[Archived] Champions League

[RevidgeBlue]

With all due respect roar I think your time might be better spent waxing lyrical about your beloved reds on a Liverpool website rather than boring us all to death on here.

Placing Rafa Benitez top of an all time list of managers did provide us with a moment of comedy gold though. Thanks for that.

[Roar of the Rover]

With all due respect roar I think your time might be better spent waxing lyrical about your beloved reds on a Liverpool website rather than boring us all to death on here.

Placing Rafa Benitez top of an all time list of managers did provide us with a moment of comedy gold though. Thanks for that.

How many years did it take Fergie to win the Champions League and how long did it take Rafa??

[HairwayToSteven]

Andy Gray is NOT a Liverpool fan!, he just says the truth about Liverpool and people on this messageboard cant take the fact that a guy whos knows what he's on about has nothing but praise for Liverpool.

I am not a Liverpool Fan but at the end of the day you have to admit they are Special in Europe and no British team will better them, either on the pitch or off it!

When Andy Gray and the rest of the gits hail the big four (plus maybe Spurs) in the Premiership, and refer to the rest of us like we're worthless, do you believe him then? Look at Premiership table, it's clear that the CL is more important to Liverpool than the Premiership, F.A Cup and Worthington Cup. Gone from all the cups in early rounds, except for the CL, they didn't bother. Look at Benitez's spending frenzy since he arrived, he should have something to show for it.

Great team? I think not. At least we now know where your true feelings are. "Special in Europe", well if by that you're saying that they play entertaining football and deserve everything they win (and obviously don't win), then I strongly disagree. There's a difference in a winning team playing good and attacking football in most games, and a winning team that plays poor and defensive football often. Liverpool is most definitely in the latter category.

[HairwayToSteven]

How many years did it take Fergie to win the Champions League and how long did it take Rafa??

Are you seriously even comparing the two? As much as I loath him and his crop, Fergie I'm sorry to say is on a different planet all together.

[Roar of the Rover]

Are you seriously even comparing the two? As much as I loath him and his crop, Fergie I'm sorry to say is on a different planet all together.

Like i said earlier, Liverpool are special in EUROPE!!!, of course Fergies better in the league.

Rafa won the Uefa Cup with Valencia too and the Spanish League. But tactics wise Rafa's on another planet.

[thenodrog]

But tactics wise Rafa's on another planet.

thats an opinion I completely agree with, though obviously not in the same way as you.

As a man manager he's one of the worst, and I think him and the new owners are on a collision course with his transfer record to date and his (well publicised) future spending plans.

[Eddie]

Like i said earlier, Liverpool are special in EUROPE!!!, of course Fergies better in the league.

Rafa won the Uefa Cup with Valencia too and the Spanish League. But tactics wise Rafa's on another planet.

Valencia are a fairly large team, winning the UEFA Cup for a team of that size isn't that much of an achievement. He's not really made any improvement to Liverpool in the league, which is the real test of a manager, so I don't think you can really say he's been amazing. Everyone can go on cup runs, hell look at what we've done in cups over the past five seasons or so, but where you prove what you are worth it in the 38 league campaign that shows your true capabilities over a prolonged period of time.

[Ronin]

Granted Liverpool did well by coming from 3-0 down to win (on Pens) the 2005 final, but they scraped through the latter stages to this year's final and I'm glad they didn't win it, as with their play in the final, didn't deserve to win it. (well, that and I just don't like them ) And what's with the botty kissing of Liverpool?!

[ewoodblue]

Granted Liverpool did well by coming from 3-0 down to win (on Pens) the 2005 final, but they scraped through the latter stages to this year's final and I'm glad they didn't win it, as with their play in the final, didn't deserve to win it. (well, that and I just don't like them ) And what's with the botty kissing of Liverpool?!

I suppose kissin Liverpools botty is a distraction from so many manc lovers,and like you, i absolutely deplore Man United,as much as a lot deplore Liverpool.

Just to be fair,if Liverpool are kings of Europe,with a prestigious past to prove it, then let Man United take 2nd place.After all ,all kings need their queens.

Liverpool compete for everything , like they proved against Rovers when every one thought they'd lie down and die ,and give Rovers the title,just like Man United did against West Ham the last game of season.(what a joke )

I wonder if they can be bothered with Fa.Cup next year, or have they got a more prestigious friendly somewhere in the neverlands..how many teams are famous for turning their back on the fa Cup.

I love and suppprt the Rovers, but since the 70's ,all i can say as far as europe was concerned and watching Liverpool,the players left ,me memorised........thanx for the memories 'pool.

[Roar of the Rover]

I suppose kissin Liverpools botty is a distraction from so many manc lovers,and like you, i absolutely deplore Man United,as much as a lot deplore Liverpool.

Just to be fair,if Liverpool are kings of Europe,with a prestigious past to prove it, then let Man United take 2nd place.After all ,all kings need their queens.

Liverpool compete for everything , like they proved against Rovers when every one thought they'd lie down and die ,and give Rovers the title,just like Man United did against West Ham the last game of season.(what a joke )

I wonder if they can be bothered with Fa.Cup next year, or have they got a more prestigious friendly somewhere in the neverlands..how many teams are famous for turning their back on the fa Cup.

I love and suppprt the Rovers, but since the 70's ,all i can say as far as europe was concerned and watching Liverpool,the players left ,me memorised........thanx for the memories 'pool.

Well said!, i don't know why so many people on these boards are or have anything againts Liverpool.

[Eddie]

Because they are a big side. However, unlike the other big three they have yet to win the premiership and somehow seem to forget that when they go and talk about being the best side in the world.

[HairwayToSteven]

Also, if say ManUre got to this final and you said the same things about them there would not be this kind of discussion. Do you know why? I do. You'd get some "Hiss!" & "Boo!" because you'd been saying good things about ManUre, and nobody likes that, but never on their tactics or style of play. Now, Liverpool on the other hand...

[neekoy]

So the Mancs won the league by luck?? No team can have so much luck that they can win the league, talk sense, for once!

Have you even watched the last decade of football? Last minute goals, penalties at the theatre of silence and giving SurAlex just one more minute of injury time have served the Manc well.

Go back to your KOP website and wish Mr Benitez luck, he is going to need it AGAIN next year

[philipl]

This debate shouldn't be on a thread about the Champions League winners.

[Ozz]

Rovers Captain Jones lifts the 2008-09 trophy at the Nou Camp, in a training top from 5 years ago for some reason...

[Roar of the Rover]

Have you even watched the last decade of football? Last minute goals, penalties at the theatre of silence and giving SurAlex just one more minute of injury time have served the Manc well.

Go back to your KOP website and wish Mr Benitez luck, he is going to need it AGAIN next year

You said this season's league title, not the past decade!

Why do you hate Liverpool so much anyway??

[American]

Why do you love them so much? Benitez is overrated. Hasn't finished higher than 3rd in the league, not one of the Premiership's top 5 managers, much less the world's. 2 legged cups are not the judge of a manager, especially as it's called the Champions League, and they aren't even near champions.

[Roar of the Rover]

Why do you love them so much? Benitez is overrated. Hasn't finished higher than 3rd in the league, not one of the Premiership's top 5 managers, much less the world's. 2 legged cups are not the judge of a manager, especially as it's called the Champions League, and they aren't even near champions.

There are enough teams that have won the Champions League whilst they were not the Champions of thier own League. Liverpool are just one of many. Benitez is actually underrated. Some people on these Boards just need to wake up to the fact that Liverpool are very successful, you sound as if you are jealous of there success. Just admit it to yourself that Liverpool are the most successful team in England and like i've asked before and i'll ask again,

WOULD YOU REALLY GIVE A TOSS IF WE WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIKE THAT OR WIN NEARLY EVERY CUP ON PENALTIES???

[Eddie]

Liverpool historically have been one of the most successful sides in England and Europe, but I do believe that Benitez wasn't in charge during the '70's and '80's. Their side in the glory days deserves the upmost respect and was full of players who will go down in history as being some of the greatest ever in the English game, but that doesn't mean that this rubs off on all of those ever connected with Liverpool and turns their current side into the best in England or Europe or their current manager into one of the best around. His achievement as they stand today are mediocre. It is wonderful to win the Champions League and any side would want to, but it doesn't prove a side to be great, just take a look at some of the relatively poor sides that have either won the Champions League or been in the final in recent years (by poor I mean far off being the best in Europe). It would be like saying that Mark Hughes is a great manager because of our two FA Cup semi-finals and the League Cup semi-final, far from it, he's been good because of what we have done in the league. Knock-out competitions come down to a lot of luck, even in two-legged affairs. Although luck still features in the league, the fact that it is such a long competition means that the luck will usually be evened out (to a degree). Until Rafa gets his very expensive side to win the Premiership, or even break-up the top two, then he cannot be considered to be a great manager or one of the best around.

He ranks miles behind Ferguson who has managed to build 2 or 3 world class sides; miles behind Mourinho who achieved great things with Porto and has managed to do what Benitez has failed to do in the league and he also looks poor in comparison to Wenger who managed to win the title and is now building one of the most exciting sides in Europe on relatively little money. I haven't even begun to look at the managers outside the top four or those outside of Europe, but to say that the man is great because of two cup runs is simply madness.

[American]

Never thought I'd say this, but what Eddie said sums it up perfectly.

It especially kills me that he says he doesn't have money, yet he spent more than United last season (net) and I believe they've spent more than United (net) since Benitez joined Liverpool (not counting this summer, as it isn't done yet).

[HairwayToSteven]

WOULD YOU REALLY GIVE A TOSS IF WE WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIKE THAT OR WIN NEARLY EVERY CUP ON PENALTIES???

If we won the CL on penalties all the way I'd be ecstatic simply because I love the Rovers, but I'd also admit to having luck and be willing to say that we didn't play the best football.

If some other team does it (like the scousers), I'm not ecstatic - I'm bored.

[daren]

Benitez has spent £110 million pounds in 3 years, and has not even once challenged for the premiership. Tactically he gets it wrong a lot, and his signings have been 50/50. If they're not winners or at least pushing close for the title, I'd be surprised if he was there at the end of next season. His team rotation has been a disaster, especially up front where Liverpool are not as effective as they should be in front of goal. He can't make up his mind what to do with midfield, and his teams are almost reactions to the opposition, rather than playing to their strengths. Their European successes have been down to his players playing out of their skins and winning despite the tactics, in general (with the notable exception being the Barcelona at the Nou Camp game). This also extends to their cup successes.

I quite glad he's still there to be honest, I can't see them seriously challenging with him at the helm, and they're always beatable.

[neekoy]

You said this season's league title, not the past decade!

Why do you hate Liverpool so much anyway??

You need to go back and check the post Roar, this is what I originally said "They have had a remarkable amount of luck in cup competitions probably in line with Manc luck in the league over the past decade."

I hate them for the same reason I hate Tottenham, Birmingham ect, they haven't won the league in 20 years yet still crow on about Liverpool this Liverpool that. They were a special side at one point but as Eddie says, this doesn't automatically flow to the current crop of players.

Because Benitez sits with a laptop somehow he is a technical specialist, out of ten games he would get his tactics right once. Daren and Eddie are smack bang on, his transfer policy has really been quite ordinary with a lot of money being spent for few consistently quality players and he is completely reactionary with his stock tactic being a defensive platform built on counter attack and trying to shutdown the other teams best player. Pretty simple logic for such a great tactician.

Anyway, you love them, I don't, let's leave it at that

[Roar of the Rover]

You need to go back and check the post Roar, this is what I originally said "They have had a remarkable amount of luck in cup competitions probably in line with Manc luck in the league over the past decade."

I hate them for the same reason I hate Tottenham, Birmingham ect, they haven't won the league in 20 years yet still crow on about Liverpool this Liverpool that. They were a special side at one point but as Eddie says, this doesn't automatically flow to the current crop of players.

Because Benitez sits with a laptop somehow he is a technical specialist, out of ten games he would get his tactics right once. Daren and Eddie are smack bang on, his transfer policy has really been quite ordinary with a lot of money being spent for few consistently quality players and he is completely reactionary with his stock tactic being a defensive platform built on counter attack and trying to shutdown the other teams best player. Pretty simple logic for such a great tactician.

Anyway, you love them, I don't, let's leave it at that

I'm sure you also meant this season too.

They still are a special side, i think this is the 1st season in a long while that they have have won anything.

Anyway, your jealous of thier success, i'm not, lets just leave it at that

[ewoodblue]

I'm sure you also meant this season too.

They still are a special side, i think this is the 1st season in a long while that they have have won anything.

Anyway, your jealous of thier success, i'm not, lets just leave it at that

Well,all i can say, is every pub round here,had the final on and were cheering on Liverpool,and why shouldn't they.

I've always seen Liverpool as a popular side ,but the usual exceptions are the prawn butty brigade and secret closet manc fans spreading their anti Liverpool propaganda..Mind you,who do Man United like.