Comparison with last season...

[Slim]

Ha! Nope, more than “just sad”.

I didn’t sleep, I had no interest in anything my wife had to say to me this morning or last night, had no appetite (haven’t eaten since the game, although that’s about to change), no energy and I can’t concentrate at work! Ha! Maybe I AM clinically depressed!!!!!

Having read his posts last night I can confirm the patient is depressed. I should know - I feel exactly the same!

You are right though Tom, trying to remember the things which REALLY matter in life definitely helps to get a sense of perspective. Its just sometimes it easy to forget that and to get so into the whole thing that a defeat like that hurts sooooooooo much!

[Mumsafan]

Plus we always lose to Arsenal away so I've got used to it!

[Neil Young]

Ha! Nope, more than “just sad”.

I didn’t sleep, I had no interest in anything my wife had to say to me this morning or last night, had no appetite (haven’t eaten since the game, although that’s about to change), no energy and I can’t concentrate at work! Ha! Maybe I AM clinically depressed!!!!!

No, you're not. Really, I'm sure you aren't.

Tom and Mums are right - it's really not that important. The fact that you are letting it be that important is understandable but silly.

Ask yourself, in the grand scheme of things, what would you sacrifice in favour of Liverpool not losing to Arsenal? Your wife? Your family? Your health?

You can't have everything. Frustrating? Yes. Disappointing? Yes.

Important? Not really.

[Shaggy]

People only say "its not important" when we lose. It's bloody important when we're winning European Cups.

Yes, in the grand scheme of things it's not *that* important but it's important enough to affect my moods.

[Neil Young]

I don't truly believe it's important when we win European Cups but I am really, really pleased (and I probably would say it's important in the euphoria of the moment).

Why let the outcome of a football match ruin your day? Having said that, if it's the outcome you want, why not let it make your day? You don't need to be evenhanded about this. There's no rule that says you need to experience equal amounts of pain and pleasure according to whether we lose or win.

[Red_Polo]

But look at the corrosponding difference in points off 3rd place. We- despite our appalling away record - are still only 4 points off 3rd. It's all about context, stats only tell part of the story. Rafa said that this season would be more open, it looks like he's right. We are quite capable of putting together a good run and pushing arsenal for 3rd.

But I don't think other big teams also playing slightly under par in any way even in part excuses our form.

The last sentence is very true - we are capable of going on long winning runs. By the new year things could be looking better, but as you say better to push for 3rd place. That's not what we should've been looking for this season. It has been a massive disappointment and before we're even a third of the way through.

Mums, I know we've played tough teams, but we did better in corresponding fixtures last season too. Perhaps it's the combination of bad early season form AND playing the tough teams that's realy hit us hard, but we shouldn't have had poor early season form at all. Of our away games against Everton, Sheff Utd, and Bolton we should've got more than a point. For our away games against the Arse, Mancs, Chavs we should've got a point at least. In half of our away games we didn't even turn up. Arse and more so the Chavs we played well for spells but that's about it.

[carheex]

Paradoxically, we have the best home record & the worst away record in the PL this season so far, and but for a dubious pen in the first match, we would be sitting here with neither a goal (we haven't scored an open play goal for sure) nor a point.

I haven't felt this despondent for a long, long time.

Chin up lad - at least the old french chap has gone!

[carheex]

Suicidal! FFS! It's just a game!

In the words of the great Alan Partridge, I think he's "clinically...fed up!"

[LFCman]

05-06 v 06-07 fixtures comparison

I'm extremelly bored and procrastinating about studying for an Uni exam so did a small comparison in Excel. (Attached)

Well we're only 6 pts behind technically. But that's if you compare Birmingham and West Brom to Sheff. Utd and Reading. It would of been a bit harsh to compare them to Sunderland. :whatever:

As we know our away form has let us down and we have had a small blip on our home record. The one positive note is all of our away games are games in which in recent years we have struggled to take points, Everton and Sheff. Utd (where we should be good enough to win) aside. You could say though that the fixtures were tough on us giving us an away run of Everton, Chelsea, Bolton, Man Utd and Arsenal. So there are a few straws we can clutch onto for the rest of the season if we can match our record against the other teams from last season.

This Saturday will be an excellent test of character for our side against a weaker opponent at a venue where we have also struggled in recent times.

Go Reds!

[red_in_oz]

Interesting how we had Scum, Arse, Chavski & Bolton Care Home all early on last season too.

At least they're out of the way!

We need to win away at the Charlton's, Barcodes, Watfords of this world.

We need to start winning away this Saturday at 'Boro!