Topic: Expectations for 2014/15 Season

[Gnurglan]

Hahah oh my god.

You can go on a tour. And who knows, maybe you'll be on the committee next?

[TheTeflonJohn]

Brentie, how can I overcome my fear of spiders?

Also, can you tell me what date I will pass into the afterlife (need to make sure I have defrosted the freezer)?

Thanks in advance.

[telekon]

Assuming Suarez leaves and Markovic and Origi come in, I think we'll be 5/6th. In this scenario I see the top 4 being City, Chelsea, Arsenal & United and see them as being some distance ahead of the battle for 5th. I did think we'd be top 4 last season so I'm not unduly negative. I just think our signings so far have been poor if they're intended to replace Suarez's goals. If they were just squad signings for a bit of depth with Suarez staying, I think we could once again challenge for the title (though his ban has the potential to make that more difficult).

Not taking anything away from Brentie necessarily, but this guy said this earlier and was as accurate. 

[stoj]

I've said it before and I got pilloried for it, but I'll say it again.

This is going to be a car crash of a season.

Even had we not sold Suarez, I expected us to suffer a severe hangover from last season. I wrote in May that most teams similar to us (teams that punched above their weight and unexpectedly challenged for a league title but ended up failing), generally suffered from a hangover the season after. Fucking hell, I'm nowhere near over not winning it last year. I don't have a clue how we can expect the players to be.

I just don't see, psychologically, how we can "go again". After such highs, can the players go through the mundane few weeks of the season without feeling a major difference? Take the opening game at Anfield vs Southampton. There'll be no welcoming parade. It's back to normality for everyone. Can they accept that without there being an impact?

We have a horrible start to the season, fixtures wise. 2 away trips to City and Spurs is the last thing this team needs so early on. If we have a bad start, I feel there will be a horrible sense of deflation within the fanbase and the squad- from the captain and everyone else. I feel they'll start feeling sorry for themselves over what happened in May, over losing Suarez and it will take a lot of time for us to recover.

Losing Suarez is an absolute nightmare for us. I strongly feel it will have hurt every single one of those players in the squad. A minority on here try to downplay Suarez's importance to us, but I'm sure the players know just how much he brought to the team. You do not lose a player like that and   move forwards or sideways (unless you're a team that is used to winning trophies on a yearly basis). Suarez's contribution was not just about goals and assists: it was about fight, sacrifice, dedication and leadership.

I mean, look at this Coutinho interview:

Coutinho was asked what he felt when he was excluded from the Brazil World Cup squad: “Anger. Not because I’m selfish, but because I could have offered something.

I’m going to use this anger and push myself to my limits. I saw how Luisito (Suárez) was a maniac in training. At this point, my body and mind feel like clay. I will mold it the way I envision, and I will use my fire to make them harder.”

It's simple psychology. How much did a thumbs up from Luis push Raheem Sterling on? How much was Suarez's acceptance important for someone like Jordan Henderson? How much did Suarez's name on the team-sheet petrify opposing defenses, before a ball was even kicked?

Add that to a host of new players we need to bed in, Champions League football for the first time in 5 years (And the first time in Rodgers' career), and a horrific pre season where we lost key players to injuries, failed to bed in our 3 most expensive signings and missed out on our seemingly only 2 attacking replacements for Suarez (For different reasons), and it doesn't look good at all for us.

Not convinced by our signings at all too. Lovren has had 5 good months in the last 3 seasons (he was basically chased out of Lyon and was poor in the 2nd half of last season). Lambert is passable as a 3rd striker, but is nowhere near suitable for our style of play. We're a Sturridge nigggle away from having him lead the line at the Etihad and White Hart Lane, which would be horrific. Markovic and Can are exciting talents, but we surely can't expect too much from them in their first season at such young ages. Lallana will have missed all of pre season, have had no friendly games to adapt to the team and will be thrust in with a big price tag on his head. Far from ideal.


This term, we'll have the season we all expected us to have last year. We'll challenge for 4th but end up missing out. I'm fine with that, but I suspect the narrative will be that it was a failure and the fact is, that would mean that we went backwards. A bad start, and there will be a huge cloud around Anfield that won't be lifted for a while.

I predict 6th. No doubt that many will call me a moaning and negative bastard but that's what I expect. Hopefully we'll get a cup run to set the pulses racing, but I foresee a season of transition for us.

I saw someone post this on a facebook group yesterday and knew i had read it somewhere. Did you have a Delorean and a Sports Almanac to hand? haha

Lottery Numbers this week please dude

[Phil M]

Oh man, RAWK is now being roasted on reddit for the treatment Brentie got back in August

Who gives a fuck?

[pjshaun]

Sending Henry an email. What do you lot think about this?

Dear Mr. Henry,

 

I am writing to you because of a funny set of circumstances. Last Summer I was greatly worried about the season ahead. I wrote a post on an internet forum detailing my concerns and fears. I explained why I felt this way. I made predictions.

I was laughed at.


A couple of days ago, after the worst Liverpool result of my lifetime ended a season full of unwanted records, someone reposted that prediction. Since then, the post has gone viral on the internet and has been published on a number of different sites.


You can find the post here.


http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=315071.msg13101837#msg13101837


John, I am writing to you to ask you the following: If a man like me, with no football experience bar 30 years of watching the game, can so accurately assess our weaknesses, so deconstruct in August why our season would fall apart, so prematurely correctly judge how terribly we did in the transfer market; then why couldn’t the people you employ and pay handsome sums of money to do the same?


Mr. Henry, no reasonable fan is asking you to spend your life savings on this club. In my opinion, we’ve spent enough. Not just this season, but for the last 25 years. We’ve just spent it terribly.


Liverpool Football Club remained a European superpower during the 70s and 80s by making wise moves in the transfer markets. By replacing key players with better players. They never had to spend fortunes at that time, they just spent it smart.


The club has stopped spending smart for the best parts of the last 25 years. It is a problem that predates your tenure; but still exists. We have an enormous problem in our scouting and recruiting of football players which has hamstrung us so much. I don’t need to give you examples, I’m pretty sure you know them full well.


All we ask for Mr. Henry is this: a complete restructuring of our scouting and recruiting team.  It is absolutely unacceptable that we are spending fortunes on players that do not fit either the system or type of football we play.


Mistakes will be made and they are understandable just as long as the players bought are clearly ones that could fit with the style of football the club has adopted. I doubt you would hire a lawyer to work on a futures derivatives desk. So why buy a striker with no mobility to play for an attack based on mobility? Why buy a goalkeeper who is bad with his feet for a manager who likes his goalkeeper to act as an outfield player?


The Liverpool fanbase have backed and supported you. We hope that you will ask the relevant questions now of the people you employ and pay handsome sums of money to.


Kind regards

That's good. How did you find Henry's email? 

[robgomm]

Not taking anything away from Brentie necessarily, but this guy said this earlier and was as accurate. 

Move over Brentie, we have a new prophet

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Move over Brentie, we have a new prophet

Back the old prophet, Brentie's done enough to keep his job, you lot are so fickle, honestly...*storms off in a huff*

[robgomm]

Back the old prophet, Brentie's done enough to keep his job, you lot are so fickle, honestly...*storms off in a huff*

What's Brentie predicted lately? Nothing! You just aren't ambitious enough!

[pjshaun]

What's Brentie predicted lately? Nothing! You just aren't ambitious enough!

Brentie's prediction = 2005 CL final
New prophet = 1-6 against Stoke

[alvaro]

If I were Brentie I wouldnt post again and retire in glory.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

If I were Brentie I wouldnt post again and retire in glory.

Aye, he's not topping that! 

[AndyMuller]

I await Brenties 2015-2016 prediction!

[pjshaun]

I await Brenties 2015-2016 prediction!

I'm dreading it. 

[Xxavi]

I await Brenties 2015-2016 prediction!

What is there to predict? 6th without looking at the transfers. 5th with some decent transfers.

[robgomm]

What is there to predict? 6th without looking at the transfers. 5th with some decent transfers.

Oh look at this guy thinking he's Brentie!

[Black Bull Nova]

Round about the end of July, please can we have a post which talks about 2015/16 with a chance to update once the transfer windows closes. If that is as good as this year I am packing my job in and I'm going to follow you around and will feed your donkey as we travel.

In the meantime,

Should I stay in my current relationship?
When will my puppy stop pissing on the kitchen floor?
Will Tranmere get promoted?
and
When will the San Andreas fault crack California?

[Reeves]

Brentie - let us know if you get a reply. Good wrk

[Mamadou]

What is there to predict? 6th without looking at the transfers. 5th with some decent transfers.

Brentie wannabe

[will2003]

Sending Henry an email. What do you lot think about this?

Dear Mr. Henry,

 

I am writing to you because of a funny set of circumstances. Last Summer I was greatly worried about the season ahead. I wrote a post on an internet forum detailing my concerns and fears. I explained why I felt this way. I made predictions.

I was laughed at.


A couple of days ago, after the worst Liverpool result of my lifetime ended a season full of unwanted records, someone reposted that prediction. Since then, the post has gone viral on the internet and has been published on a number of different sites.


You can find the post here.


http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=315071.msg13101837#msg13101837


John, I am writing to you to ask you the following: If a man like me, with no football experience bar 30 years of watching the game, can so accurately assess our weaknesses, so deconstruct in August why our season would fall apart, so prematurely correctly judge how terribly we did in the transfer market; then why couldn’t the people you employ and pay handsome sums of money to do the same?


Mr. Henry, no reasonable fan is asking you to spend your life savings on this club. In my opinion, we’ve spent enough. Not just this season, but for the last 25 years. We’ve just spent it terribly.


Liverpool Football Club remained a European superpower during the 70s and 80s by making wise moves in the transfer markets. By replacing key players with better players. They never had to spend fortunes at that time, they just spent it smart.


The club has stopped spending smart for the best parts of the last 25 years. It is a problem that predates your tenure; but still exists. We have an enormous problem in our scouting and recruiting of football players which has hamstrung us so much. I don’t need to give you examples, I’m pretty sure you know them full well.


All we ask for Mr. Henry is this: a complete restructuring of our scouting and recruiting team.  It is absolutely unacceptable that we are spending fortunes on players that do not fit either the system or type of football we play.


Mistakes will be made and they are understandable just as long as the players bought are clearly ones that could fit with the style of football the club has adopted. I doubt you would hire a lawyer to work on a futures derivatives desk. So why buy a striker with no mobility to play for an attack based on mobility? Why buy a goalkeeper who is bad with his feet for a manager who likes his goalkeeper to act as an outfield player?


The Liverpool fanbase have backed and supported you. We hope that you will ask the relevant questions now of the people you employ and pay handsome sums of money to.


Kind regards

When he gives you ayers job could I be your pa?

[Qcase1977]

Send it Brentie.

[Caston]

defo milking it a bit now

[L666KOP]

So we're allowed  to post what's written in the fucking Metro now are we ?

[Xxavi]

defo milking it a bit now

I'd say let's start abusing him again. The fucker is getting on my nerves with his letters to the owner

[Yerolo]

do you realise how much of a tool you sound?.....

Sorry to disappoint you that I am not joining in the Brentie circle jerk   

[kcbworth]

I'd say let's start abusing him again

Haha his 15 seconds over?

[Xxavi]

Haha his 15 seconds over?

Yeah, I guess so. He doesn't seem to realize that I don't have enough patience to read his post up top this page, yet he expects Henry to read it. He needs a reality check RAWK style yet again. Throw abuses, ashtrays, whatever you got, I say!

[sempi]

To: Brentie
From: JW Henry
Thank for your letter.
The Boston Redsox are much better, thanks for the concern.
Yours,
.

[robgomm]

To: Brentie
From: JW Henry
Thank for your letter.
The Boston Redsox are much better, thanks for the concern.
Yours,
.

PS: I've enclosed a Boston Redsox novelty foam finger.

[LFConor]

Top half finish

[Historical Fool]

Top half finish

We finished 6th, comfortably in the top half.

[Guz-kop]

Brentie, what should my first born child be called?

[AnfieldCat]

Brentie, what should my first born child be called?

Brentie of course! 

[Brentieke]

Brentie, what should my first born child be called?

Hahahah.

Thanks everyone, been good fun seeing the post everywhere on the net these last couple of days.

Head to the Transfer Forum this Summer for more prophecies

[pjshaun]

Anyone willing to 'do a Brentie' and predict for next season?

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

Anyone willing to 'do a Brentie' and predict for next season?

Can't yet, need to know who the manager will be.

[muyuu]

Let's wait for the transfer season before we fill the forum with random noise about predictions.

Expectations are set by mid-July.

[cornelius]

Anyone willing to 'do a Brentie' and predict for next season?

Can't yet, need to know who the manager will be.

One thing is certain, if Rodgers stays on, things will get toxic and fast at the first sign of trouble, especially now that it seems there's a chance we could land Klopp or Ancelotti (even if it's not true), people seem to be baying for that change. Things would have to go unbelievably smoothly for Rodgers from here on in, to avoid an angry mob situation next season. You can just imagine the resentment towards him if we falter again having not gone for one of those two. I can't see any way back for him.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Paul Joyce of the Express reliable?, he's just said we had a bid turned down for Clyne, expects us to go back with a better offer.

[johnny74]

Is there a particular reason that our club would actually consider Ancelotti? I can't see how he fits.

I want to see FSG poach the DoF at Sevilla and their manager too. They've performed absolute miracles.

Just changing the manager will not do it. And keeping Rodgers and tweaking the committee is unlikely to either. It seems obvious to me that we don't have any current competitive advantage in the way that we are set-up and that's not what was supposed to happen. We were supposed to be finding a fast track method via metrics to do basically what Southampton have been doing.