"Respecting" Weaker Teams (Plus A Bit of Panto)

[Craig_H]

guess Villa is going to win the league then since all the supposedly top 4 have dropped pts to lesser teams while Villa has been banging in the goals and showing the benchmark of title winning sides.

Erm, well no because Villa's home record isnt one of a title winning side, either thus far. Nobody's talking about Villa as a contender because they're not good enough.

If your assessment of LFC is that we're not a title contender and we'd be punching above our weight if we got into the top 4, then fair enough, failing to win nearly half our home games is good enough.

Some of us consider LFC to be on a higher level than Aston Villa, so we assess our results accordingly. If you want to merely be contenders for a CL place rather than contenders for the title, then you'd be right in being happy with our home form.

I consider us to be title contenders, hence i think we have to improve hugely at home, to maintain that status.

[Craig_H]

But you can't do that. Benchmarks mean nothing when the quality of teams is improving all the time, more so tactically. It's 11 men against 11 men not 11 robots against 11 robots.

When it's happened for six consecutive years, it's a fairly accurate thing to measure against. This year the winners might end up with 4 points or so less, so the barometer is SLIGHTLY lower. That's IF it turns out that way, but we dont know if it will. Even if it does, it's still only slightly lower and winning only just over half our home games still wouldnt be likely to win us the league.

[Nicey]

Erm, well no because Villa's home record isnt one of a title winning side, either thus far. Nobody's talking about Villa as a contender because they're not good enough.

If your assessment of LFC is that we're not a title contender and we'd be punching above our weight if we got into the top 4, then fair enough, failing to win nearly half our home games is good enough.

Some of us consider LFC to be on a higher level than Aston Villa, so we assess our results accordingly. If you want to merely be contenders for a CL place rather than contenders for the title, then you'd be right in being happy with our home form.

I consider us to be title contenders, hence i think we have to improve hugely at home, to maintain that status.

No **** .. give that man a lolly

[Craig_H]

What about those other seasons were the various teams dropped 5 games and 4 games at home and went on to win the lg ..I;ve done my research

Which other seasons? I've listed the last 6 there.

That shows us that title winners can afford a maximum of about 5 home draws (or 10 points dropped) in total. We've drawn 4 already so by that reckoning we'd need to win 9 out of the remaining 10 league games at Anfield.

Judging by what we've done so far, that looks a mighty ask, wouldnt you say?

[RedReet]

What's the reason for spending £20m on him if you're not going to bring him on when you're trying to find a winner at home against Hull?

Surely the same argument could be used for starting him?

Why is is ok to not start with a £20m striker (or relegate him to the reserves as some suggested), but it's not ok to leave him on the bench during a game?

[Guest]

They've been crying out for him to be benched because he was rubbish. He had a good game in Europe and found a bit of form then gets benched. People are moaning because we played 4-5-1 at home and even when we were 'trying' to win the game we still didn't bring on our second most expensive striker, we bought on Lucas

What's the reason for spending £20m on him if you're not going to bring him on when you're trying to find a winner at home against Hull?

That's what people are questioning. Seems like if you have a decent game and you're not the likes of Gerrard, Torres, Carra, Reina you get benched next game.

If Rafa is moaning come the Summer or January about spending money on players I think the owners are well within their rights to ask why he has £31m worth of attacking talent sitting on the bench game in and game out.

Am I the only one who finds that confusing?

But if he's in bad form why would he play?

I really don't understand your rational mate, you seem to be in a constant state of unhappiness as regards the team, rafa and some players in general. We've had an excellent start to the season, then have started to go through a bit of a rut lately and bang, nothing is good. Every opportunity to criticize is used to the full.

You can't state one week Keane is ****e and next you want him on because we're struggling. Thing is, we would have won if we didn't make two glaring defensive mistakes. Things are never perfect or the 'perfect square', certainly not in football.

I am as frustrated as you when I see us drop points at home, but then again I see the brighter side of things and don't try to analyze every aspect just to paint a bleak picture when there's nothing to be worried about because we're still top of the league and we're just approaching half way point.

There's still a lot to play for and lot of points to play for in order to catch up for lost points lately.

[Craig_H]

No mate I'm afraid it's not. It shows a clear amount of frustration in an individual that's likely to spill out during games.

I dont mean this to be insulting fredo, but as someone who basically doesnt go the games, you're in no position to tell me (and others) how likely it is for any perceived frustration of their's to 'spill out during games'.

I have frustrations, but they stay outside the turnstiles and i collect them on my way out. You're not in any informed position to tell me otherwise.

[Mattshark]

Which other seasons? I've listed the last 6 there.

That shows us that title winners can afford a maximum of about 5 home draws (or 10 points dropped) in total. We've drawn 4 already so by that reckoning we'd need to win 9 out of the remaining 10 league games at Anfield.

Judging by what we've done so far, that looks a mighty ask, wouldnt you say?

No it doesn't actually. It shows that those teams dropped that many points. You are conjecting your conclusion from that, that is not the same.

[Craig_H]

not targetting with anyone specific in this forum with that comment but more a comment about fans in general, especially to those who do go to anfield to do their part after all the recent booing or moaning we hear during the game.

I'd take that on board mate, but i'd counter it by saying that, despite what some might think they hear on tv, the booing is still only coming from a very small percentage of the fans in the ground. The vast majority support for 90 mins and do so vocally, regardless of what frustrations they might express on internet forums.

[Craig_H]

No **** .. give that man a lolly

If you think it was an obvious or stupid thing to discuss, take it up with the fella who made the point - i was only answering him, as he directed it to me.

You might put across your opinion in a more convincing manner without the sarcastic & rude tone.

[Craig_H]

No it doesn't actually. It shows that those teams dropped that many points. You are conjecting your conclusion from that, that is not the same.

You dont think previous records are a reasonable guide to what's likely to be required to win the league this season?

Obviously it isnt going to be exactly the same, but fairly close.

Or do you think that 70 points might win it this year?

[Guest]

When it's happened for six consecutive years, it's a fairly accurate thing to measure against. This year the winners might end up with 4 points or so less, so the barometer is SLIGHTLY lower. That's IF it turns out that way, but we dont know if it will. Even if it does, it's still only slightly lower and winning only just over half our home games still wouldnt be likely to win us the league.

Which other seasons? I've listed the last 6 there.

That shows us that title winners can afford a maximum of about 5 home draws (or 10 points dropped) in total. We've drawn 4 already so by that reckoning we'd need to win 9 out of the remaining 10 league games at Anfield.

Judging by what we've done so far, that looks a mighty ask, wouldnt you say?

But this is rather pointless statistics! United have a quite appalling away record for a top team but it's not been pointed out. Why? They can equally lose the league mighty soon if they continue this tendency regardless of the fact we're quite average at home because we have got 6 points more.

There will always be a stage during a season when everything won't go perfectly. We've had the rub of the green yes because other teams have dropped points but it can equally be attributed to those teams as well as we didn't capitalize on their cock ups.

This is a strange and really interesting season. Even if we were 9 points clear it wouldn't have reflected the gulf in points, quality wise, compared to our opponents. With us being top at half way point (or nearly), I'm ****ing delighted mate. I'd have eaten your hand if you'd offered me that at the start of the season.

[Mattshark]

You dont think previous records are a reasonable guide to what's likely to be required to win the league this season?

Obviously it isnt going to be exactly the same, but fairly close.

Or do you think that 70 points might win it this year?

I do genuinely think it'll be less points to win it this year. The overall quality of the league has improved quite a bit.

While previous records are a guide, it is not the minimum requirement.

[Guest]

I dont mean this to be insulting fredo, but as someone who basically doesnt go the games, you're in no position to tell me (and others) how likely it is for any perceived frustration of their's to 'spill out during games'.

I have frustrations, but they stay outside the turnstiles and i collect them on my way out. You're not in any informed position to tell me otherwise.

I ain't telling you anything just generally making a point. I don't think it was too hard to understand that.

[anfieldreds]

Erm, well no because Villa's home record isnt one of a title winning side, either thus far. Nobody's talking about Villa as a contender because they're not good enough.

If your assessment of LFC is that we're not a title contender and we'd be punching above our weight if we got into the top 4, then fair enough, failing to win nearly half our home games is good enough.

Some of us consider LFC to be on a higher level than Aston Villa, so we assess our results accordingly. If you want to merely be contenders for a CL place rather than contenders for the title, then you'd be right in being happy with our home form.

I consider us to be title contenders, hence i think we have to improve hugely at home, to maintain that status.

As mentioned earlier, I am disappointed by the home form. But i also take your point earlier that you choose to talk abt the last game till the next game comes long while I prefer to look to the next game and hope for a good performance for the team.

and Yes, I do see us as league contenders and my comments abt Villa is a tongue-in-cheek given their recent form versus the top 4.