Is it time the clock really started ticking?

[Muddled]

We must get back to being Liverpool again, the special club.

Get in players that played for us in the boardroom just like Bayern Munich for example.

You know that I have said that I believe that Rodgers isn't safe. The main reason being that I don't trust FSG at all making the right decision. Rodgers should stay but we have owners that don't know the game.

That is a big problem.

If we end up miles behind a CL place then Rodgers could be sacked. Kenny got sacked because of that reason and FSG said that they had no choice than to start all over again even that a lot of work had been put in.

Get in the right people to make the key football decisions.

Just because we've been spoilt with good footballers, it doesn't mean we can send a selection upstairs. You criticise FSG, Moores and Parry - succesful people - but advocate filling the boardroom with ex-players?

Let's stick Gerrard up there when he retires so he can continue with his pursuit of Curbishley.

[Tee]

Just because we've been spoilt with good footballers, it doesn't mean we can send a selection upstairs. You criticise FSG, Moores and Parry - succesful people - but advocate filling the boardroom with ex-players?

Let's stick Gerrard up there when he retires so he can continue with his pursuit of Curbishley.

Fair points, but what if we had Xabi Alonso or Sami Hyypia? Doesn't seem so bad does it?

[BigChief]

Apart from a few seasons (one or two under Houllier and Rafa) I have always started the season thinking we have a chance of winning the league.

Under Rodgers, seeing the progress he's made, I can see us winning the league next season if we avoid the hiccup games we have been hitting this season. More importantly, I have a sneaky feeling Rodgers thinks he can win the league and will instill that into the players.

[Muddled]

Spuds, City obviously, even Utd IMO.

I don't think BR will sign the right 2 or 3 players we need to win the league. So I do not expect our situation to change for a while yet, although I do expect us to push the top 4 a lot closer next season it would not surprise me to see us remain as inconsistent.

Spurs have had one (maybe two) years of Champions League football and five years on transfers to build the squad they have today, surely we must look at a similar timescale?

The Man City situation is with the money they've thrown at the situation ... and even then, it's not yet proven to be successful long-term.

[fah-q]

... and an entirely new back three.

I still think the defenders were ok, just suffered from a lack of protection from midfield and a keeper who flapped.

[fah-q]

In fact we could have won the league in 1997 (I think) had James not flapped so much. In particular the game against Coventry at Anfield.

[Muddled]

Fair points, but what if we had Xabi Alonso or Sami Hyypia? Doesn't seem so bad does it?

I still wouldn't be confident. I like them both, but they've done nothing to suggest they warrant a position on our board ... especially Alonso.

They both clearly love Liverpool, but so do Evans, Dalglish, Parry and Purslow.

[Tee]

Spurs have had one (maybe two) years of Champions League football and five years on transfers to build the squad they have today, surely we must look at a similar timescale?

The Man City situation is with the money they've thrown at the situation ... and even then, it's not yet proven to be successful long-term.

Sorry but it has. Look at what they are doing off the pitch, building for the very long term. It may not win them the league every season but it will give them a very strong platform to challenge regularly.

Since City started 'throwing money at the situation' they have won the title! Point proven really.

[Arn]

Sorry but it has. Look at what they are doing off the pitch, building for the very long term. It may not win them the league every season but it will give them a very strong platform to challenge regularly.

Since City started 'throwing money at the situation' they have won the title! Point proven really.

Building long term isn't enough. They must build both short and long term or our best players will most probably leave year after year.

That means starting all over again every year, just like Arsenal.

[Muddled]

I still think the defenders were ok, just suffered from a lack of protection from midfield and a keeper who flapped.

David James certainly cost us several points, but having Babb and Ruddock in front of him meant we'd never keep a clean sheet, even if he had a blinder.

[Gibbo]

Unfortunately as it is we don't have the spending power to compete with City and Chelsea, the promise of CL football is something that we can't commit too, especially with the Mancs, And Spurs streets ahead of us.

Arsenal, fortunately look to be heading for a downfall similar to our own and Everton will probably have a ****e season next season.

Before we even talk about titles we need to talk about getting back into the CL, and arguably the first season we get back into te CL is te most important, that's the season where we will have to bring in exactly the right players, so we can stay there. Because as we are finding out now, once your out of the CL it's a very difficult job getting back into it.

I don't think we will challenge for the title for a while, definitely over 5 years.

I hope I'm wrong mind you.

[Muddled]

Sorry but it has. Look at what they are doing off the pitch, building for the very long term. It may not win them the league every season but it will give them a very strong platform to challenge regularly.

Since City started 'throwing money at the situation' they have won the title! Point proven really.

They won the title with the last kick of the season and won't be retaining it.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'd *LOVE* to win it with a goal in injury time, but my point was that despite chucking money at a problem, they still haven't built a team in three years that can consistently challenge long-term.

What they're doing behind the scenes may be no different to our ground-breaking Melwood ... it could just be positive spin.

Man Utd have set the benchmark - we need to go back to basics, strip it back and start again. Only then can we build to be successful over a lengthy period of time.

[fah-q]

David James certainly cost us several points, but having Babb and Ruddock in front of him meant we'd never keep a clean sheet, even if he had a blinder.

True, but If we'd have won those last 3 games we'd have won the title instead of ending up fourth.

[Tee]

They won the title with the last kick of the season and won't be retaining it.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'd *LOVE* to win it with a goal in injury time, but my point was that despite chucking money at a problem, they still haven't built a team in three years that can consistently challenge long-term.

What they're doing behind the scenes may be no different to our ground-breaking Melwood ... it could just be positive spin.

Man Utd have set the benchmark - we need to go back to basics, strip it back and start again. Only then can we build to be successful over a lengthy period of time.

But they have mate! Since finishing 5th in 2009-10 they have finished 3rd, then won it and now are likely to be runners-up. They are challenging regularly and when you say long term I see no reason why they won't be challenging in the next 5 years!

I disagree about the need for us to strip it back as well. We have had the nucleus for several years but have absolutely ****ed up adding the quality we need to take us to the next level.

[Muddled]

But they have mate! Since finishing 5th in 2009-10 they have finished 3rd, then won it and now are likely to be runners-up. They are challenging regularly and when you say long term I see no reason why they won't be challenging in the next 5 years!

I disagree about the need for us to strip it back as well. We have had the nucleus for several years but have absolutely ****ed up adding the quality we need to take us to the next level.

Yeah, you're right - I didn't explain myself very well. I was trying to make the point that despite them throwing a ridiculous amount of money about, they haven't built a team that can win back-to-back titles and keep themselves there. They are quite clearly challenging ... well, not so much this year as an average Man Utd team steamrolls their way to another title, but you would think for the expenditure at Man City they should be crowned Champions already.

I think it needs to go back to basics - how many years have we been a left back or a defensive midfielder or a winger from the title? How much money have we thrown away on stadium design, wages and transfer fees?

We are going about things very well - maximise commercial avenues, get rid of the deadwood, get a young manager in with a vision, restructure the wage bill, make finance available for new players and build a youthful team that can mature together and ensures longevity. I think we're on our way back up to the top - the top being something that we shouldn't think we're entitled to.

But I understand, it's each to their own.