jim mk2

Aw Matty lad, you've gone and upset the English machine minder. Latest news is that Neill could be back within 2 weeks, missing only 3 matches.

Apologies if this is elsewhere but Liverpool dispute Neill's version of events : PARRY: NEILL SPOKE TO BENITEZ By Mike McGrath, PA Sport Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has denied claims Lucas Neill did not speak to the “people that count” before choosing West Ham over a move to Anfield. Neill was long-term target for boss Rafael Benitez but the Australia defender, despite being a boyhood Liverpool fan, opted to move to Upton Park to help Alan Curbishley’s battle against relegation. The 28-year-old insisted the move from Blackburn was not motivated by money and he was impressed with West Ham’s approach, while he did not speak to important figures within Anfield. However, Parry told the Daily Post: “I don’t know who was on the other end of the telephone talking to Rafa when I was sat next to him, but I’m quite sure it was Lucas Neill.” Parry believes fans will be “bemused” by Neill’s decision. He added in LFC Magazine: “The decision by Lucas Neill not to accept our terms after we agreed a fee with Blackburn will bemuse many fans. “Players make their decisions and while you are sometimes surprised, you have to move on to the next one.” Parry also hinted at Neill lacking the passion for Liverpool, given his indecision over a possible move. “Neill had the choice between Liverpool and West Ham, we were offering him the opportunity of Champions League football,” said Parry. “What we want are players with an instinctive desire to play for Liverpool. We want people with a real passion to come here and help us win trophies. From our side, we never want to be in a position where someone is only coming here for the money. A player has to be driven by something more than that. “Because of the stature, history and ambition of Liverpool, there should be no need for us to sell the merits of this club."

This quote from Neill today is worth repeating: "This is not a backward step - it’s a huge forward step, and that’s not meant with any disrespect to Blackburn. I had five and a half fantastic years there, but the lure of coming here was too strong." Now rearrange the following sentence: all goes remaining respect the window out of

The point being that a left-footed player provides better balance : Neill could pass with his left foot but he hadn't a clue how to play left back.

Hughes talked a good game throughout this saga, saying that Neill would only be allowed to leave when it suited Rovers. Even though in reality Neill had the club over a barrel at least it appeared that Rovers had the upper hand in the negotiations. Well done the club - over-rated player gone and replaced by a younger and better one. And he's left-footed !

Same applies to Emerton : he'll struggle when a good winger runs at him. We need a new right back.

Konchesky is not part of the deal either, thank goodness.

It is being reported that Neill is travelling to London tonight for a medical and finalise a £1.25 million move to West Ham. Liverpool were unwilling to match the financial terms on offer to Neill at West Ham, where he is expected to earn more than £50,000 a week. “Lucas has agreed terms on a two-and-a-half-year deal with West Ham and is looking to the challenge ahead,” his agent, Peter Harrison, said.

This was quite good on the Bolton website. It appears Burnley aren't the only dingles. David Dunn has revealed his reasons for re-joining Blackburn. “I was flattered by Sam Allardyce’s interest,” said the tubby midfielder, speaking from the snack bar at Hilton Park services. “They have a great backroom staff at the Reebok, and there’s running water and mains electricity, which I’ll miss once I go back to live in Darwen. “But at heart, I’m a Blackburn lad. I miss sitting round the fire, singing along to banjo tunes, and it’s the only place where they don’t mention the extra fingers.” Dunn also has family connections in the area and was particularly enthusiastic about seeing his sister again. At this point the interview was halted by the girl on the till, who had totalled up the cost of Dunn’s tray of doughnuts. “That’ll be £47.20 please, duck,” she said.

Still is in Lancashire, as are Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington, Southport, Barrow and all the other places in my old school geography textbook .

Agreed - and Hughes has been in charge for some time now, so it makes you wonder why he has not made significant changes both to the scouting structure and the personnel. The academy obviously needs a shake-up.

It would appear the Great Harwood wonder is to sign for Bolton for £1 million.

You ain't kidding ... look at gormless Gordon's latest post on the asylum thread.

Oh, gawd. Happy Christmas.

What did McEveley do in the Uefa match to warrant starting today ?

All right when kids learnt their skills in the back streets free of cars but the culture of playing in the street doesn't exist anymore. As Hughes said this week, the problem is standards are very high and clubs can pick up players cheaply from around the world. Last weekend they were only 100 England-qualified players starting Premiership matches and that figure will decline further over the next few years.

You make yourself look very silly sometimes. This is one of them.

Probably "achieve" little, other than to hasten Neill's departure (hopefully), but there's nothing wrong with letting him know that his attitude towards the club we love stinks.

Because of the sentence after in my post that you conveniently omitted you gormless twerp.

Point of order, oh beery one. I have never "hated" any of the above. I wanted Souness removed from his job because he was harming my club. Until the recent run of poor results and his decision to give Neill the captaincy, Hughes has always had my full support. The other two needed to be sacked, but I was hardly alone in thinking that. What is mystifying is your continued support of the discredited Souness and your refusal to criticise the club over any matter. Look at yourself in the mirror and you will see an idiot of the villiage variety.

Usual tripe from the boardroom apologist. Neill has been quoted as saying he would like to join Liverpool (Hughes acknowledged such after the match last night) and that is reason enough in my book for him being dropped from the team and being roundly booed by supporters who help to pay his wages and were at Ewood decades before he was born and will still be there decades after he has left. The fact that Hughes chose to make him captain of my club is an insult to Rovers fans in my view. Neil is an ordinary player whose performances since the World Cup last summer have been lamentable, none more so than last night when he was lucky not to give away a penalty and showed a general lack of interest. He should be fined by Hughes for his goal "celebration". The sooner he is sold the better.

Awful game, totally undeserved victory, but that's footie. Todd probably out Saturday; only one central defender available.

Great player Lucas

Neill and McEveley are having nightmares. Nancy hit the post when should have scored

Possibly another penalty, McEveley bundling over a Nancy player. Todd off .... another injury ? Nolan (?) on