Barney
"We're going to smash them (Crystal Palace)"
Think he'll get a bit of league cup action and that is it. Great talent, but he's a 17 year old midfielder....
I'd be surprised if he even got that.
Think he'll get a bit of league cup action and that is it. Great talent, but he's a 17 year old midfielder....
What made Liverpool's excellent season was a run of a couple of draws and wins followed by 11 (i think it was) wins on the bounce after Xmas, after which you reverted to type with a loss, win and draw in the last three games. Essentially your view for the coming year is based on that short period. However it might be that the 4 month period was the exception, and the previous 18 months were the norm.
I don't get how so many United fans are convinced that Liverpool will fail this year. I hope they do, but I don't see it happening. They have a great manager in Rodgers (anyone who disagrees has been in a coma since the appointment of Moyes), a young and hungry squad, and are adding good players to the team.
More than anything, they have a philosophy to their play. I would have to look back to the United of 07/08 to remember the last time that I watched a team look so threatening on every single attack. The way they demolished team after team last season was admirable, and great fun to watch .
The one argument that other fans are using to downplay Liverpool's hopes is obviously Suarez. And while he both scored and assisted so many, Liverpool could and should fare well without him. He was a catalyst in their team, but they've gone about their business well. If they can add one more quality striker to their ranks they'll have every chance of finishing higher than us in the table. It's up to Rodgers to make the right decisions and to make sure that his team can still perform week in week out. Europe will provide him with a heavier burden, but he's already proven that he's up for the occasion.
I agree that Pool played great football last year and I expect them to continue to do the same next season. However there are small margins in the PL. Lets assume they perform to the same level in 33 games and under-perform only in 5 games, because of tiredness from midweek trip to Russia or lack of Suarez's genius. Those 5 games could result in 10-15 points difference and that would place them 5th or 6th. This all hypothetical, but very likely - hence why pretty much everyone here is quite certain they are not going to reach the heights of last year. Most likely they will finish between 4th and 6th, if they manage to get 4th that would be a big achievement.
Have you offset that against signing too many similar players and no quality defenders. Hypothetically of course but very likely ....Have you offset that against the points a broader squad and leaking fewer goals could win? all hypothetical of course, but very likely...
Well he hasn't said anything about van Persie or de Gea, so obviously thinks they are on Messi's level.So you need to be at Messi/Ronaldo levels to be considered world class in your book?
No player will ever be world class again if that was the case. Those players are on another planet.
I wonder if they'll be given so many penalties this season?
Have you offset that against signing too many similar players and no quality defenders. Hypothetically of course but very likely ....
Highly unlikely without Suarez.
but have you offset that against that this years fixtures up until the end of October look on paper more difficult than last seasons where Liverpool won 6 drew 2 and lost only once.But have you offset that against the team obviously being much better drilled in Rodger's setup now than it was in the first half of last season? We could be hauling in a lot more points in the early stages of the season than we did last season.
Hypothetical of course, but very likely.
Great points. It would be naive to say selling Suarez won't make any difference, however a stronger squad will bridge that gap. Our bench was very weak last season and already I can see that being a problem resolved.
That said it would be still nice to get a quality striker signed up.
but have you offset that against that this years fixtures up until the end of October look on paper more difficult than last seasons where Liverpool won 6 drew 2 and lost only once.
So, actually Liverpool could be dropping more points (especially without a highly improved defence) than last season.
All hypothetically...but very likely
Again i'd be more worried if you said it'd be nice to get a quality dm or cb signed up.
I guess its a probably a pointless debate to get into with a liverpool supporter but do you really think gerrard is good enough?
I have no doubt you'll score goals and probably enough to put a challenge on the league - someone was saying you'll have to use lambert and lallana at times next season to rest sturridge and sterling as if it was a bad thing. They were better than about a dozen teams in the league last year so i dont see how thats going to be an issue.
But you conceded sooo many goals last season and ... yeah if that doesn't change then i dont see you scoring enough goals to overcome that.
Tbh i haven't paid much attention to your signings (or at least the ones that are actually confirmed) have you bought any defenders yet?
I think you'll finish between 3rd and ... 5th. City and Chelsea are just a cut above everyone this year by the looks of things.
5th as a worst case depends a lot on everton, cant see them not making a few loan signings and whatnot but they'd have to be pretty good to catch up imo.
EDIT:
Oh and i dont think the manager is going to make much difference to the top 5 next season.
Ill give the benefit of the doubt to rodgers and say that he isn't really behind wenger, mouinho, pellegrini and van gaal.
I just dont think any of them are significantly better than the others for it to be a meaningful advantage, maybe a few points one way or the other.
It was last season when moyes was miles behind them 4.
Rodgers is debatable obviously and most on here will say hes not as good as the others, while Rawk will probably say hes better.
I can understand liverpool supporters being optimistic about him
I think Gerrard is good enough for another season or two, in the more withdrawn role. Clearly he is not capable of bursting forward like he has so frequently in the past, but in a deep role he can still produce good performances and his leadership qualities are important for the rest of the team, especially the younger players.
Yes we conceded far too many goals last season, many from individual errors. No as yet no defenders surprisingly bought in, however mostly due to being unable to agree a fee for Sevilla's left back Moreno and Southampton's (cue comments from others on us "buying Southampton".....) centre half Lovren. I still think defenders will be brought in at some point.
I know what you mean about Chelsea and City, I hope we can compete with them but time will tell.
Rodgers is an excellent young manager, he did brilliantly last season, now the pressure is on to repeat and improve on that.
But have you have offset that against the deluded dipper attitude when they think 'this year is their year' attitude and havent taken into account that everyone else is/will be making changes for the better and that the other squads are also wiser and better and know how to play against a Brenden Rogers team. This could cause Liverpool to drop more points especially early on.But have you offset that against a very young squad now being a year old, wiser and better? This could win us even more points.
All hypothetically...but very likely.
I think Gerrard is good enough for another season or two, in the more withdrawn role. Clearly he is not capable of bursting forward like he has so frequently in the past, but in a deep role he can still produce good performances and his leadership qualities are important for the rest of the team, especially the younger players.
Yes we conceded far too many goals last season, many from individual errors. No as yet no defenders surprisingly bought in, however mostly due to being unable to agree a fee for Sevilla's left back Moreno and Southampton's (cue comments from others on us "buying Southampton".....) centre half Lovren. I still think defenders will be brought in at some point.
I know what you mean about Chelsea and City, I hope we can compete with them but time will tell.
Rodgers is an excellent young manager, he did brilliantly last season, now the pressure is on to repeat and improve on that.
But have you have offset that against the deluded dipper attitude when they think 'this year is their year' attitude and havent taken into account that everyone else is/will be making changes for the better and that the other squads are also wiser and better and know how to play against a Brenden Rogers team. This could cause Liverpool to drop more points especially early on.
All hypothetical but likely
Tony Barrett has said Rodgers wants at least five more players. He mentions Origi, Davies, Lovren and Remy as four of the names. He also said our interest in Bony was dying.
Rodgers has also said Sanchez was a case of geography dictating where he went. He has also said he's yet to spend the Suarez money.
Yeah that all makes sense i guess.
Who'd cover for gerrard next season? I presume he's not playing every week.
Completely unrealistic and highly unlikely!
Will Origo be loaned back to Lille?
Rodgers wants to put together a talented young side.
Will Origo be loaned back to Lille?
Rodgers wants to put together a talented young side.
Based upon anything in particular, or just a purely random statement not backed up by anything...?
.
look at the run in last season and even Englands world cup matches. He isn't up to it physically especially without a decent holding midfielder. Play him and Henderson in a two man midfield and the top teams will walk straight through...
look at the run in last season and even Englands world cup matches. He isn't up to it physically especially without a decent holding midfielder. Play him and Henderson in a two man midfield and the top teams will walk straight through...
I can see Rodgers playing a 352 against the smaller teams which would also accommodate Gerard better.
But have you offset that against I dont give a flying toss about the alleged Manc attitude accusations you make. Have you also taken into account that you actually agree that the changes in Liverpool you have been banging on about quote more often than not doesn't actually end up changing things for the better unquote.But have you offset that against the deluded manc attitude when they think last year didn't happen and havent taken into account that the changes everyone else is/will be making more often than not doesn't actually end up changing things for the better?
Apart from the change of manager Liverpool made in 2012 which has resulted in a change for the better. However, anything quality out of Liverpool over the past 12 months appears to be from the boot of Luis Suarez so Rodgers is a mere footnote in last season's vast improvement (probably the single biggest improvement in PL history over two seasons since Wenger's '98 Arsenal side). However, van Gaal will supersede all that with his midfield of Fellaini and Cleverley and smooth over all of United's open sores of last season. It's an automatic injection of 20+ points for United. Liverpool's high tempo fluid football won't surprise anyone next season. It's a done deal.But have you offset that against I dont give a flying toss about the alleged Manc attitude accusations you make. Have you also taken into account that you actually agree that the changes in Liverpool you have been banging on about quote more often than not doesn't actually end up changing things for the better unquote.
If Liverpool get 14m for Borini (as per the 'Tweets Only' thread), that is just ridiculous. To compound matters, we're grateful for receiving bids of 6-8m for Nani.
On paper, not scared of this team, in comparison with say, Chelsea who have strengthened in the key areas they needed to with very good players. Think Chelsea will be significantly better and cannot see Liverpool being within 10 points of them before a ball is kicked. I think if Liverpool manage to finish 4th they'll have done exceptionally well, but right now I fancy them for 5th.
However, this game isn't played on paper and last season I'd have had them finishing 5/6th before the season began and look what happened...
Because the team that finished 2nd lost by far it's best player?It really is amazing how many fancy the team that finished 7th to finish above the team that finished 2nd.
Because the team that finished 2nd lost by far it's best player?