So, you're a big Spurs fan and you know Harry Redknapp and he tells you he's confident that he's landed Joe Cole - would you have believed him?
Now I can't speak for you, I can only speak for myself, but I would have believed him. Of course I understand that things can change and there's medicals, money etc involved but I'd have certainly believed his claims.
Today he said:
"I spoke to him (Cole) a month ago and I thought he was coming here. He wanted to come to Spurs. He'd made his mind up - I had no doubt. But a month went by and Liverpool moved in."
Had someone who knew Harry ran a news item about his original beliefs, that person would be slaughtered now. "So much for your source knowing about Jole Cole" etc etc etc.
The point I'm trying to make is, things change in football and even the manager believed that he was going to secure that deal. Nobody would have knocked the source if known but it still didn't happen.
Since Steven Gerrard made up his mind to stay at Liverpool, I've had the "so much for your source" emails, not many, just 1 or 2 from the usual suspects.
There were several sources involved with the Steven Gerrard stuff this summer but the main source was Steven himself. He was seriously up for the move. His agent had it all in place and he gave indications at the end of the World Cup that he was ready to leave Liverpool. Take into consideration that we also have access to people at Real Madrid (as our members know). They were CONVINCED they were going to get this deal and that Purslow was ****ed because he'd agreed to let Steven go without problems i.e. a low fee, which is why Real never offered more than £20m.
BUT...
Something changed. I don't know what. To be honest, I don't care because this is great news, but I wanted to touch on it.
Something persuaded Steven to stay. Investment? Loyalty? Another player saying they were staying? Friendship pressure? Family pressure? Did Real Madrid upset him with comments about his age even though that was them just feeding nonsense to Liverpool?
I never once said he'd sign for Real Madrid. How would I know? What I did say was that I was worried he would do but I also added that maybe the emotions associated to leaving Liverpool would be too much because he's the skipper and he's spent his entire life at the club. It has to count for something.
Lee Bower was captured on camera shaking on his proposed transfer to Liverpool with Gerard Houllier on the Melwood playing fields. The next day the deal was off.
The night before Fowler signed for Leeds, Phil Thompson, assistant manager at the time, said Fowler was definitely not leaving Liverpool. Dave Maddock of The Mirror called me the same night and told me the opposite - I was slaughtered for suggesting he was leaving but Maddock was right and of course he would be as Godfather to Robbie's children. But the critics said Thommo was right and I was wrong. As it turned out, Dunk knew best.
"You said Sheikh Khalifa was buying the club" - no I didn't. I said he was at the table and I followed up later by saying that he'd been turned away. People don't or can't read. No matter what you say the haters will put their spin on it. Thankfully we have our members website where just about everyone understands the game, how things work and they have the added bonus of intelligence, yes, they can read.
We're now left to see what happens with Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano. Over the summer I thought we had more of a chance of losing Gerrard than Torres. I have a source who works at the club and they recently told me that Torres plans to have family over for the Arsenal game. But I have another source who believes Torres will go - one is basing his future on facts, the other opinion. Both have good intent but both understand that things can change.
I have friends at Chelsea who confirm that they are serious about recruiting him but I also have a friend called common sense that tells me Chelsea's offers are less than half what Liverpool would sell him for. Common sense also tells me that the fact that Steven has declared to stay can only be seen as a good thing. Plus Torres owes us at least another season.
He's not in it for the money so Man City looks a non-starter and Barca, well, they'd love him but having landed Villa, do they have the money? You'd think not as they have other ideas ahead of Torres. If they fall through then maybe, never say never in football, but I can't see it.
Because of the recent run of positive news I'm thinking and hoping that Torres will stay. He too is clearly thinking about jumping ship so we will have to wait and see but I'm more hopeful than anything.
As for Mascherano. Well I don't know anyone at Inter Milan other than Rafa (not as a friend just a hello, how are you, capacity - I think he got used to seeing me and Steve popping up all over the place with our cameras!) but I do know someone at AC Milan. And according to them, Javier will make the switch to Inter once they agree a deal to sell Mario Balotelli. But hey, things could change and he could still be at Anfield next season... right? I can't see it meself but hey ho, let's see what happens.
If you use KopTalk, you really do need to have a decent level of intelligence. We're not saying you're thick if you use other sites but we really do try and only attract die-hard Reds that understand the game and how it works, especially on our members website where you don't have to endure brave keyboard warriors and conversations about out-of-towners.
The critics attack us for having an optional paid for membership despite other sites having the same format. KopTalk is actually cheaper than other LFC sites that we're aware of that have a membership - some sites even take up to £10-a-month in donations from their forum members. There's nothing wrong with that if people want to support something they enjoy but that's £120-a-year and our membership works out at no more than 10p-a-day, even less if you buy a longer sub. And we even give back FREE LFC SMS alerts all year round to our members.
We prefer the optional membership instead loads of advertising and it works. It also keeps the idiots way (generally) and allows for a much more mature level of discussion. But we also put a lot of effort in for people who are unable to support the site by becoming a member for whatever reasons. We have free forums, a free site and we churn out loads of fun but informative content on iTunes, Youtube and Facebook. We try to balance things out for everyone.
Unlike many of the other sites, we refuse to toe-the-line and we'll never kiss anyone's a*se in return for a favour here and a favour there, trust me, it happens. We don't care if you're from Liverpool or Libya, you just need to bleed Red. There's no such thing as a super fan, those that think they're better for you are just self-appointed tosspots.
People either love KopTalk or they hate KopTalk. That is their right. We only care about the people who love KopTalk. What our rejects, rivals and haters do is of no concern because we know we give our fans 100% effort all of the time and put plenty of content out there for people to discuss... so much content that forums on other LFC websites have to discuss. I'm just glad that our members aren't obsessed with other LFC websites; that'd kind of hurt
And for those who dedicate their lives to discrediting myself and KopTalk, keep it up, because the fact you're hurting gives me the strength. The day you stop is the day I know I'm no longer of interest. Every time you mention my name or the site's name is another victory for me.
Those of you that support KopTalk - members AND non-members - thanks, your support and kind words mean everything to me. I'm upbeat and looking forward to the new season with you by my side because as you've told me many time before, I'll never walk alone.
PS: Just been told that "RH said in last night's post match comments that he was pleased that Gerrard is staying, and that he did have another option he was considering. "
, but no, you'll never be alone.
