The New Manager Thread

[Tee]

We lost 2 internationals in Alonso and Arbeloa - 2 players who play for arguably the best international team in world football. Look at their replacements...

Johnson is fantastic going forward but his defending cost us early in the season, and more importantly it destabilised a proven back line.

Aquilani is a promising midfielder but just too injury prone and lightweight - not quite the proven international class player Alonso is.

So, IMO we have regressed since last season and that is where our problems eminate. Don't forget we lost Gerrard and Torres to injuries last season but managed pretty well.

[Craig_H]

We lost 2 internationals in Alonso and Arbeloa - 2 players who play for arguably the best international team in world football. Look at their replacements...

Johnson is fantastic going forward but his defending cost us early in the season, and more importantly it destabilised a proven back line.

Aquilani is a promising midfielder but just too injury prone and lightweight - not quite the proven international class player Alonso is.

So, IMO we have regressed since last season and that is where our problems eminate. Don't forget we lost Gerrard and Torres to injuries last season but managed pretty well.

I remember saying, when we signed Johnson, that the fee was too high mainly down to the fact that he couldnt defend that well. I bemoaned the fact that we'd let a solid RB go, in favour of one costing about £14m more and with defensive abilities of about £14m less. I was shouted down.

[Will]

Can any of you honestly say Jose Mourinho would take the Liverpool job? Do you think he would want it?

Inter boss will probberly get another Serie `A` Title which will be his second in a row at the club and Inter`s fifth in a row i think. Has had plenty of money to spend, just brought £70million into the club with the sale of Ibrahomivch and got Eto`o in the bargain which to me was an incredibly good deal for Inter.

Liverpool need to ship out 5 or 6 players and the possibility of a few big guns NEEDING to be sold becouse of the financial restraintes which he dosnt seem to have at Inter. Owners that are well, just arseholes to say the least. Owners who dont back the manager, owners who over the last 2 seasons i think im right in sayin have givin Rafa sweet FA to spend. IE £65million gone out the club and £70million come into the club. This season £37million gone out the club and £40million come into the club. Where is Rafa`s £20million £30million transfer budget?

Jose is on £9million a year and IF we got him and the owners backed him to the hilt we would be pissed off and say, why wasnt Rafa backed to the hilt? Jose has it cosy at Inter another title on the way hes the boss at that club no one else, he gets money when he needs it and hes on the biggest contract a manager has ever had in world football. Jose is only suited to a few clubs. Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan soon to be five times champions, and Chelsea. Every single one of them is ****ing loaded. He will have his choice next season of Man City, Real Madrid and possibly Barcelona i believe. Liverpool over them? nah. He wouldnt get the £100million transfer kitty!

[Shaggy]

Arbeloa wanted to go and had a year left on his contract - nothing we could do. And Johnson's barely played so it's way to early to be making judgement calls on him.

What I will say is, he's a much better right-back than Arbeloa. Fair enough he re-signed for Madrid, but I didn't see a host of top clubs queuing up to sign Arbeloa. Johnson had his pick of us, Chelsea and City. Capello seems to think he's pretty ruddy good too.

[Lecter]

I remember saying, when we signed Johnson, that the fee was too high mainly down to the fact that he couldnt defend that well. I bemoaned the fact that we'd let a solid RB go, in favour of one costing about £14m more and with defensive abilities of about £14m less. I was shouted down.

Agreed I never rated Johnson that highly defensively

I do think the fee was more about writing off the Crouch money than anything else

In fact the more I see whats come to light about Portsmouth the more I believe that

[Craig_H]

Re Shaggy - I'm just going by performances.

[Lecter]

Put it this way, i think our squad is easily good enough to finish 4th or 3rd.

Throw in some injuries (which isnt exclusive to us, by the way) and maybe 4th becomes a bit more of a struggle than 'easily' attainable.

We're on course for 7th though, and add up all the circumstances you like, that's way below where we should be - and the buck stops with the manager.

We had injuries and not enough money to spend to win the title, fine.

But we've got plenty enough to be finishing 4th.

I'm not sure

I think people are underestinating the progress of City, Villa & Spurs

To me 4th was expected BUT injuries has changed that dramatically and City, Spurs & Villa have not had as bad an injury list as ourselves

You want to see how badly injuries can affect you look across the park at the Bitters

Arteta, Jagielka out and they have struggled badly

[Craig_H]

The fact that you're comparing us to them, says it all, about how ****e we've been and how low expectations and standards have dropped.

If you think our squad is no better then 7th best in the league, then fair enough.

I think that's nonsensical, personally.

[Assassin]

I remember saying, when we signed Johnson, that the fee was too high mainly down to the fact that he couldnt defend that well. I bemoaned the fact that we'd let a solid RB go, in favour of one costing about £14m more and with defensive abilities of about £14m less. I was shouted down.

The right back wanted to go back to his homeland and he had a year left on his contract. It is called a solid piece of business.

Johnson cost a lot of money. However, he is a better alround player than Arbeloa. He is also, an english homegrown player, nowadays there is a big premium attached to the transfer fee for being homegrown.

Yes yes yes I know it is all about opinions, freedom of speech as this is a forum, etc, etc..... but this time you are about as right as our team performance was good last night

[Maxiedge]

Johnson's quality, lets not even got there. Actually to be honest this threads a bit **** really.

[Assassin]

Johnson's quality, lets not even got there. Actually to be honest this threads a bit **** really.

Please enlighten us with your wisdom and grammar skills

[wildman]

[QUOTE=Will;1544535]Can any of you honestly say Jose Mourinho would take the Liverpool job? Do you think he would want it?


he would come tomorrow IF he had money to spend, why wouldn't he I think he'd love to manage liverpool but will want plenty of cash to spend

[Craig_H]

The right back wanted to go back to his homeland and he had a year left on his contract. It is called a solid piece of business.

Johnson cost a lot of money. However, he is a better alround player than Arbeloa. He is also, an english homegrown player, nowadays there is a big premium attached to the transfer fee for being homegrown.

Yes yes yes I know it is all about opinions, freedom of speech as this is a forum, etc, etc..... but this time you are about as right as our team performance was good last night

Johnson might be more 'glamourous' and obviously great going forward, but defensively, he's about as solid as a wet paper bag.

[Lecter]

The fact that you're comparing us to them, says it all, about how ****e we've been and how low expectations and standards have dropped.

If you think our squad is no better then 7th best in the league, then fair enough.

I think that's nonsensical, personally.

READ what I wrote

I expected 4th but have been surprised by City, Villa and Spurs as much as I have been surprised by our own form

I have always felt that one or more of those teams would catch us (if the status quo in terms of finance remaind the same) sooner or later

I'm surprised its happened quickly

I think some of us need to face facts with or without Rafa it is going to be a tall order to continue finishing 4th with our current owners and their restrictions on the transfer budget, and the willingness of Villa, Spurs & City to consistantly outspend us

[Lecter]

[quote=wildman;1544550]

Can any of you honestly say Jose Mourinho would take the Liverpool job? Do you think he would want it?


he would come tomorrow IF he had money to spend, why wouldn't he I think he'd love to manage liverpool but will want plenty of cash to spend

So that rules Mourinho out then doesnt it