We lost our best player but our squad overall is definitely healthier after this summer. Sturridge out has been a huge blow - he changes how we play. Otherwise we have much better depth in several positions than last year. Don't think you lot did much but Dier looks a whole lot better than Walker/Naughton and you haven't lost anyone all that good... so a small improvement. Everton have literally signed their loanees (losing Deulofeu) and added Atsu, Besic... not that good. Distin is looking done... Coleman is good but Hibbert is awful. Stones has to play RB instead meaning the very average Alcaraz has to play. Top four with that? Nah - unless they keep EVERYONE fit and Jagielka remembers how to use those things inside his boots. (watch us lose 4-0 now)
Very much agree about Hibbert and Alcaraz, Yoda. Both not up to scratch, the former by some distance.
Beats the headache we'll have next season trying to fit Walker, Yedlin and Naughton into the team. Okay, just Walker and Yedlin...
Personally can't remember Walker having a good game since Redknapp but you've watched him more. Pity - looked like he'd hit the heights.
Brendan Rodgers seems to be following the Alex Ferguson school of international player fitness over Daniel Sturridge. He's claimed that, "He won't be fit to play for England whether he's available for the weekend or not". Yeah, that's not how it works. He must have missed a few classes. You're supposed to say that he picked up a knock in the game itself, not shout your rule breaking from the rooftops.
Steven Gerrard lays into Liverpool for not wanting it enough against Baisle... "they wanted it more"...seems to want to blame everyone but himself...unless he means he didn't want it enough
I don't think that Balotelli's a lone striker. Doesn't seem to suit him. Not sure what to make of that midfield, either. Looks like a mess on paper.
Liverpool can cope without Suarez, can't they? That's what they all said. Those of us who disagreed look foolish now. What sort of an idiot would claim they were a one man team?
It makes me feel nauseous when I hear some pundits wax lyrical about 'Pool and expressing surprise and/or disappointment at their getting torn a new one by lowly Basle. Take away last season, and you've basically got a 7th/8th place team trying to mix it with the big boys. 'Pool only got where they got to last season because Goofy had what will undoubtedly turn out to have been the season of his entire career, and he was out to impress Real Madrid for his long-awaited move. Anyone who understands anything about football knew that, when he left, 'Pool would revert right back to the 7th/8th place team that, in reality, they are. Now, if Basle cannot beat a 7th/8th place Prem team they shouldn't be in the CL. Why are none of the so-called "professional" pundits pointing out this very obvious fact? It's all well and good Slippy-G spouting off about the rest of his team being too soft, but what he should be admitting is that 'Pool are way out of their depth. I really cannot wait for them to come up against Real or PSG, because it will teach them a lesson they simply won't forget.
Alright, you convinced me. Liverpool are not favorites for fourth. But it’s either them or Man U, because there’s no way Spurs or Everton are getting fourth. We should be a bit better this year than last. We have a deeper, more balanced squad, and are widely rumored to have a much better coach. Whether we will be better remains to be seen. From what I’ve seen, I would think we’ll be at least a bit better--if my experience as a Spurs fan hadn’t taught me to view all lights at the end of tunnels as oncoming trains.
"It makes me feel nauseous when I hear some pundits wax lyrical about 'Pool and expressing surprise and/or disappointment at their getting torn a new one by lowly Basle." As I am to trying to explain to some Mousers on the other side (like you I do not indulge in WUMming) , the Poool are a lesser team in UEFA land than Basel. Their current rankings, and their performances against PL top 5 sides in the past 2-3 seasons, would be evidence enough for anyone (possessing brain cells) when assessing Basel.
Our capitulation to a very poor 'Pool side is what worries me the most, but then I am confused because we played quite well against a Gunners' side that I thought would thrash us. I really don't know where we stand, at present. I keep hoping that we're in a transition phase, and that everything will eventually click into place, just as soon as Poch has got everyone working for the team, in accordance with his master plan.
Quite, RDBD. I can't think of any two other posters on this board who are less likely to engage in blatant wummery than you or I. You and I both seem to appreciate the seriousness of this topic (and others), and we apply the appropriate degree of gravitas at all times.
