Yes, we have been saying it for years. "This is our year. Our time has finally come this season."
And every season it's the same story...Liverpool fails to put in a serious title bid.
However, this season could be different.
The big problem has always been failing to beat the rest of the top four. If they can't compete with the best, then what chance is there to be the best?
But last season gave a glimmer into the future of Liverpool. It came in one man - Fernando Torres.
However, more than just Torres is needed to mount a title bid.
If Gareth Barry does indeed sign from Aston Villa, then the midfield has a good track record at international level in Gerrard and Barry, and in the games he is unavailable, there is still Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, who have a decent record with Gerrard at club level.
The man I think could shoot us to EPL glory, though, is David Villa. He already has a great understanding with Torres. Liverpool would have the most feared strike-force in the league, and he just seems to me like a player perfect player for the red and white.
And with the war or Anfield seemingly over, the two American owners look set to dig into their pockets and provide the dollars Rafa Benitez needs.
In my view, we need to pull out all the stops to get Villa to Anfield.
I have to say, I have been disappointed at our signings so far. I admit I have never seen Phillipe Degen play, but why are we buying him if he can't even get into the Switzerland first team?
As well as some good signings, we need a good start to the season.
This could be our biggest challenge, as players are becoming unavailable for the beginning of the campaign left, right and centre, with Javier Mascherano being the latest withdrawal due to the Olympics.
And if we do get a good start to the season we need to sustain that, not fall away at around Christmas time like usual.
Some good news as well, Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to miss the start of the season, which could give us a boost. But saying that, last season we made a good start to the season, Man Utd made a poor start to the season and we all know how that ended up!
So with two good signings you could see the Reds up in the pole position at the end of next season.
Spain fulfilled their potential and expectation this year, perhaps Liverpool can do the same.
So, for one more time, THIS IS OUR YEAR!
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3 months ago
Good article Barney. Check out my article which has a very similar tone, except its from a United fan, which should be a change from the usual garbage some United moan on about.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31095-liverpool-rafa-benitez-finally-building-a-side-to-challenge-for-the-title
3 months ago
Two things as a fellow red.....
1. Please STOP saying this is our year!!!! I am fed up of this comment coming back to bite us in the arse.
2. WE WILL NOT GET DAVID VILLA!!!
3 months ago
I'm afraid i believe the wait will go on for Liverpool- for the time being anyway.
You'll have to sell Alonso to generate funds to buy Barry- I must say I rate Alonso higher than Barry.
I also think Villa will stay at Valencia. And even when him and Torres play, it seems Villa is the one that scores the goals.
Benitez is building a decent squad but he needs to stop buying dross on free transfers like Voronin and Degen. Degen was injured for the Euros but from what Ive seen Finnan is a better player.
3 months ago
Agree with Gary on both points.
Constantly saying 'this is our year' just makes Liverpool fans look even more desperate. We will start the season 4th favourites, which will be a fair judgement. It does not mean we can't or won't win it, but lets not run before we can walk. A title challenge of some sort would suffice this season, ie still being within 6 points come the beginning of March.
Guillem Balague is a confidante of Benitez and Villa, and he has stated on numerous ocassions this summer that Villa is not one of Liverpool's transfer targets, and also Villa himself has stated he is happy at Valencia. We can't afford him even if we did want him and he wanted to come.
Also, why right off Phillip Degen when you have never seen him? The truth his he IS Switzerland's first choice right back, but he was injured before the tournament began and was not match fit during the tournament, his replacement Lichsteiner did a steady job, so the manager decided not to risk playing him. Had you seen Skrtel or Agger play before we signed them?
Names are not important, quality of player is all that matters, and you can't possibly judge a player before you have seen him (nor can you judge a player after a few months, or even one season, two full seasons is the fairest way to make an assessment of a players ability)
3 months ago
Great comment Simon!
Of course there is always skeptacism when a new player is signed, I mean look how many people thought we were crazy to pay 20 million for Torres....that kinda worked out ok though!
Benitez has made some mistakes in the market yes, but so have alot of other managers. We can also thank him for players like Riena, Agger, Skrtel, Masch(still cannot believe he couldn't get a game at West Ham)
As far as I'm concerned I am willing to give the new players time tio settle in and make the adjustment. Benitez is trying to build a SQUAD....these players might not be first teamers but can play a valuable role for the side when needed.
Like Simon says we are starting as the 4th favourites and need to approach it this way. Make sure we stay with the leaders and hope for a bit of luck along the way (injuries etc). If we are still hanging around after the New Year..........
3 months ago
Some good points there, Simon.
I should actually hold fire on Degen till he plays and settles in. But would you agree that Voronin is a lost cause? As some arsenal fans sang last year he's just "a fat Paris Hilton" lol.
On a side note what does everyone make of selling crouch? surely he still has a fair bit to offer. ok he's unorthodox but he can be pretty effective!
from 3 months ago
No I do not agree that Voronin is a lost cause. He actually started the season very well last term, and was probably Liverpool's best player in August. Then he lost a bit of form, then suffered some injuries, and never really recovered BUT-
- It was his first season in English football, judge any foreign player in their first season, and very few have a major impact.
- Many people judge Voronin on his goals, or lack of them, but he has never been a goalscorer, and never will be. He is a link player between midfield and attack, and when on his game he does this very well. He will feature a fair bit behind Torres this coming season.
- We signed him for nothing, so giving him another season to prove he can cut it is not really a risk. We will still get a transfer fee at the end of 08/09 if we sell then, so will still make a profit.
On Crouch, personally I am a big Crouch fan, but I think Rafa has decided upon a regular formation of Torres as lone striker, and Crouch will only ever be a bit part player in that case. If we can get £12m for him, that is good business as we only paid £7m. I like Crouch as a player and think he is underrated, but Torres is in a different league, and getting the best out him is our best chance.
Torres is at his best when he can work the whole front line on his own (like Henry). Did anyone notice how Torres individual performance perked up when Villa got injured in the Euro's? Now Torres was doing a decent job for the team with Villa, but he looked far more dangerous when he was up top alone, and far more comfortable.
Torres can be for Liverpool what Henry was for Arsenal, and Henry won 2 league titles in his time. That is why Crouch, although a quality player, is surplus to requirements if he is not happy to be just a Solskjaer-esque supersub.
3 months ago
Yeah I actually remmeber Voronin scored a cracking goal in a champs league qualifier against Toulouse i think... although I just dont think he will be able to cut it at Liverpool.
I like crouch and I think it's be a mistake to let him go but 12 million would probably be too good to turn down.
I think a lot depends on Ryan Babel's progression next season. There is no doubt this guys has bags of ability but he needs to produce more consistently like he did towards the end of last season. He has pace to burn and can terrify any full back on his day. I think if he finds his feet properly then liverpool will have another quality player which means they may be able to sustain a challenge for longer.
3 months ago
One word answer to your question, "NO".
3 months ago
No
3 months ago
if Liverpool win the EPL i will eat my hat.
3 months ago
Dont have the defence, dont have the creative midfield bar Gerrard and have one striker Torres. Without Gerrard and Torres Liverpool would severly struggle to make Top 4 never mind a championship push.
from 3 months ago
yeah, we dont have the defence even tho we conceded the 3rd least goals last season, the 2nd least goals the season before, and pepe reina has won the golden glove all 3 years in a row that he has been at liverpool. We have a very creative midfield in gerrard and alonso, and signing barry would only improve that, after seeing how he and gerrard linked up for england, although personally i rate alonso more highly still.
And im sick of people saying we would struggle if you took away torres and gerrard. If you took away ferdinand and ronaldo man u would struggle and Chelsea fall to pieces without john terry in defence. Of course a team is going to be worse if you take away its best players. What do you want, a medal?
from 3 months ago
3rd best defence will maybe get you 3rd in the league. Mascherano was played more than Alonso last year and since Benitez loves to tinker, I cant see it being 30+ games with Barry, Gerrard and Alonso (if he isn't sold to Juve).
Man Utd would still have Rooney, Tevez, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson if you took out ferdinand and ronaldo. Still a pretty strong team.
3 months ago
Liverpool sing the same song every year!
I vividly remember them boasting about the arrival of Torres and boasting that they would win the CL and Prem last season. It goes back way before last season, its the same thing every year, "we're going to win the prem"
I'm not slamming Liverpool, I like when fans have faith in their club, there's noting wrong in believing...but I believe if you guys should stop saying it every year; 1) you save yourselves some embarrassment; 2) it may even happen that you win the league the very year that you shut your mouths...trust me weird things happen like that!
from 3 months ago
It's like you guys involuntarily jinx your team!
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