Liverpool FC Forum

[account deleted by request]

Fairly random, but to think we could've signed Alves for £12m, he'd probably have sorted our right side out.

Missing opportunities such as those, opportunities where we had the chance to nail a position in one go, have gradually led to this lack of balance in quality within the squad.

We had to sign a ST and a RW, and but for Cisse getting injured - thwarting an outright transfer to Marseille, we may have used the extra funds to get Alves instead of Pennant. Although if we'd had a degree of flexibility in our budget akin to the Manc's or Chelsea, it probably wouldn't have been an issue.

I think missed opportunities is the one area where even Rafa's harshest critic has to admit that things could have been so much better.

While we have also dodged a few bullets, in the main I think we have little to thank Parry for when it comes to missed chances in the transfer market.

Alves is one we could certainly have done with this season as Finnan has struggled unexpectedly (surprised me anyway).

Alves would also have added a new dimension to our attacking play from the wide areas and may even have made up for Kuyts lack of pace on the overlap.

I still think he would have been a replacement for Finnan rather than Pennant but certainly it would have been an option.

[LFC2007]

Fairly random, but to think we could've signed Alves for £12m, he'd probably have sorted our right side out. Now his cost would probably be twice that figure.

Missing opportunities such as those, opportunities where we had the chance to nail a position in one go, have gradually led to this lack of balance in quality within the squad.

We had to sign a ST and a RW, and but for Cisse getting injured - thwarting an outright transfer to Marseille, we may have used the extra funds to get Alves instead of Pennant. Although if we'd had a degree of flexibility in our budget akin to the Manc's or Chelsea, it probably wouldn't have been an issue anyway.

We should have gone for Maicon when he was at Monaco, he's a much better FB than Alves.

I haven't seen much of Maicon tbh, only in the UCL tie really, when he didn't stand out.

I'd have Alves ahead of him, purely as I've seen Alves play more often and he looks top quality.

[Effes]

as Finnan has struggled unexpectedly (surprised me anyway).

Can someone tell me where/when Finnan went wrong?

I cant reacll a match or a number of matches where you could say he was losing it?

[LFC2007]

Fairly random, but to think we could've signed Alves for £12m, he'd probably have sorted our right side out.

Missing opportunities such as those, opportunities where we had the chance to nail a position in one go, have gradually led to this lack of balance in quality within the squad.

We had to sign a ST and a RW, and but for Cisse getting injured - thwarting an outright transfer to Marseille, we may have used the extra funds to get Alves instead of Pennant. Although if we'd had a degree of flexibility in our budget akin to the Manc's or Chelsea, it probably wouldn't have been an issue.

I think missed opportunities is the one area where even Rafa's harshest critic has to admit that things could have been so much better.

While we have also dodged a few bullets, in the main I think we have little to thank Parry for when it comes to missed chances in the transfer market.

Alves is one we could certainly have done with this season as Finnan has struggled unexpectedly (surprised me anyway).

Alves would also have added a new dimension to our attacking play from the wide areas and may even have made up for Kuyts lack of pace on the overlap.

I still think he would have been a replacement for Finnan rather than Pennant but certainly it would have been an option.

Agreed, his best position is at FB, but even still as a winger he's miles better than what we have now, and what we had back then. If you excuse Gerrard from the equation, as it was never a long-term option keeping him there.

It's so frustrating with hindsight, £12m although expensive for a FB, in that position he was about as sure as you could get in terms of quality available on the market.

[account deleted by request]

as Finnan has struggled unexpectedly (surprised me anyway).

Can someone tell me where/when Finnan went wrong?

I cant reacll a match or a number of matches where you could say he was losing it?

He seems to have lost his ability(or desire?) to either get forward or get back quickly when he goes forward to me. He no longer seems capable of bombing up and down the line (his main strength) He has always been a little slow and lightweight in the tackle (imo) , but made up for this with his good all round play and hard work. 

Whether this is due to injury, age or desire I am not sure, but certainly I think we have suffered this season because of it.

[account deleted by request]

Fairly random, but to think we could've signed Alves for £12m, he'd probably have sorted our right side out. Now his cost would probably be twice that figure.

Missing opportunities such as those, opportunities where we had the chance to nail a position in one go, have gradually led to this lack of balance in quality within the squad.

We had to sign a ST and a RW, and but for Cisse getting injured - thwarting an outright transfer to Marseille, we may have used the extra funds to get Alves instead of Pennant. Although if we'd had a degree of flexibility in our budget akin to the Manc's or Chelsea, it probably wouldn't have been an issue anyway.

We should have gone for Maicon when he was at Monaco, he's a much better FB than Alves.

I can't say I have seen much of him either mate. The one advantage Alves has is he holds a Spanish passport, whether that is of any great importance I am not sure?

[ConnO'var]

For me, this season IS his last chance.

I can't believe that any manager of LFC would describe winning the league as an "option". Hopefully it's a language thing. For my money, winning the league is a target to aim for every single season not an "option". It suggests that his priorities are elsewhere. The only reason I've not been calling for his head lately is because there are bigger things going on at the club which need addressing like the ownership issue. If we were to be rid of him now, god only knows the degree of damage that it would cause to the club.

Under more stable ownership, I would have no qualms about stating loudly and clearly that his time is up NOW before he wastes more millions on players we don't need...... in a system and with a philosophy I don't feel will ever win us the premiership. We've spent 4 years trying to resolve the inadequacies out wide and by now, I would have expected that at least one of the two positions to have been resolved but no...... all we've got has been dross and an incomprehensible stocking up of central midfielders.

All these while under his "reign", we've continued to lose the aura and swagger of invincibility especially around the weaker teams. How can we say that ithe reason we're so far behind is mainly a money issue?....  when the reason we're always so far behind is because we cannot eke out results against mid-table sides. If the deciding factor was that we lost the title is because we continue to lose to the big 3 than I can understand. But the fact of the matter is we shoot ourselves in the foot against them other sides... Why do you think that is? Because he's too smart for his own good and outhinks himself by giving too much credit to the opponents and giving them the chance and confidence that comes with us tinkering too much and giving them the impression that we worry about them.

No.... for me, his time is up and should only serve as caretaker from now up till the time the ownership power struggle is up. Once that is done, I hope he walks..... Time to give somebody else a chance, IMO.

[Owzat]

I'm not sure of the point of discussing "last chances", we've not made a serious title challenge in four years and for this to be the year would require quite a turnaround on what's gone before. What I mean is if we'd been maybe within 3-6 points you could reasonably demand a title challenge with some expectation of winning. At the moment based on what has gone before, our next league title could come any time in the next five years or never. There simply isn't anything to suggest it will happen next season.

And what if Rafa manages to finish second and within a win of the Champions? Do we give him a last last chance? Or do we say "that was your last chance" and "goodbye" ? It's all ifs and buts, whenever a manager does go there is always the thought in the back of your mind that a season or two more and he might have done a fergie. But equally there is a chance a new manager might do a Wenger.................

[Ciggy]

Alex Ferguson wants to spend his £50m summer transfer budget within the next fortnight, with Micah Richards and Sevilla's Brazilian duo Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves top of his wish-list.

Meanwhile Liverpool bid 1 million for
Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine.

If these things happen forget about winning any league for the for-seable future.

[redsince2001]

Alex Ferguson wants to spend his £50m summer transfer budget within the next fortnight, with Micah Richards and Sevilla's Brazilian duo Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves top of his wish-list.

Meanwhile Liverpool bid 1 million for
Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine.

If these things happen forget about winning any league for the for-seable future.

     

[club_Levis]

Alex Ferguson wants to spend his £50m summer transfer budget within the next fortnight, with Micah Richards and Sevilla's Brazilian duo Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves top of his wish-list.

Meanwhile Liverpool bid 1 million for
Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine.

If these things happen forget about winning any league for the for-seable future.

Not surprised...The manager talked about 3 additions to the squad...Deggen, Dossena and Probably Barry!!! and seeing he only regards winning the title as only an 'option' we can forget about winning the league.

[Ola Mr Benitez]

The way to win the league you do not always have to beat the other big 3 teams.  We lost the league last year because we couldn't beat teams in the bottom half of the table.

This is because Rafa didn't play his strongest available team against everyone and motivate the players to go out and blow them away.  He tinkered far too much!

I hope and pray that this year he sticks to his best side, replaces players when they are injured (obviously) or their form is not what is expected.  I hope and pray for that every year but my prayers have not yet been answered!

[SundanceKid]

The way to win the league you do not always have to beat the other big 3 teams.  We lost the league last year because we couldn't beat teams in the bottom half of the table.

This is because Rafa didn't play his strongest available team against everyone and motivate the players to go out and blow them away.  He tinkered far too much!

I hope and pray that this year he sticks to his best side, replaces players when they are injured (obviously) or their form is not what is expected.  I hope and pray for that every year but my prayers have not yet been answered!

Yeah. Gerrard pointed that out last week. And a few days later Rafa says the key to winning was to beat United.

Don't know what the hell Rafa is talking about. Maybe he sees it as a mental battle haha.

[redbeergoggles]

If you think that Mourinho's two league titles with Chelsea is gonna turn Dirk Kuyt into a 20 goal a season man then you're deluding yourself.

I don't - I think we wouldn't see Kuyt for dust, Mourinho certainly wouldn't persevere with a player with no goal threat playing up front for a season and a half mate.

If you think that Mourinho's two league titles with Chelsea is gonna turn Xabi Alonso into a scoring midfielder then you're wrong.

While I wouldn't expect god himself to be able to turn Alonso into a goalscoring midfieldplayer, he might just turn him back into an effective deep lying playmaker again.

If you think that Mourinho's two league titles with Chelsea is gonna suddenly turn us into this fast flowing Liverpool of old you're barking up the wrong tree mate

I don't - I would just expect him to turn us into an effective winning machine, that plays to its potential more often than not and give the players the motivation and desire to turn up every week not just in Europe or when it suits. I would expect him to win a few of the 6 pointers rather than folding like a cheap shirt like we have done on more than one occasion over the last few years.

If Mourinho came in he'd do well to get second

Thats still better than 4th mate, and I would be willing to bet that under Mourinho we would CHALLENGE for the title, something that we have not yet achieved under Rafa.

I can't stand the and never want to see him in the home dugout at Anfield.

I have no doubt if Rafa had gone to Chelsea rather than us YOU WOULD BE SAYING THE SAME THINGS NOW ABOUT RAFA

Its time a few people started to grow up, I would rather have a winner in charge than a nice guy that wins nothing. (and before anyone starts I am not referring to Rafa)

I have no doubt that Rafa can be a c*nt when he needs to be, you don't achieve success by being a pussy. Don't forget good ol' uncle Bob used to be Shanks hit man before Moran took on the role.

We don't have the money to be the nice guys anymore, if we are going to challenge and win more we have to see a bit more steel and a bit less velvet glove. If we have to play ugly to win a game I WANT our players to play ugly. 

You don't even know Mourinho yet you hate him

Sorry mate but I think you read too many comics.

I want the best manager and the best players at Liverpool, if thats Rafa......... great, if its not, we should be trying to sign whoever is!

Mourinho is tactically naive, we all seen this when he was reduced to playing Huth upfront in a desperate attempt to penetrate our rearguard.
We all witnessed his  influence at Anfield when he was handed a second opportunity to take Chelsea to a European cup final ,again he blew it ,in point of fact i think the ball boys had more influence on that particular game .
Its now patently obvious thats the type of media darling you would deem qualified to take up the esteemed reins of our glorious club ,but me as a scouser cannot abide the thought of an arrogant prancing diva like Mourinho, degrading this club and soiling our touchline with his histrionics ,surely the yanks have taken us as low as is possible, without this clown dropping us to new depths .
Sure Mourinho won titles ,but Avram Grant took Chelsea to the final day of the season with the Mancs and to a Champions league final ,and he was clueless .Its the team that took Mourinho to back to back Premiership titles .
If you want Hollywood go for a film star ,but lay off a man whose humility and standing amongst true supporters is synonymous with the greats, the man deserves time and a modicum of  patience, but more importantly he needs the true fans the essential heart of the club to beat in unison. 
I give you this scenario ,if Rafa were to leave for pastures new, and Mr Hollywood replaced him and indeed he won us the league ,but in that same season Rafa won the Champions league with his new club ,how long before the whining parasites start complaining about always being also rans in the Champions League,I bet you fella not long .

[Lando_Griffin]

I don't think it ought to be. People like to dismiss the spending power of our immediate rivals as though a minor inconvenience, when it's obvious to most people that it's much more important than that. It's not like we had a World-beating team when Rafa took over, which means that money is the most important factor.
I know there's many who thrive on beating Benitez with a stick, but you have to be realistic - the scum paid more for a Central Defender 6 years ago than we have ever paid for any player in our entire history. (If we wish to be pedantic, almost 5 times more than OUR record spend on a defender.)

Sh*tski are a different beast, in as much as they buy indiscriminately, and have been known to sign players merely to prevent them joining us. (SWP.)

How can people overlook such an important reason why we haven't landed number 19? I think many of them live in a dreamworld where we are still dominant. The fact is, we have achieved more than we should have under Rafa for the money we have spent. Look at the team which won the Champions' League. Quite peobably the cheapest side to EVER win the big one.

Cut the man some slack.

So that excuses the FACT that we have never even challenged. We may lag behind the mancs and Chelsea when it comes to spending, but I think you will find we leave the rest fkn standing. Yet mighty Wigan , Luton, Barnsley, Birmingham and Reading all got results against us. FFS we spent more last season than they have ever spent put together!

We spent more on ONE PLAYER than the whole Barnsley team.... didn't stop them beating us did it?

No-one is beating Rafa with a stick, but you have to be realistic, how much longer can we go on with the same sad excuses every season, even though its obvious to most that Rafa has also made poor decisions that have cost us points.

If Rafa is not good enough to overcome the differential in transfers, maybe we should be looking for someone who can.


He won the CL with a team mainly made up of Houllier players, does that mean that Houlliers team was better than Rafa's £150million poundsworth of buys? 

Its not all about money mate, as we have proven in the cups against those same sides.

You know full well that cup competitions are different to the league. You can't compare 38 games (probably 32 of which are against sh*thouse teams that try and stifle the life out of the game), and 12 against the cream of World football. You just can't.
With the exception of this year and Rafa's 1st season, we've finished 3rd, slotting into the same position on the "spenders" board.

Man U lost to Man City twice, drew at home with Reading and Portsmouth, lost to Coventry and Bolton, etc, etc.

No team wins every match - it's almost impossible to.

As for Barnsley - they beat Chelsea, too, don't forget.

I never said it was all about money. I merely pointed out that it's often the deciding factor.

As a further note, we lost 4 matches in the league last year - 1 less than the champions, and we also closed the gap considerably on the 2006-07 table.