Comments by Lucas...

[kev776]

Another Liverpool player basking in the glory about beating Inter, it makes me so ****ing angry.

"We delivered a big performance when needed " etc bollox, ****, arse!!!

It was needed against Villa, Chelsea and Mancs etc, not Inter.

He said that the Champions league is the most important competition in the world and this is where our basic fundimental problem lies because it isnt, the ****ing premiership is, how can we say we are champions of europe when we are not champions of our own country.

Grrrrr...

[Sarb]

Sadly they haven't delivered big performances when we needed them too.

[Shaggy]

In many ways though the Champions League IS the biggest/most important/whatever you want to call it competition in the world.

And coming from a foreign player like Lucas, it's even more understandable.

Can't understand why these comments from Lucas would make any Red 'angry'??!

[AFII]

The CL is more important until we have a bigger revenue stream or someone that is prepared to splash the cash.

[BFG]

In many ways though the Champions League IS the biggest/most important/whatever you want to call it competition in the world.

And coming from a foreign player like Lucas, it's even more understandable.

Can't understand why these comments from Lucas would make any Red 'angry'??!

I think some people just look for things to moan about.

A kid being excited by beating Inter Milan in his first CL start is fairly understandable I reckon.

[Tee]

I would rather we kept it fairly low key until we are actually in the hat for the next round. If I was an Inter player these interviews would just give me even more motivation to turn it round.

[lfcchris]

Explain this to me then. Why on Tuesday against inter, in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, was the atmosphere so amazing, when against villa, wigan, mancs in the etc premier league it was ****.

Of course that is going to make the players think that the fans want thte champions league more. IMO, the atmosphere should be that electric for every game, not just big games in the league or champions league, but also against the smaller teams like wigan, villa and EVERTON!

As carragher put it yesterday. The fans "Rattled" inter. If we can rattle such a big team as inter, who are used to playing in front of 85,000 fans in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world, how on earth do you think the likes of barnsley or havant would cope.

[Reece]

That is a great point actually. The fans make so much more noise on European nights, yet the majority claim to want the league more. Well doesn't this need to be communicated the players, i.e. by replicating the European atmosphere to league games?

[barnes10]

Explain this to me then. Why on Tuesday against inter, in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, was the atmosphere so amazing, when against villa, wigan, mancs in the etc premier league it was ****.

Of course that is going to make the players think that the fans want thte champions league more. IMO, the atmosphere should be that electric for every game, not just big games in the league or champions league, but also against the smaller teams like wigan, villa and EVERTON!

As carragher put it yesterday. The fans "Rattled" inter. If we can rattle such a big team as inter, who are used to playing in front of 85,000 fans in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world, how on earth do you think the likes of barnsley or havant would cope.

this i totally agree with. completely and utterly. the fans are the ones who can not only scare the opposition but will shake the players out of any sloppiness they might start a match with. the manager can only do so much.

[Gazmo1]

I think if UEFA went back to the old format of being a champion to play in the European Cup you'd see a shift in attitude. A different atmosphere maybe.

Even Torres has said that night like Inter are [or one of the reasons] why he joined Liverpool. The kids that grow up dreaming of beating Everton on the last day of the season or scoring the winning goal in the FAC Final seem to be a dying breed.

Maybe the younger foreign lads see the Champions League as a way of showing those back home how far they have come when they see them on the TV playing against the biggest names in football?

[redmacca]

I think some people just look for things to moan about.

A kid being excited by beating Inter Milan in his first CL start is fairly understandable I reckon.

especially when he's trying to show inter what they were missing when they tried to sign him

[dww]

I think people read far too much into these sorts of comments. Clearly players need to say something positive and suspect that if anything the alternative to a CL match foremost in their mind was not league matches but the FA cup match against Barnsley and their intent to try and put it behind them.

There are problems with both the fans and players performances in the league but the motivation needed is different. Every player wants to win the league but by it's very nature it requires a different sort of application and motivation to be successful there.

I think a big problem for us is the lack of leaders on the pitch with experience of winning a league. Who now how to organise and motivate others. We have generated a bunch of players completely at home with big European nights and cup finals but much less used to sustaining a league challenge over a long period of time.

I think the implication drawn that the players don't care and don't want to win it is wrong. It is just a very big challenge that requires a number of ingredients that we don't have at the club at present.

[mersey86]

There are problems with both the fans and players performances in the league but the motivation needed is different. Every player wants to win the league but by it's very nature it requires a different sort of application and motivation to be successful there.

Good post - I'll just quote this part of it, though. I think if we were within a few points of the top now, then we'd see a big atmosphere at every league game as well. We really looked like we might have a chance at that at the turn of the year, but the results against City and Wigan turned our season on its head and its been downhill from there ... until Tuesday.

[kev776]

I think people read far too much into these sorts of comments. Clearly players need to say something positive and suspect that if anything the alternative to a CL match foremost in their mind was not league matches but the FA cup match against Barnsley and their intent to try and put it behind them.

There are problems with both the fans and players performances in the league but the motivation needed is different. Every player wants to win the league but by it's very nature it requires a different sort of application and motivation to be successful there.

I think a big problem for us is the lack of leaders on the pitch with experience of winning a league. Who now how to organise and motivate others. We have generated a bunch of players completely at home with big European nights and cup finals but much less used to sustaining a league challenge over a long period of time.
I think the implication drawn that the players don't care and don't want to win it is wrong. It is just a very big challenge that requires a number of ingredients that we don't have at the club at present.

This is the whole crux of the matter, now I know young quality english players (is there such a beast!) cost a premium, but these are the lads who will be motivated to win the premiership, Carra and Gerrard both speak of the desire to win the league, we need more of them.

A good spattering of young English with Mascher, Pepe and Torres would improve us no end.

[lfcchris]

I think if UEFA went back to the old format of being a champion to play in the European Cup you'd see a shift in attitude. A different atmosphere maybe.

Even Torres has said that night like Inter are [or one of the reasons] why he joined Liverpool. The kids that grow up dreaming of beating Everton on the last day of the season or scoring the winning goal in the FAC Final seem to be a dying breed.

Maybe the younger foreign lads see the Champions League as a way of showing those back home how far they have come when they see them on the TV playing against the biggest names in football?

Did you know that since it has been called the Champions League, no team as of yet, entering the competition after winning their league the year before has won it. i.e. Finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th to qualify, then won it!!