Thanks Liverpool, some great moments on this run, united, dortmund, villareal. Came up against a side well versed in winning. And when winning, trying every trick in the book to run the clock down. Sadly when they were under the cosh, we couldn't take advantage, be it handballs, offside calls, final balls, when we were under the cosh, we fucked up, gifted them chances, fumbled, and capitulated.
We finished 8th in the league for a reason, i've tried to convince myself all season, that these players are better more capable, and i was pleasantly surprised at how easy that first half went, despite us not really playing that well, but the second half starts and that's the otherside of liverpool that i've become accustomed too down the years.
I'm gutted, but if it finally lifts the veil, removes the blinkers, and we finally acknowledge this side isn't good enough, not good enough to win trophies, and not good enough to attain european football, perhaps we'll begin the process of removing serial under performers, serial bottlers, and start trying to strengthen and build.
That's better. Great, balanced, realistic post, Edward. I enjoyed reading it.
Maybe the fees we've paid make it look like the players are better than we judge them to be when initially linked, I don't know. Maybe, against our better judgement we back the manager's opinion, and of course we support them, and part of that can be in hope rather than expectation.
The last third of the league season saw more under strength teams than a few, so some of the performances and dropped points weren't really a surprise, and others have just been dire despite the team put out - the why is the hardest to fathom.
Now, without European football, Klopp, his assistants and all new players, can focus undistracted on really understanding the league, and realising that it requires 38 performances at the top of your game. There aren't any you can coast through.
Klopp will have more time to work with his team rather than just doing recovery work between games. That should also allow new players to settle quicker and everyone learn what Klopp requires of them individually and collectively.
It's not a disappointment unless we waste the opportunity, and we will know that every player signed wants to either play for LFC, or Klopp, or both. There's no jumping on a CL bandwagon.
There was nothing new last night. Everything that happened has previously been laid bare previously this season.
Moreno is an accident waiting to happened. He doesn't strike me as the brightest, and not just in the footballing sense either, and the sooner he is replaced the better. He's no Gareth Bale. He couldn't be turned into a left winger or attacker.
Brad Smith is not ready to be competition to any first choice left back, so two new left backs look as though they are needed, and shoeing Gomez or Flanno in at left back is not a solution if we really want to progress meaningfully. 'Making do' is one of the contributing factors to our extended malaise.
