Match Day Thread Premier League, Cups & Euro Watch

[Treble]

We went out of the FA Cup in January in the last two seasons. It didn't affect us in either one. So to make the FA Cup final this season we would have had to divert resouces from the PL and CL.

Last season's squad finishing 4th was a false position due to injuries and wanting to focus on the CL run. That's fair enough, but this season's squad was more settled and stronger, so for us to finish 4th this season would be an absolute disgrace and would have to be a sign of something badly wrong a the club. I wouldn't trade that for a single FA Cup, because I think this squad is going to aim (and probably achieve) far higher than that in the coming seasons anyway.

This is like deal or no deal, where the last two boxes left are 1 million (CL) and 750k (PL), and the banker asks if you want to deal for 50k (FA Cup). GTF.

You're not getting what I'm saying. You argued initially that IF you finished 4th, 27 points behind top spot (for the sake of an FA Cup in addition to the CL final) it would mean you have a 'crap squad' and that you would be an [HASHTAG]#alsoran[/HASHTAG] club still in transition, unable to mount a title challenge.

But that's not true as we've seen because you finished 4th last season, 25 points behind, but clearly you didn't have a 'crap squad', you weren't in transition, you brought in a couple of players and did indeed mount a title challenge the next season.

I can see what you're saying in that, to give up THIS season's 2nd place and 97 points for finishing 4th would not show progress which is understandable, but I would still argue why couldn't you challenge the next season? Your squad is not crap and as we've seen it's all too possible to do it.

 

[saintanton]

I’d take 2 trophies and 4th over 1 trophy and 2nd. Anyone who says otherwise is just lying.

Anyone who disagrees with you is lying?
Ok, gotcha.

 

[InBiscanWeTrust]

Anyone who disagrees with you is lying?
Ok, gotcha.

Ok well anyone who says they’d rather win the CL and finish 2nd than finish 4th and win the Cl and FA cup must have something wrong with them? Second is just first loser

 

[astro]

You're not getting what I'm saying. You argued initially that IF you finished 4th, 27 points behind top spot (for the sake of an FA Cup in addition to the CL final) it would mean you have a 'crap squad' and that you would be an [HASHTAG]#alsoran[/HASHTAG] club still in transition, unable to mount a title challenge.

But that's not true as we've seen because you finished 4th last season, 25 points behind, but clearly you didn't have a 'crap squad', you weren't in transition, you brought in a couple of players and did indeed mount a title challenge the next season.

I can see what you're saying in that, to give up THIS season's 2nd place and 97 points for finishing 4th would not show progress which is understandable, but I would still argue why couldn't you challenge the next season? Your squad is not crap and as we've seen it's all too possible to do it.

Yeah, because this squad has [HASHTAG]#noexcuse[/HASHTAG] to come 4th, whereas the previous season van Dijk only arrived in January. Salah also took some time to settle; 5 goals in 10, then 10 goals in 10, 9 goals in 10, and 8 goals in 8.

Our transition period was the first half of the season, by which time we couldn't challenge that season but set us up to naturally challenge this season (and next).

 

[astro]

Another question for the hypothetical cup people; would you swap Klopp for an FA Cup?

Because if his squad finished 4th after the money spent on van Dijk, Alisson, Keita, and Fabinho, would an FA Cup save his job?

 

[astro]

Ok well anyone who says they’d rather win the CL and finish 2nd than finish 4th and win the Cl and FA cup must have something wrong with them? Second is just first loser

More realistic question:

1. win CL, finish 2nd, still in title challenge Christmas next season
   
2. win CL, finish 4th, win FA Cup, out of title challenge by Christmas next season

It's easy to give up on things in the past (like the fact that we finished 2nd) but if you change the past you also change the future

 

[moreinjuredthanowen]

More realistic question:

1. win CL, finish 2nd, still in title challenge Christmas next season
   
2. win CL, finish 4th, win FA Cup, out of title challenge by Christmas next season

It's easy to give up on things in the past (like the fact that we finished 2nd) but if you change the past you also change the future

Only in tv shows mate....

 

[Zanjinho]

You're not getting what I'm saying. You argued initially that IF you finished 4th, 27 points behind top spot (for the sake of an FA Cup in addition to the CL final) it would mean you have a 'crap squad' and that you would be an [HASHTAG]#alsoran[/HASHTAG] club still in transition, unable to mount a title challenge.

But that's not true as we've seen because you finished 4th last season, 25 points behind, but clearly you didn't have a 'crap squad', you weren't in transition, you brought in a couple of players and did indeed mount a title challenge the next season.

I can see what you're saying in that, to give up THIS season's 2nd place and 97 points for finishing 4th would not show progress which is understandable, but I would still argue why couldn't you challenge the next season? Your squad is not crap and as we've seen it's all too possible to do it.

We only had VVD for half a season last year. The second half of the season we matched Man City. We were 25pts behind because we had to wait until January for VVD.

 

[carlthejackal]

More realistic question:

1. win CL, finish 2nd, still in title challenge Christmas next season
   
2. win CL, finish 4th, win FA Cup, out of title challenge by Christmas next season

It's easy to give up on things in the past (like the fact that we finished 2nd) but if you change the past you also change the future

No one would argue that winning the CL would mean a brilliant season and in a scenario where the CL is already won the FA cup cannot make up a crap following season.

But and it's a big but should we lose to Spurs (very unlikely I think) then our season would have been a CL place (and a glorious challenge) but that CL place is no better than that of 3 and 4 . In that scenario an FA trophy wouldn't have been that inconsequential.

Can I remind people who think another run next season is almost guaranteed that in all the seasons following a runners up place we missed the CL ? Yes, we have reason to be confident this time but our own improvement this season suggest that we shouldn't discount Chelsea Spurs and Arsenal coming back strongly.

 

[Zanjinho]

No one would argue that winning the CL would mean a brilliant season and in a scenario where the CL is already won the FA cup cannot make up a crap following season.

But and it's a big but should we lose to Spurs (every unlikely I think) then our season would have been a CL place (and a glorious challenge) but that CL place is no better than that of 3 and 4 . In that scenario an FA trophy wouldn't have been that inconsequential.

Can I remind people who think another run next season is almost guaranteed that in all the seasons following a runners up place we missed the CL ? Yes, we have reason to be confident this time but our own improvement this season suggest that we shouldn't discount Chelsea Spurs and Arsenal coming back strongly.

I'm aware of this but I think it's different this time. Previously, the team were very reliant on certain individuals, we're more of a team now imo.

Yes, the Rafa side wad a very good team but without Torres, who was getting the goals?

Saurez WAS the team.

 

[jenners04]

But thats still bollocks as we lost out on the title by 1 ruddy point and the fact we madr cl fjnal as well i would take that over what i assume

I'm aware of this but I think it's different this time. Previously, the team were very reliant on certain individuals, we're more of a team now imo.

Yes, the Rafa side wad a very good team but without Torres, who was getting the goals?

Saurez WAS the team.

yep,

we just need to keep the team fresh now and if we get injuries has no impact ie like city with fernandinho and aguero.

our first team is prob on par with city, but squad wise ****ing miles behind.

 

[carlthejackal]

I'm aware of this but I think it's different this time. Previously, the team were very reliant on certain individuals, we're more of a team now imo.

Yes, the Rafa side wad a very good team but without Torres, who was getting the goals?

Saurez WAS the team.

...next season will be our season.

(Say it before someone else will inevitably do!!)

 

[jenners04]

...next season will be our season.

(Say it before someone else will inevitably do!!)

oh i thought that was done sunday evening sometime

 

[carlthejackal]

But thats still bollocks as we lost out on the title by 1 ruddy point and the fact we madr cl fjnal as well i would take that over what i assume

yep,

we just need to keep the team fresh now and if we get injuries has no impact ie like city with fernandinho and aguero.

our first team is prob on par with city, but squad wise ****ing miles behind.

However we manage to keep our best players or even add more talent, for me the first 5-6 matches will be crucial. Momentum is all in football. I am praying for no meeting with City or top 6 sides and no possible dropping of points.

Should we drop points early in the season I can see past history weighing heavily on the teams shoulders.

 

[jenners04]

However we manage to keep our best players or even add more talent, for me the first 5-6 matches will be crucial. Momentum is all in football. I am praying for no meeting with City or top 6 sides and no possible dropping of points.

Should we drop points early in the season I can see past history weighing heavily on the teams shoulders.

its a given that we will get one of chelsea spurs or arsenal in first 6 games lol.

wouldn't surprise me if first game was away to arsenal or something and sky make a big headliner out of it for super sunday what a way to start the season( esp if both are cup winners) blah blah and we fecking draw or lose lol.

i don't mean that from a defeatist point of view, just a tough game first up and away from home.

 

[carlthejackal]

its a given that we will get one of chelsea spurs or arsenal in first 6 games lol.

wouldn't surprise me if first game was away to arsenal or something and sky make a big headliner out of it for super sunday what a way to start the season( esp if both are cup winners) blah blah and we fecking draw or lose lol.

i don't mean that from a defeatist point of view, just a tough game first up and away from home.

We want the first 6 matches against the bottom half sides (including the mancs at Anfield) to get 18 points on the board

 

[astro]

No one would argue that winning the CL would mean a brilliant season and in a scenario where the CL is already won the FA cup cannot make up a crap following season.

But and it's a big but should we lose to Spurs (very unlikely I think) then our season would have been a CL place (and a glorious challenge) but that CL place is no better than that of 3 and 4 . In that scenario an FA trophy wouldn't have been that inconsequential.

Can I remind people who think another run next season is almost guaranteed that in all the seasons following a runners up place we missed the CL ? Yes, we have reason to be confident this time but our own improvement this season suggest that we shouldn't discount Chelsea Spurs and Arsenal coming back strongly.

In a season of narrowly missing out on the PL and CL, the FA Cup would be a minor consolation. In fact if you offered a place in the final now I'd be 50/50 on whether to take it or just rest players for the CL.

 

[astro]

its a given that we will get one of chelsea spurs or arsenal in first 6 games lol.

wouldn't surprise me if first game was away to arsenal or something and sky make a big headliner out of it for super sunday what a way to start the season( esp if both are cup winners) blah blah and we fecking draw or lose lol.

i don't mean that from a defeatist point of view, just a tough game first up and away from home.

18/19: Spurs away, Chelsea away in first 7
17/18: Man City away in first 4
16/17: Arsenal away, Spurs away, Chelsea away in first 5
15/16: Arsenal away, Man Utd away in first 5

[HASHTAG]#bentasfuck[/HASHTAG] [HASHTAG]#fixturecomputer[/HASHTAG]

 

[carlthejackal]

In a season of narrowly missing out on the PL and CL, the FA Cup would be a minor consolation. In fact if you offered a place in the final now I'd be 50/50 on whether to take it or just rest players for the CL.

I think this is the sort of attitude that's been frowned upon and for which we (in general) condemned the mancs a while back when they pulled out of the competition.

If we are in the final of the FA cup then we would do everything to win it. I think you'd say different if we WERE in the final and not in a hypothetical situation.

Remember weve not won nought for ages.

 

[Zanjinho]

...next season will be our season.

(Say it before someone else will inevitably do!!)

Milk created a thread saying as much