Liverpool v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Mostar]

Surely it's better to grab a bit of silverware than getting 4th? In an ideal world we'd take all but it's not.

We did same under Houllier before we started competing for the league. I think that's the natural progression for any team. We need to relax a bit IMO. ****ing gutted by today's result but we need to keep the faith.

Not all see it that way (Bellamy for example).

I think this season will be the season of mixed feelings as we did win a trophy but it seems we will fail to get into CL spot, which is a huge disappointment given the amount of investment that went into the club since FSG took over.

This will be the third season in a row that we will miss CL football and we will have very difficult time getting quality footballers in and that is the big, big concern.

[gentingfrmhell]

I see Suarez as a McManaman type player creates lots of chances, gets into decent positions but doesn't score anywhere near the amount of goals he should. What we need is a Fowler type player to Suarez' McManaman, someone who has a great understanding of his game and will make himself available to put the ball in the net when Suarez gets into decent positions.

[gentingfrmhell]

and carra should just retire...

[Mostar]

it really doesn't. at a push you get one decent team in your group. that competition only really comes to life at the knockout stage. how about 2 groups of 8 and the top 2 of each form the semi finals.

The point is that CL football is what top footballers want and where the real money is made and Europa League will hardly be an inspiration to bring Ericksens, Hazards, Goetzes or Cavanis of this world.

[Fredo]

Not all see it that way (Bellamy for example).

I think this season will be the season of mixed feelings as we did win a trophy but it seems we will fail to get into CL spot, which is a huge disappointment given the amount of investment that went into the club since FSG took over.

This will be the third season in a row that we will miss CL football and we will have very difficult time getting quality footballers in and that is the big, big concern.

How many years were City out of the CL when they started splashing out their money? It took them around 4/5 years to get there. We were lucky in 2005 because we had Rafa and he managed to pull it all together by making us compete in the CL but we were still lacking in the league.

It all comes back to spending money I'm afraid. Players will be attracted by that unless you adopt a safer policy which will yield long term and that's the route we've gone down I'm afraid. If we can win our domestic cups in the meantime, then it's not too bad.

We're never going to fall short of attracting good players. Maybe we need to spend more to get the elusive one or two who we need to get this team to a higher level. Don't think not being in the CL is going to put paid to that. At the end of the day, our bread and butter has got to be winning the league. That's the trophy we most want.

[Imy]

The point is that CL football is what top footballers want and where the real money is made and Europa League will hardly be an inspiration to bring Ericksens, Hazards, Goetzes or Cavanis of this world.

I think LDH said it earlier, we'll firstly need to compete in the CL (with the extra revenue and ultimately the better class of player) to have a chance of challenging for the league.

[BobTheCharmer]

The point is that CL football is what top footballers want and where the real money is made and Europa League will hardly be an inspiration to bring Ericksens, Hazards, Goetzes or Cavanis of this world.

well they can ****ing do one then. its up to us to sell them the club. hazard is coming from france ffs, if coming to a 6th or 7th place team over here with our history isn't big enough then tough. of course we'll miss out on some players, but I want all our signings to want to win the league first and the CL second. otherwise shoot the cunts.

[Fredo]

I think LDH said it earlier, we'll firstly need to compete in the CL (with the extra revenue and ultimately the better class of player) to have a chance of challenging for the league.

To get in the CL we need to spend as well. Bit of a chicken and egg situation methinks.

[Exiled_red]

We were saying a few years ago under Rafa 4th was the bare minimum, that should still be the case. Every year we fail to qualify for the Champions League the teams above us widen that gap a little more. Silverware gives us brief moments of joy but does little to help in terms of closing the gap and getting back to where we want to be.

4th in itself isn't an achievement, this season it would represent progress. Failing to get 4th shows we haven't progressed and in my eyes that represents a failure, it means another summer of not being able to bring in the best players. People are complaining about the players we have, unless we make the CL we won't be able to get much better players.

[Imy]

To get in the CL we need to spend as well. Bit of a chicken and egg situation methinks.

We did spend, but on the wrong players

[5europeancups]

I may be wrong but we are only about 1 point ahead from last season when Roy left us.

Why didnt we make any subs earlier?

We are palying well in parts but we are missing class in certain areas. Carra has had his day and we should wonder how come one player for Arsenal has scored more goals than the rest of the liverpool team in the league this year...

Really we should.

[Phoenix07]

We were saying a few years ago under Rafa 4th was the bare minimum, that should still be the case. Every year we fail to qualify for the Champions League the teams above us widen that gap a little more. Silverware gives us brief moments of joy but does little to help in terms of closing the gap and getting back to where we want to be.

4th in itself isn't an achievement, this season it would represent progress. Failing to get 4th shows we haven't progressed and in my eyes that represents a failure, it means another summer of not being able to bring in the best players. People are complaining about the players we have, unless we make the CL we won't be able to get much better players.

Then we have to be smart and try to bring in players like Shaqiri, but he's going to Bayern now for 10 million euros in the summer when we could've done something beforehand.

Instead, we spunk £18m on Downing and £35m on Carroll and then say that Henry's logic of Torres - £15m makes financial sense.

Whoever's making the final call on players and price needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. Look for bargains and go for them.

[Fredo]

We did spend, but on the wrong players

Yeah but not sure it's due to not being in the CL that we got the wrong players. Wrong judgement might have been the issue. We're taking risks because we've got many things which influences our spending IMO. For example, there's a stadium still to be built etc ... I'd take that stadium money and spunk that on world class players if it was me.

[Exiled_red]

Then we have to be smart and try to bring in players like Shaqiri, but he's going to Bayern now for 10 million euros in the summer when we could've done something beforehand.

Instead, we spunk £18m on Downing and £35m on Carroll and then say that Henry's logic of Torres - £15m makes financial sense.

Whoever's making the final call on players and price needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

The problem is English/British-based players are massively overpriced, we're looking in the wrong markets if we want value for money.

[Imy]

Yeah but not sure it's due to not being in the CL that we got the wrong players. Wrong judgement might have been the issue. We're taking risks because we've got many things which influences our spending IMO. For example, there's a stadium still to be built etc ... I'd take that stadium money and spunk that on world class players if it was me.

We bought 'transitional' players because the top world class players were not interested in us.

However a lot of terrible judgement left us with our lot, we could/should have shopped a lot better.