Sacking Rafa would be a bit rash...how would that help us? And who would we replace him with? There doesn't seem to be a bumper crop of talented English managers out there, otherwise I think you guys would have done better than McClaren. And I don't think we'd attract any top foreign managers with our limited finances.
We've just got to accept, unfortunately, that we're once again playing for third place. It sucks, but that's reality. Unfortunately, we've been derailed by a number of things this season, whether it be the disappointing early-season form of players like Gerrard and Alonso, the introduction of so many new players who need time to settle, or the multitude of injuries we've sustained.
Sure, Rafa's made some lousy buys, but so has any other manager. I still think it's too early to pass judgment on the new arrivals just yet. Paletta hasn't seen much of the first team at all, so I can't comment on him. Agger looks like the real deal. Bellamy hasn't had enough of a run, thanks to injuries and his recent court dealings. Aurelio's had injury problems as well. Pennant and Gonzalez have been the biggest disappointments--but I think we should still give them until the end of the season, although form and fitness should determine whether or not they get playing time.
For now, I think we've got to be patient. We're way behind Chelsea and Man U, and it's highly doubtful we'll catch either of them. But 3rd place is there for the taking, and I'm confident that we can finish there. ManU away, Arsenal away, Chelsea away, Bolton away, Everton away--all those fixtures are behind us.
Meanwhile, we've got to find out which players should be held on to and which ones should be let go. Given the disappointing form of certain players, I'd be happy to give some of the young players a chance to show what they can do.
With respect to transfers, I don't want to see us overpay for any more average players. I have a feeling that plenty of the young lads in the reserves have the potential to be average players at best, and we should save our funds for players who are definitely going to improve the team. Our downfall under Houllier was, in my mind, largely due to the fact that, after finishing second, we brought in players who didn't offer anything more than those already in the squad. When healthy, our squad's plenty big, and from now on I'd rather see us strengthen our squad with two 15-million pound players than simply enlarge it with five six-million pound players. Furthermore, too much chopping and changing from year to year isn't the best idea. Many times this season, our players have looked like they just don't know how to play together, and it's going to take time to sort that out.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the Wigan game...
We've just got to accept, unfortunately, that we're once again playing for third place. It sucks, but that's reality. Unfortunately, we've been derailed by a number of things this season, whether it be the disappointing early-season form of players like Gerrard and Alonso, the introduction of so many new players who need time to settle, or the multitude of injuries we've sustained.
Sure, Rafa's made some lousy buys, but so has any other manager. I still think it's too early to pass judgment on the new arrivals just yet. Paletta hasn't seen much of the first team at all, so I can't comment on him. Agger looks like the real deal. Bellamy hasn't had enough of a run, thanks to injuries and his recent court dealings. Aurelio's had injury problems as well. Pennant and Gonzalez have been the biggest disappointments--but I think we should still give them until the end of the season, although form and fitness should determine whether or not they get playing time.
For now, I think we've got to be patient. We're way behind Chelsea and Man U, and it's highly doubtful we'll catch either of them. But 3rd place is there for the taking, and I'm confident that we can finish there. ManU away, Arsenal away, Chelsea away, Bolton away, Everton away--all those fixtures are behind us.
Meanwhile, we've got to find out which players should be held on to and which ones should be let go. Given the disappointing form of certain players, I'd be happy to give some of the young players a chance to show what they can do.
With respect to transfers, I don't want to see us overpay for any more average players. I have a feeling that plenty of the young lads in the reserves have the potential to be average players at best, and we should save our funds for players who are definitely going to improve the team. Our downfall under Houllier was, in my mind, largely due to the fact that, after finishing second, we brought in players who didn't offer anything more than those already in the squad. When healthy, our squad's plenty big, and from now on I'd rather see us strengthen our squad with two 15-million pound players than simply enlarge it with five six-million pound players. Furthermore, too much chopping and changing from year to year isn't the best idea. Many times this season, our players have looked like they just don't know how to play together, and it's going to take time to sort that out.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the Wigan game...
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