*Official* English Football Season 2009-2010

[sledger]

Been in the pub this afternoon, am posting with 4 pints under my belt, cut me some slack imo.

 

[aussie]

Oh Joeeee how i have missed this cat, super game. Robinson was very solid i thought, looked like his old self today for a while, but of course with a poor defense he could stop Chelsea from scoring.

 

[Matteh]

Good, I didn't want to go to Liverpool anyway.

Mansfield to get a home draw, we've got the nicer stadium anyway.

 

[GIMH]

Ha, that much is bollocks, we have one of the best grounds in the lower leagues outside of the sides who've been in the Prem. And we have a better ground than some of them, see Oldham, swindle, etc

 

[Scaly piscine]

Liverpool chief assuring everyone that winning sweet FA apart from when you get extremely jammy and then *still* have to rely on penalties is part of their future.

Good news for every other team.

 

[Uppercut]

Liverpool chief assuring everyone that winning sweet FA apart from when you get extremely jammy and then *still* have to rely on penalties is part of their future.

Good news for every other team.

Loved this line from Guillem Balague in the Daily Mirror:

Take Rafa Benitez - it doesn't seem to matter to many that he has a better points average than Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson achieved in their first five seasons at their respective clubs.

Reminds me of Ikki.

 

[GIMH]

Gerard Houllier always went on about Alex Ferguson's first five years as well. The fact that it was a completely different world back then as far as football goes must have passed these guys by.

And as I recall it, the Arsenal that Wenger had inherited had finished a lot lower than the Liverpool Benitez inherited (they'd finished 4th whereas I think Arsenal had middled the season before, I could be wrong, Brumby to confirm as I cbf to look it up).

 

[sledger]

They finished 12th in 1995, so was a bit before Wenger joined iirc.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Gerard Houllier always went on about Alex Ferguson's first five years as well. The fact that it was a completely different world back then as far as football goes must have passed these guys by.

And as I recall it, the Arsenal that Wenger had inherited had finished a lot lower than the Liverpool Benitez inherited (they'd finished 4th whereas I think Arsenal had middled the season before, I could be wrong, Brumby to confirm as I cbf to look it up).

We actually finished 5th under Rioch, which was seen as something of a result after 12th under Houston's caretakership the previous season. IIRC we managed third in Wenger's first season and won it in his first full campaign.

 

[Matteh]

Chris Kiwomya and Kevin Campbell up front, not the stuff of greatness.

 

[sledger]

Chris Kiwomya and Kevin Campbell up front, not the stuff of greatness.

Don't forget Glenn Helder.

 

[GIMH]

When did Wenger join, 96 wasn't it?

Ah well, the fact that he won the title in his second season probably outdoes the points average then

 

[chalky]

Going to the local to watch the game with a Liverpool & Man Utd fan so should be fun today.

 

[BoyBrumby]

When did Wenger join, 96 wasn't it?

Ah well, the fact that he won the title in his second season probably outdoes the points average then

Yeah, and as the Big Four hadn't yet left the lesser mortals trailing in their wake it was possible to win the title with fewer points back then, so it's comparing apples and oranges. Wenger's first five seasons went: 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd. Benitez's didn't, frankly.

 

[Uppercut]

Gerard Houllier always went on about Alex Ferguson's first five years as well. The fact that it was a completely different world back then as far as football goes must have passed these guys by.

And as I recall it, the Arsenal that Wenger had inherited had finished a lot lower than the Liverpool Benitez inherited (they'd finished 4th whereas I think Arsenal had middled the season before, I could be wrong, Brumby to confirm as I cbf to look it up).

Bruce Rioch, tbh.

Arsene won the league in his second season. The 1998 team was just one of those times where everything clicked together perfectly for Arsenal- the formidable defence inherited from George Graham met Arsene's talent for plucking top-class midfield and attacking players from nowhere and getting them to play fantastic football. By the 99/2000 season, the defence had aged and a lot of key players like Overmars, Anelka and Petit had opted to leave. Arsene had to rebuild a title-winning side once again, which he did successfully over the following two years.

Benitez's situation isn't really comparable. He's kept Liverpool there or thereabouts, but has never built a championship-winning side like Arsene did within a year. But I'd still keep him in place, for two reasons. First, they're miles better than they were when he took over. It's a bit stop-start, but the progress is certainly there. Secondly, and more importantly, there's no obvious replacement.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, I don't think you could argue that Benitez hasn't improved Liverpool, but is it possible that they are no stagnating and he'll take them no further? Houllier improved them as well, and then lost the plot a little after a good season in 01-02.

 

[sledger]

Bruce Rioch, tbh.

Arsene won the league in his second season. The 1998 team was just one of those times where everything clicked together perfectly for Arsenal- the formidable defence inherited from George Graham met Arsene's talent for plucking top-class midfield and attacking players from nowhere and getting them to play fantastic football. By the 99/2000 season, the defence had aged and a lot of key players like Overmars, Anelka and Petit had opted to leave. Arsene had to rebuild a title-winning side once again, which he did successfully over the following two years.

Benitez's situation isn't really comparable. He's kept Liverpool there or thereabouts, but has never built a championship-winning side like Arsene did within a year. But I'd still keep him in place, for two reasons. First, they're miles better than they were when he took over. It's a bit stop-start, but the progress is certainly there. Secondly, and more importantly, there's no obvious replacement.

I'd agree with this, imo it would be fairly stupid to give him the boot, for these very reasons.

 

[GIMH]

BTW, to all of you who said Bruce R****, please don't avoid the filter

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, I don't think you could argue that Benitez hasn't improved Liverpool, but is it possible that they are no stagnating and he'll take them no further? Houllier improved them as well, and then lost the plot a little after a good season in 01-02.

Think he improved them, but they're now on the way down again. Too reliant on two players & too much invested in an unproven (in England) Italian crock.

I sympathise, because I suspect he's not responsible for some of the signings that went **** up; it's obvious he never fancied Keane much.

 

[sledger]

Think he improved them, but they're now on the way down again. Too reliant on two players & too much invested in an unproven (in England) Italian crock.

I sympathise, because I suspect he's not responsible for some of the signings that went **** up; it's obvious he never fancied Keane much.

Yeah this. How Aquilani does could be quite significant tbh, if he really does go belly up then that could be the end of Benitez imo, because as you say they are horribly dependant on Torres and Gerrard at the moment.