Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:08 pm

Rafa backs up Baros and Cisse

Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros may have failed to score between them for the second match in a week against Charlton on Saturday but Rafael Benitez has dismissed claims that the pair can't play together.
"Yes, they can play together," Benitez told reporters when it was put to him that the pair have failed to hit it off as a partnership. "You have seen against Charlton that they had many chances so yes they can play together. And even though neither player scored a goal, the performances by Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse yesterday has proved they can play well together despite what many of our critics think. They both did very well. Cisse was moved onto the right in the second half and he had a good game, and Baros looked sharp all game.

"You can see now that they do have the ability to form a partnership, they both did very well and can only improve as a pair as the season continues.

"Yesterday the strikers were not a problem. Riise had two opportunities with his right foot, Luis Garcia, Baros, all the players, we created lots of chances.

"We played well against Deportivo, the second half against Fulham and in some home games. Yesterday we had many opportunites and we played well but you do need to score more goals if you have those clear opportunities.

"Against Depor we played very well in the first half and it was like that today. We had four, six, ten clear chances, but when you play well you need to score because when you have those kind of opprtunities and don't score there is always the risk that you can make a mistake in the second half that can cost you the points."

by **Redrider** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:13 pm

The fact that Rafa, makes these statements of support (This is not the first) tell's you there is cause for concern.
What usually happens next to football Managers with poor results, who receive a vote of support from the Chairman ?
They get the sack in the next week !!

by **kindaconfused** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:26 pm

Redrider

Not unlike Rupert Lowe and Southampton!

by **azriahmad** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:39 pm

Rafa would have to say that because he does not want to demotivate his players, especially a record signing who has been really disappointing.

The concern has to be the way those words he said which carefully skirted the issue that neither of them are banging in any goals consistently to be reliable strikers for a top and ambitious side.

by **JBG** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:57 am

I will still bide my time before I pass judgement on either, but if I was Benitez I'd be slightly worried at the moment and I'll wager that a new forward is foremost among his thoughts at the moment.

by **azriahmad** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:50 am

I tend to agree, JBG. It seems that the defensive problems have been somewhat overcome for now, I insist on "somewhat" because the defence is still way too slow but at least there has been an improvement.

I think that any manager worth his salt, if he is on Bentihez's position, will also think about a new striker/forward to add to the stuttering strikeforce.

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