Would you have taken this position in August?

[23_Carra_Gold]

Still in the European Cup, still in the F.A. Cup and worse case scenario we'll be three points behind United.

 

I fucking would have. All this negativity and doom mongering is fucking outrageous. Instead of always over analysing and over criticising why not enjoy the positives? We're still in with a great shout for the title despite what anybody says because we're over halfway through and breathing down the leaders neck. The European Cup is something we seem to have mastered under Benitez and if luck swings our way then Rome beckons. And we have the oppurtunity to end the bitters season on Sunday. Happy fucking days.

 

I think especially given that it is the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough everything should be put into perspective. Instead of living in pesimism and expecting things to crash around us why not live in the celebration? Why not actually enjoy this season instead of constantly criticising our manager, our players, and our captain? Dismiss this if you will, but our support lifts the team, we play as big a part as any in our sides fortunes. Would Istanbul have been possible without us? Perhaps. Did our lads hearing YNWA at half time in the tunnel inspire them? Definitely. So why not get behind the team instead of constantly moaning. I couldn't make the game last night but my mate told me somebody behind him called Torres a "waste of money" after his miss! I can imagine there were 1 or 2 more like him as well. Fucking unbelievable. The last thing that lad needed was groans, he needed us to sing his name even louder. Let him know we're behind him and the team. Everybody makes mistakes, its what we do in the aftermath that defines us.

 

Positivity breeds success.

[Liverpool lad]

The position we are in isn't too bad, I would have bit your hand off for this in August, but it is the lack of momentum we have now and the pressure all those goalless draws have put on us that worry me.

 

I think that the frustration around Anfield is from the fact that this year we have a real chance

[Guest simon]

100 percent yes.

[robbief]

i'v been saying the same since christmas. by now we are normally well out of it.

 

after all we are liverpool. we do nothing the easy way. it simply wouldn't be liverpool is we walked away with it. it's going to be messy and a little bit scrappy but we are miles and miles from out of it.

 

to be honest we are in a stronger position now than before united went top. liverpool as a team don't perform well when we have to defend our place but now we are whisker off the pace......bring it on.

 

we are a chasing team. bring on the chase.

[Ged B]

Of course we would have taken it. We are, after all, still in a fantastic position.

But it could, and should, have been so much better. That's the reason people are not as positive as we probably should be, which is fair enough in my opinion.

[23_Carra_Gold]

Of course we would have taken it. We are, after all, still in a fantastic position.

But it could, and should, have been so much better. That's the reason people are not as positive as we probably should be, which is fair enough in my opinion.

 

Selfish that is. If we took that outlook on life we'd all be swinging from the cieling. I should have done better in school, then I would have a better job, then I would have more money and maybe my wife wouldn't be a fat, ugly bitch with no sex appeal. Bollocks. At least I have a job, there's still money coming in, and she isn't an oil painting but fuck it she's here.

 

Focus on the fucking positives. Yes things aren't how they should be but nothing is fucking perfect.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

We still haven't peaked yet this season. Neither has Torres.

 

Gotta happen sometime right?

 

I think it's safe to say we've hit our slump. We're still not losing games though.

[Liverpool lad]

We still haven't peaked yet this season. Neither has Torres.

 

Gotta happen sometime right?

 

I think it's safe to say we've hit our slump. We're still not losing games though.

 

I am hoping Robbie Keane starts scoring and we have a fresh Ryan Babel who would be great in the last 30 minutes of games on heavy pitches against tired legs in the second half of the season. Torres and Mascherano are still to hit form, this improves the defense and Gerrard will be loving playing alongside Fernando.

 

I think a result against Chelsea and we will be flying again, let's smash the Blues this Sunday first.

[Sangria]

Yes of course but it could have been so much better and that is why a lot are disappointed.

On a good note Torres is almost back to full fitness and if we can put a good run together who knows. At least we are in a position to put that run together.

[OnizukaEikichi]

would defo take it based on our current form. Hopefully we will not be dropping more unnecessary points again while the mancs widens up the gap.

[Rex Banner]

I hate these threads after every bad result, would you have taken 6 wins and 5 draws at home in the league at the start of the season? I wouldn't have, dropping 10 points Anfield should be a fortress.

[JohnnyH]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

[Antynwa]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

 

Beautifully put

[hamstrung]

Yes, but the wringing of hands is for what could have been, obviously.

 

It could have been even better.

[2pak]

Excellent piece Johnny!

[King Emlyn]

Of course, the only thing that concerns me is that i heard we are only on the same amount of points as we were at the same stage last season, is this true? If so then it's not really progress other than the wins against Chelsea and United which was a big monkey off our back.

[RedinSweden]

I think it is fair enough for people to get disappointed, but that shouldn't boil over into abuse, which it unfortunately does sometimes. Positive energy and all that.

[Herp McDerp]

Of course, the only thing that concerns me is that i heard we are only on the same amount of points as we were at the same stage last season, is this true?

 

That can't be true, can it? Calling all stattos.

[redrosetints]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

 

I agree that the 'journey' affects our outlook, ie if we'd been lowly placed now but stormed back to take 2nd we'd all be raving about it conversely, in our current situation, where we've let points slip while on top means it feels like we might as well be 10th but we could sitll end up 2nd. But that doesnt mean that the perspective given by reviewing our initial goals is papering over the cracks.

 

Most people said 3rd or 4th in August, due to us having the 3rd best squad. And until we have the all round depth of Chelsea or the amazing attacking options of United (Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez, Giggs, Scholes, Nani) it will be hard to win the league , never mind do it consistently.

 

So yes, Id have taken this position in August.

Yes, its gut wrenchingly hard watching us drop points in games.

But we should judge the season come May against those goals in August, not Jan.

[redrosetints]

Of course, the only thing that concerns me is that i heard we are only on the same amount of points as we were at the same stage last season, is this true? If so then it's not really progress other than the wins against Chelsea and United which was a big monkey off our back.

 

No. And if were 2nd it's progress, the deal is if we can sustain that or better till May.

 

Table after 23 games last season

 

Overall table

1. Man U 57 pts 24 pl +37

2. Arsenal 57 pts 24 pl +32

3. Chelsea 53 pts 24 pl +21

4. Everton 43 pts 24 pl +17

5. Aston Villa 41 pts 24 pl +12

6. Manchester City 41 pts 24 pl +6

7. Liverpool 40 pts 23 pl +20

8. Blackburn 38 pts 24 pl +1

9. Portsmouth 37 pts 24 pl +9

10. West Ham 36 pts 23 pl +8

11. Tottenham 28 pts 24 pl +4

12. Newcastle United 27 pts 24 pl -15

13. Middlesbrough 25 pts 24 pl -16

14. Sunderland 23 pts 24 pl -18

15. Bolton Wanderers 22 pts 24 pl -10

16. Reading 22 pts 24 pl -20

17. Birmingham City 20 pts 24 pl -13

18. Wigan 20 pts 24 pl -17

19. Fulham 16 pts 24 pl -19

20. Derby County 8 pts 24 pl -3

[KevieG]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

 

Great post. Sums it up perfectly

[RedinSweden]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

 

I agree with some of what you wrote, but due to my misfortune of being married to a manc and been forced to watch their matches, they have been in dismal form apart form the Chelsea match, the result of which was flattering for them. They have been struggling past lower teams. You cannot state them finding form as fact. I am yet to see this, despite the embarrassment of attacking riches. They picked up some injuries to two defenders last night, which might affect them as they seem to be a bit short there.

[Scott_M]

Yes. Defintley.

 

How far were we behind United & Arsenal at this point last year? 9/10 points?

 

Those who are throwing in the towel already, are frankly, wankers.

[Magellan06]

Doesn't matter a shite what we would have or wouldn't have taken. We deal in where we shuold be now and not whether or not it would have acceptable 4 months ago. For all intents and purposes we are 3 points off the top having finished a run of games where we should have been about 9 points clear. Man Utd have achieved this while platying utterly shite as have we. The school of thought that we are due to hit form has to also apply to the Mancs then. To ask "would we have been happy" bears no significance on how the league has actually gone and is in fact a cop out and an excuse for some pretty inexcusible player performances and management decisions.

 

We should be well clear. But due to a mixture of the manager not willing to risk 1 point to gain 3, and some key players either been long term injured or out of form, we have dropped vitally important points in games we should be winning. We are now second as a result with an uphill task against a team that will find their form also, and have an easier run in.

 

It doesn't matter what I, or anyone would have taken in August. With all the facts in front of us, which is the only real way asses how we've done so far, I feel we've let this slip through our fiingers and I don't accept where we are. In fact, I'm pissed off with how we are letting this go.

 

I really hate the comment "We'd have accepted this in August" as it's just an effort to paper over the cracks.

 

Spot on!! I would add, that some of the player performances are understandable imo. If you are a group of world class footballers, and you are going out against a side you should batter, and then the manager shackles you with his team selection, formation and game plan, I think it’s understandable if you think ‘fuck it why should I bother?’

I know they shouldn’t with what they are paid etc, but I think it’s human nature to pick up on the negative attitude and be affected by it.

[JohnnyH]

Yes. Defintley.

 

How far were we behind United & Arsenal at this point last year? 9/10 points?

 

Those who are throwing in the towel already, are frankly, wankers.

 

It's not about throwing in the towel. We still have a great chance. It's about the fact we have dropped easy points. We should not be sitting back accepting this as it could and should have been a lot better. We should be well clear, when in fact we are second to a team playing shite, who have an easy game in hand