Liverpool FC Forum

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:01 pm

From Liverpoolfc.tv

Rafael Benitez arrived at Melwood to meet the players for the first time on Monday and immediately set his sights on winning major honours for Liverpool FC.
Benitez said his main goal is to land Liverpool the Premiership title and while he was making no promises or raising false expectations said the supporters could well be in for a surprise this season.

Benitez said: "When I arrived at Valencia people said it was difficult to win the league in the first season.

"I won't say it will be the same here, but I will fight hard. We need time, but perhaps we have a surprise for the supporters.

"The message to the fans is the same as to the players. We have to work hard and have the good mentality that there has always been at Liverpool.

"Last year they worked hard, but we have to improve because we want to be at the top."

At last a reason to look forward to the new season, lets hope Rafa can deliver.

by **taff** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:14 pm

After reading about Mourinho on the weekend I cant help but admire Benitez' way. Winning the premiership would be amazing and not impossible but we are behind last seasons top three.

But for some reason I have a great feeling of optimism that we will be competing right until the end and it may come down to a bit of luck here or there.

If we draw or lose at Anfield I want the opposition walking off like theyve been to hell and back and this guy sounds like he fancies a battle for every game

This is anfield :angry:

by **zarababe** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:50 pm

See told you so.. (well not literally you) the Boss has a vision, a goal the objective is to get there.. and he is the best person to set the context, motivate the players and us.. so get behind him:)

by **mistyred** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:55 pm

COME ON THE REDS! BENI FOR THE CROWN.

by **zarababe** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:58 pm

here here!

by **azriahmad** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:13 pm

I have been an admirer of the Valencis players' work ethics ever since watching them outplay us in the Champions' League. No big stars, yet they managed to upstage Real Madrid in the La Liga.

Last season Barca fans could have argued that they would have been champions had their first half of the season had not been so disasterous. However, there is no "if"s and Valencia are the champs.

I have some optimism that Rafa will improve Liverpool's style of play.

by **stmichael** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:17 pm

azriahmad wrote:I have some optimism that Rafa will improve Liverpool's style of play.

jesus. that wouldn't be hard would it?

towards the end of houllier's reign we couldn't even sell out our home games due to the dire nature of our football.

benitez is defensively minded but he also allows players to express themselves going forward. it will be interesting to see what formation he plays.

by **banana** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:34 pm

Why do people say that Benitez is defensive. Just because his teams don't concede two goals in each game? Last year they scored 71 goals in spain, Real Madrid was the only team to beat that with 72 goals. Their goal scoring record is very similar to that of Arsenal in England. Lets be fair to this guy. Just because he knows how to organize the defense doesn't automatically make him defensive.

by **JBG** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:35 pm

People shouldn't expect too much from Benetiz either....a lot of this reminds me of the early optimism surrounding Houllier.

Benetiz has a top class record in La Liga and also in Europe, but he has a big job on his hands at Liverpool and it remains to be seen whether he will succeed.

However, I do think he will improve us and I am 100% behind him.

by **stmichael** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:39 pm

banana wrote:Why do people say that Benitez is defensive.

i didn't say that. i'm just saying that people who expect a radical change in our style of play will be disappointed.

by **azriahmad** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:49 pm

I'd give him some time. Winning the Premiership is very difficult because even the "small" teams can play above themselves and cause upsets. You don't get the minnows/whipping boys beating Real Madrid or Valencia or Barcelona to cause stunning upsets regularly like Bolton and Charlton did last year.

First of all, Benithez needs to instill consistency in Liverpool's play and get the players to play more fluidly with better passing and movement - something the Liverpool of Houllier really lacked. Only then we can match Arsenal and manure.

by **stmichael** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:53 pm

arsenal will win the premiership again next season imo. they're the only side who aren't going through a "transition" period at the moment. they have a settled side and will be extremely hard to beat.

by **The_Rock** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:57 pm

don't even mention the scums.....They are going down. All their golden generation are turning 30. RVN will leave them. I don't think rooney will join them. And they still have that old fart AF managing them. We are already better than them now with RB.

We only have to catch up with chelsea & arsenal.

by **azriahmad** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:00 pm

Looks like it, if they can continue where they left off last season.

In 2003-2004, Arsenal were the best side but lacked character and steele as they let their heads doen when going behind and fail to equalise quickly. Last season, they added determination and steely resolve to their play such that they will go forward and look for goals/create chances until they equalise and then go for the kill.

We are still so far behind Arsenal and it takes more than one season to close this gap.

by **ckay** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:02 pm

I've got goose bumps thinking about next season. If we win anything next season I'll be over the moon.

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