Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:00 pm

Look it's a terrible result having controlled the match for as long as we did, we know that. We have spunked a lead again, we have allowed the Mancs to overtake us, Chelsea and Villa to catch up with us, we know that. The manager has probably made a few mistakes, we know that.

All that said though, we are two points behind the Mancs having played a game more than them. Obviously we are not exactly the favourites, but we do still have a chance. We are level on points and games played with Chelsea, and when Scholari's men were blowing everyone away at the start of the season you'd have taken that. My point is this, we are still in with a squeek, (it was a shout but nevermind, you can still hear it).

So what do we do from here?

Well the first thing to acknowledge is that we are going to need to win an awful lot of our remaining fifteen matches. Given that, we are going to have to play with a slightly more attacking mindset. Now I'm no fan of his, but I was impressed with Yossi Benayoun tonight. He scored a goal which Dirk with the best will in the World wouldn't have scored in a million years, and he went on one mazy run which was a neon sign ditto. I know he doesn't run around as much or defend as well (note the free kick given away against Everton), but perhaps it's time to have a bit of a go.

Other than him, needless to say I think it's time for the next few matches to play our best available team. Then pick it again. And again in the next match. I think most everyone would agree that our best team is the 4-5-1, and the only debateable position is who mplays alongside Carragher. I don't really care who we pick, lets just stick with it.

If we bring Torres off, (which we will from time to time) lets bring Keane on. Moreover, in the FA Cup match lets play Keane. He is one of only two strikers we have at the club, so best we make sure we have at least one of them on the pitch at any given time.

Lets play Alonso whenever he's available in the league. Lucas can play against Everton in the Cup, and if Alonso needs a rest he can play against Real Madrid. Similarly if the centre halves who aren't playing want a game, or the left back they can play against Madrid.

Obviously all of the above only applies if we get a potitive result against Chelsea. If we don't, we must make sure we come in the top four. If we lose against Chelsea, my hunch is the best we will achieve is third. Fortunately Arsenal lost tonight, so in the three way dogfight which will develop between us, them and Aston Villa at least we start in pole position.

I'm not quite ready to give up hope yet though. The team and players were good enough to get us to the top of the league at the start of the season, so I have no reason to assume that they aren't still a good bunch of players. Time for some common sense from here on in though, we've tried some of the other stuff. God loves us because God knows we've tried, but it's back to basics time now.

by **account deleted by request** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:04 pm

I will see what happens against Chelsea. If we don't win that one, or even worse lose it, we had better start hoping we beat Everton in the Fa cup, because we arn't going to win the league.

We are hanging onto our title challenge by the skin of out teeth, one bad result in the next couple of weeks and we can forget it.

by **alanricouk** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:07 pm

The best thing is, United have the easiest February ever.

by **Effes** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:08 pm

All the media are gonna say we've lost it since Rafa's rant Mick.
And to be honest, you can't say they're wrong.

We are playing Houllier-esque football at the moment.
Pass sqaure all the time, no teeth, cant score more than one goal.

I blame Rafa for that.

Then we've got these stupid substitutions, which are all down to Rafa.

Against Everton and tonight, Rafa takes off our striker(s) and gerrard tonight to defend a 1 nil lead.
Next thing you know, we find ourselves drawing needing a win with NO STRIKERS ON THE PITCH!

It's pathetic management.

Halfway through last season I'd had enough of Rafa - never thought he'd win us the league.
But with the start we had he had me thinking.

This January has just verified what I always feared - he doesnt attck enough, mad team selections
and even madder substitutions.

The funny thing is (if you can say that) I bet we'll do well in the Champs League.

Rafa's blown it in my eyes.

by **Zidane** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:09 pm

If we don't win this Chelsea game coming up I don't see us winning the league unless something miraculous happens. When you put every aspect needed to win a title together we just come up short.

by **Simari** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:09 pm

BigMick, I think you'll find that a lot of us agree with your mindset going forward - especially with regards to how we should play and make substitutions.

But we are dealing with Rafa here. I had hoped he'd stop some of these baffling substitutions, but I really can't see him playing key players in positions of strength especially when they do come on as subs.

I do believe he is a bit lost for ideas, mostly because his outburst (which I really feel was to motivate the players and give them a sense of urgency), has had no effect on them.

by **Simari** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:11 pm

alanricouk wrote:The best thing is, United have the easiest February ever.

Not only feb mate - the entire 2nd half of the season. All of the clubs challenging for the title have to play at OT.

by **GOAT_2.0** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:16 pm

You're nuts.

Sorry pal I cant bring myself to feel optimistic tonight, give me a few days to calm down and get over rafas sheer lunacy and then I can look at our options

I think I'm in the rafa out crew now though, I suspect along with many others after this

Can't understand what he's doing, it's like he's sabotaging us purposely

by **Ciggy** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:21 pm

We are not in it anymore no ones elses fault but our own and our defensive manager that continues to take the feckin p!ss.

by **aCe'** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:21 pm

we'v just made life very very very difficult for ourselves there... points dropped everywhere and at every chance and its not even against sides tat are outstanding against us its just that we'r plain and simple poor more often than not now...
mathematically we cant be ruled out yet... but being 5 points behind manutd and playing chelsea in the next game given our form doesnt look good at all... i dont think we'll win the league... it was always going to be hard with teams like chelsea and manutd around... we need to build something of a gap once we got that 1st position and we had the chance and we blew it off... now we'll be needing massive favours from other teams to try and get back to challenging united for top spot...

as things stand at the moment.. i believe we'll most probably finish 3rd or 4th... Manutd and Chelsea to pull away from the rest sometime soon and it'll be us, Arsenal, Villa and maybe even Everton playing for the other CL spots... if i were Rafa i'd see how thins stand after the Chelsea game... if we fail to get all 3 points then its pretty much lights out for the leaue title this year... focus on bringin back the F.A cup, give the fans something to smile about... and more importantly try to get as far as we can in the champs league... end of the season i want to see Rafa gone... he can talk dirkhead along with him..

by **JC_81** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:21 pm

Forget about the league lads, it's over.

Unfortunately I was working tonight and couldn't see the game. For me the saddest thing tonight was that when I got home and checked the result I wasn't in the slightest bit surprised. :censored:

off - yes, surprised? No. Says it all about us really when you go to Wigan and expect not to win and unfortunately that's the way we are at the moment - can't be trusted to beat the teams we should. With that sort of form you don't win the league.

Hypothetically yes, we could win the league if we go on a winning streak and the Mancs mess up, but lets be honest with ourselves, it just doesn't look like it.

Does that mean we give up? Of course not, and I'm behind Benitez and the team all the way this season, but it's my own opinion that the league is almost definitely lost and our best chance of a trophy is a cup.

by **Raffmaker** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:22 pm

Mick, your enthusiasm is astounding, but you need to wash the wax out of your eyes.

can you honestly say that the way we play we look the quality to win a league title?

we dont attack enough, not enough sustained pressure to win games. 2 games v's everton we created about 2 chances.

your having a larf.
:Oo:

by **Gerrard30391** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:26 pm

Mick,

Any of the Liverpool "fans" (and i say in inverted commas) have in our heart of hearts we can still win the title. However, my head is starting to prevail. I think a win against Chelsea is needed for Rafa's sake otherwise i see us out. Further to that, i can also see a lot more people calling for him out. I don't think there will be any sense in that, however, as he could bring us the FA Cup or the CL, and then oust him early summer so a new manager can come in and make the team play like he wants them to. I have, since we drew with Stoke at Home, maintained that we won't win the league under Rafa.

Effes,
"Halfway through last season I'd had enough of Rafa - never thought he'd win us the league.
But with the start we had he had me thinking."

Nothing as true as that mate.

by **Mikz** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:26 pm

No chance now -Gone.
I just dont understand the manager, and it looks to me like most of the players dont either?
How many times does he need to make a mistake before he learns -its really unbelieveable. :no

Was so important to keep the pressure on them, now they can relax more, I hope they slip up but its highly unlikely

by **Ciggy** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:28 pm

And Rafa can get to feck now with his CL I dont want to know Ive had enough.

Dont give a feck.

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