Liverpool FC Forum

Sabre wrote:

aCe' wrote:

Sabre wrote: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.

red37 wrote:

heimdall wrote: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.

Dazzer wrote: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. 

ConnO'var wrote: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.

stmichael wrote: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.

GYBS wrote:do the mancs loose anyone ?

bigmick wrote: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.