Mission accomplished on Operation Truth

Steven Cohen was happy to pose with a big fat Cuban cigar in between his teeth a few years ago after 'his team' Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy but I highly doubt the LA-based ex-pat will be chomping on one of Havana's finest at this moment in time.

Yesterday Cohen made what he said would be the final tranmission of his radio show World Soccer Daily claiming that he was pulling the plug due to threats made against his friends and step-family by Liverpool supporters as part of an ongoing smear campaign against him.

Anyone who has kept their finger on the pulse with regards to Cohen's behaviour over the past five months will know that he has repeatedly smeared the name of the Liverpool supporters who were at Hillsborough 20 years ago and will no doubt continue to do so. It is also worth mentioning that Nick Geber, WSD's majority shareholder and a Liverpool fan to boot, pulled the show because he was sick of the constant investigations of Cohen by the FBI following serious threats made against Anthony Ananins, a key member of the US-based boycott against Cohen.

Cohen in turn has claimed that he has received anti-Semitic emails and death threats but has failed to supply information of these alleged threats to the LAPD and the FBI which casts further doubt over his claims.

For the time being the hate spewer and his Glaswegian lapdog have stepped out of the public limelight. I have no doubt that they will return and probably reference the turblent five months they have had to endure because of the ill-informed and downright disrespectful comments but as long as they don't make those same mistakes there will be no case to answer and no boycotts to resume.

The memories of the 96 who lost their lives has been preserved after Cohen's slurs on their names and credit has to go to everyone connected to the campaign both here and in the States, particularly Tony, Conor Brennan and Mel Abshier. This campaign was set up in order to gain some justice for the 96 who were slandered by Steven Cohen and his band of merry men at WSD and justice, in some form at least, has prevailed.

RIP 96

You'll Never Walk Alone

Sir Obsessed strikes again

It's such a shame that after yesterday's obituary for a gentleman of the game, I am having to write about another footballing knight but not one that is even fit to lace the boots of the late, great Sir Bobby Robson.

Alex Ferguson's hatred of all things Liverpool FC has surfaced yet again, over two decades after he famously declared that he wanted to knock the Anfield outfit "off their f*****g perch". Ferguson's ramblings against Liverpool have continued since that interview and Kenny Dalglish, the then Reds manager, saw right through them and once remarked: "You might as well talk to my baby daughter. You'll get more sense out of her".

So what has bee is in Sir Alex's bonnet this time I hear you ask? The ill treatment of Michael Owen during his time on Merseyside is the answer. Unless you have been in solitary confinement you will know that little Michael joined the ranks at Old Trafford from Newcastle. Apparently fulfilling his meagre ambition of securing a place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup is a bigger priority than showing a little respect to the club where he was given his lucky break by joining one of their most bitter rivals. Despite securing the ex-Liverpool hitman on a free transfer, Fergie decided to have a little rant at Owen's former employers over forcing the then youngster to over-exert himself.

“We had Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis playing in that England Under-20 squad in Malaysia in 1997 and when they came back we gave them six weeks off," the United boss said yesterday.

“But Michael went straight into the Liverpool first team then a year later was playing in the World Cup for England. That was unfair to a young player to have that kind of strain and intensity one summer after another.

“I wouldn’t have done that but he was such a talent that Liverpool needed him in the team and then England needed him in the World Cup.”

How could we forget Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis - two of the greatest players to ever make the grade at Old Trafford with 32 senior appearances between them? What a mark of a man that Curtis boasts a CV which shows he has played for 12 clubs in as many years and is currently flying high with League Two heavyweights Northampton Town. And who could forget the legendary out-of-contract defender Wallwork who was banned from the game for three years for attacking a Belgian referee when on loan at Royal Antwerp.

Ferguson and Benitez went head-to-head in a war of words last season and despite United lifting the title, the Spaniard had clearly rattled his opposite number. His verbal dressing down of Ferguson was responded to with venom and fury by Ferguson who tried to verbally attack the Reds' manager repeatedly throughout the latter stages of the season. Benitez meanwhile refused to fuel the fire of this one-sided war of words and focused on a push for the title that unfortunately fell short come May.

With the new season a fortnight away, it appears that Ferguson has set out his stall for a repeat of his off-field antics from the previous campaign and has even included United's local rivals - the now megabucks Manchester City - into proceedings but Liverpool are still the priority.

Such was Ferguson's obsession with life at Anfield last season that one Kopite penned a witty poem about him called 'Sir Obsessed'. Here are just some extracts from it; also a fitting way to finish this piece.

Just lie back Mr Ferguson;
you’re frothing at the mouth.
I’m ordering a straightjacket,
to try and sort you out”

You’re suffering from delusion,
born from real fear.
Benitez has you running scared.
Your time is finally near

Unfortunately Mr Ferguson,
your heading for a fall.
Benitez has higher intelligence
your brain is far too small.

You’re suffering from paranoia
brought about by stress
there’s no medical terminology
apart from you’re obsessed.