Can Liverpool challenge for the title?

[weasel]

They just picked up Sissoko from Valencia. I think he's a good buy, I was really impressed by his performances the few times I watched him last season. Have made some other handy purchases as well, Zenden, Jose Reina, and are still in the hunt for Figo. Gerrard's now staying and it looks like they'll be hanging on to all the main players that lead them to champions league glory. I have great faith in Benitez's managerial abilities. He doesn't have to have an all-star squad to build a championship team. I really expect them to be a realistic title threat next season, and won't be suprised if either Arsenal or Man Utd are bumped back to fourth spot or worse.

 

[perth sharkie]

I don't know. Having so many foreign players can be risky as they sometimes can take a while to adapt to the English game. I'm hoping they provide some form of title challenge though, it's going to be boring if Chelsea walk away with it again. And would be nice if Liverpool could condemn Man Utd to fourth place.

 

[Lenny_2212]

last year was a rebuilding year for liverpool. a new coach, introducing his new style of play, players needing to adapt, new recruits needing to gel with current squad members. i think this year will be alot more positive. i think we can challenge for the title, especially considering we won the champions league.

 

[Foz]

We need to buy a few defenders to be a realistic title contender.
The Reds have a heap of class midfielders,3 good strikers (although I wouldnt say no to a 20 goal a year man) but lack depth in defence.
Hypia can be found wanting a yard or two in pace at times,Finnan is a fair defender but has a few things on his mind and Traore hasnt convinced me at all that he can produce tight defence every week.No doubt they'll use Risse at left back but theres not that much depth there.
Of course Carra has been playing outstanding football for the last 12 months.

 

[Southern Rooster]

I don't know. Having so many foreign players can be risky as they sometimes can take a while to adapt to the English game. I'm hoping they provide some form of title challenge though, it's going to be boring if Chelsea walk away with it again. And would be nice if Liverpool could condemn Man Utd to fourth place.

I wouldn't put it past Bolton to finish in 4th spot and having Utd in 5th.

 

[perth sharkie]

I wouldn't put it past Bolton to finish in 4th spot and having Utd in 5th.

I think that's about as unlikely as Inter winning next year's Serie A.

 

[Southern Rooster]

I think that's about as unlikely as Inter winning next year's Serie A.

So a big chance.

 

[perth sharkie]

So a big chance.

I wasn't being sarcastic.

 

[sato_jones]

While chelsea have the funds to buy any player they like for any price they like i.e their last 83 million pound offer, no one will get near them..

 

[sato_jones]

A quote from Arsene Wenger

"We are in a market where you have to let Chelsea make decisions and then make your decision," the Frenchman told reporters before the start of the British Grand Prix overnight.

"There is a price for Chelsea and there is a price for everybody else. You have to wait for them . . . It's frustrating but it's a fact."

At least when Manure were on top they seemed to have some type of a budget to stick to, Chelsea can do what they like when they like, how is that good for the game?

 

[Raider Ultra]

It's not, it is killing the Premiership. I've already lost any interest in who wins next season, it has become farcical.

 

[mjdj]

United have strengthened their squad and finished 19! pts ahead of Liverpool last year.

United have Rooney, Ronaldo, Rio, Ruud and Co yet people expect them to drop to 5th.

keep dreaming.

Liverpool should just worry about finishing the best team on the Mersey.

 

[0neye]

MAN U WILL GO WAY DOWN WITH THAT SEPTICK TANK RUNNING THE SHOW ;()

 

[Mad Dogg]

Man Utd had an absolute horror run with injuries last season (for the first month or so we had virtually no defenders, Giggs was our only fit winger and Alan Smith was our only striker) and slacked off at the end of the season when we realised we couldn't win the EPL, yet still finished 16 points ahead of 4th (Everton).

Liverpool will too busy competing with Everton, Bolton and Boro to look at us.

 

[borat]

United have strengthened their squad and finished 19! pts ahead of Liverpool last year.

United have Rooney, Ronaldo, Rio, Ruud and Co yet people expect them to drop to 5th.

keep dreaming.

Liverpool should just worry about finishing the best team on the Mersey.

Rooney = 10% brilliant 90% crap everton benchie
Ronaldo = Showpony with no ticker, doesn't even want to be there
Rio = Druggo about to leave anyway.
Ruud = Hack well past his used by date
& Co = Silvestre, Brown, Neville

United will drop to 5th for the main reason that they do not have a world class central midfielder. Keane was about 3-4 years ago but not now. Arsenal have Viera, Chelsea have Lampard and Liverpool have Gerrard. United have Fletcher and Kleberson

. United fans should expect another year without silverwear.

 

[Mad Dogg]

Rooney = 10% brilliant 90% crap everton benchie
Ronaldo = Showpony with no ticker, doesn't even want to be there
Rio = Druggo about to leave anyway.
Ruud = Hack well past his used by date
& Co = Silvestre, Brown, Neville

:lol:

United will drop to 5th for the main reason that they do not have a world class central midfielder. Keane was about 3-4 years ago but not now. Arsenal have Viera, Chelsea have Lampard and Liverpool have Gerrard. United have Fletcher and Kleberson

. United fans should expect another year without silverwear.

Fair enough that central midfield is our biggest weakness, but we're not that far behind Chelsea and we're better than Arsenal and Liverpool. Vieira isn't the player that he used to be, and Gerrard is massively over-hyped. He's a good player with the potential to be great, but at the moment he just drifts in and out of games with occasional glimpses of brilliance. Kind of like Rooney I guess, except that Rooney is much younger. Personally, when talking about Liverpool midfielders I rate Alonso much higher.

And is that Fletcher that you're laughing at the one that has made a mockery of Vieira every time they've faced each other? In fact, he's been close to MOM every time he's faced Arsenal over the last 18 months. It's just a matter of taking that kind of performance and being able to do it week-in week-out against lower teams, and there were signs that he was starting to do that towards the end of last season.

 

[Lenny_2212]

how many trophie did manchester united win last season?

ZERO.

dont think it was a one off either, but who knows, maybe glazer can help your lost, loser of a football club out :lol:

 

[MONY]

:lol:


Fair enough that central midfield is our biggest weakness, but we're not that far behind Chelsea and we're better than Arsenal and Liverpool. Vieira isn't the player that he used to be, and Gerrard is massively over-hyped. He's a good player with the potential to be great, but at the moment he just drifts in and out of games with occasional glimpses of brilliance. Kind of like Rooney I guess, except that Rooney is much younger. Personally, when talking about Liverpool midfielders I rate Alonso much higher.

And is that Fletcher that you're laughing at the one that has made a mockery of Vieira every time they've faced each other? In fact, he's been close to MOM every time he's faced Arsenal over the last 18 months. It's just a matter of taking that kind of performance and being able to do it week-in week-out against lower teams, and there were signs that he was starting to do that towards the end of last season.

thats the biggest piece of philosophical bullsh*t i have ever heard........ mate i dont know what sport your watching but it aint football.

 

[borat]

:lol:


Fair enough that central midfield is our biggest weakness, but we're not that far behind Chelsea and we're better than Arsenal and Liverpool. Vieira isn't the player that he used to be, and Gerrard is massively over-hyped. He's a good player with the potential to be great, but at the moment he just drifts in and out of games with occasional glimpses of brilliance. Kind of like Rooney I guess, except that Rooney is much younger. Personally, when talking about Liverpool midfielders I rate Alonso much higher.

And is that Fletcher that you're laughing at the one that has made a mockery of Vieira every time they've faced each other? In fact, he's been close to MOM every time he's faced Arsenal over the last 18 months. It's just a matter of taking that kind of performance and being able to do it week-in week-out against lower teams, and there were signs that he was starting to do that towards the end of last season.

Everything you wrote was a faiir call except your assessment of Gerard. Arguably the best footballer in the world and obviously the best according to Mourinho. I think the fact that Chelsea are not after one United player is a good indication of where Man U are at. Fletcher is all right I was just giving you a bit of stick. But Kleberson . For all of United's money why they refuse to invest in a world class midfielder is beyond me. All the strikers in the world won't do you any good unless they are getting the service from the midfield. Will be interseted to see if Rio does leave the club.

 

[weasel]

I didn't want this to turn into a Man U bashing thread, as much as I dislike them. I did suggest that Arsenal might also be the one to fade if Liverpool excel. Benitez managed to win the Spanish League title twice in three years with Valencia, who fielded a pretty humble but solid squad without great depth in comparision to the mighty Real Madrid, and had good success in Europe during that time. Comparing the rosters of those two clubs over that period looks much more of a mismatch than a current Liverpool/Manchester United comparision imo. 'Pool also had a terrible run of injuries last season, and it was a re-building year anyway, with a new manager and an upheaval of the playing roster.

Anyway, Liverpool already are a better side than United, being the champions of Europe and all, as opposed to a trophyless also-ran in England. The 19 point gap means diddly squat.