Football Focus

[SeanMacGabhann]

Everything keef just said

[matthew123]

I thought Cole was trying to block the pass rather than make a challenge on the player.. just because players accidently clash heads doesn't mean they should both be sent off either for headbutting each other..

I was impressed with Liverpool - I think this is a good sign for future success

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> Anyway, I take heart form that performance (which

> basically should have been a win), and quite like

> the fact everyone has totally written the pool

> off. Now the reds can just get on with it, and see

> how the season works out. Spurs and City have a

> lot more pressure on them right now.

I'd agree with that comment and hope Liverpool do better this season - but the comment is also a reflection of how low Liverpool's expectations have now fallen. A club that used to have an ethos of success.

[Jah Lush]

I don't think that many people had written Liverpool off Keef. Certainly not me. But I would have done had Rafa Benitez still been at the helm. The club needed shaking up and a sweeping with a new broom and think Roy Hodgson is just the man to get the ball rolling. Hopefully the robber barons will be gone soon too.

[Keef]

ut the comment is also a reflection of how low Liverpool's expectations have now fallen. A club that used to have an ethos of success.

I disagree, I think they'll do pretty well this season, and have quite high expectations. I didn't like it this time last year when lots of people were tipping them for the title. Too much pressure.

Jah, the bookies had written them off. Before yesterdays match, you could get 16/1 for them, and that is the biggest price you'd have gotten for Liverpool at the beginning of the season for a long time.

[matthew123]

I couldn't agree with you more Jah. Putting aside the arrogant media who with their back slapping think they are an elite tribe of prophets dictating the future with their half baked headlines - most Liverpool fans who I chatted with on the Kop yesterday were in agreement this is going to be a fantastic season for Liverpool.

[Jah Lush]

16-1 for the title? I think that's about right. They'll certainly be up there or thereabouts but this season is about consoladation and depending if you get new owners and some money on the table to spend, possibly a little tinkering with the team whilst getting some new players in. So you'll be looking for a top four finish and maybe a cup? That is still a tough call for Hodgson's first season but I think he's capable of it.

[Narnia]

Very interesting season in prospect. Last season Chelsea just made it but given Man U had a makeshift defence for large parts of the season they may have won it if that wasn't the case. Chelsea have started well and seem to have a 'team' element to them that Man City don't possess yet. But they are ageing and I wonder if that will take it's toll. Man U are ageing too but have some new blood so it's really hard to tell with them.

Spurs first 30 minutes on Saturday was a joy to watch. Hopefully they can continue to play like that. I found Liverpool and Arsenal a bit boring in comparison to watching Spurs. I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be very close this year between a number of clubs. All the pundits say Chelsea or Man U for the title. I think they may be wrong. It could just be the Arse's year. They play great football though not yesterday.

They are my tip. Anyone else prepared to say what their's is?

PS All subject to any new signings for the top clubs which might make a difference.

[Sandperson]

United! :))

[matthew123]

My tip is Chelsea. They've been the strongest team for the last 5 or 6 years and would probably have chalked up the title each year if not for their high casualty rate to key players (which always seem to involves likes of Terry, Cech, Essien and Drogba having long term injuries).

I am predicting Liverpool for second, City third and then another dogfight for 4th.

[Narnia]

So why do you think United will do so badly Matthew? Fighting for 4th is doing badly by their standards. I don't rate Terry at all. Maybe it just because I dislike his personae.

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ut the comment is also a reflection of how low

> Liverpool's expectations have now fallen. A club

> that used to have an ethos of success.

>

> I disagree, I think they'll do pretty well this

> season, and have quite high expectations. I didn't

> like it this time last year when lots of people

> were tipping them for the title. Too much

> pressure.

>

True - but the Liverpool of old coped brilliantly with the pressure, year in year out. Hope they get back there soon, its been too long.

[Narnia]

This is what I mentioned previously. You need to look at the reply to see what happened.

[Keef]

The Liverpool of old was 20+ years ago. The only thing this Liverpool has in common is the name, the colour, and Anfield. Same for any club obviously.

[mockney piers]

Interesting season? Yeah right, Chelsea, or Man U ... yaaaaaaaaaawn.

Anyway, Hamlets whipped Fulham's third team soundly, comfortably and with some style.

If they can keep playing like that they could finally start threatening for promotion.

[Mick Mac]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Liverpool of old was 20+ years ago. The only

> thing this Liverpool has in common is the name,

> the colour, and Anfield. Same for any club

> obviously.

They have made a succession of bad managerial appointments.

Rather than distancing themselves from the old liverpool they should look to their history for the standards they should set for the future.

[Jah Lush]

Bad managerial appointments Mick? I think you'll find that both Houlier and Benitez did manage to win a few things before they started losing the plot. They just didn't win the Premiership.

[Mick Mac]

ok - but it was easy to see neither was up to job of winning the premiership and id say both were given too long.

[matthew123]

Quite impressed with Scholes last night - even if he should have been sent off. Overall from the games I've seen this weekend it's been good stuff.

Houllier, Evans and Benitez all did well in their first few years but the real problem was not cutting them loose once it became crystal clear they were taking the Club backwards. We lost a minimum 3 years keeping those guys on far too long (Rafa 6 months, Houllier 1 year, Evans 18 months).

[Keef]

I think it is very harsh to say Rafa wasn't up to the job of winning the prem. There was a load of backroom stuff going on, and he still came very close.

Now the dust has settled, I think I am happioer that he has gone, mainly because I don't think he was that easy for the players to get on with. I do think he's a very good manager though, and I think people are unfair to claim he was bad for the club, or taking them backwards. He had a shocking season, but there were several reasons for that.

Anyway, a good first weekend, and hopefully a good season ahead.

Piers, yes it's probably a boring 2 horse race at the top, like Scotland, but I do think last year was interesting both at the bottom, and in the race for 4th.

[Sandperson]

Matt, you get funnier with every season. No united in your top four but Liverpool second. Hilarious. Joe Cole's two footed challenge was trying to win the ball and shouldn't have been a red but Scholes should have been sent off...double hilarious.

We looked good last night but the opposition weren't up to much. Some great interlinking play, I think this season could be a good one.

[Jah Lush]

So Spurs back in Europe - that's the main thing tonight. The last time we were in the European Cup we got beaten 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-final to the eventual winners Benfica back in 1962. A little unlucky, hitting the woodwork a few times and suffering from some rather dodgy refereering decisions. I'm going to the second leg at White Hart Lane next week and looking forward to us celebrating being in the Champions League. Fingers crossed.

Young Boys, Spurs v Benfica - Danny Blanchflower and all that.

[Keef]

Indeed, good luck to Spurs. Obviously I want Liverpool to go back ahead of them in the league, but I shall be cheering them on in Europe this year.

[matthew123]

Good luck to Spurs, they played well Saturday and would imagine they'll not have any problems against the Swiss.

Might be a 2 horse race on the final weekend - but with much stronger Spurs and City joining the usual mix I believe it will a very open season at the top end of the table. You cannot compare the league today with 10 years ago.

[ratty]

Come on Young Boys! Ooo Err!