Damian_de

Gotta hope Bayern f*** this up from here

Basically with you on that, but I do so dislike the use of a factual based point where the 'facts' have been altered to suit the point being made. Same thing with the 'points this year' table a month or two back, when we had played two games more than some of the other sides... Haha, yeah, exactly

That Houllier season was also partly shared with Roy Evans, 67 points in his first where he managed the whole year alone..

Let's hope he doesn't end up in a political battle there because it's like the friggin wild west. Otherwise, exciting job for him, I reckon.

The last 'Today' season was glorious

Survived by two back-to-back wins to close out the season, then, and a share release

You sound like when he was our manager, context seemingly irrelevant. (I know, I shouldn't have)

Leicester instead of Forest right now

Klopp = awesome

Yeah, teams pop up, Bayern buy their best players, and they disappear again No one has made a sustained challenge to them since the Hamburg in the 80s and Gladbach in the 70s. 6 teams have won that league in the last 30 years (8 in England).

I didn't actually mean titles necessarily, Bayern dominate German football in a different way to Lyon. They are like some kind of footballing Black Hole. They did exactly the same thing when Leverkusen became a force - signed Ballack, Zé Roberto, etc. They maintain their dominance through financial power way in excess of what the rest of the league can muster, and respond to any threat the same way: buy all that teams best players.

Has any team in recent memory had such a stranglehold over a league as Bayern? I can't remember the last top player from a rival who they didn't end up buying eventually. Despite everything they are doing right with the Bundesliga Bayern's financial domination is the biggest threat they face to have a competitive league. Gutting for BVB, but where's the loyalty in the lad? He's been with them since he was 8 and they have been completely responsible for helping him to realise his talents

What, I'll be back in Liverpool as coach?

And they don't have an Agger to sell, or anything even close. They are mostly a bunch of kids, right?

Fantastic closure after 6 years! A lot of stuff gets forgotten, but Kaiser was special, and 'Do Rafa?' is right up there in forum lore. Thinking about it, maybe this was Rafa's comeback to Kaiser, and he just waited 6 years to throw it out there...

What, and join Bob on 3?

It's decent, but the stats are slightly misleading there with everyone else playing a game less...

Agger about to take a peno for denmark... Good peno

Well, technically he had built the best side seen in domestic Danish football for a long time (before or since) and mentored Daniel Agger into the first team, done well at Getafe, had a weird one at Spartak, and done maybe not so well at Mallorca. A risk, but not exactly 'unproven'.

They beat us fair and square by just being smarter. They wouldn't now, of course, but neither side is in the same place it was then, and the better for us.

Thought we got schooled at home against Arsenal this season, to be honest.

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The comparison to the Evan's side rears its head again. I think you can make the argument that the manager has just had his first season in European competition and what matters is what he learns for next time, but he absolutely has to learn those lessons. If he does not learn how to get very close to the final of the Europa next time around he isn't a Liverpool manager, simple as. No point discussing it now, he has to a) get us back into Europe, and b) show that he has learned the lessons next time around. If he doesn't get us into Europe next season he might well not get the chance to show he has learned the lessons at our club. Yes, we scored 3, gave it a go, and raised a few hairs on necks, but really we were not unlucky to go out in this tie, we simply were not good enough over two legs with the players we had. We DESERVED to go out, against Zenit. And that is not a very pretty place to be. It's completely pointless to say we were awesome and all that. We plainly were not. You have Tottenham and Newcastle still in Europe while we are out. Whichever way you shake it, if you defend that position, you have very low standards.

And previously we had your namesake, his cousin, david raven, john welsh, the partridge, and chris kirkland...

Haha, hopefully people will get precious about it