Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[Extra Terrestrial]

A brilliant couple of posts there guys.

Benitez seemed to have lost the plot yesterday but it's always easy to criticise once events have occurred.

I echo those words.

While Liverpool have had a fairly poor start to the season, I still wouldn't like to see Benitez go.

Let's just wait until the end of the season as Liverpool may do well in the Champions League once again and still manage to finish in the top four in the Premier League however, if the losing streak and bad form continues until the Christmas break, I would not argue if Benitez will be shown the door there and then.

[Supergoal]

I agree also not do anything till the end of the season, but for me, anything less than a strong title challenge is failure. That was the main aim for everyone associated with the club. 5 league defeats isn't sign of a strong challenge, injured players aside, Benitez is the one who has built the current squad so any shortcomings have to fall at him. Do we have one of the best squads in the league? No. Even Spurs and Man City have a better squad.
We have a great first 11 but injuries and suspensions are to be expected. It can't be used as an excuse.

[Adrock]

I'd have to double check my figures but I'm quite sure Spurs and Man City have outspent Liverpool in recent years. Its why their squad is stronger. Its what happens when you havent got bundles to spend.

Also I understand why people expect a league challenge this year, but I havent got a short memory and I remember Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier when it was an outside hope to even qualify for the Champions League. Liverpool have come on leaps and bounds in Rafa's 5 years. To denounce it all because of a poor start to the season is rather short sighted.

Liverpool are STILL building the team and the squad. From the starting point after Houllier and the tight budget it will still be a case of plugging away and adding quality to the squad each year.

[Super Grover]

But when does the 'building the team/squad stop'? When we win the Prem or CL again?

What timescales are we working to? A couple of years is probably a year to long for someone like Torres and Gerrard when they could probably walk into any team at the top of their respective division (eg. Europe). When they go, I could imagine a few more 'stars' to follow.

Unfortunately we are in a position where we can't wait 2-3 years to build a title challenging team, whilst not forgeting Utd, City, Spurs and the Arse are strengthening too.

The nature of the Prem nowadays (with regard to challenging for the title)does not allow 2-3 years of building a squad, not with the amount of money other teams can now throw about.

Admitedly all managers make poor signings, but usually, when the player doesn't turn out to cut the mustard, they don't play. Now I'm now football expert, but Veronin should never ever play for us. After seeing him a few times it was obvious he's not for us or even the prem. Yet Benitez plays him? Why Rafa?, Why??

[Adrock]

Well, I think that every season so far has been an improvement under Benitez. This season remains to be seen where we end up but the previous ones have always shown progression.

The impatient approach really does concern me. More and more people demand something that simply isnt possible. If you dont have the money to go and buy the best players then you have to build slowly. Voronin was a free buy, he was going to be sold in the summer but things didnt pan out. Right now he is an option because others are injured. Usually he doesnt even get a sniff of starting and maybe gets the last 5-10 minutes of any match.

As long as Liverpool are progressing and improving every season then I see no problem to worry. This season could be where it finally goes wrong but 4th place would just about do. Its not where I want the club to be but people saying Liverpool are a club who should be challenging for the league seem to forget the Souness, Evans and Houllier years where by the club hit a downward spiral.

[mr_sockochris]

We could have up to TEN players missing against Lyon

Definite No's:

Steven Gerrard (groin)
Albert Riera (hamstring)
Martin Kelly (ankle)
Martin Skrtel (muscle)

Hopefuls:

Fernando Torres (hamstring)
Alberto Aquilani (virus)
Daniel Agger (back)
Glen Johnson (calf)
Fabio Aurelio (calf)
David Ngog (ankle)

Oh, and Degen isn't registered in our CL squad either so that's one more out.

We're doomed

[Supergoal]

Even so, I would still expect us to get a result.
I hope we can turn it around, not for Benitez's sake, but for the fans and the people who pay week in week out to watch. With Birmingham on Monday night you'd expect us to win. Still, 9 points behind at this stage isn't critical yet as long as we can string together some wins.

[Adrock]

Supergoal, you seriously believe that if Liverpool are missing 10 players, 6 or 7 of them first 11, they must win AWAY from home against a team who are regular campaigners in the CL?

Sounds to me you're being overly optimistic. Its gonna be a very very hard game to watch. I suspect a draw or more likely a loss.

[mr_sockochris]

Depends who makes it and who doesn't really. Our defence is a mess if Johnson or Agger don't recover, we won't have a right back This is the team I expect to play from what Rafa has said about the situation of each player....

___________Reina___________

Johnson Carragher Kyrgiakos Insua

______Lucas___Mascherano_____

Kuyt______Aquilani____Benayoun

___________Torres_____________


A good team on paper but if only a couple of those don't make it I don't like our chances. Torres and Aquilani won't get 90mins either. Tomorrow is going to be a long evening....

[Supergoal]

Depends who makes it and who doesn't really. Our defence is a mess if Johnson or Agger don't recover, we won't have a right back This is the team I expect to play from what Rafa has said about the situation of each player....

___________Reina___________

Johnson Carragher Kyrgiakos Insua

______Lucas___Mascherano_____

Kuyt______Aquilani____Benayoun

___________Torres_____________


A good team on paper but if only a couple of those don't make it I don't like our chances. Torres and Aquilani won't get 90mins either. Tomorrow is going to be a long evening....

My optimism comes from the above team if played. If not then, yes I'd go with you Adrock about struggling.

[Flabio]

Is Aquilani registered for you as a champions league player? Did he not join too late for that?

[mr_sockochris]

He signed in plenty of time I don't think the CL squads are even submitted until very near the first group game actually.

[Adrock]

Johnson and Aurelio are both confirmed as not playing. Torres, Ngog and Agger are all struggling. Darby is in the squad, he is a classy right back with potential I think. Lets hope he can do a job there tomorrow with Carragher and Agger in the middle.

Bad time to be a Liverpool fan, this.

Edit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...ransfer-policy - I think that sums up a lot of what I was trying to get across.

It basically states that after the few bigger purchases Liverpool needed to push the first team onto the next stage to compete with United and Chelsea there was very little left in the purse to do anything regarding the squad. Hence Voronin, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Insua and Aurelio.

Ah well, here we go. 10 men out injured with Gerrard and Torres looking at a month or so out after their operations.

[Baseley09]

Should never have let Neil Mellor go.

[mr_sockochris]

Should never have let Stephen Warnock go. He is one of very few players (along with Luis Garcia and Hyypia) I disagree with Rafa selling. I know it was Sami's decision to leave as he wanted to be playing games but he'd probably have as many appearances as anyone had he stayed as it's turning out