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How things have changed


Bootle Buck

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After living in the States since 1983 I was starved for anything Liverpool FC. With the introduction of the Internet and websites like this as well as Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN 2 I was thrilled to have the chance to follow the Reds religioulsy again. I remember coming on websites in 1999-2000 when we couldn't seem to qualify for the CL and even the UEFA Cup would have been nice. Then came 2000-2001 and our treble season and a chance to play in the CL. Back then getting through the group stages seemed like a mountain to climb. I remember the disappointment of Leverkusen and thought maybe it wasn't meant to be

 

Fast forward a few years and here we were winning number 5.

 

Now we are perenial qualifiers and have proven to be one of the favourites, especially how Rafa has adapted our style of play for Europe.

 

I know the league still remains our goal but if we are honest and look at the big picture we have come a long way in tha past 6 years. I have no doubt it will only get better.

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It's even more impressive that Rafas made that progression having inherited a relatively weak squad in a different football culture. He's had a limited budget and managed the team through the uncertainty and upheavel of the takeover process.

 

Great time to be a Liverpool fan.

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T'is always nice to take a moment to 'stand back' and reflect on how far we have come, particularly in the last three years. I'm looking forward to next season more than I have any other season in recent memory.

 

(On a personal note; curiously, being an ex-pat' has made me even more 'fanatical' about supporting Liverpool since leaving England twelvety years ago.)

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Fair enough, but he didn't half leave a lot of very average players behing him when he left.

 

Cheyrou, Diao, Diouf, Vignal, Biscan Traore etc.

 

I think the treble in 2001 gave this club an huge boost and helped propel us to progress the way we have.

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I think the treble in 2001 gave this club an huge boost and helped propel us to progress the way we have.

 

True enough.

 

I suppose the fact that us winning the Uefa Cup now wouldn't be seen as much of an achievement. We've a very real chance of capturing our second European Cup

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Guest jjasonuk
Fair enough, but he didn't half leave a lot of very average players behing him when he left.

 

Cheyrou, Diao, Diouf, Vignal, Biscan Traore etc.

 

Vignal was progressing well and looked a class act until his injury, I agree with your sentiment although Ged treble season did take up up a notch, he deserves a LOT of credit, most of the players in the Euro Cup final were bought by Ged.

 

Credit whre it's due like, Rafa has taken up to another level again (Ged did that when he came also).

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Vignal was progressing well and looked a class act until his injury, I agree with your sentiment although Ged treble season did take up up a notch, he deserves a LOT of credit, most of the players in the Euro Cup final were bought by Ged.

 

Credit whre it's due like, Rafa has taken up to another level again (Ged did that when he came also).

 

Yeah, can't disagree with that.

 

Of course that leads you to ask why Rafa was able to get so much more out of them than Houllier ever would.

 

Rafa's THE best manager in world football. I honestly don't think anyone could do a better job and be more suited to our club and the circumstances we were in when he arrived.

 

If he stays long enough he'll draw favourable comparisons to Paisley and Shankly. I'm convinced of that

Edited by Dublinred4ever
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After living in the States since 1983 I was starved for anything Liverpool FC. With the introduction of the Internet and websites like this as well as Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN 2 I was thrilled to have the chance to follow the Reds religioulsy again. I remember coming on websites in 1999-2000 when we couldn't seem to qualify for the CL and even the UEFA Cup would have been nice. Then came 2000-2001 and our treble season and a chance to play in the CL. Back then getting through the group stages seemed like a mountain to climb. I remember the disappointment of Leverkusen and thought maybe it wasn't meant to be

 

Fast forward a few years and here we were winning number 5.

 

Now we are perenial qualifiers and have proven to be one of the favourites, especially how Rafa has adapted our style of play for Europe.

 

I know the league still remains our goal but if we are honest and look at the big picture we have come a long way in tha past 6 years. I have no doubt it will only get better.

 

Everyone keeps banging on about the league... dont get me wrong, it would be absolutely and totally wonderful to claim it as ive never seen us win it myself, but the feeling I get from watching us progress in the Champions league gives me more than a victory over one of the other top teams in europe. it was pure magic to see us win the CL in 05.. I was over the moon! I got very very drunk and phoned some friends of mine in Italy (Juve and Atalanta fans so it's ok!)...

 

To win the best cup competition in the world, against the very best teams around (we had a bloody hard run)... it was electric.. far more exciting for me.. It really makes me smile to know that all of europe are watching us win... not just england, ireland, norway and a few here and there...

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To go all the way this year we'll have beaten

 

The reigning Spanish and European Champions

 

The Dutch Champions

 

The reigning English Champions or the second best team in Spain

 

And if we got there and faced the Mancs, the English Champions elect

 

That's be serious bragging rights!

 

(I'm wearing a mocker proof vest, its ok)

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True enough.

 

I suppose the fact that us winning the Uefa Cup now wouldn't be seen as much of an achievement. We've a very real chance of capturing our second European Cup

 

Perhaps the standard of the UEFA cup or our opponents in it was exceptionally high, we had to beat Porto, Barcelona and Roma to get to the final that year.

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