You Think He Will?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. But after reading this news, I'm not so sure whether is it just desperate measures or plain stupidity on West Ham's part.

According to The People, Australian international, Lucre Neill can get to keep his £70,000 a week wages if he decides to stay on with West Ham next season, knowing very well that Championship football beckons.

No doubt he's had a pretty good World Cup campaign and a decent and capable defender. But offering him THAT sort of money is really kind of silly.

Finance aside, who think Neill will choose to stay on with West Ham? I for one think he's gonna stay and grab as much lucres as possible before jumping ship. And the clear winner here is without a doubt, Neill.

And West Ham being the loser, paying someone with non-existent loyalty 70 grands a week. Great job!

Lightning Quick Karma Strikes

No, not taken from some Star Wars fan fiction or anything.

West Ham, whose debutant Lucas Neill lasted 49 minutes before being replaced injured.

Must be all the weight of his wallet. It must be really heavy. Come on, let's all laugh at Neill!

HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR!

Drogballs' Weekly Thoughts

Title Race Back?

First of all, by putting that title don't suggest that I believe all the SkySports hype and Arsene Wenger's post match interview about how they helped everyone back into the title race. I personally think that the result on Sunday is one that many neutral fans are split into groups. One believing that we're still in it while the other group think it's beyond us.

It can be put in many perspective. Mine is that a United win was for our own good because it looked damn likely that United will win it and it's only a matter of time. So rather, we want them to kick Arsenal off our back. But then with that Arsenal win, suddenly the title race looked to be opened up once again.

I'm not sounding like a defeatist but rather, realistically, I don't see how ManYoo can be able to drop so many points in the coming few matches. They have been on a roll and must count themselves really unlucky to lose at the Emirates. They're very lucky with injuries, winning when not playing very well and for much of the season, showed more hunger than any team in the league. So to throw away the lead now is just plain unthinkable. Losing the title now will have to be the biggest screw up in football history after Drogba and Ballack's freekick.

But then looking at another perspective, football is sometimes, or most of the time, without logic. It just defies common sense and things just happened, like that. I'm no fortune teller but it'll take some mental strength and character to recover from that defeat at Arsenal. They might feel unjust and then blow it. Who knows?

But I still believe the title is theirs for the taking and still theirs to lose. They're still in the driving seat and with Chelsea falling as quickly as someone touches Robben, they could still walk away with it.


Bringing the 'Good Cup Team' Attitude Into Premiership

For the last 3 years under Rafa Benitez, Liverpool have been rather unfairly named as a good 'cup team' due to our luck in recent cups like the Champions League and the FA Cup. We have always gone into those cup games with the correct mentality and attitude, which ultimately ensured victory. Even against all the odds, we beat the likes of Juventus, Chelsea and ManYoo in recent times to go on and lift the trophy.

But in the league, there have been times we've been found wanting especially earlier this season when our league form is bordering horrendous. We dropped so many points away from home and the players all looked disinterested, jaded and lacked confidence. But once they got into gear, they managed to steamroll past most of the teams in the league lately. How is it imaginable that it was November when our goal difference was 0 and now it stands +21.

The spirit is back and the belief is instilled due to some good performance. And with that sort of confidence and belief, we welcomed Chelsea into our den and gave them a teaching. Watch the game again, then go back and watch those gutless defeat to United, Arse and Chelsea earlier in the season. What do you see?

We have been far too conservative at times till we looked like we're there just for the taking. We looked frail, weak and there wasn't a single sign of fighting spirit. We surrendered meekly and nobody gave a damn about it. Then rewind it forward to the Chelsea game. We started off at a fast pace, close down the space well and came out with belief. The 11 players looked fearless, without a doubt that they'll win the game. They treated it like a cup final game (except it didn't end up 3-3).

If we can play against the top teams with that sort of attitude and mentality, we will do well. That is the thing I'm looking for in the players in the following months to come with huge games coming. We cannot afford to feel inferior anymore. We're Liverpool after all.


"Bye Bye Mourinho!"

The whole of Anfield chants. I dislike the Portugese for some of his antics. But lately, he seemed to have mellowed down, humbled and during the post match interview, he spoke sense, for the first time since he took over. He sounded like he surrendered it. And when the self proclaimed Special One said he can't do much about it, you know what he meant. It was all brags, there was no Special One. He's just an egoistic manager who is now made to eat humble pie after years of being at the top. Now he know how it feels to fall back down to earth and have a taste of reality.

I'm not gloating. I'll like him to stay in the Premiership for the entertainment factor. He has been charismatic at times, charming and added colours in a rather dull league. Without him, you'll still hear Wenger vs Fergie every single week. How boring!

Admittedly, he made mistakes. The biggest one being his speech about the 'untouchables' recently. I've pointed out few weeks back in my post about how that speech might come back and haunt him and I think I'm right. Now the Chelsea squad looked disorganised, disinterested and disintegrated. Not all his fault though. We all know who's behind it.


"I didn't Join West Ham For $$$$$"

Guess who? Yes, the one who has been linked with us for the past half a year, Lucas Neill. In case you didn't know, he joined the Hammers without making much of a ripple in the football world due to concentration on the so called 'Grand Slam Weekend'.

He went on to explain how he didn't join WHU for the money...blah blah...like who listens? I didn't bother reading the article past line 2.

Neill Deal Off?

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has warned that he is ready to pull the plug on the Lucas Neill deal if he continues to stall over money.

The Australian was expected to complete a hassle-free switch to Anfield this January for a bargain price as his Blackburn deal ends in the summer.

But interest from West Ham has apparently seen Neill's representatives demanding more money - quoted at £30,000 a week.

"We are continuing working on these things but we will not wait. If a player wants to come to play for Liverpool, he must say yes quickly," said Benitez in the Liverpool Echo.

"If he thinks about it for too long, maybe it's a signal it's time for us to look for other players. We have alternatives."

Drogballs: If he's really that 'greedy' then sorry, you're not welcomed aboard. We are looking for passionate players who are intelligent and hardworking. Now it just looked as if Neill is a thug who's greedy. Good luck, let's move on before it drags on further.

January Transfer Window

The window has opened for a couple of days already and it has been rather quiet. But it was not of any surprise as teams usually don't go around signing big name players or pay over the odds during this period of time due to the UEFA ruling of a player not being able to play for 2 different clubs in the Champions League.

That made a lot of teams shun the transfer window and either go for cheaper alternatives or just like Arsenal, do nothing at all.

With DIC's takeover impending, there are rumours flying all around about how we'll get David Beckham in or those really ridiculous transfer rumours. If you know how to filter away all those rubbish and take out those with a little bit of truth or at least logical to make any sort of sense, there isn't a lot and I don't think Rafa will go all out this January either. But here are some of the players that are ''rumored'' to join Liverpool during this window or in the near future.


David VILLA (Valencia) - 25 Million GBP & Above

Ha! A top class striker linked with Liverpool. He was even spotted at the Director's box on New Year's Day during the match against Bolton. Must be coming right?

Well, perhaps not. Or should I say, not SO soon. I can't see him coming to Liverpool during this very transfer window and if the sources (the very accurate poster on TIA.com forums) are true, he will only join in the summer. How much or how, I don't know.

But definitely a very good striker and IF he's really on his way then, wow, let's hope he's not going to be another Fernando Morientes or even worst, Andriy Shevchenko.

Chance: ~20% in the summer. 0% for now. I can put my house down and bet with you.

Lucas NEILL (Blackburn) - 3 to 5 Million GBP

The Australian defender has been linked with us for quite some time already. After a brilliant World Cup display, he has been pretty consistent in the Premiership as well and the advantage of having him is his versatility. He can play across the back four and is not afraid to put his foot in.

Just sometimes, he put his foot in at the wrong time and he has a tendency to break people's legs. He will need to kowtow to Jamie Carragher before he can be welcomed into the Liverpool family.

Just kidding of course.

Chances: Around 70%. Of course we'll have competition from Newcastle and other clubs but I think he'll rather join us than some random team that won nothing for the past 50 years. Only downside is he won't be promised a first team slot which he MIGHT not like. Who knows?


Ashley YOUNG (Watford) - 5 Million GBP & Above

To be in the Optim Top 25 player is honourable and this young man has impressed thus far. He's a young winger from newly promoted Watford and is capped for England U-21. His style is pretty much similar to Jermaine Pennant but the only difference is he score goals. 5 goals for a struggling team is decent for a player of his age and he might provide Rafa another option on the right wing and his arrival will means Gerrard won't be played on the right anymore!

I haven't watched him too much but I won't mind him joining us. He's young and promising. But as English players always are, they are overpriced. Another thing that concerns me is should Liverpool go for players like Young or should we go all out for proven qualities like Daniel Alves or even Ricardo Quaresma of Sporting Lisbon.

It remains to be seen whether he is yet another one season wonder or he will turn out to be a future star. If he's not overpriced, I'm willing to give him a chance.

Chance: 40%. We are not the only team chasing the youngster. Watford reportedly rejected bids from 3 clubs and he must be the player on demand. But the 5million GBP price tag is a little steep for him I reckon.


Others:

Roberto Ayala: Do we still need another centre-back? Think we have adequate cover.

Matthew Upson: See above.

Javier Mascherano: Only reason for him coming is that Zenden's Liverpool career is over. We haven't had the chance to see the real quality from him as he hasn't been able to settle in the West Ham side and only played around 400 minutes of Premiership football. He's obviously talented but isn't given the chance to shine YET.

David Beckham: Hah, don't be silly. It's all pillocks.

Neill Nailed On?

Liverpool will sign the Australia international defender Lucas Neill in a cut-price deal from Blackburn Rovers next month with the Merseysiders' manager Rafael Benítez aware that the anticipated transfer funds from the takeover of the club by Dubai International Capital will not materialise until the summer.

Neill, who is out of contract at Ewood Park at the end of the season, will complete his move to Anfield having almost joined on deadline day in August only for the clubs to fail to agree a fee at the last minute. Blackburn had explored the possibility of taking the Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock in part-exchange, but they are close to signing a replacement with the Dynamo Kiev defender Andriy Nesmachnyi in Lancashire and due to take a medical last night. Rovers will hope to raise around £1.5m from the sale of Neill.

Benítez's move for the 28-year-old Neill reflects the reality that DIC's proposed takeover is unlikely to be completed until nearer the end of January, thus denying him a chance to exploit the winter transfer window. The state-owned private equity firm is still scrutinising the books at Liverpool with both club and company confident that a deal can be struck which will see the chairman of 15 years, David Moores, sell his 51.6% stake at Anfield.

Company takeover law then dictates that DIC must make an offer for the rest of Liverpool's shares, an offer which would remain open for 60 days. Should they ultimately secure a stake of 90%, they would be able to make the club a private business, in the same way that West Ham were recently bought by Eggert Magnusson, though Moores and the current chief executive Rick Parry are likely to retain roles at Anfield in the future.

Benítez still hopes to benefit from significant transfer funds in the close season though, having met the chief executive of DIC, Sameer al-Ansari, after the recent victory over Fulham, he is aware that he will not be offered a blank cheque to plunder the market. As Parry and Al-Ansari have been at pains to insist, DIC's interest in Liverpool is considered an investment - such as their recent purchase of Madame Tussauds and the Travelodge chain of hotels - with the group attracted to the club partly because the playing squad would not require a radical overhaul.


Drogballs: To me, he's a reasonably good defender who had a wonderful World Cup and then a decent Premiership season so far. A tough tackling, no nonsense defender who can play across the back line, his versatility will be invaluable. We have been in search for someone to challenge Finnan's right back spot for quite some time and both Josemi and Kromkamp wasn't up for the scratch.

I just think he will be the man. Experienced but not without problems. Temperamental and often rash in challenge. I think before he could enter Melwood, he would have to go apologise to Carra. Remember he broke Carra's leg few seasons back. I think that underlined Neill's approach in games. But he might have 'matured' and now named as captain of Blackburn, he is given new responsibility and nowadays, you seldom hear of him conceding stupid penalties or getting a red card.

He'll be a pretty good signing I reckon.