20 May 2017 06:45:45
Whilst we can debate our issues, cast a glance at our noisy neighbours. Recruit the Messiah, buy a lot of new players, and win nothing. Pep' worst season as a Manager at the richest club in the world.
Then there's the ascousers, they were going to win the League before Christmas but now they are scrambling for the top 4, and no trophy. Maybe next year. Also worth mention no it's 27 years and counting since they won the League.
Tottenham have been great, but no trophy. I think if they can keen their players and invest wisely they can push on and take that final step. next year. If it can't be us, I'd like it to be them.
Hats off to Sean Dyche and Eddie Howe, Dyche has done a tremendous job, I hope he gets a bigger club in the next few years.
It's not been the season we were expecting but it's still been very entertaining and interetsting.
{Ed001's Note - before the season started you all had Liverpool down as finishing outside the top four, so how is it an issue that they are still in a good place to get a top four finish on the final day? As for Spurs, no one had them down to do any more than come second, at best. So again, where is the issue?
The Manchester clubs are the two with the issues. Both spent obscene amounts of money and neither improved because of it. Both brought in managers to win the league, yet they both are still not entirely 100% sure of Champions League qualification on the final day! Now that's what I call an issue.}
20 May 2017 08:05:16
Agree with 001 here. It's both Manchester clubs who have failed in the league. How many of us had them down as pos 1 and 2? I know I did.
The only saving grace for us is that IF we win the Europa League to qualify for the CL then we've had a fantastic year 'on paper' and better than City's, despite finishing outside of the top 4.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Scouse have all exceeded expectations. Arsenal have done what I expected them to do by finishing 5th.
I think Puel deserves credit for Southampton's league position. He's had stick off Saints fans and I don't know why. They are punching above their weight after countless summers of selling their best players.
Glad to see the back of Sunderland, they've been on borrowed time for years.
{Ed001's Note - I had it down as a straight fight between Citeh and Utd too.}
20 May 2017 08:10:48
Ed, I commented on our poor season yesterday, I think it has been disappoining and underwhelming, pretty much all of us had us being in the top 4 with many thinking we would be champions. United and City are in need of serious surgery and after recruiting "2 of the best Managers in the world", both have fallen well short.
I was complimenting Spurs, no trophy but looking like they will challenge next year.
As for Liverpool, I guess it's the historical rivalry. We went 26 years without winning the league and boy did we get reminded every year. Pre-Christmas they were storming it but have faded. I go on other teams pages to see how their fans are feeling and there has been a lot of negativity on there about Liverpool's position.
Of the top 6, most won't be happy, with their season. Chelsea, yes, Spurs, probably, the rest, I doubt.
{Ed001's Note - it felt like deflection mate.}
20 May 2017 09:07:21
Me too 001. The league has been so unpredictable for a while now. Absolutely no idea who will be competing next season.
{Ed001's Note - odd that as there is such a huge gap between the top 7 and the rest. You would think that would make it easy to pick, but it always seems one team just strolls away with it still.}
20 May 2017 09:13:33
Liverpool fans always think they are going to win the league around November, Google Liverpool boom and bust chart, always good for a laugh every season.
I know you don't get the hatred between the clubs so much Ed001 but I work with Liverpool fans who absolutely despise our club and if we win it was because of the ref and if we lose it's their best week ever, so them not winning he league for 27 years is hilarious to me.
{Ed001's Note - all fans get like that, thinking they are going to win the league after a good run. Heck your fans were calling Jones and Smalling worldbeaters for a week this season after one good performance. It is quite sad how reactionary the world is, and football fans are a microcosm of society. Almost everything is knee jerk reactions and no one seems to want to take the blame or accept fault, always it is someone else's, the ref in football.
As for not getting the hatred, I get it, I just don't waste time on it myself. I have seen it from both sides, been spat on by Man Utd fans etc, but I am not going to waste time on hatred. Life is too short to hate people for having a different team or skin colour or hair colour or whatever. The differences are what makes conversation interesting. It would be so boring if everyone was the same and felt the same way and said the same things etc.}
20 May 2017 12:44:52
well said ed01.
20 May 2017 14:00:16
Ed001 if I may ask are you happy with liverpools season? It did look for quite a while that you would at least keep up with Chelsea obviously that bad run came around Christmas. Is that a worry? Obviously there are lots of games, so would the current squad cope with Europe? (This is not a criticism by the way just a genuine question) I agree with you that we have had a poor season, not lived up to expectations but at the same time we have been unlucky at times, with some of the draws, you surely can't blame the manager for zlatan missing from 3 yards against Burnley.
For me we had shown a lot of progression however the last 8 weeks the football has been poor and boring but at the business end of the season it's about getting results. I thought we played some good attacking stuff especially the first half of the season.
With the right investment next season I think we will challenge, in fact we should challenge. Biggest transfer window ever for us coming up.
Caolán.
{Ed001's Note - happy? I will only ever be truly happy when the team wins every game it plays, so no, but that is just because I desire perfection. Satisfied would be a better word. I am satisfied as I expected much less, especially from some players such as Lallana and Mane. We do need to improve the quality throughout the squad but there are good signs there that Klopp is moving the club forward. Just need to see similar progress next season, far too often the club has stepped forward only to take two steps back the following season!}
20 May 2017 15:51:34
Liverpool have punched above their weight this season. Their defence is terrible, which speaks volumes for their attack.
{Ed001's Note - at times the defence has been fine, there is a lack of leadership which is the main problem. When they face the lesser teams too many players play at half pace and stroll through the game. Need leaders to kick their backsides and make them put in the same effort as they would for a big team.}
20 May 2017 16:15:39
Sounds just like us and Arsenal. Desperately needing leaders and to up the energy/ commitment against the also rans (although we are doing it with the good teams now) .