of expectation with Liverpool. Last night they needed to deliver.
Liverpool set up with seven changes to the team that drew with Norwich at Anfield. Coates, Maxi, Kelly, Agger, Carroll, Lucas, Henderson and Spearing all came into the side. The formation looked like a loose 4-3-3 moving to a Liverpool usual 4-2-3-1 at times. Stoke also made changes, eight, yet still had a side out who could frustrate and possibly win.
The best of the chances in the first half came to Liverpool, Suarez hit the post, dragged wide and had two shots superbly saved. Carroll had a header wide, shot wide and also had a shot saved. It seemed it was to be one of those games that Liverpool are having recently, all shots and no glory.
However, Stoke had another idea, when gifted long ball fell to Walters, Coates attempted a clearance and got it horrendously wrong, allowing the ball to bounce. Walters wrestled the ball of the Uruguayan and lofted it in only for it to be headed low into the corner by Kenwyne Jones. The Stoke goal was from the only attempt on goal by the home team, yet Liverpool had had the bulk of the chances. Coates had been having a very decent game up until that point, however he needs to learn the English game just a little better.
There was a contentious decision about twenty minuNtes into the match when it seemed that Jamie Carragher handled the ball as he tackled, replays showed he not only handled the ball but also fouled Etherington. Carragher was awarded a yellow card.
After the break both teams started up much like they had left. Yet Dalglish had clearly taken Suarez to one side. After only right minutes of the second half Suarez collected a pass on the edge of the eighteen yard box, a superb run by Henderson so him take Huth away from Suarez who played the ball through the legs of Shotton and curl a ball into the far corner past Sorenson. It was a sublime goal and immediately lifted fans and players.
After the first goal it seemed only a matter of time until the winner. A headed clearance fell to Henderson who side volleyed the ball high into the air and Suarez, unmarked at the far post, headed a strong header into the goal.
The match then seemed to filter out until Stoke started to press for the equaliser. Several lofted passes, throws and corners resulted in chaos in the Liverpool box. Coates seemed to be at odds with the Stoke attack and hauled down several Stoke players, fortunately the referee didn't see, yet they were clearly fouls.
Suarez came off in the 86th minute, limping off he was congratulated by fans and players. He had stayed on his feet for most of the match and even had a penalty appeal turned down because he stayed on his feet. However, the brace he scored helped him to overcome the frustration of the matches against Manchester United and Norwich.
The game closed out uneventfully and there was much relief from the Liverpool fans as, at last, we converted some of our chances into goals. Seven shots and two goals. A good days work.
Suarez was easily the best Liverpool player on the night, yet the whole midfield put in avert convincing performance, Henderson and Spearing looked more decisive and creative. Coates needs to learn from his mistake yet I wouldn't judge him too harshly, he had a good game overall.
Liverpool go into the pot for the auarter final draw along with, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Blackburn.

Friday 22 July 2011

Chris Mavinga: Left Behind But Going Forward

On Tuesday it was announced by Liverpool FC, via their website, that Chris Mavinga will be playing for Rennes next season. Mavinga confirmed it on his own Twitter account shortly after.
     So what are Rennes getting? An injury prone leftback with hardly any first team experience? Or a pacey tackler with bags of enthusiasm and a winning mentality?
     Mavinga started his career in English football in 2009, when he joined Liverpool straight from Paris-Saint Germain. He spent three years at PSG's Camp Des Loges before departing for Merseyside.
     The main reason for Mavinga leaving PSG, he said, was down to a lack of a support structure for the teams youth. This is slightly baffling as the U18 team were only beaten to the Championnat National title by Marseille's U18 team. Another reason cited, for his move to Liverpool, was the unapproachable attitude of some of PSG's senior players. After the sacking of Paul Le Guen, PSG's manager at the time, Mavinga grew irrevocably disillusioned with the club. Despite interest from Arsenal and a tabled contract from PSG, he chose to sign for Liverpool. 
     What was PSG's loss was Liverpool's gain right? 
     Er, not quite. Mavinga didn't actually feature in a competitive match for Liverpool in the two years he was signed at the club. 
     He trained with the reserves for most of his 2009 season, before moving to train with the first team at the end of the season. 
     Following the sacking of Rafael Benitez, Mavinga publically stated his frustration at the lack of first team opportunities and his subsequent return to reserve team training under regressive coach Roy Hodgson. 
     Whilst his public strop angered innumerable fans of the Merseyside outfit, he always seemed a fringe player, often forgotten and never considered. 
     On 10th December Liverpool announced a loan agreement was being sought with Belgian high fliers Racing Genk. There had been initial interest from Turkish club Antalyaspor, even a reportedly accepted bid yet Genk was the preferred choice. It was a mutually beneficial move as Mavinga realised first team action and Liverpool had a chunk of wages off the bill, for a short while at least.
     A deal was finally agreed on 11th January 2010. Mavinga played his first professional match of his career on 19th February coming on as a 90th minute substitute against Mechelen, the team won 1-0. Mavinga failed to appear in the next six matches, yet when he again started, against Club Brugge, it sparked a run in the side for the remaining seven matches. Losing only once, drawing once and winning five.
     This run in to the end of the season saw Mavinga pick up three of his four yellow cards, something of a firebrand as he received a yellow card every two games.
     Mavinga started to really come into some fine form in those seven matches, yet an incident that occurred in the draw against Standard Liege, would affect his confidence. 
     Chasing a long ball back to his goal on the left side of the pitch, Mavinga tussled with Mehdi Carcela. The ball bounced and Mavinga tried a high kick to put it out to play, unfortunately, Carcela tried to head the same ball. Mavinga broke Carcela's nose and jaw. The accident shocked Belgian football and shattered Mavinga's confidence. Chris seemed to recover and Carcela has made a full return to football. 
     The events of that match threatened to overwhelm, what was, a  brilliant achievement by Genk and Mavinga. Winning the league was a rather large feather in Mavinga's cap and seemed to endear him to the Liverpool fans just a little more. It was a well fought campaign and a close one too. 
     Mavinga returned to Liverpool to start training in late June. He tweeted a few times that he was still a Liverpool player, yet the writing was on the wall, the search for a new left back at the club would place him fourth or fifth choice. Several clubs were quoted as being interested, Rennes, Villareal and Genk. It was always going to be a move back to his native country that had the biggest pull. 
     His international career is certainly set to have an extra boost from his inclusion in the Rennes squad. He has played for France since U18 and was instrumental in the U19 team who won the European Championship in France. 
     What Rennes have in Mavinga is a left back who can switch to centre back, he has pace, good tackling ability, a winning mentality, a desire to play and the experience of a title push. 
     Mavinga is no longer a Liverpool player yet I'll follow his career closely, he was always destined to be a fringe player at Anfield and was left behind when Benitez left. Yet he showed industry by going to a foreign league and winning it's highest honour. That's the kind of mentality that any team needs.
     
     

Saturday 4 June 2011

Chants

CHANT

I was standing in the Kop, smelling the scents of a crowd enjoying themselves, looking up at a beautiful blue sky embracing a muscle warming sun, watching superb displays of sublime skills, youth football mixed with cup competition thrills, tension and chants of “We won it three times”.

The perfect afternoon of watching my clubs young boys run rampant across the deliciously manicured pitch was sullied, dirtied and smeared by THAT chant. Liverpool were playing extremely polished football.

The small away gathering boasted children, CHILDREN! Of all the sections of society to blood a social routine on, the groans were audible across the Kop. We knew what they were singing, we knew we could retaliate, yet we did not. Why? Is it due to our severe attitude to social convention? Were we more eloquent and chose to express ourselves in a less fervent fashion? Or was it because we didn’t want our children witnessing us, as parents, teachers of social niceties, how to behave like a torturous victim when faced with a wrong.

Those of you on Twitter who follow me know how wound up I get when I see abusive tweets about The Tragedies. A blatant ignorance pervades a place I frequent, a place I like to come to when I feel a little uninspired. Stories and statistics, friendships and national debate stimulate me but I fail to see why I would want to ingratiate myself to a section of society who feels the need to rush headlong into scar tissue that runs a mile wide.

Heysel, 26 years ago last month. I follow many Juventino, I know how hurt they still are, I follow hundreds of Liverpool fans, I know how ashamed they are. Yet, somehow the two clubs have come together, not perfectly, not entirely, but together. The chant that Manchester United fans sing, so loud and proud, is an insult to their lost ones. A birch on the hands held out for comfort. The chant affects the Liverpool fans too, nowhere near as much as Juventus fans, but a quick, sharp thwack on the back of fans who, even though they weren’t there, flagellate themselves yearly when the anniversary comes around.

I wonder if Manchester United fans are predisposed to hack away at the bandages of that horrific European Cup final? Obviously I’m generalising and I’ll be called out for that like a cheap hack with a clutch of gossip whispers. But am I onto something? Do we teach our future generation of fans how to hate, or at least emotionally injure? Are we directly responsible for the interpretation of banter becoming so leftfield from the original that we are looking at a phenomenon that is built from lust for humiliation?

These questions have been haunting me as I strive to make sense of that beautiful match day, the football and the restraint shown by players and fans of Liverpool was admirable and heart warming. Yet was I at an event that was unique? If I’ve seen the tweets from Manchester United fans then I have seen an equal number from the Liverpool fans. Appalling though it is to me, anathema almost, I feel there is a need to level the same desire for explanations at my own set of fans, more so. I say it is anathema, as to revel or exude delight in the hurt of others is utterly alien to me.

I have contacted the community spokesperson for Liverpool’s official website, I received inadequate responses from Matt. However, I’m more tenacious than a few emails, I wont be held to a response that places the responsibility of abusive chants and their after affects in the hands of the supporters. We, as bastions of representation, do have the ultimate accountability for our actions, our behaviour towards our fellow football fans, but the clubs have an immense amount of power in the responsibility they can show. Flexing a muscle would give the world a sharp reminder of how utterly devastating an institution can be when it wants to encase its reputation in a shell of respectability.

With the clutch of emails sent, I started to spread about the idea, on Twitter, of a supporter force or group, who can police or gather information from the terraces on suspected abusers. I also floated the idea of interclub match days based upon better relations for fans, education programs in schools, programs aimed at supporters leaving and entering the grounds. Victims groups having discussions with known offenders to re-educate them. There are a myriad of possibilities and each carries its own pitfall or an ability to offend.

The only way that a program of events and actions would succeed would be down to the supporters pressuring the club to help end the chants. Fans can help sway the boards decision in sacking a manager, they can turn on a player and see him sold soon after, they can become internet terrorists and shut off the supply of credit to two cowboys. Can they stop scenes like those on Match of The Day, were Liverpool fans, at Old Trafford, made aeroplane gestures with open arms and screamed with blood red faces, “Munich!”? Can we do that? Can we march around the club, can we boycott the merchandise and sing protest from the terraces? Somehow, something in me thinks it’s a no, but wouldn’t it be great if instead of one person emailing or writing to the stadium manager, it was two or three? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be unique and be the first club to eject and ban supporters who have chanted abuse, only letting them in when they complete a set amount of re-education programs?
I’ll march for that. Under a big banner that says, “No more shall I abuse, no more shall I chant, instead respect the opposition, for he is my fellow man.”

You can contact me on twitter @malbennett29

Friday 3 June 2011

2nd Reply From LFC Concerning Abusive Chants

Hi Mal,
 
I think this may be something you’d need to write to the Club about as my remit only covers online communities and social media. From what you’ve told me I would direct my enquiries to:
 
Stadium Manager
Anfield
Anfield Road
L4 OTH
 
Hope this of help.
 
Kind regards,
 
Matt
 

BBC reply to complaint about Kelvin MacKenzie's appearance on BBC 2

Dear Mr Bennett

Thanks for contacting us regarding ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired’ broadcast on the 1 June.

We understand you felt that Kelvin MacKenzie was an inappropriate choice of guest.

The programme is an entertainment show and our sole aim when making each episode is to provide enjoyment. Kelvin McKenzie is a public figure who regularly appears on entertainment and political shows and is a well-known radio broadcaster and columnist. We felt for these reasons, his inclusion was legitimate.

We take great care to try and make a good natured show, and it is certainly never our intention when making the programme to offend or upset our viewers.

We appreciate your views and we would like to assure you that we’ve registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for getting in touch.

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

NB This is sent from an outgoing account only which is not monitored. You cannot reply to this email address but if necessary please contact us via our webform quoting any case number we provided.

Kind Regards

BBC Audience Services

Wednesday 1 June 2011

2nd Email To LFC Concerning Abusive Chants

Hi Matt.
     Appreciate you emailing back. I think I never clarified my query properly. I am asking if the club has a clear policy or plan to try and stop the chants. Something like CCTV use, phone line for anonymous reports and education programmes aimed at supporters and the wider community. 
     The reason I'm pursuing this is due to the scenes I witnessed at Youth FA Cup Quarter Final at Anfield earlier this year. The away Manchester United support, which included children, sang songs about Heysel. I feel that more than a token response about supporter intervention is required from the club that prides itself on community values.
     The determination that I have for this issue to be resolved is evident with the way in which the fan base boycotted spreadshirt and won the removal of the shirts. 

Mal Bennett 

Email To LFC Concerning Abusive Chants

Dear Sir/Madam,
As an active member of the fan base on twitter I often see abusive tweets about Hillsborough, Heysel and Munich. I was wondering if there is in place a group that tries to educate supporters about the tragedies and helps strengthen ties between the supporters base and the victims groups. I was an integral part in helping stop Republik Of Mancunia from selling his t shirts that displayed the 'We Won It Three Times Without Killing Anyone' chant. This site was powered by a successful t shirt company and by the power of using twitter and fan emails, we managed to have the site shut off the flow of that particular design. The point of the email is to ask if there is anything I can do to stop the repeat of footage of Liverpool fans singing Munich songs on Match Of The Day or of Manchester United fans singings Heysel songs whilst playing other teams? I would love to help the club become the first club to try and bridge that gap between rivalry and decency. Any role I can play would be done to the fullest. I look forward to a reply email.
Yours sincerely
Mal Bennett
Birkenhead
You'll Never Walk Alone

Email From LFC Concerning Abusive Chants

Dear Mal,
 
Thanks for your mail which a colleague at the Club forwarded to me. I’m the Community Manager at LFC’s Digital Media Dept.
 
Unfortunately I can’t be of help in regards to footage screened on Match of the Day and can only suggest writing to the BBC.  Certainly if any of this footage is posted on LFC websites we will remove it as soon as become aware of it. So reporting anything similar which you saw on The Kop for instance would be both useful and sincerely appreciated.
 
It’s difficult to advise you on how best to further your aims. Whilst media organizations and sports clubs have a role to play , ultimately it’s likely that the only people that could positively affect fan behaviour would be other fans. After the Hillsborough Disaster many of our own supporters made clear their distaste for songs which glorified in others death and tragedy. That happened through debate, argument and persuasion, so perhaps the independent fan sites may be one place to try to put this case?
Best Regards,

Matt

Tuesday 31 May 2011

Steve McManaman: Winging It In Madrid

On the 1st July 1999, after two years of transfer tugs of war, a thunder storm of newspaper articles and backlashes that struck like whiplashes from fans, Steve McManaman left a club in transition and entered a club in metamorphosis.
​     At Liverpool he had been the ‘Wizard of the Dribble’, winning a League Cup final virtually single handed, winning an FA Cup early on in his career too. The years were kind to Steve and he cemented his place in Liverpool history. Yet the controversy over his Bosman transfer drew eyes away from his achievements, towards the money that the Premier League had brought to players.
​    McManaman was the last signing of Guus Hiddink, who was later sacked in February 1999, due to comments about the board and finances and poor league performances. Steve knew the pressure would be immense, particularly as he was only the second Englishman to play for Real Madrid, but also due to the regime change at the club.
​   Real Madrid were going through one of the most turbulent periods in their history. A new manager brought a new philosophy, John Toshack, and several players were sold to try and combat the rising debt. Mijatovic, Suker, Seedorf and Panucci all made way to help streamline the clubs finances. This process of selling players made star man Raúl speak out, 'The dressing room is a cesspit of lies, treachery and whispers.....I feel sorry for new players like Steve McManaman.'
     Whatever Steve was walking into, he was clearly a big deal in Madrid and was the highest profile player to move to Spain, from England, since Gary Lineker's move from Everton to Barcelona in 1986.
     His first few games yielded three goals and several assists, Madridistas took him to their hearts straight away. Debuting against Mallorca, on 22nd August 1999 at the Son Moix stadium, he provided the vital assist for a late injury time winner scored by Fernando Morientes. His next game, on 29th August at home against Numancia, saw him score his first goal in the 4-1 demolition. 
     McManaman and his Madrid teammates took part in the first FIFA Club World Championship in 1999/2000 were he failed to score, eventually coming 4th. However, Steve managed to help Real Madrid make it all the way to the 2000 Champions League final in Paris. Vicente Del Bosque was now the Real Madrid manager, after Toshack was sacked in November of 1999. The build up rounds to the final saw McManaman receive several man of the match awards, based upon the partnership with Fernando Redondo.
     Valencia were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in an all Spanish final. McManaman scored with a stunning volley from outside the box, many consider this final as his greatest game. Fellow Madrid player Ivan Helguera endorsed the English media's view of McManaman as the man of the match. This historic eighth European Cup win saw him become the first ever English player to win the competition with a foreign club.
     Yet despite all the accolades and performances that Steve put in, he was to be sidelined for the rest of his Madrid career. In 2000, as the new Liga season began, Del Bosque was to warn him that he had 'little chance of playing this year'. Incoming President, Florentino Pérez, was followed to the club by football sensation Luís Figo, for a club record transfer fee. This transfer burdened the club with more debt and subsequently several players were sold. One of the players earmarked for sale was McManaman, yet he resisted every attempt to sell him. And there were many attempts to get rid of the Englishman. 
     Just to slap McManaman in the face with his threat of a non playing season, Del Bosque insisted he would not be issuing Steve with a squad number. The £37 million transfer of Figo led to the board wanting to offload McManaman's £4.5 million salary, however he had a water tight contract until 2004. He managed to resist all bids for him, including an £11 million bid from Middlesbrough which was accepted by Real Madrid and also a £12 million bid from Chelsea that included Tore André Flo. There were also bids from up to eight other clubs including Manchester United's contingent sent by Alex Ferguson. 
     McManaman wouldn't give up, was given a squad number and a place back in the starting eleven as a poll in El Mundo showed that 90% of Real Madrid fans wanted the club to keep him. Michel Salgado also rallied around him and complained to the management about his treatment after yet another transfer bid was accepted, £8 million from Lazio.
     Del Bosque eventually warmed to McManaman, playing him, as a substitute, in the 3-3 draw against Málaga in September. By October Steve had won over Del Bosque and was rewarded with first team starts in the second half of the season. The 2000/2001 season ended with defeat to Bayern Munich in the semi final of the Champions League and victory, with their 28th La Liga title.
     2001 saw McManaman's playing time reduced as the Galáctico policy went into overdrive, players like Zidane and Ronaldo arrived to be placed above him in the pecking order. His tenacity saw him earn respect from all his teammates, Spanish media and was twice voted as fans player of the year, by fans who liked to wave white handkerchiefs in tribute to his spectacular goal against Real Oviedo. This determination to impose himself on the starting eleven was given special mention by his golfing partners, Figo and Ronaldo. Through a combination of sheer hard work and a program of acclimatisation to the Spanish culture, McManaman became the darling of fans and a steady fondness radiated from the Spanish media.
     The Galáctico policy was not remarked upon by McManaman whilst at the club, instead he waited until releasing his book El Macca. In the book he describes the policy as the 'Disneyfication of Madrid', this was something of a foretelling as Madrid have failed to live up to the successes of the period before that policy.
     In his penultimate season at Real Madrid, McManaman enjoyed his warmest welcome from the board, Florentino Pérez said a "man like that would always have a place in my club". Cruyff also lauded McManaman as "everyone's best partner on the pitch". The club lavished him with an historic honour, making him the captain in a FIFA XI, the first Englishman to ever captain Real Madrid, the ultras lapped it up, applauding him enthusiastically. In addition to this he had a fantastic run in the Champions League, coming on as a substitute in the semi final El Clasico and scoring a late goal, he came on as another substitute in the final at Hampden Park, thus ensuring his dual winners medal.
     His final season, 2002/2003 saw McManaman used mainly as a late substitute in the first half of the season, but after several assists to Ronaldo's goals, he was given more starts. One start came in the Champions League against AEK Athens were he scored twice, another Champions League start came against Manchester United at Old Trafford, which saw his side lose 4-3.
     However, this season proved to be the one that confirmed his critics' opinions, after only 21 games, 9 starts and 15 La Liga appareances, the media started to question his ability and work rate. The English media were accused of selective amnesia after accusing McManaman of selling out to a big money contract and being content to sit on the bench rather than move on. Yet he still managed to win another La Liga medal and the Intercontinental Cup, adding to his expanding list of honours.
     The writing was on the wall when Real Madrid signed David Beckham, Steve remained for the pre-season of 2003/2004 then was released by Los Blancos. Beckham, apparently, begged for the midfielder to remain at the club but it was all in vain as Del Bosque was sacked 24 hours after winning La Liga, Steve's support seeped away from the club and he made his journey back to England.
     So after 157 appearances, 14 goals and 33 assists, McManaman limped back to the country that had been a thorn in his side since his big money transfer from Liverpool had started getting air time. Never appreciated at Liverpool by the board, never accepted at Real Madrid by the board or manager, constantly put up for transfer and sidelined as an outcast, McManaman showed everyone that his class was evident when on the pitch. A double Champions League winner, the first Englishman to win the competition with a foreign club, the first Englishman to captain a Real Madrid team and a scorer in El Clasico. No one can say that he didn't perform with flair, style and panache.
     McManaman isn't my favourite Les Rosbif from Liverpool, that honour resides with Michael Owen, yet he is the most successful in terms of trophies won. I feel for Steve as he tried so hard to fit in, yet the fans never let him forget that they loved him and he took on the might of the Real Madrid politick machine and won, his release was simply a formality. As always, Steve McManaman operated on the wing and his performances allowed others to shine, pity his own career isn't characterised with the diamond quality it deserves.

Monday 9 May 2011

Third Email From Spreadshirt

Hi Mal,

I can assure you that the shopowner will not be selling this design in his shop. We have taken it off his European shop and also off the US platform. Currently we are checking his account for further products that may carry this text and deactivate these as well.

Both platforms are operated individually, therefore we had to wait for our US-colleagues to react to this.

Hopefully these informations will be able to help you.

Kind regards

Lina
Spreadshirt Legal Service

Friday 6 May 2011

Email I've Sent

Hi Lina. 

On behalf of all Liverpool fans, I say thank you for removing this design from the shop. You may not know this but on 29th May it will be the 26th anniversary of the tragedy, so the timing of the removal of the shirts is very timely.

We have been contacted by the Shop Partner and have been told that the design has been removed before but he put it back on. I do not know how true this is, I hope that you did not re-approve this design? Can all the concerned emailers, callers & writers be assured by you, that the design will never be sold again?

Regards

Mal Bennett 

Sent from my iPhone

Second Email From SpreadShirt

Hello Matt,

Many thanks for your reply.

I want to inform you that our Ethics committee has now been engaged in order to decide if this design should be eliminated from the Shop.

Further information about the decision the committee will make can be found in our Blog - which is of course up to date. There you will also have the chance to communicate your concern publicly and debate this further:

http://blog.spreadshirt.net/uk/2011/05/06/politically-incorrect-questionable-shop-partner-designs/

Please be assured that we are taking this issue very seriously. We are aware of the fact that we cannot separate us fully from the shop.


For further questions please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Kind regards

Lina
Spreadshirt Legal Service


Should you be unhappy with our service or personnel please send an Email to besser@spreadshirt.de

This is no legal advice! All provided information are individual and subjective ratings of the Spreadshirt Legal Service team and have no claim to validity or actuality. In doubt please consult your legal representative.

__________________________

Spreadshirt - The world's creative apparel platform

Follow spreadshirt on Twitter: spreadshirt on Twitter
                                         

Address:
Sprd.net AG; Giesserstr. 27; 04229 Leipzig; Germany
Executive Board:
Matthias C. Spieß - Tobias Schaugg - Philip Rooke
Chairman of the Supervisory Board:
Lukasz Gadowski
Trade Register:
Amtsgericht Leipzig, HRB 22478
VAT-ID:
DE 8138 7149 4

Email From SpreadShirt

Hello Mal,

Thank you very much for you e-mail expressing your concern about the design mentioned. We realize that you are a large group feeling offended by it and acknowledge and respect your wish.

The design has been published in the shop by the shop owner, who is also solely editorially responsible for it. Therefore we ask you to contact him with your concern and your request to take down the design.

Please believe us that we have debated intensely about the subject and also researched the situation thoroughly. As a German company we were not immediately familiar with the background and the context that you refer to, therefore our reaction took some time. We apologize for this and also hope for your understanding.

We ask you to approach the shop owner directly because we are – as the platform operator – for the shops responsible in limited terms only, i.e. by maintaining and supervising it. We do check the designs as you may be aware of but only for direct rights violations such as trademark rights or copyrights.

But in this case it is an ethical or rather moral background rather than the design itself that is causing the trouble. Therefore the shop owner is the right contact. We do not intervene with the mindset of the content of the shops because that would easily lead to patronizing the shop owners – which is something that we duly try to avoid.

We also believe that while it is not only necessary for you as a group to approach the shop owner, it would also be the better solution for this problem. If all of you - and as far as we know there are many - would contact the operators of the shop these would be well aware of the force that they are standing against. It would help to make the people standing behind the Republic of Mancunia understand how much they are crossing the line with this design.

We hope that you can understand our point of view. We also wish you success in your negotiations with the shop owner.


For further questions please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Kind regards

Lina
Spreadshirt Legal Service


Should you be unhappy with our service or personnel please send an Email to besser@spreadshirt.de

This is no legal advice! All provided information are individual and subjective ratings of the Spreadshirt Legal Service team and have no claim to validity or actuality. In doubt please consult your legal representative.

__________________________

Spreadshirt - The world's creative apparel platform

Follow spreadshirt on Twitter: spreadshirt on Twitter
                                         

Address:
Sprd.net AG; Giesserstr. 27; 04229 Leipzig; Germany
Executive Board:
Matthias C. Spieß - Tobias Schaugg - Philip Rooke
Chairman of the Supervisory Board:
Lukasz Gadowski
Trade Register:
Amtsgericht Leipzig, HRB 22478
VAT-ID:
DE 8138 7149 4

Thursday 5 May 2011

Campaign Against Republik Of Mancunia Merchandise

     This is the one stop page for all the information that you will need to help us shut down a website that is harming relations between football fans of Manchester United and Liverpool. 

     Please help us by emailing, writing or phoning and complaining about this obscene site. 

http://mancuniamerchandise.spreadshirt.co.uk/without-killing-anyone-I5339742
     This is the merchandise site that sells shirts mocking the tragedy of Heysel, 1985. 

http://therepublikofmancunia.com/
     This is the blog of Scott, the person who also runs the merchandise site

@R_o_M 
     This is the twitter name of Scott. 

scott@mancuniamerchandise.com
     This is his email address. (Not his personal account)

May I please ask that no references are made to the Munich Air Disaster when emailing or speaking to Scott as we should not reduce ourselves to his level.

     The company who provide the technical platform for the merchandise shop, or the Shop Partner as they call it, are called SpreadShirts. 

     This is the email address of SpreadShirts.

info@spreadshirt.net

     This is the German address, it's superior headquarters

sprd.net AG
Gießerstraße 27
04229 Leipzig
Germany

     This is the British address.

Spreadshirt.co.uk
2 Sheraton St
Soho
London
WIF 8BH
England

     Here is a link to the national headquarters for each country

http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/branch-offices-C72

      This is the British telephone number

+44 20 3137 2587

    This is the twitter account of SpreadShirt

@spreadshirt

     The chairman of the board is Łukasz Godowski. 
Here is his twitter account

@lak

Please send emails, write or phone. 

Use these templates and copy and paste them into an email or print them off for a letter. 



Dear Sir/Madam,
     We fans of football are appalled at the range of merchandise that are on sale in one of your virtual shops. 

http://mancuniamerchandise.spreadshirt.co.uk

     This merchandise is inflammatory and derogatory. It mocks the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium in 1985. 
     We urge you to take action and put pressure upon Scott to stop selling these designs. 
     We do not subscribe to your excuse that the legality of the designs lie with the Shop Partner, rather we see your company, who produce the shirts, as culpable for them instead. 
     At the very least we expect a reply. If that reply is not acceptable we will pursue a policy of petitions, email and letter campaigns, newspaper and blog articles. Unfortunately we will not accept that this disgraceful merchandise should be allowed to be sold through an affiliate of yours. 

Yours sincerely

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Interview With Stephen Sama. (Taken from SPOX.com, interview by Daniel Börlein)

SPOX: Mr. Sama, 2009, we have an interview conducted with you. You were just a few weeks at Liverpool. How have you fared since then?
Sama: Very well, thank you! I was quite acclimated quickly, the changeover is my total dropped slightly.
SPOX: you have in the youth team of the Reds players made ​​the jump to the root. If one asks around in Liverpool, then it means you are now an important player in the team. How would you rate it?
Sama: As you rightly say, I am in the Stammelf played fast. I must state week after week with performance support this and think that I managed it well and it is now up my games so far shown is happy with.
SPOX: Above all, your leadership qualities are praised, what a young player in a foreign country but is quite amazing. Whence comes it that you can quickly and apparently also like to take responsibility like that?
Sama: I think it's important as a defensive player with his colleagues to communicate and give commands to. I get along well with the language and have the acceptance of my teammates. But I also know that a good defensive player should take responsibility to advance and later to establish the highest level. So I try now to take over management responsibilities to.
SPOX: At the beginning, it is from Liverpool, you needed a little bit to get into the courses. Why?
Sama: Of course it was a change for me. A new country, a new language and new sporting course requirements in comparison to Germany. But like I said, I quite quickly get used to the new environment and yes, even after a few weeks made ​​it into the root formation made ​​then.
SPOX: With the recent experience: Would you make the decision to go to Liverpool, at any time to meet again - or perhaps even regret that you have not already made ​​the decision?
Sama: I would decide at any time shall take it. I have developed and improved, the jump in the DFB team also managed. The second part of your question is hypothetical, because in the summer of 2009 for the first time Liverpool had contact. But I also think that I was 16 years ago was quite young, but I think despite the age that the step time is right to be.
SPOX: Can you tell a little about your sports experiences: Always play in central defense? How to defend itself against the English striker? What were your highlights from a sporting point of view so far?
Sama: I always play in central defense, in that position I also feel most comfortable. Many players here are physically strong and have good speed. Two fire-power and a good heading ability are extremely important in English football. But in the end are the requirements of a good central defender but are more or less the same. Add to my sporting highlights of late include the nomination for the German U-17 and U-18 national team and to participate in the Elite round in Switzerland in the spring. Also, the training here in Liverpool with the first team and the Youth Cup games against relatively large audience at Anfield Youth Games were played for, were valuable experiences.
SPOX: What is the contact with the professionals?
Sama: Contact the professionals are there only if I train with the first team since the training ground of youth and professionals at various locations is located. Certainly gives one or the other experienced warrior in the training game once a hint, how to level the clever can behave themselves.
SPOX: What's missing to make the leap to the top?
Sama: What I am concerned not currently have. I have in the training sessions have the feeling that the distance professionals no longer light-years away, is the too. But I know that I have to my team every day and game after game in my homework and performance, confirms my need to constantly be at the top. I sure some things are still learning and needs to improve, but it is also clear.
SPOX: Is the English youth football better than the German?
Sama: He is different. The game here is fast and very physical. We have a very strong team. But in Germany is good football played in the junior.
"At first I thought, for this foul You move on the edge of a red card, but the game went on as usual."
Stephen Sama
SPOX: very fundamental: What are the differences between Germany and Britain - on the field and in everyday life?
Sama: I repeat, if I have already got a very harsh stance on the courts address here, the arbitrators will be less penalized by the. Because you have to get used but once, and followed consistently, however. At first I thought, for this foul You move on the edge of a red card, but the game went on quite normally. But basically I think that leagues at a very high level with plenty of pace to be played in two. Otherwise - it rains more and the traffic is on the wrong side. I recently made ​​my driving license in Germany and I have to get used in this.!
SPOX: How do you cope private?
Sama: I'm doing well here. I'm summer after a year in a new family came in and now live closer to the Academy. I was well received and had no problems. Privately I am the Internet a lot, and keep up to date to remain in Germany and my friends to keep in touch with. Otherwise, learning is also on my list, because I picture this school via distance learning continues.
SPOX: How often do you come to Germany?
Sama: Regularly. If we have no play and no training is scheduled, I come to Germany. Also, because of international matches or training courses, I am often at home.
SPOX: Which colleagues from Germany, you still have contact?
Sama: With many of my former teammates from the BVB, otherwise with my friends, family, from Bochum and my agent. We exchange information regularly.
SPOX: BVB is now also increased again at his own talents, see Mario idol. Would that possibly, the chance you have been for?
Sama: Possibly, yes. Wherein the central defense with young people at a very good reception is in Dortmund, so it would be in this position certainly has become very difficult.
SPOX: If you could choose a Premier League or rather prefer to play league?
Sama: Both leagues are very attractive. However, I've just been in Liverpool to contract another three years mean. The comprehensive package is simply convinced me in Liverpool. However, I agree with a return to Germany, not even if it makes sense for me