expectation

[Shaggy]

Why should we win the title? We have no divine right to win it. We may be Liverpool FC but the game has changed almost beyond all recognition and we are lagging behind in so many areas. That we are the most feared team in Europe is nothing short of staggering given our resources.

There isn't a team in the world who draws a few games at home to teams they should be beating, but I obviously agree that it is a recurring problem for us and probably indicative of what is wrong with how we're set up to play in the league.

It's tough to take but, personally, I've decided to try and manage (i.e. lower) my expectations. At the start of the season I didn't think we'd win the title (although I confess I started to seriously believe at the back end of 2008), but it's hard to accept when we've had it almost within our grasp and proceeded to ****ing chuck it away.

I think our expectations should be a top 3 finish every season, a CL challenge and win an FA Cup every 2-3 years. Anything more is a bonus. As I said, I think we are where we should be - I don't believe we're underachieving. In fact I know we're not.

[ric.williams]

Expectation.

We have to manage our expectations better. In terms of our revenue, stadium size etc, we have no divine right to win the title. Yes we're Liverpool FC but the game has changed - it's mainly about money. We can't compete with United and Chelsea on that front and so we are where we should be, in 3rd. Our squad has been assembled less expensively than either of those two. Rafa is edging us nearer to a title challenge (this has been more of a surrender than a challenge) and has us competing for the European Cup every single season. Cast your minds back to where we were under Houllier - lucky to be in the CL never mind challenging for it every year. Sacking Rafa would put us back to square one.

Yes he has his faults and some of them show no sign of being corrected, but I shudder to think where we'd be without him and I for one, after a good night's sleep, would be happy for us to continue under his stewardship and being one of the most feared teams in Europe. We must manage our expectations better, rather than blindly demanding the title every season.

good post, i think it was the performance yesterday that was hard to take

[Shaggy]

It was indeed very hard to take. Completely unacceptable. If we serve up the same sort of **** in our next game I will be very worried.

[Imy]

My expectations have been lowered ever since the days of Evans

This seasons challenge has been a bonus. However I believe we could still be top if Rafa had losened the reigns, played with a attacking game plan.

The off field **** is the usual excuse used to justify the lack of focus, it is just that an excuse.

This season more then any other was our opportunity, chelsea and arsenal in dissaray, utd poor start, man city not yet spent the billions. But we fecked it up again.

Liverpool Fc the eternal bridesmaids.

[Shaggy]

It's not an excuse, it's one of several factors.

The key point for me is we're not underachieving. We were under Houllier, so he got the bullet. I know some people on here will disagree - inexplicably they'll think we should be finishing above United & Chelsea - but they're wrong.

We're where we should be.

[bobbyfallon]

It's not an excuse, it's one of several factors.

The key point for me is we're not underachieving. We were under Houllier, so he got the bullet. I know some people on here will disagree - inexplicably they'll think we should be finishing above United & Chelsea - but they're wrong.

We're where we should be.

its not the fact that we should be finishing above them but we had a great chance this year and we blew it.

in the same context would you say that villa are overachieving ??

[Shaggy]

We had a chance and blew it, yeah, but by the same token United are winning it just as much as we're chucking it away. They've won 14 games on the trot or something FFS. Ultimately I don't think it would've mattered what we did - they just keep winning.

Villa are overachieving IMO, yeah. Just like Everton did a coupla years ago.

[bobbyfallon]

We had a chance and blew it, yeah, but by the same token United are winning it just as much as we're chucking it away. They've won 14 games on the trot or something FFS. Ultimately I don't think it would've mattered what we did - they just keep winning.

Villa are overachieving IMO, yeah. Just like Everton did a coupla years ago.

they are on a great run, no doubt. reason for this?? beating ****e teams at home consistantly ??

i really do feel we should be putting these teams away at home, even grinding out a 1-0 like they have done, they may have struggled but ultimately they have collected three points.

i know its not as simple as it sounds obviously. IMO teams park the bus at old trafford as much as they do here - yet united grind it out.

do you feel as though the gulf in spending has enabled them to do this or the style of play and mentality or a combination ??

[Shaggy]

Well I disagree that teams park the bus at OT. One or two do - Sunderland this year for example - but the majority play weakened teams, roll over and have the infuriating attitude..."our season is not defined by losing at Old Trafford".

****. Off.

United to a large degree have earned this - teams are terrified of going there whereas the same teams come to Anfield with genuine belief that a point is (easily) attainable. It's not that hard to stop us and it's not that hard for teams with no attacking ambition to get a goalless draw against us

[Rowan]

The 14 game run that the Manc's have put together aside I think there is managing expectation and there is underwhelming performances against teams we should be doing much better against. Regardless of the tactics they employ I would expect us to take more than just two points from two games against Stoke. I would also expect us to have the ability to put the likes of Fulham and Hull away. We rarely get a good result at Boro but the way they have played this season you would have thought we would have got something this year.

There are games where you know a win is considered a good result and then there are games where you would expect a team of our calibre to come away with nothing less than a win. It's those games that have really frustrated this year. There seem to be teams that take a real battering week in and week out right up until the point where they play us. Suddenly they become the most organised teams in the league for 90 minutes. I can't help but think at times this year that new found ability isn't entirely down to the management of those minnows either.

[Joe King]

Well I disagree that teams park the bus at OT. One or two do - Sunderland this year for example - but the majority play weakened teams, roll over and have the infuriating attitude..."our season is not defined by losing at Old Trafford".

****. Off.

United to a large degree have earned this - teams are terrified of going there whereas the same teams come to Anfield with genuine belief that a point is (easily) attainable. It's not that hard to stop us and it's not that hard for teams with no attacking ambition to get a goalless draw against us

Definite United have earned it. All it takes it natural width to make us win again. Fergie's teams have always played with genuine width and men in the box who will challenge the near post, the middle and the far post with someone always running late into the box. We simply don't take enough risks at home and are too predictable with our patterns of play. We always hit the front post with our crosses, there is no real variation or movement to change anything. Its a problem from both the wingers and the attacking players.

[bobbyfallon]

Well I disagree that teams park the bus at OT. One or two do - Sunderland this year for example - but the majority play weakened teams, roll over and have the infuriating attitude..."our season is not defined by losing at Old Trafford".

****. Off.


United to a large degree have earned this - teams are terrified of going there whereas the same teams come to Anfield with genuine belief that a point is (easily) attainable. It's not that hard to stop us and it's not that hard for teams with no attacking ambition to get a goalless draw against us

that ****e annoys me too. its still 11 v 11 go out and give it a go at OT you never know in football what could happen.

if teams come to us hoping for a point and i do agree its attainable because of the style we are playing at present. it may not be hard to stop us so its up to us to do something about that

[bobbyfallon]

Definite United have earned it. All it takes it natural width to make us win again. Fergie's teams have always played with genuine width and men in the box who will challenge the near post, the middle and the far post with someone always running late into the box. We simply don't take enough risks at home and are too predictable with our patterns of play. We always hit the front post with our crosses, there is no real variation or movement to change anything. Its a problem from both the wingers and the attacking players.

true

[Joe King]

that ****e annoys me too. its still 11 v 11 go out and give it a go at OT you never know in football what could happen.

if teams come to us hoping for a point and i do agree its attainable because of the style we are playing at present. it may not be hard to stop us so its up to us to do something about that

I find this argument about teams falling like a house of cards quite pointless. If we are good enough, we should beat these teams at a canter and eventually, after many many years of building a reputation of being ruthless at home, will teams concede the game on the coach ride to Liverpol.

[Leyton388]

As a liverpool there is only 1 expectation that i have for the club and that is to WIN!

First is first and second is nothing!