Liverpool F.C.

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Liverpool Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Liverpool, England. Liverpool play in the Premier League, and are the most successful club in the history of English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. They have won a record 18 First Division titles, and seven FA Cups. Liverpool have won five European Cups, which is an English record. They have also won the League Cup a record seven times.

The club were founded in 1892, though they had limited success until the appointment of Bill Shankly as manager. Under Shankly Liverpool won 3 League Championship titles, 2 FA Cups and the club's first European trophy the UEFA Cup.

During the past 30 years they have been one of the most successful clubs in English and European football, winning four European Cups from between 1977 and 1984. The club experienced a lean period during the 90s, but enjoyed a revival following the advent of the millennium winning a cup treble in 2001, and the club's fifth European Cup in 2005.

The club's traditional colours were red and white, however this was changed to all red in the 1960s. Likewise the club's crest has evolved throughout their history, with flames being added to the crest following the Hillsborough Disaster to honour the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the disaster. Liverpool have played at Anfield since their formation, although there are plans to move to a new stadium in Stanley Park, which is due to be completed by 2011.

Liverpool have a large and diverse fan base, who hold a string of long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of these is with neighbours Everton, with whom they regularly contest the Merseyside derby. Liverpool also have a fierce rivalry with Manchester United, due to the success of both clubs, as well as their proximity to each other.

The club's fans have been involved in two major disasters. At the Heysel Stadium Disaster, 39 Juventus fans died when a wall collapsed after crowd trouble in the 1985 European Cup Final, and the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989, where 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives.

1891 John Houlding, the leaseholder of Anfield stadium, purchased the ground outright and proposed increasing the rent from £100 to £250 per year. Everton, who had played at Anfield for seven years, refused to meet his demands and moved to Goodison Park.

Liverpool F.C. were founded by Houlding on 15 March 1892 to play at the vacated Anfield. The original name was to be Everton F.C. and Athletic Grounds, Ltd., or Everton Athletic for short, but was changed to Liverpool F.C. when The Football Association refused to recognise the team as Everton.

In their first season Liverpool won the Lancashire League, and were elected to the Football League Second Division for the 1893–94 season.Liverpool ended the season unbeaten as Second Division Champions,and were promoted to the First Division. Liverpool won their first Football League championship in the 1900–01 season, and were champions again in 1905–06. Liverpool played their first FA Cup final in 1914, but lost 1–0 to Burnley.[4] In 1921–22 and 1922–23 Liverpool won their first back-to-back League titles. This was followed by the longest spell without a trophy in their history, which ended when Liverpool won the league during the 1946–47 season. However, Liverpool struggled following this success, and were relegated to the Second Division in 1953–54.

In December 1959, Bill Shankly was appointed manager, during his first year, he released 24 players and reshaped the squad.In 1961–1962, his third season as manager, Liverpool won the Second Division Championship by eight points and were promoted to the First Division, where they have remained ever since. In 1963–1964, Liverpool lifted the League Championship for the first time in 17 years. Liverpool were League Champions again in 1965–1966, having won their first FA Cup the previous season. Liverpool won their eighth league title and defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach to win their first European trophy, the UEFA Cup, in 1972–1973. However, a year later, following another FA Cup victory, Shankly retired, his assistant, Bob Paisley, became manager.

In 1975–1976, at the end of Paisley's second season in charge, Liverpool became champions, and won the UEFA Cup. The following year, Liverpool retained their League Championship, lost the FA Cup Final, but won their first European Cup, beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1. Liverpool retained the trophy in 1978, beating Club Brugge 1–0, and in 1979 they broke another domestic record by winning the league title with 68 points,and only 16 goals conceded in 42 matches.

In 1979–1980, Liverpool won the league title for the fourth time in five seasons, and Paisley's third European Cup victory came in 1980–1981. In the following two seasons, Liverpool won a League Championship and League Cup "Double". During the nine seasons Paisley managed the club, Liverpool won a total of 21 trophies, including three European Cups, a UEFA Cup, six league titles and three consecutive League Cups. The only domestic trophy to elude him was the FA Cup.

The succession of managers appointed from within the club's staff is worthy of note. These managers are often referred to as "the boot room boys" after a part of Anfield where the Liverpool staff discussed strategy and allegedly stored gin.

Just as Shankly had been succeeded by Paisley, so too Paisley handed the reins to his assistant, veteran coach Joe Fagan. He was 63 when he became manager in 1983–1984. In his first season in charge, Liverpool become the first English club to win three major trophies in a single season; the League title, the League Cup and the European Cup.

Liverpool reached the European Cup final again in 1985. The match was against Juventus at the Heysel Stadium but before kick-off, disaster struck. Liverpool fans breached a fence separating the two groups of supporters and charged the Juventus fans. The resulting weight of people caused a retaining wall to collapse, killing 39 fans, mostly Italians.

The match was played regardless and Liverpool lost 1–0 to Juventus. English clubs were consequently banned from participating in European competition for five years, with Liverpool receiving a ban for ten years, which was later reduced to six. Fourteen of their fans received convictions for involuntary manslaughter.

Kenny Dalglish became Liverpool's first player-manager in 1985.His reign saw the club win another three League Championships and two FA Cups including a league and cup Double in 1985–86. However, Liverpool's successes were overshadowed by the Hillsborough Disaster. On 15 April 1989, when Liverpool were playing Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final, hundreds of Liverpool fans were crushed against perimeter fencing.

94 fans died that day; the 95th victim died in hospital from his injuries four days later and another nearly four years later having never regained consciousness, to make the total 96.[14] After the Hillsborough tragedy there was a governmental review of stadium safety. Known as the Taylor Report, it paved the way for legislation requiring all-seater stadiums in the top-flight. The report ruled that the main reasons for the disaster were overcrowding due to a failure of police control.

Graeme Souness was installed as manager in 1991. However, apart from an FA Cup win in his first season, his reign was not successful. "Boot room" veteran Roy Evans took over in 1994. While his tenure saw some improvement in league form, in his five seasons the club never finished higher than third. Evans' only trophy was the 1995 League Cup. Gérard Houllier, the former French national coach, was drafted into the Liverpool management team for the 1998–99 season to work alongside Roy Evans, but the partnership did not work out and Evans resigned in November 1998.

Houllier's second full season in sole charge, 2000–01, was Liverpool's most successful season for many years as the team completed a combination of the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, FA Charity Shield and UEFA Super Cup.

They finished second in 2001–02, a season in which Houllier underwent major heart surgery.[19] Houllier would only win one more trophy in his time in charge, against a background of growing disquiet amongst Liverpool supporters, Houllier and Liverpool parted by mutual consent at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Spaniard Rafael Benítez took over and in his first season Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League. The season had a surprising ending, however, as Liverpool won their fifth European Cup in Istanbul.

In 2005–06 Liverpool picked up 82 points in the Premiership, their highest points total in the top-flight since 1988, and ended the season by winning the FA Cup in yet another dramatic final, this time against West Ham. In 2006–07, the club's search for investment came to an end when American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks became the owners of Liverpool F.C. in a deal valuing the club and its outstanding debts at £218.9 million.

That season, Benítez guided the team to the UEFA Champions League final once again, where they lost 2–1 to A.C. Milan.

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London. They play in the Premier League and are one of the most successful clubs in English football, having won thirteen First Division and Premier League titles and ten FA Cups.

Arsenal were founded in 1886, though they won their first major trophies in the 1930s, with five League Championship titles and two FA Cups. After a lean period in the post-war years they became the second club of the 20th century to win the Double in 1970–71, and during the past twenty years they have been one of the most successful clubs in English football – in this time Arsenal won two further Doubles, the Premier League in 2003–04 unbeaten, and in 2005–06 became the first London club to reach the UEFA Champions League Final.

The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history. Similarly, the club have changed location over time; the team were initially founded in Woolwich, south-east London, but in 1913 they moved north across the city to Arsenal Stadium, Highbury. In 2006 they made a less drastic move to their current home, the Emirates Stadium in nearby Holloway.

Arsenal have a large fanbase, who hold a string of long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of these is with neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom they regularly contest the North London derby. Arsenal are one of the richest clubs in English football (valued at over £600m as of 2008), and thanks to their stature, have regularly featured in portrayals of football in British culture. Arsenal Ladies are the most successful English club in women's football and are also affiliated with the club.

Remember the man who led us to our first European Cup in 1977 Bob Paisley

REMEMBER SIR BOB

Richard says as the realisation that Liverpool are Champions of Europe starts to sink in now is the time to remember the man who led us to our first European Cup in 1977 Bob Paisley.

When the heady exploits of a magnificent performance against AC Milan finally begins to sink in and we are all back in work please spare a thought for our most succesfull manager ever, Bob Paisley.

Now Bob, as I am sure you all know, won three European cups for us as well as the UEFA Cup. At home there was also six League Championships and three League Cups making Liverpool THE major power at home and abroad during his nine-years at the helm. Now as you know Bob never received a Knighthood for these amazing achievements and nobody seems to give a damm about this.

I heard a while back about Spurs fans attempting to get a posthumous gong struck for Bill Nicholson so why cant we do the same for our most succesfull manager? Surely he deserves one. It may sound like sour grapes but Matt Busby received one for helping Man U become the first English club to win the European Cup, Bobby Charlton gets one for helping England to win the World Cup.

As for Alex Ferguson, yeah magnificent treble and all that, but he has yet to turn United into a team to fear across Europe. Under Bob Paisley we played eight straight years in the European Cup and as I mentioned before Bob won it three times.

Something needs to be done NOW and I am sure that Tony Blair will listen especially as we are now champions of Europe.

Is Robbie Keane Really Worth 20 Million

So is he worth £20 million? Some would say yes, some would say no, but I say lets take a look at his career and judge for ourselves. He has played for 5 different clubs at senior level before he joined Liverpool.

Wolves where he started his career at the age of 17 starting very well scoring 2 goals on his debut against Norwich he went on to finish the season with 11 goals in all competitions. The following season was even better for him when he finished the season the clubs top scorer with 16 goals and several outstanding performances and these performances led to him being sold to Coventry for £6 Million pounds which was at the time a British record for a teenager.
But his career at Coventry was short lived after yet another impressive season scoring 12 league goals in 31 appearances and he was snapped up by Inter Milan for £13 Million, but this is where his career hit a snag following the sacking of Marcello Lippi, who managed inter at the time Keane was brought.

Because new manager Marco Tardelli decided to use keane majorly as a sub, he failed to score a league goal in 6 games for them, which led to him been sent out on loan to Leeds where he got back his scoring touch back again notching up 9 goals in 14 starts, which lead to Leeds making the loan move a permanent 1 for £12 million.Having become a permanent Leeds United player his goal scoring sense went dry once again as he managed to score just 3 league goals in 25 games the following season.

Leeds United at that time were in financial crisis and decided to cut loses by selling him to Tottenham Hotspur for £7 million and he had a very positive 6 seasons scoring 107 in 254 games in all competitions. His overall goal scoring record is 169 goals in 445 games which work out to an average of 0.38 goals per game (not great in my opinion).

His Liverpool career all depends on what sort of partnership he can form with Torres, as u probably know he formed a very good partnership with Berbatov. Before he played with Berbatov the most goals he scored in a season was 17 in 04/05, Then Berbatov comes along and in the past 2 season he has scored 22 and 23, 1 goal less than Berbatov who has scored 23 in both seasons. So all together in 2 seasons they have managed 91 goals between them which isn't bad at all. I Can't see him scoring more than his own personal record 23 goals in 1 season because I think most chances will fall to Torres and he'll take them whereas Berbatov Opted to pass as much as he did shoot which may limit Keane's goals.

So would you be happy if you're team paid £20million pound for 28 year old striker that scores roughly 1 goal every 3 games, and probably won't win you the league. I think I would've kept crouch and spent the 20million on some decent wingers and wing backs but again the choice is Rafa is and only time will tell how successful is most trusted signing will perform when the season starts.

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The Missing Link in Major League Soccer Popularity in the US

By adopting a simple strategy that is practiced in every country around the world, the MLS can pack it's soccer stadiums with capacity crowds.

If you have watched enough soccer on TV or in stadiums, you may have noticed that there exists a distinct difference between watching an MLS game in the United States and watching a soccer match played in any other country.

There is something missing in the way MLS games are played than soccer leagues in other countries. If you talk to enough soccer fans, this sentiment seems ubiquitous, although few are really sure of what is missing or different and speculation abounds. There is no question, however, that soccer here is lacking some dynamic that tends to keep it's popularity from exploding.

The immediate thought is that soccer players from other countries are more skilled and more organized. Or that the training and facilities are superior to what one might find in the U.S. To some degree this is true, but the quality of play in this country is not so inferior to other nations as people tend to think. If you watch soccer players in the MLS, there is not much difference between how they perform individually or as a team than players and teams from around the world. No, it's not the quality of play or coaching.

The way to begin to understand the difference between soccer quality here and abroad is to watch an MLS game on one channel and then an English Premiership game, for example, on another channel. Watch an MLS game for a few minutes and then switch to the premiership game for a few minutes.

If it doesn't hit you right away, keep switching back and forth and the obvious will eventually burst through. Doesn't it seem that there is more excitement surrounding the premiership match (or any other European game) than the MLS? Can you hear the difference?
Yes, it's the sounds and revelry displayed by premiership fans that you don't hear from American fans and that is what is different.

And what causes this level of excitement that needs no cheerleaders? A team song and a town song and songs that mock the opposing team and their town. That is what all soccer teams have in other countries. That's what we need here in the MLS. If every team in the MLS had a song that the fans could sing at soccer matches, you would see an immediate improvement in the quality of play, the excitement of the game, and the number of fans.
When soccer teams play in Europe, for instance, each team's fans are all singing their song in unison with such vigor and emotion that the sound echoes throughout the stadium and creates a stirring atmosphere.

Players on the field are more motivated, coaches are more active, announcers are more lively, and the game takes on an air of grandeur where everyone there is involved. And that is what draws the crowds.

You do not see or hear much fan excitement during MLS games. Even when there are large crowds, the noises emanating from the stadium are muted and disconnected. Only those annoying drums and other odd sounding devices in the audience blast out too often, but there is no unity in the fans' cheering and that detracts from the excitement that soccer brings elsewhere.

With each team in the MLS adopting their own song and promoting it to their fans, a new aspect can be added to accelerate soccer's popularity in America. It will serve to gain new audiences as excited soccer fans share their exuberance with their friends. Watching an MLS game will then be as thrilling as watching a match in any other country.

It would only take one or two MLS teams to get the ball rolling. Once the other franchises realized the increase in attendance and fervor in the game, they would then follow suit. Before long, all teams would have a team song and the stadiums would rock with thousands of soccer fans. A team song will create this excitement and that will bring more people to the game of soccer and into the stadiums. Making the beer less expensive wouldn't hurt either.

Till Next Time, Bernie Rosellen Soccer From The Pitch www.SoccerCountry.com

Bernie Rosellen has played and been involved with soccer for over thirty years. He has coached youth soccer teams for almost twenty years.

He still plays on two adult soccer teams today. Tapping his experiences as a soccer player and soccer coach, he writes articles as, Soccer From The Pitch, and provides content for websites such as http://www.SoccerCountry.com

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