Phil Neville says current Liverpool results show our 'true level'. Phil McNulty says Chelsea and Liverpool are poles apart. Robbie Savage believes Liverpool are not even close to a title bid. These articles prove that the BBC and it's journalistic integrity has gone downhill in recent years. They are produced, in tabloid fashion, to catch the attention of as many people as possible and make a talking point. As for the content of the articles, they all have one thing in common: They forget that last season; we finished second, and were for a fairly long time in pole position and that we finished above Chelsea. So what has changed since last year? Personnel wise, a lot has changed, however objectively at the beginning of the year, many would have said for the better. Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly and Pepe Reina all left. Luis Suarez was the only one of those 4 that played regularly and obviously contributed a lot. However; Lallana, Lambert, Markovic and Ballotelli were all brought in to replace the attacking talent lost in Suarez. Moreno, Manquillo and Lovren were brought in to strengthen the defence and Emre Can was introduced to add another option to midfield. So it's fair to say that personnel wise, only 1 player of note was lost, and many were gained. So why then are we only now reaching our true level? It is perhaps that all of our players over-performed last year? Well, by my reckoning, a player can't over-perform, they can only realise their potential. Personnel was improved and the squad was bulked up. The players began to realise their potential. Players like Sterling, Henderson, Coutinho and Sturridge all gained valuable experience in playing top notch football. Therefore the only two variables left in our performance are: Lack of confidence, and managerial decision. Of which I think both are direct reasons for poor results. Funnily enough, there was some articles on the BBC saying these two exact things: Rodgers takes the blame for poor results. Rodgers says the team is lacking confidence. So, despite these two admissions, BBC pundits continue to make ridiculous statements. When will they learn, and bring someone in with actual top notch football and coaching experience? Phil Neville and Robbie Savage are hardly the brightest footballers either.
Phil Neville showed his 'true level' of punditry and commentator skills at the WC. The other two are, sadly, obviously true.
Sadly I can see grains of truth in all 3 if we are really objective about it. Of course lack of confidence, and managerial decision are key factors in our problems. TBF to Neville, 2nd was a pleasant and unexpected surprise last season. Most people including many (or most) of us never saw it coming. And to come within touching distance of the title. So it could reasonably be argued we overachieved and that the key cause for this was Suarez. So that when Suarez left if our natural progression had been maintained then we would be about 4th or 5th this season. The 2nd place increased our expectations and may be - without Suarez - we should expect to strining for a European place as our ambition. In my book, you can perform better with some players and with some systems. So Suarez arguably made Sterling and sturridge, Gerrard, and many others perform better than they would otherwise have done. Whether you call it overperforming or realise your potential is just a matter of semantics. Suffice it to say that once Suarez is not around, the same players are performing significantly less. Suarez is that rare player which not only personally contributed to the team but also increased significantly the contribution of the other players too. So I am afraid I am in the camp of those who believe that the talent of our players was perceived to be higher because of the presence of Suarez.
As so eloquently put by carl above (top post) that's bollox as it ignores the elephant in the room. Suarez's performances last season were as influential at both an individual and team level as Henry and Ronaldo at their PL pomp. The day he left, Liverpool's title credentials were reduced (without even taking into consideration Chelsea's strengthening and Liverpool's increased workload) Having said that, they are pushing it when claiming Liverpool's true level is 6/7th. I think with Sturidge fit and everyone else in form, they have as legitimate a claim to challenge for TOP4 this seaason along with Arsenal and Utd.
I'm not usre how many of us really expected a title push this season without Suarez, with the increased fixtures and the summer purchases. Hope? Sure. Truly expect? Not so much. That said, top 4 contention was certainly expected and, given how the seaso has gone for other teams, we should be in the mix for it. Currently, we are not. It's by no means out of our reach if we get our act together, but the worrying thing is that things seems to be getting inevitably worse rather than better. 6th/7th seems a bit harsh. 3rd-5th/6th sounds more right to me.
The BBC are very confused. Liverpool are currently 12th because that's how good they really are (without Suarez). But Rodgers should also be under pressure for failing to challenge for the title again.
As should the players, they are professionals doing a job they get well paid to do but sadly if there's such a thing as cowboy builders, then atm we are watching cowboy footballers who aren't representing their trade too well at all!
its a shame they don't play by the same rules as everyone else, and fearful of their contracts being legally ripped up if performances warrant it, to us that's the equivalent of a p45
Compared to everyone else they actually have a very short working life which is why you'd think they'd want to make the most of it. Sure they get paid handsomely but shouldn't they be running round a bit more for it
