Well done Liverpool

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:07 pm

BG,
Of course you are right that the Home Nations have always provided plenty of players in the top English league, although that is also a dwindling number - from the top 4 I think there is only Finnan at Liverpool and Giggs at MU presently who are first team regulars. However I still believe that all nations would benefit from International right down to schoolboy level if foreign players were the exception and not the rule in all the leagues. I am sure there is a lot of talent either choosing other sports or falling by the wayside because of too few opportunities.
As far as arsenal go, i was making the point that in the past they have not been renowned for their youth policy, but it is a smart move for any club so good luck to Brady and his team. I wouldn't mind betting though that very few, if any, will break through into the first team, although I do hope that Arsenal do actually start to represent the country they are playing in, let alone the local area in London!

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Sat May 05, 2007 5:31 pm

Big Boy wrote:caller wrote:
Chelsea were already a challenger before the russian took over and upped the ante. The others have responded in a similar way. The status quo is being restored.
A challenger for what? They were an OK team before the cash arrived, but I don't remember them challenging for the real trophies. I can't remember much more than the odd cup success, a good run in the European Losers Cup, and top half of the Premiership.

Couldnt agree more.

caller wrote:Nice to see the scousers forgetting their heritage. How they laughed when the mancs got the funny guy with a beard. How they cheered when they got their own input of cash.

How we laughed at the Mancs protests, Breakaway Team and Spitting of Dummys.

Liverpool FC needed investment, Liverpool fans accepted the new owners (who have been to all the big games and seem to love the club) unlike the mard arses from down the road.

As for Gerrard, Other things outside of football and his bank balance could have seem him leave the Club/City.

But he didnt.

Post by **caller** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:10 pm

BaaBaa. wrote: Liverpool FC needed investment.

So did Chelsea.

So why is it okay for one and not the other?

Cheslea were just short of winning the league under the old regime and the investment changed that.

That was breaking the status quo. Liverpool had several years in the doldrums and it wasn't that long ago people were saying how boring the league was with a two horse race between Arsenal and Utd.

Now its seen as a "top 4" but it isn't really, its "2+2".

Next season should be more interesting.

Post by JD » Sat May 05, 2007 7:40 pm

....and Paul Allen (Microsoft) is interested in buying The Saints. Ha Ha Ha. I'll believe it when it happens. He has more loose change than Abramovich has spent at Chelsea, if a serious bid then maybe even Southampton can by a Premiership title in a few years time. Let's face it, it's sad when them with the money win everything, and as I've said before (McClaren thread) it does little for the English team when the English players can't even get a look in.

Oh yes,

Good luck to Liverpool in the Final, I always support the home team in any european match I watch. (Unless of course The Skates get into Europe next year).

Post by **PeteC** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:13 pm

"VOTE CHILLIS" ? Have you turned vegen JD? Geckos are meat you know.

Who would have thought? What is this world coming to? LOL. Pete

Post by **Guess** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:46 pm

I have to say well done too. A good performance by Liverpool. All games have and element of luck this time it was on the side of Liverpool. This should not take anything away from Liverpool as they was very little to separate the two teams. Chelsea squandered three chances which led to a penalty shoot out. Then the luck factor comes much more into play. Only recently luck was not with Liverpool and they got beaten by and inferior Manure, again to the detriment of Chelsea.

Anyway the good news is that AC Milan beat Manure even though I would not piss on either of them if they were on fire, I think it gives Liverpool a better chance of a Cup win.

A couple of comments on statements made earlier in the thread. Chelsea do not have a policy now of looking for home grown talent but they did have in the long dismal period in the seventies. In fact at one time they were one of only three clubs in the First Division that made a profit on players. I agree now that the Norther teams have a better record at recruiting local talent but surely their is a limit. If there was so much home grown talent that Chelsea and Arsenal are missing then why do England perform so poorly at international level. The English Premiership is one of the best three in Europe but for the clubs to compete at European level they must buy in from countries who have world class players with no clubs to play for. Now that West Africa is on the market there are even less places for English players at top level English clubs.

On the subject on money spent by the recent ownership, perhaps you should all have a look at the amounts spent by clubs such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Barcelona.

Caller's point about Chelsea having some success before the Abramovich take over, he is completely right. From memory I believe Chelsea had three entries into Europe. One was marred by the fact that Chelsea drew an Israeli team and the player were all given the choice of not traveling away. Many accepted.

As I write this it looks like Chelsea's last realistic chance of the title has slipped from there grasp once again by one solitary goal.

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:18 am

Ah, Wonderlust, do you remember that drunken night when you said that nobody outside of England, should support an English team? Maybe and just maybe that´s why I support Arsenal

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:13 am

Very good BG, but I think I said I didn't understand why people supported clubs outside of their own country. However as you say I was drunk!

Post by **higgy** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:34 am

Oooooooppppps ....Fulham 1 - Scousers 0

Post by **Big Boy** » Sun May 06, 2007 1:41 pm

Guess wrote:

Chelsea's last realistic chance of the title has slipped from there grasp once again by one solitary goal.

On this occassion, the solitary goal is true, but once again?

The Manure goal difference is so superior (currently +17), I think there a few sour grapes somewhere.

caller wrote:

its seen as a "top 4" but it isn't really, its "2+2".

If its only 2 + 2, why are all of the pundits writing Chelski's chances off because the have to play one of the second stream today?

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Sun May 06, 2007 4:47 pm

higgy wrote:Oooooooppppps ....Fulham 1 - Scousers 0

Fulham 1 - Liverpool Reserves/Youth Team 0

We've got bigger fish to fry.

Post by **higgy** » Sun May 06, 2007 4:49 pm

Chelski have won 13 games this season by 1-0 scorelines

Post by **higgy** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:11 pm

Which "youths"are you referring to:Reina or Alonso,or Hyypia or Sissoko or Gonzalez or Bellamy or Fowler or Kewell or Finnan.
Benitez changes his team more times than I change me underpants.He does,nt know his best team thats why they have been very poor in the Premier league.
It,s now 17 years since they won the championship.....says it all really.
Not had a new manager for the last couple of years maybe time for another change if they win nowt this year,which they won,t.

Post by **caller** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:42 pm

Big Boy wrote:Guess wrote:
Chelsea's last realistic chance of the title has slipped from there grasp once again by one solitary goal.
On this occassion, the solitary goal is true, but once again?

The Manure goal difference is so superior (currently +17), I think there a few sour grapes somewhere.

caller wrote:
its seen as a "top 4" but it isn't really, its "2+2".
If its only 2 + 2, why are all of the pundits writing Chelski's chances off because the have to play one of the second stream today?

Come on BB, you know its what happens over a season - you have made that very point to Guess (welcome back - where have you been?) in the first part of your post. And in that respect there is a 2+2. The big difference being the away form of the scousers and Arsenal compared to the top two.

Then there's the rest................

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:49 pm

Very good BG, but I think I said I didn't understand why people supported clubs outside of their own country. However as you say I was drunk!

The reason might well be, that if I did support my team from Finland, I'd have to drink even more that I do now and I don't think that would be wise. Besides where can I watch 3rd tier Finnish football live in Thailand? Mind you, I've been an Arsenal supporter since I was ten, which is, hmmmm, maybe a bit more than ten years.