A different LFC this season?

[Morph]

Just been thinking about this before, so far this season we've:

• Nearly won as many away games by the end of october as we did all last season
• We've won two games now right at the death, and pulled a point back in another
• We've dug in and got points in games we would probably have expected to lose last season

These aren't traits of Rafa's LFC in past seasons, and are things a lot of us have been eager to see, particularly the away improvement, and pulling 3 points out right at the death even if we aren't playing well. These are usually the traits of title winning sides or at least those sides challenging at the top.

Things have been a bit dodgy in the league recently but I think the Evertone match was just the result we needed, it gave us belief that we can go out and take points in these types of games were last season we'd normally be the team finishing worse off.

We've got Alonso, Torres, Agger and a few others due back in the next week or so (Kewell ) and these are all very important players and imo bang on first team starters, and considering we've been without some of them for a considerable amount of time, I think we've been performing admirably. If we can get a decent result v Arse (and a draw wouldn't be a terrible result), then I think we can kick on looking at our next set of fixtures and find ourselves right up there come the new year, and that's something we've not seen for quite a few years now.

[Guest]

I feel it too mate. We've drawn games we would have lost and even won some of them. This team does have the air of never say die. Should be handy when our game kicks in proper and we pile on the wins.

[King Kenny]

Rafa out.

Big Sam in.

[Craig_H]

Just been thinking about this before, so far this season we've:

• Nearly won as many away games by the end of october as we did all last season
• We've won two games now right at the death, and pulled a point back in another
• We've dug in and got points in games we would probably have expected to lose last season

These aren't traits of Rafa's LFC in past seasons, and are things a lot of us have been eager to see, particularly the away improvement, and pulling 3 points out right at the death even if we aren't playing well. These are usually the traits of title winning sides or at least those sides challenging at the top.

Things have been a bit dodgy in the league recently but I think the Evertone match was just the result we needed, it gave us belief that we can go out and take points in these types of games were last season we'd normally be the team finishing worse off.

We've got Alonso, Torres, Agger and a few others due back in the next week or so (Kewell ) and these are all very important players and imo bang on first team starters, and considering we've been without some of them for a considerable amount of time, I think we've been performing admirably. If we can get a decent result v Arse (and a draw wouldn't be a terrible result), then I think we can kick on looking at our next set of fixtures and find ourselves right up there come the new year, and that's something we've not seen for quite a few years now.

All good traits indeed. The last one we need to mount a real challenge in consistency.

As for Arsenal...well, had we not drawn at home to Spurs and Brum, a draw against the Wenger boys would've been fine. But as things stand, a win is very necessary. Not many other teams are gonna beat them, so we certainly need to.

Also, we face them, the scum and chelsea AWAY in the latter half of the season, all of which will be tricky. Therefore, it's imperative that we win the home games against them.

And they play the mancs after us, so it's possible that within 2 games, we could be level with them. But we must beat them.

[Morph]

All good traits indeed. The last one we need to mount a real challenge in consistency.

As for Arsenal...well, had we not drawn at home to Spurs and Brum, a draw against the Wenger boys would've been fine. But as things stand, a win is very necessary. Not many other teams are gonna beat them, so we certainly need to.

Also, we face them, the scum and chelsea AWAY in the latter half of the season, all of which will be tricky. Therefore, it's imperative that we win the home games against them.

And they play the mancs after us, so it's possible that within 2 games, we could be level with them. But we must beat them.

I agree with the need for consistency, and I think that'll come with a run of 'easier' games that we have till crimbo.

As for the arsenal match, a draw means we won't be any further away from them, now arsenal can't really get any better than they are playing now but we certainly can and i'd be confident of closing the gap, the play the mancs the following weekend who could conceivably take points from them, but of course a win would be tremendous

I'm happy to play them all away inthe second half of the season, we know rafa's teams always peak at this point and that's exactly when i'd like to play these teams, i'd fancy us to take points from mancs and chavs, Arse i'm not so sure about will have to see closer to the time.

[bigfooty]

Since the turn of the millenium no team that was won the title has drawn more than 5 games at home, and most have draw 4 or less.

If we draw on Saturday we'll be at 4 already and we'll have dropped 4 points on what we achieved against Arsenal and Chelsea last season.

Of course there is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season, but this match for me is a must-win. If we draw (or heaven forbid lose) we could end the weekend down in 7th place and if that comes off the back of a bad result in Turkey things could start to get a bit ugly.

[Craig_H]

I agree with the need for consistency, and I think that'll come with a run of 'easier' games that we have till crimbo.

As for the arsenal match, a draw means we won't be any further away from them, now arsenal can't really get any better than they are playing now but we certainly can and i'd be confident of closing the gap, the play the mancs the following weekend who could conceivably take points from them, but of course a win would be tremendous

I'm happy to play them all away inthe second half of the season, we know rafa's teams always peak at this point and that's exactly when i'd like to play these teams, i'd fancy us to take points from mancs and chavs, Arse i'm not so sure about will have to see closer to the time.

Morph, while i understand where you're coming from, a few factors mean i disagree with you...

1) The 'a draw will do' mentality wont win you titles. Unless it's the last game and you're 3 points clear

2) We were virtually untouchable at home last season and that doesnt get undone just like that. We will be again.

3) We're easily better than Arsenal, when you take into account the fact that we'll be at home and the fans will be up for it.

4) The sooner they taste defeat, the better.

5) We've already dropped two home points against one of the other 3.

We need to win. A draw would be a wasted opportunity

[Morph]

Morph, while i understand where you're coming from, a few factors mean i disagree with you...

1) The 'a draw will do' mentality wont win you titles. Unless it's the last game and you're 3 points clear

2) We were virtually untouchable at home last season and that doesnt get undone just like that. We will be again.

3) We're easily better than Arsenal, when you take into account the fact that we'll be at home and the fans will be up for it.

4) The sooner they taste defeat, the better.

5) We've already dropped two home points against one of the other 3.

We need to win. A draw would be a wasted opportunity

I certainly wouldn't be going into the arse game looking for a draw it always has to be the threee points, and that would be a great result for us. What i'm saying is a draw would would keep the status quo, and doesn't let us drop any further behind, so it wouldn;t be the worst result in the world, a defeat i fear could be a bridge too far for us tho. I too am sure our home form will improve, it is a bit puzzling tho the way our fortunes home an away have reversed. I'm not sure we're easily better than arsenal, but if we had all our best players back i'd be confident. The one player that worries me v Arsenal is Hyypia, they always give him the run around, and i could do without him playing on sunday.

[Craig_H]

I certainly wouldn't be going into the arse game looking for a draw it always has to be the threee points, and that would be a great result for us. What i'm saying is a draw would would keep the status quo, and doesn't let us drop any further behind, so it wouldn;t be the worst result in the world, a defeat i fear could be a bridge too far for us tho. I too am sure our home form will improve, it is a bit puzzling tho the way our fortuens home an away have reversed. I'm not sure we're easily better than arsenal, but if we had all our best players back i'd be confident. The one player that worries me v Arsenal is Hyypia, they always give him the run around, and i could do without him playing on sunday.

Dont be puzzled, rafa's just done a bit more rotating

[Parm]

I feel it too mate. We've drawn games we would have lost and even won some of them. This team does have the air of never say die. Should be handy when our game kicks in proper and we pile on the wins.

I do think torres's goal in the Spurs game was the first shoots of us climbing out of the dark.

[peekay]

I do think torres's goal in the Spurs game was the first shoots of us climbing out of the dark.

Having a player up front who can make a goal out of half chances has added a whole new dimension to our team. This has given the entire team a mental boost. Classic example is the goal against Chelsea: there was no way any of our strikers from last season could have scored that.

We know that this team can grind out long sequence of wins. if we set out on such a run now and still within touching distance of the leader by new year, then anything can happen.

There will be an air of positivity among the fans and players which will feed each other and hopefully spur us onto .....

[fah-q]

Agree, if we can go on our usual mid season run of consecutive wins (which usually start about now) we could be in serious contention still come march/april time. Then Rafa's "rested" players will come into their own.

That'd shut the press up about rotation.

[Joe King]

I certainly wouldn't be going into the arse game looking for a draw it always has to be the threee points, and that would be a great result for us. What i'm saying is a draw would would keep the status quo, and doesn't let us drop any further behind, so it wouldn;t be the worst result in the world, a defeat i fear could be a bridge too far for us tho. I too am sure our home form will improve, it is a bit puzzling tho the way our fortunes home an away have reversed. I'm not sure we're easily better than arsenal, but if we had all our best players back i'd be confident. The one player that worries me v Arsenal is Hyypia, they always give him the run around, and i could do without him playing on sunday.

Agger is expected to be back

I too will be worried if he does start

[Morph]

Agger is expected to be back

I too will be worried if he does start

i doubt he'll play, would be a push for him to be match fit for arsenal in his first game back, think the carling cup is more likely.

What does worry me is if Hyypia plays tomorrow and sun, that'll be 3 games on the run and that's too much for sami now

[Joe King]

i doubt he'll play, would be a push for him to be match fit for arsenal in his first game back, think the carling cup is more likely.

What does worry me is if Hyypia plays tomorrow and sun, that'll be 3 games on the run and that's too much for sami now

I'm not too sure, Agger has returned to training from what I have read.