Europa League Campaign 2012/2013

[Ed]

Strikes me this tournament represents
salvation for the club this season.

I know there are a few on here who don't
value it, but there are some good clubs
remaining in it.

The likes of Stevie & Carra might few it as
a swansong to their careers & young Coutinho
excelled in it last season (I think?). Suarez may
see it as a stage of sorts to showcase his talents
to European suitors.

Anyway, I see it as a test for the manager, after
a poor group campaign and exits from the domestic
cups, this represents an opportunity for him to
make amends.

I'm only relatively interested in our league campaign
now and would see a decent campaign in this tournament
as something to get excited about.

[Edward224]

I wouldn't play Gerrard or Carra or Suarez in this game.

My team and formation would be:-


----------------------------------Reina--------------------------


-------Johnson-----------Skrtel-------Agger------------Enrique-----------


---------------------------------Lucas---------------------------------------


----------------------Allen----------------Shelvey----------------------------


-------------Downing---------Borini---------------Suso---------------------


I'd like to see Borini play the full 90 mins down the middle. I'd like to see Allen have a run out and try and reclaim some form and I'd play Shelvey a bit more deeper than he was deployed on Monday.

[Tes]

It probably represents the best chance of European football for next season and if given the chance of 5th in the league or winning this competition, I'd snatch your hand of for winning this competition.

Targets from European countries are  less likely to know where we finish in the league if it's not in the CL places, but much more likely to remember us winning this competition as the rest of Europe take it much more seriously than we seem to in this country.
It raises our profile in Europe more than a fifth place finish and best of all, it's a trophy. I'd never say no to any trophy.

It would also extend Rodgers' European education as far as possible also.

4th is gone, a chance of a trophy isn't. We're joint top of the all-time winners list with Inter and Juve - let's make ourselves the most successful in it.

Shanks and Paisley never turned their noses up at any trophy. I don't think we should start now.

[Ed]

I wouldn't play Gerrard or Carra or Suarez in this game.

My team and formation would be:-


----------------------------------Reina--------------------------


-------Johnson-----------Skrtel-------Agger------------Enrique-----------


---------------------------------Lucas---------------------------------------


----------------------Allen----------------Shelvey----------------------------


-------------Downing---------Borini---------------Suso---------------------


I'd like to see Borini play the full 90 mins down the middle. I'd like to see Allen have a run out and try and reclaim some form and I'd play Shelvey a bit more deeper than he was deployed on Monday.

Is this a wind up?

Listen, the time for quirky selections and
experimentation is over or did the exit from
two domestic tournaments, a scraping
through the group stages and 9th in the league
pass you by?

The job of the manager is to get results and he'd
need to have his head examined if he sent that
team on the back of a home loss to West Brom.

What do you think, Zenit are some kind of pre-season
friendly team? Shakes head very wearily...

[Ed]

It probably represents the best chance of European football for next season and if given the chance of 5th in the league or winning this competition, I'd snatch your hand of for winning this competition.

Targets from European countries are  less likely to know where we finish in the league if it's not in the CL places, but much more likely to remember us winning this competition as the rest of Europe take it much more seriously than we seem to in this country.
It raises our profile in Europe more than a fifth place finish and best of all, it's a trophy. I'd never say no to any trophy.

It would also extend Rodgers' European education as far as possible also.

4th is gone, a chance of a trophy isn't. We're joint top of the all-time winners list with Inter and Juve - let's make ourselves the most successful in it.

Shanks and Paisley never turned their noses up at any trophy. I don't think we should start now.

I'm with you Tes! F**k the owners,
there's enough talent in the squad
to win this tournament.

I say we go for it!

[Tes]

In Luciano Spalletti they have a very capable coach. We treat them like we did WBA and we may as well cancel the second leg now, as they will be out of sight after tomorrow night.

[Tes]

I'm with you Tes! F**k the owners,
there's enough talent in the squad
to win this tournament.

I say we go for it!

Exactly. The big money of CL football is gone for another year. Winning the UEFA Cup will make both sponsorship and transfers a touch easier and more rewarding than a fifth place finish.
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th etc are all meaningless in reality. Winning trophies isn't.
We may get more in prize money for 5th and no UEFA Cup than 8th and the UEFA Cup, but the overall benefits will prove greater for the latter than the former.

Trophies. Wasn't that what we used to be all about?

[Ed]

Trophies. Wasn't that what we used to be all about?

At some point the gaffer has to break out of the
yes-man middle manager PR official role and start
managing the football club.

Either he has the talent and balls to do it or he doesn't.

Galvanising the squad and managing a swaggering/rampaging
campaign in Europe is the ideal vehicle for that & I know
the likes of Stevie, Carra, Suarez are up for it.

Another limp exit from a cup competition would be too much
to bear. I know managing the league & Europe is tough at
the best of times. But the job of gaffer at LFC is by definition
tough.

[the dude abides]

Another limp exit from a cup competition would be too much
to bear.

I want to win the Europa League, obviously.  But the first half-decent side we face, will see our elimination.  If Zenith were in the midst of their season, then they could have done us over.

But Zenith haven't played a competitive game for over 2 months.  The Russian league closed down for it's winter break on December 11th.

So there will be no excuse if we do not get a good result tonight.

Rodgers is in the last chance saloon now - two potential banana skins await between now and Sunday evening - Zenith away, and Swansea at Anfield.

There were boos at Anfield after the WBA game.  There will be far more unsettled supporters should Swansea beat us in our back yard too.

[Tes]

I want to win the Europa League, obviously.  But the first half-decent side we face, will see our elimination.  If Zenith were in the midst of their season, then they could have done us over.

But Zenith haven't played a competitive game for over 2 months.  The Russian league closed down for it's winter break on December 11th.

So there will be no excuse if we do not get a good result tonight.

Rodgers is in the last chance saloon now - two potential banana skins await between now and Sunday evening - Zenith away, and Swansea at Anfield.

There were boos at Anfield after the WBA game.  There will be far more unsettled supporters should Swansea beat us in our back yard too.

I agree with all that, Dude, especially as Swansea convincingly dumped us out of the League Cup.

If we're to say that Rodgers stays in the Summer, we need him to win the competition in order to gain maximum European experience and get us back into Europe again for next season. He would also need to gain as much European experience next season, as if it's our intention to get top four next season (no chance of it happening this season) and therefore at least be playing a CL qualifier in season 2014/15, he desperately needs to gain as much European experience as possible having previously gained none in his two previous full season as a manager.

I hate it when the crowd boo at Anfield. Not so much the booing itself, but the fact that they feel they have a reason to boo.
In one way I wish they wouldn't, but on the other hand the players need to know when they simply haven't performed to a minimum standard. The minimum asked for is effort and desire. Being beaten can be accepted if those things are clearly demonstrated.

[barticus]

Playing Allen instead of Lucas is a brilliant masterstroke...

[the dude abides]

http://youtu.be/uV8a0-cXzNs

[the dude abides]

I agree with all that, Dude, especially as Swansea convincingly dumped us out of the League Cup.

If we're to say that Rodgers stays in the Summer, we need him to win the competition in order to gain maximum European experience and get us back into Europe again for next season.

it's pretty much over as far as Europe is concerned this season.

having to now win 3-0 at Anfield, against standard European opposition, reminds me of the Graeme Souness management era at Liverpool.

Rodgers (sadly) is way out of his depth.  Zenith should not be on our level, at the best of times......but to not have played a competitive game in over two months, and yet to have walked all over us tonight, is unforgivable.

It's over for Rodgers. 

[the dude abides]

Playing Allen instead of Lucas is a brilliant masterstroke...

yes, madness.  In europe, away from home especially, you want to keep things tight, and have people who can fight for the ball and not be knocked off it easily. 

Our manager has a lot to learn.  I wish he would learn his trade at another club.

[barticus]

yes, madness.  In europe, away from home especially, you want to keep things tight, and have people who can fight for the ball and not be knocked off it easily. 

Our manager has a lot to learn.  I wish he would learn his trade at another club.

Any well organised team can beat us because Rodgers has no tactical nous. We haven't beaten anyone of worth all season and now we're out of the 3 cups by early Feb...
He'll be gone in the summer...dead man walking...we'll avoid relegation...and that will be the highlight of 2012/2013...