#deliberatelyinflammatorytitle I again hear many pundits and 'experts' saying that the only chance we have is to crack 4th place. Whilst this is a realistic target, and i'd be pretty chuffed with that, i thought i'd have a look to see what we'd actually have to do in order to reach the levels of these apparent Super Teams above us. No disrespect to any of the teams that worked hard to take points off us. Below is a list of the games where we dropped points under King Kenny, and i've chosen ones where we could realistically have gained more points. No 100% winning streaks. No 5-0 away wins at Arsenal. Extra points taken are listed in red. 22 May Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool Last game of the season, meant nothing to either team, both teams much improved after Christmas, that man Downing bagged them the 3 points. If we had something to play for, we could definitely take all 3 points here. +3 15 May Liverpool 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur Some held this up as an example of how we were still off the pace of the teams above us. I would disagree. I think Van Der Vaart's deflected goal was the stroke of luck they needed to settle them and set up defensively. Dawson and King were excellent. The penalty was extremely soft, and i think on balance of chances there is no way they deserved to win. Tottenham did their jobs well, but this should probably have been a draw. +1 17 April Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool Arsenal definitely edged it, but our youngsters stuck to their tasks extremely well. The fact we battled for a goal as late as we did is a great sign and something we NEED if we are to win the league. 2 April West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Liverpool Poor performance against that horrible man's team. With the likes of Downing to stretch them this result could easily go differently next year. +3 27 February West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool Caught the Hammers during what was probably their only patch of form in the whole season. Struggled to deal with their tenacity. Typically the type of result where they would hold us to a point and battle manfully rather than dominate us, but always a tough game and we are likely to lose one of these 2 away games. 12 February Liverpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic The wake up call to many that Dalglish didn't have a magic wand. The type of game we will take all 3 points from this season. +2 16 January Liverpool 2-2 Everton Derbies can famously go either way, although we should be winning the ones at Anfield. We were visibly knocked by the set piece they scored from, and it was evident that we hadn't yet fully taken on board Dalglish's confidence and winning mentality. +2 12 January Blackpool 2-1 Liverpool Plenty of credit to Blackpool, but there's no way we will relinquish a lead like this next season. +3 That would be 14 extra points added to our tally, which would give us 72 points and put us above City and Chelsea (both on 71) and Arsenal (on 68). So that is what we would have needed to improve in order to catch those teams, and that of course is not accounting for an entire half a season where Hodgson ran us into the ground, or the fact that next season we will not have the Europa League to bog us down. So i'm wondering... Did Kenny actually squeeze every point possible out of those lads last season, or did they simply perform within their actual abilities, and given that will our signings push us up the league? Of course this is not acknowledging any future signings Chelsea and City and Arsenal may make, but i'd venture that the signings we've made plus a whole season of Kenny could well make enough difference to take those points mentioned next season. Feel free to be miserable 'realistic' old gits, but anyone else think that if the boys don't listen to these, let's face it, idiots who offer their opinions day in and day out (i may well be just as much of an idiot of course!) and have the belief Kenny does then we can overhaul at least 2 of the top 4 this year?
Played all those games under Dalglish without any real pressure. And despite KPR's obsession with Pace, in top level Sport, Pressure, and how it is handled, sorts the wheat from the chaff 6th Realistic, 5th is progress, 4th a tremendous season, unless something from left field happens LFC do not have anywhere near enough in the Squad to overtake Chelsea, Citeh or United
Right because taking over when 12th in the league, having been hugely scrutinized for months under Hodgson and then many claiming Dalglish was out of touch, then playing games against all of the top 5, the fact Dalglish wasn't given a permanent contract, the fact we had a huge number of injuries (significantly more than nearly all those above us) and selling your talisman forward and immediately spending it all on Carroll and Suarez brings with it no pressure. Go home please. Kenny Dalglish: "He [Murphy] should know there is always pressure here. He played here long enough, didn't he? I just know that we played fantastic that night against Fulham and so does he. There's always a caveat in there somewhere, isn't there? There's always somebody that asks a question. But if you take any pride in your work, you are under pressure in any walk of life. It's not just exclusive to football. You worry about their ability to play first, and I'm sure the players can handle anything else that comes with it."
I made this point before but I'm 100% convinced that we've signed the two players(Adam and Downing) that will improve our away form. Its up to the home team to set the tempo and therefore its up to the away team to slow it down.Therefore we need a deep-lying play maker to do so,thats where Charlie Adam comes in.In order to free up the midfield and un-congest it,we need an outlet to put pressure on the opposition full-backs thus releasing the pressure on our own midfield and back-line....This is where Stewart Downing comes in.
For all the points we can could have gained by picking up more points in the games you have mentioned, City and Chelsea might pick up more points than last season. Chelseas has a awful run last season and I can't see them doing the same two seasons running. That is still why I believe that getting 4th place in the league would be progress and I would take 4th and then push forward again. Good article though.
I disagree with schofield, and here's why:focus. All the teams he mentioned have other tournaments, all our eggs are in one basket. We are focused only on the title, and that focus will edge out the Europe cup teams. We may not beat all of them out, but I wouldn't bet against us in a top four or even three spot.
12th, no expectation of relegation, no expectation of Champions League Football. No Expectation : No Pressure. Next season will be different.
David Schofield. KPR's obsession with pace? I don't have an obsession with pace.Its you that has claimed on countless occasions that Luis Suarez will not be top drawer because he doesn't have blistering pace. I begged on more than one occasion to differ.I have pointed out,that due to his overall,skill,energy and balance and his close control.He does not need blistering pace.I also pointed on another article.On most occasions speed merchants tend to lack game intelligence and can appear to be one dimensional.Then again there is players without blistering pace that lack game intelligence ie Wayne Rooney.Thats one of the things he lacks the others being composure and technique.This will therefore prevent him from ever entering the world class bracket.
We are Liverpool, and we were 4 points above the relegation zone. Other than the huge amount of criticism that brought there is the fact the confidence of our players was shot and players were wanting to leave. All of that combines to make huge pressure. If there was any lack of pressure it was because Kenny shouldered it, mainly as he is effectively Jesus reincarnate.
Ze Liverbird. You've been on here quite a while. Hasn't Schofield on countless occasions stated that ''Pace'' is essential. Haven't we shot him down by claiming that its merely an asset and not a necessity. More nonsense about Liverpool not being under pressure. Liverpool players were under intense pressure...the only one that didn't put them under pressure was Kenny and thats the reason why they played like they were under no pressure although they were was because of Kenny.
Funny Schofield mentioned pace. Dalglish = No pace. Dalglish = Greatest player to ever play for Liverpool and a legend of the game. Schofield = Dumbass
Kenny Dalglish...Greatest ever Liverpool player. Now thats highly unfair. Kenny Dalglish was the greatest ever player produced in the UK bar none.He's number one. Even if Man United fans claim the Best was.
Very effective wumming from Schofield aside, any chance we can ignore the peasant and steer things back? Good 'to arms' though guys!
KPR, I was taking the piss! Not about Playing without expectation or pressure last season, you know I am right on this.
