Would being eliminated from the CL be such a bad thing? Let me explain.
Of course I want Liverpool not only to qualify for the Champions League knock out stages, but for them to go on and win it for the sixth time. It would be glorious. But after the Lyon draw the chances of us doing so are looking more and more remote and so like everyone else I'm praying for a miracle. But if the unthinkable happens and we don't qualify what would that mean for the rest of the season? Would it all be bad?
Some might believe it would be all over and that being 9 points behind Chelsea in the Premiership would be beyond us. But I'm not so sure. What if the Premiership was the only prize we were competing for? Would that create a clarity of purpose for Rafa and the team? We all have a sense that it's the CL that Rafa really craves, and has excelled, and because of this it has been a huge distraction during league games prior to a Tuesday or Wednesday European game.
It's the Premiership title most Liverpool supporters want in the trophy cabinet next May so without the CL distraction the sole purpose for the next 6 months would be catching the leaders. There would be no more pulling off the best players when the league match still needs to be won. No more resting players for important league games, plus players would have a full week to recover from any injuries.
One of my main concerns this season is that we don't have the depth in the squad to compete in both the Premiership and the CL and this seems to be the case. But by only having the Premiership to focus on this might prove a different story.
So if a disaster does happen and we don't go any further at such an early stage of the CL perhaps it might not turn out to be a such a bad thing.
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I agree. I think if we were knocked out at this stage last season we'd be celebrating another league trophy.
Grow up and see the big picture. If your argument is right, lets lose our next 10 league matches so we can concentrate on the FA CUP!
In essence, yes it would be bad. Your points fail to realise that even: by the slightest chance we did win a domestic trophy this season. The shortfall in money earned from progression to the knockout stages of the CL will have far more consequences than receiving approx £8miilion for winning the prem or the two million on offer for the FA Cup.
The probable fact that we're not going to progress will impact on Rafa's ability to buy players and create yet another knee-jerk debate as to why some idiots think he should be sacked.
It's not the end of the world if we don't qualify, but it is "bad business" all the same. And with the present state of events around the ownership of the club and the circumstances that Rafa has to operate in, then only a naive optimist or blind fool would think we had any chance of catching Chelsea for the Prem. I love to come back on here in May and eat my words.Somehow I don't think I'll have to... But without doubt, if anyone can do it; Benitez can!
You see, that'll the blind fool coming out in me again...
getting knockes out & ending third is the worst case scenario then we would have the distraction of Europa Cup games every Thursday...unless we treat it like the Carling Cup & play our reserves...fact is Champions league is the place to be, as Torres mentions in his book & potential signings will look at the ability of teams to maintain a presence in it....fact is our first (fit) 11 is a match for anyone but the maining squad is average at best...most teams (bar Torres) in the top half of the table have better strikers than us (would Veronin,Ngog get into our teams)......
One thing is clear, we need new investments of players. We need to kick the Americans out FIRST!
Whether we still in Champions League or not, it doesn't matter anymore. Cos it's very clear we are relying too much on Torres and Gerrad. Without them, we are just as normal as Fulham, West Ham or even maybe Birmingham.
We need new blood and new investments. That's the solution!!!!