Liverpool FC Forum

Lando_Griffin wrote:OK - for the benefit of healthy discussion, and to once again disprove this pathetic notion that I never post anything to do with football, and that I am not bright enough to debate. (With a bunch of people who would lose a battle of wits with a rottweiler! )

Here goes:

The reasons I feel that Rafa should keep his job, by Lando Griffin:

Once upon a time, there were 3 be... Hang on - let's get out of fairytale mode...


15th May 2004. Just after tea time. About 5 o'clock.

Owen has just scored in a 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United to bring to an end the 2003-04 season with a bang even the most alert bat would miss from 2 yards. Over the course of those 38 games, we won only 16 times, drawing 12 and losing 10. We finished 4th with an average home attendance of 42,677. We went out in the 5th round of the Cup to Portsmouth, were booted out of the league cup in round 4 by Bolton at Anfield, and departed the UEFA cup at the same stage to Didier Drogba's Marsailles.

Houllier's problem was that he became too close to his players, and often allowed his heart to rule his head when making decisions about the team. He was a good man. (Even if he DID sell God.)

He walked on 24th May 2004 by mutual consent, leaving behind a World-renowned striker who had had his head turned by the bright lights of Madrid, a Captain who was disillusioned, and a squad lacking any real ability to challenge for the Micky Mouse cups, let alone the big stuff.

And then Rafa came. Before a ball was kicked in anger, he had to jet off to the other side of the World to plead with 2 players he had never met before and ask them to stay at the club and believe in him.

One did, and went on to become one of the best midfielders in the World.

The other one? Well he's currently plying his trade at a second-rate club, fighting relegation and failing to get a game for his Country, having previously been first-choice for so long.

Anyhoo...

With a relatively tight budget compared to his main rivals, Rafa made a few observations of his current squad and realised very quickly that the squad was full of under-performing slackers and punks happy to rot in the reserves as long as they received their cheques every week. He also rapidly established there were was a total lack of class in midfield. Following Josemi, who unarguably pushed Steve Finnan to become one of the best leftbacks in the Country, Rafa swooped to sign Xabi Alonso, a relative unknown in English football, who would go on to become one of the finest passers and controllers of the game in the Premiership.
Several years of playing with a nail and a whippet up front meant that the middle of the park was constantly being by-passed as the defence tw*tted long-ball after long-ball upfield in the vein hope that the nail would head it down, and the whippet would run through and score.
Rafa bought Luis Garcia, an enigmatic goalscoring attacking midfield midget who would force the defence to pass along the ground more often, and who would offer the element of the unknown to our strike force. Ranging from utterly brilliant to terrifyingly cack, this 2' imp had people choking on their pies at both ends of the stadium.

Benitez made 3 major signings in his first season, despite having lost Owen. 2004-05's results went thus:

Played 38. W17, D7, L14. We were knocked out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup away at Burnley, but we reached the league cup final, losing in extra time following a Steven Gerrard own goal.

Oh, and we also won the Champions' League in thrilling fashion, beating the most fancied teams along the way.

In 2005-06, he won the FA Cup and European Super Cup. We completely dominated the final of the World Club Championship but could not find the net, losing to a late sucker-punch from the 18' Brazilian CB who's name escapes me. Lucas? Lucil? That tw*t who plays for Benfica anyway...
We also welcomed back God. For free.

League record: W25 D7 L6.

In 2006-07, we got to another Champions' League final, and dominated throughout. Unfortunately, AC Milan got their revenge and we went home potless. Hang on - no - we won the Charity Shield, beating Chelsea.

League record: W20 D8 L10.

In 2007-08, a semi-final appearance in the Champions' League, and only the freakish Riise own-goal prevented us from riding roughshod to yet another final.
League record:

W21 D13 L4.

2008-09. Top for quite a while, beating Man Utd and Chelsea twice along the way. Currently second with 12 games to play, 7 points off Man Utd. Our highest points total at this point since the year after we last won the title, and all this despite a long-term injury to our best striker, and on-going internal disputes.
Currently awaiting a Champions' League encounter with Real Madrid having finished top of our group unbeaten.

2008-09 record so far:

P26: W15 D10 L1.

There has been progress in the style and shape of the team since Rafa's arrival. I am unapologetic in my damnation of this ridiculous trend of saying "Take the Champions' League progress out of it...". That is like saying "Take Ferguson's league titles away, and he's not good enough..." - it is pathetic, it is disrespectful and it is not going unnoticed on MY watch, let me tell you.

We drew our 10th match on Sunday against the richest club side in the World with Gerrard and Alonso missing and Torres at 70%. It was not a bad result in those circumstances.
Lapses in concentration, fluke goals, good opposition play and sheer bad luck have all contributed to those 10 draws. To suggest it's negative tactics is naive, as we have been caught out in the majority of times at set pieces or when we were on the attack.

I honestly believe that we just need a few adjustments here and there, and we will be a force to be reckoned with.

I also honestly believe that if Rafa leaves, we will be up the proverbial in a barbed-wire canoe.

ooooh top post Lando - take that the moaners and groaners.. 

Lee J wrote:

heimdall wrote:

Lando_Griffin wrote:

tonyeh wrote:People mouth off insults, because the don't have an intelligent reply to offer for an argument they don't like/want to hear.

It's that simple.

You only have to look at some of the replies on here by some people to see that they just do not have a reasoned response for their position formed in their head.

The inane ramblings of an idiot.

I don't counter dim-witted arguments as no matter where you're from, bullsh*t baffles brains.

You aren't here to learn. You aren't here to form opinions.

You're here to GIVE opinions.

Once a poster with all the intellectual agility of a carrot has made their amoeba-like mind up, all the reasoned and informed debate in the World won't change it. That is "FACT." (Said by you, no doubt, in a sort of post-counseling "I love me" way, hinting at the troubled childhood where you were shunned by those around you, only to find your one true purpose of being "The Village Idiot", meaning you would forever be tarnished with the disdainful looks of faces past, and a faint odour of rotting pilchards.)

Tell me, though, if you are able:

How do you counter; "Rafa is a c*nt and I want him sacked"?

I await your response with baited breath...

How about "yeah you have a point there"   

Lando will you please stop attacking people, you're a smart guy, please try and debate instead of just belittling and bullying people all the time!!

I do actually worry about you sometimes because you seem so very angry, it's not healthy in the long run.


Ok just read your second post and although I disagree with you I'm happy to see you actually posting with just a little bit of snideness included, good post.

who died and made you 'post supervisor/forum police' you fking bellend? 

Yeah, good contribution again Lee, thanks. You are absolutely fantastic, every time I make a point about people just abusing other people you pop up to prove my point. Can you please confirm to the rest of the forum that this isn't pre-arranged or fixed in any way? 

lakes10 wrote:

THEBARON wrote:Assuming Rafa were to go in the summer - bear in mind the following ?
Who replaces him ?
How much money in the kitty ?
Will there be an exodus of players following him ?
Do you trust these American clowns ?

there will be no exodus of players.

You wanna bet - they'll be on his tail - Rafa has re-established the 'great' in Liverpool Football Club again and attracted the great and good. The player exodus is a very real threat ...

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR EL MOANERS 

taff wrote:That was not my point Saint.  Ok lets cut to the chase, Lando offers abuse but when he posts a decent reply then nothing just more criticism of Rafa.  People are just not interested in debate

taff wrote:Seeing as they won everything then yes

zarababe wrote:I agree with Sabe - I want Rafa to succeed desperatley cos I believe him to be the man to lead us to greater things then the Miracle of Istanbul - but whether he does or not the inults and lurid insinuations surrounding his team selections drive me insane and yes out of control... it also says a lot about the the people who resort to such levels, football debate goes out the window and the mantle for protecting the boss is taken up quite eloquently by the said Sabe, Lando , Nanny and I've had my moments too.. (get in there fellas and gal)..

.. and perhaps partly this is also about those who say it.. whom I loathe in the main ..not incl BM with his reasoned paragraphic essays obviously thought-out.. The end.

zarababe wrote:

lakes10 wrote:

THEBARON wrote:Assuming Rafa were to go in the summer - bear in mind the following ?
Who replaces him ?
How much money in the kitty ?
Will there be an exodus of players following him ?
Do you trust these American clowns ?

there will be no exodus of players.

You wanna bet - they'll be on his tail - Rafa has re-established the 'great' in Liverpool Football Club again and attracted the great and good. The player exodus is a very real threat ...

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR EL MOANERS 

zarababe wrote:

Lando_Griffin wrote:OK - for the benefit of healthy discussion, and to once again disprove this pathetic notion that I never post anything to do with football, and that I am not bright enough to debate. (With a bunch of people who would lose a battle of wits with a rottweiler! )

Here goes:

The reasons I feel that Rafa should keep his job, by Lando Griffin:

Once upon a time, there were 3 be... Hang on - let's get out of fairytale mode...


15th May 2004. Just after tea time. About 5 o'clock.

Owen has just scored in a 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle United to bring to an end the 2003-04 season with a bang even the most alert bat would miss from 2 yards. Over the course of those 38 games, we won only 16 times, drawing 12 and losing 10. We finished 4th with an average home attendance of 42,677. We went out in the 5th round of the Cup to Portsmouth, were booted out of the league cup in round 4 by Bolton at Anfield, and departed the UEFA cup at the same stage to Didier Drogba's Marsailles.

Houllier's problem was that he became too close to his players, and often allowed his heart to rule his head when making decisions about the team. He was a good man. (Even if he DID sell God.)

He walked on 24th May 2004 by mutual consent, leaving behind a World-renowned striker who had had his head turned by the bright lights of Madrid, a Captain who was disillusioned, and a squad lacking any real ability to challenge for the Micky Mouse cups, let alone the big stuff.

And then Rafa came. Before a ball was kicked in anger, he had to jet off to the other side of the World to plead with 2 players he had never met before and ask them to stay at the club and believe in him.

One did, and went on to become one of the best midfielders in the World.

The other one? Well he's currently plying his trade at a second-rate club, fighting relegation and failing to get a game for his Country, having previously been first-choice for so long.

Anyhoo...

With a relatively tight budget compared to his main rivals, Rafa made a few observations of his current squad and realised very quickly that the squad was full of under-performing slackers and punks happy to rot in the reserves as long as they received their cheques every week. He also rapidly established there were was a total lack of class in midfield. Following Josemi, who unarguably pushed Steve Finnan to become one of the best leftbacks in the Country, Rafa swooped to sign Xabi Alonso, a relative unknown in English football, who would go on to become one of the finest passers and controllers of the game in the Premiership.
Several years of playing with a nail and a whippet up front meant that the middle of the park was constantly being by-passed as the defence tw*tted long-ball after long-ball upfield in the vein hope that the nail would head it down, and the whippet would run through and score.
Rafa bought Luis Garcia, an enigmatic goalscoring attacking midfield midget who would force the defence to pass along the ground more often, and who would offer the element of the unknown to our strike force. Ranging from utterly brilliant to terrifyingly cack, this 2' imp had people choking on their pies at both ends of the stadium.

Benitez made 3 major signings in his first season, despite having lost Owen. 2004-05's results went thus:

Played 38. W17, D7, L14. We were knocked out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup away at Burnley, but we reached the league cup final, losing in extra time following a Steven Gerrard own goal.

Oh, and we also won the Champions' League in thrilling fashion, beating the most fancied teams along the way.

In 2005-06, he won the FA Cup and European Super Cup. We completely dominated the final of the World Club Championship but could not find the net, losing to a late sucker-punch from the 18' Brazilian CB who's name escapes me. Lucas? Lucil? That tw*t who plays for Benfica anyway...
We also welcomed back God. For free.

League record: W25 D7 L6.

In 2006-07, we got to another Champions' League final, and dominated throughout. Unfortunately, AC Milan got their revenge and we went home potless. Hang on - no - we won the Charity Shield, beating Chelsea.

League record: W20 D8 L10.

In 2007-08, a semi-final appearance in the Champions' League, and only the freakish Riise own-goal prevented us from riding roughshod to yet another final.
League record:

W21 D13 L4.

2008-09. Top for quite a while, beating Man Utd and Chelsea twice along the way. Currently second with 12 games to play, 7 points off Man Utd. Our highest points total at this point since the year after we last won the title, and all this despite a long-term injury to our best striker, and on-going internal disputes.
Currently awaiting a Champions' League encounter with Real Madrid having finished top of our group unbeaten.

2008-09 record so far:

P26: W15 D10 L1.

There has been progress in the style and shape of the team since Rafa's arrival. I am unapologetic in my damnation of this ridiculous trend of saying "Take the Champions' League progress out of it...". That is like saying "Take Ferguson's league titles away, and he's not good enough..." - it is pathetic, it is disrespectful and it is not going unnoticed on MY watch, let me tell you.

We drew our 10th match on Sunday against the richest club side in the World with Gerrard and Alonso missing and Torres at 70%. It was not a bad result in those circumstances.
Lapses in concentration, fluke goals, good opposition play and sheer bad luck have all contributed to those 10 draws. To suggest it's negative tactics is naive, as we have been caught out in the majority of times at set pieces or when we were on the attack.

I honestly believe that we just need a few adjustments here and there, and we will be a force to be reckoned with.

I also honestly believe that if Rafa leaves, we will be up the proverbial in a barbed-wire canoe.

ooooh top post Lando - take that the moaners and groaners.. 

Lee J wrote:

zarababe wrote:

lakes10 wrote:

THEBARON wrote:Assuming Rafa were to go in the summer - bear in mind the following ?
Who replaces him ?
How much money in the kitty ?
Will there be an exodus of players following him ?
Do you trust these American clowns ?

there will be no exodus of players.

You wanna bet - they'll be on his tail - Rafa has re-established the 'great' in Liverpool Football Club again and attracted the great and good. The player exodus is a very real threat ...

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR EL MOANERS 

I said the same thing weeks ago, Rafa goes then so will a handful of players.  Reina, Alonso and eventualy Torres.

Reg wrote:Mods, pls zap this thread and all the boring anti rafa whinging threads as well.

How are we going to attract fesh blood into this forum when all we do is slg off the team, the manager, eachother, parry, Moores, the owners etc... its tedious lads, freakin tedious.