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[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool fan,

I thought it was going to be that scrappy 1-0 I was looking for against Blackburn today, but it wasn't to be the case as Cole scored a great goal.

A draw was a fair result, even though we had two great chances for Milan and Michael at the end. We missed the chances but at least it showed a willingness by the team and character to come back and try and win the game.

We played some good stuff in the first half but in the second we sat back too much. We wanted to keep it at 1-0 and hold onto the win but it was just a shame. Blackburn are a good side but we let them play too much in the second half.

It is frustrating but when you go through this period you get stronger. I think we turned the corner at Aston Villa when we scored four goals away from home. We got a good result against an Everton side doing well. I was pleased with the quality of the first half but the second half we lost our way today. In saying that Michael and Milan missed chances and Igor could have scored to make it 2-0.

It's eight games without a win for us but in the two games against Sunderland we were unlucky and we could have won those. We are the team with the most shots on goal, our team is young and we have to be patient. I trust my players and believe in them.

Regards,


Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[liverbird]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

I have no complaints with the result at Newcastle. I have to admit the best side on the night won the game. Newcastle adapted better to the conditions than we did and deserved to take the points.

We didn't battle as well as we could have done and so I can't have any complaints. At the same time though, we only lost to a deflected goal. We had one or two chances but Newcastle's extra experience helped them. Newcastle played the direct ball better than we did. Often we took too many touches. It was like a marsh or a bog out there.

I don't have any complaints about the sending off of Salif Diao either. The referee had to make the decision on both occasions. He had no choice. With ten men we gave it a go, but our lack of experience in the end cost us. Our two strikers were both just 21 years of age and they won't have experienced a game like this before. It was a shame the result went against us.

I do admit it will be difficult for us to claw back the 12 points on Arsenal but I don't like to commit suicide before the season is over. Some managers may say their side won't win it, but I don't know. It is going to be hard for us now, I do admit that.

I am concerned but this is a time when we will find out who our true supporters are. It can be hurtful to hear what people say about us but we have to have the mental strength and togetherness to ride this out and to stay focused. That is going to be so important for us.

May I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy New Year.

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool fan,

This was a massive win for us against a good Manchester City side. I'm very proud of the players' attitude throughout the game. We are going through a bad period but today we showed strength, solidity and mental stamina. It was an important game for the club, the boys did it for the club. This club has a tradition of success and winning trophies so we needed to start performing.

We had a plan but tactics only work when you win! City had just two chances in the game. Chris made a good save from Anelka and Goater headed over the bar. We had some chances, Mellor was a threat and today's performance for us was better than when we won 3-0 here in the Premiership with Michael scoring a hat-trick.

The club has been through a difficult period and I'm confident we will come good. I've read criticism. The fans have been tremendous. They have supported us, today we had over 5,000 fans here and at Aston Villa in the Worthington Cup in freezing conditions we had over 5,000 fans. How many fans in the world would do that? They want success and I knew my players would come back. I liked the team togetherness today and the effort.

When there's a storm everyone has to stand together on deck. We know that, as the song says, after walking through the storm there's a golden sky. And this is why we hope we will get even stronger. We have not lost two in a row during our run because of our cup matches - good teams never do that.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

I am very disappointed to have lost. But it is only half-time. This is a competition played over two legs. In the first leg you either put yourself in a good position or you don't. We are in the middle. The second leg is at Anfield, in front of our own crowd and hopefully on a better pitch. We are looking forward to it.

There were some things I didn't like out there tonight. We knew it would be a physical game but at times it was more than that.

I'm just glad Chris Kirkland doesn't have a broken leg. If Chris hadn't moved his leg when the challenge came in it would have been broken. He is limping but he will be okay, fortunately. I don't want to comment any further about that challenge.

You can't fault the players in terms of effort. The pitch was awful and some of our players are new to this type of game. We still have everything to play for in the second leg and we remember how we turned around a similar situation against Crystal Palace two seasons ago.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

We are struggling at the moment and it is a very difficult period for everyone involved with Liverpool Football Club and the fans. We are down, the fans are down and I understand that.

We are still going through the storm. Aston Villa started the second half very well and the penalty couldn't have come at a worse time for us. At times we were a bit tired but we showed a great spirit and attitude.

I liked the last 20 minutes when we took the initiative and took more risks. At times we showed some good stuff but at times we were nervous and too uptight. It's good we have a week without two games for the first time since October.

We are in this together and we have to stick together. I have great faith in my players and they know that. I told them they are more important to me than any cups. Villa played very well today and we had already beaten them twice this season.

It's a difficult time for us but the players know I trust and believe in them. I told them after the game that they are in a trusting environment here where everyone will do whatever they can to help the lads.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

I am relieved! This win means a lot to the the fans and I dedicate this victory to them. We deserved to win this game. We played well. We played better than Southampton, played some good football, denied them time on the ball and we created some good chances. I'm very pleased and very proud of the players.

We started very well and we had two chances in the first two minutes. Emile, Danny and Michael could have scored goals and we could have had two or three, but to me it's not bad to win 1-0. We showed strength, resilience and winning 1-0 away from home is special to me as it shows you are not a bad side.

Emile scored the goal and did very well. He was instrumental in our victory. I said we would see the best of Emile after the New Year. Unfortunately he has had a few injuries but he showed on Saturday how well he can play.

Even through this bad run, you have to put things into perspective. Out of the 11 games only two did we deserved not to win and that was Middlesbrough and Newcastle. We didn't win games at home we dominated, we had the chances but didn't take them. A goalkeeper had the best two matches of his life against us. It's been a difficult spell but we have been pleased with the football. Results haven't gone our way but we have had the support of the fans, the board and everyone who loves Liverpool Football Club.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[SuperElf]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

I'm so pleased for everyone at the club that we have a Cup final to look forward to in March.

We like the Millennium Stadium and hopefully we can put on a good performance down there and lift the Worthington Cup for the second time in three years.

It was a hard semi-final for us against Sheffield United, but we worked tremendously hard and fully deserved to go through over the two legs.

I'm very pleased and proud of the players. Neil Warnock managed to wind everyone up so we had to stay composed and focused and play our own game. We could have scored more goals and finished it before full time. I was pleased with the way we approached extra-time and did well. It was a bit like our season all over though when we need to score more goals because of missing chances.

There has been a campaign against Michael Owen over the last few days but he just got on with his game and stayed focused. He showed his character and quality and scored a good goal. El-Hadji Diouf scored a very important goal - he seems to like the Worthington Cup. He is gradually coming to terms with the English game and did well tonight.

They put pressure on us and played well and at times in the second half we couldn't get the ball, as they had a lot of free-kicks and kept getting crosses into our box. It was tense and passionate but we kept our cool. Once we managed to get the ball on the ground we played some good football and there were some good moves.

I'm not bothered who we play in the final, I'm just bothered about what we do and I am so pleased with the way the players are performing at the moment. We have done well in the last couple of games and now we have a very exciting match at Crystal Palace to look forward to before Arsenal come here in the Premiership.

One final thing, I know it has been alleged by Neil Warnock that Stephane Henchoz spat at him at the final whistle. I was there and so was Phil Thompson. He spat at the ground. Neil Warnock showed a lack of respect and doesn't need to do that. He is a good manager, his team play good football and they are a good team. He hasn't shown us any respect and it's not professional.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

-----------

Note: our theory holds that these emails come much faster after a win. By my calculations, it was 8AM in Liverpool when the email was sent out, after the match ended at 10:30ish. Glad to see he's getting an early start. I'm beginning to think for losses he IS actually forced to type each e-mail individually . . .

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool supporter,

We expected a tough match at Crystal Palace and that's exactly what we got.

We knew it would be hard work and it was. We defended very well and the defence worked very hard. They rose to the occasion, which I knew they would, and credit to Palace who made it extremely difficult for us.

We had to withstand a lot of pressure at times in the second half and we had some pressure of our own. The pitch didn't help our passing game but when you create chances you have to take them. Sometimes we hurried it too often in front of the box and maybe lacked a little composure, but this will come. We could have done without the replay but that's part and parcel of football. This is my first replay as Liverpool manager.

We played two hours of football on Tuesday. I knew it would be a matter of mental strength and professional attitude, which we showed. I thought we earned the replay. It was a typical English cup tie and we knew we had been in a game.

We are waiting to discover the extent of Chris Kirkland's injury. It's a knee injury and it just depends if it is twisted or whether he has suffered ligament damage. It wasn't anything deliberate from Adebola. I know some managers sometimes say they don't see things, but I saw this challenge and he wasn't to blame.

After the game he came to me rightaway and apologised. He also asked me to pass on his apology to Chris. It's a shame for Chris because he has been doing well for us. He was very brave in keeping the ball out and it's just a pity he got injured. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool fan,

The game against Arsenal was a great promotion for our sport. There was over 30 attempts on goal from both teams and at half time it could have been 2-2 or 3-3. They are a fantastic side - we have to acknowledge that. They played some great stuff and they had more freshness than us particularly in midfield. I was pleased and proud with the way we came back and a draw was a fair result.

I know there was some controversy at the end with the corner we were awarded. It's hard to say whether it was a corner or not. Even the tv people I asked said they weren't clear. But we didn't score direct from the corner, the goal came from the opposite side when Salif crossed from the right.

They were more clinical than we were and in midfield we didn't have the freshness they had. They are a terrific side and the pace of the game was incredible. Sometimes we have lacked confidence but never lacked the character. I said to the players at half time we can do better and just put the ball on the floor and try and play.

Emile deserved his goal and he is definitely back to his best form now. When Emile plays like that it is not a problem playing him up front. He made the first goal and then he went on to score another vital goal for us, just as he did at Southampton. He is back to his best now and his workrate is phenomenal. He is not only a good striker, he is also a very good player for the team.

This was a game we wanted to win but we have to settle for the draw. I never gave it up, even when time was running out, because I know about the character in my side and I knew the lads would keep going right until the end. We deserved our draw.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Hey, it's early today...

Dave

Dear Liverpool supporter,

I feel sorry for Glenn Roeder as he came up against a very strong Liverpool side today. I know what it's like to go through a bad spell when we have gone through an indifferent period this season.

I think Glenn can keep West Ham up, he has the right ingredients. We played very well today and controlled the game. I know the goals came from set pieces but they were good goals all the same. I was pleased with the team performance and our work rate and we produced some good stuff at times.

If I read some papers they said I was under pressure. I don't like to make excuses because sometimes that can go against you but we did have players stuggling that played in the World Cup. I have always said that when the top players have come back which they have now, we are back in business and it's as simple as that.

I rested Michael Owen today because we have a big schedule of matches and Michael has been playing a lot of games. Since he came back from injury against Sheffield United he played four games in 11 days, including one that lasted 120 minutes. I thought it was the right time to give him a rest.

Our main target now is qualifying for the Champions League, it's going to be tough but that's the way it should be. When your players are back in business and performing well things can happen.

Regards,


Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Lanky134]

Dear Liverpool fan,

I have mixed feelings about our result last night. In the first half we played very good football and our passing was very good at times. We should have finished the match in the first half but we wasted chances. The turning point for me was Heskey's miss when he was clean through one-on-one. Mentally our team just sunk after that. Credit to Palace but this was a bad night for us.

The effort was there in the first half when our performance was good but the second half was not good after Heskey's miss. Our finishing in the first half and then the Heskey chance was not in proportion to the quality of our football in the first half. We are very disappointed as we do not like to lose.

We were out of position for the first goal and lost our shape which surprised me. As I said the turning point was Heskey's one-on-one miss. We lost the belief in our football and our freshness was not good with certain players. Maybe going out of the cup could be a blessing in disguise with the number of games we've got left - you never know.

Michael missed chances and others missed but at least we created them. I don't think Michael's confidence has been affected. He had four or five chances in the first half. Our strikers are young and the main thing for them is to keep faith.

Regards,

Gerard Houllier
Liverpool Manager

[Motterman]

Originally posted by Lanky134
Dear Liverpool fan,

I have mixed feelings about our result last night.



See, if this was Sir Alex or even Wenger, do you think either of them would have "mixed feelings"? No. They would surely be pissed off, etc. and whip the team into shape. I don't see that with Houllier.

[Lanky134]

Do you really think what a coach says to the public is the same as what he says to his team in the locker room? In public he has to look for positive spins.

Wenger? How many times has he reacted to a red card by claiming he didn't see what happened? Ferguson? Complaining about the refs. It's each manager's way of dealing with the press, and nothing more.

[655321]

Originally posted by Lanky134
Maybe going out of the cup could be a blessing in disguise with the number of games we've got left - you never know.

If I was a season ticket holder that statement alone would make steam come out of my ears. I hope someone lets him know how much the FA Cup means to the supporters and he makes an apology, b/c that is a disgraceful thing to say.

[USsupport]

Originally posted by Lanky134

Wenger? How many times has he reacted to a red card by claiming he didn't see what happened? Ferguson? Complaining about the refs. It's each manager's way of dealing with the press, and nothing more.

the difference being that Wenger and SAF have both won the league recently. can't compare those two to your man.

[skipshady]

Originally posted by 655321
If I was a season ticket holder that statement alone would make steam come out of my ears. I hope someone lets him know how much the FA Cup means to the supporters and he makes an apology, b/c that is a disgraceful thing to say. Disgraceful indeed. And some would argue that both Manure and Liverpool achieved their recent Trebles because they were alive in multiple competitions. The high number of games meant that players were constantly in match condition, physically and mentally, and every player in rotation was getting consistent action so no player (Fowler for example) was unhappy about sitting out a match.

I firmly believe that the Liverpool qualified for Champion's League that season not in spite of, but because of the Treble run.

[Matt Clark]

Please note title thread change. This thread should now be used for all the official LFC stuff we get from various sources, including, as ever, Ged's emails.

As an example, I'll kick us off with the notes from last night's meeting of the Home branch of the Official Supporters Club:

The OSC is the Liverpool FC Official Supporters Club Merseyside Branch which meets at Anfield on the first Monday of each month.

With the match on Sunday and a match this Wednesday, no players were available for the meeting.

Norman Guard is one of the backroom staff, who's job is to look after the foreign players. It started a few years back with just Patrik Berger to now with several oversees players making it a full time job. So he is a kind of 'minder' for these players, to help them settle in a country where they can't speak the language and are ignorant of the culture.

Depending on their background and home life, England can be so different, requiring constant assistance and support in helping such players to settle down, which can take some time depending on the individual player. Norman travels with the team to keep an eye on the players needs.

The multinational flavour to the Liverpool team means that two languages are generally spoken, English and French. At the training ground and in the dressing room only English is allowed. As well as settling down in England, such things as finding a home for the player and his family were relevant, sorting a bank account, doctor, dentist, managing their finances, including which is the best option to set-up a bank account that gives the best tax option, UK versus abroad. On top of all this as well as training and playing footy the player may well have to undertake language course. Players are protected from outside influences, such as making deals affecting their income and media interviews and advertising. A great deal of liaison goes on between the club and each player's agent.

Norman then went through some of the things that have happened over the years with players, some of which have moved on, with their expectations so high, so much dosh and treated like film stars and royalty, something that they may have been used to back home.

It is well known that Emile Heskey tried to help El Hadji Diouf with his English, although the words he taught him yer wouldn't find in a dictionary.

Camara, having bought the house of his dreams in Liverpool decided that he wanted to dig up his back garden and install a full size swimming pool.

Another player, found a house he wanted for £450,000. The club asked him if he needed help sorting out a mortgage. He was advised that he needed to pay a deposit and then have mortgage for the balance say over 5, 7 or 10 years. He promptly paid £300,000 deposit, and then a mortgage for 3 months paying £50,000 a month.

One player was so into clothes that many had to be kept in plastic bags, requiring them to be regularly dry cleaned.

Being such a high profile player back home, if Diouf had a problem or needed advise, he would just pick up the phone and ring the President of Senegal, who was always available to talk to him.

John Arne Riise is a tad forgetful about things in general. But he is always first in for training each morning and like to start the day playing table tennis and pool.

Norman then updated the branch on recent evens and answered some questions from the floor.

After the match against Man Utd at Anfield, Dudek was inconsolable and totally devastated, feeling he had totally let the fans down. Help and support from the management and players has turned things around for him.

Diouf has been approached to do an advert for Coca Cola for his home country Senegal. Filming is to take place in Johannesburg, but he cannot be allowed to go during the season. So a double will film the advert, with the video shipped over to England, Diouf will be superimposed over the stand-in at studios in Liverpool. Here is an example where players get approached and the club have to manage that whilst liasing with the player and his agent.

Patrik Berger wants to play footy as soon as his injury has cleared up. He is likely to return to his homeland, particularly as his son is ready to change schools.

Norman confirmed that Anelka was not the problem, it was his brothers, who have a stake in any transfer dealings to help maintain their high life.

After the initial problems with Milan Baros settling in and having to lose weight, he is now reaping the benefits. Milan is only happy when he is scoring goals.

Markus Babbel is continuing his rehabilitation at a steady pace building up his strength and stamina. The club wants to ensure that he does not rush things. He is desperate to play for Liverpool, and the club is hopeful that a first team place is not to far off.

The next monthly meeting would fall on the Monday after the Worthington Cup Final. Therefore, the meeting has been brought forward a week to Monday 24th February 2003, in the Centenary stand at 7.30 pm. It is planned to have Bruno Cheyrou as the guest speaker, although this has yet to be confirmed

[Matt Clark]

Oh - and just a point of order on the "offical Houllier" emails. The messages are not of course written by Houllier himself - they are cobbled together quotes from his post-match press conference. Paul Rodgers and his team at liverpoolfc.tv do it.

So whenever you quote something from the mail, remember that you are quoting a quote, with all the attendant loss of context that applies.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
Oh - and just a point of order on the "offical Houllier" emails. The messages are not of course written by Houllier himself - they are cobbled together quotes from his post-match press conference. Paul Rodgers and his team at liverpoolfc.tv do it.

I'm so disillusioned by this news...:)

Thanks for all that, Matt!

[655321]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
Oh - and just a point of order on the "offical Houllier" emails. The messages are not of course written by Houllier himself - they are cobbled together quotes from his post-match press conference. Paul Rodgers and his team at liverpoolfc.tv do it.

So whenever you quote something from the mail, remember that you are quoting a quote, with all the attendant loss of context that applies.

Well, of course, I doubt anyone pictured Gerard, late at night in front of the laptop, proofreading his emails!! But whether he wrote it word for word or it's a composite of quotes, it's the equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders. To say he has "mixed feelings" on the loss, and "maybe it's a blessing in disguise" is a pretty lame thing to say after such a poor showing.