HOULLIER TARGETS HAMMERS PAIR Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has admitted he would love to have West Ham duo Joe Cole and Michael Carrick to spearhead his side's assault on the Premiership next season.

Houllier is hoping to build on Sunday's Worthington Cup success with further victories in the FA and UEFA Cups this season, as well as securing a place in the Champions League.

But the Frenchman knows the Anfield faithful will not be totally satisfied until the Reds have cut short Manchester United's stranglehold on the league title.

"I know Harry Redknapp would not thank me for it but I would love to have Joe Cole and Michael Carrick," Houllier told the Daily Star.

"It is important to have English players at the heart of your squad.

"I have looked at Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand in the past but they were too expensive.

"But I have splashed out more than £16million on Heskey and Barmby."

That investment has been repaid with cup glory on three fronts this season, but Houllier accepts the Premiership must remain his ultimate goal.

He added: "Winning a trophy will make these players believe they can achieve anything. It tells them we can do it, we can win trophies, we feel stronger.

"It's my job to bring the championship back to its home - Anfield. That's the ultimate goal.

"It's imperative and it's what we're planning for."

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Answers

"I know Harry Redknapp would not thank me for it" But I'll fecking say it anyway.

The FA should do something about ole goggle eyes and his transfer tactics, Hamann, Zeige, Cole, Carrick where will it stop.......Dyer??

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

This arrogant tosser will stop at nothing, and the FA or PL should take him to task to stop this naked poaching of other Club's players.

I actually now detest this classless git more than Taggart.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Merde!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Bobby Robson has said that he'd like Carrick. Is he open to the same criticism?

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Howweh Doug, what's happened to your dual standards ? You can't possibly lump us in with tasteless tossers who'd stoop to such tactics to further their ambitions. :-))

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Robson was talking about the lack of a reserve team in Keegan's days when he commented on players like Carrick slipping through the net.

Slightly different to openly coveting opposition players in the way he does. Mind you, should we expect any different from the French?

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

YBR doesn't have a track record of unsettling players he wants. The French Undertaker does. I cite Hamman, Ziege, Barmpot and Heskey, to name but four. Robson might say so because he genuinely likes a player, but knows he can't afford him. Houligan has/had the cash available and made comments rather than make an officil approach to their clubs. Its underhand and should be investigated.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

I don't know what you're all whinging about, and some of the comments aimed at Gerard seem childish. I don't think he's being underhand - if players feel unsettled by flattery of this nature then.....

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

And apparently it didn't work on Howey.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

I hope your as generous Gibbo if/when he turns his devious, unscrupulous underhandedness towards YKD in the same way he did with Barmby, Heskey, and Ziege.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Teamtalk reports:

Premier League chiefs are to meet Liverpool this week to hear their side of Christian Ziege's controversial summer move from Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough reluctantly sold the German international for £5.5 million despite receiving bids of £8million from Chelsea and Valencia, thanks to a clause in the player's contract entitling him to be sold to anyone who offered over £5million.

Middlesbrough put the clause in his contract in case he could not settle in England and wanted to return abroad, not so he could join another Premiership outfit. They claim Liverpool 'tapped' the player to find out about it, and demanded a Premier League enquiry.

PL officials are now set to meet with Ziege, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier to hear their side of the story.

It has been suggested that if Liverpool are found guilty of illegally approaching the player then they could face a possible points deduction, although a fine and compensation fee to Middlesbrough would seem more likely.

I sincerely hope Liverpool get everything that's coming to them for their disgraceful behaviour on this and several other acts of unsavoury underhandedness.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

If that's the case can't we get compensation from tem for Dudi Hamoan? After all he was worth atleast £12 million and they only gave us eight.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

I hope the FA can speak German. I'm sure most (if not all) the conversations with Ziege were conducted in that language. Not that I'm suggesting that any of Liverpool's Jormans might have had any interest in it. Just bar-room banter or discussions on the team coach.

As for Boro, I have no sympathy for the small (?) fee they received. If they were stupid enough to word the contract that way then they should get some new la(w)yers. I totally disagree with poaching other players, but if you're stupid to write a contract that says "any team who offers £5.5M" is a bit naive. Perhaps "The highest bidder, with a reserve of £5.5M" might have been a bit better?

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001