Bluenose traitor writes us off

[Ethan]

Steve McManaman believes that Liverpool's £40million worth of new signings will not bring a first Premier League title since 1990.

 

Manager Rafael Benitez has signed Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin over the summer, but McManaman, who made over 300 appearances for Liverpool during a nine-year spell at Anfield, feels that Chelsea will win The Premier League this season.

 

McManaman, who was speaking at the launch of the Setanta Sports channel, feels that the new signings will take too long to gel as a team: "For Liverpool fans the Premiership title is the holy grail.

 

"Fernando Torres has arrived for a lot of money and the fans will be expecting him to do well straight away," McManaman continued.

 

"The Liverpool fans will expect them to win the Premiership this season. But I still think it will be very difficult to dislodge Manchester United and Chelsea this season. The fact they had a 20 point gap over Liverpool last season showed it was a big gap.

 

"It is not as easy as splashing out a lot of money on new players and then expecting them to win the title. Manchester United and Chelsea have also spent a lot of money.

 

"You hope that Liverpool can win it in the future but at the moment United and Chelsea seem to have a hold on it."

[McBain]

I agree with him. I dont think there's much chance at all we'll win it

[Mike]

we need a top quality wide player and a better left back/centre back cover than we have.

you could argue we need another striker too.

[cymrococh]

He's probably right, Paco said pretty much the same thing.

[Stevie H]

carragher said the same over the weekend.

[Knox_Harrington]

We need momentum. We get that, we've got a chance. Our squad has enough quality in to beat everyone outside the top four home and away and it's the extent to which we manage that which will decide how well we do. Statement of the obvious perhaps, but true.

[Tommok]

carragher said the same over the weekend.

 

I've been saying this too (to myself mainly mind you) - does this make me a bluenose traitor as well?

[Stevie H]

I've been saying this too (to myself mainly mind you) - does this make me a bluenose traitor as well?

i don't know. do you have an inexplicable urge to blame everything in the world on liverpool fans and to walk onto goodison park's pitch waving your shirt at alex nyarko?

[McBain]

I've been saying this too (to myself mainly mind you) - does this make me a bluenose traitor as well?

 

Bluenoses dont talk to themselves they talk to their lifesize bedroom poster of the Moyesiah

[David Hodgson]

we need a top quality wide player and a better left back/centre back cover than we have.

you could argue we need another striker too.

 

Agreed. We have one super striker and 3 good ones. I'd still trade one of Voronin, Crouch or Kuyt for another striker potentially at Torres level.

 

I'd also like to see one full back at the level of a Nicol, a Rob Jones, or on the way to being a Cafu/Roberto Carlos type figure. Who could be available that fits that description. I f*cking wonder.

 

Also we still clearly need a top winger. Harry could be it, or he could be retired in a month. Pennant is imrpoving but will not be at the Giggs/Ronaldo/Robben level. Babel could be the next Henry or the next Gonzalez. Too risky to count on him.

 

I think we should take a punt on a wideman with a pedigree. Anyone would be a risk, but I think we can afford to take one.

[badtodabone]

well thats it then

not a ball kicked in the league and we already cant win it?

talk about defeatist

[McBain]

well thats it then

not a ball kicked in the league and we already cant win it?

talk about defeatist

 

There's a difference between cant and probably wont. I think we probably wont.

[Guest PaulMcC]

Why's McManaman a Bluenose traitor?

[Knox_Harrington]

Agreed. We have one super striker and 3 good ones. I'd still trade one of Voronin, Crouch or Kuyt for another striker potentially at Torres level.

 

I'd also like to see one full back at the level of a Nicol, a Rob Jones, or on the way to being a Cafu/Roberto Carlos type figure. Who could be available that fits that description. I f*cking wonder.

 

Also we still clearly need a top winger. Harry could be it, or he could be retired in a month. Pennant is imrpoving but will not be at the Giggs/Ronaldo/Robben level. Babel could be the next Henry or the next Gonzalez. Too risky to count on him.

 

I think we should take a punt on a wideman with a pedigree. Anyone would be a risk, but I think we can afford to take one.

Disagree on the striker. Expect Crouch and Kuyt to both up it (the former if given the opportunity).

 

The top winger, well, Babel could end up being incredible and I understand why we went for him but I still think an out and out proven winger should have been bought instead. Almost any of the other candidates would make me more enthused about what's ahead this campaign, though maybe not for seasons after.

 

Don't know if the squad can bear another body as well as Heinze or equivalent.

[Billy Dane]

Oh well, that's that then. Suppose I'd better start saving for Moscow.

[Smith]

I can see Man U. winning it again, with us and Chelsea fighting it out for number 2. We'll finish third, eventually.

 

[badtodabone]

There's a difference between cant and probably wont. I think we probably wont.

 

id prefer to wait and see how we play first.

[Benitez]

he's being realistic, fec all wrong with that. There will be plenty of pressure on Rafa and the team, kinda makes a nice change to hear someone actually being realistic and not piling on the pressure!

[Will]

He's probably right, Paco said pretty much the same thing.

Pako?

[Bootle Buck]

When you consider Man Utd have potentially signed better players our expenditures over the summer wont be guaranteeing anything.

Torres and Babell do not represent a proven strikeforce while Benayoun is not what I would call the top echelon of wide men. I think we will once again find it hard to break down teams that put 10 men behind the ball. I just hope Rafa has us playing with more urgency and adventure on winning games away from home that should be there for the taking.

[Knox_Harrington]

When you consider Man Utd have potentially signed better players our expenditures over the summer wont be guaranteeing anything.

Torres and Babell do not represent a proven strikeforce while Benayoun is not what I would call the top echelon of wide men. I think we will once again find it hard to break down teams that put 10 men behind the ball. I just hope Rafa has us playing with more urgency and adventure on winning games away from home that should be there for the taking.

Agree with the latter part of that - there's real onus on the manager to improve and would have been had we signed no one.

[Benzo-13]

carragher said the same over the weekend.

 

I'm with Carra. The team that finishes above Chelsea will win it. Awesome squad.

[Guest PaulMcC]

When you consider Man Utd have potentially signed better players our expenditures over the summer wont be guaranteeing anything.

Torres and Babell do not represent a proven strikeforce while Benayoun is not what I would call the top echelon of wide men. I think we will once again find it hard to break down teams that put 10 men behind the ball. I just hope Rafa has us playing with more urgency and adventure on winning games away from home that should be there for the taking.

 

We potentially signed better players than them as well.

[kop205]

Why's McManaman a Bluenose traitor?

 

'Bluenose' because he supported them as a boy; is on record as saying that once Fowler left Liverpool he wanted Everton to win the derbies; and that he will be bringing his kids up as Evertonians. So 'bluenose' sounds about right to me.

 

The 'traitor' bit is obviously more subjective and has been done to death a million times on here so I'll steer clear of that one, though he is far from being my favourite ex-player.

[Guest PaulMcC]

'Bluenose' because he supported them as a boy; is on record as saying that once Fowler left Liverpool he wanted Everton to win the derbies; and that he will be bringing his kids up as Evertonians. So 'bluenose' sounds about right to me.

 

The 'traitor' bit is obviously more subjective and has been done to death a million times on here so I'll steer clear of that one, though he is far from being my favourite ex-player.

 

I didn't know he said he wanted Everton to win the derbies. Or he was bringing up his kids as Evertonians. I thought that was just rumours. Got a link to him saying that?