Liverpool FC Forum

by **Igor Zidane** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:30 pm

It's not the truth ,it's your opinion and your opinion counts for f@ck all you kn0b.

by **7_Kewell** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:43 pm

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:I don't beleive this. You so called supporters just don't wish to believe the truth!

it's just sad.

the only sad one here is you. You're obsessed with a football team that you do not support! Get a life!

by **Scottbot** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:48 pm

Bad Bob wrote:Ignoring the wind-up merchants and getting back to the topic at hand...

Good post Barry,

The progress made this year has been impressive, if somewhat less tangible (unless we win the FA Cup of course!). But the table doesn't lie (this year anyway) and we're right up there amongst the best in the league, pushing hard for second and are much closer to Chelski then we were last year. True, we're out of Europe but there's no question that we're a better team than last year.

Some of the key reasons we're better (in no particular order)...

1) The rehabilitation of Harry Kewell. I'll hold my hand up and admit that I had had it with "Sick Note" at this stage last year and hoped he'd be shipped out over the summer. Rafa kept the faith, however, and he's come back into the side in a big way this year--especially since Christmas, as he's scored some important goals for us in the last few months (e.g. his wonder volley against Tottenham and his match winner against Man City). Long may it continue!

2) Peter Crouch. I had doubts when he signed but had faith in Rafa's vision. Well, for my money, Crouch has been vital. As has been noted many times by many people on this board, his ability to hold the ball up has been essential this season--he's contributed immensely to the possession football that Rafa has got the lads playing and this has allowed us to control many more games than last year, even in difficult away fixtures. In addition, he's helped create goals for others (notably Stevie...see both Newcastle games) and has chipped in with 12 himself. At the start of the season, I would have been happy with 15 goals from Crouchy and he's on pace to match or beat that.

3) Momo. In a word, a collosus in the centre of the park. His ability to break up play has snuffed out danger long before it reaches the back four. Plus, he frees up Stevie and Xabi to do what they do best. His ability to break into the first team, at age 20, right from the off impressed me. But his utterly seamless return from injury blows me away--he nearly lost an eye on February 21st and he was back dictating things in the centre of the park at Birmingham on March 21st...unbelievable!

4) Pepe Reina. This lad fills me with confidence. The West Brom game yesterday was a great example--he got behind every dangerous shot the Baggies produced (Kamara, Gera) and made the catches look easy. His ability to anticipate danger and take action is top drawer. He fills the back line with confidence and allows them to player higher up the pitch. And, even when he flaps at a cross or mis-cues a punch, he seems to have the mental strength to dust himself off and get right back to it. And, he's get many, many more good years ahead of him.

5) A committed Steven Gerrard. It's as though the Chelsea soap opera of the last two summers never happened. Stevie is playing with a passion and intelligence that was simply missing at times last season. He's been the player of the season by a wide margin and he finally seems to suit the captain's armband.

6) Consistency. In just about every area of the team we have players who are putting in a high level of performance week in, week out. When players like Pepe, Carra, Sami, Finnan, Riise, Xabi, Momo, Stevie and Robbie are on the teamsheet, you know what you're going to get: 100%, uncompromising commitment. Thankfully, this core group has managed to stay relatively injury free all season and their presence has been reflected in the performances. No longer do I wonder which Liverpool team is going to show up for any given match. Last year's rollercoaster ride of up and down performances seem like very hazy memories. Even on bad days (like at Highbury recently) we still look like grinding out a draw or nicking a win and that speaks volumes about the team's improvements this season.

Walk On

That's a cracking post Bob.

Hustler, maybe you should try reading it?

by **65-1140560321** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:08 pm

I read it, and its full of contradictions.

"The progress we have made this season has been impressive, but less tangible"

Wot on earth................! Thats like saying...we've had a good season , but we havent !!!!!!!!!!

"Last year's rollercoaster ride of up and down performances seem like very hazy memories"" ??

Are you confused boy?

What about this seasons poor performances?.. squandering many many chances in front of goal, that stevie wonder would have scored! It became desperate at one point in Jan and Feb.

by **Flashard** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:29 pm

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:I read it, and its full of contradictions.

"The progress we have made this season has been impressive, but less tangible"

Wot on earth................!

"Last year's rollercoaster ride of up and down performances seem like very hazy memories"" ??

Are you confused boy?

What about this seasons poor performances?.. squandering many many chances in front of goal, that stevie wonder would have scored! It became desperate at one point in Jan and Feb.

Knob

by **Scottbot** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:38 pm

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:I read it, and its full of contradictions.

"The progress we have made this season has been impressive, but less tangible"

Wot on earth................!

"Last year's rollercoaster ride of up and down performances seem like very hazy memories"" ??

Are you confused boy?

What about this seasons poor performances?.. squandering many many chances in front of goal, that stevie wonder would have scored! It became desperate at one point in Jan and Feb.

But football doesn't work like that does it? Winning the league is more like climbing a mountain. From our altitide of 18 months ago you don't suddenly reach the top in one season. Given the choice of being happy about the progress the club has made in the past 18 months or harping on about 'anything less than the title (that we haven't got close to for 16 bloody years) being pants' you choose the latter.

I can't recall having any words with you in the past Hustler and i prefer not to shout you down like so many of the others on here because a) it's boring and b) I think the abuse you get on here and the idea that you are getting members irate on the board is probably the main reason you come back on here.

It would be cool if i thought that you really believed the posts you have made so far in this thread but it seems likely that you are once again coming out with opinions that you know the majority wil disagree with in order to get the usual predictable rise.

by **stmichael** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:48 pm

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:If you look at the league table tonight, Man Utd are only 7 points behind chelsea. This is because they won their games in hand.
They have a weakened side, and are playing Giggs and O'shea (a defender!) in centre mid. But can still produce title winning performances and form.

My point is,we are supposed to be stronger now than them, and had we not botched up our games in hand, when we had two games in hand over Man Utd, then we would now be hot on the trail of Chelsea with a real chance of winning the league.

Now we are a good few points behind in 3rd place, with no chance. It was our Own fault!

We are supposedly better than the Mancs, but cannot produce consistent results when it counts.

This is why IMO our season will be a disapointment if we dont get the FA cup.

I blame....sub standard strikers..Cisse, Moro, Crouch, etc and lack of a suitable replacement in the Transfer window in Jan.

Hyypia, now 33..two/three more season left?? CArra same. And next season, Stevie has to perform to the same high standard, like every year.
But for how many seasons can our top players perform until there is a drop in effort/ ability ? it happens to all top players.

hustler, why don't you just admit that you're really a manc fan? :sleep

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:54 pm

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:I read it, and its full of contradictions.

"The progress we have made this season has been impressive, but less tangible"

Wot on earth................!

"Last year's rollercoaster ride of up and down performances seem like very hazy memories"" ??

Are you confused boy?

What about this seasons poor performances?.. squandering many many chances in front of goal, that stevie wonder would have scored! It became desperate at one point in Jan and Feb.

Well, dimwit, allow me to clarify...

Should we fail to win any silverware this season, our progress might seem less tangible than last season, when we could point to the Champions League victory as a sign of the club's progress under Rafa. If we don't win the FA Cup and end up finishing 3rd, some fickle numpties--such as yourself--might use that as an excuse to suggest what a poor season it's been because we've not won any trophies. They, and you, would be very wrong...end of.

As for this season's poor performances...our recent dry spell in front of goal in no way amounted to the type of poor performances we witnessed last year. Take your pick of the 'poor' games this past January or February (or March for that matter) and I guarantee you that weren't anywhere near as bad as last year's trips to Birmingham, Southampton, Boro or Crystal Palace. We are, hands down, a much stronger, more consistent side this season.

And, just so we're clear, I don't offer these clarifications for you "Alfonso"--you are clearly a simpleton who enjoys talking out of your duodenum and winding people up... :no

Rather, I address other true Liverpool fans who might actually be interested in legitimately discussing the progress the lads have made this season

by **65-1140560321** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:51 am

Bad Bob,

I do concede, that the "overall" performances by LFc this season, have been better than last year. (without contradicting myself!)

BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! we have been in many a good chance this season, and thrown it away! esp after the WCC tour.

Noone on this forum can explain to me why Cisse, Moro and Crouch failed to score much in Jan and Feb, despite being given numerous chances.

Also, St. Mike..........I cant believe you think I am a manc fan, based on that post! I was merely stating facts!...You dont see me bellowing .."GIGGSY"....GIGGSY.....GIGGSY!

Do you?

?

??

Rubbish....I am a REALIST..on this forum, a rare occurence, ad not one of the many Juvenile Dreamers in here.

Hoenstly...I should be managing the LFC team.

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:02 am

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:Rubbish....I am a REALIST..on this forum, a rare occurence, ad not one of the many Juvenile Dreamers in here.

Well, then, I pity you mate because your "reality" is surely a bleak little hovel if you can only obsess about what little's wrong with the team instead of enjoying all that is right with it!

But, hey, to each his own

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:26 am

I think, whether we turn over Chelski in the Cup or not, it's been a good season for us.

We're still a team very much in transition, but putting the squad we have now side-by-side with the squad we had this time last season, there's no comparison really - we're considerably stronger right through the side.

Stunning though it was, the CL win was a bit of a red herring as to where we were in the European pecking order, and this season I think has been a more accurate thermometer reading of where we stand. We have a very, very good football team, but there are still better sides out there.

For me, we're still a little too inconsistent, our strikers are a little too gun-shy, and we lack a little of the killer instinct that LFC teams of old had. We may have left it too late to get second, and Man U are giving lessons on how a patched together side can put games to bed right now - it's a skill we really need to acquire. In spite of this, I think that the league table may end up lying come the end of the season - we're definitely a closer challenger to Chelsea than Man U are, but Ferguson has moulded a team that will grind out the kind of results that still seem to elude us. Take Charlton at home - Chelsea and Man U would have found a goal from somewhere to take the 3 points, but somehow we dominated and yet contrived to concede 2 goals.

Make no mistake though, we are not far behind Europe's elite right now. I genuinely think we are 3 signings max away from being a Premiership-winning club.

If we'd had an in-form striker at the club at the turn of the year, I reckon we'd definitely have won at Man U, would easily have turned over 10 man Brum at Anfield, and we'd definitely, definitely, definitely have beaten Charlton home and away. The difference a bit of consistency and goalscoring at these key times would mean we'd have starting April with 10 points more than we currently have. Just think, we'd only now be 2 points behind Chelsea.

Something I'm sure Rafa is well aware of, and something I'm sure he'll address in summer.

Definitely a promising season though. We've shown quality all over the pitch, and there's so much more to come in all areas that for me next season can't fail to be anything less than an improvement.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:52 am

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:If you look at the league table tonight, Man Utd are only 7 points behind chelsea. This is because they won their games in hand.
They have a weakened side, and are playing Giggs and O'shea (a defender!) in centre mid. But can still produce title winning performances and form.

My point is,we are supposed to be stronger now than them, and had we not botched up our games in hand, when we had two games in hand over Man Utd, then we would now be hot on the trail of Chelsea with a real chance of winning the league.

Now we are a good few points behind in 3rd place, with no chance. It was our Own fault!

We are supposedly better than the Mancs, but cannot produce consistent results when it counts.

This is why IMO our season will be a disapointment if we dont get the FA cup.

I blame....sub standard strikers..Cisse, Moro, Crouch, etc and lack of a suitable replacement in the Transfer window in Jan.

Hyypia, now 33..two/three more season left?? CArra same. And next season, Stevie has to perform to the same high standard, like every year.
But for how many seasons can our top players perform until there is a drop in effort/ ability ? it happens to all top players.

So Carragher is 33 is he you deluded tw*t?

The train is coming, pikey.

Better get a shift on or you'll miss it. :nod

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:46 am

Alfonso Alonso 2006 wrote:If you look at the league table tonight, Man Utd are only 7 points behind chelsea. This is because they won their games in hand.
They have a weakened side, and are playing Giggs and O'shea (a defender!) in centre mid. But can still produce title winning performances and form.

My point is,we are supposed to be stronger now than them, and had we not botched up our games in hand, when we had two games in hand over Man Utd, then we would now be hot on the trail of Chelsea with a real chance of winning the league.

Now we are a good few points behind in 3rd place, with no chance. It was our Own fault!

We are supposedly better than the Mancs, but cannot produce consistent results when it counts.

This is why IMO our season will be a disapointment if we dont get the FA cup.

I blame....sub standard strikers..Cisse, Moro, Crouch, etc and lack of a suitable replacement in the Transfer window in Jan.

Hyypia, now 33..two/three more season left?? CArra same. And next season, Stevie has to perform to the same high standard, like every year.
But for how many seasons can our top players perform until there is a drop in effort/ ability ? it happens to all top players.

As much as a wind up you are Alonso Alfonso, Huster or what ever else your called, there is some reality in that post.

On your first point about ManUSa, I have to say you are right there. Possibly the worst ManUsa team for fifteen years and yet they still look like finishing second.

To me the only two teams that have improved this year are ourselves and Chelski, Chelski are pulling away from the rest of the pack while we have now caught up with the chasing pack i,e ManUsa Arsenal. So we have improved if you look at it like that and Rafa has bridged that 30 point gap.

Yes your also right if we won our games in hand we could well be in there position now I think the results against Charlton and Arsenal were the result of that. So yes I can see where your coming from, and I"m content in the fact that the team is pulling together and heading in the right direction. But I'm not silly enough to expect overnight miracles and neither should you.

"We are supposedly better than the Mancs, but cannot
produce consistent results when it counts"

On paper our team has a better starting eleven and if we had to play them five times we would probably win 3 draw 1 and possibly lose the other. But the points were dropped for me at the start of the season when we could get nothing but draws for a while there and a terrible defeat at Fulham.
Crouch was new to the club the team needed time to settle and get it together. You can't expect to see instant results in changes it doesnt work like that.

Yes blame can be put to " sub standard strikers" for not getting the goals needed. As a result of that Morientes could be on his way in the summer, I dont know. Cisse too may be off.

There was a statement which did leave me a little baffled from Rafa the other day concerning Robbie Fowler.
He said something along the lines, We know Robbie can score goals its not a matter of how many, but mainly its also what he brings to the team apart from that.

Its all well and good Rafa likeing good work ethic for the team but all strikers are judged on there goals, and to me thats more important. Players like Ian Rush and Gary Linekar didnt really come to life until they got into the oppositions eighteen yard box. I think we are missing this type of striker a selfish goal getter and if he does nothing else but score goals that would suit me just fine.

by **Espionage** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:33 am

Bamaga man wrote:There was a statement which did leave me a little baffled from Rafa the other day concerning Robbie Fowler.
He said something along the lines, We know Robbie can score goals its not a matter of how many, but mainly its also what he brings to the team apart from that.

Its all well and good Rafa likeing good work ethic for the team but all strikers are judged on there goals, and to me thats more important. Players like Ian Rush and Gary Linekar didnt really come to life until they got into the oppositions eighteen yard box. I think we are missing this type of striker a selfish goal getter and if he does nothing else but score goals that would suit me just fine.

Sometimes Rafa's grasp of english is a little exposed. Rafa is most likely trying to say that yes, he can score goals (maybe he will score less than Cisse with the same amount of games) but that does not need to score to prove his worth and nor will not scoring mean that he wont get resigned.
Personally i think that he has done enough to earn his extension that he so obviously wants (even if he doesnt score anymore goals for the rest of the season).

by **JC_81** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:44 am

Good thread Barry, I'd agree with most of that.

On the European exit you are spot on. We are not good enough to win it 2 years in a row yet and it's as simple as that. While we played brilliantly in Europe last year we were far from the best team in Europe and had a lot of things go our way at crucial times. You can't do that every year. This year it went the other way, we dominated the tie against Benfica, cut them apart on numerous occasions, but ended up losing to them home and away - what can you do?

Our progress has been great and I'd highlight the signings of Sissoko, Crouch and Reina as the reasons for our much more consistent league form. Momo's ability to win the ball and Crouch's ability to hold it up are the main reasons for our much improved away form, while Reina's consistency has probably been worth about 10 extra league points alone imo.

This brings me to my main point which is that this season has given me every faith in Benitez's dealings in the transfer market. Since he came here every player he's signed for the first team has looked a good buy, with the exceptions of Josemi, Nunez and Pellegrino who have been moved on. I'm sure the board have noticed this too and I think they will continue to back him 100% when it comes to getting players.

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