Rafa to Juve link denied

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044542#msg1044542 date=1264673404]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044539#msg1044539 date=1264673103]
What?! Kewell should still be here? That's insane!

Thank fuck I haven't had occasion to know about him recently, but a quick google shows "Injury-hit Socceroos star Harry Kewell will fly into Sydney to consult with a specialist, as he seeks to keep his World Cup quest on track."

I'd have never fucking guessed.

I actually think most of your list were sensible sales at the time, the main issue is that while none of the strikers that left covered themselves with glory, we didn't replace them, and you could look with envy at any of them now, not because they are brilliant, or we were wrong to sell them, but because we are that thin and shit up front.
[/quote]Kewell is comfortably better than Babel his 10m replacement.
[/quote]

That's another issue entirely. If Rafa had given Kewell a new contract, most of us would have exploded with frustration.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044542#msg1044542 date=1264673404]
Kewell is comfortably better than Babel his 10m replacement.
[/quote]

What does Babel have to do with this? It was 100% right to get rid of Kewell, and though i'd say Riera is a more reliable, effective though hardly inspiring replacement, Babel and Riera don't enter into it. A number of the players you referenced should have been sold, they just weren't adequately replaced.

Take the defenders on your list, because again, though noone pined over losing Crouch or Bellamy or Cisse at the time, now of course you'll want their services, because you could throw a rock in the premiership and hit a striker that would help us, because we never replaced them.

I love JAR and Finnan, but both were on the way down, one due to form, and the other due to age. It's strange actually, you never see anyone pining after Finnan as much as after JAR, even though Finnan was by far the more consistent performer and better back. This is partly that Finnan was aging, but more because he was an unassuming but incredibly solid performer who never got his due despite years of great service, and lacked the wow factor of JAR's leg breaking cannon. It's also because one was "replaced" by Insua, Aurelio, and a sad joke in Dossena, wheraes and the other was replaced by Arbeloa, who made the position his, and then Glen Johnson, whose attacking play is well entertaining enough to distract from the fact that he can be suspect defensively.

As a matter of fact, Finnan had a truly shit seldom-heard song, and got scarcely enough recognition when he left. I'd fucking kill to have his sort of solidity this season. I'm finnan jacking this thread.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044548#msg1044548 date=1264674735]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044542#msg1044542 date=1264673404]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044539#msg1044539 date=1264673103]
What?! Kewell should still be here? That's insane!

Thank fuck I haven't had occasion to know about him recently, but a quick google shows "Injury-hit Socceroos star Harry Kewell will fly into Sydney to consult with a specialist, as he seeks to keep his World Cup quest on track."

I'd have never fucking guessed.

I actually think most of your list were sensible sales at the time, the main issue is that while none of the strikers that left covered themselves with glory, we didn't replace them, and you could look with envy at any of them now, not because they are brilliant, or we were wrong to sell them, but because we are that thin and shit up front.
[/quote]Kewell is comfortably better than Babel his 10m replacement.
[/quote]

That's another issue entirely. If Rafa had given Kewell a new contract, most of us would have exploded with frustration.

[/quote]Probably yeah. I think me and Brendan were the last two members of the kewell club.

 

[refugee]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044550#msg1044550 date=1264674960]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044548#msg1044548 date=1264674735]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044542#msg1044542 date=1264673404]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044539#msg1044539 date=1264673103]
What?! Kewell should still be here? That's insane!

Thank fuck I haven't had occasion to know about him recently, but a quick google shows "Injury-hit Socceroos star Harry Kewell will fly into Sydney to consult with a specialist, as he seeks to keep his World Cup quest on track."

I'd have never fucking guessed.

I actually think most of your list were sensible sales at the time, the main issue is that while none of the strikers that left covered themselves with glory, we didn't replace them, and you could look with envy at any of them now, not because they are brilliant, or we were wrong to sell them, but because we are that thin and shit up front.
[/quote]Kewell is comfortably better than Babel his 10m replacement.
[/quote]

That's another issue entirely. If Rafa had given Kewell a new contract, most of us would have exploded with frustration.

[/quote]Probably yeah. I think me and Brendan were the last two members of the kewell club.
[/quote]

and Madmax, but that says it all

 

[acejmk]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
David Raven he plays for Carlisle
[/quote]

 

[keniget]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

I know exactly who he was referring to, but why pick a particular game where you like the bench? Why not pick a game when we had Potter and Mellor on the bench that season?

I could pick one random game as well where everyone is fit and our bench would look miles better than that one.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044549#msg1044549 date=1264674873]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044542#msg1044542 date=1264673404]
Kewell is comfortably better than Babel his 10m replacement.
[/quote]

What does Babel have to do with this? It was 100% right to get rid of Kewell, and though i'd say Riera is a more reliable, effective though hardly inspiring replacement, Babel and Riera don't enter into it. A number of the players you referenced should have been sold, they just weren't adequately replaced.

Take the defenders on your list, because again, though noone pined over losing Crouch or Bellamy or Cisse at the time, now of course you'll want their services, because you could throw a rock in the premiership and hit a striker that would help us, because we never replaced them.

I love JAR and Finnan, but both were on the way down, one due to form, and the other due to age. It's strange actually, you never see anyone pining after Finnan as much as after JAR, even though Finnan was by far the more consistent performer and better back. This is partly that Finnan was aging, but more because he was an unassuming but incredibly solid performer who never got his due despite years of great service, and lacked the wow factor of JAR's leg breaking cannon. It's also because one was "replaced" by Insua, Aurelio, and a sad joke in Dossena, wheraes and the other was replaced by Arbeloa, who made the position his, and then Glen Johnson, whose attacking play is well entertaining enough to distract from the fact that he can be suspect defensively.

As a matter of fact, Finnan had a truly shit seldom-heard song, and got scarcely enough recognition when he left. I'd fucking kill to have his sort of solidity this season. I'm finnan jacking this thread.
[/quote]Its simply not true that no one was bothered they were sold Farky. Myself and Vlad were the most vocal, but there were others who went on at length at the time about how we should have kept many of these players and each transfer window gone after 1 player of true quality. I'm amazed you can't remember that. Time and again it was suggested that instead of selling (eg) pongolle, cisse and baros and replacing them with (eg) bellamy, pennant and momo we should use the original players as our reserves and use our (usual) transfer kitty to purchase one player to improve the first team (eg) Alves, Simao, joaquin.....there were others.
It's always been my opinion, and I
sure I wasn't alone. We sacrifice squad depth to attemt to improve squad depth. It hasn't worked. Our first 11 is arguably better than when Rafa arrived our squad is much of a muchness.
It's only my opinion mind you.

 

[Whitey85]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044556#msg1044556 date=1264676017]
all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil
[/quote]

Ha. I must be mad but I hope he starts against Bolton.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044556#msg1044556 date=1264676017]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil
[/quote]Not really, he's just really really fucking shit.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

for the record mark, babel has scored more from the bench than all the players you've listed. fact.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044560#msg1044560 date=1264676366]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044556#msg1044556 date=1264676017]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil
[/quote]Not really, he's just really really fucking shit.
[/quote]

well he's in good company with the rest of our fucking piss poor squad.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

and even Biscan.

regards

 

[Farkmaster]

I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044563#msg1044563 date=1264676419]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044560#msg1044560 date=1264676366]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044556#msg1044556 date=1264676017]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil
[/quote]Not really, he's just really really fucking shit.
[/quote]

well he's in good company with the rest of our fucking piss poor squad.
[/quote]Hes worse, because he lacks heart, desire, spirit, gumption, attitude, belief, determination, vision, work ethic.....you know footballer attributes. He's a pussyole shitcunt and would/should be the first out the door.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=38644.msg1044540#msg1044540 date=1264673149]
GK Reina
RB Johnson
CB Carragher
CB Agger
LB Aurelio
DM Mascherano
RM Maxi
CM Gerrard
LM Riera
SS Torres
CF Kuyt
Substitutes:
GK Cavalieri
DF Skrtel
MF Lucas
MF Aquilani
AM Pacheco
FW Babel
FW N'Gog


GK 20 England Scott Carson SHIT
DF 17 Spain Josemi SHIT
MF 16 Germany Dietmar Hamann LEGEND
MF 18 Spain Antonio Núñez WANK
MF 25 Croatia Igor Biš?an SHIT
FW 9 France Djibril Cissé SHIT
FW 11 Czech Republic Vladimír Šmicer SHIT

Theres not alot in it Vlad
[/quote]

There may not be a lot in it Whitey, I think that squad had greater strength in depth, but , we are five years down the line, having spent millions, seen a rotating door of players and not really any better off.

regards

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.





[/quote]

Nor do I, but on the fairly basic assumption we would replace them with far better players, which in three out of the four instances you highlight, has not happened Farky.

regards

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

It was a fatal blow as it turns out

regards

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

A great foil for Torres? I don't even remember them playing together. Nando was on his own upfront most of that season, and was utterly utterly brilliant. Were people really crying out for Crouch to start? I'd be amazed.

Bellamy, however... I remember being disappointed when he was sold. He never scored many goals for us, but he had skill, pace and heart. Psycho though he was, I'd have kept him.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044575#msg1044575 date=1264677090]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

A great foil for Torres? I don't even remember them playing together. Nando was on his own upfront most of that season, and was utterly utterly brilliant. Were people really crying out for Crouch to start? I'd be amazed.

Bellamy, however... I remember being disappointed when he was sold. He never scored many goals for us, but he had skill, pace and heart. Psycho though he was, I'd have kept him.

[/quote]

They did play a couple of games together, but Rafa seemed dead set against the idea, stupid as it might sound, almost as if he did not want it to work, and he had other plans.

regards

 

[Whitey85]

It is frustrating and we should really have better strikers at the club. We should have better than Kuyt, Babel and N'Gog as back up/partner for Torres.

Im not an accountant but im guessing the reason we've had to adopt a revolving door approach rather than just adding to the squad is because we have a wage bill to keep on budget. Im sure Rafa would love to have the likes of Bellamy, Crouch and co to call upon but maybe hes working under restrictions? I don't know.

People are forgetting how shit the likes of Biscan, Pongolle and co are in this whole argument. I never understood how anyone rated Pongolle. He spent half his time tripping over his own feet and spinning about on his arse.

 

[manwithnoname]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044575#msg1044575 date=1264677090]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

A great foil for Torres? I don't even remember them playing together. Nando was on his own upfront most of that season, and was utterly utterly brilliant. Were people really crying out for Crouch to start? I'd be amazed.

Bellamy, however... I remember being disappointed when he was sold. He never scored many goals for us, but he had skill, pace and heart. Psycho though he was, I'd have kept him.

[/quote]

I think Crouch and Torres started two games together.

 

[Jack D Rips]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044575#msg1044575 date=1264677090]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

A great foil for Torres? I don't even remember them playing together. Nando was on his own upfront most of that season, and was utterly utterly brilliant. Were people really crying out for Crouch to start? I'd be amazed.

Bellamy, however... I remember being disappointed when he was sold. He never scored many goals for us, but he had skill, pace and heart. Psycho though he was, I'd have kept him.

[/quote]

Crouch spent most of his time on the bench. But I remember many of us being annoyed and frustrated that Rafa wouldnt give him any playing time, even in games where we needed to change things, to break teams down

 

[themn]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044567#msg1044567 date=1264676613]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044563#msg1044563 date=1264676419]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044560#msg1044560 date=1264676366]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=38644.msg1044556#msg1044556 date=1264676017]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=38644.msg1044547#msg1044547 date=1264674735]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=38644.msg1044541#msg1044541 date=1264673291]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38644.msg1044537#msg1044537 date=1264672767]
Sorry to bump this, but I thought there was a decent point here as regards the depth of our squad then and now

regards
[/quote]

I'm surprised you did.

That bench isn't that good at all and after we had a few injuries (which we did in that season), we were looking at the likes of Neil fatboy Mellor who has since gone on to do great things for Preston Northend, Le Tallec who is really making a name for himself in Ligue 1, Darren Potter who is another Championship star and David Raven - fuck knows what he is doing now.
[/quote]

That might be so, but at least we drained something from the dregs of those players, more than we get from the likes of Babel anyway. And to be fair, I think Vlad was referring to the likes of Smicer, Cisse and Pongolle. I'd take any of them the way they were that year over any of the shite sitting on our bench now.
[/quote]

all liverppol's problems begin and end with babel, in fact ALL problems begin and end with babel.
money babel is the root of all evil
[/quote]Not really, he's just really really fucking shit.
[/quote]

well he's in good company with the rest of our fucking piss poor squad.
[/quote]Hes worse, because he lacks heart, desire, spirit, gumption, attitude, belief, determination, vision, work ethic.....you know footballer attributes. He's a pussyole shitcunt and would/should be the first out the door.
[/quote]

Wow.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Pussyhole shitcunt?

You have issues, Oncy.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044584#msg1044584 date=1264678598]
Pussyhole shitcunt?

You have issues, Oncy.
[/quote]

you is a pussyhole, ennit.

 

[Atlas]

He isn't far off though really, of course he missed out the whole moany twitter using twathead thing but can't have it all.

 

[keniget]

There is a lot of rather sad revisionist nonsense being spouted in here. And to continually insinuate that the manager almost has some sort of grand master plan to see us fail is fucking embarassing.

I think Ryan has often been clutching at straws in recent months when adamantly defending Rafa but - and I never quite thought I'd say this - I can kinda understand where he's coming from recently and why he does it. The team has been shit and Rafa is largely to blame, but fucking hell, there are some excruciatingly shit posts on here.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=38644.msg1044575#msg1044575 date=1264677090]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=38644.msg1044570#msg1044570 date=1264676867]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=38644.msg1044566#msg1044566 date=1264676531]
I do remember those discussions, and agree, I remember wondering what the point of, for instance, getting rid of FSP was, and other impact players who would be content to fight for a role. I just don't disagree with with Kewell, Finnan, JAR, Baros and others being sold.

The brunt of that list boils down to the fact that we've seen striker after striker come and go, and we are now at a point where any striker we've let go could help us, even though they ranged from flop to quite effective.


[/quote]Crouch was the worst error for me. He was a great foil for Torres. They were mustard together and all Rafa needed to do was play him in home games and he would have stayed. Bellamy to a lesser extent, and the selling of Keane without a replacement was comical.
[/quote]

A great foil for Torres? I don't even remember them playing together. Nando was on his own upfront most of that season, and was utterly utterly brilliant. Were people really crying out for Crouch to start? I'd be amazed.

Bellamy, however... I remember being disappointed when he was sold. He never scored many goals for us, but he had skill, pace and heart. Psycho though he was, I'd have kept him.

[/quote]Reading 2 - 4 Liverpool (torres 3)
Liverpool 2 - 0 Fulham (torres 1)
Liverpool 4 - 1 Porto score drawn at 70 mins when Crouch comes on (torres 2, Crouch 1)
Liverpool 4 - 0 Bolton (torres)
Reading 3 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool 2 - 2 Villa Crouch on at 80 mins (crouch 1)
Liverpool 3 - 0 Sunderland (crouch, Torres)
Liverpool 2 - 0 Inter
Liverpool 4 - 2 Arsenal (torres)

Thats it. The sum total of their games together.
9 games
12 goals
8 wins.