Henry paid off all our debts apart from operational debt. All the money H&G caused Liverpool to owe to RBS is now gone. To improve in the next few years you will have to eventually say goodbye to that small wage bill, anyway.
erm that's all wrong. midfield without doubt but our attack is stronger as are our wings and who the **** is city's second keeper. defence is stronger aswell considering Vidic is back though only just. imagine city without toure and Kompany and ask yourself if what comes in would do a good enough job. the short answer is no. midfield is very important hence why city won the league but in all other areas and at full strength united are better. maybe full backs are better at city aswell.
I put it as a 4-2-2-2 because it's the easiest to compare with United more traditional 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. Ie. Silva and Nasri are the advanced wide players for City, and they compare to United's out and out wingers, say, Young and Valencia. I'm a neutral in this, and I'd much rather have that City squad. City have much better goalkeepers (not my fault you're ignorant of them), better fullbacks, better midfielders and the best strikeforce outside of Barca and Madrid.
Aye, that's what Ashley did...We were paying 4-6m anual interest, Ashley came in, saw this as ridiculous (which it is) and bought all that debt off the banks so that we no longer paid interest on money we owed. Maybe I'm just being a bit stupid here, but how, if anyway at all, does your debt differ from ours? We both had it paid off by our owners, unless Henry has for some inexplicable reason that he doesn't want that money back, I genuinely can't see? As for our wage bill. Yeah, in the long term our wage bill will creep up, HOWEVER, by buying from 'lower' leagues, we can still offer competitive wages in comparison to our European rivals. For example, Lille were playing in the Champions League, but we at least doubled Cabaye's wages when he came to us. (same with Tiote). Whilst I agree, our wages will more than likely rise if we are to continue to improve, do you think that your own (at £135m) will have to come down? (European qualification and domestic cup win is great, but that is a huge amount of money!)
That's the thing... We've been slow in the transfer market so far because we're offloading big earners that had side roles - Kuyt, Maxi, now Aquilani are gone, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Cole leave as well.
Interesting thread, and some very honest opinions. I am a Sunderland fan living in South Oz and am a fanatical supporter of the EPL, as are most of my mates. I thought last season Liverpool were the unluckiest team in the EPL, every game I watched Liverpool against a lot of the lower placed teams, eg Swansea, Norwich, Blackburn, where you drew at home, the game was dominated by Liverpool, near misses, hit woodwork, etc... To me I thought with a bit of luck, a fifth placed finish at worst was on the cards. just looking at your December run of 3 wins in 6 games, dropping points against Fulham, Wigan and Blackburn, was a perfect example of a team dropping silly points at a critical time of the season. Anyway, getting back to the original article, depending on the potential signings of Gaston Ramirez, Joe Allen, Borini(already signed) and any other players, and without losing say Agger(big loss), Carroll or Suarez(very unlikely now), then Liverpool have the potential to finish Top 4, but I feel fifth or sixth is probably more realistic in Rodgers first season, then a solid push next year for the Top 4 spot. Good luck for the season anyway.
Yeah, fair point. We've been reasonably been quiet as well. The two we've signed are both very low cost but look very promising. Bigiriamana was voted apprentice of the year in the Football League and played for Coventry in the Championship. He looks like and plays like a miniature Chieck Tiote - an absolute gem for the future, signed for half a million! The other Amalifitano was signed from a French 2nd division team and looks classy (though I fear could go missing in tougher games) but again, cost next to nout and will be on low wages. If we can bring in Debuchy, a top CB and another forward (that Man City youngster has been linked) then I'd say we're in reasonably good shape. I reckon Borini and Suarez will be frightening together and Joe Allen definitely has the ability to step up...Don't know enough about Gaston Ramirez to comment, but heard good things.
Brilliant to see an opposition fan who watched the same games we did last season....And a very fair assessment of how we will do. Im not massively knowledgable on SUnderland, but after that rare post I am wishing you all the best for the new season.
If we sign those two I'll be very happy! Agree, you should see a few signings, such a frustrating two months.
Cheers Red, my best mate is a Liverpool fan, works along side me also, he is always the optimist when it comes to Liverpool, but after last season has quietened down and hopes for a decent season from the Reds. Always liked Liverpool, but wasn't too impressed with how Kenny handled the Suarez incident last year, it soured the historic name of Liverpool for a while. Thats in the past now, new manager, some exciting signings, with probably more to come, I think you guys will be up there fighting for a top 4 spot, Hendo( ex Sunderland), Adam, Downing and Carroll have now had a season at Anfield to find their feet and should also improve. All the best anyway, In Brendan You trust.
Newcastle's attacking prowess is far better than Liverpool's..Liverpool wins defensively. They dont seem to be getting enough credit because they dont seem fashionable enough but to suggest that their success was down to everything but pure talent and teamwork is absurd..especially when the same people seem to be elevating Liverpool's chances for challenging top 5....too many cliches bandied about......maybe if Newcastle had paid 30 plus million for all their attacking players everyone would rate them..thats what the Sky generation brings to football debate...great!
I would say they have more than both of us, bale and Lennon are all you offer. I also think Newcastle have over achieved with the players they have available. Having said that, I think we all offer more than arsenal.
you can exclude the influence VDV had on our team..but i wont...and yes maybe they do have more than us in firepower currently....but i do agree with you with the fact that all of us have potentially got alot more than Arsenal...curently..however..credit where credit is due and that club knows how to get top 4....will be a good season...
I'd like to see a Spurs/Liverpool attack/defence mix Reina Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Lucas Parker Gerrard Lennon Suarez Bale
You seem to have the ratio wrong. Were spurs and liverpool to have a mixed team then spurs would have a lot more than just 3 players in the first 11. You haven't even put modric in? He hasn't left yet as far as I'm aware, and what about VDV??? Kaboul? Also by going purely on last season Friedal would be between the sticks ahead of Reina.
As I said, Spurs attack, Liverpool defence. Suarez and Parker get in on exceptional circumstances. I'd rather have Gerrard than VDV and Modric is basically gone, otherwise he'd be in for Parker. Reina is better than Friedal - class is permanent and all that. Also, his kicking ability makes him worth a place in such a dangerous side. The rules are - Liverpool defenders, Spurs attackers... But I couldn't leave Suarez out, or Parker for that matter.
It was always going to be hard for Kenny with the incident as Suarez is the star player...You have to show support to him so you dont risk losing him......He was always in a no win situation..So glad its history now and we can get on with the football. Hoping top 4, but would accept a better home record and improved consistancy....Ill give Brendan time to get it right and hopes he puts faith in some of the young talent we have
So to clarify, the rules are Liverpool defenders and Spurs attackers, unless you decide you can't leave out a certain player?! Meaning in reality there are no rules? For the record VDV has put Gerrard to shame over the last 3 years, granted Gerrard had a good Euro tournament but has struggled for fitness and form over the last two seasons, where as VDV has scored crucial goals and got plenty of assists, and played a leading role in Spurs becoming a solid top four outfit.
