4th place and CL semi final

[Tee]

Well, we did better in the CL than AC Milan, Inter, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Roma, so I am happy at that. And we were very unlucky in this semi-final.

EPL is far more disappointing but I honestly do not expect to challenge seriously on that front until we are bringing in world class players rather than squad filling bench warming rotation inducing dross...

[NICKZS]

I didn't say we'd have signed better players

So what was you're initial point? Simply that "we'd have signed different players to those we signed"? Superb insight.

[Kenneth]

So what was you're initial point? Simply that "we'd have signed different players to those we signed"? Superb insight.

In response to the suggestion that we wouldn't have signed as good players if we hadn't got Rafa. I was suggesting that we don't know this, we'd have signed different players, so may be no worse off.

[The Birdman]

In response to the suggestion that we wouldn't have signed as good players if we hadn't got Rafa. I was suggesting that we don't know this, we'd have signed different players, so may be no worse off.

Which 'different' players would you have liked us to sign instead then?
And surely you would want us to be better off not 'no worse off'

[NICKZS]

In response to the suggestion that we wouldn't have signed as good players if we hadn't got Rafa. I was suggesting that we don't know this, we'd have signed different players, so may be no worse off.

But taking an educated guess, you'd have to say probably not.

Would we have signed a better striker than Torres? Such a thing does not exist.

Would we have signed a better holding midfielder than Mascher? Again, nigh on impossible.

There was nothing wrong with the post you responded to.

[DannyMan2006]

If we're being linked with Barry and Bentley I don't believe that will improve us at all

Barry will be better than Alonso in the premier league. And Bentley is better than any of our current right sided options.

So that would improve us. Of course there are better players around who would improve us further, but it's all about having the cash. And at least we know they can hack it in the premier league.

Let's forget we're talking about two current full England internationals, who may not be a great team, but do have a vast pool of talent to choose from. People compare Bentley to Pennant, but Bentley is a far superior player to Pennant, hence the reason he is in the England squad on a regular basis, and despite being at a top 4 club and playing in the CL, Pennant is not.

I'd be happy with both being brought in at realistic prices.

[El Jefecito]

Barry will be better than Alonso in the premier league. And Bentley is better than any of our current right sided options.

So that would improve us. Of course there are better players around who would improve us further, but it's all about having the cash. And at least we know they can hack it in the premier league.

Let's forget we're talking about two current full England internationals, who may not be a great team, but do have a vast pool of talent to choose from. People compare Bentley to Pennant, but Bentley is a far superior player to Pennant, hence the reason he is in the England squad on a regular basis, and despite being at a top 4 club and playing in the CL, Pennant is not.

I'd be happy with both being brought in at realistic prices.

Sure they would be an improvement but deffo not enough of an improvement.

[DannyMan2006]

Sure they would be an improvement but deffo not enough of an improvement.

We are only 11 points back on 1st place. It looks like a chasm but a bit of added quality and we could have turned close draws into victories. Man Utd have been outstanding this year, but had we beat them twice we would be above them right now.

It's all about small details. Small improvements in certain areas and we will be challenging.

[JermainePennant]

Some fans dont know how lucky we are to have rafa and will only realise it when hes gone.

In my time supporting liverpool before him we were a big club but where never competing with the other big teams.Since rafa has come every year there has been some success or something to be positive about,rafa has been loyal to us for a long time when he could have gone to big clubs where he would have had more chance of success so i think he is owed some by the fans.

[Red_hot]

Despite our defeat last night im still proud. Chelsea had all the luck. Own goal, penalty, and no penalty for us when Hyypia was fouled. Thats football just have to accept it. Can't get to the final every year

We are lucky to have Rafa. We are one of europe's CURRENT elite clubs because Rafa has took us to 3 semi finals and 2 finals in the last 4 seasons. Thats mighty impressive and i dont believe any other manager could have managed that.

Ofcourse we are dissapointed to only finish 4th in the league BUT you have to understand that football has changed and Englands top 4 are the richest and most powerful clubs in the world. The fact that we continue to compete with the rest of them is reassuring. Competing with the other top 3 is not easy by any means and we are doing just fine.

Iv had a lot of good memories this season. We were unlucky against Chelsea but smashing Marseille, Porto, Inter Milan and Arsenal is really impressive and was alot of fun. We cant get to the final every year. Happens, get over it and lets look forward to next season where hopefully we will make more progress

[Roboklopp]

So what was you're initial point? Simply that "we'd have signed different players to those we signed"? Superb insight.

Exactly what I was thinking as I read this thread. Brilliant.

[FatTony]

Football is about money these days. The more money you spend the more you're rewarded with success.

Chelsea and Manu have spent far more than us of recent years, and also had a better squad of players to begin with. In every domestic competition, the final should be held between Manu and Chelsea, we should get to the Semis along with Arsenal.

On the Premiership front we have underachieved, we should be finishing 3rd, but that is on the basis that Arsenal do not spend as much as us. Arsenal's transfer figures are always shrouded in mystery so that is an assumption. Failed.

FA Cup. Failed, but then so have the top two.

Carling Cup. Not really worried.

Europe. As far as English clubs go we got as far as we should have, on the basis that we lost to one of the above two.

So, this season a failure? Premiership, maybe. We should have finished 3rd. FA Cup we should've made it to the Semi's. Europe, IMO we overachieved, the likes of Barca, Inter, AC and Real Madrid didn't get as far or achieved the same with bigger funds.

Premiership - failed
Europe - achieved

Balances itself out really, I don't think we can say we failed. This may be a difficult pill for some to swallow, but football is 75% money, the rest is split between players and manager, and on that basis we should be aiming for 3rd in the prem and a quarter to semi final CL run.

That's the reality of it.

[El Jefecito]

Football is about money these days. The more money you spend the more you're rewarded with success.

Chelsea and Manu have spent far more than us of recent years, and also had a better squad of players to begin with. In every domestic competition, the final should be held between Manu and Chelsea, we should get to the Semis along with Arsenal.

On the Premiership front we have underachieved, we should be finishing 3rd, but that is on the basis that Arsenal do not spend as much as us. Arsenal's transfer figures are always shrouded in mystery so that is an assumption. Failed.

FA Cup. Failed, but then so have the top two.

Carling Cup. Not really worried.

Europe. As far as English clubs go we got as far as we should have, on the basis that we lost to one of the above two.

So, this season a failure? Premiership, maybe. We should have finished 3rd. FA Cup we should've made it to the Semi's. Europe, IMO we overachieved, the likes of Barca, Inter, AC and Real Madrid didn't get as far or achieved the same with bigger funds.

Premiership - failed
Europe - achieved

Balances itself out really, I don't think we can say we failed. This may be a difficult pill for some to swallow, but football is 75% money, the rest is split between players and manager, and on that basis we should be aiming for 3rd in the prem and a quarter to semi final CL run.

That's the reality of it.

Good balanced post. Reflects my opinion!

[The Birdman]

Barry will be better than Alonso in the premier league. And Bentley is better than any of our current right sided options.

So that would improve us. Of course there are better players around who would improve us further, but it's all about having the cash. And at least we know they can hack it in the premier league.

Let's forget we're talking about two current full England internationals, who may not be a great team, but do have a vast pool of talent to choose from. People compare Bentley to Pennant, but Bentley is a far superior player to Pennant, hence the reason he is in the England squad on a regular basis, and despite being at a top 4 club and playing in the CL, Pennant is not.

I'd be happy with both being brought in at realistic prices.

Is exactly right.
This is what I don't understand about some posters on here, everyone admits we need to improve in the Prem as Rafa's record in Europe is second to none yet they moan about possibly signing 2 English players who know the Premier League inside out and would improve us.
As DannyMan says they are 2 current internationals, and more to the point can anyone suggest more realistic targets that we can buy who are already arguably the best player at their respective clubs and can come straight in, improve our team and help us challenge for the league?

[Kenneth]

But taking an educated guess, you'd have to say probably not.

Would we have signed a better striker than Torres? Such a thing does not exist.

Would we have signed a better holding midfielder than Mascher? Again, nigh on impossible.

There was nothing wrong with the post you responded to.

I haven't said we'd have bought better (repeat as often as necessary).

We got Rafa and signed some top spaniards. If we'd got a top italian manager, we'd have bought some top italian players etc.