vandals

Taken from this week's "Crosby Herald".....

VANDALS have covered Conservative campaign boards in foul language and faeces.

Oh, that's a shame.......

Last weekend billboards in Crosby, Hightown and Thornton were defaced with swear words and obscene sexual comments about prospective parliamentary candidate Debi Jones.

If I had a face like a slapped arse, I'd be making "obscene sexual comments" about myself too......

Yesterday morning Cllr Jones discovered that a further two billboards, opposite Jospice, had been targeted, with one being covered in faeces.

Why don't they just say "shit" instead of "faeces". What does it mean? I'm sorry, I was educated under a Tory Government in the 1980s, so the cut-backs then mean I'm as thick as pig-faeces now......

Cllr Jones described the vandalism as “disgraceful”. She added: “It’s getting very personal and very nasty. This is an election, not a witch- hunt.”

It is not the first time that Cllr Jones’s billboards have been targeted. During the 2005 election a man was fined for defacing one of her posters. And on the day of the local elections in 2006, her house was broken into and vandalised, although nothing was stolen.

Cllr Jones said: "It is sad that in a democratic election people feel that this kind of behaviour is acceptable.

The beauty of living in a democracy is our democratic right to deface and deflate the nonsense your bloody stupid posters are advocating, you daft bitch....

“One poster in Hightown was defaced with foul language which parents with young children could have seen in the morning on their way to school.

Young lives potentially shattered hey? Have you seen the abject poverty some children live in? So stop being so melodramatic.......

“Luckily a friend spotted it early on and we took it down. There is a national campaign to destroy and deface Conservative posters around the country, and this really does not put the opposition in a good light."

Vandalising Conservative posters didn't do Labour any harm in the last three general elections. Voting Tory is morally and ethically repugnent, so it's only fair to point this out to the public.......

Cllr Jones said the damage will do nothing to stop her campaign: “It will not put me off, if anything it will make me more determined to fight these despicable people who feel they can win an election through fear.

“I’m not someone who can be intimidated,” she added.

I tell you what, Debi. If you came round to my door, you'd feel rather intimidated if I got stuck into you and your right-wing agenda. Nothing personal, luv. I feel you'd be a good MP, just a tragedy you're standing for the Conservatives, rather than for a fairer society......

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “We are aware of the incidents and we are taking it seriously and investigating the matter.”

If the Tories gain power, the massive public-spending cuts that will follow will mean it's likely Merseyside Police will not have the resources to follow up a bit graffiti.

May 7th. Vote Labour.

annual

Seems as good a time as any to do our annual ratings and "Player Of The Year" thing, so here goes.......

1. Diego Cavalieri - Thank god Reina is so, so good, because I dread to think how bad things would've been had this person stood between the sticks more often this season. 3/10

2. Glen Johnson - A great start, but not as defensively-solid as the money paid out on him would suggest. 6/10

4. Alberto Aquilani - As a direct replacement for Alonso, this simply hasn't worked out. There are times he oozes class, and he has an eye for goal that we badly need from an attacking midfielder. But his season has been completely wrecked by injury, and a stubborn reluctance from the management to let him off the leash. Too soon to get rid, but next season demands a positive upturn in fortune for the lad. 5/10

5. Daniel Agger - Despite injuries, has gotten better as the season has gone on. His seamless slot in at left-back makes one wonder why he hasn't been played there more often. 7/10

8. Steven Gerrard - By his immense standards, this season has been a major disappointment. Not helped by sub-standard team-mates around him. Form has dipped in and out, and his engine seems to have passed its' peak at times. How long can Steven go on like this? A move during the summer wouldn't surprise me in the least. 7/10

9. Fernando Torres - When fit, there is no finer sight in the world of El Nino running in on goal. But this season he's been plagued by injury, and there have been games when it's obvious he's carrying a knock, and is no use to anybody. His frustration is there for all to see - the way he mouths at referees, and his increased use of diving to gain a decision. He's better than all this. Next season could be his last at Anfield if things don't improve for both him and the team. 7/10

11. Albert Riera - After showing some promise in his first season at Liverpool, Riera has gone and ruined it for himself and the club by a poor attitude both on and off the pitch. Likely to be sold in the summer. 2/10

12. Fabio Aurelio - The word "injuries" will figure a lot in this blog-post. The word applies more to Fabio Aurelio than probably anyone. His experience at left-back was sorely missed. 3/10

15. Yossi Benayoun - Frustratingly not used as much as he should've been. In previous seasons, Yossi's goals and skill have been crucial, but poor management has not let his talent shine as it should. 6/10

16. Sotirios Kyrgiakos - As a replacement for Sami Hyypia, his early games were a major embarrassment. Soto looked so out of his tree. But, with a little patience, he's become a dominant force in our defensive line, and the back-four looks less secure without him there. Unbeatable in the air, and hard as nails in the tackle. Keep it up. 8/10

17. Maxi Rodriguez - Many folk, myself included, wondered by Benitez made a mid-season grab for Maxi. He took a little time to settle in, but has impressed in recent times with his tenacity and a willingness to get forward when so many in our team just won't. 7/10

18. Dirk Kuyt - after a great 2008/09, the headless chicken has found the going a little rougher this term. Another player who I wonder if the legs are starting to give out? Great Scouse accent though. 6/10

19. Ryan Babel - the enigma that is Babel, he graduates between being piss-poor (most games) to sublime (strike against Lyon). He's the sort of player you've got to keep on the back of. Blinkered and selfish beyond belief and runs into too many dead ends, when a simple pass would do nicely. Should go in the summer 5/10

20. Javier Mascherano - The "Little Chief" has had another effective season, even doing a good job at right-back when needed. Just wish he'd score more and keep his mouth shut at officials. But keep it up, son. 8/10

21. Lucas Levia - I was tempted to do a separate post for Lucas. But I have to say he's the most improved player of 2010. Fantastic against Benfica at home, and got a great goal. He's not helped by playing alongside Mascherano when both of them do the same job - instead Javi is the much better of the two. Lucas looks reluctant to get forward in case he does something right. Passing is still awful, his tracking back and tackling are abysmal. And then there's Benfica because when he's good, he's very good. Probably Rafa's player of the season, but certainly not mine 6/10

22. Emiliano Insua - I've had high hopes for this kid for a couple of seasons. And despite a long-run in the first team at left-back, he's been consistently caught out to the point where opposing teams target him as the weak link in the side. And they're right. Too often is Insua left for dead by the man attacking him, and the number of times he's been caught upfield is not on. It's a shame, and he's had little or no help from his team-mates, but I feel it was best for Agger to take over at left-back. 5/10

23. Jamie Carragher - Early season form was not good, but he's improved immeasurably as time's gone on. An Indian Summer for Carra? Let's hope! 7/10

24. David N'Gog - the kid really hasn't got a chance as replacement to the injured Fernando Torres. Willing runner and a few decent goals. But, like Babel, when he's bad he stinks. And there's been too much of that this season 6/10

25. Pepe Reina - one word - brilliant! But isn't it a sad state of affairs when the keep is PLAYER OF THE SEASON?

27. Philipp Degen - Not looked too bad at right-back when called upon, but he's no first team regular, and is probably in his best interests to go elsewhere. 5/10

31. Nabil El Zhar - This time last season I was saying he was pointless, and I say the same this season too. Mind, with the wages he's on I'd probably not be very motivated either. 3/10

34. Martin Kelly - A few fleeting appearances from the young right-back was promising enough to get fans talking. But injury has sadly halted his momentum, though time is on his side. 5/10

37. Martin Skrtel - Very, very poor form and constant injury has robbed Martin of any step-up from his fantastic 2008/09. And he's well down the pecking order of defenders now. 4/10

40. Daniel Ayala - Like Martin Kelly, a couple of first-team games has done Ayala no harm, but one wonders if he's got the necessary ambition and drive to become a regular? 5/10

47. Daniel Pacheco - Back in 1971, Bill Shankly bought a 19-year old Kevin Keegan into the Liverpool side. His introduction was incendiary. Like putting a match in with a box of fireworks. The same analogy will hopefully be true for Pacheco next season. Just not given the chance this term that his talent would allow. 5/10

PLAYER OF THE SEASON - Pepe Reina

HONOURABLE MENTIONS - Sotirios Kygrakios, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard.

disaster

Another season over and done with. I said last August that this year was gonna be a disaster. And I've, sadly, been proved right.

Forget this game. This is the tip of the iceberg. Good luck to both Fulham and Athletico Madrid in the final. They deserve it.

I've spent the last nine months blaming the sale of Alonso, blaming the use of two defensive midfielders, blaming the lone striker policy, when really the architect of this miserable end to a miserable season is Rafa Benitez.

What Rafa should've done was resigned after Istanbul. He'd have gone down a legend. Now, he'll be remembered as a leg-end.

I say "remembered" in the past tense. Because how the hell can Benitez be given yet another season to fart us about using his own special brand of bizarre humiliation. For me. For Mum. For our Mick. For everyone.

There's a misguided group of fans who call themselves the "Sons Of Shankly". They have been very vocal and determined to get the Yanks out of Liverpool Football Club. They failed. The Yanks decided to shut up shop. But these supporters have been the nucleus of support for Benitez during the last year or so.

To suggest Benitez hasn't been amply supplied with financial backing from the Americans would be a lie. But nobody's squandered transfer funds in the way Rafa has. He proved at Valencia that he could get success without a massive cash-layout. At Liverpool, he's had riches at his disposal beyond his wildest dreams. Save for a handful of notable exceptions, more so in recent times, his buys have been piss-poor.

He doesn't deserve his crack at the Juventus job. But wherever Rafa goes, he deserves to take his awful backroom staff with him. Because to Liverpool Football Club, he's screwed us so, so badly.

Jose Mourinho - our door is open......

manchester

This blog has an editorial policy of banning pictures of the city of Manchester ever being shown on it.

So I'm happy to report that after my visit there today, there aren't any pics to put up of anything remotely Manc.

I only went there to buy an album I'd seen on a website. Another lost gem returned home today is The Move's 1970 opus, "Looking On". £25.

I like Manchester as a place - it has some lovely architecture and the city centre is imaginatively laid-out and tastefully built. But the only redeeming factor about the people who live there is they made it happen, they didn't fart about and argue about what was best and what wasn't for their city. They just got on with it. If it works - great. If not - so what.

In Liverpool, there's far too much politics involved to get anything done - well, not in a hurry anyway. It's either Protestant or Catholic, or Militant against Fascist, or Liverpool versus Everton. As I said in a previous blog post, there's no sitting on the fence here. The neighbouring local authorities to the City Council absolutely despise Liverpool. St.Helens hate Scousers, Wirral hates Scousers, Southport detests anything remotely Liverpudlian. It's a complete mish-mash or petty bigotry and misplaced local pride.

Manchester and the surrounding area don't have these hang-ups. They just want a nice place to live and work, and are quite happy for Manchester to be the focal point of it.

Mancs are still of shower of inbred, hard-faced remnants of afterbirth with no sense of humour at all. They don't deserve their nice city.

But we, sadly, deserve ours.......

gordon

The right-wing press have had a field day as Gordon Brown privately called a bigoted pensioner a "bigot".

Yes, it was a huge gaffe on Brown's part, and some commentators feel he's committed political suicide. However, I believe that this mistake has been the breath of fresh air this election campaign's been waiting for. More often than not, the three main contenders come across as faceless, insincere wannabes (particularly Cameron). But for a brief moment there, Gordon showed the honest face of pressurised politics. He showed a human side to the world that neither Clegg nor Cameron would ever dare portray.

With Brown, he looks so uncomfortable putting on a happy face for the cameras. One gets the feeling he's rather be in a stuffy old office working on Labour policy, than out and about meeting voters. So it does seem odd that he was desperate to get the top job.

As he says so himself, "you might not like me, but I can get the job done". And so far, I think he's done well. His entire career does not deserve to be tarnished and finished by a chance encounter with a racist old woman.

Next Thursday, vote Labour.

exchange

The train enthusiast in me came out today as I followed the old route into the defunct Liverpool Exchange station. Exchange was closed in April 1977, and replaced by the underground station at nearby Moorfields. But, and the internet will prove it, there's a fascination with this previously important Liverpool landmark. At one time it was the starting point for all the city trains to Scotland, as well as catering for the local services to Southport, Ormskirk, and journeys to both Bolton and Manchester via Kirkby.

When I was very small, I remember very clearly getting a train from Waterloo to Exchange. Would you believe it was my 6th birthday, and as a treat my folks took me into town. Probably to see those water buckets!!! But it was a very grey and miserable day, weather-wise that is. Exchange seemed cavernous, but its' size lent weight to its' importance. Sadly, I wasn't to know of the disrepair of the place, being so close to closure. Only three platforms from the original eight remained in use, and most of the building had already made way to car-parking.

Exchange was mostly demolished, but tantalising clues remain that a great railway station was here, as my pics hope to show.

Below is a current map of the locality, and I've scruffily added what used to be the railway line approach to Exchange and the extent of the old structure.

Below is the start of the split between the old system and the current on at Glegg Street. The green bridge is part of the original approach to Exchange.

A little further down, the split is quite clearly seen at Stone Street.....

Then at Whitley Street, the embankment becomes completely separate from the line heading towards Moorfields Underground......

A touch further on at Little Howard Street......

Seen at the corner of Chadwick Street facing towards Exchange, the embankment has been completely demolished for about 400 yards, letting small business units and more car parking take its' place. The current railway line is seen nearby. Note just beyond that wall, deep below ground is the Kingsway Tunnel to Wallasey.......

At the northern end of Pall Mall, just before the junction with Leeds Street, a few of the existing pillars of the demolished elevated section are still with us......

Crossing Leeds Street on the southern part of Pall Mall, the embankment of the old line still exists for the last few hundred yards of transit to Exchange.....

On Leeds Street, facing south, is the continuation of the elevated section of old railway bed towards Exchange.....

At the uppermost end of blocked-off section, facing north towards Leeds Street. The current Merseyrail line can just be seen to the left (surrounded by grey fencing) coming up from the underground system.....

Facing the other way round towards Exchange. A few hundred yards further on a mighty railway station once stood. The whole area is now just a car park.......

The only surviving section of platform left from Exchange station. Its' survival was ensured as it was joined onto an electricity substation that's still in use......

Mercury Court Gardens at the back of Exchange Station Buildings. Once this was a busy thoroughfare with taxi-ranks, ticket offices, newsagents and a Heel Bar, not to mention lots and lots of waiting trains........

And the front of Exchange, restored to all its' previous glory.......

A commemoration plaque to John Pearson, the brains behind the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, of which Exchange was such a proud part.

So there you have it. History cannot only be informative, but quite boring too.

Well, I enjoyed it!

why

Erm..........El Nino? Why?????????????????

interest

Went around town today, snapping anything of interest. And, as you all know, what interests me very rarely interests anyone else.

But, wait a minute. Below is a pic of the only place in Liverpool you can't be arrested at. I'm serious too. That circular stone is a marker for the end of limits for an old borough market. If a person stole from the market and reached this point, the law couldn't arrest them. And apparently, this by-law still hasn't been abolished.

So if you fancy a bit of fire-bombing, shooting or any other anti-social and illegal activity, just do your business, then stand on this stone and the police can't touch you. The silly thing is, the stone is right in the centre of the carriageway on Castle Street, so you'll probably get run over first!

Further on down at the Pier Head was ex-Merseybus MCW Metrobus 815, now operating one of the open-top tours around the city centre. Sold very prematurely by Arriva......

A few yards away is part of the new canal, with one of the new buildings for the revamped Museum behind it. It all looks very pretty, but I'm not entirely convinced by this canal business.

I don't need to tell you what the below pic is......

But below is a personal favourite of mine from childhood. The water-bucket installation on Brunswick Street has been in and out of use for years. Basically the buckets fill up, then topple over into the buckets below, and they do the same, etc.... The whole fun of it was guessing which one would empty first. Sadly, today it wasn't working, but when I was a kid this was the best free entertainment in Liverpool. Mum would take me and Mick here, and she could just sit back while we watched on in wonder.

serendipity

A wonderful piece of serendipity occurred today when I came across an old friend, under a different guise, on the river. "T Rex" used to be "Dawn Merchant" - one of the two ships (along with "Brave Merchant") that I used to use almost weekly between Liverpool and Ireland.

I loved these ships. I always used to get the overnight ferry, but very rarely booked a cabin. Instead, I used to curl up under a luggage rack in one of deck lounges. I always remember the night when snug and gently dozing off, the vibration of the engines silenced - they'd broken down somewhere off the coast of Anglesey. The ship anchored whilst repairs were made, and thankfully they got the ship running again.

The Irish Sea could be very rough. One night there were 30/40 foot waves coming over the front of the ship - it was fantastic! I'd gotten my sea-legs by this time, so seasickness didn't affect me. Instead, I went out on deck on a part of the ship that was pretty much in the centre of the boat. Even though I was swamped with sea-spray and howling winds, it was fairly calm beneath my feet on deck, like being in the eye of the hurricane.

I assume "T Rex" is covering either the Dublin or Belfast sailings, and it's a shame I haven't the time to do a trip on this fantastic boat for old time's sake!

shame

Taken from Liverpool City Council's website.......

Flying the flag

Liverpool is helping to fly the flag for St George.

Oh bollocks.......

The city will be putting up flags along certain main routes from Monday 19 April to help people celebrate England's patron saint.

Scores of specially prepared and safe St George's Cross flags will be put up on lampposts along: County Road/Walton Road/Stanley Road; Priory Road; Everton Road/Heyworth Street and West Derby Road.

The City Council must've been on a fact-finding mission up Belfast's Shankill Road? I thought my city was done with this sectarian shit.......

Liverpool's Lord Mayor Councillor Mike Storey, who is hosting a special St George's Day event at St George's Hall, said: "This year we want to celebrate St George's Day in style. We are having a huge event on the 23rd and thought the flags would help people get into the St George's Day spirit.

"In Liverpool we have amazingly diverse communities which helps make our city the wonderful place it is. St George's Day is an opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate our allegiance to our fantastic city and our country and embrace the shared values that make us great."

The beauty of Liverpool is it can't be categorised as a true English city! But Liverpool can be English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Chinese, Somalian or none of those if it wants to be. We're all here in spite of our ethnicity, or because of it. Liverpool's never been one to sit on the fence.

The City Council is advising residents not to put their own flags on lampposts as in the past these have become detached and posed a safety hazard. Unauthorised flags which are put up in public areas could be removed by the council if they are deemed hazardous.

Well apart from the last paragraph, which is the only bit of sense in the entire piece, me thinks this whole exercise is a return to the bad old days of appeasing the Orange Order.

Shame on the city council!

Mum

I took this pic of Mum round at her flat last week. As you can imagine, she doesn't like it. But I beg to differ. Does she look anywhere near her 62 years? Nope, I didn't think so either!

But in the spirit of all things to do with my family, I've titled this photograph "Next Stop - Sheltered Accommodation"

ecumenical

My travels took an ecumenical turn when I visited both the Protestant and Catholic cathedrals in my city yesterday. Now I'm not particularly religious, but both buildings are magnificent and well worth mooching around in.

And below is a video I took of the cavernous insides of both cathedrals, complete with what I'd really like to do in a House Of God!

aaron

Me, Bethany, Aaron and Jayne at the Nag's Head pub in Thornton celebrating Aaron's 13th birthday.

Yes, I know, he looks 18, but you know about kids growing up so quickly......

bastards

Thank god this pair of bastards have finally got the message and are selling up. They've released financial and operational control of my club over to steadier hands, and now are sitting around waiting for a buyer.

I suspect they'll have a long wait. Just because a "party" may be interested by buying a share in Liverpool Football Club doesn't necessarily mean they're raring to go with financial backing for the manager from the word "go".

This is gonna run and run before Yanks piss off back to America.

And I for one want due process on our next owner. The Americans were the worst kind of money-grabbing capitalists in the world. They conned their way into my club. All they could see was the lucrative money from the Premiership and European Cup, and they lied hand-over-fist to get their grubby mitts on it.

Maybe this season is a blessing in disguise, because we've played so badly we've neither had a look in on the league or Europe - failing to access these revenues in the process, and shown the Americans a way out by default?

Don't come back now? Y'hear?

rock

Very occasionally, I feel like the responsible adult that I should be, and offer advice to younger people on a variety of different matters. Not that I know anything about anything, but I would like to think my age counts for something.

Well, as you can imagine, the subject of what's right and wrong with Rock is very close to my heart. Aaron constantly asks me would I go and see so-and-so? Nine times out of ten I answer the negative, and the other night I got on my soap box and delivered an oration more aimed at reinforcing my own view, rather than dumbfound a 12 year old. Which I probably did.

Here's the craic........

If a person, or persons, go and see a"rock concert" and spend the night cheering, singing, whistling or filming the proceedings on their mobile phone, and then come out of venue saying to each other, "that was really good, I was really impressed by them. Where did we leave the car/where do we get a taxi/Has the last bus gone, etc," then they deserve to have their remaining brain cells removed, to be replaced by a rotting cabbage, because that's all they're fit for. Rant, rant, rant.......

The idea of going to see an artist perform is come away from the show spiritually and emotionally uplifted. Not just for that night, but as a life-changing experience.

Too many people go to gigs just as an escape from their problems for a couple of hours. And before I'm accused of being hard on them, let's spare a major thought for the artist performing. Because all they care about is getting paid, and accruing more money than is humanly needed to live comfortably on.

The last proper gig I went to was in Manchester back in 2003, where Def Leppard played. They were dreadful. They were going through the motions - there was no heart or soul to anything they did. Even the sound was muddy and bass heavy, seemingly they cared not a jot for anything other than their already inflated bank balances.

The fact that I was going through some major personal problems at that time didn't help matters, but I came away from there utterly dispirited and dejected. What had happened to the joy? Leppard had the world at their feet not long before and blew it. They had the chance to change the world with Rock. But no. Nowadays, the band while away their time in America playing at State fairs - so utterly pathetic.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of U2 as a band with the necessary ambition and the songs to bring life-altering experiences to the masses. But as long as these deadhead "fans" continue to demand this temporary solace from their daily lives, what chance have any of us got at attaining any kind of spiritual enhancement?

volcano

For the first time in many years, a major source of man-made air pollution has come to a temporary halt with the eruption of this volcano in Iceland. My heart bleeds for all the poor aircraft that can't take to the skies.

I much prefer ferries anyway!