Liverpool FC Forum

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:11 pm

by **Emerald Red** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:11 pm

Not to mention the ones we should and could have won.

by **bigmick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:13 pm

Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:17 pm

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:18 pm

bigmick wrote: Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

by **bigmick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:27 pm

Lando_Griffin wrote:I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Well if we're not interested in ever mounting a League title challenge, but want to make sure we have a good chance of Champions league success (as long as we qualify of course), then there is no better man for the job than Rafa.

You could even argue that his methods (particularly rotation) make success in the Champions League even more likely, as it renders our domestic title challenge null and void very early in the campaign and allows him to nurse players through the season to give us the best chance of success in the European arena.

Just a bit of a worry that you have to get in the top four to get in the thing though. I suppose if we win it this season like we did in his first, it won't matter if we finish fifth again like we did that year because they'll let us in it anyway.

by **Emerald Red** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:28 pm

Lando_Griffin wrote:
bigmick wrote::D Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Hmm, I have to disagree at this point. It's been too long and I can't even remember the sight of us lifting the one trophy that's eluded us for 17 and going on 18 years. I'm tired of glory hunting Mancs calling us a small club because we've failed to win it, whereas they have been. When that ends, and we do win it, everyone who has said that "we'll never win it again" will be made to know it. I won't let them forget it, and they'll hate me for it.

by **bigmick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:31 pm

If we manage to overcome Barnsley at home in the fifth round of the FA Cup, we will be in the quarter finals. Should we perish at that stage, will the fact we got to the quarters be held up as an achievement when we discuss the season subsequently, or will our draw of Luton, Waterlooville and then Barnsley be taken into consideration?

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:32 pm

bigmick wrote:
Lando_Griffin wrote:I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Well if we're not interested in ever mounting a League title challenge, but want to make sure we have a good chance of Champions league success (as long as we qualify of course), then there is no better man for the job than Rafa.

You could even argue that his methods (particularly rotation) make success in the Champions League even more likely, as it renders our domestic title challenge null and void very early in the campaign and allows him to nurse players through the season to give us the best chance of success in the European arena.

Just a bit of a worry that you have to get in the top four to get in the thing though. I suppose if we win it this season like we did in his first, it won't matter if we finish fifth again like we did that year because they'll let us in it anyway.

If you really think that Rafa puts the league aside in favour of the Champions' league, then fair enough.

But you're wrong.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:34 pm

Emerald Red wrote:
Lando_Griffin wrote:
bigmick wrote::D Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Hmm, I have to disagree at this point. It's been too long and I can't even remember the sight of us lifting the one trophy that's eluded us for 17 and going on 18 years. I'm tired of glory hunting Mancs calling us a small club because we've failed to win it, whereas they have been. When that ends, and we do win it, everyone who has said that "we'll never win it again" will be made to know it. I won't let them forget it, and they'll hate me for it.

I WANT us to win the league, but I also refuse to measure Rafa's success purely on one competition, particularly when one of the others he excels in holds a sight more weight.

by **NANNY RED** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:38 pm

Lando_Griffin wrote:
bigmick wrote::D Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Ive been sayin this for weeks now on here we are becoming obsessed with winning the EPL .I am one of the lucky ones to have witnessed our last league win and of course id love us to win it again but im prepared to take as a LFC supporter whatever trophy our manager can bring us.

On a different note though Raffa get rid of the Goatee lad and maybe our fortunes will change

by **bigmick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:43 pm

Lando_Griffin wrote:If you really think that Rafa puts the league aside in favour of the Champions' league, then fair enough.

But you're wrong.

No I don't think that (this is a good thread by the way). I don't for one minute think he puts the league aside so he can concentrate on Europe. I think circumstances dictate that he has to forget about the league, because we're no longer in it!

Take this season for example, we were out of the title race by Christmas and his only interest from here on in as far as the League is concerned is trying to make sure we finish in the top four. The fly in the ointment this year as opposed to last season (when we were also out of the title race except this time we only waited about eight games into the season until we could safely chuck the towell in-remember Sheffield United away, Everton Away, Bolton Away etc etc etc etc) is that Everton/Villa/Man City are pushing us for fourth. Add in to that the fact that we have drawn a very good Inter Milan side in the Champions League (as we didn't manage to win our super-strong group) and this season has a different dynamic.

I'm sure though that Rafa starts out the season believeing he is going to give it everything in the Premiership. I'm sure for instance that when he rested Torres and Gerrard at Portsmouth, he did so believing that come the run-in we would be scrapping it out at the top. Similarly in the next game whn he rested Toores against Birmingham, it was with best intentions.

Unfortunately however, it never works. We are and will be out of it before it ever gets going, which means that we concentrate on the cups. Unfortunately, the only other occasion we were involved in a league struggle under Rafa was in his first season where we battled it out with Everton, once again for fourth. Despite the delayed gazelle theory and rotation however, they outlasted us and beat us to it. Hopefully we'll do better this time.

by **Number 9** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:45 pm

Nice pics,nice memories!

Whos to say we cant repeat 2005 this season?If we can get passed Inter that should gauge our chances of going all the way.

Still in the FA cup which we have every chance of winning.

A cup double would do nicely along with a top 4 finish,that would be a good season in anyones estimation.It may or may not happen but i still believe and will do so until we get put out!

by **Emerald Red** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:54 pm

Lando_Griffin wrote:
Emerald Red wrote:
Lando_Griffin wrote:
bigmick wrote::D Jeez Lando you had me there. I thought he'd done an interiew where he undertook to finally learn some lessons over the last four years in the League. I had visions of him saying he was going to attempt to find a settled team and pattern, and to drop the idea of building two teams rather than one. I figured he might shelve the idea of playing Kuyt over crouch, and pledge to cut out the random formation switches. You fooled me there I gotta tell you

I just don't understand this obsession with the league. There are bigger and better things out there.

Hmm, I have to disagree at this point. It's been too long and I can't even remember the sight of us lifting the one trophy that's eluded us for 17 and going on 18 years. I'm tired of glory hunting Mancs calling us a small club because we've failed to win it, whereas they have been. When that ends, and we do win it, everyone who has said that "we'll never win it again" will be made to know it. I won't let them forget it, and they'll hate me for it.

I WANT us to win the league, but I also refuse to measure Rafa's success purely on one competition, particularly when one of the others he excels in holds a sight more weight.

This is true. Three years ago had someone told me we would win the CL before the league, I would have laughed. But it happened. Those Mancs, Arsenal and Chelsea fans (and the Bluesh*tes) must have been shell shocked seeing that they've all been trying for so long without much success.

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