Benitez 'guarantees' top four finish

[Redder Lurtz]

Well we're now competing with Chelsea, the filth, Arsenal, Villa, Citeh, Spurs and yes; the mighty Birmingham City for this guaranteed 4th place. On the plus side, Fulham don't play tonight so at least we stay a point ahead of FUCKING NINTH

 

Who shall we fall behind next? Stoke fucking city? Oh aye. Fourth place guaranteed Rafa. Looks like it.

[BolshieBastard]

But Stu, surely if you know you haven't got a lot to spend then it can't be wise to blow the vast majority of it on a player with an injury record to rival Harry Kewell. That can't be in the long term interests of the club as it's a hell of a gamble.

 

You are 100% correct. But Benitez will claim he was told Aquilani wasnt fit, then he wasnt match fit then he took longer than expect to get match fit. Finally the games he was match fit to play in were too rough and tumble for him to make his mark!

[Strontium]

Well we're now competing with Chelsea, the filth, Arsenal, Villa, Citeh, Spurs and yes; the mighty Birmingham City for this guaranteed 4th place. On the plus side, Fulham don't play tonight so at least we stay a point ahead of FUCKING NINTH

 

Who shall we fall behind next? Stoke fucking city? Oh aye. Fourth place guaranteed Rafa. Looks like it.

 

 

I was looking at the table this morning, and we're actually the same number of points from the top as we are from the bottom.

 

Says it all really.

[WaltonRed]

Get used to it people, this is us for the forseeable I reckon.

[Iantn]

I'm not interested in having the same debates about expectations again but I just want to make a point about Aquilani here. Don't you see that your criticism there is actually shooting at Rafa for doing something for the long-term benefit of LFC instead of his own short-term benefit of having a strong start to the season, or even one good season. He's buying quite a sought after prospect with plenty of years in him at a bit of a cheaper price because he comes with an injury. It's the same as the Johnson buy. LFC cannot afford to buy players in their late twenties for big money anymore, and out interest in Arshavin was a folly for me. If we're getting a maximum of £20m a season to spend on improving the squad then it needs to be spent on players that we can get the most out of over a number of years.

 

Buying an instant fix for too much money or throwing in an injured player too soon would be much more selfish things for Benitez to do.

 

He's performing well below par this season but I think a few of the things being levelled at Rafa are out of line.

 

Spot on that.

[Iantn]

Well we're now competing with Chelsea, the filth, Arsenal, Villa, Citeh, Spurs and yes; the mighty Birmingham City for this guaranteed 4th place. On the plus side, Fulham don't play tonight so at least we stay a point ahead of FUCKING NINTH

 

Who shall we fall behind next? Stoke fucking city? Oh aye. Fourth place guaranteed Rafa. Looks like it.

 

I really don't get this arguement. Birmingham go on a boss run and suddenly are gonna carry it on for the full season?

 

Villa last year did similar to this and fell apart around March and even ended up in 6th.

[Stu Monty]

That's your opinion Stu, We will have to wait until a few years time to see the outcome.

 

But lets get one thing straight Liverpool Football Club is not in a position to take a £20m gamble on a player with an injury record like his.

 

Again only time will tell.

 

But Stu, surely if you know you haven't got a lot to spend then it can't be wise to blow the vast majority of it on a player with an injury record to rival Harry Kewell. That can't be in the long term interests of the club as it's a hell of a gamble.

 

I accept your points, and they are both very valid. I see it from another perspective which is that if you are trying to meet expectations above your resources, something we are doing, then if you see a player that has the possibility of becoming something very good for the club, and he's got a discount sticker on him because of his injury, then you take that chance that you'll get more than what you paid for.

 

I know it's a gamble but to compete with clubs with more resources you're going to need to pull a few rabbits out of hats, that's essentially why we hired him.

 

And we're going to need a fair few rabbits if the Yanks want to spend just enough to keep the Champions League money rolling in; and they do.

[JMARKH]

Rafa needs to get more out of his average players like Lucas and Kuyt then we might have a chance of making 4th. The owners shafted him in the summer, the players need competition to stay on there toes but funds went on reducing the debt. That said we should be doing better and playing with more spirit.

[robslappa]

I accept your points, and they are both very valid. I see it from another perspective which is that if you are trying to meet expectations above your resources, something we are doing, then if you see a player that has the possibility of becoming something very good for the club, and he's got a discount sticker on him because of his injury, then you take that chance that you'll get more than what you paid for.

 

I know it's a gamble but to compete with clubs with more resources you're going to need to pull a few rabbits out of hats, that's essentially why we hired him.

 

And we're going to need a fair few rabbits if the Yanks want to spend just enough to keep the Champions League money rolling in; and they do.

 

Without doubt he's been shafted for money in the last couple of windows and he has to take chances.

 

But the problem I've got with this particular signing is the consequences that it might have later on. If he doesn't make an impact this season then it may mean the difference between qualifying or not qualifying for the CL next season. If we don't get qualify next season and I really think we've got a fight on our hands, then I can only see a scenario where we have to sell players. That's why I can't see his signing as one for the future, it may be too late by then.

[hamstrung]

I suspect we probably will, but having not looked at the table for weeks, I must admit I am not overly confident

 

That winning run needs to start sharpish.

[WaltonRed]

He didnt have to take a chance, he could of treated Alonso better and then the money spent replacing him could of gone elsewhere.

[Antynwa]

I really don't get this arguement. Birmingham go on a boss run and suddenly are gonna carry it on for the full season?

 

Villa last year did similar to this and fell apart around March and even ended up in 6th.

 

Thats not the point.

 

it's about us, we are below Birmingham City.

[robslappa]

I suspect we probably will, but having not looked at the table for weeks, I must admit I am not overly confident

 

That winning run needs to start sharpish.

 

To save you taking a look, we're currently 7 points off Arsenal in 4th and 8 points behind Villa in 3rd.

 

I hate using the term "must win", but tomorrow really is one of those games.

[hamstrung]

He didnt have to take a chance, he could of treated Alonso better and then the money spent replacing him could of gone elsewhere.

 

How would he do that without the Alonso money?

[Stu Monty]

Stu £20m is not a discount, Seriously who gives the price tags? I know very very little of Aquallani infact I've never heard of him to be honest.

 

So if for instance he was fit and Man Utd paid £30m for him I'd be questioning old whiskey nose.

 

Mate, listen to the podcast that you yourself took part in. Listen to what Seraf says about him. I'd imagine a shitload of that money is based on him playing and us winning things too.

 

£20m doesn't buy you much; it just about gets you a Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson or a Nani. Or two Serbian kids you don't even need to play.

[TheHowieLama]

How would he do that without the Alonso money?

 

 

Hes got a point there.

[hamstrung]

Hes got a point there.

 

Its pretty damn rare, but if you hang around a bit, I find the odd one.

[WaltonRed]

How would he do that without the Alonso money?

 

Well apparently he didnt get the Alonso money and yet he still signed Alberto.

[TheHowieLama]

Its pretty damn rare, but if you hang around a bit, I find the odd one.

 

I got a little point going staring at your avatar right about now.

[hamstrung]

Well apparently he didnt get the Alonso money and yet he still signed Alberto.

 

Point is, in order to sign anyone he ended up needing to generate £30m (i.e spent little/not significant sums of the any transfer "fund")

 

Ergo, if he doesn't bring in £30m...

 

Desperately trying not use the words n*t spe*d.

[TheHowieLama]

Well apparently he didnt get the Alonso money and yet he still signed Alberto.

 

 

Course he did, he didn't get all of it but that was a one for one (minus the cut for the house)

[harryo63]

I accept your points, and they are both very valid. I see it from another perspective which is that if you are trying to meet expectations above your resources, something we are doing, then if you see a player that has the possibility of becoming something very good for the club, and he's got a discount sticker on him because of his injury, then you take that chance that you'll get more than what you paid for.

 

I know it's a gamble but to compete with clubs with more resources you're going to need to pull a few rabbits out of hats, that's essentially why we hired him.

 

And we're going to need a fair few rabbits if the Yanks want to spend just enough to keep the Champions League money rolling in; and they do.

 

78 appearances in 5 years for roma is a hell of a gamble for 20 million

[zigackly]

If we were to miss qualifying for next seasons Champions League, gambling on Aquilani's fitness to get a "discount" wouldn't look very clever at all.

[Iantn]

Thats not the point.

 

it's about us, we are below Birmingham City.

 

I was commenting on a post that said we are competing with Birmingham City for 4th.

 

They have just gone on their best top flight run in over 30years. It wont continue but that doesn't seem to stop the comment on them being in competition with us.

[danielo]

I think we will finish in the top 4, not because we are any good, but because the teams we compete with are serial underachievers.

 

Neither Villa, Spurs or City will be able to put together a decent run of wins, they will always stumble more often than not and thats what will save our arse.

 

And we are?