After the kneejerking is over.. Is anyone really worried?

[Andy @ Allerton]

Even when we were in our pomp, it was traditional for LFC to start the season looking rubbish - especially in recent seasons.

 

If Liverpool weren't getting shown up by all and sundry in the opening weeks of the season then, quite frankly, you'd wonder what the hell was going on.

 

Last season was a blip, a welcome blip, but a blip nonetheless.

 

Regardless of what is said, the season IS 38 games long. Early points don't mean anything if you peak too soon and finish poorly. Obviously everyone would love to win every game 2-0, but I don't think that has ever happened in the history of the game (Will? Anyone? Has it?). So every team is going to go through rubbish periods, getting beaten or drawing with teams that really they should be battering.

 

But that's the one thing about football that is ace (Referees aside) results can and do come into the equation that just don't add up.

 

Ok. We've had a poor start. But that's all it is - our downfall last season was far, far, far too many draws. That's what lost the league. Right there. If we'd started off with three draws - we'd be on the same points. If we lose 1 and draw 1, then that's better than 2 draws clearly.

 

I think we are rusty and look out of sorts and tired. Some of our better players are being a bit sporadic and we haven't exactly been blessed with 'luck' as far as the officials go - but I've had my moan about that - and it's time to drive on and win games despite the official.

 

The Spurs game - we could have earned a point (Possibly not a well deserved point, but a point), we battered Stoke, but could have let a few in, we played OK against Villa and the 3-1 result wasn't really 'fair' (if that's the word) as Liverpool had chances and the defending just wasn't up to scratch.

 

But. s*** happens. It happens every season. It will happen in every season to come. We have a few games ahead of us that we could win. If we do so, then once you're on a bit of a run and confidence starts to come back, then things might look a bit rosier.

 

Personally I've always thought that printing the league table before maybe 20 or 30 games were played is sheer lunacy. I can't think of many seasons where after 10 games - that's what you end up with at the end of the season. It's early days. And early in the league comes up with weird results.

 

The thing we KNOW at this stage is that our competitors WILL drop points. They have to play each other and they can't all win. So there is a lot of leeway for the ebb and flow of the league. I don't think Manchester United have got anything like the squad they want and they have a few players picking up injuries quite often like Hargreaves, Owen, Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Neville and Scholes and Giggs are getting on bit now. Chelsea's squad is ageing and they haven't improved any, Everton and Villa will be also-rans and Arsenal I just can't see lasting a whole season.

 

So, we have a few problems, we have a few players off the boil, looking a bit tired and out of sorts. But it's still all there to play for - we play Bolton next and if we manage to get three points there - then like post-Stoke things are going to look up a bit.

 

Long, long way to go - many possibilities ahead. Don't panic Mr. Mannering!! Don't Panic Mr. Mannering!! They don't like it up em!

[New York Red]

I am. Big time.

[Tones]

We need to improve, but then we usually do as the season goes on. We can make these points back by drawing less than last year, but will we achieve the same results against the other top teams that we did last year? We need to get Agger fit. We need Aquillani to fit right in. We need Babel to become a footballer or get someone else in, quick.

[MFletcher]

Squad progession from last season makes upsetting reading.

 

We sold two first team players to Real Madrid - our only expenditure of note is to replace those two players with the monies brought in. Voronin has replaced Keane, the Greek lad has replaced Hyypia (again money through sales) and we have replaced Pennant with El Zhar.

 

We needed a quality attacking player to bring on last night to try and change the game. We got Babel. And Voronin.

 

£50M raised since January, £36M spent and no summer budget. Games like this are going to happen, because the paucity of our attacking options, particularly when Plan A is not working, is not really good enough for a club of our size.

 

We need investment, and we are not going to get it. I suspect a difficult season lies ahead.

[DarthVader]

Too early to tell. If we lose another game before we play Chelsea next month I'd be convinced we won't win the title or even be in the title running for that matter.

[Swipe]

Common sense would suggest we'll get our act together sooner or later and go on a run.

 

But central midfield really worries me. Lucas and Masch might be okay in a game we need to keep tight and but we have higher aspirations than that in most games and there isn't a creative spark between them.

 

It's a tall ask to have another season of such good results against the other big boys, and we've already lost two games. Although, the emergence of Man City and a decent looking Spurs team could mean more points dropped.

 

I worry about Chelsea though. Have a feeling they'll grind out a s***load of wins. They've only looked really impressive against Sunderland so far, yet if they win at the weekend against Burnley, which they will, that'll be 12 out of 12.

 

Aquilani will hopefully be great, but it's a big ask to come straight in and fit in immediately. That central midfield really worried me last night.

 

It's been a desperate summer for business.

[richwilks]

Central midfield is a worry until Aquiliani is in and firing on all cylinders which could be December/January by the time he's caught up.

 

We still only have one top notch striker which is insane.

[Red Kent]

Central midfield is a worry until Aquiliani is in and firing on all cylinders which could be December/January by the time he's caught up.

 

We still only have one top notch striker which is insane.

 

But Rafa knows best..........................

 

We are f***ed, seriously f***ed. We wont recover from this start and we will not occupy a top three slot this season.

[Falconhoof]

I'm not sure worried is the right word, I don't think we are looking at winning the league for the forseeable future though. That will worry some people I guess. I was looking at our squad in preseason and seeing dangerous weaknesses there. We've discussed this in numerous threads. Knox has been talking about adding squad players.

 

Well we've got one, a centre half replacement for Sami. But even if we have adequately replaced Alonso, Hyppia and Arbeloa (Johnson is a great buy btw) we still haven't addressed the issue of what happens if we can't play Gerrard and Torres in every single important game, what if they need a rest or if Gerrad isn't fully fit.

Where are the options ?

 

I honestly, measuredly and with careful consideration over many weeks think we may lose our place in this 'big four'. Lets face it Rafa can't work miracles with his budget forever can he? Over time the biggest spending clubs ride to the top. Thats how Blackburn won the league under Jack Walker, see where they are now without the cash. Thats why Chelsea have been able to win things and stay consistently in the fight for the league and the champions league.

Man City will do the same whether people like it or not.

Even Spurs, once a joke, have built a squad with depth and options that will sustain them through injuries as the season gets into full swing.

 

We aren't rich enough to compete any more and the objectives of the owners don't match the objectives of the fans and the manager.

[Des]

Even when we were in our pomp, it was traditional for LFC to start the season looking rubbish - especially in recent seasons.

 

If Liverpool weren't getting shown up by all and sundry in the opening weeks of the season then, quite frankly, you'd wonder what the hell was going on.

 

Last season was a blip, a welcome blip, but a blip nonetheless.

 

Regardless of what is said, the season IS 38 games long. Early points don't mean anything if you peak too soon and finish poorly. Obviously everyone would love to win every game 2-0, but I don't think that has ever happened in the history of the game (Will? Anyone? Has it?). So every team is going to go through rubbish periods, getting beaten or drawing with teams that really they should be battering.

 

But that's the one thing about football that is ace (Referees aside) results can and do come into the equation that just don't add up.

 

Ok. We've had a poor start. But that's all it is - our downfall last season was far, far, far too many draws. That's what lost the league. Right there. If we'd started off with three draws - we'd be on the same points. If we lose 1 and draw 1, then that's better than 2 draws clearly.

 

I think we are rusty and look out of sorts and tired. Some of our better players are being a bit sporadic and we haven't exactly been blessed with 'luck' as far as the officials go - but I've had my moan about that - and it's time to drive on and win games despite the official.

 

The Spurs game - we could have earned a point (Possibly not a well deserved point, but a point), we battered Stoke, but could have let a few in, we played OK against Villa and the 3-1 result wasn't really 'fair' (if that's the word) as Liverpool had chances and the defending just wasn't up to scratch.

 

But. s*** happens. It happens every season. It will happen in every season to come. We have a few games ahead of us that we could win. If we do so, then once you're on a bit of a run and confidence starts to come back, then things might look a bit rosier.

 

Personally I've always thought that printing the league table before maybe 20 or 30 games were played is sheer lunacy. I can't think of many seasons where after 10 games - that's what you end up with at the end of the season. It's early days. And early in the league comes up with weird results.

 

The thing we KNOW at this stage is that our competitors WILL drop points. They have to play each other and they can't all win. So there is a lot of leeway for the ebb and flow of the league. I don't think Manchester United have got anything like the squad they want and they have a few players picking up injuries quite often like Hargreaves, Owen, Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Neville and Scholes and Giggs are getting on bit now. Chelsea's squad is ageing and they haven't improved any, Everton and Villa will be also-rans and Arsenal I just can't see lasting a whole season.

 

So, we have a few problems, we have a few players off the boil, looking a bit tired and out of sorts. But it's still all there to play for - we play Bolton next and if we manage to get three points there - then like post-Stoke things are going to look up a bit.

 

Long, long way to go - many possibilities ahead. Don't panic Mr. Mannering!! Don't Panic Mr. Mannering!! They don't like it up em!

 

Mainwaring.

[Tones]

But Rafa knows best..........................

 

We are f***ed, seriously f***ed. We wont recover from this start and we will not occupy a top three slot this season.

 

FFS

[Farmer's Tan]

tbh this is really the first time i am far less concerned with whats going on on the pitch,its whats happening off of it thats really worrying.

[Red Kent]

FFS

 

Any bets then ?

[Tones]

Any bets then ?

 

Not with you, no.

[Red Kent]

Not with you, no.

 

So you dont even fancy a few bob going to the HJC then ?

 

You've been highly critical of my posts today, if you think I am wrong, put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise, shut the f*** up

[Farmer's Tan]

So you dont even fancy a few bob going to the HJC then ?

 

You've been highly critical of my posts today, if you think I am wrong, put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise, shut the f*** up

 

whats the bet and how much?

[Red Kent]

whats the bet and how much?

 

Not much, but if Liverpool occupy a top three slot this season at any time - I'll pay the HJC a tenner. If they dont, then you pay the HJC a tenner.

[Ethan]

We're going to go unbeaten now for the rest of the season and will beat the rest of the top 4 home and away

[Farmer's Tan]

Not much, but if Liverpool occupy a top three slot this season at any time - I'll pay the HJC a tenner. If they dont, then you pay the HJC a tenner.

 

ok i'll take you up on that then

[Red Kent]

ok i'll take you up on that then

 

Nice one

[Tones]

So you dont even fancy a few bob going to the HJC then ?

 

You've been highly critical of my posts today, if you think I am wrong, put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise, shut the f*** up

 

Oh just f*** off

[Gilps]

long post

 

Hard to argue too much with this reading of where we are and where we're likely heading, depressing as that is.

[Kring]

Squad progession from last season makes upsetting reading.

 

We sold two first team players to Real Madrid - our only expenditure of note is to replace those two players with the monies brought in.

 

I don't agree. We bought Johnson, then we sold Abeloa as he was not first choice anymore.

[Tones]

I don't agree. We bought Johnson, then we sold Abeloa as he was not first choice anymore.

 

No we sold him because he wanted to go. We were short of RBs last year. We had to sign another one anyway. Rafa probably new Arbeloa wanted to go, and with only 12 months left on his deal we had to let him go or loose him for nothing.

[Kring]

No we sold him because he wanted to go. We were short of RBs last year. We had to sign another one anyway. Rafa probably new Arbeloa wanted to go, and with only 12 months left on his deal we had to let him go or loose him for nothing.

 

Who knows?!?!?

 

Fact is, Glen is an improvement not a replacement! Rafa has looked to improve on right back for years.