Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[SharkSkin-Man]

Yeah, highest ever points tally for 2nd place in the English top division afaik.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I can't see how you can call it the poorest team since Souness?

You spout absolute bollocks sir.

Honestly, What do you expect?

Team Andromeda knows nothing about Football.

[Team Andromeda]

I can't see how you can call it the poorest team since Souness? We challenged for honours last season and we didn't win, but it's the closest we've been in a long time, most goals scored, lowest games lost, best goal difference.

Highest position since 2001/02, highest season points tally since the P'ship began oh and higher than when we last won the league.



The 250mil or however much money that has been spent has been used trying to sort out the squad over the last 5 or so years, it's only since we've increased our calibre i.e 2005 that we've been able to attract players such as Torres- he wouldn't have signed if Rafa wasn't here. We may still be weak in areas but i'm happier watching this current crop of players than i have been in previous years.

Here we go again from the Faithful, Who cares about 2nd Place , the closest we've ever come to Lifting the Premiership, Newcastle fans could say that in 1996 , Chelsea fans could say they were 1 Penalty away from lifting The Champions league , Point is you didn't win it .
I look at the bench and see little in players that can change games , and the full Team squad isn't the greatest imo . As for Torres, that was a good buy , but we could all list managers that made some great buys, look at Thierry Henry for example .

If Liverpool win it , I'll be Happy , its not the Club or the fans I have a problem , its with Rafa . I don't think he's up to the task , not to mention bringing in poor players , with the likes of Beach Boy , Ngog and a host of other pit part players
But all means hit back (childish insults and all ) I remember being told by some of the faith that old Maradona new what he was doing as a Manager , and the Liverpool faithful have the cheek to make fun , of my Football knowledge.

We see , come the end of the Season though , if Rafa can deliver , he did say give him 5 years ?

[Scythe]

Who would you have instead of Rafa?

Alonso, Arbeloa, Torres, Mascherano, Skrtel, Reina, Agger, Kuyt, Aurelio etc. are all 1st class signings, Babel, Lucas, Riera and a couple of others on paper could be, but I concede still have to prove themselves.

Earlier signings were squad players generally and cash has always been an issue for us, we haven't competed with the Utd. Chelsea, Spurs financially for some time.

As for the Souness comment, thats plainly ridiculous and he is still responsible in my eyes for our downfall in recent years....they were dark days!

I think the sea change Rafa has brought to Anfield (mentality/professionalism) over the time he has been there is nothing short of amazing (although Houllier but some of the blocks in place). And he is trying to build for the future with many youth signings...

Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't think Rafa knew the enormity of the task before he signed for us (hence the five year quote).

Unfortunately, I can see G & H being the real enemy within and a major stumbling block to the 'rafa-lution' in the mid term, if this transfer window is anything to go by and their history of write-off sporting ventures.

At this moment in time there is no one I would sooner have as our manager(honestly!).

[Team Andromeda]

Who would you have instead of Rafa?

Alonso, Arbeloa, Torres, Mascherano, Skrtel, Reina, Agger, Kuyt, Aurelio etc. are all 1st class signings, Babel, Lucas, Riera and a couple of others on paper could be, but I concede still have to prove themselves.

Earlier signings were squad players generally and cash has always been an issue for us, we haven't competed with the Utd. Chelsea, Spurs financially for some time.

As for the Souness comment, thats plainly ridiculous and he is still responsible in my eyes for our downfall in recent years....they were dark days!

I think the sea change Rafa has brought to Anfield (mentality/professionalism) over the time he has been there is nothing short of amazing (although Houllier but some of the blocks in place). And he is trying to build for the future with many youth signings...

Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't think Rafa knew the enormity of the task before he signed for us (hence the five year quote).

Unfortunately, I can see G & H being the real enemy within and a major stumbling block to the 'rafa-lution' in the mid term, if this transfer window is anything to go by and their history of write-off sporting ventures.

At this moment in time there is no one I would sooner have as our manager(honestly!).

1st off thanks for the decent reply , at least you're having a debate and asking decent questions , instead of the silly insults .

No doubt you'll laugh , but I would have loved to seen Harry get his chance at a Club like Liverpool , but then again I also would loved to have seen Harry get the England Job. The day Chelsea were silly enough to get rid of the Jose Mourinho, was the moment Liverpool should have swooped into action and got him .

As for Money , I don't really think that been the problem (well this year it has , I'll admit) but Houllier (and I agree he did a lot of Good) and Rafa have gone through millions and millions .
Liverpool Fans may go on about Man Utd , but you've got to face up to facts , and that they've been so successful in the Premiership , that's allowed to spend big, and they've been better at bringing in youth players , or less established players (that's gone on to bigger things) as well as expanding it ground .
Arsenal have been able to Win the Premiership on more than one occasion , and they've spent nothing like the Man Utd , and as Newcastle and Leeds will tell you, spending Big doesn't always help .

I've honest to GOD , no issue with the Club or the Fans . I really would like to see Liverpool do it , but I just dislike and don't rate Rafa .
And one last think , I think both Liverpool and Everton should grown up and see sense ,and that's to ground share .
If you want a new Stadium , not at the expense of lack of fund for the main Squad

[Scythe]

As for Money , I don't really think that been the problem[/QUOTE]

But it has though, I agree re: utd that they have built up their reserves through success but I liken them to the Beatles in the sense they were in the right place at the right time when the huge amounts of TV revenue started pouring in.

When your aiming for the top the difference in spending per player is very apparent I'm sure I don't need to mention Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Hargreaves etc as all being well above our spending power at the time (up until Monster and Torres). This is a key issue and one which makes me believe in rafas abilities even more.

I concede Arsenal have been frugal and been successful (although not lately) but on the whole its no suprise Chelsea & Utd have been consistently the watermark for every one else over the last 5 seasons or so.

The problem for Liverpool is expectation and one Rafa will never get away from but the way he has taken to the task should be commended.

Harry> nope can't have that, good manager but not liverpool standard
Mourhinio> he would have walked out long ago, no way he would have gone through what Rafa has.

Look no ones perfect and Rafa has made mistakes with signings and tactics but to come to the most competitive league in the world and slowly make the impression and progress he has, dealing with internal politics that we can only guess at, taking it on the chin for his players, his love for Liverpool as a city (likens to Valencia) and good humour and trying to acheive a 'dynasty' rather than a one season wonder should be commended...

[Team Andromeda]

As for Money , I don't really think that been the problem

But it has though, I agree re: utd that they have built up their reserves through success but I liken them to the Beatles in the sense they were in the right place at the right time when the huge amounts of TV revenue started pouring in.

[/QUOTE]

But you in the 80's Liverpool were at the top of the Pile , and could afford to attract and get in the Big name players , than a lot of Clubs inthe old 1st Division couldn't afford to keep up with . It goes rounds in circles doesn't it . And when you win the Title as often as Man Utd , you going to have a little bit more Cash , its stands to reason

Harry> nope can't have that, good manager but not liverpool standard

Its hard to tell , as Harry never been given a established top 4 side , to Manage . What he has proven , is even when money tight , he can pick up bargains.

Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Hargreaves etc

You say that when Liverpool have spent 17 Million on one defender , 24 Million on one striker. The money been there , in a lot of cases .
Hell even Leeds could spend massive on Rio and Co, and a fat lot of good it did them . There's more to the wait , than Money alone .

Look no ones perfect and Rafa has made mistakes with signings and tactics but to come to the most competitive league in the world and slowly make the impression and progress he has,

I think Houllier did a lot to put thinks right after ****ness almost killed Liverpool . It's just up for debate , if Rafa can take you past the final leg. I don;t think he can myself , , 1 up front , Zonal marking and Subs at Trade Mark 70 Min's +, just doesn't inspire the conference that he can , much less some of his buys .
And its not like he been close to walking out . Missing out on Jose Mourinho was a mistake in my book


Oh and Yeah Man City and Chelsea fans might rub it in peoples faces , about their pile of cash , inthe Owners bank . I think in 10 years time , both Clubs will be ****ed , when their respective owners have had their Fun

[Steakman]

I doubt Mourinho would have come to Liverpool and i doubt Liverpool fans would have welcomed him at that point, i certainly wouldn't have done.

His defensive style at times used to bore me to tears, i'd rather watch attacking football probably even at the expense of success!

Man U regularly do spend multi million pounds on 1 player more than we do so it is a factor. In previous seasons we've prob spent a similar amount of money but on multiple positions therefore not all of the players signed are going to set the world alight.

If Fegurson hadn't been given a chance to build at the start of his Man U career ( i am not suggesting for a second here that i expect Rafa to be more successful than Fergie in his reign at Liverpool, though it would be nice ) and they had sacked him after a poor season ( think they may have came 10th at one point?? ) then where might they be now, who knows. Teams need to build consistency, Rafa has done a good job considering the competition and i hope he stays many more years.

I also believe he's more than capable to do the job, who would have thought he would have won la liga twice in 3 seasons in a division majorly dominated by 2 great clubs.

[teenagewasteland]

A very unconvincing win tonight but a win none the less. Disappointed to see Stevie G playing so deep. Torres is also looking a bit lacklustre at the moment. I know he set up the goal and he ran around but I think he's looking jaded. Mmm... Babel came on and did well which was good to see as well.

[Supergoal]

Knackered after watching that as it was shown at 3:30am!
Committed to the cause I'd say. Go to go to work soon too

[Supergoal]

Great result, shocking defending. What's happened to the defence??

[hudson]

Get a man on the post just like Keegan said. But, yeah it's a sodding shambles back there.

Torres 1st goal was effin class. His header too. Brave for a big girl isn't he?

Was a good game. Thought Cole and that young lad, Hines were a handful for our defence.

Hammers played like they were playing away with that formation. Horrid, but paid the price in he end. Well done to our boys for keeping at it.

Oh, think Babel's been looking decent when he's come on in the past two games.

[Steakman]

Babels' looking a bit more lively out on the right hand side, hopefully he can get a bit more game time and prove me wrong

Still a couple of poor performances defensively though, maybe just a shaky start to the season.

[Supergoal]

I thought Babel tried when he came on but seems headless when running, unlike Torres who seems to have a purpose. The assist was worthy though. That Hines reminds me of SW Phillips at City.

The tackle by Parker was shocking.

[Adrock]

The more I watch this season the more I think Carragher is beginning to err on the wrong side of old age as a footballer. It'd be nice to see if Rafa has the balls to go with Agger + Skrtel once Agger is fully fit.

I think it could be time to start phasing Carragher out over this season.