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LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
By John Christie
February 6 2012
As most media pundits focus on Chelsea's and Arsenals fight for fourth, Liverpool and Newcastle have slipped under the radar.   

Newcastle are the surprise of the season, no one forecast their run of form so far, especially after the loss of some senior players.  Whether they can compete with what looks to be not the most competitive of squads remains to be seen. 

 

Liverpool's inconsistency, especially at home, has been their Achilles heel.  Seven drawn home games have simply not been good enough.  Added to this their distinct lack of goals has seen them slump out of recognition for most of this season.

 

They should be out of contention, but the stumblings of more favoured teams above them have kept them in the hunt.  Arsenals love affair with Wenger seems to be cooling as the Frenchman's reluctance to loosen the purse strings to bolster a dodgy defence and keeper have seen them have a hit and miss season.  Only the brilliance of Van Persie has kept them in the running.

 

Chelsea seem to have managerial problems, added to an ageing team and a £50 mil striker who looks finished. 

 

With 15 games left to play Liverpool are four points off fourth place.  Have a nearly fully fit fresh Gerrard, Suarez back, Bellamy in the form of his life, and a newly assembled team finding its form and confidence. 

 

Have Liverpool got what it takes?  Only a fool would write them off.

 

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LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Mighty Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 09:23

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: julie (st helens) (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 12:20

write liverpool off at ur peril....too much quality....and they now seem to be clicking nicely together

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 14:00

Our NUFc squad players are stepping up when needed . Players like Guthrie , R Taylor have had fantastic seasons . Plus we now have the like of Ben Arfa and Obertan getting to full fitness . I look at the LFC side , there isn't that many who would get into our side . I certainly wouldn't swap Jordan Henderson or Adams( on the form he shown )for Guthrie , and for as brilliant Gerrard is i wouldn't swap him for the younger Cabaye either . Tiote arriving back from the african cup of nations is a machine in the middle of the park . Coloccini is super cool and such a great defender . Santon is settling in and we have Demba Ba and now Demba Cisse up top . All these play in front of who is arguably alongside Joe hart for best young keeper in Europe . I think NUFC are more than capable of keeping this form going . LFC at St James park will be a massive fixtur and one i think we'll win . LFC have struggled in the north east in recnt times and i see no reason to think why this season would be any different .

Dalglish has wasted a bucket full of money for you , NUFC have been shopping in the European bargain bins ( 10 million on Cisse aside ) however we've identified the right kind of attitudes we want from players. The team spirit is sensational and i wouldn't think for one moment NUFC will just tail off .



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:06:16:10:49 by Paul Goddard Fan.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 15:38

Quote:
Paul Goddard Fan
Our NUFc squad players are stepping up when needed . Players like Guthrie , R Taylor have had fantastic seasons . Plus we now have the like of Ben Arfa and Obertan getting to full fitness . I look at the LFC side , there isn't that many who would get into our side . I certainly wouldn't swap Jordan Henderson or Adams( on the form he shown )for Guthrie , and for as brilliant Gerrard is i wouldn't swap him for the younger either . Tiote arriving back from the african cup of nations is a machine in the middle of the park . Coloccini is super cool and such a great defender . Santon is settling in and we have Demba Ba and now Demba Cisse up top . All these play in front of who is arguably alongside Joe hart for best young keeper in Europe . I think NUFC are more than capable of keeping this form going . LFC at St James park will be a massive fixtur and one i think we'll win . LFC have struggled in the north east in recnt times and i see no reason to think why this season would be any different .


Heap of shiiite, not worth answering such delusional rubbish.

Dalglish has wasted a bucketful of money for you,
No, he's spent 33 million net.

NUFC have been shopping in the European bargain bins ( 10 million on Cisse aside ) however we've identified the right kind of attitudes we want from players. The team spirit is sensational and i wouldn't think for one moment NUFC will just tail off .

How the feck do you know what the team spirit is like? You there are you? Oops, that honest shining light Pardew must have told you. Just like most managers do.

Your team plays shiiite football, they will tail off.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 15:45

BTW runaway deluded gobshiiite.

Last 5 at your joke ground, you've only won 2.

3-1 for us
1-2
3-0 for us
5-1 for us
1-3



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 16:12

exactly it's not like you have dominated here . especially when you think where we have been the last few seasons .

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 16:25

I don't think NUFC will finish 4th , but if we're still in this position with 8 games to go i'll be thinking we have to be taken seriously for it



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:06:16:28:31 by Paul Goddard Fan.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Note To Self (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 20:46

I've given my thoughts on the financial side of Kenny Dalglish's management, and I'm still not convinced the squad got value for money on what was spent.

Arsenal are unpredictable. They have some quality attacking players, but have failed to fix their defensive troubles for the last few years.

Tottenham have been shrewd businessmen (as to be expected), and have managed to build a quality side. I wouldn't be suprised if they crash the Champions League again this season if they kick Arsenal out of the spot next season too. As much as I dislike Harry Redknapp, he's doing a hell of a job.

Chelsea are going through a difficult season. Their squad was ageing last season, and AVB has been addressing this. That said, think they still have enough quality in the squad to keep that fourth spot, but a few more slip ups could prove disastrous.

As for Newcastle, I'd be impressed if we repeat this seasons heroics next season. However, if we can weather the disasters that have thinned the ranks of an already thin squad (S. Taylor injured, African Cup of Nations, etc.) it would be nothing short of a miracle to finish in fourth place. Europa League isn't out of the picture though.

But then again, stranger things have happened...

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: S&P (IP Logged)
Date: 06/02/2012 23:43

These are my personal thoughts on the four teams fighting for 4th

Liverpool

Liverpool is a work in progress, rather like Manchester City when they were bought out by Sheikh Mansour, they are a new group of players just beginning to gel as a team, granted Henderson and Carroll have been flops but Enrique, Suarez, Bellamy and to an extent Charlie Adam have delivered the goods, especially Suarez and Bellamy. Under the leadership of Gerrard this team will mount a title challenge in the next three years and will finish 5th this year.

Arsenal

As mentioned before Arsenal at this moment in time is as close to a one man team as you are ever likely to get. Van Persie is in the form of his life and has torn apart every defence he has come across with considerable ease. Arsenal as a team however is poor, other than Vermaelen, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain there is no one on the team that is living up to this club's reputation. Arsenal will drop down the table as Van Persie will soon grow tiered and lose form and will have no one to fill in the vast void he will leave. They will finish 7th due to this.

Chelsea

Whilst Chelsea is under managerial problems and in my humble opinion Villas Boas was the wrong man for the job they do have a lot of quality in the team. Mata was a sole piece of genius from Villas Boas' transfer dealings. He has pace, creativity and a terrific shot on him, in my opinion one of the signings of the season. In John Terry they may have a scumbag but he is also a leader and a quite awesome centre back. The most prominent area where Chelsea is noticeably weak is in the strikers. Drogba whilst being one of the best and last of a dying breed of big centre forwards is ageing, Torres at times has shown flashes of his former brilliance but it is not enough to get Chelsea the goals it needs. Sturridge and Lukaku are both young and show promise but are not yet ready to lead the front line for a team like Chelsea.
Never the less, they will take 4th.

Newcastle

Newcastle have made some extremely shrewd transfers, especially in the form of Ba who has been unstoppable this season. Newcastle's back line has a very strong look about it , the Taylor brothers and Coloccini especially. The mdifield of Cabaye, Obertan, Tiote and Gutierrez is strong but is not strong enough to stop some of the stronger midfields in the premier league, two examples of this are Liverpool and Chelsea who utterly overwhelmed Newcastle's midfield in their games, with Gerrard and Mata especially causing the Newcastle defence a lot of problems in the most recent meetings between the sides. Like Liverpool Newcastle will soon return to their former glory but not this season. 6th.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 00:04

Quote:
Paul Goddard Fan
exactly it's not like you have dominated here . especially when you think where we have been the last few seasons .

Are you for feckin real gobshiiite? You said we struggle in the North East, it's quite obvious it's your team who struggle at home when playing Liverpool.

You've conceded 13 and scored 7, lost 3 out of 5 games, how the fuuuck do you make out we struggle you deluded imbecile. I'll be kind and not even mention your drab, weak as piiiss showings at Anfield.

3-1 for us
1-2
3-0 for us
5-1 for us
1-3



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 00:14

Note to self

If you consider where we were under that idiot Hodge Podge we've made giant strides forward. Kennys 33 million net has been well spent, although I'm still not sure Carroll has a future here. He also got rid of the dead wood.

We have shown progression in many ways, a cup final being one of them. We haven't been in a final for 6 years. Our football is the best we've had since '08 and with a few tweaks we'll be even better next year.


S&P

Henderson is far from a flop, he's coming along great.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: S&P (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 03:57

What i should have said is that he is a flop so far, like Lukaku at Chelsea, meaning he's young and Liverpool is a big step for Henderson. He has shown some flashes of brilliance, e.g. his ball for Suarez against Stoke but he needs to mature before i think he will be ready for the first XI

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 11:57

Cheers S&P.

Also, fair analysis for all 4 teams.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Note To Self (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 17:04

We will just have to agree to disagree I think on that Reds. I can't help but think you could've got more value for money on some of the deals. Note I've haven't said the signings are bad players, but I think that the money could have gone further.

For example, I think the ÂŁ15,000,000 (rising to ÂŁ20,000,000) spent on Henderson would have been better invested paying Meireles's contract (how much was he asking for, ÂŁ75k?). He'd already settled at the club, proven himself at Premier League level and is a great attacking player now. More importantly it'd work out cheaper, leaving money aside for when there is better quality available.
Charlie Adam, I'd take Cabaye over him any day for ÂŁ3m less. That sort of business

Still, now Liverpool have a solid team with decent cover in almost all positions.

Liverpool as title Challengers in three years? I don't see it - I'd place Tottenham, City and even Manchester United ahead by a fair distance as it stands.
I think it would be more likely Liverpool will be in the 4th-7th place battle the next three seasons along with Chelsea, Arsenal and another club.

Could it be Newcastle? Far too early to say.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 17:26

I think that the gap between LFC and teams like Sunderland , Newcastle and Stoke is closer, than LFC are to competing for a title.Chelsea are going through a period of chance , players like Lampard, Malouda and Drogba are being faded out and they're still comfortable ahead of LFC this season.Plus Lets face it at this moment Spurs , Man C and Man U are a different class over a full season.

I think in hindsight Adam and Henderson were not worth the money and they really could of found better .

They'll need another summer of heavy investment to be counted a proper champions league qualifying contenders alongside chelsea , spurs , man c , man u and arsenal. For now the gap between LFC and the rest of the league is looking closer , Who would bet against SAFC catching them with the run O'Neill is on .



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:07:17:36:55 by Paul Goddard Fan.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 19:15

As you don't watch LFC every week how the hell can you know how these players are playing?

Adam for 8 million is a decent player, and was probably bought as back up for Lucas and Gerrard, neither of whom were expected to be lost for most of the season. I've seen Adam have more good games than bad games for us.
Now who do you suggest would have come as back up and been better?

Henderson is a player I really admire and if he carries on progressing at the rate he is at present he'll be worth far more than 16 million.

The rest of your post is dogshit, read S&P's for a fair assessment of all the teams involved. I don't necessarily agree with all he says, but at least he sounds unbiased, so much so that I couldn't guess which team he supports, maybe even newcastle.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 19:43

It's there for all to see how the gap at the top is getting bigger whilst the gap between you and the rest is getting smaller

You are currently 18 points off Man C , to give you an comparison , Wolves in 17th are 18 points behind you

Your 15 points off Man Utd , West Brom in 15th are currently 13points behind you . That's a closer point gap between you a tem than you and level 2nd

Spurs 11 points , equal to the gap between LFC and villa in 13th

Chelsea like i said are 4 points better off than you , and they're going through a re build . That's a whole 2 points better off than you are against the most inform team in the league (SAFC) . But yet your a serious threat to Chelsea and SAFC challenging you is bullshit .

what the hell do you drink in Liverpool , the idiocy can only be attributed to something in the water .

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 20:10

Feckin hell, please, please, please, someone, anyone, lend this dullard amoebic deluded a brain cell.

I said your post was dogshiiit, not agreeing or disagreeing with what you said. Comprende?

Your comment on things in such a biased manner that your posts are boring as shiiit.

For instance, you say Chelsea are in a re-build.....yes. And LFC?

You worry/glow for your own team, my interest is LFC and I'm very pleased in the progress they've shown. Would have liked a bit more but who wouldn't?

Unfortunately you are so inexperienced at achieving success you judge everything on all/any other teams progress, or lack of it. We at LFC are very experienced and concentrate entirely on our own team until the last month of the season, by which time the wheat is sorted from the chaff.

There are 42 points to play for and already you have the league sorted, never mind, I always forgive small fans of small clubs their over excited anticipation. It's a marathon not a sprint, take heed. Pride comes before a fall. Let's wait a couple more months and see where everyone is at the business end of the season eh?



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 21:27

As regards the pros and cons of NUFCs squad i wont comment tbh because i simply dont know enough about them .Obviously the fans are happy with the progress and its taken everyone by suprise .In the year or so since Kennys return weve moved from 4th from bottom to a genuine position to fight for a champions league place .Money has been spent but money has been recouped through player sale(19) and wage restructure .We are rebuilding after the most distruptive negative ownership in the history of the club .It will take time ,its taken 3/4 years of arab money to get city up there .Our defence is in place the rest will follow in time .Henderson is a diamond waiting to be polished ,he has all the right atributes to become a great player .Meirelles is a fine player but is a bit of a girl in the tackle ,wasnt that suprised he went to Chelsea for a profit .Fourth place is up for grabs and it will be very close .Chelsea ,Arsenal ,Liverpool and Newcastle .I still will be mightily suprised if its Newcastle but the table never lies ,it will be deserved whoever it is .

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Note To Self (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2012 23:52

I just think ÂŁ7m (+50k p/w) for a back up player is unnecessary. Maybe if you bought one or the other of Henderson or Adam - both just seems like spending for the sake of spending to me.

If he cost ÂŁ4m, sure - but that was never going to happen - Blackpool are solid financially. I would've taken David Vaughan on a free. Just as solid (bar set pieces) for much less IMO.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 08/02/2012 08:26

Note to self, I respect your views, but disagree with them entirely.

Hodge Podge paid 4.5 million for Poulsen and 3.5 +2 decent youngsters for Konchesky, so by that criteria Charlie Adam is an absolute steal. Both of those players, and David Vaughan for that matter, exceed FSG's age policy, plus the former two were dire, dire footballers. Charlie Adam wasn't bought as a stop gap, he was bought to be part of a good squad, not a good first eleven with stop gaps and veterans bringing up the rear.

Henderson is 21, he's part of the future and current building process. I see no conflict at all in buying both players.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Rushscored4 (IP Logged)
Date: 10/02/2012 08:57

Only a Geordie would think 3 wins out 5 was Liverpool struggling at their place. No wonder every other clubs fans call you deluded.

We've been through a bad time in the last few months but no matter how bad it's been, there is still the great feeling that at least we're not Newcastle, the long time laughing stock of the Premiership.

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 12/02/2012 11:43

My cup being half full ,after two dissapointing results only one point from six .Thirteen games left ,still only 4 points off fourth .

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Paul Goddard Fan (IP Logged)
Date: 01/04/2012 23:02

bump

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Mighty__Mag (IP Logged)
Date: 02/04/2012 12:15

(Sm22)

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The race for 4th

What deluded bafoon started this thread!

Dream on losers



http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4357/magpie1.gif

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: One Eyed Burglar (IP Logged)
Date: 02/04/2012 13:17

(Sm22)

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Mighty__Mag (IP Logged)
Date: 02/04/2012 16:04

(Sm22)



http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4357/magpie1.gif

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: One Eyed Burglar (IP Logged)
Date: 02/04/2012 16:14

Race for 4th, if they'd given Hodgson ÂŁ100m maybe they would have a chance (Sm22)

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 03/04/2012 00:26

As fans were all guilty of being a bit delueded ,rose coloured glasses .At the time of writing the article i believed our form would become more consistant .The last month or two has not been good enough ,weve been sh!te .Nice to win a trophy and progress to the semis ,who knows we might just win it . Two trophies would be nice ,some clubs might well think it amazing ,especially as its their managers first full season. Our league form is no were near good enough but Kenny will strive to put things right of that i am convinced .

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Biffins Bridge (IP Logged)
Date: 04/04/2012 11:10


Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: One Eyed Burglar (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2012 10:58

King Kenny the Messaih (sic) (Sm22)

Fear not, next Year it wont even be top 4, it's your Year remember (Sm108)

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2012 14:09

Sorry, we don't do messiahs, that's a geordie thing, losers all. We do Kings and winners.



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: One Eyed Burglar (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2012 16:51

I know you do messaihs (sic) (Sm22)

He's broke some records this season as well (Sm76)

Re: LIVERPOOL - The race for 4th
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 11/04/2012 17:50

A messiah, or should that be a geordie messiah, is a loser.

Kings and winners have trophies to show for themselves, just like King Kenny has.



geordie messiah = win nothing, play like West Ham, money grabbers, and have the fans of said messiah waxing lyrical about his managerial qualities.

Scouse Kings and winners = Creating the best English club side this country has ever seen, winning 4 titles, 2 FA Cups and 2 League Cups, can you see the difference?



---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly

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