And I do remember Rooney saying Utd's squad was being eroded, so what's your point? Once the season's started there's very little finance is going to do until January. A manager, OTOH, can do a lot of damage if he's the wrong manager failing to utilise the players he's got correctly. Once this damage has been done no amount of money can ensure every game is won to return the club to where its finances suggest it should be. However, you do make a very good point and we're well aware that with the 5th-highest resources we had Rafa was consistently over-achieving.
I agree completely. Liverpool and Everton are arguably the only teams to have played to their full potential in the second half of this season. I guess the key question is whether the level we saw the champions achieve from 2004-2009 is now gone forever, or whether it will come back in future years. Back in 2003, we won the PL with 83 points, five defeats and +40 GD. If we win three and draw one of our last four fixtures we will better that performance. It's only over those six years that the bar was noticeably higher, thanks mainly to the Invincibles, Mourinho and one of our best teams ever. Which begs the question of where all this "worst PL ever" bollox comes from. Heck, we're on target to have more points this season that our treble winners did in 99. People have very short memories in football My point is that everyone makes mistakes. 4th highest you mean? Or are you counting City over the last couple of seasons? Cos until this season their resources were hindered by their small profile imo. Even with that of course, your title challenge in 08/09 was a definite over achievement.
@Swarbs I don't think this is the worst ever season in the prem. The overall skill and tactics of the league have improved. Wolves prove that as do Blackpool however much they have fallen, these teams played without fear but alas get knackered, it is a different physical level to the championship and the squad depts aint great, biut they do show what can be done with a good plan and playing without fear as they have done in the first part of the season. What has left the premiership is that top tier of footballers, the Ronaldos masceranos Alonsos Henrys and only the cash of Chelsea and City are bring any in yet I would say even their own players are not the top tier anyways. What players in the prem do we reckon fall under the category of best foorballers in the world?
I personally agree with your prediction. If Liverpool maintain the determination they've had for past few games, then it's foreseeable that they'll clinch 5th place. In the mean time, Spurs would be happy with 6th place to be honest. They haven't really shown eagerness for that 5th place, so therefore Liverpool deserve it in my opinion.
Again, agree completely. The PL does have some very good players, and world class players in fairly narrowly defined positions, but no one like Ronaldo or Henry who could almost pop up everywhere. In my opinion: VDS and Reina are two of the best goalkeepers in the world Vidic and Terry are two of the best centre backs in the world Evra and Cole are two of the best left backs Fabregas is one of the best playmakers Nani, Silva and Nasri are three of the best wingers Lampard, Gerrard and Toure are three of the best central midfielders Rooney and Suarez are two of the best second strikers Hernandez is one of the best poachers Drogba is one of the best target men But there's no one player I would look at and say he is one of the best defenders / midfielders / attackers, except maybe Vidic and Fabregas. We certainly have no one of the level of Ronaldo or Messi. But then again, I think that makes it more exciting that from 2004-09, when the top teams were quite rarely challenged.
I personally don't think Messi would get anywhere near 50 goals in the premier league. Without doubt he is the best and most exciting player in the world at the moment, but he's small and with the exception of Owen and a few other very fast strikers the small ones don't tend to do so well. They usually fit in with the pace of the game but the physicality hits them. As the old adage goes: "Try playing against Stoke on a cold Tuesday night in December." But that's beside the point.. err... Oh yes, I think we're entering a period (especially after this summer) where we will get a lot more exciting players coming into the premier league. Chelsea and Man City will both be spending large amounts after their "relatively unsuccessful" year, Liverpool will be spending, Man United would be foolish not to bring some midfielders in and Arsene has a large war chest to play with. We could be seeing a restoration of the top 4 again, perhaps with a small rotation with the europa league spot.
Swarbs. It seems your opinion has changed. Only a few weeks ago,You said Liverpool had 5 teams in the league better than them and Spurs were one of them.Whats changed?The fact is and I pointed this out before.Spurs got lucky because Liverpool were a mess.Not anymore,I also pointed out that when Liverpool got their act together,they would oblitirate Spurs and prove their top 4 finish was indeed a fluke and was down to Liverpool being in a mess.You called this at the time ''Blind Optimism and delusion''. Do you want to know the truth? Liverpool have done a ''Man United'' and thats why things have improved recently.Okay its not perfect by any means,but the unity and the togetherness has been the basis on why things have improved.I also made this point before that this is a ''Ferguson and Man United trademark''.Thats the secret.I still believe with investment in the right areas,Liverpool will have a season to remember next season,because lets be fair,this overall has been one to forget.
I dunno, he has exceptional balance for such a small player, and Ronaldo managed 42 goals in a season in England so it's not completely out of his reach. Lots of teams have tried the physical treatment on Messi, but very few have managed to contain him with it. My opinion hasn't changed - there's a difference between Liverpool the club and Liverpool the team. Liverpool the club is much bigger than Spurs, City and Everton and should be in the top 4 every season just like they were before the H&G show came to town. But in my opinion, the current Liverpool squad is not as good as the current United, Arsenal, Chelsea or City squad, and over the course of a long season is probably about as good as the current Spurs squad. You've put a strong run of form together over the past few months, but there's a difference between doing it over the course of 12-15 games when you have the short term effect of a popular new manager and doing it over a whole season. Like I said before, for you to break back into the top 4 I think you will be reliant on making some good signings over the summer, having them gel quickly, and Spurs and City not strengthening significantly. Your recent form gives you more hope, and you could well make it back into the top 4 next season, but to believe that you will blow past Spurs and City like they aren't there is far too optimistic in my opinion. But then I could well be wrong - it is a funny old game after all
Swarbs. I do recognise the threat City pose.However I can also see,that they lack leadership,organisation and management.No matter who they sign.They have a squad mostly made up of over-paid mercenaries.There is for all their good players,no team-work,they play for themselves and not for the team.They in fact have a squad that is light-years ahead of Man Uniteds and Liverpools and Chelsea's.But they lack that missing ingredient.Man United however do,even though their squad is distinctly average.Teams are built in the managers image.Man United are built like Alex Ferguson,Hard work,commitment and never say die,This is something that Kenny is aiming to emulate.He hasn't done a bad job thus far. Unless City are better managed for all they've spent will be nothing more than a team that challenges for the top 4.They will never be champions.
I was going to debate and typed somethin up but when you include VIdic(Liability with pace) Rooney(Liability\unrelaible) and Nani(Goes missing) and Evra(Liability) Hernandez (just plain not enough time) in the category of best players in the world, it is obvious you are tekin the mick!!
True, but then people said the same about Chelsea in 04 - they brought in Mourinho and leapt way clear at the top. I'm not saying City will get a manager that good, but they have improved every season. Even if they don't challenge for the title in the near future I think they will be very likely to stick it out in the top 4 next season, especially if Mancini is replaced by a top manager. After all, being in the CL doesn't only help you attract better players, but also better managers. Awwww...someone's bitter I didn't include Mandy aren't they? I didn't say they were amongst the best players in the world, but in my opinion they are in the top four or five for their respective position / role (top ten for generic position) when playing at the top of their game.
Swarbs I have to agree with you on that one. However Andy Carroll was signed for what he is,not who he is.Kenny could have signed similar players to Andy Carroll ie Adebayor,Pavluchenko. But the only player that is Andy Carrolls age he could have signed is Fernando Llorente.However Kenny also had to take into account Andy Carroll was already playing in the premiership.So there was a number of factors to consider.I also read a report that the reason the Torres transfer took so long was Liverpool wanted ã15 million plus whatever Andy Carroll would cost.So thats where the ã50 million came from.So if Andy Carroll cost ã25 million,Liverpool would have got ã40 million for Torres. However the top managers sign players for specific positions.Sometimes as you rightly said the best or near the best in their positions,and as you rightly pointed out Evra is one of the best in his position and thats why he was signed.So if you are going to sign players you have to ensure that a number of factors as looked at first. 1.Are they better than what you have. 2.Are they different to what you have. 3.Will they improve the overall make-up of your squad.
I agree completely re: Carroll. He wasn't worth ã35 million, but then Torres wasn't worth ã50 million, so why not spend the money on getting a player you need and will fit the team you see in the future. Likewise, Berbatov wasn't worth ã30 million, but I still believe we bought him in anticipation of Ronaldo being sold for many times that after the 2009 season. So we bought a second striker who could play a deeper role with Rooney leading the line and then bought Valencia so we could switch back to a 442. It wasn't quite as effective as we'd hoped last season, but give how badly we could have collapsed after losing one of the best players in the world, I think it has worked out pretty well in the end. Similarly, whilst Carroll hasn't set the world alight this season, if he fits the system you want to play next season he'll have been worth every penny.
I agree with that.There is similarities between Carroll and Berbatov.Both are target men.Both are physically strong and are the two of the best holder uppers.Both also score goals.Andy Carroll would more than likely have scored more had he not been injured.However his hold up play is complimented by Suarez' and Kuyts energy in the same Berbatovs is complimented by Rooneys. However,I still believe that Andy Carroll will be complimented next season when Liverpool sign much needed width.
Spurs losing to Chelsea means we're 1 step closer to 5th place. All we have to do now is beat Spurs at home and all of our other games and we're in the European spots again.
Ze Liverbird. I know we all feel 5th is not where we want to be,and its seems very likely now we'll finish 5th.Its in our hands now.But looking at where we were at christmas,its remarkable. Spurs by rights should be out of sight.We should not by any means be 3 points behind them,potentially going ahead of them on goal difference.It actually defies logic.I've one question.Is it down to Liverpools form,or is it that the sides that are currently ahead of us aren't as much better than us that we're made to believe.I reckon its both.I'd like to hear more opinions on that.I reckon we're a better side than our position suggests.I also believe with the signings that will be made in the summer,we're going to upset loads of people next season.
It's definitely a bit of both. If only we had Dalglish from the start, we could well be in the mix for the top four. I know the court case nonsense could still have had a major effect, but there is absolutely no doubt that we would be in a better position now if it wasn't for Hodgson. Nobody has really stood out this season, all teams have been throwing points away for fun. It was the same last season, but this season it has been even more apparent. Man United, for example, have an average away record, but because their home form is absolutely terrific they're going to win their 19th title. Man City are still a bit hit and miss for me despite the talent that they have, and I think a change of manager is definitely needed if they're to take full advantage of their unlimited bank balance. Spurs have also been rather average considering the squad that they have, because there is no doubt that they have great strength in depth. But we now have Dalglish, and he has managed to get rid of our sulking star striker who was off form and bring in two quality replacements. He has also put faith in youngsters (despite this largely being due to injuries) and we now have players such as Jack Robinson and John Flanagan who already look to be very able deputies in the case of injuries next season. He has even managed to transform Jay Spearing into a player that looks like he might actually have a future at the club, something which I previously thought unthinkable. If you look at our league record since Dalglish took over, we have got 27 points out of 14 games. That's 1.93 points per game. If we had that average over 38 games, that's 73 points, which in the case of this season would have equated to us falling a little short of the title. I think the future looks very bright.
Some people think Kenny is having some sort of ''Honeymoon period''.That he's lifted spirits short term because he's a popular appointment.That it will all fall flat like a lead balloon.Thats bullshit.Kenny's a winner,He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it.He's been there,seen it,done it.He's changed the clubs environment from top to bottom.When he puts his stamp on the club,then there is going to be trouble.....for the rest of the premiership. Whisper it quietly........Liverpool are back.
Tottenham stutter against Chelsea, we pick up those points against Newcastle and we will see about their character.
Honeymoon periods only last a couple of games, not this long. You could see the immediate response to his taking over, then a slight dip and now things are beginning to work out, we have definately improved more in the last few games. If Bale is worth al that money he didnt really show it today I tell thee For us to finish ahead of spurs would really show up the wonderful job arry has done this season, this is te second time since fab that we were in a position to pass them out, must not fail this time
