Liverpool Thread

Re: Liverpool Thread

Was looking at the fixtures and Manu and chelsea, to a lesser extent, have a very tough run-in. Ive put "tough" or "comfortable" behind them all as predicting wins is pointless. Also they have so many games in a short space of time, the * is for 2/3 days between a match. Hopefully manu will be knackered and drop points at boro and wigan and maybe even arsenal at home. You would expect 2 out of those 3 to be points dropped, especially with the boro game being only 2 days before the Arsenal CL return. If Liverpool win those rounds and the rest is equal Liverpool could go top on goal difference with one or two matches left.

Fixtures:

LIVERPOOL
Liverpool v Arsenal, Tough *
Hull v Liverpool, comfortable *
Liverpool v Newcastle, comfortable
West Ham v Liverpool, tough
West Brom v Liverpool, comfortable
Liverpool v Tottenham, tough

MAN UTD
Man Utd v Everton, FAcup Tough *
Man Utd v Portsmouth, comfortable *
Man Utd v Tottenham, Tough *
Man Utd v Arsenal, CL Tough *
Middlesbrough v Man Utd Tough ** (sunday-tuesday)
Arsenal v Man Utd, CL Tough *
Man Utd v Man City, Tough *
Wigan v Man Utd, Tough *
Man Utd v Arsenal, Tough *
Hull v Man Utd, Comfortable

CHELSEA
Arsenal v Chelsea, FAcup, Tough *
Chelsea v Everton, Tough *
West Ham v Chelsea, Tough *
Barcelona v Chelsea, SF, Tough *
Chelsea v Fulham, Tough *
Chelsea v Barcelona, SF, Tough *
Arsenal v Chelsea, Tough *
Chelsea v Blackburn, Comfortable
Sunderland v Chelsea, Comfortable

* is 2-3 days between matches
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

I wouldnt want to go into any of the matches thinking it should be comftable.

As we know in Football, things are never that simple. Hull away, should be simple, but probably won't be, while on the other hand we could comftably beat Spurs like we did on the last day of last season at WHL.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Yeah, I can't believe how screwed United are in terms of their fixture list. In my honest opinion I can't see United getting enough points to hold onto the league. I've never seen such a sustained period of 2/3 day rests in all my days of watching football (because it doesn't start now, it's been going on the past 2 months). I guess that's because few teams have ever been involved in the latter stages of this many comps.

Anyway, I think Pool will win the league comfortably now, sad as it is. You lot have more or less a week break between every match to keep energy, motivation and focus high. Barring an injury to Torres, I think it's yours this year.

Which, as a United fan, is very depressing. But then, I guess I should be happy to still be in all competitions.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

I wouldnt want to go into any of the matches thinking it should be comftable.
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Well no,... but in the manner that they should be the lesser games as they are for the other 2. A lot of the teams play two of the 3 so its a reasonable comparison.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Gosh are you trying to say we're in line for the title when you lot STILL one point ahead and a game in hand? I'm not getting ahead of myself, and hopefully my mates here aren't too. 4 points is a lot to make up to.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

beachryan said:
Yeah, I can't believe how screwed United are in terms of their fixture list. In my honest opinion I can't see United getting enough points to hold onto the league. I've never seen such a sustained period of 2/3 day rests in all my days of watching football (because it doesn't start now, it's been going on the past 2 months). I guess that's because few teams have ever been involved in the latter stages of this many comps.

Anyway, I think Pool will win the league comfortably now, sad as it is. You lot have more or less a week break between every match to keep energy, motivation and focus high. Barring an injury to Torres, I think it's yours this year.

Which, as a United fan, is very depressing. But then, I guess I should be happy to still be in all competitions.
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you're being a little negative there man, i wouldnt concede the title just yet. we have a potential 4 point lead plus most of the tough games we have are at home. middlesbrough is the only tough team we have to play away from home.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

I think we'll win all our home PL games (maybe draw against Arsenal) which will be enough for the title, I cant see us risking the title for the other 2, more the other way round.

I hope Arsenal can get a point of you lot. I think 6 will be enough for sure.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

If we were level on points going into the final 6/7 games, then I'd be a hell of a lot more comftable.

But you have that cushion.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

We haven't won the game in hand yet, and 1 point is only signficant if we're not going to draw at all. you should comfortably win all of your matches, with Arsenal as the possible exception (but really, what motivation do they have to give it their all?) Say you even lose that 1, that'll mean we need to win at least 6 of hte last 8. Not easy... :(
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Arsenal still have to get 4th so they're up for it at the moment. Maybe by the time they play us, they can relax a bit (hopefully)
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

laughing and joking during the ceremony. I noticed it at the ceremoy and was pretty annoyed at the time. The thing was even Plessis just look at him and didn't laugh, and he didn't seem to pick up on it. Hes now come out with an apology and has offered to meet the familes and explain himself.

Too late me thinks.

He's our third choice keeper anywho behind Cavalieri, probably a bit bitter about being transfer listed.
 
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THE KING RETURNS?

King Kenny in Benitez talks

Apr 18 2009 by Andy Kelly, Liverpool Echo

KENNY Dalglish is set for a sensational return to Liverpool Football Club.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez wants his legendary predecessor as a key new part of his backroom staff and moves are already afoot to create a position for Dalglish.

Benitez has raised the matter with American club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and would like to tie up a deal at the earliest possible opportunity.

The ECHO understands preliminary talks have already taken place between Benitez and Dalglish and although nothing has been finalised the discussions are believed to have gone well.

Benitez would like to give Dalglish a roving role which would see the 58-year-old divide his time between the Academy in Kirkby, Melwood and Anfield but with a particular emphasis on an advisorial role on youth development.

The Liverpool manager recently ordered a review of the Academy which is being headed up by former chief scout Frank McParland as he seeks to ensure more young players of potential first team standard are produced than is currently the case.

Should Dalglish be recruited it would provide a shot in the arm for the Academy which has come in for plenty of criticism in recent years.

Dalglish has not been employed in a senior football role since leaving his position as director of football at Celtic in July 2000.

The Kop hero has been linked with several managerial jobs since then but his strong links with Merseyside and his charity work on behalf of his wife’s Marina Dalglish Appeal have meant he has not been enticed into taking employment at any of the clubs which have shown an interest in acquiring his services.

But the lure of Liverpool would be strong for Dalglish who served the club as both player and manager from 1977 until 1991.

When he quit Anfield in February 1991 saying he needed to take a break from football the shockwaves reverberated throughout the sport with Liverpool fans being distraught at the loss of the man they refer to as “King Kenny”.

He later admitted his regret that he was not offered a return to Liverpool in the immediate aftermath of his sudden departure but 18 years later he could now finally be given the opportunity to reignite his love affair with the club he joined from Celtic.

It is now up to Hicks and Gillett to approve the proposed move and should this happen it would require only the agreement of personal terms for Dalglish to complete a sensational return to Anfield.
 
Re: THE KING RETURNS?

PetrovLFC said:
He later admitted his regret that he was not offered a return to Liverpool in the immediate aftermath of his sudden departure but 18 years later he could now finally be given the opportunity to reignite his love affair with the club he joined from Celtic.
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I don't remember this......when was that?

I think it would be great for him to come back although nine years out of the game isn't going to help. If he's as good as Steve Heighway was at bringing them through we'll be more than okay.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

I can't off the top of my head think of too many first team regulars that you's lot have brought through for ages, Owen, Gerrard and Carragher the last ones? and they are in the autumn of their careers now.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Yeah I agree with that (Chelsea especially) but at least Arsenal's players grow from a young age with the club and Wenger sticks with them until they are regulars with the first team. Only a few of his squad had any real experience before joining Arsenal (Gallas, Arshavin, Adebayor, Sagna etc) the rest have all come through the club's academy.

Then with Liverpool, most of their squad was bought in (at the expense of academy players getting a chance) aged over 21 and with plenty of past experience already. Even Babel who I guess is Liverpool's main young player in the first team along with Insua and Lucas was playing regular UEFA Cup/CL football and for the Dutch NT before he joined Pool and if anything he's regressed over the past season.

I mean are Insua, Riise, Aurelio and Dossena really doing much better than Warnock was doing? He's proving at an underperforming Blackburn team that he's a decent player.

Nemeth never gets a chance even though he's widely regarded as a great talent, his equivalents Welbeck, Macheda, Vela etc all get chances in the first team with United and Arsenal, how long before he gets fed up of the reserves and moves?
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Jumbo_ said:
Yeah I agree with that (Chelsea especially) but at least Arsenal's players grow from a young age with the club and Wenger sticks with them until they are regulars with the first team. Only a few of his squad had any real experience before joining Arsenal (Gallas, Arshavin, Adebayor, Sagna etc) the rest have all come through the club's academy.

Then with Liverpool, most of their squad was bought in (at the expense of academy players getting a chance) aged over 21 and with plenty of past experience already. Even Babel who I guess is Liverpool's main young player in the first team along with Insua and Lucas was playing regular UEFA Cup/CL football and for the Dutch NT before he joined Pool and if anything he's regressed over the past season.

I mean are Insua, Riise, Aurelio and Dossena really doing much better than Warnock was doing? He's proving at an underperforming Blackburn team that he's a decent player.

Nemeth never gets a chance even though he's widely regarded as a great talent, his equivalents Welbeck, Macheda, Vela etc all get chances in the first team with United and Arsenal, how long before he gets fed up of the reserves and moves?
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How is it even fare to compare our youth system to yours or Arsenal? You've had the same manager for years now, who've developed their systems. Rafa's been here only 5 years, and it's fair to say the only now we're seeing fruits of his youth policy, and I'd say it takes at least 5 years to get a system in place. It's stupid to expect Rafa to play the youth players, when he came here under so much pressure.

And Insua is already a much better player than Warnock will ever be. Insua's only the first one. Nemeth would have played this season, had he not been injured so much. There's plenty more, they'll get their chance eventually, just like Insua has.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Abhi, I understand that Rafa has not had as long as Wenger and Ferguson but we were talking about the club in general.

crayon said:
If he's as good as Steve Heighway was at bringing them through we'll be more than okay.
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northstandhero said:
I can't off the top of my head think of too many first team regulars that you's lot have brought through for ages, Owen, Gerrard and Carragher the last ones? and they are in the autumn of their careers now.
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Rafa got rid of Heighway who'd had success nuturing players like Gerrard and Carragher to start a fresh with the academy and has since produced very little. Surely there must have been a couple of decent players in the ranks that could've broken through in the last 5 years?
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

Jumbo_ said:
Abhi, I understand that Rafa has not had as long as Wenger and Ferguson but we were talking about the club in general.





Rafa got rid of Heighway who'd had success nuturing players like Gerrard and Carragher to start a fresh with the academy and has since produced very little. Surely there must have been a couple of decent players in the ranks that could've broken through in the last 5 years?
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We saw the likes of Warnock and Mellor. Obviously, they're not that good, as we've seen. That's why Rafa wanted control of the academy, because he wasn't happy with the lack of local talent being produced.
 
Re: Liverpool Thread

How many teams have produced top quality the past 5 years anyway? Manu had their golden generation about 15 years ago now but after that who has made it through the ranks? Same with Liverpool, hardly any worth mentioning. The arsenal team have been "indevelopment" for the past 5 years now and yet we still loook at them as youngsters when their average age and matches played are close to the rest of the top4. So them being great at development is relative aswell, they snap up the most talented youngsters from abroad and when they end up as decent/good prem players he's hailed as briljant. Really it's down to not having any pressure from the board and fans and thereby being able to use the "youngsters" as he's under no pressure to win anything. Them making a final/semi is now seen as an achievement. And there is no point even looking at chelsea.

If anything you can look at player development who are bought young for the 1st team: Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson for example at Manu; Babel and uhhhh...at Liverpool; Sagna, Walcott, Adebayor, van Persie at Arsenal. The rest are youth development as far as I know. Chelsea;.....any?

And if you look at that and the team position/pressure/quality I would say it's fairly balanced. Arsene earned his time by producing a winning team, breaking it down and getting the board and fans to accept building a new one with youngsters. Manu had a great team, with its basis in the previous generation, and that has allowed Ronaldo to develope and Nani and Anderson to be at the same position as Babel, still lacking at the moment. Liverpool have needed to overhaul their squad/team for the most part so blooding youngsters isn't an acceptable route while Chelsea havent bothered at all buying a new squad.
 
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Re: Liverpool Thread

Hmmmm Brown, O'shea, Fletcher Evans,none of them from the so called golden generation, all Internationals all still at the club,there's also Players who've moved on at other premiership clubs such as Richardson, Greening,Bardsley Simpson Eagles Higginbotham all given games at first team level, and the next crop coming through Wellbeck,Campbell Gibson.These are Academy players, not players brought in at 16-17 yrs of age and then classed as home grown.
 
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