Class of 2005 better than class of 2010

[banditos]

What about a comparison with the class of 09, which isn't much different to that of 10.

Our squad is miles better now, we've just had a dog of a season in terms of injuries, form and, most importantly, confindence.

[Norbs]

Absolute rubbish. Reina, Johnson, Agger, Mascherano, Kuyt and Torres would walk into the 2005 team. Add in Gerrard and Carragher and the only positions up for a slight debate using the 4-2-3-1 system would be -
LB (but don't go kidding yourself that Riise was any good, Warnock was young, inexperienced and inconsistant and Traore was well Traore) Aurelio of last season would walk into the combined team but generally we've been below average at left back for a few years now.
Hamman alongside Mascher in the DM role
Garcia/Kewell to play from the left.

Hyppia was an absolute colossus for us for many years and I can see an arguement for him ahead of Agger but the rest is just another disguised dig at Rafa and the current squad.

Nothing disguised about it, IMO

[Neil Young]

What about a comparison with the class of 09, which isn't much different to that of 10.

Our squad is miles better now, we've just had a dog of a season in terms of injuries, form and, most importantly, confindence.

[banditos]

sorry neil. A bitch of a season??

[Guest]

[bobthesnakecharmerWhat a crock-o-****e[/bobthesnakecharmer]

[ashey]

Owen left in August '04. He spend so little time under Rafa I wouldn't factor him into any comparison.

[Kenneth]

Please yourself

[The Birdman]

[QUOTE=Operation;1602306]It really isn't.

Reina, yes. Back four of Finnan, Hyypia, Carra and Riise was better than our current back four. Hamman was as good as Mascherano imo. Kewell, although injured a lot, was as good as anything we have today. If you include Owen, out striking options were better then than now, although we obviously have Torres who when fit and rolling is much better. Overall, there's not too much in it in terms of 1st XI. We have better backup now though on the whole.[/QUO

Finnan is/was not better than Johnson, Agger/Hyypia is a personal choice with not much between them and I'm sorry but Riise wasn't any better than Insua defensively and lost about 4 balls a game trying to shoot from 40 yards.

Hamman/Mascherano played the same role completely differently but again they are close enough to have a personal choice.

Did Owen play a league game for Rafa?? I remember him being on the bench so he wasn't cup tied for the CL so it is ridiculous really to try and include him.

While I agree that an injury free Kewell was a very good player by the same token you'd have to agree that Aurellio is better than any of the LB's

[Craig_H]

There's no way our 2005 side is better than our current side. Not even close.

The current level of competition is far harder though and our current side might not be better ENOUGH than that of 2005 to cope with the increased levels of competition - i think that's clear.

[Craig_H]

Individually, the current squad is generally of a higher quality than in 2005. But we've rarely shown the kind of fight, togetherness and character that typified the Champions League run, and that, for me, is the major difference. However, it's worth remembering that many of the league performances in 04/05 were just as abject as the ones we've seen this season.

Absolutely agree.

As a team, perhaps club even, we've revelled in the role of underdog and 'overachieved' in those circumstances, but when we've been fancied and the pressure of expectation has been there, we've failed miserably.

It's a characteristic in the mindset of the club and it says a lot about how mentally weak various different personnel at the club have proven to be.

Champions revel in pressure and expectation, it's their driving force and it keeps them winning. Pressure and expectation has destroyed us at critical times, and exposed the losing mentality that's been the disease working beneath the surface of this club for 2 decades, until recently overshadowed by the cancerous impact from across the pond.

[Kenneth]

"Agger/Hyypia is a personal choice"

Nonsense.


"with not much between them and I'm sorry but Riise wasn't any better than Insua defensively and lost about 4 balls a game trying to shoot from 40 yards."

Riise was ropey at time, but he was far better than you are giving him credit for.

[el matador]

Not having that at all, we're miles better now.

when benitez took over we were recognised as a two man team - owen and gerrard.

6 seasons later we are confirmed by our league position as a one man team - Torres.

It might be a blip but you cant say for certain that there isnt anything more 'intrinsic' going on within anfield.

However, if you mixed the two you would end up with a brilliant team.

............................reina................. .........

johnson.........carra.............agger........... riise....

...............masher............alonso........... .....

.........gerrard.......aquilani.........kewell.... ...

.....................torres......................

[el matador]

"Agger/Hyypia is a personal choice"

Nonsense.


"with not much between them and I'm sorry but Riise wasn't any better than Insua defensively and lost about 4 balls a game trying to shoot from 40 yards."

Riise was ropey at time, but he was far better than you are giving him credit for.

I agree 100% with the Riise comment, he's a much better defender than insua and although not in the same league as aurelio with the ball at his feet, he was a damn good defender and a terrific athelete.

I'd put him in the team over insua anyday and maybe even aurelio. If riise was more disciplined then johnson on the other side could really be let off the leash.

[Craig_H]

We're a better team now - just not performing to capability.

Personnel-wise, infinitely better than 2005.

[Shaggy]

We're a better team now - just not performing to capability.

Personnel-wise, infinitely better than 2005.