johnh

In the Telegraph Sport section today, there is a big front page photo of Steven Gerrard, titled 'Gerrard Unvcovered' Liverpool captain - unflinching and truthful as always - reveals his thoughts on life at Anfield. I read the article. There is absolutely no criticism of anything at Anfield and any problems are dispatched as 'not our fault'.

Sorry if this is slightly off topic. My Dad was a pianist and before the war he played at various places in Liverpool. The Bears Paw, Reeces, Lewis's. He was in the Fire Service during the war and worked on the fire at Lewis's when it was bombed. After the war he had a sextet and played at the Ocean Club. He also did a lot of broadcasting for BBC Manchester. He did several Northern Variety Bandbox, Music While You Work and Workers Playtime. He also had a piano solo programme called Flippant Fingers. I still have some Radio Times cuttings from Northern Variety Bandbox. One programme included Peter Sellers when he was an impersonator - Peter Sellers and his voices. I have several 78's which are recordings of his sextet on Northern Variety Bandbox and I have had them transferred onto CD. Listen to them quite often. His sextet was 'The Charles Henesy Sextet'. My two brothers were professional musicians, one a pianist, but the music teacher sent me home with a note to my parents telling them they were wasting their money! I didn't mind at the time as it meant I could play football instead.

I haven't seen a single mention of Max Bygraves 'You're a Pink Toothbrush' on this thread. Strange that.

I see Sterling was 'rested' last night against Swansea. Maybe he was 'tired' again.

I think he's in the last chance saloon and realises it. The trademark 'arrogant' look has been replaced by 'panic'.

Its not out of the ordinary. When I came out of my National Service in 1957 I was 6ft 3. People thought I was exceptionally tall. My grandson is 15 and is only half an inch shorter than me. When I go to the Rugby club, invariably I am looking up to younger people I talk to!

QPR did us a favour last night keeping Aston Villa below us.

Matt, as they said to Del Boy on Only Fools, she can't be yours, she's beautiful.

Good win but many problems. When we scored early we sat back on our lead and let Burnley get momentum into their game. Don't like this passing between the back four (like England). Its. fine if you don't make a mistake. We gifted a goal from this and got away with another later on. Tim Howard always rolls the ball out to a defender. Sometimes there is an opposition player within 10 yards so the ball goes back to Howard, the opposition player closes him down and Howard has to hit a panic clearance which generally goes to the opposition. The 'over-passing' goes on around the opposition penalty area. Its as though everyone is under orders not to have a shot. Then, finally, a good move is ruined by a pass going astray. When it works, the passing is very pleasing on the eye. I just wish that at times we could be a bit more direct. Its nice to have a grumble after a good win though. :jump for joy:

Liverpool improving. Held Hull City at home 0-0.

In the late 1940's the only 'billboards' came on at half-time. In the programme there was a list of all Division 1 (now Premiership) matches with a letter of the alphabet against each one. During half-time, someone put the half-time scores for each match against the appropriate letter. This was done using big white boards with black letters/numbers, which were leaned against the wall at the side of the pitch. If Liverpool were losing it got one of the biggest roars of the day. Take your point though, have often thought the same myself.

I only saw the last 20 minutes but we had the lions share of possession. Created lots of half chances and really should have scored. It seemed as though we were just happy to retain possession, there were numerous occasions when we could have got a shot off but chose to make another pass.

Liverpool v Real Madrid. It was like watching a Division 1 team against a Premiership team. If Real hadn't taken their foot off the gas in the second-half they would have got 5 or 6.

The current capacity at Goodison is, I think, 40,000. I was at the same ground in 1948/49 when the record crowd was over 78,000. Safe standing would increase attendances, increase revenues and, hopefully, reduce ticket prices. On a freezing cold day it is also a tad warmer standing than sitting!

Dictionary definition. GERIATRIC: German footballer who scores three goals.

A help line has been set up for Sunderland supporters. It is an 0800 number.

Sell the big motorbike and buy a nice cardigan and a pipe.

Matt, congratulations. I have two daughters, now aged 44 and 43, they are still the light of my life as I'm sure your little one will be for you.

Had my colonoscopy yesterday, results were clear which was a big relief. Beforehand they told me they would give me a sedative and painkiller and that I would feel groggy for a while after. So I had to have someone there to get me home. I never felt groggy at any stage, and the procedure was quite painful, so the painkillers and sedation didn't seem to work. Maybe I was the one who got the placebo! They did find I had diverticulitis which didn't surprise me as my Father had it. The main problem was I had to fast from Sunday lunchtime to Monday evening and still can't have a 'proper drink' until this afternoon. Still, it was all worth it for peace of mind..

Without doubt, Liverpool are the luckiest team on the planet. Against QPR they should have been 3 - 0 down at half-time. The woodwork saved them twice and then a Liverpool defender, lying on the ground, stopped one going in with his back. Knew nothing about it. Then they get a fluke own goal and a winner in the last seconds of added time. The only consolation is that Balotelli is proving to be as big a mistake as Carroll.

None.

Oi! I was a soldier in the 1950's and me and my musket would take on the SAS any day.

If a team from the 1960's played a team from 2014 it would depend on the referee. With a 1960's referee the 1960's team would win easily. The 2014 team wouldn't know what had hit them. With a 2014 referee the 1960's side would get 5 red cards in the first half-hour.

Same Harry Catterick. Player and Manager.

The best bit for me was when the commentator said 'a foul on Skrtel, a penalty to us'.