My generation of kopite, watching from the late 60s, knew nothing but success. Our great teams evolved under the guidance of great men.  A golden thread of trophies littered our history across Europe.  We thought it could never end, League title followed league title, followed by European Cups. " />
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AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
By JOHN CHRISTIE
May 13 2009
My generation of kopite, watching from the late 60s, knew nothing but success. Our great teams evolved under the guidance of great men.  A golden thread of trophies littered our history across Europe.  We thought it could never end, League title followed league title, followed by European Cups.

The kop sang from September to May, with total confidence, for decades, "Were gonna win the league", and were usually right.

The golden thread did break though, through a combination of terrible disasters, poor managers and a club naive in the commercial world, failing to exploit 30 years dominance of football. 

We have seen so many false dawns since our last title in 1990. Expectations raised by some very good players and managers .We’ve had cup wins, but we’ve always known in our gut we were not good enough to win the league. 

So now we may have to watch Manchester United, our bitterest of rivals, equal our 18 titles.  Manchester United who have shown us how to exploit the commercial world and become the pre-eminent club in world football, a club that has numerous 15 million+ players and a very strong squad, all of this should have us feeling very down.  We are not; this season has shown us all we are good enough.  

When Rafa took control we were in a terrible mess. A squad of over priced, largely French players, and the star striker, Owen, wanting away.  Rafa, with limited resources compared to his main rivals, has built a new squad.   

Gradually, building from the back, he has had his success’s, notably in Istanbul. He knows we crave for the title but Rafas nature is defensive. Despite our showing for much of the season the kop never once sang aloud about claiming the league. Its sticks in our throats.  Too many false dawns. The team, although playing well at times, were still not good enough.

The last couple of months have been a revelation though.  As the title seemed to be slipping away Rafa let his team off the leash. Games we were drawing became emphatic victories. The team looked like champions. Take nothing away from Manchester United the table doesn’t lie, but if it’s not now, you’d better believe us

 "WERE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE"

 

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AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mighty Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 13/05/2009 16:08

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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 13/05/2009 16:37

*Yawn*

Every year...



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Waspy (IP Logged)
Date: 13/05/2009 21:43

What is that meant ta mean mick, that is a good anilisation
of where we were & where we are now.

In a nutshell rafa has built a team from scratch & has risen above critizisem & worked wonders with what he has & brought this club back ta fighting at the top & shout of the title nothing wrong with that piece.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 11:27

Liverpool have proven they are a more credible threat now than they have been for over a decade. Chelsea will no doubt be back stronger once they get themselves sorted out and United will be thereabouts again but while keeping Steve G and Torres fit will be important next season it is the key Summer for Rafa. With Parry out the picture it is up to him to get his targets. David Silva would certainly be a very good start!

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 13:43

"We're gona win the league" - Every year (Sm120)



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Waspy (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 17:50

We have struggled this year, with only gerrard & Torres managing 12 games together this year in the league. And kept you's on your toes. We could have rompt home this year, next year hopefully injury sort of free it could be our turn.

Not that it's over yet...(Sm1)



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: robbie67 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 18:09

You shouldnt be relying on just two players to score your goals then! We've had loads of injuries this season, probably more than you. It'd be interesting to see how we would have done with a full strength squad. We'd probably have romped it as well

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 19:00

Robbie every team has injuries no argument there , the differance between our teams is now you have developed a bigger in depth sqquad of more quality.Cost an arm and a leg but has put you in stromg position.

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: The Mad Hatter (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 19:52

Quote:
Cost an arm and a leg but has put you in stromg position.

Not really true for most of our ''squad'' players.

Evans has been phenomenal in covering for either Rio or Vidic, didn't cost us anything, Park wasn't expensive, nor Macheda (not played much but made very significant contributions), nor Welbeck nor Gibson, nor Rafael, Fletcher, O'Shea ... nor the likes of Giggs and Scholes who because of injuries have maybe played more. Nani was expensive yes but he has hardly featured!



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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:14:20:00:26 by The Mad Hatter.

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 21:19

So your tryin to say sluralex hasnt invested much in the squad?No ones doubting uniteds youth development but tis nice to go out and splash 20/30 million on stars and 10/15 million on squad players

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 22:13

Which squad player has cost £10-15 million? Nani and he has hardly featured. Anderson - possibly but i wouldn't call him a squad player because he has featured when it has mattered most and only reason he hasn't played more is because he has been injured.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 22:43

Ohh mad stab in the dark Mick

EVRA
FERDINAND
VIDIC
HARGREAVES
RONALDO
PARK
CARRICK
NANI
BERBATOV
ROONEY
TEVEZ
ANDERSON

Cant be ar5ed googlin prices ,but you get my drift,Im simply made the point of the main differance between the two squads is united strenghth in depth compared to Liverpools .

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 22:50

And you have named the two players who could possibly be regarded as squad players who cost over £10 million. It doesn't prove your point that we splash £10-15 mil on squad players.

You might have strength in depth if Rafa's player turnover wasn't as high or nurtured good youth talent. Didn't you just sell that lad Hobbs who everyone had high hopes for?



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 23:01

Mick at the end of the day Rafa will proberbly splaSh out on one quality player this summer ie £20 million . Fergie has had much longer and more capital to build a squad of more quality in depth. Rafa has overhauled the academy and is now pulling the strings for the first time . Hobbs simply didnt cut the mustard but we have a host of youngsters coming through. San Jose ,Paceho,Nemeth ,Spearing, Derby, Insua . Hard to bring the kids through to the first team but an essential part of mamagement to do so.Manu are in a position of strenghth after your years of continued success but Rafas on the right track .

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 14/05/2009 23:13

Exactly as I would have answered carra.

Isn't a squad 23 or 24 players?

Your first 11's cost compared to ours are astronomical Mick, they are part of a squad aren't they?



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 10:16

So you spend £20 mil we spend £30 mil coz we are the bigger club with more money because of our success. Fergie has built the team from players that where there and they have brought success and money to the club so we can use that to grow even more. Splashing big sums on money doesn't guarantee a good player i.e. Veron. Rio was questioned for years but he is the best defender in the world now. We buy players then shape them in to Man Utd class. Players that Rafa buys are hardly in the door when they are back our again.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 11:05

Mick, there is no arguement at all about how United make their money, I'm certainly not putting your club in the Chelsea mould, Uniteds spending power was earned through football and I admire the way they built up a commercial empire, although at the time it looked like a complete sell out.

Rafa has had to plug holes with short term players every season he's been here. One quality player and two or three gap fillers, to be replaced with better quality season on season until we start getting a few youngsters coming through. Insua is probably the first who will actually become a first team regular hopefully, but there are a few stars on the future horizon, he has been building the youth stock from day one.

Many will only be good enough to be sold on for a few million that will be re-invested in the next shipment of youth.

We have only 4 players who break the 10 million mark, let alone 20 million...........I personally think Rafa has worked a miracle in his transfers and only one or two haven't been worth the money spent on them. I look forward to his summer spend.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: 80'sGoona (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 14:12

Quote:
Waspy
What is that meant ta mean mick, that is a good anilisation
of where we were & where we are now.

Tbh I dont see what there is to smile about. Now, you're about to finish trophyless for the 3rd successive season. Good thing your fans aren't turning on him though.

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 20:29

We probably would if he'd had 13 years to build a dynasty.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 20:49

And of our current squad there isn't money wasted maybe with the exception of Nani who has still to shine. Rio and Berbatov where £30 million, the Rooney fee has probably reached that now. With the exception of Berbatov we have spent big money on young players who we can develop in to some of the world's best. Them together with cheaper buys like Park, Vidic, Evra, VDS and players who have come through like Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Fletcher we have a squad that isn't solely built on money.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Reds (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 20:53

Nobody said it was Mick.

It's still a much more expensive squad than ours.



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Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: carra (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 21:24

Mick no ones avin a pop at manu or tryin to score points . Your club has a legitamate fiancal advantage gained by deeds on the pitch .Othe factors contribute to your dominance like a good academy structure but it sure does help to splash the cash to keep yourself top of the heap . Liverpool always invested wisely and were not afraid to add quality in the past.

Re: AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US....
Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2009 22:59

I'm not arguing that it isn't a more expensive squad but that isn't the only reason we have been so successful. It has helped us strengthen and contributed especially last season with Ando and Hargreaves doing so well for us and winning the double.



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