Liverpool Thread: Road to thinking we might get top 4, only to feel stupid at the end of the season

by **Crimey** Wed 05 Jun 2013, 2:52 pm

First topic message reminder :

Transfer ins:
Kolo Toure (free transfer from Manchester City)

Transfers out:
Danny Wilson (free to Hearts)
Jamie Carragher (free to Sky)
Peter Gulacsi (free to Salzburg)

by Guest Thu 20 Feb 2014, 5:15 pm

Anyone read back through these last 12 pages to see how our thoughts and changed over the past few months?

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Thu 20 Feb 2014, 5:25 pm

Nope but it would be interesting. Leaving work now but it will make an interesting read tomorrow.

by lfc91 Thu 20 Feb 2014, 5:29 pm

Mine has changed pretty drastically, from a seriously worried/anti-rodgers lfc fan to a genuinely optimistic fan who actually has faith in the managers ability..

by CFCNick Thu 20 Feb 2014, 5:53 pm

nasisillmatic wrote:Never say never in football. I'm sure Spurs thought Chelsea had no chance 2 years ago.

I look back at that time kicking myself. I made £20 bets with two mates that we'd win the cup and Champions League thinking I'll lose £40 but the very slim chance of gaining £40. At the time of the bet we had just been drawn against Spurs in the cup semi and were about to play the first leg of the quarter final with Benfica.

I have no idea what the odds at the bookies were and I don't ever want to know. Although my mates went double or nothing and I turned it into £80 when Huddersfield beat Sheffield United in the League 1 playoff final.

by nasisillmatic Fri 21 Feb 2014, 10:39 am

My opinions and optimism are pretty much what I thought at the start of the season. If we had a good start and we're in contention for 4th after 10 games,I'd consider it a good start.

After 26 games I'd say we're right on target for where we need to be. Just need to sort out the away form against the lesser teams and we'll be fine.

However, I never thought Flanagan would be anywhere near the first team, but he's proved me wrong.

by Guest Fri 21 Feb 2014, 12:33 pm

I've been pretty scathing of Johnson and failed to offer my apologies given that his poor form was due to injury (if only he'd told me).

by lfc91 Fri 21 Feb 2014, 5:16 pm

Have a feeling we may not see enrique again this season. Article on lfc saying about him being to america to see a specialist and "put an end to his injury problems this season". Johnson back in the squad for sunday, sahko back on the training field (sort off) and lucas within a few weeks.

by Guest Fri 21 Feb 2014, 5:23 pm

Shame about Enrique but Cissokho seems to be settling although his forays forward do leave something to be desired. Johnson can fill in at LB as I can't see any real justification for dropping Flanagan (famous last words as Flanagan has a mare this weekend)

Anyway, if the weekend's game is an entertaining as the one at Swansea earlier in the season I'll be happy although I'll sacrifice entertainment for a nailed on three points for each match for the rest of the season

by LivinginItaly Sat 22 Feb 2014, 9:50 am

It has to be said that Brendon Rogers seems good at bringing young players through. Gives them opportunities but also keeps their egos in check. Just look at the development of sturridge and sterling and now flanagan. We just need to develop a replacement.t for gerrard and we are sorted.

by **Kenny** Sat 22 Feb 2014, 1:38 pm

LivinginItaly wrote:It has to be said that Brendon Rogers seems good at bringing young players through. Gives them opportunities but also keeps their egos in check. Just look at the development of sturridge and sterling and now flanagan. We just need to develop a replacement.t for gerrard and we are sorted.

Maybe Crimey or someone else may know what has happened to Connor Cody with regards to this ? i saw a fair bit of him a few years ago and he looked pretty decent but not seen so much of him recently .

by lfc91 Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:44 pm

Neither cissohko or toure are playing!!:-).

by **Kenny** Sun 23 Feb 2014, 5:43 pm

well lets make things difficult for ourselves why don't we . But that said we would of lost this game last year

by lfc91 Sun 23 Feb 2014, 6:01 pm

Turned out to be a great day of results for us. Nice healthy gap between us an spurs, can now concentrate on reeling in the teams above us!

by nasisillmatic Sun 23 Feb 2014, 6:12 pm

We've built a nice 6 point gap over Spurs, and still have to play them at home. This is turning into the most enjoyable league campaign since 08-09.

It's good to see Rodgers not trying to be conservative, and sticking to what's got us the points so far.

by **Crimey** Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:21 am

Do we dare believe? Only four points off top, 12 games left, Chelsea and City to come to Anfield...

by LivinginItaly Mon 24 Feb 2014, 7:17 am

We are certainly in the mix and will probably have a big say in who does win. However, as to our actual chances my head says a definite no. In reality yesterday we were shocking at the back and looked like conceding every time they attacked. On the plus side we looked like scoring every time we attacked. While this makes for very entertaining football it won't win the title.

by **Crimey** Mon 24 Feb 2014, 8:28 am

I do think our defence should only get better from now on though, Agger and Johnson are already back and Enrique and Sakho will hopefully not be too far behind. I think a few more games of a consistent back four will do us some good.

I don't think we will win the title, but as the end of the season draws closer and closer I have to keep reminding myself that there is every chance of Liverpool winning the title, especially if the team turns up for those big games.

by LivinginItaly Mon 24 Feb 2014, 8:53 am

Regardless of whether we win or not at the end this season has been a very good one and a huge improvement on recent seasons. We are moving in the right direction and hopefully this plus champions league football will keep suarez at the club for the next few years.

by nasisillmatic Mon 24 Feb 2014, 9:40 am

If we're in the same position after the next 5 games, I'll start to think we're contenders. Usually, a team as bad as us at defending, end up being caught out eventually.

by Guest Mon 24 Feb 2014, 10:30 am

Rodgers believes that if we win six out of twelve then we should secure a top four slot.

I'm kinda happy that Skyrtel's hugging has finally landed him on hot water because it might be a wake up call for him. He's been getting away with it all season and it's about time he was penalized. However, I'm also pleased that it was against Swansea rather than Chelsea of City where we really cannot afford to give away ANYTHING. I also thought it was an important lesson for him when they scored after he'd fouled Shelvey. Giving away stupid fouls in silly areas when our defence is a leaky as a Somerset house these days.

Tighten up that back four Brendan.

Also, there's been loads of talk about teams coming in for Suarez in Summer but has anyone thought that, given his form, we might be in danger of fighting to keep Sturridge? It wouldn't surprise me in the least if someone came in with a big offer, but I also think he's quite happy at the Club and wouldn't want to move.

by Pierce Quincy Mon 24 Feb 2014, 11:32 am

Crimey wrote:Do we dare believe? Only four points off top, 12 games left, Chelsea and City to come to Anfield...

I think you should, given the way Liverpool are playing. ManCity are fading(at least for now) and Chelsea are very inconsistent, whom I don't see winning at Anfield.

by mystiroakey Mon 24 Feb 2014, 11:36 am

One chelsea are not is inconstant..

They are keeping shape well and playing very constantly- they are just not firing on full cylinders.

by Pierce Quincy Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:12 pm

mystiroakey wrote:One chelsea are not is inconstant..

They are keeping shape well and playing very constantly- they are just not firing on full cylinders.

That's what I meant. For me, if their unconvincing forward play is inconsistent. But then they've got the defensive capabilities to defend a lead of 1 goal.
Never doubted their abilities, just unsure about how they would deal with the big teams while on the road. For clinching the title they'll need to be "firing on full cylinders"

Did I ever mention that I'm a big Chelsea fan? I want them to win it, but deep down the strikers have me worried. Hazard is playing well though...

by Guest Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:26 pm

Hazard's been kept quiet for the last couple of games though and nowhere near as influential IMO. Wouldn't write him off though, he's got real class, just depends how he copes when things aren't going his way.

I think the team that wins the Premiership is the one that has people picking up the slack in the absence of their big names not doing the business. Not suggesting it's going to be Liverpool (don't want to jinx/curse us) but people have said Suarez has gone of the boil re scoring and yet we're still managing to put three, four and five in the back of the net. One has to ask what's going to happen once he re-discovers his touch in front of goal though.

by mystiroakey Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:38 pm

I can only see him scoring more and others less. In all honesty cash in 100 m for suraez and buy Barkley and a couple of defenders. A striker replacement fir sturridge and you have a pl winning team next year.

Suarez to liverpool isn't the bale that was to totenham .

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:42 pm

mystiroakey wrote:
Suarez to liverpool isn't the bale that was to totenham .

It's an interesting one that Mysti, I certainly don't think he's any less influential than Bale was last year. Even though he isn't scoring, he's still setting up goals (cross was sublime to Sturridge). I think you'd see a noticable difference if he left.

Keep him, and rebuild the defence and you gots a heck of a side. Wouldn't sell him myself

by lfc91 Mon 24 Feb 2014, 5:56 pm

If we get CL then we shouldnt have to sell to still have funds of around £50 million. More than enough in my eyes to add 3 quality players.

by **Kenny** Tue 25 Feb 2014, 4:14 pm

My opinion on Suarez has changed in some way , while i still think every player has his price and if say Real Madrid offered £100 million i would sell him .....i also think now that we wont sell anyway as he seems to of knuckled down and is a part of the team now .

by Guest Tue 25 Feb 2014, 4:22 pm

Like I said before, I believe Suarez would relish the idea of playing AGAINST the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Ibra and CL football for the club would allow him to do just that.

Rumours about that Cavani can't abide playing 2nd fiddle to Ibrahimovic, MEssi's been labeled a bully, Ronaldo is Lord of the Knobends and I'm not sure it would serve Suarez's purpose to get involved in a clash of ego's with people like that. Best to let him do his talking on the pitch rather than getting embroiled in a p!$$ing contest.

I'd have loved Rushie to go to the World Cup so I suppose the next best thing is to see Suarez in the CL tearing them a new hole

by LivinginItaly Fri 28 Feb 2014, 9:55 am

Huge, huge game tomorrow away to southampton! We simply have to win this type of game if we entertain any thoughts of still being in contention for the title come the end of march. Being away from home might actually help us, as we should have more space when we counter attack at pace. Wouldn't normally be so up for a game against southampton, which I guess is a good indication of the progress we have made under rogers this season. Every game from here to the end is our cup final! Have even told the wife to forget about the cinema saturday evening, I'm watching the football.

by Guest Fri 28 Feb 2014, 10:24 am

Am hoping against hope that Stoke can do us a massive favour against Arsenal too.

by LivinginItaly Sat 01 Mar 2014, 7:29 pm

Great result for the pool today

by **Crimey** Sun 02 Mar 2014, 12:05 am

Those games against City and Chelsea are going to be huge, can't believe this season.

by Hulking_up Sun 02 Mar 2014, 2:21 pm

Borini has to come back to us next season.

by lfc91 Sun 02 Mar 2014, 2:54 pm

Hulking_up wrote:Borini has to come back to us next season.

For me he is a better 3rd choice than aspas.

by LivinginItaly Sun 02 Mar 2014, 3:44 pm

If I get the chance I will ask his dad what Borini plans to do next season. I would like him back at Anfield as a 3rd choice, but don't know if he would be content with that. Can see him moving back over here (Italy) to honest.

by **Kenny** Sun 02 Mar 2014, 5:32 pm

Hope the weekend off doesn't disrupt us to much but then again playing away at Utd shouldn't need much getting up for

by nasisillmatic Sun 02 Mar 2014, 6:04 pm

Kenny wrote:Hope the weekend off doesn't disrupt us to much but then again playing away at Utd shouldn't need much getting up for

With the England game midweek, we should be ok with the extra week off. I'd be more concerned if we played Utd next Sunday, as we seem to struggle straight after international games.

by lfc91 Sun 02 Mar 2014, 6:24 pm

Kenny wrote:Hope the weekend off doesn't disrupt us to much but then again playing away at Utd shouldn't need much getting up for

In my 23 years of life this is the most confident ive ever been for us going to old trafford
..so no doubt because of that we will end up getting hammered! Lifes funny that way..

by Guest Mon 03 Mar 2014, 12:18 pm

Anyone concerned what effect John Henry's recent admission might have on Suarez? He's publicly admitted that Suarez did indeed have a £40 million "get out" clause in his contract and that Arsenal were able to trigger it with their £1 extra bid but goes on to say that he's discovered over the years that basically contracts are pretty much worthless and he decided not to honour it.

Seems a very strange time to come out and say this especially if Suarez takes his bat and ball home when there's still everything to play for. I'm just hoping that Luis' improved contract is enough to keep him focused on the task ahead and for a man as shrewd as Henry appears to be, one has to wonder what possessed him to make this announcement.

by liverbnz Mon 03 Mar 2014, 12:34 pm

I don't think he actually said there was a buyout clause - he just mentioned that contracts aren't worth anything in football and people have interpreted that as such.

Anyhow, the PFA verified in the summer that there was indeed a clause but that it didn't bind Liverpool to selling Luis Suarez, just that they must inform him of any offers. Plus he's signed a new contract since then so I can't see this going any further.

by Guest Mon 03 Mar 2014, 12:38 pm

Let's hope so.........

by liverbnz Mon 03 Mar 2014, 12:44 pm

Just seen a different article where he does indeed state that there was a buyout clause. Still don't think we should worry - it was an issue between Suarez and the club and now appears to be sorted - hopefully!

by lfc91 Mon 03 Mar 2014, 12:44 pm

Would have preferred if he had just kept his mouth shut on the subject until the season was over! Dont need anything distracting any of our players!

by **Kenny** Mon 03 Mar 2014, 3:27 pm

I think the thing that should be taken from this is that Suarez signed a new contract in december so in a way must of accepted the decision not to sell him .

Contracts don't seem to meen anything to players nowadays , it would be good to see more clubs put their foots down and not be forced into selling their players who they pay ridiculous amounts of money to .

by Guest Mon 03 Mar 2014, 3:44 pm

Kenny wrote:I think the thing that should be taken from this is that Suarez signed a new contract in december so in a way must of accepted the decision not to sell him .

Contracts don't seem to meen anything to players nowadays , it would be good to see more clubs put their foots down and not be forced into selling their players who they pay ridiculous amounts of money to .

But that supposes that he was convinced by Liverpool that no such clause existed. Technically, Henry's admission could allow Suarez, if he wished, to look for a move based on the fact that he was tricked into signing a new contract. Given he's been given quite a hefty pay rise, it would seem odd for him to want away. It's not as if he's getting a bad deal out of it. Anyhoo....

...watched the game on Saturday and I had mixed feelings about it. I thought we looked very sloppy and bitty at times with no real zip or flow to our game for large parts. Coutinho was largely anonymous whilst surprise of surprises, Allen had perhaps his best game for the club. However, on reflection it's clear that Rodgers has taken steps to rectify the issue of the leaky defence and he got his tactics spot on albeit at the expense of a more attack minded set-up. Still, as long as we aren't conceding, I don't mind us not scoring four and five every game (as long as we're outscoring the opposition). When you look at our record against Soton (haven't beaten them at their ground for 11 years) you feared that they might prove to be a stumbling block (much like Stoke are/were for Arsenal) but again I think that game was another demonstration of how far the team's come AND we're getting a bit of luck going our way too.

by **Kenny** Mon 03 Mar 2014, 3:54 pm

To be honest Dave and if i take my blinkers off i still think if Suarez really wants to go and the money offered is right that the owners will sell , just think Arsenals + £1 offer got their backs up and if they had offered £55-60 million we might of sold him . That said i personally think Suarez is a better player then Bale so should be worth more money in the transfer market but it's all just opinion ....we will see what happens in the summer

does anyone know why 7 of our last 10 games are being played on sundays ?

by Guest Mon 03 Mar 2014, 4:22 pm

Because God and Jesus come out to play on those days so it seems only fair that they are able to witness some Heavenly football?

by lfc91 Mon 03 Mar 2014, 5:51 pm

Kenny wrote:To be honest Dave and if i take my blinkers off i still think if Suarez really wants to go and the money offered is right that the owners will sell , just think Arsenals + £1 offer got their backs up and if they had offered £55-60 million we might of sold him . That said i personally think Suarez is a better player then Bale so should be worth more money in the transfer market but it's all just opinion ....we will see what happens in the summer

does anyone know why 7 of our last 10 games are being played on sundays ?

I agree, think he will still leave if the right club comes knocking. If the owners take a firm stance (which i think they will) then i can see a new world record fee being set. The big question for me would be whether or not the owners would reinvest it all into the team?

by Guest Mon 03 Mar 2014, 5:54 pm

What about a sizable chunk going towards redeveloping Anfield?

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