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whatbill

Listed below are comments made by whatbill between Wednesday, 21st October 2009 and Wednesday, 25th November 2009.

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Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 5:43pm on 25 Nov 2009 Phil - your comments about Houlier and his squad are spot on. Yes they wern't perfect but they managed 2nd in the league, 3 trophies in a season and provided the nucleus of the 2005 CL, Rafa's only unqualified success.

Also a good point about Robbie Keane. I don't think rafa tried hard enough to integrate him into the club - he became a pawn in the battle with Alan Parry. Keane had a slow start but was hardly made to feel wanted. Since he left, a quality replacement has not been found and Torres has been regularly injured, often because he has been rushed back due to a lack of cover.

Liverpool fans must be worried about Torres - fit he is arguably the best striker in the world, but his absences are becoming more and more predictable. Is he in danger of turning into a world class Louis Saha?
New dad Rooney born to star 3:19pm on 04 Nov 2009 I have to say I am running out of patience with Nani, who I have seen several times this season and still looks as frustrating and inconsistent as ever. It was a big chance for him when Cristiano Ronaldo left and he shows no signs of taking it.

Quite like Antonio Valencia though. Progressing nicely and has pace and power.

United fans - who gives you most cause for optimism? Nani or Valencia? Valencia for me every time.

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Quite an easy one Phil - Valencia had a quiet start but has made a few contributions now and is starting to fit in. He's not Ronaldo but he doesn't need to be.

Nani has been here for over 2 years and I'm not sure if he's really improved. He does have quality but his consistency and attitude are lacking and you'd think that some of Fergie's discipline would have gone in by now if it was going to. If he doesn't improve this season, he could well be off to a middling spanish/portugese club in the summer. Or failing that Tottenham...
New dad Rooney born to star 2:38pm on 04 Nov 2009 95. At 2:22pm on 04 Nov 2009, _ceiling_fan_ wrote:
92. ArsenalArseneArshavin

You are clearly just a wind-up merchant - replays clearly showed that Fletcher was tripped.

But I love it when people say 'he went down very easily' or 'he made a meal of it'. It seems these days that if footballers dare to throw their arms out to cushion their fall that they're accused of diving!

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Very true. People seem to think its absolutely fine for a defender to hack away at a forward, who is expected to do everything he can to stay on his feet. Clearly this isn't going to happen, defenders need to take responsibility for their actions...
New dad Rooney born to star 12:20pm on 04 Nov 2009 55. At 11:48am on 04 Nov 2009, WordsofWisdom

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Good comments about the importance of midfield to the defence. Scholes is a legend but I feared for United against Liverpool as soon as I saw he was in, while Fletcher and Anderson were out. He can still pass and finish but his legs are no longer there for the high energy games. I'd be interested to see United's record in big games this and last season, with and without Fletcher in the team...
New dad Rooney born to star 12:12pm on 04 Nov 2009 Lets face it, the United and Chelsea champions league games last night were hardly critical. Both teams will be priotising the clash at Stanford bridge at the weekend.

United were clearly way of their best and the defence continues to be a problem. However, they'd done the hard work in winning the first 3 games and even a defeat would not have been the end of the world. As it was they were denied a clear penalty, scored a lucky deflection and came out with the result they needed. Far more important is the weekend game with chelsea - its not that they can't afford to lose but it will give them some catching up to do.

The real big game is tonight, where Rafa has to take a depleted Liverpool to Lyon. Defeat would have them in serious difficulties but even a draw will mean qualification is out of their hands. Traditionally Liverpool play well when their backs are against the wall but when you're trying to save your season in November, things are badly wrong...
Anfield's day of destiny 5:24pm on 23 Oct 2009 No one has yet mentioned the "come back when you've won 18" banner displayed when United went to Anfield after winning the first ever premiership in 93. Win, lose or draw, the satisfaction for United fans simply of turning up level on titles is massive. When you throw all in the other stuff it makes for an incredible fixture this early in the season.

As a United fan I'm hoping to beat scousers on sunday but going to Anfield level on 18 titles and condemning them to a 5th straight defeat while consolidating our position at the top of the table would clearly be too perfect.

1-1.
Benitez faces biggest test 5:04pm on 21 Oct 2009 Liverpool fans seem split - some are voicing their discontent, others appear to have their heads in the sand. The top 10 excuses:

1) There is an injury crisis - some key players are injured but plenty have clubs have been through worse, and these players wern't injured for all 4 defeat).

2) Its not really a crisis, just a dip - worse run of form since 1987 suggests otherwise.

3) Its Houlier's fault/Fergie took his time - he's in his 6th season, and appears to be going backwards.

4) Lack of transfer funds - Rafa's had a lot of cash to spend over the years.

5) We're still better than Everton - good for you, won't get you into the top 4, let alone win the league.

6) Sack the board - they're not great but are they any wore than the Glazers? On the one hand Liverpool bemoan City and Chelsea's cash, on the other hand they crave the same.

7) We finished 2nd last season - With the most ever points. And the most goals. And best goal difference. And beat United twice. Blue Peter badges on the way.

8) Aquilani will change everything - good luck with that.

9) In Rafa we trust - blind faith but arguably more rational than some of the above.

10) YNWA - unles you're Ngog up front.
Benitez faces biggest test 4:26pm on 21 Oct 2009 I don't think Rafa will go if Liverpool lose to United. But the pressure will build on him, with 3 tough remaining CL games and not the easiest run of premiership fixtures coming up.

As far as his transfer record goes, it is pretty average. A lot of players have come and gone, relatively few have stayed and been successful.

The other problem he has is that virtually no young players have come through the ranks since he joined. Man United may spend millions but they've also relied on the likes of Fletcher, o'Shea, Brown and Evans. These are not United's greatest players but they are committed and versatile squad members who do a job whenever required. This is the strength in depth that Liverpool lack, its not all about money...
Benitez faces biggest test 12:08pm on 21 Oct 2009 150. At 11:21am on 21 Oct 2009, Vikdaddy wrote:
whatbill (#97), to suggest Aquilani is unproven is also ridiculous. He has played for Italy (current World Champions) with caps in the double figures and is probably yet to reach his prime. Also, just because he had injuries in the past does not mean he will be in the future. When a club spends £20m on a player, I'm sure the medical is very rigorous!

I remember a certain Alex Ferguson signing an "injury prone" Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and I don't think anybody could criticise Alex for signing him? Also, he signed Owen Hargreaves who didn't have an injury-prone background and he has hardly played since.

Also, Torres was "not delivering" by your standards for a few seasons before Benitez signed him. He was a good player but not even the best goalscorer in the Spanish League (Raul and Villa had more goals per season). Torres also had a questionable injury record, but there aren't many criticising that signing!

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What standards are you talking about? Villa is still arugably better than Torres as was Raul at his peak. All were excellent players at the time, Torres was clearly higher rated than Aquilani is now.

I also don't think it is ridiculous to say Aquilani is unproven. He hasn't completed a full season on at Roma for some time and although he's played a few games for italy, he's never fullfilled his potential. Aged 25 and still "promising" tells its own story. When I say "unproven" I mean at the level of being the creative force in Liverpool's central midfield that lets them challenge for the title.
Benitez faces biggest test 11:28am on 21 Oct 2009 98. At 10:28am on 21 Oct 2009, true_red_more wrote:
LABSAB9,

Why do you think Benitez has had enough time and capital to assemble a squad? Are you simply judging by his net spending or simply by time? I agree with you that Benitez has spent a lot, but he has spent a lot on only ‘big’ players. This was because the squad that he inherited when he took over was so poor. Players like Cisse, Cheyrou, Traore, Smicer, and Diao were definitely not top four quality and had to be replaced. In 2004/05 Liverpool were a long way behind the top four in terms of squad. Benitez has not performed a miracle, but we have improved (points wise) every season except one. Considering we do not have the resources Chelsea or Man Utd have and he did no inherit a squad nearly as capable as Arsenal’s (in 2004/05) what more can you ask your manager to do except simply get more points than he did last season?

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Another scouse excuse - blame Houllier. Despite winning 3 trophies in a season, finishing 2nd in the prem in 2002 and providing the nucleus of the team that won the champions league, Rafa is painted as inheriting a shambles. There were clearly problems with Houllier's team but they were top 4 material and this is Rafa's 6th season so he really hasn't taken them on as far as his early success promised.

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