Can Pool make the step up?

comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
The last two times we put in decent title challenges we lost a key player at the end of the season and failed to replace them adequately. While we have not made any major signings, just the fact that we have kept the team together this time puts us in a better position than on previous occasions.
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However mane and Salah had long summers which I think will hurt you come February.

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comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 14 minutes ago
Nah, they had a great chance to but city have improved and Liverpool stood still. Very strange move from them.

Only chance they have is if compliancy kicks in for City imo.
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Cannot see any complacency from Pep tbh. Did you see him with Sterling after City had won the cup which ended the season with the first domestic treble? He was coaching him while the fans celebrated. The guy is obsessive and to be fair it has made him the best in the world. Players may think about a complacent approach but Pep simply would not stand for it. Even Aguero, the best striker in the league is not certain to start.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 30 minutes ago
Nah, they had a great chance to but city have improved and Liverpool stood still. Very strange move from them.

Only chance they have is if compliancy kicks in for City imo.
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I find the idea of us having stood still a slightly strange one. I assume people feel the only way to improve is to buy in new players which personally I disagree with.

Our first choice defence includes a 20 yr old CB and a 20 yr old RB; I would hope they'll be learning and improving all the time. Plenty of scope to improve in midfield given that two of our first team options, Fabinho and Keita (themselves on 25 and 24) have had a years worth of experience in the league.

That's not to say we'll have improved enough to beat City to the title (I don't think we will actually) or that City won't be trying to improve their players as well. I just find the idea that a team stands still if they don't buy players a slightly odd one.

comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 30 minutes ago
Nah, they had a great chance to but city have improved and Liverpool stood still. Very strange move from them.

Only chance they have is if compliancy kicks in for City imo.
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I find the idea of us having stood still a slightly strange one. I assume people feel the only way to improve is to buy in new players which personally I disagree with.

Our first choice defence includes a 20 yr old CB and a 20 yr old RB; I would hope they'll be learning and improving all the time. Plenty of scope to improve in midfield given that two of our first team options, Fabinho and Keita (themselves on 25 and 24) have had a years worth of experience in the league.

That's not to say we'll have improved enough to beat City to the title (I don't think we will actually) or that City won't be trying to improve their players as well. I just find the idea that a team stands still if they don't buy players a slightly odd one.
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When a team finds success like a CL win, it's difficult to go again and again. Players need competition for their placed and tbh you're an injury away from quite a bit behind city imo.

If you lost Van Dijk or Salah and/ or mane for a period, I think you'd struggle.

Your point about youngsters improving is a fair one, but that goes for the likes of sterling, Laporte, Stones, KDB and Bernardo too.

Sometimes to young players lost that consistency in their second or third season too.

I'm not knocking Liverpool, I'd swap positions without a thought. I just think City are stronger.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
Nah, they had a great chance to but city have improved and Liverpool stood still. Very strange move from them.

Only chance they have is if compliancy kicks in for City imo.
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City are stronger in midfield but weaker in defence and I imagine have lost a big dressing room presence.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 11 minutes ago

I'm not knocking Liverpool, I'd swap positions without a thought. I just think City are stronger.
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I agree, they are stronger. I think our first 11 is a match for them but our squad isn't. And you're right on vulnerabilities to certain positions, VVD is key and we have no real back up for Robertson.

I wasn't suggesting we're a match for them, just disputing the idea that we'd stood still because we hadn't brought players in. I don't believe you need to buy to improve.

Newly promoted Norwich made Liverpool look very ordinary at times during the second half!

In fact they won 1-0.

Yup

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