Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ciggy** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:07 am

He has come out an said its his fault, and had emergency meetings with the players, lets hope this is the turning point for the rest of our season starting tonight against Watford.
Houllier would never have admitted he was at fault and to blame.
The Observer
I have made some bad decisions, admits Benitez
By Phil Shaw
25 January 2005

Who dares wins? A week on from the embarrassment that was Burnley, Liverpool dare not lose when they visit Watford tonight. With a Carling Cup final place against Chelsea or Manchester United at stake, Rafael Benitez admitted his own failings may have contributed to the pressure facing his team as they return to Championship territory.

The Liverpool manager, whose side have not scored in successive defeats by Manchester United, Burnley and Southampton, conceded he had made "bad decisions". Benitez also revealed he has held what might be termed "crisis" talks with his players as they prepare for the second leg of the semi-final at Vicarage Road after beating Watford 1-0 at Anfield.

As the backlash that started at Turf Moor intensified, led by Alan Hansen's claim that Saturday's performance was the worst since he left Liverpool 14 years ago, Benitez made it clear he had indulged in some soul-searching. "I have been self-critical," he said. "I tried to change things when I saw Southampton playing better than us, but it didn't work. You can't always do the right thing as a manager."

Benitez, who is certain to field his strongest available line-up after the vilification that followed a weakened side's FA Cup exit at Burnley, added: "Sometimes I make bad decisions. But that's my responsibility. I pick the side, and if we win, as against Arsenal and Olympiakos, people talk well about me. If we don't, I can accept the criticism, though if I were always thinking about it I would lose my concentration."

The former Valencia coach is still seeking to strengthen his squad, with Real Madrid's out-of-favour Argentinian winger Santiago Solari targeted as a summer "Bosman" signing. In the meantime, he has been holding meetings with the squad and with individuals. "You need to do that when things aren't going well. We've played very well in some games and not in others. We need to analyse why. We must also cut out the silly mistakes that can be the difference been good and bad games.

"Now they have to pick themselves up. We have 15 games left in the Premiership. We're in the Champions' League and in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. It's not the worst situation in Liverpool's history."

Elimination by Watford would certainly feel like it. Ray Lewington's team lie 17th in their division, below Burnley, yet matched Liverpool for lengthy periods in the first leg.

"That showed us that we're not just making up the numbers and we do have a chance of reaching the final," Lewington said. "Two years ago, when we lost to Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals, we had the attitude slightly of being happy to be there. We've learned from that."

The Watford manager hoped for "complacency" from Liverpool and "conviction" from his side, saying: "As underdogs, you must go in truly believing you can win. There's a 100 per cent belief that we can bridge the skill gap for 90 minutes and make it very difficult for them."

Watford (probable, 4-4-2): Jones; Chambers, Cox, De Merit, Darlington; Devlin, Ardley, Mahon, Gunnarson; Helguson, Webber.

Liverpool (probable, 4-4-2): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Pellegrino, Josemi; Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise; Baros, Morientes.

by **The Ace1983** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:33 am

Thank-you for posting that highly informative article. I think I agree with it. Liverpool do have to take this seriously, and I think that they will. Watford have a lot to offer, and I wouldn't mind investing in Danny Webber for the future, and they have to be one of the Champinships best cup sides. They could get financial security, infamy with a european place and confidence for their league. We too, need a boost but we know that we'll get into europe (hopefully CL) but I am encouraged by the strong team which we will be putting out.
As long as they take it seriously, it should be a done deal. If they both want this trophy, it will come down to quality, not form.

by **SouthernScouser** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:08 am

Good post CGGY
Seems like the boss is being honest as usual - although possibly forced into making a statement due to the backlash of the last week or so.
He strikes me as quite introvert & a thinker - probably still coming to terms with British football - but moreover - the British press and how they hype things up.

It also interesting to read that he held talks with a lot of the players individually & as a team. If you believed some of the posting the other day - it was merely Gerrard he held talks with "because Stevie was fed up - blah de blah de blah"

This puts things into context a bit more. Just goes to show how some of these rumours get started.
I reckon if we come out of the blocks tonight - all guns blazing - we could have the game won by half time. Watford won't know what's hit them. If on the other hand - we let them come at us & disrupt the play it could turn out to be another uncomfortable evening (Lets Hope Not).

COME ON YOU REDS
:;):

by **Ciggy** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:21 am

Agree SS I was thinkin the same aout the Gerrard thing meself. But I am very worried that the team cant pick there heads up, they really need to tonight to stop making themselves look an embarressing.

by **el_stinger** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:38 am

I agree with holding a crisis meeting after successive defeats. I always hold crisis meetings after 3 defeats on Fifa Total Club Manager 2005. A win always comes after a crisis meeting.
Feel sorry for Rafa though. Not your fault mate, keep your head up, IN RAFA I TRUST.......................

by **JBG** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:27 am

el_stinger wrote:I agree with holding a crisis meeting after successive defeats. I always hold crisis meetings after 3 defeats on Fifa Total Club Manager 2005. A win always comes after a crisis meeting.
Feel sorry for Rafa though. Not your fault mate, keep your head up, IN RAFA I TRUST.......................

Well, there you go then.

Is there an adult here who's football knowledge is not derived from Championship Manager or Football Manager? :down:

by **Ciggy** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:52 am

John Barnes' Granny wrote:
el_stinger wrote:I agree with holding a crisis meeting after successive defeats. I always hold crisis meetings after 3 defeats on Fifa Total Club Manager 2005. A win always comes after a crisis meeting.
Feel sorry for Rafa though. Not your fault mate, keep your head up, IN RAFA I TRUST.......................

Well, there you go then.

Is there an adult here who's football knowledge is not derived from Championship Manager or Football Manager?

Is rafa wicked on football manager

by **lakes10** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:33 am

Benitez blame me

thats ok rafa i do

by **Paul C** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:24 pm

He makes mistakes like all humans do, he will learn from the first season in England and so will all the new signings but hopefully it won't be at the expense of a CL place

I'm behind Rafa 110%

by **woof woof !** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:58 pm

el_stinger wrote:I agree with holding a crisis meeting after successive defeats. I always hold crisis meetings after 3 defeats on Fifa Total Club Manager 2005. A win always comes after a crisis meeting.
Feel sorry for Rafa though. Not your fault mate, keep your head up, IN RAFA I TRUST.......................

I knew things were getting pretty juvenile in the forum but this takes the cake .

Woof repeatedly bangs head against wall before jumping from 14 storey building .

by **Woollyback** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 2:03 pm

We've had a run of 3 sh*te results and suddenly everybody's gone from kissing Rafa's a*se to demanding his resignation.

Quite f*cking remarkable

He's mad a few mistakes, admitted it and now we're moving on. He needs to make mistakes with players and selections to learn what his best 11 is and how to play them together. Anyone saying we're suddenly in crisis and it's all Rafa's fault wants their f*ckin head read

by **A.B.** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 5:34 pm

Everyone's on Rafa's back because they can do a better job as managers on Championship Manager,etc.... ffs. This is not a ****** game, this is real life f#ckers.

by **lakes10** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:50 pm

A.B. wrote:Everyone's on Rafa's back because they can do a better job as managers on Championship Manager,etc.... ffs. This is not a ****** game, this is real life f#ckers.

lol you might have a point , my mate loves them games and when we go to games together he spends all his time talking about liverpool as if he was managering them on one of them games it does my head in.

by **simic_ie** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:08 pm

el_stinger wrote:I agree with holding a crisis meeting after successive defeats. I always hold crisis meetings after 3 defeats on Fifa Total Club Manager 2005. A win always comes after a crisis meeting.
Feel sorry for Rafa though. Not your fault mate, keep your head up, IN RAFA I TRUST.......................

I really really hope this was a wind up cos if its not, this place has gone to the dogs :down:

by **zarababe** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:34 pm

lakes10 wrote:Benitez blame me

thats ok rafa i do

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