Best away record in the league & 2nd place nearly wrapped up

[Craig_H]

Who are we kidding your clearly more of a pessemist than an optimist.

Anyways, theres nothing wrong with playing devils advocate and trying to look at both angles. But you can do this without 'Its over!' or 'Its all a fix'........and for the record... i still dont 'like you'.

It's not playing devil's advocate though, it's just saying if i think something - be it positive or negative. And a pessimist wouldnt post anything positive, if they're seeking to be a pessimist.

I love you too

[BG1973]

I'm not...but it was only limited in the sense that it wasnt UNlimited

It was limited in the sense that say £80million we may have had to spend would have been spent much differently to united or chelsea. they had a stronger base to begin with so would spend it on maybe 3 key players. We spent it on possibly 10 players as we were weak to begin with.

Similar amounts to spend (Not chelsea, maybe united) but relatively worlds apart and nothings really changed.

Baffles me why some people won't aknowledge this.

[DannyMan2006]

Disagree. It was limited in the sense that say £80million we may have had to spend would have been spent much differently to united or chelsea. they had a stronger base to begin with so would spend it on maybe 3 key players. We spent it on possibly 10 players as we were weak to begin with.

Similar amounts to spend (Not chelsea, maybe united) but relatively worlds apart.

Yes agreed. But this means at a club like Liverpool you generally have to get your signings spot on. Last summer Rafa was way of the mark and seeing as we are so close to winning the title it would be easy to say his signings cost us the title.

I'm not gonna use it as a stick to batter him, as his other signings and management is the reason we challenged. But I don't think we can go another summer of buying players that prove to not be good enough for our team.

At the very least this summer we need a player capable of filling in for Gerrard and Torres. Ideally we want this and also an attacking player who can hit the same heights of those two so we have three big players in the first XI.

[Craig_H]

It was limited in the sense that say £80million we may have had to spend would have been spent much differently to united or chelsea. they had a stronger base to begin with so would spend it on maybe 3 key players. We spent it on possibly 10 players as we were weak to begin with.

Similar amounts to spend (Not chelsea, maybe united) but relatively worlds apart and nothings really changed.

Baffles me why some people won't aknowledge this.

I acknowledge it, as was the case then. I think it's different now.

If we have £25m to spend this summer, it should go on a top class player. If we can get two players of that kind for £25m, then great but it's unrealistic, so spend it all on one player and get someone who'll make the difference for us.

Rather that than three more Dossena type of players who will be fighting for a place in the 18 man squad. Dya not agree?

[Craig_H]

Yes agreed. But this means at a club like Liverpool you generally have to get your signings spot on. Last summer Rafa was way of the mark and seeing as we are so close to winning the title it would be easy to say his signings cost us the title.

I'm not gonna use it as a stick to batter him, as his other signings and management is the reason we challenged. But I don't think we can go another summer of buying players that prove to not be good enough for our team.

At the very least this summer we need a player capable of filling in for Gerrard and Torres. Ideally we want this and also an attacking player who can hit the same heights of those two so we have three big players in the first XI.

Top post, as usual mate.

[fah-q]

As exciting as this season has been and considering the improvement we've made I still can't shake the disappointment of not quite being good enough. Of course that might have something to do with the Mancs more than likely equalling our long standing record.

[red g]

I acknowledge it, as was the case then. I think it's different now.

If we have £25m to spend this summer, it should go on a top class player. If we can get two players of that kind for £25m, then great but it's unrealistic, so spend it all on one player and get someone who'll make the difference for us.

Rather that than three more Dossena type of players who will be fighting for a place in the 18 man squad. Dya not agree?

Yes we only need 1 more squad filling place and thats at centre back, everywhere else i am happy with......slight worry on Darby at RB as havent seen enough of him but looks good from little i have seen.

WE have to get 1 or 2 Creatives to be capable of hitting 15-20ish goals a season with Agger now fit thats probably the goalscoring void that Hyppia will leave from centre back.

Only Babel i really want sold....and all other squaddies are decent enough as just that.

[red g]

As exciting as this season has been and considering the improvement we've made I still can't shake the disappointment of not quite being good enough. Of course that might have something to do with the Mancs more than likely equalling our long standing record.

we have proved we are good enough......just not consistent enough

[Craig_H]

As exciting as this season has been and considering the improvement we've made I still can't shake the disappointment of not quite being good enough. Of course that might have something to do with the Mancs more than likely equalling our long standing record.

The margins are so fine now, that i'm not even sure i could categorically call us not good enough.

Scandalous decision to disallow the goal against Stoke - 2 points.
Penalty given to Mancs vs Bolton - potentially made the difference between a win and a draw - 2 points.
Ditto for mancs vs Spurs - possibly even 3 points, maybe 2.

That's 6 points right there which are up for debate IMO.

I'd say the officials have been more 'not good enough' than LFC.

we have proved we are good enough......just not consistent enough

Same thing isnt it mate?

Good enough to win the title = consistently winning games.

The best teams are the ones who are the most consistent.

[BG1973]

I acknowledge it, as was the case then. I think it's different now.

If we have £25m to spend this summer, it should go on a top class player. If we can get two players of that kind for £25m, then great but it's unrealistic, so spend it all on one player and get someone who'll make the difference for us.

Rather that than three more Dossena type of players who will be fighting for a place in the 18 man squad. Dya not agree?

yep, without a shadow of a doubt.

When I say nothing has really changed though it's true. We need probably two more very very top drawer players but we can't afford them. We will have to compromise. If united or Chelsea need a player they don't compromise they go and get them. That's the difference financially. It's an absolute credit to Rafa that he's brought us this far in the circumstances.

The most pleasing thing is that we have a lot more potential to improve further than the likes of Chelsea and United.

[Craig_H]

yep, without a shadow of a doubt.

When I say nothing has really changed though it's true. We need probably two more very very top drawer players but we can't afford them. We will have to compromise. If united or Chelsea need a player they don't compromise they go and get them. That's the difference financially. It's an absolute credit to Rafa that he's brought us this far in the circumstances.

The most pleasing thing is that we have a lot more potential to improve further than the likes of Chelsea and United.

I know what you mean about compromise, but the thing we've been doing for years, is buying 4 lesser players instead, then inevitably shipping them off a year or two later, for a fraction of what we paid for them, and forever being '2 players away' from what we need.

If we cant buy those 2 players, let's just buy one. In a year's time, buy the other one. But we can certainly 'go get' ONE of the two we need. I dont see why we cant.

Another 2 years is nothing, when we've been waiting 20.

[fah-q]

we have proved we are good enough......just not consistent enough

By not good enough, I mean at breaking the deadlock against those teams that park the bus. We are good enough against the big clubs as we've shown this season, but its fine margins as Craig says.

[einar]

I know what you mean about compromise, but the thing we've been doing for years, is buying 4 lesser players instead, then inevitably shipping them off a year or two later, for a fraction of what we paid for them, and forever being '2 players away' from what we need.

If we cant buy those 2 players, let's just buy one. In a year's time, buy the other one. But we can certainly 'go get' ONE of the two we need. I dont see why we cant.

Another 2 years is nothing, when we've been waiting 20.

I think you are over simplifying things. We have no idea how the transfer system at LFC is managed and in the last 5 years by whom. This assumption of yours that Rafa could have bought one player a year of the same level as Torres and Gerrard, and then criticizing Rafa for not doing what we dont know if he could have done, is why people tend to see you as a pessimistic.

Facts are, we don't know what happened with the Kean transfer. Which other winger could Rafa have bought for the same money as Riera?(who IMHO improved us quite a bit) And Dossena is a proven Italian international, and maybe he will get another season to prove himself. And also no manager has a perfect record in this department.

The fact that Rafa has brought in players like Reina, Alonso, Mascher, Benny, Kuyt, Torres, Arbeloa, Skirtl, Aurelio to name a few, under far more difficult circumstances then the managers he is expected to compete with is simply world class.

And only if he has now really been given full control over transfers can we start criticizing him in the way you seem to be doing now and many have been doing for the last few years.

[barnes10]

its not easy tho is it. what we're basically saying is that we should have someone who can replace torres or gerrard when either are unfit.

but they have to be happy with a bench place for the rest of the time since stevie and nando are the first choice.

who on earth fits that description?

[barnes10]

yossi is gerrards replacement but who for torres?