Hunger

[Montana]

Hunger is most important ingredient I think to win the big trophies and one thing for sure is that Fergie has got his team absolutely hell bent on catching up with us. If you listen to Giggs' interviews all he ever talks about is emulating Liverpool and so does Neville and Keane/Bruce did so before him. They are obsessed with us and will be even more so now that they are so close.

My point is this - they are ****ing very very close now to our record title haul and unless we go into every match with even more hunger and desire than them, they will equal it next year and maybe even get number 4. **** the Chavs and Arse - they won't be able to stop em. It's up to us now.

We have a great squad I believe. Best 2 players in the country in Torres & Gerrard. A top keeper and top defence once Agger returns. Solid midfield and real potential class from Lucas and Babel. Also, the top tactician around especially in Europe. A couple of quality additions at full-back and and another striker would set us up nicely.

We've gotta stop making excuses now and make the most determined effort to stop the Mancs otherwise within 5-6 years we could be behind them on both counts.

Yeah, they've got great team and will strengthen too but they aint no super-team with average players the likes Brown, Hargreaves, Park, Fletcher, Saha etc.

It's the hunger that's the biggest difference.

[Dhav]

They'll overtake us in League titles very soon, of that I have no doubt. They're much better than us and have the resources and will invest in improving their team/squad more than we can/will. But that's probably another debate.

I agree with you about hunger. I also have no doubts that Istanbul is what spurred Fergie and Utd on to achieve their recent successes - look at how Neville reacted to that last minute winner at OT in 2006.

But it's not the Mancs' recent successes and the fact that they are quickly catching us up that should spur us on, it is the memory of our great successes, of Istanbul and how good that was and the desire to experience something similar again that should drive us.

[peekay]

What they have is an excellent management, marketing and footballing structure which has been tweaked and perfected over the years. Watching them hurts and hopefully everybody at our football club takes a good look at themselves. We have a management in limbo because our two owners dont talk to each other.

I am still not 100 % convinced if Rafa knows what his budget his. I am not saying they should make 100 million available to buy kaka, Diego etc. All i am asking for is our existing management to work together within the existing financial constraints to maximise our chances of success.

It is time our management takes a hard look at themselves and does whatever necessary to create a successful working partnerships. If Moores and Parry are true liverpool fans they should be busting a gut until this situation is resolved. Especially Moores, as this is going to be his legacy to this great institution.

[TheElephantMan]

Shouldn't this thread be in Entertainment?

[BigChief]

Their club is built around one, and only one, man. Once 66 year old Demento goes (one way or another) the club will be in tatters. They can't afford to be in such huge debts and miss even one CL final stage. With a new manager, this could happen. We're not structured that way, nobody really is bigger than our club. Even Hicks can't get us THAT screwed debt-wise.

[Dhav]

What they have is an excellent management, marketing and footballing structure which has been tweaked and perfected over the years. Watching them hurts and hopefully everybody at our football club takes a good look at themselves. We have a management in limbo because our two owners dont talk to each other.

I am still not 100 % convinced if Rafa knows what his budget his. I am not saying they should make 100 million available to buy kaka, Diego etc. All i am asking for is our existing management to work together within the existing financial constraints to maximise our chances of success.

It is time our management takes a hard look at themselves and does whatever necessary to create a successful working partnerships. If Moores and Parry are true liverpool fans they should be busting a gut until this situation is resolved. Especially Moores, as this is going to be his legacy to this great institution.

Rafa has little to spend beyond what he recoups in sales. It is no surprise that not only are we seeing peripheral figures like Crouch, Pennant, Riise being linked with moves away (with prices above market value being put on their head by Rafa) but also key first teamers like Xabi. Be worried my friends. Under the current ownership we will fall further behind the Mancs, not get closer to them.

[peekay]

Rafa has little to spend beyond what he recoups in sales. It is no surprise that not only are we seeing peripheral figures like Crouch, Pennant, Riise being linked with moves away (with prices above market value being put on their head by Rafa) but also key first teamers like Xabi. Be worried my friends. Under the current ownership we will fall further behind the Mancs, not get closer to them.

Even with existing budget much more can be done if Rafa, owners and Parry work in a unified manner. Instead we hear rumors of Rafa missing out on his top targets due to lack of coordination. For example a respected insider on TLW claimed that we missed out on Walcott the year before he moved to Arsenal because the board refused to release money ( 3.5 million, i think) to buy a 16 year old.

I am not going to argue the merit/demerits of paying that amount for Walcott but the truth is that the only way we are gonna catch up with Chelsea/Manu is to back the manager to the hilt. Give him all the tools feasible within a budget constraint and try to make his work environment as easy as possible, instead of communicating through the media. Do that and if it works well and good. If not get a new manager and hope that he works.

Rafa has said time and time again that he wants his targets in by June. Let us see if anything like that happens this time.

[Joe King]

Their club is built around one, and only one, man. Once 66 year old Demento goes (one way or another) the club will be in tatters. They can't afford to be in such huge debts and miss even one CL final stage. With a new manager, this could happen. We're not structured that way, nobody really is bigger than our club. Even Hicks can't get us THAT screwed debt-wise.

This is true. They have to win the title. They have to win the Champions League. Don't they have £1bn worth of debt? How is that fair on the rest of the Premiership? Surely, things should be sorted out by the governing bodies.

I think it truly is up to us to push upwards and onwards. The club need to put the squabbles behind them and behind closed doors, keep the pressure on Rafa to deliver (I believe thats when he produces his best work) and back him financially (ok that ain't going to happen)

[Dhav]

Even with existing budget much more can be done if Rafa, owners and Parry work in a unified manner. Instead we hear rumors of Rafa missing out on his top targets due to lack of coordination. For example a respected insider on TLW claimed that we missed out on Walcott the year before he moved to Arsenal because the board refused to release money ( 3.5 million, i think) to buy a 16 year old.

I am not going to argue the merit/demerits of paying that amount for Walcott but the truth is that the only way we are gonna catch up with Chelsea/Manu is to back the manager to the hilt. Give him all the tools feasible within a budget constraint and try to make his work environment as easy as possible, instead of communicating through the media. Do that and if it works well and good. If not get a new manager and hope that he works.

Rafa has said time and time again that he wants his targets in by June. Let us see if anything like that happens this time.

I agree with you, the manager needs wholehearted and unconditional support and you can be certain this is the kind of support the likes of Ferguson and Wenger rely on or they would walk. We also know this is not the case at our club, where the owners plotted behind our manager's back to replace him with a novice (probably hoping that the new man would be happy to work under conditions where he did not have complete control and autonomy) and also stripped him of any authority to act on transfer dealings. I also think the Skrtel signing was delayed awaiting approval from the owners.

Anyway, everyone knows my position - we cant move forward under the yanks, we need to get them out as soon as we can and by any means necessary.

[peekay]

I agree with you, the manager needs wholehearted and unconditional support and you can be certain this is the kind of support the likes of Ferguson and Wenger rely on or they would walk. We also know this is not the case at our club, where the owners plotted behind our manager's back to replace him with a novice (probably hoping that the new man would be happy to work under conditions where he did not have complete control and autonomy) and also stripped him of any authority to act on transfer dealings. I also think the Skrtel signing was delayed awaiting approval from the owners.

Anyway, everyone knows my position - we cant move forward under the yanks, we need to get them out as soon as we can and by any means necessary.

[Nick77]

I just pray their £500 million debt helps them follow Leeds United's path - I would just fookin' LOVE that!!!!

[kemm1]

Hunger is most important ingredient I think to win the big trophies and one thing for sure is that Fergie has got his team absolutely hell bent on catching up with us. If you listen to Giggs' interviews all he ever talks about is emulating Liverpool and so does Neville and Keane/Bruce did so before him. They are obsessed with us and will be even more so now that they are so close.

My point is this - they are ****ing very very close now to our record title haul and unless we go into every match with even more hunger and desire than them, they will equal it next year and maybe even get number 4. **** the Chavs and Arse - they won't be able to stop em. It's up to us now.

We have a great squad I believe. Best 2 players in the country in Torres & Gerrard. A top keeper and top defence once Agger returns. Solid midfield and real potential class from Lucas and Babel. Also, the top tactician around especially in Europe. A couple of quality additions at full-back and and another striker would set us up nicely.

We've gotta stop making excuses now and make the most determined effort to stop the Mancs otherwise within 5-6 years we could be behind them on both counts.

Yeah, they've got great team and will strengthen too but they aint no super-team with average players the likes Brown, Hargreaves, Park, Fletcher, Saha etc.

It's the hunger that's the biggest difference.

Yes but the SCUM also have **** loads of money and they spend **** loads of money.

We've only got one player in our entire squad that costs more that Carrick and Hargreves! It's not just about hunger, there are loads of teams, managers, fans and players that are hungry for success and passionate, but money is almost just as important.

[Exiled_red]

I worry about the hunger of some of our players quite a bit, you can see the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Mascherano, Torres and Kuyt have it and will got the extra yard to win but I sometimes wonder about some of the others

[Montana]

I worry about the hunger of some of our players quite a bit, you can see the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Mascherano, Torres and Kuyt have it and will got the extra yard to win but I sometimes wonder about some of the others

Exactly.