Liverpool FC Forum

[A.B.]

Gerrard Houlier did his best for the club as we’ve won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, etc.... with him and I respect what Mr. Houllier did for this club but his best was not good enough to get us what we needed and still do that being the Premiership title and the Champions League.

There is still bitterness showed by the fans towards Mr. Houllier due to the fact that most of his signings turned out to be a waste of money. He could not get anything out of the players he bought such as  Igor Biscan, Djimi Traore. He played certain players out of their natural position and that at certain times had bitten us in the ******. We’ve been horrid for the past two seasons, especially last season where we finished in 4th place with 30+ point gap between us and the league winners Arsenal. Mr. Houllier was sacked and we were brought a manager [Rafael Benitez] who won the UEFA Cup and the La Liga within two years since he took over Valencia FC.

What has changed since the arrival of Benitez? Quite a lot.

Firstly, we’ve improved as a team. Our passing, link-up play, etc. has improved tremendously since Benitez took over.  You can see the huge difference between our performances so far this season and last. Not only have we improved as a whole, certain individual players have improved since Rafael Benitez has taken over. Such as Djimi Traore, Igor Biscan, Jamie Carragher, Stephen Finnan, Jamie Carragher, John A. Riise, and now Milan Baros and Harry Kewell [which I will get into later].

Since the purchase of Igor Biscan and Djimi Traore, both players have been absolute garbage under Houllier. Quite a few were astonished that Benitez did not sell Biscan, Traore this summer and the recent performances have proved why. Benitez was able to get something out of Biscan and Traore in four months while Houllier could not do that since he bought the two players. Certainly that shows that Benitez is indeed a very good manager.  Milan Baros has a bad habit  of playing with his head down and he has been criticized quite often, but old habits die hard. Even so Benitez is willing to work with Baros with his problem.

“We have talked about him playing with his head up more, seeing more of what is happening around him. But it is like wanting to teach your children things. It takes time. We will show Milan the video of this match and point out the areas where he may have chosen a different option, where he can do the things we have talked about.”-RB on Baros [LFC.tv]

Harry Kewell has been disappointing since picking up a few injuries on the course of 18 months. Benitez has created a special program for Kewell in order to get Kewell where he needs to be. Kewell has already shown that the program he is being put through by Rafa is indeed working, just look at Kewell’s performance against Crystal Palace. He played better in that one game than he has in all the games in the past 18 months. With the manager such as Benitez the players and the fans will we pleased. As a whole we are improving and players individually are improving.

He has also been patient and shown faith in the players. Unlike Houllier he has shown an interest in our players at the academy. Besides that Rafa is honest with the players and the fans. We scored three goals against Norwich and after the game Benitez said that he was not pleased as we should had scored more. I respect a manager such as that as he is willing to speak out. With this kind of manager good things are bound to happen in the near future.

Simply we are better than we were a year ago. Ignore what the critics have to say about our manager and the way things are currently done. When was the last time our players came back from being down two to nill at half-time to winning the game 4-2 at the end? That says all to me.

Upcoming fixtures will be difficult but no need to worry and panic. It was said that without Steven Gerrard we would crash and burn into the bottom of the Premier League. Instead we’ve done the opposite, without our key player we’ve won  four, lost two and had one draw. Not as bad as it was predicted by various pundits.

Steven Gerrard is returning this weekend along side Antonio Nunez who has been praised by Benitez. Just thinking about the partnership between Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso makes you shiver. Impossible is nothing, and we are bound to prove those who doubted us wrong. The sleeping gaint that we are has slowly started to wake up since the arrival of Rafael Benitez. Let's hope things continue to get better.

[Ciggy]

Go A.B.

[Leonmc0708]

Excellent post soft lad, there is hope for yer yet....

[Dalglish]

He's probably copied and pasted it

[Dalglish]

Nevertheless , excellent post and can't isagre with much of what he's said

[bigmick]

'Tis indeed top A.B. Fair play to yer matey.

[laza]

Good read AB

[XSD]

just look at Kewell’s performance against Crystal Palace. He played better in that one game than he has in all the games in the past 18 months.

That's rubbish. He played better in some games at the very end of last season.

[A.B.]

That's rubbish. He played better in some games at the very end of last season

In my opinion I think it was one of his better performances in a long time. He linked up with Baros quite well, he can be credited for the last two goals as he made some good passes to Baros.

[A.B.]

He's probably copied and pasted it

Didn't somebody do that recently?

[Dalglish]

I think so but lets leave it hey

[A.B.]

I think so but lets leave it hey

Sure why not 

[Dalglish]

Well he's paid his dues and said sorry

[A.B.]

Well he's paid his dues and said sorry

That he did but he disapeared afterwards. 

[Mikz]

Copied or not-its just the kind of positive stuff we want to see on here.    Well done Ab