Tony Pulis in ?

[Letters]

In a sense it's good to see Liverpool doing so well, it shows many of our fans what could be rather than accepting the clubs stance that we can't compete, Rodgers has done in 2 seasons what Wenger has been trying to do in the last 9.

Not really. Rogers has done very well and I hope they win it but there are several things which need to be considered.

They have (I believe) posted a huge loss for each of the last 2 years. That isn't sustainable and while I think Wenger has been over-cautious we're clearly working in a more sustainable way and the new commercials deals will give us more financial muscle. Last summer's bid for Suarez and Ozil signing were the first signs of that.

Liverpool haven't had any European football this year and they've had poor cup runs, I believe in total they will have played 42 games by the end of the season. We have had 10 CL games and we're in the FA Cup final so that's another 6 games. Let's see how they do next year when they've just had a tough away CL game and then have to come back and play a tough league game at the weekend, it does add significant strain on a squad.

They are massively reliant on one exceptional player. They'd still be a good side without him but champions? I seriously doubt it. If he picks up an injury or in the summer his head gets turned (he is bound to be the subject of a huge bid from someone) then I can't see them being as good next year.

Last time they came this close to the title they got 86 points, they could get 3 more this year at most . The year after that they finished 7th with 63 points. Let's see them have a sustained period of success first before crowning Rogers as the new messiah.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Shit thread.

Absolute worst thread ever.

Ffs my breakfast all of a sudden has a sour taste.

[Özim]

Not really. Rogers has done very well and I hope they win it but there are several things which need to be considered.

They have (I believe) posted a huge loss for each of the last 2 years. That isn't sustainable and while I think Wenger has been over-cautious we're clearly working in a more sustainable way and the new commercials deals will give us more financial muscle. Last summer's bid for Suarez and Ozil signing were the first signs of that.

Liverpool haven't had any European football this year and they've had poor cup runs, I believe in total they will have played 42 games by the end of the season. We have had 10 CL games and we're in the FA Cup final so that's another 6 games. Let's see how they do next year when they've just had a tough away CL game and then have to come back and play a tough league game at the weekend, it does add significant strain on a squad.

They are massively reliant on one exceptional player. They'd still be a good side without him but champions? I seriously doubt it. If he picks up an injury or in the summer his head gets turned (he is bound to be the subject of a huge bid from someone) then I can't see them being as good next year.

Last time they came this close to the title they got 86 points, they could get 3 more this year at most . The year after that they finished 7th with 63 points. Let's see them have a sustained period of success first before crowning Rogers as the new messiah.

You have to speculate to accumulate, the over cautious approach isn't going to reap any rewards as we've seen, Liverpool have wanted to be at the top for a long time and constantly do things to try and challenge and win trophies.

That maybe the case, all the more reason why we should not bother with the CL then and just worry about it when we actually properly challenge if it affects things that much (which I don't think it does personally).

Suarez is a top player, but even without him they have firepower with the likes of Sterling, Sturridge and Gerrard and to be honest it's irrelevant as most teams have one exceptional player, he seems pretty happy and if they win the title it's likely he'll stick around, as for being injured it's possible but he doesn't seem injury prone.

Different manager so you can't apply the same logic, he seems to be building something.

[I am invisible]

Not really. Rogers has done very well and I hope they win it but there are several things which need to be considered.

They have (I believe) posted a huge loss for each of the last 2 years. That isn't sustainable and while I think Wenger has been over-cautious we're clearly working in a more sustainable way and the new commercials deals will give us more financial muscle. Last summer's bid for Suarez and Ozil signing were the first signs of that.

Liverpool haven't had any European football this year and they've had poor cup runs, I believe in total they will have played 42 games by the end of the season. We have had 10 CL games and we're in the FA Cup final so that's another 6 games. Let's see how they do next year when they've just had a tough away CL game and then have to come back and play a tough league game at the weekend, it does add significant strain on a squad.

They are massively reliant on one exceptional player. They'd still be a good side without him but champions? I seriously doubt it. If he picks up an injury or in the summer his head gets turned (he is bound to be the subject of a huge bid from someone) then I can't see them being as good next year.

Last time they came this close to the title they got 86 points, they could get 3 more this year at most . The year after that they finished 7th with 63 points. Let's see them have a sustained period of success first before crowning Rogers as the new messiah.

The reduced fixture list and lack of travel are the big ones for me there. They've had to get by without Suarez at times this year, and the other title challengers all have their star players too, so I don't think that sets them apart as much as we'd like to believe? And when you go through their squad, I don't think you can say there's anything there that's beyond our means (or theirs) financially? It's fitness and freshness that have really given them their edge this year. Not just because they seem to be getting faster and stronger while the rest of us are falling to bits and relying on youth players and reserves, but also because it allows them to keep a fairly consistent starting XI each week, without having to constantly disrupt their team with regular rotation. Next year will be a far greater challenge - less recovery time, more fatigue and injuries, and all the hassle that comes with managing a bigger (more expensive) group of players.

Credit where it's due though - you can only go for what's in front of you, and Rodgers has done that well this year. Even if it turns out to be a standalone achievement, it's still impressive given the competition...

[Letters]

Suarez has 29 goals and 12 assists and that's just in the league. And he missed a load of games as the start of the season, they're ridiculous stats.
I don't think his contribution can be overestimated.

[Letters]

Different manager so you can't apply the same logic, he seems to be building something.

I'm not applying any logic, just making the point that as difficult it is to win the title it's harder to sustain that sort of level over several seasons.
Let's see how they do in the next couple of years with CL games to contend with and raised expectations.

[I am invisible]

Suarez has 29 goals and 12 assists and that's just in the league. And he missed a load of games as the start of the season, they're ridiculous stats.
I don't think his contribution can be overestimated.

Of course. I'm not questioning Suarez's value to Liverpool - just saying that having a star player isn't a luxury that only Liverpool enjoy. The reduced fixture list, and the lack of midweek travel and increased recovery time that go with it, on the other hand, is an advantage that they have that City, Chelsea and us don't. Basically an on-form Suarez turns them from battling for a Europa league spot into title challengers, but the fitness and lack of fatigue is what will turn them from challengers into to winners who can go the distance.

[fakeyank]

The point in this thread about the other names mentioned- Pulis, Martinez, Simeone, Rogers, is the fact that they have tactics. Their teams show passion and dont get whipped the moment things dont go their way. We completely and totally lack any sort of Plan B.
Barring Pulis, the other teams play entertaining attacking football. We dont play attractive football at all. There are exceptions like the second half on tuesday or the game against Spurs in the FA Cup but for the majority, our football is boring and tedious. IF I were a neutral football fan, I would not be excited to watch an Arsenal game.

[Munchies]

Shit thread.

Absolute worst thread ever.

Ffs my breakfast all of a sudden has a sour taste.

In all seriousness, I do like the way he sets his teams out, and it's something Wenger has to take on board.

Palace were literally dead and buried before he came in, remember listening to their chairman on Football Focus saying how they had a plan if they went down before they appointed him and were prepared to go down.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

In all seriousness, I do like the way he sets his teams out, and it's something Wenger has to take on board.

Palace were literally dead and buried before he came in, remember listening to their chairman on Football Focus saying how they had a plan if they went down before they appointed him and were prepared to go down.

Fair enough, but how about he just stays where he currently is and continue doing all the admirable stuff he's been doing there?