S
Squiggles
Guest
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=40552.msg1117710#msg1117710 date=1276219107]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=40552.msg1117709#msg1117709 date=1276218966]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=40552.msg1117707#msg1117707 date=1276218677]
I really don't care.
Until the club is sold, and some reasonable new owners are in place, any managerial appointment is just putting lipstick on a pig.
[/quote]
I think we should still expect to challenge to a CL place at the very least. We were far better than last years showing because injuries and tactics held us back.
I'm still optimistic about the state of this football club. The worst is over, that's for sure
[/quote]
How?
[/quote]
This football club has been cremated over the last 5 years. Cremated, spat on, laughed at, dragged through the mud - by a combination of broken promises, in-fighting and serious under-performance from our playing staff. Sure we've had the 'highs' of a title challenge, but that counts for little now. In Newcastle's absence we've become the laughing stock of the Premier League, and it doesn't look like a title they wish to give back with ease. Even the Geordies appear to have sorted themselves out. But there are small glimmers of light breaking through the gloom which descended over our club from the American shores. We're seeing signs of the broken, fractured, unworkable situation crumbing around us and the signs of a new order coming through. Benitez, for all the good he did for this club - and I could talk all day about it - dug his own grave, and put himself in an untenable position - lacking the allies around him to support him when he needed them most. The team had deserted him. There was no faith, no conviction, no life to a team which dominated the league only 12 months previous. A team which did the double over Chelsea, over Manchester United, and then went on to humiliate Real Madrid in their own back yard. We were a team which played with the arrogance of champions, conquering and smashing all in our way.
In contrast Liverpool have resembled a wet blanket in the last 12 months. A shadow of their former selves, producing uninspiring, negative, limp performances time and time again, with no change in fortunes, no big, inspiring rallying cry - but, instead, a promise, and an important one. Benitez had the balls and self-belief to draw a line for what was acceptable for this football club and what was not - and I respect him for doing so. He promised the fans and the board that he would steer Liverpool towards a CL placed finish. However by his own measure Benitez failed miserably, and Liverpool found themselves not even getting close to the Champions League. It was always there, but always so far away. A golden carrot dangling in front of our faces, but one we couldn't reach. We limped home to 7th place, like a long standing alcoholic, staggering home to his wife after promising her he'll be straight back from his work with his wages intact, and by the end the wife snapped. We loved him, but he wasn't going to change. Benitez was no more.
I don't fully understand the ownership and financial situation, so I'll leave that to Ross & co - but I know enough to accept that the end is nigh for our current owners. They simply cannot afford to 'bankroll' us on debt any more and in all likelihood the club will be within new hands in the next 12 months. We're not at a new beginning, but we are at the beginning of the end, and what follows will be very interesting. This club needed new owners and a new manager, and we're not far off reaching this aim. Then and only then will we have closure on the most torrid time this club has arguably ever faced, and the foundations in place to rebuild, bounce back, to become the side of 12 months ago once more. But who to lead us? Hodgson and Dalglish certainly appear the most likely options and while both lack the showbiz swagger Benitez and Mourinho generated 6 years ago at Valencia and Porto, neither of them have many great critics from the Liverpool fans. Everyone can appreciate the outstanding achievements Hodgson has achieved at Fulham; Working under a minimal budget he took them from relegation material to a European final in two years. That's proper 'Football Manager' stuff, and something which rarely happens the modern game. He also has something very 'Liverpool' about him. He's respectful, dignified and one of the last true gents in the game. He'd certainly be a good fit for a manager in my book.
And then there's the romance of Dalglish, and what a story it would be. If he achieved success here it would be spoken about for the next hundred years alongside Istanbul. The question is - do we dare to dream? Whether we do or not, it's exciting nonetheless.
On another note, the most inspiring post I've read in the last 9 months came recently:
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=40521.msg1115626#msg1115626 date=1276006727]
Oh I think the increase is better than expected, Hansern. I'm relatively happy with that given the reduction last year. 25% would have been a piss take. 7% is reasonable. The only problem is what team will we be watching next year ? God knows.
Easiest thing in the world to support a winning club though
I've just bought mine (Season ticket) anyway.
[/quote]
When you've got fans like that on your side it's hard not to optimistic about the future. This is no 'next year is our year' post. It won't be. But there are signs that the worst is over - and with that, this club can go back to being great once more.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=40552.msg1117709#msg1117709 date=1276218966]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=40552.msg1117707#msg1117707 date=1276218677]
I really don't care.
Until the club is sold, and some reasonable new owners are in place, any managerial appointment is just putting lipstick on a pig.
[/quote]
I think we should still expect to challenge to a CL place at the very least. We were far better than last years showing because injuries and tactics held us back.
I'm still optimistic about the state of this football club. The worst is over, that's for sure
[/quote]
How?
[/quote]
This football club has been cremated over the last 5 years. Cremated, spat on, laughed at, dragged through the mud - by a combination of broken promises, in-fighting and serious under-performance from our playing staff. Sure we've had the 'highs' of a title challenge, but that counts for little now. In Newcastle's absence we've become the laughing stock of the Premier League, and it doesn't look like a title they wish to give back with ease. Even the Geordies appear to have sorted themselves out. But there are small glimmers of light breaking through the gloom which descended over our club from the American shores. We're seeing signs of the broken, fractured, unworkable situation crumbing around us and the signs of a new order coming through. Benitez, for all the good he did for this club - and I could talk all day about it - dug his own grave, and put himself in an untenable position - lacking the allies around him to support him when he needed them most. The team had deserted him. There was no faith, no conviction, no life to a team which dominated the league only 12 months previous. A team which did the double over Chelsea, over Manchester United, and then went on to humiliate Real Madrid in their own back yard. We were a team which played with the arrogance of champions, conquering and smashing all in our way.
In contrast Liverpool have resembled a wet blanket in the last 12 months. A shadow of their former selves, producing uninspiring, negative, limp performances time and time again, with no change in fortunes, no big, inspiring rallying cry - but, instead, a promise, and an important one. Benitez had the balls and self-belief to draw a line for what was acceptable for this football club and what was not - and I respect him for doing so. He promised the fans and the board that he would steer Liverpool towards a CL placed finish. However by his own measure Benitez failed miserably, and Liverpool found themselves not even getting close to the Champions League. It was always there, but always so far away. A golden carrot dangling in front of our faces, but one we couldn't reach. We limped home to 7th place, like a long standing alcoholic, staggering home to his wife after promising her he'll be straight back from his work with his wages intact, and by the end the wife snapped. We loved him, but he wasn't going to change. Benitez was no more.
I don't fully understand the ownership and financial situation, so I'll leave that to Ross & co - but I know enough to accept that the end is nigh for our current owners. They simply cannot afford to 'bankroll' us on debt any more and in all likelihood the club will be within new hands in the next 12 months. We're not at a new beginning, but we are at the beginning of the end, and what follows will be very interesting. This club needed new owners and a new manager, and we're not far off reaching this aim. Then and only then will we have closure on the most torrid time this club has arguably ever faced, and the foundations in place to rebuild, bounce back, to become the side of 12 months ago once more. But who to lead us? Hodgson and Dalglish certainly appear the most likely options and while both lack the showbiz swagger Benitez and Mourinho generated 6 years ago at Valencia and Porto, neither of them have many great critics from the Liverpool fans. Everyone can appreciate the outstanding achievements Hodgson has achieved at Fulham; Working under a minimal budget he took them from relegation material to a European final in two years. That's proper 'Football Manager' stuff, and something which rarely happens the modern game. He also has something very 'Liverpool' about him. He's respectful, dignified and one of the last true gents in the game. He'd certainly be a good fit for a manager in my book.
And then there's the romance of Dalglish, and what a story it would be. If he achieved success here it would be spoken about for the next hundred years alongside Istanbul. The question is - do we dare to dream? Whether we do or not, it's exciting nonetheless.
On another note, the most inspiring post I've read in the last 9 months came recently:
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=40521.msg1115626#msg1115626 date=1276006727]
Oh I think the increase is better than expected, Hansern. I'm relatively happy with that given the reduction last year. 25% would have been a piss take. 7% is reasonable. The only problem is what team will we be watching next year ? God knows.
Easiest thing in the world to support a winning club though
I've just bought mine (Season ticket) anyway.
[/quote]
When you've got fans like that on your side it's hard not to optimistic about the future. This is no 'next year is our year' post. It won't be. But there are signs that the worst is over - and with that, this club can go back to being great once more.
