Next season it’s time to admit

[goldcoastblue]

Been hearing about the Dippers fading and bottling it all season - hasn't happened - What makes you think they won't be even better and more confident next season.
The game on Sunday couldn't be more vital; not only in terms of the obvious, but should we fall short - picking ourselves up again.

I don't think they have it in them to sustain that intensity for another season. Yes the may recruit and strengthen, but I believe that this was a one off for them. I've never claimed they bottled it or would fade away. I just believe that we win matches at a canter and teams are defeated before they play us, whereas with the dippers a lot of teams are willing to give it a go. Maybe next year will be different but I don't see it that way

 

[Cubbage74]

The thing is, we can say *UEFA that UEFA this, but we have been dire in the CL overall since 2011.

It’s been really poor. We haven’t beat anyone of significance over 2 legs (PSG at a stretch) and have lost to much inferior teams including Liverpool last year.
I think the defence in all it’s guises simply can’t handle strike forces at the top level.

 

[HelloCity]

It’s been really poor. We haven’t beat anyone of significance over 2 legs (PSG at a stretch) and have lost to much inferior teams including Liverpool last year.
I think the defence in all it’s guises simply can’t handle strike forces at the top level.

Liverpool 0-0 City
City 2-1 Liverpool

Spurs 0-1 City
City 1-0 Spurs

1 goal conceded in 4 league games against the last two teams to eliminate us from the CL. Perhaps it’s more mental than anything else.

 

[lasereyes]

The thread seems like an over-reaction. Both City and Liverpool have won all their league games over the past 2 months when the Cup distractions have been the greatest. In fact Liverpool's relative stumble came when they were taking weekly beach retreats. But for an incorrect VAR decision, we would be playing tonight for a place in the CL Final and a shot at the quadruple. Nobody is saying it's easy, but players actually prefer playing regularly to training. We have a fairly deep squad so we can manage. After 36 years of winning nothing, I don't want to see us pass up any chance of silverware!

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

The thread seems like an over-reaction. Both City and Liverpool have won all their league games over the past 2 months when the Cup distractions have been the greatest. In fact Liverpool's relative stumble came when they were taking weekly beach retreats. But for an incorrect VAR decision, we would be playing tonight for a place in the CL Final and a shot at the quadruple. Nobody is saying it's easy, but players actually prefer playing regularly to training. We have a fairly deep squad so we can manage. After 36 years of winning nothing, I don't want to see us pass up any chance of silverware!

I agree.

We mostly do play a 2nd string in the league cup too until the semi finals.

I thought we looked a bit sluggish and rusty against Leicester after 8 days off.

Our problem is the number of long term injuries we have every season.

 

[cptaidan88]

The thing is, we can say *UEFA that UEFA this, but we have been dire in the CL overall since 2011.

Exactly. We've won 4 knock out ties in 8 years, against Kyiv, PSG (bigger bottlers than us), Basel and Schalke. That's not good enough.

Liverpool 0-0 City
City 2-1 Liverpool

Spurs 0-1 City
City 1-0 Spurs

1 goal conceded in 4 league games against the last two teams to eliminate us from the CL. Perhaps it’s more mental than anything else.

We've lost it in the first leg in each of the last 2 (arguably 3) seasons. The manager and the players collectively shit themselves, changing what has worked pretty well domestically even though we were playing against domestic opposition.

We're 48 points better than Tottenham since the start of last season. It shouldn't have been close.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Exactly. We've won 4 knock out ties in 8 years, against Kyiv, PSG (bigger bottlers than us), Basel and Schalke. That's not good enough.

We've lost it in the first leg in each of the last 2 (arguably 3) seasons. The manager and the players collectively shit themselves, changing what has worked pretty well domestically even though we were playing against domestic opposition.

We're 48 points better than Tottenham since the start of last season. It shouldn't have been close.

It was a bad result but this criticism seems a bit harsh given we are two games away from a domestic treble.

Would we even be having this discussion if it wasn't Liverpool who had won last night?

United dominated the league for 20 years and won it twice, both very fortunately!

 

[worsleyweb]

We go for every trophy we are in - it is that simple.

 

[dachoosen1]

Bs our squad is big enough to challenge on 4 fronts on "squad players" are better then most teams best 11 in any competition. The carling was the cup I always believed that with a decent draw and a bit of luck we could win play afew young lads sure but only ones who have an actual chance of breaking into the first team. No point in playing youngsters to go out and get hammered and that's the end of their first team involvement after 90mins.

 

[cptaidan88]

I agree.

We mostly do play a 2nd string in the league cup too until the semi finals.

I thought we looked a bit sluggish and rusty against Leicester after 8 days off.

Our problem is the number of long term injuries we have every season.

We do involve 2nd string players in the cups, but we play stronger teams than any of the other top 6 teams. Its one of the reasons we've won one and are in the final of the other I suppose. Eg, De Bruyne, Aguero and Zinchenko all started the second leg of the semi final when we were 9-0 up. Why?

In the early rounds of the League Cup, KDB did his knee in the 86th minute of a game we were winning 2-0. It wasn't his only injury this season and we've done very well without him, but because of that particular injury, he missed the defeats to Chelsea, Palace, Leicester and although he was back for Newcastle he wasn't fit. We might not have had to effectively rest players in the 1st leg to Tottenham because we HAD to beat Palace. All sorts of ifs and buts going on there I know.

I'm not advocating trying to lose in the League Cup, but I think there are at least 10 key players I wouldn't let be in the squad for any game of the League Cup prior to the Final. If the fringe players and youngsters can get through great, but if they can't, so be it.

It was a bad result but this criticism seems a bit harsh given we are two games away from a domestic treble.

Would we even be having this discussion if it wasn't Liverpool who had won last night?

United dominated the league for 20 years and won it twice, both very fortunately!

You're probably right because I thought I'd made peace with it when Barca won the first leg 3-0, and we were still top of the league, but my disappointment has re-emerged.

Having said that, my disappoint is over the last 8 years, not just this one. We should have done better.

 

[Toulousain85]

Liverpool 0-0 City
City 2-1 Liverpool

Spurs 0-1 City
City 1-0 Spurs

1 goal conceded in 4 league games against the last two teams to eliminate us from the CL. Perhaps it’s more mental than anything else.

Agree completely. At the end of the season a lot of matches are played in the heads rather than on talent.
I also think teams that play expansive football who dominate opponents week in week out usually are at a psychological disadvantage because at the later stages it's usually difficult to completely dominate your opponents. As these teams are less familiar with playing other ways, they are more susceptible to crumble. Bayern under Pep, us, Barca these last few years, or even rags under Ferguson until his later years when he preferred winning matches 1-0.
The biggest outlier has been Barca with Messi, but these last few years when Messi is not properly supported, they fall back into this stereotype.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

I agree.

We mostly do play a 2nd string in the league cup too until the semi finals.

I thought we looked a bit sluggish and rusty against Leicester after 8 days off.

Our problem is the number of long term injuries we have every season.

I thought 8 days was way too much. I can't help thinking it was a ploy from the FA to mess with our heads. Waiting for Saturdays result, then sat about using up a lot of nervous energy. You could also argue that they put it on Monday night so we've not got that much more rest time than the brickers who played the night after. Call me Mr Sceptical.

 

[rnblade]

Personally, I would “settle” for a domestic treble every season. Stick the CL up your arse.

 

[KCblue]

Have to see how the fixtures pile up in terms of rotating for the FA Cup, but I absolutely am fine with Pep playing youth in the League Cup. Especially early on in the first half of the season. Get the points built up in the league and finish first in our group in Europe. If we're still alive from playing the kids then fair play but I think PL/CL has to be the focus next season

 

[masterwig]

This season is an outlier for Liverpool. How many times have they got past 80 points in the last 30 years? We have proven consistency now, we'll go 90+ again next season.

 

[leighton]

I think Sunday is vital to win another league. Look at the experienced players we will loose in the next 2 seasons. Kompany , Fernandhino , David Silva and Aguero will all be nearing there time up. This league is vital and to get it in the tightest races since our first Premier league win will add a great confidence in the younger members of the squad to know that they can be the guys to look up when the named players win. The likes of Sterling , Eddy , Bernardo Silva , Sane , Jesus , KDB and Laporte to have won back to back titles is vital they will have the knowledge of doing it and if its the same in seasons to come that they will know how to get over the line.

I think winning titles and cups is vital if we go on to win the Champions league so be it. It will happen some time as were building a squad here to do that. Like anything 1 wrong call or bad decision can knock us out of any cup competition thats our problem whatever it is in cup competitions we are not as good compared to the league were more nervous and it generally a goal that wins us a cup final not a hammering in the league when we play them.

I think also this coming season this transfer market is key to long term once Pep goes to move on we need a better addition to last seasons Mahrez and hopefully we get the players he wants in and then we go again. This is all new to our players trying to win back to back titles if we do it we could dominate the English game for years to come with our squad.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

We do involve 2nd string players in the cups, but we play stronger teams than any of the other top 6 teams. Its one of the reasons we've won one and are in the final of the other I suppose. Eg, De Bruyne, Aguero and Zinchenko all started the second leg of the semi final when we were 9-0 up. Why?

In the early rounds of the League Cup, KDB did his knee in the 86th minute of a game we were winning 2-0. It wasn't his only injury this season and we've done very well without him, but because of that particular injury, he missed the defeats to Chelsea, Palace, Leicester and although he was back for Newcastle he wasn't fit. We might not have had to effectively rest players in the 1st leg to Tottenham because we HAD to beat Palace. All sorts of ifs and buts going on there I know.

I'm not advocating trying to lose in the League Cup, but I think there are at least 10 key players I wouldn't let be in the squad for any game of the League Cup prior to the Final. If the fringe players and youngsters can get through great, but if they can't, so be it.



You're probably right because I thought I'd made peace with it when Barca won the first leg 3-0, and we were still top of the league, but my disappointment has re-emerged.

Having said that, my disappoint is over the last 8 years, not just this one. We should have done better.

I agree with the last bit

 

[cptaidan88]

I agree with the last bit

My disappointment has increased somewhat.

 

[Petetheblu]

You cant be "Champions of Europe" if you're not EVEN Champions of the northwest of England....

Nah, its bullshite! ;*)

 

[masterwig]

If both the CL and Europa finals are all-English affairs we can consider this the strongest English league ever. And if we top it, and add the FA Cup, there can't be many arguments against us being the greatest English side ever.

People tried to play down our achievement last year saying it was a weak league ("might as well be Celtic"). That clearly can't be used again.