Buoyed by our recent success in the transfer market, we are now being linked with more next tier players as a consequence of the domino effect, and having reached a tipping point with the squad; this attracts yet better players into the club, providing of course the infrastructure, manger and ambition are evident; which I really think we can tick the boxes on now. Comments on the Johnson signing have come from across the football community, with the majority of fans acknowledging it as an excellent signing for the club, and one that ought to help lay the platform to take us up to the next level. Where comments have been less than favourable they are often from fans of what have traditionally been the big clubs - Liverpool are a case in point. I have great respct for the history and achievement of Liverpool of course, when I was growing up they have been the by-word for excellence, but sadly no more. They have now fallen behind on so many fronts; league position, squad, infrastructure - ground, academy etc. manager, and financial buying power. Yet still we here the oft repeated argument that they sit above the like's of Sunderland, Newcastle, Everton, Stoke etc. when players come onto the open market. SAFC of course have our own rich history but unfortunately not in the recent past, and hopefully we are now on the threshold of a bright new chapter, but how long before a club's history/legacy ceases to be an influencing factor? I think Liverpool as a case in point, and they most now accept the need to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the chasing pack in the EPL. History can be glorious but it has a shelf life, and there comes a point when fans need to be realistic enough to acknowledge this fact and show other clubs the respect they too deserve.
Although Liverpool havn't won the league for a long time theyv'e stil won F.A cups, league cups, and european cups in that time. It will take years of wining nothing before tey are also rans.
Spot on BC. Liverpool on a downward spiral imo SAFC firmly on the up. Seriously think we could now surpass the heady days of Reidy's time here. Hope so.
Hasten to add this was not intended as a specific pop at Liverpool, they are a great football club, just really wondering how long you can trade on history
Good post mate. We have sat like a coiled spring for 40 to 50 years, waiting to be released but alas, one glorious May moment nearly 40 years ago has been our only brief interlude, in a continual sea of failure for SAFC in my lifetime. Martin O Neill is the key to all of this now. AJ signed for us over 2 or 3 much more established clubs in Liverpool and Spurs because he sees the great man for what he is. A genius. This is a big season for us and one which the manager and owner have not taken long to get going. Cuellar, Saha, Fletcher and AJ are the start. Who knows maybe Dempsey and Strinic/Olsson will be next but we have a real opportunity to release the coiled spring and really start to show our true colours. If MoN spends the next 5 years a SAFC I really believe we could be an established top 5/6 club year in year out and also challenging in Europe and for domestic cup honours regularly. We need to break our cycle of failure by actually winning something and this seasons League Cup will be a priority focus point for the manager imo. This is my 39th season coming up and never has the potential been so better show than by the signing of AJ form the English Champions. Under Reid there was of course equally good players but none of Reid's signings came with an established pedigree such as AJ. That's the big difference here and now. I hope I am not way wide of the mark but to be honest, I can only see good things under MoN for SAFC.
That unlikely freakish European Cup win gave Liverpool some credibility they perhaps don't deserve though. Winning the odd FA Cup/League Cup doest keep you at the top table. Man Utd, Chelsea & Arsenal have dominated the League for the last 20 years and Liverpool are as far away from winning it now as they have ever been in those 20 years. Arsenal have not won a trophy for 7 years and imo they too are now fading fast. City look like they will be to team to beat for the coming period, along with Chelsea and more so Utd so both Liverpool and Arsenal are now not looked upon by other EPL clubs in terms of fear anymore. Once that cloak of invincibility is breached, then so too goes the ability to dominate games. I fancy my chances as even at home against Arsenal and Liverpool and go to their grounds with much more hope as well. Against City, Chelsea and Utd we have a sluggers chance but little else. That's the difference now.
City, United and Chelsea are certainly the big 3 now after that any number of teams could push for 4th with shrewd investmant sunderland included.
I think our first priority must be to get a top ten finish. To do that we have to compete with the likes of Everton, the mags, Fulham, Spurs and probably Liverpool. Top 6 is some way off, never mind top 4 !
Fair one. And Spuds don't look like their gonna rip up trees do they? OK, so I know it's only two games in but the huffed & puffed all day against WBA.
on the subject of how great clubs can fall - I'm witnessing the influx of the Rangers supporters coming into Berwick this morning - how the mighty have fallen.
Wasn't saying we would finish their just that any number of teams could really push for it this season as Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs don't look all that.
Everton look to be the team that is most likely to challenge that top 4 or 5 so far. They look very strong and have started very well indeed (unlike them tbh) beating Man Utd at home and Villa away, 4 goals scored and only 1 conceded.
Everton have some excellant players (Piennar, Fellaini, Baines, Jagielka and Jelavic) 4th spot could be for the taking.
Everton 1st 11 excellent, perhaps their squad still too thin overall when they start to loose players to injury
Everton have a very good first team but, their squad isn't the best. Like the barcodes last season they've kicked off really well with a couple of good wins. If they can stay injury and suspension free they should do very well this year. The only thing holding Everton back is cash or lack of it, with a bit of money behind them they could challenge for at least CL. As for Liverpool they have been sliding for a few years now when the yanks ( before this one) took over. We will need a good few more top signings before we can get anywhere near top 6 however, top 10 to 8 should be the target. Always said that this season is all about MON building his team and, next is the season we finally get a bit of success at SAFC here's hoping anyway.
HK - where my OP was seated; they still start from the position of assuming their rightful place in the top 4, but they are no where near it, sometimes reality takes time to dawn
Agreed mate, nowt against the Scousers of either colour but, they both seem to think that history means position. History means nowt these days it's money that talks.
