Do we have what it takes for the title?

[Ian Mc]

16 years of what might have been, false dawns, players signed that were supposedly the final piece of the jigsaw. The question now is does this current crop of players have what it takes to bring home number 19?

 

I have no doubt we have the skill in the squad and the matchwinning ability of Gerrard (when he's firing) plus a few others to make a good go of it. Unfortunately i also see the same failings that have hampered us over the past 16 years. In a one off cup game scenario where draw is not an option this Liverpool side under benitez and even Houllier excel, the never say die attitude has brought us many trophies and happy memories. Whatever the situation we react in a positive way 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 down doesn't matter we'll fight to the end.

 

The hard part is transferring this attitude into a 38 game league season, tactics differ because of the safety net of the draw and so does the mentality of the players. Rather than going for the jugular there is a tendency to play it safe and cautious, let's try and nick a goal and protect that goal at all costs. We won't win the league with this over cautious mentality, look at the teams from 87/88 or even 89/90 we used to slaughter teams with exciting wing play and midfield steel and craft of players like mcmahon , barnes, whelan, houghton etc.

 

I look back on yesterdays game with much frustration, i saw us playing really well yesterday, in fact not as cautious as we have been away from home and yet there still seemed to be a lack of belief that we could actually go there and turn them over. Players were over trying to force a goal and generally we had no composure to finish the countless chances we created. Old Trafford last season was another example, we faced a s**** united side and passed them off the park, content to outpass them for 90 minutes and after missing key chances we had settled for the draw. Until the usual last minute OT twist when we conceded in injury time from a set-piece.

 

This team has massive potential and we have a great Manager in place, t's only a matter of time before we find the right mixture to win the league. I just can't see us doing it this year after what i have seen so far. Hope i'm proved wrong and we fight it all the way.

[Ostrich Man]

course you do.

[Andy @ Allerton]

16 years of what might have been, false dawns, players signed that were supposedly the final piece of the jigsaw. The question now is does this current crop of players have what it takes to bring home number 19?

 

I have no doubt we have the skill in the squad and the matchwinning ability of Gerrard (when he's firing) plus a few others to make a good go of it. Unfortunately i also see the same failings that have hampered us over the past 16 years. In a one off cup game scenario where draw is not an option this Liverpool side under benitez and even Houllier excel, the never say die attitude has brought us many trophies and happy memories. Whatever the situation we react in a positive way 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 down doesn't matter we'll fight to the end.

 

The hard part is transferring this attitude into a 38 game league season, tactics differ because of the safety net of the draw and so does the mentality of the players. Rather than going for the jugular there is a tendency to play it safe and cautious, let's try and nick a goal and protect that goal at all costs. We won't win the league with this over cautious mentality, look at the teams from 87/88 or even 89/90 we used to slaughter teams with exciting wing play and midfield steel and craft of players like mcmahon , barnes, whelan, houghton etc.

 

I look back on yesterdays game with much frustration, i saw us playing really well yesterday, in fact not as cautious as we have been away from home and yet there still seemed to be a lack of belief that we could actually go there and turn them over. Players were over trying to force a goal and generally we had no composure to finish the countless chances we created. Old Trafford last season was another example, we faced a s**** united side and passed them off the park, content to outpass them for 90 minutes and after missing key chances we had settled for the draw. Until the usual last minute OT twist when we conceded in injury time from a set-piece.

 

This team has massive potential and we have a great Manager in place, t's only a matter of time before we find the right mixture to win the league. I just can't see us doing it this year after what i have seen so far. Hope i'm proved wrong and we fight it all the way.

 

We will win it. This year.

 

Oh yes.

[Huyton_Red]

They are a bit low on confidence in front of goal ian

 

That was the best we have played against chelsea under benitez, for the first time we have a team who can go to places like stamford bridge and impose itself on the game and not just defend and hope to win on the break.

 

We have a very good squad to, fowler, gonzalez and garcia where not even on the bench yesterday.

 

I am really confident we can do well this year, we are only five points behind and have got two of our four most difficult away games out the way.

 

We need a good performance and a couple of goals against newcastle to get us going, would be nice to score early

 

Ps see my thread about premiership odds, you can get 16-1 for us, get on that its a great bet

Edited September 18, 2006 by Huyton_Sissoko

[Ian Mc]

We will win it. This year.

 

Oh yes.

 

I hope so mate, to be honest i'd rather us go out the CL and Cups early if it meant a chance of winning the league. It's only when you look back at the table in May and see Sheffield United releagted and you realise we should have gone there and took 3 points.

[Romario]

Who knows if we have what it takes. I thought we did a month back. For me judging on yesterdays game the answer is no. We were presented with a great oppertunity to draw or do better against 10 men and failed to come up with any ideas other than relying on Pennant.

I was hoping we'd bring on Crouch with Kuyt up front, Switch Gerrard to the right and let Bellamy play wide left but it never happened. We bought players to give us options in the summer and bringing on Zenden was not going to win us the match.

Why Garcia wasn't available .....well who knows but that game with 30 mins to go was made for a player like him. I think if we had got a goal back we could have gone on to win it so it's a real shame.

 

Of course in theory we can win the league but what's frustrating is how hard we make it for ourselves at the start of each season. Our amazing run last year glossed over how bad a start we had. I hope we can put a run like that together again but it'll be tough to match it I think as it was amazing.

[flash]

yep, but maybe not this year. but then again, maybe...

[Mike E]

We will win it. This year.

 

Oh yes.

 

Bit optimistic to think we'll have it sown up before the end of December. IMHO it will be as late as March before we can lift No.19

 

Oh yes.

[Runehammer]

Rafa's teams are notoriously slow starters for whatever reason, but they tend to get stronger/peak in about November and stay there. Hopefully it will be enough. If not then I think our horrendous opening schedule is a big factor, it's is both ridiculous and outrageous that our first Saturday 3pm kick off isn't until mid october.

 

If we don't win it this year tho' I think it is imperative that we finish second to avoid another early CL qualifier interfering with pre-season.

[fyds]

Yes we have what it takes. This is half a new team with Gonzalez, Aurelio, Kuyt, Bellamy, Agger - give them a chance and some time and better luck.

 

Yesterday Kuyt hit the bar with Cech beaten all ends up, Gerrard and Crouch missed sitters, we had a stonewall pen turned down and both Bellamy and Gerrard shot when the pass was on for a tap in. With better luck 3 points and several goals would have been ours. Sometimes it just works out that way.

[Guest Cameron]

Not with Chelsea around I'm afraid. We have it in us to finish above ManUre and Arsenal but Chelsea are just so freakishly consistent, I can't see anyone finishing above them.

[Guest AnfieldGrass]

Watch this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7T1tGQxFJs

 

12th in the table in december, we go on and win the double.

 

YNWA