Can we win the League?

[Craig_H]

As much as the draws have cost us this year there is no denying that we are playing the best football we have ever seen under rafa and houllier. Rafa has fine tuned the squad over the past 4 years to now resemble his machine he had at valencia.

I remember when he brought his valencia side to Anfield in the CL and they tore us apart with Amair and co. We now play like that or very close to IMO. It is a joy to watch.

Lets see what the summer brings

Agree with all that.

Mistakes will always be a part of football - and life in general.

Rafa's done superbly well to deliver a title challenge. I really hope he goes one better next year.

Very rarely does a team go from 4th to 2nd in one season.

4th ---> 2nd ---> 1st though...who knows.

[Joe King]

Two games against Stoke ****ed us and Boro of course.

[lickedlollipop]

sack Parry

[Ben_Itez]

As much as the draws have cost us this year there is no denying that we are playing the best football we have ever seen under rafa and houllier. Rafa has fine tuned the squad over the past 4 years to now resemble his machine he had at valencia.

I remember when he brought his valencia side to Anfield in the CL and they tore us apart with Amair and co. We now play like that or very close to IMO. It is a joy to watch.

Lets see what the summer brings

Yeah i was at that match and it was utterly depressing how far away we were then. That'll never happen to us again with Rafa at the healm.

Really looking forward to what the summer brings and next season

Not forgetting we're still in with a slim chance of winning the league this year with 3 games to go. I havent been able to say that for almost as long as i can remember.

[Ben_Itez]

Two games against Stoke ****ed us and Boro of course.

If Gerrards free kick hadnt been disallowed after 2 minutes for absolutely nothing at home and for Gerrard hitting the post in the last few minutes away we'd be four points better off. Small details.

On Saturday we'd have the chance to go four points clear really cranking up the pressure on Utd with City and Arsenal to play

[Craig_H]

If Gerrards free kick hadnt been disallowed after 2 minutes for absolutely nothing at home and for Gerrard hitting the post in the last few minutes away we'd be four points better off. Small details.

On Saturday we'd have the chance to go four points clear really cranking up the pressure on Utd with City and Arsenal to play

Likewise though mate, if we'd been a bit more adventurous against WHU and Fulham...etc etc.

Some of the dropped points arent our fault. Some are though.

[Ben_Itez]

Oh i know i'm not trying to get all 'if only' on you but just trying to highlight how such small details can make such a huge difference.

In reality the fact is our squad probably just lacks the required depth to compete on all fronts effectively. Our first XI, when fit, can match anyone but you cant expect them all to play 60 games a season.

A couple more quality additions this summer and with a lot of promising young players coming through the future,and the present, is bright

[Ben_Itez]

Oh and not forgetting Robbie Keane's numerous airshots!

[Neil Young]

Likewise though mate, if we'd been a bit more adventurous against WHU and Fulham...etc etc.

Some of the dropped points arent our fault. Some are though.

I don't understand how we can judge dropping some points as worse than dropping others. It's the total that matters.

[dww]

I don't understand how we can judge dropping some points as worse than dropping others. It's the total that matters.

I think the games that gall me the most were the ones where we had done enough but then failed to hang on. In particular the Everton and Wigan games. To some degree the inability to break down ludicrously tight packed defenses has been a problem inherent in our squad for a while, whereas conversely we used to be a team who once ahead rarely let that slip. It is a failing defensively which has raised it's head again a bit recently (particularly the Arsenal game).

[Elvoz]

Likewise though mate, if we'd been a bit more adventurous against WHU and Fulham...etc etc.

Some of the dropped points arent our fault. Some are though.

bang on

tin hat time

[Angryred]

So all in all...Blame Robbie Keane & his airshots!

If they had have gone in against the teams we drew against whilst he was here, we would be toasting him!

[Craig_H]

I don't understand how we can judge dropping some points as worse than dropping others. It's the total that matters.

Yes of course, but whether people want to admit it or not, there are certain games which we should be putting in the 'banker' category and we've ****ed up quite a few of those this season. It puts immense pressure on us to do doubles over Chelsea & United, which cant be relied upon each year.

[Neil Young]

Yes of course, but whether people want to admit it or not, there are certain games which we should be putting in the 'banker' category and we've ****ed up quite a few of those this season. It puts immense pressure on us to do doubles over Chelsea & United, which cant be relied upon each year.

Sure, I can see that's worth evaluating at the beginning or end of a season but it doesn't make sense to declare quite arbitrarily that dropping points in game X or Y is more costly than dropping points at any stage earlier or later on unless it has an effect beyond that particular game.

Arguably it looks from a distance that the Everton games (cup and league) had some negative effect on morale and/or confidence but I think if there has been one crucial game this season it's one we didn't play in: if Villa had hung on for a point or more against Man United then the pressure would really have been on them. Of course everything up to that point contributed to the importance of that game and everything after it has to follow a certain pattern (as, sadly, it has) otherwise it wouldn't have been the final turning point but, if things pan out as we expect, then that was the moment.

Everything else seems arbitrary to me.

[Craig_H]

It's more a case of having dropped TOO MANY home points, rather than selective games that i'm looking at. It just so happens that we dropped too many home points because of specific games, such as WHU, Fulham, Stoke, Hull etc.