The glass-half full thread - Positively happy clappy
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It seems to me that there is as much criticism of our performances (on here) as there has been celebration of the results, and this goes for pretty much the whole of the season so far. And as a result I find myself getting pretty frustrated just about every time I come on here. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I guess a lot of posters can see problems and are simply waiting for it all go horribly wrong. Of course, a couple of losses back to back over Christmas and it could but thankfully those thoughts don't stand in the way of my 'absolute joy' at sitting top of the table. So anyway, please consider this to be a 'positive' thread to discuss what has been going right up until now, save the negative stuff for one of the other threads where it will have plenty of company.
The Defence - It all starts with Reina who, once again has been in superb from this season. Quality player, I wouldn't swap him for any other keeper in the world (and he is one of four players for whom i could say the same). After an on-off season last year Carragher has quietly and confidently re-discovered his top form this time around. The guy has been immense and again, i wouldn't swap him, would you? The full-backs (Arbeloa and Aurelio) - Still a weakness going forward (and one i've posted on many times) however, they deserve credit for the way we have defended. A good back-four doesn't carry players, they are a unit and that is the way they have played this season. Arbeloa hasn't been spectacular (I don't think he can be!) but he has been consistent and Aurelio (when fit) has looked up to the job despite being a little less consistent.
Late wins - This team doesn't seem to know when it's beaten does it?We've always had this ability in the cups (Istanbul, Olympiakos, Luton and West Ham spring to mind) but it has never been that prevalent in the league. Late wins against Boro, City, United, Wigan and Liege (in the Cup) and a late equalizer against Atletico stand us in good stead for the rest of the season. some will say our luck will run out BUT you can bet the team (no matter how badly they are playing) will fancy their chances of pulling something out of the hat when we are a goal (or two) down and you can guarantee the opposition will be thinking the same thing.
Ugly wins - And let's face it most of em have been ugly haven't they? I can't help but think back to Arsenal this time last season. they were playing some of the most spectacular football we've ever seen in the Premier League, it was breathtaking stuff. But it didn't count for much in the end as pundits and fans alike , trotted out the old 'they peaked too early' cliches. Our football hasn't been particularly inspiring but you sense we've got another couple of gears to go through bearing in mind our best football last season came with the same personnel.
The Torres Factor - How much we miss him is underestimated by to many on here in my opinion, it's as if the team should be able to perform to the peaks it reached at times last season WITHOUT our best attacking player. We haven't had a fit and firing Torres at any time this season bar the 2nd half in the derby once he had got his first goal. He makes a MASSIVE difference to our side, I'd argue his presence in the side makes the game 10% easier for just about every other Liverpool player on the pitch. He can tie up an entire back four at once with his clever running, mobility and ability on the ball. Everybody else on the pitch gets a little more time and space with Torres in the side, his strike partner (if he has one), the wide-men and the full-backs all benefit. He makes life easier for everyone. The fact we are doing so well WITHOUT him is a MASSIVE achievement.
Alonso - What a season the lad is having, and thank fook we didn't sell him! I was fairly content to swap him for Barry, I figured it was like for like and that Alonso had really struggled to replicate his form for LFC but he has been EXCELLENT this season. He just seems a step quicker to me this season, he's popping up in positions further up the pitch, influencing our attacking play and bagged his 2nd goal of the season on Saturday. He has outshone the Captain (who is also having a decent season) so far this season and it's almost like having a new signing.
Handling the Pressure - The minute the lads beat Chelsea you sensed a change in the way the club was perceived. the media went on their usual OTT rampage, the players themselves started talking about 'handling the pressure' and the fans suddenly started biting their nails at the thought of us actually being involved in the race for a change. While the anger of a lot of fans/posters is the fact we could be a few points clear at the top if we had swatted (as everyone seems to expect) aside the Stokes and West Hams of this world I honestly think our best hope of winning it this year is for it to be tight with the winner decided in the final couple of games. If we got ahead like Arsenal did last season I sense that the pressure would build, we'd get reeled in and we would sink as they did. does anyone else share this opinion? No-one in the press thinks we are going to win the league this season, not really. The focus is still on the mancs and Chelsea and i'm happy that it is.
What a great position we are in. Playing shi...te and sitting top of the table at the same time! It's not so bad is it!?! It's not all hunky dory with our rivals either. The mancs got lucky against Sunderland (I expected them to put 3 or 4 past them) at the weekend and have got to travel half-way around the world to play the pointless Club World Championship. Chelsea have see their home mystique destroyed just a few months into their new managers' reign, are still struggling for injuries and bizarrely, it seems they have to SELL before they can buy this January! Then you look at Arsenal who have been off the pace, are under pressure from Villa and have just had to sack their crazy Captain for slagging players to the press and had a whole stadium booing one of their players on Saturday.
We've got a tricky Christmas period coming up given the injury to Torres and the form of Keane, Babel and a few others but if we are there or there abouts come the new year I'll be well chuffed...
The Defence - It all starts with Reina who, once again has been in superb from this season. Quality player, I wouldn't swap him for any other keeper in the world (and he is one of four players for whom i could say the same). After an on-off season last year Carragher has quietly and confidently re-discovered his top form this time around. The guy has been immense and again, i wouldn't swap him, would you? The full-backs (Arbeloa and Aurelio) - Still a weakness going forward (and one i've posted on many times) however, they deserve credit for the way we have defended. A good back-four doesn't carry players, they are a unit and that is the way they have played this season. Arbeloa hasn't been spectacular (I don't think he can be!) but he has been consistent and Aurelio (when fit) has looked up to the job despite being a little less consistent.
Late wins - This team doesn't seem to know when it's beaten does it?We've always had this ability in the cups (Istanbul, Olympiakos, Luton and West Ham spring to mind) but it has never been that prevalent in the league. Late wins against Boro, City, United, Wigan and Liege (in the Cup) and a late equalizer against Atletico stand us in good stead for the rest of the season. some will say our luck will run out BUT you can bet the team (no matter how badly they are playing) will fancy their chances of pulling something out of the hat when we are a goal (or two) down and you can guarantee the opposition will be thinking the same thing.
Ugly wins - And let's face it most of em have been ugly haven't they? I can't help but think back to Arsenal this time last season. they were playing some of the most spectacular football we've ever seen in the Premier League, it was breathtaking stuff. But it didn't count for much in the end as pundits and fans alike , trotted out the old 'they peaked too early' cliches. Our football hasn't been particularly inspiring but you sense we've got another couple of gears to go through bearing in mind our best football last season came with the same personnel.
The Torres Factor - How much we miss him is underestimated by to many on here in my opinion, it's as if the team should be able to perform to the peaks it reached at times last season WITHOUT our best attacking player. We haven't had a fit and firing Torres at any time this season bar the 2nd half in the derby once he had got his first goal. He makes a MASSIVE difference to our side, I'd argue his presence in the side makes the game 10% easier for just about every other Liverpool player on the pitch. He can tie up an entire back four at once with his clever running, mobility and ability on the ball. Everybody else on the pitch gets a little more time and space with Torres in the side, his strike partner (if he has one), the wide-men and the full-backs all benefit. He makes life easier for everyone. The fact we are doing so well WITHOUT him is a MASSIVE achievement.
Alonso - What a season the lad is having, and thank fook we didn't sell him! I was fairly content to swap him for Barry, I figured it was like for like and that Alonso had really struggled to replicate his form for LFC but he has been EXCELLENT this season. He just seems a step quicker to me this season, he's popping up in positions further up the pitch, influencing our attacking play and bagged his 2nd goal of the season on Saturday. He has outshone the Captain (who is also having a decent season) so far this season and it's almost like having a new signing.
Handling the Pressure - The minute the lads beat Chelsea you sensed a change in the way the club was perceived. the media went on their usual OTT rampage, the players themselves started talking about 'handling the pressure' and the fans suddenly started biting their nails at the thought of us actually being involved in the race for a change. While the anger of a lot of fans/posters is the fact we could be a few points clear at the top if we had swatted (as everyone seems to expect) aside the Stokes and West Hams of this world I honestly think our best hope of winning it this year is for it to be tight with the winner decided in the final couple of games. If we got ahead like Arsenal did last season I sense that the pressure would build, we'd get reeled in and we would sink as they did. does anyone else share this opinion? No-one in the press thinks we are going to win the league this season, not really. The focus is still on the mancs and Chelsea and i'm happy that it is.
What a great position we are in. Playing shi...te and sitting top of the table at the same time! It's not so bad is it!?! It's not all hunky dory with our rivals either. The mancs got lucky against Sunderland (I expected them to put 3 or 4 past them) at the weekend and have got to travel half-way around the world to play the pointless Club World Championship. Chelsea have see their home mystique destroyed just a few months into their new managers' reign, are still struggling for injuries and bizarrely, it seems they have to SELL before they can buy this January! Then you look at Arsenal who have been off the pace, are under pressure from Villa and have just had to sack their crazy Captain for slagging players to the press and had a whole stadium booing one of their players on Saturday.
We've got a tricky Christmas period coming up given the injury to Torres and the form of Keane, Babel and a few others but if we are there or there abouts come the new year I'll be well chuffed...