Liverpool FC Forum

by **Reinas No.1 Fan** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:49 pm

I feel he wants to draw atention away from the importance of Gerrard in our team, To stop bitters and mancs calling us a one man team etc. I think he can see everyone knows Gerrard has had a storming game and therefore is trying to praise other players first and the teams performance on the whole.

by **joko** » Thu May 18, 2006 5:17 pm

Does benitez really like gerrard?

i think yes, he's going to divorce his wife before next season begins

:wwww

by **A.B.** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:22 pm

kazza wrote:
Liverpool 4 EVA wrote:
A.B. wrote:Benitez is a smart man. He avoids overpraising any particular player because he doesn't like his team to be labeled as a one man show. Secondly he's praised Gerrard on many occasions, you seem to miss up on it.

A.B is absolutely spot on here.

Is it me or does it seem strange that AB is having conversations with himself.

Ahem LFCFan4Life = A.B.

Liverpool 4 Eva = not A.B.

That's about as simple as I can put it for you in order for your feeble brain to comprehend it

by **A.B.** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:23 pm

andy_g wrote:as far as i know AB isn't LIVERPOOL 4 EVA, he's LFCFAN4LIFE, or something like that.

and i'm sure that benitez likes gerrard very, very much.

Bingo.

by **onizukaeikichi** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:46 pm

he likes him,he wants to build the squad around gerrard, he even ask his opinion on a player before he goes to buy, how much more love stevie wants more?

by **GunGod** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:31 pm

It gets tiring... all the thread bashing. It's a fair thread to me too. Cos if I'm not mistaken Rafa said Gerrard's second strike was "lucky". Whether what that really means is open to interpretations of course. Maybe he meant that the team as a whole is lucky to have gotten out of that situation in stoppage time or (negatively) he meant that Gerrard was just lucky to strike the ball that well.

It's your take.

by **madred** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:58 pm

Rafa is a very shrewd manager. He has the right mentality needed for Liverpool. He realises what Gerrards contribution is but will never start a**e licking like Houllier did. He realises that every player who pulls on a Liverpool shirt is an equal. Benitez realises that there is more to come froma player who must surely already be one of the greatest players to ever pull on a red shirt. So could there be more praise really? I read a story once by Phil Thompson saying about Ronnie Moran when Liverpool were dominating domestically and in europe. All the players thought they were gods after hammering teams and he would still rip into them, pointing out everything they did wrong and never praising them for what they did right. He let the players know that the last game was history. You can be on a ego trip. This is probably similar in a way for Stevie and Rafa although he wont be ripping into him like that. The boss is doing the right things.

by **Scottbot** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:04 pm

GunGod wrote:It gets tiring... all the thread bashing. It's a fair thread to me too.

Agree with that. I don't see the point in jumping onto this thread just to have a go at the guy who starts the post. It can't be that bad a thread seen as it's generated 5 pages of debate.

I'm pretty confident the manager and Stevie have a good relationship. Rafa is quite aloof in his style of management, he doesn't get too close or pally with his players. In contrast, look at Mourinho and John Terry. They come across as very close, it's all back slapping, high fives and public ring-licking but we will never see that with Rafa, he doesn't operate that way. I think it was difficult for Gerrard when Rafa first came in as he was used to the 'arm around the shoulder' style Houllier used with many of his top players. But he has adjusted to that and it's clear from Stevie & Rafa's comments that they share GREAT deal of respect for eachother.

by **taff** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:35 pm

He is a self confessed loner. Im sure he gets on with people and he seems to have a great personality but to be honest I really like his style and comments like the club is first and whats best for the club.

He seemed to really like Pellegrino but had no qualms about getting rid of him and the same with Fowler whether it would be best for the club to offer him a deal. he later said how much he likes him and how much of a boost it was for the fans but his job is to win things for Liverpool not keep people happy.

Also the players in interviews have a common theme about his attention to detail and his tactical awareness and how they are improving together and the faith they have in him

Im sure they get on fine but who cares to be honest as long as they are both focused on the same goals.

An ex player (cant remember) said about Bob Paisley after a great season, saying well done lads see you in July for pre season and we start all over again.

by **Mikz** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:15 pm

To be fair saint, its just the Benetiz way. I know what your trying to say, other managers wouldve been compelled to run onto the pitch and mount their captains after that goal

But behind the scenes-who knows what kind of praise hes giving him. He like our great managers from the past in the way he controls himself. :nod

by **A.B.** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:39 am

If stating that Gerrard is a world class player and that he could become one of the best, and that he's quality,etc.. isn't a compliment then I don't know what is.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:13 am

If stating that Gerrard is a world class player and that he could become one of the best, and that he's quality,etc.. isn't a compliment then I don't know what is.

Thats not a compliment just a statement of fact

by **A.B.** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:22 am

s@int wrote:
If stating that Gerrard is a world class player and that he could become one of the best, and that he's quality,etc.. isn't a compliment then I don't know what is.

Thats not a compliment just a statement of fact

If he hated Gerrard he wouldn't had said it regardless whether it's a fact or not. It's not rocket science.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:26 am

I never said he hated Gerrard just that he may not like him that much. You obviously think theres no problem thats ok with me.

by **A.B.** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:30 am

I never said he hated Gerrard just that he may not like him that much. You obviously think theres no problem thats ok with me.

And your statement is based by the fact that Benitez wasn't up Gerrard's ar$e after the FA Cup final.

No player is bigger than the club, don't forget that. If Benitez disliked Gerrard he wouldn't had want him at the club nor would he talk to him about the players we want to sign.

I've read every single thing that Rafa has said to the press and there's no indication of him disliking Gerrard.

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