What lessons can we learn from our first genuine title challenge in years? Any? None? Some?
Sabre wrote:I'm too happy that you're back to disagree with anything so soon, so I'll just answer the questionWhat lessons can we learn from our first genuine title challenge in years? Any? None? Some?
Some:
1.- We should have get rid of Parry way before.
2.- Rafa should have known well the kind of player he brings to the club. Regardless Parry wanted to pay more or less, Rafa should have foreseen that Keane isn't the kind of player that likes to be subbed or ready to fight for a place. We can't afford signings like that again.
3.- We were not miles away of winning it, a couple of adjustments, can bring you the necessary points to cut an important distance.
4.- We have progressed in a very noticeable way.
5.- We shouldn't think of getting rid of players like Mascherano just because they have a more average season. Same applies to other top class players. Form is temporary and class is permanent and all that.
bigmick wrote:As the season has panned out, as our challenge has meandered along, we've entered unchartered waters a few times. Some of the time we've handled it quite well, whereas on other occasions we've not unnaturally looked like we aren't sure whether to stick or twist, to raise or call. At times we've won despite not playing well which is the tried and trusted hallmark of a good team, while over the last six weeks or so we've been playing about as well as any Liverpool team over the last twenty years.
Our efforts may yet prove to be enough. Manchester United may indeed drop yet more points and we are close enough to capitalise if they do. Like the other two big four teams, they made it to the FA Cup semi final. They'll no doubt beat Everton and like Chelsea will have the final at the back of their minds. Also, like the same other two big four teams they reached the Champions League semi final, and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise in the World if they progressed in that as well. There will be many distractions for them, as there has been for Arsenal before and after they visit Anfield. We of course have no such complications, and the fact we only have a half dozen games to worry about should mean that we will be able to give a good account of ourselves over the remaining games. I reckon we'll be ready should they slip up, and will finish closer than many of us had predicted. For my part, for most of the season my guess has been second and eight points back, and it seems a certainty we'll be much closer than that.
So what if we don't quite do it (and indeed even if we do), what lessons have we learnt, what conclusions can we draw from the campaign? With the benefit of hindsight, did we get it always right, or were there areas where we could have possibly given ourselves a better chance? Is it concieveable that we could have been sitting pretty by now, with the Mancs hoping we fecked it up rather than the other way around? Is it even possible that we are better off being the chaser rather than the chased, better off not being under the closest of scrutiny as the Mancs will be over the next few games?
It may seem odd to be asking the question at this stage, but as you may or may not be aware I haven't been around these parts too much lately. If perish the thought we didn't beat Arsenal, then naturally any such questions would be buried under a tirade of insults. You'd be "happy the team lost", "not a real fan" and all that stuff. Asking the question now, while the team is flying and still in with a good chance should hopefully avoid some of that at least, though obviously not all.
So in essence that's the topic starter, that's the question. What lessons can we learn from our first genuine title challenge in years? Any? None? Some?
Needless to say I have a few theories of my own, I'll post em up in a bit.
bigmick wrote:4. We have progressed massively over the last six weeks or so. It is so obvious that denying it would indicate either blindness or somebody who doesn't understand football. I thought the performance from the team in the first half hour at Stamford Bridge the other night was the best I'd seen us play in years.
5. I agree with the class being permanent thing, although not all players who plunge their own depths of form bounce back like Alonso did. Sometimes you have to accept it isn't going to happen. The manager was wrong as it turned out about Alonso as he now is playing immeasureably better than he had in the previous two seasons. He was right though about Morientes. Sometimes you just have to believe your own eyes.
maguskwt wrote:I'm surprised nobody has picked this up yet. Lesson learned:
"Rafa-Style", changing the team, the formation and/or the positions which the players play in with the frequency and to the degree which Rafa does will never be successful in the English premier League.
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