Speaking of which, here's a good read on where Gerrard should be played to get the best out of him.



But age isn't really on his side, no? Now he is probably lack of that pace he used to have once...

Rooney is from the manu academy! get ur fats right!!!!!!

As for Ronaldo, he was not rated highly enough by capello, hence not being in the squad. get ur fats right again!

On another note, this AnfieldCat twitter is hilarious...

found this on facebook, but not sure if you guys can see it lol


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101...&type=1&theater

and by the way, grats to bellamy for being player of the month for second consecutive month

This post has been edited by Burningsunz: Feb 10 2012, 12:40 AM

Our record at old trafford has been terrible since 2004.We have recorded only one win in all competitions

I am not confident about saturday at all

This post has been edited by Rotuham: Feb 10 2012, 02:17 AM

dafuq? howard webb nvr award any penalty to any other teams throughout his career?

No doubt Gerrard was lethal when he was played on the right but he was 25/26 then. Doubt we'll want to see a 31 year old being our primary right winger.

I still think because of his qualities and experience, it's better for him to influence the game from the centre like what Alonso did.

TOMMY SMITH is selling all the medals from his glittering Liverpool FC career.

The Anfield Iron's prized collection, which includes league title, FA Cup, UEFA Cup and European Cup winners' medals, will go under the hammer later this month.

In total there are 75 lots which are expected to generate in the region of £120,000.

"I had a wonderful career but the memories I’ve got are more important to me than the medals and the shirts," Smith said.

"I’m getting old and the money is of more use to me now than the medals. This is about me putting my family first."


IT’S a decision Tommy Smith hasn’t taken lightly.

The Liverpool legend thought long and hard before coming to the conclusion it was time to part company with all the spoils from his illustrious career.

Later this month the Anfield Iron’s unique collection of sporting memorabilia will go under the hammer at Bonhams auctioneers in Chester.

All his precious medals and framed shirts from some of the biggest games in Liverpool’s history will go to the highest bidder.

In total there are 75 lots and if they all reach their guide price the sale will generate in the region of £120,000 (view the full collection here).

Smith remains fiercely proud of everything he achieved for the Reds after signing as a schoolboy under Bill Shankly in 1960.

The tough-tackling defender made 638 appearances up to 1978, winning four league titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups and the European Cup.

The 66-year-old former Liverpool skipper insists the sale isn’t borne out of financial necessity. Instead it’s a practical solution as he plans for the future.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” he said.

“I had them all packed up in the loft and then a few years ago I moved them to a bank for safe keeping. It’s not as if I’ve been used to having my medals all out on display at home and seeing them every day.

“I hadn’t seen them for about two years as they were in the bank and I just thought what the hell are they doing there?

“They are worth an awful lot of money but no-one is benefiting from them all just sitting there. It’s not helping me and it’s not helping my family.

“It was absolutely brilliant to win all those medals. I had a wonderful career and everyone knows I gave everything I had for the club.

“But the memories I’ve got are more important to me than the medals and the shirts.

“I’m not skint, I don’t have to do this. But I’m getting old and the money is of more use to me now than the medals.

“I am suffering these days with health problems linked to my football days. I’ve got two false knees, a false hip and a false elbow.

“This way hopefully those people who buy the items will be happy and I’ll be happy as well with the money generated. It’s about me putting my family first. I want to ensure one day I’m able to leave them some money.”

The auction is taking place at Bonhams in Chester on Wednesday, February 22 at 11am.

There are medals, shirts, plaques, tankards, silver salvers, glassware and signed photographs from Smith’s career. There’s also the programme from his Reds debut against Birmingham City in May 1963.

The game is still Smith's proudest moment – afterwards he walked twice around the outside of the ground barely believing he had played for his beloved Reds.

The guide price for the framed shirt from his solitary full England appearance against Wales in 1971 is £3,000 with the blue velvet cap he was presented with at £1,000.

However, the showpiece items are undoubtedly his incredible haul of club medals.

Smith was famously part of Liverpool’s first FA Cup winning side in 1965 when they beat Leeds in the final at Wembley. His medal is expected to fetch around £10,000 with the shirt he wore around £8,000.

In 1973 Smith skippered the Reds to their first European trophy as they lifted the UEFA Cup after beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-2 on aggregate. Around £4,000 is expected for that medal.

Four years later the defender played a starring role during a special night in Rome with Smith scoring the second in the Reds’ 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the final of the European Cup, sending the 25,000-strong travelling Kopites wild.

The guide price for that coveted medal is £10,000.

*More from Tommy: Click here to read his archive of columns on Liverpool FC

Smith admits there are some items which were especially difficult to part with.

“I was made up to win the FA Cup in 1965. As a kid I had dreamed about walking up those steps to the Royal Box,” he said.

“When my mother took me up to Anfield to sign for the club she told Bill Shankly ‘Liverpool have never won the Cup but with my son in the team you will’.

“After we won the final and I got back into the dressing room at Wembley I remember Shanks said to me ‘your mum certainly knows a lot about football!’

“To be captain when Liverpool won their first European trophy in 1973 was another proud night. That was absolutely tremendous.

“Then there was the European Cup final in 1977.

“People always want to talk about the goal I scored in Rome.

“They are the three that really stick out for me. If I was going to keep any of them then it would be those three, but I made the decision to let everything go.

“It’s something I talked about with my son Darren and daughter Janette. I’ve still got plenty of photos, including ones of the medals for the four grandkids.

“The medals themselves will go elsewhere but I’ll always have the memories of those special days. That’s enough for me.”


Bonhams’ sports consultant Dan Davies admits Smith’s collection has already generated a great deal of interest and he expects that to increase ahead of February 22.

“When you look at Tommy’s achievements, this really is unique,” he said.

“The number of medals he won is extraordinary and Tommy is an icon from a remarkable era which will never be repeated.

“We are delighted to get the collection and we’re looking forward to a very successful sale.

“All of the items are on our internet site with photos for people to look at.

“People can bid in four different ways.

“They can ring up in advance and say how much they are willing to bid up to for an item.

“They can book a telephone call to take part in the auction as it happens, they can follow it all online or they can attend in person on the day.

“Liverpool have followers all across the world so we’re expecting interest from beyond the UK.”

For more information about the auction on February 22 or to request a catalogue contact Bonhams on 01244 313 936 or visit www.bonhams.com

Factfile on Liverpool FC legend Tommy Smith

Born: April 5 1945 (Liverpool).

Reds appearances: 638

Reds goals: 48

International caps: 1

Signed for Liverpool as a schoolboy in May 1960.

Handed his debut by Bill Shankly against Birmingham City in May 1963.

Part of the Reds’ first FA Cup-winning side in 1965 as Leeds were beaten in the final at Wembley.

Won the first of his four championship medals in 1966, with others in 1973, 1976 and 1977.

Suffered the disappointment of a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup final at Hampden Park.

Appointed captain by Shankly in March 1970 and skippered Liverpool to their first European trophy as they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1973. He won the UEFA Cup again in 1976.

Won only full England cap in the British Home Championship against Wales at Wembley in 1971.

After being moved to right-back, he collected his second FA Cup winners’ medal in 1974 after a 3-0 win over Newcastle United. In total he played in four FA Cup finals as he was on the losing side in 1971 and 1977.

Equally at home in either full-back position or in the centre of defence, his versatility was invaluable to new boss Bob Paisley.

In the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome it was 1-1 when Smith headed home Steve Heighway's corner. Phil Neal wrapped up the Reds’ greatest triumph from the spot.

Two days after that remarkable night in Rome he had his testimonial at Anfield against a Bobby Charlton Select Xl in front of 35,694 fans.

Decided to delay his retirement. Made another 34 first appearances in 1977/78 before ending his 18-year association with the Reds.

Spent the summer of 1978 in the NASL with Los Angeles Aztecs, as player, then player-coach.

Joined John Toshack’s Swansea City in 1978 and helped them earn promotion out of the old Third Division before hanging up his boots in 1979.


Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f.../#ixzz1lu0PTZrH


Auction here

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/W...eb/publicSite.r

Don't be so gullible. It's an exaggeration. Anyway, I believe Howard Webb comes second to Mike Dean for awarding penalties to the mancs.

---

Added on February 10, 2012, 7:50 amSad to hear that Tommy Smith is selling his medals. If you read his autobiography entitled, "The Anfield Iron", as he was affectionately known for his robust, no-nonsense approach to the game, he's red through and through. He's played under both Shankley and Paisley.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Feb 10 2012, 07:50 AM

Last 14 form chart and projected finish

The realities of life do bite, no?

do you guys think shelvey will be playing this saturday? i think this lad can become the next gerrard by the way

I don't get this chart. Can anyone explain it ? What change and played ?

Should be played 14, not 6. There are 14 matches to go.
The change is the projected poits we get from thoise matches

Well he did say it isn't because he needed the dough but I can't think of any other reason he'd do this. The sad reality is that many footballers of yesteryears either didn't earn all that much or didn't invest their money wisely unlike one Robbie Fowler who has properties everywhere. I mean Neill Webb ended up being a milkman.

"I had a wonderful career but the memories I’ve got are more important to me than the medals and the shirts," Smith said.

"I’m getting old and the money is of more use to me now than the medals. This is about me putting my family first."

To be more accurate:

“I’m not skint, I don’t have to do this. But I’m getting old and the money is of more use to me now than the medals."

Why can't we have young players like this in the team? What are the likes of Sterling and Suso still doing in the academy?!!!

This post has been edited by bitebug: Feb 10 2012, 03:02 PM

I still don't understand why Sterling can't make it to the first team. Please explain to me....he is a brilliant player.

To be concise:

"I'm broke"