Liverpool FC News, Discussion & Debate | Liverpool Banter

Tom Cooper

2009-11-07T15:42:10Z

At this time, each year we remember the brave men and women who lost their lives fighting for this country. Men and woman from all professions were either called up or decided to enlist to help their country keep its freedom. Amongst these were footballers, many of whom were household names.
Liverpool Football Club had seventy five members enlist including their Captain Tom Cooper who was unfortunately killed aged 36 in 1940 whilst on military duty.

Tom was born in 1904 in Stoke on Trent and began his playing career for Longham and Trentham before being bought by Port Vale for £20 in 1924. He was a regular in the team until September 1925 but regained his first team place in December of that year. He was then sold to Derby County in March 1926 for £2,500 after impressing manager George Gobey during an FA cup tie. Tom settled in very quickly and eventually became captain in 1931. His career continued to impress the management there until after 267 appearances he caught the attention of Liverpool manager George Patterson in 1934. He was eventually sold to them aged 30 for £7,500.

He joined the club and formed a partnership with Ernie Blenkinsop and went on to make 160 appearances. During this time unfortunately the one thing he was unable to do was score. Tom was a great servant for the club and only missed two games during the 1934-35 season. His last competitive game for the club was against Chelsea at Anfield where young Cyril Done scored on his debut and won the game for Liverpool. During this time Tom also made 15 appearances for England.

]]> We had now reached 1939 and fate decided that war was again to ravage the world so Tom along with many footballers left their chosen careers and joined the growing ranks of men that enlisted. Tom joined the military police as a sergeant and was based in this country which enabled him to continue playing football and in April 1940 he played in a friendly at Anfield against Stoke.
Unfortunately several months later, Tom became one of the many casualties of war. Whilst out on patrol on his Motorbike in 1940 he was involved in a collision with a bus and consequently lost his life. An inquiry into the accident recommended that anyone using motorbikes or cycles must wear helmets. That law is still in force today.
Tom is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Nottingham Road Cemetery in Derby.

Video: Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez injury plea over Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard

2009-11-07T12:57:18Z

REDS boss Rafa Benitez has appealed for commonsense to prevail over Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard's injury problems ahead of the forthcoming international friendlies

Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO

2009-11-07T10:44:48Z

Fabio Aurelio winning injury battle ahead of Liverpool FC's clash with Birmingham

FABIO AURELIO is winning his battle to be fit to return to action on Monday - and to take his place in the Brazil squad for the first time.

Lucas will continue to improve - Liverpool FC boss Rafa Benitez

THE shrill of Franck de Bleeckere's final whistle had barely subsided when the phone-ins started, looking to apportion blame for Liverpool's Champions League struggles.

DOMINIC KING: Xabi Alonso show of respect is so refreshing

DURING a week when former Liverpool players have not been short of an opinion, the most significant was uttered inside the San Siro on Tuesday evening.

Don't write Liverpool FC off - even now

2009-11-07T10:37:49Z

NEVER say never - while many people will have written Liverpool's Champions League hopes off, I have no intentions of doing the same.

True, the situation has been muddied by the fact we are no longer in control of our destiny and if Lyon and Fiorentina want to carve things up between them, there is nothing the Reds will be able to do about it.

If Lyon want to go down that route, though, it may well come back to haunt them in the last 16; if they want to avoid a really difficult draw in the knockout stages, it would be in their own interests to go for a win in Florence.

]]> And if they do happen to beat Fiorentina, I would back us to do all that is required to get out of this situation - as Pepe Reina said after the game in France, miracles and Liverpool go hand-in-hand.

But if we do not get through, that does not mean we should be looking to change the manager. Far from it. Rafa Benitez has not suddenly become a flop overnight and the last thing we need is another element of uncertainty.

It's hard enough at the minute, given the state of the club with the debt and the problems with the owners, but in Rafa we have a top class manager, who has engineered some fantastic triumphs for us since he has been here.

Of course, he makes some decisions that baffle us and 99.9 per cent of all supporters know he is showing faith in a couple of players who are simply not good enough to play for Liverpool but his record is still top quality.

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What we need now is a win against Birmingham to ease some of the pressure, restore a bit of confidence and give us all a positive to go into the international break after so many recent setbacks.

While it was terrible to draw a game we should have won in Lyon, there was enough quality in the performance to suggest things are about to turn and once we get all our big players back, you will really see a difference.

We need Brum break

BIRMINGHAM will do what every other team does at Anfield on Monday night and make themselves difficult to break down.

Having an extra 48 hours to prepare for the match, though, might just work in our favour. If Rafa Benitez can get a couple of senior players back, our chances of grinding our a win will improve. It doesn't matter how we do it - three points are all that matter.

Hoping to halt the Merseyslide

GIVEN the way our local teams have played this season, I'm surprised nobody has written the headline 'Merseyslide' yet.

Hopefully, though, it won't be long before we are all on the rises; please God Peter Johnson will make the right appointment at Tranmere and Everton have a top manager in David Moyes, who can be relied upon to get good results.

And, last but not least, Rafa Benitez will get the change of luck he needs to get things moving for the Reds again - remember it is still November and there is hope for us all.

Would being eliminated from the CL be such a bad thing? Let me explain.

2009-11-07T07:44:16Z

Of course I want Liverpool not only to qualify for the Champions League knock out stages, but for them to go on and win it for the sixth time. It would be glorious. But after the Lyon draw the chances of us doing so are looking more and more remote and so like everyone else I'm praying for a miracle. But if the unthinkable happens and we don't qualify what would that mean for the rest of the season? Would it all be bad?

Some might believe it would be all over and that being 9 points behind Chelsea in the Premiership would be beyond us. But I'm not so sure. What if the Premiership was the only prize we were competing for? Would that create a clarity of purpose for Rafa and the team? We all have a sense that it's the CL that Rafa really craves, and has excelled, and because of this it has been a huge distraction during league games prior to a Tuesday or Wednesday European game.

]]> It's the Premiership title most Liverpool supporters want in the trophy cabinet next May so without the CL distraction the sole purpose for the next 6 months would be catching the leaders. There would be no more pulling off the best players when the league match still needs to be won. No more resting players for important league games, plus players would have a full week to recover from any injuries.

One of my main concerns this season is that we don't have the depth in the squad to compete in both the Premiership and the CL and this seems to be the case. But by only having the Premiership to focus on this might prove a different story.

So if a disaster does happen and we don't go any further at such an early stage of the CL perhaps it might not turn out to be a such a bad thing.

Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO

2009-11-06T07:27:49Z

Daniel Agger: Liverpool FC must rediscover ruthless streak

DANIEL AGGER today called for Liverpool to rediscover their killer instinct to prevent them suffering any more heartbreak this season.

WIN VIP trip to Liverpool FC v Birmingham courtesy of 188BET

FOLLOWING the announcement that 188BET has become the official betting partner of Liverpool FC the company has teamed up with the Liverpool Echo to kick off the partnership in style.

Liverpool FC star Jamie Carragher launches new charity, The 23 Foundation

REDS star Jamie Carragher officially launched his new young people's charity in Liverpool.

Everton v Liverpool FC Premier League ticket details

To be played at Goodison Park, on Sunday, November 29, Kick-Off 1.30pm

Liverpool FC v ACF Fiorentina Champions League ticket details

To be played at Anfield on Wednesday, December 9

Wanted - European or Premiership Miracle

2009-11-05T21:13:31Z

Yesterday was yet another one of those days that Rafa Benitez said would turn the clubs fortunes around. We had lost in the Premiership at Fulham on Saturday and the team was now decimated by injuries and a virus that appears to be wreaking havoc around Anfield. We were away at Lyon and only 19 players boarded the plane bound for France the day before. Amongst these were Torres and Agger who had yet to be passed as fit.

Reading the press reports throughout the day, I will admit to saying that I had my doubts about the result, but decided to keep my faith in the team. It was a pretty quiet day where the football was concerned, nothing was coming out of France or Anfield, still they do say that no news is good news.

Arriving home from work, I did as I always do and switched on Citytalk Radio. The sports part of the programme was all about the game that evening and every now and again they kept going over to France to see how the preparations were going. Then it happened, the team news arrived. I listened and realised that it was not as bad as I had expected. The biggest problem was that Voronin was playing again, still with such a depleted squad, I guess there was nothing else that Rafa could have done. It also appeared that Torres and Agger had passed late fitness tests. I breathed a small sigh of relief and after preparing my evening meal sat down to watch the game.

]]> The first half seem to go quite well, the lads certainly seemed to have some rhythm but still the heart to win did not appear to be there. Between them they had three goes at the goal and each one missed. Voronin was absolutely useless in midfield and virtually stood there doing nothing. Why Rafa will not give one of the youngsters more match practice I do not know because I am absolutely sure that they can play better than him.
The half time whistle came and went and the team emerged for the second half. Would we get the goal that would keep us in the race to become Champions League winners again? The half progressed as much in the same way as the first and it soon become obvious that Torres was losing his battle with fitness and the substitution was made.

Shock Horror - Voronin was finally being shown the door with Ryan Babel coming on in his place. Would this improve the game? People were asking as Ryan Babel does not appear to be happy at Anfield and never seems to show us what a great player he is supposed to be. Then it happened, Ryan Babel scored a beautiful goal. Our hearts were opened up, hope had returned and with only seven minutes to go, it looked as though Liverpool were going to do the impossible and win a game. Then fate did what fate appears to do best with Liverpool Football Club, it ensured that our defence let itself down yet again giving Lyon a chance to score and turning the match into a draw.
Supporters like myself, are now left to wonder if by some miracle we will progress further in the Champions League or join our neighbours in the Europa League. There are still questions that need to be answered on and off the pitch. I simply cannot understand why the lads seem to go into games without the fire in them to win. They are playing for the greatest team in the world and yet there is very little effort to ensure that it stays that way. Whatever is happening behind the scenes should not be affecting them, but I am absolutely sure it is. With the club in such disarray, things must filter down and maybe it plays on some of their minds, which must be very unsettling.

Now to that miracle, Rafa Benitez still believes that we can do it, but I am not so sure. It has now been taken out of our hands, what happens next depends on the result between Fiorentina and Lyon. Hopefully by the time the next round is upon us, several more of the players will be back from injuries and rearing to go. Therein lies another problem, it appears that both Torres and Stevie G may need surgery. Unless the team realise that it takes 11 players to make the perfect team we are in trouble, in both the league and the competitions that for the moment we can still play a part in.

I honestly believe it has now got to the point in Liverpool's season where something .radical has got to be done. It is no good Rafa keep saying that the next game will be the one that kicks start's our season. The game against Manchester United a fortnight ago was supposed to have done that. Everyone thought then that the team had finally broken the buck and our winning ways were back again. Sadly things went the other way, confidence fell and we lost on Saturday after some really bizarre substitutions. Rafa then came out on the defensive and said that all though we had a very depleted squad, he expected us to do well. Has he lost the dressing room, I wonder. There certainly seems to be very little manager, player interaction. After all I am sure a compliment here and there would help to boost the player's confidence. Is it time for a change of Manager, maybe Rafa has taken the team as far as he can. The most radical of all, is to sell the players that are not interested in the coming January window and bring in someone who would play with passion in his heart.

Maybe that is the miracle we need to stay in Europe and remain in the top flight. Fate I hope will tell us shortly because many more of these, most do better next time games and we will be languishing at the bottom of the Premier league.

Liverpool fans must back Rafael Benitez

2009-11-05T14:25:53Z

Lisandro Lopez's sucker punch left Liverpool's European campaign staggering around on the ropes last night. Stranger things have happened than Lyon getting a draw in Florence on the 24th of November, but even if the French side do repay the generosity that Voronin showed towards them last night, Liverpool would still have to beat Fiorentina by 3 goals at Anfield to progress.

It's not over until the fat lady sings, but Liverpool are now facing the prospect of competing in the Europa League this season, an almighty fall from grace.

Assuming yet another improbable European comeback is beyond us this time around, Liverpool must now tackle this season's January transfer window without the prospect of Champions League revenue in the second half of the season. And since we are all now painfully aware of the limitations of our squad, this will probably ensure that the race for 4th place is far closer than we would like.

To be contemplating early elimination from the group stages whilst we look up the table to the likes of Tottenham and Man City occupying the European qualfication places in the Premier League table is a predicament that nobody could possibly have predicted. Having watched Liverpool surge through the second half of last season, battering Real Madrid and hitting Man Utd for four at Old Trafford, respected pundits such as Anfield legend Alan Hansen and BBC Chief Football Commentator Phil McNulty went so far as to predict an end to our 19-year wait for domestic success. But unfortunately, last season's title-challenge has proved to be yet another false dawn.

However, I for one do not feel that this season's massive disappointment should lead us to contemplate whether Rafa Benitez really is the right man to take Liverpool forward.

I recently performed my own analysis into Benitez's transfer record since arriving at Anfield, and there's no getting around the fact that many of his signings have not worked out. But it would be harsh on the Liverpool manager to ignore many of the mitigating circumstances that have surrounded some of the more disappointing arrivals.

Firstly, Benitez is seemingly being expected to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title. But his annual net spending of around £15m per season is a fraction of the funds available to the men responsible for first team affairs at Chelsea and Manchester United. Is it any surprise that the league title has been stuck between those two clubs for the last five years?

Moreover, during most of his tenure Benitez has had to contend with an unworkable relationship with former Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry. Without speculating about where the difficulties arose or who was at fault, this sort of issue would inevitably inhibit any manager's transfer dealings.

Since Benitez has been at Liverpool, we have either won or come close to winning a major trophy in every single season. And although we'd love to return to the heady days of Paisley and Dalglish when "second was nowhere", I think a lot of Liverpool fans need to wake up to the fact that we are now in an era where money is everything and Liverpool haven't got any.

It is hard for me as a Liverpool fan to ask the following question, but are we setting our standards too high? Until we have a stable situation off the field and a stadium which generates enough revenue to provide truly competitive transfer kitty, isn't it dangerous to demand the head of any manager who cannot provide the league title?

I accept that Rafael Benitez is not perfect. He allowed his relationship with Xabi Alonso to disintegrate, and we are all now painfully aware of the damage done by the midfield playmaker's departure. He has taken a few seasons to learn that wholesale rotation of his squad is not compatible with domestic success. And he is notoriously stubborn, often doing himself no favours with his media outbursts.

But there is no better tactician in the world, and I still strongly believe that with the support of the club and the fans, he will move the club forward on and off the field.

Liverpool's current plight is dire. But unless a viable alternative can be found, the situation only gets worse without Benitez. And who is going to take over at a club where there is no transfer budget, two owners who do not get on, and success requires a league title?

It is said that Liverpool fans are some of the most knowledgeable in the world. Moreover we like to think of ourselves as loyal and capable of avoiding the temptation of knee-jerk reactions. And although there are still fans speaking out for what is right and sensible, radio and tv phone-ins have been inundated with frustrated callers who undermine our reputation.

This Monday, Liverpool have a must-win game against Birmingham City at Anfield. But off the field, there is another challenge to be overcome. Liverpool's fans have to step forward and prove that they are more loyal, more level-headed, and more passionate than any other in the land.

The best way to help alleviate the problems facing our club right now is to sing Rafa's name as loudly as possible. This will help the confidence of the players, and it will also ease media's scrutiny of the current regime.

Are we the best fans in the world? I think so, but we need to prove it on Monday.

Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO

2009-11-05T07:24:41Z

Pepe Reina: Liverpool FC won't give up on Champions League hopes

PEPE REINA today admitted it is a 'disgrace' that Liverpool's Champions League prospects are no longer in their own hands.

Lyon 1, Liverpool FC 1: Reds' European hopes on the brink

STADIUM announcers are not renowned for making statements of great resonance but the man whose duty it was warm the crowd up here last night did just that.

Liverpool FC manager Rafael Benitez looking for a miracle after Lyon draw

RAFA BENITEZ has urged his players to keep believing in miracles after Lyon's late show left their Champions League hopes in tatters.

Latest Liverpool FC news from the Daily Post

2009-11-05T07:00:09Z

Rafa Benitez not giving up on European qualification but admits 'we need a miracle'

RAFAEL BENITEZ refused to concede Liverpool's Champions League chances despite admitting his side need "a miracle" to qualify for the knockout stages.

Lyon 1, Liverpool FC 1: Hopes fading fast for Reds European dream

THEY came with hope in their hearts. But that now appears the only thing Liverpool have left to cling on to in this Champions League campaign.

Tommy Smith: Liverpool FC need French passion

2009-11-04T09:38:37Z

IT'S a massive game for the Reds in France tonight - with Champions League qualification for the knockout stages obviously at stake.

The players who are fit just have got to rekindle the spirit and energy on display against Manchester United right from the word go in Lyon.

]]> The good news among all the bad news is that Fernando Torres looks set to put himself through it again and turn out.

But we can't just rely on the Spaniard tonight. Everyone in red has got to show the willingness for the battle and help get an absolutely crucial three points.

Rafa Benitez has proved a master in Europe, winning one Champions League final and getting to another, and he'll know exactly what he wants from his players out there.

Of course everyone needs the morale boost a win would bring, but these days of course it's crucially important for financial reasons to stay in Europe's elite competition.

If the Reds players hold their heads high and go out and give their all, they are perfectly capable of beating Lyon.

The travelling fans will be right behind them for sure and with the right mindset from word go, I believe they'll all be breathing a big sigh of relief at the end of the 90 minutes.

Tommy Smith: Benitez's spending myths are rightly torn down

2009-11-04T09:25:04Z

MANY a pundit has lambasted Rafa Benitez for the 'massive amounts' of money he's spent over the last few years building a squad which isn't delivering.

So well done to the supporter who this week examined the facts, to coin a certain phrase, showing just how much Benitez has won and lost in the transfer merry go round since his arrival.

It makes fascinating reading and concludes that the Reds boss has, in net terms, spent an average of just £16m per season.

]]> There is one other inevitable conclusion. And it's this.

Whether you're a fan or not of the Reds manager, he is not the wild and bungling spendthrift that some poorly informed pundits would have us believe. In fact, the opposite is true.

No one wanted Xabi Alonso to leave - but when he chose to go after five seasons Liverpool made a £20m profit on him.

Peter Crouch was sold for more than he was bought, while Rafa also made a profit on players like Momo Sissoko, Antonio Nunez, and Alvaro Arbeloa. He even got most of the money back for Robbie Keane.

Perish the thought, but if Liverpool ever decided to cash in on Fernando Torres - it won't happen of course as the Anfield MD Christian Purslow made clear - then Rafa's net spend over six seasons now would be virtually zero.

Of course he's entitled to be criticised for some of his decisions and no one is happy right now. But the club and the fans are dead right to stick by the manager.

His critics are entitled to their opinion. But they shouldn't be allowed to get away with perpetuating myths about how much he has blown.

Thank heavens someone has nailed it.

Latest Liverpool FC news from the Liverpool Echo and Daily Post

2009-11-04T09:15:18Z

Benitez draws on You'll Never Walk Alone

Manager wants Reds spirit to strengthen Champions League crunch game.

Marseille victory inspires Benitez and Reds

French success could provide template for Liverpool again.

]]> Dirk Kuyt could be Euro star again

Dutch attacker would equal Ian Rush's goals tally with strike in France.

Eccleston scores mini-derby winner

Young Reds beat Blues.

Liverpool FC supporter letters

Rafael Benitez needs to once again prove his European Pedigree

2009-11-03T22:13:19Z

This is certainly going to be interesting isn't it? We haven't even reached Guy Fawkes night and, as Liverpool's season hangs in the balance, Rafael Benitez must surely be feeling the heat from the flames that are rising with every passing day.

Penny for the Guy? More like penny for his thoughts as every Liverpool fan will be wondering what Mr Benitez will do to get a massive three points in Stade de Gerland.

Benitez has overseen turnarounds bigger than progressing from Champions League Group E during his five year reign. Think Olympiacos 2004, think Istanbul 2005, think Marseilles 2007. As our manager prepares for his latest magic trick, this time it's without his amazing assistant.

]]> No, not Sammy Lee, he'll be there, but the loss of Steven Gerrard, the catalyst of all the above reversals, means Liverpool's task becomes instantly tougher. Add to that the loss of Johnson, Aurelio, Skrtel and Riera and we can see what an uphill struggle they face.

The major interest is the team selection. Who plays right back? No Johnson, No Martin Kelly and with Degen not registered for the Champions League it seems to be a choice between Jamie Carragher and Stephen Darby.

There have been rumours in the pat that Carra has refused to play right back, remember Liege away, the trip to the Riverside and Sunderland at home last season? In the latter of that trio, Mascherano was employed there, would Rafa risk taking him out of the middle? I think/hope not.

If the stand in captain does start in an unpreferred role then Sortirios Kyrgiakos will partner Daniel Agger at centre half with Emiliano Insua at left back. Into midfield where Lucas Leiva, Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun are certanties, (if there is such a thing in a Liverpool team.) Dirk Kuyt will obviously start too whilst Andriy Voronin, Ryan Babel and maybe even Andrea Dossenna are vying for a start, depending on the shape of the team.

Then there's the Torres question. If he's not able to complete ninety minutes then does he start the game or come on if needed? The same with Alberto Aquilani, although I would be surprised if the Italian gets his first start in such an important game.

These are the decisions that Rafa has to make, and are the situations where he has a proven record of getting results. If ever he needs a performance and another impressive away European victory, it is now. I dread to think what happens if he doesn't. Fingers crossed. And toes.

Lyon in action vs Paris St Germain (VIDEO

2009-11-03T09:18:13Z

HERE are highlights from Lyon's match against Paris St germain from the weekend.