Football: Season 2004/5 Discussion Thread.

[Zoot]

Nah, man. I'm talking about the yawning gap between your league title win in 1967 and your next league title win in 1993. I'd say that equates to a period of non-dominance in the '70s and '80s.

So, yeah. Talk to me about barren spells in - ooh - 2016.

Although I guess that 1975 DIVISION 2 championship must still make your heart swell with pride.

Lord above, if that isn't a typical scouser comment. League title win in 67? You conveniently forget the European Cup in 68, then? The FIRST English club to do it

And, young scourser-me-lad, I know very well that you know rightly that all your records are in danger of falling, including the league titles (hence the desperate urge for Arsenal to win at all costs ), and you also know that United have every likelihood of capturing at least one more European cup in the near future (we didn't deserve the last one, so what's to say that we might not sneak another )

You've got to be IN it to WIN it, dontcha know?

[koworld]

Gripper! Flush his head daaaaahn the toilet!

[Zoot]

Although I guess that 1975 DIVISION 2 championship must still make your heart swell with pride.

Bloody right, mate, it was a hell of a lot better than the year before!!!!

In that season, we drew 4-4 with Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day (check it to see if I am a true fan!), and I was on the verge of thinking that we weren't a decent side.

Then, of course, St. Fergie arrived

[Sickboy]

Lord above, if that isn't a typical scouser comment. League title win in 67? You conveniently forget the European Cup in 68, then? The FIRST English club to do it

Ooh, you old goalpost-shifter, you. I didn't even mention European Cups. But since you bring it up, like... Never retained it, did ya? Unlike us. And Forest.

And, young scourser-me-lad, I know very well that you know rightly that all your records are in danger of falling, including the league titles (hence the desperate urge for Arsenal to win at all costs ), and you also know that United have every likelihood of capturing at least one more European cup in the near future (we didn't deserve the last one, so what's to say that we might not sneak another )

Like I said earlier, I think Utd's high-time is grinding to a halt and all the glory-hunting goons at the 'Theatre Of Dreams' (Jesus, what a Hallmark/Disneyfied nickname for a home stadium) know it deep down, too.

You've got to be IN it to WIN it, dontcha know?

Ummm... We *are* IN it.

[Zoot]

Ooh, you old goalpost-shifter, you. I didn't even mention European Cups. But since you bring it up, like... Never retained it, did ya? Unlike us. And Forest.

Blimey - I thought you'd called me a shirt-lifter there!

You've got to be IN it to WIN it, dontcha know?

Ummm... We *are* IN it.

Indeed. At the moment. Unlike the FA Cup (cough, cough) [/quote]

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

BBC website:

POSSESSION
Burnley 67%
Liverpool 33%

Pudding pitch, second-string team,

Man! That's just so arrogant, though!

Thing is, everyone slagged Fergie off for fielding an even more below-strength team than that against Exeter, but at least he had an excuse. What more important tournaments are Liverpool saving all their good players for..?

[Zoot]

BBC website:

POSSESSION
Burnley 67%
Liverpool 33%

Pudding pitch, second-string team,

Man! That's just so arrogant, though!

Thing is, everyone slagged Fergie off for fielding an even more below-strength team than that against Exeter, but at least he had an excuse. What more important tournaments are Liverpool saving all their good players for..?

Ah, Stuart, sometimes you just say the things that I really want to say but am scared to!

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

PS:

Pudding pitch,

Would that be graceful losing, then?

[Mat T]

Liverpool losing tonight was wonderful only because I am always supporting the underdog. As you do...

It doesn't seem to matter what manager that team installs, they still have these silly periods where everything goes a bit tits up. First Man U utterly bossed them at Anfield then they go and lose to Burnley.

Who do they play next?

[Sickboy]

BBC website:

POSSESSION
Burnley 67%
Liverpool 33%

Pudding pitch, second-string team,

Man! That's just so arrogant, though!

Thing is, everyone slagged Fergie off for fielding an even more below-strength team than that against Exeter, but at least he had an excuse. What more important tournaments are Liverpool saving all their good players for..?

Fucking hell, man. What *is* it with you and Ferguson? He isn't still the manager of Aberdeen, y'know. You gotta let go.

Pulling me up on my whiney excuses about the Burnley game is just grumpy old smiley-blindness. I never joined in with the Exeter-Man Utd 'arrogant' blether anyway, and I'd already set the bantering tone by happily admitting to having a laugh at Traore's arse-up.

And your point about Liverpool not having any tournaments to save good players for is barmy old cack. League Cup, Champion's League and Premiership enough for ya? Anyone here will - however grudgingly - have to agree that we've had some nightmarish injury grief this season and the squad is already stretched waffer-thin. Benitez had every right to field an under-strength team. Utd did it and got away with it. We didn't.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

Pulling me up on my whiney excuses about the Burnley game is just grumpy old smiley-blindness.

That's why I put a winky-me-do on it, chap. Calm down, calm down.

And your point about Liverpool not having any tournaments to save good players for is barmy old cack. League Cup,

Sacrificing the FA Cup for the Carling? It's a novel approach, I grant you. And let's face it, I'll be editor of Edge before you win the CL or the Premiership. The FA Cup was far and away Liverpool's best silverware chance this season. (Especially since even a full-strength side is struggling to overcome Watford in the Carling, never mind having to face Man U or Chelski in the final if they do.)

Champion's League and Premiership enough for ya?

Nah, fair enough. I can see the importance of trying to make sure the end-of-season gap behind Everton is less than, say, 10 points. Morale and that...

Still, if you want to maintain this harmless banter and hold the moral high ground over "graceless" Fergie, you really ought to be able to do better than "we had injuries" and "the pitch was muddy". From what I could see from the TV footage, Burnley had to play on the same pitch you did (and it's not like they play on one like that every week, these were extreme circumstances). And, y'know, shouldn't highly-paid, superfit Premiership stars be BETTER equipped to adapt to and deal with difficult/tiring conditions than lesser opposition? I mean, Liverpool might have been below strength, but this is still Burnley we're talking about here. 67-33 possession is a staggeringly dominant statistic for ANY game, never mind one against a team that's a division-and-a-bit your better.

[romanista]

Yes, indeed. I had a lot of respect for what Jack did. I didn't enjoy it, natch, but was impressed nonetheless.

Bit like Scheringa is doing with AZ here now...

And, y'know, shouldn't highly-paid, superfit Premiership stars be BETTER equipped to adapt to and deal with difficult/tiring conditions than lesser opposition? I mean, Liverpool might have been below strength, but this is still Burnley we're talking about here. 67-33 possession is a staggeringly dominant statistic for ANY game, never mind one against a team that's a division-and-a-bit your better.

High-string prima-donna's always seem to have more trouble with a muddy sight because they are so spoiled.... still this discussion doesn't make it much clearer to me why liverpool keeps on failing the last decade... 67/33.. incredible that is a dominance you hardly see

[Sickboy]

Pulling me up on my whiney excuses about the Burnley game is just grumpy old smiley-blindness.

That's why I put a winky-me-do on it, chap. Calm down, calm down.

Grr. Eventually.

Sacrificing the FA Cup for the Carling? It's a novel approach, I grant you. And let's face it, I'll be editor of Edge before you win the CL or the Premiership. The FA Cup was far and away Liverpool's best silverware chance this season.

"Sacrifice", nothing. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, all Benitez could do before the game last night was manage his squad over four competitions. Our next bunch of games feature a potentially point-scoring Premiership run (Charlton, Southampton, Birmingham...) with the League Cup second leg and a Champion's League game in between. With all that in mind - particularly with a comedy injury-hit squad - it's just basic shrewdness to keep your key players (what's left of 'em) all cosy in cotton-wool until you really, really need to bring 'em out.

Nah, fair enough. I can see the importance of trying to make sure the end-of-season gap behind Everton is less than, say, 10 points. Morale and that...

*Ironic applause*

Champion's League run is the big morale-boost. Premiership is all about maintaining the CL momentum.

Still, if you want to maintain this harmless banter and hold the moral high ground over "graceless" Fergie, you really ought to be able to do better than "we had injuries" and "the pitch was muddy". From what I could see from the TV footage, Burnley had to play on the same pitch you did (and it's not like they play on one like that every week, these were extreme circumstances). And, y'know, shouldn't highly-paid, superfit Premiership stars be BETTER equipped to adapt to and deal with difficult/tiring conditions than lesser opposition? I mean, Liverpool might have been below strength, but this is still Burnley we're talking about here. 67-33 possession is a staggeringly dominant statistic for ANY game, never mind one against a team that's a division-and-a-bit your better.

C'mon, guy. It ain't a science. Yeah, we were shit. I admit it. Whaddaya want? A pic of me in a fucking hairshirt?

Only watched the game late on (taped it). Saw the Traore OG at the time. Baros perked things up a bit, but by then it was too late.

I thought we nailed the whiney-excuse joshing smiley type-thing? I concur that it's rough, trying to defend a rubbish performance ten minutes after the game has ended. But this is football. Heart over head, and all.

[rockwaldo]

From what I could see from the TV footage, Burnley had to play on the same pitch you did

I dont think you *really* need to watch the tv footage to have an idea on that one old chap....

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

Whaddaya want? A pic of me in a fucking hairshirt?

YES.