Havant & Waterlooville

[Craig_H]

Torres, Stevie, Carra - they should all play, these lads have earnt their day in the spotlight. I'd be fookin gutted if the team I played for were due to play a massive club only to find that they put their kids team out. It'll be like Istanbul for their fans n all, let them have it I say. Great day out.

Since when was it our obligation to make other teams' days out for them?

When did it become our responsibility to stop non league teams from being 'fookin gutted' ?

[Craig_H]

*******s.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7205168.stm

FA Cup misery for Hawks defender

Havant and Waterlooville defender Justin Gregory is set to miss the FA Cup clash at Liverpool after a dispute over a re-arranged league fixture.

The Hawks had hoped Gregory could serve a one-match ban on Wednesday when they face Blue Square South rivals Thurrock.

But the Football Association decided the new date was an attempt to clear his ban ahead of the Hampshire club's dream fourth-round trip to Anfield.

Gregory must now sit it out, and said the decision was "a nightmare."

The suspension came into force after he totted up five cautions, but Gregory added: "The FA are pretty archaic if you ask me.

"There's not much I can do about it. One minute I'm playing at Liverpool, the next I'm in the stands. It's heartbreaking.

"I've written a few emails to officials to explain the situation, but I don't remember them going back on a decision too many times, so I guess I just have to live with it.

"I did an interview saying I was happy there was a league game taking place so my suspension would be cleared, but that was taken out of context.

"The FA officials obviously saw that and think the game has been specifically arranged."

"I'm absolutely gutted, but you also have to keep things in perspective. Nobody died and it gives someone else the chance to play at Anfield."

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Where's the justice in that when you've got John Obi Mikel currently serving a four match ban for Chelsea when he's on the other side of the world?

It's all academic now as Havant and Waterlooville's league game tonight has been abondoned due to floodlight failure...so it wouldnt have cancelled out his ban anyway!

[Shanks65]

Not as gutted as finding out that Torres and Stevie both picked up a needless injury that would keep them out for the Chelsea and Inter games.

Spot on mate.

We can put a more than decent XI out on that pitch without having to play Torres, SG and Carra.

We've got Inter up soon, and we've got a scrap on for 4th place. I'm all for the romance of the FA Cup but risking all the big guns is crazy IMO.

Players like Skrtel, Itandje, Lucas, Momo, Crouch and Babel should all be starting.

[Shaggy]

Steven Gerrard: We must pull together
Jan 25 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

STEVEN GERRARD today called on Liverpool's players to unite as the club goes through one of the most turbulent periods in its history.

The Reds captain believes everyone at Anfield has to pull together and put on a united front as speculation continues about the club's ownership.

In the immediate aftermath of Monday's home draw against Aston Villa, Gerrard confessed that the ongoing off pitch upheaval was having a negative effect on performances and he today insisted the time has come for Liverpool's playing staff to draw a line under the whole affair and get on with the task in hand – winning matches.

"It is down to the players to improve results and that goes for every single one of us," he said.

"There's no doubt about it, the last few weeks have been difficult for everyone at the club and the constant speculation is never going to be helpful but as professionals we have to rise above it and focus on our own performances and nothing else.

"If you want you can look for excuses and blame other people for your own shortcomings but if you want to win games then you have to look at yourself and no-one else.

"Everyone has got to pull together and work for one another because that is the only way that results will improve and we will start to move back up the league table."

Gerrard's rallying cry comes at a time when Liverpool are still looking for their first Premiership win of 2008 and find themselves in fifth position in the league.

But on the eve of the fourth round FA Cup tie against Havant and Waterlooville, Gerrard says his team-mates do not lose sight of how much they still have to play for this season.

He said: "Tomorrow we've got Havant and Waterlooville and we will show them every respect because they have done ever so well to get to this stage of the competition.

"Then, next month we've got Inter Milan in the Champions League which is another massive game.

"We've also got plenty of league games coming up thick and fast and if we can put a run of form together there is no reason why we can't climb the table.

"But we will only do that if we stick together as a squad and as a team.

"We can't control what happens off the pitch, but we can make a difference on it and that's exactly what we've got to do."