Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:05 pm

We've been a sleeping giant for over a decade now and we all hoped that would change this season with a manager like Rafael Benitez. A lot of credit must be given to Benitez as he knew what was waiting for him when he took the job and with all the injuries we've had and continue to have he has never once complained about it or used it as an execuse for poor performances like the ones today.

During the summer Gerrard turned down Chelsea and signed a new contract. We were all excited as we kept a great footballer, signed a great manager. We were hoping that we would finish in the top three,[well most of us] and that we would close the gap on the leaders. However we didn't want to look at the reality, which is that things were going to get worse before they got any better. We don't have the funds like Chelsea and we don't have the depth in our squad as they do.

We were inconsistant from the start of this season but we all knew that we were going to improve and we will, the thing is that it will take more time than we wanted to believe. With the signing of Alonso our midfield looked superb, two class midfielders such as Gerrard and Alonso surely were going to make an impact. Two good players up front, Cisse and Baros however they couldn't gel together and after Cisse's injury almost our whole squad has been injured.

So we improved our midfield but with the injuries to our strikers we lacked firepower up front but still managed to beat Arsenal. From that day I personally thought our season would be changed . But we continued to be inconsistant as we've lost 4 times since November,28th.

Baros comes back and we sign Morientes, things were looking good. Both our midfield and strikers looked solid BUT we lost Alonso and we go back to square one. Since our game against Chelsea we have played poorely in all games.

Players have given up on themselves, the team overall and the club. There is one or two players that have given it their all in the past three games or so. Gerrard is not one of them. Yes Steven Gerrard is a great footballer but he has much much to learn. Despite his goal against Olympiakos he did not play well in that game and has not played well considering how good a player he is since that game.

Rafa is the captain of a ship that has been through hell in the past two seasons and his mission is to set the ship back on course however he needs all the help he can get.

Gerrard is the co-captain who the crew look up to as he is one of their leaders however Gerrard has played poor himself but he talks about his crew being poor when he himself can't get himself together. His comments before and after the game against Olympiakos were foolish as he put pressure on himself and his team-mates. Some say he's playing poor because he's tired of playing with players that are not world class but he has given up on the team and the team has given up on themselves and him.

No passion,no will, no confidence is what most of our players are lacking right now. Rafa has a huge task and it won't get any better soon, it will take time. But no matter how good a player somebody is if they lack confidence and will then their skill is worthless. Just look at Harry Kewell. He's a great player but he has given up on himself and has been poor, now he didn't lose his talent he just has no will to get where he once was before.

As much as I hate to admit it but Neverton are a bunch of clowns yet still play as a team, we have much more talented players but we can not play as a team. Too many players try to win it by themselves and too many players give up too quickly.

Gerrard is doing what Owen did last season. Owen had a chance to sign a new contract but he didn't, he kept playing but playing not near as good as he should as his heart was somewhere else. It seems thats the same story with Gerrard and he has only himself to blame. He had the chance to leave but he didn't, I don't know what he expected from Rafa but surely he didn't think that we would be on the top of the world now did he?

It looks like he is going to leave and he's a great player but if he's heart is not at LFC then he needs to leave. Him leaving could make us a better team. Look at Everton, no Rooney and they're doing better than they have ever had.

With the money from selling Gerrard we can rebuild our squad, from top to bottom. Great player but not doing his job as a captain at the moment. Jamie Carragher deserves the armband as he's a natural leader imo. Gerrard is a good player but he seems to be on another planet on the pitch and he isn't doing us any good if he continues to play like he has rescently.

I may get critisized for this post but thats just the way I feel. The future is still bright but it will take time. How many years did it take Fergie and Wegner to get Arsenal and Man Utd to where they are now? Just think about that question, I'll leave it at that.

by **A.B.** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:12 pm

Might I remind you lot that we were down 2-0 in the first half before, it was against Fulham. Without Gerrard, other players stepped up to the plate such as Alonso and lead us to a 4-2 victory. It just shows that will and confidence is important. We were poor against Fulham in the first half as well but had enough confidence and self belief to win it at the end. We are lacking that right now.

by **welsh wizzard** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:12 pm

i totally agree with you,read my post it reads similar.

by **The_Rock** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:16 pm

Alonso is the real deal....... I am not really worried about gerrard leaving when we have alonso.... Yes, gerrard and alonso can make a great combination but that is gerrard loss... If he wants to be lampard's b1tch @ chelsea...by all means ask him to go there.

Can't be too critical of rafa now when i think of all the injuries we have now.... Finnan is a big loss for us. His absence has unbalance the whole team. Hyppia & pelle combination does not work unless the opposition forwards are 60 yrs old grannies...

by **el_stinger** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:16 pm

Well said. Gerrard needs to be stripped of the captaincy sooner rather than later. It would give an indication to the rest of the players that even if captain isn't immune to punishment. Stevie has a lot to learn, and I blame Houllier for putting the pressure and weight of expectation on a young players shoulders.

by **A.B.** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:18 pm

You don't realize how much you miss players until they get injured. We miss Kewell and Finnan because without them we have to change the squad around.

We had three cb's playing today and it doesn't work quite well. Now that Hyypia is injured we won't have to see that anymore. Carragher and Pelle in the center with natural fullbacks.

by **The_Rock** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:18 pm

******, don't blame houllier for everything. Its the players who have to receive the blame. Blame them. I hate houllier and all, but this is ridiculous.....

Hamann after signing his contract extention is playing like a 40 yr old-fart...

by **A.B.** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:21 pm

The manager has nothing to do with this, the players have lost belief,confidence and no matter how good one is they will play poorely without confidence and the right mentality. i.e. Kewell

by **A.B.** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:21 pm

Rafael Benitez has vowed to keep on fighting after Liverpool's third straight defeat completed his worst week as Reds boss.
This afternoon's disappointing 2-0 loss against Southampton leaves Liverpool struggling in their quest for Champions League qualification and follows on from the disappointment of defeat against Manchester United last Saturday and Burnley in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

First half goals from David Prutton and Peter Crouch secured the points for the Saints today and despondent Benitez said afterwards: "It's been a bad week for us but we now need to look ahead to our next game. It's the only thing we can do at this moment.

"We need to be stronger early on when we are playing away from home. We conceded two early goals here and when that happens, it is very difficult afterwards. We played better in the second half and had more opportunities but could not score.

"I know the fans will be deeply disappointed, just as we are. My message to them is that we just have to keep on trying and keep on fighting."

by **el_stinger** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:25 pm

The_Rock wrote:******, don't blame houllier for everything. Its the players who have to receive the blame. Blame them. I hate houllier and all, but this is ridiculous.....

Hamann after signing his contract extention is playing like a 40 yr old-fart...

I hope you cussed at me, i wouldn't mid seeing what was censored, especially if its directed at me.

Since when do you put a boy, who is just getting his groove into the game, in a position where he is supposed to push his players to give their ALL in every game they play?

This was the worst move that Houllier made, when he did, i was opposed from the start, because i knew that he was too immature to be given such responsibility. Carragher would have been a better option for Houllier to rally support for his cause.

Swear at me again!

by **The_Rock** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:36 pm

WTF ?

When gerrard was made captain, everyone was saying what a great move that was, and why it didn't happen earlier. There was even a talk of gerrard being the future captain of england.

If he plays with his heart, gerrard is the best captain we can have at this moment..... It looks like (for me), his heart is somewhere...... so blaming houllier on giving him the captain....is bull. No matter how talented a player is, if his heart isn't in it, he is useless..

at this moment, i will give gerrard the benefit of doubt and blame it on his "so called" injury.

by **zardd** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:53 pm

IMO a captain should not only play with his heart for the team, he should get his teammates to rise with him so that the whole team have the determination & passion to play, then the team will be strong...its no use having 1 or 2 guys running, playing with all his heart and the rest of them watching.

by **82-1074641017** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:10 pm

The only thing Liverpool are consistent at nowdays is being consistently Sh1t :angry:

Legend Roberts

by **lakes10** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:24 pm

15yrs is to long already

by **Ciggy** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:40 pm

The_Rock wrote:Hamann after signing his contract extention is playing like a 40 yr old-fart...

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