Shelley's poem about the great king Ozymandias (Ramses II in Egyptian), reduced to a statue of broken rubble by time, seems pretty apt, especially when you consider Pepe Reina's quote from 18 months ago! By the way, is Woy being sacked this morning?
Anfield (oops, Ozymandias)
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away
Pepe Reina blasts Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez
PEPE REINA has hit out at Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez for snubbing Liverpool and opting for the riches on offer at Manchester City.
The Spanish keeper was a key part of the Reds side that finished just four points below Manchester United in the club's best Premier League season for years.
But instead of adding to the squad over the summer, Reina has so far seen two transfer targets turn down the chance of a move to Anfield and could also see team-mates like Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano leave Liverpool in search of moves abroad.
Barry looked a certainty to arrive on Merseyside in the close season after missing out on a move from Aston Villa 12 months ago.
But City seized the opportunity to snatch the player by offering him £120,000 a week before Liverpool had a chance to put in place the finance to sign him.
Tevez has been offered £140,000 a week to move to Eastlands after failing to agree a deal to extend his career at Old Trafford.
Liverpool also thought they were in pole position to land the Argentine by offering him Champions League football. Instead, the pair look to have chosen the money available at City. And Reina believes they should have prioritised their prospects of achievement above their wages.
He said: "Apparently, they moved for the money. That is their decision but I also think it is their problem if they cannot see that Liverpool is a bigger club.
"It's up to them what they do but let me tell them that I am very proud to play for Liverpool. We can offer European football and I think that should have been a consideration for them.
"Everybody knows what it is to play for Liverpool. It's a pleasure and a tremendous honour. I am surprised they didn't consider these things. Some things in a player's career should be more important than money."
...................................................
Even so, Reina, 26, insists Liverpool will be strong enough come the start of the season.
He said: "At Liverpool, you have to be fighting for the title and that's what we will be doing this year.
"We are involved in four competitions and just targeting one of them is not enough. The big one of the Premier League would definitely be best.
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