So we dispatched Stoke yesterday to continue our FA Cup run, back to Wembley for at least a semi final maybe more. We have already won the CC - ok not the most prestigous trophy but silverware in the bag nonetheless. Our league form has been very inconsistent, and many would say we have not enjoyed the 'rub of the green' on too many occasions (eg woodwork & decent performances not rewarded) Gerrard is back and we are defensively sound, we lost arguably our most important players from a balance standpoint in Lucas early in the season and the Suarez saga. We are a team with 7 new faces clearly in transintion. We have showed glimpses of what the team is capable of and should be stronger with Lucas returning. Given all of the above my proposal is this; This has been a good season for us. If at the beginning of the season I was offered 6/7th place, winning the CC and semis in the FA cup I would have taken it I reckon. Yes it's dissapointing we didn't challenge for CL spot but it was always going to be tough and CL probably a season too early for this team anyhow. I know we are LFC and we expect more however a lot of teams would swap with us right now. Do you agree or am I accepting mediocracy a la Uncle Roy?!
I would have been happy with a good cup run in the FA Cup and winning the Carling Cup. But I would not have been happy with 6 or 7th. I know 5th place wouldn't have been significant but I would have been happy as it showed progress statistically. Never the less, I think we deserve to be higher because we have been playing good football all year. I think our league position is misleading but we can't change that. All in all, we have a good platform to go on and build on this. I hope we win the FA Cup because I think it will be another incentive to lure better players.
I guess your standards must have really been lowered under Rafa because you do not play good football.
I guess your European standards have always been very low as you have never won the European cup in your entire pathetic history.
Sounds about right to me. I don't think any of us will be happy about finishing sixth or seventh but possibly winnings two trophies would make up for it. If we do not win the FA Cup then it as to be considered a poor season IMO. This is the first year of a three year project, lets be patient and see where we go from here. We have been playing some wonderful football this season and just lack goals, something I am sure Kenny and Comolli will be more than aware of.
The best thing about this season as that with all of the purchases we have brought it is now blatantly obvious to see where our faults lie. we need someone to put the ball in the net. Once that issue has been sorted then I think we'll see consistency week in week out. not just when we play big teams or in cups
I even think that, had we had a poacher this season, Downing would have looked much better too. He would have got more assists had we been scoring more goals IMO. Not making excuses for him, he still needs to improve IMO.
i think realistically we are not going to get a massive name e.g. llorente or higuain however we could get someone who does the job just aswell. I think the perfest targets for us should be roberto soldado (Valencia) and either Loic Remy(marseille) or Seydou Doumbia(CSKA)
Realistically, fourth was always going to be a tough challenge. Had Carroll shown his Newcastle form we might have been there, or had Lucas stayed fit, Adam played as we know he can do, Gerrard been fully fit, Suarez not been injured, etc etc. Few things going against us. A similar league position isn't terrible given the progress of Spurs and Newcastle. We still have plenty of areas to improve and a good platform of a squad to do it with. A cup and a possible second would be a good season tbh.
So a perfect season...? All teams have players missing, it is a squad game nowadays and we have not coped with these players missing.
IMO.... good? no not good but relaistically the gap between where i thought we'd be and where we are is not that huge. I thought the others would have been better than they are. I mean chelsea are a joke right? I am disappointed in what we are doing up front but pleasently suprised we have improved at the back. I thought 5th/6th and have been disappointed in how poor the whole league has been bascially. I mean 35points will be safe, we got stuck on 39 ages there. that was a bad run. The carling cup is huge if you're utd so I don't but anyone disparaging just cos we won it. We actually won something... ask arsenal what thats like.... semis of the fa cup is nothing IMO. talk to me when we're i nthe final.
Obviously. But three of those are our best players (arguably) and the other two could have been great. Covering for the lack of those five would require even more summer signings last year and we already had seven to blend into the team. Any more would have been unreasonable. We did well with what we have (or lacked), two cups and 5/6/7th so long as we make the right signings in the next summer window (third complimentary striker, creative centre mid and pacy right winger) will be a good step in our progression imo. Honest thoughts.
Gerrard, Suarez and Lucas...? No arguments IMO. I actually agree with you, just putting a realistic tilt on it
I don't agree, not yet anyway. If Suarez, Gerrard or Lucas are missing it effects the teams performance and tactics. If SKrtel is missing we have other players that fill in since the centre back role doesn't really alter. Plus, if you was going to say Skrtel then I would say Reina and Enrique too since the back-up options for those pair are not great.
Skrtel's barely missed a game in two years (has he missed any?) so we have no idea how our current defense would cope without him. Carra getting old and Coates still too young and experienced in the PL. Agger of course is made of glass. Skrtel (and Reina, point taken) is the constant in our defense. I'd say he's pretty essential to our defensive success this year. Enrique's had some dodgy moments in the last month due to his refusal to ever head the ball, always look to try run it out, too slow to close a winger down for a cross or not picking up a runner. Overall, a great player, but he has his moments and I wouldn't say he's vital to us yet.
