This is about Mourinho's comments isn't it? Claiming we have an advantage by not being in Europe? As as been pointed out, had we been in Europe we'd have had a slightly different squad. Making reference to wasted money under different management, most of which under previous owners who almost got us into administration is a bit silly really isn't it?
Fire sale no, sell to buy was imposed though and we lost a lot of players through it. Sure Alonso and Mascherano were the main two but others such as Torres left because we were going backwards as a result. Still, it could be worse. we could have been celebrating finishing above our rivals for two years running whilst all this was happening
It's got nothing to do with Maureens comments and everything to do with plain common sense ffs You've played way less fixtures, therefore you've had less fatigue, less injuries, less squad rotation in the league games, ergo an obvious advantage. It really isn't complicated..........
Blackburn exactly. Almost 20 years ago. We'd see it more often if being out of the CL were such a f*cking advantage. In fact, your third paragraph only disproves your point. Being that the chasm deepened BECAUSE those "disadvantaged" CL clubs were so successful at winning the league year after year. Participating in the CL is a confidence-booster, period. Rubbing shoulders with giants. Going to important games with priceless mental strength and experience with the big stage.
Because of what happened over recent years. Before Laurel and Hardy took over we were consistently doing well in the CL. And the subject of discussion was this season, not past ones. We've had to have a complete overhaul, and rebuild with many young players. We haven't had the luxury of going out and spending huge amounts on ready-made stars.
Let's get back to talking some sanity. With CL football to look forward to, and an expectation of at least getting out of the Group Stage, then we need to look at the squad in a different way. In addition to the usual requirement of adding quality players, we also need to add players who have both the quality and the experience of CL football i.e. a different style of play. Now I don't expect our domestic game next season to look as it has this year. I'm not saying tat we just junk the attacking philosophy but we will need find a revised style that fits both the PL and CL. Therefore our purchases this Summer have to be very strategic and we may have to say goodbye to some of our favourite players - Johnson, Agger, Enrique, Allen. and also some less favoured Cissokho, Moses, Aspas, Borini. BR has to make our squad hard to get in to but oozing with both quality and the will to win.
He turned down Europa League or the club did. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/01/liverpool-europa-league-fair-play
You didn't get offered it! So the entire story was moot. Plus if you'd bothered to read it he actually says "we want to get there via the normal route", so making out that his league position last season was some form of tactic is absolute rot.
You ignore the salient point. That being, that you've had the advantage of CL level spending. The reason that it's not happened in 20 years is solely due to the chasm created between the have and have nots, but you're one of the haves ffs.
I was including them as extra options after Coutinho and Sterling. In attack, the flair and courage of youth is an acceptable sub option. In defence, there's no fooling around and we need proven players. I wouldn't take Ilori and Wisdom on our CL trips just yet. They can cut their teeth in the domestic cups.
Ok limit the discussion to Rodgers tenure then......he's still spent more that any other manager barring Moyes, Mourinho and AVB (combined) and Pelligrini in the last 18 months This total myth that you're not amongst the highest spenders in the league is beyond comprehension. Take any timeframe you like over the PL era -20 years, 10, 5, you're one of the biggest spenders, it's a simple fact.
Nope. You can trace a correlation between our league finish and our CL performance. The only outlier would be the year we won it. Generally (more often than not), a good run in the league is coupled with a good run in the CL. It's easy to transfer great form from one to the other. The only thing you need is a deep squad.
errrm no. More games = more likelihood of injury, especially when played in close succession. So whatever the situation was without the additional 12-14 games, it's hardly likely to have been improved by playing them eh?
Brod's time: Borini - £10.5m Sahin - Loan Allen - £15m Assaidi - £2.5m Sturridge - £12m Coutinho - £8.6m Migs - £10m Sakho - £15m Ilori - £7m Aspas - £7.5m Alberto - £6.8m Moses - Loan Toure - Free Cissokho - Loan Total: £94.9m Now, I've not got time to check the other clubs but I'm very confident that Man Utd, Tottenham, Man City and Chelsea have all spent more than that, possibly Arsenal too.
` Oh ffs and you can also generally draw a direct correlation between those with the deepest pockets and success in both competitions. You've had the benefit of a CL sized budget without having to actually play in the bastard competition! Seriously, you're barking mad if you can't accept that not having those additional games or the distraction that accompanies them has given you an edge in the league.
So you're claiming we've done better in the league because we've played less games resulting in less injuries despite the fact we've clearly had plenty injuries? Brilliant
