Liverpool Destined for Mid-Table Obscurity?

[Gurnox]

A new dawn for Liverpool or a false hope? Can we read too much into the awful result against Graz last night? Is Gerrard the only player left who really gives a shit?

 

[Miles_Binck]

Gerrard and Carragher are the only 2

i think (read: hope) things will get better once we get Xabi and Luis Garcia in the team but we really need another top quality striker because I really can't see Dribble and Milan scoring 45-50+ between them this season

 

[Jonaldo]

I can't see how a few mediocre Spaniards will lift Liverpool to Premiership greatness. I think perhaps Rafael Benitez underestimated the quality of football played in England and needs to think about drawing up a new list of players to aquire.

 

[Doh_boy]

Xabi is a great player, a lot of people have been praising him for a while now. A lot of united boards were full of how we should sign him in the pre-season. I think he'll do well. Not sure about garcia.

 

[gunner440]

just cos you havent heard of them cos the uk media doesnt cover spanish football properly doesnt mean theyre automatically shit

luis garcia has become a vital part of the barcelona attack (and is v.v.versatile) the past season after spending several successful seasons on loan at various clubs after having graduated from barcelona youth ranks

however with the new signings he was forced to consider the move to anfield if he wanted first team football

xabi alonso is world class for those who know anything about spanish football playing a similar role to the likes of baraja/keane/vieira etc
having him in midfield would take a lot of pressure off gerrard and allow him to be more 'free' in the liverpool midfield

nunez was a player due to appear for the madrid first team for a few years now but when you have a club where the coach has very little say in the club's affairs and pressure is very high (sponsors/fans) dropping someone like figo means almost certain death

 

[Gurnox]

just cos you havent heard of them cos the uk media doesnt cover spanish football properly doesnt mean theyre automatically shit

Indeed not. However, I don't think the problems Liverpool face are necessarly with the quality of their players. Every time they have played so far this season, it has looked as though only one or two players have really wanted to be out on the field. This indicates that there is something very wrong in the dressing room.

I would also question their decision to sell Owen and Murphy. Owen was a talisman for Liverpool and Murphy is an excellent midfielder (Though I am glad that Murphy went to Charlton - Bargain of the season ). The players remaining must feel like the heart has been ripped out of the team. Especially seeing as the only thing that kept Gerrard there was his loyalty. They could, and would, have sold him too.

However, the season is still young.

 

[Stimpy]

I would agree that selling Murphy was a mistake, he was a local lad and a decent midfielder plus he seemed to be the only player we had last season who could score a penalty.

However as for Owen I don't see what could be done except sell him, his contract talks had been going on for ages and he still seemed no closer to agreeing a deal, then Real Madrid come knocking so he's bound to go, as would almost any player in any team given the chance, Viera for example is playing in one of the greatest league teams ever at Arsenal and he nearly went, I know the story was he changed his mind because he realised he loved Arsenal so much but I think it has more to do with them not willing to pay him as much as Zidane and Figo ect though, anyway so it was either sell Owen now or let him go for a free in January, seems selling him was the only choice Benitez had.

Oh yeah finish Mid-Table...nar

 

[Gurnox]

However as for Owen I don't see what could be done except sell him, his contract talks had been going on for ages and he still seemed no closer to agreeing a deal.

True, was forgetting about that. Still must have been despriting to see him go being another local lad and all.

Who will win the battle between Liverpool and Tottenham for the coveted 8'th in the table spot?

 

[Ch3tan]

A new dawn for Liverpool or a false hope? Can we read too much into the awful result against Graz last night? Is Gerrard the only player left who really gives a shit?

Its not like benitez played a strong team, and he blooded a lot of young players. It could have been a costly mistake, but he was hardly playing his strongest side -which with xabi and nunez, will be very good.

If we are talking clubs headed for mid table obscurity, think Newcastle.

 

[Gurnox]

If we are talking clubs headed for mid table obscurity, think Newcastle.

Stranger things have happened. Craig Bellamy and Keiron Dyer are certainly not helping matters at the moment.....

I think Bobby Robson is too strong a manager to let it happen though.

 

[Jonaldo]

just cos you havent heard of them cos the uk media doesnt cover spanish football properly doesnt mean theyre automatically shit

I don't know if this was aimed at me.

I follow Spanish football and Liverpool certainly haven't improved their squad from last season. They'll need to do better than Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia if they want to challenge for anything other than a UEFA spot.

 

[Munkey]

Call me drunk, but i think Liverpool will perform very well this season.

 

[Gurnox]

Call me drunk, but i think Liverpool will perform very well this season.

Bloody pisshead

 

[mank!]

I'm four days late but I think Liverpool will do alright this season, third or fourth at any rate. Rafa Benitez did very well at Valencia and the Spanish league is just as strong the the EPL (arguably stronger) without the full backing of the board. The reason he's signed these Spaniards is because his knowledge of the European market is obviously smaller due to only managing in Spain and he's gone for what he knows.

However, after seeing them against Bolton at the weekend they've got a long way to go. Teams take time to gel and I think this season will mostly be Benitez testing the water and the new players bedding in.

 

[Scouse]

Just to add my $0.02's worth I think we're in for a stonking season.

Last two matches have been very promising (esp. the so-called "Champion's League" match against Monaco).

Good movement. Xabi Alonso looks very good in the passing department (but nowhere near as good as Hamann defensively) and Garcia looks the business in the "hole" behind the striker.

Nunez should turn a solid job done by Finnan at right wing into a job very well done and should link well with Josemi who I think is doing a fantastic job at RB.

Gerrard's having his best ever start, Carragher is fast becoming one of the better central defenders in the PL, Hyypia is looking as solid as he ever has and Riise's defensive game's got lots better.

Cisse's looking like he could go either way - but he does look sharp and eager - which is promising.

Down side?

Dudek is looking like he's flapping again unfortunately and Kewell needs to pull his finger out consistently.

Also - shoot me for saying this - but Baros is still looking like an unproductive glory-boy who looks great but very rarely produces the goods:

For every fantastic individual goal (like against Monaco) there's at least five places he could have passed to an unmarked player and simply lost the ball again (also against Monaco - unmarked Gerrard 8 yards out).... If he improves his awareness and gets his head up we'll be laughing tho




And I've just put 20 quid on that we'll finish above the manks in 3rd (and if that's possible...who knows? - but I can't see the Arse slipping...)

 

[amodien]

I wouldn't get too confident

you have beaten a crap West Brom team who will be fighting relegation come end of the season.
Fair play for the win against Monaco but again they sold their best players in the summer.

If you beat Man U tomorrow then i will agree you could be in for a good season.

 

[Scouse]

Arse fez