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Expectations

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
The problem is that, when people write 'expectations', what they are really writing is 'demands' and the subconscious reason for making demands is so they can pitch those demands at an unrealistic level and then express their rage when their team fails to exceed their original demands. That's the way many football supporters' minds work. Their motivation is to vent rage. When their club wins, they vent rage at supporters of other clubs who have achieved less. When (more frequently), their club does not win, they vent rage at the club's own players and hierarchy.

I don't really do expectations/demands. I try to observe clearly. The strength of our squad is such that we should easily have been capable of a top 4 finish, (a) if the manager had permitted the squad members to express themselves, instead of setting himself up as the anti-Redknapp, and (b) if the chairman had managed to control his unhealthy compulsion to sack managers every 18 months.

If the new manager has the sense to get out of the way and let our excellent players play football, then we might actually still achieve that.

There is an obstacle this season, which is that several of our key players are new to English football and there is a necessary period of acclimatisation, but the squad is so deep and robust that AVB really ought to have been able to work around this, whilst studiously ignoring the 783 posts on SC before every match berating him for not playing specific players and expressing contempt for other, perfectly capable players in our squad.

Unfortunately, AVB is an obstinate fucker and, for reasons of pique or personal dislike, refused to make use of certain players who would have suited his tactical plan, as did Ramos before him.

Expectations? The same as before, because the squad is the same as before. Let them play and they can finish in the top clutch of what now appears to be 7-8 clubs.

The rise and rise of the two Merseyside clubs is no great surprise to me. I have always thought that Martinez would do exceptionally well, once he had a chance to implement his approach with Premiership-standard players. The only thing that will hold Liverpool back will be injuries: their starting 11 is admirable and they have the single best player in the league [world?], but their second string is relatively weak. Arsenal are in the same danger.

I didn't expect 8 clubs to be this close together after half a season, but neither did anyone else. I thought we'd be slugging it out with 5 other clubs, not 7. But here we are: the difference between Champions League and no European football could be a couple of points this season. As with last season, when we missed out on 4th by a point, I think there is not really much significance or predictability, in such a competitive league, to whether we finish 4th or 6th. Football has a lot of randomness in it. We're in the mix and that's where we belong. That's what we should expect: to be one of the clubs fighting for the top spots.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,414
11,621
Title...

Am just not sure which title we will end up with and some are clearly better than others.
 

Wheeler Dealer

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
6,863
12,282
Our goal difference could come back to haunt us at the end of year. I'd hate to lose out on a top 4 spot due an inferior goal difference, but think it could happen knowing our recent luck.
 

Toela65

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2011
848
1,575
Didnt stop Gareth from bolting to Madrid and it wont stop Suarez. He wants to leave and was so desperate to leave last window. This window, Madrid need a striker. Suarez wants CL football and was crying when they wouldnt let him move to Arsenal. If Madrid goes in for him, its Adios Liverpool and Hola Madrid.

Suarez is completely and totally guaranteed to not leave LFC in the upcoming window under any circumstances and no matter who may bid for him at whatever amount they're willing to pay. The wishful thinking of our rivals that he will leave in Jan and we'll plummet down the table is growing a little bit tiresome now. We were fine without him end of last season and the beginning of this with Sturridge & Coutinho.

Its also looking less certain that he will defo leave LFC in the Summer either, as one of the 3 proven, reliable ITKs has been told Suarez's new contract is very complex and involves all kinds of different outcomes/releases dependent upon where LFC finish in the league in May. The one he has said thats clear though is that clauses only apply to teams abroad, and all parties involved have to be in agreement if a transfer is to be completed.

In my opinion based on this info, plus tidbits I've received it sounds like LFC are fully protected from the player moving to a domestic rival, and Suarez has the door open to get a move to Bayern/Real/Barca should an offer come in and Luis wants the move.

I still feel in my gut that if we miss out on top 4 he'll leave for a release fee abroad of about £50-60m. If we get top 4 he'll stick around for another season.
 
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Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Thought liverpool would do well this season and think suarez will stay till the summer.
Think we can still finish above you but it will be close.
Fantastic season.
Happy for everton doing well, they always needed a striker and have one of the best young prospects in the league on loan.
Man utd will start doing better but they will need something in jan.
Very close this year with city and chelsea battling for the title and arsenal not far off.
Think we can get 4th though.
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
Suarez is completely and totally guarantee that he will not leave LFC in the upcoming window under any circumstances and no matter who may bid for him at whatver amount their willing to pay. The wishful thinking of our rivals that he will leave in Jan and we'll plummet down the table is growing a little bit tiresome now. We were fine without him end of last season and the beginning of this with Sturridge & Coutinho.

Its also looking less certain that he will defo leave LFC in the Summer either, as one of the 3 proven, reliable ITKs has been told Suarez's new contract is very complex and involves all kinds of different outcomes/releases dependent upon where LFC finish in the league in May. The one he has said thats clear though is that clauses only apply to teams abroad, and all parties involved have to be in agreement if a transfer is to be completed.

In my opinion based on this info, plus tidbits I've received it sounds like LFC are fully protected from the player moving to a domestic rival, and Suarez has the door open to get a move to Bayern/Real/Barca should an offer come in and Luis wants the move.

I still feel in my gut that if we miss out on top 4 he'll leave for a release fee abroad of about £50-60m. If we get top 4 he'll stick around for another season.

If you truly think if a £40-50m bid comes in next month from abroad that John Henry will reject it, then you do not know John Henry.
 

Toela65

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2011
848
1,575
I think Liverpool is done. THere not getting top 4. They cant even make a fully healthy squad from their first team right now and Suarez will be a gallactico before February.

Is this serious before I make a fool of myself by offering a riposte?
 

Toela65

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2011
848
1,575
If you truly think if a £40-50m bid comes in next month from abroad that John Henry will reject it, then you do not know John Henry.

I'm not going to argue with you as I know where the info comes from and its a solid as it gets. We'll just have to wait until Feb 1st but if for some weird reason, as a Spurs fan Suarez's future matters to you, I'm warning you not to get your hopes up as it simply will not happen.

JWH will do exactly what he did in Summer and refuse to even consider selling, even if its Madrid, and Suarez wants to go, as he knows how vital getting 4th is to the Clubs future and, more importantly to JWH, its value, that he'll put his foot down again.

FSG aren't soft and they know this season, with the management changes, sackings and resultant transitional periods, that this season is Liverpool's biggest and best opportunity to sneak into 4th since they bought the club, so they won't risk anything that could sabotage this.

The Summer, however, will be a totally different kettle of fish. This is when the club expect Real Madrid to make their big move.
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
I'm not going to argue with you as I know where the info comes from and its a solid as it gets. We'll just have to wait until Feb 1st but if for some weird reason, as a Spurs fan Suarez's future matters to you, I'm warning you not to get your hopes up as it simply will not happen.

JWH will do exactly what he did in Summer and refuse to even consider selling, even if its Madrid, and Suarez wants to go, as he knows how vital getting 4th is to the Clubs future and, more importantly to JWH, its value, that he'll put his foot down again.

FSG aren't soft and they know this season, with the management changes, sackings and resultant transitional periods, that this season is Liverpool's biggest and best opportunity to sneak into 4th since they bought the club, so they won't risk anything that could sabotage this.

The Summer, however, will be a totally different kettle of fish. This is when the club expect Real Madrid to make their big move.

Fenway isnt soft? You're sorely mistaken there. They got bitched by the agents into giving Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford REDICULOUS contracts with their baby, the Boston Red Sox(fuck that franchise, and that city). They got lucky that Cherington was able to make the Dodgers take them on when they failed miserably. Bottom line is all John Henry cares about is money and winning, and unlike the greatest own in sports history, money trumps winning with him 100% of the time. If Madrid come in with a £50+m bid, the next time you see Suarez will be in the Bernabeu.


I need to take this opportunity to point out that I fucking HATE FSG, Liverpool, the Red Sox and entire city of Boston with a fiery passion.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
They'll want bale money for suarez now. They turned down £40m in the summer from arsenal. That was with him still banned.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Suarez was great last season.This season he's probably the hottest player on the planet.
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
i kind of agree, Luiz is so hot to trot right now and Florentine Perez is probably wanking himself off with some extra virgin olive oil as we speak to a fantasy front line that reads something like C. Ronaldo, G. Bale, L. Saurez...dream team
 

canadacelt

Well-Known Member
May 1, 2006
442
465
with a happy squad I expect 3rd/4th
city and chelsea top 2, ourselves and arsenal make up top 4,everton5th,liverpool 6th united 7th, we are 6 points off first with negative tactics, we will do better in 2nd half of season , not struggling against weaker squads
 

makeveli

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2012
879
2,082
I still think we will be forth Tim guardiola will be refreshing like Harry was at first , attack is the best was with our squad, think scum unless they sign wil struggle as will pool after jan, city 1st chavs 2nd utd 3rd and will b 4th , better squad depth than scum will prove it this time .
 
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