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Welcome to the first ever edition of Anfield Roar – Liverpool FC’s first and only digital fanzine! You’ve made a great decision in buying this fanzine, and I hope that you will find it an interesting, insightful and enjoyable read! As the name suggests, Anfield Roar is aiming to be the voice of the fans, as well as being a positive support for the club. When we sent out an initial message asking for writers, we couldn’t believe the excellent response from the LFC community! We have writers with some pedigree – people who already maintain their own blogs and websites dedicated to LFC – and we have even got writers from as far away as Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand! All of our writers are die-hard LFC fans, who eat, sleep and breathe LFC – just like you. (Incidentally, we’re still after writers, if anyone would like to get involved… email us!) Being digital means that you can read us on any electronic device – which, let’s face it, is the way of the world these days. So check us out when you’re on your computer, or read us on your smartphone when you’re on the move, or tablet device, or even on your tv! And, of course, there is also the option to print it out so that you can read it the old fashioned way…! But enough about us – this is supposed to be about LFC! After a pretty dismal season of under-performance last year, it’s been a summer of change: we have a new manager, and a few new faces (both of which you can read more about in articles in this fanzine!), and everyone is quietly optimistic about the season ahead. We’ll be tracking the twists and turns of the season, and hopefully be writing about getting our hands on another trophy by the end of the season! YNWA
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Message from the Editor
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Welcome to our brand-new fanzine!
Postbox
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Fan rants and opinion
The Boss
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A closer look at the career history of new boss Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers’s Tactics
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He was praised for Swansea’s passing game last season - will he change how we play too?
Liverpool at Euro 2012
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We track the triumphs and failures of Liverpool’s players at Euro 2012
Gary's Diary
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We’ve secured the syndication rights to Gary Neville’s diary!
The Summer so Far
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Our review of the transfer activity, and who we might sign
Fabio Borini
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A closer look at our new Italian striker
Thanks Dirk
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We remember some of Dirk’s key moments
Thanks Maxi
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Goodbye and Good luck to Maxi Rodriguez
Season Preview What should we realistically expect from this season?
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New Kit
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Warrior have taken over from Adidas—have they done a good job?
American Tour
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Our pre-season tour saw some unlikely players take the plaudits...
WIN!
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Take our quiz and you might win a t-shirt!
International Fans
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Would you wake up at midnight to watch Liverpool FC? Our international fans do.
Anti-United
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Some laughs at United’s expense
Fantasy Football
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Which players are best value - and join our League!
The Month Ahead
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We preview the month’s big matches
The Kids
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We take a look at the Liverpool Academy to find out who will be the next big thing
History Lesson
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A closer look at the first league-winning Liverpool team.
Hero Hyypia
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In the first of our hero-tributes, we remember Sami Hyypia’s tough-tackling brilliance
Clear as Day What’s gone wrong with football boots!?
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On the 1st of June 2012 there was new man given the throne of Liverpool FC replacing the King himself, Kenny Daglish. Shoes that would seem hard to fill after the surprise of many fans hero being axed as top man of their beloved football club. The process was long and difficult with a lot of candidates being considered for the position. After much deliberation, thought and discussions, Brendan Rodgers would be given the position as the new man in charge. Not a house hold name that some fans were hoping for. Not quite the Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola that most fans were wishing for. Instead, a man from a sleepy town on the coastline of the Northern Ireland who had only one years experience as a manager in the Premier League with Swansea F.C (whom he took up from the Championship). Not being the household name like many of the managers he has succeeded, some fans might not know a lot about the new manager – this article aims to fill the gap. Brendan Rodgers was born in Carnlough, a small town in Northern 6
RODGERS Ireland on the 26th of January. When Brendan was young his first choice sport wasn’t always football - up until he was 13 years old he mostly played Gaelic football and Hurling - two huge sports in Ireland - but he then changed his ways and fell in love with the beautiful game – and was actually quite good at it! At the young age of 15 Rodgers signed for Irish Premier League outfit Ballymena United, making 12 first team appearances during his three years there. At 18, Brendan showed the signs of being a promising young defender and was therefore snapped up by Reading FC (a team he would come back to manage in coming years).
"All I’ll ever do is what I’ve done in every job and promise that I’ll fight for my life, for the supporters and the people of the city.” But after two years at club mostly only playing for the reserves Brendan’s playing career was cut short at the age of 20 due to a genetic knee condition. He briefly played for short spells at nonleague sides Whitney Town FC and Newbury FC before retiring fully from football altogether. Rodgers was left devastated. Being a Reading player at the time, they generously offered him a job as a youth team coach – a job in which he excelled so much that Chelsea FC invited him to become there new youth team coach under the Jose Mourinho era in 2004. Two years later Brendan would take the step up and become the reserve team manager at Chelsea. It would be on the 28th of November where Brendan Rodgers would be given his first chance as a first team manager at Championship club Watford FC. From his time at Reading and Chelsea he was already known as a manager who liked to keep possession, and for playing quick, fast moving football, and Watford hoped he could help them to develop a similar style. Rodgers did not get the romantic start he had hoped for, winning just 2 games out of his first 10 in charge and things seemed to be going bad quickly. Brendan persevered and was able to steer the
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RODGERS club to a very comfortable 13th in the league that year. At the end of a difficult season, he rejoined Reading, where he would return to become their new first team manager following the sacking of highly regarded Steve Coppell. Reading had to pay out a staggering 1 million pounds to Brendan’s former club Watford to get his services. Taking charge of the club on the 5th of June 2009, and after what seemed a promising start, Brendan was sacked after only 6 months in charge after a string of disappointing results. This was a hard time for Brendan after being sacked from a club he had worked so closely with and had a huge
Tactics? What are they?
bond with, but on the 16th of July 2010 another club came along for the still very young and promising boss: Swansea FC. In his first season in charge it proved to be the perfect match, with Rodgers able to guide Swansea to a place in the Championship play-offs after an impressive season. They won the Final in spectacular fashion with 4-2 win over none other than the team who had sacked him, Reading. Swansea would go on to have an outstanding debut season in the Premier League and Brendan Rodgers received praise and real recognition for the style of play he has his Swansea team played. The beautiful passing style also earned him a ‘Manager of the month’ award in January, after beating Arsenal 3-2 away and holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at home in the same month. He arrives with good pedigree, likes football to be played with style, and seems to be a safe pair of hands for the club going forwards. Well done to whoever overlooked Guardiola and Mourinho! Expertly written by: Chris Mullan Any feedback you want to give should be sent to us at our email address - editor@anfieldroar.com
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