Liverpool FC Forum

by **redtrader74** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:22 am

It seems some people here want to blame Rafa for 18 years without a championship. I think i am a 'Real' fan, whatever that bollox means, and should we win the CL i won't think it is a dissappointing season. If you break all the competitions down then yes, the league was poor, but going on about points totals, and finishing 3rd on Gd is irrelevant as we all know that we were out of contention by Nov. so what motivation other than getting top four was there?

Personally i am a realist and although my heart at the start of each season says we could win the league, my brain engages and looks at the competition, their obvious advantages and where we are in relation to them. All said i still think that even the players who were chosen for Bolton, Blackburn, sheffield utd away should still have got all three points, Rafa seems to rotate players who are much the same usually, how often were Gerrard, Carra, Alonso, Reina, Pennant really rotated at the start?
Again we do not know how much money the new owners will have, but if Eto is going to cost, as is guessed, £40m then i doubt we will buy him, that is only Chelski money.
If financially we are on the same footing as manure then over this and next season we can start to expect to win the title, but so far the managers achievements have been monumental.

by **woof woof !** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:31 am

peewee wrote:the ken dodd of spain

Meanwhile, a hugely disappointing season ? .Certainly fell below our expectations in terms of a credible challenge for the premiership title , but to finish third and reach the CL final surely that can hardly be classed as hugely disappointing .

Roll on the 23rd after which we can look forward to a proper tilt at the prem next season.

by **redtrader74** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:43 am

peewee wrote:
Sabre wrote:Being 21 points away, or 11 away is irrelevant, you haven't won it. That's why he didn't put strength in the last league line-ups.

the league challenge was over last october, i suppose thats your excuse for us finishing so far behind, we should have just played out under 18s every week in the league.

keep buffoon comments in general chat

Now come on, that is a poor comment, the target after our poor start became top four, not relegation.
You two may not get on but Sabres' comment is a true reflection of what occurred.

by **Anfield rapper** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:14 am

I agree that bar our efforts in Europe, this season was over all to quickly. I must admit i was a little carried away like many others by the media reports of this being our breakthrough season. Well the first game of the season put that to bed for me where we could only draw with Sheff U with the help of a very dodgey penalty. We have been making terrible starts for a good few seasons and i think this is our problem domestically. We always seem to go on a great run at the end of seasons when we are already out of it. The only thing i can pin it down to is too many new faces at the start of the season. Then as the new faces settle in we start playing better. So in my eyes if we want to start well we need to keep the winning formula from this season and bring any new players from the summer into the team from off the bench.

As for Gerrard's pay. I personally think he is the most valuble player in the prem and i don't see why just because he has pledged his loyalty to this club he should be paid any less than the other top players in the prem. Its alot of money but that's what footballers get paid these days. Again, in my eyes without him in the team we look ordinary and we need to secure him for the rest of his playing days, if it takes £120k a week so be it. When he's coming to the end of that contract in 4 or 5 years it will probabley look like a bargain.

by **kunilson** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:18 am

i see this thread has gone full circle again. woo

ok now i think the best way to see this season is take it in different contexts.
On the league front, yes disappointing......in Europe brilliant. This champions league run was harder than the last i reckon...and i think we have come along way in competitions like this.
Think of it as a step in the right direction to no.19 i.e confidence and appeal to new players, or just enjoy the moment....hell of alot of teams wish they were in our position. lets start enjoying it!

only5 days to go....you have the whole summer to analyse the season, but lets enjoy this chance for no.6 now

by **dawson99** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:22 am

kunilson wrote:i see this thread has gone full circle again. woo

ok now i think the best way to see this season is take it in different contexts.
On the league front, yes disappointing......in Europe brilliant. This champions league run was harder than the last i reckon...and i think we have come along way in competitions like this.
Think of it as a step in the right direction to no.19 i.e confidence and appeal to new players, or just enjoy the moment....hell of alot of teams wish they were in our position. lets start enjoying it!

only5 days to go....you have the whole summer to analyse the season, but lets enjoy this chance for no.6 now

sorry dude but it cant be split between league and cup...

it has been dissapointing overall because of the league but if we win the champs league then it'll take the edge off.

next season tho ask anyone on here, do a poll, permiership or champs league and 9999 out of 10k will say premiership.

by **kunilson** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:40 am

u kinda get used to the disappointment of not winning the league over the years dont you? but when you actually believe you can win it, its much harder to take when your'e nowhere close.....of course the premiership is no.1 target.

by **GRAHAM01** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:53 am

would have loved to have been a lot closer to the top 2 ( hate saying that ) but when we build over the close of season i think we will have a huge season and be at the top come the end

yes this year was not great in the prem but lets look forward with hope in are hearts

by **account deleted by request** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:39 pm

One further disappointment this season has been the failure of any of our new signings, with the possible exception of Mascherano and Kuyt, to really establish their place in the team rather than the squad.
Pennant after a very poor start has started to show his ability in cameos, but has still played all season which says something about our strength in depth.
Gonzales has shown very little (even his speed seemed over hyped).
Bellamy has performed but not as we would have wished.
Aurellio seemed to be finding his feet late on only to be injured.
Arbeloa after a very promising start seems to have dropped back a level

I havent included Agger (obviously a success) or Paletta (obviously not)as they came the season before.

by **66-1112520797** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:53 pm

s@int wrote:One further disappointment this season has been the failure of any of our new signings, with the possible exception of Mascherano and Kuyt, to really establish their place in the team rather than the squad.
Pennant after a very poor start has started to show his ability in cameos, but has still played all season which says something about our strength in depth.
Gonzales has shown very little (even his speed seemed over hyped).
Bellamy has performed but not as we would have wished.
Aurellio seemed to be finding his feet late on only to be injured.
Arbeloa after a very promising start seems to have dropped back a level

I havent included Agger (obviously a success) or Paletta (obviously not)as they came the season before.

Yeah on the whole I'd agree thats added to the disapointment. I think I'd swap Kuyt for Pennant on your list in all honesty.

I'll agree Pennant was painfull to watch in the first half of the season. But he has kicked on, and looks one of our better performers now, still maybe not the answer to the right hand side in the long run. But certainly a squad member that looks worth keeping now he's found his feet.

I suppose its personal taste though, Kuyt hasnt done it for me. I know alot of Reds love him, but thats because of his honesty and hard work. I want to love him because of his abundance of goals, and silky footwork and great touch. But he doesnt have much if atall any of that.
Obviously Rafa admires and appreciates that, and that seems his liking .... a hard working ethic. I'd just sacrifice that from time to time in one position with, a flambuoyant clinical striker.

Aurelio hasnt had time to show much down to injuries, so the jury is still out on him, like Arbeloa he looks comfortable on the ball but suspect defensively at times.

Agger the lads been immense considering the shoes he's stepping into. :bowdown

Gonzalez has had almost a whole season to stake a claim for his place and hasnt been able to do it. I'm thinking now that it might of been easier for him to play second fiddle to Kewell. Instead he's been thrown in at the deep end so to speak and it apears the pressure has got to him, and the confidence gone. Maybe if he was behind Kewell and making only a few appearances he may of settled easier, with the lesser weight of expectations. In saying that, though he's been another dissapointment too.

by **LFC2007** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:06 pm

s@int wrote:One further disappointment this season has been the failure of any of our new signings, with the possible exception of Mascherano and Kuyt, to really establish their place in the team rather than the squad.
Pennant after a very poor start has started to show his ability in cameos, but has still played all season which says something about our strength in depth.
Gonzales has shown very little (even his speed seemed over hyped).
Bellamy has performed but not as we would have wished.
Aurellio seemed to be finding his feet late on only to be injured.
Arbeloa after a very promising start seems to have dropped back a level

I havent included Agger (obviously a success) or Paletta (obviously not)as they came the season before.

I'd agree with that too Saint.

I think we all agree the League has been very disappointing but Rafa has done the right thing in trying to focus all his efforts on the Champions League, to get to another final does not hide the disappointing league run, but it does go some way in showing we have taken our performances to a new level in Europe, a level we haven't been close to in all of 20 years.

This summer and next season will be the acid test for Rafa in the league, we will have the finance comparable to that of Manure et. Chelski and so it is a season of great expectation in the league. I think the base of the team is there, all that is required are a few special players who can unlock defense's. I also agree that over-rotation is something that cost us in the early stages, but I think with some players Rafa just has slight doubts about, he changes his mind and goes for the more solid outlook e.g. with Gerrard on the right instead of Pennant. If we'd had a stronger right winger, one who is more complete than Pennant in terms of strength, pace and power then I think he might have put Gerrard in the middle, it is the doubt over the solidity of the team that forces him to play two defensive midfielders and Gerrard on the right in my opinion.

by **babu** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:19 pm

You know what would be worthwhile, if someone could be bothered digging up the predictions thread, before the start of this season. Lets see the number of people who thought we were title contenders (i will look tomorrow). I could be wrong, but i think i said i would be happy with 3rd.

Purely becuase the number of key new players we got in. I think the only dissapointing thing for me is the underperformance/not living up to potential of some players. Same as has already been mentioned.

However we have the Champions League final coming, i really hope everyone shines, and bring home ole big ears. Then we can come back here and shoot this thread in the head.

by **Rafa D** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:17 pm

Fu.cking Hell!

Your all cheeky bast.ards if you don't mind me saying.

A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL is just round the corner and everyone's picking holes inour team that finished 3rd for the 2nd consective year.

GIVE THE LADS AND THE MANAGER A BREAK.

3 finals in 3 years.

If I would of said 3 years ago, hey lads would you be happy with 2 European cups and a F.A cup under Rafa in the next 3 years? You would of all creamed your pants with that.

Rafa's overperformed for me, and now the fans are expecting far too much. Give him time, he's deffo the man who bring the league home.

by **LFC2007** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:22 pm

Well said Rafa.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:26 pm

Rafa-Dodd wrote:Fu.cking Hell!

Your all cheeky bast.ards if you don't mind me saying.

A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL is just round the corner and everyone's picking holes inour team that finished 3rd for the 2nd consective year.

GIVE THE LADS AND THE MANAGER A BREAK.

3 finals in 3 years.

If I would of said 3 years ago, hey lads would you be happy with 2 European cups and a F.A cup under Rafa in the next 3 years? You would of all creamed your pants with that.

Rafa's overperformed for me, and now the fans are expecting far too much. Give him time, he's deffo the man who bring the league home.

If someone had said you will finish 5th, 3rd and 4th in the league, would you have been happy ? Or would you have been thinking WTF we may as well stay with Houllier! (dont mention his signings

)

No-one is arguing about the cups being great Rafa, just that the league has been disappointing.

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A hugely disappointing season....on many fronts - Let not athens distract you....

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