Liverpool FC Forum

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:03 pm

Hopefully 5, Benitez winning 4 and Mourinho 1.

by **taff** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:39 pm

Benitez has really impressed me with the majority of his decisions and the way he conducts himself

Things like its true you never walk alone with Liverpool fans and the way he politely doesnt comment on club business etc

by **Devestatin Dave (yeah)** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:56 pm

Great point Stu, and theres even the facts to back it up, at the start of the season we had not gone in at half time behind and won for 5 years at home and 9 years away yet we have come back at home twice this season and once away. And Houllier went out not to lose as the main priority, Rafa goes out to win.

by **jonnymac1979** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:38 pm

jonnymac1979 wrote:
stu_the_red wrote:I think Benitez and Mourinho could be the next duel to develope over the coming years.

Agreed.

I said that even after Chelsea had beaten us. Ferguson and Wenger can trade blows as often as they want. Mourinho and Benitez will eclipse them and leave them behind over the next year or two.

Ferguson and Wenger are both excellent and proven managers.

I can just smell a New Order arriving with the young continental managers taking over. Can't remember who Marseille's manager was, but the other three managers in the finals of the main European competitions last season were Mourinho, Benitez and Deschamps.

Manchester United had their day in the sun in the 90's, they are in decline. When you hear stories emanating from the corridors of Old Trafford that they are complaining about Chelsea "buying the title", I can only laugh until my sides hurt at this remark.

So were they not the club who consistently broke British transfer records and regularly spent £10million plus; signing the likes of Keane, Cole, Yorke, Ferdinand, Rooney, Veron (

), Van Nistelrooy. And they're the players they signed!!! How much would the ones they desperately wanted, but missed out on cost them in total combined? Namely Shearer, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho? Another £50 million plus? I can carry on as well......

So they must learn to live with Chelsea's billions and realise there is now a bigger kid in the playground than them. Although still a very dangerous side on their day, for their own standards, their dominance is over. When they realise this themselves after their Golden generation has long gone and they have bought inadequate replacements (which Fergie's main lieutenant Roy Keane has already hinted that they believe this is the case already) they should self-destruct to a point where they can only sustain a limited challenge on the title much like Roy Evans' Liverpool sides of the mid 90's.

Arsenal can only fail to live up to last season. It was an historic achievement to go a whole season undefeated. It will be very difficult for a team to do that ever again. The great Liverpool sides never managed it. Even "boring, boring but hard to beat Arsenal" when champions in 1990/91 were defeated once (to Chelsea), but still didn't stay undefeated. Even Chelsea for all their qualities this season still lost at Manchester City. Vieira isn't looking the same player. Pires has been hit and miss after two excellent back to back seasons. Bergkamp is still class although not a first choice regular anymore. Their youngsters although a high standard, are not firing on all cylinders, barring Flamini and Fabregas and lastly, some of their squad actually want away from the Arsenal. There has been interest in Ashley Cole from (who else?) Real Madrid and both Edu and Lauren look like they will be moving to the continent next season.

Whereas Liverpool and Chelsea have been serial under-achievers over the last few years. We didn't build on our treble the way we should have, given the money we spent on players; and Chelsea have always been the nearly-men. Counted amongst the big boys but never seriously looking like title winners. Hopefully they still will always be the nearly men!!!!

But the only direction for Liverpool and Chelsea is upwards, and both teams finally have the managers to make this possible. It's time Liverpool stood up and were counted once again. Manchester United and Arsenal can keep their pathological rivalry to themselves; and while they are baiting each other in the press, they just might fail to see the two younger managers and their teams run past them and take over at the summit.

I’m telling you, Liverpool are on the way up. All you need is a little patience. We are not a club who thinks 4th place is a massive achievement anymore. We have always been able to compete in the transfer market, but now to have the likes of Morientes, a proven winner wanting to play for us, Aimar requesting for Benitez to come and get him, being linked with class players all over the pitch, we are dawning on a new era. It’s time for Liverpool Football Club to again show the world what we are about.

by **115-1073096938** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:57 pm

Hurrrahhhh!! lol

On a serious note.

The team for next season is lookin strong.

Alonso and Morientes will hopefully be settled. Baros a year more experienced. Gerrard a bit more consistent hopefully and Carragher keeps maturing. Finnan is starting to show his worth and Riise has made the improvement he should have made a year ago.

We have the potential now to really push on.

by **mrcool2003** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:29 pm

hit the nail on the head with that post stu completely, i thought the same, u knew in the 2nd half rb would get the players re motivated and raring to go, better performance but not our best match of the season, and also i know u've spoke highly of houllier but i agree totally that under houllier u didnt expect any change in the 2nd half, but there u go, def int he right direction

by **jonnymac1979** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:32 pm

There's no one like Rafa for the subs though is there? Roy Evans was the worst, no matter how much the game was crying out for substitutions, he would always keep faith with the starting eleven, probably 8 games out of 10.

Then there was Owen.......

by **jonnymac1979** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:46 pm

stu_the_red wrote:Hurrrahhhh!! lol

On a serious note.

The team for next season is lookin strong.

Alonso and Morientes will hopefully be settled. Baros a year more experienced. Gerrard a bit more consistent hopefully and Carragher keeps maturing. Finnan is starting to show his worth and Riise has made the improvement he should have made a year ago.

We have the potential now to really push on.

And Cisse will be back kicking a ball fingers crossed!!!

by **welsh wizzard** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:10 am

he is one gifted manager he is so cool and collected and when you hear his interviews i don't know about anyone else but you just want to listen,he comes across as a very intelligent bloke and i feel he seems to find the oppositions weaknesses very quick thats why if half time comes he will play his ace and turn the game if needed,he has the respect of alot of people around the game and when he speaks in the dressing room and on the training pitch who ever his players are they take notice i feel we have one great manager his record speaks for it self and liverpool are going back to where they belong great times are just around the corner.

by **kazza** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:37 pm

I feel that Raffa is more of a "winner" than Houllier was. Whereas Raffa will say we did not play well enough, Houllier would always seem to make stupid excuses why we could not win. As for Mourinho, I think that had they (Porto) not scored that away goal at the scum, we would not have really heard about him. I feel he is only the flavour of the month, and will self distruct (especially with his complete arrogance) soon. I would rather have Raffa. Seems more the real deal rather than a flash in the pan.

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