posted Dec 11, 2007

I hear the BBC is making cuts. Perhaps it could cut each of McNumpty's future articles by 90 per cent. The 10 per cent left over would still be crap but better to stand in a little bit of dog muck than lots of it.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

All this psychobabble crap about managers and players with one eye on next weeks match - U8578980... Newspapers need to fill their pages (any guff will do) to give the fans summit to do other than the work they should be doing.

The fact is teams play better or worse one week than they did the week before. Also, a lot of teams are simply better than other teams but don't perform on the day or are unlucky.

I can't believe I'm being caught up in this crap but c'mon the 'pool...

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posted Dec 11, 2007

Voronin and Sissoko arent playing, this gives us a fighting chance.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

@Straeh, Nani, Ya_Dafty

During the three years Rafa was at the helm, Chelsea became ridiculously strong, Man U stronger, and Arsenal slightly (but only very slightly) weaker.

At the start of that tenure I think most people, myself included would have said that oru 1st 11, and our squad, was significantly weaker than those 3 teams. We had glaring weaknesses they didn't, we had depth, but no strength in depth, and we were one dimensional in the extreme.

Rafa took that side and won the CL.

Next season we finished 3rdon 82 points, our highest ever in the prem, with a team and squad that was still weaker than the other three, especially in attack. We also won the FA cup.

Nest we get 3rd again, and another CL final. This was a fairly dissapointing season for Rafa in the sense that the attack was still lacking in pace, we now had quality in the spine and proper depth in the squad though.

This season, the first season Rafa has had where he has been ABLE to get the MAJOR signings he was after we are much closer to the top than we have been in years, and have a fearsome attack, second only to Arsenals in all competitions.

How is that not improving, season on season?

Given that Chelsea have only gotten weaker this season, and that both were ahead of us when Rafa took over, how is it a failure to finish behind them...especially given the 2 CL finals in 3 seasons.

Yes I know only trophies count, but the point is that it shows the first CL was NO fluke...that we have a manager who CAn (unlike Fergie and Wenger) consistently compete in Europe.

If H&G are businessmen this should, by itself, make keeping Rafa a priority.

Is our team stronger than when Rafa took over? YES! By miles!

Is Torres worth the money? YES!!

Is our attack finally looking dangerous? YES!!

Is our defence looking suspect? NO!!!

Is our side young? YES!!!

Do we have promising youngsters coming through? YES!!!

As far as I'm concerned there is no sensible measure, given that the league as a whole and especially the top 4 are so much stronger, in which we have not improved on what Houllier left us with.

Rafa has the pedigree and the squad, all he needs now is time and patience and it will happen for us, I'm almost certain.

This is the first time as a Liverpool supporter where I look at the side and think, with the sole exception of the wings, we have players at least on the level of the other top teams, players that I genuinely wouldn't swap for anyone.

Don't take my word for it either, Zenden spoke glowingly of his time at Liverpool prior to the match, and also pointed out how much Ayesteran meant to players...that along with injuries was a big blow this season, but we have moved on, he has been replaced, and the future is bright.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

Nice one HBHR.

Rafa is two and a half seasons into his 5 year plan and making excellent progress.

Win, lose or draw the next two games, I for one remain 100% behind Rafa.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

Nobody spotted my deliberate mistake

Should say Rafa is three and a half years into his five year plan.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

You liverpool fans are a joke. Just as Benitez is. I hope he stays, but after his recent foot-in-mouth episode, unless he starts showing that he can engage brain before mouth, he will be history, and then you might, unfortunatley, get a decent manager.

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posted Dec 11, 2007

"unwise, petulant verbal assault". I always thought that the job of BBc journalists was to report news - or give informed comment, rather than to voice contentious personal opinions - isn't that the job of the people commenting on the board?

That said to some of my fellow reds - lighten up guys!

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posted Dec 21, 2007

'STRAEH'

The year they got the the CL final being 33 points behind Chelsea.
"But Liverpool still managed to deservedly knock Chelsea out in CL semi-final, all Chelsea fans could do was moan about the Garcia goal. I would have galdly settled for a disallowed goal and Cech obviously being sent off with 85 minutes still to play"

There has to be some sane Liverpool fans who can see that this "success" and the rafa loution isn't taking Liverpool any closer to its holy grail the Premiership title.....
" There are plenty of 'sane' Liverpool fans who have faith in Rafa - and they're confident that we are getting closer to Arsenal & MU".

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posted Dec 21, 2007

BimBlam': I am all for confidence, but when that confidence starts ignore the evidence that Rafa seems to continuing with the same policy that has not really advanced Liverpool.

by Straeh
posted 3 Days Ago

I dont really see your point that rotating your team in continental Europe works, but it doesnt over here.
-----------------------

there is an aspect to Rafa's mangerial background that probably plays a part.

Before Valencia he was mananger of real Madrid "reserve side" in the old Third division - perhaps the fact that his team selections were proabably dictated by who was available and who wasn't as the 1st tea continually puling and player s up and down as well as recuperating injured players - I don't no but some thing to consider.

The continental European game is more cerebral played at a slower pace I think the English game is so fast that a lot of players play "by memory" by that I mean its so fast the formations of teamns are so tight that the players get into an "automatic" mindset when playing in teh Premier League. I think that the pace of the league here in England negates all rafa's "great ideas, whereas when he is involved against European teams - the side plays at a pace where they "can think" and play to the tactics Rafa has devised - whereas here in England you have a milisecond before you are tackled r in the air and that 2nd nature mentatlity and ability to olay at pace only comes from a setlled formation and squad.

Rafa's current approach to the Premier League is NOT working and Liverpool are no closer to the trophy they covet most. Parry &Benitex have stated that the league title is the focus every year - yet the confidence in Rafa is all based on his success in the cups - and then on Wednesday night another loss to make it 3 on the bounce.

I am all for supporting your manager - but there must come a point when the squad that won the CL and eas deemed far inferior to todays squad can win three cups in one year when Rafa has guided the club to three trophies in 4 (The most important trophy being the CL that was 98% of houlliers squad).

Liverpool fans can keep their blind faith and all other fans will let you if Liverpool continue to be unable to close the domestic gap - Liverpools best start in the EPL in 13 years - your 5th and 10 points off the pace. That is not what Liverpoool that dominated my influential adolescence and hence my continual question as to how long you guys will put up with it.

SAF and Wenger have shaed 2 new exciting sides in 2 years against rafa's 4.

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