Comments on: Would Liverpool be better off out of the Champions League? http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/ World Soccer views and news Wed, 8 Oct 2008 08:32:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By:   Is it all over for Liverpool for yet another season? by Super Soccer Blog http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334306   Is it all over for Liverpool for yet another season? by Super Soccer Blog Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:29:13 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334306 [...] to the importance of the Premier League but his selections have indicated otherwise. My colleague Padraic Halpin asked this time last week if Liverpool would be better off out of the Champions League, in order to concentrate fully on a bid [...] […] to the importance of the Premier League but his selections have indicated otherwise. My colleague Padraic Halpin asked this time last week if Liverpool would be better off out of the Champions League, in order to concentrate fully on a bid […]

]]> By: davex http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334140 davex Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:07:46 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334140 Why couldn't they have played like that against Reading as well? I think the answer to the question is yes, they would haev been better of losing .They'll go out anyway against Real Madrid (or whoever) in the next round Why couldn’t they have played like that against Reading as well? I think the answer to the question is yes, they would haev been better of losing .They’ll go out anyway against Real Madrid (or whoever) in the next round

]]> By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334099 Kevin Fylan Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:18:43 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334099 Sighs of relief all round! http://football.uk.reuters.com/european/news/L11118718.php Sighs of relief all round!
http://football.uk.reuters.com/european/ news/L11118718.php

]]> By: kelvin lim http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334087 kelvin lim Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:37:33 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334087 If Liverpool score first, they'll win at Marseille. The momentum will surely lift Liverpool to win Man U at home, and followup with win at Chelsea. As a Liverpool fan for 30+ yrs, Benitez is one of the best coach in Liverpool and certainly in the world now. If he get sacked, the player exodus will follow. We can kiss any CL or PL for the next 5-10 yrs. If Liverpool score first, they’ll win at Marseille. The momentum will surely lift Liverpool to win Man U at home, and followup with win at Chelsea. As a Liverpool fan for 30+ yrs, Benitez is one of the best coach in Liverpool and certainly in the world now. If he get sacked, the player exodus will follow. We can kiss any CL or PL for the next 5-10 yrs.

]]> By: Padraic Halpin http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334084 Padraic Halpin Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:01:41 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334084 Can you have the best of both worlds with this current squad? If Liverpool go through tonight, they'll probably have a good run, reaching the semis or another final but it will undoubtedly come at a cost. If Benitez adopts such bizarre tactics on the eve of this game, he'll surely do the same for a last 16 against Barcelona, a quarter against Milan or a semi against United. His squad evidently isn't good enough to 'protect' players for 'big' European nights. It basically comes down to this, would Liverpool fans prefer a run at a sixth European Cup or a serious attempt at winning a first leauge title in almost two decades? Because I'm sorry but on Saturday's evidence you can't have both. Can you have the best of both worlds with this current squad? If Liverpool go through tonight, they’ll probably have a good run, reaching the semis or another final but it will undoubtedly come at a cost.

If Benitez adopts such bizarre tactics on the eve of this game, he’ll surely do the same for a last 16 against Barcelona, a quarter against Milan or a semi against United. His squad evidently isn’t good enough to ‘protect’ players for ‘big’ European nights.

It basically comes down to this, would Liverpool fans prefer a run at a sixth European Cup or a serious attempt at winning a first leauge title in almost two decades? Because I’m sorry but on Saturday’s evidence you can’t have both.

]]> By: cahyo wijaa http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334080 cahyo wijaa Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:26:34 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334080 the answer for the title is NO! liverpool are a good team with a long honorable history. in the Benitez era, they always showed winning mentality. they have a much better squad than previous seasons which are capable to focus on two events. the problem is Benitez seems to confused about his starting eleven. i can understand why Benitez substituted his skipper when they trailed against reading. the marseille game is a do or die game and needs 100% concentration mentally, tactically, and physically while the epl still has a lot games to play. losing 1 game in the epl won't hurt so much while losing from marseille will be the end of the world for the fans. http://footballwijaa.blogspot.com the answer for the title is NO! liverpool are a good team with a long honorable history. in the Benitez era, they always showed winning mentality. they have a much better squad than previous seasons which are capable to focus on two events. the problem is Benitez seems to confused about his starting eleven.
i can understand why Benitez substituted his skipper when they trailed against reading. the marseille game is a do or die game and needs 100% concentration mentally, tactically, and physically while the epl still has a lot games to play. losing 1 game in the epl won’t hurt so much while losing from marseille will be the end of the world for the fans.

http://footballwijaa.blogspot.com

]]> By: Five Times http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334078 Five Times Tue, 11 Dec 2007 01:19:22 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334078 My answer is Yes to the blog entry title. In my ideal world, this is how it goes... No doubt that Liverpool will give 100% to EPL and the CL. But imagine you can only choose 1 competition to give 110%. Liverpool will choose the EPL. Same goes for Arsenal, Man-U & Chelsea. Chelsea is a team in transition. Being even slightly shaky in this day and age of the EPL won't get you to #1. So maybe a knockout competition will suit them. Arsenal & Man-U; while Arsenal hasn't really expressed specific interest in the CL, I can bet you that when the time comes and they realise that they can win the CL for the 1st time ever in their history, their 110% will be in the CL. Man-U on the other hand, Ferguson's desperation to grab a 3rd CL trophy isn't a secret. At the end of the day, it's a matter of priorities and the EPL isn't what it was pre-millenium. Everything is so tough, standards are so high all around now that you can only choose 1 major trophy. My answer is Yes to the blog entry title.

In my ideal world, this is how it goes…

No doubt that Liverpool will give 100% to EPL and the CL. But imagine you can only choose 1 competition to give 110%. Liverpool will choose the EPL.

Same goes for Arsenal, Man-U & Chelsea.

Chelsea is a team in transition. Being even slightly shaky in this day and age of the EPL won’t get you to #1. So maybe a knockout competition will suit them.

Arsenal & Man-U; while Arsenal hasn’t really expressed specific interest in the CL, I can bet you that when the time comes and they realise that they can win the CL for the 1st time ever in their history, their 110% will be in the CL.
Man-U on the other hand, Ferguson’s desperation to grab a 3rd CL trophy isn’t a secret.

At the end of the day, it’s a matter of priorities and the EPL isn’t what it was pre-millenium. Everything is so tough, standards are so high all around now that you can only choose 1 major trophy.

]]> By: Nicole http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334077 Nicole Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:03:32 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334077 Liverpool deserve to still be in just as much as the next team. Everyone knows how well they work under pressure. Who has the right to say if they do or dont anyway. The facts are, they are still in and thats got to count for something. They have won more times then any other british team, and i believe they have more in them yet. I quess alot is going to ride on tomorrows game Liverpool deserve to still be in just as much as the next team. Everyone knows how well they work under pressure. Who has the right to say if they do or dont anyway. The facts are, they are still in and thats got to count for something. They have won more times then any other british team, and i believe they have more in them yet. I quess alot is going to ride on tomorrows game

]]> By: Betfair Kid http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334074 Betfair Kid Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:32:50 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334074 WG - I agree with your point about Liverpool's inability to keep up good form for the length of a season. There will be a lot of unhappy players should they get knocked out this Tuesday, or maybe whenever they are knocked out (providing they don't reach the final). Benitez has purposely built a big squad of about 22 players to fight for both trophies but obviously it isn't working. If they have to concentrate soely on the Premiership then only half of these players will be able to play every week, and obviously this is going to cause a lot of frustration. If results go the wrong way I think Rafa could be out a job, mainly due to the fact that he also doesn't have the best of relationships with the chairmen. It's a shame because even though I'm not a big fan of his, he has a good record and hasn't exactly 'failed' at Liverpool - it's not easy to win the Premiership! WG - I agree with your point about Liverpool’s inability to keep up good form for the length of a season.

There will be a lot of unhappy players should they get knocked out this Tuesday, or maybe whenever they are knocked out (providing they don’t reach the final). Benitez has purposely built a big squad of about 22 players to fight for both trophies but obviously it isn’t working. If they have to concentrate soely on the Premiership then only half of these players will be able to play every week, and obviously this is going to cause a lot of frustration.

If results go the wrong way I think Rafa could be out a job, mainly due to the fact that he also doesn’t have the best of relationships with the chairmen. It’s a shame because even though I’m not a big fan of his, he has a good record and hasn’t exactly ‘failed’ at Liverpool - it’s not easy to win the Premiership!

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334073 Jim Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:33:23 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2007/12/10/would-liverpool-be-better-off-out-of-the-champions-league/#comment-334073 Bad formation and bad tactics cost the three points on Saturday. The game could have gone either way, the disappointment was that having gone behind we were pretty impotent when trying to score. He rested Hyppia for the game on tuesday and played Hobbs and to be honest it's really refreshing to see a british kid come up through the ranks so I'm not going to argue with that. His big mistake was playing 3 central midfielders, what the donald was going on there!!...especially as has he had two wingers on the bench. Undoubtedly Benitez's main focus is Europe and at the moment he has the support of the supporters. If we don't look like winning any silver ware this year though I don't know how long it will last. Bad formation and bad tactics cost the three points on Saturday. The game could have gone either way, the disappointment was that having gone behind we were pretty impotent when trying to score.

He rested Hyppia for the game on tuesday and played Hobbs and to be honest it’s really refreshing to see a british kid come up through the ranks so I’m not going to argue with that. His big mistake was playing 3 central midfielders, what the donald was going on there!!…especially as has he had two wingers on the bench.

Undoubtedly Benitez’s main focus is Europe and at the moment he has the support of the supporters. If we don’t look like winning any silver ware this year though I don’t know how long it will last.

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