: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:42 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Just going to say the same.

I'm happy we've kept the stability, we have a gelled squad and all we need is a bit more depth. How likely is it that the club will be sold on now, or at least part of the club? I'm not sure if this improves the chances, as a stable club on the field is certainly a more attractive proposition than one in tatters; however, some may say it means the owners are staying by planning for the long term and it means that if new owners come in, they won't be appointing their man of choice, so to speak. Who knows, I'm just delighted, what a momentous week this has been, shame this couldn't have been tied up around Christmas...

I think you need to try and sign just one quality signing a season instead of 3 or 4 average ones, by doing that you will become a major force on all fronts which you almost are anyway.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:37 am  

PAUL M wrote:

So Keith, after your win at OT and Rafa signing, are you going to win the title,

Unlike Lord God Jose Mourinho, I can't see into the future, so I don't know if we will win the League.

The win at OT made it possible, but still unlikely. We are still 4 points behind, potentially 7, and with 9 games to go that still makes it a very hard task. What I will say is, after the win at OT, we are still in with a chance coming to the end of March, and it may put Man U under a bit more pressure, which is what any level headed Liverpool fan (Ande, take note) was saying is what they wanted at the start of the season. Any chance of winning the league has tended to cease well before now in previous seasons, so we are progressing, no matter what anyone says. The fact that we have been consistently good in Europe also shows we are on the right path.

Problem is, there are some, because of our history, and these tend to be of the younger generation, Championship Manager generation, note I said some, think we have a god given right to win the League, and would change the manager year in year out until we do, or suggest someone like Martin O'Neil, who couldn't hold a candle to the likes of Rafa. Of all these people who have criticised Rafa's new contract, I've yet to see one offer an alternative that would be better.

They just don't realise the scale of the job Rafa faced when he got here and whilst he's been here. They don't even understand why he's had to buy the players he has in the previous 4 years, but as I said, they are pretty clueless to be honest. They can't see what's in front of their eyes. I mean the bloke hasn't had much say what goes on at the Academy FFS, how can that be?

I don't think Rafa signing the contract will have any bearing on how we play just like I don't think it had any bearing on how we played whilst he was negotiating.

PAUL M wrote:

are you good enough?

Well, if we don't win it, then obviously not.

At the moment we have shown on any given day we can beat anyone. We seem to have done a complete turn around from previous seasons where we have struggled against the top 3 and beat the "easy pickings" in the main. This year, for some reason we have struggled to beat the lesser sides, especially at Anfield, yet up to now, just dropped 2 points away at Arsenal against the top 3, beatin both Man U and Chelsea home and away.

We are at the stage now where we don't need to bring quantity in to the club to refresh the squad, the problem we have had for the first 3 seasons under Rafa, now we can concentrate on hopefully bringing in 1 or 2 top class players in to enhance the squad in the areas that's needed. Rafa thought that Keane could be a good addition to the squad, but it didn't work out that way, so he's gone, and I'm sure he'll try to bring in another top striker to replace him.

But there again, with the sale of the club up in the air, will the G&H splash the cash or will they sell. I think it's July they have to payback the finance, which is bang in the middle of when Rafa would hope to be signing players, so that could bring it's own problems.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:05 am  

keithcun wrote:

Unlike Lord God Jose Mourinho, I can't see into the future, so I don't know if we will win the League.

The win at OT made it possible, but still unlikely. We are still 4 points behind, potentially 7, and with 9 games to go that still makes it a very hard task. What I will say is, after the win at OT, we are still in with a chance coming to the end of March, and it may put Man U under a bit more pressure, which is what any level headed Liverpool fan (Ande, take note) was saying is what they wanted at the start of the season. Any chance of winning the league has tended to cease well before now in previous seasons, so we are progressing, no matter what anyone says. The fact that we have been consistently good in Europe also shows we are on the right path.

Problem is, there are some, because of our history, and these tend to be of the younger generation, Championship Manager generation, note I said some, think we have a god given right to win the League, and would change the manager year in year out until we do, or suggest someone like Martin O'Neil, who couldn't hold a candle to the likes of Rafa. Of all these people who have criticised Rafa's new contract, I've yet to see one offer an alternative that would be better.
They just don't realise the scale of the job Rafa faced when he got here and whilst he's been here. They don't even understand why he's had to buy the players he has in the previous 4 years, but as I said, they are pretty clueless to be honest. They can't see what's in front of their eyes. I mean the bloke hasn't had much say what goes on at the Academy FFS, how can that be?

I don't think Rafa signing the contract will have any bearing on how we play just like I don't think it had any bearing on how we played whilst he was negotiating.



Well, if we don't win it, then obviously not.

At the moment we have shown on any given day we can beat anyone. We seem to have done a complete turn around from previous seasons where we have struggled against the top 3 and beat the "easy pickings" in the main. This year, for some reason we have struggled to beat the lesser sides, especially at Anfield, yet up to now, just dropped 2 points away at Arsenal against the top 3, beatin both Man U and Chelsea home and away.

We are at the stage now where we don't need to bring quantity in to the club to refresh the squad, the problem we have had for the first 3 seasons under Rafa, now we can concentrate on hopefully bringing in 1 or 2 top class players in to enhance the squad in the areas that's needed. Rafa thought that Keane could be a good addition to the squad, but it didn't work out that way, so he's gone, and I'm sure he'll try to bring in another top striker to replace him.

But there again, with the sale of the club up in the air, will the G&H splash the cash or will they sell. I think it's July they have to payback the finance, which is bang in the middle of when Rafa would hope to be signing players, so that could bring it's own problems.

So you would reject the idea of Roberto Mancini comign to Liverpool to manage? Is he good enough for you Keith?

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:05 am  

We're apparently set to announce a link with Almeria apparently, something that will give us first choice on their players. Sounds like an alright idea, they have young Piatti who's progressing nicely and could be a 'big club player' in a few years, they also have Negredo who I feel could be a more than adequate back up for Torres.

I'm not too familiar with this whole linking up business, what happens? Do we just pay them a certain amount every year in return for having first refusal, like?

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:06 am  

Ande wrote:

So you would reject the idea of Roberto Mancini comign to Liverpool to manage? Is he good enough for you Keith?

He's a decent manager but I'd still rather Rafa over him.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:21 am  

Ande wrote:

So you would reject the idea of Roberto Mancini comign to Liverpool to manage? Is he good enough for you Keith?

Yes and no. That was easy wasn't it.

What's he up to these days, after being sacked just after Rafa Benitez's side dicked them in the Champions League?

Are you going to tell me that bringing in Mancini would bring us the Championship, if so, what's that based on exactly?

Now, if you were to apply...

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:43 am  

Ande wrote:

S**T!
Another 5 years of looking up to United from 2-4th place.

Ferguson will be chuckling to himself.

I reckon he's still drinking from saturday oh an your a clueless whopper.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:29 am  

Wire1879 wrote:

Hope Rafa has been given full control of signings etc, if he brings in the players that HE wants, he will bring us the title. I have doubted him in the past, but there isnt anyone more suited to the job.

Are you implying he didn't want Keane? Who's decision was it to sign him?

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:40 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

He's a decent manager but I'd still rather Rafa over him.

Most definitely - Rafa's track record in Europe is far superior to Mancini's.

Mancini won league titles at Inter but his Inter teams lacked bottle, in a truly big game they would crumble. Mourinho has rectified that to an extent but IMO Mancini, who is always linked to top jobs, isn't in the top echelon of managers for that reason.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:55 am