I think as a club and as fans we have to recognise that sometimes things come into play that effects the whole system of being a club.
By and large I think we're getting close to being a well run community, what we've always been about, at least internally. The Academy has had a shake up, the first signs of our reserve/youth system starting to bear fruit, Dalglish and Sammy Lee returning to the club. There's a structure within the club itself that leaves me feeling quietly confident, despite recent problems. If any of that is broken, I think the whole system may come crumbling down, and that includes taking Rafa from the equation. It's a great piece of solidity we have there against the owners, if that's allowed to be broken or influenced by the hierarchy, then it'll breed infection and that will damage the club.
I agree with an early comment in the press, regarding stopping laying the blame with injuries and getting on with it. At least to an extent. It's Rafa's squad, mistakes have been made, good players have departed and we're in this mess partly because of that. But by the same token, I think this was the worst scenario when we started in the Summer, and one that most of us thought would never happen. It's happened, a 1 in however many chance, but it has, and as the quote concluded, 'that's football'.
That's life I guess, the unaccountable making it much more difficult, testing and interesting. It's entertainment for the masses and it stops the league being boring, or the sport in general. Look at the shakeup in Spain this season, it's good for the sport, even if we do spew at Madrid's financial ridiculousness, it's (potentially) stopped the whole scenario of one league's domination. Forgetting our departure from the competition for a moment, did anyone really feel excited at the prospect of another Liverpool/Chelsea power struggle in Europe. We may aswell just stay at home. Of course I'm not turning down the idea of another quarter/final appearance, just the sentiment regarding football getting boring, in general.
European humiliation has hurt us, but I think ongoing league humiliation is hurting us more, and rightly so, have you ever seen Rafa so flippant about the Champions League? Ok, so he's playing down what is essentially much his own fuck up, but by the same reckoning, can anyone justifiably say that he's prioritised Europe? We've fucked up all round this season and neither competition has really impacted on the other.
Regards Aquilani, as Ryan keeps saying, it's easy to stand there second guessing, it's what we do as fans, we don't attend Melwood everyday. Ok, so hand on heart, the sub of the lad midweek was ridiculous, he needs games and Rafa is being overly cautious of bruised ego's on the pitch. But the signing itself, people have questioned Rafa's reasoning. Well I'll ask this: If Rafa had gone for 2nd or 3rd choice and it had helped us gain a couple more points so far, but over the course of this season or forthcoming ones, it had cost us in terms of significant quality, would people have been happy? He wanted his first choice, at a price both financially and on the pitch. It's a gamble but if this lad is the bollocks for the next 4 seasons or so, who gives a fuck about a few months? The whole goal over the last two seasons seems to have been longtermist.
Yeah we were close to winning the league last year, despite a piss poor showing in the transfer market, but we got there despite that. People seem to let that overshadow the progress we made last year. The signings were Rafa's fault but some outside influence got us to second place. I guess we'll have to accept that like anyone, and in a high pressured environment, he'll make mistakes, but where it matters, by and large, he has shown he can do the business, at least in terms of making headway and showing promise.
People want Mourinho, what have we got to offer? We have to pay off Rafa and we have to sell the club to the potential new boss. Dream stuff.
I know Rafa's made errors, playing players who aren't good enough, marking setpieces, defensive woes etc, a thin squad... but bellends comparing this to Houllier's dark days are showing just how short their attention span is (like we didn't already know).
As I've said many a time, our fit first XI is mint, comparing that to Houllier's final 'team' is just laughable.
--------------Reina----------------
Johnson-Carra-Agger-Aurlelio
----------Masher-Aquilani-------
-Kuyt---------Gerrard-----Yossi
----------------Torres------------
As others have aspired to and mostly been knocked down over, it's a case of 'better the devil you know' this season. Reflect in May, count the cost and see if we've walked away with anything of note. Until then, get the fuck behind the gaffa, we've had more good moments in the past 18 months than poor ones, the signs are there, for every mistake there's been two moments of brilliance at least.
Sunday is a big day, if we beat Everton then woes will at least be temporarily be forgotten, and at least that's something to build upon. Get behind the team, help stop the rot, inspire confidence and the rest will follow.. We're more than capable of putting together a good run, it might prove too little too late but at least get our heads down and work for it between now and May.
YNWA
By and large I think we're getting close to being a well run community, what we've always been about, at least internally. The Academy has had a shake up, the first signs of our reserve/youth system starting to bear fruit, Dalglish and Sammy Lee returning to the club. There's a structure within the club itself that leaves me feeling quietly confident, despite recent problems. If any of that is broken, I think the whole system may come crumbling down, and that includes taking Rafa from the equation. It's a great piece of solidity we have there against the owners, if that's allowed to be broken or influenced by the hierarchy, then it'll breed infection and that will damage the club.
I agree with an early comment in the press, regarding stopping laying the blame with injuries and getting on with it. At least to an extent. It's Rafa's squad, mistakes have been made, good players have departed and we're in this mess partly because of that. But by the same token, I think this was the worst scenario when we started in the Summer, and one that most of us thought would never happen. It's happened, a 1 in however many chance, but it has, and as the quote concluded, 'that's football'.
That's life I guess, the unaccountable making it much more difficult, testing and interesting. It's entertainment for the masses and it stops the league being boring, or the sport in general. Look at the shakeup in Spain this season, it's good for the sport, even if we do spew at Madrid's financial ridiculousness, it's (potentially) stopped the whole scenario of one league's domination. Forgetting our departure from the competition for a moment, did anyone really feel excited at the prospect of another Liverpool/Chelsea power struggle in Europe. We may aswell just stay at home. Of course I'm not turning down the idea of another quarter/final appearance, just the sentiment regarding football getting boring, in general.
European humiliation has hurt us, but I think ongoing league humiliation is hurting us more, and rightly so, have you ever seen Rafa so flippant about the Champions League? Ok, so he's playing down what is essentially much his own fuck up, but by the same reckoning, can anyone justifiably say that he's prioritised Europe? We've fucked up all round this season and neither competition has really impacted on the other.
Regards Aquilani, as Ryan keeps saying, it's easy to stand there second guessing, it's what we do as fans, we don't attend Melwood everyday. Ok, so hand on heart, the sub of the lad midweek was ridiculous, he needs games and Rafa is being overly cautious of bruised ego's on the pitch. But the signing itself, people have questioned Rafa's reasoning. Well I'll ask this: If Rafa had gone for 2nd or 3rd choice and it had helped us gain a couple more points so far, but over the course of this season or forthcoming ones, it had cost us in terms of significant quality, would people have been happy? He wanted his first choice, at a price both financially and on the pitch. It's a gamble but if this lad is the bollocks for the next 4 seasons or so, who gives a fuck about a few months? The whole goal over the last two seasons seems to have been longtermist.
Yeah we were close to winning the league last year, despite a piss poor showing in the transfer market, but we got there despite that. People seem to let that overshadow the progress we made last year. The signings were Rafa's fault but some outside influence got us to second place. I guess we'll have to accept that like anyone, and in a high pressured environment, he'll make mistakes, but where it matters, by and large, he has shown he can do the business, at least in terms of making headway and showing promise.
People want Mourinho, what have we got to offer? We have to pay off Rafa and we have to sell the club to the potential new boss. Dream stuff.
I know Rafa's made errors, playing players who aren't good enough, marking setpieces, defensive woes etc, a thin squad... but bellends comparing this to Houllier's dark days are showing just how short their attention span is (like we didn't already know).
As I've said many a time, our fit first XI is mint, comparing that to Houllier's final 'team' is just laughable.
--------------Reina----------------
Johnson-Carra-Agger-Aurlelio
----------Masher-Aquilani-------
-Kuyt---------Gerrard-----Yossi
----------------Torres------------
As others have aspired to and mostly been knocked down over, it's a case of 'better the devil you know' this season. Reflect in May, count the cost and see if we've walked away with anything of note. Until then, get the fuck behind the gaffa, we've had more good moments in the past 18 months than poor ones, the signs are there, for every mistake there's been two moments of brilliance at least.
Sunday is a big day, if we beat Everton then woes will at least be temporarily be forgotten, and at least that's something to build upon. Get behind the team, help stop the rot, inspire confidence and the rest will follow.. We're more than capable of putting together a good run, it might prove too little too late but at least get our heads down and work for it between now and May.
YNWA
