The new American owners of Liverpool have decided to place the proposed building of the new stadium on nearby Stanley Park on hold whilst they re-evaluate the plans to see if they are able to increase the capacity from the original 60,000.

The Premiership club had targeted 2009 for the opening date for new the stadium, but if George Gillett and Tom Hicks decide to make any major changes, it would require a new planning application, and the first one wasn’t exactly a quick process.

So there could be a bit of a delay, although sources are claiming that the original date may yet still be met even with changes.

Liverpool, the club itself, have not yet officially confirmed the decision to suspend preparatory work on the £215m project, but have revealed a review will be undertaken.

A Liverpool spokesman is quoted as saying, “There is a total commitment to a new stadium but the new owners are conducting a thorough review of the current proposals, to see if there is any way they can be improved.”

I would imagine that any review would be a fairly quick process taking a matter of weeks as opposed to months. These guys don’t appear to be the type to hang around. They were both very keen, back in Febraury, to stress they were fully committed to the new stadium and that it wouldn’t be, under any circumstances, a ground share with Merseyside rivals and neighbours, Everton.

George Gillitt stated back in February, “The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days. We are fully supportive of the Stanley Park development and of building a facility that we hope will be the greatest facility in this sport.

“We do work hard on design and development and making sure the quality of the fan experience is unparalleled.

“We want to make sure the newest technology is incorporated in it. It is about the comfort of fans.”

And not to be left out, Tom Hicks added: “We have our own people lined up to see if, within the confines of the plans, there are any other ideas that would be good for the fans.”

It will be very interesting to see how this progress over the coming weeks and months. However, as a outsider looking in at the recent takeover etc, it appears to me that Gillett and Hicks don’t come across as being in this just to make a quick fist full of dollars and ride off into the sunset. They have impressed me with their talk of investment, getting things right for the fans and their comfort etc., and it would appear, from where I sit anyway, that Liverpool appear to be in good hands and their future could be pretty healthy. Maybe David Moores held out for the right deal after all!

Let me know what you think about the recent takeover of Liverpool and what their future could hold. Also let me know what you think of clubs being taken over in general. Do you think Utd should be own by Glazer, Aston Villa by Lerner etc. Post your comments!

The Soccer Blogger

It has been reported that the billionaire owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich and his wife Irina have divorced in Russia on a “consensual basis”.

Reports state, “They have agreed terms in respect of arrangements for their children and a financial settlement. [Caaaa Chiiing! For Irina then, I would imagine.]

“(His) corporate interests, including Chelsea Football Club, are not affected by the divorce proceedings.”

So no problems for Chelsea then. Well that’s what the statement said that the billionaire issued.

Do you think he’ll have any problems finding a new lady friend? No, perhaps not. But they won’t be in it for the money. How very cynical of you to even think that!

On a serious note, divorce isn’t really a joking matter, especially where there are children involved, so we wish them both (and the children), the best.

The Soccer Blogger

Blackburn v Chelsea or Tottenham
Watford v Middlesbrough or Manchester United

Ties will be played the weekend of 14 and 15 April 2007

So will it be a Chelsea, Manchester United final at the New Wembley? Well it just could be as the FA managed to “surprisingly” keep the two heavy weights apart when the semi-final draw took place this lunchtime.

Blackburn Rovers were the first team out of the hat and will play the winners of the replay between Chelsea and Tottenham, after that thrilling games at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

The winners of the other replay between Manchester United and Middlesbrough will play Watford, one of this season’s Premiership strugglers, in the other tie.

AS of yet, the two venues for the semi-finals are still to be decided. Hmm, the FA aren’t going to way to see how quickly they can get the Safety Certificate for Wembley and then try and host both semis there, are they? I certainly hope not. I have never liked semi-finals being played at the home of the Final. It takes away from what should be the show piece event and it will just be the FA trying to re-coup some of the huge bill for the construction.

The Soccer Blogger

Middlesbrough 2 - 2 Man Utd

There’s something you don’t see very often at the Riverside. And what was that? A full stadium. All four stands were packed for the Quater Final tie against the leaders of the Premiership and those four stands witnessed a great cup tie and nearly an up-set. Both managers, Boro’s Gareth Southgate and Utd’ Sir Alex Ferguson, picked what were probably their strongest teams available whilst the supporters filling the four stands provided a great atmoshpere and plenty of noise.

Middlesbrough showed great character to not get over run after Wayne Rooney had put Utd in front after about 30 minutes. They showed even more to equalise just before the break and then take the lead shortly after the re-start. It was the Boro captain George Boateng who put the Wearsiders in front early in the second half. It has been a long hard season for Boateng but he seemed to be steering his team into the Semi Finals for the second year running. However, what happened on 68 minutes just summed it all up for Boateng this season. Even though he obviously protested his innocence, he had his hands in front of the face and the ball struck his hands. The referee didn’t really have a lot of choice othe than to award the penalty, which was converted by Ronaldo.

Boateng later said that if the incident had happened the other way round at Old Trafford it would never have been given. Perhaps! Who knows? He claimed it was a natural reaction, the ball was travelling at speed for his face and he put his hands up to protect himself. I have to say I do feel a little sorry for him and that he has a point but unforunately, decisions like these happen all the time and if you put your hands up like that in the area you have to be ready to accept the consequences. It was hard on Boro who played played and were unlucky not to be in the semi-final draw by themselves. They will go to Old Trafford not fearing Utd. They have proved this year there is no need for them to do that but you have to feel they have lost their chance of progressing.

Chelsea 3 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur

Quite a game! And a memorable game, in which there was a great atmosphere from two of the big London clubs. Afterall there is a huge prize in reach. The fact this was such a great game has a lot to do with the respective managers who should be praised for their somewhat “gung-ho” approach. Shame not all games were like this and you can bet that the fans will be hoping for a similar approach from their managers in the reply.

Chelsea looked down and out at 1 - 3 down and if it is true that Abramovich (the Chelsea owner) no longer communicates with his manager, he must still surely have some sort of respect for the sometimes controversial Mourinho when he is able to mastermind such a thrilling fightback. Of course, Jose was also courting that controversy again, after he admitted calling the referee, Mike Riley a “son of a whore” at a time when this derby looked to be boiling over. Mourinho claimed he says such things all day every day, but doesn’t mean anything by it.

Anyway, during the game on the pitch, Spurs were excellent and where the first team to score 3 goals at Stamford Bridge since Mourinho took the reigns of the London club. And they were so close to only becoming the third team during that time (80 matches) to win at the Bridge. However, with Mourihno’s tactical brillaint somehow Chelsea managed to score two goals in the last 20 minutes to secure, what seems like an unlikely reply at White Hart Lane.

FA Cup football at its best! The the reply is half as good as this it will be a great game. Surely we couldn’t be lucky enough a get another one like this!

Blackburn 2 - 0 Man City

You have to feel sorry for City fans! They really are long suffering yet full of optimism and passion for their club. If only their team were as good on the pitch as their fans are in the stands. The 7,500 travelling City fans turned up to Ewood Park repleat with big inflatable bananas and the rest of a packed Ewood responded to create a great atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the pressure is starting to grow on Stuart Pearce’s shoulders with this defeat to a Blackburn side that Mark Hughes has got playing really well and are hard to beat. It can’t have helped Pearce’s situation that his side lost this game against 10 men for the last twenty minutes, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the banana wielding City faithfull.

City didn’t really threaten the Blackburn goal, including those last 20 mins against the 10 men, but did well to subdue in form McCarthy. However they did sucumbed to Mokoena and Derbyshire, two unlikely scorers. It is going to be a hard run-in for City and Pearce who have to turn it around quickly to stop themselves being pulled into the relegation dog-fight.

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Watford

So, no sweet revenge then for Plymouth following their 1984 semi-final defeat to Watford at Villa Park. Plus Ian Holloway, the Plymouth boss, won’t really be looking forward to his birthday today, this was not the present he was hoping for, and no amount of cake is going to make up for this defeat.

Watford scored the all important winner after only 21 minutes and the great ditraction from their Premisership plight means they are now only 90 minutes away from glory and returning to Wembley 23 years after they lost to Everton 2 - 0. Would Boothroyd swap that glory for Premiership survival? I think he would, but this may be all he and the Watford fans have left to cling onto this season. Premiership survival looks slim in comparison.

They is no doubting that Plymouth and their fans were certainly up for this game and there was a distinct feeling on the sout coast that they were destined to reach the Semi Final. Alas it was no to be. A full house at Home Park certainly answered the battle cry issued by Holloway prior to the game and the stadium was a sea of green, except for a small corner of the ground that was red and yellow. For the vast majority of the crowd, it was this small country of a green land that was making all the noise at the end of 90 minutes.

Four quarter finals, four excellent games. Let’s hope the semi finals and final (at Wenbley?) are as good as these!

The Soccer Blogger

Following Arsenal’s exit from this year’s Champions League earlier this week, I wrote that it couldn’t really get much worse for Arsenal after all the turmoil of the previous 10 days or so because their talisman and captain, Thierry Henry, was going to be out injured for 3 weeks. Well, you can bet Arsenal are now wishing it was only 3 weeks because it has now been confirmed that Henry will, in fact, be out of action for the rest of the season due to groin and stomach injuries. So, it did just get worse for Arsenal, and I didn’t think that was possible after what they have gone through in the last two weeks. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?

Trying to put a brave face on it (and that most be getting increasingly difficult) Arsene Wenger said, “We are confident that he will be ready for the start of next season.” That’s 5 months away!

The player himself is, of course, devastated to be out but believes he will return all the more stronger and on top form for next season. All Arsenal have left to play for now this season, is their league position and ensuring they finish at least in forth spot in order to qualify for next season’s Champions League qualifiers. That just became a little harder with the loss of Henry.

Henry told an English newspaper, “I am obviously devastated I will miss the rest of the season. It is a tough end to what has been a difficult season for me. It has been very frustrating.

“But I hope to get back to full fitness soon and will then look forward to having a great season with Arsenal next year.

“This setback will make me even more determined, yet it has certainly been one thing after another.

“Last season was a very long one for me, right up to the Champions League final and then the World Cup final with France.

“I only had a few weeks’ break and then the Premiership started.

“First of all, there was the sciatic nerve problem, which kept me out for a while. Then, most recently of all, the foot injury. Now these injuries against PSV.”

The Soccer Blogger