Houllier or Rafa's?

[RedReet]

Are you sure about that?

He was injured a bit during his first season, but when played he certainly didn't look like the best RB in the Premiership from the previous year.

[Nicey]

Jerzy Dudek
John Arne Riise
Jamie Carragher
Sami Hyypia
Steve Finnan: Would rather have kept him than Dossena
Harry Kewell
Steven Gerrard
Dietmar Hamann: Him over Lucas any ****ing day of the week!
Danny Murphy
Emile Heskey
Michael Owen: ALL DAY LONG!!!! Should sign the ****er for nothing in the summer!

Finnan is a right back
Hamann is 65
and in order for Owen to get you goals the entire team has to play towards him and that was 6 odd years ago. Heskey had a half of a good season and you all hated him, Danny was bollixed almost daily for giving the ball away, Harry Kewell was a complete and utter waste of space and Risse who I rated very highly came in for all kinds stick in here ... now people want him back ..

[RedReet]

Considering Rafa’s whole philosophy is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, this really is a pointless argument about individuals. But I’ll contribute anyway…

Jerzy Dudek Ridiculous to compare to Pepe.
John Arne Riise Debatable on early form, but I'm much happier with Aurelio / Insua combo at LB.
Jamie Carragher Came from academy and Rafa has made him a much better player.
Sami Hyypia Legend, but CB is hardly a problem under Rafa.
Steve Finnan Much better player under Rafa (even though Rafa tried to ditch him every year).
Harry Kewell More talent that Riera, but I'd rather have the Spaniard.
Steven Gerrard Would be a superstar no matter who was in charge.
Dietmar Hamann Again, another legend, but Masch has the ability to go on to better things.
Danny Murphy Decent player, but not fit to lace Alonso's boots.
Emile Heskey Great early into his Liverpool career, but would rather have Kuyt.
Michael Owen Phenomenal when fit, but Torres has more to his game. Another who would have shone regardless of who was in charge.

So to summarise, Houllier bought well in Sami and Didi, but we're hardly weakened with Agger, Skrtel and Mascherano for the future.

[FatTony]

Finnan is a right back
Hamann is 65
and in order for Owen to get you goals the entire team has to play towards him and that was 6 odd years ago. Heskey had a half of a good season and you all hated him, Danny was bollixed almost daily for giving the ball away, Harry Kewell was a complete and utter waste of space and Risse who I rated very highly came in for all kinds stick in here ... now people want him back ..

I was referring to the quality of the players then, and the age they were then also. As a direct comparison to the team we put out last weekend.

I'm not sure thats true about Owen, he had a cracking goal ratio at Real Madrid, the difference was that was how Houllier had the team playing.

Heskey was the second choice striker and yes, loads of us didn't rate him. Rafa tried to get him back recently though.

Danny I agree with.

Kewell was a sick note but when fit he was a more talented winger than we currently have.

I don't want Riise back! I'm talking the players then against the players now. Not those players now against our players now, that would be mad.

I know Finnan is a right back!

[Flight]

People keep saying that the squad is better under Rafa, how much the squad has improved, but lets compare like for like with the players on the pitch for Gerrards last game.

Jerzy Dudek
John Arne Riise
Jamie Carragher
Sami Hyypia
Steve Finnan
Harry Kewell
Steven Gerrard
Dietmar Hamann
Danny Murphy
Emile Heskey
Michael Owen

Other than Dudek and Murphy, would you swap anyone?

Not a fair post, to be honest mate.

Rafa had no choice in losing Owen or Heskey. Hamanns and Finnans age has caught up with them, Kewell has been a crock ever since Rafa got here and got more than his fair chance and don't get me started on Riise.

So the question is would you keep anyone apart from Carra, Sami and Stevie, and they're all still here.


Significantly, and this is the main point, we got next to **** all for most of them and Rafa has had to work miracles with his budget.

On top of that you've cherry picked from that squad and compared it to an injury hit side. If you pick our strongest first 11 now its the best its been for two decades.


Pepe
Arbie
Carra
Skrtel
Aurelio
Masch
Xabi
Riera
Stevie
Dirk
Nando

As long as its Kuyt in 4 5 1, there isn't a single player I'd swap, apart from maybe a fit Kewell for Riera. But then Kewell was knackered from the season you refer to.

[murder_inc]

Not a fair post, to be honest mate.

Rafa had no choice in losing Owen or Heskey. Hamanns and Finnans age has caught up with them, Kewell has been a crock ever since Rafa got here and got more than his fair chance and don't get me started on Riise.

So the question is would you keep anyone apart from Carra, Sami and Stevie, and they're all still here.


Significantly, and this is the main point, we got next to **** all for most of them and Rafa has had to work miracles with his budget.

On top of that you've cherry picked from that squad and compared it to an injury hit side. If you pick our strongest first 11 now its the best its been for two decades.


Pepe
Arbie
Carra
Skrtel
Aurelio
Masch
Xabi
Riera
Stevie
Dirk
Nando

As long as its Kuyt in 4 5 1, there isn't a single player I'd swap, apart from maybe a fit Kewell for Riera. But then Kewell was knackered from the season you refer to.

Agree with most points but Id have Agger over Skittles and even though Dirk is one of the hardest working players in the game, Id swap him for a Ribbery any day of the week imo. But other than that though, your spot on mate imo.

[FatTony]

Not a fair post, to be honest mate.

Rafa had no choice in losing Owen or Heskey. Hamanns and Finnans age has caught up with them, Kewell has been a crock ever since Rafa got here and got more than his fair chance and don't get me started on Riise.

So the question is would you keep anyone apart from Carra, Sami and Stevie, and they're all still here.


Significantly, and this is the main point, we got next to **** all for most of them and Rafa has had to work miracles with his budget.

On top of that you've cherry picked from that squad and compared it to an injury hit side. If you pick our strongest first 11 now its the best its been for two decades.


Pepe
Arbie
Carra
Skrtel
Aurelio
Masch
Xabi
Riera
Stevie
Dirk
Nando

As long as its Kuyt in 4 5 1, there isn't a single player I'd swap, apart from maybe a fit Kewell for Riera. But then Kewell was knackered from the season you refer to.

Its not cherry picked, as said, thats Houlliers team from his final game (which is sort of the point) against Rafa's team from his last game (at the time).

Its also not a comparison between the managers ability, only against the qualities of the players in each squad regardless of age and sick histories. Hence the players Houllier had then, not now (so lets not say Riise is now **** (which he's not)). Basically, each player at his best. Who's the better squad.

Thats all.

Time to end it though as I'm getting fed up getting this point over now.

[pondus]

Not a fair post, to be honest mate.

Rafa had no choice in losing Owen or Heskey. Hamanns and Finnans age has caught up with them, Kewell has been a crock ever since Rafa got here and got more than his fair chance and don't get me started on Riise.

So the question is would you keep anyone apart from Carra, Sami and Stevie, and they're all still here.


Significantly, and this is the main point, we got next to **** all for most of them and Rafa has had to work miracles with his budget.

On top of that you've cherry picked from that squad and compared it to an injury hit side. If you pick our strongest first 11 now its the best its been for two decades.


Pepe
Arbie
Carra
Skrtel
Aurelio
Masch
Xabi
Riera
Stevie
Dirk
Nando

As long as its Kuyt in 4 5 1, there isn't a single player I'd swap, apart from maybe a fit Kewell for Riera. But then Kewell was knackered from the season you refer to.

Bit of a waste of comparison the two teams lined up in this thread, as the one from Houllier looks to be his best eleven, while the one from Rafa isn't.