Liverpool Thread

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Wow. You are actually celebrating the fact we've won nothing when your own team has in fact...er won NOTHING!

Utterly Bizarre.

BTW clockender i'd go to specsavers

Do that then mate, Kalou clearly level with last defender, and last time I looked this was onside.

 

[antred]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Do that then mate, Kalou clearly level with last defender, and last time I looked this was onside.

No he wasnt onside he was offside. Everyone saw it. The commentators, the pundits, the fans. he was offside. Dont let your blind hatred get the better of you.

Anyway its done and dusted now, Chelsea were just about better on the night as we were in the first leg. You wont see me crowing on about injustices, thats just football.

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

No he wasnt onside he was offside. Everyone saw it. The commentators, the pundits, the fans. he was offside. Dont let your blind hatred get the better of you.

Anyway its done and dusted now, Chelsea were just about better on the night as we were in the first leg. You wont see me crowing on about injustices, thats just football.

Well you seem to be going on and on about it...

I paused it on my SKY + there is no way he was in front of the last defender, unless the grass was cut in a diagional line . Thats my opinion, thats what I saw and unfortunately for you thats what the ref's assistant saw.

My best mate who is a Liverpool fan agreed with me....just accept it.

I don't have blind hatred of Liverpool, just glad to see the better team go through.

 

[antred]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Well you seem to be going on and on about it...

I paused it on my SKY + there is no way he was in front of the last defender, unless the grass was cut in a diagional line . Thats my opinion, thats what I saw and unfortunately for you thats what the ref's assistant saw.

My best mate who is a Liverpool fan agreed with me....just accept it.

I don't have blind hatred of Liverpool, just glad to see the better team go through.

Wow must be true then, Sky + and your mate confirm it for you.

BTW who is going on about it? Your the one who immediately dived into this thread last night to tell us we'd been eliminated and first to give us a kicking over it.

 

[rushilhalflife]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Well even if Kalou was offside and even if the goal wouldnt have been allowed to stand, Chelsea for sure would score somehow an another one. They Dominated the game and come on its Stamford bridge, apparently the ONLY place where they can play well.

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Wow must be true then, Sky + and your mate confirm it for you.

BTW who is going on about it? Your the one who immediately dived into this thread last night to tell us we'd been eliminated and first to give us a kicking over it.

A kicking??

Go back and check it, I wasn't going to post at all but when I saw Peter Eyres post about Chelsea getting the rub of the green I had to laugh and had to respond.

I have my opinion on that first goal and no amount of whining from you is gonna change that. Its there for all to see. I respect that you feel strongly about it, you should do, you just lost to the chavs in the champions league semi-final.

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Oh dear, I am back in 6th grade!

Got a lot of stick from my mate who's a Chelsea fan. I had been going on about our semi final win last year for the whole year, and looks like he'll be doing the same

Was expecting a shower of Mancs to come up here, and slag us off, and they haven't disappointed

Another season has come to an end. It promised much, but delivered little unfortunately. Never expected us to win the title, but was hoping for a 2nd placed finish, and a title challenged till mid March. Champions League, we've done what's expected of us yet again. 2 more teams have been added to the list who have suffered from Rafalution.

We end up with a 4th place finish, and a CL semi final, and at the start of the season, I would have been disappointed. But looking back at how things went, it really could have been much worse. Our club was in turmoil in January, and I was honestly expecting us to just go into free fall. But, our great manager picked us up, and got us fighting. People are just underestimating the impact those cunts in the board room have had. I am proud of our boys.

We played pretty well last night I think. Gerrard did his usual disappearing act, but we did really well in the 2nd half. Skrtel going off was a HUGE BLOW. Skrtel had had the better of Drogba on more than one occassion last match, and even this match, but with Sami, Drogba would have had more confidence, as he has always done well against Sami.

We've made progress on the field, we definitely have. Probably hindered by all the bullshit going on, but we have. We probably still have some problems. While we have started scoring plenty of goals, set pieces remain a problem. All, our bottling mentality against the Mancs. I would have loved to see Agger given a full season. I really thought this would be his breakthrough season, where he would make the next step, but wasn't to be. He'll be back, fit, next season, hopefully.

Now that the season is over, our No. 1 priority HAS to be to get these cunts out. They just CANNOT stay. With the Euros coming up, Rafa would want his No. 1 targets be bought quickly. Don't think we need a major overhaul. We've pretty much got our spine now. We've got a really good group of 13-15 players, and plenty of quality youngsters coming up. We probably need a clear out though, as we have to get rid of the stop gaps. Probably all of these players might leave

Riise (first of all!!)
Kewell
Voronin
Crouch
Finnan
Pennant
Kuyt

These players have served their funtions, and I can't see them being part of Rafa's long term plans. Rafa's obviously found a formula that works, and I really hope we stick with it. We don't need a revolution, but a few tweaks here and there. No need to have debates about formation and Gerrard's position next season again. This is where the future should be. We need to a buy a couple of attacking players, and a full back, and go on from there. We still do lack a bit of pace, and I would like to see us add some pace.

We've got plenty of youngsters. I personally think Babel and Lucas will go onto be stars. 2 games left, I'd give both of them a proper go, along with Insua, Plessis etc. Use the 2 games to blood these youngsters, who all have enormous potential.

The next 2 seasons is where our squad could go to the next level. Whether we win the league title or not (most probably) in the 2 years remains to be seen, but as a team, the next step of Rafalution are the next 2 seasons. I expect Babel and Lucas (to a lesser extent) to have a breakthrough season. Torres has been absolutely exceptional, and I think he will now go onto to be the top striker in Europe in the next 2 seasons. It's also time, IMO, for a proper CB partnership to develop, and Skrtel-Agger is the future. As much as I love Carra, he has been very average this season. Skrtel has been great, and Agger was great last season. Those 2 could potentially be a world class partnership. Skrtel has pace, but also the physical strength, and aerial presence. Agger, on the other hand, is a more natural defender, and eases into tackles, and just knows where to be. He's got a bit of pace too. And as well all know, both (Agger specifically) are ball playing center backs, and will also allow to keep a high line.

Mascherano (the next Graeme Souness) has been my player of the season, and I have no doubt he'll go onto be an Anfield legend. Nothing can stop him. Pepe is on his way to another golden glove. Future Brazilian captain, Lucas Leiva, has been impressive, and I expect him to have a bigger impact when he gets used to the physical nature of the league. Babel has so, so much of talent, yet so little confidence it's a shame. He just needs that bit of arrogance, and he can take on the world. Future is bright. We've enjoyed 2 great nights of European Cup glory under Rafa. United and Chelsea have been waiting for so long, and probably deserve their turn. We've enjoyed the wins, now we are with the team in failure.

Onwards and upwards.



PS

My best mate who is a Liverpool fan agreed with me....just accept it.

My mate who is a Chelsea supported agreed that it was offside

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

I'll just make a cup of hot chocolate before I settle down and read Abhi's latest novel

Edit: Absoloutely cracking post mate!

 

[antred]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Oh dear, I am back in 6th grade!

Got a lot of stick from my mate who's a Chelsea fan. I had been going on about our semi final win last year for the whole year, and looks like he'll be doing the same

Was expecting a shower of Mancs to come up here, and slag us off, and they haven't disappointed

Another season has come to an end. It promised much, but delivered little unfortunately. Never expected us to win the title, but was hoping for a 2nd placed finish, and a title challenged till mid March. Champions League, we've done what's expected of us yet again. 2 more teams have been added to the list who have suffered from Rafalution.

We end up with a 4th place finish, and a CL semi final, and at the start of the season, I would have been disappointed. But looking back at how things went, it really could have been much worse. Our club was in turmoil in January, and I was honestly expecting us to just go into free fall. But, our great manager picked us up, and got us fighting. People are just underestimating the impact those cunts in the board room have had. I am proud of our boys.

We played pretty well last night I think. Gerrard did his usual disappearing act, but we did really well in the 2nd half. Skrtel going off was a HUGE BLOW. Skrtel had had the better of Drogba on more than one occassion last match, and even this match, but with Sami, Drogba would have had more confidence, as he has always done well against Sami.

We've made progress on the field, we definitely have. Probably hindered by all the bullshit going on, but we have. We probably still have some problems. While we have started scoring plenty of goals, set pieces remain a problem. All, our bottling mentality against the Mancs. I would have loved to see Agger given a full season. I really thought this would be his breakthrough season, where he would make the next step, but wasn't to be. He'll be back, fit, next season, hopefully.

Now that the season is over, our No. 1 priority HAS to be to get these cunts out. They just CANNOT stay. With the Euros coming up, Rafa would want his No. 1 targets be bought quickly. Don't think we need a major overhaul. We've pretty much got our spine now. We've got a really good group of 13-15 players, and plenty of quality youngsters coming up. We probably need a clear out though, as we have to get rid of the stop gaps. Probably all of these players might leave

Riise (first of all!!)
Kewell
Voronin
Crouch
Finnan
Pennant
Kuyt

These players have served their funtions, and I can't see them being part of Rafa's long term plans. Rafa's obviously found a formula that works, and I really hope we stick with it. We don't need a revolution, but a few tweaks here and there. No need to have debates about formation and Gerrard's position next season again. This is where the future should be. We need to a buy a couple of attacking players, and a full back, and go on from there. We still do lack a bit of pace, and I would like to see us add some pace.

We've got plenty of youngsters. I personally think Babel and Lucas will go onto be stars. 2 games left, I'd give both of them a proper go, along with Insua, Plessis etc. Use the 2 games to blood these youngsters, who all have enormous potential.

The next 2 seasons is where our squad could go to the next level. Whether we win the league title or not (most probably) in the 2 years remains to be seen, but as a team, the next step of Rafalution are the next 2 seasons. I expect Babel and Lucas (to a lesser extent) to have a breakthrough season. Torres has been absolutely exceptional, and I think he will now go onto to be the top striker in Europe in the next 2 seasons. It's also time, IMO, for a proper CB partnership to develop, and Skrtel-Agger is the future. As much as I love Carra, he has been very average this season. Skrtel has been great, and Agger was great last season. Those 2 could potentially be a world class partnership. Skrtel has pace, but also the physical strength, and aerial presence. Agger, on the other hand, is a more natural defender, and eases into tackles, and just knows where to be. He's got a bit of pace too. And as well all know, both (Agger specifically) are ball playing center backs, and will also allow to keep a high line.

Mascherano (the next Graeme Souness) has been my player of the season, and I have no doubt he'll go onto be an Anfield legend. Nothing can stop him. Pepe is on his way to another golden glove. Future Brazilian captain, Lucas Leiva, has been impressive, and I expect him to have a bigger impact when he gets used to the physical nature of the league. Babel has so, so much of talent, yet so little confidence it's a shame. He just needs that bit of arrogance, and he can take on the world. Future is bright. We've enjoyed 2 great nights of European Cup glory under Rafa. United and Chelsea have been waiting for so long, and probably deserve their turn. We've enjoyed the wins, now we are with the team in failure.

Onwards and upwards.



PS



My mate who is a Chelsea supported agreed that it was offside

Good post mate. Yes lots of changes to be made at board and playing level. We've done really well considering - many a club might have imploded in similar circumstances. how we've managed to keep functioning - because lets be honest the blip over christmas with those several draws killed us - a manager constantly under threat of his ob for 2/3rds of a seasoncould have easily derailed us from the CL and fourth.

Still lots to be done but theres a great basis there. remove some of the dead wood and get in fitter, faster attacking fullbacks and i reckon we will be getting there.

 

[jonneymendoza]

Re: Liverpool Thread

boring post. you speak the truth for most part but luck played a big part of your season. liverpool was never in the hunt for the title and thats shocking.

you lot need a new manager and fast if you want to go to the next level

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

boring post. you speak the truth for most part but luck played a big part of your season. liverpool was never in the hunt for the title and thats shocking.

you lot need a new manager and fast if you want to go to the next level

For fucks sake will you please shut up saying lucky constantly! :censor: Jeez, it's like fucking Groundhog Day seeing the same comments in here every bloody day!

And how disrespectful to say boring post? Abhi clearly spent a long time typing that out and you go and say "boring" because it's nothing to do with your fabulous Arsenal? Why are you even in this thread if the posts bore you and we're so lucky? Just piss off back to your own thread :roll:

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Get off my land!!!

 

[Sabac Red]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Good post Abhishek

That Skrtel injury was a big blow, forced us into a change
which mean't crouch had no chance of coming on.

Benitez could of gambled cause Pennant was pretty
ineffective. But Babel whoa! over the next couple of
years he will develop into a great player.

Gerrard should got himself booked again earlier on in the
competition.

Whoever owns the club during the summer has got to back
Benitez, it looks like that he is finally getting there.

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

That is pretty funny

Edit, the "quote" that is, not your smiley

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Glad to see that you have a sense of humour mate...

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

boring post. you speak the truth for most part but luck played a big part of your season. liverpool was never in the hunt for the title and thats shocking.

you lot need a new manager and fast if you want to go to the next level

Arsenal need a new manager and fast.

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Arsenal need a new manager and fast.

Come on Abi you can do better then that!

 

[Tim7]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Stop it for fucks sake .

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG159787080501-1010.htm

TOMKINS: SILVER LININGS ABOUND
Paul Tomkins 01 May 2008
Everything in life has a silver lining. Even the worst things imaginable, providing they are survived, can make you stronger, or more humble, or more appreciative.



Liverpool may end the season empty-handed, but have shown the guts and determination to try and rescue lost causes, right from the fourth game of the group stage onwards when the most remarkable escape act was undertaken. And, of course, there's been no little quality too. Goals have been in plentiful supply, and it's been a memorable campaign that was alive until the 120th minute of the semi-final second-leg.

In football, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Character is borne from setbacks, whether deserved or not. As with last year, I don't think a potential Champions League Final against Manchester United was what this relatively young team needed right now in terms of its development. I know a lot of fans feel the same, but of course, no Red wanted anything other than a Liverpool win once the semi-final kicked off.

It's not that I think United's recent record against Liverpool, and the fact that they're ahead in terms of team development, made them massive favourites; for a game like that it had to be 50-50.

After all, Benítez had won the only cup game against United, back in 2006, and Liverpool have a better psychological air in the Champions League. But it would have been too big a game –– the biggest club game Europe has ever seen; I said the same a year ago when the possibility was on the horizon. Liverpool have improved since then, but United are still the older, more experienced and more expensively-assembled side.

It would have been 50-50 odds, but like in a game of Russian roulette with three bullets in six chambers –– an especially apt metaphor, given the location of the final. United fans weren't keen on the idea either, but at least they had the league title in the bag as something to fall back on.

They could bounce back more easily from losing the final, and as things stand, Liverpool, I feel, can bounce back more easily from losing the semi-final than had defeat occurred in Russia. But it wasn't to be.

The law of averages suggested Chelsea had to win a semi-final against Liverpool sooner or later. The first goal is always crucial, and that it was offside in the build-up is irritating but par for the course of rubbish decisions when Liverpool play Chelsea. Even the one decision Chelsea feel they were cheated out of, in 2005, saved them from conceding a penalty and having Cech sent off. (The ref that night seems to be the only person outside of Liverpool fans who acknowledges this.)

The two decisions involving Sami Hyypia summed up Liverpool's luck with officials in games against Chelsea –– the Finn gave away a blatant penalty (no arguments there) but won an equally blatant one, too. Or rather, he would have had the referee not bottled it, putting his whistle to his lips but mysteriously changing his mind.

At least the officials rightly struck off Essien's goal, with a player jumping up and down in front of Reina as one of four offside players. If these type of offences aren't offside, as with the one at the weekend at Birmingham, then the law is an absolute joke.

Liverpool also had the worse luck with injuries, losing defenders in both games. So everything went against the Reds.

I have to say that didn't agree with Rafa's tactic of singling out Drogba for criticism, even though I totally agreed with the sentiment over the way such a powerful player can be strong when he wants to be, but when the defenders stand up to him with equal force, as they have to, he crumples like an aneamic anorexic. But Drogba would have been fired up for this one either way.

So overall I'm disappointed –– but not disheartened; far from it. I look for the positives, the signs of progress, as a matter of course. There's been plenty this season; alas, other teams are progressing too, and you can't do anything about that. I'm sure Rafa would love to be able to buy players like Anelka for £15m in the middle of the season, just to use them from the bench. But how many managers have such a luxury?

This season Liverpool have scored far more goals than in recent years (116 so far), but on the whole not without sacrificing defensive stability. Progress. Six players have got into double figures, and I can't recall the last time that happened. Again, progress. The overall balance of the side is very strong, and as with last summer the right additions can take the team up another level; unlike last summer, the project is that bit nearer completion. But there's still room for improvement in a couple of positions, and in the overall depth of the squad.

What Benítez has done is create a side that never says die; this team has come from behind to win key games ever since he arrived –– Olympiacos, Luton, AC Milan, and most recently, Arsenal –– and defensive or one-dimensional teams don't do that. It gave every last ounce of effort at Stamford Bridge, and over the two games Petr Cech had the more meaningful saves to make.

Unfortunately, one newspaper piece this morning read: "After four seasons under Benítez Liverpool are no closer to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in the league than they were in 2004 when Gérard Houllier left Anfield."

I respect the author, having known him a few years ago, but this is utter tripe, as was the suggestion that Benítez is still living off Istanbul. The gap was 30 points in 2004, and 21 points last season. Currently it's down to 11 points. How is that being 'no closer' to the other three big clubs? I'm no mathematician, but even I can spot a closing gap. Over the past three seasons, Liverpool have accrued more league points than Arsenal, lest we forget.

Meanwhile, the gap to fifth has been extended, with three good away results recently secured with a 'squad' team. Again, more signs of progress.

As a result, Liverpool are comfortably established within the top four, something that wasn't the case four/five years ago. But the challenge to win the title remains an immense one, given that the other three teams are also especially strong, particularly the top two with their far greater riches.

The Reds didn't lose to either Chelsea or Arsenal in the league, or to either London side over 90 minutes in four Champions League games (defeat to Chelsea came in extra-time, and in the League Cup which is now a virtual reserves competition). That's eight meaningful games of parity between Liverpool and two clubs who were miles ahead when Benítez arrived. Manchester United still have the upper hand in head-to-heads, but a bit more luck for Liverpool at Anfield and that will deservedly change.

I've mentioned the success of the Reds' youth and reserve teams a few times lately, but that's all part of the overall improvement; it took both Ferguson and Wenger years to get their systems right before players started filtering through to the first team, so Benítez and his staff have done an excellent job in this respect. I'd expect journalists to pay some kind of attention to all the work a manager does, particularly laying foundations.

Six of this season's signings –– Torres, Babel, Benayoun, Skrtel, Lucas, and the now permanently-signed Mascherano –– have all added new dimensions, with each looking a very astute buy; the average age of that sextet is just 23. Voronin and Leto haven't quite worked out as yet, for a number of reasons including injury, but neither is a bad player. Also, a number of teenagers have featured in the first team in the league this season.

And all this during another European season that was very, very good, and fell just a fraction short of being excellent. But it's more experience to bank, more victories against top sides on the way to almost making a third final in four seasons.

Regardless of who wins this year's final, no team in Europe has a better Champions League record than the Liverpool manager in Benítez's four years –– the Reds are joint-best with AC Milan, who have also won one of two finals, reached one further semi-final, and fallen at the last-16 stage since Benítez took charge.

If that's not progress for a club ailing in the UEFA Cup in 2003/04, I am utterly at a loss to suggest what is.

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Come on Abi you can do better then that!

You're probably right

Arsenal need a new manager and fast if you want to go to the next level :-pp

 

[Clockender]

Re: Liverpool Thread

You're probably right

Arsenal need a new manager and fast if you want to go to the next level :-pp

Come on lets stay on topic...

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Come on lets stay on topic...

Ok

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Not really relevant, but I think we missed this guy last night

Big game player, for big occassions

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

I dunno, Benayoun is pretty similar (apart from the shots) and he's as creative as Garcia. But then also as hit-and-miss.

How's he doing at Atletico these days?

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

I dunno, Benayoun is pretty similar (apart from the shots) and he's as creative as Garcia. But then also as hit-and-miss.

How's he doing at Atletico these days?

Benayoun is a slightly more consistent, but unspectacular version of Garcia. He's creative, but hardly can pop out with goals from nowhere.

Doesn't play much at Atletico, and even when he does, hardly been spectacular. His heart's still at Merseyside

 

[antred]

Re: Liverpool Thread

I'd like us to sign Barry you know...

 

[kevano22]

Re: Liverpool Thread

We cant be in the final every year lads, it would get boring!

Bring on next season.

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

We cant be in the final every year lads, it would get boring!

Bring on next season.

I read somewhere earlier that we couldn't win last night or God would've been accused of match-fixing

Do you guys think Rafa will play Plessis, Insua and Nemeth in our remaining games now?

 

[Abhishek]

Re: Liverpool Thread

I'd like us to sign Barry you know...

Well, I've heard that Lucho Gonzalez is our backup if we don't sign Barry.

Let's pray Chelsea throw money at Villa to buy Barry

I read somewhere earlier that we couldn't win last night or God would've been accused of match-fixing

Do you guys think Rafa will play Plessis, Insua and Nemeth in our remaining games now?

He probably will, and definitely should. I don't want to see ginger in a red shiry ever again, and Plessis and Lucas both should be given a run out. Same with Babel. I'd play all 4 of them in the next 2 games.

Don't know about Nemeth though.

 

[DagsJT]

Re: Liverpool Thread

Lucho is more an attacking mid isn't he? Whereas Barry is a defensive mid?