Liverpool play war torn side maccabi Haifa Israel

[kopite]

In the draw this morning at 11am we drew against the Israeli side
this game will play not in Israel due to the conflict.

[Bob]

Neutral venue.

Duplicate thread though

[univofchicago]

Better than Fenerbahce or Osasuna....

After 12 rounds, we were left with Fenerbahce, Osasuna, Maccabi and some Hungarian team I think.

I would have setted for Maccabi then.

So reasonably happy...

[SouthAfricaRed]

Better than Fenerbahce or Osasuna....

After 12 rounds, we were left with Fenerbahce, Osasuna, Maccabi and some Hungarian team I think.

I would have setted for Maccabi then.

So reasonably happy...

Yes. i was worrying about Osasuna or Fenerbache. No pushovers though. I think they eliminated Chelsea 3/4 years ago :oh:

[knockers]

Do you think they will play the game in Israel? I hope not it's got to be a huge security threat.

[kopite]

It will probably be played in Cyprus, so get your passports ready :)

[knockers]

Good excuse for a holiday to Cyprus I supose! I wouldn't want to play football in that heat though. I'm sure Rafa will get them prepared.

[anfieldanfield]

Is the first ;eg at Anfield ?

[anfieldanfield]

Is the first leg at Anfield ?

[IanTheRed]

Is the first leg at Anfield ?

We were drawn first Dave, so I assume we play at home second, on the 22/23rd August.

[SouthAfricaRed]

We were drawn first Dave, so I assume we play at home second, on the 22/23rd August.
I hope you are right. I would prefer Home Tie second

[IanTheRed]

I'm always right...:rolleyes:

I believe that all the 'seeded' teams were drawn first, and ergo have the advantage of home tie second leg.

It could all depend on the situation over in Israel though, there could even be a bye. How many of the Haifa players have been called up for the war? I believe its compulsary to sign up in Israel, so they could have a problem.

Pity LeTallecWiz hasn't come over here yet from KT to give us some 'knowledgable' information other than my guesswork.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

I was reading on the UEFA website that Israeli teams play European games in Tel-Aviv regardless of whether they are from that city or not. I am toying with the idea of going.

[Finnish_Red]

First leg is at Anfield according to Sky Sports.

[Parm]

It will probably be played in Cyprus, so get your passports ready :)

oh yeah!! best get onto Mike then to sort us out for tickets and accomadation/:rock:

[Shanks65]

I was reading on the UEFA website that Israeli teams play European games in Tel-Aviv regardless of whether they are from that city or not. I am toying with the idea of going.

Thats what the Maccabi chairman(?) said too, but I really can't see how they can guarantee the safety of matchgoers. I really think it'll be in Cyprus.

[IanTheRed]

I really think it'll be in Cyprus.

Maybe Dunk will finally have his holiday there now, with exclusive inside info...sorry.

[Shanks65]

Maybe Dunk will finally have his holiday there now, with exclusive inside info...sorry.

:haha:

[Le Chacal]

I wouldnt play in Israel...

[JRG]

I wouldnt play in Israel...
Why is that Mate?

[IanTheRed]

Why is that Mate?

:confused:

[Miracle@Istanbul]

Not in Europe anyway, it is just because no one in their own region will play football against them that they have hitched onto EUFA, no doubt with a few healthy bribes paid by the Israelis and the wealthy Arab's to get rid.

[Le Chacal]

Why is that Mate?
1st reason:
How could you be 100% focused on a game when a bomb could explode anytime in the area?
When Chelsea had to play there a few years ago, most of their players didnt want to go...

2nd reason:
for political reasons, I would boycott Israel who are violating international rules for decades now

[univofchicago]

2nd reason:
for political reasons, I would boycott Israel who are violating international rules for decades now



Now careful, lets not go into that! :D

[Le Chacal]

He asked me why, i answered...
I would play in Cyprus not in Israel. too dangerous imo.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

Your loss, Tel Aviv where the game will be played if it goes ahead in Israel is a good place to visit and the people are top draw. The flights are pricey though.

If the venue is switched away from Israel, the talk is that Cyprus will not be used as a venue.

[univofchicago]

Your loss, Tel Aviv where the game will be played if it goes ahead in Israel is a good place to visit and the people are top draw. The flights are pricey though.


I believe you, but if you ask the players, my guess is that most of them would not be happy with playing in Israel especially with the conflict going on...

[Le Chacal]

I believe you, but if you ask the players, my guess is that most of them would not be happy with playing in Israel especially with the conflict going on...
Exactly.
Im sure the players and all the staff dont want to play in Israel.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

Exactly.
Im sure the players and all the staff dont want to play in Israel.



You know that or do you merely wish you did?

[Le Chacal]

You know that or do you merely wish you did?
I know that.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

I know that.


So you're claiming to be an insider? OK, who is your man on the inside?

[Le Chacal]

Im Est1892 Insider. Now stop the questions.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

Nice to meet you, I'm Jamie Carragher!

[JRG]

1st reason:
How could you be 100% focused on a game when a bomb could explode anytime in the area?
When Chelsea had to play there a few years ago, most of their players didnt want to go...

2nd reason:
for political reasons, I would boycott Israel who are violating international rules for decades now

Fair enough, two good reasons. Thanks for being so candid.

[Le Chacal]

Nice to meet you, but I also know you're not Jamie Carragher.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

As I know that you are not an insider. Call me cynical but as with messiahs, it is fair to assume that anyone who claims to be an insider is not.

[Le Chacal]

As I know that you are not an insider. Call me cynical but as with messiahs, it is fair to assume that anyone who claims to be an insider is not.
How old are you?:rolleyes:
No need to steal the info from the Echo to understand the players and staff dont want to go to Israel when theres a war over there...

[univofchicago]

You know that or do you merely wish you did?

Bad_Man_Oz, Obviously I'm surmising. I don't really know what the players would think of playing in Israel, but I'm just guessing that they will feel somewhat uncomfortable if asked to. That is why doubts have been raised not just by us but the media prior to the draw about the possibility of playing the 'away' time at Cyprus. I believe you that Tel Aviv would be a great place to visit, but with all the news about the conflict in the Middle-East, its natural that people are genuinely concerned about playing near the region whether its actually "dangerous" or not.

[univofchicago]

It will probably be played in Cyprus, so get your passports ready :)


You know, if the second leg is indeed played in Cyprus, it is almost going to be like a home game. Isn't there a huge Liverpool following in Cyprus? Anyone from Cyprus here?

[Bad_Man_Oz]

How old are you?:rolleyes:
No need to steal the info from the Echo to understand the players and staff dont want to go to Israel when theres a war over there...


Theres a war on in Northern Israel, no shit sherlock.

You speak for the players and staff of Liverpool FC as much as I do!

Is Tel Aviv a safe venue? The foreign office is not advising against visiting central Israel so why not? Moreover, as anyone who went to Northern Ireland durring the troubles there would tell you even when there was violence in one part of the country another part could feel a world away.

[Le Chacal]

Theres a war on in Northern Israel, no shit sherlock.

You speak for the players and staff of Liverpool FC as much as I do!

Is Tel Aviv a safe venue? The foreign office is not advising against visiting central Israel so why not? Moreover, as anyone who went to Northern Ireland durring the troubles there would tell you even when there was violence in one part of the country another part could feel a world away.

I dont give a sh*t what the foreign office is saying...There is also a war in Gaza my friend... Any person with common sense would not play a football game in that region, I certainly wouldnt even with a 1% risk.

[scully]

So you're claiming to be an insider? OK, who is your man on the inside?

Why are you trying to pick an argument over such a little point? If you were talking along the streets and heard someone say "I don't fancy being in Israel right now what with all those bombs and stuff" would you jump down their throats too?

[Bad_Man_Oz]

Why are you trying to pick an argument over such a little point? If you were talking along the streets and heard someone say "I don't fancy being in Israel right now what with all those bombs and stuff" would you jump down their throats too?


I thought the bullshit was what pissed us all off on Koptalk? It was what pissed me off anyway.

[Le Chacal]

I thought the bullshit was what pissed us all off on Koptalk? It was what pissed me off anyway.
Oh dear:o
Im sorry if i pissed you off:rolleyes:

[Bad_Man_Oz]

Oh dear:o
Im sorry if i pissed you off:rolleyes:

Good stuff. In future please could you keep any fantasy you have about being an insider to Koptalk or suchlike, there's a good chap.

[Ryan]

Hardly a big deal is it?

The match will be played on some sunny, welcoming part of Cyprus. And as far as I'm aware, there are no fundamentalists or shoe-bombers in the Haifa side.

Plus, if it's scheduled near enough to Ayia Napa, Bellamy and Pennant will be in top form. Mobile phones at the ready boys...

Stroll in the park.

[Ryan]

Good stuff. In future please could you keep any fantasy you have about being an insider to Koptalk or suchlike, there's a good chap.

Wind your fcuking neck in.

[Le Chacal]

Good stuff. In future please could you keep any fantasy you have about being an insider to Koptalk or suchlike, there's a good chap.
HAHAHA:whatever:

[univofchicago]

One thing is for sure, Rafa is definately against playing in Israel:



We can't go to Israel says Liverpool boss Benitez

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that his side should not have to play their Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa in war-torn Israel.

Benitez's men were paired against Israeli champions Maccabi in Friday's draw for the third qualifying round of the competition and are scheduled to play the second leg of the tie in Haifa on August 22 or 23.

But the on-going cross-border conflict with Lebanon makes Israel a highly dangerous destination at present and Benitez is adamant the match should be played on a neutral venue.

He told Liverpool's website: "There is no way we should be going to Israel to play a game of football at this time. It's crazy to even consider it. UEFA cannot put anyone at risk.

"The situation is very clear in my mind. It's a crazy situation and totally unacceptable to even think about us going over there at this time.

"I feel sad for the people over there at the moment because it's a terrible time for them, but we have to put the security and safety of everyone involved before anything else and that means we cannot travel there. It would be impossible to concentrate on the game."

Benitez has previous experience of a tie in Israel being moved to Cyprus during his time as manager of Spanish club Valencia and he believes UEFA, European football's governing body, must make a similar decision.

He added: "UEFA need to make a decision quickly because there will be lots of our supporters wanting to know what is happening.

"A few years back when I was with Valencia we were drawn to play Maccabi Haifa in a UEFA Cup tie and the match was switched to Cyprus. The situation then was nowhere near as bad as it is now.

"Valencia also had a European game in the Ukraine on the day the twin towers were attacked in America and I can remember the confusion that caused with the players on their mobile phones constantly to their families who were wondering when we'd be getting back. It's impossible to prepare for a game in these circumstances."

Liverpool, five times winners of the European Cup, will play the first leg of tie at Anfield on August 8 or 9.

[Le Chacal]

Thank you.
Did you read this OZ?
As you're a young boy, i forgive you.

[Bad_Man_Oz]

All it proves is that you know how to type www.liverpoolfc.tv in to an internet browser. Who taught you how to do that? How many hours did it take?


Insider my hairy arse! :p

[Le Chacal]

All it proves is that you know how to type www.liverpoolfc.tv in to an internet browser. Who taught you how to do that? How many hours did it take?


Insider my hairy arse! :p

haha:haha: you're a funny boy actually...I havent been on the official site today...
What I said before was coming from myself, i didnt have to look anywhere to know the players didnt want to go there. Comon. Sense.
Now jog on.

[scully]

I thought the bullshit was what pissed us all off on Koptalk? It was what pissed me off anyway.

All he did was say the players (like most people in the world right now) probably wouldn't like to play in Israel at the moment. A pretty reasonable thing to say. You then came out with that "Know them do you?" - probably meant in a hostile way but he took it to be a joke and so joked back about being an Insider. I think you need to chill out.

[RedJersey]

All it proves is that you know how to type www.liverpoolfc.tv in to an internet browser. Who taught you how to do that? How many hours did it take?


Insider my hairy arse! :p

2 words. Grow. Up.

[Le Chacal]

All he did was say the players (like most people in the world right now) probably wouldn't like to play in Israel at the moment. A pretty reasonable thing to say. You then came out with that "Know them do you?" - probably meant in a hostile way but he took it to be a joke and so joked back about being an Insider. I think you need to chill out.
to be precise, I took it as hostile but yeah I joked back. Apparently it was too subtle for him...

[MrMichael]

All he did was say the players (like most people in the world right now) probably wouldn't like to play in Israel at the moment. A pretty reasonable thing to say. You then came out with that "Know them do you?" - probably meant in a hostile way but he took it to be a joke and so joked back about being an Insider. I think you need to chill out.

Seconded. And Scully and I hardly ever agree about anything :haha:

[Ryan]

All he did was say the players (like most people in the world right now) probably wouldn't like to play in Israel at the moment. A pretty reasonable thing to say. You then came out with that "Know them do you?" - probably meant in a hostile way but he took it to be a joke and so joked back about being an Insider. I think you need to chill out.

Diplomatic.

I've only been here 5 minutes, and I think he needs to take his head out of his hole.

Which is rich, coming from me.

[Le Chacal]

Diplomatic.



Which is rich, coming from me.

Absolutely.:rolleyes:

[El Jefecito]

Neutral venue.

Duplicate thread though
We should play home & away at anfield. Offer them a good whack of the gate receipts and they'll be happy. They're going out wherever they play :)

[El Jefecito]

Is the first leg at Anfield ?
AnfieldAnfield it's @ anfield.

Sorry :)

[El Jefecito]

1st reason:
How could you be 100% focused on a game when a bomb could explode anytime in the area?
When Chelsea had to play there a few years ago, most of their players didnt want to go...

2nd reason:
for political reasons, I would boycott Israel who are violating international rules for decades now
I commend you for your 2nd reason. :handshake:

[kurtangle01]

Good stuff. In future please could you keep any fantasy you have about being an insider to Koptalk or suchlike, there's a good chap.

seriously, get a life. it's people like you who ruin websited with your constant sniping.

he never once claimed to be an insider you merely jumped down his throat. i think it's safe to say that the players wouldn't want to go there. you only have to read rafa' thoughts to see that.

as i said get a life!:whatever:

[univofchicago]

We should play home & away at anfield. Offer them a good whack of the gate receipts and they'll be happy. They're going out wherever they play :)

:haha: :haha: :haha:

[Miracle@Istanbul]

I don't care what advice the Foreign Office give, Israel is being attacked by over 100 missiles a day and there is a high risk of suicide bombings.

Tel Aviv may be safer than area's near the West Bank and Gaza strip but no way is it safe, the country is at war. Here is one small part of the travel advise the foreign office give:

We advise against all travel within 2km south of Israel’s border with Lebanon following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers there on 12 July,

The rockets travel further than 2km that's for sure, so how can you be safe there?

Our goverment allow Israel to get away with some deplorable actions, we call their opponents terrorists for similiar crimes. If it did not say in the bible that the jews belong in the "holy land" it would be a safe bet Bush and Blair would have a different attitude.

[mchaggis]

The Reds will ask UEFA to switch the tie away from Israel with Holland or Slovenia emerging as possible alternatives.

:)

[univofchicago]

Holland or Slovenia?

Holland would be nice.

It would be like a home game I reckon...

Not a bad draw after all ;)

[SouthAfricaRed]

They should switch the Game to Athens. Give us a bit of practice for The final :)

[mchaggis]

Slovenia would be more like a home game

[mchaggis]

I've heard that Rotterdam is the most likely destination with Celje 2nd option

[Le Chacal]

Slovenia would be more like a home game
I assume you're from Slovenia...Im going to Zurich on tuesday:rock:

[RedJersey]

I assume you're from Slovenia...Im going to Zurich on tuesday:rock:

?? Bit of a non sequitur there mate. :)

[Le Chacal]

?? Bit of a non sequitur there mate. :)
Excuse my ignorance but what is a "non sequitur"?:eyebrow: ...

[RedJersey]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a "non sequitur"?:eyebrow: ...

HeHe. Literally means 'does not follow'.

I was sort of expecting you to say "I assume you're from Slovenia... I'm going to Ljubljana tomorrow."

Just ignore me.