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You've won a cup and are still in with a decent shout of lifting the other; if you were to finish 8th with those two pots, would you be happy with this season? Would you swap both cups for a Champions League spot? Scared_Person: The fact that this is even a question is testament to the fact that modern football is shit! Of course as a supporter going down to Wembley to watch your team lift a trophy is worth 100 4th place finishes. If we can win the FA cup too then it is a great achievement. That said, in the modern world of modern football cup wins don't really pay the bills. We need regular CL football if we're ever going to get back to challenging for the league. In conclusion I wouldn't swap. Our team isn't ready for CL football yet, and 2 cups would be a great sign of progress. Kkjellquist: Yes and No...no other way to say it. I guess overall I would be because 5th vs. 8th after winning two cups pretty much makes no difference. That's a tough one...I think our current squad would get crushed in the CL, but that spot would attract quality players. This season I'll take the cups, but next season should be all about 4th or better. Lachesis: 8th isn't good enough for us so would be unhappy with league position. Don't mind if we finish just outside the top four as long as we make a fight for it though. I wouldn't swap the cups as finishing 8th would be a fair reflection of our strength and playing the cream of Europe could be embarrassing in our current condition, when we've built our reputation back up recently. Pepe Silvia: Yes and yes, strangely enough. Two trophies has to be regarded as a good season in anyone's book. But the top 4 is where everyone wants to be, because that's where you play in the best games, compete for the signature of the best players and crucially compete for the best titles. Your team and management have come under a lot of scrutiny over the handling of the Suarez incident, why do you think the nation reacted in the way it did to it all? Subroc: Because Poltical Correctness has replaced Morality and Values as the arbiter of popular opinion. And because most people are too lazy and couldn't be bothered to take the hard work of thinking and prefer the media to do their thinking for them. And because the villain was a foreigner who was easily made to look like a villain instead of being an English player, and because it was not Manchester United a.k.a. Darling of the Media which was in the spotlight as the "bad guy", and because the media have a prejudice agaisnt Liverpool and Liverpudlians as being perpetual moaners and whiners. Cpt Reina: The average fan wont have read the report, and will have been led by the hand by the media. You cant really blame them for it. But the media and The FA were hardly impartial. The club handled the whole thing incorrectly from start to finish though. It was very poorly managed. gollne: Was badly handled by all parties in my opinion. Surely there have been more going on behind the scenes then what has been air out in the public, that much is certain if you look at the reactions from the Liverpool players and Uruguayans that have come out in support of Suarez. PR-wise though, it should have been put to bed earlier by us El Jefe: We couldn't have handled it any worse. Our PR team was made to look ridiculously stupid. Suarez is many things but not a racist. The nation reacted the way they did because of the way the media and fa picked up on it. They wanted a high profile issue to bring the issue to the fore, and with Suarez they got it and made the most out of it. Anyone who has read the report will see how ridiculous the decision and subsequent ban was. Kenny Dalglish was a wonderful player and is adored on Merseyside (in much the same way Keegan is loved on Tyneside) but it seems that the support he received initially is waning; is this a fair assessment? Mingle: He is the man for LFC… at the moment. He has steadied the ship and won a cup, which the likes of NUFC, Villa etc would love. His buys are questionable and needs addressing but HE is the man for the job and I hiope the owners listen to the real fans who know whats best. LFC nut nuts calling for his head have short memories... Red Rabbit: They're whoopers. The ones who don't back him. If they don't understand what Kenny is to this club, they don't understand the club. He has my full support. The league form hasn't been great, (excuses could be made) but I think we have to take it as it is, try to do better and learn from it. He's got us playing some good football (to watch anyway), a cup in the bag and *possibly* another on the way. I see a lot of difference between now and 14 months ago and that's what managers are supposed to do, isn't it? Improve the team? I'll leave the others to think in FM terms. Subroc: I don’t think his support has waned. However, I think that there is an undeniable realisation - still suppressed by many as being somehow disloyal - that he has made some bad errors this season and he has to buck up for next season and learn from it. Paddypower: I'd say so yeah. He was fantastic last season but changed his philosphy completely this year. UntouchableLuis: Dalglish will always be adored by Liverpool fans in the same way that Gerrard will and other greats like Barnes and Rush. A manager should never be immune from criticism though, no matter who he is. I think most sensible Liverpool fans are willing to give Dalglish more time but at the same time a lot feel let down by our signings under him so far which for the most part have been a bit of a disaster. I think the best thing to do is wait until the season is over and assess where we go from there. As a follow up; the players that were signed by Dalglish haven't really gelled this term, is that just because they're not good enough, or is it that they require a longer bedding in period? gollne: I think they need to be given more time. Suarez and Carroll have looked better and better. Henderson is young and Enrique and Bellamy has been buys of the season along with Ba imo. Adam is the only one who I don't really see have a future at Anfield. Cpt Reina: A bit of both. The likes of Henderson, Carroll, Coates, Enrique will improve and grow in to the club if given the time I feel. Adam and Downing might not. But they will at least add to our squad and provide options. J-MC: Good question, if you know the answer then let us know please! Carroll seems half the player he was at Newcastle, his form has considerable dropped and he's not getting the same service he got for you lot, our crossing has been woeful, with the only dangerous crosses coming from Gerrard (when he manages to beat the first man) and only then does Carroll look like he's interested. I've backed the lad to the hilt and will continue to do so, but we need to adapt to his game instead of waiting for him to adapt to ours. Henderson was bought for the future and if Lucas hadn't of gotten injured, he wouldn't have played as much as he has. He's got the talent and the eye for a killer pass, just needs time to develop and again, patience will be needed. Downing - waste of money. Coates has been a great signing, still young but looks so comfortable on the ball and that overhead kick had me jizzing more than a priest in an all boys school. Enrique has been class, although he needs to stop trying to dribble his way out of trouble, it puts him under a lot of pressure most of the time and it's going to come back and haunt him sometime soon. Bellamy - Class Adam has regressed from the player he was at Blackpool, personally I think he's saw Liverpool as the one big move and simple doesn't want to make the effort anymore which is a shame really, as I thought he'd add the passing game that we've missed since Alonso left. Pepe Silvia: The buzz word seems to be transition. That and progress. Personally, I feel like we had a good thing going in the back end of last season and instead of carefully improving that bit by bit we've ripped it up and tried to implement a whole other different style of play with different players. The glass half full point of view would be we're halfway to being successful with this new style of play and we just need 2 more players of high quality running through the spine, namely a mobile striker who can occupy the centre backs, make the right runs into the box and crucially finish (dime a dozen those, surely) and an athletic midfielder with a lot of presence. Ideally both players would be winners too. So, not a lot to ask. Two of those signings came from Newcastle, what are you impressions of them, long and short term? gollne: Short term: Enrique - really good. Carroll not so much. Long term: They'll both come good in my opinion. 35m was over the top though, however hindsight and all that. Kkjellquist: Enrique was a steal and Carroll will come good. Just wish we paid £15-20M for AC. Paddypower: Carroll for me is a disaster both short term and long term. I am a big fan of Enrique though so I tell myself we actually paid £35m for him and £6m for Carroll, makes it easier! Still feels like Carroll is a rip off though El Jefe: Enrique has come in and fit straight into the team, couldn't be happier for the price we paid. Carroll i feel partly sorry for. Everyone can see we massively overpaid and then to make matters worse, we don't play a style that suits him. Having said that i don't see him having a future at the club. He lacks the quality to link up play effectively and i honestly don't see him ever developing the attitude to become a top player. I would love to be proved wrong though. How do you think you're going to be affected by the FFP? Suspect Package: It's all a great mystery how it'll affect everyone really, especially with Manchester City already finding loopholes to avoid it. If it levels the playing field and avoids the scenario of clubs teetering on administration and bankruptcy (e.g. Leeds, Portsmouth, Rangers...nearly us) I welcome it. DutchRed: For the better. We've got excellent sponsor deals at the moment and two clubs who are currently better than us, Chelsea and Man City, will fall away. Lachesis: Can't really judge. I'd say we're putting the right things in place to make sure we aren't affected by it. We can still make a slight loss each season and be in regulation and with wages the largest running cost we're doing well. Pepe Silvia: Most of the time we spend what we earn. We've had 3 big summers under both American owners, but also 2 summers where we broke even. I think we'll be OK because we seem to have competitive, long term sponsorship deals in place which should compensate somewhat for lack of CL football, but until we get into the top 4 we won't be able to be in a position to financially compete for the best players and the longer we're out of it the harder it will be to get back in. Who is your Liverpool player of the season thus far? gollne: Lucas was until his injury. Now i'd say Skrtel, he has been immense. J-MC: Lucas, Agger or Skrtel, they've all been top class this season prior to injuries. Skrtel has looked solid all season and has definately been our most consistent performer. Lachesis: I know Johnson has been injured a bit but I think both our full backs have been superb (Enrique as well) Leivapool: Lucas pre injury, Skrtel since. If Agger didn't keep breaking his ribs he'd be up there too. Credit to Suarez who's continued to fight for the team when surrounded by a sea of defenders and LFC mediocrity Who has been the biggest disappointment? gollne: Combined team effort against lesser teams have been disgraceful at times. As has some fans on the boards though. I guess you get what you deserve. J-MC: For me, it's been Adam, he showed a lot of promise, but that went downhill once he signed for us the fucker. Lachesis: Probably Gerrard. When he came back I think people had been holding on for it, thinking that we just needed him to come in and change our fortunes. In truth he has looked a pale shadow of the player we know, anonymous in most games he's been in. As a captain as well I haven't seen much in way of that defiant streak he has. Andy @ Allerton : Gerrard looks past it nowdays. If he insists on playing in midfield then we see player after player after player just running past him. He hasn't got the legs any more. If he plays central mid against Newcastle then you'll see it first hand. The midfield will be yours and we will lose. Carragher - one of my favourite players at the club - has got to go. His legs have gone and although his spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. The game has just gone pasts him sadly and with the position he plays any mistakes are highlighted fairly often with goals. Pepe Silvia: Carroll or Henderson. One could say that's harsh as they're both young players who are making their first move away from hometown clubs to one with much higher expectations. One could instead point to Downing who's 27 and has plenty of experience behind him and despite all that looks just as mentally weak and contributed almost as little. But I can't help it. They're like symbols for the stupor the team is in and its dim prospects going forward. Which Premier League players have impressed? Andy @ Allerton: Ba was a good signing for Newcastle (Dodgy knees included). Overall it's been a bit of a rubbish year with very, very little class or polish in any team. Been a poor season this season. Very poor. Lachesis: Sessegnon has looked useful. Scott Parker has answered the question about the ceiling of his ability I think. Sturridge has looked good and Ba has exceeded all expectations. El Jefe: I've been very impressed with Arteta. Unlike our 'premier league proven' buys he's made the step up to a top club and not looked out of his depth. Shrewd short-term buy by Wenger. gollne: Van Persie is the obvious one surely. However Vorm, Ba (atleast in the first half of the season) and Joe Allen deserve a mention. Cpt Reina: Is this a loaded question? Ba has been a very shrewd acquisition on your part. Given our woes in front of goal its been hard watching Van Persie have the season he's had. J-MC: Vorm, Krul, Ba, Allen, Dyer, Sinclair, Holt, Drenthe, Jelavic and even Yakubu have all looked good this season. Kkjellquist: Ba, RvP, Mata, Silva, Holt, Joe Hart....lots of great players. Suspect Package: Silva, Van Persie, Rooney, Sinclair, Cabaye (I'd love him), Kompany, Skrtel, UntouchableLuis: Mata, Rooney, Ba, Tiote, Ben Arfa, Valencia, Sturridge and Mclean to name a few. DutchRed: A lot. All of your signing for starters, Vorm isn't to bad either. And I love watching David Silva play. Paddypower: My team of the season so far would be: Hart, Johnson, Skrtel, Kompany, Enrique, Silva, Cabaye, Dempsey, Mata, Ba, RVP Pepe Silvia: Most of your lot, probably. I knew Demba Ba would be a good signing as he scored goals for West Ham (one of them against us) and fits right into your manager's preferred style of play but that still, he's been fantastic. I didn't know about Cabaye and some of his performances and the goals that he's scored have been top class (and made me wonder what the point of having a Fench DoF is). Gutierrez is probably one of the hardest working wingers in the league and Krul has made the step up and could rightfully challenge Hart as having been the best keeper in the league this season Which Premier League Managers have impressed? Cpt Reina: Has to be Ferguson doesnt it. Through gritted teeth. To have that squad with the injuries they've had top of the league is a big achievement. J-MC: Brendan Rogers. Shannon: Arsene Wenger through the adversity he faced in the first few he has managed a top 3 position, I reluctantly have to say Ferguson because when I look at United on paper they look rubbish but always seem to grind out wins, Martin O'Neill for turning Sunderland's fortunes, Steve Kean for all the shit he took and has lifted Blackburn out of the relegation zone with virtually zero support from the fans. Lachesis: Hard to look beyond Swanseas manager to be honest. Di Matteo has also had a short but extraordinary effect since standing in at Chelsea. Pardew is doing well at your place at what you'd consider his first 'big' club with real expectation. Not sure about Mancini - I often thought no matter how much money they'd spend he's always be the weakest link. I suppose it depends on if he wins the title. Who will be your danger man/men against Newcastle? Suspect Package: Suarez obviously and there's always the "against his former club" chance of Carroll getting a goal. I'd like to see Sterling and Shelvey get on the pitch at some point though as a surprise package against you. Lachesis: Downing has come into form recently, think Enrique will want to vindicate himself having moved and now being below you lot in the table. Suarez is always a handful as well. DutchRed: Suarez, obviously. And Gerrard and Kuyt love scoring against you. Serbian Red: Luis Suarez. The one world class player we have that can actually threaten teams and when he gets the ball I get to the edge of my seat. Very creative and can turn defences inside out in the blink of an eye but his finishing is not very good. Garception: Downing, I understand your right side is much weaker defensively than the left so if we get joy down either flank it will be the left and hence Downing. Finally, what do you reckon the score will be? gollne: 2-3 win for Liverpool. Cpt Reina: 4-3 to us J-MC: 2-1 but to who, I don't know. We tend to up our game against the teams above us however you're still a dangerous side, especially at home. Kkjellquist 1-1 Paddypower: 2-1 to Liverpool, can't see us allowing you to humilate us and move even further ahead. No disrespect intended. Suspect Package: Either it'll be another dogshit boring 0-0, or there'll be comedy defending on both sides....4-3 to Liverpool? El Jefe: Score draw. UntouchableLuis: Score draw, probably a 1-1. Lachesis: 2-2 DutchRed: We're at our best when nobody expects us to do anything. We'll win. 3-4, perhaps? Serbian Red: Heart says 2/3-0 to us as we finally sort ourselves out but head says 2-1 to you. Our recent form can not be ignored. Leivapool: If Agger isn't fit and Carra plays, i'd be quote worried, 3-0 to you. If we can pick our best centre backs then 1 -0 to you. We struggle to score you see...........! Pepe Silvia: 0-0. Andy @ Allerton: Going to be a well fought game I think. I think we'll score a couple. I think Gerrard will play in midfield which means that you'll just be able to run through there with no one stopping you and then I think you'll encounter Carragher at Centre back. So basically the game is yours. I can't see you scoring less than 3 if Gerrard is in the centre and Carra at Centre back. So.. 3-2 Newcastle.

Liverpool Home 01/04/2012