Liverpool FC Forum

[Kev Huyton 2006]

We all know the keys for us next season:

1) A great start
2) Taking plenty of points off of our main rivals
3) Staying relatively injury free (esp. our big guns)

If we can get these three things, we'll certainly push Chelsea all the way for the title.

Bob,

Injuries and taking points off rivals is not the key to winning the premiership.

Every team has a few injuries, you need to have cover. Also, it's not the "Big" games versus rivals that have let us down, it is consistency in the other games versus the lesser teams.

I don't think we we will concede many, it's just what will we do

[Kev Huyton 2006]

Hi

[aCe']

at the moment...chelsea are looking too strong .. One of the guys mentioned reinforcements .... Chelsea signed ballack and shevchenko....we signed bellamy and Gonzales.... mmm...indivisually, they outclass in every position except for gerrard's ... so....unless we get trezeguet....i'd say the odds are they will retain their title yet again ! Butttt....im still hoping we could get treze. and get a good start for the season... fingers crossed .

[Bad Bob]

We all know the keys for us next season:

1) A great start
2) Taking plenty of points off of our main rivals
3) Staying relatively injury free (esp. our big guns)

If we can get these three things, we'll certainly push Chelsea all the way for the title.

Bob,

Injuries and taking points off rivals is not the key to winning the premiership.

Every team has a few injuries, you need to have cover. Also, it's not the "Big" games versus rivals that have let us down, it is consistency in the other games versus the lesser teams.

I don't think we we will concede many, it's just what will we do

Kev,

I'm not talking about little niggles, I'm talking about long-term injuries to the likes of key players such as Gerrard, Alonso, Carra, etc.  We were incredibly fortunate to avoid those last season and I hope we do again this time out.  We have cover for virtually every position on the pitch but I'd still not fancy our chances to take the title if one (or more) of our vital players goes out for a long stretch.

As for your second point...rubbish!

Have a look at last season's stats, mate.  We dropped 6 points to Chelsea, 3 points to the Mancs (5 if you count the missed opportunity for a win at Anfield) and came out even against Arsenal.  Simply put, not good enough to win the league (or take 2nd as it turned out).  It is essential that we take more points off of our main rivals--especially Chelsea--this season because you can be certain the title race will be decided by only a handful of points.

As for our record against other sides outside the top 4, I think we did really well (esp. compared to the previous year).  Sure, there's always room for improvement--turning some of those early draws into wins, for instance--but I think we've largely gotten over the lapses in concentration that always seemed to open the door for lesser teams.  For me, it's got to happen against the big boys this season or our title hopes will wither on the vine.

[Bad Bob]

1) A great start
2) Taking plenty of points off of our main rivals
3) Staying relatively injury free (esp. our big guns)

I think we'll win this season, we've been getting closer to Chavski and this season we have 3 points that will make gap that last step:

1) Reinforcements
2) Not having to go to Japan and have to recover those games later on wednesdays
3) Not having to make a preseason thinking on qualifying for the CL.

Rafa is a league specialist. He'll do it. You can remember I say this.

Great points mate!

I really think that trip to Japan came back to bite us in the a.rse last season.  We had that dodgy spell in late Jan/early Feb that I think can be linked to that ridiculous long-haul trip in the midst of the busiest portion of the season. :angry

The early start to the CL probably had something to do with our slow start to the league as well.  This seems counter-intuitive, I know--you'd think an early start to competitive football would have helped us get out of the blocks quickly in the league.  But, those early qualifiers really interfered with our pre-season preparations which might have made it tougher for the squad to gel and adapt to the new signings, Rafa's tactical expectations etc.

[Big Niall]

I think we should have bough Duff for £5m. A huge loss.

I think we are weak up front as Crouch doesn't score much, Fowler will have a lot of injuries and no pace, Bellamy isn't really a goal scorer either.

I don't rate Trezeger (spelling?) or Anelka but we do need a quality striker - I'd love to get Crespo but no chance.

I don't think Manu will be as good as last year as they have a few players getting on now and the young ones are not that good. Hopefully Ronaldo will leave as he is dangerous.

Chelsea should win it though. Hopefully it won't be as easy as the last two.

[woof woof !]

mmmm............seems i have sparked some serious footy talk

      

Accidents will happen       

[neil]

Hi

I guess your new around here...

[woof woof !]

Chelsea are obviously favourite BUT hopefully every game for them will be like a cup final and as the season wears on the sheer effort will begin to take it's toll .

My head says top five , Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U, Arsenal , Spurs .

but I'd put money on Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea , Arsenal, Spurs . 

[dawson99]

so you dont bet with your head?
Chelsea will win the league. Im sorry to make it so blunt but they will, they have the squad for it. We will push them however. I guess we have as good a chance as anyone else but it will take a mistake by them and some luck by us to win it. We just dont have the squad size to compete if cheatski remain like they did last term.

so saying, i have backed us to win it, but i always do that, this year tho, we do have a chance

[stmichael]

I think we've got a decent shot this season because we have one added ingredient to last season: PACE

Saturday's game showed that we can do ok without 2 traditional wide men but our game going forward is going to look different this year because of our dramatically increased pace in the side.

Bellamy shifted out right for much of the time he came on (a harbinger of things to come?) and once we had him on the right and Gonzalez on the left things opened up with a ton of options. The two wide players took off down the flanks, pulling the full backs out wide, stretched the defence and left Flo down the middle to run the socks off the back 2 with JAR overlapping down the left flank as well and pulling their midfield all over the pitch.

We tried doing it at times last year by passing and moving the ball around but lacked the pace to really test the opposition.  This time around, we can pull the whole field apart on the wings with speed and running into space. Cisse could do the running part, but was then ultimately let down by his limited footballing ability.

[kalos]

I think it is essentially going to boil down to one thing alongside ability and tactics- BELIEF.

Whatever you ay about Moaning-Ho the one thing you have to give him credit for is taking what was essentially a bakcbone put together by Ranieri, (Lampard, Terry, Cole, Duff) adding his own spices (Robben, Drogba etc and instilling the belief that they could win it.

It's not just about belief form the Manager (he has it and the players (they have it) but also from the fans ( because we can affect both the above).

If the players know inside we believe they can do it they will have an extra half yard all season. If one or two results don't go our way and they sense discontent on the Kop and the terraces then that belief may dissipate...once the steam is up we have to make sure they get carried along by the tidal wave of support ...

The last 16 years have been spent in expectation- that has often been the burden that has slowed progress...everyone form the Manager to the fans has to now live in belief rather than expectation.

YNWA

[Cool Hand Luke]

i think yes what about you

[thegreenred]

its those red tinted specs again folks LIVERPOOL top chelsea 2nd arsenal 3rd  The pride and the passion rafa has installed in the sqauad fills me with so much hope along with our hunger to succeed. i think chelsea will put all thier efforts into winning the champions league and the gunners will realy strugle if henry gets a long term injury. as far as the mancs are concerned no comment.

[Billy_5_Times]

Stevie G and Carra as well as a few of the other lads need one trophy to complete their personal trophy case. The one I'm on about is the league. So with that said it is obvious it will be our year. Those players at coming to their prime and they have the hunger and the quality to challenge Chelsea. Just remember if we didn't go through that bad patch where we couldn't score then we would of won the league last year. So with Robbie back fit, Crouch with his 1st season under his belt and Bellamy raring to go. Goals, and therefore wins, doesn't look a problem for this year.

This is our year.
Liverpool 1st
Arsenal 2nd (new stadium and Henry staying)
Chelsea 3rd (only because they buy i)
And then it's take your pick out of the rest for 4th. They're all as bad as each other. And yes I do put the Mancs into that because of the departure of Van Nistelrooy and Rooney is not fit for the start and it will take him a while to get fit again. Spurs may find it difficult without Carrick. Newcastle without Owen or Shearer wont score a goal. Everton are unpridictable I suppose. Blackburn haven't really bought a decent striker to replace Bellamy. Bolton just kick the manure out of you. Boro look good but without Southgate at the back could struggle. Man City are going backwards by signing Dickov. Wigan were one season wonders. Portsmouth are after anyone who moves so could surprise a few people this year. Villa will be typically predicted by their own fans as a top 6 side and will just about survive relagation. Fulham arent going to do anything this season. Them and Charlton will be at the wrong end of the table but shouldn't struggle. West Ham could again rise a few eyebrows and push for Europe. the 3 sides who came up I believe will struggle. Reading play football and therefore put a push for mid-tabke but I doubt it.