ECHO Comment: "Fears of Witch-hunt Against Liverpool FC" part 3

[PaulPowersTash]

Only teams with CL (or very near CL) capability...who for some reason failed to qualify or stay the course in the CL... already in board, quality squad numbers etc can do well in it.
Untd, Arsenal, Chelsea City...maybe Spurs...and similar teams in Europe.
The group stages are easy enough, but time and effort consuming. Then the big boy drop outs come in and the other group winners.

It would take an exceptional team to finish say 5th,
Then do well (semi minimum) in the Europa And finish in the C L places
Then mount a viable CL campaign
So no, IMO, it doesn't set you up for the CL - at best its season 4...if you're lucky, in a 6 or 7 season progression.
And if I'm generous I see us at year 2 atm.

I think it depends how Ancelotti improves your squad to be fair.
United finished in 5th position in 2016 and qualified for the Europa league and won it in 2017.
They then finished 2nd in the PL in 2018 so it's possible. I agree maybe 2 seasons and a couple of decent transfer windows and things maybe different. However, if the opportunity arises I'd grab it with both hands. Great for the club, the fans and the finances.

I believe United last season was only the second time a team has finished in Europa league places & then gone and finished top 4 next season

And their squad was nothing to write home about when they did it.

 

[NewRadical]

I’d like that.
Don’t care how good a player he was, he has absolutely no aura about him.
As if big stars are going to be queuing up to play for him.
He might have done well in the Biblical Backward Scottish League of nobody Cares, but this would be far too big a step up for him.
He looks and carries the aura of a scally.

So, er, are y'gonna, er, sign for us?

***

I'd love Gerrard to become manager there. He'd be a disaster and the fan base and media wouldn't know which way to turn.

 

[f.t.r.s]

See michael owens trying to make out mane and salah are trying to sabotage each other....
In what world does that make sense? Surely the better you do, the better your chance at a move?

 

[degsy]

I think it depends how Ancelotti improves your squad to be fair.
United finished 5th

And their squad was nothing to write home about when they did it.

Its all relative...not a dig but you've maybe got used to quality and have got a bit blasé.
You're in the position of looking down on Untd and its all relative to their squad to yours
But when you're looking up with Untds squad to ours, its a different ball game.

 

[PaulPowersTash]

International competition is the perfect arena for his style - gets the players for a few weeks of the year, winds them up like a spring, demands 150% of 'Heavy Metal Football' bollocks for every game and damn the consequences for those players and their clubs.

I'm not so sure it's the shoo in for Klopp that a lot of people think it is.
Stefan Kuntz would have to be favourite for sure. He's the current German under 21's coach and has
been for a few years now. Not sure the Germans would go for someone who at times appears to be unhinged.

 

[MikeH72]

If Villa beat Newcastle on Friday they fall to 9th!

I would prefer Villa to lose that personally.

 

[PaulPowersTash]

Its all relative...not a dig but you've maybe got used to quality and have got a bit blasé.
You're in the position of looking down on Untd and its all relative to their squad to yours
But when you're looking up with Untds squad to ours, its a different ball game.

I agree. But as a fan I would love my team to be playing European football.
I can tell you some of the best European away days have been in that competition.
It could also be worth circa £50m to the club if they go deep in the tournament.
I also think that if the opportunity arises it has to be taken. You never know when
it might come along again.

 

[degsy]

I agree. But as a fan I would love my team to be playing European football.
I can tell you some of the best European away days have been in that competition.
It could also be worth circa £50m to the club if they go deep in the tournament.
I also think that if the opportunity arises it has to be taken. You never know when
it might come along again.

I think that £50M might be a bit optimistic but I take your general point(s)

 

[catcherintherye]

both points are correct

I just find it really odd people say that Liverpool players have essentially played more minutes and being rested less than any of their rivals, and no real conversation is about the manager.

 

[This is my name]

Christ, I'd forgotten how looooong that thing goes on for, its like watching a 'kin Lord of The Rings fillum, it just goes on and on and on.

DER RAYPUN THE RED MEN

 

[Brisan123]

Yes PPT & I can absolutely see both sides of it & all your points are spot on, but for me it depends on the end goal for CA reign. If that is top 4 and CL, then Europa league will not help, if it's enjoy the ride then as you say, enjoy it.

Bringing it back to this thread, my take is Liverpool have one year to reset and get back in the top 4, their best bet is no Europa and they will know that. They can sustain this squad with one year out of Europe (One or two might leave) but two years back to back and every high profile player will want to walk away.

After 2 years every high profile player will be too old to go anywhere with maybe one or two exceptions
The front 3 ,Henderson St Virgil of the broken knee , Wijnaldum ,The Swiss midget The German Midget the Spainish Midget will be too old
Trent lad and Jota will be the only top assets worth any money after 2 years without CL

 

[brieverton]

Best thing for them now is to make Europa League. It's the last thing they'd need and want with the prospect of a big overhaul.

If we can't make the Top 4, then the Ideal scenario is us 5th and them 6th.

 

[Brisan123]

@number4.
Who else would they get serious money for after 2 years out of the CL so summer 23

 

[number4.]

I just find it really odd people say that Liverpool players have essentially played more minutes and being rested less than any of their rivals, and no real conversation is about the manager.

i suppose it's down to the cause and effect situation. Did Liverpool's injuries this season come on the back of them overplaying for 2 years or not. I think Klopp certainly deserves some of the flack here in particlar with Milner and henderson who were flogged til they broke.

Where I might have some sympathy for another manager in their current bind, would be with the simple lack of options. It's easy to say "play neco williams or tmiskas" and give the full backs a break, but that is near on impossible with the Centre back options they had, likewise - there has been little option to rotate midfield. What I cannot understand is the lack of any rotation up front and how Jota ended up out for 3 months. He only has himself to blame there.

 

[number4.]

I think it depends how Ancelotti improves your squad to be fair.
United finished in 5th position in 2016 and qualified for the Europa league and won it in 2017.
They then finished 2nd in the PL in 2018 so it's possible. I agree maybe 2 seasons and a couple of decent transfer windows and things maybe different. However, if the opportunity arises I'd grab it with both hands. Great for the club, the fans and the finances.

And their squad was nothing to write home about when they did it.

yeah all fair - for me his (CA) biggest challenge is to continue the cull this squad. There is simple too much deadwood. My fear would be he cannot do that in a Europa league year and will simple have to keep bodies for the sake of Europa league, ultimately depriving us of the quality needed to kick on.