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How far have we come since 2005?


alias75

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Just thinking about this with the CL in mind, if i cast my mind back to the final with Milan in 05 we were serious underdogs which should never really be the case with Liverpool FC but if you looked at our side we had Dudek, Troare, Smicer, Baros decent players but obvious weaknesses when compared with Europes best.

 

Fast forward to 2007 and theres not 1 team left in the competition that i fear, thats not to say we're going to win the CL but if you look at our team now and compare it with 2005 we have really improved. Our defence is I rock solid we have a great goalkeeper that is so far much more reliable than Dudek who was fantastic in the final but he could also be a liability. Our midfield is very strong and Mascherano could take the team to another level freeing up Gerrard and also giving protection that allows our fullbacks to get forward much more. Up front we have 3 players in Crouch, Bellamy and Kujt that gives Rafa many possibilities.

 

I really have the feeling now that this team is capable of facing the best in Europe and really taking the game to them. Whereas the 2005 triumph was based more on a very solid defence and counter attacking style the current team is able to dictate the play more and keep possession better we shouldn't have an inferiority complex against any team in Europe.

 

Its all pretty exciting and the most exciting this is theres still lots of room for improvement with 1 or 2 top quality signings. The performances of Mascherano and how thats freed Gerrard up i think could take us to another level, him and Alonso keep possession well and cover brilliantly allowing Finnan and Riise to get forward and give us that width that maybe we lack sometimes, and Crouch looks like hes coming into some good form too.

 

In less than 2 years Rafa has taken a team that won the CL but did so massively against the odds and playing the way of an underdog and now especially in Europe we shouldn't be afraid of anyone if we play to our best.

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Fair enough but the yardstick is the League.

 

Rafa's worked miracles really but it takes a good few years to build a squad with enough depth of quality to challenge for the title. The Club has basically had to re-engineer itself from the Academy through to the Boardroom and on a limited budget as well.

 

The Champions League isn't as hard to win as the old European Cup: you had to win the League and you could be drawn against some unknown team with fantastic players (e.g. Dinamo Tibilisi) but these days those sides don't get the chance to mature-the kids are sitting on benches in La Liga, Serie A or the Premiership. The Champions League is fixed to ensure that G14 clubs get all the loot. The UEFA Cup used to be the equivalent of today's Champions League really.

 

It's great that we have a chance of winning in Athens but despite all the hype, I think the Champions League isn't the real measure.

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I accept that and of course the league is the one we all want to win but its just a perception as a fan. Back in 2005 against other really big European sides like Juventus or Milan there was that fear there that if we didnt play well we'd be outclassed, and always the way to win was defending well and hitting on the counter.

 

Now i look at our team and feel we have no real weaknesses, yes we could do with more attacking flair but all of our strikers are doing well, whoever we face in Europe i feel we can hold our own and even if we're not quite at our best theres enough quality there to get a result. Its a subtle change from fearing the worst to not fearing anyone.

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Fair enough but the yardstick is the League.

 

Rafa's worked miracles really but it takes a good few years to build a squad with enough depth of quality to challenge for the title. The Club has basically had to re-engineer itself from the Academy through to the Boardroom and on a limited budget as well.

 

The Champions League isn't as hard to win as the old European Cup: you had to win the League and you could be drawn against some unknown team with fantastic players (e.g. Dinamo Tibilisi) but these days those sides don't get the chance to mature-the kids are sitting on benches in La Liga, Serie A or the Premiership. The Champions League is fixed to ensure that G14 clubs get all the loot. The UEFA Cup used to be the equivalent of today's Champions League really.

 

It's great that we have a chance of winning in Athens but despite all the hype, I think the Champions League isn't the real measure.

 

True up to a point, but the quality of the teams you've got to face in the CL and the variety of styles especially the big teams superior control of posession makes it a different challenge entirely to the Premiership.

 

The reason United have been so dominant in the league and poor in Europe in my view is that they don't have the ability to vary their game to suit circumstances. It's attack at all costs.

 

Give Rafa another season or two and he'll bring the League title to Anfield

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We've gone from being underdogs in europe in most matches to one of the more feared teams. We're the most suited english side to european football I think and that's very much down to Rafa.

 

But, we need to challenge for the title properly next season (not necesarilly win it, but be up there), there's no two ways about it. Whether we win the CL or not this year, 4 years without a title challenge past October and questions will be asked.

 

I still have doubts over the way we approach some games in the league, particularly away from home. The way we played at PSV is perfect for going away from home in europe, it doesn't (and didn't) at Aston Villa for example and hasn't proven a succesful plan at Old Trafford, Highbury, Reebok and to a lesser extent at Stamford Bridge.

 

We say it every year but I dont think we're that far away. IMO we do need a change in approach to certain games and need a couple of excellent attacking players but we're close. Definitley evolution not revolution.

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I agree, we have come a long way... our league form has not been anywhere near the potential of our team. let no man forget that there was a lot of settling to be done this season.. but also we simply arent good enoguh just yet.. I wouldnt go overboard to think we'll be contenders next season, liek last... however I think we are better as darkhorses and That we certainly have the quality and form to push harder for it.

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