Liverpool FC Forum

[Dazzer]

I really can't see arsenal having bad season this year.I am worried about them I think they will have a real go this year.Manchester will be a force as always but I don't think they will be any where as consistent as last 2 years.Chelsea don't deserve to have a chance way they swap managers.But we all know they will be there or there abouts.

Personaly I fear arsenal the most as I feel their team will step up this year and really go for it.But I am confident we can fend off any one and take EPL.I will be close to blowing me own head off if manc's get it this year grrrrrr. 

[bunglemark2]

Wolves !!

[aCe']

I voted Manchester United. Chelsea are similarly strong, but Manchester United have that bunch of submissive coaches and refs, who, alongide with a few F.A. bástards, mean some points every season. So Manchester United will be the toughest rivals.

Fecking F.A and refs 

no wonder we havent won it in so long thats always been something of a mystery to me 

Look Ace', it's not a thread about Liverpool but about our rivals, and I dared to say something negative about them. I was not implying that's the reason we've had droughts of titles.

So it's ok that when I compare Liverpool and Manchester midfielders you defend Manchester midfielders, and when I say something negative about how Ferguson rules in England you also defend them, I'm used to "that" already. It's what you do.

But please don't go to another thread that is talking about what we need and mention my reference to the refs. I preffer to correct you now and not having to read later that I'm making excuses or something like that.

So just in case, disclaimer: I was freely insulting Manchester United, I didn't mean we don't have anything to improve nor we don't make mistakes.

you werent the only one pointing it out.. has nothing to do with me defending anyone but just seems rather pathetic to me that some would come out and seriously talk about refs and the FA being the main thing thats stands/stood between us and the title...

as for the other thread reference part, i dont remember it but im sure i didnt mention your name in that other thread did i ? apologies if i did but im sure its either that someone else had brought it up in the other thread or it had something to do with the discussion in hand... wasnt a dig at you if thats what you were thinking..

[heimdall]

BM, I've adopted a policy of just completely ignoring GYBS and I feel much calmer and happier, I highly recommend it to you and anybody else who finds GYBS's posts irritating.

Eh, you've no business going round telling folk who to put on ignore....thats twice since the new regs have been introduced that you have attempted to 'stir the pot'

If you do wish to ignore GYBS - you do so under your own choice. If you determine that wisdom be shared by another member - then feel obliged to forward your thoughts to them via PM. We dont want to hear about it on the boards.  Your own integrity should tell you that. If you infact have any.

No need to broadcast s.hit advice like that.

Sorry but that is unfair, I am not talking about putting anyone on an ignore list, I am just giving some advice which would actually lead to the forum being calmer and there being less flame wars, I would have thought you'd be in favour of that. BTW how's about you practising what you preach and instead of posting that in the open forum just pm'ing me?

GYBS is not on my ignore list but I personally choose to ignore his posts, am I now not allowed to mention GYBS at all?

I suppose it's perfectly ok for him to call be a clown though, eh?

[heimdall]

I really can't see arsenal having bad season this year.I am worried about them I think they will have a real go this year.Manchester will be a force as always but I don't think they will be any where as consistent as last 2 years.Chelsea don't deserve to have a chance way they swap managers.But we all know they will be there or there abouts.

Personaly I fear arsenal the most as I feel their team will step up this year and really go for it.But I am confident we can fend off any one and take EPL.I will be close to blowing me own head off if manc's get it this year grrrrrr. 

is that because of all the signings Arsenal have made?

[stmichael]

Definitely Chelsea. The only one of the top 4 who haven' lost players. They'll also have a massive boost from Terry staying and if Drogba can be bothered we all know that he's an absolute handful.

Their major downfall may be this new system they're playing with a narrow diamond midfield. For me it doesn't get the best out the players that they have in midfield but it's a system which Ancelotti has always played. In this system it's essential for your fullbacks to provide the width and their fortunate that going forward, Cole and Bosingwa are two of the best around.

[Judge]

the same usual suspects from last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. in fact for the last 19yr plus

[GYBS]

I don't think that Man Utd are our biggest threat this season. The amount of weakening that they have gone through requires a complete re-structuring of their tactings and playing methodology. This usually takes some time and it could be 8 -10 games before they gell again.

Arsenal is too young and the loss of Kolo Toure more than anything could be a huge factor. They should never have signed Gallas as he seems to have disrupted their backline no end.... the big girl's blouse. Without a hale and hearty defence, they could prove to be a leaky ship. Plus, they really need some steel and experience in midfield. Something that they have failed to address unless Wenger manages to convince Vieira to come back. Even with him, I think they'll fall short though I fully expect them to give most anyone a run for their money with that man in the side. Would be nice if we had actually made a move for him.

Man City actually looks a very sound side contrary to what many are saying. The balance of the team looks pretty ok. Of course they seem a little top heavy but if they can keep everyone happy, they'll worry a fair few sides including the members of the top four. The question really is, whether or not Sparky has what it takes.... and right now, IMO, the answer is no..... but given a couple more years of experience, they will threaten the stranglehold that the elite have on the premiership.

For me, the major threat will be Chelsea. Of course there are question marks about the new Italian manager and his ability to change his tactics and approach to suit the English game. But in truth, I don't really think that's really required to be honest. They have quality all over the park and they can easily dictate the pace of the game to suit any tactic in my opinion. Superb ball blayers all over the park. Excellent goalkeeper (no longer the best in the premiership but still an outstanding one). Rock solid defence with the best defender in the league in Carvalho (in fact, the weakest link in their defence, if I'm honest, is Terry.... all heart and effort but very little brains... good captain though).Dangerous midifeld with excellent wingers and superb central midfield bar Mikel. And an attack which is downright scary.... Anelka... pace, guile and excellent finisher who seems to have matured and is much stabler mentally and ............
Drogba. Beast of a player despite his cheating ways and bad attitude. On his day, he is an absolute nightmare to play against. Added to all that quality is a very simple but important fact that they will not need to go through a bedding in period as they, by and large, have been playing together for a while now.

WE have what it takes though.... even if we cannot quite match Chelsea's quality in terms of players but if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot or have too many injuries to key players.... the one team that represents the biggest threat to our title ambitions HAS to be Chelsea.

Great post and the sort of answer was looking for when started the thread as opposed to answer like lucas and rafa or kuyt .

cant disagree with what you have posted there at all - chelsea having essien and carvahlo starting improves them massively, but going to be interesting to see how teams cope against this diamond formation they are going to go for - people will just deny them space in the middle and force them to go wide .

[stmichael]

I suppose the only thing that might hamper Chelsea is the African Nations Cup. I don't think it's any major coincidence that Wenger got rid of Adebayor and Toure this summer and Eboue looks to be next.

[bigmick]

Chelsea for me have too many variables, too many influences which could potentially become destructive. Drogba for instance can be a monster of a player, but if he falls out with the coach can become a hugely disruptive influence on a group of players. They have Ballack who is similarly an ego which is prone to land at any minute, as well as a coach who although coming with a big reputation, will have his humility severely tested.

By humility I mean that a coach who comes in from outside Britain must be prepared to forget much of what he has known as gospel in the past. He must become a student of football which is played at a pace and an intensity unmatched in the World. He must be willing to embrace a style and a rhythm which is different to anything he has encountered previously. For an Italian there is little point in bringing his Catanacio mentality, little to be gained by an "avoid defeat at all costs" mantra. Possession of the football is not the holy grail which it is on the continent, because teams are allowed to compete aggressively in their attemtps to regain it when it is lost. Similarly, teams commit many more players into attack in England as top class defenders which are left behind are able to challenge for the ball without the risk of being accused of murder.

It feels different, it looks different, it moves different, because it is different. Some players who would be bit part operators in these overseas managers Home countries assume an importance way beyond their raw ability. The Carraghers and the Terry's become key players as their heart and appetite for the battle overcome their lack of finesse and technical skill. Finally as we know only too well, what is needed to win the leagues is often very different. Our own manager has often referred to his successes at Valencia despite drawing many matches, he now knows beyond any doubt that in England fate judges harshly teams which can't convert draws into wins. In both of the last two seasons we have lost less than Manchester United and yet won nothing. In each of our managers first four seasons we stuck to a mantra of styling and gazelling, and unless you have a strength and a depth of squad far superior to ours or indeed anyone elses in England the negatives massively outweigh the positives.

It's hard to come to England and get the hang of things instantly, in your first season. For most managers it takes time, for some it takes a lot of time. Only a select band though can arrive and win consistently enough to life titles from day one, only the most special ones do that, and doubts from my perspective as to whether Ancellotti is truly in that category lead me to believe it'll be the Mancs who we'll have to get past when push comes to shove.

[GYBS]

I suppose the only thing that might hamper Chelsea is the African Nations Cup. I don't think it's any major coincidence that Wenger got rid of Adebayor and Toure this summer and Eboue looks to be next.

yeah loosing mikel ,drogba and essien will be a big blow to them this season , just glad we dont loose anyone - stupid time for a tourne but could help us out - do the mancs loose anyone ?

[bigmick]

do the mancs loose anyone ?

Only Africans, although I'm not sure if they have any.

[GYBS]

mancs loose no one and we loose elzhar if morocco get to the finals

[stmichael]

Chelsea for me have too many variables, too many influences which could potentially become destructive. Drogba for instance can be a monster of a player, but if he falls out with the coach can become a hugely disruptive influence on a group of players. They have Ballack who is similarly an ego which is prone to land at any minute, as well as a coach who although coming with a big reputation, will have his humility severely tested.

By humility I mean that a coach who comes in from outside Britain must be prepared to forget much of what he has known as gospel in the past. He must become a student of football which is played at a pace and an intensity unmatched in the World. He must be willing to embrace a style and a rhythm which is different to anything he has encountered previously. For an Italian there is little point in bringing his Catanacio mentality, little to be gained by an "avoid defeat at all costs" mantra. Possession of the football is not the holy grail which it is on the continent, because teams are allowed to compete aggressively in their attemtps to regain it when it is lost. Similarly, teams commit many more players into attack in England as top class defenders which are left behind are able to challenge for the ball without the risk of being accused of murder.

Personally, that's why I'm absolutely delighted that Hiddink has gone.

Ok Chelsea have brought in a manager with a proven domestic record (for the record I questioned the appointment of Scolari last season!). They've kept all their big players and they are an extremely experienced and formidable side.

Towards the end of last season Hiddink managed to get Anelka and Drogba working together, plus he got Ashley Cole and Malouda to show form they previously hadn't in a Chelsea shirt. The returns of Joe Cole, Essien, Drogba and Carvalho will be invaluable too (the four of them combined played less than Gerrard and Torres combined last season btw).

[GYBS]

I think one of the main reasons Ancellotti been brought in is for his record in CL - that is where their priority is this season