4 years ago

[mark1975]

Did anyone think we'd get this close, this soon?

I remember people posting that we wouldn't win/challenge for the title again, not for another 10 years at least, etc. Typical frustration really, in our darker days.

After Hodgson and getting bled dry by the two Cowboys, I admit I thought we were in for a long road to recovery, through years of mediocrity, but I always felt our support would carry us through, as it always does.

The worry for me was that we'd lose all our best players (we did, to a degree) coupled with the inevitable retirement of Sami and the steady decline of Gerrard. Where would the goals come from? Who would lift us in the games where Gerrard/Torres/Owen/Fowler/whoever would normally have dragged us from the doldrums in the past? Who was that big game player? We didn't need one, we became a big game team.

It's amazing really and a massive credit to the owners for both backing us and showing good instincts in the end, to steady the ship with the fans choice, and then to be brave enough to relieve Kenny and appoint their choice, their "vision".

I'm not sure how long this peak will last, we all know things can change quickly in football, but I'm enjoying every moment and it's a nice surprise really that we've found ourselves where we are, so soon.

Credit to Henry and Co, credit to Rodgers, credit to our brilliant team and most of all, credit to us the fans for never allowing the club or its staff to walk alone through those dark, uncertain days.

Roll on 2014/2015.

 

[mark1975]

It's fair to say aswell, despite his critics, Kenny deserves a big shout too. He got us steady again in the first six months, and despite some poor signings, he oversaw the signings of Henderson, Suarez, Enrique and has been 100% gracious in his stepping down and completely behind the club and the new manager, as always.

Legend.

 

[Insignificance]

True about King K. Noone was a better fit at that moment for bringing the club back together again. I hear from Arsenal and Scum fans how he failed.... but given the state the club was in he did a fantastic job. The period prior to him taking over there were around 32 000 at Anfield.

 

[mark1975]

We were in a state when he took over, the first six months were crucial, and we won some silverware to carry on our success. It didn't work out in the end, but we had the foundations together (thanks to Rafa aswell) for us to move forward.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

To be honest, during Kenny's caretaker half season, I thought he'd bring us back on our feet. Not title challenging right away, but we could perhaps push on a bit, get back into the CL in a couple of seasons with the confidence boost and the more open playing style he brought back. Basically, progress in reasonable steps.

At that time, it was not too much of a stretch to imagine that, since we'd gotten a 10W-3D-5L record (I think) in that stretch, with just Suarez playing half a season. Maxi, Meireles and Kuyt all seemed to be in the form of their lives under him in those 18 games, and Suarez was an exciting, budding star for us. Carroll was still a question mark, but he'd bullied City on his way to scoring twice against them, while we'd seen excellent debuts from Flanagan and Robinson. Everything seemed right or on the way to being right again.

It's all coming back, and a lot faster too. I really, really, really hope we do not let this become another false dawn.

 

[localny]

City will still wobble lads. Be at the ready,

 

[Modo]

In all honesty and I really don't mean to ruffle some feathers, troll or whatever, despite Kenny's first 6 months in charge I don't think he can take much credit for what Brendan has done.
I actually think that we went backwards during his first full season in charge and I'm not sure we can credit Suarez signing to Dalglish either. Yes we got to two cup finals but the season after that Brendan inherited a team that finished 7th, again I think. However, during the 2nd half of that season after Sturridge and Coutinho joined we started showing some progress which lead to the season we're having now.

Rafa played a very minor part as well. There are few remnants of his players in the current squad, Kelly, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger and Lucas. He also bought Sterling and Suso but he wasn't around to introduce them to first team football.

I give Rafa credit for rebuilding the Academy which produced some of the aforementioned players.

 

[Markeh]

In all honesty and I really don't mean to ruffle some feathers, troll or whatever, despite Kenny's first 6 months in charge I don't think he can take much credit for what Brendan has done.
I actually think that we went backwards during his first full season in charge and I'm not sure we can credit Suarez signing to Dalglish either. Yes we got to two cup finals but the season after that Brendan inherited a team that finished 7th, again I think. However, during the 2nd half of that season after Sturridge and Coutinho joined we started showing some progress which lead to the season we're having now.

Rafa played a very minor part as well. There are few remnants of his players in the current squad, Kelly, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger and Lucas. He also bought Sterling and Suso but he wasn't around to introduce them to first team football.

I give Rafa credit for rebuilding the Academy which produced some of the aforementioned players.

Kenny Dalglish avatar if Andy Carroll scores against City!!

Kenny can take the credit for keeping Suarez here imo, he properly put his arm around him and backed him up over the Evra thing. I don't have a bad word to say about him, when we needed a manager he left his holiday to take the job. Not like Tim 'Tottenham Hero' Sherwood who wouldn't touch the job unless he got an extra 12 months.

You could well be right about the clubs direction during that spell but (imo again) he gets a free pass, our owners should take the blame over signings etc made during Kenny's time. They brought in a manager who had been out of the game for ages and some French dodo to advise him, in hindsight not a fantastic decision. Kenny's still a proper hero.

 

[Markeh]

Like someone mentioned in another thread, I've made my peace with 2nd. Anything better than that would be fantastic though.

As @mark1975 says, well done to the owners. The two stand out managers this season are Brendan and Martinez, their two choices for manager. They made the tough decision to move on from Kenny and starting looking to the future.

 

[Modo]

Kenny Dalglish avatar if Andy Carroll scores against City!!

Kenny can take the credit for keeping Suarez here imo, he properly put his arm around him and backed him up over the Evra thing. I don't have a bad word to say about him, when we needed a manager he left his holiday to take the job. Not like Tim 'Tottenham Hero' Sherwood who wouldn't touch the job unless he got an extra 12 months.

You could well be right about the clubs direction during that spell but (imo again) he gets a free pass, our owners should take the blame over signings etc made during Kenny's time. They brought in a manager who had been out of the game for ages and some French dodo to advise him, in hindsight not a fantastic decision. Kenny's still a proper hero.

His last managerial tenure doesn't change the fact that he's hero and tbf most managers would cancel their holiday to manage Liverpool although maybe not for a 6 month contract.
I disagree about the signings, maybe Kenny had been away from football for too long but he needs to take some of the blame for those signings. He probably had nothing to do with the fees or the wages, though.

 

[Markeh]

His last managerial tenure doesn't change the fact that he's hero and tbf most managers would cancel their holiday to manage Liverpool although maybe not for a 6 month contract.
I disagree about the signings, maybe Kenny had been away from football for too long but he needs to take some of the blame for those signings. He probably had nothing to do with the fees or the wages, though.

Yea that's probably it, a bit of blame but not too much. The money went a bit mental in the quest to replace Torres and prove we're still a big club.

Andy Carroll is a 10-15 million pound player, it still annoys me that we bought him.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Great post Mark. I havent given up on a City slip putting things back in our hands yet but, even if they see it out, this has been a fantastic ride. For me, something started feeling different when Mignolet saved that penalty v Stoke in the opener. Up to that point I hadnt been too excited about the season and that game had been typical for us over the previous 3-4 seasons. The penalty award was more of the same. When Ming saved it and we went on to get a result, I started feeling a bit different. It wasnt until after New Years I thought the season had any chance at all to be special but as early as that first game I had an inkling of something different. What a ride it has been. And still a chance for the remarkable.

 

[Glen C]

Never would gave dreamed in a millions years that we would be here now. But now that we're here it fucking stings and im totally gutted that more than likely we'll lose on goal difference. I know I should be grateful that we're even in it but I cant. It fucking hurts and all im thinking about is why we didnt fix our leaky defence which in the end is more than likely going to cost us the title.

 

[Hansern]

Yeah, the proud feeling of what we've done this season is in hiding at the moment.
A week after the last day it will probably kick in if we miss out and get 2nd.

We've had some amazing results, played some brilliant football and went on a looooong winning streak.
Impressive. From 7th to possibly 1st/2nd is amazing.

We're in very good hands with Rodgers and he said yesterday he wanted 5-6 quality signings this summer.
Get those right and we'll be up there next year aswell.

Still hasnt sunk in that we're back in the Champions league either.
Just writing this made me feel better 🙂