Liverpool FC Forum

[Roger Red Hat]

i was actually very realistic in the prediction of results. I was fair for both us and scum. I had us finishing on 89 points and scum in second with 86 points.

Roll on no.19

[heimdall]

I think people should have a play with this: Premier League Predictor - seeing as there are conflicting views of who should slip up, and how many times.

I put in results for Man U and us, with the game between us being a draw.
I put us and them winning everything (not saying that's realistic but it was just to compare the 2).
The exceptions being them drawing at home to Villa and Arsenal and away to Fulham, and us ONLY drawing
at home to Villa.
This leaves us on 89 pts and them on 87pts.

From what I can see, we need to have a very impressive run-in from now on, getting around
34 points from the next 13 games - basically we've got to win 10 or 11, not lose away to Man U
and then we've got a chance.

Our game away to Man U is key - lose that and we're fecked.

I've got us winning with 85 points over 82 points to Manure, well I can dream can't I. 
Problem is that was only calculating for us and Manure and included a lot of draws but I have not factored in Chelsea or Aston Villa, if they really go on a charge, or in Villa's case continue theirs, then it could be a bit interesting at the top.

Ok have now factored in Chelsea and the Villains and unless they go absolutely balistic I can't see them beating us or Manure this season, so I still have us as league winners. There's a hell of a lot of ifs and buts though, we need to start playing like we did at the start of the campaign and we need to start scoring more goals but for some reason I think we will. Man Utd are only showing glimpses of how good they were last season so I still think they can screw up. The dark horse for me is still Chelsea though, it all depends how much magic Hiddink can weave.

[Judge]

[GYBS]

Had us at 89 points and the mancs at 87 .

[GOAT_2.0]

Seriously what in gods name is the point of them predictors

[heimdall]

Don't tell me I'm more positive than you, that would be like ying becoming yang and all that groovy stuff.

[Judge]

Don't tell me I'm more positive than you, that would be like ying becoming yang and all that groovy stuff.

[112-1077774096]

i hope you all put in  few baffling substitutions into the predictor

[GYBS]

David Prentice: Critics Of Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Are Missing The Target


“THE smug look on Rafa Benitez’s face said it all.

“No sign of relief that he had just dodged an embarrassing defeat.

“No hint of contrition that he might have got it wrong ... No glimmer of sympathy for Portsmouth ... Benitez gambled... Benitez got away with it ... etc etc etc.”

I reckon you’ve got the idea. That was just one Monday morning report of Liverpool’s last gasp win at Pompey. But it was a common theme.

In case you’re unsure, Liverpool did actually win at Portsmouth. They did go back to the top of the table.

But you’d never have guessed from the way Rafa Benitez was mauled by the media afterwards.

The manner in which the Reds’ title prospects were dismissed by TV pundit Tim Sherwood was bordering on the contemptuous.

Actually, forget the bordering on, it was contemptuous bordering on insulting.

It was perhaps a little easier to understand the Sunday newspaper reports. A tea-time kick-off means those assessments will have been written with the match in progress.

Liverpool were losing with six minutes to go, and even the Echo’s Chief Sports Writer can’t turn a 1,000 word report round in 360 seconds.

The Monday men had no such worries.

But most reports still sneered, still poked fun and still claimed Benitez got lucky.

But to do so conveniently avoided the facts.

Liverpool forced twice as many corners as the home side – not a guaranteed indicator of dominance in a match, but a reasonable one.

Attempts on goal? Liverpool 15 Portsmouth 9. On target? Again in Liverpool’s favour. Possession? Comfortably Liverpool’s.

Clearly this was no smash and grab raid, regardless of the lateness of the strikes.

So why the negativity?

It appears to have become a growing trend this season – from people with entrenched views and mindsets.

Every time Liverpool concede a goal from a set piece, it’s because of zonal marking, and analysis instantly begins of Liverpool’s defensive frailties.

Yet zonal marking has been in place at Anfield for four years – and Pepe Reina has won the Premier League’s Golden Gloves award in three of them.

Then there’s the attacking focus.

Saturday night’s TV analysis focused on the number of times Liverpool’s strikers spent outside the penalty area.

The same attacking system which scored three goals and has outscored Manchester United this season.

Imagine the reaction if Liverpool had just won eight of their last 11 matches 1-0.

It wouldn’t be a celebration of goalkeeping excellence, it would more likely be how Benitez was boring his way to the title.

There is no doubt that the political in-fighting, the ill-timed outbursts and the bizarre transfer policy have made criticising Liverpool the journalistic equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel this season.

But this time, at least, the critics have missed the target.

[LegBarnes]

Hard years for fans ? This is nothing compared to the early 90s when at one stage it looked like we might even get dragged into a relagation fight . There we were scrapping for a UEFA cup place , fighting like tooth and nail to get a win in the milk rumbelows carling cup , finally getting there and Beating the massive Sunderland and Bolton in the Final all the while the Mancs and Arsenal were fighting for the CL and the Title . Now they were hard times up until GH arrived and started the upturn and got us more competitive then Rafa arrived and first turned us into a force in the CL and now getting us challenging.

I expect there is some members here that remeber the hard times in the 60s as well. We are not in Hard times at the moment . compared to the last 20 years we are doing pretty damn well .

Wasn't talking about on the pitch off the pitch our club is a shambles PR ring of bollox week in week out gets on my tits if you ok with parry , G&H , and rafas in media all the time thats fine but for me its been very stressful and worring to say the least.

It has been a hard few years I never tryed to bench mark it vrs any thing thats happened in past but this is the here and now and its stressful thats all I said I was just asking for a bit of peace in here when you see the sh.it going on in others areas in world makes this stupid fighting on here look like preschool.

[Scottbot]

It's just a technicality in the wording lads. You are both right but wording it slightly differently. It doesn't really matter does it...

fu'ck orf scott 

Someone always spoils a good argument with the voice of reason 

i assume you mean scott

Its hardly likely to be you or me is it 

Now your just being ironic...

[Judge]

It's just a technicality in the wording lads. You are both right but wording it slightly differently. It doesn't really matter does it...

fu'ck orf scott 

Someone always spoils a good argument with the voice of reason 

i assume you mean scott

Its hardly likely to be you or me is it 

Now your just being ironic...

post an emoticon, your not andy g you know

[tonyeh]

What worries me, is that if we manage to somehow win the title this year, Benitez may see that as a justification for all the nonsense he's inflcted on the team during the season and continue that next season...but I don't think he'll get away with it two years in a row.

What worries you!!! !!!

Mate, if Rafa Benitez wins the title this year I will be too busy kissing the guy's feet to be worrying about anything, and I will see it as absolute justification for any of the nonsense that has gone on before.

Tonyeh's post sums it all about the attitude of some posters. Now we know that not even a league title will be enough to appease them.

We don't only have to find a manager that wins the league, we have to find one who wins the league and his decissions are shared and understood by Tonieh

And monkeys are not allowed to coach a club right?

We're well and truly fúcked then.

To answer you guys, yes I worry about another few years of Benitez. I had my doubts last year but this year I am of the firm conclusion that he's not right for the team. Who to replace him with I don't know, but his limitations are apparent for all to see.

There cannot be anyone on here (with the exception of Gybs perhaps) that has seen some of Rafa's bizarre decisions this season and asked themselves WTF was going on. Even Ciggy when balistic after the absurd Wigan game and was absolutely correct in doing so.

The fact of the matter is, this year we've had the good fortune of seeing a duff Chelsea and Arsenal screw it up for themselves. If that had not happened, Liverpool would be scraping around for 4th spot again and hoping for a CL spot and I've no doubt there would be very few people who weren't calling for Rafas's head after some of the nonsense we've seen.

Don't get me wrong, I would love another Liverpool title, but I will still balk at another few years with Benitez at the helm. As I said earlier, if Liverpool win this year, it'll be in spite of Benitez, not because of him.

[Bad Bob]

Don't get me wrong, I would love another Liverpool title, but I will still balk at another few years with Benitez at the helm. As I said earlier, if Liverpool win this year, it'll be in spite of Benitez, not because of him.

So let's get this straight: not only do you 'worry' about winning the league because it'll secure Rafa's job and send him the wrong message, you would also deny Rafa any credit whatsoever in the event that we do win the league?

Well, I'm not having that.  If we come out on top after a 38-game campaign there's no way you or anyone is going to convince me that Benitez doesn't deserve massive credit for the accomplishment.  No champion lucks out across 38 games and no team wins the toughest league in the world "despite" their manager.  No, if we win the league this season we should all swallow our pride and give Rafa a huge vote of thanks for achieving the one thing that supporters have been desperate to have for years.  Anyone who can't find it within themselves to give the manager the praise he's due on that day has no business supporting Liverpool.

[GYBS]

got it in one bob . And tonyeh suggest you read my earlier post where i have said rafa has made mistakes . I just dont concentrate on them every single day and look at the positives more . Its called supporting .