retired_provrb7

The Fringe Is Gone..

The following day the players had been given the day off and I came back to Anfield to prepare for the trip to Porto to meet Boavista when David Moores stepped into my office. He explained that the players I wished to sell had been done. "Wow, you guys work fast around here", I said. He handed me a list of the players that'd been sold and where :

Mark Jones - Hyde
James Smith - Leigh RMI
David Raven - Altrincham
Ryan Wilkie - AaB
Mark Smyth - Marine
Danny O'Donnell - Hornchurch
Zak Whitbread - Gretna
Darren Potter - Macclesfield
Neil Mellor - Velacruz
Scott Carson - Pachuca
Paul Harrison - Boston Utd
Jon Otsemobor - Osasuna
Patrice Luzi - Bastia
Milan Baros - Hannover 96

I was surprised by some of the transfers to be perfectly frank. Mellor and Carson playing in Mexico ? It brought a slight chuckle when I read it. I thanked Moores and he bid farewell.

Later that day Alex Miller knocked on my door. He said he wanted me to meet Bare and Colley, the new scouts. They seemed like pleasant chaps and I told them really what I was looking for. Mostly young and exciting prospects. Miller also explained he had found 3 players that he thuoght we should pick up. Seeing as they were all three under 17 we could pick them up for a nominal fee. All 3 were midfielders and they were called Gerard Lifondja, Denni Avdic and Glenn Kobussen. I told Miller that I wanted him to sign them up and show them around the club and make sure they come.

During the evening just before I was going to leave I got a call from MK Dons boss Danny Wilson. He explained that one of his scouts had been watching Lee Peltier in one of the reserve friendlies and asked if he could loan him for 3 months. I told him if Peltier wants to then no problem, he was too young to break into the first team anyway and could do with a good loan spell. Wilson was delighted with my answer and started taking up negotiations with Peltier right away.

retired_provrb7

Do The Portuguese Have A Siesta ?

The planetrip to Porto didn't take long and the players seemed to be well rested and well trained for this game. Since the game was an afternoon one I told them yesterday who was in and out of the starting XI. Lee Peltier, btw, has completed his move to MK Dons saying that he might even make it permanant. That's unless I have anything to say about it

The Match this afternoon was to be broadcasted on tv and Pierluigi Collina was going to be the referee. This match was becoming bigger then I thought.

Saturday 24th July, 16.00
Boavista 0
Liverpool 2, Cisse 1, Gerrard 20
MOM - Harry Kewell
Att: 1810

Liverpool (4-1-4-1); Dudek; Carra, Pellegrino, Hyypia, Riise; Hamann; Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Kewell; Cisse

1st Half
Coming out of the tunnel I was stunned. Where were all the people ? There are more people at Hvidovre then this place. I was beginning to think that maybe the Portuguese have siesta's or something. Goal!As for the match, it took 55 seconds for Cisse to find the back of the net after good play with intricate passes from Hamann, Alonso, Gerrard and Kewell to find Cisse free in the box. The finish to be fair was straight at the goalie but he just laid down like canned tuna, Boavista 0 Liverpool 1. 12th minute and Boavista are'nt in the game, a ball from Alonso finds Cisse and he squares it for Stevie who ballons it over the bar unfortionatly. Goal! A cornor from the left by Kewell finds Hyypia in the box who heads it down near post to Gerrard who hits it on the volley, low and hard past Khadim in Boavista's goal, Boavista 0 Liverpool 2 and cruice control. 30 minutes on the clock and Cisse steals the ball of the Boavista defender and moves wide, Garcia moves inwards and receives the ball in his favorate position and shoots but his shot is too weak and easy for Khadim to catch. Half-Time and we were 2-0 up and very confortably aswell, Alonso had picked up a slight knock so I decided to put Welsh on instead just in case.

2nd Half
I told the team to hold the ball a bit more and slow the tempo down. It was very hot here in Porto and I didn't want the players too tired. However in the 52 minute Gerrard gets sent off for a trip! I was furious, not at Gerrard but at Collina, who otherwise is so professional. 70th minute subs were Partridge and Traore on. The match, was predictably, dead in the second half with Sinama's effort in the 84th minute the only one to write home about. He'd found space on the left and received the ball from Riise and dribbled into the box and shot, too high thou. Total domination by Liverpool and Kewell put in a very good performance! From here we go direct to Antwerp for our last friendly before the season kicks off!

retired_provrb7

Last Friendly

This would be the last chance for rotation players to convince me of a first team spot. I'd already really decided who plays and who doesn't but you never know what waits around the cornor.

Tuesday 27th July, 20.00
Antwerp 0
Liverpool 2, Cisse 18, Garcia 45
MOM - Hamann
Att: 6296

Liverpool (4-1-4-1); Kirkland; Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Riise; Biscan; Garcia, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell; Cisse

1st Half
Biscan was given another chance but this time as the anchor in midfield. 8th min - A throw in for Antwerp was cut out by Hamann who fed it to Biscan who'd run into the box, he passes a ball to the left wing where Kewell 1 timed it into the box for Gerrard who balloned it over the bar. 16th min - Gerrard hits a free-kick from 25 yards well over the bar. Goal! 18 minutes into the game and Finnan's free kick finds Garcia on the right wing, he crosses to Cisse in the box who buries his header into the right cornor of the goal, Antwerp 0 Liverpool 1, great header! 36th min - Gerrard's free kick finds Cisse in the box who fires in a volley with his left foot, being a very right footed player this meant it drifted well wide of the target but he should of gotten it on goal at least. Goal! In the dyeing moments of the 1st half, Hamann finds Garcia on the right wing who pounds home of his trademark long shots from 30 yards well beyond the antwerp keepers reach, Antwerp 0 Liverpool 2! At half time I asked the players to keep pressing as they did in the first, Antwerp were not even close of getting into the game

2nd Half
Right from the off we got a free-kick which found Kewell on the left who passed into the box for Cisse, he squared it back to Gerrard on top of the half-moon and he hit on the volley, just wide. Kewell picked up a knock in the 55th minute and was replaced by Partridge. Luis Garcia and Cisse were replaced by Traore and Sinama in the 70th minute. Riise's free kick in the 88th minute is the only real danger in the second half, from a real tight angle it went inches past the right goal post.

We were cruising in our last 2 friendlies and it gave me great optimism for the future. The lads were given a week off and then full focus on our Champions League Qualification match away to Banik Ostrava.

retired_provrb7

£14m And He Scores On His Debut

We've been preparing for a whole week for this fixture and the lads looked great in training. Everyone was fit and ready for the season ahead. I told them that it was important not to loose this match today and that I would'nt be upset with a draw but my only wish is that we score today.

PRE MATCH INTERVIEW -
Mr Taylor, how are you feeling ahead of tonights game?

I am feeling quite confident that the players can score a goal and hopefully we'll come away with a win.

Morientes is out injured but would he have been in the starting XI if he had'nt?

Probably not, Cisse has been in inspiring form the whole pre-season and it's very unlucky for Morientes to get injured in the start of the season.

How do you fancy Liverpool's chances in the Champions League?

If we get a good run of form in Europe then the team can definatly go all the way. Some luck with suspensions and injuries is also a factor but the team are good enough to be in the final in Istanbul, definatly.

And finally, what will be the score tonight ?

I'm hoping 2-0 to us of course.

Wednesday 11th August, 19.45. Bazaly, Ostrava
Champions League Qual.3 Leg 1
Banik Ostrava 0
Liverpool 1, Cisse 31
MOM - Alonso
Att: 17811

Banik Ostrava (5-3-2); Pospisill; Latal, Klimpi, Kostal, Pospesch, Strnad; Sioncik, Bystron, Cizek; Magera, Papadopoulos

Liverpool (4-1-4-1); Dudek; Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Riise; Hamann; Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell; Cisse

1st Half
Pierluigi Collina is in charge of this game and for those that remember Boavista, Gerrard won't be happy with that, let's just hope he does'nt send him off again. 4th min - Bystron takes a pop from 30 yards infront of goal but it goes well wide, good start from Ostrava here. The next minute we get a throw in on the left in the opponents half, Riise throws to Alonso who finds Gerrard outside the area, Gerrard takes it in his stride and dribbles into the box and shots hard at goal, over the bar! 18th min - Alonso's free kick hits the wall and bounces out to Hamann who sets up Garcia on the right egde of the box and he shots on the volley but hits the sidenetting. Around the 28th minute Gerrard is signalling to the bench that he's picked up a slight knock on the leg and seems to be half limping. I decided to keep him on the pitch. My first thought was that Collina seems to be a bad luck charm to Stevie. Goal! Finnan throws the ball to Gerrard who in his turn 1-2's with Hamann and serves Cisse a delish ball into the box and the frenchman can't miss on his right foot, Ostrava 0 Liverpool 1, Cisse scores on his debut! I decided to take off Gerrard immediatly for Igor Biscan because I didn't want to take any risks. 37th min - The Ostrava defence are pressured low into their box and Riise picks up a loose ball at the halfway line, he passes Kewell down the wing who crosses to Alonso who's made a run into the box but his header is just over. 42nd min - Banik get a free-kick in the Liverpool half and pass down the right side, Finnan intercepts but manages to loose the ball ot the winger who sqaures it across the box to Bystron who shot feints and passes left instead to Latal who ballons it way over the bar. 45th min - Cornor on the left, Alonso takes it and finds Kewell along the ground in the box, his snapshot is saved by Paspicil thou and then cleared by the defence. Collina blows for half time and I leave the pitch with a smile.

2nd Half
57th min - Garcia's free kick from the right lands right into the goalie's arms qiute confortably. I decide in the 70th minute that Cisse and Garcia should come off to be saved for the weekend and were replaced by Partridge and Pongolle. 75th min - Partridge finds Hamann centrally past the halfway line, Hamann takes it just outside the box and through balls it to Partridge in the box but he's shot sails over the bar. 82nd min - Sinama's run out wide creates space for Hamann who receives the ball from Partridge but now in his turn his shot also flies over the bar. Ostrava decide now to put more bodies forward to try and get an equalizer but Carragher emerges as a giant in defence. Banik were to get 1 last chance thou, 10 seconds before the whistle a cross from the left is deflected off Finnan and landed infront of Danek but he was soon put off his shot and it sailed wide of Dudek's right post. The final whistle blew and the travelling fans were delighted for both team and Cisse!

POST MATCH INTERVIEW

Well Daniel, you got the result you wanted, how do you feel?

I feel that Ostarava were not good enough to impose any threat. We had total control today and we should of won by more goals but I am very happy for the players, they have made this possible.

Gerrard got a slight knock, is he alright?

I spoke to the physios and he has a bruise but will be quite alright for the match against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Cisse scored on his debut, how did you feel when he scored?

Very happy for the player but as I said before the game, his form in the pre-season shows he is a great player and is one of the best attackers in the Premiership

Are you going through now?

Well there is one more game left but I'm quite confident that they will not score at Fort Anfield.

Thanks Mr Taylor and good luck on Sunday.

Thank You..

retired_provrb7

GUNNERS MAKING DEISLER MOVE
14 August 2004

Premiership Champions Arsenal have reportedly made a £6.7m bid for FC Bayern sensation Sebastian Deisler.

The German international has been one of Bundesliga's most impressive wingers over the past years and had been consistently linked with a summer move to Sociedad.
FC Bayern general manager Karl heinz Rummenigge recently slapped a £10 million price tag on him, and the German press are now reporting that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has responded by faxing through an official offer for the 24-year-old.
Arsene wenger has been public in declaring the need to bolster his wings, with Cagliari old boy Esposito also linked with a move to Highbury, and the willingness of Wenger to stump up such significant transfer funds could see them jump to the head of the queue for Deisler.
Liverpool and Sociedad have also been linked with a swoop which would substantially alleviate FC Bayern's financial concerns, although the player himself admitted to being concerned about the high figure placed on his head.
Deisler revealed that he was dreaming of moving to a big side and refused to rule out an overseas transfer, opening the door to the possibility of linking up with Wenger next season.
"I've told Magarth I'm not so sure teams will be able to spend such a high sum on me," Deisler told Die Kicker.
"FC Bayern defined a price, then its possible to negotiate, in the sense at the end of the market they will probably sell me for an inferior sum.
"They need that money and I'm happy my sale could help FC Bayern's financial situation, and then I'm happy that I can make the big jump.
"Fear of a big jump? When dreams become true they don't make you fearful.
"I'll have the possibility to play in a big team, and I'll do it with humility, as usual.
"I'm ready to put myself under discussion, would I like to play with [Thierry] Henry? Yes, but I'd like to play with [Steven] Gerrard too.
"Abroad excluded? Absolutely not."

retired_provrb7

Dream Start At The Dream Club

Were the Deisler links true ? You'll just have to keep tuned to this story to find We were on a good high after the trip to the Czech Republic and I would make my Liverpool debut away from home at the Riverside. I didn't underestimate 'Boro at all and I find them very competant at home but they were not going to get an easy ride with me.

PRE MATCH INTERVIEW
Mr Taylor, your first game in charge is away to a very good home team and is live TV coverage, do you feel any pressure?

The pressure is always there but I live for these moments and I wish they'd come more often.

Morientes still out, do you miss him ?

Of course we miss him, he is a professional amongst professionals and the younger strikers look up to him and learn alot from him

Rumours are about that you are linked with Deisler, true or false?

Deisler is a great player and would do well at this club, if he is coming or not I rather not comment.

Finally, score tonight?

We will win, 1-0 I think.

Sunday 15th August, 14.00. The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Premiership
Middlesbrough 1, Hasselbaink 26
Liverpool 3, Luis Garcia 42, 74 Pongolle 88
MOM - Gerrard
Att: 35084

Middlesbrough (4-4-2); Schwarzer; Parnaby, Southgate, Ehiogu, Cooper; Mendieta, Boateng, Zenden, Downing; Hasselbaink, Viduka

Liverpool (4-1-4-1); Dudek; Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Riise; Hamann; Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell; Cisse

1st Half
7 minutes in and the first chance falls to Alonso, Riise finds Kewell out on the wing and he crosses to Cisse in the box, Ehiogu wins the ball from Cisse but Alonso snaps up the loose ball but shoots wide of Schwarzre's post. 14th min - Counter attack by Liverpool, Garcia gets the ball outside his own box and sets Cisse free with a wonderfull pass, Cisse is free against Schwarzer but Schwarzer beats away the ball and Southgate clears for a throw in. Finnan takes the throw in quickly to Garcia who finds Gerrard outside the area and Gerrard puts the shot over the bar. 17th minute and another beautiful attack by Liverpool, Finnan tackles the ball off Downing, passes Luis Garcia, who passes Gerrard on the halfway line, he passes Cisse infront of him, Cisse squares it for Alonso outside the box, Xabi passes Kewell on the left who is unmarked, Kewell takes it into the box, shoots, Schwartzer beats it wide again and Ehiogu clears to Viduka who sets up Hasselbaink outside the area, tackled by Hyypia but it falls to Viduka outside the box who shoots wide. 19th min - Cisse finds space out on the left, receives the ball, runs into hte box and cuts it back for Kewell on the penalty spot and shoots, but straight at Schwarzer. Goal! 26 minutes into the game and Mendieta nicks the ball off Riise and sets up a free Hasselbaink in the area who smacks it with power into the net to score his debut goal, the 'Boro fans go mad and chant "Who are ya!! Who are ya!!", Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 0. Came as a shock, we'd had the game all the while. We tried to get a quick response through Gerrard who passes Cisse outside 'Boro's area but his long shot is over the bar. 32nd min - Goal kick by Dudek is headed by Ehiogu to Downing who lobs the ball infront of Hasselbaink and he takes it on the half volley but it's waaaay over the bar. Goal! 42 minutes into the game and the brilliant Schwarzer makes a grave mistake, Cisse had made a great run to the right wing and crossed the ball, it went past all the Liverpool players in the box and Schwartzer thought he could get the ball but did'nt see Kewell on the left wing who collected the ball and sliced a cross into the box to a free standing Luis Garcia who taps the ball into the empty net to score his first goal for Liverpool, grave mistake, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 1. 3 minutes later, again Gerrard being the midfield general and sets up Cisse with a through ball, clean on goal but Cisse hits it over the bar. Into extra time Luis Garcia tries a long shot from the right hand side but it goes terribly wide and Boateng tried a 20 yarder after poor control from Cisse just outside his box but it went way over. Half time and for a neautral viewer this is a bloody good game of footie!

2nd Half
The game in the 2nd half didn't kickstart aswell as the 1st one ended and it took until the 65th minute for some action, Finnan found Garcia on the right wing, crossed in for Gerrard, tackle by Southgate, snapped up by Garcia, shoots but hits the sidenetting. 3 minutes later Garcia is at it agian, this time he heads a ball over the Boro defence and Cisse is clean through on goal, his shot went well wide left thou. After that I decided that Cisse had had his chances and subbed both him and Kewell for Sinama and Partridge. Goal! 4 minutes after the subs and Sinama takes a throw in to Gerrard who gets into the area, takes a pop, saved by Schwartzer but Luis Garcia gets the tap in again to make it Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 2, that gave the fans something to shout about and the Liverpool fans could be heard chanting "Your Team Is F***ING S***". 81 min - A long ball up to Viduka is cut out by Carra but he is header is snapped up by Nemeth who shoots on the volley but it's well wide. 86 min - Partridge crosses into the box for Sinama, cut out by Southgate but Alonso hits the loose ball high over the bar. 87 min - Cornor for Boro aimed at Viduka in the box but his header is wild and over the bar. Goal!Dudek takes the goalkick, finds Partridge on the right, passes inwards to Alonso who passes back to him and runs into the box, Patridge ignores him and passes Sinama instead who is totally free in the box, he slides it past Schwarzer and 3-1 to Liverpool and that killed the last minutes of the game.

POST MATCH INTERVIEW

Another great result for you this week Daniel, how do you feel?

It was a great match for a neautral to watch, 2 attacking teams going for 3 points so early in the season shows both teams ambitions. But noone can say the result was'nt fair, we had pressed and pressed and we got 2 goals through Garcia. The third goal was because of my tactical brillians by subbing Partridge and Sinama on and they create the 3rd goal.

So you go into your home match agianst Southampton with great confidence?

I've said to the players that Anfield has to be created into a fort where teams do not wish to come. I know it has that word now but I want to make teams fear and of course the fans have to help create the atmosphere.

Standing beside you you have Gerrard who was Sky Sports MOM, who does it feel working with this manager Steve ?

He is very organized and knows what he wants from his players. I feel that under his guidance we can achieve good things and he has shown on the pitch today what he can make of Liverpool FC

Well here you go guys, a free bottle of champers and a good luck to future fixtures!

Thanks..

retired_janearific

Top story Justified - hope you can keep this up cos it looks really in depth. Glad you binned off twisty Baros :thup:

KUTGW :cool:

retired_provrb7

Fort Anfield Begins..

The result against 'Boro really kickstarted the season very well with fans and players in great spirits. I was to play on Liverpool grass for the first time since joining the club and the club of Southampton was to deal with that. Sami Hyypia had to miss the game due to being with Finland but that's what Pellegrino is here for, backup.

Wednesday 18th August, 19.30. Anfield, Liverpool
Premiership
Liverpool 1, Cisse 19
Southampton 0
MOM - Kewell
Att: 42711

Liverpool (4-1-4-1); Dudek; Finnan, Carra, Pellegrino, Riise; Hamann; Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell; Cisse

Southampton (3-4-1-2); Smith; Jakobsson, Higginbotham, Davenport; Svensson, Delap, Redknapp, Le Saux; Ormerod; Camara, Phillips

1st Half
It took about 7 minutes for the first chance to drop for Liverpool. Gerrard found Finnan who in his turn passed down the line for Garcia, he took a shot from his favorite position but it went over the bar. Goal! A cornor is cleared from Southampton and Riise holds onto the ball in our own half, both Carra and Pellegrino are running back from the cornor, Riise passes Pellegrino who is now on the left back position, he then sends a great ball to Kewell on the left, he dribbles into the box, past Jakobssen, centres it for Cisse, easy chance for the frenchman, 1-0 to Liverpool! 27 min - Carragher finds Garcia out on the right wing and he decides to take another shot from the wing, better shot but this time wide of the left post. 29 min - freekick just on the half circle but Redknapp decides to pass Higginbotham instead of shooting himself, Higginbotham's shot is well wide and high. 32 min - Phillips tries a shot from outside the Liverpool area but it goes high and wide. 37 min - Kewell gets a free kick on the left hand side but blows his free kick over the bar. 42 min - cornor from Alonso to Pellegrino but his header is well over the bar. Steve Dunn blows for halftime and there is really only 1 team in it.

2nd half
In the 63th minute Cisse gets free on the right but the ball bobbles loose and Smith runs to claim but Cisse gets the ball before him, Cisse shots towards the open goal but Higginbotham deflects the shot and Jakobssen clears. At this point I take off the two tired wingmen Garcia and Kewell and Cisse and replace them with Partridge, Biscan and Sinama. Kewell gets a standing ovation for his lovely performance this evening. Biscan goes down to left back whilst Riise goes to left wing. 75 min - Xabi Alonso's free kick is high and wide. A minute later Biscan finds Partridge on the right with a fantastic ball, Partridge cuts in before releasing the trigger but his shot goes wide of the left post. 84 min - Biscan this time finds Riise on the left wing, cross into the box for the on rushing Gerrard, who heads it! But it's gone high over the bar from the captain. It seems like 1-0 is going to be the final score..

My first impression is that we should of gotten more but we have ourselves to blame for that. But 3 points is 3 points and we should be happy with that.

retired_provrb7

Cheers! Yeah I think Baros RL self made me sell him because he is really a pain in the @ss Surprised that he picked Hannover over Sociedad, Mallorca and Middlesbrough thou

retired_elpata

Good story keep it up :thup: