Carra says sorry, shame about Rafa

By Matt Ladson On · 376 Comments · In Opinion

After the abysmal display against Reading you’d think the least Liverpool fans deserved was an apology from their manager.

Did it arrive? No chance. Not that Liverpool fans would have expected. Most those leaving Anfield last night knew what they were about to hear; something about ‘controlling the game’, no doubt some bizarre responses to questions and no acknowledgement of the poor performance the manager’s team had just put in.

It arrived too, just like Gerard Houllier became so predictable and embarrassing in his final season:

“We started the second half better with more control of the game but after this we were making some mistakes and they had chances.”

“We played a strong team and we tried to win the game. Sometimes you don’t play as well as you can and sometimes the other team plays well.”

“Everybody has been talking about me but I’ll keep working hard with my team.”

“From the beginning of the season we have been a little bit frustrated but we have to carry on. When you are in the race you need to keep going.

“We are not in the competition [FA Cup] any more. If the critics are fair, then it’s OK but it’s been the same for three months.”

Somebody should tell Rafa we are no longer “in the race” – not for the title, not for the Champions League, not for the League Cup, not for the FA Cup. Only for the wonderful prize of fourth place – and we have a hell of a tough job achieving that after 7 defeats in 20 league games.

As The Liverpool Way’s Dave Usher put it in his match report today:

“Rafa’s train wreck of a post match interview merely added to the sense of despair. I want to feel better after hearing him talk, I want to get the impression that he knows what is wrong and he will fix it. Instead we get him trying to be a smart arse and not answering questions properly.”

At least Jamie Carragher was man enough to admit the performance wasn’t good enough:

“It was a very bad night for Liverpool and we can’t disguise that – we had to do more against a side from a lower league. We have to apologise for the way we performed. We have to give credit to Reading, hold our hands up. We all like to win but when you don’t, you have to be a good loser.

“We have to accept they deserved it. But, at the same time, we have got to look at ourselves and the way we performed was not acceptable. We’ve got a massive game coming up against Stoke now. It will be very tough, as we played extra time and we have got to show enormous character to come back.

“But that’s what we have got to do. We have got to move on but, at the same time, we have to say sorry to the fans who came to Anfield and all those watching on TV.”

Houllier ended up leaving the club with his dignity still in tact. I doubt that will happen with Rafa. He has reached the end of his road. It’s a huge shame, and he has brought many positive things to the football club but he can no longer be defended, not by me any way.

  • About the author

    Matt Ladson

    Matt is the co-editor of This Is Anfield. He grew up on a diet of Roy Evans football and yearns for the glory days to return to Anfield. Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattladson.

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  • Red Kenny

    TIA why wont you allow my last post to Rome77

  • Red Kenny

    TIA why wont you allow my last post to Rome77

  • rome77

    Kenny it’s happened a few times to me i wrote in reply to your Souness question the other day and the gremlins took it .Copy before you post,if it disappears you can paste it and try again. If Word press say duplicate comment just change it slightly.

  • rome77

    Kenny it’s happened a few times to me i wrote in reply to your Souness question the other day and the gremlins took it .Copy before you post,if it disappears you can paste it and try again. If Word press say duplicate comment just change it slightly.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77, Thanks yeah I have it pasted on pc at home as it was too long to just not bother sending!. Its in response to previous post..tried it a few times with slight changes but still will not appear..Very frustrating will try again after work.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77, Thanks yeah I have it pasted on pc at home as it was too long to just not bother sending!. Its in response to previous post..tried it a few times with slight changes but still will not appear..Very frustrating will try again after work.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77 Apologies for accusing of not replying or ducking the issues if as said you tried. I did not know that some posts will not register on the site maybe you should sign up for the forums I did myself this week. Although there is more than enough debate in here to keep us going!

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77 Apologies for accusing of not replying or ducking the issues if as said you tried. I did not know that some posts will not register on the site maybe you should sign up for the forums I did myself this week. Although there is more than enough debate in here to keep us going!

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77… Apologies for accusing of not replying or ducking the issues if as said you tried. I did not know that some posts will not register on the site maybe you should sign up for the forums I did myself this week. Although there is more than enough debate in here to keep us going!

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77… Apologies for accusing of not replying or ducking the issues if as said you tried. I did not know that some posts will not register on the site maybe you should sign up for the forums I did myself this week. Although there is more than enough debate in here to keep us going!

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77…I addressed ALL of your questions in my post. But I will simplify them for you.
    Question 1 Tottenham and Man city have spent more than Man Utd in last 2 seasons …does that mean they will win the league? Illogical .
    Question 2 How do we win Prem with less spend? We were second last season but blew chance by giving too much respect to lesser teams and negative tactics employed by Benitez. Dont play 2 defensive midfielders. Dont sell Alonso!
    Question 3 Villa Birmigham etc.. We have outspent these over the last 5 years? Point is invalid .. rafa has wasted money on average buys.
    Question 4 Injuries and Financial backing? Every team has injuries rafas job to have squad in place. Point already elaborated in post #140
    Question 5 What is the question … I only see 4 questions the rest are statements.
    As for Insua versus stoke he was probably assigned a Zone so by therefore being on the post left Huth free.. nobody knows what they were assigned to do(unless you have inside dressing room information please share) If you watch the goal again its hard to make out who is supposed to be doing what. Again Rafa is responsible for organising the team.
    Babel what would i do with him? Its more a question of what i would have done with him as I doubt we will see the best of him at Liverpool more likely the next Collymore. But I think as a young lad with potential and bought as a striker I would have played him in his correct position. He has a bad attitude but Im sure the frustration of not being played up front or given a run would not help this. personally i think its the end of the road for him with us but he has shown flashes of what he may be capable of but under benitez he never got the chance I think the stats are he never started more than 4 games in a row? Anyway its not an important issue.
    Substitutions ok I see your being pedantic you know what I mean.. in or around 65 mins ..the point was a general lack of changing things when its obvious its not working ..lets not get all Millhouse-ish on this.
    Cooper this article represents a good portion of LFC fans if you dont like what you read then ignore it. Dont resort to telling people to support other teams.. everyone has a right to comment on the managers position, its the club we support. And dont call us “supporters” its insulting.
    Anyway just after the spurs game a much needed result lets hope we get that 4th spot.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77…I addressed ALL of your questions in my post. But I will simplify them for you.
    Question 1 Tottenham and Man city have spent more than Man Utd in last 2 seasons …does that mean they will win the league? Illogical .
    Question 2 How do we win Prem with less spend? We were second last season but blew chance by giving too much respect to lesser teams and negative tactics employed by Benitez. Dont play 2 defensive midfielders. Dont sell Alonso!
    Question 3 Villa Birmigham etc.. We have outspent these over the last 5 years? Point is invalid .. rafa has wasted money on average buys.
    Question 4 Injuries and Financial backing? Every team has injuries rafas job to have squad in place. Point already elaborated in post #140
    Question 5 What is the question … I only see 4 questions the rest are statements.
    As for Insua versus stoke he was probably assigned a Zone so by therefore being on the post left Huth free.. nobody knows what they were assigned to do(unless you have inside dressing room information please share) If you watch the goal again its hard to make out who is supposed to be doing what. Again Rafa is responsible for organising the team.
    Babel what would i do with him? Its more a question of what i would have done with him as I doubt we will see the best of him at Liverpool more likely the next Collymore. But I think as a young lad with potential and bought as a striker I would have played him in his correct position. He has a bad attitude but Im sure the frustration of not being played up front or given a run would not help this. personally i think its the end of the road for him with us but he has shown flashes of what he may be capable of but under benitez he never got the chance I think the stats are he never started more than 4 games in a row? Anyway its not an important issue.
    Substitutions ok I see your being pedantic you know what I mean.. in or around 65 mins ..the point was a general lack of changing things when its obvious its not working ..lets not get all Millhouse-ish on this.
    Cooper this article represents a good portion of LFC fans if you dont like what you read then ignore it. Dont resort to telling people to support other teams.. everyone has a right to comment on the managers position, its the club we support. And dont call us “supporters” its insulting.
    Anyway just after the spurs game a much needed result lets hope we get that 4th spot.

  • Tommy

    Well said Cooper Post #145. To be honest I didn’t realise LFC appointed Rafa to do TV interviews and press conferences. I thought he was bought in to manage LFC and is clearly one of the top Coaches around. Surely the conversion from our Houllier days to current is sure enough evidence of the job he’s been doing is good. The problem here is too many of our fans listen to the tripe you and the media have to say. We’ve been playing badly for the majority of the season and we’re only 1 point off fourth!

  • Tommy

    Well said Cooper Post #145. To be honest I didn’t realise LFC appointed Rafa to do TV interviews and press conferences. I thought he was bought in to manage LFC and is clearly one of the top Coaches around. Surely the conversion from our Houllier days to current is sure enough evidence of the job he’s been doing is good. The problem here is too many of our fans listen to the tripe you and the media have to say. We’ve been playing badly for the majority of the season and we’re only 1 point off fourth!

  • rome77

    Red Kenny i think it’s clear Matt doesnt want this issue of supporting Rafa clearing up
    I have posted several long comments which Word press have confirmed as duplicate comments even though they dont appear.One comment appeared last night and was subsequently removed overnight.It was in English it contained no foul language and was punctuated and as the Article ends with the words “he can no longer be defended, not by me any way” it was relative. Now thats censorship

  • rome77

    Red Kenny i think it’s clear Matt doesnt want this issue of supporting Rafa clearing up
    I have posted several long comments which Word press have confirmed as duplicate comments even though they dont appear.One comment appeared last night and was subsequently removed overnight.It was in English it contained no foul language and was punctuated and as the Article ends with the words “he can no longer be defended, not by me any way” it was relative. Now thats censorship

  • rome77

    What do you know another post as been removed while i was writing the last one which will no doubt disappear . THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SHAME ON YOU MATT.

  • rome77

    What do you know another post as been removed while i was writing the last one which will no doubt disappear . THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SHAME ON YOU MATT.

  • rome77

    TIA or whoever it is that censors these comments i will refer you to the article
    New Year, Old Problem: Hicks & Gillett Out
    Go Read comment 28 and tell us why that hasn’t been removed or does it only apply to Liverpool Fans.

  • rome77

    TIA or whoever it is that censors these comments i will refer you to the article
    New Year, Old Problem: Hicks & Gillett Out
    Go Read comment 28 and tell us why that hasn’t been removed or does it only apply to Liverpool Fans.

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