MP Red - Liverpool F.C. A Liverpool-related, football podcast.

We start with a permanent personnel change which will change MP Red. And then onto Liverpool's season in miniature and writ large. Simon being rather unimpressed with more than a few team performances and player performances. Some usual suspects but there are kudos also. Want to hear a funny story about the Anfield scoreboard? Simon was on the Kop. Simon with a withering view of Christian Purslow's meeting with the SOS. The Panel examines the hows and whys and perhaps even the ifs of corruption of in the game in England. They get really ripped into the unsavory side of the game with referring appointments, betting syndicates taking advantage of weak willed administrators and a few rants or two. And we love our rants around here. And Conor enjoys his closings, so don't get in his way. But things were getting a bit ripe in the booth. How come? Dion Fanning with an serious critique of the hypocrisy of English press and the weakness of Fabio Capello as they pertain to the John Terry affair. Hypocrisy to the nth and a Phillip Roth reference. Scouse Paul takes us back to Liverpool's first FA Cup final of the 70s and Matt Busby. The Feedback section goes on with some marvellous footballing insights and memories. Actually, maybe not. What to think about a stroppy Gerrard? And the move for Benitez' job. Real or imagined? Or just special? Just wait til you hear what the Brainstrust thinks. Oh, and we spend a lot of time telling everyone how great we are. MP Red – a service to mankind greater than beer. Oops! Was that our outside voice?

Jan sits down with Conor and Simon and looks back at his playing career and also discusses the present side and gives us his take on Rafael Benitez. He starts with his memories of his early days at Ajax, how he nearly missed signing for Liverpool. How he got on with Joe Fagan, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. Memories of the 1986 season, double winners. What about the 1986 FA Cup Final? Jan with his take on what happened at Heysel and its aftermath. He has a lot to say about Graeme Souness and he was not always impressed, far from it. Players signed by Souness who were not good enough to play for Liverpool? Listen to the list. Touching and tearful memories of Hillsborough and the aftermath and how it cemented his love of Liverpool the city. A top notch interview with one of Liverpool's greatest servants. MP Red – if it was any better, we'd be getting paid for it!

The rest of the interview with Jan Molby. He's not available for Believe It, Believe It Not or Believe it Maybe where Simon and Conor discuss frozen iguanas and possible drunken emails from Dallas at 4AM. But Simon has a theory that those emails might not have been the result of beer but of something else. And they also manage to discuss Liverpool's games. Guess who Simon thinks should be sold? It's not whom you might think. Definitely not. The end of Babel? Rodriguez in? The Jan Molby interview continues with some really interesting stories and insights. He has a lot to say about Graeme Souness and he wasn't always impressed, far from it. Players signed who were not good enough to play for Liverpool? Listen to the list. Touching and tearful memories of Hillsborough and the aftermath and how it cemented his love of Liverpool the city. And he finishes with his take on Rafael Benitez. Dion Fanning joins us for A Kick In The Grass with some behind the scenes tales from Paris and Dublin. What was the point of Ireland being the 33rd team? Not what you'd think. And does anyone love Blatter? Scouse Paul takes us on a trip to Manchester in the early 70s with kind stories of the natives. Maybe. And even the opposition. The feedback finds Simon upset that his ego has yet to be stroked. But no one's making any offers in the booth. Discussion of a huge inbox concerning Part I of the Molby interview. And the gutter press. And a Shakespeare and Faulkner, for the season that's in it. Will the guys have to dress up and wear make-up? Perish the thought. And what happens when you clog spark on the pavement? MP Red – it's on the approved list to save your soul and to better this world.

Just in time for Christmas, Jan Molby sits in with the gang Believe it, Believe it Not or Believe it Maybe. What's his opinion of the team's plight? Jan with his take on referees and who's to blame for the run of form that sees Liverpool out of the reckoning Europe and the Premier League? Simon hugely unimpressed with Howard Webb – why? Jan sits down with Conor and Simon for the first part of a two part interview looking back at his time with Liverpool and giving us his thoughts about the present side. His early days at Ajax, how he nearly missed signing for Liverpool. How he got on with Joe Fagan, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. Memories of the 1986 season, double winners. What about the 1986 FA Cup Final? Jan with his take on what happened at Heysel and its aftermath. Harry Indridason, our Icelandic correspondent takes a look how the financial crisis has affected the game and teams. Perhaps hope for Liverpool because of this? Or are they in serious trouble? Who will be the next team pull a Leeds? Scouse Paul takes a slightly different trip this time out with a look back at his journey with the SOS. And we finish with your feedback. Christian Purslow, Steven Gerrard, court cases, Aquilani and the World Cup. It's all there. MP Red – in all honesty, will you hear anything more insightful or important this Christmas?

What to do and what to say? We have Simon's take on the games played since the last episode with some insightful and provocative reasons for the collapse? Benitez? Yes, but not as much as you'd think. A midfielder or two and a defender. A careful analysis of the win over United. And what aboout new transfers? The Panel tries to explain why Liverpool have hit the downward trajectory and a few names are named and Simon takes no prisoners. Carragher? But again not for the reasons you'd think. A good discussion that does go a long way to explaining the failing of Liverpool and no-one is spared. Michael Henderson comes on to discuss his book, 50 People Who Fouled Up Football. An interesting selection and he's made justify why a great Liverpool manager made his list and a dour Scot didn't. Scouse Paul finishes up his travel in the USA with tales of too much beer (never!) and his daughter being his chaperone. Feedback is very good, with beachballs, Voronin, Blue Square League and a theory about gambling influencing injury time goals which unfortunately makes sense. MP Red – this one goes on way to long. A medal for everyone who hears it out to the very end, dulcet tones and all.

Simon returns and he's in rare form with a rant or three. How to explain beating Hull 6-1 and losing 2-0 to Fiorentina? And little mercy for George Gillett who is accused of being more than economical with the truth. Are Voronin and Ngog up to be the shadow strikers? The Panel discusses referees and how they get stuff wrong so often? Do the rules need to be changed? What about all that extra time at Old Trafford? An interesting take on the culture surrounding referees and why all is not as it seems with them. And what's this about paving Abramovich's driveway? Dion Fanning casts a rather cold eye on Giovanni Trapattoni's management of the Republic of Ireland side in light of his treatment of Andy Reid? And what happens when Gazzetta della Sport meets Andy Reid's head? Scouse Paul visited the USA in 2004, you know. The beer flowed, the heads hurt and there was a large contingent of Scousers. A finish with a competition for a Paul Tompkins book and the feedback where the plight of Torres and Carragher are considered. And another Simon rant. We think. MP Red – if you enjoy listening half as much as we do talking, that'll be a fair deal.

Studio access has kept us away for the opening of this season, but we 're trying. Simon has taken himself off to DC so Justin sits in to look at the opening six games of the season which already has some highs and lows. What were the Spurs and Villa games about? Be thankful for Stoke and Burnley. Standard Chartered to the rescue? Justin thinks so, but there are a few loose ends. The Panel looks at the opening to the season for everyone, but what is it you can tell from six games in the middle of September that will make you believe you know how it 'll be in May? And who 's that panelist? A return, albeit brief, of an old friend. Michael Henderson comes along with stories of his youth and his team that are not his team anymore. Conspicuous consumption and all that. And a longing for a return to muddy pitches and all games on a Saturday. The feedback is without Conor Murphy, but for a most acceptable reason and there are a few Grahams who are annoyed or pleased with us. We 're never quite sure. And we finish with a look back and explanation of all things Steven Cohen. And with that the campaign is put to bed. MP Red, it 's too inconsistent to annoy you, but you should listen anyway.

Episode 47 sees the gang in crystal ball mode trying to divine what will happen between now and next May. Simon gone to Maine so Justin sits in and in keeping with the vacation motif, Scouse Paul has gone on his travels in search of more material. A pre-season which doesn't settle too many nerves and asks a few questions, an examination of the loss of Alonso and the gain of Aquilani and Justin gets his teeth into serious analytical mode explaining what it is that Liverpool just might need. Michael Henderson joins for an idiosyncratic look at the season where he threatened to talk about Portsmouth, but didn't and expounded at length about Manchester City. And who's the greatest badge kisser of all? Michael knows. The Panel gets stuck into pre-season mode – about time this season began, no? Who will drop out of the top 4 and why? Who will replace them? Who will be relegated? Will there be another English triumvirate in the Champions' League semis? And will Liverpool win number 20? Oh, the expectation! We finish with the feedback which is not plentiful due to our long sojourn but we did cover New Zealand and Ullapool, and a discussion on the Steven Cohen Boycott campaign. At long last time to go, no, Mr. Cohen? MP Red, if it's not always a source of contentment, you're not listening to it properly.

We're back after an absence of almost 5 months. Waaaay to long. An explanation of where we were. Simon is back in the analyst's chair and he has lost none of his sharpeness. A quick review of the end of the season and a look at the signing of Glen Johnson. And a young French kid, Mavinga. Simon with a clever analysis of the unsettling of Mascherano and Alonso. And a follow up in the Panel with a look at clubs, agents and players who do transfer business via the media. What to do about agents who leak to the press to engineer a move for their clients and 15% for them? Should Real Madrdi have to pay any fine for their two year courtship and unsettling of Ronaldo? How much are journalists to blame? Or is it the 24 hours news cycle and round the clock TV coverage? A withering assessment of the Ronaldo to Real move and slightly less so about some of the listeners and participants. Dion Fanning is very impressed with Benitez' outburst against Ferguson in Melwood last January and believes it's the underpinning of the Michael Owen to United move. And a bit of Seinfeld thrown in for good measure. All the cultural touchstones here! Scouse Paul treats us to a second trip to Madrid in one season. Never been there before, now twice in a season. When you're away for 5 months, the feedback goes a little stale and diminishes to zero. So an update on the LFCNY boycott of Steven Cohen and his lies and hate against the 96 dead and Liverpool fans in general. MP Red – the world survived without us and that's probably not fair.

A look at too many draws against a team that wears blue. Simon sits this one out so Justin, our intrepid quasi-anorak comes into the booth to run the rule over a few games. Robbie Keane? Well, half of MP Red was recorded when he was a Liverpool player and the other half when he was a Spurs player. So we're really happy about that because we sound as if we have less of a clue than usual. Groundhog Day for all these 1-1 draws and then 2-0 Chelsea and all is right with the Liverpool ship again. Until the next game. In lieu of the Panel discussion, we have an interview with former Liverpool captain, Jimmy Melia. Stories about Shankly, Liddle, Cally, Roger and all the boys. And a league title in '64 after 17 years. Michael Henderson is variously amused and not impressed by the antics of Benitez. He doesn't deny the legitimacy of Liverpool's title aspirations, but…….Scouse Paul comes to us in somber mood with a remembrance of a Liverpudlian who did so much to expedite his travels. And the feedback. The feedback recorded before Keane was transferred. See how good these guys were with their predictions and prognostications. And there's no cricket. MP Red – between the predictions and prognostications, we know everything.

A very busy and interesting Christmas period for nearly every team. Some more than others and a lot of off-field activity to boot. Simon, after a very celebratory Christmas returns to the analyst's chair and is much impressed with some of the goals Liverpool scored. Who's the only keeper that could manage with Torres and Gerrard, flying solo, bearing down on goal? An explanation as to why Carragher makes not a great right back. A return for a Liverpool old boy means the demise of Babel? Maybe. Simon well impressed with Bentiez' broadside and in impressed with is integrity. A good rant against Ferguson. The Panel considers what has happened over the Christmas and the Gerrard imbroglio in Southport is examined. Is Tevez disrupting Manchester United? Simon opens his account for the year with a (another) superb rant and this one is still in the United vein. A club which shouldn't be allowed exist, apparently. Jay Mwamba continues the Panel's examination of what has been happening at Chelsea in a piece that won't bring much comfort or joy to Chelsea fans. Scouse Paul takes us back to dreaded white Armani suits and a ritual exorcism performed in a pub if you can believe it. A thin in-box leads to yet another cricket discussion – someone should remind these guys they're doing a football podcast. A classy reply from the man who kicked off the whole Scouse Paul discussion and the guys pass a motion of censure. MP Red – better than any NewYear's resolution and easier to maintain.

'Tis the time of the strange and the new. And just in time for Christmas. An analyst's chair with two occupants but not at the same time. Simon with an explanation of a type for what's happening with Robbie Keane and Danny Agger. What is Benitez up to? Respect for Hull, for whom else? A change of analyst's for the Panel discussion, but that's not the biggest change. A non-believer gets into the booth for the first time ever with some interesting things to say about Liverpool and Chelsea. Funny how United are not much liked. Gallas, a surprise? Yes, but not why you'd think. Surprise teams, surprise players, surprising analyst surprising guest. Yep, the Panel is a surprise, surprisingly enough. A new voice in A Kick In The Grass, all the way from Iceland. Harry Idridason examines why there are fewer Scandinavians, Icelanders specifically, in the Premier League and why this might actually be a good thing for those countries. Despite appearances, not all Scandinavians like each other. Scouse Paul with a tale of Bah! Humbug! For the season that's in it. Don't get too close to your heroes. And the feedback sees cricket being discussed. Of course it does, MP Red is only a football podcast after all. And Simon worried about public monuments and the molestation of God-fearing citizens. And wonders about traveling to Middlesbrough and doesn't remember White Hart Lane too fondly either. Medieval sieges also considered. And being Irish at football grounds in London. An interesting experience. An eyebrow raising comparison of Keane to another major striker and Keane comes off rather well. Scouse Paul even writes to us. MP Red – not nearly as reviled as it would appear. And that's the real surprise!

Liverpool sitting atop the league and Simon sitting in his usual chair. A disappointing result or two, primarily at White Hart Lane, and Simon is put through his paces explaining. But he's not prone to the Messerschmitt Twitch. If you know what that is. Listen in to find out. Benitez excels with good man management by not making a substitution. The Panel discusses just what the impact of too many games can have on a player on a team. Are there too many competitions and does money rule the game too much? Any answer longer than 'yes' just might be the wrong. The Panel unimpressed with friendly internationals, but they can see the need for them also. Jay Mwamba is decidedly underwhelmed with Arsene Wenger and discusses the shock! horror! rumors that he might be on his way. An over reliance on what exactly? Scouse Paul takes us to QPR in the cup, well, not really; this time he's talking about doughnuts. Jam-filled doughnuts and herding cats. Who said his travels were all about beer and football? A lively Feedback section where praise and criticism of Scouse Paul pops up in equal measure. And also a few explanations about the trials and tribulations of producing a podcast. And that rare creature, a real live woolyback, writes with concerns and criticisms about some of the supporting cast at Anfield. But the panel are nice anyway. MP Red – unaccustomed to mediocrity, preferring only excellence. The Liverpool way.

Slightly delayed due to technical difficulties episode 41 finds Justin sitting in Simon's seat for another episode where a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge is dissected at length, especially the hard work of Kuyt and Riera. Justin with an interesting take on the position of Reina. Will he leave next summer? And what of Benitez' contract extension? The British Government as owners of Liverpool. Never! Emmmm……The Panel looks at some of the more ridiculous notions that Liverpool nearly have the championship wrapped up. In October. Equally, there is a confidence there and perhaps this team is made of sterner stuff than Liverpool teams of previous years? And which player is the missing part of the jigsaw? Justin plays Devil's Advocate as to why Liverpool will not win. Dion Fanning looks at Spurs, a team who always think they are bigger than they actually are. But at least they have a modicum of history. And a gastric manifestation of a spiritual problem? Wonderful. Are Spurs a selling club? Scouse Paul takes us to Madrid for Liverpool's recent Champion's League game with some rather unexpected results, though the beer level remains the same. And the Feedback sees Conor chastised for truncating and changing emails. And Owen and Heskey returning to Liverpool? Praise for Justin from Oregon and Niall the Chelsea fan is back with praise. MP Red – you only realize how much you miss it when we are late!

A podcast for the early autumn and Simon retains his seat in the analyst's chair. A considered look at the recent Liverpool games and maybe the Stoke game was as bad a result as it initially appeared? Simon is very impressed with the performance against our oh-so-loveable neighbors but not for the reasons you might imagine. And what a game against Manchester City. Digging deep, a harbinger for the season? Justin joins us for the Panel looking enviously at Simon's seat. A Houllier/Evans compromise is proposed. The fortunes of Liverpool in 12 games so far this season are examined with an interesting rumor or two about Alonso. After such a great start, Liverpool are still only second. Work to do? Simon tells off a few for their hysteria and despondency. And Arsenal, he doesn't like them much either. Godfrey Deeny returns in A Kick In The Grass for an examination of why Italian club sides are doing so poorly recently in Europe (hint: mismanagement and money). Scouse Paul finishes Part II of his magical mystery beer football and other tour to Amsterdam. We're surprised he remembers so much, actually. And in the Feedback, Simon still doesn't like Arsenal or Wenger and there's almost a rant. A mistake to sell Riise? Someone is quickly disabused of this notion. MP Red - the only thing in your portfolio that's worth anything anymore. Treasure it!