Martin, the problem is, that terms like "legend", "world class" and "mediocre" are thrown around these days like confetti.
perhaps one could conclude that Wolves squad is mediocre......perhaps west ham's squad is down there too.
but how in under goodness one could conclude that a squad containing the likes of Kuyt, Reina, Agger, Suarez, Carroll, Kelly, Gerrard, Moreless, etc, is mediocre, is well beyond my levels of understanding.
I know you were deeply unhappy with Rafa. Two CL finals in 5 seasons, plus a runner up spot in the league, obviously did not content your ambitions. I really have to wonder if your glass is 90 percent empty.
I enjoy your posts - but you really got to start enjoying things a tad more.
Best,
El Dude
In response to both you and ASI. As I said the sign of a quality squad is, at least where I come from, ability to rise to the ocassion when it is expected. You see that's the most profound syndrom of the "Liverpool disease" - never be up for it when it matters, always upset expectations when it wasn't on the cards. I am the first to admit any team have their days off. Again, just take a look at both ManU and Chelsea last weekend (from their perspective it was a day off). Again, if we were up there, or if we had another 8-9 points to our current toll I could've lived with it. It's not the result in itself that makes me desillusioned, it's the timing and manner in which it happened. To me the Wigan game was really a cup final. Here we are, having a genuine possibility to close the gap on both Spurs and Chelsea with a two week break coming up before we face West Ham away (where we generally produce good results). What do we do? We plonk it big MF time!!! We were outplayed, not up for it, disjointed, what have you for large parts of the game. You NEVER see any of the other top teams (bar Spurs) perform like that at home against relegation fodder. Why? Because their squads are so much better than ours it doesn't matter if they're "there" mentally. Their sheer class will be enough to secure the points against the Wigan's of this world.
I say again, the fact we failed massively, hugely, enormously to rise to the ocassion speaks volume as to how mediocre our squad really is. And by mediocre I mean anything below top 4. Might be too narrow a definition for your liking, but that's how I see it.
You say Lucas is good. True, when surrounded by Gerrard, Meireles and the always available Kuijt he can have his moments, or even games. Who wouldn't perform well under those circumstances? I know I wouldn't make a tit of myself 15 years ago. Take these three out and his nothing, which he showed pretty clearly against Wigan. He dind't step forward, he didn't offer leadership, he didn't do nothing to merit the praise people always heap on him for some quite spurious reason.
It's not a question of whether the glass if half full or empty. It's about being honest and realistic about things. The Wigan game was per firking se a cup final and we didn't show up.