*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[Eds]

Hugely unlikely but I'd love Capello or AVB.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I don't know, that is upto Rafa. But we were linked with a lot of good players that fell through because we couldn't pay 5-10 million more than what the clubs asked. I think this team is 2 very good signings from being a big contender again. We need a world-class CM most of all.

Big contender for what exactly? You just finished 4 points below Everton.

 

[Ikki]

Disagree. If they can get a manager of the highest class they should say no and employ someone **** instead.

What are you actually on about, ikki. Firstly, you're stating the obvious- if they should get a world-class manager than they should. Secondly, I don't get why you think "high fan expectations" count for ****. This is all a bit like me breaking up with my girlfriend, then saying "I should go for someone really hot. I have extremely high bedroom expectations because I pulled a supermodel once seven years ago, and almost pulled another one three years ago (before she eventually ended up with my much more attractive neighbour). If I have to settle for a mediocre girlfriend, then so be it. But IMO I should at least try to get an awesome one."

What? People are suggesting giving Martinez a go because he has shown something within his time at Wigan. I am saying I'd rather go for experience and a track record.

Who will make a good manager is speculative, that is kind of the point. Sometimes clubs go for style or an innovative, less decorated manager. Like Barca going for Pep.

Also, a lot of the team that came runner-up under Rafa and who were #1 in Europe are there or have been replaced by able players (Suarez-Torres; Lucas-Mascherano). It wasn't that long ago. There is no way we should not be trying for top 4 IMO. That was the reason Rafa was fired, because he didn't make it. That is why people hounded him, because they said he had taken Liverpool back.

What exactly should be our expectations then?

 

[Furball]

Big contender for what exactly? You just finished 4 points below Everton.

Qualification for the Europa League through league placing is Liverpool's big target.

 

[Ikki]

You mean the tactical change where he took Gerrard out of the middle where he was being made to look a **** by the Milan midfield for the entire first half?

No doubt both he and Alonso had a horrible first half, but it was more than turned around in the second. Everything was going through Kaka and Didi did an important job. Releasing Alonso to dictate the play - as much as he could, which wasn't much - and letting Gerrard play off the forward. The 3-5-2 was risky because it had Traore as the third CB and we had to play with wing-backs. One of the best tactical changes in a high stakes match I've ever seen. They were simply a better team, it was a miracle that we won.

----

As for Capello...in our dreams, really.

 

[GIMH]

Martinez could do with a season where Wigan aren't toal crap for two thirds of the season before he gets a big job.

And lol at Liverpool being a big club.They were closer to being relegated than they were to the top 4, and were it not for winning the Carling Cup would be facing a second season without Europe.

Depends how you define big club. In terms of global following, history and all that **** then there's only United who threaten them. In terms of recent credentials, which is perhaps more relevant to any potential contenders, you are of course right.

I'd have thought Benitez would bite their hands off for another crack and I don't know any matchgoing fans who wouldn't love him back. Not sure he'd take the further than he managed last time and his stock has probably gone down since.

Still owns a house on my lovely peninsula IIRC

 

[Jarquis]

My opinion is... unreasonable... Because I am ... undoubtedly biased, I acknowledge that.

We done here?

 

[Furball]

Depends how you define big club.

Well, when I were a nipper, Liverpool were a massive club, no question. When loads of foreigners like Bergkamp started coming over to the UK, loads of them mentioned the Liverpool side of the late 70s/early 80s, I'm sure quite a few of them would have supported Liverpool growing up the same way I support Barcelona. They were a team that most players would have signed for given the chance.

Now I'm not so sure that's true. A young, early 20s footballer will have grown up with Manchester United being the dominant team in England. What's more, Liverpool in that time frame have more often than not been an irrelevancy. Just as in the 70s and 80s if you looked beyond Liverpool you saw Notts Forest, Everton and latterly Arsenal, now if you look past Man Utd you see Arsenal, Chelsea and latterly, Manchester City. Liverpool? Not so much any more.

They're still a big club, they still have a fantastic history. But it's a history that is becoming more and more distant, and more and more irrelevant.

 

[GIMH]

Benitez favourite apparently, probably just lazy bookies at this point

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

On an unrelated note. No Sturridge or Richards in the England squad. Not sure I'm entirely in favour of that. Can't really complain about the rest of the squad, however.

Downing in as well haha.

 

[Burgey]

Is it true that Rio Ferdinand was left out of the England squad?

 

[Ikki]

Probably would have been a better winger than Downing.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Still shocked that Micah didn't make it.

 

[cpr]

Richards should've been there. No question on that


Any anyone arguing Liverpool arnt a big club needs to stand still whilst Julian Dicks takes thunderbolt shots from 5 yards away

 

[BoyBrumby]

Still shocked that Micah didn't make it.

Quite. Especially when the only specialist RB in the squad is Glen "****ing" Johnson.

Richards is younger, a better defender, has had a better season in a winning team and covers centre half in extremis.

 

[TT Boy]

Hugely unlikely but I'd love Capello or AVB.

Is the bookies favourite. Apparently was in Boston last month.

 

[sledger]

Would be quite keen on him if I was a Liverpool fan to be honest.

 

[GIMH]

BBC Sport - Carlos Tevez refuses to apologise to Sir Alex Ferguson over RIP sign

 

[Johnners]

If the sign really was in relation to Ferguson's "not in my life-time" comment, I don't get why it's such a big deal.

 

[Uppercut]

It's not a big deal anyway. I don't get why the media thinks "Person no one particularly likes makes insensitive remark" constitutes a story. It's not like Fergie will be sitting at home crying into his whiskey over it.