Liverpool Thread - Premier League Champions* 2019/20 (Part 1)

 

Those FAACTS are, I'm sure, God or the Devil or whatever is up there laughing at us, and pissing all over us. Just so amazingly cruel! Now we've got the FAACTS out of the way, its time to go on an incredible winning streak that sees us win all of our remainging games to wrap up the Europa League, FA Cup and, in dramatic fashion, the League! You may say I'm a dreamer... And I am.

 

Actually, these Arsenal boys are alright. Just gotta be prepared to take some sh*t. But deep down, they're very nice people

 

Stripes, who do you support?

Its nearly as bad as when Arsene said we could go a season unbeaten in 2003. the press had a field day and tore into him every game we lost that season.

 

Next year we won the league unbeaten :)

 

But Reina rises above that. Not only have his performances on the pitch been top drawer (even the English press have acknowledged how well he's playing) but his attitude has been spot on.

 

Reina is the only player who, this season, could honestly hold his head high. I'd probably include Torres in there, but he has been injured for so long and its really frustrating! We need you, Fernando! From that double save in the derby to the cruelty of the beach ball, Reina has put up with so much awful defending that it is no wonder a tongue-in-cheek song for Reina was suggested (All by myself, All by myself, I am defending, All by myself).

 

Yet the guy gets it. In the same way that Torres does, he just understands what it means to be playing for Liverpool. He recently said he would "die for the Liverpool shirt". Frankly, given the performance of the team, its a wonder somebody who grew up in Madrid could truly mean this. Yet with Reina, you get the feeling he does. That he truly feels it.

 

A story which sticks out for me is, after Adebayor equalised to make it 2-2 in the CL quarter final against Arsenal a couple of years ago, Skrtel lay on the ground utterly dejected. 85th minute goal which would send us crashing out of Europe in heart-breaking fashion. Skrtel, in absolutely no way at fault for the goal but just being the last man, felt like us- ruined. Reina, probably trying to ignore the ridiculous dance from Adebayor, picked up Skrtel and basically told him to come on, there's time etc. I've played with a few goalies in my short years, and let me assure you, most of them were absolutely livid at any mistake. As an inexperienced (and awful) player, any bollocking used to kill my confidence. Reina's positivity may not have resulted in the following goal, but that attitude is EXACTLY the kind that you want from somebody. In the tough times, somebody positive who will support you. A true leader.

 

Out of the Champion's League? Let's win the Europa League, says Reina. I can assure you, that's not how I felt at the time! But it is how I feel now.

 

Pepe is a fantastic, young(ish) keeper who offers so much more than his on-field performances- which are high quality anyway. He is a great leader. We have some strong candidates for captain when Gerrard is out- Torres was captain of Atleti when he was 19, Masch is the captain of Argentina, Kuyt, Carra usually is- but Reina would be my pick. He has the potential to be a real legend at this club. If he isn't already.

 

I'd like to end with a video which I adore. Like almost all goalkeepers, Reina has that madness within. My uncle went to these celebrations, and he tells me so fondly of Pepe Reina. This is the Reina who played second fiddle to Casillas. You can see the respect he has of his team mates, and the influence somebody like this could have in the squad. Oh how I hope I can see Reina doing this in a Liverpool shirt. Hero.

 

 

Ah, an old Mr Ferguson trick though. Take the pressure off the players. Rafa is safe as...

 

Mate, I don't really know! As far as I can tell, we have very little money. I'm hoping we get rid of Babel and Voronin, but who would buy them for a decent price? Parker? Why another central midfielder? We just got Aquilani fit... Plus he's English = Expensive. RvN rumours were going around, but he's being whored right across Europe. I think we'll get a couple of players, generally we get one or two.

 

Hopefully decent players, but I'm not holding my breath!

 

Masch is pure class. Seriously. But he'll probably be off to Barcelona, anyway. That old chestnut about his "wife hasn't settled"! The thing about Xabi is that he didn't do THAT much defending. It was basically Masch wins the ball plays it to Xabi who would just be the man and find some amazing pass. Always the right ball. So cultured. Whereas Lucas doesn't offer that balance. Not his fault, I still rate Lucas, but the balance isn't there when he partners Masch in the middle.

 

But the thing is, they aren't! Okay, Babel has potential and under the right manager/system, could be fantastic. But he doesn't suit ours. Voronin is just sh*te.  But yeah, we'll see. We don't exactly have the squad to warrant getting rid of those players without bringing in decent players. Rafa is always keen on Heskey...

 

Will be interesting to see how Aqualani goes....I think that was the plan

 

Another good example.

 

 

https://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/16/fernando-torres-rafael-benitez-liverpool?

 

I'm sick of 'supporters' calling for Rafa's head. Rafa is a victim of his own success. But anybody with a brain can see what we have here and the influence Rafa has within the club. 

 

Oh. And Torres, I love you so much.

please explain.

 

Billy Davies is an example I consider a victim of his own success - he performed amazingly in his first season with Derby County and had no right to get them into the premier league, but he did. Then, the club's expectations changed because of his success in getting them promoted and he got the cut, because Derby weren't good enough for the premier league. Had they not been promoted, but had finished 6th in the Championship that year, for example, he would possibly still be with them - and not be burdened with Nottingham Forest, poor man.

Liverpool's expectations have and always will be exceedingly high, (because you're the most successful team in England remember!), I wouldn't say that Rafa has exactly pushed your supporters expectations up would you? Liverpool would expect more from any manager, surely? 

 

 

Masch - he is class.  Loved it when he kissed his badge after 'scoring' against the blue sh*te.

 

As for transfers....can't see there being too much money on the table and that's where I think we come always come unstuck.  You've got to take risks on < �5-10m players and, unfortunately Rafa hasn't been too hot with some of his previous choices.  Any chance you L'Arse boys wanna lend us Wenger for a couple of hours to point us in the right direction? 

 

The right direction for the 'pool though is to get rid of Voronin and Babel.  I'm sick of hearing about Babel and he's young, got potential etc.  B&*ll*cks - he's crap.  I can stick my head down and run and get tackled. 

 

As for Voronin - waste of space.  No one wants him at the club.  I was in a bar in Liverpool after the 1-3 Villa game and you should have seen the reaction to him walking in.....everyone put their heads down or turned away and ignored him - it was funny. 

 

 

 How could I forget? It's about all I have to go on these days, and even that is wearing thin as the Mancs close in.

 

But I think that before we weren't expecting to get past the group stage in the Champion's League every season (I think it was something like two seasons since we last won the title we managed to get through the group!) And now people want to sack him because one year in five we didn't manage to get through?? The man has given me so many good times I really don't want to see him leave.

 

And yeah. He's a victim of money that doesn't exist (well, at least for him to use). Had an interesting conversation with my dad just now who said that he thinks we sold Alonso becuase RBS wanted money on the debt. We could have kept Xabi (ie with Masch "He's priceless") and he'd still be here. Instead the Yanks simply took the money to help pay the loan installment, and probably the money from Keane was spent that too.

 

Check this out: He also said his mate's brother was talking to Bruce G, Ronnie Whelan and Gary Mac (I think, someone else anyhow) and they said King Kenny in after Chrimbo and then Klinsmann in June! I know, I laughed too. It was like one of those "My mate's sister's friend's cousin's boyfriend reckons Torres is off to Hull" stories, but who knows at the moment...

 

 

Yes! I just hope he isn't off to Barca. Remember Rafa saved you from the West Ham reserves, son!

 

 Voronin is just wank.

 

Well as we own it now you can come and get your photo taken with it if ya like.......

 

Oh, and come on you Reds!!