Liverpool FC Forum

[account deleted by request]

I don't like the booing, but I think people are using it to take the focus away from what really matters.....our performances on the pitch.

[NANNY RED]

Saint its getting horrible at the game espesialy at Anfield Since 2005 there are so many tos.sers who go the match . were they get the tickets from knows . All they do is moan ,take pictures ,or talk on there mobiles . its disgraceful. The rows i had with some of them day trippers is unbelievable, Thats why i prefer going to away games now you dont get the moaners you get fans getting behind the team. we all moan about what the best team is .an we all have a go at some point in saying hes . But do it in the pub or when your not at the game , When your at the game get behind the team.

I cringed last night when i heard the booing . It was disgraceful an anyone who booed last night should be ashamed an all. We are LFC we do not boo our team.

[Ciggy]

Add to that the booing of Bellamy, these knobheads need to get a grip and fast. This is not the Liverpool Way.

[bigmick]

It's like a groundhog day on here sometimes. We don't win, perople moan (some over-react) and then there is a swarm of posters deriding any dissentiung voices. People are a disgrace, a WUM etc etc.

The reality is that people are neither a disgrace nor a wind-up merchant for being concerned that we are continually having trouble breaking down mediocre teams. It's a statement of the obvious that this is the case, as is the feeling that if we do eventually fall a win or two short, we've probably done the "shooting of ourselves in the foot" over the last few weeks.

As many point out though, all is by no means lost as we are top of the league by a point. It's probably fair to say that we've had a fairly easy first fifteen matches in comparison to the the other big four teams (particularly the Mancs who have had a brutal start and are now ominously close to us), but we are in front albeit by a small margin.

I don't to be honest share the concerns of posters who lament the fact we aren't as fluent or exciting as Arsenal, or create as many chances as Man Utd. I think we're probably going to have to accept that with Rafa as the manager, we are always going to have a slightly more circumspect style. It's a bit like Arsenal fans moaning that Wenger won't go and spend big on experienced and proven talent while he prefers to bring youngsters through, it's just his way.

The important thing is not how, it's how many in terms of points. Anybody who expected our first title challenge under Rafa after five seasons to consist of us sailing serenly into the distance while all the othet teams toiled in our wake was deluding themselves IMHO. People commented on Monday about even Gerrard looking like it was getting to him. Absolutely no wonder I say, a Liverpool lad who's never played for anybody else and it's the FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER he's been under that sort of pressure in a league game. We aren't going to blow teams away, we're going to grind out results and points and hopefully we'll grind out more than our fair share against our immediate rivals which will compensate for our relative inneficiency against smaller teams.

There is much to be positive about, but also some concerns. Few have mentioned the defence which currently looks miserly. Many have mentioned the points total which is healthy, while there is an obvious feeling that we can and will play better. For sure we'll need to see more from Keane, and we need Torres back fit as soon as possible. We need Riera to return to his form when he first signed and sharpish, while Kuyt must rediscover his shooting boots because his contribution other than goals and effort is nowhere near good enough.

Ultimately though I'm not goign to get too down about our situation. We are selecting sensibly, we are top of the league and we are well and truly in the rattle. It's far better than being eight points adrift at this stage, with players who are going to be "fresh for the run in" and thinking, if we beat Man Utd away, and then win our next twelve we'll be right back in it". I'm really enjoying our challenge, and as Leon said we're just goign to have to accept the fact we're nt playing well but hang on in there. Definately not the time to panic I don't think.

[account deleted by request]

If we shot ourselves in the foot, we would only fkn miss with the strikers we have Mick

I don't really agree that the pressure is "getting to them". Most of the players have lived with the pressure in the CL AND FA cup for years. What greater pressure can there be than having to win 3 games just to stay in it like last season? They are experienced internationals not kids, so I don't really see that they can't handle it. Its early season .......maybe if it was May I would conceed that the pressure is on, but Fulham and West ham at home before Christmas ?

[Bad Bob]

The reality is that people are neither a disgrace nor a wind-up merchant for being concerned that we are continually having trouble breaking down mediocre teams.

Undoubtedly true, mate, but tell me, how are we meant to take posters who suggest that:

-Rafa's a "fecking idiot" who's trying to stick it to the poor fans and should be bombed out in favour of Harry Redknapp

OR

-Rafa's a clown that should be sacked at this stage so we can get Kenny Dalglish in to salvage the season

OR

-There's only a Big Three in the Premiership and we're not part of it because of the gulf in class between us and Arsenal/Chelsea/Man U


When I read stuff like that it's hard not to conclude that the poster in question is completely blinkered or on a wind-up. 

[supersub]

It's probably fair to say that we've had a fairly easy first fifteen matches in comparison to the the other big four teams (particularly the Mancs who have had a brutal start and are now ominously close to us), but we are in front albeit by a small margin.

It can't be that much different, considering we are not far from half way through the season, with only games against Blackburn,Hull,Arsenal & Newcastle to come.
  Once we've got the easy fixtures out the way, we'll just have to knuckle down and get results from the hard fixtures

[Bad Bob]

If we shot ourselves in the foot, we would only fkn miss with the strikers we have Mick

I don't really agree that the pressure is "getting to them". Most of the players have lived with the pressure in the CL AND FA cup for years. What greater pressure can there be than having to win 3 games just to stay in it like last season? They are experienced internationals not kids, so I don't really see that they can't handle it. Its early season .......maybe if it was May I would conceed that the pressure is on, but Fulham and West ham at home before Christmas ?

Saint, I think the pressure issue is based on what many people have been saying for years--the league is different and special.  The supporters know it, the media know it and the players and staff know it to.  Almost 20 years without a title and ages since a proper challenge has got to produce an especially large monkey for players to carry around on their backs.  Cup competitions surely have pressure associated with them too but it's a pressure that many of these players have experience dealing with.  The league's a different animal in that regard and I think it's especially the case when there's more than 24 hours between the Chelsea defeat and our match.  That's 24 hours for the media to hype the game and pour on the expectation and that's 24 hours for the lads to stew about what might happen if an early breakthrough doesn't come.  If we'd played even right after the Chelsea match on Sunday I think we would have seen less evidence that it was weighing on a few of the lads' minds.

[supersub]

I cringed last night when i heard the booing .

You can see the kind of boo merchants on here...never happy

And they are not all ooters and day trippers.... either!

[tonyeh]

The reality is that people are neither a disgrace nor a wind-up merchant for being concerned that we are continually having trouble breaking down mediocre teams.

Undoubtedly true, mate, but tell me, how are we meant to take posters who suggest that:

-Rafa's a "fecking idiot" who's trying to stick it to the poor fans and should be bombed out in favour of Harry Redknapp

OR

-Rafa's a clown that should be sacked at this stage so we can get Kenny Dalglish in to salvage the season

OR

-There's only a Big Three in the Premiership and we're not part of it because of the gulf in class between us and Arsenal/Chelsea/Man U


When I read stuff like that it's hard not to conclude that the poster in question is completely blinkered or on a wind-up. 

Again, I ask, do you REALLY believe there isn't a class difference between Liverpool and the other three?

Honestly?

[bigmick]

QUOTE FROM SUPERSUB-It can't be that much different, considering we are not far from half way through the season, with only games against Blackburn,Hull,Arsenal & Newcastle to come.
Once we've got the easy fixtures out the way, we'll just have to knuckle down and get results from the hard fixtures



I think Man U have played all the teams who finished in the top ten of the Premiership last season (bar West Ham apparently) Away from home already. This includes all the other big four teams and is why I described their start as brutal. Chelsea have played all the big four teams at Home (and only got 1 point otherwise they'd have absolutely gone clear and would be a speck in the distance), while us and Arsenal have had similar starts.

Man Utd though are looking ominous, and it is our failure to really put them to bed when we've had the chances which may ultimately cost us I reckon.

[account deleted by request]

If we shot ourselves in the foot, we would only fkn miss with the strikers we have Mick

I don't really agree that the pressure is "getting to them". Most of the players have lived with the pressure in the CL AND FA cup for years. What greater pressure can there be than having to win 3 games just to stay in it like last season? They are experienced internationals not kids, so I don't really see that they can't handle it. Its early season .......maybe if it was May I would conceed that the pressure is on, but Fulham and West ham at home before Christmas ?

Saint, I think the pressure issue is based on what many people have been saying for years--the league is different and special.  The supporters know it, the media know it and the players and staff know it to.  Almost 20 years without a title and ages since a proper challenge has got to produce an especially large monkey for players to carry around on their backs.  Cup competitions surely have pressure associated with them too but it's a pressure that many of these players have experience dealing with.  The league's a different animal in that regard and I think it's especially the case when there's more than 24 hours between the Chelsea defeat and our match.  That's 24 hours for the media to hype the game and pour on the expectation and that's 24 hours for the lads to stew about what might happen if an early breakthrough doesn't come.  If we'd played even right after the Chelsea match on Sunday I think we would have seen less evidence that it was weighing on a few of the lads' minds.

Sorry Bob, I honestly don't buy this pressure business so early in the season. I prefer my theory that we just haven't got enough goalscorers. At least with my theory we still have a chance , with yours and Mick's if they are feeling the pressure now by April they wont be able to kick a ball nevermind win a game.


So all Rafa has to do to win us the League is tell the players we arn't interested in the League this season, we are going to concentrate on the League cup!  Pressures off and away we go? 

[supersub]

the 3 teams that manu have played away and we haven't are Blackburn,Arsenal and Portsmouth and of course manu....

[rafa09]

What has not been mentioned is we,ve only lost one prem game all season,and that was a fluke. i,ve calmed down now, and have looked at the bigger picture. We have not been in this position for many a long year. dec 2nd and WE ARE TOP OF THE PREM   Honestly who would have taken that last aug? As for the boo boys they need a good kicking

[Ace Ventura]

the 3 teams that manu have played away and we haven't are Blackburn,Arsenal and Portsmouth and of course manu....

So thats 2 out of the top 4 then, and both places were we dont usually get any points.
Granted we dont usually at chelsea and still won there, but if we had already got the two of them out of the way i would rest a little easier.
Not that you even quoted me like, just adding my tuppence