Sport Liverpool Football Club

[curium]

Still, Wigan at home on the 2nd should be good. Maybe we'll put 4 past them or something.

[Chewylegs]

I'd rather spend 17m on someone (or two) more important than Mascha, to be honest. Although I do rate him.

What two players are you going to get for 17million that will suddenly make this team a title winning side?

If we don't buy Mascherano then I think its indicative of where we are in the greater scheme of things. Sell Sissoko for say 6 million and buy a centre back I say. Maybe remove Crouch as well and get a new striker in.

[Sng]

17m could buy an established forward who could actually win games for Liverpool.

At the moment the only two people who ever seem like doing that are Torres and Gerrard. Mascherano's good but I just don't think someone who plays the role he plays is 17m good.

[ras el hanout]

What two players are you going to get for 17million that will suddenly make this team a title winning side?

If we don't buy Mascherano then I think its indicative of where we are in the greater scheme of things. Sell Sissoko for say 6 million and buy a centre back I say. Maybe remove Crouch as well and get a new striker in.

Well, you know what I think, I don't think it's the players who are stopping the team from fighting for the title.

Sissoko is a great player, as is Crouch.

And I don't believe anybody would leave because Rafa did, well, not if the replacement manager was any good.

The squad we have is as good as anybody's I reckon. It seems though that Rafa needs the absolute best players in the World, in every position, before we could fight for the title. But the thing is if we had those players then you could be the manager and we'd have a shot at winning it.

Matt Le Tissier said at the weekend we don't need Mascherano at £17m I do agree with him. I think we'd be better getting a manager who could get out excellent squad to play with style and confidence.

[Kelthink]

Masher's easily worth £30 million, you'd never find another player as good as him for £18 million in his position. We'll have to offload Momo (who really needs regular football and a new lease of life at another club) and Riise (who, whilst he has been 'a good servant', has probably known for a while we are his peak club). I don't know who else, but I would rather Crouch wasn't one who leaves.

[ras el hanout]

Masher's easily worth £30 million, you'd never find another player as good as him for £18 million in his position. We'll have to offload Momo (who really needs regular football and a new lease of life at another club) and Riise (who, whilst he has been 'a good servant', has probably known for a while we are his peak club). I don't know who else, but I would rather Crouch wasn't one who leaves.

He's worth that to a club who needs him but I don't think that we're that club.

Edit: Sissoko at his best is better than Mascherano imo. Sure he's not been at his best much but nor have most of our players.

[ras el hanout]

I mean, look at Kuyt, he's rubbish now despite being a top player. Riise is rubbish now, Kewell is rubbish now, Sissoko is rubbish now, Voronin is rubbish now, Pennant is rubbish now. Cisse is rubbish now.

Rafa makes players rubbish.

[rgraves]

I am starting to wonder if Rafa should go. I'd not be anywhere near as opposed to it now as I would have been just a few short months ago in fact. We've just not made any progress at all in the premiership, and if we're all honest we're bloody lucky to still be in the CL as well.

Klinsmann has apparently been linked with the job - might be interesting to see us go out and attack teams instead of being almost totally concerned with stifling them for a change.

[ras el hanout]

I'd like Mascherano's £17m spent on getting Sven. There I said it.

[Sng]

I mean, look at Kuyt, he's rubbish now despite being a top player. Riise is rubbish now, Kewell is rubbish now, Sissoko is rubbish now, Voronin is rubbish now, Pennant is rubbish now. Cisse is rubbish now.

Rafa makes players rubbish.

Were they ever good? Kuyt came from the Dutch league so who knows. Riise from the French league and he was only ever good when he scored from 35 yards out. Kewell has been unlucky with injury so I'll let him off. And Sissoko hasn't been the same player since his eye injury.

[ras el hanout]

Were they ever good? Kuyt came from the Dutch league so who knows. Riise from the French league and he was only ever good when he scored from 35 yards out. Kewell has been unlucky with injury so I'll let him off. And Sissoko hasn't been the same player since his eye injury.

Well, Riise was never good. But the others? Well, they could just be rubbish or Rafa could be to blame. I reckon a better manager would get more out of them.

I read on a message board about how Rafa is constantly on the touchline telling players exactly how to play the game, like he has no faith in them. It was kind of an interesting point.

[Takizawa]

Edit: Sissoko at his best is better than Mascherano imo.

Mascherano is possibly the best holding midfielder in the world, and he's only 23 lets not forget. Man U spent 15m+ each on Hargreaves AND Carrick, was that stupid?

A new centre back would be awesome, hopefully Garay, he looks like a hell of a prospect. The reports linking us with Bridge are quite exciting too, I think he'd fit in well and he reminds me of a left-sided Finnan.

Here's an interesting stat:

17/32 of Liverpools League goals have come from Gerrard/Torres

21/37 of Manchesters Utd's have come from Tevez/Ronaldo

[larrydavidsanger]

Things aren't going exactly right this season so that's it, sack the manager that's brought us more success than any other in the last decade. Who cares that he's constantly building and improving the team, it's not going right at this moment so it'll never go right in the future. If some of us here were managers then we'd make every decision entirely right every time. I mean Rafa's only been successful in Spain, the FA Cup and Europe but he's clearly out of his depth this season. Let's get a new manager in to start from scratch yet again and take us another few years to rebuild the team.

[Takizawa]

Things aren't going exactly right this season so that's it, sack the manager that's brought us more success than any other in the last decade. Who cares that he's constantly building and improving the team, it's not going right at this moment so it'll never go right in the future. If some of us here were managers then we'd make every decision entirely right every time. I mean Rafa's only been successful in Spain, the FA Cup and Europe but he's clearly out of his depth this season. Let's get a new manager in to start from scratch yet again and take us another few years to rebuild the team.

Amen, brother!

Some of us more positive fans aren't blind to mistakes, we just have a little more faith I guess.

[DeNeo]

We're just going through another patch of creating loads of chances but not being able to score. Only difference from last season really is that we have Torres now. We're still crying out for 2 consistantly good wingers (and possibly another striker - though I reckon that will be Babel's position next season). Kewell, Pennant, Benyoun, Babel, Riise, Aurelio, Leto - all have been tried this season and none have really done the job. That coupled with the other strikers' loss of form is what's put paid to our title chance.

[Warszawa]

Things aren't going exactly right this season so that's it, sack the manager that's brought us more success than any other in the last decade. Who cares that he's constantly building and improving the team, it's not going right at this moment so it'll never go right in the future. If some of us here were managers then we'd make every decision entirely right every time. I mean Rafa's only been successful in Spain, the FA Cup and Europe but he's clearly out of his depth this season. Let's get a new manager in to start from scratch yet again and take us another few years to rebuild the team.

Post I made at RaWK:

He's been playing catch up against two sides who've been developed over one and two decades respectively (Man Utd & Arsenal) & a Chelsea side with an infinite amount of money to spend. With less cash and less patient, dare I say less knowledgeable supporters on his back as early as half way through his first season (FA Cup exit) he's done as good as could reasonably be expected. Alex Ferguson needed seven seasons to finally win the league & neither him or Wenger have been sacked when they've gone four or five years without winning one of the 'big two' trophies. That's why their clubs are dominant, because they reward patience and stability - they're not pressuring the manager when they have a barren few seasons.

Liverpool Football Club these days is built on impatience and knee-jerk reactions. Fans are so frustrated that we haven't won the league in years they're easily swayed by the media and the masses of clueless fans who fail to acknowledge that long-term league success has always been built on stability in this country. When did Liverpool's decline begin in earnest, by the way? When the chain of stability was broken by bringing in a relative outsider in Souness. Which sides have dominated for the past 17 years? We know the answer. Too many Liverpool fans are like Newcastle supporters - Blaming the current manager for 17 years without a title, thnking that chopping and changing is the way to go - thinking that the next high profile appointment will magically bring glory.

Too many of you are interchangable with Geordies. One and the same, peas in a pod. Myopic blame, chop and change, stability hindered and in the blink of an eye it'll be forty years. And you'll deserve it. I won't be around to watch it if our special club goes the way of the modern, sensationalist 'sack not back' style, informed more by Sky & The Sun influenced media than by the time-honoured traditions we, Manchester United & Arsenal have reaped such rich reward from. Magnificent football clubs who, traditionally, have operated in the correct way with regards to on-the-pitch issues. Are we about the exit that esteemed club? It looks that way.

I mean, even the hapless, clueless Klinnsmann is mentioned in posts! For taking Germany to the semi-finals on home soil? Tell me how he was rated by his nation's fans prior to that "success"? Perhaps Terry Venables should be our next boss.

One European Cup, one FA Cup & another European Cup final isn't a bad return, you know. It isn't a bad start. Unfortunately, to today's "Sunday Supplement" fans it's not enough. And that's exactly why Liverpool Football Club is very, very close to going down the path trodden by so many former greats. Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton....We'll be looking on while Manchester United & Arsenal establish themselves are the most successful English clubs of all time - with an advantage we could never make up - if we're not careful. If we don't follow the examples set by them and us in years past.

[Takizawa]

I think Kewell has been brilliant to be perfectly honest, if he keeps progressing like he is then he'll cement that spot and start getting in the goals too.

[Sng]

If success is built on stability then good luck Rafa with his rotation system. LOL.

[Warszawa]

If success is built on stability then good luck Rafa with his rotation system. LOL.

Alex Ferguson rotates just as much as Rafa, if not more. The media won't tell you that though, because they're terrified of him & because they're mandated not to firmly criticise our 'football knight' even when it sees him lose to West Ham & Bolton. But aside from that, he has been working at the club for 21 years and has developed and brought through players. His presence has been key at the club - he is the one consistent, he is ominpresent. That is stability.

[Chewylegs]

Well, you know what I think, I don't think it's the players who are stopping the team from fighting for the title.

Sissoko is a great player, as is Crouch.

And I don't believe anybody would leave because Rafa did, well, not if the replacement manager was any good.

The squad we have is as good as anybody's I reckon. It seems though that Rafa needs the absolute best players in the World, in every position, before we could fight for the title. But the thing is if we had those players then you could be the manager and we'd have a shot at winning it.

Matt Le Tissier said at the weekend we don't need Mascherano at £17m I do agree with him. I think we'd be better getting a manager who could get out excellent squad to play with style and confidence.

Yeah I know mate, and thats fair enough as its your opinion.

A player that can't pass over 5yards again and again (not just once in a game) cannot be called a great player. I like him but i think he's stopped developing. It could be because of Rafa or it could be something else. We don't know cause we aren't with them on the training ground. I like Crouch and think he is a great player its just that if there is someone better out there that compliments Torres then I would rather have them. I'd rather not have Voronin but he was free!

We have a great squad and we have progressed this year in my eyes. I don't think he needs the best players in the world in each position as he proved at Valencia. What he needs is a decent left side. Riise, Kewell and Aurelio (as i've said before) just haven't done it this season. I think Bridge is definitely an interesting idea and could be cheap.

to be fair i couldn't care what Matt Le tissier says. The genius on the ball that he was he still spent his life playing for a sub standard team and being a lazy twat. What the hell would he know about a good holding midfielder?

It would be a miracle if we won the league now but i think we will still be up and around there by the end of the season which is definitely something we all wanted this year.

[phresh]

To be honest I was hoping this year we'd finally get some consistency and start killing off the lesser teams but it doesn't seem to be happening. I think Rafa is still the man for the job mind.

As was highlighted before and after the Man U game it's your record in the '6 pointers' against the other big teams that are probably hampering you more than the occasional dodgy performance against a lesser team.

I don't particularly like Benitez but he's built the best Liverpool team in a fair few years.

[DeNeo]

I think Kewell has been brilliant to be perfectly honest, if he keeps progressing like he is then he'll cement that spot and start getting in the goals too.

Yeah he's played quite well, but he's still not there yet - the way he's playing though I would keep him next season. We still need a Ronaldo.

[Takizawa]

Yeah he's played quite well, but he's still not there yet - the way he's playing though I would keep him next season. We still need a Ronaldo.

But there is only 1 Ronaldo, every club in the world would want him.

[ras el hanout]

It would be a miracle if we won the league now but i think we will still be up and around there by the end of the season which is definitely something we all wanted this year.

What does that mean? Up and around in the top five? I didn't want that this year, I wanted us to look capable of winning the Premiership. I didn't want that vanish by New Year as it has in the last four seasons.

But if we win our game in hand! We never ever do win that game in hand.

I'd say it didn't take Wenger a decade to build his team, he's built a few so far, this one in probably about the time Benitez has been around.

[Warszawa]

If Arsenal don't win the league or CL this season, they won't have won either of the 'big two' trophies since before Rafa's arrival at Liverpool. Surely the Frenchman's head would have to be on the guillotine in today's climate!

[Chewylegs]

It is a ridiculous football world we live in these days. Big Sam is for the chop already and he's only been there a few months, Martin Jol went after taking Spurs right up to the top last year but a poor start means he's now a crap manager. The media and the fickle fans in this country are a joke.

If Rafa goes in the summer I'd like to see which great manager with a better record than his we will be getting instead. Its a near impossible task unless Mourinho is still out of a job! LOL!

It is a ridiculous football world we live in these days. Big Sam is for the chop already and he's only been there a few months, Martin Jol went after taking Spurs right up to the top last year but a poor start means he's now a crap manager. The media and the fickle fans in this country are a joke.

If Rafa goes in the summer I'd like to see which great manager with a better record than his we will be getting instead. Its a near impossible task unless Mourinho is still out of a job! LOL!

[Warszawa]

I would hate to see Mourinho at our club. He's a cunt, and I am entirely unconvinced that he could win the Premiership without bundles of cash....that and his record in the CL with Chelsea was an abomination relative to resources. If the media wanted to be consistent, he probably deserved to be executed for failing to win the Premiership last season despite having every possible advantage in the book.

Anyway, back to Allardyce....Newcastle are above where they finished in the league last season....but because he's not leading them to the CL places IMMEDIATELY he's in for the chop!

[Chewylegs]

What does that mean? Up and around in the top five? I didn't want that this year, I wanted us to look capable of winning the Premiership. I didn't want that vanish by New Year as it has in the last four seasons.

But if we win our game in hand! We never ever do win that game in hand.

I'd say it didn't take Wenger a decade to build his team, he's built a few so far, this one in probably about the time Benitez has been around.

I meant that we were what 20points of the top last year? This year I reckon we will be much much nearer. I said It would take a miracle for us to win it but it doesn't mean we won't be far off. Yeah, I wanted us to be capable this year but unless we beat Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal then we obviously aren't capable.

It vanished before New Year for the last few

What I'm trying to say is I'm still being optimistic. I'm not the type of supporter who enjoys slating my own side!

[rgraves]

sack the manager that's brought us more success than any other in the last decade.

That's just not the truth though is it? Houllier, brought more tophies in than Benitez has - he won three in a single season for a start.

I'm not immediately calling for his head or anything, I'm just beginning to wonder exactly how far two, dare I say it, lucky cup final wins should stretch with regards to faith. My main reason for starting to doubt his position is that this year he went in eyes wide open with regards to the premiership. He knew it was time to step up to the plate in the league and yet we've still made no real progress. I guess my point is that saying we should be 'stable' is only OK if there is obvious, clear progress being made. Look at Arsenal - stable because pretty much year on year Wenger has managed to deliver a side that is challenging for the title and playing flowing, attacking football in the process. We've not challenged for the title at all since Rafa has been in charge, and I'm just beginning to wonder how long everyone will think that's an acceptable situation. Just how many seasons does it have to be, before being out of it around xmas time is considered not good enough?

I've been a big Rafa fan in the past, but I'm really struggling to keep the faith right now - especially when you see the kind of immediate league impact that, and I never thought I'd catch myself saying this, Sven* has had over at Man City for instance.

* Note: That's not to say I want Sven at the reds, absolutely not. No.

[Chewylegs]

I would hate to see Mourinho at our club.

I never said i wanted him i just said his record is better. I just can't see who is available that is better than Benitez.

On a different note. Torres. He is sublime and seriously ON FIRE at the moment! 10 in 15 prem games, 3 in 4 Champions League and 3 in 1 Carling Cup. This boy is better than I imagined!