Topic: It's the 15th March

[Col]

...and we're 8 points from the top of the league. We have to play both the top two teams in the next month, as well as playing Arsenal twice more in the Champions' League. We have a genius up front who has become the first player since Robbie Fowler to get 20 league goals in a season, and looks like he'll score every game without fail. We have the league's best central midfielder, playing in his best position, scoring hatfulls of goals and linking up with Torres like a newly married couple.

We have the best out-and-out defensive midfielder in the league, a revitalised defence, and one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. We have a very young side, who are now gelling and will only get better as the years roll by, including one or two world-class prospects in Agger and Babel, and a few old dependables who rarely put a foot wrong.

We've changed style during this season, from the tried-and-tested 4-4-2 to Rafa Benitez' preferred 4-2-3-1, which allows Torres, Gerrard, Babel and Mascherano to play in exactly their best positions, doing exactly what they do best. This has come at a price however, and resulted in an unacceptable number of drawn games earlier on in the season.

We still have problems in obvious areas - competition for Aurelio at left back, a top-class right winger, and another centre forward are all holes that need addressing, but the positions we have sorted are sorted impeccably both for now and years to come.

So then, leaving aside all the behind-the-scenes pulava, ignoring anything to do with Gillette, Hicks, DIC, Klinsmann, takeovers and new grounds, the following questions arise:

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

[ricflairandy]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

one left sided creative winger/striker away, somone who could have helped turn all of those draws over dec/jan into wins, which lets face it is the reason we are 8 points behind.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Providing rafa gets the funds for another big purchase, i dont think we need anymore squad players.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

next season. i still think well catch arsenal this season, as ive said for months. They are running out of steam after overachieving for most of this season.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Definitly, i dont see another manager who could have under the same circumstances over the psat 4 years done an ybetter.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

You cannot answer this without going into the hicks/dic/ownership/stadium future argument.

[Party Phil]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

I don't think we're light years away, on our day, we just lack a bit of strength in depth / consistency. I think United are the best team in the league at the moment, Arsenal are possibly punching above their weight and Chelsea have a great squad but too much unrest. I reckon, based on 1st XI we are 2nd best, based on the whole squad joint 3rd.

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

No, absolutely not. At the start of the season I would have demanded that we challenge for the title. Although we could yet mount a late challenge, I think we have failed to do that. To have Everton breathing down our necks is not acceptable for me, but I'm willing to give Rafa & the team the benefit of the doubt this year.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Yes, almost certainly. We have brought in a few top class signings and the more they get used to English football, the better we will be domestically.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

I've been thinking "next year" for the last 3 years and I'm not going to say any different now. The team is capable of it and really we an match anyone on our day. The challenge is to match the other 3 over 38 games, which only takes a bit more consistency.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

I think he is. I have a huge amount of respect for him and I can't think of a single other manager I'd rather have. I hope all those calling for him to get sacked last month have seen their arse and feel like prize twats now.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Not until we've won a couple league titles within a few years. Basically, when every other team are scared of us in the way they seem to be of United.

[Disappear]

good post, interesting read. agree with most of it

[Party Phil]

good post, interesting read. agree with most of it

answer the fucking questions!

or at least offer something useful.

[Castor_Troy]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

I think we are about 3-4 points worse off then we should be, I don't think we have had a rub of the green with decisions & injuries this year, the squad is not as strong as I personally thought it was at the beginning of the season (ie. to actually win the league), but we do have a first 11 which is certainly good enough to beat anyone on their day, but we are 3 top class performers away from completing a strong enough squad.



*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

No, even though some of the football has been excellent at times and we appear to be finishing the season strong, like I said above, we are 3-4 points worse off then we should be.


* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Yes, whilst Rafa has come in for a lot of criticism on some fronts (some of it possibly justified), he is a manager who does learn from mistakes and the squad is adapting all the time.  It is nearly good enough to challenge for the PL.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

We resolve the off field saga's, get 3 top class performers in, reduce the '1st team' squad by 3-4 players in total and we can challenge next year.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Yes, for sure, a proven top class manager on the spain domestic front, the european front and I am convinced can achieve the same in the PL.


* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Probably not anytime in the foreseeable future, the so called big 4 are monetry terms so far ahead of the rest, that I don't think it is possible for any one of these 4 teams to dominate for a sustained period. 

I also think with the even greater influx of money over the coming years into lots of other clubs, that the league will be even more competitive

[coffeehead]

...and we're 8 points from the top of the league. We have to play both the top two teams in the next month, as well as playing Arsenal twice more in the Champions' League.

Hmm thing is we've been here before; last season and the season before we had a period of winning many games on the trot leading to that old chestnut of 'if the league began in Jan/Feb/Mar (depending on when people were saying it)' being dusted out by fans and foes alike - although in fact the stats show that under Rafa we've won the same number of points in the 2nd half of the season as the 1st.

There's a feel good atmosphere at the moment caused, as with each preceding season, I think, by our cup successes (esp the CL years and beating fantastic European sides). So far I've seen nothing to suggest that we'll beat Man U, though I admit Arsenal and Chelsea are looking weaker than expected at this time so there might be joy there.

We've changed style during this season, from the tried-and-tested 4-4-2 to Rafa Benitez' preferred 4-2-3-1, which allows Torres, Gerrard, Babel and Mascherano to play in exactly their best positions,

Can't agree with you about Babel; left side is clearly not his best position. Gerrard is doing very well in his role but he's also good on the right so he obviously has more than one best position.

doing exactly what they do best.

Again can't agree about Babel. I feel he can do much more centrally or even on the right than on the left. He's doing well but we haven't seen the best of him and Rafa has been quoted as saying that he expects him to change position in future.

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

No. I don't think we compare with our rivals. A lot of our wins have come about in spite of the performance (e.g today). There's a way to go to catch up but we're on the way.

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

No I wouldn't have. It's fashionable for people to say 'oh I always knew we weren't going to win the league this season etc etc' but at the start of the season I would have been unhappy if told about our current position. I'd have been even more unhappy a few weeks in after we failed to capitalise on Man U and Chelsea's poor starts.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

I don't know if it's squad or tactics that makes us more successful in Europe. I suspect the latter. Rafa's controlled game is always more likely to work in cup games where you can't draw. Each of those games where we went to penalties would have been a draw in the league. his tactics also wok well against European sides.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

Quite soon I think if we can improve the squad in a few critical ways. I think Rafa is opening up to changing his approach a little and that plus a few better players will do it, I feel.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Yes. See above

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

That's less likely I'm afraid. Unless we spend oodles of cash - which many of us wouldn't actually want - then I can't see us becoming dominant again as our rivals have too much money available. however, I can see us being regular contenders soon, winning every few years or several years on, several years off.

[SeanF]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

As its been said by others, we are not too far behind the top 2, arsenal are falling away, that defeat at old trafford really knocked the confidence out of them, and since the loss of eduardo who was only just coming into some form, there only left with 1 half decent striker who upto this season looked woeful.  I think we will win 6 out of our last 8 games finish 3rd 5 points behind the winners, which i think is going to be chelsea beleive it or not.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

Next season, none of us honestly thought we would win it at the start of the season, but alot of ppl including myself got a bit carried away after hammering derby.  People are saying that we've dropped stupid points at home which is true, but so has the other 3 just maybe not as much as us.  Arsenal - Boro today is an example. 

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Most definately,  there isnt anybody else out there.  I was feeling about a month ago, and did voice my concerns that if all the yanks/dic/klinsmann/parry issues had not come up, would we be doubting rafa, an most ppl were saying yes.  But no other manager would of been able to do what he has done with us so far, I said when mourinho went to chelsea an we got rafa, if the roles had been reversed chelsea would of mopped up and we would of ended up with nothing.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Hate to say it, buts its going to be 5 years before we are regarded the best in the country again, because we need to win atlease 3 titles to even start thinking about that, 1 or 2 doesnt make you great.

[lookieman]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

Not too bad I think. The squad has improved, we're not rolling over when facing the other top 3 teams. Granted we have not had the results we would want from them but it's a matter of when, not if imho.

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

I would have expected us to pick up more points to be honest. Having said that we've not dropped as many points as we did last season. Last season we drew 8 and lost 10. So far, we've drawn 10 and lost 3. Convert those draws to wins next season and I see no way else but up for the team.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Definitely. We have some interesting youth players coming along. The formation we have looks to be a winner where we get to play all our best players and we finally have Gerrard at a position where maximum utility of his strengths as a player is achieved. With some quality additions, we should make the step up in league competition.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

The next few years will be interesting to be honest. I don't want to put too much hope into it, but I expect, if the off-field situation is sorted and everyone is focussed on working towards a common goal, and we get the players we need, then it can be as early as next year.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Sure, I don't see any alternatives on the market that is of the required class or quality to manage us. He's built a very interesting and exciting squad. Rafa is single minded and intelligent enough to work on the squad's weakness and continue to tweak the squad or even his philosophy to achieve our goal.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?
When we finally get the monkey off our back and win no.19 and then show that we are a serious contender for the title season in /season out.

[garcia123]

the next 5 games will tell us how close we aRE

[Fat Scouser]

Out of all them questions, there's only really one that needs answering...
And if the people that matter answer that question with a yes, then he will take care of all the others.

[4pool]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

I feel there is little difference between the quality of the top four teams. And recently we have been starting to show it. Funny what some confidence can do for you. Arsenal who play pretty sexy football  according to so many have drawn 4 league matches in a row, Birmingham, Villa, Wigan, and Boro. Does that mean they're shite now?

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

Hypothetical.

Because as of last August who would have known about our injuries and other off the pitch problems. Take those away and then we wouldn't be where we are now which is still within striking distance.

Last season we ended up 21 points behind the league winner. Most said we needed to close the gap. We'll see soon enough if that ends up being the case. I fully expect we will.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Last season we ended up 21 points behind the league winner. Most said we needed to close the gap. We'll see soon enough if that ends up being the case. I fully expect we will.

And then we'll close the gap even more if not outright win the League. So yes, it most definately is likely to change.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

Next season.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

I have remained consistent in my support of Rafa. If I had a billion quid and bought the team, the first thing i'd do is sign Rafa to a 10 year contract.

Enough said.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Who said we fell off? Fergie still wants to knock us off the perch and he hasn't yet. If they ever surpass our trophy haul, then we'll be knocked off our perch. Until then, the Liverbird looks below at all the rest.

[Nicoliverpool]

Col I love you.

[mazlo123]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

I think we're coming to the end of Rafa's re-building plan and if hes provided with the funds he requires for his 1st choice transfers in the summer we will be comparable to Man Utd and Chelsea in terms of squad depth with a youth system comparable to the Arse.


*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

Well i really wouldn't have accepted forth, would have liked to see us a couple of points off the top at least.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

I think we might see the fat trimmed from the squad in the summer . . Maybe 4 - 6 players to leave with the introduction of 2/3 players of pedigree.  If this occurs i think we'll see a huge improvement in the league next season.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

Next season. IF we purchase a little more quality or some of the younger players come through and are instantly effective.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Yes.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Well the league is so competitive i really cant see any team dominating it for a prolonged period.

[Mike Doyle]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

Arsenal - Both teams at there best I believe we are both on a par with each other. They play the sexy football, we play with the heart and have a solid defence. The two Champions League ties will be really really close if both teams are on top form. As for the title, 1 or 2 quality additions from us, I think we can become a better squad than these and if we find consistency I think we will be ahead of these in terms of challenging next year.
Chelsea - I've said this since the FA semi of 2006, in a one off game, I think we are the better team than Chelsea and I think again if both teams are at there strongest we will be about level, but I think we have a slight edge. The one problem is, Chelsea are more consistant than us, if we were to get there level of consistency in the league, I think we would be the better team of the 2.
Man Utd - Out of the other big 3 teams, I think these are the ones we are behind in terms of quality. They have quality in all positions, we have quality in most areas but lack it in some & thats why I think they are in the stronger position at the moment. An addition of a quality Right Winger, A quality second striker (e.g. Robbie Keane) and a quality Full back and I think we can be in as gooder shape as these in challenging for the league.

*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

No, I think maybe some of the draws that we have had, especially at home could have been turned into wins. The Birmingham one particularly sticks to mind with Torres being rested. If we could have turned 4 of those draws into wins, we'd be in a much stronger position and I think it comes down to our ability some times to not finish teams off.
It looks like now, we are finally starting to finish teams off and if next season we can hit the ground running and actually kill teams off instead of letting them get back into it (e.g. Villa, Spurs) I think we will be in a much stronger position.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Hopefully, with an addition of 2/3 more quality players, we can be better equipped to challenge for the league next season. We also need to improve our consistency in the league, like we do in Europe. Maybe now, with a settled formation and a good core to the line-up, next year the consistency will hopefully come more naturally and we can challenge in the league like we do so frequently in Europe.

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

Hopefully next year with some quality additions and a trimmed down squad, we can dramatically close the gap & challenge for the title. As I said in the earlier questions.
The big must for Liverpool is consistency, if we can get that into our system, I really honestly think that we can challenge next season.

* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

I think so. It now seems to me that he has knocked the rotation system on the head and has found the core of his best team, with those players playing in there bet position.
I would like to see what he will do with the funds available to him in the summer, whether that be with DIC or RBS. If he can get the right buys in, we will have a really strong starting line-up and providing he doesn't rotate too much, there is no doubt in my mind that Rafa can deliver Liverpool the title.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Hopefully, very soon. I can see it happening. Were not far off it now. All we need to do is to find consistency in the league and I think we will be up there with the best again.
It looks like we've got Europe covered and are back on our perch there. If we can seriously start to challenge for the league again, I think we will be back on our perch again and will hopefully win alot more League Championships over the years to come.

[keyo]

With regard to our position, Martin Tyler suggested that this is our best haul of points after 30 games in the Premier League era.  If this is indeed the case thenI am suprised, but I suppose it does add a context to whether we have improved relatively or not.

As mush as we appear to be a distance from the title, we are closer than any other season at this stage since 2002, our points haul is one of our best, and we will finish closer than the last 3 seasons (probably).  Therefore we continue to make progress, but it does show you how hard it is to make inroads at the top of the table.  Add in the turmoil in December/January and its potential impact on results and I think we have clearly progressed adn have narrowed the gap on the Mancs and Chelsea, even if we have not yet managed to close it.

[minusone]

... but we 'only' just beat a crap Inter team with loads of injuries, thanks to a Torres 'lucky' strike and 2 goals in the last 5 minutes after we 'struggled' for 85 mins.

We are out of the FA Cup which no respectable top 4 team should be.
We didn't win the Carling Cup which a respectable top 4 team should.
We dont have a 20 goals a season striker like the other top 4 teams.
We have midfield not producing goals like the other top 4 teams.

....AND... we'd be in a much better position if Rafa wasn't rotating Torres all the time.

At least that's what i am told i should be thinking.

[Party Phil]

We dont have a 20 goals a season striker like the other top 4 teams.

At least that's what i am told i should be thinking.

They can't really claim that anymore. Instead it'll be "Liverpool need a 30 goal a season striker and a 20 goal striker in suport".

[Col]

With regard to our position, Martin Tyler suggested that this is our best haul of points after 30 games in the Premier League era.  If this is indeed the case thenI am suprised, but I suppose it does add a context to whether we have improved relatively or not.

As mush as we appear to be a distance from the title, we are closer than any other season at this stage since 2002, our points haul is one of our best, and we will finish closer than the last 3 seasons (probably).  Therefore we continue to make progress, but it does show you how hard it is to make inroads at the top of the table.  Add in the turmoil in December/January and its potential impact on results and I think we have clearly progressed adn have narrowed the gap on the Mancs and Chelsea, even if we have not yet managed to close it.

That's the opinion I'm swaying towards also. Improvements in a few positions could see us close the gap very soon, provided the club remains stable of course.

[Bushy]

We're gonna win the league



alright it's a long shot, but maybe, just maybe.........................................

[all_funkt_up]

* On the pitch, where are we currently in comparison to the other teams looking to challenge for the title?

Depends. On our day we can beat anyone, hence the continued success in the Champions League. But keeping the performances really top notch for a 60 game season has proved too much for us again. I am sure next year with a good spine to the team, an ever improving Babel & possibly one or two more match winners - we'll be there or thereabouts.


*If you were offered this position at the beginning of the season, would you have accepted it or have we not performed well enough overall?

Yes and no. 59 points after 30 games is pretty good - Everton finished 4th in 04/05 with 61 points. Our points tally is pretty good and our recent form has been superb. On the other hand, come May, if United end up 1 title closer to 18, I wont be a happy boy.

* We seem to be more equipped within the squad to challenge on the European fronts than domestic ones. Is this likely to change any time soon?

Yes and no. Nothing is impossible and we do have some good players. But unless we buy/develop a couple of decent match winners I cant see us winning the league any time soon. Basically for us to win the league would involve some good fortune and for everything to go right for us. 

* When can we realistically look to challenge for the league?

When our club competes with Manchester United on and off the pitch. When we spend the same as them on transfers and wages. If we win the league before then, it is down to the sheer brilliance of one man, Benitez.


* Is Rafa Benitez the man to help us make that challenge?

Without a shadow of a doubt.

* When will we be "back on our perch" for good?

Maybe never. I suppose realistically, the defining factor in English football over the next few years, will be who replaces Ferguson and how successful he/she is.

If they make a blunder and appoint Keane/Bryan Robson or some other goon, then maybe (just maybe) it will make our job much easier.