Who's season has been more impressive/surprising. Liverpool or Roma ?

Genuinely curious to hear it.

Both teams weren't given any sniff or shot to even secure CL qualification in summer, and both teams have been out of CL for years with loyal captains, yet both are managing to challenge for the title.

Whose form has been more of a surprise to you? Which team do you reckon is more suited to CL football next year?

Liverpool, definitely, on all accounts. Especially the way they're going around spanking teams. If you asked me if Roma could qualify for CL and be up there this season I wouldn't have a hard time believing it, because Serie A. Udinese did it a few times in recent years.

I saw potential in Roma last season. With the signings they made, I knew they would finish top 3 and I predicted it before the season.

Liverpool are a complete surprise. I thought they would finish 5th but this is a really surprising campaign by them.

Liverpool for me. The cynics can say they took advantage of the ugly transition Utd is having, Chelsea and City's sporadic form (kinda), hell, they can even say they are benefiting from not having such an extensive campaign but who cares about cynics. No one, that's what.

They shocked the s-h-i-t outta me mainly because I really didn't watch them a whole lot last season. I'm sure they'll do well enough in Europe since Liverpool seems to really enjoy those European nights.

Roma's title challenge is surprising as well since I thought Napoli would have been a bigger threat though I have little faith they'll make much waves in Europe. Unfortunately, my faith in Serie A is dwindling.

Liverpool.

Teams in Serie A seem to be struggling to truly strengthen themselves, so it's creating better grounds for surprises.

Well it really wasn't a surprise for me that we're doing so well. Even in the past 4 years of mediocrity I always believed our players were too good for 6th/7th/8th.

It was always about having the right manager. Woy was clueless. Kenny played a system that would never work in the modern game to try to fit our record signing, and he brought in more scrubs to accommodate Carroll's strengths. And last season was basically clearing out deadwood for the first six months and learning Rodgers' system.

Our form was top 4 quality since January 2013 when Cou&Studge arrived. In the summer we got rid of even more underperforming players (Downing, Shelvey, Reina) and brought in some more decent players (Mig and Sakho). As well as young players such as Flanno, Hendo and Sterling improving massively.

Not at all surprising.

I was more surprised at how well Rudi Garcia managed to make Roma. That unbelievable winning streak at the beginning of the season was special. Guys like Gervinho, Strootman and Benatia turning out to be gems. I thought Roma's problems were so much deeper but the way they've regrouped as a team and the way Garcia has managed to stabilize almost what felt like a sinking ship to me is extraordinary.

I am more surprised by the quality of players Roma managed to unearth, because Liverpool obviously had quality, but Roma's was not so obvious.

However, Liverpool's title challenge is surprising as I only expected them to compete for 4th. Even though, I did not expect Roma to be even in the top 5.

LFC of course.
both club showed potential last year (Liverpool since 2nd round, Roma was wrong with managers), but the league played by Liverpool for table and realization numbers (90 scored goals) is another thing

Liverpool have been more surprising. Roma have been a bit more impressive, especially defensively.

Definitely Liverpool, it's a real surprise. I wrote them off all up until February when they started to creep on Chelsea, and now their first in the league.
Roma is a solid team, but given the state serie A is in right now, with Milan and Inter both not a threat to the title anymore. I like that Roma is up there and Napoli too.

Roma. They're doing it in a tougher League.

Gil wrote:Roma. They're doing it in a tougher League.

It's a tougher league because Milan and inter aren't giants anymore.  So in terms of quality, it's more even amongst the top half of the league table, except for juve of course who are bulldozing through everyone.

Liverpool. They are actually leading the table right now and have it in their own hands to win the league. Roma are trailing 8 points behind. It's just not as much of a wow factor for me that Roma are doing better than Fiorentina, Inter, Parma etc. Maybe slightly surprising that Napoli aren't doing better. But if you asked at the beginning of the season which one is more likely:

a) Liverpool above City, Chelsea, Arsenal, United
b) Roma above Napoli, Viola, Parma, Inter

Most would have picked b.

Liverpool, they're actually gonna go through with it.

Liverpool, more impressive for sure.. Surprising? I'm not sure. Don't think either has been surprising.. But that's because I kind of felt like liverpool would do something special this year. Roma did pretty much what I expected them too as well

It's a tie between Liverpool & Athletico. Though for this thread it's defo Liverpool.

Gil wrote:Roma. They're doing it in a tougher League.

Oh Gil .. One of your "Reading this makes me want to move to china" posts

Roma in 2nd place is a surprise, Liverpool challenging for the title is a shock. Easy decision for me.

Nothing I'll enjoy more than a last minute Terry header in front of the Kop to end Liverpool's title hopes.

I had a feeling that this season will be better than last few. I was dreaming (not expecting) that we would make CL next season. Given the state of our squad and spate of injuries, I thought CL would be a good achievement. Now, with six games left and breathing down the neck of the mighty Blues (both shades), it's just awesome.

Roma is a kind of a let down, isn't it!!! I mean after winning first 11 games, you are basically out of the title race is kind of an anti-climax. I did expect them to qualify for CL, so not really surprised.

Atletico is another surprise. Going full-steam in both League & CL, and that with a pretty thin squad is quiet an achievement.

For me Liverpool, I knew they had geninue top quality (any team with SAS and Gerrard does) but never expected a pure title challenge. Thought be around Arsenal level but ofc no Europe would help them significantly, but not to the level where they are at top.

I could have not read mcaggers post and knew exactly what would have been said .

Liverpool by far. Looking at their team on paper, they have no right being in 1st place and challenging for the league.

Proves what a good manager can do to a team.

Roma for me. Liverpool I know they will have a chance to challenge Top 4. Non European competition involvement help them alot, They made a crucial signing in January's transfer, and There is already a sign of Liverpool's consistency in the 2nd half of last season.

But I didn't expected Roma would be so quickly to bounce back with Rudi Garcia. They sold their players and it's Rudi's first season..

missjb wrote:Roma for me. Liverpool I know they will have a chance to challenge Top 4. Non European competition involvement help them alot, They made a crucial signing in January's transfer,  and There is already a sign of  Liverpool's consistency in the 2nd half of last season.

But I didn't expected Roma would be so quickly to bounce back with Rudi Garcia. They sold their players and it's Rudi's first season..

We haven't signed a crucial first team player since January 2013, and we didn't even sign 1 player last January window.

mr-r34 wrote:

missjb wrote:Roma for me. Liverpool I know they will have a chance to challenge Top 4. Non European competition involvement help them alot, They made a crucial signing in January's transfer,  and There is already a sign of  Liverpool's consistency in the 2nd half of last season.

But I didn't expected Roma would be so quickly to bounce back with Rudi Garcia. They sold their players and it's Rudi's first season..

We haven't signed a crucial first team player since January 2013, and we didn't even sign 1 player last January window.

I know Liverpool didn't signed anyone in January this season. I mean january's signing last season eg. Coutinho, Sturridge