dawson99 wrote:We've given the manager years... and the team don't seem to want to play for him. That's what it comes down to, will the players play for him or not. Personally I don't think they will...
There's a saying, "the buck stops here". If Rafa goes, his team of backroom staff will go with him, and some critics are pointing the finger at some of the scouts for recruiting players who aren't up to it, ie Babel, Lucas, Insua, Ngog, and now Aquilani will soon be joining that exclusive club. But scouts only suggest these guys, it's Rafael Benitez that signs them. Babel always looks disinterested, but then he has never been given an extended chance, which any player would need, to fit into the system. Lucas is an average player, who was clearly backing out of 50/50 balls against Reading the other night, but he doesn't have that something special. Insua is too short (not his fault I add), but too slow, (a bit overweight from what I see). He would need to go to the Manchester Ring Road just to turn. He was beaten very very easily, then just gave up in the move that led to Readings winner in the FA Cup and was out of position so easily.Ngog will NEVER be a world beater. I could name more and go on and on to describe the faults, (Deggen, etc)
Last season we were (according to Ancelotti) the best team in Europe by far. How can we have gone downhill so quickly.
Why DID we let Crouch go, (superb skill for a big man) - Sold! Robbie Keane was never given a proper chance, because Benitez did not want to want him- Sold! Bellamy would never let you down- Sold! Xabi Alonso wanted away mainly because Benitez didn't always consider him first choice - the man was WORLD class- Sold! Pennant is a good player but again was too underused- Sold! look at the "quality" squad we have now. I watched the Stoke match today, I think they had 11 corners, -- we had NONE!!!!. Last year we dominated the equivalent match, this year we were outclassed. We have got to call into question Benitez's thinking, as it baffles every 'Pool fan, Four and a half years ago we were European Champions, then I thought " right Fergie, I think you should retire gracefully, as WE ARE BACK!!!," and I foresaw us dominating the Premiership for years. but we are now just a middle table club in decline. We are one of the two top supported clubs in the world, along with Man Utd. We are the most passionate, "peoples" football club in the world - and it is up to us as fans to say -Enough is enough.