By Ahmed Abdo
Jarrah Al-Abdullah, a poet and writer from Kuwait, is a Liverpool fan since the 80’s (Golden age of Liverpool FC). He wrote many articles about Liverpool FC and football in general.
He’s an active member in one of the top Arabic forums that discusses the English Premier League. His username in the forum is Anfield.
We would like to thank you for accepting our invitation for this interview ??
First before I thank you for the interview, I would like to share something with the supporters of Liverpool FC out there in the red city of Liverpool. Kind greetings to all the supporters even though I’m a bit disappointed because many are unable to fulfill their duties toward the club in keeping the pressure up against the YANK$.
Do you think coming to Anfield and singing YNWA and then go home is the real support? Or you think that holding the banners that says “Yanks out” will change things! Have you forgot the habits and customs of Liverpool FC that were inherited from our grandparents, or the blackberries, iphones, and new technologies made you forget all that.
This is Liverpool… Liverpool who was on top of the English and European teams. This is Liverpool, your pride and our pride. This is Liverpool that our hearts beat to.
All I’m asking is 4 hours in any event where the media is present. Let Hicks, Gillet, or both be there then lock them up for 4 hours, and block all the exits with the presence of the media. This will teach them a lesson. They are now standing just because the current is board (I mean Purslow and Broughten) is helping them out. Let’s keep the pressure up and in those 4 hours we can destroy any fort.
What are the causes that make LFC stronger in the 70’s aand 80’s ??
Stability was the key during those days which was established by Sir Bill Shankly. This club is a deep root in the soil and is not a plant that came up due to rain and is expected to disappear when the season ends… This is Liverpool.. the tradition and glory. A club that came in a time when football was about honor and respect, unlike these days when football is money and corruption.
These days you would see that there is corruption in football. Only Liverpool was never involved in such things whether it was today or in the past. What an honor for Liverpool and what a reputation. We are proud of our club.
What does the club lack before it gets back to what it was before?
We need to get rid of the Yanks owning our club. We need to repair all the damages in the club. We need an immediate change of the owners and their “tools”. All the fans in Liverpool and outside Liverpool already know that. After that we need a plan for the future like every other club in Europe. With Rafa, we were improving. Every time we get closer to having a strong squad (by buying new players), Rafa would be told that there would be no money and therefore we get left out without strengthening the squad. Also, we never benefit from the January transfer market, or as I call it”The premier league’s secret weapon”. I always mention that in my articles and for the past 5 years we didn’t benefit from the winter transfer window. Now with Roy, I believe that we can build a strong team from the 2011/2012 season as long as we buy new players in January (without selling) and keep our current squad. Then, we would be ready for the pre-season in summer to build on the chemistry between the players in the team. Our main problem is selling player in order to buy. This doesn’t help in the premier league as many teams are now ahead of us who are spending way more than we are.
What is your opinion on the summer transfer market?
Good, but we should have bought another 2 players: A decent striker who can pull the defenders to allow space for the players coming from behind and a midfielder who can link all the lines very well and has the ability to pass and hold the ball.
What is your view for the team and if you were the manager what would you do for the team ??
If I were to speak English, I would have spoke to Roy right away about the 4-3-3 formation. We have the right players who can fit to this system. Unfortunately, Rafa’s 4-2-31 is not good enough with our current situation. This system has critical deficiencies that Rafa himself couldn’t handle. Therefore, If Roy wants to apply this formation then he must have the right players for the system to work. Aquilani could have been the right fit for that system. I suggest that Roy pays attention whether the players he’s buying/loaning would fit into the system, and not repeat the same mistake he did by loaning out Aquilani. I hope Roy looks for the best system that suits Liverpool FC and the system that suits Gerrard and Cole.
I would go with:
Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Konchesky
Poulsen
Gerrard Meireles
Cole Torres Jova
if you were responsible for rebuilding the squad in the market what would you do ?
I would still go with 4-3-3 formation. I would strengthen the squad by buying 4 players. I would get Andreas Beck of Hoffenehim as RB, Jeremy Toulalan of Lyon, Arda Turan of Galatasaray as a winger, and Marco Marin who can play in any position in the front. The above players will take the place of our current players in their positions. If those players don’t like warming the bench, then they’ll have to fight to get their place back in the starting 11
Future of the club is unknown , do you think Yanks would be out ??
The yanks are like a damaged tooth that can’t be taken off without shedding blood. They came to our club and won’t leave until our “commercial board” force them out, but unfortunately, the board is unable to do anything. They are an evil gang that is sticking around our club in the hope of getting as much money as possible. I also blame RBS for what’s happening at the moment for lending Hicks and Gillet the money in the first place.
Do you think there are still bidders aiming for buying the club?
I will raise this question to RBS and Purslow. In any case, they won’t answer you but I will:
We have a gang who’s taking over our club: the yanks, Purslow, and Broughton. When Kenny Huang announced that he won’t be negotiating with the gang but would rather deal with RBS directly, Broughton’s response was that the club will ONLY be sold by them (the board). Every time we have a serious buyer willing to buy the club, the gang tries to raise the club’s price which makes the buyer pull out his bid. This is affecting us as Liverpool fans and a direct action is required. We need to boycott the club’s merchandise and boycott the games. The yanks should know that they are not welcome in the club and anywhere. We have to protest against the gang (our board) and threaten them that this won’t stop until the club is sold.
There are 2 models , the first is Man City owners and the second is more like Huang or any other owner who wants to work for a long time, who is the Owner you want for Liverpool ??
Any type works for me as long as they are sincere and honest in their job, and as long as they work to strengthen the squad as per the manager’s requirements as a first step. We want new owners who want buy Liverpool not because they just want to own a big club. Sincerity is they key word for the new owners.
Free space for all LFC Fans all over the world ?
You had the patience like the heroes and you fought back like the noblemen. I wrote for you and to our pride “Liverpool FC” hundreds of articles, replies, and letters in my Arabic medium… My love for this club which started in the 1980 continues and will remain as long as I have a breath. Peace be upon you all… Anfield from Kuwait.
Your final word to Mourinho and his speech about Liverpool ?
This question was supposed to be answered earlier but I left it at the bottom on purpose as this is where Mourinho belongs (the bottom) when speaking about Liverpool. He is a lousy person who became the media’s special just like a mentally ill person who is attempting suicide to get some attention. This sick man (Mourinho) is in pain which was caused by Liverpool. Liverpool kicked out his team twice from the Champions League (Roman Abramovich favourite tournament), and therefore, he was kicked out from Chelsea. That’s why he hates Liverpool so much