I don't think anybody here expects Liverpool to mount a serious title challenge this season (especially not now, after we've fallen so far behind the leaders), but what about the club's long-term chances? Once Benitez has had a whole season in charge, once the new signings are better adapted to the English game- could we do it, could we mount a challenge next season? And if not, why not? What would Liverpool need to do to get into a position to challenge?
yeah,good question!I think for this season we just have to qualify for the champions league,and try to get the 3rd spot!THen its all up to Benitez!If he brings useless player like josemi,then i dont see liverpool as tittle contenders.but if benitez buy quality players in the posistions that need improving (CB ,LB ,RB, RM,LM and a striker),then we can be a very respected side not only in the premiership,but europe aswell.Benitez asked for 3 years!lets give him those 3 yrs and see what happens there(the only worrying part is Gerrard, i am afraid he gets fed-up of waiting and leaves!)lets hope he gives liverpool 3 years aswell,and then deside what he wants to do!
I think it's really too early to tell, but we have every reason to believe that he's capable of doing it.
are long term chances are very good. champions league birth fo next season, progess far in the champions league this season. get a striker in january. We won't win the league this year. but get a top 4 finish.
Your future chances are dependent on Gerrard. If he stays, sure, the chances are good. If he's playing for Chelsea next year........
I have full confidence in Rafa. There is no reason he can't do for Liverpool what he did for Valencia. We have the backbone of a good team, with Gerrard and Alonso. There isn't another team in the world that is more solid in the center of midfield. Rafa proved at Valencia that he can win without spending the most money in the league. Considering how average we were last season, we obviously have to be patient because it will take time. Rafael Benitez will eventually bring the Premiership title to Anfield.
How do we need improving in these positions? They seem fine to me. CB - Hyypia or Carra; LB - Traore, he has played quite well so far, and why fix something that isn't broken?; RB - Josemi, yea I know you don't like him, but you're going to have to deal with it, I doubt he'll leave or be replaced right away; RM - Garcia, enough said; LM - Riise. So I don't know where you are getting all these positions that "need improving", but to me, all we need is a quality striker alongside Baros to help knock the ball in the back of the net.
Do you really think Djimi Traore is a good enough left back for a Premiership winning side? Really? Really really?
Never stopped Silvestre. Or, for that matter, Nigel Winterburn. The thing with Traore is that none of us - you included - have a basis upon which to make a final judgement. Houllier bought him as raw talent but then failed in his attempts to make him the player he wanted. In the exceedingly short time that Benitez and his team have had with the guy, he has improved in leaps and bounds and, as things stand, made himself our first-choice left-back. Is he the answer long term? Like I said - none of us know, nor can we. He's got pace, he's got those telescopic legs and he's actually a very good tackler when he's concentrating. If Benitez can make further strides in his work to eradicate the headless chicken in the lad, then he may well be a fixture for some time to come. And in any case, with regard to the wider question of our chances long term, it never comes down to just one player. It's about the team. Can we challenge for the title next season? It does depend on both whom we retain and what players we bring in for the challenge. Gerrard's position is not anywhere near as precarious as Chelsea fans would love to think (and in any case chaps, you're not top of the list of possible suitors - sorry!). So that means the real focus is not on potential leavers but potential arrivers - I personally believe we need another striker first and foremost, another centre-back secondly and finally we need another central midfielder. It is impossible to believe that both Diao and Biscan will remain at the club beyond this season (although I would be perfectly happy to keep Biscan) and Hamann's position must be increasingly considered a temporary one. So top-class reinforcements there are clearly necessary. And the well documented lack of pace at the back is also of course an issue we need to look at. If all the pieces fall into place and we have no Cisse-style injuries, then I think we can build on this season to the extent that we can capitalise on any further endemic weaknesses shown by Manchester United. As far as I am concerned, challenging Arsenal and Chelsea (all things being equal and as they stand, mind) represents and additional step beyond that. That's as far as I will go in terms of predictions.
Bearing in mind the number of injuries and how much Rafa had to inherit this year and time spent with various formations, I think it'll be credible if we do well in the CL and put in a solid run in the league. I hear people talking about Fortress Anfield yet again (when was the last time we hearda about that). I think Rafa has done as well as can be expected at this time of year, and with suitable reinforcements, there's no reason to suggest we can't keep on improving. He has the support of the players, staff and boardroom, but my concern is the finances of the club. We seem to still have so many players from the Houllier era who are on big salaries and they're not performing. Isn't this continually going to drag us down, until we get this sorted out ?
Fair shout on Winterburn, but Silvestre's a better player than Traore. Perhaps.......but I still don't see it. Could you tell us where that line starts? We're mighty curious. I also don't think its all that precarious, provided you qualify for the CL. I think I've asked you this before, but given that Rafa's most expensive purchase was a central midfielder, is another one really your top priority? I would think getting depth on the wing would take precedence, since Kewell still hasn't even shown glimpses of his Leeds form.
Like I said - no one is presently in a position to accurately judge Traore. Including deciding whether a hapless joker like Silvestre is better or not, to be entirely fair. With regard to reinforcements, we need four top-class central midfielders. Currently we have Gerrard, Alonso and Hamann who qualify for that description. Biscan may yet prove an able fourth choice if given the chance and the tutelage, but again - who's to say? And his contract is up in the summer. Diao will be out on his ear sooner rather than later - and even that will be too late for most, including me. So that leaves us with the same situation we have anyway - after that lot there are just the likes of Welsh and Diarra in the squad for that central berth. Both have oodles of potential, but neither has made the leap yet and neither can be a realistic candidate for that group of four top-class players that a championship contender needs in the most crucial area of the park. So there's clearly a need there - and that's before we have even begun to address the potential departure of Hamann or, worst case, Gerrard. Up either wing we have Riise, Garcia, Nunez, Kewell, Warnock and Smicer. So whilst we should obviously not completely rule out reinforcements to this area, nor should we consider it a priority. That is, as I have said, a striker. Followed by a pacey centre-back. Followed by a central midfielder and, in all probability, another goalkeeper.
Two words for you...PIPE DREAM. He already turned down a move to Chelski, and he has indicated that he is happy with the new management and the team's general direction. He's also said in the past that he never wants to play anywhere else. Thank God.
Fair enough - you obviously know more about your club's youth players than I do. We shall see, I suppose. Relax, mate. (Wow, I'm getting all these Britishisms in today.) I said on this board this summer that I didn't think Gerrard would be moving. My post was mostly tongue in cheek.
Like Matt already said, nobody can judge Traore as of yet. He has not been in the first team long enough. But as I said in my first post, based on his performances so far this year, we have a filled left back position.
why worry ,look ,the solution is buying a top-class left winger and send Risse back to the left back spot,or is he also not good enough?
People do you remember seeing Traore playing at Riazor (against Depor)? His movements and tackles were perfect, to the extent that it amazed the match commentators. Not least an LFC fan like me. Hopefully that shows that he had finally proves his potentials what made Houllier held him with such high regard.
but ,why couldnt they play at this level when houllier was in charge(Biscan and Traore)????Does it mean houllier was a real bad manager,or is Benitez a REALY good manager???
I don't think it's that simple, although I do think that Houllier has traditionally proven himself better at spotting young talent than he has at actually moulding it into the finished article.
You know at the begining of the season I might have gone along with that. More and more though with each match Traore is catching my eye with his timing and class. Some good overlapping runs and passes that could have been goals to go with it. Sivestre is a clogger, classless and perhaps the best player Man City has in a derby game. I don't say he's not effective but he's not going to be known as one of their greats.
A couple of journalists were actually pointing to us as the dark horses last month. We're playing some excellent football but we need to start converting at least half the chances. I think the season after next is more realistic.
He-he-he... want him, do ya? The interesting thing is - we've been playing good football without Gerrard. I dread to think what we're gonna be like with Stevie G and Xabi in the middle. I think Patrick Vieira might just get overran at the end of the month.