Ha ha ha ha and feckin' ha!!

Is there anything else that needs to be said? I think not!!

Thank you - thank you - thank you.

The memory of all that...

Well, the season didn't end quite the way we'd hoped. I'd meant to do a little tying up last weekend but I was too upset. We all knew it was out of our hands but it hurt not to be able trade jabs until the end - we had to sit back and just watch as three capitulations unfolded. I'm not sure how I'll feel today if Hull win and we end up a point behind the Mancs in the final league table....yes, it'll be a somewhat false position but it'll be the one in the record books and that'll kind of blow, no question about it because it will ensure the impossibility of not wondering about what could've been.

I know I'm in the rose-tinted specs camp but Boro away is the only game this season where we stunk out the joint. Subpar results? Sure - we had a bunch. But I felt at least the work was going in and the chances being created. I know that doesn't mean much if you don't walk away with three points but it felt like an oasis in the desert after a lot of what's been on offer the last 10+ years.

Yes, there were too many draws. Some bus parking from other sides for sure, which was not helped by our "big two" being out for fair stretches of the season. But more to the point I think, we were uncharacteristically sloppy at times, conceding some pretty silly goals as a result. We've upped the tempo considerably with our paasing and movement, players committed further up than ever before - it's been an absolute joy to behold. But unfortunely a soft goal can be the price you pay when things break down. We had an out-of-form Mascherano for the first 5 months of the season, disruptions all along our back line and even Xabi - many people's player of the season - came in and out of our midfield due to injury, fatigue and/or indifferent play (rarely but still was the case nonetheless). That's a lot to overcome and I think we did remarkably well considering.

But for some reason the draws that eat at me the most are not Hull, Stoke or Wigan - it's those two against Arsenal. I used to have time for them and yes, they can be exciting to watch. But we've overtaken them on that last front and they deserve nothing but laughter and pure derision after one absolutely horrific and two toothless displays against Manchester United and humiliation by Chelsea for good measure. We measured up against "the big boys" by doing the league double over both, scored more goals than them and had a better goal difference. And all we could manage against an understrength, can't defend to save their lives Arsenal is two draws?? First game we had a man advantage and took our foot off the gas - second, well, the less said the better gifting them the ball the way we did. Pissed off - I won't lie.

Anyway - I'll wrap up the season in a post to come. Looking forward to today despite the powers that be deciding our match v Spurs wasn't worth showing (but somehow Blackburn v West Brom is?). A last chance for a bit to see friends and spend part of a (so far) lovely three day weekend with them. But not to sound too cliched, my heart and head will be in Liverpool today for a number of reasons:

• revenge on Spurs for being one of only four teams in all competitions to register a win against us this season (let that sink in if you need to!);

• knocking them out of European contention because of the way they treated the latter rounds of this year's UEFA Cup with such total disdain;

• the tribute at the end of the game - I confess I adobre seeing the players and staff out there with their kids (lots of girls in the mini-Red ranks! All good but where's our next generation of players?);

• the legend that is Sami Hyypia getting the sendoff he so richly deserves - don't expect too many dry eyes to be honest, grown men or no; and

• what should be an even better end-of-season bash thrown by the Spirit of Shankly folks. Last year's would take some doing to beat but from the advance buzz, it seems well on its way. Have fun, kids!

Always sad when the season ends but more reason than ever before to feel optimistic. I usually am happy for the break but after what we've seen this year, August can't come soon enough.

Yeah, yeah...

...I know...where the hell have I been?

Busy busy but will be back to regale you with some goings-on shortly. In the meantime, I have a very stream-of-consciousness entry for you to cover what I've missed. Let's see:

Chelsea ... proud ... Ashavin ... mistakes! so unlike us - could that be the title? ... Boston ... Chilean liquor until 2am ... Brighton Pete! ... Sara & the gang at the Phoenix ... Martin Atkinson & fuckin' Jon Champion commenting ... bye bye Folan ... 3 points all that matters come on you Spurs ... FUCKING HOWARD WEBB! ... pub crawl then back to hotel - good times ... Agger re-signs! Sami "resigns"...Newcastle - no Mikey? no Jonas? Joey Barton?? Why bother? Shearer must be mad ... comical defending as only the Barcodes can do ... flippin' crossbar! ... Yossi and Dirk do it again ... Barton off! as I said, why bother ... Champions League and fuckin' useless Arsenal ... back where I began with Chelsea ... INIESTA!!!!! and lovely Barca.

I'm sure I forgot a few things but that's the size of it. So, I may fill in some gaps with posts - I still owe you Liverpool stories - but tomorrow it's on to West Ham and the visit of Scouse Paul to The 11th Street...assuming he doesn't get me too wrecked tonight. :-)

Have a good one folks - back soon.

We're playing those mind games together....

With Fergie throwing in a fair bit of that "mind guerilla" for good measure...

I mean seriously, what the hell? Fat Sam and The Big Sot ganging up on poor Rafa today - it's almost enough to make you sad, if you weren't already laughing too hard. The two bullies of the Premiership - but like most spineless cowards, they move in when they sense weakness and when it's they who feel most threatened. So Ferguson's lashing out is no surprise in the least as far as the latter bit is concerned...think if the former is part of his calculations, he's a bit offbase. I mean, does he really think Rafa's at home crying into his pillow over Tuesday's result?

Allardyce's stake in all this is is a bit less obvious, though my brain (paranoid New Yorker I am) is always eager to come up with theories. Is this just payback to Ferguson of some kind for that bottle of Langavulin at Christmas? Has some secret deal been reached so that Fergie will use his influence to ensure Blackburn stay up? (I'll definitely be on the lookout for some dodgy calls in their six-pointer v Stoke tomorrow.) If it's just as simple as Rafa getting under his skin, all I have to say to that is good. Serves you right, you graceless horrible thug. And who knew he knew semaphore, sign language or whatever the hell means of communication he thought Rafa was using to say "job done"!

If anything, Fat Sam should be more upset with our players - clearly none of them were paying attention to Benitez and went on to score two more goals despite Rafa's instructions. *They* didn't disrespect Blackburn and say "it's in the bag" - come to think of it, maybe Allardyce should be sending them flowers.

And to think I actually felt bad when Newcastle sacked him ... Blackburn fans don't deserve going down but then again, if their board appoint a tactically-clueless blowhard like that, what can you do. Hopefully they'll make a speedy return to the Premiership with a new manager.

20 years on...

For the 96
For their families and loved ones
For the survivors
For those whose lives changed forever on that day

Our thoughts are with you - today and always.

RIP.
YNWA.

Yossi...

He darts, he spins
He gave the Reds the win
Benayoun!
Benayoun!

I love Yossi: our own little Mighty Mouse. He just keeps popping up with those goals, doesn't he? It used to be said he couldn't score when it really matters or against big clubs (and whether you put Fulham in that latter category is up to you) but that accusation was surely put to bed against Madrid and in terms of importance? Saturday had to have been one of the most important goals scored all season.

Here's to Yossi and him being shown the respect he deserves. Well done, little guy!

It's a new dawn, a new day....

A new contract for Rafa, new ones for his staff, and now today, contract extensions for Steven and Dirk. If that's not even more reason to be excited, I don't know what is.

They know and believe something special is happening. Are there still doubters out there?

Does it mean it'll all go our way now? Of course not. Does it guarantee we'll win the league? Of course not - but it certainly goes a hell of a lot further in taking us in that direction than abandoning or walking away from things now does.

The future is bright - the future is Red. Cliche or not - let's hang on and see where it leads us.