Liverpool FC Forum

Effes wrote:Who the feck were saying "Who are ye?" after our goals?

Was it our fans? Friggin hope not

Fraid so 

LFC2007 wrote:1) I was disappointed that Torres didn't start, however, I can understand the reasoning behind it - as explained by AB. In spite of his omission from the starting line up, the team should have been more than capable of defeating Birmingham City. It's very difficult to unlock teams that are set up in that manner, it requires guile more than anything - Benayoun would have been ideal but for Yom Kipper.

2) It may have been a mistake in the view of most people on this forum that he didn't start. I would contend that by playing Torres in no way guaranteed a win. I think he possesses guile and pace, and I too was very surprised he didn't start. However, we are by no means a one man team, a combination of factors led to that result, one of which was IMO the loss of Alonso. Some people say he's not creative, he's about as creative a passer as you'll find.

3) Would I call the Birmingham result a mistake on Rafa's part? Not entirely, but partly. The team must accept its share of the responsibility, it's not a given that we would have won had Torres started and you therefore can't make the accusation that we lost as a result of Rafa's selection. Had we won the Birmingham match with that side, which was more than capable of doing so, the 'f#ck off Rafa' brigade would not have gone off on an embarrassing rant. Blame the tactics on Rafa, blame partly a lack of motivation shown by the players on Rafa, but please don't suggest that we would have won the match but for Rafa's omission of Torres. Also question the players, they implement the plan, Rafa can do no more than prepare the side as best as he can.

red37 wrote:About Rafa's interviews from tonight:

A few points that pricked my ears up (not exactly worth going overboard on)  nonetheless, i thought slightly bizarre comments.

1. Before the game Rafa expressed his ignorance to the fact that he didn't realise Torres and Crouch hadn't started together up front...

I find it unusual in the least to accept that a man as meticulous in his preparation/execution and general 'attention to every detail' as Rafa Benitez could simply not know this.

2. After the game when asked about Torres performance Rafa said "With the space we know that he can kill the defenders"...

The answer was given with the usual cheeky grin as if to attempt a sarcastic rebuff to the ever prying media, yet underneath that facade what really was the thinking behind Torres omission at the weekend....i see little reason to laugh it off as easily as Benitez did.

3. Rightly cheesed off that Readings first goal was allowed to stand despite there being at least 3 players in an offside position - he went on to add that "The first one and the second goal also...both were in offside, its clear"...

Well, that is wrong. There was a covering player on the line (Benayoun?) so how on earth could the second goal be offside. The real culprit was the over zealous Itandje who came out into no mans land.


Perspective regained.

Im in no way shape or form revisiting old ground and launching phase two of an attack on our manager here. Far from that, iam just a little bit surprised at some of his comments made during interviews and the like. These aren't calculated, measured utterances that are designed to throw journalists off any scent that the club may or may not be attempting to conceal...they sound like genuine lapses of reason. Nothing major, of course and im within easy reach of all of my own faculties whilst hearing them with my own ears.. But, are they mistakes or are they worth considering more closely than that.

Put it this way, Rafa was mighty relieved to see Torres get back onto the pitch after 3 minutes and resume normal service from the early knock. It was written clearly across his features. Almost a whiff of vindication too after 94. But, what pearls of wisdom would have sprung from his mouth if it did all fall to pieces in that first opening few moments?  Where in defence would Rafa have found sanctuary then...

Perhaps, we are all on the lookout for the slightest chink in the fella's armour - out for the smell of blood at any opportunity. Who can blame anyone for being scrupulous in the turning over of any and every stone along the path to understanding this most flabbergastingly brilliant of Coaches at the best of times. Let alone ironing out the creases during a mini-blip consisting of, heaven forbid 3 goalless draws...prior to tonights commendable win.

Like i say, not an attack at all. Merely a curious fascination with the thinking behind some of the answers...which ultimately lie at the foundations of that which we are not privvy to after all. Namely the fortunes of the club we would (almost to a man) die for in the hope of seeing it as successful as it once was and can become once more. Pressure telling, comprehensive grasp of the language or something altogether more worrying here?

I don't know what to say about this post...

ok wait...NOT ALL of us are on "the lookout for the slightest chink in the fella's armour - out for the smell of blood at any opportunity." 

Dalglish wrote:We win 4-2 away from home against Premiership opposition and people seem to want to remind Benitez of who he left out on Saturday 

I agree there is a certain irony in tonights Torres inclusion and subsequent hatrick but as fans we can't have it all ways when we firstly slate Benitez for NOT doing something (include Torres from the start) then have a pop when he does.

Has he bowed to pressure from fans after 2 Premiership goaless draws ? If so then that steely single minded determination that we admire in him is no longer there. Maybe he is a touch stubborn even to the point of being pig headed

I suspect that Benitez is neither the Hero or Zero we sometimes make him out to be. He makes mistakes and he's human...........

I'm not berating our passion as fans but Benitez has forgot more about the game than most fans know in total. The mans bordering on OCD when it comes to the beautiful game and maybe he does over indulge his need to rotate and meddle but what can't be denied is his ability to come up with the goods.

Will he ultimately bring us the Premiership title ? Who knows, I certainly hope so but he won't have won or lost the Premiership last Saturday thats for sure. Every fan I know reaches the end of the season and thinks to themselves "What if this had happened or that had gone our way " but overall when all 38 fixtures are complete you tend to find yourselves where you deserve to be in terms of the League Table. Lets hope that despite the furore over Torres's exclusion from the starting line up in the last 2 games we don't need to look back in anger ........

Walk on.............